Her minds drearily foggy, like shes being awoken from some sort of drug educed coma. She wracks her brains, trying to remember her last moments of consciousness. Regina, the woman was kneeling over her, and blood, so much blood, and a pain in her stomach. Charming had stabbed her, the wound was deep, she should be dead. Then why isn't she?..

A damp cloth is pressed to her forehead, she stirs, blue eyes flickering open and refocused on an elderly man sat beside her on the Queen size bed. With a quick scan of the room, she realises shes been brought back to her chambers in Regina's palace.

"You gave my daughter quite the fright young lady."

"Daughter?"

The man smiles, its warm and gentle and it has Helen smiling with him.

"Regina. I'm Henry, its a pleasure to finally meet you Helen."

Helen's smile widens as she props herself further up the bed and leans back on fluffy pillows.

"Your Regina's dad? Where have you been all this time?"

Henry's smile slips.

"I was in another land, taken by Regina's mother."

"Cora?"

Henry blinks in surprise.

"Yes. I take it my daughter has told you a lot over these passed few months. I..I believe I need to apologise to you.."

"What for?"

"Daniel."

Helen frowns, gently taking the old mans hand. She watches as he focuses on their entwined hands, sad eyes no longer able to meet her.

"Henry, Daniels death had nothing to do with you."

"But if I was strong enough, I could have stood up to Cora, I could have helped my daughter and Daniel escape."

Helen shakes her head.

"From what Regina tells me of Cora, I don't think anyone could have stopped that woman. Its taken us a while, but we've both come to terms with Daniels death, so please don't blame yourself Henry. All we can do now is look to the future."

She smiles weakly, squeezing the mans hand.

"Regina was right, you have a kind soul Helen, just like your brother."

"Speaking of Regina, where is she?"

Helen watches as the Queens father shifts uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact yet again. She gets the feeling things aren't right, that things have somehow changed.

Gently Helen slides her legs from beneath the sheets, her feet landing on the cold marble floor. Henry protests, but ultimately Helen pushes herself onto her feet but frowns, making her way over to the balcony doors. Her frown deepens, her mouth flopping open as she pushes the doors open and steps out into the warm summer air.

"What the..Where's all the snow?"

She turns back, eyeing Henry questionably as he makes his way towards her.

"Perhaps if we sit, I can explain as best I can.."

He gestures towards the plush red velvet chairs by the extinguished fireplace. Helen finds herself obeying, slipping down onto the cushion and waiting for the man to continue.

"After Regina rescued me from Cora, she told me all about what happened to you and who you were. She said that you were both ambushed in the forest by Snow White, and that you had been gravely injured. She'd enlisted the help of many healers and used magic to heal you, but it had taken time. So to keep you alive, Regina put your body under some sort of sleeping spell. Only last night did she lift it because she said your body was strong enough for you to awaken."

"So I was like..Hibernating?"

"Yes. She will be relieved that your awake, as am I."

Helen smiles, gently rubbing her stomach.

"Speaking of Regina, where is she? I'd like to see her."

"Ugh..Shes not here at the moment, but don't worry child, she will return by sundown. In the meantime, this old man wouldn't mind a stroll through the gardens, if you'd like to join me?"

She chuckles, eager to escape these cold palace walls and bask in the sunshine. However, at a glance, she realizes shes only wearing a silk nightgown and blushes slightly.

"I'll just change first and have a wash. Meet you down at the entrance hall?"

Henry smiles.

"Of course, I'll send the maids in and have a bath made up for you."

"Thank you Henry."

The man dips his head, shuffling over to the doors and leaves her in peace.

With a huff, Helen slumps back down in her chair, her hand resting back on her stomach and smile slipping from pale features. She can almost feel it in the walls of the palace. The mood has shifted, everything feels as it once was, stiff and cold. Something is seriously wrong, and judging by the way the maids avoid her, it cant be good for any of them..


Helen paces back an forth, a frown pulling at concerned features. The sun had set hours ago and still Regina hasn't returned.

Helen had spent most of the day with Henry, getting to know the man and talking a lot about his daughter before her rise to royalty. But after supper, she had grown more and more concerned with the Queens absence. The atmosphere in the palace has chilled and everything has collapsed back into the way it had been during the reign of the Evil Queen. Helen grits her teeth, the responsibility weighed squarely on her shoulders. She feels as if this is her fault, that people are again suffering because she tried to change things for the better.

A subtle breeze has Helen stopping abruptly. She whirls, focus quickly landing on Regina suddenly stood within her chambers.

"Regina!"

Helen rushes over, pulling the Queen into a crushing hug, but not before she noticed the woman's darker choice of wardrobe and stony expression.

"Where have you been?! I've been so worried!"

She pushes back, hands still clinging to the Queens arms as she scrutinises the softening features of the woman in front of her.

"I had errands to run. I..I'm glad your finally awake."

A tentative hand gently cups Helen's cheek and she smiles brightly.

"So am I. Your father told me what happened, that you put me in some sort of stasis to heal. Thank you for saving my life."

A sad smile pulls at red lips, Regina's hand slipping from Helen's cheek. Regina takes a small step back, Helen frowning slightly.

"Regina whats wrong?"

"Nothing, Everything's fine.."

