The Enchanted Forest – Rumple's Castle

Four Years Later

Regina walked into the castle with her hood up, and a high-pitched giggle reached her ears. She glanced to the side at the humanlike creature making his way out of the shadows.

"I admit I didn't expect you back so soon, dearie," he said.

"What are your terms, imp?"

"Touchy. I will allow it this time, as you have something that I need, just as I have something you want."

"So you will teach me?"

"Yes, and one day, you will perform a favor for me."

"That seems vague."

"You are the desperate one."

Regina inclined her head and said, "We have an agreement."

The creature bowed and grinned childishly.

"Rumplestiltskin, at your service, Your Majesty."

Present Day

Regina sat in the far corner booth wearing a hoodie and sweatpants hunched over a journal with her pencil scribbling across the page. Granny shut down the bathroom for "renovations," giving Regina the freedom to not be bothered by anyone for the day.

It was the twenty-fourth day of the tenth month, and Regina woke up that morning feeling her limbs protest every moment. She shouldn't have drunk as much as she did the night before, but it was better than feeling the anguish still lurking in her bones. Regina could handle her emotions during the week, letting the distractions of being mayor keep her busy, but when five p.m. on Friday rolled in, she reverted into her shell and made her way to Killian's ship for the only alcohol in town that kept her demons at bay. The first time it happened, Killian was too wary to let her on board. But when she started crying and begging him to help her forget, Regina assumed the pirate's heart had thawed enough to be a gentleman.

Regina spent the entire night telling Killian about Charles and Liana, her children, and why she hated Snow White as much as she did. She passed out shortly after, but when she got up that morning, Killian had a plate of bread and cheese for her. He apologized for his actions in Neverland and with Cora, and Regina forgave him out of principle. She knew what it was like to be addicted to Cora. Her mother had a hold on people, and after she escaped the prison Regina threw her in, she was hell-bent on proving Regina wrong. Therefore, Regina had no reason to hold a grudge against Killian. He was a pawn.

Naturally, Ruby found out about her nights with Killian, and she made it her mission to bring them water and fruit so they didn't die. Then Granny found out, and Regina's weekly trip to Killian's ship ended with an insane amount of pancakes to soak up the liquor. Killian became a surprising ally, helping her dodge Snow White and Charming and listening to her complain about her crush on the ever-oblivious Savior. Killian made it clear that he and Emma spoke in Neverland about how they wouldn't work as a couple, but the only person who didn't get that memo was Snow White, who seemed torn between pushing Emma toward Neal or Killian.

Regina's phone vibrated on the table with a silent alarm, and like clockwork, Ruby appeared and sat down in the booth. She put a cupcake with one candle between them, and they blew out the candle together.

"Happy birthday, Kieran," Regina whispered.

"Please don't be surrounded by books and papers," Ruby added.

Regina snorted and pushed the cupcake to the side for Killian to eat when he got there. But she knew without a doubt that wherever her daughter was, she was still spending more of her time with books instead of people.

"That looks new," Ruby said, tapping the notebook.

Smiling to herself, Regina turned her sketch toward Ruby and said, "I was thinking of painting this one in the vault."

"Where? Most of it is already covered."

"I have a wall in the back that still has space. Do you like it or not?"

"Of course. What is this from, anyway? I don't remember Kieran having that hairstyle."

"It was her fourteenth year. I'm not sure why she went blonde, but she didn't last long. This is when they were in the library. Kieran was teaching Isabella how to speak Spanish so they could surprise me for my birthday."

"How long did that last before Isabella got frustrated?"

Regina laughed and said, "She stayed the entire time. Isabella was just as smart as Kieran, just didn't have the same dedication."

"You mean obsession," Ruby corrected playfully.

Regina inclined her head and took the journal back. She'd started drawing so she wouldn't forget her children's faces, and Ruby liked to tease her about it. Regina didn't care. She was that kind of mother, and she would keep being that kind of mother until she found them again.

"Are we still on for later?" Ruby asked.

