STORYBROOKE, Maine

Regina had never felt more alone. She had thought her days of loneliness were long gone after the curse took place but now it was broken and she was alone once again. Regina didn't even have Henry--he continued to stay with David--and Regina was...alone. During the curse, she had Rebekah as well. And yes, it was quite enjoyable bossing her around and making Rebekah run her errands and bring her coffee. She didn't even mind the snark she got from her. But now Rebekah was with her own family and wanted nothing to do with Regina. Which was what led her to Dr. Hopper's office.

"Regina." He blinked in surprise when he opened his door and saw her standing on the other side. "Are you here to see me?" Archie asked her after a moment.

"I've been trying to keep my promise to Henry but it's been difficult," she admitted, still standing in the hallway of his practice.

"To not use magic?"

She nodded her head, inhaling deeply. "It's been two days."

Archie smiled. "That's an excellent start," he told her.

She was skeptical, but he seemed to have hope. Archie motioned for Regina to come inside his office and Regina sighed before stepping inside the room. She had sent Henry here to try and convince him that fairytales weren't real and that hadn't worked. Who was to say Dr. Hopper could even help her? You gotta try, she heard Henry's voice in her head. He was the reason why she was going to Archie because despite what everyone else believed, she truly did love Henry.

They sat down, Archie offering Regina a refreshment that she declined. Archie watched her from his chair as she got comfortable on the couch, straighting the creases on her pants before she finally found the courage to speak. "It's just that," Regina sighed, "magic is the way I've always gotten everything," she admitted.

"It sounds like it's also the way you've lost everything," Archie reminded her. But she didn't need reminding; she was well aware of all she had lost. "Regina, this is your chance to start over. To earn Henry." The door opened causing Regina to jump slightly as Whale came walking into the room she and Dr. Hopper were in. "Dr. Whale! This is highly inappropriate!" Archie raised his voice.

Whale stood in front of the table that acted as a barrier between he and Regina. "Send me back," he demanded.

"Excuse me?" She scoffed, looking from Whale to Archie, and then back to Whale again.

"To my land!" Dr. Whale told her. "Send me back to my brother."

Regina felt her temper flare. "Why don't you check the missing board like everyone else," she said in a snarky tone that only angered Whale.

"Your curse only brought the living." He reminded her with just as much snark in his tone as she had used.

"Well, then, I'm sorry for you loss," she said sarcastically. "But I'm afraid I can't send anyone anywhere. Why don't you ask my sister and her husband? You all were rather chummy back in the day."

Whale rolled his eyes, ignoring her comment about Rebekah. "Can't or won't ?"

Archie stood up from his seat and looked to Whale. "Dr. Whale, I have to insist. Please... go ." He stressed the word.

Regina blinked in surprise when Dr. Whale actually listened to Archie and left the room. Dr. Hopper walked towards the open door and closed it slowly before returning to Regina. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "What you said...it isn't entirely true, is it?"

She didn't understand. "I'm sorry?" Regina questioned.

"About the curse only taking the living," Archie reminded her, "The grave of your father is here, right?"

She instantly felt defensive. "I don't care about Whale or his brother; I brought who I wanted."

"Anyone else?" Archie asked. Regina shook her head as she closed her eyes, annoyed with the change of topic. Why did Dr. Hopper care about who she brought and who she didn't? "If you want help; you have to try and trust me," Archie told Regina when she began to close herself off to him, her cold exterior her only shield. "Stopping magic is a lot harder than starting."

The only reason why she even started to dabble in magic was to have a way to fight against Cora -- to even the fields between them. But Cora had been banished by then and yet, Regina continued on with her lessons from Rumpelstiltskin.

And, of course, when she thought she could bring Daniel back to life.

But Rumpelstiltskin, Jefferson, and Victor Frankenstein played her for the fool she had been.

She hadn't always been cruel. Daniel's death caused by Snow, Rumpelstiltskin's teachings, Jefferson and Victor's tricks, Rebekah's betrayal, her entire upbringing -- it all shaped her into the person she was now.

However, there was a time Regina couldn't even bear the thought of harming an animal, refusing to give in to Rumpelstiltskin when he commanded her to. The creature, in her youthful mind, was innocent. She remembered watching as Rumpelstiltskin rip out the unicorn's heart to prove his point. But the way the horse cried out afterwards, she knew it wasn't right. Regina still remembered the fear in the animal's eyes as Rumpelstiltskin controlled it's heart. You're not hurting the beast, you're controlling it, he had told Regina. When Rumpelstiltskin had tossed the unicorn ' s heart to Regina and demanded she kill it -- to crush it's heart in her hand -- she couldn't do it. I had such high hopes,Rumpelstiltskin had told her. Magic is power; until you can take power, you're not learning anything. And then he told Regina that there was only one question to answer, that only her alone could answer; what's holding you back? He asked.

And it was Daniel.

"His name was Daniel," Regina finally answered Archie. "I preserved his body with an enchantment spell," she confessed. "He's dead but...frozen and," she shook her head, "I've kept him in my family mausoleum."

"Because you couldn't let go of him." Dr. Hopper spoke softly. He inhaled deeply before looking back at Regina. "If you can't let go of the past, Regina, it's doomed to haunt you."

Regina quickly wiped away a tear that had fallen, sniffling a little and shook her head. "You know what? I think this has been quite enough." She grabbed her purse and got up from the couch.

"Regina, wait." Dr. Hopper followed her as she walked to the door. "I can help you!" he said once she opened the door.

