So I'm toying with this idea. For anyone who hasn't seen the latest episode, don't read if you don't want spoilers...Also if you're diehard OQ, you probably won't like this...All right, you've been warned. No one will even be interested in this, but I need to write this idea out to get it out of my system, so here it goes.

In the Underworld, following the last episode: After David and James' fight, James is thrown into the water but, unbeknownst to everyone, is saved by Hades. They make a deal that if James can assist Hades in his quest to get Zelena back, he'll give him life again. James kidnaps Zelena from Pan and Rumple, as well as lures Robin and the baby into a trap. Meanwhile, Regina, Emma, David and Killian have found a way back, and are trying to find Robin and the child in the forest. When they find them held hostage, Hades reveals that the only way he will let them leave is if Zelena and the child stay. When Robin says he is not leaving the child, Hades agrees...by taking the life from Robin, dooming him to Underbrooke forever, and giving his life source to James as payment...

Darkness. It was Regina's only emotion since returning to Storybrooke. She'd witnessed another love of her life die before her at the hands of another, her happy ending shattering into a million pieces. Upon their return to the living version of the town, she'd instantly vanished in purple smoke, transporting herself to her own home.

After sealing it completely from visitors with her magic, she allowed herself to crumble, to utterly fall apart. She didn't know how many days had passed or how long it had been since she'd had a meal. She heard Emma and Henry and the others pounding on her front door from time to time, that is until she added the sound barrier spell to it.

The emptiness swirled inside of her, bringing her deepest demons to the light. She felt as hopeless and vengeful as she did back in the Enchanted Forest, where her happiness was stolen by her mother, by The King, and by Snow.

Regina didn't know how much more she could take. She'd grown up under the rule of a mentally abusive parent, watched her first love die, had her innocence practically sold to a man three times her age, had been raped and confined by the bastard, made herself baron to save another child from her mother, had almost lost her adopted son to his biological parents, witnessed the man she loved have a child with another, and now witnessed him take his last breath.

Villains don't get happy endings. She was a fool to think she'd ever have one, or even deserve one. No matter what good she did or who she saved, her past would always catch up with her. Everyone she loved would somehow be harmed because of their affiliation with her. Their love may have given her strength, but what good was that when she couldn't even protect them with it?

Henry was better off with Emma and Killian, for she would do nothing but bring him harm. Look what she'd done to him in his young life already. Treating him like he was crazy over the fairytale book, keeping him from his biological mother and subjecting him to countless dangerous situations due to enemies from her past. She ached for him but she refused to give into her maternal instincts. She was no decent mother to him and she never could be. She was not worthy of anyone.

Almost three months had passed since she isolated herself, not leaving the house other than in the wee hours of the night when she needed to go to her tomb. She was there now, staring at the rows of small boxes on her shelves, pulling down one and opening it.

She took a deep breath before reaching into her chest and pulling out her heart, staring at the mostly black organ for a few moments. It used to be much redder when Robin was alive, he'd brought her back to life in many ways. Now it was as dark as in her Evil Queen days and it was getting harder and harder to control her malicious thoughts.

She placed the pitiful organ into the box and shut it, sliding it back into the shelf with others. It was useless to her now anyways. At least without her heart in her chest her pain was more of a dull ache rather than the sickening, searing kind she had been enduring since her boyfriend's death.

Without her contradictory heart, maybe she wouldn't be burdened with the heroism and morals that had creeped into her life. An influence of the people she spent more time around than she should've. She wasn't like them, she wasn't a hero, and she never could be. She didn't belong.

Having loved ones had made her weak and allowed her to let her guard down. Since becoming a hero she hadn't been able to make the tough decisions and do things that needed to be done without a nagging voice in the back of her mind to do the right thing. Having a family, being a hero; it had made her weak. It clouded her judgement.

Had she not been so concerned with talking sense into that idiot sister of hers, had she not been so preoccupied with helping people get to the light in Underbrooke, Robin would still be alive. She'd have found a way out, Hook or no Hook, and gotten them to safety. But no, she'd done the right thing, she'd tried to get everyone to safety. And look where it got her.

Back to square one, alone and miserable, with nothing but hatred to keep her company. Hell, she'd gone to the Underworld to help her so called "family" and in turn lost her own. Robin was dead. Roland had returned to the Enchanted Forest with Little John. Henry was better off with his real mother, where he was safe.

Regina didn't trust herself anymore. She couldn't keep the dark thoughts from invading her mind, the spark of adrenaline that rushed up her spine when she thought of going down the path of destruction. This feeling of hopelessness was a familiar one and the seduction of evil pulled her in closer each passing day.

She wanted revenge. She wanted to blame someone. To rip someone to shreds and make them feel what she was feeling right now. Pacing the floor of her tomb with her fists clenched, she relived the final moments in Underbrooke.

