A/N This is the sequel to "Back to Before" and picks up where it left off. I think this should make sense on it's own, but it's based on that world, and doesn't follow the events currently unfolding on OUAT so it would probably help to read it first. I'm weaving in some of what is currently happening, but this is AU. Rated T for violence/possible death (insert mysterious eyebrow raise)

The clock tower was dark and eerie and a green smoke could be seen fading outside the window. There was complete silence over the town.

Regina blinked her eyes. She felt dizzy and her knees were buckling. She was going to fall. She felt a hand grab her arm to steady her.

She looked down at Gold's hand gripping her business jacket tightly as he tried to steady her.

She stared at him. "What happened?"

He shook his head. "I'm not sure."

"Gold? You're supposed to be dead." Regina stammered.

He shook his head again. "I know. The last thing I remember is killing my father. What do you remember?" He moved his arm from hers and wrapped it around her waist instead which helped her balance significantly.

"I remember…" She frowned in thought and then pain crossed her face. "I remember leaving Henry and reversing the curse." She glanced around. "Why are we in the clock tower? And what's this?" She bent down to pick up a pointed witch's hat.

He shook his head. "I think we should find the others."

As he led her out, his eyes rested on a bucket of water in the corner. It felt significant, but he couldn't remember why.

Henry woke up abruptly. He'd had another dream about that woman. This was getting a little creepy. He turned on his light and his hand bumped something on his nightstand. He frowned and moved closer. It was another book. It was old and battered. He ran his hand over it. Where had this come from? He picked it up and put it in his lap. He read the front cover. The Grimmerie. Maybe his mom had found another book inspired by the "Wicked" series. He tried to flip it open to start reading, but the book wouldn't budge. Well, that was stupid. Leave it to his mom to give him a stupid decorative book. He opened his nightstand drawer and shoved it inside. Decided to try to sleep again he flipped off the light. And rolled over, not noticing the slight glow coming from this nightstand.

Gold frowned as he limped out of the clock tower still semi-supporting Regina. He was the one with the injured leg, why was he holding her up? She should be helping him.

As if reading his thoughts, Regina straightened her posture and moved out of Gold's grasp.

"I can walk just fine on my own, I don't need your assistance." She said, but immediately regretted the harsh words. Henry would have been disappointed. But he wasn't here. Still. She should apologize. She took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. That was rude. Thank you for your help. I'm feeling better now." Noticing Gold was still limping, she continued. "Would you like to stop at your shop and see if your cane is there?"

He stared at her. There was something very off about Regina. He hadn't heard her apologize or speak in such a gentle tone since before she was Queen. Well, unless she was speaking to Henry. She did always have a soft spot for the boy. His undoing. But he wasn't really undone was he? Although, now that he thought about it, if the limp was back, did that mean his magic was gone again?

"Rumple?" Regina asked again.

"Make up your mind, dearie. Is it Gold or Rumple?" He quipped.

Regina took another deep breath. He was trying her patience already. This truce wasn't going to last long.

"Which would you prefer?" She asked diplomatically.

"I do believe my name is Rumplestiltskin." he said with a flourish and his typical hand flinging. She just nodded.

"Why is your limp back? I thought it went away when the magic came back." She questioned as they continued on to his shop. The streets were oddly deserted. Where was everyone? Rumple reached to open the door. "Wait!" Regina stopped him. He turned to her and frowned. She lifted her arm and the door flew open. She breathed a sigh of relief. She still had her magic.

Seeing there was still magic, Rumple held out his hand to summon his cane as soon as they stepped in the shop. Nothing happened.

"Maybe it's not here?" Regina asked.

"You try." He said. She gave him a sideways glance, but then held out her hand. The cane immediately appeared and dropped into her hand.

"I don't-" Regina began.

"We're still here!" a loud voice carried in from outside. Leroy was running through the streets. "We've been cursed again!"

"Better prepare yourself. The mob will be after you again soon, dearie." Rumple said.

Snow sat up in bed. David's hand fell off her stomach where it had been resting as she did. She looked around. They were in her loft. It was quite though. Usually she could hear Emma and Henry clattering around in the kitchen. She swung her legs out of the bed and screamed.

David jumped out of bed and prepared to attack. He frowned when he just saw his wife standing there.

"Snow, what are you screaming about? You nearly gave me a heart attack." He grumbled.

She turned to face him. In her nightgown, the small baby bump was quite visible. "I think…I mean it looks like…"

"You're pregnant?" David said.

She nodded. "But I don't understand…" They both stared at each other in silence. "Why are we even here? Shouldn't we be in the enchanted forest?"

They turned toward the window when they both heard yelling in the street. Peering out they saw Leroy running down the street still yelling about being cursed.

"I'll go see what he knows. You get dressed. Don't worry. We'll figure this out." David gave her a quick kiss on the lips and headed out.

The woods looked different. Robin frowned. He hadn't remembered going out for a hunt. He looked at Little John.

"Do you know where we are? I don't recognize this clearing." Robin said.

"It doesn't seem familiar to me either." Little John said.

"I don't think this is the enchanted forest." Mulan said pointing to a paved road in the distance.

"What is that?" Robin asked.

"I don't know. But more importantly, where is Roland?" Mulan said.

"I…I don't remember. I don't remember leaving for this expedition. Do you?"

Mulan shook her head.

Hook stepped off the Jolly Roger. He felt like he'd been sleeping off a hangover when that loud dwarf woke him with all the screaming. He frowned as he took in the town surrounding him. Well, looks like Regina wasn't as good at magic as she wanted everyone to think. They definitely weren't in the Enchanted Forest. Which meant he could go after Emma. He'd just have to find Regina and find out what town it was that Emma was from. He was sure that's where she'd return.

