Happy birthday to the one and only Evil Queen!

Regina hated her birthday. When she was younger she had looked forward to the day as the one time that her mother was actually kind to her, but that eventually even went away. The only time that her mother had been kind to her on her birthday as an adult was after she had become the Evil Queen.

Regina winced as she thought about the last birthday that she had spent in the Enchanted Forest. She had been the Evil Queen then, and had stuck the miniature version of her father in one of her heart boxes. It wasn't exactly the most pleasant of memories to have from her birthday.

Since coming to Storybrooke, Regina hadn't celebrated her birthday once. No one knew when it was since the curse had broken, even though they remembered everything else. Even Snow had to admit that she had no idea when Regina's birthday was. Which she reluctantly had to tell Emma when she came looking for answers.

"You lived with her for most of your life and you never celebrated her birthday?" Emma asked.

Snow looked down at her feet guiltily. "I never really asked. She never wanted to talk to me at all, so I never bothered her unless it was important."

"And asking her about her birthday isn't important?" Emma asked. "It's a day to be celebrated!"

"I know, I know," Snow said. "She just scared me so I left her alone."

Emma shook her head. "Do you have any idea when it might be? Is there a day that she was more reserved than others?"

"She was always reserved," Snow said. "She hated me."

"Is there anyone who would know?" Emma asked. "Someone has to know when Regina's birthday is."

"Henry?" Snow suggested. "She is his son after all."

"She never tells him anything," Emma said dismissively. "There has to be someone who knows when Regina was born. Someone has to know her birthday."

"Archie," Henry said, walking into the room. "If anyone knows anything about Mom, is has to be him. He knows everything about everyone."

Emma smiled. "Let's go visit a cricket."

"I know when it is," Archie said. "But I can't tell you. Doctor-patient confidentiality."

"Archie, please," Emma begged. "I want to know so that we can actually celebrate it. Wouldn't it be good for her if we celebrated something like that? Maybe she doesn't like this day for a reason."

Archie sighed. "Fine. But you didn't hear it from me. Her birthday is February 1st."

"That's a week from today," Henry said. "Enough time for us to get something ready."

"I wouldn't do that," Archie said. "I can't tell you why she doesn't like this day because that's her story to tell. But I can tell you that you might want to take it easy. She hasn't celebrated this day for a reason."

Emma and Henry shared a glance. "Let's do this," Emma said.

Henry smiled. "Operation Royal Birthday is a go."

A week later, Emma and Henry had the perfect plan. The only problem, and this was Emma's problem to deal with, was getting Regina to actually go along with it. Which wasn't going to be easy.

"What's going on?" Regina asked, walking into the living room. "You two are too quiet."

"Ma has something to talk about with you," Henry said, getting up and leaving the room. "Happy Birthday!"

"What?" Regina asked, whipping around as he bolted out of the room. She turned back to Emma. "How does he know that? I've never told anyone about my birthday."

"Surprise," Emma said, smiling. "And Happy Birthday."

Regina sighed and sat down next to Emma. "How did you even find out?"

"Were you ever going to tell me?" Emma asked. "Or were you just going to keep it a secret from me forever."

"Maybe not forever," Regina said. "I'm sure you would have found out eventually."

"Well I found out now," Emma said. "So, we're going to celebrate. Don't worry it won't be anything big. Just me, you, and Henry spending the day together to celebrate the day that you were born."

"The last time that my family spent my birthday together, my father ended up in a heart box," Regina said. "I'd rather not celebrate."

"Come on," Emma pleaded. "Regina, without your birthday you wouldn't have ever been alive. Your birthday is nothing but a symbol for the fact that it's been another amazing year alive. Don't you want to celebrate that?"

Regina sighed. "You promise that it will be something small?"

Emma smiled and nodded. "Promise."

"Fine," Regina said. "We can celebrate my birthday. Don't make me regret this."

Emma cooked dinner with all of Regina's favorite foods, including a birthday cake. After dinner and cake, they all climbed under the fort made by Henry (like old times) and watched several movies. At the end of the day, Regina had to admit that celebrating her birthday had been a success.

"Well?" Emma asked. "What did you think?"

"I think," Regina said. "That I would like to celebrate my birthday every year from now on."

Emma smiled and leaned over to kiss her. Henry rolled his eyes before smiling. "Operation Royal Birthday was a success."

Regina rolled her eyes affectionately and sighed. "Of course you created an operation for this."

Henry hugged her tightly. "Anything for you."