This is a sequel to Ohana Meets Family but you don't need to have read that to necessarily understand this story. All you really need to know is that Captain Swan didn't happen, Wooden Swan did, and August stayed with Emma and Henry.

This is an AU - I don't believe this is what happened in canon (as will become obvious) and the subsequent sequel will skew it further - additionally, I have adjusted certain things to fit the AU. I am aware that Regina was apparently in her 20s when she married - I find that hard to believe, given Cora's determination to marry her off.

In season 1, it might have made sense, once they brought in Zelena's backstory, it stopped. There's no way Cora waited nearly a decade after her daughter came of age to enact that plan.

On that note, Regina married when she was 17 and her return to the castle does bring up some old memories. There are discussions of previous marital abuse, marital rape, and miscarriages - and Regina's own perception of some of these events are skewed. I will try and remember to note each individual chapter, but if any of these topics are sensitive to you - firstly, my condolences; secondly, please proceed with caution.

I did also delve into the politics of the Enchanted Forest a little bit in the first story and I do bring it up in this one. so just to clarify:

The Enchanted Forest is split into a number of kingdoms which are as follows -

Nolansia - previously ruled by King George and his wife, Queen Sarah; now ruled by Snow and Charming.

Misthaven - previously ruled by King Leopold and Queen Eva; now ruled by Regina (maybe or maybe not as Snow's regent)

Aurumnia - ruled by King Midas; his daughter is Princess Abigail, who is married to Frederick

Crepidia - ruled by King Thomas; his sons are Prince Thomas (married to Ella) and Prince Philip, which brings me neatly on to

Sentisrota - previously ruled by King Stefan and Queen Bria Rose; now ruled by Aurora and Philip

Sherwood - ruled by King Richard

The lowlands - previously ruled by King Xavier, Regina's grandfather; he made Leopold's father his heir rather than cause an outright war between his seven sons and the kingdom was absorbed into Misthaven, much to Cora's disgust.

As the curse swirled around them, Regina kept her eyes fixed on Henry through the rear window of Emma's car, getting smaller and smaller until …

She blinked.

The yellow bug - and Storybrooke - had disappeared, replaced by the heart-wrenchingly familiar trees of the Enchanted Forest.

To her surprise, they had landed not in Nolansia, where the Charmings' castle stood, nor in Misthaven where the first curse had begun, but in one of the neighbouring kingdoms, although quite close to Charming's border, if memory served her.

"Where is everyone?" Red demanded.

"Where they left from I assume," Regina said coldly, shedding her cloak. She was wearing the same dress she had the night she cast the curse, which had been fine for autumn, but far too warm for spring.

Then again, Snow was wearing a nightgown, and Charming's shirt was stained with blood, leftover from his battle with her Black Knights the night Emma was born, so she supposed it could be worse.

There was movement at her side, and she automatically handed her cloak off, before pausing. "Didn't I leave you at the castle that night?"

"No, Your Majesty. You didn't instruct me to come along, but I did anyway."

Ivy Gardiner had been her handmaiden since she was a young girl of sixteen, the last year of Regina's marriage. Her cursed persona, Holly Plant, had been Regina's personal assistant for the last 30 years, and had been as loyal in Storybrooke as she had in Misthaven.

Regina managed a small smile. "Well, thank you Ivy."

Ivy bobbed a curtsy before turning to Red. "Would you like me to take your cloak as well, Miss Lucas?"

Red held hers a little tighter. "Thank you, Ivy, but this one's special and I need to keep it on. Also, just because we're not in Storybrooke anymore doesn't mean you have to revert to servitude."

"With all due respect, Miss Lucas," Ivy said, her voice a little cold, "I like my job."

"Snow!"

There was a woman running towards them, a woman Regina knew from somewhere, but couldn't quite place.

"Aurora!"

Snow greeted her old friend with a hug and Regina turned away, uninterested in watching the reunion. Bad enough she had to deal with losing Henry; now she had to be reminded of the loss of her oldest (and only) friend.

"Excuse me? Your majesty?"

