Note:

This is an Alt Universe that has been swimming in my head for a hot minute. Please read, review, share...I do hope you'll enjoy. I plan to update once a week, maybe more if the story gathers a following. This is my love letter to the ship that is Swan Queen. May it live forever. Finally, you may find me on Tumblr as rgon1475.

Maine, May 2016

Governor Regina Mills walked away from the podium and waved back to the massive crowd gathered in a local city auditorium. Once again, the public had shown up in large numbers on one of her many campaign stops, and some might call it a more than successful turnout. Regina didn't take any of it for granted, and she knew better than to think winning was a sure thing. It was always going to come down to hard work; her mother had ingrained that into her head for all of Regina's thirty-eight years. Well, hard work and money, but Regina always focused on the hard work. Her mother would concern herself with the money, as she always did.

After announcing her candidacy for President of the United States a year ago, Regina tackled campaigning while handling her duties as Governor, as well as being a single mom. January through April had been a whirlwind of stops across the United States, as presidential primary elections were held during these months. Regina visited states where her poll numbers showed her in a close race with her fellow Democratic opponent, and those states where her polling was going well weren't as heavily visited. Regina and her campaign team flew all over, sometimes visiting up to three states in one day. Speeches were given, groups met with, she shook as many hands as she could reach, with little sleep for anyone working on the campaign. It had been a rough few months, but they had pulled out a significant number of victories, and she and her team were gearing up for June, for the California primary. Though with her winning so many of the delegates from other primaries she was considered the presumptive Democratic nominee, Regina worked just as hard as someone who had yet to win anything. At present, her biggest concern was the Republican Party nominee with the largest lead over his opponents: Richard "Dick" Gold. He was ruthless and cunning and already gunning for Regina via the press.

Mary Margaret Blanchard, or "that woman," as Regina often referred to her in a teasing way, handed Regina a hot green tea with locally sourced organic honey (Regina insisted) as she began prepping the candidate for their next interview. Having Mary Margaret (or Dr. Mary Margaret since getting her Ph.D. from Yale) as her campaign manager for the second time in Regina's political career meant that every detail was meticulously handled by the cherubic-faced former political science professor, and every minute was accounted for and planned. Even Regina's bathroom, lunch, and tea breaks were scheduled and precise.

August Booth, Regina's campaign Political Strategist, walked next to the two women and began going over the points she had successfully conveyed in her speech, and then those which she needed to work at communicating better. He and Mary Margaret frequently spoke over one another to the candidate, and she could keep up with both conversations and answer accordingly. He had been hired by Mary Margaret at the start of the campaign, after a successful run of elections in which he got two senators and the current sitting president elected. He was known for his commitment to his work, his no-nonsense approach with candidates, his sometimes brutal honesty, and his love for the thrill of winning an election. He was addicted to the high of the gamble, and as he scratched at his beard (which Regina hated and told him daily to shave off because she said it made him look like a hipster) and continued his spiel, he could sense once again that Regina was well on her way to making history. He was banking on her to win it all.

"Regina, after this spot, you need to call Cora. She's been on my ass all day, and I promised her after the CNN interview you'd get back to her," Mary Margaret rolled her eyes as she said this and Regina couldn't help but laugh.

Regina took her iPhone from Mary Margaret's outstretched hand and scrolled through the many texts her mother had sent her. One particular message caught her eye, and she asked if she would have time to make the call before the interview, maybe while in hair and makeup.

"You can try, but don't get pissy when the make-up girl can't do your lips the way you like them."

"Why Miss Blanchard, you act like I'm the vainest of them all," Regina sassed, as she moved into the makeshift green room set up on her tour bus and two network hair and make-up staff began to prepare Regina for the next interview.

The phone only rang once before a terse "Regina," was spoken by Cora Mills.

"Yes mother, what can I help you with?"

"You read my messages, I see."

"I did. What about Henry?"

"The press has gotten information about his birth mother, Regina. It does not look good."

Regina waved off the two people working on her and waited to speak until she was sure she had privacy.

"How is this even legal? You know Gold's people must be behind this, which means he wants to keep playing this election dirty. He knows I can beat him. That sonofabitch," Regina tried to be as quiet as possible, but her last statement had August and Mary Margaret sharing worried glances.

"Oh, Regina, don't be naïve, darling. You've been in this business long enough. This is how politics work. Everything is fair game."

"Henry is a child. I won't have him subjected to this nonsense. If Gold wants to come for me, that's fine, but my son isn't a pawn. This election isn't a game."

"Regina, you're running for the highest office in the land. Of course, this is a game, one in which you're going to have to figure out how to play to win. Many of my donor friends have invested millions into making it this far. I have spent millions. We cannot lose ground now, and I fear it's possible with this latest development."

"So, who is she? What do I need to prepare for?" Regina asked.

"Come see me when you finish up tonight. We need to have a sit-down," the dial tone left no question that Regina did not have the option of refusal.

Regina mentally calculated that by the time she reached her mother's place, she would be going on 19 hours of working straight without more than fifteen minutes to herself. She sighed and ended the call. What was another long night when running for the presidency of the United States?

