Disclaimer: I own nothing by my ideas and thoughts. The characters associated with OUAT belong to their creators and I am merely borrowing them for our entertainment.

A/N: It is essential that you know this story will be in chronological order only in the "Present Day" portions. Anything that is a flashback will happened randomly to reveal info you need at the time. It sort of mirrors the show in that regard.

I had no plans to write anything new but this story was in me and had to come out. I hope you like it. It is already making me happy.

The story title is derived from a song by Fleetwood Mac called Storms. Please look it up on youtube. The original studio version is best. I adore the song and have always felt Regina between the lines since I found she existed.

Thank you to Jenn for cheering me along and helping me sort through some ideas.

Regina stretched like a cat sunning itself and snuggled down into her soft bed. She pulled the downy comforter around her and sighed. She loved mornings in Storybrooke.

Storybrooke?

She shot up in the bed and opened her eyes. Throwing back the covers, she saw she was dressed in her gray silk pajamas. She jumped up and ran across the plush carpet to her window, throwing back the curtain. Her fingers tugged lightly at her newly short again hair.

She was back in her Mifflin Street home… but how?

"Henry…" she said aloud into the quietness of morning, running toward his bedroom. Maybe it had all been a dream. A terrible, awful dream.

"Henry?" She queried again, pushing open his door. His bed was empty and there was no sign of him. She immediately deflated.

But wait! If it had been a dream, he wouldn't be here in his room anyway. He'd be with Emma at the loft. She dashed back into her sanctuary and reached for the phone, intending to call Emma. But the phone began to ring in her hand.

"Henry?" She said into the extension on her bedside table.

"No… Regina, its Snow. They aren't here. I looked as soon as I woke up… just in case. But," the younger brunette's voice said she was on the verge of tears. "I guess it was real after all. I had hoped it was a nightmare."

Regina felt tears wetting her cheeks and she did nothing to stop them. "How are we back, Snow? I can't remember anything after they drove away. How long—"

Her words were cut off by the sound of a baby wailing in the background. Snow muffled the receiver with her hand and said something indistinguishable to David. Another moment, the crying was quieted and she was clear on the line again.

"Snow? Was that a baby crying? What's going on?" Regina's mind was awhirl with thoughts and her body began to feel a physical pain at the whimpering sounds in the distance.

"At first," Snow began. "At first, when we woke up, we thought maybe it was a dream. Then we thought maybe it was the next day and we somehow stayed in Storybrooke but now…"

Snow drifted off and Regina began to feel familiar irritation bubbling to the surface. Not to the level she would have anticipated, but irritation nonetheless. "Spit it out, Snow White." Regina said with frustration.

"I think it's best to show you. But I am sure we have been gone for a while. And how or why we are back, I can't say. But I definitely think… no, I know we have been gone for a long while." Snow said with conviction. "Please, come over as soon as you are dressed, okay?"

The line went dead and Regina looked at the receiver in shock. Had Snow just hung up on her? She replaced the handset in its cradle and walked gingerly to her closet to dress. Something was pushing her, an urgency not only to discover the reason for Snow's cryptic words, but also to find the source of the crying. Whose baby was that?

~ (SQ) ~

As soon as possible, Regina made her way to the loft. She considered using magic but she wasn't sure that was for the best until they knew more about the circumstances surrounding their return from the Enchanted Forest. Regina still couldn't understand how it was possible for them to be back.

That day, in the middle of the road leading out of Storybrooke, Regina had destroyed her curse and it was like hitting a reset button. The fairytale denizens of her make believe town were back in the places they belonged. Emma and Henry were back in the Land Without Magic-without magic, without memories… and without her.

She shook her head. This was no time to think about missing them. Him. You miss him, Regina. But her mind couldn't help but wonder if there was a way to bring them home too. As soon as she was able to assess the situation, they would do their best to figure out the next steps to bringing her son and his other mother back home.

Home.