The softly accented voice caught her attention, and she found herself granting a smile to the elderly carpenter, Archie now back in cricket form on his shoulder. After all, he too had left a child behind, although August would, at least, remember him. "Yes, Geppetto?"

"My boy … He didn't come with us," Geppetto said. "Does that mean …?"

"He was here the night the curse was cast," Regina said. "So he would be here. If he's not, then he's with Emma and Henry."

"That's good," Geppetto said, attempting a smile. "At least they're together." He tilted his head, apparently listening to something. "And do you happen to know what happened to Pongo?"

"I don't," Regina admitted. "Given his master is now a cricket, for all I know Pongo's now a man. I'm sorry," she found herself adding, to the cricket.

"Regina?" Snow called. "You should be present for this discussion."

Regina sighed, closing her eyes. "Give me strength." Turning on her heel, she stalked over to where Snow and Charming were speaking with Aurora and …

Regina stopped, frowning. "Didn't you get attacked by a wraith?"

"My wife is a rather brilliant, rather unstoppable force," Phillip said, giving his wife a loving smile.

Snow was beaming, apparently gaining as much strength from the love in the air as Regina was nausea.

"Wonderful," Regina said dryly.

"Regina," Snow said warningly. "How have things been since we left? The ogres?"

"Defeated," Aurora said. "They were destroying our kingdom, and our lives."

Snow smiled. "Good. And congratulations."

Aurora's eyes went wide. "It's only been a few weeks. Is it that obvious?"

Snow chuckled, taking her hand. "You're glowing."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Why is she pregnant and I'm the one who's sick?"

"We have much to celebrate," Phillip said, ignoring her. "And know that you and your friends are welcome in Sentisrota. If you need anything, we're at your service."

David bowed his head. "Thank you, but all we need is horses. And maybe a change of clothes," he added, glancing down at the bloodstain. "We have our own kingdom, our own castle."

Snow nudged him. "Our castle was destroyed in the curse."

"Well played, Your Majesty," Hook said from nearby. "You laid waste to everything."

"I'm sorry, who invited you to this discussion?" Regina asked acidly. "What are you even still doing here?"

"Not everything," Aurora said hastily. "Her castle still stands."

"Of course it does," Regina said. "I protected it."

Not that she could remember why she bothered. She was sure that the curse would destroy the Enchanted Forest altogether - at least, that was what Rumple had told her.

Then again, Rumple had told her a lot.

"Well, technically," David said, "the castle doesn't belong to her. It was Snow's before she took it."

"Well, to be fair," Regina said, rolling her eyes, "I married into it."

"That you did," Snow said slowly. "And now we're taking it back. And you are coming with us."

Regina raised an eyebrow. "You can't be serious."

Snow took three decisive steps until she was right in front of her. "Regina, everyone out there is scared and confused. They need hope. What better way to do that than to return united? I know you don't like it; you'll learn to. For our good, and for yours."

Phillip and Aurora were good enough to lend them three of their best horses for the journey, but most made the trip on foot, using the animals to carry the borrowed supplies instead.

Hook had departed almost immediately, heading for the coast and where he hoped the Jolly Roger would be, and Regina couldn't care less.

Everyone else had stuck together and were making their way slowly towards Misthaven.

Snow was right, as much as it pained Regina to admit it. She was a queen, first and foremost, and in spite of the 'Evil' moniker, the people of Misthaven had flourished under her rule.

Well, everyone who hadn't sided with Snow White, of course.

So despite the ache in her chest, she kept going, Ivy just about keeping pace with her, personal assistant merging with handmaiden as she used a borrowed quill and parchment to note down the occasional thought Regina came out with.

They had been walking for a few hours, when she said, "I didn't appreciate the wonder of pens. I don't suppose you can magic one up, Your Majesty?"

Regina managed a small smile. "Unfortunately they don't exist in this realm and the connection with the Land Without Magic is broken, so no. I can give you some better walking shoes though."

They both looked down at Ivy's heeled shoes under her dress.

"Thank you," Ivy said, "but are you not going to change your own, ma'am?"

