Author's Notes/Warnings/Rantings: Sorry this took so long to get up guys. It's been written for a few days but I haven't had time to edit it and all that. Sorry about that. Uh as always reviews make me work faster and yeah I hope you enjoy. As always there is a translation of the words used at the bottom. I'm not including ones that I've all ready given a definition to. They're in previous chapters if you need them. I hope you guys enjoy this latest installment. ~Bella

Pearl of the Isle

Chapter 5

The heat wave finally broke after four weeks of Emma's hanging around the Black Butterfly. Four weeks that she'd told her little client that she'd had no luck finding his Mom but was hopeful it would be soon. She'd told him out of sheer guilt that she wouldn't take any more of his money, but would do the case pro bono until she tracked her down and then he could pay her what he thought it was worth. She couldn't take advantage of the little hick. She wasn't that damn lug Gold.

Emma was stuck inside her little one bedroom apartment studying the neon next door and wondering just how many of the cars next door were actually bent. The rain poured down on the sidewalk, bringing with it welcome relief but the heat could still be felt seeping outta the concrete finally leaving the underbelly to its wretched ways without wondering just who would outlast it. It was a tossup for some Emma knew, go for the big sleep with the heat or get bumped off by the torpedoes. She continued to stare out the window studying the sheets of rain as it fell from the heavens and wondered if it was God's way of trying to wash the blood away from the underbelly of this city.

She continued to watch as the boozehounds began to stumble out of the bar next door last call sending 'em running like rats on a sinking ship. Even in her fourth floor walkup she could hear the cursing coming from them as they made their way out into the humidity with its monsoon like weather and down the sidewalk. She smirked enjoying the simple a thing like that was something she hadn't done in a while. Turning as a knock sounded on her door she wondered who would be coming by her place this time of night.

She walked quietly across the apartment floor avoiding the squeaking floorboards out of habit and went to the thin wooden door peering out into the hallway through the peephole. She wasn't stupid enough to open her door up to someone she may not know. She'd known a few people that got bumped that way. She wouldn't join their ranks in hell. Satisfied by what she saw she pulled the thick cheap gold chain and the bolts on the two locks and pulled open the door. It squeaked on its hinges. No one would've realized she had left it that way on purpose. It was another habit from the old days.

"What are you doing here doll?" Emma asked studying the soaked figure in front of her.

Brown eyes met hers and the beauty stepped forward as Emma moved back. "I'm soaked to the bone wearing nothing but this little coat and you don't even invite me in?"

Emma shook her head, "You sure it's a good idea to be here?"

"He's busy for the night. Got some big meeting why do you think I snuck out in this?"

"Yeah that outfit isn't exactly meant for outside." Emma smirked. "Come inside Gina."

Regina smiled stepping inside and shrugging off the little thin black jacket she'd worn. She hung it up on the black coat rack by the door feeling the water sliding down her legs beginning to finally evaporate though she was certain her hair looked like a dark football helmet plastered to her head as it was. Her sandal high heels were all but ruined from running in the rain over to the apartment as well. They were the only thing that wouldn't be able to be salvaged.

"You weren't kidding Gina. You weren't wearing anything." Her eyes were wide as she took in the next to nothing piece of silk cocooning Regina's beautiful body.

"I told you." She smiled as she watched the other woman's eyes sliding over her mostly unclothed body. She stepped forward feeling the water dripping down her shorn locks and onto her mostly bare back.

"You came all the way here dressed like this?" The blonde watched as the brunette stalked forward, allowed herself to be pushed back towards the messy little bedroom and fell into the equally mussed full sized bed while the beauty in the soaked silk climbed on top of her. Emma didn't have the nice things Gold had she was sure. Her little apartment was barely furnished. Only the essentials; she hadn't had any desire to take anything from her old life with her.

Hands latched on to thin silk clad hips and the brunette smiled down at her. "I never thought I'd get a chance to do this."

Regina frowned, "Why do you say that?"

Emma paused sliding her hands up and down as Regina's amber eyes stared down at her. "Well I just thought…" She trailed off looking down refusing to meet her eyes.

"You thought I was just playing with you until I went back to Gold?"

The blonde set her jaw grinding her teeth before she gave a sharp nod. A sigh sounded from above her and she looked over watching as the brunette slid away from her and fell down onto the messy bed.

"I came here because I wanted a night with you not him."

"Why? He can give you everything I can't." Emma rolled onto her side studying the other woman's pretty profile in the neon lights reflecting through her windows and giving the room and eerie pink, blue, and purple glow.

"No he can't, "she countered. "He gives me what he thinks will keep me pliant. I'm just a pretty arm trophy to him nothing more."

"Do you ever think of running away?"

"All the time," suddenly brown met green and in the light Emma could swear she saw the reflection of only her for just that brief moment before the eyes were gone and she was left feeling cold.

"Why don't you?"

"Where would I go? Until you I had no one, no friends of my own nothing. Everything I had Gold provided for me. He won't let me go without a fight you know."

Pink lips parted to speak before a red nailed finger stops them. "I have a plan. It's dangerous but it means we can be together forever if that's what you want." She continued.

Emma stared at her shocked at her words before a small smile graced her lips. "We hardly know each other Regina if we're honest with one another. We've been carrying on like this for weeks and we barely know the first thing about the other."

"I know this seems crazy but what choice do we have? We have to get away if we ever want to be together." Her eyes were sparkling as she begged the blonde to agree.

"Do you want to be with me?" Green sought out amber in the reflected colored lights.

"More than anything," was the unhesitating response.

