Life didn't stop. Despite everything changing and shifting around them, departures that were unexpected and arrivals that were anticipated, life continued on in a way that sometimes seemed almost cruel. With the start of grade school she never would have expected things in their world would shift in any way bigger than what had already come to pass, but it did. It seemed like such an easy transition to go from Kindergarten to first grade, and aside from the nightmares she supposed it was for Gideon, but she was aware of just how difficult it had been for Neal and Robin, to start grade school and not have their parents there to see it. They'd hosted a birthday party for Gideon and she'd watched as the pair of them struggled to smile, Robin more than Neal as now without Regina she had no family left in town. She often wondered if Regina had considered that before deciding to stay with Henry. Emma was doing a good job caring for the child and she was shocked by just how many in Storybrooke were happy to help out when it was needed despite the fact that she was the daughter of the Wicked Witch. It was impossible not to feel sorry for a child who just wanted her family back. That was why she assumed Emma wanted to take care of her, she had a feeling she could relate to what the girl was going through.

On Emma's birthday, just when she thought that she couldn't handle any more life changes for a while that didn't include the return of their friends that she got another surprise. She and Rapunzel were working alone in the library and she'd gotten up to go to the bathroom the pair of them used during work hours. As she stood at the sink ready to wash her hands she saw an odd-looking plastic stick propped up over the faucet. There was a blue cap and a screen on it and when she looked it over she saw that the screen read "pregnant". It took her a moment to connect the dots in her head, to remember it was only her and Rapunzel who used this bathroom and if she hadn't taken the pregnancy test then…

She walked out into the library with a beaming smile and saw Rapunzel sitting there in her chair waiting for her with an excited grin.

"You're pregnant?"

She nodded. There was a squeal between the two of them as they launched into one another's arms and held on tight. Rapunzel had been trying to get pregnant for more than a year, in fact, she'd feared that the root she'd drank all those years ago might have damaged her in some way or that she was getting too old, neither of them were exactly "spring chickens" anymore she'd often said. But Jackie was certain that it was possible. She'd told her months ago to just relax and let nature do its job. Apparently, it had worked. And it was funny to think that even in the midst of everything that had happened and everything that was happening, something so simple could startle her so much. She was thrilled of course, but also sad, for it made her remember everything that Snow and David, even Regina and Zelena were missing. And it made her endlessly curious about what they were missing with them. And even more, she wondered if they knew what they were missing in their children's lives.

She'd been excited to pick Gideon up from school that day and tell him Rapunzel's good news. But when she arrived at the school Gideon didn't run out to her with his usual bright smile. He was unhappy. And though she wouldn't admit it, it was for a decent reason, at least to a child who had just turned six. He lived for his time on the playground with his friends, but that day one of them hadn't been permitted to play with them. Robin had been asked to stay indoors. She was in trouble. The teacher had caught her with a book of spells and confiscated it. Where, exactly, Robin had gotten the book was a mystery to everyone, but what she was trying to use it for was an understandable situation to everyone-everyone except her teacher it seemed.

"She just misses her mama," Gideon explained sadly as they walked hand in hand down the street. "She just wanted to try and use the magic to bring her back. Emma is nice to her at their house, but she wants her mama back."

Her heart broke as they walked down the street to his father's shop and she realized that his sadness had very little to do with the fact that Robin hadn't been allowed to play with them that day, and was instead focused on the young girl. He had sympathy toward her. That was a good thing in the long run, but at that moment…

"I'll tell you what…" she muttered kneeling down beside him. "Emma told me that she was planning on taking Robin and Neal to Granny's tonight for ice cream because it's her birthday. Why don't we go too."

His face brightened. "Really?! On a school night?! For no reason at all?!"

"On a school night and for no reason at all!" she smiled back. He rushed forward quickly and hugged her tight before letting go and yelling "I'm gonna tell Papa!" as he tore down the rest of the street to the pawn shop.

That would come as a surprise. Generally, they had a rule about going to Granny's and seeing friends on school nights, but this seemed in order tonight, given the circumstances. And she already knew that Emma was talking with the teacher, explaining the situation that she was certain she already knew. If her six-year-old could have sympathy on poor Robin's situation, then why couldn't their teacher.

"I understand we're breaking a school rule tonight," Rumple inquired when she finally joined the pair of them in the back room and verified that Gideon was, in fact, getting books out of his bag to start his homework. She leaned over and kissed her husband before nodding.

"I'll explain later, this falls under a special occasion in my book. I want to let Rapunzel know first. She should join us as she's finally expecting a B-A-B-Y."

"Auntie's gonna have a baby?!" Gideon squealed interpreting the message she'd been intending to tell him later. "I get a cousin?!"

