STORYBROOKE, Maine

Rebekah sat with Henry, listening to him read the storybook to an unconscious David. He had yet to wake and Rebekah was starting to fear he never would. It was taking too long; he should have been in and out. She sat down on an old antique couch, resting her hand on her growing belly as Henry continued on with the story.

Jefferson had taken Grace to school for the day, though she protested going. Her baby girl had grown up so much and Rebekah felt an ache in her heart having not watched her daughter grow up in person. She shouldn't have believed Regina when the woman told her that Jefferson was cursed. She should have gone to Rumpelstiltskin for help instead of Regina -- but it was too late. There were so many things Rebekah wished she could change; wished that she harnessed the power to turn back time and stay with Jefferson and Grace; to fight against Regina. She should have protected her family better.

And now, because of Cora, she was in an alliance with her sister. Rebekah really hoped that wouldn't bite her in the end. Rebekah assured Jefferson and Grace that they could trust Regina -- or try to. But Rebekah couldn't help but notice a faraway look in Regina's eyes when she came to check in on David earlier in the morning. A look of conflict, as if she was having some sort of mental debate with herself.

Mr. Gold was acting strangely as well. He agreed with Regina, wanting Rebekah and her family as far away from the shop as possible, hiding out in Regina's bunker. But Rebekah refused to run. She believed in her heart that Emma and Snow would find a way to defeat Cora and that they would return. She had hope that David would be woken, that his curse would be broken as soon as Snow found him. She had faith that things would be alright.

She wasn't going to let Cora scare her anymore. She spent her childhood afraid of her own mother; Rebekah refused to be scared any longer. She was strong; she could protect her family from Cora. And if Regina stood by her side, they'd be undefeatable.

"With one kiss, true love's power made everything right again." Henry's voice caused Rebekah to get out of her own head, eyes drifting over to the boy and smiled. "But this was not the end of their story; it was just the beginning."

At the sound of heels clicking against the floor, Rebekah looked away from Henry and over to the doorway where Regina was walking into the room. "I think this time it'll happen the other way around," Regina told Henry, hands tucked into her coat pocket. Rebekah raised her brow, it wasn't chilly in the room which meant that Regina had her coat on because she planned on leaving. But why?

"You think so?" Henry asked, tone hopeful.

Regina smiled, leaning down a bit so her eyes were level with Henry's. "I do." Henry smiled and Regina crouched down, moving her hands out of her pockets to rest them on Henry's knees. "Which is why I need you to stay here and watch David for a little while."

"Where are you going?" Henry asked, a question Rebekah would like to know the answer to as well.

"Mr. Gold and I need to prepare for Emma and Mary-Margaret's return." Regina said, her eyes briefly flashing over to Rebekah. She frowned, knowing her sister was leaving something out. But she wouldn't bring it up in front of Henry. "Coming through the portal won't be easy. We need to make sure everything's in place."

"Really?" Henry smiled. "You're really going to help them?"

"I promised you that I was going to do better," Regina reminded Henry. "To be better, so yes. I'm going to do everything in my power to see to it that they come home safely."

"Wow," Henry said. "You really have changed." He smiled.

Regina stared at Henry for a long moment, smiling softly at him. "I'll be back as soon as I can", She promised Henry. There was something off about her tone; Rebekah could hear the guilt. Either Regina was realizing that when Emma came home, her time with Henry might come to an end -- or she had something else planned.

"A word?" Rebekah said when Regina stood up.

She stood up, walking over to where Regina stood and grabbed her older sister's arm, pulling her out of the back room and into the store. "Why are you really leaving?" She asked quietly, not wanting to upset Henry if he heard them speaking.

Regina huffed, yanking her arm away from Rebekah. "I am helping Gold."

"With?" Rebekah moved her hands to rest on her hips.

Regina was quiet for a moment, but soon she looked down at the ground. "I am going to try and find a way to bring Emma and Mary-Margaret home but before I do that, I have to protect the people I love from Cora."

Rebekah raised her brow. "What does that mean?"

