Regina was having one of the best weekends of her life, that is right up until Henry called to tell her Lucy was taken to the hospital. Fucking Belfry, she knows it's somehow her fault, and she wants to kill that woman. She won't, but damn does she ever want to. Her granddaughter's life is in danger because of that bitch, and she needs magic to help her. But magic means breaking the curse, and if she does that her son will die. It's an impossible situation. As always, just when something good happens to her, a disaster strikes. After twenty years apart she didn't even get twenty-four hours of bliss over Robin's return before Henry called.

As soon as he did, they knew what they had to do: get back to Hyperion Heights. Robin quickly packed up a few bags as she booked tickets (with his credit card) and off they went to the airport. She finally texted Robyn, something she should have done earlier, but was far too distracted by her father, asking where she is and when she's coming home. She doesn't want to alarm her, but also knows Robin is desperate to see his daughter, even cursed. He wants as much time as he can get with his children, and they spend their time at the gate trying to find Storybrooke residents on social media, the off chance Roland's still there, or they know where he is, but it's futile.

Though they are awake, only Drizella and Rumple are also awake that they know of, so they have to remain Roni and Archer. They only got to enjoy a brief period of being able to be their true selves, and now it's time to act their former parts. On the way over, they had decided it would be easier to just try and call each other Roni and Archer all the time, rather than Regina and Robin in private and risk being caught calling each other their real names. It's something she knows she's going to have trouble with because she finally has him back after so long and doesn't want to have to pretend he's someone else. She loves saying his name, loves hearing her name on his lips, but sacrifices have to be made and after what he did for their children everything is minor in comparison.

Robin's lucky because no one in Hyperion Heights has met Archer, so Robin is free to be more of himself. Regina though, she has to play a role, needs to still act like Roni, which poses quite the challenge. She still has all of Roni's cursed memories, but they feel fake now that she knows again how vibrant real memories are. It's not at all the same as when she didn't know who she was, and it's going to make being Roni again a challenge. Roni was harder than Regina, not that she doesn't have edge, she does, she was the Evil Queen for god's sake, but Roni was rough in ways she never was, was physically tougher, argumentative and a big drinker in a way that bordered on a drinking problem. Roni also liked to have a good time, let loose, get wild, and she held none of Regina's notions of propriety or her sense of decorum, as evidenced by that god awful Def Leppard tattoo she had removed a couple of months ago. Robin had asked her about it when he kissed down her back in one of many rounds, and she'd had to explain that scar was a remnant of a tramp stamp, then what a tramp stamp actually is. It was mortifying, but he was amused, and soon made her forget all about her embarrassment with hot, well placed kisses.

But he didn't forget the differences he'd noticed, and that's made obvious by how he starts to quiz her on Roni's life and how she's different as they take off. She knows it's important for him to know these things since he's coming back as Roni's boyfriend, but it still makes her skin crawl, especially when she realizes the state she left her apartment in. None of it is her, while she's never thought of herself as particularly uptight, she judges Roni, and knows Roni would have thought she had a stick up her ass and was extremely uptight.

Robin is very interested in learning more about Roni. He knows some of it from their mutual cursed memories, but it's hazy and grainy now that he's awake, a feeling she is well acquainted with but pushes past as she fills him in on the salient details. She knows part of why he's asking is to keep her occupied, to keep her mind off of the situation, but to her chagrin, he's also genuinely curious about her cursed persona.

She manages to divert the conversation away from that without getting caught up in the despair over what's happening to their family by piecing together their cover story. It takes some time to come up with something simple enough and still realistic. They decide to tell people they ran into each other months ago when he was in Seattle on business—which leads her to ask what the hell he was even doing, learning he was miserable as an assistant in a corporate job, which isn't shocking given that it goes against everything he stood for. It's only then he realizes he's made no plans for his work on Monday and buys an hour of the overpriced Wifi on the flight to fire off an email requesting an emergency leave, one that he plans on never returning from.

