I want to thank you all for the reviews after the last chapter. I really appreciate you all sticking with me and i hope you can hang on through the journey :)

And Straight On Till Morning

"Michael?" Neal was shaking his head, disbelieving of the sight in front of him. Regina pulled Luca back a few steps, but his body was a bit less responsive now. She looked down to see his face.

"Luca?" She squeezed his shoulder, growing instantly worried as she watched color drain out of his face.

"Michael…" Luca repeated in a whisper, his gaze aimed forward, eyes unfocused. Images started flashing in his mind. His body swayed slightly as the memories suddenly turned into an overwhelming onslaught.

"Luca?" Regina turned more to see him, just in time for his eyes to roll back and her to be ready for his body to fall into her. "Luca?!"

Regina moved to her knees and held her unconscious son in her arms. Her eyes were wide, her hand moving to Luca's face. She tilted his chin up and then brushed the bangs from his eyes. Emma stepped closer, her own expression concerned.

"How do you have him?" Neal stepped forward and Regina's head snapped up.

"Back up." She hissed, and the tone did make him pause. Emma lifted a hand towards him and shook her head in warning.

"Why does she have him?" He asked her quietly.

"She rescued him from Neverland and adopted him." She started and he immediately shook his head in confusion. "It's a long story. You knew him from there?" She asked him as she stepped back again, giving Regina some place.

"No, that's why I'm confused. He should have been safe. He wasn't supposed to be taken." He said and looked back to the boy in Regina's lap. "I want to see him."

"No." Emma looked straight into his eyes. She knew Regina. She knew just how protective she could be and had little doubt that if Neal were to lay a hand on Luca, regardless of the reason, he wouldn't be getting it back.

"But-"

"Not now." Again she was more than serious and she ignored his confused, verging on hurt expression and turned back to Regina. "Is he okay?" She knelt down cautiously and Regina glanced at her.

"He just passed out. I'm taking him home." She curled him into her arms, his head falling against her chest.

"Regina, I'll…I'll check on you guys later, okay?" Emma stood awkwardly, her complexion a little paler than normal, her posture fidgeting slightly.

"Very well." Regina gave her a brief nod, but spared nothing more as Luca became her only priority. The only thing she could sanely focus on.

When they reappeared in the mansion, Regina had Luca laying in his bed. She adjusted the pillows, fixed his blanket around him, brushed back his bangs. He was breathing steadily and seemed calm, but Regina couldn't relax.

What little she knew of his history had been nothing short of awful. The little bits he recalled had given him nightmares and brought the child to tears. She would much rather know nothing more, than learn about him at the expense of his emotional well being.

She didn't know if she should wake him or let him sleep. She didn't want him traumatized by nightmares or brought back to face his memories awake. While she was gently brushing her thumb against his cheek, the choice was made for her and Luca's eyes started fluttering open.

"Hey, sweetie. It's okay. You're okay." She laid a hand on his forehead, the other one across his chest. Luca looked up at her, trying to concentrate for a moment.

"Mum?" He said quietly, his eyes flitting around.

"It's okay, we're in your room." She kept gentle hands on him, wanting to sooth him before he became fearful. Unfortunately, it didn't take long.

"Mum!" He lunged forward and wrapped his arms tightly around her neck. The previous events of the day dissipated as her maternal instincts took over. Regina wrapped one arm around her, her other hand coming to the back of his head.

"Shh, baby it's okay." She rocked him, but he started shaking.

"No no no no-"

"Luca, sweetie-"

"No, I remember. I remember, Mum." His voice was frantic and Regina continued to hold him tight.

"Okay, okay, you're safe here, honey, you can tell me." She didn't want him recalling these memories, but at this point, there would be no other way to deal with them, but to face them.

"I- I'm…I'm M-Michael." He hiccupped as his emotions controlled his voice.

"Your name is Michael?" She asked calmly.

"Y-yeah. D-Darling." He coughed out and Regina really started putting it all together.

"Michael Darling." She whispered.

"Michael Darling? As in Wendy Darling?" Henry kept right next to Neal as they walked, hanging on every word.

"Yeah, except that's not exactly how I remember him. He's older now but…I don't know. I mean does she even feed him?" He asked with a shake of the head.

"Well he spent a really long time in Neverland, and he's really active now." Emma jumped in automatically, still a little too thrown by all this.

