Moving along, moving along. At some points later in the story, flashbacks are likely to fill in all the empty spaces created by time jumps. To my guest reviewer: I completely understand your concern! Without giving away too much, I can assure you that Regina will be the primary focus after the curse hits. That said, I would recommend waiting to quit this fic until after the curse turns everything upside down. I don't know if you will like it better, but based on what your concerns are, I think you might.

Chapter 14

Lorelei decided two weeks away was more than adequate punishment for Regina's behavior. She told everyone good bye at the cottage and place several barrier spells around the area to keep any more lost princes from wandering in.

Once back at the palace, she waited in the bed chamber for Regina to rush in, looking somewhat ragged and definitely exhausted. She simply crossed her arms on her chest and waited for Regina to speak.

Regina gently closed her door and slowly approached Lorelei. Once within arms reach she spoke gently, trying desperately to put her feelings into her words. "Lorelei… I know you're angry with what happened. I understand. But I need you to listen to me and believe what I am telling you. I planned for 100 men to capture Snow White at Reds cottage. I did that. But, I also told them not to harm Red or Granny or even Snow in any way. That's why I sent so many men there. The dark one put the wolfsbane on their weapons, not me. I can't even begin to imagine how to collect that much of it to begin with. I never would have brought harm to either Red or Granny. I swear it."

Lorelei listened and weighed her words. She knew she wasn't lying though, she could feel it. She finally sighed and met Reginas eye, "I believe you. I see now why the dark one warned me of the attack. He wanted me to save them and irritate you. But why?"

Regina was struggling to keep her fury at the dark one in check. "I think he just wanted me to see that you could be so angry at me that you would leave me. But…" She smiled at her and looked down. "You didn't leave me, not entirely. I know you checked on me several times a day. You just didn't think I knew it."

Lorelei was wide eyed in shock, "you knew? Ugh! That defeats the whole purpose of me staying away!"

Regina laughed just a little and put her hands on her arms to calm her, "no, I assure you, I heard you loud and clear. No more attacks will be sent as long as Snow is with Red. I won't chance it again. I can't stand being without you."

Lorelei smiled down at her and pulled her into a hug, "I missed you terribly."

Regina sighed heavily and hugged her back just as tightly before pulling away and smiling brightly at her. "I did something, but I wanted to wait until you came back to enact it."

With a curious look, Lorelei followed her down the halls and into her study room. On the desk was a large parchment covered in Regina's hand writing. "I'm not reading that."

Regina laughed and picked up a quill to sign it, making it official. "you don't have to. It states that it is not strictly outlawed to kill a wolf unless it is directly threatening your life. It also states that killing werewolves is a higher violation of this law and the penalty is death for wolves, and torture then death for werewolves. The only way anyone is allowed to kill either one is if they are directly attacking someone, and even then, it would have to be proven."

Lorelei beamed at her, "right now, under Leopolds law, werewolves can be hunted to no end, wolves too. Why are you doing this?"

Regina shrugged, "Red was my best friend, until our issues. I still care very much for her. I want to protect her. I want to protect all of her kind, and the wolves too. The entire dark forest surrounding my dark palace is to be a sanctuary for those who wish to live in peace from mankind. Word will spread very quickly and I already have a man in charge of ensuring that game numbers stay high enough so they can hunt freely."

"Who is the man in charge?"

"He calls himself the Huntsman. He's a strange man, so strange, you might even like him."

Lorelei laughed at that. Most men she met smelled horrid and had an ego far larger than they deserved. "I will meet him tomorrow maybe."

…..

For a while, Regina seemed to give up on her revenge. She refused to send troops after her since she was with Red. She focused herself on managing the kingdom and of course, gathering the ingredients for a certain curse. She had been doing rather well, obtaining nearly everything needed. She had to find a woman named Maleficent to get the actual curse though. Apparently it wasn't something Rumple could rewrite.

"Lorelei please! I already told you, you cannot go with me. Maleficent has magical barriers that simply won't allow anyone, even you to pass thru uninvited. She is very selective and I'm lucky to have gotten her to agree to meet with me." Regina repeated herself for probably the 32nd time this hour.

Lorelei growled, "you can't go to some incredibly powerful dragon ladys house without me!"

It had been two years since the wolfsbane incident. Since then, Lorelei had been home with Regina every night, but spent most of her days away with Red. It seemed to be balanced quite nicely. However, now, Regina intended to be gone nearly a month without her. They both knew it would be horrid, but Regina had to get that curse. There was no other way to get to Snow. Rumple had assured her that this curse would allow her to rewrite everyones life any way she saw fit.

