"Do we trust him?" Emma's question broke the silence as the pair drove back towards town. Regina had remained with her head pressed against the window in a silent trance since they'd settled back into the car.

"Yes" Regina replied quietly, not turning her head away from the view even when Emma glanced over at her, noticing how Regina's fingers were aimlessly tracing lines on top of the storybook that lay in her lap.

"But-"

"We just do okay?" Regina cut in, looking at Emma now with a glare that made the blonde gulp and sit further back in her seat, trying desperately to keep her eyes on the road.

"Okay"

They fell into silence again, Regina turning to look out the window again once she realised Emma had stopped questioning her, sighing as she put her forehead to the cool glass.

"I just don't get it" Emma spoke up, making Regina and spin fully in her seat to face her.

"What, Ms Swan?"

"Oh for god sakes Regina, cut it with the Ms Swan crap. I just don't understand why you're so upset"

"Because, Emma, now we know Robin's my soul mate his status went from 'potential hostage' to '100% certain target' in Zelena's eyes" Regina huffed, gripping the edges of the book in her palms tightly before releasing it completely, letting it slide to the floor next to her feet.

"Regina...I get why you're worried but if Zelena was going to hurt him, I'm sure she would've done it by now". When no response was given Emma looked over to the other side of the car, seeing Regina staring aimlessly in front of her, but this time she hadn't fully turned away and so Emma took the chance to continue. "I can't help but ask, how do you know we can trust Rumple?"

"I've known that man a lot longer than you could ever imagine dear, and he knows things about me that stem far beyond Zelena or any of this"

"But she's controlling him"

"I can see where you're coming from but the power of the dagger is simply behavioural. Think of Zelena as a puppet master pulling his strings, the strings however only cut skin deep. They can't tug at his inner emotions unless it involves information she knows about and...she most certainly didn't know about the things Rumple talked about" Regina sighed, sitting further back in her seat and clasping her hands tightly in her lap.

"Like him thinking of you as a daughter?" Emma whispered, keeping her eyes on the road, almost embarrassed to be discussing such a deep topic with the brunette next to her.

"Partly, although he'd never admitted that to me until just then. The part that did it for me was the light he talked about, Zelena spied on me many years ago that much is true but only after I began my training, only after I was tainted with a little darkness. But Rumple? He knew me before...do you know what he said when he first met me?"

"No..."

"He said he could barely believe that me and my mother were from the same family. That I was so kind and gentle, something Zelena would never have known about"

"Then great, soul mate mystery solved I guess!" Emma laughed, motioning next to Regina to alert the woman that they'd arrived back at the mansion. "Guess its time to meet your him, or see him again or whatever...you know what I mean"

"I guess" Regina replied, making no effort to leave the car or even remove her seatbelt.

"You wanna talk about it first?" the blonde urged, unbuckling herself so she could turn and face Regina, urging her on with a small smile.

"I just have no idea what to say to him" Regina admitted, laughing nervously and glancing around.

"How about the truth? I know he's dying the find out and he's going to be over the moon"

"You really think so?"

"Of course, he loves you and that little girl in there" Emma reassured, leaning over to put her hand on Regina's bump through her blouse, giggling when she felt a small kick against her flat palm. "Looks like the princess likes her auntie Emma"

"Auntie Emma?" Regina smirked, rubbing the other side of her stomach that Emma's hand wasn't occupying.

"Shut it. I think calling this baby my niece is a lot easier than figuring out the real relation we have, even though I'm sure it would be so much fun and beyond complicated"

"Oh I agree with you on that dear"

"So you ready to go?"

"I think so yes, thank you Emma" Regina smiled, reaching down to squeeze Emma's hand as it pulled away from her stomach, letting go to undo her seatbelt and slide from the car in one quick motion.

The pair walked the path up to the mansion in a comfortable silence, Emma taking the book from Regina so she could root in her pocket for her keys. Digging them from her coat Regina placed them in the lock and turned it easily, the door opening to reveal a quiet entrance way.

