Author's Note – Thank you for those new and old enjoying our story. We appreciate the comments and you all rock in visiting this neck of when we update! Not sure how many more chapters there are to the story, but we're winding down.

Small warning - Robin dialogue but it's not what you think, we hope. And if it is, it's not bad! We promise =) I mean, after you read this chapter, there's going to be no easy way to break up our leading ladies.

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…

"YOU cast the curse?!" Emma howled at her mother, completely astounded that Snow White killed Prince Charming, her father, in order to bring them back to Storybrooke.

"And you!" her accusatory tone slung right at her lover. "You … broke her heart in two so they could live?"

It was the most asinine thing she had ever heard. It was reckless, stupid, and just plain crazy. Her passionate rant was far from over. "Did it ever occur to anyone in the land of fairy tales, of all things, that there might have been someone there that could defeat the Wicked Witch? Murdering to get back to me because I have light magic?! What if Regina couldn't have saved David? You guys never think about the consequences of your actions and jump to only one plausible solution!"

Regina flinched, then scowled. There had been the briefest of moments - as they stood before her cauldron - when Regina had realized she could have had her revenge! She could have let Charming die, and then crushed Snow's heart when she'd held it in her hands. Regina could've let Zelena win, or had fought her one-on-one without them, high on the power of finally winning. But, instead, she had done Snow's bidding and - along with them - kept faith that Emma would come and save them all.

"It was their idea. And, true light magic users are as rare as magic beans. Look at Blue. And Tinkerbell. If they are the examples of light magic, you can see our dilemma."

"Oh like I'm any better?" the savior snapped back. "They've made some terrible choices, true, but that doesn't mean I should be placed on a pedestal. I've made some seriously shitty choices in my life too. Doesn't automatically make me the best choice, Regina."

Mary Margaret opened her mouth to speak and Regina caught sight of her out the corner of her eye. She raised a hand to keep Snow quiet as she focused fully on Emma. "You have a history of undoing terrible curses in Storybrooke. They don't." She bit her lower lip, taking the risk of looking vulnerable in front of Emma's parents, her former enemies. It also silenced her lover, who apparently had a scathing retort on the top of her tongue. "And besides… if we'd succeeded with the fairy brigade, none of us would have ever seen you again. You'd have continued on, blissfully unaware in New York. With Walsh."

Visibly sighing, Emma tried to emotionally detach herself and honestly ask herself if it would have really been that bad to have lived out the lies she was living in New York. The memories Regina had given them were false. Walsh was false. Yet, everything that she and Henry built together once leaving Storybrooke was real. In the scenario that the mayor was suggesting - where they defeated the Wicked Witch in the Enchanted Forest - Walsh may have been freed from Zelena's magic and have left, wanting to find a way back or home. Perhaps he would have stayed with her. Or maybe someone else could have tried to befriend or bed her as part of the next big crisis from the Enchanted Forest. It was all postulation anyway but at least in most of the scenarios, the people that cared about her wouldn't have been casting curses to get to her. Zelena, her parents, and now Regina had been making decisions about the outcome of her life once again. It was terribly selfish of her to feel like this, but it was just tiring to hear about the consequences of others acting in her best interest without ever having a say.

"Well, does it really matter anyway?" Emma didn't want head down that road of dark thoughts to spare Regina's feelings. "Gold was able to negate my power. If he's able to do it again, we're screwed anyway."

No matter how Emma professed to care for her, it was abundantly clear that Emma still wished she was anywhere but Storybrooke. That's how Regina took it, and by the look on Snow and David's faces, they felt the same. It was only due to Henry's presence at this council of war in Snow's apartment that Regina bit her lip harder and held back what she might have snapped back at Emma. Baiting the woman and daring her to just leave was not what she really wanted to happen... because she couldn't guarantee that Emma wouldn't do just that.

Henry cleared his throat, ready to interject his opinions on this, but that's when Snow cried out sharply. "Grandma?"

David immediately hovered by his wife, offering a comforting hand upon her shoulder. "Mary Margaret! What's wrong?" he asked in a worried tone.

