For someone that was always prepared, always ready to face any circumstance, Regina wasn't ready to face this, to face the fact that her own son thought about her as the Evil Queen and nothing more then this, utterly and completely shutting her off from his world, not even making an effort to be close to her as she desired. Hatred was the only thing she saw when the young boy looked into her eyes. That and an immense relief when he was sent off to school. Because that was exactly what it looked like. Everytime he was sent there, it seemed that it was the best part of his day because he didn't have to look at her, spend time with her...


...fear her.


Regina didn't know what to do anymore. She loved him, more then he could possibly understand. Henry was her son and even though he couldn't understand her ways, she would always love him, no matter what, no matter how dark she could eventually turn out to be.


She would keep trying to win over his heart.


Another school day was almost done for little Henry Mills, so it was time for Regina to get inside her car, fetch him and bring him back home. She had a nice and warm dinner waiting for them back at the mansion so hopefully this evening would turn out to be better then the previous one.


"There's my little Prince." Regina greeted as Henry stepped inside the car. He seemed distant as always but that wouldn't stop the Queen to try to win his trust, over and over again. "How was school today?"



Hazel SwanMills

That's how this all happened anyway, with a book. 

Being away from this mother made him able to breathe again. The school was still stupid and a drag though. Sitting through those classes, and listening to fellow classmates throughout the day. The only time he actually felt okay was at Lunch, alone and with this storybook. He felt safe with it. Henry believing in fairytales was strong, nobody could change that. Ever. Flipping through the pages he was stuck staring at a picture of the Evil Queen as the bell rang. His emotions were so clouded for a young boy. He slipped his lunchbox back in his bookbag, with the uneaten lunch items and the StoryBrooke. The rest of the day was pretty much a blur. 

The final bell rang as she sat there waiting for his artwork to dry when Miss Blanchard had snapped him out of his little daydream. "Henry? Come on, let's get you to your mother. We wouldn't want her throwing a bit of tantrum." she said. Well, Miss Blanchard wasn't wrong. The boy grabbed her drawing before walking out the school with his teacher. He spotted his mother's car before saying goodbye and rushing to the car. He was silent entering the car, as he buckled his seatbelt. "Hi, Mom." he murmured. Finally, he took another deep breath and pulled the picture out sliding it. "I made you this." he spoke softly. It was a picture of them of course. He did feel bad, but that mean Henry was forgiving Regina so easily. 

Every single day she would fetch him at school and everyday he would enter her car and not say a word. She would ask him how his day had been and he would barely speak, simply and at some point letting her know that he only wanted to go home, to his bedroom.


Every single day this happened, which made every single day a struggle for Regina.


But not today. His small hand reached out to his backpack and he handled her a drawing, telling her that he did it for her.  Regina blinked, surprised, picking the drawing into her own hands and watching it very closely. It was the first time he actually made something for her and Madame Mayor didn't have the proper words to express how that made her feel. Now that was certainly progress. 


Touched, she couldn't help but to smile as she analysed each line her son created. Such small boy and yet such an artist. Her eyes smiled at the scenario:


Regina and Henry having a walk by the park as they held hands and the sun stood bright and mighty above their heads.


A full and genuine smile crossed her lips and she felt as if she didn't want to ever let go of that piece of paper. Gaze shifting to the side, she looked at her son, her smile even brighter if that was even possible. "I love it. Would you hold on to this until we get home? I think it would look nice in my office, don't you?" Handling the drawing to him so he could guard it, she threw him yet another smile as she turned on the engine. "So what do you want to do now? I was thinking... Maybe ice cream by the beach?" 


Homework could wait, just this one time.


Hazel SwanMills