A/N: Okay, so this little rant is for the Guest reviewer that decided it would be a good idea to question my intentions. I have no problem with men. I really don't. I have no issue with Charming. I like Charming. In fact, you will be seeing more of him in later chapters. To answer the question, if you've actually made it this far in the story, as to why Ruby was chosen over him would have been answered in time and was answered, I thought at that moment in time, but you didn't think so. Also, you got mad because I said that Regina never wanted to kill Emma. This is my story and I stated in the "blurb" that it was AU, which means Alternate Universe, which means I can differ from canon however I deem fit to do so. It is called author's choice and poetic license. If you don't want to read the story, than don't, but there was no reason to go all hostile on me because you didn't agree with what I wrote.

Other than that, I hope the rest of you enjoy this story. I am sorry for the rant, but those reviews really left a bad taste in my mouth. Hopefully the next few chapters will answer a few questions for you all, while making you ask more. I promise everything will be answered in due time. Have question, review or PM me. I'll answer it for you personally or in another author's note. Now for the story.

Chapter 16

She knocked on the door. She didn't even realize what time it was. She was cold and wet. She just wanted to sleep. She leaned into the door.

It was the last place that she thought to go, but it was the first place that her feet took her. She looked at the white door and took a deep breath. She raised her hand and knocked again. It was a little harder. She could hear movement this time. Now, as she stood there in the freezing weather, rain soaked and cold. She hoped that Henry was at Emma's because she didn't want to hear Regina's wrath for waking him.

She turned around to face the street. She hugged her body and willed herself warm, for what little good it did. She was afraid to do anything more because of how out of control her powers had been lately. She figured that was what brought her to Regina.

She sighed as she leaned back into the door. Her teeth had started chattering. She hugged herself tighter as the door swung open. She barely righted herself before Regina had her hands around her waist to steady her.

"Cora1ine?" Regina asked.

She could hear the fight and anger leaving her voice as she ushered her into the house. She stopped them by the coat tree right inside the foyer. She pealed Coraline's wet jacket off and hung it up. She pointed at the shoes which she barely managed to kick off. If Regina hadn't been holding her up, she would have fallen.

"What happened?" she asked, genuinely concerned.

"Rumple kicked me out."

"Kicked you out of where?" she asked.

"Belle's old house."

"Why?"

"I am not family. I lied to him. I have magic. Take your pick. He has a list of reasons."

"That insipid imp! I'll deal with him tomorrow. Come in. We need to get you warm."

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"Bother him. I deserve it. I lied to everyone."

"I know."

"I had nowhere else to go. I...I didn't know where to go. I just...I didn't..."

"You're always welcome here, Darling. I may not be the mother you remember, but I am still your mother, even if I haven't had you yet. Don't ever worry about that. I would never turn you away. Emma wouldn't have either. Hell, you could have gone to Snow and the idiot, too. Your family wouldn't turn you away. I promise you that. Forget Rumple for tonight."

"I...I'm...I'm so...cold," Coraline told her.

"Come on. You need a warm shower and some cocoa. And, yes, I am sure you like it with cinnamon. I'll get it down for you. Come on. You can use my bathroom. I'll get you some clothes," Regina told her, taking her hand and leading her up the stairs to the master suite.

It was the first time that she was upstairs in Regina's house. She admired the lack of color and actually laughed at the black and white motif. It suited her mother and she knew it. She remembered how monotone the library was growing up.

She leaned on the door frame to the bathroom as Regina prepared a warm bath for her. She watched how she moved with grace in this world doing something so pedestrian here that she would have servants do for her in the Enchanted Forest. Regina turned around to find her smiling at her.

"What?"

"I've never seen you do anything like that. The servants usually did it for us. It is just odd to see you doing it now."

"I assure you that I am capable of taking care of myself. I also wouldn't have let a servant do this for you as a child. I would have tested it first or done it myself."

"You did. I remember. But, you wouldn't have drawn the bath for me. You tested it, though."

"Go ahead and strip and get in. I'll dig through my closet. I am bound to find something that will fit you. Do you want me to call anyone?"

