AN: Trigger warnings to many things are present in this story. Don't like don't read.

I do not Once Upon a Time.

There are my own Original Characters in this at times.

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Cora waved her hand in the air dismissively, "Later. We have bigger problems. Dan upstairs now!"

Daniel nodded, sweeping Emma into his arms, "She needs water Cora." He dashed up the stairs quickly.

Cora rushed into the kitchen, her wrist flicking, sending every cabinet door open. She snatched a glass filled it with water from the tap and darted back towards the stairs. Her voice echoed through the mansion, the command stern and unquestionable, "Regina, get up here. Charming we need access to every shop this town has for potion ingredients."

Regina and Snow glanced at each other; their minds unable to work.

Zelena rolled her eyes, before she turned to Charming, "Give me the boy. I'll put him down with Henry. If mother is in this much of a panic, it can't be good."

Charming nodded, passing his sleeping son to Zelena, "I'll go to the station to get the master key. It should open every door in town. Call Belle. She and Rumple will have the rarer ingredients." He sprinted from the house as Zelena turned back to the still frozen two in the room.

"If you two are done gawking, I'm positive Emma might actually be dying." She rushed upstairs with the littlest Charming.

Regina shook her head, sprinting after her sister as Snow followed closely. Was this what Cora had been talking about? Had Emma done something to change the past? And if she had, why couldn't anyone remember it? She burst into her bedroom, finding Daniel pinning Emma's arms to her sides as the woman convulsed. Her chest tightened painfully, the sight of Daniel and Emma at the same time too much for her heart to handle.

Cora struggled to hold Emma's legs down, "We need to get the potion distillery set up in here."

Daniel nodded, "Where are we going to get it?" his breathing was labored as he struggled with Emma's body.

As Emma's body began to relax Cora sighed, "Regina? Do you still everything in your vault?"

Regina could only nod as she took in Daniel's appearance. His hair was peppered with grey, his blue eyes still as startling as ever. Yet everything she had felt for him was only a dull ache in her heart now, causing her to frown. She still loved him, but it wasn't the same as it had once been. Memories flooded her mind as she struggled to comprehend the fact that the man she thought was dead, the man she watched her mother kill, was suddenly in her bedroom, hovering over the woman she loves with every fiber of her being. Concern danced across his face as he released his hold on Emma, standing carefully to the side as Cora summoned a wet rag to cleanse Emma's sweaty face with.

"Regina, I need you to bring all your equipment here. Emma drained her magic, tapping into her life force to do it." Cora's calm demeanor was slowly reappearing now that Emma had stopped convulsing.

Regina waved her hand at her dresser, bringing all her distillery equipment to the mansion. She shrugged off her shock and straightened out her blouse, rolling up the sleeves she asked, "What do we need?"

Cora smiled gratefully at her daughter, "All the healing potions you can make. She's also suffering from magic poisoning."

Daniel frowned, "Isn't that deadly?"

Cora nodded, "An overload of her own magic resulted in her body attacking it, like an illness."

Regina nodded, focusing on the ingredients she had, "I can make the healing potions easily but the antidote…" She shook her head, "Rumple has the last of the ingredients that I need, but he doesn't have much."

Cora frowned as she rinsed the rag in a small basin that Snow had brought to her, "I was afraid of that." She glanced over at Daniel, "You know where I keep them back home?" At his nod she pulled a magic bean from her pocket, "I have a pouch of beans in the same place. Bring that too. Give my love to Merida."

Daniel nodded, a slight bow in respect coming naturally before he smiled at her, "I'll be lucky if she doesn't come back with me. Thanks to Emma, Merida's father loves to babysit as often as he can just so he can spoil the children."

Regina's heart stuttered in her chest. Daniel had a family? He had moved on with his life and she had destroyed lives because she thought his was taken. Now she understood why Emma was so afraid of her reactions. But was this what it seemed to be? Was there more to the story than just saving Daniel's life? She remembered Merida, though she didn't spend much time with the young woman. How had she married Daniel when the years separating them were so great? And how was Merida's father still alive?

What exactly had Emma done as the Dark One?

Daniel sprinted from the room, his heavy footfalls on the stairs echoing through the suddenly silent mansion. Zelena entered the room briskly, "I phoned Belle and she's already on it with Rumple. He is angry that you didn't come to him right away."

Regina grimaced, "I'll deal with the former imp later."

Zelena held up her wrist, "How about a little trust Sis?"

