A/N: You guys! I'm so glad we didn't break up over the ending of the last chapter. ;) I hope this chapter will be one you can enjoy. I hope maybe with the holiday weekend to turn out one more chapter sooner than later.

Do you like the turn the story has taken for it's second arc? Wish something specific was going to happen? Let me know. I really appreciate every single comment and message. So... let me know how you feel about all this.

Thanks for reading and sharing and reviewing that you've already done.

"Regina!"

Emma had barely gotten the bug into park before she ran up the walkway toward the mansion. The front door was standing open and the house was dark and quiet. Forgetting that she was the Sheriff, Emma left her gun holstered and barreled into the house

"Regina?" She called again. Hearing no response, she raced up the staircase, taking the steps two at a time. She hurried down the hall toward the brunette's bedroom. So far, nothing seemed amiss except for the front door and the fact that all her shouting hadn't roused Regina or Henry.

"Regina?!" Emma flung open the bedroom door, half expecting to see the woman lying in bed, a book in her hands and her glasses on, waiting for her. But the room was dark. The bed was still made and there was no sign of Regina anywhere.

The sheriff had not given her deputy any information as she ran out of that station moments ago. He had chased after her but had not been able to stop her as she sped away. David had called twice already, but she had ignored it. Instead she had called Regina's cell, the land line and even Henry's cell repeatedly until the moment she ran the bug up over the curb out front.

She couldn't explain it. She didn't know what it was. But deep inside, she just knew something was terribly wrong. Earlier that night, she had felt anxiety for a moment but it had passed. This sensation of being disconnected from the brunette though had caused physical pain. Emma hadn't realized how in sync she and Regina had really become in such a short time, but now that the connection was broken, the feeling of emptiness, or loneliness, or separation from half of the whole was devastating.

Emma ran now into her son's room. The tightness in her chest only grew at the thought that something had happened to them both. Shoving the door open, the blonde saw Henry laying just as he had been when Regina had checked on him two hours ago. He was covered with the blanket she'd laid over him, his shoes tossed aside, his comic book on the nightstand.

"Henry?" Emma called in a voice filled with fear. Why hadn't he heard her yelling? "Henry? Kid, wake up."

Emma eased closer to his bed and shook him gently. Nothing happened. He remained asleep and motionless. The savior leaned over her son, just as she had all those years ago when she thought he was lost to her, and kissed him on the forehead. Maybe a kiss would wake him. It had before.

Nothing.

Music startled Emma and she jumped back from her son. It was her phone. David was calling again.

"Yeah." Emma barked.

"Emma? What's going on? Is everything alright?" David was clearly worried for his daughter and her little family.

"No. Dad. I don't…" Emma was surprised by the sound coming from her throat. She reached up and felt her cheek. She was crying. "I don't know what's wrong but Regina… she's gone. And Henry. He won't… he won't…" Emma sobbed then.

"Are you at Regina's now? I'm on my way." David was already running from the station to his patrol car.

The call had ended but Emma was still holding her phone to her ear.

Where is she? What's going on?

Henry! What's wrong with him? Why won't he wake up?

What's going on?

In what seemed like just a few minutes, David was there. He had called an ambulance and paramedics were loading Henry to rush him to the hospital. Blue lights, red lights, voices all around and Emma felt like she was in a daze. This wasn't normal. She was in control. She was the person who was calm under pressure. But she felt adrift, untethered and floating in the air.

"Emma? Emma, honey, I need you to focus. Tell me what you saw when you got here." David's voice was gentle but firm. His hand was on her arm.

She pushed through the fog. Regina needed her. Henry needed her. She had to focus.

"Um… the, uh… the front door was open. Like someone left in a hurry. I ran in. No lights on and… where's Henry? Is he ok? Dad? He wouldn't wake up." Her face felt wet again. More tears.

"I know, Emma. He's going to the hospital. Your mother is meeting the ambulance there. And we will go there too but I need to know you are ok and what you saw here so we can find Regina." Emma was aware of several people standing close by. One she recognized as a medic. Did they think the blonde was injured? "Emma. Focus."

"Ok. Right. It's… no lights were on and I just ran up here calling for them. They didn't answer. Regina was gone. Where is she, Dad? What's going on? Who would…" For the first time since she arrived, Emma felt everything click into place. "Goddamn him. I'll kill him!"

