Disclaimer: Once again, OUAT belongs to the wonderful Adam and Eddy, not me.

Maiqu20 asked: "What about Aurora's heart?"

You'll see in a short scene in here.

Black Alnair asked: "(And though the separation may be long, hopefully the chapter when he gets back won't be too far away...? please?)"

Well, that I don't know, because somethings are going to happen in SB before I want Hook to return. I'll try to speed things up, and have time lapses, but it might be more than a couple of chapters. Sorry, but that was always the plan.

justareader13 asked: "Are you going to be doing the arc with Zombie Daniel coming back?"

I'm considering it now...wondering what it'd be like with Cora and Emma there.

Nouqueret asked: "Only a guess on my part, Hook will show up after Manhaten? But in time to sail off to Neverland? Oh will you please give us the episode that they couldn't do in OUAT,because Colín broke his leg. Where Killian reenconters Bea and finds out he is Henrys father?"

He'll be back before "Manhattan" and definitely before Neverland. Um, probably not going to do that episode because I already know how Killian and Neal are going to meet up in this story.

Starlight000 asked: "Right now I'm questioning his compass that Emma got him and the significance. Will it be like something that points to the thing you desire most? And most importantly I'm guessing Cora won't frame someone for Archie's death?"

Still might do "The Cricket Game" just differently. You never know. As for the compass...it's something like that.

Cynnx asked: "he's going to come back with the Jolly Roger, isn't he?"

Maybe

LiteraryRomantic asked: "Interesting that Hook's situation at the moment appears to mirror Neal's at the end of the season. It would be awesome if it led to the same outcome. Healthy and back on his feet and meeting Robin perhaps? Also when you say a long while, does this mean we don't get to see him in NY? I'd love to see his and Bae's reactions if they we to meet on a crowded street. If not, I assume it will be for the very end, right before Neverland. The only other question I have, is will the man we see when he gets back be more Killian or Hook?"

He gets back before New York. As for who comes back...you'll see.

epic sweetness712 asked: "it also makes me wonder, now that Killian at least got her home- is he going to want to try find a way to back to her as soon as possible? Because I have this feeling that he won't want to- maybe he'll be a little worried about Cora though. I wonder if Snow will try and talk him into trying to find away, but then that got me thinking and now I think maybe Emma will try and put herself under the sleeping curse so she could talk to him- it would give him enough motive to try get back to her as soon as possible, am I close or way off base? I know you said that it'll be a while before he makes it back to Storybrooke, but I'm just curious."

Maybe...who knows.

mindyourhelm asked: "Could Emma go under the sleeping curse willingly to talk to Hook...make sure he's alive and finds a way home? So then he's motivated enough to get to her to wake her up...even though Henry could kiss her...she tells her family not to."

I wish...but Emma can't go under the sleeping curse. I mean she can, but she can't.

LondonRose98 asked: "Also I'm not a big Neal fan but I really want to know what happens when he finds out that Emma has found her true love. What are you thinking about with that?"

You'll see. :)

Kristina'sMyName asked: "Who will heal him?! Wait a minute, where is Aurora's heart?"

This chapter will reveal what happens.

Willow n Angie asked: "Hook is not gonna die is he? I thought only the hat can only transport two person through the portal. And how is hook gonna go back to SB?"

No, he's not going to die...he's just incapacitated at the moment. He'll find his way to SB.

FloriaPotty asked: "Is Hook going to look for the Jolly Roger? Perhaps with Anton's help?"

Maybe

Hope you guys enjoy despite the lack of Hook.

Chapter 34: Aftermath

Mulan recovered first. Groaning, she pushed herself up, rubbing the back of her head. Her eyes were quick to look for any signs of danger, but everything was calm. She saw Aurora immediately, her heart rate picking up at seeing the princess on the ground. Standing, she rushed over to where Aurora laid.

"Aurora!" Mulan knelt next to her, shaking her gently. "Aurora, wake up."

The princess groaned. Slowly, blue eyes blinked open. "Mulan?"

"Are you all right?" Mulan asked, noting the skin around Aurora's left eye darkening. "I think Emma may have hit you too hard."

"It was deserved." Aurora said. "Wait, did they go through the portal?"

Mulan looked around, but tensed when she saw Hook.