"Yes. Most of the furniture is staying at the mansion, so I don't have much to move."

"I can't believe you're moving in with Killian."

"He has the space, and I need a break away from the house. It's so empty now without Henry."

"Is he still with Neal?"

"That's his hero now, so yes."

"He'll come around, Gina."

"I know."

Ruby stood up from the booth and said, "Okay, I have to go, but I'll be back to check on you. Do you want tea while you hang out here?"

Regina flicked her wrist, and a cup of tea appeared in front of her. She gave Ruby a cheeky smile, and her niece shook her head.

"Sometimes, I wonder which one of us is the adult."

Regina stuck out her tongue, and Ruby left to catch the new customers. Regina chuckled and wrapped her tea in both hands, letting the warmth chase away the persistent coldness in her limbs. Despite how much Regina enjoyed being around Ruby, Killian, and Granny, she was still alone. She'd cast the curse as revenge, wanting to steal Snow White's chance at a happy life the same way Snow stole hers. But nearly three decades had passed, and Regina still hadn't found her children. She thought fate blessed her with a second chance when she had Henry, but as soon as that stupid storybook landed in his lap, she'd lost him too. Snow latched onto him through Emma, and Henry was gone before Regina could blink. Then that shit with Cora happened, and Regina sighed. Not even Snow killing Cora could make the town give Regina a little slack. They rallied around the princess with sympathy after Snow found out Cora killed Johanna.

Regina huffed and took a sip of tea. Cora didn't even kill Johanna, Regina did, but Cora took the blame once she found out why Regina did it. That didn't stop Cora from trying to manipulate Regina's life, but it was something Regina never forgot. Johanna was a nuisance and liked to talk. When she saw Liana and Regina kissing in a wing that was forbidden to most of the staff, Regina did the first thing she could think of to protect her secret. She pushed her down the stairs, and Cora just so happened to be walking around the corner when it happened.

It was the only moment where Cora showed an ounce of maternal instinct. She wasn't the best mother, she wasn't even a good mother, but she cared enough about Regina to protect her when it counted. Regardless, Regina had reached her limits with Storybrooke. She was tempted to drive over the boundary and never come back. If it weren't for Ruby, Granny, and Killian, Regina would be gone.

"Your Majesty."

Speaking of the Devil….

"Killian."

"Sorry I missed the birthday celebration. Baelfire cornered me when I was leaving the store."

"Is he still bugging you about Emma?"

"When is he not?" he sighed.

Killian stretched out and ran a hand through his hair. He was growing it out, saying that he wanted to try a shaggy look, and Regina didn't have the heart to tell him he was starting to look homeless. He was mid-story about what happened with Baelfire when the door opened. They both looked in unison, and Regina slid to the furthest corner and pulled up her hood. Killian sunk and matched her position. Emma walked up to the far end of the counter, and Regina's position gave her the chance to hear the conversation without being spotted. Ruby made her way to Emma and gave her a polite smile.

"What can I do for you, Sheriff?"

"Are you still mad at me?" Emma asked.

"What gave it away?"

Regina smiled at the sarcasm. Ruby spent hours complaining about Emma being Team Charming and how they had a full-blown argument that led to Ruby kicking Emma out of the diner.

"Listen, I'm not here to fight. I wanted to know if you've seen Regina?"

"No, but I can pass along a message."

Regina's eyes widened as she peeked over the edge, and she physically stopped herself from jumping from the booth as Emma removed a familiar journal from her waistband. Ruby clenched her fists on the counter. Killian frowned at her, confused, and Regina held up her hand.

"Where did you get that?" Ruby asked.

"I was changing out Snow's mattress as a favor for David and found it there," Emma said.

"Did you read it?"

"Enough to know it belonged to Regina." Emma chewed on her lip and added, "Who's Lian-

"Do not say her name," Ruby said. "You do not get to ask that, Charming."

"Come on, Ruby. How long are you going to be mad at me? Snow's my family-

"And Regina is mine."

"Since when?"

