A month later and Jane should've been better. Maura had inserted the implantable cardioverter defibrillator and the fire chief had appeared to be on the way to a good recovery when things went downhill.

Now she was too weak and in too much pain to work or go out with her newfound family. Dr. Isles couldn't figure it out, and Regina began to worry that it wasn't a natural illness.

"What did you do, you bastard!?" The mayor was in the pawnbroker's face, demanding an explanation to his cryptic message from weeks prior. "You did something to Jane, didn't you?"

"Well, dearie, its about time you figure it out." He chuckled. "Yes, back in the Forest I happened to curse your friend's heart before you set the curse in action. However I didn't expect time to stop here and the curse be postponed. You should be happy, though." Rumple flashed a devilish grin. "She dies and the curse remains unbroken."

Regina shoved the items off his counter and leaned over the top of it to get in his face. "I will not allow her to die." She sneered. "What are the terms of this curse, you awful little imp? I imagine this was a little failsafe to end the curse since you appear to want it over so badly."

"We had a deal and she didn't follow through on her end of it. And no one cheats on a deal of mine." Gold smirked. "That one legged puppy had a good run. I would reverse the curse but there would be nothing in it for me. Plus, I don't have anything I need to do so."

"Screw you, Gold." Regina snarled. "There must be a way to break it without your interference. There's always a way to break a curse. Just like mine can apparently be broken by Emma Swan. Tell me how or I swear you'll come to regret it." She threatened darkly.

"You forget, dearie. I'm the one that taught you and your mother everything you know." He grinned. "So good luck with following through with your threat."

"And you should have learned by now to never underestimate me." Regina said in a low, dark tone; the Evil Queen again starting to come through. "I have one more pawn to use against you, Rumplestiltskin. One you never saw coming." She grinned sadistically.

He smirked. "Happy plotting, Madam Mayor." He chuckled then got back to cleaning the glass.

xxx

Jane was in the hospital bed, hand in her best friend's. "Maur... I can't leave. I just found out who I am." She sniffed. "I can't leave Regina.. I... I love her."

"Would you stop talking like that?" Maura wouldn't lie to her best friend. It was a bad situation. Her heart had deteriorated to the point she needed a new one. It was unexpected, unusual, but Maura Isles believed things would turn out for the best. "You're on the list. You'll get that heart and be back to your old self in no time. You're not leaving Regina or me."

Jane squeezed her hand. Having a feeling she wouldn't get a new heart in time she wanted to say goodbye before it was too late. "Maura, I love you. You're are an amazing friend and I'd be lost without you and please... please don't blame any of this on yourself. I know how you are."

Those words made tears come to the doctor's eyes. "Don't. Don't you dare start saying goodbyes when you still have time. I..." Maura wiped at her tears. "I'm not going to let you go without a fight."

Regina walked into the room then, seeing the emotional exchange. Noticing her out of the corner of her eye, Maura let go of Jane's hand, wiped her eyes again and stood. "Hello, Mayor Mills. I'll leave you two alone."

As she walked past, the mayor gently took hold of her arm. "Thank you, Maura. For everything. I know you're doing your best."

The doctor nodded, gave Regina a small smile and then glanced at Jane one more time to give her one before walking out of the room, the former queen walking in to take her spot next to Jane, hand in hand. "How are you feeling?"

Jane looked up at her lover and forced a small smile. "I'm okay." She didn't want to worry her.

"I need you to try and remember something for me." Regina said softly as she leaned closer to her girlfriend, holding her hand in both of hers. "Rumplestiltskin, you made a deal with him and then went back on it for some reason. A good reason, I imagine. I need you to try and remember what this deal was and what happened when you broke it."

"I um... I think I read it in the book." She swallowed and moved slightly to get more comfortable. "Fallon... I asked for a potion..."

"Rumplestilkskin... I know your the man to see about this sort of stuff. I-I need something to take the love I have for a certain someone away."

The Dark One giggled and clapped his hands together as he hopped down from his seat on a wooden fence. "You want me to help you stop loving the queen, eh? I would've thought that'd be no problem seeing as to how hard she is TO love these days." He grinned. "Everything comes with a price, dearie. What are you willing to pay in exchange for my services?"