"Baby! Oh no… the baby… it's coming! It's time!" she exclaimed, looking terrified. Their baby was Zelena's final ingredient, after all.

"Of course." Emma shrugged and rolled her eyes. "Of course she goes into labor."

Regina shot her a look and quickly worked with David to help Snow out to his truck. She was mildly impressed that they did have a plan for this trip to the hospital, with to-go bags ready and what-not, but it also annoyed Regina that they were so organized about this. It was all for naught if her damned sister took the baby anyway!

Henry helped load the bags with his mother, who slapped the side of the vehicle once they were finished. "Regina and I will follow you to the hospital."

She glanced at her lover. "Figure we can do the same thing that we did here at the apartment and raise a protective barrier?"

Regina nodded. "Yes. And, that being said… Henry, I want you to stay here at the apartment. We'll update you with news about the baby, but it's safer if you're here and out of Zelena and her broom's flight path."

With reluctance, Henry agreed to it, but part of him wanted to argue that he was in no real danger anymore because Zelena had his mother's heart. The only target was his soon to be born aunt or uncle. Which was a crazy thought all by itself.

"All right. Just … be careful mom." He wrapped his arms around Regina's waist and hugged her tight.

"I'll try, Henry." She hugged him back, then looked grimly at Emma. "Lock the deadbolt and don't go out for anything or anyone until we give an all-clear."

"Yes, Mom," he said in that annoying know-it-all teenager tone before giving his birth mother a pained look. Emma hadn't even come to say goodbye to him before climbing into the driver's seat of the Bug. Regina lingered outside the yellow car a moment longer, memorizing her son's face and features. She waited until he'd gone into the building before climbing into the car and, with an effort, held her tongue. Turning the engine over, Emma waited for David to drive past them before pulling her car onto the main road.

"If you're so certain there's no way to defeat her, and that the life I gave you in New York was so much better, it's best if you drop me off at the hospital. Take Henry and go," Regina finally said in a shaky rush. It was clear she could hold her thoughts and feelings back no longer. "All that matters is his and your happiness. If that means it's not with me, then so be it. I learned the truth in Neverland, after all: villains don't get happy endings."

"What. Wait. What?!" Clearly caught off guard, the Bug lurched forward as Emma accidentally hit the brake. She recovered and sped up to tail David's truck and saw the peeking face of Mary Margaret from the back window, worried that something was wrong. Emma smiled and waved, alleviating any concern before sharply needling Regina for answers. "Where the hell did that come from?"

"Well, your thoughts were written plain all over your face, dear. New York wasn't real, but it's clear that - no matter what's transpired between us - it's where you would rather be. Make the choice you seem to feel so denied of."

Looking disgusted with that answer, Emma managed to spare Regina a scathing glance. "Nice. So now you're making assumptions that based on how I looked, the inevitable conclusion is you're no longer my happy ending?" Tongue in cheek, she shook her head and was clearly holding back the first thing that had come to mind to follow that. "I had a lot of thoughts going through my head back there Regina. Leaving you wasn't one of them. So fucking try harder. If you want me gone, say so."

Regina sighed. "You know I want you here. Don't confuse the matter, or put this on me. If you believe you'd be happier out of Storybrooke, it's a choice you have to make, Emma. That is all I'm trying to say. I can't force you to be here. I've learned that lesson by trying to make Henry heel to my parenting."

Emma was so angry that Regina kept pushing a decision onto her that had long ago been made. In this moment of silent seething while processing this, the blonde didn't realize how badly she was white knuckling the steering wheel while trying to concentrate on driving. "What the hell, Regina? I already made my fucking choice! Or wasn't us sleeping together enough? Or… or everything else that's happened. Like, oh I don't know? Telling my parents off, kissing in front of the entire town, telling you I love you? Yeah because that all points to Emma Swan doesn't know what the fuck she wants with Regina Mills."

Regina frowned, looking down at her lap. "Then what was it about New York that is so compelling?"

