Chapter 5

"What do you mean she is gone?" Regina asked.

"We went to check on her this morning and she was gone."

"When did she leave?" Emma asked.

"We don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? How can you not know? What kind of establishment are you running here, Blue?" Regina questioned with every ounce of venom and anger she could.

"Easy, Regina," Emma warned.

"How do you lose a grown but injured woman?" Regina asked.

"Regina, calm down. I'll find her. It's what I do, remember?"

"Find her, Emma." Regina pleaded, breaking a little.

Emma turned to the Mayor unprepared for the pain in her voice. She stared into Regina's dark brown eyes and her heart sank. She knew why Regina was concerned. She wasn't prepared for the flashes of emotion from her. She could handle cold and calculating Regina, but this Regina was new to her. She had only seen her in Neverland briefly. Emma knew that she wanted to help, but she also knew that missing persons cases were nasty and a bitch.

"Now, Blue, Tink, when was the last time someone saw her?" Emma asked the two fairies.

"I checked on her before I went to bed. I think that was around midnight. I was enjoying the night air, so I am not so sure about the time. I know it was late," Tink told them.

"Okay, what about you, Blue?"

"I checked on her before lights out at ten. She was in bed resting. I didn't wake her to see if she needed anything, though. I figured she would just want to rest."

"That is understandable," Emma replied.

Regina was pacing. Emma could see the concern on her face and she understood it. Coraline was missing. She was gone. If she left, she had around a ten hour head start on them. Emma made a mental note to check to see if her car was still outside like it had been yesterday. She was trying to make a mental checklist of things that she needed before Regina actually could declare her missing.

"We should talk with Belle," Emma stated, "Thank you for calling us, ladies. If she does come back, please call me. And, have her call me, too. I have some more questions for her."

Regina just eyed Emma. She couldn't believe that she was being so calm about the entire incident. She glared at her harder, but Emma just smiled at the fairies before grabbing her by the shoulder and leading her out of the convent. Regina seethed. She began to think that Emma didn't care about her daughter, because she was posing as Belle's sister. She wondered what the Sheriff actually thought about Coraline, now that she knew who she really was.

"Don't start that line of thought, Regina," Emma told her feeling Regina's body tensing beneath her hands as she escorted her out.

"What line of thought, Sheriff Swan?"

"I care what happens to her. Just because she might not actually be Belle's little sister, doesn't mean she isn't still my friend. I am worried about her, but I need to keep calm so I can do my job. Unfortunately, these things take time," Emma told her.

"I want to help. She is my daughter and she is hurt. What can I do?" Regina asked, calming slightly.

"Okay, now that you are slightly calmer. I need to ask you some questions. I know that you've only known that she was your daughter for a few days, but I still need the truth. It is the only way that you can help me, right this second."

"I will tell you anything I know," Regina answered.

"I assume that you have talked with her in length about why she is here. It doesn't matter right now, but you have to agree with me, that this might be related. Where would she go? Would she run?" Emma asked her.

"I don't know."

Regina hung her head. She realized that she really didn't know who her daughter was. She wanted to know her. She knew that she already loved her, but that it was an inherent love, not from knowing her. It was similar to the way the she loved Henry, but…different.

"I believe you," Emma told her.

Emma could see the anguish on Regina's face. She hoped that she could save her the pain, but she needed to know everything that she could about Coraline, if she was going to find her. She could understand how she fell about finding out about Coraline. Emma had felt the same way when Henry had shown up on her door step, years ago. She would give her space, but she would push her, knowing that it would help them both deal with the situation. If Regina needed someone to be angry with, Emma would let herself be the target. She could take it and Regina knew it. It was a kindness that the town never could fully understand.

"From what she told you, do you have guess?" Emma asked.

"Not really. I didn't want to push her too hard once I knew she was mine."

"I wish my mother had your tact," Emma stated, quietly.

Regina turned sharply and looked into her green eyes. They were softer than she could remember ever seeing them. Regina may not have understood the sentiment behind the statement, but she saw the emotion and understood it. There had always been a part of her that understood Emma, and now, it was even more frightening and obvious to Regina.

