As Lily wakes from her 'surgery', her mother is there to deliver an even bigger surprise. Henry comes face-to-face with his mothers, Ruby makes a decision on her future, and Snow makes a decision in her life.
Storybrooke Hospital – the following morning
Despite so many reassurances, Lily hadn't expected to ever wake up again. Being in the final stages of aggressive lung cancer, she'd been more resigned to her fate than her mother, who now stood hovering over her, red-eyed as she sat up in the hospital bed. At the very least, she'd expected to see tubes sticking out of her, and to be feeling even more shitty than when Merlin put her to sleep.
At the time, he'd carefully explained how it wouldn't be a normal operation. That there wouldn't be any knives, although perhaps a little oxygen when she woke up. That everything would be done with magic, and that she'd pull through.
What she hadn't been expecting was to be able to draw breath easily. She still felt unbelievably tired, but apart from that, better than she had in months.
"So, you're saying the cancer's really gone, just like that? It's supposed to be incurable!"
"In the world without magic, that's certainly true, Lily." Merlin gave her a warm smile. "You'd probably have been dead within two to three weeks, tops."
She'd already checked under her gown, to find no sign of stitches, bruising, scarring or…well, anything?
"Did you even open me up?"
"He did, my love. One of the nurses here recorded some of it on camera, in case you refused to believe him." Maleficent drew even closer, taking her daughter's hand, pressing her lips to the back of it. "I witnessed everything. You've just been cured by the most powerful sorcerer who ever lived." She smiled up at Merlin, who now looked slightly embarrassed by the praise. "And the Dark One, surprisingly."
"I don't understand. Why him of all people? Isn't he supposed to be evil?"
He smiled down at her. "I removed the cancer, and with Rumple's assistance, the darkness which was wrongly transferred into you by my apprentice long before you were born. It should never have happened in the first place. But it's gone now."
"The Darkness? But how? It's in my mind, surely?"
"Darkness attracts darkness, Lily. It's something I couldn't have done alone, even with my powers."
"So what's the price? Mamma told me that with him, there's always a price!"
"A price that's already been paid, my love," Mal moved a lock of sweat-sodden hair off her face. "By me. A mere magical item, which I wasn't using. And a few questions answered."
"So that's it? I'm cured and free to go? It won't come back again the moment I cross the town line?"
"Only if you start smoking again, young lady! Mind you, Doctor Whale ran some tests while you were under, and told me to tell you it might be a good idea to cut down on the alcohol intake? It plays hell with the body eventually, and he said he speaks from personal experience."
She sat more upright, wanting to get up, but felt very dizzy. "Oh hell."
"Lily, wait? Give your body a chance to recover." Her mother exchanged a nervous look with Merlin. "You haven't been using your legs recently and besides, there's no rush. Besides, there's something very important I need to tell you."
"If it's about the quarrel, forget about it okay? I just got hot-headed, as usual."
"Consider it forgotten. No my love, this is about something more important. It's regarding your father."
"My father? Why? I never knew him, and you said he was dead. Long dead!" She spotted the way the dragon looked across at the man on the opposite side of the bed. "He is dead, isn't he?"
"I'm sorry my hatchling. That's what I truly believed for a very long time. Centuries, in fact."
"Centuries? How the fuck? I'm forty-two!"
"Forty two years since you hatched in your realm, yes. But you were originally conceived over fifteen human centuries ago, Lilith. And between your conception and birth, I've been killed three times. The last two by Charming and his daughter. Waiting for resurrection can often take an awfully long time! Millennia, even!"
"Fifteen hundred years?" Lily shook her head again, bewildered.
"It's true. And just so you know, the man who fathered you was wholly unaware of your existence. Until now."
"Man? You mean he's a human? You told me he was a dragon called Draco!"
"He was. But he also turned out to be a wizard cursed into dragon form. An unusually powerful sorcerer, as it happens."
Lily's jaw dropped, her eyes turning slowly to the only wizard in the room. The wizard who was now giving her a sympathetic smile.
"You?"
"Hello, Lilith. Believe me, it was just as big a surprise for me, as it was for you."
Portland, Maine
Henry arrived at the little hotel an hour earlier than expected.