"She is kind to me but I'll never have her heart the way my brother did. I need to move on." She sighed and looked down. "What do you want in exchange?"

"Well, there's a certain item Regina has taken from me that I want back. A certain... fairy." He said as he pressed his fingertips together and paced thoughtfully. "She's of more use than I'd originally thought." He stopped and pointed at Fallon. "Get me Tinkerbell and I shall grant your request. Deal?"

"I can do that."

Getting back to the kingdom, Fallon walked through the door of the room Regina kept most of the valuable things she had in the kingdom. Closing the large door behind her, the knight began her search. "Tinkerbell?" She called out in a whisper.

"Have you come to put out my light?" A small voice asked. "Is the queen through with me? I do not know how much longer I can bare this life trapped in a cage, only given the pleasure of company when the queen needs something from me. And it is never truly pleasant company. Not anymore."

"No, I'm not here to put out your light. I'm here to take you away from here." She had followed the little voice to a small cage. "This isn't a life for anyone." Squatting down to the level Tink's cage was at on the table, Fallon sighed. "What does Regina visit you for?"

"My powers are limited, but I do have the ability to make others ill, to tinker with their health. Regina sometimes has me do this... and other things... to her enemies. I'm small, so I can get in and out of places without notice."

"I made a deal with the Dark One and he wants you for exchange. Now I'm not so sure I want to make this deal happen, now."

"You said you were here to take me away, that this isn't a life for anyone. Please do not take me to the Dark One, knight." Tinkerbell pleaded. "It would be delivering me from one's evil hands to another's. And Rumplestiltskin is perhaps more sinister than Regina."

"You're lucky a knight with a heart came in. I c-I can't give you to him and I won't let an innocent life live like this." Opening the cage, Fallon held out her hand. "Come with me and I'll set you free."

Tinkerbell crawled into Fallon's hand and looked up at the knight, tears springing from the little fairy's eyes. "Thank you, dear knight. I have not been shown kindness in so long. I am in your debt."

"Whatever you need, you can always come back and seek me out. I'll help you. Everyone deserves to be free and happy." Fallon started walking out of the room and hid, Tinker in her shirt pocket and snuck out. She walked out to the woods and in just enough to be hidden. Helping the fairy out, she smiled. "Good luck out there."

"Thank you." Tinkerbell smiled as she fluttered her wings and lifted off. "May I have the name of my rescuer?" Once Fallon gave it, the fairy continued. "If you ever need my assistance, Fallon, just come into these woods and call my name. I shall come."

Fallon smiled brightly. "I may just call to say hello." When the fairy fluttered away, the knight turned around and was surprised by Oden. "Hey, boy." Squatting down, she pet his head and back, happily."

Oden gave his human a few kisses and then walked with her back to the castle, Graham tugging her into some bushes before she could get to the front gate. "The queen knows Tinkerbell is missing, and one of her other knights saw you leaving the treasure room. Be prepared for a shitstorm when you get back in there."

Fallon winced with the news. "Damn..." She looked at him and sighed. "How did you find out?"

"Well, it was Seifer and I know how you and he don't get along. He saw you leaving the room, went in to check it out and then immediately alerted Regina. He wants you gone, Fallon, so that he can be Regina's personal knight." Graham said as he looked toward the castle. "But it's not going to happen. Regina loves you too much."

Fallon nodded her head. "Thank you for the warning. Maybe I'll tell her before she mentions it." She put a hand on his shoulder then walked through the gates and into the castle.

Seifer was waiting for the knight with a grin on his face. "The Queen would like to see you, Fallon. Come with me." He gestured for her to lead the way to the thrown room.

Once they were before Regina, she ordered Seifer to go, practically growling at his 'but.' And when they were alone, the queen glided down to Fallon, stopping just a few inches from her. "Seifer tells me you took my fairy. And I have to wonder, if it's true, why you would defy me in such a way."

"Yes I did take her. It was either set her free or let the Dark One have her. I did what I thought was best. I'm sorry if you think I betrayed you in anyway. That wasn't my intention." Fallon moved her hand up Regina's arm. "I beg for your forgiveness."

