Snow dashed through Mr Gold's shop, letting the little bell jingle incessantly as she slapped her hand against one of the numerous glass counters, skilfully avoiding tripping on an antique porcelain elephant as she leaped through the curtain. Everyone in the room looked up at her as she pushed past Bashful, dropping herself to David's side and gripping his face in her hands.

Everyone watched on as she pressed her lips to his. There was silence throughout the room, Emma moved up beside Ruby with Henry under her arm and much to her own surprise, Regina followed closely behind. She hugged her jacket tighter around herself, mindful of her appearance as she lingered in the back behind the anxious dwarves.

Hushed murmurs sounded throughout the room when Snow's lips pulled away from David's and nothing had happened. "No," She choked and Regina looked up, curious. "No, it can't be. David please," She begged him and suddenly, Regina felt her heart-rate increase. She started to panic, it couldn't be; she pressed a hand to her stomach beneath her coat. This couldn't be happening; Snow had to be his true love; He had to wake up.

She could feel a few sets of eyes on her, burning her skin like hot-pokers as though they somehow knew what she'd done; as though they blamed her for David's condition when she'd done nothing but what he'd asked of her. She hugged herself tightly, ignoring them as they glared. This wasn't her fault, it couldn't be; she didn't love him.

She watched intently as Snow kissed David again, letting her hot-tears press against their lips as she wept, begging him to wake. She gripped his shoulders tightly, pressing her lips to his a third time before that golden wave of magic finally spread out between them.

Regina let out a long breath and turned her eyes to the window when she heard David's gasp. For a second she pressed her eyes closed as she felt the overbearing gaze of Snow's protectors, leave her. "You did it." She heard David whisper and though Snow's reply was inaudible to her from the distance, she knew it'd be something inane and cliché, so she was glad to be deaf to it.

Regina turned back from the window when Henry sidled up in front of her, purporting a cute little swagger he used to put on when he was being particularly cheeky. She'd missed that sly little walk, so much so, that its brief return brought a quirk to her lips.

"I was right."

Regina quirked her brow, wondering what he was referring to. "You have changed." Before she could even respond, his arms had wrapped around her waist. She panicked for a moment, fearing that he'd discover her secret as it pressed between them but the added volume of both their coats and her awkward scramble to pull her hands from her pockets, seemed to be enough to dissuade him.

He hugged her tightly, pressed his cheek to her chest and Regina could barely breathe for a moment as she processed the feel of him in her arms again. She was almost hesitant to touch him, for fear he'd disappear. But when he looked up into her eyes with a genuine smile and she heard him say "Thank you," the desire to holding him tighter won out.

She pressed her hand to the back of his head, whilst her other spread out across his back and slowly, with more relief than she could articulate, she lowered her cheek to rest on top of his head; pressing her eyes closed with the feel of him in her arms.

They disappeared into their own world for a moment, neither of them hearing talk of dinner and long conversations until Emma's voice rang out and Regina's heart stopped. "Hey kid, you hungry?"

"Yeah," He turned and smiled up at Regina, slowly slipping from her arms. She held on as long as she could, sliding her hands down his arms until the only thing left connecting them were her desperate fingertips clinging to his. "I'll see you later."

She could feel the burn of tears in her eyes as she watched them disappear from the shop. David didn't even offer her a passing glance but she was fairly certain he hadn't even known she was there. And who honestly would have, considering who she was? If he'd looked for her in a crowd of concerned dwarves, what would his wife think? No, she thought, it was better he didn't know. Or better that she believed he didn't see her. It already hurt enough to watch Henry walk away.

"Congratulations," Regina's breath hitched as Gold stepped into her line of sight. "You've reunited mother and son." Regina swallowed, feeling more tears coming to the surface, crawling over the tears already shed, filling her eyes and blurring her vision of the vicious Imp before her. "Maybe one day they'll even invite you to dinner. That is, if your scandal doesn't drive your son further away." He gestured to her belly and Regina instantly wrapped her coat around herself, fighting her tears as she stared at the empty doorway.

For a brief moment she had both of her children in her arms and she ached to have that feeling again.

David laughed as they all watched Emma devour her burger, moaning contentedly with each bite and declaring how wonderful it was to eat something she didn't have to chase first. Henry laughed heartily and it brought a smile to his own face as he turned to see Snow beaming beside him, watching their daughter and their grandson stealing fries from each other's plates.

"So what was it like in the Enchanted Forest?" Henry asked excitedly, but Emma hesitated with her burger halfway to her mouth and looked to her mother for help. Snow only shrugged, demurely popping a French fry in her mouth.

"Look, kid, it's been a long couple of weeks. Maybe we can talk about it another time."

