A Curious Time

The ride home was quiet. They hit a few bumps in the road, and Robin jerked the steering wheel once or twice, still getting used to maneuvering a vehicle in this realm. He insisted that he drive, couldn't "fathom how she could fit behind–" but her suddenly raised eyebrows halted his speechwriter, and without a second look she handed him her keys before maneuvering herself into the passenger's side.

Regina had to magically conjure a car seat, and she'd laughed when Robin scrunched up his nose, confused by yet another "monstrous contraption." Roland's face had mimicked his Papa's but then turned to wonder as she instructed Robin to place Roland in, and she did the rest from where she sat, with a twist of her wrist and magic. They hadn't had to worry about being "buckled down" in the Enchanted Forest. Only "hop in, hold on, or stay down" in wagons, carriages, and rough rides on the backs of horses. Quick, fast, and carefree. But this was Storybrooke, and there were rules and laws that the thief didn't mind telling her he'd like to break.

Roland fell asleep, tucked safely in the back, minutes after they pulled onto Storybrooke's main road. A silence settled over them and left her far too much space to mentally wander through what-ifs and self-doubt. Worrying about little boys in their car seats, about Wicked Witches and their vendettas, worrying about the baby and Henry, and, even though she wished she didn't, she worries about Snow, Charming, and Emma. And, she's worried about the man sitting beside her, a man who had risked his life, his son's life to guard her heart, to keep a promise. A man who'd stood between her and Rumplestiltskin's magic.

Oh, what he must be thinking now. Regina fiddled with a string on her coat as she let out another deep breath that turned into a sigh. She caught Robin looking at her out of the corner of his eye, but she pretended she didn't see and drifted back into her anxiety and poisonous thoughts. Her mind was so consumed with these thoughts that her hand gripped the armrest tighter, and her knuckles turned white. It occurred to her that maybe, just maybe, she'd misread him.

Her heart pounded in her chest and in her head as they parked her car in her driveway. Robin carefully retrieved his sleeping son and followed her as she waddled and unlocked her front door.

Half an hour later, Regina could hear Robin putting Roland to bed upstairs, while she was in the kitchen preparing tea. The kettle started to whistle, she adjusted the sash on her robe and smoothed her hands over the large curve of her belly, her daughter tumbling within.

She was still mulling over her thoughts, horrid and retched things. What if she was just like her mother? What if she held on too tight? What if her relationship with Robin in the Enchanted Forest wasn't what it appeared to be? After all, who could ever love the Evil Queen?

She knew she was stubborn, snarky, and temperamental. She had to face it. With her evil moniker, she was hardly easy to get along with, and she had to wonder, how the two of them ever made it work? Obviously, they had. Her swollen stomach was proof of that. But she doubted still, and it made her chest hurt.

She tucked her hair behind her ears, wrung out her hands, and bit back tears that were starting to sting her eyes.

She straightened her shoulders when she heard Robin's footsteps on the stairs, attempting to project a positive demeanor. She was determined to appear composed. "Did you want any coffee or tea?" she asked him, clearing her throat.

"No, thank you," he said, as he invaded her space but didn't touch her.

Regina nervously busied her hands with her mug and tea, dunking the diffuser in and out of the steaming water, staining it with a deep swirl of burnt sienna and the smell of apples and cinnamon.

This was too hard.

She concentrated on maintaining a calm exterior as she turned with her cup still in her hand and looked at him, or rather as she looked at his shoulder. She picked a fluff of lint off his shirt, still not making eye contact. Just as soon as her fingers released the lint into the air, he lifted her chin up to him, and he kissed her ever so gently.

"Come on," Robin said, taking her by the hand. He put her tea aside and pulled her with him, leading them into the living room. They sat on the sofa, and she adjusted into a comfortable position, angling her body toward him.

Vulnerability glimmered in her eyes, and Robin lightly pressed, "Regina, tell me."

He hadn't stopped thinking about what had happened to her since they'd returned from the woods.

Her eyes met his; they seemed somehow bluer than she remembered them.

She shifted closer to him. She needed to be closer to him. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes one last time, and then looked into his and asked, "What do you see in me?"

He looked confused and slightly taken aback by her question. As if it should have been the most obvious thing in the world, but it wasn't.

