Hey everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying their break (I know I am). Well here's an update for you all :) I hope you enjoy it! Thank you so much for following, favoriting, and reviewing this story. Hell, I'm glad you're still with me here reading it. The fic is still a little behind what is currently happening in Once, but it will soon catch up. I'd love to know what you all think so please let me know even if it constructive. Thanks and enjoy!

Previously

"Oh just drop the act," Regina said looking at the man with mild disgust. "I don't care what you do on your free time, but I'm sure even you have better things to do than follow me around." This is getting ridiculous she thought. Robin clearly doesn't trust me.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached them. Both turning, they saw Robin Hood coming towards them.

"Regina," the thief started. "We need to talk."

~SQ~

Chapter 5

"I think I'll leave you two then," Hook said trying to make his escape. Clearly he had done a horrendous job of watching Regina and whatever was about to happen wasn't going to be good. He needn't be a part of this squabble between the couple. "Robin," he said nodding. "Regina."

"Oh no you don't pirate," Regina said smiling and evidently unamused. "You're not going anywhere."

"Regina we need to talk," Robin stated with urgency.

"Yes, I heard you the first time," Regina said throwing a glare in the thief's direction. These two were worse than Snow and Charming Regina thought. "Now one of you is going to tell me—"

"Regina!" Robin interrupted. "The Dark One used dark magic on you."

Regina and Hook exchanged a look before looking back at the thief with questioning looks. Both of them thought the idea that Emma had some how cursed Regina was completely ridiculous. The fact that Robin seemed so bent over this new "intel" was absurd in itself. Maybe the thief had actually lost it.

"Emma…used dark magic…on me?" Regina repeated suppressing the urge to roll her eyes. "Robin, I think I would know if Emma used magic on me."

"How can you be sure? She stole our memories. She could have done anything to you," Robin explained the words spilling out faster when the man realized they didn't believe him. He knew his theory was a little messy, but he strongly believed that the Dark One was up to something and that something involved Regina.

"Emma did not use dark magic on me," Regina emphasized. "I would be able to feel it if she did." Her tone was that of explaining something so simple to a child. She didn't bother hiding the annoyance in her tone. She almost felt sorry for the man. He was so sure that Emma cursed her and that was the reason she said she needed space. Robin's theory wasn't touching; it was almost disappointing to hear.

"Remind me why I'm here again?" Hook jumped in. He was slightly uncomfortable at the bickering couple in front of him. He was completely oblivious to the fact that whatever Emma's plan was that these three were a part of it; all of them were. No one knew what Emma was planning, but these three people all played a key role.

"Regina please," Robin said taking her hand with his own. He didn't understand why this idea was so incomprehensible. It was most certainly possible! Regina just couldn't see or want to see what he was trying to say. "The Dark One just appeared to me and—"

"What?!" Hook and Regina exclaimed in unison. The Dark One never just appeared randomly. There was always a reason.

"She asked me about you," he continued with slight annoyance the desperation clear in his voice. He failed to understand that he was lucky to leave remotely unharmed.

"She…asked about Regina?" Hook said trying to wrap his head around it. Why is Emma asking Robin about Regina? Hook thought. He vaguely knew of the progression of their friendship, but Emma surely had other people to worry about.

"Yes!" Robin said turning to the pirate. "That's why I asked you to watch Regina. I'm afraid that Emma is planning something or has already done something."

"So instead of telling me, you asked the pirate to follow me?" Regina questioned shaking her head ever so slightly. Emma had asked about her to Robin Hood? She's playing all of us Regina thought. If Emma had let Robin return to Regina unscathed there was definitely something strange going on. Emma was using him as a messenger.

"That was before! I had my suspicions ever since you asked well…since you've been acting…um not like yourself," Robin finished almost wincing. He voice was clearly betraying his nervousness. Even though Regina no longer held the title 'Evil Queen' that didn't mean she was fully capable of disintegrating him on the spot.

"Again why am I here?" Hook repeated raising his arms up. Now he was officially bored. Emma had sought out Robin Hood, but not himself. Hook didn't know whether to be offended or not.

"Not everything has to always be about you Guyliner," Regina sneered. She was over his desperate grasp for attention all the time. The man annoyed her to no end.

