A/N: I wasn't planning on writing a second part, but the lovely Trenesha gave me such a great prompt that I just had to finish this up quickly. Thanks so much to her and the amazing Grace for betaing! Enjoy and please let me know what you think.

Part II

Two days later, she's invited to dinner by Snow. Well, invited might be the wrong word since Snow rather insisted she come. You can't barricade yourself in your vault forever, Regina! were her words when she showed up on her doorstep the previous night, curiously eyeing the box resting next to the entrance, ready to be carried down into the basement.

I have a problem to take care of - a problem you talked me into creating was her response back, knowing exactly how much of a low blow it was. Snow had only meant to help. And yes, Regina agrees, her intentions may have been pure, but it backfired in the worst way possible. She very well knew Snow was probably beating herself up over this, blaming herself for talking Regina into splitting herself, but even though her other half might be evil, she was the petty one. Petty, but also willing to let a pair of puppy eyes guilt trip her into agreeing to said dinner. Without Emma and the pirate.

So, that's how she finds herself here 24 hours later, pacing in front of the loft, not really sure whether she should knock. She's a little bit too early, but that's because she'd taken half the day in order to mentally prepare for the evening, to practice a smile in the mirror and think of safe topics to talk about. Regina can hear the clattering from the pans and plates inside. Someone seems to be setting the table.

Her fingers are absently playing with the engagement ring on her finger, the one she hasn't taken off since she placed it on her finger two days ago. She needs to stop this. It's a nasty habit and it draws way too much attention to Robin's ring, but the thought of taking it off was even worse. Instead, Regina balls her hands into fists, pressing them to her side whilst mentally cursing herself. So what if she's wearing a new ring? Nobody will notice. Nobody will know.

Taking a deep breath, the mayor is readying herself to knock, when the door is swinging open by itself, revealing her favorite toothy smile. "Henry."

"Mom!" She barely gets time to prepare herself for the bear hug she's pulled into by her sweet baby boy, when Henry wraps his arms around her, almost throwing her off balance. Regina knows she's missed him terribly these past few days but seeing him, feeling him, more than intensifies this feeling of hers. It's safer for him here, she agrees. With her Evil Half dropping by with unannounced visits, she can never be absolutely sure what would happen if the Queen showed up and Henry was there. Evil or not, she wouldn't consciously hurt him - or at least Regina hopes she wouldn't.

"I'm so glad you came," he mumbles into her shoulder, his arms still wrapped around her, not willing to let her go any time soon. Regina smiles and wonders why she ever tried to decline Snow's offer in the first place. If the princess had been smart, she would have sent her son in the first place because Regina would never turn him down. But maybe that's why Snow didn't do it. She shakes her head, pulling her lips into a content smile. It doesn't matter now because she's here with her son hugging her tight. What more does she need?

Snow and David greet her into their home with friendly hugs and kisses on the cheek. The irony isn't lost on her but they have come a long way. It doesn't escape her notice that Henry keeps hovering around her, never more than two or three feet away. At another time, she would find the gesture touching, but Regina knows her son is worried about her. More so, because he feels partly responsible for her decision to split herself. They'd talked about it, about what would have happened if he hadn't run off to New York, but Regina had explained to him that sooner or later, living in a world of 'what ifs' would break him.

"Take a seat, dinner's almost ready," Snow chirps, handing David the bottle of red wine to go with the casserole in the oven. Henry pulls her over to the table, asking her to sit down right next to him. It's nice to have him so close, his presence is calming, almost cheerful. She thanks David for the wine, allows herself one, maybe two glasses, because she didn't take the car here.

"It smells delicious," Regina says, sipping at her wine while Snow explains where she got the recipe. She should be listening to her step-daughter's chattering, but all of a sudden Henry's mood seems to have faltered. He's staring at her hand, precisely, at the ring. A sluggish feeling settles in her stomach and she starts nervously fidgeting with the ring, not realizing she's drawing even more attention to it.

"You… you found it."

Her heart is hammering in her chest when she nervously bites her lower lip before she asks. "What?"

"The ring."