"Right. How the hell little Michael Darling ended up in the hands of the Evil Queen is a story I've got to hear." He shook his head and Emma sighed. "I mean shouldn't we do something? I knew that kid."

"Neal just…just let it go, okay? He was a starving kid, alone on that dangerous island when she got to him. He asked to be with her." She was feeling so oddly torn right now, it was nearly making her sick. Neal gave her that look again and she sighed. "He loves her and she takes good care of him." She finished that with a sound of finality and Neal seemed to be willing to drop it for the moment. Emma was relieved for a minute to think.

This was Neal. The man she did love, whom she thought was dead, now standing miraculously in front of her. She could cry with the relief at knowing he was ok. Henry was over the moon and Emma knew she should be too. But months had gone by and things had changed. She didn't feel like the same person.

She wanted to check on Regina and Luca. She needed to know how they were. If Luca was okay…If Regina was. They might not have any kind of traditional relationship, but they had something. She cared about the woman and knew no matter how Regina truly felt about her, the scene they had created at the campsite couldn't have been pleasant for her.

"Hey." Neal gave Emma a nudge, trying to pull her out of her thoughts. "Are you okay?" He asked gently. Emma put on a smile.

"Yeah, sorry. It's just been a really crazy day." She said and he laughed.

"Yeah, I bet." They continued walking and Emma looked back down at the ground. "Hey, are we okay?" He looked just the tad bit concerned by her resistant behavior.

"Of course. Again, it's been a crazy day." She tried to focus on the moment, but was having an increasingly difficult time with that.

"It's really good to see you again. Both of you." He gave her a small, more comfortable and loving smile. Emma felt torn further.

"Its really good to see you too. I'm really glad you're okay." She said honestly, feeling herself getting pulled in.

"So what happened when you went through the portal?!" Henry was tugging on Neal's hand, pulling back attention and Emma found herself grateful.

"Well, first I met Mulan."

"It came back. It kept coming back." Luca mumbled, his head laying on Regina's shoulder.

"After Baelfire?" She asked, quietly. She had them laying back against the headboard now, Luca curling into her for comfort, her arms securely around him.

"Yeah. It grabbed my brother. My sister had lit candles to scare it away. I did it too...i was trying to help, but then I…I-"

"I know, shh, it's okay."

"Then I went to the place with the other kids when I was…um six I think. I can't remember much before that. I can't remember them hardly." He said sadly and Regina continued brushing her hand up and down his arm.

"You were very young, sweetheart. And that was a very very long time ago. It's okay if it's hard to remember."

"But I didn't even know my name." He pulled back slightly to see her face. Though his expression was distraught, hers was only sympathetic.

"It is okay, honey. I promise you, everything is going to be okay."

"But…I don't know who I am now." He said sadly and Regina's heart broke. She lifted a hand to his cheek and made sure he was looking into her eyes.

"You are Michael Darling…and…you are Luca Mills. You are my son. And I love you." She looked at him seriously, hoping he could feel that love and care she had for him and that it would comfort him through this.

"I love you too." He said quietly and fell back into her again. An easy sleep didn't come to either of them, but eventually, the exhausting day caught up with them and they fell into unconsciousness.

It was a long week until they met up again. Regina took Luca to and from school and practice and did her work in the office, but otherwise stayed home with her younger son. She could assume things were going well with the town's newcomer, as his return was talk not even she could ignore, despite her reclusive behavior.

She wanted to have no interest in it whatsoever. Have no interest in Neal Cassidy. Unfortunately, seeing how he was directly tied to several people she cared about, she couldn't help it.

She didn't call Emma. She didn't seek her out. She didn't wait at Granny's for her to join them for breakfast, or stop in at the usual time for lunch. She knew that as much as she needed time to process this, Emma probably needed it more.

Besides, Regina had to deal with herself before she could deal with Emma. She had to confort her own feelings before she confronted Emma's. She had to know what she wanted, before finding out what Emma wanted.

After a week, she returned Emma's call. After a whole week, she finally saw her again. After a week, she went from being holed up in the mansion, to the ally next to Emma's apartment. It took that whole week, to prepare what she wanted to say.

As she stood there, alone in the dark, so coached herself. She had survived Henry's rejection and she could survive Emma's as well. But then just like with Henry, Regina didn't plan on simply laying down and accepting defeat. She had to make one real attempt. One attempt and if Emma did not want her love, as with Henry, Regina would walk away. She wouldn't force herself on anyone. But she would try.

