No major TW for this chapter...

Storybrooke:

The hospital ward is eerily quiet, no one dares move, dares speak as Morrigan glares murder at a stunned prince Charming. Emma stands speechless, David did what?! It has to be some sort of mistake! Hes Prince Charming for god sake, can do no wrong hero..Emma frantically looks between the pair for answers whilst Mary Margret's mouth is half open and the woman's paling considerably. Regina on the other hand stares grimly at Morrigans heaving chest.

Mary Margret finally breaks the tense standoff, her voice whispered and unnerved.."I..I don't understand, How?..When?"

Morrigan laughs bitterly.."And that's the worst part! He doesn't even fucking remember!" She whirls, limping down the hospital corridor and away from the small crowd.

Regina frowns at the slacked jawed family and follows at a quickened pace, leaving a stuttering Emma rushing after the two.

"Wait! You cant just drop a bombshell like that and run off!"

"As you can see I'm not running anywhere! I'm in severe pain and it would seem I need medical attention, so that's where I'm going.." Morrigan whirls, almost colliding with the hasty blond.."Or would you prefer I bled out so you wouldn't have to deal with me anymore?!"

Emma's mouth flaps open, alarmed eyes darting to the mayor but Regina only scowls at the blonds silent plea for help, this is all your fault! The savior sticking her nose in my business once again! I wanted to drop the case, just forget about it, handle it my own way but no, she had to get involved, had to help save the damsel, well I'm not a bloody damsel! And now I'm stuck in a town that's after my blood and now Morrigans. I just want to leave, take her and leave. Perhaps she would respond better getting away from such hostility..but I cant do that, I have responsibilities and Henry..I cant just leave him, I wont..She sighs, pain and exhaustion slowly crumbling her walls, I cant keep this up much longer, something has to give..

The Charming's, Ruby and Henry pensively step towards the silent group. Morrigans good eye scans the newcomers and it quickly darts to a white faced David, serves you right! I hope you never speak again!..

"Mom whats happening?"

Henry's sudden appearance snaps Regina from her daze and she turns to the newcomers with a grimace.."Henry I need you to go back to the waiting room with Miss Lucas."

"No, I wanna know what's going on."

Morrigan turns abruptly, stomping away frustrated, he shouldn't be here! They should all piss off and leave me in peace!..She feels a rough hand tug her into an empty patients room and she hisses painfully, watch the fucking shoulder!..She rounds on the person and finds herself nose to nose with the savior, Figures!..

"What the hell do you think your doing?!"

"You said you needed medical attention, Then SIT!" Emma points at the empty bed and Morrigans anger flares.

"Get out!"

"I'm not going anywhere, for your safety and theirs."

Regina stands in the corner, arms crossed and sighs, perhaps I should interfere, someones going to end up getting hurt or worse if I don't..

"Miss Swan, take your parents and my son back to the diner, I'll join you shortly."

"Your kidding right?!"

"Does it look like it!"

There's a pause, Emma studying the heavy bags masterly hidden under the mayors makeup before she sighs heavily.."Fine! But Ruby keeps watch."

"Very well, If you could.."

Morrigans rage flares.."There you go deciding things for me again! Don't I ever get a say?!"

"NO YOU DO NOT! Need I remind you you've just killed someone!"

Morrigan startles, her anger bubbling to nothing, I only killed Whale to protect you..Green eyes narrow, fine!..She frowns deeply, slumping onto the bed aggrieved and stares out of the window, Again I'm sent to my room like a fucking five year old!..

"Get out Miss Swan and send in a nurse before you leave!" Regina glides to the foot of the bed, hands clasped in front of her as she stares at the frustrated former bandit.

Emma huffs her irritation, ushering everyone from the room but Mary Margret is quick to protest.

"Emma we cant just leave."

"Look, Ruby will be fine and I don't think Morrigan will try anything else, especially while Regina's here."

"Is she going to be okay?"

Emma notes her son watching intensely through the viewing window and she snakes an arm around his shoulders, gently pulling him down the corridor.

"Sure kid, you know your mom."

The boys head bobs up and down, Mary Margret's wavering voice chirping from behind them.

"Ruby, I want you to call Leroy just encase something happens."

