Readers: I wanted to thank everyone who is reading and who has reviewed. You all rock! I hope everyone continues to enjoy the story. These next few chapters are a bit shorter but I am trying to post one a day so it shouldn't be too bad. :)

Chapter11

David had searched through almost every inch of the former queen's vault. He knew there were many secret areas down here, but he had no clue how to open any of them or where they were. Regina usually locked everything under some kind of spell, so even if he ran across the secret place, he wouldn't know it.

He sat down on the bottom step and let out a frustrated sigh. Where else could that damned book be? The main person the queen would try and hide it from would be Rumple. Most all of her magical items were here in the vault, but if he knew that, then that means everyone else did too.

"Her house. That's where it would be." He said standing up and pulling his phone from his pocket. He dialed Henry.

"Hey Grandpa." Henry answered knowingly.

"Hey Henry, do you think you could meet me at your house?" David asked as he ascended the stone stairs.

"Sure, give me ten minutes." He said before ending the call.

Not only did the teen have the key to get into the house, but he also knew Regina better than anyone. He might know where the book would be.

SQSQSQSQSQSQ

The ground shook as the massive creature fell. She stood up searching the dead ogre for a sign of the blonde. She could hear a grunt from near the head.

"Emma!" She shouted. Regina's heart was racing for fear of the sheriff being injured.

"Yeah, I'm here." The blonde shouted back.

Emma staggered from around the shoulder of the creature. Blood covered her chest and arm, which caused the brunette's heart to sink.

She ran over to the younger woman trying to examine her, "Are you hurt?"

Emma looked down at the red liquid that her tunic and cloak were caked in and shrugged, "I'm fine, and it's not my blood."

Regina's concern was suddenly replaced with anger and she shoved the other woman, "Are you crazy or just stupid?"

Emma's eyes widened, but then her brows furrowed in confusion.

Regina didn't wait for a response, "You know what, on second thought don't answer that." See threw her hands up frantically, "You could have been killed Emma!"

"You could have been too Regina. Why did you have to shout at him and throw things?" Emma asked placing her hands on her hips.

"I was trying to save your life. He was about to crush you." Regina hissed.

Emma tilted her head, "Why?"

"Because that is what they do. They don't like humans." Regina said running her fingers through her hair.

"No, why did you try and save my life?" The blonde asked.

The mayor shot a look at the blonde, "Really? I couldn't let him squish you. How would I explain that to our son?"

She watched Emma's expression fall, "So you only did it for Henry?"

Regina was getting really tired of having to explain herself. Emotions were not her forte and talking about them were even less so, "No I did not only do it for Henry, but just so we are clear, he is the first thing I think of and always will be."

"Why else did you do it?" Emma challenged.

Regina clenched her jaw, "So I was just supposed to let you die?"

"Just answer the question." The blonde said taking a step closer to the mayor.

"What do you want me to say? I didn't want to see you die." The brunette said in a shaky voice as she noticed the blonde's closeness.

"Are you admitting that you care about me?" Emma asked in a low husky voice, her face only inches from the other woman's.

Regina swallowed and licked her lips, "I.." Her breath was shallow and she couldn't take her eyes away from Emma's lips, "don't hate you."

She watched as the corner of blonde's lip curled upwards. Her head was foggy and she felt a little light headed. She wanted to push the woman away or at least turn away from her, but she was rooted and her body refused to obey.

Regina closed her eyes in an attempt to make the blonde disappear from her thoughts. It didn't help. She could feel the blonde's breathe on her face, and her heart was beating in her ears. Her body was betraying her, because no matter how much she told herself she couldn't do this, her body wouldn't stop reacting. She could feel her arousal pool between her thighs and her nipples stiffened beneath her clothes.

"Emma…" Regina began in a weak attempt to stop this, but was stopped as soft lips pressed into hers. Again her body refused to do what her brain wanted and her lips moved in rhythm with the blonde's.

The sheriff placed her hands on the mayor's hips and pulled their bodies flush. The sensation caused the brunette to let a soft muffled moan escape her throat. This only fueled the other woman as she slid her tongue into Regina's mouth.

Regina wanted nothing more than to feel this woman's hands on her naked body. The brunette opened her eyes once she snapped too. She pulled her head back and lightly pushed the sheriff away, "No, we can't do this."

Emma looked a little confused, but managed to smile, "You want this too, I can feel it."

Regina looked into the green eyes, "It's not that simple Emma."

"What the hell Regina? I want you, and you want me, what's not simple?" Emma said in annoyance.

