Author's Note – Well, I know that it hasn't been that long for an update in the grand scheme of things but for us it has! Sorry for not updating as often as we usually do. Life got in the way. Had some stress going on my end with the family and cas decided to take another semester of school. Damn him ;)

We hope that this update was worth the wait. Thank you to all our readers that stuck with us. You rock =)

As for the last chapter - Holy Crap. We expected some hating on Tink but wasn't expecting that reaction! But it did one good thing - made the Charmings, Emma and Regina force to talk as you'll read.

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 11

Zelena was furious. That she was more powerful than Regina was obvious. That she'd ensnared Rumpelstiltskin in order to further disable her sister was a stroke of genius that proved how much smarter and strategic she was! And yet, Regina had, somehow, anticipated the need to take her heart and had thwarted her from her goal!

She let out a growl of frustration and Mr. Gold lifted an eyebrow. Hands clasped in front of him, he stood in the farmhouse's small kitchen, watching Zelena as she paced. He said not a word. While she did control him with the dagger, Gold felt no allegiance to her and had no desire to help her in her mad quest.

"Arrgh! What has she done with her damnable heart?!" Zelena ranted.

Gold say nothing since the question had not been directed at him.

"Where in the hell could she have put it to try and trick me?" she seethed.

Unmoving and silent, Gold was careful to avoid even thinking a single thought lest Zelena remember his presence and force his aid in locating the object of her desire. He simply waited out her tantrum and knew, if nothing else, he had surely made the right decision when choosing the younger of Cora's daughters to enact the dark curse. Zelena was far too much the loose cannon.

"Her precious vault? No… even Regina realized that I could get through her blood magic at her office. She wouldn't use the vault, knowing there would be no way to keep me out." Zelena sneered, looking positively demonic. "Similarly, she would know her office and her pretty little home would be unsafe. I will tear this town apart to find it!"

She paced the kitchen and finally noticed her magical pet, Mr. Gold, standing in the corner as if he was trying to melt into the wall behind him. Zelena smirked, clearly loving having him at her mercy.

"Oh my dear, Rumpel… you know this town and your pupil best. Where in town would she hide her heart? Is it buried in the woods? In a box in your shop? Where would she hide it from me?"

Gold offered her a cagey smile. "I'd hardly know, dearie. It's not as if Regina trusted me with that sort of secret. She's always kept her heart to herself."

Zelena narrowed blue eyes and closed in on the imp. "I think you're lying."

"Is that so?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"I do." She drew his dagger from its sheath and trailed the flat of the blade against his throat.

Why has she never bothered to kill me and claim the power of the Dark One for herself? Gold couldn't help but wonder. Why keep me alive?

Even he didn't yet understand her plan and the ingredients she sought. Mr. Gold hissed softly and glared back at her, yearning to defy and destroy her himself. But, he felt utterly powerless while she held the dagger.

"I don't know where Regina has hidden her heart, Zelena," Gold said.

She lifted ginger brows and smirked. Her voice was rich with arrogance, drunk on the power of controlling him. "Dark One, I command you to locate Regina's heart."

Gold physically sagged, shoulder blades bumping the wall behind him. He had hoped that by keeping his thoughts blank that that would somehow minimize the chances of Zelena thinking of his power to see the past as well as the future. Gaze shifting momentarily diffuse, he could not help but use his magic to see Regina's recent past. Gold watched it flash before his eyes and tried to keep his expression neutral given the surprise he felt at seeing what had transpired between Regina and the Savior.

Well, well. What a turn of events the original dark curse has led them to… he thought.

Unable to hold the truth from his controller, Gold whispered, "Regina's heart is with Miss Swan."

Zelena stepped back quickly and cried out again, both in frustration and in triumph. The heart she needed had been so close, after all! Emma had been in her face throughout the showdown and now she knew why. It was Regina's heart, hidden somewhere with her, that had been making the plucky wanna-be Savior edgier than normal.

"How cunning to place her heart with the last person I would imagine! With her rival!" Zelena cackled. "But, it doesn't matter, because you and I are going to make her hand over Regina's heart!"

Gold stared. "And how do you propose that, dearie? It's not as if Miss Swan would willingly part with her heart if it has been entrusted to her."

