Second Chance

9

Emma Swan-

My mother seemed to have some apologetic story, she lost track of time, she is so sorry, but it's no big deal right? It could have been far worse but thank goodness Regina was there to watch him.

I head into Granny's to find my ex best friend and my son... who is also her biological son sharing a meal, and this is a sight I never dreamed imaginable. I stand back, lingering at the door as I watch the brunette and my precious kid race to finish their milkshakes, slurping all the foam at the end bringing a smile to my face.

"Winner!" Henry yells in victory, throwing his hands up in the air, while Regina just casts her glass aside and wipes her mouth with a napkin, staining the tissue a lovely shade of red from her popping lipstick.

"I'm not used to all this sugary stuff" she huffs in defeat, holding her bloated stomach in surrender. "Never again am I doing that"

Henry laughs so hard his eyes water, while Regina scowls at him making him giggle even harder from the reaction she's giving, she lifts her hand, scuffing it through his brown locks. "Mom" he gasps, slowly coming down from his climax of laughter. He jumps off the barstool and sprints to my arms, I pick him up and spin him around before setting him back to his feet and turning my direction to a certain smily brunette.

"Gina and I had a milkshake race, I won" he beams, jumping up and down beside me enthusiastically as I make my way to her.

"I can see that kiddo, you're all pumped with sugar" I laugh which instantly makes Regina wince with worry. She mouths a silent sorry, but I don't mind. "I don't mind, it's nice to have a treat"

"Gina is the best, mom why haven't I met her before?" He asks.

I stare awkwardly into her sorrowful eyes yet her smile brings my heart to a screeching halt. I've never in my life seen her this happy and I know it's because of the short hour they have spent together without any intrusion.

"We had a little fall out kiddo, but we're friends now right?" I slowly trail off... wondering exactly what Regina has to say for this situation, maybe she feels uncomfortable but the smile plastered on her face is evident that she has enjoyed every blissful second with her son.

"Yea, right... me and your mom are like good friends now, nothing to worry about" she smiles, showing her pearly white teeth as she bores into his identical orbs. Then I see one thing... love. Something she's been seeking forever and only ever received it from Henry and I.

"So I'll see more of you Gina?" My son giggles, shifting from foot to foot in excitement.

"You betcha Prince" she winks, clasping his chin with her thumb and finger while scrunching her nose up adorably at my boy.

"Mom, Regina said she will take me to the cinema one day and watch the new superhero film" he grins widely looking back to me and instantly putting me on the spot.

"If that's okay with your mother of course" Regina adds on, both sets of eyes peering up at me and now how am I ever going to refuse. My one and only best friend from years ago, the one person I've ever trusted until she broken my heart. And my sweet little angel, it's hard enough saying no as it is.

"Sure bud, we can work something out" I shrug.

"You're welcome to come too, if you'd like" she looks up and now I'm pressured. "The invitation is there, it'd be nice"

"Okay yeah, I'll see" I nod, and instantly Henry jumps up and down throwing his arms around regina.

She hesitates for a moment, looking over his shoulder at me and watches me shift anxiously, nervously, hysterically at the sight. I work my courage to give her a soft smile, building her courage to wrap her arms around him and breathe into his neck. If only he knew he was actually hugging his birth mother. It would break my heart and most definitely confuse and upset him also.

I'm dreading the day, the day my heart splits into two, the day my eyes never stop crying, the day Regina wins.

I admit- I'm jealous. I'm selfish. I'm going crazy. For 7 years Henry has been mine and only mine and now I'm in town, with my mom and my dad and coincidentally the mayor is my sons birth mother. How do you think that makes me feel? Knowing Regina could take my boy in a heartbeat and give him a successful life in a fancy mansion that I could never provide for him. He'd have top class school, high education, smart clothes and extra clubs and help. He'd be living a lift that I wouldn't fit in. So yes, I'm jealous and nervous just watching the two bond before my eyes. It terrifies me knowing one day I'll have to tell him that Regina is actually his birth mother and not me, and eventually he wonders off to live with her, happily ever after. And maybe I'm just overthinking this entire scenario, maybe Regina isn't capable of such a thing, maybe she doesn't want to be a mother to him, I just don't know, and that's what scares me the most- the not knowing part.
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a/n: there we have the emotions tumbling back in. I'm looking forward to how this book progresses and how you all react, hope you're all well... vote and comment ;)