Regina's heels were higher, but she shook her head. "I'm used to it."

With a soft swirl of magic, Ivy's heels disappeared, replaced with stout walking boots - hardly appropriate for her dress, but far better for walking.

"Regina," Snow called.

Regina sighed. "I was changing her shoes, relax."

Snow frowned. "No - I just wanted to let you know that we're going to stop for a bit before we cross the border."

"Dear, we crossed the border ten minutes ago," Regina said.

Snow was quiet for a few moments. "Oh. Why didn't I realise that?"

"Because you're timing it from your castle," Regina said, "but we didn't set off from there. Also I know every inch of Misthaven; you spent most of your bandit days in other kingdoms."

"You weren't a bandit though," Snow said, "so why …"

"Because a monarch should know what is happening in their kingdom," Regina said with an impatient roll of her eyes. "That way, they know whether the taxes are being fairly charged, fairly distributed; they know who is suffering and who needs assistance."

"I don't remember Daddy making trips out to the outer villages," Snow said, still looking confused.

Ivy muttered something under her breath and Regina gave her a sharp look.

"Your father and I ruled in very different ways, Snow. When we get to the castle, I suggest you take some time looking at the historical charters."

Snow nodded automatically, clearly recognising that the discussion was over. "Anyway, we're stopping for a few minutes to give everyone a break."

"Good." Regina waited for Snow to return to her husband, before turning to Ivy. "I need a moment alone."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Ivy said. "I apologise for my lack of tact just then."

Regina sighed. "You and I both know the kind of man the 'Good King' truly was. But he was still her father. Let us break that to her gently, yes?"

Ivy smiled nervously. "If I may, Your Majesty, you still appear to hold a certain amount of affection for Her Highness."

Regina faltered. "Well, I suppose seven years does mean something. I'll be back shortly; try not to worry."

She set off into the trees, avoiding fallen logs and hidden entrances to rabbit burrows as easily as anyone born and raised in the forest.

Daddy had taken her out to places like this when she was little, on days when her mother was away; perhaps it was that that brought the gentle comfort that came with the scent of the trees.

When she was far enough away that she was out of sight, but not so far that she couldn't hear if something happened, she knelt down, ignoring the inevitable damage to her dress, and began to dig, scraping out a hole in the dirt with a stick.

It was hard going, made only a little easier by the fact that it had clearly rained not too long ago, so the ground was soft.

Finally, she had a pit big enough and she set the stick down in favour of reaching into her own chest and pulling out her blackened heart.

Just the sight of it made her feel slightly sick.

In spite of all her pain, she had never removed her own heart before, needing the anger and the hatred to fuel her quest for revenge and therefore - so she thought - happiness.

But this was different.

This grief was not accompanied by anger.

There was no one she could blame for Henry's loss - no one that wasn't already dead - and even if she could …

He may have been a world away, but he was still her son.

He may not have any memory of her, but she was still his mother.

And she was not going to let him down by resorting to old habits to deal with losing him.

For that, however, she needed some time, time without the pain to try and adjust.

She dropped the heart into the pit and began to cover it with earth, just in time to hear footsteps behind her.

"What are you doing?" Snow asked.

"So now you're following me," Regina muttered.

"We were worried," Snow said. "And it looks like we were right to be. What are you burying?"

"Nothing that concerns you," Regina said bitterly.

"Why does that make me think it does?" Snow asked. "What have you done?"

Regina didn't answer, too tired to defend herself.

"Is that a heart?!" Snow demanded.

"Go away!" Regina snapped.

Snow sighed. "It's your heart, isn't it?"

Regina straightened up, finally looking her stepdaughter in the eye. "I'm not having this conversation with you."

"I know you miss Henry," Snow said gently.

"Not as much as I did when that was still beating in my chest," Regina retorted, but Snow was right.

Emma was right, damnit - the loss of her heart hadn't removed her emotions entirely, just dampened them, but anything was better than it had been.

"Regina, this isn't the answer," Snow said urgently. "No matter how much pain you may feel, you can't just bury it in the woods."

