"The dagger is back at your castle?" Emma's eyes were wide in horror. Too many times had that dagger brought them nothing but danger and misery, and as Snow clutched at her stomach on the ground, her heart pounded at the thought of once more.

"It must be what he's after if he's there," Regina shook her head, kneeling down to help Snow stand up. The light flickered from the floor where Snow had dropped it in her anguish, and Emma could see the vein in Regina's forehead protruding, her jaw clenched tight as she looked at Henry across from her.

"If he has the medallion, he might not be out to simply possess the dagger," she said, looking at Emma. "We have to get there immediately."

Emma's brows shot up. "Like teleport? I thought you said you were too weak."

Regina's face hardened, and the look in her eyes was helpless. "If we let that dagger fall into the wrong hands," Regina shook her head. "We have to try."

Emma held out her hand, nodding. Regina took Snow's hand beside her, tears streaming down her face. "Snow?" Her eyes were closed tight. "Snow, focus," she said, and Snow's eyes opened, looking lost. "We're going to the castle," she told her sharply, and looked at Henry. "Henry, hold on to your mother, and whatever you do, don't let go." He nodded, and Regina leaned forward. "Promise me," she said.

"I promise, mom," and he wrapped one arm around Emma's waist. Emma felt the weight of Regina's palm against hers, and in an instant she felt their magic, distinct but together, gathering between them. Lilac smoke billowed around them, and in an instant she felt the ground move, her world shifting instantly.

Henry's fingers were curled into the leather of her jacket, his side flush against hers, and Regina's fingers wrapped around her own. The smoke dissipated instantly, and Emma looked over to see Regina, still clutching Snow's hand, as the two adjusted to their new location.

"It worked?" Emma asked, looking down at Henry beside her. He looked fine, felt solid against her side. Snow had stopped crying, and when Emma looked over to her, her heart stopped beating. Snow and Regina wore matching expressions of horror on their faces, and Regina dropped Emma's hand.

"It worked," she murmured, and Emma felt her palm begin to burn, and the air become icy around her. Low growls and whooshing sounds echoed behind her, and reluctantly, she turned.

Emma could see the castle up ahead, the flickering blue light of the dome still encasing it like a snowglobe. But there were cracks in the shield, patchy areas where the light flickered and fizzled out, parts crackling away from torn lines that were spreading.

Her skin burning hotter, Emma looked above the castle, the sight sending pure panic through her veins.

The wraith was back. But it wasn't alone.

Dozens of the creatures littered the dark air, their black cloaks catching light from the protection that was quickly flickering out. The growls that had been horrific on their own were even more disturbing in surround sound, as they flew lower toward the ground, came closer to them.

"Henry," Regina breathed, and Emma caught her eye. They had almost lost him once to these things; it wouldn't happen again.

Snow had stopped crying, her face stony without any trace of pain—something Emma didn't want to think about the implications of—and she pulled her bow from her back, and strung an arrow. "We need to get to the castle," she clenched her jaw, aiming at a wraith that swooped down. The arrowhead sunk cleanly into his chest as he howled in pain and flew off, and Emma worried about the drive Snow was suddenly exhibiting.

"We can't get past all of them," Regina shot back, her voice rising as the horde drew closer, the wind gusting around them. Emma's hair whipped in front of her face and she pushed it back, trying to focus on Regina's words.

Another wraith swooped down, and Emma gripped Regina's hand quickly, nodding as they made eye contact. In an instant Regina raised her hand, Emma following, and they conjured a blue flame, as they had done just the night before.

It flew through the air, hitting the most immediate threat, and the force knocked some of the flames to hit a nearby wraith as well. Snow continued to shoot, hitting another wraith as Henry stepped back behind her.

"We have to get Henry inside," Emma shouted, looking over at Regina.

"Merlin's in there," she shouted back. "We can't send him in there without knowing what he's capable of!" Another wraith dove toward them, a fireball sending him flying off into the night. "And we can't get him in there without stopping them," she added, gesturing to the dozens of wraiths that hovered over the entrance to the castle.

Henry reached out toward his mothers, tugging on their joined hands. "I can get in and stop him," he pleaded. "I can help you, help everyone."