The dark SUV pulled into the gates of Cora Mills' estate long after midnight. David, Regina's driver, quickly exited to open the door for the candidate. Mary Margaret was snoring softly in the seat next to Regina; August had taken a red-eye flight out to Ohio to meet their state campaign director to strategize about upcoming stops. He commonly flew out to meet with state campaign directors as well as state senators and congress people who would speak at Regina's campaign events. He loved the constant hustle and existed on black coffee, sugary foods, and little sleep.

The candidate briefly thought about waking Mary Margaret up but decided at least one of them should be able to rest.

"Let her sleep," she instructed David, who smiled and quickly helped Regina with her long, black trench coat. Regina had a feeling something was going on between the two of them, but she kept her suspicions to herself for the time being. Two fools in love were none of her concern unless Miss Blanchard began slacking on the job, then Regina would have no choice but to mention it. Besides, they would soon be traveling to the west coast, and David would not be accompanying them. Maybe it wasn't serious, although their constant eye contact and shy smiles told a very different story.

The Mills' estate, located in Storybrook, Maine, was fifteen minutes outside the state capital of Augusta and had 25 acres of sprawling land and rolling hills. Stables were built onto the property when, at the age of 8, Regina asked her father for, and received, a pony for her birthday. Displaying a propensity for riding, Regina acquired more horses throughout the years, and the estate eventually became home to several thoroughbred racehorses. Many of their horses rode in races around the country, which opened a new source of revenue for Cora Mills. Cora, considered "new money," by society folks along the East Coast, had married into her husband's money but quickly adapted to life among Maine's wealthy and elite. After the sudden death of her father, Henry, Regina rarely visited the property and very rarely rode horses anymore. Something that had once brought her so much joy, now only made her sad. She knew her mother must have had a good reason even to ask her to stop in.

Cora was standing in the open front door, waiting for Regina at the top of the stairs of the front porch, still dressed impeccably in a navy-blue Chanel skirt suit. Hair and make-up still flawless, much like her daughter's, given the late hour. She hugged Regina briefly and then followed her inside the large home.

"Go to the study, Regina. I'll be right in."

Regina followed her mother's directive and walked into the study and sat in a large, overstuffed leather chair. She resisted the urge to remove her heels and instead only removed her coat and suit jacket. There was a fire to warm the room, and Regina appreciated that her mother remembered she was often chilled and loved to sit in front of the fire to keep warm.

Cora came in minutes later, a mug in one hand, which she gave to her daughter. "It's peppermint, Regina. No caffeine and good for your stomach. I imagine it's been a long day," Cora mentioned as she sat across from her daughter.

"It has mother, which makes me concerned as to why you'd have me out this late when I have a breakfast for women voters to attend in seven hours."

Cora reached over and grabbed a folder from a table next to her chair. "We have a problem, Regina, and I am not sure our money or influence is going to be able to control it."

"Henry's birth mother, yes. I was assured that those records were sealed when the adoption became final."

"You'd be amazed at what throwing some money around can unseal."

"Tell me about her, what do I need to know?"

"Her name is Emma Swan. She is 29 years old, and she apparently works as a bail bonds person somewhere in Boston."

"She's close and very young," Regina began inspecting the documents in the folder, including a picture of the woman. She was pretty, with high cheekbones, bright eyes and a smile that immediately reminded Regina of her son.

"She was 18 when she had Henry, and apparently, she was serving time in prison on theft charges during and after her pregnancy. She's a felon, Regina. She was also a foster child. She grew up in the system, and it would seem she was never adopted by a family. The records say she ran away from her last home at 16, and no one bothered to look for her."

"She was a child herself when she had Henry."

"Yes, she was."

"So how can they use this against me, mother?"

"Senator Gold and his people have contacted her; I am concerned they are going to try to get her to speak against us, maybe even get her to come after Henry."

"Even so, he's my son. She can't take him from me. The adoption is legal and binding."

"I think we need to meet with her. They can offer her money…"

"And we offer her Henry? I can't do that, mother. I won't use my son," Regina shook her head.

"That isn't what I mean. I think we can at least appeal to the woman, get her on our side, and make sure she doesn't feel like she must do something stupid because they offer her a payoff. She has no debt, she doesn't live in the best area, but she seems to do all right, so maybe money isn't something that would draw her to them. It would appear since Emma's time in prison she has led a very private and solitary life. We have to manage this quickly and swiftly before they decide to use it against you in whatever way they come up with. We can't put anything past them."

"So, you want to arrange a meeting with her?"

"I was hoping you would agree to that, Regina. I can get Sidney on it."

"Your shadow still does your bidding," Regina teased.

"Everyone needs a loyal sidekick, Regina. You'd do well to remember that."

"Mary Margaret is my loyal sidekick. Besides, money bought you that loyalty, Mother."

"Indeed, money has, just like it bought you a Harvard degree," Cora retorted.