"Regina?" Emma appeared behind her and Regina smiled lightly.

"Emma…"

Emma had had a crazy week. She hadn't seen Henry act this way since they first broke the curse. She hadn't heard such excited and hopeful words from him in a long time. She missed it, if she was being honest. She couldn't help that feeling. Henry was her son and she missed these displays of love. She missed that smile. His laugh. His hugs.

Neal climbed out of the well and back into their lives and all that came right back like a tidal wave. Henry acted as though his happy ending had just been delivered to him on a silver platter and he took from it greedily. He was already talking about new homes, expanding their family, possibly going back to the Enchanted Forest. Emma was barley holding on from the dramatic turn of events.

Neal came back, not only like he had never left, but as if the last eleven years hadn't even happened. He acted like a father and a husband and that was another thing making Emma's head spin. It was all just a little too perfect.

She was trying to go with the flow, but she couldn't help thinking about Regina. She called her several times, but got no answer. She stopped by her office, but was always turned away. She tried to meet at Granny's, but was unsuccessful every time. It took an entire week before Regina finally called her back.

Neal and Henry were passed out on the couch. Henry insisted on them all spending as much time together as possible. Neal played the part of a father well and managed to exhaust the kid everyday. Emma was a bit overwhelmed, but had managed to hang on for the ride.

Emma crept across the wood floor and grabbed her jacket quietly. She glanced over her shoulder, ensuring the other two still asleep before opening the complex lock August had placed on the door. She slipped out silently and closed the door behind her before making her way quickly down the steps. She turned the corner and smiled as she saw a dark silhouette.

"Regina?"

"Emma." Regina turned to face her. It was late and dark but she smiled lightly asEmmae approached. Emma leaned forward, a bit awkwardly, and kissed Regina's cheek.

"Um…how's Luca?" She asked, trying to think of a way to start this.

"Better now, after a small identity crisis." She said lightly.

"I bet. Is he…still Luca?" She asked hesitantly, but Regina answered her.

"Yes. He's adjusting, but he's put a lot of work into coming to terms with himself for awhile now. This definitely added another layer, but he's still the same child. He'll be okay." She reassured and Emma nodded.

"Good. And you? How are you?" She asked and Regina regarded her for a moment before answering.

"I'm fine, Emma. But I have definitely been wondering about you."

"Fine? You have been avoiding me since the camping trip." She deflected.

"I…I wanted you to have time to think about what you wanted." She tried to sound casual, though she was uncomfortable with having feelings like this.

"About what I wanted?" Emma spoke slowly. Regina sighed.

"Emma, we have spent the last few months together and now, your lost love has returned. You have a decision to make." She stood tall and Emma blinked a few times.

"What- I…what do you mean?"

"Me or Neal, Emma." She said directly. It had taken her a week to be able to have this conversation, and she knew it would have taken much longer to be able to do so without that same uncomfortable feeling in her belly she had since this all occurred.

"Regina I…it's not that easy. Henry-"

"Wants you and his father to create a picture perfect happy ending together. Yes, I put that together myself. It is extremely rare though, that I simply walk away from what I want. I have done it before but it is never easy." She said and Emma took a step back and a deep breath.

She wasn't prepared for this. She had spent her week thinking about Regina and Neal, but not choosing one over the other. She had never once in her life even had an opportunity for a decision like this. She wanted to hide from it now. She wanted to run.

The reality of her predicament suddenly weighed on her. There was no way safe out of this. No escape. Someone would get hurt no matter what. She would be hurt no matter what. In not so many words, Regina had just told her what she wanted, and that was Emma. Regina wanted her. But Neal, he did too and she had to consider Henry. What his thoughts would be, were not a mystery.

"Regina, I don't know what to do." She said honestly. She was standing in an ally in the dark with Regina, only a few floors from her son and his father. She was even more overwhelmed in this moment than she had been the day the portal opened.

"Do you need to hear me say it?" Regina stepped closer again, significantly lessening the distance. She had gotten herself here and she couldn't give up now. She told herself she would try this once. She begged no one for anything, but she also didn't let what she had slip through her fingers without putting up a fight. This was the one and only battle she would step into. This minute.

