Disclaimer in Chapter One.

A/N: Sorry for the long delay dears. A lot on my plate. I hope to do better. Leave a comment if you like. I certainly enjoy hearing from you all. And a special thanks for my friend SwanMills815 for her help on this chapter. Please go give her stories a read. They are lovely.

"Hi."

Emma?

"I'm sorry to bother you so late, but my son and I…"

Henry?

"…are lost and our car broke down a couple miles back. Could we use your phone to call a wrecker?"

What's going on? How are you here? This isn't real. Henry? Emma?

"Ma'am, are you okay? Do you need…"

Regina never heard the last of Emma's question. It seemed the world stopped spinning and instead Regina was a whirling dervish, a top spinning out of control. In slow motion and yet all at once, her body began to fall like a rag doll to the foyer floor, darkness clouding her vision as unconsciousness claimed her. Abruptly the spinning stopped and all the world was black.

~ ( SQ ) ~

Regina had been having the most vivid dream. She had opened the door and there on her dream doorstep was her dream come true-Henry and Emma. It was a pleasant sight. Henry had grown so much and Emma was more beautiful than she had remembered.

The dream left her warm on the inside as she awakened. But something was wrong. Her mattress seemed awfully hard and cold. And that noise—what was that noise?

"Ma'am? Ma'am? My name is Emma Swan. Can you hear me? Henry, she seems to be waking up. See if you can find the kitchen and bring me a glass of water. Hurry. Why are you just standing there, Kid? Get moving."

Was that Emma's voice?

Regina opened her eyes to see a curtain of blonde curls framing Emma's worried face and whispered, "Emma?"

"Yes, that's right. I'm Emma Swan. My son, Henry has gone to get you some water. You fainted." Emma looked toward the kitchen. "Hey kid, hurry up. She's awake."

"Emma? Henry?" Regina seemed unable to process what was happening around her. How could they be here? Emma was knelt beside her on the foyer floor, cradling Regina's head in her lap.

"Yes, I'm Emma and that is Henry," Emma nodded toward her son on the top step. "Come on, Kid. What are you waiting for? Bring me the water."

Henry stood frozen with the water in his hand. He hadn't even had to search for the kitchen or its contents when Emma sent him to bring the water for Regina. He moved, as if by rote memory, and opened only one cabinet to retrieve a glass he recognized as the same he had drunk milk out of for every dream dinner the three of them had together. But now he stood, feet stuck to the floor, staring at his mother and the specter from his dreams lying in her lap.

"Seriously, Kid? Bring me the damn water." A second curse from Emma in less than an hour shocked Henry in to action.

"Here. Sorry." Henry was embarrassed at the squeak in his voice as he spoke. Deliberately avoiding eye contact with Regina, he cleared his throat and tried again. "I'm sorry, Ma."

"It's ok. See if you can find a pillow." Emma turned her attention back to the woman in her lap who was suddenly trying to get up. "Hey now. Lay still. You fainted so don't try to move until you are sure. Should I call somebody to help you? Your husband or…?"

"No," Regina managed to answer. "I haven't a husband. I am here alone."

Emma's eyebrows shot skyward at the woman's admission of being alone.

"Which is perhaps not the sort of thing I should tell a complete stranger in my home while I seem to be incapacitated." Regina rolled her eyes at her own mistake.

"No worries. You got lucky this time. You're safe with me." Emma smiled her brightest smile at Regina as Henry appeared at the top of the steps into the foyer once again.

"Oh, I know I am," Regina whispered as Emma began arranging the pillow under her head. "Really, this is unnecessary… Ms. Swan was it?" Regina pushed herself into a sitting position.

"I assure you, I am fine. I just got a little dizzy when I opened the door. Perhaps not enough to drink today." Regina made a show of sitting up and drinking down nearly all the water Henry had provided.

"Well, I still think you should just stay down here a bit longer. You scared me and the kid half to death." The fear and genuine concern in Emma's emerald eyes belied the teasing tone of her voice.

"I'm very sorry, Ms. Swan. And Henry." Regina turned and, for the first time since she had fainted, fully looked at her son.

The moment their eyes met, Regina saw it. Recognition. Her chocolate eyes locked on Henry's green and they two stared on in wonder. They both seemed to be asking the same silent question. Do you know who I am?

