Fly Away Home

by pt159

Marian returned with Emma through time & Robin & his men sought vengeance against Regina for Marian's death. Regina accepted her banishment starting a new life in the world without magic. Two years on Emma has taken on the curse of the dark one to save Lily, Gold is without power & Henry needs his Mom to save Emma.

13. Chapter 13

AN: Who would have thought this could become more fun to write? I have really enjoyed playing with Dark Swan in this chapter and I hope you enjoy reading her. As predicted this will be the penultimate chapter (with perhaps an epilogue depending on how the next chapter goes?).

All mistakes are mine, I own nothing but my obsession with OQ and as always I hope you enjoy :)

Pain – that's all she can remember. Excruciating pain that resonated through her entire being. As she slowly regained consciousness, it was the echo of that pain in her chest that had her fighting to remain in dark quiet of oblivion.

From where he sat beside the bed, watching intently Robin saw Regina's eyes begin to flutter under her lids, feeling the hand he held moving ever so slightly in his palm.

"Regina? Regina can you hear me? Love please, open your eyes!" Suddenly aware of Robin's hands gently squeezing her shoulders and she blinked, her eyes crusty with the remnants of the tears she had cried in pain during her torture at the hands of the new Dark One. As Robin's face hovering inches from hers came into focus she realised the pain in her chest, in her heart, was gone, though the muscle in her chest felt heavy and sluggish, each beat an effort, a consequence of the trauma she had been through.

"Alayna? Henry?" she coughed and tried to choke out the words but they were lost in the roughness of her dry throat, the words came out as a muffled croak. Robin moved quickly from her vision returning before she had even managed to turn her head to try and follow him, a tall glass of water in his hand with a straw.

"Here, drink. You've been out for nearly 12 hours… your dehydrated," he said softly, relief clear in his tone as Regina looked around realising the room was dark, the only light a gentle glow that came from the lamp beside her bed.

"Alayna? Henry?" She repeated, falling back on the pillow after drinking nearly the entire glass of water, her thirst unquenchable.

"Alayna is in bed, Mac and Tinkerbelle are with her keeping watch. Henry is right here," Robin nodded to the space beside Regina where her son had taken up residence the moment he arrived from the diner. "He only left your side when I insisted he eat," Robin paused briefly, attempting a grin but it came out as more of a grimace, "and shower." He continued. Gods he had been so worried. He had seen Regina injured before, but never like this, never so close to death, and he had only just got her back!

Robin thoughts moved to when Henry arrived at the mansion in near hysterics, barely 20 minutes after they had appeared in the soft silver cloud of Mac's magic. He had heard the boy stumble through the doorway, racing up the stairs crying for his mother.

"Mom! Mom! Where's my Mom?" As he raced through the door of her bedroom and saw his mother lying pale and lifeless on the bed he fell to his knees taking her hand, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! This is all my fault." Tears streamed down his cheeks as he moved to embrace her and sobbed into her chest. Regina was completely unresponsive beneath him and Robin shuddered knowing Regina would fight her way from the grip of death to soothe her son. If there was anything that would make her break through the darkness of her recovery it was Henry but she moved not at all.

"Henry," Robin began as he saw Mac enter the room, his eyebrows raised in question. Robin shook his head – there had been no change since he brought her back. "Henry – "

"No!" The boy yelled. "Don't tell me this isn't my fault! She came back here FOR ME! If Emma hurt her it's MY FAULT! I should have let her stay California… where she was safe, away from all of this. I should NEVER have gone after her." He paused, crying into her chest for a moment before he began to whisper, his voice laced with self loathing and Robin knew Regina would not approve. "I knew she would come back for me, that she would help Emma if I asked her too… I used her… just like everyone else." He closed his eyes and sobbed against his mother, dampening her shirt with his tears. "I let her down again Robin," he whispered.

"Henry don't say that! Your mother would not want you talking that way. She came back to help Emma because it was the right thing to do, because she wanted to come home and because she's a hero. Your mother would do anything for you - you're right, because she loves you with everything she is. The only person responsible for hurting your mother is the Dark One." Robin purposely didn't say 'Emma' because he truly believed she was not herself and couldn't be held responsible for her actions in the diner while under this terrible curse. Emma the Saviour would never have done those horrific things.

Henry sniffed and asked so softly Robin could barely hear him, "will she forgive me?"

Robin didn't miss a beat before replying, his voice authoritative "Henry, there is nothing to forgive."

Regina turned her head and tears filled her eyes at the sight of her son, eyes closed, mouth open beside her as he lightly snored. His brow furrowed and tear tracks on his cheeks.

"Henry," she breathed closing her eyes for a moment and trying to remember what happened, how did she end up here? Why had Henry been so upset? At the furrow of her brow Robin moved his hand to her cheek.

"What is it? Are you in pain? Tell me where it hurts," he said, not stopping the soft caress of her cheek.

"I'm fine – maybe a bit sore… my chest… feels heavy…" she rubbed a hand across her heart. "Robin? What happened?" She held his eyes with hers, confusion and fear in their depths.

"What do you remember?" He gently pressed.

"We went to the diner, with Alayna… I remember… Mac coming in… Emma! Emma is here in Storybrooke. I remember seeing her, she looks so… different…" Regina wracked her brain trying to recall something more but she came up blank.

"Regina," Mac called gently from the doorway. "How do you feel?" He asked her before turning his attention to Robin, "is she alright?" He stepped towards the bed, placing a warm hand on her ankle as he sat at her feet.

"Tired," Regina said closing her eyes for a moment.

"She doesn't remember the attack," Robin sad softly, keeping his eyes on her.

"Attack?" Regina asked, opening her eyes, though Robin noticed her voice was curious but not alarmed, at least not nearly as alarmed as she should be having been told she had been attacked. Way too used to being persecuted, even after two years away from Storybrooke.

"Emma became angry," Mac began. As Regina's eyes opened and her brow furrowed he said quickly, "everyone is fine! She choked Mary Margaret and knocked David through Granny's front window, and she tried to take your heart… Tried her damnedest to crush it in your chest when she couldn't remove it. You'll have to teach me that protection spell, it's obviously very powerful." Mac said with more than a hint of pride.

"What spell?" Regina breathed as she began to doze. At that Mac furrowed his brow – Regina would know if she had protected her heart, that was not something one forgets.

"Regina?" Mac called, softly, leaning over her so that his face was closer to her own. "Regina? Tell me, did you put a protection spell on her heart?"

"Mm," she gave a gentle nod as she began to drift off. "She can't control me." She murmured.

"But can she take it Regina," Mac seemed agitated and Robin became concerned, not sure what had the Sorcerer so on edge.

"What is it Mac?" Robin asked.

"Can she take your heart out Regina?" Mac gently shook her awake again and Regina opened her eyes, focusing again for a moment on Mac's icy blue eyes.

"Of course, there's no spell to stop someone removing a heart Mac, you know that. I just made sure no one could control me with it." She said quietly, her words running together a little with fatigue. "I'm tired Mac." She breathed closing her eyes again as Mac let her go with a confused shake of his head.

"But Regina, she couldn't remove your heart…" Robin said softly, his brow furrowed as he gently stroked her hair. Putting his confusion out of his mind Robin breathed a sigh of relief as he hung his head, pressing his palms to his eyes. She was alright, that was all that mattered. The knot of tension in his chest seemed to ease somewhat now that she had awakened. She would be ok… she would recover, he needed to keep focused on that.

"She will," came Mac's voice from beside him. "It will take some time for her heart to fully recover, but she will be as good as new." Robin nodded.

"What is it? With her heart? Is there something wrong?" Robin asked, turning his head to look at Mac.

"I'm not sure, but if Regina didn't put the protection spell on her heart who did?" Mac asked.

"Could she have forgotten? I mean, she was awake yes, but not really herself," Robin looked back down at her sleeping form.

"She wouldn't be mistaken about that. Perhaps if I could?" Mac asked, moving his hands to indicate he wanted to check her. At Robin's frown Mac continued, "I want to see if I can find a signature – find out who protected her heart, I can also make some further repairs. Now that she is out of imminent danger I can focus more on strengthening the muscle."

Robin nodded, before he asked, "You already suspect what has happened?" something in Mac's eyes told him the Sorcerer had a theory.

"I'd like to confirm my suspicions before I make any claims," he said with a smile and at Robin's nod Mac raised his hands above Regina's heart. As his magic began to seep from his fingers he felt Robin's hand on his arm and paused his spell, his magic returning into his hands and he opened his eyes to look curiously at Robin.

"This won't hurt her will it? Her heart has already been through so much," Robin's eyes were full of concern.

"I'd never do anything to hurt her Robin," Mac said sincerely, before closing his eyes and beginning again to release his magic to scan over her heart. He felt the damaged muscle, could feel the healing with each beat and allowed his magic to flow through the blood vessels and tissue to assist further in the repair; he searched each nook and crevice of the fragile organ until he found what he was looking for, right at the core of her heart. Mac opened his eyes, a wide smile on his face.

