Robin masterfully led them through the dense forest at a quick pace. Henry kept up on top of Harley and Ariel held up the rear. They left before sunrise and now the golden orange beams were beginning to peek through the branches and leafy canopy above them. Emma held on tight, ducking under the low hanging branches, but a few managed to scrape her face. She didn't care as long as they got there in one piece. She kept checking behind them to make sure they weren't being followed. Something was worrying her other than the impending task. She couldn't explain exactly what it was, but it was almost like a feeling of doom.

They took a quick break at the stream after three hours of riding. The horses drank their fill but Emma couldn't relax. The closer they got, the more anxious she became. Ariel came over and smiled sweetly. "I can't imagine how excited you are. I'm excited for you to be reunited. Will you go to the Palace afterwards?"

"We'll see what happens. Don't worry, I'll still help you find your Prince." She turned away not wanting to talk anymore. She was so exhausted and barely holding on by a thread. She'd not eaten more than a few cereal bars and some other junk in over a week now. She'd slept an average of two hours a night, if that, and she just wanted to get there. Once she knew, she could rest.

Emma got back on the horse and Robin nodded at her before taking off again. Henry stayed quiet. He'd never seen his Ma so deflated. They rode another two hours when a tiny cottage came into view. Emma felt her heart in her throat. The others were saying something but she couldn't hear them.

Leyroysuddenly appeared at the front of the cottage. Emma was more than surprised to see him there.She got down off the horse. "Henry, wait here, please. Give me a moment alone." She turned to Robin. "Keep him with you here for a moment, please." He nodded and tried to keep Henry distracted while she went and whispered with Leroy.

"Well look who the horse dragged in! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" Grumpy beamed at her.

"What are you doing here? Don't say anything to Henry." Before he could answer,Snow rushed outside. "Mom?" Emma wasn't sure if she was shocked or relieved.

"You're here! You're really here!" She ran out and embraced her daughter as tight as she could. "How did you get here? And Henry!"

Emma was almost in tears. "I'll explain everything. Is she in there?"

Snow nodded. "She's cursed herself, Emma."

Emma nodded with tears in her eyes. "I know. Henry doesn't know yet. Don't tell him. I don't want him to see her like that. Just give me a few minutes with her alone please." She couldn't hold back the tears and they ran freely down her cheeks. Snow didn't know what to think. She had no idea what had happened and was desperate for answers but she nodded and gave Emma some space.

"I'll go and give my grandson a big hug."

Emma went inside the cottage and closed the door behind herself. Her breath was ragged and her whole body was shaking as she looked at the mayor lying completely still. She reached a hand to touch her cheek and was shocked at how cold her skinwas. She leant forward sniffling and her tears splashed on Regina's cheeks. "I love you so much. Please love me back." Her lips pressed against Regina's cold ones and she felt the magic blast through them.

The warmth spread out from Regina's lips to the rest ofher body and she opened her eyes gasping for air. Emma stepped back allowing her space to breath. She was in shock and relief as Regina grabbed her hand and pulled her closer. "You found me! And Henry? Is he here?"

Emma laughed through the tears. "Yes, he is. I didn't tell him you were cursed. He's outside."

Regina broke into a huge smile, her eyes shining. She kissed her again, harder, more passionately and pulled her flat against her body on the tiny cot. "I love you, Emma. I thought I'd never see you again. How did you do it?" Her hands roamed the blonde whowas still ugly crying.

She shoved Regina now angry. "Don't you ever do that to me again! I can't believe you gave up like that. I was trying to talk to you through your damn mirror! I'm so angry at you right now!" She felt like screaming. The outpour of emotions was more than she could handle. She'd kept everything bottled up and now it was flowing out of her in uncontrollable waves.Her magic sparked and Regina sat up rubbing her hand down her back.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't even think about the mirrors. I was heartbroken. I just couldn't come back from that. I'm sorry I made you worry. How long has it been?"

Emma felt dizzy now. "A week. We took Hook's ship. Ariel dragged us under the sea through the realms. I needed you. I was terrified I was doing the wrong thing."

Regina turned her around and comforted her letting the blonde soak her blouse with her tears and muffle her cries in her chest. She hadn't thought how hard it would have been for Emma but she couldn't be sad. She was here. She found a way and she woke her up. "I am so proud of you! I would never have even considered a mermaid. I thought that was it. My only hope was that you found my bean and opened a portal."