"Maybe…I don't know." Emma shook her head. Regina closed the distance when she placed her hands on Emma's waist and pulled her in. One shot she would take, and here it was.

"I want you to leave Neal and be with me. We have grown together and I believe we have something worth pursuing. I want you Emma. I want you to choose me." She finished and Emma was amazed.

She was not used to Regina speaking this way. They had such little time together without a child nearby, that when they had been alone, they didn't waste a lot of time with words. Once they had become physical, that had taken much of their private time. Now though, reality was forcing them to confront their feelings and Regina had taken that leap first.

"Regina…" Emma breathed and Regina chose to close the deal. She leaned in and pressed her lips to Emma's. Gently, not forced. She gave her a kiss that was just like their first, only months earlier, late one night, after a few glasses of cider. Just a sweet, soft kiss. One that said more than words could.

When they broke apart, Regina saw a look in Emma's eyes. One that, for that second, made her think that things would be going her way. That the relationship that had started after a nearly fatal fight between them on a centuries old boat to a treacherous island, had grown into something strong enough to withstand such a whirlwind of events. That possibly, a former Evil Queen could find a normal life in the most abnormal situation. It was just something in Emma's eyes that gave her the brief second of hope.

In Emma's defense, had Henry not followed her out of the apartment and witnessed an interaction was in no way prepared for, the blonde may have continued with that look. Had the horrified voice of their eleven year old not breached the calming silence, Emma may have returned her words. Had the shocked, furious, and hateful look not turned her way, she may have still had that piece of hope.

"Henry?!" Emma moved towards him but Henry side stepped her and looked to the woman who had loved him his whole life.

"Why would you do this?! You're ruining everything! You said you're not the Evil Queen anymore but the second we get our happy ending, you try to take it away! You are Evil!" Henry was nearly hysterical, the scene and kiss he had witnessed disturbing, confusing and enraging him all at once.

Emma was trying to talk to him. Trying to think on her feet for an explanation. Her words and Henry's yells though, were just blending and creating a white noise for Regina. She wasn't even trying to distinguish the sounds apart anymore. She started walking in a haze.

"Regina? Regina, I'm…I'm sorry…" Emma called after before turning back to her son. Regina just kept moving, trying to tune out the finality in those words.

On one hand, it was pretty bizarre that she would have even come here tonight. That she would have let something she could hardly even call a relationship, progress to a point that she would be willing to make herself vulnerable. She had thought, she was going after what she wanted. Going after another chance at happiness.

She had no guilt for loving Luca and not pursing Henry, because she had finally realized, that she is allowed to be happy. She is allowed to go after opportunities at happiness. She had felt like coming here finally, and telling Emma the truth, that she was doing the same thing.

Now though, as the events of the last moments sunk in, Regina just felt exposed. She felt rejected. She felt alone. She felt foolish. She hated this. She hated all of it.

When she got home, she hardly comprehended Granny's words. She barely managed a thank you to the woman for coming over before retreating for her first glass of cider. The alcohol for the first time, actually clearing her mind.

The fight was unlike any Emma had experienced before. Regina was right. When your child feels betrayed by you, nothing is held back. Henry had never aimed such hostile words at her before. He used everything in the arsenal. His adoption was a cheap shot, but he was an angry child and had no qualms against using it to hurt her. He also pulled out previous and current lies, her time spent with Luca and not him, her continued reluctance to be who she was "supposed" to be.

They stayed in the ally for over an hour. Emma didn't want him yelling in the apartment and bringing Neal and her parents into the fold. Unfortunately, that didn't take long.

The next day, he told his father and grandparents. That urge Emma had to run increased ten fold. She now had to deal, not only with Henry, but her parent's confusion and questions and "disappointment" as well as Neal's hurt and even deeper confusion.

She was so torn emotionally that she had spent an hour hiding in the bathroom and nearly heaving from the turmoil. She didn't care how childish it was. She locked the door and put her face in her hands. She blocked out their voices and tried to discern her own.

When her emotions finally boiled over, she just barely had the forethought to send Henry to his room. While more and more anger was being felt towards him, she knew she was an adult and couldn't direct it at her child. The other grown ups though, had it coming.

"But how-"

"It just happened." Was her response for about the tenth time.

"You…and my stepmother." Mary Margaret shook her head…again.

"Oh, don't be gross." Emma gave her mother a disbelieving look.

