All they needed was her blood to make the ink. Doesn't mean she has to die but it does mean she has to bleed. They just needed someone to get close enough to slice her open somewhere and collect her pure blood so they can mix it with the darkness and move on to their grand plan. This is what the others planned but Zelena was try to think of a way to kill Regina. The woman stole her mother and wasn't even her actual sister. She stole her life and didn't even work for it. The family that took Zelena in was harsh and she can't remember her adoptive mother very well anymore. Her father made sure of that. Regina would not live to see another day if Zelena can help it. She will kill her then make the others pay. The heroes were nothing more that slaves to the hope they cherished. She would make them worse than even she was.

Rumple on the other hand had spoke with the other and asked Isaac to make him worthy of the love of Belle and his son. He wanted nothing more than to be more than what he was. The author smiled and said that of course he would. Having someone as powerful as the dark one on your side can never really hurt. They already have a story pretty much written out for when they get what they need. Zelena has made sure she gets what she wants out of all of it. Isaac plans on going back to the world he came from in order to reach his own dreams and goals.

As another day passes Emma finds it hard to keep on task. Lily is constantly there to remind her that she needs to do this or that. Regina hasn't been home for two weeks and its starting to worry everyone. No one knows why its taking so long and Bradamant was told Regina would be back by now. Not a word since then. All of the people Regina has left behind worry for one reason or another. Snow hopes that Regina hasn't fallen back to old habits completely and Henry just wants his mommy. The people that have come to see Regina as a just ruler are already telling stories of how she has gone off to defeat the dark one on her own. The royals hope that is not the case. Though Regina is strong in her own right they don't want her to be overwhelmed by the others helping the dark one.

"I'm starting to wonder if she is even alive," Lily says quietly to the study. The children in bed she knows she can voice her concerns without worry.

"I hope you aren't thinking you mother is so easily taken down," Snow states.

"I wouldn't dream of it...But she left with a God. They can kill whoever they please." Lily says in her pessimistic ways.

"You are too much like your mothers," Red says, "Regina is fine and she will be back when she needs to be. We just have to trust her on this." Red moves to take Lily's hand. Lily takes it without thought and nods her head to Reds words.

Emma takes the interaction in and then something clicks. She turns her head in curiosity as she sits at the table, "When did that happen?" Everyone looked at her with a questioning look. She motioned to Red and Lily, "Looks like you two have become more than friends." Red goes to let go of Lily's hand but Lily tightens her grip. Emma smiles, "I'm happy for you two." Red gives her a smile that could light up a room while Lily looks down shyly.

"When Regina finds out you better run Red," Mal says with mischief in her eyes. Red's face falls and she gulps. Though her and Regina have become close she didn't stop to think how the Queen would take to her courting her daughter.

Snow laughed, "I'm sure she will be fine with it as long as you make Lily happy."

Emma broke in, "I don't know Lily is Regina's "little" girl...She may go dragon herself." Emma laughed at the face that Red got to her statement.

"Like you would fair much better meeting her mother Emma," Snow mentioned Cora.

Emma sat up straighter, "I have met both her mothers and both love me," She said full of confidence. The room erupted in laughter over Emma's statement. They were so busy laughing none of them noticed the new presence in the room.

"I hope this laughter isn't at my expense," Regina questioned with her arched eyebrow. The room went quiet and they all stared at her. A look of worry came to her, "What is it? Did something happen to Henry?" Emma shook her head still trying figure out if Regina was really there. "Then why is everyone looking at me like that?" Emma stood and ran to Regina's side pulling her into an embrace and kissing her thoroughly. Everyone else turned to let the two have their moment.

When they pulled back Emma was all smiles, "I have missed you so much."

Regina looked at her like she was crazy, "What are you talking about I have only been gone for a few days." The room went deathly quiet again as everyone stared at her.

"Regina you have been gone for over a month," Emma said. "I have had to tell Henry you would be back any day now. He was getting very upset over it all."

Regina's face fell as her eyes filled with worry, "I'm sorry. It only seemed like a few days."

"Its alright. As long as you are here now. We should go wake Henry though. If we don't he will be upset in the morning." Emma said as she held Regina tighter. Regina nodded her head but took a step back. She looked to Lily with a smile then a furrowed brow when she noticed Red was holding her hand.

"I'm sorry if I worried you as well," She said to Lily.

Lily let go of Red and went to Regina, "I'm just glad you're back now."

Regina held her tight, "I wouldn't dream of leaving all this behind." She said with a smile. Then she looked to Red and back to her daughter, "As far as the two of you we will talk later...Right now I have to check on Henry too." Red and Lily's faces went red then Regina held tight to Lily again. She would never leave her daughter just to spend time with an absentee mother. She released Lily after a couple minutes then walked back to Emma. Grabbing her hand they teleported out of the room.

