*note: I see some of my readers have lost interest due to the darker subject matter. That's alright, I understand. Those who chose to continue reading, thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to me.
My promise for a SwanQueen happy ending still stands. So far I've kept my promises haven't I? So stay with Emma and Regina here and see how things play out? ;)
Chapter 17
He stood outside the shop under the afternoon sun.
Mirrors.
He leaned on to the lamp post, wondering if he should go in. Surprise her. Enjoy the look of horror on her face…
Suddenly a boy stepped out. He was happily munching on what looked like cookies.
The boy who had his eyes.
"Hey there" he smiled at the kid.
"Hi." the dark blue eyes looked up at him curiously.
"Is your mother inside?"
"Yeah…you want to come in?"
"Nah…another time" he eyed the boy curiously, "I'm your mom's friend…really…old friend…"
"Oh. I'll tell her you came by, what's your name?" his little eyes stared at him, taking in his appearance, probably confused why his mother would know this…shabby…probably homeless, living on the streets type of guy…
"Daniel. Tell her I'll come by again soon…" He smiled.
"Henry!" a voice called from within. The boy jumped at the sound and rushed inside the store.
I'm coming for you, Regina…
He thought happily before stepping into the busy street.
"How many times do I have to tell you…" Regina spoke, without looking up from her laptop screen as she typed the new client list "don't talk to strangers, Henry…"
"But that wasn't a stranger!" Henry groaned, munching on his cookie.
"Oh? A friend of yours?"
"Not mine! Yours!" He smiled.
"Really? who…"
"He said his name's Daniel. He'll come by again soon." Henry shrugged.
Regina froze at the mention of that name.
No…
"D-d-aniel…you sure he said…Daniel…?" Regina swallowed hard as Henry nodded.
Oh god…god please…no…
"Henry, grab your bag." she breathed, her head suddenly throbbed painfully.
"But I thought-
"Now!" She hissed, grabbing her purse and car keys.
She got Henry into the car and sat behind the wheel. The car slowly rolled into the traffic.
Regina tried with all her strength to fight the urge to speed…run away…far away…
She had to keep Henry safe.
What if that monster…what if he knew that Henry…
She could feel her eyes burn.
No…I'm not going to…not yet…I've to get us away first…get Henry somewhere safe…
She could think of only one place.
Regina gripped her close, breathing into those reassuring arms as they wrapped around her as she explained everything. The arms only hugged her tighter.
Safe…she felt safe….
She sobbed into Emma's collar as she held her. Her heart felt heavy, her head a mess of thousand thoughts…
Why was he at the store?
Why did he come back…for her? why…
What if he tries to talk to Henry again…tells him who he really is…his father…
"He won't hurt you again" Emma's voice was steady but grave. Regina wanted to believe her. She wanted to believe he would never affect her the way he once did.
Then why do I feel this way? Why is my heart racing…why do I wanna run…
Her body was shaking. She felt out of control. Unsure. It bothered her.
I'm supposed to be in control…stronger…then why…?
Just learning of his presence, just knowing he was close by somewhere had crumbled all her strength.
Daniel.
The name was enough to bring her nightmares back.
"Stay with me tonight" Emma whispered, still holding her, "Ruby's visiting her grandma, so Henry can take her room. Where's your father?"
"He took a long delivery trip down South; it'll take him a day or two to get back…" Regina muttered.
At least he was far away from this mess…
"I have a friend at BPD, I'll give him a call tonight."
Regina nodded.
Graham came by after his shift. He didn't wait for coffee or pleasantries and simply jumped to business.
Emma liked this about him. They had gone to high school together. Later she went off to college but Graham chose to join the academy. He was a decorated officer at Boston Police Department.
She had explained everything over the phone- about Daniel, his connection to Regina, to Henry, what he had done- everything.
He spoke softly to Regina, listening for any additional details as they all sat in Emma's living room.