After that is taken care of, they go back to ironing out their story, decide they met up again when he was in Seattle, that they started talking again, then she took the trip out to New York to see if they could rekindle their relationship. It's a bit impulsive, leaving town on a whim to see if things will work out with a guy, then bringing him back to stay with you, but Roni was impulsive and reckless, so it's not totally out of character. She knows there will be questions from some people (mostly her employees since she doesn't really have any friends), but thankfully Roni, like Regina, kept her private life to herself. She was a bit of a loner, kept people at a distance, which made her so lonely, but makes things easier now. Plus, there's the very helpful fact that Roni would just tell someone to back off if they bothered her too much, if they pestered her with questions she didn't want to answer.

"So, love," Robin starts, turning to look at her as he asks his question, "What else is there to know about Roni?"

She groans internally, knowing she needs to tell him more about Roni's actual personality, how she spends her time, but it's just so embarrassing. Roni is not the woman he fell in love with, and she can't help but worry he will hate her cursed personality, since lord knows she kind of does.

At least Roni didn't have to deal with the knowledge that one wrong move could kill both her granddaughter and her son. She had problems sure, but nothing this overwhelming and awful. In some ways, she almost wishes she was still cursed and ignorant, thinks it would be easier, even though that's silly. She wouldn't have Robin if she was still cursed.

It's just, god, what are they going to do? How the hell can they save their family in a way that avoids that impossible choice? And how much time do they even have to save Lucy? What if something's happened? What if she's already too late?

She ramping herself up and feels a soothing hand clench on hers, grounding her. "I'm sorry," she breathes and tries to pull herself out, to slow down the panic that's threatening to take hold. "I just… I can't focus right now, I'm so worried about Lucy."

He rubs his hand up and down her arm soothingly, and she leans into his touch, to the comfort. "It's going to be okay, love. I know it will be, we will find a way to save Lucy."

He presses a soft peck to her forehead, and miraculously, she feels some of the tension melt away. She'd forgotten how good he is at this, how just having him with her can make the worst situations seem less bleak, so much so that she almost believes him when he says, "You always find a way, this time will be no different."

It's sweet, his faith in her is reassuring, and she wishes she could have that faith that it will all work out, but life has never really turned out that way for her. Staying positive has never been her strong suit, she always relied on her friends and family for that.

He presses a soft kiss to her cheek, then another, going lower until he hits her jaw, and it's nice, so nice. Somehow, even with everything that's going on, she can't wait to be alone with him again. Since he returned, it's like her hormones are on steroids, every time he touches her, even the most innocent of touches, he sets her aflame. She pulls him in for what's supposed to be a quick peck, but they are rather addicted to each other so it heats up, quickly becoming inappropriate given that they are on an airplane and not alone. It's a red eye and everyone around them appears to be sleeping, but that doesn't change the fact that this is not the time, no matter how much she needs him.

She breaks the kiss breathless and winks at him, "There will be more of that later."

He smirks, "Mm, can't wait, love."

"Me either," she whispers, unashamed of how badly she wants him. The guy in the window seat beside them is out cold, so she takes a chance on telling him just how much she does, "As soon as we get home I'm going to…" then she stops, gasping as she realizes, "True love's kiss!"

Robin looks confused, rightfully so, and asks, "What?" as her brain reels.

"True love's kiss can break any curse… maybe it can help Lucy, if Henry believes, then just maybe he can wake her up."

Robin smiles, "See, I told you, you would figure it out."

"I just... I don't know if that would also break the actual curse." That cannot happen, not yet. She knows Henry would choose Lucy's life over his, would be furious with her if he survived and she didn't, but she doesn't want to have to make that choice.

Robin's eyes narrow and his face falls as he asks, "When Emma woke Henry up she also broke the curse, didn't she?"

"Yeah," she looks and sees the oh shit look cross his face before he covers it, a move she knows is for her benefit. God, she loves him so much, loves that he does his best to keep positive for her. If he can do that with his children who are god knows where, she has to try, too.

She takes a breath, then thinks it out, "Drizella says it's Henry and Jacinda, but what if she's wrong, what if any true love's kiss would break the curse?"

