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Storybrooke – Present

Isabel laughed as she heard her father tell Peter to get away from the window. She and Terence were outside, saying goodnight to one another. And Peter obviously decided to stay up and see what was going on. Before they had left, Peter was incredibly excited to hear that Isabel and Terence were going to dinner. Apparently, that hadn't changed. Turning to Terence, Isabel wondered if she should invite Terence inside. She wasn't sure exactly what trying meant for them. Were they just continuing where they had left off before the curse lifted? Were they starting over completely? They had discussed trying for their sake and for Peter's, but that was the extent of it. She didn't want to ask either. She didn't want to upset Terence if he felt one or the other was implied. She guessed going with her gut was the best, but her gust was giving her mixed signals. Still, it was all she had to go on.

"It's okay," Terence told her, pulling her away from her thoughts.

"What is?" she asked.

"Whatever you're so quiet about," he smiled. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, and he laughed. "No. I cannot read your mind, Is. Your lips are doing that thing they do when you're debating something."

"What thing?" She wasn't aware her lips did anything. At least, she hadn't been for some time.

He reached up, poking her bottom lip. "It sticks out further when you're thinking. Just a tad, though. I think only those of us who truly love you notice."

"It does not such thing," she argued.

Chuckling, he put his hands in his pockets. "Like I said, whatever you decide is fine by me."

"Even if it includes making a pipe bomb?" she grinned.

"Even if it includes shaving your head and joining a cult." He grinned back at her.

Isabel held her breath as she stared up at him. He was truly beautiful, everything about him. After years of watching from the sidelines, he still wanted her. He still loved her, and part of her loved him too. So what if their cursed relationship wasn't supposed to be real? Isabel found herself returning his feelings anyways. Maybe part of it had to do with him loving Peter as well. Maybe she admired his never-give-up attitude when it came to her affections. She loved him. He may not have been her true love, but she considered herself very lucky to have him. He was her second chance at something she thought she would never have with anyone ever again.

Terence took a step closer to Isabel, and she released the breath. His hand raised to brush against her cheek. She fought the urge to nuzzle his hand. If she did, he certainly would be invited inside. Lifting her head to look at him, he gently pressed his lips to her. A warmth coursed through her, and she closed the last few inches between them. It felt so easy and normal to kiss him. Part of her feared it would have been extremely awkward, but it all fell into place. Her hands reached up and held his face. Isabel never really realized how much she really needed another person until she didn't have something making her forget. The curse obviously played that role, and Neverland made it so easy to just forget everything about her former life.

The kiss broke, and they stared at each other breathless. Terence reached up, stroking her cheek with his knuckles. She blinked slowly as if trying to process what was going on. If anything, the kiss only confused her more yet she found herself forming the words, "Come in?"

Some rude little bird tweeted outside the window, and Isabel groaned before she covered her face with her pillow. A chuckle caused her to jump a little. Moving the pillow, she saw Terence lying next to her. He smiled sleepily at her, reaching up for the pillow. She smacked his hand away and turned onto her side. Isabel hated mornings with a passion. She could remember her father basically giving up when it came to waking her. As her eyes started to close again, the door opened and Peter came running into the room. Jumping on the bed, he snatched the pillow away from her face.

"Mama, get up!" he told her. Leaning in, he whispered close to her ear. "The queen's here."

Terence sat up quickly. "And you left her alone?"

"No," Peter scoffed. "Grandpa is here."

Isabel sat up, rubbing at her eyes. "Tell Regina that I'll be down in a few minutes."

Peter nodded, grabbing Terence's hand. "Come on. You can make me pancakes."

"Actually, Peter, I need to talk to your mom," Terence told him. "I bet if you talk to William, he'll make breakfast for you."

Peter frowned before nodding and trudging out of the room. Isabel lifted herself from the bed, walking over to the closet. Terence's eyes bore into her back as she changed. She could practically feel his judgment. He knew her history with Regina. While it wasn't nearly as rocky as his own history, he obviously felt it should have been. Isabel simply ignored him. It was far too early for an argument, but it was bound to happen.

