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David paced the floor, trying to make sense of everything that had happened since he found himself in the alley alone. The last thing he'd remembered was leaving Regina's house after heatedly telling her that if she had to use magic to keep Henry, then she didn't really have him. Then he woke up behind Granny's with a pounding headache and no one around. What in the hell was going on? Those people were all just sitting around, with the Evil Queen present, acting like nothing was wrong. Emma somehow back after being dragged through the magical hat by that creature, but she claimed Mary Margaret was still gone? Had Regina cursed them all? Were they under some kind of spell that made them oblivious to the damage she'd caused? To the fact that Snow White was missing?
He walked around the apartment he shared with Mary Margaret, noticing how things were slightly different. There was a high chair, for instance, sitting near the dining room table. The place was rather bare, as if nobody had been here for a while, but there were still some things left behind. Upon further inspection of his loft, he found it painted a pastel blue, a baby mobile still hanging from the ceiling. Did he have another child? If Emma was telling him the truth and he had lost three years worth of memories, what in the hell had happened in the meantime? Was Snow really gone? Had he really moved on with the Evil Queen? No, that was impossible, he hated her.
Making his way swiftly back down the steps of the loft he began to scour for clues, anything that could give him an answer to what had happened to him. This had to be a dream, or some kind of alternate reality. Someone was messing with him, this couldn't be his real life. His heart leapt when he picked up a framed picture, seeing he and Mary Margaret in a hospital bed, she with a baby in her arms that was unmistakably theirs. He dropped the frame, falling down into the chair nearest him, hanging his head as he propped his elbows on his knees, hands in the back of his hair. He was breaking down, losing his mind. This wasn't possible.
He heard the apartment door come open as he looked up, tears welling in his eyes, hoping to see Mary Margaret there, praying that this was all some weird dream she was about to wake him from. Instead he saw his daughter and his grandson, the boy looking to have grown a good five inches taller than he was according to David's memory. He shook his head in disbelief, running a hand over his face, "Emma, just tell me what's going on," He said brokenly, his voice wavering.
Emma swallowed hard as she approached him, laying a hand on his shoulder as she took a seat next to him. His shoulders sagged, his eyes red with tears and a distraught, heartbroken expression mired his otherwise pleasant face. "I'm not sure where to begin."
"What's happened to me? To this town?" David questioned with a pained expression, "To your mother?" None of it made sense.
Her face turned grim as she gave a glance to her son who stood back in the kitchen, observing them solemnly, "We don't know what happened to you, but, it seems like you've lost the last three years," She began, looking at David weakly, wishing she could comfort him in some way, "We were all waiting for you for our usual family dinner...Regina, Henry, Killian, Neal and I..." She specified when his face drew down in further confusion.
"Neal? Killian?" He shook his head quickly, swallowing the lump in his throat, "The Mayor?"
"You and mom, you had a son, Neal," Emma began, watching her father press his face into his hands as he tried to process everything, "Killian is Captain Hook...we're getting married this summer and...Regina," She took a deep breath, "You've been with her for a while now...you're expecting a baby together in July."
"This is insane," David looked up, his eyes brimming with fresh tears, "Your mother? What happened to her?" He asked, his voice cutting in anguish at the realization that Snow was indeed gone like Emma had said earlier. Emma watched as he dissolved in front of her, as if hearing the news of his wife's death for the first time. It was heartbreaking to watch him experience it all over again.
"We were all battling the dark forces, Killian and I...We were the dark ones," Emma glanced uneasily at Henry who gave her a nod of encouragement as he shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, "Regina was trying to free us of the darkness, so she conjured the underworld, was going to do a transport spell to move the darkness into her mother and vanquish it into the underworld once and for all...And mom, she...she was responsible for Cora's death so when Cora was summoned she attacked her. We tried to stop her but, Cora drained the life from her before we could do anything."
"So Regina was responsible?" David choked out angrily, his body shaking now as his tears came more freely, "And now you're telling me that she's pregnant with my child!?" He yelled in frustration, rocking himself forward as he grabbed the sides of his head in confusion.
"Mom's death isn't on Regina, she was trying to save us all," Emma frowned firmly, "She told Snow to stay away, but she didn't listen. Regina even nearly drained her own magic trying to fight Cora when it happened. She's redeemed herself over and over again, Dad, and you can't say anything like that in front of her because...coming from you, it will break her heart," She said seriously.
