"He calls himself the Author," Zelena began with glee. "I met him once, back in Oz. Lovely bloke."
Regina drummed her fingers impatiently on the chair's armrest. She looked at her sister with such disgust, the entire room felt uncomfortable. Aside from Zelena, that is. She grew more lively by the second. Emma rushed to the hospital, her parents and Hook followed. Everyone shocked to see Zelena alive and well, shackled to a hospital bed, after masquerading around as Marian Locksley for a month. Robin paced the floor of the room, rubbing his beard and mumbling to himself. Regina glanced anxiously at him every so often, but couldn't ignore the current situation.
"How are we supposed to believe anything she says?" Hook wondered, he leaned against the bank of back windows, posed in a way to look lax when he and everyone else was anything but.
Zelena sighed, "You don't have to believe me, Pirate. But I'm telling the truth."
"Where is he then?" David demanded. "If he's been here since the beginning, why haven't we seen him?"
"Ah," the redhead grinned, "Glad you asked. It's a fascinating story, actually. The Author can take many forms – he could be anyone if he so wishes. In fact, he's the one that gave me the idea to embody Robin's wife."
Regina winced as Robin abruptly stopped pacing. He ran a hand through his blond hair and stormed up to Zelena's bed. "You think this is amusing? You murdered a woman for your own gains. You are beyond cruel."
"No worse than my darling sister." Zelena scoffed, "Or have you forgotten how many innocents she has killed."
Snow White moved forward, pressing a comforting hand to Robin's chest. She gently pushed him back, away from the witch. "We're here to talk about the Author and if he is a threat or not."
"Most certainly, Dear." Zelena nodded, "He controls our fates. He's written everything since the beginning of time. He's our God, for all intensive purposes."
David sighed, "And he is here now, in Storybrooke."
"We just need to figure out why." Emma finished her father's sentence.
Regina stood from the chair, "I don't suppose you know why he's here? Given that you're so chummy."
Zelena frowned, but her eyes remained euphoric, "Afraid not. I haven't seen him since my first day in the forest." she looked away from Regina, her smile returning. She stared hungrily at Robin.
"Do you remember our first night together? You told me how happy you were to have me back."
Regina's skin crawled. Her fingers tingled, fire ready to shoot out. But, she controlled herself. Regina watched Robin and Marian quite obsessively over the course of her time in town. There was little she didn't already know about them.
"Roland was beside himself with joy, as were the Merry Men," Zelena continued.
Robin looked to the point of agony. Regina sucked in a breath, stepping in front of him. "Leave him alone." she said shortly.
Zelena tilted her head, gleaming at Regina, "Too bad we're not closer," she said, "I'd love to gossip with you." she nodded towards Robin, "Great shag, eh?"
Regina took a purposeful step towards her sister, the last of her patients running dry. Robin held her back, gripping her elbow, his breath at her ear. "It's what she wants," he whispered.
Snow looked at Regina, "I think it's time for a break," she said. "David can take her to the station, lock her up until we can confirm her story."
"No way. Last time that happened she was set free." Emma argued.
"It was attempted murder. Thank you." Zelena gasped.
Hook moved towards Emma. "Then were to put her, Love? I don't think we want the Dark One finding out she's still alive."
"I know a place," Regina sneered, calm enough now for Robin to let go.
The smile finally left her sister's face.
Henry jogged up the brick steps and through the front door, tugging his coat off as he entered.
"Keep that sweater on!" Regina demanded, following behind. Roland asleep in her arms.
Robin walked with his hands in his pockets behind them. He had remained quiet since they left the hospital. Emma agreed that Henry should stay with Regina while she and Hook searched the town for an unknown face. It was an impossible mission, but the best idea they had. If this Author could take someone else's face, how could they ever truly be sure of anything again?
Regina gently placed a sleeping Roland on her couch, summoning a fire. It was warmer out now, but Henry was just a day off a freezing curse and she wanted him to be as warm as possible. Robin entered the living room, dropping Roland's bag and toy arrows on the nearest chair.