"I know how scared of Cora you are, Rebekah , " Regina said, sighing heavily. "With reason. I'm just as afraid of her as you are. If she comes through that portal instead of Mary-Margaret and Emma...she'll come after us."

Rebekah moved her hands off of her hips, crossing them over her chest now. "You're going to try and destroy the portal," she said with a glare, shaking her head in anger. "You know, I almost believed your speech back there." Her voice rose. "But it's you. You are only looking out for yourself."

Regina glared. "I am looking out for you !" She yelled. "For your family. For Henry ! Do you think I want Mother anywhere near him? No! Did you forget what our mother did to your husband? He has a pretty deep scar around his neck to remind you . D o you want that to happen to Grace?" Rebekah felt a fury burn in her belly. "Or Henry?" Regina listed next. She opened her mouth to argue with her, but Regina cut her off. "I am protecting my family!" Regina yelled. " Our family." Rebekah blinked, surprised by Regina's sharp, yet fierce tone. She truly meant every word she said. "Do you think I enjoyed lying to Henry? To hear him say that he believes I've truly changed when I had to lie to his face? It's breaking my heart, Rebekah."

"Then keep your promise!" Rebekah moved to grab Regina's hands. "We can work together; we can stop Cora for good this time." She held onto her older sister's hands.

Regina shook her head, looking down at their linked hands for a long moment. It seemed as though she were debating on what to do.. "Your magic is still so new, Rebekah," she said in a whisper. "You don't have a proper understanding of it." Regina raised her head, looking at Rebekah. "And on top of that--you're pregnant."

"Regina," Rebekah sighed. "Let me help you. I'm not some fragile doll. I don't need to know every spell in the book to help you defeat Cora; I just need my powers. They're strong, Regina. Maybe stronger than yours," she added with a little smile, trying to make light of the matter. Regina huffed, rolling her eyes at Rebekah's words. "Please, Regina...if you do this, Henry will never forgive you."

Regina's eyes began to fill with tears. "I know," she told Rebekah. "But I'd rather have him hate me than let Cora anywhere near him."

Regina raised her hands and Rebekah's body grew heavy until she couldn't feel anything at all. She tried to open her mouth but her lips refused to move and then suddenly her body was lowered to the ground by Regina and the last thing she heard was her older sister whispering the words; I hope someday you can forgive me too.

_________________________________

"How's Rebekah?" Granny asked Jefferson as she handed him a paper cup full of decaf tea. For Rebekah, of course.

"Running on fumes," Jefferson said as he took the cup of tea. Granny nodded her head, filling up a white paper bag with some pastries. "She doesn't want to leave Henry. I nearly had to drag her home last night," he said with a little chuckle.

"That's Rebekah for you," Ruby said as she walked behind the counter, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "She puts everyone else before herself." She looked at Jefferson. "But I guess you already know that given that you're her husband," Ruby said before leaving the diner, saying she was meeting Leroy down in the mines.

It was odd having conversations with the people in town. After twenty-eight years of keeping to himself; it was odd coming into town daily and speaking to the members of the town. Grace had a substitute in school who wanted to speak with Jefferson about getting Grace to join the school choir, a man asked Jefferson for help earlier that day with lifting open the gate to his shop and now Granny and Ruby were carrying on a conversation with him.

He wasn't the 'hermit' ( a s Rebekah had deemed him ) who lived alone, deep in the woods anymore. People knew who he was. He wasn't the Mad Hatter; in fact, Jefferson had not run into one person from Wonderland. Which he was thankful for. His time as the Mad Hatter wasn't exactly his proudest -- it was something he wanted to stay in the past.

Jefferson pulled out his wallet, handing over his card to Granny. "Oh, no!" Granny told him as she refused to take the card. "It's on the house."

Jefferson looked at her oddly. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," she assured him. "But you tell your wife that I made these biscuits especially for Henry so don't eat them all," Granny said causing Jefferson to chuckle.

"I'll relay the message," Jefferson told Granny.