"Being blissfully unaware of the shit in the world, or realms for that matter, has its perks," she confessed honestly. "If you got to forget every horrible thing that had happened and got a do over that almost negated all the bad choices in your life … just how can that not be compelling?"

Regina bit her lip and inhaled deeply. "Being with you is what makes me feel that way. I feel as if there's hope I can be the woman you deserve, the mother Henry needs... that I can atone for every atrocity I enacted. So, yes. I can understand that. That is how I felt when we took the risk with David's life to get back to you."

"And that is what I was - am - so mad about," she said, pushing back against the driver's seat like a bitter child. "Just another moment that people who care about me make ridiculous choices and I have no say. Or can't because of more ridiculous circumstances. It makes me tired of everyone risking their lives for me and having to be the one to clean up everyone's fucking mess."

"I'm sorry about the latter. But considering what Zelena intends, can you blame us?" Regina asked, sounding desperate. "Just think, Emma: if she succeeded in the Enchanted Forest, it's more than that you never would have remembered us. You would never have been born. Henry would have never been born."

A slow, strangled, breath was exhaled as Regina's words slapped some sense into Emma, and tunneled its way past her fury. The savior visibly relaxed, loosening her grip upon the steering wheel and appeared perplexed. It barely registered for her to turn the Bug and follow her father's truck at the intersection.

"I … I know. You're … right. I …" She narrowed her eyes, looking distressed. "I don't know why I'm being like this. Why I'm so angry about everything going on. Maybe all of the stress at Zelena's farmhouse and having to give up your heart are making me stupid."

Regina reached over and squeezed her thigh. "The stakes of all of this are so high. And the pressure for you to perform, as the savior, is considerable. I don't take offense, dear. Nevermind that we're driving off to protect your parents' new baby. We can do this, Emma. I believe in you."

It was like a switch went off, immediately putting Emma back on the defensive, angry and guarded. "I thought I wasn't supposed to be the savior when it's just us," she snapped.

"Oh for heavens sakes. I'm not talking about how I see you. I just mean the pressure that's on you," Regina said, sounding exasperated. "Nevermind. Let's just do what we need to do here and stop my sister."

"Perfect. Means you'll finally stop talking," Emma mouthed back with a satisfying look.

Regina flinched again. "Emma, what is wrong? Really wrong?!"

"Well, for starters? You opening your mouth," she deadpanned.

"Stop the car. Now."

"What? Like hell I am! We need to get to the hospital," barked the blonde.

"Fine."

Regina went completely silent, battling the urge to poof away. She had grave concerns because Emma was treating her the way Leopold had behind closed doors. That wasn't Emma and it scared Regina.

"Thank you," she said with a mocking raise of her hand because at least they had one point they could agree on. It was just Regina was really getting on her nerves all of a sudden and the less she spoke, the better.

Realization dawned upon her, disgusted with her own thoughts, and that was when Emma stopped the car as previously demanded. Green eyes looked around in a panic as she became keenly aware of how she was behaving. It was alarming and it scared Emma so deeply that she was visibly shaking.

"Oh my god, Regina. I …" she choked back a sob, trying to work her mouth into finish the sentence. "I … was just reveling in the fact you finally stopped talking."

"Most do that, dear," she replied indifferently, on guard now. "You'd best get driving or your parents will notice."

"Oh god, Regina. Please don't do this right now." She put the Bug in park towards the side of the road, not caring that her parents may start to panic, and shifted to look at her lover.

"I need you right now because something's obviously wrong with me," she implored, looking desperate as she banged a fist against the dash. "I … I don't know why I feel like this towards you."

Perhaps it is how you really feel after all, was the mayor's first thought, despairing. After all, why not? Perhaps I was wrong in believing in the idea of love, let alone true love.

"Maybe... it was the darkness of Rumple's dagger," she managed, not fully buying the theory herself as she struggled with her feelings. "It's a powerful evil."

That shifted Emma's gaze away, working that theory through. She absently touched her shoulder where the wound had been magically healed, but perhaps some residual magical energy still lingered that was affecting her emotions?

Leave it to me being Frodo stabbed by a Nazgul … great.