"Alayna," he breathed, his eyes twinkling as he turned his gaze to Robin. "I thought she would be the only one powerful enough to do this, to protect Regina in this way."

"And it was her?" Robin asked incredulous. "But how? When?" Robin was bewildered, his eyes wide as he turned back to Regina whispering, "What did she do?"

"I'm not exactly sure. Over the centuries I've lived I've heard of some, like Emma, who are the product of true love having this protection on their hearts from birth but it was never something that could be replicated before by a spell or a curse. It is truly miraculous but I'm certain, I felt her – Alayna – in Regina's heart. It's almost like a small part of her is now just 'there'." Mac shook his head, certain his explanation was lacking but it was something not able to be described with mere words. "Your daughter has protected her mother's heart. No one will ever be able to remove it now." Robin looked back to Regina, his face full of awe as he gently stroked her chest above where her newly protected heart lay.

"You need to get some sleep Robin, there will be much to do tomorrow." Mac said and Robin raised his eyebrows in question.

"Hook stopped by an hour or so ago. Mary Margaret and David want to meet to discuss how we are going to deal with the Dark One." Of course, it was too much to ask that he have a moment of peace with his family. There was a threat to be dealt with - again.

"I suppose stabbing her with her damn dagger is out of the question?" Robin asked, angry at the situation, not the woman.

"Not unless you want to become the next Dark One," Mac chuckled, recognising Robin's anger for what it was. "I have a plan Robin, if we can reach the woman beneath the curse, if she's still in there somewhere, then we'll be able to fix this and hopefully enjoy some peace."

"Until the next threat pops up and we are once again thrown into danger. I'm tired of constantly fighting Mac." Robin said, running his hand over his eyes in obvious exhaustion.

"Well this town isn't short on heroes anymore. Once you get Emma back, you have the apprentice, the fairies, and me… Maleficent and Lily are here too. You never know? Peace could be just around the corner for us all." There was a hopeful look in Mac's eyes that made Robin suggest he was talking about more than the Hood/Mills clan.

Without dwelling too much on Mac's curious look, Robin turned back to the woman lying before him. Her breathing was rhythmic and strong but she still looked incredibly pale. He reached his hand out to stroke the soft skin of her cheek, drawing comfort from the warmth of her skin under his hand.

"I hope so," he whispered.

Regina awoke to the sun peeking in through her curtains, vaguely remembering waking up the night before and speaking with Robin and… Mac? Mac had been there too. He had been worried, something about her heart? She was confused and a little disoriented as she tried to remember what had happened the day before.

Glancing around she took in the sight of Robin, his head resting on her abdomen, one of his hands entwined with hers and resting millimetres from his lips. Looking past him to the clock on her bedside she saw it was barely five am. She rubbed her free hand across her eyes and was suddenly aware of the light snoring coming from her left. Turning her head she smiled instinctively at the sight of Henry next to her, on his stomach, head turned into the pillow, his hair all but covering his eyes.

She laid there for a moment, just taking them in – the sight of her son, the warmth of her soul mate. Suddenly memories of the day before flooded her mind, Emma in the diner, how she had turned on Mary Margaret and David, the shock quickly followed by fear as Emma's hand dove into her chest, and then the pain. In this moment in her room, with Robin and Henry there it didn't seem so terrifying. Besides, she rationalised with a shake of her head, she had suffered through worse. Rumple had removed her heart and tortured her with it during her early years training with him and her mother had certainly not been shy about inflicting pain when she was a child. Then, more recently, there was Greg Mendel… she instinctively brought her hand up to rub at her hairline near her temple where she still carried a scar from one of the electrodes he had placed on her head. She thought, as she often did, on her decision not to heal the scar, she could… but then deep down she thought she needed to remember…

She needed to get up; she needed to see her daughter. She ran her free hand through Robin's hair; loathe to wake him knowing he would have been up half the night keeping watch over her, but the need to see Alayna was too great. "Robin?" she murmured, moving to stroke his cheek and at the sound of her voice his eyes darted open and his head snapped up.

"Regina!" He whispered, moving from the chair he had pulled by the bed to sit next to her, his hands moving straight across her cheeks and into her hair, pulling her to him and breathing her in. "Gods you had me so worried! You can't approach her like that again, promise me – please!" She didn't need to look in his eyes to know they held a desperate fear in them. "If Mac hadn't been there…" Robin pulled back to look at her, his eyes darting frantically across her face. "Do you feel alright? Can I get you anything? How is your heart?" At his last question one of his hands moved from her hair to stroke over her chest, where her heart was beating, strong as ever.

Regina smiled, tears forming in her eyes at the thought that every other time she had suffered like this she had endured the recovery completely alone. No one had taken care of her or even asked how she was... While she hated to have worried him so much she had to admit that it was nice to have him by her side when she woke up, looking at her as though ready to move mountains if it would help her recover.

She furrowed her brow a little as she absentmindedly rubbed at her temples. "My heart – Emma couldn't take out my heart?"

Robin nodded, "yes, Mac said –" Robin broke off, not sure she was ready to hear what their daughter had done; what she was capable of.

"What is it Robin?" At his unsure gaze she continued, "I feel fine Robin, really. I'm just a bit tired… which is ridiculous I've been asleep for…" she checked her clock again, "20 hours?" Robin nodded in confirmation and gently ran his hand through her hair. "What happened? What did Mac say?"

"Alayna protected you from Emma's attack. He seems to think that she has enclosed a piece of herself into your heart to ensure no one can ever remove it." Robin's eyes glistened with tears as he stroked her hand, still resting above her heart.

Regina sat up, pulling back the blankets and going to rise. At Robin's alarmed gaze she explained, "I need to see her, I need to see for myself that she's ok." She leaned into his touch and he nodded, understanding.

"Of course," he reached out, helping her to her feet. She was surprisingly steady and Robin had to take his hat off to Mac, she was completely healed. "Are you sure feeling alright?" He asked again as they padded down the hall to Alayna's room.

"I feel fine," she caught his eyes and gave him a soft, sincere smile. "Truly." They pushed open the door to Alayna's room and found Tinkerbelle curled up like a cat on the plush leather rocker in the corner. Alayna asleep sideways in her cot, her hair splayed on the mattress underneath her like a halo. Regina breathed a sigh of relief as she gently stroked her daughter's dark curls, careful not to wake her. "She's alright," she whispered and Robin stepped behind her, pulling himself against her so her back was pressed to his front, his hands around her waist.

"She is fine. Emma paid her no mind at all." Robin said.

"Until she discovers it was Alayna who stopped her from killing me…" Regina groaned, this was all so complicated… "Emma was focused entirely on those who she blames for her pain." Regina murmured.

"What do you mean?" Robin asked, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Like Belle and Archie said, she has been on this 'journey', reliving her most painful memories until she snapped allowing the darkness into her soul. For Emma her most painful time was while she was in foster care, she's angry at her parents for sending her to this realm, for abandoning her, subjecting her to that life and she's angry at me-"

"For casting the curse that set it all in motion." Robin completed and Regina nodded, taking her eyes from Alayna and turning in Robin's arms, needing the comfort of his embrace. Gods would she ever stop paying the price of casting that stupid curse?

Robin's brow furrowed in thought for a moment before he changed the subject with a false cheerfulness that immediately ignited Regina's suspicion. "Let's get you back to bed, Henry will be terrified if you're not there when he wakes up. I'll get you some breakfast, what would you like?" Regina looked in his eyes with a frown.

"What is it?" She asked her voice tense.

"Nothing," he said, wide eyed, with a smile that was a little too tense not to be forced.

"For a thief you have always been a terrible liar Thief, what is it?" They moved back to her bedroom and she sat on the side of the bed as Robin sighed.

"I want to make you breakfast – you haven't eaten since yesterday morning," he began.

"And?" she prompted.

"And I'm going to talk to Mac about putting a protection spell around Gold's room at the hospital," he said, the words coming out in a rush from his lips.

Regina cocked her head in confusion for but a moment before she breathed, "Emma will go after Gold!"

"You and Emma were close – I assume you told her how you were manipulated by Gold into casting the curse?" At Regina's nod Robin continued, "if she is tracing back the lineage of her pain she will go after him eventually."

"But hopefully not yet – forget breakfast – go! Have Mac put a protection spell up before it's too late. Gold is our only insight into her state of mind right now. We need him, and" she sighed, "he's weak, he needs protection." She finished her statement begrudgingly. She hated to admit it but protecting him in this state was the right thing to do, whether they needed him or not.

"I'll get you breakfast as soon as I've spoken to Mac," he said walking quickly to the door to get Mac as Regina fell back onto her pillows in a huff. Gods what she wouldn't give for one of her quiet mornings on the ranch right now!

