Chapter Ten: The Course of True Love Never Did Run Smooth
When the joy of the newborn baby, not to mention the relief of defeating Zelena, had subsided somewhat, those who were aware remembered that the so-called Wizard of Oz was still a concern and, after a little debate, it fell to Regina to track him down. Some, like Emma, would have considered this task drawing the short straw, but in truth, Regina was grateful for the distraction. She didn't want to dwell too much on what Rumple's little girlfriend had said. Because after everything she'd been through and how hard she'd tried to change, how was it possible that the world still wouldn't cut her a break?
She had found someone who cared for her, someone who saw good in her, and now it was all going to implode because of who she used to be. Just like with Emma, after she'd learned the truth about Graham.
Everything was going wrong, and she had nobody to learn on to cheer her up, not Robin, not Emma, not Snow (who was busy cooing over her new baby), not even Henry—who she knew somehow wouldn't understand.
The pirate might, but that was a coin-flip at best, and his kind of comfort wasn't exactly what she was looking for, attractive though he was.
Come to think of it, he hadn't been at the Charmings' bedside since the baby's birth. Somebody probably ought to call him and let him know that Zelena was dead.
Well, that was someone else's problem. Calling him might lead to her giving into her worser nature. Her energies were better spent elsewhere, like tracking down the wizard.
Sadly, they didn't have anything of his on which she could cast a locator spell, but magic wasn't always the answer. Regina knew her town, and there weren't many places for a newcomer to hide out. All it had taken was a quick call to Granny to learn that someone unfamiliar had checked in using the name Walsh Frank, which Emma had then confirmed was the name he had used in New York.
Knocking was too polite, but using a fireball was breaking and entering. Besides, it wasn't Granny's fault that he was staying at her inn, and while Regina could afford to pay for the damages, why should she have to? When she explained, Granny was very cooperative, giving her a key to the room.
She found him on the bed, with his ear pressed to wall behind him, oddly enough.
"Do they not believe in privacy in Oz?" she asked.
He didn't turn to acknowledge her, but he did say, "As the wizard, I had a crystal ball that let me see a great deal, actually. But it's back in Oz, and I don't have magic, so …" he let the sentence hang there.
"May I ask who it is you're spying on?" When he didn't say anything, Regina scoffed, "I can just have Granny check the ledger and find out who is staying next door to you."
He let out a sigh. "The Davidsons."
"Well, you've certainly picked the least interesting people in Storybrooke to spy on. Or possibly, the most vulnerable ones to target. In which case, you should know I don't take threats to people in my town lightly, even if they are outsiders."
"I mean them no harm," he said. "But if I'm going to return to Oz, I'll need my slippers back." Finally, he turned to face her. "I apologize for my rudeness. They don't seem to be in their room anyway. What can I help you with?"
"The young girl only has those slippers because you gave them to her, as part of some nefarious plot. The question is, was that plot my sister's, or yours?"
He gave her a sad smile. "I was your sister's puppet. Now that she's dead, I'm not much of a threat. I don't even have magic."
"Except you have her amulet, and that can give you magic."
He shook his head. "If I'd used that device to give myself magic, I could have used it to track my slippers. Or even to return to Oz." Regina began to speak, but Walsh put up a hand. "I know. Travel between realms is more complicated than that. But I could have had the slippers."
"So, you don't have it? The amulet, not the slippers."
He shook his head. "That amulet didn't belong to me. Someone in Oz gave it to your sister a long time ago. I used its magic to send it home. That and, well, the body. If I know Glinda, she'll get a proper Ozian burial, despite what she's done. Incidentally, how are you?"
"How am I?"
"With her death? How are you holding up? I mean, I know that she was your enemy, but she was also your family, and I imagine you might feel … conflicted."
"You and I are strangers. We haven't even exchanged names –"
"You seemed to have deduced who I am, and I'm similarly familiar –"
"Don't interrupt me. We're strangers, and you want me to open up about my feelings to you?"
"I just thought you might appreciate having someone to talk to, and knowing what I do of your inner circle, I wasn't sure if there was anyone who had bothered to ask."
The snarky comment she'd been preparing died on her lips. He was right. Snow was, of course, distracted, Emma was still angry, and Robin … well, she was avoiding Robin. In any case, nobody had asked. "Don't feel sorry for me," she finally said. "I barely knew my sister."
"Which is a loss, in and of itself. Maybe if you'd known each other, things would have turned out differently."
"I doubt it."
"In any case, I know what it's like to be conflicted about losing family. I killed my mother and, while she was no saint, a part of me wonders if there wasn't another way."