He was unconscious, his shirt stained heavily with blood.

Aurora followed her gaze. "Oh my god."

The women hurried over to him. Mulan checked his pulse.

"His heartbeat is faint." Mulan said. "We have to get him somewhere we can heal him."

A loud groaning caught their attention, and they turned to see Anton waking up.

"Go check on him." Mulan ordered. "If he's all right, then we'll need his help."

Aurora nodded and went to help the former giant, while Mulan lifted Hook's shirt to look at the wound. It didn't look good.

Not a minute later, Aurora and Anton joined her.

"How bad is it?" Anton asked.

"Bad." Mulan said. "If we don't do something soon, he may die."

"What about the water?" Aurora suggested. "It has healing properties, does it not?"

"It does, but he was stabbed with my sword." Mulan nodded at the bloodied blade that was a few feet away. "My sword not only repels magic, but it transfers those properties to any wound that it gives. We could try the water, but I doubt it'd work."

"Even so, we should fill up on it." Anton said. "Give me your water skins." The women complied, and Anton went to gather up the water.

"We can't let him die." Aurora said. "He and Emma worked for Cora because of me, and I can't let Emma lose her True Love like I lost Phillip."

Mulan gave her a sympathetic look. "Don't worry. We'll save him."

"Hey." Anton said. "Found this."

He handed Mulan a small satchel.

Opening it, Mulan saw Aurora's heart. She took it out and looked at Aurora. "Ready to have this back."

"Yes." Aurora sighed in relief. "Have you done this before?"

"No." Mulan said. She lifted the heart to Aurora's chest and pushed it inside.

Aurora gasped when her heart settled into her chest.

"All right." Mulan said, nodding at Hook's form. "Let's get him out of here."

Cora and Regina appeared miles away in another part of the forest.

Regina jerked out of her mother's grip.

"Now Regina, don't be like that." Cora said.

"What are you doing here, mother?" Regina hissed.

"Like I said, I had to see you." Cora said. "I understand why you did what you did, and I wanted to tell you, that I love you. I've always shown it in all the wrong ways, and I never should've forced you to marry King Leopold. I'm so sorry, I just...when you cried over my coffin...it all changed."

"Nothing changed." Regina shook her head. "I know you mother, and you're heartless. Whatever you're here for, it's not me."

"Regina." Cora gasped, shocked. "I am here for you. Please, don't reject me. Not now."

Regina looked at her for a long moment. "Is the pirate really dead?"

"Why does it matter?" Cora scoffed.

"Because of Henry." Regina snapped.

"Emma and Hook's son?" Cora asked.

"My son." Regina said. "Emma's just Henry's biological mother. I adopted him when she gave him up. I raised him."

"Then why isn't he with you?"

"Because I'm the Evil Queen." Regina said. "And Henry's good." Regina sighed. "Emma's the Savior, how much more good can anyone get? She's the mother Henry wants. As for the pirate, he's the closest thing to a father Henry ever had."

Cora arched a brow. "So you and the pirate...?"

Regina scoffed. "God no! Hook is Emma's True Love. How could you think that after Daniel, I could ever love again?" The thought sparked an old memory, one with pixie dust and a lion tattoo. Regina shook her head. "Except Henry, of course. He's the only thing I love."

"Then let's get him back." Cora suggested. "Get Emma out of the way. The pirate's already gone, what's one more parent?"

Regina chuckled bitterly. "You're not getting it. Henry loves Hook and Emma. He sees the as his parents. And the only way that I can ever see him, is if I stay good. If I stop using magic, if I stop being the Evil Queen, then I get him back. But I can't get rid of Emma or the two idiots. Henry would never forgive me." Regina began walking towards town.

"Perhaps, we can." Cora said, following her daughter. "If we use magic, perhaps if we take away their memories..."

"No, mother." Regina snapped. "I already tried to use magic to keep my son. He'd never forgive me if I tried again, especially if that meant lying to him. So please, don't even try."

"All right." Cora nodded. "Anything for you."

While they walked in silence, Cora plotted. If she was going to get back into Regina's good graces, the boy was the key to do it. She just had to figure out how to reunite mother and son, and herself and Regina, without either witch coming out in a bad light.

Then, she'd get what she was after.

The incessant beeping was what finally brought Emma back to consciousness.

