I am so sorry it took me so long to put this up. I was having a really hard time figuring out how to end this last chapter. But it's up! And I'm clicking the complete button. I hope you enjoy it and I kinda wish I could do more after this but I have another story to start and this one is done. Enjoy! And please leave a review :) it is the very last chapter after all ;)

Cora had left.

Henry had kept telling her that something was weird with Cora but Regina had never really seen it. Henry said it was because Cora always hid it from her but Regina hadn't seen enough to confront her mother and see if something was wrong. It didn't matter anyway, she told Regina eventually and Regina was furious. Cora had told her that every time she held Amelia the guilt inside her grew and grew. She hadn't forgotten, she insisted she had never forgotten but with the combination of her heart back in her chest and the tiny face of Amelia...well it seemed Cora she couldn't cope anymore. So she left. And the leave had not been on good terms between her and Regina.

There had been tears and rage and words that should not have been said. It was still a sore topic in the Nolan-Mills home. Especially for Regina. David had been shocked as had Henry and while David held some anger it was absolutely nothing in comparison to what Regina felt.

A sister.

Regina had a sister.

A sister that was abandoned as a baby because she couldn't possibly become queen and would hinder Cora's rise to power. A sister that had every right to become the mad woman Rumple described her as. The fact that Rumple knew and didn't tell Regina either had put their relationship on edge as well. Even still, a year later, she could hardly look at the man without scowling. David couldn't really say he blamed her. She trusted Rumple, he was her oldest ally and oldest enemy and he had kept her from something so big and so life changing. She had every right to know she had a sister. And yet she hadn't a clue for over half a century.

The fact that still lingered in his darling wife's mind was Leopold. It still caused him to bristle and clench his jaw and the many many sleepless nights with his distressed Regina played in his mind over and over and over again. The passed king had traumatized her enough and one would think that it couldn't get much worse. But with the news of this secret sister...it got worse. Leopold had loved Cora. Then he turned around and married Cora's daughter and raped her to his heart's content, playing out whatever sick fantasy or lingering rage and heartache he felt toward the elder sorceress on the young woman that (as far as Leopold knew) prevented him from wedding the miller's daughter.

David didn't blame her for blowing up, he didn't blame her for losing her temper, he didn't blame her for being unable to sleep through the night, he would have done the same thing. He hadn't been far from following suit with Regina when she screamed at Cora. But now Cora was gone. The effects still lingered and the pain had slowly dissipated. But it had never gone away. Regina missed her and he knew she regretted many of the things she had said before she slammed the door on Cora's back.

It had been a year since then.

A full year since Cora had left to go and find and mend her abandoned daughter. Amelia was crawling faster than ever before and was still trying to get the hang of walking, Louis was now taller than Regina's knee, Henry was still in school and had gathered a whole group of close friends, Emma still worked duteously on her magic with Regina when she wasn't bickering over living space with Neal, Aurora was pregnant and had become the town's go-to photographer and she was even considering leaving town in another year or so to tackle on the world with Phillip. Snow and Regina went out for brunch or coffee at least once a week but usually more, Mulan worked full time at the sheriff's station now and covered some of David's hours so that he could be home with the baby, and Regina still worked in her office at the town hall accompanied sometimes by Louis or Amelia or sometimes even both.

Things were working, things were moving, and things were settling. There had been no major disasters since Greg and Tamara so it seemed like the spell she and Rumple had put up a little over year ago had been doing its job in hiding and shielding the town. Really the only thing that had gone awry was Cora and this sister Zelena.

"Whoa!" Regina yelped a little as she snapped her hands up and caught her daughter's young magic. Amelia squealed in delighted laughter as Regina smiled and shook her head and David laughed quietly from his place on the white sofa. "Amelia, my darling," she scolded halfheartedly and Amelia wobbled where she stood as she chewed on her tiny hands with a big grin and bright blue eyes that were filled with life, "do not throw your magic at me."

