The air is cold as Regina and Robin walk into the ice castle, a cold that settles deep into Regina's bones, reminds her of the terrible chill of the castle where she had lived as Queen. She steals a glance at Robin, his cross bow at the ready beside her, and reminds herself that such deep, awful, aching cold is no longer her reality. Robin is here with her, and their sons are waiting are for them at home.

Still Regina shivers with the cold, feels like she is being dragged back into the past, into the cold emptiness of the darkness and despair seeping into her soul. She feels colder and colder, feels the air swirling around her, a howling sound in her ears. And then all she sees in the mirror, a beautiful gold embossed mirror and in it the Evil Queen.

Regina stares at her reflection, darkness and bitterness the only thing she can make out in those eyes. Regina tries to remember that this isn't who she is anymore, that there is more in her heart than the hate she sees in the woman before her. Faintly Regina can hear Robin behind her; he must be held back by some magic. But that woman in the mirror is talking, and Regina can't bring herself to look away.

It's pathetic watching you try to play the hero. It won't change anything. There's no redemption after what you're done.

Regina stares at the hard lines of her face in the mirror, the absolute loathing looking back at her. "I know."

Then why do it? Why save Emma? So Henry can go back to her? Snow will never trust you, not really. Come on Regina. Deep down you know that.

Regina wants to put her hands to hers over her ears, wants to make it stop, make it all stop.

Robin is going to leave you Regina. He can never love you. No one will ever love you. You've done too much evil. It's who you are.

She can hear Robin in the background, his voice sounds so distant, yelling to her, banging against an invisible barrier and trying desperately to reach her.

He loves her. She doesn't deserve it, but he loves her. Maybe she will never be redeemed, but Regina knows who she was and she is not that woman anymore. That woman forgot how to love, and Regina can feel her heart pounding in her chest, so full of love.

"No!"

Flames fly from Regina's hands and engulf the mirror. Robin is at her side in a second. "I'm ok," she promises. Just words.

Robin pulls Regina against his chest, holding on to her as if he would break if he ever lost her. "I love you."

"I know. Robin I know." She squeezes him tightly before pulling out of the embrace and taking his hand in hers. "Come on."

She's all determination now, pulling Robin along beside her. It fills Robin with pride. She just broke away from the very worst fears she has inside because she knew that he loves her. He will remind her of it once they're alone; he will tell her again and again how much he loves her, will remind her of the good in her heart.

Regina doesn't know what she expected to find, but it wasn't Emma sitting with a woman with long blonde hair and looking at photo albums. Before Regina can say anything there's a wall of ice encircling her and Robin. She turns to Robin, looking him over to make certain that he isn't hurt. He gives her a tight smile in reassurance, but draws closer to her, crossbow at the ready.

Regina has the ice melted in an instant with a fireball.

"Of course," the woman with Emma says, standing and walking towards Regina and Robin. "I should have remembered how fond the Evil Queen is of fire. I apologize for my manners. I'm Ingrid, Emma's mother."

"Regina," she replies with a tight nod, her body shielding Robin just in case this woman tries anything. "I need to speak with Emma."

"She came here because she didn't want to see any of you. She wanted her mother."

"I'm here as a mother myself," Regina says moving forward cautiously. "Emma and I share a son." She hates the words, hates saying out loud that her baby has another mother.

"Henry," Emma gasps, looking up at Regina now. "Is he ok?"

"Of course he's not ok. He thinks he drove you away."

"No." Emma looks horrified, her eyes filling with tears.

Regina finds herself softening slightly. "There are people who love you here Emma. Henry and your parents will be devastated if you don't come home to them."

The Snow Queen is in Regina's face. "She's my daughter."

Regina's chest aches, because she understands that feeling all too well. Regina smiles at Ingrid. "Welcome to the absurdly complicated family then." Behind her Robin chuckles.

Emma finally stands up and walks to Regina. "Ingrid wants me to come home with her."

"Where's home?"

"Arendale."

"Emma, think about this please. Henry loves you so much."

"I should never have stayed in Storybrooke. He's better off without me."

"That's not true. He wants you to come home. So do your parents."