Regina looked back at the man and glared. "I doubt it," she said before slamming the door closed before he could follow her outside.

This was a joke; Hopper was a joke! Why had she thought going to him to help her would solve her problems?

She was a damned fool.

"Clear your mind," Jefferson said softly as Rebekah sat on the ground of the bedroom, legs tucked under her as she stared at the hat. "Try and focus on the first time you had to use the hat without my help."

That caused her to smirk. "Camelot."

Jefferson smiled. "You were still pretending that I had no effect on you."

"You didn't." She lied with a grin but kept her concentration on the hat. Her smile fell bit by bit as the time ticked on and the hat didn't begin to repair itself. "Jefferson, this isn't working !" she complained.

He chuckled and moved to sit behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle. "Breathe," he instructed her. "I know magic is still new to you and it's frustrating."

"More than frustrating ," she growled out.

"Everything someone says before 'but' is bullshit."

Jefferson laughed, his face falling into the crook of her neck. "I forgot how difficult you were while pregnant." He pressed a kiss to her neck. "I've missed it."

Rebekah craned her neck a bit so he could have better access at it. "You're confusing difficult with stubborn."

"Hmm," he said, pressing one more kiss to her neck before pulling away, causing her to let out a whine. "Come on. You've got to concentrate, Bex."

"I'd rather you keep kissing me," she told him; and Jefferson, even without being able to see her face, knew her lips were formed in a pout. "Besides, I'm hungry," she complained. "Can't we do this later and eat now?"

"Bex." He said her name slowly causing her to groan, throwing her head back in frustration. If he hadn't been expecting it, she wouldn't have slammed the back of her head right into his face with the move. "Your best friends are trapped in the Enchanted Forest," he reminded her.

"I know ," s he said, continuing to groan. "And apparently since Emma's out of town, I am now the savior who is supposed to fix everything and bring everyone home and blah, blah, blah." Jefferson chuckled, running his hand on her belly, something that always calmed Rebekah while she was pregnant. "And I miss Grace," she complained. "I should have let her skip school again. You know what? Let's go get her," Rebekah said as she wiggled to get up only to have Jefferson bring her back down to the floor.

"I know, I know," Rebekah said before he even had a chance to say her name again. "It's just," she sighed, "what if I can't do it?" She asked him. "What if I can't bring them home? Henry will lose his mother again . Charming will lose his wife. All I can think about is what everyone will lose if I fail."

Jefferson frowned, pressing down on the ground to get up from the floor and then moved to stand in front of Rebekah. "Come with me." He held out his hand for her to grab.

"Food?" She smiled and Jefferson chuckled, nodding his head.

"You only start to doubt yourself when you're really hungry." He smirked as Rebekah took his hand, letting him help lift her off the ground.

"I am hungry," she agreed.

"How about we go catch some lunch with an old friend?" She raised a brow at his words. "You'll see."

When they arrived at the diner, Victor was waiting for them at a booth, his smile widening when the both of them made their way over to him. "I was wondering when you'd call!" Victor exclaimed as he pulled Jefferson into a hug, clapping him on the back.

"What am I, chopped liver?" Rebekah asked causing the men to pull away.

"Bex!" Victor laughed and hugged her so tightly that Rebekah was lifted off the ground. When he set her down on the ground, Victor whispered something in her ear that caused Rebekah to laugh, her hand moving to rest against his chest while she whispered; don't worry about it.

Jefferson looked to his wife and instantly knew what he had whispered. "I hope you're apologizing for kissing my wife while cursed." Victor laughed at Jefferson's words.

"I suppose I should apologize to you as well." Victor looked to Jefferson with a smile.

Jefferson chuckled and shook his head. "I wanted to kill you when I saw it but," he shook his head, feeling more happiness than he had in a very long time, "I've got my girls back." He looked down at Rebekah with a small smile and then pressed his hand to her belly causing Rebekah to beam at him. "We're having a son and...I have my family. It's all that matters to me."

Victor frowned, clearing his throat before taking a seat at the booth he saved for them. "Family." He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. Jefferson and Rebekah sat down on the other side of the booth next to each other. "I uh, I'm glad you did finally reach out because...I'm trying to get back to my brother."

Rebekah and Jefferson shared a look. "The hat's destroyed, Victor," Jefferson told him.

"Yeah, but," he looked at Rebekah, "Regina says you have magic."

Rebekah looked down at her hand and Jefferson quickly laced their fingers together so he could hold it. "I do," Rebekah admitted. "But I don't have control of it. I, I've tried to restore the hat but...I'm stuck."

"What if you and Regina worked together?" Victor said, leaning forward in the booth, his tone hesitant but hopeful.

Jefferson shook his head. "Not gonna happen."

"If they worked together," Victor started to say but Jefferson cut him off.

"No," he said in a stern voice. Victor's face went hard, his eyes narrowing in a glare. "I'm sorry, pal but...that's not a risk I'm willing for her to take."

"Jefferson," Rebekah said his name softly.

"No!" He told her, squeezing her hand. "Working with Regina never ends well, Bex."

Victor glared at Jefferson. "So risking my life numerous times to protect your family is just fine but you can't do this one thing I'm asking?" He raised his voice. "Damn you both to hell!" He left them, shoving everything off the table on his way out causing them both to jump.

Jefferson sighed, rubbing at his temple. "Jefferson," Rebekah said, but he only shook his head, knowing what she was going to say. "He has a point." Yup, that's exactly what he thought she'd say. When he opened his eyes and looked to his wife, her eyes had softened as her thumb rubbed against his hand. "It's his brother, Jefferson. And he has risked so much for our family."

