Chapter 10: Portal

Regina woke in her bed, lying under a black sheet and a red cover. She sat up to find a black lace curtain around her bed and she pushed it back to see what other changes Robin had made to her bedroom. It still looked the same, though there were a few more candles around the room than she remembered. And several vases holding the black roses she had treasured from Robin. She pulled one from the vase resting on her nightstand and held it close.

Climbing out of bed, she realized Robin had changed her into a black lacy negligee rather than one of her nightshirts. Regina raised an eyebrow and wondered what he had planned.

A cool breeze hit her neck right before she felt Robin wrap his arms around her waist. He nuzzled her hair. "I see my queen has awakened," he said.

"Did you come to bed at all?" she asked, folding her hands over his.

"I don't need sleep anymore, lovely. I'm afraid it's a side effect of being the Dark One."

Regina frowned. That now left about eight hours when she wouldn't be able to watch him, when he could go out and hurt someone before she could intervene. She had to warn the others somehow.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, arms loosening.

She turned in his arm, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Just upset that I won't get to fall asleep and wake up in your arms."

"Ahh," he said, smiling. "Well, I can promise that you'll always fall asleep in my arms. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"So what have you been doing while I was asleep?" she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

He rocked her gently. "Fortified the house. Did a little redecorating. Got some things out of your vault."

"My vault?" She pulled back to look him in the eyes. "Like what?"

"Somethings I thought we'd need—a bunch of books, some potions, and your mirror."

She smiled. "You brought my mirror?"

"Yes," he said. "I thought we could use it to spy on our enemies."

"Such a deliciously devious mind," she said, running her fingers through his hair. "Your queen is pleased."

He nuzzled her neck before sucking her pressure point. Regina's eyelids fluttered closed as she felt his teeth against her skin, marking her as his. "Maybe…Maybe you should take me back to bed," she suggested.

"I could take you anywhere you want, milady," he said, nipping at her ear. "Just name the place."

"The bed sounds fi…" Her words died as Robin knelt, his mouth finding her clit as he pushed up her negligee. She leaned back against her vanity for support as he sucked and lapped at her.

Regina tugged at his hair as her legs began to quiver and her toes curled. She threw her head back, just missing the mirror behind her, as she moaned his name. It was often said that Dark Ones were selfish creatures and Rumpelstiltskin certainly had been. But right now with Robin between her legs, his hands pushing her thighs further apart to better pleasure her, it was clear he was still the same unselfish lover.

He pulled back, kissing her inner thigh as she let out a whine. She was so close and she grabbed his hair again, trying to guide him back to finish. He chuckled. "I like it when you get rough," he said.

"I like it when you let me come," she shot back.

Robin chuckled as he stood, wrapping his hands around her wrists. It wasn't enough to make her feel tied up, just to make sure she didn't try to touch herself she realized. He trailed kisses along her jaw until his lips were against her ear again. "Do you want to?"

"Yes," she said, breathless. "Please."

"You are quite intoxicating. I think we'll have some fun today and let the people worry themselves for now."

"What does that mean?"

He pressed a finger to her lips, shaking his head. "It means you'll have to wait, my queen."

"Wait?" She pushed him back a little, giving him a hard look. "Do I look like a woman who waits?"

"No, you don't." Robin reached down, stroking her. Already on edge, Regina's body began to hum again in anticipation of the release of pleasure building up inside her. She closed her eyes and leaned against him, pressing her cheek to his.

He pulled his hand back as her breathing grew shallower and her fingers gripped his arm as she neared her orgasm. Robin smirked as he said: "But you're going to have to wait now. I'll decide when. And to make sure you don't take matters into your own hands…"

A cold sensation filled her fingers as he brushed his hands over hers. She held them up as pins and needles continued to run through her digits and she frowned. "What did you do?"

"I'll show you." He took her right hand and guided it down until it slipped between her slick folds. But though she saw her finger pressing on her clit, she felt nothing. Not the familiar tingle from simulating the bundle of nerves nor even any pressure against it. She wouldn't be able to give herself a release and would have to wait until Robin chose to do it.

He titled her head up, kissing her. "Let the game begin."

Regina watched as he slipped from the room and collapsed on her chair, nerves on edge. She wasn't sure she was going to like this game. Perhaps she had been too hasty to declare this dark Robin an unselfish lover.

