(A/N: Hey guys! It's been a while and I'm sorry I haven't gotten to any of your reviews yet! I left you on quite a cliffie didn't I? Hoho I am so evil. Fear not, this chapter will not end on a cliff hanger-it will just destroy your hearts! Enjoy!)

"Rumplestiltskin?"

Groggy and obviously annoyed, there was a hint of ever-slight concern at the choke to the other's voice. "Regina? What the hell is going on? It's the middle of the night. This better be important. ...Regina?"

The moment she heard his voice she froze, unblinking. The vibrations to her voice chords clogged in her throat and she could hardly even breathe into the phone. The only indication that she hadn't turned into a living statue was how she gripped the phone tighter by the moment.

"Regina? Regina? Is that you? Regina!"

With bared teeth Regina pressed End and hurled her phone at the wall in a rage. She heard the screen split like ice and fell against her headboard angrily. She gripped her pillow for comfort, holding it tightly. There was no one to talk to about this, no company but the darkness.

She could call Snow again, but she knew enough about newborns to know how precious sleep was in this stage. Emma was definitely still three sheets to the wind and she suspected her own forest boy wasn't far behind. She had to reach out to someone.

Making her way over to her phone she examined it. Still alive, still functioning and lit up, just with an array of cracks all over the screen. She brushed away a few pieces of glass and dialled. Damn, answering machine.

"Hey Emma. Perhaps it's best that I got voice mail," Regina said sarcastically. "You're probably hugging a toilet right now. I need to talk to you tomorrow, so when you're done projectile vomiting all over your mother's coffee table, meet me at Granny's at noon. It's..." She shouldn't launch into it over the phone. "It's about the findings from the vault."

There were bags under her eyes, but still the usual sass on her face as she smirked at her dishevelled friend who practically dragged herself over to the counter. "Emma!" she greeted with a purr. "I thought you weren't coming. I ordered a beer for you. Thought you might like it with your grilled cheese."

"Screw off Regina," the blonde groaned as her head fell forward in her arms.

The brunette gave what almost sounded like a giggle, tilting her head mockingly towards the younger. "Would you like some bacon as a side? It's delicious-nice and greasy, and fatty-"

"I will punch you in your freaking face, don't test me."

She stopped the teasing with an impish smile and a little shrug. "Fine. How's the nausea?"

"It was better until you mentioned bacon." She gave a small gagging noise.

"Well what have we learned from this then?" Regina asked, as if she was preaching to a five year old. "Getting drunk is bad."

"I'm seriously about an insult away from walking out of here and leaving you with the bill," Emma growled, lifting her blazing eyes to glare at the older woman. "Seriously, what do you want? What did you find in the vault and can it help my headache?"

At that Regina had to laugh. "If anything, I think this will worsen it."

"So what's going on then?" Emma pressed. "What did you find there?" She suddenly realized her best friend had gone completely frozen. "...Regina?"

The woman was stock still and just staring behind Emma as if she saw a ghost. Emma almost thought that's what it could be until she spun around and saw Rumplestiltskin. She looked from the queen to the man. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen Regina look that way with him. Usually when she saw him she'd crinkle her nose like she smelled something awful; right now she just looked like...a lost little girl.

"Regina?"

Rumple walked up to the queen, glaring at her. "What was last night about? Why did you call me?"

Emma looked even more confused, staring back and forth between them. Regina was panicked.

"I...oh, it was nothing." What was she going to tell him, that she had a nightmare and needed Daddy's comfort? "I was...I was exhausted. Had a few... Sorry." He didn't look convinced and kept glaring at her. She looked up at him. "What about you?" she asked, almost hopeful. "What are you here for?"

His brows furrowed and he shook his head, quiet for a long moment as he looked at the diner, as if trying to remind her where they were. "...I want French Toast."

"Oh!" Realization kicked her out of juvenile stupidity and she lowered her eyes, quite sure her face was red. "I won't keep you then. Go...get your French Toast." He stood there and then slowly walked away, probably thinking she was about as stupid as she was sure she was.

"What the hell was that about?" Emma demanded quietly, more confused then ever. "What did you call him for?...Regina?" The other woman had grown sickly pale and she trembled. "Regina?" The moment Emma reached out to touch her arm she bolted to the bathroom and Emma followed fast.

