Three and a half months. That's how long she waited, biding her back and forth, formulating a plan. Her first plan had failed, but she was not to be stopped. She lifted the Dark One's dagger in the air and spoke the words she had been waiting to speak for months. "Dark One, I summon thee."
"So this is where you have been hiding." He appeared behind her smirking.
"Oh but that is all about to change." She rubbed her hand down his cheek. "Come. We have work to do."
"I did my part last time. It's not my problem that you failed. I want my dagger back." He hissed with a clenched jaw.
"Oh Dark One, your work has just begun. My dear sister will pay for everything she has done and then you will too." She laughed leading him deeper into a cave at the beach.
"Regina has done nothing to you. However, you must have set the world record for longest pity party ever." He laughed.
"Oh shut up Rumple!" Zelena hissed. "You're one to talk!"
"What do you want from me Zelena?" He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"I want you to bring me the boy."
"What boy?" Rumple's voice was barely above a whisper.
"Henry of course." She giggled.
"I won't do it. You can plunge that dagger into my heart right now. I will not do that. You killed my son. I will not betray Bae by causing any harm to my grandson." Rumple was now standing just inches from Zelena.
She stood for a moment considering his words. "Fine. Bring me the blonde. The one with the inflated sense of self worth. Oh what does she call herself again...the Hero?"
"The Savior." Rumple corrected her.
"Whatever. It doesn't matter. Just bring her, you have three days." Zelena waved him off.
Two days later the Dark One sat on a bench at the edge of the park out of view. He watched the happy family laughing and enjoying the beautiful day. Robin and Regina sat on a blanket with their three daughters watching Henry and Roland chase each other around the park. He could hear the sound of Regina laughing. It wasn't something he had really heard before. Of course he had heard her laugh, but it was the menacing laugh of the Evil Queen he had heard. This was different. It was ringing through the park with such joy it made him smile.
The broken shell of a woman that she used to be had been replaced by a remarkably strong woman. Her laugh ringing through the air soothed his tired soul. It danced like a song through the trees. After a lifetime of playing heroes and villains, she had finally found the side she was always meant to be on. Again this revelation brought a smile to his face. He himself had added to her heartache and pain throughout the years and he was truly begininng to see the error of his ways where Regina was concerned. He had only been interested in power and in dong whatever suited him or even just what humored him at times. Now he found himself wishing he could find a way out of what he had to do next.
"Enjoying yourself?" A voice brought him from his reverie.
"Well I was." He responded dryly.
"You have something I want. Are you going to give me what I came for or are we going to have a problem?" The woman asked with a voice like silk.
"I don't know what you're referring to." He lied.
"We'll see about that. If you don't give me what I want this will be the last time you hear laughter from her."
"I have bigger problems than you right now Maleficent." He stated flatly never bothering to turn and look at her.
"I highly doubt that." She laughed and disappeared.
He sat a few minutes longer watching Regina with her new family before heading back to his shop. He had things he had to take care of. There was a storm brewing in Storybrooke...again.
Please review. Let me know what you think. This story will have a lot going on at once!