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
Tired though she was from the events of the day, the stress of the week she had been back in Storybrooke, sleep still refused to come for Regina. She lay in bed for several long hours, her ears straining to catch the sound of Henry's steady breathing from down the hall or perhaps Emma moving about. She knew Emma Swan too well to trust her completely. As likely as Emma was to confront her, she was equally likely to take Henry and flee in the middle of the night. When Regina could lay still no longer, she rose and paced her room from end to end. Henry was back yes, and for now Emma had agreed to stay in Storybrooke and search for Neal and Rumplestiltskin. But eventually especially with a fiance in the picture, Emma would want to return to their life in the city and their would be nothing Regina could do to stop her unless she used magic against her. For Henry's sake it wasn't something that Regina wanted to do. The only other option was to find out what had brought them back to Storybrooke and break the curse that had been put over Emma. Not simple, but Regina had no other option.
Her pacing slowed as the night wore on and sometime in the early hours of the morning she laid back down. She would just close her eyes for a moment to rest them. Henry would notice in the morning if they were red and bloodshot.
Regina woke between one instant and the next, shooting up straight in bed and looked around in a panic. Sunlight streamed in the window but she had no idea what had woken her. Throwing the covers off her, she strode down the hall as she had a week before heading straight for Henry's room. Her heart raced in her chest and Regina pressed her forehead against the door for just a moment before she could open it. The possibility that she had just imagined Henry's return was unbearable. She turned the knob and opened the door. Her legs went to jelly at the sight of Henry lying in his own bed. Regina sagged against the doorframe until she collect herself and then walked over to the bed, her legs trembling with each step. She brushed his bangs back from his forehead and leaned over to kiss him.
A sudden sharp clatter made Regina jerk back away from Henry and spin to look at the hall, worried that she had been caught, but there was no one there.
"Mom?" Henry's sleep voice brought her attention back to her son, and Regina let herself go, sinking down beside him on the bed. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, dear," Regina reassured him. "Everything's fine." With Henry here it was easy enough to believe. "You should sleep. You had a long day yesterday."
"'kay," Henry slurred, his eyes barely open. He dropped his head back down to his pillow and seemed as if he was about to fall back asleep. Without warning he popped back up and threw his arms around Regina, squeezing her into a long, tight hug. Surprised, Regina's arms came up a moment late but she held him back just as tightly until he let go and sank back down into his covers. She tucked them in around him, a smile bursting across her face as she did, and slipped out of the room.
Regina backtracked to retrieve a robe from her room then headed downstairs to see what Emma was destroying now. She found Emma as expected in her kitchen. What Regina hadn't expected was to see Emma fully dressed and sitting on her counter, shoveling lasagna in her mouth straight from the pan. Emma choked when she saw Regina come in and swallowed a too large bite without chewing it.
"Herk!" There were a few more garbled sounds that Emma managed to get out around her food that Regina supposed were intended to be words, but she couldn't decipher any of them. She raised an impatient brow and waited.
"Hi," Emma managed to get out a moment later after some valiant swallowing. "Sorry. I was hungry and you don't really have anything else to eat in here." She shrugged and looked down. "I didn't want to stop for anything last night before I found the kid and then it was super late…" She gestured down at the pan of lasagna in her hand with her fork. "This stuff is amazing. What's in it? I've never tasted any like it before."
Regina couldn't help the small snort of laughter that escaped her. It was reassuring to see that nothing could change some things about Emma. "It's red pepper flakes. The recipe is one of my specialties."
"I can see why," Emma said appreciatively, before she set down the pan and scooted forward off the counter. Regina managed not to wince. Counters were not for sitting. "Can I ask you a question?"
"It seems you already have, Miss Swan," Regina pointed out, leaning back against the sink, bracing herself with her arms.
Emma rolled her eyes, but said, "Emma. Call me Emma. Ms. Swan makes me feel old or like a really mean kindergarten teacher."
