Holy Moly it's been a long time since I updated this. I'm having a really hard time coming up with good content for this story so I'll probably be wrapping it up in the next few chapters (possibly-I never know when inspiration will strike). I do love these characters so I may decide to write a few one shots after this is over.
Enjoy :)

weiji:

(n.) lit. "crisis" or "critical moment"; from risk and opportunity, the idea that there can be a positive result in a wisely handled risk

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The women sit and continue to visit until Henry walks in. The first thing he sees is his mothers' sitting together on a chaise across from- "LouLou?" he whispers quietly in disbelief.

"Henry," she breathes out with a smile.

"Wha-" he breaks off speaking and turns to his brunette mother with eyes full of questions.

She gives a smile and nods her head. Emma quickly stands with Louisa and takes Evy before Henry launches himself into Louisa's arms. Emma raises an eyebrow but moves back to the chaise next to Regina and Tommy. She hasn't seen Henry look so young in a long time. He has his head buried in Louisa's chest with his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. Louisa rubs his back in gently circles as she whispers in his ear.

Regina looks over at Emma's confused face and reaches a hand over to squeeze her forearm. Emma looked over and smiled at the sight of her wife holding their sleeping son against her chest. Regina returns the smile and carefully shifts her body-mindful of Tommy laying on her-and whispers in Emma's ear, "She used to take care of Henry when he was little."

"I thought she was your secretary?" Emma asks as she resituates Evy in her arms and shifts so she and Regina are sitting shoulder to shoulder.

Regina nods, "She was; but whenever Henry was with me at my office-which was quite often-she would help look after him," she says with a fond smile.

"You were that mom weren't you," Emma says with a smirk.

Regina gasps is mock outrage but they both turn to giggles when Regina says, "He didn't deserve to stay at that daycare any longer than absolutely necessary."

"And how long was that, Mama Bear?" Emma asks, barely hiding her grin.

"Only a few hours during the day." Emma rolls her eyes and Regina continues, "I wouldn't have sent him to that place at all if those books didn't say it was important to socialize him."

"You totally are a Mama Bear," Emma says with a shake of her head and a laugh.

Regina hums and gives a noncommittal shrug as if saying, you didn't already know? "Anyway, Henry usually just stayed in my office and colored pictures or "helped me" run the town" she adds finger quotes around the words "helped me" and continues, "but if there was ever a time that I had a meeting while he was there or if he was getting too antsy to stay in the room while I finished up, Louisa would take him." Regina smiles as she sees Henry pulls away from Louisa and sit down next to her; Louisa's arms still protectively around his shoulders.

"I thought you were dead LouLou," Henry says as he shakily wipes at his eyes.

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"Mom?" Henry calls as he walks into her study.

Right on time Regina thinks with a smile as she pushes away the book she had been reading. She stands and walks toward him, wrapping him in a hug and kissing his forehead, "Hello dear. How are you today?"

Henry shrugs his shoulders. Keeping an arm around his mother's back he moves toward the couch. Regina raises an eyebrow at being led somewhere, but she merely follows along and sits next to her son. He never lets go and once they're sitting, he rests his head on her shoulder. Regina smiles at the sudden "snuggliness" of her son and wraps her arms around him, drawing him closer. "Mom?" he finally whispers once she leans back against the chaise and they get comfortable.

"Hmmm?" Regina hums back just as quietly as she closes her eyes, content to just sit in this peaceful moment with her son. These moments have happened more and more often since they came to the Enchanted Forest and she will not take them for granted, not after going so long where he wouldn't even look at her.

"Is LouLou dead?" he whispers.

Regina's eyes pop open and she glances down at her son whose head is still resting on her shoulder. He refuses to look up at her. "Henry," she whispers quietly. She waits until he looks up at her before saying, "I honestly don't know. We haven't found anything, but I'm not giving up and you shouldn't either. There's a lot of land to cover. She could've been placed anywhere after the curse."

Henry's eyes fill with tears as he says, "But there's no trace. She's probably dead. There are ogres everywhere."

"Oh Henry," Regina says as Henry buries his face in her chest. She wraps her arms tightly around him and whispers that everything will work out until he calms down.

Finally, with a shaky breath Henry sits up and wipes at his eyes. "I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Regina nods and sits up as well, "That's alright. Just know that we're doing everything we can, okay?" When Henry nods Regina gives a forced smile and decides to change the subject, "Shall we start your riding lesson?"

Henry nods and together they stand and leave the room.

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Louisa gives a sad smile and kisses his temple. "Oh Henry, I am so sorry to have worried you. I was just misplaced when the curse broke. Everything is alright now, Duckling, I promise."

Henry gives a wet chuckle and says, "I haven't been called that in a long time."

Louisa smiles and kisses him again, "Well I guess I'll have to fix that. Won't I Duckling," she enunciates with a smirk.

