Robin had been taking by some dark creature. Everyone went to rescue him, but the creature was freakishly strong. Regina was thrown into two different trees. She was in a great deal of pain and having trouble seeing straight. Snow contacted Blue who came to take the mayor to the hospital. After finding Robin, everyone went to check on Regina.

"Hey," Snow entered first, "how are you doing?"

"I'm alive," she answered in a low voice, "Whale is just waiting on my test results."

"We found Robin and he's safe at his camp," David said.

"Is he safe?"

"Yeah, we know that he's not the target."

"How?"

"Emma told us," David answered.

Whale walked in, "well, Madam Mayor, I have your test results back."

"Great," she said, "when can I get out of here?"

"A few days at the earliest."

"What?"

"The blow to your head earned you a concussion and permanent brain damage."

"Just have someone with magic heal me."

"Magic doesn't work on the dead and that includes your brain cells."

"So, what now?" Snow asked.

"We get her out of bed and see how well she's able to move." Whale brought a walker in from the hall.

"I'm not using that."

"You might not have a choice."

David walked over to help Regina out of bed. She winced in pain as she moved her legs. David wrapped an arm around her for support. He looked at Whale, "bring the walker," he said quickly.

"No, I'm fine." Regina slowly stood from the bed, "let go, David." He didn't, "I'll be fine."

"Well, your left arm is pretty banged up. I'll stay close by just in case."

Regina braced herself on the wall and tried to move her legs. She moved a few feet before looking down and sighing in defeat. Snow took the walker over to Regina who grabbed it. She moved a few more feet before stopping, "it's too much for my arm."

"Do you feel unbalanced?" Whale asked.

"Tell the truth," Snow said sternly.

"Yes, I feel that I can't rely on my left arm for support."

"A cane should be good. If you feel that you need someone to help then ask. You don't want to get hurt even more."

Regina waved her good hand and conjured up a cane, "do I still have to stay here?"

"I'd rather keep you for observation."

"Regina, I'll go keep an eye on Robin," David said.

"And I'll stay here with you," Snow added.

"Fine," Regina said, "may I lie back down now?"

David helped Regina get back into bed before leaving. Snow sat in a chair by the bed, "I know you're not big on talking about your feelings, but I'm all ears when you want to."

"Thank you," Regina said, "I can't believe everything I've survived and a couple of trees brought me down."

"I have a feeling you'll still be magically scary."

Regina laughed, "thank you."

Regina only spent one night in the hospital. She was discharged and went home with Snow and David. Regina had to get used to using her cane. She felt embarrassed when Robin saw her with it for the first time. "You're beautiful to me no matter what," he told her. "You were injured trying to save my life and need some help getting around. That's okay."

It was hard for Regina to help everyone. They were all trying to find a way to free Emma from the darkness. Hook ended up sacrificing himself to free Emma. He died in her arms as she cried for the loss of her love. It was decided that everyone would go to the underworld to try and bring Hook back. No one was happy about Regina going because she was in no shape to be doing this. Hook was unable to return, but Hades managed to free himself from the underworld. He was going to kill Regina, but Robin stepped in front of her. Regina watched her soul mate's soul disintegrate before her very eyes. She fell to the floor and held Robin as she cried. Her sister, Zelena, didn't let Hades get to her. She knew Regina was telling the truth and that Hades was too dangerous. Zelena loved him but had to let go. She killed Hades and went to comfort her sister.

Emma went to Regina's one day to try and comfort her. "I thought that since we have both lost the men we love that maybe we could help each other get through this," she told the mayor.

"I'd like that."

Emma and Regina texted on a regular basis. They had lunch together every day and once a week had a night where they just cried to one another about their loss. "I can't believe that it's been a month," Emma said.

"Time flies when you're miserable."

"The thing is, I haven't really been miserable."

"You haven't?"

"I've really enjoyed our time together."

"Honestly, me too."

"This might sound crazy, but maybe this is more than we thought?"

"What do you mean?"

Emma sighed, "I was thinking that we could go out sometime. On a date."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah," Emma began to get nervous.

"How does that work? Who opens the door or pulls out the chair? Who pays?"

Emma smiled, "since you're the one with a bit of difficulty walking..."

"That's a nice way of saying disabled."

"...anyway, I would hold the door and pull out your chair."

"That means I'm buying," Regina said faking irritation.

"You make more than me. It's only fair."

"True," Regina smiled, "how about Friday night?"

"I'll pick you up around six."

