It was coming, and it was coming fast. Gold was dead, so was Pan and Henry and Emma needed to get to safety. There was no other choice but have them cross the town line. She couldn't focus on it now. Even if he was a beast, Rumple had been her mentor, he was her oldest friend. He was gone now, but it was no time for mourning. The curse was coming and she knew, she knew, that Henry would not be able to go with them. The knowledge hit her heart with full force and she could feel her heart instantly breaking. But she couldn't feel the loss, not now when she needed to make sure that her baby was safe. Her pain, her grief for the loss of her son would have to wait. Even when the rest of the group was sobbing, distraught and with no knowledge of what to do; her mind began setting everything in motion. Her son needed to be safe, even if it wasn't with her. She'd sacrifice it all for him, in any realm, any universe, any reality, if he was safe, nothing else mattered. She had to say goodbye to the thing she loved most. Henry could not go over with the curse, he would stay in the land without magic.

"We need to get going," Regina said as she turned to the group. Everyone's faces distraught. Belle still kneeled sobbing over Rumple's death. Neal in a trance over the scene he had witnessed. The stupid dwarfs, ready for orders, ever so loyal to their sweet prince and princess, "Emma, you need to get your bug, get enough supplies to make it to New York. I'll go home and pack some clothes for Henry. We'll meet at the town line."

"What? We can't just leave." Emma replied as she held tightly on to Henry.

"Yes, you can. You're the savior of this curse, you can come and go as you like. Henry was born in this world, he can't go with the curse," her eyes turned to look at Henry. Her sweet baby boy. She moved to Henry and cupped his cheek lovingly as a weak smile escaped her lips, "We need to make sure that Henry is safe. Make sure he has his best chance. You are his best chance."

"Y-you're leaving me?" Henry asked as he stuttered with teary eyes.

"Not by choice," Regina whispered.

"Regina, are you sure there isn't anything we can do? Maybe a spell, or I don't know a secret portal." Emma insisted.

"There's no other choice, we have no other way."

"Wait! Wait!" Hollered a voice from down the street. Tiny trotted breathlessly up the cold street. One hand in the air waving to the entire group as his other hand held a small burlap bag.

"Tiny, what's going on?" Snow asked.

"The… the b-beans!" His breath staggered and he hand one hand to his knee as he stuttered holding up the burlap bag, "A sprout. In fields. Survivor. Small portal."

"A magic bean? But they were destroyed," Regina took the bag as a smile appeared on her face.

"I just said it was a sprout! A survivor, lady!" Tiny raised his still breathless voice.

"Regina, can you make a portal, maybe enough for Henry and Emma to travel over to the Enchanted Forest," Snow's hopeful gummily sweet voice asked.

Her hand hovered over the bag, sensing the sprouts magic, it was there and it was strong enough to create a portal – enough for two people. Her smile grew, this was the way to get Henry to her. Her heart soared at the hope that her son would be with her. She would not have to lose her baby.

She looked to the sky, in the closing horizon, the green smoke coming closer. Her hand hovered over the sky, sensing the time the curse's imminent completion. They only had a few hours.

"We can make a portal, enough for both. I'll need some things from my vault," she turned to face Emma and Henry with a relieved smile spanning from ear to ear, "You can come home with us."

"But didn't you say that he couldn't go with you guys? That's the only way of breaking the curse, for you to never see Henry again." Emma reasoned.

"Yes, that's true. But Rumple is a man of loopholes. Somehow he would have added something to the curse. Technically, Henry is leaving me. The Enchanted Forest remains still, the curse did not create it. The curse merely created Storybrooke and transported all of us here, the Enchanted Forest never disappeared. Therefore, if you take a portal to the Enchanted Forest, you will be there after the curse breaks. I can fashion the portal in a way that leaves you in it while the curse returns all of us back. That way, the curse won't touch Henry and in that sense, he will have left me. When I see Henry again, the curse will no longer exist and its ties will not exist. It works."

"What if it doesn't?" Emma asked.

"You have to have faith that it will, Regina's logic works." Snow said.

"What if it doesn't? What if it doesn't work?" Emma pressed.