Regina pulled away. "Rumplestiltskin?" She hissed. "Why does he want her and how exactly would he get her? For betrayal not being your intention, it's certainly sounding more and more like it."

"I ran into him and he offered to do anything I wanted within reason if I retrieved the fairy for him. Not knowing you actually had one I became curious. And finding Tinkerbell in a small cage and very sad, my heart ached for her. So, I set her free but not before making friends. If I want her to come back all I have to do is call."

Regina sighed but calmed down. "You are too soft sometimes, Fallon. But it is what makes you different from the rest." She turned and walked back to her throne, taking a seat. "What is it you wanted from Rumplestiltskin? You know I can give you anything you want all you have to do is ask."

"I know, but... I don't think I want to give it up anymore. I'll keep what I was willing to trade. It is what makes me different after all."

Regina leaned forward, her demeanor changing from that of a queen to just Fallon's friend. "It? You were wanting to get rid of something? What was it?"

"It's not important. It's staying so... there's no need to share what 'it' is." Walking up to the throne, Fallon knelt down on her knee and took Regina's hand. "How about you and I just do something fun together today. What if I take you fishing?"

Regina reached out with her free hand and caressed Fallon's cheek. "A day together, just the two of us, would be nice, but I have things I need to do today. Perhaps tomorrow, Fallon."

The knight smiled lovingly. "Deal."

"You were going to give your love of me up?" Regina asked quietly, looking away as she squeezed Jane's hand gently. "My actions pushed you to that, didn't they?" She turned her gaze back to the firefighter. "So what did Rumplestiltskin do when you failed to give him Tinkerbell?"

"No, Fallon loved you so much but she knew she would never compare to her brother. You even told her that on the cliff, saying that no one could compare to him. Her love for you... she couldn't move on and knew she had to be 'normal'. Fallon didn't want to risk everything she had with you and loose it because you didn't feel the same way." Jane sighed and shrugged. "He just got pissed and said 'You shall pay dearly'. But what does all this have to do with anything?"

Jane's words about Fallon's feelings sunk in, Regina feeling even more horrible than she had before. She'd knowingly neglected Fallon's feelings for years because she wanted her around but didn't want to love her back non-platonically. "He didn't give you any more clues as to what that payment would be?" She asked. "Rumple... he... cursed you. It's why your heart is failing so quickly."

"I read that he said something along the lines of 'Enjoy her being in your heart while it lasts." Jane's eyes widened slightly. "Lovely, I'm going to loose my love after all."

"You're going to lose a lot more than that if we don't figure out a way to reverse this curse." Regina sighed and sat back, letting go of Jane's hand. "I have one last thing to use against him. If he doesn't want to cooperate, I'll make him pay." She said with a clenched jaw, staring off into the distance.

Jane watched Regina for a moment before her eyes started getting heavy from the pain medication. Closing them, the chief rested.

Regina stood and kissed Jane's forehead before walking out, heading for the basement where the mental patients were kept. The nurse down there greeted her with surprise. "Mayor Mills, I didn't expect to see you for another two days."

"Well, something's come up." Regina walked down to Belle's room and peeked inside. "Linda, I think Ms. French has been in here long enough."

"You... You want to release her?" She asked in even more surprise.

Regina turned to her and nodded. "Yes. I'll be taking her under my wing from now on."

"Okay." Taking the keys, Linda opened the large metal door and allowed Regina inside.
Belle looked at the mayor and furrowed her brows. "Well, I didn't think I would eva see more than peering eyes from you."

"I think you've been in here long enough to get the help you need. Now I'm giving you a chance. Come on." Regina tilted her head in the direction of the doorway. "Let's go."

Belle slowly got up and walked to Regina then out the room. Taking a deep breath she looked around then back to the woman. "Thanks."

"No need to thank me, dear." Regina gave her one of those politician smiles before wrapping an arm around the girl's shoulders and leading her out of the hospital, taking her back to her mansion and giving the girl some fake story about them being relatives of some sort. Cousins or some mumbo jumbo.

"The bathroom is right down the hall, dear, if you'd like to get a shower. I'll grab you something to wear."

Belle nodded her head. "A shower would be very nice. Do you have any clothes I could change into?" When Regina gave her some clothes, the girl was off to take a long hot shower.