Regina sighed, glancing at Snow. Snow shrugged, her mind too preoccupied with the fact that Daniel and Cora were alive and saving her daughter's life. Regina waved her hand over the cuff, "Second chance Zelena."

Zelena nodded as the cuff disappeared, rubbing her sore wrist as her magic surged through her body pleasantly, "I won't let you down Regina." They shared a warm smile for a moment before remembering they weren't alone.

Cora's teary eyes leveled at them, "I'm so glad you two are getting along."

Regina and Zelena shared matching eye rolls and Snow gasped, "Oh, that's creepy."

Cora chuckled, refocusing on Emma's pale form, "There are many things I regret in life. You two are the biggest of them all. I regret not keeping Zelena and I regret how I treated Regina." She cocked her head at Emma, brushing a stand of hair out of the woman's face, staring at the pale blonde as if she were speaking only to her, "But I can't change the past. I can only be better in the future."

Regina frowned as she and Zelena worked together to chop ingredients for the potions, "How did you and Emma get so close?"

Cora smiled, wiping Emma's sweaty face again, "When we were in the Underworld, she made me promise not to leave before she talked to me. I gave her the directions to Hook long before you and Zelena found me. When she returned to me, Hades was right behind her. He was adamant that he got his hands on the Olympian Crystal." She shook her head, "I don't know what was said after that but Emma and Hades…" she frowned up at Regina suddenly, "Something happened down there, something that Emma won't speak of. After that Emma and I fought our way out, agreeing to meet at the Jolly Roger knowing that we would end up separated. I ended up in Rumple's shop while Emma was with all of you. We met up at the Jolly Roger as soon as she got away from you."

Zelena frowned, crossing her arms over her chest as she stared at their mother, "Where were you all this time?"

Cora turned back to Emma, "Wonderland. I returned there, to my kingdom, and took back my throne. Emma and I kept in touch via an enchanted mirror on the Jolly Roger. I enchanted it when I enlisted Hooks help the first time."

"A looking glass." Regina murmured to Zelena. The redhead rolled her eyes at her sister but motioned for her mother to continue.

Cora sighed, "It's a long story. I'll tell you all sometime but for now I'd like to focus on keeping Emma alive. I'm drained and someone needs to keep healing her essence until at least one healing potion is finished."

Zelena moved towards the bed, "I'll take a turn. Regina is better at the potions." She took a seat, sitting cross legged in the middle of the bed beside Emma, and popped her neck before focusing her power into her hands. She rested her hands on Emma's arm and thigh.

Cora frowned as she watched Zelena, "I don't feel comfortable leaving her."

Snow finally spoke, eyeing Cora warily, "Why not?"

Cora glared at her for a moment before returning her gaze to Emma, "She and I have gotten close since the Underworld. Time moves differently in other realms. If you haven't noticed, none of you are aging anymore and neither have I."

Snow frowned and Regina glanced over at Cora, "Why not?"

Cora sighed heavily, moving to the chaise in the far corner of the room, easing her tired body into it, "Emma. It was a choice that she had to make. One that she needs to tell you about."

Snow hugged herself tightly, "Why do you know more about her than I do?"

Cora closed her eyes while yawning, "Because we have a shared connection." Cora smirked up at Snow, "Darkness." Cora drifted off to sleep as her body relaxed into the soft cushions.

Snow frowned at Regina, "Do you believe her?"

Regina hesitated, her hand hovering over the mortar and pestle, "I don't see why she would lie, and Emma seems to trust her. We won't know the full truth until Emma awakens and even then," Regina turned to Snow, a hard look on her face, "We can't push her. You know how she gets when she feels backed into a corner."

Snow grimaced, tossing her hands up in the air exasperatedly, "Why would Emma keep this from us? Why would she go through such lengths to make things right and then not tell us? We're her family, we love her."

Zelena scoffed, her mind so focused on the blonde beneath her hands that she didn't think before she spoke, "Maybe because you tossed her in a box and hoped for the best. Maybe because she's been alone her entire life. Maybe because you had another baby to replace the one you threw away."

Snow glared at the woman, "I didn't throw her away, and why are you even out of your cell?"

Zelena scoffed, "I'm here because unlike you I can actually help. Also, because you daughter doesn't trust you. Might I add that you did throw her away. You chose the kingdom and everyone in it over your own daughter. You don't know how that feels, you never will."