Fuck, fuck. They really cannot catch a break, because, "What if we accidentally break the curse?"

She cannot be expected to keep her lips off of his now that's she got him back. Life can't be this cruel, it can't be that she endangers her son if she kisses her soulmate in Hyperion Heights (it totally can, it's what she deserves after all of her former sins, but god, what torture.)

Robin must see the subtle clues she's working herself up into a bit of a panic again because he quickly reassures her as one arm comes around her shoulders pulling her in close, "Snow and Charming kissed during all the curses, and they didn't break any one of them, so it can't be just any true loves kiss that breaks it. There has to be something more."

He's right, and she almost gets caught up in thinking through that, but he's still talking, "But if you are really worried, I won't kiss you. It will be one of the hardest things I'll ever have to do, will take all of my strength to resist the temptation, but I'll do it."

She laughs aloud at that, his statement having the desired effect. She misses this so much, how he just gets her, even before he really knew her he was always able to pull her from the darkness and make her laugh. "You're right, it's always been Henry, and why would this time be any different? I would like to talk to Rumple, to see if I can get him to admit he's awake, and see if he can shed any light on this."

Robin's hand is spiralling on her arm, and it should not be turning her on, but it is. She changes her tone, dropping her voice teasingly, "It's a good thing we don't have to test our self control, because I don't think I'd be able to handle having you here without being able to satisfy my desires."

"I'm sure we would have managed, had some fun without kissing." That puts images in her head that are not at all helpful. She doesn't understand how she's able to flip so quickly from near despair to wanton and needy, but it's a welcome distraction, one she's going to exploit, because feeling like this is far better than the alternative.

He keeps going, his hot breath in her ear as he whispers, "Now tell me love, do you think it's just a kiss on the lips that would count, or would I have been unable to kiss down your neck, those gorgeous breasts? Would I have been able to lick you, suck on you, take my place between your thighs and suck until—"

"Robin," she hisses, yes, they think people are sleeping, but what if someone hears this, she'd die of mortification. Plus, she can feel the flush in her cheeks from how badly she needs it, and this is not helping, not now when there is nothing they can do about it.

"Don't you mean Archer?" he asks her, grinning.

She shoots him a glare, though he's not wrong. "You know what I mean, and you need to stop that."

"But aren't you enjoying it, love?"

Far too much, and he knows it, she knows he does. She is well acquainted with that saucy grin on his face. "Not when we can't do anything about it."

He looks far too pleased with himself as he asks her, "Mm, are you wet, love?"

She doesn't answer him, knows it will only encourage him and he takes her non-answer as the affirmation it is.

"Fine," he sighs dramatically, "I'll be good, but this isn't over yet, it's barely begun."

That just makes her clench and god, how is she supposed to make it through another hour on this flight? This is better than feeling shitty, so she leans in and kisses him softly, enjoying him in a way she can.


Regina leads him up into an apartment just above the bar, a place he's going to want a tour of later. Her apartment is tiny, with cheap Ikea furniture and band posters up on the walls that don't quite cover the cracking paint. It's a mess, with dishes out on the coffee table and a floor that desperately needs to be washed. It's the most un-Regina place he has ever seen.

She cringes when she sees him looking around, "Sorry, I, uh, didn't really have time to clean this place up once I woke up. I know it's terrible."

He can't help but laugh at her red cheeks because only Regina would be ashamed of her cursed personality, and he can't help but rib her just a little, "I didn't realize Roni was so… easygoing."

Regina groans, "Can we just not? Maybe you should stay in a hotel and I can—"

"Don't be silly, love, there's nothing wrong with this place, and you are adorable when you're embarrassed." She blushes harder when he compliments her, but he can tell she's still a bit uncomfortable. "Listen, if you really want me to I will, but now that I'm back, I don't want to spend a minute away from you."

Her face softens at his words, and he's struck by how gorgeous she is, a feeling that pops as she admits, "I just don't want you to think less of me."

How she could ever think that was even a possibility is beyond him. He loves her so much, knows her better than anyone—and he can say that because though he missed a bunch of time, that time was spent watching his family, and mostly her.