"Since when do we care about Regina's heart? She never cared about any of ours! Your mother is dead, Emma!" David shook his head in frustration, having a hard time matching his emotions to the logic Emma was speaking, given the lack of time he'd had to process all of these changes compared to everyone who had lived it and remembered it.
"She is, but you moved on. About seven months after her death you went on a mission to Oz to help Regina save Robin's daughter," She watched him look at her cluelessly, not being aware of Robin's significance or even his daughter's existence, "When you came back you said something had changed, we didn't know it yet," She motioned between she and Henry, "You two were seeing each other secretly and it grew to be serious. I was angry when I found out and it caused problems between the two of you, but you worked to earn her trust back. You love her, a lot, you two even live together now, with Neal."
"And my son, where is he now?" David gritted, not understanding how Emma could be telling him the truth about Regina. He still felt his hatred for her vividly, the memory of the day before when she'd had him pinned to the wall with magical vines coming from the wallpaper, squeezing the life out of him until Henry and Ruby had shown up in the room. They were enemies, and now she was having his child?
"With Regina at your house," Emma let out a breath, seeing him stand up quickly, "Dad?"
"You let her take him home?! The Evil Queen has my son?" He yelled, his anger and confusion blinding his better judgement, "Did you forget what she did to you Emma? We had to give you up just so you'd be safe. And now you've let her take him?" He felt a sense of urgency to protect the son he didn't even know from the Queen's hands.
"Grandpa, my mom isn't evil anymore," Henry traveled the distance between them with a sense of purpose, looking at him firmly, "You can't go over there like this right now, you'll only hurt her and she doesn't deserve that. She loves you," He stepped up to David, as if to prove he'd have to get through him first to get to Regina.
"We're going to find out what happened to your memories," Emma stood as well, looking at David in earnest, "I promise. For now you should come stay with Hook and I, so we can make sure whoever did this to you doesn't do something worse," She let out a breath.
"And Neal, you'll get my son?" David demanded, running a hand through his hair in his frazzled state.
"We'll get Neal," Emma bit her lip, knowing how it'd hurt Regina to take him, but hoping she'd understand that David needed to see the boy. Maybe it would even help jog his memory. Still, she was worried about her friend, not knowing how much heartbreak the woman could take.
"There there," Granny ran a hand over Regina's soft hair that was much longer now than she'd ever seen the mayor wear it. It made her look more youthful and carefree, happy, as she had been before this evening. Her heart broke for the young woman who she'd helped into the large, empty home and onto her sofa where she'd collapsed in tears. She'd never seen Regina so broken, her defenses completely down and accepting the older woman's efforts. Granny didn't usual comfort in such a manner, especially with Regina, but this situation was an exception.
"Neal?" Regina questioned, drawing in a shaky breath and staring off towards the fireplace from her position on the couch. Granny sat on the edge, running a hand over her shoulder in a reassuring manner.
"Killian put him to bed girl, he's upstairs asleep," The older lady nodded, watching the brunette acknowledge her statement with a slight nod in return. Her usually warm eyes were empty and puffy, devoid of emotion though Granny knew she still felt the pain.
"Did you see the look in his eyes, Granny?" Regina whispered, her eyes shifting to look up at the woman comforting her, "He hates me," She added, her words barely audible before she turned her head away again.
"He doesn't really, Regina," Granny smiled weakly, pushing the hair from her face, "He's just lost his memories, that's all. Emma will find out why and everything will get back to normal, girl. Don't you worry and don't you stress, you've got more than yourself to consider," She added, running a hand over Regina's bump in reminder. Normally she'd never be this hands on with the Mayor, but right now all walls were down and Regina seemed like a young girl who needed a mother's comfort. That was something that was obvious, even to an old wolf.
"What if he never gets them back? We can't replay time, he hasn't seen the ways I've tried to redeem myself," Regina swallowed the lump in her throat, "All he'll have is stories, but they won't mean anything if he hasn't experienced it. If someone told you three years ago that I was a different person, that I'd changed and that you shouldn't hate me all of a sudden, would you've?" Regina spoke in a sullen tone, her gaze drifting as she stared into space.
"Anyone who sees you now knows you've changed," Granny said, resting her hand on Regina's side in a comforting manner, "If he doesn't get his memories back, he'll still come around when he sees it for himself. He fell in love with you once, he can do it again. You can't lose hope now, not with this little one depending on you."