Jefferson closed his eyes and shook his head. "Bex."

"If Regina and I work together, we might be able to figure out how to open a portal to every world. Not just the Enchanted Forest or Victor's realm. We can reunite people with their families, my love. And we can watch them be as happy as we are right now."

"She'll betray us." Jefferson looked his wife in the eyes. "Again." He stressed the word. "Just like she always has."

"I won't let her." Rebekah's head turned at the sound of the voice. Jefferson looked past her to see Henry standing at their booth. "If you two work together, you can bring Mary-Margaret and Emma back and...I know I asked my mom not to use magic but if she were doing it for good..."

"Kid," Jefferson started to say but stopped. He sighed and shook his head. "You have no idea what your mother has put us through."

"I do," Henry told him. "I read the book."

Jefferson heard Rebekah chuckle. "He's got a point," she said when Jefferson looked to her.

"Please," Henry begged. "I know that if I make her promise to leave you guys alone...she'd do it."

Jefferson was hesitant, but looked to Rebekah who nodded her head. "Just...give me a day," she told him. "We'll talk about it with Grace together."

Jefferson sighed and nodded his head.

Rebekah was incredibly stubborn while pregnant and he knew there was no use in arguing with her about Regina for now.

_________________________________

ENCHANTED FOREST

Regina wasn't sure if Rumpelstiltskin was simply concentrating on his task, or ignoring her. But she had been roaming around the room long enough for him to notice her which led her to believe that he was ignoring her. Regina cleared her throat, slowly walking to where Rumpelstiltskin was spinning straw into gold. "Are you ready to begin?"

"Oh, I've been ready," he answered her quickly. "The question is: are you ?" he asked back.

Regina didn't understand his question. Of course she was ready! She'd been standing around for the last ten minutes waiting on him. "Yes, I am."

Rumpelstiltskin stopped his wheel and hit his hands against his legs as he spun around in his chair to face Regina. "Tell me why you're really here."

"For power, for..."

"Stop wasting my time!" Rumpelstiltskin yelled, interrupting Regina from continuing on. "What is it that you want?" he asked her again. "Come on, you've done all your soul-searching." Rumpelstiltskin sat up from his chair and began to walk forward. "Now, tell me."

Regina inhaled deeply before blurting out, "Can you teach me how to use magic to bring back the dead?"

Rumpelstiltskin giggled. " That's what this is about?" He mocked her. "The stable boy?"

Regina nodded her head, eyes filling with tears. "I want true happiness."

"Then find it elsewhere, dearie," he told her. "Magic can do much, but not that. Dead is dead ."

Regina leaned against the table next to her for support, her whole body wanting to collapse at the knowledge that she could never bring Daniel back. It wasn't fair; there had to be a way. She shook her head, sniffling as she tried to hold back her tears. "Then, I am lost," she said quietly.

"And I've had my time wasted," Rumpelstiltskin rudely said. "I'm sorry, but, uh, transcending death is beyond even my reach," he said as he took a step closer to Regina.

"I thought nothing was beyond your reach."

Regina jumped, startled by the sudden presence of someone else in the room with them. She turned around and saw a man dressed in leathers. She blinked in surprise, wondering how he got into the room without her noticing.

"Ah," the man grimaced. "You're busy; should I...?"

"No, no," Rumpelstiltskin told the man. "Nothing important going on here," he said while beckoning the man over.

"Rumpelstiltskin," Regina tried to say.

"Ignore her," she heard him say to the man.

Regina frowned but watched the two carefully as the man in leathers pulled out what looked to be some sort of crystal ball. "I've got what you wanted." The man in leathers smirked at Rumpelstiltskin.

"What about the slippers?" Rumpelstiltskin asked.

The man sighed. "Oh, couldn't find 'em," he said with a shrug. "Heard talk that they've already been moved to another land."

Rumpelstiltskin glared and Regina quickly turned around, not wanting to seem as though she was eavesdropping and angering the Dark One any further. "That's what I needed to get to that other land!" Her fingers slipped and a vial she had been holding tumbled out of her hand and onto the cart, creating a loud clanking noise. When she looked over her shoulder at the both of them, they were watching her oddly before continuing on with their topic.

"Well, come with me in my hat. I'm sure we can work something out," the man in leathers told Rumpelstiltskin, trying to barter with him.

"No, no," Rumpelstiltskin shook his head. "Your hat only transports between magical realms and I need to get to a land without magic."

"Why would anyone want that?" The man sounded disgusted as he said the words.

"My business."

The man in leathers sighed. "You want the ball or not?"

"Mmm, yes." Rumpelstiltskin snatched the ball out of his hand. "Help yourself to as much gold as you deem appropriate." Regina turned around when she heard footsteps coming closer to her. "Oh, and you." She smiled, hoping he had changed his mind. "You can let yourself out." He motioned to the door. "Our work is done."

"Wait, so that's it?" Regina followed after Rumpelstiltskin as he walked away from her. "You're not going to teach me anymore?"

Rumpelstiltskin sighed before turning to face Regina. "So long as you harbor foolish notions of bringing back the dead, so long as you live in the past, you'll never find your future," he told her. "Teaching you is a waste of time," he added before walking away from Regina.

She felt like the weight of the world was shifting under her feet, that she might collapse at any moment. There has to be a way, she thought to herself.

"Pardon me!" A voice said from behind her causing Regina to spin around and face it. It was the man in leathers; he was still here. "For eavesdropping -- but I think you need to look elsewhere for assistance."

