Don't look at me with those eyes. Those damned indifferent eyes. Look at me like you used to! Look at me with hope and aspiration and with those eyes that chose me above all the others who could have brought your dreams to fruition. Please. Look at me with…

"Yes, Regina? May I ask why you are in my shop today?" He spoke casually as he ran a rag over an old empty lantern. Sydney's old lantern with gaudy emeralds and precious stones lining the base. She watched him clean it with disdain. Why did he still have that? How did he even get ahold of it?

"Your majesty, I am afraid I am a very busy man so if you have no business with me then I must ask for your par-."

"I need your help." She stated simply. Her lips quivering as she caught the words stuck in her throat and felt her hands clench onto the starched fabric of her pant suit. The words sounded so pathetic coming out of her mouth but she knew she could not entrust the plans of her vengeance to anyone else but her dear teacher, Rumplestiltskin. He, of all people, would understand the inner workings of plotting and conniving. Yes. He of all people. This is why he chose her, right? He needed her. She needed him.

"Whatever would you need my help with, your majesty?" He grinned, lips forming a tight cupid's bow over his teeth. The glimmering gold barely peeking through a slit of his lips as he put down the rag and gave her his undivided attention. "After all, you always claim you will become more powerful than me. Losing a bit of that confidence, huh?" He quipped. His cold brown eyes meeting hers.

Her throat ran dry and she swallowed hard.

"I need your help to frame Mary Margaret in the disappearance of Catherine….things are not going according to plan and, well, I'm willing to make a deal." She tried to keep her strong demeanor even as his cold eyes ran over her every stitch and button.

Those eyes again. Please, Rumple. Please. Just one more time. Look at me with adoration one mor-

"I'll be willing to help you. For a price, of course." He grinned, his fingers interlacing together before pulling apart to create a steeple in which his chin laid upon, "I think you know what I want."

"…I'm afraid you already have most of the wealth and power in Storybrooke…even the citizens fear you more than me."

"Yes, and that will never change. But…let's just say…I know what is coming. I've always known. And when the day comes that I make a request…I want you to heed it. My price for this…expenditure of my skills is simple. A promise." He held out his pinky finger. A glittering golden ring shimmering in the dim light of his pawn shop. "Say it in your own words. You promise me a favor."

She looked over that slim pinky and the obnoxious ring that he was so fond of. Why was he always so audaciously extravagant in his clothing style and mannerisms? It was like watching one of the sassy servants from an old play in the days of the commedia dell'arte waving about the stage proclaiming their master's a fool while wearing their clothing. But Rumple was much smarter than that. He was, indeed, smarter than anyone she had ever met. Yes. Had he a mind to he could have broken the curse himself. It was always his laid-back nature and…perhaps a twinge of laziness and his desire for entertainment that kept him from doing anything himself.

With her shoulders slumping she took her finger and wrapped it around his with a sneer. Her lips curling upwards and teeth biting her bottom lip. His little "request" could be anything from a freshly baked apple pie to her running naked through the streets. He and she both knew it.

"I promise you a favor, no matter what it is." She said under her breath as she saw him smile menacingly at her. Did he know about….

"Well then, your majesty. We're done here. It will be done as you requested. She will be framed for the unfortunate happenings to young Catherine." He grinned. Pulling his pinky from hers and making it a show of wiping his hand off on his pinstripe suit. "Until later, Regina." He grinned and disappeared into the back room; leaving Regina reeling from the loss of the heat of his finger and the insult of him rubbing his hand on his pants like she was a plague-ridden peasant.

"Yes….Rumple." She said softly, her shoulders falling slack and the long coat laying down against her chest tighter. Making those heart strings of her pull even more and her hand going up to cover where she was sure she once had a heart. Had she been a weaker person she would have pulled it out right then and there to avoid the pain of his actions towards her. But, she still had a purpose for it. She wanted to keep the warmth of her memories moving in her chest. Even if nearly every beautiful memory of hers was mingled with the bittersweet pang of bitterness and injury.