"He'll be safe here," Regina whispered crossing her arms while walking up to Robin.
Robin smiled, the heaviness in his eyes still strong. "I don't doubt that." he looked over at his son.
"What is it?" Regina urged.
Robin frowned,"He hasn't asked." he sighed, "But I know he will. He'll wonder where his mother has gone and I can't let him go through that, not again."
Regina grabbed Robin's arm, pulling him into the kitchen. From the staircase, she heard Henry kick in his door and a moment later, the television turn on. She waited for Robin to sit at the counter bar before talking.
"Don't answer yet," she warned, staring at her hands laced on the granite, "But, I have the ability to take his memories away."
"Only if you want." she added in a whisper. "I can make him forget everything since Zelena arrived."
Robin took a long breath through his nose, staring at Regina with wonder. "He won't remember Marian's return?"
"No," she shook her head. "And it won't hurt Roland at all, I promise you. I would never let anything happen to your son."
A small chuckle left Robin's lips. His eyes lightened a fraction from earlier. "I trust you, completely Regina. Never doubt that."
The woman looked away, bashfully.
"I know," he whispered. "What Zelena said, I know that you believe her, that she's right – deep down. But trust me, she is not. You're not her."
Regina sniffed, cursing the connection that they had. Zelena tapped into Regina's fears and knew exactly how to pull at her. Honestly, Regina had waited for someone to tell Robin she wasn't good enough – and despite it coming from her twisted, wicked sister, it resonated.
"My answer is yes," Robin went on, ignoring her silence. "When Roland wakes, I'd like you to take it all away."
Regina nodded, "And what about you?" she wondered. "I can take away the memories of Marian, I can take away the pain of losing her."
Robin shook his head. "No, I need my thoughts clear." he smiled. "And, the pain of losing her has always been there, it never dulled, Regina. Marian was an incredible woman, and despite the circumstances, it wasn't her time to go. She deserved happiness and love and decency."
"Zelena will pay," she whispered menacingly.
Robin looked away from her cutting gaze, scooping up her hands still resting on the counter. "Not by your hands," he refuted.
"What?" she laughed.
"Back at the hospital, I lost myself. I was thinking emotionally – manically, really. But, killing your own sister is beneath you, Regina. If you kill Zelena it will hurt you."
Regina shook her head, "Robin,"
"You've come so far," he stopped her. "If it must be done, and I'm not saying that it should or shouldn't, I don't want it to be you."
Flashing him a quick smile, Regina nodded, "We don't have to worry about this now. Are you hungry?"
The man understood Regina's need to change the subject. "Sure, I haven't ate anything apart from Granny's cooking in ages."
"Then you're in luck. Because I'm nothing like that old wolf." Regina winked and slid from her stool.
Night passed in a blur. A wonderful and uneventful blur for Regina Mills. She cooked dinner for her son and the Locksley men. She read Roland a bedtime story after ice cream and pie, and gave him the best room in the house, before erasing the horrid memory of his mother transforming into Zelena. Robin watched fondly, as Regina and Henry acted out the parts of the story – and he remained calm the entire evening, sitting near the fire, knowing Marian would like this Regina, if she were alive.
"I should be going," Robin said, after coming down the stairs from tucking his son into bed.
Regina flipped through a spell book on the couch, frowning as he shrugged on his coat. "You don't have to go."
"I must explain the situation to my men. This affects them, too."
She nodded, standing to walk him out. "If you want to come back, I have several more rooms available."
"Ah," Robin chuckled, "But, you said you're nothing like Granny."
Regina grinned, leaning against the front door. "Is she offering you space in her bed, too?"
They both laughed. Robin sighed as Regina opened the front door. "Be careful. We have no idea what to expect from this Author."
"It might be nothing," Robin shrugged.
Humming, Regina smoothed out Robin's coat, "Or it's the worst thing we've ever faced. Either way, I don't like our chances."
Robin nodded, "I'll be careful." he promised as he leaned down to kiss her. Regina wrapped her arms around Robin's neck, holding him to her for a brief moment.
