New Beginnings

Summary: When Regina saved everyone from Peter Pan's curse, everyone returned to the Enchanted Forest including Emma and Henry. How will everyone adjust to being back home?

Chapter 1 Home Sweet Enchanted Forest?

The people of Storybrooke gathered at the town line with the yellow Volkswagen Beetle in park ready to leave. Emma and Henry were facing her parents, Regina, and the rest of the town folk with raging green sparkling clouds racing towards them.

Henry was fighting back the tears, "This is all my fault. I should have never run away to find my birth mother…"

"No, sweetheart," Regina pulled her son into a loving embrace then gazed into his eyes, "It is not your fault, but mine. I should have never gone for vengeance in the first place. Gold is right. Villains like me can't have a happy ending."

Henry shook his head, "No, you are not a villain. You're my mom."

They embraced one more time then Regina noticed Emma was finished talking with Hook.

"Emma, wait," she approached the blonde and began, "When the curse removes Storybrooke from existence, there will be no trace of it left not even your memories."

Emma was struggling to hold back tears, "So it will be like we never knew each other. What will we have false memories?"

Regina inhaled holding back her tears and took Emma's hand in hers, "My gift to you is good memories, a good life for you and Henry. You have never given him up. You have always been together. When I stop Pan's curse, and you cross that town line, you will have the life you always wanted."

Trying to hold back tears but was not successful, Emma replied, "But it won't be real."

Regina nodded, "I know, but the future will be real."

"What future will it be if we are not a family?" Emma finally retaliated, "Did anyone ever thought what Henry and I wanted? We finally have a family, and now we are going to be torn apart? No! If this curse is broken once and for all, we are all going to be together!"

Snow and Charming smiled at each other than anxiously wait to hear what Regina will say. Regina turned around to see the green curse clouds race closer to where they are.

She turned toward Emma and Henry, smiled, and replied, "I want nothing more than to be a family, but I want you two to be safe."

"We will be safe with you," Emma reassured her then Regina smiled.

She turned to face the raging curse clouds, raised her hands, and her magic shot out toward the clouds. Green turned to purple and Storybrooke was erased from existence once the clouds settled, and the people who lived there were nowhere to be seen; the only thing that remained was an abandoned yellow Volkswagen Beetle parked on the side of the road.

* * * * *NEW BEGINNINGS* * * * *

Tall trees surrounded the entire area. A faint breeze graced Emma's cheek, and she slowly opened her eyes. She and Regina sat up at the same time. Regina recognized where she was, and slowly everyone was regaining their surroundings. Emma stood up then reached out to help Regina stand. It was the first time Emma got to see the brunette in her queenly attire.

"Wow!" Henry took the words right out of Emma's mouth, "Mom, you look great! I finally get to see you as the Queen!"

Regina smiled as she admired her son dressed as a prince then looked at Emma who was dressed in riding attire fit for a princess. The two women smiled then Snow and Charming went up to Emma then embraced her. There was a loud snapping sound, and Emma turned to see a large tree branch falling right above Henry and Regina.

"No!" Emma held out her hand and a large stream of white light shot out and obliterated the branch; splinters of wood flew everywhere.

Henry ran up to Emma and hugged her, "You saved us!"

Regina regally walked up to them, "Thank you, Emma, for saving our life. I didn't know…"

"Neither did I; I guess being the product of true love gives me some magical capabilities."

Snow politely interrupted, "Well, we can't stay here forever. We need to find some shelter for all of us."

"I agree," Charming began, "We can use our castle until everyone gets back on their feet."

"One problem," Regina exhaled then explained, "Your castle is in ruin. Remember the curse I cast. I remember windows being blown out and I'm more than certain that parts of the roof caved in."

Grumpy retorted, "Well, some dwarves can help and two magical women who can help get the job done."

"Hold on, short stuff," Regina was getting agitated, "since when did you get in charge and solicit my help…"

"Come on, Queenie, it will be great to help everyone, and you can teach me how to focus on my magic."