Regina scoffed. "What do you know about it?"

"I hear things," he told her. Regina's eyes widened -- he might be the key, the key to bringing back Daniel! The man popped his collar as he walked over to her. "Jefferson's the name and I'm a man who travels and sees much. And I know a man who can do what you want." He smirked, standing closer to Regina now. "Bring back the dead ." He gave her a wolfish grin. "He's um, you might say a...wizard." Regina was holding on to his every word; just hoping for this Jefferson to offer his services. "I can bring him to you," he finally said. But the way he said it and the way he was looking at her, Regina knew he wanted something in return.

"At what price?"

He chuckled. "Always a price, indeed. So here's mine . Like I said, I'm a man of travels and I've made many enemies along the way," he breathed out before adding, "and I would like a royal passport. So I can have free reign to traverse your kingdom."

Regina blinked, not quite understanding. "How would I do that?"

Jefferson inhaled deeply before clicking his tongue. "Well, you're the queen, aren't you?" he said with wide eyes, his brows raised as he looked down at her, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Oh. Of course. "That's right, I am." She smirked back at him. "And this wizard...can he really bring someone back from the dead?"

Jefferson shrugged. "Well," he sighed. "If he can't, no one can."

Regina watched as Jefferson walked away and felt her hope spring to life again.

If this Jefferson was good on his word she'd let him have whatever his heart desired. He could traverse through all the lands he so pleased without her intervening. Whatever he wanted, she'd make sure he got.

Just so long as Daniel was brought back to life.

_________________________________

STORYBROOKE, Maine

"No one has seen Regina since yesterday," Rebekah told Jefferson over the phone. He was dropping Grace off at school while Rebekah met up with Henry to find Regina. "And when I called Victor, his phone went straight to voicemail. Either he's screening his calls or..."

"He did something stupid?" Jefferson finished causing Rebekah to snort.

"Yup."

"Where are you now?"

"At my father's vault. You said that's where Regina kept everything she could bring from our world."

"Yeah, including all the hearts she's taken from people over the years." Jefferson did not sound amused.

"How could Victor have even known about this place?" Rebekah asked. Jefferson was quiet, which caused Rebekah to chuckle. "Jefferson?" She said his name slowly, already knowing that Victor must have learned from her husband himself.

"I may have mentioned it in passing."

"Whoa!" Henry said when they got to a room that held an empty glass coffin. "Was that Snow White's?"

Rebekah looked at it curiously. "Jefferson, let me call you back."

"Bex, no,"

She hung up and walked over to the coffin. "No," she told Henry, not believing it was Snow White's.

"Well then, who's was it?" he asked.

She closed her eyes, touching the lid of the coffin and concentrating. It only came in scattered flashes, but she saw Victor taking the body of... Daniel. The stableboy. A man he once promised he would resurrect only to double cross Regina in the end. The longer she kept her hand on the glass, the longer she saw memories of the coffin. Regina's body thrown over the coffin while sobbing loudly. Victor performing the fake transplant of hearts. Regina and Jefferson looked down at the body, and then Rebekah saw her husband holding onto Regina as she cried.

"Oh god," Rebekah said as she pulled her hand away. She knew about Jefferson betraying Regina but...she had never seen it with her own two eyes.

"What happened?" Henry asked. "What did you see?"

Rebekah shook her head, trying to clear her mind of the images. "Dr. Whale," she told Henry. "He took Daniel."

"Who's Daniel?"

Rebekah shook her head. "I'll explain in the car." She grabbed Henry's hand and pulled him away from the coffin.

"Where do you think Dr. Whale would have taken Daniel?" Henry asked once they were in her car. Rebekah had explained as much as she could; Daniel was Regina's first love, he was a stable boy. Cora killed him. She debated telling Henry about Jefferson's part of that tale, but in the end, Rebekah decided not to keep things from her nephew. He had been lied to enough.

"Hospital," Rebekah answered, concentrating on seeing the road through all the rain. "Probably in the old wing they once used for surgeries back in..." She frowned. How long ago had that wing been closed? Had it always been? Her cursed memories were starting to fade ever since Emma broke the curse. There were times Rebekah couldn't remember past Emma coming to town. She wondered if it was like that for everyone. But she kept it to herself because if she told Jefferson about it, he'd only start to worry.

"Bex?" Henry said her name.

"Hm?" She looked at him for a moment before looking back at the road. "Um, I was saying that I think I know where he'd gone."

When she looked back to Henry, he was frowning. "Are you okay?"

She sighed. "I'm fine." So much for not lying to Henry anymore. "Just tired."

"Is the baby okay?" He asked, his tone small and laced with concern.

Rebekah smiled, chuckling a little. "He's doing fine, Henry. Actually, he's more than fine. The little guy has a name now."

"Henry?!" He asked causing Rebekah to laugh.

Rebekah shook her head. "Sorry to disappoint but no." She tussled Henry's hair. "William Graham Hatter."

"Hatter?"

"My family's last name," she said, looking over at Henry to see him frown.

"You won't be a Mills anymore?" he said quietly.

Rebekah sighed, licking at her lower lip. "I'll always be a Mills," she told him as they pulled into the hospital parking lot. "Because of my father." Henry blinked up at her as she looked over at him after parking the car. "Who would have loved the fact that Regina named you after him." She pressed her hand to his cheek and smiled.

"Was he a good man?"

Rebekah nodded her head, her emotions getting the best of her. "He was the best man ," s he said with eyes full of tears. "And he would have loved you so much."

