A/N: Thank you all for the faves, follows, and reviews! Here's another chapter for being so amazing.
Which Witch?
"Okay, Henry's asleep upstairs. If he wakes up, you guys are helping me with the case, okay?" Emma said to all of them, taking a seat on the couch. "So, what the hell happened here? I mean," her eyes shifted across the room and settled on Regina before finishing with, "besides the obvious."
Regina pursed her lips but remained silent. They'd all gone over this more times today than she cared to. She was exhausted and emotionally drained. As much as she wished she could see Henry, she couldn't bear him looking at her with no memory of who she was. All she wanted to do was go home in case he woke, but it seemed she would be stuck until they sorted this whole thing out.
Snow sat up from the chair across from Emma. "We don't know. We watched you drive over the town line with Henry, Regina started to cast her spell to take us all back to the Enchanted Forest, and then everything went black."
David. who'd been pacing the floor behind Snow's chair, came to a stop, and caught his daughter's eyes. "And the next thing we remember is waking up in our beds like it was any other morning in Storybrooke."
Regina scoffed and looked down. "Except it clearly wasn't."
"Almost harvest time, but you can't remember who planted the seed. That's bad luck, Majesty," Hook teased from across the room, and Regina shot him a look that clearly told him if he wanted to keep his other limbs intact he would keep his pirate wit to himself.
Emma's voice rose up to keep the conversation from going sour. "Clearly, a year has passed. I was in New York, I know that it did."
David shook his head. "And we don't know where the hell we were. We don't even know if we left Storybrooke."
"Aye, you did. I was with you all," Hook confirmed.
Surprised, Snow turned to look at the pirate. "In the Enchanted Forest?"
Hook nodded. "Aye, Regina's spell brought us back. We spent a brief time with a Prince and Princess named Phillip and Aurora. But I wasn't feeling the community spirit, so I ventured off on my own. Last I saw of you lot, you were making your way to Regina's castle."
Emma looked a bit too smug as her gaze wandered to Regina. "And now you're cursed. Why doesn't that surprise me?"
Regina took a deep breath, already tired of defending herself. "Look, I didn't cast this curse if that's what you're thinking."
Emma leaned back studying her. "The thought did cross my mind."
"Why would I do this?" Regina asked, standing up with a little more effort than what she was used to. "Why would I erase," she glanced down at her stomach with emphasis and stated, "a clearly important year of my life?"
"Maybe it was a bad year for you." Emma raised an eyebrow, her eyes meeting Regina's. "Maybe this curse was your way of getting me to bring Henry back here."
"With no memory of me? If I wanted my son back, do you think I'd put myself through this kind of torture? Especially now?" Unconsciously, Regina's hand went to rest protectively on her stomach as tears prickled in her eyes. Damn those pregnancy hormones! "I cast curses to hurt other people, not myself."
Emma stood up, in what Regina took as an attempt to level the ground with her. "Maybe so, but we need to start crossing people off the list."
"How?" Regina demanded, annoyed at Emma's self made ego. "By walking around, using your superpower on everyone?"
"You got a better idea?" the blonde countered.
Then something inside Regina clicked. Everyone was so quick to accuse her, but how did the "savior" manage to get here in the first place? Crossing her arms across her chest, she asked, "Why are you here?"
"Storybrooke. A new curse. Missing year. Why do you think?" Emma's tone was at it's snarky best, setting Regina's teeth on edge.
She closed her eyes, conjuring up every ounce of patience she had left in her, and she breathed out slowly. "No, what I mean is, how did you know to come back? I gave you and Henry a new life, new memories."
Emma tilted her head at the pirate across the room. "Hook found me, gave me a potion that made me remember. There wasn't enough for Henry."
"Oh. Well, how convenient." Regina placed her hands on her now aching back. Determined this pregnancy would not slow her down, she let out a breath and ignored the pain.
David's brow furrowed and he turned his attention toward Killian. "If you left the Enchanted Forest before the curse, how did you know to find Emma and come to Storybrooke?"
"As I was sailing the realms, a seagull landed on my ship's wheel with a note instructing me to retrieve Emma and bring her back here. There was a small vial of memory potion tied to its leg," Hook finished.