"I haven't decided if that's appropriate yet," Regina said, temporizing. She had no reason to preserve the distance between she and Emma now. In Neverland they had been a team of sorts, working together to bring Henry home. Now they were, well it would depend much on how Emma felt when she regained her memories, but Regina didn't think they would remain enemies. Not when Henry was at stake between them. It felt wrong somehow, to call Emma by her given name now though, like cheating. Even if her goal was to gain Emma's trust and keep her close.
Emma snorted, seeming more bemused than irritated by Regina's response. "Let me know when you figure it out." She took a step closer to Regina, almost but not quite in her personal space. "Why are you being so nice to me and my kid?"
The question caught Regina by surprise even if it shouldn't have. "Do I have to have an ulterior motive, Miss Swan?" She crossed her arms over her chest, feeling hurt despite herself.
"I don't know," Emma said as if she were thinking out loud. "In my experience everyone does. But I don't know you well enough to say what yours might be."
Regina opened one hand in invitation. "What would you like to know?"
Emma eyed her, looking as if she were sizing up whether the offer was really genuine. "What do you do for a living?"
"I'm the Mayor of this town," Regina said, relaxing on to safe and familiar territory. "I have been for many years."
"Why?" Emma pushed, even as she shoved her hands in her back pockets and leaned back a bit.
Regina blinked. Because I was the ruler of this land and these people and Mayor is how the Dark Curse translated that power and position, just wasn't going to cut it, she suspected. Instead she chose her words with care, infusing them with as much truth as she dared, knowing Emma would be able to sense it if she lied too baldly. "I didn't chose to become Mayor or this town. I was a position I was thrust into. My...husband was Mayor before me and when he died, I was left with the position." All true. Even if calling Leopold her husband - or associating him with Storybrooke - made her hands curl into fists at her side. This was her realm - hers - and had never been tainted by his hand. It galled to suggest otherwise. "But..." Regina continued. "Once I found myself in the position, I realized it was one I enjoyed."
"You enjoyed listening to people's petty grievances and bitching about pot holes it isn't your job to fix?" Emma interjected, with a skeptical shake of her head. "Maybe you are some kind of saint, Lady."
"Power," Regina cut her off, clamping her lips shut as she realized what she had said and how rude it might have sounded. She flushed as she realized more explanation would be expected and necessary thanks to her slip. "I enjoyed having power over people and knowing that they had none over me."
Emma sobered and her whole body seemed to still. "I get that," she said with a nod. "Not fond of having my choices taken away." She shrugged. "You seem pretty good at your job. I mean from what I could see last night, coming into town it looked pretty nice for a small place like this."
"Thank you," Regina said, accepting the credit as her due.
Emma laughed, but this time it seemed uncomfortable. "See the thing is, you knowing my kid's dad and his dad, that makes me uncomfortable." Emma lowered her voice, until it barely carried to Regina. "My kid's dad - Neal - he wasn't the greatest guy. And on the few occasions that he ever mentioned his dad, it seemed like he was scared of him. Or hated the guy. Either way, it's not much of a recommendation, you two being bosom buddies."
Regina tensed. Even now in a world where Emma Swan couldn't remember who she was and what she was done accusations were still thrown at her feet and accountability demanded. "And what about you, Miss Swan? You knew Mr. Cassidy well enough to have a child with him. What is your excuse?"
Emma stiffened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "No excuses," she said curtly. "I was a kid and I made bad decisions. But I paid for them and I worked long and hard to get where I am now."
"As have I," Regina snapped. She let out a barely controlled sigh as Emma stared at her, tired more than anything else. "Gold was a dear friend of my mother's," Regina said. "That should not be taken as a recommendation, but that's how I came to know him. He helped me achieve my goals for many years when no one else would help me. It wasn't until I realized he was using me for his own ends - to bring Mr. Cassidy back into his life actually - that I split from him."
Emma studied her for a long moment and nodded. "Fair enough. Thank you for telling me." She cocked her head at Regina and smiled. "Are you sure about that whole Emma thing?"
She looked so much like a golden retriever puppy in that moment that Regina couldn't help but laugh. "We'll see."
