You guy are wonderful, and I'm way too excited. I don't know where this came from.. but it literally poured out of me...

"We don't know for sure that the weather is caused by magic," David reasoned.

"And I'm telling you that it is." Gold shot back.

The council was in yet another heated debate. The snow started two weeks prior and hadn't decelerated. Everyone was tense, emotions high. It was understandable. Naturally the worst would be thought, they had only just defeated someone threatening their livelihoods. But, magic snow?

Regina had remained uncharacteristically quiet. She wouldn't flat out refute what Rumple was saying. She knew him better than that. There was obvious exasperation on his conniving face, but Regina wouldn't let her silly suspicions get her involved.

Her heart was saying he knew more. Like he'd seen it before. Sighing, Regina leaned back in the booth, watching the amber liquid in her glass ripple with the force of those quarreling.

Words she spoke in a heart wrenching farewell weeks ago came back to her. Anything is possible. It rang through her head throughout the day, always in the most uncomfortable moments. Clearly it was true.

A woman who was meant to be dead was back in the flesh, holding onto her husband for dear life. Anything was possible. That's what Tinkerbell said with a wink, after catching another strained conversation between Robin Hood and his wife.

Regina wasn't a fool. She wasn't that young woman full of dreams any longer. Couples fought. Her eyes glanced over to Emma Swan who wore a grim line where her mouth should be, standing in the opposite corner of the room then Hook.

They fought more often then not. Killing him in a last ditch effort of vengeance wouldn't even be satisfying if Regina was telling the truth. If anything was possible, the savior herself would probably reincarnate him with one snarky remark and get her happily ever after.

Leroy jumped into the conversation, explaining magic ruined everything. Regina was patiently waiting for him to turn this on her. It was pathetically known now that Robin Hood and Regina had a .. fling. Between fighting off the Wicked Witch of the West and consuming all the alcohol in town, it somehow became common knowledge.

Regina wasn't hiding her affections, but she certainly wasn't parading Robin around like something she won just to shove it in Leroy's face, to prove that someone could have feelings for her. He wasn't worth it.

Snow told her a story just the other morning when she had the lot of them over for breakfast. Her heart was broken, so maybe she was punishing Robin Hood and everyone else by freezing them to death. Grumpy's theory no doubt. But, there was amusement in Snow's words, her eyes crinkled, the same way her new son's did, and Regina knew that history was not repeating.

If anything was going alright, it was that.

Regina was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the chill collect in the room, someone yell to keep the damn door closed, or the presence that loomed over her like a security blanket. She knew it was him before he even opened his mouth.

Robin sat across from her in the back booth, disinterested in the fighting. He didn't even carry the hearty earthy scent anymore. The winter stealing away one of the most comforting fragrances Regina could name.

Looking up slowly, Regina saw the outlaw smiling at her.

"What?" she asked sharply.

He grinned, his blue eyes deepening with some secret she wanted him to whisper to her.

"I thought you didn't day drink," he commented, bluest hues sliding down to the glass between them.

Regina scoffed, "Hardly important considering,"

"Considering," Robin followed quick, his voice heavy.

The queens eyes shot up to meet his. Worry evident. Her mouth parted to speak then closed again. This must have been another one of those fated quirks. Instantly Regina could read his face. See how he wasn't asking for conversation but out of real concern. He remembered, just like she did, the night they said goodbye. The taste of vodka on her tongue, the deep seeded sorrow portly in her eyes.

"Whiskey's warmer than coffee," she assured with a small smile.

It wasn't what he was looking for, but Robin smiled too.

He leaned in closer. Upon inspection, because surely she could, his beard was fuller, his nose red. Regina was so preoccupied in trying to catch Rumpelstiltskin in a lie she hadn't stopped to wonder.

"You're not still sleeping the woods," she blanched.

Robin's mouth tilted up. His smiles not meeting his eyes, his words always weighted with things he couldn't say.

"We're fine, Regina." he retorted evenly.

Shaking her head, Regina finally looked away from him, seeing the diner was back to small group conversations, Gold and Belle gone. Behind the bar stood Granny, her natural puss almost welcoming.

"Don't move," she warned, strutting over to the counter. Regina knew he watched her walk away.

Staring back at Regina with the most unimpressed stare she had ever seen, Granny drummed her wrinkled fingers against the counter, sizing the queen up.

