It's nearly 10:00 PM when Robin kills the engine of Regina's Mercedes. When she opens the passenger door and puts one foot out onto the pavement, he stops her with a gentle hand on her forearm.

Curious, she turns his way with an arched eyebrow and, after studying his tired face for less than three seconds, she reverses direction, turns in the seat, closes the car door and lays her head on his shoulder. "Hell of a day."

He nods quietly and drops an arm around her shoulders, pulling her even closer. When he sighs heavily, she offers, "I would have driven. I know you learned because you didn't want me to always have to be the one to do it, but I also know you don't really like it. You prefer to walk when the option is there."

"I didn't want you walking or bringing yourself here magically. You need the rest. And anyway, that's not what it's about. I didn't mind driving. I'm glad when there's something I can do to help out, Regina."

The dome light snaps off, and they sit in the darkened car silently for a moment.

She places a hand softly against his chest over his heart and says, barely above a whisper, "I'm not the only one who needs a rest. You don't need to worry. You help every day; just being here. And, Robin, I know I'm not the only one who went through hell today. I know you're thinking about her; missing her. I know Marian's on your mind, and it's okay."

"No." he shakes his head and then changes his mind and nods. "Well, yes, but that's not it either."

Reaching up, she snaps the dome light back on and lifts her head to study his face again for another long moment. "What then." She kisses his cheek and waits.

"Marian isn't the only person I thought about losing today. He tightens his embrace. "Leaving you for New York five years ago. I can't imagine… I just don't want to." He shakes his head again, barely in control of his emotions, and breathes heavily under the weight of old grief.

"I'm here, Robin. I'm right here."

He nods gently and rubs her shoulder, drawing as much comfort from the feel of her in his arms as he offers. Changing the subject, because he has to, he asks, "Are you sure you want do this, love?" He points to the house beyond the windshield.

Regina sighs and chuckles dryly. "No. No, Robin, this is not what I want to do at all. What I want to do, is turn this car around, go back home, get back into bed, and make love again… But that ain't happening. At least not right this minute."

He laughs softly, and nods, making light of the situation. "Norah is in our bed."

She laughs. "That's not why, and you know it. The shower works just fine."

Well, that's good, because I think Norah might be in our bed, right between the two of us, for quite a bit."

Regina nods. "Today scared her out of her tree."

"Poor little firefly."

Regina brushes a stray piece of lint out of his beard. "She's not nearly as fragile as that nickname makes her sound. She's sweet but tough – like her daddy."

He turns his head and kisses the top of hers. "Daddy doesn't feel so tough. I feel old, Regina. Old and wrung out."

"Well then…" She forces herself to pull free of the comfort of his warm embrace and open her car door once again. "We have to go do this thing because I just can't make another deal with Gold. Robin, I'm really starting to resent having to tap dance around him every time something important needs doing."

"So, we're going to go talk to Hades instead?" He questions doubtfully.

She nods with certainty. "Yes, we are. Hades has a vested interest in helping us. So, like I said, we're going go do this thing, but as soon as it's done, you and me, we're going to get back in that shower – so I can convince you otherwise."

Shaking his head with a smile, Robin opens the driver's side door and steps out of the Mercedes. They round the side of the house and, halfway up the front walk, he holds out a hand and halts her progress when he realizes that the front door is wide open, and an eerie flickering light shines from within.

Unwilling to step into the breach blindly, Robin forgoes the main entrance and tugs his wife along gently as he steps to a window and peers through open Empire-style drapes with a gauzy sheer under panel.

Regina stretches up on tiptoe and peers over his shoulder. Utterly astounded, she silently stares at the sight before them for a long moment before asking in a whisper, "Who is he throwing fireballs at? Is he seeing things? Is he losing it?"

Robin watches quietly for another moment before he shakes his head with certainty. "That's not what's happening here. He's working out some anger issues. He's just doing it in a very – godly – fashion."

She squints and continues to whisper. "Who's he mad at?"

"My guess would be, himself." When Regina raises a doubtful eyebrow, Robin continues. "His wife and unborn child were attacked today by an evil bastard for who knows what reason. His toddler saw the whole thing happen, and he wasn't there. He didn't do anything to stop it."

Regina sorts through his words intuitively and then gently spins him around and backs him up against the side of the house. Getting in his face, she hisses quietly, "You listen to me right now, forest boy!" First of all, that's something you would do - metaphorically throw fireballs at yourself, if you could, of course. It was not your fault! And you did do something about it! You helped me! I wouldn't have gotten up off that floor if you hadn't been there to reach out and take my hand. You called me back from hell! You did that, Robin! So, stop this. You stop this, right now! Furthermore, that's not Hades. He's a god! I've met quite a few of them now. As far as I can tell, none of them have a penchant for blaming themselves for things; not even when they are at fault. If he's mad at anyone, it's probably the evil bastard."

Robin shrugs. "Okay, all good points."

Regina nods brusquely. "Okay then! Now… You wait here!"

As she steps away he objects. "Lady, where do you think you're going."

"I'm going in there. You are staying here - until it is safe for you to do otherwise."

"And, why should I do that?"

"Because if he throws a fireball at you, you cannot magically disappear on your own! That's why! So, stay!"

Robin scowls and starts to follow until she turns and hisses in frustration.

Angry, he whispers with hostility, "If you go in there and get hurt, I'm going to be really very seriously put out with you, milady!"

"Yeah, well, I can handle that. It's not like it would be the first time that's ever happened. Just stay!" She steps over the threshold and then two steps to her left before she disappears from his sight without giving him the chance to argue further and he groans aloud; severely displeased with the situation.