"Emma, you have absolutely no idea what you're doing. I can't imagine what you're thinking-"

"Enough!" She cut off her father who was speaking as a broken record, using the same lines time after time. "I will not be lectured by you two. I don't want to hear about my problems with Henry when you two know you've been scooting right into my place."

"Emma, we didn't want to take over. Only help-"

"No!" Emma lifted a hand. "I care about my family, and I'm not trying to hurt anyone. I care about Regina and-"

"What about us?" Neal stepped in again, using the same hurt and confused tone.

"Neal-"

"Emma, I love you. I thought you loved me too." He carefully lifted her hand and she allowed it.

"I do. You know I do." She was being honest, but was overwhelmed. She took a deep breath. "It's just more complicated than that." She insisted, this very long and drawn out fight draining all her energy.

"Is it?" He took her other hand and the way he looked at her, somehow brought her back to being a teen again, the two of them depending only on each other. It effected her. "We can have what we've always wanted. We can give Henry, what we never had. We can have everything, Emma, don't you want that?" He used the all the right words. He was here, healthy and happy. The man she loved and mourned, right in front of her.

She gave the answers she knew were "right". She managed to take everyone in her family from fits of rage to relief and joy. While it took a load of weight off to have everyone stop yelling at her, there was an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach that did not ease and multiplied exponentially when she departed for the mansion that night.

Everyone objected again, of course. They had a few hours after Emma gave in to have some family time, so when Emma announced she was going to talk to Regina, they all worried immediately. She assured them though, that she was doing this out of respect to her. Just sitting there, pretending to be a happy little family while Regina was seemingly still waiting for her answer, was making her sick.

She felt horrible in fact. It took three tries to make it from her car to Regina's door step. She was coaching herself the whole way. Regina may care for her, but this was bigger than them both. The happiness of everyone seemed to be on her shoulders and she couldn't be selfish. They couldn't be selfish. Being together would hurt so many. That was what she was repeating as she finally reached the door.

It was late now, and Emma wasn't surprised when there was no answer to her knock. She pulled out the spare key Regina had given her and tried to ignore the wave of guilt that hit when she held that symbol of Regina's trust in her hand. She shook it off, trying to focus on her family. And then stopped when images of Regina and then even Luca entered her mind.

When she touched the key to the lock though, the door fell open on it's own.

"Regina?" Her senses were instantly on high alert as she crept into the silent house. There was something about it…something about the stillness in the air that told Emma what she soon found out.

She flipped on every light. Searched every room…but it was too late. When she saw the envelopes on the table, her gut sank like an anchor.

Regina knew when she walked away from them last night. She knew the second Henry's voice ripped through the silence, that she had lost. It had been temporarily overwhelming. It had taken her third glass of cider to bring her back to her previous conclusion.

She couldn't take her happiness from others. She had to create it. Allow herself to take advantage of opportunities in front of her. She couldn't force it. But she could have it… She would have it.

She spent the whole day making arrangements. She ran this town for almost three decades and wouldn't have it run into the ground and spent a few hours ensuring that. Then she spent a few more on personal issues. It had given Granny an opportunity for some time with Luca, though she didn't know why she was with him the whole day.

It was late at night by the time she had finished the letters. It had taken awhile to finally just place them and walk away. She went to Luca's room and spent some time moving about in the silence until she confirmed she was ready. The only thing left was to wake him up.

Despite the late hour, when his eyes opened, he smiled up at her. She leaned down and kissed him on the forehead, needing to draw off some of that love for a second. It fueled her. When she pulled back, she felt a bit more solid. Just a little stronger and more ready. She brushed his bangs away and smiled back at him.

"How would you like to go on an adventure?"

Emma sank to the floor, the thick envelope with her name elegantly written on front, open in her lap. She held the papers in front of her, the hand written letter in one, the legal document in the other. She shook her head in disbelief, her mind and body a whirlwind of emotions.

She spent longer than she could remember reading them over and over. Eventually, the calls coming into her phone from her family at home snapped her out of it. She gathered everything together, lastly grabbing the envelope addressed to one Henry Swan.

Regina held Luca's hand in her own as the other guided the steering wheel. She looked over and received an instant bright and excited smile. With a smile of her own Regina looked forward, glancing into the rear view mirror and watching the town sign disappear from sight.