I'm so sorry for the extremely long wait.

Chapter 7 More Than Just a Broken Heart

As promised, Regina took Mal to a new Italian restaurant that had just opened up on Main street. It quickly became a new favorite for Regina and Emma and she was ecstatic to bring Mal. They found a table and started off with some red wine, toasting to their friendship. Regina wanted Mal to relax. She has been working nonstop since she's known her. She worked one big case after another and lately she noticed how exhausted she looked. She was relieved she was finally taking a much needed break. Although Mal claimed that it wasn't Ursula who convinced her, Regina wondered how much of that was true. Because out of all the places she could have gone, she chose to take time off in Storybrooke.

"So how long do you plan on taking time off?" Regina asked curiously. It had to be a while if she was renting a loft on the pier.

"I'm not sure," Mal shrugged, sipping her drink. "A few months maybe? I can't give you any details, but I just finished one of the harder cases I've ever had to deal with. I just need to step back for a while."

"Storybrooke is peaceful," Regina stated. "It's the perfect place for clearing your head."

"I'm not intruding, am I?" she asked, suddenly sounding nervous. Regina immediately shook her head.

"Are you kidding? I'm glad you're here. I've missed you."

Mal smirked, that familiar confident gleam in her eyes returning. Regina hasn't spent this much time with her since her stay at the cabin, and even as they became friends over the years, she's never seen such a human side of Mal. There was a huge difference between Mal the therapist, and Mal her friend. She wanted to update her on everything that has been happening with Emma, but decided tonight wasn't the night for that. Mal seemed to have something that she desperately needed to talk about.

"I still want to continue your sessions among a few other clients by Zoom."

"Are you sure?" Regina asked. "Because I understand if you want to stop for a while. I could set up some sessions with Archie instead." Mal shook her head at that.

"I need something to keep my mind occupied during the day. A handful of remote sessions with patients is perfect."

"What happened in your last case?" she asked carefully, something like apprehension swirling in her belly. Mal immediately downed her drink at the question. "Mal?"

"I can't talk about it," she said. "But there's something else I do want to talk about, and that's Ursula."

"You two seem close," Regina smiled which caused Mal to smirk and roll her eyes.

"You set us up and well, it worked."

"I knew you two would get along." She was so damn proud of herself.

"That's just it," Mal sighed. "Regina, we've only been hanging out, nothing more. We haven't even gone on a date yet, but I could tell it might be heading that way. I really like her, and I think she likes me too."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"I… I haven't been in a relationship since I was with…" She didn't say her name. She didn't have to. Regina knew exactly who she was talking about.

"Are you afraid?" she whispered.

"It's why I froze back there in the rescue. I can't explain it. For a moment, when I saw you, I felt as if I were getting caught for being with another woman. Cruella was very possessive of me. I couldn't even look at another woman in her presence without her becoming jealous. I just… I was afraid of you for a moment."

"I… I understand that," she nodded, fully remembering what it was like to be fearful of being hurt. She still struggled with it at times. Early after she had left Leopold she could remember being afraid of Emma and even Mal during her recovery. "Your mind just goes to a dark place even if you know the person you're with would never hurt you. It's the PTSD. It makes you remember certain things and you react with fear, like you did in the past."

"I haven't had a reaction like that in a very long time," Mal shakily admitted, picking up her glass and realizing it was empty. "I'll be right back."

She got up and headed to the bar. Regina was a bit shocked at how much Mal had shared with her. In fact, she has never really talked about her past besides from when they were at the cabin.

She was very closed off. Now, here she was, opening up about her fears and Regina was touched that she trusted her enough to confide in her.

Mal came back with a stronger drink and took a seat. She sipped at it for a few moments, letting the alcohol work its magic. It seemed as if she needed this for a very long time and Regina grew worried about the amount of time she spent alone in the cabin in between cases. Regina wondered how she did it. She had gone through her own hell with Cruella and now as a career, she helped people get through cases of domestic violence everyday without letting herself get triggered. She wondered if this last case was just too close to home. Whatever had happened, had shakened the woman up so much that she needed to stop.

