Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time or any of its characters.

Author Notes: Well folks, I won't lie. This get a bit dicey in this chapter. I hope you like it!

They were pressed together tightly, leaving no gap in between. Their bodies were slick with sweat and loud panting could be heard in the spacious room.

On the bed, two figures moved in tandem, following the timeless dance of lovemaking. Regan looked down at the woman underneath him, her ivory skin flushed with arousal while he held her hands above her head, their fingers intertwined. His hips, which were moving in smooth and even strokes, were framed by her strong legs, encouraging him to go faster.

"Someone's a bit eager" he teased with a smirk, leaning down to kiss her neck, tasting the saltiness of her sweaty skin "You're mine, Emma Swan" he growled, nipping her possessively.

"Yours, my King, only yours" Emma agreed breathlessly, freeing one of her hands and pulling his head back by his damp hair, playfully tugging at his dark locks "But you're mine too, you hear me? No one else gets to have you like this" she warned in her own possessive tone, pulling him into a rough kiss, sharply biting his bottom lip.

"I am yours, my Queen, forever" He grinned. He always enjoyed the little peaks at her darker nature, which she was comfortable showing him.

They kissed again, their movements speeding up as their shared climax loomed closer and closer. He could feel the familiar tug just below his navel and looked into his lover's gorgeous green eyes as his orgasm overtook him.

"Yes! I'm-"

An obnoxious alarm blared to life, making the man in the bed wake up with a jolt "Shit," he cursed, angrily hitting the off button.

"Just when it was getting good. Stupid alarm," he grumbled to himself, feeling the details of the dream fading and reality kicking in. He sighed and looked down at his lap, seeing the obvious effect of his dream "Good god, this is painful. Cold shower it is".

He made his way into the shower, letting the cold-water wash over him, waking him up fully. Those dreams were getting to him.

A couple of months had passed since Emma moved in with Mary Margaret. In that time, they had gotten to know the other better, though for obvious reasons, his past was not fully disclosed to her.

However, he was aware he couldn't keep it a secret forever. He and Emma were getting closer, and as much as he wanted to keep her unaware of his darker nature, he couldn't, in good conscience, start a relationship with her based in lies and deception.

Eventually, the curse would break. He didn't know how and when, but it would happen. In addition to her reaction to the truth, Emma would hate him for keeping it from her and she'd probably be disgusted by the monster he used to be.

Not to mention, the consequences of keeping things from her if his suspicions were true. At first, he didn't notice because of Emma's arrival and everything that followed, but he was aware that they weren't stuck in time anymore. The clocktower was working and the townspeople were not acting like mindless drones any longer.

No. He had to tell her himself and soon.

Time was moving forward and the more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that Emma arriving in town set everything in motion. The only way for that to happen was if she was, somehow, involved in the curse. Only three people were involved in the first place. Him as the caster, Rumple as the creator, and if he was right, Emma.

The Savior.

The one prophesied to break the curse after 28 years and bring back the happy endings he stole. If it was any other person, he would have got rid of them already to avoid unnecessary drama.

But things were not that easy.

Not only was she the mother of his child, a mother he adored, she was the woman he was falling in love with. He could never harm her, not even now that he suspected she was his potential downfall.

The odds were definitely against him. Every decision he took, good and bad, could have disastrous results. There was just a very slim chance of everything working out and, judging by past experience, it was very unlikely to happen.

But for the first time in his life, he was acting with hope. Hope that Emma wouldn't hate him for who he used to be, hope that she loved him back and that they could be a family.

He wished with every fiber of his black heart, for things, just this once, to work out in his favor.

Across town, Emma was lost in her own musings as she got ready for work. Living with M&M was not so bad. The woman was indeed a bit nosey for her own good, but she had a good heart.

Everything was going well. She and Regan were doing a good job sharing the responsibility of raising their son. While they spent most of their time together at the mansion, Henry had spent several afternoons with her at the loft.

Things with Regan were working nicely as well. They were getting to know each other deeply and she could feel the tension rise between them every time they were alone. It gave her hope that they could start something meaningful and she had a feeling it would happen soon.

