I don't own OUAT

Hook broke into the Queen's palace prison to find this girl, what was her name again? Oh yes, Belle. People said she knew where the Dark One kept his dagger and he was going to use her to get his revenge.

What a shame when she said that Rumpelstiltskin never mentioned a dagger…

Hook smacked her on the face leaving her unconscious.

"So pretty… and so useless"

He was about to nail his hook into her throat when he noticed it wasn't there anymore. Then he heard a door closing.

"No, not useless" said a voice behind him.

When he turned around to see who dared to interrupt him, he froze. Standing in the prison's entrance, there was a woman. But not just any woman, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, dare he say even more beautiful than Milah. Soft ivory skin, lips red as blood and mahogany brown eyes that seem to see through him.

She was wearing a long deep blue dress that showed off her curves, her black hair was pulled back in an elaborated bun without dropping any lock of hair on her face.

But what mostly caught his attention was the very familiar silver hook she was holding in her hand.

Still enchanted by the woman he managed to say

"My hook, if you please?" he extended his hand as if to reach his hook. She took a step back

"No" she smirked

"The asking was me being a gentleman" he said and took a few steps forward.

She rested her hand on the door casually.

"Is that any way to address a Queen?"

Oh, now I get it… he thought. He has heard stories of the Queen of the White Kingdom that said that she was so beautiful that could leave you breathless with just one look. He hadn't given credit to those stories until now and damn, they were bloody true! He was snapped out of his thoughts when she said

"Even a pirate should have better manners than that…"

He stood there. Did she know who he was? And as reading his thoughts she added while circling him "Yes, I know who you are… captain. I know why you came here from Neverland… and I know all about the crocodile you wish to skin"

He stared at her blankly, trying not to show his awe. How did this woman know so much about him? Maybe it was because apart from being extremely beautiful, she was also known as a very powerful sorceress.

"She can't help you kill Rumpelstiltskin, Hook, but I can… if you do something for me" she said and the she hooked his clothes with his own hook and pulled him close to her, their faces mere inches away. He felt her warm breath on his skin when she said "Care to join me for a drink?"

After his unexpected meeting with the Queen, he went to his ship. His crew greeted him with shouts of joy, but he ignored them and went back to his cabin.

He sat at his desk and ran his hand through his hair. He didn't turn when he heard someone entering the room.

"Get out, Smee" he said coldly

"I'm not Mr. Smee, Kil. He told me you just got on the ship and locked in here" Hook didn't turn, he recognized the voice "What's wrong? Did the Queen catch you sneaking into her castle?"

"Indeed she did…" he turned to face the person

"Well, you're here, so it was nothing bad" the person said and walked to the desk "Hey, did that Belle help you with the Crocodile's dagger?"

"Not exactly" he said. The silence in the room meant he had to explain "She didn't know anything about the dagger, but the Queen herself said she was going to help me kill Rumpelstiltskin in this new land"

"How did you convince her? You enchanted her with your good looks?" the person chuckled

"I went to Wonderland to rip her mother's heart out. Then I brought her body to her"

"Her mother is the Queen of Hearts, isn't she?" Hook nodded "What was the trick, then?" Hook made a puzzled face "Come on Kil, you can't kill the Queen of Hearts that way. Everybody knows that she doesn't have a heart, literally"

"Apparently everyone except me…" he mumbled "She isn't dead. I made and alliance with her, and she was going to rip out the Queen's heart for sending her to Wonderland" when he saw the person's shock expression, he added "Don't worry, she didn't do it" the person sighed and walked to the door

"Very well then… see ya at dinner"

"No"

"You're not gonna have dinner?"

"I was answering your question"

"Which one?"

"I didn't enchant her with my looks, actually-"

"The enchanted one was you. So it's true then, she's quite beautiful" Hook smirked and nodded "And you didn't try to make a move on her? Wow…"

"Why did you assume-?"

"Cuz I know you" Hook chuckled

"I was thinking of invite her to the ball"

"A pirate inviting a Queen to a ball? Well, that's new… What makes you think she would accept?"

"I can tell her that I want a reward for the task and that I'd be honored to have her as a companion to the ball"

"Well, good luck with that…" the person said mockingly and got out of the cabin shutting the door.

Five days after her mother's death, Regina was in her bedchamber sitting at her bureau brushing her hair when she saw one of the guards entering the room by the reflection of the mirror.

"What is it?" she asked dryly

"Your Majesty, there is a gentleman asking for an audience with you" the guard said

"Who is it?"

"He says his name is Killian Jones, your Majesty"

Regina frowned. She had no idea what was he doing there. She thought he would be in another kingdom or in a tavern. Why did he want to talk to her? There was only one way to find out

"Bring him here" she said. The guard bowed and got out of the room.

She stood and walked to the window that connected with the main hall downstairs. She saw two guards blocking the captain's way to her chamber. He had his arms crossed over his chest and he was moving his foot impatiently. She smirked and tilted her head a little. She examined his face; his skin, lips hair and oh, those beautiful blue eyes. She had to admit it; he was handsome for a pirate. What would he want? She thought.

The guard that informed her of his arrival appeared in the hall and gestured the captain to follow him.

She quickly sat at her bureau and started to brush her hair again. A few moments later, the guard entered the room.

"Mister Killian Jones, your Majesty" the guard said. Regina stood when the captain entered the room. She gestured to the guard to leave and then walked to Hook.

"Your Majesty" He bowed. She felt heat on her cheeks when he kissed the back of her hand.

When he looked up, he froze… again. She looked more beautiful that the last time he saw her. She was wearing a long silk claret dress and her hair was pulled back in a bun and then hung loose down her back. He shook his head "I'm sorry I came here unexpectedly, but I came to ask you for… let's say, a reward for your task"

A reward? That was all about? A stupid reward?!

"Wasn't let you live for breaking into my castle enough for you?" she asked bitterly.

"That depends in my plans"

"And would that plans of yours be?" Maybe he'll ask for what others already had, a kiss or even a night with her. She rarely approved those wishes though.

"I was invited to a ball and… No, forget it. You probably have many important things to do…" he said looking away. Regina tilted her head.

"No, go on" she said taking a step forward.

He smirked.

He looked up at her meeting her gaze. She felt chills when she looked into those beautiful deep blue eyes.

"The daughter of a friend is getting married and there is a ball after the wedding. I was hoping to have the honor of you to be my companion"

"And don't you think it would be strange that a pirate and a"

"Maybe… But they're royalty in their land"

"Hum… where do you say this ball is?" she asked indifferently

"There comes the complicated part" she raised an eyebrow "It's in two days, in Neverland. If you accept, we should leave tonight"

Regina turned around and sat by her bureau and thought of it for a moment. It's been a long time since her last trip, but she really wanted to get out of that castle so badly, she wanted to go away from her obligations, the curse, and mostly from the people she hated. She then turned her head to Hook and smirked "I accept your offer, Captain"