Chapter Four

Regina awoke the following morning before Henry, wracked with guilt. She had used magic. She had promised Henry that she wouldn't and she had. She got up and dressed before making a swift exit from the mansion. It was very early and the roads of storybrooke were quiet. She didn't know where she was driving too but soon enough she found herself at the harbour. She exited her car and stood on the harbour front staring out into the sea. A noise behind her startled her and she looked behind her. In the distance she saw the outline of an old man and she swore he looked familiar.

"Regina?" A voice behind her called. Surprised she turned and was face to face with Archie.

"Dr. Hopper" she said surprised. He looked at her and noticed that she seemed a bit uncomfortable.

"Are you okay Regina?" He asked her. She was taken aback by his question. Noticing her hesitance to answer he continued.

"Why don't you come to my office?" He asked her but regina just shook her head afraid of admitting weakness to someone she wasn't overly sure had her best interests at heart.

"Im fine thank you. I just need to be left alone" she told him.

Not convinced by her response he continued. "Regina I think it will really help you if you talked to someone" he told her and Regina had had enough. "I do not need to talk to anyone. I am perfectly capable of dealing with everything on my own" she told him her voice slightly raised. Archie took a step back.

"Is everything okay here?" A third voice asked and both Archie and regina turned to find Ruby standing a short distance away. Regina scoffed. "This is private business, go take yourself for a walk" she directed towards the newcomer. Ruby observed the two and upon meeting Archies eyes she gave him a look and he responded by saying. "everything is fine Ruby" and Ruby satisfied with his response carried on with her morning run. Archie watched her leave before turning to regina. "My office is always open for you regina. I dot care about anything that has happened in the past I want to help people prepare for the future" and he turned to leave, leaving Regina standing alone contemplating a lot of things.

Over at the mansion Henry had started to rouse. He sat up in his bed and looked around. His rom was empty. HE got out of bed and walked down the hallways calling for both of his mothers. He had something to tell them.

"Mom! Emma!" He shouted at the top of the landing. His voice echoed throughout the downstairs hallway and he was rewarded to find Emma skidding into the foyer. "Henry What is it whats the matter?" She shouted up to him!

"they're in the Enchanted Forest" he shouted to her his voice full of delight, making his way down the staircase towards her. Confusion spread across Emmas face."Whos in the enchanted forest?" She asked him.

"Your parents. David and Mary Margret. I was back in the netherworld and the pendant really helped and I was able to talk to the woman. Her name is aurora and she's with gramps and grandma. They're trying to find a portal to get back here" he fired out at her without taking a breathe. Sensing that Henry might be getting ahead of himself Emma placed her hands on his shoulders trying to ground him.

"Okay why don't we take a breathe and have some breakfast and we can talk this out with your mom okay" she told him and Henry nodded emphatically. "Where is she?" He asked looking behind her into the kitchen expecting her to be there. "Im not sure she wasn't here when I woke this morning" Emma told him and Henry liked at her. "She's not here?" He asked his voice a bit broken. "No but I'm sure shell be back soon" Emma insisted moving Henry into a chair at the kitchen table. "What do you want for breakfast?" She asked him.

Regina waited at the harbour for a while before getting back into her car. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. She looked around again and once again caught a glimpse of the old man she saw earlier. He was hiding behind a rubbish bin. They locked eyes and Regina instantly recognised him. But when she approached him he disappeared. Not wanting to waste time pursuing him Regina got in her car and drove back across town. She had come to the conclusion that she would speak with Archie. He had spent a lot of time with Henry and she realised if anyone knew how to get Henry back to loving her he was one of them. She pulled up outside his office, her body overcome with emotions.

She exited her car and made her way towards his office. She knocked and waited with baited breathe. The door to his office opened and Regina was met with a welcoming. "Regina!" She looked into the eyes of the doctor.

"I used magic" she told him tearfully and Archie ushered her into his room. He gestured for her to take a seat and she did. Archie sat opposite Regina watching her. He was waiting for her to start talking. He didn't want to push her too soon.

"I used magic and I'm afraid Henry hates me" Regina told him and Archie nodded his head in understanding.

