Author's Note: This story is going to be pretty brutal with major character deaths and triggers in later chapters. This is my first fanfiction in 10 years so I hope it's readable! I'm not sure exactly where this story falls on the canon timeline just yet, so bear with me. If anyone is interested in being a beta please let me know! Thanks so much for reading, please leave reviews with constructive criticisms for me to help me improve the story.

CHAPTER ONE

The dark figure coughed and sputtered, clearing the water from his lungs painfully as he hunched over the rocks and sand on Storybrook's beach. He had been unfamiliar with the speed at which a mermaid travels realms and it had caught him off guard to be thrust through time and space so suddenly.

"M-master Moros...please-"

A whimper from behind him reminded him of his slave, and he glanced over his shoulder at the poor emaciated mermaid that had nearly killed herself following his wishes in getting the two of them into this world. Behind her, the ocean churned angrily at the disruption of their portal, and waves crashed against the shore as he smoothed his dark wet hair back off his face and staggered to his feet. Approaching the poor pathetic girl, Moros gently caressed her cheek with his damp fingertips, causing her to cry out in fright.

"You have been useful," he whispered with gratitude, voice thick with an unfamiliar accent, as he took a hold of a heavy amulet that dangled from his neck.
The amulet was etched with foreign symbols that surrounded a depiction of a strange, savage winged creature she did not recognize. The symbols flared to life at his touch, nearly blinding her with they're brightness. Then she could feel it pulling at her, as if the breath in her lungs, the blood in her veins, the magic coursing through her, was being absorbed by the ancient artefact.

The man stood back once the mermaid collapsed, dead and shriveled with grey leathery skin and brittle white scales. He inhaled deeply as her life strengthened him and he turned his irregular colored eyes towards the twinkling town lights beyond the beach.
He could practically taste the magic that resided there already.

Regina stood with her arms crossed tightly across her chest, a strange ominous feeling coming over her as she felt a strong malevolent presence somewhere beyond the window she gazed out of.

"Mom," a voice behind her shook her out of her deep thoughts, and she turned to regard her son. "We're going to be late."

She glanced down at her watch and realized he was right, and began gathering her things.

"Alright," she replied, preparing to leave the house, keys in hand and purse strap resting comfortably in the crook of her arm. "Grab Emma's gifts, please dear?"

Her eyes flicked upwards at the dark skies while she made her way to her car, and she saw them as a terrible omen. As they both piled into her car, she suppressed a shiver and started the engine. They made their way to Granny's Diner, all the way she watched the tumultuous night sky, unsettled. Something dark had found its way into her quiet town.
Something dark and familiar.

Emma laughed and clapped her hands merrily as she blew out the last candle on her cake. She felt happier than she had been in a long time, looking around at the smiling faces of those she loved and held dear. If anyone had told her three years ago that she would be here, surrounded by family on her birthday, she would have laughed so hard in disbelief she would have choked on her pity-party birthday cupcake.

Emma began to open her gifts one by one. Her parents got her practical things, as parents do, new clothes and a ring with their family crest on it. Mary Margaret was an intuitive shopper. Henry bought his mother a board game that everyone could break out and play after dinner. Kilian had a gift that he winked and refused to give to her until later, while also presenting her with a splendid set of silver diamond stud earrings, one a swan and the other a hook, eliciting a grand smile from the blonde woman.

But it was Regina's gift that brought tears to her eyes, which meant the most. When she pulled the painting out of the bag she gasped and cried instantly.

"I didn't even know you could paint," She smiled at the brunette through her tears, reaching a hand out to place on top of the older woman's leg.

"There's a lot about me you don't know, Miss Swan," Regina replied haughtily, but she was smiling brightly at the birthday girl.

"It must've taken forever," Emma said, squeezing Regina's knee before lovingly looking back at the artwork.

The painting was a beautiful depiction of their weird little Swan-Mills family, a painting of a picture taken of the three of them during the fair earlier in the year. God, Henry had grown so much already in that short time.

Beside Regina, Robin frowned and placed a hand on Regina's shoulder. Despite his obvious sour mood, he suggested happily, "How about we start that board game!"

"Great idea!" Emma jumped up and began making a space for the game to be laid out on the table, apparently not seeing the tension in Robin as he clenched his jaw in jealousy.

Regina didn't look back at her partner. Their relationship was on the rocks lately, however they didn't want it to be public knowledge. She loved Robin, so, so much, but day by day he grew more suspicious and jealous of the time she spent with the Sheriff, and nothing she could do or say dispelled his brooding attitude. Certainly she and Emma had grown close, but they were simply good—perhaps best?—friends and co-parents. She knew that the situation between her sister and Robin complicated everything, he was constantly feeling like he had to own up and gain Regina's forgiveness. He didn't fully trust her yet that she might try to get some sort of revenge, possibly by using Emma. The whole situation exhausted her. She found it childish of him but desperately wanted things between them to get better. He was her happy ending, after all.

