Operation All Realms, Chapter 9

Dawn had barely broken when there was a knock on the door. Henry happened to have risen early and was going through a headache inducing mass update of his laptop. Even having turned off the Windows Updates back in 2019, before they left, he was still dealing with the other updates. He was in the living room near the entrance vestibule, so it was a simple matter of walking a few feet. Henry was glad it was him answering the door, he recognized that firm knock as his other mother's.

Emma's expression changed quickly into a smile when she saw her grown up son. "So you had your adventure and are back home?"

"Uh huh". Henry was reluctant to let her know, right away, just how long it had been. A lot longer than she thought from 2026's equivalent in the New Enchanted Forest. Just a week ago to her, but Lucy hadn't even been conceived, yet. Emma would have an idea as soon as she saw Lucy, though.

"Mom and Dad will be happy to see you."

"You can call them over if you want."

Emma grinned and dialed their number.

While she called Snow and David, Henry tried to think of how to start, with all that happened.

Regina and Robin stepped off the stairs behind him. Henry sighed with relief. That would be a good start. Let Mom's surprise with the return of Robin start things off. A bit of a reprieve. Well, at least till Lucy came downstairs. He snuck toward the kitchen. A cup of coffee would definitely help him think more clearly.

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In the Prime reality the group around the magic pool relaxed. All the realities were now stable, the destructive chaos effect was gone. It looked like not only had they cleared it from even the former chaos reality their counterparts lived in, but the healing was even slowly pushing back against the malign instability that was infecting where the authors had first brought it over.

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In the page 23 reality Regina and Robin had gathered their grown children, and were brainstorming plans to counter the darkness of their world. It was time they joined in the battle, and brought back balance to their world. No, it would never be a near utopia that they had lived on Avalon, but they would make it better.

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In the former hidden reality Regina taught her teenage daughters how to use light magic. The Regina of their nearest reality, shared how they had taught the next generation of magic users in Storybrooke. Perhaps, some day she could do the same, but for now, she would teach her daughters and any other family member that wanted to learn. Robin was very supportive.

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In the OAR reality Regina led, yet another, she sighed, town hall. It was going better than she expected. Other than the usual bellyaching by Leroy, and Granny's grumbling about how all this had been bad for her business, it had been mostly positive. She'd already received three in person endorsements for her running for yet another term as mayor.

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Back in the former chaos reality Emma Swan-Jones was staring open mouthed at Robin. Then shook her head. "Why am I even shocked anymore. Is it really him this time?"

Robin chuckled "Yeah, all me."

"Well, I don't envy you when Zelena finds out. Even without her powers she's hell on wheels half the time. On the other hand Robyn will he over the moon. Oh, you probably don't know she got called Robyn. It was actually Zelena's idea. Probably a sliver of whatever guilt she's capable of."

As selfish as it was, Robin felt a bit of joy Emma still had no love lost for Zelena.

"Hi Emma."

Emma looked at the unfamiliar young man, stepping off the stairs, behind Robin and Regina. Then she put it together, "Roland?"

"Yep."

"If it wasn't for your curly hair, I don't think I'd recognized you."

Roland grinned. "Yeah, it's been a few years."

Emma looked faintly ashamed at that. "We shouldn't have sent you away, you'd just lost your dad, and Regina was trying to find Henry in New York…."

"We're going talk about that, and a lot of other stuff when your parents get here." Regina interjected. "There's more behind what happened than you know."

"Magic curse?"

"Not exactly. But it's a lot to take in."

"Roland, how do you work this?" A voice called out from upstairs.

"Who-"Emma began to ask.

"My little sister, well littlest, her name's Rowan. " Roland said as he turned back to run back up stairs.

"Rowan? How?" Emma said questioningly.

"When Snow and David get here, we'll explain everything." Regina replied

"Come on into the dining room" Robin waved her in.

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"That is a lot, wow." Snow said, stunned. David and Emma looked equally stunned.

