Sorry that this update has taken so long! Life really got in the way in a less-than-pleasant manner. However, I think you'll find this chapter very satisfying, and quite revealing in our Queen's character and progress. Your response to this story has been phenomenal, and I love you all for your follows, favs, and reviews! Enjoy!

Henry thumped down the stairs, carrying the books and homework sheets that he took into his room the night before. He left them by his backpack, as he always did, before heading to the kitchen for his breakfast. Since the incident between his mothers, Regina had been almost entirely absent in the mornings. He didn't mind her making sure that he was ready and fed before school, but he also didn't mind the new independence he was given under the circumstances.

He hummed quietly to himself, thinking of maybe having some Poptarts and milk for breakfast, but he stopped cold when he entered the kitchen. Regina was sitting at the island counter, coffee in front of her, and a book of crosswords in one hand. Her reading glasses were perched on her nose, and she looked...

"Mom?" Henry said.

The brunette looked up, a small smile on her lips. "Good morning, dear."

"You're...you..." he stammered.

"What?" the brunette asked, and small crease forming between her eyebrows.

"You look...different. You look...better?" he offered, completely failing at trying to put his thoughts into words.

Indeed she did look different. She still wore one of the countless turtlenecks that she seemed to own - this one, royal navy - but there was definitely something else. Her hair was styled, instead of flat and slightly disheveled as it had been of late, and a light application of makeup accented her features. But it was what lay beneath the makeup that caught the boy's eye.

As if by magic, the swelling in her face had reduced drastically, the bruises no longer as bright. The scab that constantly split open on her lip seemed smaller, and her posture wasn't nearly as rigid with pain as it used to be. Though deep shadows fanned out from under her lashes, her eyes didn't seem quite as haunted as they did before. In fact, to Henry, it looked as though she had done all the healing her body was supposed to be doing these past several weeks all in one night. The transformation was astonishing, to say the least.

Regina frowned thoughtfully at her son's words. "I feel...different," she said slowly.

"What happened?"

"I don't know," she responded lightly, though she had her suspicions - not that she'd let Henry know for the time being.

"You looked like all your bruises and stuff were fresh yesterday, and now...weird."

"Indeed," the brunette agreed. "Perhaps you can ask about healing processes in the body in your science class today." Henry made a face at her suggestion. "Or not. My body may have simply needed time to properly recuperate before any noticeable healing could take place?"

The boy shrugged. "Maybe." He started moving to the pantry to get himself some food.

"Would you like me to make you some breakfast, dear? Eggs?" Regina eyed her son carefully and hopefully.

"I'd like that, but I don't have much of an appetite in the mornings now. But thanks for offering. Maybe tomorrow morning?" he said with a sympathetic look.

"Why is your appetite off? Should I take you to see Dr Whale?"

"No, nothing dire, Mom. Promise." He came back from the pantry with a little silver packet of Poptarts, and made for the refrigerator for orange juice, instead of milk. He shrugged again before saying, "I d'know, just not hungry lately. At least not in the mornings." he added hastily, seeing the alarmed look on his mother's face.

"This has been terribly unfair to you," Regina whispered. "You're not hungry because you're upset. Because you're angry with Emma and what she did to me. You're upset about...everything. It's my fault, and I am so very sorry you've had to bear these burdens, Henry."

The boy sat down opposite the woman. "I know you don't have Emma's super power, but I don't think you'd believe me if I said none of that stuff was true."

Regina's frown deepened. "If I hadn't been so selfish, and angry, and afraid..."

Henry reached over and took one of his mother's clammy hands. "You're talking about the turnover thing, right?" The brunette nodded in the affirmative. "Yeah, I think you definitely over reacted on that one."

"Henry..."

"Lemme finish, okay? That was really bad, what you did to her. I was really mad, Mom. Really mad."

"I know. I don't deserve your forgiveness, or even you being rational and understanding in any way."

"Well, I thought so too. But...things are different."

Regina looked away, sadly. "They're only different because I was the key to you getting Emma back. If it had been anyone else-"

"It would've taken me longer to remember who you were and are. Being Emma's True Love kinda sped up that process," he said sheepishly, and both mother and son blushed, but for different reasons. "I know this sounds pretty crazy, but I've been thinking about it a lot, and... I guess, in a way, I'm kinda glad you poisoned Emma."

Regina's jaw dropped. "You're...what?"

Henry flushed deeply, squirming a little in his seat. "I know this is gonna sound strange, but...if you hadn't poisoned her, then Emma would've left."