"If you paid attention to anyone who wasn't kissing your mother's ass, you'd see not everyone is a fan of your mother."

"The people who aren't are usually from Regina's castle," Emma said.

"Which used to be Snow White's home, so what does that tell you, smartass? You think you know everything that happened back in our world, but you don't. You only know what that damned storybook told you, and it doesn't even tell the whole truth."

"Then tell me!"

"You don't deserve to know," Ruby scoffed. "Just go, Emma. I'll make sure Regina gets the journal."

Regina watched Emma's face fall momentarily. Then it was gone, and she threw the journal on the counter before storming out. Regina held her breath as Ruby waited a few minutes before making her way back to the booth and putting the journal on the table.

"How can you have a crush on her?" Ruby huffed.

"Stubborn blondes are my weakness."

"Liana and Charles were brunettes," Ruby pointed out.

"They were the exception." Regina picked up the journal and caressed the spine. "I cannot believe Snow had this the entire time," she muttered.

"What is it?" Killian asked.

"A diary, of sorts," Regina said. "It was something I wrote in when I was Queen."

Regina opened it and turned to the first page, showing two sets of handprints. She pointed to the red one and said, "This is Kieran." Regina pointed to the orange one and added, "And this is Isabella."

Regina flipped the pages and laughed at the slightly larger handprints in green and blue.

"These two are Emmett and Ruby."

"I assume Ruby is the one in blue," Killian said.

"Those are Emmett's," Ruby snorted. "Mine are the ones in green."

"Oh. You have –

"Such big hands," Ruby finished. "Blah, blah. I know the story."

Killian snickered, and Regina rolled her eyes at them.

"I can't believe Snow's had it the entire time. I guess I should've known better." Regina flipped through the entire thing and clicked her teeth. "She ripped out the pages that mention Isabella, Kieran, and Emmett."

"I'm sorry, Gina."

"No, it's fine. I remember everything I wrote, so it's not like the memories are gone. If anything, I'm happy to at least have the handprints back."

"Are you going to go after Snow?" Killian asked.

"What would be the point?"

"Okay, who are you, and what have you done with my aunt?" Ruby joked.

Regina just smiled. She waved her hand over the journal and sent it somewhere safe.

Gold exited his backroom and came around the corner. A journal sat on the counter, and he cast a few spells to make sure there was nothing harmful attached to it. He frowned when he sensed Regina's magic, and Gold opened it to the first page. He traced the handprints in the front, and then he flipped through. Some of the pages had been ripped out, and Gold could imagine what they mentioned. Despite what the Savior and the others assumed about his relationship with Regina, they were friends. And she only sent him things that she wanted to be destroyed or protected.

Based on the handprints, Gold assumed it would be the latter. He took the journal and placed it in the same vault as his blade. He knew Regina was still looking for a way to leave Storybrooke safely, and he wanted to give her some direction. Whatever portals Snow threw Regina's children into split into six different realms, and each one was made up of ten various mini-realms. Gold was having to search a much larger map than he anticipated. But he did know one thing. Something had been wrong with those beans, and whoever gave them to Snow wasn't out to send them away.

They wanted to take them out of the picture entirely.

Regina adjusted her blazer as she walked into the office Monday morning. Her move to Killian's ship went well, and she had the best sleep she'd had in a long time. Sunday was a lazy day, and she stayed on board with Killian. Regina taught him how to cook eggs, and he taught her how to fish.

It was a rare day when Regina could just be herself.

"Madam Mayor."

And it was over as soon as it began.

"Sheriff."

"May we speak?"

"Depends on what you want to talk about," Regina said, sitting behind her desk. "Close the door."

Emma did as she was told and came over to Regina's desk.

"Henry went by your house yesterday."

"Why would he do that? He made it clear he wanted nothing more to do with me or that home."

"He wanted a comic book."

"All of his things have been sent to your apartment."

"Why did you change the locks?"

Regina exhaled through her nose and clasped her hands on her desk.

