Finding a vanished woman was supposed to be the easiest of all the things she'd done. Injure. Murder. Steal. All easy compared to the lack of everything really needed to find this Belle French.

Ruby had done as good of a job as one can with so little to go on but it wasn't enough. This would take a little more digging. A little more maiming and murdering than Ruby wanted to dabble in anymore. She supposed it was her specialty now.

Regina rose from her desk, pressing her palm into her neck. She was beginning to be surprised by sudden, small aches. They hadn't plagued her in the past hundred or so years and she had been young – late-twenties really – when her mortal life was taken from her in exchange for a meaningless title and slavery to the devil.

With all the whispers and casual mentions of Emma being special, of being the one to save her, she tried to ignore it. Things were changing. They felt different. She'd never admit it to anyone but the air tasted different. Colors were becoming more vibrant for her. All because of Emma's presence in her life.

"Finally, thinking about what everyone else has known all along."

Regina turned around to the far wall. She walked over to the big oval mirror spotting her reflection with a raised eyebrow. It was very odd to see such a thing, although she figured with the way her life turned out hallucinating and speaking with her reflection wasn't all that strange.

She examined the identical figure dressed similarly to how she had been today except there was obviously no shirt under the vest she wore and Regina never recalled owning a deep purple tricorn with a black feather settled against it.

"What do you want now?" She questioned, folding her arms over her chest as she spared a quick glance to her reflection's bare chest.

Her other self smirked suggestively at her. "I'm sure if I were real, we'd have a wonderful time together." Regina tried to keep her face unreadable – if it was possible when dealing with yourself – when she received a wink. "Of course, three is much better. We could invite Em-ma."

"I have no desire to share a bed with you."

"I am you. But you don't have to lie to me, dear. I can see the interest my suggestion got out of you. It's hard to hide from yourself."

"What is it that you want?"

"You need help, don't you? This Belle. You want to find her."

"And you somehow know more than I do?"

"Your mind typically goes no further than three primary things: Stealing, killing, and fucking. And – as of late – your precious princess." Regina narrowed her eyes but her reflection raised a hand to stop any protests. "I will help you. No cryptic…you know, I'm bored of you really. Go on an adventure to find that girl and take Emma with you."

"Where's this help you've so graciously offered?"

"Ask about the girl's mother. It's not in your notes, is it?"

Regina glanced over her shoulder to her desk with a frown. There wasn't anything about French's mother but that was because it was irrelevant to her disappearance. She turned back to the mirror with the intention of questioning why that even mattered but her reflection was gone. Just her.

With a sigh, she decided she'd look into it in the morning. It would be a distraction from Emma's growing role in her life.

It just really surprised her that of all the things she tried, saving a mute blonde was what was going to break her curse.

Regina walked through a market, trying to keep herself composed despite the masses of people around her. Crowds agitated her and agitation led to murderous end results. That and she was on her way to make a deal with another very notoriously known pirate lord. He was the most trustworthy of them all. He was the one that never failed her.

She turned a corner into a narrower passageway. It was quieter and that definitely meant he was close by and that there would be resistance. As she expected, she only walked a few paces before two men stepped in her way.

"I'm here for Amid." Regina informed. Two sets of eyes were narrowed at her and she sighed in frustration. Their response was to fold their arms. "What do I have to prove? I'm a pirate lord."

"So is captain. You prove it." One of them spoke poking her forcefully in the chest as he stepped up to her. "Where's your piece, if you're a pirate lord?" He moved closer to her, running a scratchy finger down her cheek. "You're too pretty."

Her mood hadn't been the best when morning came. In fact, she was partially drunk at that very moment. Partially drunk – in her mind – inevitably meant no nonsense. As his hand slipped across her back, Regina unclenched her hand and took a handful of his groin. He choked in response and hunched over in pain when her fist closed tighter.