"Regina!"

Emma gaped as she saw the queen bent over the toilet heaving into it. "Whoa, I thought I was the hungover one!" she yelped. The sound of the other heaving was enough to make her own stomach roll, but she stayed rooted to the spot. "Regina?"

Regina pulled herself up from the toilet and she was still trembling like a leaf and pale as a bed sheet. She had to grip the bathroom counter for leverage and even that didn't seem to be enough.

"Regina!" Emma demanded, sharper. "What the hell? You been gulping a secret stash of liquor I don't know? You look like hell," she commented bluntly. "And again, what the hell was Gold going on about? You called him last night? Why?"

"I needed him!" Regina blurted without thinking and cursed quietly.

"Wha—for what?" Emma spluttered, stunned. "What happened? Is something going on that you aren't telling me?" Regina shoved the crumpled envelope at her and Emma scanned through it. She had barely even gotten passed the first few lines before she dropped it with a loud curse.

"WHOA! What the fuck!"

"Keep it down would you!" Regina snapped. "I don't think the rest of the diner needs to know that our family really has turned into an afternoon soap opera!"

Emma pursed her lips shut, despite the fact it was clear that the woman was dying to scream some things. She read the letter again, shook her head and sat down on the counter. "Damn. What are you going to do?"

"I don't know..." She backed up against the wall and slid down it into a helpless little ball. "I really don't know." She put her head in her hands.

"How can we know if this is legit?" Emma asked. "Maybe your Mom was just trying to mess with you more. We all know how much she loved mind games. There's gotta be some sort of way to...I don't know, test this."

"Mother attached this potion to break the lock." Regina slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out the small blue potion bottle. She turned it over in her hands. "If I use it I'd know for sure..."

"So use it then," Emma urged.

"It's not that simple. I need some sort of object to pour it on. I need a charm that's used for blood magic. If I had a drop of his blood I could mix it with mine in a spell. If it glowed we would know." She wrinkled her nose. "I don't think he'd be too generous in letting us stab him with something sharp though."

Emma was quiet for a moment and chewed on her fingernail in thought. She still didn't know enough about all this magic crap to have a solution to this. Her main knowledge on the subject most of her life came from Disney and rabbits in hats. "What about that weird globe thing he has? The one he used to locate Henry in Neverland?"

"It's somewhere in the labyrinth of junk in his shop," Regina huffed. "And protected by Belle the guard dog."

Emma rolled her eyes a little but smirked. "Seeing as how it's to reunite a long last father and daughter," she began sweetly under her friend's acid glare. "I think I can help with that."

"Oh can you?"

"Maybe." Emma pulled her up. "But you owe me for it. Say like, a round on our next shot night?"

"Don't you think you've had enough of that?" Regina scoffed. "You're going to wind up being the new town drunk."

"Tch...in this town you need it."

Belle didn't really understand just how much work the pawnshop would become until she handled it on her own. So many potions, vases, dusty old wands and candles... It was ridiculously hard to handle all of it alone sometimes. Now and then Belle contemplated just selling the old place, but she could never do that to her husband, no matter how things were between them.

Besides...she couldn't deny that all of these artefacts fascinated her. She knew almost all of them from when they set upon a dusty shelf in a castle. They had all managed to survive through time and the slew of curses that fell on this town. They told the stories of so many people, and even her husband.

A belle tinkled and Belle looked up to see the friendly face of Emma poking into the doorway. "Emma!" she beamed. "I haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?"

"Oh...you know," the blonde drawled like it was completely normal. "Curses, evil pregnant witches, best friends that turn to dragons and psychopathic divas. That's life for you." She shrugged. "What are you gonna do?"

Belle winced. "Well things are pretty slow this morning. I'm taking inventory."

"Oh slow, good!" Emma chirped, striding over. "My mom was wondering if you wanted to come over to babysit Neal this afternoon and probably have sandwiches and the new cobbler she made. I bet Henry would love to see you too, show him the new video game his pirate buddy spoiled him with." She rolled her eyes. "Never gonna get him out of the apartment now."

Belle laughed. "Oh Emma, I'd love to, but..." She sighed. "I really do have to do inventory. You have no idea how much is in this shop, buried somewhere under the dust."