After Henry not-so-humbly won the board game, everyone besides Regina and Emma cleared out. Robin went to take Roland home to bed, as did the Charmings with Henry and Neal, and Emma sent her boyfriend home with them because he had passed out drunk leaning on the jukebox.

Regina watched Emma briefly as the energetic young blonde made her rounds accepting 'happy birthday!' wishes from various townsfolk around the Diner. The mayor sullenly turned her attention to her glass of red Zinfandel, enjoying mulling the spicy bold flavor over her mouth. Her mind was preoccupied with the cold demeanor Robin had exhibited towards her when he left, but more importantly, with the heavy, dark presence she could sense since earlier that evening.

Emma noisily plopped herself down on the stool next to Regina. "Alright, bring on the booze!"

Regina smiled into her glass as the sheriff ordered two tequila shots with clamato chasers for them.

"You're a lunatic," she said when Emma slid her shots towards her.

"Cheers!" Emma grinned.

The brunette mirrored Emma, tequila in one hand and clamato in the other, and clinked her shot glasses with the blonde's. They knocked the shots back and loudly placed the glasses back down on the counter simultaneously. The sudden burn of the tequila quickly negated by the clamato took Regina by surprise.

"That…was actually quite good." She said reluctantly.

Emma smiled and leaned her head on her hand as she peered at the other woman. "Ok, You gonna tell me what's up now or do I have to get you sloshed first?"

Regina snorted and shook her head disbelievingly. Emma could see through her every time.

"How do you do that?"

"I know you, Regina," Emma's sudden seriousness caused Regina's head to whip over in her direction. Emma wiggled her eyebrows and grinned. "Plus, I'm a detective. It's mah job."

The mayor chuckled and took another sip of wine. She had noticed that Emma covers up her feelings and serious talks with humor, much like she herself did with sassy and sarcastic comments.

"Things are a little tense between Robin and I," the older woman admitted quietly.

"No shit," Emma scoffed.

She wasn't blind, she's noticed that lately Robin had been burdening her friend with a possessiveness that bordered on disrespect. He would text or call her every time the women were together, asking she be home early, and being protective and concerned about her the majority of the time. Emma didn't like the way Robin treated Regina as a possession he was afraid to lose.

The sheriff and the mayor enjoyed patrolling the city together on warmer nights, it gave them a chance to talk about Henry, their relationships with their significant others, and even practice magic together. Robin was always upset at Regina for the patrols, saying it was unnecessary for her to be out putting herself in danger, that Emma's magic was volatile, among other excuses. He was trying to quench the fire in Regina, to tame her, to take away from her what had originally drew him to her. What he – and Emma too – liked in her.

Emma shook her head and took a swig of beer, angrily slamming it back down onto the counter. Robin was an idiot, No one could quench Regina's fire.

"Don't," Regina said softly, looking into the deep red of her wine for solace.

The blonde woman sighed and obliged, running a hand through her tangled hair. She knew that they had True Love, and even True Love took work. She decided to change the subject. "Thanks again for the painting,"

"It was nothing." Regina said dismissively as her brown eyes flicked over to meet her friends gaze, then to her right ear where she wore the new hook shaped earring Killian had gifted her. "Nice earrings," she complimented half-heartedly. She honestly thought they were gaudy.

Emma reached up to trace her finger over the silver hook and smiled distantly. The look on her friend's face caused Regina to arch an eyebrow and search the thoughtful expression Emma wore for any unspoken feelings.

"Yeah…" The Sheriff murmured.

Sensing her friend's melancholy attitude intruding on the birthday celebrations, Regina ordered them both more shots, grinning wickedly at the blonde who perked up instantly.

After a few more drinks, when the two of them started feeling a little foolish and intoxicated with their worries and cares far behind them, Regina offered for Emma to stay over. Henry was at Mary Margaret's with Neal and Charming, and Roland was at Robin's so they had the house to themselves. Plus tomorrow's hangover would certainly be much more tolerable without the clatter and noise from breakfast at the Charmings'. And so the two returned to Regina's mansion, Emma much more intoxicated than she realized, they noisily made their way through the front door up the steps. Emma fell sloppily into Regina's bed, too drunk to even attempt putting pajamas on, as the older woman deftly changed into a comfortable black silk nightgown with her back turned to her guest. Regina sat beside her on the bed and began piling pillows between them.

"Wassat?" Emma's mouth felt too sluggish and stupid to properly form words, squinting to see with only one eye partially open.

"Lesbian prevention guard," Regina replied solemnly.

The two were sent into a fit of genuine laughter that carried them both into a happy drunken slumber.