Emma and Regina had a great first date. For once they didn't talk about Hook or Robin. They laughed and enjoyed their meal. That first date led to a second date which led to a third, and so forth. Emma was afraid to kiss Regina for the first time. When she dropped Regina off after their fifth date, Emma kissed the mayor. When she pulled back, Regina was smiling, "took you long enough."

Emma laughed, "I love you."

Regina's eyes widened, "really?" Emma smiled and nodded, "I love you too."

A month into their relationship, Emma and Regina were enjoying lunch at Granny's when the door opened. "Emma, did you hear me?"

"Hook," she said. Emma got out of the booth and ran into Hook's arms. Regina turned around and was stunned. "I thought you were dead."

"Zeus let me come home since I helped defeat Hades. It just took a bit longer."

"I've missed you so much," Emma kissed Hook and Regina felt her heart break. She disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Snow and David were hanging out at their loft with Henry when a cloud of purple smoke appeared, "you're not one for subtlety, are you?" David asked.

"Regina, what's wrong?" Snow could see the woman was crying.

"Hook's back," she whispered, "Emma is with him."

"I thought the two of you were together," Henry said.

"She kissed him like she use to. It's over," Regina broke down and Snow went to hug her. "I'm just not meant to be in love."

"That's not true," David said.

"Everyone I've ever been in love with has died or left me."

Emma walked into the loft holding Hook's hand, "there you are," she said to Regina. "Why did you just disappear?"

"Seriously? We were on a date when Captain Guyliner showed up and you ran to hug and kiss him."

"A date?" Hook said with his eyebrow arched and smiled, "really?"

"Regina, we need to talk about this."

"About what? It's clear that you've already made your choice without talking to anyone."

"I'm sorry, but I have to try and make things work with Hook. I was devastated when I lost him and now I have another chance."

"What about me? You told me that you love me."

"Maybe I thought I did? When I saw Hook I..."

"Forgot I was there?" Regina finished.

"Come on," Emma said frustrated, "like you wouldn't do the same thing."

"No, I wouldn't."

"You're saying that if Robin walked through that door right now, you wouldn't even consider leaving me for him?"

"I'll never know, will I? His soul was obliterated."

"If I don't try then I'll spend the rest of my life wondering if I made the right choice. That's not fair to anyone."

"Neither is leaving me the way you have." Regina poofed out of the loft.

"We need to find her," David said.

"She just needs time to cool off," Emma told her father.

"No, we really need to find her," Snow emphasized, "something happened in the Enchanted Forest that you don't know about. We'll explain later." Snow and David ran out of the loft with a confused Emma and Henry behind them. Hook offered to stay with the baby.

Regina was in her vault alone. She knew that what she was about to do was selfish, but she couldn't take another heartbreak. She left Henry a note apologizing for leaving him. Regina took the cursed needle and pricked her finger. It was quick and painless. Unlike the loss she had felt earlier.

Snow and David ran down the stairs of Regina's vault. "No," Snow said softly.

"What?" Emma and Henry joined them. There lying on the floor, was an unconscious Regina. The needle she used lay beside her. "Regina," Emma rushed to her side, "Regina, wake up. We need to get her to a hospital."

"There's nothing they can do," Snow said and pointed at the needle.

"A sleeping curse," Emma said.

"You're the only one who can wake her," David said.

"No, Henry can." Emma stood and backed away from Regina. "I won't play her games."

Henry had noticed the letter and read it, "it's not a game," he said. "Henry, I'm so sorry that things ended up this way. Know that this has nothing to do with you and that I love you more than anything. I've had my heart broken one too many times and each time is worse than the last. I was madly in love with Daniel when my mother ripped his heart out and killed him in front of me. Robin was my soul mate who was obliterated while protecting me. Your mom was the love of my life. Seeing her with someone else is too painful. I know that by doing this I will never wake because she will never love me the way I love her and will never kiss me to wake me. I want you to continue with your life and do everything to honor me and make me proud. Don't seek vengeance and don't go dark. You will have a great father in Hook and a complete family. I'm sorry for the selfishness of this act. I love you always my prince, mom."

"She's right," Emma said. "I won't wake her."

"Why not?" Henry asked angrily.

"I don't have to explain my reasons to anyone," Emma walked out of the vault leaving her family in shock and Regina unconscious.

David, Snow, and Henry took Regina back to her house and settled her in bed. They had decided to stay with her while she was asleep. Emma and Hook went to the house to bring the baby over. They knew Snow and David were staying, but not Henry.

"Is Henry ready to leave?" Emma asked.

"I'm not going," Henry said from behind his grandmother.

"Why not?"

"I'm not leaving her."

"Henry, she's asleep and there's nothing you can do."