The silence didn't last long, the two women had barely made it a few steps inside when a light patter of footsteps was heard from upstairs with a distinct "mama!". Within seconds Roland's small body collided with Regina, knocking the woman back a step until she wrapped her arms around the child's body and recovered her balance. When Regina's palm came into contact with the boys back she felt wetness, and looked down to see the child stood with a towel wrapped around his waist and curly hair dripping drops onto the wooden floor.

"Roland! Get back up here!" she heard Robin call from landing, before more sturdy footsteps began storming down the stairs. "I told you- Regina, you're back"

"Y-yes" Regina stumbled out, prizing Roland off her gently.

"I'll take the little guy to get dressed if you want?" Emma offered, reaching down so Roland could take her hand cheerfully.

"Thank you Emma that would be great" Regina muttered, finally looking up at Robin. Shrugging off her coat slowly she hung it up in the cupboard, tugging at her boots and nearly stumbling, feeling am arm grip under her elbow and not needing to look as she knew it would be Robin.

The couple moved slowly into the living room, taking their usual perch on the couch but sitting slightly apart from each other. Truthfully, she didn't know where to begin and so glanced around, staring at any part of the room other than the one person, her soul mate, seated next to her.

"Is everything okay? I thought you were just having lunch with Emma..."

"We went to find Rumple" she admitted, not meeting his eye and feeling ashamed that she'd kept it from Robin.

"What?! I thought we agreed that I'd help you, go with you" Robin argued, reaching out to cup Regina's chin and force her to look up and stare straight at him.

"I'm sorry but I didn't want you to get hurt, and I understand if you don't want to forgive me..."

"Regina? Regina look at me, of course I forgive you"

"You do?"

"Yes, you were only trying to protect me" Robin chuckled, keeping his hand on Regina's chin but moving it to stroke the skin there, trailing it up her jaw slowly and into her hairline. Regina leaned into the touch, sighing deeply and instinctively moving forward to rest her palm on Robin's thigh.

"I love you" she murmured, letting her eyes flutter shut when Robin's hand cradled the back of her head and he leaned forward to kiss her neck. The words were drowned out by low murmurs escaping from the depths of Regina's throat as Robin peppered her skin and collarbone with feather like kisses, reassuring her without words that he felt the same way.

"I love you too...idiot" he chuckled against her skin, groaning when Regina squeezed the hand that was on his thigh and inched it higher, the distance between them closing quickly.

Tilting her head down Regina nudged Robin's cheek with her nose until he looked at her, moving up until they were face to face.

"What did he-"

"Shhh, let me try something" Regina whispered, her free hand coming to hold Robin's cheek gently as she drifted forward to press her lips gently to his.

With each of their eyes shut neither of them could see what happened, but they felt it. A pulse of pure light shot from their lips, not blowing each of them back but almost radiating from the spot in a beating pattern. With a gasp they separated, the memories and feelings from their time in the Enchanted Forest flooding their minds in one huge rush.

"I remember...It's me" Robin breathed, lifting his finger to touch his lips tentatively, then looking across at Regina.

"Yes" she smiled, "Rumple told me and I was going to tell you but I wanted to see what would happen without-"

Regina was cut off when Robin claimed her lips again, more forcefully and needy this time as his palm surged across the little space between them to rest on her bump through the material of her blouse. Parting ever so slightly so their foreheads could rest against one another he whispered "She's mine" making Regina laugh and nod against him.

"I can't believe we didn't know...back there and now-"

"We found each other, its what soul mates do Regina. You had our daughter with you the minute we landed here and she only tied us closer together, god I love you so much"

"I w-was so scared" Regina breath hitched and a sob escaped at the admission, causing Robin to reach around her and tug the woman to his chest, enveloping her fully as she began to cry softly.

"When we c-cast the curse my sister showed up. She spiked it with a forgetting potion and I-I knew, I knew I'd wake up and have completely forgotten you. I was so scared Robin, for you and for Roland, you were alone when you got here when I promised to help...I'm so sorry" she wept quietly, tucking her face into the crook of his neck and rubbing her bump gently.

