Author's Notes/Warnings/Rantings: Damn this one didn't want to get written. Mostly because I got stuck but then I figured it out with a little shove. I hope you guys like this chapter. It wasn't as gritty as I wanted but there is a bit of language shift between Graham and Emma that will sorta explain itself in chapters to come. I hope that won't be too terribly confusing. Anyways just let me know what you think like always and I will be oh so grateful. As always there is a list of noir terms used at the bottom. I don't think there is any that hasn't been explained before except one but if I missed something just let me know! ~ Bella

Pearl of the Isle

Chapter 6

"Why didn't you tell me you knew Gold?" Regina hissed as she shoved Emma into their now familiar stall at the end of the row in the bathroom of the Black Butterfly. The lock clicked into place like it always did as the brunette whirled around on her.

"I didn't think it was important…" Emma started only to get cut off by the beautiful brunette.

"You didn't think it was important?" She raged, "Then why didn't you tell me when I told you what I thought we should do."

"I didn't intend to use that connection." The blonde sighed, "I told you we didn't know that much about one another."

"Then you'd best explain now gumshoe because I'm losing patience with you."

"Does it really matter doll? I have a past the same as you do and yet we somehow ended up here." Emma leaned back against the wall folding her arms.

"What do you take me for a fool?" Regina narrowed her eyes. "Have you been conspiring with Gold the entire time?"

She studied her for a time before speaking. "Do you really think that's the case doll? What motive would I have? What about Gold for that matter?"

The brunette eyed her critically. "He'd have a lot of motive if he's looking for an excuse to get rid of me and he found it by dangling you in front of me."

"Regina that's insane. You've done nothing but be a doting little twist to him. He's almost as paranoid as you are though so I guess that's why you two got along."

"Is it? You tell me here and now if he's trying to get rid of me and if he's using you to do it." Her coffee colored eyes bore into emerald green ones as the blonde sighed but didn't look away.

"He isn't trying to get rid of you. I never brought up my connection to him because I…" Emma trailed off finally looking away. "I didn't want you to know…well I wanted you to think better of me than just that. I did a lot of things back then, lots of things I'm not proud of."

The brunette didn't say a word. "You do realize I won't trust you anymore?" She finally spoke.

The blonde's eyes met hers studying her. "That's for the best. We need to distance ourselves if we're going to make it out of this together."

Regina narrowed her pretty eyes before turning on her heel and leaving the bathroom quietly. Emma flipped around and slammed her fist into the tiled wall feeling tears well up in her eyes. It was best she had to tell herself repeatedly. It was best if they stayed apart for a bit. Gold couldn't suspect that they were planning this. She only hoped Regina would still be willing to go along with it. She'd seemed to so hurt and vulnerable in that moment. She knew that wasn't a position she liked to be in. Emma sighed drawing her hat down over her face and heading back out into the smoky speakeasy.

"Long time no see Emerald. Good to have you back." The white washed door of the little office where the now owner of the city's best brothel, The Milliner's Cage, conducted his business.

You know the type of place; everyone had seen something like it. The gilded chandeliers and mirrors in every room, the overstuffed velvet fainting couches, the thick Persian rugs in various colors to match the various dolls located within. But these dames weren't your average pro skirts. They did a whole hell of a lot more than that and everyone who was anyone knew they did it at this man's behest. All for that lug with the smarmy smirk and the cane loaded like a damn tommy gun.

The man with a smirk to rival Gold's folded his strong arms across his chest hiding his black vest with the gold buttons from view.

"I didn't think I'd be back Jefferson."

The man laughed a rich throaty sound. "They all say that. So what can I do for you my lady?" He bowed playfully though he never took his eyes off her. He wasn't stupid after all.

"I need your help."

Jefferson arched a brow, "Surely you realize my favors come with almost as high a price as Gold himself." It was a statement of fact not a question.

"If I needed a favor I would've said…as is you owe me you bastard."

Jefferson narrowed his eyes studying her for a moment. "I don't owe you anything Emerald. If you want my help you'd best get a silver tongue in that head of yours." He took a step back heading back into his office before attempting to shut the door in her face.

Never could take an insult, Emma thought wryly.

"What about Paige?" She asked knowing that would stop the man in his tracks. Just as she predicted his head swiveled towards her, facing her with a look of hostility across his handsome face.

"You dare bring her up?"

"If it means your help I will."

"What do you want Emerald? Didn't you do enough damage when you blew outta this joint?" He sounded sad, resigned.

Emma felt bad for causing the look but she'd had no choice. He hadn't given her an opening for anything else and she had to get him to agree. "I haven't begun to do damage yet Jefferson." She offered with a nonchalant shrug.