"I want to be with you too doll. So tell me what is this plan of yours?"

Regina's smile lit up the whole room as she sat up and started to talk.

The Black Butterfly was even more crowded if that were possible that night as Emma stepped into the speakeasy. It seemed with the breaking of the heat wave and the monsoon now pressing down on them people had decided to live it up and a little. She made her way over to the bar after stashing her rain jacket with the coat check. Her usual chair was no longer available some pretty red-haired dame with a nice set of getaway sticks had taken up residence there. She dipped her hat to her giving her a smile as she ordered a tiger's milk from the unfamiliar bartender. Briefly she wondered where James went but then figured perhaps it was his night off.

She grabbed her drink making her way to one of the tables scattered throughout the place settling down at an empty one and taking her hat off. Ashley Boyd was back tonight and Emma wondered if her pipes were what was also bringing in the crowd. Everyone who heard the canary wanted to hear her again. Emma took a sip of her drink glancing around before turning back to the stage and the beauty there. Ashley was a pretty piece of tail she would freely admit that. Pretty face and a voice like a damn siren. Bad combination for anyone to fall for; she'd rob you blind Emma was sure of that. She didn't end up married to Sean Boyd by accident after all. Their history was just as clouded in bloodshed as hers was and she was sure given the chance they'd give her a run for her money on the skeletons hanging around in their closet.

She sighed lifting the tumbler to her lips and taking a sip enjoying the way the white liquor burned a path down her throat and filled her belly. She set it down with a soft click and glanced back over her shoulder. Gold and his entourage had just arrived and hanging on his arm like the good little twist he thought she was, was her dame. Emma knew it was dangerous laying claim to a looker like that especially when she belonged to the main mobster of the city but she couldn't help it. Graham had warned her never get dizzy with a dame.

She watched with hungry eyes as her dame moved with such grace through the club. Tonight she was wearing black, a color the blonde wasn't sure she liked her in but with her ever present necklace she made it look classy. The straps of the gown tied up around her long neck, the back non-existent. The back of the dress started again at the swell of her plump bottom. Emma felt her mouth water at seeing so much skin exposed to her hungry eyes again. She'd gotten a taste of that poison and she wasn't sure she wanted the antidote for it.

Regina was hanging onto Gold's arm smiling when the gangster looked her way but looking bored when he wasn't. It was a dangerous game she played. The mob boss wouldn't want his best girlie paying attention while he was conducting business but he expected her to be in the here and now with him when he was doing other things.

The blonde waited patiently until they were settled and things looked to be going well. Gold had a smirk on his face his ever present cane that Emma remembered well rested next to him in the round booth they sat in. Gold had a bit of limp but the blonde wasn't sure that wasn't all for show. He'd been known to lie and cheat to get what he wanted in the end. How he'd stayed out of the can was beyond her what with the baumes rush and all that. She wondered if he had a few senators in his pocket as well.

She slid to her feet putting her hat on and slowly making her way towards the table as she buttoned the black suit jacket she wore. She'd figured black with a simple white undershirt would be best. With her ever present fedora and her hair pinned back she looked as dangerous as anyone else in the club did but it was her aura that told people not to screw with her. They kept their distance from her. She was satisfied with that.

The laughter and soft voices continued as she approached stopping when two rather large men in three piece black suits stepped in her path. "I need to speak to Gold." She spoke clearly letting her voice carry a bit.

"Boss is busy. If he wants to see you he'll let us know." One of the big lugs spoke holding out his hand to stop her from trying to go past. As if she was stupid enough to try and get by the two walls that were referred to as men.

"Will you let him know Emma Swan came by?" She asked knowing her name would be recognized.

"Emma Swan? Is that you?" Gold's lilting voice reached her ears. Immediately the two large men stepped out of her way allowing her to make her way to the table. The shine from the table hurt her eyes a bit but she still managed to look across it and meet Gold's eyes.

"It is sir. How've you been?"

Gold smirked his gold capped front teeth showing as he watched her stop right before the table and remove her hat as he considered proper. Since she'd left his employ he'd been afraid she'd forget her manners. Obviously that wasn't the case.

"Well. And yourself," he asked never motioning for her to move into the booth. He was still paranoid as ever she noticed. He wouldn't have gotten where he was, she supposed, if he wasn't. He folded his hands on the table and leaned forward watching her watch him, showing no emotion whatsoever on his face.

"As well as can be expected sir. It's good to see you. I wanted to come and speak to you since it's been a while."

"You left my employ rather post haste." He pointed out with a slight motion of his hand. Gold always did talk with his hands when he was sitting. It was a quirk that made people think him slow. Little did they know what the bastard was truly capable of.

"There were a lot of things going on back then sir." Emma offered dipping her head. She knew he would know what she was referring to.

"Indeed there was." Gold gave her another smarmy smirk. "I heard you were working as gumshoe now a days not calling copper are you?"

"If I was sir you'd be doing a bit upstate right now." A collective gasp came from the table as Emma met Gold's dark eyes head on. She could feel the weight of their gazes some with pity and wonder, one in particular with fear. She ignored it keeping her eyes solely on the man in front of her.

Everyone waited on baited breath to see what sort of punishment the blonde would get before Gold started to laugh. "Always did have a smart mouth on you kid. That's why I always liked you. Welcome home."

Emma smiled as he motioned her into the booth. "Good to be back sir."

Boozehounds - heavy drinkers

Can - Prison

Baumes Rush- refers to a law that states with three criminal offenses a person was sent to jail automatically for life.