[center][img=http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d94/Malfoys_one_and_only_girl/240x160StorybrookeGold.gif?t=1407788619][img=http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d94/Malfoys_one_and_only_girl/240x160StorybrookeRegina.gif][img=https://31.media.tumblr.com/d51a0c3920ba0507dfc03f9dfab1b806/tumblr_mox5r6WoJ81rk8b1co5_250.gif][/center]

Most of the time, Regina was less than pleased to have to take Mason to school in the early mornings, mostly with the dealings of having to leave her son to the limits of Henry Carlyle's teaching intellect. But as she dropped Mason off that morning and in overhearing some of the other parents talking amongst themselves, Regina learned that not only was Henry missing, but the security guard from the hospital and [i]Snow[/i] were missing too! Rumored to have fallen through a portal and out of Storybrooke forever! 

A white smile split Regina's red lips apart, feeling her heart lighter than a feather now with Mason back and the reason for her unquenchable thirst for bloodlust gone. Two birds with one stone so to speak. Now if there were only a way to get rid of Gold for good, then no one would be left to undermine her authority.

Releasing her eyebrows from their furrowed position, Regina drummed her fingertips on the leather steering wheel of her Mercedes as a perplexing thought came to her mind in thinking of Gold. As much as she would have loved for him to be gone as well, she still found that she needed him. Her magic was gone, and in her efforts yesterday of trying to bring it back, the only thing she gained was a concerned adopted son and a headache.
Pulling out of the school, Regina headed to the Pawnshop only to find that it hadn't opened and the pawnbroker's Cadillac was nowhere to be seen.

[i]Either he's dead... or going to be dead very soon. Gold never just decides to not open up his shop...[/i]

Turning her car in the other direction, Regina headed to the one place in Storybrooke she went out of her way to avoid on all pretenses... Mr. Gold's home.

Pulling into the driveway, Regina's suspicion was somewhat confirmed as she found his black Cadillac parked in the driveway, though the house looked just as still and lifeless as it's owner. Somewhat vexed that she had to take time out of her morning to hunt the bastard down, she made a point to slam her car door loudly before storming up the stairs and began to pound on the door, feeling the stained glass squares quaking under her wrath.
"GOLD? I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! GOLD? RUMPELSTILTSKIN!"

Belle heard the noise outside as she cooked breakfast for both her and Rumpelstiltskin. As she thought about answering the door, she heard the voice and recognized it as Regina's voice. She remembered Robert's warning, but she wasn't going to let the Evil Queen make her cower. She walked to the front door and she opened it, giving Regina a firm, serious look, as she looked Regina in the eyes and she said to her, "Rumpelstiltskin isn't here right now. I highly suggest you come back later,"

Regina looked somewhat taken back when Belle had answered the door, the look on her face gave way that Regina might have actually forgotten of the girl's existence. She cleared her throat, tempering her anger and settling for crossing her arms over her chest.

"So now the little Imp has a guard dog..." Regina eyed Belle up and down for a moment. "...more like a prized poodle..." She muttered under her breath without even so much as trying to keep Belle from hearing her. She let her arms down from their crossed position on her chest and let one of her hands run through her black hair, her other hand resting firmly on her hip. "So here's whats going to happen. You're going to tell that hollow shell of a man that I'm here and you're going to get him to come and talk to me, coward to Queen."

Belle crossed her arms, her blood boiling at her words uttered from the Queen's mouth. She rolled her eyes and she retorted "No. Here is what's going to happen: I close the door on you, and you can leave immediately. Rumpelstiltskin. Is. Not. Here," 

Regina's lips curled up into a snarl over her perfect white teeth, the vein in her forehead pulsing as this stupid little girl proved time and time again to show no amount of respect towards her.

"How. Dare. You!" Regina raised her right arm, her fingers coming together like a claw in heading for Belle's throat, sparks from her fingertips igniting at the first sign of magic Regina had seen since the curse broke.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you...[i]dearie...[/i]"

The voice had ice running through her boiling veins just as quickly as Regina was able to turn around, coming eye to eye with the pawnbroker staring right back at her with a cold glare not six inches away, though his posture seemed otherwise relaxed. He held both hands on the cane head, only breaking eye contact with Regina for a moment to look past her shoulder and to Belle, looking for some affirmation that she was alright.
Belle widened her eyes slightly and had a brief look of slight fear on her face when she saw sparks appear between Regina's fingers. However it faded when she heard Rumpelstiltskin's voice and she looked to see him. She smiled at him lightly to show that she was alright. 