Henry was about to open his mouth to protest, but knowing the dangers that lurked back home, David felt pity for his daughter and stepped in. "I'd like to know how you two got home; how'd you get through the portal?"

"Mr Gold tried to block it off." Henry chimed in.

"That's true," Emma nodded. "Cora was trying to get through as well, so naturally, Regina and Gold wanted to stop her – apparently Regina's relationship with her mother isn't stellar," She quirked her lip with a shrug and Snow's eyes widened in agreement.

"Absolutely not," She turned to David. "There's a long, detailed history there." She paused when she met his eyes. "That would be Regina's story to tell, if she ever so wishes."

"But mom saved them!" Henry declared, clearly proud and David couldn't help the smile that came to his face.

"She did?" He had to admit, he was surprised. He had been starting to see a different side to Regina, especially since she found out about the baby. He'd come to understand her better, through Henry, through Daniel and the child they now shared; but there was still so much of the Queen in her.

"Yeah," He grinned, climbing up on his knees in the booth, barely able to contain his excitement. "She wasn't going to, because she thought her Mom was going to come through the portal, but I told her about good winning over evil and you know, she's gotta get that more than most and she turned around and all that magic," Henry sighed in wonder, falling back on his haunches, clearly reliving the moment in his mind. "She took in all that magic," He met David's eye, who had suddenly become enraptured with the tale, but not for the reasons anyone might think.

David was worried. Regina was over four months pregnant; but a baby was fragile. There was no telling what could happen to her if she wasn't careful. And in that moment, he realized how much he wanted her to be careful.

"She took in all the magic that Mr Gold said no one could survive."

He could feel his ears turning red, burning with worry as the colour drained from his cheeks. "David, are you alright?" Emma questioned, putting her burger down slowly with worry etched on her face. Snow reached up to press a hand to his back, attempting to comfort him but the gesture only seemed to intensify his fear. Snow's touch only magnified his guilt.

"Regina absorbed Rumpelstiltskin's magic?" He choked on the words.

Snow and Emma shared a confused look.

"Actually, they stole fairy-dust from the mines and used it to create a barrier spell, that's what Mr Gold said. Apparently it's stronger than his magic."

"Stronger than..." David's voice trailed off as the information started to sink in. Blinking rapidly, he was barely aware of the looks he was starting to receive.

"David, you look pale." Snow touched her hand to his cheek but David reached up and grabbed it, gripping her hand tightly in his and wrapping his other hand around it.

"Is she alright?"

"What's with this sudden concern for Regina?" Emma muttered, flicking a French-fry across her plate with a certain level of disdain.

"Just tell me, Emma."

"She's fine," She huffed. "She was in Gold's shop when you woke up. Wow." She rolled her eyes, irritated with his insistence.

David quickly scrambled up from the table. "David, where are you going?" Snow tried to grab for him, pulling him back towards her but he shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Snow, but I have to go make sure she's alright."

"She's fine," Emma almost whined. "Henry spoke to her, didn't you, kid?"

He nodded up to David. "It's true, she seemed fine when I hugged her, but," Henry furrowed his brow and David quickly crouched in front of him.

"What is it Henry? But what?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, I guess she must have just been really cold or something because I hugged her real tight but it was like she was wearing all these coats. Maybe that kind of magic makes you cold." He looked at Emma and Snow for confirmation but they both just shrugged. David sighed, knowing full-well, the reason Regina seemed to be more padded than usual. He ruffled Henry's hair as he stood back up; assuring him with a nod that that must be what it was, even though he knew the truth.

He leaned over the booth, pressing his lips to Snow's quickly. "I'm sorry, Snow, but I have to do this."

"Why? What's she done all of a sudden, to incur this loyalty?"

His heart broke for the secret he couldn't voice. "She's been through a lot since you've been gone, I can't really explain it but she's been doing a lot better. We've had talks, I," He hesitated, seeing how Snow struggled to understand. "I'll explain it all in time, but right now, I just have to make sure that magic hasn't hurt her."

"David," Snow scrambled up from the booth, chasing him as he made his way to the door. All eyes in the diner were now on them. She grabbed his arm, spinning him back to meet her eyes. "we just got back from the Enchanted forest after months and twenty-eight years of not knowing who we are, and you want to run to Regina to make sure she hasn't caught the flu from her own evil." Tears appeared in her eyes and David couldn't help but feel the guilt well up inside him.

"I don't expect you to understand," He breathed, reaching out to touch her face. "I don't even know if I can explain it."

"Try." Her voice hardened and he felt his heart skip a beat.

"I can't right now, Snow. But I will, I promise." He kissed her quickly, dashing from the diner before she could utter another word, leaving her standing there in the middle of the room with tears in her eyes and confusion written across everyone's faces.

To be continued.