Regina stood in the clearing just outside the mausoleum, her expression hard as she stared at the open grave before her. A simple, unadorned marker lay ready at its head—no grand gestures, no flowery words. Morwenna's lifeless body lay on the shrouded bier beside her, pale and still, her final moments of love and regret etched deeply into Regina's memory.

As Regina began to lower the bier into the grave with a flick of her magic, Rumplestiltskin appeared silently behind her. His cane clicked softly against the ground as he approached, his expression unreadable.

"What do you want, Gold?" Regina said flatly, not turning around.

"To pay my respects," he replied. "Morwenna was... complicated, but even I recognize what it means to lose a sister."

Regina's jaw tightened. "She was more than complicated, and we both know it."

Gold nodded, standing beside her now. "And yet, despite everything, you loved her. That's why I'm here. I know that pain."

The moment stretched in silence before Regina finally spoke again, her voice laced with venom. "You're here to lecture me, aren't you? To tell me not to do what I'm planning."

Gold's lips twitched in the faintest of smirks. "Oh, I don't need to tell you. You already know what killing Snow White will cost you."

"Henry," Regina said bitterly.

"Exactly," Gold said, his tone softer now. "You've fought too hard to keep him, Regina. Don't throw that away for vengeance."

Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, but she said nothing. Gold stayed for a moment longer before turning to leave, his cane tapping against the cold ground.

Later that day, Emmett sat in the loft with Henry, trying to explain the truth about what had happened to Morwenna and the role Mary Margaret had played.

"Henry, listen to me," Emmett said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Your grandmother made a choice—a difficult one—but it was to protect all of us."

Henry's face twisted in confusion and disbelief. "No way. Grandma wouldn't hurt someone. She's a hero!"

Emmett sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not that simple. Heroes make tough decisions, Henry. Sometimes those decisions come with consequences."

"Like lying to me?" Henry shot back, his voice rising. "Because that's what this feels like. If what you're saying is true, then why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Because it's complicated!" Emmett snapped, his frustration spilling over. "We were trying to protect you—"

"I don't need protection! I need the truth!" Henry yelled, cutting him off. His eyes welled up with tears as he stood. "Maybe you're not the hero I thought you were either."

Emmett froze at his words, his heart sinking. He watched helplessly as Henry stormed off to his room, slamming the door behind him.

That evening, Gold arrived at the loft, his presence immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"What do you want now?" David asked, his tone wary.

"I came to warn you," Gold said, his expression grim. "Regina intends to kill Snow White."

Mary Margaret's breath hitched, but she remained silent. David stepped forward. "Then stop her. You owe Mary Margaret for saving your life."

Gold's expression flickered with something unreadable before he nodded. "I'll do what I can. But you'd better prepare yourselves—this isn't over."

A week later, as the tension in the town began to settle but Regina's anger still simmered, the group convened for a private discussion. The five of them—Regina, Gold, Mother Superior, Snow White, and David—gathered in Regina's office, the air heavy with unresolved animosity.

Regina leaned against her desk, her arms crossed tightly. "Let's get this over with. What is so important that I had to endure being in the same room as her?" She glared pointedly at Snow White.

Snow bristled but tried to remain composed. "We're here to figure out what's happening to Emmett."

"And how it all ties back to the potions," David added, trying to mediate.

Regina scoffed. "The potions. Of course. Why not dig up more of Cora's handiwork? She's not even here, and she's still ruining my life."

Mother Superior stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Regina, this isn't about blame. It's about understanding."

"Understanding?" Regina snapped. "You mean like understanding how Snow White managed to doom us all with her eternal optimism?"

Snow finally lost her composure. "I was trying to save Emma! I didn't know it would lead to this!"

Regina's laughter was cold and sharp. "Save her? You didn't save anyone, Snow. You just delayed the inevitable."

David stepped between them. "Enough! We're not getting anywhere like this."

Mother Superior cleared her throat, drawing their attention. "The first potion was crafted from the remnants of the magical tree used for the wardrobe. It was designed to protect Emma and ensure she could fulfill her destiny as the savior. But the second potion—the one Emmett drank—was layered with a completely different intent."

Gold smirked from his spot by the window. "A genius bit of work, really," he said, earning glares from everyone in the room. "The second potion wasn't just protection—it was severance. It was designed to cut Emmett off from Emma permanently, ensuring that Emma's physical form could never return."

David frowned. "Then why does Emmett exist at all?"

Gold's expression turned serious. "Because the first potion's effects were never fully undone. The two potions clashed, leaving Emmett caught in the middle. Half a savior, half... something else entirely."

Regina's anger faltered for a moment as she processed this. "So you're saying... Emmett is incomplete?"

Mother Superior nodded solemnly. "And because of that, restoring the connection between Emmett and Emma may not be possible."

Snow looked stricken. "But there has to be a way."

Gold's smile was bitter. "Not everything can be fixed with hope, dearie."

