i haven't forgotten about this one :) let me know what you're thinkin xxx

Regina woke to a slight headache, the wine she'd had the night before at dinner leave her a little dry mouthed. She groaned at the sunlight peeping in her bedroom curtains, wished it would go away so she wouldn't have to face another day. Her eyes remained shut in protest, rolling from her back towards the middle of her bed to sprawl on her stomach, realization of last night's activities hitting her when she landed on a hard body.

Her eyes popped open, an instant frown appearing on her brow when she heard a grunt from said body in her bed beneath her, finding herself face to face with James, "What are you still doing here?" She griped, voice groggy from sleep.

James groaned, his own eyes opening to look up at the Queen who practically laid on top of him, "Good morning to you, too," His eyebrow raised in matched grumpiness, though his arm curled up over her side and back as her chest laid against his.

"You didn't answer my question," Regina gritted through her teeth, knowing she must look a state. Her hair was tangled, face bare and she was stark naked, pressed against the man in an intimate position. Her neck flushed with embarrassment as the memory came back to her, realizing she'd asked him to stay in a vulnerable moment. She saw his mouth begin to open, knowing he was about to retort that same fact and she snapped quickly with a huff, "Shutup."

James only smirked in response, eyes crinkling at the sides as he tucked his free arm behind his head and his bicep came into her view. He looked comfortable and completely at ease and it irked her that he felt he had the upper hand because of her slip up. He seemed to sense her tension, though, seemed to understand that it wasn't something she found funny and it was best to ignore the fact she'd asked him to stay.

"I see you get your chipper morning mood from your mother," James changed the subject, keeping his arm wrapped around her in a way that made Regina tense at first, causing her to put her forearm against his chest to keep herself from completely laying down on him. "Everyone knew not to even look her in the eyes before she had her morning coffee at Underworld's version of Granny's. Everyone would walk a wide circle around her on the street. Except me, I'm not scared of snippy royal women."

She narrowed her eyes at his comment, feeling him give his arm around her a playful squeeze, eyes barely open when he looked up from his pillow with a lazy smile. "I wasn't aware you spent time with my mother in the Underworld," She replied, acting entirely uninterested, slowly allowing herself to relax in the position, chin coming to rest on her arm that laid over his chest.

"I was the only one who wouldn't cower to her, I think she liked it to be honest," He grinned, "If there's anything that gets under you Mills women's skin it's someone who gives your sass back to you."

Regina snorted, giving one of her well trained eye rolls as she looked back to him, "Please."

"Worked on you, didn't it?" Smug bastard.

"Don't you have a cash register to be robbing or something?" She jabbed, rolling off of his chest and onto her back beside him in the bed with a dramatic sigh.

She heard him laugh then, a genuine one, rich and from his belly, making her own do an annoying flutter. He rolled onto his side, propping his head up on his hand as he looked at her and she blatantly avoided meeting his gaze, "You know what always used to make me laugh? Your mother would storm down the streets and into the diner, usually having something to complain about. But if she was really irritated, she would rant and rave about how if you were the leader in that town instead of Hades that things would go a hell of a lot smoother and that you were a better ruler than any of the idiots down there."

"She said that?" Regina glanced at him then, not entirely believing him at first. Her mother was never the one for compliments, normally the opposite. Her criticism had ruined her self esteem as a young girl, had prevented her from having a backbone until it was too late and she was trapped in a life she didn't want.

"Yeah, she obviously thought pretty highly of you," He shrugged one shoulder, looking back at her with an honest expression before it turned mischievous again, "Of course I never understood why..."

"Fuck off," She groaned and rolled her eyes again, though a faint smile played on her lips when she turned her head to stare back up at the ceiling, "I'm just like her, my mother. I always said I never wanted to be anything like her, but I am. Ended up just as twisted and cold and stunted as she ever was. Maybe more."

"You're not that bad, and it's not like it isn't without reason," James frowned, not knowing why he was attempting to make her feel better about herself. It was like he felt the urge to build her up when he was around her and it was the opposite of his usual instincts with others, "I understand you," He shrugged and earned a chuckle from Regina.

"If that isn't a sign."

"Hey, it's not like my baggage isn't well earned either," He said rather defensively, not knowing why her reply got under his skin.

Regina glanced at him then, hearing the bite in his tone and genuinely felt bad for a moment that she'd offended him, "I know that, don't be so sensitive. Trust me, I spent some time with King George. You have a reason to be as fucked up as you are."

"A real peach, wasn't he?"

"Our parents loved us in their own ways," She sighed, gazing off at the light fixture above her bed.

James continued to watch her avoid looking at him, his eyes traveling over the angles of her face, slope of her neck, arch of her brow, "I don't think it was ever about love with George."