"That bracelet of hers need to be tweaked again?" David laughed softly and looked up over the top of his book to watch as Regina put on her playfully devilish smirk as she slowly stalked up to Amelia who was laughing a slow and wary laugh as she watched her mother draw nearer. And then Regina pounced with a growl and swooped Amelia up in to the air causing a high pitched shriek of rich laughter to ring through their home as Regina continued to growl and bury her face in to their daughter's ticklish neck. The sight and sound had David laughing in his seat as he set his book on his lap and watched as Regina dipped them down low and got another shrill laugh from their daughter.

It had taken a long time for Regina to get to the point where she could work with Amelia's magic. It used to burn her, it used to fight her, and Regina took it personally for a little while in the middle there but he eventually convinced her otherwise when he made her see how much Amelia absolutely adored her. Regina's magic was strict and precise and sharp. Amelia's was playful and young and aloof and the pair of them simply weren't all that compatible until a few months ago. The bracelet he spoke of was similar to the necklace Regina had given Emma in the beginning. Just a simple charm to help keep the wearer's magic from being used without their intent. Amelia simply found it amusing to play with her mother and her mother's magic. She did it with no one else. David adored it.

"Oh, no," Regina laughed as she hung her laughing daughter upside down by her ankles and walked over to the couch with large swaying strides just to make Amelia laugh even more, "it's not the bracelet's fault our daughter is a troublesome little hellion," Regina growled and laughed and Amelia's young and hysterical laughter only fed her joy. And then she pulled her up in to her arms and grinned as she dropped herself on to the couch next to David and Amelia simply continued to laugh as David pulled Regina closer in to his side.

"What are you guys doing in here?" Henry laughed as he wandered in to the living room.

"Your sister keeps using her magic on your mother," David chuckled as he gently tapped Amelia's nose.

"That's hilarious," Henry laughed as he flopped in to the chair across from them, "do you think she'll ever stop?"

"Nope," David laughed and Regina laughed with them all as she shook her head and stood Amelia up on her lap.

"You are just going to spend your days driving me around the bend, aren't you," she laughed and Amelia grinned and bounced a little, "brat," she chuckled and then leaned forward and kissed her round little cheek. They all paused though at the knock at the door.

The mansion had gone from empty and lonely to the home of many events and parties and friends coming and going through its doors. So a knock on the door was not a new thing to hear. However a knock followed by silence was. Emma didn't knock and simply walked in when she pleased. Red and Aurora did the same while Phillip knocked and then entered just as Snow did and the majority of Henry's friends did. The white home was no longer feared. It was safe and welcoming so the silence followed by this knock had the family staring in the direction of the door.

"I'll get it," David offered a little awkwardly as he stood up and walked to the door while Regina and Henry shared a glance and shrugged. No one followed him as he walked to the door and when he opened it he was genuinely surprised by who he found on the other side. Big dark eyes, a softly wrinkled mouth pulled in to an apologetic smile, "Cora," he stated quietly in surprise.

Cora smiled a little more at the welcoming tone of his voice and only hoped that Regina would be so happy to see her, "David."

"When did you get back?"

"Just a few hours ago...is Regina home?"

"Yes, come in," he smiled and stepped aside so Cora could enter and once she had, David's eyes fell on a tense woman with curly red hair and a handsome man acting as her timid shadow. He had never seen either of them in his life which must mean that Cora had brought them with her from wherever she had gone. Which meant the chances of this being Regina's sister were quite strong. It seemed Cora was a little anxious to see Regina again and neglected to introduce them so without allowing for any time to lead the woman to believe she had been forgotten, David extended his hand with a kind smile, "hi I'm David."

"Zelena," she replied with a tense smile as she took his hand before he offered it to the man behind her. The babbling idiot who managed to convince Cora to bring him along.

"Nick," the man smiled as he shook David's hand. This world was like nothing he had ever seen before.

"It's nice to meet you both. You're catching us a little by surprise but you are welcome to come inside and meet the rest of the family."

Cora tried not to run in to the house and she scolded herself when she heard David take it upon himself to introduce himself. He was always better with people than she was. She would have to thank him later. When she made it to the middle of the foyer Regina was right there to her left hardly a few strides from her having paused on her way to join David at the door. She was beautiful.

"Mother?"

