The next few days were spent training Ariel in heart magic despite Regina's reluctance. She was a bit of a snob when it came to who could use magic and who shouldn't, but it was the best solution they had that would do the least amount of damage.

Henry had taken to sneaking to where the lessons were taking place and watching from behind the bushes, until Emma found him and marched him out to face the music with his other mother. Regina was annoyed and thought it highly innapropriate for an eleven year old to see such dark things. He assured he he'd seen worse under the sleeping curse, and eventually she conceded, allowing him to stay on the condition he never, ever attempted it himself.

That was one of the lowest points for Regina that week but it was better he learned any magical techniques from her than his grandfather, or worse, the internet. It was good training for Emma too, not that she needed it but useful for emergencies.

Cora confessed after some pressing from Emma that she'd tied Hook up to the bilge on his ship almost two weeks ago. The women shared a look that needed no words and Emma poofed off to the docks to see if he was still there and breathing. When she arrived, there was no sign of the ship, nor its captain. She looked around the market area and asked a few people. Nobody knew where the pirate was. He'd disappeared almost two weeks ago along with the Jolly Roger. She poofed back to Regina and shrugged. This was another dead end that they needed to resolve if they were ever getting everyone back to Storybrooke. Just when they thought they could cut a break, something else came up to bite them in the ass.

"Do you think he's still alive?" Regina asked with arms folded over her chest.

"If the ships gone, he's alive. He'd never permit anyone else to sail it." Cora butted in from behind her bars. Her and Regina were a long way off being okay. Theu hadn't talked about the past yet. Every time Cora tried, Regina shut down and poofed away. It was too much to deal with, especially in the dungeons where she regularly tortured people. Regina compared it to looking after the townsfolk she'd despised for so long. She didn't particularly enjoy their company for those twenty-eight cursed years, but she tolerated them. There was a certain understanding between them after Regina lived as the evil queen for so long. She could just about justify her mother's actions considering she didn't have a heart, but forgiveness would take time. If anything, being around her mother only served to remind her of all the evil things she did with a heart beating inside her chest. She tolerated her for now as nobody else would come within five feet of the woman, and she had to bring food.

"Nobody asked you." Regina drawled.

"I know, but I also know he wants his heart back. He's looking for me. He won't have gone far knowing I'm here."

Regina's hand went to her hips. "Where is his heart? We can use it to summon him here or locate him."

Cora tried to remember where she'd put it for safe keeping and winced. "It's on the ship. Sorry." She realized something and reached in her cloak pocket. "I do have something of his, though. I thought it might come in handy." She produced a thin, black object from her pocket and showed it to her daughter.

Regina's eyes narrowed on it suspiciously then she grinned holding her hand out through the bars. Cora give it to her with minimum fuss. "Are you sure it's his?"

Cora smirked sensing Regina's amusement too. They may not be best of friends, but Regina got her twisted humor from her. "I confiscated it myself."

Emma walked over and looked at the object. She lost it. "You've got to be kidding me! Is that what I think it is?"

Regina nodded and chuckled hysterically. "It seems my nickname for him was accurate. Now, let's go find Captain Guyliner." They poofed off to Regina's potion room chuckling the entire time.

"We shouldn't be laughing. He could be dead. Poor guy." She laughed again turning the kohl stick over in her hands. "Are you sure this will work? I thought locator spells needed something personal."

"I'd say his beauty regime was pretty personal." Regina fiddled around with the dusty postions trying to read the old labels and pulled one down swiping the dirt off. "Found it. Let's hope it's still in date."

Emma tried to work out if Regina was pulling her leg. She made a habit of testing her stupidity levels when it came to magic. She wasn't going to embarrass herself by asking. Nope. Wasn't going to bite. The question flew from her mouth as curiosity got the better of her. "Does magic have a use by date?"

Regina looked at her seriously. "Yes, some of it. Potions especially. Written spells, not so much." She gave the bottle a shake and peered inside to make sure there was no sediment at the bottom then popped the cork and sniffed it. "This one is fine. It's actually matured. Quite potent. Here, smell."

