❃
|Emma's House|
❃

Emma handed a sword to Regina. "If we're going to storm Zelena's cabin, then you need to be armed."

Regina looked at the sword, her eyes full of uncertainty, "I'm not even that good of a sword fighter."

"Nah, you're fine. You just can't remember how good you are."

Regina had to admit that the sword didn't feel as awkward as she had expected in her hand and she wasn't even sure how much she had forgotten, so swordfighting could be included in that. "Okay, let's go get that antidote from Zelena."

Regina had told Emma and Belle about the encounter with her half-sister last night and Belle had offered to test Zelena's antidote to see if it was legitimate. If it was, Regina could take that one. If not, then they would have to wait another four weeks for another antidote to be complete.

❃
|Zelena's Cabin|
❃

Zelena had gone to work as Ruby so Arthur was the only one at the cabin. Luckily, Emma and Regina were only interested in the cellar. Emma busted the lock open and Regina followed her down the stairs. Emma lit up the dark cellar with her magic and the first thing she and Regina saw was Ruby in Gold's old cell.

"Ruby?" Emma gasped and rushed over to the cell. She broke that lock as well and Ruby wrapped her arms around Emma.

"How long have you been down here?" Regina asked hesitantly, not sure if she wanted to hear the answer.

"Lost track. Maybe four weeks?"

Regina and Emma looked at each other. "So that's how she knew about the antidote..." Emma muttered. "And probably how she figured out you were pregnant and--"

"Wait," Ruby cut Emma off. "What? What all has happened since Zelena kidnapped me?"

Regina sighed. "Look, we don't have time for this right now. We need to get that antidote and get out of here."

Emma nodded. "She's right. Has Zelena been working on a potion of sorts during the past four weeks?"

Ruby nodded. "Yeah. She needed moonlight for it. I think it's over here..." Ruby walked past Emma and Regina and picked a vial up off a shelf.

Regina took the bottle from Ruby. "Yeah, this is it. We need to take it to Belle and--"

"First we need to expose Zelena!" Ruby argued. "We have the antidote. now let's go lock Zelena back up in the asylum."

Regina shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I need these memories back. You and Emma can head to Granny's and I'll get Belle to test the antidote. I'd rather be alone when I take it anyways."

"No, you are not taking that antidote alone," Emma argued. "You can get it tested, but you will not take it alone."

"Fine, I'll make sure Belle is there," Regina lied.

But Emma seemed to fall for it. "Okay. I'll see you later. Good luck."

Regina forced a smile. "Thanks. You too."

❃
|Gold's Shop|
❃

Belle emerged from the back room and set the vial on the counter. Regina handed Evelyn back to her and Belle pursed her lips. "The antidote appears to be the real thing."

Regina picked up the antidote. "Are you sure?"

Belle nodded. "Yeah. So, are you ready to get your memories of Robin back?"

"Actually, I'm headed to my house to take it. Emma said she'd meet me there."

Belle wasn't convinced of Regina's lie, but she nodded slowly. "Okay. Just...let me know if you need anything."

❃
|The Vault|
❃

Regina uncorked the vial, her hands shaking. Emma and Ruby would realize she had lied about taking it with Belle there very soon, so she needed to take the antidote fast. But her mind was full of worry now. What if the memories weren't all she had dreamed they would be?

And worse, what if they were more than what she had expected? Zelena obviously had her reasons for making the antidote and Zelena's reasons always involved Regina suffering in some way, shape, or form.

As Regina raised the vial to her lips, a tell-tale sign of Zelena appeared in front of her; a cloud of green smoke. "Regina, don't--"

"Get out of here," Regina growled.

"I'm serious! You don't want to take that antidote!"

"What did you do to it?"

"Nothing, I swear. But I--" Zelena sighed and hung her head, "I don't want you suffering. You have a child growing inside of you now, and I really doubt another burst of heartbreak would be good for the baby."

Regina laughed. "And why on earth would you care about me? And more importantly, why would you care about the well-being of my unborn child?"

Zelena muttered a string of colorful words before answering. "Because I know you've already been skipping out on your meals - lunch specifically - and I also... You know what? Never mind. Take the antidote, see how much I care."

