She was nervous as she stood before the temporarily still waters, her mind flitting from what one would call the most natural of thoughts to the most absurd and irrelevant...such as her current worries...her hair...upon returning to their homeland, through some sort of strange magic, it had been lengthened to what it once had been during her reign. Many knew her like this, Snow had commented that she believed it took years off of her...but why would she want that? Why would she want to lose the only years of her life that truly mattered, the years with Henry. She knew it was only a figure of speech, a way to compliment her new look yet it still stung.

Would he recognise her or would it only aid his former belief that she was nothing but the Evil Queen, she did look the part now... She could see Snow and James shifting uncomfortably by the water's edge as they watched her readying her strength, they knew of only one outcome to what she was about to do, knew only that soon they would be reunited with the daughter and grandson they thought they would never see again...they knew not of the price, her price that she would pay once again simply to see him, if only for a little while more for what else was there for her in this life? She had no others, the Charming's had offered their friendship, the pixie hers also and the hooded thief had made his intentions clear but her heart had closed itself off the moment she had let her son go.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" came Snow's voice from across the lake, many had turned out to watch the return of the Saviour and her boy, some were ready with blankets and food for the welcome home and others poised in preparation to pull the two from the water should the need arise, no one could be sure of the outcome, only her yet there would be no risk to Henry and Emma, that she could at least confirm for she simply wouldn't allow it.

Her dark eyes betrayed her for only a second before her masked was pulled back into place, if the golden couple had noticed they had chosen not to comment. With a steadying breath she lifted her hands slowly, calling forth the magic laced with every cell in her body...this was going to take her all and she knew for sure that she wouldn't have much time after the spell had been performed, she would have to use her time well.

All went quiet as the sky darkened, the use of the elements as an aid to magic was something she had used only in the biggest of her spells...the curse. The added energy spiked and flashed as she drew strength from the, now billowing, clouds. The scene was reminiscent of the night she cast the dark curse, her brunette locks whipping out around her as her head fell backwards with the strain of energy being drawn from her. It was quite like the draining she felt when trying to stop the trigger only this time it felt as though her skin was being ripped from her bones.

She could hear nothing but the roiling waves of power growing stronger, her mind searching for the connection, yearning to feel the pull from the people she needed to find and bring forward...she gasped as she finally found it, like attempting to thread a needle, she'd found the cord and she grasped onto it.
She could hear him now, hear his calls as she tugged harder, they were coming quicker now, smoother as though willing the change. Upon emerging into the lake they should regain the memories lost, the waters having the ability to bring back what was once lost. "Mom..." It was definitely growing louder, her whole body was on fire as she continued to pull, her head feeling as though it was about to explode but she kept going, she had to.

"Mom...Regina...Regina!" Her eyes flashed open...the skies were clear, as blue as a summers ocean, the ground beneath her was soft...grass? She was on the ground.

Golden curls slowly came into focus as she looked to her right, "Emma?" The words slipped from her mouth, she was here, Regina had done it..."where's-"

"Mom!" The breath was knocked from her lungs as a, slightly taller than she remembered, figure dropped onto her, arms pulling her up slightly in order to wrap around her neck as a steady stream of tears dropped from Henry's cheek and onto her own, mixing into a pool of regret, longing and relief. "I never thought I'd see you again" he sobbed and she only squeezed tighter, the change went unnoticed by Henry for it could hardly be called a squeeze, her strength was gone yet she had forgotten her price for here he was, her everything, back in her arms once more.

"I've missed you so much, my beautiful boy" she croaked as she buried her own tear streaked face into his neck, breathing in the scent of him. "My beautiful, beautiful little prince" her body was shaking now though whether that was through the sheer relief of having Henry back in her arms or something else entirely she didn't know.

No one dared move them from their position on the ground, Emma had her own parents to hug, to cry to, to remember and so they remained that way for a long time, long after tears had dried and heartbeats had calmed...though Regina's was growing decidedly weaker, she though passed that however, she knew it was inevitable but for now it could wait.