Emma rolls her eyes.."Regina agreed to just Ruby, not the whole dwarf hockey team."

"I know but its just a precaution, for everyone's safety."

Emma waves her infuriating mother off.."Fine..Come on lets get to Granny's, I actually might be able to eat my grilled cheese this time." She quickly ushers her son forward with an anxious Mary Margret and a silent David in tow.

Silence...

Regina scrutinizes deep green eyes carefully, she seems angry but..She carefully sits herself on the rough sheets next to an absent Morrigan.."Tell me what your thinking."

Regina waits, casting brown eyes out of the same window that's captivating the other woman.

"You really don't want to know."

"Why did you tell them?"

"I don't know, it just slipped out."

"I don't believe that."

Morrigan grits her teeth.."Believe what you want but that's what happened. My anger got the best of me and again I'm going to suffer for it."

"How so?"

Morrigan stoically turns to curious brown eyes.."Are you only asking to keep me calm before the nurses rush in and restrain me, or are you asking because your actually interested in my answer?"

Regina frowns.."I'm asking because I'm interested Morrigan. You've never spoken about it before and now suddenly you reveal everything to a room full of random people. I'm asking because..I'd like to know."

Morrigans unsealed green eye glasses over, her focus sliding back to the window.."I didn't reveal everything..just enough."

"Enough for what? Enough so the two idiots would drift apart?"

Morrigan quickly rises, anger eating away at her.."Enough for my daughters memory not to be tainted by lies and excuses!" She spins, leering down on the calm mayor.."I told them enough to drive him crazy so he could suffer, so they all could! Its not fair that he gets to be happy, that they all get to be one big happy family while I suffer, while WE suffer! Its not fucking fair and I've had it!"

Regina can sense the rise of magic as Morrigans eye flickers a deep red.

"They get to prance around town like they own the place, Like whatever they say goes! Well what about what I want?! What about what I say? Do I not count for anything?!"

She throws a hand up aggrieved and paces.."Your forced to do bad in your life and that's it?! Your a right off?! They don't know me, no one knows me! They stick their noses in my business only after I've threatened a person or two, who by the way, were nothing but savages and rapists! But then you see me! Then you notice! You're all selfish bastards the lot of you! You all interfere in MY life regardless of the fucking consequences! He wasn't supposed to be there! HE SHOULD HAVE LEFT WELL ENOUGH ALONE!"

Morrigans temperament alerts Ruby who's stood vigilantly at the viewing window. Regina glances at the fidgeting wolf and their eyes meet, Not a wise time to play hero Miss Lucas. Stay where you are like a good girl, Morrigans in no state for any sudden heroics..She shakes her head subtly and Ruby nods weakly. Brown eyes refocus on the tears rolling down Morrigans cheek and she cautiously approaches.

"HE DESERVES TO BE TORTURED! HE DESERVES TO SUFFER AS I DID, YOU ALL DO! ITS NOT FUCKING FAIR!" Morrigan takes in audible quick breaths, her fists and eye tightly clamped shut. She stops pacing before Regina's arms gently attempt to pull her into a hug. She stiffens and resists, pushing softly at the mayors stomach.

"Shhhh..I've got you, I'm sorry Morrigan."

A whimper escapes pink lips and Morrigans resistance falters, allowing gentle arms to pull her close.."There's nothing left..Everyone's gone..Elinor, I'm so sorry.."

So that's what her daughters called..Elinor..Brown eyes glass over, I couldn't imagine if I lost Henry, the place I'd be in..But Morrigans daughter isn't gone...What have I done..

"I know, I'm sorry.."

Morrigan cries silently, hiding her face on Regina's shoulder who runs a soothing hand through her hair. The former Queen looks ahead and spies Ruby looking at the pair grimly, She will have undoubtedly heard every detail of our conversation. Pretty soon that information will leak to the Charming clan but I'll most likely get to them first. I need to try and explain things mildly so Morrigan doesn't feel too betrayed. Hopefully the hospital will keep her sedated for a couple of days, there are things that need to be sorted and having a short fused walking reactor by your side 24/7 doesn't make the process easy..