Regina followed her blindly to the cruiser and got in. She watched as Emma's eyes scanned the parking lot. She saw Emma's eyes drop as she smacked the steering wheel, cursing softly under her breath. She was surprised to see Emma turn and look at her. Her green eyes were burning into her soul, and she wasn't sure she liked the feelings that it was making surface inside.

"What?"

"She ran," Emma stated.

"How do you…"

"Her car is gone."

"What?" Regina questioned as she scanned the parking lot, now, too.

"I can put an APB out for it, but it won't do us any good."

"Why not?"

"She hasn't done anything wrong," Emma said, flatly.

"What does that mean?"

"I can't really file for an A.B.P. on her. She isn't wanted. She hasn't broken the law. She is just missing and as much as I know that is hurting you right now, I can't do anything about it for another twenty hours or so," Emma stated softly, trying to lessen the blow.

"I see," Regina replied her pain evident.

Emma drove them back to the station. She would try to see if anything popped up on Coraline's car, but other than that, she couldn't do anything for a while. She knew that she needed to tell Belle that she was missing, too, but she didn't know how. She turned to Regina to try to talk to her, but she was staring out the windows watching the trees pass as they drove.

Emma couldn`t imagine fully what Regina was going through. She ached for the woman, but she also understood where Coraline was coming from by hiding her identity. She could only hope that she was alright. Somewhere inside, Emma wanted to help the young woman find whatever it was that she was searching for. She had a feeling just from their brief encounter, that she was searching for more than a way to stop the curse from her time. She recognized the pain and suffering in Coraline's eyes. She had it herself. She knew that Coraline was an orphan, too. She knew what that meant for her emotionally.

She knew, but she still hoped that since Ruby and Belle were the ones that raised her she wouldn't be so lonely. Emma knew that she was lonely. She saw it in the hollowness of her chocolate brown eyes, eyes that reminded her of her Regina now.

Emma stopped and began to think about that. Coraline had begun to remind her of not only herself but Regina even more, now that she knew. She wondered if Regina had the same thoughts. She was wondering a lot about Regina at the moment. She stopped and thought about that more.

Ever since yesterday, she felt a pull to be nearer Regina. She couldn't explain it, nor did she care to. She knew that they were both broken pasts and maybe that is why they riled each other so easily. But, they had fallen into an easy friendship. Emma had to admit that she cared for the woman. It wasn't just because they shared Henry. There was more to it, but Emma couldn't quite put a name to it, yet.

Regina retreated into herself. She almost lost Henry to Emma and her dark side. Then, her daughter from the future comes to tell her that she died fighting the darkness, so her daughter was alone. She couldn't hide the tears anymore. She tried. She was breaking. She swore to herself that if she ever had children that she wouldn't abandon them. She wouldn't be her mother. She would give them love. But, the venom that Coraline has used against her told that she hadn't kept her promise. And, it hurt.

Emma looked at her. She could see the steady stream of tears. She wanted to stop them.

"We'll find her, Regina. I promise. I'll find her, even I have to leave town to do it," Emma told her, but she couldn't tell if it was to reassure the woman beside her or herself that she could.

"Thank you," Regina replied.

"Regina, I'll find her." Emma stated again, trying to reinforce the idea in Regina's mind.

"I have no doubt in that, Sheriff Swan."

Crap, Emma thought to herself. Regina was breaking down. She was retreating. She was cracking and Emma couldn't stop it. She didn't know who could but Coraline at the moment. She was a desperate woman for her child and her child was missing. Emma could only hope that she found her quickly. She was worried about Regina, but she needed to talk to Belle, now. It wouldn't be fair not to tell Belle that Coraline was missing, not matter how hard the conversation was going to be. She deserved to know and Emma was going to be the one to tell her. She could only hope that Belle took it better than Regina did.

"Will you go with me to Granny's?"

"You're hungry?"

"No, I wanted to tell Belle there. I figured it would be better surrounded by friends. I was going to call Snow and Red and have them meet us there," Emma told her.

"Must we?"