Granny's Diner was crowded when they stepped inside but there was still a corner table available, the damp surface indicating it had only recently been vacated. Henry ran over to claim it before anyone else could, bouncing on the seat as he hopped in. Regina couldn't contain her smile as he grinned back up at her despite his lack of manners and decorum.
"So what's good here?" Emma asked as she slid in next to Henry, leaving Regina to sit across from them. The friendliness of it all felt strange but nice.
"Their apple pancakes are wonderful," Regina recommended. "And they have wonderful hot chocolate. Not quite as good as the homemade hot chocolate that I make, but it's acceptable."
Emma laughed. "Okay, now you have to prove it."
"Do I?" Regina asked with an arched brow.
"Oh yeah," Emma agreed. "You can't just throw out something like that and not back it up. Right, kid?"
Henry nodded solemnly. "We definitely need some hot chocolate soon."
"Coming right up," Ruby chirped appearing beside them. "What else can I get you?"
Henry gave his order without looking at the menu. Regina was pleased to hear it wasn't too sugary despite the addition of the hot chocolate.
"And what about you?" Ruby asked with a grin as she turned to Emma.
"I'll have the apple pancakes and some of that hot chocolate," Emma said. "Gotta have something to compare it to," she added with a wink in Regina's direction.
"I'll only ruin it for you later," Regina said. "Enjoy it while you can."
"Ooh," Emma said with a reading grin. "Evil."
Regina winced at the unexpected comment. She knew this Emma meant nothing by it but the unexpected comment still stung. Ruby intervened just before the silence could grow awkward or the slightly desperate and uncomfortable look on Henry's face could turn into him blurting out something unfortunate.
"You usual?" Ruby asked Regina and received a small nod in response. "Good to have you two back," Ruby added with a quick, fond squeeze of Emma's forearm as she turned to leave. "We'll catch up later." With a wink at Henry and a swish of skirts, Ruby was gone, leaving Emma looking puzzled and Henry green as if he were about to throw up.
"What did she mean by that?" Emma asked, staring after Ruby in confusion.
"I don't know, dear," Regina said, willing her rapidly thudding heart to slow. "Perhaps she mistook you for someone else."
"Could be, I guess," Emma said, but the reluctance to believe it was plain enough in her voice. There was nothing Regina could do about it now though. The only thing she could do was make certain Ruby didn't compound her error. Ruby would be the perfect person to spread the word about Emma and Henry's return and the Savior's lack of memory. She hadn't had time yet to call Snow and Charming and let them know what was going on. It had been too late last night and Emma too near this morning for Regina to get a moment to herself.
"If you'll excuse me," Regina muttered. "Restroom." She rose without waiting for a response, ducking out of sight down the hallway before she headed for the kitchen. Ruby would be lucky if she didn't get a piece of Regina's mind.
Regina's heart almost stopped as she returned to the table. Snow and Charming were standing in front of the table where Henry and Emma sat, Snow talking animatedly. Henry looked green and Regina didn't think it was from the plate of Granny's eggs in front of them. Regina stifled the urge the urge to run back to the table and forced herself not to tackle Snow and knock her aside. Or desperately throw a hand across her mouth to shut her up. As she stepped up behind Snow, the reason for Henry's panic became apparent.
"...so wonderful. I always wanted another chance and now here you are, just in time to meet your little brother or sister. I think it's wonderful! Don't you?" Snow asked, finally cluing in to the stunned and disbelieving look on Emma's face. "Emma? What's wrong?" Snow asked, dropping into the seat beside her, and grasping both of Emma's arms in a tight grip.
"What's wrong?" Emma repeated looking past her and shooting Regina a look that almost seemed to plead for help. "I don't know you." Emma stumbled to her feet, turning so that she blocked Henry from Snow's view. "And I think you need to leave. I don't know how you know my name, but you're way out of line. I'm not your kid and I don't have any siblings." She gestured at Snow. "We're the same age!"