"You will most likely be brought back here. Since this is where Henry was born, he stays here. I can ensure that you two stay together and land together." Regina answered.

"I want to do it." Henry said bravely.

Emma looked at Henry hesitant, mostly fearful. She looked back at Regina, the same look in her face as her, fearful but it was more than that, Emma knew, she had seen that look back in Neverland. Henry was the only thing Regina had that was close to happiness. No matter what, she knew Regina could make sure Henry was safe. For her family, they had to try.

"Okay, let's do it." Emma finally said giving in.

They didn't have time for running, let along driving a car to her vault so teleportation was the only option. They left the rest of the group to catch up with them whatever way they could. Neal, Snow and David rode in David's truck as the rest of the insipid dwarves went to warn the rest of the town of the coming curse. They all agreed to meet at the town line in case, for any reason at all, the portal did not work, both Emma and Henry would still be able to leave on time. Regina, though, was not about to let that happen.

As soon as she apparated into the vault, Regina whisked both her wrists and cauldrons, vials of ingredients, and her spell book hovered in the air setting themselves neatly in her potions table. The fire under the cauldron blistered. She needed to hurry. The heat she knew would start to burn her skin, but she was not going to worry about burns when there was an opportunity for her son to be with her. In any other circumstance, she'd take this time for a potions lesson with Emma, but there wasn't any time for that. There were specific ingredients that required special handling and specific cuts that she could not entrust to neither Emma or Henry.

"Can we help with anything?" Emma asked.

Regina worked quickly, cutting a bit of the rabbit's foot in a diagonal segment. There was only one thing Emma could help with, the simplest of ingredients. She took a small sharp blade from a nearby drawer and handed it to Emma who took a quick step back before Regina could instruct her on anything.

Great, here we go again with these stupid trust issues, Regina thought.

"Are we seriously doing this now?" Regina growled slightly, "I am literally making a potion so that you along with my son can join your parents in a whole other realm. Do you think that distrust is warranted right now?"

"She's right, mom," Henry said, "She's helping. You need to try and trust her. She's done things to prove herself."

"It's just habit, sorry." Emma winced.

Rolling her eyes, Regina handed Emma the blade once more and said, "I need about two ounces of blood from the both of you. I'm going to make sure you're not separated while traveling. You're going to be bonded until you step into the other side. We can't take any risks."

As she grinded the bean sprout, she began chanting a slow spell, to combine the magical elements together. Every step bringing back memories of Rumple teaching her how to combine different spells to make her own. A small pang of grief filled her as she remembered him. She remembered her mother too, how she would watch her through slightly open doors as she made potions when Regina was a child. Remembering when she had gotten caught by her mother on a certain occasion where her mother was tending to the cleaning of her vials. She was sure her mother would scold her, even give her a few shocks of magic to have her learn her lesson, but to little Regina's surprise, her mother had showed her how to ensure long lasting scales of a mermaid. How to clean them and keep their magic lasting for years. It was bittersweet.

She could hear the pained wince from Henry as Emma made a cut on his hand, and for a moment her motherly instincts came in and she wanted to go and soothe him, but she had to remain focused. She opened a truck holding sealed boxes. As she scanned the lot, she took the specific one she was looking for.

She placed it next to the cauldron and opened it quickly and began looking for a measuring cup.

"Dirt?" Emma remarked questionably.

"Enchanted forest soil, specifically, my castle grounds soil. This will help direct the portal to a specific point. This way we will know exactly where you land. We can find each other easily." She took a handful of soil and just like the rest of the ingredients, chanted the small spell biding it to the rest of the bubbling liquid now mixed together.

"I just need a bullfrog eye and dragon's nail and we can add the last ingredient." She smashed the bullfrog eye and both Henry and Emma groaned at the squashing noise.

"Okay, hand me the blood," Regina said. She mixed both their blood and poured it over the cauldron, smoke appearing and flowing out of it. Regina stirred as she chanted in whispers. The two observer's she had soon noticed that the concoction began to get harder and harder to stir as she continued chanting.

As the last chants finished, the smoke disappeared and all that was left was black sand like substance.

"Okay, it's done." Regina said.