Henry and Regina continued to stare, neither willing to break away.

"So, yeah," Emma began awkwardly. "Me and the kid are on vacation and our car broke down up the road a ways and I was hoping you could help me find a wrecker service… I mean, when you feel up to it."

Regina nodded slightly to acknowledge Emma but still never took her eyes off her son. He was trembling but he was trying to put on a brave face. Regina had seen this behavior so many times before. Henry always wanted to appear strong in front of his mother, perhaps because she was always strong in front of him.

"So, um…" Emma shifted a bit on the floor. The staring had crossed some invisible line into uncomfortable territory, especially for strangers. What is up with these two?

Reluctantly, Regina looked away from the boy and back at his mother. "Yes. A wrecker service. I am certain I can locate someone for you."

"Oh, that would be awesome," Emma gushed, jumping to her feet. She reached out a hand to help Regina up. For a moment Regina only looked at the offered hand before slipping her own snuggly in it. The hand closed around her was warm and comforting. It was Emma. They are really here.

Emma glanced at the pillow Henry had brought for Regina and nodded for him to replace it. After another moment of staring at Regina in disbelief, he picked it up and trotted into the living room. "Sorry about my son acting so weird. I don't know what's gotten into him. Too many sodas on the trip maybe. I normally don't allow them but since it was a trip I thought, why not. But now I am questioning my decision. He's usually very friendly. Great kid, good grades, always polite and… and I am just sure you could care less at this hour. Good job rambling, Swan." Emma ducked her head, scolding herself for going on and on.

Regina's heart melted as she took in the sheepish grin on Emma's face. Emma's hand reached up under blonde curls to rub the back of her neck in embarrassment for her ramblings. It was only then that Regina realized Emma had been holding her hand since she had pulled her up from the floor. Suddenly aware that she needed to take control of the situation, Regina smoothed out her grey dress with all the poise of a former queen and smiled at Emma.

"How would you like a glass of the best apple cider you ever tasted?"

"Got anything stronger?" Emma's face brightened in a lopsided grin.

"Perhaps. Why don't I pour us a drink and I'll show you and Henry to my study. You can relax while I go find the number for that wrecker." Regina turned and climbed the steps from the foyer, adding a little extra swish to her hips just in case Emma was looking.

Regina felt a flutter in her stomach glancing back to see she was.

~ ( SQ ) ~

"Pick up, pick up," Regina whispered into the phone. She had deposited Henry and Emma, with cider in hand, into her study and excused herself to the kitchen under the guise of searching for a number for a wrecker service. In reality she decided the first thing she needed to do was call Snow White.

"Hey Regina! Change your mind about my company?" Snow answered on the third ring with a voice far too chipper for the late hour.

"They're here, Snow. They are here." Regina hated the tremble in her whispered words and hoped Snow hadn't noticed. You need to calm down.

"What? Who's here?"

"Emma and Henry! Who else would I be calling about, Princess?!" Regina hissed into the receiver. She was having a hard time controlling her emotions.

"What?! Oh my god! Why? Do they remember? I need to call David! We will be there in 5 minutes…"

"NO! Snow, shut up and listen. They do not remember. Under no circumstances are you to come to this house—"

"If they don't remember then what are they doing here?" Snow interrupted, her mind going in a thousand different directions with questions and emotions and ideas.

"There's no time to explain now. I promise I will give you details later. Right now I need to get the word out around town that they are here and no one should approach them. Conversations should be kept short and limited to pleasantries for a stranger. Call Ruby. That should get the word out quick enough." Regina laughed nervously at her jab toward Ruby. She liked the wolf but she was a notorious gossip.

"Ok, ok. I'll start calling everyone," Snow paused, wanting to ask a question but unsure if Regina would snap at her again. "Um, can I ask… how do they look? Do they seem happy?" Snow couldn't stop the sound of tears in her voice. Her baby had found them… again.

"They look perfect. Happy, healthy and here. And Henry, he..." Regina hesitated.

"He what? What Regina?"

"He… I don't know how it can be possible but I think he recognized me. But, I can't think about that right now. They are waiting and I've got to call Michael Tillman and let him know Emma is about to call him for a tow. I promise I will be in touch as soon as I can." Regina paused trying to form the right words to say to her former enemy turned friend. "I can't believe they are really here. I'm not dreaming, am I Snow?"