Emma twirled a lock of hair between her fingers, her head cocked to the side, as she swung herself gently left to right, left to right. She stared at her predecessor as he lay still in the narrow hospital bed, the beeping of the machines not really registering with her as she watched his chest rise and fall. He was such a frail little man really - pathetic. She can rememberbeing afraid of him like one remembers their times tables, no feeling attached to the information, it was just there.

Looking at him now it's almost laughable that he would instil fear into anyone – much less the Saviour… The Evil Queen was a different story… Emma mused, raising an eyebrow. Even in this world Regina had a commanding presence, exuded power, strength and confidence. Emma scowled looking down to the floor as she thought about how close she had been to killing the woman who brought her to this world, who was responsible for her having the life she did. She swung her leg, kicking at the linoleum with her booted foot, like a child mid-tantrum. The Queen would be prepared for her next attack, Emma wouldn't get close enough to just stick her hand in her chest next time. If only Henry hadn't interfered!

Henry! Her heart seemed to jump just thinking his name. She needed to stay away from that kid until she had taken care of her enemies… Speaking of which she needed to take care of Gold, and they do say not to put off 'til tomorrow that which you can do today. Raising her head she moved to step through the doorway into the room but no sooner had her toes crossed the threshold was she thrown back into the wall opposite.

"Damn it!" She cried picking herself up and rubbing at the back of her head where it had collided with the wall.

"Now is that any way for a lady to speak?" Came Mac's voice. He had been watching her since she arrived not 5 minutes after he had raised the protection spell. Curious as to her behaviour… he could feel the darkness coming off her in heavy waves, but more interesting to him was how she had modified her behaviour, when she was in control she spoke and moved in a way that resembled a child and he wondered if it was her way of going back to what was for most a simpler time but for Emma had been such a challenging one, perhaps the most challenging… maybe this was her way of reliving that period of her life that she feels her parents, Regina and now Gold had robbed from her…

"You," she said, bringing her hand down from the back of her head and smiling in a way Mac assumed was supposed to be seductive but with those garish yellow eyes seemed more predatory. "I saw you at the diner – I don't believe I've had the pleasure." Her voice was sickly sweet as she extended her hand to his and continued, "Emma Swan, Dark One," as though giving her credentials. "And you are?" She flashed her yellow eyes.

"Merlin, Sorcerer," Mac copied her introductory tone but didn't move to take her hand and Emma let her own hand hang for a moment, her smile turning a little stony at the slight. Mac could see her mind turning as she tried to come up with information about the man before her and he could see by the way she narrowed her eyes that she was coming up blank. Emma Swan knew very little about the magical realms; their history and their people. That meant she knew very little about Merlin. Unfortunately for her, (but fortunate for him) the knowledge of the Dark One did not pass down like the dark powers did. Each Dark One's knowledge was recorded in tombs all kept secure in the Dark Vault. Emma had seen the big, dusty volumes but had little interest in taking the time to search through them… Initially because she was trying to escape and later because she was more interested in returning to Storybrooke and making them all pay… Now however she wished she had taken maybe a little time to read up on her enemies, perhaps she would have discovered how Regina had protected her heart, and just who this Merlin was…never mind, she needed to focus on her revenge!

"What is it exactly you are seeking revenge for Emma? Have you really thought this through? Why do they need to pay?" Mac asked the questions in his soft and calm voice, soothingly and Emma eagerly responded. Too caught up in her anger to notice Mac had read her thoughts.

"My parents fed me to the wolves so they could play martyr… "Oh aren't they wonderful, the self-sacrificing Snow White and Prince Charming who gave up their only child to save their people!"" she spoke in mimicry. "Henry's book doesn't mention that poor baby Emma was shuffled from home to home," she looked up at Mac, her voice was still sickly sweet, and detached, like she was telling a children's story, not recounting the horrors of her own childhood. "No one to love her, starved… beaten… abused" she continued, punctuating each word with a step towards Mac until she was right in front of him. " Do you know how many times my parents have asked about my life since we were reunited?" she giggled, leaning in so that her lips brushed his ear and whispering like she was telling him a secret. "None." She raised her hand to stroke his face. "You look like a good man," she said softly. "So tell me, what kind of people abandon their child like that?"

Mac could feel her icy fingers and he frowned slightly. The cold came from the darkness, it was feasting on her soul, he needed to plant a seed of doubt in her, a speck of warmth to fight the cold, but he needed to be careful too. He wasn't immune to her powers and if he aggravated her she could hurt him. "I believe you know the answer to that Emma." He said maintaining his calm exterior.

"Henry," she said softly as she stepped back from him and he saw something change in her expression. Her eyes flashed green and Mac knew with certainty that Henry was the key to reaching her. "I g-gave him his best chance. I did that for him – they sent me through a portal to an unknown realm for them! For their precious people. Not for me!" Her eyes were yellow once more but Mac had the information he needed to save her.

"Of course," he said simply.

"Why are you here?" She asked suddenly, her head cocking to the side again and her yellow eyes narrowed.

"To put up the protection spell on Mr Gold," he answered honestly.

"You did that," her chin raised and he could see her breathing become slightly laboured as she tried to conceal her anger at being thwarted. "Why?"

"So you wouldn't hurt him." Mac replied, pushing off the wall and folding his arms across his chest, taking the opportunity of her distraction to raise a protection barrier without her notice to ensure his safety. She was livid! How could this man calmly stand before the Dark One telling her he was working against her?

"Simple Emma, I'm trying to stop you doing something you can't take back. Henry wants his mother back, and I'm going to do everything I can to help him." Mac said, again answering a question she had asked in her own mind.

"How are you doing that?" She cried – all pretence of sweetness gone. "How do you know what I'm thinking?"

"I can read minds, it is one of my many gifts," Mac said, matter of fact.

"Then you know I won't stop until I have killed them all," she said her voice low and dark.

"I do," Mac said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Good." She frowned and disappeared in a thick cloud of burgundy smoke.

"Well that went about as well as I expected," Maleficent said as she walked slowly down the corridor towards the room where Gold lay. Stopping a few feet from where Mac stood.

"It did actually," he said with a warm smile presently surprised by just how happy he was to see her. "We succeeded in protecting our Mr Gold her," he continued with a small gesture of his hand, indicating the man sleeping in the bed behind him, completely unaware of the danger he had been in. "And I discovered the key to reaching the Saviour."

"You did?" Maleficent asked, her eyebrow rose. "And just what is that?"

"Henry," Mac said simply, his broad, proud smile faltering slightly as Maleficent's chuckle and the soft shake of her head. "What?" he queried confused.

"Well you might want to come up with another plan, Sorcerer. Regina will never agree to letting you use Henry." She said with certainty.

"Why ever not?" Mac was completely at a loss.

"Because she is his mother – she won't allow him to be put in danger, not even to save the Saviour."

"How can you possibly know that?" Mac asked, not entirely thinking in his frustration, this was the only way! Henry was the only way! When he looked into Maleficent's eyes, Mac immediately knew he had said something wrong. Her gaze had turned cold and her painted red lips went from their soft, mocking smile to a thin line. She turned her face away from him and span on her heel walking swiftly toward the exit.

"Maleficent?" Mac asked, the question clear in his voice.

Without slowing her steps she threw her answer over her shoulder, her voice soft and cold, "because I'ma mother." And then quickened her pace, ashamed that she hadn't been able to hide the hurt from her voice.

"Maleficent," Mac sighed, his voice thick with apology. "Maleficent, wait!" He ran his hand over his face in frustration as he watched her go. He hadn't meant it like that! He was merely surprised that Maleficent had an insight into Regina that he himself didn't have, he hadn't even been thinking of her, the woman, the mother. Damn it – he was just no good at this stuff. It wasn't as though he had had all that much experience, and he had always been able to read his lover's thoughts. You were cheating! A voice that sounded remarkably like Regina mocked.

As she walked through the doors leaving Storybrooke Hospital Maleficent's eyes swam with stupid tears. What did she expect? No one had ever looked at her as Lily's mother – not the Charmings when then spirited her away, not even Lily herself. And was she a mother? Really? She hadn't raised Lily, never had a chance to… but oh how she had yearned for her child! That dull ache never left her, she was always wondering, searching, hoping. Completely lost in her thoughts, her eyes focused on the pavement, she didn't notice the tell-tale silver smoke or Mac appearing in front of her until she crashed into his chest and as his arms came to her biceps to steady her. She knew without raising her gaze who it was and she instinctively closed her eyes and cursed under her breath. It wasn't until she opened them again that she realised Mac had transported them away from the prying eyes of Storybrooke's main street.

