Chapter 22

Enchanted Forest, several months before the first curse

"No!" Ariel screamed, watching in horror as Captain Hook drew his sword, sliced into Blackbeard's arm, and shoved his bound opponent into the sea.

Panic surged through her. This was her only chance to get to Erik, her only way of finding him! She couldn't let Blackbeard drown, she couldn't!

"What have you done!" she screamed, running toward Hook.

A look of guilt quickly came and went across the pirate's face, but then it was gone. In its place was cold arrogance.

"I've done precisely what I set out to do, darling," he said defiantly. "I've taken back my ship."

"But Erik!" she pleaded, "my true love! Blackbeard was my only way to find him."

Captain Hook bent down and got in her face. "Your misfortune is not my problem," he said, deliberately enunciating every word. "My allegiance is with the Jolly, not with a bloody mermaid who hasn't the ability to hold on to the man she purports to love."

White hot rage came over her. She took a step forward raised her hand and slapped Hook with as much force as her small frame could muster. In her normal state, she'd be horrified at the very thought. She'd just assaulted a murderous pirate captain! But not now. No, now her fear, her anger, her panic were so strong that there was nothing she wouldn't dare.

"Just how do you propose I find my love now?" she demanded.

"I don't bloody well care," he said, smiling coldly. "Perhaps you might try asking Blackbeard politely. That is, of course, if the sharks have left enough of him to question."

That…was actually a good idea. A very good idea. Perhaps she could talk to him…and he was a pirate captain. Maybe, just maybe she could kill two minnows with one coral reef.

Hook stepped forward and roughly grabbed Ariel's arm. "A little advice love? Forget this Prince Erik and move on with your life. You'll be far more content. Love is the worst of curses."

"You know what?" she asked, angrily looking up at the captain and yanking her arm free. "You're wrong and I feel sorry for you. Your heart is so full of hate, you'll never know love. That is the worst curse of all."

Hook blew out a long breath, and a look of pain crossed his handsome features. "Then it is a curse I willingly embrace," he said wearily. "Love of a woman is nothing but pain, and it is a pain I never intend to experience again."

There was something so sad and pathetic in his expression that Ariel almost felt compassion for him. Then she remembered what he'd just done.

"Enjoy your sad, miserable, lonely existence, then," she said contemptuously. "I for one know that true love must be fought for, and if it takes the rest of my life, I will find my Erik!" With that, she wrenched the cuff from her arm and felt her legs fuse together into her all too familiar tail. Not waiting for another response from the captain, she dove into the sea. Blackbeard had been under two or three minutes already; if she didn't find him soon, it would be too late.

Ariel swam steadily forward, swiveling her head back and forth. Where could he be? Tied up as he was, he couldn't have gotten far. She was beginning to despair of finding him when she spotted it: a cloud of red quickly spreading and dissipating. Blood. With a burst of speed, Ariel swam forward. This must be where he went!

She found him moments later lying on the ocean floor. He was pale as death, his eyes wide and staring sightlessly ahead. Was she too late already? No! Failure was not an option!

Ariel grabbed his arm and pulled. He was a large man, powerfully built, and Ariel never knew just how she managed to move him. Perhaps true love magic produced super-human strength.

Regardless, within seconds, Ariel had succeeded in dragging Blackbeard to the surface. With one last tug, she heaved the man's face above the water.

"Come on," she whispered. "Come on! Breathe!"

Nothing. Just the same vacant stare. No! She wouldn't lose him! Think! There had to be something!

And then it came to her. She remembered watching a ship glide past one day. There had been an accident. A young sailor slipped and fell overboard. Several of his mates dove in after him, eventually pulling him free of the murky depths. The sailor had looked much like Blackbeard did now.

Many on board shook their heads, looking grave, but the man's mates hadn't given up on him. What had they done? Oh yes. They'd run their hands roughly over the man's back from the small up to the shoulders. Water had gushed from his mouth, and a moment later, he'd coughed and gasped for breath.

Ariel turned Blackbeard until she was facing him, then she reached around and placed her hands on the small of his back and firmly pressed. The seconds that passed before Blackbeard woke were some of the longest of Ariel's life.

Finally, the man gasped and struggled in her grip.

