A/N: We'd like to thank anonymous and EvilRegal, and we'd like to tell all our fellow viewers that there'll probably only be a few chapters left. Sorry it's shorter than usual!

-Skye

CHAPTER 14

Gold suggested the fact that Regina was probably at the border line. Everybody froze for a moment, knowing the only reason she'd go there. The next few seconds were filled with chaos.

"Shut up! Everyone!" Emma yelled. Once everyone quieted down, she quietly asked Ruby to sniff out her scent, to see if she was actually there. After a few minutes, Ruby came back and told everyone she saw Regina walking over there. Everyone drove quickly to the border.

When Regina was about to step across the line, someone pulled her by the arm, spun her around, and forced her into a hug. She let out a small yelp before realizing who was hugging her. She sighed. "Neal, you're here." She looked over his shoulder. "With Henry."

He squeezed her tightly and she felt tears on her shoulder. "Don't...please don't leave me," he whispered.

Regina managed to force a small laugh. "It's funny how that was what I wanted to say when you left...with your family."

He reluctantly pulled away and held her shoulders. He looked into her eyes, serious. "I love you, I was always going to come back. I told you, I was just packing my-"

Regina avoided his gaze, but whispered into his ear. "There are many others who promised the same thing, but..." she trailed off.

He tilted her chin up. "Was that why you wanted to cross? I love you so much, and you are never going to lose me."

She tried to look away again. Neal knew something was wrong. "What's bothering you?"

The Charmings and Gold were still standing by the cars. Snow was the first to realize what Regina was trying to hide. Eyes widening, she slowly said, "The side effects."

Neal looked at Snow, and back to Regina. "What effects? What is she talking about?"

Regina closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. How does he not understand? Regina thought angrily. She clenched her fists. "The spell doesn't have any side effects, but..." she sighed again. There was no point getting mad at Neal. "The memories that created the emotions I used to kill my mo- Cora, are still inside me."

Neal was slightly confused, understanding little of what Regina said. "What are you trying to say?"

Regina took a deep breath and said, "Everytime I close my eyes, I feel like I'm reliving each and every memory in my mind, and I can't stand it."

Snows eyebrows furrowed. "Wait, you knew it was going to happen?"

Regina replied with a wry smile. "I thought I was going to die, but when I woke, I put the pieces together, and here I am, standing here."

Neal looked at Regina, pleading. "We can figure something out, you don't have to forget."

Regina was crying.

"You don't understand," she said, pointing at Charming. "Imagine living through the death of your mother in your arms," she then pointed at Red. "The day you found out that you killed your true love." she pointed at the respective person and their painful memory that came along with it. "The day you got pulled away from you father. The moment when you found out your wife and everybody found you to be a coward." She looked at Neal with tears in her eyes. "To relive the moment when your own son hates you. That your own son ran away to his biological mother because he couldn't stand you. To watch your own mother crush your true love's heart and watching him dying over and over again. Neal, I can't live like this. It's making me crazy. When I used this spell, I thought I was going to die. So all these memories will die too." Her whole body began to tremble.

"No, we can fix this. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have left you. Please! Love can conquer any spell or curse, it will work." Neal was stuttering, trying to think of something he could do to help. Neal was frantic, and everybody could see that. He held Regina's arms tightly.

"Neal, I'm not under any spell. This is me, and I don't want to suffer living through everything again. You don't understand. I'm sorry." she spoke quietly.

She raised her hand and summoned what's left of her magic to create a barrier between them.

Everybody's eyes were wide open. "No." they all gasped.

Neal was in tears. "What are you doing! No!" He used his fists to hit the barrier as hard as he could, trying to reach out to her. Henry, too, ran next to Neal trying to break the barrier. "No! Mom!"

"I'm truly sorry." She slowly stepped backwards.

Neal watched her every move. "No! Don't cross the line! Regina! Please." he begged kneeling on the ground, still pounding at the barrier between them.

As Regina stepped across the line, she felt like something had struck her.

Neal watched as Regina's body crumbled to the floor.

"NO!" he yelled.

•••