What started out as an honest conversation with Killian had now degenerated to some awful plot and dialogue from daytime soaps. No matter how she tried to explain, he kept arguing that it was the darkness talking, not her. That she'd said she loved him, and he loved her. She'd explained that she was scared, that she cared about him, but she didn't want him, not in that way.

Now, she'd had enough, and whether darkness or sheer exasperation, she spun on him. "Killian, you wore me down with your constant pleas and attention. You guilted me with the whole 'gave up your boat —'"

"She's a ship, luv."

With a wave of her hand she took his voice. "I tried to be honest and gentle, but no. You want to believe your version of everything." With another wave, Killian was frozen in place. "Be right back."

One thought and she was in Regina's study. Regina looked up from whatever book she was flipping through. "Being the Dark One does not mean that basic civility goes out the window. I expect you to use the door. And knock."

"Uh, yeah. Sorry, but it is an emergency."

Regina sprang from the chair, "Henry?"

For a moment the chair teetered on the rear legs before thudding back down. "No, not that sort of emergency."

Regina frowned. "Then what has you disturbing me at this hour?"

Emma knew why Regina was being distant, but now wasn't the time to get into it. "I need your help. Bring the dagger and meet me on the deck of the Jolly Roger."

Regina crossed her arms. Emma said, "I'm sorry, I'm not sure how else to convince him." With that she let her magic envelop her, trusting that Regina would follow.

On the deck, she contemplated Killian. Her skin heated and there was a brief desire to punch him. "Why didn't I have the strength to say no?"

She sensed Regina the instant before she heard that silken voice. "Perhaps it was that overabundance of goodness. Or maybe you felt bad that he felt more strongly than you. Maybe you were tired of expecting more and settled, or perhaps you felt you needed to grasp at being loved, even if you didn't return that love?"

Emma spun, smile creeping across her face. "Are we psychoanalyzing me, or you?"

"Does it matter?"

Emma snapped her fingers and Regina was in her arms. Emma kissed her. Regina returned it. When Emma pulled her lips away, Regina let out a soft hum.

Emma smiled. "If we weren't talking about me alone, then I'd say it's progress."

Regina stepped away. "Yes, I suppose it is."

Emma waved her hand and Killian stumbled forward. "What the bloody hell, Swan?" Killian yelled. "You kiss her and that is supposed to convince me you aren't dark? Or is this some twisted invite to join you in some…" He paused his look raking up and down her, then Regina. "I'm a changed man. Not even tempted."

Emma stared for a moment. "Ok, two lies there — who wouldn't be tempted?" she asked looking back at Regina. "And changed? Please. You've changed your clothes, and barely at that."

Hook opened his mouth but she held up her hand. "Regina, please use the dagger. He won't believe I'm telling the truth."

"Did you have a list of questions, or are we off-script here?"

"You were the Evil Queen, don't tell me you never interrogated prisoners or stray fairies or my mother?"

"Of course I did, but interrogations don't regularly delve into personal feelings for pirates."

Emma ran her fingers through her hair. "Fine, ask me how I feel about Killian."

"Before or after you were elevated to darkness? Or should that be descended?"

Emma whirled on Regina. "For fuck's sake, Regina. I know you're the last person who wants to be involved in this conversation, but you don't have to complicate it."

A half grin appeared on her face and Regina looked at Hook. "I'd say there is one person who wants to be involved in this less than I do."

"Right, so let's get this over with," Emma said.

"Fine. Dark One," Regina said in a tone Emma could only describe as mocking. "I command you to tell the handless wonder how you felt about him before you became the Dark One."

Emma felt the word bubble up unbidden but she could not contain it. "Ambivalent."

Killian's mouth gaped and she continued, "I mean, bad boys always have a certain appeal, but really I wasn't all that into you." Fuck, she sounded like some teenager."

But even that had Hook smirking. "Ambivalent. So I was growing on you? You found me attractive?"

She looked to Regina, who rolled her eyes. "Dark One, I command you to answer his questions with unvarnished honesty."

"No. And the chest hair… eww."

"But you said you loved me," he said, pointing as if it were something one could point to.

"I didn't know if you'd help if I needed saving if you didn't think I loved you."