She blinked her eyes opened slowly. The harsh white of the ceiling above her had her shutting them again in protest.

"Mom?" Henry's voice reached her ears. It was quiet, a whisper, as though he was afraid he'd scare her off.

Emma turned her head and looked at him. Her heart clenched at seeing him looked so worried, a hint of fear in his hazel eyes.

"Henry." She whispered, her voice rough. "Where...?"

"The hospital." He said, keeping his voice soft. "You...you passed out at the well. We brought you straight here."

Emma's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion, her memory foggy, until she remembered why she was at the well.

The portal. The portal that Cora dragged her through. The very same one that took her away from Killian.

Her eyes watered as she remembered him. His wound, so much blood, his words, trying to make her leave him, his smile, happy that she made it home even if it was without him.

"Mom?" Henry had that worried look again. Or had it remained since she'd awoken? God, she was a horrible mother, wallowing in her own pain while clearly her son needed her reassurance.

"Henry, I'm sorry." She said. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have acted the way I did at the well."

"No, it's okay." Henry cut off any further apologies. "I know...you were upset about dad."

Dad? Emma tilted her head confused.

"Dad? Why would I...?" She trailed off when the realization that he meant Killian made her heart seize with a strange mixture of pain and guilt and happiness. "Killian. You mean Killian."

Henry looked confused. "Yeah, he's the only dad I have. Who else would I mean?"

"No one." Emma said, ignoring the sting of guilt, remembering that she had lied to Henry for a reason. "I just...I've never heard you call Killian that, and it surprised me."

Henry nodded, believing her half-truth. "I guess I forgot."

Emma smiled, slightly sad and reassuring, at her son. "So, where are David and Mary Margaret?"

Subtle change of subject there, Swan. A voice that sounded suspiciously like Killian's spoke in her head. Emma bit the inside of her cheek to keep tears from forming again.

"They're just outside with Ruby and Jefferson." Henry explained. "I think that Dr. Whale was telling them about your condition."

"Right." Emma nodded. "Has everything been okay here since I was gone?" She left out the we to avoid thinking of Killian. It didn't exactly work.

"Yeah, grandpa's taken over as sheriff until you guys, um, you got back." Henry told her. "Jefferson's his deputy."

"Really?" Emma quirked a brow. "I bet he's been enjoying that."

Henry gave her a slight smile. "Um, we found out that anyone who was cursed can't leave town. If they cross the town line, they lose their real memories and become their cursed selves for good. Regina has her magic again, but she's trying to be good. She was going to destroy the portal with Mr. Gold, but then she stopped it so you could come through..."

Emma knew that in a way she should be grateful to Regina for that, but from what Henry was saying, the Mayor also needed a good punch to the face.

"I've still being staying at the loft." Henry continued. "Grandpa and grandma have been really great, and supportive. Grandpa even started training me to be a knight. We've been practicing with my wooden swords, and he's even been taking me to the stables to care for my horse."

"You have a horse?" Emma said amused, a smile gracing her face.

"Yep, grandpa gave him to me." Henry nodded, enthused. "I haven't ridden him yet though. Grandpa wants us to form a bond first, and let the horse decide when he wants me to ride him. The only other big things to happen was that Belle was kidnapped, and Ruby was framed for murder."

Emma's eyes widened. "Whoa, what?"

"Don't worry." Henry said. "Grandpa and grandma took care of it. Apparently, Belle's father wanted to erase her memories of being in love with Mr. Gold, so he tried to send her over the town line, but then Mr. Gold saved her. They're just friends now though. Then Mr. Spencer is apparently King George, grandpa's adoptive father, and his former archenemy. Kind of like grandpa's Evil Queen, but without the magic."

"Um, so many questions." Emma started. "First, who is Belle?"

"Belle is Mr. French's daughter." Henry explained. "You know, the florist? Back in the Enchanted Forest, he made a deal with Rumplestiltskin to protect his lands, and that deal included giving Belle to Rumplestiltskin as a servant. But Belle and Rumple fell in love, then my mom kidnapped her and made Rumple believe that Belle was dead. They're in love with each other still, but Belle's trying to figure out her life right now."

"Okay, how did you hear all of this?"