The incident at school was overshadowed by the news of a new cousin for Gideon and the idea of ice cream. Rapunzel and Flynn promised to meet them at Granny's for Emma's birthday and oddly enough, by the time dinner rolled around, it was the teacher that she felt sorry for. As it turned out, Emma had explained what happened to Granny and Granny, in turn, had told the dwarves and the dwarves had told…well, just about everyone. People in the town had very little care toward Zelena, but for a little girl who just wanted her mother they came out in droves. She watched the diner fill up with people who came to offer hugs and precious objects; one man even made a balloon animal for her. It was as if she was getting a second birthday and after overhearing conversations about the teacher, she was sure Emma would be getting at least one call from someone who went out to harass her tonight.

The diner was so crowded that they could only just barely hear the rumble of the thunder outside over the rumble inside.

"She seems happier," she commented watching the kids eating their ice cream at the counter.

"Yeah but she did last night too," Emma confirmed. "Did she get the spell book from your library?"

She shook her head. "I checked the title it's not one of mine."

"Gold?"

Beside her Rumple snorted in disgust "I wouldn't give a child any book of spells Ms. Swan, it's probably just something she found lying around."

"You don't just find a book of spells lying around, Gold."

"She's a child, and her mother happens to be the Wicked Witch of the West, it wouldn't surprise me if-"

"It's coming!"

The diner silenced immediately at Leroy's shout. He was standing at a window, looking out, eyes wide and red on his face. She didn't know what he was talking about, but she knew almost instantly from the sound of his tone it wasn't good.

"A curse! It's coming!"

At the mention of a curse, everyone moved at once to the window and pressed together to get a good look. And then the screaming began. People fled, they ran right out the door into the storm as if it was something they could outrun. She didn't pause in consideration but rather sprinted toward the children, pressing them to the counter so they wouldn't get lost or trampled in the midst of the chaos. What had once been a happy party was now in tatters. Plates of food lay strewn on the floor, napkins were left behind, chairs over turned. Now it was only Granny, the dwarves, and their family in the diner. There were shouts and screams from outside, and she finally crept closer to the window Leory was at to see for herself.

It wasn't a storm they'd been hearing. It was a great cloud of purple smoke, rolling over the town, glittering in the lightening it produced. It was a curse.

"Rumple!" she cried, but he was already behind it.

"I see it."

"Gold! What do we do?" Emma asked.

But she already knew the answer as she watched it roll down Main Street, past the library and shop, coming closer every second.

"It's too late," he muttered, his eyes wide.

They'd had no warning, no inclination of evil, no enemies for years now! This was unexpected, so unexpected she couldn't even begin to guess who might do such a thing and as it began to bear down on them, she didn't care.

"Gideon!" she opened her arms for her son, and he ran into them. Despite his size, she swung him up into her arms and held on tight to him. Where would they end up? What would they believe? Where were they going? She only prayed that she'd be with them, the boy in her arms and the husband who was holding them both.

"Mama!" Gideon cried, hiding his face in her neck. As the purple smoke poured in Rumple held them both tighter.

"Together," she heard him say over the roar of the invading storm. It was one word, but she knew the implication of it perfectly. At least they'd be together wherever they ended up. As long as they were together they would find each other again. The curse would be broken, just as all curses could be. They would be together again. She just hoped it was sooner rather than later. She kissed her husband before letting him gather the pair of them up and hold them tight again. She knew that Gideon was screaming, but she couldn't hear the sound. The lights began to flicker and go out in the diner, and suddenly there was only the sense of touch, the weight of her boy in her arms and Rumple around the pair of them as the ground shook and fog enveloped them and…

It stopped.

Just as quickly as it had all happened, it stopped. The lights in the diner came on revealing the damage done in the quake, but she only cared that her son was still in her arms and Rumpelstiltskin was by her side. She let out a sigh of relief and let her head fall into his chest so he could kiss the top of her head before turning her attention to Gideon, who was still crying on her shoulder. Emma and Killian were not far with Neal and Robin, who hadn't faired hardly any better than Gideon. The only difference was that Emma kept one hand secure around the small but noticeable bump at her belly.

"Bloody hell, what was that?" Killian asked as he rushed to Granny's side and helped her up. She'd fallen by a table but tough as she was didn't appear to be hurt.

"I don't know," Emma breathed. "Gold, what-"

"It worked!" Robin screamed suddenly, looking out the window.

"Robin. Robin! No! Stay here!" but it was too late, the girl had opened the door and was running out the diner, down the stairs, into the street. They followed after her but stopped suddenly on the porch when it became clear where she was going. It was clear, but they were still utterly confused at the sight that met their eyes.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Robin yelled flying down the street.

"Robin! There's my girl!" In the middle of the street, Zelena emerged from a crowd of people. She beamed as she clapped her hands together and Robin jumped into her embrace before-

"Mom! Dad!" Neal was next, off the porch and flying into the waiting arms of Prince Charming and Snow White.

"Neal!" Snow shouted, kneeling down to hold him close.

