A/N: This chapter picks up from chapter 1, all happening while Regina is unconscious.

As you can see my updates are fairly regular for now, but we'll see if that changes.

Haven't gotten any feedback, but I only hope you enjoy. Remember reviews makes us happy! (ecstatic for me but enjoy!)

Chapter 3: Awakened

They looked at her, before they looked at themselves. Of all of their years, never had they seen her so….. Broken. This wasn't like her, they were used to her retorts, her rage, but never had they seen the queen- No, never had they seen Regina so broken. They just held her with all they had, but they knew it wasn't enough, she was having a panic attack, and one they feared she wouldn't come back from, and if she did, they feared the Evil Queen could truly make her grand appearance once more. So they held her until her mind and body couldn't take no more, and succumbed to the exhaustion.

The people that came across them were no better, they were in a trance like state after seeing the queen fall apart. Granny was the one to break the silence, still holding onto Regina, she spotted two figures in a gazebo just across the field. She then turned back to Snow, then a glance back to the sleeping girl in her arms who still whimpered in her sleep.

"We have to find a place for her to rest. That spell cast took too much out of her, and she don't need to go into another attack in the middle of a field with prying eyes." Granny said.

"David"

….

"DAVID!" Snow yelled until his gaze finally met hers, breaking him out of the trance he was in.

"We need to find a place to make camp, take some men with you and see who those people are over there please." She couldn't contain that shakiness of her voice, she herself had just left her daughter behind a second time, but at the moment she could only concentrate on her once stepmother.

With a nod, David, Grumpy and Neal went to the people. While they made their way over, Granny shifted on the ground, the Queen nestled in her arms. Memories of terrible nights years ago came flooding through her mind, but now wasn't the time to dwell, she just held on the girl in her arms tighter, no matter how stubborn she will be when she wakes, Granny wasn't about to let her go a second time.

Snow, all she could do is wrap her cloak around Regina's frame. Her whimpers and shakes still ran through Regina's body, while her hands rubbed her step mother's hands.

She could hear footsteps, and then Neal's voice broke her trance once more.

"They are Prince Phillip, and Princess Aurora, they've agree to lend us some of their horses, but they warned that the surrounding forest is not the safest place to make camp in."

Snow looked at Granny, and once over to Regina, she could tell Neal was doing the same.

"The Summer Palace, it's the only place to go. If we are on their lands, its the closest place to go that can accommodate everyone. For now we rest. My cottage is about 3 miles from here, it won't fit everybody, but the barn will hold some. The rest make camp on my grounds until we make way for the palace" Granny said.

"Ok, we'll start gathering everyone, and make way as soon as everything is in order." Neal says before he makes to turn, Snow stops him.

"Neal, can you help us get Regina to where Phillip and Aurora are, her clothes are damp, and Granny can't sit with her for much longer."

"Don't underestimate me child, I won't be letting go of her anytime soon, but she needs to be placed somewhere more comfortable. Neal, help me get her there."

Neal had to take a minute, to get over the flicker of pain and grief in Granny's eyes. 'This is going to be a long day' he said to himself. He called Hook over, told his to set up a place for the queen to lay where Prince and Princess were. Nodding, he took off.

Neal went to make a grab for the Queen, one look from Granny told him all he needed to know about the cargo he was about to carry. But he knew, what this woman meant, Regina did in fact raise his son, and no matter what, he would be forever thankful for her. With kind eyes, and gentle nod, he took the Queen into his arms.

As he carried her he realized how she truly was. For someone who was feared by realms, and lethal by all means, all he saw and felt was pain from her. She was weightless in his arms, her breathing was uneven, and her whimpers her thunder in his ears. He never met the Queen, he's only known Regina Mills, mayor of Storybrooke, and mother to his son.

As he carried her, his heart ached even more. This woman had years of memories with his son, memories that could have been his and Emma's, but instead he had walked away. Regina raised Henry, she protected him by all means and loved him more than life it self, and after what happened in Neverland, the love that Henry and his Mother shared was undeniable. She may have been evil once, but their son, saved her. He swore to himself silently, that for Henry he would keep her safe, and hopefully she in turn will fill him with stories of Henry. They reached the royals in no time, Snow and Granny right beside him, and carefully placed her down on the blankets set up by Hook, who I turn helped Neal with the Queen.

Snow push the hair out of Regina's face, and the moment the new Prince and Princess saw who she was, Aurora gasped, and Phillip drew his sword.

"What the hell is she doing here?!" hissed Phillip.

Snow, Granny, Neal, Hook, and David all took a protective stand of Regina's vulnerable form. While Grumpy just stood as guard.

"You better put that sword away, and back the hell away from her" Granny hissed through her clenched teeth.

