Chapter 4:

Emma found herself standing on top of a round like gate with all these strange symbols all over it including the symbol she once saw on Neal's palm. 'what the hell is this place and what am I wearing? What is this white robe? Aren't dark ones supposed to wear black? Come now, Dearie, you know exactly where you are.'

" I told you to leave me alone. Why won't you do as I say?" Mumbled Emma as she got her bearings. Seeing nothing but trees everywhere surrounding her. She then walked a short distance not entirely sure where she was headed but knew she had to find her way to either her parent's castle or Regina's hopefully one of those castles would have a bean she could use to get back to Storybrooke.

After, what felt to Emma, to be hours of walking in the vast forest she felt an arrow flying close to her head whizz past her and slamming into the nearest tree trunk. "Who are you and what are you doing blocking my way to the wisp?" Said Merida in her thick Scottish accent.

"What the hell are wisps?" asked Emma, her voice sounded deeper than normal. It confused her more than being surprised about finding out that yet another Disney character existed in the Enchanted Forest.

"They lass, are these blue magical balls that if you catch them you can get one wish granted. I need one of them to save my brothers who were kidnapped…" explained the red head before Emma cut her off.

"Whatever, I don't have time for your life story, and I couldn't give two shits about the wisps. Leave me!" said Emma who with a flick of her wrist sent the bow wielding red head further into the forest where Emma had seen one of those aforementioned wisps had gone in the direction of.

'You could have used her, Dearie.' "Shut the hell up gold." Muttered Emma as she continued to follow her instincts to head in her current direction. Emma could only hope that it was in the direction of Regina's castle. And sure enough Emma came upon the dark castle. It stood in all its magnificent glory. Standing proudly and as regal as its former occupants.

"Of course it would be a grand castle." Said Emma to herself. As she continued on her journey to the castle, resting off in the distance.

Meanwhile back in Storybrooke Regina was finally coming out of her hysterical outburst. She wiped the tears from her eyes. Putting on her mayoral mask firmly in place it was time to go find Emma. "We need to find Emma now!" exclaimed Regina to a now shocked Snow.

"Yes of course we need to find Emma, but how do you suppose we do that?" asked an exasperated Snow.

"By commanding a thief to find me some magic beans, and getting the magical globe from Rumple's shop." Stated Regina, as she left Emma's loft bedroom down the stairs to the dining area where Robin's heart now once again rested.

Snow had reluctantly followed not liking that Regina was so easily reverting back to being the Evil Queen once more now that her daughter's influence was no longer affecting her former step-mother.

'We better get Emma back and fast; I don't know how long I can handle seeing Regina act this way. Dark one or not, Emma certainly is more often than not a positive influence on Regina.' Thought Snow as she walked over to Charming and Henry were siting over in the lounge area by the window. She sat down next to her grandson, and starred worriedly in Regina's direction.

Who by now had calmly picked up the glowing yet dark heart, that Snow only just now truly noticed was a dark as Regina's heart looked when she had attempted to bury her own heart. Regina held the heart in her palm then she spoke onto it; "Robin search everywhere for magic beans, get guyliner to help you."

"Regina was that really the best way to go about this?" asked David, with a look of total confusion as to why Regina would resort to commanding the thief to find the magical beans.

"Yes David, it is Emma told me that he and the pirate were plotting to betray us. By having him be distracted trying to find magic beans. He won't be trying to take the dagger anytime soon." Replied Regina as she conjured one of her empty heart boxes from her vault to safe-guard Robin's heart.

She then placed the heart into the box then teleported into the secret room that not even Robin was aware existed. The only people who knew were Henry and Emma. As they were the only two people in her life she could truly trust. The door to that room was now sealed with two blood magic protection and concealment spells. Using her blood and Emma's, it's woven in such a way that you needed both of their blood to find and open it. And it also blocks any magic that isn't Regina's or Emma's form penetrating it, making it a true safe room. A place they could have Henry retreat to if there was a need for it.

"Besides it will give us more time to focus on finding this Merlin person. Your probably thinking that our focus should be on finding Emma.?" Continued Regina as she took a sip from the hot beverage Snow had placed in front of her.

"Well, yes finding Emma is important. Do you not want to find her?" retorted David, drinking from his own mug.

"Of course I do, more than anything do I want that. But I already have an idea where she might be." Responded Regina, who was now looking at everywhere but in the eyes of Snow and Charming.

"What do you mean you might know where Emma is?" questioned David, Snow looked in Regina's direction with a smile on her face as she has an inkling as to what Regina was going to say next and was very excited about it. David had taken a seat at the table, as he too kept his eyes on Regina. Even Henry was paying attention now.

