❃
|Emma's House|
❃

The door to Emma's house opened and Regina and Zelena entered. Regina shut the door behind her and lead Zelena to the living room. Meg, Henry, Roland, and Emma were all sitting on the couch, awaiting Regina's news. When Meg saw her mother, she stood up and backed away.

"You didn't tell me she would be here!"

"It's okay," Regina assured her. "I promise you're not going to get hurt."

"Regina--!"

"Meg. Just listen, alright?"

Meg reluctantly sat back down. Henry and Emma both looked wary of Zelena, but they trusted Regina's decision making skills, so neither of them said anything.

"Zelena has given me reason to believe she and Arthur are both willing to change their ways for the better," Regina began. "I know it will not be an easy journey - I've been in their place before myself - but I need you three to help me in making Storybrooke accept their change. However, and both Zelena and Arthur have agreed to this, if they don't turn from wickedness, there will be punishment that follows."

Zelena nodded in agreement, but didn't say anything.

"What makes you think she's ready to change?" Meg challenged.

Regina glanced over at Zelena, who motioned for her half-sister to answer the question.

"Zelena's pregnant."

❃
|The Charmings' Apartment|
❃

Mary Margaret was attempting to put Neal down for a nap when he phone buzzed, signaling a text from Emma. Neal was safe from a nap for the moment as Mary Margaret picked up her phone and looked at the screen.

I need you to call a town meeting. Invite everyone to the city hall in two hours. Regina and I will explain later.

Mary Margaret sighed and typed out a reply;

Okay, I'll see what I can do.

"David!" Mary Margaret called for her husband. "I need you to get Neal to sleep. Emma wants me to call a town meeting!"

A muffled, "Okay," came from the kitchen and David was soon in Neal's bedroom. "What's the meeting for?"

Mary Margaret shrugged. "She didn't say, but I trust she has good judgement. Meet me at the town hall in two hours and please get him to sleep."

"Can do." David kissed Mary Margaret, "Now go call that meeting. We'll be fine."

❃
|Emma's House|
❃

"Excuse me?!" Meg demanded. "And you're going to trust that a child will change her? What am I then, nonexistent? She's the Wicked Witch of the West!"

"She's still your mom," Henry pointed out. "And Mom used to be the Evil Queen, but as you know, she is not anymore. If Mom trusts that Zelena wants to change, then I'll believe it."

Emma nodded slowly. "I agree with Henry. If she shows she's willing to change, I will be willing to believe it."

"Good," Regina turned to Emma, "then we need to call a town meeting. I have some rules for Storybrooke concerning this child. So we avoid any repeats of Neal, Evelyn, or Meg."

"I'm on it," Emma whipped out her phone and texted Mary Margaret. "My mom'll get the word out, Regina, you look sick, go to the bathroom."

Regina didn't bother arguing with Emma. Instead, she simply turned and headed straight for the bathroom. "I'll be with you in a minute!" Emma called after her. Regina was pretty sure she was going to puke in the hallway if she answered Emma, so she kept her mouth clamped shut.

"Meg," Zelena took a step closer to her daughter, "I'm sorry about what I said in the asylum. I wanted you to turn on Regina and Robin, I didn't mean to hurt you, I swear."

"A little late for that," Meg replied bitterly.

"Please. Give me another chance. You can stay with Regina, but I want to at least be able to talk to you."

Meg eyed her mother suspiciously. "You wanted me to be wicked, just like you." Meg's voice cracked, "How can I trust you after that?"

"I don't know. I was hoping you might find it in yourself to forgive me, but if not--"

Meg stood up and wrapped her arms around Zelena. "I forgive you."

Zelena hugged her daughter back, tears stinging the edge of her eyes. "Thank you. I promise my next child won't be a replacement."

❃
|The Town Hall, Two Hours Later|
❃

"Ahem," Regina spoke into the microphone and everyone got quiet. "I know you're all probably wondering why Mary Margaret, Emma, and I have called you here," the mayor began, "and I am pleased to say it is because Zelena and Arthur want to change."

Everyone began muttering after that, but Emma stepped up onto the stage and shouted into the microphone, "She's not done yet!" After everyone quieted down again, Emma lowered her voice. "Thank you. Regina." She stepped out of the way and the former Queen began to speak again.

"Zelena is pregnant. And before you all start getting mad, this baby was not conceived as an act of revenge. And I have made some rules about my half-sister's child that must be followed unless you want to spend some time in the sheriff's station." Regina shot a pointed glance at Emma, who nodded.

"Rule one," Regina began, "This baby will not be thrown into a time portal. Rule two: This baby will not be used to make a time portal. Rule three: No harassing this baby once it is born and she or he grows up. And finally, rule four: No judging this baby on its parents' mistakes - past, present, or future. Are we clear?"

No one objected, so Regina nodded and continued speaking. "Good. Final order of business; Zelena and Arthur have both agreed to my terms and if they break my rules, they will be locked up in the asylum and I will take the baby once it is born. Emma, Mary Margaret, and David have all reviewed my terms and agreed that they are fair. The three of them as well as Zelena, Arthur, and I will be accepting any questions up here on stage. If you want to insult any of us, just text instead. Meeting dismissed."

❃
|Regina's House|
❃

Mary Margaret forced both Regina and Zelena to leave early because, "stress is not good for unborn babies," so Regina drove Zelena back to her cabin before heading home to where Tinker Bell was watching Meg, Henry, Roland, and Neal so Mary Margaret and David didn't have to drag him to the meeting.

"Are you sure you're okay alone?" Tink asked as she left.

Regina nodded. "I'll be fine. Meg and Henry will help me if I need anything."

"Alright. Goodbye."

"Bye."

Regina reentered the living room and clapped her hands together. "Right," she picked up Neal, who had started crawling towards the kitchen, "first rule is no crawling in the kitchen. The floor is a mess thanks to all these sloppy eaters." Meg, Henry, and Roland all looked away from Regina's gaze. "Second rule; no destroying anything."

"But Mom," Henry whined, "I wanted to put a metal fork in the microwave."

Regina shot a glare at Henry. "Let's not have a repeat of when you were four, alright?"

Henry nodded.

"Can Henry and I play Mario Kart?" Meg asked, "Tink helped us set the Wii back up from when we had it at Emma's."

"Fine. But no shouting at each other."

"Deal!" Henry and Meg chorused.

"Can I play?" Roland asked, following Meg and Henry over to the box next to the TV where the Wii remotes were.

"Sure," Henry handed Roland a remote.

Regina sat down on the couch, Neal in her lap. She looked at him. "Someday, that will be you. And you'll probably still be playing with your older sister."