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Lessons for Luca
-2 Months Later-
"Luca!" Regina called up the stairs, waiting only a few seconds before hearing him running down the hall. He came the rest of the way down the steps before coming to a halt in front of Regina. "Hungry?" She asked, reaching out to fix some of the more unruly hairs falling out of place.
"Yes, can we go to Granny's one last time before you send me back to that horrid place?" He asked with his solemn look. Regina had to fight back a laugh at his choice of words but it was hard to hide her amusement.
"Sweetheart, it's not horrid." She said gently, brushing her fingers down his cheek, but he continued to frown.
"It's like a jail, a prison, Mother." He pleaded and Regina gave him a sympathetic smile.
"It's just a school, darling. You may actually like it if you give it a chance." She tried to sound encouraging but Luca just sighed.
"But what if I'm not ready?" He said quietly and Regina moved her hand to cup his chin.
"Oh, sweetheart, you're going to be just fine. I promise you, you've been learning so quickly with me." And that was true. Months of one on one time had done wonders for Luca and Regina was both surprised and extremely impressed with his development. "I'm more than positive you will shine at school. And you know I'll be helping you everyday." She brushed her thumb along his cheek. "You are one of the bravest boys I know. You can do this…Will you try? For me?" She smiled encouragingly and knew she had him when his frown cracked and he leaned into her touch.
"Oh fine, Mum." He sighed and she leaned in and kissed him on the forehead.
"That's my boy." She said and he completely broke then, smiling at the praise. "I think Granny's is a wonderful idea." All fear and hesitancy disappeared as his face lit up.
"Well, well look at you." Granny smiled at Luca as she reached out and adjusted the collar of his shirt. "What, no tie?" She questioned, glancing up at Regina. The brunette came up behind Luca, resting her hands on his shoulders and sighed.
"The tie didn't really go over well." She admitted, thinking back to the battle of getting Luca into something resembling a school uniform. The boy would run around shirtless and barefoot if he had any say on it. That was how he spent most of his time at the house, though Regina had to draw the line at going out in public.
"Well, you still look very handsome." Granny winked, before leading them to their table. Regardless for her feelings towards his mother, Granny had a huge weakness for the former lost boy. Within moments of their first meeting, Luca had wormed his way into her heart and Granny just couldn't resist the young boy.
Luca himself loved her as well. Granny was the only one that willingly volunteered to baby sit when Regina had other places to be, and Luca would sit and listen to every story she had with rapt attention. He usually had a hard time sitting still, but Granny had the ability to captivate him for lengths of time.
Granny had their food out within moments and added some extra whipped cream to Luca's pancakes, telling him it was a special day and he deserved a treat. The last thing he needed was extra sweets, but then the excited smile and thanks he gave, made it worth it.
They had just started digging in, when the bell above the door sounded and two others entered the diner. Regina and Luca sat side by side with their backs to the door and didn't notice a thing until a flash of blonde entered their peripheral vision.
"Hey guys." Emma greeted, smiling at them.
"Hi, Emma." Luca had grown much more comfortable with Emma over the months and smiled happily.
"Sheriff." Regina inclined her head politely.
"I wondered if I'd see you here. Nice breakfast before the first day of school?"
"Yes and we are very excited, aren't we?" Regina nudged Luca with a small grin. He gave her a look that said they were very much not on the same page here. Emma noticed and laughed.
"Don't worry kid, if I could get through school, you most certainly can."
"I'm not so sure about that." He said and Emma and Regina shared a sad smile.
"Well, if you need something, I'm sure Henry could help you. Isn't that right?" Emma looked over just as Henry walked up.
"Huh?" He glanced at the other two, but gave no other greeting.
"Luca is starting school with everyone this year. It'd be nice if you showed him around."
"Oh…okay." He shrugged, not unkindly, but not offering any other encouragement.
"Would you two like to join us?" Regina asked. She hadn't talked to Henry much recently, and hoped some of his moodiness had rescinded.
"Yeah." Emma agreed without hesitation, sliding into the booth opposite them. Henry paused, but followed suit, sitting directly across his brunette mother.
"Are you excited for classes again, Henry?" Regina spoke neutrally, just as he had. Not unkind but not overly emotional either.
"Yeah I guess." He shrugged again and the conversation discontinued as Granny came to take his and Emma's order.
They stayed in silence for the next few minutes as they ate. It wasn't as tense as the last time this had happened, though that wasn't saying much. Both women, as well as Henry felt that, but Luca was much more distracted by his upcoming day.
"We don't have to stay inside all day, right?" He asked, looking at Henry for the answer. Henry didn't look up until Emma gave him a nudge.