There's a knock at the door and immediately Morrigan pulls away from the hug, her sobs gone as she walks back to the window. The door to the room slides opens and two nurses step in hesitantly with Ruby.

"Hey, these are the only two that will help after..you know."

"Its fine Miss Lucas.." Regina nods, her heels clicking towards the exit.."Make sure shes taken care of, she doesn't leave this room and no one enters without my specific permission, do you understand?"

Ruby's eyes flicker to Morrigans back.."Yeah sure, but if she wants to leave, I don't think I can.."

"She wont.."

Ruby raises a questionable eyebrow but Regina waves the anxious wolf off.

"If there's nothing else, I have prior engagements." She walks passed the wary trio of Ruby and the two nurses and clicks into the hall. She stops outside of the viewing window to observe as the nurses approach Morrigan apprehensively, attempting to usher her towards the bed. When the battered patient turns unresponsive, a green eye settles on the gentle mayor. There's a pause before Regina nods and Morrigan reluctantly climbs on the bed, laying on her stomach and facing the open window. The two nurses quickly swarm around their patient, busying solutions and cutting the bloodied burnt clothing from Morrigans body.

Regina's focus reluctantly pulls away from the resilient bandit she knows so well and slides to Ruby.."If there's a problem, you call me immediately, not the Sheriff, not Snow, Me, understood?"

Ruby purses her lips.."Yeah sure."

And without another word, the steely mayor spins on her heels and heads for the exit...

Henry fiddles with the straw in his chocolate milkshake, his mind otherwise occupied by thoughts of his mother and Morrigan. He shivers involuntary, Whales dead body flashing in his mind. He questions Morrigans actions, but she killed Whale to save his mom, that makes it okay doesn't it? He frowns, shaking his head when a hand gently slides atop his. When he looks up, the evaluating green eyes of his birth mother stare at him.

"You okay kid?"

Henry's gaze falls back to his milkshake.."Yeah I guess."

Emma strokes a soothing thumb against her sons hand.."You know you can talk to me about anything. I'm sorry about today, you shouldn't have seen any of that."

He glances back up questionably.."Why did Dr Whale want to kill my mom?"

Emma's eyes flicker between her sons, be careful what you say Swan..

"I'm not sure Henry but what he did, what he tried to do was wrong."

"So he deserved what happened to him?"

He cant think like that!..

"No Henry he..What happened today..nothing was right about what happened, you shouldn't have been a part of it."

Henry smiles weakly.."Its okay, its not your fault just..I know killing is wrong, but he tried to hurt mom and.."

Emma feels his hand ball into a fist.."Hey, I know your angry, you have every right to be but your moms going to be fine, we all are. We're going to push passed this together and come out stronger than ever." He grins and she cocks and eyebrow.."What?"

"That sounded a lot like a hope speech, you reminded me of grams."

Emma visibly pales.."Ugh, Don't say that kid."

Henry chuckles but the diner bell jingles alerting the pair before Regina steps through hastily.

The boy spots his adopted mother and jumps out of his seat.."Mom!"

The child's arms wrap around Regina's middle and she returns the hug gratefully. Mary Margret and David spot the mayor from across the diner and quickly rejoin their daughter.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Henry."

Brown eyes dart over to a steely sheriff and Regina represses a sigh, Swan will want answers but I don't want Henry to hear too much. I have to do this right, tell enough to satisfy the morons, but as little as not to upset Henry and lose his trust forever..

"Regina, would you join us?"

Regina refocuses on a hesitant Mary Margret sliding into the booth beside Emma as David pulls up a chair and sits beside his wife, well lets get this over with..She hesitantly slips into the booth beside her son and waits for their bombarding questions, however its David that draws her attention. The prince has yet to register her presence as he stares unblinking at a random spot on the table, looks like the Shepherd is taking the news badly. Well at least Morrigan got what she wanted..

"It seems you may have some questions.."

"Well yeah!"

Brown eyes narrow at Emma's clipped tone and Mary Margret quickly clears her throat.

"Please continue Regina."

Regina sneers at the blond.."You may have questions that relate to Morrigan, but for the sake of my son I ask you to refrain from questioning certain events in my past."

