Regina was awaiting the return of her would be assassin Killian Jones. Regina had made the mistake before in sending the Huntsman to kill Snow White without knowing his background. She should have known that a man who hunted animals wasn't necessarily good at hunting people. Pirates on the other hand have no qualms about killing other people. Killian had shown that when he attempted to coldly murder Belle but Regina wasn't prepared to send him out to kill her mother without testing him first.
Regina had done her research into the good captain. She had first heard his name from one of her acquaintances the sea witch Ursula. Ursula had her own personal vendetta against the pirate for taking her singing voice. She had told Regina how the pirate made her feel sorry for him by telling her a sad tale of how the Dark One had killed his true love. After making her own inquiries Regina knew it to be true and this intrigued her. Regina had learned long ago that compassion was weakness but she couldn't help but feel sympathetic to his aim. They were both driven by loss and a need for revenge.
"Your majesty." The former huntsman interrupted, "The pirate has returned."
"Send him in and leave us." Regina ordered. The Huntsman hesitated but did what he was told. Killian walked in looking worst for wear though Regina supposed it was understandable, he had just killed his father after all. "Judging by the look on your face the task was accomplished."
"I'd rather not speak about it." Killian took flask out of his pocket and began to drink.
Regina got up and poured a drink from a decanter and offered it to Hook. "Here you might find this more to your liking."
"I'd rather like to just get on with it your majesty." Killian didn't know what game she was playing but he knew better than to underestimate her.
Regina sighed and sat down in her chair. She could just send him on his way but something held her back. Against her better judgment she had decided to share with Killian a bit about her past. "You once asked me what my mother had done to warrant such a brutal act."
"You don't have to tell me your majesty." Killian didn't want to know; he just wanted to finish the job and then have his revenge.
"But you should hear this, what I'm about to tell you I haven't told anyone." Regina had shared small bits and pieces with the Huntsman because he asked but she had never shared the full details.
"I'm flattered love, truly."
Killian was cautious which Regina thought was good trait to have if he were to face her mother. "I was in love once, with a man my mother never approved of. She ripped out his heart in front of me and crushed it in her hands." Killian wasn't sure whether to believe the queen but by the look on the woman's face he knew that what she was saying was true. The look on Regina's face matched the one on his own when he looked in the mirror every morning. The look of complete helplessness, the feeling that you could have stopped it and the desire to make that person who caused your suffering pay. Killian sat down and joined the queen for drink. Tomorrow would be the time for vengeance but tonight he would enjoy the company of the woman who understood his pain.
Belle had walked out of Merlins' room where Regina spent most of the day working to save Emma. They had found Emma but she was in a bad way. She was threatening to crush the heart of a complete stranger. Rumple looked completely natural when dealing with the darkness but with Emma it didn't look right.
Belle didn't know what Rumple had been like before the curse, the only one who did was Killian and there was no way he was going to volunteer that information. Belle couldn't believe his hypocrisy, the way he was so attentive to Emma's plight but showed no sympathy to the man who was responsible for Milah's death. Thinking about it logically Rumpelstiltskin couldn't have been the Dark One that long when he had killed Milah and given the fact that at the time he had just lost Baelfire it was no surprise that Milah was killed in his anger.
Belle noticed the pirate heading towards Merlins' room, he better not be trying to bother Regina, Belle thought. Her step daughter had been working really hard to help Emma barely eating or sleeping. Henry was becoming very concerned, he had already felt he was losing one mother to the darkness; he didn't want his other mother to lose herself trying to save Emma. Belle had tried to reassure Henry that she was doing all she could to help Regina save Emma but the pirate and the Charmings continued to pile on the pressure. Belle had managed to convince the Charmings to let Regina work in peace but the pirate was getting too persistent and constantly badgered Regina for results. "You know Killian, Regina isn't going to help Emma any faster with you hounding her all the time."
"I didn't want to talk to Regina about that." Killian said, "I want to talk to her about using the dagger for her own gain."
