I continue to be amazed by the response to this story. You guys are amazing. Remember, I'm always happy to take your questions either here via review or PM or on Tumblr at captainswanapproved.

Starlight000 asked: I'm guessing the hooded figure was Snow White?

Perhaps it was.

Nouqueret asked: Is Emma going to have something with Graham or are you going to have Killian be her love interest from the start?

Graham will have a different storyline. While I liked what happened in the show a lot, in general I'm not a fan of the Gremma ship. I think some factions of the fandom take it for more than it was. Now, that is not to say there won't be a dalliance between them, but Killian is Emma's main love interest. And there will be no love triangles because on principle, I hate love triangles.

Reviews are magical! Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Mr. Robert Gold, the local pawnbroker, crossed the street, his eyes flitting up the clock tower. Time had started to move forward. The town felt distinctly different, and it was all because of Emma Swan.

His memories of the past were a haze, only vaguely starting to return to him, but he knew enough to remember the curse, and to know that in time it would be broken.

Mr. Gold's steps quickened as he made his way towards Granny's diner, eager to observe the changes brought by the Savior, however minor. In his haste he didn't see the person stepping into his path and they slammed together, a slosh of liquid splashing out of the cup the other was holding, the coffee burning hot through his suit the moment it hit the fabric.

"Bloody hell," a familiar voice said, a voice that made Mr. Gold's blood boil. "I'm sorry."

As Killian looked up to check on whom he'd spilled his coffee he jerked back in surprise, fear flashing through his blue eyes and for a moment Mr. Gold wondered if the pirate would recognize him.

"Apologies Mr. Gold. I should have been watching where I was going. I will pay the dry cleaning bill of course."

Gold canted his head, surprised. The pirate's cursed persona hardly seemed like the man he had known. He'd have to keep an eye on this one, that is, until he found an inconspicuous way to kill him.

"Be sure to do that, Mr. Jones, you be careful now. You never know when you'll stumble into a . . . sticky situation."

Killian's brow furrowed momentarily. "Right, well, if you'll excuse me. I mustn't be late for school."

"Yes, yes, dearie, run along," said Mr. Gold, and Killian brushed past him, making his way towards the school.

How odd that Regina had made him a teacher in this new land. How should a pirate be able to be a role model and mentor for young children?

Regina flipped through the pages of Henry's treasured book. The book that coincidentally held the truth and the key to breaking her curse. But who had given it to him? The only other person who had a chance of remembering the curse was Rumplestiltskin, and Regina avoided directly dealing with him as often as possible.

The thoughts were racing through her mind as she turned another page, her hand stopping in midair as her eyes fell on the zigzagged edges in the middle. Several pages had been torn out. It looked deliberate.

"Where are the missing pages?" she asked her son, knowing that she was doing the exact opposite of playing it cool. This would only fuel her son's belief in the curse, and she had to keep him as deluded as possible. She didn't want to risk him running back to Ms. Emma Swan. Or the person who had given him that book. She really needed to find out the identity of the giver, and have a serious talk with them.

"It's an old book," Henry told her, straightening the collar of his school uniform. "Stuff is missing. Why do you care?"

"I care because it's making you think that I'm some Evil Queen. Who gave it to you?"

"No one. I just found it."

"Henry, I'm your mother. Tell me the truth."

"No you're not," Henry said brusquely, brushing past her.

"Well then who is?" Regina demanded, her voice rising. "That woman you brought here? I don't like what she or this book is doing to you. But thankfully both are no longer an issue."

Henry just looked at her with a strange expression, as if he was waiting for something.

"What?"

The clock sounded and Regina cursed inwardly.

"I'm going to be late," said Henry. "Mr. Jones doesn't like it when students are tardy."

Grabbing his book out of her hands, he slung the backpack over his shoulder and hurried out of his bedroom.

"Hey, how about that?" Archie said, grinning up at the clock tower. "I suppose those rusty old innards finally straightened themselves out. You have a wonderful day, Madame Mayor."