And Regina found herself shaking with nerves once she'd received a call to say he was in the lobby. She shuddered, remembering the last time she'd seen him face-to-face, nearly three weeks ago. When they'd argued. When she's threatened him, and Emma had hit him. But Henry hadn't flinched. Instead, he'd challenged them. This wasn't the same boy; this was a man. A very defiant young man. A man who'd stared down at them with an expression she'd never seen on his face before.
Disgust.
And although they'd been under some sort of ridiculous potion, he'd seen a side of her she'd tried so very hard to bury long ago. The Evil Queen. Robin had also seen it when she'd sworn to kill him if he ever returned. Kill him? Kill the man who saved her certain obliteration by once sacrificing his own life? If there was even the slightest hope he'd ever forgive her, she knew she had to first convince Henry that everything she'd done was completely beyond her control. And pray, he could help convince Robin.
Having expected him at least an hour later, Emma had gone for a run along the Portland waterfront, taking Ruby with her. That was the way Emma usually handled stress. By running from it. So now, Regina had to face him alone. Not for the first time in her life, she dreaded facing her own son.
She found him in the little dining room, talking to and laughing with an older couple she didn't recognise. The owners? She'd already met the manager and staff.
"Henry?"
"Hello mum." The now six-foot-four inch young man turned on hearing her voice, the other two stepping back. He had an odd expression.
"You're looking well? Nice tan. Enjoy Miami Beach then?"
"Only for the first day..." She rushed towards him, silently grateful when he opened his arms to receive her as she pulled herself into him in a tight hug, staying silent for a few moments until eventually: "I'm so sorry. For everything."
"Yeah, me too. Where's Emma?"
She silently cursed herself when rogue tears betrayed her by sliding down her cheeks, but refused to pull away from his embrace. "Jogging. She didn't expect you here for another hour. Have you eaten?"
"Have I hell! I'm starving!" He released her from the hug, pulling a small pack of tissues from his jacket pocket, and handing them over. "Have you?"
"Knowing you were coming, I was frankly, far too nervous to eat anything. I love you dearly my Prince, but I've been dreading this."
~oOo~
Minutes later she watched as, with only a black coffee in front of her, Henry demolished a huge breakfast plate of fried food he'd taken from the buffet, as though it was his last meal on earth.
"All that cholesterol will play hell with your weight in the years to come, young man!" She chided, shaking her head though still pleased to see him happily shoveling it away. "Considering how I brought you up to eat healthily, you seem to be taking after your other mother instead, these days!"
"What can I say? I got the best of both of you, didn't I?" He picked up his mug of tea, downing what remained in one. "Besides, you're a fine one to talk about diet! You virtually live on coffee most days, and that's hardly great for someone with your…" He hesitated, grinning, when the usual imperial eyebrow arched back at him. "…anger management issues? You know, Robin's right to drink tea most of the time. I've only ever seen him angry once, whereas you're angry most of the time-" he stopped himself, not intending to hurt her feelings anymore. "Sorry."
"Why be sorry? It's only the truth. You're right; Hopper once said something similar to me years ago." She watched him finish the last mouthful, picking up the teapot to pour himself more. "How's Robin?"
"Haven't seen him for a few days, not since he watched the dream catcher. I know The Sherwood's been busy. And I haven't seen Roland since the diner incident." It was then he spotted the tattoo. "Ma showed me her wrist when you went and honked up in the loo in Miami? Yours went like that too?"
She self-consciously rubbed it. "Like hers, it changed the moment we crossed the town line. The Dragon told us they're not tattoos, but something under the skin. From within."
"You went to see the Dragon? Well, that explains why you went to New York first."
"Yes, but he couldn't help. Only you can remove these damn things, apparently."
He nodded, taking her hand and studying the ornate design on her wrist. "I'm sorry I had to put them on you. But honestly, you were out of control! After Emma attacked Rolly and Robin, enough was enough."
"I understand." She went back to sipping her coffee. "And once again, I'm sorry."
"I know you are." He held her hand. "Now I've seen for myself, I blame Ingrid."
"Do you think Robin will eventually forgive me?"