"Henry doesn't hate you. I think he is afraid of the magic. Why don't you tell me why you used the magic?" Archie suggested and Regina took a deep breathe before divulging all the information about Daniel and him coming back to life and all her worries about Henry leaving her. Archie listened dutifully. When she was finished he gave her two suggestions.

"Okay so I want you to go back to Henry and give him a big hug and tell him you love him." Regina nodded. "I can do that" and Archie smiled. "I know you can" he told her and for the first time Archie saw a real smile grace Reginas lips. "The next thing and this is going to be difficult. You need to help him get Snow and David back. You can do this Regina. He needs to know that you have changed" Archie told her and Regina took a deep breathe. "Ill try" she told him weakly and Archie smiled noticing for the first time that Regina really did want to change.

Their session ended and Regina left the office. She walked down to granny's to pick up breakfast for everyone before she headed back home. It was a big step for her. When she entered the diner she was surprised to find it empty. She approached the counter. Ruby was back from her morning run. Regina took a deep breathe before starting.

"Miss Lucas" regina started. Ruby was startled by the voice. She shot up in defence. Regina held up her hands.

"Please I want to apologise. For the way I acted earlier" Regina told her and Rubys hard expression softened. "I did not expect that" Ruby told her. "Really you have nothing to be sorry for. If I was you id be pissed too" Ruby told her. "What can I get for you?" Ruby asked her and Regina asked for Henrys Emmas and her usuals. Ruby nodded and sent the order through to granny. While they were waiting Regina took a seat on the stool by the counter. Ruby fixed her up a coffee. After a while Regina could sense Ruby watching her.

"Is everything okay Miss Lucas?" Regina asked over her coffee cup. Ruby bush at having been caught. Regina surveyed her skeptically but before she could ask another question Ruby spoke.

"i want to say thank you" Ruby told her and this caught Regina off guard.

"Thank you? For what?" Regina asked disbelief filled her voice.

"For bringing me here. Not everyone hates you for casting the curse you know. Some people prefer their cursed lives because their un-cursed lives were unimaginable" Ruby finished but before Regina could respond granny rang the bell signalling that the order was up.

Ruby put on a smile and handed Regina her bag of food and went back to her job. Regina stood there for a moment before nodding and exiting the diner. She got in her car and drove across town back to her home hoping the two occupants she was desperate to see were still there.

As regina pulled up to the front of the mansion. She unbuckled and grabbed the bag of food. She exited the car locked up and made her way towards the front door. When she opened the front door she was alarmed to hear the smoke detector going off and the smell of burning coming from the kitchen. Panic set in and she ran towards the noise. The sight that greeted her was amusing. Henry was standing on a chair wafting a towel around the smoke detector whilst Emma was soaking a frying pan in the sink.

"What on earth is going on here?" Regina asked and was greeted by two startled faces Turing to look at her. She eyed them both suspiciously silently daring both of them to lie to her. It was Emma who took the first move. "I tried to cook breakfast" Emma told her and without missing a beat Regina responded "But you decided to try and burn my kitchen down instead did you?" Regina asked her, a slight sound of mischief in her voice.

Emma stammered over her next words, trying to make it evident to Regina that she really didn't mean to set her kitchen on fire.

"Regina I really didn't mean too I just wanted to cook breakfast or Henry and well, it sort of Caught fire.. accidentally" she stammered. Regina looked at Henry and gave him a wink letting him know that she wasn't angry.

"Well in the future remind me to never ever let you in my kitchen again" Regina told her before pulling the bag she held behind her hand out.

"It looks like a good thing I brought breakfast" she told the two and their faces broke into wide smiles.

As the three of them sat down for breakfast Emma filled Regina in on what Henry had told her about his dream. Regina nodded along. Henry looked at her and it was evident that he expected her to rebuff the idea and make it like he was lying. "Okay well, how about we talk to Gold and see if there his something he can do or anything he knows?" Regina asked the pair of them. A wide smile broke out on Henrys face.

"You believe me?" He asked in disbelief. Regina just looked at him and nodded. "I do. It makes sense they are in the enchanted forest. It's how portals work. They take you to the place you think of when you summon it. I thought sending the wraith to the enchanted forest was a good thing because I didn't think it would still exist after the curse but it must still do, to what extent I don't know but if Snow and David are there then I guess that it must be somewhat habitable" she finished.