As Jefferson grabbed the bag and cup of tea, Granny followed after him as he headed to the door. "And try to get Rebekah to come by for dinner at the diner tonight; bring the whole family."

Jefferson smiled. "I'll try." As Granny opened the door for him, he added, "Thank you."

The door closed behind him and Jefferson headed to his car. On his drive over to the pawn shop, he thought on what Grace's substitute teacher had said to him about getting her to join the choir. It made him chuckle, thinking on how neither him or Rebekah sang very well. He remembered how in the Enchanted Forest, Rebekah would hum songs to their daughter as she was a baby; how very rare it was to actually hear Rebekah sing. Her face would burn red whenever she was caught singing, absolutely mortified that Jefferson had heard her.

"You weren't supposed to hear that," Rebekah would tell him as her face would flush red.

He loved her, even if she wasn't the world's greatest singer. In fact, he loved the moments where he did catch her singing. She'd become vulnerable and shy and Jefferson enjoyed that side of Rebekah. Grace on the other hand, she was his little bird. Even as a child, she'd sing night and day. He hadn't heard her sing much since the curse was broken though. Only when she had her ear pressed against Rebekah's belly to sing to her little brother. She was going to make an amazing big sister.

Jefferson pulled up to the pawn shop, parking around behind the building to go through the backdoor. When he opened the door, he could hear Henry reading to David. Walking forward, Jefferson's eyes scanned the room for Rebekah but couldn't find her. He walked over to Henry, handing him the bag of treats. "Where's your aunt?" he asked.

"Mom said Auntie Bex went for a walk," Henry told Jefferson.

He frowned, feeling as though that weren't the truth. He set down Rebekah's cup of tea and Henry continued reading the story.

"I'll be right back," Jefferson told Henry, walking towards the door that would lead him to the front of the shop.

Rebekah wouldn't leave Henry to go on a walk -- even with Regina and Gold still here. She didn't trust them so why the hell would she leave?

"Gold," Jefferson called out when he walked in the room. He walked forward, standing behind the counter searching for Regina and Gold.

"Jefferson?"

"Bex?" He called out in confusion, not seeing her.

"Over here," she said and Jefferson moved out from behind the counter towards the front door where Rebekah was slumped against the window of the shop.

Jefferson rushed over to her. "What happened?" he asked, seeing the tears building up in her eyes as soon as she saw him.

"Regina and Gold are going to try and destroy the portal that would bring Emma and Mary-Margaret back home to Storybrooke," Rebekah told him, a tear rolling down her cheek. Jefferson moved his finger to wipe the tear and then helped Rebekah stand. She wobbled a bit, but leaned against him for support. "I told Regina we should work together; that if Cora comes through the portal that we could stop her. But she used her magic on me to paralyze me."

"I'll kill her," Jefferson threatened.

"We need to get to the portal before they do." Rebekah told Jefferson, trying to move forward only to stumble.

Jefferson looked over his shoulder; hearing voices coming from the back of the store.

"Nobody steals from a dwarf!" He recognized the voice belonged to Leroy .

"Except the queen," one of his friends said.

"And Rumpelstiltskin," another added.

Rebekah motioned for Jefferson to help her to the back room. "What happened?" She asked once they were standing in the doorway; her arm slung around Jefferson's shoulder as he kept his arm around her waist to keep her up straight.

Ruby looked at Rebekah in worry, but answered her. "All the magic has been drained from the mines," she told her. "Regina and Gold stole it."

"They're trying to destroy the portal so that there's not chance that Cora can get through," Rebekah explained.

"No," Henry shook his head. "Because if they're not helping Mary-Margaret and Emma...that means that my mom lied to me."

"I'm sorry, Henry," Ruby said as she crouched down in front of him.

"We need to find her," Henry told everyone. "We need to stop them -- we need to help Emma and Mary-Margaret." He looked to Rebekah. "Do you know where they think the portal is?"

She nodded her head, her grip on Jefferson's shoulder loosening. Whatever spell Regina cast on Rebekah was wearing off. "The same place Gold went to bring magic to Storybrooke."

