Author's Note: I think this is one of my favorite chapters by far. Enjoy.

"Belle, Rumple, thank you both for coming." Robin opens the front door of their home and ushers his guests out of the cold winter weather. They had all had planned on meeting that evening, and Robin is still a bit apprehensive of the Imp's presence. However, if anyone can figure out what happened to Regina it was him. No matter how much he detests the very thought.

Belle is the first to speak, and she reaches for Robin's hand, giving it a squeeze. "I'm so happy you found Regina, Robin."

"Thank you," he tells her sincerely, before taking them into the living room where Regina sits with Henry and Wren.

"Well, well, well..." Rumple drawls, a small smile playing on the corners of his lips, as he takes in the sight of the baby in Regina's arms. "What have we here? A daughter, I take it?"

Robin's jaw clenches, but it is Regina who answers. "That's right. You must be Rumplestiltskin?"

Rumple raises a brow, and studies her for a moment. His hand lifts slightly, fingers moving as though tracing something in the air. "My, that is strong magic."

"So it is a curse?" Robin asks, moving over to Regina's side.

Smiling a curiously sly smile, the Imp replies, "Oh yes, I could sense it the moment we arrived. This isn't any run of the mill spell either; whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing."

Regina asks Henry to hold the baby for her, and she gets to her feet. "Can't you undo it?"

Surprise shows on his face at her words, and Rumple lets out a small chuckle. "Why do you think I can?"

Regina isn't sure why, but the man's smugness has her on edge, and she can't help it when she levels a challenging stare in his direction. "You're a powerful sorcerer, aren't you?"

He quirks one eyebrow and meets her glare head on. "I'm afraid that's not how magic works, my dear." He sighs at Regina's blank look and explains. "You see, there are only two ways to break a curse. One is True Love's Kiss, and the second is to find and destroy the originator responsible, and even that's not a guarantee. The stronger the magic, the more complicated the spell, the greater chance it has of surviving its castor's death. No, dearie, True Love's Kiss is the only guarantee to break any spell."

"So," Henry starts, looking between his grandfather and his mother. "You're saying this could be permanent?"

It's only when Rumple turns to address Henry that he loses some of that self-satisfied smugness and nods. "Well I can't say for certain, but it is a possibility."

Robin instantly frowns at the pessimism the old Imp keeps tossing around. He should have known better then to expect more.

Regina takes a deep breath, and she feels Robin's hand on the small of her back, rubbing small circles there with his thumb.

"But you said True Love's Kiss," Henry says, his face lighting up as he turns to face Regina. "But you have Robin, Mom. It can work!"

Still caressing her back, Robin explains, "That may take some time, Henry." At the boy's confused look, Robin sighs. "True Love's Kiss requires that both parties love each other. Your mother can't remember now, so…"

"Oh," Henry said, grimacing and then throwing a sheepish look towards his mother. Regina only lets out a breath of frustration and gives him a half smile. Belle watches them both, and then leans forward to place her hand gently on Regina's arm.

"You both are more than just True Loves, you're also soul mates. If that can't overcome a curse, then I don't know what will," Belle notes.

Robin smiled at the young beauty. "She's right. This isn't the first curse we've had to face. You'll get your memories back, Regina. It's all about timing, my love."

Rumple eyes met Regina's, and then fell to the baby. "The first born of True Love soul mates," he muses, and then tips his head to the parents and says, "She's a very… unique little girl."

Regina's body tenses, but she wills herself not to react openly. Instead, she narrows her eyes perceptibly, and demands more than asks in a low voice, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Rumple seems unfazed by Regina's very guarded and protective approach. "Exactly what it implies, dearie," his says, his voice calm and measured. "You see, True Loves are rarely soul mates, and soul mates are rarely True Loves. That you are both makes your daughter…unique. Congratulations to you both."

Taking a deep breath, Robin thanks Rumple for his help and gestures back to the entrance. He's probably being rude, but he can tell the man's presence is bothering Regina. So he tells Belle he will talk with her -with them- as soon as Emma returns with more information. The outcome of Emma's telephone call the next day is weighing heavily on Robin's mind, and Belle's reassuring voice tells him to try not to worry and congratulations again.

Robin closes the door, and makes his way back into the living room. Regina is sitting beside Henry again, but she has taken Wren and is cuddling her a little closer than necessary, and that worried expression is back on her face.

"I have a confession to make," Henry says a little nervously, looking between both adults.

Robin squints his eyes a little and asks, "What's that?"