"I'm nervous about being in a relationship with Ursula. Cruella was the only serious relationship I've been in and it was a living nightmare."

"Go slow," Regina advised. "Talk to her, and she'll understand."

"We don't know that!" Mal suddenly sounded panicked. "Regina…" She looked around as if making sure no one was over hearing them and then leaned in close as if she were telling her a secret. "How in the hell am I supposed to tell her I killed someone. She'll look at me as if I'm a monster. What if I scare her away?" she whispered.

"It was self defense," she stated, keeping her voice low.

"It doesn't matter," Mal shook her head stubbornly and took a long sip of her drink. "I was a convicted murderer."

"Hey!" Regina would not have her talking like that. She was only fighting for her life and she had more than paid her penance for it. "Mal, you did what you needed to do. I more than understand that and I'm sure if Ursula really cares for you, she would too."

Regina reached out, taking her hands and coaxing her to look at her. All she saw was fear, self loathing, and a deep kind of pain resonating in those blue eyes that she recognized all too well. This was why they were so connected to each other. They understood each other's trauma better than anyone.

"Someone really clever taught me that I wasn't the villain in my story, Leopold was. And just like me, you're not the villain either. Cruella tried to kill you. You did what you had to do to survive. If Ursula can't understand that, then maybe she isn't the right one. Just don't be afraid to give her a chance."

"Who is this clever person?" she asked with a knowing gleam in her eyes that had Regina laughing. Mal just needed to be reminded of how strong she was.

"You know exactly who she is. The scary dragon lady as Aaliyah used to call you."

Mal scoffed in amusement at the mention of her old charge. The last they heard from the girl was that she was thriving and thinking about college now.

"I just need some time," she confessed after a moment. "Anyway, enough about all this drama. I'd like to hear from you."

"Are you sure?" Regina asked, surprised. She didn't want to bombard her when she was off the clock.

"Of course!" Mal frowned. "We're friends. It's what I'm here for."

Before Regina could respond, the waiter had approached them with their food. Lasagna for Regina and chicken parmesan for Mal. They took a moment to enjoy their meals and Regina took this opportunity to get her thoughts in order. So much has happened since they last talked. She placed her fork down and looked at her friend.

"Well, Emma and I talked. She shared a lot more than I expected, and I'm so proud of her for it, but…" She took a deep breath, because this had been bothering her since they were sitting on the couch, folding clothes and Emma had shared this secret with her. "She lied to Henry."

Mal's brow furrowed with concern as she took in the weight of Regina's confession. That sinking feeling she felt drop in her stomach that afternoon, felt ten times heavier and she could no longer enjoy her meal. She set her fork down and took a sip of water.

"During her first year in Storybrooke, when I was with Leopold, Henry had asked her who his father was. She didn't want to lie to him. At the time he was depressed and Leopold was putting out bad press about Emma because of the election he was running for sheriff's deputy. She didn't want him to know his father was a bad man, that there were still good people in this world, so she told him he was a hero who died saving lives."

"I see she had good intentions," Mal replied. "Although it doesn't change the fact that she lied to him. How are you feeling about this?"

"I was angry at first, I admit," she shared. "But I understand her intentions. She was trying to protect him. I'm just worried about how he is going to take the news. She is talking to him as we speak."

"She's telling him the truth tonight?"

Regina nodded, sipping her water again and feeling apprehensive about what she'll come home to. She was worried about how Henry might take this, because as intuitive and self aware he was, he could also hold a grudge when he's been betrayed. She hated that he was going to be hurt, but it was better for the truth to come out now.

"I'm worried," she found herself saying. "I'm worried about how he is going to take this. The last thing we want for him is to get hurt, but he needs to know the truth. He needs to understand what had happened between Emma and his father."

"He might be angry," Mal nodded. "He might be hurt, betrayed. Those are all normal reactions, but you're right. He needs to understand the truth, and we can't protect him from that. You're doing the right thing in having Emma talk to him."