"Let me go," she said stonily, roughly pulling away from him, turning around and taking two steps to put more distance between them. She looked around the room, taking in her surroundings and she realised with a start he had brought her to the spare room he was staying in at Regina's house. Her eyes moved to his face and the protest she had been about to voice died in her throat at the sorrow she saw in his eyes. She rolled her own; the tears that had been threatening to fall as she left the hospital abating thank the gods, and stiffened. "Forget about it. No one in this damn town gives a damn that I am Lily's mother, that she was stolen from me… Why should you? You don't even know me." Her voice was cold and distant and she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Maleficent, of course your Lily's mother, and I wasn't questioning your maternal instincts… I wasn't!" he repeated at Maleficent's disbelieving look. "I was thinking about your insight into Regina and her relationship with Henry. I've spent the last nearly 60 years with Regina. I was curious as to what you saw that I didn't – couldn't." Maleficent's eyes flicked away from his to gaze out the window at the view of the town of Storybrooke, as she considered his words. "Please don't push me away – don't run away from me, from us." Mac stepped towards her and when she didn't retreat he gently reached out to grasp her arms once more, stroking up to her shoulders then down to her elbows and she sighed, taking a step towards him and resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"Shhh," she said moving her face to the crook of his neck to breathe him in. "It doesn't matter," she murmured, because it didn't. Her feelings for this man were more powerful than anything she had ever felt. It didn't matter if he didn't see her as a mother, if he only ever saw the villain everyone else saw, so long as he kept his arms around her, and looked at her with that ever increasing love in his gaze. Gods she was pathetic…

Mac pulled back at her words and looked into her eyes. "Of course it matters, Maleficent. Your feelings matter." She shook her head slightly as she gave that soft tender smile he loved so much, and looked at him like he just didn't make sense to her at all. Then she raised herself up on her tiptoes to press her lips to his in a soft kiss that tasted of hurt, sorrow, anger and love. Pulling away from her Mac repeated, "I'm sorry. I'm not very good at this and –" he broke away, raising his hand to stroke her cheek and Maleficent's breath caught at the tenderness of the gesture, the look of love in his eyes.

"What?" she asked, and at the clear sound of vulnerability she heard in her own voice, she turned her eyes away from him looking down.

Mac chuckled pressing a kiss to her forehead, "I just wish I knew what you were thinking."

"Well you're not so easy to read yourself," she said returning her eyes to his. "I can usually read people like a map, but you…" her voice drifted off as her gaze flittered across his face as though she was trying to read his mind, before her eyes were drawn to his warm lips.

"Hmm," Mac hummed. Well he could read that look in her eyes fairly easily and he took her mouth in a kiss more passionate than any other they had shared. His hands moved slowly from her cheeks down her back to her waist, wrapping around her and pulling her to him and Maleficent responded to the kiss with fire. She didn't understand the depth of her feelings for this man, but in this moment she didn't want to understand it, she just wanted to feel. She wanted him to make her feel something other than hurt, anger and resentment. She loved the warmth of his eyes, the openness of this gaze and gods the feeling of his tongue on her neck like he was trying to engrave the taste of her skin to his memory.

Something unleashed in Mac as Maleficent responded to his touch so eagerly. It was as though they had started a fire that was suddenly burning out of their control. Something in his mind told him to slow down, to pause, to consider where they were going and how fast but it was as though his mind was not in control of his actions.

His hands eagerly explored the length of her, moving from the delicate curve of her backside up to the soft skin at her neck and as he went to run his hands back over her he felt her shrug her shoulders to remove the grey suit jacked she wore. Mac broke their kiss, pulling back to look at her and at the curious look in her eyes that quickly became guarded he whispered, "May I…?" indicating the buttons on her silky white blouse. "I would like nothing more than to run my hands along your skin right now."

Maleficent's look of relief at his words gave way to a cheeky smile before she whispered softly in his ear, "you want nothing more?"

Mac pulled back to look into her eyes, his own serious as he pressed a more chaste kiss to her lips, "I want nothing that you aren't ready to give." He bumped his nose against hers affectionately. Kissing her again before she pulled back to look searchingly into his eyes. Seeming to find what she was looking for she nodded before pulling back a little more and slowly untying the back cravat at her neck until it opened and then button by torturous button she revealed more of herself to him than she had revealed to anyone in a long, long time.

Mac watched her with a tenderness in his eyes that made her heart pound in her chest and she could hear a rush of blood in her ears. She removed her blouse to reveal the soft satin slip she wore underneath, biting her lip with apprehension she moved her fingers to the thin straps on her shoulders confusion filling her eyes as Mac covered her hands with his own, stopping her.

"Wait," he whispered, stepping closer to her and at her frown he kissed her deeply before saying "gods Maleficent you take my breath away." He dropped his head to kiss her again and moved them slowly to the bed where he gently laid her down. "Only what you're ready to give," he repeated against her lips and she sighed. She had never felt more treasured, more understood than in this moment.

"I want you," she whispered back, her eyes all trepidation as they flicked between his. "I –" she broke off, not able to say the words, not able to open her heart so much so soon.

"What is it?" Mac asked beginning to move from his position hovering over her.

"No!" she said, her arms going around his neck to keep him there. "I don't want to stop… it's just…" her cheeks flushed and as Mac moved to kiss her again, she relaxed into him.

Seeming to understand she couldn't talk to him and look at him at the same time Mac allowed his lips to move from hers to her neck, biting a little on her collar bone as she arched into him. "What is it my love," he said as he pressed open-mouthed kisses along the lacy edge of her slip.

"It's been a while for me, since I've… been with someone – like this." She whispered, her voice breathy as he continued his ministrations. God she loved his mouth on her!

Unable to resist the call of her dark pink nipples, shadowed through her ivory slip any longer Mac moved the thin strap from her right shoulder revealing her breast to him and after pressing a kiss to her soft, milky flesh, then another closer to the dark peek, he whispered, "Gods love, for me too," before taking her nipple in his mouth a suckling gently as she moaned, her hands all but flying to his hair to hold him against her. One of Mac's hands held the majority of his weight to stop him from crushing her petite form, while the other stroked firmly up and down her satin covered side, feeling the bumps of her ribs and her jutting hip bone. He paused his attention to her right breast to slip the other strap down and reveal her other soft mound. His hand moved to stroke and tweak her nipple while he smiled as he took in the flush of her cheeks and the breathy moans that left her soft sweet lips. He moved to take her mouth in a fervent kiss, swallowing her moans as he pulled harder on her nipple.

As he broke their kiss to look at her, she gasped for breath, as she began to rock her hips against his, wanting more, needing more. And if he didn't give it to her soon she would take it damn it! She looked up into his eyes and saw the desire there but also the trepidation – she could tell he was as concerned as she was about how fast this was all going but right now he had worked her up into a frenzy and she was sure as hell not going to stop now. They could work out the rest of it after.

"Please Mac," she breathed, and gods he loved that she called him Mac. Not Merlin, not Sorcerer. Just Mac.

"What is it you want Maleficent? Tell me and it's yours," his hand moved from her breast down to the waistband of her slacks, opening the clasp and lowering the zip. His hand slipping in but remaining over her panties to softly stroke her sensitive core through the silky fabric. He could feel the warmth emanating from her core and he could not hold back his moan as he dropped his forehead to hers at the feel of the dampness there.

"You, only you," she whispered and he kissed her again, all control gone as his mouth took hers, a clash of tongue and teeth as she fought to shimmy out of her pants groaning in frustration when she couldn't remove them fast enough and with a sigh she waved her hands to free them both from the confines of their clothing in seconds. At the feel of her suddenly bare beneath him, skin to skin, Mac broke their kiss in shock. Pulling back to look at her as his eyes glowed silver with magic. She was beautiful, captivating with her ivory skin, silky beneath his hands. His eyes travelled slowly down her form before moving back up to her face equally slow and he saw the apprehension in her eyes.

"Gods Maleficent, you are so beautiful," he said, pressing a kiss to her sternum, to her belly and then to the soft skin of her inner thigh. "How could you possibly think anything else?" He queried, clearly having seen her insecurity in her eyes and she was grateful he didn't wait for a reply. His mouth hungrily moving to her clit and she moaned in response to the feeling of his hot breath on her, his tongue flicking inside to taste her, delicately fucking her as she drifted away on a cloud of pleasure.

Gods this man was amazing! He looked at her like she hung the moon when she was a monster, a villain! The only other man she had ever loved had manipulated and abused her already battered heart. Had left her feeling worthless, angry, and ugly because of her curse… now in the arms of this man, this Sorcerer, this hero she felt alive, desired (for there was no mistaking the lust, the look of approval in his eyes), he thought her beautiful.

He continued to work at her core with his mouth before he brought his tongue from within her folds, gently flicking it over her clit as he entered her gently with one finger, she was so wet, so warm, so beautiful. He pumped gently in and out. Wanting only her pleasure. At her soft more for more he inserted a second finger, never stopping the hungry movement of his tongue against her clit. She let out a sharp cry as he crooked his fingers slightly finding a spot that made her buck her hips against him and he moaned how sweet she tasted, how amazing she felt, how he wanted to see her undone with pleasure in between fervent sucks on her clit. It was his words, his sweet, lust filled words and the look of desire in those blue eyes as she caught his gaze that sent her over the edge.

