No Regrets Chapter 9
Real Love

Regina frowned, "We've got one problem." she pointed down the narrow dirt path that would soon become the end of the road. The same road they had to flee on Epona's horses from a probable lynch mob.

Robin nodded. "Wish I had my bow and arrows"

"I have my magic, but I'd rather you were armed as well. I could change my appearance a bit..."

"That might work. They are looking for a women dressed like you are."

"Looking like the Evil Queen will just draw even more attention, as would looking like Storybrooke Regina... Ah, I know!"
A poof of purple smoke and a young woman with a softer version of Regina's face stood next to Robin. She was dressed in a blue high waisted tunic dress, over a cream shift. Her hair fell in loose dark brown waves to her waist.

Robin gazed at her slack jawed "Stunning...in every way"

Regina felt a happy blush stain her cheeks

"They definitely won't recognize you, but you might draw quite a bit of attention..."

"Hmm... Oh this should help" When the smoke cleared the same younger version of Regina stood before him, but she now looked obviously pregnant and wore a very noticeable wedding ring.

Robin looked worried "Will that harm-"

"No, I didn't actually move it ahead to being 5 months pregnant, it just looks that way."

"I know Whale claims the baby is fine, but I still worry..."

"I do too. I wish we had healer in Storybrooke, someone that knew magical medicine as well as scientific medicine, who could check for any magical damage done. Whale's an idiot."

"Among other things." Robin's expression darkened briefly. "We certainly need someone besides him in Storybrooke."

"Yes."

Then Robin laughed. "I do admit I feel slightly perverted at having such a young and astoundingly beautiful pregnant wife." He pulled her close and kissed her deeply.

"Umm.." she sighed with contented desire. "I believe someone likes a bit of dress up role playing"

"I believe so" he smirked back at her.

Despite the playfulness, they both became hyperaware as the path widened to wide enough for two horses to ride abreast. They'd reached the road. That anxiety increased when they heard horses approaching from the direction of the town. They quickly scrambled up a tree alongside the road. After a few tense minutes they relaxed, when it was clear the riders were travelers, not from the village. The two women let their horses canter as they spoke.

"You didn't object to me being a warrior in that town back there. I didn't like the way they were staring at you, and all the muttering about witches."

"I didn't say a hated that you are a warrior, I just said it doesn't impress me. What else are you?"

"We've been traveling together the past two months and you still don't know anything but that I'm a warrior?"

"That's not what I meant. I meant you do the same thing every other warrior, knight, solider I've met does, you're always in warrior mode."

"But at least I don't get drunk and brag about my battles, like that blowhard who traveled with us for a week."

"There is that."

"You sure your dream told you to come here and wait for Robin Hood and a female companion?"

"Yes, it was very definite. We needed to here at this time."

Robin called out from the tree. "I believe you've found me, Rebecka, Mulan." He dropped to the road and smiled at the two women, then reached out and helped Regina down.

Both Rebecka and Mulan's eyes went wide at Regina's condition.

"I hadn't heard you'd married again, Robin" Rebecka smiled.

"A bit of a magical ruse, we are engaged but I wanted to avoid unwanted attention." Regina responded.

"This is my fiancée, Regina. Regina, this is Mulan and Rebecka of York."

Regina had heard of Mulan but not the other woman- who looked middle aged, with deep chestnut hair in a wild mass of shoulder length curls.

"Are you a magic user too?" Rebecka looked at Regina, interested.

"I am."
"Oh wonderful! I'm a healer, what about you?"

"No real specialty just a general magic user."

"She's being modest, Regina is a heart radiant magic user"

Rebecka's eyes widened. "They're so rare! You're the first one I've met."

"I'm not that well trained, just the basics. But I don't think we should linger here. I didn't like that town any better than you two did."

"Agreed." Mulan said. "The horses should take us riding double as long as we don't have to gallop. I wouldn't trust anyone in that town, there's another town further down where we can buy a wagon or a carriage."

"A wagon will be fine." Regina said.

Robin looked surprised.

"More room in a wagon, plus it doesn't look as possible tempting a target as a carriage."

"Agreed, but you love to ride."

"Not taking any unnecessary chances. I know now it wasn't the cause of my miscarriage, but still…" Regina whispered to Robin.