Regina frowned as she focused intently on mixing the healing potions. She hated that Zelena was right, that she and Emma shared something so deep. It made that same uncomfortable feeling tighten her chest once again, an emotion she hadn't felt since Emma first arrived in Storybrooke. Jealousy. She was Jealous of the connection that Emma and Zelena shared, even if they had only recently begun to spend time together. It made it even worse since Regina was the one that had decided to enlist her sister's help.

Snow crossed her arms over her chest, "Regina is the reason we made the choice we did and yet Emma admitted she didn't even have to forgive her."

Zelena nodded, turning a glare on the younger woman, "Because Regina didn't make the decision to put her in the wardrobe, you did. You are her mother, and you made that decision without a second thought. You didn't think of the repercussions. You are so bloody naïve Snow, and Emma understands that, but it doesn't change what you did."

Snow's eyes filled with tears, "I don't know how to apologize. I mean I have; we both have but she won't accept it."

Zelena eyed Regina's tense back, the way the brunette focused on her work and refused to join in the conversation. She could see the toll all of this was taking on her sister. Finding out that the man you turned to darkness for was still alive couldn't be easy, but then the woman you're in love with sitting on the brink of death added to that… She was impressed the woman hadn't passed out yet. She turned back to Snow, "You apologize but you aren't admitting that you're at fault. You aren't owning that it was a mistake. You may apologize but it means nothing when you won't admit that you did anything wrong."

Snow frowned, "But I don't think we did anything wrong."

Zelena nodded, "And there in lies the problem." She shook her head and returned her full focus back to Emma, closing her eyes to increase her energy to the blonde.

Silence filled the room and Regina felt as if it were suffocating. She couldn't keep the irritation out of her voice when she spoke, "Snow why don't you go check on Henry and Neal." Without a word Snow left the room, closing the door behind her. Regina rolled her shoulders, letting some of the tension release from her body, her voice softer, "That was harsh."

Zelena kept her eyes closed, "She needs to hear it. Everyone has always coddled her from what I've heard. Someone has to take a stand against her. You never pushed too hard. You didn't want to break her. You only wanted to kill her."

Regina conceded to that, "Thank you for helping."

This time Zelena's eyes opened, and she studied her sister for a moment before shrugging, "You are my sister. After everything we went through that's something that I find enjoyable. We both had shite lives and its time to stop living in the past." Regina only hummed and Zelena frowned, "How are you doing?"

Regina frowned over her shoulder at the redhead, "Emma's the one in danger here."

Zelena nodded, "Yes but your first love, the man you watched our mother kill is suddenly alive and seemingly good friends with the woman you're in love with. It can't be easy."

Regina sighed heavily, "It's not. I have so many questions, so many things I need to say, but…" She turned to the bed, her eyes landing on Emma's pale face, "I love him but its not the same. I always thought if I had that second chance it would be just as strong as before."

Zelena smirked at her, "However?"

Regina shook her head, "What I feel for Emma is more than I ever felt for him and it's shocking. I can't stop thinking about what Mother said. That Emma is afraid I'll hate her for what she did."

Zelena frowned, "Are you worried that she's right?"

Regina shook her head, "I know I could never hate her but where does this put our relationship? Is it over before it even gets started? Will she ever trust me enough to talk to me? Will she ever trust me enough to know that I could never hate her? That I will never leave her?"

Zelena smiled warmly, eyes softening, "We both know trust doesn't come easy, but when someone never stops showing us that we can trust them, no matter how bad everything seems, it makes everything worth it. Show her she's worth it, no matter what."

Regina nodded, "We've all done dark things, truly horrible things, in the past but everyone deserves a second chance."

Zelena chuckled, "Except the savior here had no choice. She took the Darkness for you, to save you from losing everything you had worked so hard for. Let's give it some time and then we'll find out she did."

Regina nodded, turning back to the distillery, "The first potion is almost done and then I'll take over. You've been at it for over an hour." Zelena only hummed, closing her eyes to continue her focus.

Two hours later Regina sent Zelena to the guest room right next to her room. Cora was still asleep in the chaise across the room and Regina couldn't help but smile at her mother. The woman had changed so much, but Regina couldn't let her guard down, not after being burned so many times by said woman. She flicked her wrist and sent her mother to the guest room beside Henry's room.

She needed to be alone with Emma, even if the woman was still unconscious.