"I sure hope so." He smiles and then his face drops, "at least as long as I'm here," he adds quietly, looking at the ground.

Regina squeezes Emma's forearm again and they share a look before turning back to their son. He's still looking at the floor and Louisa is looking at them with concern.

"Henry?" Regina calls out quietly, drawing his attention to his mothers.

He immediately looks back down and mumbles out a quiet, "Sorry."

"Henry, is there something you want to say?" Regina asks, trying to make eye contact with her eldest son. When he shakes his head and doesn't look up Regina repeats, "Henry," is a stricter tone.

Henry raises his eyes and says, "It doesn't matter anyway."

"We won't know that until you tell us," Emma says as she looks at her son. She thinks he looks smaller than usual when he's tucked under Louisa's arm like he is.

Henry looks at the identical looks he is receiving from his mothers and if he weren't so upset right now he'd probably laugh and tease them about how they spend too much time together. Instead he takes a deep, shaky breath and says, "I know what we talked about when we moved but now that we're back and we remember I don't know if I want to go back. I know I have friends back there and you guys have jobs and friends and even Tommy has friends and his playgroup he goes to but this is our family here. Ma," he turns to his blonde mother, "you have siblings you don't even know because we were in another world and Mom," he turns to his brunette mother, "you haven't seen Daniel since we left. We all have friends and family here that we don't even know because we've been gone for four years. Grams and Gramps haven't even met their grandchildren…" he trails off and tentatively looks at his mothers.

Regina and Emma share a look and turn to Henry with apologetic eyes. "Henry-" Emma starts.

"We had no idea you felt this way," Regina finishes.

Henry sighs and looks back at the floor before continuing, "Well, like I said, it doesn't really matter."

"Henry," Regina sighs, "your feelings always matter."

He shrugs and says, "I knew it wouldn't matter in the long run. We left for a reason and that reason hasn't changed. We still are going back there. We'll go back with Aunt Z and Uncle Rob and the kids and continue our lives like nothing's changed when everything has. I didn't really think about what it meant to have been gone for four years. I mean I got my memories back and then everything was thrown into getting back here to stop the wacko trying to hurt our family. Now we're here and I don't want to forget them. I don't want to go back to not knowing my family. Not knowing how awesome my mom's truly are." This causes a small smile to form on each other his mother's faces but he continues, "I mean, don't get me wrong, you guys were awesome in the other world too, but here you the Evil Queen and the Savior. You're my moms and you're both totally badasses." He grins widely as Regina's eyes widen.

"Henry Daniel Mills, watch your mouth." Emma snickers but quickly schools her features so Regina doesn't admonish her for encouraging the behavior she mocks in Regina's voice in her head.

"Sorry Mom," he mutters as he leans back against Louisa. Louisa stares shocked at the admissions she'd just heard. She had never really thought about what it was like for them without their memories. Everyone in the Enchanted Forest kept their memories of the Savior, the Evil Queen and their son. That was the reason they had left in the first place. Many people were not okay with trusting the Evil Queen and the trust placed in the Savior was only there because of her title and the fact that her parents were Snow White and Prince Charming.

"Henry, we had no idea you felt this way," Emma repeats as she shifts Evy slightly to move closer to her wife.

Henry shrugs, "I know. I guess I didn't really know I felt this way until we got here. I don't know if I want to leave."

Before Emma and Regina can respond, the door to their chambers opens and Zelena rushes in holding a red eyed Kelly. "He's doing it again. I swear I'm going to fireball his ass."

Regina and Emma share a look and look back to their son.

"I know. I know," he says as he holds up his hands, "We'll talk about this later."

Regina and Emma give apologetic smiles before looking back to Zelena, "We know," Regina says as she gestures to Tommy who is still curled against his brunette mother's chest. "Tommy woke a while ago saying the bad man was back."

"We need to stop this," Emma says, her anger flaring again.

"Yes, I agree. That's why I sent your mother to prepare a war room to discuss our plans," Zelena says as she shifts Kelly in her arms. "It should be ready now." She looks back to the corridor behind her.

"Very well," Regina says as she attempts to stand and then looks down at Tommy, debating on what she should do with him.

Henry sees the look on her face and says, "I'll stay with them."

Regina looks up and studies her son, "Are you sure?" she asks, "you don't have to. We can figure something else out."

"I've got this, Mom."

Regina still looks dubious so Louisa steps in, "I will stay as well Your Majesty. It will give me some time to catch up with my little Duckling here."

Regina smiles and nods, "Alright then." She places Tommy on the chaise next to Henry and he immediately curls into his side. Henry rests his arm around his little brother's shoulders and smiles gratefully at Louisa. Emma watches the interaction and stands to place Evy back in the crib next to her sister.

