Chapter four

"Henry, we have something to tell you," Regina said softly.

The boy sat on the couch, with his mother's each sitting on the coffee table, and furrowed his brow in concern.

"Don't worry kid, it's nothing bad, at least I hope it's not," Emma rambled.

"What is it?" Henry laughed, he had just recently gotten his memories back, which made him rethink some of the interactions he had seen between Emma and 'the mayor of Storybrooke,' he just hoped that he was right.

"Your mom and me..." Emma began.

"I knew it!" Henry stood up excitedly.

"You knew?" Regina asked, completely shell shocked.

"I did see a lot of yearning looks," Henry laughed.

Regina looked at Emma triumphantly, "I don't yearn," she sighed dramatically.

"It was mom as well," Henry reasoned.

Regina looked at the boy with faux outrage and he quickly brought them both into a hug. "Are you going to tell gram and gramps?"

Regina paled, "do we have to?"

Emma chuckled and placed a soft kiss on her cheek, "I'm afraid so."

"Gramps?" Henry shouted into the empty station.

Furrowing his brow, he went over to David's desk and spotted a note on the door he had just walked past, 'out for lunch, calls will go to David's cell.' No wonder mom hates this department, Henry internally chuckled.

He had spent the last couple of weeks wishing that he had kept the author's quill for a while longer, but instead Emma had told him, after being convinced by her parents, to just stay away from Regina. This was made easier by the fact that he didn't know where she was. But it didn't make it any less frustrating! The only thing that he had found helpful was to throw himself into his school work, the thought of her reaction if he fell behind always making him try harder. In the last couple weeks he had literally improved in every class, and now he was out of distractions. If he had to write what was happening than he was pretty sure he had to know what was going on, so he had resolved to just ask his grandfather, knowing that Emma would be far too fragile. Since he'd known her (he had begun to discount the fake memories, he was pretty sure they didn't count) the number of times he had seen her cry could be counted on one hand. But he had ran out of fingers since his mother went missing, and he hated having to deal with his mother being gone as well as watching his blonde mother so distraught.

A soft noise pulled him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see a woman asleep in the holding cell.

"Mom?" he asked excitedly, seemingly forgetting where she was.

Regina groaned and turned, opening her eyes she saw the boy in front of her, now slightly taller than he had been in her dream.

The same as every other day she felt her memories allow her a few moments of bliss, but then it seemed as if the darkness just had mount an attack on any semblance of happiness.

He is not your real son.

He never loved you for who you really are.

He would betray you at the drop of a hat if he thought he could have his father back.

Regina sat up slowly and inspected the boy, "why are you here?" she tried to say evenly, but it came out as an accusation.

Henry just shook his head and walked closer to the cell.

Don't hurt anyone in the sheriff's station. Kept running through her mind, at least Snow isn't a complete fool, she thought.

"Where have you been?" Henry choked out.

The command kept running through her mind, and she felt the darkness try to fight it. Smiling as it failed she stood regally from the cot and walked over to her son.

"In my vault," she replied.

Henry sighed, "I'm such an idiot, that's so obvious."

"You were looking for me?"

"Well...Emma said..."

Emma is his real mother, he doesn't need you anymore, he has her.

Regina stepped away from the door, and Henry tried desperately to grab her through the bar, but she was already out of reach.

"She told you not to look for me?" she asked stoically.

Henry sighed, "no...well yes...but..."

Would it have taken two weeks if it were someone else that went missing?

Regina sighed and fell hard onto the cot.

Villains don't get their happy endings, the voice taunted, why do you deserve it?

Regina closed her eyes, and images of all of the hearts she had ripped out played like a slideshow, she saw all the failed plots, the pointless murder attempts. For the first time she found herself beginning to agree with the voice.

"Leave," she said quietly.

"But mom..." Henry cried.

"Leave, you're not my real son!" she taunted.

Tears gathered in his eyes, and Regina felt instant regret. She tried to stand but she somehow couldn't, it's getting stronger, she realised with widened eyes.

"Hen..." she tried instead, only to receive no answer.

Henry ran from the station until he reached a bench, falling hard onto it, he brought his knees up and balanced his head upon them.

When he finally caught his breath, cries began to tear through his throat.

As much as he had grown in the past few years, it was still an unreal feeling to have his own words thrown back at him by his own mother.

He had seen moments of his true mother in that cell. She had looked genuinely happy to see him, but then as soon as he started talking her demeanour had completely switched and become defensive. Is the darkness warping everything she thinks and hears?

He felt the need to go back to her, but was also too afraid to do so; after all he didn't know that she was commanded not to hurt anyone in the station. He just felt so guilty for being too afraid to go and talk to the woman who had raised him.

"Henry?" a male voice asked softly.

The boy looked up from his knees and was immediately assaulted by a tongue, "Pongo," he laughed half heartedly.

Archie pulled the dog back slightly, eventually getting him to sit.

"What happened?"

Henry looked at the therapist, and decided if he couldn't talk to either of his moms, a professional would have to be second best.

"I saw mom in the sheriff station."

"Regina?" Archie asked with a furrowed brow.

Henry nodded.

"So she's different then?" the cricket sighed.

Henry nodded again and leaned back against the bench, "what should I do?"

"I'm afraid magic wasn't included in my PhD," he laughed, only to see Henry's frown deepen. "Talk to someone who understands what it's like."

"Who?"

"I believe you and Emma may be in the same position."

"But she's so sad, I thought I could try and be the strong one for a change," Henry sighed, "obviously I can't."

"Henry...your fourteen."

"So?" Henry asked somewhat offended.

"Emma would want to help you, maybe talking will help her as well."

"Have you met her?" Henry laughed.

"You would be surprised," Archie chuckled.

Henry offered him a small smile, "thanks Archie."

"Anytime."

A/N Hope you guys enjoyed, reviews would be much appreciated :)

Just to let you know, I'll try and update this daily (I'm thinking it will be about ten chapters) :)