Man of my Dreams – Regina had grown up with dreams of a man.

0o0

It was the incessant ticking that actually got her to start talking, it just started getting to her; really pissing her off, and it seems that it pissed her off enough to talk.

Archie had been quietly waiting for her, he knew that she would either start talking or keep silent, she's often spent an hour just being silent. Silent and rubbing Pongo's silky ear.

"Ever since I was a little girl I've been having these dreams, about a man," Regina said, her eyes fixed on the clock that kept on ticking.

Archie didn't say anything, his face was blank yet his ears got a little red tint, as did his cheeks, "It's very common for young people to start having dreams about-"

"Not that kind," she huffed in annoyance.

That seemed to have shocked Archie, "What would happen in these dreams?" he asked after a moment.

These sessions were supposed to be about how she could stop being Evil and start being a better mother for Henry (Not that Ms. Swan would let Regina anywhere near Henry if she did change, and not like Henry wanted her near him), they were supposed to talk about what she could do to improve, about what traumatic experiences happened in her life that had led her into becoming the Evil Queen. She started going ever since Whale tried – and failed – resurrecting Daniel. They should be talking about something productive and not some dreams she'd been having ever since she was a child, although it would be nice to finally talk about them.

Regina took a deep breath in, she settled a little more comfortably on the leather couch, "They're about a man, his name is Jack, he has shoulder length dark brown hair, bright green eyes, he always comes to me in my dreams nearly every night since I could remember. When I was little he would play with me, he would make me feel better if my mother ever had a fit of rage and… once," she stroked the scar on her lip, "That first time mother slapped me, I went to sleep in tears, I could still feel the blood pumping out of the cut, one of her rings caught my lip and…" she stroked the scar again, "When I was asleep I dreamt that Jack had stitched me back up, he told me a story and he made me feel better, when I woke up my lip was stitched up and no longer bleeding," she shook herself out of the thought, "When I was older we would talk; when I was learning magic, he taught me; when I was the Evil Queen I would purposely go to sleep so that he could calm me down; if I had nightmares he would always appear in them and save me; when I was remembering something that had happened to me once he would try comfort me. He was there whenever I slept, he was there when I needed him," she finished with tears in her eyes, she spent her entire life wishing that Jack was real and that he would save her someday, she still does, sometimes she would have a nap just so she could console in him, ask him what he thinks about her decisions.

Archie stared at her with shock written all over his face, he didn't know what to tell her, he's never heard of this, never had there been a case of someone dreaming of the same person constantly, "Regina, do you think it's possible that you created Jack to make you feel better, some abused children make up imaginary friends that would protect them, do you think you created a dream friend for that exact reason?" he asked softly.

Regina looks him in the eyes before looking down at her hands, she was only here because she had no one else, her mother was dead and her son hated her, Rumpelstiltskin may be her father but he still cared more about Neal than he did her, she had no one, no one but Jack and maybe Archie. Without a word Regina stood up and left, she left the building and went back home where she dreamt of Jack.

Can you love someone that doesn't exist?

0o0

Dream World, 3 days later

"You're going to be okay," he smiled at her, that smile that she sees when she feels too weak to continue with anything, sometimes she would wonder if she died, would he be there always?

"How do you know?" she asked softly, a whimper left her pale lips, her body convulsed in pain and she faded away.

Once she reappeared again Jack spoke, "Because someone will find you," his green eyes sparkled with something akin to hope.

"How do you know?!" she called out, this time feeling the electricity running through her.

Jack held her close to his body, "Because, they have to!" he spoke with finality.

Once again she faded away, it's been like that for too long, Jack couldn't stand it, he needed to be there with her, he wished he could be there with her so he could save her, so he could protect her, he wanted to be there and stop that Mendel from harming her.

She appeared once again this time she was a tired limp body on the floor, sobs filled their shared dream world.

"Hey, hey, look at me, you're going to be okay," he held her body to his rocking them both softly.