"No its not, you don't think I haven't noticed the way people are avoiding me again, how your knights are stuck to me like glue. Whats happening? Please Regina you can tell me."

"I'm doing it to protect you. I wont loose you like I lost Daniel."

Helen gently redirects auburn eyes, the torment filling them has her heart aching.

"Your not going to loose me."

She watches as whiskey eyes suddenly darken, a deadly determination directed at her.

"No, I wont. I have made sure that we will be safe, and we will be happy."

"Regina..What have you done?"

"I plan to enact the Dark Curse."

"Dark Curse?"

The Queen quickly scoops up Helen's hands, squeezing a little too harshly.

"Yes, It will take us all to a new land, a land where we will be happy and you will be safe from those who wish to hurt us. I have all the ingredients, and soon we will have everything we've ever wanted and more!"

Her hands slip out of Regina's grip, Helen shaking her head and taking a fearful step back.

"We have everything we ever need right here. We don't need a curse to be happy."

Regina's Queenly mask slips back into place, the woman's shoulders squaring and jaw set. A bold resolution consumes the woman and it scares Helen somewhat.

"This curse will keep us safe and it will give us our vengeance. Snow White and her Prince will pay for what they did, and from their suffering shall rise our victory. You will see this in time my dear."

Helen cautiously approaches her friend, her sister, and swallows harshly.

"Listen, I know what they did to us wasn't right, hell I could have died but I didn't. I know your scared but this curse isn't an answer. We were happy before this, you were happy. We can go back to that and live our lives here together. Forget about Snow White, please!"

There's a tangible pause, Regina inhaling deeply and resting another gentle hand against Helen's slightly trembling cheek.

"Tomorrow night, and it will all be over."

Regina quickly retracts her hand, whirling with flair and paces through the magically opened doors. Helen gasps, her hands shaking as she runs after the woman, but the doors abruptly slam shut in her face.

"Regina!...Regina!..."

Helen slams her palms against the wood, pulling harshly on the handle, but the only way out remains tightly sealed.

"Regina please!...Please don't do this!.."

After twenty minutes, her hands are stinging and her throat is sore. Helen gives up her plea and slides to the floor. She cant help the tears, cant help a gentle sob escaping dry lips. For some reason she feels shes failed, she was meant to help Regina, help pull the woman from the darkness, but it seems that all shes done, is push the Queen further into it..


Red rimmed eyes watch wearily as the sun slowly sets over the enchanted forest. The wind blows through brown tresses, Helen ignoring the goosebumps prickling at her bare arms. She didn't sleep a wink last night, shes been over thinking everything, blaming herself for Regina's state. She regrets pushing to go for a ride that day, for deciding to have a picnic in the snow. None of this would be happening if she had done the sensible thing that day and returned to the palace.

She hugs her waist, battling the slight chill on the air and returns inside her chambers. The doors are still locked tight, no one, not even the maids have disturbed her. Shes panicking and shes scared, all she wants is to see Regina, but the woman has ignored her, refused to even visit.

A thunderous roar startles her, wide glassy eyes quickly redirected out over the balcony. Her heart quickens in beat, her hands shaking almost violently as she watches a tower of purple and green smoke climb its way above the clouds and roll towards the palace from a distance.

"Its done.."

Helen whirls, a tear slipping down her cheek as Regina steps from purple mist. The Queen glides forward, a gentle expression directed towards her frightened friend.

"Soon the Dark Curse will sweep over this land, and we will get our happy ending."

"No Regina, what you've done is run away from your problems. This curse wont make you happy, curses never do."

Whiskey eyes soften, the Queen gently entering Helen's personal space before pulling them both into a hug.

"Your scared that's all, and its okay, I will protect you, and in this new land you will want for nothing. I..I love you Helen, and I want whats best for us. This Dark Curse is whats best for us.."

Regina pulls back, gently wiping a tear from Helen's cheek.

"..I have to go now. I need to make sure a certain problem doesn't follow us through to this new land."

Helen quickly clings to the retreating royal, panic shining in blue eyes.

"Don't leave me! Please!"

Regina leans in, placing a gentle kiss on Helen's forehead.

"Its too dangerous to take you with me, but don't worry, we will be reunited again before you know it."

With one final sad smile, Regina disappears in wisps of purple smoke, Helen stumbling forward at the missed contact.

"Regina?!...Regina come back!..Please don't leave me alone!.."

Another thunderous roar shakes the buildings foundations, shocking Helen to the core as a whirlwind whips against the palace walls. She backs herself against the locked door, sliding to the floor and hugs her knees to her chest.

This is it, this curse will rip her away from her home once again, away from Daniel and his memory. Shes scared, more alone than shes ever been. A gentle wave of tears flow down her cheeks, glassy eyes fearfully watching as the purple and green cloud storms towards her, but something catches her eye, Helen sniffing, a sad smile pulling at her lips as a floating blue blob drifts over from the balcony and hovers next to her. It weaves gently from side to side, a familiar warmth invading her heart and redirecting Helen's focus from the dark magic rolling into the chamber.

"Thank you, Daniel.."

Her eyes slip shut peacefully, the Dark Curse taring into the Dark Palace, finally engulfing her from all sides..


AN: So not a very happy ending, but it does leave the door open if I can motivate myself to write a sequel. I hope you enjoyed this little fic, now I can get back to writing my main piece lol...