Ruby's heart sank with grief, as Robin gently closed the lids of the Saviour's eyes for the very last time. "Farewell. I promise I'll take care of them. I love you too, after finally getting to know you. I'm so very sorry." He pressed his lips down gently on the bloody forehead. "Rest in peace, Emma." A single tear fell on the lifeless cheek.

Then…it happened!

Seconds later, noticed by everyone surrounding them, a warm wave of octarine light pulsed from the Saviour's head, fanning out all around, knocking several back. Magic!

Moments earlier, Henry Mills had just ran across from the far side of the building to see his blonde mother on the lawn, lying still on a trestle, eyes open. He only recognised her from the clothes she lay in, and gasped in horror when he saw the large pool of blood surrounding her body. Her own blood? When he reached her, Robin was leaning over, whispering something, before closing her eyelids. He froze in shock, utterly mortified. "Mum?" his voice barely croaked.

Robin looked up from the body, pain etched into his face when he saw him. "Henry? I'm so sorry. We're too late," he looked desolate. "I wasn't quick enough! This is my fault! I-"

But he was interrupted by a loud gasp, looking down to see Emma's eyes. Open! She seemed to be gulping, desperate to breathe!

"MUM!" Henry yelled, taking her hand and kissing her head. That's when he fully noticed the massive bruising and black eyes. Emma, still dazed, turned to his voice. "Henry?"

"It's me, ma! I thought you…" he could barely get the words out.

"Are you okay?" Emma was more concerned for him. "They got you! You shouldn't have tried…" but she was too exhausted to continue, the fight leaving her, too weak to speak. Henry, a slow smile returning to his face, "Hush ma, don't talk! I'm fine. Grandpa saw to that!" he looked across at Gold, who moved closer, as Robin quietly stepped away, knowing Emma was now safe.

Emma looked at Henry's grandfather. "Thanks. I guess I owe you!"

"When it comes to my grandson's life, you owe me nothing! Welcome back to life." The Dark One had an odd look in his eye, as though he had just discovered something. But she wasn't going to ask. Not now.

"To life? I don't understand?" she croaked, her body still aching.

"You died, ma!" said Henry, Ruby nodding in agreement.

"Obviously not, or I wouldn't be here! I…"

Rumple moved close, making Emma feel slightly uncomfortable. "The outlaw carried out the important surgery. He removed the bullet lodged in your chest, and brought you back. Now, let me do the tidying up of the wounds and that swelling! Lie still now…" he ordered, opening his palms to float them over her face. Emma winced repeatedly as she felt the magic enter her, under her skin, flinching I pain as she felt the cartilage in her nose start to repair. "OW!" she yelled, but stayed still, as she realized her face was being repaired. As he worked, even the dark dried blood seemed to disappear, leaving her face pink, as though she had never been attacked.

Ruby smiled down at her, wiping a tear away. "As lovely as ever!" Emma only noticed Ruby's own very swollen black eye when Rumple turned to face the wolf.

"Miss Lucas, if you'll allow me?" she hesitated, but after Henry nodded encouragingly, she silently agreed. A moment later, Rumple raised his hand over her own face, a small purple haze of magic pulling the bruising from her eyes and allowing her now to properly open them. "There. A better look for a blushing bride, don't you think, ladies?" he turned to face Emma, "as you're probably aware, your skin may be healed, but the aches and pains will continue for a while yet. I suggest a good night's sleep is in order."

"Um…thanks, Mr. Gold," said Ruby, feeling her cheek bones and relieved at not having to face her bride-to-be with a battered face.

"Looking good, Rubes!" said Emma, attempting to sit up and, feeling decidedly groggy, lay back again. "Wait, what was that? Henry, what do you mean…died?"

"It's true Emma," said her friend, "Spencer shot you in the clinic, and you lost a lot of blood. Robin's covered in it! He's the one who carried you out of there. We lost you just now, girl. I saw your eyes!"

"Then why am I here? Henry, did you bring me back?"

He gave her a sad smile. "Not me this time, ma…" His mother looked at him, wide-eyed. Then how?Regina's not here, so…how? It was seeing the quirky look on Ruby's face, she remembered just who had been standing over her. Who she'd been whispering to, with her dying words, who…who she…oh. OH! Oh shit! She needed to talk to him!

