A/N: So, so, so sorry for the lengthy delay. But, I got a job! Big thanks to OCD ADD Goldfish for the feedback and for letting me bounce some ideas around! Also, to the guest who suggested the Haim song: yes! I loved it and I've added it to my SQ playlist. To my other guest reviewers, I wish I could respond to your ideas. They're all taken into account when I write! I must admit I am out of my comfort zone writing about magic… the rules/no rules thing gets me, but here we go!

Chapter 8: Changes

She grabs the door again, this time gripping it hard in her hand. In the main hallway, she takes a moment to breathe in the charged atmosphere and to prepare herself. One step at a time. She can do this. She rounds the corner, passing the locker rooms. It's just the sheriff's station. She takes another few steps and eyes the sign that reads "office" with an arrow. Just the sheriff's chair. She nods to herself reassuringly when she hears David's and Robin's voices around the corner. The sheriff's desk, the sheriff's—

As soon as she feels eyes on her, she stops in her tracks.

"Emma," she whispers.

Although she knows it can't be real, she sees Emma everywhere she looks… from standing beside her (figuratively and literally) when she was behind those bars to snacking on sugar-filled treats with her feet resting on the desk.

Robin and David share a glance—both eyes filled with pain for the woman, but one set definitely not as soft as the other. Robin clears his throat and takes a step towards her, his hand outstretched.

Her mouth moves up and down, but no more words come out. When he's standing completely in front of her, she snaps to, startled.

"I'm sorry. I must have—"

He merely nods as he takes her hand in his. He doesn't need her to explain and he wouldn't want to make her that uncomfortable in front of anyone else by bringing it up. Putting on a brave face, she takes deliberate strides with him towards Emma's desk—the same one she found herself perched upon not long after the infamous blonde had become her employee. Unwittingly, a small smiles teases at her lips. She wasn't a fool. She had seen the way Emma looked at her, the way her eyes wandered and trailed down to her chest and to the hem of her skirt. Of course, at that time, propping herself haughtily on the desk while taking her skirt up a few more inches than necessary was most definitely a power play of the more domineering, impersonal, sexual nature. If she had only known then that she was playing with fire. She lets her mind wander a bit… what if Emma hadn't backed down? What if she had strode over to the mayor, taken her right there on the desk? Would Regina have rejected her? She subconsciously shrugs, not knowing the answer to that question. Or if it would ever matter.

"Where's Belle?"

"She's a bit, uh, emotional about everything. We decided to wait and speak with her tomorrow once we have an idea of what Gold might be up to."

"Oh."

She makes it a point to not sit at Emma's desk or in her chair. Instead, she sits at the desk directly behind it, finding comfort in being off of her tired legs.

"So here's what we know," Robin begins. He flops down unceremoniously in Emma's chair and reaches behind him to open the drawer and grab a pen.

Regina closes her eyes and has to refrain from telling him to stop. While that would certainly be embarrassing, she's not quite convinced she's ready for any of Emma's things to be moved or removed yet. She pulls her attention slowly back to Robin and purses her lips as she scans over the paper he's scribbling on.

After listening to the two men go back and forth about what they knew or thought they knew, Regina finally has had enough.

"No offense, but you two are the ones who got lost in the woods that day. You, who lived in the forest and you, who have been living here for close to thirty years." They both look away. "Hand me that."

Robin obliges and watches her dark, cold eyes flash over the document.

"Neal." She hates the way his name forms in her mouth now, though she can't pinpoint exactly why.

"What?"

"Gold is going off of Zelena's plans of time travel to bring Neal back," she says as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"But he doesn't have your heart," David chimes in, looking rather confused.

Regina lets her eyes float to Robin's. "No," she drawls "but he has his."

This time, Robin joins David in furrowing his brow, his eyes examining Regina for some sort of elaboration.

"Apparently your heart will suffice… or at least he thinks it will."

"Why?"

She holds a hand up, using a finger to recall each ingredient. "Wisdom, courage, love, and innocence. His own mind and your sword," she begins.

David looks down in contemplation, then slowly back up at Regina. "And Zelena was going to use your heart? For love?"