"I was waiting for this," Regina smiled bitterly before biting down on her lower lip.
"For something bad to happen?" The wolf watched the brunette give a weak nod before letting out a breath, "Girl, bad things are always going to happen, you'd know better than anyone. Hold onto the things that you still have," She gave the young woman a gentle smile, taking her hand in her own and running it over her bump, making Regina feel it for herself, "That's the most important thing."
She watched as fresh tears welled in Regina's eyes, spilling down her rounded cheeks and onto the sofa pillow she rested her head on. "Let's get you to bed," Granny suggested, standing up from the edge of the couch and offering a hand down to the mayor who took it after a few moments and sat up herself. "Go change into something comfortable, I'll bring you some tea and toast up," The older lady directed, leading Regina towards the staircase before she could protest. Regina turned to look at the wolf, managing a weak smile in thanks as the older lady nodded in reciprocation, watching the brunette ascend the stairs slowly, as if the life was draining from her.
Granny shook her head, watching her make it to the top and disappear into her room before going to find Regina's kitchen. She'd only been in the home a couple of times, but it was neat and organized, allowing the wolf to find what she needed to make the tea rather quickly. She filled the kettle, a picture of David and Regina on the fridge catching her view and making her shake her head. After all that one had been through, now she had to watch the man she loved regard her in such a way. It had to be devastating for her to be reminded of her past and who she'd been by someone who meant so much to her.
She found a mug in the cupboard as she waited for the kettle to heat the water on the stove, remembering back to the Enchanted Forest and what she knew about Regina at the time. Living out in the woods in her cottage, she'd only go to the village about once a month. She'd heard during one of her trips that the King was taking a new bride. During another visit she'd even unknowingly spotted the new Queen, not realizing it until her memory came back in Storybrooke and she found out the mayor was the same young girl she'd seen, dressed in peasant clothing and talking to a blonde fairy over a meal. Back then she hadn't known what she looked like, only that Leopold had remarried a girl barely older than his daughter. It was a rather common practice for men back then to marry younger brides, but Granny had still felt sorrow for the her.
Granny had known of Regina's mother, Cora, and how power hungry she had been. From what she'd learned over the years it was Cora who forced her into the marriage with Leopold, though she wasn't surprised. She couldn't imagine what a beautiful, eighteen year old girl would want with the King anyhow. Granny had seen him, and even from a distance there was no appeal there. It had been great news throughout the kingdom when Queen Eva died, tales of the King's loneliness and grief being spread from one villager to the next. It was common knowledge that he never got over his first wife, so Granny couldn't help but feel sorry for the young woman she didn't know back then, regardless of how privileged being the new queen might have made her. Nobody deserved to be a replacement, and money and status meant nothing if you weren't loved.
Though, it hadn't been until the happenings in Storybrooke the past couple of years that she heard Regina's life story fully, but in bits and pieces. In some ways from Regina, from overhearing the other's talk, or when something bad had happened in the town and parts of her past with Cora or Snow had come to the surface. Little by little she'd pieced Regina's painful story together, her empathy for the woman growing along with it. Regina was far too young to have experienced so much loss, betrayal and loneliness. Witnessing the death of a fiance, an abusive mother, a controlling husband old enough to be her father...Those were things most people only experienced one of, all considered tragedies that one would suffer the remnants of for the rest of their life...and here Regina had lived through it all, had hardened because of it, turned evil and chased revenge, but still had the capacity to love and transform back to the good person she once was. She just wished the girl would get a break.
The kettle whistled, bringing her from her thoughts as she turned the fire out from under the stove and poured the hot water into the mug with the teabag. Adding a nip of sugar and honey before picking it up from the counter, Granny made her way to the foyer and up the stairs to take it to the woman. She saw the light at the end of the hall, knowing it must be Regina's room as she padded her way towards it, "Regina?" She called out in a tone much softer than the one she'd usually use between them.