"He loved you," Regina reassured him, for that much she knew. "I paid a visit shortly after you had died..well, not that I knew it then seeing as your idiot twin replaced you. But he looked deathly ill, was morose, I could barely speak with him about affairs between the kingdoms without him screaming or ignoring me. Looking back now it would've been after your death."

"How do you know that?" James watched her face intently now, seeing her eyes flick over at him.

"Because your brother met with us. You never did, you were always off fighting in the courtyard or whoring about in the villages. And David, of course, was the perfect gentlemen, was actually present, and George was harsh with him. It all makes sense now. So yes, he loved you in his own way."

"Hmm," He contemplated it, rolling over onto his back as well to join her in her gaze at the ceiling, "He was a bastard, but he was the only person who ever cared bout me. His own brand of caring, albeit. Just like your mom."

"They wanted the best for us, or what they thought was the best for us."

"In a weird way, they probably cared about us more than anybody ever will," James suggested, glancing over at the Queen who seemed skeptic, "I mean it, in their own twisted way, they were willing to make us unhappy in order to try to do what they thought was best for us. Isn't it the essence of all parenting? But they took it to the extreme, like they did all things...Like we do all things."

"You may have a point," Regina mulled it over, appreciating the way his mind worked. It was unexpected from a man who seemed so callous and shallow to be such a deep thinker. He was like her in more ways than she cared to admit. "I scare myself because I adopted Henry, like George with you. And for years I was hard on him, held him to this high standard out of love, but he didn't understand it. Then his mother who abandoned him comes along and she's suddenly the best mom in the world. She is good with him, I suppose, but part of me was still hurt by it. Would you really of not went back to your biological parents given the chance?"

"No," He answered plainly, "George was the one who raised me, he made the effort. They gave me up. No matter his faults, I respected George for that. As I'm sure Henry does you, or will as he gets older."

"He's an amazing kid. I think he already knows, we've gotten much closer over the years, since Emma came actually," She admitted before biting her lip at the current situation, "I don't deserve him. After everything I've done, after how I've pushed him away now. He's so good and I.." Her voice trailed off as she swallowed at the pesky lump in her throat, refusing to let her voice wobble in front of James.

"If he's that great then he understands what you're going through and he won't take it personally," He reassured her again. Since when did this become a habit of his? "It'll all be fine, Regina. Especially when we can enact this time reversal curse and erase his biological mother's entire existence. Then you'll have him to yourself."

Regina swallowed hard at the thought, self doubt starting to creep up inside of her. The plan sounded brilliant when they'd first come up with it, when she'd been angry. As time passed she'd cooled, her grief becoming less of a fire underneath her. If she reversed time, went back to how it was before the curse was broken, she'd have lost all of he memories she'd made. She'd forever lose the bonds she'd formed with the people she now called family, whether she was speaking to them right now or not. Her friendships would be gone, she'd go back to being lonely with a son who didn't understand her, who feared and hated her.

But on the other hand, if she went through with this, no one would know of the grief she carried. Robin's death, his entire presence in Storybrooke would be erased and maybe it would be easier to move on. Maybe without the pity in people's eyes she wouldn't be constantly reminded of the thief who betrayed her and then died before he even apologized. Her son would no longer remember how she'd pushed him away, how she'd abandoned him for months because she'd lost a man she loved. Henry wouldn't know that she'd let her grief over a lover come in between their relationship. She'd carry her broken heart silently as she did before the spell was broken, when she covered up the fact that she was a mess inside with business attire and a threatening smile.

"Earth to Regina?" James was staring at her then, bringing her out of her thoughts, "How close are we to getting this thing off of you?" He asked, picking her wrist up and examining the cuff on it.

"I think I found something after you left the vault last night that will help us," She let out a breath, "I'll go get the book and the black diamond later today from my vault and we'll work on getting the cuff off tonight."

"And the reversal spell? You have what you need to do that?" James asked, watching her shift and seem reluctant, watched the way her brows furrowed in doubt. If she really wanted her son to herself then he was going to help her, but he understood that being surrounded by heroes all of this time had affected her and she now struggled with the moral dilemma. If she needed a push, that's what he'd give her.

"Yes," Regina sighed. She knew were the ingredients were, she had most of them. There was only one thing she'd have to swipe from Rumple's shop and then they'd be set. It would be easy, though, and she could probably convince him to trade her for it if she couldn't steal it and get away with it.

"So by tonight, we'll be the most powerful people in this entire town?" James smirked at the idea, rolling ontop of her suddenly and spreading her thighs to settle in between.

She grinned up at him, seeing the malicious glint in his eyes and feeling it warm her insides. It was almost erotic to recognize that darkness in someone, to be able to celebrate it and revel in it without being looked down on, "Does that make you hard?" Regina smirked, running her hands up his muscled back as she drew her thighs up his sides, allowing him access to her.

