AN: Warning of Violence and Injuries

AN: Just to say this is one of my favorite chapters to write. When I was starting to write this story and putting the plot together, this was the episode I wanted to get to in Season 2. Anyway I won't keep you any longer. Fair Warning, It is a long chapter as well. The longest so far.

I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I wrote it. Knowing people are enjoying this story means the world to me.


Enchanted Forest

Bloodied and bruised from the battle, Amelia rode hard with guards behind her in her armored robes as she rose up the hill where her Queen was waiting for her awaiting news of the battlefield, she had just left. They were losing. Badly. The redhead let out a sigh of relief when she saw Regina sat upon her own horse dressed in her own armour.

"My Queen" she called out pulling her hood down her usual long red hair was tied back. Regina's head snapped up at Amelia's voice, one look told her she had been in the thick of battle as blood and mud smeared her face and her robes was covered in the blood she had spilt of the enemy. She had been sent to assist the defending King George's kingdom from their attackers Prince Charming and Snow White "We've received word. Snow White and the Prince have defeated King George. His army has fallen. The kingdom is theirs" she told her Queen

"And what of George?" Regina asked in annoyance

"Unknown. But, without his forces, my mercenaries have either fallen or fled. We are now alone" Amelia gulped "We cannot defeat them"

"Do not tell me what we can or can't do" Regina snapped at her Assassin "Where is Snow White now?"

"Alone, on her way back to meet the Prince"

A grin grew on Regina's face as an idea came to mind "Excellent. I don't care how many men you lose – keep them apart long enough for me to find her. I will not let them defeat me" Regina turned her horse and rode on the opposite track. The guards turn their horses to carry out their Queen's order, but a bad feeling came to Amelia's stomach as she pushed her horse to catch up to her Queen

"Your Majesty!" Amelia called out to the other woman as she caught up to her love and stopped her in her tracks

"Regina" she huffed out as her heart continued to beat hard and fast in her chest "It may be a trap, send me and I will give you to her alive on a silver palter with her Prince's head on another" Amelia's own smile widened at the thought of swinging a sword through the Princes neck

"I'll take his head myself, go back and make sure she's alone"

"Regina" Amelia pleaded again "Please. Don't go" Regina huffed and spurred her horse on leaving Amelia alone in the dark woods watching her former shrink into the distance.


Amelia walked the chilled streets of Storybrooke towards Granny's diner tugging her tan leather jacket closer around her with her hands stuffed in the pockets.

She had run into Emma and Henry earlier that day in town and had been invited to the evening's festivities to celebrate the return of the saviour and her mother. But the blonde was still weary around her, but she relaxed as Henry and the assassin spoke comfortably between themselves in the street as the boy informed his birth mother of their time together while she was in the Enchanted Forest with her mother.

But it was the eleven-year-old himself that had suggested the invite first, not the blonde herself which the assassin took personal note of. She was still the villain that helped The Evil Queen cast her curse not the woman that put everything on the line to get her to the wardrobe.

She had woken up alone that morning after her's and Regina's night together, not surprised to find the other side of her bed empty and cold. After admitting her love for the Queen, she never expected for the woman to reciprocate the gesture. But something deep inside of her wanted her to at least tell her that their time together had not been for nothing but death and destruction.

As she neared the diner, she was met with the woman herself holding a casserole dish in her hands. They both stopped in the archway leading up to the diner. The air quickly turned uncomfortable after the events of last night as they stood in front on each other.

"Amelia" Regina curtly greeted her loyal Assassin.

"Madam Mayor" the red head replied the tension was thick between them after last night. Amelia cleared her throat awkwardly hoping to diffuse the air "Are you hoping we've missed the speeches as well?"

"Let's find out, shall we?" Amelia held out her right palm indicating that she should go first and followed her up the path to the diner and by the sound of it they had just missed the royal couples hope speech, as they heard glasses click and joyful laughter as Regina opened the door making the bell ring out announcing their arrival.

"Sorry we're late" she announced with a sweet smile. Amelia didn't bother acknowledging the cold reception towards them as she followed in behind Regina. They were greeted by a worried Mary Margaret and polite smile that grew on Emma's face

Amelia saw Leroy reach behind him and grab a knife in warning "What are they are doing here?"

"I invited them" Emma told them. Their defences fell and continued with the party as Amelia followed Regina to the counter where she deposited the casserole dish while Mary Margaret and David take Emma away from the former Evil Queen and her Assassin to a quiet corner not happy with either woman's presence.

"We're celebrating today because of Regina and Amelia" Emma started "They helped us get home. No matter what they've done in the past, we owe them our thanks now"

"Didn't you think to tell us about it?" Mary Margaret replied

"I did, but you two were a little busy this afternoon" referring to how she and Henry had found them once they returned to the loft with groceries

"Emma, they tried to kill us – yesterday!" her mother pointed out

"No, they didn't. She's trying to change for Henry. He believes in her. And, Henry's crazy about Amelia, he wouldn't shut up about her on the way back" Emma glanced over to the counter where Henry had joined his adopted Mother and Amelia.

The red head was smiling sweetly at him happily conversing with the boy, she looked back at her parents "And by the look of it Amelia just as crazy about him. Right now, that's enough for me. I couldn't have changed if I wasn't given a chance, so… they get one, too" David looked over himself to see Regina cutting a piece of the food she brought and giving it to Henry as her talked to Amelia excitedly.

"I'm glad you came" Henry told Regina

"Me too" she replied with a genuine smile

Regina plated a piece of lasagne and saw Leroy hovering and offered him a piece "Oh, I made a lasagne"

"What's the secret ingredient? Poison?" he asked suspiciously

"Red pepper flakes. Gives it some kick" Leroy took the plate and sniff it but accepts it anyway.


Later in the evening the party was winding down and its guests had split off into groups to talk, leaving Regina to sit alone in one of the booths while Amelia sat in one of the widows looking out into the dark street. Regina's dish was a hit with the dwarves, the thought of her cooking made the Assassin smile to herself at the thought of Regina at a stove.

Mary Margaret was feeding her husband food while Henry sat with the dwarves happily conversing with the others. The former Evil Queen and Assassin kept their distance from each other the entire night. Amelia kept to herself with the occasional visit from Henry, trying his best to keep her involved with the celebrations, with his grandparents keeping a watchful eye on the boy each time her came near her.