She shoved the bottle under Emma's nose and watched her sniff it then coil back in horror gagging. She laughed in true villain fashion and Emma realized she'd fallen for another of Regina's questionable pranks.

"You got me, but you're gonna have to explain because I seriously don't know what's funny."

"Ugh, if I have to explain it, it isn't as funny."

She laughed again snorting as she poured the potion over the kohl eyeliner. "Potions only mature for up to twenty years, then they begin to lose their efficacy. The smell they produce as they decay is unpleasant."

Emma still didn't find it funny. Regina was a nerd with a warped sense of humor. "So, was that a magic lesson or a joke? I'm confused."

"Both."

Emma gave her an ironic thumbs up. "So, is it going to work, or not?" She didn't have to wait long to find out as the eyeliner rose up off the table and hovered in front of them.

"It'll work, and it's going to move fast considering it's surface area. Keep up."

The kohl whizzed past them and straight out the window in the direction of the Queen's forest. Emma shook her head. "How the hell are we supposed to follow that tiny thing?"

Regina opened another bottle of something and released it into the air. It clung to the path the eyeliner had taken and illuminated it like a large streak of pink powder unmoving and unbroken.

"Blush. Come on, let's go before it fades."

Emma cackled as Regina transported them to the stables with her powers. A knight hurried to hook some horses up to her carriage and she instructed the driver to follow the pink line. Once sat comfortably inside, she wrapped her arms around the blonde and looked deep into her eyes. "If we are going to chase down a pirate, no reason we can't do it in style. This could be a long ride. Better to save our energy."

Emma nodded in agreement and sealed their lips together. Despite the unknown outcome of this particular mission, she couldn't say she was at all opposed to spending however long just the two of them in a cosy carriage. "Does this bench pull out?"

"I can upgrade it to executive class, if you like."

"Perfect."

The magic swirled underneath them and Emma felt her legs lifting up and the headrest opening out. It was the same feeling as reclining a lazy boy and she sighed blissfully at the welcome stretch in her body. She laced her fingers through Regina's and kissed her on the shoulder. "We're so lucky, you know that right?"

"I suppose we are."

"You know, we could do more for other people with this power. Not just when a crisis hits. We can give them pretty much anything they want."

Regina looked nostalgic. She'd thought the same thing all those years ago as a young initiate, full of hope for the future and how she could make the world a better place, not just for her, but everyone in her realm. "I tried once. Right after the King died. I made sure there was always a plentiful harvest, brought in more riches with the silver mining, banished my mother, and things were good. The problem isn't stuff or lack of it. It's people, Emma. Everybody is suffering or yearning for something. I learned my lesson casting that curse. You can't control the actions of others. You can give them a perfect life, but they still won't be happy because they didn't choose it for themselves."

Emma thought about it now. She hadn't meant it to go so deep. Regina was right. The amount of people she'd saved and still managed to get the back end of resentment was shocking. Of course, it was nothing compared to Regina. "I get that, but we can still try to at least make our little corner of the world better."

Regina squeezed her hand. "We will. We already are, just don't take it personally if they never say thanks or let you have a moments peace."

They cuddled up on the newly extended reclining loveseat just holding each other. The gentle rocking of the carriage soon lulled them into a relaxed state. It was late afternoon when they'd set off and it was a relief to have this quiet time together. "We should have brought Henry. He's gonna be so pissed when he finds out. Did you tell anyone where we were going?"

Regina grimaced. "No. Let me call him." She popped open a vanity mirror and buzzed through to the one she gave Henry for emergencies.

"Hey Mom. Where are you?"

"Emma and I are on our way to find Hook. Is your grandfather there?"

"Sure, hold on."

She waited while he handed the compact to David. "What's up, Regina?"

"We're going to find Hook. We did a locator spell and had to rush off. Can you stay with Henry this evening, please? Preferably in my wing."

