Chapter Four

King Arthur's Court, Camelot

"Maybe I shouldn't go to the ball tonight," Emma suggested as she watched Regina fixing Henry's suit and like a little prince he stood there perfectly still admiring her work and pointing out anything out of place.

"What no why?" Regina asked her standing up straight. Henry turned curious eyes on her as well.

"Because you're the savior the ball is for you," Emma told her.

"Maybe on the outside, but it's really for you and I will not have you be couped up in our room alone."

"I won't be alone, I'll go see about babysitting the little guy," Emma told her.

"Hahaha, you think they're going to trust you around a child after what you did to me?" Emma glanced at her daughter and tried to ignore her.

"Is she unsettled again?" Regina asked.

"Taunting me a bit, but I don't know, I can't feel her right now. She says they shouldn't trust me with Neal."

"You will be fine with Neal and I trust that she won't be disturbing your magic or urging you to do dark things to him." Regina raised an eyebrow and looked in the direction Emma had a few moments ago.

"She pouted and disappeared. I think you're the first person to control a dark one without the dagger," Emma murmured.

"She is not the dark one yet," Regina reminded her. "Until then she's a naughty child." Emma gave her a small smile and nodded. "Anyway, you're coming, I have waited my entire life for this."

"For a ball?" Emma asked confused. "You must have gone to dozens; my mother couldn't shut up about all the balls she had gone too." Regina nodded.

"Yes, and each one was one tortuous affair as the next. The King did not love me, I was a prized possession he liked to show off, but he used every opportunity to sing your mother's praises and that of his late wife. Can you imagine what that does to you to constantly hear another woman's name to constantly have her proclaimed the fairest in the land?"

"No, but I can imagine that might be hard on someone who lost someone that saw them that way." Regina grimaced as she thought of Daniel, but she nodded.

"It was, I cannot say that I ever wanted the King to love me, but if he had maybe things would have been different." Regina shrugged. "I can't really say, but maybe he would have loved me enough to free me. Even so my original point was that, at every ball I sat in my chair I looked pretty, I was not allowed to be approached by many. I did my part, the King never once asked me to dance, not on my birthday, not on our anniversary, not even to celebrate a pregnancy that never went to term before you ask. And before that my mother never let me be presented at a ball, not even in my grandfather's court, I was not allowed to dance. I was the only princess and she intended to save my first dance for a King."

"And yet he never gave it to you," Emma frowned looking down thinking that this man was her grandfather.

"No, but you know who did give me my first dance?" Regina asked her, lifting up Emma's head by her chin.

"Daniel?" Emma asked.

"No, you silly, you gave me my first dance, and it was everything I ever dreamed of and now it's going to be more where I can attend my first ball, and not worry about being the Queen or the Princess. I just have to convince people I'm the savior, and what better way than a dance with the most beautiful Princess in the room?" Emma gave her a wide smile.

"Somehow my Queen, I think you're still going to be the most beautiful woman in the room." Regina shrugged.

"I only have eyes for you, and mom eyes on Henry." Emma chuckled as Regina turned just in time to stop Henry from falling off the stool he was on as he complained there was something in his boot that had to come out. Once he was settled and cap draped over one shoulder she sent him and Emma out, so Emma could get ready with Mary Margaret, and she could get ready herself. She didn't want Emma to see her yet. Robin knocked on the door just as she was trying to think up what to wear.

"Roland?" Regina asked.

"Already with Granny and Henry." She nodded. "All right now show me the dress you have in mind. You obviously cannot go in a pantsuit." Regina nodded frowning as she thought. She waved her hand and a black outfit with embroidery and leather gloves appeared as well as triangular shoulders on the jacket.

"Hmm…yeah okay maybe something less Evil Queenish we're going for Savior," Robin reminded her. Regina waved her hand again and picked an off the shoulder white dress, with a full skirt. She had light make up and her hair was pulled back into a bun. Robin cringed.

"Oh God a little more Regina style, not Snow White approved dress." Regina chuckled as she made a face at herself in the mirror. She looked nice and soft, but she just did not seem herself either. "How about your favorite color think about that and think of maybe the embroidery you had as the Evil Queen." Regina nodded. "We want Emma's jaw to drop after all at your first ball."