Before making their way to the town line, she went into a small closet hidden through her enchanted forest dresses and hesitantly took the paper map that she had not touched in years. Both Emma and Henry observing her with confused faces, "You'll need this as well, in case you don't land in the castle." She noted showing them the brown paper. They did not ask any questions, there wasn't time.

As she returned, she took hold of the cauldron and flicked her wrist, then all three of them landed in the town line. Emma's yellow bug now parked right in front of the town line, thanks to David and Snow.

"We've been waiting an entire hour for you! It's almost complete!" Snow said nervously pointing towards the approaching rumble of clouds.

Ignoring Snow's whines, Regina walked a few feet away from the group with black sand filled cauldron in hand and began to spill the sand on the road and create a circular form. She made three turns until she finished the contents and then set the cauldron on the ground, "Okay, it's time. I need both of you on either side of me."

Emma and Henry approached her preparing themselves for what came next. Regina took the brown paper map out of her coat and handed it to Emma, "If for whatever reason, you cannot make it to the castle or there's a fluke in the potion and the portal leads you somewhere else in the Enchanted Forest, use this map."

Emma was about to open it when Regina's hands halted her, "It's blank. It only works in the Enchanted Forest. It's powered by the magic that runs through the earth of that land."

"Where does it lead?" Emma asked.

"It leads to a manor… where I grew up. No matter where you are in the Enchanted Forest, it will guide you to the manor. That's it's only destination. It's takes you through the lightly traveled routes, so you should hopefully not find any trouble."

Emma nodded. Regina then placed her hand on Emma's magicking a handful of coins, a mix of coppers, silvers and golds, "In case you need to buy food or stay the night somewhere. Don't be too trusting, but make sure to be safe."

"Thank you, Regina."

Regina nodded, turning her attention to her son. He'd grown so much, she realized.

As Emma hugged the rest of her family, Regina gave Henry a soft kiss on his forehead, "I'm sorry mom."

Regina's head tilts as she listens to his words, "Why are you sorry, Henry?"

"All of this, It's my fault. I-I thought you didn't love me, that's why I looked for Emma. Bu-but if I had stayed under the curse with you, no one would have gotten separated. Grandpa wouldn't have died, no one would have died and… I was wrong to think you didn't love me, to make you feel like a bad person. You wouldn't have done everything you did if you didn't love me."

"Oh Henry, none of this is your fault. I was wrong too, I cast this curse out of vengeance and hate. Rumple died a hero, saving all of us. I need to start doing what's right too, even if still being a villain."

"But you are changing, "Henry said hopefully.

Regina nodded meekly, "I love you Henry. Since the moment I met you, I knew you were going to be my son. I was so scared I was going to lose you. My little prince."

"I love you too mom." Henry croaked as he gave her a tight hug.

As their hug subsides and Regina calmed the small sobs that escaped her son, she whispered into his ear, "Once we get to the Enchanted Forest, I'll show you all the best and my most favorite places there."

"Promise?"

With a wide grin, she gave Henry a sweet eskimo kiss and whispered, "I promise my little prince."

As they said their last goodbye's and see you later's Regina took both hands off and held them together as she began the spell. The portal began to swirl and open as they could feel the force pulling them in. Regina turned around to look at the now quickly approaching curse, "You need to jump, now!"

At her order, the two of them jumped into the portal and it closed quickly leaving the ground empty.

Regina's heart beating fitfully hoping that it had worked. She stepped forward into the town line and turned to look at the coming storm.

She looked down at the rest of the group, Snow, David, Neal, Hook, a couple of the dwarves (why are they always there?), "Ready to go?"

"Ready," Snow said.

"Let's go home." David replied looking to Snow.

She observed the rest of the group who returned her questions with affirmative nods. She took the scroll out of her pocket and read the spell. It will take a lot of energy out of her. It's already taken her a lot to make the potion in addition to opening the portal, but she needs to get to her son.

She musters as much power as she can. She takes the scroll and rips it in half, knowing it will disappear her town. This town that she learned to call home. She knows returning to the place she once called home will be difficult. Painfully horribly memories live in that forest. Many memories and places she had not dealt with and doesn't feel quite ready to face just yet, or ever in fact. Her magic is different now. It's not as dark as before, it's grayed in some ways. She will have Henry, though, that will make all the difference. That will help her fight off the darkness.