David smiled warmly and nodded. Regina and Emma hadn't left Henry alone with them unsupervised for the entire week and he was glad to gain any trust back from them. "That's absolutely fine. You have nothing to worry about. You can count on us. We're all in it together."

Emma turned the mirror around and smiled at her dad. She felt bad for being so off with them after they'd proven time and time again they were on her side, and Regina's. "Hey Dad. How's his sword training going?"

"He's a natural. Nearly knocked me over today."

She grinned knowing Henry loved playing the part of royal knight and safe in the knowledge there were no portals available to open except the one she kept in her pocket at all times. Without Rumple in the realm, the Blue Fairy and Cora behind bars, and Maleficient banging Ruby in the west wing, her parents would have to go to some serious lengths to make that happen. Somehow she didn't think they'd dare with herself and Regina to deal with. "Good. We'll check in before bed. Give him a big hug from me."

"And me." Regina chimed in proud to see Emma offering an olive branch.

"Will Do. Keep us up-to-date on any developments. Have a safe journey."

Regina took the mirror back and pocketed it before wrapping her arms back around her lover. "He'll be fine."

"I know."

The driver halted the horses causing them to whinney loudly. The jolt and noise woke the sleeping women up with a start, then the driver knocked on the door. "The trail ends here, your majesty. Thought I should let you know."

Regina thanked him and stepped out blinking a few times as her eyes accustomed to the light peeking through the canopy of leaves overhead. She looked around and saw the trail ended exactly a few feet in front of them as the driver stated. It was odd. There was nothing but woodland around them and no trace of Hook or his ship. Unless...

Emma jumped down from the carriage yawning and stretching. "So, what now?"

"He's here somewhere." She nodded at the ground and drew an X in the dirt with her foot.

Emma gasped. "Do you think he's buried here?"

"Only one way to find out." She conjured two shovels and handed one to Emma who froze. Regina started digging and the blonde looked at her in disbelief.

"You cant be serious. We are not digging for a body right now. No way!"

"No, you're right. We aren't. I am doing it alone it seems. Are you going to help?" She was in a grumpy mood. No coffee, and a rude awakening never put her in the best frame of mind. Add a spot of morning digging for a one-handed pirate into the mix and it was anyone's guess if they'd survive the ordeal.

Emma started shoveling not at all happy about what they might unearth. "What do think we're going to find?"

She threw another shovel full of dirt on her slowly building pile. "Well, he's a pirate. They have a habit of burying things. Perhaps something useful, if not his body."

They dug in relative silence, and the driver offered to help but Regina told him to get some rest. She wasn't the same woman she was all those years ago. Both he and the horses plugged on for hours through the night barely stopping. Even with the enhanced performance enchantment, it was grueling and she wasn't keen on anyone else having to die unnecessarily.

After a good hour or so, Regina stopped Emma. "It's hollow here be careful." No sooner had she said it, they both fell through the ground as it gave way to a gaping crevice. Regina acted quickly and focused her magic on bringing them back to the surface like she'd done on the bridge. Once both their feet were placed firmly on the ground,

She checked Emma over for any cuts or scrapes then flung her arms around her. "Are you okay?"

"Just a bit shaken, but fine. You?"

Regina nodded. Once her heart beat settled into a regular rhythm, they broke apart and looked down into the hole. "Well, now we know why the locator spell stopped where it did."

Emma moaned. "Honestly, these things are like the worst GPS ever. Surely there was a better route than this?"

Regina shrugged. "It always chooses the path of least resistance."

"But through a friggin hole in the ground?"

"Good to know it's there. I had no idea." She started edging down the side of the hole and conjured a rope ladder that extended all the way to the bottom. Emma groaned again but resigned herself to follow the brunette down into yet another precarious situation.

"What was wrong with an elevator?"

"Didn't think of it." Regina smirked as she got a great view of Emma's ass shimmying above her. She winked and carried on climbing down until her feet made contact with the wooden surface below. Emma jumped the last few rungs and caught her breath.