The blonde sprang to her feet and made a dash for the stairs. She ignored the ones trying to stop her, ignored her father calling after her, ignored the ache in her chest that hadn't stopped since it began in her office. She knew who did this and he was going to pay.

Hook.

~ (SQ) ~

"Come out here you son of a bitch! Where is she? What have you done with her?" Emma was on the deck of the Jolly Roger, pounding on the door to below deck. It was uncharacteristically locked.

Hook appeared behind the door, in his underwear and t-shirt and looking as though she had awoken him.

"Bloody hell, Swan. What are you on about? It's the middle of the night!" He seemed angry she had disturbed him.

Emma shoved past the man and bounded down the steps toward the living quarters. "Regina?! Regina?! Are you here?"

"Regina? What are you doing, Swan? You know I'm not even supposed to be talking to you according to your little kangaroo court. I'm sure you trespassing in my home won't be on the list of acceptable—"

"Shut up! You bastard. What have you done with her?" Emma shoved the pirate with both hands.

"Done with who? With the queen?" Hook looked convincingly confused.

"Don't pretend like you don't know. She's missing and Henry is unconscious and there isn't anyone in this town—"

"Wait. Are you saying that in this town I'm the only person with a right to be angry at the dear old Queen?" He began to laugh then with abandon. "You can't be serious, love. People may look like they love her, but there are many with a grudge. She was the Evil Queen, after all."

Before he could go on, Emma's fist made contact with his jaw and he stumbled back. He hadn't expected that. The blonde was angry like he'd never seen her. He held up his hands in a placating fashion.

"Alright. Alright. I'm sorry. That was low. But, Emma, you burst in here in the middle of the night accusing me of… God only knows what—do you think I'd be stupid enough to do something to her? After all that happened so recently, wouldn't I be an utter fool to do that? Wouldn't I, as evidenced by you being here now, wouldn't I be the number one suspect? Give me some credit, love. You don't make a life as a pirate by being stupid."

The savior seemed to be considering his words. He would have to be completely daft to make a move on Regina at this point. Everyone would know it was him.

Hook saw her swallowing the lie. "And what purpose would it serve? I'd get some revenge, true… but I'd lose you forever. You've made your choice because I made a mistake. Haven't I been honoring the wishes of the council? I haven't bothered either of you even once since that day. Emma, I won't lie. I despise her and I want her to pay for taking you from me. But I didn't do this."

Emma watched him closely. Was he telling the truth? She couldn't be sure. She felt like he was lying but his logic was air tight at the moment.

"Well, if you didn't do anything wrong, then you won't mind my searching this ship for her." Emma set her chin to him and dared him to resist her request.

Hook bowed deeply and swept wide his arm, presenting the vessel for her inspection. "Be my guest, love. You will not find her majesty on this ship."

An hour later, and with David and Sean at her side, Emma relented that indeed Regina was not on the ship. She was unwilling to apologize for barging in on the pirate. She still felt in her gut she was right. He had something to do with this. But now, she needed to get to the hospital and find out what was going on with her son.

Her father was creating a search party and already had begun to section off Storybrooke into search grids. Hook's words that others were not a fan of Regina made Emma wonder who would show up to search at all. Maybe the pirate was right. Maybe the Charming's had forgiven and forgotten, but what if no one else had and they only played nice to keep peace?

"Swan." The pirate's voice cut through her thoughts. She looked up at him, nodding for him to go on. "I'm sorry, truly, that this has happened. If you can't be happy with me, I still want you to be happy. So… if I can do anything, help in any way with the search or anything, please let me know."

Rage bubbled to the surface. Son of a bitch. "What you can do, Killian, is stay in town, on this ship in case I need to question you further. Don't leave town."

And with that, Emma turned and marched off the boat and back toward her car. Henry needed her. Regina needed her.

~ (SQ) ~

"Well, I was just paid a visit by a very angry Emma. How'd you know she would come here so quickly?" Hook spoke into his phone to the Blue Fairy somewhere across town.