She wasn't sure when Storybrooke had eclipsed the placed she was born and raised and ruled as home, but it had. This was home now and although she couldn't explain how they were here again, she was glad about it. This was where she wanted to be.

She climbed the stairs to the loft and before she could even reach the landing outside the small apartment she could hear the crying. A baby was wailing away and from the sound of it, nothing Snow nor David were doing seemed to help.

Raising a leather gloved hand, she rapped her knuckles on the door. She waited only a second before the door swung open and a very frazzled looking David invited her in. The apartment was just the same as always but for a few new additions—baby clothes, bottles, toys and a crib.

Snow was standing behind the counter trying in vain to soothe a child with golden blonde hair. The baby looked to be about six months old and wouldn't stop screaming. Suddenly, Regina knew what Snow had meant about how long they had been gone. If Snow had a six month old child already… had they been gone nearly a year and a half at least?

"Regina?" Snow's eyes were filled with tears. "Help me. I don't know what to do. You're the one with experience with babies." There was no malice in her words though they were both well aware that Snow's inexperience was because of Regina.

"I'll try," Regina said stepping toward the crying pair. "Come here, sweetheart." Regina reached for the baby.

Hearing her soft voice, the child turned wide brown eyes toward the source of the sound and reached out for her, crying all the more. Regina scooped the baby into her arms and drew circles softly along the small back, cooing and soothing.

"Shhh. There now. Let's stop that crying, sweetheart. It's ok. You're ok." Regina began to gently bounce as she paced about, whispering to the baby, her lips close to its tiny ear.

Snow watched in awe. For one, she had never seen this gentle side of Regina. She knew it existed, obviously. She had raised Henry to be a fine young man, almost entirely on her own, so Snow knew that there had to be a mothering side to the woman. But, other than her early memories of Regina before she became the Evil Queen, her experience with this part of her was limited.

But the younger brunette's awe was extended to a second observation as well. While she and David looked on, the baby against Regina's chest had stopped screaming for the first time since awakening and was nuzzling against her chest, gripping a handful of her soft silk shirt, rubbing it between tiny fingers.

Although the child wasn't asleep, still looking at Regina with alert brown eyes, the baby was quiet in her arms. Regina sat down on the small sofa and waited for the Charming idiots to join her. For the first time since arriving, she got a clear view of Snow, unobstructed by the baby or the island.

"Oh my god! Are you pregnant again?!" Regina didn't mean to sound so incredulous but the words came out before she could self-censor.

Standing before her, Snow smoothed a hand across her swollen abdomen. From the looks of things, Regina would've estimated she was about seven months along but she knew with this six month old in her arms, there was no way that was possible. Perhaps she was just one of those women who looked huge from the word go.

"This is why I said we must've been gone for quite a while. How can I have a baby this big and be this pregnant again?" The brunette sat down next to Regina and smoothed her fingers across her baby's head. "I can't believe you just walked in here and calmed her down."

"Her?" Regina said, patting the girl on her diapered bottom softly when she began to fuss at Snow's unwanted touch.

The princess removed her hand and sighed forlornly, looking at David with sad eyes. He offered a comforting smile but it did little to ease the hurt on his wife's face as the baby seemed to reject her for Regina.

"Yes, her. It's a girl!" David said joyfully, trying to lighten the mood.

"What's her name?" Regina said, looking down at the baby who was now rubbing a lock of Regina's dark hair between her fingers.

By way of answering, Snow stood and made her way to the crib, lifting a blanket not unlike the one Emma treasured. Stitched in the corner, in purple thread was her name.

"Caroline." Regina whispered looking down at dark eyes that had begun to droop. The sleepy baby yawned and tugged gently on the strands of dark hair in her grasp. Regina couldn't stop looking at her. She was beautiful and innocent. And there was something about her that reminded her so much of Henry at this age. It made sense though. She was, after all, of the same bloodline as her son.