"The well," the whole room said together.

_________________________________

Regina stood in front of the well, the sound of water running underneath her as specks of purple began to show.

"It's time," Gold said to Regina, his eyes also trained on the well.

"So what are we waiting for?" she replied, following him as he stepped away from the well.

Gold held up the fairy wand, pointing it at the sky causing the clouds to grow dark as the sky rumbled above them, the wind howling all around them as magic filled the air. A bolt of lightning shot from the sky and hit the well.

"It doesn't matter who comes through now," Gold told Regina as the watched the well swirl with dark magic. "No one can survive this."

They stood there for a few moments watching the well carefully to make sure nothing came through. Regina didn't know how long it would take or how they would know if it worked but she could feel the magic in the air calling to her. He entire body ached to use her own magic in that moment.

"Mom?" A voice pulled Regina away from her thoughts. She looked over her shoulder, seeing that Henry was standing behind her with Ruby, Jefferson and Rebekah. "You're not helping Mary-Margaret and Emma, are you?" he asked her.

"I'm helping you , Henry," Regina stressed to Henry.

"What are you talking about?" Henry argued.

"You're going to kill them," Ruby said, running forward to stop them only to have Gold raise his hands and Ruby went flying through the air.

"Go find her," Rebekah told Jefferson, moving her hands in the air and gathering up the magic that was surrounding them. Jefferson looked at Rebekah for a moment before he ran in the direction of where Ruby had been flung.

"Careful, Dearie," Mr. Gold said to Rebekah as she walked forward, a ball of magical energy growing in her hands. "You don't know what you're up against."

"Wanna bet?" she said, letting the magic build.

Regina watched as Mr. Gold took a step towards Rebekah, his eyes studying her. She opened her mouth to yell at Rebekah; to tell her to stop her actions and to let them protect the town. But Henry didn't let her get a chance.

"Mom! What are you doing?" He yelled in anger.

"We can't let Cora come through the portal," Regina told her son. "You have no idea what she would do to us."

"Emma and Mary-Margaret are going to defeat her!" Henry said, still holding on to hope. "They're the ones that are going to come through!"

"Henry, your mother's right," Mr. Gold said, though he kept his eyes on Rebekah. "It's going to be Cora."

"No! It won't!" Henry argued. "Good always defeats evil!" He looked to Regina. "You should know that more than anyone."

Regina felt anger fill her. "What I know is my mother will destroy everything I love. And that means you. That means Rebekah -- she won't stop until everything I love is dead and I can't let that happen."

A noise thundered from the well letting them know that the portal was being opened and Henry lunged forward. "You can't!" he said only to have Regina grab him and stop him. "You can't! You're going to kill them! Please, no!"

Rebekah thrust her arms forward and the ball of magic went straight to Gold, only to have him block it with his own magic. "Stop!" He yelled at her but Rebekah continued to throw more energy balls.

Regina grabbed at Henry as he ran to the well, pulling him back before he could hurt himself. "What are you doing?" She held him by the shoulders.

"Emma and Mary-Margaret are going to come through. I know it!" Henry told her. "You said you wanted to change, to be better. T his is how!" Tears filled Henry's eyes. "You want me to have faith in you? Have faith in me !"

A tear rolled down her cheek and Regina looked over at Rebekah, who was distracting Gold. She had one less thing to worry about. Regina walked over to the well and put her hands over it, absorbing the magic until a blast sent her flying backwards.

"Regina!" She heard Rebekah yelling her name as her back hit the ground. Regina coughed hard, hand moving to her chest as Rebekah ran forward to help her up. "Are you okay?" she asked, helping Regina to a sitting position.

She looked over at Henry who watched the well, seeing that no one came through. "No!" He cried.

This was her fault. She shouldn't have listened to Gold; she should have listened to Rebekah. Henry would never forgive her for this. "I'm sorry, Henry." Regina cried as well. "I'm so sorry." And then Rebekah did something that surprised Regina. She held her as she cried.

