The police cruiser pulled into the driveway; Regina could see the headlights reflect on the walls of the front hall where she had been pacing anxiously back and forth despite Graham's protests for her to relax. When she saw this however, she stopped walking immediately.

"They're here," she breathed, her heart beating rapidly. Graham came to stand beside her and placed a hand on her back. She looked over at him and he smiled, together they walked towards the front door. Just as they reached it, so did the passengers from the car so Graham turned the doorknob. Before he had even seen any of the people on the front porch, a tiny form raced past him into the house.

"Mommy!" shouted Henry as he flung himself into Regina's arms. She had been quicker than Graham to see the little boy coming and she was already crouching by the time he reached her.

"Henry!" She sobbed as she buried her face in his hair. "I'm so happy to see you! Are you ok? She pulled back slightly to look down at him.

He kept his face hidden against Regina's chest but he nodded his head in response. With a little difficulty, she picked him up so that she could stand. Wrapping her arms even more protectively around him, she kissed the top of his head and then rested her cheek against it, never wanting to let go of him again.

Graham watched happily as the mother and son reunited, but then decided to give them some space so he stepped outside to talk to the other officers.

"Mommy..." Henry said, his voice slightly muffled "are you crying?"

Regina was silent for a few more moments, still hugging him tightly. Finally she sniffed, and pulled away to look at him again. He looked up at her with those big green eyes of his and she smiled, not being able to help giving a small, delighted laugh.

"I'm just so relieved you're alright. I was so worried. I thought..." Her voice broke and her smile faltered. She looked off to the side, trying to hide her expression from him.

"What's wrong?" Henry asked.

Regina quickly composed herself and smiled down at Henry again. "Nothing," she said softly, adjusting him in her arms.

He continued to stare at her, and after a few seconds he reached up and brushed her cheek with his hand, trying to wipe the tears away. This however just made Regina cry even more, but they were tears of joy. She nuzzled his forehead with her own and breathed a deep sigh of contentment.

"I love you Henry," she whispered.

"Love you too," came Henry's quiet reply.

After a few minutes alone together, Regina and Henry joined the officers out front. They politely refused Regina's invitation to come inside, insisting that they needed to get back to work. Regina felt that she couldn't thank them enough for returning her little boy to her.

As the officers left they returned Henry's waves enthusiastically, happy to have been able to return him to his mother.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

It was about two hours after Henry had returned home. Henry, Graham, and Regina were all in the living room where they had been watching cartoons. Regina and Henry were sitting on the couch; Henry was on her lap with his head resting against her chest. She had her arms draped lightly around him as she talked to Graham.

"It looks like Henry is falling asleep," Graham noted, watching as the boy fought to keep his eyes open.

Regina rubbed Henry's back and asked softly, "do you want to go bed?"

The toddler shook his head and mumbled "no..." He then turned further into her embrace and shut his eyes.

Regina ran her fingers through his hair as Graham said, "I don't think he wants to leave you."

She smiled over at him briefly before returning her gaze to the little boy, who was breathing very deeply now. "I think he fell asleep." Regina whispered.

"Do you want me to take him upstairs?" Graham offered.

Regina thought for a moment, staring down at Henry. Finally she nodded, "yes that would be great. Thank you."

Graham stood and walked towards the two, carefully lifting Henry up, trying not to wake him. He then headed upstairs and Regina followed closely behind.

When they reached Henry's room, Regina pulled back the bedcovers and Graham gently placed the toddler down. The boy stirred a little and groggily opened his eyes.

"Sheriff?" He asked confused, and then suddenly panicking he added, "where's my mommy?"

"It's ok honey I'm right here," Regina said soothingly, coming to sit beside him. She ran the back of her hand across his cheek comfortingly and Henry seemed to relax a little.

"Regina are you alright from here?" Graham asked, standing back a little, feeling as if he was intruding.

"Yes, I'll be fine. You know where your room is right? Please, make yourself at home."

"Thanks, I'll see you in the morning. I hope you both have a good sleep." He said, and then disappeared into the hallway.

