CHAPTER 2

8 Years Later

Regina was frantic. She couldn't sit still while her son was missing. She paced back and forth as Zelena watched her from inside the dining room. She'd been around her long enough to know it was better to just keep silent. Thankfully Luka had also picked up on things and was keeping herself quietly occupied.

There was the sound of a car out front. It sounded like a clunker had broken down. Regina looked out the window and saw her son exiting an unfamiliar car. She raced out the door.

"Henry! Where have you been?" She bent to hug him but he just pushed her away. It had become a new thing for him lately. She frowned but quickly covered her hurt.

"I found my real Mom!" Henry pushed past her and stomped into the house.

Regina stood watching him before she felt a presence behind her. She turned and looked into a pair of gorgeous green eyes.

The blonde gave her a little wave and a small smile. "I'm his Mom."

The two women stood staring at one another. Emma put her hands in her back pockets and began rocking on her heels. She was a little tongue tied. While Henry had been going on and on about his Mom being the evil queen he hadn't bothered to mention that she was drop dead gorgeous.

Regina was at a loss as to what to say. Finally she held out her hand, "Regina Mills and you've met my son Henry," she emphasized the my part. Emma heard it loud and clear.

Right, she nodded. She clasped her hand in hers and shook it. "It's Emma by the way. Emma Swan."

Regina exhaled all of the tension she had been carrying while imaging 100001 different scenarios of things that could be happening to her little boy. Now he was home safe she could finally relax. She gave Emma a small smile, "It's late. Would you like to try some of the best apple cider you've ever had?"

Emma's eyebrows raised practically to her hairline, "Got anything stronger?" Emma asked. Regina gave a small chuckle. Emma thought she should laugh more. With her face lit up it was hard to turn away from her. Emma blushed.

She followed Regina into the house taking it all in while she led her into a dining room. The place was huge. Definitely better than any she'd been in during her life. Even the nicest place she'd ever lived didn't compare to this place. Regina poured their drinks at the side board. Then she handed one over to Emma.

Emma gulped her drink. It was strong. She sputtered. "That's strong," she managed to cough out. Suddenly a woman appeared from the stairs.

"They're fine," Zelena said to Regina's unanswered question. She had been upstairs checking in on Henry and Luka while Regina was tending to the situation with this woman. Now she turned to her, "Hi. I'm Zelena. And you are - ?"

"Emma, Emma Swan," Emma took the proffered hand. "I'm Henry's … um…," she glanced over at Regina. She wasn't sure who this woman was and she didn't want to overstep anymore boundaries.

"She's Henry's birth mother," Regina answered for her. "This is my sister." She said answering Emma's unspoken question of who this woman was.

Emma nodded then set her glass down. "I'm sorry for the problems this caused. When Henry showed up on my door it was quite a surprise. I just wanted to make sure that he got home safe. I didn't think – I should've made him call and let you know he was safe. I'm sorry," Emma apologized again.

Regina just nodded.

"Well, I'm gonna go now," Emma excused herself. Neither woman moved to stop her. They seemed to silently be having a conversation between themselves. Emma slipped out.

She went out to her car. She had been hoping for something in her life to change. She had a feeling that it just did.

She jumped into her car. She was staring at the house when she noticed Henry's bag on the floor with his book that he talked about like it was the holy grail. She almost got out and returned it but thought better. It would give her something to do tomorrow. And she could check up on things there.

It had nothing to do with the butterflies in her belly thinking about Regina's Mills' huge brown eyes. Or how beautiful her smile was. Nope. Nothing like that at all. This was all about making sure her son was in good hands.

She put the car in drive and decided to head into the downtown area. She was sure she had seen an inn. She could spend the night there and then head out in the afternoon.

MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF MF

"I'm not talking to you. I hate you. My real Mom's here now. She's going to break your curse and you're going to be left with nothing. She's the Savior and she's good. You're the Evil Queen. I know it's true no matter what you say."

Regina stood in the hallway as Henry slammed the door in her face. She had gone upstairs to talk with him about what had just happened. Instead she was met with his usual vitriol.

She looked over at her daughter. She had a cross look on her face and Regina sighed. Seemed she couldn't do right by either of her children.

Luka had come out into the hallway when she'd heard the commotion. She stared over at her Mom with her arms crossed. She had had a recital today that she'd had to miss because of Henry and his lastest stunt. She was sick and tired of everything he'd been allowed to get away with. Her mom practically completely ignored her because Henry needed 'special attention' now. It sickened her.

Regina's face softened as she turned to her daughter. "Hi baby."

Luka quirked an eyebrow at her, "Oh I exist now?" Luka pointed to herself with an expression filled with incredulity.

Regina sighed deeply. "You always exist." She walked over to her daughter and put her arm out but the girl backtracked away from her. "Look, I'm really sorry you had to miss your recital. It was just really important that we find Henry and get him home safe. I could never forgive myself if something happened to either one of you. You understand right baby?"

Luka knew what her Mom wanted. But she wasn't ready to give in to her so easily. This had been happening too much lately.

Ever since Henry had found out he was adopted he'd gone on a terror streak. She had always loved and looked up to her big brother but now his rudeness had become so out of control that she preferred to never have to talk to him again.

And her Mom was the worst part. Henry acted out and suddenly she had to drop everything to deal with his latest round of cruelty. Luka just couldn't understand why her Mom didn't just wash her hands of him and the situation.

"Sure Mom," Luka answered sarcastically before turning and shutting her door in her Mom's face too.

Regina stared at the two closed doors. She had no idea what she was doing wrong or why her children were rebelling. She had thought they were a close family who were good at communicating. But lately Henry had made it perfectly clear that that wasn't the case.

This lastest stunt was so out of control she didn't even know where to begin. To steal a credit card and then to run off gallivanting around a strange city where anything could've happened to him. All so he could track down his 'real Mom'. That one still stung but Regina had to shake it off.

She made her way downstairs to her sister. Zelena gave her a supportive smile before reaching out and pulling her sister into her arms. "His Mom is the Savior," Regina finally gave in and let her tears fall.

Zelena was the only other person who knew about the curse and her sister's reasons for casting it in the first place. What she had said to Henry the day Luka was born was still all true. She did and would always love her baby sister no matter what. She held her tighter as she stroked her hair. And that would never change.