Regina raised an eyebrow. "Watch me."

"You won't feel better," Snow said. "You won't feel anything."

Regina laughed bitterly. "That's the point! I can't keep walking around, knowing that I'll never see Henry. That he doesn't even remember who I am."

Snow held her gaze. "I know exactly how you're feeling. I just said goodbye to my daughter for the second time. Henry too. But I promise you it will get better. With your heart. Right now it might be causing you pain, but I promise you it will let you feel something else soon enough."

"And what's that?" Regina asked.

Snow smiled. "The one thing Henry always wanted you to find. Happiness."

"Be happy, Mom. Try to be happy."

Regina shook her head. "I can't be happy without him."

"Find a way," Snow said. "For Henry."

Regina heaved a heavy sigh, already knowing she'd lost the argument. Reluctantly she bent to retrieve her heart and pressed it back into her chest, closing her eyes against the onslaught of renewed grief and pain and misery. "Now let's get back to our castle." She turned away, desperate to get away from the hope speech, but Snow hesitated.

"Did you hear that?"

Regina stopped, turning back to face her. "What?"

"There was something there," Snow said in a hushed voice. "In that bush."

It was probably a bird. But then Snow had lived in the forest for a time; she wouldn't get jumpy about something like that.

Regina strode back to her, automatically putting out an arm to keep her from advancing any further, the way she had when the princess was a child. Her magic brushed through the leaves, searching.

"There's nothing here. Unless it flew away."

Behind her, Snow gasped. "It did!"

Regina's eyes flew upwards, but the creature in the air was no bird - in fact, she wasn't sure what it was.

Whatever it was, however, it was coming for them.

"We need to find cover," Snow said, grabbing her arm.

"No," Regina said firmly, a fireball forming in her hand. "I don't run from monsters. They run from me."

Her aim was true, but the creature dodged it, swooping down with an awful screech and grabbing Regina by the arm.

"Regina!" Snow screamed, grabbing her other arm, but the creature was strong enough that they were both lifted from the ground.

Its claws dug into her wrist, but the unstable grip, combined with Snow's extra weight, caused her sleeve to rip and they both tumbled to the ground again.

Snow shook her head. "It's too fast!"

"I'm open to suggestions," Regina said, warily watching the creature make another pass.

"Get down!"

It was as good an idea as any and both women threw themselves to the ground as the monster came hurtling towards them.

There was a twang of a bow nearby and the creature screeched, an arrow piercing its side. With another loud cry, it took off into the distance.

Regina stayed where she was for a moment, her newly-returned heart racing with adrenaline.

Footsteps approached and a hand was held out to her. "Milady."

Still somewhat shaken, Regina looked up. Their rescuer was clearly a woodsman, a quiver slung over his back, a bow in the hand not offered to her. His blue eyes ran over her body, lingering not on her curves or her face, but her arm, still bleeding from the attack.

"You're injured."

Completely wrong-footed, Regina retreated to safer ground. "It's 'Your Majesty'. And I'm fine."

The man raised an eyebrow. "A simple 'thank you' would suffice."

He wasn't afraid.

He knew damn well who she was, and he wasn't afraid.

Then again, maybe they had met before; she was sure he felt familiar.

"I didn't ask for your help," she said, fully aware that she was being petulant.

She did not need the chiding look Snow gave her, before her stepdaughter took the man's hand for help to her feet. "Well, I'm grateful for the assistance."

The man nodded. "Robin. Robin of Locksley."

Of course he was.

That explained the familiarity. She had seen his face before, after all.

"And these are a few of my Merry Men," he added, as figures appeared from the trees.

Snow pulled Regina to her feet. "Snow White."

Robin gave her a small bow. "At last we meet. You know, there was a time when our faces graced Wanted posters side by side."

Snow chuckled, but one of the other men was staring at Regina. "If you're really Snow White, why are you with her?"

"Her?!" Regina repeated, brushing down her dress. "Show some respect. Or at least some restraint at the buffet," she added, casting an eye over the man's portly figure.