He uses his hand to guide her eyes up to meet his as he tells her, "Regina, I love you. Nothing is ever going to change that, especially not some silly posters and a shitty apartment. You were cursed to be a broke bartender, I wasn't expecting the Four Seasons."

He spent two decades without her, waiting to be reunited, he doesn't give a shit where they are, as long as they are together.

She kisses him softly, smiling, "I love you too, darling." He can't help but grin, knowing she picked that up from him, it's a grin that grows as she comments, "but we both need to work on this Roni and Archer thing."

"Mmm, you are quite right, Roni." She smirks a little at that, and god, she's so beautiful, and he is so lucky to have her back, to be able to flirt with her again. "What can I do to make it up to you?"

He starts peppering kisses down her neck, relishing in the low moan it draws from her.

"Mmm that's nice, but Oh… we should go check on Lucy first."

He tries not to show his disappointment because obviously their family comes first, always has, and he does want to meet the new members of it. He is going to need a minute to cool down though, just being in her presence finally, after all these years, has him hot and bothered. He's insatiable, and can't seem to keep his mind out of the gutter or his hormones in check. In his defence, he spent many many years with just his hand, and he had wanted her so badly on the flight. It's like he's addicted to her, like a switch has been turned back on and he's ravenous, desperate to make up for their years of separation. He cannot get enough of her, but they have real-life problems to deal with.

Part of it may be because he's not ready to embrace all of those real-life problems just yet. He misses the bubble of his New York apartment, those rare moments of peace where they were able to just be together, something they almost never had in their time together before.

God, she's just so sexy, he's really into this new look of hers, the jeans that hug her rear incredibly, the band shirts, leather jacket and the curls that make her look like a total badass. She may not like how rockin' Roni was, but he lights up for it.

But they need to get on to real life, and staring at her isn't helping him get his hormones in check. "I'm just going to grab a glass of water first."

He throws a, "Do you want one?" over his shoulder as he walks toward the fridge.

"No, I'm alright. I'm just going to put my bag away, then we can go."

He opens the fridge and to his surprise, the only things in it are a half-full bottle of vodka, a take out container with who knows what in it, a carton of milk, and two limes that he suspects are for the bottle of tequila on the counter.

He opens the cupboards, searching for a glass, and finds some coffee, sugar, a couple cans of soup and a box of mac and cheese, which appears to be all of the food at Roni's, and that surprises him more than anything.

Regina comes out as he's pouring water into his cup and warns him, "The water here has a funny taste."

And she's right, he grimaces a little and asks, "Do you have a filter or container to at least distill some?"

She laughs ruefully, "You saw the cupboards, what do you think?"

He's glad she's taking this in stride now so he doesn't feel bad commenting, "I think we should get some groceries on our way back, lest we get stuck with having mac and cheese."

"Ugh, yes, I know the food I bought as Roni is just horrendous. I don't know how I survived eating only that junk."

He checks her out unnecessarily before he tells her, "Well, I can tell you you've only gotten sexier, so it couldn't have been that bad."

She gives him a playful shove, "Flatterer," before returning to the entry to put her boots back on. He stares unabashedly as she bends to do so, and he should get a grip, but he's rather enjoying this horny teenager state he's found himself in.

They walk hand in hand to the hospital, and just that feels amazing, to be able to walk around with his love, something he could only dream of for so long. He will never take any little moment or gesture of affection for granted again. When they get to the floor he lets her go ahead, in part so he can admire the view. He loved Regina's tight but tasteful dresses and suits, but he is also very much a fan of Roni's tight jeans. Her ass looks fucking fantastic in them, is tempting him into giving it a firm squeeze, but now is definitely not the time for that.

He has a feeling that witnessing the reality of what's happened is going to pull him out of his lustful haze, so he lets himself enjoy these last moments as she walks hastily toward Lucy's room. He hangs back a bit because Archer hasn't met any of these people, and he doesn't want to intrude on a private moment. It gives him the added bonus of watching Regina walk ahead of him, her hips swaying deliciously. She's so effortlessly sexy, he knows she's not trying to be, knows that's the farthest thing from her mind right now, but it only makes it better, and of course highly inappropriate because they are in a hospital where their family is suffering.

