Killian carries on watching his wife's previous adultery on the dreamcatcher. Then he discovers a very different side to what happened. Snow, ready to leave in an ambulance for New York, gets two unexpected visitors. And later, Henry discovers something about time travel, and how their lives could have changed. For the better?

The Gold Mansion

For the best part of an hour, Killian had sped through the images displayed on the dreamcatcher, Merlin sitting silently behind him, watching his own reaction, rather than the screen. Whenever the on-screen version of his wife and her lover had started becoming flirty or intimate, he'd fast forwarded. Seeing that once already was bad enough! Fortunately, there were only two or three more times like that, but despite speeding them up, they seemed to drag on for ages! So much so that he was beginning to question whether, potion or no potion, after her less than flattering comments about his talents in the bedroom, and her admitting to sometimes having faked her orgasms, Emma had really been unhappy with their love life before all of this?

He tried to put it out of his mind. But god, it rankled.

The scenes jumped quite a bit after that, and of course, he only saw those where the pair were together, never alone. He'd watched them locate the Dragon in New York the following day; the Oriental mystic, who he vaguely remembered from when he appeared in Storybrooke, trapped behind a mirror. He saw the disheartened looks when he told the pair he couldn't remove their cuffs. But he couldn't resist a sly smirk when he saw the stunned look on Regina's face, when he told her she was pregnant! She was haughtily dismissive, as always. But he could see that, underneath all the bravado, the news had shaken her.

After that, he'd fast-forwarded the dreamcatcher to a point where, after buying some things from a pharmacy, they'd returned to the New York hotel room, and now both sat on the bed, after Regina had apparently used some sort of pregnancy test kits similar to Emma's, when she found out she was expecting Hope. Apparently confirming the Dragon's diagnosis, he frowned when Regina immediately dismissed any thought of telling Robin, the baby's father, saying he was her past, and Emma her future. Or whether she'd even keep it? But his heart sank even further when Emma suggested they set up home together, somewhere other than Storybrooke, and raise the child as their own? She seemed to have dismissed the minor fact she already had a daughter of her own. And the looks the women exchanged? He knew that look from old, having previously received it himself on many occasions. It was clear that, putting aside the constant lust-filled glances, Emma was now totally besotted with her!

Sighing, he reluctantly returned to fast forwarding the dreamcatcher once again, to the following morning. Watching then checking out of the hotel, he chuckled to himself when an annoyed former Mayor came back to say her credit card had been declined. And again later, when they received emails from Storybrooke's Acting Sheriff, saying they were likely to be arrested and possibly charged, when they returned.

But his brief schadenfreude was soon forgotten when they kissed again, and dismissed thoughts of ever coming back to Storybrooke, Regina suggesting they marry sooner rather than later. Emma agreed, giving her the sort of smile that used to be reserved for him!

He stopped the dreamcatcher.

"Merlin. Can we continue this later? Maybe tomorrow?"

"Sorry, no can do. I have places I need to be. Besides, I swore to Emma and Regina that I'd destroy their blood and hair samples before I left here. And you should know, I never go back on a promise." Seeing the despondent look, he couldn't fail to sympathise with the dejected man. "However, I've seen almost all of it myself, and I can assure you that you'll be reaching the most critical point shortly, when the potion wears off. Let me make you some tea, while we crack on?"

Granny's Diner

After last night's meeting at the Town Hall, when Henry Mills stood in front of everyone and tried to explain what'd happened over the last crazy month, she sat there as bewildered as everyone else. The Sorcerer had stood by him and confirmed everything he'd learnt, corroborating much of Henry's story. And if they were to be believed, Snow White and her granddaughter were unfortunate victims, not villains.

And now, sitting in the little lounge at the back of the diner, the old wolf's fingers trembled as she finally opened the letter she'd been given by Merlin:

Dear Granny,

I know by now you'll have heard so many rumours about me, since I left. Or I should say, since I was thrown over the town line by The Dark One. Most of them are probably true. But I still felt I had to write to try and explain?

I honestly never meant to hurt Dorothy. Far from it. I actually loved her, and still do. Don't forget I once woke her up from a sleeping curse with a true love kiss, so I know we were, for sure. But I get urges that I can't explain. Urges that make me act without thinking. Urges that make me hurt the people I love.