"Hey! Look it's fine, we're fine. We weren't alone, I met you on the first day here right?" he reassured, pulling away so he could wipe the tears from Regina's face tenderly with the pads of his thumb.

"Mama mama! I remember!" Roland called as he burst through the door, invading the couples space within seconds and wiggling between them to wrap his arms around Regina's neck. Emma soon followed, running through the door, skidding to a halt on the wood and almost falling over in the process.

"Buddy you gotta slow down!"

"But its important! Mama said she would protect me when we got here and she was right, even though I didn't know her she still protected me!" he squealed, loosening his grip so he could slide comfortably onto Regina's lap, fiddling a few strands of her hair.

"What's he talking about?" Emma asked, leaning against the door frame and addressing the pair with questioning eyes.

"The curse...it's broken" Robin answered, joining his hand with Regina's and lacing their fingers together.

"What?!"

"You weren't affected by it so you probably didn't feel it break but yes, its gone"

"But how? Did you tell him?"

"I didn't need to, our love is stronger than needing hard cold facts to prove it" Regina grinned.

Emma still looked on them with a furrowed brow, opening her mouth before closing it again, choosing instead to move and sit in the armchair closest to the couch. "So you have your memories back? All of them?"

"Yes. Turns out me and Robin were together quite some time before landing here, and it was Robin who found out he was my soul mate first" she beamed, squeezing the hand he held and stroking Roland's hair gently with her other.

"Right...and the curse? Zelena? How did she cast it? How do we defeat her?" Emma's questions fell out in a desperate jumble as she gestured at them with frantic hands.

"Emma dear, about that...it wasn't Zelena who cast the curse"

"Well then who did?"

"Your parents"

At Regina's reveal Emma sat back in her seat, mouth gaping like a fish as she glanced between the couple sat opposite her. After a few moments of silence Regina opened her mouth to explain further but was interrupted by a string of giggles that left Emma's mouth, leaving the blondes body shaking as she covered her mouth with her hand and snorted ungracefully.

"Oh Its a joke! Very funny Regina! You had me there for a few seconds...but seriously, what'd Zelena give up?" Emma asked through laughs, finally calming down enough to lean both elbows on her thighs and rest her chin in her palms.

"I'm not joking. It was your parents, Snow she-"

"Regina we haven't got time for this-"

"No Emma! You're right we don't, so shut up and let me explain!" Regina huffed out, noticing how Roland flinched a little in her lap at the use of her harsh tone. Looking down she wrapped her arm around the boy to comfort him, only continuing when she felt him relax back against her chest, grab her hand and begin twirling the ring on her right ring finger. "I know it's hard to hear, but it's true. I was there and your mother she-she sacrificed Charming's heart to enact it"

"But then how are they both still here? Oh God if the curse broke what if he-"

"They're fine. Both of them, I can assure you of that. When the curse was enacted my sister showed up with a forgetting potion, otherwise we would have remembered everything that went on"

"But I still don't understand how my Dad's still alive" Emma sighed, rubbing at her temple in frustration, not directly at Regina, but at how complicated everything had become in the last few minutes.

"Well, it was Snow's idea really. She thought that her and Charming had always shared one heart from the moment they met, and so she believed that if I ripped her heart out and split it-"

"It could save the both of them" Emma finished, looking over at Robin who gave a solemn look, having only just found the news out himself. "But she could've died..."

"That's exactly what I told her. But you know Snow, she's quite stubborn when she wants to be" Regina laughed lightly.

"At least it worked" Emma concluded, rubbing her palms together and sitting up straighter, trying to mentally shake off the disturbing idea that her parents now barely had a single heart keeping them both alive. "Now, how do we defeat Zelena?"

"You" Regina smiled warmly. "Her weakness is light magic"

"But-"

"Emma dear, do you really think your own father would of sacrificed himself if you weren't?"