Emma scoffs, glaring at the frustrated mayor.."Well how do you suppose we do that?! You've barely told us anything about Morrigan. How are we supposed to know if it relates to your worst Evil Queen days or not?!"

I'm pissed, hungry and tired and Regina wants to dance around questions and avoid things?! No, not this time!..

Regina sends an equal glare back.."I'll simply deny answering your question and we move on, its that simple!"

"And dodge the issue like always!"

"Excuse me?!"

Mary Margret quickly interferes.."I think we're getting a little off topic?"

Emma sits back, crossing her arms over her chest.."Clearly Regina doesn't mind.."

Regina grits her teeth, chocolate eyes darkening.."Do you have a problem with me Miss Swan?!"

Emma leans forward frustrated, her arms falling atop the table.."I think we're way past just a problem Madam Mayor!"

"Stop it! Both of you! Cant you just stop arguing for once!"

Henry's frustrated voice echo's around the room, citizens attempting to ignore the tense atmosphere in the booth at the back of the diner.

Regina softens a fraction while Emma shuffles in her seat sheepish.."Sorry kid."

Mary Margret clears her throat again redirecting all focus.."If its a little uncomfortable for you to talk about Regina, why don't you start and we'll go from there."

Mary Margret's wide hopeful eyes makes Regina's stomach churn, Start? Where the hell can I start? At the beginning perhaps..Regina breathes heavily from her nostrils, fidgeting with her hands atop the table and looking at Mary Margret pointedly.

"Do you remember when I went missing back in the Enchanted Forest?"

Mary Margret frowns as everyone leans in, listening intently.

"Yes you were gone for days, my father never told me why."

"Well I was..taken by a group of bandits on the road."

Mary Margret's eyes widen.."You were kidnapped?! Why didn't my father say anything?! How did you escape?!"

Regina swiftly raises a hand before the woman can continue.."I was taken to their camp and after a certain.." Pausing, she glances at Henry's captivated eyes and thinks through her words carefully.."..Incident, I was injured and healed by a young witch."

"Morrigan." Emma quickly offers.

Regina nods.."She displayed powers I could only dream of at the time. We briefly got to know each other and after a mishap with their leader, she convinced them to let me go."

Emma frowns.."Wait wait, so your telling me she kidnapped you and then suddenly let you go a few days later? How does that make any sense?"

"Circumstances became..complicated, but your partially correct. Never the less it was easier to acquire my freedom as her brother was their leader."

Mary Margret quickly speaks up.."Okay so what has this got to do with David killing Morrigans daughter?"

"Several years later when I became the Evil Queen, I found and.." Regina glances at Henry again, not unnoticed by Emma.."..Recruited Morrigan, hoping she could help me get my revenge."

"And that's when you made her The Dark Knight."

Regina shakes her head at the former princess, looking down at her fidgeting hands.."No, that came after.." Brown eyes drift to David and Emma purses her lips.

"What happened Regina?"

Regina sighs heavily, Morrigan isn't going to like this..

"One morning I found out Georges men had invaded my borders in an attempt to capture the Prince here.." Her steely eyes never leave the man in question.."When I arrived with my guard, the village was in ruins. Georges men had destroyed everything, slaughtered many simply because they had refused to help turn you in."

David stares grimly, Mary Margret frowning questionably.."I still don't understand?"

"Your Charming husband knew the risks of entering that village, many had already sought to turn him away out of fear of.." Another glance at Henry has her pausing.."..Of consequences."

"Shes right Mary Margret.." All attention darts to the man.."They already asked me to leave but we needed the supplies so badly I just..I paid a local merchant to help me buy and load supplies when the market wasn't busy, and then Georges men attacked out of nowhere. I managed to get away but.." Mary Margret places a comforting hand on his knee.

"And in doing what you did an entire village burned to the ground that day."

Mary Margret barely represses a scoff.."Morrigan cant honestly blame David for what happened to her daughter. It was Georges men not him."

"Georges men were just as involved in her daughters death as David. You should know better than anyone what type of circumstance that results in Snow."

Mary Margret pales slightly and avoids the former Queens vexed glare.

"Anyway in the end, we can all agree that George paid dearly for his crimes." Brown eyes flicker between the Charming's, and Emma shivers at the image of George melted into the concrete.