It wasn't as if Emma hadn't been vocal towards her parents in regards to how she felt they had mistreated her and her feelings. But Regina had done nothing wrong. Everything was going so well between them despite all of the barriers that were testing them.

"If that's true, how do we fix it, Regina?" she asked, lowering the hand touching her own shoulder to rest on her lover's thigh.

Regina sighed and sounded tentative. "Blue maintains that light magic will undo any dark magic. The power of a kiss seems to hold a great deal of weight in this town..."

"Regina …" Emma began, sounding like her usual dubious self. She had already confessed that she maintained the belief that romantic true love was nigh impossible for her.

The brunette shook her head. "Believe in us even if you can't believe in true love."

Emma's phone was going off in her red leather jacket and she knew that if she didn't answer it, there would be mass panic on the part of her parents. Keeping her gaze locked with Regina's, she accepted the call and flinched. Mary Margaret immediately started on a worried rant between screaming in pain. The end of the scream was Emma's in before she was reintroduced to run on sentence Snow.

"We're fine. Me and Regina are talking magic plans that needed a minute and driving while talking just wasn't happening. We'll just poof there and meet you at the hospital when we're done." She ended it there and toss her phone on the dash with a sigh. "But true love is how this works. I do love you Regina. But I don't know …"

"Take it to your 'real' world then, Emma. This is just having faith in each other to withstand any hardship. Can you do that? Do you believe in our love that strongly?"

Closing her eyes, Emma let go of her grip on Regina's thigh and took her hand. "If I didn't believe that strongly in us, I never would have kissed you to begin with …"

"Alright then." Squeezing her hand, Regina prayed this was enough and leaned close, gazing intently at Emma. "Kiss me, dear."

Opening her eyes, the savior immediately swallowed in trepidation. It was like Regina said, being who she was to so many people did put a lot of pressure on her. In this instance, it was disappointing the woman she loved if this didn't work. Because if it didn't, then everything that the mayor was expecting in a relationship with Emma Swan was going to deteriorate since it would no longer fit her version of a happy ending. Regina stated that Henry and Emma's love were enough, but was that entirely true?

She felt afraid of going ahead with this idea. It was vivid and loud inside her own head to back off and just drive them to the hospital. That she was a fool to have hope that Regina's love was enough to heal her, and that it was completely unrealistic that there were even side effects of being stabbed with the Dark One's dagger. Regina was just toying with her disbelief of true love and making fun of her, coming up with excuses for Emma's true feelings manifesting.

"No," she cried out, gritting her teeth - then blanched, eyes widening at Regina. "Not you no! To the kissing. Me no! I was - … You know what. Fuck it. You don't need to know what I was thinking and I'm making no sense."

Before she lost this burst of will, she cupped Regina's face and brought their lips together. The brunette didn't know if Emma had found her way to truly believe, but she felt like she had enough belief for them both… and that was one of the scariest truths of her life. Eyes closed, she wound a hand into her blonde hair, kissing her solidly. Emma instinctively moaned into the kiss before a heartbeat later, she felt a surge of magical energy rush through her. The fog of despair, suspicion, and underlying hatred that had embedded itself deviously into her soul upon the subconscious whims of the Wicked Witch had vanished. The Dark One's dagger had been the perfect magical conduit of transferring this accidental effect due to the jealously that the wielder held, but it was no match for true love's kiss. It was not the realm shattering curse that Emma had always envisioned, as she had no other to compare it to then the one she had shared with Henry, but it wasn't any less meaningful. Because of how easily she had been betrayed or too quick to love, to have the private intimacy of knowing this fact, alone, with Regina felt even more extraordinary. Emma Swan was capable of loving this deeply.

Regina sighed into the kiss, feeling the rush of magic. She drew back and smiled at Emma. Even without her heart, her emotions were on a high, feeling sure that the kiss had done exactly what it needed to do. And, she hoped Emma finally understood what Regina realized all along: that they were indeed true loves.

"Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"Yeah …" answered a dumbstruck Emma. "It ... worked. Even without your heart."

