They were sitting on the sand that faced the ocean, watching as Ariel swam away to find help from her sisters.

The shell Regina picked up was on the ground by her side.

The man who played a part in ruining her life not five feet from her.

"She's gone, Dearie. Everyone is. It's just the two of us now. So why don't you tell me the truth?" Rumple glanced at his young apprentice with hardened eyes that masked what he really felt; concern.

She refused to answer the question at bay, feigning innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"But you do. Why is it you must use your own son as an excuse for why you do the things you are capable of? Are you afraid to face what the world might throw at you? Is the once Evil, frightening Queen afraid of something she hasn't felt in so long?"

She rapidly stood up, her eyes filled with rage and a hint of denial. "Shut up! You don't know anything, you Imp! I left because the Charmings and that pervert of a pirate wanted to find the man that thinks he can come into my son's life and take him from me! The man that happens to be your own son! Is that why you're talking to me now? Did that fool of a son you call Baelfire follow in your footsteps and make a deal with daddy? 'Talk to Regina, find out what she's plotting and I'll go back into your poor, pathetic life'?!"

"Did I touch a nerve, Dearie? Because, Regina, the only one with a poor, pathetic life I see right now is you. You are running away from every chance you've ever had at happiness. Tell me why..."

"Why...why what?" She had to turn away to stop the tears from falling. He couldn't take another thing away from her.

He couldn't take away the lies she so desperately wanted to believe were true. That she had done this purely for Henry.

"Tell me why you let her go..."

The silence had been the only thing occupying the air for a while;

Until Regina finally decided to speak.

"I love her. With all my heart, I love her. The way she looks at me, that adoration for our son, even the way she protects me in front of her own mother. But I can't...I did this to her. I hurt her...I took her away from a life she was once destined to have. She deserves to be happy, and I did want to be the cause of it...But what stops them? What stops the ignorant pirate and your son from being the right one for her? I would give anything for her to smile at the end of the day. Daniel told me to love again, and I am...But he would have given anything to protect me, and I...I will do that for Emma, just as you would do it for Belle. And if that means walking away? To run from everything I know we could have? I would do it. Because that's what True Love does."

A proud smile almost made its way to his features, something genuine that only appeared around Belle or Bae. However, he held it back. He couldn't be weak. Not now. Not with the situation at hand.

"I never thought you would be different from her, but I suppose people do change, don't they? I have something for you, as a thank you for saving my life." A puff of smoke appeared in his hand and when it disappeared, a gold string remained in the palm.

"What is this?"

"...A memento from your father. I thought you should have it."

Any child I have will never be yours...

"Sometimes, the things you think are impossible are just as easy as turning straw into gold."

Watching her ponder his words, Rumple shook his head, leading her away from the water.

"Come now, Dearie. We have a boy to rescue."

A/N- I couldn't get this idea out of my is supposed to be what happens while the Evil Queen and Dark One are alone together. I wanted to put my love for SQ in a fic with my headcanon that Rumple IS Regina's real father. I haven't written in a while, so hopefully you all enjoyed it :D VIVA LA SWANQUEEN!