Henry shot out of his chair and rushed around the table to Reginas seat. He threw his arms around her neck and held on tight. Taken aback it took Regina a moment before she responded and wrapped her hands tight around him.

"I Love you" she whispered into his hair and he held on tighter. Emma looked on a smile on her face. Her phone ringing in her pocket distracted her and she excused herself from the table.

Answering the phone with her usual"Sheriff Swan" she nodded along to the person on the other end. Once the conversation had ended she put the phone down and entered the kitchen.

"I have to go down to the harbour. There is a parked car there with no signs of the owner. Henry are you okay to stay here?" Emma asked him and he nodded. Emma acknowledged Regina.

"I wont be long. I'm going to ask ruby to help out at the sheriffs station as a deputy if thats okay with you?" She asked regina who just shrugged her shoulders.

"Im not mayor anymore you can do what you like" Regina told her and Emma nodded.

"Okay well I will see you both later then" Emma told her and regina nodded.

"Ill get in touch with gold" She told Emma before she left.

Emma made her way towards the harbour. She had phoned ruby on the way and asked her to meet her there. They had talked previously about Ruby helping out and she had agreed. Emma pulled up and got out of her bug to find Ruby already there. She greeted her.

"What have we got" she asked and Ruby filled her in.

"A parked car, I think belongs to billy the mechanic or Gus he as in the enchanted forest. No sign of him but I can smell blood" Ruby told Emma. Ruby had told Emma all about her being a wolf. Emma nodded. "Okay can you pick up the trail?" She asked and ruby lifted her nose into the air. She followed the scent to the garbage can. She looked skeptically at Emma. Emma took a breath before opening the can. The smell hit her immediately. Ruby screamed. Inside the trashcans were what liked like the mauled remains of Billy.

"It was me! It was the Wolf" ruby screamed.

Emma tried to calm Ruby down. The scene had attracted a rather large crowd. Emma followed protocol and cordoned off the area. Ruby sat looking terrified in the squad car. Emma phoned Regina to update her that she would be later than expected. What Emma didn't expect was to find regina turn up 15 minutes later.

"Wheres Henry?" Emma asked her.

"I dropped him off with Archie. Archie is going to take Henry and Pongo for a walk to the park and forest. Keep hi away from here. Whats happened?" She asked and Emma filled her in. Upon the mentioning of Ruby regina looked towards the brunette in the squad car.

"Is she okay?" Regina asked. Emma shook her head. "I don't know. She thinks she was responsible: Emma told her. Regina shook her head. "Ruby didn't do that.." She trailed off. A face in the crowd had caught her attention again.

"You!" She called out to him. Emma looked at the crowd to who Regina had spotted. This time as Regina approached the man didn't flee. "Albert Spencer. Or is it King George?" Regina scoffed. I thought I saw you lurking about. What have you got to do with this" Regina asked him. He simply smiled in her direction.

"Why your majesty I have no idea what you are talking about. I think the culprit is sitting in that car over there, it was the first night of wolfs time last night, I'm sure you are aware what that means?."he asked Regina. Before regina could respond Albert turned to the crowd.

"ladies and Gentleman of Storybrooke. I speak on your behalf. Don't we all want a safe environment to reside in. How can we have that when there is a wolf on the loose" he told them. He was met with cheers from the crowd. Regina looked at them. She didn't recognise hardly any of them, they certainly weren't from her kingdom. She supposed they must be King Georges followers. "I say we kill the wolf! Make the town safe again" he called out to even more cheers. Regina looked at the patrol car, followed by Spencer.

"Where is she gone!" Spencer cried out. Spencer turned to Emma.

"What did you do!" He demanded.

"I didn't do anything!" Emma told him but Spencer brushed her off.

"Like hell you didn't. " he turned back to his followers. "Hunt the wolf!" He cried and the crowd dispersed, laving regina and Emma alone. Before Emma could speak Regina was off talking at a speed Emma didn't thin was possible.

