Regina sighs, knowing this has to happen before anyone can leave. She knows how dangerous Narissa can be, but she really does seem to be frightened of her magic. Perhaps she really has lost her memories. She sits beside her former stepdaughter and sighs, "You ruled the largest and most powerful kingdom in the Enchanted Forest. We are no longer in that realm, our native realm; we are in the Land Without Magic-"

"But...but you have magic right now. I just saw it," Narissa reasons.

"Storybrooke is...a unique situation. Since we're from the Enchanted Forest, magic was brought here from our realm when it was destroyed."

Narissa turns her attention to the other brunette, what was her name? Snow? "But you said I wasn't brought here before, yes? Wait they called you Snow...as in Snow White?" The woman called Snow smiles, "Yes, I am."

She can't help the bubbling laughter that erupts from her system. "The princess? Oh that's just rich. And what, I suppose the Evil Queen is running about trying to destroy you because you're prettier?" she scoffs.

The older brunette scoffs, "It was never about looks."

"You're-" Narissa looks between the two women. She turns her attention to the boy at her side, "Your mom is the Evil Queen?"

"Was," he corrects.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me."

Before the conversation can go further, the door to the diner whips open and in walks Emma. Her hair pulled back in a severe bun, black leather heels tapping on the linoleum. "Hello," she greets cooly.

"No," Narissa whispers, backing further into the booth, back tight against the wall.

"We don't get many visitors here in Storybrooke," she coos.

"What do you want, Miss Swan," Regina says, standing from her position at the table.

"It doesn't matter," Granny says, making herself known from behind the counter. "Take your business elsewhere Dark One."

"How rude," Emma states, shuffling further into the diner. "I'm merely here to meet our new friend. Seems lovely," she muses.

"No, don't let her near me," Narissa begs, "please."

Emma tuts, "That's no way to greet an old friend."

In a puff of lavender and gray smoke, she's gone.

"Where-?" Henry stops and looks to his brunette mom who shakes her head. His attention goes to his blonde mother "Do you- do you know her?" he asks.

Emma shakes her head, "Of course not. But the Dark One knows her. And I know she's new in town and I don't like that. I don't like outsiders."

"You were an outsider not that long ago," Henry reasons before he stands, "I have to go find my friend." He rushes out with Regina quick on his tail.

"Henry wait! Where are you going?" Regina calls.

"I have to find her, Mom. She's scared and she just used magic she doesn't remember. She could be in danger."

"Henry, she's not that way. She'd go toward the water," she reasons.

"Right, that's where she was found."

"That's where she'd feel safe," Regina points out.

Together, they rush to the docks. They find her huddled against the rocks, feet skimming the surface of the water. "You really do know her, don't you?" Henry asks.

"I used to," Regina responds.

They move closer to the young girl and Henry calls out, "Narissa? Are you alright?"

"Please don't call me that," she says quietly, refusing to turn around. "I'm not that person."

"What should we call you then?" Regina asks softly.

The young girl turns to them with tears in her eyes, "I'm not evil like the person you say I am. I don't want to hurt anyone. And I don't want to go with that other woman. Please don't let her take me. I did nothing wrong, I promise."

"What are you talking about? Do you know her?" Regina asks, confusion surrounding each word.

Narissa shakes her head, "I don't remember, but she frightens me. Even more than you with your fire hands."

Henry chuckles and Regina can't keep the small smile off her face. "If you don't like Narissa what should we call you?" Henry asks. When he receives a shrug in response he offers, "How about Rissa or Riss? It's not as foreboding as the full name and it's trendy."

"Trendy?" Both Riss and Regina ask simultaneously.

"It's a good thing," he promises.

"Okay," Riss says, fiddling with her sleeves.

"Let's get out of the cold," Regina offers, standing from her crouched position.

"Come on Riss, Mom has the best hot chocolate back home." Riss looks unsure, "Mom won't throw any fireballs," he promises. Regina doesn't object and even offers a small smile to the young girl. "And my other mom will leave you alone if you stick with us."

She stands and follows them back to Regina's car.

*E*E*E*E*E*

Riss takes in everything she can see inside the mansion as Regina makes them hot chocolate. This house is huge compared to everything else around it. She can't remember if she's ever seen anything this big but that's besides the point.