"I knew because I know her type. So, aren't you glad you stayed aboard ship? Did she buy the story about you being too smart to try anything so soon?" Blue was sitting on her bed at the convent, awaiting a call from the hospital seeking her wisdom. She knew it would come as well as she had known Emma would come after Killian first.

"She seemed to. But she is going to have to do a lot of coming around in order for me to win her back."

"Don't sound so skeptical, Killian. I had been lead to believe you were quite skilled at winning the hearts of women. Now that Regina is gone, you should have no trouble. Just turn on that… charm and she will give in once more."

"So, what now?" Hook had dressed as soon as Emma and company had left the dock.

"Now, you do just what we discussed. I've done my part. By tomorrow, our fine queen will wake up in a new city with no memory of this place. And then my revenge will be satisfied. Don't disappoint me, Killian. You don't want me for an enemy."

Hook started to agree with her self-assessment but the line was dead. Apparently Mother Superior was finished talking. Now, he had to get a move on before Emma realized he was gone.

Boston was a four hour drive and he couldn't afford to waste another minute.

~ (SQ) ~

"Sheriff Swan, there is nothing medically wrong with Henry. He is merely asleep." Dr. Whale had waited until Emma arrived to give any information on the boy's condition.

"Well, then why the hell won't he wake up?" Emma was in no mood for the good doctor and his vague diagnosis. She wanted answers.

"I'm afraid I don't know. If I had to warrant a guess, which of course, as a physician I should not do, but if I had to guess, I would say this sleep is magically induced." Whale offered a disinterested wave of his hand at the mention of magic.

"Magic? Magic! Like as in a sleeping curse? But I kissed him and he didn't wake up. What are we supposed to do? We can't just stand around hoping he wakes up soon. What if he knows who took Regina? What are—"

"Emma. Calm down. Freaking out isn't helping." Snow placed a soothing hand on her daughter's arm and squeezed gently. "Dr. Whale, who do you suggest to help us with magical problems?"

"Well, normally I would say Mayor Mills but since she…" He stopped speaking when he was glared at by all three Charming's. "Right. So I would contact the Blue Fairy or perhaps Mr. Gold. Although, I think Blue may be your better choice. Would you like me to call her?"

Another room wide glare hit the man. "Yes. Well, let me just do that. I'll be back in a moment."

Emma sat on the side of Henry's hospital bed, taking his hand in hers. He was growing up fast, but in this place he was small and young and she was scared. He was hooked up to a variety of machines that made intermittent beeping sounds but seemed useless if his malady was magical and not natural. This was the first moment since charging out of Regina's house that Emma had allowed herself to feel the empty ache in her heart. She didn't try to stop the tears.

"Oh, sweetie. Don't cry. Everything will be ok. You just have to have a little hope." Snow tried to soothe her daughter.

"Hope? Seriously? Mom, someone took Regina and Henry is under some sort of sleeping spell. This isn't the time for a patented Snow White hope speech. Just… don't." Emma didn't want to hurt her mother, but she was in no mood for—what was it Regina would call it?—rainbow kisses and unicorn stickers.

"I know it looks bad now, but just a few weeks ago you were going to marry someone else and things turned around. They will again."

"Your mother is right, Emma. Henry will wake up. And we will find Regina. Finding the people we love is sort of our thing. Speaking of, Leroy rallied the dwarves and they've been gathering volunteers for the search. They are supposed to meet me out front. I better go." David stood and kissed his daughter on the head and his wife on the lips. He hoped he sounded more certain than he felt about them finding his former enemy. "We'll find her, Emma."

"Thanks dad. I hope so. I'll call you when we hear something about Henry." Emma stood and made her way to the window. She was curious to see if anyone had shown up to help search.

Emma gasped at what she saw below at the hospital entrance. There were at least 200 people gathered there with flashlights, torches and the like. They were waiting for their prince to give them instructions on searching. Emma had never imagined a crowd like this in the middle of the night out looking for Regina.

"That's not everyone, Emma." Snow was standing by her and seemed to read her thoughts. "There were at least another hundred at the sheriff's station and Sean already has them searching. If Regina is in this town, we will find her."

Snow's words wobbled through Emma's mind. If she's in this town? "Mom, what do you mean—"

"Dr. Whale says I may be of some assistance to you. What can I do?" Mother Superior was standing in the doorway.