"It wasn't Ruby. I swear it was him. I was here this morning before I met Archie and he was lurking around and ruby was here but she went away and then when I was finished with Archie I went to granny's and Ruby was there and there was no signs of blood or anything. Ruby didn't do this and he's going to punish her. We have to do something Emma" Regina finished.

"Okay slow down" Emma told her and Regina took a breath. "I believe you. We need to find Ruby before they do" And the both of them set off. They decoded to find granny and fill her in. They pulled up outside and granny exited the diner, crossbow in hand.

"What happened girl! Tell me everything" Granny shouted and Emma opened her mouth to answer but granny shushed her.

"Not you! Regina" granny said and regina filled granny in on everything.

"I knew that Spencer was up to no good! He was at the diner yesterday. I bet he had Rubys cloak! We need to find it" Granny said and regina had an idea.

"I could find it with magic" Regina said but Emma was skeptical. "Regina you know how Henry feels.." But regina cut her off.

"I know Emma but if we don't find this cloak, ruby will turn into a wolf tonight and that mob will find her and they will kill her. Henry will understand. I want to use magic for good" regina pleaded looking Emma in the eyes. Emma nodded. "Okay. I'll leave you to find the cloak and me and granny will go and follow the mob. Find that cloak" Emma told Regina and left with Granny. Night was quickly falling.

Regina cast a spell and enchanted an object to lead her to the cloak. She followed it and came across Spencers car. She opened the trunk and found the cloak there just as she heard a wolf howl in the distance. The sound of the mob filled her ears and Regina grabbed the cloak.

The wolf howled again, from an alleyway and Regina realised that they had already found and cornered Ruby. She sprinted to where the mob was located and pushed her way through the crowd. She found Emma and Granny at the entrance to the alleyway, stalling the mob. Spencer turned up.

"Now Now! Move aside! It's a monster it deserves to be put down" He drawled and Granny fired a warning shot from her crossbow.

"You see everyone" Albert spoke to the crowd. "Savages. They care about themselves only. They don't care about you" he told them.

"You're wrong" Emma spoke up. "He is lying to each and everyone of you. He killed BiIlly. He is trying to frame Ruby. He doesn't care out any of you he only cares about himself" Emma told the crowd. Regina carried on.

"Its true. I found this cloak in his car. He knew that Ruby needs this to control her transformations. She is no harm to us I assure you" and Regina turned away from the crowd and entered the alleyway where ruby was.

She approached cautiously towards the cowering wolf. Ruby growled as Regina approached but regina wouldn't give up.

"Miss Lucas. Ruby. Don't be afraid. I don't want to hurt you" she calls out. The wolf cowered back against the wall. "I have your cloak. We know you didn't kill Billy. You are not a monster" Regina told the wolf. The wolfs eyes locked with Reginas. There was mistrust there. Regina pulled out the cloak and in one swift motion threw the cloak around the wolfs shoulders. Almost immediately ruby appeared under the cloak. She looked up to see Regina and sobbed. A round of cheers filled the air and Regina and Ruby looked to find the mob cheering. Amidst the mob they could make out Spencer backing away from the crowd a look of disgust on his face. Regina watched as Emma apprehended him to another chorus of cheers from the crowd.

Regina handed ruby over to Granny who thanked Regina deeply before leading Ruby away. Emma locked Spencer up in the cruiser before approaching Regina. The mob had left, now that things had concluded. It surprised Emma how easy it was to sway the crowd.

"Thank you for your help Regina" Emma told her and regina smiled. "It was nothing. I need to go and get henry. Gold has something he wants to tell us. Can you sort him out and meet us at the mansion?" Regina asked and Emma nodded. They parted, both eager to learn what it was that Gold had found out.

Regina picked Henry up form Archie along the way home. She filled him in slightly on the details of the day, leaving out all the gruesome details. He didn't need to know them. By the time they arrived at the mansion, Emma and Gold were already there. They all entered the house.

We need to get a message to Snow and David" Gold informed them. "Everything they need is in the dungeons of their castle. They should know where to look" he told them.

"Could you be any less specific?" Emma asked him.