Mary Margaret watched how the redhead interacted with the eleven-year-old, it came natural to the former Assassin the way she conversed with the young boy, a quick smile flicked onto her face as she saw how happy Henry was talking to Amelia, like he'd known her his whole life instead of a week or so.

Regina was the first to leave the booth and out of the diner hastily followed by Emma. Left alone Mary Margaret looked over to see Emma walking after Regina and Amelia alone gripping a coffee cup in her hands. Mary Margaret excused herself from her husband and best friend to approach Amelia's table and tapped the red head on her shoulder to gain the former Assassin's attention

"Archie made cake; did you want some" Mary Margaret asked her old friend

"No thank you" Amelia stiffly declined the offer and looked back outside as the Princess took a seat opposite her

"Henry really likes you; he's not stopped talking about you since we've gotten back" the former princess continued

"He has a certain charm I guess" Amelia's mouth upturned into a semi smile still not looking at the Princess "Must be hereditary"

"David told me all you did for him while we were back home. I wanted to thank you" this made the red head look at the pixie haired woman in front of her "I know we don't have the best past, but I'm glad you could put that behind you and help us get home. Henry believes in you so does Emma"

"Is that really enough for you though?" Amelia asked the Princess with a raised brow

"It is. For now, at least"

"Until what exactly?" Amelia's voice lowered dangerously

"Until you or Regina do something to let Henry down" Mary Margaret tells her straight

Amelia leant on the table with her elbows to speak closer to the Princess "You'd love that wouldn't you" she whispered to her "To prove your daughter wrong be the hero in her eye"

"I don't need to prove anything to her"

Amelia leant back in her chair with a tight smirk knowing she's won this war of words "I think you do; she doesn't see in black and white like and your husband do. Your blinded by your sense of justice, you always have been"

Mary Margaret gave the Assassin a tight-lipped smile and stood from her seat just as the doorbell rung out with Emma re-entering the diner "Goodnight Amelia" Mary Margaret stood up from her seat and went to leave but Amelia stopped her

"Snow" Amelia called out making the princess look back at her. a few people had heard her call out Snow's name and were looking at the pair, including Emma. Amelia froze as all eyes rested on her. she was outnumbered if she didn't defuse the situation quickly "I-I'm sorry" she internally chastised herself for stuttering.

Mary Margaret watched how nervous Amelia had become, her eye's twitched around the room and her fingertips nervously tapped against the surface of the table. Mary Margaret gave the woman a tight-lipped smile and made her way back to the red head as the others went back to their conversations with David continuing to watch closely. Amelia saw this and kept her voice low as she spoke to the former Princess

"Does your husband really think I would kill you right here and now"

"You haven't given us much reason to trust you"

The redhead paused as she thought of her answer for the younger woman in front of her "You're right. I haven't"

"But your trying, that's all that matters. Did you want some of that cake now?"

"No thank you. I think I'll go. Tell Emma thank you for inviting me" Mary Margaret didn't get a chance to protest as Amelia quickly left the party and made her way back to her apartment


Her mind was reeling with the news of Regina's capture by the Royal couple. A few vases in the palace took the brunt of the Assassin's frustration with Henry nearby tried to sooth the red head's anger towards the woman who wouldn't listen to her.

She needed to know what they were going to do with her now that they had her. Sneaking past the guards with ease as she slipped into the middle of the royal couple's council room in session, she hid into the shadows as she listened closely to the conversation

"I fear the Queen will never change. We must dispense justice" she had to suppress a growl at the crickets comment and resist coming out her spot to crush the bug once and for all

"Agreed. What are our options?" Charming opened the conversation

"How about giving me five minutes alone with her and my axe?" Grumpy offered "…She's still restrained, right?"

Blue answered the dwarves question "Yes. But the magic that we used to capture her, will only keep her powerless for a short while"

"How about banishing her to another realm?" Granny added

"We can't" Jiminy quickly dismissed the old women's suggestion "It would be unconscionable to condemn another realm to the suffering that we've endured"

"Jiminy's right. She's our problem, and we have to deal with her" Red told the group

"Then only one thing is certain" Charming said to the group "as long as the Queen lives, the kingdom is in danger"

Snow looked up at her husband to be in horror "Are you saying…"

"Yes. We must kill the Queen" he announced, the whole table going into a hush as their decision sunk in.

"Aren't we forgetting her" Grumpy pointed out to the couple breaking the uncomfortable hush "The Black Widow" he reminded them as quiet murmur's waved over the table

"I have to agree with Grumpy" Blue sighed gaining the whole table's attention back "by now the Queen's capture has already reached her ear. And once she finds out about the execution, I'm afraid not even my magic would stop her in the end. She will want revenge for the Queen's demise, she has allies hiding in plain sight throughout the forest, maybe in this very castle, she won't stop until she has killed either one of you or both"

"We haven't forgotten" Charming spoke up "we plan to deal with the Black Widow once it comes to it, for now our focus is on the Queen"

That wasn't the answer the council wanted to hear.

"That's reassuring" Grumpy commented. Charming looked around the table to see that the rest of the council weren't convinced by his answer. They were afraid.

"Charming.." Snow whispered to her true love tugging on his hand "We have to tell them, otherwise we're all in danger"

Charming nodded letting a frustrated sigh leave his nose and turned to his friends "Snow and I have discussed what to do with the Widow, the first option is if offer the assassin to surrender to us, lay down her weapons and banish her forever to wherever she came from"

"And the other?" Red asked

"We capture her just like we did the Queen, we can keep her under lock and key here for the rest of her life, where she can't hurt anyone else"

"Why not kill her too?" Doc voiced from his seat

"That's something Snow doesn't want to happen" he answered the council retaking his seat clutching onto her hand, giving all the support she needed.

"Despite what she's done, she's always protected me" Snow added to the conversation "she saved me when I was a child and she nearly died for saving my father, she was good once, and she can be good again if we gave her a chance without the Queen by her side"

Amelia shook her head at Snow's naivety. No. they weren't going to touch Regina and she knew how.


A day passed quickly for the town of Storybrooke after the welcome back party for Mary Margaret and Emma. Amelia threw herself in her bar only interacting with people outside the bar when necessary.

