AUTHOR NOTE: Thank you for everyone that followed/faved our story. The comments are appreciated as well! It helps motivate us to continue this.

As to one of the question, yes there will be some angst but that is part of the journey these ladies are taking. One just happens to be far ahead of the other in terms of being cognizant of what feelings are present. The show always has too much going on for any of the characters to really sit back and think of how the events affect them. We hope we convey that and what it means for the characters.

Also some warnings – Neal and Robin are in this chapter, but we want to emphasize again that this is a SwanQueen fic. 3A is canon for our story and there are issues that need to be worked on and addressed so our ladies can move forward together. =)

And as always - We are neither A&E nor ABC; we do not own OUAT. We just play in a certain town in Maine and its fairytale land counterpart…

Chapter Three

Following what she'd dubbed as the "war council meeting" at Granny's, Regina had left the company of the Charming's and Emma to go back to Zelena's farmhouse to investigate. Emma's quiet advice to "Be careful" was still rattling around her mind as she drove out to the far edge of Storybrooke's perimeter.

And that caring is exactly why I need to do this alone, Regina thought. Emma expressing care for my well-being makes my heart beat too fast and makes me hope. I can't afford to hope. Nothing good ever comes when I do. Not that it hadn't been enjoyable to search the forest and the root cellar with Emma… it's nice that we have learned to get along, but I cannot hope for more.

Regina sat in her Benz in the gravel driveway at the remote farmhouse, staring toward it without really looking at the home. With a sigh, she climbed out of the car. She checked the entrance to the cellar where they had found evidence that Gold was alive but found no trace of him at the moment. She paused to wonder about that; how had Gold survived? And what was he doing here, at Zelena's? What on earth had happened in their lost year?

She turned away from the cellar and started up the driveway toward the house. Acting entirely on instinct, Regina sidestepped and reached out her hand. She snagged an arrow out of the air and turned to scowl darkly at the shooter. Narrowed brown eyes took in the sight of a thinly bearded man, perhaps a bit older than her, who stood with a crossbow.

"Granny has a better aim than you do," she snarked at the stranger.

"Apologies, m'lady. I thought you were the wicked witch."

Who is he? I don't recall him from the last, oh, 28 years of the curse! Regina thought, exasperated at yet another surprise in her town.

"I am no witch. I am… well, was, the queen. Now, the mayor of Storybrooke," Regina retorted.

"Oh, I know who you are, m'lady. Regina Mills," he said.

She wondered if there was something in his tone, the way he'd said that. Perhaps she was just too used to people snarling her name or adding a curse word or two to it.

"Then you have the advantage," Regina replied.

"Robin of Locksley," he said with a courtly bow.

"Robin Hood?" she asked, eyebrow arched. "What are you doing here?"

"I am hunting a witch, as I just endeavored to demonstrate. My camp is in the woods not far from here, and so I wanted to help," he explained. Robin gestured back toward the house. "I was checking the perimeter when I heard a sound. The sound that was you."

And how did you know this was Zelena's farmhouse? Regina wondered immediately. The members of the "war council" had been extremely limited, and unless Granny had a meeting afterward with the Society of Crossbow Owners where she just happened to mention this little detail, there was something peculiar about Robin Hood knowing what they'd only just discovered themselves. Regina decided to keep this fact to herself and play the game of keeping friends close, but enemies closer in order to keep an eye on him.

"Well, perhaps we should investigate together then since our interests are aligned," she suggested, handing the arrow back to him.

"I'd like that, m'lady."

"Call me Regina," she said, starting toward the porch.

With Robin following her, Regina checked through the windows into the farmhouse and saw - as Emma had before - that it looked lived in, but presently unoccupied. She wondered where Zelena went when she wasn't home then. What was she doing?

"Let's have a look around…"

"The mayor is breaking and entering?" Robin asked, mirth in his voice.

Regina shot him a look over her shoulder as she used magic to unlock the door. She snorted. "I'm confident the sheriff will provide a search warrant if it becomes an issue."

And the sheriff is… David? Or does it default back to Emma now that she's back? Regina mused as she and Robin entered the quaint cottage. It was something that - as mayor - she ought to formally establish. After all, Emma was - she was amused to admit - the rightful sheriff of Storybrooke.

Going from room-to-room in the small house, she found that there were no magical items or anything that would suggest anything special about Zelena based on the home itself. Robin trailed her and asked questions about this or that, making her inwardly smirk at what a rube he was.

"Did you say that you live in the forest?" Regina couldn't help but ask.