"No way, kid," Emma said, shaking her head in the heavy wind. "It's too dangerous."

"I can hold them off," Snow said, pulling out another arrow—just two remained—and aimed it up high, ready for the next wraith to swoop down. "You can take Henry and get inside." She caught Regina's eye, before looking at Emma.

Emma opened her mouth to protest—Snow stood no chance with just her arrows—but Regina snapped, "Are you insane?! You'll last two minutes," her voice was harsh but Emma caught fear and pain in her eyes at the thought. In an instant she remembered what Snow had told her as they rode—how Regina had been scared when Snow was marked—and she could see it, now.

"Take Henry," Emma croaked out, throat getting dry from the rapid air, and she lobbed another fireball at the wraiths circling overhead. "Get him in there, and get him safe," she squeezed Regina's hand. "We'll cover you."

Regina's attention focused on Henry a moment, his eyes watering as Snow agreed after a long moment. Snow looked up at Regina, and nodded, heavy sentiment in their silence, before she turned and headed toward the castle, bow raised high.

"Go, Henry," Regina urged, and after a second he turned, doing as his mother told him.

"C'mon," Emma said, following them slowly and knocking out the wraiths that neared.

It wasn't enough. The wraiths kept coming, their growling growing louder by the minute, and Emma shook her head, her arms growing weak from the effort. "There has to be a better way," she said. "Something bigger we can hit them with."

Regina threw her hand up, tossing a wraith high into the sky with the force. Its black cloak caught like a shadow against the moon, and Emma turned to Regina. "The sun," she breathed, suddenly, as Snow and Henry walked through the barrier, into the castle. It felt like she could breathe a little easier now, think a little clearer.

"What?" Regina asked over the noise of the wind.

"The sun," she said louder, and let go of Regina's hand, turning to face her. "Remember the eclipse in Neverland?"

Regina's face flickered with recognition. "You want to make the sun rise," she breathed, and Emma nodded. The wraiths were getting lower, closer, and Regina clasped her hands together. "It's worth a try," she said, squeezing, before she let go.

They raised their hands up, concentrating on their objective. Emma was praying it would work. It had been an insane task the first time they'd done it, but they'd succeeded, and now was just as important.

It felt like her arms were burning from the strain, her teeth gritting as they moved their hands up toward the sky.

But it was working. The sky was getting lighter and lighter, the wraiths swooping dangerously closer, but their focus didn't waver—it couldn't. Their son was inside, and they needed to get to him, to make sure he was safe and to stop Merlin from getting the dagger—if he didn't have it already.

Light began to bleed across the field, the first rays cresting over the landscape, and within moments the horrific creatures were groaning, shrieking as their bodies began to smoke. The air calmed around them and warmth began to leech back into Emma's body as one by one they flew off.

Emma felt like she could collapse right there, exhausted from their efforts, but the adrenaline in her body kept her going. Once the wraiths began to scatter, the sun now high in the sky, Regina took off toward the castle, toward Henry, and Emma followed her closely.

Legs pounding they got closer and closer to the decaying barrier, and when they reached the bridge they had left just a few days ago, Regina slowed. The shield was broken across the entrance, no shimmering light to keep them out, and she moved forward, stepping across the no-longer-visible line.

"It's completely down," Regina said with worry, her voice low. Emma pulled her sword from her sheath, brandishing it as they walked through the door to the castle, left wide open. Both women were silent as they crept along the halls, listening for any trace of the others.

As they neared a big set of doors Emma didn't recognize, she heard a voice cry out. "David," Emma breathed, standing up straighter as she started to walk toward the door.

"Emma," Regina hissed, pulling her back with a hand on her arm. "You can't just—"

"Moms." Both of them spun quickly at the sound behind them, a wave of relief rushing over Emma as she looked at Henry peeking out from a door down the hall, and she sheathed her sword. He waved them over as they were already halfway to him, both pulling the door back to give him a full hug, crushing him between them both.

Pulling back, Emma looked around, her face scrunching in disgust at the cobwebs that littered the small space. "What are you doing in here? Where's Snow?"