Before the curse, when Grace was barely three, Rebekah often wished that her father could be a part of her little family's life. She pictured him reading stories to Grace with as much animation as he did for her when she was just a little girl. Would he teach her how to ride a horse? Would he have wanted to be a part of their lives?

Regina had always been closest with her father and even after the realm saw her for who she truly was, Henry Mills stood by his daughter's side. Something Rebekah didn't understand and often fought him on. "Family is family ," h e'd tell Rebekah. "You don't abandon them when they need you the most ," h e'd say. "I think Regina needs the both of us right now more than she lets on. And perhaps someday, with hope, we can bring back the girl we used to know."

It never happened. But her father had hope.

He never gave up on her.

Before Daniel died, before her heart darkened, Regina was their father's splitting image. While Rebekah looked more like Cora, Regina was through and through her father's daughter. The same eyes, the same complexion, the same everything. Rebekah had envied Regina for looking more like their father than their mother.

"I don't look like you or Daddy , " Rebekah had cried to Regina one night. "I look like her ," she spat out. "What if I end up like her when I grow up ? "

"I won't let you end up like her , " Regina told her younger sister. "I'll protect you from her no matter what."

"Promise?"

Regina had smiled. "Promise."

Rebekah wiped away her tears. "Come on, lets go."

They got out of the car and walked into the hospital, running into Jane Porter. "Rebekah!" She said in a rushed tone. "I haven't seen you since before the curse broke." She looked around, watching as the doctors around them ran past.

"What's going on?" Rebekah asked, motioning to the doctors and nurses running around.

"Oh," she said as her pager went off. "Uh, Whale." She looked back up to Rebekah. "Your sister brought him in with his arm missing. Look, I gotta get going but let's catch up?"

Rebekah nodded, still stunned by what Jane had said. When she looked at Henry, his eyes were wide with fear. "Do you think my mom did it?"

Rebekah couldn't answer that question for him. "Let's go check on Victor," she said instead, holding out her hand for Henry to take. It was clear that he was scared, worried of what his mother was capable of.

He had reason to be scared, Rebekah knew that better than anymore. "Family is family , " Rebekah heard her father say, "You don't abandon them when they need you the most."

_________________________________

ENCHANTED FOREST

"Where is he -- this wizard ?" Regina asked again for the second time. "You promised to bring him to me ," she reminded him.

Jefferson repressed his need to roll his eyes and instead focused on the room they were nearing. He could hear the sound of giggling. "Indeed, and off we shall go to see him. But I warn you, be cautious." Regina stopped walking, looking into the room where the noise was coming from. Jefferson saw two young girls; one, sitting on the floor, and the other spinning around in circles while laughing loudly. He felt the sides of his lips twitch at the sight, pausing when the girl stopped her spinning and her eyes landed on him. Her eyes reminded him of an emerald in Agrabah he had yet to steal but planned on doing soon but he needed some time to pass before he went back to Agrabah. He was sure there were still signs with his face plastered on paper everywhere with the words WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE written underneath his handsome mug. The little girl smiled at him as she wobbled a bit before falling to the floor in a fit of giggles.

"Why?"

Regina's voice caused him to look away from the girl and back to Regina. "Is he dangerous?" she asked him, sounding frightened.

Jefferson raised his arms in a shrug. "Not to us," he told her. "But bear in mind, he's never been to a world like this before." He moved his hand to her back and began to lead her into a walk. "He's unfamiliar with our ways, with our magic." He clicked his tongue.

"All I care about are his ways and if they will do what I require."

"Well," Jefferson led her to the doors. "There's only one way to find out." He stood next to Regina, looking to the now opened doors. "May I present to you...your salvation." He smirked before pushing her a bit into a walk and together, they walked to the gardens where Victor was waiting for them.

"You're the wizard?" Regina said in confusion as she looked to what appeared to be a normal man. Jefferson repressed the need to chuckle. The man may be mortal but he was mad enough to have the title fit. The Wizard.

Victor cleared his throat and moved to stand, dropping his sketchbook in his bag. "I prefer doctor." He took his glasses off as he sized Regina up. "But you're welcome to call me whatever makes you comfortable."

"Very well," Regina moved forward. "Doctor." She looked at the man. "You understand why you've been brought here?"

"Of course," he replied. "Now." He cleared his throat. "Show me the patient."

Jefferson went with them as Regina took Victor down to the vault to show him the body, standing in the background to make sure things went as planned. It was a ploy -- a way to crush Regina's hope forever of bringing back her beloved so that she could truly embrace her magic -- or, that's what Rumpelstiltskin said to him when he shared with him the scheme he had in mind.

"It's remarkable," Victor noted as he examined the body. "It's as if his last breath was drawn just moments ago."

"A preservation spell," Regina told Victor. "Can you bring him back?"

"Perhaps," Victor replied. "Let's take a look." Jefferson watched as Victor examined the body, cutting into the deceased's hand and testing his blood, something he had rehearsed beforehand. "It's wonderful," Victor remarked. "His condition is ideal," he told Regina. "Apart from being dead, that is."

"Just how many times have you done this, Doctor?" Regina asked.

Victor looked to Jefferson briefly before looking back to Regina. "You didn't tell her?"

"Tell -- tell me, tell me what?" Regina snapped her head in Jefferson's direction who showed her nothing but innocence on his part.

"The procedure is experimental," Victor said, gaining Regina's attention again. "Success has yet to occur. But if certain conditions are met, I'm optimistic."

"Optimistic?" Regina glared.

Jefferson groaned. "Just hear him out."

