Hook had gone to New York to get Emma and bring her memory back. He had enough of the potion for her and Eva, but Henry had to wait to get his memory back. They all traveled to Storybrooke. Emma and Eva went to their parents' loft. To their surprise, Snow was pregnant. "How has my mom been?" Emma asked.
"She had a rough time at first, but she's a bit better. Robin has really helped with that," Snow answered.
"Robin?"
"Robin Hood," David said.
"Wait, my mom is dating Robin Hood?"
"I don't know if they're dating," Snow said.
"Yeah, I think they're in the friendship stage," David added.
There was a knock at the door and David went to answer it, "is there a reason you insisted on me coming here tonight?" Regina said irritated, "I'm already exhausted and can't use my magic right now. I had to climb all those stairs. You could have...," she stopped when she saw who was in the loft, "Emma?"
Emma rushed to her mother and wrapped her in a tight hug. Regina held on tightly to her daughter. "Here, let's sit down." Emma helped her mother get settled at the table.
"Hi, Eva," Regina said to the young woman.
"Hi," Eva said softly.
"Where's Henry?" Regina asked.
"Well, he's asleep, but he doesn't have his memory back. There was only enough for Eva and me," Emma answered.
"Oh," Regina was disappointed, but she had her daughter back.
"So, I hear you have a boyfriend," Emma said with a teasing smile.
"Snow!" Regina snapped at the woman.
"I never said, boyfriend. I said he had been helping you get through losing Emma and Henry," Snow told her.
"I said you guys were friends," David added.
"They really did," Emma said with a laugh, "I was just teasing you."
"Well, we are just friends. Besides, who would want to be saddled with me?"
"What?" Emma was a bit upset by the comment.
"Emma, I'm not exactly low maintenance. There are times when I need a lot of help."
"Any guy would be lucky to have you." Emma smiled and took her mother's hand, "or woman. I don't know if you changed your preference."
Regina lightly smacked her daughter's arm, "you're terrible, but I'm so happy to have you back. I'd love to stay longer, but I'm sure you heard that I'm exhausted."
David stood and helped Regina to her feet, "I'll walk you down to your car."
Emma hugged her mother before David helped her walk down the stairs. "She's so thin," Emma said.
"Well, she's been depressed and hasn't been eating much."
"Is anyone staying with her?"
"Your grandmother is."
"Good," Emma said, "I don't want her to be alone."
Emma crawled into bed next to her sister. Henry had his own bed and Emma and Eva were sharing a bed. "Are you okay after seeing your mom?" Eva asked.
"I just feel bad that she's had to go through so much. I'm worried the same thing will happen with this curse."
"We don't even know who cast this one."
"No, and we won't for a while."
The two talked for a couple more minutes before falling asleep.
The first time Emma saw her mother and Robin together was at the park. She and Eva had taken Henry there and they saw the couple with Roland. Snow had told the girls how much the little boy loved Regina. "Mom!" Emma called, getting her mother's attention. Eva and Henry had gone off on their own so he didn't hear her. Emma walked up and hugged her mother.
"Emma, this is Robin Hood and his son Roland," Regina said.
Emma shook their hands, "it's really great to meet you," Emma said.
"The pleasure is all ours," Robin told her. "Your mother has told us so much about you and Henry that I feel we already know you both. Don't worry, I know he doesn't have his memories back. Roland does too."
"Well, thank you both for helping my mom get through the past year."
"Emma," Roland spoke, "where's Henry?"
"He's with my sister. They're somewhere around here."
"Your sister?"
"My other parents have another child."
Regina looked at Roland, "Snow and David."
"Oh! Can I play with Henry sometime?"
"Sure, kid," Emma said.
"Emma, could you watch Roland tonight?" Robin asked, "I know this is last minute, but I'd like to treat your mother to a nice dinner and night out."
"Well, if it's to benefit my mother then how could I say no? Besides, Roland is a cool little guy that I have to get to know better."
"Yay!" Roland said.
"Thank you, Emma," Regina said softly.
"Why don't I come over and help you get ready?"
"I'd like that."
Emma showed up at her mother's about two hours before Robin was going to pick her up. "Emma!" Cora hugged her granddaughter tightly. "You look wonderful."
