AN Thanks for all the feedback I've received with this story and I apologise for any confusion with the flashbacks. From here on in I'll italicise anything that occurs in the past which I hope helps.

Welcome to Storybrooke and again all the usual disclaimers apply. Happy reading

Regina couldn't help but slow down a little as the car drove across the town line. Entering Storybrooke for a magic user was akin to walking under a waterfall and she shuddered as her magic came to life again after being dormant for so long. Her eyes immediately went to Alayna in the rear view mirror. Robin had almost completely turned in his seat to watch her, his arm reaching out to his little girl as if he could prevent the magic from coming alive in her. Henry's eyes were completely glued to his sister. During the journey Henry had often asked Regina about how Lainey might react to magic. Not sure what to expect - would she suddenly glow? Turn purple? Grow horns and a tail? With each new theory Regina saw Robin become more and more tense. It was ridiculous really, she was hardly going to turn into a new form (at least it was highly unlikely, she thought, Maleficent crossing her mind briefly), but she was curious as to how a child prophesied to have such incredible power was going to react to her first taste of magic.

As it turned out the entire event was somewhat of an anticlimax (much to Henry's chagrin). Alayna had no reaction at all and a titter of nervous laughter filled the car. Though Robin couldn't help but notice Regina's frown. She had expected to at least feel the thrum of another magical user come to life – but she felt nothing from Alayna at all. That was curious…

Lainey chuckled at the sudden attention she was receiving. Leaning forward in her car seat and rocking back indicating she wanted out – and Regina let the thoughts go with a brief shake of her head – something to consider later, once she had some sleep and some decent food, preferably from somewhere other than a roadhouse. Right now she needed to get her family home. She went to put her foot on the accelerator when a sudden flash of bright green illuminated the road ahead of them and Regina paused.

"Tinkerbelle" she murmured, before putting the car in park, undoing her seatbelt and moving to open the driver's side door. Regina had called Tink from Portland, just after they drove into Maine, asking her to meet them at the town line.

"I need you to go to my home," Regina instructed, her voice held a tinge of urgency that quickly caught Tink's attention. "Make sure there's no surprise party waiting for me, I don't want anyone to be there when I arrive."

"So it's true!" Tink replied, excited. "You're coming home?"

"I'm returning to Storybrooke for a brief period of time, yes," Regina replied brusquely with a roll of her eyes. "I need to keep my return as low key as possible. I'll explain when I see you but tell no one I called. This is important Tinkerbelle. There are things at play here that you don't know." Regina's voice quietened and lost all its snark.

"Of course there are things at play Regina," Tink replied.

"What do you mean?" Regina asked, suddenly defensive. Was Gold awake? Had he told them about her pregnancy? Her child? Had someone else found out?

"You didn't just take off from Boston – from Henry – on a whim! It's not like you to suddenly decide you want a sea change. And Gold sulked for a solid three months when he couldn't find you in Boston!" Humph – couldn't find me… so that's what you think… Regina sighed, partly exasperated and partly relieved.

"What?" Tink asked.

"Nothing, just keep an eye on the town line. We should be crossing around one AM. Then do exactly as I say. I'll tell you everything as soon as we are safely in my house. Until then can you please just follow my instructions to the letter?" Regina knew from Henry that her house had been left vacant. Mary Margaret was adamant that the house was Regina's and no one was to take up residence there. Both for Henry's sake and because of her damn faith that Regina would one day return to Storybrooke, "It's her home, of course it should be waiting for her when she comes back," Mary Margaret had insisted. The towns' people were more than happy to steer clear of the place, worried Regina had placed a curse on the home and no one risked going inside – or even dared to take an apple from her tree since Regina had left. Though knowing her luck she'd arrive to a Charming welcoming committee if she didn't take precautions.

"Regina!" Tink screeched, becoming full sized before Regina's eyes and hugging her fiercely. For her part Regina somewhat awkwardly patted the fairy's back, closing her eyes as the realisation hit her that yes, she was in fact home.

