I'm back! I am terribly sorry for my absence. I hope that three new chapters will make up for the delay. I can't wait to read your comments :) You keep me going.

At the end of his last class that Monday, the thirteen-year-old makes his way across town to the office of the mayor. His face is a familiar one roaming these halls and the receptionist outside the mayor's office lets the teenager pass without announcement.

Shortly after three, the mayor had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of her son. She had spoken to him the previous night and asked him if he would mind stopping by her office the next day, after school. The regal woman is too excited to remain seated behind her desk. It had been nearly two weeks since she had held her cherished boy in her arms. She begins to pace in anticipation as she rehearses in her mind the regret she wishes to express for driving her son away. She is startled out of her daydream by a knock on her office door. Always a queen, Regina takes a moment to compose before addressing the party on the other side of the door.

"Come in," the monarch grants. Upon first sight of her son, the mother softens. "Henry." She can barely get out his name before the flood of tears claims her.

The teenager is struck speechless. He wasn't expecting such a passionate display from the woman now embracing him. Henry cautiously asks, for fear of breaking the crying woman, "Mom, what's wrong?"

Her son's concern has a sobering effect on the queen. Once again, she attempts to calm herself. Only this time, she soon realizes, requires more effort than before. As she wipes away tears, the embarrassed mayor attempts to explain the sudden outburst. "I'm sorry, honey. I just missed hugging you." She has already lost so much, the queen realizes. She decides to forego pretense and allows herself to be vulnerable.

"I missed hugging you too, Mom," the teenager offers sincerely, hoping to ease his mother's insecurity. His caring attitude is not lost on his mother. She can feel her heart growing strong by the minute, reinforced by her son's love. Henry always did have a way of putting this woman's fears to rest.

"Thank you for coming."

"I wanted to see you. But, Emma's expecting me home soon. So, I shouldn't stay for very long."

Just the mention of Emma's name sends a surge of overwhelming guilt through the already unhinged queen. She tries to remain calm and maintain an even tone. "Okay." She softens. "I'm just glad that we could have some time together, just you and me."

Recognizing that his mother is making herself extremely vulnerable in this moment, the teenager decides to offer that same openness in return. "I liked it when it was just you and me. But, I also liked it when it was you, me, and Emma." Henry becomes alarmed, recognizing the damaging effects his statement caused, when he notices his mother's quivering chin. He immediately apologizes. "I'm sorry, Mom."

She inhales a deep breath, willing herself not to cry. "It's alright. She's your mother."

Henry is unsure of what to say next; whether he should elaborate on his previous admission or change the subject entirely. Ultimately, he decides that his mother deserves an honest explanation. "I just thought that we could be a family."

Without hesitation, the queen recites her greatest truth, the one she knows by heart. "We are a family. Nothing will ever change that fact." She continues her confession, adding a recent revelation. "Your mother and I will always share a special connection because of you." She thought certainly that would earn her a response, but her son is disconcertingly quiet. "Henry?"

He knows he probably shouldn't ask, but then Henry considers the fact that he can't possibly make their situation any worse. Their relationship is already strained. "Why did you choose him?"

Admittedly, the question does take the former Evil Queen by surprise. However, she is determined to answer honestly and courageously, or at least, the thoughts and feelings she deems acceptable. "For the longest time," she begins slowly, "I closed myself off to the possibility of finding love again." The next memory is still a source of great sorrow. "After Daniel…I was determined to never again experience the pain, of loving someone so much and losing them." As she says it, Regina begins reliving that awful night, when she watched the stable boy's heart crushed in front of her. Fluidly, as if this is the natural progression, the queen's mind drifts to a particular blonde who has the ability to heal every wound from the queen's past. Before she is gone too long, to cause concern, the queen snaps herself out of a wonderful dream. "So, I convinced myself that I would never be able to love anyone." She refocuses her attention on her reason for living. "Then, you came into my life." She gratefully welcomes the tears pooling in her eyes as she gazes, adoringly, at her son. "I wanted to be you mother, so badly. Loving you is worth any pain I might experience. I will never regret opening my heart and choosing to love you, Henry."

"I love you too, Mom."

