Disclaimer: A&E's and ABC's. Not mine.

A/N: 5x19 was a helluva episode, wasn't it? I might have bit off a little more than I could chew with this particular project, as each scene required rather detailed analysis and inference on my part. You know, the studying part of a Character Study. It is pretty damn intense work, getting inside Zelena's mind. I hope you all enjoy my latest take on our beloved and now emotionally battered Wicked Witch. Let's all hope for a happy ending for her soon, okay?

5x19: Sisters

When Hades offers to take her for a drive, Zelena isn't quite sure what to think. When he proceeds to wheel the immaculate red sedan out from a garage bay in town, she can't help but be impressed. Hades has a rakish style about him, polished in ways she can only assume he cultivated over his epic lifetime. It's part of his charm, and she'd be lying if she said it didn't affect her. He radiates a cool air of confidence and power that's difficult to ignore. If there is one thing Hades is certain of, it's who he is.

She wishes she felt the same – lately her whole identity feels as if it was tossed in a cyclone. The concept reminds her of the wreckage of Dorothy's house, which then reminds her of the other time she and Hades went on a little joyride.

The evening breeze dances in her hair as she watches him actually use a shovel to dig a hole and then start a fire within it. Why he doesn't magic it into existence is beyond her, but she remains silent and lets him dictate their time together. He's deliberately trying to be romantic, and he's succeeding.

It's nice to hold his hand – and even nicer to look down upon the Underbrooke he created for her. That act still holds top billing – it isn't every day a man makes a town for you.

Not to be outdone, Hades ups his game once more and sends Zelena's heart back into that cyclone again. He plays to win, and he's not holding back with what he wants. Her. A life together. A family. And chaos.

It's the chaos that stops her from blurting out "Yes!" She may not know who she is, but she knows she's not the same woman he met all those years ago. She's not sure if she could ever be that woman again. Having a child seems to have taken some of the bitter edge away. Does she really want to spend the rest of her life raising holy hell in the world above? Is that really what he wants?

Hurt flashes in his eyes like molten steel when she defers her answer. He's frustrated – she wonders how long she can try his patience before he snaps. Their drive back to the farmhouse amplifies a quiet tension between them, and he says little when she exits the car.

She's beyond ready to call it quits for the day when Regina's voice startles her. Zelena begins to tell her about what happened, like real sisters would, but stops herself mid-sentence. Clearly all this drama is wearing her down or she never would have been so chatty. This isn't a casual visit - Regina wouldn't be here unless she knew about Hades' proposal up on the hilltop. The magic mirror resting firmly in Regina's hand confirms it.

Their conversation goes downhill from there, sparking Zelena's ire. It is none of Regina's business what she does with her time, be it with Hades or anyone else. The argument that she gave up her rights to privacy holds little water, and Zelena knows that the fact she gave birth to Robin's child still chafes at her dear sister.

Regina dares to push further, demanding that Zelena not see Hades again and claiming that she, of all people, knows what is best. Her sheer audacity is unbelievable, and in defense, Zelena blurts out a inkling of what she's been mulling over the past few days – how to change Hades into the right type of father figure for her daughter. Regina echoes her fears – what if Hades can't be changed? That hits a little too close to home, and Zelena puts a quick end to their little family chat. One thing is certain - her sister sure knows how to ruin an evening.

oooooooooooooooooooo

A poor night's sleep compounds Zelena's dark mood the following day. Her emotions are on still edge - still awhirl from all the recent events in her life. Given the lack of support from Regina, she can't help but think Hades might truly be the only person who can and will make her a priority. Hasn't he shown that numerous times since she landed in this godforsaken place?

The knock on her door draws her out of her musings, and the cause this time stops her cold. What is her mother doing here? Zelena doesn't have the patience for yet another family reunion. She can handle herself on her own – like she always has. Her attempts at ending the discussion fall flat. Cora is a powerful woman in her own right, and a wise one as well. Zelena reigns in her emotions and tries to calm herself. The quiver of nervousness is difficult to subdue as it travels up her spine – her mother is here to see her!

After a few words, Zelena realizes this is Regina's work. Regina must have told her about Hades' proposal. Her mother tries to dismiss this by claiming she is there for her benefit, and won't dictate what she should do. A part of Zelena's heart cracks when her mother claims responsibility for abandoning her as a child – acknowledging she left a wound that festered for decades. Of course she's right - how could she bloody well not be? This woman abandoned her in the woods – left an innocent baby all alone! As a mother herself, Zelena cannot fathom giving up her child for her own self-interests – yet her own mother readily admits she did so. Tears well as she fights for control over the waves of rejection and hurt. How could you do it? And why? Why didn't you want me?

Cora's apology is profuse with of all the words Zelena's longed to hear. Having her mother hold her in her arms is the stuff of dreams. But when Cora's muscles tense and her head shifts, Zelena's internal radar pings. She allows Cora to comfort her, but listens carefully for other sounds within the farmhouse. The slight scrape of a shoe upon the wooden floor in the next room is what gives her scheming mother and sister away.

When Cora offers to get her a glass of water, their plan is clear. In the seconds when she's gone, Zelena is again drawn to Hades' flower. Is he really to be my family? The Lord of Death? It's obviously not these two!

She plays along, even feigning to drink their toxic potion. She cannot stop her teeth from clenching as she calls out Cora and Regina on their manipulative plan. Whatever was in the glass hisses violently when she tosses it into the roaring fire.