Regina turned her gaze to the blonde with a questionable expression, "Queenie?"

"Come on, mom, please! You and Ma working together would be great!"

How could Regina say no to her adorable son who was giving her the same puppy dog eyes his other mother was also giving; now she knew where he got it.

She exhaled then motioned with her hand, "What are we waiting for? Lead the way, Charmings."

Snow and Charming led the way, and Regina grabbed Emma by the arm."Queenie?"

Emma raised her hands in defeat, "That is the only thing I could think of at the time, and what about short stuff?"

Regina smiled, "All I could think of at the moment."

* * * * *NEW BEGINNINGS* * * *

After what seemed like a couple of hours, the traveling party arrived at the ruined castle. The Dwarves went inside to start working. Regina called out to Emma to begin on the east side of the castle. Emma followed her and couldn't help what came out of her mouth.

"Woah, your curse packed a huge punch."

Regina was silent, observed the damage, and finally replied to Emma's comment, "I was in a lot of pain when that curse was cast. What did I get in the end, about one year of enjoyment and a lot of lonely times much worse than before."

Emma added, "That is not true at all. You got a child who loves you despite your past and what you tried to do to his biological mother and grandparents. Regina, you were hurting and didn't have anyone to turn to for help. I probably would have done the same thing you did if the roles were reversed. Trust me; my mother would have gotten on my nerves, miss goodie two shoes."

Regina burst out into laughter, and Emma joined her. After the laughing fit concluded, Regina smiled, "Thank you, Emma. I needed that."

"Don't mention it."

"Well," Regina motioned, "this castle won't fix itself. So, let's get to it shall we."

Emma nodded and took her place to Regina's right facing the wall.

"Hold out your hand and focus on repairing stone for stone."

Emma and Regina held out their right hand then red, and white energy shot out lifting stone by stone out of piles and back into their original places creating a wall. After repairing the east, west, and south sides of the wall, Regina and Emma smiled then Emma took Regina's hand in hers. Both women were taken aback when they felt an electric jolt when their hands joined.

"What was that?" Regina was confused, and Emma replied, "I have no idea."

Both women gazed at their hand from palm to fingertips and were still puzzled at what just happened.

"Let's go in, I'm very positive that if we don't a search party will be sent," Regina motioned to retire, and Emma giggled as she followed the Queen inside.

* * * * *NEW BEGINNINGS* * * * *

Once inside, Granny, Red, and the Fairies were repairing broken windows and re-stitching the drapes. The Dwarves were working on the council table, and Regina along with Emma observed the scene before them.

"There you are," Snow walked up to them, "let's go up and see about the bedrooms."

Regina requested, "I want a room that has a large balcony."

"Well, the room with the largest balcony is the room we planned to give to Emma," Snow replied apologetically.

Emma decided to settle the soon to be argument, "Regina can have that room, and I will take the next room over so we can be next to Henry."

Dumfounded, Regina began to question, "You are willing to give up your room for me?"

"Yeah, I am. Now, let's go check out those rooms shall we."

Snow and Emma walked together, and Regina couldn't believe that Emma would give up her room for her to be happy. They have only been tolerating each other for two going on three years now, and it's evident that their relationship was changing. It went from feuding parents to mayor/sheriff to co-parenting status. Now, it was evolving into friends because friends would give up their room for the other friend to be happy. No one has ever done that for her before. After reaching the top of the stairs, Snow gestured to a large oak door. Regina opened it, and when she walked into the room, she was blown away at how large the room was. She immediately walked out to the balcony and smiled. It was the balcony of her dreams. As she was admiring the breathtaking view of the forest and the river, she couldn't help but overhear what Snow was telling Emma.

"This was the room you were born in. The same day you were born, the dark curse was cast. You were only a few hours old when the curse arrived at the castle."

Guilt hit Regina hard in the chest. She has already taken a lot from the two women in the room, and she walked back in.