"Who sent it?" Snow looked at him expectantly.
Looking between Snow and David, Hook said, "I assumed you did."
"Message via bird that does sound like you," David admitted, looking at his wife with a wry smirk.
Everyone looked up as the front door swung open; a haggard looking Grumpy approached them followed by Happy.
"What is it?" David asked looking between the two dwarves.
Grumpy threw his arms to his side. "We lost another one. We're down to five now."
"Four, actually," Happy confirmed as he held out his cell phone. "Bashful's not answering."
Emma got up from her chair and turned to them. "Wait. What is going on?"
Grumpy looked at Emma. "Thank God you're back, sister."
Snow stood and moved towards Emma. "It's not just our memories that are missing. Ever since we woke up, people have begun disappearing."
"Whoever cursed us is picking us off one by one," Grumpy replied.
Emma turned to her father. "Who exactly is missing?"
"Aside from those dwarfs, we're not sure. There's been a lot of confusion over the past few days. It's been hard to keep track of everyone," David said, regretfully.
In a soft voice, Emma asked, "Wait. Neal, is he here?"
Regina noticed the way Hook turned to look at Emma. She arched a brow knowingly.
"Well, we haven't found him yet," Snow soothed.
Never one to beat around the bush, Emma got to the point. "So he might have been taken, too."
Grumpy deadpanned. "Smart money's on yes."
"Leroy!" Snow scolded.
"He'll turn up, Swan. He always does," Hook assured her, somewhat reluctantly.
"Some folks are starting to set up camp in the woods at the edge of town. Neal might be there," David added.
Snow met Emma's worried eyes. "Or he may not have gotten swept up in the curse at all."
Emma crossed her arms. "There's only one way we're gonna figure all this out. We need to get your memories back."
"How are we going to do that?" Snow asked, hopefully.
Emma looked over at Regina. "By figuring out who took them in the first place."
Regina rolled over to her back and stared at the familiar ceiling. For a breathless moment she tensed, disorientated, and then sagged back into the bed when she remembered where she was.
Home.
Home in Storybrooke.
She pulled the covers tight under her chin. Her hand wandered down her stomach.
Last night she stayed up late thinking over her options regarding the baby. The father was obviously out of the picture, although once she had her memories back she could not dismiss him entirely, if he was even brought back to this land. However, if he wasn't, her options were pretty straightforward.
A baby.
She was having a baby.
Regina checked the time. It was still early.
She wandered downstairs and yawned as she stood in front of the coffee pot pouring herself a cup of her usual black coffee, but after a couple of sips, realizing what she was doing, she dumped it and poured herself a glass of water. Frowning, she shook her head. She was a reasonable person to know that a little caffeine wouldn't hurt the baby, but at the same time she couldn't help but think how lucky she was to be pregnant at all. Running a hand across the top of her belly, she gazed down at her new 'bump,' as Snow called it. She couldn't help but feel this need to do anything in her power to keep her baby safe and healthy.
And if that meant giving up coffee for a month or two, so be it.
With a sigh, she put all thoughts of coffee out of her mind and headed to the bathroom to shower and get ready for the day ahead. She had to meet Emma down at the Town Hall in a few hours, and she still had some shopping to do.
Starting the shower, Regina stripped off her pajamas, which were now a pair of yoga pants and a tee-shirt, and then ducked under the steaming cascade. The water was nice and hot, and by the time she emerged ten minutes later, she was feeling a little more like herself. She brushed her teeth then stepped into the bedroom wearing only a towel. Opening her dresser she grabbed a clean bra and underwear and threw them on the bed. Picking up her favorite boots with wide heels, she tossed them on the floor next to the bed.
Standing in front of her closet, she frowned. As she tugged through her array of skirts, dresses, and pants, she sighed. Great. Just what she needed. Then she thought about the yoga pants she wore to bed and the other workout clothes she had back when she used to enjoy running. Before the first curse was broken. When time stood still, instead of threatening to take all that she had. Back at her dresser, she pulled out one of the many black pairs of running pants. They were not something she'd wear regularly, but they were stretchy, and they'd have to do for now.
