A.N I'm of two minds about this chapter. I hope things are explained well enough. If not, feel free to ask me and I'll try to clear it up. I didn't want an overload of info. There are things that Gold doesn't know, things he can't anticipate happening to both or either of the women so don't be surprised at some things ahead. Not so sure I did justice to Gold's character. Thanks for the reviews and PM's. As always, so humbled by them.

Charlie

Chapter 14

The door to the shop opened with a tinkle, the bell announcing their presence. Regina walked in, head high and emotional armor in place. Emma slouched in behind her, hands in her back pockets. She moved to stand beside the brunette, their shoulders brushing. She took her hands out of her pockets and folded her arms over her chest, "Gold!"

They heard movement in the back room, the tapping of his cane and then the man in question came through the curtain. "Your majesty, Savior." He nodded to them both, his sharp eyes taking everything in. He focused his gaze on Regina, "It seems we have you to thank for the fact that the town wasn't wiped out of existence. I didn't think you had it in you to stop the trigger." He leaned heavily on his cane, a slight sneer on his lips as he spoke. "Did it feel different? Playing the hero?"

Regina bristled and glared at the imp. "We are not here to discuss my status as a hero or otherwise."

Emma cleared her throat, "Well actually…" She ignored the intense look Regina sent her. "We are a little bit. Okay, not so much the hero thing but the trigger…" She shifted nervously under the stare of the other two. "We're here to talk about that and it wasn't just Regina who stopped the trigger, it took both of us in the end."

Rumpelstiltskin studied the two women. "That doesn't come as much of a surprise. It was a powerful device," He again locked his gaze on the brunette, "And rumor has it you weren't quite up to par at the time."

Regina snarled at her power being called into question. "What do you mean? I have never been weak."

Rumpel smiled, enjoying the fact that he had so easily gotten under the queen's skin. "I didn't say that. As I understand it, you were stripped of your magic and tortured almost to death not long before. That is bound to have an effect on anyone, even you, your majesty."

Regina tensed, the irritating man already knew too much. She wasn't going to give him anything else to use against her. She'd figure it out on her own. "I don't need this." She turned to leave but Emma's hand on her arm stopped her.

Gold's eyes zeroed in on the gesture, the fact that Regina didn't immediately shrug the blonde's hand off was… curious. "Regina… Please." And that was even more curious. Just what was going on between the two women?

Regina met the green eyes staring intently at her, read the concern there. She sighed, wondering when it had happened that she allowed the blonde to sway her so easily and turned back around, glaring at the man. "We are not here to discuss what did or did not happen before the trigger. It is irrelevant to the reason we are here."

"Then why are you here? I don't imagine it's a social visit."

Regina clenched her jaw. She couldn't do it, she couldn't ask for his help. The gleam in his eyes spelled trouble. Her jaw clenched even tighter, she just could not force herself to speak to the imp, to give him an inch with which he would run a mile.

Emma waited for the brunette to respond and when it became evident that she wasn't going to, she spoke up. "Since we stopped the trigger Regina's magic has been… A little unstable." She heard the woman snort beside her, trying to mask the mirthless laugh as a cough. Okay, so she was underselling the problem.

"Unstable how exactly?" Rumpel's eyes kept darting between the two women, taking everything in.

"Every time she uses it, the electricity goes haywire and things blow up." Emma heard Regina huff beside her and turned to the woman, her eyebrow raised. "Well, how else would you explain it?"

"Sorry. You're doing fine, dear. Please continue." Regina moved away from Emma a few paces, turning her back to the other two. She was uncomfortable, her anxiety rising and she was struggling to hide that from the man.

Gold watched the interaction, "And you think that destroying the trigger is behind it?" He prompted.

Emma sighed and unfolded her arms, slipping them back into her pockets. "Something like that, but there's more."

"Do tell."

Emma glanced over her shoulder at Regina, the tension evident in the curve of the brunette's shoulders. "She's passed out a few times. It seems like her magic drags her under and she's forced to relive memories."

Gold's face got a shrewd look on it, "What memories?"

Regina whirled and moved back beside Emma, crossing her arms defensively over her chest. "Enough! That is none of your business."