"She told me to stay in here until you got back," he said. The room must have been storage at some point, it was very narrow, and small boxes were against the far wall. "Look," he said, pushing the boxes out of the way as Regina and Emma watched, curiously. "She told me that this leads into the throne room," he revealed a small door, and pushed it open. "That's where Merlin is, and Snow went in after him."

"Idiot," Regina sneered, but there was fear in her eyes. "She'll get herself killed."

"She had to, David was in there, too," his voice was anxious, and he pushed the door open further. "We can go in here, and surprise Merlin. Stop him and save everyone."

He turned to go into the tunnel, and Emma held a hand up. "Wait," she said. "I'll go in and try and help Mary Margaret, OK? Regina, do you know where the dagger is?"

"It was in a vault in the library," she said. "But I'm sure he's found it by now."

"Go see if you can find it while I go in and distract him. If it's not there, try and sneak in through the tunnel, and I'll work on finding out if he has the dagger, try and get him to take it out." Emma looked down at her son, and gripped his shoulder tight. "Henry, I need you to stay here and wait for your mom to get back, OK?"

He hesitated a moment, and she leaned forward, saying quietly, "Remember how I took care of her back in Storybrooke when you asked? And she took care of me for you?" Henry thinned his lips, listening closely. "Well now it's your turn, kid. I need you to have her back," she could feel Regina's eyes on her, and she looked up, her fingers curling over Henry's shoulder.

"Because that's what families do," she finished. Regina's eyes were wet, her full lips parted in a small gasp, and Emma had to look away. Henry's face was stony, his resolve strong and he nodded. "Promise me you'll wait here," she said.

"I promise, ma." Emma leaned down, dropped a kiss on his head and turned to leave the room.

Regina pulled him close, hugged him for a long moment, and from right outside the door Emma could hear her low voice say, "My brave little prince." She felt emotion thick in her throat as she could picture clearly each moment of Henry's childhood—being tucked in, read a story, bathed and fed an soothed all with a loving touch and nothing but warmth.

A beautiful childhood she had found out was more loving than she'd dared hoped for him all those years ago.

Regina walked out of the doorway, and turned to shut it most of the way. She started to walk toward the library, but Emma stopped her, a gentle hand on her arm. "Hey," she said, eyes wide with worry. Regina turned, brows raised in question. "Be careful," she warned, and Regina's face softened.

"You, too, Savior," she smirked, and Emma let her arm slip through her grip, their fingertips brushing as they went their separate ways.

Now alone, Emma took a deep breath. She needed to focus. Be on top of her game. She was finally—finally—getting somewhere good, somewhere real with the people she loved, and some Rumplestiltskin-wannabe was not going to mess that up.

Creeping closer to the door, Emma took a deep breath and looked through the small crack. She could see Merlin, standing in front of the thrones on a platform, and he was raising one hand high in the air before dropping it down.

Someone groaned in pain. David, she realized, and burst through the door. "Hey!" Emma shouted, brandishing her sword as she stepped into the full room. There were people everywhere—most she recognized from Storybrooke, but a few were new faces—and it looked as though Merlin was putting on a show for them.

"Of course," he said with a dangerous sneer, "no coronation would be complete without the one that made it possible." He smiled sickeningly, his yellow teeth bared in a too-toothy grin, and Emma gritted her teeth.

"What the hell do you want from us?" she walked further into the room, through the throng of people, and saw David and Snow lying on the ground. Snow looked relatively unharmed but for the absolute grief on her face as she tended to her husband. But David—his body was crumpled, blood staining his shirt as he coughed wetly.

"What do I want," he murmured, and the exaggerated expressions and pulled faces made him seem disturbingly familiar. "Well, for starters," he took steps down from the platform as Emma walked down the long aisle of people, coming to stand on the edge of the open area before him. "I'd like to see the queens pay for what they've done," his face darkened as he pointed toward Snow.

They were several feet away but it was too close and too far; she wanted to reach out and strangle him for what he'd done to her family, but the sight of him made her skin crawl.