"She thinks the Coraline is her sister. We owe her. If nothing, you owe her for raising your daughter for you. There may be a reason that Coraline came here besides finding the way to defeat the darkness. She made it sound like you and Belle were friends. This might help foster that relationship. Please Regina. I am doing everything that I know how to do to help. You are going to have to do some things that aren't pleasant. I know that you are hurting, but Regina, we need to do this," Emma stated.

Regina nodded in response. She didn't know what else to do. She felt helpless. She knew it was Coraline's secret to tell, but she couldn't help but want everyone to know. She didn't think now was the right time to bring it up and she knew that Emma had the same thought. She turned and studied the blonde.

She could see the weight of the problem in her shoulders. Emma didn't know what to do, either. She had become privy to Coraline's secret and she was going to keep it as long as she could. Her eyes betrayed her worry to Regina and she was grateful for Emma being there. She didn't know that she could have handled the situation if she had been in alone in finding out.

"Regina, I'm sorry," Emma said as they entered the diner.

Ruby looked up from the counter as they took the big booth in the corner. She knitted her eyebrows in question but didn't ask what was wrong. She silently poured a cup of black coffee and got a mug of hot chocolate. She added the whipped cream and cinnamon and then walked over to the table and set the cups down. She backed up and waited. When neither woman spoke, she sniffed them.

"What is going on?" she asked as she could smell the emotions coming off of them.

"Can you call Belle and have her come here?" Emma asked in response.

"Emma…"

"Ruby, just call Belle and ask her to come here," Emma replied with finality.

Ruby was accustomed to Emma being stern with her. She looked at Regina and could see the pain in her guarded eyes. She understood the darkness inside the former Evil Queen. Their friendship had been uneasy, but she held Regina in esteem for everything that she had done not only for Henry and Emma, but for herself and her wolf's side. Ruby just stared at them as she reached into her waitress's apron and grabbed her cell. She made the call and closed the phone.

"Do you want anything else?"

"You need to take a break when Belle gets here, Miss Lucas," Regina told her.

"Right. I'll just let Granny know. I'll be right back," Ruby said leaving them.

"Have you called your mother?" Regina asked.

"Not yet."

"You don't know what to tell her."

"No, I don't. She is going to ask so many questions and I don't have the answers. I don't know what to tell them. I don't know how much of the truth needs to be said."

"I understand."

"Do you?"

"Yes, I do."

"I want to tell them everything."

"Then we tell them."

"You would break Coraline's confidence?"

"Don't you think that they need to know?" Regina asked.

"I meant about her being your…"

"I understand that. I'll call your mother. I don't know that this is going to be easy for anyone. I don't know how much to tell anyone. I…" Regina started. "I just want her back safe."

Emma watched as she dug into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She saw her push a few buttons, which she assumed were speed dial, and then hold the phone to her ear. Emma tried to comfort Regina with her eyes. She didn't know what else to do.

"Snow?...I need you to come to Granny's…I understand that, Miss Blanchard. It is an emergency…No…No…Henry and Emma are fine. I promise. I…Can you just please come?...I know what time of day it is. Find someone to cover your class then. You are needed…I'm giving you ten minutes and then I'm sending Emma to get you…It isn't a request, Snow…I don't care…Just get here…No…Hold on, then," Regina said into the phone before she handed it to Emma and explained, "She doesn't believe that you are okay."

"Hi, Snow…Mom, please just come to Granny's. I understand what time it is. No, don't bring Henry…Leave him in class…I promise that we will explain this all to you when you get here."

Emma closed the phone and handed it back to Regina. She dropped the phone into her purse without much fanfare as Belle came into the diner. She looked at Ruby, who pointed to Emma and Regina. Belle cocked her head in question but understood that she was to sit with them.

Belle crossed the diner. Emma watched as she came over to the table in her royal blue dress. She was happy and Emma was about to crush her world. Suddenly, Emma felt the bile rising in her throat as Belle blocked her into the booth from the other side. She looked at Regina with pleading eyes and Regina let her out. She ran to the bathroom with as much grace as she could, tripping over chairs and tables. It was enough for Belle to question what the impromptu conference was for just as Snow entered the diner.