"You're right, this is my time, and if I'm going to be the savior I also have to be me in some way." He nodded. She waved her hands again and purple smoke surrounded her and slowly revealed a periwinkle blue dress, as it mashed together her old favorite shade of blue, and her new favorite color purple. The skirt on her dress was a circle one with moderate petticoats that were not too wide, no wider than what she had been used to as Queen. The stomacher over her corset was white embroidered with matching silver silk. The edges of the skirt, sleeves, and along the dress where it was pinned to the stomacher also had embroidery and the sleeves were slightly puffed. Regina left her hair down in curls along with a diamond headband. And her makeup was not as heavy as when she was the Evil Queen, but also not so light she no longer recognized herself.

"Yes, that's the one, her jaw is going to drop, you look gorgeous, Maleficent is going to be sad she missed this. But good thing my phone still has juice for selfies," He declared. Regina grinned, and they took a few selfies and a nicer full length one for Emma later.

'If she doesn't like this, doesn't see me, I'll die inside,' Regina thought as she let out a breath, but she knew her fears were silly. Emma loved her and unlike her grandfather, she truly thought she was the most beautiful girl in the room. Emma wouldn't be dancing with Hook or Mary Margaret, or even David tonight before she danced with her. She was finally going to be someone's first choice again.

"All right let's go, we're late." Regina nodded, and they hurried out together. Robin went in through a side door avoiding the stairs just as Emma and Mary Margaret were being presented. She saw the jaws drop on the guards, but they quickly hid it. She smiled to herself, but still she worried about Emma's reaction.

"The Savior!" They announced. She walked forward and for a moment time stood still as she locked eyes with Emma who was wearing a beautiful white dress with white flowers in her hair as it flowed in waves around her. Regina had flashes of a possible wedding in the future and seeing what could be, as she walked elegantly towards her wife.

'Wife, because she is mine and I am hers,' Regina thought as all others faded from the room, she hardly noticed the clapping. She met Emma at the bottom and she curtsied to her almost perfectly no doubt from Mary Margaret's quick coaching before she took her hand and Regina returned the curtsied.

"You truly are the most beautiful woman in this room," Emma whispered. Regina smiled more. Soon the ball was underway, and Emma immediately led her out onto the dance floor.

"Where's Henry?" Regina asked quickly glancing around. She immediately homed in on him and Roland getting treats from the servants at the table. She had to smile as she directed Emma to their son. She chuckled.

"Kid is so me, he knows exactly where I would be if you didn't have me so fully captivated." Regina smiled at her. As the world started to filter back in a little she noticed what song they were playing.

"Are they playing a thousand years?" Regina asked. Emma grinned.

"I know you'll be mad I used magic, but I wanted to make sure it was a continuation of our first dance." Regina had to smile at her. "And all eyes are on you my Queen, you are officially the belle of the ball and you haven't even been here two minutes." Regina had to smile wider as indeed they were now the only two people on the dance floor for the duration of the song. Once the normal selection of songs began they joined them on the dance floor again. They mingled a little bit with Regina trying to answer certain questions as Emma would and not herself, less it become obvious she was not the savior.

"You look absolutely exquisite tonight," King Arthur complimented.

"Thank you, King Arthur," Regina replied though she suddenly felt tense as he raked his eyes over her too slowly. She felt Emma's hand tighten in her own as well, so she was not imagining things. Suddenly there was an abrupt music change as they felt magic in the air.

"Is that a Samba?" Mary Margaret asked from near them. Regina nodded as she looked around for Henry. He was trying to show a girl his age how to Samba, but she was all two feet about it.

"The Kid does the Samba?" Emma asked impressed.

"With me," Regina told her as she released the musicians from the spell he may have inadvertently put on them. They relaxed, and the music returned to normal. He frowned as he stopped trying as they walked over.

"Papi, what did I tell you about using magic without me?" Regina asked him. He pouted.

"I just wished they would play Samba music, so I could dance with Violet mommy," Henry told her.

"You must be careful what you wish for, you have magic now, you need to be careful." He nodded, but Regina didn't expect that he would be careful. He was a toddler, she considered binding his powers while they were here, but thought maybe not if something happened. His magic would help connect them.

"Mommy can you teach Violet to Samba?" Henry asked.

"I could, but not tonight, it's hard to learn and you should always let a lady look pretty and poised at a ball." He nodded.