Cora backpedals quickly as Zelena's rage intensifies. Regina's face is riddled with guilt when she enters the room. Listening to them both try to explain themselves only inflames her more - they're only here to stop her from doing what they've decided is best for her. As if! Hopes that they could be a family are crumbling as the truth becomes clear. Calling up the fireball is almost instinctive – Zelena can never consider Regina as anything but her enemy. She's more than willing to torch the place to the ground if that'll mean the last of her horrid sister. Surprisingly, Cora does the unexpected and extinguishes the flames in both their hands. Her words are devoid of emotion, save regret, yet both sisters are too enraged to listen. It's Regina's reaction when Cora reaches for her that pauses Zelena's ire. Moments later, the cool touch of her mother's hand against her own arm is unfamiliar, but Zelena allows herself to be drawn in. She hesitantly follows their lead – closing her eyes and relaxing her mind.

The humming warmth of her mother's power flows into her, bringing with it a myriad of memories that flood her mind. She senses Regina's and Cora's energies intertwined with her own as their recollections of the past are magically unraveled. Unfamiliar emotions drown her senses – joy, hope, happiness, playfulness, and the indescribable feeling of sisterhood. The memory of their mother separating them, and her reasons why, bring back a pain worse than abandonment. It is of something cherished that is lost – a pain both she and Regina were powerless to prevent.

When Cora drops her wrist, Zelena's eyes are immediately drawn to Regina. What did she do to us? Regina's expression reflects a heartbreak even worse than her own, and a flicker of protective instinct flares in her, just like it did when they were children. She is my little sister.

Cora speaks of love, but Zelena is half-listening. Her mind is still awhirl with their new reality. The memories play and dance across her mind as she struggles to categorize and control all that just happened. When Cora again reaches for her, she resists meeting her gaze, but is drawn to it just the same. This time the apology is sincere, and each word of it rips apart Zelena's already shaky composure. She doesn't want to be like her mother – cruel and heartless. But, she's not sure she can be anything other than the wicked witch she's been all these years. It might be too late for her, and voicing her fear out loud does nothing to lessen its grip.

Her mother's words are small help, as the concept of family, clearly comforting to Regina, is a foreign one for her. Their walk from the farmhouse to the stone bridge is a quiet one. Once they arrive, Zelena can sense her mother's distress, and it sends a cold spike into her heart. What if she's pulled down into the fiery depths below? Zelena's mind recoils in horror at the thought.

There's courage in Cora's words...and acceptance. She's going to face her judgment, regardless of the outcome. Zelena can't bear to watch and looks away as her mother and Regina say their farewells. Tears stream unbidden at the thought of losing the mother she gained just a few hours ago. When Cora turns and speaks to her, the words breaking under the emotional toll, Zelena braces herself against the latest onslaught of sorrow from her heart. She struggles to control her sobs and lets herself relish her mother's embrace – the last one she'll ever know.

As Cora walks out on the rocky ledge, Zelena can't tear her eyes away. When the cavern rumbles and the flames start to swirl, Regina grabs her hand tight and Zelena again feels the call to protect her younger sister. She squeezes lightly in reply as reassurance. She won't let her go – no matter what happens with their mother. They both give an audible sigh of relief when the blinding white light appears. Zelena is certain her mother never looked so beautiful as she did in the moment where she turned to them, joy and relief echoed in her smile against the backdrop of Heaven. In an instant she is gone, the shimmering light lingering as it slowly returns the cavern to its normal fiery state.

The loss is devastating. It isn't fair! I just got her and now she leaves me - again? Regina's words are actually comforting – they are sisters in more than name now. She's also taking their mother's words to heart - Regina will be there for her, and knowing that somehow helps ease a bit of the ache.

Her sister's next statements are a surprise – she wants her to pursue Hades. Zelena can't believe her ears. Regina trusts her, but more than that, she believes in her. The thought gives her a hope that she dared not have before. In a way, it's less risky now – no matter what happens with Hades, she knows Regina be there for her. That's what family means.

oooooooooooooooooooo

Hades agrees to meet, choosing the moldy old aunt's former diner as the place for their next "date". As she approaches, she sees him through the open blinds of the door, dapper as always and clearly oblivious that she's outside. He seems lost in his own happiness, quite content to waltz his way into the kitchen. She can faintly hear that same music from before – clearly it must be a favorite. She's instantly charmed again, shreds of doubt melting with each sway he makes. What a goofy little fool he is! He's adorable.

She tenses at the sound of the Dark One's voice. What could he possibly want? He rants at her about the sleeping curse she gave Belle, but he's misunderstanding her reasons. She was helping the bookworm, not trying to hurt her or her ethically challenged husband. Rumplestiltskin is having none of it, and dares to threaten her. Zelena's nonplussed – they have a deal.

It's when the teenaged boy appears that her instincts scream 'danger'. She doesn't recognize him, but there is an inky blackness in his eyes that sends a chill up her spine. When Rumple introduces him as his father and Peter Pan- Zelena realizes she's in trouble. She barely has time to even think of a magical defense before he tosses a foul-smelling burlap sack over her head. She soon feels its magic as it starts to pull her down into unconsciousness. She tries to fight it off, but the whole incident took her by surprise. Oh bloody hell – what am I in for now?