Well, we are now back in the EF things are gonna get exciting, I promise you. Hope you all enjoy!

As the cloud of purple smoke began to vanish around them, the people of Storybrooke found themselves in clothes they haven't seen in what felt like a lifetime, people only a few of them recognized, and surrounded in a place they all remembered too well.

The young woman standing across from them was the first to speak. "Snow… what happened?"

The princess answered, "We're back."

After taking time to catch up with their old friends, and find out what has happened throughout the land the last time they were all there, the group had come up with a plan to return to Regina's castle. As Belle began to pack her things for the journey, she noticed Neal talking to Snow White and Prince Charming about stopping by Rumpelstiltskin's castle to see if he was alive, and could find a way to bring him back to Emma and Henry.

Rumple. She had been so caught up in the return that she barley had a moment to think about him. He missed by her every second that he wasn't standing next to her. Rumple died for her, for his son, for everyone. She never got show her gratitude towards him, say goodbye, or say she loved him one last time. The only thing she could do now was pick up pieces of her life and try to move on. It's what Rumplestiltskin would've wanted for her.

"Hey." Snow White said brining Belle out of her train of thought. "How are you doing?"

"As well as can be expected." She answered rather harsh, but it was the truth.

"'Do you want to talk about it?"

"Nope."

"I understand." She tried to leave it at that but couldn't. She let out a sigh and turned back to her friend. "Look. I know how it hard it can be loose someone you love. Especially after they make a noble sacrifice. But, if you ever want to talk, I'm here to listen."

Belle's eyes began to fill up with tears as she appreciated the kindness and friendship Snow White was showing her. Fearing she would breakdown at any moment, she just gave a small smile. "Thank you Snow." Belle answered as her friend rapped her arms her in a gentle hug, tears escaping the corner of her eyes.

Supplies were gathered and goodbyes were said to Aurora and Philip, the gang began their quest through the woods to the Queen's palace. Belle had been using the time to think about her future, remind herself that things will get better. She caught up with Neal and saw he had the same look of pain on her face that she had over the lost of the their loved ones.

"You'll see them again-Emma and Henry." She tried to reassure him.

"Well, let's hope I don't have to curse an entire an entire kingdom to get to them."

"I heard you talking to David about Rumple. You know, we never saw his knife. I think we can get him back."

"Belle!" Snow White screamed as she was running up to her and Neal. "Belle, Belle I need your help."

"What is it, what's wrong?"

"It's Regina; she's missing. I need you to help me find her, please."

"Me?" She said with shocked expression. "Snow, Regina is not going to listen to me. Why would I be a good source help?"

"Because I think the reason she left is her grieving over the loss of Henry; and if anyone can help her with the loss of a loved one, it's us."

Oh hell, Belle knew she was right. Although she really didn't want to help Regina, part of being a hero, was being the bigger person.

Letting out a small sigh, Belle agreed. "Fine." She turned back to speak to Neal. "We'll talk later." Neal nodded giving the women permission to search for the former Evil Queen.

Belle and Snow White had found Regina not to far away from the group, burying something beneath the ground.

Belle was the first question the Queen's actions. "What are you doing?"

Regina let out an annoyed sigh. "So now you're following me?"

"We were worried, and it looks like we right to be. What are you burying?" Snow demanded to know.

"Nothing that concerns the two of you."

"Which makes me feel like it does. What have done?" Snow wasn't going to let this one slide.

Belle had managed to get a closer look she could and she could see something bright that was black and red, sticking out of the dirt. "Is-is that heart?"

"Go away." Regina shouted to them.

The realization came upon Snow's face. "It's your heart isn't it?"

"I'm not having this conversation with you, or the bookworm."

Belle rolled her eyes at the obnoxious comment then turned to Snow with the look telling her to say something.

"I know you miss Henry."

"Not as much as I did when that was still beating in my chest."

"But, Regina, this isn't the answer." Belle chimed in. "No matter how much pain you may fee, you can't just bury it in the woods."

She stared straight into Belle's blue orbs like a thousand daggers, and said, "Watch me."

Snow and Belle looked at each other again knowing they had to try something else or Regina would make a huge mistake.

"You won't feel better. You won't feel anything." Snow tried once more.