Regina stared after him as he walked off, and couldn't help but notice how much happier he seemed. In fact, the whole damn town seemed brighter and more alive, and she suspected that Emma Swan was somehow to blame for it.

Well but if Regina knew anything, it was how to take care of a foe and twenty minutes later she was knocking on room 4 at Granny's Bed & Breakfast.

Emma Swan opened the door, looking as if she had just woken up and Regina forced a bright smile onto her face before she spoke. "I've brought you a gift for your drive home. The apples are from my honey crisp tree. It is the hearty and most vigorous of all apple trees. It can weather any storm. Never have I tasted anything more delectable than the fruit it offers."

"Thanks," Emma said, taking the basket. "But I'm going to stay in town for a while."

"I'm not sure that's a great idea. Henry has enough issues. He doesn't need you confusing him."

"With all due respect, Madame Mayor, the fact that you have now threatened me twice makes me want to stay more," Emma told her with a challenge gleaming in her eyes.

Regina feigned ignorance. "Since when are apples a threat?"

"I can read between the lines." Emma replied, shrugging her shoulders. "Sorry. I just want to make sure Henry's okay."

"He's fine, dear," Regina said with a cool smile. "Any problems he has are being taken care of."

"What do you mean?"

"I have him in therapy. It's all under control. Take my advice, Ms. Swan ... only one of us here knows what's best for Henry."

Emma thought of the people she'd met so far, Killian Jones, and that Archie fellow. They seemed to genuinely care for Henry, but with Regina, something felt wrong. "I'm starting to think you're right about that," Emma answered, making her implication strikingly clear.

Emma could see the fury bubbling beneath the surface of Regina's calm exterior. "It's time for you to go, Ms Swan."

"Or what?"

"Don't underestimate me Ms. Swan. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

The next day Killian Jones walked into the diner and didn't hesitate a moment before sitting in the booth across from Emma who was frowning as she read the latest edition of The Storybrooke Daily Mirror.

"I'd be upset too," Killian started the conversation, "That picture does not do you justice. I always knew that Humbert's photography skills were shoddy at best."

Emma glanced at him over the top of her paper. "What are you doing here?"

"Teachers have to eat too," Killian said with a grin, "Or are you under the impression that after class we just take out a sleeping bag and camp out beneath our desks? That would make having anything resembling a social life rather awkward, don't you think."

Emma rolled her eyes as Ruby came over and set a cup of hot cocoa with whipped cream and cinnamon in front of her.

"I didn't order this," Emma told Ruby.

"I know," Ruby said with a wolfish grin. "You have an admirer."

Emma's gaze flickered over to Killian and she shifted in her place, pushing the cup of cocoa over to him before opening her mouth to speak. "Look, it's a nice gesture and I'm impressed that you guessed that I like cinnamon with my cocoa, because most people don't. But I'm not here to flirt, so thanks but no thanks."

Killian laughed and Emma couldn't believe that this man had the audacity to laugh at her.

"What's so funny?" she snapped.

"I didn't send it to you, Swan. Though I do admit that were I to be on the receiving end of your flirtation, I'd be a fortunate man indeed. After all, that's what any man wants, a beautiful woman glaring daggers at them."

Emma huffed and snatched the cocoa back from him.

"Ah, so I see how it is, Swan," he cajoled. "A gesture from me would be so unwelcome, but now that you know that I'm not the admirer, it's okay to drink it. You wound me."

"I barely know you," Emma huffed, "and you're Henry's teacher. Like I said though, I'm not here to flirt."

Henry coming up to the table cut off any response Killian would have made. "Oh good. You like it. I like cinnamon on my cocoa too."

Emma looked up at him with a raised brow. "Don't you have school, kid? Shouldn't both of you be there right now?"

"Duh, I'm ten and he's my teacher," said Henry. "Why don't you walk with us?"

Emma's gaze flickered between Mr. Jones and Henry who were both wearing identical grins, making her wonder how close these two really were. Sighing, she planted her hands on the table and pushed herself up. Two against one was hardly fair.