"Regina," she breathed out with a relieved smile and then took half a step forward but faltered when she worried Regina may not reciprocate, "Regina I'm sorry, I-" but she was cut off when Regina closed the distance between them with a large and quick stride and pulled her in to a tight hug that Cora eagerly returned with a relieved and suddenly teary laugh in to her daughter's hair.

"I'm sorry," Regina apologized against her mother's neck and Cora shook her head a little.

"I'm sorry too."

"I missed you."

"Oh I have missed you so much," Cora laughed and hugged her tighter before she pulled away a little so she could hold her head between her hands and look at her. Her teary eyes were matched with Regina's as her daughter's hands lifted to settle on her wrists and she tilted her head in to her left hand with a smile. "I love you, Regina."

"I love you too."

"Hi grandma," Henry grinned and quickly Cora's attention fell on him with a wide smile and a joyous laugh.

"Look at you! You've grown so much!"

"I'm almost taller than mom now," he laughed as she caught him in a hug and his mother gave a roll of her eyes as she sniffed back her tears.

"That you are," Cora laughed and kissed the side of his head, distracted by the excited nuzzling of a furry head in to her thigh, "oh Louis you foolish mutt," she laughed and pet his head before he ran off to go see who else was there. And then Amelia crawled in to her line of sight and she quickly crouched down to pick her up, "you've grown too!" She laughed and Amelia looked at her curiously as she grabbed at the ends of her hair laying over her chest and then at the ruby hanging on a chain around her neck.

Zelena jumped a little when she was brought from her darker thoughts by David's hand settling on her back. He was polite and kind and very much a gentleman and his smile did make her feel a little more at ease as Cora fawned over the preferred daughter and her family. Cora had assured her that Regina had not lived a life anywhere near the one she had concocted in her jealous mind and that her little sister was simply a master of disguise and concealment. Zelena was not convinced. Not by a long shot. She had lived in Regina's castle and now here in her little town in her big house with her happy family. She didn't believe it for a moment. But Cora made her promise to try and keep an open mind.

She found herself obeying David's gentle push as he urged her forward and closer to Regina and Cora. She was less than thrilled when the golden dog bounced happily in front of her in joyous greeting but she did run her fingertips through his soft golden fur before he bounded to Nick behind her who treated him with much more enthusiasm than she.

"Zelena this is Henry-"

"Hi!" Henry waved and David chuckled a little before he continued.

"-mine and Regina's son. And then this is Amelia our daughter," he smiled as she looked over to him with big blue eyes and pursed lips, "and then of course Regina," he nodded and motioned a hand to Regina who was smiling as she nodded, "I am sure you two have a whole lot to talk about."

"Hello."

Zelena wasn't quite sure how to take that tone. It was almost apologetic. But it wasn't. It was like she was glad that they were finally meeting. A tired and relieved voice. Like she was happy they were face to face and sorry that it took them so long. It was odd. "Hello," she smiled a little in return and Regina took a step closer and spoke with her hands a little.

"I am terrible with first impressions. Would you prefer a handshake or a hug or something else entirely or...?"

"Actually I would prefer as little physical contact with you as possible lest I be tempted to kill you," she admitted smoothly and surprisingly enough Regina laughed. It was honest and accepting. She wasn't mocking her and she didn't doubt her. She just laughed and nodded and Zelena didn't quite know what to do with herself but she did find her smile relaxing just a little bit.

"Very well," Regina smiled and then glanced behind Zelena when Henry spoke up.

"So who are you?"

"Me?" Nick questioned with a hand on his chest as he looked down at the boy.

"Yeah."

"My name is Nick."

"Alright. So like which story are you guys from?" He elaborated a little and the pair of them looked at him in confusion. So Cora answered for them.

"Oz, darling."

"No way! That's awesome!"

"Yes. Zelena is the Wicked Witch and Nick is the Tin Man," she smiled and Regina smiled with a slow nod. Zelena simply looked confused and leaned away when Henry skipped up to her.

"Were you actually green before you came here? Or is that just a twist in the story?"

"Yes I was green..." She had never been approached with such excitement before. There wasn't a stitch of fear in the boy.

"That's so cool! Were you always green?"