"Quite honestly, I don't know mum. He certainly watched more of that dream catcher than I did! It was tough for him, but I think it was what you and Emma said to each other, about him and Killian? That hurt him more than, well, all the other stuff."
"Henry, whatever you saw and whatever you heard, that wasn't me! You must know that? I love Robin more than you could possibly imagine. And it's not just because he once sacrificed his life to save me. I fell in love with that man way before that. He's my soulmate!"
"Yeah, but then there's ma, isn't there? You love her too, right? And as you said yourself, a potion can't make someone love you; love has to be there already. Ingrid's potion just exaggerated what you already felt. It wouldn't have worked otherwise."
"No Henry, I've told you already, I only love Emma as my friend! A very close friend these days granted admittedly, but I'm definitely not in love with her! That's three times I've had to tell you, so why won't you believe me? What I feel for her doesn't even begin to compare to Robin, and I know she feels just the same about me when it comes to Guyliner! She worships that rum-sizzled idiot as much as he does her, and they've even gone on produce a little girl with magic of her own? That proves theirs is a true love! You said it yourself, Henry. Everything that happened was down to that damn witch's potion playing havoc with our minds. If you don't believe me, how is anyone else going to?"
"It's not me you need to persuade though, is it? It's Robin. Him and Killian have been through a hell of a lot with you two. I can't be sure about Killian, but then, he doesn't know about the potion yet because he's been offshore. But Robin watched everything on that dream catcher, including when you two sniffed the potion in the cottage. You'll have to win him around, but it'll take some work."
"I have to. If only for his children's sake."
"Children?" He'd already noticed how her right hand never left her stomach, covering it, almost protectively. He also recalled something he'd spotted on her recent credit card account which stuck out like a sore thumb. Unbeknown to her, while she was away, he'd broken into hers, and Emma's, online accounts to trace where they were. "Roland's okay, and Margot's not due back from California till Christmas."
"Yes, but, but…" Dammit, must he picks up on every damn slip of the tongue? "He's going to be looking after her for most of next year, when Zelena goes back. With Roland, he'll then need all the help he can get."
"I guess so." He looked down at her cup, drawing the obvious conclusions. "Another thing you should know about coffee, mum? As well as not being great for stress, or insomnia, you know what else it isn't great for?" He looked pointedly down at the hand over her stomach. Pregnant women!"
Regina jerked her head back up, to see a knowing smirk on his face. He knows.
"I know you went to that prenatal clinic in Miami. You are pregnant, aren't you?"
Storybrooke Hospital
Snow spotted him as her bed was being wheeled to another room, to begin her dialysis programme.
Regina's husband was standing in the little reception area with the Briars and a couple of others, holding a tiny bundle in his arms, smiling down at it lovingly.
"Robin? What are you doing here? Who's this?"
"Snow?" He looked up. "This beautiful little girl, is Li. My new goddaughter!" He proudly announced, walking closer, lowering himself so she could see. "Isn't she gorgeous?"
Seeing the tiny, dark-haired new born, with her almond shaped eyes, it was obvious she was Mulan's child, even as her tired mother, who now sat in a wheelchair close by, looked on. Aurora and Philip Briar stood close either side of her, watching the proud man show off their new daughter. The happy sight made Snow temporarily forget her own problems.
"You're right Robin, she's stunning! Congratulations Mulan. You must be so proud. Li, you say?"
"Thank you. Yes, she's named after my mother, Fa Li. But she'll be taking Rory's family name, Briar."
"And your name too, soon enough?" Aurora added, Philip's brow arching, though the grin never left his face. "Sorry, was it supposed to be a secret?"
"It clearly isn't any more!" Mulan chuckled, giving her a tired smile. "Snow, a few days ago Philip and Rory asked me to marry them and make the three of us official." She raised a hand to show a new engagement ring. "It's a little unusual, but I said yes of course. I guess it means we've got a wedding to organise, as well as a new baby."
"Well that's just wonderful!" Although her own marriage had just fallen apart, Snow could see that this odd trio did seem perfect together. The unusual relationship between the town's young mayor, his royal wife, and the former warrior had been a major topic of prurient interest and gossip in town, ever since they'd returned. "I'm sure you'll all be very happy together. You know, I really miss the time when Neal as a baby. You're truly blessed."