Belle knew what incident he was referring to. They had been only in King Arthurs' court for a day when someone had attempted to assassinate Regina. He would have succeeded if Belle hadn't pushed her step daughter out of harm's way and thus getting herself stabbed in the process. Regina tried to save Belle herself but the dagger used was designed to prevent Regina from using her magic. Desperate Regina asked Emma for assistance they didn't know what price was paid to save Belle but Killian wasn't happy that they had risked Emma's sanity by allowing her to use the Dark Ones powers. "Regina didn't use the dagger to force Emma to save me." Belle stated "Regina asked Emma for help." Killian wasn't prepared to listen to Belle and continued on his way until she stopped him. "I can understand how you feel Killian but taking out your frustration on Regina isn't going the help Emma." Killian continued on his way as if he hadn't heard her.
Regina marched to the docks in a fury. Her mother had paid Regina a visit claiming to have changed. It was only after Cora had systematically destroyed what little standing she had left in Storybrooke. This was exactly what she wanted to avoid but she knew who to blame.
Ursula had told Regina that the pirate couldn't be trusted but what did Regina do? Not only did she show weakness in front of the pirate but she actually allowed him into her bed. It had to be the drink Regina thought, there was no conceivable way she would ever allow that filthy pirate to touch her. She should have known something was wrong when she had cast the curse and Killian Jones was nowhere to be found. Now Regina's mother was here and if what Emma said was correct about Hook working with Cora then Regina knew exactly where to find him.
Killian paled when he saw her. The Huntsman he had met in the Enchanted Forest told him what would happen if she had found out he had failed to complete his objective. Obviously Regina felt that magic was too good for him as she begin use her fists to hit him whilst uttering a string of swear words at him. He honestly found her fiery temper attractive and was surprised that a woman who relied on magic could hit so hard. He grabbed her wrist and wrapped his other arm around her waist in an effort to restrain her. "Regina stop."
"It's your majesty you piece of filth!" Regina spat and continued to struggle against him.
Killian was amused by the hot headed queens' behaviour but he felt he had to calm her down before she started using her magic to destroy him. "Listen love, I tried ripping out your mothers' heart just as you suggested but it wasn't there."
"Then why are you still alive?" Regina growled.
This caused Killian to pause, there was no way he could tell her that her mother had made a counter offer to kill Regina. He liked Regina but he was a survivalist, Cora had made it impossible to refuse her offer so instead he had decided to go on the defensive. "Don't pretend that you were the only one betrayed in this deal." He turned Regina around forcing her to look him in the eye, "You failed to mention that when we arrived in this new land I would be without my memories. How was I supposed to bloody avenge Milahs' death without knowing who I am?"
"Well helping my mother didn't get you any closer to killing the Dark One did it?" Regina snapped, "Rumple has his magic back, you don't stand a chance against him."
"I will when I have the Kris dagger and then I will end him." Killian smiled and was about to walk away when Regina grabbed his arm.
"You can't!" Regina pulled his arm to face her. "If you use that dagger to kill him you'll take his place as the new Dark One." Regina knew that Rumple had centuries to control the darkness; Regina had only a taste of the darkness and knew how dangerously addictive it could be.
"Don't worry love." Killian smirked at her, "As nice as it would be having all that power, I have no need of it."
"No you won't need it but you'll use it anyway!" Regina knew Killian didn't understand but she had to try and convince him not to go through with it. "What if there was another way?" Regina didn't like the idea of helping the pirate kill her mentor but she had little choice. Regina had no allies and she couldn't stop her mother on her own.
"How?" Killian approached Regina pulling her close.
Regina didn't know whether it was a manipulation tactic or whether he was genuinely attracted to her but Regina wasn't going to let him get the better of her. Regina slid her hands up his arms onto his shoulders and then up to his head. She then leaned up to Killian and whispered seductively in his ear, "Are you going to finish what you started?"