"Yeah, so how much of our lives have been manipulated?" Emma grimaced.

"More than we thought, even with Isaac. Even he might have been manipulated, in part." Regina sighed. "There's going to be a lot of fallout from this, now that we're actually free."

Robin gave Regina' s hand a reassuring caress. "I'm probably the least affected of everyone. I could see what was going on part of the time, and wasn't affected by the last curse."

"Things calmed way down here during the time the authors weren't focused on us." David commented.

"Yeah, years with no curses."

Regina nodded. "For you it's just been a week since Henry contacted us, and I left.

"Going to take some getting used to all that's changed." Henry

"For all of us." Snow looked at Robin. "Even you. You've gone from being a father of a five year old son and infant daughter-"

"To being the father of a young man, and two adolescent daughters, one who is getting used to a father that looks the same, but acts differently, and the other who doesn't know the father she lost as an infant, is back."

As if on que, the doorbell suddenly rang out, with quick repeats. Regina chuckled. "I think I know who that is."

"Aunt Regina, you're back!" The adolescent girl threw her arms around Regina and gave her an enthusiastic hug.

"Yes I am." She smiled fondly at Robyn. Those eyes, which still looked so much like her father's, gazed back at her with joy.

"I heard Henry is back too. Do you think he'll remember me? I was just five when he left and I'm twelve now, well I'll be twelve next week…"

Regina thought with sadness, Henry was the closest thing Robyn had to an older brother. She hero worshiped him. Now Henry's thirty-eight and father of an eight year old daughter.

"Mom wasn't interested in coming, but she let me come over."

Regina snorted and thought, just wait till she finds out… "Good. I'm glad you're here. It wasn't just Henry that came back-"

"You found my brother?" Robyn bounced on her toes with excitement."

"Yes, we did."

Robyn squealed with joy.

"And there's more." Regina looked at Robyn tenderly. "Do you remember us talking about when I split my soul in half? When we had me and the queen in Storybrooke?"

"And you brought back a different version of my dad from the Wish Realm? Yeah. And they went away to the Enchanted Forest."

Regina nodded. "They were the ones that found Roland. They also got married and had a little girl. You have kind of a half-sister, her name is Rowan and she just turned ten."

"Is she nice?"

"She's a bit sad right now because her parents died."

"Died, how?"

"Maybe dead is the wrong way to describe it. Something happened and I had to take the queen back into myself."

"What about her dad? You said both."

"Uh huh. I think what needs to be said next is better shown." Regina took Robyn's hand and led her into the dining room."

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Robyn stood a moment in stunned silence, then she said quaveringly "Daddy?" As she stared at Robin.

Tears of joy sprung in Robin's eyes. "Oh, my little peanut." He murmured stood up. Robyn flung herself into her father's arms.

"You're real. You're really here. Aunt Regina gave me a picture of you. I keep it in my diary."

Emma whispered to her parents, "Think it's time to go now. They need family time."

David nodded, but Snow protested "But we're family too."

"Yeah, but right now let's give them some space."

Snow sighed, and reluctantly turned away from the heartwarming scene. As she passed Regina, she took her hand. "I'm glad you're finally getting your happy ending."

"Happy beginning." Regina replied. "And we still have to deal with my sister"

"I'm here, if you need me."

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Zelena waited till the next week. Then she stormed into Regina's mayoral office, the moment it opened.

"So you got him back. Now you're going to steal my daughter away."

"No, I'm leaving that up to her. Who she wants to spend time with."

"You know full well she wants to be with you! Did already! Now you somehow bring him back. All she talks about is her daddy this, her daddy that. And her sister and brothers. When it was just Henry she idolized, that was one thing, now she's got a whole family here!"

The more enraged Zelena got, the calmer Regina felt. She knew she was in the right.

"Robyn's twelve now. She gets say in what parent she wants to spend time with."

"I heard you weren't so sanguine when it came to Henry."

