So... I'm back. It took literally forever and it's probably shit and for that I'm truly sorry.

English is not my language so there will be mistakes, sorry for that too.

Either way I hope you guys enjoy it and please leave me a review and tell me what you think. =D

Warmth, that is the first thing that comes to her mind when she wakes up. Warmth and love. Who would have thought that the Evil Queen would ever feel this way again after everything that she has done? Definitely not her. Yet here she is, laying in a bed illuminated by the shy and crescent sunlight coming from the window announcing the beginning of a new day. Memories of yesterday swirling in her head and she honestly doesn't know how to really cope with everything.

Last night she was exhausted, a million and one thoughts going through her mind and only Becca's embrace and soothing words had been able to calm her down enough so she could fall into a dreamless sleep. Never once doubting the fact that without her she would never had been able to rest.

But now that she is wide awake she can't quite shake the doubt that has been creeping inside her heart. What if he doesn't mean it? What if he wakes up today lees angry at the Savior and decides he wants nothing to do with her? What if he stays for a bit only to leave her again like he did before? Can she take it? Could she survive it again? Does she want to wait around and see the outcome?

Yes.

Of course she does, that boy will forever be her son. She took him as a part of her life since the first time she held him in her arms and that kind of love doesn't just go away after a year. Yes, he hurt her. Quite a lot in fact. His words left a mark on her like no one else had ever been able to do, he broke her in a way she honestly never thought possible.

You see, from the moment they placed that little baby on her arms she knew that everything had changed. It was like the universe had altered its course and had finally found the balance to keep itself upright. A blink was all it took and suddenly all of her beliefs about the human capacity for love simply changed. Her whole life she witnessed just how much that feeling was not for everybody, that not everyone got a happy ending and her name had never been on the good side of that list. By the time she was forced to become an adult she was certain that for her true love could never be more than a fantasy. A dream she should give up on if she wanted to keep going.

She refused to believe in it, to hope for it, but with one look the walls she had build for so long came crumbling down. The Sweet Regina had been too long gone, The Evil Queen was never dear to her, Mayor Mills she supposes was alright but Henry's mother? That was the best fucking title she could ever have.

Since the beginning her bond with that little brown eyed boy had been more than magical. Sleeping with him cradled in her arms, seeing the light reflecting in his eyes, the feeling of his soft skin and the way his little fingers would grip on her hand, his laughter and the way it would echo in her mind making her dizzy with joy.

He was everything. He is everything. And because of that he is the only one that can bring her the kind of pain that she can't bear. Her mother's punishment, Leopold's disgusting touch and not even Rumple's lessons had made her this uneasy about the situation. Physical pain she could take it, heavens know just how much of it she had to endure during her life. But being away from her boy or not having his love is the one thing the queen had always been truly terrified of.

In a way, everything that happened after the curse broke was a good thing. Sure, she could've gone without all those self destructive acts, the child she needed more than air turning his back on her and being left alone once more.

But look at her now.

Really look at it.

She has a home, people that cares for her - loves her even - and would protect her, a job she truly loves to do and she is even coming to terms and learning how to cope with the things that were done to her and the pain she inflicted on others.

So the real question she is asking herself is: now what?

She should probably start a bath, a very long one, to soothe her muscles and prepare her for the day. Perhaps call Josh after it and let him know what happened. He's good at that, listening to her, paying attention to every little detail and making her feel safe and cared for. Somehow, ever since they met he always knew the right things to say, or sometimes, the right thing not to say, without her even voicing it. It's nice having him, having someone that truly cares about her safety and she would never let go of that.

She gives a little kiss to her girlfriend's forehead and slowly tries to remove herself from the bear hold she is currently locked in having decided that two things on her to do list is better than nothing.

When he woke up that morning he didn't quite know what was different but he knew something big was going on and he couldn't figure it out what. Opening his eyes and taking one look around made everything come clean in his head. The trip to New York, Emma's lie, finding out his father was alive and was also Mr. Gold's long lost son, and at last, Regina. His real mother.