Snow made her way to the woman and hugged her close. "I'm so glad you came. It's Henry. He seems to be in some sort of magically induced sleep. We don't know what to do."

Emma joined the other women at her son's bedside. She didn't trust Blue but she trusted Gold perhaps even less. If only Regina were here, she'd… Emma shook her head. She'd accept Blue's help. And then, she'd join the search for the woman she loved.

"Oh, poor Henry." The fairy looked down at the boy and then to his mother. "May I?"

Emma nodded her agreement and immediately Blue moved her hands along his body, just above him and a faint light seemed to emanate from her palms. She took her time, moving along each limb, every inch of his torso and spent an even longer time circling his head. All of this was of course smoke and mirrors, she knew what was wrong with Henry. But she needed to keep Emma here, in this room for as long as possible so Killian could handle their little problem.

She had convinced the buffoon to help her dispose of the woman with surprising ease. Angry people were easy to manipulate. Blue was sure Emma would not in fact take the man back, but he didn't need to know that. The plan, as it was in motion, was for Killian to drive the convent's van from just across the town line where they'd parked it on to Boston and dump out the queen on the street.

Blue felt no concern or worry as to what would happen to Regina after that. She had taken great care in the mansion during their time alone to remove Regina's memories of being the Queen, of being the Mayor and of anything to do with her life as she knew it. When Regina woke up the next day in Boston, she would be a blank slate.

Blue had never thought of using the spell to remove memories until Emma's turn as the Dark One. It had been quite fascinating to find that she had stored all the memories in the dreamcatchers filling Emma's garage. Blue had taken time to refresh her skills at taking the memories so that she would be ready to replicate the trick if the need should ever arise. And tonight, such an opportunity had presented itself. Regina's memories were safe in a dreamcatcher, hidden in the convent. And as soon as she could do it without drawing attention to herself, Blue intended to burn the talisman and ensure Regina's memories were lost forever.

"Well, can you tell anything yet?" Emma was growing impatient.

"Sheriff Swan, I know you are upset and rightly so, but this isn't something I can rush. Please. Give me some time." Blue began the ritual all over, as if Emma's interruption required a fresh start.

The fairy had worked out this part of the plan as well. She had been certain that she would be called to help instead of the Imp. And she knew what to do. Delay and distract. When she felt she had wasted as much time as she could waving her hands over the boy, she was ready with her lie.

"Well, this does appear to be a magical issue as Dr. Whale suggested." Blue waited for a response.

"Ok. We got that. What the hell can we do about it?" Emma wanted to punch the woman. No wonder Regina didn't like her.

"Emma! Blue is here trying to help. I know you are upset but please, give her a chance." Snow frowned at her daughter and turned a beaming smile to the fairy. "Go ahead, Blue. Tell us what to do."

"Wait." Blue said with finality.

"Wait?" Emma and Snow said together.

"Yes. This is magic I haven't seen before. Whoever did this is skilled at the dark arts. I don't know if Henry is going to wake up at all. And if, as Dr. Whale said, your true love kiss didn't wake him…" Blue let her words settle over them to give the most powerful effect. "Well, we have to be prepared for him to never wake up at all."

Emma was stunned. Tears streaming down her face, her hands shaking, she looked from Blue to her mother. "Never wake up… but… there has to be something we can do."

"Well, that is why I said wait. You stay here with your boy. He needs all the family love around him that we can create. I am going back to the convent to see if I can find a solution in my books. But if I were you, I would stay here… just in case." The fairy's words were deliberately ominous. But she needed Emma here, where she could watch her so that Killian could get to Boston and back unnoticed. It was an eight hour job and he had already been gone for two and half. She could make this work.

"Ok, we will stay right here. Should I call David back?" Snow walked to the door with her friend.

"Yes. I think David would help by being here. And as soon as the searchers find her majesty, she needs to be here as well. But most of all, Emma… do not leave your son's side. This is a matter of life and death." There. That would settle it. Emma wouldn't leave this room until Mother Superior gave the all clear.

"Alright. I'll be here. Please hurry. And Blue…" Emma looked up at the woman as she stepped into the hall. "Thanks. This means a lot. I won't forget it."

