Welcome to my first Swan Queen fic! I got the idea for part of this story a few weeks ago, but after watching The Cricket Game, I decided to incorporate some of that, as a starting point to evolve the SQ relationship (and because I really wanted to write a "fix it" fic after that). I'm still not sure how long it's going to be, yet. I guess it depends how much you all want it to continue. Anyway, I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think. Reviews are the best. Oh, and Emma is mentioned a lot in this chapter, but doesn't make an appearance for a while. Sorry about that, but had to use Regina and Henry to really set up the story. I promise there will be a lot more Emma in all the updates after this :)

Chapter 1: New Hope

Apple cider swirled around the crystal sides of the glass, the movement being caused by the circular motion Regina Mills' hand was making, while her conflicted brown eyes stared through the liquid in deep concentration. Only when the shrill ring of the phone across the room made her jump, did she notice how she was absent-mindedly making the cider mimic the wheels turning in her head, and by then it was too late. "Shit," she breathed, in a mix of panic and annoyance, watching as the dark, golden liquid rose from its container, splashing onto her white blouse. "Great," her eyes surveyed the damage, trying to decide what the chances were that the white material wouldn't be stained for good.
In a swift movement, the irritated brunette rose from the couch, her shoulders uncharacteristically falling with the heaviness of the pain and exhaustion that had been weighing on her for days. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself not to get upset, and then, made her way across the first floor of the mansion to the kitchen.

The sticky, mostly empty glass was placed alone in the sink, before Regina took a damp sponge and began dabbing at the dark spots on her previously pristine shirt. When she was satisfied enough with how faded the spots were, she walked to the laundry room, removing the soiled shirt along the way. Soon, the garment was in the washing machine, and its owner was silently hoping her efforts, along with the power of bleach, were enough to bring it back to its original condition.

After a minute of observing the soapy water, she reached for a deep red button-down shirt, sitting on a hanger that she had placed on the door to the laundry room after washing it the day before. She frowned disapprovingly at the wrinkles that hadn't been ironed yet, but pulled it on anyway, noting with a cold chuckle that it didn't matter, since no one would be around to see her in it. The bitter thought reminded her of what had caused the accident with the cider to happen in the first place, and the woman considered who would have been trying to get in touch with her over the phone. Last time Regina checked, everyone in Storybrooke had been doing their best to stay as far away from the former mayor as possible, in fear that they might meet the same tragic fate that poor Dr. Hopper recently had.

Bile rose in Regina's throat, while her stomach twisted and her heart skipped a beat. It was the same reaction she had had when Emma and her parents had shown up at her house a week ago, accusing Regina of the gentle therapist's murder. It was the same reaction she felt hundreds of times a day since then, unable to think of anything else. She had spent countless hours racking her brain for any answer as to who would take it into their own hands and commit such an evil act, just so the former Evil Queen was framed. Somehow Regina managed to find amusement, albeit a sad amusement, in the irony of the situation. Crime after crime she had committed, even after the curse that brought them to this land, and yet, the one crime she was innocent of, happened to be the one that ultimately caused her to lose everything. If only Emma Swan had had more faith in her, instead of being so easily convinced by what she magically saw in the memory of that spotted dog, Pongo. Maybe by working together, the seemingly hopeless task of acquitting Regina and discovering the person who had really been responsible for Archie's death, would not have been impossible at all.

Pulling the door to the small room closed behind her, she sunk heavily against it, closing her eyes to fight back the sick feeling within her. Luckily, no one was there to see her like this, fragile and broken. All was lost now. No one believed she wasn't guilty, and no matter how hard she tried, she could think of nothing that might help prove her innocence. Part of her had given up, and the rest of her was collapsing quickly with it. Henry was reunited with his family, no doubt hating her more than ever, after learning about Archie's murder. Emma, the only adult who came to her defense, had also lost all trust and belief that the wicked woman could change. And meanwhile, the rest of the town hadn't even been willing to give her a chance before the horrible incident involving their beloved cricket. No. Regina was truly alone, lost, and without hope. Even she had begun to admit to herself that it was what she deserved.

