Emma and Regina find their secret weapon within Mr. Gold's shop, and Regina realizes what she fears most and envies most about the Savior.

The bell above the door chimed softly as they entered the antique shop, taking slow and careful steps as if afraid to stir the air too quickly. They'd expected dust to have started settling on things, but it seemed Belle was still dutifully cleaning the store despite its owner's absence. Emma couldn't help but feel bad for the other woman. She'd banished her husband across the town line yet still took care of his shop.

"Belle?" she called out, her voice hesitant. It was so quiet that the sudden thumping sound from the back room was heard like a thunderclap. Emma jumped before hurrying for the door into the backroom, only to get knocked back as a mass of shadows burst from within.

"Emma!" Regina instinctively threw a fireball into the mass of darkness, watching it expand with an angry shriek. In another moment it was gone, smashing through one of the small windows and disappearing outside. Regina hurried over to where Emma had been thrown backwards behind one of the counters.

"Seriously," Emma grunted, picking herself up with a groan. "Getting real tired of falling on my ass right about now."

"I'm amazed by the durability of your tailbone," said Regina. Emma hesitated, squinted at her, then headed for the back room. They found Belle sprawled out on the carpet, face down.

"Belle!" Emma dropped to her knees, grasping Belle's hand and giving it a shake, knowing better than to try and move the young woman. With a disoriented groan, her friend came to.

"Wha… Emma?" Belle rolled onto her back and stared up at them, her doe eyes wide and startled. Emma sat back with her hands up.

"Are you okay? How do you feel?"

"I… I uh…" Belle's gaze wandered around the store, taking stock of where she was, then looked over Emma and Regina again, confused as to where they had come from and what had happened. Gingerly, she sat up. "What happened?"

"We were hoping you could tell us." Emma helped the librarian up to her feet and onto the cot at one side of the room, sitting next to her as Regina began looking around with a clinical eye.

"I'm not sure…" Belle rubbed her face, still struggling to clear her head. "I was just reading a book back here, and I thought I heard something… then…" She lifted her head to find her book lying on the floor just across the room, its pages bent. "I- I don't really remember. I don't even know how I ended up on the floor."

"Do you feel any… different? Strange? Angry maybe?"

Belle gave her a puzzled look. "Why would I feel angry?"

"Long story."

"Em-ma," Regina said from across the room, making a distracted 'come over here' gesture with her hand while she examined an object on the shelf. Emma's mouth dropped before she stuttered and scurried over, her cheeks tinged pink.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Look familiar?" Regina asked, pointing at the object, utterly oblivious to the fact that her inflection of Emma's name was immensely arousing to the blonde. Emma grimaced and forced herself to focus, staring down at a familiar box indeed. The very same Pandora's box that they'd once used to trap Peter Pan. This time, however, she actually recognized one of the many symbols carved into the box.

"That symbol-"

"Like the one in the music box, yes."

"And these are all intact." Emma lifted a hand to gently brush her fingers over the box's wood-and-metal surface, feeling the grooves where the symbols were etched. All but one were a mystery to her. When her fingers came away, she found black char on them. "Did they try to destroy this?"

"It makes sense. If this particular symbol can trap them in a box, then…" Regina lifted the little relic from the shelf and held it firmly in her hands, a smile stretching across her lips like a slash of crimson red. "It looks like we've found our weapon."

"I hope you know how to use it," said Belle, standing and backing up towards them, "Because I think it's come back to finish the job."

The three women squared up as a shadow filled the doorway, thickening until it was a solid mass of black. Slowly, it eased into the room with an eery grace, as if sizing them up. Though it didn't have eyes, they could certainly feel as if they were being stared down.

Gripping the box hard in one hand, Regina waved her free hand over it, uncertain of what she was doing and hoping to hell that it worked.

For a moment nothing happened, and then Emma's hand was on her forearm, their powers melding together and warming them from the inside out. Power coursed through their veins- not a wild, intoxicating power like that of Dark magic, but one that was warm and reassuring, calming her nerves and soothing her emotions until the only thing she could feel was a rush of love. Regina glanced sideways to meet Emma's green eyes with her own brown ones, a small smile passing between them, and then she turned her gaze on the demon with a teeth-baring smile.