"I know you aren't about to tell me that Snow is my mother because of blood."

"This has nothing to do with blood. I know that Snow reacted badly to your magic today. I know because she barged her way into my living room and pleaded with me to find you. She and David have always loved you. If you need to be angry with someone, be angry with me. Punish me, not your parents. And least of all Henry."

"Does he really want me to come home?" Tears trail down Emma's cheeks, and Regina can't recall having ever seen Emma cry.

"Of course he wants you to come home. Emma, he's blaming himself. He won't forgive himself if you leave. Please Emma. You have people who love you."

Ingrid wraps her arm around Emma. "My darling girl. You know they'll never accept you."

"You don't have to choose," Regina pleads. "Just don't leave our son."

Regina spins around at the sound of her son's voice. "Mom!" And then he's flinging himself into her arms and sagging with relief. She can't understand it, had expected him to run to Emma, knows he had been afraid for Emma. But Henry is in Regina's arms, pressing his face into her shoulder and hugging her. She rubs his back and thinks that maybe it's time to start tying to believing that Henry is truly home with her. He pulls back in her arms enough to look up and smile at her. Regina presses a kiss to Henry's forehead, her hands reaching up to cup his face. Her baby has grown into such a beautiful young man. He smiles at her again, that perfect smile that lets her know that despite everything Henry is happy.

Henry turns to Emma who's smiling at him nervously. "Hey kid."

He throws his arms around her neck. "Don't ever do that again."

"I won't. I promise. Your mom talked some sense into me."

He's looks over at Regina again. "Thanks Mom."

Regina squeezes Henry's shoulder. "We all need reminding of the love we have sometimes. That's what family is for."

Regina is rewarded by Henry's smile again, his hand coming to rest on top of hers.

Regina asks Emma, "Would you like a drink or something to eat? I imagine your parents will be rushing in any moment."

"We have Christmas cookies," Henry offers.

"I'd love some." Emma follows Henry into the kitchen.

Regina still feels a tinge of fear as she watches Henry and Emma together, but Regina reminds herself how far she and Henry have come, how many times he has insisted that Regina is his mother and nothing can change that. She walks to where Robin is sitting on the couch with Roland in his lap.

"Hi Roland." Regina leans down to kiss the little boy's forehead, a hand running through his curls.

"Hi Gina." His smile is infectious, and Regina lets it chase away what she knows in her heart are irrational fears. "Henry read me The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham and then we watched The Ninja Turtles."

"It sounds like you had a fun day!" Regina has to thank Henry for what an amazing big brother he's turning into. She knows that Henry must have been terrified the whole time, but he kept Roland happy and safe.

"Henry is really good at telling stories."

"He is, and I know he loves spending time with you."

Roland looks up at Robin. "I like being here Papa. Are we going to stay with Gina and Henry forever?"

Robin looks over at Regina with a nervous smile, would never be so presumptuous but he also doesn't want her to believe for a moment that there is anywhere else in the world that he would rather be.

Regina smiles back at him, at his obvious nervousness and his desire to never hurt her, to never overstep what she wants. But he wants her, wants this family. Regina knows it. She wonders for a second how long he will love her like this, wonders what he will find out about her that will finally be too much. But she knows that in this moment all he wants is her, and she tries to believe that his love is as steadfast and complete as hers.

The fears are hers, and Regina refuses to punish Robin for them; she won't push him away when all he wants is to love her. She laces her fingers with Robin's and squeezes his hand, flashes a smile and watches him relax.

"Your Papa and I will talk about that later ok? But just so you know, Henry and I love having you here sweetie."

"I know."

Regina and Robin chuckle, let the uncomplicated world of this little boy bring them joy.

Snow waits to find Regina alone so that they can talk, but the moment never comes. She's laughing with Robin, his hands never leaving her waist, whispering to her and making her chuckle that deep, full bellied laugh that Snow has so rarely heard. Snow has loved Regina for as long as she has known her, but watching her now with the man she loves and their sons, watching her look so happy at free, makes Snow think she never really knew Regina at all.