She closed her eyes and raised her hands, the scrolls dissipating into magic running now through her veins, turning and binding with her own magic as her purple light meets the greened of Pans clouds.

Their going back. Everyone is going back.

.*.

It's like going down a dizzyingly steep slide. It's like going down those tube slides but worse – much worse. Their still holding hands and the screeching sound of the portal turns them and turns in circles. The blood magic must be working since they don't feel anything pulling them away from each other.

"Don't let go Henry!" Emma yells and Henry nods.

It's difficult to breath, their breath tightening possibly from the thrusting of the bend in the walls of realms moving from one realm to another, bending reality in mere seconds. They feel it seconds later, like seeing the end of a tunnel after holding your breath inside it for a long time. The portal opens and they're being thrown out from the sky!

Not form the ground or a tree or from at least a closer height to the ground. They are up above, almost feels like flying. The portal shot them out miles above the castle it seems. She looks to Henry who has a massively scared face almost to the point that she thinks he might be seeing his life flash before his eyes.

She thinks it's her magic, or instinct but she's reaching out for Henry. All she can think about is keeping him safe and her magic pulls him closer to her. She wraps her arm around him and they're falling and falling. She can see it, it's like a shimmer. She remembers the times they'd done it before to keep villains away. Remembers Regina' breaking the one she had managed to make last time. It's a protection spell, and she knows once they hit, they will bounce off and land who knows where.

It's too late to try and conjure any protection for her own. All she can hear is Henry's scared yells and like a blow against a wall, the pain hits them and they bounce off the barrier. They're flying backwards farther and farther away from the castle. She sees they're landing, right smack in the forest. She has time now time to conjure some kind of protection.

She remembers Regina's words, "Don't think… feel. Feel what you want to do. See what you want to do."

Protect Henry, she thinks. Land somewhere safe, she thinks.

With a small swish, the white cloud of magic envelopes them and they land on a wooded area, on lush grass. It works, they're safe. A reliefed sigh escapes her heart but she can now feel Henry's shaking body.

"We're safe, Henry, we're safe." She whispers to him. Both laying on the grassy area, looking around all she sees are large tall trees that fill the distance.

Henry continues weeping as Emma shushes him softly, attempting to ease his fears.

"I-I want my m-mom…" he mutter's through sobs.

"I'm here, Henry," she whispers.

Henry's head shakes, "Regina. I-I want my mom Reg-gina."

Her heart breaks slightly at his request. He wants Regina. She can't say she doesn't understand or can be angry for wanting her. Regina has reminded her as well, Regina raised him. She knows him better than anyone. Regina did soothe every fever, knows how to calm every tantrum, she is Henry's mother. Emma knows she, herself, is Henry's mother as well, but it's different, their relationship is different. She came into his life at a much older age, their bond is different than that of Regina and his. Although slightly jealous, she's happy. She's glad her son has that person, that person to call a loving mother. She didn't have that and is thankful to Regina that she was there to fill that part, the part that every abandoned child wishes to be filled, to bond with her child on a more intimate and personal level. Emma knows she lost that opportunity, but she has her son now, and she will not waste time now.

"We'll get to her soon, Henry." She whispers.

.*.

The curse comes over them like dozing off into sleep. They feel the heated clouds covering them, everything going dark and she feels the slight change in the ground. Hard cement turning to plush grass. The thundering overtakes their ears and nothing but warm clouds and thundering around them.

Just like waking up after a nap, the clouds fade and they're back. Like they never left. She had timed it perfectly. She looked at a small pocket watch she had carried with her, on the dot. Five minutes. She made sure to give the portal five minutes wait time until they released them. The curse had completely disappeared from the land by now. She had to hope it worked. She couldn't live knowing that Henry would not be with him, she just couldn't.

She remembered the little sleeping princess. She inwardly laughed at what Maleficent and her had done to her. So, she was pregnant. Great, more sniveling happiness and hope to fill this realm.

It had been hours later that they finally began to make their way to the royal castle. Everyone insisted on not wasting time wanting to make sure they reached Emma and Henry soon as possible. Prince Phillip and Princess Aurora were more than generous proving them with weapons, food and horses to make their journey.