She was sat in Granny's in the late afternoon going over paperwork with a half-eaten sandwich to her right when the bell on the door rang out announcing someone's arrival, she felt a presence sit themselves across from her in a booth as she continued to fill out her liquor order for the bar.

"Hi" Henry made himself known to the redhead.

"Henry" she greeted the young boy her green eye's flicked up to see he was in his uniform "Good day at school?"

He shrugged his shoulders as an answer "What are you doing?"

"Boring paperwork" she told him she put down her pen and leant in and whispered to the boy "Otherwise I'll be in trouble with the mean sheriff" and gave him a wink making him laugh as she saw Emma approach the booth with a to go cup in her hand

"What's this about a mean sheriff?" Emma appeared at the table with a to-go cup in her hand "I hope you weren't talking about me" she said as she ruffled the boys brown hair

"Of course not, I was talking about David" she quickly answered the blonde making her chuckle

"Hey kid why don't you wait in the car, I need to talk to Amelia quickly" Henry huffed at his mother's instructions and got up and left the two adults alone. Emma slipped into the seat opposite the red head"I didn't get a chance to speak to you last night" Emma started "I was just wondering how everything was, I heard from David you helped keeping people from straying too near the town line"

"It wasn't me per say it was my thieves and mercenaries that worked for me back home, I gave them food and shelter when they needed it, they help me out when I ask for it"

"Listen..what happened between you and Mary Margaret last night, when I came back in everything was a little….tense"

"Just a misunderstanding. Me and your parents have had a lot of them over the years, nothing new" she brushed the saviour off

"That didn't look like one. Look Archie told me you're trying to change bu-"

"What did Dr. Hopper say to you exactly?" Amelia interrupted the blonde becoming defensive, her relaxed image suddenly became hard in seconds as the mention of Archie speaking to her about her sessions.

"He told me you were trying, you and Regina. And you want to change"

"Anything else?"

"No nothing, it's not a big deal, there's no need to get defensive about this"

"I need to go I have an appointment" Amelia said as she dropped some money on the table and gathered her papers

"Amelia, come on" Emma tried to plead to the red head only to be ignored as she watched Amelia storm out of the diner and cross the street to Archie's office building and enter it.

Emma tied to follow the red head but gave up as she reaches the bug

"Is everything okay?" her head snapped at the voice to see Henry with his head out of the window having seen Amelia storm out

"I hope so kid"


Later that night when Ruby was closing up across the street she saw Regina walking towards Archie's building where she was met by Amelia who opens the door to his building and let the former Queen enter first, Amelia looked around her surrounding and was met by Ruby's eyes. The red head winked and smiled at the she-wolf before she followed Regina into the building shutting the door behind her and climbing up the stairs


Amelia's appointment hadn't gone was upset that he was possibly divulging the confidential conversations to Emma and Mary Margaret

Archie was sat at his desk in his office with Pongo in his bed that evening as he added his notes to Amelia's patient file. He was disturbed when a knock came from door. Forgetting his task at hand he stood and answered the door to be met with Regina on the other side

"I know it's late, but I was hoping we can talk" Regina greeted the man

"Sure. Come on in" When Archie lets Regina in, Pongo begins barking and growling at the woman "Hush, Pongo. You know Regina" Pongo quietens down as the closes the door behind Regina and went to his desk to retrieve Amelia's file and go his filing cabinet to retrieve Regina's file "I know how hard it is. Real change can often be a… A struggle" he turned back to see that Amelia appeared out of nowhere and Regina was suddenly behind him

"I couldn't agree more Doc" he sudden hears Amelia's gravelly voice say locking his door behind her. He didn't even hear the door open

"Amelia is there something-" before he could finish his question Regina grabbed Archie by the neck and lifts him into the air. Pongo gets up and begins barking, but Regina magically silences and freezes him. Archie struggles as a cloud of purple smoke begins to flow from Regina's hand. Amelia closes the distance between them and used the couch as leverage to jump on and unsheathe a hidden blade from her gauntlet and sink it into is throat

Leaving the building together and around a corner into an ally way. When they are out of sight 'Regina' transforms back into Cora while 'Amelia' transforms in Puck. Cora looked to the young man with a pleasing smile

"Excellent work Puck. Now we wait"


Emma's discovery of Archie dead in his office covered in blood was a sight she didn't think she would forget about soon. After breakfast with Henry, she had found Pongo loose in the middle of the street. The Dalmatian led her and Ruby back into his office to see his body.

Ruby had told her what she saw the previous night. This led her and her parents outside one of the suspects apartment door. Emma knocked on the door first "Amelia! It's Emma open up" but no answer. She tried again but no answer.

Agitated from the lack of answer David pushed his daughter aside to pounding on the door with the side of his closed fist letting some of his anger over that last couple hour get the better of "Amelia!" he yelled after second his anger got the better of him and stepped back ready to kick, the door down when a voice stopped them.

"I swear if you break my door, I will break your arm" the Charming family looked behind them and saw Amelia at the top the stairs that led to her apartment behind them with a to go cup in her hand.

"You do that, and I'll throw you in a cell" he almost growled at her

"I'd really like to see you try Shepherd" the two came together sizing each other up, chest puffed out ready for a fight before Emma had to physically pull her father away from the red head. Something told him he would come off worse in this situation

"Enough you guys" she told them as David continued to stare her down as Emma turned to the former assassin "We just need you to come down to the station Amelia to answer some questions"

"I'm not going anywhere without a warrant" she told the blonde as she pushed her way her door taking out her keys

"Amelia, we're not arresting you…" Mary Margaret spoke up

"Yet" David added earning a glare from his daughter and wife

"…somethings happened" Emma spoke interrupted his father "and you were named by a witness, we just need to talk" Amelia turned to face the Charming's her eye's darting between the father and daughter in suspicion before finally settling on the blonde.

"If I came with you, would you stop trying to break into my apartment"

"Definitely"


Amelia stood in the crowd near Henry as Regina was escorted chained by Snow and David's royal guards. She was dressed in her white and red robes instead of her Black Widow robes. She manged to blend into the crowd as Regina was being tied to the wooden post. Amelia watched the royal couple closely. Snow looked uneasy as the bug flew over to Regina in a grey cotton dress. She knew she couldn't go on the offensive, but that didn't mean she could have some fun trying to save the woman she loved. She checked the castle walls to see that the guards patrolling the walls were quickly and quietly being taken out one by one until a she heard her eagle above her Senu let out a cry of all clear.