"Imagine how magical kissing will be with it," Regina replied with an amused look.

With Emma back to being herself, she gave her lover a thoughtful look. "I'm being serious, Regina. Doesn't this kind of magic sort of need your heart? The deeply romantic rooted kind? And this isn't a complaint! I so happy feeling like myself again. Thanks to you."

"Magic is a whole-body experience. And it worked with Henry. So there was no cause to believe that it would not work with you. My true love." The mayor shifted her shoulders, smiling. "And you're welcome. I'm happy to see the light back in your eyes, Em."

"I'm so sorry …" she said, taking both of Regina's hands. "... for doubting you."

Regina squeezed them tightly, a patient look on her face. "You were… cursed. Essentially. The dagger, or its wielder, was just twisting your feelings. You didn't doubt. The dagger caused it."

"Oh Regina…" Emma's eyes lit up with so much love. She found it completely beautiful that the mayor misunderstood what she was apologizing for. "I wasn't saying sorry for doubting you since being stabbed. I was saying sorry for doubting that we were true loves."

"Ah!" Regina's filled with tears then, the smile widening. She answered that apology with a deep kiss, so happy that Emma understood and felt it as truth too.

Brushing fingers through Regina's dark hair, Emma eagerly returned the deep, but brief, kiss. They did have a baby to protect after all. David and Mary Margaret had to be at the hospital by now, which meant Zelena couldn't be too far behind.

"We have to go," she said with reluctance. "Otherwise, you know, baby sibling gets kidnapped and everything gets erased out of existence." With a smirk, she added. "Would kind of suck now and all."

"Indeed it would." Regina shifted back into her seat properly and nodded. "Let's go protect your family. And then, stop mine."

"Nah. I still want to poof there. Seconds matter," she explained, taking Regina's hand. "And for the record? When we're done with your sister, remind to punch Tinkerbell in the face. She started the doubting crap."

Regina couldn't help but chuckle at that. She focused her magic on them both, envisioned the hospital waiting room, and used her magic to transport them exactly where they needed to be. Without missing a beat, she took in the surreal sight of Robin Hood and his damned Merry Men guarding the lobby.

"Regina!" he exclaimed. "We might've shot you."

"Like you almost shot her at the farmhouse?" snorted Emma.

"You might've tried. Make yourself useful and watch for my sister," Regina shot back. Still holding Emma's hand, she led her deeper into the hospital where they could place the protective wards around the maternity unit.

In the lobby, Robin Hood surveyed the positions of the Merry Men. They were as prepared as could be against the Wicked Witch and Dark One, ready to take aim upon those monsters once their lookout gave the word. Even with losing Arnold and having to retract on the promise of helping Prince David out in the woods, he felt obligated in protecting the unborn child when he saw the truck pull up at the hospital. Mulan had also accompanied them, restless in wanting to honor her fallen ally. Robin was just relieved that the two of them were back on speaking terms again.

Regina ran through a mental checklist, preparing herself for their inevitable arrival. Henry was safe. Emma was having a moment with her parents, and she hoped that would settle her true love's feelings about the soon-to-be-arrived sibling. They'd protected the maternity ward to the best of their ability and it ought to hold… but Zelena had flaunted her way through every other encounter, so Regina couldn't help but feel nervous. Arms folded over her chest, she took up her place in the corridor off the lobby, waiting.

Seeing the Evil Queen finally alone, Robin decided this was a good time as any to get something off his chest.
"I'll be but a moment, Mulan." He patted her back and offered Tala a gentle pet along her feathered breast before lowering his crossbow to approach the mayor. "Regina? If I may have a word?"

Pressing her lips together, she stared at him seriously, thinking that he wouldn't come bother her now unless it was important. "What is it?"

"To be honest? I doubt you could ever know what it is. But you've had to be curious as to why I've been coincidentally in your vicinity more often than not since we first met in Storybrooke? Or why I never left the castle despite the exorbitant amount of money and supplies to send me off back when we were in the Enchanted Forest?" he pressed.