The woman regarded her son carefully, holding his steady gaze before answering slowly. "I suppose, but she wouldn't have stayed away forever. As loathe as I am to admit this, but she loves you very much. I don't think she'd have been able to stay away."

"If she loves me, then how come she hurt you?" he asked with a darkening expression.

Regina cocked her head. "I'm not sure I understand the connection you're trying to make."

"C'mon. She had to know that if she hurt you, it'd hurt me too."

"I'm not so sure that she did..."

"What do you mean?"

"Henry, from the night that you found her, she came here, to Storybrooke with the impression that you despised me." Henry gave her an apologetic look and fiddled with his Poptarts. "When she woke up, that still held true to an extent. And when she got her memories back...Emma got scared, and she believed she was protecting you from me."

Henry narrowed his eyes at his mother. "How do you know what she was thinking?"

"Because, as a mother, I would have thought much the same. Naturally, I wouldn't have done what she did, but, to an extent, I can understand where she was coming from."

"I don't get it," he huffed. "You're acting so weird this morning!"

"Henry!" Regina scolded.

"Sorry! But, you're just being so calm and stuff about this. I'm not used to you not freaking out at the mention of Emma. I'm not complaining," he added quickly. "I don't like seeing you upset, but this feels really sudden and kinda out of the blue. Did something happen?"

"Time heals all wounds, Henry."

He narrowed his eyes again. "Fine, don't tell me, but I know that something's up."

"You're a smart boy, dear," Regina responded lightly, and her son made a face. "Eat up. I don't want you to be late for school."

Henry brought one of his pastries up to his mouth, but paused right before his teeth sunk into it. "How come, when I said that Emma was your True Love a few minutes ago, you didn't deny it? Usually you rush to tell me it's not true."

Regina paled, completely taken aback by the question, and her son's bluntness. "Perhaps it's just getting too tiring to keep fighting you on it, Henry."

The boy turned a sad gaze down to the countertop. "I thought we were gonna be honest and stuff with each other from now on. But now, you're keeping secrets and lying again."

"Henry-"

"Don't. I know you've probably got reasons for doing it, and I'm sure they're for adults only or something. I just...I understand more than you think I do."

Regina scooped up Henry's hands in her own. "Of course you understand so much, dear." She squeezed his hands, looking right into his hazel eyes that looked so much like his birth mother's. "This time, it's not about whether or not you would understand. I want to tell you...I really do, but I know that you're not ready yet."

"Mom! I can handle-" He was halted by a look and a single nod.

"I know you can handle many things, but trust me on this when I say that I know you're simply not ready. What is happening is extraordinarily complicated, and timing is everything right now. I promise that I will tell you when the time is right, but that's not today."

Henry looked at her, unsure, trying to gauge the truth in her words. "You promise? You'll tell me?"

"Absolutely."

"Okay," he relented softly.

"Thank you," she said, and regarded him almost sadly.

"What? What's wrong?"

Regina shook her head slightly, focusing properly on him. "Sometimes I forget how much you've grown. Go on, finish your breakfast."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yes, dear. I daresay that I will be just fine, today," she smiled warmly at him.

The bell overhead chimed her entrance into the dingy shop, and she wrinkled her nose with distaste, as she was prone to do. Regina cast her sharp gaze around the main floor, and saw no sign of the slippery proprietor. However, she was not left wondering for very long, as he emerged from the back room.

Gold was wearing his usual knowing smirk, and he casually buttoned his blazer as he positioned himself behind the counter. The mayor strode purposefully into the shop, pulling her hands from the pockets of her black pea coat. Both stood silently across from each other, trying to determine who would make the first move.

"Why, Regina. You look as if you have been born again," he said in his oily tone.

"It's a shame the same can't be said for you," she lazily threw back.

"The monster is once again being concealed behind your pretty face. May I say, what a lovely scarf you're wearing. Still trying to hide some of that ugliness, dearie?"

The brunette's expression soured considerably. "What are you getting at?"

Gold airily waved a hand through the air. "Oh nothing. Merely observing that our dear sheriff has a knack for revealing our true selves." He smirked again.

"Truly? Then perhaps her fists should be directed toward you next time. I wonder what would emerge from your pallid skin?"

"Nothing you and I haven't seen before, your majesty. Now, I take it you didn't come here to exchange petty insults?" He shifted his weight on his cane a little, and Regina nodded, confirming his question.