"You can take my horse Regina and Robin. I'll ride double with Mulan." Rebecka saw the worried expression on Regina's face and guessed the cause. "Mallow is very calm and rides gentle. "

They kept to a cantering pace, Regina in front on Mallow. She felt herself relax after a short time. Rebecka wasn't exaggerating, she thought.

Robin smiled at Regina beginning to doze off. He held with one arm so she could sleep in the saddle. Better she sleep while they passed the first village. He couldn't. He didn't need magic to know hostile eyes were watching the strangers pass.
There was no incident this time. Once they were more than a half day's ride south of it, Robin relaxed.

"We could ride a bit longer, but this looks like as good a place as any to camp for the night. There's a stream right there with a clearing." Mulan pointed to the left side of the road.

Robin roused Regina from her slumber. "Camping here for the night."

Regina laughed, "Rebecka wasn't joking. That ride was so gentle it rocked me right to sleep."

They reached the southern village late the next morning. Robin and Mulan went to find him a new bow and arrows, and to find a wagon seller. Rebecka and Regina went to resupply their herbal stocks and take the horses to the blacksmith to get new shoes.

"So how did you meet Robin?"

"It was when the Wicked Witch had taken over the Enchanted Forest. He saved me from one of those horrid flying monkeys, then a short time later I saved his son Roland from one. We just kind of gradually fell in love after that."

"I heard about what happened here. I was in the southern wilderness at that time, I'd heard stories that it was a refuge from warfare."

"What happened?"

"It wasn't. Plus they hated all magic users. It was difficult escaping back here. I met Mulan two months ago. She helped me scare off a horse thief."

"So, you two have become close?"

"I think so, when she's not stuck in that annoying warrior attitude. There's more to life than battles and honor codes."
Regina smiled faintly, reminded of Robin and herself during the missing year.

"So you and this Regina, you're getting married?" Mulan looked at Robin questionably.

"Yes." Robin grinned. "Twice before I was going to propose to her and some kind of magical disaster delayed it. Decided not wait for the perfect moment the third time. We'll be married as soon as we get back to camp."

"From the way she acted about riding yesterday, I'm guessing she's actually pregnant."

"Yes, she just recently found out. We're not quite sure how far along she is."

"Rebecka could tell you."

"I think Regina might ask her." And ask her to make sure his other daughter is okay as well, once they got back to the Merry Men, he thought.

"Robin, her name-"

"Regina, yes."

"That's the name of the Evil Queen."

Robin sighed. "Regina isn't the Evil Queen."

"She looks far too young to be her anyway. Was she some noble's daughter that was born right after King Leopold married-"

"No. It's not something we should be talking about in public. We'll explain once we get away from town."

"I have a feeling it's going to be a very complicated story."

Robin laughed. "Oh yes, more than you can imagine!"

Robin found a peddler wanting to sell his wagon. He and Mulan found Regina and Rebecka waiting outside of the blacksmith.
"So you think the baby is about 9 weeks old?"

"Yes, and very healthy, she will have magic too- feels like water element, that will most likely mean she'll be a healer, like me. Water element magic users to be healers.

"What happened to your parents?"

"Mother died of an illness when I was just five. I remember trying to save her, but I had no training, plus my power was just too weak then. Father, he was a healer, but not as strong as I am now. He couldn't save her either. After that Father taught me all the healing herbs"

"So he knew you were a healer too?"

"Yes. He trained me in the power. When I was 19, a man came to our door in desperation- his wife was trying to give birth, but the baby wouldn't come, and the midwife wasn't a magic user. My father and I rushed to the cabin with the panicking man. I delivered the child safely, but the mother was very ill, besides having just given birth. Father and I managed to save her, but it took everything we had. We made it back home. But father died during that night. I woke late the next morning to find he'd died. I was too much in grief to stay in the village. I packed up a few things and left. I've been looking for a new home ever since. No place has felt right."

"You never told me that, about your family." Mulan said sitting beside Rebecka and drawing her into a hug.

"You didn't ask." Rebecka responded, laying her head against Mulan's shoulder.

"I have a hard time talking about mine, didn't think it was right to ask about yours."

"So tell me about yours, whenever you want to."

Mulan nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe I will, someday."

Once the blacksmith finished with the new shoes for the horses they headed back to the peddler with the wagon for sale.

"Getting too old to do this anymore. Plus since the royals disappeared no one wants to buy anything anymore, roads aren't that safe for someone traveling alone either. Let you keep the bedding materials, even, for the lady."