Gold shifted his face into a bland expression, "I need all of the details if I am to help you and I assume that is why you are here. You have no idea how to proceed and are hoping I do."

Emma turned to the furious woman, putting a hand on her crossed arms, speaking quietly. "No details, I promise." She felt the other woman relax under her palm. "Look, I know this sucks but we have to get to the bottom of it and sort it out before it gets any worse. We don't really have a choice, if he can help…"

Gold was busy taking in every nuance, his mind quickly processing all the evidence before him. "Forget about the memories for now. Why, exactly, are you here, Ms. Swan? What has this got to do with you?"

It was Emma's turn under the microscope and she tried not to squirm. "I… Ahhh."

Regina rolled her eyes, deciding it was better to just get everything out there, rip the band-aid off, so to speak. The quicker they did this, the quicker they could just go home. "Our magic seems to have become connected. Hers balances out mine somehow. The only time I can safely use magic is when Emma and I are touching."

Gold kept his face blank but inside he was filled with glee as suspicions started to form in his mind. "And you have no idea why that happened?" He glanced at Regina, sure that while the Savior may be oblivious, the queen had to have an inkling.

Regina didn't like the look in Rumpel's eyes. "The only conclusion we've been able to come to is destroying the trigger had something to do with it."

"And this connection is a problem for the both of you?" He glanced at both women and neither would meet his eyes or look at each other. "Am I to assume you want the connection broken along with your magic stabilized?" The air grew thick with tension, neither wanting to be the one to voice the answer they knew they should give but didn't want to.

Finally Regina muttered, "That would be for the best." The words convinced nobody but they were out there now.

Gold nodded, moved to a display case and opened it, extracting a golden brown stone rod about six inches in length and half an inch wide that was streaked with black. "It is possible the trigger caused your magic to combine, it took a lot of energy to stop it so it wouldn't be all that surprising. I do not think it is behind your magic's instability though, your majesty. If that were the case then Ms. Swan's magic would also be unstable. Am I correct in assuming it is not?" He glanced at the blonde woman who nodded.

He ran his fingers over the rod, "I fear there are several factors at play here, each one separate in and of itself and yet combining to cause your issues, but to be sure…" He gestured to the rod in his hand which started to softly glow. As he moved it towards Regina, Emma instinctively moved in front of the other woman, blocking her from Gold's direct line of sight. "What is that?"

The move brought a wicked smile to Rumpel's face, "Fear not, dearie. I mean no harm to either of you." He held up the small rod, "This is merely a diagnostic tool. Imagine it is much like a doctor's stethoscope except that instead of being able to listen to your heart, I can examine your magical aspects." Of course the rod was much more powerful than that but he wasn't going to tell either of the women in front of him exactly what it was capable of, there was no advantage in that for him.

Emma glared at Gold, distrust evident in her voice. "It better only do what you say it does." She hated the small smirk that appeared on the man's lips. "So what are you going to do with it?"

He looked at Regina, "I need a demonstration of your magic's instability," He turned his gaze on the blonde, "And then I need one of her magic while the two of you are in contact."

Regina asked the question she had been dreading. "And what is this going to cost us?" Emma smiled at the words, even as she didn't want to hear the answer. The fact that Regina has said us not going unnoticed by the blonde.

Unfortunately it was also noticed by Rumpelstiltskin. His suspicions were busy solidifying in his mind. "The test? Nothing. Consider it a gift if you like."

Both women frowned, neither happy with that answer. Nothing was ever free where Rumpelstiltskin was concerned. Emma spoke, "It can't be that easy."

"It never is, dearie but shall we get on with it. I'm a busy man and you've already taken up enough of my time."

Regina gave the man a withering stare, hoping she wouldn't regret this. "Very well, what would you have me do?"

"A simple spell will do." He stepped closer to the women and started to move the rod close to Regina's heart.

Regina ignored the desire to shift away and summoned her magic. Instantly the pain in her head exploded. She didn't have the chance to even perform a spell before all the lights in the shop shattered and sparked, showering down glass. Both Emma and Gold ducked their heads at the sudden noise and Regina's hands flew to cradle her head, knees giving out at the swift onslaught of agony. The painful aftermath was getting worse with every untethered use of her magic and she would have fallen if strong arms hadn't caught her at the last moment. At their touch the pain reduced to a more manageable level and she managed to lock her knees in place.