They had seemed nervous around them, Regina only guessed it was because of her presence. She still struck fear into the hearts of people. Not that she was complaining; in fact, she was quite happy to be left alone. She was pretty exhausted from the amount of magic she had used, all in one day. She couldn't stop now, she needed to get to her son.

It was about midday when they began setting out down the road towards the castle.

"Do we really have to tell her?" Aurora asked Phillip. Both waving with fake happy smiles to the group as they set off on their journey.

"Yes, we do. If we don't, you know she will take it out on the baby." Phillip replied.

"She's not really the one who worries me, or her flying monkeys. He's the scarier one," she said.

"I know. We must tell him the Queen is back. That's who he's after anyway."

.*.

"So, how far to the castle?" David asks Regina.

Regina turns to give him a glare with a brow raised, "You seriously don't know the way to this castle that you are obsessively possessive over claiming as your own?"

"I'd know the way if you hadn't stolen it away from Snow and forced us away from it." David countered.

"I married into it you dimwitted farmer. Legally, I still own it."

"Yes, after you murdered your husband, as I recall. A good and fair King, my wife's father."

She was not going to listen to him. The stupid shepherd knew nothing. Nothing of what she went through. She could explain, but what would that do? She needed no pity and did not want or need it. He was no one to her, she only tolerated him for Henry's sake. David didn't know the first thing of what she had went through, he was as self-righteous as Snow; thinking everyone and everything was heroic and sweet. That people like her deserved an unhappy ending, if he only knew what they had done to her. But she didn't need David's approval, didn't care for it. And she was not one to share with others. She rolled her eyes and moved up further.

It would be a full day's trek to get to her castle. It was early morning and they would make it by sunset if they kept the same pace. Soon enough she would see Henry and it would all be good. She missed him already, even knowing she would see him again, soon, in fact. She needed to hug her son, kiss his tiny forehead and tell him how much she loved him.

She would stand it all for him. To see her baby boy.

.*.

It was nearing nightfall and Emma needed to find shelter for her and Henry. The map had been very helpful just as Regina had said, it took them through lightly or completely untraveled roads.

When she had opened the map for the first time a glowing white light appeared. Soon, it located them and images of ink showered their surroundings. Some mountains, hills, and forested areas showed. A line formed into the direction they were meant to go. She slightly felt the pull of the map as well. Although thin, the paper map tugged her hands in the direction it prompted her to go.

"We have to find a place to sleep." Emma said.

"The map doesn't GPS you to a Granny's bed and breakfast or something, does it?" Henry chuckled.

She was glad he was making sly jokes again. He had been quiet for the first few hours of their trek after he had calmed down. It was a pretty traumatic experience, being flung miles above land not having anything to keep you safe. He was a very brave kid, Emma thought.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier." Henry whispered nervously.

She knew what he was talking about. It was like him to feel guilty for choosing one mother over the other to comfort him. But she needed to reassure him it was okay, "Henry, do not apologize for that. It's okay. I understand."

"You do?" His head tilted, seeming confused at her statement.

She nodded, "She raised you. She's your mother, will always be your mother."

"But you're my mom too and-,"

"Yes, I am your mom. But Regina raised you. You two have a special bond. One no one can break. It's okay to ask for her. I came into your life at a later time. I know you love me, kid. I love you too. There are things that you can only get from Regina. Just like there are things that you can only get from me."

"I just didn't want you to think I didn't want you… like, like a made my Regina feel." His head sagged at his words and merely looked at his feet as he walked.

Emma halted him, "Henry, listen to me. Regina knew what she had done, creating that curse, was wrong. The only thing that you made her feel is that she needed to change. She did it for you Henry, because she loves you. That is the true love of a mother, putting their children before anything and anyone else. You made her feel like a better mother, a mother who could do right by her child."

His eyes were glazed over and she could see that he felt horribly guilty for the pain he thought he had inflicted on Regina, "I think you and your mom should just sit and talk. You need to tell her how you feel. I'm sure she will tell you the same thing I did."

Henry nodded and continued walking.