"Oh," Snow said, seeming to sink into the seat even though she was already sitting down. "Oh, no." All the animation drained away from her face leaving her looking aged in a matter of moments. "You don't remember."
"Mary Margaret," Regina said, catching her wits enough to step forward and cut in. She couldn't afford to let Snow ruin this in her surprise. "I think it's time for you and David to leave."
"But, Regina-" Snow began to protest.
Regina cut her off, turning to David, hoping against hope that he was thinking more quickly than his stunned and very pregnant wife. "David." The command in her voice was plain.
"Snow," David said, bending down beside his wife and touching her arm. "We need to go."
"But I can fix it," Snow said, standing with absolute certainty and leaning forward. She grabbed Emma's face in her hands and pushed her bulk up on her tiptoes to press a kiss to Emma's forehead.
Henry gasped and Regina felt the faintest fluttering of hope, but there was nothing, no brilliant light or rush of magic. Only a very confused Emma who had instinctively reached out to steady Mary Margaret as she lost her balance and stumbled into Emma.
"Hey!" Emma protested. "No kissing. I don't know you well enough for all that." She glanced back at David as she firmly but gently pushed Mary Margaret back away from her. "I think you both need to leave before I file harassment charges."
"Sorry," David murmured, looking and sounding as if he had just taken an axe to the head. "She's sorry. We'll just..." He gestured behind him and then wrapped his arms around Snow and began to lead her away. Regina could see him speaking to Snow in low murmurs but couldn't make out what he was saying. Which was fortunate. If they hadn't already ruined this with Emma it would be a miracle, and she would have to go and talk to Snow later. Perhaps even apologize. It was irritating.
"This town is insane," Emma said, dropping back down in her seat next to Henry. She glanced over at him and nudged him with her elbow. "You okay, kid?"
Henry nodded, still looking wide-eyed. "Yeah, that was really weird." He didn't sound convincing, but Emma was too distracted to notice. Their luck wouldn't last, Regina knew, but she was thankful for it while it did.
"What was that?" Emma asked Regina. "Does that happen a lot?"
When Regina had been the Evil Queen, stopping to think had not been her forte. Taking action had been. The situation was similar enough in its sheer insanity that Regina reacted out of habit, saying the first thing she thought. "That was Mary Margaret Blanchard. Her story is tragic, of course, but it makes her no less a lunatic." Regina paused to take a deep breath and glance over at Henry, shooting him a warning look. Emma seemed to take it as a question directed at her instead.
"It's okay. Henry knows that things in life aren't always easy or good," Emma said. "But thanks for asking."
"Certainly," Regina said, brushing a lock of hair back out of her face to tuck it behind her ear. "Miss Blanchard lost a child." Emma paled at her blunt words. "Since then she hasn't been..." Regina sighed and tried to regret what she was about to say, but she couldn't help the smug sense of satisfaction that welled within her instead. She was the Evil Queen and no saint. She wasn't good at playing pretend any more and there were far worse things she could be doing than calling her former hated step-daughter a poor lunatic. "Her husband, David, is kind and takes care of her, but she isn't always..." Regina started again. "I believe she thought you were her missing daughter in her confusion. Her name was Emma as well."
"Oh," Emma said softly. "That sucks."
"Mmm," Regina said, an agreeing nod the best she could manage at that moment. Her biggest consolation was the belief that one day Emma would regain her memories and remember this conversation.
"I feel bad for her," Emma continued. "I can't imagine how she must feel. Her husband seems like a pretty great guy."
"David, yes. He's the sheriff," Regina noted, no longer interested in her previous diversion and searching for small talk to continue the conversation.
Emma groaned and buried her face in her palms. "So he's the guy I have to ask for permission to stick my nose into these investigations?"
This time when Regina smiled it was full and sharp and dangerous. "Actually, Miss Swan, I seem to not have much confidence in my Sheriff this week. I think he's distracted by current events. As Mayor of this town would you be so kind as to look into this rash of disappearances we've been having lately?"