Exhaustion pulled at her mind as she stretched out beside the blonde, placing a hand on Emma's chest, directly over her thumping heart, fingers splayed. She hated that Emma hadn't come to her, hadn't shared her concerns with her. But she could also understand not wanting to be vulnerable with someone. She felt the tears burn her eyes, unable to stop them as she pressed her body tight against Emma's side. The woman had almost killed herself twice in the past three days and still felt as if she had no one in her corner to talk to. Her heart constricted at the thought of all the time wasted, all the time she and Emma could have been right here, in this very position. All the wasted time they spent dancing around each other.

Her hand slowly clenched, bunching Emma's shirt into her fist in a white-knuckle grip.

She forced her energy into Emma's chest, letting the memories float through her mind. From the moment that Emma had arrived in Storybrooke to their fights to their good times. All the times Emma smiled at her, eyes dancing with happiness. All the times she caught Henry and Emma rough housing in her living room when they thought Regina was still preparing dinner. All the times that Emma's smile or touch made her heart race, desire course through her entire being.

She buried her face in Emma's neck, voice nothing but a soft whisper through her tears, "Please don't leave me. I can't survive without you." She cried into Emma's neck as she allowed her magic to pulse between them, surrounding them, desperate to keep the woman beside her alive long enough to get the antidote done.

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Emma slowly slid back into consciousness with the feeling of being watched. Trying to take a deep breath, she hissed in pain, her entire torso feeling as if a massive weight was trying to crush it. She turned her head slightly, startling painfully as she came face to face with Zelena. The woman's arms were folded under her head, head cocked grinning at her wickedly on the bed beside her, "Morning Sunshine."

Emma groaned, "Where am I?"

Zelena's smirk widened, "In Regina's bed of course." She leaned towards the blonde, lowering her voice an octave, "Where you've been spending an awful lot of time lately."

Emma grimaced, "Where's Cora?"

Zelena chuckled, "Downstairs with my little Sis. Probably getting an ear full. I'll have you know our favorite Mayor is smitten with you." Zelena sat back up, wide smile pulling her lips apart excitedly, "And we both know what happens when the Queen thinks something of hers has been harmed."

Emma shook her head, forcing herself to sit up. She gasped in pain as her body protested, her head spinning, "Daniel?"

Zelena's smile disappeared, "Stable boy is off in Wonderland gathering our mothers' ingredients. You have a lot of explaining to do Sunshine."

Emma sighed, her heart aching at the thought of being hated by Regina. She didn't want to face those emotions just yet instead asking, "What happened?"

Zelena sat back in the chair beside the bed and pursed her lips, "Well your body is treating your magic like a poison right now. Which is dangerous by the way. You nearly drained yourself for a second time. You're in trouble, and I'm not just talking about being poisoned either."

Emma's brows drew together in thought, "They told me this could happen."

Zelena frowned at her, "They who?"

Emma cocked her head, eyes blank and staring through Zelena, "Me."

Zelena's brows furrowed, "You aren't making any sense Sunshine."

Emma continued to stare right through Zelena as if the woman wasn't even there, "I am he. He is me. She is we."

Zelena grimaced, mouth parted, "Coo-coo kachu." She shook her head, making a mental note to throttle Ruby later for introducing her to that. She gently rested her hand on Emma's shoulder, "Stay with me Sunshine."

Emma frowned at her, panic flaring in her chest, the throbbing in her head sending a rush of dizziness through her, "Regina?"

Zelena heard the pleading, could see it in the blonde's eyes and felt her heart break at the terror that accompanied it. She stood quickly, "I'll get her alright. Lay back down."

Emma did as she was told even though she didn't feel safe. She trusted Zelena, at least part of her wanted to trust the woman would bring Regina to her. She would give it a few minutes before she tried to flee if Regina didn't come in.

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Regina sighed tiredly as she stood by the coffee machine, desperate for a cup after spending most of the night beside Emma. Her eyes were red and swollen, tell tale signs that she had been crying. Thankfully the day before Snow had taken Henry and Neal back to the loft for sleep and to get some space to think. She rubbed her face gently trying to shake herself awake as Cora entered the kitchen, "Thank you for the room, dear."

Regina nodded, "Thank you for helping Emma."

Cora nodded, "She's important to me, just as much as you and Zelena are."

Regina frowned, "Why? What happened between you and Emma? Last I saw you hated her."

Cora sighed, "Things change dear. This is my second chance and I'm seizing it with both hands. Emma taught me that what we are never changes, who we are never stops changing. That's a good thing."

Regina frowned, her mind not able to accept that her mother had changed so much, "It still doesn't explain why you and Emma have been keeping things secret."

