Hello Dear Doves! This chapter was extremely difficult so please leave me some love.

Warning: graphic sex and rape

Songs: The Story by Sara Ramirez, Think I'm Sick by Icon for Hire, Mz. Hyde by Halestorm


When the unlikely friends arrived at the pawn shop, Ruby expected Regina to pause, take a deep breath at least, but she exited the cruiser before she killed the engine and stomped into Gold's business, Queen and Mayor flaring in her attitude.

"Ah, and what do I owe this pleasure?" Gold snarked, clearly not happy to see either of them.

"I have a proposition, Imp," Regina said coolly, spread her arms wide, and leaned against his glass counter. Her icy tone scared Ruby a little. Regina wasn't here to mess around. The deeper her voice stretched, the raspier it became, and with every rumble, the static crackle of tension between the two dark practitioners expanded.

"Is that right?" He was intrigued.

"Yes," Regina hissed. "The first deal will be free in exchange for information. You will help my son, and I will share a secret about the Enchanted Forest. We will negotiate terms of the second. Do you accept?" Her dark eyes never flinched, forcing him to maintain eye contact or act in a submissive manner. The Evil Queen had found her stride if not her heart for magic.

"Very well, what can I help young Master Mills with this lovely morning," he waved his hand through the air, and Ruby flinched.

"He's been having nightmares about a black room filled with flames. This morning he awoke with a physical burn on his hand and claimed to have spoken with another who currently resides in the Enchanted Forest. Can you help him?"

Damn, she was good, Ruby thought.

"Was it Mary Margaret?" Rumpel asked, excitement growing in his eyes.

"Can you help him?" Regina repeated, voice giving no ground or indication he'd guess correctly or not.

"The information is vital to that answer, Regina. Was it Mary Margaret or another who had been subjected to a sleeping curse?" He rephrased the question.

"Yes," Regina volleyed, a glint in her eye. She had reservations about making a deal, but she'd forgotten how exhilarating it could be to play at words, knowing one false start might lead to a path of no return with the Dark One waiting at the end.

"I can help him," Gold moved through his shop and collected things. He mixed a few liquids together inside a heart-shaped necklace and gave it a shake. He raised his eyebrows and dangled the necklace in front of Regina with one finger. "Tell the boy to wear this when he sleeps. It will not stop the nightmare, but it will give him control of it. You really don't know much about your favorite curse, do you?"

"I never intended my victims to wake up," Regina snarled. Ruby jerked, her hand instinctively gripping Emma's pistol.

"The information," he leaned forward, entering Regina's personal space.

Ruby shivered. How had Belle fallen for this man? He was creepy and clearly evil and conniving and manipulative. Her hand gripped the butt of Emma's pistol before she realized that a low growl had risen in her throat. Her wolf rage picked a terrible time to introduce itself. Gold tilted his head in her direction with an innocent look upon his face and shook the necklace.

"Cora is searching for a way to this realm," Regina said as she snagged the chain from his fingers and looped it over her head. She smirked at his slightly perturbed expression when she lifted her shirt and dropped it inside to rest between her breasts. He may not have feared her anymore, but he certainly knew his place when in the presence of her mother.

He cleared his throat. "And the second, Dearie?" She resumed her predatory leaning against the counter.

"Two-part deal. Help the idiots get back to this realm without bringing her plight. If she manages to best them, which let's face facts, that is the likely outcome, you will align yourself against her upon her arrival and help rid this land of her influence. Maim, torture, death, binding her powers permanently. The method is yours really. I only care about the result." Regina came prepared to pay big for this one. The price of asking the Dark One to align himself against Cora might be a price too high for her to pay.

"Oh, is that all, Dearie? It's going to cost you." She nodded. "Killing the savior too much to ask?" She clenched her jaws, the only indication he'd gotten under her skin.

"Allow Henry to become my student?"

"No."

"Become my student again?"

"No." She took a deep breath as slowly as she could. He rattled her cage for the hell of it, but that fact hadn't stopped the fear that slipped up her spine at the thought of either of those things ever happening.

"Give Belle back to me," he said darkly, gaze flicking to Ruby who jerked and gritted her teeth but miraculously managed to hold her tongue.

"Not my decision to make. What else do you want?" Regina crossed her arms, clearly agitated but controlling it very well.

"How about a romp in the hay for old times' sake?" A chill ran up her spine when memories of his pugnacious and brutal touch flashed through her mind. She contained her shiver but not the gooseflesh that spread over her bare arms and chest. She'd forgotten her damn blazer in Emma's hospital room. His eyes glinted, and she knew that she'd been ensnared.