"Tinkerbelle," she said softly.

"How are you? What's going on? Is that Robin in the car? Where Henr – "

"Tink please!" Regina interrupted. "I'll explain everything to you, but not here ok? We have to get to my place. Did you check it for me? Was anyone there?"

"Mary Margaret cleaned up a bit a couple of days ago – just clearing out the dust really. I think she just needed something to keep her occupied, you know? And she knew that Henry and Robin would bring you home!" Tink beamed and made a move to hug Regina again before thinking twice at the stressed look on Regina's face. This was obviously not the place for a reunion. "But no, I checked it after you called an again an hour ago and the coast was definitely clear."

"Good," Regina sighed in relief. "Ok," Regina said to more to herself than to Tink before raising her gaze to Tink's and imploring, "now please, no questions. Just wait for me, we will be right behind you." With a wave of her hands Alayna appeared in Tinks arms. Regina moved to her daughter, gently stroking her hair. "Alayna, this is Tinkerbelle. You're going to go with her just for a few minutes. Mommy will be right there, ok?" Alayna stared back at Regina, not really responding but she was calm and that was enough for now. Regina glanced up at Tinkerbelle and if she weren't so anxious about the possibility of a dozen Merry Men turning up at any moment she would have laughed. Tink's eyes were as wide as saucers, her mouth agape as she stared from Alayna to Regina. But before she could collect herself Regina waved her arms again and the duo disappeared in purple smoke.

Robin jumped out of the car as the smoke cleared. "Where are they? Where did you send them?" He demanded. Jogging from the car to stand in front of Regina.

"To my place," Regina replied calmly, turning to go back to the car as Robin stopped her with a hand on her bicep and slowly turned her around, a questioning look in his eyes. "Anyone watching my house will see you and I arrive with Henry, only Henry. I'm taking no chances Robin." Regina tugged her arm from his loose grip and walked back to the car getting in.

"You could have told me," Robin huffed, taking his seat and putting on the seatbelt. His heart had leapt to his throat as he watched Regina's smoke envelope his child and the fairy, the two of them disappearing before his eyes.

"No chances," Regina repeated firmly.

"Regina she is my daughter too," Robin said, four days with minimal sleep had taken its toll and his patience was wearing thin.

"No Robin, Alayna is my daughter and I will not be putting her at risk because of your naïve, trusting heart!" Regina retorted angrily. Of course Alayna was his child too but right now her protection was paramount and Regina would do all it took to ensure she was safe, even if that meant keeping things from Robin. And what she didn't need right now was her Johnny-come-lately baby-daddy trying to tell her what to do.

"I agreed that we would tell only the fairy Regina! Why won't you trust me?" Robin asked, his voice raised in frustration. Regina started at him, narrowing her eyes.

"Trust needs to be earned Robin."

"You trusted me once," he softly replied and the words were hardly out of his mouth when Regina scoffed.

"And look where that got me."

"Mom," both Robin and Regina jumped a little, having forgotten for a moment that Henry was there. Regina looked over her shoulder a little guiltily at Henry. "Tink's waiting." She nodded in reply before starting the engine and moving towards a home she hadn't set foot in since she had a picnic there with Robin.

"This isn't over Regina," Robin quietly said catching her eye.

"It never is Thief," she replied snarkily.

Explaining the situation to Tinkerbelle was as easy as Regina had expected, which truth be told was partly why she chose the fairy to help them – that and, as she had said to Robin, she trusted Tinkerbelle. Tinkerbelle's own past had taught the fairy that the lines of 'good' and 'evil' were blurred. There was no black and white in any realm, just many different shades of grey. So Tink accepted what Regina told her about Gold, the prophecy, her time on the ranch and most importantly Alayna, with a sense of quiet wisdom she had forged during her time in Neverland. She readily agreed to help them with Alayna – the only thing she was not calm about.

"Regina she is gorgeous!" Tink squealed, as soon as Regina stepped through the door.

"Shhh!" Regina admonished.