"Okay," she conceded.

Killian slid out of the booth, gave her a little mock bow and offered her is arm, and Emma found herself wondering if this man was for real. She swatted his arm away, and he just looked even more amused.

Henry snorted as he watched their antics, thinking that this was what it must feel like to have embarrassing parents.

"So ... what's the deal with you and Regina?" Emma asked, trying to ignore the man beside her, instead choosing to focus on her son.

"It's not about us. It's about her curse."

Emma glanced over at Killian, raising a brow, wondering if he was believing this nonsense but he only shrugged his shoulders and throwing her one of his trademark smirks.

"Don't worry Emma," Henry said, pulling her attention back to him. "You can trust Mr. Jones. He's the one who gave me the book, and I told him all about the curse."

Of course these two were partners in crime. Was it normal for a teacher to be so close with his student? She'd certainly never experienced that sort of bond.

"We have to break it," Henry told both of them. "Luckily I have a plan. Step One. Identification. I call it Operation Cobra."

"Cobra? That has nothing to do with fairy tales," said Emma as the three of them crossed the street.

"Exactly, it's a code name."

"We can't let Regina catch on to the plan, Swan," Killian elaborated with an all-knowing smirk. "Speaking of identification, lad, I say we should address each other more informally. During reconnaissance I'm not your teacher. I'm just your friend, Killian."

Henry smiled and nodded. "Okay, Killian."

"I think I'll stick with Mr. Jones," Emma told him firmly before she turned around to Henry, "So everyone here is a fairy tale character? They just don't know it?"

"That's the curse. Time's been frozen. Until you got here," Henry explained.

Emma clutched one of the apples that Regina had given her, and brought it to her lips.

"Hey, where did you get that," Henry asked, his gaze landing on the apple.

"Your mom." Emma replied.

Henry snatched the apple away from her, glancing briefly at Killian before tossing it away. "Don't eat that."

"Why?"

"The Evil Queen has a penchant for poisoned apples," Killian reminded her.

"And what about their pasts?"

"It's all a haze. It seems like I've been teaching for years, but before that, nothing of consequence."

"Exactly," Henry interjected, "Go ahead. Ask Killian anything, and he won't be able to give you a direct answer. It's the same with everyone else."

"So let me see if I got this straight," said Emma, knowing the only way to soothe those with delusions was to indulge in their fantasy. "For decades people have been walking around in a haze, not aging, with screwed up memories, stuck in a cursed town that kept them oblivious."

"I knew you'd get it," Henry almost squealed with delight.

"And I knew that your son's precociousness didn't come from nowhere," said Killian.

Emma rolled her eyes. Killian Jones certainly was a relentless charmer.

"You're the only one who can stop her," Henry told her.

"Because I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming—"

"Yes, and right now we have the advantage. She doesn't know who you are, and she doesn't know that Killian gave me the book. I took out the ending. The part where Snow went through the wardrobe with you." Henry handed her a few pages, the one on top showing a beautiful woman, dressed in white, pregnant and stepping into a wardrobe.

"If that is my mother than where is she?" Emma asked.

"That's another part of Operation Cobra. We have to find Snow White. She might have her memories, and she might know of a way to stop my mom."

"Kid," Emma said, sighing as they arrived in front of the school.

"I know the hero doesn't believe in the beginning. It wouldn't be a good story if you did. Right, Killian?"

"Too right, lad."

"If you need proof ... take them, read them. But whatever you do don't let her see these pages. If she finds out who you are it would be bad. Killian and I will find you later and we can get started," said Henry. "I knew you'd believe me."

"I never said I did." Emma replied, shaking her head slightly.

"Why else would you be here if you didn't?" Henry asked.

Seeing a look of panic in Emma's eyes, Killian stepped in. "Lad, why don't you run inside. I'll speak with your mother a moment before class begins."

"Okay. Bye, Emma."

"See you later, kid," Emma yelled after him.

Killian took a few steps closer to her. "It's good to see his smile again."

"I didn't do anything."