Hook scoffed, looked indignant. "Why would you think that?"

"You helped Gold capture the fairies," she began ticking off her points on her fingers. "You used me, you're aren't trustworthy? You made a deal with the Dark One for a hand. I mean, the hook was never as much of a turn-off as the chest hair and bad wardrobe."

Killian scratched his head with the side of said hook. "The hand deal was a mistake. I thought I'd need it to keep you… you know, satisfied. But we both know that's not the case, is it?"

Did he have to go there? She tried to fight the words but couldn't. "Hmm, well sometimes I faked it. Your whole theory about losing a hand was like loosing a sense, and your other hand made up for it? Not so much. I have no idea what you thought you were doing down there, but I've had gyno exams that were more —"

"Stop Dark One" Regina shouted. "Even at my most evil, I'd have left the man some dignity."

Emma frowned. "You commanded the unvarnished truth."

She turned back to Killian - trying to salvage the moment, but he'd refused to listen, hadn't he? He brought this on himself. Hook stood, running his hand up and down his hook. When he looked up his jaw was set. "You were a terrible Savior. You couldn't save me from temptations because you didn't love me. And what kind of woman is always trying to control things in the bedchamber? That's not natural," he yelled as he stomped around the deck.

Regina muttered, "What kind of woman, indeed, Ms. Swan." It wasn't a question, and sounded far to sexy for the ridiculous moment.

"Now, if you'd kindly take your dark-self off my ship, I'll be finding a way out of this town with its constant villains vying for attention and stupid incomprehensible 'technological advancements' and daytime TV drama. I'm going back to the sea, a mistress whose caresses are always gentle," he finished with a stabbing gesture with his hook.

"Fine. Let me give you a head start," she yelled back. With nothing more than a thought and a wave of her hand she and Regina were on the pier and Hook's ship was no where in sight. "And your stupid 'caress' metaphor is just dumb," she screamed into the darkness. "The ocean's caress is far from gentle during storms and hurricanes and typhoons, and monsoons, and tsunamis —whatever other fucking weather shit happens out there. So you're stupid." He'd had some nerve trying to make out like he'd been doing her a favor. "And they should call you Captain half-mast."

From behind her, she heard Regina snort — an indignant sound from the former queen. She spun, sparks rippling from her finger-tips. "What?" Emma snarled.

Regina laughed. "Besides that degenerating into a pair of pre-teens yelling at each other?"

Emma huffed out a long breath and chuckled. "Yeah, that was…" The sentence died on her lips when she saw Regina studying her, or maybe sizing her up was a better term. "Look, I'm sorry you had to witness that."

Regina stepped closer, licked her lip and gave a smile that made Emma's insides melt to right between her legs. "Oh, no, thank you. Some memorable moments: 'Controlling in the bedroom… none to gentle caresses…"

Emma felt herself flush. It was supposed to be her making Regina squirm, not the other way around. "I wasn't controlling, just trying to direct things to my advantage."

Regina chuckled and stepped away. "Hmm, it sounds like you weren't all that successful."

"Yeah, well, at least I did what I needed to do. Remains to be seen if you have the stomach to do what you should. Your move."

The smile disappeared from Regina's face. "Goodnight, Miss Swan." She flung her hand up and disappeared into the swirl of purple smoke.

Emma spun towards the open water, shoving her hands forward. A wall of water formed and headed in the direction she'd transported the Jolly Roger. "Gentle my ass."

Emma sat at the station, bored out of her mind. She was attempting to give Regina space and time to dump the indecisive REI poster-boy, but the fact was, she could think of nothing but Regina's lips and tongue, her hand at her throat, and that voice.

In an effort to find something to distract herself with, she'd shown up at the station. Dumb, considering that she should have guessed her father would be on duty and her mother would be there, frantic with planning. The moment she rounded the corner, Snow ran to her and hugged her, then demanded to know what "she did to Killian."

She'd explained, and explained again and again, until she found herself wanting to set something on fire. The one thing that kept her from igniting her brother's stroller — sans Neil of course — was she knew it would convince Snow only that she'd become dark. It was Charming who got her mother to back off and he took Neil and Snow home on the condition that Emma take his shift and come for dinner.

