Hey everyone! Like most of you, I'm really trying to cope with this stampede of emotions brought on by the winter finale. This fic continues right where the episode left off and will tell the story of that first year back in the Enchanted Forest, focusing mainly on Regina's point of view. Be sure to review and tell me how you like it. It might be a one-shot, depending on the response I get.

Chapter 1 – We're Back

Emptiness. All she could feel was emptiness, but she could not quite put her finger on its source.

Opening her eyes, Regina saw only a dense, purple fog surrounding her and suddenly remembered what was happening. The curse. Pan had stolen it and unleashed it once more upon the town. Rumplestiltskin had taken care of the boy, his father, leaving Regina alone to face the curse that had meant so much to both of them. It had taken all the energy she had to overcome the power of her original curse, but she had successfully transported everyone back to the Enchanted Forest.

No. Not everyone.

Henry.

The thought of her son was like a physical blow and the source of her inexplicable emptiness became obvious. Regina was struck with the vivid image of her son, the person she loved most, looking back at her as he and Emma drove across the town line.

She had seen the sadness and fear in his eyes, had seen the exact moment her last gift to him had taken effect. Looking in the rear view mirror, Regina could see the new, false memories take root in Henry's mind as his entire life with her was washed away. Emma glanced over at her son and her smile told Regina that it had worked. They would be okay. They would be happy.

These recollections took only seconds to travel through the former queen's mind, filling her with anguish and bringing tears to her eyes. She would never see him again. That little person who had brought her more joy than she ever could have dreamed of, he was gone from her life forever.

Regina choked back her tears and tried to gain her bearings. She seemed to be standing on solid ground now and the purple haze was starting to thin. She could sense others standing near her. As the fog lifted, she could see that she was standing in a large field filled with the displaced residents of Storybrooke.

Good, she thought, they all made it.

She could feel the magic of the land around her and had no doubt that they had returned successfully to whatever was left of the Enchanted Forest. She was beginning to take in the eerie setting when the silence was suddenly broken by a familiar voice.

"We're back," Snow said quietly.

Regina glanced halfheartedly at the princess and her eyes widened. Snow White was standing next to her, flanked by her husband, looking almost exactly the way she had almost 30 years prior. Her hair was long and curly, hanging loosely passed her shoulders, and her pale pink coat had been replaced by a flowing white dress and cloak, which trembled as Snow began to cry quietly.

Looking around, Regina saw that everyone around her now appeared as they had before her curse struck. She looked down at her own attire almost without thinking and seeing her own long, black gown proved to be too much to bear. It was as if the weight of her heavy fur cloak overcame her and she sank slowly to her knees, hiding her face in her gloved hands to mask the sobs she knew were coming.

This is who she was. She had done all of this. She had cursed the land she should have protected and now she was paying the price. She had lost her son and, without him, she felt as if she had lost the only good part of herself. No matter what she did, no matter how many lives she saved, she would never be able to escape her past. At least her little boy could not see her this way, as the Evil Queen.

"Henry," she whispered into her hands as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Henry. Henry. What do I do now?"

Lost in her despair, Regina did not hear the sound of footsteps coming toward her in the soft, damp grass. The hand that gently grasped her shoulder startled her and she looked up slowly, surprised to see that Snow now knelt at her side. Regina registered the tear stains marking the pale cheeks and remembered with a jolt that Snow had also lost a child today. Fresh tears of shame filled her eyes and she looked down at her own hands, unable to face this woman whom she had hurt so much.

"I'm so sorry, Snow," came in a barely audible whisper.

Still looking down, Regina heard the rustle of the white cloak and expected Snow to stand and return to her husband's side. She was startled once again, however, when Snow not only moved closer but actually wrapped her arms around her stepmother's shaking frame. Regina was unprepared for this and it took her a moment to recognize that this unprecedented physical contact was actually an embrace. She had only ever felt this kind of love and comfort from her father and Daniel, both long gone. And Henry, she realized with another jolt, which brought on another round of silent sobs.

"Please don't be sorry, Regina," Snow whispered through her own tears. "You saved everyone here and you saved Emma and Henry. You were a hero today."

Another sob escaped Regina's lips and Snow pressed on with new resolve.

"A hero, and an incredible mother."

That final word hit Regina like another blow to the heart and her reservations crumbled around her. She felt herself giving in to this love offered so unexpectedly and, with shaking arms, the queen returned the princess' embrace while the group around them looked on in quiet surprise. The women remained this way for what seemed like hours, clinging to one another in a huddled mass of black velvet, white lace and shared anguish.