I know you all probably hate me by now. If I could explain the depression I've been experiencing I would. As we near the New Year, all of my loyal readers will have continuous updates on our favorite stories. I won't say I'm back but The Oath, Fool's Gold, The Way We Are and guess what? CLOSER TO FATE will be EXTENDED and FINISHED. There's more are on the way. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I love and thank you all.

I do NOT own the characters or OUAT.

Chapter 10

Emma sat holding Henry securely on her lap, slightly bouncing her legs. She looked around the Behavioral Specialist's office and chewed her bottom lip.

"Henry Mills?"

The blonde quickly gathered her son and walked him into the doctor's office, "Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Dr. Hopper."

The middle aged ginger man gave a soft smile, "It's no problem Ms. Swan," he smiled down at the little boy, "Hello Henry, I'm Dr. Doctor Hopper, would you like to play with those Legos while I talk to your mommy?"

The youngest Mills, looked over his shoulder at the toys before looking back to the doctor, "Will you hurt mommy?"

"No, not at all. I promise," he replied.

"I'll play," he nodded before hugging Emma's legs and running off.

Archie Hopper sat back at his desk giving Emma his full attention, "Henry seems like a very sweet boy, tell me about him."

"He is very sweet, he adores his mother," she glanced back at him before looking at Dr. Hopper, "He has a short fuse, a temper that isn't easy to handle most times. He enjoys art and literature, he's not a big fan of movies, he isn't a big eater and he likes his sleep."

Archie listened and nodded, "Okay, my next question is, why is he here Emma? What happened that caused you to bring him?"

"His other mother is away serving time, it's affecting him. He is very overprotective, he stabbed a little boy at school in the thigh with a branch after he pushed Henry's best friend, my niece, off of the swing," she swallowed.

He swallowed. He pushed his glasses closer to his face as he glanced at the young boy before making eye contact with Emma again, "I see…would you mind if I spoke with Henry now?"

"Please," she nodded. Emma wanted the best for her son, Archie seemed decent so far. She knew Regina wasn't too happy about this, it had been days since they spoke. Henry's safety and future mattered more than anything right now.

Henry plopped on the couch and Archie sat adjacent to him, "How are you feeling today Henry?"

"Today is good, it's raining," he nodded.

Archie smiled, "Yes it is. I enjoy the rain, do you?"

Henry smiled, "Yes."

"Um Henry, I want to talk to you about your mother—"

"No," he said quickly, "Mama not here."

"Yes I know but it's okay to talk about her still. Tell me about her…"

"Her is my best friend. I miss her and I want my mama," Henry looked at the doctor with the biggest eyes.

"Oh, I know what it's like to miss someone. Henry…I heard about what happened at school. How do you think your mom would feel about that?"

The young boy played with his hands, Emma had never seen him do that before. What's this? He looked up at Dr. Hopper, "I think mama knows I protect Sophie and mommy. I like protecting."

Dr. Hopper took notes, "You do? Does it bring sadness when you have to…protect?"

"No, I no sad. I happy," Henry shrugged at this. Dr. Hopper took more notes, "You drawing me?"

Dr. Hopper chuckled, "No, I am not good at drawing. These are my notes. Henry…do you think you have to protect more now that your mother is away?"

"Yes, her told me," he nodded.

"Oh? She gave you permission?"

"I protect, her is far," he clarified, "Her come back, we a team. We protect."

Dr. Hopper swallowed and looked at Emma.

•••

"Yo Mills," Cleo said as she sat next to a reading Regina, "Reading under a tree in the rain, this some bad 80's movie?"

"No but it brings me peace. What do you want Cleo? Any new plans?"

"Yeah," Cleo sat down, "Listen, I know I said two weeks but Jaq has an outside driver coming in three days."

"That's too soon, it won't work," Regina said knowingly, she felt eyes on her so she glanced up, immediately locking eyes with Guinevere and looking away.

Cleo noticed and smirked, "Whew she's hot, right?"

"She's alright," Regina said with a shrug, "Not blonde."

"Not blonde…hm, why do you think our plan won't work?"

"This is an extremely secured facility, a rushed job won't do. I want to get home to my son, not get more time here. I thought you were smart, don't trust Jacqueline," Regina said, putting her book down looking at Cleo.