Snow and I hadn't been together since before she met David all those years ago. She fell in love with him, and she's still in love with him, despite everything that's happened. Henry told me we did what we did last month because of a potion made by Ingrid, the Ice Queen. I have to believe that, because I'd never imagined myself doing anything to hurt David, or Snow's marriage. Why would I hurt the very man who saved me from Spencer's lynch mob? He was my closest male friend, and I've destroyed our friendship in the worst possible way.

Despite everything you've heard, Snow's an innocent in all this, so please try not to hate her? When that potion wore off, she was so horrified by what she'd done that she took an overdose! She actually tried to kill herself! Henry said she's still in hospital and may not get better, so she needs your love and support right now, not hate.

As for what happened between me, Belle, Mal, and the others, please try and remember that I'm still part werewolf, not wolf like you. And my instincts and passions take over. And Dorothy suffered as a result. She's right to be shot of me now, and I can only hope she'll one day find someone who truly loves, appreciates and deserves her.

I've decided to settle somewhere called Portland, just over an hour's drive from Storybrooke. There's no magic here, so I should at least be safe from the Dark One and being here does sees to stop my more uncontrollable urges. Gold told Merlin he probably wouldn't be able to stop the Dark One from killing me if I came back, or Belle for that matter. So, I'm staying away, for good.

I feel lighter here. Less…wolflike? Maybe it's because there's no magic. You're not going to believe this, but on Thursday I looked up at a full moon, and it didn't affect me at all! It's like, being away from has made me more human?

So, I'm now starting a new life for myself here. Merlin and his friends are helping me and Belle might even come and live with me. But tomorrow we're leaving here for a month to sail south with some friends we made, and head to Cuba and the Caribbean, hopefully. Belle also seems happier here too, though she's obviously worried about Gideon.

I love you Granny, and I hope one day you'll find it in your heart to forgive and talk to me. You could even come visit me? I've left my new phone number and email address at the bottom.

There's a wonderful world outside Storybrooke and Merlin said it'd be perfectly safe for you to travel, though you may want to talk to him first.

I know I can never get Dorothy's forgiveness, so I can only hope you'll keep an eye out for her and help her in whatever way you can. I just hope she finds someone more deserving of her love one day.

Granny, you're my last living relative and I hope and pray that I see you again.

All my love,

Ruby xxx

Storybrooke Hospital – an hour later

"I'll come see you in New York as soon as I can, mum." Emma, sitting on the edge of her bed, squeezed her mother's hand as they waited for the ambulance that would take her to the larger hospital, as Merlin had arranged. "I guess it just depends on whether I'm going to jail or not?"

"I'm sure it won't come to that, Emma." Snow squeezed back. "Hank's bound to see sense in the end, especially with a little persuasion from Henry? After all, he's the one who figured out we were all being manipulated, wasn't he?" As she held her hand, she spotted the pattern on her daughter wrist, which had been covered since she came back. "What's that? A tattoo?"

"It's the magic-blocking cuff, and it's very different to the last one. It changed into this, when we first left, and crossed the town line. Regina's got an identical one on her, too."

"God, hasn't that wretched man caused enough damage already? Especially after what he did to Ruby and Belle? He-"

"This wasn't Gold's doing mum, it was Henry's! And he's not taking them off either of us until Killian and Robin both agree to it, and they think it's safe. Considering my recent behaviour in the diner, I can't exactly blame him." Snow looked puzzled. Clearly, she hadn't been told about Robin and Roland yet. "Robin's now forgiven Regina, but Killian…kinda needs more proof, before he lets me near Hope again. It seems a small price, considering I did try to kill him?"

An awkward silence followed as she noticed how Emma was back to chewing her nails, something she used to do when she first arrived in Storybrooke. "We'll get through this, my love. In the end. We always do." She tried to give her an encouraging smile.

"Is that hope I'm starting to hear from you, mum? If it is, it's about bloody time! I really need that right now. You were always the one symbol of it around here, after all!"

"I'm trying my best, my darling. It's just that I'm-" but she was interrupted by a nurse coming through the door.

"I'm sorry to disturb, Miss Blanchard…" Cynthia, the nurse, moved over to the intravenous drip in Snow's arm, adjusting the valve and checking the bag level, and the catheter below. "I thought I'd let you know your ambulance was delayed but should be here in about an hour? Mr. Merlin should also be with us before you leave. I have Leroy and Mrs. Lucas outside, asking if they can see you before you go? What should I tell them?"