"Sorry Violet," He told her apologizing.

"It's okay," Violet told him, but she was staring wide eyed up at Regina, King Arthur, and Guinevere. She imagined it was a lot to meet the ruler up close and the savior.

"How about you two show her what it looks like on the dance floor, I'm actually interested in seeing Henry's skill," Emma suggested with a grin. Henry got a huge smile on his face and nodded as he immediately grabbed Regina's hand.

"Well with enthusiasm like that, how can I say no," Regina told them. "Hang on Henry I have to give the right music to the musicians, and let's do a salsa not a samba." He allowed her to change the music, and she changed her dress to be more fitting for Salsa, something more traditional from her Kingdom. She changed Henry's shoes too.

"Don't you want to make him taller?" David laughed.

"No, we've worked it out perfectly," Regina told him as the music started. She spun Henry who finished with a split before he popped back up and they initiated a body roll. She slid him between her legs before they began the steps and spun around each other. It was kind of funny because he had to reach up high to be on her hip, but his steps were flawless as they danced. Before they separated and danced side by side. She led Henry in a few of his tricks, that she could do with a taller partner, but wasn't possible with a three-year-old. When they finished they were met with clapping.

"I took video!" Emma declared as soon as she was next to her again along with a proud Henry who was talking excitedly with Violet about how much he loved to dance with his mommy.

"Good, because I think that's the best Henry danced at this age," Regina told her.

"I'm so proud, I'm thinking about putting him in competitions when we're back, he could like kill it out there," Emma grinned. Regina chuckled.

"He'd probably really enjoy that for a bit."

"Drink your tea, Zelena, don't sit there pouting," Regina told her after she had been left alone with her in Merlin's tower. She had been with the others, but Neal had needed to be changed after a bad diaper. And Henry had needed some play time with Violet, so Emma had offered to take him to run around with her before joining her. She had been careful to take the potion Maleficent gave her, and more of her magic was restored to her own control. Viveka was taking less of it to cling to life. And now she was taking a chance to take her prenatal tea. But she wanted to make sure that Zelena took it as well. She was carrying her niece or nephew after all. Zelena tried to talk but nothing came out, Regina finally released the spell on her.

"Oh finally, I can hear my lovely voice again, and I don't want your tea, it's probably poison."

"It's not poison, it's made from specific herbs that are good for pregnancy, it's the equivalent of prenatal pills," Regina told her. She drank some to show Zelena it was indeed safe. "I wouldn't poison you while pregnant. I know how much that baby means to you perhaps more than anyone, and Robin is my best friend he wants that baby too. I won't be the one to take it away from you, so drink up, I may not give a shit about you, but your baby is my family, so they will always be and feel safe and loved with me." Regina turned around and went to a work space where she started looking through books. Zelena glared at her and probably wanted to make some comment, but instead she just drank her tea.

"You have everything, but not this," Zelena told her. "And you will not take this from me."

"Stop playing the victim Zelena it gets old and it's no excuse, victims don't raise children, I know that not because I raised Henry, but because I raised Snow before that as a victim. She was just a child and we lost our connection, I don't know what the future will look like for us right now, but I would hope that if you sincerely want your baby to love you and be the beacon of good in your life. You'll stop blaming others. You will evolve and maybe you won't be the wicked witch anymore."

"I hate you," Zelena whispered, but Regina ignored it. Belle joined them and started looking through books as well. Eventually everyone was back and helping to search. That morning they had learned that Merlin was trapped in a tree and had been for centuries.

"How goes the search Savior?" King Arthur asked entering the room.

"Good, we have one lead, we need to find toad stool, it can help us communicate with Merlin even if he's a tree."

"Oh, that is very rare here and definitely protected by magic." Regina nodded.

"Well in that case I'll go quest for it," David volunteered. "It's not like you need me here." He practically shoved his son back into his wife's arms.

"Then I will go with you," King Arthur told him and followed him out. Mary Margaret stared at him with her mouth agape.

"Did he seriously just say that, it's not like he likes to read through books, so someone has to rock the baby, his son needs him," She huffed. Regina rolled her eyes at the same time as Zelena.

"I told you to settle down with a princess, you insisted you wanted a prince," Regina told her with a shrug. Mary Margaret rolled her eyes at her.