"Pardon me? You don't think I know what I'm doing? Listen, you're either in or out. They're doing transportations in three days. We sneak out with the transporters and make a run for it. I need you, kid," Cleo nodded, placing her hand on Regina's.

Ava and the crew watched from across the yard, "Why is she so focused on getting Regina to be a part of our family?"

Jaq scoffed, "Because she's loaded outside of here. We get out, Cleo gains a new rich friend to leech on."

"Don't speak about her that way," Ava scoffed, "She's not a leech. It's not her fault people kill for her."

"Oh but isn't it? Regina has no problem killing, she's wealthy, Cleo has a new secret weapon which means Dorothy won't be needed after a while," Jaq shrugged while Dorothy listened silently, glaring at Regina.

•••

Graham hummed as he opened the door, "Lily, what are you doing here? Where's Sophie?"

"I got a sitter for the night. I wanted to come cook you dinner and maybe watch a movie," she said swaying inside.

"Lil, that's sweet but I'm studying tonight. Big test tomorrow, my first one," he replied.

"Graham, I'm proud of you for following your dreams and becoming a police officer but you need romance. We need romance, let me cook for you, please?"

The eldest Swan sighed and nodded before pecking her lips, "I'm starving."

She giggled and pecked his lips, "Seeeee…"

Graham flopped back on the couch and read over his notes. He needed to end things with Lily but he didn't know how without hurting her. He propped up, watching her cook him dinner.

Lily could feel his eyes on her, she knew something was on his mind. Graham was usually all over her. Lately, he's been distant, non communicative, and irritable. It was only a matter of time before he called it quits, a woman's intuition never fails. She glanced at him, "How's training?"

"Going pretty good, I'm stronger than a few of the guys but need to get faster," he nodded.

"That'll happen in no time with the proper diet and workouts. Get your stamina up," she smiled softly.

"Yeah. No more cigarettes," he nodded chuckling, "You always know what I need…"

"I love you, studying you has become a hobby," she chuckled, shrugging.

That caused him to stare at her more while she continued to cook. Maybe they could make it work. He didn't want to break her heart anymore, he was the one who cheated in the first place. Graham smiled as Lily walked over carrying their plates, "Smells good Lil."

"Thanks," she handed him his plate before swiftly walking back into the kitchen, "Hold on, let me get you a beer."

Wow, she really loved him. Graham knew he had to make his mind up and do it quickly.

The two days went by fast, everything became routine for Regina, including Guinevere's stares. Cleo was persistent, Regina began to consider the escape attempt until she woke on the third day with a soft pink note on her pillow. Obviously surprised, she jolted awake, sat up quickly and opened it:

Meet in showers when you wake

- SE

Who the fuck was SE? Regina thought as she rose from her uncomfortable cot and looked out her cell window. Everyone was roaming free, reading, talking, and even relaxing. What did Cleo cook up? How was this possible? She swallowed before exiting her cell and heading for the showers. She could feel Cleo and her crew watching her from their table but she minded her business and continued walking. When she entered the showers, Guinevere stood waiting.

"Finally, follow me," was all she said.

Regina tilted her head as she watched the brunette slip behind the shower wall. What the fuck? She quickly followed and gasped softly when she saw a pink decorated old janitor's closet, stocked with snacks, blankets and even a tv.

The beautiful blonde woman brushed her hair at the makeshift vanity as she eyed Regina through the mirror, "Regina Mills, finally we meet. Guin's told me alot about you, sit."

Regina sat on the painted pink folding chair as the blonde spun around to face her, "Who are you? Why have you been watching me?"

"Well I have to know everything that happens in my yard don't I? Sharpay Evans," she introduced as she put on her pink fluffy robe.

"Your yard? I thought Cleo ran this place," Regina replied.

"You only think what I let you think," Sharpay said before waving her hand and dismissing Guinevere, leaving her and Regina alone, "Cleo was mine, she rebelled. Impatient and impulsive, bad for business. Guin tells me she wants you to escape with them, I invited you here to inform you that you must not."

"It is a suicide mission, I know. Evans, what do you want? People don't just offer information for free," the brunette shrugged knowingly.