Not to her, and that broke his heart.

It broke his heart that she needed reassurance, that she needed words to calm her fears, that she couldn't accept what she saw in his eyes at face value, that this was for real, that he saw more in her than all the others before him.

He ached for her.

"Hopefully the same thing you see in me, a second chance." His eyes crinkled at the corners with a genuine smile, playfully he added, "And you're quite a good kisser."

She arched a brow at him. "Just wait till I actually have my heart back."

"What is that like?" Robin turned serious and shook his head in wonder. "I mean, can you ..."

"Feel? Yes, I can." Regina sighed, "Just not fully. It's difficult to explain."

"Then don't." He shook his head. Taking her hand, he put it on his chest above his heart. "Use mine for the both of us."

She looked up at Robin with tear-filled eyes, totally exposed to him. As salty pools began to fall, she wondered how this was possible.

"What is it?" He asked, wiping the wetness away from her cheek with his thumb.

Regina tilted her head to the side, cherishing the man in front of her. She smiled, her eyes a mix of happiness and deep sorrow. She placed her hands on his face.

"I just never thought I'd have this," Regina said, and she'd meant it.

Gulping down the lump in her throat, her eyes glistened, overwhelmed by what she was holding in her hands, by what she carried, by what slept peacefully upstairs.

Henry still didn't know her. Zelena still wasn't defeated. They still didn't have their memories back. But, for the first time, in a long time, she had hope, and it terrified her.

The stakes were higher, she had more to lose, and everything to gain if she'd just accepted it.

Robin's eyes were also moist. He let out a breath, both of them quite emotional. He captured her hands and held them. "After I... lost my wife, I felt like that for a long time. Her death was my fault."

"I'm sorry," Regina said sincerely.

"I would have walked through hell to be with my Marian again. When I finally admitted to myself that she was gone and that she was never coming back... I had to let that guilt go."

Robin cleared his throat and caressed Regina's cheek with his thumb, bringing her out of her reverie. A sad smile flickered and died on her face before she continued.

"My first love, Daniel, was killed because of me," Regina's voice cracked, and her eyes showed exactly how painful it was for her to admit. "Because he loved me."

"And that's why you never wanted to open yourself up again." He said as his thumb went back to stroking her tears away.

She looked at his concerned face and her apprehensions about what she was about to tell him mounted. She took a deep breath.

"Tinker Bell told me it was possible, that I could love again. She led me to this tavern, to a man who she said I was destined to be with. I never saw his face, but..." She took his arm, and, pulling the sleeve of his sweater up, she said softly, "I did see his tattoo."

His eyes slowly darkened as Regina told him of a love she was destined to be with. His jealousy surprised him until her soft fingers tickled the surface of the black, inked mark on his arm. "It was me?"

Her smile came back in full force. "Yes. I was just too scared to approach you."

A smile brightened his face, he bit his lower lip and looked into her eyes. "Well, maybe things work out when they're supposed to." He slid his fingers through her hair and tucked a small strand behind her ear. "Maybe it's all about timing."

They sat in silence for a moment, absorbing the dramatic shift that had just taken place in their lives. Robin's hand rested on her stomach; his fingers skimmed across her belly and traced little circles over it. His hand stilled, and something Regina hadn't seen in a long time flickered in his eyes.

Robin knew her completely, as Regina and as the Evil Queen, and he still cared for her.

Before she could sink back into self-doubt, Robin leaned in, sealing her lips with a kiss. Sweet and tender at first, before his tongue lightly ran along her bottom lip. Pleasantly surprised, Regina moaned, her hands finding their way from his cheeks to the collar of his sweater, gripping him more tightly to her.

Forced off balance by her eagerness, Robin anchored his left arm to the sofa, while the other supported Regina's back. His stomach pressed firmly against hers, as close as they could get without being uncomfortable. He sucked on her bottom lip hungrily, and he gently eased her back so she was resting further into the couch cushions. Her silky robe had ridden high up on her leg, and, at this new position, his vision could feast on the rise and fall of her breasts.

Hair splayed out on the pillow beneath her, belly heavy with his child, blushed cheeks and eyes heady with lust.

She was a vision.