"When I look back at everything I've done, I want you all to know what I feel. And that is… Regret" Regina paused "Regret, that I was not able to cause more pain. Inflict more misery. And bring about more death" Regina's lip curled into a snarl as she continued to glare at Snow White

Snow closed her eye unable to look at the woman whom she had become disappointed with "And above all else, with every ounce of my being, I regret that I was not able to kill… Snow White!"

Charming leapt to his feet as he let out a command "Arrows!" Four bowmen stepped up with their weapon as Regina was blindfolded, and the guards draw their weapons "Take your aim!" he called out again.

Regina heard bow strings being pulled tight and squeezed her eye shut, tears running down her cheeks. Amelia's pleading face swimming before her eyes wishing she could turn time back and listen to the assassin's warning.

"FIRE!" she for the sound of the bows being let loose but instead she heard a sharp whistle from the silent crowd followed by a familiar sound of bodies hitting the ground

"TO ARMS!" she heard of swords being unsheathed and then…"Drop your weapons!"

"I said drop you weapons NOW!" she heard the metal swords clatter against the hard ground as footsteps approached her from behind her and take off her blindfold, she had to squint at the sudden light but as her yes adjusted she saw the commotion she had heard and why Charming had ordered his guards to put their weapons in the ground.

Amelia was stood behind Snow holding the Princess in a vice grip with a hidden blade very close to her pale neck in the middle of the courtyard for all to see. Charming and their allies held still as figures in white hoods held their swords up to them

"You had an execution and you didn't invite little old me. How rude" she told the couple

"Widow" Charming snarled at the woman

"Now how open would you be a to a negotiation if I don't slit your true loves little throat"


With both suspects to Archie's murder in the building Emma led the former Assassin to her office, locking her inside while they questioned Regina in the interrogation room. After her own interrogation Regina was led out of the room like a common criminal when she saw a familiar figure with their feet perched on the edge of the Sheriffs desk minding her own business as her head snapped up her green eyes meeting a confused brown

Seeing the Queen being escorted out made Amelia stand from her seat and went straight for the door attempting to open the door only to find it locked making the Assassin to bang on the window in frustration as she saw Regina leave the station.

David huffed and took out his keys unlocking the office door and opening it for the red head "Come on it's your turn" David asked the assassin as politely as he could as she stood her ground on the other side of the office

"What was she doing here?" she questioned the man

"You'll find out in a minute unless you want to be cuffed and carried" he told her.

She liked getting a reaction from people, it what told her their weaknesses, but the prince at that moment didn't give anything away as she sighed in frustration before leaving the office to be escorted to the interrogation room by the father/ daughter duo


Mary Margaret watched on from the other side of the double mirror with a hard look on her face as her childhood hero took a seat on opposite side of the table while her husband and daughter walked to the other side with their backs to her ready to question her about the vicious murder of a good man that only wanted to help

"What no Snow? I thought this would be a family bonding opportunity for the three of you" she dryly said to the two Sheriffs in front of her

"No, just us" David told her "So are you going to tell us where you were last night?"

Amelia's eyebrow raised at the odd question "I was at the Hidden One's working, then I went home. Alone" she looked to Emma "What's this all about?"

"Archie was found dead in his office this morning" Emma told the redhead

"He's dead?" she questioned the sheriff in disbelief. Emma watched the former Assassin closely for any hint that she was lying. But it was the same as with Regina. This was news to her.

"Stop it Amelia" David intervened by leaning down on the table to get into her face "Ruby saw you and Regina going into his office last night, how convenient we found that person dead the next day"

"The she wolf is crying wolf" the red head tried to argue but Emma interrupted

"Then tell me what happened at your appointment with Dr. Hopper after you stormed out of the diner"

"I'll admit I got upset but I never touched him" she was telling the truth again. David shook his head at the Assassin with his hands on his hips "despite what you may think I can restrain myself from killing people"

"Yeah right" David scoffed at the woman as he stood up straight "Doesn't your order have rules about killing innocent people. Stay your sword from the blood of an innocent"

"Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent" Amelia corrected him "Seeing how you've just butchered a sacred tenet that's been around for longer than anyone here combined, show's me that you have no idea what that even means" she glowered at the Prince "It. won't. work"

"I might not understand your damn Brotherhood, but a good man is still dead, and Ruby saw you and Regina going into his office late at night. I think that pretty self-explanatory"

The corner of Amelia's lips twitched up before speaking "I've been killing people long before you got your royal title of yours. If I were going to kill anyone, you wouldn't know anything about it. The fact that he's dead and you caught me shows sloppiness. I don't do sloppy. Its not in my nature"

"You've been caught out before" he points out as stormed for the door having had enough

He reached for the door handle just as she spoke again

"Its funny you should mention that particular tenant your highness" she started

He took the bait looking back to the redhead. Emma knew what she was doing, trying to get under his skin and he was falling for it

"David" Emma tried to call out to her father "Don't listen-" but it was no use, the assassin had him.

"That particular tenant stopped me from killing you and your lovely daughter where you stood, thirty years ago. It saved both you lives, because if it wasn't for it, we wouldn't be here right now" all the bravado he exhibited suddenly slipped away as he simply stared at the woman at the table allowing her to carry on.

"That terrifies you doesn't it Shepherd? No matter what you or your wife do. I'm always there. So, if you want to arrest me, arrest me. You'll know where to find me" at that he wrenches the door open leaving Emma to run after him

"David!" she called after her father leaving the red head to kick up her feet on the table crossing her ankles and smile to herself happy, she was able to get under the man's skin so easily. She blinked her eyes and saw Mary Margaret on the other side of the mirror and gave the Princess a sickly smirk.

A shiver crawled down the Princesses spine as she knew Amelia could see her even through the mirror. All she could wonder was what lengths she would go.


"You wouldn't" Charming called the bluff of the Black Widow who had his true love in a vice grip holding a blade against her throat in the middle of the courtyard

"You really want to try me Charming" Amelia called it and pressed the sharp edge harder on the skin making a small cut deep enough to cut and make her bleed "Ever heard of the term ear to ear?"

