In the month that passed since Emma had taken on the darkness, the team fought valiantly to find Merlin in the hopes to save the Saviour. After a trying couple of weeks they were successful, and together they were able to free Emma from the darkness she had willingly accepted in order to save Regina's soul. The darkness, needing a vessel, was restored once more to the comatose Mr Gold, who remained in the back room of his shop, tended to by an anxious and devoted Belle. Emma was restored to her former self and so was Mr Gold, causing the friends to celebrate the former whilst fearing the latter. Gold's actions whilst collaborating with the Queens of Darkness were burned onto the memory of all of Storybrooke, resulting in less trust in and more fear of him than ever before. Although he was, as he always had been, a resource used by the inhabitants of Storybrooke when required, he was no longer permitted into their inner-circle, and was confined almost completely to his shop.

In the weeks that followed a relative level of normalcy returned to the lives of the inhabitants, whose friendships and relationships continued to strengthen and develop. Emma spent her time amongst Hook, Henry and the Charmings, basking in each precious moment they shared. Regina, Robin and Roland were also spending increased amounts of time together, each reminded of how much they almost lost just a month before. It was this very subject that was playing on Regina's mind one cold summer evening when she and Robin were sat on the couch in her living room, sipping cocoa and leaning into each other beneath a thick red blanket, whilst Henry and Roland sat on the floor before them, the older child reading the younger stories from the book. The sounds of their gentle voices and low tones mingled with the soft crackling of the fire behind them, which comforted Regina amidst her frightened thoughts and worrisome memories, which she attributed to her recent spells of nausea. Robin, seeming to sense this discomfort as well as noting the sudden paleness which had afflicted his lover, wrapped his arm tighter across her and drew her towards his chest. She sighed as she accepted this gesture, looking up at his as she nestled her head upon his chest, the sound of his heart beating resonating in her ears, until she finally drifted to sleep. The family were absorbed in the calmness and serenity of the time they were sharing, a time to be treasured, remembered and loved. And whilst they were sharing this special time together, the family were completely unaware of events occurring just a few miles away, which marked the beginning of a new battle they were about to face.

As Regina was drifting asleep on Robin's chest, her sister was sat with her back against the wall of her confined room, her eyes wide and ablaze as she stared into space before her. Her thoughts were interrupted when, without warning, the figure of Mr Gold appeared in a haze of smoke before her. Zelena inhaled lightly and lowered her gaze, before pushing herself up into a standing position and taking a few steps towards the man, who was stood before her with an impassive expression on his face. Before she could utter a word, Gold rose his clenched hand into her line of sight and opened his fingers, allowing her pendant and chain to danger and shine before her.

"Finally" she hissed, snatching the pendant from him and placing it around her neck, as the pendant itself glowed in its usual deep green hue. "You were supposed to be here weeks ago!" she hissed, turning back towards him with burning eyes.

"Something came up, deary" he responded in a disinterested tone and with an impassive expression. "But I'm here now." Zelena scoffed in response, placing her hands on her hips and eyeing him with a dangerous expression.

"I should reduce you to ashes this very moment for allowing me to be confined here for such a time" she growled, taking a final step towards him which rendered them so close that he could feel her breath on his neck. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't" she whispered in a dangerously low tone. Gold continued to watch her with a calm and unreadable expression.

"I can give you several, deary" he returned, his eyes alight as a familiar theatrical tone graced his voice. "But first, let's get us out of here" he stated, placing his hand on her arm and waving his free hand slightly, causing them both to disappear in a cloud of smoke.

Gold and Zelena appeared a few moments later in a building which appeared to be a cabin. Zelena wrenched herself free from his grasp and looked around the large room and doorways suspiciously, before making her way over to a window and gazing out.

"A cabin in the forest?" she asked, turning back towards him and leaning heavily against the wall. "How original."