"I just have this feeling, that she is in the Enchanted Forest at my castle to be exact. Before you interrupt me to ask; this feeling is coming from the connection I share with Emma that has truly awakened with our being intimate. We have a bond with our magic that for the last 3 years I had been trying hard to keep buried down deep, as I didn't want to admit to myself that I had feelings for her. Because I didn't think I was deserving of her. Then during that year in the Enchanted Forest and I met Robin who was what stolen fairy dust had told me was my soul mate according to Tinkerbelle. But still even in the enchanted forest I was reluctant to pursue anything further. I was missing Henry and Emma. Which is why you caught me burying my heart in the ground.

"Thank you, Snow, for stopping me by the way. But with all that was going on with my sister and the pirate following Emma around like a love sick puppy, I once again felt like I had no chance with Emma. So I gave Robin a go at being more than just acquaintances. I really should have known better, that the only two people in my life that could ever make me truly happy are Emma and Henry. Had I allowed myself the proper introspection I might not have had to endure the messy heartache that being with Robin has brought with him. Anyway I now believe that Emma, Henry and you Snow and baby Neal are my happy ending being with my true family." Explained Regina, tears streaming down her cheeks. Henry walks over to where his mother is standing and wraps his arms around her in a firm but loving hug. To which Regina responded in kind. Enjoying the now rare opportunity to hug her son.

"Don't worry mum, we will get ma back and we can finally be a happy family. Just like I have always wanted us to be." Said Henry as he pulled slowly out of the embrace.

"I know, thank you, Henry." Replied a teary Regina. Henry held out his hand to Regina who gladly placed her hand in his and let him lead her over to the lounge seat under the window where he and Snow were sitting only moments ago. Once Regina sits down Snow pulls her into a side hug, as she placed a light peck on her forehead. Regina found it oddly comforting as she leaned into the warm embrace. They sat there together in a comfortable silence, while charming went to tend to a fussing baby Neal. After a few minutes Regina, and Snow went into the kitchen to start making some lunch together. They worked together to make home made carbonara with garlic bread and a salad.

Once the meal was ready they all sat down to eat at the dining table. Henry chatted excitedly about the latest comic books he had been reading and his growing friendship with Paige. Regina was weary of anything going beyond just friendship for Henry and Paige for fear for how Jefferson might react if Henry and Paige were to develop more with their relationship. After lunch was consumed and cleaned up, Regina and Henry took their leave to head to the author's mansion to see if any mentions of Merlin were in the various books in the vast library.

While Regina and Henry where going through the books, Robin, with Hook trying to convince him that he should give up on the idea of finding any magic beans and go back to their original plan of getting Emma's dark one dagger away from Regina.

"Come on mate, you won't find magic beans in this forest. I don't think they are growing any around here." Whined Hook, getting frustrated with having to pull his hook out of tree branches that keep hitting him in the face in the wake of Robins frantic boarding on manic searching.

"No! I must find the beans for the queen. She asked me to do it, if I don't she won't want me anymore." Responded Robin, not paying much attention to his surroundings all that much beyond scanning around and bashing through the dense foliage.

"What do you mean the queen asked you to?" asked hook, as he continued to follow the thief. Hook was struggling to maintain the same pace as the thief with him being still rather half-drunk from the amount of rum he has consumed more so than usual after finding out about Emma and 'Regina sleeping together in a way that he hasn't been able to do with Emma. Not in the sense that he would like.

"I mean it because Regina has my heart in the literal sense. She commanded that I look for the beans by using my heart. I have no choice but to obey. She did say that if I continued to be disrespectful to Emma or herself. She would introduce me to the Evil queen." Explained Robin.

"Well we will have to add getting your heart back into the plan. Besides I met the Evil Queen back in the Enchanted Forest. She is easy to deal with as long as you don't piss her off." Said Hook as he followed the thief as he finally exited the forest not having found any beans. Neither man noticed Tiny the giant quietly observing them and keeping a keen ear on their conversation. He made sure to remain hidden from view as they passed by him.

Not far up the road that lead to forest entrance, stood the blue fairy. She watched as Robin and Hook walked rather than drove along the road she had a calculating look upon her face. 'I can't let Regina and Emma figure out their true connection. Cannot let them figure out they are true love and soul mates it could cause a lot of problems for me. It could lead to Snow knowing my involvement in deliberately creating the Evil Queen. I encouraged Leopold to go near the Mills estate.' Thought Blue as she crept away with the magic beans the two men were looking for.

Meanwhile over at the author's mansion Regina and Henry were nose deep in the various magical volumes. Henry was fine tooth combing through the once upon a time book looking for clues to who merlin could be and where they could find him. "Can't seem to find Merlin but I was thinking we could use the door portal to get to the Enchanted Forest." Piped up Henry lifting his face from the pages of the book.