Considering the rumors she had heard of Snow landing herself a prince from some random kingdom with an army, she needed to get this curse before she lost everything.

Finally, the siren relented. She was furious, and hurt, but Regina had to do this. She kissed the sirens cheek and told her not to worry at all and sent her to be with Red, then she used her magic to take her to a barren land far away from her kingdom.

…

Lorelei arrived in the forest by a lake where Red should be waiting. Instead, she found Snow and the liar prince necking. She screamed so loud and high pitched, the pair flew apart to cover their ears. When she stopped they both stared at her, furious.

Lorelei smiled and said loudly, so they could hear with the ringing in their ears, "where's Red?"

Snow pointed into the trees and yelled, "that was not necessary!"

Lorelei headed off and shouted back, "yes it was Snow! You may not know this, but he has a penis in his pants and he will try to use it before marriage!"

David blushed deeply and covered himself hurriedly, "I would never try that!"

Snow was giggling and blushing, "go find Red!"

Lorelei rolled her eyes and headed off to find the woman. When she did, Red was smiling and wrapped her in a tight hug, "I thought we talked about you telling women that men had penises?"

"We did. But I don't think she knew."

Red just laughed and was intent on enjoying their entire uninterrupted month together. Snow however, had plans for that same month.

Lorelei didn't think before she spoke sometimes and let it be known that Regina would be unreachable for a whole month. With the help of Davids armies, they began taking back her kingdom, one area and castle at a time.

…..

Regina hadn't really considered taking a lover since Daniels death. The thought tended to come with several horrid memories of Daniels death and King Leopolds attempted rape. It also reminded her that Red had nearly suffered a similar fate.

But this Maleficent… well, she was strangely alluring to her. She had an intense fire in her eye that made Reginas heart beat a bit erratically. She spoke with a smoky tone close to her ear as se shared magical secrets of the dragonkin with her. Her finger tips seemed to always be barely caressing her skin as she showed her how to move when they danced. The woman was intoxicating. It didn't help her resolve any that she missed Lorelei so very badly. She could almost feel her siren touching her instead of Maleficent.

It had only taken little over a week for the dragon lady to get Regina into her bed. It had only taken a full two weeks for Regina to take control of their intimate encounters. For just a moment, Regina considered staying here with this woman. Maybe this could be her happiness at long last. She wasn't in love with Maleficent, but it was something, at least. Mal wanted her, and showed only her any attention. Of course, there was no one else, but still.

Near the end of the fourth week, just when Regina had thought to extend her stay another month, Rumple himself broke thru Mals barriers. She was infuriated and shifted into her beastly dragon. The sight of the beast took Reginas breath away, and nearly her life as the dragon aimed for the dark one with her flames and Regina narrowly missed being roasted herself.

Rumple cackled madly as her danced in the dragons fire. "You can't scare me away dearie! Now, open wide!"

The dragon swooped down, intent on eating the dark one but as she opened her mouth, he threw a massive egg like object down her throat. Once she swallowed in shock, he waved his hands and she froze there in the air. He turned to the shocked Regina making a tsk tsk noise. "Did you forget your mission dearie?"

Regina stared in disbelief at the frozen beast before her. "What if I don't want this anymore? What if I could just be happy here, with her?"

Rumple giggled, "I won't unfreeze her. She will remain this way until you cast my curse and release her. Besides, she isn't your true love, so why bother?"

Regina looked to the ground and let it go, "I don't really want revenge on Snow anymore. She hasn't wronged me since Daniels death and I don't think she has been especially happy anyway. Running thru the woods and robbing coaches, it can't be very fulfilling."

Rumple created a large mirror in front of her and Snow appeared in it, laughing and dancing in a fine gown. Her and her prince were dancing on a fine ballroom floor. In fact…

Regina inhaled sharply, "that is my summer castle! What the hell are they doing there?!"

Rumple smiled again, wrapping his scaly fingers around the mirror, "she stole away the kingdom while you dallied with the dragon witch. Maleficent didn't mention the time slip her barrier causes, did she?"

Regina frowned at the frozen dragon, "time slip?"

"It has not been nearly four weeks. It has been nearly a year. Snow White is getting married in her summer palace soon. All the kingdom is hers again. Oh, and guess who are her dearest friends?"

The image swirled to reveal Red and Granny smiling as they watched the dancers. The blue fairy was chatting avidly with a bunch of dwarves and everyone looked so happy. Happy, and in her palace.

