Silence filled the room as Henry waited for his mother to answer him but Regina could only stare in complete shock. Her son was standing right in front of her and her beloved boyfriend but all she could do was stare in disbelief. Their secret was out and there was no going back. It was now or never. Knowing it wasn't going to be easy Raphael took Regina's hand into his to reassure her. He was by her side no matter the outcome of this and Regina knew that.
Taking a deep breath Regina looked at all the confused faces in the room and gave a small smile. " Henry, Ella we can explain." Henry quickly interrupted Regina as he was taken back by the word "WE".
"What do you mean We!" Both Henry and Ella said in confusion.
Looking at Raphael, he gave her courage to continue. " Henry I know this is awkward for everyone but Facilier and me are in a relationship, we have been for quite awhile. I knew keeping this as a secret was wrong but at the time we started our relationship Drizella and Gothel was still a problem. I didn't want to add more stress to the situation."
Henry was beginning to feel mixed emotions. He just couldn't believe it. How could his mother hide such a thing from him especially for so long. He had suspicion that his mother was dating again as he had been many years since Robin's tragic death. He also knew their was some history between them as he sensed it when he first encountered Dr Facilier at Tiana's coronation but not this, Regina wasn't just dating a normal guy she was dating a Villain who had hurt and tricked his friends. He always thought his mother would be honest with him but he thought wrong. She was back to hiding things from him which brought back emotions he once felt during the first curse as a boy. " Ten years, mum that a long time was you ever going to me? What about that man you was with at party or was that just a disguise another on of his tricks to hide the truth."
" Henry Yes of course I was going to tell you. tried to at breakfast but things took a turn for the worst. I was waiting for the right moment. As for the man at party yes. It was Facilier in disguise." Regina explained. " Henry I'm Sorry."
Henry felt betrayed. Henry eyes was now on the man his mother's new love interest. " Do you love my mother or this just another one of your tricks." Looking into Henry's eyes he answered his question. " It's no trick Henry I love your mother. I have for a very long time." Facilier was truthful with Henry but Henry wasn't buying it. not yet. " Then why have you caused so much trouble for my friends and family. I believe it was you took Naveen and locked him up for own personal gain." Henry said with a hostile tone. " HENRY?!" Regina didn't like were this was going but Henry only continued with more angry in his voice. " If you really loved my mother you wouldn't of made so much chaos among the kingdom with your fortune telling tricks, you could of help us fight Gothel."
" Tiana said you were never to trusted. She told me you have been nothing but threat to this kingdom with your dark magic. You have torn so many families apart, why should we believe anything you say?" Ella Said as she too wasn't buying Facilier's niceness. Raphael looked between his Henry and Ella. They were right not to trust him, they had no reason too after everything he had done in the past but he hoped that out of all people Henry would give him a chance. " Because I have changed. Being with Regina has given me the strength to move away from the darkness. The only thing I want is to be happy and Regina showed me the way to that dream. I don't expected you both to trust me just yet but please give me a chance to prove to you I have changed for the better."
Regina decided to continue as Ella and Henry had become quite " Henry there is one more thing we have to tell you and it do with my sudden sickness over the couple of weeks...Henry I'm pregnant...with twins." Henry and Ella were gobsmacked. Looking at the couple Henry could only shake his head. His emotions were all over the place and it left him confused, angry and happy all at once. Yes he was glad his mother had found happiness again but the fact she had kept it to herself for so long and was with the untrustworthy Shadow man hurt him deeply. Needing some space Henry left with out a word.
Ella on the other hand was still taking everything in. How could Regina be in a relationship with such a cruel man and be carrying his children. She didn't know Facilier well but Tiana had told her some nasty stories about him. He couldn't be trusted and Ella didn't want her children be around such a man. Holding her son closer to her chest and pulling Lucy to her side. Ella looked to her mother-in-law in disappointment and disgust.
Regina could see the horror in Ella's face but before Regina could say anything more Ella left with her children.
Regina knew this was going to happen, she had prepared herself for it but being pregnant made her hormones unpredictable. Regina felt an overwhelming feeling of sadness and within seconds she had busted into tears. By to tomorrow everyone in castle would know about her relationship with the Shadow-man.