With each new, wanted intrusion of his tongue, each new tug on her lower lip, Regina made the most delicious noises, and Robin couldn't help but let out a rough growl. His stubble rubbed against her jaw as he left her lips and trailed kisses to the nape of her neck, nuzzling deeper into her soft, creamy skin, lightly nipping at her earlobe.

She smelled of apples, cinnamon, and vanilla, and Robin decided they're all his new favorites. He can't get enough of her, won't ever be able to get enough of her.

They were both out of breath when she pulled him back to her mouth, hot and heavy, hard and fast, their lips red and bruised. Just when Robin thought to stop, give them both a moment to breathe, thought about the pregnancy and her growing stomach that made it harder for him to get closer to her, Regina let out a startled gasp and her eyes flew open.

He sat up, pulling her forward, concerned until a smile spread across her face, and she let out the most beautiful, heartfelt laugh.

"What?" He said, a grin now spreading across his face as he ran his finger over the back of his neck.

Regina reached for his hand and placed it on her belly. Their daughter was kicking.

They were both quiet for a moment, sitting content with the baby moving beneath their joined hands.

"It won't be long now," Robin said, taking a deep breath, their child's intrusion bringing them down from their high on each other, slowing their breathing.

"No, it won't," Regina said, the smile leaving her face. "Speaking of time, I need to tell you something."

Their faces were both still flushed, but Robin helped her move into a more comfortable position. He began to play with her hair before she started talking again.

"We know what Zelena's planning. She's been collecting ingredients for a spell. A time traveling spell," Regina said, adjusting her robe, pulling it back down to cover her upper thighs.

"She wants to go back in time?" Robin's eyebrows lifted in unease.

"Yes, she thinks if she goes back and kills Snow White's mother, she can change her fate. So my mother, our mother, would have never given her up and –"

"You may never have been born."

She looked up into his very concerned eyes. "Me. Snow. Emma. Henry. All of our futures are in jeopardy if she succeeds."

She felt his hand rub along her stomach. Without needing to say it, he knew she also meant their daughter's life as well.

"So how do we stop her?"

Regina took a deep breath. "To enact this spell, Zelena needs four symbols of power. Rumplestiltskin's mind represents, knowledge. The hilt of David's sword, courage. My resilient heart, strength. And..." She licked her lips and paused.

"And what?"

She smiled sadly, placing her hand over his on her swollen stomach. His eyes followed her gesture, and his ears didn't miss a word as she whispered, "The fourth symbol, which unites them all, innocence. A baby. One unlike any other, because she's born of prophecy." Regina's eyes traveled to his tattoo again. "A baby born from soul mates. Conceived from fate. Our daughter's soul is the last and most important ingredient."

Their eyes locked, and she could see a storm of emotions swirling within him, emotions that she'd only previously seen in his eyes after Rumplestiltskin had stolen her heart.

"Our daughter?" He inquired. "You're certain?"

Regina knew he wasn't asking about the spell or the role their daughter played in it. "Yes." She nodded and watched as his face slowly changed as he realized what she meant.

He was filled with joy, fear, and all the anxieties he felt when he first found out Marian was pregnant with Roland. He'd known, or felt, for a while now that he and Regina were more than strangers. Could feel his heart beat for her and had hoped that he was hers and she was his, had hoped they'd created a life together during that pesky missing year.

But this, this was the first time either of them had called the baby their daughter out loud. This was the first time Regina had voiced exactly what he knew all along.

"I've never been more certain of anything in my life," she said.

His eyes crinkled at the corners, and his face broke into a wide smile. Robin drew her to him, breathed her in, and held her tightly. He was elated, but he battled also with a sense of fear and deep-seated worry.

"Zelena won't win. No harm shall come to our daughter or you." Pulling back, he cradled her face in his hands, much like she'd done to him earlier. "I swear to you, I will protect you both." He would not fail this time.

His conviction, his assurance held steadfast, and as much as she wanted to believe their love, his love could stay Zelena, she knew better.

She brought her mouth to his, and they kissed for some time. Robin swallowed her moan, and Regina played with the hem of his shirt as her lips moved with his. He wrapped her in a tight embrace, bringing her body close so that she was pressed as firmly against him as space would allow. One of his hands tangled in her hair, and the warmth of his soft, full lips completely filled her senses. Their mouths opened to each other again, and again, and again.

