Oddly enough, i wrote this before seeing the promo pics on the boat, but when i did, i got super excited. it doesn't go along perfectly, but i thought it was amusing.

On another note, i don't think Regina would ever replace Henry. He has a place with her that could/would never be replaced no matter what. BUT, i do think that there's a chance she would simply let him be at some point and i also think, she deserves to take the love that is given freely to her... imo...

A New Beginning

"This means you'll be my mother now, right?"

Regina froze as his words sunk in. It wasn't just the actual words but the hopeful sound in them as he watched her face carefully. She tried hard to shake the feeling and give him a reassuring look as quickly as possible. He seemed a little worried by the pause though, and turned away to look down at his feet.

Regina forced herself to recover from the onslaught of emotions such a simple question evoked. It was difficult though. She was fighting nonstop for just an ounce of this kind of feeling and now this child was supplying it in bulk. She felt a burning behind her eyes and knew she was seconds from losing tears. But again, she didn't want to confuse the boy further. So she took a steadying breath and knelt down, once again, in front of him.

"Look at me, sweetheart." She lifted a hand to his chin until he met her eyes. "I don't want you to do anything you don't want to." And that was the absolute truth. She couldn't handle another person, let alone child, treat her like Henry had. She couldn't take that again. "So I want you to tell me exactly what you want." She also knew they probably didn't need to make such a big decision less than an hour after meeting, but then she wondered if maybe he felt the same instant connection she did.

"…I want you to be my Mum." He mumbled, trying to look away. She still had him facing her though and so he caught sight of her immediate smile forming.

"I think I'd like that too." She couldn't help herself. She was overcome with joy at even the idea of another child, let alone one she had so easily fell in love with already.

Luca was smiling wide at her, melting her heart all over again. She couldn't care about what other people would say or think. She didn't bother to worry about every little detail that would come up in the future. In fact, it was really hard to be bothered by anything at all as hope flooded out the usual fear and doubt.

"Well…" Regina started, trying again to fight against the burning in her eyes. "…how about some dinner?" She asked and he nodded happily.

They walked the rest of the way to the room and once there, Regina saw Henry already asleep on Emma's bed. Emma looked up from her spot next to him and smiled softly at Luca. The younger child kept a tighter grip on Regina's hand but offered a small smile in response.

Regina led him over to her own bed and conjured a plate for him. That was the first use of magic Luca had actually witnessed and his eyes lit up as the puff of smoke left a full dinner in front of him. For the first couple of seconds at least, that held his attention. But then of course, his hunger took precedence and he couldn't wait.

Regina had created a healthy meal of meats and vegetables. For the first time, she wasn't trying to deny a child what they might want like she had Henry to make him be healthy. No, now she was just worried about making him sick after spending, probably years, eating the foods in the forest. A worry that grew as he practically devoured the meal. He dug in and shoveled fork fulls of food in, one after another. She had to slow him down several times, fearing that he would in fact, make himself throw up.

It was during his last couple bites that his eyes started fluttering. He tried very hard to finish until the end, but when his head nodded forward, Regina removed the plate and helped him lay down. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow. She covered him in a few blankets, making sure to keep the frail boy warm.

"You're keeping him, aren't you?" Emma asked quietly as both boys were sound asleep now. She had watched the tenderness Regina was showing the young boy with rapt attention. It was a side Emma wasn't used to seeing. Regina brushed the hair out of his face before looking back to her.

"He needs a home. He needs to be cared for. I have plenty of room for him and the ability to give him what he needs." She said rationally but Emma could see there was already a deeper care there than she wanted to admit.

"No, I get it. It's uh…that's cool, Regina." She nodded and Regina simply regarded her for a moment before glancing down. She looked at the young boy sleeping at her side and when she glanced back at Henry snuggling into Emma, for the very first time, she didn't feel her heart ache quite so painfully.

She wondered if that was wrong. She didn't suddenly care less about Henry. She would still do anything to keep him safe. But was it wrong to feel less pain at his rejections if she didn't have to? Was is so wrong to let herself feel happy? She couldn't decide. But as she laid down next to the young child, the now former lost boy, and he curled right up into her, she couldn't help but let her thoughts shift in a new direction.