Regina returned her gaze down to Henry, who was staring back at her with an expression she couldn't quite decipher.

"What is it?" She whispered, running her hand through his hair.

"Do you really love me?"

Regina was crestfallen. "Of course I do Henry, you've always known that." She rested a hand on his arm and smiled, but this smile did not quite reach her eyes which were betraying signs of hurt. "Why would you ask such a thing?"

Henry sat up, and Regina's hand fell to the blankets instead as she watched him. "Emma told me you didn't really love me, and what did she mean when she said you weren't my mom?"

Regina's face fell as she heard this, was she going to have to tell Henry the truth about his adoption? She had always planned to tell him, just not when he was this young. She didn't know if he would understand. "Henry... I am your mother." She said softly. "I raised you and took care of you, and I love you," she emphasized the last part, "with all my heart."

Henry's expression lightened and Regina was relieved to see that Henry truly did know that she loved him, he had just been making sure. Regina smiled at his reaction, but then remembered his second question. Inhaling heavily to prepare herself, she inched a little bit closer to Henry and placed an arm around his shoulders. He looked up at her waiting for her to continue. Looking down at him, she began.

"Henry, what you need to know is..." she paused, trying to find a way to say it in simple terms. "Even though I am your mother, I didn't give birth to you." She watched his expression closely before going on, he seemed puzzled but that was it. "Emma did, she told you the truth about that part." Henry's eyes widened momentarily but he didn't interrupt. "But before you were born she had decided that she wasn't going to be able to give you a proper life, a proper home. So she... she let me adopt you. Because I knew that I could give you the home and love you deserved. Do you understand?"

Henry stared at her, his brow was slightly furrowed. "So Emma is my mom?"

Regina looked away for a second and briefly closed her eyes. "Emma gave birth to you, but that doesn't make her your mother. That takes care and devotion."

Henry remained silent.

"Are you upset with me?" Regina asked nervously. "For not telling you about her?"

Henry's eyes searched hers and then he shook his head. "No, I'm happy you 'dopted me." He flung his arms around her. Regina in turn, placed her other arm around him too, smiling through tear filled eyes.

"Mommy, can I stay with you tonight?"

"Of course you can."

He removed his arms from her torso in order to wrap them around her neck instead, making it easier for her to pick him up. Holding him carefully, she stood up, ignoring the pang in her side as her wounds became irritated. Henry rested his head in the crook of her neck as she walked towards her bedroom. When she reached her bed she sat down and Henry crawled over to the opposite side of the bed, burrowing under the covers. Regina watched him happily and then reached over to her bedside table for a bottle of pills. Taking two out and swallowing them with a glass of water that was there from earlier on, she too slid into bed.

"What were those for?" Henry asked curiously.

"They're for here," she rubbed the injured spot on her side. "So it doesn't hurt."

Henry was silent as he stared at it, remembering the events of the day before. "Did it hurt at first?" He asked, still staring at her side.

"Only a little bit," She said after a brief pause, not wanting to worry him.

Henry stared up at her, apparently satisfied with the answer. "Can I see?"

Regina was slightly amused, "what for?"

Henry shrugged in response.

"Alright, I suppose so." and she lifted back her shirt a bit, so he could see the bandages. Henry reached out to touch them. "Be careful," Regina warned, and Henry lightly touched the bandages with his fingertips. It tickled a little but she waited until he withdrew his hand before she rubbed her wound again.

"Do you have to wear that forever?" Henry asked about the bandages.

"No, only for a few weeks, maybe a few months." Regina looked at her son lovingly. Henry smiled back at her and then laid his head down on one of the pillows. He watched as she gingerly laid down too and then snuggled into her side.

As she held him close Regina whispered, "I'm sorry I let her take you."

Henry didn't respond and so Regina assumed he had fallen asleep already. She pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "I love you Henry."

"I love you too mommy."

Regina closed her eyes in contentment. "I'll never let anything bad happen to you again sweetheart. I promise."