In a moment the child was asleep. Regina stood and padded softly to the crib and carefully laid the girl down. Her cherubic face was relaxed, her pouty lips forming a perfect circle as she searched for something to suckle in her sleep.

Almost as if by muscle memory, Regina gently touched the baby's lips with her pinky finger and instantly the child sucked the digit, rubbing it along her gums. A peace settled over them as the silence stretched on, only ever broken by the quiet sucking sound coming from the crib. Regina stood gazing lovingly at the baby. How could she already love the child? But she did. After a minute, Caroline released her grip on the finger and was sound asleep.

"How did you do that?" Snow asked.

Regina startled. She had forgotten the other woman—the child's mother—was standing there. So intimate had been the feeling of caring for the baby, she had lost herself in the feeling of once more being needed, loved, wanted by a helpless creature.

Regina merely shrugged at Snow. "It was a trick I used with Henry. He wasn't really hungry, but he sucked out of habit. The magazines and books I read said I should give him a pacifier but I was afraid it would ruin the shape of his mouth so I would let him suckle my finger until the urge passed and then he was fine." She sat again on the little couch, smiling with pride. "He never did use a pacifier."

Snow stood for another moment looking down at her baby, wondering if she would ever be as natural and maternal as Regina seemed. How could a woman who had no mother worth speaking about… a woman who had spent most of her life in a violent rage hell-bent on revenge… how could she be so gentle, so good with children?

"Now, I think we need to talk about how we are here… and how we can get Emma and Henry home." Regina said, leaning forward, elbows on her knees. "I'm open to theories."

~ (SQ) ~

Six months ago… in the Enchanted Forest…

"It's time." Doc said, nervously wringing his hands.

Regina rolled her eyes, looking at Snow. "Is there no one else who can do this?"

Snow shook her head and brushed aside damp, dark hair. "No. If we had more time perhaps Granny could come. She was a midwife in her village once. But I trust Doc. He delivered Emma."

"Emma?" The name fell softly from Regina's lips.

Snow nodded. This was the calm before the storm. The contractions were coming quick now, but it hadn't been time to push. But now… it was time. Snow knew the pain that was coming would be unbearable. She had endured childbirth in the Enchanted Forest before.

Offers to use magic to ease the pain, or remove it altogether were defiantly refused. This baby was going to be born without the aid of magic. Mother and child would not be influenced by outside forces. Snow knew deep down it was probably better this way. Regina was stubborn but still if pain was going to be endured, then it was, no matter how much magic was at their disposal.

"Where is David?" Snow asked looking around.

"He is fetching some things I need. I hadn't anticipated this would go as quickly as it did. I wasn't prepared." Doc shuffled around, pulling away the sheet that was the last vestige of modesty for the soon to be mother. She was wearing a long dressing gown but it was bunched up at her waist, exposing her to the room.

Regina pulled at the edge of the discarded sheet. "Is it really necessary to be so… exposed?" She said through gritted teeth.

Doc shrugged and shooed out all non-essential personnel. "Now, no one can see the new prince—or princess—enter the world but me. So everyone just calm down."

Regina squeezed Snow's hand and looked at her, hoping to find comfort in tired, green eyes. "Do you think it will be a boy or a girl?"

Snow felt hot tears stinging her eyes. She was so emotional about it all suddenly. "I don't know. But either way, this baby will be loved. And what is more important than that?"

Regina nodded and tears spilled from her eyes. Snow was right, of course. This baby would be loved… not only by her and the Charming's but everyone who met her.

Her.

Somehow, Regina was sure this baby would be a girl.

Doc positioned himself at the foot of the bed, sitting on a low stool. "Alright, ladies. Let's get ready to push."

~ (SQ) ~

Present day Storybrooke…

After several hours of hushed talking, the trio hadn't accomplished much. It was clear, they were all home, in Storybrooke. It was also clear that a good deal of time had passed, although they hadn't settled on just how long as yet. And all memories of that time frame had been locked away. Most of all, they knew some outside party had cast the curse.