Tears began to well up in the brunette's eyes, "Damn you Swan! Not everything can be done on a whim, or just because that is what we want. I know that better than anyone. I gave myself to Robin and it is not fair to him for me to go behind his back for a roll in the hay with you." A tear slipped down and she turned to walk away.

SQSQSQSQSQSQ

Henry opened the door for his grandfather. They both had arrived at the mansion at the same time. Normally the teen would have been at school, but he had the day off because of an in-service day.

"So what are we looking for?" Henry asked as he closed the door behind them.

David was glancing around, "Cora's spell book. It's the last piece that we need to bring your moms back."

Henry nodded his head, "Do we even know where they are yet?"

David looked up, "No, well if Gold knows he hasn't said yet. All I know is we need the book for a spell. Do you know where she might have put it?"

The boy thought for a second, "I'm not really sure. My mom is still pretty secretive about a lot of stuff, especially if it's magic stuff."

Henry led the man into his mom's study, "Most of the secretive things mom does is in here."

David looked around, and then walked over to the desk. He ran his hands over the edge as he circled it, "I know she has a secret compartment or drawer on this thing."

Henry walked behind the marble desk and pressed a button. A clicking sound was heard and a small door opened from the top. The boy looked at his grandfather and smiled.

David hurried over to look inside, the teen watched as the man frowned. He reached inside the opening and pulled out some papers and a small vial, "Damn it! Not here."

Henry plopped down in the chair and sighed. His grandfather replaced the items into the compartment and closed the lid, "There has to be somewhere else. Unless it is at her vault and I can't find it."

Henry shook his head, "No, she wouldn't keep it there."

He scratched his chin. Where else could his mom hide it? Even if they didn't find the book, they should at least find other hiding placing.

"Let's split up and search the whole house, its here somewhere." David said looking around.

Henry nodded in agreement, "Ok. You keep looking in here and I'll go to the next room."

The boy started for the family room when there was a knock at the door. He walked over and opened the door. He grimaced at who he found.

"Hey mate." Hook smiled.

"What do you want Killian?" Henry asked, rolling his eyes.

The pirate laughed, "I think you have more of the mayor's blood in you then anyone may have thought, because you do her eye roll almost better than her, mate."

Henry raised an eyebrow, "What do you want?"

Hook shifted uncomfortably on his feet, "I came by to see if you or your grandfather needed help."

Henry crossed his arms over his chest, "We don't need your help."

The boy had not noticed David come up behind him, "Henry, can I have a word with you in private please?"

Henry sighed but followed his grandfather away from the door, "We need all of the help we can get if we are going to get your moms back."

The teen glanced to the door where he could see Hook staring at him, "He's a liar. We can't trust him. He's only out for himself."

David rubbed his forehead, "Look, I know about what happen with the two of you, but we need help."

"He's a useless, greasy, makeup wearing thief, how can he help us?" Henry said in a less than quiet tone.

"I'm right here, Mate." Hook said with a surprised expression. "You are definitely the mayor's kid with those insults."

"Oh if you think that sounded like my mom then how about this? You are a worthless piece of…" Henry hissed but was cut off by his grandfather.

"Henry." David warned.

Hook stepped inside the door, "Look Mate, I know you're pissed at me, but I want Emma back", He paused and looked down, "Even if she wants to be with Regina."

He looked up meeting the boy's eyes, "I meant what I said about helping with operation SwanQueen."

Henry could see he was telling the truth, and nodded, "Okay." He looked at David, "Grandpa can fill you in on what we are looking for. I'm going to search in the family room."

SQSQSQSQSQSQ

Emma couldn't figure out if she was more upset that the queen had more will power than her, or that she insinuated that this was merely a sexual desire. She had yet to sort out every detail of her feeling towards the older woman, but she knew it was definitely more than sexual desire.

The two women had walked in silence for a while now. Emma was hoping they found another river or stream soon, because the smell of the dried blood on her tunic was making her nauseous. The blood that covered her hand felt sticky between her fingers. If she were to admit it, she would have to say she was a little disappointed that she didn't get kudos for killing the damned foul smelling beast.

"Emma I'm…" Regina began but Emma cut her off.

"Don't. It's fine, just let it go, okay?" Emma snapped.

Even the blonde was a little surprised that the mayor had actually complied. The sheriff just wanted to get back to Story Brooke, "I'll be out of your hair when we get back to Story Brooke."

She missed the expression that crossed the older woman's face, "What does that mean?"

Emma stopped walking but didn't look at Regina, "I'm leaving when we get back."

"I don't understand. That sentence doesn't make sense Emma." Regina said in confusion.