"This particular cabin is in a part of the forest that no one visits" he stated, placing his hands in his dark-grey coat pockets as he spoke, choosing to ignore her criticism. "It is also protected by a spell which conceals it from view. Should you wander too far from it, even you may forget where it is." Zelena's eyes burned with anger and she stormed across the room towards Gold, who didn't even flinch.

"So I'm exchanging one prison for another?" she raged, her eyes ablaze as she stared daggers at Gold.

"Far from it" he returned, his voice silky and captivating. "I am giving you the ultimate gift" he stated, removing one hand from his pocket and gesturing with it. Zelena eyed him with impatience and annoyance as she took another step towards him.

"And what is that?" she asked, her eyes wide and almost manic as she flashed him one of her signature smiles.

"Your vengeance" he replied simply, his tone emphasising the final word. Zelena's eyes darkened and her gaze held his firmly for a moment, before she took a step back and watched him with a curious and sceptical expression. She stared at him coldly for a few moments before storming across the room and towards the couch by the fire. She stared at the unlit dry wood for a moment before waving her hand across it, causing flames to erupt from beneath the logs. The feeling of her power coursing through her veins once more sated her for a moment, but it was the briefest of moments. She turned on the spot and stared at Gold, who slowly began to walk towards her as she spoke.

"I've had enough of your games, Rumplestiltskin" she spat, her eyes wide and ablaze as she spoke. "I understood that faking a pregnancy would put a wedge between Regina and Robin Hood, but it didn't work, did it? They're closer than ever!" she raged, her skin reddening as her voice rose. "She is moving closer and closer to her happy ending whilst I am trapped in an old cabin with you." Gold watched her for a few moments in silence, before the side of his mouth turned up slightly into a small smile.

"Your fake pregnancy was never intended to drive Regina and Robin apart, Zelena" he said in an eerily cool tone, before gesturing towards the couch, which Zelena had absolutely no intention of sitting upon. "It was about so much more than that. It was a necessary first step in the plan which, once carried out, will provide you with a greater vengeance than you ever thought possible." Zelena stared at him for a moment, her mind torn between carrying out her threat to reduce him to ashes or continue to listen to the imp, whose devious nature and elaborate schemes were legendary, as was their success. Zelena took a step towards him and crossed her arms before her, staring into the depths of Gold's dark eyes as she spoke.

"Explain" she demanded, her voice low and her tone commanding.

"Indeed I shall, deary" he stated in a semi-theatrical tone, whilst gesturing to the couch once more. Zelena sighed, unfolding her arms before turning to the side and sitting upon the old leather couch, which felt cold and hard beneath her. Gold sat on the opposite side of the couch, leaning heavily into the side of it as his eyes drifted forward. Zelena turned towards him and watched as the flickering flames of the fire danced in his eyes. The impatient Zelena was about to break her silence when Gold beat her to it, turning towards her and addressing her in his usual cool and factual manner.

"Faking your pregnancy has two benefits for us both. Firstly, it is central to our goal, which I will explain in detail in just a moment" he stated, turning towards Zelena, who was staring at him hard. "The second benefit is that it ensures your safety" he stated, watching as Zelena continued to watch him with impatient eyes. "No one is going to lay a finger on you if they believe that you are carrying a child." Zelena considered this for a moment and nodded at the logic. She knew that her sister and the others would never harm her if they believed she was pregnant. She scoffed slightly at their weakness.

"And what is our central goal, Rumplestiltskin?" she asked with a smile, her voice rising as she spoke, her eyes bright as she over-pronounced the words. Gold watched her for a moment before clasping his hands in his lap and turning towards her.