The Gold Mansion

Killian had spent over two hours watching events unfold in New York and Miami, fast-forwarding through most of it. In between the more intimate scenes, he'd watched his wife and the former mayor repeatedly declare their love and devotion to one another, to the point, in his mind, of nausea. They'd frequently talked about where they'd live, the type of home they'd buy, and more importantly, when they should get married. There was barely a mention of Henry, Hope or Emma's parents. And at that point, they appeared to be two infatuated lovers planning a new life together, leaving everything else behind.

Then came the about-turn. Emma appeared to have woken seriously unwell, as she charged out of bed, and into the bathroom. As he could only see scenes with the two of them, it next cut to Emma, kneeling over a toilet bowl, clearly being sick, while an anxious Regina held her hair back, while trying to soothe her. It was just as Emma had described it, earlier on the Jolly. She complained of migraine. Does that cause sickness? After shivering and going back to bed, the scene soon ended after Regina had tried comforting here.

The next scene seemed to be from the following morning, when Emma found her lover sitting hunched up on a chair on the hotel balcony, overlooking the ocean. And she looked dreadful! Red-eyed, pale and apparently exhausted. So very different to how the normally elegant, perfectly made-up woman appeared. Emma asked her about the pregnancy, but it was moments later that she came out with something that made her finally realise what they'd done:

"Don't you think it's odd, that less than two weeks ago, we were just friends, both happily married to people we thought our soulmates? With our children, living perfectly happy lives?"

"Yeah, weird right?" Emma appeared to look away, avoiding her eyes. But Regina noticed.

"So, you've seen something too, haven't you? Answer me!"

"Remember yesterday when I woke up from that nightmare? Well, in it I dreamt Henry, Killian and Hope were here, in this room. They were accusing me, and…saying goodbye, for good. Killian crushed my heart! That's when I woke up. I didn't want to face you, after that."

"So, you woke up realising you've destroyed everything you hold dear? And for what reason? Don't tell me, you believed you were in love with me, and nothing else mattered? Well, I had a nightmare too! I just woke up this morning after I dreamt I'd been arrested, after we went back to Storybrooke? I was then dragged out of the Sheriff's Office and killed in front of the entire town. Killed by the very same man who saved me from Hades, in view of my own son!" Regina's voice appeared to be breaking. "The man I happen to love!" There was a pause while she rubbed her eyes."The father of the child I'm carrying. I'm very sorry Emma, but I'm not in love with you! I can't explain how it's happened, but…I loved you as a friend. And yes, I must confess I am attracted to you and did, on several occasions, imagine what it would be like if we ever took it further? Dammit, even Robin noticed! He even used to occasionally joke to me about you and I being so close. But until two weeks ago, I never imagined-"

"STOP!" Emma finally spoke up. "Just stop talking for a minute, okay?"

She sat down beside her. "Look, I know how you're feeling because I feel just the same! The day before yesterday, before I took that swim? I just knew you were my everything. Like I didn't want to do anything, or be anywhere, without you? Then I started seeing visions. Killian, Hope, Henry. Then I had the nightmare, and since then, I realised that I wasn't in love with you either. And worse, I've screwed everything up back home."

"You too? So why did we-"

"I have no idea! I've been asking myself that since I woke up yesterday. Why did I completely fuck up my marriage, and nearly kill my husband? Why did I hit Henry? And Roland? I don't know! But one thing I do know, is that the woman who did that, wasn't me, even though I remember everything." She shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I also exaggerated my migraine yesterday, so we wouldn't get intimate again. I thought if I told you what was going on, it'd break your heart."

"It's already broken after what I did to the man I love. I want to curl up and die."

At that point, Killian paused the dreamcatcher, freezing the image of the two seemingly distraught women. Looking around, he discovered Merlin watching him, closely.

"You say you've watched most of this already?"

"Like you I fast forwarded through most of it. But the salient parts, certainly."

"And your conclusion?"

"Emma was telling the truth. She's the unfortunate victim of a faulty potion, which changed her perception of everything she holds dear, including you. Regina, her mother, and Ruby Lucas were affected in much the same way, from the same potion."

"If I carry on watching, what comes next?"

