Where Have You Bean, by LadyInTheNight02

Hello lovelies!

It's your author here with another update. I am enjoying a couple of days off of work, hence the new chapter. I hope you enjoy the update! It's also worth noting that if there is italicized words in any of the chapters, it will either be someone's thought or a dream.

P.S. I know in the first chapter it was said that the accident occurred two years prior to the start of the story. For the sake of not doing another rewrite, we are saying that it was around two years ago, but quickly approaching three years.

~ LadyInTheNight02

Chapter Three

She was stuck on the yellow line of this stupid road, and she couldn't move her body. Her feet felt like a couple of dead weights, and the blonde could barely crane her neck. Emma could hear the steady thrumming of an approaching vehicle, and her heart was plummeting. She couldn't die, not like this. Henry needed her, and her parents would worry when she never returned. The car was speeding towards her now and showed no signs of stopping. Bracing herself for the inevitable impact, Emma could feel her muscles suddenly loosen, and she jumped sideways out of the way, just in the nick of time.

Looking up, Emma was shocked. Now, where was she? The woods, the darkened road, the out of control vehicle…they were all gone. The blonde found herself staring at a wall, and if she turned her head in either direction, it was just an empty void. It was almost like everything and everyone in the universe had been erased, and only she remained. However, as she watched the darkness began to take shape, and she was in the middle of a long hallway. Speakers appeared near the ceiling, and after a few moments, it crackled to life. The voices coming from it were the ones she knew and loved.

"I can't find him…" "…this isn't real, none of it is…" "we are living a lie, David." Her mother's voice settled in her heart like a stone. Her mother hadn't always been that way. It was only after having a miscarriage when Emma was ten that the talk about another world had started. Mary Margaret's mental health went downhill from there, and Emma couldn't help her.

"I couldn't help her…" "…Mom needs to rest…" "…I'm sorry, Pumpkin. We left you…" Hearing her father's voice, she was confused. Leave me? You're at home, and you have Henry."

"Mommy…" a tiny voice stopped her. Henry was supposed to be with her parents. "…mommy?" The voice was louder, and sadness was threatening to spill out. Her body was shaking now, and his voice was getting louder.

"Henry? Where are…"

Blinking rapidly, Emma's heart felt like it would beat out of her chest. It was just a dream, but the reality remained. Her parents were gone forever, and it was just her and Henry. Speaking of her son, her green eyes settled on the little boy who stood at the side of her bed.

"Can I get in bed with you, mommy?" His face looked calm enough, but his lower lip was threatening to unleash a torrent of emotion. She could tell that he had been crying, both from the tear stains that trailed down his face and the single tear that hid in the corner of his eye. Emma didn't bother with words, but only lifted the covers up.

It took only a second or two for Henry to jump on the bed and snuggle deep into his mother's side. Wrapping the cover around his tiny body, she left a kiss on his forehead. Staring past him, her eyes settled on the digital clock with its glowing calendar.

March 16. Three years ago, today.

The pair stayed cuddled like that for a long time, and Emma could feel his breathing slowing down. She didn't have to look down to know he had fallen asleep again. Closing her eyes, she willed herself to calm down. Her parents hadn't wanted to leave them, and it wasn't her fault. They both slept as the dawn approached, until her alarm rung for all to hear.

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The morning had been a quiet affair for all the occupants. Belle finally told Ruby how she felt about her, and the dark-haired woman was shocked, to say the least. Ruby responded by going into her room, and Belle followed suit. Emma wasn't sure what was going to happen there. Ruby's car was gone this morning when they left, and the blonde assumed she went to the café earlier than usual.

Emma never liked today because she always missed them even more, not to mention, she had feelings of guilt. She was supposed to be home that weekend to help with her mother, because things had been slowly getting worse. She had been frustrated the last time she went home and decided that she would just skip visiting. Her father would be disappointed, but he would understand. Besides, she had a break the following week, and was going home to see Henry. Shaking her head to rid herself of the dismal thoughts, she parked the car. Peeking into the rearview mirror, she saw Henry just sitting there. He had his favorite action hero clutched tightly. The prince had been a gift from her father when he turned three. Since then, it was rarely out of his hand.

"You ready, kid?" Henry looked up at her with a mischievous smile.

"Can I have a milkshake?" Emma had to hide her smile. He was certainly Neal's kid. The man was convinced that dessert was a proper breakfast, and one of the food groups, to boot.