Almost immediately he detects a change in the room when a soft dazzling white light begins to mix and mingle with the eerie blue glow that the dark god is creating.

Robin hears, "Hey, What the…" and then Hades roars, "Regina!"

Robin steps toward the door, only to jump back an instant later when a massive blue ball of flame torpedoes out the door, down the front walk, and halfway across the street before it finally extinguishes itself and disappears from view; leaving a faint glowing crystalline blue trail in its wake.

"What are you doing here?" Hades demands to know. "And why did you ruin all my glorious destruction?"

Regina laughs callously, "You call this glorious?"

"Yes, I do!" He fires back; daring her to challenge him. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll get out of here, now!"

"Oh okay!" She snaps sarcastically. "I guess I'm just wondering what my sister is going to have to say about this when she realizes that her brand new Greek palace lays in ruins! A palace that I might add, she built with you in mind. I'm pretty sure that if you stop behaving like an uber-powerful petulant five-year-old for two seconds and think about it, you'll realize that all your glorious destruction would break her heart. But, hey, what do I know? Carry on. Go right ahead and firebomb the place until there's nothing left but ash!"

Robin waits for some sign that all is clear.

Hades roars again, this time in something closer to anguish than fury and another massive blue fireball vacates the house, just a fraction slower than its predecessor.

Inside, from her place just two steps to the left of the door, with her hands on her hips, Regina watches in utter disdain. It takes a full five seconds for the blazing blue inferno that emanates from her brother-in-law's head to show any sign of control, and once it does, it takes another twenty seconds before the flames smolder and die out completely.

"Feel better?" She asks archly.

"No, not especially. I wasn't trying to ruin all her hard work… I just… I didn't think anybody was going to be here."

Assuming that's as close as a god gets to an apology, Regina shrugs. "It's not me you'll be needing to explain things to. And, fortunately for you, you haven't destroyed anything that can't be mended - yet. Can Robin come inside now, or do you want to reduce a few more things to cinders, first?"

By way of answer, Hades silently tilts his head in a fashion that is supposed to be inviting, although in his present state of mind, the invitation is still somewhat worrisome. Eyeing him with concern, Regina steps to the right and leans back far enough to nod; granting Robin entry.

Moving slowly, cautiously, Robin steps over the threshold and looks around, his eyes going wide in response to the scorched and smoldering detritus of what was a sparkling brand-new home only yesterday. "Man, do yourself a favor, take up boxing!"

Hades glares at him, and Robin holds his hands out in a defensive posture. "Hey man, it's a healthy expression of violence. Or, at least it's healthier than this." He gestures to the scorched and stinking room around him. "And, it would be a whole lot less likely to end your marriage. Regina would probably set me on fire if I did this to our house."

Sighing, Hades simply snaps his fingers and every last trace of fire damage vanishes from sight and the room is restored to its former glory instantly; although the scent of scorched plaster and furnishings does linger heavily. "Did you two have a reason dropping in unannounced, other than to give me grief?"

Regina nods tersely."We came to say that we know what that thing that attacked us this afternoon is. It's called a Dementor. It belongs in the realm of Rowlingshire. It's a prison guard. We don't know why it's here yet, but we can go find out. I remember you said once that you can cross realms, but only alone. You can't take anyone with you. Correct?"

"Correct. And I wouldn't right now, anyway. I'm not leaving Zelena."

"Well, obviously she's not here. Not right now. I mean I know she's tired, but even she can't sleep through what you were doing down here."

"I sent her and Eliana to Olympus for the evening. We hadn't yet told the family up there about the new baby. As soon as Zeus found out, Persephone and Aphrodite showed up. They took her up there for a little pampering and R & R. She'll be back tomorrow morning. She and Eliana will be safe. Nothing bad will happen up there. I was going to go find that thing as soon as I got myself under control."

Regina's mouth falls open, her eyes going wide with shock. "You were just going to go find it, by yourself? Did you not hear a single thing I told you when I called this afternoon? It feeds on darkness, pain and suffering. It makes you relive the worst moments of your life. Hades, you've had a long life; centuries of rotten festering moments. And, you were just going to go out there by yourself and find it. So that what? So that it could suck out the blackened soul of a dark god and then be completely and totally unstoppable? Brilliant plan, Hades!"

"What do you suggest I do? Nothing? Come on, Regina! Even you haven't gone that soft!"

"Do you really want to talk about who's gone soft?" She raises an accusing eyebrow. "If all the flame throwing you've done tonight hasn't melted your brain, then why don't you try using it? Think a little bit less like some whipped guy in love. Think a little bit more like the rotten vindictive bastard I know you are."

His laughter is cold. "Typical Regina. Don't hold back, just come right out and tell me what you really think. Have you ever been reticent? Even for just one moment in your life?"

"If I have, it's none of your damn business." She pauses for a long beat before softening slightly. "Look, I understand if you don't want to go realm-hopping tonight. Honestly, neither do we, but it has to be done. We have to figure out how to get a handle on this thing, preferably before it tries again. And, I need your help. I'm sick of working with Gold. He has Jefferson's hat. He also has the Apprentice's wand. We're fresh out of magic beans, at least until the next crop comes in. I need a portal to get to Rowlingshire, and I'd like to avoid making a deal with him, if at all possible. I'm requesting to visit the underworld. That is, as long as my mother is still there. She knows how to walk through mirrors. If she'll teach me, I can get there and maybe develop some sort of attack plan, or at the very least figure out exactly who this thing is after. Will you help?"

"Of course, anything to keep Zelena safe."

Regina nods and takes Robin's hand in hers. "I trust that means you won't double-cross us and leave us down there?"

"I'll be listening. Just yell when you want to come back."