"What? No. There's recess after lunch." He said distractedly, quickly giving his attention back to his food.
"What's recess?" Luca spoke up again but Henry kept his gaze down. Emma's eyes narrowed on her son for a moment until she looked up again.
"It's where you get to go outside and play for a little bit before you finish out the day." She said and Luca's eyes lit up at the news.
"See, I told you it wouldn't all be bad." Regina said quietly to him, winking when he gave her a small smile.
"I guess." He conceded and once again, they sat in silence.
It wasn't until they were finished eating, that anyone spoke again.
"Alright, we should get moving." Regina stood from the table, followed by a very reluctant Luca. He kept his head down as Regina paid Ruby at the register, until Granny walked over and gave him a quick pep talk, making him promise to tell her a story about his first real day of school. It seemed to ease his nerves a bit, right up until the four of them made it to the bus stop outside.
"You promise?" Luca asked Regina, not for the first time today. She gave him a smile as she knelt to eye level.
"Yes, darling, I promise. If anything happens at all, I'll come get you, okay?" She squeezed his hands, continuing to smile at him until he returned it.
"Okay. And you'll be right there when it's over?"
"Yes. I will see you at three sharp." She said confidently.
"Why's he acting like that? It's just school." Henry whispered to Emma, as they stood a few feet away.
"Because it's his first day ever. Don't you remember you're first day?"
"Yeah, but I was like five. You're supposed to be nervous when you're five. He's like…nine right?"
"Yes, but give him a break, okay? A lot of people are weird around him because he was a lost boy and he hasn't been away from Regina for this long since we got back to Storybrooke. You're going to be nice to him, right?" She asked, a little weary considering his less than stellar attitude recently. "Henry, I asked you a question." She said, slightly more sternly. It was a tone he had forced out of her more and more recently.
"Yes, fine, whatever." He tried to walk off but Emma caught his arm.
"Henry, for all intents and purposes, he's your little brother. It wouldn't hurt for you to be a role model for him."
It was then the bus pulled up. Right before Henry stepped away, he looked back at Emma.
"He is not my brother."
Emma stared after him, mouth agape. She knew he was angry, he made that much perfectly clear. But it was starting to get out of hand. He wasn't yet a teenager, but it certainly felt like he was in that- the whole world is against me, no one understands me - stage already. She sighed deeply before turning to see Regina hugging Luca.
Regina was the epitome of confidence as she led Luca onto the bus. She was nothing but encouraging to him and smiled proudly as he pushed his anxiety aside and climbed the steps. The second he disappeared from her immediate sight, that all dissipated.
"Are you okay?" Emma walked up to Regina as the bus was pulling away and the brunette's face dropped. "Regina?" She placed a hand on her shoulder but Regina's gaze stayed on the departing bus.
"Maybe I should have just kept him home."
"Regina, he'll be-"
"What if they treat him poorly? You know I think I'll jut go-"
"Regina." Emma squeezed her shoulder and smiled, trying to take her attention. Finally, she got the brunette to turn to her. "He's fine."
"I only walked him through once, he may not remember where to go." She said seriously, but Emma was still smiling.
"He will be fine. He's come unbelievably far since you brought him home. We've all noticed." She said encouragingly, though Regina still looked conflicted.
"But he can hardly sit in one place for more than a few minutes. He gets bored with reading…Oh he really is going to hate it." Regina frowned, shaking her head.
"Ok, seriously, listen to me." Emma started and Regina sighed, but gave her, her attention. "I know you're not thrilled that Mary Margaret will be teaching him, but she's prepared. She was just telling me she was excited because she thought of some fun learning games for the class so they don't spend too much time in one place. He really might enjoy himself." She said and Regina did smile slightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm just-"
"Worried. Yeah, I got that." She said in amusement but then Regina rolled her eyes.
"Alright well, I need to get to the office." She did feel slightly reassured by Emma's words, though she would have her phone by her the whole day. She started turning, only pausing when Emma spoke up again.
"We're still on for lunch, right?"
"Twelve sharp." Regina confirmed before turning back down the sidewalk to her car.
Luca was so incredibly ready when the bell rang, it was all he could do to keep from running and being reprimanded…again. The day had started okay. He spent the whole morning with Emma's mother, who had been kind to him and made him feel just slightly less nervous around the other kids who eyed him skeptically, whispering and pointing in his presence.
Then again, the afternoon was less than fun. There were far more rules than he had been prepared for. Luca liked to move…a lot. He liked to run. He liked to explore. He liked to be free. At school though, you were allowed none of these.
