Emma Swan Dates A Real Boy Part III: Storybrooke Edition

by RedTailedHawkens

The Davidson's come to Storybrooke.

12. Chapter 11: You Can Have Manhattan

Disclaimer: Lines lifted from Season 4, Episode 1. Thanks to the Forever Dreaming transcript website.

Chapter Eleven: You Can Have Manhattan

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Killian demanded. "Take me to this vessel of yours."

"Women in this realm don't like being given orders by arrogant men," Mary retorted. "Actually, we didn't like it in the Enchanted Forest either."

"I'm not giving you an order as a man; I'm giving you one as your captain. You do need a captain for this vessel, I assume?"

"Yes. When we're ready to leave."

"And until then, I'm just supposed to take it on faith that this ship of yours exists?"

"Well, the other option is my taking it on faith that you won't climb aboard my ship, because it is mine, even if you're the one captaining it, and going to the Enchanted Forest without me."

"That would be bad form. Why is it so difficult for women of this realm to trust me?"

"Trust has to be earned. Besides, as I've said, I've known enough pirates."

"Do not compare me to Blackbeard. Ever!"

"Do not raise your voice or tell me what to do. I'll compare you to whom I like." She turned away from him to collect papers from desks. She continued talking, though he wasn't sure if she was talking to him or just talking aloud. "Two grown men, dressing up in costumes and waving their dicks around trying to prove who is the bigger man. You don't mind being compared to a villain, you just mind being compared to a buffoon, and you want to be the better pirate. But being a good pirate is nothing to crow about. Blackbeard is a buffoon, and he's also the worst sort of man." She stopped where she was and turned to stare him down. "If you want to earn my trust, you won't be the better pirate, or the bigger man, but the better person, and you'll treat me with respect."

"You think me a villain? You may not have heard, but I helped rescue the lost boys of Neverland. And I went to fetch the Savior to break the curse, not that I was thanked for it. My point is, I've changed."

"Prove it, then."

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"That's for you to figure out. Get a bean and a crew, and I'll deal with the ship. Once we have everything, we'll set sail. Now, my lunch break is almost over. You should leave before you scare the children."

"Children love me," Killian said, as he made his way out of the classroom. It was a stupid thing to say, but he couldn't go letting her have the last word, could he? "I'll be in touch."

---

When Aurora had pictured giving birth, she had thought Philip would hold one of her hands and Mulan the other, as she lay in their marriage bed at their castle, a midwife saying words of encouragement. Philip was there, but the rest was quite different. Mulan was still missing. Instead of a midwife, a male physician was examining her with words that were hardly what she would call encouraging. Instead of giving birth from the comfort of her own bed, she was in a white room full of objects that shrieked at her at irrational times. And it hurt!

When she was young, Aurora had asked her mother about the day she was born. Her mother had told her that she didn't actually remember that day. Briar Rose had been under a sleeping curse when she gave birth to Aurora. The family fairy had enlisted her fairy sisters to fetch Briar Rose's true love to awaken her, but it had taken time, and during that time, there had been concern about what might happen if the baby was not born when predicted. So, while the family fairy could not wake Briar Rose herself, she was able to help the birth along, and bless Aurora with gifts when she arrived. Her father had arrived a week later, having slayed Maleficent, temporarily at least. When Briar Rose opened her eyes, Aurora was a week old and quite content, unaware of the whole affair. She had been a happy child, her mother said, so easily soothed. Perhaps it had been the blessings of the fairies.

In any case, Aurora's mother had not prepared her for the burning feeling in her nether regions. Nor had she prepared Aurora for all the blood, or the diarrhea. She couldn't even look at Philip, partially out of shame, and partially because she felt it was quite unfair that he could just stand there smiling while every part of her hurt. She would have given anything for a sleeping curse.

Instead, she was awake for thirteen hours, and much of it was spent in pain. Then, after exerting more effort than she thought possible, she heard a shriek that sounded different from the other shrieks. It was a shriek that was somehow more human.

"It's a boy," the physician said. "Do you want to hold him?"

Aurora wasn't sure if the physician was talking to her or Philip. She wasn't sure of much of anything. She was tired, and everything was so bright and so loud. She imagined she'd want to hold her adorable baby (a girl, she had been sure it would be a girl) right away.

"Look at him Aurora," she heard Philip say. "Isn't he beautiful?"

She just wanted to rest her eyes. She could see the baby later. When she wasn't so tired, and that shrieking animal sound stopped. It didn't mean anything that she didn't want to now. It didn't mean anything that giving birth to their son was absolutely nothing like what she had pictured.

---

Emma did her best to ignore the screams of pain as she made her way to her mother's room in the hospital. She had to remind herself that it was perfectly normal to hear women screaming in a maternity ward, and that it likely had nothing to do with wicked witches or evil wizards. Anyway, she wasn't the Savior anymore. Her magic was gone. Her job wasn't to make sure everybody was safe and happy; the only people whose safety and happiness mattered were her family, and herself. Because she was happy, so happy with Aaron. She loved him, and his kids, and Henry. She wanted it to work, all of them as a family. Still, she knew there were some difficult conversations ahead.

"Ready to go home?" she asked, seeing her mother was already in a wheelchair with balloons tied to it.

"Desperately ready," Snow said. "I don't even know why they kept me so long. It was an easy birth compared to … well, my last one, and Zelena never even showed up."

"Well, then let's get you home," Emma said, grabbing the handles of the wheelchair. "Where's dad?"

"He took your brother and went to get the car. Where's Henry?"

"Aaron is bringing the kids over to the loft. Henry wanted to help set up for when you got back and then … I thought we could all talk."

"That sounds nice. We haven't had time to just sit and talk in ages."

Emma nodded. "Yeah. And we've got a lot to talk about."

"Is Regina coming?" Snow asked, her voice seemingly innocent.

"Mom, I … I can't with Regina right now."

"She's trying, Emma. She's returning those hearts. And she's Henry's other mother. You're going to have to learn to be civil around her, at least, for Henry's sake. You do live in the same town."

Emma bit back the remark that came to mind. They might not always live in the same town, or same state, for that matter. Like she'd said, they had a lot to talk about, but Emma wanted to do it with Aaron by her side. As much as she knew this was the right thing to do, she didn't want to have to face that conversation with her parents alone.

---

When Neal was a child, his father had always tried to take care of him. Still, Neal had known how to bandage Papa's wounds and help him with his leg. He'd tried to do so in a way that hadn't hurt Papa's pride, but despite Papa's protests, he'd known the help was needed. Sometimes, children had to look after their parents.

Papa was doing all right. He was still shaken by his time with Zelena; that much was clear, though Papa tried to hide it. However, he was happy to have his son back, and to be marrying his true love. For the first time in what felt a long time, Neal wasn't overly worried about Papa.

He was, however, worried about Hook. Killian might not be related to him exactly, but he was basically his stepfather, as far as Neal was concerned. There was an old bitterness, of course, but not unlike with his father, he was mostly past it. Mostly. He knew Killian had changed, or was trying to, and that meant a lot. Still, he also knew a lot of that changing had been about winning Emma and now, that Killian had finally accepted that he wasn't going to win her over, well, Neal was worried.

So, he showed up at the inn early, just as he had the day before, this time seeking his pseudo-stepfather. He brought coffee and bagels from the diner.

He was just about to knock, when the door burst open. Hook wasn't wallowing or drunk, as he'd expected. He was dressed and had a determined look in his eye. He looked like a man on a mission. If Neal trusted him more, that wouldn't worry him so much, but old habits died hard, as they say.

"G'morning," Neal said, trying not to let his worry show. "Breakfast."

"I've eaten," Hook said, brushing past him.

"Where are you off to so early?' Neal asked. Hook didn't answer, so Neal got in front of him and put his hand on his chest. "Hey, slow down. Where's the fire?"

"There's no fire, mate."

"I meant … Look, are you okay?"

"Any reason I shouldn't be?"

"Because yesterday … with Emma … the kiss …"

Killian's look darkened. "I recall, yes."

"I just wanted to check on you."

"You think I've never dealt with heartbreak?"

"Right. Okay. But the question is, did you deal with it well?" Killian tried to brush past him. "What I meant was, you shouldn't have to deal with it alone."

Killian stilled; his look softening.

"Bae- or Neal, I … I am touched that you worry about me. It's been a long time since anyone has, but you don't need to. I've found new purpose."

"Already? What's her name?"

"That's not … I haven't found love again. I wager it will take time to get over Emma Swan, a feeling you know all too well. But I've found that there is something I want, and a way for me to get it."

"Okay. So, let me help."

"Neal – "

"I just want to make sure you're okay. And also not doing anything evil. And I won't take no for an answer, so …"

Hook sighed, "I'd nearly forgotten how stubborn you are. All right, come along, then. I want to get an early start."