Thirty minutes later, Regina couldn't ever remember dressing to be such a chore. Yesterday had been such a blur, so she didn't fully register how tight her bra was until now. With a roll of her eyes, she thought, 'just another thing I have to buy.'
After throwing on the pants and stretching a tank-top over her belly, she grabbed a knitted sweater from the back of her closet. To her great surprise it actually zipped up. Thankful for one small favor, she sat down to put on her boots.
She groaned as she stretched forward. She would never take being able to bend over for granted again. She shifted sideways in an attempt to zip up the first boot. Once she finished, she reached for its mate. Regina growled out in frustration as she had to pitch sideways to reach it, and even then, she still couldn't get the zipper up.
Somewhat out of breath, Regina glared down at her bump. A moment later, with a wave of her hand, purple smoke rose, then dissipated around her, and her other boot was magically now zipped. Regina shook her head at herself, wondering why she didn't use her magic in the first place.
Glancing across the room, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. All of a sudden, it became startlingly real, and she was assailed by a wave of deep-rooted self-doubt. Having a baby was the last thing she'd imagined doing in so very long.
Sitting there, staring at her reflection with her hands caressing protectively over the bump that was her baby, she could feel the panic rising. It bubbled from the deepest recesses of her mind, spreading over her like oil on water, suffocating and stifling all the joy. She took a deep, hitching breath, and just as she was about to let the tears she'd been holding back fall, there was suddenly a flutter in her belly, very strong, very defiant.
She sat stock-still and waited. She gasped, when it happened again. Lifting one of her hands, she placed it where she felt the kicks. "Okay, little one, I know you've known me a lot longer than I've known you, but you're going to have to be patient with me." Her voice softened, and she caressed the spot where she felt another stubborn kick. As if the baby was attempting to scold her for her negative thoughts. "So if I say anything or think anything that's, well... that's not very nice, just ignore me. I have the strongest feeling that you are very special and you were made from..." Regina closed her eyes, as a tear slipped down her cheek. She pressed her lips together before speaking the only thing she knew to be true. The only thing that could have broken her curse. "You were made from True Love."
Another kick and Regina let out a light laugh. Smiling down at her stomach, she said, "I promise to keep you safe, and I promise I'll figure this out." The moment was broken with a ding of her cell phone. Sighing, Regina got to her feet and took her phone from beside her bed.
I'm ready when you are, read the text from Snow. Regina shook her head. Who would have thought she would one day be going clothes shopping with Snow White.
An hour later, she opened the door to the town hall, and she was wearing a new outfit that accentuated her condition quite beautifully. Snow had made it an official duty to have all of her new clothes taken back to her house while Regina met with Emma.
She silently watched from the back of the room as Emma attempted to quiet the angry crowd which, Regina thought with a bit of smug satisfaction, the blonde was failing miserably at.
"Everyone! Everyone, I know that you're frightened and confused, but I need you to listen," Emma cried, over all the voices shouting in the room.
A voice rang out, "Is it true? Is there some kind of monster keeping us from leaving town?"
"Is that what happened to my brothers?" Another shouted.
"Yes," Emma confirmed. "We believe that people are being abducted as they approach the town line."
"So we're trapped here again?" Granny spoke, standing up making her presence known.
"It's no different than last time," Emma affirmed.
"Last time, we lost our memories. This time, we get dragged into the woods!" Grumpy shouted, angrily.
The dwarf was starting to wear on Regina's last nerve.
"Do you know who cursed us, and why they want us here?" Belle stood up from beside Granny.
Emma nodded. "I'm working on it, but it's hard to figure out who cast a curse when no one remembers the last year."
"Who? Isn't it obvious?" Grumpy spat.
Emma looked at him expectantly. "Do you remember something?"
His voice dripped with accusation as he turned speaking to the room. "Who cast the last curse? Who knows how to use it? Who's the only one who ever did anything like this before?! The Evil Queen!"
Not surprised by the turn of events, Regina held up her hands. "For once, I'm just as clueless as the rest of you."