On his first day, he learned that when you run in the hallway, a fat man in a suit yells at you. When you run in the hallway twice, the man makes you stand on the line during recess. When you move off the line, a woman in a blue dress takes you inside and leaves you alone in a cold room. When you get up to explore the cold room, a grey haired woman with flowers on her shirt comes in and takes you to another room where you have to talk to a tall man in a tie.
All in all, he was now completely confident in his prison reference when referring to the place.
Once outside the building, he bolted. He ran straight to the spot his mother had showed him the day before, where she promised she would be waiting. Sure enough, there she was right by the bench outside. He saw her smile and slowed his pace, guilt weighing down suddenly.
He hadn't seen her mad yet. In all their time together, she was very patient and understanding. He had really wanted to make her proud today, but already he had gotten himself into trouble. He didn't want to have to tell her.
When she pulled him into a hug, he accepted it immediately, fearing it might not happen in a moment. When she noted his sad expression and asked what was wrong, he didn't answer verbally. Instead, he pulled the note the tall man in the tie had given him, informing the child it would explain his misbehavior to his mother during the day. He told Luca it needed to be sighed and returned so the man knew he hadn't hid it from her.
He handed it to her with his head down in shame. Regina gave a concerned expression as she looked from him to the note. She read it over and sighed. Luca heard that and when he felt his chin being lifted by her hand, he prepared for her disappointment. He was surprised to see the sympathetic smile she gave him. He was shocked when she kissed him on the cheek and informed him it was time for ice cream.
He didn't understand, but he was more than happy top go with it. He took her hand gladly as she led them back to the car. Somehow, the misery of the day wasn't so prominent in his mind anymore.
Regina greeted Henry on their way to the car. She offered him ice cream but he refused, saying he was supposed to meet his grandfather. Luca didn't understand him either. He knew how Regina was his mother, but that now Henry lived with Emma, who gave birth to him. He didn't think about it much, except when Henry would narrow his eyes slightly at him, not speaking but not being very friendly either. He had never done anything to Henry, but then he wasn't the only person that looked down on Luca. Being a lost boy was not a popular position. He didn't know it was also his new familial ties that upset people.
On Luca's second day of school, he learned that when you act silly, the kids laugh with you. He hadn't meant to, but when a small slip up in the hallway had kids laughing, he repeated it on purpose and they continued on. When he went to a class called gym today, in place of the art class he had attended yesterday, he kept on, wanting the other kids to keep smiling at him and not go back to the pointing and whispering. He was told this class was about playing games and had been excited, but then all they had done was discuss what would happen, and not actually do anything for the first class.
Luca also learned today, that when you "act out", as they put it, during your class, even gym which was supposed to be about playing, you get yelled at again.
He was frustrated because his mother had explained the rules to him yesterday after they got home. She had apologized for not thinking of it before, and told him of the general rules he had to follow in the school. He didn't know though, that acting silly would get him into trouble.
Again, he was made to stand on the line during recess, but this time, he didn't wander from his spot. He didn't speak or move, knowing that would get him taken inside. He was sad watching everyone else run around him and not be able to join, but he refused to get another note to take home.
In the end, he survived the day with nothing more than the time out. When he had told his mother, she gave him another sympathetic smile and tried to explain why he had gotten in trouble. He was proud to get praise from her for managing to stay put during time out and with that, he had new determination for the next day.
On Luca's third day, he was nothing but well behaved. He stayed quiet during class, walked slowly in the halls, and listened to every instruction from the adults. He was chomping at the bit to get to run around with the other kids during recess for the first time.
As soon as lunch was supposed to be over, he jumped up and waited by the door. It was then, that the tall man with the tie from the first day walked in and announced that it was starting to rain so no one could go outside. Luca deflated in his disappointment. They had to stay seated in the cafeteria and while everyone kept on chatting away, Luca sat quietly alone.
When he sat back in class again, he looked out the window and saw it had already stopped raining. He tried to stop feeling sad, instead looking to the clock and counting the minutes until three o'clock came again.
Then Luca learned that when you do that, the clock slows down.
When the final bell finally rang out, he was outside in a flash. He was partway to the bench when a ball suddenly appeared in front of him. He looked at it curiously before shouting caught his attention. Looking up, he saw the man from his uneventful gym class, who had given him the time out for misbehaving, waving at him.
"Hey, can you kick that to me?" He yelled.
Luca glanced down and then smiled genuinely for the first time that day. He looked up at the man one more time before pulling his leg back and kicking with all his might at the ball. It sailed through the air before curving down and bouncing on the ground a few times. It then rolled until it came to a stop directly in front of the teacher. The man lifted an eyebrow as he regarded both the ball, and the small boy that had sent it over.