"I told him," she repeated over and over and over again, she repeated this until she was breathing more normally and was listening intently to his story about pirates and sea monsters. Once she was calm and somewhat healed by Jack's magic she started fading away, this times with less distress.

0o0

She stared at him, inspected his features very closely, "I almost died… again, Henry was take," she finished softly, tears were filling her eyes.

He smiled reassuringly at her, "I'm sure he'll be fine, who took him?"

"Greg and his little girlfriend," she growled, "She killed Neal," she added silently.

"Your brother?" she nodded, "How do you feel about that?"

"I barely knew him, he was the reason that daddy dearest made me into a monster," she hissed.

"But he was your brother," she nodded again, "I'm sure you'll find Henry, what are you doing?"

"We're on Captain one hand's ship. We believe Henry is in Neverland."

Jack's face went blank of all emotions, "Regina, what does Henry look like?" he asked slowly.

Regina closed her eyes and took a few deep calming breaths, suddenly a young boy appeared beside her. He was glaring up at her with a fierce look that Jack knew was all Regina. Henry may not be biologically Regina's son but he has a lot of her in him.

Regina smiled brokenly at the young boy, "This is Henry," she stroked his scrunched up face, "He hates me," she whispered to herself.

Jack looked white as a sheet, "Regina, you must make sure you find Henry before Peter Pan does," his voice shook slightly.

Regina's head shot up to look at him, "Why?" she walked closer to him, her hand reaching out to him.

"Because Pan will kill him," he said slowly, "And if Pan doesn't, then Rumpelstiltskin will."

"Wha- what are you talking about?"

"Henry was prophesised decades ago that he would be the truest believer, but also the downfall of Rumpelstiltskin, they will both kill him, you must protect him Regina," he insisted.

Regina nodded.

0o0

Tears ran down her face, her chest spasmed with her sharp sobbing breaths, "I don't want to be here," she kept crying out as Jack rocked her back and forth humming a soft tune to her.

"It will all work out," he whispered when she finally settled down.

0o0

"She's my sister," she said blankly staring at the scene replaying before her.

Jack scowled, "Are you sure?" he asked while inspecting Zelena's face.

Regina nodded, "She opened my blood lock," she answered blankly.

Jack kept staring at the growling face before him, "Are you absolutely sure," he said again, Regina made a noise bored of him asking her that question over and over again, "But, she's…" he stumbled for a moment trying to find the word he was looking for, suddenly his face brightened mischievously and he smirked at her, "She's green," he said pointedly.

Regina rolled her eyes although she was smiling brightly, "That's what I said," she remarked softly.

"Ahh, well," he walked over to her and pulled her into his large muscular arms, "Great minds think alike," he said softly pecking her lips. It had been a very long time since she and Jack had done anything, sometimes she would seek comfort from him in the physical way, she never understood why she would wake up happy, sated and with a pleasant ache between her legs, it was as if someone had been there with her, especially with the ghost of their touch lingering around her body as if he was still there, but she was always alone, always empty.

0o0

Her eyes were wide, she was breathing wildly, "I can't remember what happened and how we are back," she said pacing back and forth, "One minute I was standing outside the town line and the next here I am, in my bed, being woken by my alarm," she stopped to face him with wide panicked eyes, "We know a year had passed, Snow is pregnant!"

Jack frowned in thought, he didn't know much and what he did know was slowly fading from her memory; it was their link to each other, since she was forgetting so was he, "I don't really remember much. You're looking for a witch, she's green with ginger hair, I think she's from Oz," he frowned.

"The Wicked Witch of the West?" Regina questioned with wide eyes.

Jack shrugged then nodded, "You need to find a way to come to the conclusion yourself, find some evidence."

She nodded.

0o0

She smiled brokenly at him, they had been sitting for since she had fallen asleep and appeared, she hadn't said anything but he could tell she was about to, it was in the way she sat up and looked at him, "Henry's here," she said softly, her eyes cast downwards.