"Oh… You… You knew?" Her son is squirming uncomfortably in his chair, his eyes looking anywhere but her. "Henry?" Regina asks tentatively.

"I… I wanted to tell you, but I thought it would make you all sad again. I tried to find it, but Robin said he hid it well, and…"

A loud clang comes from the kitchen, followed by a hiss and Snow's worried, "David, careful!". Apparently he dropped the hot pot with the potatoes into the sink, burning his hand with the steaming hot water. Regina jumps up, rushing over to the couple. His hand is bright red and vibrant, shaking.

"Let me," Regina offers, not waiting for an answer before she lets white magic seep from her hand over David's, the red skin slowly turning to its usual color. "There. As good as new."

"Thank you, Regina," David mumbles, but she can see his gaze is hung up on the ring on her finger as well. She wonders what the big deal is, why the ring is suddenly the center of attention. Do they know? Is it pity?

"I found it when I cleared out Robin's things from my wardrobe. It… it was in one of his jacket pockets."

"I'm so sorry, Regina. He was so excited the day we went to get it and…"

"We?" Regina asks surprised. Once again, she could feel her pulse speeding up. Could it be? Could they have known?

David nods and points over to the table where Henry is still sitting with a guilty expression on his face. Regina doesn't want to sit she wants them to tell her now. But she is not demanding anything. Not when the expression on her sons face is worse than that time he apologized to her for calling her Evil Queen.

"Robin came over to ours a few days before we went to the Underworld."

"He… He asked me if I would be okay with him proposing to you," Henry mumbles, still not looking up to her. Regina's heart is aching. It's hammering against her chest and she doesn't know how to breathe. Robin had asked Henry for his blessing? Tears start brimming in her eyes. What did you ever do to deserve such a considerate man? A man who treated her son like an adult. Who knew that he was one of the most important people in her life.

"Please don't cry, Mom!"

Surprised, Regina touches her cheeks, finding them wet with tears. She wants to apologize, doesn't want her son to see her like this, crying and vulnerable. But it is Snow who reassures Henry that it's all right. That she has to hear it.

"I asked him if he would mind me tagging along and he said it wouldn't be such a bad idea because I've known you longer than he has, so I would know what ring you'd like."

Regina nods. This is just something Robin would do, to give Henry a feeling of purpose by consulting him on such an important matter.

"The first time we went, was kind of a disaster. I mean, this lady only showed us rings we couldn't even afford and she treated us really badly. I kind of think she remembered Robin from the Enchanted Forest. I had to make him promise that he wouldn't steal any of the rings after we walked out. That's when David found us."

A tearful laugh escapes her at the thought of her soulmate breaking into jewelry store in order to steal an engagement ring for her. You knew I was a thief when you met me. Yeah. She knew. It would just be like him to do something like this but thankfully her little prince had talked some sense into her hot headed bandit.

"Yeah," David agrees, "I was driving by with the truck when I saw Robin angrily kicking against one of the newspaper boxes. He seemed quite upset. I offered to drive them to another store the next day."

"Roland came too!" Henry smiles. "And that day we found out that Robin might be a good thief… but has a terrible, terrible taste in jewelry! Even Roland agreed everything he picked out was ugly!"

David winks at her, knowing full well Henry is exaggerating. Robin has given her jewelry before and she loved it. She doesn't know why, but now she is laughing. And crying. Laughing and crying at the same time. Regina can totally imagine that this is what happened, how Robin would pick out unfortunate choices and make the boys feel needed by letting them decide which ring he would be giving their mother. She's never loved him more than right in this moment. Henry reaches for her hand, which she squeezes tight. Regina doesn't believe in coincidence; had she just thrown out the jacket she might never have found it. Instead, she had found it. He had wanted her to find it, she has to believe that. With a watery smile, she pulls Henry close, pressing a wet kiss to his forehead.

"I'm sorry he never got the chance to give it to you," Henry mumbles and she hugs him tighter.

"But Henry, look…" She's holding up her hand where the stones are catching the light, sparkling in all colors of the rainbow. "He did."

THE END