"You're right, there isn't. I tried to wake her by kissing her and it didn't work. I won't go with someone who is unwilling to wake my mom."

"Henry, if I wake your mom, nothing changes. I'm still with Hook. She'll just put herself to sleep again. She wouldn't want me to wake her for that."

"I don't care and I don't want to be around the two of you." Henry ran back upstairs. Emma and Hook left.

That night, Hook and Emma were sitting on her couch. "Maybe we shouldn't be together," Hook said.

"You're just saying that because of Henry."

"No, I'm not. You moved on and it's not right for me to return and take you away from someone. I wouldn't want that to happen to me."

"This is my choice."

"Maybe it's the wrong one?"

"What are you saying?"

"I think we should call an end to our love story and you should be with Regina."

"I won't be with someone who acted so childish about a break-up."

"Swan, you've been in love before. You've been hurt by your lovers, but never in the way Regina has been."

"You've been hurt that way too."

"That's why I'm telling you this."

"I appreciate you saying all of this, but I'm done with Regina."

"Well, if you change your mind, we can have this talk again."

Emma really did love Hook, but she knew that she was in love with Regina. She couldn't get the sleeping mayor out of her mind. Emma dreamt about Regina every night and thought about her constantly. A month later, Hook confronted her. He wasn't angry, but he was sad.

"You know this is the right thing to do," Hook said.

"Doesn't make it any easier," Emma said emotionally.

"We both love each other, but our hearts don't belong to one another."

"Promise me you won't succumb to the darkness again."

"I promise, love."

"I want you to find love and be happy. Move on whenever you have the chance. I won't be angry."

"Well, it's only fair since you'll be moving on in a few minutes," Hook smiled as he joked with Emma.

Emma ran from her car to the house and up to Regina's room. She paused before charging towards the bed and sitting on the edge. Emma took Regina's face in her hands and leaned down to kiss her. A moment later, Regina gasped and woke up, "Emma," she began to cry. "Please don't tell me you did this and are leaving again."

"I won't because that's not true. Hook and I tried, but I couldn't give him my heart."

"Why not?"

"Because I already gave it to you."

Regina sat up and wrapped her arms around Emma, "please, don't ever leave me again."

"Never," she whispered.

Regina leaned back and looked at Emma, "is Hook alright?"

"He was the one who decided to end things."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Emma answered, "I made him promise to not go back to the darkness and to move one quickly. Luckily for him, I sent a certain fairy his way."

"Tinkerbell?"

"Well, I'm sure as hell not sending mother superior."

It had been two weeks since Regina and Emma had reconciled. They had decided to go out to dinner with Emma's parents one night. Emma was downstairs waiting for Regina, "honey, we're gonna be late," she yelled up the stairs.

"I'm coming," Regina yelled, "I'll meet you in the car."

Emma knew better than to wait there for the mayor. She was suspicious about what was taking Regina so long but didn't push. Instead, she grabbed their purses and coats to wait by the door. She didn't hear Regina's heels. When Emma looked up, she realized why. "Honey," Emma said gently as she put everything down to rush to her girlfriend who was walking slowly and cautiously. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she winced.

"Where's your cane?"

"I don't need it."

Emma conjured up a chair and helped Regina sit. She knelt in front of the woman, "why aren't you using your cane when you clearly need it?"

"It makes me feel weak and vulnerable. I hate feeling that way around your parents."

"Why? They know you need it on occasion."

"I don't know."

"Well, you're clearly in pain. Why don't we reschedule or just have them bring food from the restaurant?"

"No, let's go." Regina waved her hand and her cane appeared. Emma helped her stand, "I'll head to the car. Can you grab our things?" Regina asked as she headed for the stairs.

"Sure, but I'd rather..." Emma turned when she heard a loud noise, "Regina!" The mayor had fallen down the front steps.

"I'm okay," she groaned.

Emma was by her side in seconds, "we should take you to get looked at just in case."

"Just help me up, please."

Emma was able to help Regina sit up against the wall and let her rest. The sheriff called her parents who agreed to bring them dinner. "I'm gonna help you up. If you feel that anything is broken, I need you to tell me."

Regina winced as she stood, but wasn't in much more pain than usual. Emma helped her girlfriend up the stairs and to the living room. "I'm sorry that I snapped at you."

"Do you really think that made me mad," Emma said with a smile, "that's mild for you. Plus I know that this frustrates you." Regina went silent and began to just stare ahead. Emma couldn't get a word out of her.

Snow and David had a key for emergencies. They walked in and saw Emma on the floor with her knees pulled to her chest and her head down. Regina was staring ahead. "Emma, what's wrong?" Snow asked softly.