"Be still," Ariel whispered urgently. "I'm trying to save your life!"

Blackbeard stilled, but continued to struggle for breath. He seemed in a far worse way than the sailor on the ship had been.

"L…lass," he gasped weakly. "saved me. Why?"

"I need you," she said briskly. "Now, listen closely."

He nodded earnestly.

"I know someone with magic, someone who can save your life. I'll take you to her if you tell me where Prince Erik is."

"H…Hang…man's I…Island," he gasped. "Off c…coast of En…chanted For…est."

"Thank you!" Ariel breathed, giving the pirate a small hug.

….

Two months. The mermaid had been gone two months. Regina began pacing her large, dark chamber once again. What if Ariel had double-crossed her? Regina narrowed her eyes. She'd filet the bitch! Then she'd heal her and filet her again!

What if it wasn't that Ariel had proven faithless? What if the mermaid was incapable of finding and bringing her a pirate captain? What would she do then?

Ursula was already breathing down her neck. More than once Regina had gotten the feeling of being watched only to find the old octopus herself glaring at her from a basin of water. It was positively unnerving!

Last week Ursula had paid her another "call."

"Taking your time dealing with my pirate problem aren't you toots?" she'd spoken from her bronze bas-relief.

Regina looked up in shock and dismay. Quickly she schooled her features. She was the Evil Queen! She didn't show fear to a fish!

"Cool your tentacles!" Regina said with a sneer. "I'm working on it!"

"Oh you're 'working on it', are you?" Ursula asked nastily. "Meanwhile, everyday I'm losing more and more…I mean, my patience is running thin!"

"Only thing about you that runs thin, apparently," Regina murmured under her breath.

Ursula surged forward. "What was that?"

Regina crossed her arms and gave her a contemptuous glare. "You heard me."

"Yeah, well, that's beside the point," Ursula said irritably. "I want my pirate captain, and I want him now!"

"Well you can't have him!" Regina snapped. "I don't have him yet, but I'll get him soon."

"You'd better, sweetheart," Ursula growled. "I'll be back in a week, and when I get here, you either have my captain or I make you into fish food!"

That conversation had taken place almost a week ago to the hour. What was she going to do?

"Pardon me, Your Majesty," Regina looked up at the deep masculine voice. One of her soldiers stood before her in a subservient bow. Impossible to tell who it was beneath that opaque black mask.

"Yes?" she asked shortly.

"A mermaid has shown up along the north shore, Madam," he said. "She demands to see you urgently. My men prepared to slay her for her insolence, but she insisted you would wish to hear what she had to say."

A strange mixture of relief and apprehension passed through Regina. Ariel was back. Did she come with good news or bad?
"You were wise to listen to her," Regina said. "I have urgent business with the mermaid and had she been slain…well, let's just say I have ample room in my vault of hearts."

The man audibly swallowed. Good. Every once in a while it was useful to put the fear of God into her vassals. Kept them from getting ideas.

Regina rushed from her chamber, down the stairs and outside to the beach.

"Were you successful?" she demanded as she ran.

Her answer soon became evident. Ariel sat primly on the sand next to a man who was either unconscious or dead. She sincerely hoped for the former. Ursula hadn't told her what she wanted with a pirate captain, but Regina was willing to bet the palace whatever she had up her ugly skin-tight sleeve involved a live captain.

"I brought you Blackbeard, Your Majesty," Ariel said, a note of triumph in her voice.

"Blackbeard?" Regina said with a large smile. "The most fearsome pirate on the high seas?"

"The very same," Ariel said with a nod.

Well, this was better than she'd expected. She'd not only be able to give Ursula a pirate captain, she'd be able to give her the pirate captain…assuming he was alive, of course.

"What happened to him?" Regina demanded. "Is he still alive."

"Barely," Ariel said, leaning down to listen to Blackbeard's chest. "He had a confrontation with Captain Hook which ended with him walking the plank. I got to him just before he drowned."

"Perfect!" Regina said gleefully.

Ariel gave her an inscrutable glance. "Just what do you plan to do with him, Your Majesty."

"That is my business," Regina said haughtily. "Your business is to do my bidding, not ask questions."

"Well, I succeeded," Ariel said after a moment. "I 'did your bidding,' as you put it. Now will you let me go to my prince?"