"Rubes, where's Robin?" she asked, trying to sit up once again, and groaning with pain.

"Don't get up, ma!" said Henry. "Stay down. You're not ready; just rest a bit and I'll get him. He went back in to see how mum's doing in theatre."

"The operating theatre? Hell, Henry, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you were busy dying - that's why! Robin needed to get you outside quick! I just came back from there. Tuck carried mum in, and Merlin and his daughter are with her now. She's in good hands, ma."

"I need to see her! Now please, Hen?"

"Look, I'll sort it but don't do anything stupid like trying to stand! You lost a lot of blood, and you're still weak, so just lie still. Someone's gonna take you back inside in a minute."

Inside the clinic, in the small post-operative room, Regina Swan-Mills slowly started to come round from the anaesthetic. "Ugh," she groaned, feeling intense pain in her jaw, still confused. She had bandages wrapped around her head, her arm was in a sling and her shoulders were killing her. "Enga! Is she safe?" her words mangled due to the swelling and bandage.

"Welcome back, Regina!" said Annabelle, soothingly. "Please don't try talking! You've just come out of surgery. Your jaw's been reset; that's why you're in pain, and having difficulty talking. I'll be giving you some strong painkillers shortly after Dr. Whale has seen you again. After that, I'm taking you outside, and we'll use magic to get rid of the swelling and bruises."

"Enga?" she repeated, though the sound was distorted. "Ngi wife?" Shit, I can't even speak!

"Oh, you mean Emma?" she nodded, "I'll go check. They took her straight outside, as she was critical, though I heard from someone that Robin Hood saved her life. Apparently, it was a near thing! They've just brought her back in. Your son's with her."

Regina shoulders collapsed as feelings of relief flooded through her. She's alive! Henry's safe! "I want to gee with theng. Clease?" she begged.

"Of course. I'll find out where they are. Now, again, until dad has patched you up, please try not to talk, as it'll only hurt more!"

Waking again, Emma now lay, eyes closed in sheer exhaustion, on a hospital gurney, with an IV in her arm, having drifted in and out of consciousness several times. The Sorcerer had now appeared, dressed in scrubs, from an operating theatre, walking across to her side. "Hello Emma. I gather you gave them quite the fright outside? Mr. Locksley did quite a job, considering it was his first time using healing magic. A bullet and shrapnel? That's not easy! Now, would you mind if I gave you a quick check over? Victor Whale's still in theatre, but I can do it, if that's okay?"

"Please. I don't want Whale anywhere near me."

Merlin frowned, as he checked her pulse, under her eyelids and the now healed wound area, opening the gown she now found herself in, to check her over for any hidden bruising. "I'm sorry you feel that way about Victor! In the short time I've got to know him, I found him to be a fine surgeon. He's thought of very highly here in the forest! It's a shame he's not regarded so well in Storybrooke."

As he checked the site of her entry wound, a door burst open, as another gurney was pushed through. "GINA!" she yelled, trying to sit up.

"No, stay!" urged Merlin. "You're wired up to the IV, and weaker than you think, Emma. We'll bring her to you. Lie back now!" Resigned, the blonde looked anxiously at her wife as her bed was brought alongside. Heavy bandages were wrapped around her jaw and head, but it still didn't hide the severe swelling across most of her face. "Babe - are you alright? How are you feeling?"

Regina, in pain despite the drugs, was just relieved to see her. Her beautiful face seemed to be completely restored and even her luscious blonde hair looked freshly washed. "Enga," she murmured through the bandages. "He shot you!"

She could just about understand what she was saying and smiled back. "Yeah. They took me outside. Robin and Gold sorted me. I'm good now, Gina."

"She is 'good', Regina, and a very lucky lady!" added Merlin. "She's lost a lot of blood, so they had to use magic outside as there wasn't enough time to get her in here! Robin removed the bullet, and Mr. Gold repaired the external tissue damage. Now she's going to undergo a blood transfusion."

