Apologies, readers. Apparently, the muse had left me, and the time seemed to disappear in managing various projects and attending classes. Plus, the midterms are upon us, meaning I would have even less time. However, the story will be finished, only I don't know when. I think two or three more chapters. Thank you for reading and reviewing, and liking the story.

Enjoy!

Chapter 15

Emma woke up with a strange feeling of being watched. But, as it did not raise any of her internal alarms, she remained motionless, keeping her eyes closed. Mentally, she took stock of her body, realizing that she had been lying on her belly, with her head buried deep into the pillow. As it had been the same position she had fallen asleep in, and Emma had always been an active sleeper as Snow had called it, because she tended to twist and turn too many times during the night, she concluded that she must have been too tired to even flex a muscle. And, now, for the first time in many days, she felt actually rested. And, apparently, all the muscle pain and strain had eased after the massage and the deep slumber. It was a bit of a strange feeling, not to feel the constant twinge of various body parts complaining to the rhythm she had endured.

Emma flexed her shoulders, humming with lazy satisfaction, aware of the other person in bed. Most likely, it is Regina's stare that had woken her in the first place, so she just continued with her ruse, keeping her eyes closed. A warm palm landed on her upper arm and glided up to her shoulder, as Regina shifted to a side, wriggling her other arm beneath Emma. Eventually, both wandering hands found themselves on Emma's back, gliding up and down over her t-shirt. The blonde smiled and leaned onto Regina's neck, sighing with content.

They did not need to break the silence, as they enjoyed the peace and quiet of just being together. And, just for a few more moments they could pretend that the world outside did not wait for them. However, the reality decided to intrude, no matter what they wanted. A soft but persistent knock could be heard from the door. At the sound, Emma groaned disgruntledly and lifted her head, looking into the glimmering dark chocolate ones, watching her back.

"Couldn't you summon another curse?" Emma asked in whisper, her face scrunched in displeasure. Regina just chuckled in answer and lifted her hand to Emma's cheek. With gentle caress, she just looked into Emma's green eyes, her love and patience evident in the soft gaze. Drawn with the powerful look, Emma came closer to the other woman, lowering her head, intending to kiss the gentle smirk of the teasing lips in front of her. But another round of knocks came, louder this time. "Alright!" Emma yelled to the door before her head fell down onto the pillow in exasperation. "I am coming!"

Jumping out of the bed, she grabbed her pants and hopping toward the door, she put them on. "What?" she said, opening the door, ready to strangle whomever was on the other side. But, there was a woman she had seen somewhere before, startled with the sudden opening of the door. In her hands was a platter filled with food and a pitcher that was in danger of toppling over from her shaking hands. "Who are you?" Emma asked, surprised with the stranger in front of her door. She honestly expected Snow, Mulan or Henry to be the first ones to come. Perhaps not Snow, though, as Emma had seen what had been done on the beach that day. But, this woman was also familiar, again from Regina's memory. It was Martha, the woman who had helped Rumplestiltskin search the herbs for the potion, but, as well it was the woman who had tried to poison Regina. Even though it had been done in loyalty to Snow, it still troubled Emma. Frowning at the woman, she saw Martha go even paler. Some of her feelings must have been visible, because the guest moved back a step.

"Yo-your Ma-ma-majesty, I-I-I was told to bring you bre-breakfast." The woman spoke in frightening whisper, breathing quickly. Not that she enjoyed inspiring fear in people, but this time Emma would accept this benefit, if only to take it as the only revenge on the poor woman. And, as most of ordinary folk, Martha was afraid of magic. So, being in presence of not one, but two extremely powerful creatures must have been very unnerving for the simple woman.

"Thank you," Emma said, her voice devoid of emotions. She stepped forward and took the platter, and turned to go into the room. But before she could leave, the woman spoke again.

"Your family wishes to speak with you, Your Highness."

"I will see them when I come down." With no further explanation, Emma went into the room and closed the door into the still standing woman's face. She knew she was short with the intruder for no good reason, but she couldn't find it in her to be sorry for it.

Bringing the platter to bed, Emma placed it on Regina's lap, while she carefully climbed on top of the covers, beside her. The moment she sat down, her belly rumbled in hunger, as Emma had not eaten in more than a day. Looking at Regina bashfully, she took one of the plates with scrambled eggs and went about decimating the food without a word of complaint. Emma knew that her grousing about interrupting would now fall on deaf ears, as Regina had been no doubt reminded of Emma's fragile state from the night before.