"Emma, take this room. It's your room…"

Emma interrupted, "Yes, it is my room 'and I give it to you," after realization hit, she continued, "Regina, please don't tell me that you are beating yourself up about the curse and that's why you want me to take my room back."

"Emma," Regina exhaled, "I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologize for anything. What's done is done and is in the past. Let's leave it there. I don't want to hear any more about curses and Evil Queen. They are gone! Do you both hear me?"

Regina and Snow nodded then Emma concluded, "Now, this is your room now, and I will be right next door to you and across the hall from Henry. I'm going to fix my room. I suggest you both do the same before we have to turn in for the evening."

She spun on her heal and quickly walked out of the room.

* * * * *NEW BEGINNINGS* * * * *

After fixing up their rooms, the Charmings, Emma, Regina, and Henry had a large supper with the ones who helped repair the castle; Baelfire, the Dwarves, the Fairies, Granny, Red, Gepetto, Pinocchio, Belle, and Hook. Emma barely ate and excused herself to go back to her room. Regina began to think back to see if she did anything to upset the blonde. After barely touching her food, Regina excused herself and Henry then they bid everyone a good night before retiring to their room. After changing into his new style of sleeping clothes, Henry climbed into bed and lay down. Regina covered him up, sat down on the bed, and kissed his forehead.

"Mom"

She gazed lovingly into his eyes, "Yes, sweetheart."

"Did you and Ma fight?"

Regina furrowed her eyebrows, "No, not that I can recall."

"She barely ate supper, and she went to her room without telling me goodnight or anything."

She gave her son another kiss, "I will talk to her first thing in the morning. Good night, I love you."

She got up and walked to the door.

"I love you, too. Oh, mom!" Regina turned around, "Yes, Henry."

"I remember you always tell me that it is better to never go to bed angry."

She smiled, "I did tell you that. I promise I will talk to Emma tonight before going to bed."

"Thanks, mom," he said with a smile, blew out his candle, and lay back down.

Regina closed the door to Henry's room and walked to her bedroom. After walking in, she closed the door, waved her hands, and purple smoke consumed her. The purple smoke lifted to reveal Regina in her Enchanted Forest style sleeping clothes with her hair worn down. She walked out to the balcony and gazed out at the beautiful moonlight sky with stars twinkling. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Emma dressed in her sleeping clothes was on her balcony gazing at the stars.

She decided to acknowledge her presence, "Beautiful night isn't it?"

Without turning her head, Emma replied, "Yes, it is."

"Emma, if I said anything to you to make you upset, I am sorry."

Emma turned to look at Regina then she walked over to where she was looking directly at her, "Regina, you didn't do anything. I am not mad at you."

Regina walked over to the edge of the balcony facing Emma's balcony. She leaned over and decided to be an active listener, "If I didn't do you anything, who did?"

Emma exhaled, "My mom. She keeps bringing up the curse and what the castle was like before the curse. I told her that I had enough and that you are no longer the Evil Queen because you saved us all from Pan's curse. For someone who righted a wrong and broke a curse at the same time, that was one hundred percent redemption in my book."

"Thank you, Emma. You know something. We have come a long way in our relationship. At first, we hated each other. Then, we tolerated each other. Next, it was a mayor/sheriff relationship. Next, it was a co-parenting relationship. And now, it is growing into something else. I think it's friendship."

Emma smiled, "I agree. We have come a long way, and I do believe we have hit the friend mark."

Regina yawned, "We had a long day. I think it is time for us to go to bed."

"I couldn't agree more," Emma yawned then smiled, "Good night, Regina. Thanks for the talk. You know if you ever need," Emma held out her hand and the two balconies merged, "You can always walk over, and we can talk."

Regina smiled, "I'd like that. Good night, Emma. If you ever need, you can always walk over, and I can lend a listening ear."

"Sounds great. Good night."

Emma walked into her room, and Regina heard her blow out her candle. Regina returned to her room smiling. After climbing into bed, she blew out her candle, covered up, and closed her eyes allowing sleep to come to take her into dreamland.