She rolls her eyes. "Is that so hard to believe, Charming?"

"Well, quite frankly, yes."

She ignores that last comment and continues. "Now, he has your heart. Evidently he reasons the heart of the only person who could ever love the Evil Queen must be adequate."

Robin's face falls. Even with the void in his chest, he still feels for her. He can't fathom the pain she must be in right now. If anything ever happened to Roland, he wouldn't want to live anymore. His mind immediately goes back to their past year in the Enchanted Forest and how he witnessed Regina at her lowest point—well, until now, that is.

"He must be off in search of some semblance of innocence," she shrugs.

Both men's eyes grow unnaturally wide as they remember they have small children in the care of a woman who, at this time, was practically incapable of defending anyone should she need to.

"Go," Regina states authoritatively.

_.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._

"Finally," Emma sighs, putting the last of Henry's clothes away.

She jumps in the shower and freshens up before going to retrieve him from soccer practice. She's both nervous and excited to tell him about the job interview. Their life in New York had always been relatively peaceful on the outside, but she often battled with feelings of inadequacy when it came to parenting. Perhaps this new job would do the trick.

She can't help the smile plastered to her face when she sees him running towards her from the field.

"Hey! How was it?"

"Great! Look!"

He holds up his leg and moves his shin guard out of the way to reveal a mess of smeared blood and green grass.

"Oh, nice," she laughs, her head moving up and down.

Henry hadn't always been the most athletic or social, but in the past year, he had really started to come out of his shell and make friends.

"Yeah, Sinclair tried to make the steal, but his cleat caught the top of my guard, ripped the skin right off," he says proudly, his eyes dancing.

"Henry…"

"Yeah?"

"Just get in the car."

He mimics her toothy smile and throws his bag into the back seat before sliding into the passenger's side. Emma gives him a minute to catch his breath and relax before she begins.

"So, since Monday may be the start of me keeping normal hours, I thought we'd spend the day together tomorrow. Ice Cream Factory, starchy, fattening lunch, maybe the pier?"

"Really?"

"Of course, but we can't overdo it. I've got to keep my awesome figure, y'know?"

After he thoroughly rolls his eyes at his mom, he shakes his head. "I didn't mean really to that. I meant really about keeping normal hours."

The hope in his voice makes her heart flutter a bit. "Yeah, kid. Actual normal, adult hours. Home at night and most weekends."

"So this means you called them back? You got the interview?"

"Yep."

He nods and turns back around in his seat. "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."

_.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._

After a few long moments of sitting in silence amidst Emma's things, Regina finally has the willpower to pull herself from the chair. She swallows the lump in her throat as she approaches Emma's desk. She never noticed the "ES" carved into the side. Must have been done during one of those terribly boring days she always complained about. As if on instinct, she reaches out and lets her fingers trace the carved wood.

Why now? Why not then? Had Emma been feeling this way all along, struggling with it? Sure, Regina had moments of wondering what their relationship truly meant. She often found herself pondering whether or not she actually hated the savior as she claimed to. She lets out a heavy sigh. No, she didn't hate her. Never did. From the day they met, they had walked the line between agitation and admiration, but never hate.

Regina is looking over Emma's work, shaking her head over her handwriting. She smiles sadly. By this time, she figures, Emma is probably preparing for the job interview Regina had set up. She had overheard Henry talking about Emma's job in New York before he got his memories back. He always seemed so sad or worried about her not being home enough or being unsafe.

She also remembers him talking about Walsh with excitement in his eyes, and then sadness as he would recount their sudden breakup before they left to come to Storybrooke. Regina, purely out of curiosity then, had questioned him about it. He told her that his mom appeared genuinely happy and that he just knew Walsh was going to propose. At the time, Regina had felt some sort of pang in her chest, but chalked it up to Henry having a different family in New York which didn't include her. Now? Well, now she understands all-too-well exactly what that pang had truly meant. She had been jealous. Subconsciously, she guessed, she didn't want Emma with anyone. Anyone else, that is.