Emma looked around, could see so many familiar faces around but no one was doing anything, saying anything. Their expressions, too, were neutral. It put Emma further on edge and she stepped forward. "What could Snow have possibly done to you?"

"Put away your sword, Emma," he ignored her question, waving his hand. "It will bring me no harm, you should know." Merlin's face darkened and he put his hand out, clenching it into a fist that made David cry out. "Your father, on the other hand," he smiled cruelly.

Emma lowered her sword slightly, moving to run toward him, but Merlin held up a hand and her body was frozen. "Tsk, tsk, Emma," he clucked. She was facing him, still, could see him as he walked back toward the thrones on the platform, and sat down in one of the seats.

"Your mother, I'll have you know, is not the innocent little princess all of them," he gestured toward the audience, "seem to think." He smiled cruelly. "There are a few, of course, that see through her. Whose worlds don't revolve around her every whim. Aurora and her prince, for example. When they stumbled upon my cave they were all too willing to betray their friend to protect their land." He leaned forward in the throne, eyes twinkling. "This medallion for a simple ogre ward," he held the medallion out from his chest. "A bargain. Seems they're fools on top of betrayers," he mused to himself.

Narrowing her eyes, Emma tried to twitch, to move any part of her body as Merlin spoke, but it was useless. "Speaking of, did you enjoy the welcome party I had outside for you? This amulet can only summon one of the horrid creatures, but I'm a great deal more powerful than most in this world," he raised his head proudly as he narrowed his eyes at her. "Of course, so are you, it would seem. You and you beloved." Looking around, he stood, and scanned the room. "Where is the queen? She is a part of this, too, after all." The playfulness fell from his face and Emma swallowed, terrified.

Swallowing deeply, Emma fought to keep her voice even. "A part of what?"

Merlin laughed, and Emma's body tensed. "A part of my revenge, of course. I do so have a bone to pick with her, and your mother, of course."

"We haven't done anything to you," Snow sobbed, stroking David's face as he groaned.

"Of course you haven't," he sing-songed before his voice dropped low, dangerous. "You're only responsible for twenty-eight years of my imprisonment," he hissed.

"What?" Snow sniffled.

"Your feud with the Evil Queen," Emma winced at the rage and the moniker, and took his momentary distraction as an opportunity to try to move, but it was pointless; she couldn't move her hand to use the sword she still held up.

"The curse she cast, it left me frozen, just as they are now," he gestured to the room. "I can see the future, but Regina broke the rules," he hissed. "Cast a curse that shouldn't have existed, and caught me by surprise, left me defenseless."

Emma took a deep breath, and tried to use her magic. Without her weapon it was all she had, and she pictured herself moving, able to attack him, but nothing happened. She looked over to her parents, David still coughing against Snow, her face growing more and more terrified as Merlin began to pace. "She caught me like that, imprisoned me," he spat.

"Who did?" Emma couldn't help but ask, and Merlin spun toward her.

"My love," his intensity cracked, his face softening, and it made Emma more nervous than when he'd been shouting, hissing at them. "I trained her in magic, told her my secrets, and she used them to lock me away." His sudden mooniness made bile rise in Emma's throat.

He turned dark eyes toward Snow and David, suddenly, and Emma panicked. "What happened to the man that created the Twin Blades?" she asked, breathing quickly as she tried to draw his attention. "The man that knew resilience and peace gave the most strength?"

Merlin laughed, walking down the platform as Emma caught movement from behind him; Regina slid open a panel in the wall, tucked beside a book case, and slipped through.

"That man was shown the future," he said proudly, holding out his arms. Emma looked to Regina discretely, and caught her eye. Unable to move, she simply watched as Regina slipped into the crowd, slowly working her way closer as Merlin spoke.

"A future where betrayal ran rampant and vengeance became the only answer. A future for men like his father."

"Your father?" Snow asked quietly from the floor, and Merlin gave his twisted grin.

Pulling the dagger from inside his jacket he held it up, and Emma's eyes widened as she saw the blade, blank. "The Dark One," he answered, bony fingers gripping the handle tightly.