"Then I think I'll take my leave," the pirate said.

"No!" Robin said grabbing one of the pirate's arms. "We all need to figure out what the Dark One is planning," he stated.

"Emma!" Regina shouted the vein in her forehead becoming visible. "For the love of God her name is Emma!" She didn't know why it had bothered her so much, but everyone referring to Emma as the Dark One made Regina's blood boil. Her name is Emma.

Both men stared at Regina with shock. Robin let go of Hook's arm suddenly. The pirate's arm dropped to his side almost limp with surprise. Regina's sudden outburst had completely stopped the conversation and now no one was sure how to proceed. A slight blush had begun to creep across Regina's cheeks realizing the extent of her outburst. She swallowed thickly trying her hardest to act and appear normal and in control. The men stared with perplexed looks as they tried to piece together what had just happened.

Just as Robin opened his mouth to speak, David came running over. The shepherd always did have the most horrible—or in this case best—timing.

"We need to confront Arthur," he said not trying to hide the sadness in his voice. He was disappointed in his former friend, but the group had to figure out why he had tried to burn the Crimson Crown. There was something Arthur wasn't telling them. Maybe it had something to do with Camelot, but no one could be totally sure. Arthur might just know who Nimue is.

"Agreed," Regina stated. She would love to take down that backstabber who had further delayed their communication with Merlin. A fight might just be the thing Regina needed. Her magic tingled inside of her fingertips with burning anticipation. If Regina knew one thing, there were two things that were always good at getting rid of frustration: sex or a fight. It appeared that for now, she would settle for a fight. She desperately wanted to hit something or someone.

"Robin and Hook let's go," David said trying to ignore the fact that Regina was standing right in front of them. He didn't want to offend the Queen, but this was his mission. The shepherd's mission did not include fireballs or magic; this fight would be a duel.

"Excuse me?" Regina questioned looking at David with angry confusion. Regina was the most powerful person between the group of four. Hell, Regina was one of the most powerful people in Storybrooke. It would be foolish not to include her in this mission. It was almost as confusing was it was insulting.

"Maybe you should sit this one out Regina," Robin said trying to not further offend his girlfriend. He hated to admit it, but maybe it was better if they stayed away from one another.

"Excuse me?" Regina restated her red lips turning down into a frown. Her eyes were wide with confusion and disbelief and were now redirected at the thief. He had no right to tell her what she could or couldn't do; none of them did.

"Aye," Hook said. "I agree with your boyfriend over here."

"Well if you idiots want to go chase after Arthur be my guest," Regina said rolling her eyes. She could easily capture the man with the single wave of her hand. Men she thought angrily as she composed herself. "The stench of testosterone in this general vicinity is maddening anyway, but good luck," Regina smiled sarcastically before disappearing in a puff of dark purple smoke.

Robin, Hook, and David all exchanged a knowing look before running off to find Arthur.

~SQ~

The blonde often found herself staring to dream catchers now-a-days. It was conflicting being the only one knowing what really happened. These memories were now only accessible to her. At times it was helpful; at other times it was lonely.

Waving her hand over a particular dream catcher, she watched the scene in Camelot unfold.

Emma was staring at the three objects in front of her: the broken Excalibur, her dagger, and the unlit eternal flame. It was unsettling to know that the last step before getting rid of the darkness was lighting the spark. Rumpelstiltskin had told her she wasn't ready to give up the darkness. She was ready wasn't she?

"Need a light?" a voice quietly asked. The person's footsteps came closer before stopping a few feet away.

"Regina," Emma breathed almost relieved.

"I thought you could use a friend," Regina smiled. For so long they had fought and now Regina was the one calling them friends. Oh how far they had come. Emma had tried so hard to be her friend and now they actually were. They had a bond that no one else could possibly understand, which made their friendship that much stronger.

"He's playing with me," Emma said after a few short breaths. "He said I can't light it because I'm not ready to let go of the darkness."

"Well are you?" Regina inquired, lifting an eyebrow in the process. Her question wasn't meant to judge; it was meant to get Emma to consider how she really felt.

