The Convent
Emma watched as Regina, now panicked by Robin's collapse, immediately disapparated, presumably to join Merlin and Blue at the hospital.
Two troubling thoughts went through her mind. What hold does he still have on her?' And where does that leave me?
Miserable, she was just about to disapparate over to Zelena's cottage to collect Honour, when she felt a hand on her arm. Mulan.
"She loves you Emma, you do know that, right? It's just...when it comes to Robin, she-"
"I know!" She snapped, annoyed she was so easy to read.
"I'm just suggesting she's mixed up since he came back. You just need to talk."
"And say what? That I'm terrified she's gonna dump me? Why the hell would she do that? It's not like the guy sacrificed himself to save her now, is it? Oh, hold on a minute - yes, he did, didn't he?" She growled, sarcastically. "Old Golden Balls just comes back after five years dead, and everything we've gone through now counts for nothing? Her pretty forest boy reappears, and that's it? My marriage, our home, our life together, all goes down the pan? He's Honour and Roland's father! Even Henry loves the bastard more than he loves me, and I'm his mother! Everyone in this whole fucking town loves Ronin Hood! He can't do anything wrong and now he's been given magic?" Her angry words trailed off as she tried to hold back tears. "I feel I'm being cast aside."
"Aye, love," said a deeper voice from close by. "It hurts, doesn't it?" Killian now stood by Mulan's side, Annabelle's arm linked in his. However, seeing his former lover look up, scowling, red-eyed and angry, he regretted the barb, though it was clearly too late.
Emma winced, knowing it was only the truth. She'd cast him aside. At a loss for words and unable to look at him, she flicked her wrist, a white mist instantly engulfing her, as she disappeared, leaving a guilty-looking former pirate behind.
Turning back to Anna, he groaned, shaking his head, knowing he'd chosen a bad time to be shitty. "Sorry about that, love. I shouldn't have said that, I just-"
"It's quite alright, Killian, I do understand. More than you realise. I know all about your story."
"My history? Sadly love, you've no idea."
"I'm Merlin's daughter, remember?" She grinned up at him. "Don't worry, your secrets are safe with me."
"Secrets? Don't tell me, you've seen my past and my future, like your father?" She gave him a small nod. "Well you don't need to speak to me of the latter, love. My best years are definitely behind me."
That just made her chuckle, attracting attention from some in the group. "Are you kidding me? I can assure you your best hours are yet to come for you, Captain Jones! Emma may no longer be your happy ending, but an even greater love, and more adventure, await you."
Killian grinned. "Okay, now you have my attention! I'm all ears. Spill?"
"Sorry, no can do. First, dad would have a blue fit if I said anything. Second, even if I could it would change the course of history; and trust me, you don't want yours changing! All I'm going to say, is that you will have your happy ending, Killian Jones." She turned to look at the warrior. "As will you, Fa Mulan!"
"Me?" Mulan had been too focused on Killian's grin to fully react to what she'd said. "Sorry, I don't understand. I assure you, I'm now perfectly content with my life, with my-"
She stopped as Annabelle's face broke into an even broader smile, their eyes meeting again, the blonde's twinkling almost flirtatiously, after she noticed her staring down at Mulan's stomach. The blonde gave her a slow, knowing nod, before whispering: "Your suspicions are correct!"
Realising what she meant, Mulan's cheeks immediately flushed, her jaw dropping. She'd missed her bleed last month, and the next was due shortly, or so she thought? The normally stony-faced Asian's lip actually trembled. "Really? I'm, I'm…" she mouthed silently, daring to hope.
The blonde nodded again, before mouthing back, "Pregnant? Yes you are." She took her hand. "Perhaps you should talk to your, um, partners? Then I'll set you up to meet my father at the hospital. Might be a good idea to talk to him as this is his field of expertise?"
Mulan, too shocked to properly process, just stood, wide eyed and stunned.
Killian hadn't heard what Anna had said, but years of dubious activities had taught him to lip read well enough. He smiled at the small but powerful warrior, leaning in, to whisper. "Congratulations love, if this is indeed something you wished for? Though I have to confess, I'm a little surprised."