"Shh," Rebekah said as she let Regina cry into her shoulder. Regina only stopped crying when she heard Henry, along with Rebekah, gasp at something.

"Mom?" Henry whispered the word.

"Henry!" Emma yelled.

Regina moved away from Rebekah, watching as Henry ran to Emma as she got out of the well.

"Mom!" He cried in happiness as he jumped into her arms. And it broke Regina's heart. Because she didn't believe that Henry would ever be this enthusiastic to be reunited with her one day.

"Oh! I missed you!" Emma held onto him tightly.

"I missed you too!" Henry smiled.

Soon, even Rebekah left Regina to go over to where Emma and Mary-Margaret now stood. Mary-Margaret hugged Rebekah first and then Emma. Regina frowned, watching them hug her sister. "It worked." Rebekah whispered as they let go. "It actually worked!"

Mary-Margaret looked around seeing that Gold was there as well. "What's going on?" she asked in suspicion. "What happened?"

"She saved you!" Henry told them, looking over at Regina. "She saved both of you."

The look of gratitude on Emma's face was something Regina thought she'd never see. "Thank you." Emma whispered as she looked at Regina.

"You're welcome," Regina said, standing on her own now.

"Bex!" Jefferson shouted causing everyone to look in the direction of where he and Ruby were coming from.

Ruby ran forward to the well where Mary-Margaret and Emma stood and Rebekah slowly made her way to Jefferson, hugging him tightly. "Are you guys okay?" Ruby asked as she wrapped her arms around Mary-Margaret who chuckled as she hugged Ruby back.

Suddenly, Mary-Margaret gasped.. "Where's my husband?" she asked, holding tightly to Ruby's arm as she pulled away. "I need to find him." Ruby nodded her head and pulled Mary-Margaret forward. Of course, Regina thought bitterly, Snow White has to find her Prince Charming.

Emma stayed behind, slowly making her way over to Regina. "Your mom, uh, she..." She breathed hard, shaking her head. "She's a real piece of work, ya know."

She didn't know the half of it. "Indeed I do." Regina answered. And thankfully, Emma would never have to see the worst of Cora. She looked over briefly at Rebekah who had her hand resting against her baby bump as she smiled up at Jefferson, looking at peace. And thankfully Rebekah wouldn't have to deal with Cora either. She and her little family would be safe from Cora's wrath. Regina looked back to Emma, forcing a smile. "Welcome back."

"Thanks," Emma breathed out.

Regina watched as Rebekah and Jefferson slowly made their way over to the group and then looked to Emma, who kept Henry standing behind her as Jefferson got closer. She watched, curiously, the look of guilt on Jefferson's face as Rebekah raised her hand up as a show of peace.

"Emma," Rebekah said her name slowly. "Just hear him out." She started to say but Emma cut her off.

"There's nothing to hear." Emma glared at Jefferson. "The last time I saw him he put a gun to my head. That message was pretty clear." Regina's eyes widened at Emma's words.She hadn't known about that.

Jefferson sighed. "I was just trying to get my family back."

"Well, now you have them." Emma continued to glare. "Stay away from mine."

"Emma," Rebekah tried to argue, moving to step forward only to have Emma raise her hand at her, stopping her from going any further.

"No. I'm serious, Bex. If he steps anywhere near me or my family, I'm hauling his ass to jail. I don't care who he is to you," she threatened causing a flash of hurt to show in Rebekah's eyes.

Regina watched as Emma walked away from them and Rebekah turned to look at Jefferson. "She'll come around," Regina heard Rebekah whisper to Jefferson. She looked over to where the two stood and watched as her little sister placed her hand on her husband's cheek. "Let's go home."

"Wait," Regina said as they began to walk away. Rebekah stopped, looking over her shoulder at Regina. "Thank you," she whispered. "It would have been difficult to try and do that without you distracting Gold."

Rebekah nodded her head. "Thank you for making the right choice in the end," she said back.

