Regina took charge of the mayor's office. August was there at her desk, reading a book. She was so happy to see him again. August questioned her about what had happened but she refused to say a word, she didn't want anyone or anything, abrupted her in her burst of passion. She kissed him and pushed him against the desk. Their bodies were more and more tied. August felt the warmth of his breath.

They didn't want to worry about anything or anyone. The situation, the moment, the passion, the newly revealed feelings of each guided them in all of their actions. Still in the middle of the kiss, she pulled his shirt aside. The sight of his chest and abdomen did something to her, managing to stir her heart and her urge to continue to pleasure. She took off his shirt and threw it close to them. She pushed him into the chair that was next to the desk. He was totally in her grip. August smiled and reached under Regina's blouse to remove her bra.

She rested on his lips, she stroked his lower stomach and took off the waistband of his pants and went down her hand to his leg, his thigh, then dug her nails on his back. August wasn't used to a woman having control over him, but that made Regina a unique person. As for her, she was totally devoted to him, she had spent those six weeks without him and even though she had no memories, she more than needed him. She had a sparkle in her eyes, it was no longer domination, it was genuine love and real happiness that she hadn't experienced in months, if not years, if ever.

August took her shoulder and arm and lifted her with all his might. He put his belt back on

"I don't wanna go on, Regina, I respect you"

"Me too, really. You gave me a lot of courage and with you I feel protected even if I have the magic on my side, I need you"

"Do you need Pinocchio or a man with big, manly arms?"

"Just from you: a sincere honest courageous and true man and very loving"

"You know I don't wanna sex with you either cause I don't want you to be like all those girls that I met in bars"

"What do you mean ?"

"The kinds of chick for which sex is enough and the next day they leave or I am leaving. It's only the physical that counts at this time and it's quite sad and pathetic"

"Have you had a lot of adventures?"

"Much is the right word. Annie was my first kiss, my first love, it lasted quite a while but because of my separation with her, love destroyed me that's why I sex with more women once for days during four years without thinking."

"And yet you manage to love again?"

"With you, yes, the proof!"

"I'm not the best person to love, you know"

"What if we stop thinking about the past and take advantage of the present, talking about that, are you going to tell me what happened there?"

"Emma became the dark one, literally, she embraced the darkness and you can't remember what happened the last six weeks, she cast my curse"

"And you'd rather jump on me than tell me that?"

"I wanted to think of something else, I'm starting to get sick of all these stories"

August smiled and comforted her by putting his hands on her cheeks. He put his shirt back on and walked out the door.

"Where you go ?"

"See Emma, she can't have kissed the darkness I can't believe it for a second. All my life I have made sure that she chooses the light, she no longer has the right to do the opposite."

August got out and saw his protégé's yellow car.

"Emma Swan, Emma Swan, Emma Swan"

Emma appeared. She had a gothic style but he knew that deep inside her it was still Emma.

"You seem pretty sure it's still me"

She carried it to her new apartment in a cloud of smoke.

"I was the first person in your life to believe in you, so of course I can't believe you really became the dark one"

Emma rushed over to him and stroked his cheek with her fake fingernails, brushing her tongue around her lips. August looked at her, expressionless. He took her hand with force:

"Don't play this game with me, I'm not as stupid as your pirate, your charms don't reach me. But I can help you. I know what it's like to be alone and to create shenanigans. I am not a magical being, I have not lived in the Enchanted Forest as much as all those who live here. You and I are the ones who know this world best so trust me Emma. What happened at Camelot?"

"Is it Regina asking you?" She laughed

"No and if that can reassure you I won't say anything to Regina, I want to help you Emma. You don't have to be alone to handle what you have to handle."

August saw a small box beside her and opened it. Emma didn't hold him back. He saw a picture of her and Neal. He still had a heavy weight because of the latter's death. He then came across the pages of the Ugly Duckling. He gave a big smile.

"Did you keep it?"

"It was a young boy who told me about this story. That if I believe in it strongly enough ..."

"You will change your fate", August interrupted

"Was that you?" She asked moved

"Yes, I watched over you for a little while at that time, your future was not in the street, you had to understand it too"

"I can't believe it, this sentence changed my life", she said wiping her tears

"So the dark ones can have a soul and emotions, we haven't lost the real Emma after all. But when I spoke about swan, it's more the white Swan than the Dark swan. Stop playing this role and talk to me, you know now that I'm always there for you"

"Ok I'll tell you everything but tomorrow I'm a little tired."

"You know very well that I know how to recognize a lie, it is my domain, and I know that the dark ones do not sleep."

"Okay then a start"

She told him that they had managed to free Merlin because of Henry's tears. Emma had forced Violet, a young girl Henry had fallen in love with, to break her son's heart. Emma was very angry with herself for what she had endured for her son. Her goal until then was to bring together the dagger and Excalibur to eradicate the darkness.

August made his way to Regina's place. She was starting to worry. He rang and kissed her gently.

"What happened with Emma? Did she say things to you?"

"Regina, do you trust me?"

"Yes. Yes of course", she said almost without thinking.

"I refuse to tell you, for the moment"

"What? But why ?"

"I want Emma to trust me and if you believe in me enough you will know that I try to do everything to help her and reason with her, she told me some things but I promised her that I would not say anything to no one"

He took her shoulder

"Regina please, I know you want answers but that doesn't stop you from checking them out for yourself. I manage, I swear."

She hugged him but tried to tell herself that he was able to help her.

They went to the Granny Cafe. August was a little sad that Emma was left out. He managed to see her from afar watching them. Hook left Belle and began to yell at August, with tears.

"Why you ? Why you she trusts you and not me? I know she's still in love with me so why she only trusts a simple friend"

He left Granny's, furious. Belle wanted to hold him back. August looked at her and went to join the captain outside, very badly for him.

"Killian, wait"

"I don't want to talk to you"

"I know and I swear to you that I understand how you feel."

"Ah, I don't think so!"

"Yes, you're right, but you know as well as I do that Emma is not the kind of person who confides so easily. But, I know she doesn't deserve this solitude, yet. I don't want there to be a challenge between us, it's ridiculous, but maybe you should trust me, too. I tried to look after Emma as best I could and helped her get off the streets when she was young. And even though this story is over, I still vowed to watch over her, and I don't want to stop. So whether you like it or not, I might be your only hope for Emma to be the woman you love again, so you have no choice"

"Do you look really sure of yourself ?", the pirate began to smile at him

"I have never been so much."

August smiled back at him and took his shoulder as she led him back to Granny's.