"Yes, and your Princess isn't running off on adventures like her father," Mary Margaret grumbled.

"Maybe, but my princess took her time at her son's playdate and hasn't once asked if she could do something more important." Regina made air quotes when she said, "more important". There was some huffing from the other side of the room.

"Regi, what's midnight kush?" Emma asked looking up from her book.

"Oh, that's incredibly rare Kush, it can literally only grow in the Black Kingdom," Belle supplied as Regina joined Emma at her book where she was sitting with Henry in her lap.

"Good find Emma, Midnight Kush can be used to help strengthen spells or potions intended to break enchantments or strengthen protection potions and spells."

"So, it could protect say Henry from the darkness in me?" Emma asked but what she really meant was Viveka and the second baby who she dared not name.

"Yes, it could for a bit, it could even maybe help you fight it inside of you. It won't expel it because it's not that simple, but there is a legend about Rumple once seeking the plant to starve off his own darkness. We can assume that maybe he was successful for a time because of Baelfire, but as I said it's not a permanent solution.

"She's lying, she's just trying to give you hope, the only way to get the darkness out of you is to name me, mummy, save yourself and sacrifice me. You're already really good at doing that so this time shouldn't be hard at all," She whispered into Emma's ear.

"Where is the Black Kingdom?" Emma asked them. "We shouldn't pass this up, we have the best Kush Farmer in the entire realm on our team." She smiled at Regina. "This has to be a sign." Mary Margaret smiled at them.

"The Black Kingdom is the southern part of the Enchanted Forest," Regina told her. "It would be quite dangerous, the orges might have taken it again also. And if there is anyone left they might have used all the kush on a party or something."

"You said it was rare, they wouldn't be stupid enough to party with it?" Emma asked.

"You don't know the Black Kingdom, we'll use any excuse to throw a party there," Regina told her.

"We?" Emma asked.

"It's where I was born," Regina told her. "At some point my mother had plans for me, for her revenge so we left and lived within the borders of the white Kingdom. She also wasn't exactly on good terms with my Uncles so yeah." Regina shrugged.

"When was the last time you were there?" Emma asked.

"I was eleven maybe going on twelve," Regina told her.

"Then we're definitely going Regi, you should see your home," Emma told her rubbing her back. Regina gave her a smile but looked away back at the book. Emma still touched her knowing it was the only silent emotion Regina wanted displayed right now.

"Emma's right, we should go if only, so you can see your home, but if there's a chance also we'll find the midnight Kush to help her control this we should." They all nod and prepare to head for the door.

"Well I'm not trekking off into some godforsaken woods," Zelena told them.

"You can stay here without your voice or you can come with us and get to open your mouth and hear noise, your choice," Regina told her. Zelena huffed and followed them out. They got Granny to watch Neal and the dwarves to keep an eye on Hook before they prepared their weapons.

"We should be back in three days' time if this plant is to help us, it needs to be harvested in three days." Guinevere nodded her head.

"Great, I will tell the King and Sir David." They thanked her before they all disappeared together.

Black Kingdom, Southern Enchanted Forest

"Where are we?" Mary Margaret asked as they appeared on a beautiful sun kissed beach.

"We're home," Regina told them. "I used to spend a lot of time here playing when mother allowed it."

"Uh oh we have company," Emma told them getting defensive and pushing Henry behind her. They turned and saw a legion of black knights it seemed coming towards them and they were all faceless.

"Oh man I thought you just made them like that after, but they were modelled after the guards here?" Mary Margaret asked.

"Yes of course," Regina told her stepping in front of everyone to meet them head on. The group came to stop in front of them, but before anyone could speak, one who was distinctly dressed from the rest with silver on his or her uniform stepped forward.

"All Hail the Queen!" They yelled.

"All Hail the Queen!" They all repeated in feminine voices to the other's surprise, before they took a knee as one.

"My Queen we have been awaiting your return for months, we were worried when you were swept up in the curse not your own."

"Rise, King." The guard known as King rose to stand, but the others remained kneeling. "Show your face." King uncovered her face to the other's surprise. "Have you been here all this time, I left you all to guard the castle."