In her mind, Regina saw the life leave her father's eyes. Had she been a different person, she would have shared that piece of her past with this sad looking man right now. Being the person she was, she couldn't open up that much, though, and it was probably for the best. Still, she did take a seat beside him on the bed. "I'm sorry. No, it's not an easy thing."
"I hope you don't hate me for it," he said.
"For killing your mother? I've done worse."
"No, for killing your sister."
"Oh. Yes, well, I don't know how to feel about … That is, I should thank you. She needed to be stopped."
"She was dying already, but she's crafty. She could have recovered. Besides, if she'd died from that arrow, then Robin Hood would have had to live with the guilt. Better I took it on."
"You know Robin?"
"No. I've never met him. But I know a little about him, enough to know his hands are clean, at any rate. I've killed before. This way, he doesn't have to know what that feels like, and the witch still dies. Besides, after everything she and I went through together, it's right that it was me."
"Was she ever … different? Not wicked, I mean?"
"Not while I knew her. I think, before that, maybe. But I saw too much of her darker side. I can't imagine her as anything else."
Something in Regina deflated at that, "I wouldn't want to be defined by what I did as the Evil Queen. Maybe she didn't either. Maybe if she'd had a chance …"
"Maybe. We'll never know. And I am sorry for that, but after what she did to me, and what she threatened to do to everybody, I couldn't let her live."
"Now you're beginning to sound like Rumpelstiltskin."
"She tortured him worse than she did me. In fact, he probably deserved to kill her more than I did. But it's my understanding that he has a family, and he might have lost them had he killed her. She shouldn't get to take them from him like that. I, on the other hand, have nothing to lose."
"No family then? No one you care about?"
"Oh, there might be someone, somewhere over the rainbow."
"Right. You wanted to return to Oz. Well, if you really aren't a threat, I suppose I can try helping you get your shoes back."
"I would like to have the shoes now, but as for leaving … I hurt Emma and Andrea a lot. I didn't want to or mean to, but that doesn't matter. That pain I inflicted doesn't go away simply because I didn't mean it. I need to make things right before I return."
"I can only help with the shoes. Though I do know a thing or two about making things right."
"I imagine you would." Walsh stood, and Regina followed suit. They headed for the door to his room, "Well, it was lovely to meet you in the flesh, sister of Zelena, daughter of—"
"Regina. Let's just go with Regina."
He smiled sheepishly. "I was getting there."
"And your name is Walsh?"
He shook his head. "That's the name Zelena gave me. My given name was Oscar, though I went by Oz for a time."
"What do you want to go by now?"
"I'll let you know."
After Regina confirmed that the wizard was no threat, Rumple decided it was time to go home. It wasn't that he didn't have his doubts; he'd very much have liked to question the wizard himself. However, it had been a long day, and he'd only recently been freed after months in captivity. He was tired. The memories of what he had been through weighed on him, threatening to crush him. But Belle was there, and so was Bae. He wanted to hold them close and never let them go. So, after one last congratulations to the Charming clan on their newest addition, he gathered his nearest and dearest into the Cadillac, and brought them back to the pink house.
"I still can't believe this is where you live," his son said. "I mean it's so … pink."
"Pink used to be more unisex," Belle said. "When people began to think of colors as gendered, pink was initially thought of as a boy's color. It was only in the mid-to-late 1900s that pink became associated with women, which was in part due to politics, and in part to marketing. And anyway, I like the house, though blue is my favorite color, of course."
"We can paint it, if you both like," Rumple said. "The color has never mattered to me. This place never felt like much of a home," he turned and smiled at Belle. "Not until I was no longer the only person living in it."
"It's so much bigger than what we started out with," Bae said.
Rumple turned to his son. "I'm sorry Bae, that I was never able to give you more. A big house. A real childhood. If you'll let me, now, I'd like to give you everything. In whatever way you'll have me."
Neal nodded. "Well then … how about a job?"
Rumple looked at him, curious. "What?"
"It's just, if I'm going to be sticking around, I'm going to need a place to work. And I don't know that the type of stuff I was doing in New York really makes sense here."
"So, you don't intend to return to New York?" Belle asked, smiling.
Bae shook his head. "I should probably wrap some stuff up there, but I mean, it doesn't make sense, does it? You guys, Emma, my kid, that fairy I mentioned, you're all here. And if I want a relationship with any of you, I need to be here."
"Of course. But you don't need a job. I'm quite rich by this land's standards, and I can provide for you – "
Bae put up his hand. "No, I… Thank you, Pop, but I need to make my own way. I'm a grown man, and living off your money isn't … I wouldn't feel right about it."