Cora frowned, "Is this about Daniel?"

Regina huffed in frustration, "This is about everything Mother. Why didn't you contact me after the Underworld? Why didn't you contact Zelena? Why have you been with Emma without telling me?"

Cora smirked, "You're jealous."

Regina crossed her arms over her chest, "I am not."

Cora nodded, leaning against the counter, "Of course you are. Emma and I have shared quite a bit and you're feeling left out."

Regina glared at her mother, snapping angrily, "After everything you put me through, you and Emma have a relationship that I have always wanted with you!"

Cora's lips turned down, "And that is something I plan to rectify. There has been so much happening lately. Between finding Daniel, helping Emma with…" She shook her head, stopping herself from exposing Emma's torment. She took a deep breath, "I have been righting so many wrongs and I've neglected righting the wrongs that I did to you and your sister, but that will change."

Regina shook her head, "It may be too little too late."

Cora shook her head, "If there is one thing I've learned, it's that its never too late for some things."

Regina opened her mouth to snap back but Zelena rushing down the stairs stopping her. Zelena ignored the obvious arguing going on between Regina and their mother, "Sis, she's awake."

Regina pursed her lips, glare still firmly locked on their mother, "I'll be there in a minute."

Zelena shook her head cutting Regina's next word off, "No, now. She's afraid and is asking for you."

Regina frowned, her heart thumping wildly in her chest as she rushed past her mother and sister, taking the stairs two at a time without a second thought. Entering the bedroom, she found Emma sitting on the side of the bed, breathing heavily. "Emma?" She rushed around the bed and sat beside the blonde, "What do you think you're doing?"

Emma wiped the sweat from her brow, "It's either pee on the bed or try to move myself." Zelena's laughter echoed into the room through the open door.

Regina flicked her wrist, slamming the door on her sister before standing up, "Let me help you."

Emma grimaced, "I can go on my own thanks."

Regina narrowed her eyes at the stubborn blonde, "Before you nearly killed yourself, twice I might add, yes. But not now. The poison will weaken you Emma and I don't want you hurting yourself anymore than you already have." She wrapped her arm around the blonde's waist. As the woman began to protest Regina growled angrily, "Shut up and stand. Now."

Emma's jaw snapped shut with an audible click and she pushed herself to her feet, muttering, "Bossy pants."

Regina scoffed, ignoring the pang of guilt that rushed through her body, "I prefer Queen dear." She was frustrated and angry at her mother and was taking out on Emma. They shuffled across the room to the bathroom, Regina helping Emma ease her tight jeans over her hips and down her legs, "Now call me when you're done."

As she turned to leave Emma's mocking tone rang through her core, "Yes, My Queen."

Regina's entire body reacted to Emma's words, completely ignoring the tone. She closed the door behind her as she stepped back into her bedroom, feeling her face heat with arousal. The woman always knew just what buttons to push and how to push them. She shook her head as she waited, sitting on the chaise in the corner of her room. She took the moment to feel smug about Emma wanting her, asking for her specifically. Not to mention the feeling that coursed through her heart with the knowledge that Emma felt safe with her, or at least safer with her nearby.

When the bathroom door opened, she felt her anger spike once more as she stood, "What did I say?"

Emma grimaced, "Its bad enough that I can't really move on my own, and you had to help me lower them. I don't need you to help me pull my pants up Regina."

Regina wrapped her arm around Emma's waist, "You are going to kill yourself if you don't stop pushing it."

Emma scoffed, "Believe me, if that was the case, I'd be dead long ago." They made their way back to the bed slowly.

Regina eased the blonde down on the bed, frowning as Emma hissed in pain, "Let me get you another potion."

Emma frowned, eyes tracking Regina to the dresser, "How long for the antidote?"

Regina turned back to the bed with a potion in hand, "Rumple and Belle will be here soon with it. I'll move all the distillery things to the kitchen. I refuse to allow any more people in my room."

Emma frowned, eyes lowering to her clasped hands, "I should go. You can just poof it to me."

Regina rolled her eyes, "For one, how many times do I have to tell you it's not 'poofing'. And I wasn't speaking about you. I want you here Emma."

Emma opened her mouth, but Nimue appeared right beside her on the bed, "How could she when you are in Robin's place? He sleeps there, doesn't he?"

Emma felt her anger rise instantly. Nimue was right. She was sitting in the spot that Robin had been sleeping in for weeks, if not longer. Which she really did not want to think about. She was quick to push herself to her feet, feeling uncomfortable suddenly, shocking the brunette with her sudden movement, "I should go."

