"What exactly are you looking for Cora?"

"I'll know it when I see it."

Eva shot Cora a look, "So, you won't tell me."

Cora looked up from the book she was reading, "No, no I won't. Not until I'm sure." She gestured to the books on the shelves, "You read my grandson's books, so I know you can read. This place is filled with all sorts of other books. Read. Expand your mind."

Eva stared at Cora for a long moment, watching her read some ancient looking book. Then she sighed, stood, and went over to a shelf that had the word New on one side of it. She went down the row of books, not stopping until she got to one that was displayed with its cover out instead of in. "Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. Well, that looks gruesome."

Cora didn't look up but rolled her eyes at the book she was reading. The library seemed like just any other little public library, but, it seemed that it had not just current fiction and a disturbing number of Sweet Valley High paperbacks, it also had an entire two shelves of books that had originated in the Enchanted Forest.

She flipped to the next page and her hand froze over the page. She glanced up, but Eva was engrossed in a book she'd pulled off the shelf. She looked back down at the spell on the page and read it over. Under her breath she made a noise, "Hmmm…"

oOOOOo

"We're not dead."

Regina rolled her eyes, "Please, say that a bit louder, I don't think that the entire neighborhood heard you."

Emma just smirked, "Nah, we're just a couple of women who appeared from thin air right?"

Regina rolled her eyes and climbed the stairs to the front door. She rang the doorbell. There was silence for a moment, then a young sounding voice called from the other side of the door. "I'm coming, I'm coming."

It was a young boy of eleven or so who opened the door. "May I help you?"

A voice came from inside the home, "Who is it Henry?"

The boy yelled back, "Couple of random women. Do you know Kim? She's home if that's who you're looking for. You're prettier than Kate or Christy for sure."

The woman who must have been Kim appeared next to Henry on crutches. She had blonde hair that tumbled over her shoulders in curls. "Hi. How can I help you?"

Regina had been struck silent. Emma glanced at her, then spoke, "We're looking for a young boy, Neville. JJ Jareau said that you might be able to help us find him?"

Kim regarded the two women for a long moment, "C'mon in. JJ sent you?"

Emma nodded, "Yep."

"Why are you looking for this boy?"

"He's my son."

Kim looked Regina up and down, "And her?"

"My— girlfriend, or something..." She glanced over at Regina, "I love her."

Regina seemed to find her voice, "We have papers if you need more than our word and Agent Jareau's name."

Kim shook her head, "Nah— you look trustworthy— the blonde one not so much. Plus JJ called me. Henry—"

He interrupted Kim, "I'll get the phone." There was a cry from father into the apartment. "And make sure Lola's okay."

Henry Weaver appeared a moment later with a cell phone sticking out of his pocket and a now happy gurgling baby girl in his arms. "Here-" He stuck out his hip and Kim removed the her phone from the pocket.

"Thanks."

Henry Weaver gestured with his chin towards the big room off the main hall. "Kim'll probably be blabbing forever. Do you want to sit down?"

Kim didn't look at Henry, but shot back, "Heard that kiddo."

Henry Weaver rolled his eyes and led the way into the living room. Regina sat, while Emma walked over to the mantle and studied the pictures on it. But before she could ask a question another phone rang somewhere.

Henry Weaver put the baby, Lola, into Emma's arms, "Sorry, sorry, that's Mama— I'll be back."

Emma stared at Lola as Lola stared right back at Emma, "Uh— Regina, do you—"

"Nope." Regina watched as Lola gripped Emma's finger. "Have you…" Regina trailed off for a moment, "..held any babies since Henry— since he was born?"

Emma slowly shook her head, "Not until I held Little Neal, no."

"I'm sorry."

Emma walked over and sat next to Regina. Lola reached for the dark haired woman and Emma handed her over. Lola seemed very interested in Regina's face.

Emma smiled, "You are very, very good with kids. A natural mother. I don't know if I've ever said this to you. Maybe I have. I'm glad that you were the one who raised Henry. I'm mean, other than because that meant that I got to meet you. Because you always put him first."

Regina put her hand up in front of Lola and her little hand started exploring Regina's. "So did you Emma. And, as for the adoption, apparently I had no choice in the matter, but, thank you." She paused, "Do you want more kids?"

Emma thought for a moment, "I don't know." She glanced over at Regina and met Regina's gaze,

"Is that the wrong answer?"

Regina smiled, "Of course not. I love you no matter what your decisions are."

Emma smiled back, but before she could answer Kim came into the room. "Ah, I see you've met little Lola." Lola saw who'd entered the room and nearly dove for her. Somehow Regina managed to keep a hold of the wriggling little girl and instead stood and handed her to Kim. "So. I have a place for you. Pittsfield."