"No, you're not dreaming. Unless we are sharing one which would be weird, even for us." Snow tried to hide the excitement and anxiety in her voice. "Now, we've both got some calls to make. Talk again soon." And with that, the line went dead.

~ ( SQ ) ~

Taking a deep breath to settle her nerves, Regina entered the study with every ounce of confidence she could muster. You have destroyed entire realms without even trying hard. You can certainly remain calm for a few more minutes.

"I'm sorry for the delay, Ms. Swan. I did manage to find that number for you. Tillman's Garage. They also have a wrecker service, although don't be surprised if they are unable to assist you until morning. Storybrooke is a small town and we don't usually have a lot going on at this hour."

"Oh, well, that's ok. I'm just glad someone can help us." Emma reached for the phone and the slip of paper with the number to the garage Regina was extending to her. The tips of the blonde's fingers ghosted across Regina's as she released the device to her and Regina gasped at the involuntary spark of magic. "Oh man! Static electricity! That was a pretty powerful shock, huh? Sorry about that," Emma smiled nervously. She clearly had no awareness of her magic having returned even if her memories had not.

"Not at all Ms. Swan. And here, I took the liberty of making this for you, Henry." Regina reached out to her son, who had been quietly observing the interaction between the two women from the end of the sofa. "It's hot chocolate."

Henry made no move to accept the steaming mug as he stared hard into brown eyes. Just as it had been in the foyer before, Regina and Henry were locked in a gaze, eyes asking questions they could not yet form into words.

"Hey kid, it has cinnamon. How cool is that. That's how we drink it at home," Emma nudged Henry to accept the drink.

"Indeed? Well, that is something of a tradition here. I hope you like it," Regina pasted on her best politician's smile as Henry gingerly took the cup.

Henry merely nodded and took a sip. Emma glared at her son. "Forgive his lack of manners. I am going to chalk it up to a long and tiring day and hope he returns to himself in the morning."

Regina simply smiled in response. Something was definitely going on with Henry. A moment of awkward silence passed between them. The sound of a ticking clock, of ice cubes floating in cider, of Henry sipping carefully from the hot drink seemed thunderous in the overwhelming quiet. Emma didn't know what to say to this beautiful and benevolent stranger and Regina was afraid of saying too much. Henry merely stared between them, studying and thinking.

Emma cleared her throat. "So, the wrecker, I guess I should make that call. Mind if I step into the hall here?" Emma indicated the door with a slight nod.

"No, be my guest. I will just sit here with Henry."

"Great. It should only be a minute. Thanks again for all your help Miss… hey, I don't even know your name."

"Mills. Regina Mills. I am the mayor of this lovely little town so when you talk to Michael tell him I gave you his name and number. Perhaps he will cut you a deal." Regina's smile morphed into a smirk as Emma looked down at the number Regina had handed her with the phone. She knew full well Michael Tillman was sitting by his phone awaiting this call.

Before coming into the study, Regina had called him and explained what was happening as succinctly as she could. He was under orders to wait until the phone rang 3 times to give the appearance he was still in bed. He was to kindly refuse to fetch the bug tonight, but offer to pick it up in the morning. And once it was in his custody, he was to take as much time as possible to repair it, even if he had to break something else to stretch it out. Regina wanted to keep Emma and Henry here as long as she could. She had to figure out a way to bring back their memories. There has to be a way.

"The mayor?! Dang. We hit the jackpot. Of all the houses on this street to approach, we sure picked the right one, huh kid?" Emma smiled at her son and then at Regina.

"Yes, I'd say you certainly made the right choice coming here tonight, dear," Regina replied to Emma's retreating form. With a quiet click the door closed and Regina found herself alone with her son for the first time in a year.

"So, Henry, how do you like your cocoa?" Henry hadn't spoken a word to Regina all night. He had barely said anything even to his mother. Regina was desperate to hear his voice addressing her, even if it was about something as pedestrian as the taste of her chocolate and cinnamon concoction. Her son, right here with her and yet not here at all. She smiled at him again, trying hard to swallow the lump in her throat and the desire to reach out and ruffle his dark hair.

Henry only stared. Finally, he set the mug of cocoa atop a coaster he instinctively knew was in the basket on the coffee table and locked his eyes on Regina again.

"Who are you? And how come I keep seeing you in my dreams?"