"No...but I've already been up against her and well, nothing...no light beam of power to defeat her" Emma sighed, standing from her seat to pace the room, the fire flaring up a little when she walked past it.

"Mama, magic!" Roland giggled from his perch on her lap, tugging slightly on the strand of hair he was holding, but not painfully.

"Yes sweetheart, but don't worry its just because Emma's upset" she comforted, securing her arm more firmly around the boys middle and smiling down at him.

"No mama not Emma, you!" he pointed, twisting in her grasp to place his little fingers flat on Regina's face, resting gently on her cheekbone and pointing at her eyes.

"Oh my god he's right" Emma joined in, also pointing at Regina.

"What?" Regina asked, looking between the two people as if they were insane. "I've always had magic and its definitely not the lightest of things" she laughed quietly.

"No but your eyes, if you were harbouring pure dark magic they wouldn't glow that colour...its like a lilac, like a mix of dark-"

"And light" Regina finished,reaching up to pat her own cheek next to where Roland's hand was, tugging the child palms back down with hers when she lowered it. "Emma you can't be serious though? You're the saviour"

"And you're her sister. Regina, who told you guys it was me?"

"Glinda, the good witch of the south" Regina stated plainly, as if it were obvious.

"Wait, she's real too?"

"Says the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming" Robin laughed, before standing quickly and giving Regina a soft kiss to her temple. "I'll go make some cocoa while you figure this out, cinnamon right Emma?"

"You know it" she laughed, moving to take Robin's empty seat.

"Roland honey, why don't you go help your father?"

"Okay!" the boy quickly agreed, hopping off Regina's lap and scuttling off after Robin, not even sure what task he was heading off to do.

"So this witch, what did she say exactly?"

"Well I didn't directly speak to her, the door she lived behind only allowed people with pure hearts to pass through and as your and I both know, I don't exactly match that category". Regina smiled weakly at Emma, rubbing her belly absent-mindedly.

"So the only people who saw her were my parents?"

"Yes"

"Then I think we know who I should be talking to"

"Them?"

"Yup" Emma decided, nodding. Before they could continue Robin re-entered, holding three mugs each filled and topped with cream. He passed one to Emma that had a distinct sprinkling of cinnamon on top and the other to Regina that was dappled with mini marshmallows, his simply plain whipped cream.

"So any progress?" he asked, moving to sit on the other side of Regina and loop an arm around her protectively.

"Um, where's Roland?" Regina interrupted, looking around for a mop of dark curls.

"He's upstairs completing a jigsaw, thought you'd need the quiet"

"Thank you, and not really. Emma thinks she should talk to her parents because they were the ones to speak to Glinda, not me"

"Sounds logical, if you're okay with that?"

"Sure!" Regina reassured.

The 3 sipped their cocoa in silence, allowing the events of the evening to sink in just a little before the blonde made a move. A dull buzzing caught their attention, that was soon found to be coming from Emma's phone tucked away in her jacket pocket.

"It's my mom. I better get going, I'm sure she's dying to fill me in on what I've missed now the curse is broke" she smiled, pressing a few buttons on her phone to silence it before slipping it back into her pocket. Regina and Emma shared an awkward goodbye, they both knew one of them had to face Zelena the next day and neither wanted it to be them.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" the blonde offered, leaning against the doorway at the front of the mansion.

"Yes, I'll call you in the morning after you've...talked things through" Regina reasoned, nodding her approval at the plan and giving one last last wave at Emma.

After she left, the mansion fell into a silent routine, Robin busied himself with feeding, bathing and sending Roland to bed while Regina showered, spending a little longer under the pounding stream of water in an attempt to focus her thoughts. When she returned to her bedroom dressed in a black nightie and slightly damp hair Robin was already sat cross legged on the mattress, balancing a bowl on his knees with a book in his hand. He offered her a warm smile as she paced over to the laundry basket and flung the towel into the bottom carelessly.