"Lots of tears and grieving. The realisation of the damage they'd left in their wake. Then, the following morning, they try to figure out why it had happened? Realising Snow and Ruby had been similarly afflicted, they wrongly assumed Rumpelstiltskin was behind it somehow, wanting to seize control of Storybrooke for himself. If you carry on watching, you'll find Emma admits her overwhelming love for you repeatedly, and also becomes extyemely traumatised when she recalls what your young daughter witnessed? Regina went through similar emotions, coupled with the fact she's also carrying Robin Locksley's child. In fact, it was only when Henry finally called them while they were in Miami, and explained what had happened to them all, that they discovered the true cause."

"So, if those magic-blocking cuffs come off, there's no danger of Emma, regressing?"

"None as far as I can tell. Killian, your wife and Regina, have just gone through a major trauma not of their own making. Despite that, they still feel immense guilt and embarrassment over what's happened. Plus, they've both been suspended from their jobs and are awaiting trials which could send them both to jail."

"I gather that Gold told Locksley that the potion would only exaggerate feelings of love that had existed before? So Emma must have had feelings for her to begin with?"

"That's true. In fact, if you play the dreamcatcher further, you'll discover they both admitted to brief relationships with other women in the past, and even their previous interest in one another. But Emma's love for you is so much greater, which you heard her admit. So goes on to repeat that several times over the next few days. Shall we continue?"

"No, that's enough. Thanks, Merlin."

Storybrooke Hospital

"I've had a letter from Ruby. It seems I may owe you an apology."

"Eugenia, you only reacted to how we behaved and what you saw. You owe me nothing." Snow looked over the old woman's shoulder, at the dwarf, who held his cap in his hands, his head down, looking equally embarrassed. "I'm just sorry David and Dorothy were treated so badly as a result."

"Still, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have rushed to judgment. Your Henry and the Sorcerer explained what happened, last night, in the town hall." She turned to look at the woman's daughter, who'd been standing by the window, peering out. "I guess that goes for you too, Saviour. Have you patched things up with your man yet?"

"We'll have to see." Emma felt more than uncomfortable that everyone knew about her personal business, and her recent behaviour. "How's Ruby? Have you spoken to her yet?"

"Not yet. She's off sailing to Cuba with Belle Gold. But she's asked me to go see her when she gets back. Unlike you two, what she did wasn't just caused by some damn potion. Her and that librarian were brewing for a while; but there were others too, before and during. I just feel for poor Dorothy. I knew it would catch up with her in the end."

"According to Henry, he and Belle had been carrying on for the last two years. What makes you so sure there were others?"

"Others?" Snow looked up at her. "You mean other women?" She already knew a little about her best friend's old habits but didn't realise anyone one else knew. "How did you-"

"I may be old dear, but I'm still a wolf! I can smell 'em on her when she comes home! And some of them are married!" Mother and daughter exchanged surprised looks. "And it wasn't just women. There were men too. But to do that with the Dark One's wife? How stupid is that? She's lucky he didn't skin her, the moment he laid eyes on her! He's done worse to others, for less."

Emma wanted to ask who these married women were but thought it best to stay silent. She always knew Ruby had a bit of a reputation. She'd flirted with her, and Killian, enough times. She'd even once suggested a threesome when she was tipsy. But this?

"Yeah, but at least she's safe now, isn't she? Henry said Gold's in England right now with his son, and he's not likely to be coming back."

Both women looked surprised. "You've got to be kidding me? The Dark One staying away for good? Not a chance, seeing all the rent he gets from everywhere around here."

"Just telling you what he said, Granny. He also said he's transferring all his properties here into his son and Henry's names. Henry might even become your new landlord? He's seeing Gold in a month's time, in Portland, when he gets back."

"Portland? Isn't that also where Ruby and Belle are planning to live?" Snow became worried for her friend's safety. "They wouldn't be any danger, would they?"

"I wouldn't have thought so, if he doesn't have any magic out there."

"Storybrooke without the Dark One?" Granny shook her head. "I'll believe it when I see it! But if it's true, I'll start hanging out the bunting. What with you and your girlfriend…" She noticed the immediate scowl on Emma's face but she carried on regardless. "…not having magic here now either, it'll be like a Storybrooke Independence Day!"

The ungrateful old cow! After everything they'd done to keep everyone safe over the years? Is that what everyone else thinks around here?