Regina felt generous; she felt positively giddy. "I'll do you one better, mermaid," she said genially. She waved her hand and a wave of magic passed over Ariel. The mermaid looked up in consternation.

"What did you do to me?" she asked in a vaguely accusatory voice.

Regina sighed. Why did everyone always believe she was doing terrible things to them?

"I didn't do anything to you, you silly girl," Regina said, patting Ariel on the head like a precocious five year old. "I did something for you. I gave you the gift of speed. You're now capable of swimming twice as fast as you were before. Between that and your magic mirror, you'll be back in your prince's arms in the blink of an eye."

Ariel's eyes lit up, and she surged to her feet. "Thank you!" she gushed. She threw her arms around Regina and hugged her exuberantly, then she pulled off her cuff, dived into the water, and was gone in an instant.

Regina sighed in relief. This was almost over. All she had to do was get this pirate to Ursula, and she'd be free of the creature forever.

But how precisely did one go about sending gifts to the bulbous witch? Ursula had always contacted her, not the other way around.

"Ursula!" Regina called in an authoritative tone. "Ursula, can you hear me? I've got what you've requested."

Nothing.

"My time is precious, Octopus!" Regina shrieked, "and I've no intention of wasting it on you! Get your enormous derriere here this instant, or I'll dump him back in the sea."

There was a sudden disturbance in the water like a large whirlpool. Suddenly Ursula arose from the midst of it in all her purple glory. "Cool your jets, queen," Ursula said. "I'm a very busy woman and I haven't got all day. What you got for me?"

Regina gestured to the bearded man lying on the beach. "He came to me nearly drowned, but he's still in one piece."

Ursula eyed the pirate gleefully. "Oh, he looks like a strong mean one," she gushed. "Perfect! And nearly drowned, you say? Couldn't be better!"

"Glad you approve," Regina said with a sneer. "If that's all, I demand you fulfill your part of the bargain. What have you learned about Snow White?"

"I got some pretty juicy gossip about that pale little broad."

"Is it gossip that will interest me?" Regina asked skeptically.

"You better believe it," Ursula said with a wink. "Seems little princess has fallen in love; thinks it's true love."

"And this helps my how, precisely."

"Seems to me, if you can get your hands on her lover boy, she'd do almost anything to get him back."

The wheels began turning in Regina's head. That could be just the information she needed. Maleficent had a sleeping curse, didn't she? If Regina could get her hands on it…and on Snow White's lover…she'd have her!

"Told you you'd like it," Ursula said with a smirk.

"Just who is the swain who has the misfortune of being loved by Snow White?"

"Prince James of King George's kingdom."

Even better! Word was that George was severely disappointed in his son and was actively looking for a way to eliminate him. Things were looking way up!

"Thank you," Regina finally said primly. "You've been a great help."

"Glad to do it, toots. Nice doing business with ya."

Regina narrowed her eyes. "Don't expect a repeat. I'm not in the habit of giving in to blackmail."

Ursula cackled. "Don't worry your pretty little head. Soon enough I won't have need of your paltry powers."

Enchanted Forest, present day.

Regina sat on the bench by the pond and primly arranged her skirt. It was a beautiful day, warm, but not stiflingly so. The birds sang, the water of the pond gently rippled, the breeze blew in the trees above. It would have been idyllic—but for the circumstances in her life.

How could she enjoy the weather, the beauty around her when her little boy was missing? How could she stand it knowing he could be being starved or tortured? He could even be dead for all she knew. Panic swarmed in her stomach like a hive of angry bees. She'd never felt so achingly helpless in her life.

A single tear tracked down her cheek and she angrily wiped it away. There had to be some way of getting to Roland. There had to be!

And if the situation of the son wasn't bad enough, there was the father. It hurt. It hurt so desperately to have Robin hate her so, shut her out, refuse her company on such a consistent basis.

It had seemed like he was starting to thaw in his attitude toward her. Yesterday at breakfast he'd vowed to help her find his son. There'd been almost a feeling of camaraderie between the two of them. Later that afternoon, she'd sought him out, tried to talk to him, and he'd totally, thoroughly, and completely shut her down. He'd been so cold and stern in his speech, she was surprised she hadn't turned to a block of ice.