"Aye, m'lady… Regina. Myself and my Merry Men."

She made a face, and was glad that her back was to Hood in that moment. "I see. And you've been camped out there for some time?"

"Well, as long as any of us with this curse," he replied.

Regina nodded, but was disappointed that she had been unable to catch him in a lie just then. She moved into the kitchen and studied the spices and liquids on Zelena's shelf.

"There's nothing here. Nothing magical," she growled, weary of this search coming up empty.

"Nothing magical?"

Regina turned toward Robin, lower back pressed up against the counter. He was most definitely in her space and only because she was trying to be good did she resist throwing him backward with magic. Instead, she just looked concerned as Robin leaned closer.

Oh my god, what is he thinking? Does he think to try and kiss me?!

But, his arm moved past her, plucking a decanter from the shelf. Robin smiled at her. "This isn't magical?"

"Not… on its own. But, it has some magic-like properties, depending on the circumstances. It's whiskey. A spirit in this land," Regina replied.

Again, she had the prickling feeling that there was something amiss about all of this. And that only intensified when Robin reached for a pair of glasses and suggested pouring for them both. It was not an appropriate time to share a drink, and why would they anyway? He was a stranger to her, and Regina knew he was withholding information too!

"We're going to have a drink? Now?" she asked.

"Well, why not? The situation could certainly warrant it, yes?" he replied.

The situation? Regina wondered. She didn't ask for clarification, however, because - as he offered the glass to her - a very familiar and dark tattoo was exposed on the inside of Robin's wrist. Once upon a time, she had been a lonely and depressed queen who had been guided to "the man with the lion tattoo" by fairy dust and that terrible fairy, Tinkerbell. Tink had insisted that said man was her second chance at finding love.

Regina paled, then brushed past him. "I don't have time for a drink. I… I have to go."

The mayor stormed through the farmhouse and was out the door and marching toward her car almost faster than Robin could pursue her. Regina saw him, looking bewildered from the porch, as she backed out of the drive at a reckless speed.

Even Emma had to admit to herself that her head wasn't entirely on point right now as she and David were searching the area around the farmhouse, looking for Gold. Neal had finally turned up too and had little to no information about where he had been, except he had been looking for his father. So the main question now was, how did Neal even know that Gold was alive when the key players in Storybrooke just found out? The answer was probably buried under the current incarnation of the curse, but there was one tangible clue to what happened. A scar burned into his hand. Emma had taken a picture of it and sent it to Belle, hoping that her friend could dig up some information to discern the mark's meaning.

Of course that was only part of the problem with his return. Neal naturally asked about Henry. She explained that his memory loss was still intact and that for right now, it was going to remain this way until they put a stop to Zelena's plans. She had to keep him safe from the evils of this town by any means necessary - and as soon as this was resolved, she was leaving Storybrooke for good with Henry. Emma made it quite clear to stay away from him because it would confuse things further. The kid was smart enough to know that his mother was holding back. He already called her on it when she checked in with him at the inn, on the verge of demanding answers to his questions. She was able to appease him to a degree, but it wouldn't last for long. This was a delicate time where her son was willing to trust her, knowing that the real situation of why they were here in Storybrooke was being talked around him. Oh he picked up on the odd looks that his mother gave the people here, and then to him - Henry giving that dubious look at times, or pretending that he wasn't paying attention. But he was. What made her heart ache for her son was seeing the strained look of patience wearing him down. How he was unhappy being here …

"Emma?" The sound of David's voice brought the blonde's full attention towards him. "You hear that?" he asked.

She narrowed her eyes, focusing on listening to the surrounding area. "I hear it too …" What she heard was mumbling, able to pick out snippets of what was being said by a very familiar accent.

Gold! she thought and immediately pointed in his direction, "This way!" And ran off without waiting for her father, not wanting to risk losing the sound of his voice.

His voice was becoming louder and she prayed that this wasn't some trick of Zelena's, running right into a trap. The savior wouldn't put it past the witch.

Huh? Moving around the thicket of bushes, Emma was surprise to see Gold wandering around with no clear indication of purpose or direction. He rambled on and on in panic, and they barely strung together coherently.

"Too many! Too many voices!" Gold panted.

He stumbled and fell, tripping over exposed roots. Just as quickly as he went down, the pawn shop owner was back on his feet and continuing to ramble and scramble.

"Too many voices!"

"Gold?" she tentatively called out, trying to get his attention, but not wanting to risk scaring him off as David stopped right behind her, looking baffled.