The other man moved to pull his sword from his hip but she'd beaten him to weapons, holding a pistol aimed at his forehead. He stopped, frowning as his partner dropped to the ground with a groan once Regina released him.

Blue eyes looked back up to her and he spoke. "Where's your piece, pirate?"

Using her free hand, Regina reached inside her coat and shoved her shirt aside to reveal the awful wound on her chest. His jaw tightened and he turned his eyes away. "My apologies, Your Majesty…your piece?"

Her scar usually warded off such a question but this district was far from her home and even farther from her native land. She tugged the coin from around her neck and tossed it to him. He caught it in his fist and opened his palm. The silver piece with a wolf engraved in it. It had a red eye and he looked up to Regina, her left eye flashing red.

"Where's Amid?" Regina demanded, catching the silver that was thrown back at her.

He eyed the fallen guard and then looked to the barrel of the pistol pointed at him. "Right this way."

She followed him through a few turns of the alley until they arrive at a shabby building. He gestured towards it but didn't go any closer. She didn't find this as suspicious as most would have. Her acquaintance was very cautious.

She nodded her thanks to him and pushed her pistol back to her hip as she approached the door where two more guards stood. Her scar was still showing so they stepped aside almost immediately. Forcefully, she pushed through the door and stopped at the smoke filling room.

"Amid."

"Ah, Regina. My Queen. Beautiful as ever." The man smiled from his position on the floor. She bowed her head to him and he did the same. He was sitting crossed legged at a low table and motioned to the area across from him. "Please, join me."

Regina moved forward and sat down in the same position as he was currently in. It was comfortably warm in the room and obviously, he was in the middle of meditation.

"Release your tension. This is my peaceful domain." Reluctantly, Regina closed her eyes and breathed out slowly, really feeling it leave her. Her shoulders relaxed when she opened her eyes and Amid smiled at her. He clapped his hands together. "Wonderful. Now, Masala? I know you enjoy it. Its recipe is one of my most prized possessions as you know."

Regina stoically took the in her both of her hands and drunk slowly from it. Amid smirked at her and drunk his own until it was empty and she did the same. He looked at her and noticed the redness around the white of her eyes. "You've been drinking heavily again, my friend. Troubles haunting you?"

"When aren't they?" Regina chuckled.

"Meditation helps."

"Helps mortals."

"I understand your skepticism." He nodded. "So, I'm right in assuming you're here to exchange something? Yes?"

Wordlessly, Regina reached into her coat and pulled out a tattered map. She placed it on the table and pushed it to the center. He reached across and took it, unraveling it until in front of him laid pure gold. A smile crossed his face as he rolled it back up and sat it down.

"You give me a fortune, My Queen. What is it that you require? I'll happily give you anything in my possession for this…except for my masala." He said.

"That map is worth a lot, Amid."

"That I am aware of. Name your price."

"I want…" Regina swallowed audibly and tensed her jaw. "I need the map to Los Agos."

Amid frowned intensely at her request but nodded anyway. He stood from the table and disappeared to the right where a curtain closed off the entrance to another room.

She waited in silence wondering if she'd regret asking for this. There wasn't much time to take it back now. If she'd retracted the offer, as nonviolent as Amid was, she would have to fight her way out of the district against his men.

"You give me gold." Amid started, reappearing and sitting down once again. He handed her the rolled map and she took it. He nodded for her to look at it. "I give you God. Fair trade?"

"Always." Regina smirked, shaking his hand.

"It was a pleasure."

"I only come for the Masala tea, Amid."

"I'm not surprised at all my friend…I have to ask, what exactly are you going to do with an enchanted heart?"

"That's my business, Amid." He agreed silently.

Regina bowed her head to him and again he turned it. She stood and exited, tucking the map inside her coat before returning through the corridors that led out to the market.

She was holding something that could finally break her curse. If she traded her heart for this one, her suffering would be over.

"You're thinking about it too much, love." Killian chuckled lightly. He took a drink from the frosted bottle in his hands. "Rum?"