"You asked for my help and I am giving it to you. Your parents will know what to look for I assure you. Now Master Henry. Do you know what you have to do?" He asked and Henry nodded.

"Good well in that case, I will leave you all to it. I will be back in the morning for an update. Good night" he told them before taking his cane and leaving the kitchen. They all watched as he made his way down the hall and out of the front door.

Henry was the first to move. "Ill go and get ready for bed" he told them and left the two of them alone. They dint speak, Regina busied herself with making tea and cocoa and Emma was lost in her thoughts. Today had been a bizarre day.

Henry entered the kitchen again and retrieved a cup of cocoa. Regina led him to the front room where she had set up a make shift bed. She settled him and stroked his hair as he drank hiss hot cocoa.

"Do you think they will understand the message?" Henry asked Regina.

"Your grandparents are not completely stupid they will understand" Regina assured her son as he settled down to sleep. She watched as he drifted off.

Emma and Regina both stayed with Henry while he slept.

"Do you think they will find a portal?" Emma asked. Regina wasn't sure.

"I don't know. I would like to think they will. If they do I think it will open up at the well." Regina shared with Emma.

The two of them took turns to watch over Henry as he slept. At 6am the following morning. A knock at the door aroused Regina. She straightened out her clothing and answered the door. Their in all his glory was Gold.

"Good morning dearie has master Henry awoke yet?" He asked brushing pst her into the mansion.

"Not yet" Regina called after him closing the door. "He s in the front room" she told him and she followed him there.

When they arrived Emma was sitting up watching Henry.

"I think he's waking up." Emma told the newcomers and Regina went to Henrys side. Sure enough Henry was rousing. He shot up.

"I gave them the message. They were already on their way to the castle but there is a problem" Henry told them.

"What kind of problem?" Regina asked him, smoothing his hair out of his eyes.

"They are being followed" Henry told them.

"Followed?" Asked Emma. "By who?" But Henry didn't answer directly to her. He looked at Regina and looked her deep in the eyes.

"Your mother" he said.

After Henrys admission there was a flurry of activity. Reina went to her room to prepare herself and Gold excused himself from the room. Regina came downstairs moments later. "You two go and get breakfast at Granny's, get Ruby and meet us at the well. Me and Mr Gold are going to go and set up the well" she informed the two of them. They all bid goodbye and Regina drove herself and Gold to his shop. He went inside and returned a moment later with a vial.

"What are we going to do?" She asked him.

"I don't know but you know as well as I do, the Charmings don't stand a chance against Cora. We need to stop her coming through that portal" Gold told her and Regina hated to admit it but he was right.

Gold and Regina arrived at the well before Henry and Emma did. There was magical activity coming from it and gold busied himself putting down the necessary safety enchantments. As he finished Henry and Emma turned up followed by Ruby. Henry spotted Gold performing his spells.

"What are you doing?" He called towards him. He made a move to try and stop him.

Regina intercepted him. She held on tight overcoming his thrashing hands.

"You promised you was going to help them come back. You have to believe that they will get to the portal" Henry screamed at her. Regina responded to him. "I know I did but you don't know my mother Henry. Snow and David do not stand a chance against her" she told him.

"But they will make it through you have to believe me. They're snow white and since charming they will always find a way! Please! Don't do this!" He begged Regina and she looked deep into his eyes. Deep inside she saw her scared little boy. But she also saw the conviction. It was time for Regina to be brave. She directed Henry towards Emma before making her way towards the well.

"Regina!" Gold warned. "Think about what you are doing" he warned her but Regina payed no attention. She placed her hands above the well and without a second glance she summoned up all the magic Gold had placed down. Emma passed Henry to Ruby before moving towards regina but she didn't get very far before everyone in the vicinity were blasted off their feet. Regina had absorbed all the magic.

The area round them went deadly quiet as four pairs of eyes watched cautiously, the opening of the well. A short while later a set of hands appeared. Emma held her breathe as did the other three. Arms followed the hands and soon enough David was rolling out of the well and reaching down to pull Snow up. Henry, Emma and Ruby cheered. David and snow looked around and when they spotted Henry they ran to him embracing him tightly! Hugs for Emma and Ruby followed and Regina looked on, an outsider.