"Well, the Enchanted Forest stuff is in my book." Henry shrugged. "As for everything else, I live in the room directly above grandma and grandpa. When they think I'm asleep, they talk and I eavesdrop."

"Okay mister, that is not cool." Emma told him half-stern, half-amused.

Henry smirked, realizing that she wasn't mad.

"Okay, what about this Ruby and King George thing?"

"Well, back in the Enchanted Forest, grandpa had a twin brother that he never knew about." Henry began. "Grandpa was raised on a farm, he was just a shepherd. But when he was born, his parents were about to lose their land, so they made a deal with Rumplestiltskin to keep their land in return for a favor. King George's wife was cursed to be barren so he made a deal for a child. Rumple took grandpa's brother and gave him to King George to raise. His name was James, by the way. Anyway, James was supposed to marry Abigail, who was Kathryn Nolan's Enchanted Forest persona. They were going to unite King George and King Midas' kingdoms, but James was killed. George found out about grandpa from Rumple and forced grandpa into taking James' place so that his and Midas' kingdoms could still unite. But then grandpa met grandma and they fell in love, and George tried to keep them apart, as did my mom, but True Love prevailed and grandma and grandpa warred against King George and won his kingdom."

"So, when the curse broke and Spencer got his memories back, he was still holding a grudge?"

"Right." Henry nodded. "So, he went after Ruby. He knew that Ruby was a werewolf and he wanted to prove that grandpa was incapable of leading the town. He murdered the car mechanic Billy, the one Ruby always used to flirt with, and he stole the cloak that Ruby wears to prevent herself from transforming during the full moon. He almost turned the whole town against Ruby, but grandma and grandpa found evidence that George was the true murderer and they saved Ruby and put George behind bars."

"Well, it seems that you guys have had a really eventful week." Emma commented. "Or has it been longer than that?"

"No." Henry said. "It's been seven days exactly since the curse broke. You've only been unconscious for a few hours."

"Oh."

"Mom?" Henry's tone sounded more than a little bit hesitant. "Is...is dad going to be okay?"

Emma sucked in a breath. She didn't know what to tell him. She couldn't very well say that Killian would be just fine...that'd definitely be a lie, but she honestly didn't know if he would live either.

"I...god, Henry, I don't know." Emma admitted. She couldn't tell her son another lie, least of all when it came to someone that they both cared about so much. "He was stabbed, and it was pretty bad."

Henry looked grim for a moment, but then he smiled reassuringly. "It'll be okay. He'll make it."

"You think so?" Emma asked, and god, she was a terrible mother if she couldn't reassure her child that his father would be okay, instead having her son reassure her.

"Grandpa always says that we have to have hope." Henry told her. "That we have to have faith that everything will work out. I know that dad may be hurt, and it may be really, really bad, but I believe that he'll make it. He'll pull through, and then he'll find his way back home."

Emma smiled. "Optimism must've skipped a generation."

"Maybe, but you can't give up." Henry said. "Grandma once told us in class, when we were making birdhouses, that if someone loves you they will always find you. And dad loves you, doesn't her?"

"Yes." Emma said. "And I love him."

"Then he'll find you."

"Thank you, Henry." Emma sighed. "Come here, kid." She pulled him into her arms, and hugged him tightly, ignoring the wires and tubes that were currently stuck in her. Having him in her arms, knowing that he was safe and that he was going to be okay, lifted a weight off of Emma's shoulders. She squeezed him tighter. "I love you."

It was the first time she had ever said that to Henry, and without missing a beat, Henry said. "I love you, too."

And for a moment, Emma was happy.

A knock on the door interrupted the mother-son moment, and they pulled apart to see a smiling Snow and Charming.

"Hey Henry, do you mind if we talk with Emma for a sec?" Snow asked. "You can go get some food with Jefferson and Ruby if you want."

Henry nodded, before turning back to Emma. "Remember, he will find you." Henry whispered. He gave her one last smile before leaving.

Emma watched him go, then braced herself for the upcoming, no doubt serious, conversation with her parents. What she didn't expect were the hugs. Her parents hugged the life out of her, with Mary Margaret holding to her tightly around them middle, and David holding them both in his arms.

"How are you feeling?" Mary Margaret asked as she and David pulled away, David keeping his arm around Emma's shoulders and Mary Margaret taking Emma's hands in her own.

