Title: Home Is Where The Heart Is
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Characters: Emma Swan, Regina Mills, Henry Mills, Captain Hook, Walsh, Snow White, Prince Charming, Granny, Zelena, Robin Hood
Category: Romance, Angst, Drama, Memory Loss (I mean, it's Once. According to canon it's not possible to write a story without memory loss.) Canon Divergence AU
Rating: M, for swearing and such
Word count: 57,406 (total)
Summary: Emma Swan is no one's fool. She's certainly not going to drink the strange liquid that the creepy Ren Faire Reject that's been stalking she and her son is offering her in the middle of the street - even if they are in front of a police station. So what's a girl to do? Nothing but go home and get engaged to the great guy in her life. And everything is pretty amazing until her son disappears without a trace. Then she has to go track him down in some tiny town in Maine populated by the strangest people she's ever met and a woman her son has unexpectedly bonded with.
Spoilers/Timeline: For Season 3, beginning with "Going Home"
Author's Note: Many thanks to Oparu for the beta and Race for the suggestions. This fic is better because of them.

Check back tomorrow! I'm trying for daily updates. :D

Since Regina had woken up in her bed in Storybrooke, reveling for an instant in the soft mattress and sheets that slid against her skin like a caress, she hadn't given a moment's thought to Emma Swan. Relief had come first, flooding through her body at being back in the place she considered home far more than the Enchanted Forest, followed immediately by thoughts of Henry. She had flown out of bed, bare feet slapping against the hardwood of the hallway, and thrown open the door to Henry's room, praying to who she didn't know and didn't particularly care, that her son would be in his bed. That sending him away into the real world and the rest of the town into the Enchanted Forest had been a nightmare, and not reality. The pain had hit her like a blow to her core, knocking the air out of her and driving her to her knees. She had fallen beside his bed and grabbed desperately for his pillow. But no matter how deeply she had breathed it in, no scent of him had remained.

She had stayed there, clutching, hoping, until she had heard footsteps on the stairs. Even that hadn't been enough to rouse her.

"Regina?" Of course, it had been Snow calling out to her, full of worry, her voice high and strident.

"What do you want?" Regina demanded over her shoulder as she brushed against the pillow one last time, wiping away tears, before setting the pillow on Henry's bed and pushing herself to her feet. Her legs were stiff and pain shot through them; Regina ignored it.

"You're here!" Snow said, throwing her arms around Regina as she came into the room. She didn't let Regina go, but stepped back to arm's' length. "David and I were worried when you didn't show up with everyone else."

Regina scoffed. "Just because the rabble gathered, dear..."

Snow shot her a knowing look and repeated. "We were worried." Her cheerful demeanor fell away to be replaced with a frown. "Do you remember anything?" She swallowed and glanced down at her stomach. "I...don't. No one I've talked to has."

It took a moment for Regina to process the bump that now preceded Snow wherever she went. The lump in Regina's throat grew and the ache in her chest intensified. She pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose. "Congratulations." She couldn't keep the sarcasm from her voice. She knew the answer, but she couldn't help but ask her next question. "Have you seen Henry?"

Snow actually flinched. "Oh, Regina." She moved to touch Regina's arm again. Regina stiffened and stepped away before she could make contact. If there was one thing she couldn't abide at the moment, it was sympathy. "We'll find him," Snow said.

It was meant to be reassuring, Regina knew. Words David and Snow exchanged to reaffirm their love for one another in the most disgusting and sappy manner possible. They tasted like ash in Regina's mouth. Love had never come easily to her, never fallen into her lap, but repeatedly been torn from her in the most brutal manner possible. Now Henry was gone too, gone far out into the real world who knew where. There was no guarantee that she would ever find her son, much less see him again.

A shriek had rent the air then, so anguished and vile that it could be nothing but a cry of attack. Regina knew that feeling, had lived and breathed it. Fire flared in the palm of her hand without a thought, the only old and dear companion left to her, as a grin slid across her lips. At least that had been familiar.

Behind it all echoed the backbeat of Henry, Henry, Henry, never ceasing. He was within her reach in a way he hadn't been in the Enchanted Forest and nothing would keep her from her son.