"No," she answered, knowing that he was about to refuse her offer and make her choose one of her other options.

"Then you have nothing I want, Dearie," he mimicked her earlier pose of leaning on the counter.

"You're sick," Ruby seethed behind Regina. Anyone else might have cowered in fear at the young wolf's obvious anger and proclivity towards violence when the people she loved were in peril, but not Rumpelstiltskin.

"Aren't we all, Dearie. Now, don't let your tail get caught on the way out of my shop" he snipped and then disappeared to the back room.

Regina held her head high until they were in the cruiser and Ruby pulled away from the curb. Certain he could no longer see her, it dropped against her chest as she took a steadying breath.

"Regi…" Ruby started, unsure if she wanted to comfort Regina or ask her about her previous relationship with Rumpelstiltskin. What in the hell did that guy have? She asked herself in disgust.

"Don't. Say. A word," Regina threatened, and Ruby clamped her teeth together.

The silence wasn't their usual companionable existing in harmony. This silence was harsh and palpable. Clearly, Regina hadn't expected Gold to exploit her sexually in the deal, and Ruby's anger had grown with each passing second in the presence of the man who had injured Belle beyond repair by his false promises and pretty words filled with technicalities and loopholes. At least The Evil Queen was straight forward in her words. She pretty much did whatever she promised. It was a more honest kind of evil, Ruby thought as she squeezed the wheel tightly.

Her teeth clenched together painfully by the time they pulled into a parking spot at the hospital, her anger growing with every second. She wanted to yell at Regina, make her divulge more information, but she clutched the steering wheel. The metal moved beneath the force, molding to the shape of her hand. Regina slammed the door and stalked towards the hospital, nearly reaching the doors before Ruby chased her down.

"Regina!" She challenged, her anger uncontrollable. She really needed to find her cloak. It didn't just keep her from changing under the full moon, it calmed her rage.

Regina turned slowly and fixed her with cold eyes. She recognized the anger that gripped Ruby's heart in the young wolf's glowing eyes. If she needed an outlet, then so be it. She needn't worry about abandonment from Regina, not after she'd shown such loyalty and devotion. Of all her options, picking a fight with Regina was safest and yielded the least amount of damage at the end.

"You're just going to let him get away with that. Cowing you into submission like a coward. He's the coward! He abused you. He abused Belle. And you still give him all the power! He basically threatened your son and Emma's life and practically asked permission to rape you again. You just let him!" Ruby seethed, fist clenching and releasing as she stalked across the parking lot.

A group of people gathered at the glass doors of the hospital when they heard Ruby's yelling and watched the interaction. Regina never bothered putting up her hands as Ruby's fist flew towards her mouth. She touched her thumb to her split lip, sneered up at the wolf, and then delivered one of her own. Ruby growled and her eyes flashed yellow when the iron tang of blood exploded in her mouth.

She charged Regina, grappling for a moment before body slamming her into the ground. Air whooshed painfully out of Regina's lungs and her head spun for a moment. She regained her wits just as Ruby straddled her hips, eyes full out glowing now instead of flickering between brown and yellow. She jabbed the heel of her hand into Ruby's nose before she restrained her hands.

The wolf's head snapped back, and Regina flipped their positions, knowing she'd never have the strength to hold down a pissed off werewolf without her magic. She accepted the ass whoopin' that Ruby was about to throw down on her. It wasn't the girl's fault. Her wolf was suppressed for 28 years, and she'd barely obtained control before then, just enough to curb her changes.

She punched Ruby again from atop her waist. The wolf screamed into the pain as it fueled her anger, grabbed Regina's hips and tossed her across the parking lot. Regina covered her head while she was in the air and relaxed as much as possible, suspecting her landing was going to hurt like hell. It did. Her right elbow and knee skidded across the pavement before she rolled bodily into the bumper of a car.

"Hey!" A voice called. Regina located it and recognized the face of the pretty nurse who had given Emma her shot earlier. A few other brave souls gathered around her, ready to intervene if given the order.

"Stay back!" Regina ordered them, letting her magic float into them. It pushed them back a few steps but caused no harm, but the fear effect of her reign of terror did its job. They all froze and remained safely near the doors.

The momentary distraction cost Regina the few precious seconds she'd had to find her feet. Glowing yellow eyes were only an inch from hers as a strong, thin hand pulled her up by her throat and slammed her onto the hood of the car. Regina grabbed Ruby's thumb and twisted as hard as she could, enough to catch a breath but not enough to break the wolf's vice.

