Author's Note: I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, life has been a bit busy, and now that it's finally calmed down I have a lot more writing time, so yay. Okay, I know this is a short update, but the next one is almost done so dont worry, no more long breaks between updates, enjoy this little bit, and I'll have more for you very soon.

Regina Mills is busily rummaging through a trunk of spell books, the glow of the lamp beside her highlighting her frown of concentration. Blood magic is surely some of the strongest magic next to true love; however, blood magic is something she cannot trust to use against her sister. She cannot risk a protection spell with it, and though her light magic is strong, she wants more. Zelena is powerful, and if she somehow manages to break through Regina's protection spell around her home, she wants - no, needs - safeguards in place to make certain her sister can't touch her children.

Since her return from Boston she finds her magic comes to her easily. It's surprisingly strong and she finds it very satisfying. She had initially been concerned that after returning to Storybrooke it would take more time for her magic to return to her, and thank God she'd been wrong. She is pleased at how quickly she's fallen back into her life at home. How well Henry and Roland have taken to their new sister and how easily the shift into family life has been for them all.

The only major drawback had been missing yet another year of her son's life. It amazes her still how tall he'd gotten. No longer able to rest her chin on his head, now he's at eye level, and it breaks her heart how fast children grow. She tells herself how young Roland still is yet, and how much she has to look forward to with precious little Wren.

She glances up at the clock and frowns. She hasn't heard from Robin in the last couple hours, and she knows it makes sense, even though she can't help the brief flare of worry in her gut; after all, he did drop the children with Mary Margaret and David. Of all the people in town, there was no one she trusted more than her former step-daughter, and although the irony was not lost on her, she is now grateful for the relationship she and Mary Margaret have. She wonders if she could extend a protection spell on the Nolan home, and gives a short laugh as she shakes her head. Protection spells around all her children.

Her cell phone gives a shrill ring, pulling her from her thoughts. Looking at the screen, expecting to see Robin's name, she is disappointed to see David's come up. Swiping it with her finger, she answers, "David?"

"Hey, we hadn't heard from you. Is everything alright over there?"

"Robin isn't back yet."

"Oh." She can practically hear David frown. "Regina, it's been almost 3 hours."

She blinks as she looks at the clock again. He's right; almost 3 hours have passed. She's worried now. Her stomach twists, and she regrets now that she hasn't been more aware of the time, but her attention has been diverted, lost in finding a way to see if her sister's magic could be defeated once and for all. She swallows hard. She doesn't want to think of what could detain Robin for nearly 3 hours.

Regina takes a deep breath and puts aside the spellbook she is studying.

Just as she is about to tell him that they should start looking for him, the doorbell chimes and relief floods her chest. "David, I think that's them. I'll call you back soon." She pulls her cell from her ear, not waiting for a reply, though she hears him telling her to call as soon as she hears from him, and then she is hanging up, making her way to the front door. All the while wondering why he would be using the bell in the first place.

She opens the door then looks up, dumbfounded. There is no one there, and she straightens, stiffens perceptively and a chill runs down her spine. She has a strong sense of deja vu, and Regina closes the door, turns and retraces her steps into her sitting room, and is not surprised to find her sister seated on her couch. Her arms spread wide across its back, and she is grinning at her like Regina should be happy to see her.

Zelena.

"Regina, it's so good to see you," she tells her, tilting her head. "You're looking well. Much better than your frumpy Boston self."

Regina stands rigidly in front of Zelena, crossing her arms, and narrowing her eyes she demands, "Where is Robin?"

"Would you like a drink, sis? I could use one. Will you join me?" Zelena replies, getting up and walking out of the room and into the kitchen.

Regina maintains her rigid stance but follows Zelena. What choice did she seem to have? "I'm only going to ask you one more time, Zelena. What did you do with Robin?"

Regina's insides clench at the thought of her sister harming Robin.

"Oh calm down, he's fine. A bit tied up at the moment is all." Zelena chuckles and makes her way to the stove, picking up the kettle, and walking to the sink she fills it with water. "Did you know this isn't the first time I've been in here? While you were away, I came over quite often. It was very… domestic."

She holds Regina's gaze before she speaks again in her frigid monotone. "I've got to hand it to him, to Robin. He pined for you for longer than I thought he would. And I was just starting to convince him you were gone for good just before that stupid fairy came running to him with all that rubbish about pixie dust. And then you had to come back and ruin it all."

"But you died."

"No, I didn't actually. Just before Rumple stabbed me with the dagger my life force simply fled my body before it shattered. I had somewhere to go. Or should I say some time?"

"You followed Emma through the time portal."

"Aah! That I did. And when I realized what Emma had planned for Marian, well, I knew I had to get in while the getting was good. So I bided my time, watching Emma and her one-handed lover scurrying about trying to right their mistakes, and when I saw they planned on bringing Robin's wife back, I mean," she chuckles gleefully, adds, "genius! Inspiration struck! And then I struck. For a few careless moments, they left her unattended, and that was all I needed. I killed her. And then I became her. I took her form." Sh wrinkles her nose for a moment. "Do you know, it wasn't easy not being me, but knowing that it would ruin your happiness, oh," Zelena breathes in sharply, enjoying the thought of her sister's pain and Regina's lip curls. "I mean, that made it worth every dull moment in her body."

"But you failed. Even though you came back as Marian, Robin still chose me."

"Yes, I was going to use my little Marian-glamour to steal Robin's heart, to make him fall in love with me, to steal your fated true love, but sadly, it didn't take. It seems his love for you is stronger than I anticipated, but no matter. I have a new plan. One that will no doubt settle the score and hurt you far more than taking your precious true love."

Regina is beyond words. She can't even begin to absorb the hideousness of what Zelena has done. "If you think I'm going to let you get away with this…"

Zelena laughs, and interrupts, "Oh but you will. You see, I'll be going away for a bit. While I was out in about in the land without magic I managed to track down a set of shoes, and well... " She walks around the counter, and Regina looks down to see a pair of gold slippers. "Oh, don't look so sad, I'll be back sooner than you think. Oh, and before I go, you might want to check on Robin. He was somewhat disconcerted when I left him. You may want to find him sooner rather than later."

And with three clicks of her heels, Zelena disappears in a cloud of green before Regina can hurl the fireball building in her palm. She grits her teeth. She needs to find Robin, now.