"You'll have to excuse Little John," Robin said coldly. "But before you cursed this land, we spent many a day running from your Black Knights."

Regina smirked. "Well, I'm sure you deserved it." She peered up at the sky, confirming that the beast had definitely gone. "What the hell was that thing?"

"I've no idea," Robin admitted. "We've never encountered the likes of it before."

"Come on, this way," Snow said. "We need to warn the others. We're on our way to our castle," she added to Robin. "If there are things like that out there, we could do with a few extra eyes."

Robin gave her another bow. "Well, allow us to escort you, Your Highness."

Snow beamed. "Thank you."

David chose that moment to come fighting his way through the trees, sword in hand. "Snow? What happened? I heard you scream."

"Excellent timing," Regina said. "Your wife appears to have increased our travelling party. Excuse me." She left, unwilling to stick around for the (what was sure to be) nauseating display of gratitude that was to follow.

Part of her - deep inside her aching heart, the part that sounded annoyingly like Daddy - told her to turn back, to offer her own thanks to the man who had - let's face it - saved her life, and then continued to offer his assistance, despite realising exactly who and what she was.

Ivy was speaking to Belle when she returned, but as soon as she saw the injury on Regina's hand, she was digging through one of the satchels.

"It's fine, Ivy," Regina said firmly. "It's not deep."

"It can still get infected," Ivy said, and of course it could.

Regina had forgotten that fact, so used she had become to the conveniences of modern plumbing and medicine.

So she acquiesced, holding out her hand so Ivy could wrap it tightly.

"What happened?" Belle asked curiously.

"Some kind of flying monster," Regina said. "I've never seen it before, but it was far too fast for me to get a proper look."

Ivy nudged Belle, and she cleared her throat. "So, um, I was wondering. Why did the curse drop me off with all of you? I was in your castle when the first curse hit."

"I don't know," Regina admitted. She hesitated. "I'm sorry, Belle. About Rumple."

Belle nodded shakily. "Thank you." Her eyes focused on something over Regina's shoulder. "Is that Robin Hood?"

"And his 'Merry Men'," Regina said dryly. "Snow charmed them into escorting us."

His group appeared to have doubled in size, and Snow had acquired a bow and quiver, as well as a small boy who appeared to be acting as her shadow.

"Roland," Robin called gently. "Remember, if you can't see me, I can't see you."

"I know, Papa," the boy called back, and Regina's heart ached a little.

How many times had she said that to Henry, cautioning him as he ran ahead of her?

"We're going to move off," Snow said, approaching Regina. "It's not safe to linger with those things out there."

"Finally, a sensible suggestion," Regina said, flexing her fingers. "Thank you, Ivy."

Ivy bobbed a curtsey and hurried off to see to one of the horses.

Snow frowned. "Was she there when I was?"

"She became my handmaiden about a year before your father died," Regina said.

"You mean before you killed him," Snow said, as the party began to set off again. Her voice was light, but there was a steel beneath it.

Regina sighed. "Don't start conversations you don't want to finish, dear."

"Can I at least ask why?" Snow asked.

"And don't ask questions when you won't like the answer," Regina said.

"But I want the answer," Snow said.

Regina was silent for a few moments. "When we get back to the castle," she said finally, "take a look at the charters, as I suggested, and the laws I enacted when I became Queen in deed and not just in name. Then, and only then, if you still want the answer to that question, come and find me, and I will tell you."

For a second, it looked like her stepdaughter would argue, but then she nodded. "Very well. I'll wait. She seems quite loyal to you."

"Who?" Regina asked absently.

"Ivy," Snow said.

"Oh, yes," Regina said. "I suppose she is."

"Let me guess," Snow said with a sigh. "Later?"

"Later," Regina confirmed, looking back over her shoulder.

Why a forest-dwelling outlaw had gotten under her skin, she did not know, nor could she explain how it had happened so quickly.

Oblivious to her attention, Robin attention had been waylaid by Neal, who grasped his arm in greeting.

"Good to see you again, Robin."

"You too, Baelfire," Robin greeted warmly.

Someone cleared their throat behind him. "We've come a long way, haven't we?"