"There is no one to call," Coraline told her, going into the bathroom and shutting the door.

Regina bowed her head. She realized how alone she felt in this world. Everything that she knew hadn't happened yet and it wasn't all pleasant. Regina wanted to take her pain. She wanted to protect her child and care for her, but she didn't know how much Coraline would let her.

She stalked over to her closet. She threw the door back, not realizing how hard, until it hit the wall. She hung her head again. She was angry at herself for letting Coraline grow up alone, without the love of her mothers, and feeling like she wasn't enough for them. She wanted to right it, but she knew that in Coraline's eyes she was about twenty years too late.

She pushed around her clothes. Surely, Coraline wouldn't feel comfortable in one of her suits. She knew that she wouldn't put on a dress, opting to be more like her other mother and wear jeans most of the time. She sighed and dug deeper into her closet, past the silk pajamas and yoga pants. When her fingers finally hit denim, she smiled.

She pulled out the dark colored jeans and white t-shirt. She dug around in her wardrobe and gathered some underwear. She went to the bathroom door and knocked. When Coraline didn't answer, she opened it slightly. She look two steps in and placed the clothing on the vanity before turning to leave. She wanted to give her as much privacy as she could.

"Thank you," Coraline told her, meeting her gaze in the mirror.

"Don't worry about it. I'm going down stairs. I'll make you some cocoa to warm you up."

"Coffee."

"Excuse me?"

"Coffee. Black. That will be fine. Don't go through the trouble to make cocoa."

"If that is what you wish," Regina told her.

"It's fine."

"I'll be back up in a few minutes."

"Okay, Mom," Coraline told her.

Regina smiled at her and left her. She made her way downstairs and into the kitchen. She pulled out the dark roast and put it in the coffee pot. She just stared at it, willing it to brew quickly.

She didn't know what to say to her. She didn't know what to do with her. Coraline was her daughter, but she wasn't. She wanted to do so much for her, but she doubted that Coraline would allow it. She had to admit that she was just as surprised as Coraline was that she showed up on her doorstep, in the storm, tonight.

She poured two cups of coffee as soon as it was done. She grabbed the mugs and headed back upstairs hoping that Coraline was finished with her bath. She was and she was sitting on the end of Regina's bed.

"Here," Regina told her handing her a cup of coffee.

"What time is it?"

"A little after three AM," Regina replied.

"I'm sorry if I woke you."

"You didn't."

"You weren't sleeping?"

"I've been having problems sleeping for a few weeks now."

"Why?"

"Because my daughter came from the future to tell me that a terrible curse takes over the land. I found out that I find my happy ending finally, in an unlikely place only to lose it all with this curse. I go off the deep end and become the one thing that I swore I would never be and I hurt you. Somehow, I managed to find a shred of my soul and enough clarity to send you back here."

"It isn't your fault."

"Isn't it? I caused those burns on your back. I know you think that I didn't know about them, but I do. I know what they come from and I swore that I would never do that," Regina told her.

"When did you…?"

"At the convent before you ran."

"You didn't say anything," Coraline accused.

"I couldn't. I wasn't sure. I didn't want to believe that I was the one that did it to you."

"But, you weren't," Coraline stated.

"You're lying."

"I am not. It wasn't you, Mom. It was the Black Queen."

"And, who is the Black Queen, Coraline? Who is she if she isn't me? Hmmm?"

"No one in the Enchanted Forest knows," Coraline told her.

"But, you do. I can see it in your face. You come close to me only to pull away. I know the symptoms of that, Coraline. My mother burned me, too."

"But, that's just it, Mom. She isn't my mother. She is the Black Queen. My mother is the one that set me free. She is the one that got me out of that dungeon. She is one that sent me back."

"I sent you back, but you said I was dead."

"You are dead."

"Then how can I send you back?"

"Because sometimes the darkness needs a little light to survive."

"And, that is why I shouldn't go to Rumple?" Regina asks, bringing the situation back to light.

