The Only Exception (Swan Queen)

Chapter 1

I knew I did from that first moment we met. It was... not love at first sight exactly, but – familiarity. Like: oh, hello, it's you. It's going to be you. Game over. ~Mhairi McFarlane.

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Regina watched Henry intently as he stared at the broken down, brick well with pain struck across his face. She leaned against a nearby tree completely hopeless as she attempted to stay on her feet.

Gold was looking at her with a face full of rage, and his eyes flooded with disappointment.

Her heart clenched from inside her chest. There were two ways this could play out. First, her mother comes from the well and all life goes to hell along with the town. Second, Emma comes through the well and she must go on pretending. Regina bit her lower lip at the thought.

She threw her head back and rested it against the hard bark of the tree. I hate myself for wanting to hate her! she screamed internally. Regina sighed. There was nothing about the blonde woman to hate. Sure, she got on her nerves from time to time, but she has still managed to weasel her way into her heart.

Regina looked over at the small brunet boy. "I'm sorry, Henry," she managed to cough out.

He didn't look at her, his eyes were fixed on the well as if his entire life had just flashed before his eyes.

She watched as a hand reached up from inside the well and gripped the edge.

Everyone had a different reaction to the sudden movement. Henry was ready to leap forward and hug his mother, Gold raised his hand ready for the kill, and Regina simply stood there awaiting what the fates had in store for her. She saw the familiar flash of red and blonde as Emma emerged from the well.

Gold had a bitter scowl on his face as he lowered his hand.

Emma quickly helped Mary Margaret out before Henry pounced. "Mom!" he yelled happily.

The moment Emma saw him was the moment she had him wrapped in her arms.

Gold turned to Regina and shot her a look as if to say "you got lucky" causing her to stiffen nervously.

Mary Margaret looked around frantically, clearly looking for Charming. Her eyes locked on Regina as she noticed Gold staring. "What happened?" she asked as Ruby ran to her side.

Henry soon turned to Regina with a wide grin on his face. He tugged Emma down to where she was half standing, half sitting against a tree. "She saved you guys," he yelled happily.

Regina looked up and met Emma's gaze. The blonde's sea-green eyes locked with her own.

The pair were stuck like that for a moment before a voice interrupted. "You did?" Snow yelled in disbelief breaking them apart.

All Regina could do was nod before Henry was speaking again. "She wants to change," he insisted.

She stared at the boy in awe. In that moment, she knew she had done well raising him.

Emma hugged him close as she looked at her again. "Thank you, Regina," she said in a plain tone with a small smile on her face.

Regina simply nodded. "It wasn't a problem, Miss Swan," she replied bleakly as she regained her balance, her strength returning a little.

She felt a hand on her arm. "No, really. Thank you," Emma repeated, her voice was soft and slightly raspy.

All Regina could do was smile. "Welcome back – Emma," she mumbled as a small smile crossed her face.