Those eyes… I miss when they were wide and more like a lizards… I miss you, Rumplestiltskin. Can't we go back to the way things were? When did I stop being of use to you? When…

Hearing the door chime and Emma come in she turned on her heel and saw a confused blonde woman standing there. She pulled the pain from her face and quickly brushed past her without so much as a word. Slamming the door shut and hearing the bell chime loudly in her wake.

She had things to do. So many things to do. If she kept herself busy then she wouldn't be stuck thinking about the past. Of the way things were. Of what she traded to be know as…

"Hello, Madame Mayor." Archie said happily as he walked pongo.

She exhaled through her nose. Almost missing the days when she was simply know as "Regina". Missing the days when she sat alone in her childhood home, looking out the window, waiting for…

Maybe she was still waiting for him and had fallen asleep in the chair…maybe…

No…Storybrooke was hers now. She was not young asleep in a chair. She was now a bitter adult living an adult life and wishing for things to return to the way they were.

Maybe if magic was brought back,
And Sydney was to be given his genie magic back
Maybe she would wish, just one simple wish,
To be young and foolish and be sleeping on her terrace waiting for her teacher to arrive for their nightly sessions.

Just one wish was all she needed.
Just one.

The pristine alabaster stones lining her terrace overlooking her apple tree was always so cold at night and stung to the tips of her fingers. Amazingly, she always waited out there for him when she knew he was coming. Every three days he would show up once the moon was half-mast in the sky and the stars around it would respond to his nearing by disappearing. She always fathomed that they hid behind the moon for fear of him, which only excited her more. What would she learn today? What would she be able to conjure in the morning? Although she wouldn't opt to be up in the morning and usually stayed in bed until noon on her days after having her appointments with Rumple.

She hummed to herself a soft tune as she leaned against the terrace and peered up at the moon. Only half-way there. It was getting so late and she was so tired. The white sheer robe she wore around her frame blew back in the wind and she held it closer. Her humming stilling as she shuddered. He wouldn't be there for another hour at least, she thought to herself, why not just go inside?

But she wanted to see him as soon as he entered. Although he would sometimes surprise her by poofing into her room in a large cloud of purple haze. Sitting ever-so-casually on her favorite leather armchair and swinging a booted foot to-and-fro with his high pitched giggle and tapping his fingers together as they made their precipice over his belly. His reptilian skin glimmering with golden specs in the moonlight and his lips always, always, always curled into that self-indulging smile that she was becoming so fond of…

At first, she would often think to herself as she combed her black hair in the vanity, that the first time she had seen him she was shocked to the point where she would have jumped from the terrace to escape if he had looked even one bit malicious. But he had always looked more comical to her. Like he was incapable of any emotion other than his own jovial nature.

I wonder what he looked like before he was….more….reptilian and…scaled. Maybe he was dashingly handsome and his penance for having so much power was to become…as he is. Or maybe he was horribly ugly and his current look is actually an upgrade. She had once pondered in her looking glass as she looked over the features of her face hoping that her increase in power wouldn't result in any scales or premature wrinkles.

Now she rendered him with a type of handsomeness that could only be appreciated with a few months-worth of stolen glances and worshipping in different lights.

The first thing she had noticed was the strong jaw he had that often pronounced itself when he clenched his teeth too-tight in expectation of her doing something amazing with her powers; or the way he did when he was frustrated that she hadn't met his expectation. Either through her own lack of practicing in the few days she had between visits, or it simply being beyond her skill set.

There had been nights where she had sobbed herself to sleep thinking how forceful he was and how she could never possibly reach his expectations. She had noted the look of aggravation underneath his usually calm demeanor. She had noted the hints of regret and dismay in the way his hands failed to flit about like they had a mind of their own. Like a crazed puppet. But the feeling of failure always brought her to work thrice as hard to reach his expectations. To hear that one simple phrase "good work, Dearie" that she had become so fond of.