Zelena looked crazed as she smiled at her. "Oh, we have a way to persuade her… you'll see."

Knowing Zelena would not take defeat so easily, David had been working with the dwarves and Regina's knights that had once served her in the Enchanted Forest to provide continuous patrols around the immediate perimeter of the city. It was encouraging to see the two factions that were at constantly at odds working together for a common purpose in defending the town. But even with that effort, there was still concern. They knew where Zelena was holed up, at the farmhouse, and everyone was staying clear of it now after the fight last night - especially witnessing the witch's control over the Dark One. That meant the surrounding forest was compromised and the former shepherd knew exactly where he could enlist further assistance.

With the loss of Little John, him morphing into one of Zelena's winged minions, the entire camp enthusiastically volunteered for guard and scout duties. One in the company of particular note was a middle aged man, stocky in build, but had a kind face behind the brown scruff. His unruly hair kept blocking his vision as he spoke to David, who had learned during the course of the conversation, that this was Arnold, cousin to Little John.

"The day be best for me and Tala to scout the witch's home," the stout man said with a gleam in his eyes.

The prince pursed his lips together, wanting to understand who this was because there were no women in the Merry Men with that name. Namely, there was only one woman and that was Mulan. The warrior was a close friend of Aurora's and had assisted Neal in escaping the Enchanted Forest to Neverland along with Robin. It was how she had came to join the band of outlaws.

"Tala?" he asked cautiously, not wishing to offend.

"Aye. She's out hunting right now. Should be back-" But Arnold looked up, noticing a shadow passing overhead between the treeline. "Ah! Seems she's done early!"

David looked up and finally understood. Tala was a female falcon! She zeroed in on the gauntlet that Arnold wore and slowed her descent to land. Talons curled around the thick leather, stretching out beautiful chestnut colored wings.

"Little girl. You've made quite the mess o'yerself," he cooed, using his other glove to gently remove the remains of Tala's kill along her beak, a sight that astonished David because a falcon's beak was curved and deadly, able to kill and pick apart its prey with precision. The trust that Arnold had with Tala was extraordinary.

"Well, it's nice to finally meet Tala," he said sincerely. "And I know both of you are eager to help and scouting the farmhouse is a good use of your skills. Now that I have a better understanding of what you can do."
"Thank ye. We'll be off after gathering a few odds 'n ends."

"Just don't engage the Wicked Witch or the Dark One. We need to know what she's planning, or when they're on the move. Report back immediately if anything comes up that can help us. And lastly? Don't be a hero." He looked sympathetically to the falconer. "I know she's the one that hurt your cousin, but you can't help him if you're captured or killed. All right?"

"Aye. I'll take yer words under advisement, your highness." Arnold bowed his head and went to his tent.

"Why do I have a feeling we'll need another scouting party just to find him?" David said to himself, questioning just how much of his advice Arnold took to heart.

Robin cleared his throat as he approached David, Roland matching him step for step, his hand curled snugly into his pant leg. "Arnold's a good lad. He'll listen to you."

"You know your men better than me, but I hope you're right." He went from speaking to Robin to smiling down to the young child holding his father's leg. "Hello, Roland. Always nice to see you."

Roland grinned and ducked his face into Robin's leg. The elder Hood chuckled and patted his unruly dark hair.

"He says hello, I'm sure." Robin sighed ruefully. "Who'd have thought we'd all be working together like this, eh? All we need is King George to show up and agree to help out."

"Now that's a miracle I doubt could happen. Even with the Blue Fairy having access to all the fairy dust back in our land, hm?" he said with a chuckle.

Robin smiled. "Aye. Seems like you've got a good handle on this, though. We'll be as prepared as we can when the witch makes a move."

"Yeah. I hope so." David sighed and looked back to Roland, his thoughts turning to his unborn child. "At least we have an idea of what she wants now. Just no insight to what her end game is. Until then, she's dangerous. Especially after Emma and Regina managed to outsmart her last night."

"Aye. I heard that it was quite the battle," he replied, keeping his response safe for his son's ears. "For as fearsome as she was in our land, I am a tad surprised that Regina was bested…"

"You're not the only one," the prince said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "But magical aptitude runs in the Mills family it seems. Their mother was a sorceress too. It's just unfortunate that Zelena has more raw power at her disposal. And the Dark One."