---

Robin hadn't heard from Regina since her sister's death, and he was starting to get concerned. It couldn't be easy. Much as the witch had been a nuisance, she was still Regina's sister.

Robin's own kin, Will Scarlet (not that Scarlet knew of their familial relation) had betrayed him and endangered the Merry Men. Robin could admit, within the confines of his mind, that he'd gone a little easy on Will, ousting him from the Merry Men and warning him that his way of life would catch up with him. He didn't know what had happened to the lad, but a small part of him hoped that Will was okay, despite the betrayal. Family was family, after all.

It wasn't the same, of course, but maybe Robin knew a thing or two about what Regina was going through. He just hoped she would let him in.

He knocked on her front door, and she came to greet him. She was smiling, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes, "Robin. This is a nice surprise."

"Is it?"

"Yes. I wasn't expecting you." She didn't move to let him in.

"You've been avoiding me," Robin said, seeing no reason to drag his feet.

"Have I?"

"Yes, Milady. You have. And I think I know why."

"You do?"

"Yes. You're grieving. There's no shame in it. Despite what the witch did, she was still your sister. Mourning the relationship you could have had must be painful, indeed. But you needn't hide from me. I won't judge you for it."

"You won't judge me for grieving for a villain?" Regina asked, crossing her arms, "Of for having been one myself."

"I've never judged you for your past. I'm not going to start now."

Regina sighed, "Before Emma broke the curse, my son knew what I had done. I tried to convince him that he was wrong about me. I didn't want the curse broken, of course, but I also didn't want him to stop loving me. He taught me that … that love has to be earned. That if I wanted him to see me as something other than the evil queen, I had to be someone other than the evil queen. Trying to keep him in the dark hurt him, and I promised I'd never do that to someone I … care for, again. Robin, I have to tell you something."

"Yes? What is it?"

"When I was The Evil Queen, I hurt a lot of people. I killed people, because I felt they were getting in the way of my revenge, or because I was in a bad mood, or because it was Thursday. I killed people because it suited me, and I never looked back. I never thought about the people who died, or the people who lost them."

"Regina – "

Regina put her hand up, "Please, let me finish. I recently found out that one of the people I killed was Marian."

Robin's eyes went wide, "My Marian? My wife?"

"Yes," Regina said, "I didn't know, when we started to, you and I, I didn't know she had been one of my victims, but someone told me. I … I'm so sorry, Robin. Can you forgive me?"

"Can I forgive you?" Robin started pacing in front of her house. "Can I forgive you for killing my wife? That's what you're asking me to do?"

"I was a different person back then. You said so yourself. You said you saw the good in me." Regina reached for his hand to slow him down, but he just shook her off. "You said you cared for me, and I thought … I hoped, that would be enough."

"I don't know what to do with this," with a heavy voice.

"Can we just go on as we have been?" Regina asked, tears in her eyes, "Can we please just keep going, keep discovering each other?"

"I … I don't know that I can."

"Robin, I feel for you, things I haven't felt in a long time. And I know you feel things too."

"I do. I feel things for you, when we're together… but Regina, Marian was my wife. I loved her deeply and mourned her loss. And we have a son. And someday Roland will grow up and ask me to explain to him what happened to his mother. How can I tell him that the woman I'm with killed her?"

"I would never hurt Roland."

"This hurts Roland. This hurts me. Why did you tell me something that would hurt me?"

"Because you deserved to know."

"And you expect me to just forgive you?"

"I hoped you would realize we both have pasts we're not proud of, but what matters is the future. Our future. Robin, we can still have one together, if you want it."

"Of course, I want it. I wanted so badly to be happy again with someone, with the woman I thought you were. But now … I don't know who you are. And I don't know if I can be with you."

"What can I do? How can I fix this?"

"I'm not sure you can. I … I need time. Don't come to talk to me. If … when I'm ready to talk, I'll find you."

"Okay. Just … is there any hope for us?"

"I can't answer that right now." Robin spun about and left, and Regina locked the door behind him. Then she sank down onto the floor against the door and let the tears flow.

---

The car ride had been quiet. Snow was still exhausted (despite what she'd said earlier) and had been dozing for most of the time. David had tried to engage Emma in conversation, but she was clearly somewhere else. The baby (who had yet to be named) was surprisingly quiet as well, sleeping soundly in his rear-facing infant car seat.

When they came through the door, Snow burst into tears.

"Don't cry, Grandma," Henry said, going up to hug her.

"They're happy tears, Henry. At least, I think they are. I'm just tired. You did all of this?"

"We worked together," Henry said, motioning towards Aaron and the other kids. The loft had a huge Welcome Baby banner, streamers and balloons everywhere. There was also a cake on the table.

Snow smiled, "Well, thank you. We weren't going to do anything official until the baby naming, but … this is so sweet. Really."

"What are you guys planning to name him?" Henry asked.

"We're still deciding," David said. "Right now, he's just Baby Boy Charming."

"Baby Boy Nolan," Emma corrected. "Baby Boy Charming will be pretty hard to explain when he starts school."

"Not in Storybrooke," Snow said as she took a seat. David brought the baby to her eager arms.

"Yeah, about that. We wanted to talk to you," Emma said. Aaron came to stand next to her and she took his hand.

"What about?"

"Well, I'm not the Savior anymore. I don't have my magic – "

"I'm sure there's a way around that. Rumpelstiltskin – "

"Mom, please just … listen to me. I don't want my magic back. I don't want to be the Savior. And I don't want to live in a town where there's always a new magical threat someone, usually me, has to stop or everyone dies. I … we, want to go back to New York." Snow looked up from the baby, but she didn't say anything. Neither did David. Emma continued. "I mentioned this to Dad, before. This world … it's dangerous, for all of us. Henry's nearly died so many times, I mean, we all have, and after what the Wizard did to me, and Andrea, and all the crap Regina has pulled … I think it's time."

"But, I don't understand," Snow said. "When Pan tried to recast the curse, you said you weren't done. You didn't want to leave us. Now you do?"

"Of course not," Emma said, sitting beside Snow, "I want to leave magic, and witches, and Storybrooke behind. Not you. You are my family, and I'm so happy that you're in my life. Which is why I thought Aaron, the kids and I could go back to New York, and then, maybe in a little bit … you guys could join us?"

"I … that's —" Snow sputtered.

"—A lot to think about," David finished.

"Is it? I mean, you guys have cursed memories. You know how this world works. Will it really be so different out there? Other than no magic. Other than it being safer."

"It's not just about magic," David said. "Out there we're … Our stories are just stories and not very accurate ones. We could never tell the truth about who we really are. Your mother is a princess, and this world wouldn't recognize that."

"Right, but Mary Margaret is a teacher, and seriously, how much princessing have you done here, Mom?"

"I like teaching," Snow said quietly.

"Well, there are teachers in New York, too. Tons of schools, public, private, charter, you name it. You could get a job in one. And Dad could, I don't know, become a cop, or work at an animal shelter, or just be a stay-at-home dad."

"I'm not sure it's that easy," David said.

"But we talked about it, after I talked to Jefferson. You said we'd figure it out."

"We've had no time to figure it out. We were fighting a witch, and now you're springing this on us."

"I'm not trying to spring … Life moves fast. I know. You don't have to make up your minds right away. Think about it, if you have to. But at the end of the week, we're going back. That's been decided."

"What does Regina think about this?" Snow asked.

"I haven't told her," Emma said. "And no, I'm not naïve enough to think she'll be thrilled. But Henry comes first, and if she's really grown as much as you guys think she has, she'll put his safety before her desire to keep him here. She can stay in Storybrooke, and Henry can come visit, or she can leave magic behind and try to make a life out there."

"She'll never agree to that," Snow said.

"What makes you so sure? If Regina loves Henry as much as she claims to, then she'll sacrifice anything to be with him. Isn't that how it should be? You do what you have to do stay together?"

"You're not doing what you have to do to stay with us; you're running away," Snow said.

"I'm not running away. For once in my life, I'm running towards something, towards a home and a family that I love. I would think you of all people would understand that. I'm asking you to come with me. Is New York really so terrible? Is it worse than a cursed town, or The Enchanted Forest, or Neverland?"

"No, of course not. But living there, being who we are, would be complicated," David said.

"So, it's complicated. At least it's safe. At least we're together. Can't you guys, just for once, choose me?"

"What do you mean?" Snow asked, "Emma, of course we choose you. We always have. You're our daughter."

"Except you put me through a wardrobe to an unknown land to break a curse, and we were apart for 28 years."

"To save you! We had no choice. I thought we'd moved past – "

"Well, I haven't! I haven't forgotten how it felt to be alone, to have my parents choose to give me up, even if it was for a good reason."

