A/N: Hello my dearies and Merry Christmas a little later than proper! ;) I hope you have spent it with your loved ones, and I wish you the best New Year's Eve ever!

Now, here come a slightly shorter chapter, but there wasn't much to be said this time - which doesn't mean nothing important happens: something BIG happens (and there's a hint in the title)!

I can warn you, if the Author's rewrites have puzzled you before, it's nothing next to what I have in store for next chapter. It's when my big baddie appears, and I bet anything you want that you can't guess who it is! ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters depicted her, except for the Author. All the others are the propriety of Kitsis and Horowitz, those heart-breakers.

3. Henry, meet Henry

As they had guessed, Pinocchio didn't remember anything in particular from his time in the body of the infuriating August. So when their little talk with the boy was over, Emma drove Regina and Henry back to the mansion, and the former Evil Queen prepared diner.

She had thought the events of the day had been the weirdest yet...and she was mistaken.

She had just put the oven on for the roasted chicken when the doorbell rang.

Henry sprang from his spot on the couch. "I'll get the door!"

Regina wondered for a moment who it might have been, but didn't give it more thought. It could have been Miss Swan again...or worse...Scarlet. She didn't really care. She ghosted a hand over her still flat stomach and a small smile appeared on her lips. It might be the weirdest thing ever, being pregnant by magic, but she was also ecstatic. If she didn't see Robin ever again, at least she would have something to remember him by. A child. Who hopefully would have his dimples and adorable smile.

"Hey Grandpa! You're early! Mom is in the kitchen!"

Regina's brow furrowed. Grandpa? What was Charming doing at her house, alone no less, when he could have just called?

In a moment of folly, she wondered if it couldn't be Rumpel who would have reappeared in town. But no, it was impossible. If there was a way to cross the town line again, she'd have known.

She turned, wiping her hands on her apron, and she almost had a fit right there and then.

In the doorway, smiling down at Henry...was her father.

He was wearing modern clothes, of course – a woollen dark blue jumper over black breeches – but still sported his sideburns. He crossed her gaze and smiled wider.

"My darling... Sorry for being early. I had a call from Snow White telling me some things had startled you today..."

Regina leaned back on the counter, her hand missing the hot stove from only a hairsbreadth. "D-Dad?"

Henry appeared at his grand-father's side. He opened his mouth then closed it, and his grey eyes lit with recognition. "Mom? Is Grandpa not supposed to be here?" She couldn't do much but shake her head. "Okay. Come and sit down."

Her father's smile faded and he hurried at her side. "Regina? My darling, is everything alright?"

She stopped him, moving away as if he was about to hurt her. "Don't...touch...me...please..."

He turned to his grandson. "Henry? Would you please explain what is happening?"

Henry helped his mother on a chair, and shrugged. "We don't actually know. Things change around Mom for no apparent reason, but for us it's just the way it is... This morning, she could not believe she was pregnant..."

Henry Senior looked at his daughter with worry in his soft brown eyes. "Regina? Why are you afraid of me?"

She closed her eyes and placed a hand on her forehead. The headache was coming back. "I'm not afraid of you...I just...Dad..." she opened her eyes again, tears glistening in them, "I killed you."

"What?! What are you saying!" He hurried to her side and ignored her flinch as he grabbed one of her hands and grasped it tight.

"Dad...I killed you...to enact the Dark Curse."

He had a joyless laugh. "No you didn't. You didn't enact the Curse."

Regina's brow furrowed again. "I didn't? Then who did?"

Her father exchanged a puzzled look with his grandson. "I-I can't remember."

"Neither can I..." Henry turned the oven off. "Go to the dining-room, both of you. I'll take care of the diner."

Regina didn't protest and let her father – her dead father – lead her to the dining table. He sat next to her and encompassed her hand in his again. "My darling... Tell me... Why do you believe you killed me?"

"Because I did, Dad, I did..." tears appeared in her eyes again, "and I'm so sorry. So so sorry..."

