"Absolutely not," Emma said.

"Why not?" asked Tink. "What's the point if you don't tell her about the kiss?"

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around this so why don't you cut me some slack? Besides you agreed that we would handle this my way."

"That was before I realized that you admitting that you shared true love's kiss with Regina and actually doing anything about it were two different things."

"I didn't say I wasn't going to do anything about it, but whatever I decide has to be my decision."

They had gone back into her apartment to talk and Emma was feeling even more uneasy about this. She wasn't sure she could trust Tink to keep quiet about this. Tink seemed too eager to get her and Regina together.

"Besides we have other concerns," Emma continued. "Regina is determined to figure out what happened to her when she was a kid, and apparently is willing to risk her own life to do it. I have no doubt that if I hadn't followed her to the hospital, she probably would have agreed to undergo another MRI. You know more about this magic stuff than I do, is there another way to find out the truth?"

"I don't suggest trying to summon Cora's ghost."

"Yeah, I think that goes without saying."

"We could just go ask Rumple."

"Regina was totally opposed to that idea, although it makes the most sense. I am not sure why but Regina is suddenly afraid of him. It doesn't make any sense. She has never acted scared of him before, but after these glimpses, the very idea of talking to him has her spooked."

"Then we go talk to him for her and she won't need to worry about it."

"Ok, but tomorrow."

"Tomorrow it is," she smiled.

…

Regina woke feeling better than she had – the Vicodin had helped her with the pain which allowed her to sleep. After dressing she went downstairs to get Henry breakfast. She managed to scramble some eggs – she tried over easy at first, but with her arm that didn't work out well – and make some toast and pour milk for him.

He came down, looking tired as usual. Her son was not a morning person and she wondered suddenly if Emma was. She placed the plate in front of him and bent down and kissed the top of his head.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"Do I have to have a reason?"

"No."

"Good," she smiled.

"You are in a good mood this morning."

"I had my best night of sleep since coming home from the hospital. Those pills that Dr. Whale gave me really helped."

"That's good," he said.

"Yes it is," she said. She really did feel better, she thought as she drank her second glass of milk. Everything seemed to be better – she couldn't explain, but since waking up in the hospital she felt lighter somehow. She felt like her past wasn't dragging her down. Henry was here with her and he loved her. She was even getting along well with people she never thought she would get along with – Tink, Emma and even Dr. Whale.

Even things like the eggs, which normally would have made her mad if she had messed them like she did when trying to make them over easy, didn't bother her.

Her life was far from perfect, but right now at least, she felt good about it.

"Do you think Emma would like to come over for dinner?" Regina asked.

"Um, I don't know, maybe."

"I just think it would be a nice gesture, a way to let her know that neither of us is going to hold a grudge about things."

"Are you going to wait until you heal more?"

"I wasn't planning on it. I thought she could come over tonight."

"You might want to rethink that," he said opening his hand – there were some small pieces of egg shells lying in it.

She laughed out loud which made Henry laugh in turn.

…

Emma met Tink in the morning so they could go to Mr. Gold's shop first thing. They entered to find Belle cleaning in one corner.

"Emma," Belle said excitedly coming over and kissing her.

"Congratulations on your wedding," Emma said.

"Thank you. It was like a dream come true."

"I'm glad. You deserve to be happy."

"What brings you here?"

"I … we were hoping to talk to Mr. Gold about something."

"He's in the back. I'll go get him."

She disappeared into the back and Emma stood there as Tink walked around looking at various items with curiosity. A few moments later Mr. Gold came limping out. "Ah sheriff, to what do I owe your little visit?"

"I need some information."

"About what?"

"Skiver Fever. I am sure you heard about the outbreak."

"It was so awful, all those kids," Belle said.

"Yes it was all people were talking about when we returned from our honeymoon."

Emma had already told Tink to keep her mouth shut and let her handle this. She didn't want to tip off Gold on what she was asking about specifically at first.