"I admit that, but neither was Emma. We both acted poorly, as did Snow and David. But we eventually came to an understanding, and let Henry make his choices."

Zelena glared in frustration. She had no come back when Regina readily admitted to her mistakes. "You have everything you ever dreamed of now. What do I have?"

"Robyn still cares for you."

"Why doesn't she show it, then?"

Regina breathed an inward sigh of relief. This she could deal with. Hopefully make some headway. "She's twelve."

Zelena flopped into a chair, like a sulky adolescent, herself. "I don't know how to deal with that, either. All that moodiness."

"It's not the easiest thing to deal with. Apparently their brains are careening like Cruella drove a car."

Zelena barked out a surprised laugh. "So Ms. Perfect mom Regina doesn't have all the answers."

Regina lifted an eyebrow. "You do remember what I said about raising Henry."

"But he loves you way more than he does Emma or even his 'saintly' Charming grandparents."

Regina shrugged. "Henry made his own choices."

"That again." Zelena grumbled.

"I don't have all the answers, just like you said. But I learned the most important thing is giving them a real say once they get to that age."

Zelena huffed with annoyance, but said nothing.

"Maybe you could schedule time to talk to Archie. Just you and Robyn?"

Zelena snorted. "That cricket with his fake magic degree. I know you swear by him, sis, but I have my doubts."

Regina shrugged again. "Just a suggestion."

"Yeah, I'm not interested." Zelena got up and left.

"And that's the problem." Regina muttered after the door closed.

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Henry felt at loose ends. Wasn't sure what he wanted to do. He could be a teacher like the other Storybrooke reality versions of himself. Mom could magic up some paperwork that looked like a college degree in Education. But that felt like cheating. His cohorts got real degrees.

He could try being Storybrooke's version of a Swift driver, but that had no appeal. He was tired of that. He was feeling a writing itch, but so far nothing, still. Mom had already pretty much offered him any job in her office he wanted. Grandpa David had offered to train him for police work and that was definitely a no. Killian had even offered him a seasonal job on his Jolly Rogers Storybrooke tour cruise. It was maybe desperation talking, that he was half considering that. He envied his step father Robin. When Henry told him about the other realties Storybrooke Robins being park rangers, he looked into the job, asked Regina if there was an opening. The next day he was working at the ranger station.

Henry sighed as he walked into the convenience store to buy batteries and some coffee. Jacinda, Sabine and Eudora had settled in too. Jacinda and Sabine were operating a bakery. Sabine had soothed a grouchy Granny, promising not to compete with her. Eudora was doing fine tailoring work like she had in Hyperion Heights.

Thanks to mom's recommendation, Eudora was booked up with projects for the foreseeable future. Sabine and Jacinda's bakery was also popular. Lucy was getting all kinds of stuff she'd always wanted. Thanks to her many caring relatives Lucy was adjusting to life in Storybrooke. Henry sighed again, only he was having problems figuring out what to do.

"Henry? Is that you?" A pretty woman, with a pharmacy bag in her hand, looked at him questioningly.

Henry realized with a shock, the attractive lady was Violet. "Violet?" he uttered in shock.

She grinned. "Yes! I heard about you being back-"

"Yep! How are you doing?" He felt a wave a relief when he saw her left ring finger was bare.

"Fine. I'm a veterinarian now. I specialize with equine species, but treat other animals as well when the clinic is busy."

"So you work at the clinic."

"Uh huh. Even in Storybrooke a private clinic can be a bit pricey."

Henry felt his mood lighten the longer he talked to her. He wondered why he'd ever broken up with her. Then felt a spurt of anger when he realized it had been the authors' manipulation that had caused that. He wondered if Violet was at the town hall mom had set up, to explain the authors manipulation, and how they were finally free now.

Violet looked at him questioningly. Henry flushed, realizing he must have missed a question from her. "Sorry! I'm just so happy to see you again, my brain isn't in gear. I totally missed what you asked."