Regina frowned, rubbing at the odd feeling in the back of her neck. She put out her hand to reach for the bottle he was holding out to her and Killian leaned forward to place it in her hand. She stood up from the edge of the bed, downing a big gulp of it as she walked around the massive bedroom.

"You're different." He commented, putting his arms behind his head as he laid back against the pillows.

"How so?" Regina grabbed her robe and slipped into it.

"Our fucking wasn't…fucking…not like how you are with others. Less aggressive. Something wrong?"

"Every time I find myself slipping more and more into my curse…I welcome it but then: Emma."

"What does that mean?" He frowned.

"Sex, killing, stealing…in all those moments, she's in my head and can't do it."

"Have you given any thought to her relation to your curse, love?" Regina sighed and Killian shook his head at her stubbornness. She may have admitted that to herself very reluctantly but she wouldn't dare say it out loud. "Maybe if you gave it a chance for once."

"I'm 126 years old. I've matured."

"No you've given up hope. If you were mature you'd listen to the one thing every reasonable person has told you about Emma." Regina rolled her eyes. "Despite your obvious blindness, Emma is clearly taken with you. She likes you."

She scoffed even though she knew it was true. She may have been numb to emotions but she still knew the signs of infatuation.

"If it's because of her state when you found her, she's far from the frail woman you found. It's been only a few days and well…she's already managed to disarm me three times. I believe she's very well capable of handling herself…and making her own decisions. Especially regarding you."

"Good morning, Captain." Ruby smirked watching Killian trail after her.

"Ruby." Regina nodded, dismissively. The younger woman watched her as she moved across the foyer heading for the door. "I'm going out. I'll be back before nightfall."

"Regina-"

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't argue with me today, Ruby." She said in a tone firm enough to imply, she wasn't going to be persuaded. "I'd like for you to arrange a meeting with Mr. French."

"Okay…"

"I need to speak with him about his wife."

"His wife?" Ruby frowned, trying to walk over to her only to be stopped by the mansion's staff going about their business. As soon as there was an opening between the them she slipped over to her. "What does she have to do with anything? She's dead."

"But do you know anything about her?"

"No. It's irrelevant."

"So you say, which means I should look into it." Regina said holstering her pistol. "Watch over my guests, please. And I've been informed that Emma has disarmed Killian…on several occasions and I believe you would now be better suited to teach her. You were an assassin."

"You're a pirate menace, maybe you should teach her."

Ruby sucked in a sharp breath as Regina stepped up to her, invading her personal space. That hostile look in her eye was there but it was…less. Less than it had been before.

"You should thank her. My…fondness of you has grown since our meeting. Otherwise, I would've killed you for that comment."

"Fine. I'll teach your princess." Ruby sighed, folding her arms over her chest as Regina left out the front door.

She stood there for a moment before she decided to go find Emma. She had questions that apparently on the mute woman could answer. Brushing off Killian's attempt to ask her a question, Ruby went out to the courtyard. She found Emma there but she was with someone else.

It was instinct and a bad habit of hers to eavesdrop. Although, if questioned about it, she could always use the excuse of her job to protect the estate and Regina. So, Ruby stayed behind a pillar watching the two blondes.

"So, aside from living like an actual princess here…" Thea said. Emma shoved her with her elbow as she lightly practiced her sword movements. "Captain Mills…? Any progress there?"

Emma frowned in confusion, planting the tip of her sword in the grass. Ruby peeked around the pillar she was behind, finding the progress a bit suspicious considering she didn't know either of them very well. In response to the question, Emma just shrugged shyly. Ruby rolled her eyes noticing how endearing the gesture was.

"So the whole curse thing hasn't come up yet? She hasn't said anything?"

'No,' Emma answered silently. 'Why?'

"I don't know…because I guess you and I missed out on all the adventures. When we were kids there used to be so many stories. All her adventures but you, Emma, you could break her curse and that's probably the biggest adventure she's ever going to go on."

