The bar was almost empty on Thursdays, aside from a couple of workers on their lunch break. Killian walked in, dressed as a pirate again. Regina laughed. He walked over to the bar.
"Cut it out. One must commit when sailing the Jolly Roger, Luv."
"Well, I promise I'll commit next time I board your ship."
"Funny you should say that, Dearie." Regina and Killian looked around to find who had spoken. "Over here" the voice called from the bathroom. The voice called the same again from the apartment above, then once more from the broom cupboard.
"Come out, Crocodile."
"Now, now, Pirate. That's no way to speak to someone who can help you." The short, scaly man emerged from the shadows in a corner of the bar.
"Rumplestiltskin" Regina said scowling.
"What is your business here, Beast?"
"I've come to offer you a deal, but what can you offer me in return?" He had a high-pitched menacing giggle that sent shivers up the spines of anyone who heard it. He took pride in his deals and craved unlimited power.
"After all Belle did for you and you go back to this? What about Baelfire's sacrifice?" Rumplestiltskin disappeared and reappeared in the blink of an eye, with his hands clasped around Killian's neck. The few who were having their lunch got up and left immediately. Killian's face was turning a blue-purple hue.
"Hey. Hey!" Regina shouted, vanishing in a puff of violet-amethyst smoke and appearing behind the imp, with a dagger in front of his neck. "Let him go."
"Don't cross me, Your Majesty." He stared at Killian, whose feet were off the floor, due to Rumple's magic taking over.
"You want a deal? I'll give you one, but not if you kill him. Let him go - now!"
"Fine." He released his grip and dropped Killian to his knees, gasping for air. "I'll be back later to discuss our deal." He blinked out of the building. Killian gradually stood up and leaned on the bar, pulling himself up on to a stool. Regina started cleaning up the table where the customers had been.
"Thank you, Luv" Killian stammered, rubbing his throat. "Do you think he knows?"
"What doesn't he know? We need him, though, and he'll dangle that in front of us until we give him what he wants." She waved her hand and the plates cleaned themselves in the butler sink. "It's going to be something heroes don't do, or it wouldn't be worth it to him."
"I need to find her, Regina. I don't have a choice." She nodded to him, as she put away the utensils. He sighed and dropped his head onto the counter. "Ouch." She pulled a cushion out from the stock cupboard, lifted his head and put the cushion under it.
She grabbed a pint mug from the glass shelf behind her, but an emerald liquid came out of the drink nozzle. Killian glanced up, spotted it and had a puzzled expression. Regina pushed it towards him.
"Drink it and it will help you remember the women you've been with. Maybe one will stand out?"
"How am I supposed to know, if I don't know how old my child is or where she's from?" Regina shrugged sympathetically and tilted her head.
"I'm sorry; it's all I've got." Killian nodded and drank the liquid in a few gulps. Within seconds, he passed out.