Merlin appeared near the bedroom door, "Why must you always run?"

Emma glared at him, "I'm not."

Nimue smirked at her as she appeared beside Merlin, "You are. It's what you do. It's what we all do."

Regina approached Emma slowly, "Emma, look at me." Emma's hazel eyes met hers, confusion swirling wildly. She smiled warmly, "Why do you want to leave?"

Emma frowned, "Isn't Robin angry that I'm here?"

Regina shook her head, a frown pulling at her lips, "Robin has no say in you being here."

Emma frowned, "But he's your boyfriend. He's the one…" She chocked on the words that raced through her mind.

Nimue laughed, "Just say it, Swan. He's the one that sleeps on that side of the bed." She disappeared and reappeared right beside Emma eyes narrowed in anger as her voice darkened, "He's the one that gets to touch her. He's the one that gets to lie with her, naked and sweating. Panting all the little secrets that she prefers in bed."

"STOP!" Emma clutched her head, trying to block Nimue's voice from her mind, "I can't… Please…"

Nimue smirked at her, moving towards Emma, backing her into the wall, "You can't deny what's right in front of you Swan. You are nothing to her and the sooner you accept that the sooner you'll feel better."

Merlin sighed, "Stop pushing her Nimue. She's doing the best she can. Emma, you know better than to listen to her. She's toying with you, with your mind. Making you see what isn't really there."

Emma shook her head, tears falling uncontrollably as she slid down the wall, "But it is. I can see it. I see it everywhere I look."

Nimue crouched in front of her, darkness dancing in her eyes, "Exactly. Merlin is trying to fool you. His love blinds him to reality."

Emma shook her head, hands still on either side of her head, "Why are you doing this?"

Nimue laughed, the tone almost deranged, "You need to see for yourself, everything you ever wanted, will never have. You don't deserve it. Everything you did, everything you went through. It was for nothing."

Merlin knelt beside Emma, hand gripping her shoulder, "Do not listen to her Emma. You're better than this. You survived the Darkness. You beat it when even the strongest of us couldn't. You did something no one has ever done before Emma."

Regina's heart broke in her chest as she watched the anguish on Emma's face, tears flowing freely. Every time she tried to move towards Emma, the blonde would flinch and press herself harder against the wall.

She flicked her wrist, wincing as Zelena appeared with a huff, "What the bloody hell was that for?"

Regina could only stare at Emma, her voice too thick with her own emotion to speak. How was she going to help Emma when the woman would flinch away from her? Was keeping Emma here making everything worse?

Zelena frowned down at the blonde, her eyes studying the woman intently for a moment before taking a step towards the blonde. She froze in her tracks at Emma's reaction.

Emma shook her head, flinching away from Zelena, her mind swirling with questions and answers, but not knowing which was real and which were only fantasy. Was there a way out of the torrent of mazes within her mind? Could she find her way, or was she forever stuck in this rabbit hole that had become her mind? Panic welled in her chest, her heart constricting at the thought of losing Regina. Of losing everything they could have together.

Zelena turned to Regina, "Go to her."

Regina shook her head, "She's afraid of me."

Zelena shook her head, "No she's not. Something is going on, what happened before you summoned me?"

Regina frowned, "She was talking again, but not to me."

Zelena nodded, "Rumple is on his way with Belle. Go to her. she's confused and might not realize it's you. Whatever is happening could have her seeing someone else. Go to her, touch her, speak to her. let her know it's really you."

Regina nodded, putting her fear and hurt aside as she crossed the space between them. Emma flinched, trying to bury herself against the wall impossibly further. She quickly gripped the blonde's wrist, "Emma, stop. You're going to hurt yourself." She pulled the woman against her chest, "It's me Emma. Listen to me, focus on me."

Emma felt her body relaxing. Only one person could make her feel this way. She glanced up at the woman holding her, "Regina?"

Regina smiled and nodded, "I'm right here darling. I've got you."

Emma buried herself in Regina's hold, refusing to give into Nimue's voice beside her, "She's toying with you Swan. She doesn't really care about you."

Merlin's voice was stronger when he spoke, "Give it up Nimue. Regina does care or she wouldn't have Emma in her lap right now."

Emma frowned, opening her eyes to see that she was not, in fact, sitting on Regina's lap on the floor. She was between the woman's legs, arms around her waist and face pressed against her chest. While normally she would be thrilled with the position, Robin's face appeared in her mind, and she quickly jerked back.