Now with Emma standing on the other side of the door, Regina felt another smile curling up onto her lips. Out there was a woman she had spent the better part of a year trying to destroy and when that had proved futile, set about doing her best to ignore. Together they had thwarted a curse that would have doomed the town and fought their way across Neverland, moving the moon and defeating that little creep Peter Pan to save their son. Emma remembered none of that now, the victories or defeats. She didn't know Regina or remember the battles they had fought, but Regina did. She had the advantage here and she was playing to win. Regina would do whatever it took to ensure she never lost Henry again, even if it meant playing nice with Emma Swan, using every bit of knowledge she had gained about the woman to make the best damn impression she could.

Her teeth were bared into a grin as she swung the door open, ignoring Emma's harsh demand and the ache that tightened around her chest like leather bands. "Miss Swan, do come in." Regina turned away and retreated into the entryway. "How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you've ever tasted?"

"Henry!" It didn't surprise Regina when he was the first thing Emma zeroed in one. She wouldn't have expected anything less from Emma and she waited patiently as Emma looked him over from head to toe. "What the hell is going on, kid? What are you doing in some tiny town in Maine so far off the beaten path, I got lost three times just trying to get here."

Regina's eyes narrowed at that apparent confirmation that the Dark Curse was still working. If it had taken even Emma that kind of time and effort to find Storybrooke...

She glanced over at Regina. "And who the hell are you?" Emma tugged Henry behind her, her hand falling to her side and what Regina imagined was the holster at her side. "Did you take my kid?"

"No," Regina said, just managing to squash her instinctive indignation at the accusation and the immediate response of "My son!" "No," Regina repeated more firmly. "Henry arrived here earlier seeking some information, but he refused to tell me anything about his parent or guardian. I was just about to call the Sheriff to report a missing child when you came barging into my home."

"You can't just run away from home without any explanation," Emma continued, folding her arms across her chest and giving Henry a stern glare. Something like vindication settled in Regina's stomach. "Seriously, kid? I need an explanation." Emma shot another quick glance between Regina and Henry. "And if he didn't tell you anything, then how did you know my name?"

There was only one possible explanation that didn't make Regina sound like she should be in an asylum, but the mere thought of it burned like acid in the back of Regina's throat. She forced herself to say it anyway. "Your son is quite the gentleman. He introduced himself to me when I answered the door. Your name was a logical deduction."

Henry made a noise, something between a gasp and a strangled cry. Regina refused to look over at him. She didn't want to know what expression was on his face or what that sound had meant. Was he sad that he was once again a Mills or was it relief? Pain on her behalf? It was too much to hope. Regina couldn't, so she focused on Emma, who was looking if not relieved, then slightly less like she was about to draw the weapon at her side.

"Let me repeat, would you like to come into my study and sit down? I have some wonderful cider," Regina added, pushing down the bitter smile that wanted to curve over her lips. "We can talk."

"Sure," Emma said, glancing away for an instant to throw her arm around Henry's neck and pull him tight against her side. "You'll excuse me if I don't want Henry out of my sight right now though."

"Of course," Regina said, stepping back. "I can imagine."

"Yeah?" It was plain that Emma didn't believe her. "I doubt it. Unless you've been in this situation it's kinda hard, lady."

"I...my name is Regina, not lady, and I have been." Out of the corner of her eye, Regina saw Emma blanche and Henry jostle her with his elbow as they followed her into the study. Emma shot him a glare in return, still unhappy about his disappearance, but the grim set of her face indicated that she got it and she was sorry. When they had been seated with glances of cider for all, some of the non-hard variety for Henry, Emma set the glass down on the coffee table, missing the coaster completely and leaned forward.

"Listen, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed before... I've been an ass since I got here, but if you've been here before you know how scared shitless I am right now. The kid's never done anything like this before. I was pretty crazy when I was his age, but I never thought he would..." Emma shrugged. "I'm sorry. You've been really nice."