The Gold Mansion

After Emma and Regina had walked out of The Dark One's study, unable to watch any more, they'd received the call from Henry with news of his grandfather. Emma then left for the hospital to see her mother, while Regina decided to wait for her son to arrive half an hour later, determined to seek answers from Merlin. There was no point in going home too early. In fact, since Robin and Roland had left Mifflin Street (or rather, had been forcibly ejected by her), her home now felt like an empty mausoleum. Robin had already told her he and Roland would come back tomorrow, once he'd put their things together, and arranged cover at the pub. But he would come back, and she couldn't wait.

Being told Merlin was currently in his grandfather's study, watching the dreamcatcher with Killian, Henry decided to wait in Rumple's lounge. It was bad enough last time! Now, Regina joined him.

"Were you being serious? About Gold staying away from here for good?"

"I'm only telling you what he told me, mum. He said it was for the best. For everyone."

"How's it for the best? If he stays away from magic and his Dagger, he'll grow old and die. And once he dies, so does the magic shielding this place, and possibly, Storybrooke itself!"

"Yes, you said. That's why we need to speak to Merlin? Because he's told-" He stopped talking the moment he heard the door to the study open. The Sorcerer emerged, followed by Henry's stepfather, who looked surprised to see him. "Killian?" The former pirate had a serious look about him. Not surprising considering what he'd probably just seen. "Are you okay?"

"Hello Henry. I guess I will be." Although he spotted her, he completely ignored Regina. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you to finish. I need to speak to Merlin about something." He turned to the Sorcerer, giving him a stern look.

"Aye well, I'll leave you be. Merlin, thanks for arranging all that," he shook the man's hand. "I owe you. However, I need to collect my little pirate from someone who's been looking after her. I'll no doubt be seeing you?"

Henry waited till Killian had finally left, closing the door before turning on the Sorcerer.

"You knew all of this was going to happen, didn't you? You just knew!"

"That a witch's faulty potion would affect your mothers and your grandmother, making them do the things they did? No, Henry, I didn't! I'm not omnipotent. Although yes, I'm a seer, but I don't have the ability to look into each and every detail, of each and every life, in each and every realm, as they change, I-"

"Not about them! About Grandpa Gold! About him leaving Storybrooke for good! You knew he'd do it, didn't you?"

Merlin looked surprised by the question but remained calm. "Yes Henry, I did."

"So you know what's going to happen next? And whether we all survive or not?"

"I do, and I don't. In fact, it's one of the reasons why I'm still here." Surprisingly, he seemed to be smiling? "To make sure you survive, where possible, with or without Rumpelstiltskin."

"You knew?" Regina was the one looking angry now. "You knew this would happen, yet you did nothing to stop it?"

"That's not how I work, Regina. I can't stop your fates, good or bad. I merely react to them, and prevent the most damaging consequences if need be. Only under the most dire of-"

"Most damaging? That's crap Merlin, and you know it! I know something about your powers! You could've gone back and stopped the Ice Queen leaving that damn potion in the first place. You could've stopped Emma and I smelling it, and you could've stopped Snow White trying to kill herself, for god's sake! You could've-"

"And possibly cause thousands of future deaths in the process, by the tiniest change in circumstance? No Regina, sorry to disagree, but I can't just change your fates. At least, not without consequences, in this timeline, or any other. Only you can do that."

"In this 'timeline?'" Henry just wanted the truth. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Henry, time doesn't work in the way you think. We often have identical lives, running in parallel with our own, caused by serious breaches or changes in our fates. Take yourselves for example? In my time I've met at least four versions of Henry Mills, and his mothers. And his father Neal, oddly enough. But there's many more out there I've yet to discover."

"My dad? He's alive?"

The Sorcerer nodded. "Not the Neal Cassidy you once knew, but his doppelgänger, and your doppelgänger, too. His own son, Henry Cassidy."

"But that's…so, you're saying I could see him if I was able to travel through time, like you?" He knew he might be talking nonsense, but just the thought of meeting his dad before their fates changed, or what he became, made him curious, forgetting all thoughts of his grandfather.

"In theory, yes. But again, he's not your father at this point, is he? His timeline diverged from your own father's, the moment he failed to accede to August Booth's threats, many years ago. Last time I saw him, he was the proud owner of a cyber security company, happily living with his son, Henry's younger sister, and yes, Henry's mother Emma, in Florida. He wouldn't know you."

Henry shook his head in disbelief. There were other versions of him out there? "You said you found four of me?" He looked at Regina. "What about mum? This mum? Does she get a better life somewhere else, too?"