"Thanks…" Seeing her slightly less than genuine smile, her washed-out appearance, the drip in her arm and the catheter , Philip was reminded of everything the woman had been through recently. So their news was probably the very last thing she wanted to talk about. After all, from what he'd heard, she'd lost just about everything?
"Sheriff Morgan told me that you were brought in three days ago, so I called in to see how you were, but they said you were still…asleep? How are you?"
"Surviving. I'll live, I guess." Hearing their usually indefatigable princess, the symbol of hope for all in her realm sound so defeated, was disturbing for all of them. And their faces told her so, so she quickly changed the subject. "I think you made a very good decision with Robin. He seems the perfect choice to be her godfather."
"Yes, we think so too. He's been a big brother to me for a long time! I'd trust him with my life." Mulan looked fondly at the former outlaw, who was still lovingly cradling her daughter, rubbing her cheek with his finger. "He's a brilliant dad to Roland. And Phil's asked him to be his Best Man, too."
"And Dorothy's agreed to be godmother!" As Aurora spoke, she glanced over her shoulder, smiling at the dark-haired woman in question, who was standing a good ten feet away, having not been noticed until now. However, Aurora couldn't fail to notice the filthy look Dorothy was already giving the woman in the bed. Then she remembered the reason why!
"Anyway, we need to get this little one and her mother home. Come on guys, let's go? It's lovely to see you again, Snow." She almost stammered now, desperate to leave. "I hope you get well soon."
As Aurora made her excuses, Snow felt the day couldn't get any worse. However, that was until Maleficent brushed past, with her daughter beside her. Like Dorothy, here was another woman who's life Snow had managed to screw over long ago, by asking the Sorcerer's Apprentice to transfer Emma's darkness into the dragon's egg before either were even born. It had backfired badly, and having also lost her mother, Lilith's life had been cursed ever since.
The dragon's daughter gave her an odd look, as though she was about to come over and say something. But instead, she took her mother's arm and led her away, pausing to exchange a nod with the former Princess Aurora.
Snow shuddered. "Cathy, can we go please?" Anywhere but here? "Now?"
Snow was starting to wish those sleeping pills had worked!
Back in Portland…
When Emma returned from her jog, it was to find Henry had already arrived.
Initially, she was even more nervous than Regina had been earlier, and it turned out to be a very tearful reunion. But fortunately, Henry was blessed with, in Emma's mind, the biggest, most forgiving heart. Like Regina, he'd hugged her while she begged forgiveness for hitting him once again, and her treatment before they'd left for New York. Tears finally drying, he sat them down and told them everything he knew about recent events, and the fact he hadn't seen Killian, or her daughter, for over two weeks.
But before they could talk about how he'd already planned to intercede with Robin, Killian and Hank Morgan on their behalf, Ruby and Belle reappeared, joining them at the table overlooking the bay.
"Have you spoken to Rumple since he threw us over the town line?" Belle wrung her hands. "About me? Does Gideon even know why his mother isn't around?"
"Yeah. I saw him the night it happened. He was devastated, as you can imagine? I told him I went after you and that I checked you in somewhere." He tried not to look up at the guilty women. "The next day he told Gideon you were out of town, and I spoke to him myself yesterday and he's okay, but missing you. I also called him again this morning. He's up at the hospital for something to do with Mal's daughter? He said it's really not safe for you to go back." He finally looked up at Ruby. "For either of you, quite frankly. He thinks the moment you do The Dark One would probably take full control of him again and kill one of you. This time, he said he probably wouldn't be able to stop it."
But Ruby just shrugged. "It's just as well I'm never going back there then, isn't it?"
"You're what?" Emma seemed the most surprised. "Never?"
"What's the point? After Dot, Granny's my only living relative, and she's already disowned me and barred me from ever coming back to the only place I've ever called home! I've destroyed my marriage, Belle's, and Snow's. Because of the Lycaon oath David made me take, I can't even go anywhere near him or his family. Technically Emma, I have to ask permission before I even go near you! Unlike Belle, I don't have kids, and I'm under a sentence of death if I cross the town line? No, I'm staying away for good."