"Good thinking Henry, now all we need to do is figure out how to get it to work again, I know how to get it to go to Arendale from when we said goodbye to Elsa. Just need to see if there is a spell to change it to the Enchanted Forest." Replied Regina, a broad smile spread across her face in pride.

"Thanks mum, I will keep looking for Merlin while you do that. I wouldn't know what I was reading if I tried." Responded Henry. As he went back to reading the book. A few hours later, after receiving many messages from Robin about his current updates on trying to find the magic beans she decided to give the guy a break so he could eat, rest and spend time with his son. Using his heart in order to do so. For she was still determined to avoid talking or seeing the thief in person.

"Henry dear, how about we call it a night I dare say you are hungry?" questioned Regina. Henry simply smiled at her, closed his book taking it with him as he followed his mother. Regina led them out of the Author's mansion and into her car, she then drove the two of them back to their home.

Regina and Henry once home exited the car, walking inside via the garage door. They removed their jackets and shoes, relishing the feeling of being at peace in the place that was only theirs to call home. Perhaps, maybe once they got Emma back, they could invite her to live with them. Be the family all three of them so desperately craved to have.

Henry went upstairs to put his book in his room and to change into his most comfortable pyjamas, feeling the need for the simple feeling of safety and love. Henry knew that the soft clothing wasn't what gave him that feeling. But the loving mother who he knew would be silently going about the motions of preparing them dinner. While on the inside internally screaming all of what she felt about losing Emma, and what their recent bonding actually meant.

He then sat at his desk and pulled out the book from his backpack. Placing it in front of him, opened it up at the pages that held the story of Snow White and the Evil Queen. He flipped quickly to the section where the part he ripped out back when he saw his adoptive mother as the villain. Those pages he once thought lost when Emma tossed them in the fireplace at Archie's office. Were now firmly back in place. He figured that it must have occurred when magic was brought into Storybrooke. More than that he watched as the current event s that have recently happened was magically written right before his very eyes.

He saw every event since Emma and Hook came back from the past. The images, and the truth of the relationship between Emma and Hook, he noticed that while Emma looked as though she was indeed happy the words written told an entirely different story. It showed how Emma was only going through the motions of dating the pirate. Because she felt that is what was expected of her. He saw Emma's longing looks that Emma gave Regina when it was just the two of them, the looks of jealousy when she saw Regina and Robin together. He saw how Regina would give the same longing looks to Emma when she wasn't looking, the clear flirtatious remarks and comments that came so naturally between his two mothers. Everything that happened.

Even parts he wished he didn't see, the kind that require the use of mind bleach. No kid should have to see his mother's being intimate with their respective partners. The journey they took in the alternate universe the previous author sent them to. The sacrifice that Emma made when she took in the darkness and powers of the dark one into herself.

Sure he was the new author, but he was very reluctant to take on the mantle, the responsibility. But it was his role as the bearer of the heart of the truest believer. The book compelled him to write the events leading up to Emma disappearing into a bright white light. Even the details of his mother's conceiving a child together one born out of their love for one another. His mothers are each other's true loves and soul mates.

He saw the deception of the blue fairy as she took the magical beans from their hiding spot without the arguing Robin and Hook noticing. The magic encased in the pen finished for the time being. Henry then closed the book. Making sure to retain the details of Blue's deception. He then walked out of his bedroom and out onto the first floor entry way before the beginning of the staircase.

Just as he was about to place his foot on the top step he collided with his mother who had just came up the stairs to let him know that dinner was ready. "Oh sorry mum I didn't see you there." Apologised Henry.

"It is quite alright my little prince. I just wanted to let you know that dinner was ready." Replied Regina, giving him the warmest smile she reserved especially for him and as he has learned was one that was also only ever given to his birth mother. He felt both proud and happy at this knowledge.

"Great! I look forward to it! Nothing beats your cooking mum." Said Henry in an excited voice.

"Not even granny's cheeseburgers?" said Regina happily.

"What can I say?" was all Henry said, the true meaning of his simple reply reflected in his voice and body language. He took off down the stairs showing just how young he truly was. Regina chuckled to herself in delight of her son's boyish ways. She carefully followed him into the dining room.

They ate together in comfortable companionship, then as they finished their last bite of chicken paella; Henry put down his fork looking directly at his raven haired mother he broke the silence. " I have something that I need to tell you. I am not sure what it all means but…"

"What is it Henry? You know you can tell me anything." Encouraged Regina.

"Well the blue fairy stole the magic beans and I think you are pregnant." Blurted out Henry.