"Not for breakfast, little man. How about some hot chocolate?" She could see him perk at the mention of his favorite treat. He nodded eagerly before unbuckling his belt. Helping him out of the car, she closed the door behind him. She wasn't sure that the hot chocolate was a better option considering the pile of whipped cream that Ruby would sneak on it. Shaking her head at the thought, she grabbed Henry's hand as they entered the café.

Henry immediately wiggled out of Emma's grasp and ran to 'his' table. It was a smaller table than the others, and right in her line of sight at the counter. He had crayons and colored paper and other art activities that occupied his attention while she worked. She preferred him nearby on this day, and for now, Henry had no objection.

The blonde got Henry's hot chocolate as well as his favorite muffin, and then busied herself opening the café. Ruby wasn't here, but Emma knew that she would be here soon enough, and that her friend would only talk once she had processed everything by herself. Emma promised herself that she wouldn't ask her friend about it but would be there if she did want to talk about it.

Emma would peek at Henry every now and then, but mostly stayed busy with the opening procedures. She was just about to flip the closed sign to "open" when Ruby walked in and beat her to it. Ruby offered a sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry about ditching everyone last night, and this morning. I guess I just wasn't expecting that. I had things to consider, but I have always liked her, but I guess you already knew, huh?" No more was said on the subject as the door opened with their usual regulars coming in for their coffee and pastries. Emma couldn't help herself from almost lighting up as the brunette entered the café. She noticed that Henry was watching the crowd like he normally did. However, his sight landed on the same brunette as his mothers. She watched as he picked up a piece of paper and ran straight for the woman.

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Henry loved watching the people that came into his mom and Auntie's cafe. Sitting there with his favorite drink and crayons, he would sometimes draw them. It was a little more busy than normal, but the noise didn't bother him. He was watching the door when he saw the pretty lady. Grinning, he picked up a drawing and ran towards her.

"Hi, Miss. I saw you at the park!" He smiled as she kneeled in front of him and handed her the paper in his hand.

"Well, hello there, little man. What is this?" Taking the drawing in her hand, she looked at the bright colors.

"My mom works here, and I draw pictures all the time. She says she has too many and there's no room on the fridge. I think you should have it."

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Emma chuckled as she approached her son. He wasn't wrong. The fridge at home, and even the one here, was covered in his crayon drawings.

"Henry? Let's not bother people, hm?" She looks at the brunette who stands up, and just hopes her son doesn't come up with something else to say. She should really stop talking about the customers when she was at home. The other woman merely looked back at Henry.

"Thank you for the drawing. I will hang it on my fridge when I get home." The brunette finally looked fully at Emma, and she felt frozen for a moment. She wasn't sure why, but she was mesmerized by the forest colored eyes looking back at her.

Henry, oblivious to the staring contest between the two adults, tugged on his mother's pants. "Mom, she's the one who was with that man."

Emma tore her gaze away and looked down. "What man, kid?"

"The one in the cool chair! He even let me push 'im." Henry must have finally noticed that his mom was distracted and looked back at the pretty lady.

"Mom said she thinks that you are real pretty. Will you come to dinner? Please? I really, really wanna see that man again." Emma chuckled nervously.

"Henry, I'm sure that she has things to do." She didn't mention that she wished she could ask the woman for dinner, but she didn't really know her. Wouldn't that come across as weird? Before anyone could respond, Henry just grinned at his mother and ran back to his table.

Looking back at the older woman, she offered a shy smile. "I'm sorry about him…" she trailed off as she realized that even though she saw her every day, she didn't know her name.

"Regina. You can call me Regina, and it's fine. My father was quite enchanted by your son the other day, and I feel the same. He certainly seems…precious."

"He is certainly something," Emma chuckled as she continued. What the hell. "Regina, it's nice to officially meet you. My name is Emma. Would you like to come dinner? You don't have to, and forgive me for saying anything, but…you just look like you need a friend." She thought the brunette might just turn around and walk right out.

"I could certainly use a friend, and that does sound really nice. My father fell ill a few years ago, and my time is wrapped around caring for him. I couldn't find someone to sit with him at night. Thank you for the invitation, though."

"Bring him with you then. There is always room for people at our house." She could see that Regina perked a little at the thought.

"Are…are you sure?" Emma nodded. Slipping her hand into the pocket of her apron, she grabbed a piece of paper. Scribbling her name, phone number, and address on it, she handed it to her new friend. "How about 7:00 for dinner, but you and your father can come by anytime after 5:30."

Emma received a genuine smile at this point, and she thought she could feel her heart melting just a little. "I will see you then, Emma."

The blonde turned around so Regina wouldn't see the crazy grin on her face. "How about we get you that coffee?" As the two women walked towards the counter, Emma found herself counting down the minutes toward closing.