"Okay, but once we found each other again, we never wanted to let you go. I jumped into a portal to The Enchanted Forest to go after you! I would never choose to be away from you, Emma. I love you."

"I do too," David said, "I jumped into the sea in Neverland to stop you from drowning because I couldn't lose you."

"Funny how you mention Neverland, because I seem to recall you getting poisoned and drinking a potion that saved your life, so long as you didn't leave."

"Actually, it was magic water. And I didn't have a choice then either. I was trying to rescue Henry."

"I don't blame you, Dad. I don't. I would have done the same thing."

"Then – "

"But Mom," Emma turned on Snow, tears in her eyes. "When you thought he couldn't leave, you said you would stay with him. Build a home in a hellscape jungle to stay together and start a family together. You knew that Henry and I were going back to Storybrooke, and you chose Dad over me, over us."

"Oh, Emma."

"And when Pan recast the curse, you didn't even try to find a way we could all stay together. You left me and Henry behind in this world. And you didn't even start looking for a way back until there was a witch you needed my magic to defeat. You don't care about being my parents, you just care about me being the Savior. And why would you want to be my parents anyway, when you have a fresh new baby boy to raise?"

"Emma, that's not – "

"It's okay, it's okay. Because despite everything, despite you choosing each other and this town and my brother over me, despite you caring more about me saving you than just being with me, I still love you guys. I still want you around. I still want to be your daughter.

So, what's it going to be this time? Do you choose the town and magic? Or me? Because I've made my decision, and I've picked the people who never abandoned me, even when they have every reason to. I gave Henry up, but he still loves me, and I dragged Aaron into this crazy magic mess, and he still wants me, and his kids have been through the wringer since coming to this town, but they all still want me back in New York with them.

They need to go back, and I need to go with them. That's my choice, and I'll stand by it. Now it's your turn to choose. You have until we leave at the end of the week." With that, Emma stormed out the front door of the loft, slamming the door behind her.

---

"So, you mind telling me who we're tailing?" Neal asked, as they cruised down Main Street, following a woman driving a rather ordinary looking Toyota Camry.

She had left the local high school shortly after they arrived, Killian watching her every move with his golden spyglass. She'd gotten in her car and left, and Killian had insisted they follow.

"That woman, of course," Killian said, gesturing in her direction with his hook. "The one piloting one of those monstrous modes of transportation you're all so fond of."

"Can't you just say car?" Neal asked, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "It would be so much faster if you just said car."

"It would also be faster if you didn't ask ridiculous questions. How can you not know who we're following when you're the one driving the, uh, car. It's her." He pointed again.

"Yeah, no, I know it's her. I just don't know who she is or why we're following her."

"You don't need to."

"Really? Because if I'm going to follow someone, I damn sure want to know why." Killian said nothing, checking through his spyglass again. Neal shook his head. "Is she dangerous?"

"Hardly. She's just a woman."

"Okay. So, we're following her because she's a woman. I'm not sure I approve of your methods of courtship, just so we're clear."

"I'm not courting her. She's proposed an alliance, and I like to know who I'm dealing with."

"An alliance for what?"

"Retrieving the Jolly Roger."

"Right. I've been meaning to ask you about that. Where is your ship? The marina?"

"Actually, no."

"Funny. 'Cause that's where she just pulled up."

Killian nodded, "Aye. I noticed as much. Let's see what sort of ship she has." They watched her get out of the car and head to the docks. The ship she at which stopped was one Killian recognized instantly. He felt like laughing.

"Bloody hell. How did she get her hands on Blackbeard's vessel?"

"That's the Queen Anne's Revenge?" Neal asked. Killian dropped his spyglass for a moment and looked at Neal, his eyes slightly widened. "I do remember what you taught me, you know. The stories you told. It's all … I remember."

Killian cleared his throat, "Right. Well. She's done something to it, at any rate. It looks … different than when I last saw it. It's hard to tell from here, but something is amiss."

"So, why do you need a ship to get another ship?"

"Because I find trips between realms are best traveled aboard a vessel."

"Between realms?" Neal asked, feeling like a stone had dropped in his stomach. "You're going back to the Enchanted Forest?"

"Aye."

"But … but why?"

"I have no place here. And you told me to find my ship – "

"You do have a place!" Neal said. "You're family."

"Bae – "

"You can't just leave," Neal said, folding his arms slouching in his seat, letting his head drop to his chest. He knew he was being childish, but, "I don't want you to go."

Killian put his hand on Neal's shoulder. "You don't need me anymore, Bae. You've a father and stepmother now, and you're fully grown. A man. One I wish I'd had more of a role in molding. Abandoning you when you needed me is one of my greatest regrets. Having the chance to make up for it … is a gift I am so thankful to you for. But I don't have a place here anymore. We'll always be family, but I have to find my own way in the world."

"And finding your way is, what, going back to the Enchanted Forest to be a pirate again?"

"I never stopped being a pirate."

"You stopped being a bad guy. You helped save Henry in Neverland. You brought Emma back here to battle Zelena."

Killian laughed. "Funnily enough, I made those same points to the woman we're following during our last conversation. She didn't think it was enough. Rather, she felt I needed to prove to her that I'm not a villain anymore. And, the thing is, I don't care overmuch about her opinion of me, but I do care about my own, and I care about yours. Your saying I'm not a villain anymore … means more to me than you can ever know."

The two of them sat there quietly for a moment, Killian taking up the spyglass again to watch the woman, though she had now disappeared aboard Blackbeard's ship.

"So, you get the Jolly Roger back again, then what?"

"I'm not sure."

"And why does this woman want to help you?"

"She doesn't, exactly. She has some score to settle with Blackbeard and has promised me use of her ship in exchange for passage and an alliance against him."

"But you don't know what her beef is with the guy?"

"Her what?"

"You don't know why she wants to fight him?"

"No. she hasn't been particularly forthcoming. That's why we're here."

Neal nodded. "You know, most people who came over with the curse, they became stories in this land."

"So, I've heard. Apparently, I'm known to have a mustache, and something called a perm."

Neal laughed. "Yeah. Well, my point is, maybe she's in a story in this world. They may be inaccurate, but it would be a clue. Do you know what her name was in The Enchanted Forest?"

"Mary Ormond," Killian said.

"Okay. So, we just need to do a little googling."

"A little what?" Killian asked, his eyes wide.

Neal laughed again, putting the car in reverse. "Relax, Grandpa. I'll give you a crash course."

---

Robin wasn't the religious type. He never had been, really. Marian, however, had been different. She had even entertained becoming a nun at one point, and while he suspected that had had more to do with avoiding marriage to a certain Sheriff, he knew piety was something she had valued.

In another time, or more specifically, in another place, he might have gone to her grave to seek guidance, but the curse that had brought them here hadn't brought her grave along.

He might have gone to Friar Tuck, a pious man both he and Marian had respected, but the curse didn't seem to have brought him over either. It was all very random, those who had come and those who had stayed.

The Merry Men, thankfully, had come over. They were waiting for Robin back at camp. But so was Roland, and Robin just didn't know that he could face his son right now.

It was for these reasons that he found himself in front of the local convent, hoping for guidance from nuns who, as he understood it, were also fairies.

He recognized the fairy who came out to speak to him from that day in the woods, "Tinker Bell, isn't it?"

She nodded, smiling widely at him. "And you're Robin. I've heard plenty about you, mostly from Regina. She's quite smitten with you."

"That's … what I have to talk to you about, actually. Perhaps this was a bad idea. You're her friend?"

"Friend is a stretch. She actually wronged me pretty badly once. But, you know, bygones."

"You were able to forgive her?"

"I had to. I mean, not for her sake, but for my own. Forgiveness is an important part of letting go of the past, finding a way to be happy with the present. The road of revenge is very dark and … I've been to dark places. I don't want to go back."

Robin nodded. "I can understand that. But I'm not talking about revenge or going to dark places. I'm talking about letting someone who wronged you gravely into your life, into your child's life."

Tinker Bell shook her head. "That was a long time ago, and she's changed. She was scared to meet you before, and scared of the possibility you represented. She was angry. But the two of you have finally found each other. You have to – "

"What are you talking about?"

"The fairy dust. Isn't that why you're angry? Because Regina didn't meet you all those years ago?"

"My lady fairy, I find I must insist that you explain at once."

The fairy let out a sigh. "Long ago, when Regina was young and newly wed to King Leopold, she was full of anger and despair. She nearly ended her own life, and I saved her."

"That's … I had no idea."

"She was angry, lost, and listening to all the wrong people about how to fix her life. I thought I could help her. I offered to use fairy dust to help her find true love again. It led us to a tavern and a man with a lion tattoo."

Robin rubbed his arm. "What? Me?"