Violet giggled girlishly, and blushed lightly. "I'm really happy to see you too. I just asked if you want to eat lunch together. I have a couple of hours before I need to drive out for an appointment. The clinic was out of this" She held up the pharmacy bag. "So I had to get it here before I drove out. I was going to go to Granny's and get some lunch."

"I'd love to eat lunch with you."

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"All I'm saying is that you and Robin should have a ceremony." Snow enthused.

Regina felt herself giving in, yet again, to Snow. No one could resist that earnest, enthusiastic charm. She nodded.

"Oh wonderful! Now we need to plan this. What is your dream wedding Regina? You know most of the town is thrilled you and Robin Hood finally got what was supposed to be."

"I don't know if most-"

"Regina. Ever since you told us what the authors had done, and we are free now, everyone sees the hero you are."

"I wouldn't say everyone."

"Most people then."

"Some."

Snow chuckled at that point and Regina gave her a lopsided grin.

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Roland took in the grounds of Storybrooke University. He wasn't sure what his major was going to be yet, but he'd made friends already. Douglas, a general medicine, major, was his first, and best friend. Douglas said they'd been in kindergarten together. Roland was surprised he remembered, he didn't. But too many things happened that year, including losing his dad, and a trip back to the Enchanted Forest. Douglas' parents were jerks. They'd disowned him when he came out as gay. Homophobia wasn't as common in the Enchanted Forest as here, but some people were. Douglas' parents, who had been nobles in the Enchanted Forest before one of the curses brought them here, were an example. Douglas was friends with Granny's foster daughter, Eimi. There was some kind of connection between Granny and Eimi's uncle. He brought Eimi here five years ago. Granny agreed to foster her. Eimi liked him from the moment they met. She was flirting with him. Roland thought she was cute. Eimi was taking drama classes at the university. Their class schedules matched up this day of the week, they were going to Granny's for lunch.

"Hey Roland, daydreaming again?" Eimi teased, as she came up behind him.

Roland chuckled. "Maybe."

"You should take this class in the fall." Eimi waved her drama class textbook.

Roland shrugged, he'd thought about it. "You decided what classes you'll be taking yet?"

"Other than the next level of drama classes, no. Got to take a bunch of the lit classes with this major, so I guess one of those."

"Whatever one you take, I'll take it too."

"With how you feel about literature?"

"Have to take a few anyway, be less boring with a friend in the same class."

"Eimi got you signing up for Drama classes yet, Roland?" Douglas grinned as he joined his closest friends.

Eimi stuck out her tongue at Douglas.

Roland shrugged. "Thinking about it"

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While they were eating at Granny's a guy with wavy blond hair came over to their table.

"Hi. I'm Matthew Kingsfort." He looked at Roland.

"You're Ms. Kingfort's kid?" Douglas remembered the art teacher in Storybrooke Elementary. She had a similar hair color to Matthew. She was one of the nice teachers.

"The art teacher at Storybrooke Elementary? Yeah, that's my mom. Mind if I join you?"

Douglas scooted over on the booth seat "It's fine."

Matthew sat down next to Douglas. "Okay, not sure how I say this, but Roland, my mom says we're cousins."

"Really?" Roland looked at him with interest.

"Yeah. My mom is your dad's younger sister, Rowena."

"Didn't know my dad had any family."

Matthew looked disappointed. "Mom said your dad left one night when she was a little girl, and never came back. She was a lot younger than him. But she never forgot him. She's thought about approaching him here, but wasn't sure how he felt about her. Neither grandmother nor grandfather were kind people. Both died a long time ago."

"You said your mom is Rowena?"

"Yeah. Formerly Rowena Locksley."

"I have a half-sister, well, kind of, named Rowan."

"Kind of?"

"It's complicated. Do you remember when Regina brought back Robin from the Wish Realm?"

"The dark Robin?"

"Yeah, him. Well, he was Rowan's dad. Queen Regina was her mom."

"The Evil Queen?"