He was her true love; the lion tattoo on his arm proved that. What would it take to get back on their blissful true love footing? What would it take to bring his true memories back?

Regina heard a shuffling set of feet and turned her head in his direction. There he was, her outlaw. He was so handsome, so beloved. She wished more than anything in this world—aside from Roland's safe return, of course—that he would take her in his arms, tell her it had all been a mistake, whisper those soft, gentle words of love that had tripped off his tongue so effortlessly a year and a half ago.

Robin approached slowly, almost hesitantly, his face troubled and perplexed. "My lady," he asked softly, "might I have a word?"

He looked so open, so mild, that it suddenly all became too much. The tears started flowing in earnest. Humiliated, she buried her face in her hands, wishing he would leave, not wanting him to see her like this.

She heard the bench creak as he sat next to her, and then his hand was on her shoulder. She didn't think, didn't consider the consequences; she just reacted. Turning toward him, she fell into his arms, burying her face in his chest, breathing in the scent that was uniquely Robin.

Robin sat stiffly for a moment, and then awkwardly patted her on the back. After a few moments, the worst of the emotions had passed, and Regina pulled away, scrubbed at her wet cheeks, and averted her eyes. Was it not bad enough she was miserable? Did she really have to make a complete fool of herself as well?

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "I guess everything's just starting to get to me."

She risked a look in his direction from beneath hooded eyes. He was watching her sympathetically, she'd even say affectionately if she didn't know better.

"No need to apologize, my lady," he said gently. "Everything, as you put it has begun to feel a bit overwhelming. How is Lady Emma this morning?"

"Physically? I think she's healing as well as anyone could expect," Regina said, looking out over the water. "Emotionally? She seems to be in pretty bad shape."

Robin nodded. "I'm sure," he said in a voice laced with pain. Regina looked at him curiously. "I have some experience with the subject, as it happens. Before Roland, my Marian lost two babies several months before birth."

Regina shot him a stricken look. "I'm sorry," she said softly.

He shrugged. "It is the way of it sometimes, and the pain does ease with time."

"Robin," Regina said hesitantly. "I…I know this won't change anything, but I have to say it. I can't even begin to express how much I regret my…actions as the evil queen. I would give anything to take back what I did in Nottingham all those years ago. I wish to God I hadn't destroyed that village. I know that doesn't change the fact that your wife is dead or that your son has been without his mother, but I just needed you to know that."

This was it. This was the moment he would turn from her in disgust, in pain. This is the moment he would shout at her that he didn't care a fig for her pretty words. This was the moment he would walk away telling her he could never forgive her.

But that's not what happened.

There was pain in his face, but there was also acceptance. He gave a small nod. "I think I believe you."

"You…you do?" she asked, holding back tears by sheer strength of will.

"Aye," he said, nodding again. "I hear the sincerity in your voice. I don't know what's changed, but you're not the same angry, arrogant woman my men and I spent so much time and energy robbing. No offense meant of course."

She smiled ruefully. "None taken. I was quite the nasty piece of work. I suffered a broken heart under terrible circumstances when I was very young, and I allowed the event to turn me into…well, you know what I was."

"Aye," he said simply.

He was looking at her intently. She longed to know what he was thinking, what he was feeling.

"So," she said after several moments of silence, "you said you wanted to have a word with me. What did you wish to discuss?"

"Us," he said simply.

She drew in her breath swiftly, her heart beginning to hammer in her chest. "You remember?" she almost whispered it.

He shrugged. "Bits and pieces, but not the whole. I have so many questions, so many things I simply cannot explain. Sometimes I think the confusion is driving me mad."

"Ask me anything. If there's any way I can help you, I will."

He looked at her for several moments, and she sat still, accepting his scrutiny. "You really did love me, didn't you?"

The tears rushed to her eyes again. Really this was starting to get ridiculous! "I did," she said in a shaky voice. "I did, and I do. Robin, I will always love you."

He smiled, and brought his hand up to cup her cheek. Regina closed her eyes, and placed her own hand over his.

"Tell me," he said gently. "Please. Help me understand. All these thoughts, memories, feelings coursing through me. It is incomprehensible to me; how could I have found love with the woman who was responsible for my beloved wife's death? Tell me our story."