Suddenly, the queen remembers that she has not yet answered her son's question. "I wasn't expecting to meet Robin. I didn't think it was possible." And, that's the truth. Though, she isn't quite sure where she was going with this confession when she started, she chooses her words carefully as she continues to explain. "He helped me…believe again. When I met him, when I realized who he was, I felt hopeful…for the first time…since I lost my first love." As she hears herself say it, the queen realizes her feelings for Robin in no way come close to the depth of her love for Daniel; she has only ever felt that way about one other person. I thought as long as I didn't let myself love her, I would never feel the pain of losing her. But, my heart betrayed me.

His mother is, evidently, lost in her own thoughts. Frightened by the sorrow in his mother's expression, Henry tries to bring the brunette woman out of her trance. "Mom."

Afraid that she has just been caught by her very observant son, the queen snaps out of her reverie. "I'm fine." Though, she chokes as she utters the falsehood. It is becoming increasingly harder to lie to the most important person in her life. The queen is outwardly trembling.

Henry's shame weighs heavily on him for bringing up a source of tremendous anguish. "I didn't know."

Recognizing her son's distress, Regina becomes suddenly animated. She gently grasps her son's hands in her own sweaty palms and attempts to pull him back from the abyss of shame. "Henry, you are the most important person in my life, you always have been." She can barely get out the next confession before losing all composure. "The last thing I want is to drive a wedge between us." She is openly sobbing.

Henry's emotions mimic his mother's. "Mom, you didn't."

The queen holds her precious child close to her heart. Though she doesn't believe herself deserving of her son's love or forgiveness, she clings to him. Once she has calmed slightly, the queen whispers, "Please come home."

The teenager hugs his distraught mother tighter and whispers, "Mom."

The grateful mother breaks the tender hug to meet her son's eyes. "I won't get married Henry. I couldn't marry him unless it's the right thing for both of us."

With tears in his eyes and without missing a beat, Henry announces, "I was wrong to leave."

Her son's conviction alarms her. "No, honey—"

"Yes," Henry confidently asserts. "I shouldn't have left. You don't abandon the people you love." He hugs his mother again. "I love you."

"I love you, Henry. I love you so much." Subconsciously, the renewed mother begins to rock her treasured son.

Instantly soothed by his mother's forgiving embrace, Henry whispers against her shoulder, "I want to come home." For the first time, in more than a month, the queen is filled with joy.

"I'm sorry I hurt you," the teenager softly cries.

There is no way she is about to let the most important person in her life experience an ounce of guilt for her choices. "You are my good, sweet boy. You don't need to apologize for anything."

Henry tightens his hug. "I love you, Mom."

The queen contentedly continues to rock her beloved son. "Henry…you have no idea.""

As soon as he calms, the teenager straightens up to meet his mother's glassy eyes once again. The grateful mother kisses her son's forehead before breaking the hug completely, and gently wipes away the teenager's tears with the pads of her thumbs. Henry offers his mother a warm smile in response. "I should probably go. I need to tell Emma that we talked and that I'll be spending tonight at your house."

Regina takes this time to retrieve a tissue from the corner of her desk and casually begins to wipe away remnants of her own tears. "Will you be home in time for dinner?"

"I think so. I'll call you if I can't make it," he answers, slipping on his back-pack.

Always a queen, Regina struggles to maintain a refined exterior as she nonchalantly tries to blow her nose. "Okay, sweetie."

Seeing his mother's struggle, the teenager can't help snickering. "Mom, it's just me," he reminds.

There are very few people Regina has ever felt comfortable enough with to be herself. In this moment, she is reminded that her son is one of those people. "Thank you." She really needed to blow her nose. That feels better.

Still grinning from ear to ear, the delighted boy expresses his happiness. "I'm glad we talked."

"Me too." The queen is obviously feeling much better and more confident. "Henry? If anything makes you uncomfortable, I want you to tell me. Please promise me, you'll come to me and you won't run away again."

"I promise. You don't have to worry about me running away ever again." "I think this is just going to take some getting used to," he adds honestly.

"For all of us." She didn't mean to say that out loud, but she is grateful that she made the admission to the right person.

Maybe, he thinks, he shouldn't push the issue. But, ultimately, his concern for his mother's well-being outweighs his apprehension. "Does he make you happy?"

Not really. But, at least, I'm not alone. "Yes."