Wild brown eyes looked around the forest. He was oblivious to the Charmings' approach. Mr. Gold was oblivious to all but the pain in his skull and his consciousness as he scurried. He rushed down a natural slope and dropped out of Emma's line of sight.

"What voices -...? Damn!" she swore, watching Gold run off but before she could chase after him, the familiar screech of the witch's flying minion snapped her attention towards the sky. The winged primate swooped in, it's taloned feet snatching at Emma's arms. But it was her father that pushed her out of harms way, throwing up his arms to shield her in protection - the leather sleeves of his jacket offering some of its own. David was lucky - the talons only cutting through the material and leaving his skin intact.
"Emma, go!" He shouted, pulling out his gun. "We can't lose Gold! I can handle this winged creature."

There might have been a time when she was torn in which right thing to do. In this case, help to defend her father versus going after Gold because of the 'greater good'. These winged bastards were strong, vicious, and could lead them to the wicked witch just as well if captured. Gold was suffering from Zelena's magic, or so she believed with his ramblings, and could provide information if she could catch him and calm him down. Two different paths leading them to the same goal. It was just all in how the savior wished to pursue it, to which her heart did the reflecting.

In Neverland, Mary Margaret immediately wanted to stay with David because the magical cure for Dreamshade forced him to be bound to the lands. Then the incident with the cave, about wanting another child - the two of them were always so involved with finding one another, that they forget about the one they did find.

Once a lost girl, always a lost girl.

Sadly, it was no longer a contest as she ran after Gold, not looking back as shots were fired …

Rather than return to her office or her very quiet and empty home, Regina simply drove around Storybrooke after leaving the farmhouse. She didn't want to see anyone right then, and especially not Robin. Or Tinkerbell. Much like horseback riding had been for her in her youth, Regina found the process of driving around the outskirts and through town to be a balm on her very troubled soul.

Robin Hood was the man with the lion tattoo all those years ago? What is he doing here? Why? Why now?

Years ago, Regina knew she had run away from this supposed second chance of love because she feared what loving would do to her. It had been still too soon after Daniel's death to contemplate true happiness. There had also been the issue of logistics; she was married to the king at that time! Exactly how had Tinkerbell factored that into flying off with pixie dust to find a new love? Finally, Regina had doubted the pixie dust's accuracy. How could she really believe that this stranger with a tattoo that she was just supposed to walk up to and meet could be who she was destined for? She had fled the tavern before they ever had a chance to make even eye contact, and now, all of these years later, there he was again.

"Tinkerbell would call that fate," Regina growled to herself. "I call it obnoxious."

She shook her head, both because she was talking to herself again, and because the situation was ludicrous. Regina was truly wary of this chance encounter. After all, how had Robin known Zelena lived there? And why was it only when she'd gone to the farmhouse alone did he show up? She realized she could be being paranoid… but Regina knew better than to assume life was just going to work out in her favor.

"Besides, I already love someone else." The words came out of her mouth in a rush, and the mayor tightened her hands on the steering wheel after she'd uttered them. Regina sighed heavily. "I do. I love someone else. Emma."

Uttering that, Regina pulled the car over to the side of the road and took a deep, shuddering breath. Her hands were trembling, so she gripped the wheel tighter to control them. She closed her eyes, trying to get herself back under control because this was the first time she'd admitted her feelings aloud.

It was well-known to everyone how she had been threatened by and flat-out hated Emma Swan when Henry had first brought her to Storybrooke. The woman had been a tremendous wedge between she and Henry as they both undermined what she had viewed as her happy ending! Regina's hatred had been obvious and had extended as far as sacrificing her last bit of magic in Storybrooke to reclaim the poisoned apple, so that she could put Emma into the same sleeping curse she'd fated her mother to.

I used the last connection I had to Daniel for Emma.

It was poetic… in only the way that someone from the Enchanted Forest could understand. Regina sighed. Her feelings had changed toward Emma in what felt like only a few short weeks ago. When her failsafe had fallen into Greg and Tamara's hands and she'd realized that her magic could only hold off the town's destruction for so long, Regina had been willing to sacrifice herself. She had insisted to Emma that she go, and just let her die as Regina and not the Evil Queen.

"And who stood by me, refusing to allow that to happen? Emma."

Together, they'd saved the town and Emma had saved her. That had astounded her, quite frankly, given what Regina had tried to do to her! Her feelings had only deepened as they embarked on Operation Henry together. The week had been hell, dealing with Pan and his brats, and enduring camping with the Charming's, but - again - it had been she and Emma making magic together. In the process, Regina had fallen hard for her former enemy and Henry's fellow mother.

