The scent of apples and cinnamon filled the air and Regina couldn't help but smile at the familiar smell. She was making apple turnovers to keep her mind distracted from the darkness that was trying to creep into her head and fill her heart with bitterness.

Baking always calmed her down and she hoped it would have the same effect this time. Her emotions had been in a swirl of grief, sadness, fury and pure desperation after her mother's death and all the former Queen wished for were a few moments of emotional stability or even just some apathy to soothe the pain inside her.

She took the baked goods out of the oven, smiling lightly and putting them on a plate, when she heard the sound of the doorbell. Regina let out a sigh and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. /Who could that be, the Charmings?/

She cringed and walked towards the foyer, wiping off dough from her dress. No, the Charmings wouldn't bother ringing the bell, they probably didn't even know she owned one. Within a second she put her mask in place, her face showing nothing but indifference and maybe a hint of annoyance. In one quick motion she swung the door open and took in the sight in front of her.

On her doorstep stood a man in dark boots, tight leather pants, a shirt that revealed his tanned chest and the characteristic pirate jewellery. Regina gave him an irritated look and asked with a harsh, but slightly confused voice, "What are you doing here, Captain?" while trying to read the expression on his face.

He put his usual smirk on and took a step forward. Regina noticed the smell of rum and sea water that lingered on him, as he replied, "Not happy to see me, Your Majesty?" She furrowed her brow and looked him in the eyes to try to determine his intentions while he seemed to be busy scanning her outfit. She blushed slightly under his impertinent stare, but tried to keep her face free from any emotion and her voice steady.

"Not necessarily. And if you would excuse me, I certainly have better things to do than have a conversation with a pirate in the middle of the night." She turned around to close the door, but with an agility she didn't expect, Hook took a step forward and grabbed her wrist. She glared at him but before she could snap at him, he suddenly lost his balance and in the next moment she found herself leaning against the door frame, with a heavily breathing pirate in her arms. He was obviously completely drunk.

"Why don't you go back to your ship, Captain, and sober up instead of bothering people at this unholy hour?" She tried to sound angry and annoyed, but it didn't come out as sharp as she had intended it to. A look into his deep blue eyes which seemed so full of sorrow and vulnerability wiped away any thoughts and she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. There was something about his eyes.

She remembered the last time she had looked into them and her heart rate increased considerably. Her thoughts wandered back to their last encounter a few days ago.

Flashback

"I'm sorry, mother. I didn't want it to end like this..." Regina's voice broke off and she started sobbing, her knees getting weak. She tightened her grip on the rose she was holding and leaned over the coffin to bury her face in her hands. Her heart felt sore from aching and her face was rough and hot from her tears. She felt exhausted and so endlessly hopeless, thinking it might tear her apart any moment. She let her mind drift to memories of her mother, trying to focus on pleasant moments and a sad smile appeared on her lips while she let the tears stream down her face, still covering most of it with her arms.

Regina was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the sound of footsteps echo in the room and she jumped when she suddenly heard a deep voice speaking. "What are you doing here, your Majesty?" His question caught her completely off-guard, she didn't have time to put her mask on. She unwillingly showed her real emotions; all the terror and grief was written on her face and her eyes were filled with deep regret and an emptiness that made the man in front of her fall silent instantly.

She tried to concentrate and put all her will power and leftover strength into the next sentences. "What am I doing here? Well, what does it look like, dear Captain? As you might have realised, a certain someone", her voice was full of venom, "tricked me into killing my own mother. This is my vault, filled with the graves of the people I loved and lost. How dare you enter it without my permission and the insolence to ask me what I am doing here!" She spat out the last words and glared at him trying to only show anger on her face while brushing away the tears on her cheeks.

Hook continued walking slowly towards her while looking deep into her eyes, she felt uncomfortable under his gaze but tried her best not to show it. He did not reply to anything, he just kept looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face. When he stood next to her he simply put his hand on her shoulder and began to rub soothingly while offering her a quick, but genuine smile.

This small, honest gesture of affection and comfort made all her walls break down and she could feel her hands trembling while she tried to hold her posture, but failed miserably. Her whole body began to shake and before she knew what was happening her knees gave way and she tumbled, everything before her eyes turned black.

She snapped out of her memory and let out an irritated sigh. She hated showing vulnerability and especially in front of someone as untrustworthy and underhanded as Captain Hook, even though she had to admit that his presence was not as unpleasant for her as she always pretended. Not that she would ever let him know that, of course.

She looked at the man still wrapped in her arms, who was not even trying to get into a stable position and just as she thought of another biting comment, he whispered with an honest tone missing the usual sarcasm: "Regina, my ship is so empty and dreary. May I just come in for one drink?

The fact that he used her name and the way his voice broke at the end of the question softened her features and she could feel a smile play upon her lips, even though she tried to suppress it. She took in a deep breath and without further thinking she helped him stand up and opened the door widely while waving in his direction to invite him in.