Robin nodded, stroking Roland's hair absently. He thought of his own history with the Dark One, the risk he took at stealing from him for Marian. And for Roland.

"You speak the truth. How is your wife holding up through all of this? Can't be easy with her being so close to delivery…"

"No. It isn't," David said with a chuckle. "She wants to help and it infuriates her to no end that she can't. I think most of my energy has been convincing her to stay home than actually fighting against our newest threat. Snow wants to be a presence for the others. But it isn't just about her protection. She has our child to think about. And Emma ..."

He trailed off with a shake of his head. It was too long of a story for him to get into. "We just want to get it right this time. But there's always someone going after our children."

Robin lifted a brow. It seemed inconceivable to him that they were best mates now, no matter what had happened here in Storybrooke over the last few years.

"Pardon me for asking, but knowing the queen… sorry, the mayor's history with your family, are you so certain she isn't partnered with her wicked sister and playing you for fools?" Robin asked candidly.

"Regina's been changing, slowly, over the past few years here while you and your men were still in the Enchanted Forest. And honestly? That would have been our assumption at one time - believing that Regina was playing a part in all of this. I mean, the town had thought she was behind the new curse here initially. But besides her genuine confusion in Zelena's existence, she wouldn't do anything to jeopardize being reunited with her son. Siding with the Wicked Witch would certainly do that even if Henry doesn't have his memories back. But, he will," he said confidently. David knew that Regina would find a way for Henry to come back to her. "I know much of this is confusing since you weren't brought here in the first curse, but I've seen Regina sacrifice everything to protect herself and the town."

But why am I finding it so hard to accept that she is in a relationship with my daughter?

Robin looked dubious. "As you say, I wasn't here as she changed."

"Papa?"

Distracted from his thoughts, he crouched down to Roland's height. "Yes, my boy?"

"Can we go get ice cream? Or do we have to be soldiers right now?" he asked earnestly.

Robin chuckled. Ice cream was a novel treat to them both since it had not existed in the forest. He rose and hefted his son into his arms. "Sure, Roland. Let's go have ourselves some ice cream. If Mr. Nolan here thinks that is okay."

Roland turned his wide dark eyes on David, looking hopeful. "Can we, Mr. Nolan? I really like ice cream."

"I certainly can't say no to that! I happen to love ice cream too." He clapped his hand on Robin's shoulder with a smile as he heard his phone going off. "Go have fun with your father. He can play soldier a bit later with when we need him, all right?"

"Okay!"

"What do we say, Roland?"

"Thank you!" Roland shouted to David, giggling gleefully.

Chuckling as he pulled out his phone, he flashed Roland a smile. "You are very welcome."

David then answered the phone without checking to see who called. "Sheriff Nolan here."

"David! You have to come home right now. We have to talk," Mary Margaret growled into the phone without so much as a greeting or status check to his safety, considering.

He was clearly taken aback at first by his wife's forceful tone, head snapping up in bewilderment before heading to the squad car. "Whoa … Slow down, Mary Margaret. What's going on? Are you and the baby all right?"

"We're fine," she replied savagely. "But, you need to come home now."

His wife making demands of him never sat well and came to a halt. "No. I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what this is about."

Mary Margaret pulled the phone from her ear to glare at the device as if she was shooting David himself the same death glare. She pressed it back to her ear and hissed, "It's about our daughter kissing Regina and you choosing not to tell me about it! Now, get home!"

And with that, she slammed the earpiece down on its receiver.

Flinching as he was verbally accosted, David sighed as the real issue was revealed and wanted to strangle Tinkerbell for going behind their backs. He had no proof but with how riled up the fairy was last night, intuition pointed in the direction of that pixie dust trail. When the phone was slammed down, David pulled the phone away from his ear, wincing further at the reverberating pounding in his ear. "Great. Just what we needed on top of all this. A hormonal and now raging Snow White."

Staring down at her mother's diary, a log of her unholy choices and ambitions, Regina could only shake her head. Emma had convinced the reluctant mayor to go back to the vault to resume the search for something to combat Zelena, and it was a good thing that the she had.

A blood feud. An unbelievable blood feud. It was as much about revenge as it was power. Gold was right; I'm just like her. She looked at Emma, feeling a bit ill again. All of this has intertwined our families for generations, right down to Henry.

