Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.
" I think Ive fallen for you" Neal said to Regina who was laying beside him under her apple tree looking into clouds.
Regina smiled at him " I, I"
Her words were stopped when she felt Neal's lips pressed against hers, the warmth of his body on top of hers. They were interrupted when Neal felt grass being dropped on him. He looked up to see three year old Henry. Neal quickly hopped off of Regina. " Henry" she said he came running into her arms. " I saved you" he said
" from what" she replied
Henry pointed to Neal and said " no ones stealing you away from me"
" of course not" she replied " I'm all yours " she said as she held him tight. Neal looked at Regina with a smile on his face " I wouldn't dare steal her from you little man"
"I'm not little I'm big" he replied
" yes you are" Neal said.
Regina sat at her office twisting the wedding ring on her finger thinking of old memories. Her thoughts were interrupted when someone came barging into her office. "ruby" she said
" Regina we need to talk"
" yes we do" Regina said " " why did you save me wouldn't it of been easier to let me die"
" it would of but Neal was willing to give me a chance so I'll give you a chance"
" what do you mean"
" Neal he believed in you so will I you can change"
" can I" she said
" yes we all can"
" that's sweet dear but I'm unable of change, even when I try they just think I'm plotting something, so dear you tell me why I should try a lost cause"
" because you are better than this"
" am I really" she said as she walked into ruby's personal space
" yes, yes you are"
" don't fool yourself dear, I thought you were smart but obviously your not by letting me live"
" we all need second chances or in your case thirds and fourths or maybe fifths"
" ha change I will never be good enough for you good guys now leave"
" fine but I thought you should know that when I saw Neal after the incident he said help desk if that means anything to you"
Henry and Emma had arrived into storybrooke to see guards every where. " what the hell happened" Emma said as they drove into town.
" I don't know but it can't be good" Henry replied. They made their way to Emma's parents apartment. " Emma where have you been" snow said
" I was doing something for Neal he said it was important"
" when did he ask you to do this errand"
" last week you know when I left"
" that's funny"
" uh what's funny"
" that's the same day he was stabbed this can't be a coincidence"
" what stabbed is he alright"
" what's wrong with dad" Henry said
" he's stable for now"
" then how's Regina"
" she didn't take it to well, she turned she joined her mother"
" shit"
" we need to see her" Henry said
" no" David interrupted " you could get hurt"
" no she would never hurt me" Henry argued
" first we will see Neal then we will see what happens" Emma said
They walked into the hospital and was shown Neal Emma couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Neal" she said but no response. " dad" Henry said as he wrapped his arms around him but Neal just stayed still. " dad wake up"Henry said tears running down his face. Emma wrapped her arms around Henry and hugged him he cried into her shirt. " can we see mum" he said
" yeh kid" she replied not sure of what they would find.
Regina was going through the draws in her desk when she startled by the noise of the door being slammed open " must every one be so persistent these days didn't your parents ever teach you not to slam doors" she said
" in fact no because of you i never grew up with my parents"
" ah Miss Swan what are you doing back I thought you ran away with my son"
" that doesn't matter what does matter is you've gone evil"
" evil" Regina said as she laughed " evil, you took away my son my husband is basically dead and the town all they could do was blame me for all there problems. Someone disappears it Regina's fault but even when they find out the truth they still manage to put the blame on me. Maybe you were right Miss Swan maybe I can never change"
" that's a lie" Henry said
" Henry" she said as she watched him walk out from behind the door frame.
" mum you were, you did change"
Regina could feel tears forming from behind her eyes but she managed to keep them back. " no, I'll always be the evil queen in everyone's eyes no matter how much I try" she said her voice broken.
" no, your not the evil queen your my mum" Henry said as he ran to her wrapping his tiny arms around Regina. Regina embraced his hug not wanting to let go tears running down her face.
" Henry I love you" she said " I'm so sorry"
" I don't want to leave you" he said " I'm sorry for the way I acted I never meant to hurt you I just thought you didn't really love me"
" henry, I love you with all that's left of my broken heart"
"please mum don't do this I believe in you"
" you do"
" yes"
"I'll do it I'll stop this"
" thank you" he said "I do love you"
" I love you to" she replied.
" mother" she said "change of plans we will stop this I don't want to be this"
" what do you mean dear"
" my son still believes in me that I can change"
" no dear don't listen to him he's lying"
" no he's not, I'm stopping this"
" no your not dear"
" what are you going to stop me"
" yes dear I will' she said as she disappeared and reappeared in Regina's path " I will"
" move out of my way"
" dear that's no way to talk to your mother any way dear you try and leave and your lover boy dies"
" what"
" you remember what I did to Daniel your knew lover boy will get the same, treatment as he did"
" what do you mean"
" you foolish girl" she said " I just happened to have Neal's heart it would be a shame to crush it, a waste of a life"
" you wouldn't dare"
" ask Daniel if I would dare"
" you won't get away with this" Regina spat
Cora chuckled " those were the same words your husband used and what happened I got away with it"
Regina disappeared a puff of smoke and reappeared in front of Emma. " Cora she's behind this she is the reason why Neal is like this"
" what do you mean" Emma replied
" what I mean I'd she has his heart" she said
" what, ok we can fix this maybe if we get Gold on our side"
" good luck with that Gold won't help"
" oh yes he will" Emma said " he will have no choice but to help"
" what do you mean"
" I fill you in on the details when we get there"
They arrived at the front of Mr Golds shop slamming the door open. " ah what can I do for your majesty and Miss Swan"
" we need your help" Regina said
"help for what" he replied
" to defeat Cora"
" sorry dears but I already made a deal with her"
" than undo it" Regina said as she slammed her fists onto the counter
" you just can't undo a deal"
" well you are going to have to if you are ever going to see your son again" Emma said
" what do you mean did you find him"
" let's just say there is a very high chance that Neal is Bealfire"
" no that can't be"
" I found evidence, he was a fairy tale character and only two people managed to escape the curse he wasn't one of them"
" no this can't be right"
" are you willing to take that risk"
" fine only because if this is true if he is Bea, I"
" so we have your support"
" yes what do we need to do"
" we need to get his heart back before she crushes it" Regina said
They had come up with a plan to attack Cora. They broke into the mansion and put it under siege. The house was protected by magic but they managed to bypass with the combination of Mr Golds and Regina's magic. Regina and Cora fought it out. Magic flying every where. Cora soon surrendered and gave Regina Neal's heart. " your making a huge mistake" Cora spat
" no I'm not mother excepting you back into my life that was a mistake"
" fine dear have it your way enjoy your happiness while it last" she said with a smirk on her face before disappearing.
" I don't think that will be the last we hear from her" Emma said
" I believe your right Miss Swan" rumple said
" how about we save my husband than discuss this" Regina said.
Rumple waved his hand and they all disappeared arriving at the hospital. They made to Neal's room Regina had his heart in her hand. she walked up beside his bed placing her hand and his heart above his chest before pushing it into place. Neal's eyes slowly opened as he took a deep breathe. He saw Regina's face hovering above his. " you saved me" he said
" did you ever doubt I would" she replied before finding her lips pressed against his, his arms wrapped around her. He couldn't believe it was her he took in her familiar scent of apples and deepened the kiss to explore the familiar tasting mouth that he had missed so much. They slightly pulled apart to catch their breathe both faces only inches apart. " I love you" he said
" I love you to" she replied.
Cora watched them through a magic mirror in her hide out somewhere in the woods.
" enjoy your happiness dear because it will soon end" she said with a smirk on her face she wasn't finished she still had plan B.