"Shes right..its my fault. If I would have left when they asked me too, they wouldn't have died." David stares at the table grimly but Emma refocuses on the steely mayor questionably.

"Wait, so you told Morrigan?" Emma cocks an eyebrow and brown eyes narrow.

"I know what your insinuating Miss Swan but no, I didn't tell her, I showed her."

"What?!" Mary Margret's shriek draws attention from their fellow diners and Regina scowls at the skeptical looks.

"Will you keep your voice down!"

Mary Margret leans in, whispering viciously.."You took her to see her dead daughter?!"

"Of course, she would never have believed my word on the matter. She deserved to know, wouldn't you if something happened to Miss Swan?"

There's an uncomfortable pause, Emma glancing over at her mother and silently agreeing with the stern mayor, yeah Regina has a fair point, the worst thing other than losing a child is not knowing what happened to them. God I can only imagine..when I saw Henry lying on that hospital bed my heart felt like someone had hung, drawn and quartered it. Seeing the death of your child is the worst curse imaginable..

"So she blames David for the loss of her daughter, that's why she's been after him ever since?"

Regina nods and the blond lies back processing it all. Emma glances at her crumbling father, his mouth and chin cupped in his hands, eyes vacantly staring at a spot on the diner floor. Mary Margret's hand rubs soothing circles on his back as Henry sits stoic and silent.

Well that went better than I could have expected..Regina watches the prince crumble, finally feeling a fraction of the pain we feel everyday. He brought this on himself with his hero complex attitude, hopefully now Morrigan can have a little peace..

"So what are we going to tell the town?"

Mary Margret frowns at her daughter.."What?"

"I mean about what happened today at the hospital. They'll want her dealt with."

Regina huffs weakly.."They'll probably be at home sharpening pitchforks and lighting torches as we speak."

"No wait they cant! She was protecting you, she saved us all! We cant let them!" Henry looks between the grim adults hysterically before Mary Margret's face lights up.

"What if we hold an emergency town meeting? Invite those who have most influence in town?"

"And then what? We have afternoon tea." Regina bites back.

"We explain things. Regina is there any other way we can contain her magic?"

Emma sighs.."We tried that."

"No we tried enchanting a small cell and clearly the collar isn't going back on so.."

"The collar.." Regina recedes deep in thought, The collar is unacceptable but maybe I can craft a bracelet from it, something less potent, something that only blocks the wearers magic and doesn't inflict pain. Maybe..there's work to be done..

"Ugh..Regina?"

Regina refocuses on the four confused faces around the table.."I could perhaps fashion something out of the collar, something that simply blocks Morrigans magic and doesn't control it."

Mary Margret beams.."Great! And while your doing that we can inform the town and hopefully snuff out any threats before they can get too dangerous."

Regina nods.."I need to head to my vault and do some research. Its not going to be a simple process, and it could take a while but I'm hoping they can keep Morrigan sedated for a few days while I craft the bracelet."

"Yeah we don't want her waking up before you put the damn thing on. I doubt she'll be receptive to the idea." Emma frowns unnerved, Mary Margret also picking up the uneasy feeling.

"What about when she wakes up? She's not going to like this."

The mayor cocks a stern eyebrow.."No she wont, but I hope she'll eventually see it our way."

Emma nods.."She did agree to be locked in the cell, hows this any different?"

"I suppose."

"And then we can help her, See I knew you'd think of something." Henry beams at the adults around the table as his adopted mother rises from the booth and dusts off her coat.

"Inform me as soon as you've issued a town meeting."

Emma fidgets slightly.."Do you think its really wise for you to come? I mean, don't get me wrong but I don't think a fireball to the face if someone talks about Morrigan harshly will help build her case."

Regina grits her teeth.."I'm not always prone to throwing fireballs at people I don't like Miss Swan, if I did, you'd be charcoal by now."

"Maybe she's right Regina, besides your needed elsewhere working on the bracelet. Let us handle it."

Regina looks apprehensively between mother and daughter and sighs, They're right, knowing these people, someone will say something that would irritate me and they'd ultimately get a fireball thrown at them. Morrigans not the only one unable to control her anger at times..