"As for a better life, that depends on the life choices they made. But yes, there's other versions of Regina out there. With different choices, their fates changed, resulting in diverging timelines." Merlin now looked at the suspended former mayor. "I've only seen four versions of you both so far, mind?For example, in one case, young Regina in her late teens managed to flee Misthaven, with her first love, Daniel Colter, before her mother was able to murder him. They escaped to a different realm, without magic, where the timelines changed as a result. She and Daniel went on to have two children eventually. She lived happily, before eventually passing away, peacefully, in her sleep in her early eighties."

Regina's jaw dropped in disbelief. A life with Daniel?

"And in another timeline, a much less fortunate Regina was killed by The Dark One, in Storybrooke, after he discovered she'd imprisoned Belle French in a cell for twenty-eight years! The very same woman who went on to become his wife. Odd, how it was only this realm's Belle that saved you Regina, from the same fate, having made Rumple vow never to kill you."

Regina gulped, knowing in her heart it was probably true, even though Gold had never acknowledged it. That would explain why he put up with her? "Go on then, Sorcerer? I'm intrigued. Are there any other timelines where I wasn't killed, but lived happily?"

"Well yes, the fourth, actually." Merlin's smile broadened, looking almost…smug? "There's one which I found the most interesting of the four, for several reasons. Their fates changed from your own just a month after Emma arrived in Storybrooke, her own Henry having brought her there. Their first curse wasn't broken by Emma kissing Henry awake from a sleeping curse. Far from it! Instead, it was your own doppelgänger who broke it Regina, all by herself, by falling in love with and kissing Emma Swan." He rather enjoyed seeing the look of embarrassed shock on the brunette's face. "It's true! While they clashed terribly at first, as you both did here, over time that particular Emma and Regina realised their hidden feelings for one another much sooner. And eventually, they realised they were reciprocated? Quite simply, they fell in love. They even got married. But the most remarkable thing? They went on to have two more children, one each, in addition to Henry."

"So?" Henry shook his head. "What's so 'remarkable' about that? In this one, we've already got same-sex couples raising kids here, men and women, in Storybrooke, and Sherwood. And it happens all the time outside. In fact, we've even got our own polyamorous 'thruple' here too! The Briars? Mulan, Philip and Aurora? Mulan's even just had another baby herself. Hell, you could say I was raised by two mums myself, even if they weren't a couple?"

"I don't think you understood my poin?. That particular Emma and Regina conceived and gave birth to two children together. One each, without any male donor or adoption involved! Emma had the boy, Regina the girl two years later. Two lives, created by two women. Even today, we're not sure how it happened. But it did."

"Bullshit!" Regina rolled her eyes, dismissive. It was rare for her to swear in front of Henry, even though he was now an adult. But this was ludicrous! "Or as Robin would say, you're talking bollocks! I may not be a doctor Merlin, but I know basic biology, and that's physically impossible, for obvious reasons!"

"You'd think so, wouldn't you? But you see Regina, I've met them all, and their children, listened to their stories, and it happens to be true. You know, we even ran DNA tests? Emma's DNA runs in Regina's child, and hers in Emma's boy. Also, my own test on their magical signatures confirmed everything. It shouldn't be possible, but it would appear that when true love's magic is involved, between two powerful sorceresses, the laws of physics as we currently know them can indeed be broken!"

"You're seriously saying my mums made babies together?" Henry was the one grinning now, looking at his increasingly uncomfortable mother. "In a way, it kinda makes sense? Even here, before all the stuff with Ingrid's potion, I always felt there was something between the two of them? Like some sort of connection?" His eyes were on Regina. "Mind you, they'd definitely both deny it if I said anything!" Then something else occurred to him. "Hang on, you said 'true love' magic?"

"It's the only viable explanation. It also explains why both children have magic, too."

"Can we move on? Please?" Regina stood, relieved the pirate had left, not liking the way the conversation was going, glaring back at the Sorcerer. "We've more important things to deal with than other timelines and fates, no matter how interesting! We currently run the very real risk of our very own version of Storybrooke collapsing, taking all of us with it!"

"That's true, and it's one of the reasons I stayed here longer. I'm assuming you're referring to the magical shield currently hiding you from the outside world?" Both of them nodded. "You should know that I've already added a separate barrier over The Dark One's this morning, before I met Captain Jones on his ship. With some minor adjustments, of course. As the first spell degrades, the other will hold, still preventing outsiders from entering Storybrooke, as before. But it'll also prevent unknown magical entities coming in, too. A problem I know you faced in the past."