Maleficent's hand flew to her eyes as she breathed heavily in and out trying to calm her racing heart. Mac pressed a soft kiss to her pubic bone, her belly, dipping his tongue into the crevice of her navel causing her to let out an uncharacteristic giggle that had her hand flying to her mouth. He pressed a kiss to the soft skin below her breast, then to her chest where her heart lay before bringing his mouth to hers. She could taste herself on his tongue and gods there was nothing more erotic than the combination of his mouth and her sex.

Her hands roamed over the exposed flesh of his back, scratching him in desire that he had awakened in her. She dragged her nails from the taught muscles of his shoulders down to his firm backside and she dug her nails into the cheeks of his arse as she wrapped her legs around him, pressing her core to where she could feel him hard with desire for her.

Mac broke their kiss leaning back with a question in his eyes and her heart leapt as she realised he really wouldn't take any more than she wanted to give. She gave a firm nod, nuzzling her nose against his as she rubbed her core against his throbbing member again causing him to close his eyes at the feel of them, so close to being one. He reached down between them, aligning himself to her where they both ached to be joined and he kissed her tenderly as he gently slid himself inside her. Inch by inch he moved, his mouth never leaving hers, swallowing each moan until he was completely inside her, filling her deliciously. He didn't move, overcome by the emotions of being one with her. She was so tight he gave her a moment to adjust to his size, muscles that neither had used for so long coming alive and what a delicious awakening! As she rolled her hips against him wanting – needing – more friction he began to slowly move in and out of her. She was so wet from their previous activities that the movement was smooth despite how tight she was, and he was soon moving at a frenzied pace. Their eyes locked together and he was taken aback by the look of wonder in her eyes.

He pressed his forehead to hers, not stopping the thrusting of his hips as they moved together in the sweetest of dances, and he whispered gently, "what is it my love?"

She brought both hands to his face, gently stroking his cheeks, his lips as she moved her hips with each of his thrusts, smiling softly she replied earnestly; "I've never felt so close to anyone before." As tears formed in her eyes she buried her face in the crook of his neck, increasing the rock of her hips against his and he began to thrust in earnest, moved beyond belief at her confession. And moments later as they both came with each other's names falling from their lips, Mac could whole heartedly agree, he had never felt so close to anyone either.

Regina handed Alayna over to Tinkerbelle as she sat down on the couch. It was lunchtime and she had just prepared Alayna something to eat when the Charmings and their entourage arrived on her porch. "Thanks Tink," she whispered as the fairy moved to help Alayna with her food.

"No problem," Tink answered. "More important for you to be here for this than for me!" Tink nodded towards the mass of people gathered in Regina's living room. Mary Margaret, David and Belle were huddled together on the couch talking quietly amongst themselves and looking oddly out of place amongst the former villains that were gathered with them. Hook, Lily and Henry were seated on the other couch while the Apprentice surveyed the scene from the foyer, seeming a interloper rather than one of their allied. Mac and Maleficent completed the group, talking in hushed tones near her fireplace.

Regina watched her two closest friends for a moment, relieved that the tension between them when they met had dissipated and then raised her eyebrows in surprise as she saw Mac reach out and tuck a lock of Maleficent's blonde hair behind her ear. Maleficent froze and Regina wondered if she was going to take his hand off for having been so bold, but when Maleficent merely glanced around the room to see if anyone had noticed before smiling softly at Mac, Regina realised with a start that something was developing between the two. Well who would have thought?

"Are you alright?" Mac asked gently as he tucked a lock of Maleficent's hair behind her ears. He frowned when she froze at the gesture, her eyes darting around. "What is it my love?" He whispered softly. Confused by her general skittishness since they had descended downstairs to find everyone here.

"You need to be more careful, Sorcerer," she said with a smile but there was something else in her eyes as well, something he couldn't name.

"What do you mean?" he asked, completely unsure – was she having doubts? Gods if only he could read her mind!

"Someone will see you," she said through gritted teeth, all joking was gone from her eyes and there was a trace of annoyance at having to explain herself to him.

"Will see me what?" he asked. "With you?" At her curt nod he chuckled softly. "I've nothing to hide my love…" his smile froze for a moment before he turned back to her, the look on his face one she now recognised as when he was trying to tap into her thoughts. How did she know him so well already? "Unless you…?" he broke off his eyebrow raised in question.

She lightly smacked his arm, "don't be ridiculous! You're the hero here Mac. The people here won't be forgiving if they learn you have involved yourself with me. I'm a villain, a dragon for heaven's sake..." She snorted and he found the sound endearing.

"Good thing I don't care what the town thinks then. I only care what you think." He whispered into her ear, hand discretely stroking her side as he pressed a kiss to her temple, not caring who saw them and damn if she didn't want him again when he did that.

As Robin stepped into the room from the kitchen, a tray with cups of tea, coffee and cocoa in his arms Regina began with some annoyance, "While it's lovely to have you all invading my home again on such short notice, how about we get started?"

She looked expectantly at the Charmings, expecting them to lead the discussion only to find them looking blankly at her. Barely managing to stifle a roll of her eyes she continued. "Ok… we now have more information on Emma and what we are facing." She began, "Just so we're all on the same page, Mac why don't you tell us about what happened when you saw Emma this morning?"

"You saw Emma?" Mary Margaret said breathily.

"Yes I did," Mac said and Regina noted with curiosity that Mal had gone to step away from him while he spoke but he'd stopped her, his hand moving to her lower back. Maleficent's cheeks tinged with a soft pink hue that made Regina bite the inside of her cheeks to stop from laughing. Lily frowned at the gesture her eyes wary, while Belle and Hook were staring at the couple wide eyed. Mary Margaret and David didn't notice, they were so distracted by their worry for Emma they likely wouldn't have reacted if Mac were naked. At Robin's not so subtle tug on her elbow Regina turned and shrugged her shoulders at his questioning gaze. She didn't know what was going on, but she sure as hell planned to find out!

"As you know, Emma is dealing with anger that has been awakened in her while she was on the Dark Journey. The focus of her anger is what she sees as the source of her greatest pain, when she was sent through the wardrobe.

"You mean going through the wardrobe was the source?" Mary Margaret asked.

At Mac's nod David asked, "but then if her greatest pain is being separated from her family why did she want to kill us?"

"Her greatest pain wasn't growing up without her family, it was growing up in the foster system here." Regina said, no emotion in her voice.

"How do you know that?" David asked, his hurt clear in her voice.

Regina didn't answer; she just looked down at her feet. She and Emma had shared much during the past two years.

"The foster system here was not kind to Emma," Mac continued and Regina felt her blood boil. Her parent's should know that! They never talked to her; they just put their heads in the sand, secure in the knowledge that they did the right thing, the good thing, the selfless thing. And now once again, Regina was cleaning up their mess! At the feel of Robin's arm moving to circle her waist and draw her to him she took a deep breath. At least she wasn't fighting alone this time.

"Emma's anger has focused on what she believes was her abandonment." Mac felt Maleficent stiffen slightly at his words and he rubbed his thumb along her spine to soothe. He might not be able to read Maleficent's thoughts but he could read Lily's and he knew Lily had felt similarly abandoned most of her life. Maleficent carried her guilt over not being able to protect her daughter all those years ago like a shroud, and Mac knew hearing Emma's feelings – a mirror image of her own child's would hurt Maleficent.

"For that she blames the three of you," he used his free hand to gesture towards Mary Margaret, David and Regina, "as we saw yesterday, but she also blames Rumplestiltskin for manipulating Regina into casting the curse. " Belle gasped and unconsciously rose to her feet, her hand going to her mouth in horror. "He's fine Belle, I was able to intercept Emma at the hospital and prevent her from doing him any harm." Belle breathed a sigh of relief and sat back on the couch, Mary Margaret instantly taking her friends hand and holding it tight. "The important thing I discovered was that Emma is not yet lost to the darkness. There was a moment when Emma – your Emma - broke through, it was just a moment but that is all we need to know that sheis still in there."

"What do you mean a moment? How did you know?" Henry asked.

"Her eyes," Mac said turning his gaze to Henry whose brow was furrowed in thought.

"Wait," Hook said, "her eyes? Did they turn green? Like her eyes, not those yellow reptilian things she has now?"

"Yes – you've seen it before?" Mac asked.

"At the diner yesterday, when she hugged Henry, they were green for maybe 30 or 40 seconds." Hook said.

Mac nodded gravely, "then we have no time to lose," he said.

"What do you mean?" David asked leaning forward as though proximity would give him the answers he so wanted to hear more quickly.

"This morning the change lasted barely 10 seconds. The diminishing time that 'Emma' is breaking through would seem to indicate time is running out." At Charming's frown Mac added, "but Emma is obviously fighting back and it would seem Henry is the key."

