"What's going on?" Henry asked. His moms stared back at him, clinging to each other for a moment before they stepped apart awkwardly.

"Henry …"

"Why were you kissing?" he demanded. "I don't understand."

He wasn't sure which was weirder: the Savior kissing the Evil Queen, or the fact that they were his moms. But either way, it was … weird.

"Henry, a long time ago, your mom and I … well, I guess we dated," said Emma, stumbling over her words. "Sort of."

"She was there for me in a time when no one else was," Regina added.

"But you were enemies," Henry insisted.

"No, this was before that," said Emma. "Your mother broke my heart. But things are different now. All of that is in the past, and … well …" she let her voice trail off as if not quite sure what to say.

"So you're dating again?" Henry asked, still confused. How could they be dating?

The two women exchanged a long, awkward glance. Finally, Emma spoke.

"I'm willing to give it another go if you are."

Regina smiled. But then she looked at her son cautiously. "Would that bother you, Henry?"

He hesitated. It was all so unexpected, so out-of-nowhere for him. The idea of his moms dating anyone was just plain weird. And although he wanted to believe that the woman who raised him was not just the Evil Queen, that was a lot different from wanting her to date the Savior. But …

"You won't hurt each other this time?"

Both women shook their heads.

"No."

"Of course not."

"Do you love each other?" he asked.

That was answered by another awkward silence.

"I did," said Emma. "Whether we can have that again, I don't know, but I want to find out."

Regina nodded in agreement.

"All right," said Henry. "Then I guess I'm okay with it."

He knew that they would end whatever this was right away if he said that he wasn't. But he wanted them to be happy, and the smiles that lit up both of their faces were totally worth it.

"How would you like to go out to dinner tonight?" Regina asked, turning to Emma. "I know a good muggle restaurant not far from here."

Emma grinned. "I'd love to."

And Henry smiled, too, thinking that if his moms were going to be with anyone, they could do a lot worse than each other.

When Rumple came home that day, Belle was waiting for him. He could tell as soon as he walked into the living room that something was wrong.

"What did you want with the Evil Queen?" she asked, standing up and looking at him defiantly.

"Belle … what are you talking about?"

"I know," she said. "I called the number in your phone. She told me you were planning something … something with time travel."

"Belle, I swear, there's an explanation." He sat down on the couch and looked up at her with that expression she had come to know all too well. The one that begged her not to be angry.

"Then tell me," she demanded. "Tell me everything."

"You know what I did. How I mutilated my soul."

Belle let out a sigh. He had made that decision long before she had first met him, and although she certainly didn't condone it, there was really nothing to be said about it now.

"Rumple, I don't want to hear about the dagger. As horrible as that is, I've known about it for years. I need you to tell me what you're planning now."

He looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "It's destroying me."

"What do you mean?" She sat down beside him and took his hand, unable to resist the urge to comfort him despite her anger.

"The dagger. My horcrux. I want to be free of it, Belle. If I can go back in time and alter the past, change it so that I never lost Bae and never made that wretched thing to begin with …"

Then she would never have met him, she realized. Or if she did, he would be an old man when she was just a girl. But she pushed that thought aside. If he could truly save his soul, he should do it, no matter what it meant for their relationship. But …

"Then the version you who traveled back in time will never have existed. You'll create a paradox. I've read books about the theory of time travel, and horrible things happen when wizards try to change the past."

He nodded. She could tell that he had considered that, and that it didn't matter.

"I didn't intend to go back in time myself," he admitted. "I tried to convince Regina. She could have changed the past for me, and then … but she refused."

Belle nodded. She knew that already. "There's more, isn't there?"

Rumple hesitated. She could see in his eyes that she was right.

"This is about the prophecy, isn't it? A boy will lead you to your son, and that boy will be your undoing. You want to trick fate. Prevent your undoing."

"Well, at least I'm not trying to find the boy and kill him!" Rumple's voice broke. "I'm a coward, Belle. I have always been a coward. But I don't want to be a monster anymore. You deserve better, even if it means we never … and my son deserves better. He would hate what I've become. I don't want to die like this. Can you at least try to understand that?"

Belle felt a tear rolling down her cheek. She squeezed his hand and gave him a bittersweet smile. "I do understand. And I'm here for you."

"Now remember, while I'm gone …"

"Stay inside, be good, and don't use magic," said Henry. "I know. Now go. Enjoy your date."

He was smiling, and Regina still couldn't believe how well he was taking it. Although, she figured that maybe after coming to terms with the fact that his mom was a murderer, finding out that she was dating his other mom might not be such a big deal. For the first time since she had realized Henry was a wizard, she could actually believe that all this would work out for the best. Still, she spent the entire drive to the restaurant trying to calm her nerves and failing. As she got out of her car, she caught sight of Emma, with her hair in curls, wearing a form-fitting red dress and heels. For a moment, she forgot to breathe. Then Emma saw her and waved, and Regina hurried to meet her.