She glances up at the clock and sees that she has been standing in quiet contemplation for far too long. Robin and David are going to be wondering what is keeping her. She knows she should have rushed out behind them, eager to protect the remnants of Storybrooke, but right now, she can't find it within herself to care all that much. She replays the last day in her head for a few brief moments, then swiftly grabs her purse and the paper with Robin's scrawl on it and begins to walk out of the office.

Ring, ring, ring.

"Not now," she growls, taking another few steps.

Ring, ring, ring.

Shouldn't this automatically redirect to David's cell phone if unanswered?

She pauses in the doorway when she hears a long beep, followed by a loud crackle, then the annoying blonde's voice floating through the empty hallways.

Thank you for calling the sheriff's office, we're unavailable at this time. If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 9-1-1. If not, please leave a detailed message and a callback number after the tone.

She wipes at hot tears that have made their way to her cheeks. It has only been a matter of hours and yet, she thought she would never hear that voice again.

"Regina, if you're still there, all is well here. Roland and Neal are both safe and sound. We tried to reach you on your personal device, but there was no answer. Mary Margaret and David have invited us for lunch. We can further discuss Gold's plan. I await your arrival."

A small chuckle is forced through tears. She can imagine the confusion Robin must feel, talking into a piece of glass and plastic, expecting her to hear him across town. She collects herself quickly and makes a mental note to teach him how to re-record the office message as she walks out of the building and locks the door behind herself.

"Ah, your majesty," a smug voice sounds behind her.

Her face forms a disgusted scowl. She doesn't bother turning around. He must have been coming to look for Emma.

"Would you happen to know where the devilishly handsome captain of the most striking ship in all the lands might find a one Emma Swan this beautiful morning?"

Regina's jaw clenches as she squeezes her keys in her palms. If she weren't so irritated, she probably would have yelped in pain from the pressure. Feeling the familiar sensations of anger and magic rising within her, she faces him, annoyance clearly written across her features.

"She might as well be dead," she spits.

"My, my… and here I thought the two of you lasses were getting on quite well as of late. Made for quite an attractive pair, you two… if you know what I'm getting at," he winks, leaning in towards her.

Regina's nostrils flare and he knows he should back off, but in true Hook form, he pokes the bear some more.

"Turn her into a toad, did you? Or did you rip her heart out of her chest like the others?"

She feels the crackle in her fingertips and turns away for a moment, knowing he's smirking behind her, waiting for her to react. Instead, she takes a deep breath and turns again, a cold grin spreading across her face. This, she would enjoy. If nothing else, this.

"She left."

"What do you mean she left?"

"She took Henry and left," she says slowly, pausing for effect. "Moved back to New York, back to her real life- one that doesn't involve murderous and leering pirates in cheap eyeliner."

She takes pleasure in seeing his face fall, the smugness that was there only moments prior replaced with hurt and confusion.

"Aw," she coos, feigning concern. "She didn't tell you she was leaving? No parting embrace? No lingering goodbye kiss?" She asks, her voice bottoming to its lowest level of disdain as her nose turns up.

Her stomach churns at the thought of him kissing Emma, but it's worth it to see him squirm.

"Bloody hell, do I have to rescue the savior yet again?" He gazes off in the distance as if he's planning on sailing to New York.

"No. She asked me to erase her memories before she left. Including the ones concerning you."

That part. That part hurts her the most, but gives her the most satisfaction when it comes to him.

"Now, if you don't mind, I've been invited to dine with Emma's family."

Without another glance, she enters her car and drives away from him and the station.

_.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._

Mary Margaret's Apartment

"Thank you," Regina says politely after finishing her lunch, "for inviting us."

"Are you alright?" The younger woman questions, tilting her head to the side.

Regina eyeballs her with a silent warning as she dries off one of the dishes she has just been given.

"Yes."

lacing her hands on the sink, she leans in a bit to check on the boys in the next room before continuing. "Are you sure?"

Regina pinches the bridge of her nose in annoyance.

"I said I—"

"Regina?" calls a tiny voice from the other side of the bar.

She motions for the little boy to come around to her before kneeling to meet his eye level. "Yes, dear?"

"Where's Henry?"

The two women meet gazes, the younger looking on apologetically.

Regina swallows hard.