Gold straightened up and his lips twitched in a smile, "Well, that was entertaining."

"Shut up." Emma scowled, "Was that enough? It better be enough. She's not doing it again." She still had one arm around the brunette who was leaning heavily on her. She was concerned about Regina and just wanted this to be done with already.

"I believe it satisfied the first part. Now if you would, the second part." Rumpel held the rod out again and waited.

Emma's face was creased in a worried frown. "Can you do it, Regina? It's ok if you can't. We can just go home. We'll figure it out another way."

"That would be very unwise." Emma ignored Gold's comment, her attention on the woman beside her.

Regina mustered what little strength she had left. The worst part was over. "I'll manage… Just don't let go." At Emma's nod she again summoned her magic and was relieved it didn't cause any pain. She willed it to fix the damage she had caused, tempering the amount she used, a lesson learned after the last time. Where Emma touched her, the contact glowed white and then a light purple cloud spilled out of her hands and swam around the room. It dissipated and the lights were as they had been before.

Rumpel's eyes eagerly drank in the view then tapped the rod against his head as he thought about everything he had just seen, combining it with the information the rod was feeding him. "It is as I suspected."

"And that is?" Regina snapped then winced as the pain in her skull spiked. She was done playing games.

"Patience, dearie." He started to walk around the pair, his cane clicking as he moved. "Your instability does not come from the trigger. You were electrocuted as part of your torture, were you not?"

Regina nodded, wondering how he knew so much about what had happened to her but then again he was Rumpelstiltskin so she shouldn't be all that surprised.

"And you had been stripped of your magic at the time?" He continued to pace around them.

"Yes, now get on with it." Regina was struggling not to show her current vulnerability in front of the imp, her energy fast running out. All she wanted to do was get somewhere dark and close her eyes until the migraine, which was pulsing behind her eyes, went away.

"I fear that the combination upset your balance. When your magic returned after the torture, your body and mind was full of static energy left over from the electrocution. That static energy has altered your natural magical balance, creating the instability you are currently experiencing." He paused, making sure he had their full attention then continued to circle. "It wasn't obvious at first because your magic hadn't fully returned. When you attempted to stop the trigger, you were not at full strength so were unable to do so by yourself and the effort would have eventually killed you. When Ms. Swan stepped in to help, your magic was drawn to the stability of hers and combined itself to save you. Thus the connection was born."

Emma frowned in concentration, "So destroying the trigger together is what connected us?"

Gold stopped circling, moving to stand in front of them. He sighed, the sound laced with disdain. "Is that not what I just said?"

Emma ignored him, "Okay, so what's causing the memories to keep dragging her under?"

"That, I'm afraid, is a little more complicated and without knowing the details I cannot answer."

Emma glared at him. "Well try, because you're not getting that information."

Gold merely shrugged, "Suit yourself."

"Emma, wait." Regina had known it would boil down to this, it had been pointless to hope otherwise.

Emma turned to look at the other woman, "No. We agreed, no details. He doesn't need to know, he's just being a pain in the ass."

"While that may be true, it's not your choice to make." Regina shook her head, her decision made, as the blonde tried to protest and turned to glare at Rumpelstiltskin. "The memories are of incidents in my past where I have been made to feel helpless and powerless. Where I had no control over my own life. So far they have been limited to my mother's actions."

Gold digested the information. "Interesting."

Emma tensed, the desire to smack the look off Gold's face almost irresistable. "It's not interesting, it's disgusting. What happened was terrible."

"And how do you know what happened? Did Regina share the memories with you?"

Shit. Emma realised she'd given away more than she had wanted to. "Not exactly." She sighed in irritation, he just kept getting more and more information out of them. "If I touch Regina while she's having one of those episodes I get pulled into the memory."

"This really is a complicated mess, isn't it?" He studied Emma, taking in the protective posture of the blonde, her tight grip on the other woman. "I'd like you to leave."