"I was wondering if you had ever heard of a cure for it – a magical cure?"

"Alas," Gold said. "Until Regina apparently cured those children, there has been no magical cure for it. I would be interested in how she did it, but I was told she doesn't remember it."

"She does not."

"I wish I could be of more help sheriff, but I also understand that Dr. Whale is working on a cure using his science, so a magical one would not be needed if it happened again."

"Yes," she said. "I was just trying to cover all the bases by asking you."

"Understandable."

"Thank you for your time," Emma said backing away. "Belle we should get together, have a ladies night out to celebrate your marriage since we didn't get to do the whole bachelorette thing."

"I would like that."

Tink looked at her in confusion as they walked to the door. They just reached it when Emma turned. "Oh, I almost forgot. There was just one more thing. You know I have been trying to learn some of my own magic. You know just in case. Regina let me look at some of her mother's books. Do you know anything about a curse that changes a person's destiny?"

Gold looked at her intently. "I have heard of such a thing, but haven't ever met anyone who has done it. It would be highly powerful magic, too powerful for even me to do alone. And it also tends to be unpredictable."

"How so?"

"It's best if you simply forgot about what you read in one of Cora's books. There are some things even you shouldn't meddle in."

"You are probably right," Emma smiled. "After all, if the magic was too powerful for you to do alone, it must be dangerous."

"I suppose that depends on the person whose destiny got changed."

"Definitely dangerous then," she said before walking out.

They got into Emma's car.

"What was the point in that? You didn't really ask him anything."

"Actually I did and now we know."

"Know what?"

"Rumple didn't change Regina's destiny, Rumple and Cora did. She had to have been involved."

"We already knew she was there."

"But we didn't know how active she was in this. She cursed her own daughter and you can bet that it had little to do with actually wanting to save Regina's life, at least not entirely. We already know Rumple used Regina to cast the curse to bring us here so he could find Neal. We know Cora wanted Regina on the throne. No wonder she became the Evil Queen. She never stood a chance."

"Ok, but this doesn't really get us anywhere."

"It gives us enough of an answer that there is no reason for Regina to go looking for more."

"Is that what this was all about, making sure Regina doesn't undergo another MRI?"

"Yes, and frankly this is not something she needs to be delving into. She already knows enough about her mother, she doesn't need to be hurt by her anymore. And as long as Gold stays away from her there should be no issues."

"But what about you know – you and her?"
Emma looked at her and then back at the road. "There is no me and her – at least not right now. I don't know how things work where you are from but here we don't just yell true love and then jump in the sack together."

"I don't know what that means."

"It means I would like to get to know Regina a little better first, spend some time with her and find out what she likes and dislikes."

"You wish to court her?'

"Um yes if that is the fancy word for date her."

Tink clapped her hands excitedly.

"You have to stop doing that," Emma said.

…

Regina took another of the Vicodin in the late afternoon and went to lie down for a little bit. She took a bottle of water upstairs with her in case she got thirsty. She had been earlier that morning, but then the feeling passed.

Now all she wanted to do was take a nap.

She had been thinking a lot about what Tink had said about her destiny and how it may back to its original one or be something entirely different now. She found she liked the idea either way. Maybe this was her chance to get things right.

But there was still some residual anger there – anger she couldn't quite seem to feel like she did in the past. Before her anger was like oil on top of water – there was no way to touch the water without touching the oil. Now it was like the anger was the sand below the water and even if she touched it, it would slip through her fingers.

It was there though. Someone had stolen her destiny. Rumple, she thought. He had done this to her, yet when she met again as an adult she hadn't remembered seeing him before. Why not? And why now?

Tink believed the curse had been broken by her true love, and she'd be lying if she didn't find that appealing. She thought about the dream she had had where Daniel had told her that her loved belonged to another now.

As she let her head sink into the pillow, she realized she wanted to know who that person was.