"Thank LouLou," Henry murmurs once Tommy is comfortable and stops moving, his breathing evening out. She sends him a wink and he smiles before turning to his aunt. "Hey Kells, wanna stay in here until Tommy wakes up and then we can play a game?"

Kelly looks unconvinced for a minute before she shrugs and drops her legs from around her mother's waist until Zelena sets her down on the floor. She walks over and stands in front of the chaise until Henry pats the place Louisa just vacated; she moved over slightly to allow Kelly to sit there.

"Who are you?" she asks as her eyebrows draw together.

Louisa smiles but it's Regina that answers. "That is Louisa, my dear," she says as she kisses the top of Kelly's head before lifting her under her armpits and placing her next to Henry. She unconsciously snuggles closer to him and shoots Louisa a skeptical look. Regina chuckles and kisses her forehead before saying, "You can call her LouLou." She winks at Kelly, causing her to smile. Regina moves over to kiss Henry's forehead too and whispers, "We will talk about this, alright? I promise."

Henry nods and says, "I know. I love you Mom."

"I love you too darling. Come find us if you have any trouble, okay?"

"Trouble? I have LouLou, what kind of trouble could we find?" he asks with an innocent smile.

Regina is not convinced and merely raises an eyebrow and purses her lips before saying, "You were not as sneaky as you believed when you were younger. I know all about the trouble you two caused."

Louisa gasps and Henry smiles a sweet smile, knowing he's not actually in trouble.

Regina rolls her eyes and kisses Tommy's forehead, smiling as he smiles in his sleep and she steps back. "Behave you two," she reminds as she turns as follows Zelena out. Emma smiles at their kids before following the Mills sisters out of the room. Louisa and Henry share a smirk.

Once their chamber doors are shut, Emma and Regina grab onto each other's hands and follow Zelena to the war room.

Robin, Snow, David, and Granny are already there when Zelena, Regina, and Emma arrive. Granny is sitting with a pair of knitting needles and some purple yarn when they walk in, merely giving a grunt of acknowledgement. Regina smiles at the old woman, knowing just how much of a softie she really is and takes her seat. Snow is standing behind her chair, with David to her right and Emma to her left. Next to Emma is Regina (obviously) followed by Zelena, Robin and a few empty chairs for the rest of the council. There is an empty chair between David and Granny; assumingly for Ruby. Regina sees 3 of the dwarves standing at the other end of the room. Gepetto and Jiminy Cricket are sitting next Granny and there are knights stationed around the room. The doors are flung open and Ruby, Kathryn and Frederick enter the room. Regina raises her eyebrows, not expecting Kathryn and Frederick to show up. Ruby sees the look and simply shrugs before she stands behind Granny's chair and Kathryn sits in the empty chair next to David with Frederick in his armor behind her. Kathryn also notices the shock on Regina's face and laughs at her friend's public display of emotion, motherhood has softened her, she thinks with a smile. "Your children weren't the only ones affected, Regina. We all want Jafar gone. We may not have magic like you three, but we'll do whatever it takes to protect our children.

Regina composes herself and her emotions are hidden away before she nods and turns her attention back to Snow.

Snow smiles and places her hands on the back of her chair, "What Kathryn said is true. Jafar has been tormenting all of the children and wrecking havoc across the kingdom. We do not know what he wants, nor do we know a way to stop him. That's where you come in," she says as she turns to look at Emma, Regina, and Zelena. She smiles at them all and says, "We're open to ideas."

Zelena harrumphs and mutters under her breath, "Of course you are. How else would we fix a problem? You wouldn't know a good idea if it hit you over the head." She groans as Regina kicks her shin under the table. She puts on a fake smile and says, "We'll do anything to help."

Emma can't help but chuckle before she looks at Regina, "Any ideas?"

"Perhaps," Regina muses as she looks around the table and at the guards behind them. Idiots she thinks as she sees a shimmer in the mirror behind the guards along the wall.

"Care to share?" Grumpy mutters in annoyance.

"Not with you dwarf," she mutters haughtily and stands to leave, "if that's all, this is over."

Emma's eyes grow wide as she stares after her wife, who's walking from the room. She glances at Zelena who instead glances at the back wall. Emma turns and stares at the guards, why are they so absorbed with the guards she wonders and then she sees a shimmer along the mirror. Her eyes narrow but before she can do anything Zelena leans over and grabs her arm, giving her a glare that could compare with Regina's Evil Queen days. Emma immediately freezes and Zelena murmurs, "Go to Regina," before turning her attention back to Snow, "As it seems this was pointless on your end; we'll be leaving now. Good luck." And with that she stands leaving a still stunned Robin and Emma in their seats. Robin is quick to recover, standing and following his wife. Ruby moves around and nudges Emma out of her seat and soon Emma's running out of the room only to find Regina and Zelena speaking in hushed tones outside the door. She quickly walks over and Regina is quick to grab on to her arm and drag her into the room across the hall.