Soon, they finished with their breakfast. Although it was a quiet affair, it was passed in random looks and tender smiles, with one of them offering a piece of bread or something else to the other, from time to time.

"What is so heavy on your mind?" Regina spoke, after they had finished with their meal, lowering the platter on the bedside table. She had noticed Emma's growing sullenness that doused her movements, although it was covered well with her natural cocky manner and brazen behavior. However, the former Mayor could claim that she was quite familiar with the blonde's moods.

Emma just shook her head, and rose from the bed. Having walked to the window, she unlatched the wooden shutters and pushed them open, letting the daylight in. It was her hope that Regina would not notice the trouble for a bit more, but she had known that the brunette was knowledgeable of her frames of mind, as she was with hers. Leaning against the sill with her hands, Emma let her eyes wander over the village, not really seeing anything. With heaviness in her shoulders, she released the hold she had on her mood, allowing Regina to see the full extent of her trouble. Sighing, she dropped her head, her hair covering her face, but the move itself was a dead giveaway of the seriousness of Emma's somber thoughts.

"Emma?" Regina whispered, as she stood beside the other woman, leaning on the wall beside the window with her side.

"Belle and Ruby are here." Emma spoke with resigned heaviness. Waiting a moment to let Regina comprehend the full meaning of the women being in the Enchanted Forest, the blonde directed her eyes upward into the sky, watching the clouds go by. After an understanding sigh could be heard from the older woman, Emma continued. "It appears that they have come to bring us home." Shaking her head, the Savior chuckled mirthlessly, before lifting her shoulders and straightening her back. "The moment we leave this room, we will be expected to make a choice." Even though her voice was nothing more than a whisper, Emma's words carried a resentful edge in them. Turning her head to Regina, Emma looked at the woman she loved. "This place is my parents' home. And yours, as well. I am pretty sure Henry loves it here, too."

"But, you don't?"

"It wasn't very kind to me, but my world is just that. Mine." Pushing away from the window, Emma started pacing the small room, passing her fingers through her wild mane of blonde hair. "I don't belong here," she said with such sadness in her voice that it broke Regina's heart. "Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, and all the adventures were, well, fun. But…" Wriggling her hands, Emma tried to think of a way to explain herself to the other woman, however she could not come up with anything that made sense.

"It feels wrong…" Regina supplied when Emma stopped, unable to continue. When Emma just nodded, Regina took her hands and held them in her own, drawing herself near to the other woman, catching her eyes. "Emma, I cannot speak for your mother and father, but as I am concerned, this realm can disappear. When you go to Maine, I will be by your side."

Emma leaned her forehead to Regina's, pleased that she had resolved one part of her problem. But the others remained quite in the front of her mind. She was not ready to leave her parents behind. And, looking into dark eyes, she understood that Regina knew that, and that her statement of staying by her side encompassed even the possibility of them staying in the Enchanted Forest. Regina had understood her perfectly, but also she had known not to voice such problems before the talk with the Charmings.

She watched the Savior mount the burden of the reality of divided family, and the solemn silence did nothing to ease it. So she did the only thing she could. "Look at me," Regina said, grabbing Emma's face with her palms. "Whatever happens," she started, her eyes darting from and to Emma's green eyes. "Whatever happens, I am here to help you with anything you need. And, I do mean anything." Her eyes softened a bit, as she saw that the blonde woman believed her. "Even, destroying this realm one more time."

Emma chuckled at the humor in Regina's tone. "I might take you upon that." And, just like that, the heavy atmosphere broke, leaving them with the easiness of their silent communication. Regina kissed Emma's cheek briefly, still holding on to her hands, squeezing them gently. Then, she moved away to fix her clothes. Using magic, she enveloped the shirt she had been wearing into the purple pinkish mist, making it clean and pressed again. With the same procedure she took care of her pants and vest, finishing up with her boots. Walking up to a small hanging mirror on the wall opposite to the bed, she smiled at the Savior as she passed her.

"Why do you think they sent Martha up? I mean, why her specifically?" Emma asked, after she had changed into a more appropriate shirt and pants. She looked up from her boots and saw Regina fuss with her hair in the mirror.