"Ruby," she choked out as real fear seized her heart. She desperately wanted to avoid using magic on the tortured woman she'd grown so fond of, but she would if it meant life or death. Brown flickered and then spread in Ruby's wide eyes.

"Oh God, Regina," her soulful eyes filled with tears and then were gone from her vision. She heard the quiet sobbing but collected her strength before moving from the vehicle. She hurt everywhere and hoped like hell she never had to do that again, but Ruby wouldn't have calmed lest she dispelled enough of the wolf to regain control. Better her than Belle or Henry or some unsuspecting nurse or doctor.

Her head throbbed when she pushed herself upright and she pressed her the heels of her hands into her temples. Ruby knelt on the ground, back towards her, shoulders quaking with anguished cries. Regina's heart clenched at the sight, and she set her weight on her feet gently. Her right knee throbbed and protested, and she ordered it to shut up. She'd endured worst, she told it and then hobbled to the grieving girl.

"Ruby," Regina whispered as she knelt behind the quivering wolf.

"It was the wolf, Regina! I can't control it! Stay away from me. I'm dangerous. It was the wolf," her voice weakened with each word until it was nothing but a whimper. The crowd stared at the girl, some with fear and others with pity at the confession.

"I know," Regina cooed gently and rested her hands upon Ruby's shaking shoulders.

She squawked in surprise when Ruby flung herself bodily into Regina's arms and buried her face in her chest. Acclimating to their new position, Regina reverently placed her hand on the back of Ruby's head, holding the girl around the shoulders with the other.

"I know it was the wolf, Ruby. We'll find your cloak or I'll find another way to help you control it," she vowed and soothed her hand over Ruby's tangled mane.

"It was the wolf," Ruby sobbed, her voice muffled and hollow in Regina's chest.

"I know," Regina repeated and continued her gentle stroking on Ruby's hair. She eyed the crowd wearily, but no one moved towards them. Some pointed and whispered, looking at Regina with eyes that held something other than fear and hatred. Evil Regals, indeed, she thought sardonically.

Ruby's tears slowly dried, but she remained cradled in the safety of her victim's arms. Regina understood her darkness in a way no one else had. How could they when they'd never experienced it? If she were honest with herself, she feared seeing the damage she'd caused on the other woman's body.

Regina felt her tense as if she were going to move, and she turn her head to the side and ducked down to catch Ruby's eyes. They were wide and clear, and a beautiful chocolate brown. She'd beaten the wolf back for now.

"Hi," she whispered with a pained smile as the expression stretched her split lip. "Feel better?" Ruby nodded against her chest but said nothing, eyes flying over Regina's face.

"I'm fine, Ruby. If you'd seriously injured me, I'd have stopped you with magic," the older woman assured her horrified charge.

"Your face," she protested, hand reaching for but not quite touching Regina's busted lip.

"Hey, yours looks like this, too. I'm not a complete invalid without my magic. I've got moves," Regina quipped, and Ruby giggled at the very modern phrase falling from the very old-fashioned and sophisticated woman.

"What do you say we go get cleaned up in the emergency room before we go see Belle and Henry?" Ruby nodded again and reluctantly pushed herself out of Regina's warm arms.

Regina nearly had a heart attack at the sound she heard when Ruby assisted her to her feet. The crowd … clapped? Were they glad that Ruby knocked the hell out of her? Her face dropped sadly, heart clenching. Would they never love her? She steeled her face and then leaned on Ruby who stared at the crowd with an odd expression.

"I think they're clapping for you," she said absently, disbelieving what her eyes and ears told her was reality. Regina jerked and glanced over the crowd again.

"Well done, Madame Mayor!" The pretty nurse called and then cheered.

"Why?" Regina said to no one. Dr. Zambrano stood alone at the edge of the crowd, arms crossed, searching expression in her eyes. She nodded once and then disappeared through the crowd. Ruby glanced down at her.

"I have no idea," she answered and then pulled her forward.

Her knee buckled and then gave out, and she allowed the wolf to practically drag her towards the hospital doors. Her pants were torn, her shirt ripped and covered in both her and Red's blood. Ruby's deputy uniform didn't look much better. By the time they reached the edge of the crowd, the pain shooting from her knee overwhelmed her.

"Move!" A stern voice ordered, and Regina stopped and watched the crowd part, revealing Eva rolling a gurney towards them.

Ruby wrapped her arms around her back and lifted her onto the bed. She squeaked indignantly and slapped the deputy's hand from her in a huff. Ruby's heart lightened to see a sliver of a hissy fit, a glimpse of the strong and bitchy Regina she knew and loved. Loved?