She heard no answer before quietly making her way into the room and seeing the brunette curled in the middle of her large bed, already asleep. Pregnancy was exhausting enough, and it didn't surprise her that she'd crashed so quickly after the emotional evening she'd had. Granny sat the tea on Regina's nightstand quietly before leaning over the bed, pulling the covers up over her small figure. She hadn't gained much weight with her pregnancy, just a sweet, rounded belly that the brunette now hugged with her arm. The older lady smiled a little, happy that Regina was able to experience something she'd seen her yearn for so much. Sharing Henry had been an adjustment for the mayor, along with coming to care for Roland and having to part with him, and watching Robin share a child with her sister. Finally, Regina would experience it for herself and have a child that no one could ever take from her.
Carefully she tucked her in, noting that the brunette had changed into a flannel button up that looked painfully similar to one Granny thought she'd seen David wear just a few days ago. Her heart ached for her as she straightened up, deciding she'd stick around for a while to make sure Regina rested. God knows what the girl would do if she woke up and got it in her mind that she was going to fix this for herself. Granny couldn't allow her to put herself in danger, and someone should be here in case Regina gets too upset again. Yes, she'd just stick around. Someone needed to.
"Hey love," Killian straightened up from leaning against their kitchen counter when Emma came in after showing David to the guest room, "How'd it go this evening?" He asked, giving her a weak smile as he watched her shrug off her jacket. He'd kept out of view in the kitchen when he'd heard Emma and David come in, knowing his presence in David's daughter's life would just be another awkward and overwhelming aspect of this the man probably didn't want to face tonight. Killian couldn't say he especially wanted to either, getting David to like him the first time around was hard enough.
"About as good as it can go breaking the news to your dad that your mom is dead and he's now with someone he thinks is his enemy," Emma sighed, opening the fridge door after throwing her jacket over the counter, grabbing a beer from the shelf.
"I'm guessing none of the talking helped bring any of his memories back?" Killian pressed his lips into a line, watching Emma twist the top off and take a sip from the bottle.
She swallowed and gave him a nod, "He's so upset, he's demanding to get Neal from Regina, but I told him not until the morning, that it was too late to go barging in now."
"You did?" Killian asked, his expression seeming somewhat surprised, making Emma frown.
"Well yeah, Neal has lived with Regina for months, she's basically been a mother to him for a half a year now. I'm not going to go rip him away from her in the middle of the night," She ran a hand through her hair tiredly, "Regina doesn't deserve that...How was she when you took her home?"
"Quiet. Neal fell asleep on the ride there, so I tucked him in 'is crib while Granny saw to Regina," Killian nodded, "When I came back down I saw a glimpse of her. She didn't look good, Swan. I've never seen the Queen like that," He said, his voice slightly quieter in contemplation of the broken state he'd witnessed the usually strong woman in.
"I need to fix this as soon as possible," Emma sat her beer down and pressed her hands to the counter behind her before lifting herself up to sit on it, "But I don't even know where to begin. Dad doesn't remember anything that happened, just says he remembers waking up in the alley."
"We'll start there tomorrow, then," Killian replied with a nod, "You have any idea who would be after Regina or David now?" He asked, watching her eyes squint in thought.
"No idea. Cora's dead, Regina banished Zelena to Oz," She mumbled more to herself than to Killian as she mentally ran through the checklist before rolling her eyes, "But who knows how many other people she pissed off in her Evil Queen days. Or maybe it's someone who isn't happy about Dad being with her? I don't know, I don't even have a lead. I'm just going to treat this like any other investigation," She sighed, "We'll start at the scene of the crime, see if we can find anything and go from there. Maybe after a few days Dad will start to remember something that will help," She added with a hopeful shrug.
"Maybe ye could talk to the Crocodile," Hook raised a brow, not entirely pleased at the thought but finding it useful, nonetheless, "He definitely owes us one, maybe he has an idea what could've caused it."
"Maybe," Emma's eyes narrowed at the thought of Rumple, taking another swig from her beer before setting it down on the counter beside her, "Dealing with him always comes with a price, though." She'd learned that the hard way.
"Aye, that it does," He nodded in agreement, knowing all too well how underhanded the pawnshop owner could be, and it had nothing to do with dealing antiques. "We should get to bed love and get a good nights sleep. We'll figure out where to start in the morning," He stepped towards her, offering a hand for her as she took it and slipped down from the counter onto her own feet.
"Thanks for taking care of Regina and Neal tonight," Emma gave him a small smile as he led her out of the kitchen, towards the staircase. It amazed her how much he'd evolved since they'd first met, though she knew he had the potential to do good in him all along.
