A/N: As always, I own nothing. What I would do if I owned Rumple...bad thoughts. Anyway, here's the second installment. If it's terrible, let me know.


Regina looked around, confused. Where was she? Her eyes fought to find something to focus on, and when they did, she fought the urge to scream. Brown eyes roamed over the pale skin, the thin frame, and the hands that could only belong to one person. Herself. What was going on? The last thing she remembered was…Gold.

She dimly remembered him being in her room, the hushed conversation, the kiss…the potion! Memories flashed before her eyes and she saw herself swallowing the potion, grasping his wrist and being lowered to the ground. But…where was she now? She looked down at her own body, lying motionless in her bed, and wondered if there was a possibility that this was all a dream. It was only after she tore her eyes away from her face that she noticed him sitting in the chair next to her bed.

"Sleep well, Your Majesty," he whispered, leaning down to brush his lips against her forehead.

"Gold! What's going on? What have you done?"

He stood and made his way to the door never once looking her way.

"Gold! Wait! What happened to me?"

He kept walking and suddenly she knew. He couldn't see or hear her. She made her way out of the room, and she paused when she heard a fierce pounding at the door. She watched from a distance as Gold—Rumplestiltskin—she mentally corrected herself, opened the door, revealing a large group of people with Emma Swan standing at the front.

"Where is she?" Charming demanded,

"Her Majesty is currently, ah, incapacitated."

"What do you mean?"
Emma stepped forward and pushed her way into the house, completely ignoring the crowd behind her. She shut the door and whirled around to face Gold, her eyes blazing.

"What have you done?"

Regina watched as Emma stared silently down at her body, confusion written clearly on her face. Never before had she wanted so desperately for the sheriff to see her. She called her name even though she knew it was useless, but if she looked closely, she could have sworn Gold looked in her direction.

"What did you do?" Emma whispered.

"Me?" he said innocently, "I've done nothing. She did this to herself. It was her choice."

"You gave it to her."

He shrugged.

"I didn't make her take it. I merely supplied her with what she wanted."

"Fix it."

He gave her a knowing look, and Regina wanted to scream, to cry, to run, to do anything that might give Emma some kind of clue.

"I can't. As I told her, it cannot be undone."

"Any curse can be broken," Emma said softly before glaring at him and exiting the room.


As soon as she was far from the house, Gold closed the shades in the room and spoke, never taking his eyes away from the window.

"I hope you got what you wanted, Your Majesty."

He turned, and as his eyes locked with hers, Regina was overcome with fury.

"You can see me?"

He nodded.

"Of course, dear. They can't, but I can."

"What's going on?"

He smiled the mischievous smile she knew so well, and she fought the urge to scream.

"What you wished for. This is your escape. They won't harm you while you're like this."

"You tricked me," she whispered.

"You trusted me," he replied.

He moved closer and Regina automatically took a step back. Then again, she reasoned, was it even possible for her to be harmed in this state? He reached out and his fingertips softly caressed her cheek. She closed her eyes at the contact, and before she lost herself in his touch, she made herself pull away.

"I want to undo it."

"Regina. We had a deal. You knew the price."

"Tell me how."

He gave her a smile that she couldn't help but think of as pitying.

"You know how."

"True love's kiss," she whispered.

He let out a high-pitched laugh and nodded. Regina felt her heart sink as the truth set it. She was never going to wake. Not without-

"Daniel. Is he-?"

"No, dear. He's just as dead as you remember, Not even I can fix that."

"Then I'm trapped," she whispered.

"Are you?"

Regina's eyes widened in fury and she fought the urge to scream. How dare he mock her pain? Still, hadn't she done the same with Belle? She sighed and sank to the floor, burying her head in her hands. She fought the tears that threatened to escape and ran a shaking hand through her hair. She had done this to herself, but there had to be a way to break the curse. She noticed Rumplestiltskin as he tried to slip quietly from the room and stood.

"Wait, Does the love have to be mutual?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Can it just be someone I love, or does it have to be someone I love that loves me in return? Or can it just be someone who loves me?"

"I'm surprised that you even asked such a question. It must be mutual, you know that."

"But, without Daniel, how can I undo it?"

Silence was her only answer, and before she knew what she was doing, she had reached forward to grasp his arm. He flinched, turning at the sudden unexpected contact, and looked into her eyes. She could clearly see the confusion there, and wondered if her own eyes reflected her fear.

"Please. Tell me. I need to know. Please."

Please... the one word that had given him so much power over her. The one word that he had never expected her to use. The word that caused him to give her the answer she so desperately desired.

"Kiss me."


Review, please?