"Hard work got me my law degree, money only got me in the door," Regina put her half empty mug down and stood to put her jacket and coat back on. "I assume we are done for the night," she asked, even though she was already walking towards the front door.

"We are. Do try to get some rest, Regina. The election is less than six months away. We can't lose focus now. You still have to secure the nomination. I'll be in touch when I hear something."

Regina kissed Cora on both cheeks and walked out to the car. Regina didn't want to think about Henry's birth mother and what this could mean to her not only professionally, but personally as well. She had come too far to have her whole life derailed by some random woman.

Twenty minutes later Regina walked into the Governor's mansion and laid her briefcase and shoes by the door. She walked up the winding staircase and stopped by her son's bedroom before going to her room. Henry lay on his belly, tucked under his spaceship comforter, and Regina sat beside him and swept his hair away from his eyes. He would need a haircut soon. He was growing up so fast, and she knew she was missing out on so much. Winning the Governor's election four years before had taken so much out of her, and now here she was, in another election, chasing after new dreams that had not started off as her own. She was missing the day in and day outs with her son, and now with this new development, she feared that she was going to lose even more. Exhausted and meaning only to rest her eyes for a bit, she lay next to Henry and promptly fell fast asleep.

Ruby Lucas, Henry's nanny, gently shook the brunette woman awake some five hours later, after hearing Regina's phone going off in her briefcase, where it had been left the night before. Regina was accustomed to sleeping when and where she could, and then being woken and having to be on and ready at a moment's notice. She took no time in opening her eyes and noting where she was and what she needed to do.

"Time?"

"6:30," Ruby answered, almost apologetic at interrupting the peaceful scene she was witnessing.

"Plug my phone in, please. I need a shower and to be out the door in 45 minutes. Text Mary Margaret and tell her I'm getting ready and will meet her outside."

Ruby promptly followed her boss's directives and then went downstairs to greet her grandmother, who was already up and cooking breakfast for Regina. Even though the Governor would be attending a breakfast, she did not like to arrive at these events on an empty stomach.

"Is she up?"

"She's up and showering. ETA thirty-five minutes for MM, I'll get Henry up in about 20, so he can see her off."

"She misses that boy," the older woman sighed as she shook her head.

"She does, but what can you do? Cora has decided she should be president, and what Cora wants..." Ruby let her words trail off. She had been working for Regina since she was a young adult, back from college and living with her grandmother in a small apartment. Ruby didn't have much direction or idea of what she wanted to do with her life. At first, she was a kitchen assistant to her grandmother, but when Regina adopted Henry, Ruby was a natural with the boy, so she was hired as Henry's nanny, and she and her grandmother had been living with the small family since.

"That girl doesn't do anything she doesn't want to do, let me tell you. I've known her long enough and believe me, that is where Henry gets his willfulness. He is just like his Mama."

"Imagine her, the President? Do you think she will take us with her to Washington? Do we want to go to Washington? Do you think we will get our own secret service man? I hope mine is a hottie, though look at the ones they sent to cover Regina and Henry," Ruby sighed in disappointment.

Eugenia Lucas gave her granddaughter her patented side-eye and shooed her out of the kitchen. Washington could wait. For now, they had to worry about getting this day started. No sense thinking about things that weren't for sure. Although, since being with Regina for most of her thirty-eight years, the older woman couldn't think of anyone more qualified for the office. And since Regina brought her from the Mills estate to the Governor's mansion, and trusted her to cook for her family and for the fancy parties she often had to throw, Eugenia knew that if Regina won, they would most certainly be making a move to Washington. Regina loved order, loved a routine, and Eugenia and Ruby Lucas were a crucial part of that order and routine for both Mills'. Regina wouldn't leave them behind.

After spending only ten minutes with a still sleepy Henry, Regina was out the door and on her way to her first of five events that day. She adjusted her Kate Spade black sunglasses over her eyes as she rested against the window and closed her eyes briefly. Regina was tired, but now was not the time to give in to the physical demands campaigning put on her. She knew any sign of being tired or worn out was viewed as weakness. Senator Gold and his staff were ready to exploit anything they could get their hands on, and the last thing she wanted was to read about how tired she looked or have any questions about her health mentioned.

"I want to schedule a run this weekend. I haven't had time to do anything physical, and I want pictures for Gold to be jealous over. Everyone knows that imp doesn't exercise, and he's had two cardiac events in the last five years. Why don't the papers ever bring that up?" Regina scowled, though the look was hidden behind her glasses.

"Now, now, Regina. Don't get cranky. I'll let the secret service know you want to run Saturday morning; you have some down time then," Mary Margaret responded as she made a note in her planner about Regina's request. "Your mother just emailed me; she said dinner on Saturday with a guest. You need to be there at 6. Only you, she says."

Regina groaned. Of course. Her first Saturday off in more than a month, and she was going to have to deal with Emma Swan. Maybe she and Henry could have an early lunch and hang out before she would have to leave.

"Cancel the run. I want to spend the morning and afternoon with Henry. I can show up Gold another time," Regina said, and still tired from the previous day, she drifted off for a quick nap before her event.

TBC