"Hey!" Emma smiles sliding into the booth across from Snow and Charming. She'd called and asked if they wanted to have dinner, Regina had admittedly suggested it but Emma thought it was a good idea too.

"Hey, Emma." Snow smiles she sees the teen. "We're glad you invited us. How's Regina?" Even though Emma knows she's only asking to be polite she actually was hoping for this question. Maybe the could help with Operation Soulmate.

"She's okay...but still no luck." Emma replies vaguely.

"Luck with what?" Charming asks as Ruby appears with their drinks. She takes their orders before disappearing back to the kitchen.

"My mother is looking for someone." Emma says after Ruby leaves. "Her soulmate."

"Daniel?" Snow asks confused. Emma shakes her head.

"No, she doesn't even know his name. Tinkerbell, the fairy, found her once after she married your father. I guess mom was pretty sad at the time and so Tinkerbell saved her from dying and then led her to this tavern where her 'soulmate' was. But I guess mom's revenge and fear got the best of her because she never went in."

"So…" Charming begins. "How does she intend to find this man?"

"Oh right!" Emma exclaims realizing she forgot the most important detail. "He had a lion's tattoo on her forearm."

"That sounds like-" Before Charming can finish Snow kicks him under the table. She was unsure that this was a good idea. Was a Regina ready to open her heart again? And besides haven't they done enough to help her? After all they gave her Emma.

"Sounds like who?" Emma encourages, nearly bouncing out of her seat. "Come on, you HAVE to tell me!"

"It sounds like Robin Hood." Snow finishes with a sigh. Emma gasps. So her mom and Robin Hood, the thief from the stories, were destined to be together. Emma grins.

"Do you know him?" She asks hopefully.

"We met briefly once." David explains. "But I haven't seen him since."

"We have to find him." Emma tells them.

"Is that such a good idea?" Snow asks hesitantly.

"Look, you guys don't know her like I do. And trust me, I know she's done some horrible things, but she's been trying to make up for them, and besides...this could be a good thing. If we find him they could fall in love and get married and my mom would FINALLY get her happy ending." Emma tells them. Snow and David share a look, both knowing that they were getting roped into this whole thing but both knowing it was the right thing to do. Because even if she was only 10, and even if it was no excuse for all the tragedy's Regina had cause, Snow had broken this woman's trust once. She wanted a mother, she wanted Regina for herself and she really had been trying to help. She didn't want Regina to lose her mother like she had. But it still cost Regina deeply.

"So, what's the plan?" Charming asks.

Emma gets home to discover that her mother had to go handle some mayor stuff. It would at least give Emma a chance to speak with her grandmother about how they would find the man with the lion tattoo. Charming and Snow were going to get Gold to help them find Tinkerbell and then after that they'd get her to find Regina's soulmate. Emma had been surprised but pleased to find out that her biological parents were going to help. But she knew her mother wouldn't like it so she figured she should get Cora on board first.

"So, they want to…..help?" Cora asks her in confusion.

"They do." Emma smiles.

"Rumple will never agree, our family has far too much history."

"But Snow and David broke the curse that made it possible for Neal to get here. And besides, Neal is my best friend and if anyone can convince Rumple to help us it's his son." Emma replies quickly having thought it all through.

"I'm just afraid he could trick us." Cora replies. Emma nods.

"I know, but I think if Neal talks to him, he won't. Gold isn't going to risk losing Neal again." Emma insists with more confidence than she actually felt. Cora nods.

"Okay, I suppose it's our best shot."

The next morning Emma and Neal meet at their spot. She had told Neal a while ago about what Tinkerbell had prophesied, but Neal was worried. He knew Tink was now in Neverland and with the time Neal had spent their he was wary about anyone from that awful place. Emma had to beg him endlessly to get him to finally agree to speak with his father. They had decided not to have Charming and Snow speak to him, they all knew their best chances were with Neal.

"Promise me you'll be careful if he gets the fairy here." Neal orders. Regina rolls her eyes but sticks out her pinky. They shake on it before heading home. Emma knew Tinkerbell couldn't be too bad, after all she's helped Regina. But then again that was a LONG time ago and a lot could change. Emma wondered what happened to her after Regina refused to enter the tavern.

It was two days later before Neal called Emma. He said they had the fairy in his father's shop. Emma practically screamed with happiness. Neal instructs her to meet him at their spot but warned her that Tink didn't know why she was here or who she was here for. Emma tells Cora what was happening and begs her to cover for her. After much persuasion Cora promises not to tell Regina that her daughter was off on a potentially dangerous situation. Cora trusted that Emma would be safe with Neal and hoped for all she was worth that this didn't come back to bite her. Regina would literally kill her if she allowed Emma to get hurt.

"Neal!" Emma calls running to him. "Is she here?"

"Right here." The boy smiles, he gestures to a lady a few feet away. "TINK COME MEET EMMA!" Emma takes in the blondes appearance. She was taller than Emma had imagine, then again she wasn't in fairy form exactly.

"Hello, Tinkerbell." Emma smiles.

"Hello." The fairy replies politely. "Uhm, Neal said you needed my help."

"Not so much me." Emma admits. "More so my mother. Uh, well you once told her that fate destined her to this man-"

"YOUR MOTHER IS REGINA!?" Tinkerbell exclaims in realization. "That woman ruined my life! I lost my wings because of her!"

"I'm really sorry about that." Emma says sincerely. "But...we need you. We're trying to find the man with the-"

"Lion tattoo." Tinkerbell finishes in frustration. "His name is Robin Hood by the way."

"THE Robin Hood?" Emma asks growing excited. "That is so cool!"

"Do you know where he is?" Asks Neal. Tink rolls her eyes.

"I've been a little bit trapped. No I don't know where he is. Definitely not in Neverland." Emma sees Neal flinch for a second. He didn't like to talk about it but Emma knew his time there had been awful and he would never fully get over it. Apparently Peter Pan was much different than Walt Disney had described. "What changed your mother's mind?"

"She got her revenge...well sort of. But the thing is...there is something still missing. She wants love in her life." Emma explains, hoping that the fairy will agree but knowing that the chances of that are growing slim.

"Is that possible?" The fairy sneers. Emma wants to snap and tell the fairy off but she knows if she does then she'll never find Robin Hood. So instead she nods.

"Look, Tink, Regina has changed since adopting Emma and don't you think we all deserve second chances?" Neal asks trying to help his friend out.

"She gave hers away." The fairy replies stubbornly.

"Please, Tinkerbell." Emma pleads. "Don't do it for her then. Do it for me. I just want my mother to be happy." Tinkerbell sighs looking at the blonde's desperate face. The truth was, Tink knew losing her wings wasn't just Regina's fault. She had done her fair share of stupid things to contribute to the Blue Fairy's anger. And she's be going against her own beliefs if she didn't at least TRY and help.

"Okay fine. I'll help." she gives in. Emma cheer happily. Operation Soulmate was well underway.

A/N: OK so in the show Tinkerbell doesn't know the man with the lion tattoo's name but in this she does for purposes of being able to find him. Also it might be a little while before I update again because my schedule is CRAZY busy for the next like month but I promise to find time! Continue to review if yo do so desire, I love reading them! -Kaila :D