An insistent, yet gentle knocking on the front door of the big house startled her out of those overwhelming dark, despairing thoughts. Her heartbeat quickened inside her chest, and Regina briefly debated whether she should answer the door or disappear into a funnel of purple smoke. After all, the likelihood of it being a mob seeking her arrest and execution was much more realistic, than the person behind the knocking being a kind soul, risking their life to check on how she was doing.

With a groan, she stood up, suddenly feeling short and vulnerable in her sheer, black stocking-covered feet, which were absent of their usual high heels of power and confidence. Poofing somewhere far away became even more tempting, but she knew she would never respect herself if she didn't go down fighting, and there was no way she'd beg for the mercy she had once felt proud not to deserve.

The knocking continued to echo throughout the empty house, so she composed herself, straightening her shirt and hoping the small wrinkles weren't too noticeable. Thin fingers combed through her hair a few times, and she cleared her throat, as she came to stand in front of the white door. Accepting the painted wood as her only shield, she let her hand rise up flat against it, before she turned the lock. Slowly, she pulled the door toward her. A shallow breath caught in her lungs when she went to peek around the wooden barrier, uneasy about whom she'd find on the other side.

When there was no one meeting her searching eyes, except for what was illuminated of the front of the estate, she hesitantly came out from behind the door, her eyes suddenly growing wide with shock. Looking up at her was the last person Regina had expected to see there. "Henry?" His name was said in a breathy whisper, ending as a question, unsure if that was really her son standing in front of her, or some cruel trick of her mind.

A hint of concern was visible in his eyes, but he did his best to offer her a brief smile. "Hey," he greeted quietly, and Regina saw him shift from foot to foot, something he used to do when caught doing what she had warned him not to. The way his eyes left her's to stare anywhere else, informed his mom he was waiting for the reprimand that was sure to occur for showing up at her door, seemingly alone, when it was already dark outside. Lucky for him, the last thing Regina wanted to do was scold him, and all she found herself able to do was stand there and hope that he didn't disappear. He continued when only silence came from her. "I…uh…I know it's getting late, but I thought it would be okay, as long as I wasn't alone—"

Regina felt her heart stop, and crossed her arms in an effort to brace against the shiver creeping up her spine. "You're not alone?" Her eyes left his, darting around, hunting for whoever had accompanied Henry.

A warm hand grabbed reassuringly onto the one she had allowed to fall back to her side, and she fought hard not to instinctively recoil at the touch, until she reminded herself it was Henry. "Emma's waiting in her car," Regina relaxed some, her body sinking out of the tense posture it had taken on. Hearing Henry had only brought Emma along, had the normally composed woman tremble with a shaky breath of relief. The blonde Savior may be the sheriff, but she'd never try to arrest Regina in front of their son. Regina also had no doubts that Emma would never kill her. "She wanted to walk me up here, but she eventually accepted the promise that I'd scream really loud if you…well, you know."

"If I used magic," she spoke for him, the emotional pain, escaping into her words. She lifted her eyes from the ones they were staring down at, following the dimly lit walkway to the street. They fell back on her son questioningly, when there was no sign of the vehicle on the other side of the gate. She'd been certain the repulsive yellow bug would be sitting beside the curb;

"I made her park a few houses away," he revealed quickly. "I was afraid you'd see her car if you looked out the window first. I didn't want you to not answer the door."

The confession caused her heart to ache. It saddened Regina that her own son thought she wouldn't open the door for him. What made it even worse, was the insecurity that had her wondering whether Henry still even considered her one of his mothers and this house his home, anymore. It wouldn't surprise her if the boy now felt he was just another visitor, and had no other right or desire to be there. What did shock her, however, was the fact that he willingly had Emma drive him over and wait in the car, while he spoke to her.

She placed a hand tenderly on his shoulder, hoping it would show him the sincerity she didn't think the words she was about to say would convey on their own. "Henry, I'll always answer the door if it's you," a small smile fell on her lips, her look softening even more, while the other hand he continued to hold, squeezed his gently.