Robin negotiated the sale with the older man, telling him a tale that somewhat resembled the truth. They were traveling toward Nottinghamshire, they were reuniting with family, and Regina was pregnant…

The old peddler continued "Good thing you've got a warrior in your group, and the curly haired lady, did you say she was a healer?"

"I did."

"Can throw in travel supplies and my second best horse if your healer can take a look at my arm."

Robin was dubious about the quality of either, but the wagon, even in its somewhat run down appearance had been a bargain. Something he suspected had to do with Regina- a beautiful young woman with child, needing help- most would feel some sympathy. Plus Regina was thoroughly playing the role of young, sweet, demure wife to Robin around the old peddler. Regina could be a very quick study of people, and no doubt she'd judged this old peddler to be susceptible to sweet, demure young women. "I'm sure our healer would be glad to look at your arm." Robin motioned for Rebecka to join them.

Regina gave Robin a questioning look.

Robin raised his eyebrows and smirked. "Rebecka, could you look at our friend's arm? "

"Sure." Gently Rebecka lifted the peddler's arm. "Oh, you pulled it out of socket and it nearly fractured…about 10 years ago?"

"Yeah! How'd you know it was 10 years ago? Wagon got stuck in snowdrift, had an awful time getting it free. Hurt my arm finally getting it out. Just had to push it back myself and wrap it. Never did heal quite right, pains me something fierce when it's going to rain."

"I'm a healer, I can see when an injury happened too. I can heal enough that you won't have so much pain, but-"

"I'm an old man, bones are too old to be as good as new anymore, but if you can fix it so it don't hurt so bad… can't afford to go to healers usually."

Rebecka nodded and a soft blue glow came from her hands.

By late afternoon they were back on the road. Regina and Rebecka on the wagon seat, while Robin and Mulan rode ahead on the two other horses. Rebecka had judged the peddler's horse healthy enough for the few days travel.
Regina released the spell once they were back on the road.

"So you aren't that young, after all." Rebecka grinned. "I was wondering how Robin had fallen for a woman so much younger than him."

"Was the spell that good?"

"It's pretty powerful, at least for your appearance. I was getting very conflicting readings on your age."

Regina nodded. The dark curse, with its 28 years of frozen time, would have played havoc with getting an accurate reading. Chronological age was different than biological age. Biologically she was 39 years old. "So how did you meet Robin?" Regina asked Rebecka.

"I was staying in a village as their healer at the time. He and Little John came to me. They'd been injured getting away from one of their…adventures. I healed them and let them stay overnight in my cottage. I knew who they were so I refused to take payment for healing them. Robin insisted that his honor code meant they must give me something in payment. So I had them pull the weeds in my herb garden. I think Little John was hoping for something a bit more manly, like hunt an animal for a meal, but Robin just went straight to work."

Regina pictured Robin weeding a cottage garden and grinned. Perhaps she should plant an herb garden...

"So about Regina, what's the story on her?" Mulan asked as their horses traveled in front of the wagon.

"Tell me what you think of her." Robin countered.

"She seems very perceptive. She played the role of the demure young wife expertly. That old peddler was completely charmed by her. She has to be some kind of noble lady though. I could tell she was used to giving orders and having them followed. She's survived some kind of trauma."

Robin nodded. "Many miss the last, she hides it well from most."

"Been around a lot people who have, recognize the signs. You show it too, Robin. It's more obvious than it used to be."

"Regina and I have suffered a few traumas together since you met me."

"You hadn't met her then, had you?"

"That's the first complication. We had met, years ago, but our memory of it was wiped."

"Years ago? She would have been a child."

"Magic spell. We're the same age. Look back, she's released it now."

Mulan glanced back and saw a woman obviously quite some years older than the young woman she'd met. Plus she no longer looked visibly pregnant. "So who is she, beside your soulmate?"

"She's a woman that was broken and manipulated into falling into the darkness, who has spent years climbing back out. She has been called the light savior by the author. She's the mother of a thirteen year old boy, stepmother to my son and guardian to her niece..."

"I have a feeling there's something about her that I won't like, something you don't want to tell me."

"I'd rather she tell you, than me. It's her story to tell."

"When we camp for the night I'm going to ask her."

Robin nodded in acknowledgement. This wouldn't be easy for any of them, but especially Regina. Free of the curse and unburdened from the darkness, the shadow of her past would always follow her. But he intended to always be the light in that shadow, no matter what.