"Well she didn't kill you did she," Snow pointed out to Red.

"Yet," Red said with a smirk.

As the smoke cleared Regina looked the bed to find her little prince sleeping with a scowl. She knew he only had that face when he was having bad dreams. She sat on the bed and pulled him to her lap. She slowly shook him awake with sweet words that could calm. Slowly Henry's eyes opened to find his brunette mother holding. "Mommy?" His sleep filled voice questioned.

"Don't worry my little prince I am here." She held him tighter.

He snuggled deeper into her hold, "I was worried. I was dreaming that a monster took you from us."

Regina took a slow deep breath to calm herself and willed her burning eyes not to shed tears, "I would never let a petty monster take me from you. I just needed to get somethings done should the dark one come back to claim vengeance."

Henry nodded, "I know. You always save everyone." He yawned, "You're really good at it mom." His eyes opened to look at her, "You are my hero and I can't wait to write your stories." He gave her a smile, closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Regina for her part let her tears fall at the honesty of her son. She would do whatever it took to make sure she was worthy of such a title.

Emma put her hand on Regina's shoulder, "Just so you know you're my hero too."

Regina covered Emma's hand and shook her head, "You are the hero here, savior. Without you keeping me looking at the good stuff I would have gone back to my old self a few times."

Emma shakes her head, "You could have done that before I got here but you didn't. You have kept yourself on the side of good for Henry. I think that you stayed that way as he got old mostly for yourself though. You liked having people see you, not the Evil Queen." She kissed the top of Regina's head, "Give yourself some credit my love."

Regina looked up into blue eyes, "I never thought I would have this," her voice was barely above a whisper from emotion, "I'm just happy I didn't give up when it seemed I would never find my happiness." She looked down at their son, "I honestly thought that I needed the romantic idea of a happy ever after to feel complete. Right now during all this I feel more full then I have ever felt my entire life." She moved Henry into his bed and tucked him in, "I guess my happy ending is finding out by being who I really am and standing by it makes life easier." She turned to Emma, "Thanks for helping me find that."

"Glad I could be of service your majesty," Emma bowed with a smirk on her face.

Regina let out a soft chuckle as she shook her head, "Idiot." she whispered.

"All yours though." Emma stood and held Regina again.

"All mine," Regina said into her neck.

The next morning the breakfast table was full and everyone was in high spirits. Red and Lily sat across from each other so as not to gain the attention of Regina. Snow sat at the head with David at her side while Regina sat on her other side with Emma next to her. Henry sat on the other side of Charming with Mal next to him. Lily sat next to Emma and Red next to Mal. Mal was trying not to start picking on her daughter and lover; finding it very hard. She caught Regina's eyes and could see the mischief there so she kept herself quiet until something was said by the Queen. Regina cleared her throat, "So how long have you two been sleeping together," She said it so casually as she lifted a spoon full of food to her mouth. Snow laughed as she dropped her utensil and Charming was trying hard not to laugh. Mal snorted at it and Emma kept quiet, she didn't want this to backfire on her at some point.

Red blushed fiercely at the question, "Ummm. Its." She stammered. Lily was just looking at Regina with a stunned expression.

"I don't think that's an answer dear," Regina said as she looked to Red.

"Do you really need to know that," Lily asked.

Regina looked to her daughter, "Well she is courting you is she not?"
Lily looked to Red then back to Regina, "Well...I...I guess."

Regina looked to Red with a raised brow, "Are you?"

With that questioned implying this was just a notch in the headboard Red sat up straight with a serious face, "Yes. We actually have only been figuring out what this is but I consider this to be serious." She looked from Regina to Lily. Lily felt a rush come over her so she looked down with a blush as she bit her lip.

Regina smiled at the response, "Well then you both better take care of each other. Gods know we're the only ones who will make sure of it."

Snow picked up her goblet and held it up, "To family."

Everyone picked up their one as they looked around and said together, "To family."

They day was filled with Regina catching up on what's been done for the kingdom and what has been put in place to protect the people. They were ready for a fight and this time they could strike back without a word of what needs to be done. Regina kept the actual plan to herself though. If she did what needed to be done two people could die. She knew that she would need to take this to the end but she wouldn't let those who gave her a chance to be who she truly wanted to be die because of who she is. She would sacrifice her happiness for them. She walked through the grounds and smiled as she took in the change of weather. The wind was starting to fill colder and she wasn't sure when it all happened. How she went from a lonely woman to a mother of two with someone she loved completely. A castle full of family and all of them loved her as she was not who they thought she should be. She looked to the sky with a smile, "I just want to make it through this so I can see what happens next."