Berta bought a pair of pants to wear around the house because she hates wearing it all the time and all day, so Regina allows her to buy two pairs of black pants and white shirt pretending it is a gift for someone. Regina made Berta promise that if she wears the pants then she cannot answer the door because she doesn't want to cause trouble around the neighbor and spread rumors. Berta kept her hands to herself and respected Regina from now on without tempting her or in any way. Berta became a housewife slash mistress to take care of the house and cooking food for both of them while looking for another job, but it was unsuccessful because the area is limited. Regina thought it was surreal not having a role of being in charge of the house, but she's still in charge of what Berta is doing and everything. She thought Berta looked pretty cute in men's pants and shirt, but she prefers her in dresses. Regina was glad though that she is wearing men's pants anyway because it is less attractive and tempted, so it doesn't bother her. Sometimes, she would wear black dress hoping Regina would at least to give her attention and affection. Emma on the other hand who turns her on more ways than one and one of them is wearing red leather jacket who she'll never admit in millions years that she actually thought it was hot even she'll tell her that jacket is insulting. Her long wavy blonde hair that looks so freeing and messy that she doesn't understand how well it suits her. She sat on her desk in the office in her home deep in thought about Emma and how much she misses her and her attitude about the world.

Regina didn't realize how it was past lunch when she's drowning into work and not even thinking about food. She closed her laptop and thought it was strange that it was quiet all of the sudden because usually Berta would listen to her favorite pop culture songs while cleaning and watching horror or action movies.

Berta is downstairs cleaning the living room top to bottom dusting or wiping, and all to keep herself busy for the last hour until she heard knock then tilted upstairs but doesn't want to bother her while she works.

Berta walked to the front door pretending to sound sick, "I am sorry, but who is this?"

The voice on the other side knocked again, "Open the door, Berta. I know you're not sick."

Berta tries again trying to recognize the tone of her voice, "I'm feeling ill so please call or come back another day. It is contagious."

The person is still urgency knocking, "I know who you are, so I suggest you open this door, Berta."

Berta finally identified the voice of Black Queen, Ebony herself while cursing herself. She backed away from the door to get Regina, but in cloud of grey smoke Black Queen appeared in complete black leather dress with long hair that is tied up, "I told you to open the door."

Black Queen walked towards her while Berta turns to back away further, "I don't know how but I know you have your true memories and …" pointing upstairs, "Regina is not your wife."

Berta shakes her head, "We are together," she looked down considering her words, "It's complicated."

Black Queen disagreed, "We shall see. Call for her."

Berta doesn't want to because nothing would happen can be good, "Absolutely not. You cannot have her. Keep her out of this."

Black Queen stood closer pointing at her left hand, "Where's your ring if you both are married?"

Berta looked down and completely forgot about that, "umm … I took it off to clean the house …"

She laughs, "You honestly think I would believe any words that comes out of your mouth."

Berta curses herself before she could even react, Black Queen slammed into her chest to take out her heart then passed out in the middle of the living room. She waved her body in grey smoke to put her in dark cell for the time being until she can force Regina's hand.

She waited by the kitchen holding Berta's heart until Regina comes down.

Regina became worried so she looked for her, but it was empty so she came down and saw Black Queen as she bowed smiling wickedly.

Regina ignored her as she looked through the living room, "Where's Berta?" then noticed the heart, "is that who I think it is?"

Black Queen smiled showing her heart, "I know Emma is trying to contact you and looking for the Good Queen to return."

Regina shrugged while wondering if she knows who Emma is to her, "That is important, why?"

Black Queen disregarded her question, "Berta just admitted that you both are not married, but together."

Regina knows she's playing with her mind, "I know that she would say we both are married and together. You forget who you're talking to," she repeated the question in regal, "Where is my wife?"

Black Queen waved her hand, "She's not important anymore since she became useless."

Regina doesn't like where this is going, "What do you mean, Ebony?"

Black Queen smiled, "She supposed to get something from you months before, but she refused."

Regina eyes crossed as her anger boiled within her, "What was she supposed to get from me?"

Black Queen explained calmly as possible, "Something that will connect you to your True Love."