Something very weird had happened to her though. A few days ago, after coming back from dinner at the mansion, she had found a strange book on her bed. At first, she thought it was Henry's and he had forgotten to put it in his bag. He usually carried a couple of coloring and story books.

But as she looked closer, she was sure it wasn't Henry's. She had never seen it in his room, nor did she recall him ever mentioning it. She would remember, she had been in his room several times. Plus, she and Regan read to him every single night before bed and not once, had they used that book.

No one else entered her bedroom, not even M&M. She was puzzled and wary, but she had to admit she was curious about it and read the title.

Once Upon a Time.

It was an illustrated book about fairytales. Famous tales like Snow White and Cinderella. However, they didn't follow the Disney version. Hell, they didn't even follow the original darker tales. No, they were alternative stories which she had never heard about.

For instance, Snow White's story had an Evil King, instead of a Queen. Red Riding Hood was the wolf and Rumplestiltskin was the beast, but there was no handsome prince at the end. She found herself reading it cover to cover, intrigued by the many changes to the original stories and the surprising twists along the way.

The thing that really weirded her out, though? The illustrations were remarkably detailed. In fact, they looked like the townspeople of Storybrooke. And then she read the ending of Snow White's story, where she's giving birth to her daughter as the Evil King's curse spreads across the land.

The baby was named Emma. Sent through a magical wardrobe so she could come back as an adult and save them from the curse.

The last page showed the King's triumphal smirk before the curse took them to the land without magic. The man in the book was wearing a royal uniform and a crown and he was sporting a well-maintained beard. But the resemblance was uncanny.

It was Regan.

He looked as handsome as he did in real life, but his eyes showed malicious glee. His story was not told in the book though, just mentions of how he married Queen Eva and his unwavering hate for her daughter, Snow White.

The whole experience left her shaken. That book gave off strange vibes. She didn't feel like she was reading some demonic tome but there was something almost sentient about it. She decided not to tell anyone about the book or what she felt.

They would definitely think her crazy.

About week later, Regan was still being plagued by erotic dreams starring him and Emma in different settings and situations. It was a sweet torture that left him wanting and frustrated.

The good news, he had thought of a plan of action. Valentine's day was just around the corner and for the first time ever, the town was aware of it. He could see businesses advertising discounts and appropriately themed products for the big day.

Wisely, he had already made reservation for two at Lumiere's. He had arranged for his secretary, Mrs. Thompson, to babysit Henry that night. He husband was working the nightshift at the cannery, so they would celebrate earlier in the day. He would give Emma a few surprises through the day and after a nice dinner, he would take her on a romantic walk on the beach.

There, with the stars as witnesses, he would tell her the truth.

Valentine's Day

Like any other day, Emma woke up with the blaring of her alarm. She stopped the infernal sound with a grunt and rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling.

It was the most romantic day of the year and as usual, she was alone. Predictably, Graham had asked her out, but she politely declined. The guy she was hoping would ask her had been strangely tight lipped about the whole thing.

With a sigh, she stood up and walked to the bathroom to start her day.

A while later she made her way downstairs, where M&M had breakfast ready. She lifted an eyebrow when she spotted the beautiful flower arrangement in the middle of the table "Wow, that looks expensive. Hot date tonight?" she teased, feeling a bit jealous.

It was nothing compared to Mary Margaret though "Nope. These aren't for me" she said. She masked it well, but she was green with envy. She had a feeling who they were from.

Emma's eyes widened as she slowly walked closer "For me?" she asked, feeling her heart starting to race. M&M sighed "Yep. There's a card and everything". Indeed, there was a small card in between the flowers. The blonde plucked it and read it.

There's no flower on earth that can compare to your beauty, but I did my best. I hope you like them, and it would be my honor, if you would accept to accompany me to dinner tonight. I think it's time we took the leap, don't you think? If you agree, be outside your apartment at 7:30pm and I'll pick you up.

Looking forward to seeing you,

Regan

PS. Don't worry about a thing, I took care of everything.