When Regina woke up in the morning, she could tell it was still early. Luca slept soundly still at her side, and a quick look across the cabin, showed Emma completely dead to the world. She also noticed immediately though, that Henry was not at the blonde's side.

She couldn't help the automatic surge of fear. They had just barely gotten him back and not being able to see him safe, made her react.

She very carefully got up off the bed as to not wake Luca. She knew from their week together in the cramped room, that Emma would not wake easily, so after ensuring Luca was tucked in snugly, she walked out and back up towards the deck. She found Henry standing much too close to the edge, looking out over the water.

"Henry?" She called out before approaching, preferring to alert him, than deal with that flinch he did when she touched him without warning. He looked at her for a few seconds before turning back to the water.

"Hey." He said quietly.

"Trouble sleeping?" She asked as she leaned over the edge next to him.

"I guess." He just shrugged and Regina tried again.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Mom." His tone was slightly annoyed and Regina sighed.

"Henry, what is it? What's bothering you?"

"Nothing."

"Well obviously it's something. Are you angry?" She turned to face him and Henry released a puff of air.

"Are you seriously going to keep using magic?" He narrowed his eyes and Regina pressed hers closed.

"Henry…it's a huge part of me. I'm trying to be better for you, you know that. But as I told you last night, I have needed magic time and time again recently. I can't promise to stop using it."

"Can't or won't?" He challenged.

"Both, Henry. I'm sorry that it bothers you so much." She said sincerely.

"I'm not okay with it." He glared and Regina smiled sadly.

"Well I'm sorry to hear that."

"...That's it?" He asked, confused.

"Henry, I don't know what to tell you." She lifted her hands exasperatingly. "I'm trying, but you're asking too much of me."

"No, I'm not. You're not willing to try." He accused and now Regina's eyes narrowed.

"I'm not willing to try? That's really what you still believe? I've been trying so hard, Henry, but no matter what I do, you still turn your back on me. I have done nothing to purposefully harm you, ever, yet you constantly act as though I'm out to get you. Nothing I have done has meant much to you and honestly, I don't know what else to try." She didn't mean to lose her temper on him, but after all she had done to help rescue him, to have him still treat her this way was really pushing her over the edge.

"Is that why you got that other kid?" He asked and Regina shook her head in confusion.

"What?"

"You're giving up so you can start over with a new kid that doesn't know you're the Evil Queen."

"What?...that's…no Henry." She was growing further frustrated at his attitude and was trying to calm herself to answer him. "I'm not giving up on you. I would never do that. But I can't keep chasing you just so you can turn around and hurt me again and again. I love you, but at some point, you have to meet me halfway." She paused to take a breath but then locked eyes on him again. "And I'm not the Evil Queen anymore."

"If you're still using magic, than you're still evil." He said plainly and Regina grit her teeth before responding.

"You mean the magic I used to rescue Emma from the ocean when she was pulled under by a mermaid? Or the magic I used when she was nearly shot by Pan? Or how about the magic that held everyone back so your Charming family could swoop in a perform the dramatic rescue? Is that what makes me so evil?" Her patience was drained now and Henry took a step back.

"It'll make you do evil again. It always does." His jaw was set and Regina shook her head in disbelief at his unending stubbornness. "And I -"

"Enough, Henry." She cut him off, uninterested in hearing another rant.

"But-"

"I said enough." She snapped. "You are the child, Henry. I am your mother and this conversation is over." She turned away, knowing she needed to walk away before anything else was said. But then she didn't move fast enough.

"Emma is my mother." Henry muttered quietly, but the words rang out loudly to Regina. She turned slowly and looked up into his unforgiving eyes.

"Fine, Henry." She nodded and started to turn, though she looked back one more time. "Or should I be more formal now? Mr. Swan perhaps?" Hurt was dripping from her tone and the pain she felt overwhelmed the care for Henry's shocked expression. She simply lifted her chin and turned her watery eyes forward as she made her way back down to the cabin.

It was astonishing to her how little he cared. After so many years of love, that he could just look at her with such contempt and disdain blew her mind. His love had a large price tag attached and Regina had been making payments but it still wasn't good enough. She loved him. She really did. But she was serious that at some point, he really needed to try a little himself. She just couldn't keep reaching out to be slapped away. Maybe they really did need some time apart.

