Regina tried to put the vivid erotic dream out of her mind as she got ready for her day, but found traces of it lingering at every turn. She tried to convince herself that the dream was just a strange byproduct of her brief encounter with the darkness and the emotional circumstances of Emma's sacrifice and subsequent disappearance. But the fact that the dream was highly sexually charged confused Regina immensely. She shook her head and set her sights on meeting the Charmings at the hospital to confront Gold.

XXXXXXX

Regina was walking up the walkway to the hospital when Robin intercepted her. She smiled briefly at him, and welcomed the warmth of his embrace around her. She sighed as she hugged him, hoping to find solace in his arms. She hoped to be comforted by his touch but found a pit growing in her stomach. Something didn't feel right. Suddenly a memory of the dream flashed into her brain and she pulled away from him. She looked up sheepishly at him.

Robin furrowed his eyebrows. "Regina? Are you alright?"

Regina cleared her throat and nodded before entering the hospital.

XXXXXXXX

Just as she had feared, Gold was of absolutely no help. Not only had he no idea what so ever how to help Emma, he was back to the spineless imp he had been before he was the dark one. The Charmings walked out with their heads hung low, Regina trailing behind with Hook and Robin.

Charming's phone rang. "Hello?" Snow watched as David's face turned to panic and a lump formed in her throat. "What do you mean, gone?" Everyone stopped to listen as David's voice sounded panicked. "We'll be right there."

David's face was pale as he turned to Snow. "That was Ashley. Neil is gone."

XXXXXXX

Snow and David rushed into the apartment, followed closely by Regina and two men. Snow ran up to a panicked and tear streaked Ashley who was visibly shaken. "Ashley! What's going on?"

Ashley sniffed and put her hands on Snow's shoulders. "I am SO sorry! I don't know! I don't know what happened! He's just gone! He's gone!"

David put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Just take a deep breath. Tell us what happened."

As Ashley tried to compose herself, Hooks phone buzzed with a text message. He read it and looked at David in panic. "I've got to go. I'll check in with you in a bit." Hook rushed out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

Ashley took a breath and wiped her eyes. "I was putting Neil down for his nap. I put him in the bassinet, and then went to the kitchen to warm up his bottle. I took it out of the fridge and went to warm it up when-" she paused.

"What? What happened?" Snow pleaded, tears threatening to fall.

"I don't know, I heard something, and it just-didn't feel right. So I turned around and went back into the nursery and-" she sobbed. "I saw this black haze disappearing and looked into the crib. He-he was gone! Just gone! I don't understand, no one came in! I had the door locked!" Ashley cried.

Snow was crying now, and David gulped. "Is there anything else you can tell us?"

Ashley rushed over to the end table and picked something up, placing it in Snow's hand. "This was in the crib."

Snow held her hand out and they all peered down. In her hand sat a small, black crystal swan.

The group looked around at each other in disbelief.

"Emma? Emma did this?" Snow gasped.

David shook her head. "No. No, she wouldn't kidnap Neil."

Regina swallowed. "You're right, Emma wouldn't. But the dark one is capable of anything."

Snow snapped her face to meet Regina's gaze. "No! No matter what, Emma would never hurt Neil. She would never hurt any of us!"

Regina was surprised at her instinct to comfort Snow, but took the woman's hand anyway. She looked at her compassionately. "I know that. But the dagger...it's darkness has control of her now. You saw what it did to Rumplestilskin. We have no idea what it's done to Emma."

Snow put her other hand on top of Regina's and squeezed. She was just about to say something when her phone rang. She saw on the caller id it was Granny and answered it. "Granny?"

"Snow. Are you missing something? Bout 20 pounds...bright blue eyes...diaper smells like something died in there?"

Snows face lit up as she grabbed David's shoulder. "Neil?! You found him?!" Everyone in the room perked up.

"Well, found isn't quite the right word. Here I was getting ready for the dinner rush when a poof of black smoke appeared square in the middle of the counter. When it was gone, there sat a beautiful bundle of joy. Sure looks like yours."

Snow breathed out in relief. "Oh, thank God. We'll be right there. Thank you, Granny!"

"No worries, highness. I just hope you explain what the heck is going on."

XXXXXXX

For the sake of Snow's sanity, Regina simply poofed them all to the diner, where a surprised Granny jumped back, baby in her protective arms.

Snow and David both leapt forward, Snow snagging the child from Granny's arms. The two coddled and cooed over their son as a bewildered Hook sauntered into the diner.

"Captain?" Robin asked, seeing the confused look on his face. "What is it?" The group turned to face him.

Hook scratched the back of his neck and shook his head. He came to a stop and took a deep breath. "The...Jolly Roger," he struggled and looked out the door before focusing back to the group.

"What about it?" Regina asked, annoyed.

