Author's note: Hope everyone had a great winter break! Back to school tomorrow ugh.

Chapter 26

Ever since he and Emma made up, Graham spent most of his time in her hospital room, talking, listening to her complain, or just snuggling together. Mostly their time consisted of him trying to entertain her and make her laugh, since it was beyond obvious that she was sick of the inactivity, and hated being in the hospital. She said it reminded her of her past, and judging by the pain in her eyes Graham could tell that whatever it was, it wasn't good.

It was the happiest he'd ever been in, well, ages. But there was still this horrible nagging feeling inside, this feeling that this happiness wouldn't last. He knew that Regina wouldn't allow Emma to win. The fact that Emma had lived coupled with the evil queen's thirst for revenge ensured that Regina would be back soon to kill Emma again. And with her magic back, this pretty much that Emma was left vulnerable. There was nothing Graham could do to protect her if the evil queen decided to come.

There was really one solution: to beat Regina at her own game. Graham had been thinking about this ever since Emma woke up. The only way to ensure Emma's safety would be to kill Regina. It was something Graham didn't want to do. Deep down, he knew he wasn't a killer. But there really wasn't anything else he could do.

He knew that this would be breaking the promise he made to Emma. And he knew damn well just how important it was that he kept his promises to her, especially given her past. But he had no choice. He knew that if Emma found out about this, she'd likely break up with him. But he loved her so much he was willing to take that risk. He'd rather have her safe, and hating him, than dead and still in love with him.

Graham knew he couldn't do this alone. He needed to talk to Snow and James, obviously. But above all, he knew that he needed extra help. Preferably from someone who had magic. Someone like Rumpelstilskin.

"Hey. Can I talk to you?" Graham pulled Snow and James aside one afternoon. He'd just left Emma's room, after making sure that she was sound asleep. The last thing he needed was for her to find out what he wanted to do.

"Sure. What's up?" James asked. It was amazing how much more normal they looked now that Emma was getting better every day. In fact, Whale had said she could go home in a couple days.

"We need to do something about Regina." Graham began, trying to keep his voice low. Snow started to protest, but Graham cut her off. "I know her. I've spent many years as a prisoner in her castle. She hates it when she loses. It's just a matter of time before she comes back for her revenge."

Snow still looked hesitant, but James nodded. "You're right. So what do you suggest we do?"

"I don't know. Killing her would be the most practical thing to do, but because she has magic…" Graham's voice trailed off, for he didn't want to say the inevitable.

"We could go to Gold for help." Snow voiced exactly what Graham had been thinking. "He's the only other person, save for Regina, who has magic."

James didn't look too crazy about the idea, but he nodded. "It's worth a try."

The three of them decided to visit Gold's shop the next day, after making sure Henry was either safely at home or at the hospital with Emma. While he was adamant on never seeing his adoptive mother again, they didn't think he'd take kindly to them trying to kill her.

~The New Normal~

The ding of the bell in front of Gold/Rumple's shop reminded Graham of the façade that Storybrooke had been under for almost 3 decades. All thanks to Regina. Graham felt yet another stab of anger at the evil queen, who'd done many unspeakable horrors to the innocent people of the Enchanted Forest. From taking away their loved ones to trapping them under a curse all in the name of taking revenge on Snow White, it was overwhelmingly clear that she deserved to die.

"Ah, Snow White. How may I help you?" Gold limped out from the back of his store. To the blind eye he was nothing more than your average store owner, but they all knew that his store was no normal antique shop. It contained magic to do anything you wanted.

"We need help." Snow began.

With all due respect, Ms. Blanchard, does this look like a face that cares?" Gold quipped as he step-thumped towards them.

"Not here for jokes." James started forward angrily, but Snow held him back. She knew from experience that you didn't want to fight Rumple. You'd just lose.

"Emma's in danger." Graham said, capturing Rumple's interest. The dark one raised his eyebrows.

"Really, dearie?" He said. "And may I ask why?"

They launched into the horrible tale about how Regina had possessed Graham and tried to kill Emma. To his credit, Rumpelstilskin stayed quiet during the whole story, only nodding to himself and murmuring quietly that he'd taught her well, whatever that meant.

"So what you want is for me to kill Regina." Rumple said after they were done. "Can't help you, sorry."

"Why?" Snow demanded.

"Because I made a promise to someone that I wouldn't. Sorry." He said, not sounding very sorry at all.

"But we can't just let Regina kill Emma." Graham argued. "Can you give us any magic or anything?"

"Magic's not for sale." Rumple replied.

"But we need to do something." Graham approached him. "Please."

One look at Graham's puppy dog expression and it was overwhelmingly clear that he was desperate.

"You love her." Rumple realized. Graham just shrugged. By now it was common knowledge.

"Well, lucky for you, I happen to have a soft spot for love." He limped back around the counter and started rifling through his things. After a few seconds of searching, he held up a book.

"This is the key to all of your problems. Its how Regina got all of her magic." He explained.

Graham made a grab for the book, but Rumple held it out of reach. "Not so fast, Hunstman. This isn't for sale. Magic's not for sale." He repeated

"B-but…"

"How exactly will that help us then?" James demanded angrily, reaching for his sword.

"Because, Mr. Nolan, this is the key to all of Regina's problems as well." Rumple said, his eyes shining.

"What?"

Rumpelstilskin explained how although he brought magic to Storybrooke, he was the only one with magic. Yes, Regina had had magic in the Enchanted Forest, but here magic was limited so hers was quickly running out.

"Have you seen her recently?" Rumple asked. The three of them shook their heads.

"That's what I thought. It's because she's out of magic. It probably ran out a while ago. If she had it Ms. Swan would be dead right now and you wouldn't be here."

"So what are you saying?" Snow asked. "That Regina needs this book too?"

Rumple nodded. "Exactly. As a matter of fact, she's looking for it right now."

"Are you gonna give it to her?"

Rumple shrugged. "If the price is right…"

James slammed his hand on the counter. "My daughter's life is in jeopardy here and you're just going to sit back and let that happen?"

Rumple leaned in real close until their noses were practically touching. "My dear Prince Charming, if I were you, I wouldn't waste time here arguing with me. I'd go looking for an alternate solution."

"And what alternate solution are you suggesting?" James practically snarled. "If Regina got her hands on that book, we'd all be dead and you know it."

"When it comes to magic, I'm not the only one who has it." Rumple said mysteriously. He looked at his watch. "Looks like it's time to go." With that, he limped into the back, leaving his 3 visitors extremely confused.

~The New Normal~

"What exactly did Gold mean by that?" Snow asked later. They were sitting in a booth in Granny's, trying to discuss their problem without alerting the huge population of people who seemed to be eating there.

"Someone else has magic." Graham recited. "But who?"

They all wracked their brains, but couldn't think of anyone else who had magic. Of course, they hadn't known everyone back in the Enchanted Forest, but there really weren't that many people who had magic.

Just then, someone opened the door, letting in a huge blast of icy wind, causing napkins to fly around the crowded diner. A hat swirled around in the air, landing on their table.

"Hey. You dropped your hat!" Snow stood up and handed the hat back to its owner. Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks.

"Hat…." She murmured to herself. "Hat…" She snapped her fingers. "Hat!"

"Yes. That's a hat." James said slowly. "What's your point?"

"Jefferson! Er, the Mad Hatter! That's who can help us!" Seeing the baffled expressions on James and Graham's face, she explained about the Mad Hatter. They had no idea if he'd help them, but at this point anything was worth a try.