Regina wearily rubbed her neck as she walked inside her empty mansion. Her heels were discarded immediately, drawing a sigh of relief from the ever proper Queen. They had yet another unsuccessful "how the Hell do we beat Zelena" meeting this morning. And Whale had given them oh so happy news that the baby would most likely come within the next day or two. They were running out of time and ideas. Yet even as hopeless as the whole thing felt, a certain archer was still able to bring a smile to her painted lips. Something about his very presence made her feel more at ease. No matter how panicked everyone in the diner was, the touch of his hand against the small of her back had managed to relax her. He even found a way to make her laugh this morning. Luckily, all the others in the room seemed too distracted by impending doom to notice the sudden closeness between the unlikely duo.
"Well for someone who spent the night in the woods, you sure look chipper this morning."
Regina spun around, annoyance filling her eyes. "What do you want, Zelena? I'm in no mood for you today." She had been so lost in her thoughts of Robin that she hadn't even notice the red headed witch sitting on her couch.
"Well, I suppose staying up all night rolling in the dirt will make anyone a little edgy…mother would be so ashamed. The prim and proper Queen with twigs in her hair from a romp in the forest with a common peasant."
"How and where I spent my night is none of your business. Apparently you did not get the message yesterday…you are NOT welcome in my home. And stop spying on me; it's just sick and pathetic. But it makes sense now how you were able to find my heart so quickly."
"Oh no, Dear…I didn't have to spy on you to know where to find it." Her taunting tone earned an eye roll from Regina.
Annoyed by the way Zelena was watching her, Regina gave in. "Fine, I will bite. If you weren't spying on me, then how did you know where to find it?" She asked, bringing an amused gleam to her sister's eyes.
"Oh Dear…it was way too obvious. When you see the past, there is irony everywhere. Who else would you trust to guard your heart than your loving husband?" An amused grin spread across Zelena's face as she watched the emotions play in the confused brown eyes that were staring back at her.
"My…what?" Regina stammered, hating the shaky tone that escaped her red lips. "I know you're new in town, but I assure you that my husband is dead. So you are quite mistaken."
"Your HUSBAND, Dearie…and no, I'm not mistaken at all. Your husband is very much alive...though I could change that if you wish. It's a pity you don't remember. It really was a beautiful ceremony. And while I would've looked MUCH better in the dress, your dear thief couldn't take his eyes off you...it was actually quite sickening if you ask me."
Regina scoffed. It couldn't be true. She couldn't have finally taken that step again only for it to end like this. She would remember something THAT major wouldn't she? "You expect me to believe that in that year…Robin and I got married?"
"During the year you remember nothing of? Yes, sis...the Queen married the Outlaw…poetic really. Now, Regina, don't look so surprised. You can't honestly tell me that you don't feel it when you're with him. Your pesky little mind may not remember…but I have held your heart in my hands and I know it sure remembers falling for the forest dweller. It really is a shame…you finally found your true love…" her tone was sarcastically sappy "and soon he won't remember you because YOU will never even have existed. Your entire life was wasted, Regina." She ran her tongue across her teeth. "Perhaps I will seek your little archer out and have a little fun with him after you're gone." She watched giddily as she saw Regina tense, her jaw tightening. "My my, Regina…a little possessive are you? What's the matter? Do you think he'll enjoy me more than he could ever have enjoyed you?"
Regina lunged at the smirking woman only to have pain cripple her and send her to the ground. She watched in horror as Zelena's grip on her heart tightened.
"Now Regina…behave. I don't WANT to waste the spell by crushing your heart…but I will if I have to." Zelena took a step closer, the smirk returning. "It really is such a tragic story, Sis…Robin would have been so happy about this baby…about being a father again."
The words made their way through the pain induced fog, slowly registering in Regina's mind. Her eyes flew up to Zelena's, studying her to see if she was bluffing. "…baby…what baby?"
"Oh yes…I keep forgetting that you don't remember a thing about that year. I would throw you a baby shower…but seeing as you won't exist…therefore neither will your unborn child...it does seem like a waste of streamers, don't you think?"
Regina felt sick. She had let someone in for the first time since she lost Daniel. She was in love…and apparently married and expecting a child with her soul mate. Sure, she'd felt strange the past couple weeks but she assumed it was the stress of the situation or Zelena screwing with her. Her hand instinctively made its way to her flat stomach. This couldn't be happening. Finally, she was getting the life she dreamed of with Daniel…a real second chance to make things right…for her dreams to come true. And it was going to be gone at any moment.
Zelena cackled as tears started to stream down her younger sister's cheeks. She waved her hand and out the cloud of green fog that was created appeared a table with a large crystal ball on top.
"What the Hell are you doing? Just get the HELL out of my house, Zelena! I'm done with your games." Regina tried to sound cold, but her voice cracked from the emotional storm churning inside her.
"Oh come now, Regina. You have to be curious. And, unlike you, I am not completely heartless…in fact, I currently have two." She gave the heart in her hand a small squeeze to prove her point. "So I will give you one memory back."
Magic pulled Regina up and over to the now glowing ball. When it dulled, images began to appear. A shaky breath escaped her as she realized that memory was being displayed…her wedding day.
"Enjoy the show, Sis. Think of it as my gift to you…a memory of the life you were so looking forward to but will never…EVER get to live out…the life you walked away from once…and that I took from you…TWICE. And know this; even if your little posse is able to stop this from happening…I still have your heart. And if I do not succeed in my plain, I will simply crush it. Even if you all are able to save the past, you will not be able to save your future. You, will NEVER get your happy ending. I will make sure of that if it is the last thing I do. This isn't a fairy tale, Regina. Its a tragedy. So, I would say my goodbyes if I were you. See ya later, Sis." Zelena's cackle filled the room as she disappeared in a cloud of green.
Wiping tears from her cheeks, Regina took a step closer to the ball to watch the events unfold.