"You and I have strong ambitions, deary" he began, speaking in a low tone. "And, as luck would have it, both our desires can be achieved through our collaboration. I will get my power, you will get your vengeance" he stated, gesturing towards her with a nod. Zelena blinked in recognition before turning herself slightly towards him, and preparing herself for what he was about to say. Gold watched her for a few moments, noting how her eyes were no longer dark and angry, but looking at him with a bright and curious expression. One which he was certain the sorceress had inherited from her mother. "Many years ago, before the first curse was enacted, I was made aware of a prophecy. A fact relating to the destiny of your dear sister" he began, pausing and looking up at her to gage her interest. She titled her head back slightly and straightened in her seat, looking upon him with interest. "At the height of her reign as the Evil Queen, I discovered that Regina was destined to have a child. A child born of true love, who would arrive after Regina sacrificed her own happiness for another" he stated, pausing for a moment as he looked at Zelena's disbelieving expression. "As you can imagine, I felt the chances of Regina finding true love, much less sacrificing her happiness for another, to be impossible at that time."

"So the prophecy's wrong?" Zelena interjected, a sense of urgency in her tone.

"Prophecies are never wrong" Gold corrected, annoyance present in her tone. "People's destinies can shift with the decisions they make in life, altering what was once believed, as we've seen. But they are not 'wrong'." He stated. "However, I had my doubts. I felt perhaps Regina's path had altered so much that this prophecy was now… different. In some way. After we came to Storybrooke, and Regina asked for my help in acquiring a child, I even felt that Henry may be the child from the prophecy. Not borne from Regina, but raised by her. As I said, a result of her changing path" he explained. Gold looked up at the confused Zelena, who nodded at his words, and waited impatiently for him to continue. "But, alas, it appears I was wrong" he stated, his eyes drifting to the fire once more. "When Robin Hood arrived, and his relationship with Regina developed, I began to realise that perhaps this child would be born after all" he continued, before leaning forwards slightly and delving deep into one of his pockets. Zelena watched as he produced three folded pages on thick, expensive paper that she recognised instantly as coming from the story book. Gold slowly unfolded them and handed them to Zelena, who accepted them instantly, almost tearing them from his grasp. Gold watched as she flicked through the pages fervently as he continued to speak.

"My theory was confirmed by our late friend, the former Author, whose advice on the matter I sought whilst we were together for several days, in a cabin not unlike this one" he stated, his eyes drifting down to Zelena, who was flicking through the sheets with interest and anger. The three sheets were given to Gold by the Author and, although they were solely images, what the pictures depicted were clear, and words unnecessary. The first image showed Regina, dressed in deep blue, standing opposite Robin, their hands clasped as she said goodbye to him, as he crossed the town line with 'Marian' and Roland. The second image depicted a pregnant Regina wearing a purple gown which highlighted her changed figure. She hand one hand upon her abdomen as she stared down at it, the fear in her eyes well depicted in that particular image. The final picture showed Regina dressed in a white nightdress as she lay in bed with a swaddled baby in her arms.

"And what's so special about this child?" Zelena asked in a low tone and pronouncing the final word with venom as she looked up from the images that Gold had given her.

"The child," Gold responded, his eyes drifting lazily from the fire to her face, "is said to have the purest and more unrivalled power this world or any other has ever seen. The child's potential, as you can imagine, is limitless. He or she would be in possession of magical abilities which even you and I cannot even begin to imagine" he stated, speaking the words with delicacy and care, as though he were referring to the most sublime of beings who demanded the ultimate respect. Zelena found his tone infuriating. Gold registered her annoyance and suppressed a small smile, before allowing his eyes to drift back to the hot flames in the stone fire place. "The child, and the power it has, is something I intend to cultivate." Zelena rose her eyebrows slightly and scoffed, looking from the fire to Gold and staring hard at him.

"You don't even know when this child will come to exist" she spat, her lip turned up in a snarl as she looked down upon him.

"It already does, deary" Gold returned, his eyes wide and his mouth turning upwards into a small smile as he looked towards her. "She just doesn't realise it yet" he continued, leaning forward slightly so he could feel the warmth of the flames upon his face. "She was so busy saving Emma that she has evidently brushed off any symptoms she may already be experiencing."

"Then how do you know she is pregnant?" Zelena asked, swallowing hard at the last word, which filled her with rage. Gold scoffed.