"I'm not helpless, Miss Lucas," she snipped, irritated at being coddled, no matter how much better her knee felt now relieved of her weight. Ruby shrugged awkwardly and took up residence on the side opposite the doctor.

"That you are not, Ms. Mills," Eva confirmed. "Standing up to a wolf's rage the day before the full moon without using magic. It's quite impressive," she finished without flourish and pushed the rolling bed through the automatic doors. Wolf's time began tonight, crap, she'd forgotten.

That's the reason they'd all clapped for her. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she blinked them away rapidly. She'd done something right, finally. She closed her eyes as she adjusted to the new emotions pulling through her. She needed to save Ruby from herself and hadn't a clue how, but she'd made progress with the people of Storybrooke today. She thought for the first time that she might actually pull through this mess without being executed.

Eva tossed her a flimsy gown after parking the gurney and then left the room. It was understood that she meant for her to change, but Regina curled her lip at the insulting fabric and then pulled her shirt off. Ruby gasped at the blue splotches on both sides of Regina's rib cage in the shape of her hands. She said nothing to the girl and wiggled out of her pants and heels and then laid back in nothing but her bra and panties.

"Never pegged you as vanilla, but I certainly didn't expect you to be comfortable with expose either," Ruby gaped at her with uncomfortable eyes.

"Miss Lucas, I was dressed by another woman everyday, multiple times a day until I was 35, which is when I cast the curse and discovered clothing that didn't require a torture rack to get me into and a chainsaw to get me out of. That's a lot of eyes that have seen this body. Modesty is beneath me," Regina sniffed.

"Glad to hear that; otherwise my premature entrance might have been awkward," Dr. Zambrano stated in her calm, even voice. The women never excited herself, Regina noted silently.

"Hey, Doc," Ruby greeted as she stepped out of the woman's way. "I'm going to run and fetch you some clothes," Ruby started.

"Good Mutt," Regina muttered. Ruby glared, licked her lips, continued.

"And change my shirt and get cleaned up before I go get Henry and Belle."

"You also promised me breakfast," Regina reminded her and then winced when Eva pressed her knee. "I'm ravished after our tussle," she winked suggestively at the young woman and smirked when Ruby's mouth fell open. She realized that Regina was distracting herself from her pain, but the comment flustered her anyway.

"Uhh, yeah," Ruby scratched the back of her neck. "I need to talk to Granny anyway. Omelet with mushrooms and onions, right?"

"You're always so sweet after you leave me aching, Darling," Regina batted her eyes, and red splotches immediately broke out on Ruby's neck and face. Her bloody mouth worked up and down a few times and then she tucked tail and scurried from the room.

Regina chuckled. Eva managed a small smile even though her hands were fully pressed against her skin. Regina's heart sang with the realization, but she said nothing.

"You ready?" The doctor asked and then unlocked a drawer full of syringes. She flicked one a few times and then looked expectantly at Regina's arm.

"For?" Regina asked hesitantly and then presented her arm to the other woman.

"This is a mild pain killer and muscle relaxant. Let me know when you start feeling dizzy," Dr. Zambrano explained as she timed the rate of injection on her wrist watch.

"For?" She repeated.

"Well, I assume you'd like your dislocated knee popped back into it's place before you lose feeling in your lower leg. I didn't want to say anything in front of her. She feels bad enough. I don't need to touch her to see that," her calm voice breezed through her mind, parting the haze that quickly gripped her senses.

"Feel it yet? It shouldn't take but a moment."

"Ye… Ow!" Regina jerked upright and glared at the doctor and then quickly sank back to the hard mattress when the room spun out of control.

"Sorry, it's easier if you're distracted. Keep still. That stuff is potent if you aren't used to it," she shrugged and then banged around in the cabinets. Regina closed her eyes and followed the sound of her voice.

"It wears off quickly, too, so you'll be up in no time. I'd ask you to use crutches for at least a week, but I doubt I'd get you to agree. It wasn't terrible, so you should heal okay with just a brace as long as you wear it at all times and take it easy." She talked and put the brace in place. The pressure set Regina's leg aching again.

"Don't worry. As soon as Ruby returns, you may go back to Emma's room," her voice was directly over her face now, and she opened her eyes. "You have a lot of scars, Regina."

"Huh?" the former royal fought for control of her mind.

"On your body, I mean. I'm certain Miss Lucas was too flustered and embarrassed to look at you too closely," she dabbed at Regina's face with a gauze pad, but Regina felt nothing through the haze. When would it wear off again? Had the doctor said exactly? And then Eva disappeared, but Regina felt pressure on her elbow.