"How about you say what you want to say so we can move on with our lives?"

"Did you get the journal?"

"I did."

Emma waited. When Regina said nothing else, she asked, "That's it? That's all you have to say?"

"What sort of response were you expecting?"

"Anger? Rage? Maybe another curse," Emma said sarcastically.

"That Charming gene kicks in at the most inopportune times."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that I have no desire to go after your mother for stealing my journal."

"You're kidding, right?"

Regina stood and came around the desk until she was face-to-face with Emma. She said, "Despite what you have been told, my anger toward your mother has nothing to do with anything she did as a child. It has everything to do with what Snow did when she was older. A child would not have done what she did. A child would not have taken everything that I ever loved and destroyed my world in a matter of minutes. While I have no desire to go after your mother for stealing my diary, I do, however, have to spend every waking moment not snapping her neck for destroying my life!"

Emma reared back and stared at Regina with a mixture of fear and confusion. Regina took a deep breath and stepped away. She went back to her side of the desk and sat down.

"If there is nothing else, I have work to do."

"Regina-

"Goodbye, Sheriff Swan."

Regina glanced down, her silent way of ending the conversation, and she held her breath until the door closed. She deflated against her chair and pinched the bridge of her nose to keep her tears at bay.

After the lunch rush, Emma walked up to the counter and looked Ruby in the eyes, saying, "I want to know what happened."

Ruby continued to wipe down the back of the bar.

"Please, Ruby? What happened to her?" Emma asked. "Why is she so angry?"

"Look." Ruby threw down her rag and leaned on the counter to match Emma's position. She added in a low voice, "You do not get to come in here and demand answers. You made your choice very clear when you helped Henry move out of the house he grew up in while Regina was at work. You made your choice clear when you were about to crucify Regina for killing Archie even though she had no reason to do so. And when it was proven to be Cora, all you did was move on as if you didn't spend weeks calling her a murderer and a cold-hearted bitch to anyone who listened. You made your choice clear when you comforted your mother after she killed Cora. That was Regina's mother, Emma. No matter what happened between them, no one should watch their parent die in front of them. But you went home with everyone else to celebrate Snow and remind her that she wasn't evil. Yet Regina spent her night burying her mother. You, Emma Charming, are not interested in knowing what happened to Regina because you care about her. You're just a selfish, demanding brat just like your mother and hate not having all the answers."

"Ruby."

Emma and Ruby turned as Granny came out of the kitchen. Granny put her hand on Ruby's shoulder, jerking her head. Ruby huffed and went to the back. Granny clicked her teeth, and she looked at Emma.

"I think it would be best if you did your orders by delivery from now on, Sheriff," she said.

"But Granny, I…"

Emma trailed off when Granny shook her head. She shoved her hands into her pockets as she left and let her feet lead her. Somehow ended up at Gold's shop. Emma chewed on her bottom lip as she went inside. Gold didn't seem surprised to see her. If anything, he seemed relieved.

"I was wondering when you would grow a pair and ask," he said.

"Ruby hates me, Granny pities me, and Regina wants nothing to do with me. I want to know what pieces of the story I'm missing. I know that I've made some stupid choices since I've been here. I've been so caught up in having a family that I've forgotten," she paused, "that I'm not from here. But I saw Regina today, and I saw something in her that scared me. So, please. What did my mother do to her?"

"This is not a short conversation, Savior."

"I'm off for the day."

"Very well. It started with a broken wheel, of all things…"

Later that evening, just before midnight, Emma sat on the bench near the docks with a bag at her feet. Her car was parked behind her, filled with the things she felt were important, and she fiddled with the letter in her hands. It was an apology to Henry for leaving without saying goodbye. When Henry showed up at her front door, Emma had celebrated another year without a family. She had made peace with it a long time ago, and one bus ride later, she had a mom, a dad, and a son. Emma's life had gone from calm and lonely to chaotic and suffocating, but she forced herself to be grateful. After all, she had a family. Wasn't that what she wanted?

"Mind some company?"