"You want this box? Come get it!"

As if enraged by her taunt, the demon lunged forward at the same time power surged through Emma into Regina, opening Pandora's box with a click. A vortex exploded from the box and collided with the demon, dragging it down into entrapment. Furious, the demon screamed, a sound like nails slashing across a chalkboard. Belle winced and covered her ears as wind whipped through the back storage room, dying down with the vortex until it disappeared completely, the box sealing shut with another snap.

"It worked," Emma said, breathless, her mouth ajar with surprise. She was still gripping Regina's arm as the brunette panted in exhileration, her entire body tingling with the remnants of their combined magic. "Regina, it worked."

"Yes it did." Regina blinked, lightheaded, feeling the aftershocks of magic sizzling through her veins and warming her from within. The sudden silence of the room was too loud, punctuated only by her sharp intakes of air as she remembered how to breath normally, chest rising and falling with each attempt at oxygen. Her heart beat so loudly that she could hear it in her ears, and the next thing she knew, she'd grabbed Emma around the neck and pulled her in for a passionate kiss, crushing their lips together.

Emma tensed only momentarily before relaxing and wrapping her arms around the brunette, eyes fluttering shut as a tongue pushed its way into her mouth. She could feel Regina's fingers fisting her hair so tightly that her knuckles must have surely turned white, and in kind, Emma dug her hands into Regina's back, pulling them flush together and earning a pleased hum from the brunette. The softest of moans escaped her when Regina bit down on her lower lip.

"Uh… Emma?" Belle's voice dragged her back to her senses, but just barely. Emma turned her head away to break the kiss, blinking dazedly at Belle as Regina dropped her head against the blonde's neck to hide her face and possibly salvage her pride. She was still breathing hard and trembling ever so slightly in her arms, so Emma held her close and gave Belle her most embarrassed, apologetic smile.

"Sorry, Belle. Mind giving us a minute?"

Belle arched an eyebrow at them, clearly perturbed by the turn of events, but turned on her heels and left the back room.

Resisting the urge to laugh, Emma instead rubbed soothing circles against Regina's back, loving the way their bodies seemed to fit so perfectly together. She could feel the other woman's warm breath on her neck, those slender fingers clutching softly at the fabric of Emma's shirt.

"Regina?" she murmured against the brunette's hair, inhaling deeply of what smelled like apple scented shampoo.

"Sorry," Regina mumbled against her collarbone, ducking her face a little lower, her cheeks feeling hot against the blonde's skin. "I don't know what came over me."

"Like you said, we make powerful magic together," Emma chuckled, then yelped as Regina pinched her waist. When the mayor finally pulled away, she looked calm and collected again, with the slightest furrow in her brow. She held Pandora's Box in one hand and busied herself with examining it, though it was clear from the flushed look on her face that she was purposefully distracting herself.

"Well, now we have a way to capture all the demons. Let's get to work, shall we?"

"Someone's focused," Emma murmured, eyelids drooping with her come-hither smile. Regina gave an overly forced eye roll and hurried out the door. Emma had to speed walk to keep up, bidding Belle a quick goodbye as they exited the shop. Outside, the main streets of Storybrooke were relatively quiet as usual, though they could hear loud arguing and bickering as they walked towards Granny's.

"I wonder which demon we trapped?" Emma said as they passed the Diner and kept on going. Regina made a sound of acknowledgement, though she didn't seem to have any input on that matter. Emma's phone chimed at that point and she pulled it from her pocket, answering on the second ring. "Sheriff."

"Hey, I think the wolf guy isn't under a curse anymore. Can I let him out?"

"Uh, no, August. How do you know he isn't just pretending?"

"Well, he's being all nice and reasonable now. We're actually kinda getting along."

It was Emma's turn to roll her eyes. Men with leather jackets and motorcycles. This was becoming a thing in Storybrooke, apparently. "Hold on, we're coming."

"Something happen at the station?" Regina asked, her tone callous.

"Yup. Says Grayson's himself again. I told him we were on our way."