"Regina," Emma said almost annoyed. Of course she was ready to give it up. Or so she thought. She didn't want to be judged, she just wanted this to be over already.

"Hey, no one knows the lore of darkness better than I do," Regina said trying to get the other woman to understand her intentions. "You can lie to your parents; you can lie to yourself, but you can't lie to me," Regina finished. She shook her head almost comically. She knew Emma wasn't ready to give up the power. It was so enticing and Regina knew exactly what Emma was going through even if she didn't want to admit it. Emma was conflicted.

"I don't know," Emma finally said after considering Regina's words. She was still slightly annoyed that the brunette could read her so easily. It was nice to be understood, but also equally maddening at times.

"Feels good doesn't it?" Regina said almost too knowingly. "Indulging every impulse; wielding great power; doing whatever you want," she finished. The Queen wanted to know—needed to know—if someone with so much potential for light could feel what she had felt so long ago. Regina desperately wanted to be understood. She could see the confliction in Emma's eyes and she knew. Regina knew Emma understood.

"Yes, yes it does," Emma admitted. "Is it wrong?"

"Course it is," Regina said. "But it's also human." She paused before continuing. Regina was trying desperately to understand the woman in front of her and her internal struggle. Emma was capable of lighting the flame, but something was stopping her.

"Look I know you Emma," her voice softening. "It took a long time, but I really…know you," Regina breathed out almost as a confession. It was true; she really knew Emma Swan. "And you're not as weak as I once was, so if you're clinging to the darkness you have good reason," she justified. "And it's beyond temptation so what is it?" Regina asked again. The woman was clearly afraid, but of what?

"I don't know" Emma said almost sounding confused. She was trying her hardest to keep up the façade. The blonde knew why she was afraid. Emma didn't know if she was ready to admit it yet. Regina was her friend, but was confiding in her such a good idea?

Emma had always been alone in the world always looking out for herself. Even if they were friends, there would always be something telling Emma to hold on to her secrets. Letting someone in was so dangerous. She wasn't ready. Emma couldn't voice what Regina wanted her to.

"There's a difference between not knowing something and not wanting to admit it," the brunette said, her voice changing. She was trying to make this easier for Emma. If only the blonde would just come clean, but no. Emma was hiding away from her family, her son, and now hiding away from Regina as well. Something was definitely wrong. Regina didn't want to do it, but she knew that this was the only way. "And those walls you put up Emma its time they come down."

"What are you doing?" Emma gasped upon seeing Regina grab the dagger. The Queen held it up to her as if trying to show her what she could become. Sooner or later Emma would have to make a decision and that choice would affect them all.

"Helping you break the walls," Regina smiled almost ironically. "As your friend, I command you, Dark One, tell me why are you so afraid to give up the darkness?" her voiced dropped dangerously low. If Emma couldn't give up the darkness—hell, couldn't admit why she didn't want to give up the darkness—then something was very, very wrong.

"Once I let it go I won't be able to protect my family," Emma said staring into the dark brown eyes in front of her. She hope that if she was able to look the other woman in the eyes and giver her and answer, Regina would drop it. She was wrong.

"It's another wall Emma," Regina said knowingly. She knew Emma too well now. Emma was lying straight to her face. For what reason, the brunette couldn't grasp. "Now the truth," she said a little more aggressively.

"It is," Emma said. "Regina, please," the blonde said quietly with desperation. It was too much. The blonde wasn't ready. She couldn't tell the other woman how she felt.

"No its not," Regina breathed, her voice cracking with raw emotion. The hazel eyes were filled with concern and clouding over with tears. "You just have to be brave enough to knock down all those walls you're hiding behind. The dagger can make you look but you—YOU— have to choose to see," the brunette said desperately. Regina was practically begging Emma to tell her the truth. If anyone could understand, it would be Regina. "Now come on, come on Emma see! Tell me what you're really afraid of!" the urgency clear in Regina's voice.

"Regina what are you doing?"

She had been so close Emma thought. Looking into the dream catcher, Emma hadn't realized that her eyes were pooling with tears. Even back then Emma knew Regina was right. She was hiding behind her walls. She put up these walls as an attempt to protect herself and Regina was on the verge of tearing them down. No. She was trying to get Emma to break them down herself. It was terrifying that she had been so close to admitting why she was really afraid of letting go of the darkness.