Emma looked up, "she won't talk and has been frozen like this."

Snow and David put the food down, "what happened?" Snow asked.

"I helped her up after she fell and I haven't been able to get her to talk since I helped her sit down."

Regina finally spoke, "I can't let you do this."

Emma turned, "do what?"

"Take care of me for the rest of our lives. You never should have come back to me."

"Are you trying to break up with me?"

"No, I am breaking up with you."

"Are you kidding me?!"

"Emma," Snow warned.

"I left a man I love and who loves me, to be with you. A man who didn't need my help with anything. An easier life. I left it all for you because we belong together and we are in love. That's what people in love do. They take care of one another."

"I can't take care of you."

"You have been taking care of me more than you know. You provide security, stability, normalcy, a family, and so much more. This is the first time you've had a problem since I woke you up. I'm not leaving you. I said I was never leaving you again and I meant it."

Regina broke down and began sobbing, "I don't deserve you," she cried. "I don't deserve to be cared for like this."

Emma took Regina's face in her hands, "yes, you do." Regina groaned and held her wrist as it began spazzing, "it's okay," Emma gently held the shaking wrist. "It will be over soon. Just breathe for me." Regina listened and did as she was told. Before she knew it, her wrist had stabilized.

"Emma, we'll leave the food in the kitchen and show ourselves out," Snow said softly.

"No," Regina replied, "you can stay. I'd really love the company. I'm sorry about all of this."

"Don't worry," Snow said, "it happens to all of us."

Emma could tell throughout the night that Regina still felt guilty about needing so much help. The sheriff was going to do something in a few days but decided she needed to do it now. She walked over to Regina and knelt on both knees in front of her. "I don't want you to ever feel unloved again. I don't want you to feel that you don't deserve to have someone love and care for you. You deserve to be happy and have made a huge effort to change in order to be happy. Yes, you made some horrible mistakes, but you have been making up for them over the past two years. I love you more than anything and I would be honored to have you as my wife." Emma took out the ring and smiled at the stunned look on Regina's face, "Regina, will you marry me?"

"Yes," she said softly. Emma placed the ring on her finger and kissed her fiance. Snow and David congratulated the couple. A month later, the couple wed. Emma had something to tell her wife that wasn't going to be easy.

Emma and Regina had been married for two weeks when Emma dropped a bombshell. She and Regina were getting settled in bed for the night, "I'm pregnant," she blurted out.

Regina looked at her wife in shock. "What?"

"I'm almost two months pregnant."

"Hook," Regina said.

"I told him already. I'm sorry but he's the father and has a right to know."

"No, I understand that. I just want to know how long you've known."

"I found out three days after our wedding. I've been trying to find a way to tell you. The only way I could think of was to blurt it out."

"Do you want to be with him?"

"What? No, I'm with you and this is where I want to be."

"What did Hook say?"

"He wants to be in the baby's life."

"Then he should be."

"He thinks that the baby will be lucky to have two moms just like Henry."

"I'm not the mom. I'm not even Henry's mom."

"DNA doesn't make you a mom. I think you should look into having that spell reversed."

"I doubt that my body could handle a pregnancy."

Emma felt guilty. Especially when Regina turned her light off and laid down with her back to Emma. Hook and Emma kept telling Regina that they wanted her involved, but the woman was resistant. Emma went on to give birth to a baby girl. She and Hook named their daughter Hope Regina Jones. They could tell Regina was touched but still distant. That night, Regina went to work on reversing her spell. When Hope was six months old, Regina did IVF with a donation from both Neal and Hook. Two embryos were implanted. One was fertilized by Hook and the other by Neal. Both implanted. Regina's body did not do well during her pregnancy. She was in constant pain and unable to enjoy the experience. Emma felt responsible since she was the one who suggested this. A month before her due date, Whale decided to induce Regina. He felt that her extreme discomfort and pain warranted such. She didn't want a cesarean section unless there was no other option. Regina gave birth to a baby girl and a baby boy. It was decided that both children would have the last name Mills. The girl was Neal's and the boy was Hook's. Regina offered both men a place in her childrens lives. She named her daughter, Odette Cassidy Mills. Her son was named Remy Jones Mills. Remy was about a year and a half younger than his uncle, Neal David Nolan. Emma and Regina had a non-traditional, yet modern, family. There wasn't one thing about their family they would ever consider changing. Two years ago, they were on a different path that they believed to be the right one. The one that led to happily ever after. It did lead them there, but not in the way they would have ever guessed.