It'd been a long day for them both, so after a few moments, he broke the kiss. "Let's get you to bed, milady."

"Lead the way." Regina stared at him for several heartbeats, mouth parted, still breathing heavily.

Robin woke late in the morning with Regina curled up in his arms. The sun's beams steamed through the windows of her home. He heard birds chirping outside. Deciding that this was an opportunity too good to waste, he let his hand rub over her abdomen, being careful not to wake her. A sense of joy filled him as he thought about the life inside Regina.

His daughter, their daughter.

It was something he dared not imagine before, but now it gave him a new sense of purpose that he had only felt once before but never believed he would again.

He and Regina held grave concerns for them all, and what their futures would be, but they were duty bound now to continue with their quest, and if luck and the gods were on their side, they would beat the Wicked Witch.

The baby moved under his hand, and Robin's breath caught. He watched her stomach in awe as he concentrated and waited for another movement, hoping their little one did not wake her beautiful mother.

"With that look on your face, I hope that's me you're thinking about."

His smile widened, she was awake. "Wouldn't you like to know?" Robin teased.

She quirked her brow and gave him a look that surprised him. It was as if some part of her doubted where his heart lie, even now. Robin shook his head in amazement as he leaned forward and drew her closer. He gently cupped her face as his lips descended to hers. His fingers slowly traced their way back to her neck and threaded up into her hair, pulling the kiss even deeper.

Regina adjusted her weight, and he noticed her wince.

"Are you alright?" He was worried about her and the baby. They hadn't planned on last night, but one thing had led to another and they'd been unable to stop themselves.

"I'm fine. Just a little bit sore," she said before she wiped away the worry on his face with kisses and a smile that could light any room.

They stayed that way, with gentle kisses and caresses as Robin felt their daughter move against his hand. With one final kiss, she laid her head against his shoulder, and he rested his head against hers. Closing his eyes, he thanked the gods once more for bringing her to him.

"Robin?" Regina asked so softly that Robin had to look over at her to be sure she'd spoken.

He'd almost fallen asleep, and he inhaled sharply before blinking his eyes to adjust them to the light once again. "Yes?"

"You know, we're going to have to start thinking of names for this little one soon."

Robin smiled. Even the mention of names made it all the more real for him, all over again. They were having a baby, a daughter, together. All his dreams of a family were coming true. Well, most of them. And, in time, when he and Regina regained their memories, all of his dreams might be realized.

"Robin?" she whispered, moving closer to him.

"Hmm?"

Regina moved her hand to his cheek and looked deeply into Robin's eyes. Then suddenly, Regina took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She was pregnant with his child. Now was the time for truths, all of them. And if not now, when?

When she returned her gaze back to Robin, he looked up at her and saw a look in her eyes that was different from any he had seen there before. "What is it?" he whispered.

"I told you that I care about you," she said softly. Robin nodded, not trusting himself to speak. "But it's so much more than that. I love you."

Robin smiled at this incredible woman. She was strong and audacious, bold, and beautiful, and he thanked the gods he finally found her. Robin pulled her into his arms, and she did not resist.

After a moment, Robin moved his lips close to her ear and whispered, "Regina, you must know, I am madly and completely in love with you."

She smiled to herself, enjoying the feel of Robin's arms around her.

Smiling, he pulled back, cupping her face between his hands, studying her carefully. He stroked one hand over her pregnant belly, and then looked up at her, his eyes full of love and hope.

"After Marian, I only had room in my heart for my son. You asked me what I saw in you. Well, truthfully, I see myself. We both have darkness in our pasts, Regina, but in you, I've found everything. It may seem fast now, but, like you, I can't help but feel we've been through much more than we know."

Regina felt the sting of hot tears as she looked at his dear face. "I don't deserve you, you know, but I'm so glad you love me." Her fingers drifted over the lines of his face and slid around his neck, pulling his face towards her. Just before his lips met hers, she whispered again, "I love you." She kissed him deeply, pouring her heart and soul into it and pressing against him.

"Daddy! Regina!"

Pulling apart, Robin sighed, hearing his son's call from the other room. His head falling into the crook of her neck. He leaned forward and gave her a soft kiss. "I best go get him. Stay in bed and get some rest."