But Regina did not. "What kind of charlatan are you?" she asked Victor.

"I am no such thing," he assured her. "I was told the last crucial piece of the puzzle exists in this land."

Jefferson watched as Regina eyed Victor. "What else do you need?" she asked Victor.

Jefferson moved his hand to hide the smirk painted on his lips as he turned away from them for a moment, turning back just as Victor told Regina what he'd need.

"A heart," he told her. "It's a fragile organ and I need a strong one. I've searched the far reaches of my realm and for one with the fortitude to stand the shock of my procedure; none have survived. But they say in your land that there are hearts transformed by magic . Hearts made so powerful that they glow."

"That's why you've come here?" Regina glared.

"I need this for my work." Victor's eyes flickered to Jefferson's briefly, causing the man to nod his head, a little way to tell Victor to continue on with the pitch. All they needed was for Regina to take her first heart and the deal was done. Rumpelstiltskin would have what he wanted; Victor would take the heart back to his world and Jefferson would be on his merry way. "So, tell me. How do you change these hearts?" Victor asked Regina. "How do you enchant them?"

Jefferson walked up to them. "Those who practice the dark arts do it by ripping the organ out of the living while it still beats."

"Mmm-hm." Victor nodded his head. He then looked to Regina. "And you...can do this?"

"No." She continued to glare.

"Oh," Victor replied. "You assured me that this Queen was some powerful sorceress." He looked back to Jefferson. They knew there was a chance that Regina would fight against them, that she'd refuse to take a heart.

"I will not use magic for evil," Regina told them both.

"Well," Jefferson said. "If you want your fiance back, then you're going to have to find someone who will."

"Have I wasted my time here?" Victor asked as he began to pack up his bag.

"No!" Regina stopped him. "I know exactly who can help us," she told Victor. "I know where to get a heart."

They had gone back to Regina's home, the one she lived in growing up with her parents and younger sister.

"This was my mother's." Regina told them as they stood in her mother's old bedroom in front of the fireplace. Jefferson took the time to lay down lazily on one of the couches in the room.

"How sweet," Victor said sarcastically. "But I'm not interested in heirlooms."

"Oh, I believe you will be," Regina said as she faced Victor. "Listen," she instructed them causing Jefferson to sit up.

"To a fireplace?" Victor said as the room was filled with the sound of the flicker of the flame.

"Just listen," Regina instructed.

And then Jefferson heard it. The sound of a heart beating. No. Multiple hearts. "Where is that coming from?" He got up from the couch and walked over to where Regina and Victor stood.

"Her vault," Regina waved her hand and the flames of the fire went out and the woman moved forward to where a door opened.

Victor looked to Jefferson briefly before following after her. They walked down the stairs of the vault, listening to the sound of beating hearts growing louder.

"Take your pick," Regina told them.

Victor looked around the room with wide eyes. "These...are all hearts?"

"My mother was a collector," Regina told them.

They had planned on getting Regina to try and take a heart; not steal one of her mother's. He was wary, but Rumpelstiltskin said this might happen. "Whose hearts are these?" Jefferson asked as he walked past Regina, making a face.

"I have no idea." Regina sighed. "She took so many, caused so much pain it was impossible to keep track." Regina shook her head. "She was a monster."

As you will be as well, Jefferson thought to himself. He didn't care about Regina or the torment she'd surely cause after he was gone; he owed Rumpelstiltskin. He had screwed up not getting those ruby slippers from Oz and this was his way of paying his debt. It was a scheme they came up with days before his first encounter with the queen. Once the debt was paid he'd be long gone. He had no intention of ever seeing Regina again for good reason. Once she figured out that they had played her, he prefered not to face her wrath.

"Finally," Victor said as he held one of the boxes, lid open causing the glowing heart to illuminate his face. "After all this time. It's perfect."

"That settles it." Jefferson clapped his hands. "We have a heart."

_________________________________

STORYBROOKE, Maine

"I'm going to call David and have him pick up Grace. I don't want you confronting Regina on your own."

Rebekah smiled softly at her husband's words. "As much as I love how protective you are over me, I'm not alone. David is actually here," she said as she walked around the corner of the hospital that would lead her to Victor's room, already spotting David talking with Regina. "And let's not forget that you're not exactly David's favorite person right now." Jefferson sighed. "But you're my favorite person."

Her words caused him to chuckle. "Just, be careful, okay?"

"I will."

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

Rebekah hung up and walked up to Regina and David with Henry following closely behind her.

"How can he be back?" David asked Regina.

"Whale . " She motioned to the man lying asleep in one of the hospital beds. Rebekah frowned, seeing his missing limb. "He believed he could bring him back from the grave and..." For the first time in a long time, Rebekah watched her sister smile. "I don't know how...but he has."

"Daniel's alive?" Rebekah said, catching David and Regina's attention.

She nodded her head, still smiling with tears in her eyes. "You know that Whale practices something more powerful than magic, or, that's what your husband told me all those years ago." Rebekah wondered how much Regina knew about Jefferson and Victor's betrayal -- did she know that it was possible for Daniel to come back when they first came to her, or that it all had been a scheme? Regina looked back to David. "All Whale needed was a heart and he took one of mine."

David's eyes widened in horror. "You have hearts here?"

"In my vault," Regina said in a whisper when she noticed that Henry was standing behind Rebekah, his eyes glued on Victor. "From our land," she explained.

David was angry. That much was clear. "Whose heart did he take?!" he demanded an answer.

"I have no idea," Regina said, looking guilty. "I took so many it was impossible to track."

