Hey everyone! If you are reading this, thank you so much :) As I struggle in college, this fic provides to be a nice distraction. I've also been reading waaaay too much fan fiction myself as of late. I am very happy with it so far and cannot wait to share the next few chapters (some of which are already written).

Let just dive right on in, shall we?

Previously

"You want to know why I'm doing this?" Emma said, turning to face the pirate. She knew that she couldn't reveal her plan, but messing with the man was too tempting. Yes part of it was true, but not the whole complete truth. She hated owing anyone anything, so in a sense she would be repaying a debt. "I'm doing it for you."

With a swirl of smoke, Emma vanished leaving behind a confused Killian Jones.

~SQ~

Chapter 6

The group was standing around still trying to figure out what Emma's dark plan is. The group had gathered to try and piece together bits of information that Emma had let slip. So far, they had figured out Emma had done something to Merlin and Nimue could help them defeat the darkness. However, Hook was getting restless. He had been shouting at Arthur, demanding answers, before Charming could pull him off.

"Feel any better?" Regina asked, arms across her chest. Snow and Regina had watched the man practically throw a tantrum. They all wanted Emma back, but Killian was beginning to lose it.

"I'll feel better when I have some answers," he replied. "Emma said this whole thing was about me," Hook said looking at Regina. That is exactly what Emma had said in the woods to him just before vanishing. She had said that this was all about him. He couldn't help, but feel a twisting in his stomach when he thought about it. What had happened between them?

Regina laughed, "Are you really that naïve?" Regina couldn't believe how blind this man really was. "She's manipulating you that's what the Dark One does," she finished. In all her years of dealing with Rumple, Regina knew just how dangerous it was to trust someone wielding such dark magic. Hook was easily following emotions that he so desperately wanted to trust.

"No this was Emma talking," Killian defended. He knew the woman he loved was talking about him. This was all about them. This evil plan was about something that had happened between them; something they had shared. Hook just needed to figure out what that was.

Regina shook her head in disbelief. Had she really said that? Regina thought. The brunette couldn't accept that this was all about Killian. Surely Emma had different if not multiple motives that she could complete with this powerful magic. Regina felt a twinge of something clench her chest. She disliked Killian surely, but there was something else about him that she was growing to dislike more and more. Maybe it was the fact that he was with Emma. Maybe it was the fact that he loved Emma. Regina wasn't sure.

"There might not be any Emma," Snow said with bitterness. "Not anymore." She was in pain. Snow was in pain because she couldn't help her daughter; her daughter had become the monster that she had tried to stop her from becoming. She had failed as a mother. Her child was now consumed by the darkness and there was nothing she could do. She had to save her. They had to save Emma.

"She's right," Regina said. She had her differences with the pixie-haired woman, but Snow was right. They couldn't let their feelings control their decisions going forward. Yes, they all cared for Emma, but in order to free her from the darkness they needed to think clearly. Emma's heart was darkened and she dangerous. They needed to be careful.

Hook stared at Regina darkly. He stared at her in a way that made the Mayor feel like a bug under a microscope. He was looking at her with malice. It was unsettling to see those dark eyes bore into her eyes. It was as if he was searching for a hidden agenda, a hidden motive. It was as if thought Regina had the answers or knew something more. Or maybe it was the fact that she always disagreed with the pirate. They had very different ideas about Emma's motives. They had very different views of Emma overall.

What does Regina know? Killian thought. No one had the right to tell him that he was wrong. Emma had said that this was about him. No one—no one—could tell him otherwise.

"This Dark One, she has Excalibur and she is going to destroy all light magic," Regina said. She was now very conscious over using the blonde's name and title. Since her recent outburst, she tried to keep herself in check. Thankfully no one had questioned her since then.

"So that's what you think it's about," Killian said harshly. "A sword she hasn't actually used."

"Well obviously she needs another ingredient to cast a spell, so we figure out what that is and stop her from getting it," Regina said sharply. The bite in her tone was only because this pirate refused to see the bigger picture. The darkness changes you, and Regina knew that. She knew that Emma was up to something that was bigger than all of them. The sword was only a part of that and Killian had the audacity to think that it was all about him. That everything Emma was doing was about him. It was about all of them. "Then we get our Emma back," she finished softly looking at Snow.

"You can all look at magic spells till you're blue in the face. Something happened between me and her in Camelot. The only way to help Emma is to figure out what it was," the man said before storming out. He was so sure of himself. The pirate didn't need the others to understand, he needed to figure out what had happened. He needed to find the Dark One.