Snow watched Emma running to bathroom as she came in. She was angry with Regina for calling her out of school, but as soon as she saw a frantic Emma and Belle sitting at the booth, her anger changed to wonder. She couldn't begin to fathom why Regina would call her out of school for a meeting with Emma and Belle if it wasn't really an emergency.

She looked at Ruby, who was heading towards the booth herself with a tray of coffee and a full carafe. Snow took a seat beside Belle as Ruby put the tray on the table. Once the tray was set, Ruby reached to the table behind and grabbed a chair. She spun it around and took a seat.

Emma came out of the back and ran a hand across her mouth. Her eyes were pleading with Snow and Regina. She saw the wonder in everyone's eyes and the bile came back. She swallowed it down and took her seat next to Regina.

Regina looked up at her with blank eyes. Her regality was taking over and Emma could feel it. She wasn't expecting the warm hand that came to her thigh. She looked at Regina, but didn't she her falter. She faced them all like the Queen. The only thing that gave her away to Emma was her hand as it squeezed her thigh periodically.

"What's going on?" Snow asked, getting to the point.

"I don't know how to tell you this, so I am just going to blunt about it," Regina stated.

"Tell me about what?" Belled questioned.

"Ruby, do you remember a few weeks back you made a comment to Emma about Coraline?"

"Yeah, what of it?" Ruby inquired.

"I followed up on your statement. You were right to question it. There is something off about her. Emma and I found out some things the other day. We were going to wait to tell you, but it seems that we cannot wait at this time," Regina told them.

"What things?" Belle asked.

"Well, Ruby told me that she smelled funny," Emma stated.

"Really?" Snow asked. "You started an investigation because she smelled funny. Come on, what is this really about?"

"It started with that statement," Emma replied.

"Emma didn't think anything about it. She didn't know how keen a wolf's nose was. I did. I decided to do my own investigation. I was glad that I did. I found out some information about your little sister, Belle. Things that no one in town knew."

"Like what?" Belle questions skeptically.

"She has magic."

There was a collective gasp at the table. Regina gave them time to digest what she had said. She knew how much of a shock it was. Belle began to shake her head.

"No, she doesn't. No one in my family has magic. Rumple has magic. You have magic. Emma has magic. Coraline doesn't have any magic. I would have noticed."

"She was very good at hiding it. I only caught it because of the smell. I…I saw her use it in frustration. She has some control, but she could be a loose cannon if she were to get angry."

"And, you would know all about that wouldn't you?" Snow asked.

"I would. I don't deny that. It was one of the reasons that I confronted her about it."

"You did what?!" Belle asked.

"The night she called to cancel meeting us at the Hole, you were there," Ruby accused.

"Yes, I was there. I told her to call you and tell you that she wouldn't make it. I needed to talk to her. I needed to figure out where she had learned her magic and why I didn't know about it. I knew that something was off with her, then. I just could have never guessed her reasoning."

"Which was?" Snow prompted.

"Okay…that isn't important," Emma stated.

"How can you say that?" Belle asked, "She just admitted to confronting my sister and you are telling me that the reason my sister hid her magic from the town isn't important. If isn't, what is, Emma? I would like to know. Will you tell me?"

"She isn't from our time," Emma stated.

"What?" Snow questioned softly.

"She is from our future?" Ruby asked.

"Yes, she is from about twenty five years in the future from now. She is from the Enchanted Forest. She has come back for our help and Regina and I are going to do our best to help her. She wants to go home, but she is looking for something here. She just doesn't know what it is. She doesn't know what she needs to do. We are trying to help her figure it out."

"Help her figure what out?" Snow asked.

"It seems that a new curse is cast in a few years which will send us all, Henry and Emma included, back to the Enchanted Forest. Something dark was waiting on us to come back. She knows of Zelena and it isn't her. She calls this entity the Blackness," Regina told them.

"The Blackness?" Belle asked.

"Yes," Emma replied.

"She has been spending a lot of time in the library in the fairy tale and magic sections. I just never thought to look at what she was studying. It never crossed my mind," Belle stated.