Emma blew out a breath, "Really?"

Regina looked between Emma and Kim, "Why really?"

Emma shook her head, "It's a town in the western part of Massachusetts. You know, the same state in which we started this little journey looking for him."

"Ah." Regina regarded Kim, "Do you know if he's there— or if he was there?"

Kim held up her phone, "I first called a social worker contact I have. And she said his roomie in the group home said he was asking the roomie about Massachusetts, apparently the roomie has friends there. I called a friend, and as far as Abby knows, he's in Pittsfield."

Emma stood, "Pittsfield it is."

Under Lola's bottom Kim stuck out her fingers, a piece of paper in them. "Abby, Dr. Abby Lockhart works in the Emergency Department at Berkshire Medical Center. She'll help you find him." Lola gave a little yip at being disturbed as Regina took the piece of paper from Kim.

"Thank you."

Kim smiled, "Lola liked you. And she doesn't like anyone. Are you going to head out right now, or?"

Emma spoke, "We are. But, like Regina said, thank you so much."

Kim walked, Lola still in her hands now dosing a little, the two women to the door. "You're welcome. I hope you find this… Neville."

Regina put an arm around Emma, "We will." And they left. Neither woman spoke again until they'd gotten a bit down the street.

Emma was the one to break the silence, "So, we go."

Regina shook her head, "We can't."

"Why?" Emma then thought it through and it came to her. "Oh, because if we arrive too soon after Kim's call… I see your point." Emma took out her phone and her thumbs swiped this way and that for a minute, "Well, if we took a flight, and then drove it would take us about three to four hours."

Regina's jaw tensed up. "There's nothing we can do about it. If we show up— right now…"

"Is there some sort of magic that we can use? Some spell to muddy her thoughts or perceptions of time or whatever?"

Regina shook her head, "No. I mean, yes there are. But, I won't, not again. Not ever again will I mess with someone's mind."

Emma put an arm through Regina's arm, "Fair enough. So, then, we wait. Want to wait here, or there?"

Regina and Emma walked in silence down the street for a few moments, going in no specific direction. "You were going to show me somewhere in Maine."

"Oh, yeah, but, I said after we found Neville."

Regina stopped and turned towards Emma, "We have time now. Unless you've changed your mind."

"No. Okay. A little side trip." Emma got out her phone and opened the maps app. She zoomed in and out for a moment, and then showed it to Regina. "Here."

Regina held out her hand, and they both ducked into an alley. After a quick look around Regina waved her free hand upwards, and they disappeared in a poof of smoke.

oOOOOo

"Ruby? Ruby? Are you out here?"

A noise off to the side made her jump, her hand going to the dagger that she'd gotten from her trunk at the library. A gray squirrel scampered away, pausing to give Belle a sort of 'really, I'm that scary' look. Belle shook her head and turned, she took a step forward and came to a full stop. She swallowed, then got down on one knee, "You're so… you're larger than I thought you'd be."

Belle sheathed her dagger and put a hand out, she kept speaking as the wolf sniffed at it. "I'm going to assume that you're Ruby." The wolf's eyes looked up and met Belle's. Belle nearly stumbled back at the intensity in them, she smiled to herself, "Definitely Ruby. Do you… understand what I'm saying right now, or…" Belle looked down at the forest floor, her hair coming down in front of her face.

Ruby whiffed out a breath of air, blowing Belle's hair out of her face. Belle laughed and smoothed a hand over the top of Ruby's head. "You are just as beautiful in this form as in your other one Ruby."

Ruby took a step back, somehow her wolf features showing confusing almost as if she was looking through her human face.

Even years later Belle couldn't have told anyone what came over her next. She stood, then leaned down and gave Ruby's nose a kiss, and Ruby sat back on her haunches for a moment Belle darted into the forest.

After a stunned moment Ruby sprinted after the woman.

Ruby was fast, but Belle managed to dodge and weave, over, under, and through the bramble, branches, plants, and trees. That is until the root that seemed to come from nowhere got under Belle's foot and she went sprawling, a sound of pain coming from her as she hit the ground.

Ruby skidded to a halt next to her and before Belle could moan because of the pain coming from her ankle, Ruby turned from Wolf form to a very naked human one. Belle blinked and looked down at the ground, "Oh—"

Ruby looked down and smiled just a little, quite a bit of her blushing as well. "Ah, sorry—"

Belle and turned so that her back faced Ruby, "Can you get to the backpack. It has a blanket in it."

Ruby did and wrapped it around herself. "Sorry— I was worried, and so I didn't think. I'm trying to work on that."