"It wasn't possible for me to cast it." Regina said, rolling her eyes at the suspicious looks from the pair across from her. "The curse requires that you sacrifice the thing you love most. The thing I love most was here, in this world. So it wasn't me."

David nodded, realizing it was the truth. No one would deny that what Regina loved most of all, in any realm, was Henry. "So, who do you think did it?"

Snow rubbed at her temples. They had been going round and round this with no real answers. "We've been over this. It can't be Regina. It can't be Gold because he's dead. No one else knew the curse well enough to enact it and the written version of the spell was destroyed at the town line. This is just overwhelming."

A whimper sounded from the crib and both Regina and Snow sprang to their feet. Snow frowned slightly at Regina and the older woman sat down again. Soon enough, Snow was back in her place with Caroline in her arms.

"David, would you please make her a bottle? I'm sure she must be hungry." Snow imitated the way she had seen Regina soothe the girl, drawing circles on her back. Still, she whimpered against her mother's chest.

Regina ached to take the child into her arms. She knew it wasn't right. She was probably just trying to settle the hurt in her own heart at still being separated from her son. But she felt inexplicably drawn to the angel in Snow's arms who was now beginning to cry.

"Hurry, David. She's starting to cry again." Snow was nervous, and the child seemed to sense it and her crying intensified.

Regina inched closer to the mother and child, running her fingertips over the blonde fuzz on her head. "She will sense it if you are upset, Snow. Just relax. You've obviously done a good job with her up until now and once you regain your memories, everything will fall into place. Until then, just calm down."

Snow felt tears stinging her eyes. "I don't know if I can. What if I mess up? She doesn't… she doesn't like me." The younger woman was on the verge of a meltdown as David rushed over with the bottle he'd made, testing the temperature on the inside of his wrist.

"You aren't going to mess anything up." Regina continued to caress Caroline's small head, calming her. But now, she added her other hand to Snow White's shoulder trying hard to calm her too. "Besides, no matter what happens… this baby will be loved. And what is more important than that?"

Snow smiled through her tears and put the bottle up to Caroline's small mouth. She began to drink right away, one hand against the bottle and the other clutching Regina's finger. David sat on the other side of his wife and chanced to touch his daughter, hoping not to upset this delicate balance.

Anyone peering in on the scene would have been shocked by the sight. Former enemies, huddled together on the small, battered couch, all looking on with love and devotion at the tiny bundle cradled in Snow's arms. Perhaps they would be fighting again one day, but for now… they were a family and Caroline was the sun about which everything else was in orbit.

~ (SQ) ~

Back in the Enchanted Forest…

She'd been pushing for so long, her body was exhausted. Maybe something was wrong? Maybe she should have used magic? She didn't want to push again. She wanted to sleep.

"No you don't. Open your eyes. Open your eyes and look at me." The voice by her ear cut through her pain addled mind. "I know you are tired and I know you don't want to, but you have to push. You have to. Please."

Doc was wringing his hands again. This wasn't how it had been with Emma at all. The delivery had been hard, of course, but she had come into the world without resistance. This baby seemed determined to stay put.

"I can't… I can't push anymore." She sobbed, ashamed of herself for sounding so weak.

A cool sensation fell across her head. Someone was wiping her head with a damp rag. She blessed them in her mind though she hadn't the strength to say it aloud.

"How long before David is back with help?" Another voice spoke into the room. Who was that? Was it Ruby?

"If she consents to coming, they should be able to get here rather quickly." Granny. That was definitely Granny.

"Ok, sweetheart. Let's try again. One big push, ok?" She felt a body behind her, lifting her up and encouraging her to push. So she did.

She pushed with all her might, bearing down and releasing a guttural scream. She felt the pressure but nothing changed. She began to cry, her throat raw from screaming out into the night.

"Is she going to make it? Please… take her out of me. Don't worry about me. Save her. If I die, you will take care of her won't you?" She was becoming hysterical but the reality that one or both of their lives could be lost was clear to everyone.