"All right. Well, I'm sure I can ask around, procure employment for you somewhere. Um, what sort of work are you qualified for?"
"I work in computers. Doubt there's much need for that sort of thing around here, though."
"Well, what would you like to do?" Belle asked. "I mean, if you like working in computers, I'm sure you could find something like that for you here, perhaps working for the town, but if you fell into it for financial reasons, maybe you had some other dream?"
Bae shook his head, smiling. "I get why you fell for this one, Pop. She's got stars in her eyes."
"So, does that … mean you approve, son?" Rumple asked.
"Of Belle and you? Yeah, of course. I mean, I didn't love what she pulled with the dagger –"
"Bae –"
"But I can see how much you two love each other. How you look at each other. Ma never looked at you like that, even when she should've. If you can forgive her, then I guess, I can too."
Rumple looked from Belle to his son, the two people who he loved more than anyone. "And how would you feel about…? That is, I know you're not looking for a mother – "
"Especially one younger than me."
"But if Belle and I were to become a family, even have one of our own one day, would you be all right with it?"
"I think so, yeah. I mean, a little sibling that much younger could take some getting used to, but there's no rush. We're all still getting to know each other. But, I mean, I always wanted … a big family."
Unshed tears filled Rumple's eyes. "Bae," he said affectionately, drawing his son to him.
"Do I not get a say in this?" Belle asked.
Both men turned to her. "Of course. Yes. I had been planning … before Pan attempted to recast the curse, I had plans, a question. But then the moment passed. I passed."
Belle put her hand on Rumple's. "I always knew you would come back to me."
"Your unwavering faith constantly astounds me. You, Belle, constantly astound me. And I'd like very much, for you to continue to constantly astound me, for as long as I live."
"What are you saying?"
"Will you marry me?"
Belle gave Rumple the biggest smile. "Yes." She kissed him for quite a while, not coming apart again until they both heard Bae clear his throat.
"I, uh, guess this is the part where I make myself scarce?"
"Oh, no, Bae, you're always welcome here. This house has plenty of rooms. Use whichever you like. In fact, feel free to claim this room as yours, should you want to move in."
"You're about to become a newlywed, Pop, I don't think you want me around for that."
"I'll always want you around. Perhaps … after the wedding, we can talk about a more permanent arrangement, a job, a place of residence. If you don't want to move in here, I own quite a few places in town."
"I've heard."
"Just stay the night, son. It's been a long day, and it's been a long time since I've fallen to sleep in the same house as my son. I want … I want to be surrounded by those I love most."
Bae nodded. "All right. I'll find a room. Just, uh, put a tie on the door if you need to, 'kay?"
Both Belle's and Rumple's faces went red.
By the time Hook had returned from confronting Mary (Easton, Ormond, whatever her name was), everyone else had left the loft. There was no note to tell him where they had gone, but he could only assume it was to confront the witch. Of course, none of them knew where the witch was, but perhaps some progress had been made.
He made his way to the farmhouse on foot, because it wasn't as though he knew how to drive one of those horseless carriages, but alas, the site was abandoned. Perhaps they had returned to Granny's. He headed there, but neither Emma nor Baelfire were in their rooms. He broke into both but got nothing for his trouble.
He tried Mr. Gold's shop and house next, but nobody was there either. Finally, he returned to Granny's and knocked incessantly on the door of the wolf girl. Perhaps she knew what had become of nearly everyone he knew.
"Hey, keep it down," Ruby said, after answering the door. "I have a sleeping child in here."
He hadn't known the wolf had a cub, but he supposed that was her business, "Apologies lass. I was wondering if you knew, perhaps, where I might find Emma?" Because of course it was about Emma, she was most important.
"I think she's with her parents."
"I've checked the loft. Nobody's there. And nobody's here. They've all disappeared and given the precarious state of things - "
"Woah, chill, okay. I'm sure everyone's fine. She'll probably come back here to turn in for the night and catch some cuddle time with that boyfriend of hers."
Killian scoffed. "Yes, the non-magical boyfriend. That's likely to work out."
"They seem pretty happy to me."
"Well then you haven't been paying attention. How on earth is that relationship supposed to work? Him pressuring her to give up her magic, to run away from all of this. This is who she is, and who she is isn't part of his world. No, I fully expect them to implode."
"You sound jealous."
"More like patient. If I truly saw the man as a threat, I would –"
"What? Challenge him to a duel for her hand? Don't you think Emma's got the right to choose who she wants to be with?"
