Hey guys! So, dissertation written and handed in! Woot woot!

Sorry for such a long wait for this next part, but here you go. :) Should be able to get back into writing now which is awesome.

Enjoy x

"Hey, Regina, wait up," Emma called up as she hurried after the other woman.

The Mayor however kept walking as if she hadn't heard her. The blonde just rolled her eyes and quickened her pace. It never ceased to amaze her how quickly her partner managed to walk in those ridiculously high shoes of hers.

Wait ... partner? Emma halted in her tracks. Since when did she think of Regina as her partner? Sure they had been seeing each other for two months, and yes she really, really liked the woman. But partner? It seemed so long-term ...

Deciding she didn't want to be having those types of thoughts right this second, she shook her head and continued after the brunette, who had managed in that short space of time, to walk half way down the street.

"Regina!" Emma called again, now practically jogging to close the gap between them.

Suddenly the brunette stopped and Emma had to catch herself from bowling into her.

"Finally," the blonde said. "Now, Regina – "

"It's closed," Regina said, cutting Emma off.

"What?" the blonde asked, crumpling her brow.

"Gold's shop," the Mayor huffed, "it's closed."

She pointed at the 'CLOSED' sign in the window of the door.

"Oh," Emma said. "Shall we just wait?"

"He could be all day for all we know," Regina replied, shaking her head slightly.

"Or he could have just gone out with Belle for lunch," the Sheriff returned. "How about we just wait a few minutes and see? Besides what else are we going to do?"

"I suppose so," the brunette agreed, after a moment of contemplation. "But only a few minutes, okay? Then we will have to find some other way of finding out what's going on and come back later. Or, heaven forbid, you could actually do some work?"

Emma looked the other woman in the eye, challenging her, but she could immediately see the smirk playing behind those chocolate orbs.

"Fine," she said, smiling. "And until then, I do believe you owe me some answers Mayor Mills."

"Oh I doubt it Sheriff Swan," Regina countered, the smirk now evident on her lips. "Do you not remember what happened the last time you tried to ask me questions?"

"I do remember," Emma nodded, "but do you really want to put a spell on me?"

"No," the brunette replied immediately, and so forcefully that it took both of them by surprise. "I hate using magic on you. I care about you too much."

They were both trying to take in what Regina had just said. Emma looked at the other woman and could see the tension starting to take over her frame, she clearly was not very happy at having to admit something like that.

"So," Emma said, light heartedly, "what's your favourite movie?"

The Mayor gave an exasperated sigh at the blonde woman, but they both knew that she appreciated the reprieve.

"Not exactly the question I would ask under the circumstances, but definitely interesting all the same," came a voice from behind them.

Being so involved in their own conversation, they hadn't heard the pawnbroker-slash-evil-imp walking up to where they stood. Regina rolled her eyes at him, barely suppressing a shiver and definitely not holding back her grimace at the man's presence.

"Gold," Emma nodded in greeting.

"Sheriff," he replied, also with a nod. He then turned his attention to the Mayor and they stood in silence, waiting expectantly for her answer to Emma's question. Regina was trying desperately to hold it in, even biting her lips together in her attempt.

Finally, she resigned to the fact that it was going to have to come out and rolled her eyes.

"Dirty Dancing," she muttered as quietly as she could. Both her audience members heard her however. Emma let out a laugh and even Gold managed a surprised smirk.

"Now that I was not expecting, Your Majesty," he snickered, "very interesting."

"Oh shut up, the pair of you," Regina huffed. "Now can we go inside?"

Once again she pointed to the locked door, then turned to look expectantly at the still grinning pair.

"Very well Your Majesty," Gold said and limped forward to unlock the door. "Shall we?"

The three filed into the shop which, despite its size and being filled with homely items, never managed to feel cosy.

"Now," Gold started as he manoeuvred himself around to the other side of the counter, "what is it I can do for you ladies today?"

"Cut the crap Gold," Emma said, "you know very well why we're here. We need to know what is causing everyone in the town to speak the truth and how to stop it."

"I do know why you're here, I just think it sounds like I'm in control when I have to get you to say it. It also tends to annoy you." The man behind the counter frowned at the fact that he'd let on so much, to which Regina just smirked.

"I see even the Dark One isn't immune," she said, her pleasure at his discomfort clearly evident on her face.

"Yes," Gold commented through gritted teeth.

"Listen Gold," Emma stop up again, "as much I would love to take advantage of this opportunity and find out all of your dirty little secrets, and trust me I really would love to, we can't. We have to figure out what is going on and put an end to it before anything really serious happens."

"But –" Regina started but she was quickly cut off by the blonde.

"No," she said, turning her head slightly to look at the other woman. She had to try extremely hard not to chuckle at how cute the brunette looked with a pout firmly planted on her face. She gave her a brief smile and turned her attention back to Gold.

"What can you tell us about what is going on?" the Sheriff asked.

"Unfortunately dearie," the pawnbroker answered, "I can't really tell you anything that I imagine you don't know. All I know is that it would cost a tremendous amount of magical energy to create such a spell and that it was not created by dark magic."

"What do you mean it wasn't dark magic? Why would someone with light magic wish to do something so chaotic?" Regina asked, frowning in confusion.

"I don't know dearie," Gold continued, "but seeing as the only sources of light magic powerful enough to pull something like this off are the Fairies and our esteemed saviour here, not me, I suggest you turn your investigation elsewhere."

"I suppose," Regina replied, Emma humming in agreement beside her.

"I don't suppose there is anything else you could tell us that might be helpful?" Emma asked the man.

"Only that, like with every spell, there is one sure way to break it," he said.

"What?" the blonde asked.

"True Love's Kiss of course," Gold smirked.

"Gee, thanks Gold," Emma said.

The two women rolled their eyes and left the shop.

"So," Emma said once they were outside, "I guess that means we're heading up to the convent to see the fairies?"

"Yes," Regina sighed. "Unfortunately."

Together they turned and started making their way towards the church, both stuck in their own thoughts, wondering about the situation they were in and how they were going to solve it.

There you go. :) As I said at the top, hopefully can get back into writing now that my dissertation's out of the way (still have exams to go but meh :p )

Reviews very much appreciated.

Next stop: Regina and the Fairies! Should be interesting!