"I think it is Snow's peace offering." Looking at the Savior in the mirror, she smiled. "Knowing the woman was terrified of me the last time, and now you are the powerful magic user as well, the Queen's own daughter, Snow definitely knew that Martha would be scared to death even to knock on our door. But, she wouldn't dare disobey her Queen, not after the previous debacle." Turning to the other woman, she walked to the bed and stood in between Emma's knees, sliding her fingers into Emma's unruly locks, sending out a small pulse of magic, trying to tame the curls just a little bit. "And, anyone interrupting us could have expected to be burned to cinders, and perhaps no one who knows us wanted to risk it…"

"So, it is like a punishment and a joke for you in one act…" Emma said lifting her hands to Regina's hips, fiddling with the leather twines of the vest.

"Precisely." Forcing Emma to lift her head, Regina bestowed a gentle kiss on the blonde's lips. "Now, we should go, they have been waiting long enough."

Henry paced in front of the stairs, glancing up every few seconds. The only thing stopping him from rushing upstairs was the ever watching guardians that made him stay on the lower level. He looked toward the crowd of people that had gathered in the large center room of the village hall. It reminded him of the meetings in the City Hall when his mother had been the Mayor.

There were no tables, just like the first time he had been in the Hall. But there were many more chairs, for all the people present. His grandparents and Belle were sitting in one corner; Princess Aurora, Prince Phillip, Mulan and Ruby were right next to them, sitting only a small way apart. Aurora was holding the youngest of the boys in her lap, trying to soothe him unsuccessfully. Henry had noticed that Kyle was getting more and more restless as the days passed, ever since his mother had left. In his mind he had already accepted the fact of the connection Regina had with the tyke without much thought on the subject. Now, when he thought about that, he was surprised not to feel jealousy or fear of abandonment, but when he looked at the baby fussing in the Princess's lap, he felt the need to help him, to take him in. It was clear to him that Kyle had no home, and his home was as good as any, especially when his mother, both mothers, could give so much to the baby. And, he did want a brother or a sister…

Henry looked on around the room, until his eyes fell on his father pacing in front of the fireplace. Ever since Neal had learned that Regina had been his sister and that she was Emma's True Love he started behaving strangely. Angry and miserable, he had heard Snow describe his behavior to David. But, Henry knew the real problem. His father was jealous. Only he didn't know why.

Suddenly, a door opened upstairs and two pairs of steps could be heard on the upper floor. Henry turned to the stairs and waited for his mothers to appear. When the women had descended down the steps, he flew into them almost bowling them over. Even though he had expected a reprimand, he couldn't wait to see them again. But, instead of telling him off, Regina and Emma held him close, enveloping him in a tight hug, almost suffocating him, but he did not mind. The worry he had been carrying around since he had brought Emma into Storybrooke eased off him, as he felt their love for him mixed with acceptance of the new situation. It certainly did make things easier for him, because no longer he had to choose between them, or to beg one to spare or save the other. Grinning from ear to ear he sighed happily into Regina's chest, feeling Emma's hands on his shoulders.

"Missed you", he mumbled into the soft hold. Regina pulled his face away, holding it gently in between her palms and kissed his forehead, smiling tremulously.

"I missed you, too," she spoke to him, before she took him into a fierce embrace once more.

Very quickly, he was pushed into Emma's arms and he laughed when she tickled him in the familiar way. "Hey, kid," she greeted him in her short way, ruffling his hair. Then, she placed her arm around his shoulders, pulling him to her side, and turned around to meet the others. Slowly she walked to her parents, followed closely by Regina. When Snow rose to stand in front of her daughter, Henry stepped back taking Regina's hand.

Not knowing what to do with her hands, Emma placed them at her hips, hooking her thumbs through the belt loops on the pants. Glancing up the teary face of her mother, she shrugged. "I brought her back," Emma whispered instead of greeting, when the pixie haired woman stood in front of her. Snow chortled a laugh while tears streamed down her face.

Lifting a hand to Emma's face, she tenderly placed it on her cheek, looking into her daughter's eyes with the gentle smile. "Yes, you did," she whispered back with approval and pulled her daughter close into a hug, Emma's arms going around her almost instantly. After several moments they were both enveloped into strong arms of Emma's father. But, after a while, Snow gently extricated herself out of the warm hold and turned to the brunette watching her every move with careful look in her eyes, while she held on to Henry.

"I hope you can forgive me," Snow said softly.