Regina had tears running down her cheeks and was trembling with rage. She had been missing for a year, and they were dancing. Lorelei was missing, but she knew Rumple couldn't see her with his glass. They were so happy without her in the world. She lashed out and shattered the mirror, turning to the dark one. "I have everything I need now. Take me to cast your curse."

Rumple cackled and they vanished in his smoke. When they reappeared, they stood in the dark palace. Everything was as she had left it. But how? Had Snow not taken everything? Where was her guardian? She should have felt Regina return.

"Regina!" Cora threw herself to embrace her daughter in a genuine hug. "Oh, I thought you were dead! Where have you been? Snow has taken everything!"

Regina hushed her hysterical mother, quickly explaining the time lapse. "Mother, how are you here in this palace? If she took it all?"

Cora huffed haughtily, "I came here when all else was lost. I used my magic to safe guard this palace and the dark forest. All this land is still ours. Fortunately, that declaration you enacted for the wolves has helped a great deal. I told them you would return, and be very displeased if you didn't have a home. They banded together in the dark forest to keep Snow's forces out. In fact, they keep most everything out. There are somewhere around 600 beasts out there. I don't know how many werewolves versus wolves, you would have to ask the huntsman. He keeps track I think."

Regina sat heavily and tried to process all of this. It was going to take a while. So she sat and listened as her mother told her every detail of the past year, but her mind kept wandering to her guardian. Where was she?

….

When Regina did not return or send word after five weeks, Lorelei was officially in a hysterical panic. She couldn't find this Maleficent's hide away and the dark one refused to come when called so he could help her. She even kidnapped his little serving girl to try and lure him out. The girl was treated very well, and eventually freed after several months. She was a great little woman actually, Lorelei quite liked her. Belle had insisted taking her would do them no good though. Apparently, she had been locked up ever since she kissed the dark one.

She ran off to go adventuring or some such nonsense, Lorelei didn't really care. Her and Red traveled the realm in search of this dragon lady, but no one had any answers. The closest they came was to a kingdom where a princess named Aurora had been put into a magical sleep, her and the whole kingdom actually. The neighboring kingdom said Maleficent had done it, but they didn't know how, or why, or where the witch was now.

After ten months, they returned to the White kingdom in a depression. They had searched everywhere, but they couldn't find Regina. Lorelei had always sensed where she was, but when she left that day, ten months ago, the sense stopped. She knew she lived, but couldn't come up with a direction at all.

The pair had lost hope when they came back to the summer palace. It was in Snow's command now. In fact, all the kingdom was, except the dark palace. That was where Cora took a stand apparently. Red wanted no part in any of it, she just wanted desperately to find her old friend again. It was killing her to watch Lorelei crumble from despair. The siren blamed herself for allowing Regina to do something so stupid.

They did little but mope around the countryside, until Rumple finally showed up. Lorelei grabbed him by the throat immediately screaming at him to bring her back, to find her.

He was allowed to breath again and hastily told her, "make a deal with me!"

Eyes wide with rage, the siren shook the man until he was nearly passed out, "how dare you?"

Gasping for air, the dark one said loudly, "I will only bring her back to you if you do me a favor first! You can kill me a thousand times and I will always return. She never will unless you do as I ask."

Red touched her arm to make her put him down, and then he promptly moved out of arms reach, "Lorelei, we can't find her. Maybe hear his deal?"

After the pissed off siren nodded at him, he cleared his throat and told her, "all you have to do, is hop over to Wonderland, get me a little trinket box, and hop back. Once I have it, I will return Regina to you." He then went into great detail what the box looked like.

Red scoffed, "yes, because it's that easy to hop to another realm."

"It is if you have to right tools dearie." Rumple waved his hand and a raggedy man with a tall hat appeared holding what looked to be a hat box. "This is Jefferson. Jefferson can take you to Wonderland. Once there, get my box and bring it to me."

Lorelei eyed the raggedy man, "what's in it for you, Jefferson?"

With a tremor, he said, "the dark one has sworn to help me find my daughter which I suspect he stole in the first damned place."

Lorelei nodded, she understood Rumple all too well. "Fine."

Red took her hand and nodded, "I'm going too."

Rumple shook his head, "no, your werewolf magic would not be compatible. Neither is mine. Sirens however, are capable of wielding their magic anywhere. You would die."

Lorelei calmed Red and convinced her to stay. "Red, you must swear to me… If I do not return, you have to protect Regina. I know she seems so strong, but she really is still the little girl we grew with. You have to be patient with her. Remember she wasn't born the evil queen. Cora and this filthy imp made her what she is. Someday, you and I, we will bring her back again. Swear it." Lorelei waited for the teary woman to nod and kiss her good bye, only then did she release her and nod for Jefferson to get on with it.