"Regina." Rebekah took a step forward. "If he took a heart that belongs to someone that is still alive, it wouldn't just be bad for Daniel, it would be bad for the actual owner of the heart."

"Yes, I'm aware, Rebekah." She snapped at her sister. "But..." Her tone got softer. "He's back. Daniel's back." She shook her head and tried to walk away from David. "I need to go, I need to help him!" But he grabbed her by the arm, stopping her from going any further.

"No." Charming kept Regina restrained. "Where is he? Look what he did." He motioned to Whale. "He's dangerous."

"Not to me!" Regina argued. "He won't hurt anyone else, David. I promise."

Her promise to David sounded a lot like the promise Regina made to Rebekah when she was just a child. "She's telling the truth," Rebekah said, surprising both David and Regina. "I'll go with her."

Charming sighed. "Bex, you know I can't take that chance." He then looked to Regina. "You have two choices, Regina. Tell me where he is; or jail."

"David," Rebekah started to say only to have her sister raise her hand, keeping her from saying anything else.

"I think it's like when you awoke from your coma," Regina admitted. "He's following his final thoughts to where he last met me. The stables."

"The stables?" Rebekah said. "Are you sure?"

"I'm positive, Rebekah," Regina said.

"I'm coming with," Rebekah said, already seeing Charming start to protest. "She won't let anything happen to me." She stopped him from saying she couldn't go. "Right?"

Regina looked at Rebekah for a long moment before nodding her head. "I won't," she told Rebekah. "I promise."

Rebekah nodded and turned to face Henry to tell him to stay with Whale only to find that he was gone. "Henry?" she said, gaining Regina and David's attention.

They both walked forward. "Where has he gone?" Regina asked. "He was just here."

Rebekah squared her jaw and shook her head. "Where do you think he went?"

David grabbed his jacket quickly and walked past them. "The stables," he answered. "It's not too far from the hospital. Come on!"

Running while pregnant was not a skill Rebekah mastered well. But they managed to get to the stables faster than they would have by driving around the hospital to get to the barn instead of cutting through some of the fields. Henry knew the short cut well; it was one that he and Rebekah often took during the curse. She'd take him to the stables, make a game out of it by finding different ways to get there. She even went as far as to create a map with the quickest path so that Henry could always find his way there.

"This way!" She shouted as she heard the sound of the horses whining loudly. But then she stopped, looking around in the woods. "Wait," she said, trying to listen to the sound of the horses. No, no, no! Now was not the time to start forgetting more stuff about Storybrooke.

"We don't have time for you to try and catch your breath, Rebekah!" Regina said. "We'll find him on our own." Regina ran forward but David stayed behind.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Yeah," Rebekah lied. "We have to follow Regina."

Rebekah had taken them the wrong way and by the time they finally got to the stables, Henry was already in danger.

"Daniel!" Regina yelled as the man lifted Henry in the air by his throat. "Let him go!"

Daniel looked at Regina oddly but dropped Henry causing Rebekah and David to quickly move forward and grab him away from Daniel. "Go," Rebekah told Henry. "Run!" Charming echoing her words.

Charming then looked to Rebekah. "Bex, go with him."

She shook her head. "I'm not leaving her alone with him," Rebekah told her old friend.

"It's true," she heard Regina whisper. "You're really here." And then he charged at Regina. David was quick to shove her out of the way and close the door shut before Daniel could get out, but he was strong and David couldn't latch the door closed.

"It won't hold long!" David told the both of them. "Can you cast a spell to subdue him?"

"No!" Regina argued. "I won't use magic on him!"

"Bex!" David looked to her. "Can you?"

"I..." She had only done that spell once. "I can try."

Charming shook his head, knowing there wasn't much time before Daniel would burst through the doors. He grabbed his side piece out of the holster he wore on his belt.

"What are you doing?!" Regina yelled at David, trying to throw the gun away.

"He's a monster, Regina! If you won't put him down, I will!"

"David, please!" She tried to stop to him. "Just let me talk to him."

"It's too big of a risk. There's no telling what he'll do!"

"You have to at least give me a chance!" Regina pleaded.

"Out of the way, Regina! Now!" Charming shoved her only to be lifted in the air by magic.

"I'm sorry," Rebekah whispered as David looked back at her, seeing it was she who cast the spell. "But you have to let her try." She used both her hands to hold Charming in place and the door closed at the same time.

When she looked to Regina, her older sister was looking at her in shock. Rebekah moved her hand that was holding Charming in place slowly back to the ground. Regina looked away from Rebekah and then back to Charming. "Please...let me talk to my fiance."

Charming shook his head in frustration, but nodded, and Rebekah slowly used her magic to free him. He looked at her with a glare before he walked away from them and out of the stables. Regina walked over to Rebekah, her hand wrapping around her wrist gently. "Thank you," she whispered. But as she let go, Rebekah's eyes closed and memories Regina was holding onto appeared in her head causing Rebekah to close her eyes.

Jefferson was there, standing next to Regina as they stood a couple of yards away from a white tent that Victor set up. She could see the silhouette of Daniel's body. Thunder and lightning were cracking in the sky as Victor took the heart from Regina.

"What's he doing back there?" Regina asked Jefferson. "Magic?"

"He says he wields power greater than magic , " Jefferson said back.

"Really?" Her tone was so hopeful.

The wind picked up and Rebekah could feel someone grabbing at her wrist again. "No," she told them, wanting to stay in the memory to see what happened. But she already knew. Victor had lied.