Robin turned, momentarily startled by the woman he saw. "Belle!"

Belle smiled, accepting his exuberant embrace.

"I believe you already know," he added to Neal. "She once treated a poor thief far better than I deserved."

"She does that a lot," Neal said, giving Belle a fond smile.

"Thank you," Robin said again, to Belle. "You had no reason to help me."

"I had a feeling it wasn't for yourself," Belle said. "And I was right, wasn't I? Did you heal her?"

Robin's smile faltered. "She lived. Not for much longer, unfortunately, but our son …"

Belle's eyes travelled to the little boy trotting along the path ahead of them. "I'm sorry you lost her in the end."

"Ah, but I didn't lose both of them," Robin said heavily. "And what of you?" He asked Neal. "What of your journey? Were you able to find your son in Neverland?"

Neal's own smile slipped and he cleared his throat. "Yes, thank you."

Robin watched him for a minute. "I don't mean to pry, but I don't see the boy."

"It's complicated," Neal said softly, "but he's safe. He's with his mother."

Up ahead, Regina finally pulled her gaze away from them. She was not close enough to hear what was being said, but Robin and Neal clearly knew each other.

And given that Baelfire had left the Enchanted Forest so long ago, it must have been Robin and his men who helped him get to Neverland after he fell through Tamara's portal.

That in itself was enough to soften her a little, but she still wasn't convinced.

"So what do you think of our new friend?" She asked Snow. "Can we trust him? He is a thief."

Snow smiled. "Think of it from his perspective. How do you think he looks at you?"

"Point taken," Regina conceded.

Snow glanced at her. "He's kinda cute, huh?"

That was an understatement, but Regina was not about to tell Snow that, not when she was looking at her with that knowing glint in her eye.

"He smells like forest," she said sniffily.

Snow's smile widened and she was clearly about to start digging, when David's voice rang out ahead of them.

"Look!"

Regina quickened her pace to catch up with him, coming to a halt beside him.

He was standing at the edge of the forest - except he shouldn't have been. Her castle was still in the distance, and the trees should have continued for another mile or so.

Instead, the land between them and the castle was clear of trees and appeared to have taken on a strange kind of glow.

"What happened?" Snow asked.

"That's exactly what I'm about to find out," Regina said darkly, taking a few steps forwards.

She could feel the magic, emanating from the tree line, and she reached out, her fingers brushing against the boundary. "A protection spell. The entire castle's encircled by it."

"Didn't you do this?" David asked. "Undo it."

Regina rolled her eyes. "Well, don't you think if I could, I'd be halfway home by now? No, someone hijacked it."

"Who?" Snow asked. "Who's in there?"

Regina scowled, reaching out to the magic once again. But it wasn't any kind of magic she'd come across before. It could have been her mother, she supposed, but once she

died, her magic would have broken.

Besides, she'd recognise her mother's magic anywhere.

"I don't know," she admitted. "But I'm going to find out whoever's eating my porridge. Nobody sits in my chair; nobody takes our castle."

"We've got a lot of people looking to us," David said, glancing back at their companions. "They're scared and rightfully so. Let's get them to safety first."

"They'll be safe when whoever's in there is dead," Regina said. "There should be at least three villages between here and the castle - do you see them?"

"Rushing in there is a bad plan, Regina," Snow said. "You know that."

She did know that.

But where on earth were they going to plan an attack from?

They weren't prepared for a siege.

"I can offer safe harbour in Sherwood Forest," Robin said, as though he'd read her mind. "It's not far. I can offer food, shelter, a thick canopy no creature will spy you under."
"Do you have weapons?" David asked.

Robin nodded.

"Fine," Regina said. "Lead the way. But we're coming back. And whoever did this is going to suffer."

"Regina, it's our home," Snow said firmly. "We'll make it safe again."

Oh, yes, my OC. Ivy Gardiner (or Holly Plant, under the curse, no pun intended) is Regina's handmaiden. Her loyalty to the Queen will be explained as the story continues, and I envision her looking a bit like Amy Adams.