"No, no wait!" Charming protested in fear, Amelia took the edge of the blade away from the Princesses neck earning her a painful gasp coming from the younger woman as blood welled up from the small cut left by the blade "Please... let her go" Charming pleaded with the Black Widow, who held a blade against his heart.

"Lia" Snow whispered to the Assassin as she shook like a leaf

"Don't call me that" she growls into her ear "you don't get to call me that. You're not my friend"

"Lia please, this isn't you, you're good" she plead to the assassin

"You don't know me Snow White" her grip on the Princess only got tighter as the Princess tried to pull her arm away from her throat

"You would've killed me by now if you hadn't completely turned you heart dark" Snow continued "Lay down your weapons and join the side of good while you still can" she plead the Assassin

"You're only alive because you have my Queen. Now shut up!" Amelia yelled in the younger woman's ear making her wince

"BLUE NOW!" David yelled out. Amelia snapped her head around to see three fairies including the infamous Blue fly down and attack her garrison with fairy dust. The distraction allowed Snow to loosen Amelia's hold on the Princess and turn out of her grip to retreat next to her fiancé.

The Princess reached into her pocket as she spun around and taking the fairy dust that laid within her pocket and threw the dust at the red head. The Black Widow screamed out in pain as the fairy dust went into her eyes, making the woman almost fall to her knees as she desperately tried to get the dust out, they could only watch as she stumbled back out into the cobbled stoned courtyard the crowd moving out of the way putting space between them and the subdued assassin as guards took their place with swords extended and poised at the woman.

Two strong hands on her shoulders pushed her onto her knees as the guards encircled her the tips of their swords aimed straight at her neck

With a straight back the redhead looked up at the Prince who stood behind the armed knights with weeping irritated eyes "Surrender or die with your Queen" Charming watches as the Assassin held out her hands as she stood herself up from her knees, the guards stayed still and allowed her to do so.

"Do you really think I need my eyes to see?" she panted out to the Prince, she blinked on her sixth sense and saw the guard surrounding her as bright red figures as the rest of the world turned blue. A guard went to stab her but quickly unsheathed her two hidden blades. She pushed the oncoming weapon to her right she used her left to push the sword down and slid up the sword until she impaled the guard her right blade into his neck killing him.

The other guards pounced into action. From behind her a guard swung his sword down at her she easily dodged the sword and slipped her arm under the guards sword hand while her elbow keep his arm down, she stabbed the guard in the abdomen, pushing the dead guard away three more appeared. She grabbed the guard on her left and threw him in the opposite direction to the stone floor, she turned back around to stomp hard on the guard foot to her right making him go to one knee as she turned to send her blade under the chin of the standing guard she swung her palm around the quickly slice the throat of the still kneeling while kicking the other to the ground.

In the adrenaline Amelia found the guard that she threw away and pushed her blade into his neck while she kicked one of his legs up from under him while she pushed him down to the ground dead with her hand. On the spin she kicked a guard hard in the stomach as she reached for her rope dart and send the dart into the back of another before doing back to the guard she kicked and ending his pathetic life.

She went for another guard but stopped when Regina called out her name "Look out!" she whirled around to be met with a crossbow bolt hitting her in the shoulder. She was blind to see the bolt that she felt in her shoulder roar out in pain as she did her best to open her eyes making the fairy dust scratch her eye as she heard another one fly through the air, not able to dodge in time, the wooden bolt impaled itself into the same shoulder making her lose her jerk back forcefully

"Amelia!" Regina screamed to the Assassin as she tried to pull at her restraints in a desperate attempt to get to the red head

As the world seemed to slow down her blood shot eye opened as far as she could to see who was responsible for the attack only to see none other that Snow White holding the offending crossbow before she fired the third and final bolt that hit her thigh sending the assassin on her knees.

Blinded and now wounded to the extent that she was now on her knee's as she bit her tongue to contain the scream that wanted to escape the remaining knights surrounded her with their swords pointed straight at her.

She was defeated by a Princess. How pathetic. Slowly she held up her hands in surrender as she felt blood started to soak into her clothes. She knew she couldn't fight like this.

"Take her to the dungeon's we'll deal with her later" Charming ordered, two of the guards she hadn't killed grabbed her by her arms and dragged her away from the courtyard, the only voice was Charming's ordering for is archer's to take their positions again

"FIRE!" then she blacked out


"So, what do we do with her now?" Emma started after calming David down enough to join Mary Margaret in the adjoining room to the interrogation room while Amelia waited patiently for the family's next move

"Lock her up, throw away the key" David answered as he paced the room his voice laced in venom towards the Assassin.

"We can't lock her up, because she didn't do it" Emma tells him

"You really believe her?"

"I watched her when we told her Archie was dead. She didn't know. The same with Regina. They had no idea"

"Emma, I know that you want to believe that they can change for Henry, but-"

"I know what I saw. Look at her in there" her mother glances to see the redhead in the same position her feet up on the table as she waited patiently, for one of them to do something "The old Amelia wouldn't have come down if she knew and the old Regina would've reduced this building to ashes.."

"With all due respect, you don't know them like we do" David argued

"Maybe that's the problem. I know in your kingdom; she was the Evil Queen and whatever Amelia was…" she came to stop not really sure who or what the redhead went as

"The Black Widow" Mary Margaret corrected her daughter

"Really?" she questioned out load in disbelief. She shook her head before continuing "But here, she's Amelia. And I'm still the Sheriff, and I say she's innocent until proven guilty, they both are"

"So… Uh, what do you suggest we do?" her mother asked the blonde

"Let her go"

David protested the idea "Emma, sh- "

"We let her go, and then we find the truth"


Crickets chirped in the cold night air as Snow took a walk through the courtyard where so much blood was spilled only for her to stop The Evil Queen's execution at the last moment. They returned the Queen to her cell while The Black Widow was sat in their dungeons after she slaughtered several of their guards. She had Doc go down to her to tend to the wounds Snow inflicted on her old friend.

The dwarf told her she had refused treatment from the dwarf when he and Blue first found her where the guards had dumped her in a cell, barely conscience but still fighting. She would rather bleed out than live in a world where Regina wasn't in it. She cared for the Queen more than just a partner.