~ (SQ) ~

Less than an hour outside Boston, Killian Jones pulled the van into a rest area for a break. At this time of night, there was no one much around, save for two tractor trailers in the other parking lot that likely housed sleeping truckers. He felt safe leaving Regina for a moment.

Jogging back to the van, a coffee in his hand and stale wrapped pastry—a Big as Texas Honey Bun, whatever that was—tucked in his coat pocket, the pirate looked around again to be sure no one had seen him. It was important to leave no trail. Stopping had not been in Blue's plan, not even for a bathroom break. But Hook wasn't exactly accustomed to taking orders from anyone.

Climbing in the van, he checked on his cargo in the back. He'd covered her with a blanket in case prying eyes looked in. Now, he pulled back the blanket and looked into her peaceful face. He had to admit, she was beautiful. He could see what had drawn Emma in. Sitting his coffee aside, Killian stroked her smooth skin along her cheek with his hand.

Things could've been different. Regina was a modern thinking woman. She had always been known for her sexual prowess and the rumors of her unusual appetites had abounded. Surely she wouldn't have turned them down if only Emma had been willing. The pirate frowned, raking a thumb over her perfect full lips. Things could've been so very different.

But now, he had a job to do. He had no time to lose, not even on a prize like Regina Mills. He had to get her to Boston and get home before the good people of Storybrooke knew he was gone.

When he finally reached the City of Boston proper, he pulled through to a neighborhood near the water and into a deserted alley. Blue had been sketchy on the details of where he should dump the queen out, so he decided this would be best. There was a café nearby so someone would be able to help her find shelter when she awoke. He looked back at the woman. He hated her. He wanted her out of his life. But he didn't want her to be mugged or murdered on her first night in a new place.

Checking around for any witnesses and finding only a fat cat eyeing him from behind a dumpster, Hook opened the sliding door on the van and gingerly lifted the woman into his arms. He laid her carefully on a pile of broken down cardboard boxes next to an overflowing recycling bin. As an afterthought, he left her wrapped in the blanket he had hidden her under. It was cold and he wasn't interested in being the cause of her freezing to death. No, he just wanted her out of the way. She could make a new life here in Boston. If he had been more self-aware, the pirate would have recognized his hesitance to simply kill the woman for what it was. He cared what happened to her because he cared for Emma and for Henry and they both loved the witch.

Sliding the door closed again, Hook took another look around. It was dark and still in the alley although there was some light traffic in the street at the other end. Good. She would find people to help her soon enough. Reaching down, in what to him was a stroke of genius, Hook tore the fabric of her suit jacket and stuffed it in his pocket. This might come in handy.

"Goodbye your majesty. I wish I could say it has been a pleasure. I'll give your regards to Emma."

~ (SQ) ~

"Anything?" Emma asked her father as he came in from the hall. He'd been checking in with the various search teams.

David frowned and shook his head. "No, honey. I'm sorry. Nothing yet."

"God dammit. I should be out there looking for her—"

"Yes, and you will. But our priority has to be with Henry and Blue said—"

Emma interrupted her mother. "Blue said… Blue said… Well, where the hell is Mother Superior? She left here hours ago to search those books. We need an answer like now."

"I know sweetheart. I know. But we have to trust her. She will be back and Henry will wake up and then we will join the search." Snow sat on the bed beside her daughter and David sat down on the other side.

"Your mother is right. Just, let's give Blue some time."

"Time?" Emma stood and looked out the window again. The sun was coming up. They had been here for nearly eight hours already, waiting. "Seems to me she has had nothing but time. I should've called Gold. Belle wouldn't have taken so long looking through some old books."

"I apologize if I have taken longer than you would like, Emma. But I believe I may have found the answer." The Blue Fairy, in her typical fashion, seemed to appear out of nowhere and was lurking in the doorway.

"Wonderful!" Snow jumped up and moved around the bed to join her husband and give Blue room. "What did you find out?"

Emma watched the woman skeptically. She just didn't trust her.

"Well, it took quite a bit of digging but I found an ancient spell that seems to fit Henry's symptoms. Was there anything, a residue or powder, on him or his belongings when you found him, Emma?" The woman stepped up to the bed and laid out a book open to the potion she had created to make Henry sleep.