"What the bloody hell is going on?" A familiar voice bellowed from below deck. "Oh, it's you again. Miss me? He winked at Emma and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He was alive and she couldn't be more relieved. The hole they'd fallen through was a weak spot on the roof of an underground waterway. Hook and the ship were directly under them.

"Actually, yes. We've been looking for you. We want to go back to Storybrooke. We want to take everyone, infact."

"I'm not going anywhere until I finish my mission. Sorry luv, but you can't just swan up on my ship expecting me to drop everything."

Regina huffed wondering why they were entertaining him and annoyed he hadn't bothered to acknowledge her presence. "You want your heart back, then you want to kill the dark one. I can get you both."

"Alright, your majesty. Glad to see you're still alive."

"No thanks to you."

He smirked. "Water under the bridge, or forest in this case." He looked up marveling at the ingenuity of the savior and queen's teamwork. "Not bad. Did you know it was here?"

Regina looked annoyed. Even now with true love pumping through her heart, she found it difficult to admit ignorance or defeat. "I knew there were underground channels, just not the exact location. Why do you think I cleared the residents of this land out?"

Hook sneered and looked at the pile of dirt covering his deck in dismay. "You are lucky you didn't sink her. What a bloody mess."

Regina waved her hands and cleared the fallen earth and rubble. "Better?"

Hooked smirked. "Thank you, your majesty.

So, where is it? I'm assuming you and the savior caught Cora and she's being compliant."

Regina really didn't like his smarmy attitude and over familiarity, but they needed him and despite their past, and his alliance with Cora, she didn't want to kill him. It was progress. He was heartless long before Cora ever ripped his actual heart out, though, and she doubted he'd have hesitated to help her even with it beating in his chest. "Apparently, it's here somewhere. Knowing my mother, she'd put it somewhere ironic to taunt you." She began scouring the ship, not waiting for permission to go below deck.

Hook and Emma followed behind and he winked at the blonde and whispered. "So, you missed me? I can't say I blame you. The Queen's isn't a very giving lover."

Emma frowning piecing together that fragmented memory from Regina's subconscious then shivered. She ran to catch up to her lover. "Regina, wait for me."

When she caught up, she gave her a pained expression. "You and I never talked about STI's."

Regina cackled villainously knowing exactly what she was referring to and why. "Luckily, I'm immune and so are you. One of the benefits of magic."

Emma wasn't sure she was being serious. Thinking about it, she'd never seen Regina once with a stuffy nose or anything much worse than a migraine. Come to think of it, she hadn't felt sick since the curse broke either. "Huh, still, might be worth checking."

"Oh, for the love of Zeus! It was decades ago and besides, I get a regular six-month check-up in Storybrooke."

"Why do you get a check-up if you're immune?"

Regina huffed. "Well, for twenty-eight years I didn't have my powers. You can't be too careful. Now hush up and help me listen for a heartbeat."

They walked the length of the lower deck listening for any sign of the heart. There was nothing and Regina was losing patience. She still hadn't had her coffee and it baffled her how she managed without it for so many years. Oh, that's right, she didn't. Perhaps her evilness could have been tempered if she'd had a morning dose of caffeine back then. After a good half hour of listening and only hearing the wood creaking, she sighed and turned to the pirate. "It's not here. Is there anywhere else?"

"Only the bilge. She wouldn't have put it there, would she? It's full of rats."

Regina smirked. "She left you tied up there, didn't she?"

Hook's mouth fell open. "Fair point." He opened a hatch in the floor and they climbed down into the dark, damp bilge below. Squeaks could be heard all around them and Regina summoned a fireball to illuminate the place. "Careful, luv. This ship is made of wood if you hadn't noticed."

"What's more important? Your heart, or this rat infested pile of firewood?" He considered for a moment and was unable to answer. Regina shook her head. "Where did she have you restrained?"

"Over there." He pointed with his good hand to a giant fish hook hanging from the side of the ship. There was a pile of rope messily scattered below, and Regina marched towards the spot to inspect it. The irony wasn't lost on her, and in a dark recess of her mind, she found it hilarious her mother had hooked Hook, so to speak.

