Somewhere Down The Road

Chapter Two

"I've packed you all kinds of snacks for the road," Cora shouts from the kitchen as Regina enters with a sleepy Henry on her hip.

"Mother, I will go but under one condition," she states so firmly that her mother has no choice but to stop her obsessive packing and lift her sad eyes to meet Regina's head on. "I will go, only if you come with me."

"Oh Regina," Cora mumbles, shaking her head and proceeding to pack the cooler. "I can't...I...it's different..."

"It's the only way I will go," she firmly reiterates, refusing to budge on the subject because she cannot stomach the thought of being in that house without one of her parents.

Cora pauses, the refrigerator hanging open, waiting for an answer just like Regina's heart. Her mother's tired eyes crawl toward Henry snuggling against her chest and Cora sighs. "I suppose I better pack."

Regina cracks a faint smile, squeezing her son closer and pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "This will be good for you too. I'm sure Mary Margaret would love to spend time with you."

Cora nods, inhaling a deep breath as she scurries over to gift her grandson a loving kiss. "Morning, my beddu."

Henry cuddles even closer into Regina's chest, his finger methodically rubbing up and down his tiny freckled nose. A little habit he's picked up since she took away the pacifier.

"Oh, you're just like your mother. You never used to speak in the early mornings," Cora huffs, running her palm over Henry's little head before she sweeps out of the kitchen.

Regina shakes her head, shuffling to the refrigerator door still hanging open. "Silly, Nana," she teases in a baby voice, softly closing the door. "Okay my little Prince," she whispers, setting him down on the kitchen island. "Are you going to be good for momma and Nana on this trip? We have a very long drive."

Henry blinks up at her with those big brown eyes and thick lashes that go on for days. Women would kill for eyelashes like his but instead they all seem to swoon over how adorable he is.

"Let's see what Nana packed?" She rambles, digging through the cooler to find sandwiches, sliced apples, celery sticks, and some water bottles. She peeks inside a tote bag to find pretzels and trial mix as well. "No, Goldfish I see."

Henry's eyes double in size as he leans over into the bag as well. He shrugs his little shoulder, peering up at her so innocently. "Goldfishies?"

She softly laughs, sweeping in to place another kiss to his forehead. "I will pack some Goldfish, honey. But first, what would you like for breakfast?"

"Eggsh."

"Eggs," she repeats slowly, pointing to her mouth so he knows to follow along and copy her sounds.

"E...gg...s..."

"Good job, my beautiful boy," she praises gifting one more kiss to his head before starting his breakfast before a very long trip with a two-year-old and a worn-out mother.

~~~~

Storybrooke, 6 years old

The first summer at their vacation home was better than Regina could have expected. She did so many activities that she is sure her mother and father would have never allowed before meeting the Swans. For instance, she is positive her mother had never even heard of an ATV before David slapped a helmet on her head and put her on the back with Emma sitting behind her.

She was terrified, clinging to Mr. Swan as tight as possible with Emma's arms around her midsection and a giggle behind her ear. He took them on a ride that felt like days through a forest until they ended up where Emma called it The Dunes. David drove up and down and all around a massive sandpit. Emma squealing and laughing, begging him to go faster.