"Follow my lead," Regina says as she starts releasing her magic.

Emma is quick to join her and allows Regina to siphon her magic and shape it around the room. Emma feels tiny beads of sweat forming along her brow but continues to push through the fatigue until Regina deems the room to satisfaction and stops the flow of magic. Emma sighs and slumps forward. Regina is quick to grab her before she falls to the ground.

"Emma!" she exclaims.

Her wife gives her a weak smile and mumbles, "I'm fine babe."

"You are anything but fine!" Regina can't help the irritation that bubbles up at her wife's stubbornness. "You should have stopped when you felt tired."

"It's like running, Gina. Gotta sweat to step up my stamina."

Regina sighs and helps Emma over to a chair, "You stubborn fool," she murmurs as she brushes damp hair from her wife's face, "Magic is not running. I can see how you were drawn to that conclusion but using too much magic could kill you Emma! Do not let your stubbornness overpower your instinct to survive, understand?"

The powerful look Regina is giving her is enough to give Emma pause. "Sorry," she murmurs as she looks down, properly chastised.

"We need you alive," Regina says in a softer tone as she places a kiss to Emma's temple.

Emma smiles at the affection given so freely and turns to Regina expectantly. When all she receives is a blank stare, Emma sighs and says, "Well? Are you going to tell me what we just did with that magic or do I have to guess? Because if I have to guess I'm going to need more than 20 questions."

Regina shakes her head at her wife's attempt at levity but smiles affectionately. "It was a silencing spell, laced with a protection spell to block all other magicks from penetrating the barrier."

"So no one can hear us now?" Emma says as she raises her eyebrows provocatively. Regina shakes her head; Emma watches the blush color her wife's cheeks and smirks. Emma tugs Regina closer to her but before she lands in Emma's lap the doors are pushed open and Zelena barges in with Snow, Charming, Grumpy, Ruby, and Kathryn close behind. Emma sighs and leans her forehead against Regina's stomach and murmurs, "I can't fucking wait until we're out of crisis and people stop barging in on us."

Regina chuckles and runs her now-free hand through Emma's locks and murmurs, "You still owe me a bath," before turning toward their new companions.

"Care to explain?" Grumpy asks exasperatedly.

"Not particularly," Regina says with an air of authority, "But since your dimwitted brain cannot comprehend I suppose I will have to spell it out for you. We were being watched in the War Room."

"That's impossible," Snow says, "Blue put up the wards herself. They should be impenetrable."

Regina scoffs, "The Moth? Truly? Do you know nothing dear?" Emma squeezes her hand and Regina changes. She counts to 10 and softens her tone, "I should have known she'd be behind this."

"But why now? Why go after the children?" Zelena asks, already on the same page as her sister.

The others try to follow the conversation but are all at a loss. It's Emma who catches on first when Regina says, "She never wanted me to have children. She's the reason I could not conceive. She was the one to give me the potion," she elaborates when she notices the looks of confusion surrounding her. The potion she drank when her mother was trying to find her a suitor and produce an heir. Regina shudders at the thought of how badly things could have gone if she had allowed her mother to get her way. No Emma? No Henry? I don't ever want to be in a world like that again.

"Going after our kids? Our friend's kids? Our family? Uh uh. I don't think so," Emma says, "I don't care who she is."

"Now wait a minute," Grumpy says, "Blue's a good guy. She wouldn't do this."

"Do you have another explanation, Munchkin?" Zelena asks.

"I'm a dwarf," Grumpy grounds out.

Zelena's face contorts with disgust as she says, "That's even worse."

"Anyway," Regina steps in, "someone was watching our meeting through the mirror. That's why Emma and I sealed this ourselves."

"And how do we know we can trust you?" Grumpy asks warily.

Regina rolls her eyes and says, "I guess you don't."

Emma doesn't let that go. She stands up and faces Grumpy, "Because these are her kids, her family. If you don't think Regina would go to the ends of the earth-even farther than that-to protect her family, you don't know her at all." Emma is trying her best not to show how exhausted she is.

Apparently she is unsuccessful because her sister-in-law grabs her elbow and asks, "Do you need a Gatorade?"

Off of Emma's glare Ruby chuckles, "You do look like shit, Ems."

"Thanks guys," she grumbles.

Regina rolls her eyes but grabs her wife's hand and shares some of her own magic. She may not have used magic in the past few years, but it's like riding a bike and you just don't forget. She's also not as stubborn as her wife. Emma may be similar to a magical battery, but even she has limits-whether she admits them or not. Regina shares enough magic that the color returns to Emma's cheeks and she no longer looks like she's about to pass out.

"Much better," Emma says with a forced smile, "Now let's figure out a plan to end this."

Thanks for all the love and support for this story. It really means a lot that people are still reading this and enjoying what's happening. You guys are amazing.
Hugs and Love,
-IrishBella