"You stayed," he countered. "That's what's important."

"You don't actually believe all of this, do you?"

"Your son is a special boy, Swan," Killian said. "He's incredibly intelligent, and he's so certain. I imagine he'll show you this book, and you'll start to see it as well."

"And do you actually think you're a fairy tale character? Henry said you're not in the book."

"Ah, so you've been asking about me."

Emma shook her head. "I'm serious."

"Emma," Killian said quietly. "Things started to change the moment you stepped foot in this town. As for the past, everything your boy said is true. I can't remember anything. There is some sort of explanation, and why shouldn't it be a magical one?"

"Magic doesn't exist," Emma replied. "I'm a real person, and by the looks of it, so are you, and so is everyone else in this town."

"Oh I'm very real, I assure you," Killian winked at her, but then he glanced at his wristwatch. "Forgive me, Swan, but duty calls. I know this is a difficult pill to swallow, but why don't you go speak to Dr. Hopper? He's one of the few people that Henry is actually completely honest with. And the man has a gift for helping people accept what is right in front of them."

Emma nodded and watched Killian disappear into the school. What on earth had she gotten herself into?

Having followed Mr. Jones' advice, Emma had gone to speak with Dr. Hopper.

Regina hadn't been kidding when she'd said that she'd had the kid in therapy, and by the looks of this file, he'd been having problems long before he'd received the book.

Dr. Hopper had advised her to take care with how she handled the situation with Henry, warning her that shattering his fairy tale fantasy would be seriously detrimental to his state of mind.

It wasn't that Emma believed her son was crazy, but this whole situation was insane. She'd never been one to have an open mind when it came to things that couldn't be explained rationally. No. She was the kind of person that needed cold, hard evidence. Leaps of faith were not her specialty but she still spent the better part of two hours reading through the file, propped up on the bed in her room.

A knock on the door startled her and Emma set the file down carefully since she wanted to return it to Dr. Hopper in good condition.

Emma opened the door only to see Sheriff Graham on the other side with an odd expression on his face.

"Hey there," she said, "If you're worried about the "do not disturb sign" … don't worry. I've left them alone."

Graham did not look amused. "Actually, I'm here about Dr. Archibald Hopper. He said things got a little heated. There was an argument."

"No," Emma said, placing her hands on her hips, and starting unblinkingly at the man in front of her.

"I was shocked too. Given your shy and delicate sensibilities," he said teasingly.

Emma wrinkled her nose. Flirting didn't sound as good coming from the sheriff as it did coming from Killian Jones. Where the hell did that thought come from?

"He said you demanded to see Henry's file and when he refused you came back and stole them."

'That's rich," Emma huffed. "He gave them to me."

Graham shrugged. "Well, he's telling a different tale. May I check your room or must I get a search warrant?"

Emma crossed the room to the bed and handed Graham the file.

"Well, aren't you accommodating?" he said. "I'm afraid, Ms. Swan, that you're under arrest. Again."

"You know that I'm being set up," Emma replied as she allowed Graham to cuff her.

"I know nothing of the sort."

Killian Jones stood under a large oak tree, an open book in his hand. "Learning about photosynthesis is really growing on you, eh, class?"

His students looked up at him with blank expressions on their faces, except for Henry, who shook his head as a voice suddenly interrupted them. "May I speak with my son?"

"Forgive me, Madame Mayor, but we are in the middle of a lesson."

"I am going to speak with my son now, Mr. Jones. Come, Henry."

Henry shot Killian a worried glance as his mother tugged him over towards a picnic table. "Henry, I have some bad news for you. The woman you brought here has been arrested. She broke into Dr. Hopper's office and stole his files. She's a con woman. She's trying to learn about us in order to take advantage of us. That's why she's sticking around. I'm sorry."

"No you're not, " Henry told her without hesitation.

"I know you think otherwise, but all I'm doing is trying to protect you."

"I've got to get back to class," Henry said as the bell rang, brushing past her.

Regina straightened only to meet the gaze of Killian Jones.