"I'm not staying when we get back. It's time for me to move on." She said as she started walking again.

Regina grabbed her arm, "What? You can't leave. What about Henry or your parents?"

Emma looked at the brown orbs that were welling up with tears, "Henry did just fine without me for ten years, and my parents did fine for twenty eight years. I was nobody when I came to Story Brooke and I'm sure everyone will forget me soon enough."

A tear rolled down the mayor's face as she clenched her jaw. Emma waited for the lecture that was sure to come, but instead, the brunette slapped the blonde hard across the face and stormed off.

"What the hell?" Emma said closing her eyes and rubbing the spot Regina had hit in hopes the sting would go away. She did not see that coming.

SQSQSQSQSQSQ

David, Henry and Killian stood at Regina's bedroom door. They had already argued about who would be going in and Hook had offered, but David and Henry both knew if the mayor found out the Captain had been rummaging through her underwear drawer there would be hell to pay. So instead they stood staring at it.

"What are you all doing?" Mary Margret's voice asked from behind them.

They all spun around, David's face flooding with relief, "Oh thank the Gods. Mary Margret we need you to search for the book in there." He said pointing to the door as if it were the dungeons of hell.

"I offered to go." Hook said with a shrug.

"Yeah, not going to happen." Henry said with a glare.

This scene only made Mary Margret want to laugh, but instead she fought to keep in under control, "Henry, why aren't you doing it?"

The teens eyes widened slightly and he shifted, "Umm, well, Jake told me that when his dad went away on trips his mom had gotten a…umm… I guess toy, and you know mom was alone for a long time."

Mary Margret raised an eyebrow, and then glared up at Hook when he chuckled. She looked back down at her grandson, "I think I need to have a talk with this Jake's mother."

She looked up at her husband who was attempting to suppress his own laugh and she shook her head, "Fine, I will go and see if I can find the book."

She opened the door and walked inside, before she closed it, she said, "You boys can go wait down stairs." She closed the door.

Henry's maturity, she gets, but as for the other two who were grown men was a bit ridiculous. However she knew Regina would not be happy at all with any of them went digging through her things. She would not be happy for Snow doing it either, but it would be worse if David or especially Hook did it.

She glanced around the room wondering where she should start. The vanity against the far wall caught her attention. She walked over to it and looked down. It was strange how much this vanity resembled the one her ex-step mother had in her childhood castle. Walking closer she let her hand mindlessly run over the smooth wood.

Mary Margret sat down in the chair. She could remember sitting in a chair just like this one as her step mother brushed the tangles out of her hair. It was her favorite memory, because it made her feel as though she had her mother again.

Her mind flashed back to when she had first met Regina. Had it not been for the older woman she was sure she would have fallen to her death from a top of that crazed horse. She smiled at the memory. Regina was so sweet and beautiful almost like her very own guardian angel.

Suddenly the image of her walking in on Regina and the stable boy flashed in her mind. She can remember how scared the mayor looked at her finding them. Regina seemed so happy when she spoke of that boy. Her eyes would lite up and there was this incredible smile that had crossed her face that was so contagious. Now that she thought about it, she had never seen that look again. Well, she did see it when they would all have dinner together.

She leaned forward running her hands carefully around the trim of the mirror. Her mind kept flashing back to her time in the castle after Regina came. Remembering back she could now see how unhappy the woman was. She wished she would have noticed then, maybe she could have changed things or something. Knowing what she knew now about Cora, it made her skin crawl. She had been manipulated by that witch.

Snow led her hand down to the vanity top and continued to feel for anything out of place. She could remember hearing sobs come from her step mother's room, when her father was away. Mary Margret had been so blind and naive as a child it made her sick.

She found herself thinking back to when Regina met Robin. She had indeed seemed much happier. She was even a tad bit nicer in general. That happiness didn't compare to the happiness she had seen as a child. Her mind drifted to the family dinners they had been having together before Robin got back. She had seen that same spark in the older woman's eye when she and Emma would laugh and talk. Snow laughed to herself. Again she had been blind, especially since she had seen that same spark in her own daughter's eye.

Mary Margret's hand had made it to the leg of the vanity. An odd carving seemed to stick out more than the others. She slid her fingers over it pressing it to the side. To the short haired brunette's surprise, there was a sliding sound and a drawer popped open under the vanity. She leaned over nearly in half, to see what as in the drawer. Sure enough, the thick leather bound book with raised gold corners, Celtic artwork and a large diamond in the middle with a heart in the center of that lay waiting. It had Cora's name written all over it, not literally of course, but she could tell it belonged to the heartless bitch.