Pulling Regina into a warm consoling hug Raphael let Regina cry into his shoulder. Kissing her forehead and stroking her back for comfort Raphael whispered only loving words, hoping to bring down her melancholy state. " Regina we did all we could, we really did." Raphael whispered. Regina hated crying. It made her feel weak but right now all she wanted to do was stay in his arm as they made her feel safe and she needed that comfort. That was all she needed.
"Please stay with me tonight." Regina said through her sobs. Holding her closer Raphael replied "Of course Regina what ever you need."
It wasn't long before both of them had fallen asleep together. Regina was completely exhausted physically and mentally but Raphael had enjoyed the warmth Regina's body was giving off. Pulling him into a comfortable slumber. However their well deserved rest was cut short when their loud rumbling stomachs revealed how hungry they were. Wiping the sleep from their eyes Raphael helped Regina up and out of the bed. checking if she was feeling okay standing up by herself, Raphael went to window to check how long they had slept. It was now late evening and they both need some food before one of them past out. Going down to the dining room now would be awkward and they both knew everyone still need time. " We could visit my grandmother's house for dinner if you want. She always has her delicious Gumbo ready to go." Raphael chortled.
" We can't just pop out of nowhere demanding food from your Grandmother Raphael."
" Don't worry Regina my Grandmother loves unexpected guests especially if they are family." Smiling at his Queen he could tell she wasn't sure however when a sudden loud grumble erupted from her stomach Regina changed her mind. " Okay fine." Taking both her hands into his Raphael prepared to teleport them both to Mama Odie. " Lets feed these hungry babies." Letting the Red magic engulf them they were transported outside a huge tall tree. The tree looked like it had been around for many years and seemed to be holding up a little house within it's branches. The tree house was located in middle of the bayou and was surrounded by Spanish moss which grew down the branches making the tree resemble a massive willow tree. Looking around Regina was surprised. " I thought Mama Odie lived with your mother in the family mansion?"
Sometimes, but most of her time she hangs out here. She likes her own space." Raphael said as he lead Regina up a hidden stairway. Reaching the front door of the tree house Raphael didn't need to knock as Mama Odie had already beaten him to it. The door swiftly open revealing a excited old lady that wasted no time in hugging them both. " Raphael, Regina what a pleasant surprise. Come in you must be hungry, I have a gumbo cooking." Mama Odie said as she pulled them into her tree house. Taking a seat in her small living room Regina and Raphael made themselves comfortable.
Regina began to take in her surrounding and noticed the amount of stuff Mama Odie was hoarding. From jars containing odd items to hanging masks of arts around the walls Regina was really getting a sense of what Mama Odie was into. She truly was a collector of magic. It wasn't long before Mama Odie returned with two bowls of hot gumbo. " Here you are two hot bowls of gumbo." Regina took a bowl and was hit with a delicious smell of the gumbo. " Mmmmm It smell delicious Mama Odie." Regina said wasting no time in tucking into. " Yes I would have to agree with Regina I looks to delightful."
" Thank you, I'm glad you like it." As they tucked into their food Mama Odie began to start a conversion. " So how are feeling today my child. Are the twins causing you problems?" Regina froze. How on Earth could Mama Odie know about the twins. She hadn't even told her yet. Looking at Raphael who too was in shock at what Mama Odie had said. " Grandma How did you know about the twins?" Mama Odie only laughed as took in the confused faces. " Raphael Of course I know about the twins. From the moment you Regina walked in I could feel the strong magic radiating off you and the magic within you is much too strong just for one baby."
" They have magic already? I'm not even four months Pregnant yet and our babies have magical abilities." Stroking her bump Regina couldn't believe her babies already had powerful magic. " You have to take it easy, Having magical babies can wear you down and you might find yourself fatigue more often." Mama Odie said as she collected the empty bowls. " If you want I could tell you the sex of babies if you want?" Raphael looked to his Grandmother and quick said no the question. Raphael didn't want to know now that they were expecting twins. Of course he still thought they were having a boy but now he was thinking what if they had two boys? Regina on the other hand really wanted to know. She was carrying twins and she wanted to prepared for their arrival. " To be honest Raphael I really want to know the genders. If we know then we could well prepare for when they come. We can even pick the names for the babies without any difficulties if we know the genders." Raphael only nodded his head, He was sticking to his word he didn't want to know. Mama Odie smiled as the both of them disagreed. If Mama Odie was honest with them she would of told them that once she found out that Regina was carrying twins she already knew what they were having. One of the joys of having strong magical knowledge. All she knew was that both of them where going to have their hands full.