The brunette couldn't believe her ears. Emma had been close to death? But seeing her now restored face made her weep with happiness, as the nurses placed the two hospital gurneys side-by-side, Emma reaching out to hold her hand, smiling softly.

"I'll leave you for a couple of minutes," said Merlin, as a nurse wanted to talk to him about another patient. "Regina, you should know Doctor Whale made an excellent job of restoring your TMJ, so…" as he tried to explain, he saw the confused look from the women. "Sorry, the TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, the joint connecting your jawbone to your skull. It's been repaired and reset, so we can use magic outside soon to deal with the bruising and any other tissue damage. One of us will take you outside shortly. After that, you'll need to rest!"

As Emma couldn't move for the IV in her arm, Regina clambered slowly from her own gurney to join her, lying side-by-side, Emma's free arm curling to pull her in as they shared a pillow. "Don't talk, it'll hurt too much! Just lie with me, till they take you outside." The brunette nodded, closing her eyes, trying to rest her head on her shoulder, before instantly recoiling when the sharp jolt of pain from her swollen jaw kicked in.

Suddenly, the door burst open again, this time Henry coming in, grinning when he saw his two mothers lying huddled together, sharing the same little bed. "You're both awake – great! I heard you went into theatre. Ma, how're you feeling?"

"Fine, Hen," she breathed, trying to keep her eyes open. "Just stupidly tired, like you said I would be. What's happening out there?"

"Mayor Briar's got Spencer's thugs under arrest. What's left of them, anyway. They've taken them back to Storybrooke. And the bodies…"

"Bodies? What bodies? Who's dead?"

"About five died I think. All Spencer's thugs. Plus Spencer himself, of course!"

"Spencer's dead?" blurted Emma. "Who? How?"

"Well, from what Will told me, Robin killed him. It was quick, but a bit grizzly, apparently. Then Alan-a-Dale slotted that weirdo Baker, though I'm not sure who the rest were."

"Robin killed Albert Spencer?" Emma found it hard to believe the gentle archer could end another life. Though seeing him change when Nottingham had threatened Roland, perhaps there was another side to him?

"Yeah. I was surprised too. But not as surprised as what Robin did to you earlier, bringing you back to life like that! Merlin was right – his magic really is stupidly strong!"

Regina wanted to know what happened, but, trying to talk with her bound jaw was just too painful, so she decided to save it for later. Fortunately for Emma, Merlin walked back into the room, followed by an exhausted Whale. The two men first went over to Regina's side. "Ok Victor, what do you think? Is she recovered enough from surgery for me to do my bit?"

The former mayor had always been blunt and sarcastic to Storybrooke's only doctor, rarely showing him any respect, which always resulted in Whale showing her equal contempt. So he was always happy to pass anything to do with her over to any nurse available, rather than put up with the petty vitriol."I think so. She seems more alert now, so the anaesthetic's wearing off. You can take her out. I hope you feel better after, Regina, but remember to rest up for a day or two. Blows to the head, like you suffered, shouldn't be taken lightly! Give your body time to recover and to help your jaw heal, stick to soft foods or soup for the first few days. Chewing will be painful. Frankly, I'd rather you either stay overnight, so we can monitor you, or have somebody with you at home to keep an eye on you..."

Regina nodded, desperate to get out of the place. "What about Emma?" she mumbled with difficulty and taking her wife's hand, "can she leave?"

Whale hesitated before answering "Ah, well, that's different. She lost an awful lot of blood from the bullet wound, and her pulse was dangerously weak! Emma, I'll be honest, I'm not quite sure how you survived. Ruby told me your heart had stopped, and with all that blood loss it's a miracle Robin brought you back!" Regina could have sworn she saw Merlin smirk. "If we can get the IV working through you for another five hours at least, then we'll check your blood pressure. If all good, you'll be free to go but if not, it'll be too dangerous!"

"I have to agree with Doctor Whale," Merlin reassured. "Rest up Emma, and we'll get you out of here as soon as we can. Meanwhile, Regina, let's get you outside so we can sort out that swelling."