"You're Rumplestiltskin's son?" Emma's head spun. That would mean—

Merlin scoffed. "I am the son of the first Dark One, Malacoda. His blood runs in my veins and it passed on many of his gifts, including his legacy and sight. I saw my future, saw how my love would betray me and it drove me towards the darkness. I knew I would one day inherit the power this blade carries, and with Rumplestiltskin dead by his own hand, the power is mine to reclaim."

Emma caught Regina moving again, saw her getting closer to the edge of the platform where Merlin stood, and she widened her eyes, tried to warn her off; she couldn't hurt him with the sword, and her magic was no match for him now. But she was getting closer to him, her face dark in concentration as she crept toward him. It was a stark contrast to the woman she knew—forced to work subtly without the boldness of her magic—but she was doing it, getting closer and closer.

"Power that I wish to share with my enablers," Merlin said, holding out a hand again as he looked to where David lay almost motionless. His fingers splayed and David's body stiffened, raising an inch off the ground as Merlin's hand rose. Emma tried to focus, to break from from the bonds of Merlin's magic, but she caught rapid movement behind Merlin, as Regina came to stand directly behind him.

"Regina, no!" Emma cried as she saw her raise Caliburn and smoothly cut into his torso.

Emma watched in horror as he laughed low, and spun her to face him, the sword still impaled in his stomach. "You think my own blade should stop me? Well—"

Emma's fingers tingled, her body coursed with the familiar warmth of magic and she was suddenly in front of Merlin, gray smoke dissipating to reveal his face pulled in shock. She was still frozen, her body as he had left her posed, Clarent raised at her side.

He smiled that sickening smile, and Emma watched as blood stained his lips, trickling over to run down his chin. Looking down between them she saw what her frozen position had done, impaling him on the sword when she'd transported herself in front of him.

Merlin started to go limp, and Emma tried to step back, relieved to find that she could. She pulled her sword from his stomach and he fell to the ground, grasping his stomach as he coughed.

Emma heard footsteps behind her and she spun to find Henry, creeping up onto the platform. "Is he dead?" he asked tentatively, and Emma nodded, as Regina picked up Caliburn from where he fell on the floor and stepped to block Henry's view.

Murmurs broke out in the room as everyone was unfrozen. A groan sounded out over the reunion, and Emma looked to see Snow trying to help David up. "Dad," Emma said in a breath, and ran over to him, cupping his bruised face in concern.

"Emma?" he asked, softly, his good eye sparkling with unshed tears. "You're you," he breathed, and pulled her to him, resting his hand on its place cradling her head.

He hissed in pain, and Emma murmured, "Don't, you're hurt," but he shook his head, pulling her closer.

"Emma," Regina said from behind her, standing with her arm on Henry's shoulder. She stepped back, and saw Regina's face etched with worry as she looked at David's wounds. "We can heal that," she said slowly, purposefully.

There was a long moment between the two as David stared at her. "Thank you," he said simply, the cut on his lip making him wince with the movement.

Regina took Emma's hand and raised a brow. "Don't get used to it, shepherd." Emma suppressed a smirk and squeezed her hand, and Emma brought her magic forward quickly. Instantly the cuts and bruises on his face faded, the skin shown between gaping tears in his shirt now healthy once more.

"I'm getting pretty good at this," Emma said, taking David's chin gently between her thumb and finger, turning his head to the side.

"Perhaps it's your teacher, dear," Regina did smirk this time, and Emma licked her lips playfully. Looking past Emma, Regina gestured to the low sun outside. "We need to return the swords."

Emma grimaced. "We may have overshot it on the sunrise," she murmured. "How are we gonna make it there in time? It'll take hours, won't it?"

Regina raised one brow. "Says the Savior who can travel by magic."

Emma turned back toward her parents, as the hugged Henry between them, and Snow gently checked David for lingering wounds. Clearing her throat, Emma started, "We have to go back—"

"To return the swords," Snow finished. "I remember." She shifted, like she wanted to say more, but shut her mouth after a moment. "Be safe?" she asked instead.

"Of course," Emma gave a small smile.