Emma and Hook pulled up to what had been Regina's mansion, their mouths hanging open. "Looks like Robin's been busy," Hook said.

Regina's once white residence was now black and had at least two towers they could see. Her door was now metal and had spikes coming out of it and the windows had bars on them. Robin had certainly fortified the place and Emma expected to find several booby traps in the yard.

Though first they had to get past the wrought-iron gates that now surrounded the property, stretching up toward the sky. Hook played with the lock on them but shook his head. "Robin certainly doesn't want anyone getting in."

"Then I guess we need to hope that Regina can get out," Emma said, scanning the yard for any sign of her friend.

She caught sight of something black streaking from the house and heading toward the gate. Emma tugged on Hook's sleeve, pointing to a spot a little ways from the entrance. They crept toward it and Regina appeared between the bars, wearing a long black cloak. "Wardrobe makeover?" Emma asked.

"Do you think we really have time to discuss what I'm wearing?" Regina snapped at her.

Emma frowned. "Are you okay? Is Robin hurting you?"

"No. But we don't have much time so can we hurry this up?" Regina crossed her arms.

"We'd love to, but we are worried about you," Hook said. "Surprising, I know. But you seem tense. What's wrong?"

Regina turned to Emma but kept glancing at Hook. Nodding, Emma gave him a little push. "Why don't you wait by the car? I'll be there shortly."

Hook walked away and Emma stepped closer to the gate. "Okay, Regina, what's wrong?"

"Before you think it, Robin hasn't hurt me in any way. It's just…" Regina hesitated before sighing. "He's playing a sex game with me and won't let me have an orgasm yet, okay? So I'm a little on edge."

Emma blinked a few times. She had expected Regina to deny being scared or possibly being in danger—that was just Regina. But the last thing she thought she'd find was a sexually frustrated queen. It was different and a bit anticlimactic, if Emma was honest with herself.

Regina's hand emerged from under her dark cape and she held out a compact to Emma. "Take this. We can use it to communicate, just like in Neverland."

"And you have the other one?" Emma asked.

"I have my mirror," Regina replied. "Robin's brought a lot of my things from my vault."

Emma nodded. "We went there this morning. He has the dagger."

"He didn't say anything about it." Regina took a deep breath before glancing back at the house. She pushed Emma away. "You best be going. It's been a while since he's played with me and I'm sure he's going to be looking."

"Regina, don't think you have to do something you don't want to protect us. Okay?"

She gave the blonde a soft smile. "I know, Emma."

"And if you need to get out of here…"

"I'll let you know," Regina promised, tapping the mirror in Emma's hand. She then glanced toward the house. "He's looking for me. I can feel it. Go!"

Emma climbed back into her bug and drove away. Hook waited until they were around the corner before asking: "Is she okay?"

"I think so," she replied. "But you know Regina. We're not going to be able to save her unless she wants it and she's not going to admit she needs saving because of her pride."

Hook nodded. "So what do we do now?"

"Continue on our quest to save Robin. It might be the only way to save Regina."

Henry jumped at his mother the moment she entered the mansion. "Did you see her? Is she okay?" he asked her.

"Woah, kid. Give me a minute to catch my breath." Emma pulled off her red jacket and gave it to Hook to hang up. Henry watched her, waiting for her answer as best as he could.

Emma pulled him to her, hugging him. "She's okay, kid. Robin hasn't hurt her and she doesn't seem to be a prisoner."

"Did you bring Mom back?" Roland asked, hopping down the stairs to stand next to Henry. He looked up at Emma with hopeful eyes.

She knelt down as she placed her hands on his shoulders. "No, Roland. She's staying with your Papa for now."

"To help him become good again?" Roland asked.

"Yeah, buddy," Henry said, pulling him close. "To help him be good again."

Hook held out his good hand to the boy. "I think I smell cookies in the kitchen. Why don't we go check?"

Roland took his hand, leaving Emma and Henry alone. Henry turned to his mother again. "She really is okay?"

"Yes, Henry, she is," Emma said, pulling out the mirror. "She gave us this so we can talk with her."

His eyes lit up as he snatched the mirror, remembering how happy he had been the moment he was able to see both his mothers and grandmother back in Neverland. "Can we talk to her now?" he asked.

"I'd wait for her to call us," Emma said. "It might be dangerous to try and contact her with Robin around."

"Okay." Henry's voice dripped with disappointment but he knew that his mother was right. They didn't want to put his other mother into danger.

