sorry for not posting as i said i would. i've been busy with projects and my lack of inspiration and not knowing how i wanted to proceed with this chapter is what made not be able to post but hopefully this chapter makes up for it. it took me a while but here it is. oh and i might be able to post another this week if i don't get overwhelmed again with school. :)

The choices people make determine what they become.

He was right but he knows nothing. Yes he lost his son but that was because of his cowardliness. He choose to take the dagger. He choose to kill the former dark one. The same way he choose to let go of his sons hand, now look at him now, rotting in a cell at the bottom of an abyss.

Poor Rumple, he was so…so…well dark yet he didn't think big enough nor did he foresee his own demise, such a pity.

A little more than a week and all shall fall into place. Emma has finally liberated her magic, such pure and powerful magic, in a short time our dear royal family will be united once more and they shall fall. It's all going to plan. Long live the Evil Queen.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Im quite certain, we've done it. Im free"

"Emma…you did it"

"You helped"

Having arrived to Emma in daylight and seeing her smile reach her eyes, it was a shock just to see her instead of a swan but watching her twirl as she made her way towards me, made my heart stutter. She is beautiful, truly and undeniably beautiful. All that is left is to bring her home but in this moment all i see is her. She is my home and i will win her heart. Im not sure exactly when it occurred to me that i wanted her to be my home but i know no one can take her replace nor am i just going to leave her without fighting for her. Emma is still a stubborn lass with a wall around her heart and i shall break through, to show her i will stay with her and that i don't see her as a chess piece or a savior, i just see Emma.

Having caught up on Emma's' magical break through, Killian and Emma quickly made their way out of the concealed 'sanctuary' that she called home and to the awaiting kingdom that lay ahead.

"Ready love?"

"Definitely"

They had waited for nightfall to begin the journey to the kingdom and as they mounted his stead, Killian, knowing that she always looked to the stars for a form of comfort couldn't help but indulge in the idea.

"Second star to the right…"

Emma's' light laughter filled the air and without a second thought ….

"And straight on til' morning"

The journey back was spent in a comfortable silence, neither of them wanting to force a conversation but knowing it wasn't necessary to fill it. Soon enough, just after daybreak they had arrived at the gates of the castle and made their way towards the entrance and into main hall, where the royals addressed all but at this point served as an infirmary due to the increase in the attacks of the Queens forces.

"SHE'S HERE! SNOW, WHERE'S SNOW? SNOW!"

"Grumpy, what's wrong? Who's here? You know that Reg-"

"She's came back. She came home" – was all that grumpy said as he left with a wide grin on his face on his way to inform anyone and everyone that the lost princess has return home.

When Snow heard "SHE'S HERE" all she thought of was Regina making an appearance but when she heard him say home, she knew in that moment that her daughter made it safely back to her. Without a single thought she ran from the upstairs hallway, where she had been making her way to the library when she heard Grumpys screams, down the corridors and weaving her way out of anyone's path until she made her way to the doors that would lead her to a piece of her heart she had lost long ago. Snow was so focused on getting there that she didn't see her Charming run after her, most likely wanting to know what had led his wife to run as if her life depended on it, in a way it did.

"Snow, what's wrong?" he breathed heavily trying to regain his breath after crying out her name several times and running after her

"She's back" Snows voice barely a whisper

"Emma..?"

"..Yeah"

"Then let's go see her. She's here. She's home, what are we waiting for?"

"Im not sure. Do you think… do you think she'll forgive us? For everything?"

"In time but right now we have to live in the moment" with a quick kiss to her temple, Charming placed a hand to her back in comfort and with the other opened the doors to the main hall.

Throughout all of this neither Snow nor Charming saw the face of their enemy in the mirror or the smirk she gave as she blew through the looking glass a small amount of smoke to the other side in hopes that her small spell can find a weak spot on the protection spell that the fairies had placed around the castle and the grounds.

"Do you think this is a good idea Regina"

"How many times have i answered that question?"

"Too many to count"

"Exactly. So STOP. WASTING. MY. TIME"

"Im just trying to help"

"Help. Please...you're just trying to escape. You're nothing but a huntsman"

"That may be true but…revenge destroys the victim and the seeker"

"As long as it destroys the victim i don't care. Leave me and go prepare my horses. I have someone to see"

With that command, Graham made his way down to the stables to prepare the carriage for its journey, at times he pitied the Evil Queen, he knows she's hurting, still mourning her loss but most often than not he hated her, he loathed her for taking his heart, for taking her anger towards snow and mostly because at every turn in which she can redeem herself – which there has been plenty- she simply goes back to her own ways.

"Well…Well. What do we have here?"

"Hello dear, how are you?"

"Fine. Now what do you want?"

"My dear Maleficent, can't i simply say hello to a friend"

"Not when it's you Regina. What is it?"

They knew each other to well to be fooled by one another, both finding some sort of comfort in their strange yet loyal friendships, though they did have their moments.

"Fine. I need it"

"And what exactly would be 'it'?"

"The spindle my dear Maleficent, the one in which your Aurora pricked her little finger"

"So it's true. You're actually going through with it, now how exactly are you planning to take her magic? It's practically impossible!"

"Good choice of words, 'Practically', i love that word. Don't worry, I'll get it but ill need the spindle. Give it"

"Alright but the choices we make determine the person we become"

"Dont give me that crap. What of you? What have you chosen? You just hid while that sleeping beauty lives happily. ever. after"

"Leave. NOW!"

"Gladly"

With that she storms out of Maleficent's castle and leaves with the spindle in her hand and loses the only friend she had all in the name of revenge but as always, Regina cares for nothing but what she believes will bring her peace, the torment and end to Snow White along with her family.

It is by recognizing and dealing with their weaknesses that people grow stronger