"You did all that without even consulting me?" She changed from embarrassed to annoyed in an instant. "How dare you? You should have asked me first! I'm the goddamn Ma-" but she managed to stop herself. She wasn't the mayor any more. She'd been suspended. "I'm one of the few people with magic around here, that would have a chance of fixing things!"

"Except you don't have your magic at the moment, do you?" He glanced back at Henry. "And nor does Emma. So, I thought it'd save time, for safety's sake? Plus, I've made some improvements."

"Meaning?" Henry was worried. "Can my grandpa still get back in? If he wanted to?"

"Well…" Merlin, unusually for him, hesitated. "Let's just say that, under the circumstances, he'd find it a little more…difficult, than previously?"

"So, you knew! You were talking to him in Portland, weren't you? I saw you take him to one side for ages. I saw you. You persuaded him to go!"

"Not quite, but yes, I did have something to do with it. But I only knew about him travelling to Europe with his son just before he left. As we were outside Storybrooke, without the influence of The Dark One listening in, or under his influence, and he realised it was for the best."

"Best for who? You?"

"Everyone, you and Gideon included. And Rumpelstiltskin himself. Yes, he told me about his trip, and I told him that if he stayed away, the Dark One's power over him would be weakened before finally disappearing, provided he stay away. It was his decision. I merely influenced him, with the help of another."

"But…"

"Think of it from his point of view, Henry? He has a chance to be truly happy. He has the wherewithal, and the funds, to make a very comfortable life for Gideon and himself, in the land without magic. He can even live near to where Belle's planning to settle, so they can share custody. He could then live a normal life, just like everyone else? You can then get the chance to know the real Rumpelstiltskin, your grandfather, not just the man under a malevolent evil force. As I said, it was his decision."

"You said you don't interfere? But you did!"

"When an opportunity comes to keep a Dark One away from others, keeping it, not him, out of harm's way, possibly for millennia, of course!"

Regina was suspicious. "You said 'minor adjustments' to the shield? Improvements? What improvements?"

"Everyone in Storybrooke, and Sherwood, is now free to leave and return, as they wish, without any of those wretched memory-deleting charms. They now have the same freedoms that you allowed yourself, Regina! Should you wish to bring in anyone else from outside, I have made arrangements for the current Mayor to issue scrolls to allow it. That's how the ambulance collecting Snow will be able to get here. Which reminds me, I need to go. Regina, would you like to come and witness me destroying the blood serum you gave me in the kitchen?"

Regina was mortified. Although it sounded like a sensible decision, and she knew she'd never be able to change The Dark One's original boundary spell herself, even if she'd been the one to cast it. But it also meant that, even with her magic, she'd now have no control whatsoever over the lives of the rest of the little population. And she couldn't even call on Sidney, her personal slave, wherever he was? And even though she was no longer the Evil Queen, and shouldn't even think about controlling people like that, it was the knowledge that she could, if needed, that always gave her that innate confidence in her own abilities to whether any storm. Now that was history.

Fifteen minutes later, as Henry drove to the hospital in silence, Regina in the passenger seat, their minds were in very different places. Regina's on her husband, his son, and the baby she was carrying. And the fact she'd just received a message from the Acting Sheriff.

Henry's mind was on something different altogether. Those other realms of Merlin's. And his father. But finally, noticing how tightly her hands were gripping the seat and the hand rail, he could see the tension in her face as she stared straight ahead.

"You okay? I wasn't driving too fast, was I?"

"Mm?" That broke her from darker thoughts. "Oh, no, it's fine. I'm sorry Henry, I've just got a lot on my mind."

"I can see that, what with Robin, the baby, and the trial? When's he coming home?"

"By the weekend hopefully. He's short-staffed this week, so he said he'll stay over."

"It's going to be a bit weird for him, coming back, isn't it? After everything that's happened?"

"We have to find a way to put it behind us. He says he understands, so I can only hope he does."

"He should. He's one of the good guys, after all. What about Hank Morgan? I saw you looking at your phone. You heard anything back?"

"I'm to attend the Sheriff's Office at ten tomorrow morning. I may well be re-arrested, and have to stay there until the trial. That's why I didn't push Robin to bring Roland home just yet. We'll see, after what happens tomorrow."