Regina headed down to the kitchen to make the princess some lunch since she knew the girl didn't get much in the hospital. Definitely nothing of quality. As she chopped up a carrot for a salad, she felt herself losing it for a moment, chopping at it erratically before slamming the knife down on the counter.

She had Rumplestiltskin's one weakness. But now, she wasn't sure what she was going to do with her. Regina had planned to threaten Gold, use Belle against him. But she just didn't have that kind of darkness in her anymore.

It was then that Regina's cell phone rang. Maura on the other end. "Regina! Jane just had a heart attack, her vitals are going down. You need to hurry." Tears were obvious in her voice. "Hurry."

Regina's heart tightened in her own chest painfully as she gripped onto the counter tightly. "I'll be right there." She hung up and turned to leave, almost bumping into Belle. "I need to go. Stay here and get something to eat, watch some TV, do whatever you want. Just stay here." The girl nodded and Regina left, speeding to the hospital and running up to Jane's room where Maura was working on getting Jane's heart started again.

Jane flatlined. Maura completely heartbroken. Turning she saw Regina and shook her head. "I tried. I'm so sorry."

"No." Regina shook her head, tears spilling onto her cheeks as she quickly made her way to Jane. "No, she can't die on me, too." She gently took hold of Jane's face and willed her to open her eyes. "You can't leave me. You can't. I love you, Jane." One of her tears hit her love's cheek as she pressed her forehead to Jane's. "I loved you when you were Fallon and I love you even more now." She pressed her lips to Jane's and everything changed.

Eyes snapped open and Jane sat up quickly with a gasp of air. Blinking a few times she fell back on the bed looking at Regina. When she gained her composer, Jane sat up slightly. "Regina?"

Regina smiled and nodded with wet cheeks, trying to hold back more tears - happy ones this time. She didn't trust herself to speak right at the moment.

"I-I remember. Everything." She sat up more, eventually standing up. Her eyes never left the mayor's. Jane's hand moved to the back of Regina's neck bringing her close. "Fallon's waited a long time for this." She smiled before their lips crashed together.

Regina melted into Jane, their kiss the most passionate yet. She finally had Fallon back, and she could finally give her everything she'd ever wanted. When their lips finally parted, the queen rested her forehead against the knight's. "I love you." She repeated.

There was a bright smile that shown across Fallon's face. "I love you too. Finally you know." There wasn't anything she could do to show the queen just how much. "I feel so much better and I think you should take me home and I'll show you just how much I've longed for you."

Regina smiled and kissed Fallon again lightly, knowing, at this point, that they probably wouldn't make it far. "Then let's go." She whispered and took hold of her lover's hand, beginning to lead her away when Dr. Whale stepped into their path.

"Hello, Queen Regina." He jammed a needle into her neck before either she or Fallon could move, the queen instantly falling back into Fallon's arms, a crowd of hospital staff beginning to gather.

"What did you do to her!?" Fallon screamed as she held Regina close. "I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!"

Whale gestured to one of the orderlies. "Take our brave knight here and stick her in the jail. As for the queen, well, she'll receive her just punishment at Town Hall, in front of everyone."

"You touch me and I'll break your nose." Jane snarled and the moment someone advanced and touched them, Jane punched him right in the nose, breaking it.

"STOP!" Maura screamed as she pushed through. "I'm the head doctor and what I say goes. Jane, C'mon."

The knight stood up with Regina in her arms and followed Maura out of the room.

Whale was hot on their heels, though, with some of his posse. "She's the Evil Queen. She cursed us all here, took us away from our families. She took you away from your little girl and husband, Alice."

Maura stopped in her tracks and spun to face him. "I know what she did, but she deserves a fair trial, not some mob lynching." She poked him in the chest, backing the other doctor up to give Jane and Regina some space. "I won't stand by and watch you take justice into your own hands."

"She deserves to pay for all the harm she's caused. For decades." Whale growled, getting into the petite blonde's face.

"Back. Off." Maura said fiercely.

Whale narrowed his eyes at all three of them. "You better hurry up before I change my mind."