"US! She's the Evil Queen and you think we are to just ignore that! She's killed hundreds! And you! She sought your death like it was her only life source! You Spend years on the run from her! And you all just stand there and try to protect her!"

And the end of Philips speech, Regina's whimpers grew louder, Granny kneeled beside her, she felt her skin, sweaty and feverish. 'Great' she thought to herself.

"I know you don't believe her, many won't, but she is no harm to you, of that I can promise you. She isn't the same person you all know of, she's changed, and you have my word that she won't hurt you. If you won't believe her, believe me, after all, it was my head she wanted on a silver platter. She's saved us all from death, at the cost of losing her son. The spell she cast clearly took everything out of her, as you can see," pointing at Regina's shaking body " the Evil Queen you knew, and the one who hunted me, is not the woman you see here, right now. If she was still that person, she wouldn't have done what she did, and we all know that." Snow was in tears by the time she finished. Philip and Aurora were stunned, he drew back his sword, both still fearful but they took their words. They retreated, hesitantly, to greet the others, leaving the five people, and the fallen Queen.

Once they were left alone to their small group, Granny was the first to speak. "You all get everyone ready, we make way to my cottage in an hour. She needs a place to keep warm, she's running a fever, I don't know what that spell did to her, but she needs to recover."

After a minute, Neal, David, and Hook mad their way to the rest of the people. Everyone got busy making arrangements, and soon enough the hour was up, horses were brought and saddled thanks to Philip and Auroras help.

Snow and Granny kept to Regina's side, her whimpers had subsided, but her shivers and shakes still ran through her body. They knew it would be a matter of time until her fever broke, but until it did, they need to keep her safe. They weren't fools, they knew the moment any of these people had the chance, they would probably try to take advantage to her vulnerability, but they would have to get through Snow and Granny first.

By sun down they had all arrived at the little cottage. Granny and Red were the first to go inside, taking a moment to enjoy the place they use to call home, a place they missed dearly.

It only took a couple of minutes, but the fire was started, and Neal came in with the Queen in his arms. Granny directed him to her room, where the bed was ready for her. Once he left the room, Snow, Red and Granny got rid of Regina's soaked attire. Gone were her shoes, dress, and corset, replaced with simple dress, nothing fit for a queen, but they did not care.

Someone stayed with her at all times, eventually they got everyone of importance into Granny's living room. Around her small table stood and sat, Snow, David, Neal, Hook, Belle, Phillip, Aurora (both who decided they would stay until night fell), Grumpy, and Granny. They all agreed the moment Regina would wake, that they would make way for the palace, but the newly found royals were quick to interrupt.

"That palace isn't safe anymore, there have been rumors of a new witch, one with some sort of creatures doing her bidding. No one knows where she is, but many believe she resides at the castle." Aurora said

"Well, that's just great, isn't it, remind me to ask our Queen what she did to this new witch."

"GRUMPY!" exclaimed Snow. As annoyed as she was, she knew there was a great possibility that Regina may have been involved in this woman's new threat, but that would have to wait until she woke up.

The conversation went on for a while, as much as they hated to admit, Regina was the only person powerful enough, and knowledgeable enough to take on this new threat. For now, plans were made to sends some scouts to secure the surrounding area, once The Queen would wake, they would meet to discuss the plans to move to the palace.

Red watched as the Queen slept, she herself wasn't sure how to feel with everything's that happened. She knew what Regina was capable of, but she also knew that loosing Henry completely wrecked her. She kind of felt bad for her, but she knew it wouldn't last long, when she would wake her walls would be back stronger than ever, and probably bitchier than ever too. As she had this whole conversation, until she noticed the change in the Queen, she started to stir, and her breathing was becoming heavier, as if she was waking from a nightmare. She tossed and turned in her sleep, and the next thing she knew, The Queen shot up like a rockets, with a scream that could have rattled the house.

Granny and Snow heard it the second it came out of the Queens mouth, they rushed into the room to see her panting for breath, hand on her chest, while her eyes streamed with tears. The second they made a move to approach her, the Queen instantly put her hand out to stop them. They froze in their tracks, while Regina sobbed. They knew what was going through her, she had wakened to find that it wasn't a nightmare, it was all real, and they were really back to the Enchanted Forest. Their heart only ached more, knowing themselves that this wasn't some sick and twisted joke, After years of modern conveniences, they were back to the placed they called home so long ago. After a several minutes she calmed her breathing, her tears had stopped, and with a wave of her hand, she emerged from a cloud of purple smoke with her darkest of make up, her hair in an elaborate style, and a dress fit for the Evil Queen. She proceeded to walk out of the room, leaving the three women behind speechless.

The Queen had awakened.