"Yay, Mom!" Henry's cheer changed and softened Regina's smile, but left it no less wide as she flashed him a smile in return for his approval, but Henry was looking at Henry with a stricken expression, arms held stiffly at his side.
"Thanks, kid," Emma said, a little rueful at his sudden enthusiasm. "But I think it's the Mayor you should be cheering and not me. I haven't done anything yet."
"But you will," Henry said, with a gulp to push down his worry. "I know you'll find them, Mom." He emphasized the word a little too much this time as if he was reminding himself of what he was supposed to call Emma now. The pancakes felt leaden and queasy in Regina's stomach.
Emma ruffled his hair fondly. "C'mon, kid. If we're going to do this, we'd better get going. I need to get a list of the names of all the people who are missing and then start interviewing their friends and families."
"Miss Swan!" Regina bit the words out before she could contain them. "That sounds far too dangerous for a boy of Henry's age."
"He's my son," Emma said, her voice changing to hard and cold in an instant. "I think I can tell what's best for him."
Regina fought the urge to push herself to her feet and get in Emma's face as she would have of old, as she had so many times over Henry. But fighting would gain her what she wanted now, she couldn't, not if she wanted to keep Henry here. "I'm sure," Regina said, forcing her head down to hide the anger she couldn't contain in her eyes. "I was only expressing concern. Pardon me."
"It does sound kind of boring, Mom," Henry said. "Maybe I could hang out with M-Mayor Mills and see what running a town is like."
Emma snorted and ruffled his hair. "You thinking of going into politics, kid?"
Henry shrugged and flashed her a grin. "Gotta keep my options open." He shot a glance at his mom a wicked twinkle in his eyes. "College sounds so boring." Regina made a strangled sound, barely keeping back the words that wanted to spill out of her mouth, and shot Henry a piercing glare. "Or maybe not," Henry amended. "See, Mom, that's why I need career advice," he added to Emma. "I'm confused."
"You're barely a teenager. You're not supposed to have it all figured out," Emma countered. She stood, looking down at Regina and Henry, and met Regina's gaze for a long moment. Without turning away from Regina she said, "You haven't asked Mayor Mills yet." She cocked her head. "Regina."
"Mayor Mills," Regina said without leaving any room for further quibbling. Emma scrunched up her nose like she had smelled something unpleasant and turned to Henry. He was glancing back and forth between them like he was trying to figure something out. Emma arched an eyebrow and he lurched into motion.
"Right. Mayor Mills, can I hang out with you today and see what the Mayor of Storybrooke does?" Henry blurted out, running over the awkward formality of them as quickly as he could.
"I would love that," Regina said, with utter sincerity, and then eyed Emma. "Perhaps if it's all right with Miss Swan we can go shopping this afternoon, and I'll fix the two of you a proper meal this evening."
"Sounds amazing," Emma said, but there was a tension in the way she stood now that hadn't been there before. She shoved her hand in her pocket, pulled out a few bills and handed them to Henry. "Here, kid, why don't you go pay for breakfast so we can get this show on the road?"
"Cool," Henry said, taking the money and heading to the counter, but not without one last look between the two of them. Regina tried to give him the barest reassuring nod.
Emma stepped closer to Regina as soon as Henry's back was turned and Regina rose to meet her, leaving them standing almost nose to nose. "The kid and I will find another place to stay tonight."
Regina's hands clenched into fists at her side. She bit her cheek until the tang of blood began to fill her mouth and managed not to punch Emma Swan right in her face. This wasn't her Emma. She had to remind herself. Not the Emma Swan she had known. This Emma had no reason to trust her and no reason to hate her. No reason to take Henry away from her. This - maybe - was just Emma being Emma. "There aren't many places to go in Storybrooke, but the offer is open. I've enjoyed having you and Henry here."
"Thanks," Emma said, dropping her gaze, stubbing the toe of her boot against a crack in Granny's floor. "You've been very kind." The words sounded like they felt awkward coming out of Emma's mouth, but she said them anyway.
"Not kind," Regina found herself saying. "Selfish. I really have enjoyed the company these past few days. It's been nice to have someone in the house again."