After a few seconds, the man ran over and stopped in front of Luca. The boy, for his part, stepped back, thinking he was yet again, in trouble.
"I'm sorry, I thought you wanted me to do that." He immediately said, not wanting Regina to find him at the exact moment he was being reprimanded again.
"Oh, yeah buddy, you did it just right. Actually, that's why I wanted to talk to you. Have you played soccer before?" He asked kindly.
"I…I used to play with some other boys." He didn't know exactly what the word had meant, but it was not his first time with a ball.
"Well would you like to come play? We could use another kid like you." He said and Luca only really heard the word play and his face lit up.
"I would very much like that." He tried to stay calm.
"Cool, come on."
Luca didn't think anything of it, just following the teacher back to the field next to the school where a group of kids were already playing.
Regina stepped quickly out of her car and towards the school. Her meeting had gone a few minutes over and judging by the last two days, Luca would be more than ready to tear out of there. When the bench came into view though, she frowned, noticing it was empty.
She walked to it and turned in a circle, trying to locate her younger child. Instead though, she caught sight of her older one, walking towards the busses.
"Henry!" She called out, pleased when changed directions to walk to her.
"Yeah?"
"Have you seen Luca?" She asked, looking up again to try and see him.
"You lost the lost boy?" He asked with his eyebrows raised.
"He isn't a lost boy anymore." She pointed out, keeping her tone soft and kind. She had earned a few smiles from him over the last couple days and hoped to move forward from there.
"That's not what all the kids are saying. They all know who he really is."
"Who he really is, Henry, is an innocent child, taken against his will, just as you were." She was still speaking calmly. She didn't want to push him away and hoped he was coming around.
"Maybe, but he didn't have to work with them. He chose to do bad stuff instead of fighting back against them."
"Well then I guess it's good he's here now, so he can have a second chance. He gets to be around good kids like you." She studied him to see if her words had any effect, but she couldn't tell.
She wasn't ready to discuss Luca's past with anyone, let alone her eleven year old. She had only gotten bits and pieces of his time before and since going to Neverland, but no matter the details, Luca was only nine years of age. He shouldn't be blamed for actions forced on him.
He couldn't even remember a lot. Especially what happened before he was taken. He thought he could remember having parents once, but he could never recall any details. He had nightmares and sometimes, they were of a fire. That one always upset him more than the dreams of the shadow taking him.
Based on the random bits of memories he had revealed, Regina had a few unsettling suspicions. It seemed the fire happened after the time he thinks he had a family and before he ended up living with a group of other children. She had a few thoughts, but he seemed to be repressing things that maybe best left forgotten, so she never pushed it.
Then the memories of Neverland, she knew no one should blame him for. He had no choice, and even if he did, the fact remains that he is only a little boy.
"I was hoping you could spend more time with him." She continued.
"Well I have my own friends now. And he's younger." Henry said stubbornly.
"Yes, I know. But I don't think anyone's been talking to him. You remember what it's like to be lonely, don't you?" She asked gently, expecting him to have some empathy, but then saw instead, his expression darken.
"Yeah, because of you." He set his accusing eyes on her and Regina lifted her chin, giving him a nod.
"I'm so very sorry for that, Henry. I'm really happy you have friends now." She said softly and honestly.
"Yeah." Henry said and looked away. Regina sighed, closing her eyes for a second.
"He's over there."
She opened her eyes to see Henry pointing behind her. She spun and saw Luca over by Fredrick and breathed out in relief.
"Thank you Sweet-" She stopped when she realized Henry had marched off in the other direction. "heart."
Just like every other time since his rescue from Neverland, Regina felt the hurt for only seconds before she pushed the feeling aside. She didn't let Henry's jabs sink so deep anymore. She didn't let them break her soul any longer.
Turning swiftly, Regina made her way to the field. She couldn't help but breaking into a smile. Luca was grinning happily as he kicked hard at a ball on the ground, sending it straight for the net ahead of him. Fredrick clapped him on the back in praise before pointing to another ball. Luca sent that one straight for his target and repeated it down the line with every ball.
Regina stayed off to the side, wanting to watch but not stop the moment. She couldn't look away even for a moment though. He looked so happy, running back and forth, smiling in thrill every time the ball went into the net.
Fredrick put another kid into the goal and instructed Luca to try and make it without letting the ball be stopped. He had such determination in his face at the new challenge and accepted it excitedly. He kicked the ball hard, sending it down into the left corner successfully. When he tried the same move again though, the goalie stopped it. Fredrick coached him a little more and then Luca started getting more creative, sending the ball in a different spot each time, evading the goalie again and again. Regina was smiling proudly the whole time.