But then Red told her about Snow's last-minute change of heart. All Amelia did was laugh through the pain as Doc removed the bolt's from her body.

She came to a stop where eventually the deadly assassin was finally subdued due to her taking Granny's crossbow. She couldn't stand by as she killed more and more men so brutally, she had to stop her herself.

Peering down and saw the dark brown patches that stained the ground. Even in the dark she could still see the blood that stained the cobblestone ground where the servants just couldn't wash away.

"My, my. Aren't we troubled, dearie?" the voice made Snow whip round to see Rumpelstiltskin sat on her 'throne'

"Rumpelstiltskin. What brings you here?"

"You have to ask? I came to witness the Queen's execution" he stood from the chair and slowly walked towards the Princess "Even had my heart set on a wee souvenir. It's all very disappointing. But the Black Widow certainly livened things up. How many guards did she manage to kill before you shot her?" the Dark One giggled to himself as he remembered Snow grabbing the old women's crossbow during the needless slaughter of men

Snow ignored his manic giggles and held her had up high "I won't apologize for sparing her life"

"What about mercilessly shooting your childhood hero and send her to the dungeon to bleed out. Do you apologize for that?"

"No. Not when there's a chance they both might change" the notion made Rumpelstiltskin laugh harder

"Regina and the Lady Amelia redeemed" he said between giggles "what a novel thought. And, um… How do you plan to accomplish such an impressive feat?"

Snow shrugged at the Dark One "I don't even know if it's possible. I'm probably just fooling myself"

"Maybe you need someone to show you that it is possible"

"What do you mean?"

"Simple. I provide you with a test to help determine whether the Queen and her Black Widow can truly change"

"Why would I trust you, when I know you want them dead? You never make a deal without a price" she challenged the sorcerer

"Maybe I just want them alive"

"That I doubt"

"Question my motives all you like, dearie, but they shall remain mine. What is yours now, is opportunity. I can help you. Do we have a deal?"


Once set free by Emma from the Sheriff's station Amelia headed straight to the mansion. She knocked on the front door double checking her surroundings, she heard the door open and was met with the former Evil Queen.

"Did you kill the Cricket?" she asked the Assassin straight away without a beat

"Funny, I was just about to ask you the same thing" Amelia replied as Regina stood to the side and allowed Amelia to enter her home "And I didn't" Regina closed the door and followed Amelia in the living room "Did you?" Amelia repeated Regina's earlier question as they stood either side of the coffee table

"Do you really have to ask? Of course, I didn't. After everything I've done to change, why would I toss it all away for a petty kill like the bug"

"Well apparently the Charming's are convinced it was us" the assassin pointed out

"Someone's framing us"

"But who?"


The Hidden One's bar was the first place the Charming's hit to look for clues for the murder of Archie. They were desperately trying to get into Amelia's personal office, but her barman Launce wasn't having any of it. He was ignoring every attempt David made to try and convince them to let them through. He even went to ignoring their mere presence. It was time for Emma to try a little harder.

"Look I get that your loyal to Amelia and everything, but this is a murder investigation. I need to prove that Amelia had nothing to do with this, I just need to see your security tapes, verify her alibi" Launce continued to clean glasses and instruct the rest of the staff ready for opening later. Emma waved her hand in front of the man's face "Hello? Sheriff to bartender"

"Hey LeBeau, LeFer do you hear something?" he asked the set of twin brothers across the room. the twins laughed hardheartedly at Lance's jibe

"Ignore me all you want I'll be more than happy to arrest you all for obstruction"

"Why are you defending her after everything she's done, the countless lives she's taken" David argued

"She gave us a home" Launce simply answered. He glanced behind David and looked towards Mary Margaret "She fed my family and put a roof over our heads when King Leopold and King George allowed his guards take everything from us. She's done that for everyone in here"

"My father would never allow that to happen" Mary Margaret tried to defend her dead father

"Your own guards laughed at his kind heart Princess and took our home away. Our homes would have burnt down if Amelia hadn't turned up at the right moment. So, go ahead arrest us. Or better yet come back with a signed warrant. Get out before we have Lysander kicks you all out" the family looked to the staff that had gathered and saw a large blonde man step forward

"Even at the expense of a good man losing his life after a temper tantrum" Mary Margaret added

"Amelia isn't like that; she gets upset but she doesn't kill people just because she can otherwise none of us would be here and as for an alibi, everyone in this bar will say she was here the whole night"

Emma's 'superpower' kicked in that told her he wasn't lying. This was a dead end

"Come on let's try Archie office" Emma tried to appeal to David. It was a losing battle. It wasn't worth their trouble. Emma headed for the door with a reluctant David following his wife out of the building.


Gods she was bored.

Sat in the royal couple's dungeon chained to the wall by her ankles. I wasn't the first time she had been chained in any dungeon by any means but at least she was left alone and not visited by a dwarf escorted by Red or Blue to tend to her wounds on her shoulder and thigh. They hurt like a bitch.

They had told her Snow stopped the execution. Amelia chuckled until she started to cough from the lack of water she was given by the guards. She had been stripped of all her weapons and tool's including her healing tonic, barely leaving her in any clothes at all in fear she was hiding something that could kill them. They had spared her on humiliation as they left her in her black leggings and blouse that was still stained in her blood

Her eyesight had begun to clear after spending ages rubbing the fairy dust out of them. But it still felt like there was sand in them. She should've cut the girls throat out and be done with it. Screw Rumpelstiltskin. He had no idea the crap that woman had put her through.

She leant her head fall back against the cold stone wall and closed her eyes when she heard the familiar sound of the gate to the dungeons open and footsteps

"That better not be you Doc" she croaked out into the dark, her throat rasping from the lack of water the guards had given her "I'd rather die of infection that have you poking and prodding everything"

"We just might let you then" she smiled recognising the voice

"Mmhmm Prince Charming" she cracked open her eyes to see the man still in his armour next to Snow. Snow was taken aback at the redness in her eyes left by the dust. She had been left in a bloodstained blouse that dried on the piece of clothing and black legging's that clung to her like a second skin and bare feet.

Red actively searched the Assassin's body for any other weapon's she might had had on her. The only thing that they had found was a necklace that held a stone like pendant and a silver ring that had the Brotherhood's insignia engraved into it. Amelia protested when the were-wolf had tried to take the necklace off. It was important to her, so she left it.