"That was quite a weak attempt at turning Henry against his mother," Killian deadpanned.

"It's the truth. My son will learn that soon enough."

"It's not going to work," Killian warned.

"I know what's best for him," said Regina, closing the distance between herself and Killian. "And what do would you know about raising a child?"

"Nothing."

"That's what I thought," Regina replied with a smirk. "Now why don't you get back to you job while you still have one to get back to."

"Is that a threat, Madame Mayor?" Killian drawled.

"Could be. If I were you, I wouldn't stick around to find out."

"You know the shrink is lying," Emma told Graham as he finished taking the police photos. "He's just afraid of Regina, like everyone else in this damn town."

Graham swiped the photos from the camera. "Regina is a touch intimidating, but she wouldn't go that far."

"Then how far would she go? What does she have her hands in?"

"Everything," Graham replied. "She's the mayor."

"Including the police force?"

"Hey," Henry said, running into the office with Mr. Jones trailing behind him.

"What are you doing here, Henry," Graham asked.

"His mother told him what happened," Killian informed her.

"Of course she did." Emma said.

Henry came up to her, a huge grin on his face. 'I know what you were up to. You were gathering intel for Operation Cobra. You're a genius."

"I'm a little lost," Graham spoke, mirroring Emma's confusion.

"It's on a need-to-know basis, sheriff," Henry said quickly. "And all you need to know is that Mr. Jones is going to bail her out."

"You are?" Emma asked.

"I am," Killian nodded. "I trust you. So, Humbert, why don't you let the lady out of these cuffs?"

Graham removed the key from his pocket and slid the cuffs off Emma's wrists.

"You've become quite the hero today, haven't you Jones?"

"You could say that. Here's hoping you won't have to use these again," Killian told him as Emma and Henry began to head out of the station and he added with a low voice, "Unless the mayor is into that sort of thing."

Graham stiffened. "Jones ..."

Killian raised his hands, interrupting him. "Look, Humbert, that's your business. But if I were you I would think for a moment before arresting an innocent woman."

"I had to," Graham told him. "Regina—"

"She's certainly a piece of work, isn't she, " Killian replied. "Look, mate. I wish you luck. I have a feeling she's not going to be too happy tonight."

"Mr. Jones, will you watch Henry? I have something I need to do."

Killian gave her an appraising look. "Swan, don't do something you'll regret."

"I won't regret this. Please," Emma pleaded, glancing at where Henry was sitting in the diner, drinking a cup of cocoa. "I'll owe you a drink."

Killian smiled. "Well, who am I to refuse such an offer?"

The blaring sound of a chainsaw pierced the silence of Regina's office.

She whirled around, looking out the window just in time to see Emma Swan cut off on of the branches of her beloved apple tree and she hurried out of her office.

"What the hell are you doing?

"Picking apples," Emma replied, dropping the chainsaw.

"You're out of your mind," Regina shouted.

"No you are if you think a shoddy frame job is enough to scare me away. You're going to have to do better than that. You come after me one more time and I'm coming back for the rest of this tree. You have no idea what I'm capable of. It's your move now, Madame Mayor."

"Ms. Swan," Granny said as Emma came into the inn. "I'm afraid we are going to have to ask you to leave. We have a no felon policy here in town, and the mayor just dropped by to remind me of that. You can gather your things but then you're going to have to leave."

"Fine," Emma shrugged her shoulders. "Thanks for being honest."

"I want her arrested for destroying public property," Regina said, taking her apples and piling them into a basket.

"I'm not sure that's the best plan. If this feud escalates, the only person who is going to get hurt is Henry," Graham replied.

"Oh Graham, you are so transparent. Your schoolboy crush is getting in the way of your judgment."

"And your anger is clouding yours," Graham shot back.

"I will get her to leave. It's what's best for my son," Regina said resolutely. "Now why don't you go home, and I'll call you later tonight?"

Graham stared at her for a long moment. "Fine, but Regina, think before you act."

Regina grinned. That's exactly what she would do.