"I'm glad he's back," Jack said with a smile knowing how much she loved and adored Henry.

She shook her head and a tear slipped out of her eyes, "No, he doesn't remember me, I'm just a stranger to him," more tears slipped out of her eyes and she looked at him like a kicked puppy, Jack pulled her into and embrace, sweetly kissing her forehead and muttering sweet nothings to calm her down.

0o0

She had a large smile on her face, big and bright, it reminded him of when she was younger and freer, unburdened by a dead love and dead husband and dead parents.

"I kissed him," she declared proudly, their surrounding suddenly taking them to the woods and Jack watched her walk up to that stupid thief and grab him by the collar before crashing their lips together, "I was talking to Snow and she convinced me that I have to go after my soulmate."

Jack scoffed, "He is not your soulmate."

Regina rolled her eyes, "Yes he is, Tinkerbell told me so, he's the one that pixie dust led me to, he's the one with the lion tattoo," she said with a soft smile.

Jack rolled his eyes, "Pixie dust doesn't work that way, have you ever met a pixie, they're troublesome, they don't help people they prank them," he growled, "He's just going to break your heart."

She huffed, "Why don't you understand that I like him?"

"I just don't want you to be hurt by him, actually I don't want you to be with him," he growled again.

Again, Regina rolled her eyes, "And why is that?" she huffed.

He seemed flustered as he stared at her for long moments, Regina started to think that he was going to ignore her question when suddenly he grabbed her hand and gently pulled her towards him, "Because I love you," he said softly, his green eyes sparking with adoration, devotion and love.

Regina could feel the tears picking up and stung her eyes, she shook her head and let go of his hands, "But you're not real."

Jack frowned, "Yes I am," he insisted, "I'm just stuck," he huffed, he took a step towards her, "But I'll look for a way out, I will find a way out and then we could be together," he was smiling brightly at her.

Again she shook her head, soft curls tumbling against her face, "You are just in my imagination, it's just that scared little girl inside me still using you as a shield, someone that could comfort me after all I've been through," the tears finally fell out of her eyes and tumbled down her soft cheek.

Jack caught one and softly repeated again, "I am real."

Once more she shook her head, "You're not, and it's about time I let you go."

He could feel it, even though he knew his body was frozen he could feel his heart breaking, he didn't want to watch her as she lived her life with the thief, so he shook his head, "I do love you," he repeated once more and then threw out his arms letting his familiar black smoke cover him and take him away.

Regina kept watching the space he stood and willed him to come back to her.

He didn't

He didn't come back.

Not when Marian came back and she cried for him

Not when Robin chose her and then left her and she begged.

Not when she was confusing herself with the line of good and bad.

Not when she found out that Zelena was alive.

Not when she found out that Zelena was pregnant with Robin's child.

He didn't come when she called, she must have really gotten over it…

0o0

Regina rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, the knocking got louder and she walked out of her room at Granny's and opened the door. It was Robin, ever since they had gotten to Camelot he would wake her with a flower he found on his morning walk, she would smile and take it knowing that it would be one step closer to mending what they had (she was lying to herself, she knew that she would not trust him again and when that baby came things would never be the same again and they would never be able to get back to where they once were, but she pushed herself because she knew that this was the best she could do).

"Merlin wants everyone to meet in the Diner," he said with a soft smile, "Might I accompany you?"

Regina groaned internally but nodded, "Just give me a minute to get dressed and ready," she went into the room and brushed her teeth then used her magic to get dressed and put on her makeup and fix up her hair. Robin smiled when she came out, he let his arms out for her to wrap hers around. She did, grudgingly so.

Once all there Merlin started talking, "I'm sure you've all thought about how the Dark One was created," he started staring down at the ground, "Well, there was a man, a King in fact, the most powerful King and sorcerer that had ever lived and that will ever live. He was once the lightest of hears but one wrong vengeful move turned his heart into the darkest of darks. He had all, money, power, an entire realm, despite him being evil his people adored him, other lands feared him; he had everything, except for love. So he decided to let someone else have some of the darkness and power from his soul. He made a cup, the Holy Grail, he put some of his energy into it and cursed the lands around it, only those worthy could find it, and only those worthy would live with the magic inside it."