"Thanks, grandma, so do you."
"I'm so glad that you are going to spend some time with your mother and that she's going on this date."
"Well, I think it's long overdue. She really needs to move on and find love."
"I was once told that her soul mate had a lion tattoo on his arm. Guess what Robin has?"
"Seriously? I wish I had a soul mate like him."
"You should have asked Tinkerbell."
"Where is my mom?"
"She's in her room. She's trying to conserve her energy for tonight so she doesn't need her cane."
"Are you going to help too?"
"No, I helped her when she was a teenager. Besides, the two of you need some alone time."
"Thanks, grandma," Emma kissed the woman's cheek and went upstairs. Her mother was sitting up in bed. "When do you want to start getting ready?"
"We have plenty of time."
"You okay?"
"I'm just nervous. I don't remember the last time I went out on a real date."
"I was nervous on my first date. It's normal to be nervous. I think no matter how long it's been since your last date or how many you've had, it's still nerve-wracking."
"Your first date?"
"Yeah," Emma was confused by the question.
"I just didn't realize you had been on a date."
"Mom, I'm thirty. Besides, how do you think I got Henry?"
"I just...I don't know. Forget it," Regina decided to move on. They talked for a while about Emma's time in New York. An hour before Robin's arrival, Emma began helping her mother get ready. She did her hair and makeup while Regina sat in bed. "Is this what it was like when Snow helped you get ready?"
"Well, over time she had helped me learn how to do my hair and makeup so I could find a way to get everything the way I liked it. She told me it was important to find my own look as a way to express myself. When Neal picked me up, my dad threatened him and ma made a big fuss. It was so humiliating, but I still loved it."
"Why?"
"It showed that even though I had lost you, I still had parents who loved and cared for me unconditionally. Now, what are you wearing?"
"That purple dress on my door. Robin likes it when I wear purple and red."
Emma helped her mother change, "what about shoes?"
"I'll put them on downstairs. I already have them down there."
Emma helped her mother down the stairs. Cora saw the two, "you look beautiful, darling."
Regina smiled, "thank you, mother."
"Where are your shoes?" Emma asked.
"By the door."
"You're wearing heels, aren't you?"
"Maybe," Regina said feeling a bit guilty.
"Just be careful." Emma helped her mother to the front door and into her shoes. She stood to the side when Robin showed up. He took Regina's hand and held onto her as they walked to the car. Robin held her door open and helped her in. "I need one of him," Emma said.
"I know one of him and he likes you," Cora said.
"Really? Who?"
"Hook," Cora answered.
Emma groaned, "he's nothing like Robin."
"He's like the man Robin used to be. Which means the right woman can probably change him. I trust you to be able to handle yourself around the one-hand wonder."
Emma laughed, "that's what mom calls him."
"Who do you think I got it from?"
Emma had decided to hang out with her grandmother while her mother and Robin were at dinner. Roland had gone to Snow and David's to hang out with them and Henry. Robin had told his son that Emma wasn't able to be there tonight but had agreed to take him out for breakfast the next day. Three hours later, Robin helped Regina into the house. She said good-night to him at the door because she saw her daughter's car was still there. She didn't want to subject Robin to Emma and Cora. After closing the door, Regina leaned her back against it, "you can both come out now!"
Emma and Cora walked around the corner, "how was it?" Emma asked.
"If you help me with my shoes, I'll tell you all about it."
Emma helped her mother out of her heels, "grandma, I'm gonna need help."
Cora rushed to take her daughter's other arm. It took a bit longer, but eventually, Regina was upstairs in her room. "I had a lot of fun," Regina told her mother and daughter who was sitting on her bed with her.
"He's so wonderful, respectful, and kind."
"That's great, mom," Emma smiled, "you deserve all of that and more."
"He doesn't make a big deal about my disability or helping me," Regina said the last part through a yawn.
"I'm really happy for you, but you should get some sleep."
Emma and Cora helped Regina get ready for bed. They kissed her good-night and left. The next morning, Emma took Roland out for breakfast. The little boy wasn't mad about the night before because he had too much fun with Henry.