Emma hugged Henry close. "Have you and Gold made any more progress in finding the way to Camelot?"

"I think so," Henry said. "Grandpa's resting for now on Belle's orders, but I think after dinner we can share our findings."

"Great. And Henry? Regina is going to be so proud of you when she hears about all the hard work you've done. I know I am." Emma smiled at her son.

He smiled back. "Thanks, Mom. Saving people seems to be the family business, huh?"

"Yeah, kid. I guess it is," Emma said, slinging her arm around his shoulders. "Come on. Let's go see if Will and Roland spared us any cookies."

After dinner, everyone gathered in the parlor to hear what Rumple and Henry had found. Henry deferred to his grandfather. "He discovered most of this, after all," he said by way of explanation.

Belle helped Rumple stand and he leaned on his cane as he limped to the middle of the room. "I've gathered all the books I had on Camelot and my own research of the Dark One. I think I've found the way in."

"Is it here? In Storybrooke?" David asked from his place next to Mary Margaret on the couch.

"Yes," Rumple said. "Robin would've unconsciously created it when he came to Storybrooke."

"Why?" Mary Margaret asked.

Rumple sighed. "Gawain worked to create a portal back to Camelot but Merlin cast a spell to prevent any Dark One from opening it. Even though they no longer had any desire to return to Camelot, I believe the ability to create the door still exists inside each male in Robin's family tree."

"How do they do that? And how do we know Robin' done it?" Hook asked. "Even unconsciously, as you said."

"Because the portal is created by an outburst of intense emotion. I'd daresay Robin Hood has experienced that a few times over since arriving in Storybrooke, eh?" He grinned before pacing a bit. "The problem will be trying to figure out where he created it though. We're going to need to talk to Regina."

Mary Margaret nodded. "Most of his intense moments probably involved her. We need her to tell us some places that are special to them."

"What if it's the house?" Henry asked, frowning. "We were just starting to become a family in it. I'm sure that had to let out some intense feelings?"

Rumple nodded. "When we talk to Regina, we can ask her to scan the house for any indication of a door. But we'll need a few more places, just to cover our bases."

"Once we find the door, how do we open it?" Henry asked, mind already thinking ahead and trying to put together a plan.

Emma put her hand on her son's arm. "Let's take this one step at a time. Once we know where the door is, we can figure out how best to open it."

Henry nodded, saying goodnight to everyone. Climbing the stairs, he returned to the room he now shared with Roland. The boy still refused to sleep anywhere but with him. He laid curled up in the bed, clutching the stuffed monkey Regina had made for him over a year ago. Roland liked to tell him the story, the flying monkey getting bigger with each retelling and Regina's fight growing longer and more heroic.

After changing into his t-shirt and pajama bottoms, Henry slid into bed. Roland began to whimper, rolling closer to him. Henry rubbed the boy's back until his whimpers subsided. His eyes opened, revealing big brown eyes. "Are Mom and Papa still gone?" he asked, sleepily.

"Yes, they are."

"Oh," Roland said, disappointed. "I guess it was just a dream."

Henry sighed before gathering all the hope he had left. "Don't worry, Roland. Soon it won't be just a dream. We'll all be together."

"Promise, Henry?"

"I promise," he said. "If I've learned one thing, it's that good always wins."

Satisfied, Roland nodded and drifted back off to sleep. Henry laid on his back, staring at the ceiling as he prayed that he hadn't just lied to his little brother.

Robin laid in bed next to Regina, watching her sleep. Only a thin black sheet covered her nude body and she clutched it to her chest with one hand. It rose and fell with every breath she took, her lips slightly parted as her eyelashes fluttered with a dream. He brushed a few strands of hair back from her face, still slick with sweat, and she let out a soft sigh that pleased him.

Their little game had ended quite well, if he said so himself. Regina had managed to make it until nightfall, letting him tease her often enough to keep her keyed up throughout the day. He could see it in how her arm would shake when she reached for something, how the littlest thing would cause her to jump…but most important of all, how dark her brown eyes kept getting as her lust and desire grew.

Her stamina impressed him. She hadn't begged for release or threaten him—he had expected at least one fireball—but had gone along with the game willingly, even becoming an active participant. They would've still been playing but his willpower had crumbled first when Regina stepped up her seduction of him. She had come down to dinner in one of the new outfits he had conjured for her, a long black lace dress that barely concealed her more private areas. Her long black hair tumbled down her back in loose curls and she had painted her lips a deep red color he found irresistible. As she drank her wine and watched him with hooded eyes, his own desire spun out of control.