Regina asked curiously, "Do you know who my True Love is?"

Ebony doesn't know if she should tell or not while she considered. She sighed started to explain truthfully, "I'm from original timeline before King Arthur messed up everything, but in this timeline something changed that wasn't supposed to be here. I was anointed to fix it and give you Berta who was supposed to be your True Love after you became Good Queen in the original timeline. That's why both of you are connected somehow. For some reason, I cannot get into your mind."

Regina tries to control her concern for her two daughters and Emma which must be the reason for the change because she removed it out of the way when the curse came to wipe everything back to the original, so she can have Emma again. She cleared her throat, "I thought Robin Hood is my True Love."

Ebony nodded, "He was. However, once he dead it became null and void so the universe gives you a new one because your love with him was short. Everyone thought they owed you after you did everything for all of us and was chosen to be Good Queen."

Regina asked again, "Who are you really?"

"Let's just say that I was anointed by the fairies, Powers That Be and few others to fix the mistakes that King Arthur did from the future. Hundred years from now, we cease to exist because one of them would wipe the entire realms and Enchanted and put Storybrooke on the map. No one will powers except from your line. Your line will be protected from the curse; however, I do not know why."

Regina became confused, "I thought you hated White and Red Queen from Wonderland and you created this place to trap them."

Ebony nodded, "I do hate them, but that's my character, so they won't know my true mission. I already trapped White Queen. She is on the other side of the town."

Regina doesn't know why she's telling her this but truthfully she is glad so she can be mentally prepared how to protect the girls again from Ebony this time. Regina crossed her arms while listening, "Why are you telling me this?"

Ebony smiled, "I was hoping you'll join my cause."

Regina nodded standing tall with her arms on waist, "there is one problem with your cause. The way you handle things shows your true colors and I want no part of it. Like you said, I'm the Good Queen of United Realms, so working with you will be against who I am today. I know what you're doing, so it's not going to work."

Ebony shrugged, "I don't think you have a choice," pointed at Berta's heart, "If you don't, she dies."

Regina doesn't appreciate being blackmailed, but doesn't believe that she would go that far. She decided to challenge her, "Go ahead and crush her heart. You'll doing me a favor."

Ebony started squeeze her heart hard looking straight in her eye to prove her point that she's not backing down.

Regina tries to think of a way for her to give her powers back while stretching her arms out, "Wait!"

Ebony slowly let go of her heart with evil smile.

Regina with her arms out, "What if I do something to prove that we both are together?"

Ebony nodded since she was curious, "Go on."

Regina pointed at Berta's heart, "I would need my powers back if I do this."

Ebony eyes crossed, "With Berta?"

Regina nodded, "I would need my full powers back."

Ebony knows that Regina is trying to buy time so she set a time limit while she hovered her heart, "She has two months or she dies. So you have two tries or …"

Regina growls at her, "Fine! Two months!"

Ebony stood closer, "Your powers will be limited because I know you'll try to contact and teleport, so that won't work. If you try, her heart will electricity and won't survive from it."

Regina accepted her terms and then nodded, "Bring her and give her heart back."

Ebony waved in grey smoke as Berta's body appeared few inches away from them then remembered, "Ebony, where are we?"

Ebony rolled her eyes, "What makes you think I'm telling you? We are somewhere on earth because I know United Realms and Storybrooke will try to find you, so I moved this place. This town cannot be touched with magic because it doesn't exist here on Land Without Magic."

Regina nodded, "You put invisible barrier so magic doesn't enter this place and no human being can see this place."

Ebony nodded, "It was your spell, remember?"

Regina crossed her arms then walked over to Berta kneeling down who looked peaceful like she was sleeping then looked up, "Give her heart back, Ebony!"

Ebony refused to return her heart while facing Regina reminding her, "two months or it's her life."

Regina nodded in stern face, "My powers back first."

Ebony conjured her powers that was in vial then gave it to her. She opened as her essence went inside of her through her nose and eyes then she smiled then stood up while she took Berta's heart by magic then mentally pushed her through the door with her powers, "I may be trapped, but you're not welcome in my home any longer. I'll find a way and I always do."

cont. next chapter