"Henry is with Emma, sweetie."

"But where's Emma?"

"Emma is… Emma…"

"Emma is on vacation, Roland. She and Henry will be back soon," Mary Margaret finally offers upon seeing Regina struggling to appease the child.

Looking as if he is satisfied with the answer, he bounds back into the other room with his father, David, and baby Neal. The older woman makes sure Roland is out of earshot before standing again.

"Don't be such a fool," she barks.

"She'll come back. I'm sure of it." The pixie-haired woman is trying her best to sound confident. "As soon as this thing with Gold blows over, they'll both be back."

"Hm."

"What? Do you think her leaving has something more to do with you than with Gold?"

She regrets it as quickly as it came out of her mouth. She begins to apologize, but Regina puts her hand up between the two of them, dismissing the action.

"Keep your voice down," she whispers harshly, cutting her eyes towards her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that. I'm—we're all on edge about them leaving."

"No. I'm on edge about my son leaving. And are you really so naive to think that Emma Swan, The 'White Knight', would take off in the face of danger?"

"I knew it. I just knew it. I tried to tell her."

"You knew what? Tried to tell her what?" Regina asks, turning to face Mary Margaret fully.

"That you didn't feel that way about her," she continues, still washing the dishes.

Regina scoffs. "And how do you just know that, dear?"

"Because you're…"

"Go on."

Mary Margaret pushes the dish back into the sink and closes her eyes.

"Because you're evil!"

Regina smiles, satisfied- that cold, condescending smile she has perfected over the many years of playing the villain. She wanted to hear her say it. She had practically begged. She wanted to feel that fury again. At least it was something other than emptiness.

"You're evil and you'd only hurt her," she continues. "Emma deserves so much better than someone like you."

"Someone like me?"

"Yes! You're so happy being miserable that you probably couldn't fathom the thought of letting anyone else be happy! What am I saying? Of course you can't. You never could! That's why you sent us here to begin with!"

Regina's eyes darken and shimmer dangerously. Mary Margaret is treading on thin ice. The older woman takes a step closer, but she isn't backing down.

"If you must know, Snow White, I do care about your daughter. Very much so. So much that I actually gave her what she wanted again, despite it meaning I get NOTHING in return. I gave her a happy ending with MY son, away from here."

"What she wanted? Emma didn't—"

"She did. And you know what we were left with?"

Mary Margaret shakes her head back and forth, taking a step back from the boiling woman.

"Nothing but her memories."

"What?"

"Yes, dear Snow, your daughter, the one who professed to love me, the Evil Queen, high-tailed it out of her by her own choosing… another cleaned slate and off into the blissful sunset."

"You're not saying…"

"Is everything okay in here?" David asks nervously, placing his hands on his wife's shoulders.

She looks back and forth between the two, desperately trying to calm herself with deep, even breaths. The old Regina would have flung them across the room, out of her way. The "new" Regina simply excuses herself, her fists clenching and un-clenching involuntarily.

She storms down the small hallway, but pauses when she finds herself at Emma's bedroom door, wondering momentarily if it's locked. She checks over her shoulder first, then reaches out a hand and slowly turns the handle, trying not to make any noise. She clenches her eyes tight when the old wooden door creaks loudly. When she's sure no one is looking for her, she steps inside.

She knows she shouldn't do this. It's only serving as self-imposed torture- not to mention the man, her destiny, who is waiting for her in other room. But she continues anyway.

The force of being surrounded by Emma's belongings hits her so hard that she nearly doubles over, her left hand immediately clutching her stomach as she rests against the door that has just clicked softly shut. Her eyes drink in everything from the mug on her nightstand to the…

"Oh," is all that escapes from Regina's lips as she reaches for the red leather thrown haphazardly across the bed. She can't help it anymore. She had spent so long fighting this woman that she never realized she was fighting her feelings for this woman as well. And here, in the shell containing what is left of Emma's life in Storybrooke, it all hits her—hard. She cries. For Emma, for Henry, for herself, for Robin and Roland, and for David and Mary Margaret. It's all too much. How dare Emma just walk away from everyone? And for such a trivial reason. People fell in love all the time. And just as many times, people got hurt. It was no reason to leave your entire life behind. Not in Regina's mind, anyway. But maybe she just wanted it all. Maybe she hadn't grown. Perhaps she was still just the selfish evil queen everyone thought she was.