"Yes. But you see, Regina was too scared to go in, and I got in trouble for stealing the fairy dust. I was stripped of my wings and banished, no longer a fairy."

"I see."

"But I'm a fairy now again, and my second chance has quite a bit to do with Regina as well. When I met her in Neverland, she helped me. And she proved that she had changed, she let love into her heart, love for her son, which proved that I was right about her. Love is all you need to change, really."

"Perhaps it is," Robin said sadly. "But love can't erase the past. Now, am I to understand that the only reason Regina is interested in me is because of some fairy dust?"

"Don't go discounting fairy dust."

"In the Enchanted Forest, before the second curse, I met Regina. She was proud and harsh, but she had a soft spot for children, and she was clearly grieving. She saved my son, and I felt I owed her for that. I also empathized with her grief, as I have never fully recovered from losing my Marian. Here, we became friendly far more quickly, due to what I thought was a genuine connection. Perhaps seeing my tattoo simply made her more partial to me."

"It's not the tattoo; it's that you see good in her. You represent hope, a chance for love and a future when she didn't think she could have one. You never knew her as The Evil Queen."

"I never knew her, but I suffered greatly because of what she did. She killed my wife!"

Tinker Bell staggered back. "No. That can't be!"

"Has she not killed people—many—in her quest for vengeance on Snow White?"

"I … yes, she has. Before. But for her to kill your wife would mean – "

"That she had done something unforgivable. How would I feel about myself if I could love a woman who killed the first great love of my life?"

"But she didn't know! She didn't know you. It wasn't personal and – "

"That makes it worse. She killed a woman who she knew nothing about, simply because she could. And now Roland, my son, doesn't have a mother."

"Maybe you're wrong. Maybe she didn't – "

"She told me herself. She recently found out."

"How?"

"I … she didn't say."

"Maybe she's wrong. Maybe someone told a terrible lie to hurt both of you. Maybe this is all a big misunderstanding."

"That seems like false hope."

"Hope is never false, and sometimes, it's all we have: faith, hope, and pixie dust. I'll look into this. If I can find proof that she didn't kill Marian, I'll tell the both of you, and you can put it behind you, once and for all."

"And if you find proof that she did?"

Tinker Bell sighed. "Then, we'll go from there."

---

Emma could've gotten into her car and driven back to Granny's, but what would she do there? There were no people to punch, no toasters to dismantle. However, her relationship with Aaron had taught her a healthier way to get out aggression. Emma needed to run.

She didn't know the trails in Storybrooke, but they had to exist. She took a moment to stretch first, because her boyfriend had hammered the importance of that into her. He came out of the loft and saw her warming up. Instead of saying something, he settled in next to her and joined in. Then they were off and running.

They ran on the sidewalks for a bit, but Emma didn't really want to deal with people right now, so she headed toward the woods. There were paths there, and after all the times she'd spent searching the woods when someone was missing, she found she knew them pretty well.

They ran until they were both too winded to keep going. After taking a moment to catch her breath, Emma got down on the ground, leaning her back against a conveniently nearby boulder. Aaron took a seat next to her.

"Well, that's humiliating," Emma said.

"I don't think so. You're almost as fast as me at this point."

"Shut up," Emma said, halfhearted slugging his shoulder. "I meant losing it on my parents like that."

"If you needed to say it, you needed to say it. And maybe they needed to hear it."

"It's just … it's taken me so long to get to a place where I even have parents, and things were good. I've gotten used to calling them mom and dad. I've gotten used to their annoying optimism. I've learned to … I don't know, deal with all the crazy that comes with being the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. I want to be in a good place with them."

"That stuff is hard. The fairy tale stuff. But just because you've got it handled doesn't mean the parts that aren't fairy tale stuff, the abandonment you've suffered, isn't still there."

"I worked on my abandonment issues in therapy, you know? But then he turned out to be the freaking Wizard of Oz and tried to kill me."

"Must make trust hard."

"I trust you. And Henry. But how can I expect him to trust and forgive me when I can't forgive my parents?"

"I think it's a process. It's not one time you just forgive them and it's all over. Those feelings will always be there. But you learn to … I don't know. I'm not a therapist. I guess I just think that it's good enough that you want to forgive them. You're meeting them halfway. Have they met you halfway?"

"I know how guilty they feel – "

"That's not the same thing. Have they tried to make it up to you, on your terms, in the ways that you need them to?"

"I don't know that they can."

"Well, then, maybe you need to figure out what you need from them and ask for it."

Emma sighed. "I did. I asked them to move to New York. They said no."

"I think they said they needed time to figure it out. I mean, that's not yes, but it's not no. Maybe that can be enough for now?"

"Well, if you're going to be all rational about it … I just want them to choose me. Not the Savior, but Emma. My whole life, nobody ever chose Emma."

Aaron turned to her, his eyes earnest. "I did."

"Yeah, you did, didn't you?" She leaned in and kissed him, a nice long, slow kiss. It was followed by more kisses, hungrier kisses. Because she loved him, and she was hurt, and angry, and even after a run, she had a lot of feelings to work through. Maybe running wasn't the only physical activity she could use to process her feelings, "Hey, have you ever had sex on a forest floor?"

Aaron nodded. "Camping trip in college. We were supposed to be doing our astronomy homework, but, well …"

"She made you see stars?" Emma asked, smirking.

Aaron laughed. "I thought I was the corny one in this relationship."

"You are." She kissed him. "And I love you for it." This time she kissed his chin and neck. "But I wasn't actually asking about your past. I was trying to proposition you."

"Well, so long as I didn't wreck the mood," he said, kissing her back.

"You could never. So, you game?"

"Are you sure? I mean, we haven't … and you were upset. I don't want to …"

"To what, take advantage?" Emma asked, shrugging out of her top. She wasn't wearing the sexiest underwear she owned; she hadn't planned this. Still, she could tell by the way Aaron was looking at her that he didn't care, and she found herself blushing. "I'm not drunk. I'm a fully consenting adult." She kissed him again, pulling him down with her, "And I'm in love with you. What more do you need to know?"

---

After Emma left— following shortly afterwards—Snow and David had tried to ignore the elephant in the room and enjoy the baby's welcome home like nothing had happened.

Henry got it. That was what his grandparents did, especially Grandma Snow. They pretended everything was fine as though they could will a state of fineness into existence.

It was about hope, belief, faith. Henry understood all those things more than most. He had believed in the curse, and that Emma could break it. He'd also believed in Neverland and Peter Pan. He believed that he could be a hero and save magic. After how that had turned out, he knew it wasn't so simple. Maybe he was growing up.

"For what it's worth," Henry said, "I think you guys would like New York."

"Were you happy there, Henry?" Grandma Snow asked.

"Yeah. I was. I mean, I think I still missed here on some level I couldn't remember, but I had friends. And Mom."

"But it wasn't real," David said. "You've lived your whole life here. Wouldn't you miss it?"

"Of course," Henry said. "I'd miss seeing Granny and Ruby at breakfast, and the playground Mom had built for me, and having Grandma as my teacher. I'll miss seeing Archie and Pongo. This is where I grew up." Snow smiled at him. Henry took a deep breath and continued. "I won't miss the fact that I don't really know any of the kids my age, because I was the only one going up a year for so long that I just gave up on making friends. You know, during the curse, nothing ever changed, and people thought I was strange. My mom made me think I was crazy, and left me home alone, and tried to turn me against my other mom, and killed Graham. Then when the curse broke, I thought we'd go back to the Enchanted Forest, and I'd be a prince, and a hero. I'd have adventures. Instead, you and mom ended up stuck in The Enchanted Forest, and I didn't know if I'd ever see you again. And then Mom was framed for Archie's murder, and you guys were all at each other's throats, trying to hurt each other. I thought the solution was to get rid of magic, but I couldn't. The town was almost destroyed and I was kidnapped, and I almost died and was trapped in Pandora's box – "

"And that's all horrible," David said. "We're so sorry you had to go through that. But at least you can talk about it. Out there, you can't tell anybody. People would think you were crazy again."

"Not if you guys came! I'd have Mom, and Mr. Davidson, Andrea and Jason. We could all talk about it. And you guys too. And maybe my other mom, if she was willing to give up magic and control of this town for me. Dad already has an apartment in New York. In fact, he came straight from Neverland to the Land without Magic, and he made it work without cursed memories or anything. He could probably help, if you asked him. And it's not like we could never visit Storybrooke or call or Skype or Facetime – "

"Skype?" David asked, his eyebrows scrunched up.

"I want us to be together. I want us to be a family. But Andrea, Jason, Mr. Davidson, they're all my family now too. And they don't feel safe here. I don't feel safe here. Magic only causes trouble. There's no magic out there. Nobody can switch bodies with me or trap me in Pandora's box or trick Andrea into thinking they can bring her mom back.