Emma's face softened. "I get that." She brushed a piece of hair behind her ear and straightened, leaning forward to look Regina in the eye once again. "But it doesn't mean that if something happens to my kid while he's with you today, I won't make you regret ever being born."
Every instinct in Regina screamed at her to push back at Emma to give as good as she got. Instead she grinned at Emma, a feral grin that showed teeth and was not the least bit sweet or kind. "I would do the exact same."
"Then we understand each other," Emma said, shoving her hands back in her pockets.
"We do," Regina agreed, folding her arms over her chest as she maintained her smile. She wouldn't expect any less from an Emma Swan who thought she was Henry's only guardian. After all, she would have - and had - done so much more.
Henry and Regina stepped into her Benz as Emma's yellow Beetle vanished down the street and turned the corner. Regina sank down into her seat with a sense of relief that echoed through her whole body. She let her eyes fall closed and sagged back against the headrest. Henry was with her and she had the briefest reprieve, a few hours when she didn't have to worry about Emma taking her son away.
"Mom?" Her son who sounded worried and a little bit scared right now. Without opening her eyes, Regina reached out for him. She meant to touch his knee, give it a squeeze, but he caught her hand in both of his instead, holding it tight. Her eyes snapped open and she blinked over at him furiously.
"Henry." She smiled. As tired as she was, as worried and exhausted and uncertain, she couldn't help it when she looked at him. All this was better, a thousand times better, than never seeing him again. "It's okay."
"I'm sorry," he blurted out. "About calling her mom and stuff. I just, the memories and it's so weird, Mom. There's all this stuff in my head and its jumbled but-"
She covered his hands with her own. "It's okay, Henry. She's your mother too."
"But it's different," he protested, his voice dropping off almost as sharply as he'd spoken up.
"I'm not angry," Regina said, ducking her head so she could look him in the eye. When she was certain he understood, she sagged back in her seat and let her eyes fall closed again but didn't let go of his hand. "I'm scared."
"Mom?" Henry's voice croaked mid-word and almost immediately Regina regretted her honesty.
"It's nothing," Regina said, with a shake of her head. She summoned her best reassuring smile and offered it to him like a distraction. Henry wasn't buying it, however, one of the few people who knew her well enough not to.
"Of the monster?" Henry suggested, ignoring what she had said and pressing forward.
"Hardly," Regina scoffed. "I may not be certain who or what is attacking the town yet, but this is my town and no puny beast is going to take it away from me." She straightened, trying to reach for her keys and start the car.
"Then what?" Henry continued, not letting go of her hand. Regina gave him a long look and he let go. Not quickly, not with fear in his eyes, but apology. "Please, Mom?"
Apparently, that was all it took. Regina squeezed her eyes shut once more. She couldn't have this conversation with him while she could see him watching her. Even with Henry this was too much of her heart lying helplessly on her sleeve. "I am scared that Emma will take you away and there will be nothing I can do, short of violence - which I will not resort to - that I can do about it."
"I won't go," Henry said as if there was no question. Regina looked at him. She couldn't not. He was slumped back in his seat, arms folded over his chest and looking as defiant as he ever had during the last worst months of her curse. "I don't care if she says we're leaving, I'll- I'll tell her the truth or something. I don't know, Mom, but I'm not leaving Storybrooke again." He flushed and looked down at his hands. "Not without you anyway." He picked at one nail. "I could take you to this awesome pizza place where Mom and I try to eat every Wednesday night." This time hearing him refer to Emma as Mom didn't hurt quite as badly, not when he wanted to take her there. "And my school was pretty cool - for a school. Not so much bird stuff," he added with a wrinkled nose. "You'd love the city. There's so much to see."
Regina let his words flow around her, enveloping her in warmth and comfort and home as she started the car.
"I'm so proud of you, Henry," Regina was saying as they got out of the car at the deserted farmhouse on the edge of town. "I knew you could figure it out."
