The day Nathan had quietly awaited finally arrived. He just never expected it would be so fast after having problems with Henry, he thought maybe his small bond with Regina has helped the process Word spread fast among the children: Nathan was leaving.
The little ones clung to him in a tide of desperate hugs. He had been the boy who read them stories, soothed them when nightmares came, the one who rocked the babies when staff were too busy, the one who turned grey afternoons into laughter.
"You can't go," whispered Lucy, clutching the hem of his shirt with trembling fingers.
Nathan crouched so his golden eyes, were level with hers. He smoothed her hair gently. "I have to" he said softly. "But listen… I'll never forget you. Any of you. And… I think this might be the start of something good. Plus you need to be brave for others, ok."
Lucy nodded sniffling, tears forming at side of her eyes
Nearby, Ms. Greene pressed a hand to her lips. "You've been a blessing here, Nathan. The children… and we staff too… we'll miss you."
Nathan hugged each child in turn, lingering on the smallest ones then turned too the staff hugging them. His eyes softened when they landed on Henry, buckled safely into a carrier by Regina's side. Henry squirmed lightly, tiny fists opening and closing as if he somehow sensed something new was happening.
This time, Nathan didn't feel empty or sad. His chest was warm, steady. We're going together now, he thought, relief washing over him. Everything's finally falling into place.
As Nathan followed Regina out the door with a small bag on his back, the cool evening brushed his face. Her sleek black car waited at the curb.
That was when he froze.
Two men stood across the street, watching the orphanage. They looked ordinary at first glance casual jackets, steady stances but Nathan noticed the sharpness in their eyes, the way they studied every window, every child that passed by.
Recognition hit him like a stone. John and Michael Darling.
Not for him. For Henry.
A faint chime stirred in his mind.
[System Alert: Key Players on the Move.]
[Thread of Fate Tightens.]
Nathan's breath caught, but he quickly lowered his head, platinum hair with crimson streaks falling forward to mask his face. He climbed into Regina's car placing his bag in before him, glancing one last time as the Darlings scanned the orphanage doors. The board was shifting. Danger was already reaching for Henry but this time, he wasn't alone, I'm here.
The car purred to life. Nathan pressed his forehead against the window as the orphanage grew smaller, swallowed by distance and twilight. His heart twisted. He wanted to run back, to hug them all again, to promise he'd visit but deep down, he knew couldn't not any more.
He couldn't return, not freely. Storybrooke wasn't just any town it was a world cut off. Leaving it meant you needed something… someone… to take you back. And Nathan wasn't Emma Swan.....
When he finally turned away from the fading orphanage, he found Regina studying him in the rear view mirror. Her gaze wasn't cold or sharp it was gentle, softened into something caring. Henry snug in a baby seat beside him. Regina drove with composed focus, but her eyes flicked now and then to the rear view mirror, watching both children.
"You're Nathan Mills now," she said at last breaking the silence, her voice steady but not unkind. "From this day forward, you're my son. You'll have a home. You'll be cared for. You'll be safe." Then having a small smirk at the edge of her mouth. "Also helping with Henry."
The words struck him like sunlight breaking through clouds. For so long, he had lived waiting for the moment someone might choose him even knowing that without the help of Henry bond with him he would never have this particular chance to be with Regina.
A smile tugged at his lips, bright and unguarded. "Thank you, Regina."
Regina's eyes softened "Maybe soon once your OK with it you'll call me mum." Henry gave a little squirm in his seat. She reached back one hand at a stoplight to gently settle the blanket around him, her touch careful, maternal. Nathan watched her, captivated. This was Regina Mills — striking, commanding, yet so much gentler than most ever imagined.
His face grew redder flushed by what she said. His heart filling with warmth and nodded.
He wasn't just watching a favourite character anymore. He was her son but that complicates what he wanted in the future. He shaked his head that's for future Nathan to figure out.
And for the first time in this second life, Nathan Mills felt like he belonged.
( This end vol 1, now on to vol 2 Storybrooke whoop whoop )