"You took a hell of a beating out there," Eva changed the subject quickly. "I'm glad you got through to her in time. If you don't want your kid to know, I'd keep him away from you for a couple days. Your neck is bruised pretty badly. Are you having any difficulty breathing?"

"No," Regina answered, her mind gaining clarity by the second. With it came the pain it had dulled.

"Do you want some Vicodin? Of course you don't," she answered the question herself. "An addict is an addict is an addict," she muttered and then ripped her gloves off.

"You… unnerve me, Doctor," Regina admitted as she rolled onto her uninjured elbow to observe the odd physician. Eva stalled for a moment and simply met her eyes.

"I won't for long," she admitted softly and then busied herself with cleaning the room. Normally, a nurse cleaned up afterwards, but Regina figured that even after her display of bravery and self-control, she still made most people uneasy.

"As soon as I am confident that Miss Swan will make a full recovery, mentally and physically, I intend to cross the boundary line. I'm happy just being Dr. Eva Zambrano. My memories of our land is a small price to pay if it means I can live a normal life without my gift… my curse," the tortured woman explained lightly, clearly at peace with her decision.

"I'm trying valiantly to keep my other self at bay, so that my staff may continue to view me in the same light, so I'd appreciate you keeping that secret to yourself. No one else needs to know that I've intentionally erased an entire life from existence." Dr. Zambrano's eyes tightened with worry.

"Of course," Regina said simply, and then the woman disappeared silently as she normally did. She stared at the empty space for a moment and then lay back against the bed, anxious to return to Emma.

Ruby returned an indeterminate amount of time later in a fresh deputy shirt. The blood had been cleaned from her face, which now sported a reddened nose that had been broken and a black mark at the corner of her mouth. Black slacks and shirt were tucked beneath her elbow, a foam food contained her in one hand and Regina's solitary pair of flat black boots in the other. Regina stared at them disdainfully but knew that her heels were impossible until her knee heeled.

"I'll take your food upstairs," Ruby babbled, eyes averted from Regina's practically naked body as she sat the boots and clothes on the bed between her feet. She turned to go and then stopped. "Oh, here," she pulled socks from her back pocket and tossed them on the bed. "Give me like ten minutes to get Henry and Belle moving." She said over her shoulder and then was gone.

Regina dressed slowly, her body feeling all of the little muscle aches she knew would follow being tossed around like a rag doll. She breathed through it, allowing her anger to push some of it into a box in her mind that she locked away so she could function semi-normally. Her knee screamed in protest when she set her weight on it and then settled after a moment. It wasn't that bad, she told herself and hobbled towards the elevator, grateful that Ruby had had the presence of mind to bring her a turtleneck.

The room was vacant all but a still slumbering Emma and a foam box on her cot when she arrived a few minutes later. She sat on the cot and ate the lukewarm food without tasting it, and then it was gone. She studied Emma's calm face for a moment, wondering if the other woman dreamed. If she did, they hadn't haunted her this day. She dropped her hands to her lap and fidgeted with them. She wanted to hug her son. Even if he never knew, he warmed her soul every time he wrapped his scrawny arms around her waist.

She settled for draping her arm over Emma's shins and leaning her head against her thigh. It was comfortable enough. Her eyes slipped shut, taking comfort in the steady beep on the heart monitor. Emma had come back for them. She hadn't left them because she promised that she wouldn't, Regina believed that with all of her heart.

Clumsy fingers brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, urging her eyes open. Beautiful glazed green stared down at her, and she smiled.

"Hello Miss Swan," she breathed. Emma looked towards the open blinds and squinted. "Do you want me to close them?" Regina found her feet immediately, ignoring all of her pain. It mattered nothing to her if Emma was awake and interacting.

Surrounded in darkness once more, Regina reclaimed her seat on the cot and hesitantly placed her hand on Emma's knee. It was a safe spot, she justified, a friendly touch. Emma's leg tensed and then relaxed beneath her warmth, and Regina assumed it was her approval.

"Are you in pain? Do you need more medicine?" Emma shook her head and closed her eyes. Regina almost pressed the button that summoned her nurse, thwarted when Emma's hand touched hers. Emma shook her head again despite the fact that she obviously ached, but she wanted to be awake more than she desired relief from her physical ailments.

"Tell me," Emma whispered quietly and touched her face again. A spontaneous sob of joy pulled from Regina's chest. It had been gruff from lack of use and thick from the pain medicine, but she'd heard Emma's voice again.

"Tell you what, Darling?" Regina searched her face with wide, glimmering eyes.