Killian couldn't tell whether Regina was referring to the assassination attempt on her mother or if she was referring to that wonderful night in the Enchanted Forest but one thing for sure he was going to have her now. The pirate kissed the queen savagely and led her away to his ship.
Regina heard the door open, it was probably Belle encouraging her to eat and sleep. Emma didn't get to sleep being the Dark One so why should she. Belle had told Regina countless times that she wasn't to blame and that Emma had chosen to save her but Regina couldn't help but feel guilty. The pirate hadn't been making it easier always criticising on the way she was doing things.
Zelina enjoyed the show, Regina had used a silence spell preventing her sister revealing to King Arthurs' court that the Dark One was in the castle but it didn't stop the gleeful look on her sisters' face when she saw Hook snap at Regina. Regina saw Killian enter the room and decided to use her magic to send her sister to her room. She could cope with Hooks' comments but she didn't want to look at her sisters' smug face when he would storm out of the room in a huff.
"Where did you send her?" Hook asked.
"Not that it is any of your business pirate but I sent her to my room?" Regina said dismissively as she looked through one of Merlins' books.
"What if she finds the dagger?" Just because Zelina didn't have access to her magic didn't mean that she couldn't use the dagger to get Emma to help her gain freedom. Killian wasn't prepared to let that happen.
"I'm more concerned about Emma rifling through my things trying to get the dagger back." Regina replied, "She's done that more than once you know."
"And you just love having that power over her don't you?" Hook growled.
"You know what guy liner I'm just about getting sick of you!" Regina slamming book she was reading closed in a temper.
"Well I'm sick of watching Emma struggle with the curse while you're sitting around here doing nothing to fix it!" Hook shouted and was about to storm out when Regina used her magic to slam the door shut in his face. Regina began picking up the books she had been reading and started hurling them at Killians' head. Killian dodged them but Regina continued to throw objects as well as insults. Killian grabbed her before she could throw another, "Careful love you don't know what some of these items can do."
"Don't call me love you jackass!" Regina continued to struggle.
"Would you prefer your majesty?" Killian smirked enjoying the queens' hot headedness. Regina responded by elbowing him in the stomach and knocking him to the ground. Regina got on top of him and started to hit him. Killian rolled on top of her and pinned her on the ground and looked at her in the eyes. There was something familiar about this situation, something he couldn't put his finger on. All he knew in that moment he wanted her and so he kissed her. Regina knew it was wrong and it was dangerous kissing the new Dark One's boyfriend like this but there something familiar about the kiss but she couldn't for the life of her remember.
Regina had just left the mausoleum after laying her mother to rest. She still had been reeling from what she had discovered, Rumplestiltskin was her father. The last year of their relationship hadn't been a good one; he had already tried to kill her for how she had treated Belle but what about how he treated her? Rumple had corrupted her so that she could cast the curse and find his son. Her brother Neal or Baelfire was kind enough to help prepare for the funeral. It was odd, from the moment he had arrived he had watched Regina do unspeakable things but when he saw Regina crying over her mothers' corpse he was the only one to offer comfort the rest were way too afraid that she going to exact vengeance on those involved in her mothers' death. None of them except Neal saw it for what it was a daughter grieving for her mother.
Regina ran into someone she didn't expect to see Killian Jones. Their relationship was a complicated one. At first she thought it was just lust that brought them together but she had started to have feelings for the pirate. How would he react when he knew who her father was? Killian noticing Regina's conflicted look cupped her chin to get her to look at him. "Are you alright love?"
Regina noticed the concerned look on Killians' face and turned away. She saw a grave that she almost forgotten about, the last person she had killed as the Evil Queen, Graham. A lot of people believed that she used his heart to force him into her bed but that wasn't strictly true. Initially she had planned to do so but the awful memories of being married to the King resurfaced and she sent him away. The next day Graham had surprised her by asking her what had made her this way. No one had ever asked her that before but she didn't tell Graham the full truth like she had with Killian mainly because she didn't think he would understand. "Killian do you know what happened to the Huntsman?" she asked.
