Why aren't they here yet? Regina wondered. Her heels clicked on the floor with each sharp step. She had been pacing the foyer of her house for 20 minutes. Just to be sure she double (or quadruple) checked the set-up she had created over the last 24 hours, making sure everything was clean and in place.
She had not expected the call from a "Miss Swan" telling her that she would be getting her son… her foster child the next day. Regina had been waiting for this opportunity forever. Though she liked being alone, she wanted nothing more than a family. After the death of her father when she was young, and her mother two years ago, she had found herself feeling more and more lonely. She and her mother had their differences, but she was still her mother.
She had registered to be a foster parent a few years ago, but figured that since she was single, and had no experience (not to mention, no good example to take after) her chances were unlikely considering how many couples there were waiting for their new baby. Somehow Miss Swan had found her file among the many other waiting parents, and she could only hope that this could be the start of something great.
Really though, how are they so late? Did they get into some kind of accident? Regina kept pacing. She looked at the clock. 8:02. Really, they were only 2 minutes late. But if they said they would be here at 8, Miss Swan should have gotten them here at 8. With this weather- Her anxious train of thought stopped rolling at the sound of the sharp knock on the door. She went to reach for the handle right away, and paused. I don't want them to think I've just been standing here like some kind of… anxious mother. She counted to 5 slowly and centered herself.
She opened the door to reveal two nearly identical expressions that could only be described as Oh God please let this be good. She would have laughed if she hadn't just taken 5 seconds to take that expression off of her own face. She glanced at the blonde, Miss Swan, she mentally noted, and shifted her attention to the boy.
"Regina Mills," she started, "and you must be Henry." Smile, but don't creep him out, she told herself.
They stood awkwardly, and Regina realized her company was waiting for her.
"Oh please, come in," she said. She extended a hand to the other adult in the room, "Miss Swan? It's good to put a face to the name," she said warmly. And a beautiful face at that, she thought. Even if she was potentially becoming a mother to a prepubescent boy, she could still notice an attractive person when they were standing right in front of her. She also noticed the protective stance the woman had when standing with Henry. Her instincts told her that she could trust the green eyes looking back into hers.
"Yes, I'm technically Miss Swan, but please, call me Emma," she replied. Emma was surprised she could even speak considering how taken aback she had been by the woman in front of her. Regina definitely was raised with good manners, and carried herself with impeccable posture. She seemed friendly enough if not a little bit reserved. When she spoke, her voice low and warm comforted Emma somehow, and Emma couldn't help but want to hear her speak more. There was something else in her energy, though. Perhaps it was the slight nervousness Emma could perceive, though well hidden on Regina's part. It was clear that Regina wanted this to go well, and Emma appreciated that. She still stayed close to Henry. She had too many social workers who had dropped her off at the door and had barely said good-bye before they were driving away. She would not do that to him.
"Henry," Regina looked at the boy again, "I took the liberty of buying a few things at the store for your arrival. If you don't like them I can return them. They are up here in your room."
Henry followed Regina and Emma up the stairs of the mansion, trying to take in everything he was seeing at once. Is this really where I'm staying, he wondered, and what are all the other kids doing? Questions flew through his mind as he reached the top landing and followed Regina as she led them down a hallway and turned to the left, opening a door into a room cast in shadows. She turned on the light.
"This is your room, Henry. Mine is just down the hall and to the right if you need anything." Regina said. If I need anything, he pondered. Emma had spoken the same words just minutes before, and he had heard them before from others. But from these two women they seemed more genuine somehow. Regardless, he knew that he had to take care of himself and wasn't going to ask them for help unless he was desperate. He had to learn to take care of himself, that is what men do. Or at least, that's what his fifth foster father told him. Regina continued as he pulled himself out of his own mind.
"I put a few items of clothing in the closet. The sizes in your file were old so I sort of just had to guess. I'm seeing now that they might be a little bit too big…"
"They're fine. Thank you.. Mrs…Miss..?" Henry stopped. What was he supposed to call her?
"Regina dear, Regina will do just fine." Maybe mom, someday. Regina mentally scolded herself and heard her mothers words echo in her head, "Do not make wishes, nor presumptions, dear. They will get you nowhere. Make decisions based on facts." She pushed her mother out of her head. This time was for Henry, and for Emma.
"Regina," Henry repeated slightly awkwardly. "Regina," he started, "where are the other kids?" As soon as he asked it, he was kicking himself. Regina looked at him slightly confused, and Emma looked sad and yet like she understood at the same time.
"Henry, you're the only child in my care," Regina said, "And I think Miss Swan and I should give you a little bit of time to get settled?"
"Sure," he muttered.
Emma stayed back for just a moment, and a silent nod had Regina waiting in the hallway.
"Don't forget what I told you in the car, Henry. Are you going to be okay tonight?"
"I have my own room…" Henry muttered, lost in thought. He saw Emma looking at him patiently, but expectantly. "Yeah, yeah I'm going to be fine. Thanks, Emma."
"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Yeah," he said again.
He watched the women leave after Emma dropped his bag on the plush double bed, made up with soft bedding in various shades of blue. He looked around, desperately trying to remember every moment. If it ended in a week, he would at least have the memory of this night. He was standing in his own room. His own room. With his own bed. His own huge bed, and a closet of clothes sat waiting with even more vacant hangers. He moved his duffle to the floor and finally took Emma's phone number out of his pocket. He put it on the inside cover of one of the only things in his duffle, his notebook of sketches. No one had seen it before, and he always kept it safe.
As Henry settled in upstairs, Emma and Regina made their way down the stairs. Emma broke what was surprisingly comfortable silence.
"I thought I told you to call me Emma," she joked. "Up in Henry's room, you called me Miss Swan again." At the look of horror on Regina's face, Emma laughed. "Trust me, I'm really not offended. I just hope that you'll call me Emma, because I'd like to be able to call you Regina. And it would be weird if we weren't on the same page."
Regina found herself smiling back at Emma, realizing she was not really in the dog-house.
"That said," Emma continued, "I'd like to get together tomorrow afternoon, maybe around 1 to talk about how we can make this a smooth transition for Henry. I can see that you're already taking steps considering you prepared that room for him, but I do think a discussion would be helpful for you and for me."
"To ensure we're on the same page." Regina finished, with a hint of a smile as they made their way into the foyer. "Can I offer you any coffee, or maybe some apple pie, or can I make you anything?"
"I knew I smelled pie!" Emma said, laughing. She thought about the offer and seriously considered taking it, but knew she had some unpacking to do of her own. "Unfortunately, if you and Henry are alright here I should probably go. But thanks for the offer, I'll definitely take a rain check."
"Certainly," Regina replied.
Emma put her boots back on and pulled her hair out from within the leather jacket she just pulled back on. Regina caught the light scent of shampoo through the air from Emma's waves and cursed herself for even noticing that it smelled like spring and that it seemed to suit the woman. Not appropriate, Regina told herself. She smiled as she saw Emma out.
"Goodnight, Regina. See you tomorrow afternoon?"
"See you tomorrow. Goodnight, Emma."