"What? Regina took two steps into the room, moving towards her son. "Why?"

"Well yesterday it was when she hugged Henry that she was able to break through the darkness, and today it was when we spoke about him."

"You mean I can save my Mom?" Henry asked, pride in his voice, his eyes and all over his face. Regina internally cringed, grateful for Robin's hand still on her waist. This was too reminiscent of Neverland "I have to save magic!"

"No Henry," Mac replied and Regina released a breath she didn't remember holding. "Emma has to save herself, it just means you're the way we reach her, the way we can free her to make that choice."

"What do I have to do?" he asked, determined.

"Nothing Henry – you don't have to do anything." Regina's words were firm and while she flicked her gaze to Henry momentarily, she stared Mac down as if daring him to contradict her. "Emma would not want you in danger and neither do I."

"She won't hurt me Mom," Henry began.

"I know Emma wouldn't hurt you Henry. But the Dark One might. I don't want to take that chance."

"Actually Regina," Belle began, obviously nervous to be contradicting the former Evil Queen, but her gaze determined. "I think Henry is right. I was with Rumple in the Enchanted Forest when he was at his most Evil. I saw him do terrible things," her gaze flickered to Robin and turned almost guilty which made Regina furrow her brow. "But he never hurt me. I don't think Emma will hurt Henry."

"Forgive me if I don't want to risk my son's life based on the chronicles of your love affair with the former Dark One!" Regina huffed, unnerved by the exchange of looks she witnessed between the Book Worm and her soul mate.

"Regina, we need Henry for this to work." Mac said. "Why don't you hear me out? I have a plan that will help Emma and keep Henry out of danger."

Regina stared stonily at Mac, Henry's pleading gaze the only thing keeping her from transporting her family out of there and to the safety of her vault. "Fine but if I feel Henry will be in danger we come up with a new plan." She said her voice brooking no argument.

"Alright," Mac agreed with a slow, deliberate nod before continuing. "My staff can remove the curse of the Dark One, in a similar fashion to how the Apprentice used the my hat remove the darkness from Mr Gold." He gestured warmly to the Apprentice, that was no simple magic trick the man had completed. "Given Emma has not been subjected to the darkness for as long as Mr Gold she will not suffer the side effects of removing the curse that he has."

"But what will become of the darkness? Will it try and take Lily again?" Maleficent asked, putting some distance between herself and Mac as she instinctively moved towards her child, her brow furrowed.

"That is our first hurdle," Mac said. "We need a vessel of some kind to put darkness in. Something stronger than the hat, something that can store the curse and not become tainted by it." Everyone was silent for a moment, deep in thought.

"Pandora's box?" Henry asked, with a slight shudder, remembering being locked in there himself when he was trapped in Peter Pan's form.

"It's a good idea Henry, Pandora's Box would hold the curse, but it can also be opened. It would be better to come up with something more permanent." Regina smiled before her brow once again furrowed in thought.

"What about your sister's pendant?" Robin asked, more to Regina that the room at large. "That held her magic, could it be used as such again?"

"I don't see why not?" Regina said looking at Mac who nodded thoughtfully.

"But what about if someone wears it? Will they be able to use the dark powers?" Mary Margaret asked.

"No," Belle spoke up in her quietly confident way. "I researched the pendant when the portal into the past was triggered." She shot Robin and Regina an apologetic look at bringing up what was obviously the catalyst of such a painful time. "The pendant is attached to a particular sorceress, in this case, Zelena. And only that sorceress can use the power contained within it."

"So unless Emma and Captain Guyliner decide to take any more trips to the past and bring back my sister we should be ok." Regina said, looking at Belle for confirmation. At Belle's nod she turned to Mac. "What do you think Mac? Will this work?" She asked, summoning the pendant from her vault with a wave of her hand. Mac twirled his own hand and a beautiful silver staff appeared. It was two foot long with a sapphire stone the size of Mac's fist encased in fine crystal at one end. The silver staff itself was intricately carved from the top to its base. Mac waved the sapphire stone over the pendant resting in Regina's hand.

"Yes, this will hold the dark curse."

"But how do I fit in?" Henry asked, wondering how he was going to help.

"The Apprentice was able to use the hat to remove the curse from Mr Gold's heart because he was willing to let it go. Mr Gold's desire for self-preservation, his desire to live, was the only thing greater than his desire for the power the Dark Curse gave him. With Emma we have the same problem – she has to release the Dark Curse from her soul for my staff to be able to remove it. That is where we need you Henry. You are the only one that can reach that part of your mother's soul that is resisting the darkness. It is her love for you that will give her the strength to save herself from this curse."

"So what do you want Henry to do Mac? With any of us there Emma will be on the defensive and I will not have Henry go and face Emma on her own?" Regina moved to put her arm around her son's shoulders.

"I can do it Mom, I'm not a little kid anymore!" Henry declared, pulling away from her. "And she will not hurt me!"

"I agree that we will not send Henry on his own. But Emma came through at the diner, when we were all there. Alayna has protected your heart – you go with Henry. Be there and make sure he stays safe, but allow him to connect with Emma. It is our only chance." Mac said calmly and Regina nodded.

"I want to go to," Lily spoke for the first time. "I can be back up, and Emma has shown no anger towards me… Emma took this curse on for this for me, I want to help her." Mac glanced at Maleficent who was looking at Lily with a soft smile of pride.

"I think that would help Lily," Mac said softly.

"I want to come to," Mary Margaret said rising to her feet. "Emma is my daughter and –"

"I understand Mary Margaret but you have no protection against the Dark One, you are a key focus for her anger and your presence there is likely to only enrage her. We want to keep her focused on Henry." Mary Margaret frowned but nodded.

"I still don't like this Mac, you're using Henry as bait –" Regina began.

"Mom," Henry interrupted, "I want to do this. I want to help and I trust you to keep me safe. Together we can do this!" At the earnest look in Henry's eyes Regina couldn't help but nod. Pulling him to her and pressing her lips to his cheek.

"Do we know where Emma is?" David asked.

"Aye," Hook said quietly. "She has taken a house down near the docks." Belle looked at Hook questioningly. "She approached me yesterday after the confrontation in the diner. She took me to her house – she wanted to know if you had survived." He said looking at Regina. "And she wanted to know where Gold was." As Belle's curious look turned deadly Hook held up his hands in surrender. "I didn't tell her anything – I couldn't… she's not Emma. She got mad and dunked me in the wharf. That's when I realised her house was overlooking the dock." Regina nodded, accepting his explanation at face value. No reason not to.

"So what's the plan Mac? You want me to cook up some apple pie and we invite ourselves for tea?" She raised an eyebrow, the look in her eyes clearly conveying how she was not at all on board with this idea.

"You three go – engage with her Henry, try and talk to her, try and get through to your Mom, not the dark one." Mac said and Henry nodded. "Regina you take my staff. Watch Emma's eyes! As soon as they change to green, use the staff to take the darkness and move it to Zelena's pendant." Regina took hold of the staff. Surprised at how light it was and how strongly she felt the thrum of magic within it. No time to lose! She thought, then gave a nod, took hold of Henry's hand and waved her arm transporting the three of them to the docks. To her surprise Mac immediately followed with Robin and Maleficent.

"I'll be waiting right here," Robin put this hands to her waist drawing her to him and kissing her warmly. "You stay safe – if it looks like this isn't going to work you get yourself, Henry and Lily out ok?" He said sternly.

"Lily if you need me, you know how to call to me." Maleficent said quietly taking her daughter's hand. Lily nodded, giving her mother a half smile as she looked from her eyes to the imposing house that was overlooking the docks, nervous but determined to do this for Emma.

"I'll be watching," Mac said to the three of them. "If you need me, I'll be there before you finish the thought." He said giving Regina a quick hug before moving to stand next to Maleficent, his hand moving around her waist in a gesture of comfort.

"Ok, I'm ready," Henry said looking from his Mom to Lily. "Let's go."

As they disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke, appearing on the porch 500 metres away from where they stood on the docks Maleficent held her breath and Mac pressed a kiss to her temple. "They will be fine. They can do this," he said catching Robin's eye.

"You better hope your right," Robin said looking back at the porch and feeling his heart drop as the three of them were unexpectedly surrounded by what had become familiar burgundy smoke. When it dissipated, they were gone.

"Where are they!" Robin cried, "Mac, can you sense where they have gone? Are they in the house?"

"Calm down Thief," Maleficent said. "The Dark One is just putting on a show – she's letting us know she's in control and that she knows we are watching…" At Robin's questioning gaze she raised an eyebrow and continued, "It's what I would do."

"She has them inside, she has put a protection spell on the house," Mac paused raising his hands and sending out a strong pulse of magic towards the property. "But if I need to I can get passed it."