Emma came out of the inn only to discover that her car had a boot on it. She groaned as her cell phone rang. "Ms. Swan, I would be happy to continue demonstrating my power, but would I be correct in guessing that your resolve to stay would only grow if I would do that?"

"You have no idea."

"Well, then, I think it's time we make peace. Why don't you drive over to my office? Or walk. Whatever suits you." She could practically see Regina's triumphant expression.

"I'd like to start by apologizing, Ms. Swan" Regina told her, sitting across from her. "I just have to accept that you want to be here."

"I do," Emma said, pulling her knees up to her chest and gazing out the window.

"And that you're here to steal my son from me. "

"Okay, let's make one thing clear here," Emma replied, looking Regina straight in the eyes. "I have no intention of taking him from anyone."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I know I'm not a mother. That's pretty obvious. But I can't help that he found me. He got into my head. And now I just want to make sure he's okay."

"He's fine," Regina told her. "Though I would like to know who suggested that he's not happy."

Emma bit her lower lip and didn't answer.

"You would do well not to trust Mr. Jones. He'll do anything to disrupt things in this town."

"Why do I get the feeling that you're only saying this because he's the only one who isn't afraid to stand up to you?"

"You're rather defensive, aren't you Ms. Swan?" Regina asked with a raised brow.

"You know, Regina, the more you try and push me out, the more I want to be here. Especially seeing how troubled Henry is."

"You think he's troubled?

"Well he is in therapy," Emma said. "And I only got through a few pages of his file before you had me arrested. But I'm going to put that aside. He thinks that everyone in this tow is a fairy tale character."

"And you don't?"

Emma pressed on, now more confident that her plan would work. "The poor kid can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality, and it's only getting worse. It's crazy."

"You think I'm crazy?" a familiar voice said from the door and Emma whirled around to see Henry standing there with a hurt expression and before she could say anything he backed away, and ran off to his room.

Emma hadn't factored Henry overhearing them into her little plan, but she had to remain calm. "How long was he there?" she asked, taking on her best poker face.

"Long enough," Regina replied.

"You knew he'd be here," Emma accused.

"Did I know that my son comes to my office every Thursday at precisely 5:00 PM so I can take him to dinner before his therapy session? Of course I did. I'm his mother," she leaned back in her chair, her lips curling into a triumphant smirk.

Emma was itching to slap the expression right off her face. "You have no soul," she said, her voice low, turning on her heel and leaving Regina's office.

Emma knocked on the door of Killian Jones' apartment and a moment later the door opened, revealing Killian, dressed in sweatpants and a t-shirt, and unconsciously, Emma's tongue darted out to moisten her lips.

"To what do I owe this pleasure, Swan?"

Emma felt her cheeks heat up. Damn it, she was going soft, and she had only known this man for two days. "I just wanted to pay you back for the bail and thank you for keeping an eye on Henry."

"I was happy to do both," Killian said. "Would you care to join me for a drink? You do owe me one."

Emma smiled in spite of herself. "Sure."

She sat down at the kitchen table as Killian poured out two glasses of rum. "I hope rum is alright. It's all I have at the moment."

Emma took a sip. "It's my drink of choice."

"Oh, I like that," Killian spoke, sitting across from her. "So I heard about what happened at Granny's."

"How did you hear about that?"

"Ruby is quite the gossip. And you, Ms. Swan, have caused quite a stir these past two days."

Emma drained the rest of her glass. "Well, it doesn't matter anymore. I'm leaving."

"You are?"

"Yes. I don't want Henry to get hurt, and this whole Operation Cobra business is crazy."

Killian looked at her over the rim of his glass, studying her. "You're afraid."

Emma scoffed. "And just what am I afraid of?"

"Of finding a home here with Henry. You care about him. I can see it."

"Yeah, well, it's better for everyone if I leave."

"I disagree. The boy is better off with you here. Who is going to protect him if you leave?"

"I don't know," Emma replied, "You?"

"I'm his teacher, not his father, love."