"You expect us to believe that?" Whale looked at Regina.
Regina looked pointedly back at the doctor, who she suddenly just realized, with horror, was the only doctor in town. No, he was definitely not getting anywhere near her uterus. She blinked at him. "It's the truth."
The old woman spoke up again, "This curse has your fingerprints all over it."
"And you did take away our memories once before…" Belle added.
"Still have your big house," Granny went on.
Regina was incredulous. Do they really think her that petty? If they were going to accuse her of something, at least give her credit for wanting something more sinister than damn real estate. Moving from the back, she walked slowly toward the middle of the room, only stopping once she was in directly in line with Emma. "You think I care about my house? About my job? About any of these things?"
Archie stood now. "Regina, please. Just tell us the truth. We'll understand."
"Speak for yourself," Belle mumbled.
"I am telling the truth. If I had done this, there's one thing I'd have right now." She paused a moment, then added, "My son."
Emma's hands were on her hips holding her ground. "Yeah, you're not getting anywhere near him until I get to the bottom of what's going on here."
Regina tilted her head, lowering her voice she said, "So now you're siding with the rabble? I thought we'd been through this. I'm innocent."
"Yes, that's what you said before, but now I'm wondering if I believe you."
Many got up out of their chairs, some started towards her. Really? Even pregnant she had no sympathy? Regina rolled her eyes before she held out her hands, stopping them all in their tracks, and warned, "Don't come any closer!"
"Regina…" Emma began.
"Do you remember who you're dealing with? If you all want me to be the Evil Queen, then fine." Regina smiled internally, but gave the outward appearance of the person they were all thinking of. "That's exactly who you'll get."
An energy erupted from her, as she used her magic to violently shake the ground and building around them. Regina waited a moment, making sure they all got a good hard reminder of the power she possessed before releasing it, raising both of her hands, and disappearing in a cloud of purple smoke.
"An earthquake?"
Regina looked up from her desk, momentarily savoring the fact the she could still rattle the savior's cage. "I had to make a statement. And you're fine."
Emma walked up to the desk.
"So, do you think they bought it?" Regina asked.
"Yeah, I think they did." Emma said.
Regina was finally starting to feel like they were covering some ground. "Good."
"Nice work. Now let's figure out who really cursed this town."
"How long do you think we have?" Regina wondered as she took out a case placing it on the table in her office.
The blonde sighed. "Until whoever cast this curse realizes you're not actually on the run from me. But till then, no one's gonna suspect we're working together."
"Let's see it."
Emma handed her the small blue bottle and took a seat. "That enough?"
"Uh, to use… No. But to replicate?" Regina shook the bottle, squinting at the remainder. "I think so."
"We can start waking people up, figure out who the hell sent everyone back here."
Regina straightened up, the implications of this hitting her forcefully in the chest. If this worked she'd finally remember. She would know who the father of her child was. A thought that both terrified and excited her. She looked down at Emma who had been watching her. It didn't take a mind reader to guess what she had been thinking. "And I can make Henry remember me. Thank you."
"For what? We haven't done anything yet."
She looked at Emma as though the answer should be obvious. "You saw how quick this town was to blame me, but you… you believe I didn't cast that curse. I know that wasn't easy for you."
"Sure it was. I knew you were telling the truth," Emma answered simply.
Regina started gathering the ingredients she needed. "Even though everything that has happened has put me right next to Henry? Maybe this was some super-complicated, ingenious plan."
"It wasn't. My superpower may not be perfect, but with you, Regina, I always know when you're lying. This time, you're not. You didn't do it."
"Even though you know I can't live without him."
"There you go telling the truth again." Emma smiled up at her.
"My God," Snow gasped, sitting across from Henry at the diner. "Did you know there's something called "cradle cap"? Babies get it on their heads. It's a crusty, yellow, greasy, scaly skin rash. Seriously! This book uses all of those words."
Henry was engrossed in his game. He was used to half listening to babysitters ramble about weird stuff and tossed out a, "Gross. Yes! De-rezzed him."
Snow placed the book on the table. "You know, there's a library down the street. We can pop in and get you something, if you'd rather. I know how much you love reading."