"I have to say mum, I'm impressed you and ma haven't asked me to take the cuffs off, yet?" He smiled, glancing at the tattoo. "I can imagine it must be hell you having to drive and walk everywhere, like the rest of us mere mortals?"

"Are you making fun of me, young man?" The royal brow arched. "I'm perfectly capable of using my legs, thank you very much! Besides, I haven't asked, because I know you made a promise to Robin, and I can't expect you to break it. Guyliner maybe, but not Robin."

"I'm a man of my word, mum. Anyway, I spoke to Robin earlier, and I told him I was going to see Hank myself and I've asked him to join me? If only to help get ma off that assault charge against him and Roland in the diner. He said he would."

"Well that's very kind of him, considering everything that's happened. Unfortunately, my charge is for slavery, not assault. Sidney Glass? I can't blame that on the potion, and I can't see old Judge Jeffery letting me get away with that particular misdemeanour? Jeffery was the one who fought against the Villains' Amnesty, four years ago."

"Well, we'll have to see. But Merlin's also going to tell him everything he's learnt from the dreamcatcher, so…keep your fingers crossed?" Seeing her so down, he tried to sound encouraging. Anything to lift her spirits. "Still, wasn't it weird what Merlin said about those other timelines? About you and Daniel making a life together? My dad living in a different timeline with Emma? And me having a sister with them? I made me wonder whether-"

"Henry, don't you dare even think about realm-jumping!" Regina glared, knowing where his mind was no doubt heading. He was as impetuous as she was! "Merlin said it himself. That particular Neal Cassidy isn't your father! When your other mother time-jumped, she caused merry hell around here. You remember Zelena, disguised as Robin's wife? Bringing back Queen Elsa, causing those problems with the Ice Queen, the first time? No, never miss with time, young man."

"I guess. Still, wouldn't it be great to meet yours and Emma's babies? My brother and sister? Can you imagine it, two children conceived between two mothers? And he said they had magic! So, bearing in mind their timeline and fates changed shortly after Emma came here, that means you and her must have had some sort of 'true love' feelings before our own fates shifted. So you must have felt something for her back then? Why didn't you say something to her at the time? You could've-"

"Henry," even just talking about her past, very-much hidden feelings towards Emma, with him of all people, was making Regina more than uncomfortable. "I really don't want to talk about this, and for god's sake, don't say anything about this to Robin! Or Roland! Or anyone else for that matter. I'm serious Henry! Coming out with something like that could wreck any chance I have of repairing my marriage, or Emma's!"

"But…babies with magic? Doesn't that tell you that-"

"Robin's my true love!" Regina almost barked the words out. "Not Emma! And as for magic babies, the Dragon told me that this baby I'm carrying has magic, too! Even though I can't feel anything because of these damn cuffs. Tink told me Robin was my true love before I even met him. His tattoo? Pixie dust doesn't lie! So please Henry, can you just drop this?"

Rhode Island

It wasn't a god time for her phone to pick up a signal. She'd forgotten she'd even left it on.

But now she lay on the large bed in the front berth, naked as the day she was born, with Jerard on top of her, while Ruby and Olivia lay coiled together right beside them, Belle cursed that she hadn't switched it off, as the little device, lying only ten foot away, sprang rudely into life, blurting out incessant noises as the stored messages and texts came flooding in.

"Ignore it!" Moaned the former Storybrooke waitress, whose face was currently buried between the thighs of the chestnut-haired woman they'd met only days ago, Olivia doing much the same thing to Ruby.

For the last two days, they'd sailed offshore, having stopped late the previous evening at a small port somewhere near Boston. And now, having moored up in a little harbour situated some three hundred miles south of Storybrooke, all four of them, having had lunch nearby, had retired to the ship's berth to sleep off the lunch at a local bar. At least, that was the intention. However, as with the previous day, Olivia had other ideas.

And that's how Belle found herself indulging, once more, in a fairly energetic foursome with the couple and Ruby. It had been a torrid hour, with all four sharing themselves willingly, and Belle now found herself lying on her back, Jerard deep inside of her yet again, while right next to them, Ruby and Olivia were coiled in a sixty-nine, drawing deep guttural moans of ecstacy from each other, as she built towards her next climax. She'd never experienced sex like this and it was bliss.

At least it was, before that bloody phone went off!

"Jerard, I'm sorry but can we stop please? I just recognised one of the message tones, and I need to see it. That's my son's phone!"

~oOo~