"Of course. But who's to say that she's sure of her choice? That she isn't just running, keeping her walls up? I've seen it in her eyes. Deep down, in her heart, she knows that there's something between the two of us. It simply scares her, so she pushes me away -"
"She's had no problem letting Aaron in. They seem happy. And if you ask me, a guy not taking no for an answer is far from endearing. Now move on and, more importantly, go to sleep. It's after midnight, and I'm tired. Goodnight Hook." She shut the door in his face.
He wasn't trying to push the issue. He really wasn't. But really, what proof did he have that Emma was truly happy with Aaron? The man was a safe choice, like Rumple had been for Milah. Safe choices didn't make people happy. Someone like him on the other hand …
And he did want Emma to be happy. If he truly believed that Aaron could make her happier than he, he would try to move on. But he wasn't ready to give up just because of a minor complication. Satisfied with his own logic, he camped in front of Emma and Henry's room at the inn and took out his flask. Perhaps it would be a long night, but Killian was nothing if not patient.
Rumple had been quiet since Baelfire had gone to sleep, and Belle had a feeling she knew why. They had both been embarrassed by what his son had insinuated, of course. Everyone in Storybrooke probably made assumptions about the two of them, what might have happened between them when she had been his maid, or since the curse broke. The truth was far less scandalous. Belle and Rumple had never been together in that way, and silly man that he was, he was probably terrified to bring it up to her.
Rumple respected her, she was sure. He respected her intelligence. He knew she was more than just a sheltered noblewoman. Still, sometimes she could swear he thought her made of delicate glass, perfectly untouched and easily bruised. And while she'd never been touched in that way by anyone, it didn't mean he needed to fear bruising or breaking her.
"Rumple," she began. "When we were in the Dark Castle, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what was on your mind. It was almost like a game, sometimes. What is he thinking? Why is he doing what he's doing?"
"And did you ever figure me out?" he asked fondly.
"I think I know you better than most. Still, I never gained the ability to read your mind."
"That's quite the roundabout way to ask what I'm thinking."
"Well, pretty words seemed in order. This is the night of our engagement, after all."
He nodded, "I just worry that … that is, it's been a long time for me."
"Well, it's been no time for me. What I mean is, I've never …"
"Yes, I assumed as much. But the thing is, I have had relations, even if it was long ago. And it's long ago because, as Baelfire pointed out, I am quite a bit older than you."
"I've never cared about that."
"I just mean that… it might not be what you expect. What you'll like."
"I will like it because it will be with you, you silly man. It doesn't need to be perfect. I don't need perfect. I just need you."
Regina hadn't wanted to go back to the manor after confronting the wizard. It was so large and so empty. She would have loved to go to the merry men's camp, despite the leaves, but dealing with Robin would have been complicated. How could she face him, knowing what she knew?
For a minute, she considered calling on Hook, but thought better of it, especially after she watched him throw a fit to Ruby about Emma.
She had texted Emma to see if she could maybe have Henry for the night, but Emma's reply had simply said that he was spending time with his family. As though she wasn't his family. As though she hadn't raised him. It was infuriating. She knew Emma was mad, and she understood it. Emma had cared about Graham. But after all this time, after all her efforts to change, she thought Emma would be the one person to understand. No such luck.
Eventually, she did find her way back to the manor and, after downing a little cider to warm herself, she fell asleep. However, morning always came. Even during the curse, the sun had always risen, and she had always had to get up. Because she had a job. She was the mayor, but more importantly, she was a mother. The town would take care of itself, but Henry needed her. He still needed her. He had to. Who was she, if not his mother? It was the identity she had clung to, when everything else was lost. Emma wasn't going to keep her from him now, not after everything. So, she got herself ready and made her way to the hospital.
She found Emma asleep in the waiting room, cuddled up with her boyfriend on some cheap plastic chair. Henry was nearby, looking through some comics with those friends of his from New York.
"Doesn't this hospital have a policy about staying overnight?" she asked.
"Grandma convinced them to wave it," Henry said. "It's a special occasion, and Grandpa didn't want to leave her side. Nobody was ready to go home."
Regina was tempted to just grab Henry and take him home, but she knew that would have ramifications. Anyway, Emma was yawning and her eyelids were fluttering, "Regina," she said, stretching. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to collect my son."
"He's fine here," Emma said warily.
"I know that," Regina said. "But you've had him for quite a while. We haven't had time to catch up since he got his memories back, and I thought he and I could spend some time together, now that we aren't fighting a villain."