"Belle, go on inside. The Queen and I have some things to... discuss." Mr. Gold said staring right back at Regina, his voice calm yet laced with only those who knew Mr. Gold well enough as pure rage. Regina in turn only stared back at Mr. Gold, unwilling to give up the struggle for power in their standoff before he did.

Belle answered "Alright..." before she closed the door on Regina. 

Only when he was sure that Belle had gone from the door did Mr. Gold smile, putting Regina even more on edge than she was before and making her eyebrows knit together even more furiously. 

"I need the book." She said breaking the silence between them, though still refusing to even so much as blink.

"Which book?" He asked, looking genuinely confused before he let out a small chuckle, remembering just what it was Regina seemed to need so desperately. "Oh, so it's come down to that, eh? You need your mommy's help."

Regina's eyes flashed dangerously at the jab to her mother, but kept straight to the point.

"Give me the book." She demanded.

"Do you really need the smell of the written word to get the magic flowing again, love? Maybe if you just relaxed, it would happen."

He was toying with her, and though Regina had learned over the years on how to toy back with him, she wasn't in any mood.

"I don't have time. It worked, there for just a second, I know I can do it again I just... I need a shortcut back."

"Yeah, well, I don't have time either. Leave my porch... please."

Regina instantly stiffened at the word, the one word he had managed to weasel into the curse that forced her to do whatever he wished so long as he used it, but this time... this time she didn't feel compelled to listen, and found, much to her satisfaction, complete control over her body.

"Well... how about that? Your 'pleases' have lost their punch." She responded with a snarky smile.

"Well, the fact remains jump-starting your magic is not in my best interests." Mr. Gold replied, feeling himself losing his ground with Regina. He hadn't counted on that.

"You know what else isn't in your best interest? Having everyone know that The Enchanted Forest still exists. We have a couple of missing patrons from Storybrooke, now isn't it curious that your little curse didn't just... send us [i]all[/i] back home? No... you're up to something Gold, and it doesn't involve going home..."

Mr. Gold fidgeted a bit, thinking over Regina's words. She had caught onto him far sooner than he had anticipated, and she was going to make him squirm until she got what she wanted, however, that didn't mean that he had to come out of this empty handed. Letting the gears turn in his head for a moment longer, he licked his lips before responding,

"Tell you what. I'll make you a deal. Your silence, with a key, for the book."

"Key? What the hell are you talking about?" Regina asked, for once completely lost in their dealings.

"There's a library inside the clock tower, a library you had closed off to Storybrooke to hide your little secret... you know, when you had power..." His lips twitched into a smile, watching Regina's smile fade at the jest.

"A library? Why on earth would you want a-" Regina snapped her mouth shut, for the first time tearing her eyes from Mr. Gold to look back at the front door of his home before looking back at him with an expression that was nothing less than awe-struck. "You really [i]are[/i] smitten aren't you?" She asked and when he said nothing she added "My sympathies, nothing good will ever come out of it. She's more likely to up and leave you for another man again once she realizes just what sort of man you [i]really[/i] are."

A muscle underneath Mr. Gold's eye twitched, but he kept his mouth shut on the matter.

"Alright fine, you can have the stupid library. The key is in my office-"

Mr. Gold made a quick flourish of his right hand before a tiny box no bigger than his palm appeared in his hand, a knowing smile playing at his lips as Regina's eyes widened a bit, jealousy of his ease of magic coloring her cheeks.

"Now give me the book."

Tucking the key box into the breast pocket of his dress shirt hidden underneath his suit jacket, Mr. Gold flicked his wrist and Regina gazed hungrily down at the book he now had in his hand.

"Careful, dearie. These are straight-up spells. Rough on the system." He warned as Regina snatched the book away from him.

"I don't care if they turn me green. I'm going to protect my son" Regina replied, and it took all of Mr. Gold' swill to not choke on the laughter he kept hidden in his chest at the iroy of her words. There was much Regina did not yet know, and yet... he found it to be better that way.

A small chuckle did find it's way out though, a quiet "Oh my" coming from the Pawnbroker as Regina pried open the book to devour the secrets within. Though at his chuckle, Regina was forced to look back at him with a questioning look. 

"What?"

"It's just that... you once told me that you looked like your mother, and I didn't see it. Though, holding that... I now do." His lips curled up into a twisted smile as Regina's mouth opened up in a small 'o' in short of a gasp. Swallowing hard, Regina did what she could to straighten her gait as she pushed past him and headed directly to her car where she got in eagerly and left his driveway without another glance.

Still with the smile on his face, Mr. Gold hummed to himself a bit joyfully as he limped his way towards the door and headed inside his home. He had a present to give after all.