"I kind of knew about Wren before Mom came home."

Regina sits up and shifts her body towards her son, and she looks up at Robin with no small amount of confusion.

Robin's hands are on his hips, and after a moment he asks, "How? For how long?"

"I mean, I didn't know who she was exactly, but when Mom came home and when I found out about Wren it all sorta fit."

Robin takes a seat on the other side of him and asks, "What fit?"

"She's in the storybook."

"Wren is? But… she wasn't in there before?"

Shaking his head, Henry tells them what happened. "The night you left to find Mom, I started reading it to Roland, and there was a new story. Her story. I mean, then I didn't know who she was, but it was there, and now I know it's hers. All I could guess was that someone new was coming."

Robin asks once again, not sure if he's hearing this right. "In your storybook? The one with all of us?"

Nodding, Henry tells them, "Yes, that's how I knew you'd find her."

Suspicious, Regina asks him, "Can I see your book?"

"Sure, I'll go get it." Henry smiles and jumps up off the couch, taking the stairs two at a time.

Regina waves her hand in front of her. "First, she's the unique daughter of True Love soul mates, and now she's in a storybook? What storybook?"

He runs a hand down her arm, and threads his fingers through hers. "It's not as bad as you may think, love. Actually, if she's in Henry's storybook it's very reassuring."

"How so?" Regina tilts her head, desperately trying to absorb this new wrinkle.

Robin shrugs but gives her an encouraging smile. "We're all in the book. Our stories, even how we met. Maybe you and Henry can spend the afternoon going through it, while I go pick up Roland? I think you'll find it might help."

Regina is completely silent as she absorbs this turn of events. She sighs heavily a couple of times while they wait for Henry to return.

The sounds of heavy footsteps running down the stairs has them looking up. Robin shifts back over in the couch so Henry can sit between them. "Here it is."

Regina takes a moment to glance at the baby who is starting to wake, and then her attention focuses back on the book as Henry flips quickly through the pages. "See, here are you and Robin."

She studies the page, and her face softens a smile forming at the picture of them together.

Robin who has seen the book, even read their own story more than a few times over these last seven months, is watching Regina's reaction.

A few turns of the page brings up a picture of them together in the Enchanted Forest, a dark image of an interior of a castle and an arrow beside her. Her eyebrows raise and she glances over at Robin. "You almost shot me with an arrow?"

Robin bites his bottom lip and tries unsuccessfully not to grin too hard. "Actually, I was saving you from losing an arm."

Regina makes a hmph sound and rolls her eyes. Robin smiles wider.

Henry laughs, turns the pages faster, and both parents eyes widen at the picture before them. Henry turns towards her enthusiastically. "This is her."

Regina stares down at the picture. It's her holding a sleeping Wren, Robin standing beside her, and on the next page is a new story titled, The Nightingale. She studies the page carefully, concern clouding her features, but as Henry begins to read, the concern lessons as she becomes immersed in the story.

Soul mates, as you know, are very special indeed, and all those children born of soul mates are magical. But when those souls mates are also True Loves, those children are the most magical. The story I am going to tell you is about a special princess maiden, so it is well to hear it now before it is forgotten. The little girl was the most beautiful in the world. Born entirely of love, and the essence of long awaited hope, she was so delicate and special that whoever touched her was obliged to love her. For she flourished as she played in her mother's garden, where there could be seen the most beautiful of flowers, with a surrounding apple orchard, which grew the reddest of all apples in the land that everyone who passed could not help noticing. Indeed, everything in the Queen's garden was remarkable, and it extended so far as a noble forest, with lofty trees, sloping down to the shadow of moss, where the princess's fathers kingdom began. In one of these trees lived a nightingale, who sang so beautifully that even the poor huntsmen, who had so many other things to do, would stop and listen. Sometimes, when the princess and father went at night on their walks, they would hear her sing, and little princess would say, "Oh, is not that beautiful, Papa?"

One evening, when the bird was singing its best and the little princess lay in bed listening to it, the music stopped abruptly. The little girl immediately sprang out of bed and ran to the nightingale's tree, where she found the small bird on the ground with broken wings. The little princess cried out. What could she do? Cold and pale lay the nightingale, and the moon shone down upon them. The poor little princess could scarcely breathe with a strange weight in her chest, for she opened her eyes and saw Death sitting there beside the nightingale.

"You may not take her now," said the princess through her tears. "For she has the most beautiful music she gives hope to all in our kingdom!" She sniffled and stared at the pale and quiet figure in front of her. "I may be small, but my mother says my magic strong." Death nodded and said, "Little Princess, if you can heal her, you may keep her."