"Your story," Emma answered with great effort and then settled against the pillow, done speaking for the moment.

"What would you like to hear?" Regina waited for a moment, hoping Emma might have changed her mind. Emma closed her eyes but gripped her hand tightly.

"There aren't many happy ones. Are you certain?" Regina asked. Emma nodded.

"Rumpel," Emma croaked, and Regina's heart flipped again. She hadn't realized until Emma spoke again just how much she'd missed her voice, pined to hear it even one more time.

"You want to hear about Rumpelstiltskin. Darling, you already know how we met." Emma nodded. "You want to know how he became my teacher?" Emma shook her head, brow furrowing in frustration.

"Broke you," Emma croaked and the coughed.

"Shh. Eva said that your throat may be sore for a while. Do you want me to get you some ice chips?" Emma nodded, and Regina pressed the button to call the nurse.

"How can I help, Miss Swan?" A voice immediately filtered through the room.

"Could you bring some ice chips, please?" Regina asked as politely as possible.

"Sure. Be just a couple of minutes," the voice answered and the room fell silent for a moment. Emma stared down at Regina.

"You wish me to tell you how Rumpelstilskin broke me?" Emma nodded and then winced. "Emma, I will tell you, I promise, but you are in so much pain right now. Please let them give you something," Regina practically begged, but Emma adamantly shook her head.

"What if I had them call your doctor and have your dosage lowered? Just enough to take the edge off? Please Emma?" Emma thought for a moment and then conceded with a sigh and frustrated nod, and Regina took a deep, relieved breath.

Regina picked at the blanket covering Emma's thigh as they waited for the nurse. Emma breathed in short, pained gasps by the time she arrived. She smiled towards the former queen when she handed Regina the cup and then moved to Emma's IV. It was the young nurse who had stared at her earlier this morning when Ruby called and cheered for her outside.

"Please, call Dr. Zambrano before you medicate Miss Swan. She's refusing treatment unless her dosage is lowered so that she may stay conscious more easily," Regina halted the nurse's movement with her sharp words, but the pretty girl just smiled and continued fiddling with the tube and syringe.

"She already lowered it. She came up here after you went into the E.R. You might be a little drowsy, Ms. Swan, but it won't knock you out like before, 'kay?" She spoke gently to Emma, touched her shoulder and then glanced at Regina.

"If either of you need anything, please don't hesitate," the young nurse blushed at the extended eye contact and then hurried towards the door.

"Nurse?" Regina stopped her. "What's your name?" Regina swore she'd met the girl before today but hadn't realized it in her groggy haze.

"Here they call me Lauren Danes, but I was known as Trina in our land. I worked in your stables for three years before the curse, Majesty." That's why she'd squirmed with the eye contact.

"I'm only Regina here," the girl's eyes brightened with the permission to call her by first name, and Regina smiled.

"Of course, Maj… Regina," her ears burned with the embarrassment of her slip. "Do you need anything else?"

"Do you ever make lunch or coffee runs to Granny's?" Regina asked suddenly, and Lauren nodded in confusion.

"Everyday."

"Wonderful. Tell the staff on this floor that it's on me today for taking such wonderful care of Emma. Come see us before you leave, and I'll let Granny know that I will be covering your bill. All I ask in return is that you bring me the largest coffee Granny can find," Regina begged the girl with her eyes to agree to her terms and ply her with much needed caffeine.

"If you're sure," the girl agreed uncertainly.

"I am. Thank you, Lauren," Regina nodded and then turned her back in dismissal. She added normal people manners to the list of things she must work and dug a plastic spoon into the cup of ice chips.

"Emma?" Regina coaxed her eyes open and then grinned at the sleepy haze swimming in the green pools.

She opened her mouth lazily and accepted the ice chips gratefully, immediately swallowing in relief. Regina handed her the cup but retrieved it when Emma's hand shook violently. She may have acted like her Emma, but her muscles were weak with lack of use and heavy medication. At the crushed expression on Emma's face, Regina cupped her cheek and smiled softly.

"It's okay. My hands work fine, and I'm not going anywhere," Regina assured her that the simple act of feeding her ice chips wasn't a burden. "Let me take care of you. I won't tell anyone," Regina winked, and Emma's eyes lightened.

"Do you still want to hear that story?" Regina asked guardedly, not really wanting to talk about Rumpelstiltskin but willing to do anything to keep Emma happy and entertained while she remained awake.

Emma nodded and opened her mouth. Regina obliged her with another spoonful of ice chips.