"Didn't expect to see you here." A soft voice startled Regina and she jerked her head to the side. Her jaw fell open slightly.
"Katherine." She breathed out.
"Hello Regina." Katherine smiled softly at her.
"I…uh…hello." She shook her head, trying to work through her surprise. "Uh…how are you?"
"I'm very well." She continued to smile and Regina finally managed to return it.
"I'm happy to hear that. Does this mean you and Fredrick are…well…"
"Reunited, yes." She looked over to her husband, her expression affectionate.
"I'm glad to hear that." She said truthfully.
"Thank you. I assume that is the child everyone is talking about." She nodded her head towards the boy chatting excitedly with her husband.
"Yes. That is my son, Luca." She made sure to address him properly, hating that so many people in town thought of him only as The Lost Boy living with The Evil Queen. Katherine though, didn't seem to speak with any disdain in her tone, only curiosity.
"Well he is quite adorable." She admitted.
"Yes, he most certainly is. Though I'm afraid he knows that fact all too well." She smiled and Katherine laughed easily.
"Uses it to his advantage, does he?"
"I'll admit he gets what he wants more than he probably should." She looked away, almost embarrassed, but Katherine continued to smile happily.
They stood in silence for a few more minutes as Luca started playing with another boy there, passing it back and forth. Regina was thrilled to see him interacting with another kid.
"Well, I have a few errands I have to run, but it was good seeing you again, Regina."
"Katherine." Regina started quickly as the blonde started to walk away. Katherine looked at her expectantly and Regina took a deep breath. "Would you care to…would you like…will you meet me for coffee sometime? I'd really like to talk to you. I believe I have some things to apologize for. It may take more than a few minutes." She gave an almost nervous looking smile.
"I'd love to, Regina. Just give me a call." She nodded to her before turning and leaving.
Regina found herself feeling relief of a burden she didn't know she'd been carrying. She hadn't thought about missing Katherine's friendship. She hadn't seen her in a long time but now that she did, she felt guilt weigh in again and was glad for an opportunity to have someone to talk to again. The only person she could call a friend was Emma, but in truth, Regina kind of needed someone to talk with about Emma.
"Did you see?!" Luca's voice brought Regina out of her thoughts as he came running forward. She smiled instantly.
"Yes! You were amazing!" She praised, cupping his now pink cheeks in her hands. "Did you have fun?"
"Yes! They said I can be on their team. Can I, please?!" He was practically bouncing in excitement and Regina knew there would be no denying him of this happiness. The new friends surely wouldn't hurt either.
"Of course, sweetheart." As it usually did, his bright, vibrant smile warmed her heart even further.
By the time they made it home, they had picked up everything Fredrick had specified Luca would need. The child was opening everything on the floor of the living room, eyes bright with thrill. He jumped up when Regina finally figured out how to inflate the new ball and she handed it over.
"Not in the house!" She yelled after him as he tore out of the room with the ball. He stopped abruptly, his feet squeaking to a halt on the hardwood, before changing direction and running straight through the house and out the back door. Regina laughed as she followed him outside.
"Play with me!" He yelled, kicking the ball around the yard.
"Oh, honey, I do not think I will be very good at that." She shook her head but he was adamant. She nearly rolled her eyes as he pulled out the signature pout.
"Oh please, Mother. I'm sure you're fantastic." He kept up the face and Regina could feel her resolve breaking.
"Oh God…fine." She answered, watching his expression turn victorious.
She glanced down at her attire as she realized kicking a ball with a skirt and heels probably wasn't ideal. She waved a hand over herself to change, before joining the energetic boy in the yard.
Emma knocked one last time before finally stepping back. She wondered why no one was answering. Regina's car was in the driveway and the lights were on inside the house. They should be home. She took a few steps down the path before she heard laughter. Turning her head, she realized it must be coming from the backyard.
She walked around the side of the house, following the continued sounds of joy. She had just reached the back of the house when she suddenly faltered in her steps. She had heard them laughing and could assume they were playing around. She just had not expected to see Regina Mills, former queen and hard-ass Mayor, donned in skin tight athletic shorts and an equally body hugging t-shirt.
She couldn't decide what was more surprising. The clothing or the way Regina threw her head back in genuine, unbridled laughter as she kicked a ball what seemed to be at least a dozen feet from it's intended target. She would have been staring much longer had she not tripped from her distraction and alerted the other two of her presence.
I intend on trying to explain a bit of Henry's behavior, but that will be journey in this story. It's not a quick turn around. Thanks for reading! Please Review :)