Henry shrugged, but there was a pleased glimmer in his eyes. "Math's still not my favorite, but it's nice to finally get the hang of it."
"It will keep getting easier from here," Regina reassured him. "Once you have a solid grasp of the basics."
Henry nodded as he glanced around. "I'm pretty sure this doesn't have anything to do with furthering my math skills, though." It wasn't particularly cold for a Maine winter, but there was scattered snow on the ground and it was cold enough to make Henry draw his jacket closer around him as they took in the apparently deserted farmstead. "Why are we here?"
"Your grandparents texted me to meet them here. They probably wish to discuss that fiasco at the diner," Regina said, restraining the urge to roll her eyes at the last moment. "I need to bring them up to date on what's going on with Emma."
"What is going on with Emma?" Snow asked, coming around from beside the house with David and another man right behind her. "How did she and Henry get back here if she can't remember anything?"
"Henry remembered," Regina said, putting her arm around his shoulders and not even trying to restrain the pride she was feeling in her son. She pursed her lips, but relented enough to give him a knowing smile. "He put his tendency to run away to good use and decided to came here when he realized that whatever caused him to remember - we suspect it was a potion Hook gave him - hadn't caused Miss Swan to remember also. He arrived late last evening in Storybrooke. Emma managed to follow him here with some difficulty."
"Do you think it's permanent?" David asked, worry pressing his usual handsome features into sharp angles as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"I don't know," Regina said. "I would have know way of knowing without examining Emma and questioning her. There wasn't supposed to be any loopholes in my curse, however, and apparently True Love's Kiss didn't work," Regina said with a nod in Snow's direction.
"Can't you examine her?" Snow asked, ignoring her last remark.
"And how do you suggest I do that, Snow?" Regina bit out. "It was hard enough to explain your behavior. I've spent the last day trying to prevent her from leaving this town. What more do you want?"
"This isn't helping," the man behind David interjected. His was handsome in a scruffy sort of way and held a bow as if it was an extension of himself. "I came here to look for the missing folk. If you aren't interested in doing that, you should be going. This place may not be safe and the lad there shouldn't be endangered."
Flame flared in Regina's hand and she stepped forward. "Have a care, peasant. I would never do anything to endanger my son and I don't appreciate your suggestion." Finally someone she could unleash her temper upon instead of Emma, Emma who she had to coddle and cozy along until they could make her remember. Until Emma could push back the way they always did. It felt like dancing with a leg missing.
His bow lifted, not pointed at her, but not far out of line either. "I may be a peasant, but I am not the fodder you're used to," he said. "Try me if you wish."
"Hey," David said, cutting in and moving to stand in front of Regina, facing her and not the man with the crossbow. "This isn't helping anyone." He shot her a pleading look. "Robin here agreed to help us look for the missing people. Some of his men have disappeared too."
"We tracked them to the words near here before we lost sight of them," Robin said after a grudging moment. "We thought this place worth investigating. There's no other structures near here."
"Fine," Regina said, letting her hand fall to her side and the flame in it wink out in between one breath and the next. "Let's get this over with. As far as Emma's concerned, I'm showing Henry all about being a mayor in a small, sleepy town, not out investigating."
"Where is Emma?" Snow asked, as they approached the house, Regina holding her hand out to her side to keep Henry behind her.
"Investigating," Regina said dryly. "The pretext we used to keep her here was that Henry wanted more information about his father."
Snow glanced over at Regina sharply. "No one has-"
"I know," Regina cut her off. "It was the only thing I could think of that might keep her in town on short notice. I didn't exactly have a warning that she was about to show up on my doorstep."
"Her family," Snow murmured. It was soft and quiet enough to make Regina wince.
"Mom doesn't remember about magic. Without that she won't believe in family. Not if it's something she can't see and understand for herself," Henry said, cutting into their conversation.
Regina gestured toward Henry as if to say, "See?" and followed David and Robin into the house, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings and Snow and Henry especially, the two most trouble prone of their group. The place felt abandoned, but there was only one way to find out for certain. They needed answers and soon.