Regina made another vague sound of acknowledgement, slowing down and letting Emma lead the way towards the sheriff's station. Emma took the stairs two at a time and put on her best nonchalant face as she approached the cells. August was seated at one of the desks, twiddling his thumbs, and jumped up when she entered the bullpen.

"Emma."

"August," she murmured in response, arching a brow at him before moving to the cell nearest the windows. Grayson was sitting on the cot, looking weary as Ruby glared at him from her cell.

"So I hear you're cured," the blonde said, sarcastic. Grayson frowned.

"I'm not craving pig anymore, if that's what you mean. What the heck is going on? What's wrong with Red?"

"Fuck you," Ruby snarled.

"Easy, Rubes," said Emma. "It's really weird hearing you swear."

"Yeah well, fuck you too."

Emma sighed, settling her hands on her hips and directing her attention back to Grayson. "There were demons in that box. Looks like they're making everyone lash out in different ways."

"The seven deadly sins," Regina said finally, her arms crossed as she leaned against a desk between the Sheriff and August. "That would explain the symptoms. Gluttony."

Her eyes passed over Grayson, then towards the window, thinking of the motionless Hook laid out on a crate on his ship, drinking and refusing to budge. "Sloth."

After a pause, her gaze dropped. "Pride," came the somewhat ashamed self-diagnosis. Then, glancing up at Emma, her brown eyes darkened. "Lust."

Emma blushed immediately, turning her face away so that August wouldn't notice the tinge of pink. Distracted, she jerked a thumb back at Ruby. "What about her?"

"I'm right here, asshole," snapped Ruby.

Regina grunted. "I'm not sure what the hell is wrong with her. Wrath maybe. What I do know is that we caught the demon of Gluttony, if Grayson is really back to himself."

"That I am," Grayson agreed, leaning forward on the cot with his elbows on his knees. "I should probably stay locked in here though, in case I get affected by anything else. Red and I are dangerous."

Emma was surprised at his show of responsibility and nodded, ignoring Ruby's sneers of disdain. "That's fine. August, stay with them."

August frowned, a line of concern creasing his eyebrows. "You two going after the rest of the demons?"

"That's the idea. Text me if anything changes here."

"You sure you don't want back up?" He offered, gravitating towards her as if he really didn't want to be left behind to babysit. He didn't seem to notice the glower he was receiving from the mayor. Ever since being returned to his adult form thanks to Blue, he'd been assisting Emma as something of a part time deputy, keeping himself occupied when he wasn't helping out his father. He wasn't exactly qualified but Emma didn't mind his company once in a while, and it never hurt to have an extra person patrolling the town. Today, however, Emma gave a firm shake of her head.

"I'll be fine. I've got Regina with me."

At that, he side-eyed the mayor, his eyes twitching ever so slightly in response to the warning glare the woman was piercing him with. "Right. Careful out there, Sheriff."

"You okay, Regina?"

Emma trotted after the quick-paced brunette, noting that for once, Regina wasn't wearing her four inch stilettos. In her heeled leather boots, Emma was actually a good deal taller than her, and that was an odd feeling now that she really paid attention to it. Reaching down, she grabbed Regina's hand in hers. The brunette quickly jerked her hand away.

"Not in public, Miss Swan," she snapped. "What if Henry sees us?"

Emma held her hands up in surrender, feeling an unhappy tug in her heart at being demoted to Miss Swan again. "Sorry. Should I kiss you again?"

At that, Regina slowly turned to face her, her jaw working back and forth with annoyance. "Did I not just say-"

"Not in public, right, sorry," came the awkward reply. "I just thought-"

"I am not suffering from one of the demons' influence. I'm perfectly capable of being upset without their assistance." She turned and kept walking. Emma followed.

"Okay, so… what did I do?"

"Not everything is about you, dear," Regina sneered.

"Well what can I do to help?"

"Your job." Regina waved Pandora's Box in front of Emma's face. "Which, at the moment, is helping me catch demons."

Feeling like a scolded puppy, Emma fell silent and just followed the older woman, trusting that she knew where she was going. To her surprise, they ended up walking all the way to toll bridge. It hadn't even taken them very long, what with Regina's brisk and unrelenting pace.

