Chapter 2: A Peace Offering

Regina awoke from another night of tossing and turning as the nightmares of watching her mother die in her arms. It had been nearly two weeks since she put her mother's heart back into her chest and for just a moment saw that her mother truly did love her before watching death's horrid claws rip her away. She had originally focused her hate and revenge on non-other than Snow, for it was Snow that had handed her the heart that she had cased magic on to save Rumpel. But after seeing that Snow was suffering all on her own she decided that there were others involved that deserved to be punished. With her heart feeling heavy with the weight of the years of pain and sadness, Regina lifted herself from her cotton sheets and warm bed to face another day in Storybrooke.

After doing her morning ritual; shower, eat, brush teeth, get dressed, Regina walked out to her car and headed towards town. As she drove she felt nothing and thought nothing; it was as if she was in autopilot. She knew what she was doing and what she wanted to do but yet it didn't take away the emptiness she felt; a feeling that had only been filled by Henry and now he was with Mrs. Swan she barely saw him. Regina parked across the street from Gold's store and watched him as he went about his business for the day. He seemed like he had completely healed after his dealing with Hook, thanks to the spell on her mother's heart. He was going to pay; everyone involved were going to pay. She was going to go through with her mother's plan, find the dagger, stab Rumple, become the Dark One, and get Henry back as she watched this filthy town burn with everyone in it.

Around 12:30 in the afternoon Gold left his shop, heading towards Granny's for a lunch. As soon as he was out of sight she got out of her car and headed to his store. She jiggled the handle, it was luck but no matter. She waved her hand and the door unlocked and opened. Regina quickly walked in and shut the door behind her. She pulled down the blind, she didn't need the nosy towns people looking into the shop to see what she was up to. Regina looked around, everything in Gold's shop had belonged to someone in the Fair Tail World. She was surprised that more people hadn't came demanding for their belongs but perhaps when magic came to Storybrooke they thought it best not to go up against the Dark One.
She had to find the dagger, but he wouldn't hide it just anywhere. She went to the back first, she knew very well that Gold had safe hidden in here somewhere. She found it rather easily, for some reason Rumpelstiltskin had a taste for the cliche in this world, it was hidden behind a painting. In a second flat she had magically opened it and found it empty of the weapon she was looking for. There was nothing but a few papers and what appeared to be an empty vial . She slammed the door shut, she knew it had to be in this shop. He would want to keep it somewhere close by, where he could keep an eye on it everyday but also where other's wouldn't think he would keep it; it must be somewhere out front hidden among all the other fairy tale objects. She strutted to the next room, her thought fixated on her purpose. She began tearing the place apart, she started pulling objects of the walls, breaking glass to reach ever single object possible. As ever minute passed without finding the dagger the more frustrated Regina got. Her face grew red with rage and soon hot tears escaped her eyes, they burned the sides of her face. These tears were made of pure rage and sadness; though we have all felt these emotions many of us have never felt them in their purest form and therefore could never understand how Regina felt or the power they hold.

"You know." Regina whipped around, her eyes wild and still flowing with tears. "I could have you arrested for this Madam Mayor. Breaking an entry and destruction of property are hefty crimes in this land. I'm sure Mrs. Swan would love to be informed of your crimes so she could put you behind bars. Perhaps," Rumpel raised his cane and pointed it at the door, "I should go get her." His face was emotionless as he waited for a response. Regina kept quiet, tears ran down her face, and her top lip quivered in a silent rage; Rumpel lowered his cane. "But perhaps since you just had a devastating lost I'll let it slide, this time. Besides," He raised his hand and waved up over one side to his head to the other; as he did this magic filled the air and quickly replaced every broken and distorted item in the shop that Regina had just torn apart, "it's an easy clean up."

"You will pay for what you have done!"

"I didn't do anything, Snow did."

"Yes, but it was you that put the idea in her head and it was you that gave her what she needed. You are nothing more than a manipulative coward." Gold gave Regina a threatening look; he was not fond of being called that. If he didn't need her she would of had her throat crushed after uttering such a word towards him.

"Well, if you are quite finished here, I have work that needs to be done." He limped past her, showing her that the conversation is over.

"I will find it Gold and when I do I swear to you your life will end and I will have all your powers."

"And I swear to you Regina, you'll never find it." Regina gave him one last glare before storming out the door. Rumple made sure she was gone before going to the back and grabbing an empty vial and eye dropper from his desk. He had seen Regina crying and had never felt such pure emotion seeping out of someone. She was dangerous, very dangerous. He went back to the front of the store and started looking very closely to the glass were Regina had been leaning over when he came in. He stopped, three small tears laid perfectly on the glass. Using the eye dropper, he sucked in the three little droplets and put them in the vial. Vial shock in his fingers then stopped and turned into black smoke. With vial in his hand he picked up the store phoned to make a call. "It's me. Shut up and no you're not going to hang up, you still owe me a favor." Rumpel held up the vial, which now appeared to have a tiny storm forming inside it. "And I always hold everyone to their favors."