"Mmm, mhm," James groaned with a mischievous grin as he began to grind his half stiff member along her folds, both of them still bare under the covers, "And I know power turns you on, Regina," He brought his lips down to her ear, brushing over it slowly before starting to plant kisses over her neck, "Just think, you'll have this whole town in the palm of your hand again. Everyone will answer to you."

He ran his hands own, slipping them under her ass and tilting her sex up against him as he ground harder, "And I'll be the new sheriff, except I won't be your pet. I'll fuck you senseless every night but you'll respect me. Doesn't that excite you? To finally meet your equal in all aspects?"

She let out a groan as she started to get wet at this words and his kisses, feeling his shaft slide against her sex with more ease, "Who says you're my equal?" She smirked breathlessly, hands gripping his shoulder blades as she dug her heels into his lower back and started to grind with him.

"Something tells me that in the way you beg," James murmured against her skin at the way she hissed her response, grunting as he reached down between them, tips of his fingers finding her sensitive little bud while his mouth worked on her neck, "The way you plead me not to stop when I pound you and you say that sweet little oh please before you cry out in my ear."

"Mmm," She moaned, eyes closing as her hips curled when his fingers found her clit, feeling his erection poking at her entrance, "Stop teasing, James. I swear to god-"

He smirked and pressed his fingers against her clit more firmly, rubbing it in fast circles and hearing her whimper and forget what she was saying, "You're so sexy," He lifted his head and watched her face contort, her lips part and her brows scrunch as her hips worked harder with his fingertips.

"Fu-" Regina groaned when he started to wiggle his hand in quick jerky motions, vibrating his fingers on her clit, "Oh, mm, yes! Keep going," She gasped, panting now, hips working, mouth open before crying out a breathy sound from deep within her throat when he made her come. He could get her off with his fingers almost as quickly as she could herself, and she'd had plenty of years to perfect that.

James smirked, watching her breathing heavily before nudging her onto her stomach when she was still too awestruck to become irritated or defiant at him taking the lead. He watched her as he grabbed a pillow from beside him and lifted her hips just enough to slip it under, propping her hips to open her more for him in this position. She laid her head to the side on the mattress, arms bent and fingers gripping the sheets near her shoulders as she enjoyed the fading tremors from her orgasm.

"You're so wet," He groaned as he looked down at her round ass on display for him, dragging his fingers from the front of her slit to the end, spreading her juices and pulling a moan out of her.

"Hurry up," She demanded, not minding this position but wishing he'd cut it out with the suspense. He was a big boy and he was going to feel amazing this way, not to mention her breasts pressing into the mattress allowing just enough friction with her nipples and oh, there he was, "Fuck!" She hissed when he pushed himself inside of her.

"My god," He nearly blew in her once he'd taken her fully, his knees keeping her own apart enough for him as his hands pressed into the mattress near each side of her head. James leaned over her, rocking into her once and causing them to both groan at the tight fit, "You feel so good, Regina," He could tell she agreed, saw the way he eyes screwed shut and her knuckles turned white with her grip of the sheets.

There wasn't much she could do to help in this position but he didn't seem to mind, feeling him pull out halfway before sinking back into her. They both groaned with each thrust, the heat in her belly starting to pool and liquify again. Her nipples grazed the sheets below her when he began to rut into her, bringing one of her hands up to press against the headboard to keep herself from moving up the bed with the intensified thrusts.

"Take it, baby," James coaxed near her ear, seeing her bracing herself as her mouth opened, choking on cries as they both began to rapidly reach their peak. She was slippery wet, their skin slapping and sliding together, his hands digging into the mattress as his chest grazed her back when he pushed harder and deeper, hearing her guttural moan spurn him on.

"James!" She choked before her body tensed around him, her second orgasm gripping her unexpectedly. Regina's hips bucked back against him, ripping a groan from his throat when he sank deeper, pulling him towards the edge with her as her muscles milked his cock, clenching and straining and shuddering around him. He let out a groan of his own as he buried his face in between her shoulder blades, filling her with cum with his last deep thrust.

Their labored breathing was the only sound to be heard for a few moments as his arms began to shake, forcing him down on his forearms, front pressing into her back but not allowing all of his weight on her as he tried to recover, "If that doesn't make you want to rule this realm, nothing will." He joked and smirked into her skin, feeling her chest vibrate with a soft chuckle and he knew. He'd met his match.

Regina picked up the spell book from the floor of her vault, dusting it off and studying the cover of it. It was an old one Rumple gave her, containing a spell that should help her use the black diamond to get the cusp off of her wrist. James would have to help, of course, but at this point she felt she could trust him. He didn't have any real magic of his own and he wasn't skilled enough to use the black diamond by himself without getting hurt. She'd remind him of that if he got any bright ideas.