Snow walks over to where Robin and Regina are sitting together on the couch, Roland and Henry playing on the floor a few feet away. Snow sits down next to Regina on the couch. "We're getting ready to go home, but I just wanted to thank you Regina."

"Don't mention it."

"You saved my daughter's life. I'm sorry, but you aren't going to get away without at least a thank you."

Regina shrugs. "Suit yourself." Snow smiles and lets it be, but Regina can tell that Snow wants to talk more, probably to spew something sentimental about family. Regina finds herself oddly inclined to indulge her friend. "I'm glad you have her back Snow. I want you to be happy."

"I am. I have my whole family back." Snow reaches out to squeeze Regina's hand. Snow is smiling tearfully at Regina, who just can't fathom how this woman still loves her after everything Regina did to her.

Regina doesn't know what to do besides accept this gift. She squeezes Snow's hand in return. "Yes you do."

Regina is woken from sleep a few hours later by a tugging on her pajama shirt and a little voice in her ear. "Gina."

"Roland, are you ok?" Regina lifts the little boy into her lap.

"Mmhmm, but I think Henry's sad. I woke up to go potty and I heard him crying."

"Thank you for coming to get me sweetheart."

Robin stirs beside them, sees his son's unexpected presence. "Roland what's the matter?"

"Henry's sad, so I came to tell Gina."

"Thanks you my boy," Robin says as he reaches out to take Roland into his arms so Regina can go to Henry.

Regina leans over and presses a kiss to Roland's forehead and then Robin's lips before slipping from the bed and going to Henry's room.

She hears the sniffles from outside the door and her heart aches. She knocks on the door. "Henry? Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

Regina opens the door to find Henry sitting with his knees drawn up to his chest, sniffling and wiping at his cheeks.

Regina's arms are around Henry seconds later, warm and safe, and Henry leans against her side and presses his face against her chest. She kisses his hair and rubs his back and her embrace feel the same as they did years ago when he would wake up from a nightmare and crawl into his mom's bed and feel safe in her arms. Henry takes a deep breath and tries to push away the twinge of guilt that comes now when he thinks of how loved he has always been.

Regina snuggles Henry against her as she pulls the covers over them and leans back against the pillows. "I've got you sweetheart."

Henry's sniffles and tries to hold back the tears. "I'm sorry Mom."

"You can cry as much as you need my brave boy. Don't you ever try to lock your heart away. I've made that mistake and I never want the same for you. I love you Henry, and I won't let you go through anything alone."

Henry nods and nuzzles against Regina's chest, closing his eyes and breathing in the feeling of being in his mother's arms home in his bedroom. She rubs his back and presses kisses to his hair, and he knows she's waiting for him to talk to her, but he just wants to be held now, just wants everything to feel uncomplicated and safe. "Mom?"

"Yeah honey?"

"Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?"

"Of course I will."

"And, uh…would you read to me? I know I'm too old."

"No such thing. I still like being read to. You don't have to grow out of that."

"It's just, we missed so much time."

"I know, and I hate every moment that we weren't together. But that's the past now."

"It was my fault."

"No it wasn't. Nothing that happened was your fault, do you hear me?" Regina lifts Henry's chin to look him in the eyes. "I made mistakes that hurt you, and I am so sorry. You had every right to be angry with me, and I will never stop being grateful that you gave me a second chance."

Henry gasps in a shuddering tearful breath. "I was so scared in Neverland. I thought I would never see you again, and then you found me, and I had to go away and I missed you so much."

"I'm right here." She kisses his forehead and rocks him softly. "When you first came home I couldn't figure out how to get you to sleep through the night. We spent so many nights sitting in your old rocking chair." Henry chokes out a sob. Regina runs her fingers through his hair. "It's all right sweetheart. You're home now, and I will never let you go away again."

"I won't ever leave again Momma. I'm sorry."

"No more of that Henry. I told you there is nothing for you to be sorry for. Now tell me, what story are we reading?"

"How's Henry?" Robin asks when Regina finally comes back to her bedroom an hour later.

"He's asleep. He wanted me to cuddle with him and read to him. I love that he still wants that, but it just kills me to see him hurting."