David shot his wife a quick look before running after him. The man was clearly upset, but if the shepherd could stop him from doing something reckless maybe they could find an answer.

"Snow there's something I want to talk to you about," Regina said once they were alone. It was strange to seek some sort of comfort in the woman that she had once blamed for her unhappiness. They had bad blood in the past, but now they needed to trust one another. It was something that Emma had wanted for so long. The blonde had just wanted her family to get along.

"Yes Regina?" Snow asked. She could see that the woman was conflicted, but not about asking her something. Regina's distress was clouded in her eyes. She knew the other woman well enough to see that Regina was sad. This type of sadness however, was one Snow hadn't seen in a long time. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she had seen this look before. "What is it?" she followed up before she got lost in thought.

"Do you think that this, all this," she waved her hands in the air for emphasis. "Is about Killian?"

"I don't know Regina," Snow answered quietly. She really had no idea what Emma's motives were. "I think that she doesn't want us to see the whole picture. There's always more to the story," Snow said.

It was ironic coming from her. The pixie-haired woman had once only been able to see the line between light and dark. The line was so grey, but she had never seen it. Good and evil were the only things that she knew back in the Enchanted Forest, but even back there it wasn't that simple; nothing ever was.

"I just can't help but wonder why Emma told Hook that it was about him," Regina said letting the words fall out. She was unable to hide the pain in her words. However, the pain in her chest was more clearly felt by the brunette.

"I don't know Regina," Snow said. She chanced her luck by putting her hand on the other woman's shoulder. Regina didn't pull away. The Mayor didn't even flinch under the soft touch. "I do know that, just like you, she's trying to find her happiness."

Regina scoffed. "So it is about Guyliner," she said almost under her breath. Of course Regina thought. The story of the pirate and the princess: another typical story of true love conquering all, another traditional fairytale.

"Happy endings aren't always what you think Regina," Snow locking eyes with Regina. The sadness, the confliction, the burned between those eyes were a fire that Snow hadn't seen in a long time. It was ghostly familiar.

~SQ~

As soon as they had heard, Regina and Robin ran down towards Zelena's cell. It was awfully peculiar if this were Zelena's attempt to escape. The witch had been so content to sit around and do nothing knowing that this was destroying her sister. It was the one thing Zelena thought that Regina had wanted: to carry Robin Hood's child. The redhead could not be farther from the truth.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Robin said rushing to the nurse.

"It's a bit difficult to explain." The nurse ushered them towards the cell, grabbing her keys quickly. "You better see for yourselves," she said, not knowing how the two would react.

"Uh careful," Regina said not trusting her sister's intentions in the slightest. Zelena could very well have tricked the nurse, but nothing was getting past the Mayor. "Could be another one of her tricks."

When the nurse opened the door, Robin Hood and Regina simply stared with bewilderment. In front of them was a fully pregnant Zelena gasping for breath. The redhead's breathing was strained and laborious. It was terrifying and most certainly impossible.

"Well don't just stare help me!" Zelena yelled desperately. She felt their eyes roaming over her fully pregnant form, but she didn't have time to answer questions. The baby was ready and there was no stopping it now.

"How…how's this happen?! You're only two months pregnant!" Robin practically yelled. The thief might not know many things, but he knew that this was happening way too fast. He felt pure horror as the woman in front of him was in clear agony over their shared child.

"How do you think?!" Zelena screamed, her eyes bulging out of her head. Hopefully if anything, the child wouldn't inherit Robin Hood's astounding wit. The man could be so dense. The duo hadn't moved yet to help her and was still too in shock or outraged to move. It was maddening that they could let her stand propped up against the doorframe while she was in such pain. "Dark magic!" the witch yelled before screaming in pain.

"Whose dark magic?" Regina questioned ferociously even though she full well knew who was behind this. She just couldn't believe that this had been her doing.

Without another word, the group rushed to the hospital. There was no time to waste. The baby was on the way and so would the Dark One. Emma's plan was in full motion now and they had to protect the baby at all costs.

"You have to stay calm and breathe," Robin said even though he knew nothing of the pains of pregnancy. The irony of men advising women to stay calm especially in this situation was completely absurd.

Zelena wasn't having any of it. "Shut up I was a fake midwife I know the drill," she snapped.

"Zelena why would Emma do this?" Regina asked; she wasn't angry, she was just concerned. Even though Zelena and Regina had their differences, Zelena was still Regina's sister. They would always share a blood bond no matter what.

"I have no idea," Zelena said losing her patience. Did Regina really think that she knew Emma's plan? Whatever her plan is, Emma wanted this baby out now.