Jane walked out with Regina in her arms and Maura at her side. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. You still need to get her away from the other townspeople who want her head." Maura set her hand on Jane's arm and stopped walking, getting the knight's attention. "Everyone will be looking for her at the mansion or your apartment." She handed Jane her keys. "Take her to my place. I have a family to find, Jane."

She smiled. "Good luck, Maur." With that Jane ran off the best she could and after a mile and a half, she made it to Maura's house without being scene. Laying Regina down on the couch she then locked up and went back over to her lover.

About 20 minutes passed before Regina started to rouse. She slowly sat up and looked at Fallon, clearly a little dazed, her eyes glazed over. "What happened? Where are we?"

"The curse broke, Whale injected you with something to knock you out then I escaped with you and brought you to Maura's. The town wants your head."

"Oh." Regina began to move to get off of the couch when pain shot through her. "Ohhh." She groaned, grabbing her head and laying back down. "My head is killing me." She opened her eyes and looked at Fallon then. "I knew they would want my blood when the curse broke. And I had a feeling it would break soon. That's why I sent Henry with Emma. To keep him safe."

"Good, I was wondering where he was." She lifted Regina's head slightly and sat down underneath it. Fallon started rubbing her temples trying to ease the pain. "I will prove myself as your loyal night once again. I will protect you at all costs. I won't loose you. You did after all save my life."

"You don't have to prove anything to me, Fallon." Regina looked up at Jane. "You've always been the one person by my side, who's stood up for me through everything. I tried not to let myself fall in love with you. I knew I'd be putting you in dangers way if I did."

"I was already in danger, babe. Because I loved you. I would have died to protect you and I still would. You're everything to me."

Regina sat up then, grabbed Fallon's cheeks and kissed her deeply. "You and Henry are my world now. I will do everything I can to protect you." She gave the knight's lips a quick peck. "If I had my powers right now, they'd still fear me." She said with a clenched jaw.

Jane kissed her back and wrapped her arms around Regina's waist. "You don't have your powers? But the curse broke."

"I know. I don't know why I haven't gotten them back. Maybe it's just going to take some time. Or maybe, since Storybrooke is so different from the Enchanted Forest, there just isn't any magic anymore."

"Maybe." She sighed and put her head against Regina's shoulder. "We'll figure it all out"

"They'll come looking for me." Regina said softly. "Rumplestiltskin will especially be after my head after what I did."

"And I'll fight them off. I'll protect you no matter who comes." Jane kissed her shoulder then her neck. "What did you do to him?"

Regina hugged the warrior to her, resting her chin on Fallon's shoulder for a moment before sitting back. "I kept the woman he loved locked away and made him believe she was dead." She said looking away, actually ashamed saying the words out loud to Jane.

Jane's eyes widened. She didn't like hearing that at all. It was like Tinkerbell all over again. Fallon shook her head and sighed, clearly disappointed. "Is she still locked up?"

"No, I let her out shortly before the curse broke." The queen turned her head so she could see Fallon again and reached out for her hand. "I told you, while you were just Jane, that I'd done horrible things here in Storybrooke. I meant it. I did a lot of awful things. But I don't want to be that anymore."

"I'm glad to hear you wanna change because if you didn't I don't think I could be with you." She chuckled. "I never thought I would say that." Taking a breath, Fallon reached up and placed her hand on the side of her neck. "Does Mr. Gold know she's alive and free?"

"By now?" Regina nodded. "He should. I left Belle at my place when I ran back to the hospital for you. I'm sure she's found him by now. He'll be furious with me when he discovers I kept her hidden away for 28 years as a pawn in my games. I feel bad for hurting Belle in all of this, but Gold's a bastard. He tried to kill you."

Jane sighed and pulled her lover closer. "Well he failed in killing me thanks to you." Leaning in she kissed her lips slowly. "I love you, G." She then kissed her scar, smiling.

"If we weren't in danger and weren't sitting in Maura's house right now, I'd show you just how I feel about you." Regina whispered against her lips, kissing her again softly. "I'd take my time and enjoy you with the knowledge you're now my Fallon and Jane. But I need to make sure Henry is all right."

Jane smiled and kissed Regina once more. "Soon and I can't wait." She moved her hands up the queen's arms and to her sides of her neck. "Go ahead and call. I'm not going anywhere."

