Chapter 1

Life after the turmoil Cora Mills brought to Storybrooke had faded, and the town returned to its normal humdrum pace. Henry Mills decided to move back into his adoptive mother's home after Cora's death with the blessing of his birth mother, Emma Swan.

His adoptive mother needed him more than ever, and he knew his presence could keep Regina on the straight and narrow and he wanted to be there for her. He could see she was trying to change her ways, and he understood, with the help of Emma, why she turned to the dark side when Cora arrived in Storybrooke.

"No matter what she did, she did it because she was fighting to keep you, Henry. She doesn't always make good decisions when it comes to trying to protect herself, and after meeting her mother, I suddenly understand exactly how she got that way. We all need to give her some slack and help her. All of us have the potential to do bad things."

"Like Snow White killing Cora?"

"It wasn't that she killed Cora, because she was protecting her family, but yeah, the decision she made to use Regina to do it, that was what made it bad."

Henry took in what his blonde mother said then asked, "So you don't hate my mom anymore?"

"I never hated her Henry. She scared the shit out of me and… I kind of get defensive when I'm protecting myself, just like she does and I don't always make the right choices when that happens."

"So you like my mom?" he notices right away the blush that flushes her cheeks and her sudden loss for words. "So do you?" he pushes a little harder, just to gauge her reaction.

"Yeah kid, I like Regina. I'm still scared to death of her though." She chuckles nervously at the truth.

Henry knew his blonde mother was fearful of his adoptive mother for reasons beyond the fact the woman was the Evil Queen, had magic or was just plain vengeful. He had long talks with his mother before the curse was broken and knew she had just as many walls as his adoptive mother had when it came to putting herself out there and making connections.

The Sheriff was guarded and had severe abandonment issues, rightfully so or not, and he knew if he wanted to get his mom's together, Regina's walls weren't the only walls that needed to come down.

He did want to get them together. It seemed so obvious to him, and he felt like he did when he was the only one who believed in the curse. So like he did when he helped his birth mother break the curse, he created an operation.

Henry moved back into the Mayor's manor and started putting effort into rebuilding his relationship with his adoptive mother. She had been devastated after the death of her mother by her own hands and his presence, he felt, was sorely needed to keep the Evil Queen at bay.

"Are you alright mom?"

"Yes, darling."

"I'm happy to be home you know, I've missed you."

"You have?" The shock that flashed in his mother's eyes was heartbreaking to him.

"Of course mom, but... I miss Emma though too." He saw her wrap her arms around her midsection, something she always did when she guarded herself.

He knew, or at least he suspected, that the brunette, before the Cora thing, was starting to genuinely like his birth mother. When Emma fell through the portal to the Enchanted Forest, Regina worked non-stop to find a way to get her back. And although she said, repeatedly, that it was for his benefit, he had strong suspicions she had other motivations.

"Are you still mad at her mom?" he asked cautiously noting her rigid stance.

"I'm not mad at her Henry. We both..."

She got distracted pulling at a string that hung off of her sleeve, and he finished her thought for her, "You both made bad choices when Cora came to town. I know."

"We did," she said agreeing with his assessment.

"So you still like her then?" he prodded gently. He instantly noticed the tinge of crimson that flushed his mother's cheeks, the same reaction his birth mother had when posed the same question.

"Well, I don't know about like, but I don't hate her," she replied, recovering quickly.

"Would it be alright if I asked her to come over, you know, to see us?" he asked casually.

"I suppose, if she wanted to visit with you, here, I wouldn't be opposed to it. She is your mother too," she said casually.

Once he had it in his head that both of his mother's liked each other, much more than they were willing to admit, he decided that as their son, it was his job to help them see the truth. He also decided that his brunette mother would be much easier to crack than the battle-scarred blonde, believe it or not, so he focused on her.

Bringing his birth mother over often, getting them to spend time with one another really seemed to help his adoptive mother get over her fears a bit, and he saw his chance to get in a good word for Emma.

He asked his mom to meet him down at Granny's for lunch that day, because today would be the day he brought up his new Operation to the Mayor. "So Mom, you know I want you to be happy right?"

"Of course. I want you to be happy too darling," she replied looking over her menu.

"I think Emma makes you happy," he said cautiously.

Her brown eyes flicked up to his smiling little face before returning to the menu.

He continued, "I think you should ask her out."

"Henry," she warned quietly.

"Hear me out. I see how you are with her, with the looks and the saving each other and stuff. I know she likes you too, mom."

"Did she... tell you that?" his adoptive mother put the menu down and he now had her full attention. He smiled and nodded his head. "She did."

He watched as the brunette considered the information he had just provided, then added, "But you can't just ask her out."

This got a questioning raise of an eyebrow.

"It's Emma, mom," he answered her silent question as if that was all the explanation she would need. After a moment he clarified, "She kind of gets panicky when things get too, permanent."

She folded her hands on the table and stayed quiet, as she took in what her son was telling her and he continued, "She kinda had a hard time growing up, and she doesn't give a chance for people to hurt her. So you can't just go in and ask her for a date."

"Do you think she'd… I mean, I'm the Evil Queen, Henry. She's… the Savior." Her eyes dropped to the table, and she straightened out her suit jacket in an attempt to busy herself from the uncomfortable feelings that statement made her feel.

"You're not the Evil Queen, mom. Not anymore. Emma knows that." Regina twisted her mouth up to the side and bit her inner cheek. "She goes to the Rabbit Hole on Fridays," he said casually.

"She'll be lucky if she doesn't get hepatitis from that place," Regina snickered.

"She goes there to shoot pool because it reminds her of Boston. She told me once it reminded her of the dive bars back home."

"Henry I'm more than a little concerned my 11-year-old knows what a dive bar is. Remind me to discuss what is and what is not appropriate topics of conversation with Miss Swan." She pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation.

"Mom!" he rolls his eyes. "My point is, she goes there because it makes her feel like she did before she was the Savior. It's kind of a lot of pressure for her, you know? The whole savior thing. She goes there to just be Emma again. I think it would be good for you to, I don't know, chill with her in her own environment."

She looked at him and wondered who this young man was because he couldn't be her little boy. "That was very astute of you Henry. You are growing up so fast darling."

"I know," he says with a wide smile. "So you should go down there tomorrow night and play pool with her."

"I doubt she'd appreciate me intruding on-"

"Mom," Henry warned her, mimicking her own tone when she warns him. "Just trust me on this okay? Please?"

Regina bit her bottom lip, and after a moment she nodded her head. "Okay."

It wasn't a date. She just happened to show up, and oh look! Miss Swan? Fancy meeting you here?

Fancy meeting you here? No. I'll need to come up with a better line than that.

She sat staring blankly at the menu she was no longer reading over as her mind conjured scenarios where she and the Sheriff had a night together.