They had all her weapon's lied out on their council table. The number of knives and small blades she hid on her were nauseating. They just kept coming. Her leather bracers were also taken off her still dripping from the guard she killed.

She came here prepared to kill everyone to get Regina to safety, even if it meant that she had died in the process.

"Come to finish me off? You know there is some honour of cutting down your enemy while she's down and defenceless. Smart is some cases"

"I bet you've done that before" he retorted

"Can't say I have; I have a thing about a target fighting back makes the final blow all that more satisfying" she drawled out letting her head fall back onto the wall and closing her eyes once again in fatigue.

"We're not here to discuss how you kill innocent people" the Prince told her

"Stay you blade from the flesh of an innocent" she drawled out from memory Charming and Snow looked at each other in confusion. Was she going mad? "It's one of the Brotherhood's tenants. Too bad no one gave a crap about it. But I did. I still do. What do you want? I'm a little busy"

"We're here because you weren't always like this Amelia" Snow spoke up "The woman who saved mine and Regina's life all those years ago, had good in her. Had hope"

A ghost of a smile grew on the red heads face at the memory of the day she met her Queen for the first time "I remember Snow. She drowned a while ago though. I didn't want to become The Black Widow"

"Then why did you join Regina?"

"A means to an end. Once I started to kill my old family my heart went dark. A price, so to speak but I can't stop before they can finally Requiescat in pace" she sighed letting her eye's fall closed as fatigue washed over her once again (Rest in Peace)

"This is useless Snow" Charming whispered to his fiancée "she's obviously going mad"

Snow shook her head a Charming and knelt down to the bars next to where Amelia was sat near the front "I saw the way Regina looked at you when you finally fell. She care's for you. And I'm willing to bet you feel the same way"

Amelia's eye squinted open to look at the Princess through her eye lashes "What do you know about it?"

"I remember the way you looked at her when you saved us. Even then you cared for her. This is your chance" Snow said, placing her hand on Amelia's almost limp hand resting on her uninjured thigh "A chance for the both of you"

Amelia's green eyes met Snow's through the bar "What are you talking about?"

"We offered her mercy, but when we tried to help her, to get her to change, she couldn't. She had a chance to walk away and start anew, but she chose evil and vengeance instead. We want to give you the same choice" she said with a gentle smile "Go to Regina, take her somewhere where she can't hurt anyone else. My godfather. He was apart of the Brotherhood. He spoke of a place. Monteri-"

"Monteriggioni" she said for the Princess

"Right. He said it was a place even the darkest of magic couldn't touch. Take her there. A fresh start"

"She'd never agree to that" Amelia croaked out

"She would if you asked her" Snow insisted

A smile grew on Amelia's face she looked at the Princess "You're still that naive little girl that still believes in happy endings aren't you, you just got taller" Amelia snatched her hand away from Snows and quickly reached through the bars to a dagger in Snow's belt and before the Princess could react Amelia had shoved the dagger through the young woman's chest aiming for her heart and twisted it into her flesh. Amelia watched as Snow didn't react the same way any other person would if they had a blade in their chest

"But at least you got smarter" the red head chuckled pulling the weapon out and throwing onto the ground laughing to herself "That bastard" she spat put in between laughter

"How did you know?"

"I saw it on you and your husband to be when you walked in. You two stink of his magic"

"You can see magic?" David wondered out loud

Ignoring the Prince. Amelia looked into Snow's eyes "So, what now Princess…it's your move"


After leaving the Hidden One's after a frosty reception the Charming's moved onto Archie's office the scene of the crime. David was looking through Archie's patient files as Emma and Mary Margaret sat across the room going through more paperwork

"Huh" the Prince scoffed gaining his wife's and daughters attention, he pulled out a couple of files to show them "Regina's and Amelia's files – both empty"

"So, they did it" Mary Margaret deduced "They killed the kindest soul in this town. A man who only cared about helping"

"I promise we'll find whoever really did this" Emma said from the sofa still not convinced it was either women

"Isn't it time you admit we already have?" David queried with his daughter "Regina had a fight with Archie, you saw Amelia storm into his office building after she got upset. Ruby saw both outside last night, and now, their files are empty. That's… That's a lot of evidence"

"Maybe that's the point"

"What do you mean?" David asked

"Well, I don't know how it is in fairy tale land, but in the real world, it's usually hard to find evidence. But this has been way too easy. Unless, someone wants us to find evidence"

"What? So, you think they're being framed?" Mary Margaret queried

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time that happened in this town" Emma pointed out

"Who would want to frame them?" David asked his daughter

"That's a long list, present company included" Mary Margaret admitted

"Yeah. But there's only one name on that list that would resort to killing to get what they want" the blonde finished.

They had to see Mr. Gold


It was raining hard by the time Amelia was being escorted out of the royal palace by the guards. She limped heavily on her still injured thigh. She was lucky Snow didn't hit an artery otherwise she wouldn't be limping out.

Snow White and Prince Charming where now untouchable to The Evil Queen and her Black Widow for the foreseeable future. The royal wedding had been set for two weeks' time. They had plenty of time for Amelia to lick her wounds and come back fighting against the royal's.

Carrying her bloodied robe's on her shoulder as she saw the first sign of freedom in front of her.

Henry was walking towards her with a heavy clock held above his head to keep the rain off his head and took her arm around his shoulder helping her walk to the carriage that was waiting for them "Good to see you alive child" he said over the rain

"Good to see you too Henry" she replied with a genuine smile "I missed you"

"I missed you too" he told her as they reached the carriage "But I think she's missed you more" Amelia smiled at the thought of seeing Regina for the first time in what felt like months. Henry stopped by the carriage door "I'll let you two have a minute" he told her as he opened the door for the red head.