Belle turned back around and shook her head, "I'm not a wilting flower Ruby."

"No, no, I know. I just…" Ruby frowned, "Why are you out here anyway?"

Belle rubbed at her ankle while she was silent, "I was actually looking for you."

Ruby frowned, "Why?"

Belle went still, "Do you— everyone has seemed to—" Belle trailed off.

Ruby put a hand over Belle's on the young woman's ankle, "Belle— I thought we were friends. You can tell me anything."

Belle stared down at their hands, "That's the problem isn't it?"

Ruby frowned, "What?"

Belle shook her head and closed her eyes for a moment before speaking, "We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

Ruby frowned, "Who said that? Shakespeare, or… or someone."

Belle smiled just a little bit, "Joseph Campbell."

"Ah, the myth guy." That brought a small smile to Belle's lips, "What, I may not read as much as you, and really, who does, but I'm not a vapid idiot like most of the town thinks."

Belle patted Ruby's hand, "I know, I know that." Belle paused, "I— I thought that he would change."

Ruby went with the change, "Now that he's no longer the Dark One?"

Belle shook her head, "No— I mean, yes, now too. But then as well. I thought that my loving him. That somehow, my love was special, or… or something. I thought that I was the exception. That through my love that I could… I don't know, cure him?" Belle sighed, "It sounds stupid to say it out loud. And, of course, he loves his son too, but he wouldn't even…"

Ruby interrupted Belle, "Belle, please, just plainly say what you're dancing around."

"I like you… I like you Ruby Lucas."

Ruby blinked a half a frown frozen on her face, "Yes, of course, we're frie—"

Belle interrupted Ruby, "No— more than that. I feel— more than that for you Ruby."

"Oh—"

Belle stood, walked around for a moment, and sat back down. "Maybe I don't like you— maybe it's love, but that's so scary on multiple levels. But when I'm here with you, anywhere with you, I feel. I—"

Ruby scooted closer to Belle cutting off her rambling, "May I make a suggestion?"

"Of course."

"Just. Stop moving, deciding, whatever, for a little bit."

Belle frowned, "I don't understand."

Ruby put a hand against her blanket covered chest, "I've felt— love— romantic love for you nearly since you appeared in town post-curse. But, before you do anything rash. Find yourself. So much of your life has revolved around Gold, Rumpel. Don't replace him with me."

Belle stared at Ruby for a long moment. Then looked down at her hands, "You're being very…"

Ruby smiled, reached over and squeezed Belle's hand, then released it. "I'm sending mixed signals, I know. I just want you to be happy Belle. If that's a happy ending with Mr. Frowny face, I'll live with it. Or if that's alone, saving the world and kicking ass, I'll live with it too."

Belle grabbed the blanket around Ruby and pulled it and her until they were face to face. "I would like to try something."

Ruby shook her head, "You are the devil sometimes Ms. French. I'm naked and you wanna kiss me? I'd call that entirely unfair."

Belle smirked, "All's fair in love and war right?"

Ruby gave a half a sigh, but the smile stayed on her face. "Okay, let's see what you can do then."

Their lips nearly met when a throat cleared to their left. "I— ah, sorry for the intrusion, but, I seem to be a little lost."

Both women's heads swiveled to look at the newcomer. Belle's look was also much more welcoming than Ruby's. Belle spoke, "Hi. Where are you trying to go?"

The light brunette shook her head. "I— I actually don't know that either. Where are we?"

Ruby pulled the blanket tighter together at her neck, "The outskirts of Storybrooke."

"Storybrooke?"

"Storybrooke Maine."

"Maine. Okay. Are we on the coast or…"

Ruby started to answer, but Belle put a hand up and asked a question, "What's your name?"

"Anna. My name is Anna Sasdahl."

oOOOOo

"This is—"

Regina put a hand up and Emma fell silent. They stood, neither moving or speaking for a few minutes. Finally Regina put a hand out. Emma took it and Regina pulled Emma into a hug. "Thank you for showing me this."

Emma pulled back a bit, "And all I get is a hug?"

Regina smiled and brushed the back of her hand along Emma's jawline. She leaned in and Emma met her halfway. They kissed and took their time. There was no Henry or any other family to interrupt them, no crisis to rear its ugly head, for a brief few moments it was nothing but them.

Until the pickup roared by, its music blaring, and teenage voices singing along. Regina pulled back and wiped a bit of her lipstick off of the side of Emma's mouth. "I love you Em."

"I love you too Regina." She smirked a little, "So, why do you get to call me Em, and I don't get to call you Gina huh?"

Regina started to step away, but Emma didn't let her go. "You don't like it?"