'Relax, I've already put a containment spell on the house. No 'happy baby noises' will make it passed the front door." Tink replied with a roll of her eyes. "Listen," Tink enthused. "Alayna, tell Mommy?" Tink said, pointing to herself.

"Tink!" Alayna said proudly pointing at the fairy before stretching out her arms to her mother.

"See!" Tink said. "She's so clever. Just like her Aunty Tink." Regina smiled as she rolled her eyes.

"I can see this is going to be a long week."

After their discussion, filling Tinkerbelle in on the events that occurred when Regina left Storybrooke, Regina tried and failed to get Robin to return to the forest and his men. He flatly refused, saying that until they had a clear idea as to what was currently going on in Storybrooke he would stay with them. A fact that both annoyed Regina and warmed her heart so after throwing a couple of barbs at Robin (which were, of course, expected) and more than the requisite number of requests for the 'thief' not to steal anything, she relented and conjured up some blankets and a pillow for him to sleep on the couch. As soon as his head hit the pillow he fell asleep while Regina talked quietly to Tink in the kitchen, Henry long since in bed upstairs and Alayna snuggled in Tink's arms.

"So, what is the latest now? With Emma?" Regina asked her browns furrowed in concern.

"Not much more than Henry would have told you," Tink began. "We know she's not in Storybrooke, and can be fairly certain she is not in this realm. The Sorcerer's Apprentice has said we need to find the Sorcerer – Merlin is his name. That he can help. Belle is researching night and day to find something that will tell us where Merlin is."

"Merlin? He is the Sorcerer? He has been gone a long time. He fled Camelot before I was born," Regina pondered. "Has Belle found anything?"

"Nothing definitive. There have been reports that he was in the Enchanted Forest for some time, which the Apprentice was able to confirm. Some say he left the Enchanted Forest to come here, to the Land Without Magic but that can't be verified. We're hoping Gold will wake and have a better idea – he's been alive longer than most after all."

"We don't want Gold to wake up Tinkerbelle – not while I'm in Storybrooke." Regina said softly.

Tink looked down at the baby in her arms. "You think he would harm her?"

"I think he would sell me out if it served his purpose. Now that he is no longer the Dark One there's no way to tell what his agenda is… But whether he would harm her - physically? I just don't know. I don't think he would do so directly. Rumpelstiltskin of the Enchanted Forest certainly wouldn't have batted an eye at harming a child, a baby, if it was a threat. But Gold isn't Rumple, just as I'm not the Evil Queen. Belle, Neil, living here for so long… it changed him. But he would reveal her existence – tell everyone about her if it was a a means to an end. And people knowing who she is, what she is – that will put her in danger. Maybe not right away, but eventually someone would come for her." Regina reached out softly stroking her daughter's cheek.

"What is it?" Tink asked, something about Regina's expression triggering something in her. "What aren't you telling me?"

Regina looked thoughtfully at Tink. "It's probably nothing but – " she broke off looking again at Alayna before closing her eyes in concentration trying again to sense some magic coming from her daughter. "I can't feel any magic from her Tink, nothing at all. As powerful as she is supposed to be? I don't understand it."

"Perhaps its something that will grow? You weren't magical as a child." Tink replied.

"Perhaps," Regina said thoughtfully, sighing drawing comfort from Alayna's rhythmic breathing. "Do you think Blue would let me keep her?" She asked softly. "If she knows? When she knows?" She corrected sarcastically. "God knows, Gold won't stay unconscious forever, people will find out about her eventually." She slowly brought her eyes up to meet the fairy's – flicking back and forth as though able to search out her answer. Tink furrowed her brow in thought and Regina was relieved that she didn't immediately dismiss her fears. It gave her comfort to know that someone else recognised the risks she faced in coming back to Storybrooke, and there were many.

