Maybe I Need You

Madame Mayor

Regina knocked back her shot, wiped her mouth, and stood to leave. It wasn't professional for the mayor to be out drinking past ten, especially with a son. But to hell with that. She had a problem. And it's name was Swan.

Swan had no right to come waltzing into her life like all was forgiven. She had given Henry up, and he was Regina's son now. She had raised him, done all the hard work that came with being a parent. And now, the woman who had done nothing in Henry's life except give birth to him, was trying to tell her, his real mother, how to parent him. She didn't think so.

Regina side-stepped Sydney Glass and his questions at the entry to Granny's. The air was chilly, and she shivered through her thin dress. Making her way down to her car, she swung her blazer onto her shoulders, trying to keep out the cold. She wished she hadn't cut things off with Graham. She could've used the distraction tonight. As she stepped into her car, the alcohol made her consider calling him. But she shook that thought off, guessing Henry would be waiting for her. 

She was correct. He was half asleep on the couch when she arrived, but sat bolt upright after hearing the door open. 

"Where were you?" He asked, his head tilted. "Your note said you'd only be gone a few hours."

Regina kicked off her high heels and walked over. "Sorry Henry. I had paperwork to finish." She guided him gently by the arm, up off the couch, and up to his bedroom. She tucked him in as he was already almost asleep again. She wanted to squeeze him, to tell him over and over again how much she loved him. But she was afraid that he would pull away at the slightest sign of love. So she only said, "Goodnight Henry." and walked out.

She worried about him, the fact that he seemed to have no friends. That was another infuriating thing about Swan. She seemed to think Henry's social problems were Regina's fault. As if Regina didn't know her own son. 

Well she did. Didn't she? Regina sat down on the couch and put her head in her hands. He had run away from her. Was she just a monster? The tears that she wished so hard wouldn't come leaked out. She pressed her hands into her eyes harder, wanting to prevent them from escaping.  Surely it was the shots talking, telling her it was all her fault. Because of course that wasn't true. If it was anyone's fault it was Swan's.

Regina awoke early the next morning. Checking to make sure Henry was still asleep she walked into her bathroom. The mirror greeted her with a face full of smudged makeup and a bad hangover. She showered quickly and dressed. 

Henry was already awake when she went back downstairs. He had made himself breakfast and was sitting, looking at that damn walkie-talkie. She casually picked it up on her way past him. 

"Come on Henry, you'll be late for your appointment with Dr. Hopper." Regina stood by the sink and took some aspirin for her pounding headache. Henry got up, shrugged on his backpack, and walked out the door. Regina grabbed her trench coat and followed him. 

After dropping Henry off, she stared for awhile at the walkie-talkie still in her hand. Her eyes narrowing, she turned the key in the ignition and started driving. Today was a good day to deal with a problem.