Henry gave her a tour of everything and even showed her the room that she'll be staying in, which is on the same floor as Henry's and Regina's, which made her feel oddly safe.

Henry was currently showing her what he calls his "gaming systems" that play live pictures on a "television" which she thinks she should be surprised about, but isn't.

"It's ready," Regina calls from the kitchen.

"Come on Riss, you're gonna love this," he promises as they go toward the kitchen.

They sit down and take a sip. Henry was right, it really was delicious. "So….Riss," Regina says as she stands across the counter. "You realize what you did earlier was magic, yes?"

Riss looks down at her cocoa, "I guess. I mean, I don't know how I did it. I knew I didn't want to be there, and then I wasn't."

"It was wicked awesome," Henry says. "Especially when you don't know what you're doing."

"Well, your mind may not remember what it's doing, but your magic surely does." There's a pause and Regina sighs, "I know you don't want to be the woman I was talking about, but when I first met her she wasn't all that bad. In fact, she helped me become a better queen."

"Yet you wanted to throw fire at me," Riss grumbles.

Regina shrugs, "I want to throw fire at a lot of people."

"It's more of a personal problem," Henry adds with a smirk.

A few years ago, that remark would've crushed Regina's soul. Now, she finds herself chuckling with her son and shaking her head. "Either way, my dear. You're going to need to learn to control your magic so you don't keep disappearing to wherever your magic takes you."

Riss sighs, "I suppose you're right," she agrees.

"Great, then we'll start with magic lessons tomorrow."

They sit in a comfortable silence, each drinking their respective drinks before Henry offers, "We could watch a movie tonight?"

Riss looks up, "A movie?"

"Okay, I know you know some pop culture since you knew about Snow White. You have to know what a movie is."

"Of course I do," she scoffs.

Henry smiles at her defenses, reminds him of another former queen he knows. "Come on then, I know exactly what to watch."

He makes them watch The Emperor's New Groove "It pokes fun at royalty and it's hilarious" Henry reasons as they sit together on the couch. Riss watches and even laughs at a few parts, but falls asleep before it ends. Regina stands to refill her glass and is in the kitchen when Riss wakes.

She sits upright, where is she? And why was she slouching like a commoner? She looks around her surroundings and sees an unfamiliar boy in front of her, "Who are you heathen?" she commands.

"Riss?" Henry asks, confused.

"Excuse me?" she asks, absolutely affronted.

"Ummm, mom?" he calls, "I think you need to come in here."

"Explain yourself, child. Where am I and what spell have you put me under?"

"What's going on-" Regina says, stepping into the room and freezing, this was not the same girl she left alone with her son.

"Regina?" Narissa asks in surprise. "What is happening? You left. But now you're...here. And you have a son?"

"You might wanna sit down," Henry says, patting the spot beside him, "It's a long story."

Narissa looks unsure but sits beside him in a very regal way, crossing her ankles beneath her, waiting for him to continue.

"You're no longer in the Enchanted Forest," Henry starts.

"That much is obvious, Child," she scoffs.

Regina rolls her eyes but takes a sip of her wine and waits for Henry to continue.

"Well, we're not really sure how you got here but you didn't have any of your memories before. And now you have them. I don't have an answer about that." He turns to his mother to continue.

Regina sits straighter and looks at her once-friend. Before she can speak Narissa starts, "The air is...different here. There's magic but it's not the same. It tastes different. Heavier." Regina nods. "And wait," she pauses and looks back to Henry, "Did you say I didn't have my memories?"

"Uh, yeah. You showed up at the docks and didn't even remember your name."

"What's the last thing you do remember?" Regina asks.

"You casting your curse." Regina's eyes blow wide. "I remember your curse flying over the lands. I barely had enough time to throw up a barrier around my kingdom. Then, nothing." She looks from Regina to Henry. "But you didn't have a son then. So, either this realm passes time differently, or I'm missing time."

Regina clears her throat, suddenly nervous, "It's been nearly 30 years since I cast the curse."

Narissa doesn't react. "I was afraid of that," she murmurs to herself.

Regina stands and moves to the kitchen, fetching the confused queen a glass of wine. When she returns Henry looks scandalized, "Mom, she's not 21."

"Of course not, dear. She's much older than that," she says with a laugh.