"No one did, Belle. Don't feel bad. We had no reason to question who or what she was. She fit in perfectly. She was trying to stay hidden so she could figure it out on her own," Emma said.

"Why?" Ruby asked.

"She didn't want to arouse suspicion as to her true motives. She actually admitted that she forgot how bad your nose was, Red. She figured that it would be easier her way. She chose Belle partially for that reason, but there is more," Regina told them.

"Like what?" Belle asked.

"Regina…"

"She deserves to know, Emma. I would want any of you to know, if it were you. You wanted to tell her. So, we tell her everything," Regina stated.

"Fine, but you can explain it to her later," Emma replied.

"I will, when…Belle, she chose to be your sister."

"What do you mean she chose?"

Snow watched the emotions cross Regina's face. She knew that the woman was holding back, but she couldn't figure out what. She looked at Regina and her hazel eyes pleaded with the brown ones. She watched as Regina swallowed, sighed, then sat up straighter, regaining her composure. Regina met Snow's eyes and held them for a second before turning to Belle.

"You were her foster mother in the future. You raised her and taught her everything that you could about magic and the curse. She was closest to you, so it was easier for her to be related to you in our time. Her emotions were already tied to you in a way, even you didn't know about it. She wanted to feel like she belong and with someone who actually loved her. I am sure that she didn't mean to hurt you, but she needed a plausible cover."

"But our memories of her?" Ruby asked.

"Blue and Tink cast a spell over the town at her request."

"They knew?" Snow asked.

"They do."

"Why do they know?" Belle questioned.

"They are the ones that found her when she came here. She was badly beaten and bruised. Blue told us it took months for her to acknowledge anything and when she did, she wanted Belle. It took weeks for Blue to get some of the story from her. When she did, she could tell that she wasn't lying and she needed to help. She wanted to save the town," Emma stated.

"And, now? Why are you telling me all this now? What happened?" Belle asked.

"She is missing," Regina replied.

"She is missing?" Belle asked quietly.

"How long?" Snow asked.

"About," Emma started to reply, and then looked at her watch, "Twelve plus hours now."

"What are we doing about it?" Ruby asked.

"Telling you," Emma replied.

"That is it?" Snow asked.

"I can't do much as sheriff until she has been gone for twenty-four. I want to ask you some questions, Belle, but they may be difficult to answer. I am sorry, but I need to know. It will help me better prepare a plan to find her," Emma stated.

"How do you know she is missing?" Belle asked.

"She was staying at the convent for the last few days."

"Why?" Snow asked quickly, sensing there was more to the story.

"She was angry with me. She went to Blue to vent. Blue sent her out into the forest with Tink to work on her magic. Evidently she wanted to beat on something large, so Tink conjured her a dragon to fight," Regina answered, not giving the full extent of the story.

"As in a giant lizard, fire breathing, flying thing kind of dragon?" Ruby questioned skeptically.

"As in fire breathing, large and dangerous, dragon, yes. She fought it off and destroyed it. No one in town knew what happened and we wouldn't have either, if Blue hadn't called Emma to bring me out there. Her wounds were bad and the fairies were trying to heal them, but they were having difficulties."

"Why?" Belle inquired.

"It seems that her body is covered with tattoos."

"Tattoos? Of what? Why?" Snow asked.

"They are spells, aren't they?" Belle replied in question.

"Yes, they are. I couldn't translate most of them. They are in a language I don't know, but I am sure that you do, Belle. She told me that you were the one to give them to her. It took some of my magic to get around some of the spells to allow her body to heal," Regina asked.

"Your magic?" Ruby asked.

"I didn't hurt her," Regina stated emphatically.

"I was there. She didn't hurt her. She healed her. She helped," Emma added.

"The only way to do that is with blood magic…" Belle stated and then stared at Regina.

Snow's head snapped up as she stared between the two of them. Snow shook her head in disbelief and then looked at Belle. She knew that Belle had come to the same conclusion. It was the only reason that Snow could come up with that made sense about why Regina was so…

"No…" Snow said, quietly.

"What?" Ruby asked.