Regina's eyes took on a dangerous glint and her face darkened. She sent Henry to Emma before she drew herself to her full height, taking the advantage of her heels. Coming almost nose to nose to her former nemesis, Regina smirked with malice. "I definitely will not," she said, her voice dipping into the famous Evil Queen key. But, in a second her whole countenance changed and she put her hand on Snow's face, just like she had done several times too long in the past, her gesture reminiscent of all the motherly moments she had shared with Snow. "There is nothing to forgive," Regina added softly. Taking Regina's whispered sentence as absolution, Snow threw herself on the woman, holding her close.

"I have always known you were there underneath Her," Snow whispered back, directly into Regina's ear, while she held her firmly. "And, I missed you so much," she added, her emotions almost chocking her. Regina only accepted the hug gracefully, still unwilling to discuss the years of her rule.

David watched his wife and her former stepmother hold each other, Regina having a mildly panic in her eyes at the display of affection from the younger woman. Then he directed his look to his daughter. Emma had a gentle smile on her face as she watched the two women. Henry was leaning into her side, looking at his other mother with grin. Emma was dressed in a green shirt with her black t-shirt visible underneath. The dark jeans and black boots completed the ensemble perfectly, giving her outdoorsy but elegant look. There were no visible weapons on her, but he knew his daughter, and Emma would never be without a mean to defend her and others in the places she didn't feel safe. And with a smirk, he noticed a slight disfiguration of the left boot, realization making his smirk grow. There was a knife, or a dagger, inside the boot.

However the hug between the once enemies was interrupted when the youngest member of the group started complaining, rather loudly. Regina looked toward the source, and pushed away from Snow, reaching Aurora in moments. With a tender smile she picked up the baby, cooing to him softly, and placed him in her arms. The second he had found himself in Regina's hands, Kyle stopped fussing, and soon his countenance changed into happiness. When he reached for Regina's nose, the woman wriggled it, making the boy laugh. He placed his chubby hands on her face with glee, chuckling whenever Regina would blow her cheeks.

"Emma?" Regina spoke softly, not moving her eyes from the small person in her arms. The only answer she received was the arms sneaking around her middle from behind, and the blonde's cheek on her shoulder. "I want you to meet Kyle." She noticed when the baby saw the newcomer over her shoulder, and his widened eyes soon turned into chuckling glee when he reached for the golden tresses. With care, she turned slightly toward Emma, giving her the child. Even though Emma was uncomfortable with sudden weight of the wriggly bundle in her arms, she smiled at the tyke, making faces at him.

Emma had been aware of the unexpected connection Regina had made with the boy via their melding. And, knowing that the boy had no home or family left, for apparently too many years had passed, she felt her heart pulling her toward him as well. Glancing toward her son, she saw him smiling as he watched both of his mothers entertain the youngling. When he noticed her looking at him, he grinned and as she inclined her head in invitation, he rushed to them, tickling the tyke on his foot. With smiling eyes, Emma turned to look at her beloved and saw the emotion playing out on her face, bringing tears into her dark eyes. Holding Kyle with one hand, she pressed Henry to Regina, and he understood immediately what she wanted, throwing his arms around his mother. Next, Emma placed her free arm around Regina's shoulders, and kissed her cheek, unintentionally giving Kyle the opportunity to place a slobbering kiss on her other cheek, making her laugh, as she was engulfed in her loved ones. The glinting in Emma's eyes told her more than the words ever could and she was glad that the Savior did not even try to put the thoughts into words for it would have ruined them. The acceptance of the new family member was so apparent, and it was followed with wistful eagerness for Regina had known Emma was a bit envious of her dark haired love for her years with Henry. But, there in the green eyes was also something that was so rare to be seen so obvious in Emma's eyes. The utter happiness, unmarred by worries and dangers.

After several minutes of uninterrupted embrace, Snow cleared her throat, making her daughter glance toward her sheepishly. With embarrassed smile, Emma guided the rest of them onto the nearby chairs, making sure that Regina in the middle, her son on one side and her on the other. But, before she could sit down she was pulled into a bone crushing hug by a chuckling young woman. Ruby almost tackled her down, and only Regina's supporting wave of magic prevented them from falling down on the stone floor. The werewolf laughed as Emma returned the hug as soon as she had gathered her wits. Soon, she was passed on to Belle who was much gentler with her. Then, Emma found herself in front of the young Royal couple, accompanied with Mulan, as always.

"First, I want to welcome you and congratulate you on your recovery," Aurora spoke with teasing smirk. But, her face turned serious with tender quality. "Emma, this is Phillip." As they had talked about him, the first time Emma had been in the Enchanted Forest, Aurora knew the blonde didn't need further explanation.