Outside the front of the clinic, the small crowd that had gathered was starting to diminish. The bodies of the dead had been transferred to the morgue by Gold, Philip Briar had disbanded the militia controlling the perimeter and recovered the weapons, the Merry Men were ferrying in the last of the wounded and things were starting to get back to normal. With Emma now soundly asleep upstairs, Regina had been transferred to a wheelchair, which Henry now pushed outside the building on to the lawn, Merlin walking alongside.

"Ok Henry, stop here," Merlin instructed. "Regina, just hold your head still? This shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes." He brought both hands to her face. Almost immediately, a golden light emanated from his hands. She grimaced in pain as she felt the sutures start to melt, the bruises fading and the swollen flesh replaced with pink, fresh skin. Henry watched fascinated as his mother's features slowly came back before his eyes, leaving redness, but no bruising.

"Wow, Merlin, you have so got to teach me how to do that!"

"All in good time, Henry!" he sniggered. "Let your family continue teaching you the basics…"

Touching her own cheeks, Regina now summoned a mirror to her hand, taking a look at the newly restored flesh. "Thank you!" she sniffled, "I mean it, Merlin, thank you! I was beginning to think I'd be spending the rest of my life looking like the Elephant Man!"

Storybrooke – two hours later

"How the hell could you just go over there without telling me?" screamed Dorothy. "You could have been killed! Did you even think to tell me? What on earth possessed you to do something so stupid without backup?"

Ruby have never seen her so angry. "I'm sorry. I got Regina's fake text, Emma went flying off and thought they were in trouble!"

"They're always in trouble! David rang after you left, and told me it was a trap, and everybody should stay away. But not you! You had to be a fucking hero! I could have lost you, dammit! They had Gold! And Merlin! And even Robin! They've got magic - you haven't!" she carried on yelling, desperate to stop her anger turning to tears. "Don't you EVER do that to me again!"

There was no point in trying to defend herself. Dorothy was right; she'd gone off without thinking. The wolf pulled her fiancée, now struggling in annoyance, towards her, hugging her tightly. The Hero of Oz tried pulling away, but she was too strong, refusing to let go. Eventually she softened, her rage turning to reluctant sobbing, stray tears falling on her shoulder. "I could have lost you, you bloody fool!" she finally whispered, making Ruby feel truly awful.

"I'm so sorry! You're right, I shouldn't have gone. I won't do that again without telling you. I only got a couple of black eyes and bruises. Gold repaired my face in the end…"

"Who else got hurt?"

"Regina got beaten up quite badly. She was going into theatre with a broken jaw when I left. David got knocked out. I'm not sure what happened to him. As for Emma, she got it worst of all. Technically, she died. Bled to death. Robin was there. He said goodbye, then he kissed her, and she suddenly came back to life. If I didn't know better…"

"Like true love's kiss? Like us? But surely Robin and Emma aren't like that?"

"I know what I saw, Dot! That funny gold wave after I kissed you that first time? Yeah, that was there. But I'd never imagined those two together. Emma and Regina, sure. Regina and Robin, definitely. But Robin and Emma? Who knows…"?

After Merlin used his magic to restore her face, Regina, her stomach now growling, decided to take Henry for late lunch at the inn, hoping they were still serving food, before going back to Emma once she'd woken up. She'd been about to eat breakfast with Caroline earlier, when the siege started. Settling at a table near the bar, she ordered herself some soup (the only thing Whale suggested while her jaw was healing) and frowned at her son when he ignored her repeated health advice by ordering a burger and fries.

"Now then, young man, tell me why you ignored Robin's specific instructions, and tried to take matters into your own hands by breaking into the clinic?"

"Look, I know they asked me to stay put, but I couldn't! Not when I knew you and ma were in there. I'm NOT going to apologise for trying to save you!"

He sounds so much like Charming! "I understand Henry, you're clearly very brave! But you should've listened to them! You put yourself in great danger."

"Like you two haven't regularly? How often did you stop to think about what it'd mean to me, if something happened to you two? Have you no idea how many evenings I had to spend at grandma and grandpa's, while you risked everything!"

She realised she was getting nowhere. He always an answer for everything these days!

"Well I still think it was too dangerous. Now, tell me what happened to your mother? They said she died outside! What did you see?"