"Do you think she'll even believe this?" Regina asked.

Emma parked the Bug near her parents' apartment and leaned back, shrugging. "She doesn't have a choice. The truth's right there. And it's our best ammo too, Regina. To let it finally rest what's between you both so we can be together."

"Are we going to bring that up as well? Us? Now?"

"Well, if there's a good lead in… yeah." She shifted in the driver's seat and took Regina's hand between both of hers. "You saw what happened last night. I barely kept it under control and I still kissed you. I don't regret it, but it'll probably happen again and I don't want to sneak around having to keep myself in check around you."

A smile twitched across Regina's lips to hear Emma say that. Then, she only nodded because - at the end of the day - no matter how much she'd changed and what trust she'd gained, to the Charming's, Regina knew she was yet the Evil Queen. And, she expected serious fallout from their development.

"Alright. Well, one step at a time. Let's present the diary and clear the history," Regina said with a sigh.

"You got it," Emma said in agreement. She gave her lover a reassuring smile but that quickly faded as her gaze caught what should have been a delightful sight, seeing a father walking with his son. Except that father was Robin Hood, and the savior made no effort in hiding her displeasure in seeing him. Not after last night's revelations.

Regina sighed as she followed Emma's gaze. Robin looked back at them, scowling. Roland, at least, was oblivious and looked happy with his ice cream cone.

"Let's go," she said again.

Emma gave him a disapproving look right back. "You sure you don't want to say hi?" she snapped. It was difficult to tell what motivated that comment- jealously or Regina's frustrations in seeing him yet again.

"Oh, grow up," Regina snarked automatically. "I could care less what Tinkerbell thinks about him. And you should know that. What I want to know is why that forest dweller is always popping up wherever I am."

That pushed aside whatever zealous emotions she had towards the outlaw because now they were being swiftly replaced by murderous intent as Emma looked back at Regina.

"What're you talking about?" she demanded. "Is he stalking you or something?"

"I don't know. It just feels like he's always around. Zelena's cottage. The funeral, the wake. Now. Maybe it's all coincidence. Or I am hyper-sensitive because he wasn't here with the original curse; I don't know, Emma."

"Yeah. You're not really fond of new people in town," Emma said with mild amusement. "But if I know anything about Storybrooke, nothing here's coincidence. We'll have to keep an eye on him just in case."

Regina nodded and climbed out of the car, ignoring the way Robin watched them. She clutched the diary close to her chest as she made her way to the door, chuckling when Emma insisting on holding the outer door for her. But, the laughter died as they ascended the stairs to the Charmings' apartment. With each step, Regina felt like she was being pushed in front of the firing squad all over again, no matter how genuine their evidence was.

Wincing behind Regina, Emma heard a very heated argument with two words repeatedly shouted by Mary Margaret which were Emma and Regina.

"Shit. How the fuck she find out?!" the blonde hissed, pulling at Regina's arm to stop her.

Color drained from Regina's face and she leaned heavily against the bannister. "Oh, hell. David or Tinkerbell. The wolf would be quiet, I'm sure. But the other two…"

Which means the diary will fall on deaf ears. We've, in Snow's mind, only escalated the feud by falling in love. She won't see it that we're actually healing the old, recurring rift, Regina realized.

"It wasn't David. He promised me he wouldn't say a thing and I believed him. Which means that fucking fairy's at it again," growled the savior.

Regina frowned. "Well, we may as well deal with this head-on. Right now. Before we go in there, Emma, no matter what your mother may say, I am in love with you. And my feelings have nothing to do with our families' history. I swear it. I know you can feel it."

"I know," she affirmed. "I have no doubts at all in how you feel about me. But I swear to god, Regina. If this conversation goes as bad as it could? I'm done with them both."

While she had no love for the Charming's, Regina had at least seen eye to eye with David on more than one occasion. She didn't want Emma to make a rash decision about her parents; after all, she was the one responsible for their separation as a family, even if the chain of destruction had begun long before Regina's choices.

"Let's just take it as it comes, Em. No need to buy extra troubles," she cautioned.

"Don't proceed to lecture me," the blonde snapped and brushed past Regina. "Now let's get this over with."