Emma's smirk turned into a smile, "I love it. Did your Mom call you Gina or something?"

Regina was still for a moment, then shook her head. "Leopold."

"Oh, Regina, I'm sorry. I shouldn't…"

Regina put two fingers over Emma's lips, "You're the one who should. Questioning me. I won't take it from others, but, you my love…" Regina turned, "So, this is where the wardrobe dumped you and August."

Emma nodded, "And now he's a little kid and I'm in love with the woman…"

"…who made it so your parents had to put you in that wardrobe. You're amazing Emma Swan."

Emma made a face, "I'm not. I'm just…"

"Shh… You are. You have the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met. And a pure one as well."

Emma shook her head, "It's easy to always have been the fairy tale good guy. But you Regina. You amaze me every day. Because I can feel—" Emma tapped her breast bone, "—it in here. Now, every day you hurt about what you did. Not to mention I can feel you fighting your inner demons every minute of every day as well." Emma paused, "You did horrible things, so many horrible things." Regina looked down at the ground, but Emma put a finger under the brunette's chin and lifted it. "But, from now on you are only going to do good things, amazing things, helpful things, and I'm going to be right there next to you. Helping, probably giving you some hard core grief here and there."

A smile graced Regina's eyes although it didn't make it to her lips. "You are a very good needler."

"Is that what I'm the best at though?" Emma wiggled her eyebrows and Regina chuckled. "You know, I just happen to know of a cabin that's not far from here, and, it's not in season you know…"

Regina put her hand out, and Emma took it. "But what would we do there?"

Emma laughed and Regina smiled.

oOOOOo

Cora looked around at those the were gathered in the Mayor's office. She stood at the back of the room. Eva, Snow, David, and their son Little Neal asleep in Snow's arms stood at the front. Granny was also there, as well as a man named Archie and his Dalmatian. Playing with the dog was Roland, while his parents Marian and Robin looked on.

Off to one side stood Mulan, Aurora, Mei. The young girl was very carefully holding Little Phillip, while Mulan looked on with a worried look on her face and Aurora watched Mulan with a smile on hers.

Rumpelstiltskin wasn't present, which surprised Cora. But his ex Milah was there, looking very, very cozy with Elsa.

Even though it was them that everyone was there to hear from the last to enter was Glinda's group. She, Angra, Zelena, and Henry had caused everyone to look up and over at the door.

It was Snow who spoke, "So?"

Henry gestured to Glinda, "Glinda thinks that she knows how to save the worlds, the realms."

Cora gave a half a laugh from the back of the room. "Oh, Glinda thinks? I know how to save the realms."

The room went still and silent. Glinda looked Cora up and down, "And you are?"

"Cora Mills."

Glinda glanced between Cora and Zelena, "Ah, the one who abandoned your daughter because… why was that again? She was an inconvenience?"

Cora inclined her head, "I did. I don't see what that has to do with why we're all here though."

Glinda turned away from Cora and addressed Snow again, "I can save the realms. There's a hat…"

"No."

Glinda took a breath in and let it out slowly before turning towards Cora again, "You have no idea what I'm referring to woman. Be silent and let those who have power save everyone."

One side of Cora's face jumped just a bit and her right hand made a fist. But a beat later she cleared her throat and let the fist go. "I do know what you're referring to. It's a hat the can take in magic and channel it. Where do you propose we get this magic?"

Glinda glanced over at Zelena, then back to Cora. "You have two daughters who have committed horrible crimes against the people of this realm. You yourself have as well. Or, do you claim to be innocent?"

Cora stared at Glinda for a long moment, then basically dismissed her. She strode towards the front of the room. "Snow…" She paused, "Queen Snow." A half a smirk came to her face, "Or is it Mayor?"

Snow narrowed her eyes at Cora, "Let's just stick with Snow, what is your plan?"

Eva spoke up, "Snow, she's…"

Snow put a hand on her mother's shoulder, "Please mother."

David nodded his agreement. "We need to hear any and all solutions before we decide what to do."

"It's a spell. It takes five people. Three connected magic wielders and two anchors. It also takes a magic totem."

Snow spoke up, surprised, "The rose." Snow held Cora's gaze for a long moment, thinking, "You and your daughters are the three. Who are the anchors?"

"Henry is one and Emma's son—" Henry made a noise and Cora looked over at him for a second. "Birth son, and yes. You could be right, this a rose could be the totem."

Eva whipped out the cell phone. "Then we need to call my granddaughter. Get her back here."

Cora sighed, "Have you not been listening? They need to find the boy first."

Eva stood up a bit straighter, as regal as she could be, "And how do you know they haven't found him yet?"