"Belle is his light. If he loses her, he'll be lost. Belle won't leave him and she'll deal with him for you later. I promise. I'll talk to her tomorrow…umm, today about what happened. Please just promise me that you won't say anything to him. Let me deal with this my way. I don't want anyone to get hurt," Coraline stated.

"I will tell Emma."

"Tell Emma then. Just stay away from him, Mom. I know how to deal with it and Belle is his weakness. You already know that, but taking her away from him will only make matters worse."

"I promise that I won't say anything to him. I will just tell Emma. I trust you enough that I will allow you to handle things with that imp by going to Belle. It is the diplomatic way of doing things. It isn't rash and it isn't using magic. I'm proud of you for that," Regina told her.

"And, I am proud of you for not flying off at him while I was in the bath. I know that took a lot for you, Mom. Just as I know that it is hard for you to not go over there now and give him a piece of your mind. Everything will work out. Right now, I just want some sleep."

"Yes, Darling, this way. You can stay in this room. We will gather your things later and you can do up your room however you want. This will be your room until you…"

"Thanks, Mom. Seriously, thank you," Coraline stated giving her a hug, surprising both herself and Regina. "You really don't know what this means to me."

"No, but I'm sure that Emma will," Regina replied. "Now, get some sleep. I have to get your brother up in a few hours for school and start to prepare for a family dinner tonight."

"That is tonight, isn't it?"

"Your Grams insisted. And, I don't let just anyone into my kitchen. I am going to have to supervise to make sure that she doesn't burn my house down."

"I thought that was Ma that tried that," Coraline asked slightly giggling.

"She did, but who knows with those genes what they are capable of," Regina retorted.

She watched as Coraline made her way to bed. She tucked her in and kissed her forehead. She walked out of the room and was greeted by a light snore as she shut the door. Coraline had fallen asleep as soon as she lay down. She definitely was Emma's daughter.

Regina walked back into her room. She got settled in bed. She stared out the window for a few minutes before she grabbed her cell. It read 4:23am. She sighed. It was early or late depending on how one read the time. It would only be an hour or so before she had to get Henry up for school. And after her conversation with Snow earlier about the dinner tonight, she knew that Snow would be over early in the morning to start prepping. She sighed again. She needed Emma. She needed to talk to someone. She needed Emma to be there with her and keep her from going after Rumple as soon as she dropped Henry off at the bus stop. She dialed her number and waited. She hoped that Emma would answer. She did on the fourth ring.

"Ha…Hello?"

"Emma," Regina stated.

"I'm up. What happened? Are the kids okay? What's wrong?" Emma asked suddenly wide awake. "Regina, what is it?"

"I need…"

"Yes?" the fear still in her voice.

"You, I need you," Regina told her.

Emma didn't need to hear anymore. She "poofed" over to Regina's. She landed in the hallway outside of Henry's room. She took off her boots and headed for Regina's door. She knocked lightly before she entered.

Regina was shocked. She was still holding her phone, but closed it and sat on the nightstand as soon as she saw Emma. Emma could see the fear in her eyes.

"What is it, Regina? What's wrong? Are the kids okay?" she asked again.

"They are asleep."

"They? Coraline's here too? Why?"

"Rumple."

"What about Rumple?" Emma asked, suddenly getting very angry.

"The Imp kicked her out of Belle's old place."

"Why?"

"Because she isn't family," Regina answered.

"I'll deal with him in the morning," Emma stated. "Are you okay? Is there more?"

"She came home."

"Who came home?"

"Coraline," Regina told her.

"She came here…she came home. Oh, Regina…she's our daughter. Of course, she would come home. Did you think that she would go to Granny's instead?" Emma asked her.

"No, I figured that she would go to your place or to Snow's house," Regina replied.

"But, you're her mother."

"So are you, Dear, so are you," Regina stated.

"Do you want me to stay?"

"Yes. Here. With me."

"Okay, give me sec. I'm going to 'poof' home, grab some clothes and my phone, and be right back. I promise. I'll be right back."

"Thank you."

