Snow returned with a dish in her hands, "I thought you two would be hungry. Emma, David wanted me to tell you he's taking care of things as you asked. I'll get some dishes and drinks for everyone."

When Snow was back inside, Regina whispered to Emma, "I can't eat in front of her."

"You need to. I doubt she's gonna scrutinize you."

Snow returned and set the table. She placed the food on the plates and sat at the table with Emma and Regina, "so, are you two official?"

"Well, we are to one another," Emma answered, "we haven't really decided to announce it. Although Whale kind of ruined that." Snow didn't look at Regina when she struggled with her utensils. Instead, she looked down at her plate or pretended the sun was in her eyes. However, she did look when she heard a loud clatter. Emma turned to Regina, "honey, what's wrong?"

"I can't do this," Regina said emotionally.

"Do what?"

"I can't hold anything right now."

"Okay," Emma moved her chair closer to Regina and picked up the woman's fork. Snow checked her phone so Regina wouldn't feel as self-conscious. Emma helped Regina eat her lunch and Snow never said a thing. Snow cleared the table while Emma helped Regina out of the chair. The brunette lost her balance and tripped Emma as she fell to the ground. "Honey, are you okay?"

"I think so," Regina said in a bit of a shock, "I'm sorry I tripped you."

"I'm fine," Emma said.

All of a sudden a man's voice was heard, "Emma!" It was David running towards the two. Regina stiffened up, "are you two alright?"

"Yeah, we're fine. Where did you come from?"

"I was knocking at the front door but no one answered. I decided to try the back." Emma stood and bent down to help Regina, "here, I'll help you." David and Emma were able to get Regina to her feet. He handed the woman's cane to her and watched as Emma helped Regina into the house. That was the first time the town saw that Regina was not the person they remembered from the Enchanted Forest. The three people she had hurt the most were caring for her while she was ill. A few of the citizens returned to the house. David let them in and warned them to behave. Regina began to panic when she saw them.

"We wanted to say on behalf of everyone that we forgive you," Leroy said. "It will take time to adjust to everything, but we realize that you are not the same person who cursed us."

"Thank you," Regina said softly.

"Just let us know if you need anything. Well, I'd still stay away from Whale and Gold but that's for a bunch of other reasons. Anyway, I should be heading back to the mine."

"We just wanted to let you know so you didn't feel like a prisoner anymore," Ruby added.

"I appreciate that," Regina said. Everyone said their goodbyes and it was just Regina, Emma, Henry, Snow, and David.

"It is going to take some time," David said, "but we'll get there. Now, what exactly are your intentions with my daughter?"

"Are we really going to do this?"

"Would you rather be chased with pitchforks and torches?"

"Kind of," Regina responded. "Look, I don't know what is in store for us but I love Emma a great deal. She has been here for me when no one else was. I wasn't the easiest patient and she never complained. All she did was try to help me, take care of me, and make things easier for me. I am sorry for everything that I put your family through. I could explain why I became so evil, but it would just sound like an excuse."

"Sounds good to me," Snow said.

"Yeah," David agreed, "me too."

"Really?" Emma asked. When her parents nodded, Emma pulled something out of her jacket pocket. "I know this is probably soon, but I want you to have this." She handed a ring box to Regina. "Whenever you're ready to wear it, just let me know. I want to be the one to slip it on your finger."

"Wait, are you, are you proposing?" Regina asked.

"I love you with all my heart. A life without you and Henry would be depressing and meaningless. So yes, I am asking you to marry me."

Regina handed the box back to Emma. The blonde felt her heart drop until Regina held her ring finger out, "the answer is yes." Emma placed the ring on Regina's finger and the two kissed. A half-hour later, Regina gave in to her exhausted body while Emma and her parents worked on dinner.

"You know, she's had this problem for as long as I can remember," Snow said.

"Was it this bad back then?" Emma asked.

"At times," Snow answered, "stress doesn't help. She was under a lot of stress while she was married to my dad. Cora wouldn't allow her to use a cane. She said it showed weakness. I think just becoming evil helped rid her of that stress because I don't remember her having trouble after she went dark. I do know she's had more trouble since we've been here."

"Because her love for Henry took some of that darkness out of her," Emma said.

"Yeah," Snow agreed.

That night, David and Snow stayed at the mayor's. Henry was still giving Regina a hard time and the couple wanted to try and help calm the situation.

"I don't have to be nice to her anymore. Emma broke the curse," Henry said.

"But they're getting married," Snow said, "Regina will be in your life still."

"If I tell Emma I don't want her to marry Regina then she won't."

"You'd force your mother to sacrifice her own happiness just to get your way?" Snow asked gently. "You know deep down that Regina loves you more than anything. She was terrified about you and Emma finding out about her past. She feared you both wouldn't love her and would leave her. Just think about all of this. Your mom can't have too much stress. It really affects her body." Snow gave Henry a slight smile before patting his leg and leaving the room.

The next day, Emma decided to help Regina take a short walk down the street and back. The people of Storybrooke saw the once Evil Queen struggling to simply take steps with a cane. In a way, it was painful for them to see. "You okay?" Emma asked.

"Yeah, just don't let go," Regina said breathlessly.

"Honey, I would never let go." Emma saw the panic on Regina's face as she stumbled. The sheriff caught her fiance, "it's okay. I've got you."

"Back," Regina breathed out. Emma told her they would go back whenever Regina wanted. The blonde helped the brunette slowly turn around and head back home. Regina hadn't been cared for this way since her father. Before that it was Daniel. She always felt safe in Emma's arms. Just having Emma in her life made her feel safer. This episode lasted a few weeks, but Emma never left the side of her true love.

A few months later the couple tied the knot under the apple tree. Henry had forgiven Regina and let her back into his life. He also apologized for how he had been treating her. Snow and David had come around and now they even cared for Regina. Almost as much as Emma. They saw the good in the mayor and how much she had changed. They got to know her and even began to love her. Regina had only ever wanted to love and be loved. Now she had someone who made her dream come true. Never again would Regina be or feel alone.