After they set up camp Mulan didn't waste a moment asking. "So Regina, who are you anyway?"

Regina looked at Robin, and he put his arm around her. She closed her eyes. "I think your question isn't who am I, you've seen who I am now, other than being the mayor of a town in the Land Without Magic. Your question is who was I, what dark past do I have?" She took a shuddering breath. "You would have heard of me as…the Evil Queen."

"Robin! You said she's not the Evil Queen!"

"She isn't, she hasn't been for a long time. She is Regina Mills, mayor of Storybrooke and everything else I said."

"Mulan, perhaps we should listen to her story. We've been traveling with her, Robin is in love with her. Does she seem evil to you now?" Rebecka gently chided her companion.

"No. Alright I'll listen." Mulan said grudgingly.

"It's a very long story, and part of it goes back many generations in my family….." Regina opened her eyes and looked off into the trees.

It was late once her tale was done. By the time it was all told Rebecka was holding her hand and crying. Regina felt vaguely uncomfortable at a stranger showing so much sympathy for her.

Mulan looked thoughtful "Not many could come back from that. I had an ancestor who fell into darkness and died unredeemed. His ghost comes to me in dreams sometimes, whenever I've been tempted to make a bad choice. He warns me not to make the mistakes he did and is still paying for in the afterlife."

There was a rumble of thunder in the distance. "Looks like we were lucky getting this wagon. There's a storm on its way. Should be space for the four of us inside tonight. I'm going to make sure the horses are securely tethered under that outcropping. " Regina said.

"I'll help." Rebecka offered. "I can soothe them with a spell so they aren't as frightened during the storm."

"That's a good idea. Maybe you could teach me the spell."

After they walked far enough away Mulan turned to Robin. "I'm sorry about getting angry earlier."

"It's understandable. Regina knows she'll have to deal with reactions like that from anyone that doesn't know her journey."

"I'm curious to see this Storybrooke."

"Rebecka too?"

"Oh definitely. I bet she's telling Regina that now."

"We could use a healer there. Both Regina and I thoroughly dislike the main doctor, and only one who delivers babies in Storybrooke."

After the one night of storms the rest of the trip was clear and cool. As they neared the Merry Men's camp the whole camp turned out to greet them. Little John didn't even wait till Robin was off the horse he lifted Robin into a near bear hug
Robin smiled as his men all buffeted him with hugs, back slaps and laughter. Regina got down from the wagon and watched the joyous reunion until she was almost knocked off her feet by Roland's tackle hug.

"Regina! You brought papa back! Can we go back home now? Henry came here-"

"Henry did?" She looked up and saw her son had walked up while she had been talking to Roland.

"Mom" Henry hugged Regina tightly, while Roland raced off to join in with the Merry Men's celebration of Robin's return.

Regina had to look up a bit to look Henry in the eyes in her flat boots "What made you come here? Robin and I are okay now, we were coming back to Storybrooke soon."

"Umm, I think grandma can explain why" Henry grinned and stepped back revealing Snow White walking toward them.

"It is my fault we're here Regina. I insisted."

"How many is 'we'. " Regina sighed.

"Just Henry, Tinkerbelle and myself. Like you said, you aren't in danger. But Regina, you're getting married! Do you think I would miss that, or Henry-"

"Or me!" Tinkerbelle hugged her enthusiastically. "Regina, you did it! You broke the curse, brought Robin back, you're going to have a baby, and your getting married to your soulmate! Do you think I wouldn't want to be here? I was meant to be your fairy godmother after all!" The fairy was so happy she was nearly bouncing on her feet.

"Henry? How many people did you share those pages with?" Regina looked mortified

"Um, I tried just to keep them to myself, mom, really!"

"I believe you." Regina knew how it probably went. Snow badgered Henry and gave him that look… Hell, that look even intimidated her. Any preconception she'd had about baby Neal being spoiled was gone after Snow seemed to suddenly develop a mom glare that made hers look like a smile. Regina sighed again "How many people?"

"Grandma, Grandpa David, Tinkerbelle, Emma-"

"Please tell me you didn't let the pirate read them"

"Sorry, mom, he was there with-"

"Emma."

"Does Gold know?"

"He wasn't there with us"

"We didn't tell him, Regina."

"Let's hope he hasn't found out, someway or another, the less he knows the better. Don't want the Blue Fairy to know either for the same reason."

