At the touch of your hand

At the sound of your voice

At the moment your eyes meet mine

I'm out of my mind, I'm losing control

Full of feelings I can't define

("Dangerous Game," Jekyll + Hyde)

Chapter 3: Gold

Robin's grip on my hand was so tight, I thought I was going to lose all feeling in it. But I also didn't want him to let go. We were anchoring each other and keeping the other from doing something rash. Like attacking the mayor in front of the Sheriff.

Zelena sat at a desk by him, smirking as she went over the summons. "So you didn't pay for parking?"

"There were no signs saying we had to pay. Nor was there anyone to pay," I argued. "How were we supposed to know?"

Joe motioned for me to lean back. "I think we can chalk this up to a simple misunderstanding, Madame Mayor. My clients are willing to pay the hospital whatever the fee was and just settle this."

"I think this needs a bit more than that, Madame Mayor," Sheriff Nott said. Of course he would believe that. Did he know who we were? Was that why he was torturing us?

She smiled, nodding. "What do you suggest, Sheriff?"

"Community service."

I raised an eyebrow. "You were very eager to get us to leave. Now you want us to stay? Make up your mind, please."

"Sheriff Nott, can you excuse us for a bit? You two, counselor. I want to talk to these two alone," Zelena said.

While the Sheriff stood, Joe remained seated. "I'm not going anywhere without my clients. Understand?"

Zelena shrugged before locking her cold gaze on Robin. "Before we go any further, how the hell did you escape the curse?"

"Why do you care?" he countered.

"ANSWER THE QUESTION!" She slammed her fist on the desk and Joe jumped. I almost did but I managed to clamp down on the reflex.

Instead, I kept my voice even as I retorted: "How did you not escape your own curse, Your Majesty?"

"You know very well, don't you?" she sneered.

That surprised me. "You think I had something to do with this? If I knew how to trap you in your curse and rescue Robin, don't you think I would've rescued everyone?"

"You weren't that powerful," Zelena replied.

"So why are you blaming this on me?"

She took a deep breath. "I just want answers."

"We want to leave," Robin said, voice cold and hard. "You seem dead set on keeping us here."

"Where we can continue being pains in your ass," I added.

Zelena leaned back, carefully considering her options. She wanted to punish us for escaping her curse, for being together rather than being separated and miserable. But she had to realize having us around was dangerous. We could ruin everything. Her next move had to be calculated.

"Even if I tell you to leave, you'll still come back, won't you?" she asked. "You two won't leave your friends behind."

"What can we do? The curse is supposed to last twenty-eight years," I reminded her.

Robin nodded. "We're powerless."

Zelena tapped her fingers on the desk. "I think I need to think about this a bit more. Why don't you get some lunch? Granny's has some great burgers."

Joe seemed dazed as we left the sheriff station. Robin clapped him on the shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I think so," he replied. "She's….She's something else."

I nodded. "You should've met her mother. Looked just like mine and twice as dangerous since she had magic."

Joe let out a low whistle and I added: "Also, guard your heart. She can remove it. You won't die, but she can control you with it."

"You're joking," he replied.

Robin and I shook our heads. "She can make you do things you normally would never do," Robin told him.

I took his hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. He had to be thinking of how Zelena had taken his heart and used it to get to me. That betrayal still weighed heavily on him, no matter how often I assured him it wasn't his fault and that I forgave him. I would just keep forgiving him over and over until he could finally forgive himself.

We arrived at Granny's, stepping into the diner. The smell of burgers washed over us as the heating enveloped us in its warmth. No one really looked up and we headed over to the counter with little problems.

Granny exited the kitchens, smiling at us. She looked relatively the same—gray curly hair, silver spectacles and a frumpy outfit. The only thing missing was her crossbow and the air of someone who could take on an entire army single-handedly. "Good afternoon," she said. "What can I get you?"

"Just the menu for now, please," I said, smiling. "Do we need to be seated or are we free to sit wherever?"

"Free to sit wherever. Though you better be fast. The booths tend to fill up first," Granny replied, waving toward the ones in the back.

We thanked her, taking the menus she offered to one of the empty booths. A few people studied us but most ignored us. I didn't recognize them anyway, so it was probably for the best.

Joe glanced around. "Do you know anyone here?"

"Granny," Robin and I said in unison.

"She was the one who not only took me in but also took me under her wing when I first arrived in the Enchanted Forest," I added.

He nodded, opening the menu. "So how's her cooking?"

"Amazing."

"Hopefully it still is despite the curse," Robin said before grimacing. "Oh no. Red is coming this way."

Indeed, our friend approached the table with a predatory grin. Her eyes raked Robin with a hunger I felt for him as well. It was making me territorial and I was prepared to fight her.

Why had our lives come to that?

"Can I get you anything?" she asked, still focused on Robin.