She watched him leave and rested her hand on her belly, wiping away her remaining tears, soothing her baby girl, who she still blamed for her rollercoaster emotions.

Her daughter was doing flips and kicking persistently in her ribcage. The birth's anticipation had taken a backseat to outwitting her sister, and she was still trying not to think about it.

Glancing at the clock, it was still early, but the sound of laughter drifting to her ears from downstairs pulled her from the comfort of her bed. She decided she was going to spend the morning with Robin and Roland until it was time to meet everyone. She flung the covers back and heaved herself up. God, she was so tired. It didn't seem to matter how much sleep she got these days, she woke every morning desperate for more.

Regina stretched as she stood, a niggling backache had interrupted her sleep, waking her a few hours before Robin, but she'd been ignoring it, figuring it would go away eventually.

Tying her bathrobe around her, Regina smiled at the large spread of breakfast foods on the kitchen table. "What's all this for?"

Robin pulled out a chair for her. "Milady has to eat."

Regina smiled. "You made all this?"

"With Roland's help," he said, sitting across from her.

"You helped?"

Roland smiled up proudly. "Yep!"

"That's sweet, thank you." Regina smiled. Extremely hungry, she wasn't shy about diving in. She was happy, very happy. Last night and today had been very quiet, and she was slowly realizing that she now had a family and was about to have a daughter. It seemed surreal to her.

They enjoyed their meal, chatting happily with Roland throughout.

As they started to clean up, Regina rinsed the dishes while Robin and Roland cleaned off the table. Robin moved to put something in the sink beside her, his body almost flush with Regina's.

"Do you want some help with that?" He asked against her neck, nuzzling the soft skin just under her ear. Just then the doorbell rang, and glancing towards the door, he chuckled.

Regina turned and smiled. "We seem to keep getting interrupted this morning. Maybe we should just leave them out there." She trailed her fingers up his shirt.

Robin guffawed and wrapped his arms around her. "What exactly is milady suggesting? Either way, it seems a win-win as far as I'm concerned. On one hand, I get breakfast. And, on the other, I get to start with dessert." Robin's eyebrows rose playfully. "However, when we do start removing our clothes, I don't fancy an audience. Something tells me these Charmings are persistent."

Smiling, her lips met his in a gentle kiss, her arms stealing around his shoulders, her nose briefly brushing the tip of his. Sighing as she pulled away, she nibbled at his luscious bottom lip for a moment before mumbling against his mouth, "I suppose you're right."

Robin groaned out "tease." He smiled, quickly kissing her hand, and excused himself to get the door.

He returned with Snow, David, and Emma trailing behind him. They all paused in the doorway.

Snow walked in a few steps and grinned at the happy pair.

Regina looked blissful and Robin looked… "Ooooh," thought Snow. Robin looked ever so much the protective boyfriend as he stood close beside Regina with his arm around her and his hand resting gently but possessively on her hip.

Snow had the distinct feeling that if anything or anyone looked sideways at Regina or his unborn child, he wouldn't hesitate to do them a great deal of damage. It was very sexy, and Regina was obviously very happy to bask in his possessiveness.

The man was a keeper.

"Morning." Snow said brightly with the biggest smile Regina had ever seen.

"Good morning," Regina replied. Robin pulled out a chair for her, she sat back down at the table, and Roland took the opportunity to crawl up on her lap.

"Hi, Roland." Snow looked from him to Regina to Robin. Glee written all over her optimistic face. "Regina, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're all the perfect little family."

"Mmm, well, if you'd like to join us, you should sit down." Regina quipped, annoyed by Snow's overly cheery disposition at her expense. "I'm still exhausted, and I'd like us to get started?"

"Ah, and with that… come along Roland. The plot is afoot, and you need not hear of it." Robin took the boy from Regina. "Good luck," he said, leaning down he kissed her and left the room. "Now my boy, let's see if we can figure out the television."

Snow quirked her brow, a glint of what could be called amusement shimmering in her eyes.

Regina crossed her arms over her chest. "Snow. Please."

"We were waiting for Hook," Emma said.

Regina raised an eyebrow and huffed. "I don't have time to wait for the handless wonder. We have to figure out how to destroy my sister."

"For once, I agree with Regina. Stopping her plan is the priority." David nodded.