The little maiden, picked up the bird with the gentlest of hands, and cried, "You precious beautiful nightingale, sing, pray sing! I heal you, my sweet bird. Sing! Sing!"

Death continued to stare at the child, and the bird in her hands, with his cold, hollow eyes, and the forest was fearfully still. Suddenly there came a brilliant white light that filled the forest, and the sound of sweet music rang in the quiet air. Once the light had faded, upon the little princess's hand sat the living nightingale, fluttering her wings that were once more whole and well. She had been healed by the magic of the princess, and so she sang to her of hope and trust. And as she sang, Death grew paler and paler himself as he listened, and said, "Go on, little nightingale, go on."

"Thank you, little Princess," said the bird.

"Thanks, you heavenly little bird," the princess replied. "It is your sweet song that gives us hope for a brighter day."

"You have saved me," said the nightingale. "I shall never forget that, and I shall give to you a gift. I bestow upon you my gift of song. From this day forth your voice will also be filled with beauty and hope. But for now, little princess, sleep, dream, and grow strong. I will sing again."

Regina takes a deep shuddering breath as he finishes, and wipes the tears from her cheeks. "That's a beautiful story."

Robin nods, and clears his throat, also moved by the tale. He thinks for a moment, before stating, "Wren has healing magic?" Regina blinks at him then.

"It seems that way." Henry smiles at Robin.

"Thank you for showing this to us, Henry," Regina begins, rubbing the young man's back, and there is a slight waver in her voice, which has Robin eyeing her more closely. She looks between them both, and then it is Wren's cries that take her attention. Regina stands and without meeting their gaze says, "I'm going to take her upstairs for a bit."

Robin hesitates, torn between wanting to be with her and knowing she probably wants some time to herself.

Henry turns to Robin. "She looks upset still. I thought the story might cheer her up. It's not a bad story. Wren is a hero."

Robin understands the boy's concerns and says, "She knows that, Henry. All of this is just a lot for her to take in. Once she has her memories back it won't be so overwhelming for her, but right now she's feeling a bit more vulnerable than your mother normally would be."

Henry is silent about that for a moment and then nods. "That's true. I don't think I've ever seen her so scared."

Talk of memories and curses has sparked to life the rumbling core of fear that constantly lurks in the back of everyone's mind. With the Imp's words of warning still vivid in his mind, Robin makes a decision. Regina needs to know that memories or no memories, they'll all get through this.

Robin rests his hand gently on the boy's shoulder and smiles warmly, "Henry, do you remember when your mother disappeared and you told me you wanted your cursed memories back? Your good memories of New York, when things were simpler, where magic didn't exist."

"Yeah," Henry sighs. "I feel bad about that now."

"It's alright," Robin tells him sympathetically. He's been known to curse magic many a day in his life. "The point is, is I'm sure your mother is feeling the same way right now."

He frowns, surprised. "Do you think she wishes she was back in Boston?"

"No." He is quiet for a moment. "But I can bet she wishes things weren't so complicated. She probably would like to wake up tomorrow morning with no talk of curses and spells, stolen memories and magic; to just be yours and Wren's mother, and my love, without talk of Evil Queens, sorcerers, Snow White, or Enchanted Forests." He sighs and rubs the back of his neck. "I have to go out and pick up Roland soon; perhaps you can talk to her about it? Maybe it'll make her feel better?"

"Sure." Henry looks up and gives Robin a small smile.

Robin looks up at the stairs and then back at Henry. "I'm gonna go check on her now before I go."

Henry nods. "Okay."

Robin pats his shoulder again, but before he turns to leave Henry says, "Robin?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you, for taking care of her, and for not giving up on her." Henry walks toward him, and does something Robin never expects; wrapping his arms around him, he hugs him.

"I'll always take care of her, my boy," he vows, embracing Henry gently. "And thank you again for showing us the book."

"You're welcome."

Regina drapes a blanket around Wren while she stares out the window at the flurries of snow that has just now begun to fall. She tries to quell the corresponding churn in her middle, but no amount of admonishing herself will quiet her concerns.

She rests her hand on her daughter's head and soothes the baby, who is whimpering softly. She brushes her hair away from her forehead and speaks softly to her, whispering words of assurance and how much she is loved.

There is no way of knowing what they may encounter in the days ahead. She is safe here in this place with Robin, but doubt niggles in the back of her mind still. Thoughts of sorcerers, curses and the fact that she may very well be without her memories forever, are now a constant aching fear inside her.