She heard a faint thud and traced her hand over the woodwork, scanning for where the beat was strongest. She grinned to herself and her hand stilled. "It's here."

"Can't be. There's only water on the other side of that wall. We're below sea level."

"Well, looks like you're going for a swim. Or I punch a hole in the side. Your call."

He looked at her for any sign of humor. There was none and he wrestled with himself. "Fine. I'll dive down if you're sure."

Regina nodded. She could try some magic t9bbring it through, but she needed potions for that and it was easier if he just went and got it himself. Besides, there were risks involved disintegrating a heart. She wondered how her mother had done it without causing lasting damage, though she imagined Cora didn't care too much about any side effects, or accidentally killing someone.

Hook made a mental note of where they were and psyched himself up for a morning dip.

They all went back to the deck and the pirate began discarding his outerwear and boots. The women gave him some space and only turned around again when they heard a splash. They went to the side of the ship and peered down. He was already underwater. "Do you think we should throw a rope down or something?" Emma offered feeling a bit useless.

"Sure." Regina grabbed the end of a rope with her magic and threw it over the side. It was already fastened to the base of the mast.

Hook clung to the underside of his beloved ship and edged deeper towards the spot his heart was supposed to be. He spotted a wooden box carved into the shape of a fish attached to the side. He was almost out of breath so he rose to the surface for a few minutes. He tried again and dived back down now sure of his intended target. His hand pulled at the box but it was stuck. He tried to pry it away with his hook and it loosened, immediately floating up and away from him. He grabbed it and swam back to the surface, taking a huge breath.

Hook scaled the side of the ship using the rope Emma threw down earlier. He clutched the box under his chin to make the climb and collapsed in a wet pile on deck breathing heavily. He flipped the box open to check its contents and grinned when he saw his heart was there. Regina came over and looked at it. It surprised her there was only a speck of darkness in it. For the most part, it kept it's red glow. She could tell a lot about a person just by examining a heart. For a pirate, he wasn't actually that corrupt. Who knew. "Can you put it back in?"

She nodded and was about to speak when Emma interrupted. "Let me try."

"No offense, Swan, but I'd prefer the experienced queen did it. You might break it."

Regina considered. "No, I agree. Emma should do it. It's good practice. Good call." She smiled up at her lover with pride shining in her eyes.

Hook was protesting but with his heart in Emma's hand, there wasn't much he could do except obey her. "Hold still." It surprised her the power she felt she had over him holding his heart. She hadn't meant her words to be a command, but they were received as such and she felt her magic tingle in response. She turned the heart over in her palm now feeling its suffering, the love it held for those lost to time, and the guilt. So much guilt.

Regina watched growing concerned. She knew better than anyone the allure of holding a beating heart in ones hand. It was intoxicating. Something you started to crave like nothing else, but it surprised her to see Emma looking tempted to keep it. "Emma, you have to put it back."

Emma squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath realizing she'd gone somewhere else for a moment. Somewhere dark. She looked Hook in the eyes and gently braced one hand on his shoulder while pushing the heart against his chest. She whispered as she returned it, "they've already forgiven you, and you will find someone."

He felt raw as the heart beat in his chest for the first in years and smiled gratefully at Emma for the words and for the peace he felt in his heart hearing them. They seemed to heal some wounds as if by magic, and he knew they were more than merely saying something comforting. For some reason, he believed her. "Thank you. I'd kiss you, but I think your Mrs might have a problem with that." He winked and just to show he was still a strong masculine man, he added for Regina to hear, "unless the queen fancied sharing? I think I could just about manage it with my heart back in my chest."

Regina growled. Whatever had just been shared between them was obviously something he found embarrassing. "That's enough sharing for a lifetime, thank you. Now, can we please go and get some coffee? Hook, you're coming with us. It's not a request." She poofed them all up to the forest floor and put a hand on her sleeping knight and carriage. "Let's try that steering in the same direction thing again?"