At the furrow of his brow Maleficent asked softly, "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I can't hear Henry or Lily…" Maleficent's head whipped around and fire burned in her eyes. Understanding she was about to storm the house Mac corrected, "Lily is fine Maleficent. I can still hear Regina, I think it's Alayna's protection spell that is keeping me connected with her… Lily is still with Regina but," he broke off.

"But what?" Robin asked, dread pooling in the pit of his stomach.

"Henry is gone. Regina doesn't know where he is. When they arrived there, Henry wasn't with them." Mac closed his eyes to enable him to see more clearly through Regina's eyes. Maleficent and Robin watched intently as his eyelids flickered and he occasionally provided a completely inadequate update… "Emma is there," "She knew Henry was her weakness," "Emma is angry."

What seemed like hours later he suddenly opened his eyes, locking his gaze on Maleficent's and when she saw guilt there she felt bile rise in her throat. Her eyes burning fire as she growled "What is it?"

Mac flicked his gaze to the house, "Emma has gone after Lily." Maleficent moved to transform, covering herself it suffocating black smoke and when it cleared she was still in her human form.

"What are you doing!" she screeched, reminding Mac of a banshee he had once faced in Camelot.

"I'm sorry Maleficent, this is the only way," he said, and he turned away from her to watch the house, so he wouldn't have to see the betrayal in her eyes.

When they were enveloped in the suffocating burgundy smoke Regina held tightly onto Henry's hand, hoping it would be enough to keep him with her, before they had even reappeared inside she knew that she was wrong and she cursed herself for having agreed to this stupid plan in the first place. Henry's hand was no longer in hers and when the smoke cleared Regina looked around and around searching for him.

"Henry!" she screamed, searching the large and mostly empty room though not really taking in her surroundings at all. Lily was there and she could still sense Mac, his constant warm presence in her heart some kind of tether she was sure. "Henry!" Suddenly a child-like giggle erupted all around them and Regina circled slowly, trying to find the source, repeating to herself that Emma wouldn't hurt Henry and Emma was still there, inside the Dark One in some form. Though she wasn't sure she believed it…

At the sound of Emma's laughter Regina quickly took in her surroundings. They were in a room with no windows and by the coolness Regina would guess they were underground, some kind of cellar? The room was large, with a high ceiling and she was sure she could make out some stairs and a door at the far end. The entire room was dark and smelled damp.

She caught Lily's eyes and could see the dragon was also taking in their surroundings. Regina quickly made an assessment of her magic and realised it was still there and at her call. At the sound of another giggle she brought forth a fireball holding it in front of her she looked again and yes, there were definitely stairs and a door. With a nod to Lily the duo made their way towards it when Emma suddenly appeared a metre in front of them.

"Well, if it isn't the Evil Queen and the Dragon Spawn" Emma said excitement in her voice. "Come to play?" She queried, bringing her hands to her face and clapping in glee but both Regina and Lily could see the joy didn't reach her eyes, which remained cold and hard.

"You know I'm not the Evil Queen anymore," Regina said, her voice commanding as she ignored the 'sweetness and light' routine that this Dark One seemed to have perfected. "I haven't been for a long time Emma, now where is Henry!" Regina demanded. "What have you done with my son?"

Regina could not help but be shocked at the woman who stood before her. No longer the defensive yet damnably honest Saviour, the woman Regina had once feared would take away her son due to her inherent goodness. She was now instead a woman cloaked in darkness. So much more than Regina had ever been, even at the height of her reign as Evil Queen. The darkness had permeated Emma's very soul, and Regina could only hope that some corner of the woman's heart had managed to withstand the assault of the darkness.

"No – what I know is that you will alwaysbe the Evil Queen," she said, her voice still excitably child-like. "I know that, Henry knows that… the entire townknows that. Even your precious Thief… Hmmm… maybe he has a 'thing'for bad girls." Emma said her voice sweetly curious but her smile pure evil as she taunted Regina. "Do you think maybe he likes blondes? You know we are more fun" Emma sing-songed, then leaned in to whisper in Regina's ear. "I bet I could teach him a thing or two." She left a soft, seductive kiss on Regina's cheek and Regina felt her breath quicken, she had never been good at sharing her toys and the thought of Emma and Robin burned… But Emma was just toying with her, finding her weaknesses and exploiting them. Well two could play at that game she thought snidely.

Ignoring the comments about Robin, Regina focused on what the two women truly shared: their son.

"Henry knows who I was, in the past, and Henry knows who I am now. And he loves me Emma, just like he loves you. Where have you taken him?"

"Henry knows who I was, Henry knows who I am now…" Emma parroted softly, her voice whiney in a way that reminded Regina of a petulant child. "Are you seriously trying to convince me that Henry loves me as I am now? The Dark One? Do you think I don't know what you're trying to do? I won't let him make me weak."

"You know Henry loves you. You know him, Emma. He is the Truest Believer. If anyone believes you can be saved it is our son. He will keep on loving you no matter what you do, and no matter what you become. He will never stop trying to save you. Loving him doesn't make you weak it makes you his mother."

"Our son…" Emma whispered, sulkily. "You just want to know where he is Regina. You're not going to fool me and I'm not going to give him back to you – not until you, my parents" she all but spat the word, " and that ridiculous little coward Gold are dead… then I will release Henry, when you are no longer a threat to me. Now, leave me be. I have accepted my fate. It is now time for all of you to accept it. This is who I am." She gave a little pirouette, "who I was destined to be."

"No Emma, you were destined to be the Saviour. This" Regina's hands moved up and down to indicate Emma in her current state, "is who you becamebecause you are the Saviour – because you saved Lily."

"I didn't deserve that sacrifice Emma. I will neverdeserve anyone's sacrifice but I am grateful that you made it. That you have taken on this burden for me. Now let us help you!"

"You two want to save the Saviour?" Emma mocked.

"It's why we're here," Regina said. "Just us. Emma I've been where you are – soaked in the darkness until you no longer even remember the light. You think the power makes you free, that the power keeps you safe but all it does is hurt the ones you love, it turns you into a prison of your own making. Soon you will no longer make your own choices, the darkness will make them for you. You can break free – choose love, choose life, choose Henry over the power! The power is tempting – gods is it tempting… whispering that you will have all you desire. But what you don't realise until it is too late is that you never wanted those things anyway… when did you ever want to rule Emma? All you wanted was a family, parents, Henry!"

"And peace! Regina I wanted a moments peace with Henry! I can have that, as the Dark One I can protect him. No one will threaten my family now!"

"And has that brought you peace, Emma?" Lily asked.

"What would you know about peace, Spawn? All you did was lead me astray. This was all your fault… I might not have peace now, but maybe when you're gone…" Emma smiled evilly as her hand reached out and Lily was raised from the ground.

"Emma don't do thi-" as Emma's fist closed so did Lily's windpipe, her face quickly turned red, then blue as she fought for air and Emma continued to squeeze, giggling.

"I don't know why you bothered with all the hearts Regina, this is soooo much easier," Emma paused waggling her eyebrows, "so fun! And so less messy" Regina flinched as the childish, sing-song voice returned and Emma took a couple of steps towards where Lily hung, her feet struggling as she fought for air.

"You kill her Emma and next it will be Mary Margaret and David here, you going to kill them too? Hook? Henry? Me?"

"If I have to," Emma said darkly, her wild eyes still fixed on Lily.

"Then what are you fighting for Emma? If everyone you love is gone? What is the point?"

Emma's head snapped to Regina, her eyes menacing, her mouth a thin line, "It's to… It's because…" she shook her head, trying to find her reasoning. Why was she doing this? As her thoughts clouded her eyes flashed green and yellow, then green. Her control over Lily wavered and the girl dropped to the ground, unconscious but breathing. Regina rushed to her.

"Emma help me!" She screamed. "You don't want Lily to die. You took on the Dark Curse, did all this to save her!"

"What have I done?" Emma whispered and moved to disappear before Regina reached out, grabbing her ankle, which was all she could reach from her position cradling Lily's head on the floor.

"You have made a mistake Emma, that is all. And lucky for you it is one that you can easily rectify. Heal her!"

Emma nodded before sitting next to Lily, her eyes now their usual green hue, she raised her hands and the dark burgundy smoke of her magic started to swirl.

"No!" Regina yelled. "Not like that! Not with hatred for your mistakes! Not with self-loathing. You need to focus on your love for Lily, heal her with love. It's the first step to your redemption."

"Regina, I'm the Dark One, I don't have light magic anymore. The darkness is all I have left now." Emma's voice began strong and angry, but finished soft and sad, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

"No, Emma. That is just what the darkness wants you to think. You are light; you have a spot in your heart that is pure as snow – that is where you carry your love for Henry. Think about him, your love for him, find that one spot of light, use it and it will grow."