'I don't know…'

"We wanted to be pirates…well, you wanted to be a pirate and I wanted everything my big sister wanted, so here we are." Thea said, picking up the sword that laid against the fountain. "Well, sis, I think I want that rematch now."

"Emma. Be careful with that."

Emma smiled up to her father and nodded before eagerly running off to the yard with a younger blonde girl running behind her. She stopped just short of the small stream running through their yard and turned around to face her sister.

Wooden swords at the ready, they giggled at each other.

"Alright girls. No foul play." Their father called from the doorway of their home.

"Yes, Daddy." Thea nodded, giggling at Emma's confused look.

"Now, swords up." They both raised them. "Youngest gets the first strike."

Emma frowned.

With less than ideal posture or precision, Thea lunged first.

A sharp clash of metal echoed throughout the courtyard and Ruby watched the 'princess' disarm her sister within a couple minutes. Her stance was flawless and her attacks were brought with a steady hand. Her counterattacks were almost textbook; like she'd been doing this for years.

"Thea." A voice called from the other side of the courtyard and Ruby watched the younger woman pass a few words to Emma before leaving in the direction of the voice after a quick hug.

The moment she was sure they would be alone, Ruby moved from her hiding spot and approached Emma practicing her swing. A very firm swing to her right had her ducking under the blonde's extended arm, appearing in front of her. Emma startled and dropped her arm to her side.

"Oh, don't stop on my account." She smirked. "I'm just observing."

Emma raised an eyebrow at her, still unwilling to move her sword from her side. She watched her walk a circle around her, not saying a word as she eyed her up and down. She jumped when a warm hand pressed into her left upper arm. A frown crossed her features.

"Well, physically you are no helpless princess…although I can see why she would call you one." Ruby chuckled. "It's the hair." Emma smiled in amusement at that. "So, Regina suggested you start training with me now that you've passed the first stage of kicking Jones' ass. Of course, she said in that awkward way she does when it's about you."

'Awkward?' Emma questioned.

"Yes. You don't notice? Her ways are different and, despite what she thinks, she does have a heart and it does work. It's just very subdued by her curse. I would've thought it would be obvious to you that she, in her own way, has feelings for you." Ruby noticed the confusion seemed to fade away and Emma knew exactly what she was talking about. Like she has seen it. "She's protective of you. She's always trying her best to impress you. Although I'm sure she's hidden from you all the times she gets upset with herself when she's shown her cruelty crudeness and harshness in your presence."

'I have seen it.'

Ruby read the words from her lips and nodded in thought. "Let's not forget she follows you around like a puppy. Worrying and hovering. You enjoy the attention. You're attracted to her." Emma looked as if she wanted to deny it but she didn't. "It's alright. I was too. Still am but my heart is elsewhere in the romantic sense."

'Maybe I am.' Emma shrugged, sitting the sword down.

"You're changing her and you will keep changing her. It's not as much pressure as we've made it out to be. Just keep being you. Whatever it is that you see in her, don't give up on it." Ruby sighed and shook her head. "That's where all her other lovers went wrong. They couldn't see past what her curse made her."

'She saved me.'

"She did." Their eyes met and an understanding passed between them. An agreement. "I won't train you. If you can take down Killian, then you'll do just fine in battle. Regina taught him herself." She pointed her head towards the door that led directly into the library and started walking. Emma glanced around before she followed behind her.

"I won't teach you swordplay but I will help you break her curse…" She started, opening the door. Emma's eyes widened at the sight of the books taking over every inch of space of the shelf walls. She stepped forward, wanting to explore the room but Ruby's hand was flat against her chest. "But first, I need you to punch me."

Emma frowned and shook her head.

"Listen, Regina has very interesting tantrums when people don't do as she says, so let's not make her suspicious. You have to do it."

'Okay.'

"Good. Not in the nose."