The Enchanted Forest
One Year Ago
"That doesn't mean you won't find a new reason. We all get a second chance, Regina. You just have to open your eyes to see it."
"It's too bad mine will be closed," Regina replied, dismissive of his attempts at giving her hope.
She knew what Robin Hood - as a stranger to her - did not understand: she had no desire to endure another sunrise, not without Henry in her life. It killed her, bit by bit, to know he was out there, somewhere, and had no memory that she had ever existed. No one seemed to understand that, even though the idiot Snow had tried to empathize with her by pointing out that she'd lost Emma and Henry. No, Snow didn't comprehend her pain at all, because she just carried on as if it was nothing to lose them.
"So, that's it? You just want to give up?" he pressed.
"This isn't an end. It's an eternal middle. This curse can be broken by the only true love in my life… And the only reason I would even want to wake: my son."
Regina knew the odds of Henry somehow reaching her in the Enchanted Forest was beyond a long shot. The likelihood of that was impossible since he no longer knew she existed. And, with that going against her, a forever sleep was vastly preferable to a life without him and enduring the company of her former enemies.
"Regina, listen to me. This is a mistake."
"Don't worry. I'll keep my word. I'll lower the protection spell so that Snow and Charming can be victorious." She widened her eyes in exaggeration of their heroism. Then, her expression sombered. "But then then I go to sleep."
Leaving Robin Hood where he stood, feet glued to the floor, Regina left her chambers with the curse-tainted hairpin between her fingers. She made her way toward the grand audience chamber with heavy, if graceful steps, brown eyes fixed on the source of the shield that protected the castle from outsiders. The spell emanated with green energy. Regina noticed that, recognized that she did not know a practitioner whose magic made such a huge, and found that she did not care. That would be Snow and David's problem.
Gesturing with her free hand and expending her own magic into the vessel, Regina neutralized the magical shield. Elsewhere, she knew the heroes would send their rag-tag army charging in to seize the castle. Their castle, she thought.
Regina sat down on a bench, down a few steps from the dais. She contemplated the hairpin and, without a moment's pause, pricked her middle finger. The pain was momentary as her body went slack. As the queen slumped down on the carved marble seat, her final thought was of her son, her prince, and Regina hoped that he was safe and happy… wherever he was.
New York City
One Year Ago
Henry's breath caught in his throat as he sat up. Heart pounding, he tried to recall the nightmare that had woken him so suddenly. He frowned, unable to recall a single detail other than the sight of the Evil Queen from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. He ran a hand through disheveled hair, dumbfounded. He had not seen the animated movie since he was a child, and while it was a Disney classic, it wasn't his favorite.
Still, the image of the queen as her regal self, before she'd turned into the hag, clung at the edge of his mind. Climbing out of bed, Henry made his way to the living room. He stood barefoot and in pajamas as he surveyed their DVD collection, found the movie in question and held onto the case contemplatively. Henry shrugged and sighed. He hadn't known what he expected to happen by picking it from the media shelf. Looking at the image of the Evil Queen on the cover prompted no further memories of his nightmare to come back. He replaced it on the shelf.
"I'm done with orange soda and chocolate bars after 9 pm," he vowed to himself in a whisper.
And with that, Regina's prince went back to bed. By morning, he'd forgotten his nightmare or his inquiry to study the DVD case.
The Enchanted Forest
One Year Ago
"I tried to stop her, m'lady!" Robin explained to Snow, sounding frantic. "She wouldn't listen to me, no matter how I insisted that a new happy-"
Snow shot him a withering look and the thief fell silent. "You said that. We all tried to tell Regina that, I'm afraid. She was so heartbroken at losing Henry…"
"He hopes that she'll come to awaken her someday," Robin went on. "But, her son is in this land called Storybrooke, is it?"
"We know." Even Charming sounded weary with Robin's persistent need to talk. He sighed. "Regina made it clear, however, that there was no way to get back there, and Henry nor Emma remember us."
They had moved Regina to her suite within the castle and had delicately laid her out on the bed. He and Robin stood on one side while Snow stood opposite them, holding the queen's hand.
"Oh Regina…" she whispered sadly. "After everything, to end things like this…"
Snow shook her head and gently let go of her hand, setting it on the bed. Clearing her throat, she looked at David. Sadness was clear on her fair features, but there was also the determination and optimism that was a persistent part of her character.
"We have to learn why the Wicked Witch had taken the castle and what she wants with us. I feel as though the flying monkeys were targeting Regina specifically. We should have guards protecting her while she can't protect herself."
David nodded. "The dwarves won't like that, but-"
"I volunteer," Robin offered, cutting him off.
Snow tilted her head as she gazed at the thief, eyes narrowing. "Thank you, but the dwarves will come around. They know the cost Regina paid to get us back here safely."
Robin nodded his head. "Very well. If my services are not needed, I'll gather my Merry Men and we'll be on our way, m'lady."
"Do you need provisions?" David asked.
"We'll just fill our water skins and that will do," he replied.
Snow looked back at Regina and touched her hand. She sighed heavily and led her husband and Robin out of her chamber. Grumpy waited in the hallway, looking uncomfortable. He nodded to her and David. Robin brushed past them all, and his brusque actions caught the dwarf's attention; he frowned after him, then gave the Charmings a questioning look.
"I don't trust him," Snow whispered, looking troubled.
"I don't either."
Grumpy looked at them both and offered a shrug. "Want us to put a tail on him? I'm sure the fairies would help and could be pretty sly about it."
"Yes. Let's," Snow said decisively. "I just have a bad feeling… and, while we're at it, I want Regina guarded. She's defenseless and - no matter our past differences and how upset I am with her for doing this - I don't want any harm to come to her."
To their surprise, Grumpy took that in stride. "I'll see to it personally, your majesty. Just as soon as we get a tail on the thief."
"Good. Anything else?" David asked.
"Most of townspeople of Storybrooke are settling back in. The area around the castle was pretty well deserted because of the first curse," he reported, "so they are going back home and figuring things out."
The prince smiled at Snow, glad to hear that everyone was taking this seemingly well. Everyone but Regina, anyway. She offered a thin smile back.
"Alright, good. Let's take stock of the kingdom, our needs, and re-establish ties with our neighbors," Snow commanded, slipping into the role of a princess and leader as if she'd always held that position. "Then, we'll see what we can learn about the Wicked Witch and her plans."
"On it," Grumpy replied. He nodded at them and lugged his way back up the hallway.
Snow sighed and leaned into his husband's side. David slid an arm around her shoulders, hugging her tight.
"We can do this," he said confidently.
"Oh, I know we can. This is just already more difficult than I imagined our homecoming being," Snow whispered.
To that, David could only nod. He glanced back toward Regina's suite, sighed, then led Snow through the castle. There was so much to be done to rebuild their lives...