"Are you sure it was her?" Regina questioned still hoping that this wasn't Emma's doing. There were plenty of other people capable of dark magic. There was a small part of Regina that didn't want to believe that Emma was capable of such a twisted plan.

"Let's just say when the Dark One offers you onion rings…UGH…don't eat them!" Zelena wailed in pain. The Wicked Witch wasn't sure which one of them was more ready for the baby to come out, her or the baby.

Zelena, Hood, and Regina waited as Dr. Whale made his way to the room. The tension was thickly spreading around the room. Regina's sister was about to have her boyfriend's child. Something stranger couldn't have happened in an insane work of fiction. But this was no story, this was very much real and Regina was about to become an aunt. Her boyfriend would become the father of another child. Zelena would become a mother unless Emma got to the child first.

Snow and Belle barged in telling the foursome that Emma would be coming for the child. This only confirmed the group's belief that Emma was somehow going to use the child to curse them. The Dark One's plans were still so uncertain and no one knew what to expect.

Regina did vow to protect her sister's child. She knew that even if Zelena was wicked beyond repair, there was no way she could let the innocent child become victim of a dark spell. She wasn't doing it for Robin Hood; she was doing it for the baby. It was ironic that she was now trying to protect a child from being consumed by a curse. This situation seemed far too similar for comfort. Now this time, she was trying to protect the child. Regina had changed. The brunette had come so far.

She still however, didn't know how to feel. Regina could feel a sick twisting of her stomach as she mulled over what was actually happening. She needed to get away. She wanted to be alone for a little. The baby was on its way and now it was inevitable. Regina would have to face Robin Hood sooner rather than later. Emma was coming and so was their inevitable interaction.

Regina stood outside of Zelena's room. She had been waiting for what seemed like hours. The baby was being delivered as she stood, internally trembling with fear. Regina feared for the future and all the untold mysteries that would come with it. Her relationship with Robin would change. She would be an aunt to her wicked sister's child. It was happening so fast. She thought she had months to mentally prepare for this day. It couldn't have come sooner. She was so lost in thought she didn't flinch when she heard footsteps.

"I can't believe its come to this," she said out loud. She could hear the baby crying from behind the door. Once she entered that room, there was no way out. Her happiness would be shattered. Zelena will have won and Robin will have another child. He would have another thing that Regina couldn't give him. Sure he had said that she was family and that she was his happiness, but was it the truth? Regina had tried to make it work. She had tried to look past the fact that she wouldn't be able to give the thief a child. Her decision had been a rash decision in the face of adversity. Her mother had been trying to control her womanhood and in the moment Regina didn't see another way.

Maybe ironically that very fact had given her Henry. He was the best thing that had ever happened to her. Henry was Regina's happy ending. Everything else was an accessory to the fact that Henry was her son. He was her little prince. Henry had saved her.

Still though, Regina felt incomplete. She had Henry and she loved him with all her heart, but she had no one to share those feelings with. There was one person that Henry was equally important too and her name is Emma Swan. The blonde and the brunette shared a common happiness. The only one that could possibly understand was Emma. Henry came first and both Emma and Regina would fight for him and his happiness.

Now Zelena would know the happiness of a child, her own child. By helping her sister's child, Regina would also be helping Zelena. It was cruel fate after everything they had been through. Then again, Regina always did manage to always get screwed over. It was a destiny that she just had to accept. The brunette was in disbelief at the turn of events. It was almost too unrealistic to even be a possibility.

"Am I really helping Zelena?"

"It's the right thing to do Regina," said Snow. The pixie-haired woman knew all too well the internal struggle that Regina was going through. She knew how tortured Regina really was by this. The fact that Regina was willing to help Zelena really showed just how far she had come. It was sad to see this changed woman become so torn over this situation. "So are you ready to meet the newest member of your family?"

"Honestly," she breathed. It was overwhelming. Snow was trying to be there for her and while Regina did appreciate it, it was strange. The other woman that she had hated for so long was now trying to comfort her. They had boundaries, but those were slowly crumbling. Now they had no choice but to rely on and protect one another. It only seemed fair to be honest with Snow. "I don't know," Regina said slowly shaking her head. And it was true because in that moment she really didn't.

Regina had walked in and seen Whale giving Robin the baby. She faltered for a moment wondering if it was right of her to be here. Should she be here? Before thinking too much she quickly knocked on the doorframe.

"Robin," she smiled as she walked closer. The baby was beautiful. The child was a small ray of sunshine in the darkest of times. Even she didn't know how she felt about the man, she was still happy for him. There would be a small part of her that always cared for him.