"Here?" Emma asked, baffled.

"I followed a trace of dark magic to this spot, yes. Here." She all but shoved Pandora's box into Emma's hands.

"What are you doing?"

"Well clearly you're the more powerful one, so you should be able to trap the demon yourself."

"But our powers combined last time to open the box."

"I was simply channeling your magic," Regina lied. Emma could practically see her walls going up and immediately worried that Regina was going to push her out again, the way she always did when she was afraid or when she felt like she was losing control.

"Don't."

"Don't what?"

"You're shutting me out."

"I am not."

"I know that this- us- is scary-"

"I'm not scared," Regina hissed, her eyes nearly black despite the late afternoon sun. Emma persisted, stepping closer into the brunette's personal space. Regina, in turn, refused to back down and stiffened her spine, though she was still inches shorter than the Sheriff and had to tilt her head up to match her glare.

"Then prove it." Pandora's box was held out as an offering. Regina curled her lip at it.

"Don't be a child, Miss Swan."

"Don't Miss Swan me!"

"That is your name."

"We've been through too much for that! We shared True Love's kiss, for god's sake!"

"Do not use that against me!" Regina shouted, loud enough to make Emma cringe. She was absolutely livid, her face red with anger and shame and something else entirely, but it was the flash of pain and fear and insecurity in those dark eyes that stopped Emma from shouting back. It was all too familiar, painfully so, and for a moment those eyes reflected Emma's soul right back at her, making her feel naked and vulnerable in ways she'd hoped never to feel again.

"Regina," she croaked out, her throat suddenly dry and tight, but Regina whipped around without a word and stormed a few steps away, her spine rigid and her shoulders trembling. Emma stared at her back for a long moment, awash with guilt.

She'd pushed her too far. She'd crossed the line. Emma stood rooted to the spot, helpless and afraid that she'd destroyed their chance. That she'd ruined Regina's trust in her for the last time.

"I'm sorry," came the whispered apology.

But there was no reply. Regina's shoulders shook harder and it was then that Emma realized she was crying. Regina Mills was crying.

"Regina," she rasped, reaching out, aching at the thought of having made her cry. Her hand touched the brunette's shoulder, only for the woman to jerk away.

"Don't touch me," she snarled, but she did not turn, keeping her face turned away from the blonde. Emma retracted her hand, her chest tight and her lips pursed, but said nothing more. Part of her wanted to pull the woman into her arms, the other part feared the repercussions and wondered if she should simply wait. The decision was taken away from her when an icy chill settled on her shoulders, far too cold for September, even in Maine.

Turning her head, Emma scanned the surrounding area for signs of a demon, Pandora's box clutched hard in her hands. She had even less of a clue on how to use it, but thought better of trying to give it back to Regina at this point. The brunette, to her credit, had immediately swiped a hand across her eyes and summoned a fireball in her hands, prepared for a fight.

"There," Emma said, jumping ever so slightly at the sight of the shadowy black creature as it slunk out onto the bridge, pooling over the stone walkway like a formless glob. She focused on the box in her hands, gathering up her magic and trying to direct it, but as she'd feared, nothing happened. Nervously she waved a hand over the lid like she'd once seen Rumplestiltskin do, but still nothing. "Regina- I can't-"

"Try harder," the woman snapped, hurling a fireball at the demon and watching it glide aside with graceful ease. They both sucked in a breath of fear as the creature suddenly lurched forward, closing the large gap in all of a second, and sent them both sailing backwards through the air.

As Emma hit the ground on the other side of the bridge and crumpled in on herself, she decided that monsters practically sprinting at you with alarming speeds is one of the more terrifying things in life. She had to shake off a full-body shudder as she struggled into an upright sitting position, wincing.

Regina had landed only a yard away and was a little slower to sit up, less physically-inclined than her blonde counterpart. The backs of her shoulders throbbed from having landed on them first and she felt an uncomfortable pop as she straightened out her spine.

"Regina?" Emma called, concern colouring her voice as she struggled to her feet.