Coraline woke sometime after six AM. The house was quiet. She was mad at herself for breaking down and coming to Regina's in the middle of the night, but she was her mother and she did love her. If she wasn't emotionally unstable, she would have been half way to New York by now. It didn't matter that she promised Emma that she'd wait. She needed answers. She was running out of time. She needed to save her family and she knew that she couldn't do it alone.

She headed down stairs. She figured she get a quick cup of coffee and then she would go. She'd leave them a note this time and a number. She'd be back in two days tops. She would either find what she was looking for or she wouldn't. It was a long shot, but she wanted to try.

"Where are you going?" Snow asked her over her coffee cup.

"Grams!" Coraline stated.

"I guess that much is true, then," Snow replied.

"Huh?"

"Your mothers informed me about you before they went to Boston. I wasn't sure that I believed it until just now. You do bear the resemblance of both of them. So, I'll ask again: where are you going?"

"Out," she replied quickly.

"Nope, not good enough."

"Excuse me."

"I get it. You're angry. But, why?"

"They didn't tell you everything, I see. That's like them. Sugarcoat the bad parts and hope for the best. Well, it isn't going to work that way this time. I can't stay here."

"Well, according to Belle, Rumple won't let you stay in her old place, either," Snow added.

"I'll be fine. I just need to go. I can't stay here."

"Here as in Storybrooke?"

"Yes," she said, hanging her head.

Snow took another sip of her coffee. She placed the cup gently back down on the counter before her and watched Coraline. She could tell that she was taught. Her shoulder and her muscles were so tight like she was about to pop from the strain. Snow recognized the movements of Emma in her. Coraline turned back and looked Snow right in the eyes. She collected herself and Snow saw Regina's poise and regality take over. She truly was a mix of them both. Her head must always be at constant war, Snow mused.

"I understand," she replied throwing Coraline a line.

"Wait, what? Why do you understand? You're just trying to get me to stay here. That is all this is," Coraline accused.

"I do want you to stay, but I understand why you feel like this isn't your home," Snow offered.

"Sure you do."

"This isn't my home, either. I am from the Enchanted Forest. I have made a home here for Emma. She knows this realm and the World of Fairy Tales. I wanted to go home, but she made a point when she said it would be like ripping her and Henry out of everything they knew for my selfishness. It is amazing what you can learn from your children," Snow told her.

"I can't stay here. I need to go home. I've been here for six months and I am no closer to figuring out how to stop the Darkness. This whole thing was stupid. I should have known better, but she told me to come back her. She told me that she would help me, but she can't. No one can," Coraline stated.

"Who sent you back here? Coraline, you aren't making any sense. Talk to me. I know that you don't want to deal with your moms right now. Tell me, then. Who sent you back here?" Snow asked her.

"Mom did."

"Regina?"

"Yes," Coraline added, sitting down at the table.

Snow got up, got her a mug and filled it full of coffee. She passed it across the table as she sat down across from her. Snow watched her with her hazel eyes, waiting to see if Coraline would break further. When she picked up the cup and begun to drink, Snow saw her eyes flash green quickly before returning to their dark brown. Coraline quickly set the cup down und looked up at her grandmother, Snow.

"You don't think that she wants to help you?"

"I know she does, but she can't."

"Why not, Coraline? What is it about Regina that makes you so frightened? One minute you curl up to her like a lost child and then something dark comes over your face and you run from her. What happened? Will you tell me?" Snow asked her.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you'll tell them."

Snow's head jerked. Of course, Regina would have told her about that. She wouldn't trust her because of Regina's mistrust in her. It was a hard fact to swallow, but she did it anyway.

"You can trust me, Coraline. I have no reason to betray your trust. I die as well in this future, don't I?"

"Not exactly," she stated.

"I see. You haven't told them the entire story, have you? What happened, Coraline? Will you tell me?" Snow asked pleadingly.

"It won't matter if you know. It doesn't stop it. The Blackness still comes and destroys everything."

"You've come here and told us that we all die except Belle and Ruby. They are the ones that raised you. I understand why you want to talk to them more than us, Coraline. I do. Did you know that your mother and I have a strained relationship because I sent her here so she would save us? Now, you are telling me that your mother, Regina, sent you here to save us all, again. How can I not be worried about this? I want to help you, but I can only do that if you let me," Snow told her.

