(one really quick question! About how old would Prince Neal be at the end of season 4?)

Regina decided the night before that she needed to check on the Charmings and see if they would help her go to the library to try and learn more about Merlin and try to figure out who the first dark one had been. She knew that Henry was supposed to help defeat the darkness but she also knew how devastated her son was. So instead of forcing him to do the research she decided to take it upon herself to do the research.

She checked up on her son and sighed at the sight in front of her. Henry laid on his bed simply staring at the ceiling. She missed her happy little boy. She missed her brave and smart baby boy. But she no longer saw that same Henry. The one that stood up to Pan. The one who ran off in search of his birth mother. The one who at the tender age of 6 told her he would one day fight dragons. If only there was a way to take away all of his hurt. But the only way to help him was to help him defeat the darkness and save Emma.

With that in mind Regina went to the Charmings and knocked on their door. She was greeted by the sight of her step-daughter with the baby in her arms.

(break)

Snow smiled at Regina and motioned for her to enter the apartment. "How are you Regina?" She asked her as she led her into the kitchen part of the apartment.

Regina gave a small smile back. "I'm alright. I was thinking we could find some information at the library." she said.

Snow nodded. The library did seem to be the perfect place to research Merlin and the first dark one. "I agree. I looked through the rest of the journals and the only mention of the darkness is how he picked the first dark one. He picked an already dark souled person. But he also made sure they had a child. The child was the fail safe." she explained. She hated the fact that children were to be used to defeat the darkness. To use a child as a fail safe was just wrong.

Regina sighed and rubbed at her temples. "I was afraid there wouldn't be much else there. He seemed very secretive about the whole thing. Where's Charming?" she asked as she looked around to see no sign of Snow's prince.

Snow sighed and put Neal in his play pen. "He went to check on Hook. He doesn't think we can win. Not this time." she said softly as she tried to keep her tears at bay.

It had always been them against evil but not this time. No this time her precious Charming had no hope. He didn't believe that good would conquer all this time. She hated it. She felt so alone without her baby girl, her husband, or even her perfect grandson. But she wasn't sure if she was ready to show that to Regina. They were close but she wasn't sure they were that close yet.

Regina looked sharply at her step-daughter. She saw the dull nearly lifeless eyes. She saw the ash gray skin. She saw the slouched posture. She had never seen her step-daughter look so dead to the world. Even after her father died her eyes were filled with hope. But what she saw that frightened her the most was the small quiver of her bottom lip. She hadn't seen the quiver in many years. Really not since the woman was a late teenager and her father had died. Even when she was there at the castle as the curse engulfed them. Then while her lip quivered when she saw that her baby had made it her eyes filled once again with hope.

Regina approached Snow and put a hand on her chin and lifted it up gently. "We will figure this out. We will get Emma back. And we will do it together. Because you my littlest snowflake are not alone." She said truthfully.

Snow smiled at the use of Regina's old pet name for her. She hadn't heard it since She had been 13 years old. She was so glad that her step-mother was there for her. She needed someone to keep her up. Someone to help her keep going. And maybe. Just maybe Regina was the perfect person for the job.

"Well let's go to the library then." Snow said. She knew how uncomfortable Regina often was about feelings. So Snow decided to hold off on the mushy stuff. For now at least.

Regina smiled in appreciation. She picked Neal up while Snow grabbed the stroller and the diaper bag as well as several toys.

They left the apartment and walked together to the library.

(break)

Robin peeked into Henry's room and watched the young teen sadly. He had grown fond of the child and to see him so lifeless and hopeless was incredibly difficult.

He had seen the boy do everything he possibly could to save those he loved. He was quite the inspiration with the heart to match. But now. Well now he was simply a shell of his former self.

Robin could remember how he was when his wife had been taken. He had been devastated. He could barely breathe. If it hadn't been for his darling boy and his merry men he never would've survived. He would have easily killed himself. And that was something he feared for. What if Henry traveled along that path? Would they realize too late? Could they save him?

He really hoped so.

(break)

Charming sat with Killian at the docks. He looked out across the water and sighed. It seemed as if his life had become like the ocean. It seemed as if there was no hope miles around as he barely stayed afloat. He knew he was being unfair to his wife as she truly never lost hope while he had.

Prince Charming had truly lost all hope as he sat beside the man that stole his daughter's heart. He had been so glad when Emma had fallen in love. It meant she was finally getting her happy ending. But then everything just seemed to pile on top. He began to see his and Snow's relationship in his daughter's and Hook's relationship.

He believed that good would win but instead his daughter became the dark one. There truly was no more hope left.

(break)

Regina and Snow skimmed through book after book on Merlin until they decided to call it a day. Just as they began to put the books away the library door burst open and Belle rushed towards them with a piece of paper in her hand.

"I found a book at the shop. It was about Arthur and his knights. There was a woman named in it. An evil and wicked woman. Arthur hated this woman. As did Merlin." Belle said.

Regina and Snow looked at the bookworm with hope filling their eyes.

Belle gave Snow the paper and Snow looked up at Regina with a frown on her ashen face.

"Morgana Le'fay."

(this takes place a week after the season 4 finale. This will be a large fic but I cannot promise how often updates will be as I have other stories that I'm updating right now. Please please please read and review! OUPAT is owned by ABC. I simply play in the incredible world.)