Tonight while she was on the terrace she ran her hands down the smooth alabaster stones of her railing and exhaled. Her breath making a cloud that rose up into the sky. Her body shaking from a mix of anticipation and the freezing cold that made her pace the balcony for even a hint of warmth.

The next thing I will ask him to teach me is how to move the stars in the sky. Maybe if I work hard at it while he is not around I'll be able to move the moon and he will come sooner. Maybe I could hold it in place while he is here so he won't leave. Maybe I'll hold it there forever so mother will remain asleep throughout my entire life and I could be happy. Just my teacher and I working together to further the constraints of magic and surpass ourselves. It is another beginning, isn't it?

She smiled and knelt down, resting her chin on her hands and shivered, "hurry up, Rumplestiltskin. How long do you plan to make a lady wait?" She couldn't help but become a little childish. No matter how old she had become patience had never been a virtue.

Sighing she began to hum again, very quietly so as to not wake her mother. She wondered what her mother would do if she ever found out she was learning from the teacher that her mother never spoke about. Maybe she didn't approve of his methods. She wouldn't bother to ask. The whole reason she had called to Rumple all that time ago was to avoid her marriage day, which was coming all-too-quickly. In all honesty, she was sick to her stomach thinking of kissing that elderly man…let alone what she was being hinted at from her mother about what comes during a wedding night. All of it made her skin crawl! Why would she want to…with that man….

"I should have let her die on the horse." She hissed under her breath.

"Now now, Dearie. Isn't that a bit cruel for a child?" She heard a fiendish giggle behind her and spun around quickly to see her teacher lounging in her chair. She tried to act nonchalant through her excitement and swallowed quickly.

"It's because of that child that I'm being forced into a marriage!" She hissed to him, standing up and going inside for some warmth. Shutting the doors to keep in the heat coming from her fireplace. Sitting across from him in the other chair she gave a low grin.

"Yes. But children make mistakes. But, no matter. We are here for a lesson. Not some quibbling over ethics and child rearing." He smirked, "I'm sure you'll be a wonderful mother." He giggled, tapping his fingers together and letting his foot bob side to side as he thought. "Now," he started after a few moments of silence between the two of them, "what do you want to learn today?"

"Want? I don't want to learn magic and become like my mother. Remember, Rumple, I'm only learning magic to protect myself from her if she uses it on me again." She said firmly as she crossed her arms and stiffened her back up to appear as an authority figure in front of the sorcerer.

"That's not what I asked." He quipped as he leaned forward. The creak of his leather pants sounding through the quiet room.

"…Show me how to move stars in the sky." She stated simply.

He paused thinking it was a joke before the smile faded from his face realizing she was serious. Sighing he leaned back and slapped his hands on his knees. "Why would you want to learn that?" He said firmly.

"I want to make constellations." She lied.

"What a child." He sighed and stood up, walking to the window and peering up into the bright night sky full of stars and angles. "Why not be happy with the ones that are already there?" he asked, pointing up.

"Why are you so insistent not to teach me what I want to know?"

"Why are you dodging the question?" he retorted.

"Why do I have to defend what I want to learn from you? You said you would teach me anything wouldn't you?"

"Yes, but it is beyond your skill level to push stars around!" He said firmly, looking at her and noting the look of sadness on her face.

"I just-…"

"You just need practice and determination and something like moving the stars takes both. Let's do something easier." He said softly, moving over and running an understanding hand over her forearm. The warmth of his palm spreading over her upper arm and making her cheeks tint a soft red in thinking that she had never felt this warmth before. His skin was scorching hot. She was embarrassed to find herself wishing to gain warmth away from the night's frigid winds wrapped in his leather-bound arms.

Please don't let mind-reading be a magic that he knows….

"Now. I understand I have taught you how to make fire, boil water, make light things float…but I haven't taught you the fine art of pushing things around. You're already good enough at doing that with your words." He giggled and spun on the heel of his boot. Holding up a feather-quill and laying it down on her vanity.

"Push it." He said firmly and crossed his arms.

Regina looked at him as if he must be joking and he only looked at her sternly.