The realization startled her. She was fighting so hard constantly, but what if she wasn't? That didn't mean she was a bad mother. It just meant she wasn't going to let a child, whom she raised, to decide her emotions for once. Henry had had full control over them for far too long and she was so worn out, she just needed an emotional break.

She was still slowly resolving these new feelings when she turned the corner back into the room. The deep frown etched into her face immediately started cracking when she looked at the moving lump on her bed. Luca's head started peeking out from under the mountain of covers, light hair sticking up at all angles as barely open eyes tried to take in the room.

He turned all the way around until he saw Regina by the door watching him and despite still being half asleep, he smiled instantly. Regina felt pulled to him and didn't realize she was smiling brightly back. When she reached the bed, she sat down and Luca sat up and shifted closer so he could hug her. He wrapped his arms around her neck and just rested his body into hers, laying his head against her shoulder and letting his eyes drift closed again as if this were an everyday thing. He seemed to have no qualms whatsoever about his current company and Regina couldn't describe the wonderful feeling of having someone so completely relaxed and happy by her presence.

She knew people would probably claim she was replacing Henry with this child, and though she completely disagreed, even if it was the truth, in this moment, it was hard to blame her. She couldn't stop smiling as she leaned back against the wall and held the boy against her. He seemed to be letting himself drift off again, reassured by Regina's return and able to sleep once again. Regina just lifted a blanket around them again and let her own eyes close, her own self inexplicably reassured by this small child holding onto her now.

"Regina?…Regina?"

Regina pried her eyes open, taking a second to understand her surroundings. She was a little confused to see Emma standing by her bed, but then when she saw Luca sleeping in her lap, her thoughts cleared.

"Hey, Hook says we're almost there." Emma spoke quietly.

"Oh, okay." Regina blinked a few more times until she was more awake. "We'll be up in a minute."

Emma nodded and turned to leave the room. Regina spent an extra moment, looking down at the sleeping boy. She smiled lightly while brushing back the hairs on his face. After a minute though, she knew they needed to get moving. She squeezed his shoulder and shook lightly.

"Luca." She rubbed up and down his arm and the boy arched his back as he brought his fists to rub the sleep from his eyes.

"Mmmm." He hummed before yawning.

"Time to get up now, sweetie. Time to go home." She said and that got his eyes snapping open.

"Home?" He said with a voice thick from sleep, but hopeful.

"Yes. But we need to get ready because it's going to be a bumpy ride. Remember I said it's another world?"

"Yeah."

"Well we used up our only magical bean left, but Captain Hook knew of another portal. So we're going to sail into it."

"Is it going to be scary?" He asked with just a slight touch of nerves. Regina shifted him in her lap to make them face to face.

"It might be. But I promise to keep you safe. Always." She was yet again, taken aback by the relief on his face.

"I'll keep you safe too." He said confidently, having no idea the effect he was having on the woman before him. Regina couldn't even voice a response, instead pulling him into a tight hug which he returned gratefully.

Regina ended up conjuring him up a sweatshirt and a pair of tennis shoes to keep him covered. He was a bit confused by the unfamiliar footwear, but excited at the same time. Once they were set, they grasped hands and made their way up to the deck again.

Regina didn't even try to catch Henry's gaze. In fact, she avoided it. She just didn't care for one more stab of rejection. She didn't need the feeling. Especially when there was suddenly another person needing her to remain stable.

So when they all took up positions, she didn't worry about Henry. Emma and her parents were all surrounding him. He was the safest one on the boat. Luca was the one that needed her care and sadly, the only one that wanted it.

They clung tightly to each other and Regina used a rope to keep them tethered to the boat. The ride back home was rockier than the first one and so Regina couldn't help checking in on Henry, though as she suspected, he was more than covered. They made it through okay, but everyone was shaken up on the other end.

"Are you alright?" She removed the rope and checked in on Luca.

"Yeah, it was kind of fun actually." He was smiling and Regina laughed in response.

"Oh, look!" Mary Margaret ran to the edge of the boat and pointed excitedly. Everyone followed her line of sight to see their town in the distance.

"Is that home?" Luca stood on his tip toes as he looked over the edge.

"Yes…that's our home."

She was sure of it now. The sting truly was ebbing already. The usually so hurtful glare that was aimed solely at her as Henry called Emma 'Mom' and turned to walk back towards the apartment with the Charmings, just didn't have such a crippling effect. Sure she was sad, disappointed, dejected…the usual. But the number on the pain scale dropped from a ten to...maybe an eight.