Emma nodded feeling it was something she could probably do now. Her power was much less volatile since the meeting with Athena. "Stables?"

Regina nodded with a smile. "Then coffee."

"Got it." They kept a hold of the carriage and everyone else, then poofed away. It worked fine and nobody was that surprised, except Emma. "Why didn't you just conjur some coffee to the forest?"

"Because I want to sit down and enjoy it in peace!"

Hook followed them on foot back up to the Palace. When he saw how many people were staying there and seemingly fine with the evil Queen hosting, he took it in his stride. A lot could change and his philosophy had always been just to go with it. He likened power and rulership to a game of tag. It never really made logical sense. You just followed the next person who was 'it' and tried to keep on their good side.

Regina led them to a private suite in the ground floor of the palace and poofed a pot of coffee on the table. She poured one out then took a seat on a throne style chair. Emma helped herself and sat on the simpler looking chair at the table. "Help yourself and take a seat."

Hook sniffed the hot black liquid and wrinkled his nose. He pulled out a hip flask and sat down popping the lid off it. "I think I'll stick to the rum if it's all the same. So, what's the plan this time?"

"I've still got that bean. We'll gather everyone who wants to go back to Storybrooke on your ship, open a portal, and sail back." Emma explained in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Is it a real bean this time?"

She nodded and sipped the coffee feeling bad for deceiving him before and risking everyone's life on a dodgy, half-baked plan.

"What about Rumplestilskin? You said you could get him for me." He looked at Regina suspecting it was likely a bluff.

"My mother said he fled Storybrooke into the land without magic. He was looking for his son." She paused wrinkling her brow as a realization dawned on her. "I'm seeing a theme here. Honestly, what is it with people sending children through portals? How did he ever become a father in the first place? It doesn't bear thinking about." She wasn't usually so open with her thoughts, but forgot to censor herself when Emma was about.

Hook made a sour face. "He's still looking for Baelfire."

Emma and Regina stared at him waiting for an explanation. He groaned. "As hard as it is for me to admit, the dark one wasn't the one who is responsible. His son, Bae, ran away. I cared for him for a time in Neverland. I can tell you now, he won't be best pleased to see his dear old dark dad. Why didn't he come back with the rest of you?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "He must have found a way to cross the town line before we got uncursed. Who cares? He's there somewhere, which means our missions are aligned."

"When do you plan to leave?"

"I'll call a meeting for tomorrow and see who wants to return. There are still some people scattered around. I'll give them a week to prepare and send messages to meet at the docks on Sunday at noon. That should give anyone who needs to make the journey a chance to arrive." She looked at Emma for support wondering if this was the right decision. Emma nodded with a faint smile and took her hand under the table.

"And those who don't?"

"That's their decision. They didn't have a choice last time. It's only fair they get to make it now."

Emma nodded in agreement and Hook seemed to share the sentiment. There was a knock on the door and Henry called from outside. "It's open." Regina called out to him and he pushed inside smiling.

"You're back! Hey, Captain! Are we going home already?"

"Soon." Regina smiled and called him over for a hug. His face was caught between relief and disappointment. "What's the matter? I thought you'd be excited to get back to video games and movie nights."

Hook took the opportunity to leave feeling like a bit of a spare cog in this family unit. "I think I'll go for a stroll."

"Not too far." Regina warned and turned her attention back to Henry.

He shrugged. "I guess. It's just been fun apart from you being cursed, and the queen of hearts trying to kill us."

"We'll be here until Sunday so that gives us another few days to enjoy it." The words were more for herself than Henry. The truth was, with her family here, it didn't matter much to her if they went back of not. Sure, there were some bad memories and ghosts that haunted her, but they followed her wherever she was.

"You said you'd take me to see your old castle, from when you were a kid. Can we still do that?"

"Of course we can. I'll finish up with that meeting tomorrow and then we can go straight there." She hoped it was still there and hadn't been knocked down. She could only recreate so much from memory, and those were hazy as it was. Her best memories were out in the gardens and fields riding Rocinante. Her heart felt heavy remembering how she'd sacrificed him needlessly. Emma sensed the shift in the atmosphere.