They walked for a few more minutes until they came to a fork on the road. They halted waiting to see where the map would take them. They needed to come up to an Inn of some kind, of not Emma was going to figure out how the hell to conjure up a tent and sleeping bags.

Her magic felt stronger here for some reason, more alive. She assumed it was because of the realm they were in. This was where she was born and as she recalled Regina saying, the Enchanted Forest literally was magic.

As she felt the map tug her to the right, she heard an eerie screech come from above the trees.

"W-What is that?" Henry asked as she grabbed hold of Emma's red leather jacket.

Emma quickly put her hands up ready to summon an energy blow or anything at all to protect themselves with.

Wind blew harshly as their eyes widened at what descended from above.

Flying monkeys.

"What the hell?" Emma muttered.

"Mom, their c-coming this way!" Henry screamed.

Hand raised she attempted to throw an energy bolt at the creature but the monkey swerved and she missed it. Another three monkeys began jumping down from above as well.

Failing miserably, Emma's magic began faltering as she sent over bolts of white magic that either were not strong enough or were dodged by the winged beasts. She was getting too nervous and over thinking. It was messing with her magic.

As the four creatures began descending closer and closer they heard a male voice holler, "Get down!"

With no time to question who it came from, they crouched down both cocooned together on the ground. Emma peered from her covered eyes to see an arrow fly and pierce threw a monkey's heart.

Once by one they fell screeching. Once silence over took the forest, Emma and Henry both stood to see their hero approaching. There were a few other men standing behind him with what looked like a small little boy no older than four years old.

"Are you both alright?" he asked.

"Yes," Emma replied, "Thank you. You, you saved our lives."

"Just the honorable thing to do for two people in danger. Those winged beast have been quite pesky the past few months. I'm only glad we arrived on time." He replied.

"My magic is faulty. I'm still learning."

"Best to try on winged beasts than on people, eh?"

Emma nodded, "I'm Emma, Emma Swan and this is my son Henry."

The man extended his hand out to shake Emma's, "Robin of Locksley, at your service. These are my merry men."

"No way." Emma and Henry said in unison. Mouths dropped and not believing the sight.

"There is a way, actually, just down that trail." Robin commented, Emma chuckled realizing they were not in their realm, therefore the colloquial phrases were not common here.

"Sorry, right, were not from here."

"Did you come back with that cloud. Possibly another curse?"

"No, but are family was brought back in it. We came through a portal."

"Ah, are you all looking to meet one another? It's quite dangerous in the forest if you don't know where you're going. Especially with winged beast roaming the skies," Robin skimmed both over, "No weapons I see."

"It was all rushed, we have a map that leads us to where we are set to meet our group."

"Do you all have anything to sleep in, any food?"

Both shaking their heads, "Like I said, it was all rushed. I have money, though," Emma said.

"That won't do you much good here now. The commodity now is bartering. Food, shelter, weapons, clothing. If you haven't got that, then you are at a true loss."

Emma looked to Henry who stood still holding her arm. Now, what the hell was she going to do?

"Why don't you come to our camp. We can have you fed, clothed if need be and see what we can do to help you." Robin suggested.

"I don't know," Emma replied recalling Regina's warning.

"Mom, it's okay, it's Robin Hood. Trust me, the storybook said he was good. We can trust him." Henry smiled at her.

The storybook, right. Henry had read over it cover to cover more than once, so she knew if he said it was safe, then it would be okay. She still needed to keep her guard up, she needed to make sure to have her magic accessible in the event of anything happening. She couldn't risk it.

"Alright, lead the way, Robin Hood."

.*.

The sunset was setting in once they arrived on the road that lead to her castle.

Something was off, she could feel it. They turned a curved roadway and she saw it, she shimmering silver castle.

As she approached she raised her hand, halting the caravan behind her.

"What's going on?" Snow asked.

Ignoring her question, Regina stepped in front of the small ditch. She looked down to the left of it and to the right. It was a circle surrounding the castle grounds. She touched the air in front of her, she sensed the reverberated flow of magic. A green sheath appeared over the area.

"A protection spell," She said.

"Then undo it," David ordered. God, he was insufferable.