Henry perked up a bit at the mention of the library. "How'd you know that?"
Scrambling for an answer that would satisfy the preteen, Snow stammered awkwardly, "Y- your mom said, I think."
"Cool. Uh, let me go get my coat. I'll be right down." Henry got up from the booth and started upstairs.
With a relieved sigh, Snow picked up the book and started reading again. If Regina wasn't going to be prepared at least one of them should. "Cradle cap."
"You know, it goes away. It doesn't hurt the baby." Snow turned in the booth at the sound of a voice behind her. "It doesn't?"
The woman with the bright red hair smiled. "Babies are stronger than you think. You're Snow White, aren't you?"
Snow returned the smile. "I'm Mary Margaret here, actually. This must be your first time in Storybrooke?"
The woman nodded, her bright blue eyes glancing around the room. "I missed the last curse, so everything in this world is still a bit new."
Smiling encouragingly, Snow replied, "Don't worry. You'll get used to it. Who were you back in our land?"
With a wave of her hand and the shake of her head ,the redhead gave a light laugh, then, "Oh, no one you'd remember. Not everyone was famous, like you."
Snow laughed along with her, blushing. "I don't know if I'd say "famous.'"
"You were a princess, and some of us were just supporting players." Snow opened her mouth to say something but the woman continued on, getting up and coming to stand by her. "No, it's okay. I loved who I was and what I did. I was a midwife."
Snow fully turned to face her. "Really?"
"Mm-hmm. My name's Zelena. So, are you expecting?"
She shook her head. "Oh, no it's not for me it's for," Snow stopped short, taking a moment to look around for anyone who might be Eve's dropping. Lowering her voice, she went on, "my friend. She's expecting and not really prepared. I'm just helping her out."
"She must be very special to have such a great friend like Snow White to help her with her baby. Don't worry, you'll both learn quickly."
"Maybe you could give me some advice?" Snow held up the book in front of her. "I have been turning the corner of every page on which I have a question, and now I can't close the book, there are so many."
Zelena smiled widely. "It would be an honor."
"Careful. Once she has this baby, neither one of us will let you leave our side." Snow laughed, again.
"Just being able to help Snow White with such an important task like helping a friend, I can't think of anything that would make me happier."
For the last three hours, Regina had weighed, chopped and ground all she needed to replicate Hook's memory potion she procured from Emma. The problem was that if she was off, even by so much as one simple component, her hard work would fail. Potions were never her strong suit. Elemental magic was where she always excelled.
This had to work.
She needed answers not only for herself but for them all. Something serious was going on in town, and not only had she made a promise to keep her baby safe, but Henry as well. She would not fail at that. Whatever was happening, she would protect her children.
Regina poured the final ingredient to the colorless mixture.
"Did it work?" Emma's voice came from the other side of the table.
"There's only one way to find out." Swirling it around it turned black as night, and after a moment, she brought it up to her lips.
"Should you really be drinking that?" Emma asked, worriedly eyeing the dark liquid.
"Don't you worry. The baby will be just fine." Regina replied, confidently right before drinking it down. Smiling, Regina waited for the effects of the potion to work its magic.
"Well?" The blonde's voice rang out. "Do you remember?"
The moment came and passed. Disappointment and anger filled her. Regina turned and threw the glass against the wall.
Emma cringed. "Either that wall did something to you in the past year, or I'm gonna say it didn't work."
Regina placed her hands on the table in front of her. "I must have missed an ingredient."
"Can we try again?"
"I already used up what was left of the potion Hook gave you." Frustrated, Regina snatched up the blue bottle, and slid it roughly across the table at Emma. Walking away she rested her hands on her back. "There's nothing left to replicate. I can't live in this town if Henry doesn't remember me. And I also can't live here knowing that I could be walking down the same street as my baby's father and not know it. That's worse than any curse I ever could have cast."
"What if we can still find the person who cursed the town?"
Regina turned to Emma annoyed. "Haven't you been paying attention? I can't make any more potion."
"You don't have to make anything," Emma said, leaning forward. "We can still catch the person."