The inference was obvious. She'd faced it repeatedly since coming to Storybrooke with her friends Ruby & Dorothy. The stares from others, particularly whenever she was seen talking to another woman. The loud whispering as she left. "I'm bisexual, Captain Jones. Not gay, as you no doubt assumed?"
"I assume nothing, I assure you," he still spoke softly, resting a hand gently on her upper arm. "I don't judge. I've lived over three centuries, and I've personally experienced both sexes in my time. I just hope you're happy with the news? I wish you well, but I'll tell no one of your condition, I swear."
She was still too surprised at having what she'd suspected, confirmed. "I really I need to get home!"
Emma apparated in front of a small hidden white stone cottage on the edge of fields, in a copse near Storybrooke. Inside could hear noises of the girls playing happily. Hesitating before knocking, she steeled herself, putting on her best fake smile. But a voice rang out from inside.
"It's open! Come in, sis!"
Opening the door and stepping in to the lounge, she found the former Wicked Witch of Oz on her knees, facing Honour & Robyn, with their arms out, as a small side table appeared to be floating between them, wobbling unsteadily. "That's it, Honny! Steady now. Calm. Just picture it just floating there. In your mind? Yes, yes, that's it! Now then, keep your eyes closed and picture it gently going down on to the floor?"
The table banged down hard, noisily, but undamaged. "That's good enough! Gina, did you see that she just did? She almost had it!" The redhead glanced over her shoulder to see the visitor wasn't who she expected.
"Oh, it's you." She said to her sister-in-law, slightly disappointed.
"You're teaching her magic?" The astonished blonde blurted out. "Does Regina know?"
"And hello to you too, Saviour? Not yet. This little poppet has been having a few accidents today, haven't you? It seems some of her magic has come in. I'm surprised really, but I didn't want her panicking. She was a little frightened at first, so I thought it best to show her it doesn't have to be dangerous."
"Em-ma, come see? I can lift things up!" said the excited four-year-old. "Auntie Zee's teaching me! Watch!"
"Perhaps that's enough for one day, sweet-pea?" Zelena intervened. "Another time perhaps, after you've had a chance to talk to your mummies. It's time for Honny to go now. Robyn, do you want to give her a quick hug before they leave?" Zelena stood, looking the blonde up and down, before whispering, just out of the girls' hearing. "You look like shit! My sister getting a little too much for you in the bedroom or something?"
Emma ignored it. She'd never felt comfortable around Zelena, even though she'd supposedly changed for the good. Although she hadn't actually murdered Neil, she was largely responsible for his death, depriving Henry of his father after they were reunited such a short time. She'd tortured Gold, holding him in a cramped cell for months. This was also the woman who'd virtually raped Robin by disguising herself as his lost wife, to exact some bizarre revenge on her own sister. Emma only tolerated her because of Regina. She could forgive, but she could never forget.
"Where is she? She said she was going to be collecting her."
"She, um, had to go to the hospital. There was a problem." Emma didn't want to discuss it in front of the girls.
"A problem? With Regina? What's wrong with her?"
"No! No, nothing's wrong with her, it's just-" But Emma was interrupted by a loud cry from Honour.
"Papa! No…papa! Em…Emma? Papa's poorly!" She suddenly blurted out, tears welling in her eyes. "He's not well!"
Zelena's eyes darted over to Robyn, who was now standing in front of her half-sister looking equally distraught. "Mummy, can we go see papa now? Please?" She even seemed to be trembling.
"Robby? I don't understand? What's wrong?" She couldn't fathom the sudden change. "Emma, has something happened to Hood?"
"Um. No. Yes. Well, maybe. Merlin was giving him magic lessons at the convent. He was fine one minute, then collapsed. Merlin's taken him to hospital, so I shouldn't worry. That's where Regina's gone."
Zelena, looking at the teary anxious little faces, realised in her hear something was very wrong. They're sensing something! How? Robyn doesn't even have magic! Does she?