"Why is she here?" he asked.

"I dunno," she shrugged, sitting on the bed. "I haven't spoken to her yet."

"Tell her to go. She's not welcome," he hugged.

"This is my house. Is it not?" she asked.

"Of course it is," he nodded.

"And you live in your own house?" she asked. He nodded again. "Then she's welcome."

"Is, you are putting a target on your back," he whispered sharply.

"I realize that, but it takes one person to change things. She is broken, Terence," she whispered back.

"She's evil," he said. Isabel rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me you are deluded enough to think you can make her good."

"I'm not. Regina has everyone and everything against her. I just happen to be the one person in this town who didn't lose anything because of the curse. I still have you, my father, Peter. Everything I lost, I lost long ago," she explained.

"And that make you ally yourself with her?" he asekd.

"It means she has hope," Isabel sighed.

"For what?" he asked.

"Who know," she shrugged, "but I would rather try than condemn her for being human."

"There's nothing human about her," he argued.

"And the same could be said for the both of us. She...she's what I could have become. Imagine if something had happened to Killian. Imagine if something happened to my son. You are the only one who didn't turn your nose up at me when I went to live with the fairies. I was alone, and I could have easily used my magic for evil. One person. That's all it takes. You were that person for me so let me try and be that person for her." She stood up with a sigh. "Just...trust me on this."

She knew he probably wouldn't, but it didn't matter. Her mind was set. Going downstairs, she found Regina sitting in the living room with William. The tension that hung in the air was tangible. Isabel greeted the woman warmly, though Terence's hostility chilled the room instantly so Isabel excused Regina and herself from the room. Stepping into the backyard, the two women stayed quiet until they were certain anyone watching could not hear them.

"I need some advice," Regina told Isabel.

The younger brunette nodded; not surprised. "Of course. How can I help?"

"As you know, my mother is on her way and I don't know what to do to stop her. Gold sent a message with David, but without proof, he got through it almost certain Cora will make it here," she explained. "Gold believes he may have a solution."

"Does he?" Isabel asked slightly amused.

"It's dangerous," Regina told her.

"And you think Henry would be angry if you went through with it," Isabel finished and the queen nodded. "Henry lives with this notion that the outcome to everything will be positive. So much so that he cannot see when someone is trying to protect him, right?"

Regina sighed. "Ever since the curse has been broken, I've tried really hard to get him to trust me."

"Maybe that's the problem then," Isabel said.

"Meaning?" Regina asked.

"I've never trifled with your mother, but I'm pretty sure this entire town would be in flames the second she arrived," Isabel answered. "Protect your son. If he vilifies you for it, then what else is new? It's not like Henry didn't already. There is a very slim chance that Snow and Emma will make it back. There's also an even bigger chance that your mother will make them watch her escape our land." She sighed. "Look. Henry's faith is awe-inspiring, and I'm sure you're rooting more for Emma and Snow to win. At the same time, it's like Rumplestiltskin has always said. Magic comes with a price, and if a protection spell's price is the life of his birth mother and grandmother, then so be it."

Regina looked down, shoving her hands into her coat pockets. The look on Regina's face reminded Isabel of the look she got when her mother convinced her to leave her husband. It was one of utter defeat, shame, and an incurable sadness. Regina could take her chances. She could sit by and wait for whatever outcome would occur. Or, she could fight like hell to protect Henry. For Isabel, it was a short struggle and something she regretted to the day. At the same time, she would much rather have everything work out the way it did over the alternative. She still had her son and her father. She had Terence. The only thing she didn't have was something she probably would have lost with the curse, but she also knew that would still have meant spending time in Neverland.

Isabel put her hand on Regina's shoulder. "Whatever you do, there are good intentions behind both."

"But Henry won't see it that way," Regina said quietly.