"And isn't family most important? Isn't the most important thing that we're together? Grandma, Mom said you were willing to live in Neverland with Grandpa, right? New York is better than Neverland. The pizza is awesome, and Belle would love the libraries. There's CentralP to play in, and FAO Schwartz has giant candy! There's Broadway and Times Square, and a bunch of museums. And mom was happy there. We can all live there, I'm sure of it! We can be a family without magic getting in the way. No one can cast a curse and separate us all again.

"This family always finds each other, but if we lived in New York, maybe it wouldn't be so hard to look." Henry took a deep breath. "That's what I think anyway. But nobody ever listens to me. I'm just a kid."

"We listen to you, Henry," David said.

"Then listen to me."

---

Neal and Killian had been sitting in the library for some time. Neal had been tapping away on the computer, while Killian sat and stared into space.

"Okay. So, according to the almighty Google, Mary Ormond was, at one point, married to Blackbeard."

"What? She's his wife?"

"Yep. Or was, at one point. After that … the accounts are unclear. Not much is known about her, really, but …"

"This world's version of me, from what I've heard, is far from the truth. How do we know we can trust this?"

"Well, the only way to know for sure is to ask her, probably."

"Something tells me the lass wouldn't take kindly to the question. Real spitfire, that one, and none too fond of me, or of pirates in general," Killian said, a gleam in his eye.

"So, how did you two cross paths, anyway?"

"It was in this very library. I was helping Belle, and I was struggling with one of those devices," he gestured at the computer. "She stepped in."

"Well, she can't hate you too much if she helped you out."

"It wasn't for my benefit. No, she made her feelings about me perfectly clear. I'm a pirate and not to be trusted. Honestly, no woman has been this immune to my charms since I met Swan."

Neal laughed. "Dude, you've got a type; you realize that, right?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I just, I think it's funny. Not that it's cool to chase after women who tell you no, but, I don't know, it's like you like being rejected."

"I'm not attempting to woo the lass. Far from it. Do you honestly think my heart would heal so quickly? All I'm interested in for the foreseeable future is the occasional dalliance. I don't want to get caught up with someone I could truly grow to love."

"And you think this Mary is someone you could grow to love?"

"That's not what I meant. I just … With Swan, I liked the challenge. She pushed me to prove I was good enough, and it made me change. It made me better. Except I've proved I could be good, and it wasn't good enough. Why would I want to go through that again?"

"So, on this journey, you don't think you and Mary will – "

"No. The effort wouldn't be worth the reward. What I need now is the exact opposite of Emma. Someone with whom things come naturally, with whom I can just be who I am."

"You know, there's nothing wrong with someone who makes you want to be better. That's what Papa has with Belle."

"And I imagine he finds it exhausting, constantly having to prove himself."

"He's better! He wants to be better. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Calm down, lad. Aye, it is better if your father turns his back on his darker moments. I'm happy for you, that you can have him in your life, as a good father again. If I had a child, I … I would want to make them happy, to make them proud of me. But if I faltered, if I stumbled in my quest to be a better man, I'd simply want to be understood. Those hero types, they'll never understand the depths to which someone like me has sunk, the things I've done."

"We've all done things we aren't proud of, man."

Killian nodded. He seemed to be deep in thought. "Perhaps."

"Well, I should get going. But, if you need me for anything, you remember how to work the phone?"

"Aye."

"Good. See you, man."

---

The nurses had tried to get Aurora to lift the child to her chest and nurse, but she'd refused. Her parents hadn't done that after all. There had been wet-nurses. And fairies. And servants. Honestly, she didn't think she'd even spent any real time with her parents until she was at least ten.

Thankfully, this world had some sort of milk that came in a bottle, and the nurses had been able to feed Philip Jr. that way. They had taken care of the feeding.

Aurora wanted to go home. She was itching to get out of this ridiculous bed; it was the most uncomfortable bed she'd ever been in. Still, she was exhausted. She didn't want to move. And what would happen when they went home? She'd have to start to be a mother to Philip Jr. She had no clue how to do that, did she? It suddenly sounded like the hardest job in the world.

"Knock knock," a perky girl tall girl with blonde hair said as she entered the room. She hadn't actually knocked; she'd just said it. She probably thought she was funny. Her smile was wide, and she seemed to bounce with every step as she entered the room, which, incidentally, Aurora had never given her permission to enter. She suddenly decided that she hated every perky girl in the world.

"I'm Princess Ella," the girl said, still smiling. She was also holding a basket. "Congrats on your bundle of joy."

Joy. Aurora thought. Yes, that's what I'm supposed to be feeling, isn't it? The concept sounded so foreign.

"Thank you," Philip said. He was sitting in the chair by her bedside, but he rose to greet the princess.

"Of course. I brought a welcome basket and came with a sales pitch."

"I'm sorry?" Philip asked. Aurora was fine with him doing the talking. She just wanted this girl to leave.

"My daughter is a couple of years old now, and things got easier after the curse broke and my in-laws remembered they didn't hate me and offered for us to move in with them. Still, I remember how stressful it was, in the beginning. A newborn is a lot."

Aurora sat up a bit, nodding. Maybe Princess Ella wasn't so terrible. At least she understood.

"My father in-law gave me some startup money, and I started a daycare."

"What's a daycare?" Philip asked.

"It's a place where you can drop off your babies, and we'll look after them while you have a little 'me time'. We also have mommy-and-me groups and – "

"When?" Aurora asked.

"What?" Ella asked.

"When can we drop him off? How long can you take him for?"

"Um, the daytime hours, mostly. Though, if you have something special planned, we could probably provide overnight care for a few – "

"Philip, this is wonderful," Aurora said, feeling like she could breathe for the first time in what felt like an eternity. "Now, we can go searching for Mulan."

"Now? Aurora, you just gave birth to our son. Surely, we'll want spend some time with him before embarking on a lengthy quest that could – "

"Don't be selfish, Philip," Aurora said. "Mulan could be in great danger. She would move realms and destroy kingdoms for us. You know she would. We owe her the same."

"Well, perhaps we could take Philip Jr. – "

"Don't be ridiculous. I can't care for a baby and go on an epic quest. It could be dangerous!"

Philip was quiet for a minute, "It just … leaving him with a stranger while we go off— "

"Philip, if we had remained in our land, we'd be handing him off to a servant more often than not. This is rather the same."

With a flash of irritation in her eyes, Ella said, "I like to think of myself as an entrepreneur more than a servant."

"You just don't seem yourself. Don't you want – "

"No, I don't. I want to find Mulan. I want to go back to the Enchanted Forest." I want to go back in time. I want to feel like I did yesterday. I want to have never had … but that thought was too terrible to complete. "Princess Ella, do you know of any way we can get back to the Enchanted Forest?"

"Well, the dwarves were working on a crop of magic beans, last I checked. I would talk to Tiny."

"Tiny?"

"Yes, he's rather bigger than the other dwarves, but he spends his time with them. He's one of them now. And he's in charge of the bean crop. You can find him in the fields or with his brothers around town."

"Thank you so much!"

"Give me a call once you're settled. I mean, sorry, you don't know what a phone is, do you? Let me leave a card. It has my office address. Stop by any time."

Princess Ella left, and Aurora felt lighter. She tried to ignore the way Philip was looking at her.

---

Regina hadn't been having the best day. She hadn't heard from Robin, and she didn't know if she ever would again. It hardly seemed fair. She was trying. Why did the one man to get her excited in a long time have to have been married to someone she'd killed? Sometimes, it felt like the universe was out to get her.

Someone rang her doorbell, and while she wasn't in the mood to socialize, maybe whoever it was would serve as a good distraction.

It turned out to be Henry, which soothed her soul.

"Hi, Mom," he said in that chipper way of his.

"Henry! I'm so happy to see you. We haven't spent much time together since the curse broke."

Henry nodded, closing the door behind him. "I know. And I want us to get to spend time together. That's why I wanted to talk to you about something."

Regina nodded. "What is it?"

"Mom, my other mom, Emma, well, we're going back to New York soon, and I thought – "

"What?" Regina all but screamed. "She's taking you back there? Away from me? Why?"

"Because, we have a life there."

"You have a life here, with me."

"I know. But -"

"She can't just take you. I won't let her! Don't worry, we won't be separated again. I'll find a way to -"

"Mom! Stop. I want to go back with her. That's what I want."

Regina's mouth hung open for a second. "What? But you got your memories back."

"I did. And I remember what life was like here. I remember that I was miserable a lot of the time. And in danger. I almost died a lot."

"So, you want to leave me?"

"No. I want you to come with us."

"To New York? Henry, I don't know. It might not be so easy for me to live out there, without magic."

