He didn't feel things like excitement anymore. Such feelings were useless to him. But if he had to choose a word for what he felt at this moment, he'd probably choose "excited". Though, if he was honest, "nervous" wasn't far behind.

It was time for Regina's next lesson. He had her here, in his tower. She'd transported herself dressed in her riding gear, still using that old excuse. She was ready to study potions, which was a significant downgrade from the work he'd been having her do, and sent a message he was certain that she would receive. He'd been hoping it might lead to a conversation that would have her ready to listen to Jefferson when he decided to drop in on them as they'd discussed. And yet the second he'd told her what they would be doing, she'd put on a false smile, licked her lips, and set to work organizing the table for their potions lesson. It was disappointing. It was terrifying, not knowing when Jefferson would come in. And the thought of all of the pieces working together like a well-oiled and perfectly timed clock had him feeling something like excitement. Regina was compliant now. But he knew if he could destroy that last shred of hope within her for happiness with Daniel, she would grow to be the terror he saw in his mind's eye.

He was tired of waiting. He was tired of planning and scheming and waiting for this to be over! Today was the day. He could feel it in his bones, and better yet, he could feel it with his sixth sense.

He waited on Regina, allowing her to set the table, purposefully ignoring her, being silent and rude as he spun at his wheel with his back to her. He hoped it might communicate dissatisfaction and lack of interest, to push her over the edge so that when Jefferson arrived, she'd be primed and ready to do what needed to be done. From over his shoulder he finally heard the tinkering of bottles and ingredients stop and Regina cleared her throat.

"Are you ready to begin?" she asked timidly.

"Oh, I've been ready!" he stated immediately before returning to his work at the wheel. "The question is, are you?"

There was only a brief pause before he heard her insist, "Yes, I am."

Impressive, she almost sounded convinced herself. Odd what the mind could tell itself. With a sigh, he lay the wool he was working with on the wheel, and half-turned to see her.

"Tell me why you're really here," he insisted, giving his legs a little slap to show the demand. He'd hoped to have some kind of word from Jefferson by now that he was ready to act, some hint as to when he would arrive, or some recognition that he knew today was today. But it seemed he was left on his own. He'd have to trust Jefferson. He'd have to hope that Jefferson knew no matter how much business they'd conducted together, if he screwed this up, there would be no safe place from his wrath.

"For…for power, for-"

"Stop wasting my time!" he cried, redirecting his attention to Regina before she could get any further. That was a lie. It had been a lie from the very beginning. She'd always had an ulterior motive, now was the time to bring it into the light so it could be properly squashed. "What is it you want? Come on. You've done all your soul searching…" he announced rising to his feet and giving that particular phrase a little eye roll. "Now, tell me."

She watched him, eyes wide and terrified as he came closer but not because of him, because of what he knew she was thinking. Inside, he'd never screamed and cheered so much for someone to stop blithering about and just say the damn words!

"Can you teach me how to use magic to bring back the dead?!"

She spat the words out all at once, with a desperation that would have told him it was the truth even if he hadn't already known. That was what she'd wanted, what she'd been planning from the beginning. But he had something much different for her in mind, and in that scenario, there was no room for such girlish fantasies, hopes, and desires. And if he didn't crush that now, she'd spend her entire life trying to do it, distracted from what he really needed her to do. He knew from experience.

"That's what this is about?" he laughed as if he had no idea. "The stable boy?"

"I want true happiness."

"Then find it elsewhere, dearie!" he cried. "Magic can do much, but not that. Dead is dead."

She fell at the words. Her chest lost its proud puff, her eyes lost their spark, he felt the chilling absence of magic come from her as her feet stumbled, and she slumped, using the table to proper her up.

"Then I am lost..." she muttered dramatically as if she were in some kind of romance novel and not the real world.

"And I've had my time wasted," he commented without feeling. Suddenly he felt a spark and whirl of magic he'd tasted before from an interruption like this. Jefferson was opening a portal. He nearly sighed with relief. "I'm sorry but, uh, transcending death is beyond even my reach…" he muttered, extending a hand over Regina because he feared she might be so caught up in her own emotions she would disappear back to the palace and all this planning would be for nothing.

"I thought nothing was beyond your reach?" Jefferson. Right on time, with barely a noise, he really didn't pay that boy enough. "…Busy. Should I…"

"No, no. Nothing important going on here," he announced, welcoming him into his tower as planned. Now they would see just how good a salesman he truly was.

"Rumpelstiltskin…"

"Ignore her."

Jefferson did as he stepped up to the table and opened his bag. "I got what you wanted…" he tempted.

For just a moment, his heart pounded, and he dared to dream that he might pull free a pair of shoes from that bag. But no. It was merely the crystal ball he'd asked for. Powerful, true, and very helpful, especially when it came to figuring out who was at the bottom of the mountain, but he had his sights set on those shoes. He'd known he hadn't really found them. After all he'd told him not to wait to come back if he did, but still…this was why hope could be so dangerous. It was frightfully distracting. He'd been planning for this very moment for months, and yet all he could wonder about were a pair of shoes.

"What about the slippers?" he questioned quietly, trying to hide his disappointment.

"Oh. Couldn't find 'em. Heard talk they've already been moved to another land."

He felt anger like he hadn't prepared for rush into him. Not only had he not gotten the slippers, but he'd allowed them to leave, and now they could be in any realm, maybe even the one he so desperately wanted to get to! It was terribly frustrating! He'd known getting his hands on them was a long shot, and yet he hadn't planned on hearing those words exactly today.