Regina nodded and gave Jane an affectionate, warm smile before standing and pulling her cell from her pocket, calling Emma Swan who immediately answered with a 'What the hell?"

"Yes, I know. Henry's book is real and the curse has been lifted. Please tell me he's alright."

"Yeah, he's just fine, completely happy that he was right. How's Jane? I heard she was having heart complications. She's okay right?"

Fallon moved to the window and peaked from the closed blinds. There was a mob moving down the street. She motioned for Regina to look.

Regina talked as she made her way over to the window. "Jane's fine. She was cursed and apparently true love's kiss broke it, along with other things." She peered out the blinds and knew hell was upon them. "Dammit."

"Emma," Regina started, stepping away from the window, "a lot of people want me dead right now. I need you to protect Henry. I'm afraid, because people know he's one of the few things I care about, that a few may try to use him against me. That they might hurt him. "

"You forget, he's my son too and I'll protect him with my life. Don't worry. We're safe. And you two stay safe." She smiled. "So, you were the savior of your own curse huh?" Emma chuckled.

Regina rolled her eyes and sighed. "You could say that... just... be careful. Both of you. I-I know he's your son, too. That's why I entrusted Henry to you. I know you and your parents will protect him. Could you just let him know that I love him, and that I'm sorry for lying about the curse."

"I'll tell him and don't worry we'll protect him. Take care."

When they ended the conversation, Jane pulled Regina close. "There are some that won't let anything happen to you. Me, Emma, Maura and I'm sure Red and a few others are on that list because they're friends with me and they know how I feel about you. We have people on our side."

"There's many more who aren't on our side." Regina said quietly as she held Fallon, her cheek pressed to the crook of Jane's neck. "And I'm not sure about Red and some of the others. They may be your friends, but they still hate me."

"Red and I had a falling out in the end... Her loyalty was to Snow, mine of course was to you. I don't know that now that the curse is broken if she is still my friend."

"I hope so." Regina said sincerely. "I know you value her as a friend. That you care about her. I imagine it'd be hard to just throw away years of friendship Maybe you should just try speaking with her in private."

"I will, just not right now. I have someone more important to look after at the moment." She smiled

Regina smiled, but the moment was ruined by pounding at the front door. "We know you're in there, Queen Regina! Come out or we'll come in!" A gruff voice yelled.

"Shh..." Jane whispered. "C'mere." She grabbed Regina's hand and ran up the stairs to Maura's bedroom. There was a hidden space in the woman's already large walk in closet. Going in, she opened up the passage and moved herself and Regina in. It was cramped but efficient.

"A part of me is very curious as to why you know so much about Maura's home, but right now I'm just really grateful." Regina whispered, shutting up when she heard the front door bust open, the sound of heavy footsteps beginning to run around the house.

"She's my best friend remember?" Jane smirked then pulled Regina close after hearing them break in. Completely silent in the closet as the foot steps neared the bedroom.

They could hear members of the posse stomping around the bedroom, someone making their way into the closet and pacing for what seemed like hours before the footsteps finally disappeared down the stairs, Regina letting out the breath she had been holding. "Do you think they're gone yet?"

Jane shook her head. "I doubt it." She whispered and moved her hand up and down Regina's back to calm her. The two stayed in the closet for another ten minutes before Jane slowly peeked out and looked around the bedroom then the upstairs. She came back for Regina and led her out. "I think their gone."

"I'm not a fan of feeling like a trapped animal. I need to come up with some sort of plan." Regina froze when there were more footsteps downstairs.

"Jane! Regina!" It was Maura.

The mayor looked at her girlfriend relieved and then headed downstairs with her, the doctor sighing with relief when she saw them.

"Good. They didn't get to you."

Jane walked up to her friend and kissed her cheek then hugged her. "I know I said it was stupid to have an odd secret room in your closet that you don't use but thank you for putting it in. It isn't stupid after all."