Emma looked up now. Her face was red and blotchy and she was fuming. She pushed up off the cot and paced the room fuming. Her voice steadily rising. "Oh yeah! I found your bean too, and the letter to Henry. I am super pissed at you. I love you Regina, but you are a fucking drama queen! Ever consider that the rest of us might actually have to cleanup the shit storm you leave behind? And how the hell could you just give up on us like that, huh? I needed you and you weren't there. You left me to do this alone."

Regina was angry now. At herself and feeling a bit embarrassed. It was infectious when someone shouted at her, her instinct was to shout back. "Okay fine! Point taken, Miss Swan! You're absolutely right. I'm a drama queen, but you knew that before any of this happened. You'd think a few curses would give that away. Anyway, this was just as much your fault in case you have forgotten. What do you want me to do?"

She was up in her face again and Emma backed her against the wall with a thud. "I want you to stop! Okay? Just fucking stop! If you leave me again, I'll give you the apple myself."

Regina grinned and melted into Emma sealing their lips and shutting her up. The blondes emotions were obviously running high but this is what they did. She knew what she needed right now was to let it all come pouring out. Regina spoke through the kisses. "I didn't leave you. I never would. Ever. Idiot."They kissed fiercely, tongues fought for dominance and hands pulled roughly at the other. A few candles fell off the wall and thuds were heard outside.

Snow and Grumpy looked at each other with worry. She ran back to the cottage, pushed the door open and gasped open mouthed. She was caught somewhere between shock, relief and she didn't know. "Re-Em-baa-ll-I...I...what?"

Emma and Regina lookedtowards the bumbling woman. Regina pushed herself away from Emma and quirked an eyebrow at the blonde. "You didn't tell me you brought your mother along."

Emma groaned. "Mom, I.. Surprise?"

Snow nodded, mouth agape and shut the door behind herself. She went over to Henry and sat quietly. Grumpy was helping himself to a drink and Snow grabbed it from him. She downed the entire flask, not even wincing. Robin sensed what had happened and templed his fingers.

"I believe you are Snow White,Emma's mother? I'm Robin of Loxley."

She nodded. She couldn't speak yet. He handed her another flask of his own and she grabbed it without a word.

Henry looked at his Grandma's face and he grimaced. "So, I guess you know now?"

Her eyes darkened as she looked him in disbelief. "You knew? Nope. Forget it. Emma can explain herself. I am gonna need a lot more to drink. A lot more."

Grumpy scrunched up his face trying to figure things out, then it dawned on him when he saw Regina and Emma coming out of the cottage. "Ohhhh... She's awake. Emma woke her up from the sleeping curse? Ha! Didn't see that one coming!"

"Wait. What? What curse?" Henry looked between Grumpy and Snow. Grumpy winced again and mouthed a sorry to Snow. Henry ran up to Regina and wrapped his arms around her. She swung him up in her arms as high as she could given his size nowadays. "I love you Mom. I'm sorry about everything."

Regina shushed him. "I love you too. You have nothing to apologize for. I missed you so much!"

"Why were you cursed?"

Emma shot Snow a look that said,seriously? Snow pointed at Grumpy. "Oh, I didnt spill that secret.I've learnt how to hide things. I must have learnt that frommy daughter."

Emma felt like crying and Regina groaned. Then she spotted the mermaid and the stranger. She was about to ask a question then her eyes fell to his tattoo. She had a flash and looked at Emma in disbelief. "Is that who I think it is?"

Robin smiled awkwardly and took the flask back from Snow. "Excuse me, milady. I think I might join you in that drink."

Emma's head lolled backwards. "Yes. I will explain everything, but I think maybe, we need to start from the beginning."

Regina inhaled, held a breath then exhaled calmly. She gave her winning smile and walked towards the group of odd people currently gathered around a fire in the place she thought she'd spend eternity alone in sleepless death.

She opened her mouth a few times and found she didn't know where to start. "I have no idea what's going on or how any of you are here right now. For once, I don't think I have anything to apologize for." She looked at Emma with her arms folded across her chest and a smug smile. "Care to fill us in?"

Emma nodded sheepishly. "Okay. Well, in case anyone didn't work it out, Regina and I are true loves. We didn't know until a week ago when we accidentally broke the curse. Uhm, everyone from Storybrooke disappeared except me and Henry. Oh, and Hook and Ariel." Regina held up her hand.

"Wait. It brought everyone back? I thought it was just me."

Snow shook her head. "No, Regina. We were looking for you this entire time. We didn't know what had happened. Ruby was able to track you down. Grumpy and Ihave been here for two days with you. I couldn't leave you alone like that."