"If Regina used blood magic to get around the spells, then she is related to Coraline," Belle said.

Ruby pushed off the back of the chair and sniffed the air. She cocked her head and took another sniff. Regina turned and looked into the wolf's eyes. She saw Ruby's eyes flash yellow and then settle back down. Regina looked wrecked. Ruby could smell the fear pouring off her.

"She's yours…" Ruby stated and then looked at Emma.

Regina shook her head at Ruby. She knitted her eyebrows at Regina, but the haunted look in Regina's eyes stopped the words from coming out. The smell of Henry…the mixture of Regina's apples, Emma's cinnamon and Snow's vanilla…the knowledge crashed into Ruby quickly and fiercely. Regina shook her head, again, as she stared at Ruby.

"Not now, Wolf."

Ruby stood up quickly and left the table. Her mind was reeling and she realized that Regina hadn't told Emma, yet, if she honesty knew what it all meant. She ran out the diner door towards Belle's old house without so much as a backwards glance towards them. The knowledge sent her to find proof for Emma. She wasn't going to let her friends stay in the dark.

"What the Hell?" Emma asked.

"What is she to you?" Belle questioned, desperate for answers, even though her heart was breaking with each little bit of knowledge.

Regina turned and faced the blue eyed woman. Her heart broke for her, but she knew that Belle was smarter than anyone ever gave her credit for. She had figured out why Regina was upset with one sentence. She felt like she owed Belle the truth, and she hated owing anyone.

"Who is she to you, Regina? You owe me that much, now. Who is she?" Belle demanded.

"She is my daughter," she replied in little more than a whisper, but the effect was deafening.

Snow coughed and sat down her coffee cup. Emma felt her leg start lose feeling as Regina bore down on it harder. She knew that Regina was waiting for Belle to lash out. Emma turned to look at Belle waiting for her to say something, anything.

"She is your daughter? But, yet, I am the one who raised her? Why me?"

"Because I would trust her with you. I know that you would be able to give her a good education and you would protect her as best you could. The tattoos make sense. You couldn't do magic, so you put the magic on her body. It was very clever. It makes me glad that I thought enough ahead to trust you with her care. You will do a wonderful job with her," Regina told her.

"No, why me? Why am I the one that ends up with your daughter? Why aren't you there?"

"Because according to her, you and Red are the only ones that survive the slaughter."

"Slaughter?" Snow asked.

"It seems that the Blackness takes over the realms of the Enchanted Forest. When it came knocking on my castle's doors, Snow and her Army were fighting outside the walls. Charming and Henry had been there defending as well. Red came through and told me that we were failing. The Blackness would breach the walls before Snow could get to us. I got pissed off and decided to die trying to defend my home, my loves, my family. I wasn't going to let it end that way. I was going to fight. I gave her to you and Red and gave you enough of a distraction to get out. I told you to run to Rumple's castle. I knew that you would be safe there. But, we never came for you. You raised her there, without any of us."

"You sacrificed yourself for her…" Belle whispered.

"She doesn't give her that much credit," Emma stated.

"She is angry with me for dying. She believes that my final act to save her was more of suicide than a distraction. She is angry with me for not being there for her. She has come here to stop the Blackness. She figures that if she can stop it, she can have her parents…save me. I want to help her with that," Regina stated, "I owe her that much if I can."

"Who is her father?" Snow asked.

"She won't tell. She has only told me that they are my true love and they are here now. She won't tell me who it is though," Regina stated, as Ruby came back in the diner.

She threw an old leather bound journal at her. Regina picked up and studied it. She recognized the working in the leather and stared up at Ruby.

"Read it."

"What?"

"Read it," Ruby commanded.

Emma took the book and flipped through it. The pages were blank in the beginning and she sat it back down before she got to the end. She looked at Red and saw her eyes yellowing, again.

"Read it," she said again.

Regina picked up the book and flipped into it a few pages. The words materialized as soon as she looked down at the pages. She didn't know how Ruby would know about the blood magic she used in her diaries.

"There is nothing there," Regina lied.