"Leave?" Emma growled, the compulsion to close the gap and punch him in the face flaring again. "You haven't even told us how to fix this? Just spouted a lot of bullshit."

Gold looked at her witheringly, "I didn't say both of you. I wish to speak to Regina alone."

"Not happening." Emma couldn't believe the gall of the man.

"Maybe it would be for the best, Emma." Regina knew the look on Rumpel's face and it didn't bode well for her. He knew something and it was most likely something she did not want to hear. She felt fear pool in her stomach over just what that could be.

"But…" Emma tried to argue.

Regina looked at her, "Please, wait outside for me. I will only be a moment."

Emma wanted to argue but the pleading in Regina's eyes made her relent. "Fine but don't make any deals with him. We're in this together, remember." She released the other woman and walked to the door. She opened it and just before she left she turned back, "I'm warning you, Gold. Anything happens to her and I'm coming after you." She stepped through the doorway and let the door slam behind her.

Gold chuckled, "Well she's a little on the over-protective side, even for the Savior."

Regina rolled her eyes, even though it hurt to do so. "What do you want?"

"Ahhh, it's not what I want but what you want, your majesty." Gold's lips twitched in a knowing smile.

"Just spit it out. I don't have the energy for your usual games."

Rumpel weighed his words, "It really is interesting. This mess you find yourself in. Were it not for the Savior's intervention with the trigger, you would be quite dead." He paused for effect then delivered the blow, "Is she aware that you are in love with her?"

Regina felt shock and rage bubble up inside her, "You sniveling worm. How dare you?!"

Gold held up his hands, "I mean no offence, I merely pose the question. I've spent little more than ten minutes interacting with the both of you and it was glaringly obvious." What he didn't mention was the information the rod had given him about the intricacies of that love. Now wasn't the right time.

"She is not aware and never will be. If you tell her…" Regina let the unvoiced threat hang in the air.

Gold looked unperturbed at the silent threat, "I have no intention of informing Ms. Swan of your feelings. If I had, would I have asked her to leave?"

Regina ignored the question and posed one of her own. "So why am I here?"

"You are aware that she is the product of true love and therefore her magic is, quite possibly, the strongest I have ever encountered. She rivals my own and if she were to learn to wield that magic she could even stand a chance of besting me."

"Your point is?"

"Your magic is now interwoven with hers."

Regina growled with annoyance, "I already know that. Tell me something I don't know or are you simply trying to test my patience?" Her energy was quickly flagging, the pounding in her head was getting stronger. She just wanted to go curl up with Emma and didn't even have the energy to be angry with herself over that errant thought.

Gold stared blandly at her, unconcerned by the irritation leveled at him. "Your heart isn't as dark as it once was. Whether it is your affection for the Savior or the fact that her magic is merging and dominating yours I cannot be sure but I suspect it is a combination of both."

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"The connection your magic has formed can be broken, but I would not suggest it. It is woven too deeply in the both of you, soul deep in fact." Gold glanced at her shrewdly, "Severing it would, more than likely kill you as it is your magic that is reliant on hers. Ms Swan would also suffer but the effects would be less…" He gave a small uncaring shrug, a wry twist to his mouth. "Dramatic. She would feel as if a part of her were missing, rather than death."

"So essentially we're stuck with the connection, that's what you're telling me." Regina kept all emotion from her voice and her face neutral but her heart was pounding. The connection was permanent and she didn't know whether to celebrate or curse herself.

Gold nodded, "It seems that way. Eventually your magic will become as light as hers, perhaps as powerful. The link between you will grow stronger, making all sorts of things possible between the two of you. Together you will be a formidable enemy."

Regina couldn't quite grasp what Rumpelstiltskin was getting out of this. There had to be something, but what? "Why are you giving me this information? What's in it for you?"

Gold held his hands up in mock innocence, a cagey smile on his face. "Nothing, dearie. As I said, together you will be formidable and I find it better to be on good terms if that is the case."