"No one is dying today, your majesty." The Blue Fairy entered the room with a flourish, David along with her. She approached the bed and moved her hand over the swollen abdomen, noting the angry red lines running along it. "I believe I have arrived in the nick of time."

Under Doc's watchful eye, Blue pulled a bag out of thin air, by magic, and laid it on the soft mattress. She pulled out a number of items that made David wince and Granny gasp. Ruby shook her head. "Is this safe? I mean, we aren't in Storybrooke anymore. There's no one to call if this doesn't go right."

Blue didn't even look up from her labors. "Miss Lucas, we may no longer be in Storybrooke, but I have retained my memories. That, along with Doc's experience and my magic… will ensure that we don't lose anyone today. Have faith… or please go. We don't need negativity right now.

Ruby's mouth snapped shut. She had no choice, none of them did. They had to trust Blue knew what to do.

"I apologize in advance, your majesty. There isn't time for me to stem the pain naturally and at this point magic will do more harm than good. This will hurt horribly but you are strong. I know you can endure it. But please, whatever you do, do not push anymore." Blue was busy mixing several creams and powders in a small dish. Soon, she smeared the foul smelling green paste across the area where the baby seemed to be stuck.

David couldn't watch, he walked to the window and prayed to any god that would hear him for mercy. It felt strange to pray that for her. But as tears fell from his eyes, he knew it was the only thing he could ask for now.

A blood curdling scream told him all he needed to know.

Blue pulled the unearthly sharp blade across the place she had smeared her green paste. Red blood poured forth, painting her belly in a garish hue. Doc hurried about, mopping it up while the other three women held her down.

She had been exhausted moments ago, but the new pain brought a rush of adrenaline to the surface and she fought to be free.

"Let me go! Let me go! She's killing her!" She fought hard to free herself. She remembered other times, bound against her will. Time she'd fought for freedom, held down in this very bed by an uncaring and unmovable force.

"Shhh, it's almost over. Just another moment now." The voice of her lifelong enemy was oddly soothing in her ear. Though they were hardly foes anymore. Heartache made them strange bedfellows.

She felt tugging and movement in her belly and then, emptiness. There was a cacophony of sound. Cries of joy, glee and worry.

"She's perfect."

"Such a beautiful baby!"

"Why isn't she crying?"

"Blue? What's wrong? Do something!"

She was fading fast as the sounds continued about her, delirious with pain and exhaustion. "Caroline? Where is my darling, Caroline? Emma? Henry?"

"Oh my god!" A voice cried near her head. "Someone help her!"

And then, the world was black.

She felt herself coming back to consciousness, unaware of how long she was out, when she felt a weight on her chest and felt a suckling at her breast. There was an unthinkable pain in her stomach as she tried to move.

"There, now. Be still. Blue says you can hold her but you must be still. She was hungry so I guess she knew what to do on her own." Snow's voice was soft in the dim light.

"Snow? Is she… is she all right?" Regina couldn't see her properly from her prone position.

"She's better than alright, she's perfect."

Regina could finally focus well enough to see the younger woman standing by her bed. She tried to keep her body perfectly still and raise her head just enough to see her new baby… her daughter… on her chest.

Snow was behind her in an instant, bracing her head and adding a pillow. "You did good, Regina. And after some time to recover, both of you will be fine."

Looking down her ragged and pain-riddled body, Regina saw her for the first time. Blonde hair and soft skin, so pale against her own olive tone. She gasped when, unexpectedly, wide brown eyes looked up at her, focused and deliberate. She was far too young to do that. Regina wondered if she imagined it as the baby closed her eyes and resumed her drinking.

"I've never seen a baby so young look with such purpose. She is going to be special… just like her mother." Snow smoothed back dark hair from Regina's face.

"Yes, Caroline is already the most special baby in all the realm." Regina rested back into her pillows and enjoyed the sweet intimacy of feeding her daughter in the moonlight. "She is, indeed."