Disclaimer: see first chapter.

Regina's pov

A couple of weeks after the dinner at the manor, I found myself sitting waiting for Ms. Swan and Mr. Cassidy as our son spent the day with his grandparents. I should probably start thinking of those two as Emma and Neal, shouldn't I? After that dinner, the three of us didn't talk about Emma's unique ability being a fluke or not. I looked down at my phone were there was a text from the Sheriff directed towards myself and Neal. It read, 'meet at the docks, my parents will watch Henry.'

I was drawn out of my thoughts when three voices sounded from behind me. Looking up I noticed Emma flanked by Neal and oddly enough Hook. I smirked at the annoyed look on Neal's and Emma's faces as Hook shamelessly flirted with the Sheriff. "Killian, be a dear and stop bothering my Sheriff."

Hook looked towards me as he bowed, "Of course, Your Majesty."

Neal teased lightly, "Your Sheriff?"

"Well technically, I am her Sheriff," Emma continued the joke, "she is the Mayor."

I rolled my eyes at them, "Enough, why did you want to meet here Sheriff Swan?" Glancing at the pirate, "And what are you doing here Killian?"

Hook smirked, "I was annoying Baefire and Swan."

"Regina," Emma called my attention to her as she rolled her eyes at the pirate's response, "remember that conversation from dinner?"

Neal and I shared a look before answering together, "Yes?"

Shoving her fists into her jacket pockets, Emma said, "I want to find out if it was a fluke or not." I watched as she rocked back on her heels.

Neal blinked, "Um, Ems this can easily go one of two ways and I don't think Henry wants either of his moms hurt."

I noticed Hook observing the conversation when a thought crossed my mind, "Neal, Emma, what if someone else tried in a controlled setting?"

Emma turned towards me asking, "What do you mean?"

I moved over to Hook grabbed his left arm before re-enchanting his hook with the ability to take hearts. Turning back to the Savior with a wicked grin, "What I mean dear is what if our friendly pirate was to try?"

"Um can he actually take hearts?" Neal asked in confusion.

"I have the ability to enchant an object like say," gesturing to the hook, "his hook to be able to take ONE heart. I've done it before when I originally sent him after my mother."

Hook pulls away, "Oi, I don't think so, your majesty." The Captain started to walk away but Neal grabbed him.

"I think we should test it." Emma nodded.

Hook sneered at the three of us but did as was requested. His hook slide into Emma's chest with little difficulties but as he tugged, the heart wouldn't budge. I watched in stunned silence as after the third tug, Hook was blasted away. Neal and I gave a disbelieved laugh as Hook landed in the water.

Neal spoke, "Well, it looks like it's not a fluke."

Emma gave a thoughtful look before turning to me saying, "Give it a try."

"Emma, two out of two times the person trying to take your heart got blasted away. Why do you think I would be any different?" I asked.

"Because for a second when Hook pulled it felt like it wanted to come out. And not once when your mother did it, did I feel like my heart would come out."

I found myself thinking over the magic theory that I read up on after becoming Rumple's apprentice. Some magic users can find their counterbalance and only their counterbalance would blend with the magic user's own magic. In theory it is similar to true love, once the magic has blended then either magic user or counterbalance can almost taste when the other's magic is or was used on an object.

Coming out of my thoughts I found Hook looking like a drowned puppy watching me along side Neal and Emma. "Say I try this, what do you think will happen?"

Emma replied, "Well you may be able to take my heart and if not, Neal will stand behind you to keep you from getting hurt."

I rolled my eyes as Neal moved behind me and Emma moved to stand right in front of me. I placed my right hand over Emma's heart. Keeping eye contact with the Savior, I allowed my hand to slide into her chest cavity. Gently grabbing Emma's heart, I pulled my hand clear and sure enough there in my hand rested the Savior's heart.

I felt Neal step up behind me; I turned to look at him. We shared a look before he grasps my wrist and between the two of us we returned Emma's heart to her chest.

So it would appear that Ms. Swan is my counterbalance. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I mean I knew on a subconscious level ever since the hat but it didn't really stick even with stopping the diamond.