"It wasn't easy for me to live here, being the only kid aging, seeing you fighting with Emma, but you didn't give me a choice. You wanted us to be together. Now I want us to be together in New York. Can't you do that for me? I have friends in New York, and a life, and a family. And yeah, I have one in Storybrooke too, but we haven't been happy here. We could be a real family in New York."

"You said I was your mother," Regina said. "After Pan, before the new curse, you said I wasn't a villain, I was your mom."

"When I said that, we were about to be separated forever, and it was easy to just remember the good stuff. And there was good stuff. You loved me. But you didn't know me. You didn't listen to me. You made me think I was crazy, and you tried to keep me from Emma. You threatened people I cared about to get me to come with you. You killed Graham."

"I'm not that person anymore."

"I know. And I love that you're changing. But that doesn't erase the past, or what it did to me. The people you hurt don't stop being hurt just because you want to be good now. You're my mom, and I love you, but –"

"But love doesn't change the morality of things," Regina said, remembering what Emma had said to her. "It can't undo what I've done."

"Please, just come to New York. Come away from magic, and choose me, and a life that will be good for me. Please?"

"What would my life even look like in New York?" Regina asked.

"What will my life look like, staying here, cut off from the world, with magical people always coming in to use me or kill me, and you and Emma fighting over who gets to be my mom?"

"You think we wouldn't fight in New York?"

"I think …. I think that you're actually trying to listen to what I'm saying instead of just blaming her, which is a start. But I need you to realize that how you raised me hurt me."

"I loved you."

"I know. I loved you too. That doesn't make it okay."

"And it was okay in New York?"

"Yeah. New York was good."

"I'll … I'll think about it."

"Good. Okay. I have to go. Thanks, Mom."

Henry ran out the front door past Tink, who came in before Regina had a chance to close it. "He's in a hurry," the fairy noted.

"He has a lot of parents to appease. What are you doing here, Tink?"

"We need to talk."

---

Ruby hadn't been in to check on Belle in a while. They'd both been busy, busy trying to defeat Zelena in their own ways, and busy with their love lives. Ruby imagined Belle was happy to have Mr. Gold back. Still, she had told Belle that she was here for her, and she had meant it, so when her friend called her over, she came right away.

"Is everything okay?" she asked, once she'd been let in and the two had exchanged pleasantries.

"Everything is wonderful," Belle said. Ruby hadn't seen her smile like that in a long time. "Rumple asked me to marry him."

"And by the look on your face, I assume you said yes?" Belle nodded, and Ruby let out a shriek, jumping up to hug her. "I'm so happy for you. You deserve a little happiness."

"Thank you. Anyway, we want a small ceremony, nothing flashy. Rumple is going to ask Bae, that is, Neal, to be his best man, and I was hoping you would be my maid of honor."

"Of course. Nothing would make me happier."

"And perhaps you can invite Dr. Whale to be your date?"

"So, that would be our second date, then?" Ruby said coyly.

Belle's eyes widened. "What? When was your first?"

"Last night. We went to that little Italian place, what's it called? I don't remember it being here before the curse, but then, maybe I just never went out with a guy classy enough to take me there."

"Well, as it seems you've been holding out on me, I'll have to punish you by making me tell you all about it."

---

It wasn't actually that late when Neal got home. Killian had only managed to kill a little more than half of the day for him. He waved at Belle, who was gossiping on the couch with Ruby, and went in search of his father. The two of them needed to talk.

"Papa?" he asked, knocking on his father's bedroom door.

"Bae?" his father replied, opening the door. "Come in, son." Neal followed his father into the bedroom and took a seat on the bed. His father looked at him, concern marring his features. "Is everything all right?"

"Yeah. Yeah. I just wanted to talk to you about something."

"Of course. What's on your mind?"

"When I was a kid, and you became the Dark One, I was scared of you. I could only see how you were changing, how you seemed to get worse, how you cut me off from my friends. And then when you found me, I was so angry. Because I had been on my own for so long and you should have been there."

His father looked down for a moment. When he looked back up, there were tears in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Bae. If I could have done things differently, given you the childhood you deserved –"

"But that's the thing. That's all you were trying to do. And I couldn't see … I didn't see your side of it. I didn't see that it wasn't easy for you either. You were trying so hard to be a good father, to make me happy, and all I could see were the ways you fell short. I wanted the papa I felt I'd lost but, he was still there, under everything."

"He was," his father said, nodding. "But I know I wasn't the same, especially in the beginning."

"What were you talking about when you said I used the dagger on you?"

His father let out a sigh. "Do you remember Beowulf?"

Neal nodded. "Of course. You killed him."

"I did. Because you told me to."

"What?"

"When we went to stop the grendel, I gave you the dagger, so you could stop me from using dark magic if I got out of hand. I trusted you with it, because you have always been the better man. Even as a boy, you were stronger than me, Bae. But the dagger's pull is quite strong, too.

When we learned that Beowulf was the monster all along, and that he planned to frame me for the deaths, that he planned to hurt us, I tried to be strong like you. I knew you didn't want me to kill or rely on dark magic. I thought we could just leave it all behind, start over fresh somewhere where nobody knew us.

But you were scared and angry. The dagger had corrupted you. You ordered me to kill him. After that, you spoke of using more dark magic to protect ourselves. You had a taste for power, a taste for blood. I didn't want that for you. It wasn't who you were, and it's not who you are. I preferred to bear the burden of darkness myself, rather than lose you to it. So, I made you a forgetting potion. When you came to, you asked about what had happened to Beowulf, and … "

"And I blamed you. I remember. I'm so sorry, Papa."

"I wasn't you, Bae."

"How do you know? You keep saying I was the better man, but I'm far from perfect. What I did to Emma, the other mistakes I've made in my life … how do you know it was the dagger corrupting me? How do you know I didn't just make the wrong choice?"

"Because I know the dagger's power. And I knew you, son. You were braver and more heroic than I ever could be."

"I've seen you be brave. You know, you always talked about how you were the village coward, but I need you to know that I never saw you that way. You were my papa. You were the best, strongest, bravest man I knew. You would have done anything for me. You loved me and made me feel safe. You stayed after Momma left, and you let people be cruel to you for my sake.

When you became the Dark One, I thought you'd become a monster, but even that was about protecting me. And I know … I know you're still the Dark One. I know you might still mess up. But you're my Papa, and I know you're good, deep down inside. I know you'll do anything to protect your family. And if there is any good in me, any strength to do the right thing, to be brave, and honest, and a good father, it's because I learned it from you."

"Oh, Bae." And then his father took Neal in his arms and held him. The two hugged for a long time, making a start at healing old wounds that still needed healing.

---

"We should probably head back," Emma said, reaching for her clothes. "I don't want Henry to worry."

Aaron nodded. "You know, I always figured when we finally … you know, that we would just lie there, and I would hold you for hours and watch you fall asleep."

Emma smiled. "Sounds nice. But we're in the woods, and there are rocks and things. Good as that was, I don't know how comfortable I would be falling asleep with a boulder as my pillow."

"But it was good?"

Emma pecked his lips. "It was amazing. And next time we'll do it indoors, and you can hold me for as long as you like. Assuming one of our kids doesn't need us or barge in and get scarred for life."

They made their way back to the loft. Jason was reading a comic and Andrea was busy on her phone.

"Where are my parents?" Emma asked.

"They went out," Andrea said. "Don't worry. I've watched Henry and Jason before, remember?"

"Yes, in New York. But here …" Emma trailed off. They didn't need to be reminded that Storybrooke was dangerous. That was why they were leaving. "Where's Henry?"

"He said he had to go talk to his other mom, which is still weird by the way. That was before your parents left, and they let him. So I figured it must be okay."

Emma took out her phone to text Henry, but before she could, he came through the door, slamming it behind him. He collapsed into the dining room chair, his shoulders slumping.

"Everything okay, kid?"

"I went to talk to my mom, see if I could convince her to come with us."

Emma winced. She'd been hoping to talk to Regina herself, and she imagined the other woman was none too pleased with her right now.

"How did she take it?"

"She was mad at first, and she started off blaming you, but by the end, she promised to think about it. So maybe she will come with us."

"That's … good?"

"It is. If she does. If she doesn't then … "

Emma squeezed his shoulder, "If she doesn't, I promise you'll still see her. I wouldn't cut you off from her completely, unless you wanted me to."

"It's not that. I trust you. I just … I'm worried. She was so quick to blame you, just like she used to. And you guys have been fighting. Without me there, what if … what if we leave and she becomes evil again? What if she hurts people, and it's my fault?"

"How would it be your fault?"

"She became good because of me. For my sake. To get me to forgive her, and to save me from Pan. I'm her reason to be good. I need to be here, or she might … I think that sometimes she needs me to believe in her, as a reason to be good."