"Come on girls, we're going to the hospital!"
~oOo~
As her magic powers were greatly reduced, Zelena had grabbed Emma by the hand, while holding Robyn by the other, and told Honour to hold on to her mother by almost ordering Emma to teleport them all. They'd arrived, seconds later, on the front lawn of Storybrooke Hospital, without the blonde even having a chance to argue.
Two minutes later, after abusing an unhelpful receptionist, Zelena charged into the small emergency ward to discover a group of nurses and doctors crowding around a bed, their frenetic activity now coming to a halt. She turned to Honour, Robyn and the Saviour. "Emma, keep them back please?" she ordered, before charging into the melee.
"Doctor Whale? Victor! Please? Enough!" One of the nurses called to the lead doctor, who was now kneeling on the bad with paddles in his hands. "It's been over ten minutes! You know we've lost him!"
The man crouching over Robin Hood's body slowly nodded, and leaned back, visibly deflating, his shoulders hunched, tears of frustration visible on his cheeks.
"Alright. Is everyone agreed?" He looked bleary-eyed at the other medics, who all nodded, some tearful.
"Very well then. Time of death, seventeen forty-eight!"
"NO! NO! NOT AGAIN!' screamed a tearful Regina, previously unnoticed, standing by the window.
~oOo~
Hearing the scream, Emma immediately tried to move into the room and comfort her. Though the medical team, crash trolleys and equipment were all in the way. "Gina?"
The former queen didn't even hear her. She just stood at the side of the bed, stricken, tears falling in despair. "Robin?" She croaked, picking up his warm right hand. "I'm so sorry. You never deserved this! We never even had a chance, did we? We never…" her voice trailed to silence, her eyes closing, obviously in great pain. Emma and the crash team could only watch in silence. Though this was her wife, she felt like an intruder between two lovers, at their final parting.
From the opposite side of the room, another figure moved toward the bed. Merlin. He seemed calm, and with an odd, knowing look on his face, oblivious to the sadness all around. God, the man's even grinning? What the fuck?
"Regina," he spoke softly. "Regina!" a little louder.
The brunette looked up at him, her face shrouded in grief.
"Regina, you know what to do!" Merlin spoke softly, but firmly.
"Wh…what?" she said through her tears.
"About Robin, Regina. Bring him back! You know what to do. Don't leave it too long, mind." His instructions felt like an order.
She hesitated, trying to understand. Bring him back? How the hell? Then she realised what he meant. True love's kiss? "I don't, er, I'm not-"
"Just do it, Regina!" Merlin said, even more forcefully, as though he already knew the answer. "Quickly now! Before his brain starts to deteriorate!"
"I'm so sorry Robin, my darling," she whispered close to his face, "For everything. I never stopped loving you, and I never will." As several tears landed on the dead man's cheek, Regina slowly placed her lips over the top of Robin's, for the very last time, after mumbling. "Until we meet again, my love."
Seeing the group of medics surrounding the gurney, Emma struggled to keep a wriggling Honour & Robyn, still behind her, from moving forward to see what was happening, while leaning over Zelena's shoulder, to get a proper look at what was happening. She'd seen Regina and Merlin move either side of him after heard Whale had called time of death; she'd heard Merlin mumble something to Regina, but she still couldn't quite see what was happening? Finally, stretching around her sister-in-law, Emma became wide-eyed at the sight of her wife bending over, and placing a kiss on Robin's mouth?
Although surprised, a small body twisting around her left side made her snap out of it and look down at the little blonde. Honour shouldn't be seeing him like this!
"Daddy?" the four-year-old called out, knowing there was something seriously wrong.
Regina, still staring at the dead man's face, was brought out of her dark thoughts by her daughter's cry. She turned. "Honny? Not...not now, my sweet? Please? I don't want you to see this-" but her words were brought to a sudden halt by a huge burst of hot, octarine light from right behind her, washing over everyone in the room. All those present with magic felt it, stepping back at the sheer force of the magical pulse, and being stunned momentarily. Even the medics, although having no magic, felt a mild, warm breeze.