The thought of food had her half-way out the door when the emergency line rang. Although tempted to ignore it, she picked it up. "Sheriff Swan, what's the emergency?"

"Oh," the voice on the line said. "I thought you were the Dark One. Did I get the gossip wrong?"

Emma rolled her eyes at Granny. "I did absorb a gigantic swirling cloud of dark forces, but the only dark thing I've done is toss out some paperwork from before Neverland. Figured no one would notice. Does that count?"

"It will if Madam Mayor finds out."

Emma was about to ask how that was possible, but Granny continued. "If you haven't gone dark, then perhaps you could do something about that nuisance Will Scarlet. He is being suspicious— casing a couple of stores."

"I can't pick him up for that."

"Would you prefer to wait until he breaks into another store?"

Emma shook her head, unsure why she ever bothered arguing with Granny. "Fine, I'm on my way. Where did you last see him?"

"Midas' Jewelry. I don't think he's planning to buy Belle anything. Even he knows it's rude to bring a girl presents when her husband is in a magical coma."

"Debatable, but I'm on my way." She grabbed her key's, then laughed. With nothing more than a thought, she found herself in the back alley where the rear storeroom entrance to Midas' shop. Sure enough, Will was bent down, picking the lock. "Bloody-hell," he muttered.

He pulled out his picks and before he could make another attempt, she waved her hand and the door swung open. "It's all about the tumblers."

Will spun, eyes wide. He straightened up and pulled down on his jacket. "That's cheating. And it isn't what it looks like." He paused and eyes scanned her. "Unless the rumors are true and you're now less snow white and more trodden white. No offense to your mum."

"Midas'? Mostly gold plated costume jewelry. You should set your standards higher."

"Hmm, you don't say. So, he's more of con than Hook?"

Emma chuckled at his attempt to get a dig in. "Perhaps you should cut down on the drink and keep up with the recent changes."

Will gave a wry smile. "Well then, good on you. He's a scoundrel, that one. Your skills and mine, combined. We'd make a fine team."

He saw her scowl and rushed into the silence. "Strictly professional level."

"I'm beginning to question your so called skills. So far, every joint you've hit is easy pickings. Pun fully intended," she said as he rolled his eyes.

"Did you have something in mind as a test of my skills?"

Emma nodded. "Storybrooke Savings and Loan."

"Besides the fact that I'm a thief, not a robber like Lord Locksley — confronting people and demanding things is not my style — I've checked the place out and it is all alarms and cameras. Didn't have those in the Enchanted Forest."

Emma grabbed him by the hand and transported them into room with the vault. "It's Saturday and the bank isn't open. I've turned off the alarms and the cameras. Stop making excuses and get on it."

Will moved to the large dials on the safe and made a show of flexing his fingers. He placed his ear against the metal and turned the first dial. No more than a turn in he pulled away and said. "Considering I've not attempted this particular variation, it may take me more than one try. I'd appreciate your not turning me into some rodent or another."

Emma laughed. "I won't have to. On the third failure, the room will be filled with poison gas."

A thin sheen of sweat formed on his brown. "Bugger all. What sort of bank would do that. Rumplestiltskin design this place? He loved traps."

Emma shrugged. "Get cracking."

Will frowned. "Aren't you the funny one now."

He turned back to the safe and began working the dials. He stopped the second dial and stepped back, reaching tentatively for the handle. He pulled downward and nothing happened.

"That's one."

Will waved his hands and spun the dials. "That air thingee is making too much noise. Can't hear the tumblers proper."

Waving her hand, the air-conditioner shut down. "Any more excuses?"

He ignored her and went back to the tumblers. Once again, he finished and stood, only to be disappointed when the handle wouldn't budge. "Now, supposing that I somehow fail this test, you won't leave me here to die?"

"Well, you are a bit rude."

He pulled a flask from his jacket. "Well, you won't mind then if I steady my hands." Without waiting for a reply he drank, emptying the flask. "Alright, third's the charm," he said, flexing his fingers.