"It'll make you think twice about making fun of me." Maura smiled and then looked over at Regina. "I'm not one of your fans right now. You helped keep me apart from my family for years. But Jane loves you-"

"And you said you were looking for a way to break the curse since you'd found your happy ending." Jefferson added as he walked in, Grace running ahead of him to hug her mother. "I don't know if you were telling the truth at the time. You're deceptive, manipulative." He said with a clenched jaw. "But you did it. You broke the curse and I have my family back. So, while we don't like you very much, we're one of the few allies you have."

Regina inhaled deeply, accepting the hand she'd been dealt at the moment, and nodded. "Thank you."

Fallon looked to her Queen and smiled brightly. "We're gonna be okay. All of us." Looking back at Maura and Jefferson she smirked "I'm glad you found each other. Officially." She smirked.

Maura smiled. "We have a lot to talk about when things settle down. Until then, we should probably get going."

"You both can stay with us back at my home in the woods. It's more secluded and the townspeople tend to think of me as crazy so they generally stay away." Jefferson said.

"Always have a crazy person on your side. They come in handy." Jane smirked and took Regina's hand. "Thank you." She told him before they snuck out of the house and made their way to the woods.

Once they were back at Jefferson's place, the Mad Hatter began to make some lunch with the assistance of his wife while their daughter sat and talked with both her parents. Regina and Jane sat in the living room in silence, the former Evil Queen watching the family from where she sat. "They seem so happy now, while I was content for years with keeping them apart."

"We all make mistakes. What matters now is that they found each other and are completely happy now. I've never seen a smile like that on Maura's face before now." Jane said staring at her best friend.

Regina looked from the family in the kitchen to her girlfriend and smiled softly. "I'm glad you're back and not just balking at all of the misery I caused, but instead reminding me that things can still get better." She turned her head to watch the family again. "Can you believe Maura is a mother? She didn't seem much the type here in Storybrooke."

Jane smiled. "She's always had a huge heart so her being a mother doesn't surprise me. Yeah she was quirky but amazing with the children that came into the hospital." The knight looked over to Regina and gazed. "I've always seen then good in you and call me optimistic but I always think of the bright side to situations."

"You are extremely optimistic, because for a long time, I'm not sure if there really was any good left in me. I've always had a soft spot for you, but other than that, my heart was black. Not even you could stop me from completing the most horrific of crimes." Regina said quietly.

"I could have stopped you..." Fallon looked down. "I could've but instead I did what you commanded because I didn't want you to have any reason to toss me away."

"Back then... I might have. Or I might've actually begun to truly consider your feelings and thoughts." Regina looked back to Fallon. "I needed someone who cared about me, whom I cared about, to stand up to me and not fold under the pressure of a stern look or harsh words. I needed someone like you to firmly challenge my motivations and actions. But at the end of the day, all my actions were my own. I'm the one who takes credit for all the harm caused."

"If I would have stood up to you more and firmer, the curse may not have been enacted, all those people wouldn't have died." Jane sighed with a shrug. "But you were all I had, I couldn't risk loosing you." Looking at Regina, "And I may have been able to show you that you could've had the next best thing to Daniel. But the past is the past and it's meant to stay there for a reason. Whatever reason that may be."

Regina nodded and looked away. "You're right. But you're not the next best thing." She added looking right into Fallon's eyes, moving close and resting her hands on the base of Jane's strong jaw. "You're just as good as he was and your own person. When I look at you, I don't see Daniel anymore. I just see you and how much I love you."

With the first line, there was slight heartbreak written on Jane's face but hearing the rest of it there was a sweet smile that spread across her lips. Turning her face she kissed on of Regina's palms then brought the woman to sit in her lap. Wrapping her arms around the queen, Fallon kissed her lightly before resting her cheek against the woman's chest, the knight's head right under the mayor's chin. "You're so special to me and I love you more than a chubby kid loves McDonald's."

Regina chuckled, the vibration of it reverberating through her chest beneath Jane's cheek. "I love you that much, too." She held her best friend and lover for a long moment before kissing the top of her head and pulling back a bit so she could see her. "I'm going to have to face the townspeople sooner than later. I want you to promise me that you won't get yourself hurt or worse protecting me."

Looking up at Regina, Jane shook her head. "You know I can't promise that. I've been by your side protecting you for years, I'm not about to stop now."

Regina sighed and kissed the knight softly. "I had a feeling you'd say that."

On to the next chapter!

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