"Regina, I'm truly sorry about what she did to you. It was very wrong. And I'm so sorry about what my father did to you. I didn't know." Snow looked at Regina earnestly and squeezed her hand.

"I didn't want you to ever know, Snow."

"I can't forgive him now, it's too horrible. I'm so sorry, it's my fault."

"No it's not. You were a child, you had no real part in it. I only displaced all my rage at what my mother did, what my father didn't try to help me out of- when it could have maybe saved me, what Leopold did to me, and how others played roles in breaking and manipulating me into being their puppet."

"I can't see him now without picturing him hurting you all those years. You carried that pain all alone for all these years."

"I told Robin, he knew. It helped me put it in the past, while I was helping Robin."

"Regina, for what's it's worth, Killian didn't make a mock of it- "

"Great, now I have his pity. I'd rather he not know. For you I didn't want to destroy your image of your father, you lost your mother so young…"

"That image of my father was false. I'm a grown woman now, Regina, and a mother myself. I can deal with the truth about what my father was It's just your years of pain that hurts to know. Every time I praised my father in front of you, I caused you pain."

"Snow, it's in the past. I'd rather just leave it there from now on."

"I've done it again, then, made you sad. You're right, we should be celebrating all these wonderful things that have happened!"
Regina laughed "Now there's the 'hope committee ' Snow that aggravates me."

Robin's voice carried over the happy reunions. "I suggest we take our celebrations to the camp- after all, Friar Tuck needs to prepare for a wedding, today! Regina and I wish to be married by our good friar!"

The Merry Men cheered and Regina found herself drawn into their circle as the boisterous celebration moved toward the camp.

Once they reached the camp Snow shooed Robin and his men off and urged Regina forward into the wagon. "Can't see the bride before the wedding, Robin. We have to get her ready. And your men need to help you get ready."

Regina shook her head, amused , Snow had taken complete control of the preparations for this wedding.

Snow mumbled the wedding rhyme "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…" Well your dress is blue, but maybe you could make it look a bit more bride-like, maybe silk rather than cotton…"

Regina dutifully poofed the dress to silk, and the shift to a translucent white lawn.

"Better" Snow nodded Then pulled a small delicate looking tiara from out of the bag she'd set on the floor of the wagon.
"Borrowed- from me."

Regina grimaced at that. "I'm marrying Robin Hood not a prince."

"Even if you want to forget you were a queen, they'll all kind of expect you to dress like one on your wedding day." Snow gave her the look.

"Fine, I'll wear it." She rolled her eyes.

"You have something pretty new." Snow smiled
"My baby" a soft smile touched Regina's face as her hand rested over her womb.

"And here's something old"- Tinkerbelle handed Regina miniature painting of page 23.

"Thank you." Regina held the palm sized painting close to her chest then materialized a golden necklace attached to the miniature, and put it on like a pendant necklace.

In the meantime Henry decided he'd not only be his mom's wedding photographer, having brought his camera with him, but with little author privileges, tweaking of his I-phone speakers, be one of the music providers for the wedding dance. He had the perfect first song for mom and Robin ready to go.

Robin waited by the campfire with Friar Tuck for Regina, Roland kept racing back and forth between the campfire and the wagon, asking if Regina was ready yet. Finally she stepped down from the wagon and Robin thought of all the cliched phrases about beautiful brides, none were good enough for her.

"Might want to close your mouth, Robin." Regina giggled as she joined him, "A bug might fly in."

He chuckled and did so.

Regina's bouquet was not the standard Storybrooke or even Enchanted Forest one. It was apple blossoms and pine needles on their natural stems wrapped in a gold band that ended in an arrow shape. The ceremony was short and simple. Their wedding rings repeated the arrow motif.

Henry insisted on his gift being the music for their first wedding dance. "Mom, Robin it's the perfect song, believe me!"

"Okay, Henry, and thank you for being here." Regina hugged him, then rejoined Robin.

When he heard the lyrics Robin had to agree Henry had made a good choice, the song could have very well been about them

"...From this moment on I know, exactly where my life will go, seems that all I really was doing, was waiting for love..."

After that the Merry Men brought out various instruments and the celebration of the wedding lasted into the early hours of the morning. Robin and Regina snuck away to the wagon while the revelry was still going on.

"Maybe I should have made sure Henry had gone to bed too." They had checked on Roland and the baby- both fast asleep, despite the noise, in Little John's tent. But Regina let Henry take responsibility for himself, he was growing up, after all, but now she felt guilty, he was only thirteen and there was a lot of drinking going on...