"Fine, but I want to know exactly what's been discussed and ultimately, what fate these people have in store for her, this is nonnegotiable."

"Of course, we'll be in touch as soon as the meeting ends."

Regina nods at the former princess, leaning over to kiss Henry on the head.."Be good, I'll see you later."

"I will."

She smiles down at him and quickly exits the diner with a jingle.

Emma refocuses on Mary Margret who only has eyes for a distraught David, He hasn't said a word..he's really taking it badly..

"Okay so where do we start?"

"Well first we need someone to watch Henry."

Henry groans.."Oh come on guys I can help.."

"No kid, not this time."

Henry pouts, crossing his arms and sinking back into his seat.."Fine.."

David quickly speaks up.."I can watch him, I'm not going to the meeting."

"Why not?"

The man quickly refocuses on his wife, his hands balling into fists.."Why? Why do you think, I destroyed her life!"

"And that's why you need to come, whats better than someone who despises her suddenly pleading her case. "

David stands abruptly, smoothing a hand through his hair.."I cant, I need..time." He bolts out of the dinner, his wife and daughters concerned eyes staring after him..

Its all useless crap! Its been hours and still nothing!..Regina flicks through the endless volumes of dark magical books in her vault. What shes really looking for is a deconstruction spell, something that can extract magical essence and transfer it into something else. The collar is complicated because essentially its a curse, the magic involved is very dark, I remember what it took to enact it. Morrigan wasn't the only one to feel the effects when it was applied..

She throws another dusty book against the back wall, useless!..Her anger flares but quickly she stomps it back down, Calm down..Just think..Taking a deep breath, Regina calmly scans the books in one of the large wooden chests, There are dozens of books in here!..Standing, she gently waves her hand and the books float from the trunk to hover all around her. Dark brown eyes scrutinize each cover until finally she reaches out and grabs a small black tome. The rest of the hovering books gently slot themselves back into the chest as she studies the book in her hand.

"Perhaps.." She primly sits on one of the chests and opens it, eyes scanning the pages until they widen, finally..

Emma continues to tap her pen idly against the table top as Mary Margret tries to calm the masses shouting at her within the large room of the town hall, the very moment this meeting was called to order its been nothing but question after question from the people. She's trying to calm them but failing miserably, if David was here, perhaps he could get them to shut up for one second! She told me to let her do the talking, something I vaguely regret doing..

"Please..one question at a time!"

The rabble continue to shout and argue, throwing out questions and accusations as Granny quickly stands.

"You cant just lock her up again, we've already established that wont work!"

"Can you not restrain her somehow with magic?" Ashley's weak voice echo's from behind and Mary Margret raises her hands peacefully.

"That's what we're working on, Regina is fashioning a bracelet that will block Morrigans magic."

"And we're just supposed to trust the Evil Queen? She's the one who created that monster in the first place!" Mother superior glares, stirring the rabble.

"Alright that's enough!" Emma stands abruptly and the crowd settles.."Look, I know Morrigan did some horrible things in the past and lost control here.."

The fairy quickly interjects.."Lost control? She nearly destroyed half of the park, there's so much dark magic dispelled, its dangerous to be around there. Its going to take weeks for the lake to settle and the magic to fade from the area."

"Not to mention the incident at my diner." Granny quickly notes.

"Yes she did those things, but she didn't do them to hurt any of you."

Leroy scoffs.."Tell that to the guy she attacked at the diner, or Mr Milan at the post office, nearly lost an arm to that psycho."

"And don't forget Whale."

A eerie silence washes over the hall before Emma continues cautiously.

"Maybe she shouldn't have killed Whale but.."

"I would have."

Emma stares questionably at a frowning Leroy.."Since when are you on Morrigans side?"

"I didn't say I was or wasn't sister, I know enough to know things are complicated."

Archie slowly rises from his seat.."I agree with Emma that maybe murder was one step too far, but clearly this woman has had a troubled past, a past we've all been a part of somehow."

"I haven't gathered you all here to convince you to ignore all of Morrigans actions. Ive called you because I want you to listen. Not to judge without hearing some of the facts."

Mother superior cocks an eyebrow at the former princess.."Facts?"

