"There are things far more important than family, Alice," Regina practically hissed as her eyes darkened – possibly with thoughts of Henry.

"Oh, that's not true," Alice shot back in a high voice as she took a step forward. "Now is the most important time for family." Regina turned to go back in the house and Alice's tone hardened. "You locked me up, Regina. You left me to madness. The least you could do is let me warn you of what's to come. You're a horrible person, but I'm not."

"Fine," Regina clasped her hands together as she whipped back around and offered no remorse for locking the girl away. "Let's hear it."

"I need to know something first," Alice declared in a no nonsense voice as Jefferson's arms wrapped around her middle. "Did you put me in a coma? I was confined to a hospital bed for a week."

Regina cocked up an eyebrow, "No, but I'm disappointed in whoever did. I would have made it stick."

Jefferson growled out a noise, "Haven't you noticed that none of your magic sticks, Regina?"

Alice cut in before either of them had the opportunity to engage in verbal battle, "Well, I must say that I'm surprised. I thought it would have been you."

"Are you going to get to the point, or am I supposed to be content with idle chitchat?" Regina asked.

"In my coma I was in Wonderland," Alice stated and watched the sneer on Regina's lips sharpen as she twirled the poker between her fingers. "Guess who I found out isn't there anymore? You want to take a wild guess of who is in Storybrooke?"

Regina's face fell for a split second, "That's not possible."

"That was what I thought," Jefferson stated in a hollow voice. "I was wrong."

"You know what else I wouldn't have thought possible?" Alice asked with a hidden pang of anger in her voice. "Who the Queen of Hearts really was – that's what shouldn't have been possible!"

Jefferson was glad for his hold on Alice, because something seemed to click in her head and she attempted to thrash forward towards Regina – who almost looked sympathetic, "You know who she is? Why does that matter?"

"I didn't think you'd ever have to know," Regina admitted as the women ignored Jefferson.

"I can't believe you kept it a secret," Alice had a few tears smudging at the heavy makeup around her eyes. They were something she had been holding in for days now. "I understand now why she hated me so. Did she? Did she know why she chose to make me live in hell for years? Did she understand why she considered me a threat?"

Regina gave a hard nod, "Yes. I think she did. She's smarter than you would know."

"You bitch," Alice spat out. "You're a cold, heartless monster. If I didn't need your help to kill her, I'd take your head for myself with pride for what you have caused us - all of us!"

"I'd like to see you try," Regina grinned darkly. "Who says I need your help? I can kill her on my own."

"Obviously not," Alice shot back as she continued to pull on Jefferson's hold. "It's written in the stars, Regina. We have to work together. And trust me; I like it no more than you do."

"Excuse me!" Jefferson interrupted with a yell. "Will one of you please pull me out of the dark? What am I not being told? Who is she?"

Alice let out a laugh as she went limp in Jefferson's arms, "Isn't it obvious?" She leaned back into his chest as the end of the poker tapped against the concrete. "Who is the one person Regina would keep a secret of? It should have been apparent. I should have seen it." Her lips curled. "Cora."

Jefferson looked passed Alice – who was in her own little world of muttering an angry string of words – to stare at Regina with narrowed eyes, "Cora? Cora is the Queen of Hearts?"

"Why else would she have had my Father?" Regina waved her hand through the air. "You're daft."

"I assumed her to be dead," Jefferson stated coldly.

Regina flipped her hair back from her face, "I didn't correct anyone when they did. You don't age in Wonderland like you do elsewhere. Why do you think she chose that of all places to run?"

That was a twist he had not expected. "Your Mother is the Queen of Hearts," Jefferson breathed out as he looked up at the sky.

Without looking at one another, Alice and Regina answered at the same time, "Yes, she is."

It's a short filler chapter and I'm sorry that this is all I'm posting after having not for a while! I've had a lot going on and haven't been able to write, but I wanted to get something out. However, the next chapter will be of a normal length and will make some sense of things.