"Regina," he smiled back while cradling the newborn. "I have a daughter," he sniffled. The sight of his baby girl was such a wonderful sight. She was perfect in his eyes.

"Oh that's wonderful," Regina said awkwardly brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She couldn't let her sadness show. She had to bottle her emotions and swallow the bitter pill of realization. The child was beautiful, but also a painful reminder.

"Look who's green with envy now," Zelena smiled wickedly catching on to her sister's sadness. She would never, not take the chance to ruin her sister's happiness. It was simply too delicious to watch Regina's smile crumble into helplessness. It was yet another reminder of something Regina could never have. It was a cheap shot and Zelena knew it.

Robin and Regina exchanged a look. Both knew to some degree what Zelena had said was true. It was the truth and both of them needed to accept that. Zelena's words stung far below the surface because it was true. Their family—if they chose to have one—would consist of Zelena's child and the Wicked Witch herself. Zelena would be a part of both of their lives forever. It was hard to resent something so innocent and young, but a small, dark part of Regina that still lingered already hated what they baby girl stood for.

Before Regina could even think of a response a cloud of grey smoke appeared before them.

"Look who's glowing," Emma smiled as she eyed Zelena with intent. "Congrats," she said and with a flick of her wrist Whale was thrown against the wall. He was knocked unconscious before his body slumped to the floor.

Robin drew his sword while still cradling the baby in one hand. "I will not let you take this baby."

"Not without a fight," Regina said. Her lips were tightly pressed together as she waited for Emma to make a move. This was the first time they had seen each other since the night Regina had dropped the glass. It seemed so long ago. Too long Regina thought.

The brunette hadn't realized how much she had actually missed Emma's dark presence. Even if this wasn't Emma, those green eyes now devoid of emotion were still her eyes. Those eyes that Regina knew all too well. Emma had seen the good in her even when her own son thought she was lying. The blonde had seen her grow and change to the person she had now become. She was dark yes, but she was the same woman that Regina knew. The darkness in Emma changed many things, but not those green eyes.

"That would be a problem if it was the baby I was after," Emma said. Her eyes didn't leave Regina's. The blonde ignored Robin Hood's threat and solely focused on the brunette in front of her. This must be destroying her Emma thought.

Emma hoped that once her plan was complete Regina could find her happiness. With Zelena out of the way, Regina could be with Robin without a problem if she chose to do so. Yes, Emma might have ulterior motives for using Zelena, but in the end it would end up benefitting everyone. Her plan would be complete before anyone knew what was happening. That is what Emma was counting on. She needed her plans to be hidden to hide the real truth. The greatest sacrifice of all was letting the person you care about—you really care about—be happy with someone else.

Zelena's head whipped around to stare at the Dark One. Regina's brow effectively furrowed with confusion, but before she could say anything to Emma, the Dark One was gone. In haze of grey smoke, both Emma and Zelena had vanished from the hospital leaving Robin, the baby, and Regina behind.

Regina's frustration was evident. She should have seen it coming. She should have been ready. Emma wasn't like anyone else Regina had ever encountered with dark magic; Emma was far more dangerous and unpredictable. Regina mentally beat herself for not being quicker. Zelena's words had stung, but Emma's deception was painful.

The blonde's eyes had bore into her soul. Regina had now just realized that her pulse was exceedingly quick. Her breathing was faster. The air had been sucked out of her lungs being in Emma's presence. Emotions swirled and mingled in her stomach. Regina had wanted nothing more then to demand answers out of Emma. She didn't want to question why Emma had taken Zelena. No. Regina wanted to know why Emma was doing this to her. Why it was so damn confusing to be around her all the time. Why, even though Regina wasn't around the other woman she always thought of her. Everything led back to Emma. Everything led back to their kiss.

Regina gritted her teeth in irritation. If she wanted answers, she would have to go to the source. It was now time to bring the fight to Emma. Regina needed to confront Emma. It was time.

Ahhh! Emma and Regina need some alone time am I right? Be careful Regina your feelings are showing *blushes*. I was pleased to include some Snow x Regina friendship, which is virtually existent this season for whatever reason. It hard not to write about Hook so much since he's always in the show, so please bear with me. I actually like Dark Hook because I think that's who he really is. He isn't treating Emma well and I cannot simple say that it is "all the darkness" talking.

Next time: Regina will confront or at least try to confront Emma. What will Emma say to Killian? Will Killian threaten the people Emma loves the most? Who would that be...?

Still trying to stay with the show! Let me know what you think, so please, please leave a review. See you next time :)