Time in between

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This chapter: Regina back home once again not everyone likes it but it appears the Charmings like the idea of her ruling again. Emma had been dreaming if someone she's never met yet she wonders if the name Regina from her dreams of if the name she heard Neil speak nothing in common.

Emma submits to her inner anger. Seeing red around her. Her assistant is clinging to her desk waiting for Emma to explode. But she can't she stays sane enough, if she didn't have Henry she wouldn't bother. Her hand slams on the desk to resist the urge to use her gun.

"What the hell are you doing here." She couldn't tell him about Henry. If he knew she knew he would invite himself back into her life.

"I need you to come with me." He seems so serious not like the child she remembered but that didn't stop her anger. "I have but one thing that might, I hope, will get your attention. Your parents." It was all he said and patiently he waited to see what she would say. Her rage dulled in surprise 'her parents.'

She looked to her assistant and a pang of guilt set as the woman coward back from her hand. Lifting her hand and placing it on her hip she gives her a light smile, apology, and all. She stomped to her office knowing the man would follow. He enters and stands awkwardly.

"What makes you think I care about them anymore?" She questioned.

"Because you hunt people, finding people, you're looking for them, and for august." He catches her reaction, he's right. "The boy that lead you to people. You can't find them unless you come with me." He hated to use this card in such away but hook ruined their first attempt and Emma wouldn't listen if it was anything else.

"You're with the creep from this morning aren't you? Great you think about kissing me too and I swear!" She runs her had through her hair 'great just great, what about this job..' She finds her urge more tempting and unclips her gun belt and puts it out of sight. She knew she'd never unless in self defense but it still ran through her head.

"He kissed you of course he did, the idiot!" She caught his tone he wasn't lying so far she would have felt it but his attitude threw her off. Like he'd talked with her recently and he seemed to be trying to imply she knew this man from that morning.

"What are you doing here though what do you have to do with my parents and august, and who was the creep?" She didn't mean to speak to long or casual with him but her mind kept rolling with questions. "Why the hell are you around now." She defintly didn't mean to imply that he was needed. He wasn't not anymore and he wasn't important to Henry nor did she want him to become so.

"Look let's just sit a while, talk, we'll go get Henry and if you want to come then we'll go but I can't explain everything.. You'll have to see it to believe it."

"You know about Henry?" It was a whisper that roared into life and he regretted mentioning Henry. He wasn't suppose to know about him. Now he looked like he knew for so long and never helped.

"No- not till recently." It wasn't a lie but there was a difference between years and a few weeks or months as he was glad to lead her to believe the latter.

"We talk, but no Henry." Her voice ever stern he could tell that was something Regina let her acquire more of. He grinned to himself and sat in a small chair. Emma finally sat and waited to hear what he had to say. Minutes ticked by in silence just as she began to think he was playing her he spoke.

"I've got no real excuse for what happened before, all I know is that I heard from August the night you took the watches." He could see her eyes fill he knew it wasn't all sadness but frustration. "He want me to leave you alone, grow, and find a better life. I don't know how he knew who I was but he had serious info about me and it scared me. I didn't think I could fit into your future."

"Look Neil I could care less why you did what you did. I'm better off but that doesn't mean your forgiven. Tell me what you know about my family." She didn't want to beat around any bushes and give him more time than she needed to stand. He opened his mouth to retort but closed it then started again.

"Well I suppose I've only known your parents for a few years. August knows more he has been quietly in your life trying to help. Eventually he planned on taking you. Like I said I can't explain where they are but I assure you if you come with me everything can be made right before it's to late." He sighed if she didn't take this he didn't know how else to convince her.

"Ok" he looked up completely with hope she took note. "Saw I believe you, you expect me to drop everything. What about Henry?" She twisted in her seat uncomfortable speaking freely about Henry.

"Bring him I have faith that once we get there it will feel like home and I think your parents wish to see you again as well as Henry." She stood up immediately.

"Get out," she flung her office door open. "I won't be taking Henry someplace I haven't been and how do I know this isn't some sort of trick."

"Emma-" he stood and dug in his pocket. Retrieved a paper with directions and handed it to her. "If you want to learn more or see them go to the docks far side of town. There's a ship.." He forced himself to pause he couldn't say to much. "It's not a trick I want you to see your parents."

"Go." She looked at the paper finding accurate directions and a number. The man in front of her had changed so and that gave her a touch of hope he wasn't lying. she had gotten use to ignoring her gift and going with instinct, to protect Henry. Over the last year it had been stronger and this was one time she had to ignore her power and protect instead.

As Neil left her began thinking back about Emma just over a year ago he had gotten to know her again. His frown deepened realizing Emma may not be running anymore but she still was closed off. Maybe it was just him but he was sure she had been doing this still over the past year. It seemed she truly wasn't as happy as Regina thought she could make her without her.

"Regina I'm sorry." He whispered to himself. He couldn't believe it maybe she was right to worry. It took Emma more than a year to see the truth before how was he suppose to do so in a few days. He left her building quietly. If she was watching he knew she would be broken even more.

Emma didn't say anything frozen in her office door way. She wanted to ignore the mans request all up till his last words which he assumed she hadn't heard. Her silence was in shock, that name, he said her name.

Regina? Instantly she thought back to her dreams where months and months of that woman had been. Short brunette hair, flawless skin, sweet smells. She had been forcing herself to believe it was a dream but everything in them felt like it had happened but never had she remembered her in real life.