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Emma took a moment to calm herself before answering. "Like I just lost the love of my life."

David and Mary Margaret shared concerned looks. "Is he...is he really gone?" Mary Margaret asked hesitantly.

"I...I don't know." Emma said. "He was still alive, still conscious, when Cora pulled us into the portal."

"So he could still be alive?" David asked.

Emma didn't miss the hope in his tone, reminding her just how close David and Killian were. "I don't know, the wound, he was stabbed with a sword for crying out loud...and he was bleeding..." She choked as tears leaked out of her eyes. "There was so much blood..."

"Oh Emma." Mary Margaret squeezed her hands, trying to comfort her.

"It'll be all right." David said. "He's Captain Hook. He's managed to survive for centuries, I'm certain that he can survive this."

"But what if he can't?" Emma sobbed.

Her parents held her tighter.

"You just have to have faith, Emma." David told her. "He'll live."

"David's right." Mary Margaret said. "You can't give up. You have to remain hopeful that he'll make it."

"Well, I'm sorry but optimism definitely skipped a generation." Emma said, wiping at her eyes.

"All the more reason for you to stay positive." Mary Margaret insisted.

"Yeah? And what if I do that, and it turns out that he is dead?" Emma choked. "Huh? What if he died all alone? What if I never see him again?"

"Emma." Mary Margaret's tone was stern as she cupped her daughter's cheeks.

Emma met her eyes reluctantly.

"If there is one thing that I know about True Love, it's that it truly does conquer anything." Mary Margaret told her. "I know Killian, and from what I've seen and heard about Captain Hook I'm sure that he's the same way in regards to fighting for what he wants. He won't give up. Not after waiting for you, not after everything you two have been through, and certainly not after giving up his revenge, something that it seemed he'd been at for a long time, for you. He will survive and he will fight to get back to you."

"How do you know?"

Mary Margaret smiled. "Because, as your father once said, True Love must be fought for, because once you find it, it can never be replaced."

Emma sniffed. "Stay positive, huh?"

"Stay positive." David nodded, smiling at her.

Emma took another deep breath. "Can I be honest here?"

"Of course." Mary Margaret nodded.

"Fine." Emma swallowed. "I can't be positive. All my life, I've been let down time and time again."

David and Mary Margaret looked crushed, but Emma was quick to reassure them.

"And I don't blame you guys." Emma said. "Not anymore. Not after learning the truth, but that doesn't change the fact that this is who I am and that I can't hope for the best. But, that just means that I really need you guys now. I need you guys to be supportive and to keep my spirits up. I need you guys to help me through this, and to help me with Henry. I just...I really need you."

Their hearts swelled at Emma's words. Their baby girl needed them, finally needed them.

"And while I need my friends, and I'm not used to having parents," Emma continued, "I'd like to have my parents too. It won't be easy for me, but if you guys can be patient and try to be my friends when I need it, and my parents the rest of the time, I think that maybe...maybe we can work this all out."

"We're not going anywhere, Emma." David said. "We promise."

Mary Margaret agreed, adding jokingly. "Yeah, unfortunately, you're like all other kids now. Stuck with us for life."

Emma chuckled. "I think I can live with that."

Jefferson and Ruby were sitting at a table in the hospital cafeteria, watching Henry as he got some food.

"Do you think Emma's going to be okay?" Ruby asked.

"She's a fighter." Jefferson said. "I'm pretty sure that she can survive anything."

"Even the death of her True Love?"

Jefferson swallowed, before looking at Ruby. "You really don't think Jones is dead, do you?"

Ruby could see the worry, the fear, in his eyes. She had no idea that Jefferson and Killian were friends at all, let alone close friends. Perhaps that was a result of seeing each other everyday for nearly two months.

"I hope not." Ruby replied softly, not wanting to upset him.

Jefferson looked down at his cup of coffee that was held in both of his hands. He gritted his teeth together, trying to deny to himself that he would be affected by Killian's death. Jefferson never had friends during the curse; Regina leaving him with his memories had made him feel isolated, so he never socialized. When he was arrested, he never expected to actually befriend Killian and David. But it happened, and now, Jefferson knew that losing Jones would mean losing one of the only two best friends that he had ever had.

