A/N: Hello everyone! I'm so happy you all liked chapter 3! That last scene was freakin' adorable, wasn't it? Thank you for all your amazing reviews, so keep 'em coming, you have no idea how happy it makes me to know you like this ff :)

Anyway, here's chapter 4! As I mentioned before, there are some scenes from the episodes that I tried to fit into the story. So if there's any scene/dialogue you recognize then it's taken directly from the show, I do not own it.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time nor its characters.

Chapter 4

Time was flying by. During the month following the dinner at Regina's house, she put all her effort into finding a way to restore Henry's memory. The potion Hook gave Emma was barely enough for one person. Regina tried to replicate it but the attempt failed miserably.

She was determined to find a spell or whatever could help her, so she started rummaging through Rumplestiltskin's spell books. She brought several of them home so she could examine them properly and would often fall asleep on the couch surrounded by piles of books while others had been thrown to the floor in frustration. Sometimes she even forget to eat or sleep, so Robin started dropping by every evening to make sure she did.

The possible scenarios were usually two: she would either try to fight him saying she was finally close to finding something, though they both knew it wasn't true, or she would cry in his arms out of desperation. Though she was growing heavier as time went by, he still managed to carry her to her bedroom when she felt too exhausted to walk.

Robin found himself willing to do anything for her. He knew he was falling for the woman but he also knew that at the moment she could think of nothing except her son and he didn't want to push her. He'd just have to wait.

Other things had happened as well. Emma and Killian had been busy with their search for whoever had cursed the Enchanted Forest inhabitants and their works eventually paid off. They had found an apparently abandoned house in the woods but, upon closer inspection, it wasn't so abandoned after all. They had found a cellar next to the house and figured by the straw and gold lying on the floor that Rumplestiltskin had been held captive there.

What no one had expected, though, was that he had been brought back by Neal and bringing back the Dark One required the highest sacrifice. Neal died in Emma's arms after she managed to use her magic to separate their bodies, since Rumplestiltskin had united them to keep his son alive. He died a hero, though, sacrificing himself so Rumplestiltskin could tell them who they were up against. It broke Emma's heart having to tell Henry that his father had died knowing that the only thing he knew about him was that he was the jerk who had let Emma go to jail.

Robin picked Regina up at her house on the day of the funeral. She wasn't particularly close to Neal but he was Henry's father, after all. Her heart clenched when she saw her son standing over his father's grave, knowing he didn't even remember meeting him. The worst, though, was that Robin had to keep her from going over to Henry and hold him close to her like she wanted to. It would just confuse the boy for she was nothing but a stranger to him, she knew that, but she couldn't bear to look at the tears running down his cheeks knowing she couldn't wipe them away.

Robin offered her his hand and she held onto it as if her life depended on it, as she tried to choke back the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes.

The closest she got to her son was with a shake of hands when she offered him her condolences, but he looked right through her and Robin had to help her reach the car to avoid breaking down in front of everyone. No words were needed, he knew exactly what was going through her mind and no words would comfort her.

"Are you sure you want to go to Granny's anyway?" he asked quietly as he fastened his seat belt.

She nodded "I need to see that at least he's doing fine, I need to be there with my son.. even if he doesn't remember me"

The diner was full of people dressed in black who were chatting quietly, remembering past events involving Neal. Mostly, people whispered, for most memories were related to the Enchanted Forest and Neverland, and they couldn't risk freaking Henry out.

Regina approached Emma and, much to the blonde's surprise, pulled her into a hug "I'm so sorry for your loss, Emma.."

"Thank you.." she returned the hug before pulling away to look at Regina "How have you been doing? We haven't seen you in quite some time"

"It doesn't matter, I just want to know how he's doing" the brunette turned a little and they both looked at Henry, who was sitting in a booth, sipping his cocoa, while talking with David and Mary Margaret, who was holding Lucas in her arms.

"He's dealing with it his own way. It's hard but he has no memories of him.. If he had, I think it would've been much worse"

"So, Rumple told you who's behind all of this?" Regina asked, turning to face Emma once more.

"Yes, it's Zelena.. who actually turns out to be the Wicked Witch of the West"

"Wait.. isn't she the midwife who helped Snow with her baby?"

"Yeah, she is. And that doesn't help us at all, we can't figure out what's her agenda. I mean, it would've been one thing if she had targeted Mary Margaret and the baby, which thanks heaven she didn't, but this just makes things more confusing."

Regina tried to think of a possible explanation for the whole situation but she just couldn't find one "I think we should discuss this together. All of us" she whispered motioning to the other people in the diner "Maybe we can come up with something."

Emma nodded, a little taken aback by Regina's new found team spirit but much too worried about the threat hanging over them to linger on it. She watched as Emma walked towards Henry and asked him to go to the apartment for a while, saying they had to take care of some things.

Robin, who had been talking with Leroy in the meantime, made his way towards Regina, who had just sat with a little difficulty on one of the bar stools. He had left Roland with his Merry Men, not wanting his 4-year-old to attend a funeral. She looked tired, much more than usual. He didn't say a word, there was no need to. He simply stood next to her and rested a hand on her back, stroking it softly, hoping the soothing movement would at least bring her some comfort.