"Yes, and we did my Queen, as long as your curse was active we guarded the castle until your return should you not defeat the Savior, but then the curse was broken, and you did not return. We heard reports that the fugitive Snow and the Savior were in the Enchanted Forest, but they were gone by the time we located them. Sorry to not have killed them in your name, so we stayed and hoped that you would return to us soon. When that did not happen, we began to think you were dead, so we sent spies to Aurora and Phillip's kingdom, they reported that you had not perished. We decided to keep waiting in the palace, we still weren't aging, and we kept the place up. Then the wicked witch came and turned us all into flying monkeys. We could not help you on your return. So hard to see you at the mercy of these fugitives, you are a Queen and they did not respect you. Anyway, the wicked witch kept us from returning with you in the new curse, so we came home to wait for you here, we knew you would return. We felt it the first time you returned, and we felt it this time, so we ran to meet you."

"Are there still people in the Black Kingdom?" Regina asked. They nodded.

"Several thousand were trapped with your mother, and the second curse was too weak to really reach here, so we protected your palace my Queen, as the last surviving member of the royal family, you are the rightful ruler here."

"Then take us to the palace, we need something from my grandmother's garden." They nodded, and all stood at once.

"Shall we take the wicked witch into custody and the fugitive Snow?" they asked glaring at them both.

"Assign one guard to keep an eye on Zelena, but her black bracelet neutralizes her magic, and she is not to be abused, she's my sister and pregnant with my niece from my mother's side."

"Of course, you're a bloody fucking Queen in your own right," Zelena grumbled as a guard immediately took up a place behind her.

"And Snow is no longer a fugitive here or in her Kingdom. I don't care about the White Kingdom." They nodded. They surrounded them all in defensive positions as Regina easily lifted Henry.

"Oh, we should tell you a usurper sits on the throne, but all guards are loyal to you my Queen," King told her. Regina nodded.

"I'm not getting into a fight for the throne, King, I just need access to my grandmother's garden for the next three days." Regina told her. She nodded.

"Then I must insist we approach the usurper King, to ask him to be reasonable, then when you are ready to go we will follow you back to your new world," King told her. "Please do not leave us behind this time my Queen, our only job is in another realm. Life here is not the same without you, and some of our families were taken." Regina nodded.

"I'm truly sorry for that, I really thought we would be back too, or they would," Regina told her.

"We forgive you my Queen, we know that you didn't intend to hurt us. And the first thirty years, were no problem, we were frozen too, it was the last year after the Savior broke your curse, that was problematic." She glared at Emma.

"Emma's my wife," Regina told her ending any problems. No one broke formation, but there were gasps of delight." Emma's eyes went wide when she gave Emma an appreciative glance.

"Nice my Queen, bedding the enemy," King replied.

"So, when we kill the usurper, we're having a party is what I just heard, so I need to break out my famous brew," a knight said.

"Cormac!" King scolded. "It's not just a party, it's a celebration, our Queen will not drink your hideous brew."

"You're right I'm sorry, so I should break out the premium tequila then is what you're really telling me."

"Yes, and the hidden wine stores for our weak ass guests," King replied. Regina had to laugh.

"I could handle the tequila," Mary Margaret grumbled.

"The back gate is destroyed, you'll have to approach the gardens from the front. It's easier to walk through. The usurper is not a gardener. And all the best gardeners left in the first curse."

"The Kush supply?" Mary Margaret asked concerned. King looked at her and answered at Regina's nod.

"The good Kush did not survive as far as we can tell only the wild Kush that is not nearly as good for ailments and such. They went through the front gates.

"Don't make a…" Regina started.

"MAKE WAY FOR HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE QUEEN!" King yelled. The guards at the front gate immediately saluted her. They weren't as well dressed and more obviously women.

"The Princess is home!" People called. Emma was unprepared for Regina's homecoming as people threw flowers at Regina, threw themselves down offering her service to end the poverty that had befallen them in this Enchanted Forest.

"Without other Kingdoms to trade with the Usurper claims most of the resources from the area." Regina frowned at the state of the once great nation."

"You wanted me to see them, that's why you made us come to the front gate and not the back that leads directly to the beach," Regina accused.

"I knew my Queen would be concerned for her people that is all." They made their way to the castle and they were sure the entire city was following them now. When they reached the castle, they were bowed in and led directly to the throne room where the so called usurper was treating women and men alike, like slaves. He sat on her grandfather's throne and it made her eyes narrow a bit as he had no right to sit there.

