DISCLAIMER:: do not own

A/N:: another update for you all. i will be super busy the next two weeks and don't know when i'll get another chance to post, but i promise to update when i can. thank you to those who continue to read and review. i appreciate the feedback. it means a lot to me. enjoy and review.

SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN SWAN QUEEN

Everything was in place. All she had to do was stick to the plan. But that was easier said than done. It had been nearly two weeks since her audience with the Exiled Wolf and she hadn't seen him since. She was growing restless. How dare he make empty promises about delivering Emma back to her? She could tolerate him playing on her guilt because, in many ways, she was guilty and she deserved it. But giving her false hope… that was intolerable.

"I know you're here dearie. I can sense your pain. It's like a musk; it rolls off you in waves. Bittersweet."

She stepped from the shadows. "And I assume you know why I've come?"

Rumplestiltskin tilted his head and regarded her with eyes that told of a mind long lost to insanity. "You've come to bargain. Those who come here do so only out of desperation. If you're here it means you failed to rescue the Princess."

"I was moments too late."

"Moments or millennia, it matters not. Too late is too late."

"Can you bring her back, or not?"

"To restore a life, dearie, is no easy task."

Regina was growing impatient. She paced in front of the bars, feeling the creature, for that's what he was, following her with his eyes. "If my own magical abilities rendered me capable of doing so, I would have already revived her. I know it is no easy task, but you were able to construct a curse that manipulated life as we know it. You were able to erase memories of my past deeds. I know you can revive her… if the price is right."

"And what could you possibly give me in return?"

"Your freedom, to start. Your son is waiting, with a horse for you. He will take you to a secure location."

For the first time since she'd stepped out of the shadows, he looked interested. "That's a start dearie, but hardly adequate payment for restoration of life." He turned away towards the back of his cell, dismissing her.

"Belle."

He froze. "Excuse me. I'm not sure I heard you correctly."

"Belle is not dead. I will release her into your custody."

Rumplestiltskin seemed to mull it over. Finally he turned to her. "Deal. You set me free, then Bae, you and I will travel together to retrieve Belle. Once she is safely in my possession, I will restore to you the Princess."

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"She has decided to stay James." Snow grinned at her husband as they stood on the balcony of their bed chamber.

"Emma would have been happy." James smiled down at his wife.

The door burst open, causing the royals to tense. A trio of guards rushed forth and fell to one knee. "Your Majesty, Rumplestiltskin has escaped!"

James took a step forward. "That's impossible! That cell is magically sealed. It can only be opened from the outside and even then by a powerful magical spell."

"He was aided."

"By who?"

The guard who was speaking looked slightly uncomfortable. "By Lady Regina, sire."

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It felt unusual to be back on this road. It hadn't been that long since she'd been here, the day of the party to be specific, but it felt like a past life, an eternity ago. It had been before people had forgotten who she was. She had still been a queen then, still been evil in their eyes. Now, she was… what was she? She had been given a clean slate, and an opportunity to erase the hate between her and Snow White, the hate that had caused this whole mess. And she had thrown that opportunity away.

"You seem distracted, dearie."

Regina glanced over at the Dark One.

"Don't worry dearie, I always keep my end of the bargain."

Emma. She was doing this for Emma. She needed Emma back. Making a deal with Rumplestiltskin, owing him anything, even for a short period of time, weighed heavily on her conscience. But she needed Emma back. She needed to hold her again, to touch her, to know she was alive and breathing. It was one thing to be forced to live without the company of Emma Swan but to be forced to live in a world where Emma Swan didn't even exist… it hurt to even think about. "I have no doubt you'll provide me with the Princess."

"You're wondering whether she'll be… as she was before." He gave a flourish of his hands and one of his signature sneers.

Regina worked her jaw. He just loved making this choice difficult for her. "Will she?"

"Do not fear, the Swan will be as she was."

Regina nodded and slowed her horse down so that she could keep company with the son, rather than the father.

"You betrayed the King and Queen."

Regina nodded. "That's what evil does." She tried not to let the pain through into her tone. She didn't want to lose the clean slate. It seemed like a slight to Emma's sacrifice. And her redemption was also something she valued, second only to Emma and Henry. She had forgotten what it felt like to have people look at her and not turn away in disgust or fear. She had forgotten how good it felt to be known for the good she'd done, rather than the bad.

"You really love Emma, don't you?"

Regina smiled for the first time since she'd gone to break Rumplestiltskin from his magical prison. "Emma was… the best thing that could ever and did ever happen to me."

"She was crazy about you. I always knew that everything she did was to bring you and her together, including agreeing to marry me. She spoke of you all the time, always with a great deal of hope. I'm sorry you never got your chance."

"You have a good heart, Baelfire… why would you taint it by doing this?" She nodded in the direction of Rumplestiltskin with her head.

"He is my father." Bae shrugged. "It is my responsibility."