"No."

"What made you turn green?"

"Envy."

"Seriously!? That brings a whole new meaning to that saying! Hey are you staying for dinner? You should totally stay for dinner. Mom promised she'd make lasagna tonight and her lasagna is the best!"

"Henry," Regina laughed lightly as she reached forward and pulled him back with her hands on his shoulders to allow Zelena to stand straight again rather than lean back, "relax, sweetheart."

"Sorry," he laughed and then motioned forward, "but it's the Wicked Witch of The West! I didn't know that Oz was even real!"

"Neither did I actually," Regina confessed with a smile as she looked her sister up and down.

"It seems the reputation of the Evil Queen precedes that of the Wicked Witch," Zelena commented with a trying smile and it was David beside her that replied.

"Well some tales are just too fantastical to be thought of as true."

"Flatterer," Regina teased and David shrugged and smiled.

"What," He laughed and she rolled her eyes and folded her arms with a smile.

"Why aren't you made of metal?" Henry asked the supposed tin man.

"Cora gifted me with a body before we made the journey to this world. I assure you before we got here I was very much a tin man."

"Awesome," Henry grinned with a single nod and looked between Zelena and Nick. Then he glanced to Cora and she gave him a subtle wink that had him grinning even more.

"Welcome to the family," David chuckled lightly as he squeezed her shoulder and she smiled up at him a little.

"I am going to start on dinner. Any of you are welcome to join me," Regina smiled with a dip of her head, her eyes landing on Zelena last before she turned and walked toward the kitchen. The Wicked Witch and the Tin Man. Now that was a couple she never pondered on. She liked it. She couldn't help but wonder if Zelena was even aware of the man's lingering and loving eyes on her at every chance he got.

And damn he was a fine looking man.

"I'm coming!" Henry announced as he hurried after his mother and Cora, "come on, aunt Zelena!" He laughed happily as he went. He'd never had an aunt before.

David breathed a soft laugh and let his fingers gently trail over her arm as a gesture to assure her it was safe to follow them, "you alright?"

"I expected a little more reluctance actually," she admitted and David smiled and shook his head. She liked this man.

"Nah. Regina is not one to judge a person on their past given hers. Henry's been raised by her from a baby and loves her to pieces. He's got a very open mind for a young guy because of Regina and I am the one that turned around and married the Evil Queen. I promise you we are about as accepting a family as you can get," he smiled at her and then shrugged, "however, Regina will go from easy going mayor to raging serial killer in half a second if anyone she cares about is put in danger," he advised and Zelena nodded but didn't say a word.

David couldn't help but smile when the fiery little witch looked behind her to address the man behind her. Her eyes were sharp but curious at first. Like she had felt someone staring at her so she looked to find the source. The not so tin Tin Man was looking at her with darker blue eyes that were bright with life and a special adoration for the woman before him. His smile was kind and simple and he remained silent and David watched with a growing smile of his own. The interaction only lasted moments but Nick's expression never changed while Zelena's grew quickly irritated. She hadn't a clue what this man felt for her and David imagined if she was anything like her sister, Zelena had never so much as thought it a possibility that anyone could love her.

"Stop staring at me," she snapped harshly but the man's smile only seemed to grow as his blue eyes flicked back and forth between her green.

"As you wish," he nodded and she huffed irritably and turned her head straight before moving to follow David. The man he assumed to be Regina's husband.

David barely held in a laugh at the similarities between Zelena and Regina. There was no doubt the pair were sisters with Cora's temper. Nick was quite content to follow his fiery red head and David certainly felt for the man.

It was only a matter of a night or two with several bottles of wine and the company of Emma that Zelena and Regina grew to be friends. One tentative and unsure and the other diving in head first.

It was several weeks though before the sister found herself falling in to the love of a man with a heart gifted to him to give just that.

It seemed even the fastest falling souls could be caught by love.

So that is that :) and the possibility of a spin off with more from that year of Cora's leave and antics with Regina and Zelena is certainly a possibility. Just depends on how much you guys want one ;) I hope you've enjoyed the story! I know I have! And now it's time for a new one. So stick around!

Emily