Rolling her eyes, Regina muttered, "I come in peace,"

That seemed to work, because the aging woman snorted and relaxed her shoulders. "What do you want?"

Turning again towards Robin, she swallowed, "I was wondering how many rooms you have available."

Granny was an intelligent woman. She peaked over at the ruggedly handsome man too. "I tried," she shrugged, her frown back. Impassive to his stubbornness.

Regina rolled her eyes, mimicking the older woman. "They will be taking up board. I'll cover it," she muttered quietly, prying ears were everywhere.

Granny even so much as grinned at the queen while pulling out her guest book and jotting down words in her signature scrawl. As Regina turned back towards the booth, her mind reminded her that anything was possible.

Robin had a displeased look on his face as she sat back down. "Why did you do that?"

She wasn't about to pretend she didn't know what he meant. Whether it was obvious, or just the strange unyielding connection they shared, Regina didn't care.

"Pack up your camp. You're staying here," Robin went to interrupt her, but Regina silenced him with a look. "You might be find using your pride as warmth but Roland is invaluable, and he needs a proper place to stay in these conditions."

Though her words were final, and Robin knew there was no sense of arguing, he added almost deliberately, "We've concurred a bit of snow before, M'lady."

Regina shook her head and with the tip of her finger pushed the whiskey glass towards him, "Not like this."

"So you believe that Rumpelstiltskin knows exactly what's going on?" Tinkerbell asked slowly.

Regina wasn't going to say anything. But, as soon as Tinkerbell invited herself in, brushing snow off her coat and onto the hardwood floor, the queens mind went blank.

She also was trying to coax the fairy away from Robin Hood talk. It seemed to Regina that Tinkerbell personally made it her job to follow him around and report back to her. She lied, saying she stopped looking into the mirror but she hadn't.

Seeing Roland in the park, how he asked her to stay, how he wanted her around, it fueled her. She needed to protect him. She cared about that little boy and despite having two capable parents, – and Marian was a capable parent, Regina had a sense of duty to him.

"He must," Regina answered with a frustrated sigh. "He's too worried. He's never worried."

Tinkerbell nodded, completely agreeing though knowing the man little. Regina never would've believed she'd be friends with Tink. Not after all she did to her.

"So you believe him, this weather was cast by magic?"

Regina looked away, at the fireplace. "It's getting stronger," she explained. She hadn't told this to anyone. Not even Snow White. "That first week it started, I was able to melt some of it. Just to get on the front porch and walk down the street," Regina examined her hands as she spoke. "But, now it's more challenging. I can't melt it without the full force of my magic."

Tinkerbell's blue eyes widened. The fairy had her own magic, she understood. "Blue hasn't said anything, I haven't tried. I keep forgetting I have magic again at times," the blonde rolled her eyes.

Something cold and unpleasant solidified in Regina's stomach. It was her fault that Tinkerbell was without magic.

"I'll see what I can find, from the other faeries. If you can't melt the snow, and Rumpelstiltskin is so worried, this must be something really powerful we're dealing with." she concluded.

Regina agreed grimly.

"I hate to ask, but have you talked to Emma?"

The queen shook her head. "You're the first person I've told this to."

Tinkerbell seemed to like that. Her whole face brightened and she sat a bit straighter. "I'll be quiet about it then."

"I'd appreciate that. Just until I do talk to Ms. Swan. I don't want to get everyone worried." Regina nodded.

"If Emma can't control the snow, what does that mean?" Tink asked, though already knowing the answer by the dread in her eyes.

"True love is the most powerful magic there is." Regina left it there.

That night Regina went to bed lighter.

She felt better confessing her secret to someone, and Tinkerbell proved to be a very good someone. Regina also watched Robin and Marian put Roland to bed. She had only done it once, and even then she felt like she was invading a very private moment.

Robin had Roland say his prayers. Thank the gods above for blessing him with so much. It touched Regina's soul, never being a religious person. But Roland was so faithful, to his father, to nature. He was impressionable, innocent, but, knowing.

And Regina watched, as her eyes grew heavy and sleep quelled her, as Robin was forever the stubborn man. He paced the room Granny provided. Shoes still on, the curtains drawn to stare at the relentless snow. Marian slept peacefully alone in bed. Not even waiting for her husband to join her.

As she snuggled into her sheets, the large mirror from the foyer hovering at her bedside, Regina believed she won a battle. This wasn't the first time she watched Robin fall asleep somewhere that wasn't beside Marian.