"That's what family is for," He replied before smirking, "Or so I've heard," He teased, giving her a pat on the bottom as she started up the steps in front of him.
Regina woke to the pounding in her head, grimacing at the light shining through her bedroom window. Her heart dropped when her eyes opened, seeing the empty space beside of her where David had been just a day before. So, it hadn't been a nightmare. She missed him already, the familiar ache of loneliness weighing heavy on her chest as she rolled onto her back. She felt the baby stir, bringing her hands down over her rounded stomach to the movement, a tear forming in the corner of her eye at her desire to share the moment with David.
Realizing she had to face the day whether she felt up to it or not, she forced herself into a sitting position. She'd been in shock last night, trying to process everything that had happened and the imminent pain it had caused, but now she needed to think it through. Laying in bed and crying, having everyone see her as weak, would serve no purpose at all. The thought of the eyes that looked upon her with pity in the diner last night made her cringe. Everyone felt sorry for her, they'd seen her at her happiest and then watched her world crumble. Embarrassment made her determined to pull herself together, hating the fact that everyone was aware of the state she was currently in. Sure, some of the people of the town may genuinely care, but she knew there were some that secretly reveled in her downfall and seeing her broken.
No, she wasn't going to give anyone that satisfaction. She'd steel her emotions and focus her attention on trying to figure out what had happened to David. They'd find a way to reverse it, they had to. She'd save her despair for the privacy of her own home and put up a strong front for everyone else. At least she'd attempt to. Her emotions were constantly on edge it seemed, the pregnancy making her feel more out of control than she ever had. God, had she really been so upset that she'd let Granny comfort her last night? She groaned at the thought as she scooted to the edge of the bed, reaching for her robe to shrug on over David's button up that she was wearing. She supposed she'd have to thank the old wolf at some point.
Her thoughts drifted back to David as she made her way out of their bedroom and down the hall, peaking her head into Henry's room on the way and smiling weakly when she saw him asleep in bed. He'd apparently had Emma drop him off last night after she'd already went to sleep. It warmed her that she at least had his support, his protectiveness over her giving her a little piece of comfort. She left him asleep, taking a few steps further before checking in on Neal in his room on the opposite side of the hall. Her heart constricted when she pushed the door open more, seeing Neal sitting in his crib, awake already and playing with one of his stuffed animals. He smiled and gave a small squeal when he saw her, his chubby arms reaching for the slats of the crib to pull himself up as she made her way across the room. She scooped him up, planting a kiss on his head before securing him on her hip, "Good morning, sweetheart." She murmured, holding him closely to her chest for a moment before making her way back into the hall.
Who would've tried to hurt them like this? It worried her that David was the target. Whomever did this knew that the way to hurt her wasn't with her directly, but to target the ones she loved. To hurt her family was to hurt her. She troubled her lip as she carried Neal down the steps, the baby cuddling against her shoulder, sleepily awaiting her to take him to the kitchen and make him breakfast, per their usual routine. To Regina's surprise, breakfast was already out on the counter. A plate of pancakes, bowl of assorted fruit and basket of muffins sat on display as she walked closer. She shifted Neal more on her right hip, smiling weakly when she picked up a note. 'I didn't cook this for nothing. Eat something, girl. Granny.'
"So the old dog has tricks," Regina muttered, seeing Neal lift his head to look at her and give her a smile. Sweet boy. He had no idea what was going on. He probably wasn't even sure who she was to him, and now his father didn't have memory of him existing. She loved him like her own at this point, even if David didn't get his memories back, she'd make sure that she was in Neal's life.
Making a small plate for them to share with one hand and picking it up, she made her way into the dining room, "Ready for breakfast?" She smiled at the boy, sitting him in the high chair after putting their plate down. Her bump made coordinating it all more difficult, but she didn't mind, pulling his highchair closer to her when she sat down herself. He gave her a toothy grin as he reached for one of the strawberries she put on his tray, bringing it to his mouth with an uncoordinated hand, opening it wider in order to make his target as he took a bite. She laughed at the show, though it almost hurt to take joy in it. This was one of the simple pleasures in her life that wouldn't be much longer, waking up to Neal smiling in his crib and feeding him breakfast. If she and Emma couldn't find help for David, it could be lost to her all together. She'd only see Neal on play dates or when his father came to pick up his younger sibling. She had to find a way to fix this before it came to that.