"Oh my god" she breathed, a huge beam adorning her face. She smiled all through breakfast and practically danced out of the apartment, leaving a bemused roommate behind.

When she arrived at the station, she was still on cloud nine "Morning, boss" she greeted without her usual sarcasm. Graham looked at her in disbelief. No wonder she rejected him; the woman looked like she would burst into a love song at any given moment and he had a strong suspicion a certain Mayor was to blame.

After about an hour of unsuccessfully trying to complete her paperwork, she decided to go on patrol instead. She was too restless to concentrate. Driving around did help her calm down, though the butterflies in her stomach were still going crazy.

When she got back to the station, Graham was waiting for her "A package arrived for you after you left" he said, gesturing to a rather sizable box resting on her desk "Also, I was instructed to tell you that you have the afternoon off" He drawled, rolling his eyes.

Emma ignored the gesture and opened the box, gasping as it revealed a beautiful lavender dress. It was simple and elegant, complimented by the matching shoes at the bottom of the box. Even Graham was impressed, the Mayor had some serious moves.

Once again, Emma read the card, her smile growing with each word.

Told you I would take care of everything. I choose lavender because I've been told it really accentuates green eyes and yours are the more stunning pair I've ever seen, only rivaled by our son's. As Graham probably told you, you have the afternoon off. In the box there's also a receipt confirming your reservation at Storybrooke's Spa. Go pamper yourself, you deserve it. I'll pick up Henry and bring him back to the office. Enjoy your day.

Still looking forward to seeing you,

Regan

PS. If you get hungry, go to Granny's. Your lunch is already paid.

Just when she thought this day couldn't possibly turn any better. She looked at the clock and noticed it was just a couple of hours until she could leave. Regan was definitely going all out for this. She wished she could get him something in return. She had given him an expensive watch for his birthday. He loved it, not because it was expensive, but because no one had given him anything for his birthday in a very long time.

Still, something material would not cut it now. She would have to wait for the second date to plan something nice for him. Hopefully, there would be one and many more after today.

At noon, she left the station for the day. She swung by the apartment to drop off the box and went to Granny's to have lunch. There, Ruby told her to order whatever she wanted; the bill was already taken care of. She grinned and ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with a side of fries and a glass of Granny's legendary lemonade.

M&M joined her for lunch and Emma could tell she was bursting to ask her a million questions. Emma decided to put her out of her misery "The flowers were from Regan. He also got me a beautiful dress and matching shoes, plus a reservation at the Spa. We are going to dinner tonight and see what happens" she revealed, enjoying her friend's expression of astonishment.

A while later Emma made her way to the Spa, just in time. The lady behind the front desk gave her a smile "We are ready for you, Deputy. You are getting our diamond deluxe package. First a full body Swedish massage and our signature Spa facial, followed by our manicure and pedicure combo. It also includes a shampoo/Style and makeup application, which is completely optional in case you have your own arrangements" she explained. The Mayor had been clear, she was to be treated like a Queen, no matter the price.

Emma was surprised. She figured she would get something basic, but it seems Regan didn't do things by halves.

During the rest of the afternoon, she was waited on hand and foot, literally. She enjoyed being pampered and she was happy to indulge in the complimentary Champagne included in the package. She opted for the styling and make up, giving them the specifics of her outfit so it wouldn't clash.

By the time she left, she felt like a whole new woman. When she got to the apartment, she went directly to her room to get ready. She had been hopeful that Regan would ask her out, so she got herself a very nice lingerie set a few days ago, for this particular occasion. She was aware that it was their first date, but it never hurt to be prepared. A splash of perfume later and she was set to go.

She looked in the mirror and she had to admit, she looked amazing. She borrowed a purse from Mary Margaret to carry her phone, wallet and some other essentials.

Ten minutes before the agreed time, she made her way downstairs. She wasn't surprised that Regan was already there.

He was waiting by the passenger door of his Mercedes. He looked incredibly handsome in his suit, black of course. The dress shirt he was wearing was a deep burgundy and his hair was styled in waves that framed his chiseled face. There was some stubble, just enough to give him a rugged appearance.