"There's food by the bed, I guessed you and Emma only had a snack at the diner" her muttered, tone low and calm but not in a patronising way, instead caring.

"Thank you we only had a drink" she confirmed, sliding onto the bed next to him and sighing as her head hit the pillows and feet sunk into the soft sheets below her.

"What is it?" she asked, lifting the bowl and sniffing it tentatively.

"I know I lived in the woods and you don't trust my cooking after the pizza incident, but it's just pasta" he laughed from next to her, putting the book down to turn and face Regina with a wide grin.

"It smells...all garlically" she countered, pushing a few tubes of pasta around with the fork.

"Yes...because its that Italian sauce you bought last week, it has garlic in it"

"Okay..." taking a small bite Regina chewed slowly, until she swallowed and reassured him with a smile. "Its good actually"

"Yes and you doubted me why?" Robin asked, picking up his own bowl from next to him and raising his arm for Regina lean into, until she was nestled against his torso.

"The pizza incident" Regina mumbled through large mouthfuls, finishing the dish in record time and shifting to place it back on the bed side table. "It's strange being here, and remembering being there now..." she began, moving as close to Robin as her bump would allow and clinging to him koala style.

"I know, but it's also reassuring"

"How so?" she asked, yawning but eager to carry the conversation on.

"It's just like how Roland said, back in our land you said you would protect us and you did" he stated simply, finishing the last of his bowl and dumping it on the mattress next to him as Regina's position didn't allow him to lean over.

"But I didn't, not really...you lost your heart and-"

"and I found you"

"I-" Regina stuttered, wanting to retaliate but with no words forming in her mind, instead she changed what was going to say entirely. "I want to admit something"

"Regina, is everything okay?" Robin moved now so he could tilt Regina's head up to look at him, searching for any kind of negative emotions running through her eyes.

"Yes, I was going to mention this back in our land but it seemed so irrelevant once we knew the curse was coming, and I would've told you here but I couldn't find the right time between my sister, the Charming's, the baby-"

"Regina" Robin interrupted, reaching for her arm and beginning to stroke slow circles there. "You're babbling, what is it?"

"I'm barren." she whispered, averting her gaze down to his chest and lowering her head to rest there once more "Or...I was"

"I don't understand, how can you be pregnant if you can't or couldn't bear children"

"You" she answered, and although she didn't look up Robin could feel her smile against his chest.

"As lovely as that sounds, I still don't understand what I could've done"

"My mother...when I was Queen she returned to visit me and vowed to find my soul-mate"

"To help find me?" Robin asked, fidgeting fully and nudging at Regina until they both sat opposite each other cross legged,knees touching. "Go on...I'm here" he reassured, grasping Regina's hands and interlocking their fingers.

"She...she told me she wanted me to be happy and so she went out to find the man with the lion tattoo. I gave up hope until she returned one night with news of finding him, she dressed me in my favourite dress and brought him in..."

"But it wasn't me? Surely I would've remembered?"

"No it wasn't, but I believe you know the man, it was the Sheriff of Nottingham...he was working with my mother to drag himself up to royalty"

"Bastard" Robin muttered, holding Regina's hand tighter and urging her on, letting go of one of her hands to stroke her face before settling his palm on her bump tenderly.

"She placed a tattoo on his wrist with magic, we spent the night strolling through the gardens and I was none the wiser until he told me it was okay to be weak...and I don't like being called weak. I easily revealed his plan and he told me that my mother wanted me to have a child"

"But how does that benefit her?"

"Leopald was dead and her plan was simple. Allow this man to have a child with me, and then kill me so the only heir to the throne would be my child who would be too young to rule, allowing mother to step in and manage the throne" Regina admitted with a weak smile, leaning forward to press her forehead to Robin's for support. She took a break before continuing, placing her hand over Robin's on her bump and rubbing up and down in a soothing motion, her smile growing stronger once she felt her daughter wake up and begin a gentle kicking in response to her parents touch and voices.

"I made a potion that night, one that would stop my mothers plan right in its tracks-"

"You did it to yourself?" Robin breathed, knowing the answer before Regina could nod against him.

