Regina was leaving the only store in Storybrooke that sold art supplies. She had new brushes, 5 different types of paint in 10 different colors, charcoal, two drawing pads, and colored pencils. It was a trip she made every month. She absolutely hated it, but it was one of those things that were completely necessary. She personally could not understand what drove a person to want to paint things or draw pictures. It seemed dirty and messy and the pictures never looked real. No, art was a waste of time that she could not get behind, and yet here she was buying hundreds of dollars worth of the stuff every month. She was actually surprised that no one had ever questioned her before, but then the only three people that had ever questioned her had never seen her buying art supplies. That is they hadn't until just now.
The last person she wanted to see was leaning heavily on his cane and moving toward her. Quickly she came up with hundreds of stories she could tell him. He would see through every single one but maybe, just maybe he wouldn't figure out the truth.
"Regina."
"Mr. Gold." Pleasantries were unnecessary between them. Their long standing hatred had resurfaced and the tolerance they kept for one another was barely concealed and only for the sake of keeping the towns people unaware.
"That's an awful lot of paint you have there. I had no idea you were an artist." Suspicion and sarcasm dripped off the words. Regina wondered if he actually did know what she was doing.
"They are for Henry." It was so transparent that no one would have believed it.
"That's funny; it seems to me that Henry's art hasn't progressed past crayon. I doubt even a smart 10 year-old boy like him grasps the complexities of using watercolors. Are you sure you aren't buying them for someone else? I know there is a young artist that lives right inside the forest."
Damn it he knew. He always knew. Regina didn't know why she tried to hide anything from him anymore. Well anything other than the girl that was in the basement of the hospital. That was a secret best kept. She decided to concede and remind him why it was so important to keep the young girl happy and away from town as much as possible.
"You are right. She is quite talented. It would be a shame to make her come to town and stop making her art for too long, don't you agree?"
"I can see why you would think that, but she is such a lively girl. She could never stay away from the people for too long. I just can't figure out why you are trying so hard to make sure she is completely happy?" He was skeptical of her intentions. He didn't know the full story. The only person besides her that did was Henry. So she just smiled to let him know that there was more to the story that he knew. A small but extremely important detail.
"It is better that she stay away from the people in this town."
"I don't know why you would think that, with the trouble that roams the forest."
He was right about that. Her little friend's "one true love" was part of the small time group of men that had been known as the Lost Boys. They were all outcasts and small time criminals. They had eventually had disbanded after their leader had fallen in love. People had loved them because they had only taken from the most privileged and given to the less fortunate. Regina believed that was worth the risk. They hadn't seen each other in 28 years, and now with Emma and her odd effect on the town it was more important than ever to keep the girl isolated.
"That group has never bothered her. She's safer there than she would be in town."
"How so? Are you afraid she would find her sister, or that she would cry on her?"
How did he know? Were there really no secrets from this man? The bastard was toying with her.
"Don't look so shocked. I have seen parts of Henry's book. He does read it in the most public places."
"Well I am late Mr. Gold. It was so good to see you." It was clear by the sound of her voice and the glare she gave him that she was anything but happy to have run into him.
"Bye, dearie."He did love it in when he won one of their little battles. He left with a little spring in his step.
Regina cut through the forest on a hidden path that led right to the back of the little house that sat far from any road that ran through Storybrooke. She had taken great care with this particular girl. She had never been her problem until the untimely demise of the witch that had captured her when she was just a baby. It was much later that she became a mild annoyance. Regina had no idea when she cast the spell that keeping this girl happy and away from people would become so vital. Yet here they were.
She walked up the path and knocked on the door. Normally she would hear the running of bare feet and have the door burst open in a tornado of youthful exuberance, but today she was only greeted by silence. She tried to open the door, but it was locked. The little troublemaker had finally gone into town. This time she had only lasted five weeks. Her trips were short, but were becoming more frequent. Regina set the supplies on a bench and turned on a determined heel to find the girl. She couldn't take any chances.