Maybe if she had though, all this wouldn't have happened. Regina had only been trying to look out for her. As her friend, Regina wanted to help her understand and come to terms with herself. Emma knew that Regina had really used the dagger to get Emma to accept what she was feeling. If only you knew Emma thought sadly. The fear of rejection now was just as great as it was back then. There was something deep inside the blonde that was simply bursting at the seams. Ignoring it was nearly impossible now. Something she had locked away for so long was now fully exposed in her heart.

Emma's mind was conflicted. Emma's feelings were torn at the thought of the other woman. The brunette was darkness and temptation, but she was also the most caring and protective person that Emma had come to know. They balanced each other's lightness and darkness in all aspects. They were perfect compliments of one another. Maybe Emma knew it from the beginning and just never wanted to see it. She had shielded herself away from feelings that were too strong to understand. The pull was alluring and magical, but she had bottled them up. She buried them deep within her heart. A small part of Emma always knew. The blonde had only recently come to accept it. Regina. It was always Regina.

She was ripped from her thoughts when she felt that Hook was in imminent danger. Immediately, Emma had to go to his rescue. She dropped the dream catcher and grabbed her newly crafted sword. Now that Excalibur was whole, there was no point in hiding it anymore. Just seeing the look on Arthur's pathetic face made it all worth it. She knocked the man unconscious with the wave of her hand. Too easy.

Then there was the matter of dealing with Killian. He always let his emotions get the best of him. Never quite thinking things all the way through, but nonetheless fighting his way through every obstacle in his path. He was brash and impulsive and these traits were only heightened in the face of adversity.

Hook was relentless; Emma would give him that. It had taken her so long to see what he had made her, what they had done to each other. It was unhealthy and often ended in pain and lies. He had said he loved her. He couldn't accept her. Yes, it was painful, but there was no point in wasting emotion over the man any longer.

"Huh," the pirate sighed. "All this power and you don't even have the courage to answer one simple, bloody question. Why do you need Excalibur?" Hook asked. He was trying desperately to break down Emma's walls. He needed answers and he would ensure that he got them. Emma loved him. She wouldn't protect him otherwise would she?

Emma didn't need to answer the man's questions. She was finished with this. She had saved him from Arthur and her job was done. All she needed to do was keep him alive and in the dark for as long as possible. It wasn't necessary to tell him anything. That was easiest way her plan would come together. She owed him one thing, but it wasn't an answer to this question. The blonde turned, sword in hand, and began to walk away.

"I know you're still in there Emma," Hook said seeing that Emma was in no mood to answer questions. The stoic mask that was once a smiling face was not amused in the slightest. She was clearly agitated and annoyed, but with what? Was it the fact that he had almost died? Or the fact that she had to save him…again?

He continued, shouting this time to get her attention, "And I know that despite everything you always have your reasons!"

You're right I do!" Emma shouted back, her voice cracking. Of course I have a reason. She wasn't facing the pirate, but he could tell that her expression was one of anger. Her voice had deepened a few octaves and the change sent a shiver down the man's spine.

"You want to know why I'm doing this?" Emma said, turning to face the pirate. She knew that she couldn't reveal her plan, but messing with the man was too tempting. Yes part of it was true, but not the whole complete truth. She hated owing anyone anything, so in a sense she would be repaying a debt. "I'm doing it for you."

With a swirl of smoke, Emma vanished leaving behind a confused Killian Jones.

Ah yes, we still have to wonder what will happen with Hook. Who is Emma playing-Hook or Regina...or both? Next time: we will see Regina, Robin, and maybe a special appearance from our friend the Wicked Witch. Who doesn't love her sass? We are getting closer to an all out confrontation and I am so excited! Also, working on a way to get some Snow/Regina friendship and Snow/Emma mother/daughter moments in this. It's been lacking in the show, which is disappointing.

Please review and let me know what you think. Oh, I forgot to mention above, but if you have any suggestions or anything in that nature inbox me or leave a review. Or if you just want to talk, I love making friends with fellow Swens. Love you all :)