Before he could stop himself, Robin pulled Regina from the chair and kissed her hard. He held her close as he transported them to their bedroom, losing their clothes so that they landed in bed with nothing separating them. Regina's nails clawed at his back as he entered her, her breath stolen for a few moments. He had frozen as he hovered over her, watching as her eyes closed and her back arched as he filled her.

It lasted but a moment before he was thrusting into her, her screams of pleasure echoing still in his head. She had hit the release he had denied her for hours within minutes, going limp in his arms. He had stilled to make sure she was still with him, pleased with the dreamy but alert expression in her eyes.

Regina had urged him on, tugging on his hair to get him to continue with his rhythm. Her hips began to buck in time with him as her fog cleared away and she regained her senses. She pushed him onto his back, taking the lead for a bit until he decided to reclaim dominance.

They fought as their passions continued to burn, each taking control at different times before they toppled over the edge—both of pleasure and the bed—together. Robin cushioned her fall, clutching her close to his chest. Her hot breath came in pants, heating his skin for a few moments, before evening out.

He kissed her cheek now, waving a hand over the one she had clutching the sheet. A black rose appeared in her fingers and he smiled as he slipped out of their bed.

She was his queen, the one he had been waiting for through countless fools who had claimed the Dark One's power for their own. Most had been brought down in the end by their own weaknesses and it was usually the same—they could never find people who understood the pull of the darkness, only ones who wanted to save them from it.

Regina understood that pull and he knew she felt it every day. Yes, she was trying to be good and he had seen her talking with the so-called Savior at the fence earlier. He had let the transgression slide because she had still returned to his side, to his kisses and caresses. She had the opportunity to run but she wasn't taking it. Her own darkness was keeping her here, even if she didn't know it yet.

The Evil Queen was closer to coming out and he eagerly awaited her reappearance. Once she gave back into her own dark desires, they would be a united force no one would be able to stop. Those heroes out there would be squashed underfoot and he would easily reclaim his son, her son—their sons. Roland was still young and impressionable, so swaying him to the darkness would be easy.

Henry, though, would be more of a problem, as he was too good still and set in his ways. Regina had threatened Robin not to hurt the boy and he didn't want to. So it would take a lot of work, but he'd bring Henry to their side. Robin had time to figure out the best way to do it. For now, though, he needed Henry to play the hero and find the entrance to Camelot.

With a wave of his hands, the doors to the balcony he added to Regina's room opened. A cloud of smoke engulfed him, leaving him dressed in a loose dark green shirt, laces undone to leave his chest bared to the crisp air, and black leather pants. He studied Storybrooke as the town continued to sleep on, no doubt afraid of his next move. Their fear brought a smile to his face.

But Storybrooke was just a stepping stone to his bigger plan. The Dark One had shown him his family tree, going all the way back to Sir Gawain. Once Henry opened the door to Camelot, Robin would destroy the town and finally return to the land of his ancestors. He would finally do what Gawain failed to—he'd usurp Arthur, destroy Merlin and claim Excalibur as his own. He would rule the realms with Regina, Henry and Roland—and no one would be able to stop or destroy them.

He just had to be patient until then.

Moving was a bit difficult, Regina discovered when she shifted in her sleep and the dull throbbing woke her. The sex hadn't seemed rough the night before but then again, she wasn't particularly paying attention to what they were doing. Most times, she was only acting on a primal instinct rather than making love.

Regina sat on the edge of her bed, the black rose falling from her fingers to the floor. She clutched the blanket closer to her body as she stared off into the distance. Over the years, Regina had gotten used to sex as a tool, as a weapon, as a means to an end. She had been used by men who only sought their own pleasure, she had used men only to seek her own, and she hadn't made any significant connections with those who warmed her bed.

(Though Graham had come the closest and her heart still hurt at the memory of what her selfish need to hurt Emma had cost).

Then Robin had come along and it wasn't just sex anymore. He had shown her what it meant to love someone in that way, to share pleasure rather than just take. To feel something so deep, it had reached down to her soul. She had finally found someone to connect with and now, that connection was severed.