"Ah, Prince Phillip it is a pleasure," Emma spoke, glad that the young princess had found the way to counter the wraith's damage.

"Princess Emma, I can say the same." But when he saw Emma freeze, he frowned and looked first at his chosen, then at Snow looking for explanation. The people from the other world all had the same expression on their faces, kind amusement. Looking back to the blonde he saw that Emma had regain her previous composure.

"Just Emma, please." Although, her tone was gentle and cordial, the steel flashing in her eyes told him that he was never to call her princess ever again. He nodded and stepped aside, letting his friend take his place.

Mulan took Emma's hand and patted her shoulder. "Not such a stumbling hero, are you, Savior?" The warrior woman spoke. "Manticore, huh? Any more beasts you took care of?"

"A couple of Ogres…" Emma spoke, with nonchalance but Regina's voice interrupted her.

"And three trolls, as well." The brunette smirked at the Savior, holding Kyle in her lap. The beaming smile she directed at the blonde was visible to all present, making Emma blush with the attention. "And of course there was the whole part of rescuing Henry…"

"Ah, so you have grown into your title, Savior." Mulan smiled at the woman she still held close and nodded with admiration and respect. Emma nodded back silently, aware that such gesture from mostly silent woman was speaking tons. Finally releasing the blonde, Mulan stepped away to stand behind the Royal couple who had taken their seats while Emma and Mulan had conversed.

Emma took her seat beside Regina and winked at Henry, as she tickled the tyke in Regina's lap. Then, she looked at her mother because it seemed Snow would be in charge of this meeting. Acknowledging the permission, Snow nodded and took a breath.

"While you were away, Red and Belle came to us. I think it is fair to let them tell you what they told us." The former Queen gestured to her friend to continue, leaning back into the shoulder of her husband.

The young woman launched into the story, from time to time interrupted by Belle making clarifications along the way. Ruby explained the spell casted on the town, Regina's reinstating and Anton's plan to grow more beans. Eventually, Ruby explained the time spent in Neverland and how they had reached the Enchanted Forest. All the while the women spoke, Emma and Regina kept quiet, sharing a glance here and there at the important parts of the story. When Ruby finished the telling, she checked with Belle if she had missed anything.

"So, there is only one bean left?" Emma asked after the silence continued. "What were you going to do if you haven't found us here?"

"Well, go back and wait for more to grow before going on in search for you," Ruby said, looking at Emma, her countenance suddenly seeming unsure. "It would be a two month wait, but with no beans left…" Emma understood the girl's point of view. Without a spare bean for going home, they would be stuck, even if they had found them and that would not help anyone. Even waiting for another batch was better than getting stranded, although the possibility of getting on their track after two months would be beyond small.

"Yes, that makes sense," Emma spoke rising from the chair. "So, I presume we are soon to set for home?" she spoke, not missing the wince on the faces of her parents, and the impassive expression on Rumplestiltskin's.

"Well, as soon as you are ready," Ruby said, feeling the growing uneasiness around her. She had known that Snow and David wanted to go back, and that Belle missed her world as well, but she also had known that Emma had not liked it the first time and by the always scanning move of her eyes, she assumed that remained the case. She herself sometimes missed the wilderness of her forest, but she was alright with Storybrooke, and Regina seemed that it did not matter either way, as long Emma was near. Would this be another test for this family?

"Can't we just make a portal?" Henry spoke suddenly, looking at Rumplestiltskin with hope.

"Henry, the bean is a portal," Snow said gently, taking his hand and leading him outside, and Emma could hear his defeated 'Yes, but..' trailing off as they walked out of the hall. Soon everyone followed, leaving Emma with Regina and Kyle, Neal skulking near the fireplace. Sharing a look with her True Love, she nodded.

"Go on, I'll meet you outside." Emma wanted to say that she would find her, but she thought better of that changing her mind in the middle of her sentence. She did need to talk to Neal, even if only to make sure that he was not going to be the disrupting presence in the family. After Regina had pulled her close and kissed her cheek in goodbye, she left with Kyle in her arm, shooting a warning glance toward the man.

"Emma," Neal spoke when the door closed after Regina. Walking toward her, he took her hands. "I missed you so much," he whispered and leaned in to kiss her but instead of her warm skin he met nothing. Blinking, he saw that she had moved out of his reach and stood across of the room, her arms crossed and her eyes shooting daggers at him.

"What was that?" she spoke slowly, her voice sharp with anger.