Lightning quick, she reached out to grab Emma's wrist, which forced the savior to come to a screeching halt. "I'm not lecturing you. Kiss me quick. I need to armor up in your love before going into battle."

Regina's words visibly startled the blonde, who looked momentarily confused. She processed what was happening and it was clear that the combined panic between the two of them in this situation was overwhelming and bleeding into Emma's initial reaction. Regina was right. They needed to go into this pending argument together on a united front, and see how this played out without presuming a disastrous outcome.

She slowly descended the two steps separating them and stopped where Emma was just a head taller than Regina. Instead of apologizing or explaining her behavior, she immediately captured her lover's lips in a soft kiss, drawing upon Regina's strength just as desperately. The mayor kissed her back, feeling that surreal sense of hope that her heart gained by being with Emma. She drew back, a little breathless.

"Alright. We can do this. Together," she said.

Licking her lips, Emma squeezed the mayor's hand with renewed strength and tugged her gently up the rest of the way. Regina decided to be direct and used magic to open the door; the sight of them standing, hand-in-hand, was enough to silence the Charming's argument. David stared, looking somewhat embarrassed. Mary Margaret glared at Regina, looked at Emma, and then stormed off toward the bedroom.

"We need to talk, dear," Regina said, projecting her voice in her imperious tone. "Now."

David immediately went to his daughter with an imploring look. "Emma, I swear to you that I didn't say anything. I wouldn't have betrayed your trust like this."

"I know," she said, hushing him with her hand. "More important things going on here right now then who said what. But for the record? Tinkerbell's going to get choked later."

Mary Margaret gave them both a wide-eyed, lethal look. It lingered longest on Regina. "Angry that Tinkerbell outed you? That you came home-" She looked from Emma to David, then. "-and couldn't bother to tell me what you're doing with her?!"

"I made a promise to our daughter not to. She wanted the chance to speak to the both of us with Regina, and I wasn't going to jeopardize a chance to try and mend things between us," David explained honestly again for the third time.

"It wasn't his place to talk about me and Regina," Emma continued as her father nodded emphatically. "And as much as you two like to claim you're my parents, you're not. You two never were, and I'm tired of you acting like you have a say in my life when you made it perfectly clear you've moved on."
Regina bit her lip, realizing this encounter could very well go nuclear with Emma holding her heart in her chest. And what could she do?

Mary Margaret glared balefully. "Regina, what have you done to my daughter?! It wasn't enough that you forced us to part with her with your fucking curse, but now you've had to steal her away from us by seducing her?! What is wrong with you?!"

Regina opened her mouth to retort, but Emma jumped right in with a vicious rebuttal. "How dare you accuse the woman I love in manipulating me when you freely admitted you fucked up and wanted another kid! And don't even get me started on how Regina's curse made you give me up, because you didn't have to! You could've kept me! We could've been a family but you made the decision to stuff me in that wardrobe! And it's what you've continuously done since realizing your little baby daughter is all grown up and can't control her decisions. Blaming Regina for everything is always your immediate response and it's got to fucking stop, Mary Margaret."

Regina turned and stared at Emma, jaw dropping at the force of her outburst. She knew her heart had a role in it, but - at the same time - everything she'd said had been bottled for a long time. It was time for Emma to finally let her mother have it.

Mary Margaret stumbled backward, her back colliding with the kitchen high-top. She clutched a hand over her heart, gaze shifting back and forth between Emma and Regina. She didn't even see her husband's dumbstruck expression because she was so riveted to them.

"Emma…! That… that's not what… that's…"

Regina cleared her throat and decided that she'd take advantage of Snow's shock and horror and try to divert the argument. She was not about to defend herself to Mary Margaret after all, and there was nothing she could add better than what Emma had already said. She held out her own mother's journal and looked from her to David.

"This is Cora's diary. We found it among her things while trying to strategize a way to finish Zelena," she said. "We were bringing it over to show you what we'd found in it, when we overheard your fight."

Regina frowned, handing it over to David, searching for words.

"What you need to understand, Snow, is that this hatred between us goes back to our mothers. Our mothers had been rivals for your father's attention long before I was even born. It all started with my damned sister. You need to read this and understand, dear. This isn't about you or me. Or even what you believe about Emma and me. You need to know where this all started."