"What? No me being pregnant isn't possible I cursed myself decades ago so that my mother couldn't use any child of mine in her quest for power. What did you say about the blue fairy?" exclaimed Regina, feeling panic at the mere idea she might be pregnant. Then a strong sense of disappointment flooded her features.

'No, no, no I can't possibly be pregnant. I don't recall my personal curse being broken. Not with Robin, sure we had sex, but not the kind that broke curses. It can't be from when he and I last were together. Wait a minute, there was certainly magic flying when Emma and I have been making love. My magic, her magic it was all so intense, this morning and then that very emotional time right before Emma was taken by that light. It definitely felt different somehow, we connected completely that time. Heart, mind, body and soul. Could that have done it? Well it wouldn't be the first time Emma has broken a curse of mine. Nothing much I can do about it now, way too early to tell just yet. We need to get Emma back from the enchanted forest and get the darkness out of her. That is what's important.

'As for the blue gnat? Hmm that will take some thinking and planning in order to get to the bottom of that issue. Will deal with that later. More importantly how did she get the beans without Robin or the handless wonder noticing?' thought Regina, as she noticed the concerned look upon Henry's face.

"I am alright Henry. What do you say we watch a movie before its time for bed?" replied Regina to Henry's silent question.

"That sounds good, can we watch the latest X-men movie?" asked Henry.

"Sure sweetheart. Go on and set it up for us, I will be there shortly after I clean up here." Replied Regina as she began clearing the table, taking their dirty dishes into the kitchen. She stacked the dishwasher and put all the remaining bits and pieces away. Then joined Henry in the entertainment room.

The two of them spent the remainder of the evening together enjoying the time spent just the two of them much like they used to do long before he discovered his once upon a time book.

The next few days consisted of Regina, Henry, Belle and the Charming's going through the various magic books in the Author's mansion looking for a way to get the door portal to open to the Dark Castle in the Enchanted forest. While Emma did much the same thing in what remained of the Regina's and her parent's kingdom in the aftermath of the latest version of the dark curse to have been cast.

Until finally once the apprentice had recovered he came to where they were all reading. "to get that door open to where you want to go, you will need a personal item of Emma's, one that has a strong connection to the core of who she is. Hold that while placing a hand on the frame of the door. You will need to concentrate your thoughts on how you feel about Emma." Explained the apprentice.

"What? That's it? Why didn't I think of that?" uttered a perturbed Regina, lifting her hands in the air then slammed then down onto the table in front of her.

"Do you know something of Emma's we could use?" probed Snow.

"I know just the thing." Reassured Regina, as she flicked her wrist and teleported herself with her signature purple smoke to Emma's bedroom at the Charming's loft. Leaving a bewildered Snow behind. Henry sat there with a rather smug look upon his face for he knew exactly what his mother was going to get.

A few minutes later Regina reappeared with Emma's Baby blanket in her hand. Just before Regina or anyone else could speak, Robin and Hook burst in the mansion, "You are not going anywhere without first handing over my heart!" shouted Robin.

"Now why would I do that dear?" dismissed Regina.

"Because you have redeemed yourself from being the Evil Queen and it is the right thing to do?" requested Robin. While Hook sneaked past them to manoeuvre himself behind Regina.

"That maybe so, but you my dear haven't earned your freedom just yet. Besides don't you want to join us on this journey? Or would you rather stay here and watch over Zelena for me. Hmm yes that is the better option. You will stay here keep an eye on my sister and assist Mal and Lilly with whatever they ask of you. If you happen to manage that task I will gladly give you your heart back." Answered Regina.

"Since that is settled shall we go and get swan?" enquired the pirate. Everyone, except the apprentice followed Regina into the room with the door portal. They stood in front of it held each other's hand Henry being the one to take Regina's free hand as her other one held Emma's blanket while touching the door. Snow and charming opposite her with Belle and Hook in the centre.

Snow had her hand beside Regina's hand on the door. "Now, everyone close your eyes and think of how much you love or like Emma; picture her clearly in your mind." Explained Snow.

"let's go get our Emma back!" said Regina as her and Snow open the door pulling all of them through the portal. They landed in Regina's throne room just as Emma was about to use her magic on the mirror she had placed in the room.

A startled Emma dropped her hands in shock seeing her family with Hook in tow. When her stormy green eyes finally landed on Regina's chocolate brown ones her face lit up brighter than a than the fullest moon. Regina's face did the same as she disentangled herself from the group she walked as fast as her legs could carry her to where Emma was standing.

Emma pulled her into a hug holding her as close to her body with their son present in the room. "I missed you so much." Emma whispered into Regina's ear.