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st_oriedqueenIf the Madonna Inn had been designed for anything, it was Christmas. And the Dickensian addition of ghosts, including Killian's brother, had only made it more so. Of course Christmas meant families (to most people), and with Snow still skirting spaces Emma was in, that iced the Christmas cake of awkward in neurotic orange and purple.
Still, gifts had been exchanged, she'd helped Snow with the horses and now Regina sat tucked into a booth in the restaurant with a mug of mulled wine, watching the people of the Inn enjoying the holiday with a smile on her face. She'd sent Snow a message and asked if she wouldn't join her for a little while.
She hadn't been waiting long when hands reached from behind her to cover her eyes. It wasn't Snow. She didn't play like this. It might be Corbie, but she'd been tending Mildmay. Not Dyson, the hands were too small.
"Can't you guess?" said a young male voice.
Regina froze. The mug fell from her fingers. "...Henry?" The mug fell and splashed her with hot wine. "Sh--"
"Ow, mom. Are you okay?" His hands fell away and he peered over her shoulder.
Not even bothering to magic away the spill, she leapt out of the booth and flung her arms around her son. "Henry."
* * *
At the front of the restaurant, a weathered-looking man with dark hair and smiling eyes stood quietly watching that reunion. His reason for being here would arrive soon. Whistling, he walked into the bar and picked up a rag. No sense wasting time when there was always work to do.
* * *
"Stop staring, mom." Henry shook his head at her, but his voice was gentle and his hug tight when he reminded her, "I'm not going anywhere for a few days."
"A few days," Regina repeated. At least she'd stopped crying. That had taken the better part of an hour, and he'd let her tell him everything, even though he already knew. "There's so much..."
"It's okay, mom." Henry hugged her again and then stuck out a hand for her. "C'mon. I want to meet everyone." And see his other mom and Hook, but that would happen. They'd seen him more recently. Mom needed him first.
[ Backdated to Christmas afternoon. Henry is sticking around for several days. Bear is only here for Snow. If you're not tagged in the subject line, please ping before tagging Henry and Regina. ]
Still, gifts had been exchanged, she'd helped Snow with the horses and now Regina sat tucked into a booth in the restaurant with a mug of mulled wine, watching the people of the Inn enjoying the holiday with a smile on her face. She'd sent Snow a message and asked if she wouldn't join her for a little while.
She hadn't been waiting long when hands reached from behind her to cover her eyes. It wasn't Snow. She didn't play like this. It might be Corbie, but she'd been tending Mildmay. Not Dyson, the hands were too small.
"Can't you guess?" said a young male voice.
Regina froze. The mug fell from her fingers. "...Henry?" The mug fell and splashed her with hot wine. "Sh--"
"Ow, mom. Are you okay?" His hands fell away and he peered over her shoulder.
Not even bothering to magic away the spill, she leapt out of the booth and flung her arms around her son. "Henry."
* * *
At the front of the restaurant, a weathered-looking man with dark hair and smiling eyes stood quietly watching that reunion. His reason for being here would arrive soon. Whistling, he walked into the bar and picked up a rag. No sense wasting time when there was always work to do.
* * *
"Stop staring, mom." Henry shook his head at her, but his voice was gentle and his hug tight when he reminded her, "I'm not going anywhere for a few days."
"A few days," Regina repeated. At least she'd stopped crying. That had taken the better part of an hour, and he'd let her tell him everything, even though he already knew. "There's so much..."
"It's okay, mom." Henry hugged her again and then stuck out a hand for her. "C'mon. I want to meet everyone." And see his other mom and Hook, but that would happen. They'd seen him more recently. Mom needed him first.
[ Backdated to Christmas afternoon. Henry is sticking around for several days. Bear is only here for Snow. If you're not tagged in the subject line, please ping before tagging Henry and Regina. ]