Emma gave a nod and absently played with her hair. "That's too bad, because my Mom was house cleaning yesterday and found a bunch of old, pretty cool looking things from the castle. Guess it got carried over with the curse? She was thinking of letting you have it." She smirked when Belle looked up.

"What sort of things?"

"Old books, ornaments. I think she said we've got something that belonged to one of the first fairies?" She started to walk out. "But, if you're too busy..."

"Wait!" Belle hesitated. "...Well maybe I can afford to take a little bit of time off. I do want to try that cobbler of hers." She smiled. Emma did a secret fist pump.

"Great, I'm sure Mom will be grateful for the company." Emma swung open the shop door, and it was really not hard to see the tuft of brown hair hiding behind a tree. Geez this whole Rumpler-father thing was impacting her a lot; she was worse then a five year old during hide and seek.

Now was her cue... No one was around. Her heart was pounding, she could hardly breathe. It felt like one of the biggest moments of her life next to when she met Henry. In this moment she was going to find out if she potentially had any blood relatives (that didn't want her dead) left on this earth. ...But she'd never know if she didn't act quickly.

Regina bolted into the shop and slammed and locked the door like it would really do something. She didn't have much time to lose, and she had no idea where to look first. Damn imp had stuff absolutely everywhere.

Where could it be? The vault perhaps? She had no idea where the key was. Magic, you idiot, she reminded herself and rushed over to the safe in the wall. It took the mere jerk of her hand and a flash of purple for the lock to fall to the floor. Regina began digging through the wall, pulling out different things and placing them on the counter. She found the crystallized globe with a tattered shawl wrapped around it.

Somehow Regina recognized the ugly thing, and its importance. She picked up the shawl, eyes lowered as she mourned the brother she never had a chance to know. Oh so much she had possibly missed of her life...

Suddenly, a sharp pain seized her like thorns were wrapped around her middle. Black barbs, radiating with dark magic. Regina jerked to a stop as the black magic took hold of her. It felt like it was suctioning out her oxygen. She could feel the imp's eyes on her back even from where he lurked in the shadows. Every time she tried to turn around the binds on her tightened and she cried out in pain.

"Well well, this is a treat," Rumple purred viciously. His teeth glinted like daggers. "If there was anyone I wouldn't put past to steal from The Dark One it'd be you." He waved his hand and the pain worsened.

"Who says I'm stealing?" Regina asked, trying to keep her voice calm. She held her chin up high, glaring and trying to show that she wasn't intimidated. "You're pretty quick to jump to conclusions."

He snorted. "Do you think I'm daft? I've seen the way you've been prowling after me. Calling me in the middle of the night? And now... sneaking into my shop with the aid of Miss Swan? There's something you want from me your majesty, and we both know that. Why don't you come clean instead of snooping?"

"Maybe you wouldn't believe me," Regina answered wryly. Rumple smirked and waved his hand. A force of magic pushed Regina aside and revealed the counter behind her. On it sat the large crystallized globe "I have to admit, I'm puzzled. This is the last thing I expected you to try and take from me. What do you need of my globe? If you want to check on your insane sister's where-a-bouts you do know the hospital has both visiting hours and tight security."

"I know," Regina snapped, and for her vehemence the binds became even tighter.

"So what do you want it for then?" Rumple demanded, seemingly determined to drive the knife in as deep as he could. "You have no other blood ties in this town, you know that. Other then your son and precious Robin Hood you're alone."

He was surprised and admittedly confused when that didn't elect the angry outburst that he thought it would. She turned to him and the expression on her face was something he hadn't seen before in a long time. ...Hope.

"Maybe I have more then you think."

The man stared at her for a few moments, eyes trying to read her like he was normally able to do.

Regina's tense gaze never left his face and slowly, the man lowered his hand. The magic binds on the woman loosened until it disappeared.

"Enlighten me then," Rumple said, his eyes narrowed and his head tilted like an owl. "Who are you trying to find on this globe?"

Regina didn't respond but after a moment she reached into her pocket and pulled out the small bottle. She toyed with it in her hands before she looked at him. "Have you ever heard of a spell that's capable of blocking all proof of relations?" she asked suddenly. "And it can...help keep the largest of secrets."