Henry pulled away slowly, his dark eyes looking over her, taking in the changes to her face...the faded marks alluding to a fight at some point, if he looked to his grandparents he'd notice that they too had their own battle scars from the war of the witch but for now he couldn't, he couldn't look away from her.

Her eyes were filled with fear as she watched him scrutinising her, to have him reject her now...well she didn't have it in her to remain strong. She gasped softly when his fingers moved to tangle within her soft dark curls, she felt the almost tickling yet extremely soothing touch and allowed her eyes to flicker shut as she revelled in the affection. "You look really pretty Mom" she could hear the smile in his voice yet when she attempted to mirror it, a sharp pain shot through her. Normally she was better at schooling her features, especially where her son was concerned but in her weakened state, she simply didn't have the energy to do so.

Her dark eyes caught concern in Henry's gaze as he moved to lean up on his knees, "wh-what's wrong?" She heard his voice yet it sounded as though they were under water, the sounds disjointed and slurred in her, now buzzing, mind.

She hadn't heard them move but soon a crowd had gathered around, she couldn't make out faces but she could feel the shadows, both of humans and of death, the souls of darkness creeping forward to claim her. "Henry I-" her throat felt as though it were lined with a strange thickness as she spluttered and coughed.

"Is that blood!?" She knew not who the cry came from but the small finger wiping the liquid from the corner of her lip was certainly that of her son's.
"Mom," his voice sounded so small now as she forced herself to focus in on it, "Mom, what's happening?"

Her breaths were ragged, labored and somewhat frightening to all but her as they fought to find some understanding. She could feel his hot tears falling and trailing down her cheeks as she dragged her hand up to rest against the side of his face, "don't be scared baby" she could only whisper hoarsely.

"But...but I don't understand," his fingers were grasping at her now where she lay as though he could keep her there, oh how she wished he could.

"It's okay sweetheart," her lip quivered now as she looked over his grief stricken face, "you'll be okay..."

His head was shaking violently, "n-not without you!" He clutched her hand to his face, turning in slightly to nuzzle against her palm, he could feel her skin growing colder by the second.

"Henry, you need to listen to me..." Her voice trailed off as she inhaled as deeply as was possible, she couldn't see the people standing beyond them, couldn't see Charming holding a trembling Snow to his chest, her fist crushing against her lips in an attempt to keep her sobs quiet. Emma stood just before them, her own tears falling silently as she ached to comfort the son whom she had been allowed to raise...no matter real or fake the memories were still there and that was due to the woman now lying below him on the ground.

"You are more special...than you...will ever know..." She couldn't help but smile just being close to him, no matter what feelings of pain or agony were running through her his presence was enough to keep her hanging on if only for now. "You have become...the most ha-handsome...clever...kind hearted...honourable young man and I...I couldn't be pro-prouder" she felt him clutch tighter as her breathing grew shallower, "you are going...to be...amazing and I just wish...I could be there...to see it"

"Then be here!" He cried desperately, "be here!"

She smiled sadly as she pulled him down to place a tender kiss to his forehead, she revelled in the way he lingered, his hands moving to clutch at her dress as he moved and burrowed his face into her chest. She tilted her head down to press a kiss into her son's hair, "I can't baby, I'm so sorry"

"But why!?" He sat up again to look at her, her face paling, graying even before his very eyes and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Because I had to see you...one last time" her voice broke at the end as she inhaled hacking breaths, her head growing light now as she fought to carry on.
His whimpers were audible now as his eyes scrunched shut in grief, his hands clutching hers in his anguish, "I-I...I c-can't-"

"You can my boy...you...can and you...will..." She cried though not much was audible as her breathing began to fail her, "you...k-know why?"

Something flickered in him, some recognition as he moved to lie down beside her on his side in order to face her. Their fingers moved to touch, meeting halfway in the tiny amount of space between them, "because I'm a Mills" he whispered as dark eyes began to lose focus, her smile though remained.

"Be-because you're...a Mills" this was it, she could feel it now as darkness crept into her vision, "I l-love you Henry...never forget that"

He shuffled closer now, their foreheads touching as he laced his fingers with his mother's, "I love you too Mom, I love you too..." and with those last words her eyes flickered shut...

Her smile though...remained.