"No." Emma shook her head, refusing to accept Regina's plan. Emma was leaning on the wooden desk while the Mayor stood on her feet in front of her.
"Why not? I could gain her trust and stop her plans before she has a chance to do anything."
Emma stared at her, "Are you serious Regina? You're not risking your life to stop her. We can come up with another plan; we can stop her together."
"And what? We just wait for her to make a move? We wait until she attacks you or Henry? I won't let that happen."
"I know but there are other ways. We will come up with something," Emma tried to convince her, but Regina opened her arms, shrugging.
"Enlighten me then, Savior."
The moment she said it, she saw hurt in Emma's eyes and closed her eyes sighing, knowing she had been a little harsh. She stepped towards the Sheriff and reached for her. "I'm sorry. I just…I want this to be over and I don't want my family to go around town with a target on your backs while we wait for her to make her move."
Emma leaned on the hand Regina had pressed to her cheek, "And putting a target on your own back is better? There has to be another way."
"Perhaps, but we have to do something fast before something bad happens. It will be okay, I promise. I know how to handle her," she assured, rubbing her thumb in a slow circle across Emma's skin as she knew it would calm her.
Emma looked at her. She really didn't like the idea, but she knew how stubborn the woman in front of her was and that even if she refused to go along with the plan, Regina would do it anyways. "And what is your plan? Do you think she will let you in that easily after last night's conversation?"
Regina grimaced, lowering her hand; that was the worst part of her plan. "I'll probably have to prove I'm still evil and on her side."
Emma raised an eyebrow, "On her side side?"
"Are you jealous?" Regina wondered, narrowing her eyes at her.
The Sheriff flustered and shook her head, leaning all her weight on one leg and rolling her eyes. "Of course not," she choked out, but Regina raised one perfect eyebrow at her and a sigh escaped her lips. It reminded Regina to Henry that very morning when he had admitted he was trying to sneak some cereals.
"I'm not jealous jealous. I… I don't know. What if you like the darkness so much you forget about us? What if you enjoy it too much?" Emma lowered her head; she couldn't bear the feeling of losing Regina, not now that she knew how it was to be with her.
"I can't tell you it wouldn't be fun, because that would be a lie," she said sneaking her arms on Emma's waist to bring her closer as she lifted her chin, "But I promise you I know where I stand, and I stand with you and with Henry."
Emma pursed her lips uncharacteristically and her eyebrows knitted together, still not convinced. "I don't know. What if she doesn't buy it?"
"She will," Regina promised, but Emma shook her head.
"But what if she doesn't?" Regina fell silent and that was all Emma needed, "You're not doing it."
"Emma please, trust me. I know I can do it. I will do it; she'll buy it," Regina practically begged her. The Sheriff knew she wouldn't back down; when it came to protect what she loved, Regina could be fierce and stubborn.
With a sigh, Emma looked at her, "If you're doing this, you're not doing it alone." Regina was about to protest but she interrupted her. "No. I'll be with you whether if you like it or not."
"You can't come with me. She would definitely not buy that."
"Then you text me from time to time. I can't just let you put yourself at risk without a warranty that you'll be okay."
Regina smiled reassuringly, "If it makes you feel relieved, I will text you to keep you informed. It'll be okay, I promise."
Emma still wasn't sure about it, she doubted she would ever be, but she had no choice. "Okay then, I'll tell my parents and Henry."
Regina nodded, thinking about how Henry would take the news; she hoped he understood her. She saw the worry never leaving Emma's furrow and tried to ease it with her thumb.
"I love you," Emma said all of the sudden. "I know I don't say it a lot, and I know you know it anyways, but I love you."
Leaning her forehead against Emma, Regina closed her eyes, knowing what she was doing. She was saying goodbye in case something happened. "Don't do that. Nothing will happen I promise."
Emma kissed her. She wanted to believe her promise, she wished she believed it would be okay, but she had never been one to expect the best of every situation. She kissed her like if it was the last time she did. It might as well be.