"Well? Proving too difficult?" He asked in his one serious tone, "To know the more complex magics one must first start off with the basics, right?" he grinned. Walking away from the quill and placing his hands upon her shoulders. Making her back straighten and her breath hitch.

"Remember, Regina. The way you felt when she held you up by thorns and roots. How you were humiliated in front of your loved ones with actions like that." He looked at her seeing her body quivering. Her mind wasn't concentrating like it should have. He exhaled and leaned in, whispering directly into her ear, "how you felt seeing Daniel hanging in the air and how you couldn't help him because you were being held back."

Her eyes grew wide and the feather quill was pushed back hard against the vanity, cracking the glass as its sharp point went straight into the delicate surface. Her breathing coming in short stops as she shivered under his touch.

He always knew exactly which buttons to press to get what he wanted from her.

Daniel….I'm sorry.

She couldn't help but choke softly and look down to hide the tears that ran from her cheeks thinking of the man she loved that she couldn't save.

Her teacher going to look at the glass gave a whistle before coming back. Seeing her crying he stood up straight and awkwardly. Clearing his throat he pondered if he had perhaps gone too far. But her mind really was elsewhere today. Usually all he had to do was remind her of her mother's past humiliations towards her. Today he had to go for very hard buttons. HE really did hate seeing her this way.

And he hated himself for enjoying it. He enjoyed watching Cora's child crying in front of him because of him. Yet another part recognized her as an innocent in all of this. Probably not even knowing about his affairs with her mother.

Fighting about whether to stay and assist her to feel better or to run away and let her handle it by herself he bounced on his heels before groaning and moving forward to hug her to his chest gently. Placing his chin right above her head he sighed.

"There there, Dearie. All things are better on the other side." He said gently, stroking her black locks to soothe her, "We all lose something precious along the way. Time goes on. You'll fall in love again someday." He said solemnly; earnestly surprising her.

Who says I haven't started already? Daniel, I'm so sorry.

" Come along now, Dearie. Sober up. We have work to get to." He smiled, pulling her away from his chest and tilting her head up to look up at him. Her Applewood eyes gazing into his own before nodding and being wiped away by an engraved handkerchief.

Secretly she had been enjoying the soothing scent of book-musk and burned vanilla that tinted his skin. Making her cheeks turn slightly red, which he blamed on the crying.

"Sorry." She said softly and cleared her throat as she rubbed away a few stray tears on her cheeks.

"Well then. Now that you are composed….why don't we begin? We need to perfect your new lesson by morning. After all…only one week until you are the blushing bride of wonderful King Leopold."

He saw the distaste on her face and giggled.

"All the more reason we need to get to work." He smirked and held up a jewelry bow about the size of his palm. "Just like last time." He said firmly. "From the top!"

Regina sat at her desk cross legged and tapping a pen up and down between her fingers, sighing and gazing over a document that was going on-and-on about something concerning the water pipes in Storybrooke. In all the years she had reigned mayor nothing had changed and nothing really needed to change but every year she had to read some ordinance that dealt with the layout of pipes around the area.

Seeing that she was alone, and that she would be alone for a few hours as the town openly gossiped about Catherine's disappearance and the way a simple school teacher could be locked in jail for it.

Nobody believed Mary Margaret did it... Even she would have doubts if she wanted any sort of contact with the pure innocence that exemplified in every one of Mary-..no…Snow White's actions and words. She shuddered at that innocent little voice that used to follow her around the castle. How birds and creatures flocked to her in such numbers as would fill up rooms in the castle with the stench of wildlife.

Taking one good look around to make sure that nobody (Especially not a certain someone noted for spontaneously appearing out of thin air at times) was in the room. Placing her pen down she glared at it openly and attempted to make it move. Thinking of all the insults and catastrophes that had occurred in her short life. But the pen did not even budge a single inch.

Groaning she set her head down on her desk.

"Trying your hand at telepathy, I see." A familiar voice sounded and she sat up straight to see him, calm as ever, leaning on his cane with the air of a born-aristocrat.