She had to admit the sex was still great and being the Dark One had…enhanced…some of Robin's abilities in bed. But under the desire, lust, passion and raw need, there was nothing else on his part. Gone was his warmth, tenderness, adoration and love. It was buried and she knew she could never get it back until they freed Robin from the darkness.

A drop of water landed on her hand. She raised it to her cheek, finding it wet. When had she started crying? Was she already going numb? No, she decided, or else she wouldn't be crying. She just needed to clear her head.

Shaking her head, Regina headed to the bathroom. Robin had made some modifications in there, giving her a bigger sink that was lined with several soaps and perfumes as well as soft, plush towels. The larger tub did not escape her notice and she only imagined what he had planned for her in there. The obsidian motif Robin used throughout the house was starting to get to her, reminding her too much of the Winter Palace she had called home in then Enchanted Forest.

As the basin filled with cool water, Regina splashed her face with it. The fog faded away and she felt more alert. She needed her sense and wits about her around this man who looked like her Robin but acted nothing like him. He wasn't dangerous yet but she also got the feeling he hadn't revealed his hand yet. That he had a bigger plan for her. And it scared her.

Regina pushed that thought aside as she returned to her bedroom, going through her new wardrobe. She chose one of the more modest dresses, a black silk gown with long sheer sleeves. A thick collar went around her neck like a choker, holding up the lace that covered her breasts. With a wave of her hand, her dark hair was pulled into a bun that rested on top of her head and her makeup was done. Satisfied with her appearance, Regina went in search of her mirror.

She found it hanging in a spatial room she definitely knew was a recent addition to her mansion. It seemed to stretch the length of at least two rooms and had a crimson velvet carpet running from the door to a dais. Two large obsidian thrones sat on it and her heart hammered at the sight. Robin really did mean for her to become queen again.

Ignoring the thrones, she focused on the mirror just behind them. Regina stood in front of it and through of her boys. Within seconds, the glass rippled like a lake that had a stone tossed into it. Roland's face appeared and his eyes lit up. "Mom!"

Muffled exclamations echoed around him and Henry appeared next to Roland, looking relieved. "Mom, you're okay."

"Of course I am," she replied, smiling. "How are you?"

"Good," Henry said.

Roland placed his hand against the glass. "I miss you."

"I miss you too." She placed her hand against his, sad she only felt cold glass rather than the warmth of human touch.

Henry helped Roland down so Emma and Mary Margaret could crowd the mirror. "Dark Robin certainly has interesting fashion tastes," Emma said.

Mary Margaret nodded. "Despite the similar color scheme, definitely different from your Evil Queen wardrobe."

"It's not bad but I'm still not here to discuss my wardrobe." Regina lowered her voice. "Have you found anything more on Camelot?"

"A lot, actually," Henry said. "Robin seems to be the key."

Regina raised an eyebrow. "Really? How so?"

"It's too long to explain. We need to know places here in Storybrooke with strong emotional connections to Robin," Emma said.

"Well, I guess this house," Regina said, rattling off the locations she could think of. "The woods by the Merry Men camp, where we had our first kiss. Granny's, where he was reunited with who he thought was Marian. The town line where we said goodbye. And my vault for…well…reasons."

Emma raised her eyebrows but didn't say anything. Instead, she asked: "Do you want to know why we need to know this?"

"If we weren't pressed for time, yes." Regina sighed. "But now…whatever helps, I'll do."

"We need you to search your house for a door," Rumple yelled, out of sight.

Regina frowned. "A door to Camelot? Is that how Robin is the key?"

"Part of it." Henry sighed. "I wish you were here."

"I do too. Could you get Roland again? I want to talk to both of you."

Henry disappeared for a few moments as he pulled the younger boy into his lap. Roland frowned. "Do you have to go, Mom?"

"I'm afraid so, Roland. But we can talk with these mirrors so we don't have to miss each other so bad."

"Okay, Mom," Roland said, though he was still disappointed. "I can't wait to see you again."

As Regina smiled, fighting back tears, Roland's and Henry's eyes went wide. She barely had time to wonder why when she felt a cold hand on her waist. Turning her head, she found Robin standing next to her. He stretched out his arm, fingers tracing his son's features along the glass. "My boy," he murmured.

"Papa?" Roland asked, leaning forward.

Robin nodded. "I miss you," he said.

"I miss you too, Papa. When can we go home?" Roland asked him.

"We'll be together soon." She watched his eyes flicker toward Henry as well. "All of us."