Regina felt her eyes burn with threatening tears, but she held them back and took a sip of her wine to help regain her composure. She felt better getting her fears off her chest, the stone in her belly finally dissipating. Mal had a way of making her feel at ease. Although, she wanted to lighten up the mood a bit. She didn't want to spend the entire evening talking about her worries.

"Anyways, enough about that. When are you moving into your new loft?"

Mal gave her a subtle smile, knowing exactly what she was doing. Changing the subject. She had a feeling that the only reason she let it slide was because they were out having dinner as two friends and not as clients. In their sessions, Mal usually never let Regina get away with changing the subject when things got too hard. She always coaxed her into facing her emotions head on.

"Around next weekend, possibly. My application is still being processed. Perhaps, by the time you come back from Portland, I'll have confirmation. Maybe I'll throw a small housewarming party."

"I'll look forward to it," she smiled, finally taking a bite of her meal and feeling a lot better. In truth, she was worried about what exactly caused Mal to take a break from the cabin, but she was glad she was here in Storybrooke with friends, and possibly even a new girlfriend.

She wasn't sure what she was expecting when she got home. Maybe some yelling, maybe some tears and the sound of slamming doors but instead, Regina came home to a dark empty house, with the tv off and the video game controllers left on the coffee table. The pizza had been left half eaten on the kitchen table. The house seemed dark and tense as if it was somehow holding its breath within its walls. She immediately wanted to rush upstairs to find Henry but then notice the backyard lights on through the glass sliding door of the kitchen.

Emma…

She stepped out, immediately seeing Emma sitting on the planter of her apple tree, looking up in the fairy light lit branches with tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh, my love…" she whispered, coming over and immediately pulling her into her arms. Emma let out a sob as she wrapped her arms around her waist and laid her head on her belly. Regina stood there, holding her and combing her fingers through tangled blonde curls.

When the tears had subsided and Emma was sniffling against her, Regina gently untangled herself and took a seat right beside her. Emma shifted so that she was facing her, looking at her with devastated green eyes. Her chin wobbled as if she were fighting back more tears. She was visibly trying to pull herself together.

"Do you want to tell me what happened?" she asked, coaxing her gently.

"I told him the truth and he didn't take it well. I mean I wasn't expecting him to, but he was so angry. He looked at me as if I had betrayed him." Emma swallowed, her eyes averting and shining with a fresh wave of tears she seemed to fight to hold in. "I betrayed him, Regina. He's angry and hurt, and I don't know how to fix it."

"Give him time," she whispered. "Let him figure this out, and he will come to you."

"What if he doesn't? What if he never forgives me?"

"Hey, look at how far my relationship with Henry has come. He hated me so much he went out and found you. If there is any kind of redemption for me as a mother, then there is for you too. You told him the truth Emma, that's all you could do."

Emma nodded, her green eyes glazing over as if she were replaying her conversation with Henry over and over in her head. Regina lifted her chin, guiding her to look at her in an attempt to pull her mind from the crushing thoughts and memories from the evening.

"We're going to get through this," she whispered. "Together, as we do everything."

Emma gave her a small smile that didn't quite fully reach her eyes.

"Maybe we should cancel the trip," she sighed, surprising Regina.

"No, we can't do that. We will deal with this, but we are not throwing this opportunity away. We're going."

"Are you sure you want a sulking teenager in the back seat?" Emma asked.

"I'll talk to him," Regina assured her, getting to her feet and taking Emma's hand to guide her up as well. She kissed her again, deeply in an attempt to assure her. She wasn't happy with the confession, but she was glad Emma had eventually come to her with the truth. There was no use in being angry at her or making her feel worse than she already did. Now they had to work together.

Regina made it up to the bedroom, leaving Emma to sulk and clean up the leftover pizza and games before joining her in bed. She stopped right outside the bedroom door, the crack illuminated by the soft bedside lamp he must have on. She suddenly gained a sense of deja vu. There had been many times where she had stood right outside his bedroom at the mansion just like this, hand raised and hesitating to knock. Afraid of upsetting him further. Of pushing him away from her further. She swallowed. She reminded herself that those days were long gone. Her relationship with Henry was so much better. They talked instead of yelling, or slamming doors. She never lied to him anymore, and he regained his trust in her.