Emma stooped down to be on Henry's level. "Kid, that is not your job. Regina needs to be good because … because she just does. Not for you, or me, or anyone. And if she can't get there, then that's not your fault."

"But if she can't get there, and she stays, and my grandparents stay, they'll all be trying to kill each other again. You know, I didn't have to worry about any of this in New York. I just got to be a normal kid."

"That's why we're going back to New York. Because you should get to be a normal kid with a normal childhood."

"But we can't just leave everybody here to –"

"Henry, I promise, I won't let Regina hurt anyone. But she has to do the work. I don't want you worrying about any of it. I just want you to focus on kid stuff, okay?"

She took him in for a hug, but she still heard him murmur, "Easier said than done. I've never gotten to focus on just kid stuff."

"Why don't you go read some comics with Jason, okay?"

Henry nodded and headed over to where Jason was. Emma turned to Aaron. "He's having a rough time."

"Sounds like it. It doesn't seem like Regina is the best parent to him."

"She wasn't, when I first got here. She put him through a lot, gaslighted him plenty. But she also worked hard to save his life, and I know she loves him. It's complicated."

"Sounds it. But are you sure she should be in his life right now?" Emma's mouth opened slightly, and Aaron raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Just hear me out. Like you said, Henry is going through a tough time. He needs support, and from everything you've told me, it doesn't sound like Regina is stable enough to provide that. She may love him, but that isn't always enough. If he feels like he needs to take care of her, like if he isn't there, she'll start killing people, is that really someone he should be around? Is that a position he should be in?"

"I don't want to cut her off completely. I don't think either of them would like that."

"Maybe not. But maybe … maybe she needs to do the work, like you said."

Emma nodded. "I'll talk to her. Tomorrow. Today I just … want to be with my family."

---

"This will show what you remember," Tink said, holding the dreamcatcher up to Regina's head.

"I'm familiar with the concept," Regina said. "What makes you so sure Belle is wrong?"

"Because she can't be right. I like Belle, but I trust the fairy dust. Why would it lead you to Robin if … if you were destined to cause him so much pain?"

"Maybe I was supposed to go in that night, and if I had, he would would have met Marian, much less married her. Maybe if I had, she would still be alive."

"Maybe you didn't kill her," Tink said. The dreamcatcher glowed. "Well, I'd best get this to Robin."

"Wait," Regina said, rising. "Don't you think we should watch it first?"

"He deserves to see it, Regina."

"I'm not denying that. If that memory condemns me, you have my permission to show it to him. But I want to know if there's any hope for me and him. I need to know."

Tink nodded, holding up the dreamcatcher. It showed a scene of scared villagers, one dark-skinned woman struggling as she was held in place by Regina's black knights.

"Where is Snow White?" Regina watched her younger self ask regally. When the woman didn't answer, Regina turned to the black knight to her left. "She thinks silence is bravery," and then she locked eyes with Marian's, "Not stupidity. She dies tomorrow." Regina picked up her skirts and headed away. "Hurry her along. The stench of peasant is overwhelming."

"I feel sorry for you," The woman called after her.

Regina froze and then turned to face her again., "Do you?"

"If you had a family of your own, if you had love, you'd know you shouldn't do this. You wouldn't have to be so cruel."

"Don't you tell me what I do or don't understand. I know who I am and what I want." Regina grabbed the woman's chin. "And right now... It's your head on a spike."

Again, Regina walked away, this time laughing as the woman called after her that she was a monster.

The scene ended, and the dreamcatcher was once again a dreamcatcher.

"So, that was Marian." Regina said.

Tink nodded. "I suppose so. I'm sorry, Regina."

Regina looked up at her. "Why?"

"What?"

"Why are you sorry? You saw what I did. You know I killed her. I killed thousands like her, because they spoke out, because they didn't turn over Snow White. And half of them probably didn't even know what happened to her. I was simply taking out my fury on them."

"But you're not all bad. You're capable of love. Shouldn't that matter?"

"Of course. But Emma was right. If the only people I care about are the people I love, then maybe I'm no less evil than I was before Henry."

"Regina –"

"You need to stop trying to save me, Tink. You need to save yourself instead, and I need to save me."

"You were my great failure. If I can't redeem you, prove there's some good in you, then I don't know what I am. How can I be a good fairy?"

"By doing good. Robin is going to need someone, and it can't be me. Be there for him, since I can't be. I don't think he'll want to see me."

"And if he does?"

"Then Snow and Charming and you are right. Love truly does conquer all."

---

For as long as Snow White had known and loved David, she had believed in love's power. She had believed that love conquered all. David had made her believe that.

And yet, Snow remembered a time before she knew David. She remembered when she had loved her mother but been unable to save her life. She remembered the first time someone had told her about the power of true love. It had been Regina, and she had been talking about Daniel. But Daniel and Regina hadn't had a happy ending, and Snow had been partially at fault. Their love hadn't conquered Regina's hateful mother.

Snow loved her daughter so much, and they had found each other, just as she and Charming had. They were together as a family. In theory, they should all be able to make it in the Land Without Magic. As a family who loved each other, how could they not?

Yet there was a voice in her head that would not be quiet, telling her that it was never that simple. In all their years in Storybrooke, they had never ventured into the world outside. The curse had been designed to keep them in, and even when it broke, they had stayed. There had to be a reason. What lay beyond the town line? Was it just one more obstacle their love could counter? Or was it something else, something beyond the realm of fairy tales, where true love didn't conquer all?

Regina had brought them to this land to punish them. What if the true punishment was in what lay beyond?

She and David had discussed this in hushed voices earlier, after Henry had gone to speak to Regina, and they had come to the conclusion that they needed to speak to someone as well. So here they were, knocking on the Dark One's door.

"Snow?"

"Ruby? What are you doing here?" Snow asked, surprised to find her at Rumpelstiltskin's house, answering her knock.

"I'm visiting with Belle. Did you hear that she and Mr. Gold got engaged?"

Belle, Mr. Gold, and Neal all came up behind Ruby, probably to see who was at the door.

"No, we hadn't," Snow said, "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Belle replied. She was beaming.

"Let's dispense with the pleasantries," Mr. Gold said. "You've clearly come because you need help with some crisis and you couldn't find me at the shop. I'd like to keep some distance between business and pleasure, so if you'll give me some time to collect myself, I'll meet you there in a few hours' time?"

"Actually," Snow said, "We were looking for Neal."

"Me?" Neal asked, his eyebrows going up.

"Granny said you checked out this morning. That you were staying here?"

Neal nodded. "And you're worried about the effect on local tourism."

David shook his head. "No. we were just looking for some advice. Emma is going to be moving back to New York at the end of the week –"

"Wait, with Henry?"

Snow smiled sheepishly. "I'm sure she was planning to tell you."

"Anyway," David continued, "she wants us to come with her, and well, you've lived in New York. You learned to live here, in the Land Without Magic, after living in Neverland for centuries. And were wondering, sort of, how you did that?"

"What David means is, do you think we could do it? Would it be a good idea for us to follow Emma and start lives out there? Maybe you could give us an idea of what to expect?"

Neal sighed, running his hand over his face. "You better come inside."

---

When the scene in the dreamcatcher ended, Robin had tears in his eyes. "She looks just as I remember her. So strong, sobrave, so unafraid to speak her mind and stand up for others."

"You must have loved her very much," Tinkerbell said, as kindly as she could.

"I did. And Regina … I barely recognize her. Actually, she's a tad more like the heartbroken woman I met in The Enchanted Forest during the missing year than she is the more amicable version here, but in that memory… she was so cold. So cruel. I've never seen her like that."

"I'm sorry."

"Do you think, had she known that Marian was a mother, had a child at home, she might have spared her?"

"I don't know. That's something you have to ask her."

"I'm not sure if I can. Not yet. One of the things that drew me to her, in the beginning, was that she had a soft spot for children. Even the Dark One once spared me because Marian was pregnant with Roland. If Regina wasn't even capable of that –"

"Perhaps not then. But now, she has a son who she loves, who she would die for. And hasn't she been kind to your son?"

"Why do you insist on defending her?"

"Because I want to have done one thing right in my time as a fairy. I've made so many mistakes. If I can get the two of you together –"

"We were together. In a way. For a time. And it felt rather nice. But now … in light of this new revelation… I don't know. Sometimes, people learn uncomfortable truths that they can't get past. Perhaps Regina is capable of change. Perhaps she can find love with someone, someday. I just don't think it can be with me."

---

Regina had gotten a text from Emma that they needed to talk, and asked her come over tomorrow. No good could come from that. Emma was certainly planning to tell her of her plan to move the two of them to New York. Would she ask Regina to tag along, as Henry had, or would she tell her to stay behind?