Her father leaned in and kissed her forehead as he used to do all those years ago. "Don't be. I am not dead. I'm right here with you. With you, Henry, and this little one to come into the world."

Regina let herself lean in his touch and realised he really was there. It was surreal, completely nuts, but it felt so good...

There was a silence, and then she straightened, and wiped her tears away. "Tell me your version of the story."

"My version?" His brow furrowed, but he nodded. "You didn't enact the Curse. Someone else did, although I can't remember who. I was imprisoned by this someone, who was blackmailing you into doing his bidding." Henry reappeared with two plates and settled them onto the table. "Under the Curse, I was Bill, the local farmer. Henry was visiting me often, and we bonded naturally. When Miss Swan broke the Curse and I remembered who I was, I came to you. Ever since, I've been at your sides through the good and the bad."

Regina couldn't quite believe this. She had no memory of these times. Only remembered the bad. His heart in her hands as she threw it in a fire.

"It's all written in the book, Mom. I can fetch it for you."

She looked at Henry and nodded. "But take mine, please. It's not complete, and I think I prefer it."

Her father's hand didn't leave hers, and it made this all much more real somehow...although she still thought that the following morning she'd wake up from this so peculiar dream...

It had taken him far too long to assemble this team of villains, too long... He wished for nothing else than to return to his ancient life...to his dagger...and make everyone pay.

Rumpelstiltskin could not be called a diligent man. And certainly not a kind one. True, he had changed when he had met Belle. She had changed him, had moulded him into a more loving person. But see where it had brought him. His own wife, the love of his life, had betrayed him and sent him into exile.

He could not forget.

He could not forgive.

The sea witch pulled her truck over to the side of the road, and he got out, leaning on his cane. This too he could not forgive. The return of this blasted limp of his.

"What now, imp?"

He turned to the black-and-white-haired taxidermist. "Now, my dear Cruella, we wait for sunset."

"Why does it always have to happen at sunset?" Ursula sighed, but stopped the engine nevertheless.

Rumpel walked forward until he could see the red line on the road. Of course, with the cloaking spell over the town, he could not be sure no one was on the other side seeing them and warning their beloved Sheriff...but he had deliberately chosen a secluded spot far from the main road.

He looked at the sky and leaned on his cane even more. The sun was low already...not long now.

His plan held only if he had not been mistaken about the stars in the sky. Unbeknownst to anyone – including Belle, he had kept a token from his short time in the Sorcerer's house. A token that had once belonged to his arch-enemy – the pirate.

He turned to his tow associates for the time being. "Bring the stones."

Cruella snarled and produced a pouch from the pocket of her fur-coat. Rumpel took two stones from the inside – a bright red ruby and a icy blue sapphire.

They had, of course, acquired them by force. They might have been few magic left in the human world, but there was more than enough for what needed to be done.

He placed the two stones onto the sextant, that started to glow purple.

"And now?"

Rumpel sighed. "If you keep asking this, dearie, you'll stay on this side of the line."

Ursula huffed but thankfully remained silent.

The sun disappeared over the horizon, and the sextant glowed brighter. Rumpel held it high and asked his two accomplices to hold onto him. The stars aligned in the sky, the sextant glowed...and all three disappeared.

The road was left silent once more, safe for a couple of bats out for a hunt...and a man hidden behind a tree. He was holding a backpack from which he produced a cellphone. He dialled a number, and sighed in relief when the person took the call after only one ring.

"Marian? The Dark One has returned to Storybrooke. We have to warn Regina."

He was proud of what he had achieved that night. Yes, very proud. The second part of his master-plan concerning Regina Mills had been taken much more easily than what he had expected. Then again, to see one's dead father once more was less disturbing than the apparition of a child.

He was lucky that nothing bad had happened yet.

He was aware, of course, than the silly imp had found a way back – he always did. But he was not worried. Regina and her friends would handle him easily. More than easily.

Now, he only needed one more piece to his chef-d'oeuvre. But he needed sleep first.

It could wait at least one more day...