"I'm sure Snow will make sure he doesn't do anything he shouldn't be." Robin wouldn't be surprised if the boy didn't sneak and try a bit of the hard liquor that was circulating, but a taste would likely be enough to deter him from trying alcohol again for some years. Homebrewed Enchanted Forest liquor wasn't gentle on the tongue.

Robin smirked when Henry motioned him aside the next morning while Regina was distracted by the preparations for their second, more leisurely, trip to Avalon.

Henry made a disgusted face and whispered "How does anyone drink that stuff?"

"It's what they are used to. They think most the alcohol in the Land Without Magic is too weak. Although some did acquire a taste for whiskey", he glanced in Will Scarlet's direction.

Henry grinned, he'd heard about the time Grandma had a drunken Will spend the night in the Storybrooke jail.

The Merry Men said their goodbyes to Robin and Roland and to Regina's surprised, her as well.

"Perhaps someday you can all visit us again." Friar Tuck patted Regina's hand

Mulan and Rebecka joined the Storybrooke group for the travel to Avalon. Rebecka had already decided she would be going to Storybrooke with them. They needed a healer after all, and the tales she'd heard from Regina's son, Henry stirred her curiosity. She wanted to see this Land Without Magic, especially Storybrooke. Mulan was still slightly uncertain about this Storybrooke, but wasn't opposed to going along with Rebecka to it. She admitted she was also slightly curious about it.

It took a week to get to Avalon this time.

As the group waited for the sign they would be let in Tinkerbelle spoke to Regina "I was excited before, but now I'm worried. The fairies did some bad things, and I wasn't exactly good when I lost my wings."

"Remember, they not only let me in, they welcomed me with open arms. I'm sure your past won't count against you."

This time the welcome was straightforward. Morgan herself appeared. "Welcome again Regina and Robin. We were quite happy to hear that you had succeeded." She nodded to the others then turned and guided them to Avalon.

The wedding on Avalon was more traditional than their first wedding. Robin and Regina were given Avalon ritual robes and head garlands, Regina's were apple blossoms and Robin's mixed ivy with oak leaves. The ceremony began just before sunset.

Morgan lead Robin and Regina to a dais with candles and element symbols inside the circle they were married by handfast and each took a lit candle with their element colors. Red for Regina and a spiraled dark green and brown for Robin. They then lit the center white pillar candle together. Once the center candle was lit and their element candles placed on each side, Robin and Regina kissed.

Everyone had quietly observed the ceremony until then, but Morgan made a hand signal and the Avalon people clapped and cheered. Henry and Roland enthusiastically joined in.

Morgan opened the circle and spoke. "There is one more part to this. A wedding brings together families and makes a new one."

Regina and Robin's family and friends were each handed an unlit white candle. Even the baby had a small one put into her hand. The baby gripped it tightly.

"Light your candle with whomever you have the family or chosen family ties to, because that is what the closest friendships are family as well, then bring your candle to the center candle and join it to that flame, before putting it beside whichever of Robin or Regina's candles you choose."

Regina took the baby from the basket and gently lifted the candle from her hand and lit it with Robin's candle. After briefly touching it's flame to the pillar candle she placed the baby's candle next to hers. Then she walked back over to Robin and he kissed the baby's forehead. Regina handed the baby to him and he laid his daughter back in her basket.

Roland went next. the little boy solemnly lit his candle with his fathers, touched the flame to the pillar candle, then like his little sister's placed it beside Regina's. Robin came over and took his hand and brought him over to Regina. Roland grinned up and her and she bent down and hugged him. Then he squatted down and watched his baby sister making happy gurgling noises as she looked at him.

Henry came next. He lit his candle with Regina's touched the flame to the pillar candle, hesitated for a moment, looking over at Robin and Regina, then with a nod, placed his next to Robin's. Henry was old enough to understand the symbolism, he had just acknowledged Robin as his stepfather. He walked over to them and Regina hugged him tightly.

Snow was next. She smiled over at the family and lit her candle with Regina's. She touched the flame to the center candle then set back down next to Regina's. For Snow, doing this was a way of openly showing not only had she forgiven Regina, but Regina was family.

Tinkerbelle was the next one to step up. She lit her candle with Regina's, touched the flame to the center candle, then set down in front of the center candle. She had begun with bringing Regina to her soulmate, but her tie was to them as a couple. Regina had been right, Morgan and her people had been quite welcoming. Morgan's soulmate, Mout was helping her make her magic even more free of the other fairies.