They jumped thru his hat hole and landed in a crazy room with many doors. He stopped her just before heading thru the one for Wonderland.

"Listen very carefully. Wonderland is not what it seems, it is in fact what it doesn't seem." He held a hand up to stop Lorelei's confused questions. "It makes no sense at all. Up becomes down while down becomes sideways and sideways isn't a way at all. Nothing is what it is, because everything is what it isn't. If you turn left, you are headed south, if you turn right you are swimming upriver. It's nothing like it should be, unless it should be something else already in which case it becomes more than what it was." Lorelei was staring at him with a worried look and he sighed and wiped his face in exasperation. "You'll see for yourself. The important thing here is that the way this portal works, however many go in, must come out. The two of us go in, two must come out again. You can't come back on your own, and neither can I. We also cannot bring another back with us. Do you understand that part?" The siren nodded. "Fine. Then let's step into a world where anarchy and chaos are calm and orderly and straight lines are made of squiggles. Oh, and don't eat or drink any damn thing!"

"Wait! Wrinkledimpleskin didn't tell me where this box is! He just said what it looks like."

Nodding Jefferson smiled faintly, "that's because if you knew where to look, you would never find it. You have to wander around blindly to find what you seek."

"Wander around?! How long exactly do you intend to get lost in Wonderland?"

With a grin that would likely match his favorite subject in Wonderland, Jefferson gestured for the door, "trust me, my dearest siren, not all who wander are lost."

…

Regina was pacing her chamber, beginning to become very concerned for her guardian. There is nothing in any realm that could keep Lorelei away from her. She would never leave her, not ever. Regina had no doubts on the matter.

Finally, word came from outside the forest. The werewolves were confused as to whether two people should be allowed inside. Apparently they had shown up shortly after Regina returned, begging entry. The wolves had stood firm with no, but the werewolves had more thought and became confused as to the two strangers.

Regina listened and finally conjured the image on her mirror. She knew it wasn't Lorelei, Cora's magic would never stop her. She nearly swallowed her heart when Red appeared on the glass. She immediately brought the pair to her chamber.

Red stared around for a few moments before finally setting eyes on Regina and then she just sank to her knees and starting sobbing. The man with her backed away until he hit the wall, trying to vanish into the shadows.

Regina approached Red slowly, not sure where their relationship even stood at this point. "Red…?"

Calming herself enough to breath, Red just shook her head and pointed behind Regina. She spun around and the dark one stood there, holding an odd box. "Yes, she's been a mess since about the time you came back." He cackled madly while looking at Red with mock pity.

"Red, where is Lorelei?" Regina asked her without taking her eyes off Rumple.

Between broken sobs, Red managed, "she… didn't… come back!"

Confusion seemed to be her only emotion lately, "back from where exactly?"

The man in the corner found his voice suddenly as Rumple fixed him with a glare. "Wonderland, she is trapped in Wonderland. She gave me a message for you." He glanced at Rumple who gave him a tiny nod. "She told me to tell you that she is sorry. She said she is sorry for not coming back. She wanted…"

Rumple giggled again and waved his hand, sending the strange man to who knows where. "She made a choice, and that choice took her away from you. But remember, she did make the choice to stay in Wonderland, I assure you."

Shaking her head, Regina gently pulled Red to standing and held her tightly. Now she understood why Red was completely distraught. "Red, please, what's happening?"

Rumple cleared his throat and held the box out to her, "the final ingredient to the curse. Cast it, and you will be able to right every wrong, including this one."

Regina took the box and opened it. Inside was a magical heart, mostly black, with just tiny slivers of red shining thru. "A heart? Who does it belong to? I have to kill someone to cast the curse?"

Cora burst into the door, wide eyed and pale, she immediately stared at the box in Regina's hands. "How did you get that?!"

Rumple cackled again, "it's amazing what that guardian is willing to do for your daughter."

Cora looked into Regina's eyes, trying to smile but shaking with the effort. "Regina, darling, you couldn't possibly consider killing me for some ridiculous curse?" Then she glared at Rumple, "how could you do this?!"

Red reached past Regina and closed the lid on the box. "Regina, do you really want to do this?"

Looking at her friend, Regina felt her own heart clench. Her mother was all she really had anymore. Her father had died a few years ago, and she never really knew the man anyway. Now, Lorelei was lost in Wonderland, apparently by choice. Cora was all she had left… Then she had a thought. She opened the box and removed the heart, speaking into it directly and watching Cora's face twist in horror. "Did you arrange Daniels death?"