"Well, you certainly weren't subtle about your stalking," Regina replied acerbically. Everything in her posture and expression made it clear that - as she had bigger fish to fry, namely her sister - she was not going to be distracted or intimidated by Robin. "So, what is your grievance, Robin Hood?"

His mouth twitched, unimpressed with Regina's usual arrogance or wit. Shrewdly sizing up the former Evil Queen, Robin bluntly did as requested and aired his grievance. "You murdered my wife."

"I murdered a good number of people," she replied matter-of-factly. "Including my own father."

"Of course. So then you'll take no offense and understand that I had intended to murder you," he replied just as crisply. "My reason for all that incessant stalking and what not."

Regina chuckled darkly. The fact that he had a young son was the only reason she didn't incinerate him for the threat.

"That's why you didn't want me to take the sleeping curse potion, hm? Wanted to do the job yourself?" she taunted. "Tinkerbell believed you to be my true love. Pixie dust never lies. It would be just my luck that my so-called true love would want to kill me."

"Oh yes. The fairy was quite talkative about the night you betrayed her burgeoning friendship. About the pixie dust leading you to me. My tattoo. How you ruined my life because you didn't enter the tavern," he said with dramatic, sarcastic, flare. "Ironically, she was right. You did ruin my life. But not until years later when you ordered Marian's death and left Roland motherless. That was how. Not because you didn't enter some bloody tavern."

Regina's eyes narrowed slightly, studying him. She figured that Robin expected an apology, and she understood that she ought to… but, she had meant every word she'd told Pan back in Neverland. Regina Mills was not a woman who held onto regrets for every vile, evil thing she'd done. Right or wrong, each incident had led her closer to her son. She wondered if Robin could comprehend that if she bothered to waste her breath on explaining it to him, being a single parent himself.

The outlaw could see something going on behind those brown eyes, but he was unable to discern what. Her stance was rather neutral and it felt like the smallest of victories to not be looked down upon like some plebian crying out at injustice. What did bother him was her silence.

"Nothing to say?" he nods, figuring that it was the case. "Fine. Then I leave you with this. Despite my personal vendetta against you, I've decided that my quest in ending your life has come to an end. Mainly for Roland's sake, as I try to do good and be a role model for the boy. But word travels fast in this small town. Specifically that the Savior and the Evil Queen were together? Imagine my surprise when it was confirmed by David himself when he asked for our assistance to watch over the town." As Charming had felt partly responsible for Arnold's death and had asked Robin to move his entire camp closer to the outskirts of the town to guard instead.

Regina was losing patience fast with Robin's never-ending monologue. And you're bringing up my relationship with Emma why…?

"Trying to be good for our children is what it is all about. Believe me, I do understand that," she replied.

"And I now know that is the case with you," he admitted, finally reaching his point. "You're trying to be good. For your son. And to be fair, I don't believe the daughter of Prince Charming and Snow White would fight so hard to be with you if she not only loved you, but valued you for what you are trying to do to better yourself."

Regina tilted her head. "Thank you."

His face scrunched together in thought, waiting … and continued to do so until it was abundantly clear that Regina had nothing further to say.

"Not that I'm begrudging the gratitude, but after everything I've just said, that's all you have to say?" he asked perturbed.

She gave him one of her deadpan, clearly impatient looks then. "I appreciate what you've said, but I do have a good deal on my mind. We have a witch to defeat."

"Yes, but she's not here yet. And I swear this town has little downtime. I still need this oppor-"

"The Wicked Witch and the Dark One are coming! The Wicked Witch and the Dark One are coming!" Grumpy's cry of alarm cut through as the dwarf barreled through the front lobby doors.

"Ah well there it is," Robin raised his hand towards the commotion. "The expected interruption. This conversation is not over, your Majesty."

Raising his crossbow, he left Regina's side and shouted. "To arms men!"

As often when their leader barked out orders like this, Mulan had to dubiously glare at him with an upturn brow.

"And of course, women," Robin correctly with a smirk.

"Here we are, my pet. It's time for the amateur hour," Zelena snarked as the Dark One shuffled behind her.