Regina nodded and opened her eyes. Robin dropped his hand from her face, but didn't pull back when Regina placed her own in his.

"It was a year and a half ago," Regina said softly. "I and the entire kingdom had just returned to the Enchanted Forest. My heart was broken. In order to save my home, Storybrooke, and its residents from becoming a villain's slaves, I had to destroy a curse I had cast in vengeance many years ago. My price was to leave my son behind with his birth mother, Emma Jones, as it turns out.

"The Wicked Witch of the West and her minions had overrun my castle, so we decided to take up residence at Rumplestiltskin's castle. The castle, it turns out, where you and your men were lodged."

"I remember that" Robin said softly. "I remember rushing into the hall and seeing you with my son. I remember, you took my breath away; you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen."

Regina smiled, and squeezed his hand. "When you learned who I truly was, you despised me, and I didn't even know why. I had no idea my…evil actions had had such ramifications. We decided to take up residence at Rumplestiltskin's castle. The castle, it turns out, where you and your men were lodged."

"I remember that" Robin said softly. "I remember rushing into the hall and seeing you with my son. I remember, you took my breath away; you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen."

Regina smiled, and squeezed his hand. "When you learned who I truly was, you despised me, and I didn't even know why. I had no idea my…evil actions had had such ramifications."

"What changed my mind?" Robin asked gently.

"We went on a quest together," Regina said, remembering the day fondly. "There was a potion hidden in my castle that could restore magic to Rumplestiltskin. You volunteered to help me. Unknown to both of us, Roland followed. Anyway, we got the potion, but the mission was a disaster. The Wicked Witch took Roland, and almost captured us as well."

"How did we escape?"

"I fought the Wicked Witch to give you a chance to get Roland to safety. You came back and saved me."

"That's what Belle was talking about, isn't it?" Robin asked, with a small smile. "She told me you saved my son's life."

"Yeah," Regina said, "I guess it is."

"So what happened to us?"

"You…you were grateful for what I did for Roland, and you kissed me,"

His thumb brushed against the back of her hand, and he cocked his head as if trying to remember.

"It was…" Regina said, blushing slightly, "incredible. It was the moment I knew that I felt something more for you than I'd felt for anyone since Daniel. Anyway, we knew we couldn't return to Rumplestiltskin's castle. The witch was furious with us, and if we returned, we'd be putting everyone there in danger. So, we took up residence in Friar Tuck's cottage."

"And," he said, "in our seclusion as a small family we slowly fell in love?"

"Yes," Regina breathed. "Yes. They were the most wonderful months of my life."

She looked up and noticed that Robin had drawn closer. They were mere inches apart. Regina raised her face, and looked into his beloved eyes. "Robin," she whispered, her heart pounding.

He leaned forward, and closed the last bit of distance between them. When Robin's lips met hers, Regina knew that for the first time in nearly half a year, she was home. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and deepened the kiss. He sighed, slanting his head to the side for better position, tangling his fingers in her dark hair.

A burst of energy passed through them, and suddenly Robin gasped and pulled away. His eyes were startled, shocked, and for a moment Regina feared he would reject her again, but then he spoke.

"Regina," he whispered, his eyes shining. "I remember. I remember everything!"

Notes:

-Ok, somehow I posted an entirely different story as chapter 22, so here's attempt #2! Sometimes I just think my computer hates me-and my phone, which seems to always think it's in Denver even though I live in Indiana! (but I digress)

-Yay! I got to write a happy chapter! The CS angst was starting to bring me down.

-So, back in time, Ariel saves Blackbeard and gives him to Regina—who gives him to Ursula.

-Meanwhile, in the present, Robin and Regina share a TLK, and Robin gets the rest of his memories back!

-Up next: This chapter will be entirely in the present. In the first section, Blackbeard feels guilty for what happened to Emma; he'd never wanted to hurt her. He begins to rethink his alliance with Ursula (well, technically, since he's her slave, he has no choice, but he hasn't been actively trying to undermine her). He goes to his old mentor, Hornigold, for some advice. Meanwhile, Emma is physically much improved, but she's devastated about the baby, and about her belief that Killian blames her. She goes to her father for advice—and he gives her some really good counsel. Yay Charming!