Given how things had been between them lately, Regina didn't like her chances. She couldn't lose Henry! She just couldn't! If that meant spending time in New York then …

But she wouldn't have magic. She wouldn't have anything. She wouldn't even completely have Henry; Regina wasn't naïve enough to believe that she would live with Henry, Emma, and her boyfriend like some characters out of a sitcom. She would have to find her own place, her own job, get settled. What was she even qualified to do? She was a politician, but politics was about who you knew, and all of Regina's contacts lay within the bounds of Storybrooke. Everyone she knew was here.

They weren't all her friends. Many, in fact, likely hated her. She'd hurt most of them. She'd hurt Robin. He was probably watching that image from the dreamcatcher right now and hating her. Perhaps it was time for a fresh start.

There came a banging on Regina's door, a rather incessant banging, in fact. She imagined it was Robin, angry with her, wanting to tell her that he hated her now. She was in no mood to receive him, but she couldn't just leave him standing out there either."

"I suppose I might as well get it over with," she said to herself as she made for the door. When she opened it, it proved not to be Robin after all. "Hook? Well, this is a surprise. What brings you to my door at this hour?"

Killian held up a bottle. "I thought you might care for a nightcap."

"That's not your usual rum," she said, not letting him in.

"I seem to recall you saying you don't do rum."

Regina nodded. "I don't. Nor do I like men getting me drunk, so why don't you just tell me what it is you want?"

"Now, hold on. When you showed up at my door offering alcohol, I let you in."

"That's because you're easy. And it didn't end too well, if you recall. The two of us made a rather big mistake."

"What if it wasn't a mistake?" Killian asked eyeing her in that predatory way of his.

"You can't be serious? You want to use me to forget Emma?"

"No. That's not what this is about."

"So, what, you've suddenly decided you're in love with me and you're going to follow me around like a puppy dog?"

Killian shook his head. "I just … We're a lot alike, you and I. Can you honestly say you never thought about it? What the two of us would be like together?" He took a step into her personal space. She'd noticed that he tended to do that with a lot of women.

He wasn't respectful the way Robin was; Hook wanted to overwhelm a woman so she would stop thinking and just give in to the passion. And it would feel so good to give into it. To forget her worries about Robin and Henry and all the evil she had done and just let him kiss her.

Her memory might be a bit foggy about their recent tryst, but she recalled that he was an exceptional kisser, the sort that could make someone forget all their troubles if she just went along with it. "I can see that you're thinking about it. You think too much, your majesty. Invite me in for a drink, and let's see where the night takes us."

"What prompted this, exactly?" Regina asked, ashamed by the breathlessness she detected in her own voice.

"I realized that I'm tired of chasing after women who can never truly understand me. You and I, we understand each other all too well. Two sides of the same coin. We've lived parallel lives. Perhaps it's time our bodies followed the notion, became parallel, horizontal, vertical, floated on the bloody ceiling if you like. I've never actually been with a sorceress before. I imagine it would be quite the experience, especially if that sorceress is you."

She felt herself go warm as he leaned in, closing the distance between them. For a minute, a glorious minute (not that she'd ever admit it), she gave into it. She let him kiss her. It was good kiss, made better by the lack of alcohol this time. But the fact that she couldn't blame this decision, this mistake, on a drunken haze, reminded her exactly why she couldn't do it. So, she pushed him back. "I'm sorry. I can't," she said, and she was surprised to find that she actually was sorry, for both of their sakes.

"Why the bloody hell not?"

"Because you're right. We are alike. We were both villains, and now, we're both trying to do better. And I don't think the two of us doing what you had in mind would help either of us to do that."

"Ah. So, the woman wants to be wooed."

"The woman most certainly does not. At least not by you." He pouted, and she hated that she wanted to bite his lip. "Hook, listen to me. The path we're on, trying to be better people, we can't travel down it together. We're too alike, and we'll tempt each other, pull each other off track. It's not good for me to be with someone like me right now, someone who would encourage me to make all the worst choices. We would bring out the worst in each other. Right now, we both need someone who can help us be better, someone good to help us find the light."

"The problem with that is, those hero types don't like to waste time with the likes of us."

"So, this is about Emma."

"It's about wanting someone who won't look at my past actions and feel nothing but revulsion."

"I've felt revulsion for you plenty." Somehow, that made them both laugh. "It's easy to lie to ourselves, to pretend that what we did wasn't so bad. I think we need someone who will be repulsed, because that will remind us why we can't be that person anymore."

"And if we can't find that, then what? We just end up alone?"

"I don't know. But right now, I need to be better for Henry, and I can't do that if I'm letting a recently reformed pirate into my bed." She gave him a small smile. "I am sorry."

Hook smiled. "Don't be, love. Putting your boy first … I'm proud of you for that. You've come a long way from the woman who sent me to kill her mother."

"And you've come a long way from the man who broke into my tower to kidnap Belle."

"Actually, I was there to free her."

"You wanted to use her, and when she was of no use to you, you discarded her, rather violently, if memory serves."

Hook had the decency to look abashed, so Regina put her hand to his cheek, noting the roughness of his stubble, trying not to imagine it scraping other parts of her skin, "You were a different man. We've both changed. But we're not done changing. Someday, maybe, we can be heroes too."

Killian turned his face and kissed the inside of her hand before stepping back. Her hand remained in the air for a few moments before she put it by her side. He gave her a slight bow and headed off into the night. She had somehow lost two men in one day. And now she needed a cold shower.

---

After Snow and Charming left, Rumple decided to talk to his son.

"Are you certain that was the best advice to give?"

Bae turned to face him. "You were listening?" Rumple nodded, and Bae sighed. "I was just being honest. What they do with it, that's up to them."

"You had been planning to stay here. I suppose now that Emma is taking Henry back to New York …" he couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence. Could he truly fault Bae for following his own son? No, he couldn't. However, he'd only just gotten Bae back, and now, he would be leaving again.

"I did live there. It might not be easy living there again, given I haven't paid my rent on my old apartment in about a year –"

"I set up an account to cover your rent after our adventure in New York. I'm not sure if it remained when the curse was reversed, but it's possible."

"You didn't have to do that."

"You spent too long in this world without my aid. I had no idea the extent of it, but I still wanted to make it right."

Bae nodded, his eyes slightly glassy. "Thank you. Well, so maybe the apartment is still there. I can live there part-time. Emma will probably send Henry back to visit in the summers, because of Regina. And I can be here then, and go back and forth."

"So … so you're not really leaving. Not for good?"

"Of course not. I wouldn't just leave you and Belle, and the little sibling I'm sure to have eventually."

"And that fairy you mentioned?" Rumple asked, a smile growing on his lips.

Bae chuckled. "Yeah, well, that's new, but I do want to see what it is."

"I suppose I just thought … well, I don't know that I could go with you. Manhattan wasn't easy for me the first time around. But after everything, after my refusing to come to this land with you once –"

"That was different. I didn't understand what you would be giving up, or how hard it would be. And I'm not a kid anymore. You're not abandoning me into the unknown. I know how to live in that world. I can make my own choices. I want my son in life, but I want you in it too, and I can have both."

"Then both, you shall have."

---

It was late when her parents returned. "What the hell guys?" she asked when they came in.

"Shh. The baby's sleeping," Snow said, taking her newborn out of the stroller and placing him in the crib.

"Okay. I'll yell at you quietly. I get that I shouldn't have run out like I did, but you give Henry permission to just go off on his own, and then leave Aaron's kids alone?"

"Well, Zelena's gone, and Henry always wandered around on his own in Storybrooke before." David said.

"And Andrea said she had experience babysitting her brother," Snow added.

"Zelena may be gone, but the Wizard is still around. I don't trust him. And Henry went to tell Regina that he's leaving Storybrooke; what if she went all Evil Queen and decided to lock him up in a tower or something so I couldn't take him with me?"

"Regina wouldn't –" Snow began.

"Before you finish that sentence, Mom, I'd like you to recall what she was like with him when I first got to Storybrooke. Because I think we've all forgotten, but it's time to remember. Anyway, she's not the only threat we've ever faced here. It's not exactly the safest place for kids. If I leave them with you, I expect you to watch them. What was so important that you had to go out, anyway?"

"We went to talk to Neal," David said.

"Neal? Why?"

"Because he's lived in New York, as Henry reminded us. We thought he might be able to offer us some insight. So we can make a decision."

"Okay. Well, that's … good, I guess. Thanks for taking this seriously."

"We were always taking it seriously, Emma," David said.

"So, did you guys decide?" Emma asked, "Will you come with us?"

"We did decide." Snow said.

"Well," Emma asked, her heart speeding up, "What did you choose?"

---

Author's Note: I'm pretty sure I know what decision they made, but if anyone wants to put in their two cents and reasoning, I'd be happy to hear it.