"But where would you go? What would you do?"
"I've no idea, but there's nothing for me back in Storybrooke."
"Ruby," Henry leant across, taking her hand. He knew that unlike his mothers and grandmothers, she'd brought most of it on herself without any excuse. But even so, how could she survive in the real world? "Don't go making any sudden decisions just yet? I'm going to be having a word with grandpa when I get back tonight, so there might be some way? I'll also talk to granny and explain about the curse. But if you decide to stay here, you'll need money and a job, won't you? And to get that, you'll need help. An identity. A history. Also, Merlin came back to save grandma's life, and he's staying for a little while. If anyone can figure out a way through all this mess, it's him. Just…give me a day or two to try and fix this, okay?"
Ruby nodded, realising she had no other option. "Alright, Henry." Her free hand squeezed Belle's knee as she gave her a sad smile. "Looks like you're stuck with me a bit longer, Belle?"
"Looks like I'm stuck here for good, if he can't get Rumple to see sense!"
The Sherwood Arms
Now she'd had her cancer removed, together with the darkness that had plagued her entire life, Lily Page felt like a new woman. For the first time in a very long time, she actual felt lighter, and...happy?
She had so many questions she wanted to ask the father she'd only discovered she had just two hours ago. The man she'd only read about in books and seen in cartoons. A mythical figure. There were so many questions. And Merlin had promised to answer everything he could, once he dealt with urgently pressing matters, suggesting she join him for lunch and to bring her mother along.
Having been deprived of decent food and drink throughout her chemotherapy, it was an offer she couldn't refuse!
And that's how, despite Maleficent's reluctance, Lily now found herself gazing up in wonder at the intricately carved ceiling and beautiful oak-timbers of the inn in the middle of the forest. A pub that resembled something out of the old vampire films she used to love when she was a teenager.
"This pub's brilliant! It's like a few I used to see when I hiked around Europe. But I don't remember hearing about this place the last time I was here?"
"It wasn't here then." Mal also looked around the room and at the men standing near the bar. "It was built by Robin Hood, the Queen's husband, and his men three years ago, along with the entire hamlet. Merlin helped them with magic, apparently. That's Hood over there, talking to your father?" She pointed at the former outlaw.
"Yeah, I remember him. After you sent Emma to find me in New York, they went for him too. Some business about the queen's sister, the witch? But last time I was here, I thought Emma said he'd been killed?"
"It's a long story but yes, he died saving Regina from being murdered by Hades. However Zeus sent him back." Mal looked at the man currently chatting and laughing with three other men at the bar, barely believing herself, that he'd once been cursed into a dragon form by a dark wizard, and that she'd actually conceived a child by him over two millennia ago. "Your father helped with that one, too."
"I hear you say it, but I still can't believe he's really my dad?" Lily followed where her mother was looking, to the group of men surrounding Merlin as they all raised pint glasses, laughing. "Anyway, before the three of us have that talk, I need to go thank Paul and Clive properly! You fancy a drink?"
"Do you really think it wise having alcohol so soon after everything you've just been through, dear?"
"Are you kidding me? I haven't had a beer in two years! Besides, I'm feeling a hell of a lot better than I have in ages. So yeah, I'm drinking! Come on…"
Storybrooke Hospital – two hours later
After her first ever round of kidney dialysis, Snow felt even more exhausted. But nonetheless before she went in, she'd arranged for her personal lawyer, Johnny Blackwell, to come directly to her bed to deal with a matter of some urgency. After explaining what she wanted, he called his office, dictating a letter and having it drawn up and brought to her for signature, while he waited.
"Snow, you're quite sure about this? Once I take this to the judge and he stamps it, the farm and the two main accounts all get transferred into your ex-husband's name. It overwrites the last will we drew up, apart from the provisions for Emma and Neal. There's no going back!"
"Johnny, for the third and final time, I'm sure! I know what you're trying to say, but I want it all to go to David, then he can decide how it's split when I'm gone."
"Well I'm more than surprised. As I understood it, because of your split heart, if you die, David dies? That's why we originally planned to put it all in a trust, until Neal's an adult."
"That's all history now. Merlin's fixed the heart problem so David's is now free of mine. That's one of several reasons I'm changing the will."