Emma closed her eyes and tried to find a spot of goodness in her… Thinking of Henry he suddenly appeared beside them. "Mom!" He called, running to Emma and embracing her. Remembering Mac's words, remembering he had a job to to he quickly took in the situation ands started to talk. "Think of Lily Mom, think of wanting your friend back, and think of the times you had together. You can do it! I know you can."

Tears fell from Emma's closed eyes as she listened to Henry's voice; her truest believer! Even after everything she did.

"Feel the love you have for Henry, Emma, let it fill you up and then, let it go." As Regina spoke Emma felt the magic – light magic – trickling from her. Not the powerful charge of magic that had flow from her when she saved the Apprentice from the darkness, nor the inundation of dark magic that poured out of her as the Dark One, but a steady trickle of magic that was so much more exhausting than any other time she had used it… like squeezing juice from an orange she fought for every drop… would it be enough?

"Good Emma! It's working, keep going, you're doing great!" Regina encouraged.

When she heard Lily cough Emma opened her eyes to see her magic, not quite white but a light grey, swirling around Lily's throat.

"Emma?" The girl croaked in relief. Opening her eyes.

"Lily!" Emma cried, breathless, pausing her efforts to embrace her friend. "Are you alright? I'm sorry! God I'm so sorry."

"It's ok," Lily hugged Emma back and looked up to Regina. "Thank you!" She mouthed before hugging Emma again.

Regina nodded and raised the Sorcerer's staff, hoping this was enough to convince Emma that the power that came with the dark dagger was not worth the price. Regina had barely waved the staff then Emma suddenly cried out as the darkness was pulled from her soul. "What are you doing?" She questioned, her arms dropping from Lily as she tried to hold the darkness in her fingers.

"You have to let it go Emma, you don't need it. All you need is the love you have in your heart, for Henry, for Lily, for Killian." Regina said as she used all her strength to command the staff and draw the darkness away. Something in Emma was fighting the pull of the staff; the darkness didn't want to let go of such a powerful soul.

"Mom, please! You don't need the darkness. You don't need power. Just let it go!" Before Emma knew what was happening Henry had thrown his arms around her and she instinctively hugged him back, letting out an anguished cry as the darkness was pulled away from her, like the ripping of a band aid but across her entire being. The darkness flurried around them and moved toward Lily.

"Not this time," Regina muttered more to herself than the darkness and as one hand manoeuvred the staff, her other slipped into the pocket of her slacks and drew out Zelena's pendant. With a flick of her wrist the staff moved from the darkness to the pendant and the swirl of blackness, reminiscent of an angry murder of crows descended on the bauble in Regina's hand and by the gods it burned. Regina let out a pained scream and in a moment Mac, Robin and Maleficent appeared. She held onto the staff, her eyes wide with pain as she took in the new arrivals. "It h-hurts," she stammered out as the darkness continued to dive into the pendant. "B-burns!"

"Help her!" Robin commanded, as Maleficent moved to Lily, quickly assessing her daughter and giving Emma a cursory glance determining she was no longer a threat.

Mac watched on helpless. "I can't interfere, it could release the darkness," he shouted above the loud buzzing the dark magic made as it fought the pull of the soulless pendant. "Not much longer." He screamed trying to both placate Robin and comfort Regina who was obviously suffering excruciating pain. As the last of the darkness became trapped in the pendant Regina fell to her knees, the pendant rolling from her hand which had an angry burn already blistering where the pendant had lay.

"Mom!" Henry screamed, "Are you ok?" She nodded as Robin pulled her to him in an embrace.

"You should have put it on the ground," Mac gently admonished as he moved his hand over hers, healing the burn and picking up the pendant.

"Information that would have been useful to me before you sent me in here," she sassed, annoyed that she hadn't thought of that herself. Mac chuckled.

"You don't usually appreciate me pointing out the obvious." He said. "I'm proud of you." He hugged her and kissed her temple before moving back to allow Robin and Henry to take his place.

"Mom! You did it!" Henry said warmly. "I knew you would." Robin merely picked up her formerly injured hand. Turning it in his to ensure she was healed before bringing it to his lips and placing a gentle kiss to her palm.

"Regina," Emma had gotten to her feet, standing behind Henry looking like she wanted nothing more than for the ground to open up and swallow her whole. The guilt she felt over her actions the past few days fresh in her mind. "I'm –" she broke off, fat tears breaking through and falling down her cheeks. Henry helped Regina to her feet and she took the few steps that were between them to take Emma into her embrace.

"Don't Emma, don't even say it. That was not you, do you understand?" Regina spoke in a hushed whisper directly into Emma's ear. "It was a curse Emma. You were not in control of your actions."

Emma pulled away, sniffing loudly and wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her burgundy tunic, looking at her clothing and trying to pull the gaping material across her chest. "But that's just it – it felt like me. I really thought those things – part of me still does…" she shrugged and looked away, confused and scared. Looked at her hands. "I wanted to kill you, all of you, I wanted you to suffer. I-I don't understand."

"That is the darkness Emma, that is how it works. It gets into your very soul and twists your pain until all you feel is hate. You need to rest, you need to recover and you need to forgive yourself." Mac's soothing, commanding tone worked to comfort Emma in a way she didn't fully understand.

Nodding slightly as Henry kept his arms around her she sniffed, "it can never be enough, but I'm sorry."

"It's ok Mom, no one is mad at you." Henry said warmly. "You took the curse, you took on the darkness to save Lily. And you missed quite a bit – we don't really believe in 'black and white' any more in Storybrooke."

At Emma's confused look Lily said, "He's right Emma. We all understand. We're just glad you're back and you're safe. And you're Mom and Dad are going to be going mad right now wondering if everything is ok. We should get you back." Lily moved to take Emma's hand and lead her up the stairs.

"I can't!" Emma said, her voice panicked. "I can't face them, after what I did I can-"

"You can Emma," Maleficent spoke softly. "Take it from me, there is nothing you could have done that they wouldn't forgive." She smiled softly, if not completely warmly. She still was not entirely comfortable in a room full of heroes but she was grateful to the Saviour for having protected Lily from the Dark Curse.

Emma nodded before allowing Lily and Henry to guide her up the stairs into the foyer of the house she had conjured on arriving back in Storybrooke. "So, can we keep the house?" Henry asked, trying and succeeding in diffusing some of the tension.

"If you want to kid, I guess so," Emma murmured.

"Presuming you have the appropriate building permits Miss Swan," Regina said, following behind them with Robin's hands still firmly on her waist.

Maleficent took a deep breath, needing a moment alone to compose herself. She looked down to her shaking hands, unable to calm the erratic beat of her heart pounding in her chest, relieved that Lily had survived the Saviour's attack, angry at herself for allowing Lily to put herself in that situation and steadfastly ignoring that voice inside her head telling her she didn't allow anything... She shook her head knowing one thing for sure, she should never have trusted that damned Merlin.

"I'm sorry," she heard suddenly from behind her and jumped. Not having realised that she was not alone.

"What do you want Sorcerer," she said, refusing to turn around and face him, her tone icy.

"Please Maleficent, hear me out." Mac's voice was even, but Maleficent could hear the tinge of sadness in it and the sound tugged at her heart, treacherous thing, she thought.

She had been manipulated before, been used by men in the past (well, a man). She was stupid to have allowed herself to open up again. Mac's hands gently rested on her shoulders and she shook him off, turning on him like a panther about to attack. She took two steps into his personal space, pinning him against the wall. She was surprised at the lack of fear in his eyes, she had meant the move to be intimidating, predatory but he looked back at her with those clear blue eyes, sad, resigned.

"Don't touch me," she said, her voice softer and more vulnerable than she had intended it to be. Without wanting to she continued, bearing her soul to this man, again…"All her life I've let her down, I haven't been there for her. The – the one time…" she broke off, suddenly unable to hold her tears in, unable to be the cold, stoic dragon she had been all her life and she fell against him. "I could have been there for her. You had no right to stop me!" She sobbed against his chest as Mac slowly slid to the floor, pulling her onto his lap and bringing his arms around her to encircle her in a warm embrace. Maleficent hated herself for feeling so comforted in his arms as he rubbed soothing circles on her back.

"I would never have allowed Lily to be seriously hurt Maleficent. Please believe me. This was the only way! And Lily would not have wanted all of this to be in vain." Mac's voice was sure but there was a hint of pleading in it that Maleficent couldn't ignore. She knew he was right but still…

"I hate you," she whispered.

And placing a kiss to her temple Mac whispered back, "I know." With a soft smile on his face, knowing, simply because she was allowing herself to be comforted by him, that she had forgiven him.

AN: Ok so with the whole pendant thing I know there is an opening for Zelena to reappear – breathe easy my OQ shippers! That's not happening. While I love Bec Mader, Zelena is kryptonite to my soul so she's not coming back (you have to agree a long lost identical twin would have been a much better way to keep Mader on the show than the Marilena arc, am I right?).

Hope you enjoyed! Worked my butt off for this chapter so please take a moment to share your thoughts with me.