"Use the box," came the haughty reply. Regina was now very glad she hadn't worn high heels today as she dug her heels into the dirt and stood, her body aching.

"I can't," came Emma's nervous retort.

"Is that fear I hear in the Savior's voice?"

Emma glanced sharply at Regina, exasperated that she was being sarcastic now of all times. She apparently wasn't the only one with bad timing. "Really?"

"Use the damn box, oh powerful Savior." Regina's lips were twisted into a sneer but she didn't meet Emma's gaze, instead focusing on the demon.

Slowly gliding towards them, the demon looked more solid than before, smokey black tendrils creeping across the dirt and grass as it moved. A mist of cold air seemed to follow in its wake, driving back what mild warmth there was and leeching it from their bodies. Emma shivered and once again tried to direct her magic, feeling it course through her arms and into the box, but the box only seemed to absorb her magic without a reaction. A sense of hopeless panic welled up in her chest and she dashed across the short distance, nearly barreling into Regina as she grasped the other woman hard by the forearm and held out the box.

She could hear Regina's growl of frustration shortly before the lid of Pandora's box clicked open again, unleashing the vortex in another gust of cutting winds. Their combined magic worked to warm their bodies once more, thrumming across their skin and through their veins like sparks of electricity. Regina visibly flinched, trying and failing to pull away from the Sheriff's strong grip. The vortex slammed into the demon and ripped it off the ground like an uprooted tree, spinning wildly before getting dragged into the depths of the magical box with an echoing screech. Emma cringed as the lid snapped shut with a jerk in her hand.

"Let go," Regina ordered, her voice louder than it needed to be, finally yanking herself free and stumbling back a few steps. Emma stared at her like she'd lost her damn mind. She very well might have; there was an almost manic hitch in Regina's tone.

"Please," Emma begged, approaching slowly with her hands out as if she were approaching a wounded animal. She didn't know what else to say - didn't know what she'd done wrong or what was upsetting the brunette before she'd made her stupid comment earlier - and so simply repeated herself like a broken record. "Please."

Regina shook her head, slowly at first, then faster and vehemently. There had been a myriad of emotions struggling within her since all this demon chaos started but now it was the anger and disbelief that rose up above all else, no thanks to that moment in Gold's shop.

Their powers combined had been like nothing she'd ever experienced, and it might have even been enjoyable if not for the fact that she'd lost all semblance of self control in that moment afterwards. That she'd thrown herself at Emma without shame, thrown caution to the wind, acted on a whim. It was entirely not Regina Mills. Not the woman who calculated everything before acting, and certainly not the woman who valued full control over all else. She'd lost control, and that terrified her. Losing control meant giving it up to someone else - and that meant trusting, something she had not done ever since sharing a secret with a ten year old Snow White. That memory in itself brought up only the ugliest of feelings she didn't want to remember. Betrayal. Death. Heartbreak.

And now here Emma Swan stood, looking glorious despite her wild hair and dirt-scuffed jacket, Pandora's box clutched in one hand after having caught their second demon - barely. Her magic was so powerful that she should have been able to do it herself. She didn't need Regina's help. She was the goddamned Savior, for crying out loud. Such power, wasted on her, yet she still won every battle and came out looking like the hero with a title she didn't even have the guts to own up to.

It frustrated Regina. It infuriated her.

"No," she hissed, inwardly pleased when Emma winced like she'd been struck. "You don't get to steal my magic and then beg me for forgiveness. You don't get to force me into something without my permission."

Her features turned cold and hard, and bright white stood out against blood red lips as she bared her teeth in a vicious snarl. "And don't you ever dare push that True Love bullshit onto me ever again."

Without waiting for Emma's response, she turned on her heels and stormed away, heading back for the bridge.

Emma gripped Pandora's box until her knuckles turned white, her heart clenching painfully with each step Regina took, farther and farther away. A million thoughts raced through her mind but not a single one could form into words, always caught at the back of her throat, never vocalized. It was only after Regina was too far away to hear that Emma could make a sound.

"I'm sorry," she whispered again.

Then she swiped her hand across her damp eyes and followed after the brunette.