The mayor on the other hand was rendered speechless. Emma was a vision, almost too beautiful to be witnessed by mere mortals. The dress highlighted her figure, the shoes added some height and weren't too uncomfortable. Both the dress and her make up made her eyes pop dramatically and her lips looked supple and inviting, painted a deep red.

He walked closer and took her hand in his, kissing the back of it "You look, breathtaking, Emma"

"Thanks, Regan. You look very handsome" she said shyly, kissing his cheek. She left a faint mark from her lipstick. She reached to wipe it, but he stopped her "Leave it. Let it be known I am the luckiest man alive" he grinned.

He opened the door for her and helped her in before he got into the driver's side. The ride to Lumiere's was a short one, just fifteen minutes. When they arrived, the host didn't even ask for a reservation, he just merely smiled "Welcome, Mr. Mayor, Miss Swan. Your table is ready" he said and gestured for them to follow him.

Once seated, they were immediately approached by a waiter "Good evening, my name is Paul and I'll be your server. May I offer you something to drink, perhaps an appetizer?". Regan looked at Emma in question and she just smiled "You're the expert".

He just smirked "A bottle of your best Pinot Noir, please. Also, some jalapeno poppers would be nice". Emma bite her lip to keep from laughing. The server was perplexed but nodded, leaving for a moment.

"Jalapeno poppers, really?" she asked, amused. He shrugged "I don't want this to be just about me and what I want. I'm not trying to buy your affection by ordering expensive things we wouldn't even enjoy" he explained, and she melted, touched by his thoughtfulness. He was right, while she appreciated her day of gifts and pampering, she was a simple girl at heart.

The server walked back with their wine and appetizers. He served each of them a glass and left the bottle on the table "Ready to order?"

"I want the Porterhouse steak with a baked potato and a side of greens"

"Very well, sir. And for you, Ma'am?"

"The New York Strip, with mashed potatoes and a side broccoli"

"Excellent choice. I'll be back soon" the waiter smiled before he left.

Regan reach for his glass and lifted it "For us, should this night be followed by many more" he toasted.

"For us" she echoed, and they clinked glasses before taking a sip. The wine was excellent and weirdly enough, went along with the poppers. They both loved spicy food.

They had a great time together. The food, once it arrived, was exquisite. Emma was pleasantly surprised that the plates were filled. Usually, the fancier the restaurant, the smaller the portions.

Between them, they finished the bottle of wine, talking and laughing about everything they could think of, from Emma's crazy stories of her bounty hunting days to Regan's retelling of Henry's more amusing antics as a toddler. For dessert, they shared a slice of cheesecake.

After settling the check, Regan suggested they walk along the beach, to burn off some of that dinner and clear their heads a bit after sharing the bottle of wine.

It was a silent walk but pleasantly so. However, Regan was getting nervous. It was time for the truth, and he was terrified.

He stopped walking and turned to Emma, holding her hands in his "Emma, this has been the best night I've hand in…forever, actually. You have awoken in me something I didn't expect to feel ever again" he declared, heart beating faster with each second.

Emma cupped his cheek "I feel the same, Regan. After Neal, I didn't think I'd love someone again. But you're special. For the moment I choose you as my donor, I felt close to you" she responded.

Regan exhaled a giddy laugh, but his eyes were getting misty "You don't know how happy that makes me. But in order to move forward, you need to know everything about me. I've been keeping a very big truth from you. Not consciously at first, but after I found out who you were, I knew I had to tell you" he confessed, looking scared.

Emma felt a knot forming in her throat "What are you talking about, Regan?"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, praying to whatever deity was listening to please not take this from him "A long time ago, I lived in a different place. A whole different realm even, where magic exists, and lineage defines who you are"

"Regan, what-?"

"Please don't interrupt. Otherwise I won't be able to get everything out" he pleaded. Emma swallowed and nodded.

"I lost someone very dear to me. Punishment for straying from the path that was already laid for me. I let darkness consume me, to turn me into something I had hated my whole life up until that point. My desire for revenge against the person that ruined my life became my life long obsession and in my rage, I hurt a lot of people. Innocent people".