Realization dawned on Regina. Her eyes fell to the ground. "Then I do have something to apologize for. I'm sorry you were worried. If I had any idea you were all here, I wouldn't have put myself to sleep without explaining."

Snow smiled."I forgive you." There was more behind that phrase than she could express with words and Regina felt it. Tears pricked at her eyes.

Emma continued. "Ariel brought us here. We worked out a way to cross realms with my magic and her knowledge of the seas. We convinced Hook we had a magic bean and he agreed to bring us here. He didn't know Ariel was the one who opened the portal. He thinks it was my magic. We tricked him to protect her."

Ariel smiled gratefully.

Regina looked at the stranger again and back at Emma. The blonde sighed. "I knew Regina had used the sleeping curse on herself. I saw it through her magic mirror."

"Ma!"

"I'm sorry Henry. It was the day we were leaving and I didn't want to upset you." She paused to find the right words and looked at Regina for guidance. "I need to talk about something else if I explain the other thing."

Regina nodded. "I think us sharing our memories is the least awkward thing to explain considering everything."

Snow's eyes went wide.

"Regina and I had something happen back in Storybrooke over the last few months. I was able to read her mind and then she read mine, we exchanged memories and basically, Robin Hood is her soulmate."

"What?" A collective exclamation went up. Emma blushed.

"We were staying at Robin's tavern by coincidence and I saw his tattoo. I remembered it from your memories. It made me worry that eitherI or Henrymight not be able to wake you up. I explained to Robin and he kindly agreed to come in case he could help. And he did. He got us here, to this cottage because he's been here before."

Regina scowled at him remembering something from a long time ago. "You were the one broke my into my dungeon and freed someone, weren't you?"

"I was. My wife, Marian. You arrested her for stealing something from you."

More gasps. Regina was pensive. "Thank you. I can't imagine how awkward thay must have been for you to agree to. I'm sorry I arrested your wife. I hope you are both happy together." She looked at Emma like she was an idiot and laughed before giving her a rough push. "Now I'm mad at you! How could youdoubt for one second you wouldn't be enough? After everything we've been through?"

Emma shoved back. "What did you expect? You cursed yourself! I haven't slept for a week, unlike someone!"

Regina sucked her teeth. "Well if a fiery room of deathless death and constant torment is your idea of sleep, I can still arrange that for you."

Snow shook her head completely perplexed. "How are they true loves?"

Henry groaned and patted his Grandma on the shoulder. "You'll get used to it. Kinda."

Emma and Regina were bickering and completely oblivious to everyone else now. Emma narrowed her eyes and pulled the brunette closer. "You still got a bit of venom dripping off your lips. Let me get it for you." She kissed her not caring who was watching or how awkward it might be for the group. She didn't want to waste another minute. Regina was just as charged up but she was never particularly shy about letting anyone see her passionateside. Besides,

'I bet she never thought she'd be the one responsible for bringing my true love into this world. How the tables have turned.'

Emma pushed back shaking her head. "Again? And can you stop?"

Regina chuckled and kissed Emma again just to be sure.

'Well I am not complaining if it's back, although it would have been useful if we had this when the curse broke.'

Emma sighed into the kiss.

'Me neither and agreed. But please, no more Mom talk when you are kissing me.'

'I still want to know how this true loves sex works.'

'Me too. I swear if it poofs you somewhere else imma be so annoyed. Talk about fucking blue balls!'

Regina snorted and pulled away from the kiss bent over laughing. Emma shook her head but couldn't stop the chuckles and shit eating grin as she berated the woman again. "I'm serious! It's not funny. We gotta work this out."

Snow cleared her throat. "As happy as I am Regina is awake, and that she finally found true love, I'm sorry, this is going to take me some time to process. Emma, I'm so disappointed in you for keeping this from me. Something this big. I had no idea. All those nights you were staying over and I just assumed you were there because of Henry."

Regina sighed heavily seeing Emma was struggling. "Look, Snow. I know this is going to be difficult for you. Believe me, we weren't expecting it either. Emma and I decided we wanted to see if this was anything worth making a big deal over, before having to justify it to the entire town. Emma was going to tell you last week. Before this happened. I apologize you had to learn this way." She genuinely meant it. A small part of her was relishing in making Snow uncomfortable, but mostly she felt bad for Emma. This was her family. She wouldn't want to complicate their relationship anymore than it already was.

Snow smiled gratefully at Regina. "Thank you. I just think if I'd known before, I would have tried harder to smooth things over between us. Anyway, what's done is done. We need to make a plan about what comes next."