"Because I heard the second beating heart inside of her" he stated, turning towards her with half-closed eyes and a sinister expression. "Your sister does not believe she is able to have children after taking a particularly nasty potion several decades ago. Her belief in this and her recent attempts to save the Saviour have meant that she is less… aware of the changes she is currently experiencing." Zelena rose her eye brows and leaned back against the cool leather couch.

"How can you be certain she isn't already aware of her… condition?" Zelena growled.

"Because she and the others are taking the children horse-riding tomorrow after school. Regina is going to teach Henry and Roland everything she knows" he stated whimsically, before turning back to his accomplice. "She'd never get onto a horse if she knew she was with child." Zelena sighed once more and nodded in agreement.

"And what precisely does all this have to do with me?" she asked, her voice low and calm. Gold exhaled once more and clasped his hands in his lap.

"This child, Zelena, will be the most powerful magical entity in existence" he began, his voice adopting the same tone it had done earlier when he discussed the child, which still filled Zelena with annoyance. "The power of this child, if cultivated in the correct manner, can be harnessed, used. It could be limitless" he stated, the light of the flames dancing in his eyes. Zelena had often seen Rumplestiltskin's eyes light up in this manner when he talked about power. "I taught you, your mother and your sister everything I was able to" he stated, turning his head to the side as he spoke. "This child will be capable of so much more. Things no one has seen before, that no one can possibly imagine" he continued, before turning back to Zelena. "And you and I are going to be the ones to cultivate that power." Zelena looked at him for a moment, scoffing as her eyes widened. A manic smile formed across her face as she leaned closer to him.

"My dear Rumplstiltskin, what possible interest would I have in that child? If it even exists" she spat, laughing slightly as she spoke, before her features darkened once more. "And how does it help to acquire my revenge?"

"Well I'm glad you asked, deary. And this, fortunately, brings us back to your original question" Gold returned, pressing his hands upon his knees and staring into Zelena's dark eyes. "I helped you to fake a pregnancy which will coincide with your sister's" he stated simply, watching as Zelena's eyes shone with understanding. "Regina will carry this child, deliver it, and then I will take it from her" he stated simply, his eyes wide and his voice low as he spoke, before turning towards Zelena once more. "And I'll kill her before anyone knows that she was pregnant to begin with." Zelena's eyes narrowed in confusion and she stared hard at Gold, pushing herself forward slightly as she spoke.

"Before anyone knows?" she repeated incredulously before scoffing. "Why would she conceal it? And how could she? If what you're saying about her being pregnant is true, she'll realise it soon enough" Zelena continued, her voice rising and becoming almost manic as she spoke. "And she'll tell Robin and Henry and all her friends and they'll all be extremely happy and she'll get her happy ending" Zelena rambled, her features darkening once more. Gold watched her with a small smile on his face. "What?" she demanded.

"For someone so intent on destroying another human being, you really don't know her very well, do you?" he began, watching as Zelena leaned back slightly. "First rule of vengeance, deary. Know your subject" he stated, his eyes rising and his tone almost theatrical. "You sister went to extraordinary lengths to protect Henry and Robin, all of Storybrooke, in fact" he stated, clasping his hands in his lap once more. "So, if she were to believe that her baby, or the people she cares about, are in danger, well" he continued, turning slowly back towards Zelena. "She'd hide it. Obviously" he stated, staring at Zelena and watching as she appeared to be taking in his words. "She'd conceal the pregnancy and distance herself from those she loves, in order to protect them and her unborn child" he stated, his voice becoming gently mocking. "And what greater threat is there to those she loves than an escaped sorceress who declares vengeance on her little sister and everyone she loves?" he asked, watching as a smile spread across Zelena's face. "Regina will have this child. In secrecy. Alone" he stated, leaning closer to Zelena as he spoke. "Then you and I will take it from her, kill her, and raise the child, cultivating its power and exploiting it to our full advantage" he continued, watching as Zelena's eyes lit up. "Your vengeance on Regina will stretch across a generation, deary" he stated, staring into her wide and beaming eyes, "and it will be glorious."