Victor Whale was the first to pick up on the possible result, leaning over to turn the heart monitor switches back on, and moving quickly to put his stethoscope on the exposed chest. Moments later, the previous single flat line tone was now replaced by a regular beeping sound. "Aaaaaand, we're back!" he yelled.
Five seconds later, the deceased man's chest jerked up from the bed as he suddenly inhaled loudly, his eyes opening, and bulging as he sought to gain breath. Looking shocked, and unaware of his surroundings with everyone now looking down at him, he stared up and into the teary red eyes of the woman he'd never stopped loving.
"Regina?"
The brunette's face creased into the widest smile he'd ever seen on her. Tears, this time of joy, resuming.
"Welcome back, Robin." Merlin spoke from his left side. "I was beginning to wonder when you'd join us?"
Robin turned his head slowly to see Merlin smiling down on him. "How?" he croaked. His throat as dry as parchment, before looking back at Regina, who was too stunned to say a word.
"True Love's kiss, of course," the Sorcerer continued. "Your mind was too overwhelmed with all the new magic. It was no wonder it reacted the way it did. Hopefully your new lease of life will not be interrupted again."
"True Love? Regina..? Did you...?" his voice trailed off as he reached for the brunette's hand. She nodded slowly, her smile never leaving her face.
"Welcome back, thief!" She sniffled, picking up his hand to kiss it. However, before either of them could say anything more, Regina detected a swirl of familiar white magic from the edge of the room, near the door. Instantly recognizing the trace and smell, she looked up to see her sister looking back at her.
"Zee? Was that Emma?"
The redhead nodded slowly, more in sadness than surprise. "And before you ask, yes, she saw everything."
Emma had just witnessed Regina bring Robin back to life, with a True Love's kiss? She saw me kiss him? She saw…oh God! Clearly the realisation of what had happened was just starting to dawn on her. However, before she could say anything, a small pair of hands tugged on her dress, before a fast-moving little dervish, dragging her half-sister along, ran around her to reach for her daddy's hand. "Papa!" Honour called up. "I knew you were poorly! You better now?"
Robin, exhausted but happy, reached down to her, accidentally disconnecting one of the drips attached to his arm. "I'm better, beautiful. Come here?" He lifted her onto the bed to his right. Robyn appeared on the other side, with her arms extended. "Papa? Me cuddle, too?"
"Of course my love, always. Come up." He turned to attempt another lift, when Merlin appeared behind the girl. "Here, I've got this!" he lifted and deposited Robyn on Robin's left. The two girls moved to rest their little heads on either side of his bare chest, as he grinned in quiet contentment. Regina, distracted by the display, stared back at the happy scene. The girls reunited with their father, once again. Even Zelena managed a slight smirk, although worry seemed to grow on the brunette's face. A look immediately picked up by Robin.
"Regina, you need to go to her! She must be very upset." He reached out a hand. "Go! Be with your wife! Don't worry about me, she needs you right now. The girls are perfectly safe here with me."
Regina's emotions were still confused. On the one hand, she was ecstatic to see him alive and the girls snuggling into him. She wanted to do the same. To feel those arms around her. To rest against his chest and listen to his heart again. However, there was someone she also needed right now, who she had probably just hurt, deeply. Seeing the slightly lost, bewildered expression on her face, Merlin stepped in.
"Regina? Would you allow me to go and talk to her? You'll be surprised, but I have some experience with what she's going through right now, and I believe I can help her while you clear your thoughts." Without waiting for an answer, the Sorcerer flicked his fingers slightly before being engulfed in his signature gold mist. "Wait!" she yelled as his image disappeared, "But…he doesn't even know where she's gone!"
"He's the Sorcerer, Your Majesty!" the Blue Fairy piped up, the first time Regina had even noticed her. "He'll find her easily enough."
Less than a minute later...