Regina nodded, taking a quick fortifying sip before she spoke. "Your apology is unnecessary." Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. "I did things you can't imagine when I lost my son." And she had. She would have stopped at nothing to force Emma out of town. She had done whatever it took, right up until the moment she had realized she was hurting Henry. She had hurt her son and she had sworn in that moment that it would never happen again. Regina shook her head to dispel those memories. "But I think perhaps all you need to do to reassure yourself about why Henry would do this is to ask him yourself."

"Right, uh," Regina could have laughed at the desperate look that Henry shot her, at a loss for what explanation he was supposed to be giving. She had been thinking, wracking her brain since the moment she had realized Emma was at the door and there was only she could think of that would convince Emma to stay in town. It was the same thing that had done it before, family and a challenge. "You see, Mom..."

"If I may?" Regina interjected. When no one stopped her, she continued. "Henry came to see me because he thought I might have information about his family."

"His family?" Emma shot her a confused look. "Henry, you know they found me..." she glanced at Regina and lowered her voice as she turned back to him. "You know where they found me. There's no records or anything, kid." Her brow furrowed.

"I misspoke," Regina said. "I meant, his father's family. You see I worked for Henry's grandfather for some time when I was younger. You could say he was my mentor."

"Neal?" Emma blurted out. "You know-?" She cut herself off and turned back to Henry. "How, Henry? How did you find her? I never could find anything about him."

Henry shrugged. "I just got lucky I guess. I spent a lot of time at the library? The stuff you'd told me helped and I made some guesses."

"You should have told me," Emma said, soft and wounded.

Henry looked down and nudged at the arch of one socked foot with the toe of the other. "You were so happy. I didn't want to ruin it."

"Kid..." Emma touched his shoulder and ducked down to meet his eyes. She took a deep breath and forced herself to smile. "Yeah, I am pretty happy with Walsh, but that's not... That's nothing. You're the most important thing in my life, Henry. You always will be, no matter what. If you're not happy then I want to know about it. I would have helped you."

Henry bit his lip, looking touched, and beneath that, nervous. Despite his many operations and schemes, Henry had never been a good liar. Regina had always been able to see through his lies. His best chance of hiding something from her had been lies of omission and he had been very good at that. "Yeah." He put on his best penitent son expression and threw his arms around Emma's waist. "I'm sorry, Mom." His eyes met Regina's behind Emma's back and dropped away again as quickly as he had met her gaze with an apologetic grimace.

"Don't do it again, kid," Emma said, her voice muffled by Henry wrapped tightly around her. She hugged him hard and then let go to straighten back up. "I guess we should probably be going. Thanks for letting us get everything sorted out here. I know it's really late, but we should be getting back."

"Wait," Henry almost shouted, reaching out to catch Emma's hand. "We can't leave."

"Henry-" Emma started as she rose.

"You said," Henry exclaimed. "You said all I had to do was ask," he paraphrased with all the quick thinking of a child used to using logic and well thought out arguments to get his way. "Well, we're here and I want to find my dad. M-Regina can help." He bit his lip, looking worried at his slip Regina knew. Her own heart was beating rapidly in her chest, whether because he had come so close to slipping or because she hated hearing her name out of his lips, Regina couldn't say. It gave no sign of slowing as the moment dragged on. What she would do if she and Henry couldn't convince Emma to stay, Regina didn't know. She couldn't think about it, not yet.

Emma bent down until she could look Henry in the eye. "Henry," she began gently. "If you're upset about me and Walsh..." She shook her head. "I didn't realize you were so upset. I would never have told him yes."

Regina's heart skipped a beat at that. The thought of Emma forming a new life outside of the town, moving on had never occurred to her. Henry had always been enough for her. Graham was nothing more than the occasional diversion. But Emma, Emma was different. Emma Swan had always wanted a family, the bigger the better. And now she was engaged. It was a strange thought, and one that would make this much more complicated.

"I'm not, Mom," Henry protested. This time he didn't look at Regina. She would just have to get used to him calling Emma that. And not calling her that. "Really. I just want to know my dad too. Is that so crazy?"