I moment later he grasped the handle and closed his eyes. Emma realigned both combinations so when he pulled down on the handle, it depressed and a heavy clanking of bars sliding into place filled the quiet chamber. Will was frozen in place, hands on the level. One eye shot open. Then he released a long breath. Recovering from his shock, he stepped back, pulling the massive door open. "Passed with flying colors. Now, Dark One. Did you have a particular target in mind?"

Emma entered the vault. She closed her eyes and concentrated. The image of a necklace, dark metal settings with red stones popped into her head. "Safe deposit boxes. 1297."

Will shrugged and found the box, making quick work of the lock. He opened the box, shuffled through the papers until he pulled out the large black velvet box. Opening it, he gave a low whistle.

She snapped her fingers and the box was in her hand. In her other, she was dangling her cuff. "And you, Will Scarlet, are under arrest."

Will's shoulders slumped. "Aww, that was unfair. You set me up."

"No, I let you screw yourself over. I have no clue why everyone seems to think that I'd turn into Rumple the moment I sucked up the darkness, but hey, you want to use that as your excuse for your criminal activity, feel free. I'm sure that will sound plausible in court: 'Your honor, the Dark One made me do it.' 'How? Did she threaten you? Take your heart and order you to?' 'Well, no, but —"

"You'd be surprised how convincing I am."

"Hmm, pretty sure that if you try that defense in Federal Court in Bangor, you'll get locked in the looney bin."

"Outside Storybrooke? You wouldn't risk it."

Emma raised her eyebrows.

"And if you wanted this fancy bauble, why have me?"

Emma laughed. "That is evidence, I don't want it."

Will smiled, then made a break for the door. Emma let him. She watched him leap over the teller's counter and sprint for the door. She transported herself to the space between him and the door. He skidded to a halt, almost falling over.

She saw his leg twitch and she said, "Don't. We can do this all day. Turn around and put your hands behind your head."

"Fine, but that was unfair."

"I caught you breaking into Midas' shop. I decided to see if you were stupid enough to up your charges."

He remained silent as she cuffed him, removed his tools, and his empty flask. As she walked him out the bank, she saw Grumpy walking towards her. By the off rhythm gait, she guessed he was already drunk.

Spotting her, Grumpy yelled, "Hey, Dark One. What are doing with him. They'll be no dark sacrifices made today."

"I'm taking him to jail, you twit."

He looked confused for a moment, then eyed her suspiciously. "You're the Dark One. That means you're up to no good, sister."

"No, and if you don't take your drunk short ass somewhere else, I'm taking you in as well."

"I'm not afraid of you. I've taken on the Evil Queen and lived."

Emma started laughing and couldn't stop. When she caught her breath, she looked at Will. "How'd you like an opportunity to have a few of those charges dropped?"

Will looked at her, eyebrow raised. "You can't blame me for being a bit skeptical."

Emma chuckled. "Fair enough. You have to beat Grumpy here to the corner."

"Uh-huh. What's the catch?"

"No catch. I'll give you a head start." Waving her hand, his cuffs disappeared, as she reached for a startled Leroy. Will bolted and she grabbed Grumpy's shirt collar and belt. She lifted and, using magic, threw Grumpy in the direction Will was running. Grumpy sailed past Will and rolled partway into the intersection. Will slowed, looked at the dwarf struggling to rise. After a brief hesitation, he turned, running straight into Charming.

Her father snagged Will by his jacket and lifted him off the pavement. "Emma, what are you doing?"

"Dwarf tossing."

When he looked at her in utter confusion, she said, "It's a thing. Lord of the Rings? Does anyone here watch movies or read a book?"

Charming scratched his head. "I'm not sure that Leroy enjoyed that as much as you," he said pointing to the dwarf who was sitting in the road, picking debris from his beard.

Emma stared at the scene before her. She really had been bored. "He's drunk again. Probably won't remember. But I was bringing him and sticky-fingers Scarlet to jail. But, why don't you take care of them." She waved her hands and both were in cuffs. "I've something else important to take care of."

Without waiting for a reply, she transported herself to Regina's office. Regina was on her couch, head hanging down, shaking it slowly to the left then the right. Robin was standing. "Regina," he whined. "I need more time. It is complicated. I want to do right."

"I'd say you've had plenty of time, and chose wrong time and time again."

Regina's head flew up and for a brief second, Emma swore Regina smiled.