Regina tightened her hold on the blonde, "Stop. Come here." She pulled Emma back into her embrace, running her fingers through blonde hair, "Relax and breath. You're safe now."

Emma let out a shaky breath, pressing her ear tight against Regina's chest. Listening to the strong beat of the woman's heart, feeling the soothing fingers running through her hair, it didn't take long for her eyes to drift close.

Regina smiled, closing her eyes as a tear slipped free, before pressing a kiss to Emma's hair.

Zelena smiled at the scene as she sat with her back against the bed, facing the pair of women against the opposite wall, "She trusts you. She just needs to know it's really you."

Regina nodded, tightening her hold on the blonde unconsciously, "How do we stop this?"

"I have the answer to that Dearie," Rumple's voice sounded from the foot of the bed, his frown and eyes aimed at Emma.

"How long have you been there?" Regina snapped, angry at the imp.

Rumple's voice was soft, "A while. Why didn't you come to me sooner?"

Regina glared at him, holding Emma protectively, "I just found out a few days ago."

Rumple shook his head, "This has been going on longer. She shouldn't be this bad if it was only a few days. I was worried this would happen."

Zelena frowned at him, "What is happening?"

Rumple sighed as he eased down onto the chaise in the corner, "As a Dark One, we can see and hear the past Dark Ones. They act as a guide or in this case," he motioned to Emma, "the voices of reason. Think of it as an Angel and Devil on your shoulders constantly. No peace, no silence. You lose track of which thoughts are your own and which are that of the Darkness. Fighting is very hard, but it can be done. I've done it for centuries."

Zelena's brows furrowed, "Why is it affecting her so bad? She's a reasonable person."

Rumple nodded, leaning his chin on his cane, "Yes, which makes the Darkness fight harder. Whoever she is seeing, is using her deepest, darkest fears and insecurities to get her to submit. I've seen many former Dark Ones lose their mind and their lives through this. Hatter was one of them."

Zelena frowned, "He wasn't a Dark One."

Rumple chuckled, "Of course he was. His madness began long after because, you became his voice of reason. His Angel. However, the Darkness was stronger and eventually it drove him into what he is now. If it hadn't been for you, he would have lost himself to the madness."

Regina smirked at her sister, "Awe, you are a hero."

Zelena grimaced, a sour taste shifting through her mouth, "Don't start Queenie."

Rumple rolled his eyes, "Either way, I have the ingredients for the antidote. I can get started on that while you take care of Emma." He stood carefully before moving to the dresser.

Regina frowned up at him, "Thank you."

Rumple smiled at her, "Swan may be a pain in my ass, but she's helped me and…" He turned to the equipment, "My Bae loved her."

Zelena and Regina shared a look as silence descended on the room. it was still a shocking, and slightly terrifying, thing to see an emotional Rumplestiltskin. Regina refused to let go of Emma and instead teleported them both onto the bed. As if sensing the change in position and location Emma quickly wrapped her arms around Regina's torso, burring her face back against her chest, ear pressed tightly over her heart. Regine smirked at her sister as Zelena rolled her eyes.

Zelena moved to the dresser, helping Rumple with the antidote. When they were done, she turned to the bed and found Regina sleeping, holding Emma tightly even in her slumber. She motioned for Rumple to follow, and they left the room, "How long until it's done?"

Rumple sighed as they made their way down the stairs, "A few hours but I'm not sure it will be enough. I could feel how low her magic is."

Zelena frowned, "You have magic?"

Rumple nodded, "I do. Though it is different than the dark magic I had. She's lucky to be alive right now."

Snow and Cora exited the kitchen as they made it to the bottom of the stairs, Cora eyeing Rumple warily, "How is she?"

Zelena leaned against the wall beside the door, "They're sleeping. Potion should be done in a few hours."

Cora nodded, "Daniel is on his way back. I should warn you all that his wife is accompanying him."

Zelena snorted, "Oh this should be interesting. Regina and Daniel's wife in the same room…"

Snow chuckled, "Bow versus Magic. Been there." Laughter erupted around the small group for the first time in days.

Belle and Charming entered the foyer from the living room, Belle moving to stand beside Rumple, "We have a bigger problem now."

Rumple frowned at her, "What is it Dear?"

Belle held up the book she had been reading, "If Rumple's right and this is the Darkness trying to retake control of Emma, then we're about to see a few portals opening. Evil is drawn to the Darkness and if it's here…"

Cora frowned, "Then evil will be seeking it out."