"Very well," she cleared her throat, deciding where to begin when the history between them was so thick.

"He manipulated me into believing that dark magic was my only salvation," she thought of Frankenstein's intentional failure at reviving Daniel. It was a story for a different day.

"The first person I killed was the apprentice he intended to replace me. I ripped out her heart in the middle of her lesson and crushed it instantly. I was so filled with rage that I felt nothing at the time but a rush of power. Later that night, however, my heart filled with remorse. He knew it would, but like everything, he planned ten steps ahead. He appeared in my chambers, knowing the king rarely visited anymore. Looking back, he must have charmed the room with a soundproofing spell. Otherwise, the guards would surely have discovered us.

Regina stared at herself in the mirror. She hadn't wanted to kill that girl, but her mentor was right. She only had anger, a soothing rage that tore through her veins and exploded behind her eyes. Her black hair fell into her eyes, and she pushed it back as she forced her gaze to the looking glass. She'd always thought herself pretty, and tonight was no exception, but she felt nothing of that youthful innocence and hope she harbored until last night when Dr. Frankenstein failed her.

She hated herself for having killed that other girl, but she needed her teacher to keep her. At least he gave her someone to talk to. She needn't be alone as long as she remained obedient. Still, she thought, the price of his love was too high. She refused to take another heart, not when it tore a small piece of her own away with thoughts of Daniel's final moments. His pain had been palpable. It might have been the worst possible way to die, and she'd done that to another for Rumpel. It was too much of a burden. Perhaps another in the world was destined to love her.

"Contemplating life, Dearie?" Rumpel's nasally voice called from the window.

She whipped around in fear. Had he heard her thoughts? He was summoned simply by saying his name, extending that to her thoughts wasn't much of a stretch. He giggled maniacally and then crossed to her. She swallowed roughly, wondering what he possibly wanted at this hour. He'd refrained from appearing in her bedchamber since that night she'd first summoned him. He made her uneasy then, but now, knowing what he was capable of, slight panic gripped her heart.

"Easy, Dearie," he steadied her with a hand on her cheek. "I've not come to harm ya," he assured in his whimsical manner and then smoothed hair with his scaly hand.

The touch was gentle, compassionate, and she leaned into it instinctively. It'd been so long since someone had touched her in kindness that she'd nearly forgotten what it felt like. She sighed as her eyes slipped shut, overcome with the need to be comforted, forgiven, and then lips were upon hers.

Her eyes flew open, but there was a softness in his eyes she'd never seen before. Perhaps he'd pushed her so hard to keep her with him. He cared, she was sure of it. He cupped her face in both hands and pulled her from the chair slowly, and she allowed it, wanting to feel the gentle touch of another, no matter who it came from.

"Rumpel?" She stared up into his dark eyes and then accepted his lips once more.

In one swift flick of his wrist, her nightgown lay at her feet, and she stood before him naked. She shivered in the cool night air, nipples hardening instantly. She wanted him to touch her, and he never hesitated. Clumsy hands gripped his shoulders and then hesitated a moment before covering the bulge pressing against her belly, separated only by the fabric of his pants.

He smiled at her shy gestures and bumbling attempts to please him and then unbuttoned his pants, sliding them far enough to release his hardening shaft. She gasped when the reality of what she was about to do slammed into her, made her dizzy with desire for her teacher of magic, and now teacher of love. He guided her hands to him again. His head fell back slightly when she followed his silent commands.

She nearly lost her grip when one of his hands molded around her breast and the other slid between her already slick folds, caressing but not entering. He grinned wickedly to feel her desire coat his fingers.

He allowed her a few minutes to pump him awkwardly, encouraging her with grunts and hums. He dropped his lips to her neck, distracting her from her task with tiny nips and scrapes of his teeth. All of her intentions melted away when two of his roughed fingers slid inside her. She might have fallen over if he hadn't held her up with an arm around her back. This felt differently than when the king had entered her. It was gentle and intimate and ignited every nerve ending with that which she so desperately sought, love and compassion.

She leaned into her dressing table and spread her legs further, hips rocking shamelessly as his fingers caused an explosion inside of her, a physical release that she'd never dreamed of or heard mentioned by mouth or book. He brought her down slowly and then brushed her hair back from her face.

"Turn around," he ordered softly. Confused but trusting, she complied, bracing her shaking hands against the table in front of her looking glass.

He caught her eyes in the mirror as he positioned himself at the entrance of her slick and throbbing slit. She moaned when he rubbed against her, spreading her wetness. He entered her slowly, only halfway inside when she shoved against him. She moaned loudly at the sensations bursting inside of her. Her spontaneous show of desire had hurt, but she adjusted quickly and then moved again. He allowed her to roll her hips against his as she wished, forcing himself to ignore the sensuality of her shameless and wanton cries of passion and pleasure.