It was strange, and there was still that voice asking herself whether or not this change in feeling reflected poorly on her as a mother, or just a person in general. But she couldn't think of a quick reason why she was wrong here. She wasn't abandoning him. She just wasn't chasing him for the moment. He didn't want her, and for the time, she was letting it be.

By the time she was walking Luca through the front door of the mansion, she wasn't troubled about anything. He was so excited and amazed by everything he saw. She walked him straight home on purpose, not wanting to overwhelm him too much too soon. But just the cars wizzing by and the various buildings were thrilling to him. If she hadn't kept a hold of him, she was more than sure he would have sprinted off in any direction.

He seemed to have boundless energy and Regina realized it had to be from spending so much time on a dangerous island, always moving and running about. Laziness would probably not be his problem in life.

"Okay, one more room." She said with a smile, her own excitement rising as she walked him out of her bedroom and down the hall.

"Another one?" He asked, amazed. He had been shocked by the size of the house and number of rooms. It was certainly a far cry from sleeping in caves and trees. Regina was just enjoying seeing that bright smile stay on his face.

"Yes, and this one is special." She said as they stepped into the pristine room. It was clean and had a nice sized bed in it, but otherwise was impersonal.

"Why?" He asked as he took in the room.

"Because, we're going to make it just how you like, and it's all yours." She said in her own excitement, but was out matched by the young boy before her.

"Mine?!" He practically squealed, eyes wide as he looked from the room to Regina again.

"Yes." Regina's smile was bright and she accepted Luca's enthusiastic hug. When he pulled away, he turned and jumped onto the bed, his giggles only making Regina all the more happy.

She stood there and leaned against the doorway for a moment watching him. He jumped around, face planting on the pillow and repeating it when Regina laughed in response. He kept giving her mischievous looks before doing some other move that would warrant a positive reaction from Regina. She couldn't help her joyous responses, this being the first time she had genuinely laughed in such a long time, it was all just bubbling over now.

It wasn't until she started cooking lunch that she let her mind really wander about Luca. She looked out at him playing in the yard outside as she worked. She hadn't asked him much yet. This was such a major adjustment and she didn't want to do anything to stress him, but then she was still very curious.

How old he was, was a big question. Physically, he could be anywhere between seven and ten. Emotionally though, he seemed even younger. On one hand, he was relatively well spoken and mannered. But then on the other, there was a very childish side that seemed almost years younger at times. Then that only brought her to just how many years he must have spent in Neverland.

Living in a place where you stay a child for years and years couldn't be good developmentally. It wasn't like the curse. He wasn't living in a haze, redoing the same day over and over. He had lived as a child for probably a very long time, never having the benefit of learning from adults. Well he certainly would now.

Regina actually felt pretty excited about it. She didn't plan on letting them take her Mayoral role away, but she still wouldn't mind something else to do, and spending her free time helping Luca instead of pleading with Emma and the rest of the Charming clan would be a nice change. She was smiling at the thought when she glanced back up.

But then she froze.

Her eyes were the only part of her moving as they scanned over the empty back yard. Panic hit and Regina went running before another thought. She ran right out onto the back porch and checked over the yard again.

"Luca!" She called, moving down the steps and through the yard, looking back and forth. "Luca!"

"Up here!"

Her heart pounded hard a few times as she startled visibly. She jerked her head up and her eyes widened as Luca was sitting happily up in the tree, at least a dozen feet above her head.

"Oh my God." Regina took a few calming breaths. "Okay, sweetie-"

"Do you see how high I climbed?!" He asked excitedly and Regina made herself smile through her discomfort.

"Yes, I do. That's very high. How about you come down now?" Her voice was a little strained, but Luca didn't seem to notice.

"Oh, do I have to?" He asked with a small, quite fake, pout. She realized she'd have to look out for that expression. That, mixed with the accent, was quite difficult to resist.

"Yes you do. Come on, it's time for lunch." She had him then. It seemed it would take a little bit of time before the concept of food was normal and not a rare, special occasion for him. She was happy with the victory and almost smiled...right up until Luca jumped.

