*Laughter flows freely through Regina's body as she watches her son and lover attempt to cook. They had insisted on making the former queen dinner, but it was not going well at all. Henry was trying to explain to Emma the concept of setting a timer, but Emma kept insisting that she knew how to tell when the food was done without it.

"You know I CAN help." Regina offers for what seems to be the hundredth time that evening.

"No, let us do it for you!" Emma pleads. "I promise we won't burn down the kitchen."

"Yeah mom, you cook every night." Henry adds. "Which is awesome, but this is our treat."

"Very well then." Regina smiles. "I'm going to go read while you two finish up then."

"Yes, go enjoy your book, Love." Emma agrees leaning over the counter to peck Regina on the lips. *

Regina bolts awake trying to catch her breath. Her heart feels as though it's going to beat right out of her chest. That was no dream, Regina is sure of it. It felt more like a memory, but that couldn't be right either. Henry was not her son, and Emma….why would she kiss Emma?

It was in the middle of the night, but Regina needed answers. She slips out of her bed, and grabs her jacket. She is quiet as not to wake Snow and David. The air is bitter outside, but Regina hardly notices.

The gold 108 on the mansion stares Regina in the face as she rings the doorbell. She can her movement and a light turn on. Emma says something to someone-Henry probably-that sounds like a warning to stay back. Before Regina can call out that it's just her, the door opens.

"Regina!" Emma exclaims in shock.

"C-can we talk?" Regina asks in a pleading voice. Emma nods and ushers the brunette inside. Much to Henry's dismay Emma sends him back to bed. She got the vibe that Regina wanted to talk privately.

"What's wrong?" Emma asks once they are seated comfortably by the fireplace.

"I-I think I remembered something, but it-it's crazy." Regina begins, sounding almost afraid. "We were together,- you, Henry, and I-the two of you were making me dinner. The strange part, though, was Henry called me mom, and I-I think you and I were a-a couple."

A part of Emma is happy, Regina was getting her memories back after all, but another part of her was worried. Regina was clearly confused and she didn't understand what was happening. One look at Regina's face and Emma knew, she couldn't lie. She had to tell Regina as much of the truth as possible without scaring her too much.

"You're right. It was a memory." Emma confirms. "You are Henry's mother, you adopted him when he was a baby. You and I….well we love each other very much."

"This doesn't make much sense." Regina answers her.

"I know." Emma says sadly. "You are still missing so much of your past, but it's the truth. Somehow, someway, you ended up with the family you always wanted, even if it is different than you originally pictured."

"W-was I, no, were we happy?" Regina questions. For the first time that night, Emma grins.

"We were very happy." Emma tells her love.

"Do you think we can get back to that?" Regina wonders.

"I hope so." Emma sighs. "I really do."

"Maybe you can help me remember." Regina suggest hopefully. "I mean, you probably know me better than anyone, you could help trigger some of my memories."

"Of course I'll help." Emma smiles softly. "There is nothing I was more than to help you. Tonight, however, you should get some sleep. I'll send Snow a message so she knows you're here."

Emma sets Regina up in the master bedroom and takes the extra guest room for herself. Regina was surprised at how easily she fell asleep. She knew it was because in her heart, she knew she was home.

Over the next few days, Emma and Regina spend as much time as possible together. Emma took Regina to all of the places that mattered to them. The woods where she proposed, the place of their first date and so on. Emma was hoping to spark something in Regina, but so far she hadn't had any luck.

"Maybe this is how it's supposed to be." Emma sighs one day as she talks to her mother. "Maybe you were right, this is her clean slate."

"No, Emma, I was wrong." Snow tells her daughter. "I was being selfish. You were right. Regina needs to remember. She deserves to have her memories of the past so that she can have a future with you and Henry."

"I just don't know what to do." Emma admits sadly. "I have no idea how to help her. I want my Regina back, but it seems like there is nothing I can do."

Snow holds her daughter close as she cries. It broke Snow's heart to see how hurt Emma was. It seemed like her daughter's was life was a constant string of misfortunes, but Snow vowed that she would help Emma get her happy ending. The princess was giving up hope yet. There was still something left to try.

"Emma, this might be risky, but I think it's time we give Regina the book." Snow says once Emma is done crying. "She needs to read her story."

"What!?" Emma exclaims. "No way! You know how that book makes her look!"

"I know, trust me Emma I know, but I really think it might help. I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't truly believe that."

"What if it makes her go dark?" Emma asks in a small voice. "She's come too far for us to let that happen."

"Oh, honey, you know how strong Regina is, you know how fiercely she loves you and Henry. Is there really any part of you that believes she could revert so easily?"

Emma slowly shakes her head. Her mother was right, they had to try this. Emma had faith that Regina would never go back to the way she once was. She had proved her redemption and Emma felt guilty for doubting that, even for a moment. They would get through this, Emma just had to believe.

"Okay, let's do it."

A/N *DRAMATIC MUSIC*