He busied his hands on her breasts for a moment and then slid one down her toned stomach and cupped her wiry mound. She released a squeak at the added pleasure and paused for a moment, adjusting once more to the new sensations.

And then her eyes were wide and searching his in the mirror. His hand buried itself painfully in her chest, gripping her heart. He intended to take her heart. He waited for the realization to flash in her eyes before he jerked the organ out of her chest and held it above her shoulder for her to behold the sight in the mirror. She gasped and fell onto her elbows, clutching at her chest desperately for what she'd lost, what he'd taken from her.

He moved inside her, adjusting to her new position. Scaly fingers slid around her neck and pulled her upright. She tried to cry out, telling him to stop with her mind, but her voice no longer belonged to her. She continued to move against him, but it wasn't her choice. She screamed inside her mind all of the things she wished to say aloud, but her mouth refused her commands. Her body belonged to him.

"Don't ever try to manipulate me again, Dearie, or this is how you will spend the rest of your days," he seethed in her ear, emphasizing his words with a painful thrust of his hips.

She fell forward again when he released her throat and screamed silently, tears falling from her eyes. His gentleness disappeared as he used her, took her brutally, painfully. He squeezed her heart in one hand, threatening to crush it every time she closed her eyes in attempt to escape to a happier place, and used her long hair as leverage with the other. He wanted her to watch him in the mirror, and she had no choice.

He hurt. His ruthless pounding tore at her far worse than Leopold when he'd taken her the first time, and he lasted far longer, prolonging her torture and his pleasure as long as he could. Her slickness dried up before he squirted inside of her, leaving only pain in every possible way. He grunted and then slumped over her back as he finished, and she filled her lungs with a relieved breath. She'd survived.

He pulled away from her, and she watched him clean himself with her nightgown in the glass. He met hers eyes once with a sinister glee and then dropped her heart to the stone floor of her chamber.

"Lessons tomorrow. Don't be late," he pointed at her with a grand gesture, his fingers splayed in different directions, a flourish she'd seen him use many times, as if everything were normal and he hadn't just violated her on the deepest level possible.

"I hope our lesson tonight rids you of those fantastical notions of love you foolishly cling to," he fixed her with a look and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

She slumped to the floor, a strangled sob escaping her throat as her actions finally became her own again. The cool tile soothed her heated skin, and she pressed her face against it. Her heart glowed just out of her reach, and she stared at it, no desire to put it back inside her chest. She lost track of how long she laid there, staring at her beautiful, bright pink heart. It had a dark spot in the center, but it was so small, so fixable.

So weak, she thought. Her natural derision for evil jerked inside of her, and she pushed it away. Her mother was right. Love was weakness. Her quest for love left her broken and sobbing on the floor every single time, and she decided in that moment that she'd never be used like this again. Her heart shimmered and then faded.

She pushed herself up and snagged the glowing organ. She held it in the air, watching the bright glow dull as her anger grew. The black in the center seeped towards the edges, and she felt disappointed when it stopped before encasing all of the pink but relieved as her pain faded to a monotonous throb at the back of her mind.

As she slipped it back inside her chest, she vowed to complete her heart's transformation if it was the last thing she did. The blacker her heart, the lesser her pain, and dark magic gave her the power she needed to make it happen.

Regina shook herself from the memory when someone knocked on the door. She glance back at Lauren standing quietly by the door. Despite being in a completely different realm, the girl patiently waited until the former queen addressed her before speaking.

"Are you on your break, Miss Danes?" Regina asked needlessly. The girl nodded.

"You asked me to stop in before I left," Lauren fidgeted, and Regina clamped down on the demeaning remark bubbling in her throat.

"Indeed, I did," she said instead. "I'll just have the coffee, nothing more. Enjoy your lunch and tell Granny to call me if she has any questions about our arrangement." Lauren nodded and then disappeared.

Regina sighed in relief of being alone with Emma once more. She gathered her resolve and then raised her eyes to Emma's face. At first glance in the darkened room, she thought Emma had drifted off during her tale. Her eyes were closed, but her chin quivered slightly and tears leaked onto her cheeks. She'd heard every word. Regina swiped her own tears quickly and then returned her head to that comfortable spot on Emma's thigh, eyes shut tightly against the sight of Emma crying yet again.

Emma said nothing, but a moment later, her hand landed softly on Regina's hair.