His eyes widened and he stared at her, and then the bottle. "Yes," he answered. "A blood lock spell. They're...very difficult spells and need a highly skilled caster to create them." His eyes seemed to widen more, like he wanted to ask more but wasn't sure what to say.

Regina quietly uncorked the strange potion. It glistened blue and she reached over to the globe. He didn't stop her and just stared as she emptied the bottle. The liquid splashed down over the crystal and it started to glow a bright blue. It disappeared after a moment and they both exchanged a look. Without saying a word Regina pressed her thumb against the sharp tip and flicked a spot of blood onto the artefact.

A red cloud swirled around the globe and a red dot appeared over Maine. After a moment and baited breath, a second one appeared. Regina gripped the counter so hard that her knuckles turned white. Her face did too. Rumple stared at her, but before he could ask a question she handed him the letter. He took it with shaky hands.

His knees grew weaker and weaker as he scanned every word, and all color drained from his face. With a great stagger he fell backwards into a book shelf and she watched him. She didn't even have it in her to laugh right now.

"It..." He shook his head. "It isn't possible. It can't be." But no matter how much he read it, it didn't make it any less true. And that dot on the globe would not go away. "It can't be. It..." Did he seriously have another child? A daughter? "You're my...?" Rumple buckled forward, his knees giving way in shock. The ground came rushing up to his face and he was held up in leather arms before he met the floor. He staggered forward and his searching eyes met Regina's. And for the first time they held no malice, no underlying scorn and condescension. Her eyes didn't either.

Her fingernails gripped the fabric of his clothing and just about tore through it. The weak man staggered forward until his face crushed up against Regina's chest and she found her arms around him, trying to help him stay upright. And for the first time in their life they interacted in a way that wasn't meant to cause any pain. Her arms were tight around him as his brittle legs threatened to give way. Her head bowed forward slightly, until her face was pressed against his chest. So warm, so much different then she ever imagined it'd be...

"Regina..." Rumple began, a desperate plead. He was cut off by her harsh, trembling snarl.

"Don't."

"Regina," he started again. The woman shoved a hand hard against his chest and almost sent him tumbling into the wall. He gathered his bearings and tried to reach to her, but she pulled away and his nails just barely brushed her shoulder.

"Just don't." Her head bowed into her prone form, arms wrapped herself in comfort. She couldn't bring herself to look at the man behind her. Just knowing he was there brought a type of pain she didn't think he could ever invoke from her.

"Please just let me say something," Rumple continued, his tone hushed. "...Regina, if I had known..."

"Well you didn't!" the woman snapped. "Neither of us did so why don't we just drop this and pretend that it never happened? We've lived our lives perfectly content with hating each other so we may as well resume that! It's not like either of us had any relationships with our parents anyway. My mother was an abusive controlling psycho that had my life micro managed before I was born and my father...he never did anything to stop her! And yours!" She paused, waved her hand. "Well yours is another story. Neither of us were meant to have parents that love us. So don't even bother."

"You're right, we've both been treated awfully by our parents, but...there's still a chance to change all of that. One of us should at least get the chance to have a caring parent."

"And what? That's what YOU are?" Regina gave a scornful laugh, but the tears betrayed her indifference. "Look at everything you've done, Rumple! You've defecated all over your son's memory!" His face twisted with pain. "I think you've already done enough to screw me up! Don't you?"

"If you don't want anything to do with me then why did you come here?" Rumple pressed, hopeful. "If you're content to hate me forever then it shouldn't matter whether you know or not. You wanted the globe so badly you broke into my shop."

"So?" Regina snapped. "I can't stand secrets being kept from me. Surely we both know this; I hate not knowing everything, especially it it concerns with my life!"

"Why did you want to know?" Rumple demanded more urgently. "Why did you need to have confirmation that you're my daughter? Why were you so desperate for an answer if you don't want me in your life-"

"IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" the woman roared and a force of magic sent him slamming back into the counter. He grimaced and gripped the wood, staring back at the queen. Her face was turned up into a furious snarl and there were tears in her eyes. "Why I want to know is my business and mine only! And now that I do know, we're done with this conversation. And I'm done with you."

"Regina..." Regina shoved him again, hard against the wall. It was probably the one and only time she'd ever get away with doing something like that to the Dark One. "Leave me alone, you imp."

Rumple stepped forward to say something, to call her back, but the door slammed in his face before he could.