Ruby moved from her seat across from Jefferson to the empty seat next to him, and placed her hand on his arm. "Hey, it's all right." She said, feeling terrible that she'd upset him. "I'm sure that Killian is alive."

"How do you know?"

Ruby shrugged. "Because he's always been tenacious. I doubt he'd just give up."

Jefferson met her eyes. "I hope you're right."

Ruby smiled reassuringly, but it soon faded under the intensity of Jefferson's gaze. She felt a thrill go up her spine as he tilted his head forward a fraction, feeling a strong urge to lean in towards him.

She was absolutely convinced that he was going to kiss her, and her stomach and eyes fluttered at the thought.

Jefferson moved slowly closer, cautious as to not scare her away.

Henry popped down on the chair across from them, jolting them both back to reality. "Are you guys okay?" He asked, oblivious to what he had just interrupted.

"Um, yeah." Ruby nodded, stamping down her desire, and ignoring the pheromones rolling off of Jefferson and herself.

Jefferson cleared his throat and proceeded to engage Henry in a conversation about his new horse in order to distract both himself and Ruby.

As both adults tried to listen to the story, neither realized just what was growing between them.

Mary Margaret went to the Red Room as soon as she fell asleep. She hoped that Hook would be here, hoped that he was still alive, anything, any news that she could relay to Emma.

The room was empty save for the perpetual fire.

But Snow wouldn't leave. Just because it was empty, it didn't mean that he was dead. It simply meant that he wasn't asleep yet.

"Snow?"

Snow whirled around, disappointed to see Aurora, but at least someone was here.

"Hook, how is he?"

Aurora gave her an understanding look. "Emma's worried, isn't she?"

"She thinks that he's dead, or well, that he won't make it." Snow explained.

Aurora sighed, the pained expression on her face making her seem older. "He might not."

"What?"

"Mulan, Anton, and I are doing everything that we can, but it may not be enough." Aurora told her. "We stopped the bleeding, but Mulan believes that the wound may be infected."

Snow swallowed, but she squared her shoulders and an expression of fierce determination came over her. "I don't care what you have to do, but that man is the most important person in my daughter and my grandson's life. He's everything to them. You save him. You make sure that he lives, do you understand me?"

"Yes." Aurora snapped. "I won't give up. I lost my True Love not a week ago. I won't let the same happen to someone else, I won't let someone else go through this pain. It may take days or weeks, perhaps even months, but I won't let him die."

Snow sighed relieved. "Thank you."

Aurora nodded. "Believe me, it's the least I can do."

Gold expected Cora to arrive sooner or later. Just not before she had even spent a full day in Storybrooke.

"Hello, Rumple." Cora greeted upon entering his shop.

"Well, I expected this was just a matter of time." Gold sighed. "Had hoped you were dead, but hey disappointment's just part of life. I'm sure we can agree on that."

"Now Rumple, after everything we've been through, I'm sure we can be more civil."

"Believe me, dearie." Gold growled. "This is as civil as I'm going to get."

"And here I am, here to offer you a deal." Cora said.

"Oh, and just what kind of deal would that be?"

"A truce." Cora smirked. "You don't need Regina anymore, she's already cast your curse. Let me try to get her back and let us live."

Gold gave her a bored look. "And what do I get for my troubles?"

"You stay out of my way, and stay away from my daughter," Cora began, "then I do the same. I leave you and yours alone."

"I don't have a me and mine."

"Oh, have you not found your son?"

Gold glared at her.

"No?" Cora arched a brow. "But there is someone you do love, isn't there?"

"Afraid not." Gold said. "As you always say, love is weakness."

"Yes, but it is a weakness that you have." Cora countered. "Like I said, Rumple, I simply want a truce."

Gold considered her for a long moment. "Truce it is then." He held out his hand for her to shake.

Cora grasped it, but she didn't shake it. "Let's seal it like we used to."

Before he could protest, she kissed him.

It tasted bitter on his mouth, and after a few seconds, he pulled away. "There, deal's done." He growled.

Cora smirked. "Wonderful."

Jefferson sat at the bar in Granny's, trying not to stare at Ruby as she worked and failing miserably.

Ruby brought a pot of coffee over and refilled his mug. "You need anything else?"

He locked gazes with her, feeling desire rise up in his veins.