"So, besides sword fighting, what other fun stuff did you do while we were away?"

Henry's grin spread as he filled them in on his adventures. It was clear to both of them how much he loved being outdoor. They shared a look of understanding and pride as he explained in great detail how Snow showed him how to identify wild berries and fungi that were safe to eat, and what different animal tracks looked like. He'd even written and drawn them in a school notebook he'd forgotten to take out of his satchel before leaving. They talked for an hour or so before going to check in with the Charmings.

As they walked and Henry ran ahead, Emma approached the subject that was playing on her mind. "Are you sure you're okay to go back there?"

Regina laced their arms together and smiled. "I'm fine. I just worry if it's still there. I want to see it one last time." They walked a few more paces and she spoke again. "Are you going to approach that subject with your parents before we leave?"

"Before we go back to Storybrooke, yeah. I owe it to Maleficient to at least try to find out some more details. Just, not today, please."

They met up with the rest of the group in the make shift camp outside the palace grounds. Even though they were mostly staying inside, they'd taken to camping on weekends and having music and dancing around the fire in the evenings. Regina suspected it was likely Snow's doing, but she had to admit, it was a great atmosphere. In the day, the various groups broke off and went hunting, fishing, or did some sort of craft work they used to do for a living. It was nostalgic but a glossed over version of the hard lives they used to live. Nobody really seemed to want to go back to it permanently.

They settled in beside the fire and listened to Granny's over the top account of the time she single handedly fended off a pack of wolf hunters with only a bobbin and a spool of yarn. Laughter was raucous as Ruby clarified. "You left out part when you pretended to be an evil witch and did that freaky dance showing them your wolf eyes. They only ran away because they thought you were crazy."

Howls went up as the group convinced a slightly tipsy Granny to give them a show. Even Regina found it hilarious. The strong ale and vintage wine from the evil Queen's stock warmed their their insides and loosened their tongues. "Remember what it was like every time the queen rode into town?" One of the villagers spoke up. Regina couldn't place her name but vaguely remembered her face from some PTA meeting or another.

Ruby chimed in. "Oh yeah! It was like New York fashion week, Emma. Not kidding."

"Yeah, there we were in our Sunday best rags, and she comes in head to toe in what I now know was probably latex." The stranger continued. Was her name Gwen? Glenda? Nope, it was gone from Regina's mind.

"It was not latex!" Regina felt it necessary to justify herself if they were going to make assumptions, they'd better be the correct ones. "It was the finest lambskin available at the time. I still have it upstairs."

Emma chuckled heartily and a few wolf whistles went up in the crowd. Granny added her two cents. "We certainly knew our place when the queen was around, that's for sure. You were ahead of your time, Regina."

The banter continued until the late evening and the women decided they may as well tell everyone while they were there about the plan to go back on Sunday. "It's a choice. Anyone who wants to return is welcome. Anyone who want to stay is free to do so. No curses, no prisoners. Except one... two?"

"Technically three." Emma added.

"Thank you, Sheriff."

It didn't put a dampener on the evening, but everyone felt the weight of a decision like that. They'd talked about it endlessly since they got their memories back but now it had happened, and they had the option to go back to modernity if they chose, it would require serious consideration on am individual level. They'd been a team, a town for so long, it felt odd suddenly having the permission to speak and think for themselves.

Back on bed that night, Regina propped herself on her elbow and stared at Emma. "Is a week enough time for them to figure it out?"

Emma tilted her head up to steal a peck. "Probably not, but a month, or a year wouldn't be either. Sometimes you just have to let go. A friend once told me when I was young, you can't have the best of both worlds."

Regina hugged her tighter and rested her chin on Emma's shoulder. "That's the problem though, isn't it? We've all had the very best, and the very worst of both worlds. Whatever decision they make, there's no going back."

Emma squeezed her harder sensing this wasn't just about the townsfolk. "There never is, Gina. For anyone."