"Bex!" Her eyes blinked open in surprise to find Jefferson standing in front of her. She looked past him to Regina opening the barn door, the magic Rebekah used to keep it closed no longer working. "Henry called me on his way here and I got in my car right away. You need to leave; it's too dangerous."

She shook her head, watching from afar as Regina stepped into the stables slowly. But as soon as she stepped into the stables, a hand grabbed her throat and pushed her back. Daniel; it still wasn't him. Rebekah moved her hand up to immobilize him again but Jefferson stopped her.

"Let him do it!" Jefferson shouted. "And she'll be gone from our lives for good!"

"No!" Rebekah yelled at him. "Not like this."

Rebekah moved her hand up but Daniel had already let go of Regina. She ran over to her gasping sister and helped her stand properly, keeping her from falling over. "Are you okay?"

Regina took in shallow breaths and nodded her head, patting Rebekah's arm to let her know she'd be fine.

When they looked up at Daniel, his eyes were wide. "Regina?" he whispered causing the woman to come running to him, embracing him.

"I can't believe it's really you." Regina cried as they finally pulled apart.

"Ah!" Daniel groaned, falling back a bit. He clutched onto his heart in pain, walking away from them and moving closer to Jefferson. Rebekah looked to her husband, holding out her hand and motioning for him to get away.

Jefferson didn't leave. He just moved past Daniel and went to his wife's side.

"Please!" Daniel begged. "Stop." He cried. "Just stop the pain."

"How?" Regina moved to him.

"Let me go," Daniel told her, skin pale, eyes dark.

"No!" Regina argued. "I won't lose you again." She cried, moving her hand to rest on his cheek. "Without you, I'm lost." He shook his head. "Please! Daniel, come back to me!" Rebekah felt Jefferson take her hand softly, lacing their fingers together. She hadn't noticed before, but tears were rolling down her cheeks watching Regina refuse to let go of the man she loved and lost. "I love you," Regina whispered.

"Then love...again," Daniel managed to get the words out before pulling away from her.

When he looked back up, Daniel was gone. The monster took over. But instead of going after Regina, he ran forward at Rebekah and Jefferson only to have the same spell Rebekah had cast on David earlier, cast on him by Regina. She let out a loud sob before waving her hand and suddenly Daniel's body scattered into ashes. "Good-bye, Daniel." Regina whispered as the wind carried him away.

Rebekah pulled her hand out of Jefferson's and moved to stand next to her sister. "He was in too much pain, Regina." She took her sister's hand, feeling everything she felt in that moment. Rebekah closed her eyes, trying to force the pain away. She heard Regina give in to a shaky sigh, her breathing more calm now from Rebekah's magic.

"He's gone," Regina whispered.

"I know." Rebekah let go of her hand and moved to stand in front of Regina. "I'm sorry." She whispered, slowly and hesitantly pulling her older sister into a hug. Regina's body all but collapsed into Rebekah's as she sobbed against her shoulder while they hugged.

Rebekah wondered when the last time she and Regina had truly hugged and couldn't remember. It was all getting hard to remember.

She looked to Jefferson, seeing the worry in his eyes.

They left the stables and Jefferson drove Regina to the hospital so she could drive herself home. "Thank you," Regina said in a quiet voice as Rebekah walked her to her car. "After everything I've done to you and your family...thank you for coming to my rescue."

Rebekah smiled, nodding her head. "Let's try not to make it a habit." She smirked causing Regina to actually smile.

Regina looked past Rebekah and to Jefferson who stayed in the car. "I," she started to say but stopped. "Maybe someday everything that has happened between us can be put in the past and...we could all be a family. I never have been properly introduced to my niece." She tried to joke but Rebekah tensed.

Regina frowned at that. "Look, Regina." Rebekah sighed. "It's going to take some time to get there."

"I know," Regina said as she nodded her head.

Rebekah left Regina, walking back over to the car. She looked over her shoulder at her older sister. "Keep your word to Henry though," she told Regina. "No more magic." Regina nodded. "He believes in you."

Regina smiled. "Thank you."

Rebekah got into the car and was met with silence from Jefferson. It wasn't until they were parked in front of Grace's school that Jefferson finally spoke. "Why'd you do it?" he asked. "Why'd you help her -- after everything she has done to you, to us . Grace lost her mother and father because of that woman. How can you just...?"

Rebekah grabbed his hand, stopping him from saying anything further. "Because she's my sister, Jefferson." Jefferson shook his head, the answer not good enough for him. "My father never gave up on her."

"And she took his heart to create the curse. She killed him, Bex!"

Rebekah sighed. "Look, I know this is frustrating for you, Jefferson but...I saw her memories."

Jefferson looked at her in confusion. "Her memories?"

She nodded. "I touched Daniel's coffin and I saw everything it saw. Including you and Victor saying you could bring him back. I felt her hope and just as quickly I felt her heartbreak."

Jefferson squared his jaw and shook his head. "You can pity her from afar, Bex."

"Sweetheart." She moved her hand to touch his cheek, caressing it. "I know you still feel guilty for your part in the whole Daniel mess." Jefferson rolled his eyes but he didn't pull away from her touch. "And you know that no one tells me what to do. So, I will respect your wishes to keep her away from our family but...I'm not ready to give up on her quite yet."

Jefferson closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. "You're too good, Bex."

She smiled, moving forward and pressing her lips to his. "I love you too."

Regina, perhaps, wasn't a lost cause after all. Pre-curse; yes, she was a lost cause. But now? Rebekah felt hope for the first time in a long time that she'd be able to get her big sister back.