Regina kicked a rock and it rolled, the sound echoing in the cave. It was impossible to know where Maleficent was hiding, so she went to the only place related to her in hopes she found something.
"A nice home you gave me in this realm." Regina turned and found Maleficent leaning on Snow's coffin, raising an eyebrow at her. "What are you doing here?"
Stiffening her back, Regina casually walked towards her and shrugged, "Your proposition made me think and I guess darkness has always a certain appeal for me."
Maleficent narrowed her eyes and watched closely, considering every move. "If you're here thinking you can fool me, you're very wrong."
"Oh I would never dare to try, you're too smart for that," Regina smirked.
"Complimenting me now? You must be so desperate."
Regina stared at her and sighed loudly, "I thought you would appreciate a friendly hand. It seems I was wrong."
Maleficent laughed, "It seems quite timely that when I start to plan revenge against you, you suddenly appear here trying to convince me you've changed your mind. Hard to believe actually, with the love beams you throw at that blonde."
Regina smiled wickedly against her will and forced the words out, "Everyone makes mistakes. I thought that would secure my survival and on the way I could have fun, but she's nothing more that a homesick puppy. It's tiring." She finished rolling her eyes and stepping closer to the other woman.
"And your son? You're just going to leave him with them?" Maleficent wondered skeptical.
"That is exactly why I've come to you." The former dragon raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue. "I want him back. I've tried the good way and he still prefers to stay with those idiots. It's time to use what I know, and thanks to you I've got my magic back to do it."
"You sound like you've got everything under control. Why do you need me?"
Regina smiled, knowing the next words would buy the ticket to Maleficent's trust, as self-centred as she was. "Because you're the best I know and with you, I can assure my plan will be successful."
Maleficent finally smiled and closed the distance between them, hoping off Snow's coffin. She narrowed her eyes one more time, and soothed Regina's coat collar, "You can't expect me to trust you just because you say you're on my side."
"I figured I would have to prove it to you. Just name it."
Maleficent licked her lips and smiled deviously. She made them disappear and they reappeared in what Regina knew to be Dr. Hopper's office. He wasn't there though, only his dog. The witch raised an eyebrow and pointed at the dog, "Kill him."
Regina looked at her like if she had gone crazy, "Pongo? Why would that prove anything? He's just a dog."
Maleficent grabbed an umbrella and leaned on it, "Your son is very fond of him. If he dies, you can have him back, being a shoulder to cry on."
Regina threw a look at the dog sleeping peacefully in his bed and then returned her gaze to the other woman, "When did you become such a trashy villain?"
"When did you become so soft?" Maleficent retorted.
"It's a dog."
"You had no remorse whatsoever to rip your father's heart out and use it for your own benefit, and now you chickening for a dog? Who's the trashy villain here?"
Regina rolled her eyes, "This is ridiculous." Maleficent only raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to do as she was told, and Regina threw her hands in the air. "Fine."
She turned to the dog that seemed to be oblivious to the scene. She had already planned Maleficent would make her rip somebody's heart and kill them, so she had prepared a potion to do it and look like it had been killed without it being real by pouring it over her hand, but she wasn't sure it also worked with animals.
She took off her glove and stretched her hand; it had been long since the last time she had done it. When her hand took a grip of the animal's heart, he woke up and cried, making her wince but she kept her posture and pulled her hand out. It was lighter than the hearts she was used to hold in her hand.
Regina suddenly felt Maleficent's breath on her neck, "Crush it."
Ignoring the dog's cries as she clutched the heart on her heart, she felt her own sinking. When it turned dust beneath her fingers, Pongo fell on his bed and Regina wished the potion had worked; she had no way to find out if it did after a few days.
"I didn't think you would be capable," Maleficent breathed in her ear as her nails raked down Regina's arms.
The Mayor closed her eyes, forcing herself to stay in place, and smiled deviously, "As you said I have crushed many hearts. Adding one more to the list means nothing to me."
"It does to me." Maleficent turned Regina and stared down into her eyes. "Welcome back, Regina."