It's impossible to protect your child against life [Closed to Henry]

[gloriouscurse]

It had taken everything in Regina to not make herself appear at Slothburger to interrogate Neal herself, because she knew what to look for, knew what to ask. But Emma had been on her way, had sent Regina the promised text, and now all that Regina was doing was wearing a path in her carpet. It was her week with Henry, she knew he would be back eventually, but still, she was pacing as she waited. He was in trouble for not contacting she or Emma right away, but more than that, because it really was Neal, she was worried about her son.

His father was dead, he was a child trying to process the loss of a parent, and now that same father was back. Returned from a fairly fresh grave, and how did she help Henry through that? What did she tell him? All that she could do, really, was be there and make sure he was okay the best she knew how.

She had no idea why her stomach was knotted, she just knew that Henry had been blindsided today, and she had no way of knowing how to actually fix it.

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[gloriouscurse]

"Oh, Henry..." Her eyes closed as she pressed her cheek to the top of his head. "You don't have to be the strong one. let us be strong for you. Let me be strong for you now," she murmured.

Whatever he needed, Regina would do for him, always.

[wanttobeahero]

By now, he was cried out, really, the silence punctuated by light sniffles now and then. But he just remained right there against her chest, then reached for her hand, taking comfort in that touch like he had on the boat coming back from Neverland.

"I don't want to lose anyone else, mom."

[gloriouscurse]

She couldn't give him any falsities, not when she'd lost enough in her life to know that loss wasn't something that ever stopped, not really. You learned how to deal with it, how to cope. But it never stopped.

"There are people in our lives, Henry, that sometimes, we're only...meant to know for a short time. And what matters isn't the amount of time we have, but how we spend it."

[wanttobeahero]

It hurt to hear that, but it was also the truth, and he couldn't escape it. He was only supposed to have his dad for a little while. He just hoped he could make him proud, and he could be the hero his dad was.

"I don't want you or Emma to only be with me for a short time," he breathed out shakily.

[gloriouscurse]

Her hold on him tightened as she dropped her head to kiss his temple, lingering there.

"Emma and I will both always do our very best to stay with you, Henry." She couldn't promise him, even though she wanted to, that they would never go anywhere.

"We love you, and we want to see you grow up and have your own life. Your own adventures. We plan on being here for all of that."

[wanttobeahero]

He knew she couldn't promise anything, and so he just held onto her tightly, pressing his face up against her shoulder, getting lost in the comfort she was giving him.

Please don't leave me, he begged silently.

"I know, mom."

[gloriouscurse]

Regina simply rocked him for a few long moments, kissing the top of his head and lingering there. Finally, after stroking his cheek, she tilted his face so that she could see his eyes.

"What can I do for you right now?" She didn't care if that was simply sitting right there and talking for hours. Whatever he needed.

[wanttobeahero]

He thought about it for a few long moments, taking a deep breath.

"Can we watch a movie?"

He was cried out, and he didn't know what to say.

[gloriouscurse]

"Any movie you want," she promised, then added:

"But I need your help off of the floor." One leg was asleep; she wouldn't move until he was ready, and she refused to displace him.

[wanttobeahero]

He stood up, and wrapped one arm around hers, hooking his other arm around her shoulders to help her up.

"Star Wars," he decided.

[gloriouscurse]

"Star Wars it is," she agreed, then once she was standing, she just pulled him close again, making sure he was wrapped securely in her arms.

"I love you, Henry. You know that?"

[wanttobeahero]

He managed a soft smile and a little nod. "I love you, too, Mom."

And for tonight, she was a huge help in making him feel a little better.