Cora's face was turning red, trying not to answer, but when Regina squeezed it a bit, she finally burst out, "Yes!"

Regina sent her mother away with her magic. She loved her mother, more than anyone she had ever known. But she would crush her heart to set everything right again, to get back her happy ending. She slammed the box shut and vanished in a swirl of purple smoke, leaving Red behind to cough and wait for her to come back.

"How am I supposed to protect her if she can poof away?!" Red sat on the bed and waited impatiently, hoping Regina would return.

…

The ceremony was very nearly done, they were married and happily ever after was just starting. Just before they sealed the marriage with a kiss, the massive doors sprang open, banging into the walls loudly.

The evil queen, in all her dark and gorgeous glory pulled the breath from every onlooker, and every eye too. Cocking a brow at the attention she simply said, "sorry I'm late." The crowds sprang away from her to press into the walls. The guards rushed her but were sent flying with barely a flick of her wrist. She stood in front of Snow White in her perfect wedding dress and the man she assumed was the liar prince Lorelei spoke of. "My, what a perfect wedding for a perfect little girl. So… perfect." She grinned as Snow turned red in anger at her sarcastic tone.

"Leave us alone Regina. You lost. I won. Just go away and leave us be!" Snow shouted at her.

David held her back, pointing his sword at Regina who chuckled at it. "Leave us, witch. You won't win. Evil never wins over good."

Regina took a moment to laugh in his face, "oh, very good! What a wonderful husband you will make, liar prince."

David frowned and his sword dropped a little, "that's what Lorelei called me…"

Snow looked around, "where is she?"

David realized as Snow did that although the evil queen was never an easy target, without her siren, she was a bit easier. Regina saw them catch on and turned away, walking out as she called behind herself, "enjoy your happiness while you can children. It is going to end, very soon."

David threw his sword as hard as he could at her back, shouting as he did it, "HEY!"

Regina turned as her magic smoke enveloped her. She stood in her chamber as Davids sword hit the mantle behind her. Red jumped up and grabbed her arm, tearing the fabric there. "Regina! You're bleeding!"

Regina looked down in stunned silence, her arm was bleeding. The sword had cut her… Just barely enough to bleed, but it had cut her. She frowned as she touched the blood and looked at her fingers, "I'm bleeding. Red, I'm bleeding, and she isn't here. She didn't stop it. She wasn't there, and she isn't here."

Red saw the panic setting in and forced Regina to sit while she put a bandage on her arm. She still felt somewhat conflicted towards her. This woman used to be her dearest friend. This woman had also killed her once. Regina was also going to curse the entire realm any time now. Red nearly convinced herself to leave, but she had sworn to protect her as best she could. Lorelei asked one thing of her before leaving. She had to try. Even if it was Regina's fault Lorelei was gone to begin with…

…

Snow White was pacing her chamber again. It had been nearly four months since the wedding and she had not gotten any rest. Regina was planning something, something huge. A curse, Rumple had said. Her daughter was coming, and Regina couldn't be stopped, even without her siren. They had tried everything. Red was no help, apparently she had promised to protect Regina when Lorelei vanished into Wonderland. She still wondered what happened there. Jefferson couldn't speak of it. He wanted to, but he couldn't. Somehow, whenever he tried to communicate about it, his jaw locked up, or his hands cramped. Grace, his daughter, tried to tell them too. She had the same problem. The dark one had a hand in it. He didn't want them talking about what happened in Wonderland.

Snow shrugged out of her thoughts as David called her name. He was beaming, excited for their daughters arrival. She tried to relax, but could not.

…..

Regina worked day and night preparing the curse. She wasn't sure when Red gave up on her, again, but she was a month or two gone by now. Rumple insisted it must be cast the second Snow's child was born, but refused to elaborate on that detail. Well enough, the ingredients had to stew for several months anyhow. Snow could give birth any minute now.

Rumor had it, she found a way to spare her child from the dark curse. Regina dug hard, but all she could find was an old man carving a tree into a wardrobe. Just this morning he had stuffed his own child into it. The alarm rang out. Snow was giving birth. It was time to set her world right again. She winced and let a tear fall as her mother cried out in her death throes. The ash of the blackened heart hit the cauldron. Thick purple smoke rolled out of it. She transported herself to Snow's castle, wanting to witness the pain for herself. After the pain, she would have her siren back. She would never be without her again, no matter the cost.