He's never actually met Lucy and Ella, but he feels like he knows them from his time watching them—which now that he thinks of it sounds quite creepy, but hopefully, they won't see it like that.

Regina must catch Henry's eye because he comes out to greet her. He's struck by how grown-up Henry is. He's watched him like this, but seeing it in the flesh is something else. It takes him aback in a way he didn't expect and makes him aware of just how much time he missed. Somehow Regina hasn't really aged, so it's easier to feel like he didn't miss much, but he did. His daughter is twenty, Roland is almost twenty-five and Henry's in his mid-thirties. He's not even sure what age he technically is now, given most of it was spent on Mount Olympus, not living. His heart aches at the thought, over all the things he's missed, the time he can't get back, but he pushes it away because he's here now, has been granted a second chance he won't waste feeling sad about the time he missed.

Regina and Henry are talking quietly, but he's close enough he can hear the conversation.

"Hey, how are you? How's Lucy?" He can tell Regina is fighting to keep calm and collected, to not show how invested she is.

"She's stable but not getting any better. For me, there's nothing I can do to help so there's that."

His heart breaks for both Henry and Regina, this is such a difficult situation, but she navigates it like a pro, telling him, "Hey, don't give up. Lucy needs you right now, she needs your help, even if she can't ask for it. I may not have known you long, but I can tell, you're a believer, Henry, even if you don't know it. Just like Lucy."

"Yeah, well, I mean… I don't know if that's true. I even, and this is going to sound crazy, but I even for a second thought what if it's true, what if she is my daughter, and the book is real? So I kissed her because of true love's kiss, but it was stupid."

And shit, he already tried it and it didn't work. He can see the panic and sorrow flicker in Regina's eyes for a second before she steels her face and tells Henry, "Well, you are here and they need you, so you are doing what you can."

Henry hugs her and tells her something he thinks is thank you before returning to Lucy's room.

When Henry's out of eyesight, Regina's face falls and he can't bear it, hates how upset she is and that he can't fix it. This isn't at all how he imagined coming back, but they've always made their way through the challenges and this time will be no different. "I'm so sorry, love. This must be so hard for you, being so close to him but not being to comfort him."

"It is," she says, her tone defeated, and they can't have that.

"We're going to figure this out, darling, we will. First, let's find out why true love's kiss didn't work, and then maybe we can fix it."

She sighs, as she tells him, "True love's kiss only works if both parties believe, and Victoria must have finally succeeded in taking Lucy's belief."

That's not good. "Okay… so how do we get it back?"

"I don't think we can, not while she's asleep."

No, that can't be it, they must be able to do something. "So, then what do we do?"

Her eyes well up, and he knows what she's going to say before she even starts, "To save Lucy, I need to break the curse, which means Henry dies. And I know that's what he would want me to do, but…" her voice breaks off as she suppresses a sob, a single tear falling down her face that he wipes away.

"Look at me," she does, those beautiful, have seen far too much pain in their lifetime, eyes lock on his as he tries to lift her spirits. "Nobody is dying, you hear me? I'm here, and that means our children are safe," and it better or he's going to do his damndest to kill Zeus the next time he's up there. "We are going to find a way to fix this, without sacrificing Henry. We will find a third way, it might take a little time, but we will find a way to save them both. Then we will cure Henry and break the curse."

"You're right, we can't give up that easy. There is another way, and we will find it," she says with conviction, and he would worry she was just humouring him but her tears have subsided and she looks calmer.

"So, what now?"

"We need to talk to Rumple, but it's late and he won't take my calls. He's still pretending he's asleep, so it will have to wait until tomorrow, when I can corner him at the station."

"Alright, so should we go get some groceries then, have some dinner, figure out what's next?"

"No," she says surprising him, "We are going to go home, and you are going to do all those things you promised, until I forget how shitty today was."

And that, well, that he can do.