"Just like we've all had reasons in our past to do some awful things, make decisions that ultimately effect other peoples lives, so has she. Those of you who were at the diner, you heard what that man did to her, and Whale..well he practically confessed to assaulting Regina and trying to murder Morrigan. I'm not trying to justify her past actions but she has had a difficult life, she lost her daughter at the hands of villains and indirectly at the hands of heroes. If that's not cause to send any Mother on a downward spiral into darkness, I don't know what is."

"Where's the prince? Shouldn't he be here? He is after all the person Morrigan has been trying to kill for all these years."

Mary Margret narrows her eyes at the placid fairy.."You know full well why he isn't here."

"I'm just saying that the prince might have a different say on the matter."

Emma imitates her mothers frown, what the hell. She's trying to put a spanner in the works!..

"David needs a little time to himself, as your well aware, he's had disturbing news today. If you really want to know his opinion then you can ask him yourself when hes up to it. "

Mother superior sticks her chin in the air and Emma's frown deepens, who the helldoes she think she is, Regina?!..

"Indeed I shall princess."

The blond grinds her teeth, Princess?!..

"Whats your deal with Morrigan anyway? She steal some of your fairy dust of something?"

"My deal is not partial to our own confrontation in the past, its the fact that shes dangerous and this town needs protecting against her and her dark magic."

Mary Margret quickly jumps to her daughter defense.."And like I said, we're dealing with it."

"Like you dealt with it last time?"

The tension in the hall continues to rise as a few watching spectators shuffle uncomfortably in their seats, but Archie clears his throat, refocusing the glaring party.

"If I may, didn't Morrigan save Emma, Regina and Henry's lives even after we tried to deal with her last time?"

There's mumbling around the room and Emma smiles, good old Archie, the voice of reason..

"As I see it, last time we locked her away for the benefit of the town, instead of being hostile, she risked her own life to save the people who imprisoned her in the first place. Eh..no offense sheriff."

Emma waves him off.."No your right, she saved my life, physically held up part of the station so I could escape with Regina. And then somehow she saved Henry, if that isn't someone committed to change, I don't know what is."

There's a long drawn out silence before a few mummers echo around the hall and Leroy rises from his chair.."Well, Whale did try to kill her and Regina."

"I say we give her another chance." Archie also rises from his chair while nods and mummers of agreement spread amongst the small crowd.

"Yeah alright but she's not coming in my diner anytime soon. I'm still fixing the damn dry wall after her last incident!" Granny stands hesitantly, making Mary Margret smile happily.

"Thank you Granny, Leroy, Archie.."

"Mother superior?" Emma cocks a displeased eyebrow at the frowning fairy and all attention shifts towards the nun.

"I will follow whatever the prince and Snow decide, so evidently I'm willing to give the witch another chance. I just hope it doesn't end the way I know it will."

Mary Margret tares frowning eyes away from the fairy to address the small crowd.."I thank you all for your understanding and acceptance on the matter. I know it couldn't have been easy for you all, considering your past dealings."

"So now what?" Granny pipes up.

"Please spread the word that we have things handled and I'll keep you updated on the bracelets progress."

With a series of mumbles and nods, the small crowd begins to vacate the town hall, gossiping to themselves while Emma quickly approaches Archie.

"Hey Archie? I was just thinking, could you perhaps try and talk to Morrigan when she wakes up? You know..try and sort a few of her issues out. It might help calm her down if she spoke to someone about what happened."

"I can try but these things cant be pushed Emma."

"Yeah I know, but its worth a shot isn't it?"

Archie pushes his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose.."Maybe, let me know when she wakes up and I'll see about talking with her."

"Thanks Archie."

"No problem."

The ginger haired man makes his exit and Emma huffs, addressing her mother with a tired sigh.."Well that went well."

"It went fantastic, I wish all the war meetings back in the Enchanted Forest went like that. We should call Regina, she'll want to know."

The blond swiftly takes out her cell and dials Regina's number. There's a beep before the anxious mayor picks up on the second ring.

"Well how did it go?"

"Looks like you can relax a little over the next couple of days madam mayor."

Emma hears a distinguished sigh of relief on the other end of the phone and she rubs her aching neck, yes, things are starting to piece together, but for how long...