"Em-ma…" she whispered to herself, picturing the blonde vividly in her mind's eye.

Regina smiled ruefully to herself, then sighed. What good was it to be defiant against the supposed power of pixie dust, when there was absolutely no indication that Emma felt anywhere remotely similar to her own feelings? She let that thought roll around her mind, thinking of how assertive Robin had been at trying to get to know her back at the farmhouse. Regina repressed a shudder, put the car back in gear, and resumed her contemplative driving.

Racing through the forest after Gold, Emma was starting to worry that she had lost his trail. The signs of the ground trampled over were lessening and his ramblings had died out. The savior was running on instinct now, needing to find him on the off chance David ended up killing Zelena's minion, otherwise they would have no leads. It was very unlikely her father would have done that - killing the creature unless it was his last resort - but the gunshots had stopped, leaving Emma guessing as to the outcome of the skirmish. Vaulting over a rotting tree trunk at a full sprint, she had to put on the brakes, skidding against the ground with wobbling arms when the savior found someone in the forest - and it wasn't David or Gold.

"Neal?" The irritation in her voice could not be masked as Neal was just standing there, looking at her with that apologetic, bemused, expression of his. "What the hell are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the hospital resting."

"Emma ... I know you're looking for my father out here," he said, motioning to the entire forest around them, hands in the pockets of his coat. "I can help, and I can't do that in a hospital bed."
"Belle said you looked like death when you collapsed. This isn't going to help."
"Well it doesn't matter what you think because I'm not leaving. And the more you argue with me, the longer it'll take to find my father. So we either do this together right now, or I do it by myself," he explained, not budging.

He was so infuriatingly demanding. And also right. They were wasting time.

"Fine. But if you collapse again, I'm leaving you there." They both knew it was a meaningless threat, but Neal was smart enough to let it go as they resumed the search for Gold.

As they searched, Emma explained Gold's state of mind when she had briefly caught up with the shopkeeper, how he rambled on about the voices in head, and how they were ambushed. She kept things quiet afterwards because Emma needed to remain focused on finding traces of Gold's whereabouts. Neal on the other hand had quite a bit on his mind and jumped on the opportunity to speak with Emma alone and far away from Hook. He may have buried the hatchet with the pirate, but this was too important to pass up. Not with what he had to say.

"You may not like hearing this Emma, but I can always tell when you're ready to run," he said, not missing the incredulous look the blonde was giving him. "We both knew when it was time to do it when we were together. And I got that from you when we spoke at the hospital. Especially that fire in your eyes when you talked about Henry. Him not remembering his life here."

"Neal. Stop. We're not doing this right now," she warned. "So don't go there."

"You want to take him away from here," he challenged, finally stopping as Emma suddenly turned and shoved him backwards.

"Are you really this selfish? Seriously, Neal. We're out here trying to find Gold because all of Storybrooke is cursed by the wicked witch, and you feel now's the best time to talk about what you think I'm going to do?"

"So I'm right," he deadpanned, not phased by Emma's outburst. "Look, Emma … I'm not questioning what your plans are. I just wanted you to know that whatever you feel is best for Henry - either here in Storybrooke or back in New York - that ... I want to be a part of his life too. I mean it. I'm not giving up on either of you. Not when I finally found you two again. Not when I thought I'd lost you and Henry forever."

"Apparently the curse made your short term memories disappear because you clearly forgot something important back in Neverland." She scowled at him, disappointment written all over her face. "That the only person that I want, that I chose, was Henry. Not only has that not changed, but without his memories, it's crucial that I protect him."

"Emma. Come on! I'm his father too. We can surely work something out where he can know who I am in time. Not like i'm going to run up to him and force the issue." He was exasperated, clearly unnerved that Emma thought this badly of him.

"He needs to be taken far away from here. Away from this … life!" She threw up her hands, her heart beating rapidly in turmoil. "I know this is his home, but we had a good life in New York. We still do. And he was happy, Neal."

"And do you honestly think I'm going to accept that? Do you think Regina will?" he barked back. "Because as civil as you two think you've become, don't fool yourself into thinking that she won't turn to her old ways to keep Henry here. And destroy you in the process. Open your eyes Emma. She's done it once and hurt our son in the process. She almost killed him with that damn poison that was meant for you!"