They rounded the corner and entered the hospital on the heels of Leroy's shouting. She wanted to laugh at the pathetic attempt before her. Amateur hour indeed. Hood was shouting to aim true, or fire true or some other rot; Zelena simply used her magic to incapacitate all of them in one fell swoop.

She removed the librarian as an obstacle easily, leaving Gold distressed. Zelena didn't care; he'd follow as he had no choice. And the baby was nearly in her clutches! The witch rounded the last corner and found her sister staring her down.

"How adorable! Protecting your… what is it? Your would-have-been future brother-in-law?" Zelena sneered.

"You aren't-" Regina started.

Cora's eldest daughter merely flicked her wrist and tossed the mayor aside. Regina went down hard, collapsing against the tiles. Zelena stepped over her, tugging Gold along in her wake.

"It's time, my dear. The savior is the last line of defense," she chuckled, mockingly. "Nullify her."

Outside her parents room, Emma stood watch as Whale helped encourage Mary Margaret through another contraction. The baby would be here within seconds and all of the Charmings were safe behind the protection spell that she and Regina created. She just hoped that if Zelena managed to magically incapacitate her, the wards would still hold since both savior and queen had performed the magic together.

Just then, the cries of a newborn reached her ears. Emma turned around to see her sibling for the first time. David was grinning ear to ear as Whale announced it was a boy.

Gold winced as he spied the savior exactly where Zelena predicted. He clenched his fist around the necklace so tightly, his hand ached, the swan imprint denting into his flesh. He watched with regret as Emma realized that her power had again been sapped away.

The savior watched the barrier visibly ripple before buckling in on itself and disappear in a white flash.

"Shit." Green eyes shot angrily towards Gold. "How?! How the hell are you doing this?"

Zelena smirked. "Show her, darling!"

Looking anguished, Gold held out his hand, palm up, so Emma could see the small, silver necklace he held. It was the swan keychain that Bae had, apparently, given the savior once upon a time. It was enchanted and, with a bit of Zelena's dark magic twisting it, had the power to halt Emma Swan in her magical tracks.

The blonde couldn't believe what she was seeing because that necklace was supposed to buried six feet under when they lay Neal to rest. She extended a hand upwards and uncurled a finger that shakily pointed at the token that symbolized the love she had once shared with Gold's son..

"How did you get that?" She winced, not at all happy that her voice cracked. It pained her to show such weakness in front of Zelena, but this was unforgivable.

"Oh, tell her, my pet!" Zelena taunted.

Gold's gaze dropped to the floor, clenching the necklace in his hand again. His voice was ragged with pain when he spoke. "Ye don't need me to say how, Miss Swan. I'm sure you can imagine what she made me do."

Oh Emma could imagine quite a great deal with how malicious Gold's master was. She was willing to bet that Gold had to dig the necklace free with his own hands, commanded by that monster to defile his own son's grave. She couldn't take it anymore, Zelena's smug look of confidence, and regardless of how magically helpless the savior had become, she was going to remove that smirk off the witch's face.

"You fucking bitch!" Cracking Zelena across the face with a mean right hook, she tried to make a grab for the dagger.

Zelena took the punch, laughing through it with mad glee. She retaliated by throwing Emma across the hallway with a magical blast, same as she had done with Regina.

"Keep watch, pet."

And with that, she strode into Snow's room to dispatch the doctor and David, claiming the unnamed little prince as hers before Mary Margaret could even hold him ...

Author's Note - Hopefully things weren't too rushed! We wanted the side effect that happened with Zelena and the dagger be the catalyst for Emma to realize that she was capable of true love - something that was always there. Why that was 'fixed' in this chapter. We figured several scenarios of what could have happened if it festered, and as angsty as our fic comes across at times, we didn't want to go the route of major angst that would have happened. Of course, we kinda made up for that with how Gold was able to negate Emma's power so ... I guess it evens out.

See you next chapter =)

And for those that want to know, we're probably going to continue The Hearty Honeycrisp Apple ;)