"Do you need something? You should at least knock before ente-."

"I did knock. Nobody answered so I let myself in." he said with an obvious air of amusement as he circled around the desk and sat on the edge of it overlooking her.

"Well. What is it then?"

"I have done what you asked me." He said with a smile, his hand, heavy with rings and emeralds falling on the desk with a thud. "Emma has found the knife in Miss Blanchard's room in the heating vent and along with the heart being found in the accused's jewelry-box it seems like a pretty obvious case to me."

Regina gave a self-satisfied grin and nodded, "Your tone implies there is more."

He smirked and gave a short nod. "You know me so well. Well. Those little skeleton keys you have…I snuck one into her sheets. I'm sure she will find it and let herself out. What, indeed, is more incriminating than someone running from something that they say they did not do? How does that saying go? Actions speak louder than words?" He hummed tapping a finger on his chin.

"And you think this will work?"

"Oh, I know it will. And when something as tragic as what has happened to young Catherine is brought to light and people have made assumptions….I dare say Miss Blanchard will be exactly where you want her." He grinned.

Regina nodded happily and folded her hands over her belly. Her eyes moved up and saw the glimmering gold that still resided in his own. Even after the curse…after everything…nothing has changed in him. Those eyes still held the same golden tints and sweeping tones that were in the eyes of the mischievous imp she had fallen in-

That she had known in the Enchanted Forest.

She mentally kicked herself for having been so stupid as before and cleared her throat. It was time to get over her school-girl crush. He was just her teacher. There was no friendship here. She doubted he even remembered half of the time they spent together. He had been so busy with all of the other fairytale folk in the old days. It has been many years since they had met and been in close contact with regularly. It was time to be over this.

But there was just something in that fiendish little smile and the way his lips curled over that golden tooth that sent a shiver down her spine.

I should have kept Graham around…he might have come back to me…anything would be better than suffering at night dreaming about-

"Your body, your highness, just tells me how absolutely calm you are about all of this."

"Why wouldn't I be?" She shot out of her thoughts quickly and tried to hide the quasi-huskiness of her voice that she prayed he didn't hear.

"Well, after all, Miss Swan is here and with the title of 'Savior'," He made finger quotes and everything, annoying imp, "She could always find a way of saving those she loves. I think she would have a love for her mother. Even if she is unaware of the relationship they share." He smirked, leaning in and gazing close into her eyes.

"I trust you." She said firmly.

"Ah. I thought I would have taught you better." He quipped and pushed himself off of her desk. Grabbing his cane and spinning it in his palm.

"Should I not trust you?"

"Just remember, Regina. If given the choice between anyone else and myself I will always choose me." He said calmly. She remained unsurprised by his self-preserving nature and gave a small huff.

"How charming."

"I'd leave the charming bit to Mr. Noland." He quipped again and giggled. Her eyes rolling and a small half-smile with a tip of one side of her lips giving away her amusement.

Mentally cursing herself for letting one of his idiotic quips make her nearly smile she sobered up and sat up straight. Fixing the front of her coat by running her hands over the curve of her body and gaze at him.

"Please remove yourself from my office unless you have official business."

"Yes, Madam Mayor." He teased, limping his way to the door and peering back at her.

"Yes?" She said shortly. Trying to glare daggers at the man to instill any amount of fear into his heart.

"If you want…I can bring a small mirror into your office so you can throw your pen into it to make it feel like old times. Maybe that will spark some magic?" he winked before disappearing. Leaving her heart thumping heavily in her chest as she reclined against the plush leather chair.

So he does remember…why would he remember…?

She ran her hands over the leather of her chair and groaned to herself. Why had she chosen leather? Now it was just bringing back memories of leather pants and dragon-scaled clothing and…

A fiendish giggle...
followed by that one endearment she once loved to hear…
That one endearment that assured her things were okay
That one endearment that ran shivers down her spine
That one endearment that made her skin warm and a desire rise in her stomach

That one endearment…
That one…

Dearie.