Killian had remembered the Huntsman warning him of the consequences for not following the queens' orders. It was strange on the one hand the Huntsman behaved like a prisoner but after he had left the queens' room the next morning to kill Cora the Huntsman had this look of an angry wolf protecting his pack. Did something happen between them?
Noticing that Killian was not going to answer she turned to the Huntmans' grave. "During the curse I was very lonely and we developed somewhat of a relationship. I didn't return his heart though I was frightened that he would leave me. As it turns out he didn't need his heart to leave me, all he needed was Emma Swan to help him remember who he was. I crushed his heart and he died in Emma's arms." Regina then looked at the horror in Killians' face. "Don't you see I'm not like you. I'm everything that you fight against and that is why we can no longer be together."
Regina had left Killian at the gravesite to allow him to process what he had been told not knowing that someone else was watching the events unfold."Your daughter and the pirate seem close."
Rumplestiltskin sighed it was voice he hadn't heard in centuries, "What do you want Zuso? I've embraced my darkness a long time ago."
Zuso smirked, "But your children have made you soft and weak."
"I will not listen to you." Rumple growled and turned to walk away. The last time he had listened to Zuso's advice regarding his child he had lost Bae to another world he would not make that same mistake again.
"The pirate will hurt her!" Zuso called back causing Rumple to stop in his tracks."You know as well as I that he wants revenge for his beloved Milah." Rumple remembered, Zuso was there but till this day he couldn't figure out whether his actions that day were his own or the Dark One's. Milah wasn't the only one miserable in that marriage, a part of the reason why didn't want to accept the pirates' challenge for Milah was partly because he wanted to be free of her not just cowardice. He remembered walking home that night somewhat relieved that she was gone but when he looked at his sons' face as he told him that his mother was dead Rumple had felt ashamed.
"What a better way to take that vengeance by pursuing your lovely daughter?" Zuso continued circling Rumple like a vulture. "And when he has her right where he wants her, he'll discard her and break her heart. You need to stop him now before he has the chance."
Rumple knew there was some truth to Zuso's words but he still had his doubts. "If I harm him Regina will never trust me again." Rumple knew his relationship with his daughter had fractured over the years and he wanted to make it up to her. It wouldn't be possible to mend their relationship if he harmed the man she had feelings for.
Zuso smiled evilly, he knew he had won. "There are other ways to ensure he never harms her." A dream catcher appeared in Rumple's hand.
Regina woke up on the floor in Merlins' room she turned and saw the pirate laying beside her. She then looked down at their state of undress horrified by what she had done. She got up quickly trying to cover herself up but her sudden movements caused Killian to stir. "Well good morning to you too your majesty."
"Do you have any idea what we have done?" Regina panicked. How could he be so casual about this? Regina scrambled to retrieve her clothing. Killian rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and it slowly began to dawn on him what had happened. He had slept with the queen. Regina flung a shirt in Killians' face trying to snap him out of the trance he found himself in. "Never if you value your life speak of this to anyone, especially Emma do you understand?" Emma was bad enough without her powers; Regina still remembered the fight they had over Graham. It would only be worse with the Dark One's power running through her veins.
"Believe me love no one understands the consequences of upsetting the Dark One more than I."Killian said putting his clothes on, "Let's just pretend it never happened."
"No arguments there." Regina said making her way to the door wanting to get as far away from the pirate as humanly possible. "It wasn't even that memorable anyway." Killian knew she was lying, the images of the night were burned into his brain but he dared not contradict her. Killian loved Emma, he pursued her long enough so why did he cheat on her? Could Regina have placed some spell on him? Though judging by the look of shock and horror on Regina's face this morning she was just as confused by what happened as he was. It could have been one the magical objects she had thrown at him shortly before it happened but he dismissed that as well. Killian knew tension was building between the two of them for awhile, it was only a matter of time before something happened, though he never expected this. He decided not to dwell on it whatever happened between them it had passed and it wasn't going to happen again.