Granny locked the door and turned the sign hanging on it, which now indicated that the diner was closed.

"Alright people, as you all know already, we discovered who cursed us. The Wicked Witch." Emma said, looking at the people around her "Now, what we have to figure out is why she did it and what she wants from us.."

Emma's speech was interrupted when the door flew open and everyone turned to look at the red-haired woman who was standing on the doorway.

"Well, you could've just asked, dear."

Everyone froze as she looked around. Some took a step back out of fear while others looked at her angrily and defiantly. Snow held Lucas protectively against her chest and David stood in front of them to protect them in case the witch tried to hurt them.

"My condolences" she said as she looked around innocently "I'm so sorry I missed the funeral, but I could never pass up a wake. Oh, did I miss the speeches? Shall I make one? I mean, I am, after all, responsible.." she smirked when her eyes landed on Emma.

The blonde tried to make a move but her mother held her back, preventing her from trying to strangle the woman with her bare hands, whispering "Emma, no! Too many people will get hurt."

"Listen to your mother, she's right. Anyone who tries to interfere with my plan is gonna have to deal with the Dark One." she held the dagger in her right hand to show them she wasn't bluffing and it would've only taken a second to summon the Rumplestiltskin.

"Why are you here?" Regina asked as she threw the woman a menacing glare.

"Now that my cover's blown I can finally pay a visit to my little sister!" Zelena said matter-of-factly as she took slow steps towards Regina.

"Who the hell are you talking about?"

"Why, you, of course, Regina."

Their faces were now mere inches apart but Regina didn't move and instead narrowed her eyes at her. "I'm an only child."

"Cora lied to you, Regina. I'm your sister. Half, if you want to get technical"

"Why should I believe anything you say?"

"Oh, you shouldn't. It's a lot to swallow, which is why I brought a gift to help!" the

"I don't want a gift from you" Regina said as she let out a humorless laugh.

"Oh, but you shall have it. You see, my gift to you is time. Three months, if I'm not mistaken" She glanced down at her belly and Regina lifted her right hand to rest it protectively on her baby bump "Use it to dig into our past, Regina. You need to learn the truth and you must believe it. You'll spend this time knowing that your own son doesn't even remember you, knowing that you're utterly alone and knowing that there's nothing you can do to stop me."

"Then what?" Regina asked defiantly, clearly irritated by the witch's words and, above all, by her arrogance.

"Then I'm going to take everything away from you" Zelena's whisper sent shivers down her spine. Then, she was gone. She disappeared in a cloud of green smoke and a cackle was left to echo in the diner, taunting the silent group of people.

"Regina.." Robin tried to touch her but she flinched.

"Take me home." It was a barely audible whisper that only Robin was able to hear. Her voice was empty, as if it had been drained of all emotion, and it scared him.

The ride to her house was quiet. Neither of them spoke, though Robin desperately wanted to tell her that everything was going to be okay. The moment he stopped the car, she got out without saying a word. He sat there, trying to decide whether to follow her or to leave her alone for a while.

Having spent quite some time with Regina during the past month, he knew she'd probably want to be alone, but he wanted to protect her, to comfort her as much as he could, to simply be there for her. So, he got out of the car and followed her into the house before she could shut the door.

She didn't even look at him, she just pretended he wasn't even there and started walking slowly towards the living room. Robin didn't want her to shut him out, so she was only able to take a couple of steps before he walked in front of her "Regina.."

"You have to leave." She cut him off abruptly. She didn't even look him in the eyes, she was just staring into space, and tried to move past him, but the man didn't let her, so she turned around, headed for the stairs.

"Regina, talk to me!" He grabbed her arm but she jerked it free and spun around to face him and she felt tears burning in the back of her eyes.

She tried to shove him but she wasn't strong enough to actually make him step back "You have to leave! I don't want you here, I don't want you and Roland anywhere near me! If she speaks the truth and wants to take everything away from me, then you can't stay, because I couldn't go through the pain of losing you, don't you understand that?" She was practically screamed at him as tears clouded her sight.

He cupped her cheeks and looked into her dark, beautiful eyes.

"I understand that better than you think, Regina, because I can't imagine losing you either.." She tried to look away but he lowered his head a little so she had no choice but to look at him "I mean it, Regina. You are the the strongest, smartest and most beautiful woman I've ever met and I can't imagine my life without you anymore. I don't care what that witch wants to do to you but I'll stand by your side and I'll protect you.."

Tears were falling freely down her cheeks and for a moment he wondered if it was a good idea to open up to her completely but, in the end, he decided to do it. She needed to know that he truly meant what he had just said. He needed her to know how he felt.

"I love you, Regina."

He leaned in but waited for her to close the space between them, for it was her decision whether to do so or not and he would accept it. And she did. The moment their lips touched, everything else disappeared. The witch and the other problems completely forgotten, they simply let go and lost themselves in each other.

A/N: Aren't they just adorable? I loved writing that last part sooo much! Well, can't wait to know what you thought about it :) x