Coraline sighed. She picked up her coffee cup and took another sip. She sat it down, hung her head, and started to tell her tale of woe and misery. Snow was rapt with attention as she started.

"I had just twenty-five I believe. Red and Belle had given me another party in Rumple's castle. I was lonely and still so full of rage. I wanted to avenge everyone, everything, especially my family. I am grateful that they never hid the truth from me of who I was and what happened to everyone. They did protect me as Mom instructed them to, but they never lied to me about what happened when I asked. If they didn't know the answer, they told me that. I tried to fill in the holes where I could, but it wasn't until Red found Mom's journals that things actually started making complete sense to me. There was such much I didn't understand because I was so little when it all started. I only had the memories of a child and they aren't always reliable."

"But sometimes, you see more than you realize," Snow said, encouraging her to continue.

"I did."

"Will you tell me about it?" Snow asked again.

"I don't really want to, but I guess I should tell someone everything."

"You should. Keeping things bottled up that long isn't good for you. Keeping your anger locked away doesn't help. It only makes you bitter. Tell me and let me help you."

"It all started when I was about five years old...

I was sitting in the throne room with Mom and Belle. We were doing my lessons. Mom was worried, but I couldn't tell why. She looked sad, but she hid it from me. I could still feel it. There was just something about the way she moved all day. It was different. She paced a lot.

Belle was sweet. She kept having to pull my attention back to my studies. I can remember now that they were teaching me magic and how to control it. I understood that my emotions controlled it even then, but I was a lot like Ma. I tended to hold things in and let them boil over. I think I was at the table learning that morning because I had set my canopy around my bed on fire again.

Mom had laughed it off and put it out, but she knew that I needed more training. I remember her asking me what set me off that morning. It had been a dream. I couldn't remember what it was about but it scared me, deeply, to my core. I did the only thing my body knew how to do, I reacted. Poorly, but I reacted. It was something that they were both working on me with.

When I went lo breakfast, I remembered that Ma was gone. She was out in the field defending the castle. I could remember Mom casting a spell over her armor in the days before. Ma kept telling her not to worry that she would be home soon. That everything would be okay. She told her that you and Charming were coming to help from the Summerlands. Henry had come back and insisted on going out with her. I think that is what put Mom on edge. Henry was going to fight, too.

She of course cast a spell of protection over him. I don't think he noticed though. He couldn't have been more than twenty, but he was my best friend. We did everything together in the afternoons. Don't tell Mom, but he had started teaching me how to wield a bow and shoot it. She would have been furious if she knew. It was our secret. I knew that Henry loved me. He knew that I loved him.

Everything changed that morning, though. My world ended and my nightmares began. It wasn't until later when I was older that I would know that my nightmares were nothing compared to the Hell I would find at the hands of the Dark Queen. She taught me what Hell really was.

Grandpa came in the room with Henry. Grandpa was in his armor, normally all shiny, but it wasn't. It was black, covered in red and black. It smelt funny, too. Then I saw Henry come in behind him. He had on the armor that Mom put the spell on it. It had a different coat-of-arms on it. It was the same one that Ma wore. It is the same one that is on my arm. It was for both the houses of Swan and Mills. His armor was coated in the grime and muck, too. He carried his helmet in his hands and he was crying. I could see it in his eyes. Something was terribly wrong.

That is why Mom asked them where Ma was. I have never seen her so devastated. Her whole body crumpled for a moment. She just fell. I might have dreamed it, but she broke when Gramps told her the news. I remember getting up and crossing the room. Belle didn't stop me.

I held onto Mom's leg when Gramps told her that she was gone. Ma was gone. He handed her Ma's sword. It was a magical sword that had been a gift from Grams and Mom to her. It was her sword. I didn't understand. Where was Ma? Why was Henry so upset? And, why was Mom asking for her body? What was wrong? Why wouldn't anyone tell me?