Regina smiled, placing her hand on the glass again. "You two be good. Okay? I love you."

"We love you too, Mom," Henry said before she waved their image away.

A sob escaped her and she sank down to the floor, Robin cradling her as she went down. He held her close and rocked her. "I meant it, Regina. We will all be together soon. They can't keep us from our boys forever and will pay for doing so now."

It only made her sob harder, now out of fear for her friends…her family. Robin didn't know she was keeping them from their sons, not the Charmings. That she didn't trust him around the boys, not with how dark he was now. And she was too afraid to do so. But would her cowardice cost everyone dearly?

They decided it was best to split up and cover Regina's list at once so Robin didn't catch on to what they were doing. It was difficult to find enough purveyors of magic in order to do so. Even though they were loathed to do it, they had no choice but to use Zelena. Emma had wanted to stay close to her just in case, but it was best to send her with David to check out Granny's. Maleficent agreed to help, going with Belle to check out the town line. Will and Emma were going to check out just outside the Merry Men camp before rounding back to visit Regina's vault.

"I'll can meet you there once I drop this one back here," David said, giving Zelena's arm a little tug. As she rolled her eyes, he continued: "That is, if we need to check it out."

"No, I think Killian and I will be fine." Emma turned to Killian. "And you're okay with watching the vault? Making sure Robin doesn't find out and beat us there?"

"Of course, love." He kissed her cheek. "Good luck."

She hugged Henry before she left. "We'll find the door. Don't worry."

"Can't I come? Please?" he pleaded.

"I know you want to come, but we need you to stay here with Roland. He needs you more."

Henry nodded. "Okay. But you'll tell me everything? It's kinda my job to record it."

Emma laughed. "I will. Promise."

Granny's patrons tensed up as David entered with Zelena. Leroy straightened up, frowning as he took in the two. "What's she doing here?" he asked.

"We're doing some important work. I'm going to have take off her cuff for a bit," David said, looking around. "If you want to leave, leave."

Most of the patrons left, leaving only Granny and Leroy behind. Granny locked her door, nodding to David. "We'll be closed until you're done," she said.

"Thank you," David said.

Zelena smiled at Leroy. "Well, someone's feeling braver than his size."

"I'm not leaving David with you," Leroy said. "For Snow's sake."

"How touching," Zelena sneered.

David gave her a shake. "You need to be on your best behavior, got it? Or we might just leave you giftwrapped for Robin."

Zelena shrank back, sullen. She held out her wrist as David took off the cuff. He watched as she rubbed her wrist, smiling. "Oh, I missed the feeling of magic coursing through my veins. It feels so good."

"Don't get any ideas." Granny raised her crossbow at the witch.

Sighing, Zelena stood in the middle of the diner. "Fine. Let's get this over with. The sooner I do this, the sooner I can leave before the awful smell of fried grease makes my baby sick."

"How about doing it without the commentary?" Granny suggested.

Zelena held up her hands and closed her eyes. Green light emitted from her open palms and she slowly spun to scan all of Granny's dinner. When she completed her circle, she lowered her hands and opened her eyes. She shook her head. "Nothing here."

"You better be telling the truth," David said, approaching her with the cuff. "We're not going to be pleasant if you're lying."

"Believe it or not, I have every reason to get you to Camelot as well," Zelena said, watching as he secured black device around her wrist again.

David tilted his head. "Really? And why's that?"

"Because it's bad enough knowing that when I give birth, my sister and Robin will take my baby from me and monitor any time I have with him or her. But if Robin's good, at least I have that. With this evil Robin, he'd probably kill me the moment the child is out of my womb." Zelena's voice hardened. "I'd rather live."

"Well, I guess I can understand that," David said. He took her arm. "Come on, let's get you back."

The smoke died down, leaving Maleficent and Belle at the town line. Maleficent walked closer, careful not to step over it. "So this is where he broke Regina's heart?" she asked.

"And his own," Belle added. "He does love her."

"I know. Which is why we need to get the darkness out of him. After all these years, Regina finally deserves a chance at love." Maleficent turned to the brunette. "Why are you helping Regina? She locked you up for almost thirty years."

"She did the same to you," Belle replied. "And you're helping her."

Maleficent smiled. "True. But unlike you, Regina and I were friends before she did that. I look at her and still see the determined, angry, sad and neglected queen who found me at one of my low points and helped me find my fire again. Who do you see?"

