This chapter is for Lanafan7151977 with the prompt: "Regina and Emma turn Rumple into a talking cat for a day to teach him a lesson."

I saw this and started hysterically laughing at what I could do, so here we go.

"You know, Gold has been a real pest lately," Emma said.

"When isn't Gold a pest?" Regina asked. "That man has been meddling in other people's business for as long as I can remember."

"So, let's do a little meddling of our own," Emma said. "I may or may not have overheard Belle talking about how she wants a pet of some kind. But Gold won't budge because he thinks that they're nothing but a mess and she'd get too attached to it."

"I don't think I'm going to like where this is going," Regina said.

"We turn him into a cat for a day," Emma said. "That'll teach him to stop meddling in other people's business because he'll know that we can meddle with his too."

Regina chuckled. "A cat?"

"It was the first animal I thought of," Emma said. "Plus, that's the kind of pet that Belle wanted anyway."

"Well, then I guess I have a potion to make," Regina said. "I'll meet you in my vault in an hour."

"This place still creeps me out," Emma said, walking into the room. "Not that it isn't handy to have. But still. There's hearts everywhere."

Regina shrugged. "I've gotten to used to the cries of agony that echo from the south chamber."

Emma looked at her with wide eyes. "What?"

Regina burst out laughing. "I'm kidding! You should have seen your face though, it was priceless."

"Funny," Emma said. "Did you make the potion or not?"

"Yes," Regina said, holding up a little bottle. "He won't be able to taste a thing. Belle will wake up tomorrow morning next to the kitty that she's always wanted."

"And he won't be able to talk to her?" Emma asked.

"The only person who will be able to understand him will be the person who creates the potion," Regina said. "In this case, me."

Emma smiled. ""Let's go make a kitty."

"There they are," Emma whispered. "What's the plan again?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "You make some kind of commotion while I'm over close to their table and then I pour the potion into his drink."

"Okay got it," Emma said, getting out of the booth.

She instantly saw her opportunity as Ruby came walking by her with a tray of food. Emma stuck out her foot, tripping Ruby and making the tray for up in the air.

"I'm so sorry!" Emma said, holding out a hand to help Ruby to her feet. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ruby said, taking Emma's hand. "I hope I didn't get any food on you."

"No, I'm fine," Emma said. "It looks like the tray landed safely on the floor." She saw out of the corner of her eye, Regina dumping the potion into Gold's drink as it sat on the tray. Identifying his was easy. He got the same thing every time.

"Good," Ruby said. "I'm just going to clean this up."

Emma just smiled and went back to her booth, smiling the whole way. "This is about to get good."

Regina chuckled as she slid into her side of the booth. "One kitty, coming right up."

The next morning, the whole diner was buzzing. Belle sat in her usual booth, cuddled up with a very unhappy looking gray cat.

Regina covered her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing. "He looks like he's plotting so many murders with everyone who touches him."

Emma glanced over at the booth. "I think that's the most love he's ever experienced."

Regina laughed. "I think you're right."

"I also think that we should go over and meet this new kitty," Emma said, getting up. "Would hate for him to feel unwelcome."

"I couldn't agree more," Regina said, following Emma over to Belle.

"Hi guys!" Belle said excitedly. "Look at what I found! I woke up this morning to this little guy on the other side of the bed. Rumple must have given him to me as a present."

The cat glared at Regina. "I know that you can hear me, and that you're the one who did this."

Regina just smiled. "You're very right."

"What?" Belle asked.

"You're right, he gave the cat to you as a present," Regina said, covering for her talk to the cat. "He was talking about it the other day."

"Oh, how sweet of him," Belle said, stroking the cat's head.

"What do I need to do to get out of this form?" Gold asked. "I can't take any more people touching me and calling me adorable."

Regina snorted. She started tracing letters onto the table for Gold to see.

"Meddling is what I do dearie," Gold said. "I can't just stop because of your little cat trick."

Regina traced onto the table again.

"Fine!" Gold said. "I'll stop meddling. I don't want to stay a cat forever."

Regina smiled. "I'm not sure how much longer he'll be around. He seems like a sort of free spirit. I don't think he'll still be with you tomorrow morning."

Belle's smile disappeared before quickly coming back. "Then I guess we'll just have to make the most of this day!"

As she hurriedly left the diner, Emma turned to Regina and started laughing. "I don't even feel bad."

Regina laughed with her. "Neither do I."