Gold was pressuring Regina to kill Emma. The mayor couldn't go through with it because she and Emma were now a couple. Instead, she baked an apple turnover with a sleeping spell to protect Emma. Unfortunately, Henry ate the turnover.
"Honey, it's not your fault," Emma said.
"Yes, it is," Regina was beside herself. There was enough magic in the turnover to put an adult to sleep. All that magic was too much for a child.
"You didn't know that he would eat that and you were trying to protect me."
Suddenly, the machines Henry was hooked up to started going crazy. Whale and nurses rushed in and ushered the two women out. Emma had to help Regina sit so she wouldn't fall over.
Twenty minutes later, Whale emerged from the room, "I'm so sorry. We tried everything."
Regina broke down and Emma slowly made her way back to Henry. Whale helped Regina up and took her to the room. Emma reached out her hand for Regina to join her at Henry's side. Once Regina was beside her, Emma whispered, 'I love you, Henry,' kissed his forehead, and everyone felt it. The curse was broken and Henry woke up. Regina hurried out of the hospital and back home. She knew what was going to happen next and didn't want Henry to see it.
Emma and Henry left the hospital and began to walk home. They saw David and Snow with, Blue, Granny, Ruby, and the dwarfs. Emma walked up to meet her parents. While she had met David and Mary Margaret, she hadn't met Charming and Snow. Archie interrupted the reunion to tell them that Whale was leading a mob to Regina's to kill her. The group ran to Reigna's house. Emma felt anger rise up in her when she saw that Whale had pinned Regina to a column. The woman's cane was on the ground and Emma could tell she was trying to hide her fear.
"Get off of her!" Emma yelled as she grabbed at Whale. She was able to pull him off of Regina, but the woman slid to the ground. She was unable to hold herself up at that point.
Snow knelt beside Regina, "are you alright?" It broke Snow's heart when Regina closed her eyes and nodded. The woman's face was stained from her tears and she was too emotional to speak.
Emma took out her phone and played a recording. It was from the day Regina took her to the vault. The brunette had no idea that Emma had recorded her. It was a video and everyone heard how awful Regina felt about the things she had done and how much she regretted them. When the video ended, everyone turned and left. Well, everyone except David and Snow. David had to helped Snow pull Regina to her feet.
"Would you two like to come in?" Regina asked.
They both nodded and followed Henry in while Emma helped Regina. Everyone sat in the living room and waited for someone to speak. "I wish you hadn't listened to your fear," Snow said. "I would have had a great mother in you if you hadn't. Henry is proof of that."
"It will take some time, but eventually I will forgive you," David said. "I didn't know you the way Snow did, so I need time."
"I understand," Regina said quietly, "I just appreciate being given a second chance."
"I do have a question," David said, "you don't have to answer it if you don't want to. Are you and Emma dating?"
Regina's eyes widened and she was suddenly unable to speak. Emma noticed and took the reigns, "I would say that we are," she said. "Regina was in bad shape, physically and I guess emotionally when I first arrived. She needed some help. After everything she had done for Henry, I couldn't just walk away. The first full day I was here was when she told me everything. I stayed to help her and to break the curse. We got to know each other and found that we really liked being together."
Regina finally found her voice, "I will understand if you want me to stay away from Emma. If I were you I would. I really care for her, but will honor your wishes."
"What?" Emma was shocked.
"It's okay," David said, "I may not know my daughter, but I trust her. She's been hurt enough that I believe her when she wants to stay with someone."
"Wait, if you didn't sacrifice your father, then how did he die?" Snow asked.
"He didn't die. I was able to place a protection spell on him so the curse wouldn't affect him. It's been so long that he could have died, but I don't know because I don't know how to get back or get him here. The tomb was a front so I could hide my vault."
"Any chance we can return those hearts?" David asked.
"I have them labeled in Elvish, but if we can find the people then, yes."
"It can wait for now. There's no need to overwhelm everyone."
"Regina, the curse has been broken. Why are you still having trouble walking?" Snow asked.
A tear fell down Regina's face and Emma took over again. She placed a protective arm around the mayor, "that first day I was here I woke up to Regina and Henry fighting. He wanted to leave her and go live with me. Regina held onto his arms and tried to get him to listen to her. Henry slapped her and she fell down the stairs by the front door." Snow and David gasped, "she hit her head and it caused permanent damage. I think when things calm down then she should be a little better. The more stressed out she is the more difficult things are for her."
Snow stood and walked over to Regina. She surprised everyone when she pulled her stepmother into a hug. "I'm so sorry for everything you've had to go through. Especially for my part in Daniel's death. I won't give up on you again." Snow didn't need Regina to speak which was good because she was too emotional to. She felt the mayor hug her tightly and knew how she felt.