Regina smiled a little. "Do you," she started to say but stopped. Rebekah raised her brow, waiting for Regina to continue. "Do you forgive me?"

"For everything?" Rebekah asked Regina and then shook her head. "No," she answered. "But for the spell you cast on me earlier...yes." Rebekah turned back to Jefferson and the two of them walked away.

And once again, Regina was alone.

_________________________________

"You should go to the diner with your friends," Jefferson said for the third time since they got home from picking up Grace from school. Rebekah focused on the dinner she was cooking for her family. "Bex," Jefferson sighed, moving to stand behind her. "Go."

"No," Rebekah told him as she stirred the spaghetti sauce. "I want to stay with you." It was the truth. She understood why Emma was upset with Jefferson; it wasn't exactly his proudest moment. But Rebekah chose not to hold that against him. Especially because during the kidnapping of Mary-Margaret, Jefferson was going through withdrawls of the medicine they had given him at the mental hospital Regina had him locked away in. He wasn't in the right mind and if Emma was still frightened of him, Rebekah understood why. But Jefferson was better and someday Emma would see that. Until then, her little family would lay low.

Jefferson sighed again, moving his hands to wrap around her from behind. "I know how badly you want to see Mary-Margaret and Emma again; you should be at the diner with them. I'll be fine here." He pressed a kiss to her shoulder.

"I'll stay with Papa." Grace walked into the kitchen. "I don't mind."

Rebekah smiled softly, shaking her head. Of course, Grace would offer to stay with Jefferson, and it made Rebekah so proud of how protective her little girl was of her papa. "There is no place else I'd rather be than right here with my family," she told them, turning to face both Jefferson and Grace. "The three of us have been apart long enough."

"Bex," Jefferson started to say but she pointed the large spoon she was using to stir the sauce at him and playfully narrowed her eyes at him. He smiled, shaking his head at her move. "I don't want you to miss out on time with your friends."

"Emma will forgive you," Rebekah told Jefferson, turning back to the sauce to add more spices to it. "It might take time but that's what we'll give her."

Jefferson frowned, shaking his head. "So much for being a member of the town," he said softly causing Rebekah to frown as well. "Emma comes home and suddenly I'm the boogeyman." Rebekah gave him a look causing Jefferson to chuckle. "I know...I have it coming."

"No." She moved her hand to rest against his chest. "You made a mistake. A very careless mistake; but she'll see who you really are soon." She promised him. "Until then, we stay together." A knock on the door caused Rebekah to pull her hand away from Jefferson, a smile forming on her lips. "I'll get that."

"You invited someone over?" Jefferson asked in confusion as she handed him the spoon to stir the sauce while she was gone. Rebekah nodded her head as she left the kitchen. "Please say it's not your sister," Jefferson said causing Rebekah to let out a loud laugh.

She opened the door, a familiar face on the other side. "Hi, Victor."

He smiled, handing Rebekah a loaf of bread. "I was going to bring you wine but," he motioned to her belly, "I thought against it."

"Very smart, Doctor." Rebekah chuckled, welcoming him into their home. Jefferson smiled when he saw Rebekah walking back into the kitchen with Victor.

"Hey, man." Jefferson hugged Victor. "It's good to see you."

Rebekah grinned as Jefferson and Victor began to talk. "You two catch up and Grace and I will finish making dinner," she told them and Jefferson gave Rebekah a grateful smile. The two men left the kitchen and Rebekah walked over to the stove where Grace was stirring the sauce. "Do you want to learn how to make some garlic bread?" Rebekah asked Grace who nodded her head in excitement.

"How long has Papa known Uncle Victor?" Grace asked Rebekah.

"A very long time," Rebekah replied, slicing the bread.

"How'd they meet?" Grace questioned.

Rebekah smiled softly. "Now that is a very long story, sweet girl."

"Tell me tonight?"

"Of course."

This was all Rebekah needed. As much as she loved Emma and Mary-Margaret, she knew it was going to take them some time to warm up to Jefferson; Emma, probably the longest. But until then, she had her little family. And that was all she needed.