"Mom! Dad!" Emma choked as she timidly moved down the steps leaving the rest of them standing there utterly befuddled at the sight before them.

It was all of them. All of them and more. Snow, David, Zelena, Regina, and even Henry dressed as some kind of knight. But there was also a strange man, hugging a beautiful woman with caramel skin before he reached down and hugged the girl before them. There were two woman she'd never seen before holding one another and swaying as they looked on at Zelena and Robin's reunion with a smile. And then there was the strangest sight they'd seen. Captain Hook beside the two women. And Captain Hook beside them. They locked eyes and stared at each other before offering a nod like they knew one another.

"Killian, what is this?" she questioned finally letting Gideon down but continuing to hold his pulling hand. He wanted to join the crowd, but she wasn't about to let him go until she knew what was going on and who that was. Who they all were.

"That is the version of me from the wish realm."

He answered like it had explained it all, but she was still confused by it all. How on earth…

"Gold…"

She glanced over to find Regina had separated herself from the crowd of people and was coming over to them. Her smile was wide, and there were tears in her eyes. At Killian's bidding, she finally let Gideon go to the crowd, and she wandered down the stairs with Rumple to meet Regina at the gate.

"Where have you all been?"

Regina sighed. "Everywhere. Every...when!" Before they had time to prepare, Regina leaped forward to throw her arms around her husband. He flinched, surprised at the sudden show of affection and glanced over at her before Regina finally let go. "I'm sorry," she muttered wiping the tears free from her eyes. "It's just…it's really good to see you."

She opened her mouth to say something but it was at that moment that something else caught her eye and her words turned to a gasp as she grabbed his hand. "Rumple, look!" she pointed back over his shoulder, behind the diner to the skyline that had always been empty before. Now there was something there. A lit tower.

"Regina's castle," he muttered with wide eyes before turning back to Regina.

"What did you do?"

"I may have brought a few things with us from another world, or two, or three, or…all of them…a lot of them. Emma!"

She stared up at Rumple in confusion, overwhelmed by everything she saw and heard, but also sensed. Something big had happened. Something bigger than they knew! And she was trying so desperately hard to figure out what it all meant and what had happened, to identify the strangers and Hook's twin but it seemed simply impossible! At least so long as Regina was busy hugging everyone she saw.

"Regina, hi, welcome back," Emma muttered suddenly swallowed up in a hug that was just as unexpected as Rumple's had been.

"It has been a lot longer for me than it was for you. Trust me," she explained pulling away. "How's the baby?!"

"Baby?!" Snow questioned. She'd been standing by the side of the strange man, hugging the little girl, but it was clear that their attention was elsewhere.

"Yeah," the man smiled. "Do I have a brother or sister? I've only waited…what…twelve, fifteen years to know?"

The crowd was silent. Her mind was racing at the sound of the man's voice. She recognized it. Henry. It was Henry. Her grandson, all grown up. With that same hooked nose and cheekbones and..."brother or sister"...it could be no one else. Except for the fact that Henry was standing there dressed in armor, beside Regina. What on earth?

"Emma?!" David questioned joining Snow. His eyes were wide, and he was already smiling, just waiting for the words that would permit him to burst out with joy. It was nice to know she wasn't the only one with some surprises that awaited her.

"Oh…by the way…" she said folding her hands over her stomach to show off the bump there, "I'm pregnant."

Step Five: Bring everyone home but remember where they are in their stories! Henry and Regina have the most complete memory out of everyone as to what's been going on; they have the most understanding. Henry's tale is-I got a weird phone call, graduated, my family disappeared, I left, grew up, saw my moms and stepdad, had a kid, we were cursed, season 7 happened, turns out I called myself, and here I am again. Regina is pretty close to that. Henry graduated, family disappeared, Henry left, went to help Henry, he was all grown up, all of season 7, Rumple dies, reunite the realms, and here we are. Understanding where everyone is in the story is vital as it shows exactly what they've experienced and where they're coming from. So Regina, at this point, knows almost everything because in season seven she meets Rumple in the Enchanted Forest and he tells her of their life. So in meeting him now and saying "wow I'm really glad to see you" she understands they're going to leave, Belle's going to die, and now knows he will succeed in his eventual task of getting back to Belle. This was easily the most difficult task with this moment and with the next chapter, remembering what everyone knows and figuring out how much of it they'll tell when they have Rumple in their ear saying "don't share the future with people".

Thank you so much Paintbrush123, Grace5231973, Jennifer Baratta, and Enomisje for your reviews on the last chapter. I'm so happy to see that so many are thrilled I didn't dismiss Gideon's first life. Like I said, in a few chapters, that's all going to be really important. There was actually more than one reason I did it, but we'll get to that later. First, let's get through the end of these tough chapters. Coming up next the final step in piecing all this insanity together and for a nice little surprise that I think is going to make a few of you happy. Peace and Happy Reading!