"Can I come?" Henry asked, eyes wide as he tried to look innocent. Like that would work on—

"Sure, Henry," Regina smiled, wrapping an arm around her son's shoulders. Emma wasn't positive, but she thought she might have seen her kid smirk at her for a split second. "But we must leave now."

Emma nodded at her parents, and took Regina's free hand. In a puff of smoke they were gone, and standing in front of the lake once more.

Walking forward, Regina pulled the sheath from her belt, and held up Caliburn. "Nimue," she called gently, "we've come to return the Blades."

After a moment, Nimue appeared as she had the last time, her gown sparkling in the low sunlight. "Hello," she greeted, and held out a hand, taking back the weapon. "I trust they served you well."

Regina eyed Nimue carefully, and Emma stepped forward, Henry by her side. "They did," she answered, and pulled Clarent out as well. "Thank you," she furrowed her brows, unsure of how to act around—"Are you like a Goddess?"

Regina looked over at her, eyes narrowed slightly at her question, and Emma shrugged. "I am," Nimue hesitated, "a keeper of things."

"Things?" Henry asked.

"Items, knowledge, order," she answered, her skirt swaying with the water.

"A keeper of order?" Emma's face scrunched in confusion.

"Yes. I am aware of events in time, and I play a part in the lining of events. Such as who shall use these swords," she lifted them up in demonstration before she set Caliburn gently on the water. It sank slowly, peacefully, and when she held up Clarent it disappeared in a display of light, crackling like familiar fireworks.

"You were his student," Regina breathed, gesturing to her now empty hand. "You were the one that imprisoned Merlin."

Emma's brows shot up, and she looked between the women, a slow understanding blossoming between them. "You fell in love with him?" Emma couldn't keep the disgust out of her voice.

Nimue quirked a brow, and nodded slowly. "He was different, years ago. Kind and wise. When your curse took you to the other world, the Dark One went with it. The dark energy didn't quite leave this land, however, and it took root inside the next best thing."

"His son," Emma answered.

"Yes. I knew what he was to become, just as he knew I would betray his love to protect this world." Emma's face darkened, and Nimue tilted her head.

"So you did it anyway, knowing what would happen?"

"Emma," Regina warned, low, but Emma shook her off.

"No, that is such crap! Destiny being set like that, making nothing we do matter," anger was heating her blood, and she crossed her arms defensively against herself. "What's the point of any of it? If we know that nothing we do will change things?"

Emma thought of her childhood, of the series of events that brought her here, her life specifically designed to serve some pointless map. How Regina was—apparently—just another stop on Fate's checklist. What was the point of giving them a shot, of working through their problems if they would just land at point B anyway?

"That's not what I said," Nimue corrected firmly.

"You said that Regina and I were chosen by Fate to carry those swords, which means Fate has a plan for us. A roadmap."

Nimue remained silent, licking her lips as she waited, slowly. "That's not what it means?" Regina asked, equally confused, stepping closer to Emma's side.

"Fate has some plans for you. But they're not clear. Your paths are intertwined, but undetermined," she repeated her words from the first visit. "There are fixed points on your maps, but the routes aren't set; the actions you took up to this point in your lives will affect the actions you take in the future. But those actions were choice; your freewill.

"Fate sets the groundwork for who you are, but it is your choices between those points that determines who you will become."

Emma fell silent, processing what Nimue had said. She and Regina were connected—she'd known that much back in Storybrooke. Their lives were interwoven by their son, by their shared love for him. It was that shared bit of destiny that gave them their strength; made them powerful enough to do anything to protect him.

From things like the wraith.

Emma felt the relief she'd had at defeating Merlin start to fade. Without his help they wouldn't be returning to New York, they had no way to stop the wraith.

"You're a keeper of knowledge?" Emma prompted.

"I am."

"Is there any way to stop the wraith?" she asked, holding out her hand and showing the mark.

Nimue looked up at them sadly, and shook her head. "I'm afraid not. The wraith is one of the oldest creatures; it was born from darkness itself, and can never stop." Emma shifted back, the fear hitting her hard, and she felt Regina brush against her.

"We'll figure something out, Emma," she promised, and tugged Henry to stand in front of her, holding him close.