"That's the point. I can't keep walking around, knowing that I'll never see Henry, that he doesn't even remember who I am."

Snow walked up to her. "I know exactly how you feel. I just said goodbye to my daughter for the second time, Henry too."

"And I just had to watch the love of my life die right in front of me." Belle reminded the Queen. "But I promise you, both of us can promise you, that it will get better… with that." She finished pointing towards Regina's heart.

"Belle is right. Right now it may be causing you pain, but it will let you feel something else soon."

"What's that?" Although Regina had a feeling she knew what she was going to say.

"The one thing Henry wanted you to find…" Snow paused for a moment. "Happiness."

"I can't be happy without him."

Belle went up to her and put her hand on her arm to show support. "Find a way. As Rumple would want for me, as Emma would want for her parents, and as Henry would want for you."

Regina sighed in defeat as she picked up her heart, placing it back in her chest. Fresh tears coming down her face as she felt twice the amount pain she had when it wasn't inside her. She really hoped Snow and Belle's words would come true soon.

"Now… " Regina said pulling herself together. "Let's get back to our castle."

As quickly as the women tried to leave, they were stopped. "Did you hear that?" Snow asked putting her guard up. "There was something there. In that bush."

Regina and Belle gave the bush gander, but didn't find a thing. "There's nothing. Unless it flew away."

They looked up at the sky to see if they could find the creature that startled Snow. Belle was the first to spot something. "It did!"

This wasn't anything like they've ever seen before. Screeching as to make its present to known to everyone in the forest. It came diving right towards as if the ladies were its next meal for the day.

"We need find cover." Belle suggested.

With a look of determination and anger for disturbing them, Regina said, "No. I don't run from monsters. They run from me." She conjured up a fireball in her hand and threw straight at it.

The monster didn't back down. It came at them and had swooped up Regina in its claws but Snow and Belle managed to pull her down to safety. When they couldn't think of anyway to stop it, a mysterious stranger saved the trio.

"Milady." The stranger had an accent in his voice. He offered his hand. "You're injured."

"It's your majesty, and I'm fine." Said Regina.

"A simple thank you would suffice."

"We didn't ask for your help."

Snow took his offered his hand and spoke to the man. "Well I'm grateful for the assistance."

"As am I; thank you." Belle said as the stranger helped her to feet next.

The man seemed to recognize this woman from somewhere and asked her name. "Belle?"

Looking back at him she then remembered where she had seen this man before. When he used a magic wand from Rumple's castle to help his dying lover. "Robin!"

The pair laughed and fell into each other's embrace. They never imagined they would see each other again.

"You two know each other?" Regina was the first to question.

"Indeed. She once treated a poor thief far better than I deserved."

"She does that a lot. I'm Snow White"

"At last we meet. You know, there was time when our faces graced wanted posters side-by-side. I'm Robin of Locksley, and these are few of my merry men." He finished gesturing to men who followed in behind him.

"If you're really Snow White, why are you with her?" Wondered the hefty man who stood next Robin.

"Her?" Regina said with offense. "Show some respect… or at least some restrain at the buffet."

"You'll have to excuse Little John, but before you cursed this land, we spent many a day running from your black knights."

"Well I'm sure you deserved it. What the hell was that thing?"

"I have no idea. We've never encountered the likes of it before."

As they heard the monsters screech from a far, they all realized it was only matter of time before it came back again.

"Come on. This way. We have to warn the others." Snow White said as she led the way back.

Finding there way back, they began they resumed the trip back to the castle. Robin and Neal had caught up with each other since they last crossed paths when Neal fell through the portal and found his way to Neverland. As they reached the Regina's palace, something was wrong. A protection spell had been put on the castle, but not by her. Someone had hijacked it. No one knew how, or whom, or why, but someone was going to pay.

Inside the palace, in Regina's former bedchamber, the hijacker spoke to herself in the mirror. "The Queen maybe evil… but I'm wicked. And wicked always wins."

Well I hope I lived up to standards, I want Regina and Belle to bond bit more, as well as Robin, for reasons you will see in upcoming chapters. Next we have something big coming up for a certain character, Please keep up follow, favorite, and review, want to keep getting them and now that things are heating up I hope to see more! To be contuined!