"Alright fine, I'll get right to it. Your hair has yet to look bad, you speak well, and you wore Gucci loafers to court. We come from the same world–"

"You mean I'm rich, listen, I'm no one's meal ticket. I need to get back to my boy–"

"Ah yes, Henry," the blonde flipped her hair, "Regina, getting out of here still means you have to lay low. Help me execute my escape plan and I will give you and Henry a whole new life, a brand new start and Emma by your side."

Information was power and no one would have power over her. She stood to hide her anger, "So you Googled my family thinking it'd lure me into your plan. News flash dear, a monkey could use Google."

"Regina, sit. I am not done and I am not trying to use you, I'm trying to make sure we both get what we want. Back home, in New Mexico, my brother owns a farm. It hasn't made much money since I left because obviously I was the brains of the operation. I am asking for you to buy it from him anonymously, we escape and live our lives peacefully in the countryside. I don't have the capital," Sharpay shrugged.

Regina scrunched her face up, "You want to rip your brother's business from under him? Why?"

"Because he's running it into the ground and by the time I escape, it won't be anything to go back to which means I'll be broke and I'll never get my Gabi," she looked down.

The brunette smirked at that, "You're planning on escaping for love? How did someone like you even get in here, look like you wouldn't hurt a fly," she chuckled.

"I killed my abusive father for beating the shit out of my gay brother…"

"Understood. Okay so how do you plan on getting out of here?"

Sharpay smirked, "I thought you'd never ask…"

Henry played with his duckies while he took a bath, Emma sat on the closed toilet lid bouncing her legs waiting on Regina's call. If she didn't call, Henry would be much harder to put to sleep. She glanced at her son with concern. Was he okay? Would he end up like his mother? How could she make him less violent?

"Mommy! Phone!"

Emma jumped some as she snapped out of her thoughts and quickly answered the phone "I accept the charges…Regina? Hi," she sigh with relief as she hands Henry the phone after scooping him out of the bath in his dry towel.

"Hi mama, I miss you. I wan' see you again!"

Regina sighed, "You'll see me soon my prince. I'm so terribly sorry that I'm not home. I need to talk to mommy."

"Mama wan talk to you then me," he said surely as he passed her the phone.

"Oh okay thank you," she chuckled some and put the phone up to her ear "Yeah?"

"I know you're upset with me but I need you to call Kat in the morning, it is very important that you do exactly what she says," Regina emphasized.

"Oh here we go, follow blindly and obey. I can't do that anymore. Our son is my priority right now—"

"He's mine too! Emma, your stubbornness doesn't help me survive…just this last time, trust me and do what I say!"

I frowned at that tone, "There's a specialist that thinks Henry has Intermittent Explosive Disorder."

Regina froze and blinked, the anger she felt was almost unbearable, "You took him to some doctor and let him pick our son's brain? I TOLD YOU NOT TOO. HE DOESN'T NEED A SPECIALIST, HE'S FINE!"

The blonde snapped, "HE IS NOT!"

This made Henry focus less on his toys and more on his parents' conversation, "No, stop it!"

Regina sighed, hearing him, "Give him the phone."

"Regina we need to talk about this—"

And just like that Regina's phone call ended, Henry frowned and pouted when he saw Emma lock her phone. He furrowed his brows confused, "Her no wan talk to me?"

"She does, she will call back and talk to you. The phone must've died," she lied to him. She knew he wouldn't understand that Regina only had a limited time to be on the phone. She teared up watching him exit his tub and storm to his room. She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. It was going to be a long night.

"She did what?!"

Maleficent winced at the blonde, "She bought a farm in Albuquerque and wants you and Henry there by the end of the week."

"What is she up to Mal?"

"Em, it doesn't matter. We should go," Graham chimed in. They were having lunch at Tiana's Place trying to figure out what the future holds.

"And what about you joining the academy? What about Lily and Sophie?"

"I can be a police officer anywhere, Lily will love being back on the farm. This will make you money Em, it'll make us money—"

Maleficent cut him off, "Most importantly this will get Henry away from Gold."

"I'm in," Emma said.

Graham nodded to Mal, silently thanking her. No one knew what Regina was up to but everyone knew that whatever it was wouldn't work if they were a family.

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