She sat on the stump of a felled tree, close to the water's edge, next to the site of her son's former 'castle', looking out to sea. The fishing boats and cannery off to her left; then beyond that, the docks, a small cluster of boats laying within its protective walls. At the far side, the most auspicious being the three prominent masts, sails folded, of the Jolly Roger. Emma couldn't take her eyes off the magnificent ship, her mind drifting off to happier times sailing with Killian. It reminded of what he'd last said to her at the convent. She'd cast him aside. And now, she realised what it felt like.
"It gets better, you know?" said a voice, making her jump. It was attached to a man, now appearing next to her. He definitely wasn't there a second ago!
"What the fuck?" She gasped, looking up into the calm eyes of Merlin, as he moved to sit down beside her without being asked. "How'd you find me?"
"I'll tell you later, but that's unimportant right now. Emma, perhaps it's time we talked."
Back at the hospital...
As Merlin disapparated from the room to follow Emma, Regina looked down at Robin as nurses carefully removed his needles, fluid lines and monitors, realisation dawning on her. I woke him up with True Love's kiss. He's still my True Love.
She couldn't help smiling, seeing his little girls settled either side, their heads resting on his chest. Looking up to his face, she couldn't avoid those beautiful piercing blue eyes staring right back. Though content to be snuggled by his little beauties, he looked worried. "Regina," he spoke softly so not to wake the girls. "I promised Emma I wouldn't come between you, or harm your marriage. She's a good person, right for you, and I'm glad she was here for you when I couldn't be. So that's a promise I intend to keep."
"I think it's now a little more complicated than that, Robin."
"Maybe. Though it doesn't have to be. Go to her! Go be with your wife."
"Mmm. Difficult, when said wife just witnessed you kissing your former lover back to life?" Zelena snarked, previously unnoticed in the corner of the room, to Regina. "Though I do agree with the thief. You need to talk to her before she, or you, do something stupid!"
Regina glared at her sister, about to retort but, seeing Robin's eyes widen as he looked at the redhead with a flash of anger, stopped herself. His head turned sharply to look at her. "Regina, the girls will be fine. I'll see they're safe. Besides, I need to have a little talk with your sister."
"I don't think so," Zelena snapped back, "I only came here because Robbie sensed there was something wrong. I'll wake her and take her home in a minute, now there's nothing to see here."
"I should have rephrased that, Zelena. We will have that talk. Sit down."
Zelena bristled. "Know your place, thief! Who do you think you're talking to? I don't know what-" but her voice was instantly silenced by the loss of a mouth from her face, while her hands were pulled to her sides by an unknown force, a plastic chair now appearing next to her.
"SIT…DOWN!" he hissed, still trying not to wake his daughters.
Zelena wasn't stupid. She instantly realised the force controlling her was far stronger than she'd ever encountered, including the Dark One's? Robin had the ow level magic she still had completely suppressed. And unnervingly, he seemed to be doing it with just his eyes, as his hands merely rested on his daughters. Just his eyes?
Regina saw his pupils enlarge, and darken dramatically, his voice ominously calm. The whites of his eyes had almost disappeared! "I Think I'm talking to the woman who tormented her own sister out of spite, almost killing Henry. Was largely responsible for the death of Henry's father, a real hero, Baelfire, who I knew and liked. The woman who murdered my Marian, leaving my son motherless. Who then disguised herself as my wife, wrenching me from my second true love, then sexually abused me just to break Regina's heart. Then led Hades himself into our world to ultimately kill me, thus depriving me of five years of my son and daughters' lives! So, I'm asking you, witch, give me one good reason why I shouldn't just kill you, right here, right now?"
For the first time, in a very long time, Zelena was absolutely terrified! The magical bonds that held her grew tighter in intensity, constricting her whole body. An invisible force washed over her face, restoring her mouth and making her inhale loudly and urgently. Before she could even recover, another force lifted her from her seat by her neck, tightening as it pushed her against the wall.
The redhead, unable to breath or fight back, looked to her sister for help. But Regina was transfixed by the sight of Robin totally dominating the witch.
As Zelena finally caught her eye, Regina spoke, softly, realising from the suppressed rage in his face that this was no empty threat. Her sister's life was in danger!
