Some time had passed since Tinkerbell had been found by Belle and had gotten the divorce from Maurice. It had also been some time since her encounter with Killian aboard the Jolly Roger. One thing Tinkerbell knew for sure - like Belle, Ruby, Emma, Mary Margaret Aurora - she was definitley pregnant.

Luckily, Killian was delighted about the whole thing because this was exactly what he and Tinkerbell wanted, plus Jolie was enamored by the pirate because she'd never had a proper father figure before. People used to gawk at the sight of the pirate pushing the toddler on the swings, but once Killian supplied everyone with death glares, they never poked fun at it again.

The only thing that Killian had put his foot down about was who was going to tell Belle, Ruby and Jolie that they were going to be big sisters. He and Tinkerbell had already agreed to tell Jolie together, but even though he respected Ruby because of her shape-shifting abilities, but he also knew that she wouldn't listen to him because of all the harm he'd caused Belle.

Speaking of whom, the pirate and the librarian had a less than smooth history and were still at odds because of the shooting... and although Killian would never say it, he was afraid of Belle's unhinged and dark personality would come back and try to seduce him again. (He'd learned the hard way that Lacey is a force to be reckoned with, and that Drunk Lacey is another ballpark altogether) Needless to say, Killian wanted to be as far away as possible when Belle found out who the father of her mother's youngest child was.

Tinkerbell's current challenge was talking to Regina about some things she needed answered.

If only she could get her dress to stop feeling so ridiculously snug around her curves and her middle. Eight weeks had passed since everything went down, and she was already beginning to show a little.

At least the ruddy sneezing fits had ceased for now.

"You can come in, dear." Regina's voice brought her back down to earth. "I don't bite."

Tinkerbell jumped because she hadn't realized the doors were open and that the witch was watching her. Even so, she strolled in like she owned the place and used her magic to force doors shut behind her as she sat in the chair across from Regina's desk.

To her credit, Regina was amused.

"I have to say, Tinkerbell, it certainly took you long enough to get the guts to come here for this chat."

"It's not about 'having the guts,' Regina. It's more like why."

"You're going to have to be more specific than that."

"We've been in this town for twenty-eight years because you just had to take back the curse that power-hungry and egotistical aunt Maleficent won from you, fair and square. Twenty-eight monotonous years, and you chose to keep my memories and the Realm Hopper's intact while everyone else was clueless?"

"First of all, the Realm Hopper, as you so lovingly called him, has an actual n-"

"Do not stand up for that pigeon-hearted man! Why did you keep our memories intact?"

"I did it to Jefferson to punish him because he and Doctor Whale failed to bring Daniel back to life."

"When someone is dead, they need to stay dead. Resurrection is a crime against nature."

Regina scowled at her. "I didn't touch your memories because I needed someone of great power around who wouldn't try to talk me down like Blue would, being Queen of the Fairies, and all. You were my first choice."

"I don't know if I should be flattered or not. What disturbs me is that I now have all of your memories in my head, including your time with Daniel and your scandalous fling with Graham."

"That just happened as a side affect of turning you into my backup person. I needed you around in case things went haywire."

Tinkerbell let out a harsh bark of laughter. "Haywire? You really want to go there? What about when Rumplestiltskin remembered who he was or when the Realm Hopper freed Belle from the asylum and she got her memories back? Belle is the granddaughter of the most powerful fairy alive, the niece of another but more dangerously powerful fairy and the daughter of me, the most powerful pixie to ever live! What if she had gotten her magic back and had taken revenge on you? She could kill you any time she wishes!"

The raven-haired woman raised an eyebrow. "As powerful as your firstborn's lineage is, you and I both know that Belle is a gentle soul who would most likely cry if she stepped on a spider."

"Touché..."

"Lacey, on the other hand, would have blasted the spider to Kingdom Come with fire if she had bothered trying to figure out how."

"As I recall, if she isn't woken up from her slumber, that daughter of mine shows up uninvited to protect Belle when she's in deep trouble or severely hurt or upset. Lacey has tried to kill me more than once, Regina, so imagine the mayhem she would've caused during the destruction of Storybrooke if Rumplestiltstkin hadn't woken up in time!"

"No thank you, I will not waste my time imagining such a thing."

"Then name at least one time you would have needed me."

"It would've been if Storybrooke had succumbed to the apocalypse that Greg and Tamara triggered. Your kind and your mother's kind are nearly indestructible, and as much as it pains me to say, I would want the two of you and your offspring to be the ones who would restore our fair town."

Tinkerbell didn't know what to say to that because it was actually nice, and any time Regina was nice, it made her feel unsettled.

Instead of speaking, she arched her back in an effort to ease the child in her womb; during her other pregnancies, she hadn't been given this much grief until she was a little farther along, so this was brand new.

Of course Regina noticed Tinkerbell's discomfort and immediately averted her eyes to the pixie's midriff, probing it gently with magic. Tinkerbell sneezed and then snapped her fingers, directing Regina's attention away from her.

"Oi, you old bat, I'm up here."

The look Regina met her with could only be described as a sly one.

"It would appear that congratulations times two are in order, dear. Do Belle, Ruby and Jolie know they're going to be big sisters?"

"Not yet, although Jolie thinks my sneezing fits are hilarious."

Tinkerbell sneezed four times, although her stomach lurched when she realized that Regina had said she was carrying two babies.

"Speaking of hilarity, it's quite amusing to me that sneezing fits are also a sign of witch morning sickness. I wonder how much grief you put your mother through when she carried you."

Regina rose up, immediately defensive. "My mother was many things and had a lot of power, but she wasn't a witch! Don't talk about her!"

"Then don't talk about any of my children, especially those yet to be born!"

Tinkerbell rose from her chair and keeping one hand on her baby bump that would only grow to be massive in time, she gave her fee hand a small twirl and all of the apples in the bowl on Regina's desk went flying in every direction, some smashing against the wall.

"Really mature, Tink." Regina commented dryly as she began using her own magic to clean the mess up. "A mother of your age, and of three, going on five children shouldn't be as poorly behaved as you are. You should at least be fun, like how you were when we first met. Remember when we were as thick as thieves?"

"You mean before I got in trouble for you?" Tinkerbell softened up as the memories came back. "Yes, I look back on those days with great fondness."

Regina softened up, too. "I know I've kept you in Storybrooke for almost thirty years now, and I know you know all of the atrocities I've ever committed, but why have you not taken revenge against me?"

"Because even though you're the Evil-Queen-turned-mayor, I could never hurt you for as long as I live."

"Really?"

"Really, and I knew you before you became what you are now. That person was happy when she would set aside her woes and worries." Tinkerbell finally joined in cleaning up the mess she'd made. "And even though I've known your true identity this whole time and I might even know you better than you know yourself, I don't regret saving you from plunging to what would have been your death when you fell off that balcony."

"Why not?"

"Because you were the first true friend I've ever had."

Without another word, Tinkerbell teleported out of the room, leaving not only a stunned Regina in her wake, but also a large crystal vase overflowing with purple iris flowers.

Regina was deeply touched by the gesture and bent forward and sniffed their scent.

Although neither she nor Tinkerbell had said anything along the lines of "I forgive you," or "I'm sorry," the giving of the flowers was just as good because it meant that Tinkerbell was willing to make an effort to patch things up and already starting. If she was going to make an effort, than Regina would, too.

Especially because iris flowers represented friendship and hope.