"I never saw her till after Robin carried her outside. She was so weak mum! There was blood everywhere, and everyone thought she was going to die! Then she slumped, and stopped breathing! I heard Ruby say she'd gone, and Grandpa Gold agreed. Robin had been whispering something close to her before that; then he said something else I couldn't hear, kissed the top of her head and after that there was a weird, warm wave and a goldie colour. A few seconds after that, ma just, sort of, burst awake! That's some powerful magic Robin's got now!"

Golden wave? "And you never found out what he said to her?"

"Nope. Ruby was the closest, so her wolf ears must have heard. Best you ask her. Or Robin."

"I will. And where's he now?"

"He poofed over to the school, to check on Rollie and Honnie. He also wanted to make sure Spencer didn't have any more of his guys hiding around there. Mulan took out three of the guys nearby, and was waiting, just in case there were more. Sorry, I forgot. There's been a few things going on while you were…well, you know." She smiled, relieved everyone seemed to be okay, and the thought that Robin's first concern was their children. "He said he'd text, once he got them. John bought him a new phone at the weekend, and I loaded all of our numbers in for him. I'll give you his number."

"Which reminds me. Nottingham took my phone and bag."

"No problem. I think Will and the guys were cleaning up after they took Spencer's body out and took everything with them…"

After collecting her phone and bag from Alan at the bar, as they left, Henry eyed Bridget, one of the nurses he wanted to get to know...better. Making his excuses, he left his mother to go talk to the willowy blonde, promising he'd be back later. As she went to leave and return to Emma, she spotted Will Scarlet standing near a corner of the room, a group of at least a dozen older teenagers and children surrounding him as he spoke. Curious, she went over, to discover he was regaling them with a story about the battle. She moved closer to listen.

"So, there we was, face-to-face with the murderous King George! He had a sword in one hand, gun in his left!"Will recounted theatrically, as the youngsters gasped, hanging on every word. "Prince Charming had slugged 'im a good one in the face but, seeing his little girl, the Saviour, all curling up, writhing in pain on the floor from being shot and beaten, he got distracted!As any lovin' dad would!"

The thought of Emma writhing in pain sent a chill through Regina. "And that distraction gave himhis chance. Just enough time, for the swine to crack him on the back of his head with his gun! Bam! Charming went down…"Regina winced. It was typical of David to risk himself without thought. Like father, like daughter! But she was hooked:

"George pulled out a hidden knife, from inside his boot; he was just about to stab Charming in the back, when, WHOOSH! Robin fired an arrow straight into the bastard's shoulder!"

"Steady with your language there, Will! Children here, remember?" warned an elegant lady Regina hadn't noticed till now. Caroline. Her face now restored and unblemished, just like her own. She winked at Regina; a look immediately reciprocated. "Apologies, Miss Locksley! Heat of the moment and all that…" He looked at the children, all desperate for him to continue.

"Shush! I wanna hear the story! If you don't like it, go away!" yelled one rather annoyed teenager, making Carrie roll her eyes. "Go on Will!"

"Robin was fumin'! He had a go at George for trying to stab an unconscious man in the back. Then he said something like "I challenge you! Pick up your…flipping…sword and fight me, you...weasel!"Will looked up, himself winking at Carrie as he avoided the language Robin really used! "Now I've seen Rob angry before, but it was nothin' compared to this! George raised his imperial sword and swung it! But Rob ducked in as it flew over him, missing 'im by an inch! Then he grabbed his arm, went up and drove his knife in! Not into his chest, but straight up, through his chin! Up through his throat, mouth and straight up into his brain!"

Various sounds of "eurgh", and "yuck!" were heard from the youths. "What did it sound like, Will, when it hit his brain?" said one fascinated older boy. "What did his eyes do?" said another, "Did they come out?" "Did he scream?"

God, thought Regina, teenage boys can be so gross sometimes!

"A bit 'squelchy' if I'm honest mate," said Will, "and a look of surprise from the old git! Anyway, he died on the spot! It was quick. Better than he deserved, after what he did!"