'No Regina first Emma, and then this sack of shit,' Regina thought.

"King what is this, who have you brought in my company without proper announcement."

"You should recognize your Queen, usurper," King told him with authority, she had never given him an ounce of respect, but he did not have the means to challenge her physically, so she did what she liked.

"I am the ruler here, this Kingdom has no Queen," He told her.

"With no respect, it's a Queendom now, the crown can only be placed on the head of a Mills," She told him. She nodded to several others and they slammed their spears on the ground. An echo seemed to go through the palace of spears hitting the floor. "The Queen now has the palace guards and what passes for an army. Please step off my Queen's throne now."

"King, I told you I only came for one thing first," Regina told him.

"And you shall have it my Queen," She told her bowing. Regina sighed as the man now stood up angry.

"Prove you are the Princess Regina," He sneered. "Pick up the crown and place it on your head." He pointed a pudgy finger to the crown that now sat on a purple pillow." Regina rolled her eyes.

"I really don't know who you are, but when King started speaking I had hoped my reputation would proceed me."

"It doesn't matter, I was around I heard the rumors of your whore mother, for all I know you are not a child of the last Kings." Regina rolled her eyes but went to the crown as the room was now full of people from the city. She picked up the golden crown and placed it on her head. When she was fine, they all immediately fell to their feet including the usurper.

"I don't understand?" Mary Margaret asked. "Anyone can put a crown on."

"Not this crown, it was enchanted long ago by a dark one before Rumple, so that anyone not related to the crown could not at least wear this crown," Belle whispered as they too bowed.

"Well then if this is over with, we'll be here three days, and then we must return to the court of King Arthur, we are on a quest to free Merlin, and then I intend to depart this world again."

"Citizens prepare to leave we travel to another realm with our Queen!" King yelled. "Prepare food, we cannot assume that King Arthur's Kingdom has enough to feed us all. Build extra smoke houses if necessary but get it done." They dispersed quickly the usurper remained on the floor as the women he had forced to be his slaves asked for his life. Regina took his heart out of his chest to his horror and gave it to the women.

"He's your slave now until further notice," Regina told them.

"Thank you, my Queen," they said and took the usurper away.

"Now the Kush," Regina said.

"Was that really wise?" Mary Margaret asked as they headed for the gardens.

"They can't kill him, they aren't strong enough, I'll give him back his heart in storybrooke." When they arrived in the gardens they were indeed in disrepair. They walked through and admired what was left of the beauty, until they came to a special gate that reminded Emma of the hidden door before Regina's secret green house.

"This is where the real Kush was kept," Regina told them. She put her hand on the door and the doors swung open effortlessly.

"Oh, sweet baby, that smells heavenly," Mary Margaret cried as they all took a deep breath.

"Cox stay out here with Henry, it's potent in here," Regina told her. Cox nodded, and Henry unhappily stayed with Cox. They went inside and there was supply of medicines that had not been touched in ages.

"King all that needs to be boxed and prepared for transport." King nodded and assigned two guards for packing and several more for guarding. Regina noted there were quite a few seeds she could collect even from the dying beds. She moved to the back of the garden though where a bed lay covered in black grass. She shifted through until she found a plant.

"It will mature in three days," Regina told them as she conjured up some water. The bed was mostly dry, but it was in a place where water had seeped into the garden. "It is quite small though, we will get about three potions out of this unless I can grow more."

"Then I have to ask that the rest of you vacate the area while my Queen works on her family secrets," King told them. "We will prepare food and rooms for you to rest."

"Regina needs to eat as well," Emma said concerned.

"Your majesty I will personally see that the Queen is delivered her meal, you do not know me, but I take my Queen's health very seriously, perhaps as much as you." They looked each other in the eye and Emma finally nodded.

"I may come to like you King," Emma told her. King nodded.

"Everyone must eventually do so," King told her making Regina chuckle. Emma chuckled as well as they left. Regina cleared out the bed of over growth and tilled most of the soil and water. She found a jar containing the saved seeds. She revitalized them a bit with her magic just as guards brought in manure. She allowed them to mix it into the garden bed before she moved the midnight Kush over to nutrient rich soil and planted the seeds. She did jump start it with her magic, but these wouldn't be ready for a month at least. All the clay pots were broken so she'd see about some getting made and hopefully the seedlings will have broken the surface. Otherwise she'd pop back later to gather them. She wandered around looking at what else was salvageable and could be used to help aid their magic or heal sickness.