"Residue?" Emma had admittedly not been paying attention to details at the time she discovered her girlfriend missing and her son unconscious.

"There was a fine blue residue on his mattress but when we tried to collect a sample it seemed to disappear." David offered, his arm around his wife.

"Yes, that is what I suspected. This spell creates a potion that gives the one breathing it in a deep sleep. It usually lasts until morning and then they awake on their own. The powder dissipates on its own so that is likely why you could not collect it. It is a complicated spell with very little pay out so I wasn't very well versed in it. But, here it is." Blue pointed to the potion and lifted her book toward Emma.

"So you're saying Henry is just… asleep? And he will wake up on his own?" Emma couldn't believe what she was hearing. Relief coursed through her veins.

"Yes, thankfully, that is what I am saying. I think whoever took the queen didn't intend to hurt young Henry. They merely wanted him asleep." Blue closed the book and with a wave of her hand, it was gone.

As if on cue, Henry began to stir. The morning sun was pouring through the window.

"Mom? Gram? What… what's going on?" The boy's eyes fluttered open and he looked around, trying to figure out where he was.

"Oh Kid!" Emma pulled her son into her arms and held him tight. Snow joined the hug and David ruffled his grandson's hair before dashing out to let the search crew know the boy was awake.

"What's going on?" Henry said again.

Emma studied his face, trying to keep back her tears. "It's your mom. Someone knocked you out with a magic powder and kidnapped Regina. We are looking for her and I know we will find her. But we were very worried about you."

Henry's eyes grew wide. "Kidnapped her? Oh my god! Why? Why would someone do this?" Then, in a moment so short that it impressed his blonde mother, Henry sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. "We have to find her and I think the first place to look is the Jolly Roger."

"Hey, way ahead of you kid. I already did that. She wasn't there and I don't think Hook is involved. Whoever did this used magic." Emma tried to make her son lay back down until the doctor could examine him.

Henry gave a skeptical look to his mom. "Well, ok. That sounds fake but if you say so. Who else would want to hurt her?"

That niggling feeling in Emma rose up again at her son's doubt. She wasn't sure of Hook's innocence either. But she was trying not to jump to conclusions.

"I think, if you are alright and if Mom will stay with you, I'm gonna go pay him another visit." Emma kissed her son and looked him deep in the eyes. "And I promise you, I will not rest until Regina is home safe with us again."

~ (SQ) ~

"Ahh, Swan. Two visits in twelve hours' time. I hope that you are here to report the queen has been found safe." Hook was busy coiling a rope on the starboard side of the ship.

"No. No we haven't found her. But Henry is awake—"

"He is? Wonderful! I'm glad. I really am. I was worried about the lad." Killian gave Emma a sincere smile then. He had been worried for Henry, no matter how certain Blue was that he would be fine.

"Yes, he's fine. But he also thought of you first as a suspect for taking his mom. Now, why do you think that is?"

"Because of my dashing good looks and general pirate-y demeanor?" He smiled and winked and made Emma's skin crawl.

"God, you're disgusting. What was I thinking?" Emma said this mostly to herself, but the pirate heard it plainly.

"Emma, listen. I'm sorry. I wish I could help. I honestly don't know what happened to Regina and if I did, well rest assured I would tell you. I love you, Swan. And I want you to be happy. Clearly being away from her royal feistiness isn't making you happy." Stepping forward, Hook rested a hand on Emma's arm. "Please, tell me how I can help. May I join the search?"

The savior's lie detector was pinging all over the map, but she had no evidence of his involvement. And the matter of magic was complicating things. What magical being would ever join forces with him? Emma stepped back, pulling herself from his grasp. She didn't want him touching her.

"Look, I appreciate the offer but…" She hesitated. Maybe letting him help would be for the best. At least then someone could keep an eye on him. "Why don't you join dad's group. They are in the northern quadrant. I think they are in the woods near the old well. Can you find that?"

The pirate wondered how his charm had so quickly gotten Emma to let him help. Winning her back may be easier than he thought. "Aye. I know the place. I'll grab my coat and go. Thank you, Emma. I hope we find her soon."

~ (SQ) ~

With deliberate movements, Hook entered the woods ahead of the search party and took the ripped piece of fabric he'd taken from Regina's body and snagged it on a branch.