"Yeah." Roland felt slightly uncomfortable with that moniker. Queen Regina was a bit odd, but she loved him and Rowan. She wasn't as openly warm and loving as Regina, but she protected and cared for them. And she mostly was a fair and good ruler. Better than most in the Enchanted Forest. It also felt a bit weird talking about things that happened in Storybrooke shortly after he left. Kind of hurt a bit, reminded him of how he hadn't really wanted to leave.

"I have a sister too, her name is Roberta. Sort of named after your dad. I have a little half-brother named Cedric, after my stepdad's father."

"Dark Robin said Rowan's name was like someone he cared about, but lost. Maybe he was talking about your mom. Your mom shouldn't be afraid to talk to my dad. I'd like to meet her and you sister and brother.

"Sure! Roberta's here. She was just waiting to see-"

"How I reacted to you."

Matthew laughed, "Yeah." Matthew stood up and waved to a brown haired girl.

The girl walked over with an uncertain smile. "Hi, I'm Roberta."

Roland smiled warmly "Hey. Your brother tells me we're cousins. How old are you?"

Roberta looked amused. "You didn't tell him how old we were."

"I would have."

Roberta smiled back at Roland, more relaxed. My brother is 19 and I'm 17. I'll be a senior at Storybrooke High this fall."

"Wow. So I'm right between you. I turned 18 in March."

"Even more family for you, Roland." Douglas chuckled.

"That's Storybrooke for you. Bet there's even someone related to you, Eimi, somewhere in town."

"Wouldn't be surprised." Eimi smirked.

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"Robin, it's great to have you here. You've really helped with the younger staff. Don't know what you've got that stops the ego clashes, but I'm promoting you. You'll be head ranger by next year if I continue to see results like this."

"Thanks, Yennenga. I just treat them like I did my Merry Men."

"Huh. I forgot you were Robin Hood."

Robin grinned. "I am going by Robin Locksley now, so understandable."

"So are the rumor true? You and the mayor are getting married?"

Robin nodded. "Yes, we are."

"Congratulations. Marrying into a pretty big family."

"True. In multiple ways."

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"Henry says he thinks he can get you a phone like mine. He knows how to do phone orders from the outside so they get here." Robyn said to Rowan.

"Really?"

"Yeah, he got Lucy one while they were coming back, but it was way out of date when they got here, so he had to get her another. He was going surprise her with it on her birthday."

"Was he going surprise me with one on my birthday? It's not until next year."

"Nah. He wanted me to ask you if you wanted a phone. Some people from the Enchanted Forest don't like technology much. Roland's that way."

"My brother says it's too much a bother. He barely uses his, & that's just because all his new friends use them for everything."

Robyn was thrilled to finally have her brother around, even though he was with his new friends most the time now. Henry was all grown up and a Dad, plus he got reunited with Violet a couple of weeks ago and they were going to move in together at the old Apprentice's house. Rowan knew Roland lots better than she did, but now that they were all settled in Storybrooke, even she didn't see him that much anymore. But Rowan had never known Henry before they met a few weeks ago, while she had seen him a lot before he left.

"You want to ride our bikes over to Aunt Regina's office?" Robyn adored her aunt, she was way more mom-like than her mom Zelena. Aunt Regina was letting Rowan come over to the house and spend the night any time she wanted during school's summer vacation. Aunt Regina knew Zelena wasn't really supervising them, but she said she trusted them to do the right things and come to her office if they wanted to.

"Sure. Think she'll show us any more spells?" Rowan was starting to like Regina a lot. Not as much as her mama the queen, but Regina hugged a lot more and took them fun places for kids. She also was teaching them spells. Mama said she'd maybe teach her a few when she was older, that magic was for grown-ups. Regina told them about other realities where she taught all her kids light magic, other people's kids too. Regina said she wasn't ready for the later, but saw no reason why she shouldn't be teaching her own children too.