She puts the jacket back down on the bed and turns her head away from it, willing her mind and heart to push the blonde away.

"Enough," she whispers. "That's enough."

She takes a moment in front of the hallway mirror to compose herself, but listens as the three adults consider Gold's plan and Roland talks to the baby.

"Gold time-traveled to find Neal—it can be very dangerous. It could change the future."

Mary Margaret nods in agreement. "I guess the only question is if he would be blindly led by his heartbreak or if he would be cautious as to not hurt Belle."

"He won't stop until he gets what he wants, regardless of anyone else's feeling. He'll be after the product of true love, you can bet on it" a voice from down the hall sounds.

They all look up to see Regina making her way back into the den, wringing her hands nervously.

"Emma?"

"No. Her magic is far too powerful. He needs someone weak, someone vulnerable."

Mary Margaret practically ignores Regina, her nerves taking over. "She doesn't have magic there, does she? I mean, even if she did, she wouldn't remember how to use it, right?"

Regina shrugs. She actually doesn't know. "Magic is very unpredictable in these other lands. There is no way to know if she still garners it or has any recollection on how to use it."

"So what if he goes after her?" David begins to worry.

They want Regina to say she'd go to New York to protect her. But she knows that without the proper spell, she would be without magic in New York and rendered helpless to protect anyone. Emma, on the other hand, possessed light magic; magic that was much more powerful than any she had ever known and, if she had it there, she would be just fine.

"Not to offend, of course, but Gold is in search of innocence, purity. Obviously, Ms. Swan possesses neither of those," Regina smirks, a small satisfaction resulting from that jab.

Mary Margaret cuts her eyes at the former queen. "What are you suggesting, Regina?"

"What I'm suggesting," she mocks "is that Gold is no fool and would try to get to the baby before Emma."

The new parents exchange glances, worry anew for their infant.

"We need her back." Mary Margaret starts pacing. "We need her to remember and we need her back here."

Regina just raises an eyebrow.

"She's the only one who could defeat him. She's the only one who can protect our Neal. Regina, you've got to do something," David pleads.

"There's nothing I can do." She steals a glance towards Robin, who is remaining quiet. "She, uh... she asked me not to."

"I don't care what she asked you to do or not do. You have to do this. For all of us."

"I said there is nothing," she replies in agitated disgust, obviously over this conversation.

"So you're telling us that despite Gold already having Robin's heart and possibly going after little Neal or even Emma, that there's nothing you can do?"

"Can't or won't?" Mary Margaret grits out, looking a bit like the bandit she once was.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, David would have already had his sword drawn and pointed at the queen's chest with Snow standing protectively behind him. Here, in Storybrooke, they just look like some pissed off parents. Regina purses her lips and looks away, not impressed by their weak attempt at intimidation.

She takes a deep breath and looks at Robin. She's waiting for him to defend her or at least back her up. When he does nothing but nod, she exhales in defeat.

"There is a small- very small- chance I could get them back."

"What? How?"

"He, Henry... may be able to make her remember. If not, there's a catch in the spell that allows us to enter into their world for a very limited time."

"I don't understand."

"Of course you don't," she snarls at David as she reaches into her blouse and pulls out a small charm on a fine golden chain.

"What will that do?""

"This will let me know if Henry's memories return."

"Henry, too, Regina?!" Mary Margaret plops down onto the sofa in exasperation.

Regina bites down on her cheek, waiting for the dramatics to cease.

"When this charm signals me, I can go to Ariel."

"Ariel?" In true Charming form, they are showing no signs of catching on.

"Because she's the only one who can cross realms," she rolls her eyes. Idiots.

"Oh, right!"

"Don't get too excited. It might never happen."

David's features go rigid once more. "What do you mean? You enchanted this, right? So, what? If Emma or Henry touches it, they'll remember?"

"It's not that simple."

"Can't you send Ariel with a potion like Hook had before?" Mary Margaret asks.