Ruby leaned forward and got in her face. Snow and Belle were both a little scared at the sight, but no one stopped her. Emma started to say something, but Regina just squeezed her thigh, again, harder. She knew that there would be bruises there later, but she said nothing.

"Read it!"

"Sit down, Dog."

"READ IT!"

"Fine," Regina replied as she turned the page.

"I don't know why I thought I could have a happy ending. Everyone has gotten their loves, but once again thanks to the women of the Charming household, I have lost mine. At least this time he isn't dead. I swear neither of them think of the consequences of their actions. I can't really blame Emma. It is in her blood. Snow, however, was a spoiled child. Will I never be rid of their unending happiness while I suffer? Someday I hope…but for now, Henry needs me, too. I cannot let his genetics corrupt him. I can't let him grow up to be an idiot like his grandparents."

"What the fuck, Regina? What are you reading? There is nothing on the page," Emma stated.

"Tell her!"

"No," Regina stated.

"She needs to…"

"Now is not the time, Dog. If you think that you will pressure me further, we can take this out back. I am not afraid of you, Mutt."

"Regina…" Snow warned.

"Ruby, whatever it is, it doesn't matter at this moment. You and Regina can talk about it later. Right now, Coraline has disappeared. We need to find her. She is possibly still hurt and we have no idea where she has gone. Whatever information you think that Regina has about the situation, trust me when I say it has nothing to do with where Coraline has gone," Emma said.

"Tell her!" Ruby demanded.

"Outside. Wolf. Now!" Regina commanded as she literally pushed Emma out of the booth.

"Regina…" Emma started as she righted herself.

"Talk with Belle. I'll meet you at the station in twenty minutes. Trust me. I won't singe her fur. We may need her later. I promise that I'll be good," she stated, but they all saw the purple flash in her eyes.

Emma started to follow her outside, but Regina turned on her so quickly that they ran into each other. She felt an electricity between them as she gazed up into Regina's now chocolate brown eyes. She arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at Emma and then glanced passed her to the booth. Emma understood the movement in her eyes. She knew she was being dismissed.

"Emma, talk with your mother and Belle. I promise that I will not hurt the wolf. She may prove to be useful in our quest. I am just going to calmly talk to her."

Emma studied her face. She saw Regina's resolve flash across it and she nodded. She reached out and grabbed Regina's hand. She wasn't sure what made her do it. Regina just looked down at their hands and then stared into Emma's soulfully burning viridian eyes.

"I'm going to find her," Emma repeated for the umpteenth time that day as she squeezed her hand before letting it go.

"I know you will," Regina stated and walked away.

Emma returned to the booth. Snow and Belle were staring at her. Snow realized that Emma knew more than she was telling. She gave Emma a look. Emma just gave her a half-hearted smile in return. Snow decided that she would let it go for now, but she would question her later, when they were alone and she could ask her tough questions without worrying about the answers Emma might give her because of who was present.

"Belle?"

"What is it you want to know, Emma?" Belle asked.

"Do you have any idea where she might have gone? You have been the person that she has been closest to here. Anything at all that sticks out in your mind? It could sound stupid really when you think about it, but it could help us find her," Emma stated.

"Boston," Belle replied.

"Boston?" Snow asked, taking her hands and holding them in friendship and comfort.

"She kept asking how long it would take to get to Boston. I don't know why. What the Hell is in Boston anyway? You lived there, Emma. Do you think she went to Boston?" Belle asked.

"I don't know. But, that might give me a place to start. It would be within driving distance. I would say it would have only taken her five hours or less to get there, depending on traffic. I'll make some calls. I still have some friends there that can start looking for me."

"Why Boston, though?"

"I don't know, Belle, but I am going to find her and find out. If you'll excuse, I need to go make some calls. Hopefully, they can find her and then I'll go get her," Emma told her.

"Thank you," Belle whispered as Emma stood up.

She gave a nervous smile at her mother and Belle. She gave a small curtsey, unconsciously before righting herself and walking out the door. Snow saw her pull out her cell from her back pocket and dial a number.

"Will, it's Emma, Emma Swan. I need your help with a case. I'll cover any fees," Snow heard her say as she left the diner.