"You better be." then he was gone.
After seeing Henry off to school – which was not easy, given the stubbornness of her son – Regina made her way to Town Hall, where a meeting would start any moment. The sun shined brightly up above, glittering on the street and cars as a warm breeze zipped through the streets, catching Regina's perfectly coiled hair on occasion. It didn't upset the woman in the least. She missed the sun more than she thought possible. She missed warmth and heat and the forest's cologne on Robin's skin.
Doctor Hopper walked up the building's steps a moment before Regina and politely held the door open as she entered. Pongo, his faithful dog followed behind, his tail wagging. Once the two passed the arch into the main conference room, she realized they were the last to arrive. Everyone with importance – aside from Gold, who held little in her eyes – and Belle were present. Ana and Elsa sat together, hands tight together off to one corner of the room. Tinkerbell sat with them, chatting animatedly while rummaging through her shoulder-bag.
Regina marched up to the head table, where the Charmings stood. Granny rocked in a chair behind the table, Neal in her arms.
"Good morning, Regina," Snow smiled, tapping a stack of papers against the counter.
Emma shifted away from Hook, "How much trouble did Henry give you?" she wondered, smirking.
Regina adjusted her blazer. "Nothing I couldn't handle." she assured.
"I sent Robin to check on Zelena," David answered Regina's unspoken question as her dark eyes slid from each face in the room.
"You what?" she snapped. "I don't want her anywhere near him."
Hook wrapped a mocking arm around her shoulder, "It's fine, Love. Robin can take care of himself."
She glared until he removed his arm. Hook shrugged, peering out into the group of townspeople. "What exactly are we going to tell them?" he asked. "We surely can't question the lot if one of them is this infamous Author, now can we?"
"I was thinking of a test." Snow grinned, wiggling the papers in her hand. "We're going to explain that all our files on the town were erased from the power outages during the blizzard." she whispered to the group.
"Then, we check the information they provide with that of our server and BAM!" David grinned, "We've found our Author."
Regina snorted. "That sounds great, Charming. Really." she drawled. "But if Zelena is right, then the Author already knows everything. He would have no trouble passing a citizenship test or whatever this is."
Snow frowned for a moment. "Well, it's a start." she said, her optimism returning. "And the Author knows everything about our personalities. But, he hasn't been here long enough to know the facts of Storybrooke. You created this world, Regina. Not him."
Emma shrugged. "We have to try something," she whispered to Regina, sensing her skepticism.
"I suppose," she sighed. Then she plucked some papers from Snow White and smiled. "Shall I start handing them out?"
Later that day, after nearly all the information packets were accounted for, Regina strolled through her office doors, after yet another urgent message to meet up.
"We have nothing against Storybrooke." Elsa said, kindly. "I would stay and help you fight this new enemy if it's what you wish. You have shown me kindness even when I almost destroyed your home. I am in your debt for finding my sister – but we've been gone from Arendale so long, I fear what has come of my home."
Snow clutched her hand to her heart. "No, of course we understand. We'll find a way to get you home." she assured. "It's just," Snow blushed. "At the moment, we're not exactly sure how to do that."
"What?" Ana laughed. "You're joking." her braids tossed from side to side, eying the small group in the room.
When no one spoke up, Ana gulped. "This town is full of magic. There must be something we can use to teleport home? We can ask Mr. Gold!" sh exclaimed excitedly.
"We're not asking the Dark One." Elsa snapped.
Regina nodded, "I have to agree," she shrugged her shoulders apologetically at Ana. "Gold proved he can't be trusted. Unless – " she mumbled.
"Unless what?" David asked.
"Nothing." Regina glared. She grabbed her purse ready to leave.
David followed. "Where are you going?"
Spinning on her heel, Regina huffed, glaring up at David. "I'm going to the library to look into old archives about portals. Now, unless you want to join me on a little field trip, Charming, stop asking stupid questions."
Regina left, rushing down the steps of town hall and across the street to the library.