"I know." Robin extends his arm so that Regina can slide back into bed and lean against his chest.

"I've hurt him terribly."

"Henry loves you so much. Every parent makes mistakes; I certainly have. But our boys are amazing, and I think that we are allowed to take some credit for that. From what Henry's said, he grew up happy and safe and loved. He's a very special boy. You've done an amazing job with him."

Regina shakes her head against Robin's chest, and he presses a kiss to her hair. Her hands are gliding up and down Robin's side, but she remains silent. "I know you," Robin tells Regina, his hand tangling in his hair and massaging her scalp. "And I know what a gift it is to be loved by you. You love so well and so completely, and there truly is no better feeling in the world than your love. Henry is such a lucky boy to have that."

Regina looks up at Robin, and he's just looking at Regina with such earnestness and such desperation for her to understand. She loves him so much, wants to make him as incredibly happy as he makes her.

She grins at him and kisses him, his lips already forming into a smile. She knows he loves her smile and loves even more to be the cause of it. No one has ever found such joy in her happiness before, and it just makes Regina love him more.

"I love you so much Robin."

Robin is grinning wider then, loves hearing the words so freely fall from her lips, loves that her fear seems to wane a little more each time she tells him.

"I love you too." Robin nuzzles his nose against Regina's and kisses her.

Regina settles herself against Robin's side, her face in the crook of his neck, presses a kiss there. Robin's arms encircle Regina, his strong hands on her back, and Regina feels so wonderfully loved and peaceful in his arms. She lets herself relax, snakes her arms around his waist and muses, "What a strange day."

Robin settles a hand in Regina's hair, fingers running through silky strange and caressing her scalp and making her moan softly. Robin smiles at the sound, tells Regina, "It seems rather ordinary to me. You saved the day once again."

Regina rolls her eyes with a smile. "I usually don't have the job of trying to convince a woman I hated not long ago that we're part of the same bizarre dysfunctional family."

Robin chuckles. "I would say you did an excellent job despite how strange the task was. You're the one who kept Emma from making a terrible mistake today."

"I was so afraid she would go through that portal. I don't want to think about what that would have done to Henry."

"He really is so lucky to have a mother as wonderful as you."

"I'm trying."

"You're succeeding. You raised a beautiful boy."

"Thank you Robin. That means a lot coming from you. You're a wonderful father."

Robin grasps one of Regina's hands and weaves their fingers together. "We have a wonderful family."

Regina looks up at Robin with a smile. She can feel her eyes filling with tears, still can hardly believe he wants to build a family with her. She brings his hand to her lips and kisses his knuckles. Robin chuckles at the tickle of Regina's lips gliding across his fingers.

"My love," Robin sighs, the tension and fear easing from him at Regina's touch. He leans in and presses his forehead to hers.

Robin remains content to breathe in the same air as Regina for long minutes, but memories of the day press in on his mind, making him uneasy.

Robin's fingers caress Regina's scalp soothingly as he asks, "The mirror today…"

"It shows people their worst fears."

"You broke free of it so easily."

Regina closes her eyes as she tells Robin, "It's nothing that I don't think every day."

Robin's chest aches. He hates that Regina could ever think such awful things about herself, but he always needs Regina to feel free to share this, never wants her to believe that she should hide her insecurities. "Nothing that the mirror said was true. You are a good and beautiful person my love, inside and out. And you are so, so loved. Nothing will ever change my love for you."

Regina looks at Robin, smiles shakily and tell him, "I know Robin. I promise I do."

"But you're still afraid."

"I'm sorry."

"No don't be sorry. You are so strong for being able to pull away from that mirror and so strong for living with those fears and fighting against them."

Regina shakes her head, still can't understand how Robin can see her as he does. But he's looking at her with such love and understanding.

"We can fight together," Robin promises. "You keep trying to believe what I already know: that you are good and that you deserve happiness."

Regina looks at Robin and feels such a rush of love for him, must make certain that he doesn't doubt her feelings. "You know how much I love you don't you?"

"Of course I do. You show me every day, and you make me feel like the luckiest man in all the realms."

"Robin."