"What about the wizard?" Emma asked, standing up.
"I told you, he's not a threat."
"You texted me that, yeah. But we didn't talk about it. What makes you so sure?"
"Because I talked to him. All he wants is to make amends and go home to Oz."
"After everything he did, we're just supposed to take his word on that?"
"No, you're supposed to take mine. He's trying, Miss Swan."
"I haven't seen him try," Emma said stiffly.
"Haven't you?" Regina asked.
"Do you have any clue what he did? Aside from manipulating a young girl into believing that he could bring her dead mother back, which is fucked up, he worked me for months, got me to trust him, and then tried to kill me."
"He wasn't himself. My sister was controlling him."
"But how do we know that? Because it's what he said? He's a liar!"
"He did kill Zelena. Shouldn't that count for something?"
"Killing someone doesn't exactly scream good guy."
"Really? Because when you killed the dragon in my basement, everyone heralded you as a hero. And you haven't turned on your mother for what she did to mine."
"So, we're all screwed up," Emma said. "Fine. That doesn't mean we can trust this guy. This town always has some villain trying to kill us. It was you, not too long ago."
"All right, fine. Don't believe me about the wizard. Investigate for yourself, since apparently, I've lost your trust, but at least let me spend time with my son. I assume you still trust me not to hurt him?"
"What is with you two?" Henry asked.
"Kid …" Emma trailed off.
"What? Whatever it is, I can handle it."
Emma didn't say anything, which Regina found strangely touching. For all Emma's ire towards her right now, she didn't want to alienate Henry from her completely.
Then Henry turned his pleading eyes on Regina, and she sighed. "It's about Graham. About what I did to him."
"Oh," Henry said, turning to Emma. "What brought that up, after all this time?"
Emma's eyes widened. "What? You mean, you knew?"
"Of course. I told you about it at the time, remember? You just still didn't believe me about that kind of stuff. And it's screwed up, I know, but she isn't that person anymore."
Emma averted her gaze, and Regina let out another sigh. "I am trying to make amends, Miss Swan. To regain your trust. But you need to meet me halfway."
Emma shook her head. "You have to know it isn't that simple."
"I never said it was."
"This is the place where villains get second chances. Mom has proved herself. And maybe the wizard can too. Even Killian has become … kind of okay."
Emma snorted. "I don't know about that. Where is he, anyway? He's usually sniffing around."
Regina rolled her eyes. "He's waiting outside your room at Granny's hoping to convince you that you two are meant to be together."
Emma groaned. "Seriously?"
"He's never going to give up, you know. It's not his style," Regina said. "But that's not what we're talking about. What can I do, Emma, to help you, so that you won't keep me from my son?"
"It's not about Henry, and it's not about helping me. I told you that."
"Maybe. But wouldn't it be a damn good place to start?"
Emma sighed. "I still don't trust this wizard. He says that everything is good and safe, and we just believe him?"
"He bears us no ill will. I'd be more worried about anything Zelena might have left behind than about him."
"You think she left something behind?"
"I think that it's like you said. There's always someone stirring up trouble in Storybrooke."
No sooner had Regina said this than a green mist sprang up and engulfed the hospital waiting room. When it dissipated, Emma, Henry, and Regina were all sound asleep.
Belle had wanted to make breakfast, but some subtle motioning from Rumple had told Neal that that wasn't the best idea, so he'd offered to do a run to Granny's. He needed to get his stuff from his room there, anyway.
When he got to his room, he saw Killian camped in front of the one in Emma and Henry had been staying.
"Is, um, everything okay?" he asked tentatively.
"You mean aside from everyone disappearing with a witch on the loose?" Killian countered.
"Disappearing? As in … up in smoke or … ?"
"All I know is that I haven't heard from anybody."
Neal shrugged. "They're probably still at the hospital. I can text Emma, if you want."
"The hospital?" Killian stood up alarmed. "Was someone injured? Emma, or the boy?"
Neal shook his head. "No. her parents had their baby."
"If that's the case, then the witch will be after them. We need to – "
"Dude, Zelena's dead."
"What?"
"Yeah. Yesterday."
"And nobody bothered to tell me? I've been worried sick!"
Neal almost laughed at how hurt and outraged Hook looked. It would have been cruel to laugh, he knew, but the guy was just so freaking dramatic.
"You just need a phone, so people can text you. We'll get you one, okay?"
"I don't even know – "
Neal took out his phone. "Look," he said, showing Killian while he dialed Emma, putting the phone on speaker.