Emma wordlessly moved over, and Ruby sat beside her and exhaled softly.

"I owe you an apology. I haven't been treating you fairly, and I'm sorry."

"You were right. I shouldn't have been so quick to take Snow's side because she said she was my mother. How do I even know that's true?"

"No, you are Snow White's daughter," Ruby snorted. "There is no doubt in my mind about that. But Emma, when you told me you were in and out of the foster system, I didn't know what that meant. I still don't sometimes, and I realized that I could be a bit one-sided on the matter. It never occurred to me that coming here and finding Snow and David would be the best thing in the world for you." Ruby folded her hands in her lap and added, "I should have seen things from your perspective and gone about it a different way. It was unfair to be angry with you when you don't know what life was like before we came here."

Emma picked at her jeans and avoided Ruby's gaze as she said, "I went to Gold after I left the diner. He's the only one in town I trust to be honest with me."

"That depends on what he told you."

"I know why my existence in Storybrooke did more harm than good for Regina. And I know that somewhere out there, there are three people lost and confused because of my mother's actions. The curse was retaliation, yes, but it was Regina's way of pausing time," Emma stopped and frowned, "if only to find her children."

Ruby didn't speak, knowing that Emma wasn't finished, and the water crashing against the pier was the only sound for several minutes. Emma lifted her head to the night sky and closed her eyes, releasing a deep sigh.

"When I was five, I had this stuffed duck that my social worker got me for Christmas. It was the one thing that I felt was mine, but one of my foster brothers threw it in the fireplace because I didn't share my Easter candy with him. By the time my foster mother managed to get it out of the fire, it was too late. She told me they'd buy me a new one, but that wasn't the point. It was mine; it was something that I loved, and I hated them for not saving it in time." Emma let out a derisive chuckle and opened her eyes, looking at Ruby. "When Gold told me what happened, I amplified the feeling of losing that stuffed animal until it was halfway close to what Regina felt that day." Emma flicked lint off her pants and added, "And it still isn't enough."

Ruby patted Emma on the arm and stood up.

"Walk with me."

Emma stood and shoved the letter to Henry in her pocket. Ruby walked her down the docks at a slow pace.

"I'm not sure what Gold told you, so I might as well start from what I remember. Granny was a local baker, very popular in our village, and Regina would always stop by on her way back to the castle. We didn't think anything of it back then, but I think Regina had always planned on taking us with her. She has never been the type to do something impulsively without thinking it through, and that included inviting two strangers to work for her in the kitchens. There was some sort of staff transition when the Queen died, and it took months, but it left an opening in the kitchen. So Regina hired Granny and me as her staff. When Granny asked her why she chose us, Regina admitted that she would rather have strangers getting to know her as Regina than have former employees compare her to the previous Queen.

"It made sense to Granny, so I packed up my bag and went with them. I wasn't old enough to ask those kinds of questions yet. Anyway, when we moved in, I was so scared of doing something wrong. One day, about an hour after the King and Snow left for another kingdom, I watched Regina become an entirely different person. I wanted to ask why she didn't go with them, but I didn't have to. The castle came alive when the King and Snow weren't around. It was like watching a flower bloom under the sunlight. The staff laughed a lot more. The guards smiled when you passed them, and the kitchen was filled with singing and music. The windows were opened, and Regina forced all of the handmaidens and servants to go out into the garden and have lunch. That afternoon, Granny told me I could take my lunch outside for once, and I was going to the garden when I heard it."

Ruby's eyes glazed over with a smile.

"It was no secret that Regina loved to be outside. She hated being cooped up in the castle, so I can't say I was surprised to see her out in the training yard kicking a ball around with this boy. Imagine Regina in one of those massive dresses, hiked up to her knees, running barefoot around with a four-year-old. His pants were so big, so he kept stumbling and falling, but he got up laughing each time. I watched them for a few minutes until Regina spotted me, and she waved me over. The little boy squealed when he saw me and ran at me. He wrapped himself around my legs and forced me to walk awkwardly the rest of the way. That was my first time meeting Emmett. Instead of going to the garden, I stayed with them, and Emmett held my hand the entire time. While I ate, he would sit on my lap and ask for pieces. I didn't know until much later that his parents and older sister died in a fire, and Regina found him on the streets. She said she fell in love with him the moment she saw him, so she tasked the guards to watch and train him. Regina never told the King, and the King never noticed this kid running behind the horses when the guards were training."