They'd almost been home...Regina and Emma had managed to put their magic together and fashion a portal for them. Just when they thought it was coming together, she'd gone to fetch Robin and the baby from the forest. They were gone, which Regina later found out her love had been lured into a trap by David's evil brother. In return he'd gotten the life source that was stolen from Robin.

Regina slammed her fist down on her magic podium, making the tiny glass bottles of potions rattle, dangerously close to rocking off of the surface. James didn't deserve to be alive, didn't deserve the life he'd been given again. Robin should be the one alive in Storybrooke...with her. She'd see too it that James paid for what he'd done.

She bit her lip, suppressing the evil grin that threatened to spread across her face at the morbid ideas of how to punish him came to fruition. It had been so long since she'd allowed herself to think such things, to embrace her darkness instead of stifle it to make everyone else comfortable. No, Regina had had the last thing taken from her that she ever would, and she'd be damned if she didn't make people pay.

"Have you seen any sign of her lately?" Snow frowned as she asked Emma, sitting in the corner of the booth beside David as their daughter and grandson faced them on the other side of the table. She couldn't help but notice Henry roll his eyes at the mention of his adoptive mother. While Snow could understand his anger, she felt sorry for both of them. She knew Henry's anger stemmed from the pain of rejection, but she also sensed why Regina had secluded herself.

It was clear that Regina was struggling with the darkness again and Snow did not know what to do to help. She'd attempted stopping by on multiple occasions, but Regina wouldn't let her in. Emma had attempted to break into both her home and her vault with no luck. Henry had also tried to speak with her, slipping a letter under her front door when she wouldn't answer for him.

Snow knew she should be mad at Regina like Emma, David and most of all Henry was. However, she couldn't help understanding where her friend's isolation stemmed from. Regina had been through too much for her to handle and keep up a brave face. She needed to be alone, to deal with her demons.

Snow also knew how little credit Regina have herself, how low her self worth was. To Regina, she was and always would be the person she used to be, who did horrible things that couldn't be forgiven. She was harder on herself than anyone, and she felt things more deeply than anyone in this town.

So no, Snow couldn't bring herself to be angry with Regina for isolating herself. She understood her too much. She just wished she knew how to help.

"Nope, haven't seen her," Emma sighed with an arch of her eyebrow and a matching eye roll to her son's. Emma and Henry were equally hurt by Regina's rejection, both having special bonds with her and not used to being shut out.

"I really wish we could find a way to reach out to her, it's been three months since Underbrooke and the most we've seen of her is through her window," Snow let out a deep breath, "I'm worried she's going to let this go too far."

"You think she'll turn evil again?" David frowned a little, pausing mid-slice of his pancake.

"Look how close she came when Robin's wife came back and broke them up," Henry piped in, setting his fork down and leaning back in the diner chair as if he'd lost his appetite, "I know my mom, this is too much for her to handle on her own and she's not letting us help."

"I just don't know what else we can do. If she doesn't want to see us, she'll make sure of it," Emma shook her head frustratedly, "She's done a damn good job so far."

David and Snow nodded in disappointed agreement, the four of them turning their head towards the door when it opened with gusto. Snow felt her husband tense beside her in the booth as their eyes registered who it was. The diner suddenly grew silent at the unwelcomed customer.

James gave them a smug smile as he walked past their table and up to the counter to put in his order. Since his arrival in Storybrooke, David had warned him that he'd better make himself scarce, and that if he tried anything, he would lock him up.

James abided by his twin's warning for the most part, though there had been a few instances where he'd shown up in town. Usually it was to go to the liquor store, seeing as Granny refused to serve him alcohol in her establishment. On his few appearances in town he always manages to irk David in some way, usually with his cockiness.

"What is he doing in here? He knows better," David growled under his breath to the three of them at the table as Snow outstretched her hand to rest on his arm.

"Don't jump to conclusions yet, he hasn't done anything," She whispered in an attempt to diffuse the situation. All it took was one glance at the three of them and a sleeping Neal in his car seat in the booth beside Snow before David's mind was made up.

Her husband stood from his seat, rounding the table with determination as he went up to James. David's hand was on his gun in his belt, prepared for a show down with his twin.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave," David shrugged with an arrogance that Snow had only seen him reserve for a few people, the Evil Queen being one.

James raised an eyebrow, halfway turning from the counter to glance David up and down once, "What are you gonna do? Shoot me for ordering a burger?"

"We have an agreement, James," David gritted out in an attempt to stay calm, "You steer clear of the innocent people in this town, don't cause trouble, and I let you stay."

"I'm not causing any trouble," James shrugged in defiance, stepping up to his brother in challenge, "It seems to me like it's the power tripping sheriff that's causing the problems."

"Get out, I don't want you around my family," David gripped his gun tighter, nodding towards the door.

About that time Granny appeared from the back of the kitchen as the people of the diner fixed their eyes on the situation, ready for the next morsel of drama.

"You heard the sheriff, I wouldn't be serving the likes of you anyhow," Granny narrowed her eyes over her glasses, giving James a disapproving once over.