As the hours ticked on she was beginning to get a little nervous, thinking about how much everything would change once she'd managed to do this. A million emotions swirled inside of her, changing her mood from one minute to the next and nudging her towards insanity. James was intent on taking their plan all the way through. Why wouldn't he be? He had no emotional ties to the current state of things. He wouldn't be losing any friendships or family members.

James would make out just fine, in fact, better than fine. He'd have a job, be respected and feared. With that would come a roof over his head and food in his stomach. Of course he wanted to go through with this plan. But she had more to think about, more at stake. If she went through with this, she would've made the choice to revert back to the Evil Queen. She was the one who put curses on people, who destroyed lives and tore people apart.

She sighed as she set the book down on her table and went over to the section of her vault where she stored the hearts, activating one of the drawers to pop out the box with the black diamond in it. The dark magic began to pull at her as soon as the box was in her hands and it intoxicating. It tempted her, caressing her senses, practically vibrating in her grasp. When she opened it the power nearly took her breath away.

But she wasn't this person anymore. She'd tried so hard to make up for what she'd done to those she loved and to everyone else. These people had started to trust her again, had been kind and forgiving. The past years had been spent repenting and making things right. Her loved ones, the people she now called family, had helped her heal. Could she truly call herself a Queen if she let the death of someone who betrayed her, who diminished her self worth as Robin did, bring her to the point of destroying everything she'd worked so hard to build?

Regina shook her head, closing the top of the box quickly and shoving it back into it's place in the wall. She couldn't do this, not to Henry, not to the Charmings, not to Emma Swan and that stupid pirate of hers. She couldn't do this to herself. Regina would find some occupation for James, make sure he got a second chance at life, but she was not going to do this.

"Second thoughts, Deary?" A familiar voice put her on edge immediately, causing her to spin around and see Gold just a few feet from her, hands resting on his cane and a slithery smile on his lips.

"What are you doing here?" She frowned deeply, shoulders squaring for confrontation.

"You didn't honestly think you and that delinquent brother of Prince Charming's could harbor my gem and get away with it, could you?" He practically hissed, his eyes growing a few shades darker but still full of malicious sarcasm.

"I don't know what you're-"

"Ah, ah ah, don't insult me, Regina," He raised a finger in the air and grimaced, "You know better than that. Hand it over, now."

"What do you want with it? I think it's best if we leave it here and agree neither of us will touch it," She tried to compromise, something she wouldn't normally do with Gold if she had her magic to back her up.

"Well, you see I have an idea of what you were about do with this little diamond," He stepped closer, eyes burning holes in her and she knew he could read her thoughts, knew he was aware of her entire plan, "And I know that after all of that time spent being a hero that you're too weak to do what needs to be done now to restore this town to the way it should be," He spoke through gritted teeth, "You don't have the...heart, so to speak."

"Why do you want things to be the way they were?" Regina tried to remain outwardly calm, though she saw the intent in his eyes. She knew he was serious and without her magic she couldn't stop him. "You'll be no more powerful."

"That's where you're wrong, Deary. See, if things are the way they once were, that means you are who you once were. A powerful ruler, the Evil Queen," He eyed her like she was the precious diamond itself, "You were much more useful then than you are now...all full of moral hangups and...that cuff..the thing that prevents you from doing anything to stop me when I do this," He reached out suddenly, shoving his hand into Regina's chest and knocking the wind out of her as he gripped her heart, pulling it out along with a loud gasp. She stumbled, falling back against the wall and clutching at the pain that radiated as she tried to catch her breath.

Voices began to whisper to her immediately, stronger than they ever were when she was the Evil Queen. Rumple was in control of her actions now, toying with her mind by controlling her heart. His darkness was much more wicked than she'd ever been, but it it had the same chilling effect. She felt her emotions slowly begin to drain away, the things that made her Regina instead of the evil witch she once was fading with every second her heart was in Gold's possession. He owned her now, he would see to it that she gave into every dark desire within her and he would use the Evil Queen to his advantage.

"You see deary, things will go back to the way they were and you will go back to the magnificent monster you were," He talked in a cheery tone that told he was proud of himself, waltzing over to the shelf that held the black diamond. Regina felt the suffocating darkness rush through her like adrenaline when Rumple gave her heart a squeeze in his palm, "And I will be in control of that monster," He said, lifting the box from the shelf and turning to set it on the podium, flipping it open.

"The most beautiful dark diamond and the most beautiful dark monster," He marveled as he picked up the diamond with his free hand and studied it beside her beating heart, "I'll indeed be much more powerful."