"Yeah, ma," he agreed, and Emma felt a small part of her calm, with her family's assurance.

"I may, however, be able to fulfill Merlin's other promise." She reached to the surface of the water and extracted a small scroll, identical to the ones Emma had seen before. "I can see one shared outcome between you in the future," she said, holding the scroll up. "But two very different courses that lead there. One begins here, in the Enchanted Forest.

"The other in Storybrooke." Emma swallowed harshly, the thought of the town warming her the way New York itself hadn't.

Regina stiffened beside her, and when she looked over, Henry's face was tilted up toward her. "I want to go home," he said simply, "to Storybrooke." Tension melting, Regina nodded quickly. "Ma?"

Henry looked over at her and she felt her breath catch at the thought of home, and she caught Regina's eye as she watched her expectantly. "Me too, kid," she said, and Regina's smile grew.

"There is, of course, a price." Emma's blood ran cold. "As with all magic, there must be balance. To create new, something must be given in return."

"What does that mean?" Emma asked.

"It means, as the last time the town was brought to life, memories of this world must be forfeited. Save for the caster."

"What?" Regina growled dangerously, her jaw clenched.

"Henry is the center of your present, just as he is the center of your known outcome; your fixed point in time." Nimue looked at him, her voice softening. "You must choose, Henry, if you will be the one to keep your memories of this life."

"No way," Emma said, firmly.

"Henry, you can't," Regina agreed. "You have no idea what it's like, living alone with the truth like that."

Henry's face darkened. "Yeah, mom, I kinda do," he argued, and her face paled. His eyes downcast, he shook his head. "I can do this," he said, voice rising a bit. "I got Emma to break the first curse, and I can get her to break this one. I know I can."

Emma felt her heart breaking at the thought. This was it, this was her life, exactly, sending Henry to break a curse and save his family. It was the one thing Emma couldn't get over her mother doing. Could she really put Henry in that position? Could she risk him resenting her, resenting Regina?

Was it worth it, to leave this world behind?

"Henry," Regina's voice broke, and she crouched down—just barely, their son growing so fast—to cup her chin gently. "You don't have to prove anything," she said softly.

"I can do this," Henry said again, fingers curling around his mother's wrist. Turning toward Nimue, he said, "I can be the hero. I can save everyone, just like my moms."

Nimue smiled sweetly, and handed him the scroll. He unrolled it, and Emma felt her breath catch. "Henry, imagine the Storybrooke you want to return to, focus on it, picture what it looks like," Nimue instructed.

Emma felt her breath catch, and tears stung at her eyes. She couldn't be losing them, not now, not after she had just gotten her family back. Fingers intertwined with her own and Emma looked up to find Regina with a matching expression.

"He'll find us," she said simply, with a determined nod. Emma was sure she was just as uncertain as Emma felt, just as terrified of losing all they had gained. But Regina smiled at Emma as she tried to soothe her and Emma tugged her closer.

"He is a Charming," she teased, lips trembling as Regina stepped closer. Emma reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear, and ran her thumb over her jaw as Regina mock-scowled at the sentiment.

"I believe in nurture over nature," she raised a brow.

Emma scrunched her face up. "Mmm, so how did he get so wickedly smooth?"

"Certainly not genetics, dear."

"I'm ready," Henry interrupted, and lifted up the scroll, ready to cast.

"Hold on, kid," Emma pulled him forward, and pressed him close against her and Regina in a long hug. "We love you so much, Henry," Emma murmured before finally pulling back.

"My little prince," Regina ran the side of her finger over his nose gently, and kissed his forehead.

Henry stepped back, tugging on the spell until it broke free in a shock of blue light, and smoke began to billow around them.

Emma stepped closer to Regina beside her, and slipped her hand against Regina's palm, their fingers weaving together as they watched the world around them fade away.

Looking over at Regina, Emma smiled. "To second chances, Madam Mayor."

Regina smiled back, squeezing her hand. "To second chances, Sheriff Swan."

How many miles to Avalon?
None, I say, and all.

Thank you so much for reading; I hope the journey was worthwhile. Credit for the title (and the coda at the end) belongs to Roger Zelazny.