She tried not to let herself believe it was because of her, and because of what they shared. That, no matter how short of time they were together, it all fit. It all felt right. In those rare moments, when exhaustion won out and she was deliriously fighting to see him close his eyes first, it seemed almost okay to believe that he wanted to be with her instead. Sleeping in her bed, his son down the hall of her house.

It was late at night, with only the moon and the stars to judge her, that Regina could be selfish. Think of all the things that she refused to let touch her mind in the waking hours. Robin's eyes slipped closed in the chair next to the window. He was hunched in on himself, his legs propped up on the table, his face so close to the frosty windowpane.

Regina whispered goodnight, and let the mirror show itself out.

She knew it would be almost impossible to be in the same room as Emma Swan and not want to hurl a fireball at her. But she didn't think it would be this hard to control her annoyance.

Emma was stubborn, like her father. Whereas Snow would believe anything, ask questions later, see the good and possibilities, Emma stood stoic, almost flummoxed. Like she hadn't been around magic and fairy-tales as long as she had. The woman continued to fight the demons and stayed completely in awe at the same time.

"I'll make this even plainer," Regina gritted her teeth. She had her hands safely in her pockets.

Emma crossed her arms, Hook stood close to her side, looking at Regina like she could make sense, but didn't.

"My magic isn't capable of melting the snow. I need to harness almost all of it to clear a path to my car." she said slowly. "I've spoken to the faeries, and they only tried when I brought it up. They appear to have the same issue."

Emma nodded. "What I want from you," Regina stepped to the window, "Is to try and melt this," She placed her hand to the glass, where a good amount of snow had settled on the indents of the frame. It was behind the glass, but that shouldn't matter if Emma was practicing.

Sighing, the savior moved to stand beside Regina. She held out her hand, palm to the window and concentrated. Her brows inched together, her eyes narrowed at the snowy windowpane. Regina stared hard at the window too.

After a few moments, Emma took a deep breath. From what they could tell, some of the frost disappeared, but the snow remained. "Crap," Emma muttered.

Regina sighed, displeased.

"Shall I call another meeting?" Hook asked, next to the telephone.

"I wasn't aware you were capable of using such a complex form of technology" Regina's voice was dripping with sarcasm.

She was projecting her bad mood on him.

Though sleeping wonderfully, she awoke to the realization that her dreams would only ever be just that. Robin didn't belong to her anymore – if ever. Though she liked to believe that for a fleeting moment, they were on the same page, committed to each other for whatever was to come.

Of course, an undead wife wasn't really something Regina added to the list of complications. Hook rolled his eyes, grumbling under his breath about what a cheeky monster she was, Regina was sure.

He walked out of the room, to use the phone in the hall, as Emma stood beside her.

"Hey," the blonde mumbled. "We haven't really had a chance to talk,"

Which was true. Regina was as civil as she could be. But spending more time than necessary with the savior might prove to be poor judgment.

"You were over for breakfast two days ago," innocence coated Regina's words.

"You know what I mean, Regina."

Turning towards Emma, Regina saw something she hadn't in all of her secret mirror gazing. Emma truly looked sorry. Maybe it was Snow White's doing, but Regina was almost grateful for the sadness in her eyes.

"If I had known who she was when I helped her escaped – " Emma started.

Regina's hand came up to stop her. "No, Emma. We both know you wouldn't have done a thing differently."

Sighing, Regina continued, "Besides I owe you a thank you. Imagine if I had actually sentenced Robin's wife to death, I wouldn't have had him anyway."

Emma nodded, looking down. "I am sorry."

"I know." Regina swallowed. Seeing Snow White's pout on her daughters face.

Shifting her weight, the blonde looked back up at Regina. "There's something else," she whispered.

"What if this is my fault. The snow started when we came back through the portal."

Though Regina considered this, she wasn't about to blatantly say so. Hadn't she basically threatened Emma that night at Granny's before she fled?

"It's a possibility," Regina began, "But, it's always something, so who knows."

Emma nodded, but her tension didn't cease. Regina wasn't spoon feeding her reassurance. She couldn't do that. She wouldn't rule out the very obvious risk of Emma bringing back more that Robin's long lost wife. Whether she was aware of it or not, magic always came with a price.

Maybe it wasn't just Regina paying for it.