Better When I'm Dancing

Week 7--POP! (Part 1)

Disclaimer: This chapter uses lyrics from Sean Maguire's song "Now I've Found You."

Regina had gone straight to bed when she got home from the studios. Henry had already gone to bed and Emma had recognized how exhausted she had been, leaving her roommate alone. It took all of Regina's remaining energy to change into her pajamas and brush her teeth before she curled up in bed. Wrapped in her blankets, she had fallen asleep in minutes.

Her alarm clock woke her by seven and she stretched out under the blankets, feeling refreshed. It was amazing how a good night's sleep could help a lot of issues. She slid out of bed and wrapped herself in her bathrobe before padding downstairs to see if her son was up yet.

She found Emma leaning against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed as she frowned at something inside. Regina peered around her friend to see Henry sitting at the table, sadly eating his cereal. He looked pale and sluggish.

"What's wrong with him?" Regina asked Emma.

Her friend shrugged. "He went to bed early last night. Maybe he's sick?"

Concerned, Regina walked into the kitchen and sat next to Henry. She ran her fingers through his hair, testing his temperature. He felt normal and she frowned. "Henry, sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," he mumbled. He kept staring at his cereal and didn't look up. And he kept frowning.

She grew more concerned and was ready to call his doctor. Regina kept her voice even as she said: "I can tell something is bothering you, Henry. You can tell me what is it. Is something going on at school? Are you worried about a test? Is someone bullying you?"

"No," he said, never meeting her eyes. "Everything is fine."

The doorbell rang and Regina looked up, unsure who would be coming to visit this early. Emma frowned as well, glancing at the door. "I'll get it. You stay here," she said.

As she headed for the front door, Regina turned her attention back to Henry. He looked near tears and her heart broke. She grew upset that she couldn't comfort him. "Please," she begged. "You can tell me anything, Henry. I promise you."

"Is something wrong?" Robin's voice surprised her and she looked up to find him striding into her kitchen. He smiled. "I thought I would stop by to see how you were doing after last night."

Henry stood up suddenly, almost overturning his chair. He tried to hurry out of the kitchen but Robin caught him by the shoulders, stopping him. Crouching down, Robin tried to look the boy in the eyes. "Henry? What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said, voice breaking in a way that Regina recognized. He was about to cry.

She jumped up, placing her hand on his back. "What's wrong? Is it about last night? I know it was probably upsetting to see Robin and me in the bottom two..."

"It was all my fault!" Henry declared. He raised his head, revealing red-rimmed eyes full of tears. His lower lip quivered.

Regina stared at her son in shock along with Robin and Emma. They were all trying to process what he said and just as she was about to ask him what he possibly meant, everything tumbled from Henry's lips as he sobbed.

"When Ruby ended up in the bottom two last week I got really scared so I went home and gave her and Victor all my votes instead of voting for you two. And then you ended up in the bottom two because I didn't! So it's all my fault!" Tears ran down his face and he started to sound like he had a stuffy nose.