"You've reached Emma Swan," they heard, and Killian started talking, but was cut off by Emma's voice saying, "Please leave a message after the beep."
"Emma?" Killian tried, then he looked at Neal. "That was Emma?"
"That was her voicemail. It takes messages when the person can't get to the phone."
"Well, why can't she get to the talking phone?" Killian asked. "Is she in danger?"
"It's just a phone, and she's probably still asleep, but if it makes you feel any better, we can swing by the hospital to be sure."
"I can't believe how calm you're being."
"And I can believe how dramatic you're being."
"Either they're in danger, which would be terrible, or everything is truly fine, and nobody saw fit to let me know we were well and truly out of danger, which is insulting at best. I was here, fighting Pan, fighting the witch. Between Emma and the prince, I thought I'd earned enough goodwill for someone to reach out –"
Neal grabbed Killian's arm and pulled him along, shooting a quick text to his dad that he was running late.
Jason wasn't really sure what had happened. The green mist was clearly magical, and now everyone was unconscious. He assumed it was something the wicked witch had done, some sort of present she'd left behind as revenge in case they defeated her. It was the kind of thing a good villain would do.
A man in a white coat came by, looked at the evil queen, Henry, and Henry's mom, all collapsed on the floor, and then at him. "What happened here?"
"Uh … a sleeping curse, I think? I guess. I don't know."
"What? Again?" The man (his nametag said Dr. Whale, Jason noticed)'s voice rose and his eyes widened as he shook his head. "Nurse? Can I get a nurse?"
"Shhh." A woman in a blue uniform said, as she came out into the hall. "Snow White is still recovering from a difficult birth in the other room. She needs rest."
"Well, her daughter is under a sleeping curse, apparently," Dr. Whale said. "And her grandson. And Regina. But fine, I won't call a nurse."
The woman (and now Jason thought he remembered her from the convent, though he still couldn't think of her name) glanced over at their sleeping forms. "No. All three of them? How?"
Dr. Whale pointed at Jason, who said indignantly, "Hey, I didn't do anything."
"I know that," Dr. Whale said. "I just meant you were the only one here, and you can explain.
Jason noticed his father starting to stir. "Dad, you'll never guess!" he said. "There's a sleeping curse on Henry, his mom, and the evil queen. And Andrea's missing it!"
"Andrea's fine," Dr. Whale said. "She's with Ruby at Granny's."
"How do you know that?" his father asked, causing Dr. Whale to redden.
"It doesn't matter," Whale said. "We've all seen this before. Obviously, they all need to be kissed."
"Ew," Jason said.
"What?" Aaron asked. "How, uh, does that work?"
"It's the most powerful magic of all," said the nun, unhelpfully, before adding, "If you and the Savior share true love, then need to kiss her. She will awaken, and then, she will kiss Henry, as she did once before, and Henry will kiss Regina, which— I'm told —worked yesterday."
"And they'll all be fine. Emma and Henry?" his dad asked.
"And Regina," the nun confirmed. If the love that exists between yourself and the Savior is true. Dr. Whale added as an afterthought.
"Mr. Davidson, do you truly love Emma Swan?"
"Yes. I do."
"Then kiss her."
Neal had taken Killian on a detour to the kiosk in Dark Star Pharmacy. He'd purchased a phone for him, and programmed his own number, as well as Emma's. He was in the middle of explaining how the thing worked when a burst of rainbow-tinted magic flew through the both of them.
"We need to get to that hospital. Something is clearly happening," Killian said.
"All right," Neal agreed. "We'll finish this tutorial later."
They ran for the hospital, which, thankfully, wasn't far. Another burst of magic flew through them as they ran, and a third went off just as they arrived.
Both ran past nurses calling after them to stop, until they found the Charmings. Emma was avoiding Aaron's gaze, Snow was looking at the two of them with the sappiest look on her face, and Henry and Regina just looked confused.
"What happened?" Killian asked, as Neal rushed to Henry, checking him over to make sure he was okay.
"A sleeping curse," Snow explained. "Likely left behind as a parting gift from Zelena."
"Who was cursed?" Killian asked.
"Emma, Henry, and Regina," David said.
"But Aaron kissed her," Snow said, beaming. "They shared true love's kiss, and she woke up, and once we'd explained to her what had happened, she woke Henry, and he woke Regina."
A myriad of emotions passed over Killian's face as he took in what Snow and David had said. "True love, is it?" he asked, trying to meet Emma's eyes.
"I guess so," she said with a shrug. She didn't sound thrilled, but that was in character for her. She would fight something like that, even if it was exactly what she wanted.