***
Regina slammed shut her car door, she was furious. No way that little cockroach was getting away with what he did this time. But if it wasn't in the shop where could it be? Perhaps in his home? No, maybe the woods? Or it was in the shop all along, she didn't exactly look everywhere. Or mayb-
"Regina?" Regina jumped in her seat. She was in such deep thought she had not seen anyone walk up to her window. It was Dr. Hopper his face was full of concern and yet he forced a smile at her.

"What is it Dr. Hopper?" His smile faded with Regina's bark, he always tried being nice to her, he understood why she was the way she was even though no one else could see it.

"I-I just wanted to see how you were doing since... You know my door is always open Regina. I'm here if you need to talk to someone. We can go back to our sessions, try to work through somethings." Regina started her engine and put it into gear.

"I am done talking Dr. Hopper." And with that she was gone leaving a very concerned cricket behind.

Later that night Regina sat at her kitchen table relaxing her tired feet. She had searched everywhere for where the dagger might be but everywhere she looked she only found frustration and disappointment. Regina picked up the glass that was filled with her favorite red wine. It was the only thing she could taste any more. She had tried eating but food had lost its flavor, everything seemed bland any more. Life seemed dull and she was so tired. A tired that sank into her bones and soul; a tired that no amount of sleep could ever satisfy. Maybe it was just time to-
A knock on the door stopped her thought. "Who on earth is knocking on my door at ten o'clock at night? Who would be visiting me at all, really." She said to herself in a cold tone but she felt the sting of her own words. No one came by for a visit, not even her son. Regina opened the door, ready to tell whomever was behind it to go away she was in no mood for visitors. She opened her mouth then closed it surprised to see Rumpelstiltskin.

"Mr. Gold what are you doing here? Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"I do know what time it is. I would have been here sooner but I had a rather hardheaded man to deal with." Rumpel stepped sideways to show a very disheveled Jefferson.

"Jefferson?" She was surprised to see either of these men at her front steps but to see both of them together was a true surprise.

"Can we come in?" Regina didn't move, she didn't know what was going on but she didn't like it. "Please." Said Rumpel through a fake smile. Regina smiled at this.

"The curse is broken your pleases don't work anymore."

"I realize that I was trying to be polite, you should work on that sometime." He pushed passed Regina dragging Jefferson in by the arm. They walked into the kitchen and Gold pushed Jefferson into a seat.

"I wont help you Rumpelstiltskin or the bitch queen." His words slurred slightly he seemed he had been drinking. Rumpel turned to Regina.

"It took some, extra help to get him to come here."

"What?"

"The coward drugged me!" There was a loud smack. Rumpel had backhanded Jefferson in the mouth.

"I really hate that word." Regina was fed up with this.

"What are you doing here? And why did you bring a drugged man into my house?"

"Before I tell you anything Regina, I need a promise that you will stop looking for the dagger and stop coming after me if I give you this piece of information."

"Tell me first and I'll consider it."

"It doesn't work that way. All I'll tell you is that the information he has can reunite you with someone you love, and only I can get out of him."

"Because he's drugged."

"Because he owes me a favor."

"I don't owe you anything Rumpelstiltskin. Because of you I lost the woman I love." Rumpelstiltskin turned back to Jefferson.

"That is not my fault. I merely told you where to find what you needed. You were the one that took your pregnant wife into Wonderland. You know the rules two in, two out." Jefferson hung his head. He knew Gold was right, he knew the risk but he didn't have a choice. How was he suppose to know that his wife would give birth that very day? He had no choice, everyone who owes Rumpelstiltskin a favor is eventually held to it, or face terrible consequences. He had just gotten his daughter back, he couldn't afford to fight the Dark One and lose everything again. Rumpel saw that his words hit home and Jefferson was ready to corporate, now he just needed Regina to make this deal. "So do we have a deal." He held out his right hand to Regina. Regina stared at it as she thought everything through. What did he mean "reunite you with someone you love"? Everyone she loved was dead and no magic could bring them back, at least not back the same. That only left Henry, Rumpelstiltskin had the information she needed to get back her son. She reached out and took his hand. "Ok then. Jefferson tell our Queen what she needs to know." Jefferson looked into Regina's eyes, though his were slightly out of focus.

"Your daughter, she's alive."