She pointed at her face. "Why is this happening?"

Gold chuckled softly. "Well, surely you must know that the Savior's arrival has started time again. With age comes wrinkles."

The mayor's face flushed an unflattering shade of red, and she narrowed her eyes to slits, adopting a dangerous expression. "Do not push me, Imp. I am in no mood for games."

"You rarely are, dearie," the pawnbroker quipped, raising a challenging eyebrow.

"You know what I'm asking about! After all these weeks, why now am I healing?" she hissed.

Gold minutely shook his head, regarding her with the sort of expression one reserves for someone who is especially unintelligent. "Of all my pupils, you, Regina, might just be the dimmest of them all." The woman opened her mouth to retort, but he held up his hand to quiet her. "Tell me, have you seen our Savior lately?"

"Of course I haven't! And if I did, she'd be-"

"Regina, you're a terrible liar."

She glared at him. "And if I have?"

He chuckled softly again. "You simply don't get it, do you? Even in this world, there is but one magic that cannot be extinguished."

"True Love," she breathed.

"Indeed. How favorable was your interaction?" he asked.

"Favorable? We weren't exactly cozying up for pillow talk and splitting a pint of ice cream."

"You weren't fighting, though, were you?"

Regina's cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink. "No...no we weren't."

"Repair the emotional damage: the damage of the heart. So goes the physical."

"I don't love her," she stated quietly.

"Some loves happen in an instant. The Charmings are a grossly-excellent example, and some require much more time and effort. However, they are still true nonetheless."

"Need I remind you of her distain for me?"

Gold smiled mischievously, leaning over the counter to ask a final question, "Then what are you going to do about it, your majesty?"

Regina pulled back, considering his words momentarily. Without even bothering to give him a response, the woman turned around and swept out of the shop, the bell tinkling merrily in her wake. Naturally, her reaction was response enough for the conniving man, and he smiled to himself before pulling out a rag to wipe down the display cases with.

Her heels clicked loudly against the tile, echoing tightly in the narrow hallway. It was a path she found herself treading far too often since the blonde's arrival in her town, but she hadn't walked those halls in far too long. When she strode into the pen, a part of her expected to see Emma, clad in her horrid leather jacket, throwing darts, or feet propped up on her desk while munching on a bear claw.

However, when she entered, she saw David Nolan hunched over the desk, scrawling across some paperwork, and a half-eaten sandwich from Granny's sitting nearby. His head snapped up at the unexpected sound of stilettos, and the look of fear that painted his face was so intense, that Regina swore the man might have wet himself.

"Madame Mayor! H-How surprising!" he stammered, standing up from his chair.

"Relax, Sheriff Nolan. I've been dealing with far too much stress lately, and yours is currently palpable."

He flushed. "I didn't realize you were coming. Did I miss a memo or something?" He immediately began shuffling through several stacks of paper on the desk, and Regina could see a thin sheen of sweat on his brow.

"No, you didn't miss any notification. My visit here is as impromptu for you as it is for me." She tugged a little at her scarf before clasping her hands in front of her.

"Okay, sure. You look well, by the way." He smiled in that genuine way that always made a muscle twitch in her cheek and want to vomit a little.

"The marvels of a little time away from the world are astonishing," she replied blandly.

"Well, uh, if you're here for..." David started shifting a little, and he scratched nervously at the back of his neck. "If you're here about my investigation...I don't really...I mean, I don't have much. Anything, actually.

"Emma wasn't a terribly open person, and she hasn't been a resident of Storybrooke for very long. So, no one seems to know where she might have gone, if she even stayed in town that is. For all we know, she fled city limits, maybe even the state. B-But I haven't given up or anything. It's a waiting game-"

Regina silenced his babbling by holding up her hand, and she walked slowly over to his desk. "I'm not here for an update, Sheriff."

"Oh," he murmured, flushing deeply again.

"I'm here to request something, and I think you'll find it rather...unusual, but I need you to listen carefully anyway." She fixed her mahogany eyes on his blue ones, and she could feel her scrutiny and ambiguousness making him uncomfortable.

"Absolutely, Madame Mayor."

"I'd like you to drop all charges against Emma Swan."

I know, I know, my cliffhangers are going to kill you, but you secretly love them and you know it! A big shout out to my lovely Beta, Jasmine, who always lends a clever and helpful hand to my work. Find her on Tumblr at obligatory-regal-name. tumblr. com and find me at Writers-Dilemma. tumblr. com