The rest of the day she was quiet worked until she got Henry and even then she found herself silent. She told herself there was no way the two names were connected. She refused to think it meant anything but she felt pulled to the idea of going and seeing what Neil had to show her.

"Mom?" Henry said pulling her from her thoughts as she tucked him into bed. "Is everything ok?"

"Yes, just things on the mind." She swept hair from his face. It amazed her how though Henry was hers he seemed to look like her. Smiling weakly. "Henry?"

"Yeah." He leaned up slightly.

"Would you like to get away for a little bit." She bit her bottom lip.

"I suppose why?"

"I think I can find my parents.. Someone came to me today.." She looked at him she had told him the truth his dad hurt her but she had never thought about if he would like to know him. "Your father, said he knows where they are. Wants us to go with him."

"Maybe wherever it is you can be happy." He said a laid back down his eyebrows crunched. She had to admit she hadn't been to happy in a long time. Felt like she had never been truly happy except with Henry. "I thought you hated him."

"I do kid, but I know he's telling the truth, you know. I just wanna see what he is talking about." Her son looked warily for a minute and then nodded. Pecking him on the forehead and letting him to sleep she left. "Goodnight Henry."

One year ago:

With all her energy spent and no more strength to stay strong Regina a once powerful evil queen fell to her knees. Guilt a grief sinking in she let a sob break from her lips. In the presence of only Emma's parents she wept. She let all that was her world drive away, she let the things that made her want to live have to go.

A comforting arm takes her by the shoulders. Looking up she finds her greatest enemy quiet as she may be Snow's eyes echoed loudly with a pain that could equal her own. She couldn't wouldn't stop herself from crying out. She had made her questionable happiness real and then was forced to let it go.

She whispered wept words to herself and screamed to the world her frustration. Her curse had only backfired and her greatest pain was to know love, have love, and yet not be with her loved ones.

"I will not rest till you are here." She said eventually composing herself enough to stand. She was a queen again and would not let herself be found weak enough to finish off now. Having plans already rolling through her head. "Emma I will bring you home."

Looking around her she stood in Emma's suppose to be nursery where the curse had taken place. This time she was not evil and not as hateful, casting a curse. Her eyes fell to snow and charming, the world around them was back as it was but not the people. Somehow she was thankful that Charming wasn't dying in Snow's arms as he had been the night she cast the curse and came for the baby Emma. For Emma's sake she was glad but also that when Emma returned she wouldn't hate her.

"Regina," Charming spoke with a soft voice, "stay just tonight with us. Whatever it is that you seek to find begin tomorrow." She pondered this sure one day they would be whole again, a family, and happy but to stay meant she wouldn't be alone to hurt in privacy. Just like that she understood she didn't want to be alone. She only nodded feeling a relief flitter over her. She for once greeted the idea of mending things happily.

Regina couldn't say it was a perfect night there was tension. there was people, all probably unsure what had happened, panicking flinging themselves to be guided by Snow. This wasn't the thing she liked nor Capone of doing at the moment. so they discussed a change at least Regina and Charming did while Snow ate and nodded at every good point he made.

"You took care of Storybrooke made it safe, if you could be the same here, it would be best for you to rule." Snow nodded in agreement. He smiled at Regina. "After all it is rightfully your crown and you have proven fit to us." Again regina saw Snow nod then lift her head to look Regina in the eyes and smiled.

The night dragged on as peasants, nobles, and all alike gathered in the castle court yard. It was just like many in the kingdom to be more furious at her for using magic, for bringing them back, for giving up so much for them than to be happy she saved them from something far worse than the simple curse she put them under. She simply choose by the end of the night not to say if she would be queen again or not.

Taking her leave as soon as the crowd was dismissed. She had yet to care that she was back. She had yet to feel anything except her pain. She was glad that she could sit quietly and let her mind wander a little.

Her attention stretched only as far as hearing what the James charming had been saying but not what everyone else felt like ranting on about. It was made clear no one was to pass judgement on her or threaten her. Whatever the Charmings say goes of course so how would they take her as leader.

In a cold chambers she thinks about the proposition given to her at dinner. To her it would be great and she knows this time she'd be a better queen. She can't remove the thoughts of why the Charmings would let her be queen again. It was against their nature to let her after everything she had done. Before she could stop them even in her own privacy she felt burning trails streak her face.

The simple thought that she had change and why she had ached her. To know that she was home and what she gave for that gave her no peace. She wondered where Emma was at that moment, if she was safe, and if Henry and her was happier. She stifled a sniffle walking up to a mirror.

"Show me Emma swan." Where her reflection set was replaced with a crystal image of Emma with Henry. She didn't need to wonder if the place they were in was the new home Regina told her to look for. The room was bare while the two lay on the couch together. Emma spoke, Regina unable to see her face just listened.

"I'll make this one stick kid I promise." She faintly heard a familiar sound of Henry soft snores, she smiled, he was sleeping and Emma was taking to him comforting him as he slept. Her knees weakened the longer to watched but she refused to stop until long after Emma fell a sleep.

"Sweet dreams my loves." Leaving the mirror to return to normal. Silently she crawled into the bed provided until she decided to be queen. Her eye lids fell closed one last time instantly dreaming of her family

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next chapter if Emma and Henry give the trip a try What will they find. Will she make a good leader.