He swallowed. "Umm, a burger and a soda is fine. Regina?"

"I'll have the same," I said, handing the menu back to the waitress with a glare. It was hard not to take it personally when all I saw was my friend, Red.

Joe followed our lead, glancing between us and Red. When she left, he leaned forward. "Another enemy of yours?"

"Worse. A friend," I said. "One of my best. And now she's eye-fucking my husband."

Robin whipped his head toward me. "What?"

"I'll tell you later," I told him, patting his hand. I looked back at Joe. "This is the horrible part of the curse. It's changed our friends completely."

"So, what was our waitress like back in the Enchanted Forest?" Joe asked.

Robin smiled. "Fierce and loyal. The first to volunteer to do anything that would help protect our cause. I was Charming's second but she was right behind me."

"I trusted her. She was like a sister to me," I said, smiling sadly.

The bell over the door rang and the diner went silent, allowing me to hear the thump of a cane. I looked over, finding a rather small man walking up to the counter with a cane. He had scraggly brown hair, a hawkish appearance and wore a three-piece suit. There was something about him that seemed familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

He placed his cane on the counter and Granny glared at him. "It's not time yet, Gold. I have two more days before you collect the rent."

"I know, dearie, but I'm afraid something's come up. I need it now," he insisted, his voice a strange accent I couldn't place.

But the word dearie affected me. I was transported back to my time in the Queen's dungeons, when I first made the acquaintance of the one they called the "Dark One." He looked different without the golden skin and seemed sane here. I wondered if he was cursed as well.

I took Robin's hand and leaned up to whisper: "It's the Dark One."

"I know," he whispered back, eyes focused on the man.

Granny handed him a wad of cash. "Here you go. Clears me out since I thought I had more time to save up so I hope you're happy."

"Not my problem," he said, tucking the money into a breast pocket. "Pleasure doing business with you."

"Pleasure my ass," Granny said, storming off. I glanced down to hide my smile. At least her spunk was not taken from her.

I heard the cane tap against the floor and it grew louder. Robin tensed up beside me, his hand gripping mine tighter. The Dark One was approaching us.

"Well, we have some visitors in town," he said, leaning on his cane. I met his eyes, feeling them bore into me. "What brings you to Storybrooke?"

"A summons," I said, "which we're trying to clear up."

He nodded. "Well, if you need rooms, Granny's here has some good ones. And she needs the money."

"We heard," Robin replied, jaw tense. No doubt he was thinking of ways to relieve him from his fortune and give it back to those it rightfully belonged to.

The Dark One took a step back. "Right. Well, if you need anything, I am Mr. Gold and I own the pawnshop down the street. You should stop by. You never know what you might find."

He walked away and I released the breath I was holding. "He knows. I don't know how, but he knows."

"Do I want to know why he's called the Dark One?" Joe asked.

"We'll tell you later," Robin said. "Just know that he's dangerous, magic or not."

Granny returned with our drinks. "Sorry about that. Gold's a nuisance we wish we could get rid of."

"So why don't you?" Joe asked.

"He's got an in with the mayor." She sighed. "I'll be back with your meals in a few moments."

We thanked her before I leaned back against the booth. "So Gold is still Zelena's puppet."

"Or she's his," Robin said.

I raised an eyebrow. "You think so? He's powerful but clearly not enough to go against her back in the Enchanted Forest. She controlled him."

"Because she had Belle," he replied.

"I don't think the Dark One knew that though."

Joe tilted his head. "I feel like I'm living some sort of novel. This is fascinating. But perhaps you should discuss this later. Don't want the wrong people overhearing, you know?"

I glanced around. No one was watching us or obviously eavesdropping, but he had a point. "Okay. So what shall we talk about instead?"

"I don't think we're going to be doing much talking," Joe replied as Granny returned with our meals.

She set down our plates, smiling. "Enjoy your meals. If you need anything, just flag me or my granddaughter Ruby down."

We thanked her again before taking bites of our burgers. Savory spices, tender meat, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes and a hint of onion blended together in my mouth and I moaned. "So good."

"I have to agree," Robin said, licking some ketchup from the corner of his mouth. "Granny's cooking is excellent as always."

Joe moaned as well. "I don't care how weird this town is. I would come back here for the burgers."

"Well, we may have plenty of time to enjoy these burgers, depending on what her majesty decides," I said, drenching a fry in ketchup. The uncertainty hadn't affected my appetite but it was making me jittery. All I wanted to do was run for a way but I knew I had to face her.

I also knew that it could all end in disaster and that scared me to death.

We returned to the sheriff's office after lunch. Sheriff Nott glanced up when we entered before returning to his paperwork. He motioned to the chairs we had been sitting in that morning. "Have a seat. The mayor will be back shortly."

"Thank you," Joe said, ushering us over to the chairs. We sat down and I took Robin's hand, waiting for Zelena to come and reveal our fates.