"I'm serious. You are my soulmate. You're the person who understands me and completes me and makes me smile and laugh. And you love Roland and me so much. This family is everything that I need to be happy for the rest of my days. I know that a part of you still is afraid to trust this Regina, but I promise you I am not going anywhere. I am going to be here to tell you how happy you make me every single day for the rest of our lives."

A sob bubbles up in Regina's throat. It's just too much. Too much love and faith and joy, and she never believed she could have this, still feels certain she doesn't deserve it. But her heart is so incredibly full with the love she feels for Robin. She launches herself at him, crashing her lips against his and wrapping him up in her arms. She tries to convey all her love and gratitude in her touch, doesn't know how she can ever repay him the joy he's brought her, knows she will try every day to love him well and bring him the happiness he keeps telling her that he finds in simply being together.

Robin's hands weave through the strands of Regina's hair softly, calming a bit of the frenzy of Regina's kiss until she relaxes into slow touches, remains close, foreheads pressed together and breathing each other in for a long moment. Exhaustion settles over Regina, and she pulls Robin against her chest as she lies back against the pillow. She runs her hands over his back, his neck, his cheek, traces the lines that form around his eyes as he smiles and sighs happily at her touch. He lifts his head lazily, presses a kiss to her jaw, and smiles at her. Regina grins right back at him, her fingers tracing his dimples, his lips. She lets him kiss her fingers as they brush against his mouth.

Robin leans up to press one more kiss to Regina's lips before settling himself on her chest again and wrapping his arm around her waist. "Are you comfortable?" he asks, hopes his weight against her isn't uncomfortable, because he feels so perfectly peaceful and happy here in her arms.

"I'm perfect."

"Yes you are my love," Robin agrees and earns himself a playful swat on his arm.

"Robin?" Regina's heart is thumping, but she looks at his face, his bright smile and the contentment he obviously feels in her arms. "What Roland said earlier about living here, I hope you know that you're always welcome to stay." Regina takes a deep breath, tells herself to be brave. "Forever if you want."

"Are you asking me to move in with you?"

"I don't want to take you away from your home in the forest. I know you love it there."

Robin grins at Regina, and she can't remember a time she has seen him look happier. "We can take lots of hikes and go camping together. If you truly want me and Roland to live with you, there is nowhere else in the world I would rather be."

Regina stares and stares at Robin, sees nothing but truth and love written on his face. Tears burn at her eyes, and then Robin is kissing the wetness from her cheeks. Joy and hope are bubbling up in her chest, explode from her in a laugh. "Move in," she whispers.

Regina laughs in surprise as Robin launches himself forward to kiss her. She's giggling against his lips and wrapping him up in her arms.

"Let me talk to Henry before we make it official, but he's been predicting this for quite a while." Regina chuckles and thinks of Henry's smug insistence that Robin was Regina's happy ending even when she didn't believe that this could work out.

"And he was all right with the idea?" Robin asks nervously.

"Of course he is." Regina's hands stroke up and down Robin's back. "Henry knows how happy you make me, and he's very fond of you. What about Roland? I know he asked about living here, but he's been through so much."

"He has, and you have helped him through it. He loves you so much." Robin rolls over so that he's on his side, face to face with Regina. "I can never thank you enough for taking care of Roland."

Regina shakes her head, wants no thanks for being allowed to love such a precious boy. Robin's fingers glide along her cheek, and somehow he just understands. He kisses the wetness from Regina's cheeks. "He thinks of you as a mother. I know you will never try to replace Marian in his life, but I also know that you love him as a mother. It brings me such joy."

Regina shakes her head, more tears blurring her vision, can't believe Robin is thanking her, not when she still can hardly believe she has this family, is certain that she doesn't deserve it. Robin presses a soft kiss to Regina's lips before leaning in and resting his forehead against hers.

Regina's hands stroke Robin's stubble silently for a moment before she finally feels able to speak without her voice breaking. "I love you both so much."

"Just as I love you." He takes her face in his hands. "And as I always will." His fingers trace the curve of her cheeks, the crinkle at the corners of her eyes that appear with her bright smile.

Regina giggles, joy bubbling up in her. "Welcome home Robin."