Ruby's lips parted slightly as his aroused scent reached her sensitive nose.

"I could think of a few things."

She licked her lips, causing him to breath sharply through his nose.

Dr. Whale slipping onto the stool next to Jefferson caused the pair to break away from the other's heated stare.

Ruby asked if Whale wanted anything, but he waved her off, irking the she-wolf and the hatter.

"Victor." Jefferson nodded at him, acknowledging his presence.

"We need to talk." Victor said.

"What do you want?" Jefferson asked, purposefully putting boredom in his tone.

"Your hat."

Jefferson quirked a brow. "Unfortunately, it was burned a couple of days ago."

Victor's jaw clenched. "Look, Miss Swan and the sheriff ended up in the Enchanted Forest, that means that my land still exists too."

"So?"

"So, I need to get back there." Victor growled.

"Ah, right, your brother." Jefferson said, sipping his coffee.

Victor made a fist, but refrained from punching the hatter. "I need a way back to my land."

"Then I don't know how to help you." Jefferson snapped. "If you want magic, go to Regina or Gold. See what the hell they can do, because I can't."

"Everything all right here?" Ruby interrupted, eyes looking between the two men, slightly nervous.

"Everything's fine, sweetheart." Victor leered.

Jefferson gripped his mug tighter, a surge of jealousy in his bones. "Like I said, Frankenstein, the witch and the imp are the people you need to see."

Victor glared, before giving Jefferson a curt nod and leaving.

"What was that about?" Ruby asked, placing a calming hand on Jefferson's wrist.

Jefferson sighed. "Nothing important."

Ruby arched a disbelieving brow. "Really?"

"Let's just say Victor and I worked together once." Jefferson said with a tight smile. "Back before I met my late wife. Back when I wasn't exactly a good person."

"Oh, and you're good now?" Ruby quipped with a teasing smirk.

Jefferson's smile became more genuine. "If I have a reason to be."

Charming sighed, staring into his coffee. "And Aurora's not sure if he'll pull through?"

"No." Snow said. "But she's determined to make sure that he does."

Charming nodded. "Let's hope she and her friends can save him. If they don't...god, I don't know if I could handle watching Emma and Henry go through that."

"I know that I couldn't." Mary Margaret sighed. "It would destroy them."

"Should we tell Emma?"

"That he's alive? Yes." Mary Margaret said. "But, I think that, after what she said last night, we shouldn't tell her how bad it is."

"You're right." David nodded. "Gotta keep her spirits up."

Snow finished her coffee and began making breakfast for the four of them, while David showered and got ready for work.

Just as Mary Margaret finished the eggs and bacon, Emma came down the stairs, still in her pajamas, hair tussled from an obviously restless night.

"Good morning, Emma." Mary Margaret smiled.

"Morning." Emma replied, a lot less chipper than her mother, as she poured herself some coffee.

"So, I went to the Red Room last night." Mary Margaret began as a fully dressed David entered, clipping his badge to his belt.

"The Red Room?" Emma asked.

"Yeah, the place where Killian and Aurora went to when they were asleep." Mary Margaret explained.

Emma tensed, anticipation stirring in her gut. "And?"

"And Killian wasn't there." Mary Margaret said. "But Aurora was. She said that she, Mulan, and Anton were taking care of him."

"He's alive?" Emma whispered, her tone suggesting that she'd hardly dared to believe it.

"Yes, he is." David said. "And he'll be fine."

Emma's lie detector went off. Yes, Killian was alive, that wasn't a lie. But when David said that he'd be fine...Emma swallowed. Her parents were trying to keep her positive, just like she had asked, so she'd let the lie go. It would help fuel any future denial.

"That's a relief." Emma sighed, letting her shoulders relax. "Did she say anything else?"

"Just that he's still recovering." Mary Margaret lied. "And I'm sure once he's well enough, he'll find his way back here in no time."

Henry bounded down the stairs, preventing any further conversation. The Charmings ate breakfast together, the silence between the adults filled by Henry's excited chatter as he told his mother all about his new horse and how they had to leave a lot earlier than usual in order to go to the stables.

Emma was happy that Henry was so excited about something and so proud that he was learning responsibility by caring for another living creature. When she'd asked David about it last night, he said that it was good for Henry; it not only built character, but the bond between an animal and it's owner was always a strong one, and every child deserved the chance to have that.