"Robin? Please? This isn't you! I know what Zelena did to you in the past, but this isn't the way. Whatever she did, she's changed; she isn't as you knew her; for heaven's sake, like it or not she is Robyn's mother. You can't do this! You can't kill her mother, Robin. Please?"
At Regina's pleading, he glanced down to his redhead daughter, snoozing quietly on his chest. It seemed to have a slightly calming effect, as without moving, the pressure surrounding Zelena seemed to reduce, though not diminish completely. The witch twitched, just relieved to be breathing, though now wary of saying anything to him that may trigger him again. His eyes were so intense? Even Regina wasn't sure how to safely proceed without riling him more.
But her sister did it for her. "So that's how it's going to be?" Zelena hissed. "Now you've got magic, you'll threaten to kill me every five minutes? Bully me to get what you want?"
Robin, now slightly calmer, didn't respond immediately, just studied the shaking witch, like she was a specimen in a jar, until:
"Not nice, is it, being bullied Zelena? Well, that's what it's been like living with all of you magical bastards for so long!" He knew Regina was listening but couldn't help himself. "Have either of you ever stopped to consider all the lives in this town that still remain wrecked, because of what you did all those years ago? Nobody could stop you because you had magic. They had to obey and indulge you because you had magic. They lived their lives in poverty, scavenging for food in the forest while you lived in luxury. I know at least twenty families whose fathers you, Rumpelstiltskin and…" now he looked across at his former lover. "Yes, you too Regina, murdered. Bullied? You have no fucking idea, witch!" His chest heaved with indignation. "You three and your revolting mother fucked so many people whose lives still remain wrecked even today! And yet you dare to look down on others?"
Neither woman reacted. They knew everything he'd said was true. "And people like me are just expected to act as though you're transformed?" Now he turned to face her. "Regina, I know that you're truly repentant for everything you did in the past. I see it in the faces of people around us. I see it in the way you are with Henry and Roland. And Honour. So yes, I know you've truly changed. It's one of many reasons I fell in love with you…" His eyes then went back to the older redhead, calmer but still menacing. "But you?" he growled, "It's still only three weeks since you tried to steal my daughter from me! I still need to see proof that you've also changed! I need to see proof that you're making reparations for your past crimes. I tell you this, Zelena. I will not kill you. Regardless of how it happened, you are still the mother of one of my children." He glanced down at the quietly snoozing little redhead on his chest. "However, if you ever attempt to keep me from her, or prevent her coming to me, as and when she wishes, I will revisit that decision!" His voice had steel in it now. Zelena knew he wasn't bluffing.
"It's time for both of you, and Rumpelstiltskin, to make real reparations to the people of this town."
Two miles away...
Merlin sat next to Emma on the log for at least half an hour, no words being said. The Saviour just sat staring out to sea. Finally, after a heavy sigh, "How did you find me?"
"I'm the Sorcerer?" he chuckled, drily, "I've been around a long time."
She still avoided his gaze. After another silence, another sigh. "So…it's true love? All over again?"
"Mmm?"
"Regina and Robin. It's true love again?"
"It never goes away. And she did bring him back with a kiss. So, I guess so."
"So that's it then?" she muttered, still looking ahead.
"Sorry, I don't understand. What are you trying to say?"
"My marriage! Regina and Robin. They're bloody true loves! Or soulmates, or both; whatever. Basically, that means my marriage is over..."
"Why on earth would you think that? You can have more than one true love in life, you know? Think of Henry? Haven't you and Regina both woken him? Emma, just because she's Robin's true love doesn't mean she isn't yours as well! Do you seriously think she'd ever be unfaithful? Do you doubt her love, after all you've been through together? Do you seriously think Robin would try to break you up?"