Robyn shrugged "Don't know, but she said something about coming over for lunch if we wanted, yesterday. Her mom was an indifferent cook & usually just threw together something if she did make something. In the last year or so she had told her to just fix herself something. She was usually busy with making up her herbal potions and lotions that she sold to some Storybrooke residents. Or out doing something somewhere in town.

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About a month after Henry's return he was looking through the different storybooks at his new home when he realized what he wanted to do. He took out the Page 23 reality storybook thoughtfully. Maybe if he changed the names and a few details, he could write this as a fantasy novel. He sat down at his laptop and started writing.

"Henry? You hungry?" Violet said with a smile. She'd never seen Henry look so vibrant, yet relaxed.

Henry startled, then looked at the time on his laptop and chuckled. He'd been writing six hours straight! He saved his work, then replied, "Oh yeah. Haven't written like this in years. I think I've found my path." Henry told Violet of his plans.

"Good. It feels right to me, too." She responded.

"So you think it will sell?"

"Of course. Your heart is in it."

Henry laughed. "Heart of the truest believer. That's what they said when I was a kid."

"See, you just had to find where your hearts work was. I knew you would, Henry."

"You're part of that too, where my heart is."

"Is that a marriage proposal?"

"Yeah- yes, it is."

"Then my answer is yes."

"Sorry I didn't have a ring ready or do the kneeling thing."

Violet shrugs, we'll get the first when we get married, and I don't care about the other."

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Regina and Robin married at the town hall building. It was a bigger affair than either of them would have chosen, but Snow's confidence about their wedding's popularity proved true. The building was packed with onlookers, and the outdoor reception in the park, even more so.

"See, I told you. Look at all these people here to wish you well." Snow beamed.

"Or to gawk at the spectacle." Regina responded deadpan.

Robin laughed and embraced Regina, giving her a quick kiss. Regina grinned at him. "The free food is probably a draw too." He playfully said, supporting his wife's side of this banter.

"Likely." Regina smirked.

Snow let out an exasperated sigh, and went to find her husband.

"Well, what do you know, that finally quieted the gushing." Regina whispered, and winked at Robin.

"Anything for milady." Robin chuckled.

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"Okay, I remember you, you're Mulan, but who are you two? Emma Swan-Jones said to the three women she'd come across on her patrol. They still had the occasional Enchanted Forest resident that made it to Storybrooke by some magical means. Mulan had nominally been an ally years ago, but people change. It was best to be wary. She didn't know who these other two were. The shortest and oldest looked kind of like one of the women from the other realities Avalon. But even if she was their realities version she still was an unknown factor. And who was the third woman?

"As you've probably guessed I'm this realities Morgaine or Morgan LeFay as a tale names me. We were unable to help you much on our Avalon during the crisis. I'm afraid we are probably the weakest version of the realities. We watched and pushed through a bit of our power, but that was all we could do. I brought Mulan and Rebecka here, because they were meant to be here. The authors' interference kept them from here. I must get back to Avalon. I cannot stay. I am needed there. I only stayed to make sure they met someone trustworthy from Storybrooke, who could get them to town." Morgaine then poofed herself away.

Emma sighed with irritation. "Okay Mulan, tell me what's going on"

"Rebecka sometimes goes to Avalon, they have lots of old magic stuff everyone else has forgotten about-"

"Light magic." Rebecka added. "I'm a healer. Morgaine came to Mulan and me, when we arrived in Avalon. She said our old friend Robin Hood was in this place called Storybrooke and we belonged in that place. I trust Morgaine implicitly, so Mulan and I followed her here."

"Okay, so you know Robin Hood. I can get him to verify he knows you. Follow me" Emma was glad she could hand off this headache to someone else. Her pregnancy had shot her patience with any nonsense all to hell. She felt so ambivalent about the baby since the authors' interference had broken. Killian was still over the moon about it. If anything, even more ecstatic. Sometimes that irritated her too. He acted like he'd done some speculator deed of masculinity, better than anyone else. He was also slacking off on his shifts when he didn't work with her or David. Killian took extra long lunch breaks on his ship. And was right now on leave doing Storybrooke boat tours on that pirate ship of his. He'd almost roped Henry into going along with him.