Emma turned to look at Regina. "There's one thing about this plan that doesn't fit – Regina."

"I'm the point of it." She gestured at herself. "So she can take my life for herself."

"Yes, but why bring you back to Storybrooke? Why bring any of us?" Emma asked.

"Well, no one's ever succeeded at traveling through time." Regina put her arms on the table and leaned forward in thought. "Perhaps something from this world makes it possible, but what's almost as troubling is that she was able to cast the curse – to bring us all here in the first place."

"Why is that?" Emma said taking a seat at the end of the table.

"To do it, you have to give up the thing you love most." Regina shook her head. "From what I gather, Zelena doesn't love much."

Emma looked pointedly at Regina. "Neither did you. You managed."

"Zelena's smart, strategic. Perhaps we discovered something in the missing year to stop her," David offered, leaning against the wall.

Snow straightened up beside him. "And the only way to stop us from interfering was to bring us back here and wipe our memories. So if we get our memories back, we might already know how to defeat her," she finished hopefully.

David sighed. "We just need to break this curse."

"Well, thank goodness we have a savior." Snow said looking over at Emma.

Emma looked around at them all. "I would love to, but there's one problem. Since I've been back, I've done both and nothing."

Regina gasped sitting up. "It's the belief. Henry, he needs to believe. In this new life, he doesn't. We have to get him to believe again."

"So, what?' Emma's brow furrowed. "We put on a magic show?"

She had a point. Regina thought for a moment. "How did you believe?"

"The book, the storybook," Emma said.

Regina pointed at her knowingly. "That's what started Henry on his original path and what got you to believe. It's the key in him believing, in him remembering… remembering everything."

He'd remember Storybrooke, the last three years. He'd remember Pan, Felix, and her. He'd remember the good and the bad.

"That's not necessarily a gift. He's been through a lot of tough stuff," Emma said warily.

"And some good stuff," Regina shot back. "Either way, it's our best bet."

"She's right," Snow agreed.

"I know," Emma admitted. "Let's find it."

"I'll get dressed and meet you at the diner." Regina stood and headed to the stairs.

"That was Belle," David said closing his phone. "No book in the shop."

They all met at Granny's an hour later, Robin and Regina leaving Roland at the house in the care of Friar Tuck.

"Regina, you said the last place you saw it was Henry's room." Snow glanced over at her.

Regina shook her head. "Yes, but it's not there. Swept away by the last curse." She moved her right hand over her back and added pressure, still aching from this morning.

Emma threw out her hands aggravated. "A book can't just disappear."

Snow closed her eyes. "But it can just appear. The first curse. It just showed up in my closet when I needed it, or more accurately, when Henry needed it."

"What do you mean?" Regina asked.

"He was going through a rough time. He was realizing he had been given up. He didn't feel like he had a real family," Snow said gently.

Regina took a moment to find composure before replying, "He did."

Robin massaged her back in support.

"That may be." Snow nodded, now realizing the nature of her concern. "But, Regina, he wasn't feeling that way with you or with anyone. He needed to believe in happy endings again. That's what the book gave him."

"Well, he needs to believe again." Regina looked around at them all. "In fact, I think we all do. What do you say we go check your closet?"

Emma walked up to the counter where Henry sat chatting with Leroy. "Hey, kid. I got to run. I got to check on a lead. You okay to stay here longer?" She gave him a kiss on the cheek and not waiting for an answer told him, "Call you later."

They were all outside when the diner door opened, and Henry's voice called out, "Where are you really going?"

Everyone stopped.

Emma turned back to her son. "I told you. I'm following a lead."

"What lead?" he asked, not backing down.

"It's my job," Emma stammered. "It's complicated."

Henry replied, "Is this about the person who killed my dad?"

"Yes," Emma answered honestly.

"Then tell me," he demanded.

Emma looked around at everyone, then back at Henry. "I – it would just be easier once it's all solved, Henry."

Regina watched from the sidelines. Robin, noticing her unease, stood beside her, taking her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"You've been lying to me ever since we got here. I deserve to know everything," he said, his voice rising.

"No, you don't!" Emma snapped. "I'm your mother, and I know best! So you're just gonna have to deal with this for now, okay? Understood?"

"Yeah, I… I think I do," Henry said, chastened.