"When I said it was a nice restaurant, Ms. Swan, I didn't expect you to actually wear something other than jeans and that red jacket of yours," said Regina by way of greeting.

Emma laughed. "Well, I just got done with a job."

Regina raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, sometimes it works," said Emma, apparently noticing Regina's skepticism. "The poor guy was fooled. Didn't even realize I was a witch, let alone there to arrest him, until it was too late. Serves him right, looking for his next victim on muggle dating sites. He's on his way to Azkaban by now."

Regina had to smile at that. Much as she hated to admit it, Emma Swan could be very clever when it suited her.

"All the better for me," she said. "I get to enjoy the view without the trip to Azkaban."

Emma blushed and smiled back at her.

"Come on," said Regina. "Let's go inside."

Aurora took a sip of butterbeer and smiled across the table at Mulan, who to her credit didn't seem quite as stiff and businesslike as usual today.

"School starts soon," she commented, trying to fill the silence.

"Indeed," said Mulan. "I take it you're excited."

Aurora nodded. But she must have forgotten she was still holding her butterbeer, because it splashed down the front of her robes.

"No, I've got it," she said quickly when the other woman reached for a napkin. With a wave of her wand, the spilled liquid disappeared.

"It's going to be a good year, I can tell," said Aurora. "I love the looks on the first years' faces when they come into the Great Hall for the first time. I'm sure you've already got all your lessons planned?"

Mulan nodded. "Of course. And you?"

"Don't I always?" said Aurora. "Now, if I could just manage to convince Headmaster Midas that charms isn't actually a useless subject."

Mulan groaned. "Oh, not this again."

"Do you have any idea how badly I need new supplies, not to mention a raise?" said Aurora sharply. Mulan did, of course. She hadn't heard the end of it when the Headmaster had moved Aurora into a tiny office on the opposite side of the castle from the classroom where she taught.

"By the way, do you know if they've found a muggle studies teacher yet?" Aurora asked.

Mulan shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Well, there's not much time left before school starts."

Mulan gulped down the last of her butterbeer and sat the empty mug down on the table. "Come on," she said. "There's somewhere I want to go."

They left the Three Broomsticks together and walked down the streets of Hogsmeade. They stopped in Honeydukes to buy some chocolate cauldrons and a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, before finding a place to sit down and watch the people bustling past. It was almost sunset now. Aurora reached into the bag and pulled out a greenish-white bean.

"Wish me luck," she said before popping it in her mouth. A moment later, she let out a squeal of joy. "Mint flavored!"

Mulan pulled out a brown one. "Has to be chocolate, right?"

Aurora giggled. "For your sake, I hope so."

A moment later, Mulan spat it out in disgust.

"Mud-flavored!" she said. But when Aurora started laughing, even Mulan let out a little chuckle.

"Oh, we are definitely volunteering to chaperone the Hogsmeade weekends," said Aurora. "Every single one of them. I'll never get enough of this town."

"It is special," Mulan agreed. "Do you remember, this was where we had our first kiss? Almost right here, in fact."

"Well, then, let's honor tradition," said Aurora, planting a kiss on Mulan's lips.

"Happy anniversary," Mulan whispered when the kiss ended.

Emma and Regina's date went by in a blur of delicious food, wine, and conversation. They reminisced about quidditch games they had played at school. Emma asked about Henry – what his favorite subjects in school were, what house Regina thought he would be in at Hogwarts. Anything to keep the conversation light. Later, once they had finished dessert and paid the bill, they made their way outside.

"I'll see you soon, I hope?" said Regina.

"Of course," Emma replied. "I'll try to drop by tomorrow."

Regina nodded and leaned forward, waiting to see if Emma would do the same. She did. The kiss didn't last long, but the feel of Emma's lips on hers lingered.

"Good night," Regina whispered.

Regina felt like she was walking on air when she got home. But she had to frown when she saw the light in the living room on, despite the room being completely empty. One of Henry's school books lay open on the coffee table, but that was the only sign that someone had been there. She would have to talk to him about turning the lights out when he left the room.

She made her way up the stairs, thinking that he must have gone to bed by now. After all, it was getting late. But when she peeked into his room, she found the bed made and the room empty. A sudden jolt of panic ran through her.

"Henry?" she called out. "Henry, where are you?"

She looked in the bathroom. The kitchen. The spare bedroom. She looked everywhere, calling out his name, but she couldn't find him. He wasn't there.

Then she saw that the back door was open. Reaching for her phone, she frantically dialed Emma's number. The other woman answered.

"Hello?"

"Emma, I need your help," said Regina. "Henry's gone."