"A welcome back kiss?" He had known it was a bad move, but he still could not accept that Emma was not his anymore.

"And, that seemed like a good idea because?" She was brash and unconcerned of anyone hearing them, just as Emma always had been. He shrugged his shoulders, placing one of his hands on his neck.

"You told me you loved me!" he said, almost yelling. All the anger and misery made him boil at her moving away from him.

"I did." Emma stepped away, turning her back to him for a moment. "I do." But, she realized it was the absolute worst thing to say when his eyes glowed in triumph. "You have to understand that what I feel for Regina trumps my love for you a thousand times."

"How can you say that? She wanted to kill you!"

"To curse me, there is a difference." But, her correction only made things even worse. She saw him flex his fists in anger and she instantly came on guard. He had never been violent, but she was aware that people changed and that often times it is for worse.

"I love you," he spoke with anger coming close to Emma.

"Perhaps you do. But, not long ago you were in love with Tamara. She may have planned the whole thing, but you still loved her. And, even though you love me, and always had, you still doubted me when I told you she was not who you thought she was." She carefully moved out of his reach, loath to use her defensive moves or magic on him. "And, before, you put me in jail, just because August told you to. You abandoned me, just like that." She felt herself get more agitated with every minute spent reminiscing all the bad things, and she was afraid that the things would escalate if she did not end this, soon. "Is that act of love?" The bitter edge in her voice made him flinch like she had physically hit him. "You just left."

"You had a destiny." Neal tried to defend himself, but even as he spoke he understood the futility of his action. Destiny was the one that decided that he was not for her. He had hoped that it was all a lie, but his own words undid all the false hope he had built. It was destiny that brought Emma and Regina together, first with Henry then with everything else. Then, all the entanglement with magic only sealed the deal. He had been only a footnote in her history, a father to her child that was only biologically needed. And, judging for the looks he had gotten from Snow and Regina, he should consider himself lucky that he was even allowed to spend time with Henry. Snow even expected that of him, but she had warned him against causing strife in her family. Now, as he had seen the same look in Emma's eyes, so similar to her mother's, to Henry's, he had to admit his defeat completely and absolutely. And Emma was right. He had loved Tamara, perhaps the same way he loved Emma. And, as he had been to easily swayed away from Tamara, maybe he would recover just as easily from Emma. The only thing that was left to bother him was the jealousy he was feeling toward his sister. Even though she had been the 'bad guy' she managed to get the family and happy end he had always desired. It probably had to do with fighting for it, where he had run.

"Yes, I did." Emma saw the change in his eyes. She would never presume to know without a doubt what he had decided in those short moments, but her gut was telling her that it was going to be alright. She stepped closer to him and placed her hand on his shoulder in consolation. He looked into her face as a changed man and nodded, taking her hand and kissing it on the knuckles.

"Henry?" he asked tremulously. Emma's eyes softened as she had witnessed his insecurity.

"He will always be your son." Emma eased his fear, but she had to make something clear. "But, I and Regina will also always be his mothers."

"I know." He smiled at Emma, lightness returning into his boyish smile. "You know, if we take Henry into account, then she seems to be the best parent out of three of us." He mentioned, placing his arm around Emma's shoulders, leading her outside.

Emma snorted at his remark, absolutely aware that he was right. "But, we can get better."

"Yes, we can." At the door, he nodded to her, and walked away, directing himself toward the woman in question.

Emma leaned against the door, watching the two interact, pleased that there was no impending blood baths. Taking Henry into account, Regina was the only one who knew what to do regarding upbringing children, because she had to learn it the hard way with Henry, with no one around to help her or give her an advice. But, now things would be very different, with all the extended family ready to jump in at the moment's notice. Emma watched Kyle in Regina's hands, and firmly decided to be there every step of the way.

Thinking of Henry, she considered his outburst earlier. Make a portal, he had said. Not create a portal as the bean would do, or use a portal. The specific wording of his question made her think more carefully. She needed some answers and there was only one person who would be able to give them to her. So, she pushed of the wall and jogging to Regina, she looked around for the old man who had the knowledge of plenty magical properties and object in his head. She wanted to talk to Rumplestiltskin, but without Regina and the others knowing too much. For now, she would keep quiet, until the moment presented itself, or until she would corner the man in the evening. Smiling at the raised chubby hand reaching for her hair, she kissed Regina's cheek and hugged her from behind. Lunch time was drawing near, and she only had time till the evening, because it was a consensus that they would set for Maine in the morning.