Narissa looks insulted but turns her attention to Henry. "I am unaware of the customs of this land but you are a prince of the Enchanted Forest and a young prince never speaks of the age of a visiting dignitary, my dear."

"Sorry," he murmurs, a blush rising on his cheeks.

Regina laughs and Narissa shakes her head, "And for you to allow such jokes. Well, I never thought I'd see that again."

"See what?" Henry asks innocently.

"Happiness," she states bluntly.

It's Regina's turn to blush and turns to Henry, "I think it's time for bed young man."

Henry groans but turns back to Narissa. "Before I go to sleep can you tell me about my mom?"

"You know her better than I," Narissa reasons.

"But you knew her when she was young. Probably better than my grandma did."

Narissa turns to Regina in shock, "Cora is here?"

"Different grandma," Regina says smoothly.

"You know her. It's Snow White," Henry states calmly.

Now utter confusion befalls Narissa. She nearly loses her composure and chokes on her wine. "It's a long story," Regina says with a wave of her hand. "And we'd need a lot more wine than this."

It's only her long tenure as queen that allows Narissa to maintain her self-control and not ask a million questions. Instead, she quietly says, "And I look forward to it. But I do believe your mother told you to go to sleep, young prince."

Another groan escapes the boy, "Can't you at least tell me a story before bed?"

Narissa looks to Regina who merely shrugs. "Alright dear, what would you like to know?"

"Tell me about your kingdom in the Enchanted Forest. It's not in my book."

"Book?" escapes Narissa's mouth before her mind can gain control again.

Henry shrugs, "I'll tell you about it later. What about your kingdom?"

"Andalasia is a beautiful kingdom. Rolling hills, gorgeous trees. The scenery alone is enough to keep travelers coming each season."

"Is that where you grew up? Or were you from another kingdom?"

Narissa smiles at his questions. "I grew up on a lemon farm along the coast of the Endless Ocean. My parents owned the best lemon farm in all the lands. My sister and I were able to travel much when we were children because our father was asked to every kingdom in the entire Forest to share his secrets for producing the most delicious lemons." She smiles softly. "I used to climb the highest tree as high as I could and from there I felt like I could see forever. I saw the ocean swimming endlessly one way, and trees for miles and miles in the other direction."

"You have a sister?" Henry asks.

Narissa nods, eyes glistening, "I had one yes. She was a wonderful big sister, my Dovie." Henry wants to ask another question but something in her eyes gives him pause. She looks so much older with these eyes; it's like she's seen enough for many, many lifetimes. Suddenly, her eyes shut, almost painfully as Narissa reaches for her head. Her glass of wine crashes to the floor, glass shattering and the red liquid spreading along the white carpet. Her hands squeeze tightly at her temples, as if she's attempting to keep her brain within her skull.

"Narissa?" he calls, worry evident in his voice. "Are you alright?"

"Uuggghhhhhh," she groans, clutching her head.

Henry looks to his mother, fear swirling in both their eyes. "Narissa?" she calls, moving toward her. She reaches out to touch her shoulder. Narissa's moans filled the room, surrounding both Henry and Regina in horror. Regina grasps her shoulder, causing the younger woman to scream and jump away.

A look of terror fills her eyes, tears falling down her cheeks. She slowly releases her head from her grip and looks to Regina and Henry. "What was that?" she whispers.

"I'm...I'm not sure," Henry says, looking from the young woman to his mom.

"I think-" Regina clears her throat, a nervous habit. "I believe it was your subconscious trying to break free of whatever is blocking your memories."

"Not a curse?" Henry wonders aloud, eyes never leaving his mother's.

"I'm not sure," she answers honestly.

He nods and looks back to his new friend. Her eyes are back to the way they were when he first met her. Not weighed down with a lifetime's worth of hurt; young, vibrant, and very confused.

"I think it's best that we go to sleep," Regina supplies, standing from her position beside Narissa. With a flick of her wrist, the glass is gone and the wine stain is out of the carpet; as if it was never there at all. She escorts Henry and Riss upstairs, sends them to brush their teeth and put on pajamas and bids them both goodnight, kissing Henry's head and placing a hand on Riss' shoulder, reminding her she's just a room away if needed.

When they're both in their respective rooms, she head back downstairs and shuts off the lights before moving into her office with a newly-filled glass of wine. What the hell was going on?