"Thank you" Amelia placed a chaste kiss to Henry's cheek before he helped, her hop into the carriage and shut the door behind her as she took a heavy seat next to the woman she had tried to save just day's ago

"I see you survived your injuries" Regina greeted her assassin dryly

"Lovely to see you too" she dryly greeted the Queen back. Suddenly Regina jerked Amelia's tunic by the front until their lips met in a fierce kiss that made the Assassin forget about the pain the sudden movement had made her shoulder

Amelia groaned into the kiss out of pain instead of pleasure which made the Queen separate them and rest their foreheads together "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you" the Queen whispered to the woman

"I'm sorry you didn't listen too" Regina lightly poked Amelia's injured shoulder at the dig that made her groan louder in pain

"Good. That hurt. Maybe that'll teach you not to be the knight in shining armour"

"Lesson learnt" she said through gritted teeth as she leant back into the seat of the carriage just as Henry let himself back in and sit on the opposite seat

"Where to now, Your Majesty" Regina looked over to Amelia in concern after the women closed her eyes resting her head on the wall of the carriage letting her fatigue take over once again.

"Monteriggioni first" Regina tells her father "I need her back in prime condition. Then we find a way to get to them"


Amelia sat with Regina in silence as they waited for any news concerning the murder investigation in which they were both suspects in. They were taken out of their thoughts when the front door to the mansion was knocked on. Amelia jumped up from her seat and blinked on her sixth sense to see three figures in red at the door

"It's them" she tells the brunette who nods at the red head before heading for front door. Amelia checked her pocket and switched the safety of her gauntlets off pulling the sleeve of her jacket over her weapons as she hovered behind the former Evil Queen as she opened the door to an angry Emma

"Miss Swan. I assume you're here to apologize" the former Evil Queen greeted the saviour

Emma looked between the woman in anger as the image of Amelia plunging her blade into Archie throat, he bled out at Regina choked out what little life he had "I saw you do it" she said in a low voice

"What?" Amelia's brow raised in curiosity

"I saw it" she looked to Amelia "You slit his throat" then she turned to Regina "While you choked the life out of him"

"What are you talking about?" Regina continued to deny "How is that even possible?"

"Magic" David answered the woman

"You-" Regina went to continued only for Emma to interrupt the older woman

"I saw what happened, and it was both of you"

"Gold" Amelia spoke up from behind Regina "He helped you. You're going to trust him, of all people, when he's probably the one behind this?"

"We didn't trust him" Mary Margaret voiced "That's why Emma used magic instead"

Regina looked at Emma in disbelief "You can use magic… The saviour. Of course" a smug smile graced the blondes face "Well, I can only assume he warned you, then"

"About what?" Emma questioned

"That magic always comes with a price" Amelia told the blonde plainly "I may not wield it myself by I know even true love's magic doesn't come without one"

"Yeah? Well, that's a price we're all going to pay"

"How's that?" Regina spoke up

"Henry. He believed in you. Both of you. His heart's going to break. That's our prices"

"No. I will not let you poison Henry against me" Regina protested with tears in her eyes

"It's an interesting word choice, since you already did" The three of them start to leave and Regina follows them down the walkway while Amelia unfold her arms ready to fight the heroes as she hung back a the porch.

"I want to see him. He deserves to hear my side of the story! He's my son!"

Emma double backed on the mayor "He's not! He's mine! And, after this, you're not getting anywhere near him! Do it!" Amelia looked at her left to see Mother Superior appears from behind and tree and fires a blast of blue magic at Regina.

"Over here!" David yelled at the Assassin making the red head snap her head the other way to see Mary Margaret pull fairy dust out of her pocket to throw it towards Amelia's head only for to take out one of her throwing knives and throw it towards the teacher.

The teacher yelped in pain as the blade went through the layers of clothing to leave a cut making the Princess to drop the fairy dust at to the ground as Regina sent the fairy dust back towards the couple

"Did you really think that would work again?" Amelia sneered through gritted teeth at the royal couple as they cowered together from the Evil Queen and Black Widow

"You… You will not keep my son from me" Regina threw out her hand and magically throws Emma backwards down the walkway. Amelia threw out her hands unsheathing her hidden blades as David and the blue fairy came out behind them in warning as Mary Margaret helped Emma stand up "So much for fairy dust. Maybe some of your newfound magic can save you now"

"I don't need it" Emma retorted as she approached the dark brunette "I already won. There is no way Henry will swallow your lies about Archie now. You can pretend all you want, but we know how you are, and who you will always be" Emma spat out.

Defeated and outnumbered Regina waved her arms as purple smoke engulfed herself and Amelia and disappear into thin air.


Two weeks later

The last two weeks in Monteriggioni had done wonders for Amelia she was able to heal her wounds and gain some strength back from her injuries', but the small getaway did nothing to brighten the Queens downcast mood over Snow White getting one over on her and her Assassin. Amelia watched from the fireplace as Regina brooded in the reflection in a mirror.

They were at a standstill. Regina nor Amelia could physically harm them she had suggested using other assassins she was training but quickly dismissed the idea. Henry entered the room.

"You have a visitor" he announced to his daughter and her assassin

"Who?" Regina asked but she was answered from a voice sat on the chair behind the women

"You need to ask?" Rumpelstiltskin sarcastically retorted "What other friends do you have, dearie other that your little Widow"

"You're no friend. Have you come to relish my suffering?"

"I thought you'd want someone to help raise your spirits. Especially on a day like today"

"What's so special about today old man?" Amelia questioned from the fireplace

Rumpelstiltskin looked between the two deadly women with a sickly smile "Snow White and Prince Charming's wedding, of course" he answered the assassins question "Didn't you get an invitation? Me neither. Still, nice to be able to see them declare their tru love in front of their entire kingdom. A happy ending after all"

"And, because of you, there's nothing we can do to stop it. No way to harm them in this land ever again" Amelia pointed out

"Yes. Yes, I suppose that's true… In this land" he trailed off

"What?" The Evil Queen questioned

"The deal I made was explicit. You two can never harm them in 'this' land. Now, were you to bring them to another land… Well…" Regina smiles at the realization as Amelia did the same. Her father often talked out other lands that existed beyond the Enchanted Forest. In their prime the Brotherhood had ambitions to have a foothold in all the realms, but they were always beaten back by Templar's or their own greed.

"Told you I was your friend" Rumpelstiltskin magically disappears in a puff of red smoke leaving the two women with the new information

"Father? Bring my carriage" she looked to her Black Widow with a sly smile "we have a wedding to get to"


AN: Quick shout-out to mara41496, neilhall4890 and standing on the hellmouth16 (Awesome ID btw) for following and the story.

Just a heads up I might not be able to update as often as i have since I'm going back to work this coming week but I will when I can.

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