"Good," he smiled genuinely and Regina noticed how his eyes brightened a little. "I just wasn't sure. Emma said you two fought when she…That's kind of why I had her wait in the car. I wasn't sure if you'd be okay with seeing her."

Anger bubbled up inside of Regina, the same way it had when the sheriff charged her with murder, and then, when the infuriating woman had added more fuel to the fire by saying Henry would be heartbroken and would never forgive her. Regina forced away the memory of how she had blasted Emma across the walkway with magic, trying hard to forget Emma's passionate hatred when she screamed that Henry was her son and not Regina's. Reliving those moments could easily turn her into the cold-hearted, evil woman that she had been trying so desperately to leave behind, and never wanted Henry to see again. Just as easily as the anger had started to fill her, hurt and regret began to take its place. She recalled the disappointment on Emma's face from that day; the way the younger woman had stared at her, as if Regina betrayed her as much as their son. Then, there were the honest, damaging words Emma stabbed her with, retracting any support or faith she had in Regina, saying she'd be who she always was and never change.

Warmth rose to her cheeks, while tears pricked at her eyes, forcing her to look up at the starless sky. For a reason she might never be able to explain, seeing Emma like that and losing whatever belief the blonde had in her, pained Regina deeply. Other than Henry and Archie, her enemy's daughter had been the only one to reach out to her, care enough to try to help her, and have some faith that Regina could move on from her past. Of course, Regina hated Emma for the words she lashed out at her with, but that didn't stop her from continuing to inexplicably care about the one who had broken the curse. Whether she'd begun to care about Emma for Henry's sake or her own, she could never be sure, but the truth was that she did, and she missed the brief defense and support she had given her.

"Mom, you're crying," Henry's soft voice stirred her out of those thoughts, his thumb rubbing the skin on her hand in comfort. The hand she had had on his shoulder, wiped at the single tear that had slid slowly down her cheek. She knew it was the only one that would fall. The rest had already been cried during the days she had spent laying low, allowing herself to break from everything. Still, she blinked out of habit, attempting to clear them of any more salty water.

"You know, you still haven't told me why you're here," she grimaced at how the hoarse words caught in her throat. Oddly enough, there seemed to be no getting used to the raw sound that occurred all too often, lately. "I thought for sure you'd never want to see me again."

Henry frowned, which made Regina feel sorry for being so blunt, but he began talking before she could apologize. "I was angry and sad when Emma first told me," he admitted, in an almost too quiet voice that Regina never heard him use before. He looked away from her for a moment, and his hand suddenly released her's. She wished he hadn't pulled away, yet allowed him the space. At this point, she was grateful for any affection he felt comfortable giving. "Remember at the well when I begged you to have faith in me?" he waited for her confirming nod, and she had a feeling it was more so he could collect his thoughts, than because he needed a response. "You believed in me."

She smiled down at him, "I still do and always will."

Hearing her say that brought a smile to his face and Regina felt her own smile reach her brown eyes for the first time in forever. "I know that, mom, and that's why I still believe in you."

The explanation resulted in the return of her pesky tears that burned, but never quite managed to well up enough to fall. Just when Regina had completely lost hope and was practically ready to give up, finally prepared to stop outrunning the fate she understood had been sealed for her long ago, Henry was finding and returning the unconditional faith (and possibly, love) Regina showed him. Such a declaration, which offered newfound hope and promise like Henry's, would be the norm in a world of happy endings, but in this land, her son's unexpected change of heart and unfaltering faith appeared too good to be true.

"Emma told you about what she saw?" Regina prompted, needing to know for certain that Henry was aware of all that had occurred. A future heartbreaking situation, due to his misunderstanding or lack of details concerning the circumstances on which Emma found her guilty, would be too much for her to handle. "You know she has incontrovertible evidence that I killed Dr. Hopper…"

"Yeah," Henry sighed, his brows knitting together. "I still can't really explain that. Unless, maybe someone else used magic?" She watched him ponder his theory, the same one she, too, had tossed around again and again. It upset her that Henry had obviously been troubled by the tragic event, and not for the reasons she suspected he'd be. The truth that he thought she was innocent and wanted to help her, warmed her heart, yet the worry and sadness evident on his face, wounded Regina. "You killing Archie, just doesn't make any sense," he announced, frustrated. Regina instinctually wanted to take his hand in consolation, but decided against it. She was still afraid she'd overstep, unsure of exactly how much her son's feelings had really changed. "Even mom didn't get why you would have done it, until she became convinced she saw you do it."