Regina sat on Henry's bed staring at the empty room. If they hadn't gone back to the Enchanted Forest where was her son? Where was Emma? If the counter curse didn't work why would they have left? Her chest felt tight and she couldn't breathe. She couldn't breathe without Henry. She felt and overwhelming wave of loss hit her. She felt empty. And numb.

The doorbell was ringing. Incessantly. Regina didn't move. She didn't even acknowledge the sound.

"She can't hide forever." David grumbled.

"What if she's hurt, David?" Snow said with concern.

"Regina knows how to take care of herself. It's the rest of us that should be worried." David said.

"But if it didn't work, maybe something happened to Regina. She was trying to save us all. We owe it to her to make sure she's okay." Snow said.

David removed the gun from his holster and used it to break the window next to the front door. He reached his hand in and unlocked the door. He turned to Snow. "You wait out here, until I'm sure it's safe."

Snow looked like she was going to protest, but David stepped through the door without waiting for a response. Snow, of course, followed right behind him.

Regina turned her head when she heard the glass shatter. She stared at the broken window and the opening door, but still didn't move. Maybe Emma and Henry had left to get away from her. Storybrooke was fine and they still left because of her.

Snow took one look at Regina and knew that whatever had happened, Regina hadn't planned it. She was a pale, with a haunted look in her eyes.

"What did you do?" David asked forcefully.

Regina blinked and looked up to meet his gaze. "Nothing."

"Then why are we still here?" he asked continuing to move closer to her, invading her space.

"I don't know."

"Enough with the act, Regina. Tell us what you know." David said. Snow put a hand on his arm and shook her head.

"Regina?" She said softly. "Are you okay?"

"I…I don't know why we're still here. And I don't care. The only person that matters is still gone."

"Regina," Snow started and reached her hand out to comfort Regina.

Regina jerked away from Snow's touch. "Leave me." She said forcefully. "I just want to be left alone."

"Don't think that will be happening anytime soon, love." Hook announced as he strode over to them. "Leroy's already agitating people. They'll be over to pay you a visit soon enough. If you wanted to be alone you might have picked a less obvious place to hide."

Regina waved her hand and the air around the house glowed. "There. No more unwanted visitors. Now if the three of you will just take the hint and be on your way."

"I don't plan on staying. I just need to know where to find Emma." Hook said.

"Find Emma?" Regina asked.

"You can't leave. You'll lose your memories." David warned.

"He wasn't cursed. And he left before." Regina said dismissively and turned to face Hook. "How do you plan to find Emma?"

"Well, obviously, I'll just go pick her up as soon as you enlighten me to her whereabouts, love." Hook said.

"How should I know where Emma is?" Regina asked.

"Well this is your little curse. And you sent her away." Hook said.

"To save her."

"To save Henry." Hook argued.

"I don't know where they are." Regina said.

"But you gave them memories, right? Where did you give them memories of?" Snow asked.

Regina frowned. She hadn't thought of that. But if reversing the curse hadn't worked, did she even give them memories?

"Your majesty." Hook prompted.

"I don't know if it worked. If the curse didn't-" Regina started.

"It did." Snow said.

"What? Of course it didn't. We'd be in the Enchanted Forest right now if it did." Regina said.

"We thought maybe you cursed us again to get back to Henry. I think it worked, Regina. Time has passed." Snow said slowly.

Regina shut her eyes. What was going on? None of this made any sense. And how in the world did the Charmings have a better handle on the situation than she did? The idiots couldn't possibly have figured it out before she had.

"I'm pregnant." Snow said, pulling her sweater tight against her belly to reveal the small lump.

Regina's eyes widened.

"Look mates, you can chatter about the details after I've set off. What place did you give Emma memories of?" Hook said.

Regina closed her eyes and concentrated. She had mostly given Emma her memories, but she had changed the location. It was a city. She hated that Henry had gone to Boston to find Emma. She never wanted them to be in Boston again. She'd sent them somewhere else. Where?

"Regina." Hook said again impatiently.

She looked up and leveled him with a glare. "You would do well to rethink the tone you are taking with me, pirate."

She shut her eyes again. Big buildings, bright lights, food on the streets. New York. She'd given them memories of New York. And Neal.

"New York. They have memories of New York." Regina said.

"Ah. How accommodating of you. I know exactly how to get there." Hook said and immediately turned to go.

"Wait." Regina stopped him. "If, if they don't remember how will you bring them back?"

"True love's kiss." Hook said.

"And when that fails miserably?" Regina questioned.

"I'll convince Emma to return. Trust me, love."

"Trusting a pirate. Always a safe gamble." Regina muttered. "Make sure she leaves Henry somewhere safe."

"What?" Snow said. "Don't you want to see Henry?"

"I can't see Henry." Regina stated. "And none of us have any clue what's happening. It's too risky to bring him here."

Hook nodded. "I'll give her the message."

Regina watched him go. She felt like she was suffocating. She couldn't breathe. She felt Snow and David's eyes on her. She had to get out of here. She disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.

Rumple heard the bells ring as someone entered his shop. Nothing seemed to be out of place, but something didn't feel quite right. He was in the process checking in the hidden back room for his dagger when the bells rang. He quickly placed the painting back on the wall and went to see who the unwanted visitor was.

As he entered the room his eyes widened as he stared at the woman in front of him. Something glimmered in her hand drawing his attention straight to it. His dagger.

"Surprised, old friend?" Zelena cut through the silence.

"Do I know you, dearie?" He questioned.

"You will." She grinned wickedly.