"When the time comes – if the time comes – we fight her Regina. You need to use this time – while Gold's out – to fortify yourself. Rebuild relationships while we're looking for Emma so that you have people on your side when Blue does come for her. You're right. The fairy that refused to allow me to help you, who marked you as evil because of your mother will not want the All-Powerful One to be raised by you," Regina flinched and Tink hurriedly continued – "But Blue is not in control here in Storybrooke, she has influence, yes, but so do you. And we have time – how much I don't know – but we need to use every minute of it."

Regina nodded. Tink was right. She needed to rebuild relationships with Mary Margaret, Charming, Robin… She thought, looking over at the thief asleep on her lounge.

"He missed you, you know," Tink said, following Regina's gaze.

"Tink – don't," Regina replied. "Please I'm tired and I – "

"You need to forgive Regina."

"There is nothing to forgive him for Tink." Regina replied with obvious frustration. "He reacted how anyone would have reacted on learning their lover – their soul mate – " she all but spat the term "had killed their wife once upon a time, he did nothing wrong."

"That's bullshit Regina, and you know it." Regina looked back up to Tink, in obvious surprise. "He is your soul mate and he betrayed you. Of course he did wrong and you thinking you deserved to be treated like that, abandoned like that, doesn't change the fact that he was not there for you when you needed him. You have to admit that he did wrong before you can fully forgive and move forward. Telling yourself that he was justified in his actions is only putting your head in the sand. You will never be able to move forward with him if you don't acknowledge the truth of what happened."

"What if I don't want to move forward with him?" She asked softly. "I've been hurt enough Tink."

"Remember what I said when I first met you Regina? I said you need love. That has not changed."

"Maybe…" Regina let her voice trail off. "But right now I need sleep more," she continued. Putting an end to the conversation for now Tink thought. "Give me my baby, I'll put her to bed. You ok to let yourself out?" Regina asked. Tink hid her surprise. Regina from two years ago would never have been so relaxed about social niceties like showing your guest to the door. She took a moment, while Regina was soothing Alayna too look at her friend. In the shock of seeing her return to Storybrooke Tink hadn't fully taken her in. Oh if Cora could see her daughter now, Tink thought with a cheeky grin. Regina's hair was longer and pulled back in a ponytail. She wore dark denim jeans with a fitted, thin grey sweater that was obviously chosen for comfort rather than style well it was two days on the road. There was not a speck of make up on Regina's face and Tink is certain that in the Enchanted Forest that girl wore make up to bed! Hell even after a week in Neverland Regina had a more polished appearance than the woman in front of her now, and she had never looked better. Regina definitely seemed younger and even with all the pressure and stress of a missing Saviour, an anxious son and a daughter in hiding she looked lighter.

"Of course," she said when Regina looked back at her, obviously awaiting an answer to her request.

"I'm going to announce my arrival to the town with coffee at Granny's" Regina said, rocking Alayna a little to keep her asleep while she moved her to her bed. "Try and just go about my 'usual routine' tomorrow. I will need to organise a meeting at Mary Margaret and David's for tomorrow morning. Who are the key players right now? Who do they have on their counsel?"

"Mary Margaret and David?" At Regina's nod Tink began, "Hook, but he's a mess and of very little use right now. You might be able to snap him out of it, God knows I couldn't. Belle, but she's bunkered down in the library and only really gets in touch when she finds something. Maleficent and Lily are trying to help but there's obvious tension there. Blue is advising and so is the Apprentice."

"Can you get word out that we'll meet at the loft tomorrow for them to provide an update to myself and Robin?"

Tink nodded before a series of taps on the living room window startled them both. Regina quickly passed a sleeping Alayna to Tinkerbelle. "Take her upstairs – NOW." Tink moved quickly to the once spare room that Regina had set up for Alayna, while Regina approached the window, fireball in hand. A raven once again rapped its beak against the window. Regina opened it, removing a note from the birds extended leg before sending it away into the early morning.

"What is it," Tink asked. Returning to the living room having put Alayna to bed.

"Maleficent," Regina replied softly.

"She knows you're here?" Tink asked shocked. "How?"

"I don't know. She wants to meet." Regina said deep in thought.

'Now?" Tink asked and Regina nodded.

"Now."