He had her. He had her exactly where he wanted her. The work was getting harder – due to her endeavors toward good or his decline in age and power – he wasn't too sure. But once again, he had her on his string. Regina would dance, of that he was certain; all he had to do was pull at just the right moment and he'd have her power entwined with his own just as it was meant to be.

He felt a rush of power when she was near; as was always the way. Her raw energy invigorated him; that much power – contained within that one, simpering, bleeding heart – had always been a point of contention with him. The exact extent of Regina's power was a truth he shared only with himself for there was no other that could be trusted with such knowledge. For the life of him, he could never share it with another living soul; lest they steal her from him; lest they tell her she could run.

There was something different about her power now. Perhaps it was Storybrooke; he'd felt a certain twinge in his magic in the small town – it was off balance, it wasn't as fluid. But somehow he knew that wasn't what felt different about her.

There was an electricity that burned about her, a fire. Even though she walked beside him with the look of a dejected mother who'd just sold the love of her son for a pittance; her skin crackled with energy. It was invisible to the eye and likely Regina wasn't even aware of the glow surrounding her, but he could feel it in the air.

Somehow, her power had doubled since last he'd sunk his claws into her.

He could feel it radiating out from within her, crackling through the air and buzzing with life. He watched her, as she stood beside him, as her lips twitched when the fairy-dust brought the bolt of magic down into the Well. He knew that look as well as she did, the look of someone that knew what magic felt like to wield.

It was a look of pure elation, pure rapture.

Henry's voice, apparently, was enough to cast that look back into oblivion. And that's when he saw it. Regina's coat was a worthy shield; in a world where the thought was unfathomable, he'd never believed he need look further than her words. But Regina's body language had always been her strength. Her poise, her grace, her power; it was Regina's sharpest dagger. The fact that she'd been doing her level best to keep her posture rigid should have been his first clue.

Her child calling for her broke her concentration just long enough for the truth to lay itself out before him. The truth she'd managed to hide for several months, it seemed.

The wind that buffeted them from the magic swirling in the Well tousled her jacket and for the first time, he caught a glimpse of the protective hand she had pressed to her belly.

Oh, Regina.

He could feel his blood boiling. Both sides of his relationship with Regina were conflicted by that sudden knowledge. The part of him that had always wanted to defeat her, cataloged it for later use. Whilst the other, bitterer side – where he stored his unconscionable affection for her – knew that it could mean an end to his power.

Then it hit him. Her power was different; it had changed, it had doubled. He felt his heart soar at the thought – two of them. Lines of prophecy were blurred behind his eyes and he'd thought it was because magic in this world was so different; but he'd learned the truth. There were holes in the future because, for the first time, he was blind to her fate.

He watched her scuffle with her distressed son; holding himself still as his curse burned within the well. There was nothing to be done, the power was blocking the portal and Henry's attempts to stop it were futile. He only hoped that Regina's belief that she was no more than what he taught her to be, would hold strong. He was worried that the smallest hint that she could be more, already grew inside her.

He was a man of power and potions and the fine point of a deal. At his core a coward; the ideal shell for the Dark One's twisted magic. He understood more than anyone, the finer workings of magic; but for the longest time, he'd been unable to understand the finer workings of the heart. He'd found a way to bottle true love, indeed; but letting it free was an entirely different gift.

Regina turned slowly; the tears in her eyes giving Rumpelstiltskin a reason to fear. For the briefest instant, he feared not only for the destruction of his curse, but for the life of the woman he'd inexplicably woven into his own. He'd trained her, she belonged to him and he feared – against his will – that she was walking to her death.

He'd often threatened her life, as she had his – but neither had ever been able to deliver. It was ironic that each failure was out of fear for each other's power; his fear well-placed, though her's ill.

The look in her eye as she turned from her son, told him undeniably, that she knew what she faced.

Regina hesitated as long as she could. She wanted Henry to believe in her, of that she was certain; but his life was not the only thing at stake anymore.

She pressed her hand to her belly, feeling the life inside of her turn with the churning of her fears. But in an instant she pulled her hand away, realizing that Gold could have seen. The man was conniving enough to work it out from that one touch and she couldn't let him use it against her.

She wanted to be what Henry wished she was, but the fear of her mother coming through the portal was just too great. She couldn't let her get her hands on her children; but Henry would never believe in her if she didn't take the risk.

There was a chance that she could die; there was a chance that Rumple was right and there was no way to stop the power that blocked the portal now. But a part of her knew she had to try. Her magic had been growing along with her child. Perhaps, if they worked together, they could do it.

Regina stepped up to the well with tears blurring her vision. Her heart tightened with fear as she heard Rumple's almost worried plea. Had she been enamored with her once-tutor, she'd have almost believed that he cared; but she knew better.

Henry was her focus. She would stop the curse, for him. She stepped up to the Well and raised her hands over the swirling green vortex. A tear dripped down her cheek, falling deep into the pit of green before she summoned every ounce of power inside her and felt her head thrown back with the force of the magic.

She could feel the baby moving; her heartbeat increased as power surged through her being, from her fingertips to her toes. Her arms were thrust out as the strength of it was almost too much to contain. She felt it breaking her, splitting her in two; until a great burst of power from deep within her, pulled the last of the curse into her and threw her backwards.

She caught herself on the nearest tree, clutching at her belly with one hand and holding herself standing with the other. Silently, looking down at her hand, Regina thanked her baby for that last surge of power that ensured they both survived; but she also realized – within that short moment of elation where she realized they had survived – that the bottom had fallen out of Henry's world.

"I'm sorry, Henry." She cried, dropping herself to her knees at the foot of the tree; cradling her belly like a lifeline. Henry didn't seem to notice the gesture and she'd stopped caring what Rumple saw.

Silence descended on the forest for the longest moment until the sound of grunts could be heard from the Well.

Regina's eyes never left Henry's face as the tears were replaced with a bright smile. "Mom!" He called, dashing past Regina who leaned out, expecting him to fall into her arms. Instead she felt dirt and dried leaves between her fingers and a sharp stab of pain in her heart.

Slowly, she dragged herself to her feet. She straightened her jacket, pulling her blouse to cover her belly before tugging her coat into place. Rumple met her eye in the few seconds before he turned, walking away from them. For a moment she thought she saw pity in his eyes as he watched her shield her condition from her son; from Emma and Snow and Ruby as she dashed toward them. But she knew better of him.

She'd saved their lives. She'd saved Snow White.

She watched Henry hugging them both and though she felt the agony of Henry's rejection fresh in her heart, she couldn't deny that she was glad to see him happy.

Snow and Ruby dashed off without a word and Regina realized it was for the best. She wasn't sure if – given her condition and the overwhelming desire she suddenly had to throw up – she'd have been able to stomach Snow's saccharine condescension.

To Be Continued.