"But so soon after you divorced him? I don't get it? You're now an independent woman, Snow. Single again. But you're giving him nearly all your assets? That's a lot of money, Snow!"
"Johnny, I really don't care any more. Even before all our recent problems, I did something terrible before we were married. I lied to him about something important, and that matters to someone like David. I wronged him. So, this is just something I need to do, before I die."
"Die? But I thought they said you were only going through dialysis? Snow, I'm no medic, but even I know people can live for 20 or 30 years after that."
"That's as maybe, but I just want to be ready." She watched as he put the signed papers into his bag. "How quickly can you get everything changed?"
"As this overrides all the other wills, once the judge sees it and stamps it it's done. Just like she did your divorce papers. I can run it over to Judge Merryweather this afternoon, if you like?"
"I do. Just make it happen as soon as possible please? And Johnathan?"
"Yes, your highness?"
"Not a word about this to anyone, other than Merryweather. Do you understand?"
The Sherwood Arms
The last two hours in the forest pub had flown by, and among new friends, Lily Page hadn't had so much fun in ages!
Finally released from a darkness that had consumed her entire life, she felt lighter, brighter, happier. She'd warmly hugged and drank with the two men who'd brought her back to Storybrooke safely, discovering that in an earlier life they were actually two former Knights of the Round Table in Camelot, as was the town's current Sheriff, Hank Morgan, who was now laughing and sharing a beer with them. Surprised to find Emma was no longer sheriff, she'd asked where she was and why she stepped down. The look the received from the current sheriff told her something was wrong. She also noticed an odd glance he gave Robin Hood.
She'd have to find out what happened later, as she was distracted by a tall brunette holding two full glasses, offering one of them to her as her mother left to speak to someone she recognised.
"Champagne?"
"Oh, erm, thanks?" Lily looked up to find dark-brown eyes staring right back at her, belonging to an athletically-built woman, probably in her early thirties, with a gorgeous smile. "What are we celebrating?"
"Mulan's new baby girl, Li!" She nodded in the direction of another group gathered around the bar. Lily raised a glass toward a tall, tired but happy man, holding a baby, who smiled back at her. "That's her dad, Phillip Briar, our new Mayor. Her mums have asked Robin and me to be her godparents."
"Well congratulations! Wait, did you say 'mums'?"
"Yep," she sniggered. "It seems we're going to be having Storybrooke's first ever polyamorous wedding this year? Suits them actually. They're a lovely 'thruple'."
"Fancy! Didn't I see you earlier? In the hospital?"
"We were leaving the hospital when you and your mother were coming out..." She offered her free hand, which she took. "I'm Dorothy. Dorothy Gale."
"It's lovely to meet you, Dorothy Gale. I'm Lily Page; or Lilith to my mum, but nobody else calls me that." She beamed back at her. "Hang on? Dorothy Gale? As in 'The Wizard of Oz' Dorothy Gale?"
"That's me…" The other woman chuckled, a noise Lily found even more endearing than the smile. She was gorgeous, and if she didn't know better, she'd swear she was flirting with her. "Sorry, I've only been here a few years, and although it's a small town, I don't think we've ever met? You're Mal's daughter, right?"
"And Merlin's, apparently! Or so I discovered yesterday? I don't actually live around here."
"Well, it's lovely to meet you too, Lily Page." Dorothy didn't let go of her hand. "I hope you're not planning on leaving us too soon?"
She batted her eyes, giving her a shy smile. "Well, I guess I might be persuaded to stick around a little longer?"
~oOo~
As he walked into the same pub only half an hour later, Henry was surprised to find it so busy of an afternoon. The atmosphere inside was bubbling, people were smiling and laughing, including several faces he didn't even recognize. One, a large man a good four inches taller than even him, had his arm draped around the shoulder of Sheriff Morgan as they drank together. What the hell? Even Robin, despite everything he'd been through recently, was grinning widely as he chatted happily to The Sorcerer.
"Hi Robin, you seem busy?" He spotted the empty Champagne bottles and glasses. "What's the celebration?"