"You're more than that," Emma said. "It didn't take me long to see it."

Killian averted his gaze. "I think the fact that you want to run away, means you should stay. He needs you."

"Do you want to talk about it, Henry?" Dr. Hopper asked.

"No," Henry told him, setting down the umbrella, and burrowing further into the couch.

Then the door opened and Emma came in.

"I must apologize, Ms. Swan—"

"That's fine. I get it," Emma said, cutting him off, and going to sit beside Henry.

"Ms. Swan, if Regina finds out you were here—"

"To hell with her." Emma growled, not even looking at Dr. Hopper, her eyes fixated on her son. "Henry, there is one simple reason I decided to stay here. You. I wanted to get to know you. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"You think I'm crazy," Henry said reproachfully.

"No," Emma shook her head. "I think the curse is crazy. And it is. But that doesn't mean it isn't true. But it is a lot to ask anyone to believe in. But there are a lot of crazy things in this world. So maybe it is true."

"But you told my mom—"

"What she needed to hear," Emma interrupted him.

Henry looked up at her, and she could practically see the gears in his head turning.

"If the curse is real, then the only way to break it is to trick the Evil Queen into thinking that we are non believers. Isn't that's what Operation Cobra was about? Throwing her off the trail?"

The corners of Henry's mouth turned up. "Brilliant!"

"I read the pages, and they are dangerous. You were right, Henry." Emma crossed the room and stood by the fireplace. "There is only one way to make sure that she doesn't see them." Then she tossed the pages into the flames, watching them blacken and turn to ash. "Now we have the advantage."

Before she knew it, Henry was in her arms, hugging her tightly. "I knew you were here to help me."

Emma ran her fingers through his hair soothingly. "That's right, kid. I am. And nothing, not even a curse, is going to stop me."

Regina was tending to her tree. It had been quite the day, and she would need a good night's rest if she was going to find her missing prisoner.

"My, my, that's quite a mess," a voice sounded behind her.

Regina cringed, and took a moment to collect herself before turning around to face Mr. Gold with a fake smile. "What can I do for you, Mr. Gold?"

"I've brought you a gift," the man said.

"And what could I possibly want from you?"

Gold smiled. "Come out, dearie."

The bushes rustled and then Snow White emerged from them.

"Ah, there you are, my dear," Regina said, trying to hide her surprise. "I was beginning to worry about you. Have you grown tired of your lodgings?"

The other woman's fingers curled into a fist.

"I thought it would be best if I returned her to you personally. She'd have never returned on her own and you have enough to worry about."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Regina told him.

"Well, you have enough trouble on your hands with Emma Swan deciding to stay here. Not to mention, Mr. Jones. The young man does get quite the pleasure from standing up to you."

"Well, Emma Swan is already on her way back to Boston." Regina replied, knowing that she could deal with Killian Jones on her own.

A strange expression rippled across Snow's features, but Regina missed it and Gold's grip tightened on Snow, making her wince.

"I wouldn't bet on that," Gold told her. "I just saw her on Main Street with your boy. Thick as thieves, they looked."

Regina's expression darkened, and again, she missed Snow's small smile.

"You should have come to me," Gold said. "If Ms. Swan is a problem you can't handle, I will be happy to assist. For a price, of course."

"I'm not in the business of making deals with you." Regina huffed before reaching for Snow. "Now I think that Snow misses her quarters."

"Perhaps she does," Mr. Gold replied. "But I've given her better accommodations. Come see me when you're willing to make a deal. "

"Wait," Regina said. "What do you know? Who is this Emma Swan?"

"I wouldn't know, Mayor Mills. But then again, perhaps Snow knows something. You'll never know until you're ready to make a deal though. Goodnight." Mr. Gold took Snow's hand and began to lead her away.

Regina moved to intercept them. "Tell me what you know."

"I'm not going to answer you, dear. So I suggest you excuse us."

And just like that, Regina let them leave.

Snow glanced at Regina over her shoulder, her lips curling into a smile. Her daughter had decided to stay.