The fear might be irrational, but even her family is concerned. And to add to it, she now finds out that her daughter is magical, and she has a mother who is clueless when it comes to anything relating to magic. Regina scoffs silently to herself; she doesn't even know how to use her own, aside from making flames dance on her fingers. It's a useful party trick, and great to light candles on a cake, but how is it supposed to help? She rubs her temples. She finds herself almost longing for the days before Robin found them; she was missing out on a lot, to be sure, but there were no curses and spells, just her friend and her new baby. It was all…normal.

There is movement behind her. Robin. She knew he would not be far behind, and she waits for him to stand behind her. He puts his arms around her, one around her waist and one wrapped across her chest, gently pulling her back against him. "Are you okay?"

She closes her eyes and tilts her head against his shoulder, one hand coming up to wrap loosely around his wrist. "I may never be her again, Robin."

He doesn't try to convince her otherwise and for that she is grateful. Empty promises were no good to either of them, and he is just as aware of the reality of their situation as she is. Instead, he rubs his hands over her arms. "That's okay."

Regina turns to face him. "Is it?"

"Of course it is. I love you… we all love you, no matter what."

Regina shakes her head. "Even if I can't remember our past?"

"Even then." He brings a hand up to her head and tangles his fingers in her hair, and strokes her temple and cheek gently, and adds, "Because we still have our future." He looks down then, and swallows. "That is, if you want that."

Regina looks down at their daughter. Her wide blue eyes are looking up at them, silently watching their exchange as she sucks on one tiny fist. Regina's face softens, and she lifts her eyes to his and says, "I do."

Robin's smile is blinding as he pulls her tightly against him, murmuring soft words of love into her ear. She rests her head against his chest, closing her eyes as his soothing voice washes over her. Yes, she does want this, so very much.

Later that evening, Regina goes upstairs to read a book with the boys while Robin offers to clean up. It had become short of a nightly routine when the boys were together, Henry explains as Roland goes off in search of their book. He, Robin, and Roland would read a book of the young boy's choosing before bed.

In no time at all, Roland is at Regina's side anxiously informing her they had already been through the magic lands of Narnia, through the jungles of Where the Wild Things Are, and the many, many adventures of Dr. Seuss. Setting a book into her lap, he tells her they are now in the middle of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by far one of Roland's favorite books.

"It's all about candy!"he exclaims excitedly, as they settle back into the bed. Although the boys have their own rooms, they decide that the pile of pillows on Regina and Robin's bed is where they want to have story time.

Regina is halfway through the first book when she realizes that Henry and Roland have fallen asleep. With both boys lying partially on top of her she decides to stay put, and she closes her eyes while she tenderly caresses Roland's back and Henry's head.

She must have fallen asleep, because the next thing she feels is a blanket being placed over her. Opening her eyes, she sees Robin settling down next to them, even though the light was off. She whispers, "I didn't hear you come in."

"Indeed. You know, I'm known for being quite stealthy." She can see his smile in the moonlight. "Wren is changed and is still fast asleep. Do you want to put them in their beds?"

"Maybe in a little while, but I'd like to lie here with them."

He snuggles up beside Roland so that he can lie close to Regina and pulls the blanket over them all. "Okay."

Her shoulder is tingling, but she doesn't want to disturb the moment, so she ignores it.

"They're very happy to have you home."

Regina chuckles, brushing the locks of hair off of Roland's forehead and glancing at Henry, who is fast asleep beside her. "I can see that." Regina feels Robin's lips on her temple, and she sighs. "They're both wonderful boys."

"That they are."

Regina lifts her lips to kiss him on the brow, and snuggling up against him, she drifts off to sleep feeling very loved.

Regina wakes the next morning when rays from the early winter sun settle upon her face. She opens her eyes and looks around the very quiet bedroom. She and Robin had spent a few hours up late last night with Wren, their daughter deciding that three am was a wonderful time to be wide awake, wanting her parents' full attention.

Robin must have taken the boys downstairs, as the bed is now empty, and Wren sleeps soundly beside her surrounded by a wall of pillows and blankets. Regina laughs silently to herself, and wonders if Robin had help constructing the massive barricade. She appreciates the gesture, but Robin doesn't know yet that Wren sleeps like a rock and barely moves, so only a couple of pillows are necessary. Regina looks toward the door when she hears footsteps coming up the stairs.