James looked at Granny before scanning the diner, seeming to note the number of disgusted expressions at his mere presence. He glanced back at David and Snow could tell Jame's was forcing the grin that appeared to mask any proof that it had gotten to him.

"Would you look at that, brother? Once again you're the chosen one," James said sarcastically, picking his wallet up from the counter and shoving it back in his pocket.

Snow watched David's jaw tense at James' words as the dark twin pushed past, brushing shoulders with his brother on his way towards the door. While she far from liked James, she couldn't help the niggling feeling that they were being hypocrites. He hadn't caused any trouble for three months now, and hadn't intended to when he came in Granny's today. After all they'd done themselves, she couldn't seem to stifle the guilt that crept up in her at the idea of denying James a second chance. Of course, there was no way she could mention this to David.

Her husband had made up his mind about his twin brother, especially when James hadn't ever made an attempt to redeem himself. She would have to learn to accept the idea that some people don't change.

James kicked shut the door of Zelena's farmhouse behind him as he came in, setting his bottle of whiskey down on the table with more force than necessary. He'd been squatting in the old house since he arrived in Storybrooke with nowhere to go, unprepared for life in this strange world. Not to mention his twin had more than warned him to stay away from the city limits. At least David allowed him to frequent the liquor store.

His stomach growled as he sat down at the table, sliding over his empty glass from before and screwing the top off of his cheap whiskey. His money was dwindling quickly, so he'd been forced to bargain shop. Hades had sent him to this world with empty pockets and no idea how to fill them once again. You didn't need money in Underbrooke, what was the use for it? And back in his days as Prince, if they needed money he would either steal it or charm it from another kingdom. Here he felt helpless, which didn't settle well with him.

He'd looked for honest work, wandering into businesses around town to see if they were hiring. He'd even stopped at the local mechanic's shop to see if they needed an extra hand. Not that he knew anything about these strange, new carriages of this world, but he offered to do anything that needed to be done. The hunger pains weren't going to cure themselves, after all.

But, as his luck would have it, the mechanic recognized him as the evil twin of David Nolan that the idiots of this town gossiped about, and not-so-kindly asked him to leave his shop. James got him back in the end, though, waiting until the greasy bastard had left for lunch at Granny's before inviting himself in the back door of the establishment and helping himself to the cash register.

That was the only place he'd robbed so far, rationing the money for liquor and a few staple foods to get him by. It wasn't his morals that had prevented him from taking from anyone else, but he had to plan the next theft better so it would not trace back to him. He believed what his brother said about locking him up, and he'd be damned if he'd let him have the satisfaction. No, he couldn't take any chances, he was already banished from town and scraping by, he didn't need Prince Charming's bullshit on top of everything else. If this world didn't want to give him a fair chance at making it, he'd take it for himself.

James took a large gulp of his whiskey, letting out a long breath as it burned it's way down his throat. It wasn't the best quality, but it still numbed his hunger and restlessness. He'd never been so unsure of his next move. Before he'd died his life as a prince had at least given him purpose. His adoptive father was harsh and cruel, but he taught James how to out maneuver anyone who crossed his path. But that was in his old element, back in another realm where things made sense and he had an army on his side.

After his death his days in Underbrooke were consumed with thinking about the past and brooding over his life compared to his brothers. His parents had given him up, had subjected him to a life of harsh rule under his adoptive father, and yet David still got the life James wanted. David had been the chosen one, was kept by their parents and loved. Then he was able to act as Prince, was beloved by his kingdom, and was even able to defy the King's rule of his life and marry his love, Snow White. David had truly gotten the best of both worlds, while James received misery in both.

Of course when he confronted his brother in Underbrooke, he'd told David the reason he hated him was because he got the life and glory he himself had wanted. It was true, but it wasn't the whole truth. James would rather die and end up in Underbrooke all over again than admit to David that the cause of his pain was indeed that their parents had chosen his brother instead of him. That's where the self loathing began. He couldn't understand what they saw in David that they hadn't seen in him. They must have know his brother had the better heart and potential. Could he really blame his parents for giving him away? Or could he blame them for the way he'd turned out?

It was something he never could seem to come to terms with. Was he born evil and his parents saw that, or was he product of how his adoptive father had raised him? In the King's home he was raised to put money and glory above all. It was on his shoulders from a very young age to do anything that needed to be done to get money and save their kingdom. His father had very little tolerance for failure, pushing James to the limit daily to be the best at fighting, manipulating and charming anyone in his way. By the time he was of age he was a fine tuned machine controlled by King George.

But those days were long gone now, and he was once again a nobody. No family, no belongings and no purpose. He was in a new world, but his past still held him back. It didn't seem fair, but then again he didn't deserve fairness. Though, thanks to King George, he had been educated in the art of taking what he wanted, and he knew in this land he'd have to do just that. Grabbing the bottle of whiskey, he poured himself another glass full before leaning back to contemplate his next move.