"That's what I needed to get to that other land!"

Behind them, there was the tinkling of glass. They both looked over to see Regina had turned their back on them and was playing with the items before her, making herself look busy. Annoying as the noise was it was sobering, it served as a reminder as to what this meeting was all about, he needed to focus on the point. Jefferson, he had to get Regina interested again.

"Well, come with me in my hat. I'm sure we can work something out."

"No, no," he insisted with the boy. "Your hat only transports between magical realms. I need to get to a land without magic."

Jefferson paused and almost looked confused for a moment as if he'd never heard these words before. "Why would anyone want that?"

He smirked, it was a nice try, but those were words he never would know, no matter what the situation.

"My business."

Jefferson shrugged and held the crystal out to him once more. "You want the ball or not?"

He looked it over and let out a humming noise as if he was thinking about it, but truly there was nothing to consider. If it was as magical as he said it was, as magical as he felt it was now, then yes, he did. Very much so. It could be very helpful for looking past a few very unhelpful little spells.

"Yes!" he finally answered, reaching out to grab it. "Help yourself to as much gold as you deem appropriate."

Jefferson smiled and moved away from the table, and he turned back to Regina. So far, his salesman wasn't selling anything, and it seemed that if they had any chance of this happening, he needed to get involved in the transaction once more to spark a little conversation.

"Oh, and you," he muttered, making Regina turn and brush herself off. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but not a single tear slid down her cheeks. In fact, she was smiling! But given their situation and their conversation, he could see no reason for that. "You can let yourself out. Our work is done!"

"So that's it?" she whined as he moved away. "You're not going to teach me anymore?"

"So long as you harbor foolish notions of bringing back the dead, so long as you live in the past, you'll never find your future. Teaching you is a waste of time."

What the hell was the bloody fool waiting for? He'd practically done his job for him. He'd given him the perfect opening the perfect excuse, the perfect everything to engage Her Majesty, and when he walked away from Regina Jefferson was still rooting through his gold coins paying no attention to-

"Pardon me…for eavesdropping…" he glanced quickly over his shoulder to see Regina had turned at the sudden breath at her neck. Jefferson. It was about damn time. "But I think you need to look elsewhere for assistance."

"What do you know about it?" she asked of him.

"I hear things…. Jefferson's the name, and I'm a man who travels and sees much. And I know the man who can do what you want–bring back the dead," Regina let out a small gasp at his offer, but he wasn't looking at her face and couldn't determine if it was shock, horror, or hope. No matter, Jefferson went right on as if he'd never heard it. "He's, um, you might say, a wizard. I can bring him to you."

"At what price?" Regina questioned after a small pause.

"Always a price, indeed. So, here's mine. Like I said, I'm a man of travels, and I've made many enemies along the way, and I'd like a royal passport so I can have free reign to traverse your kingdom."

"How would I do that?" she asked with a laugh that made him roll his eyes.

Jefferson didn't fall prey to it, though. He merely widened his eyes and leaned forward as if about to share a secret. "Well, you're the Queen, aren't you?"

There was a pause on Regina's behalf, and from where he stood, he watched as part of her face jumped. A nervous smile, perhaps? "That's right, I am. And this wizard…can he really bring someone back from the dead?"

"Well, if he can't, no one can," Jefferson teased. And before giving her an opportunity to question it, he grabbed his bag and went for the stairs. He hid a smile from Regina. It was excellent work indeed, though he wasn't thrilled about how long it had taken him to get into that work. But that was a conversation for later, and if he was successful and able to gain access to Regina's land so that he didn't have to live here anymore, he would be happy to ignore the critique he had fluttering about in his brain.

"Well then…if there's nothing more you need from me, I assume you'll be going," he pointed out to Regina who was still staring at the place Jefferson had descended with astonishment.

"Yes…I guess I will," she muttered dreamily.

"One final offer dearie. A word of warning about our mutual acquaintance Jefferson-"

"What? Can he not do what he says?"

"Oh no, quite the opposite," he chuckled. "If he says it, then it's usually true!" Regina's smile suddenly grew tenfold. She was hopeful, more than he'd ever seen her in the last year or so, perhaps more than she'd ever been, and that was perfect for him. It would make her downfall all that more painful and the scars all the more prominent. It would be beautiful to see. "But take this small grain from me, dearie, should this…wizard, of sorts fail, and you decide to start living your life here in the present with the rest of us, then come time for our lesson tomorrow, I'll be in the woods…don't keep me waiting, lest I decide to live my own life in the present."

For once, it was Regina who vanished without further word.


Welcome to the 2x05 chapters! These chapters are a bit of a turning point in our tale. After these chapters, the Regina section picks up quite a bit. Everything up until this moment has happened within the span of one year. After these events we jump headlong into the future with Regina growing more and more into the Evil Queen we all know and love.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Alarda, MissAmande, Jennifer Baratta, and Grace5231973 for your reviews on the previous chapter! I'm curious about how you'll feel for the next chapter because it's going to a place you probably aren't expecting. In trying to untangle this mess I realized some important things had to happen and I'm hoping you'll find the additions suitable to the story overall! In the meantime, let me know how you feel about this chapter, pretty simple and straight forward, right from the episode! Stick with me everyone, it might not feel like it but we are getting somewhere. Peace and Happy Reading!