"If I had done it, I'd be halfway home. If I had done it, I would have told Emma and Henry about it and they would be here. As you can clearly see, they are not."

"Then who did it?" Snow asked.

"I don't know, but we are going to figure it out. We are getting our castle back. Whoever took my chair is going to pay."

"We have to make a plan first, we need to get rest and eat first. Then tomorrow we can work on getting the castle back." Snow said.

"What we need to do first, is head to the manor. Emma and Henry will be going there just like I told them. From here it's about a three-day journey. You do remember they came in through a portal, right? Your daughter has only been here once and probably does not remember her way around. In addition to your grandson never being here before, they have no weapons, no food. We need to get to them."

"Emma has magic, she's the savior. They will be fine until we get there." David said proudly.

He really could not be more annoying, she thought. He was worried about bringing a stupid protection spell to get inside a damn castle than getting to his own daughter as soon as possible.

"Do whatever the hell you want, I'm going to get my son and Emma first." Regina huffed as she began to make her way back.

"Regina, wait!" Snow hollered, "We need to stick together."

"Tell that to your shepherd. Clearly, he's more worried about getting his throne than his own daughter and grandson."

"How dare you?!" David growled approaching her.

"How dare I?" Regina laughed, "I'm merely stating the apparent facts."

"We need to make sure these people have a place to live. We can get them settled and then go find Emma and Henry."

"They can have that at the manor. It's big enough for the entire group. We can regroup there."

"There is a castle here," David insisted, "We can bring the protection spell and-."

"That's not happening," Granny said as she walked up. For the first time, Regina was glad to hear the old wolf's voice, "In this, we all agree with Regina. Emma and Henry come first. There is a vacant inn just a few miles out. Ruby is looking for food with a few other dwarves. We can sleep there and head out tomorrow. I know a few trails that can help get us there faster."

With Granny shutting down any protest coming from David, they made their way to the inn, to get rest for the night. Tomorrow they would head to the manor, they would get to Emma and Henry. As long as they had them, then and only then, could they worry about other things.

.*.

The fire was warm and the stress had vanished a bit more. Across the fire, she saw Henry playing with Roland. Robin's son had quickly taken to Henry. When they had made their way back the merry men camp, Roland had trotted right behind Henry asking him if he was a kid just like him.

Once Henry said yes, Roland, wide-eyed and all, could not stop saying how happy he was that there was another kid in the camp to play with.

Henry was teaching Roland how to play hopscotch through the dimly light camp. Their laughs and giggles taking over the encampment while some of the men also tried to learn the game.

"My son is quite taken by your son." Robin said as he approached Emma.

"I would be too if he was the first kid near my age around," Emma chuckled.

"May I sit?" Robin asked as Emma nodded.

"So, I've talked to my men. We have decided to take you to this manor where your family is."

"Oh, no you don't have to. This is more than enough-"

"We want to. We assume there are other people who came over with the curse. Things have changed since before the curse took over. My men and I know the land well, we could be a great asset to your group. We can help until you are all settled."

"Thank you, Robin Hood, I'm sure the group will be grateful for your help, along with that of your men's. I was thinking of asking you, I just wasn't sure that you'd accept. I mean, you have a son to think of after all."

"My son is quite used to moving about, that's not a problem. It's better to remain close now, given those wretched creatures flying about."

"How long ago did they arrive?"

"Just a few weeks ago," Robin said as he picked the fire with a stick, "I've never seen the likes of it in the land before."

"I thought they were a myth or fairytale but now I don't know what could not be real or false," Emma replied, "If they're here, that means that their witch is here too."

"What witch?"

"Well, in my land they're from a land called Oz and they are the little beasts of the Wicked Witch of the West."

Robin's brows raised, "The Wicked witch? Blimey, thought I'd never see her again."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked as she took a spoonful of stew. To her surprise, it was actually pretty good. Who knew men, let alone the merry men, could cook decent stew.

"I stole something from her once. A long time ago. Only met her once. Wicked woman."

"Do you think she's after you?"

He shook his head, "No, her beasts would have stormed by now. Either way, she's taken over the Evil Queen's castle, there's a barrier around it. Not sure if you've seen in," Oh she had seen it, been hit by it actually, "She's been in there the entire time, only sending her beasts out to wreak havoc. It's clear she's biding her time for something… the question is, what?"