As the group sat in Regina's office, the tension was palpable. Regina's cold stare alternated between Snow White and Mr. Gold, her patience wearing thin.

"Let's not dance around this any longer," Regina said sharply. "If we're going to discuss the potions, then let's get to the part where you admit your role in all of this, Gold."

Gold leaned casually against the windowsill, his cane resting by his side. "You'll have to be more specific, dearie. I've played many roles in your little dramas."

Snow White interjected, her voice trembling. "You knew about both potions, didn't you? You were involved from the beginning."

Gold tilted his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Of course I knew. But involvement? That depends on your perspective."

Regina's fists clenched. "Stop playing games, Gold. What did you do?"

Mother Superior, who had been silently observing, stepped forward. "The first potion was designed with the purest of intentions," she began. "I crafted it from the remnants of the magical tree used for the wardrobe. Its purpose was to protect Emma, to ensure she could escape the curse and fulfill her destiny as the savior."

"And where does he fit into this?" Regina asked, pointing at Gold.

Mother Superior hesitated before continuing. "The essence of the potion was powerful but incomplete. I turned to Rumplestiltskin for guidance in stabilizing its magic."

David frowned. "Why would you go to him?"

Gold chuckled. "Because, Charming, even the purest magic sometimes requires a bit of finesse. The potion needed a binding agent—a magical constant—to ensure its effects would endure across realms."

Regina's eyes narrowed. "And what was the binding agent?"

Gold's tone turned serious. "A drop of my blood."

Snow's face paled. "Your blood? Why?"

Gold smirked. "Because my magic is rooted in permanence, dearie. My blood ensured that the potion would remain active no matter what. A contingency, you might say."

Regina's voice cut through the silence. "And the second potion? That wasn't crafted with pure intentions."

Gold straightened, his casual demeanor slipping. "The second potion was... more complex."

"You mean darker," Snow snapped.

Gold met her gaze, unflinching. "Call it what you like. The second potion wasn't just about protection—it was about severance. Severing Emma from her destiny, from herself."

David's brow furrowed. "Why would you want to sever Emma from her destiny? She was supposed to break the curse."

Gold's expression darkened. "And she did, well he did. But the second potion was never meant to be used the way it was."

Regina's voice was low and dangerous. "Explain."

Gold sighed, the weight of his actions evident in his eyes. "Cora came to me with the idea. She wanted to ensure that if Emma ever posed a threat, she could be... redirected. The second potion was designed to create an alternate identity, a failsafe. A way to control Emma if she became too powerful."

"And you went along with this?" Snow demanded, her voice rising.

Gold shrugged. "It was a clever idea. But I underestimated how the first potion's magic would interfere. When Emmett drank the second potion, it didn't just sever Emma from her destiny—it fractured her entirely."

Regina's voice was tight with anger. "So all of this—Emmett's transformation, her struggles, her identity—it's all because of your manipulations?"

Gold's smile was grim. "Not entirely. Magic is unpredictable, Regina. The clash between the two potions created something none of us could have foreseen."

Snow looked stricken. "But there must be a way to fix this. To restore Emma."

Mother Superior shook her head. "The potions were designed to be permanent. Their effects are layered and deeply rooted in Emmett's very being."

David stepped forward. "There has to be a way."

Gold's gaze was cold. "Sometimes, there isn't. You'll have to accept that Emmett may never be whole."

The room fell silent as the implications sank in. Regina turned away, her hands trembling. She hated the vulnerability that crept into her voice as she whispered, "This is my fault."

"No, it's not," Snow said, stepping toward her. "You didn't create the potions. You didn't do this."

Regina spun around, her eyes blazing. "But I played my part, didn't I? He drank the second potion to save me and our unborn child, Henry. And now Emmett is... incomplete because of me."

Gold's voice was softer now. "We all played our parts, Regina. None of us are innocent."

Mother Superior spoke again, her tone cautious. "There may not be a way to undo the effects of the potions, but that doesn't mean Emmett is lost. She is strong, resilient. She has already proven that and he has that same resilient as Emma."

Regina's gaze was distant. "But at what cost? How much more will she have to endure because of us?"

Snow's voice was steady. "We'll help her. Together."

Regina's laugh was bitter. "Together? You mean like we've done so far? All we've done is tear each other apart."

David placed a hand on Snow's shoulder. "We have to try. For Emmett."

Regina looked at them, her expression unreadable. "For Emmett," she echoed softly.

Gold stood and moved toward the door. "You may not trust me, but if there's one thing I know, it's this: Emmett is a fighter. He'll survive this. And so will we."

As he left, the room remained heavy with unspoken words. Regina stood alone, the weight of her choices pressing down on her as the others quietly departed.

Late that night, Regina sat in her office, her hands resting on the desk as she stared at the flickering candlelight. The room was silent, but her mind raced with thoughts of Emmett, Henry, and the tangled web of decisions that had led them all to this point.

She whispered to herself, "I'll fix this. Somehow."

But even as she spoke the words, doubt lingered in her heart.