Robin knocks lightly and peeks in, smiling warmly when he meets her eyes. He says, "I made you some of that decaf coffee. Would you like a cup?"

"Sure," she said, but she makes no effort to reach for the mug that Robin is carrying, instead taking a moment to stretch and yawn.

"I'll just set it here on the nightstand." Robin sits on the bed next to her and sips from his own mug. "Emma called. She and Killian made it there, but they probably wouldn't be back for a few days."

Regina frowns, her heart starting to race a little. "Did she find anything?"

"She didn't mention anything specifically, but she wants to get a good look around before she jumps to any conclusions."

"What does that mean?" she asks him, sitting up as her brow creases in worry.

Robin smoothes the blanket over Wren, and takes a deep breath. "The first place they stopped was by the home where you were staying. It appears someone else has been there. She didn't want to tell me more over the phone because she isn't sure if anyone is listening, so she didn't explain much more."

Regina crosses her arms over her stomach suspiciously. "How does she know someone's been there?"

Exhaling quickly, Robin confesses, "Whoever was there tore the place up. Whether they were looking for something or just upset you were gone we're not sure of yet."

"Oh my God." Regina's eyes are wide with shock, and she starts to tremble.

Robin scoots closer to her on the mattress, and takes her by the arms, saying, "Regina, there's no need to worry."

Regina scoffs, shaking her head. She sits up, leans closer to him so their voices don't wake up the baby. "How can I not worry? Someone was obviously watching me and now they know I'm gone. God, Robin they were in my home!"

"But you're safe here. Before Emma left she put an enchantment around the house. We are the only ones that can get in or out." Robin's hands rub Regina's arms, attempting to soothe her nerves.

"How does that help us, Robin? We can't stay in here forever. If I can't get my memories back… If we can't figure out who did this without them…" She pauses for a moment. "We may never figure out who did this."

Robin thinks for a moment before saying, "Then we'll leave. We will go somewhere where they can't find you. Somewhere safe."

Regina shakes her head and thinks about Henry's other mother, about Marian, and their family and friends. "We can't do that either. If we start running, we'll never have time to figure this out. And if we start running, we'll never stop!"

"Then may I suggest something?"

Regina looks up at him, her expression miserable. "Of course."

Taking her hand, Robin says, "Kiss me."

Feeling the breath leave her as her eyes widen, she waits a moment before she asks plaintively, "What if it doesn't work?"

Robin turns in the bed, picking up her legs so they drape across his knees, and lays his hand against the side of Regina's face gently. "Then it doesn't work. But know this, Regina. My love for you is true."

Regina nods, while a lone tear falls unchecked down her cheek, and they both take a deep breath. Robin pulls her toward him and their foreheads meet. They stay like this for a moment, and she thinks he could probably hear her heart beating as it pounds in her chest. Her hands steal up his chest and over his shoulders to his neck, where she holds him to her. She needs another moment, to feel him, and let hope fill her.

This is love, she thinks.

Her mind might remember him but her heart, oh her heart does.

She can feel it inside her. Feels their connection, remembers the way she was drawn to him the moment she saw him, even before he said anything. She thinks back over the last few days, everything she saw him do, the way he acted with Wren, with Henry and Roland, with their family and friends, and with her. Especially her. She feels suffused with warmth as she realizes that every single action with her is colored with his love for her, and also realizes that she has spent the last few days falling in love with him all. Regardless of if she regains her memories, she is in love with him now. She smiles and burrows her face into his neck.

This will work.

Unconsciously his grip on her tightens and he can feel the burn of tears in his eyes. She reaches up and strokes his cheek, giving him a tender smile.

With one arm around her waist, he pulls her to him, his fingers tangling in her hair, his need for her almost overpowering. He turns his face into her hair and chokes out, "I love you, Regina, with all my heart and soul." He pulls away and sees a beautiful smile on her face, with a groan pulled from the very heart of him, he claims her lips with his in a searing kiss.

A wave of brilliant white erupts from them, light magic roaring to life and hurling away from them in an ever-expanding ripple. A gasp leaves Regina, making her pull back from him abruptly. She looks at him with wide searching eyes, and he holds his breath, looking deeply back into hers.

Her hands move from his neck to cradle his face, and her eyes fill with tears as she lets out his name in a broken sob, "Robin."

"Regina?" Dare he believe?

She lets out a laugh, and her smile widens even as her eyes spill over. "I remember."

I don't own them sadly, except Wren -she's all mine. Also, Wren's story was taken from Hans Christian Andersen's, The Nightingale and redesigned to fit this story.