Regina's Point of View

I acted as though I hadn't heard her call after me as I quickly exited the room where she was reuniting with her mother, where Rumple's smug mouth mocked my heart break & foolishness. I wanted to snatch her away from the emotional red head, take her home and keep her as my own. But I'd done that before hadn't I? With Owen. I wouldn't have Arena resent me the way he had, I wouldn't make the same mistakes twice. But watching her being loved by a woman other than me? It was both suffocating & crushing. I had to get out of that room.

Hot tears stung my eyes and streaked down my face as I slammed the door behind me, my feet moving quickly away from the Pawn Shop. My first instinct was to use magic to get back to my home to avoid prying eyes but I needed this, to walk out the pain in what was left of my heart. My heels clicked violently against the concrete side walk, my arms crossed tightly across my chest, head down. How could I have lost another child? I shook my head at my own stupidity - every child I lost had a common denominator - they weren't mind. Henry was Emma's, Arena was...I didn't even know the bloody woman's name but I knew it wasn't Regina Mills. Neither of them were truly my baby's even though they had fully captured my heart.

A soft sob escaped my lips as I ventured towards the troll bridge, one hand laying over my lower stomach and the other reaching out to help me ease down onto a large boulder near the bridge. This was all my fault. If I wouldn't have been so bitter and full of hate towards my mother I would have never drank the potion that would curse my womb to be barren and my arms to eternally remain empty. No doubt with one of my many lovers a pregnancy or two would've been the result but I was so stubborn, so determined to put it to my mother but… who I ultimately put it to was… myself. I always ended up alone, no matter how I tried my babies and my loves always ended up leaving me one way or the other. It was the price for the wickedness I'd chosen for so many years I supposed and I wasn't sure if there was enough mercy in the heavens to accept my repentance for it all. I scoffed at myself at the thought of forgiveness and hope. Surely there was none left for me.

My right hand still lay on my stomach, my lower lip quivering, desperately wishing life was or had been inside of me and now was with me but...only emptiness and death, though lived inside of and around me. What was the point anymore?

My eyes lifted to a blurry view of the bridge, before I knew if my feet were without high heels and I slowly made my way to the middle of the structure, moving out to the edge. I took a deep breath of the cool night air, pulling my courage.

"On 3..." I coached myself out loud, no one would miss me - the town & my son hated me & Arena had replaced me , there was no happiness left for me in this life " 1...2..."

"Regina stop! " A familiar voice brought me out of my dark stupor, my eyes narrowed as the man cautiously neared me, umbrella in hand "what are you doing Regina?"

"Making life easier for everyone." I snapped, refusing to meet his gaze 'now leave me bug."

"Regina this isn't the way...what about Henry?" Archie inched closer to where I stood "I know things are rocky between you two but he would be devastated if..."

"Would he Archie?!" I all but yelled back "he hasn't spoken to me in weeks, he's found his 'real family 'he doesn't need me anymore! If anything this is the best thing I can do for him."

"You know it was henry that had Emma rescue you from the mob...he may be angry at you but he loves you Regina." His voice was earnest and king as he moved next to me "and what about Arena? She adores you."

I cursed the tears that involuntarily streaked down my face at the mention of my son saving my life - I remembered how stunned I was to learn he was the one who had begged them to fight for me. At the memory one foot slowly backed up off the edge a bit.

"Arena is gone, Rumple found her mother." I confessed to the cricket, embarrassed by my emotion "She called after me but I just left, I couldn't even say goodbye, it was too painful." My words were ragged with tears "I...I'm so stupid Archie...I let myself love...love her."

Before I knew it he had grabbed me in his arms, pulling me away from the edge and against his chest. Every instinct said to resist but I simply didn't have the strength.

"Regina I'm so sorry." He whispered soothingly "I know she meant the world to you and I know you did to her, you changed that little girl's life for the good."

"But I can never be good enough can I?" The question came out small and broken "No matter how much good I do, good never comes to and certainly never stays with me."

" I think we always get back what we sow Regina…when you put out good even if it goes away it always comes back to you in time." His voice was encouraging, so sure "It's like planting a tree – you put the seed in the ground, the seed is covered up and it seems like it's lost to you forever but the fruit of that good seed? It comes back to you in an abundance you would've never had if you'd just held tight to the seed to begin with."

I listened closely to his words, my breathing becoming calmer with each word. The bug had faith I had to give him that. I envied it.

"Now I know Henry is missing you more each day even if he denies it…" He grinned pulling back enough to look in my eyes "And Arena I just…"

He stopped, shaking his head, gaze looking away as if he saw something I didn't, he knew something I hadn't been told.

"You just what?" I prodded "Please tell me."

"I just don't think you're story with her is done." His tone was matter of fact, our eyes locked as I scanned his face for any jest or if it were just veneered encouragement to stop me from self-harm. But there was only truth and confidence in his eyes.

"Regina!" The shout of my name by a distinctly Australian accent shook me out of my thoughts and caused me to pull from the Psychologists arms.

"Belle?" I looked at the younger woman who was almost bent over panting, it was apparent she'd been running "what's going on?" I asked raising a brow in curiosity, a strange worry creeping up my spine.

"Take a breath." Archie instructed walking over to rub her back gently "Are you okay? Is someone trying to hurt you?"

She shook her head, trying to replenish the oxygen in her lungs.

"It's…not me…its Arena." The words strangled out between huffs of air "she's in trouble."

"What?" My chest constricted with panic as I walked over in front of the beauty "Where is she? What is happening? Tell me now book worm or I swear I'll…"

"Regina..." Archie warned gently causing me to sigh, running my fingers through my hair and pushing my mounting anger down.

"Please…what's going on?" I begged.

"Rumpelstiltskin lied to you…that woman isn't her mother." She explained quick and frantic.

"Then who the hell is she?!" I exclaimed wide eyed and horrified.

She grew quiet, stepping back, eyes filling with regret at the words that were about to be said, words that would change everything with a syllable.

"Yours."