"I always thought it was permanent, and I regretted it immediately. It's one of the reasons I didn't go looking for you, I was afraid that because I had nothing to offer except a tainted heart you'd simply turn me away"

"Then what changed?"

"We met. Turns out the potion was a curse, and you broke it. The minute my eyes started glowing was the minute you broke that damned spell and created the beautiful life inside me right now" she beamed, her giggle echoed through the soft,reassuring movements of their daughter.

"Did you know it had broken? Back in the enchanted forest I mean"

"Honestly, the thought did cross my mind. Especially that morning the glowing in my eyes stuck, it perplexed me but I didn't read into it. I had no reason to, after all, all I knew was that I couldn't have a child. Coming back to Storybrooke changed all that, when I found out I was pregnant I was terrified. I was going to tell you as soon as you wanted to stick by me but I didn't know how to explain without my memories or any theory to back up how the hell I was pregnant"

"But we're here now, that's all that matters" Robin spoke quietly. "And for what It's worth, I think you can beat that witch tomorrow"

"What makes you so sure its me?" she questioned, pulling her forehead from his so she could speak directly to Robin's face.

"I don't know, I just...know it" he admitted.

Their conversation fell quiet then, Regina let out another huge yawn and Robin took it as a hint for them to settle down. He jogged back downstairs with the empty bowls and left them in the sink for the morning, returning to find Regina already under the sheets and lay on her side. She wasn't asleep yet but her eyes were closed and breathing steady, making Robin approach quietly and turn the lamp off next to the bed. In darkness he slipped under the covers next to her and gravitated towards her warmth on instinct, making Regina sigh as she felt his arms loop around her as the pair fell asleep.

It was the shrill of Regina's phone that woke them the following morning, which considering it was downstairs, impressed Regina for its volume. Glancing over at the clock she saw it was only 7am, and with a groan she lifted the sheets over her head to block out the noise from downstairs for just a few more precious moments. Robin's hand on her arm disturbed her blissful ignorance to whoever was calling, and thinking she was still asleep begins to coax her gently.

"Regina? Love come on it's time to wake up"

"2 more minutes" she murmured, face still pressed into her pillow.

"It could be Emma, it could be important" he added, urging her gently.

"I know, but so comfy" she whined, rolling over to face Robin and reached out to cling to him.

"How about I go make us something to eat and drink, and I'll bring your phone upstairs so you can reply without moving?"

"God you're a saint" she smiled, eyes still heavy with sleep but she opened them fully to regard Robin, leaning in to give him a quick kiss as he grumbled and got up from the bed. She leaned back into the sheets, could feel her eyelids fluttering shut again when her phone rang once more from its spot on the hall table. God, how has that thing still got battery on it? She inwardly cursed, pulling her body under the sheets and cocooning herself there.

A few moments later the tone began again, but this time louder and growing louder still. Once more Robin's palm touched her arm, through the sheets this time, and she peeked her head out of the top to see him hovering over her with her cell held out. "You answer that, I'll get toast and cocoa" he stated, throwing the cell onto the bed next to Regina and leaving her to groan in protest. Checking the screen she saw a total of 8 missed calls, all from Emma and all in the past 15 minutes, pretty impressive saviour. Regina knew what Emma would want to discuss but it didn't make her want to deal with it any more, yet she wanted to beat the blonde to the next call and reluctantly hit the call-back button.

"Regina? Thank god" Emma's answer was almost instant, taking Regina aback and making her sit up in bed in an attempt to wake herself a little more.

"Emma? Is everything okay?"

"Yes it's just when you didn't answer we thought something might of-"

"I'm fine, did you find something?" Regina asked, smiling at Robin as he returned with a steaming mug of cocoa complete with cream and marshmallows, quickly passing it to her before leaving the room again to stop the toast from burning.