Regina turned away, wanting nothing more than to go to her son.

Emma turned to leave.

"Wait," Henry called out. "I… I need your keys. I left mine in the room, and if I'm gonna be a prisoner, I'd like to have my game boy."

"Why do women keep their shoe boxes?" David wondered aloud at the boxes piled on Snow's bed.

"Because after true love, there is no more powerful magic than footwear. It has to be protected," Snow said seriously, helping Emma pull things from the closet.

David met Robin's look from across the room, Robin shrugged and said, "They make no more sense in this realm than the other, mate."

David snorted, but went back to his task as he noticed a glare from his wife.

"Any sign of the book?" Emma asked from her spot on the floor.

"No, I don't think it's here," David told them, finding nothing but more shoes.

Snow's voice called from deeper inside the closet, "You don't know that!"

"Maybe it's in this thing," Emma said, carrying a large chest out to the bed. "Some winter coats, some scarves. The book isn't in here."

"Hang on." Snow curiously looked at it. "Let me check."

Shifting some clothes inside it around, everyone watched as Snow pulled out the book.

Emma sat up. "I don't understand."

"Can I see that?" Regina said, moving her hands away from the small of her still aching back. She took the book from Snow. "I know there are chapters on Oz in here. I want to know whose heart Zelena crushed to enact this curse. Because if there's something she loved, that's her weakness."

"Let's go find Henry."

Emma walked back into the diner. "He's gone."

Regina stood up from the barstool a bit awkwardly in her haste. "What do you mean, 'gone'?"

Emma pulled out her cell phone. "I mean he's not in the room, he's not in the parlor, and my car keys are missing."

Regina sighed and looked at Robin with a worried expression. Turning back to Emma, she said, "Give me something of his. I'll try a locator spell."

"I'm way ahead of you. I've got GPS on his phone." After a moment, Emma stated, "He's at the docks."

David and Robin took point as the group moved into the old building at the docks. Regina forced down the gnawing sense of dread over what she suspected they'd find when they got there. They acted, and in a matter of seconds, as Robin kicked in the door they all ran inside.

Emma drew her gun, her eyes found Henry and shouted, "Henry, go!"

David drew his sword as a monkey came at him. He threw it straight, and as it struck the heart of the beast, it combusted into ash.

"I never liked pets," Regina said, flanked by Robin, who had his crossbow at the ready.

Summing up fire in her palm, she threw it and one of the winged creatures let out a violent shriek as it was engulfed in flames.

Once the chaos calmed and they were sure there were no more flying monkeys, Emma ran to Henry.

"Henry! Are you okay?"

He got up shakily from the ground. "Yeah, what were those things?!" His eyes wide as he looked over at David. "Why does he have a sword?"

"It's all gonna make sense in a minute. I promise," Emma said, taking the book from Snow, who appeared beside her.

Henry shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry I was keeping things from you. You were right. You deserve to know the truth." She held the book out to him.

"About fairy tales?" He looked around at everyone confused. "I don't understand."

"Do you trust me?" Emma asked.

Henry sighed. "Yes, of course, I do."

"Then I need you to believe," she told him.

"Believe in what?" Henry cried.

"Believe in magic."

He shook his head. "From a book?"

"It's more than just a book," Emma whispered to him. "Do you believe in me?"

"Yes," he told her without hesitation.

"Then take it," Emma urged.

Regina watched with baited breath as Henry took the book from Emma. Once his fingers connected with its surface, she could tell by the look in his eyes he was reliving every thought, every memory.

His eyes focused, and he looked up at Emma. "Mom?"

His gaze found Regina. "Mom!"

Regina smiled. He remembered. She ran to him, pulling him into a hug.

He pulled back smiling at her. "I remember!"

"I remember!" Henry said, turning back to Emma who nodded at him.

Regina put her hands on Henry's shoulders. "Do it, Emma. Break the curse."

Emma nodded. Leaning forward, she was just about to kiss his forehead when he disappeared before her.

Everyone looked around in confusion until they heard a menacing voice from behind them.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt." Zelena smiled, holding Henry to her, the dagger held to his throat. Zelena titled her head to the side and asked imploringly, "Now, who wants to say goodbye first?"

"Who are you?" Henry asked attempting to look back at her, terrified.