How could he have been so stupid? It's almost funny really, the queen was known for taking out hearts but he had been the cruel one, heartless even. She gave him all and he betrayed her. He hurt her and made her feel like she wasn't good enough for him and that is just the understatement of the millennium. He is the one that doesn't deserves it, doesn't deserve her and yet here he is. In her house, in a place she clearly loves enough to be calling a home, having a great life while he was stuck with the Uncharming Clan.

If you ask him, he'll say he definitely deserves that.

But is a new day and if there is something Regina thought him is to never give up. And even though he carries a lot of idiotic genes he's not that stupid to throw this opportunity away. No, he's gonna try to mend all the awful things he has done to the woman that loved him every second of his life. And hopefully he will succeed.

Operation Boomerang is definitely back on businesses.

Walking slowly in the apartment he goes where he knows she'll be, in the kitchen. One of the things he always took for granted was how everyday when he got up she would be fixing something for his breakfast. She wouldn't always indulge in his sweet tooth but he definitely got the better end of most deals. After all getting a scoop of ice cream or a home baked cookie at least three times a week if he ate his vegetables is not a bad thing, considering he actually liked most of the healthy things she would cook.

The tears in his eyes after seeing her standing in front of the stove should probably not surprise him. Not really, not after all those nights he cried himself to sleep begging to have her once again, to see her face looking down at him with so much love in the morning one more time. But they still come as a shock.

The good morning Henry he hears after standing frozen in the kitchen door for almost a minute doesn't do much help either. After a deep breath he moves to sit by the table and it's only then that he looks at her, that he really takes her in. Sure they have been apart for some time but she is his mother and he knows her. Knows that even though she moving around like nothing is amiss, like everything is just fine, she is uncomfortable. Her shoulders are too tense, the movements in her body are too constricted, too forced, too perfectly trained to appear calm. And the reason is him.

But he is not giving up, not this easily, not again.

No, this time he's gonna fight for her, and fight for the right to call her his mother again.

The clock is just turning 7 when she hears the sound of sock covered feet hitting the floor and it brings her to what feels like a lifetime ago. Back when that sound was a common occurrence in her daily routine. At first is just a happy memory with sleepy big, bright and innocent eyes, heart felt hugs and I love you mommys. The good things though, they always fade away leaving room to misery and pain, and suddenly she is thinking of silence filled breakfasts, only a head shake for every question and cold looks. No, she should definitely not be thinking about that right now.

It's Josh early words on her mind that makes her feel a little bit better and brings a small but honest smile to her face. "Look, the kid fucked up big time, he really was a little shit. But you are his mother and you do love him. I can't say if he'll be stupid enough to walk away from you again. What I can and will say is that I'm here. I got you this time, and so does Becca. No matter what happens Regina, you are not alone." It's good feeling loved after all.

When he finally reaches the kitchen she is a little less nervous, she doesn't know what she imagined it was gonna be like but every other second he stays frozen there looking at her back is not really helping calm her nerves. The words that leaves her mouth are surprisingly strong and she is quite proud of herself for that. No good it would make to show him how much this tension is eating her away.

He takes a sit after that, murmuring a quiet Morning back to her and waits for the food to be ready. It almost feels like before, before the confusion, the hatred, the betrayal and it hurts as if someone had pushed their hand inside her chest and was crushing her heart to dust.

She's almost done with the pancakes and is almost believing herself when she repeats once more that they are for Rebecca, and not because she knows how much Henry loves them.

"Did you sleep well?" she asks while pushing the tray in front of the boy and she is sure that the smile she gets in return could illuminate the planet. "I did." is all she gets in return while the boy happily fills his plates and devours everything in it. She could tell him to slow down and that the food is not going to run away from him.

She could, but she won't.

Not when seeing this brings her so much joy, not when her little - regardless of the fact he will soon be taller than her - prince is actually pleased to be where he is. Eating her food and truly appreciating it like he used to do it before.

It's not much and she knows it. They still have a lot of matters to discuss, a lot of catching up to do and remembering the sleeping Savior in the other guest room, some urgent boundaries to settle. But for now, this sight right here is enough to soothe her worries and leave space in her heart for a little bit of hope.

An Evil Queen that hopes for a better future. A former villain that believes it may just happen. A mother that smiles deep and large.