"You also what?"

"It doesn't matter!" Zelena snapped. "I'll be in New York soon and you'll never have to worry about me again anyways!"

"And why would you be going to New York?"

"Because I don't want you taking my child again!" When Zelena realized what she had said, she clamped her hands over her mouth.

"W-What?" Regina backed up. "No. You're not... Are you...?"

"I'm pregnant," Zelena whispered.

❃
|Gold's Shop|
❃

Emma and Ruby burst into Gold's shop. "Where's Regina?!" Emma demanded.

"She told me she was going to meet you..." Belle's voice trailed off.

"No," Emma quickly turned from worried to angry. "She told me she wouldn't take the antidote alone!"

"Calm down," Belle instructed. "She went to her house to take it. You could probably get there before she's taken it since you have magic and Regina won't use hers anymore."

Emma nodded. "You're right. Ruby," she turned to the wolf, "keep looking for Zelena. I'll head to Regina's place."

❃
|The Vault|
❃

Regina set the antidote down and looked at her half-sister. "Arthur?"

Zelena nodded silently.

"Does he know?"

Zelena shook her head, still not speaking.

"And obviously you haven't had an ultrasound of any sort. How long?"

Zelena shrugged. "A week? No longer than that."

Regina let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding and began to pace back and forth. "You know what I should do?"

Zelena knew she didn't want to hear the answer, but seeing as neither of the two wanted to use too much magic, the witch's only choice was to listen.

"I should kill you. I should take your child and then chop your head clean off. I should torture you and Arthur both to the point where death seems merciful and then kill him in front of you."

Zelena had begun to back away from her half-sister.

"But you know what I'm going to do instead?"

"W-what?"

"I'm going to give you another chance."

Zelena was ready to use her magic to escape until she comprehended what Regina had said. "Wait. Another chance?"

Regina nodded. "You are going to have a child that is the product of...well...some sort of love. That child will not be born out of want for revenge, but out of love. So if you and Arthur can agree to my rules, then I will let you two keep the baby. Make a false move and I will lock you up in the asylum. Are we clear?"

Zelena nodded. "But what about the antidote?"

Regina picked up the vial. "I'm going to take it and I'm going to remember Robin."

"I wasn't lying when I said the memories would destroy you."

"I know."

Regina's phone buzzed and she took it out of her pocket to see a message from Emma;

WHERE ARE YOU?!

Regina typed out a response;

Not telling. I need you to go back to your house and make sure Meg, Henry, and Roland are there.

Emma was quick to respond;

You better not be taking that antidote alone

I'm not. I promise. But I need you to do what I asked. I'm bringing someone by in a little while and I need the kids there.

Okay

Regina turned her phone off. "I'm taking the antidote now. You need to testify to Emma that you were here."

It took Zelena a moment to realize Regina was speaking to her. "Okay."

Regina poured the antidote into her mouth and once the vial was back on the table, the memories of Robin rushed back into her mind.

"Milady, you're injured."

"For one, I'd be charred to a crisp by now if you didn't."

"We're here now, and this is true."

"Perhaps we could go for a walk in the moonlight?"

"He's not the only one looking forward to a dance with the savior."

"It appears you've found yourself some believers."

"Regina, you're already a hero."

"If you want to have a child, we will have a child. I don't care if Merlin's magic healed you or not. I'll find some way to reverse the curse myself if I have to."

"You are the light of my life and I can't imagine living without you."

"I don't want you getting hurt."

Regina probably would have fallen when the memories flooded back had Zelena not rushed over and held her up. In Regina's moment of weakness, she wrapped her arms around Zelena.

"I told you," Zelena muttered bitterly. "I told you the memories would destroy you."

Regina didn't respond.

❃

After Regina stopped crying and had finished going through all of her memories that had been returned, she turned to look at Zelena. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Deciding to change. Not letting me take the antidote alone."

"Yeah, well, I've been pretty rotten to you."

"You've been worse than rotten." Regina sighed and stood up. "We need to stop by your place and then we're off to Emma's house."

"What?"

"Arthur and you will both be agreeing to my rules if you want to keep the child. And I believe you have a daughter to apologize to."