Regina knew that, despite the rather crude retelling, the basics were probably true. Robin had killed King George. Her former lovee had ended the life of one of the most cruel tyrants in the Enchanted Forest, herself included. In her heart she knew he probably regretted it. He was a kinder soul,then her.

"After that, Rob picked up the Saviour,and carried her out, cos she was bleedin'bad and really beaten up! I heard she died out there, on the lawn, but Rob used his magic to bring her back to life!" Some of the children gasped.

"How?" said the oldest one in the group, disbelieving. "You can't bring someone back from the dead! Everyone knows that!"

"Yeah? So how come Robin's back then, if not from the dead? And Captain Hook? Magic, lad!"

Caroline, seeing a changed look on Regina, decided it was time to bring things to a close. "Well, I'm sure we've all heard enough for today! You've had more than enough of his time, but Will and the men need to go now, as there are a few more tasks to perform. Isn't that right Will?"

"Tasks? Oh yeah, tasks. Right, I best get off. Okay kids, I'll see you all around…"

As he left and the children dispersed, Caroline moved across to her new friend. "Regina, dear, you look so much better than when I last saw you! How are you feeling?" Robin's cousin collected her hands in her own. She didn't know why but over the last few days, they'd connected, feeling an instant camaraderie with this woman. The Locksley factor?

"Better thanks, Carrie. Exhausted, a sore jaw, but better. You look much better too. Quite the battering, wasn't it?"

"Completely. Don't want to ever experience that again! And Emma? I heard she took the worst of all, and it was a close thing. How is she?"

"Asleep. I'm going back to her in a minute."

"Good. Give her my best. I only came in here to get my bag." She looked over to the bar. "John? Has my it been handed in?"

"Yup. There's two here. Gina, how you feelin'?" He put a box down, walking around to them. "Good to see you up and about! Now give us a hug…" With that, he collected her in his arms. Regina loved Little John, the brother she'd never had. After losing Robin he was one of the reasons she kept her sanity. Not just because he was his closest friend, but because he took care of her, along with Emma, in those long dark days.

"Better now we're all out and alive! But - your arm? It's injured? Why hasn't anyone fixed it yet?"

"Oh, don't go frettin', it's fine! There's a few injured worse than me back there. They'll get me sorted when they're ready."

"Don't be silly, you big lump! Here, let me," She looked at the bandaged arm. Taking his right arm in her hands, she magically removed the bandage to reveal a deep slice into the muscle of his forearm. Without asking permission, she floated her hand over the damaged tissue, a purple haze engulfing the wound, searing it shut and removing the bruising, leaving nothing but a small scar.

"Thanks. I must admit, it was stinging a bit!" He pulled her back in and placed a small kiss on her forehead. She'd never admit it but at times like this she really appreciated his kindly nature. As he released her, bid farewell and walked back to the bar, Caroline wrapped an arm around her own.

"He's lovely, isn't he? A gentle giant! I do so hope he can get back with Elsa one day. Mind you, Arendelle isn't the easiest place to get to."

"Arendelle? Not Queen Elsa of Arendelle, surely?"

"The very same. I gather she was as smitten with John, as he was with her, but he thought he wasn't good enough. After all, can you imagine that? Love between an outlaw and a queen?"

Regina couldn't tell whether she was being teased or not. "Well, after all the support he's given me these last few years, I for one would think any woman, queen or not, would consider herself blessed to have someone like John! He's a very special human being."

"You're right. Now then, I need to get back to the clinic. Victor's been working solid in theatre all day, so I need to drag him out before he collapses. You go take care of your wife, and I'll perhaps see you a little later?"

"I'd like that. And Carrie? Come over to lunch sometime? Have some proper time with your niece and nephew?"

"I'd love that. Look after yourself, Regina, and that family of yours. I've already fallen in love with Roland and Honour, and your Henry over there is a fine young man. He does you proud." She pulled her into a warm embrace, pressing a cheek to hers. "See you later."

As she left, Regina glanced across at Henry, still talking to the young woman from earlier. She watched as the girl picked something, perhaps a loose cotton, off his sweater, brushing it smooth and stroking his arm tenderly. She couldn't help but feel a little envy for the attention he was now sharing with women his own age, rather than her and knew it was petty but - she's his mother!