Henry offers a weak smile this time, not entirely sure why he doesn't believe his mother. Unconvinced, Henry expresses a sincere desire, "I want you to be happy." Mother and son exchange knowing glances and honest smiles. "I'll see you soon, Mom." Henry opens the door to leave.

"Let me know if you need me to pick you up," the queen calls after her son.

"I will."

"I love you, Henry."

"I love you too."

7777777

"Hey, Mom," the newly enlightened teenager greets, upon entering the apartment.

"Henry!" The young woman brightens. "I was just about to call you."

Regarding his mother, the teenager suddenly becomes awkward. "I'm sorry I'm late."

The inexperienced mother grows concerned at her son's shy state. "Is everything alright?"

Not wanting to alarm his mother, Henry attempts to ease her mind. "Everything's fine."

That answer suffices and Emma immediately returns to her previous state of bliss. "I have a surprise for you." The young woman is absolutely beaming. She pulls up a stool, next to her, at the counter. "Come. Sit."

The teenager removes his back-pack and promptly takes the offered seat next to his mother. "What's the surprise?"

She begins thoughtfully, "Well, you've been spending a lot of time here lately…and with the new baby in the apartment, things are getting a little cramped. So, I was thinking…how would you like it if we got our own place?"

The excitement filling Henry's consciousness overrides the trepidation, the thought of informing his mother of his recent decision causes. For years he dreamed that he might one day be reunited with his birth mother and, he hoped, that she might want him to be a part of her life. His dream was finally becoming reality. "Really? You mean it?!"

"It's you and me, kid. It's time for a fresh start." She had finally decided to stop chasing after a woman who could never love her and refocus all of that energy on rebuilding her relationship with her son. She imagined giving him everything she wished she could have given him thirteen years ago. They would finally have a home together and a life. Nothing could shake her determination. "We should celebrate!" But, it becomes apparent, that Henry does not share his mother's elation. "What's the matter?"

The teenager hesitates, not wishing to crush his mother's spirit by bringing up a sore subject.

Though she is inexperienced at being a mother, she has spent enough time with her son to realize that he needs encouragement. "Henry, it's okay. Please talk to me."

"I went to see Mom today after school." He knows it's silly to feel ashamed. Regina is, after all, his mother too. But, he cannot shake the guilt he feels for what seems like a betrayal.

"Oh," the young woman numbly responds.

Though he doesn't wish to make matters worse, Henry summons the courage to be honest with his blonde mother. "She really misses me. And…I told her that I'd come home."

Henry can see his mother processing his words in her mind. Consequently, she arrives at a likely conclusion. "Did Robin move out?"

He doesn't want to answer this question, realizing that it will only cause more upset. "No. He and Roland are still there."

The young woman's breathing becomes extremely shallow and her muscles tense. She slowly nods her head in understanding. The reality of the situation is starting to sink in. Unexpectedly, her son drives the sword deeper.

"We're going to try to make this work."

"Oh."

Henry was concerned for his mother before, but now he fears that he may have pushed her over the edge; she was just starting to feel like herself again. Henry quickly tries to repair the damage, but his efforts are futile. "I mean, I still love the idea of a new house. Then, I could actually have my own room. I didn't expect to have this conversation with Mom today. I just missed her and I think she needs me."

The stunned woman voices the only thought running through her head. "When are you leaving?"

"I told her I'd be home in time for dinner." Now, Henry fears, that he is appearing to choose his words deliberately to hurt his mother. He has to know what she's thinking. "Are you mad?"

"No." But, she is. She is not yet ready to accept that she fears losing her son. Instead, she latches onto the safe emotion: anger. How could this horrible woman do this to her? Brainwash her son? She doesn't deserve him!

"You don't look so good, Mom."

The internal struggle rages on, until, "I'm going to be sick." She races to the bathroom and reaches the toilet just in time, as she purges the unnatural hate rising inside her. Recovering slightly, she gently rests her weight on the cool tile floor, grateful to be rid of the unnatural rage. Surrendering to her true feelings, the young woman clings to the truth that, surprisingly, brings her comfort. She imagines holding the infuriating brunette in her arms and surrounding her with love. This is real. Her love for Regina, though it has caused her the greatest suffering she has ever experienced, is undeniable. To relinquish her love is to deny herself. She continues to rest on the tile floor that grounds her until merciful sleep claims her.