"Papa, look!" Roland hollered from across the fire, "I'm playing hopscotch! Henry taught me!"

"That's wonderful Roland!"

Both Robin and Emma chuckled, seeing how both Henry and Roland seemed to be having more fun that they should be for a mere game of hopscotch. But they mostly chuckled at the huge merry men attempting to skip with one leg, proving that is was not such an easy task even if it was just a children's game.

"You've raised a very kind and well-behaved boy. Roland doesn't take well to strangers, yet, he has been taken by your son. You've raised him well." Robin told Emma after they had finished eating.

Emma half-smiles knowing that his statement is not quite true, "I didn't raise him."

"Oh, his father then?"

Emma scoffs, "He left before he knew he existed. He recently came back, though. He's with the group as well."

"I don't mean to impose, but, just curiosity, did he grow up alone?"

Emma shakes her head, "No, he has a mother. Henry is who is because of Regina."

"Regina? It sounds familiar, is she in the group?"

Emma nods, "I am quite sure you know her well. She just goes by a different name here."

"What name is that?" Robin asks.

Emma was not going to tell him. She knew Regina had enemies in this land. Knew that if she said Henry was the son of the Evil Queen there would be a target on his back. He'd be used for revenge, for any crazy scheme to get back at Regina for the pain she inflicted. So, she'd not mention who her name was in this realm, over her dead body she would.

"She doesn't really go by that name anymore," Emma began, "His mother had done a lot of horrible things before Henry. She turned over a new leaf though, for her son. It's quite admirable, suppressing your wants and needs, forcing an unwanted change in yourself out of love for someone else. She's changed for Henry. It's difficult to trust her at times, there's still distrust, but her actions remind us that she is slowly changing."

"Changing is difficult. When Roland was born, I knew I had to make a change. I had to set an example, be honorable and just for him. I agree, it's very admirable what his mother has done for her Henry."

"It was difficult at first, still is sometimes. Before you found us, we had been free-falling from the portal across the sky. I managed to get my magic to work so we could land safely. Henry was so stricken that he wouldn't stop sobbing, I didn't know what to do. He asked for her. He kept pleading that he wanted his mother. I may be his birth mother, but the woman who nurtured him, loved him before anyone else did was Regina."

"But you're here now for him. That's what matters."

Yes, she's here now. She is so very grateful for that, "I won't miss anything anymore. We have a good relationship which I'm happy about."

"It takes time," Robin smiled at her as he stood, "Well, I'll be turning in, we've got a long day ahead of us. The map you showed me, it appears the manor is just north of the end forest. We should get there soon in just a few days if it all goes well."

"Thank you, Robin, truly."

"Not a problem at all. I do look forward to meeting the group, to see who I might know from it. And of course, also thank Regina, for raising such a kind boy. My son has not had someone his own age show this much kindness. It speaks greatly of the person who raised Henry."

Here it is! A new fic!

Since it's Lana's bday, I thought I'd update either a new chapter or a new story ad well, HERE IT IS! As you can tell, Emma and Henry were able to go to the EF in the missing year and guess who none other they meet! I've had this fic in my head for the longest time and had been itching to do a OQ enchanted forest/storybrooke fic for a while now and finally decided it. Thank you to all the people who have been reading my other fics and I am so utterly thankful for the support! I am working on TWTGA right now for next update and have outline already for Me&You along with Love in between and Will You Marry me. I just gotta sit down and write! It's been so hectic with college, work, adulting and just trying to have some relaxing time to de-stress gets difficult. Thank you for your patience, truly it means a lot!

This fic will feature other character from other types of fantasy just to give you a little over view. Horrid, tragic, but utterly romantic and smutty/fluffy things are coming your way. Please bear in mind I am not perfect, and some things that have happened in the show may not be huge paralleled here so I want to put that out there if you all see any twicks or things you notice that doesn't follow the show. I do my best to stay true.

Anywho, that's just an FYI. Thank you so much lovelies, truly I love all your comments and liks and support in any way. Stay tuned!