"Where's Emma?" Regina asked coming up on Mary Margaret holding Neal and watching Henry kick a ball around with a guard.

"She was feeling ill," Mary Margaret frowned. "She said it was her body fighting the darkness. I really hope you can help her put a barrier between herself and the darkness. She's trying so hard to fight it, that it's making her sick." Regina frowned.

"I'll go check in on her, I'm sure the midnight Kush will help." Mary Margaret nodded. Regina walked off and headed out to find Emma. She found her throwing up in their assigned rooms. She was grateful they had not chosen her grandfather's set of rooms or that from her parents. She remembered these set of apartments belonging to an Uncle she had never spent much time with.

"You're dismissed," Regina told the guards. They bowed to her before leaving out. She knelt next to Emma and held her hair back. Once it ended Emma leaned to the side against her.

"It's the baby, she's making my life hell until I name her," Emma whispered.

"Well I hate to break it to her, but aside from bringing these symptoms early, she's not actually in control of them."

"Ugh then pregnancy is Dark Magic if I ever saw it," Emma grumbled. Regina chuckled she couldn't really argue with the suffering it brought just to bring a bit of light into the world.

"Without darkness there is no light," Regina reminded her as rubbed her back methodically. "Did you see her again what did she want?"

"She said I'm wasting my time and that the sooner I name her the sooner the darkness will go away, but I know what that means," Emma told her. "And she was talking to Henry again, so I sent him off with the guard. I don't trust her right now." Regina nodded. "She reminds me of what a shit mother I am, she said I'm really lucky to have this second chance with Henry, and that I'm lucky you are here because otherwise I would completely screw him up. She says I shouldn't forget he's a great kid because you made him that way. And she wishes she was in your body, that you would have named her by now, and you two would be perfectly content and happy. And you would be proud of your little Evil Queen. I keep reminding her that she would be the dark one, but she often scrunches up her nose at that. I'm not sure she knows or understands that she's not just a little Dark, that she is darkness. She may look like an adult, but she is not an adult. Like I know so much right now because of this darkness and she if it goes beyond name me or taunting me, or wishing for you. She knows nothing really. I mean she told me to do certain things once, but I think that's the darkness taking over her image you know?" Regina nodded.

"That's a good thing that means we still have time to save her, and that this potion could work on her. That means I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but there's hope." Emma grinned.

"Wait till I tell mom you gave a hope speech," Emma chuckled. Regina cringed.

"I did not give a speech Ms. Swan, I stated fact," Regina huffed.

"Nope it counts," Emma teased. They laughed together, and Regina kissed her forehead. It was damp and cold with sweat.

"Here lie down for a bit, maybe I can get her to settle and let you eat, King said you guys all insisted on waiting for me." Emma nodded. She moved to lay down on the bed and Regina placed her hand on Emma's belly with a smile. She sent gentle messages of love until her daughter appeared next to her and lay against her shoulder with a content smile. Emma had remarked that she only saw emotion in her when it came to Regina. That had also made her hopeful that somewhere in her daughter was this well of love that the darkness either could not yet or had not breeched. There was still time and the midnight kush would help protect her.

"You think you can settle down my love, even Evil Queens need to eat." She nodded her head against Regina's shoulder.

"As soon as I'm able I'm coming to you mommy, you always take care of me."

"Just don't have me craving cheese in a can again," Regina said making a face. Her daughter chuckled beside her before disappearing murmuring something about it being delicious.

"I already feel twenty times better, I like the love," Emma murmured sleepily. Regina smiled and moved up to kiss her.

"Well you can have all the love you want." Emma smiled as Regina moved to snuggle up next to her. Instead of going to dinner they both fell asleep after sending some love to Viveka as well. Emma had tried to send love the same way as Regina to settle her daughter within herself. But it had been thoroughly rejected. Viveka however was very accepting of it and very happy to receive it just cause. Their love along with Maleficent's potion seemed to be exactly what she needed to grow stronger. Only a tiny portion of her was now connected to Regina's magic, so she could use it without fear unless it was a great work, then she should be cautious.

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