"There was nothing left," Henry told her.

Nothing made sense. Nothing at all after that. Belle had come to Mom's side. Mom pulled me off of her leg and pushed me to Belle. She gathered me in her small frame and held me. I could feel the anger in Mom. It was different. It was painfu1. I could see her whole body change.

When she turned around to talk to Belle, it was in a language I didn't know. She told Belle to take me and leave. She was to take me to Grandpa Rumple's castle and wait for them to come. She needed to go now. Belle nodded and started to leave when Red came in the castle, tying her cloak around her neck. She stalked up to Mom with a purpose.

I could see something in Henry's eyes. It was sadness, but it was laced with anger. Charming looked broken, but determined. Mom's eyes were violent and violet at the same time. But, Red, she was bordering on something I didn't understand at the time. I don't think I still do.

She let them know that .you would be there in the morning with the reinforcements. We just had to hold out until your arrival. Then, the realization of the situation hit her. She saw the blank looks in their eyes. She saw the tears on Mom's face. Something was terribly wrong, but she hadn't figured it out yet. She looked around and that is when she noticed that Ma was gone.

When she asked, Mom just told her she was dead. She started to walk to the doors. I could see the fire on her hands. She was angry, but it was deeper than that. She was pissed. She was furious. She was broken and she didn't care. She turned to Red.

"Take Belle and Remy and go. We'll hold them off. Get my daughter away from here. Raise her as your own and protect her, Red. I am counting on you." Mom told her.

Red nodded and moved towards Belle and me. I didn't know what was going to happen. Red took the sword from Mom. It shrank down into a dagger. She handed it to Belle, who put it in a satchel she'd grabbed for some supplies. Red started to push us to the back of the castle and to Mom's hidden passages. She had to get us out and to safety. She knew what to do.

Henry came to me next. He was crying. I had never seen him like that. He reached up and took off a necklace that he always wore since becoming a knight. It was something that Ma gave him. It was a long leather cord, much too long to be an appropriate necklace. It was worn funny, too. But, it had a ring on it. It was a silver ring with a green gem stone. I would find out later that it was Grams' wedding ring. She had given it to him to give to his wife, when the time came. He put the cord around my neck and patted the ring against my chest.

"Take care of this for me, Remy. I'll be back for it. Okay? I love you," he told me. I didn't realize that it was good-bye at the time. It was the last time that I ever saw him.

Gramps knew. He knew that they were going to die. He knew. I can tell now. It was in his eyes. He knew. He kissed my forehead and then told Red to protect me. I was the last of their line. And, then they were gone. Swords drawn, fire balls lit. They were gone. They went out the doors to die. They went to avenge Ma. They wanted their pound of flesh for hers. They didn't realize. They didn't think that they wouldn't win. Gramps may have, but he never said it. But, I think that they seriously thought that they would come to Grandpa Rumple's castle and we would start over.

They never came. You never came. No one ever came. We were alone there.

Belle cut my hair shortly after we got there. She cut all the blond out. It never grew back. She made me learn to talk like her. She changed my name. I was no longer Remy. My name was Coraline and if anyone asked I was her little sister: Regina and Emma weren't my mothers. I was a refugee just like she was. I had to deny everything that I ever knew. That is when the bindings started. She had to hide my magic from the Blackness. It could sense me and it would find me. At least while we were at Rumple's castle, we were protected by his old magic spells that still covered his lands.

Red grew idle. She had lost as much as we did, but she couldn't sit back and pretend it didn't happen. She wanted to fight. She wanted vengeance, but Belle wouldn't let her. She couldn't lose Red, too. Red would sneak out though. She would change into the Wolf and run for hours, looking, scouring for any sign or hope that someone served that final battle at White Castle in the Winterlands. But, no one did. When Belle realized that she couldn't keep her, she let her roam only on the week of the moon. Red would be gone the entire week, but she would bring stuff back. Weird things, like Mom's journals, some old clothes, but she never stopped, she kept going. She was bringing me my history.

