Regina rose early the next morning, slipping onto the first clothes she found. She went to check on the potion, to see if it had finished simmering and was ready to pour on the whistle. It was. She spooned it out into three small glass bottles and tidied up.

Emma was still asleep when she returned to the bedroom. Regina began changing into her riding clothes and tied her hair back into a simple plait.

"You're up early." Emma called to her from the bed, as Regina hunted for her shoes.

"I think it might rain later. I wanted to get to the stables and go for a ride before it's too late."

"Are you still upset over what happened yesterday?"

"No."

Emma wasn't quite convinced. "There was nothing I could do. You understand that, right?"

"It's not easy being Queen. I remember."

Just because Emma couldn't do something wasn't going to stop her. Perhaps it was the sleep, which helped her make the decision to lie. Regina knew she had to help find Adam. When she returned, Emma would see it too.

The shoes were hiding at the back of the wardrobe. Regina could see the toes peeking out from behind one of the long skirts. She reached for them, not hearing Emma come to stand behind her.

"Hey." Emma wrapped her arms around Regina's waist as she stood up. "Don't I get a goodbye kiss?"

Regina turned around and smiled. "I wouldn't forget that."

Emma smiled back and closed her eyes, waiting. Regina didn't disappoint her. She let the shoes fall to the floor and brought her lips closer to Emma's, kissing her gently. Emma didn't want a gentle kiss. She opened her eyes and took a step closer to her wife.

"I think I need to show you the proper way to kiss goodbye." Emma told her, kissing her before Regina had a chance to digest her words.

The kiss was too unexpected and Emma's body too strong against her own. Regina found herself off balance and stumbled backwards, breaking the kiss. Only Emma's arms around her waist kept her from falling down.

"I should get going." Regina ignored the look in Emma's eyes and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face.

"What's the rush? If you don't get to ride today, you can go tomorrow. I don't have to start being Queen for another hour. Perhaps you could stay and keep me company?"

"The horses need exercise. Why don't you get an early start today and then tomorrow we could have breakfast in bed together?"

Emma looked suspicious. "What are you up to?"

"I just need to clear my head. When I return I'll be helping out in the kitchens. Would you like me to make you a pizza?"

"A real pizza?"

She hadn't had one for years. The ingredients here weren't the same and the kitchen staff didn't have time to mess around trying to get it right.

"I think I can manage it, if you don't mind me using a little magic?"

"I knew there was a reason I married you." Emma smiled at her.

"So am I free to go?"

"All right, but tomorrow morning…" Emma kissed her, a reminder that they had made plans.


Regina told the guards they could watch her ride around the grounds from the sentry post, telling them she wasn't going out of their sight. A small boost of persuasion from her magic had them agreeing and thinking they could still see her long after she had ducked away. She had to walk the horse through the narrow side gate and out of the palace grounds. With her hood up and her magic helping to disguise them, she led the horse as far she dared before climbing up and riding away. It took her nearly over an hour to reach the forest, but she had brought supplies for herself and the horse so she wasn't too worried.

As they stepped across the boundary, she took out Adam's whistle. Pouring the potion over it, she was able to direct the horse to follow the magical trail.


After nearly an hour of riding without a break, Regina realised she would have to allow the horse to rest. She dismounted near a stream and held into the reins as she allowed it to take a drink. The light from the whistle was getting brighter. That meant she was close. Judging the animal had quenched its thirst; she tugged on the reins and away from the water, mounting when she chose their new direction.

There was a burst of bright light as she reached him. Adam was sitting on a fallen log, crying.

Regina didn't hesitate to walk over to him. "Adam?"

He looked up, afraid. She wondered if he had been able to find food and shelter in the forest, he was so young.

"Who… who are you?"

"I told your parents I'd find you."

"No-one comes into the forest. You need magic to leave it."

"I have magic."

"Are you a good fairy?"

Regina laughed. "No."

"A witch?"

She nodded. "But a good one, I promise. I won't hurt you. Are you hungry? I brought some food with me."

"How do I know this isn't a trick?"

She held out the metal whistle. "Your parents sent me to bring you home. They gave me this so that I could find you."

"I can't go home yet." He told her, after checking the whistle, to make sure that it was his. "I have to find my friend."

"What is your friend doing in the forest?"

"She lived here before she moved away. Her father' was working for the White Queen and she had a talisman to protect her. I thought I could find where she had gone if I looked for clues in the forest."

"Why did you leave the whistle behind? Don't you know that it can bring help?"

Adam looked at the ground. "I was in a hurry and forgot it. "

"Come on, I'll take you home."

"But I have to find her."

"Why?"

"I…" Adam shook his head. "I can't tell you. It's a secret."

"You'll only tell her?"

He nodded.

Regina knew she couldn't tell him the truth, but she also couldn't wander round the forest with him if he would never find 'her'. She didn't know what to do.

"What if I promise to give her the message? I can use magic to find her, the same way I found you. If you write the message down I'll use my magic so that you can send to her."

"Why would you help me?"

"Because it'll be getting dark soon and your parents are worried about you. This forest is not a good place for children to be, especially at night."

"I survived last night."

His stubbornness reminded her of Henry. She stroked her horse's nose as she spoke, trying not to look too amused.

"I bet you were cold and hungry, though. I have some paper in my bag, you can write your letter to the woodsman's daughter and…"

"Wait, I didn't say what her father did."

"Yes you did."

"No. I didn't."

"How else would I know?"

Adam began backing away. "You're…"

Before he could finish what he was about to say, a cloud of magic grew around Regina. She seized the horse's reins and reached for Adam, grabbing his hand as it began to pull her away.

She stumbled as they arrived at their destination, because Adam was still struggling but the horse kept her upright. Looking around, Regina realised they were at the edge of the forest.

Emma was waiting. She didn't look happy.