"Sort of, I spoke with my parents. They told me that Glinda didn't explicitly say my name, just that light magic can defeat Zelena. I know you're going to protest but that combined with the magic in your eyes and Gold telling us that you can save the town by letting the light back in makes for a pretty strong case to support it being you"

"I-" Regina stuttered, putting the phone on speaker and dumping it on the bed so she could sip her drink whilst talking. If she was being honest she'd forgotten what Rumple had said, after she found out Robin was her soul mate everything else seemed to loose its significance, even the part that clearly indicated she was the hero in all of this. "I mean you could be right, but do we want to take that risk?"

"We have to Regina. We'll all be there with you and Zelena can't harm you she needs that baby, and by the sounds of it she needs Robin's heart intact for now"

"What makes you so sure about that?" she asked, holding the mug between her palms and looking down into it, swishing the liquid from side to side. She felt the bed dip as she waited for Emma's response and looked up to see Robin sat beside her, holding a plate stacked with enough toast for the two of them. The was domestic noises from over the phone and Regina guessed the Charming's were up and about making breakfast, which immediately made a dull pang hit her chest at the thought of Henry being there after a sleepover and not home with her.

The pair began their pile of toast and soon enough Emma's voice ran through phone again. "Sorry about that, the kid wanted food and my parents are out doing a coffee run at Grannies"

"Don't worry about it dear. As long as you aren't feeding him junk food for breakfast it's fine"

"Do lucky charms count as junk food? because if that's a yes we really need to work on your definition of a healthy diet" Emma laughed through the phone, and Regina could almost visualise the playful smirk on Emma's face.

"Anyway, you were saying?" Regina asked, keeping her tone light enough so that Emma knew she wasn't mad, but that she was also eager to carry on their previous conversation.

"Oh yeah...well the more Belle looked into this time travel spell the more she found. Basically certain elements are needed, but your baby is the one ingredient not listed in the books, hence no one succeeding before. One of them is a resilient heart, and although it could be anyone's we think it's Robin's. I mean, I know she used him as toy to begin with but now you know she has it the only way to use it against you would be to kill Robin, and she hasn't. Meaning logically that she's holding onto it because she needs it"

"Good point. I know Zelena's plan is to erase my entire existence but I suppose she could've killed Robin for some amusement until then" Regina agreed, shooting an uneasy glance at Robin who visibly tensed next to her, and placed a soothing hand on his bicep until the muscle relaxed.

"Exactly. So you up for this?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really" Emma laughed through the receiver. "I'll give you a couple hours then come pick you and Robin up? My mom said she'll come to your place to watch Roland and Henry"

"Thank you" Regina replied, swallowing another chunk of toast and picking up her cell to turn it off speaker and say a brief goodbye to Emma.

The next 2 hours flew by, Regina and Robin busied themselves with getting ready, dragging a sleepy Roland out of bed and cleaning the house. Just as Regina was looping her second feather earring into place the door bell rang, and as she knew Robin would get it she simply stared back at the mirror in her room, fluffing her hair and giving her appearance a once over. She heard voices fill the hall downstairs, the Charming's making themselves at home and greeting Robin and Roland, the more familiar voices of Emma and Henry drifting up and soothing her ears. She'd chosen a simple black dress that crossed over in the front to wear, one that Emma had insisted she buy a few weeks ago for its shameless figure and bump heightening shape, the blonde knowing Robin would be blown away by it. Regina had picked it out today not specifically for that, but for a little confidence boost, teaming it with black boots, a gold belt that cinched just above her bump and gold accessories to match. Grabbing a grey coat and black fluffy scarf from her closest she donned them quickly before heading downstairs to join the crowd gathered in her house.

"I was just about to come looking for you" Robin teased as he looked up to she her heading down the stairs. "You ready?"

"Yep. Henry, sweetie are you okay with staying here for a few hours?"

"Of course mom, just be careful" her son warned, moving to hug her reassuringly.

"I will, I'll be back soon I promise" she smiled at him, giving him one last squeeze before letting him go.