She didn't answer. Her head slumped into her hands. In her heart, she knew Regina would remain true, even if it killed her in the process. "She loves him, and she's hurting. Hurting for him. I saw the look in her eyes ever since he came back. I can't compete with that." Her face remained hidden. "She loves him, and he loves her. Everyone regards the sainted Robin Hood as a hero; the guy Zeus sent back? Hell, even my own son who won't talk to me. He's a father to the rest of them. Roland, Honour, Robyn. And now he has magic, and from what I've been told, more powerful than anyone else's around here? He even read my mind, for fuck's sake!" She raged now. "I can't compete with 'Superman'!"
"Compete? There's no competition! I regard myself as a superb judge of character - I have been around two millennia, after all!" He sniggered. "And I'm absolutely certain Robin would never deliberately attempt to harm you, or your marriage."
She grimaced, knowing she was probably being petty. "Yeah, that's what he told me. But then, there's Regina. He's here, she's depressed, and she's just…well…changed. I see it in her eyes. That longing? She wants him. And then Gold said she wouldn't get better with him around, until they, well, did it!"
It took a moment to dawn on Merlin what she was talking about. "Ah, you mean the 'true love seal'?"
"The what?"
"The seal of true love. Yes, it does involve a physical element," he sighed. "But Emma, you know I have the power of foresight, don't you?"
"What do you mean?"
"I see your future! I can't tell you what's in store for you, as it risks damaging your timeline. However, I can see your battles ahead and your triumphs. Emma, I can't answer your questions directly, but I can tell you that you will get your happy ending. I've seen it!"
Emma rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right," she said, sarcasm heavy in her voice. "Happy ever after?"
"Yes, as it happens. You will be happy in a way you cannot possibly imagine."
Emma looked hard into his eyes, in disbelief. "So, you can't tell me anything? No clues, no words of advice? So how do I achieve this so-called happy ending? Cos from what I can see, I'm losing my son and my wife. Give me some bloody pointers for god's sake, Merlin."
He smirked, albeit in sympathy. "I can't disclose specific information, but I guess I can give you a few tips. Now, let me think…" He stayed silent for a matter of seconds, figuring what best to tell her. "Okay, here goes. Tip number one. Go and apologise to Henry! You humiliated him, so he humiliated you. Apologise, but this time, mean it! His magic will become powerful, Emma, so you would do well to recognise it. I will go with you and speak to Rumpelstiltskin. You'll have no problem with him, provided you apologise to him as well. But show real humility! That poor man is still cursed by an immense force constantly trying to control him. He's lost both his sons, and his wife You have no idea the torment he goes through every day."
Emma, ignoring the fact this man shouldn't have known what happened to Henry, just slowly nodded, knowing that what he said was true.
"Tip number two. Talk to Regina! Tell her everything you're feeling. Everything. And encourage her to do the same. She's feeling even more confused than you are, and will need you. Emma, despite everything, she is your true love, too. Remember that, and remember that provided you continue to love her, she'll love you!"
The blonde smiled, feeling a little encouraged. "Go on."
"Tip number three. Talk to Fa Mulan! She may be willing to share some information with yo, about her life that may help you see things in a different way."
"Mulan? What's she got to do with anything? I don't understand; what is this 'different way'?"
"Sorry but I can't say. Timeline, remember? However, that leads me to the last but most important one. Tip number four. Sit down and talk, actually talk, to Mr. Locksley."
"Him?" She groaned. "There's no point; he's read my mind already! He knows everything about me."
"Yes…well. He told me, and I know he still feels bad about it. He had no control over his powers then, but he does now. I've shown him how to turn that particular skill off most of the time, so it should no longer be an issue."
"Easy for you to say! You don't have a love rival knowing everything about your sex life!"
"Emma, Robin is a key element in your future! Don't treat him like the enemy, because he really isn't. He's the father of two of the former queen's children and, as well as playing a critical part in her happiness, will also have a major role in yours. He's-" Merlin suddenly stopped himself, abruptly.
"He's what?" Emma immediately picked up on his hesitation. "What were you about to say?"
"Too much. Just realise, he's on your side, too. Talk to him! But first, let's go see Henry?"
"I can't! Gold threatened to kill me if I ever set foot in that shop again!"
"That's why I'm going with you. I have some information for him which will probably help."
~oOo~