Let them find this. They'll think she was in the woods… and headed north.

Slipping away, he rounded back and met the men. David invited him to search with his team. Already in good graces with her father, things were looking up for the pirate.

~ (SQ) ~

"Henry! Please don't argue with me on this." Emma was growing frustrated with her teenage son.

"Ma, I am fine and I can help. I think I should join the search. Besides, while you have Gram here babysitting me and Granny standing guard that is three people who could be looking, including two of your best trackers." He wasn't backing down.

"He has a point, Emma. I am the best tracker you've got." Snow cocked her head, thinking.

"Mom. Not helping. I don't want the kid out there in the woods, looking for her. What if we run up on whoever took her? He would be in harm's way for no reason."

"That's true, Snow. Maybe you should go and I will stay with the boys." Granny nodded to Neal, playing happily oblivious on the floor.

"But if I were in danger, wouldn't the kidnapper have done something while they could? I was unconscious for who knows how long…"

"That's also true." Granny said, checking the release on her crossbow.

Emma let out a frustrated groan and pulled Snow into the bedroom area, behind the screen.

"Listen, Henry can't go out there. What if Regina isn't ok when we find her? I don't want that and I don't accept that… but what if? Do you want him finding his mother dead in the woods?" Emma's voice hitched over those last words and her eyes filled with tears.

Snow gasped. Clearly she had not considered that anything as bad as that would happen to her former enemy. "Emma, you can't think like that. We will find her and she will be fine. Henry just wants—"

"We don't know that. And I am not willing to risk it. He's seen too much, endured too much already. No. He's staying here. You can do what you want to, but I really need you to back me up on this."

Snow knew she was beaten. "Ok. We will stay here. But you have to check in… often. It will be hard keeping him here otherwise."

"You got it. Regular check-ins. I love you, Mom. Do you really think she's ok? It's been twelve hours at least." Now, Emma needed hope.

"Yes. I do. She's somewhere out there and we will find her and bring her home. I know it."

~ (SQ) ~

"I found something!" Archie raised his hand and waited for David to join him. The other searchers stopped. It was a sweep operation and the men in their party were in a line walking forward toward the town line in the distance. They were looking not only for Regina but for any clue that she had been here.

"This looks like the suit I saw her in yesterday morning. She was at the hardware store buying hooks to hang a photograph." Happy, who would have been more aptly named Nosey, offered up to the prince. The dwarf was always sticking his nose in where he didn't belong. But he did it with a smile.

"Alright. That could mean she was headed this way so eyes open guys. She might be nearby." The men began their march toward the edge of town once more while David snapped a picture of the cloth with his phone and sent it to Emma.

David: Does this look like something of Regina's

Emma: OMG! Yes! She had that on yesterday. I'm on my way.

David: No. Keep searching there. We will let you know if anything else shows up.

Emma: No. I'm coming. Be there in ten.

David didn't respond to argue. Her mind was made up. David only hoped there was something good for his daughter when she arrived. He was beginning to have his doubts.

~ (SQ) ~

"Gram?" Henry was sitting on the rug, trying to distract himself by playing trucks with his toddler uncle.

"Yes, Henry?" Snow was busy making hot chocolate for all of them. Granny was keeping a vigilant eye on the door, peeking out the curtains from time to time to view the street.

"This is maybe a dumb question, but why didn't we ask my grandfather to make one of those tracking potions and pour it on Mom's scarf or something?" Henry had been trying all afternoon to be of some use but it was almost impossible. But his imagination was an asset.

"Gold?" Snow looked like she had seen a ghost.

"Yeah. Like he made that potion before that helped Gramps find Jefferson with the hat. Why can't we do that with Mom?"

Snow ran across the room and hugged her grandson. She was nearly vibrating with excitement. "Oh, Henry. You clever, clever boy. You may have just saved the day."

~ (SQ) ~

"Ahh, to what do I owe the honor of the royal family in my shop this fine evening?" Mr. Gold was standing behind his glass case, watching the door as if he'd been expecting them. Emma led the way with her parents, Neal and Henry following behind. Granny was standing outside, watching just in case.

"I… we need your help. And before you say it will cost us, this is going to be free. Because you are going to do it for Henry." Emma stepped up to the counter boldly.