Henry grabbed her coat sleeve before Regina could move much further, tugging her back close until he could whisper in her ear "Well done for breaking the curse, I knew you could do it". She could almost hear the smirk in his voice and when she pulled back her thoughts were confirmed as a smug expression was spread across her sons face, mingled with pure pride for his mother.

Everyone said their goodbyes, Regina made sure Snow knew where everything she could possibly need was including emergency numbers, and soon Emma was driving Regina and Robin in the direction of Zelena's farmhouse. The drive was a lot quicker than Regina would've liked, with barely any conversation, leaving the group in a subdued mood as Emma pulled up on the dirt track. They got out and began pacing forward, soon seeing the house come into view and immediately looking for signs of life, but spotting none.

"There" Robin whispered, making Regina and Emma spin to look at where he was pointing. It wasn't in the direction of the house, but at the barn near it where an open side door was blowing on it's hinges and catching their attention.

"Wow she an early riser?" Emma commented, changing their path and walking in front of Regina, gun in hand but lowered at her side.

The barn wasn't far away, and as the group approached the door Emma went first, tentatively peeking around it and motioning for Regina to follow muttering "come on, it's empty"

They'd barely made it through the wooden door, Regina stepping in front of Emma when they stopped in their tracks as a familiar voice sent shivers down each of their spines.

"Hello...sis"

"Zelena, good morning" Regina greeted icily, turning a little to the left to see Zelena stepping out of the shadows and gripping the dagger, Rumple trailing behind reluctantly.

"Have you come to challenge me now you've got your memories back and found your 'soul mate'?" Zelena chuckled, emphasising the last two words in a mocking tone.

"You know exactly why I'm here, to end this. Give Robin his heart back, let Rumple go and give up"

"And why would I do that when I'm so close to getting everything I ever wanted?"

"Because if you don't, I'll stop you" Regina smirked, raising her chin and standing tall, feeling Robin move to place a hand at the small of her back.

"And here I was hoping for some cooperation. We both know only light magic can harm me, and you're as dark as they come. I suppose if you won't help me willingly, there are other ways" Zelena taunted, digging her hand into the pocket of her jacket, rummaging around before pulling out Robin's heart. Regina gasped at the sight of it, stepping instinctively forward to grab it before restraining herself and simply watching as Zelena rolled it back and forth in her palm.

"Last chance sis, promise me your baby in a magical contact, you know to save on the 'no takesies backsies' once she's here. Or do I have to start getting messy?"

"You won't hurt Robin, you need his heart" Regina countered, trying desperately to not let her voice shake at the sight of Robin's beating heart in such destructive hands.

"Not technically true, I need a resilient heart yes, but there are many people who have one including you and your inability to stop protecting your family. Take one more step and all I have to do...is squeeze"

"No!" Regina shouted weakly, noticing Robin whimper as Zelena pressed a finger sharply against the heart in her palm.

"So what will it be?"

"I-" Regina looked around, seeing Emma watching on with her gun raised and conflicted eyes. She shook her head to indicate Regina shouldn't attack, but she couldn't let Robin die, not now, and so took a step forward with palms raised defensively.

"Rumple, dearie, would you look at that. It seems Regina can't listen to instructions, I warned you sis..." she laughed, raising her hand so that Emma's gun flew from her hand, froze Robin and lifted Regina off the ground in one motion.

The brunette hovered powerless, feet dangling down and desperately reaching for safe ground, tears beginning to stream down her face as she watched Robin's face beside her trying to break free from his invisible confines and run to her.

"Dark one be a dear, seen as Regina couldn't make up her mind I've done it for her...take her heart, while I crush her soul mates"

I know, the cliffhanger is cruel. I just wanted to say thank you for being patient if you're still reading, I'm so busy at the moment but love writing this story and coming back to more follows/favourites and reviews! Please leave a review I'd love to know what you think (it helps more than you'll ever know) and even opinions on the season finale? (I have too many feelings to even begin to discuss it...)

Thank you once again and hope you enjoyed the chapter! :) xo