"Hello Henry…" Unusually for the former outlaw, his smile dimmed slightly on seeing his adult stepson. "I became a new godfather today! Mulan had a girl this morning. Plus, Merlin here's recently discovered he has a daughter he didn't even know about. And over there, Hank's been reuniting with two of his old former brother knights of Camelot, and…well, that's three reasons? What have you been up to?"
"Well that's great. Congratulations, I guess?" He was pleased, but there was a more pressing matter. "Er…I've just come back from Portland. About an hour away from here? Emma and Regina stayed there last night, so I went to see them." At the merest mention of his estranged wife, Robin's face fell. "Look…can we talk somewhere private? Merlin, it's a bit complicated. Perhaps you should join us?"
Back at the hospital
"Now is there anything I can get for you, Mrs. Nolan? Sorry…Miss Blanchard? Do I need to ask the doctor for any more painkillers?"
Faith Carter, one of the duty nurses and an old family friend, had just reset the drip in her arm, having changed the catheter bag, before tidying the bedsheets again. "I was sure I'd left a spare bottle of them in here, not an hour ago? I guess Wendy must have taken them back. She told me to make sure you had one every four hours."
"I'm fine now thank you Faith; the pain's not so bad. It's already the end of your shift so you get off home. Paul must be expecting you. Although I do have one small favour to ask?"
"Sure,fire away?"
"Would you drop something off at the farm for me?" She pulled out a leather folder that her lawyer had left with her from under the sheets, with several envelopes inside. "I've just been writing a few letters, one for each of the family, and one for Ruby Lucas. Could you pass these on to David for me? And if you do happen to hear from Ruby, give her this, separately?"
"No problem." She didn't have the heart to tell her that the former waitress had been thrown over the town line, along with his own wife, by The Dark One.
-oOo-
Ten minutes later, after the evening shift and the nurses had checked on her, Snow asked to be left alone to sleep, with just the side light left on. And as she listened to them go about their duties outside, she cautiously pulled out the full bottle of diazepam tablets she'd earlier spotted and secreted in her underwear, carefully opening the bottle top.
It was time to stop hurting the ones she loved.
Meanwhile...
"It's worn off! For both my mums, Snow and Ruby. They all regret everything!"
That was a surprise. Robin had watched Emma and Regina sniff the strange green liquid on the dream catcher, and its aftereffects. But he had no way of knowing whether the effect was permanent.
"Tell me everything."
"You remember I said Emma and Regina flew to Miami? Well when they were there, Ingrid's potion wore off. But they both remember everything that happened beforehand, and what they did. And they're devastated! It's killing Emma, knowing she choked Killian half to death, and hit Rolly! Grandma Snow seems to have come off the worst. She was so horrified at what she'd done to grandpa, she took an overdose. They got to her just in time and she had her stomach pumped, but she's still in hospital. She almost died twice!"
"It's perfectly true, Robin..." Merlin added. "I didn't know why she tried to end her life, but I used magic to repair her heart. But unfortunately, now she and David are fully separated in more ways than one, though she may well have caused her liver and kidneys permanent damage. which may ultimately prove fatal."
"Dear god! I saw her on the ward this morning when I went to see Mulan, and she looked fairly dreadful then, but it was the wrong time to ask her what happened. And David?"
"He's already been in and out of the hospital. I'm going back over there later."
"What about Regina, henry?"
"She still can't believe she did all that. She needs to talk to you but, to be honest, she's still frightened to face you. I've really never seen her like that before! She knows she'll be arrested the moment Hank sees her, but she's not bothered about any of that. She just wants to see you and Roland first."
"I see," Robin considered his options. He knew in his heart Regina's mind had been poisoned, even temporarily, but seeing the cruel way the woman he loved had treated his son, and the look of sheer fury and hatred on her face when he last saw her in the diner, when she'd promised to kill him if he ever showed his face there again, made him hesitant.
"Then I'll go to Portland and talk to her; but frankly Henry, I want her anywhere near Roland, right now. And as for Emma, she may be your mother, but I want her nowhere near my son!"
"I get it. But just so you know, they still have the magic-blocking cuffs on? I promised you and Killian I wouldn't take them off till you both said it was okay. So can I bring her in?"
"Bring her in? What, she's already here?"
-oOo-