Regina wants to vomit at the mention of the one-handed wonder. "If you recall, I tried to replicate that potion before and couldn't."

"Well, then what do we do?"

In this moment, Regina wishes she had thought of something better yesterday. But she had to think quickly, throw some sort of catch into the enchantment, to the memories she was giving back to Emma. A small part of her wanted it to be left up to fate, though. She had no doubt that, in time, Henry, with the heart of the truest believer, would find his way back to Storybrooke, back to her. Emma, on the other hand, would take a lot more convincing. Regina didn't want to force anything on the woman she had already unintentionally hurt so badly. That's why she left the enchantment mostly up to chance, a serious of triggers.

"Well, it will be happenstance, really," Regina begins.

"As in?"

"Before Emma and Henry left, I made sure he had packed his book."

"The one I gave him?" Mary Margaret's face lights up.

"Yes. He also had, in his coat pocket, a protection stone. Should the items come in contact with each other, their magic will be strong enough to bring his memories back."

"Really, Regina? You couldn't have done better than that? Less complex, perhaps?"

"You're pushing it, Miss Blanchard," she warns.

David intervenes when he feels the air becoming thick again. "So the book and stone touch, Henry suddenly remembers, the pendant signals you, and you go to Ariel... and tell her what?"

Regina, thankful for the break in tension, continues. "I will provide her with instructions on how to retrieve my son." She leaves out the details and Emma on purpose.

"And Emma."

"Should she choose to come back, then yes, I suppose your daughter as well. But you should know I cannot and will not force her to do so."

Mary Margaret is no stranger to Regina's emotions and she can see right through them now. She knows the larger part of her heart is breaking for Henry, but there's a small part that aches for Emma as well.

"And in the meantime?" Robin finally breaks his silence.

"We do the only thing we can do. We wait."

_.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._.-._

New York City, later that night

"Come on, just one," Emma whines.

"Mom, no. I told you—I'm too old for fairy tales."

She puts on her best puppy-dog face and bats her eyes. "But I miss my little baby."

He pulls away, laughing, when she leans her head on his shoulder, nudging him and whimpering.

"Not even the one about the White Knight?" She calls out as he's taking his dinner plate to the kitchen.

"No way! The White Knight is a loser!"

"What?! The White Knight is the best part of the whole story."

He returns to the den, still shaking his head.

"Nope. Not even close."

"Okay, then. What about the Evil Queen?" She pulls her eyes wide, putting on her best scary face.

He shrugs. It would have worked on him a few years ago.

"Fine. If you don't want to be baby Henry, go put this up. And don't throw it back into the closet! I don't want it getting all banged up."

Feigning exasperation, he takes the heavy book from her and places it on the very top of his bookshelf, out of the way, just in case his mother started feeling nostalgic again. Besides, what if he had a friend over when the feeling hit? That would be embarrassing.

"Hey, I think I'm going to play my new game a bit before getting ready for bed. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, sure," she offers bitter-sweetly, a part of her wishing he had wanted to go back in time with her with the stories. She hadn't realized how much her son was growing up until today- making new friends, having things to do on weekends, and not really seeming like the child she had struggled to raise all these years.

Rising from the couch, she yawns and stretches before pushing her hands into her pockets. She figures she should go ahead and start getting ready for bed herself.

"What the—" she pulls a hard object out of her pocket. "Hey, Henry?"

"Yeah?"

"I found this little crystal-, rock-like… thing… in your luggage. Do you want to keep it?"

He pauses his game and meets his mother in the doorway, holding his hand out. "Uh, yeah, sure."

"What the heck is it anyway?"

He shrugs. "I don't know. Some sort of rock, I guess. I found it when we went to Maine. I thought it looked cool."

She raises a brow. "O... kay."

He shrugs, contemplates telling her to toss it for a moment, but then takes it from her and places it on his nightstand.

"Don't stay up too late, okay? Big day tomorrow."

"Yep."

She watches him jump back onto the bed and take the game controller in his hands.

"Goodnight, my little prince," she coos, earning a disgusted face from him before he chuckles a little.

"Night, mom."