"Well then," he said, "I offer my congratulations. Both on that, and on the babe."
"Thank you," David said, and Snow White nodded. "Um, we'll probably have a naming ceremony soon, if you want to come …?"
"Baelfire knows how to get in touch with me now," he said, raising his phone in the air. "I'll just …" Then he left the hospital.
"I should probably go after him," Neal said, looking at Emma and Henry one last time. "You're sure you're both okay?"
They both nodded, and then Neal followed Killian.
After the two left, Regina spoke up. "Something isn't right."
"What do you mean?" Snow asked.
"That wasn't a sleeping curse. I know sleeping curses, and that wasn't one. I felt it when Henry woke up."
"It did feel different," Henry added. "From the first time."
"Well, maybe it just felt different," Snow said.
"It shouldn't even be possible for Henry to be cursed again. Sleeping curses only work on a person once," Regina said.
"Like chicken pox?" Emma asked, causing Regina to roll her eyes.
"But if it wasn't a sleeping curse," Snow asked, "what was it? Why would Zelena -"
"Or the wizard," Emma said.
"I told you he's not a threat," Regina said. "Would you please trust me?"
"I am no threat to you," a voice behind one of the hospital curtains said, "But I am responsible for what just happened."
"Aha!" Emma said, heading over to him and revealing the wizard. "The man behind the curtain. Figures."
"Let me explain," he said.
"No, sorry," Emma replied, looking ready to punch him.
Regina took hold of Emma's arm, pulling her back. "Give him a chance, would you? I'd like answers as much as you do.
"Fine. Two minutes," Emma said. "After that, your face connects with my fist again."
"I wanted to make amends, and this was my start."
"Excuse me?" Emma asked, incredulous. "How is putting us under a sleeping curse –?"
"You were never in danger. It was just a quick sleep, smoke and mirrors, with a big romantic reveal at the end. And now your two ex-paramours believe you and Aaron share true love. Isn't that what you wanted? For the pirate and The Dark One's son to leave you alone?"
"Are you insane?" Emma asked.
"So, they aren't true love?" Snow White asked, looking heartbroken.
"Not in the magical sense, no. But Emma wasn't looking for true love anyway, were you?" he asked. "Underneath all this, I bet you're feeling relieved."
"You don't know me," Emma said through gritted teeth.
"Emma, I was your psychiatrist."
"Thanks for reminding me. Can I punch him now?"
"No," Regina said. "Don't get me wrong; it was a stupid plan, but his heart was in the right place. He was trying to give you what he thought you wanted, to make things right for having hurt you."
"Only a crazy person would assume I wanted a fake sleeping curse and a fake true-love's kiss. He didn't even ask me what would make things right."
"He probably assumed you would just punch him and not give him a chance to talk," Regina said.
"Well, then he assumed right. And why do you care so much, anyway? You just met him."
"Because you were one of the first people in Storybrooke who was capable of seeing the good in me, of forgiving me, even after everything I'd done, and I don't want you to lose that part of yourself."
"You mean you want me to forgive you," Emma said.
"Well, yes, I do. I think I've made that clear."
"Because you're scared that I'll keep you from Henry?" Emma asked.
"Among other reasons," Regina said. "We're … friends, aren't we?"
Emma sighed, her shoulders dropping. "We were. And I want us to be. But, Regina, I can't just let you off the hook for all the evil things you did, the people you hurt, because we're friends."
"Why not?"
"Because then anything you did would be okay, as long as you were friends with the right people. That's not how morality works."
"I am returning the hearts."
"What hearts?" Jason asked.
"Remind me, this child is…?" Regina asked.
"My friend," Henry said.
Now Regina sighed. "I've taken pieces of people in order to force them to serve me, and I haven't had an opportunity until now to return them. I was working on it before … well. Anyway, I should call on Tinkerbell, to see if she can't help me finish that task." With a puff of purple smoke, she was gone. The wizard appeared to have left at some point too, but nobody was really thinking about him anymore anyway.
"So, when she said hearts?" Jason began. "Was that as gross and gory as it sounded?"
"Um, kind of," Henry said.
"Cool!" Jason said.
Everybody in the room burst out laughing.
"Look, why don't you come back to the house? We're having a breakfast to celebrate my father's engagement." Neal said, trying to cheer Killian up.
"Your father's engagement?" Killian asked, laughing. "Well, my congratulations to the crocodile, but somehow, I doubt I'm welcome."
"I'll make him make you welcome. You're family."
"To you, perhaps. To your father … He'll never see me as that. Can't say as I blame him. Our history is muddy and dark."
