Chapter 1
Last Year, StoryBrooke Maine
Henry didn't usually notice her nice, brown hair or soft, sweet smile. Something was different, and it made Henry wonder. How her brunette hair fell down her back, those chocolate eyes to match. The bland school uniform looked new and interesting on her. Henry smiled, losing himself in his daydreams.
He turned as Regina came to greet him at the bus. "How was school Henry?" Regina asked as He tore his eyes from Violet.
"Here you go. It's been waiting for you." Regina smiled as she welcomed Henry into his old bedroom. As Henry looked out of his window, he surveyed the clock tower. He then noticed their visitors walking up the front walk.
"Robin's visiting?" Henry questioned
"He and Roland are coming for dinner. We're having lasagna." Henry loved lasagna. Suddenly, a thought came to mind.
"Maybe you should ask Robin to move in with you?" Regina was shocked.
"Well, I could." She paused, "But Robin is happy in the forest with his men, and Roland needs some time to remember his mom. They did just lose her." In truth, Regina was worried that Robin was going would turn her down. She had been hurt too much. Henry thought about it. As he did he cocked his head to the side.
"But you could be that Mom figure Roland needs. They could visit the merry men every day. More importantly, don't you want Robin as safe as he can be? Away from Zelena?" Regina winced at the name. It hurt to think of her boyfriend's unborn baby. She wanted to kill that wicked witch, but Robin had a connection to his unborn baby, and Regina knew she could never bare him another. Now, Regina worried the baby would take after Zelena.
"Henry, I'm going to grab the door." As the she walked down the hallway she looked down in pain over Robin's baby. The doorbell sounded as she stood in front of a full-length mirror, smoothing out her dress and wiping away her tears.
"Thank you for inviting us Regina. Roland and I really appreciate it. She smiled as she welcomed them in. Robin gave Regina a peck on the cheek.
"Henry's joining us for dinner, if you don't mind."
"That's great. Roland really looks up to him." The two shared yet another smile. Inside Regina shuddered. Henry was counting on her, she had to ask him. She would ask them.
"Robin, would you like to move in?" Regina asked. It was abrupt, and Robin was surprised.
After a shocked couple seconds, Robin replied, "Of course." He smiled, and they shared a kiss.
"Come on Roland, I'll show you where you can sleep." Offered Henry. Roland smiled.
Life was treating Regina well. After taking Henry to the bus, She would walk with Robin and Roland to meet the merry men. Soon she was walking alone to her office, working as Mayor. She even joined Emma for lunch. Regina would take off work at four, pickup Roland and take him to the park. After this, Roland took a nap as Regina picked Henry up from the bus. While Henry worked on homework in the kitchen, she cooked dinner. Robin would be home right in time to eat. Roland was put to bed early, and Henry returned to his room, or was picked up by Killian, who'd either take him to sleep in his boat, or to the Charming's house.
On this particular evening, Killian was late to pick up Henry. "Is he here?" Henry was getting nervous, he debated walking to the pirate's ship. Regina smiled sadly.
"Henry, I'm sure that he's on his way. He must have been busy swashbuckling." Regina joked. Henry ran back upstairs, and Regina frowned, wondering where the leather-clad pirate was. How could she hold her family together?
Hook was in Granny's speaking to Robin. ¨She was the ultimate hero, she sacrificed her good for the ultimate good . . . for her son. Her family . . . .¨ Robin understood. As he took a sip out of his glass, he cleared his throat and began talking.
¨For you.¨ Robin looked at him with serious eyes. ¨Lad, she did it for you. Stop being hard on yourself, it isn't your fault.¨ Hook looked at him, and with his thick irish accent he began,
¨Ah, that's where you're wrong. I need to prove to her that I'm a good man, not the other way round. I need to prove it to her parents, her son, her family, the town. We need her here more than we need me. I should be the one with that bloody curse. It should be me. I've been tempted darkness, and I've turned away. I've had more experience. I would sacrifice myself for her. It should be me.¨ But Robin knew he was just being hard on himself. And Killian knew it too.
Emma stood across the street from Granny's and looked in the window. She was clad in a long black dress. It had a leather collar and was well-fitting, but it didn't match her personality. It was long and trailed on the ground, and it intimidated everyone who saw it. But the tears in her eyes, the hurt in her face, showed that she was not all dark. She couldn't believe Killian would sacrifice himself. She was suddenly aware that as long as she was dark, she would lose Killian. She looked in the reflection of her bug's glass and waved her hand. With a puff of purple smoke the tears erased from her face and she and her bug, were resting on the street in front of her house. She wished it was her taking Henry back to the Charming's house. Passing Granny's and stopping for hot chocolate with cinnamon.
Earlier that Year
"Rumple, be honest with me, What's happening to you?" He looked at the only person
who could ever love him, and soon even she wouldn't be able to. Her auburn hair was messy, falling in her face. And the tears, making her cheeks glisten. "The last goodness in my heart is gone. Soon I will be without the ability to love. You must get as far away from me as you can when I become the full dark one." Belle was devastated.
"No! Rumple, this can't be how it ends!" Rumple shook his head, in torment, as a tear fell from his cheek.
"Belle, when there is no longer a man behind the beast, find someone. Find someone you love. There are billions of people in this world, and if it's Will, then be with Will." Belle felt horrible now.
"Rumple, i don't love Will. I … love … You."