Ruby's smile faltered a little, and she folded her arms.

"Then Charles came into the picture. Their story changes depending on whom you ask, so I can't say how they met or how long they'd known one another. The one I heard from Regina was that Charles saved her and her best friend, Liana, from being robbed while he was on his way home from the market. Regina was so impressed that she just had to have him," she said sarcastically. Ruby snorted and shook her head. "Anyway, Charles had a little girl named Isabella from a previous marriage, no older than two, and Regina was all too happy to have her at the castle as well. If Emmett made Regina laugh, Isabella made Regina soft. Granny teased Regina whenever she could about how much Regina changed when Isabella was around. But I grew to love her and Emmett as if they were my blood. Emmett and I would chase Isabella outside, laughing at every giggle that she made, and for a minute, that was our life. I was the big cousin, the one who got blamed for things even if it wasn't my fault, and still, the King never knew. Years later, Liana got pregnant. Granny was a nervous wreck, as was Regina, and we were always on baby watch those final three months.

"The day Liana gave birth, she had snuck out of the castle with Charles, and Regina was so pissed. It was funnier after it happened, but not until much, much later. When Liana gave birth to a healthy baby girl, the entire castle silently celebrated. She named her Lena Kieran Mills, but we called her Kieran, and with the baby in the midst, everything started falling into place. Kieran was surrounded by people at all times. She was the most guarded baby in all of existence. Isabella especially didn't let anyone near her sister. When it came to Kieran, she would burn the world down over her."

Ruby rubbed her face and let out a soft laugh.

"It was fun watching them grow up. As they got older, their personalities started clashing in a good way. Emmett got into the guard, but he was still our goofy kid. He was serious when it mattered, but he kept everyone laughing. Isabella, on the other hand, had a wicked tongue. She spent her free time with the archers or the blacksmith, just fucking around. She loved working with her hands. But Kieran was the one hidden in the library. She knew three languages by the time she was ten and could out-read many of the teachers Regina had at the castle. They were so different when they were apart, but together? They were a force. Emmett was the only one who could keep up with them."

Ruby stopped walking, which forced Emma to stop, and her eyes watered.

"Charles died when Isabella was six. Snow had gone to the stables late at night by herself because she wanted to see her new horse. Charles was passing through when he saw her, and Snow ignored his warning to stay back. Charles pushed Snow out of the way when the horse reared up and was trampled. Snow screamed and ran from the stables. By the time Emmett and the others got there, he was dead. Losing Charles was a massive blow. And Regina never got over that. Isabella was too young to understand her father wasn't coming back, but when she got older, I think that's when it settled in. And if you thought Regina hated Snow for Daniel…"

Ruby trailed off and clicked her teeth.

"Liana died a few years later. There was a virus going around that she couldn't beat. After that, Kieran retreated further into herself, and it had gotten to the point Isabella had to feed her, bathe her, and help her get dressed. Regina wasn't around as much as she wanted because the King had started to demand more and more of her time. Snow was getting older and was lashing out because Johanna had died. Isabella and Kieran pulled away from Regina, and Emmett had been called by the King to be his guard instead of Regina's. Granny and I could only watch as our family fell apart. And then the King died."

"Yeah, about that -

Ruby gave a crooked smile and said, "She didn't help keep him alive, but she didn't kill him. He'd gotten bitten by a snake while hunting, and Regina knew the antidote for the poison. She took her time making it, and the King died in the process. Snow wasn't home at the time, but when she got back, she was so angry and blamed Regina. Regina told her she didn't kill him, but it didn't matter. Snow ran away. Some protested Regina taking the throne, but because Snow wasn't there, Regina became the Queen. She was a pretty fair ruler. No one went hungry, everyone was living in peace, and it wasn't bad. We thought it was over and could get things back on track. But then Snow met David, and they began spreading lies. Regina couldn't leave the castle without someone trying to kill her on Snow's behalf."