The man sighed, "Come on in then. We'll talk inside. No sense yammering on where any of the riff raff can hear us." He muttered glancing down the halls, "you know all ears are present when there's information to be gained." He paused, "you were one of my best at it."

Emma arched a blonde brow but didn't say a word just followed the man into the office. It took a great amount of trust for both parties to put their backs to one another and she was glad Jefferson believed she could be trusted in such a capacity now that he knew what she was up to. She guessed he figured it was safe seeing as she needed his help and she'd certainly never asked for it before. The blonde watched as he settled himself behind his marble topped desk with the big leather chair that she'd always hated and gave her a smirk.

"Open for business Emerald. I'm all ears." He steepled his fingers in front of him elbows resting on the desktop.

"How's it going Ems?" Graham asked sliding off the water stained wall outside of her crappy apartment. It was nearly dawn but it appeared as though her partner hadn't been waiting for her that long. Damn the man for figuring out how to read her without actually trying.

"It's going," she replied neutrally, trying to get a feel for the situation at hand.

"You still dizzy with that mobster's dame?" Graham never did beat around the bush. That was part of why she liked him so much.

Emma narrowed her eyes, "That ain't any of your business."

"Ain't it?" Graham asked watching as she slipped past him and dug her key out of her pants pocket.

She sighed when she heard the lock click. "No. It's mine to deal with. You stay clear of it. You always fell in the gray area, no need to get sucked into the black."

"You mean like you?" He sighed, "Dammit Ems you can't tell me to stay away from this when this is taking you into a really dark place. A place you promised me you wouldn't go again."

"And I don't intend to. I escaped it once. Damn near cost me everything but I did it and I'll do it again."

"And bring the hounds of hell down on the both of us." He hissed following her inside. He watched as she pulled her coat and hat off setting both items on the nearby black iron coat rack and followed her through to her small living room but didn't bother sitting down. Instead he strode over to the windows looking down into the streets for a moment before turning around to face her as she spoke. "You ain't involved." Emma pointed out, "you didn't want to be remember?"

"And I still don't want to be but that doesn't mean I'm not concerned for you. This is dangerous Ems. This world, this game you're playing with this vixen. She's going to get you killed and there will be no consequences at all for her when she does."

"She ain't no vixen to start with. She's a good dame with a heart of gold." She snapped as she loosened her tie.

Graham shook his head, "She's trouble; not just for you but for me too."

"She ain't done nothing to you." She pointed out threading her fingers along the black fabric clutched tightly in her hands.

"Yeah but when she gets my best friend killed she'll have done a whole hell of a lot to me."

"I'm not going to die Graham. I'll be okay. I promise. I told that kid I'd find his Mom and I'm going to. We're getting out of here the three of us together."

"And what you're just gonna play happy family? You think that lug Gold is gonna tolerate that? He'll want revenge and if he can't get the two of you he'll go after someone you care about."

"So this is about you. Here I thought you were perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. Or are you so dependent on me to watch your back that you can't function without me?"

"This ain't about me. You know it's not. It's about you making the right decision without letting your emotions cloud your judgment."

"I ain't got no emotions attached to this case Graham. I'm okay. I'm clear headed and I got my eyes peeled for anything. You know paranoia in this pays off and I got plenty of that to go around."

The man chewed his bottom lip studying her as she played with the black tie in her hands. "You are dizzy with that dame." He smiled looking, "I never thought I'd see the day that you would be so completely taken with a doll."

Her green eyes narrowed as she watched him. "I want her. I won't deny that for a second."

"Then you'd best make sure you approach this properly so both of you don't end up in the bottom of the Hudson."

"We're being careful…"

"Not careful enough. I saw her come here and I don't think I was the only one."

Emma frowned, "Why do you say that?"

"There were two lugs following her, they high tailed it when they saw me but they were close by."

"Did you get a good look at 'em?"

"Good enough but you got reckless by letting her come here."

"I didn't know she was coming…"

"That don't matter. It matters what they think they saw and as paranoid as Gold is he likely knows you coming back had something to do with his twist. So you'd best keep your distance from her."

"We are. We're staying away from each other for the time being."

Graham nodded, "Okay. Look I don't like this but I want you to be happy. If she makes you happy…"
"She does."

"Then I'm happy for you." He finished. "But I wish you could find a less complicated situation to pick her up in."

Emma grinned and nodded, "Yeah well I wouldn't be me if I didn't pick the broad with the history."

He laughed and nodded, "That's very true. Be careful Ems."

She studied him in the neon lighting flooding into the tiny living room with its threadbare carpet and second hand furniture would be gone shortly as the sun was beginning to trek its way across the sky. She nodded, "I will." She promised.

Pro skirt - professional prostitute