Belle paused for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. For a long time, she only saw the Evil Queen. She saw the woman who used her to try and destroy Rumpelstiltskin, who locked her up for years and who turned her into wild-child Lacey. But things had changed, Regina had changed. She had watched her help Snow, the woman the Queen had once vowed to destroy, and how she worked to save them all several times over.

"I see Regina," she said at last. "And right now, I see Regina in a situation I am all too familiar with."

Maleficent nodded. "Well then, let's see if there's anything here that can help her."

Standing back, Belle watched Maleficent work. The witch raised her hands, a soft light pulsating from them as she scanned the area where Zelena's deception had forced Robin and Regina to say goodbye for what had appeared to be forever.

"What are you looking for?" Belle asked, curious.

"A tear in the barrier between this world and the others. Now hush. I need to concentrate."

Belle nodded, remaining silent until Maleficent opened her eyes and dropped her hands. "Nothing?" she asked.

"Nothing," Maleficent confirmed. She sighed. "Best let the others know. Hopefully they'll have better luck than us."

She raised her hand, flickering her wrist to engulf them in smoke once more as she teleported them back to the mansion.

Will chose to stay with the Merry Men once he and Emma had been unsuccessful at finding a door to Camelot. All they found was the remains of Robin's probable camp site while he had been fighting the darkness. "He had been so close," Will said sadly. "And yet still hid from us."

Emma wanted to remind him that Robin had stayed away and that there wouldn't have been anything they could've done but she knew he knew that. It wouldn't comfort him. So she bid him farewell and promised to keep him updated before heading back to her car. The sun was starting to set as she drove toward Regina's vault to check in with Hook.

Her cellphone lit up and she took the chance to glance at the screen as the phone sat on her passenger seat. It was a text from Henry, saying the other two teams had been unsuccessful. Unless Regina found the door at the house, their only hope was her vault.

As she turned off her yellow bug, Hook approached the vehicle. "I'm guessing the others didn't have much luck?" he asked, kissing her cheek.

"No, though we haven't heard from Regina yet," Emma replied.

"I'm not so sure about that." Hook pointed to a black bird resting by Regina's vault. "That raven arrived a few minutes ago and has a note tied to his leg. He won't let me take it off, so I think she gave him specific instructions to deliver it to you."

Emma nodded and approached the bird, holding out a tentative hand. When the bird stayed still, she untied the note attached to its leg. It took off back toward the skies and Emma unrolled the tiny scroll. She sighed and shook her head. "Looks like we have to check the vault. She didn't find anything at the house."

She and Hook approached the vault, taking the narrow staircase down to Regina's not-very-secret-any-more lair. He glanced around, studying the place. "You know, she explained why the other places would be important to Robin but not this one. Why d'you suppose that is?"

"If Regina didn't want to tell us, than it's probably really private and important to her," Emma replied. "We should respect that."

She had already had a good idea why this place was important to Regina and Robin, guessing that they had made love for the first time here. It wasn't Emma's idea of romantic but if they hadn't wanted to be disturbed, it was the best place.

Emma closed her eyes, raising her hands. She felt the power radiate from her hands and she scanned for an opening to another world, scanning every inch of the vault. Unlike in the woods, she felt something and it pulled her further inside. As she walked toward the back of the vault, Hook gasped. "Swan, something's happening."

Opening her eyes, Emma found a door materializing in the entrance to one of Regina's rooms. It was black with gold embellishments and the roaring lion from Robin's tattoo was carved in the center. "We found it," she said, breathless.

"Aye," he replied. "We should go back and tell the others."

In his throne room, Robin smiled as he waved his hand to dismiss the image of the pirate and the savior. The door to Camelot had been found. He knew the man who had hosted the Dark One before him would figure out how to open it. It was only a matter of time before he was back home.

He wandered from the room, searching for his queen. Regina was lounging on a couch in front of a fire as she read. Two untouched glasses of wine sat on the table by her, meaning she had been waiting for him.

Robin slid next to her, kissing her neck. She gave him a little push. "Not tonight, Robin. I'm still sore from our game."

"Sorry, my queen," he said, nipping at her. "You can rest for tonight as you are going to need all your strength."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why? What do you have planned?"

"You'll see." He smiled, pulling her closer. "It's going to be glorious."

A/N: We're almost at Camelot! I'm not sure if my take on Arthur will be as shady as the show's so we'll see once I start writing him.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

-Mac