10 years ago in Storybrooke, Maine
"Mr. Gold." Regina nodds to the older man when she enters his shop on the main street of Storybrooke. It's been 18 years since she cast The Dark Curse to create this little town in a forgotten corner in Maine.
"Madame Mayor." The man in question returns her nodd. "What can I do for you on this lovely day?" For the last 18 years, every day has been the same for the inhabitants of the town. No one realises it though. Regina Mills, Queen of The Enchanted Forest, cast The Dark Curse because she needed to get out of the life that was forced on her. She never wanted any of it. She never wanted to be Queen. She never wanted to be his wife. All she wanted was to be free and happy. Unfortunately for her, this was never in her cards.
"I want a child and I need your help."
"Well, I'm flattered, but not interested." Little imp, Regina thinks to herself. He's always been a bully, even in The Enchanted Forest. Back there she needed to get dark, needed to become evil. It was the only way out. Or so she thought. Regina really thought this life could be her happy ending. She thought if she was in control, if she created a town according to her wishes, and hers alone... She could be happy. But to cast The Dark Curse, she needed to be... well... Dark.
She went to Rumplestiltskin, better known as The Dark One back then, for help. She could have asked him to cast The Curse but then she wouldn't be in control herself. And for once she needed to be in control of her own life. So she let him train her. She allowed him to teach her everything about dark magic. She crossed lines she never imagined she'd ever cross. She let him convince her to kill the thing she loved most, in order to be able to cast The Curse.
She really thought she could have her happy ending in Storybrooke. But what's life if every day is the same? If everyone does what you ask of them, but only because they're afraid of you, of your power as Mayor, and not because they want to? And what is life if you have no one to share it with?
"Not like that. I want to adopt." Regina sneers.
"Of course you do." Mr. Gold smirks. Regina always wondered if he remembers. Because of The Dark Curse, no one remembers their precious life in The Enchanted Forest, but Regina always wondered if he, if Mr. Gold remembers.
"You can get me a child, can't you? You have all the knowledge when it comes to rules and laws and contracts. You must know a way to help me."
"Only if you say please... Please." Mr. Gold looks Regina straight in the eyes. He loves this little agreement he made with The Queen, or better The Evil Queen, before she cast The Curse. She has to do everything he says, as long as he says please. The woman in front of him was such a naive little girl when she sought him out for help. She really believed he wouldn't remember anything of his life in The Enchanted Forest. It makes her... attractive in some way.
"Please." Regina's eyes narrow in anger. This is exactly why she thinks Gold does remember.
"What's in it for me?" Mr. Gold wants to know.
Regina knew he was going to ask this question. She has long thought about it so she doesn't hesitate when she answers him. "I owe you one." Mr. Gold smiles. This is exactly what he wanted to hear.