Doubt clouded Regina's mind. "How?"
"We've been running a con by making this potion in secret. What if we're running the wrong con?"
Regina crossed her arms and shook her head. She could feel a headache coming on. "I'm -I'm sorry. I'm not well versed in cons. Unlike you, I never spent time in prison."
Emma gave her an unamused smile. "Ha ha. No, it's not something I learned in prison. It's an old bail-bonds trick. You smoke out the perp by making them think you're onto them."
"How does that help us?" she asked, intrigued.
A mischievous grin spread on the savior's face. "If the person who cast the curse thought we were about to make a memory potion."
Regina saw where she was going. "They'd want to stop us."
"Yes, and then we set a trap for them when they do. We just need to get the word out that you're close to making all this work."
Regina grinned. "I know just who to tell."
Regina sighed, her head falling back tiredly against the headrest of the passenger seat in Emma's car. "So, do we just sit here and wait?"
Emma's gaze never left Regina's office building as she responded, "Till the person who cast the curse makes a move on your office."
"Is this really what you do for a living?"
"Yeah." Emma smiled, proudly. "It's called a stakeout."
Regina looked back to the windows across the street that she was supposed to be watching. She, however, couldn't focus. Her attention focused on the fact that she had to pee. Again. Not to mention the fact that her baby was now doing what could only be described as somersaults on her bladder. She shifted in the seat towards Emma. Attempting to take her mind off of her problem, she wondered aloud, "And you don't get bored?"
"I don't know." Emma picked up her cup of coffee and took a drink. "You find ways to pass time eat, talk, mostly watch, which is what we should be doing."
Regina sighed. After a few moments when she couldn't take the silence any longer, she asked, "Does he have friends?"
The blonde's brow furrowed. "Does who have friends?"
"Henry," Regina clarified. "Does he have any friends in New York?"
"Yeah. He has a lot of friends. No girlfriends yet at least, not that I know about."
Looking down at the cup of tea in her lap, Regina asked, "So he's happy? His life is good there?"
"Yeah, I almost didn't come back because of that."
"Well, why did you?"
Emma sat back and smiled. "Because he may not remember all of this, but I do, and I know what he would say. A hero would come back."
Regina warmed and nodded, proudly. "He would say that."
"Are you sure you don't want to meet him?" Emma almost whined as Regina attempted to blow it off. "We can just tell him you're an old friend, like Mary Margaret and David."
Regina shook her head. Swallowing hard to keep her emotions in check she said, "It would be too hard, but thank you."
"Just let me know if you change your mind." Emma took another drink of her coffee.
They were both silent for a time, then Regina felt Emma's eyes on her. "What?"
Emma gave a quick nod to her belly. "So, you really have no idea who it was?"
Regina groaned. "None."
She could hear the humor in the blonde's voice when she asked, "No special love interest back in the Enchanted Forest?"
Regina bit her tongue. "Obviously, none that I'm aware of."
"Not even from before the first curse?" Emma prodded.
Regina rolled her eyes. "Are we really going to do this now? We have more important things on our plate to deal with than to talk about boys."
"Okay, jeesh. I'm sorry I asked."
Regina shifted in the uncomfortable seat. Feeling a bit guilty, her eyes met the Saviors. "Look, I'm sorry, I'm just a bit more… emotional than usual."
Emma nodded. "Yeah, those hormones get you every time. I remember." She gave Regina a brief smile and looked back out the window.
Just when Regina had thought Emma was about to let it go, she glanced back and asked, "Are you happy about it?"
First Snow, now Emma. Like mother like daughter. Regina sighed before answering, swallowing her emotions down. "I honestly don't know what to think. And anytime I finally get a moment to stop and think about it, I keep coming back to the same problem. That I'm about to have a baby and I have no idea who its father is."
"Well, once we get your memories back your problems will be solved."
"Will they?" Regina shook her head, not as confident as Emma. "He may not even be here. Not everyone comes back with the curse, you know."
Emma frowned. "I can't imagi…" Suddenly a shadow appeared from Regina's office. "We got 'em."