Her fingers were crackling with magic instantly, reacting to the danger. Luca though, sensed nothing wrong as he landed easily on the next branch down. He looked weightless as he hopped down again and swung over to another available spot. It took only a second to realize he probably had a lot of experience in this area.

Regina still had her hands at the ready, but when Luca was within reaching distance, she powered down the magic and just lowered him down the normal way.

"I like that tree." He smiled as he looked up her.

"Yes, yes, it's my favorite." She paused to look appreciatively at the healthy tree before hesitantly regarding Luca again. She placed her hands on his shoulders, making sure she had his attention. "Okay, sweetheart. I need you to tell me before you go climbing, okay?" She said gently, knowing he was not used to rules, but at the same time, she wouldn't be able to relax if she knew he was running wild, unsupervised. Especially right now, as he was completely unfamiliar with this town. She should have been paying more attention.

"Okay." He said simply, not fighting or arguing. She took a moment to speak again, not used to an easy response.

"Okay…good…good boy." She smiled at him before starting to turn, a hand still on his shoulder. "Now how about something to eat?"

By evening, Regina was realizing just how full her hands were now. Luca was never ending energy and excitement. She knew part of that was the new curiosity of his surroundings. She was learning quickly though, that she was going to need to learn to start relaxing more. Every time he disappeared from sight for too long, she would immediately start to worry until she found him in another corner of the large house, exploring his new home. At that point, all Luca had to do was grin and say something, anything at all, and Regina was shaking her head and smiling back.

But then it was by that evening, that Regina realized how happy she was for what happened. Not that she wouldn't keep Henry from being taken if she could do it all over again. She'd never let him be hurt or scared like that again. What she knew though, was that if she could do it again, she'd simply protect Henry, and then go retrieve Luca. It was barely one full day together now, and she couldn't imagine not having him around.

She didn't realize how badly she needed someone in her life, just how lonely she was, until she wasn't. Because it wasn't even until just before tucking him in, that she even thought about the empty room down the hall. It was generally a constant, painful reminder at her missed happy ending, of what she had lost. Of Henry.

Luca though, filled a very big part of the void in her. Just being there, smiling at her, running in see her before exploring again…it was warming that apparently cold heart of hers at a surprising rate. It was probably why she survived the phone call with Henry, which seemed to be completely forced by Emma.

Regina could only guess she had explained a little more about what happened prior to the rescue and asked Henry to call so things weren't left off so badly. Regina found she actually appreciated the gesture from Emma, though the results were less than desirable.

Yet, she found herself not cringing so much by his bored, almost irritated tone. She didn't feel so much like crying when she said she loved him and it wasn't returned.

When the conversation concluded with Emma on the phone, apologizing for his behavior, Regina just accepted it for what it was. When the phone was placed back on the receiver, Regina did not go to Henry's room and cry her feelings into his pillow. She didn't pour a large class of cider…or anything stronger. She didn't collapse in her bed in complete emotional exhaustion.

Nope. Regina left the phone, and all the associated problems downstairs as she made her way to Luca's room. She forgot any sad feelings as she helped him wash and dress before bed. She was smiling the whole time as Luca charmed his way into three bedtime stories and she was laughing by the time he re-tried that adorable pout for a fourth.

"Young man, no amount of coercion can break me." She said in a serious tone, though he could see the twitch in her expression.

"But you tell such lovely stories." He grinned again, even batting eye lashes a few times, and at this point, Regina couldn't even remember the bad phone call.

"Well, we need to save some for tomorrow, don't you think?" She asked, making herself stand from the bed.

"I've lost this one, haven't I?" He asked and Regina nodded.

"I'm afraid so. Time for sleep now."

"Okay." He accepted defeat for the night and Regina lifted the covers to tuck him in snugly.

"Alright," She started, looking him in the eye. "I'm just down the hall. If you need something, just call out or come get me, okay?"

"Okay." He seemed okay enough, so Regina finally decided she really should leave.

"Goodnight sweetheart, I love you." She said the words automatically. She was looking down at his little face and she just spoke. But it was the truth. From the moment she saw him in the forest, that has been the truth. When she checked his expression now, he was beaming at her.

"I love you too, Mother."

Well Regina had thought she may make it through this night without crying. But as she leaned in and kissed him on the forehead, it was all she could do to contain the moisture in her eyes. She did make it to her room before they fell and at least this time, she was smiling all the while.