Better When I'm Dancing

Week 7--POP! (Part 1)

Jolted back, Regina went to hug her son but was beat to it by Robin. He pulled Henry close and ran his hand over the boy's hair. "It was not your fault, Henry. You have nothing to feel guilty about."

"Robin's right," she said, taking out a tissue and handing it to her son. "You have every right to vote for whoever you want. I'm sorry if we made it seem like you had to vote for us."

"It's not that," Henry replied, hiccupping as he blew his nose. "I just should've given you some votes too. Then maybe you wouldn't have been in the bottom two."

Robin guided him back to his chair, urging him to sit down. He then crouched in front of Henry. "This is a secret but we weren't really in danger. We were put in the bottom two as a ratings' stunt."

"I knew it," Emma replied softly.

Henry looked confused and glanced over at his mother for confirmation. Regina slowly nodded and he frowned. "So the producers were just messing with us?"

"I guess you could say that," Robin said, squeezing his shoulder. "So you have nothing to feel guilty about, Henry. Okay?"

"Okay," Henry replied. He then hugged Robin. "Thanks."

Robin held the boy close, melting Regina's heart as he said: "Anytime, my boy."

She cleared her throat and Henry pulled away from Robin. Regina hugged him next, kissing the top of his head. "Why don't you finish getting ready for school? The bus will be here soon."

"Okay, Mom," he replied, heading out of the kitchen. Emma followed him, promising to keep an eye on him.

Regina plopped into her chair, feeling both heartbroken and angry. Her son had felt guilty for something Gold had done and if she hated him for it before, she loathed him now. All she wanted to do was find him and make him suffer for Henry's pain.

Henry breezed back into the kitchen wearing his navy school uniform blazer and had his black bookbag on his back. Smiling, he hugged Robin and then kissed Regina's cheek. "Bye, Mom. See you tonight."

"Have a good day at school," she said before calling after him: "I love you!"

"I love you too!" he called back. She then heard the door open and close, meaning he was on his way to catch the bus.

Robin sat down next to her. "So, I'll hold down Gold and you beat him senseless?"

"Gladly," she said.

"What does Gold have to do with this?" Emma asked, wandering back into the kitchen. She poured herself a bowl of cereal before joining them at the table.

Regina sighed, leaning her elbow on the table and resting her hand against her cheek. "Gold was the one who suggested to the producers that Robin and I should be in the bottom two."

Emma paused before frowning. "Why?"

"To punish us," Robin replied. "He thinks we're too close as a couple now."

"What does that man want?" Emma asked, sitting down.

Regina shrugged. "I guess he wants people to be able to just switch off their emotions like he does. Turn them on so you have an amazing dance and then turn them off when done. Everything should be about dancing and nothing else."

"Ugh, no wonder Belle left him," her friend said, crinkling her nose.

That statement reminded her of Robin's question the night before and Regina frowned, wondering what she was missing. "What is all this talk about Belle?"