Seeing her little boy continuing to become so worked up was too much, and so, Regina gave in, her hand reaching out to stroke his hair. She smiled when he leaned into the maternal touch. "Shhh…"she soothed.

"Plus," he added much more calmly. "I feel like—er, don't take this the wrong way, but it's not really your style."

She quirked an eyebrow, "My style?"

"You know, poison apples, collecting hearts, curses that go on for three decades," she felt her stomach churn, finding it difficult to listen to her son name all of the horrible things she'd done. Yet, she knew Henry was purposely trying to keep his tone light, like they were talking about what an iconic fictional character did in a story, not the woman who was standing by him now. "In the book the Evil Queen preferred revenge that lasted and tortured. Seems like she thought killing was too…quick."

A sour taste in her mouth caused her to want to be sick. There was no way she could talk about her past horrific deeds, which she realized, she was starting to feel remorse for, and especially not with Henry. "You know, you're a smart kid," Regina forced some kind of smile, to tell her son she was proud of the way he had thought everything through, instead of jumping to conclusions.

"Must be from all the vegetables you made me eat," he grinned, making her grateful that he saw how the necessary, but uncomfortable conversation had bothered her, enough to say something that would remind them of better times.

"I told you you would thank me for that one day!" she jabbed with a small chuckle.

Henry rolled his eyes, but laughed too. "I'd say it was smart of you, but I still have nightmares of brussel sprouts chasing me. "

For the first time in so long, Regina felt the mother-son bond that had been missing between them. "I'm sorry, I never meant to traumatize you," she laughed.

"You'd never believe how terrifying brussel sprouts chasing you is!" His admission caused them both to laugh harder, until she became aware that her son had fallen silent. "I miss when we used to laugh like this. Don't get me wrong, you were always strict and sorta uptight, but we had some good times," he smiled fondly.

"I miss it too," she said regretfully. "Maybe we can go back to that one day."

A familiar hostility Regina realized she hadn't seen all night, was suddenly evident in Henry. "Maybe," he echoed, but she heard the lack of promise in his voice. "Look, you're still my mom and I want to help you," He paused and she almost feared what he would say next. Once again, she felt her hope hanging on by a weak thread. "I just haven't gotten past everything you've done," She felt her face fall. "I'm working on that part. I want to be able to forgive you."

"I understand," she ran a hand down his arm. "And I am glad to hear that, even if I really don't deserve it."

"Things happen. People make mistakes," he shrugged, leaving her wondering where the change in philosophy had come from, or at least as far as it concerned her. "Like I said when Emma and Mary Margaret came back, you've changed," his small hand touched her arm reassuringly. "So, back to why I'm here, we need to prove you didn't kill Archie."

"That's—" Light filled the sky right before an earth-shaking boom resounded through the air. Regina threw her arms protectively around Henry's smaller body, feeling him cling tightly to her. The way the reverberation thundered through them, had Regina thinking she and Henry were going to combust too. Bright colors continued to flash and glitter above them for a few seconds, before darkness returned. Another streak of light flew through the dark sky, then, until it burst through a window somewhere above them. Shattered glass rained down into the bushes, trickling passed branches, silently falling onto dirt-covered ground.

"What the fu—hell was that?!" Emma ran up to them out of nowhere, green eyes still on the sky. Regina couldn't imagine how she appeared so fast, if she really had been waiting down the street in her car. Their eyes connected. Regina saw all present questions and alarm slipping from Emma's, replaced by apprehension and regret after instantly recalling their last confrontation. In that moment Regina felt vulnerable, knowing her eyes expressed the same. Brown and green broke their intense stares when a crash resonated from inside the mansion.