It was Archie who spoke up, "Because they're not back yet."

Cora nodded. But before she could speak again Glinda did. "It is also not the only solution on the table."

Cora took a few steps backwards, "You're right." She glanced around, "It is your decision Snow." She gave a half bow and turned, leaving the room.

She didn't stop until she got to the bench and dock where Eva had found her. She sat with a groan and closed her eyes, her body and mind were tired. Being good was much more tiring than being evil. She sat there alone for a few minutes. And even when Zelena sat down at the other end of the bench still Cora didn't move.

Zelena finally spoke, "Are you on the level? Or will you hurt this town?"

Cora opened her eyes but stayed silent for a moment more, the turned and faced her daughter. "Your Glinda's plan will kill people. Mine will not."

"She's not mine. I'm not sure how much of a friend she even was…" Zelena paused, "There are only two people in this town I trust. Henry, and Regina. Henry has told me more than once that since you have your heart again I should give you a fresh chance."

"I'm not doing this for a fresh start."

Zelena studied her mother and all of a sudden understanding dawned on Zelena's face, "You think that you'll— we'll fix the realms and you'll die again, or simply disappear."

Cora nodded, "It's a distinct possibility, yes. I believe that Milah, Marian, Eva, and I are products of a universe in flux."

Zelena stared at Cora for a moment, "Have you read one of Henry's comic books?"

Cora smiled, "More than one, yes." Zelena shook her head and Cora continued, "Has Snow decided her course of action yet?"

Zelena shook her head, "No, when I left they were about to call Emma and Regina."

Cora stood, "They can't."

Zelena frowned and stood as well, "Just to explain the…"

She didn't get to finish her sentence as Cora grabbed her hand and both women disappeared in a poof of purplish smoke, reappearing a moment later back in the Mayor's office and causing gasps.

"…plans."

Cora grabbed the phone from Snow's hand. "You can't do that."

Everyone stood in stunned silence until Henry broke the silence. "Why not?"

Cora shook her head, "They need to find Emma's birth son."

Milah spoke up, "Says you."

Cora turned and nodded, "Yes. How many spells have you cast again? More than five, ten, a hundred?"

Milah and Cora's gazes battled for a moment, but then Milah inclined her head, "Fair enough."

"Give me the phone Cora. We're going with your plan, and part of that is that we're going to call my daughter and your daughter."

"No."

"Cora."

Cora held the phone up in one hand and Henry practically lunged for it. "Waiiittt…"

Henry managed to get one hand on the phone before Cora disintegrated it to nothing. "Cora, Grandma… I agree with you, I do, I do. But, please don't destroy my phone? It's the only thing that has..." Henry trailed off.

Cora nodded and withdrew her hand, leaving the phone in Henry's palm. "You won't call your mothers?"

Henry nodded, "I promise."

Before anyone else could speak the doors to the Mayor's office banged all the way open and a woman that only two in the room recognized skidded to a halt. Her red hair all mussed in every direction, her eyes searched the room until they landed on one person. "Angra?"

Angra's mouth dropped open, "Mom?"

Elsa's face went pale and Milah had to hold her up as she nearly pitched forward. "Anna?"

The mother and daughter met in the middle of the room. The hug was so tight that Cora imagined that

Cora pulled her gaze away from the reunion and stared at the phone in Henry's hand, then looked down as he took one of her hands in his own. "She'll be back and you can hug her like that." Henry lowered his voice just a little, "I will too."

Cora looked over at Zelena took her other hand, "I will as well."

Elsa joined the reunion hug and Cora watched them hug, and cry, and laugh. "Hmmm…"

Snow shot daggers at Cora, "What?"

Cora glanced at Snow, "Nothing. I just had a thought."

"You can continue having it while I call my daughter."

Cora shook her head. "No. Look, Snow…" Cora stopped herself and shook her head, "No. No. I have a reason, and when my reason has borne fruit, then you'll realize why we can't call them. Until then I guess you'll just have to trust me."

Snow made a face, but David put a hand on her shoulder and Snow managed not to say anything back to Cora.

"Henry. I- I have a theory that I need your help with."

That got Snow's attention again, "A theory about what?"

Cora shook her head, "Nothing to do with our daughters or saving the realms I assure you. Henry?"

Henry glanced at Elsa, Anna, and Angra and slowly nodded. "Yeah. Is it somewhere outside?"

"It is."

He sighed, "That'd be good. Do you wanna come Aunt Zelena?"

Zelena studied her mother for a moment, the nodded, "I will accompany you. After all, your mother tasked me with keeping you safe."

They left the Mayor's office, Henry with one last question before they were out the door, "So, where are we going?"