A knock on the front door caused everyone to frown at it, hesitating. None of them wanted to answer it, knowing it couldn't be good. Charming took a deep breath and went towards the door, opening it smoothly.

Maleficent stood beside Lily, both looking exhausted and worried. Maleficent shoved her daughter into the house before quickly entering and slamming the door shut, "We have a problem."

Zelena groaned, "More to add to the fire."

Mal turned to the group, "A portal opened on the far end of town. Robin Hood and the Merry Men are guarding it, but a few trolls came out."

Rumple frowned, "It's still open?" At the woman's nod he frowned, "It's possible that the fabric of the curse is being broken down."

"But why?" Snow asked, brows drawn, "We've been through this before. Why now? What caused it?"

Henry came running down the stairs, his large story book in his hands, "Because the Darkness has no place to go. It's looking for an out." He sat the book on the table in the center of the foyer, waiting for everyone to gather round before flipping it open to the newest page, "Ma defeated the darkness, but it had no place to go. There is too much good here for it to get a hold on anything."

Rumple's eyes widened, "It's trying to get out, not in."

Henry nodded, "The portals are opening to break the curse, to return everyone back to their own realms."

Charming frowned, "So how do we stop it?"

Rumple stared at the book, "Give it a place to go, or a person."

Belle shook her head, "No. Rumple you promised."

Rumple quickly shook his head, "I didn't mean me."

Henry shook his head, "We can't have another Dark One, not after everything that Ma went through to get rid of it. Besides there's no one we can trust as a Dark One."

Rumple frowned, "Maybe not but what about something?"

Mal raised an eyebrow at him, "What are you thinking Imp?"

He grimaced at her, "Pandora's box. I still have it. Pan used it to capture people, why not use it to capture the Darkness?"

Zelena nodded, "That could work but we'd need a lot of magic and Emma is in no shape to help right now."

Cora hummed in agreement, "Then we get her better. There are plenty of people here that can guard the portals that open. We need at least a week or two to get Emma back into fighting shape. Then the four of us will close each portal and capture it."

Rumple nodded, "Closing the portals can wait. The Darkness must be contained first. It will take a lot of energy to get it in the box. Then you all can rest a few days before closing the portals one by one."

Snow nodded, "He's right Cora. You'll need time in between to regenerate. I'm sure Granny will keep the food coming."

Charming nodded, "Ruby and I can watch the station. Mulan and Robin can split the town as they see fit, gathering groups for each portal that opens."

Zelena glanced at Mal, "You and I can start preparing potions when Daniel returns."

Mal's eyes widened, "Daniel is alive?"

Zelena smirked, "Long story. I'll tell you while we're making the potions." She turned to Rumple, "We'll set everything up in the basement. Sis really doesn't want anyone in her bedroom besides Swan."

Lily glanced at Henry, "You and I can start recording everything we need from the book and keep track of time between portals opening."

Henry grinned up at her, "I've already got a head start on the few pages that have already appeared. Come on, I'll show you what we're starting with." Henry and Lily rushed up to gather everything and bring it down to the dining room.

Cora smiled as the two disappeared upstairs, "I'll head to the diner and fill Red and Granny in on everything." She waved her hand over the small table, "Take these bracelets. If anyone needs anything rub it and think about the person you need. It will magically teleport that person to you wherever you are." She slipped a bracelet on and disappeared in a billow of purple smoke.

Snow glanced at Charming, "Let's round up a few groups. We need to start patrols in the forest." She turned to Zelena, "Summon me when Regina wakes. We can fill her in then and see what she thinks we need to do next." Zelena nodded and Snow pulled Charming out of the house.

Zelena turned back to the others, "Regina is going to be protective over Emma and Henry, no matter the cost."

Rumple nodded, "Emma is going to be in and out of it, but Regina and Henry will be her priority. Even the Darkness can't beat true love. I believe that is why she's lasted this long alone. I'll be surprised if we don't see the Evil Queen at least once during all this."

Belle nodded, "She's not alone now and we need to show her that. Just like I showed you the same."

Maleficent agreed, "We can't separate them. They'll have to get used to being with each other twenty-four hours a day until we contain it."

Zelena nodded, "Then let's get started. Once the kids," she nodded towards Henry and Lily as they rushed into the dining room, "find a pattern we can plan a little better. Hopefully by then Regina will be awake." They locked eyes, nodding once before they went their separate ways into the house.