( Hey guys managed to get this chapter out today, hope the chapter good. It'll now be a day to day for a good couple if chapters introducing the characters and new ones so it might take a while to weave them in. Plus I'm still in the process of moving so might be a chapter every 2 or 3 days just for the rest of this week and next, thanks for the patience and enjoy ☺️)
———————–————————————
Nathan woke to soft morning light spilling across the room. For a moment, he lay still, listening. From down the hall came the faint murmur of Regina's voice and Henry's occasional whimper. The sound was oddly comforting.
He stretched, slipped from bed, and padded to the stairs. At the bottom, he stopped.
Regina stood in the living room, cradling Henry. Sunlight poured through the window, catching in her dark hair and outlining her in gold. There was something almost unreal about the sight the warmth in her posture, the quiet patience in her expression. Nathan blinked twice, struck by the thought: How could someone like her exist?
Henry's fussing brought him back to himself. Shaking his head he stepped down the last few stairs.
"Morning," he said softly.
Regina looked up, her usual composure softening into something gentler. "Good morning, Nathan."
Henry squirmed, letting out a small cry. Regina shifted him higher against her shoulder, though a little awkwardly.
"Try holding him a bit more upright," Nathan suggested, careful not to sound bossy. "Helps if he's gassy."
One arched eyebrow flicked up, but she adjusted as he said. Henry gave a burp and quieted almost at once.
Nathan grinned. "See? Works most of the time."
Regina's lips curved into the faintest smile. "You're rather practiced for a ten-year-old."
"Had to be" Nathan replied with a shrug. "The orphanage never had enough hands. Babies don't wait."
Her gaze lingered on him a moment longer, thoughtful, before she looked back down at Henry.
As he sits down to have breakfast, the door bell rings.
Regina furrows he brows thinking who could be here so early in the morning and what they were doing here.
She leaves Nathan to have his breakfast to go to the door with Henry in her arms.
Sidney is at the door when she opens it " Oh thank goodness your fine mayor, when you never replied to me faxing you the information about the mother I wasn't sure if you wanted me too keep digging."
Regina eyes widened for a second before going back to normal, she had completely forgot about that since having Nathan join her little family. Now remembering about the information about Emma she forces a smile on her face "It's fine Sidney no more information is needed burn the rest of it and don't speak of it anymore."
She then closes the door in his face, with Sidney looking confused then down at the information in his hand then just walking away a few moments later.
She comes back to the kitchen while Nathan is eating his breakfast allowing a small smile on her face when he looks up. "Who was at the door?"
"Just a reporter I know you don't need to worry about." Regina then goes back to her coffee trying to figure what too do about Emma now.
Nathan remembered who she was talking about from the show but forgot his name. He suddenly thought of the plot and realised that he's forgetting most of it apart from the main points " I should write it down so I don't forget the plot, since it might not go down as it had before." Nathan mummers to himself eating the rest of the food.
Breakfast passed in a comfortable quiet, Regina with her coffee, Nathan with toast and Henry with his bottle. Halfway through, Nathan's System flickered in front of his eyes:
[Affinity Update: Regina Mills – Bond Strengthened.]
He smirked into his juice, Expected. Taking care of Henry together pulled them closer with every small moment.
Later in the day while folding laundry, Regina spoke. Trying to distract herself.
"Nathan," she began, smoothing out a towel, "I've been considering something important."
He looked up from the sofa, tilting his head with Henry's rattle turning idly in his hands. "What is it?"
"You've only just arrived, and I don't want to rush you," she said carefully, "but you can't stay out of school forever."
He'd guessed this would come sooner or later.
"I plan to enrol you at Storybrooke Elementary. The classes are small. The teachers are… reliable." She hesitated. "It would give you structure. A chance to be around other children your age."
Nathan thought it over. He knew the truth the curse had frozen time here. None of the children would ever grow and school might feel strange, even pointless but looking at Regina, he saw what she really wanted: for him to belong, to have something normal.
"Okay," he said simply. "If you think that's best."
Something eased in her shoulders. "Good. I'll handle the paperwork tomorrow."
The rest of the day slipped by in an easy rhythm. They walked through town together: Regina pushing Henry's stroller, Nathan keeping pace at her side. People greeted Regina with polite nods, never warmth respect wrapped in distance. Also glancing at the new boy by her side but not thinking much of it. Sadly still not seeing any of the main characters just minor ones.
At the park, Henry grew fussy again. Regina rocking the stroller a bit too quickly, uncertain.
"Gentle, steady," Nathan said, placing his hand on the handle to show her. Henry settled almost immediately.
A quiet laugh slipped from Regina's lips soft, genuine. "You really are full of surprises."
Nathan shrugged. "Guess he likes me."
"Perhaps," she said, eyes lingering on Henry, "he likes us both. We're learning together." Her hand combing through his hair.
That evening, after Henry was still tucked into his carrier, Regina set a cup of tea in front of Nathan at the kitchen table.
"You've been through a lot" she said, her tone calm but firm. "but you're not alone anymore. So just be yourself and enjoy as much as possible, you're mine to look after now."
The words pressed into him like a weight, but not a burden. More like an anchor. Nathan nodded slowly, letting the meaning sink in.
Her gaze softened further. "I'll do my best to be what you need but I need you to let me."
For the first time in either life, Nathan felt it fully: the fragile but undeniable beginnings of home.
Later that night when Nathan was asleep.
Regina with Henry in his carrier goes out too her vault and makes a forgetting potion and protection spell over his heart so no one will ever be able to take it. She thought to also give Nathan one but sadly she had only enough power for one, plus she's only worried about Emma showing up to take Henry away not Nathan considering he's got no one but her, it may be harsh to think about her new son like that but he's got her and that's all that matters.
—–—————————————————–
( Just want to say thanks for everyone's support and thanks for the power stones almost reached 100 which I never thought would happen 😳 )