The office was unusually quiet, except for the soft cries of a baby in a nearby cradle.
Henry squirmed under his blanket, fists waving as though the world itself had wronged him. The sound filled the room, underscoring the tension as papers slid across the desk toward Regina Mills.
"Everything is ready, Miss Mills" one of the workers said carefully. "Once you sign, he'll be yours. Have you thought of a name for him? "
Regina's dark eyes scanned the documents one last time. She had already been here nearly an hour answering questions, confirming details, reviewing every form with the precision of someone who never left anything unfinished but this was the final step. The last stroke of the pen that would bind them together. She gave a soft smile "His name will be Henry, Henry Mills."
Nathan lingered in the hallway, peering through the gap in the door. His chest was tight, golden eyes fixed on the woman at the center of it all. Regal, poised, beautiful every movement deliberate. The Evil Queen, standing in the flesh before him. He smiled finally giving Henry his name.
The worker handed her a pen. "If you'll just sign here."
Regina took it with graceful certainty. She bent over the papers, her free hand resting lightly against the cradle as if to steady the world itself. Then, with quick, decisive strokes, her name flowed across the page.
Regina Mills.
The sound of Henry's cries filled the silence that followed.
The System stirred in Nathan's mind.
[Main Quest Progression: Critical Path Secured]
[Henry Mills has been officially adopted by Regina Mills.]
Nathan's breath caught. It was real now. Henry had a mother.
Regina straightened, her posture flawless even as Henry whimpered louder. She lifted him from the cradle, holding him carefully in her arm but instead of quieting, his cries sharpened. His little fists pressed against her, his face red with protest.
"Shhh," she whispered, almost too softly to hear. Her composure held but Nathan could see the tightness in her jaw, the flicker of frustration she tried to mask.
"Babies can be fussy at first," one of the workers said quickly, offering reassurance. "He may just need some time to adjust."
Regina's expression didn't shift. "He will," she replied firmly. "He's my son now."
Nathan's chest ached at the words. Pride, awe, bitter and a small amount of jealously swirled inside him all at once. He wanted to step forward, to show her how easily Henry settled in his arms to show he can help her but this wasn't his place. Not yet.
The System chimed again.
[Quest Update: The Queen's Shadow – Remain close to Henry Mills. Secure trust with Regina Mills.]
As Regina carried Henry toward the exit, the baby's cries echoing through the hall, Nathan clenched his fists inside his pockets.
Take him. But you'll come back. You'll have to. Because he won't calm for you yet. Not the way he does with me then I'll show you how.
He swallowed hard, watching the doors close behind her. His heart felt hollow but his resolve only sharpened.
He would wait. However long it took.
( Realised this chapter is quite short so I'll be releasing another, sorry bout that don't want 2 chapter together as I did that with chapter 9 and had problems with the layout, so if the chapters are shorter I will release another if I have one 😅)