Emma held her gun down as they walked into the building. "You sure whoever's in there can't escape?"
"I sealed the room with a blood lock. It can keep you out or it can keep you in. I know what I'm doing." Regina waved her hand over the lock, her spell allowing them to enter in the office. Regina went in first followed by Emma.
Her office had been tossed upside down. All of her beakers and her case full of ingredients were knocked off the table laying in broken pieces on the ground.
"There!" Emma called, spotting the dark cloaked figure. "Don't move!"
Regina whipped around, holding the flashlight. "There's nowhere for you to go!"
But the figure disappeared into a green puff of smoke. Regina and Emma stared at the spot where the figure vanished.
Confused, Emma looked to Regina with wide eyes. "I thought you said they couldn't do that."
"No one can break through blood magic, no matter how powerful they are." Regina breathed..
"Then who are we dealing with?"
Taking the last few steps, Regina froze in her tracks upon reaching the apartment door. Hesitant she said, "Maybe this isn't a good idea."
"It's gonna be fine." Emma assured her. "Trust me."
"Hey. How was your day?"
"Good. Storybrooke is a weird place, but cool. Did you know there's a library inside a clock tower?"
"I do. I've been there before. Come here. I want you to meet someone." Emma said, steering Henry to Regina. "This is Regina Mills. She's the Mayor of this town, and she wanted to meet you."
Henry smiled at her, but noticed her hesitancy. "Is something wrong?" His eyebrows knitted together.
Her heart was in her throat. She wasn't sure she could do this much longer. Her emotions had been riding on her sleeve and she wanted nothing more than to hold her son in her arms. Finding her voice she assured, "No, no. No, nothing's wrong. Uh, your mother just told me a lot about you. I hear you like school and that you're good at English."
"Um yeah. Why'd she tell you all this?" His look was confused and slightly embarrassed.
What could she say? She wished she could covey all her thoughts to him but…"Because she couldn't be prouder of you." She smiled at Henry, and then a thought struck her. "Umm, while you're in town, I was thinking maybe I can give you a tour sometime, you know, show you around. Maybe we can even stop for ice cream." Regina chuckled and rubbed a hand over her stomach. "I seem to have a thing for it these days."
"Yeah, I'd like that." Their eyes held for several moments before his smile faded and a slightly bewildered look took its place. "So, um, it was nice meeting you."
Henry politely held out his hand as Regina naturally went to hug him. Catching herself, she took his hand in hers. Henry gave her one last smile and walked back over to his game.
Regina stared after him and then felt Emma beside her. Dragging her eyes from Henry, she turned back to Emma, who asked, "How was that? You okay?"
Taking a deep breath, she gave the blonde a grim smile. "It was a start."
David walked in the apartment followed by Hook. Making sure Henry was out of earshot, David glanced quickly at everyone. "We need to talk."
"Uh," Emma gestured out into the hall. "Outside."
"They're being turned into flying monkeys?" Snow gaped.
"Yes, he took on simian form with the added bonus of wings," Hook confirmed.
Snow was near a state of panic. "Do you think that's what happened to the missing dwarfs, too?"
David nodded. "It would explain why we haven't found any trace of them."
"And Neal?" Emma asked.
He shook his head. "No sign of him either. So yeah, it's possible."
"Wouldn't be the first flying monkey I've dated," Emma mumbled. She ignored the quizzical looks the others threw her and waved her hand, dismissing her comment.
Regina leaned against the wall, taking some of the weight off her back. "The person who escaped our trap disappeared in a cloud of green smoke, and now there are flying monkeys in this town? I think we know exactly who cursed us."
Emma blinked at her. Regina raised one elegant eyebrow, and Emma's mouth dropped open.
"No way. The Wicked Witch of the West? Seriously?" The blonde's eyes widened. "She's real, too?"
"Says the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming," Hook added sarcastically.
Emma threw him a look before she shook her head. "I don't get it… It's not like we're in Kansas. Why would the Wicked Witch of the West want to come to Storybrooke?"
Regina sighed and rubbed her belly. "Well, if she's the Wicked Witch, we know one thing: It's not for anything good."