Considering that Emma herself had never had a pet before, she was glad that Henry had the chance to have one. It was something else that Emma always wanted for Henry, that she missed out on.

He had a family, and it was everything that he deserved.

It was during the early evening that Regina entered Archie's office for their appointment, more agitated than usual.

"Is everything all right, Regina?" Archie asked.

"No." Regina said. "My mother is here."

"What?" Archie's eyes widened, surprised. "How?"

Regina sighed, before explaining everything that happened yesterday, about the portal and what she and Gold had planned to do, about how Hook and Emma were supposed to come through, about how Henry convinced her not to destroy the portal, and how it ended up that Cora arrived in this realm after all.

"And now my mother wants to make amends." Regina finished. "But after everything she's done to me my entire life, I don't believe her. She's always been so manipulative, using me to get everything that she wanted."

"And you believe that she wants to make amends in order to use you again?"

"Why else would she be here?" Regina asked. "She doesn't have a heart. She can't feel anything. All she wants is power, or whatever is beneficial to her. She doesn't care about me."

Archie gave her a sympathetic look. "Regina, using your magic yesterday was a setback, but what you did for Henry, that proves that you want to be better. If everything you've told me about Cora is true, then, in order for you to continue bettering yourself, I think that it would be best to distance yourself from Cora."

Regina nodded. "You're right. I know that you are, but she's in a new land and she has magic. I'm worried that if I let her out of my sight for too long, she may use her magic to her advantage and do something that will only end up with me suffering the backlash."

Archie opened his mouth to speak, but at that moment, Whale barged into the room.

"Dr. Whale, this is highly inappropriate." Archie said, startled.

Whale ignored him, his eyes on Regina. "Send me back."

"Excuse me?" Regina asked, affronted.

"To my land." Whale growled. "Send me back to my brother."

Regina scoffed. "Why don't you check the "missing" board like everyone else?"

"Your curse only brought the living." Whale snarled.

"Well then, I'm sorry for your loss." Regina sneered. "But I'm afraid I can't send anyone anywhere."

"Can't or won't?"

"Dr. Whale," Archie cut in, "I have to insist that you leave, please."

Whale glared at both of them before he stormed out.

Once they were alone again, Archie shut the doors to the office. Archie returned to his seat. "What you said isn't entirely true, is it?"

Regina arched a brow. "I'm sorry?"

"About the curse only taking the living." Archie said. "The grave of your father's here, right?"

Regina huffed. "I don't care about Whale or his brother. I brought who I wanted."

"Anyone else?" Archie asked. "We've been through this Regina, if you want to continue to get help, you have to try and trust me."

Regina stared down at her clasped hands. "His name was Daniel." It was the first time that she'd ever spoken of Daniel to Archie, leaving that particular tale out when talking about her mother. But with Cora back, it was time. "I preserved his body with an enchantment spell. He's dead, but frozen. And I've kept him in my family mausoleum."

"Because you couldn't let go of him." Archie nodded. "If you can't let go of the past, Regina, it's doomed to haunt you."

An hour later, after revealing to Archie the story of how she and Daniel fell in love, and how he died by Cora's hand (she left out Snow's involvement, though she was loathed to even think why she did), Regina exited Archie's office.

A storm had been brewing during their session, the bottom finally dropping out as Regina got into her car.

The rain was so thick that, even with her headlights on, she couldn't see in front of her. It didn't help that the sun had set some time ago.

Just as she began to speed up, a car cut her off, causing her to slam on her brakes.

"Son of a bitch." She growled.

She looked up, wanting to catch a glimpse of the car or license, but what she saw made her blood freeze.

A man was across the street from her, staring straight at her.

A man that looked strikingly like Daniel.

Not believing her eyes, Regina closed them. She was just seeing things, after all, she had just spent an hour reliving her memories of Daniel. There was no way that he was real.

She opened her eyes again.

Nothing was there.

I know Mulan's sword probably doesn't have that kind of thing where wounds won't heal with magical help, but I took artistic license with it, because I needed some excuse to keep Killian down and out for some time.

Also, since you guys weren't getting CS, I gave you Mad Wolf and Charming Family moments. Hope that makes up for it.