"Call Henry" Graham looked up towards her. Regina started to protest,
"He doesn't need to-
"I need to know how he looks like. What you've described to me…the things he said while…and the way he acted…there's been recent cases…I only want to make sure Daniel isn't responsible since, according to you, he's only just returned to this part of the city after years, and we suddenly have incidents that match…well…his method…"
"I'll go get him" Emma walked inside to get Henry. Regina nodded, slightly stricken by the news.
"Hi Henry" Graham smiled at the little boy as he walked into the room with Emma
"Hi." he mumbled, staring at his feet.
Graham talked cautiously, trying his best not to intimidate the boy. Emma watched as Henry slowly opened up to him, talking about his hobbies, his interest.
"How was your day today? Anything interesting?" Graham enquired after a while. Emma knew he was trying to get Henry to start talking about his encounter with Daniel.
"Wasn't anything special. Mom's friend came by at the store, before we got here to see Emma."
Emma heard a sharp intake of breath from Regina's direction. Graham pressed on.
"Really? Was it a guy or girl"
"It was a man" Henry shrugged.
"Have you seen him before?" Graham asked, taking a casual tone.
"Nope. He looked like those homeless guys…"
"Really? How so?"
"Well you know…he had a beard…and he was wearing like really old clothes kind of smelly…his eyes were really blue…like mine…"
"Hmm…did you notice anything else…?"
"He seemed nice…he smiled at me and" he chuckled as he continued, "he didn't have one of his front tooth" he giggled.
"Really?! Well thanks Henry, it was nice talking to you" Graham reached his hand out, Henry shook it eagerly.
"Can I see your badge?" Henry asked, smiling hopefully at his new cop friend.
"Sure! You can borrow it and look at it in your room while I talk to your mom here? How about that?"
"Alright" Henry carefully took the detectives' badge from Graham's hand and ran into his room.
"So, what do you think?" Emma asked after Henry disappeared.
"I think we've a bigger problem" Graham spoke gravely, "two nights ago, we found a victim near a dance club, she was beaten brutally, definitely assaulted sexually as well…she had put up a good fight but never managed to see her attacker."
"She managed to knock off his tooth" he continued, "and according to Henry, Daniel is missing one"
Emma looked towards Regina who was staring at the floor. Her face was pale. She didn't speak a single word.
Emma walked over and sat down beside her. Her heart nearly broke as Regina clutched her hand. She felt it shake within hers.
"Graham, you need to get him" she whispered, her eyes never leaving Regina's.
God…she's so shaken up…that son of a bitch…I'll kill him…
"I need more proof Emma, I've to ask around the crime scene and see if anyone saw a man with Henry's description." Graham added, "I will however have officers posted near the shop, Regina's home and near Henry's school. He won't get anywhere near you."
"It's not enough…what he's done…he needs to be put away…" Emma said through gritted teeth.
"I promise you," Graham was looking at both her and towards Regina, who was still very much pale and frozen in place, "if he's our guy then he'll be punished. We'll get him."
He reached over and gave Regina's hand a reassuring squeeze then nodded in Emma's direction.
Emma locked the door after he left, then checked on Henry before sitting back beside Regina.
"He's coming after me…" Regina finally spoke, her voice dry.
"He won't come anywhere near you" Emma spoke firmly, "I'm going to make sure of that.
Regina breathed slowly as Emma put her arms around her.
He watched, standing outside the empty town house, as a cop car slowly rolled by.
His message had sunk in then. He smiled at the thought of a scared Regina hiding behind closed doors, scared of her shadow frantically calling BPD for protection….
Cornered. She has her back against the wall. Exactly as he wanted.
She was probably staying someplace else for the night, seeking safety.
She'll come back. He could wait until then.
If he knew anything about her, she'd want to fight back, fight him, and she'd do it from her own grounds. She'd be back.
I'm waiting for you, Regina…
His heart pounded in anticipation as he watched over the house, only a shadow under the night sky.
*note: So now Graham's in the story! I'll try to update as soon as possible.