What really angered her was Neal's assumptions that she wasn't going to talk to Regina. She would have to at some point - a conversation she was dreading - but it wasn't like she was going to up and leave town without speaking with Regina. "You know nothing about her, so just don't even go there, Neal. She never meant to kill either of us. Not that I condone what she did, but her intent wasn't to kill us. She loves Henry. But let's not forget the fact that she sent Henry away to stop Pan's curse to save everyone. The one person she loves the most. She -" She stopped at the sound of her phone going off. Pulling her fiery gaze away from Neal, she saw it was Belle calling.

Grateful for the interruption, she answered it, casting daggers in Neal's direction. "I take it you found something?"

"Yes I did," said Belle, a bit startled by the edge in Emma's voice. "My research shows that his mark was used in a ritual to bring back the Dark One. It -"

But Emma didn't hear the rest as she dropped her phone to the ground in surprised horror, watching Neal collapse - his body twisting violently and awkwardly. His face rippled out of focus, briefly catching glimpses of Gold's features emerge. "Oh my god! What did you do Neal?!"

The grotesque masks of Neal and Gold warred with each other as Emma fell to her knees, clutching at him helplessly. "Neal!" she cried out, not knowing what to do - their fight forgotten as she tried to think quickly on how to help him. Them - but in her panic she let go of her phone, and Belle's wisdom, in the process.

"Emma …" his voice sounded so distant, muddled by the magical struggle for control. "You … you gotta separate us. Use your magic … on us…" He grabbed at Emma's jacket, desperation in his voice. "I can finally ... feel him. Inside. Hear his voice. We're ..." but he cried out in pain, spasm onto his back, taking Emma with him.
The voices in Gold's head. Oh my god. It was Neal the entire time! "I don't know how. Or... or if I can," she admitted weakly.

"I saw … what you can do. In Neverland." He tugged at her, tightening his grip to try and shake sense into her, but there was no strength to be found as he was limp in her arms. "I believe in you, Emma. I know … you can do this. You gotta … I know you need my father's help..."

She took hold of his hand and without understanding the circumstances of what separating them meant, Emma closed her eyes and focused - remembering how emotions were the root of magical intent. How frustration and impatience had started a fire because of Regina's verbal jabs. How the two of them were able to focus on creating an eclipse because of the combined love for their son.

And now the future she needed to have with her son was hinged on getting Gold to talk ...

For Henry. I need to do this for him.

As the foundation for her magic to manifest consciously, rather than the fear of what failure meant - killing either one, or both of them - Neal cried out, his voice being overladen with that of Gold's anguished ones. Her presumptions on how to trigger her magic worked. White light began to engulf them and cleaved the two men in half as Emma's magic tore them asunder.

The savior rocked forward and gasped, feeling her body drained of energy as she continued to hold onto Neal. Green eyes looked amazed and confused that she did it. She had separated Gold and Neal without killing them! Gold was dazed, laying on the ground and trying to get his bearings.
"You did it, Em." Neal smiled weakly, looking so proud but also apologetic. "I knew you … could do it."
Emma didn't like this one bit. Neal should at least be sounding better and having color returning to her face, but it was getting worse. She clutched at him more fervently. "Hang on. You'll be alright. Just the after effects of what I did." As optimistic as she was trying to sound, the savior had a bad feeling in her gut that wasn't the case. "Right?" she urged, hoping for a reassuring response from him.

"I'm so s-sorry … Em. But …" he licked his lips, hands shaking while he gripped Emma's tighter, holding out the swan necklace for her to take. The very same keychain that he had stole for her - hat had endured the journey back to the Enchanted Forest because of the love he had for Emma Swan.

"No," she sobbed, shaking her head. Regardless of how little she wanted Neal to be in her life currently, even in Henry's, she didn't want to lose him! This wasn't how it was supposed to end for them. "No… you can't die on me!"

"... you wouldn't have done it. Not … not if you knew." His face flickered in a knowing smile. "But you need him. To stop the witch and … keep our son safe."

"God damn it, Neal! You should've told me!" Again he took the decision out of her hands. Again he did what he thought was best for her. Even if she would have agreed with him in this instance, he kept the truth from her.

"I know. But I can't stop her." He swallowed, his breaths coming quicker and forced. "Not … much time left. Emma … you have to stop her. Then go. Go find your Tallahassee ... wherever that is ... for you and Henry."

Taking the necklace within her hand, her lips trembled to force the words that remained stuck in the back of her throat, but it was too late. Neal was gone, having slipped away forever in her arms ...