"Of all the fairies, you come the closest to what we envisioned when we created you."

"What about Nova?" Tinkerbelle wanted to stand up for her one friend amongst the fairies, and the other fairy who had felt some wrath from Blue.

"She's a gentle and kind soul. Take this and give it to her, explain what it is and that it will give her freedom and happiness. " Mout handed Tinkerbelle a locket necklace. Let it be her choice.

Tinkerbelle nodded. She hoped Nova would take it and wear it. Nova deserved it.

Tinkerbelle's thoughts came back to the present. She smiled over at Regina, Robin and their family and with a silent florish made herself fairy sized and flew over to the baby and Roland, entertaining them with the fairy light she gave off in this form.

Rebecca stepped up next. She lit her candle with Robin's, touched the flame to the center pillar candle. Then like Tinkerbelle, put hers in front of the center candle. She may have started as Robin's friend, but she had quickly come to like Regina as much. She was a friend of them as a couple.

Mulan came last. She lit her candle with Robin's, touched it to the center candle then set hers down next to Robin's. She was certainly a friend of Robin's, and supported the marriage, but it would take a while more to fully trust Regina. She believed what they said that she had made her piece with her past, but she wasn't quite ready to fully call Regina a friend, yet.

Then Mout stepped onto the dais and with a wave of her hand and a flash of light the candles became an image on ten golden pendent necklaces. One for each person present including Regina and Robin's unborn infant. "This is in memory of the family created this night. Remember always, the power of your family."

They stayed a few days on Avalon, Regina researching how she might further train her light magic when she went back to Storybrooke , Rebecka researching obscure healing spells, and Tinkerbelle continuing to study with Mout. Snow and Mulan catching up on all that had happened in the years since they'd briefly met and worked together, and Snow also sold her on going to Storybrooke when she told Mulan her old friends, now parents, Aurora and Phillip were in Storybrooke. Mulan found the idea of seeing them again now made her happy. Robin took Roland and Henry on nature hikes and showed Henry how to fish without any equipment.

After three days, though, they all knew it was best to get back to Storybrooke. They said their goodbyes and walked back onto the land outside of Avalon's control. Since they had so many with them Regina used the wand to make the portal. Regina envisioned her back yard, where she'd begun this journey, and they stepped back to Storybrooke. Regina closed the portal once the last person stepped into her back yard.

She smiled to see her apple tree again. She'd brought a few Avalon apples back with her, she'd decided to try to grow one alongside her old tree. When she told Henry about it he was quite enthusiastic,

"Mom, lets try growing the tree both by magic and the natural way, see which one does best here."

"You mean I'll let mine grow with magic and you'll plant yours the normal way?"

"Yeah."

"I think Robin and Roland might like to help you out. I'll have all the advantages with magic. It'll make it more even if your tree has several caretakers. No cheating, writing something down as the author though, I want to see if we can grow things here well without any magical aid."

Henry realized his mom was thinking in mayor mode and nodded. They were going to do a real experiment. He kind of hoped his tree would grow well too, his mom would like that.

Regina opened the back door to her mansion and invited everyone in. "I don't know about anyone else. But I'm craving lasagna, who wants to help me make some? She looked at Robin and her boys.

All three replied enthusiastically.

"I'd love to stay Regina, but I want to get home to David and Neal. I'll let Emma know everyone is back safely." Snow hugged Regina and left.

Mulan and Rebecka weren't sure about this lasagna thing, but Robin was as enthusiastic as the two boys so they decided to stay for the meal anyway.

"Tinkerbelle would you mind going to Granny's and bringing back enough side salads for each of us. Robin or I will do a grocery trip tomorrow, but we'll make do with Granny's salads tonight.

Robin had let the boys take over helping Regina with the lasagna as he fed the baby jarred baby food. Generally, on principle, he preferred to make the baby's food himself, but for tonight he would give her this processed mess. He thought it looked repulsive but the baby liked it, so he didn't feel too guilty about this lapse. God knows what Zelena had fed her, probably this junk, which is why the baby wasn't turning up her nose at it, she was used to it. He'd get her back on good food soon though.

Regina looked around the room and sighed contentedly as this rare normal domestic scene. Who knew how long till the next magical or otherwise crisis, but for tonight they had this.