"Did you drink it?" Henry asked with wide eyes.

Merlin nodded, "I did, he came to me," he said, "He told me I get to choose what path I want to follow, I chose the right one, the light one, but… she, the first Dark One, well, she became the Dark One."

Regina huffed, "Why are you telling us this?"

He got a gleam in his eye, "Because he can save Emma," he looked to the Saviour who was fumbling with her fingers and cuddled close to Hook, "And I know where he is," he said with a grin.

0o0

They had all followed Merlin to the deepest, darkest, dankest cave that they could and walked down to find a small lit room with a single stone table in the middle, there lay a man.

One by one they all shuffled in to get a good look at him, Regina walking ahead as Robin helped Zelena; she couldn't watch without hurting them, she stood next to Emma and watched Henry for a moment.

"That's him?" Hook asked unconvinced.

"Yes," Merlin answered in awe.

"What's wrong with him?" Henry took a step closer to peak at the man.

Merlin frowned, his hand flew out and he concentrated for a moment, "He's cursed," he answered, his jaw dropped and his eyes wide with panic.

"Only true love can wake him now," Robin huffed as he came to a standstill beside Regina who had finally looked up at the man and was staring at him shell shocked.

Hook growled, "How can we find his true lo-"

"Jack?" Regina whispered.

Merlin turned to her with wide eyes, "How do you know his name?" he asked, "I didn't tell you."

Regina took a stop forwards to take a real look at him, she flowed every line and curve because she knew that face, "He's real," she muttered in awe.

"What do you mean 'he's real' Regina?" David asked watching her carefully.

Regina shook her head lightly to try clear it, "He's the man in my dreams," she whispered finally her hand coming up to gently touch him to make sure he really was real. She touched soft flesh gasping at the fact that he was indeed real and also because she felt whole, like she had been waiting her whole life to be there with him.

"Regina!" Snow's eyes widened, her stepmother and the man before her were glowing, they glowed a light blue, "Kiss him," she suddenly said making Robin gasp.

"NO!" he objected loudly, "Don't kiss him," he quickly walked up to her and pulled her to his chest, "Regina," he palmed her cheek but she was still staring intently at Jack, "Regina?" he said lightly shaking her, she finally made eye contact with him. Robin was not a foolish man, he knew that he had done many stupid things in his life, but the stupidest was ever hurting this woman before him and then keeping her with his despite the fact that he knew she didn't love him, at least not any more. He shook his head and nodded resolutely, "Do it Regina, kiss him," he said softly and encouragingly.

Regina turned around and swallowed hard, she could do this, she could kiss him, "Can you all turn around," she said, "This is really weird when you're all staring," she huffed.

Snow rolled her eyes but turned, "Come on guys, give her some privacy," she demanded lightly.

Regina nibbled on her lip and looked down at him, she didn't know how she felt about the whole kissing him in real life thing, she had kissed him many times, however those were dreams and those are very, very different from reality, still she took a deep breath in and realised that she really, really, really missed him.

Regina had only broken one curse, which was when she kissed Henry, she couldn't really remember much of what she was feeling apart from the serenity she felt over the fact that her son remembered her, she could compare it to now and feel the same tranquillity as she gazed at Jack's face. She leaned down softly and pressed her red lips against his pale ones.

There was a bright light as their lips touched and then a beam of magic and the feeling of love warming their hearts, soon they heard the deep and loud gasp of someone waking up.

Jack looked up at the warm brown eyes that were meeting his, "I thought I didn't exist," he remarked softly and tiredly.

Regina shook her head as she caressed his cheek, "I'm so glad you do," she breathed out kissing him again.

Fin.