"You both need to read that," the blonde said, thumping her fingers against the book that David now held. "Then, maybe we can actually talk."
She turned and took Regina by the arm, motioning for them to go. "I doubt anything productive can happen anymore. And I'm not in the mood to hear more excuses."

"Emma, wait!" David pleaded, wanting an immediate fix to this situation. He knew it was futile hope, but if his daughter left them now this upset, it would be challenging to get another chance to clear the air and try and heal from the wounds inflicted - some that he and Snow inadvertently caused. "Please stay. I don't want you or Regina to go. Not when we have this chance to talk."

He beseeched his wife with a searching look. "I don't want our daughter walking out of our lives, because that's what's going to happen, Snow."

Snow's expression shifted as Regina dared to bring up her mother and dared to suggest there was history. Of course there was! Cora had been responsible her death! Her gaze shifted to David and the diary.

But, we both know that. So, what the hell is Regina talking about, if not that?

She looked back at Emma. Knowing David spoke the truth, Mary Margaret's tone turned pleading, as though she genuinely wanted to understand this. "Emma… you truly love her? You love Regina?"

Without the holier than thou Mary Margaret accusing her, Emma's anger had been tempered. And it was so easy to answer the question - one in which she did not hesitate in answering. "Yes. I really do."

Regina ducked her face, smiling and blushing because hearing Emma tell her mother that touched her deeply. "And I love Emma," she added, unasked. "I have loved her since she refused to abandon me to my fate with the trigger. My feelings have nothing to do with our history, Snow, and everything to do with what a brave and loving woman Emma is."

Emma turned and gazed upon Regina, her hardened expression melting away in seeing her love so vulnerable in front of her parents! She smiled and found a different sort of strength to combat her parents instead of immediate rage and suspicion. Bringing Regina's hand to her lips, Emma then turned to her parents with a determined look that still held all of the passion as before, but the lines of anger had gone. "I honestly didn't know how I felt about Regina until recently. Just … everything that happened made me realize that I've been in love with her for a long time and I'll do anything for her. Like making sure Zelena doesn't win, and it's because I love her that I know I can protect her."

The savior couldn't get into the specifics as to how she was protecting Regina, but part of her wanted to. Because having Regina's heart beating inside her chest spoke so many emotional truths that would just shatter any arguments that her parents had. That was just the arrogance talking.

Green eyes flickered towards Mary Margaret briefly before lowering to the swell of her mother's belly. There was one truth that she should share. "And honestly? I felt I had nothing keeping me here until Regina told me how she felt …"

Snow stared at them, lips parted, though she said not a word. She didn't know what to say to them, not hearing how raw both Emma and Regina were. They sound like Charming and me, she had realized, but could not bring herself to voice that. Not yet, anyway.

"I… I'll read Cora's diary as you… as you suggest," she finally choked out, having to look to David then, clearly looking for help.

"You do understand that we'll need time," David admitted. "To go over the diary and talk between us? This is a lot to take in. Not only with your relationship, but also what's in this."

He held up the book and walked over to his wife, holding it out for her to take. "If what you say is true-"

Emma was about to open her mouth and verbally lash out, but Regina squeezed her hand hard. "It is. And, just remember that there isn't much time to take. Zelena's still out there. Call one of us when you're ready to talk."

David nodded. "We realize the urgency. We'll be in touch as soon as possible."

Regina bobbed her head once, and turned to head toward the door with Emma. They'd done all they could for now. At that moment, there was a knock at the door and she paused as David skirted around the couple to answer it.

"Hey, Archie. Everything okay? Where's Henry?" he asked.

Archie held out Henry's scarf. "Haha, funny… no, I realized after he left with Emma that he'd left his scarf behind. I was just dropping by to return it."

Emma's hearts sank as panic overwhelmed her. She had left Henry in Archie's supposedly safe care. "What the hell are you talking about?! I never came by to see you except to drop him off."

Regina strode toward him, her glare menacing. "Speak, Bug," she growled.

Archie looked terrified, though not of Regina. "Henry was with me, and… well, you know that. What I mean to say is that Emma came over, said that she was going to take Henry home, and… all was well with that. I mean, why not? But, if you're here...?!"

Mary Margaret found her voice at last, whispering out one name: "Zelena."