"Well, dearie, I am always happy to help my grandson. And what does dear Henry need so badly that you've all come out to meet me?" The gold on his tooth gleamed in the light as he smiled disarmingly.

"Regina. She's… missing. And we want a potion to find her." Snow stepped up beside Emma.

"Missing? Why that hardly sounds like our illustrious queen. Perhaps there is more to it than that?" Gold seemed to pull a cloth from thin air and began dusting a small figurine of a man on the counter.

"She's been kidnapped. And Henry was magically drugged. So, please, we are wasting time. Make us the potion." Emma was growing impatient. She already felt like a fool for not having thought of this sooner. She shouldn't have counted on Blue to begin with. Her gut had said go to Gold.

"Kidnapped was she? Well, that is unfortunate. Regina and I have had a complicated relationship to be sure, but I do care for her despite what she may think. Give me a moment. I will see what I can do. For Henry." The man hobbled with his cane into the back.

He reappeared much sooner than any of them had anticipated. "I had some on hand. You'd be surprised how often people go missing in this quiet little hamlet. Now, before I give it to you… tell me more about this magical drugging of my grandson."

"There was some spell, and a blue powder and he was in a deep sleep until the sun came up. Blue explained it to us." David filled him in as quickly as he could.

"Oh. I see. So you sought guidance from Mother Superior and found now that I was the better choice. Pity, dearie. You should have come to me first." Gold eased around the counter to join the heroes.

"And why's that?" Emma said, hands on her hips and a cocky gleam in her eye. She was sure as soon as she got her hands on that potion, Regina would be found and this would be over.

"No. I think I will let you figure that out for yourself, Miss Swan. Here you go, Henry. I hope your mother is ok." He handed the potion to Henry and smiled. For all his faults, he did love the boy.

"Thanks." Henry beamed before pouring the contents of the bottle on one of his mother's scarves. The fabric shook and began to glow before it floated out the door. The whole family ran behind it and jumped into two vehicles, Granny climbing in the bed of David's truck.

They expected the scarf to head north, through town and past the woods. Instead it headed south and straight for the town line.

"What the hell?" Emma said to her son in the passenger seat of the bug. "But we found part of her jacket in the other direction."

They flew through the streets of the town until they were nearly at the town line and suddenly, the scarf fell to the ground. There was no magic beyond the orange stripe on the black top. Regina wasn't in Storybrooke.

"Oh no." Henry breathed. "How can we ever find her if someone took her over the line?"

"I think I know a way." Emma said. She jumped from the car and scooped up the scarf and headed back to Gold's shop.

"Back so soon? I assume from the sullen faces your quest was not a success." The man was leaning on his cane with a smirk.

"No. It went to the town line and stopped. She's not in Storybrooke." Emma stalked toward the man who had been the Dark One but was now only a part time sorcerer and shop keeper with a young wife and new born daughter.

"That is unfortunate. Having lived in this world without magic outside the city limits, I can assure you the world is no place for displaced fairytale characters. So what brings you back here?"

"The globe." Emma said confidently.

"Very good, Emma. I thought you had forgotten. And am I to assume this too will be for Henry? Or is this one for you?" Emma knew why Regina called him the Imp. There was an unnerving quality to his voice as he spoke.

"For me. For Henry. Whatever. I don't care. I just need to know if she's in this world. And if she is, where? But I'll be damned if I'm making a deal with you. After all we've been through, this is the least you can do. After all you put her through…" Emma stepped closer. She could easily overpower the man but she wouldn't and he knew it.

"Oh my. Seems the Savior finally admits she's in love with the Evil Queen. How lovely. And for that admission alone I will do this for you. Are you Emma? In love?"

Emma couldn't imagine what difference it would make to the man, so she told him. "Yes. Desperately. I love her. And ever since she's been gone, I have this aching hole in my chest. Now please… the globe."

"Aching hole? Interesting. Hmmm. Alright then, dearie. Let's find the out where our queen is hiding."

With a flourish of his hand, the globe appeared on the counter. Gold pricked his finger and squeezed out a single droplet of blood on the surface. In a moment, the red mist began to swirl and move until it began to take shape. It was this world. It was close by.

"Boston."