"What happened that day?"

"I wasn't there," she said flatly. "All I remember was coming home, and Emmett, Isabella, and Kieran were gone. Regina's magic manifested that day, and that's when the Evil Queen was born." Ruby let out a humorless laugh and stared out into the water. "Snow and David started attacking Regina's convoys, taking out her guards, and stealing the food that Regina sent to the villagers. She set fires to the stables and freed the horses and made it her sole purpose to antagonize Regina however she could. David and Snow called for Regina to be overthrown. People were scared on all sides, and Regina was losing control. It had gotten to the point that Snow and David managed to sneak into the castle and set Regina's throne on fire. That's when Regina went to Rumpelstiltskin. She was desperate to learn how to protect herself and the people she still had on her side. With him, yes, her magic did get better, but it also grew more dangerous. Granny warned Regina to be careful, and Regina said she could handle it. And for a while, she did. Regina used her magic to get things back in order. She helped the crops grow, and the people began to trust her again. There was light at the end of the tunnel. You can imagine what happened next."

Emma shifted and chewed on her bottom lip.

"Snow announced her pregnancy," she guessed.

"Yes. But then she started bragging to anyone who listened about how you were her miracle and that you were going to live a long life in the castle you were conceived in."

Emma frowned in confusion, and Ruby cocked an eyebrow.

"I take it Gold didn't tell you the part of the story where Snow and David snuck into the castle for a second time when Regina was gone and they… you know… in Kieran's old room." Emma felt sick, and Ruby ran a hand through her hair. "Yeah, I had that same reaction. When Regina heard what Snow said, she was furious. So she sent me and Granny around the castle with what guards remained, searching for evidence, and I passed by Kieran's room. That was the last straw. Regina snapped. Casting the curse was stupid, but Regina wasn't the same woman I grew up with for a long time. Not since Snow opened those portals."

Emma didn't know how was she supposed to react to any of it. It felt like everything was a lie. She was exhausted and confused because if Snow and David were so quick to lie about that, what else had they lied about? Ruby placed a hand on her back and rubbed it.

"I'm sorry, Emma."

"Why are you apologizing?" Emma scoffed. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"Maybe so, but this isn't fun to hear. It wasn't fun to live through either, but..."

"God. Regina went through all of that, and twenty-eight years later, I show up and ruin her life."

"You are your parent's child," Ruby joked weakly.

"I wanted a family, Rubes. That's it. And I was so happy to know that I had parents, that my son was okay, and I didn't want to jeopardize it. I wanted to make them happy so they would keep me around."

"I know I'm biased, but you don't owe them anything. They sent you to another realm without thinking of the consequences. You were an infant in a new world, and then you got dealt the shittiest hand in life. It's a combination of events that started long before you were even a thought, and that's not on you. None of this is your fault. Do you know why I've been giving you such a hard time lately? The person that walked into the diner before the curse broke is not the person I've been seeing for the last few months. I'm angry you let them change you into someone you're not."

"Rubes, I don't- I don't know who I am without them," she whispered.

"You're Emma Swan. You're strong and confident, and you believe in truth and loyalty. And now that you have the truth, it's up to you how you handle it. Don't let anyone, not even me, push you into something you don't want. You are in control of your life, and no one can take that from you. So, if you want to leave, I'll let you go. Hell, I'll even ride with you to the line and keep you company."

"You would?"

"Of course. I would never make you stay somewhere you don't want to be. Neither would Regina, neither would Killian, and neither would Granny. Make this decision for yourself, Emma. And the rest will fall into place."

Ruby left her with that, and Emma shoved her hands into her pockets as she kept walking down the docks.