Chapter three

"This way," Hook instructed, and Henry followed him dutifully. Though at first he's instinct was to distrust the weird pirate-like man, he had come to see that he was actually alright.

"Why can't we stay in the B&B again?"

Hook rolled his eyes, and replied, "because your mother got back in touch with some old friends that offered you a more comfortable place to stay."

Henry raised his eyebrow, he couldn't help but think that the man seemed to be reciting a script, but he decided that anything would be better than the scratchy sheets. Now all he wanted to know was why his mother had failed to make an appearance all night, she had barely every let him out of her sight, and now she was just leaving him with this man that he met about 12 hours ago.

Hook knocked at one of the apartment doors, much more quietly than most people would have, and a moment later, a flustered woman with a pixie cut appeared, "Ho-Killian," she sighed in relief.

"Are you alright, love?" Hook asked with a curious look, he and Henry followed her into the living room, the pirate's gaze instantly going to her swollen stomach.

"Henry?" someone said excitedly.

Said boy looked up to see a blonde man smiling broadly and he furrowed his brow, "hi...err..."

David blinked a few times from his position at the stove, and quickly said, "David...Emma has told us so much about you."

"That's weird, she never mentioned you."

Mary Margaret tried not to smile at her grandson's perceptiveness, and added, "we only recently reconnected."

Henry nodded and tentatively took a seat on the couch, he tried to ignore his instinct to sit back, he just didn't know why he was so comfortable in this apartment, but he was determined to find out as soon as possible.

"Where did you meet?"

"In prison," Snow blurted out, and tried not to wince.

"Really? What were you in for?" Henry asked sceptically, the woman seemed far too nice to be sent to prison, let alone survive there for long.

Mary Margaret gulped and replied, "banditry."

Henry narrowed his eyes, but the sound of boots hitting the floor made him look up to see his blonde mother coming down the stairs holding a little bundle of blankets.

"Mom," Henry said to get her attention, all of which seemed to be focused on the babbling baby that she was smiling happily down at.

Emma looked up to see her son looking at her with a patented Regina look, and she desperately tried not to break, though she was sure that she had no tears left.

"Hey, kid," she smiled.

Charming came over to his daughter, and much to her relief took the baby so she could talk to Henry, though she was having trouble coming up with a lie considering that the baby clearly couldn't be Mary Margaret's, then she figured that she could just tell a half truth.

Coming over, she sat next to the brunette and watched as Hook tried to make coffee with one hand, and just silently laughed, before turning back to her son.

"Whose baby is that?"

"A...friend of mine is in the hospital, Tamsin is her baby."

"What happened to your friend?" Henry asked, suddenly feeling bad for all of his doubts, he knew that his mother didn't make friends easily.

"...Car accident," Emma replied after a moment.

Henry nodded, and looked sympathetically over to the baby, he couldn't imagine growing up without his mom, and he knew from the few stories he could remember Emma telling him, just how brutal the foster system could be.

"Is that why we're here?" he asked after a moment.

Emma nodded, figuring it would be a lot easier than pretending that she would be one a case for the duration of their trip. She already had enough on her mind after all, she had Tamsin to look after, she had to try and get Henry to remember, and she needed to kill whoever hurt Regina.

"Is that alright?" Emma asked tentatively.

Henry nodded vigorously.

Emma quickly hugged him, and stood up, "well, I'm off to visit her."

For a moment Henry thought that he had to go with her, he didn't know why, but he felt an indescribable pull to see his mother's friend.

"Can I come with you?"

Emma was taken aback for a moment, as she took Tamsin out of her father's hands, she managed to compose herself after a moment, "of course you can."

Henry sat next to the hospital bed, waiting for Emma to come back, she said that she needed to talk to the doctor, so he had agreed to sit and wait. Tamsin had been left with Mary Margaret and David, and Henry had tried to wonder why Emma had been so reluctant to leave the baby, but the moment he had walked into the hospital room, all other thoughts had fallen away.

It was for this reason that he now stared intently at the familiar woman, watching as her chest raised and fell, but gave no indication of life other than that forced upon her by the life support.

At first he thought that seeing anyone in this position should naturally make him feel this way, but he knew that couldn't be it. The thought of this 'Regina Mills' dying was not something that he could imagine living with, and he told himself it was because it would hurt his mother.

Pulling his chair closer, without thinking about what he was doing, he leaned forward. Gently, he wiped an eyelash away from her cheek. He stilled his hand, as he realised what he was doing, and slowly retracted it.

The sound of a cane tapping the floor tore him away from the brunette, and he turned to see a suited man looking at him sadly.

"Hello?" he asked with a slightly croaky voice.

The man sighed like he had just realised something, "you must be Henry...Swan," Henry nodded, and he walked into the room, "Mr Gold."

"It's nice to meet you," Henry said in a small voice.

Gold took a seat next to his grandson, and looked at the mayor sadly.

There was a time when he wouldn't care at all about Regina's health, but after Cora's visit came with certain life altering revelations, he would now do anything for the woman.

"How do you know Mayor Mills?" Henry asked after a moment.

At that moment, Emma walked in and offered Gold a small wave which he returned with a genuine smile, which fell away when he turned back to Regina.

Henry furrowed his brow, but just turned to his mother, "what did the doctor say?"

"No change," Emma sighed and fell into the chair next to Gold.

Henry looked back at Gold, "hey you never answered my question," he said as gently as possible.

Gold looked at his grandson, and wondered if anyone would ever be able to explain their family tree to him, but just shook his head and replied, "She's my daughter."

A/N Hope you guys enjoyed, reviews would be much appreciated XD