"I want you there," Neal said.
"I'm sorry, Bae. I … I just can't. Perhaps I need to be alone. Sail the seas a bit."
"So, go get your ship," Neal said.
"Yes. Yes, perhaps I should."
"Was he right?" Aaron asked, as they drove back to Granny's, "about you being relieved?"
"Can we not do this now?" Emma asked. "I slept on a chair all night, and I have a crick in my neck. I just want to make sure Andrea's all right and then lay down in an actual bed."
"Me too," Aaron said. "Believe me. Holding my little girl is … I'm worried about her."
"I can't believe that wizard did that to her. And Regina was defending him!"
"I know," Aaron said. "I'm more than a little pissed at that guy. I wouldn't have minded seeing you punch him."
"Well, if he's sticking around, you'll see me punch him. Hopefully, he knows better."
"And I don't want to agree with him, but you did seem relieved. That it wasn't true love's kiss, I mean?"
Emma groaned. "Okay. Let's do this, then. Yes, I was relieved. But not because I don't love you. It's because enough of my life has been decided for me. Being the Savior, giving birth to the Dark One's grandkid, my kid being adopted by the Evil Queen, his coming to find me… All of it was Fate, and I didn't get a choice. And true love's kiss is like that too. Destiny. I don't want to be with you because someone decided we were meant to be together. I want to be with you because I decided we were meant to be together. It's my choice. And I choose you."
"I choose you, too."
Not too long after that, they reached Granny's. Aaron knocked on Ruby's door, while Emma, Henry, and Jason waited off to the side. Ruby came to the door with Andrea behind her.
"Your father's here," she said gently, and Andrea stepped forward. Her eyes filled with tears, and she ran into her father's arms. He knelt down and held her close, cradling her head.
"Shh. It's okay. It's okay."
"It's not. It's not okay."
Eventually, they made their way back to the Davidsons' room.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart," Aaron said, brushing Andrea's hair back.
"I know. And, Emma, I'm …"
She didn't finish. She didn't have too. Emma nodded. "I know. Me too."
"Listen, I know I was all excited about being here at first, with Prince Charming, and Belle, and magic. And, I mean, it is cool. And maybe someday, we can come back here and have fun. But after everything we've seen, I think … I think I just want to go home."
"How do you know Blackbeard?" Killian asked, cornering Mary Ormond in her classroom.
"That's my business."
"You said you wanted something he stole from you back. So do I. And I think it's time I fought for it."
Her eyebrows rose. "You're planning to go after him?"
"Aye."
"Do you have a way to return to the Enchanted Forest, then?"
"I've procured one once before. No reason I can't again."
Mary clapped her hands together. "Splendid. I'll be ready to leave tomorrow. Sooner even, if need be."
"I didn't say you could come with me."
"Why else would you be here?"
"To offer you a chance to prove you'll be of use. As I said, I'll be able to procure transport, and I've a crew that's been champing at the bit to set sail again. You have a score to settle with Blackbeard, which could make you an asset. Or a liability. So, I ask you again, what did he take from you?"
"I'm not going to tell you that. You are, however, going to take me with you. Not simply because I hate Blackbeard, or because I'm skilled with a sword, and know how to hoist anchor, but because I have something you need."
"And what, pray tell, is that?"
Mary gave him the smile of a woman who knew she had him bested, "A ship."
Regina spent the day with Tinkerbell, returning hearts, and hearing recriminations for what she had done. It gave her quite the headache. There was still more to do, but it would take a week or two to restore them all to their owners. In the meantime, she needed a drink.
She arrived at Granny's to find the wizard nursing his own drink. "Long day?" she asked, sitting down beside him.
"I thought I was helping," he said, sadly. "I just want to make good. Be good."
"Emma's ire is hard to deal with," Regina said. "Believe me, I know. But she'll come around. To both of us."
"What makes you so sure?"
"I'm not. I just … I'm trying to remember what I've learned about hope this past year, before it all evaporates. I want to believe I can have a happy ending."
The wizard smiled. "I want to believe that too," he said. "Can I buy you a drink?"
"I'm … seeing someone."
He nodded. "Just as well. Still, a drink between friends?"
"I hardly know you."
"All right then. I'll leave you to it." He started to get up.
"I didn't say I wanted to drink alone," Regina said, stopping him.
The wizard shot her a smile. It was a tad charming, she had to admit. "To new friends, then?" he asked, raising his glass just as one was placed in front of her.
She raised her own glass and clinked it to his. "To new friends."