"No, but, Henry..." Emma sighed. "Kid, your dad was a long time ago, at a really different point in my life." Her voice dropped even further until Regina could barely hear her. "I don't want him to disappoint you. You deserve better. Neal's not-" She shook her head. "I've changed; I don't know if he has. Did that Hook guy find you? Did he say something to you about your dad?" "What?" Henry blurted out, thrown off in his confusion. "No. I haven't even seen him since he showed up at the apartment. Just let me try," Henry begged, grabbing her hand. "Please, E- Ma?" So Hook had contacted Emma somehow. That was interesting. Yet another thing to worry about. If they made it through this conversation, then she and Henry would have to have a talk soon about his conflicting memories. Lying to Henry when it had been the only way to keep him and keep the curse from unraveling had been hard enough. Watching him having to juggle two sets of memories and worry about she and Emma's feelings through it all was almost worse.

"Okay, kid," Emma said after a long moment of silence, unable to resist the pleading look Henry had been giving her. "Okay. We still need to find a place to stay for tonight though."

"I'm afraid that might be difficult," Regina interjected, pursing her lips. "This is a small town and there have been a few disappearances here of late. Some of the more timid townsfolk have gathered to be closer to the center of town. Granny's Bed and Breakfast is the only place to stay in town and it's full at the moment."

Emma rubbed at her face and sighed. "Okay, so what's the nearest town where we can find a place?"

"It's quite a ways," Regina said. She stood to match Emma. "It's far too late for you to travel that far tonight. Why don't you and Henry stay here tonight?"

"I...no, we couldn't impose," Emma said, her automatic refusal to accept help from a stranger kicking in.

Henry yawned, the sound escaping him at far too convenient a moment to be accidental, but he managed to make it look like he was valiantly fighting it back. Yes, he and Regina really were going to have to talk soon. Perhaps his acting skills had improved.

"It wouldn't be an imposition," Regina promised. "I offered and I feel bad. You see, what I was about to tell Henry when you arrived was that, while I knew his father and grandfather, I'm not sure how much help I can be. Neal and his father were two of those disappearances that I mentioned before."

"Mom," Henry gasped. "Please, we have to stay. If my dad and his dad are in trouble then you can help. Finding people is what you do."

Emma hesitated, before giving in with a slump. "Fine." She looked over at Regina. "We'd really appreciate a place to stay." She looked down at the austere furniture. "We can crash on the couch or whatever."

Relief surged through Regina like a flood. It took her a moment to collect herself. "That won't be necessary. I have a guest room. Just give me a moment." She turned her back on them without another word and strode out of the room. She did need a moment but not to tidy the guest room, to collect herself. Slumping back against the wall, Regina tried to catch her breath, her hand held to her heart. It was racing beneath her fingertips and all she could think about was how close Emma had come to walking out her door with Henry and leaving again. It took her several long moments before Regina felt like she could stand again. When she did, she pushed away from the wall, straightened her dress and strode back toward the doorway.

She hesitated at the low murmur of Emma's voice. "...not sure how much I can do. If there have been a bunch of disappearances, the sheriff will be involved. He might not want me poking around." Henry said something in return that she couldn't catch, then Emma's voice again. "But I'll do my best, kid. Promise." It allowed Regina to take a slow steady breath. If Emma had promised Henry she would help him, then she would. Emma Swan didn't go back on her promises.

"If you'll follow me," Regina said, stepping into the room. "I'll show you where everything is."

"Thanks," Emma said with a grin. "I should get my bag from the car." She gave Henry a sharp look. "Don't go anywhere, kid."

"I won't," Henry promised. He waited until the front door had closed behind Emma before he looked over at Regina. "What about the pictures?"

It took Regina a second to realize what he meant. The second story was full of pictures of Henry, and a scattered few of the two of them together. If Emma caught a glimpse of them, all of their creative storytelling would be worthless and she would be convinced Regina was some kind of crazy stalker. There would be nothing Regina could say that would undo the damage of that. Emma would stop at nothing to protect her son. "I'll take care of it," Regina said grimly. With a wave of her hand, the pictures disappeared, magically removed from the walls and buried in the depths of her closet. The blank spots would be apparent even to someone who was unfamiliar with her decor, but Regina would explain it when she had to. Until then, she would be grateful that her son was once again spending the night within the walls of their home, with her.