"You can call me Auntie Zelena," She said sweetly.

Regina held up her hand, summoning a fireball. "Enough of this." she started towards Zelena, but she was hit out of nowhere by one of Zelena's spells. She roughly hit the ground, the wind knocked out of her, a stab of pain split through her lower back, and blackness engulfed her.

"Mom, please, wake up! Mom!"

"Regina... open your eyes, my love. Come on, that's it."

She could hear the voices, but they were distant. She felt groggy. She didn't want to open her eyes, but the voices continued. Couldn't they understand she just wanted to sleep a little while longer? However, the voices wouldn't stop, and she hesitated while she forced her mind to focus.

"Mom!"

"Henry..." Regina groaned as a pain shot through her head and back. "Robin?"

"We're both here, Regina."

"Mom."

Her vision cleared, and Henry's face above her came into focus. "Oh, Henry," she said, reaching up to touch her son's face. Robin took her arms and helped her to her feet, taking notice of her slight wince and hiss as she stood.

Regina took Henry into an embrace, hugging him tightly to her. Pulling away from him, she took his face in her hands. "I will never let you go away again. I promise. I love you, Henry."

Her lips kissed his forehead, and she gasped as True Love's kiss poured out from it. The magic spread out in all directions, sending a tidal wave of light and color throughout town, finally breaking the curse.

She remembered. She remembered everything.

Emma looked up at Regina with wide searching eyes. "It wasn't me. It was you."

She caught Robin's eyes, which were burning into her. Those wonderfully, now very familiar, warm blue pools of compassion and understanding took her breath away. Closing the distance between them, he gripped her shoulders, and suddenly, she was in his arms, his lips on hers. He pulled back, hugging her to him in a fierce embrace. "Thank God," he breathed.

She held tight to him, keeping him close. "I knew it was you."

"I've got you. I'll never let you go, milady."

Her eyes moist, she nodded.

"Mom?" Henry was looking up at them. "You're... but...," he stammered, confused.

She took a shaky breath and took his face in her hands. "I promise, I'll explain it all soon."

Emma looked at her parents. "Mary Margaret, David, did it work? Do you remember the missing year?"

"Yes." Snow nodded.

David smiled. "Everything."

Emma impatiently asked, "How did Zelena cast the curse?"

"She didn't, Emma." Snow shook her head slowly at her daughter. "We did."

Emma looked at her in disbelief. "You cursed yourselves?"

"Zelena's weakness is light magic," Snow confirmed. "I mean, it's clear now, more than ever, you are the only one who can defeat her."

David nodded. "That's why we paid the price of Regina's curse to find you."

Emma looked back and forth between her parents. "The price of the curse is the heart of the thing you love most. If one of you cast it, how are you both still here?"

Tell me about New York. I want to hear it all, the entire year," Regina said as they all walked arm in arm down the docks.

Henry stopped and turned to her and Robin. "No, first, tell me about what I missed here."

Regina smiled up at Robin. "Nothing much."

Henry groaned. "Come on, mom! You're having a baby? What happened in the Enchanted Forest?"

Regina chuckled at her son's enthusiasm. "Wait, slow down…"

Henry interrupted, his eyes wide. "Hold on a minute, but you're ... we met in the park...you're Robin Hood."

Robin held out his hand. "At your service."

Shaking his hand in awe, he replied, "Awesome!" He questioned again, "Wait, are you guys married?"

Robin, who bit his lip grinning, looked down at Regina with raised eyebrows.

"Let's stay focused on New York, for now," Regina told Henry.

"No way, this is so much cooler!"

A twinge in her lower back caught her off guard, and Regina jolted slightly and gasped. She closed her eyes, and her hand automatically moved to the small of her back.

Robin noticed. "Regina?"

Regina grabbed Robin's hand as a sharp pain shot through her from her front and then down the back of her legs.

"Mom?"

Robin caught her as she doubled over and painfully gasped between gritted teeth.

"It's the baby. She's coming."

"Deep breaths, Regina. Take deep breaths," Robin told her, holding her to him. He nodded to Henry. "Henry, go fetch the others. We need to get Regina home."

Henry nodded and took off back towards the building.

"I don't have time for that," Regina growled. Bringing her hands up, she and Robin disappeared in a cloud of purple and white.