Regina knew this wasn't the whole truth, probably not even half. Of course Rumpel would prefer to be on better terms if they ended up as powerful as he was saying they would be but there had to be more to it. She could not figure out his angle but suspected he would want to use them, use their power for something. Unfortunately, right now with her head pounding mercilessly, she did not have the ability to contemplate what that could be but she did try to dig for more information. "And you expect me to believe that's all you want?"

"Believe what you will." Gold kept a bored look on his face.

Regina's anger simmered at his dismissiveness but chose to move on, it was obvious he was not going to tell her anything more on his reasons. "So what is causing the memories? I know you know more than you've let on."

A knowing smile crossed his features, "That, my dear, is all down to you. I believe it is your subconscious trying to show you something that you refuse to acknowledge. As it has little to do with your magic problems other than the fact that your mind is taking advantage of your lack of control, I cannot help you with that."

Of course he couldn't. Which meant until she figured out this supposed message, they were going to continue to happen. That was just… She mentally rolled her eyes, Perfect. "And my magic? How do I stabilize it again?"

"To put it simply, you can't. The damage has been done and if you keep using it without your Sheriff to balance it out, to filter it, it will kill you. The small demonstration here proved that."

Regina scowled, "So I'm stuck relying on Ms. Swan indefinitely?"

Gold's smile grew bigger, sending a cold shiver down Regina's spine. "I didn't say that. True love is a powerful thing."

She scoffed, "Emma is not my true love." She couldn't be Emma's true love. Rumpel was just trying to get to her, wind her up. It wouldn't work, she wouldn't believe his lies.

Rumpel just continued to smirk in reply and Regina would have smacked it off his face if she had had the energy. Instead she snarled, "You and I both know that people like us do not get true love."

Rumpel's smirk grew impossibly large. "Believe what you will, dearie but if it had been, say me for example, who had stepped in to help with the trigger our magic would not have combined and you would have died. It was the fact that there was an underlying link between the two of you that made it possible. Like recognised like." He shrugged dismissively, "Take that how you will. Now I think it's time you left me in peace."

Regina couldn't let it go, Rumpelstiltskin was lying, he had to be. "I may have feelings for Emma but that does not make me her true love. You have no idea what you are talking about. I don't know why I let you waste my time with this drivel."

"Need I remind you, it was you who sought me out?"

Regina rolled her eyes and turned to leave. "And wasn't that a waste of my time." She glanced back, her eyes locking on the imps, a promise of violence in her gaze. "If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I will end you."

"Ahhh, there's the Queen I know so well." Gold cheerily waved to Regina which made her growl and storm out, slamming the door behind her.

Rumpelstiltskin stood there, the smirk still in place. So the Evil Queen was in love with the Savior and more importantly, the Savior was also in love with the Queen, if his instincts proved correct. It was almost poetic, if you were that way inclined. This was going to be fun to watch unfold. He clapped his hands together in eager anticipation.

He knew he could have simplified matters by telling Regina that Emma felt the same way she did. That despite her denial, they were destined to be together because what was growing between them was indeed true love but where would be the entertainment in that?

It was true that he needed the two of them together and at full strength, the sooner the better but he was also aware that if he tried to interfere, tried to hurry them up it could all end in disaster. Just because they had true love going for them didn't automatically mean they would get their happy ending. They were the Evil Queen and the Savior after all, both as stubborn and pigged headed as the other. There were too many things that could go wrong and that just wouldn't do. This had to be handled just right.

He needed the power they would eventually harness once their true love's bond was cemented. The beginnings were there, the rod told him as much but until they committed fully to each other, their power would remain limited. He needed to use them to get what he wanted, so he would bide his time and let destiny take its course for now.

He would, of course, keep a close eye on the situation and if the need arose, push them in the direction they needed to go. That had been the purpose of his conversation with Regina, a subtle nudge in the right direction. He just hoped the queen had heeded his words.

If Regina died, all hope would be lost. Their combined power was the only chance he had of trying to save Baelfire and he would let nothing stand in the way of that, not even two stubborn women who couldn't see what was right in front of their eyes.

A.N Maybe it was all the talking in this chapter that threw me off. There seems to be a lot more than normal for me. Hmmmm…. No cliffy but we're about to head back into emotional waters where cliffhangers are a must. You have been warned. C