Killian headed below deck on the Jolly Rodger to have a chance to talk to Regina. They had been sailing on their way to Neverland to rescue Henry from Pan. Killian supposed it was partly his fault for making that deal with Tamara and Greg. He never really wanted to be involved in what they were planning but shortly after Regina had left him at the Huntsmans' gravesite her saw her laughing and joking with Baelfire. Killian wasn't usually a jealous man but seeing Regina being so openly happy after she all but crushed his heart seemed to anger him. He had tricked her into believing that the Charmings' were threatening to take Henry away from her and in a panic she plotted with him to destroy the town. She didn't know that he had planned to hand her over to Tamara and Greg but he didn't know what they had planned for her. He tried to put it out of his mind until Baelfire had barged in on Killians' ship demanding to know what he had done with his sister did he realise his mistake.
Regina was the child of his most hated enemy Rumplestiltskin. She had never told him and that was why she had ended it between them. Regina knew she could never trust him not to use her to harm her family and Killian also knew he couldn't make her choose between them so she did what she thought was best and ended it. Killian knew an apology wouldn't be enough for what he had done to her nor would saving Henry but he had to try and make it up to her.
However there was one thing standing in his way. "And where do you think you're going?" Rumple was standing in front of the door to Regina's room glaring at the pirate. Rumple would have loved nothing more to end the pirate then and there but they had needed him to sail this ship and save Henry.
"It's none of your business crocodile." Killian went to push past Rumple but was thrown back by Rumple's magic.
"I'll think you'll find deary that my daughter is my business." Rumple had pinned Killian to the wall using his magic. There was no escape.
"Well, what are you waiting for crocodile?" Killian gasped, "Kill me just like you killed Milah or like Cora had killed Daniel."
Rumple approached the pirate curiously, "Regina told you about Daniel did she?"
"She told me everything." Killian said looking into the Dark One's eyes, "She even told me how you used her to cast the curse so that you could find Baelfire."
"I can see my daughter trusted you a great deal." Rumple smiled menacingly, "And yet knowing all this, knowing how hurt she was by the people who had broken her trust, you still betrayed her." Killian looked away in shame he knew Regina didn't trust easily but she had let him in and he had hurt her in the worst possible way. Rumple looked at the pirate satisfied that his words had affected him but he wasn't done yet. "I'm not going to kill you, I won't even make you lose another limb but I will alter your memories involving your relationship with my daughter."
"How will that hurt me?" Killian didn't understand, he thought Rumple wanted to make him suffer for harming his daughter. How could that happen if he didn't remember they were even together?
"It won't." Rumple stated making dream catcher appear in his hands. "Regina won't remember either. It would be like this whole sordid affair never happened." Killian began to struggle against the magical bonds as the dream catcher in Rumple's hands began to glow. All the memories of their time together had disappeared and in its place were new memories. As far as Regina and Killian knew they were business acquaintances nothing more. Killian had passed out and Rumple had released the magical bonds dropping the pirate to the ground. As far as Rumple was concerned his daughter was now safe.
Rumple had disappeared when he heard Emma's footsteps come below deck. Emma scowled at the pirate lying in the corridor. He was supposed to retrieve Regina so they could discuss plans for saving Henry not get drunk and pass out. Emma tried gently kicking him awake but she was realising that it was having little effect. She crouched down so she was eye level with the pirate and slapped him hard across the face. This obviously had the desired effect as Killian awoke instantly. Killian held his face in pain and looked into Emma's angry eyes. "When you are finished resting I need your help getting to the island." Emma stood up from her crouching position, "And don't worry I'll get Regina myself since you're so obviously busy." The Saviour stormed off to retrieve the queen leaving a mesmerized Captain Hook. Killian didn't know much about this Saviour but one thing he did know she was beautiful when she was angry.