Belle continued to teach me magic and my lessons. She didn't want me to forget who I was or where I came from. I couldn't talk about it outside the walls of our part of the castle, but I couldn't forget.

One day, I got restless. I started to roam the grounds. I found an old bow and some arrows. I set up a target and started shooting. I was amazed that I knew how to shoot so well. Henry had been a good teacher. Red finally caught me one afternoon after she returned from one of her outings.

She scolded me for doing it without proper supervision. She then took it upon herself to train me. She would take me out into the woods and teach me how to scour and hunt. I became quite adept at it, like I was a natural. She gave a practice sword and made me learn to use it. She would teach me a new move every time she came home and then she would test me after her next adventure out. It became our routine, and it worked.

Belle was resistant to it at first, but gradually she relented and let Red start using real weapons or even Wolf-ed out on me. I wanted to train and I wanted to train hard. I was a princess and I needed to be ready to defend whatever was left of my kingdom or so I thought. I realized later that it was hard for Red because I reminded her so much of my Grams and my Mom. She saw Ma in me, but she couldn't base anything I did on her actions, but those of my Grams. She told me that she hadn't seen someone so natural with a bow besides her.

Where Belle was soft and kind, Red was hard and testing. They were balanced for each and for me. They were my light and dark. They kept me grounded. Belle gave my wisdom and Red gave me my strength. They pushed me each day, making me burn off my pent up energy. When the bindings started to break as Belle knew they would, she tried to teach me magic, but never having been a practitioner herself…it was amusing. She started giving me the tattoos to protect me. Each one is a protection spell in its own right.

It wasn't enough. It couldn't be enough. I needed to avenge my family. So, in the dead of night, I left.

Coraline melted further into Snow. She took her weight gracefully as they both knelt down to the floor in Regina's kitchen. Snow didn't let her go as the sobs continued to rack her body. She could see Regina and Emma behind them, once they found the floor. She didn't know how long they had been there, but she knew it had been long enough for Regina and Emma to both have tears in their eyes.

Snow gestured with her head for them to come forward. It was still early, but family was family. The fact that the sun hadn't come up yet didn't stop them from being there. She could see the worried looks on their faces as they slowly approached, still afraid that Coraline would run. It was in that moment that Regina gave Snow an appreciative look for managing to keep their daughter in the house.

"Coraline," Regina said as she knelt clown to envelope her crying daughter.

"Mom," she replied as she turned into Regina's arms.

Regina pulled her into her body and held her. She had one hand wrapped around the back of her head and the other around her back. Coraline tucked her head into the crook of her shoulder like it was the most natural thing to do. Regina barely contained herself as she smiled up at Emma, in a silent plea, for her to join them in their family hug.

Emma took two strides before sinking down on her knees. She crawled the rest of the way to her daughter and lover on her knees. When Regina's hand left Coraline's back to pull her the rest of the way, Emma melted into her family. Never one to show her feelings well, Emma broke down as Coraline turned to bury her face in her chest. She gave a frightened look to Regina, who just pulled them into herself tighter.

Snow didn't want to interrupt the moment. She slowly stood, walked over to the women and kissed them each on the head. She walked around them and to the coffee maker. She started another pot.

Once it was started, she walked back over to the table and grabbed her cup. She moved out of their line of sight, back behind the counter near the coffee maker, and slowly sipped what was left of her cup.

"What about Henry?" Coraline asked through broken sobs.

"What about him, dear?" Regina questioned.

"Does he know?"

"That you are his baby sister?" Emma inquired.

"Yes, has anyone told him, yet?"

"Not that I know of, no, but he is smart boy. He knows that you are important to the family. He might have figured it out. We can tell him together if you would like, but that will be your choice," Regina told her, backing up just enough to look into her dark brown eyes.

"He needs to know," Coraline stated.

"Do you want to tell him?" Emma asked her.

"Yes," Coraline replied, barely above a whisper.

"Snow, will you get him for us?" Regina asked, grateful that she'd come over earlier that morning once she got Emma's note from the wee morning hours.

"I'll be right back. Clean yourselves up some. There is fresh coffee," she ordered as she left.