He made eye contact with Emma "I learned dark magic, fueled by my anger and my hate. I wanted the world to hurt the way I was hurting. Why should everyone else get their happy ending when I had lost mine? I hunted the one responsible for years, attacking her allies and punishing those that took her side. At the height of my madness, I did something I can never take back. I sacrificed the person I loved the most to rob everyone else from their happiness. A curse that would take us to a land without magic and where I would rejoice in their misery, frozen in time"

At this point he was crying but he couldn't stop, not now "Before all of that I was just simply Regan, son of a third in line Prince and a miller's daughter turned Princess. But during my reign of darkness I was called…"

"The Evil King" Emma whispered; her cheeks also damp with tears.

Regan looked at her, wide eyed "How did you know?" He asked.

Emma didn't respond, thinking back to several occasions when things around her defied logic.

Her time with what she had thought was a crazy foster mother named Ingrid, who spoke of her potential for magic.

Her kinship with the father of her son, a man she had never known yet she saw several times in her dreams.

The time she had stopped that guy, during her first big case with Larry.

Her GPS acting weird just before she drove to Storybrooke.

The townspeople disbelief of her arrival and their fascination with the newcomer.

The Storybook and her weird reaction to it.

"The book was right. Everything written in there truly happened" she said in astonishment. She quickly dropped Regan's hands and took a couple of steps back, looking at him like she was seeing him for the first time.

"You have killed people. You murdered your own father for the curse. You are the reason I grew up like I did!" she said, gradually getting louder until she was screaming at him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I'm not the same man I used to be. Of all the people I've hurt you are the one I regret the most. Please, you have to believe me!" he pleaded desperately, feeling her pull away from him.

"Was any of it real? Was me having Henry and having you take him just a ploy? Was this…" She trailed off, gesturing between them "Just another lie?" she asked, heartbroken.

"No, no! I didn't know who you were, even after you arrived here. I only began to suspect when I noticed time moving forward. The clock was working again and the only thing that could cause that, is the savior arriving in town. It fits, you arrived on the evening of your 28th birthday. Before that, we were basically relieving the same day over and over, I swear!" He was losing control of his emotions, seeing everything burn and crash right before his eyes.

"Everything I've told you, everything we've shared and what I feel for you is real. It never occurred to me to do something to you. Henry would be devastated and so would I. I just had to tell you; I didn't want you to be with me without knowing about my past. Please, Emma, don't go" he cried.

She stood silently, not looking at him. The only sounds were the waves lapping at the beach and their labored breathing. She finally turned to look at him, her eyes no longer warm and affectionate.

"Mary Margaret is Snow White. That's why she thinks you can't stand her"

"Yes"

"Is she my mother?"

"Yes"

"Where is my father? What's his name?"

"David Nolan, he's a John Doe at the hospital. He's been in a coma ever since we arrived"

"How will the curse break?"

"I don't know. I just know you're involved"

"How many people have you killed?"

He closed his eyes in defeat "I don't know. It was mostly village men that concealed Snow White from me or helped her escape. I never killed women or children, nor did I allow my guard to do so. But I did kill my father. I needed the heart of the one I loved the most to enact the curse. That's why I named Henry after him; he was a weak man, but he loved me more than anything and he wanted me to be happy" he confessed.

"What happened to you that turned you into such a…" she trailed off, but the meaning was clear.

Monster.

"It's a long story, much too long to be told at this time" He said, feeling his heart break at losing her but feeling it was the least he deserved for everything he'd done.

Emma just nodded and turned to go "I need time to process all of this. I'm going home and I'd appreciate it if you kept your distance for the time being" she requested, before walking away from the man she was in love with but couldn't stand to look at.

Regan just stood there, watching her walk away from him. He had stacked all his chips in this gamble, and he had lost, horribly.

With a heavy heart, he walked back to his car so he could go back home.

To be continued.

Please forgive me.

Don't worry though, things will get better next chapter. I'm not fan of angst so I won't keep them apart for long. Don't forget to leave your comments!