Hook tilted his head to the side. "It's...moored in the harbor." The group looked on in confusion. "Upside down." The confused faces of the others caused Hook to shake his head, and couldn't help but chuckle. If he didn't laugh he would have to be angry and he was trying desperately not to be that. He took a step toward the counter before he continued. "And it's had a lovely paint job applied to it. Can I have a rum, please, dear girl?" Hook motioned to Granny. She shot him a dirty look before grabbing the bottle and slamming down in front of him. He unscrewed the lid as he continued. "Yes, it is now a beautiful princess shade of pink." He took a healthy swig. "And it's got a lovely signia of a swan burnt into her hull."

Suddenly came an echoing through the diner of a mischievous laugh as Robin was enveloped in a cloud of black smoke.

"Robin!" Regina shouted as she took a step toward him. She stopped as the smoke dissipated.

When the smoke cleared, Robin reappeared, looking at himself. All eyes went wide as they stared at Robin. Regina's jaw dropped. Robin was intact and perfectly healthy. He had, however, undergone a wardrobe change. His usual leather clad outfit had been replaced by the bright green cloth outfit seen in the Disney Robin Hood cartoon. His green pantaloons ended at just below his knees, white top and vest was comically tight, pointed red shoes clad his feet and green feathered cap sat on his head.

The group stared in shocked silence as the cackling sounded again through the diner, everyone now able to identify as Emma's voice. Regina put her hand over her mouth when she failed to bite down her smile, and her face reddened as Robin still looked confused. Snow and David just stared open mouthed as Hook was the only one to start laughing. He stood up and took another swig of the bottle. He walked over to Robin, looking him up and down with a mocking smile.

"Nice, Mate. The Jolly Roger's make over has nothing on yours," he scoffed again before handing the bottle over. Robin swiped it from his hand in annoyance and took a deep gulp.

"What...is going on in this damn town now?" Granny spouted.

Regina finally was able to fight back her laughter, but only after looking away from Robin. "It seems our new dark one is having a bit of fun." She shook her head and said quieter through her smile, "that immature woman."

"Well," Robin puffed his chest out. "As wildly entertaining as this is, I need to go pick up Roland." He turned to Regina and gestured at his clothes. "Would you be so kind?"

Regina squeezed the smile off her lips, and coughed to cover up a giggle. With a wave of her hand she restored Robin to his usual garb. With a clearing of his throat he was out the door, leaving the rest of the group to laugh amongst themselves.

XXXXXX

The rest of the day went without incident, and that night Regina found herself smiling at the days events as she laid her head on her pillow. She always knew that woman was an imbecile, and she knew she should be afraid of the dark one, but instead she found herself amused. Slowly Regina drifted off to sleep.

***Regina's Dream***

Regina found herself surrounded by the same mist as the previous night. And just like the last dream, she felt the presence just out of her vision. The familiar danger and intrigue returned, and as the figure circled around behind her, she felt her stomach begin to tighten. She was already wet when the figure stepped up behind her and pressed their lips into her hair. Regina gasped as a hand ran down her arm, the other brushing her hair away from her neck. Regina felt her clit pulse as the lips kissed below her ear, suddenly a hand slipping around her waist to palm her stomach.

Regina moaned as she felt herself pulled backwards, tight against the body behind her. She squeezed her eyes shut as she felt the figure behind her list their hips forward into her buttocks. Regina resisted trying to get a grip. She fought the urge to grasp ahold and feel her dream weaver for herself. She desperately wanted to know. And she desperately couldn't allow herself to. The haze of the dream provided a veil that both she and her dream weaver could hide behind, not having to face the hard reality of who they were.

Regina bit her bottom lip to stifle a moan as she felt the other hand come around to rest just above the other. Her breathing was out of control as one hand slid ever so slowly down past her hip. Regina's mouth was gaping open as she felt a tongue gently lick the outside of her ear. The hand moved further down, lifting up the bottom of her short nightgown. Regina's eyes remained shut, brows furrowed. The hand slid under the top of Regina's panties and gently pushed down.

The voice whispered against Regina's ear, just as the hand sought it's prize. "Regina..."

Regina shot to a sitting position, trying desperately to catch her breath. Her body was in complete arousal, nipples taut and core pulsing. She gaped her eyes, coming to the realization that he had just had another sex dream about Emma. Regina threw the blanket off herself and ran to the bathroom. She turned the shower on cold and pulled the nightgown off herself in a frenzy. She dove into the cold shower, leaning up against the wall as her breathing tried to quiet. Regina stared off, coming to a realization. The dark one had been toying with people in this town all day. This was her way of toying with Regina. The trouble was, Regina could do nothing to stop the fact that the dark one was preying on her deepest darkest secret. Regina wanted Emma. She wanted her badly.