Luckily, Henry ran into Violet, and they took up where they'd left off. Emma liked Violet and thought she had a positive influence on Henry. Regina was too soft on Henry, she'd have let him stay at her house and just drift along until he got inspired.

"So, how far a journey is Storybrooke?" Rebecka said, interrupting Emma's thoughts.

"Not far by car" Emma was glad something had told her she'd need the regular patrol car, not her Bug. Plus her pregnancy was making her ancient car seem too cramped. Magic was the only thing keeping it going anyway. As much as she hated to, she might have to get a bigger car now that she was going to have a kid, well, a second one. One she'd at least make a try at raising.

"What is a car?" Mulan responded.

"That" Emma pointed to the patrol vehicle "is a car."

"Is it magic? I see no horses for your strange carriage."

"Not magic, mechanics, Mulan."

"Really?" Curiosity sparked in her eyes. "I saw a small mechanical horse, once, powered by steam."

"This runs on a type of oil."

"But heated in some way?"

"Yeah." Emma smiled. Interesting, Mulan was curious about mechanics. That might help her adjustment here. This Rebecka, though, she was an enigma. She'd just listened to the conversation without saying anything. Robin Hood had all kinds of friends. Some of his Merry Men hadn't been above petty thievery in Storybrooke, without giving back to the poor. Robin himself wasn't that way, but he gradually drifted away from them as he got more involved with Regina. Once his influence began to wane, some of them showed less interest in living by Robin's code. And unlike Robin, most had no interest in Storybrooke, they kept living in their camp in tents. Emma wasn't that bothered when they left, and was glad none had returned with him and Regina. She felt guilty about letting the Merry Men take Roland with them, but he was back now and pretty normal kid. He'd readjusted to Storybrooke life, fast.

Apparently, Roland wanted to be an actor like his new friends. Other than an illicit alcohol fueled 2 AM amateur street performance with his friends, Roland was causing few headaches for either Robin and Regina, or Storybrooke in general. Emma had been the one to break up the impromptu performance last weekend. Leroy had made the complaint. Roland and his friends, in their inebriated state hadn't realized how loud their voices had been. They loudly apologized and somewhat unsteadily made their way back to the dorms after she dropped them off at campus. She gave them a warning about disturbing the peace and let them go. She figured the fierce hangovers they would undoubtedly have in the morning was punishment enough.

Emma put Mulan and Rebecka in the back of the cruiser.

"Are we your prisoners?" Rebecka asked, as Emma began the short drive back to the police station.

"Not yet." Emma responded noncommittedly.

"Humph." Mulan grumbled. "Fine way to treat an old friend."

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Once they arrived at the station Emma called Robin.

"Got a couple of your old friends here. One I know, Mulan. The other says her name is Rebecka and she's a healer, ring any bells?"

"Yes! Rebecka delivered Roland."

"So midwife too?"

"Yes, that wasn't unusual in the Enchanted Forest."

"Okay. I'll let you talk to her, while I talk to Mulan some more."

"So how did you and Mulan meet? Robin smiled at his old friend.

"Probably the way you'd expect. One of her many temporary traveling companions brought her to my house, badly injured."

"So how long have you been traveling together?"

Rebecka looked thoughtful, "Hmm, maybe about eleven years."

"Wow. She isn't known sticking around long with anyone."

"True love."

Robin chuckled. "So Mulan finally found hers."

"And me as well. I was getting so old I figured I was just not destined to have one."

"Didn't know you were looking."

"Oh, not actively, even back when you and I first crossed paths" Rebecka grinned.

"Thank you again for hiding Little John and I from Nottingham that time. Neither of us were in any shape to escape on our own."

"Nottingham was a bully, creep and an ass."

"At least here he has no power. He's a drunken idiot that everyone despises." Robin said, bluntly.