Emma and Regina took a seat with the others. As happy and relieved as she was to finally have everyone back with her, her body could barely keep her standing now. As the small group started making plans whetherto contact David or wait until Ruby returned, the blonde's eyes rolled shut and her head lolled against Regina's shoulder. She was out for the count.

Regina felt the extraweight and heard soft breathing. She caught Henry's eye and he nodded. "She needs to sleep." She smiled back at her son and gave a curt nod before poofing the blonde inside the cottage and laying her down on the cot gently. She ran a hand through her hair and let the woman rest. She'd never seen her looking so worn down. Even the night she made her sit out front her home watching for vandals. A small smile pulled at her lips at the memory. How far they'd come in only a few months. This woman had saved her so many times and here she was, yet again, saving her without even so much aa a thought for her own well being.

"Sleep well, Savior. Thank you for finding me." She pulled the door closed and tiptoed back to the group just in time to hear the plan to convene at Queens Palace. She shook her head. "I'm not going there. Emma needs to rest and so does Henry. You are all more than welcome to stay here for the time being. I think we all need a bit of time."

Snow cocked her head to the side. "Why didn't you stsy at the Palace? That's the first place we went to looking for you."

Regina's lips pursed together. She didn't particularly want to be seen as weak but then again, they'd all seen how weak she was by cursing herself. "It was never my home. It was yours and your father's."

Snowlooked at the cottage and smiled. "Regina, it was your home. But I know what you mean. We were taken back to the Summer Palace but it felt so wrong. I guess none of us were ready to come back to this life."

Regina's eyebrow quirked. "Is that your way of saying you enjoyed my curse?"

Snow chuckled. "Maybe I did! I do miss TV and running water."

"Here, here!" Grumpy chimed in.

Robin looked at Ariel with questions. She tried to explain. "Aquatic rooms,and talking boxes with pictures. Did you not have that in the land you went to?"

He shook his head. "No. There wasn't much of anything there really." He caught Regina's eye and smiled sheepishly. She walked towards him and motioned for him to follow her.

"Thank you again for what you did. If there's anything I can do for you and your family, please don't hesiste to ask."

"Not at all. Emma is a lovely woman. She broke the curse and brought my family back together again. You owe me nothing." He felt odd around her. In one hand, he remembered the woman she used to be and hated her for tearing him away from his family. On the other, he was curious about her and why on earth they could ever be considered soul mates

Regina seemed to sense the same thing. "I know you must have many questions. Things are never simple here, are they?"

"Quite."

"A long time ago, The fairy, Tinkerbell tried to help me escape a miserable fate. I was ready to end my life and she took it upon herself to try to give me some hope for the future. She took me to a tavern and pointed you out in the crowd as my soul mate. I wasn't sure I believed her but, well, my circumstances were complicated back then. I didn't want to involve anyone else and cause more suffering. I know that's hard to believe, with everything you know of me. But the point is, that was almost forty years ago, before any of the curses, before Emma was born." She felt awkward talking about this. Sure, Emma knew the rest of the story, but she hadn't been entirely honest about her motivations. She'd have to tell her that at some point.

"You don't need to explain. I came here knowing about the fairy and how long ago it was. I myself have a wife and a child and I love them dearly. I don't know much about soul mates but I'm sure things happened as they were meant to. And you're right. Things here are never as simple as the rest would have us believe."

Regina chuckled. "That's right, you are a thief. Not so black and white for people like us. Well, I'm glad we understand each other." She felt relieved like a huge doubt she'd had in her mind for so many years about this stranger were suddenly being lifted. In another life, perhaps they coule have been happy together, but they'd both taken very different paths.

Robin got it now. They were quite similar in a way. He shrugged. "Well, if it's any consolation, I've never beenparticularly keen on fairies. They talk nonsense most of the time."

Regina laughed again. "Well then I guess we have something else in common. Who knew?" They rejoined the others in the group and Robin began preparing his horse to ride. Regina called to him. "You are welcome to stay. It's getting late. You shouldn't go out into the forest now."

He got up on his horse and chuckled to himself. "One thing I do know,milady, is my way around a forest or two. Regardless of what enchantments they hold. Give my regards to Emma. Best of luck to you all." With a click of his heels, he was off and out of sight between the trees.

Regina watched him go feeling an odd sense of nostalgia for what might have been. It was short lived when she turned and saw Henry whittling sticks with Grumpy and showing off to Ariel. Her smile broadened and her heart warmed. The past didn't matter. This was her life now, full of love and a strange family. For the first time in a long time, she was happy. Nothing could ever take away from that.