"Henry?" she called softly, knocking on the wood. "Can I come in?"

There was no answer. She waited a moment, unsure if she should try again or let him be until she heard him.

"Come in, mom," he called, and her heart broke at how desolate he sounded, as if he was emotionally checked out. She was worried. She pushed open the door to see him lying in bed, his back to the door.

"Henry…"

He sat up, his eyes tear stricken and angry, but what broke her heart the most was the betrayal shining in them. She took a sharp inhale of breath.

"Did you know!" he hissed.

"I wasn't aware until this morning," she admitted as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"So she lied to you too," he stated.

"It's not as simple as just lying to you Henry, she was trying to protect you."

"That's what you always said, when you lied to me," he said coldly, and her heart stopped for a moment at the anger spewing from his cruel words. How dare he throw that in her face after how far they had come in their relationship.

"There are no sides here," she said sternly, shielding the hurt behind the familiar old mask. "Emma was wrong for lying to you, and I'm so sorry Henry, but she was only trying to protect you from the same man who hurt her. You're allowed to be angry, to be hurt and betrayed, but you cannot take that anger out on me."

It must have been the sternness in her tone, the emotion seeping from her words even as she tried to mask them that had Henry visibly deflating. The anger depleted and instead remorse shone in his watery eyes.

"I'm sorry mom," he whispered, hanging his head. "You didn't deserve that."

She tried catching his gaze and when he wouldn't look at her, she reached out and cupped his chin, tilting his head up so he would look at her. Underneath all that anger was just a hurt young boy, wanting to know the truth of where he came from. She could see the same lost look Emma so often had.

"Hey, I'm angry too. I'm angry that she lied to you and she hurt you, but she's not the enemy Henry. She's your mother who just wants to keep you happy and safe. She didn't want you to lose hope that there are good people in this world. She didn't know how to tell you the truth. He framed her and put her in jail. Her heart was more than just broken."

"I…" he paused, as if taking a moment to think about her words. "She should have told me."

"I know," she nodded and then scooted up so that they could lie down and cuddle. She held him, running her fingers through his messy hair as he held her tightly. She thinks he might be crying but he's so silent she can't really tell. Anger once more surged within her, the fierce protective flame she held for son ignited within her. Henry wasn't the only one Emma betrayed. She betrayed her too.

"Mom…" his voice was muffled against her shoulder and she could hear the tremble of tears.

"Yes, honey…" she tried to encourage him to open up.

"I know she was just trying to protect me. I know he hurt her, but she ended up hurting me anyway." She tightened her arms around him, holding him closer as if the comfort alone would be enough to soothe him. She wished it were that simple. "I'm just so angry and the fact that I understand why she did it makes me even angrier, because lying just makes everything worse. I'm not a little kid anymore. I want to know about him."

As much as she was weary about whoever this guy is, the thief that framed Emma and left her pregnant in jail, she knew Henry had a right to know him even if she and Emma wanted to protect him. It was something he needed to do, and she couldn't hold him back. She learned a long time ago what would happen if she held on too tightly.

"Perhaps, in time you will, Henry. Maybe Emma will share this part of her past with you."

"You think so?"

She kissed the top of his head, breathing in his scent and letting it comfort her racing heart.

"I do."

"I don't want to go to Portland anymore…"

She wasn't the least bit surprised. He just learned that his father was alive and that his mother had kept the truth from him. He needed time and space to come to terms with all of this. He needed time away from Emma… as painful as that was.

"I understand," she whispered, kissing his forehead as he finally looked up at her with red tear stricken eyes. "I'll call Mary Margaret and see if it's ok for you to stay with them."

"Can't I stay here?" he asked.

"Not by yourself," she frowned. "It's the farmhouse, or Portland. I'm not leaving you here alone for the whole weekend."

"Fine," he sighed, and then snuggled up against her once more. She stayed with him until his breath evened out and he had fallen asleep. She kissed his forehead once more and then carefully slipped off of the bed. She tucked him in, taking a moment to caress his cheek. He was growing so fast, it was hard to not see him as the little boy he no longer was.