"He's here?"

"Yeah, but he's in jail more often than not. He's no problem to most people, here."

"I heard the evil queen is mayor here. I never had a run in with her, but I've heard stories…"

"Regina hasn't been a queen, much less evil, in a very long time. We are soulmates and married now."

"How?" Rebecka's eyes were wide with shock.

"I'll let her tell you that story later, or her son Henry can. He's the current author."

"She has a child?"

"He's grown now, but yes. Actually between us, Regina and I have four children. You know Roland."

"I heard when Marion died, so sorry for your loss."

"For years we didn't know how or if she'd died, for certain. I blamed myself. But we found out some years back who killed her. A woman named Zelena. She's here in Storybrooke."

"How can you stand that?"

"She's done more bad things too, to my family."

"She's not in jail? "

Robin sighed. "Perhaps I should have waited to talk about this. It's painful to talk about it. She's caused Regina a lot of pain too."

"Sorry I got you going down that path."

"It's okay. I'll talk more about it some other time."

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

After they were cleared as not dangerous, Mulan and Rebecka went to the mayor's office to meet Regina. Mulan was very distrustful of Regina and let Rebecka do the talking.

Regina smiled at Rebecka. "Robin tells me you delivered Roland."

"Yes I did. It was a somewhat difficult birth for both Marion and Roland, but I got them through it."

"We certainly could use another doctor here. Welcome to Storybrooke."

"Thank you. Mulan is a skilled fighter, sword, hand to hand, almost any kind of fighting."

"She's got options then. We don't have a formal military here, but she could work for the police or as a security guard. The later has more independence, perhaps she'd like that?"

Rebecka looked over at Mulan. Mulan nodded.

"Okay. I'll check around and let you know who needs a security guard." Regina glanced toward Mulan, then turned back to Rebecka. "I've pulled up a few places here that have room for a clinic and a second floor residence. I've printed it out so you can look at them and see what suits you two best."

"But we have none of this place's money, how will we pay for it."

"We have a fund for all Storybrooke residents that gives a basic income to any newcomer. Until you get on your feet. You'll have plenty of business once you're opened." Regina smiled, kindly. That nine million Henry had liberated was already earmarked to various programs, this fund was one of those.

"Robin was right, you're nothing like the stories we heard in the Enchanted Forest."

"Long ago, I was. I was a mentally broken woman that lashed out at everyone, consumed by my rage. We've all also suffered under a malign outside influence that we recently defeated. For anyone that wants it, Storybrooke is a place of second chances."

"Yes. I think we will take that second chance. Do you agree, Mulan?" Rebecka asked.

Mulan remained wary of this Regina Mills, of most people, truly, but "Yes. I'm willing to give this place a chance," Mulan nodded.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Henry was curious, in spite of himself. He had to see what the authors had done after the spell on himself and all his family was broken. He told Regina he was going to look it up, just in case a protective spell was needed.

"You can't be serious, Henry. You know what they did to us when we were under that spell."

"I know, curiosity killed the cat. But it keeps plaguing my thoughts. I have to purge it by seeing what they did."

"And being relieved we escaped it?"

"Yes!"

Regina sighed. "Okay. But I am going to do my strongest shielding spell on that laptop."

"Will you watch with me, mom?"

"Of course. But whatever we see stays just with us."

Henry nodded.

Hours later they looked at each other in horror. It was even worse than they had expected.

"A living nightmare." Henry shuddered

"That we would have been trapped in, and completely unsustainable. That complete chaos would have imploded on us and wiped us all from existence. Too narrow an escape." Regina said with cold anger. "I'm so angry I want to break something."

"I'd offer my laptop, but I need it." Henry smiled wryly.

Regina smiled faintly. "It's okay. That helped."

Henry hugged Regina tightly. "I'm so glad we broke the spell, mom."

Regina hugged him back as closely. "Me too." She felt tears welling in her eyes and let them fall. She looked up at her grown son, and saw he was crying too.