Henry smiled a little at the Evil Queen and tilted her head, "You look sadder than I imagined. I guess that shouldn't surprise me. Mom is sad a lot."

Regina debated trying to stop this conversation, but that seemed like a lost cause at this point and something about the Queen's eyes told her that while the rest of them might be in danger from her Henry was not.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Henry, you and your mother came from the future? You are dressed strangely and she seems to have lost her mind."

Henry smiled, "We live in another land. Time travel was an accident. But I don't mind. I missed out on the last adventure and it's helping me understand things better. Seeing where my family comes from."

"Your family. Besides your mother?"

Regina looked up, "Henry..."

He tilted his head and looked into the queen's eyes, "They say you are crazy, but you're my mom..."

The Queen laughed and smiled, "I bet they still say your mother is crazy. The people never liked me." Her eyes were on Snow White though, who was looking uncomfortable with this turn of conversation.

"Maybe. But she's a hero and they're starting to see it." He smiled over at his mother before looking back at the queen. "I know you don't want to be like this."

The Queen tilted her head, and there was a little smile, "I wish I could believe you Henry. But there is no way that woman is me. She has light magic, and once you darken your heart that's not possible."

David and Snow shifted as they saw Regina straighten up from her work at the potions bench. "We can't escape the darkness that touches us," She walked over to stand in front of the queen, a hand on Henry's shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze before she did the drastic thing. She reached into her own chest, grunting from the pain and pulled her heart out. Snow gasped, and so did David, having never seen it before. Regina turned the black streaked heart over once, gasping a little before showing it to the Evil Queen.

"Recognize it dear?"

The Evil Queen gasped, "But how is that even possible." She looked up at Regina's eyes. "Your heart is darker than mine."

That was not something anyone in the room save Regina expected to hear. "That is because dear, whatever you think you know of darkness isn't even close to what you will know. But I was saved by a little prince. He gave me a chance." She smiled down at Henry before replacing her heart in her chest and turning her back on the Queen. On her past.

"The Dark Curse did that." Regina said nothing but Snow was looking at her now. "What ... what are you going to do Regina?"

"Something terrible," She just said quietly. "But it doesn't matter now. Because you won't remember any of this."

"Excuse me," David said angrily.

"Henry and I have already changed too much. You can't remember any of this. The three of you need to continue to go at each other like rabid squirrels because I'm not going to risk the family I have to premature understanding."

She turned and looked at the Evil Queen. "Besides, Rumple needs that curse cast and he'll do whatever it takes to keep you broken so that you'll do it for him."

Regina's past self's eyes went wide, "What..."

"We weren't his pet or his apprentice dear. Just his tool. He made sure we ate enough hate to keep us mad enough."

"Snow..."

"... was a brat. But Daniel died because of me. Not her. And I destroyed a lot of lives before I figured that out." She moved her hand over the potion bottles and brought them over to David and Snow, giving them to him and not to her. "David, I may not always like you but I know you'll do what is necessary and I'm afraid this might be too much for Snow. You two need to leave, and you need to give this potion to everyone of your friends Henry and I met. Including yourselves."

"But... I only just got you back." Snow protested.

Regina smiled, "And you shouldn't have." She put a gloved hand on Snow's cheek. "When you think you've lost all hope of seeing me again I'll be there."

Snow smiled sadly and looked into her eyes. "Like a woman on a horse. Just when I thought I was going to die."

Regina smiled, "We really should stop with the theatrics. I'm sure the rest of the Enchanted Forest would prefer it if we just exchanged passive aggressive gifts like a normal family."

And this time even Charming laughed, but before Regina could react Snow threw her arms around her and hugged her. Regina was stunned and unsure before patting her head. "I promise you'll see me again. But now you have to go. And you have to forget."

Snow was crying and Regina wiped away a tear before looking at Charming, "Promise me, shepherd, everyone gets a dose."

David nodded respectfully and once Snow let go he offered Regina a hand, "It's been... an experience Your Majesty."

"Someone get me a pair of red iron dancing shoes already and put me out of my misery..." The Evil Queen sneered. Everyone ignored her.

Regina took the last vile of memory potion and the wand in her hand but Henry shook his head, "We can't go yet."

Regina looked confused.

"We have to free the fairies."

Her shoulders slumped and sighed, she looked into her son's eyes and nodded. "Of course we have to free the fairies."

She raised her hand to perform a bit of magic, only to be interrupted by the Evil Queen laughing at her. "So well tamed are we?"

"I think you will find there are worse things in the world than doing something because your child asked you too." She waved her hand and the jars disappeared. The confused looking fairies did not linger, flying at high speed towards the window and freedom. A few so week that they hit the wall rather than making the opening.

Regina sighed, but Henry picked them up and dusted them off before sending them on their way. As he was doing it the Evil Queen whispered to Regina, "How can he be... ours ... the potion."

"Regina, family isn't what comes from blood, and children don't come from your whom. They live in your heart. Even one as small and battered as ours." But with a wave of her hand Regina knocked her out and poured the potion down her mouth. "Come on, Henry, we're going home."

Regina put her arm around him and waved the wand over her head and a portal appeared. She dropped the wand to the ground and they both jumped through landing with a thud in the barn back in Storybrooke.

Regina put her hands on Henry's shoulders to make sure he was alright before giving him a hug.

"I want a grilled cheese sandwich." He announced.

"Spoken like a true teenage boy," She put her arm around him and they left the barn.

Together.