She breezed in about ten minutes later and glared at the Sheriff until he surrendered his seat to her. Zelena sat down, smoothing out her black skirt before looking at us. "Did you enjoy your lunch?"

"Yes, thank you," I said, trying not to let my hatred for her make me do something stupid. Like flambé her with a fireball. It was a very difficult battle I feared I was going to lose any moment.

"Anyway, I've decided to accept your offer to pay the hospital the parking fee. But I've also weighed Sheriff Nott's suggestion and also order you to serve one week of community service," she decreed.

Joe frowned. "Don't you think that's a bit excessive? They didn't break any laws, just some policy at the hospital."

"Still, we must set an example," Zelena insisted. "My decision is final. Sheriff Nott will oversee your community service."

"I think I know just the thing for them to do." He smiled at us and I had a strong suspicion we were going to be picking up trash somewhere.

Joe stood, motioning for us to follow. "Well, if that's settled, can I take my clients home? They have young children to return to."

"Ahh, right. Your son and now a daughter, I believe? Congratulations," Zelena said, lacking any sincerity.

Robin made a slight motion toward Joe, warning him not to correct Zelena about how many children we had, before turning to Zelena. "Thank you," he said, face blank.

"I'll need a number to reach out about your community service," Sheriff Nott said, smug.

Joe handed him a business card. "You can call me. I'll relay the message to Mr. and Mrs. Locksley."

The Sheriff took the card, looking disappointed to not know how to reach us once we were gone. "Thank you. I'll be in touch."

Robin gave my hand a tug and we followed Joe out of the Sheriff's station. I spotted Gepetto walking down the street, bundled up in a wool coat and head down against the cold winds now blowing through the town. He looked older, gaunter and most importantly, lonely. Did his heart miss the son he no longer remembered? I followed him until he disappeared into a store front, my heart aching for him.

"Regina? Is something wrong?" Robin asked, looking at me with concern.

I realized I had stopped walking and had probably been staring off into space. "I just feel so bad for everyone trapped here. How are we going to spend a week here?"

"We're just going to have to do our best. Now, let's go before that witch can figure out a way to lock us up," he said, guiding me toward Joe's car.

"Leaving so soon, dearie?" The Dark One's voice washed over me, sending a chill down my spine.

Robin wrapped his arm around me as he glared at the man. "We don't live here, so yes, we're leaving. Why?"

"I was hoping we could have a little chat," he said. "We don't often get outsiders, you know."

"Well, we're not very interesting ones. Good day." Robin pulled me away from the Dark One, wanting to put as much distance between us and him as possible.

We climbed into Joe's car and I glanced back out the window. Gold was still watching us, his dark and cold eyes fixed on me. My heart sped up and I looked away. "Please, Joe, just go," I whispered.

"Okay," he said pulling away.

As we put Storybrooke and the Dark One behind us, I relaxed against Robin. "He wants me for something, I just know it."

"But what?" He held me closer, kissing my head.

"I don't know. Maybe whatever he wanted of me back in the Enchanted Forest, when he was desperate to find me."

Robin frowned. "He wanted to know about the Land Without Magic. He's here, though."

"But he still wants to find his son. That's probably what he wants me to do now," I said. "I didn't want to be his puppet there and I won't be here."

"I won't let him get you. I promise." He kissed my head.

Sighing, I laid my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes. I felt tired and dozed for the rest of our trip home.

That night, Roland and I cuddled on the couch as I read him Matilda by Roald Dahl. He rested against my chest, brown eyes fixed on the drawings that filled the book. "She has powers like you, Mama," he said.

"I guess," I replied, "though Matilda's magic is different. It's more to do with her intelligence and using her brain."

"So if I'm smart enough, I can do magic?"

I laughed. "It's a bit more complicated than that. But you can do whatever you want, Roland. Trust me."

"Of course I do." He smiled at me, that trust filling his eyes. I kissed his nose and he giggled, turning back to the book.

Robin came down from putting the girls to bed and knelt next to us. "Is there room for one more?"

"What do you think, Roland?" I asked. "Do you think we can make room for Papa to join us?"

He appeared to think about it, tapping his chin with his finger for emphasis. In the end, he nodded. "I think so."

We rearranged ourselves so Robin could lie on the couch and Roland ended up lying on top of both of us. He snuggled against me as I laid my head on his father's shoulder. "I like this," I said.

"Me too," father and son said in unison. They glanced at each other before we all laughed.

I picked up the book again and resumed reading. Robin kissed the top of my head every so often and I smiled, enjoying being with my two Locksley men, all thoughts of Gold forgotten.

For now.

A/N: Here we go, Chapter 3! So Zelena has her memories but does anyone else? Does Gold? And if so, what does he want with Regina?

Hmm…

-Mac