"Follow the plan, dearie."

The audio cracked. It did that a lot. The bug they'd planted in the car wasn't in the ideal place but that was the worst reception they'd ever gotten. As if something was interfering with the signal. They could only hope it wouldn't disappear completely.

"When have I let you down?"

A female voice asked. That was her. It was the first time they were hearing her voice. It was so sickly sweet that even the crackling of the transmitter couldn't stop it from causing shivers to run down Emma's spine.

"I can think of a few occasions, Your Majesty."

The familiarity between the two was outstanding–as if they'd known each other their whole lives–and Emma couldn't believe they had only learned about her a few weeks ago. Killian and she had been tracking the man they believed was the infamous Gold-weaver for months, trying to prove his crimes and money laundering. But he always seemed to be ten steps ahead of them. Until a few weeks ago when they'd learned he had an accomplice. A woman that he always called 'Your Majesty'. They'd given her the code name 'The Queen'. The two had been speaking on the phone quite often those past few days, plotting something big. But that was the first time they'd met in person. She'd gotten in his car a few minutes ago.

"We're on the same team now, dear."

She paused in favor of a sonorous kiss that, luckily for Emma and Killian, didn't last long.

"Let's go see the catch of the day."

They left the car and Emma turned off the transmitter.

"Let's go," she said, her hand sliding to the holster on her belt to check for her gun one last time.

"Wait, Swan," Killian caught her hand, halting her impetus. His hand moved to the ring he was wearing on a chain around his neck and he took it off.

"What are you doing?" Emma asked with agitation. "This may be our only chance to catch them both. We have to go."

"I want you to have it." He helped her put it on. "As a lucky charm." He gave her that smile she could never quite return.

She knew she meant the world to him but it still hit her over the head like a brick every time she saw the love in his eyes. No one had ever looked at her like that. Ever since her parents had abandoned her right after her birth she'd believed she was unlovable. And even when her son found her and dragged her to a neighbourhood in New York, claiming it was cursed by his adoptive mother and she was the only one who could break the spell, she still felt like she didn't belong. He loved her, sure, but she was afraid that one day he'd realize that she wasn't the Savior he thought her to be and he'd want nothing to do with her anymore. But Killian had been there for her every moment, looking after her even when she didn't want him to and loving her even when she was scared to love him back.

"Thanks," She grasped the ring, giving him a faint smile in return, suddenly afraid. She had a lucky charm to keep her safe but it wouldn't matter if she lost him. She wanted to tell him how much... how much he meant to her. But if she didn't move soon, she never would. "I'm going after him, you follow her," she said and leapt out of their hiding place without awaiting an answer.

For a moment she thought–she hoped really–that they'd lost them but then she spotted two figures on the sidewalk, not that far away. She wondered how long her moment with Killian had lasted. Not long enough, she decided (it had felt like eternity).

The two figures parted ways – he turned left and she continued straightforward at the crossroads. Emma went after him, suppressing the impulse to turn around and look at Killian one last time. She had to stay focused on the mission. They'd been working on it for months. She couldn't blow her cover now.

She followed her target, keeping a safe distance between them, her fingers brushing against the walkie talkie on her waist every now and then but it stayed silent. As much as she wanted to hear Killian's voice, that was a good sign. It meant nothing had gone wrong.

She stopped, considering her next move, when the man turned right a few blocks after the separation point and headed for the back entrance of Granny's Bed & Breakfast. Emma knew the place well–Henry always insisted on going there–and knew that she could miss him if she didn't act quickly.

"Swan," the walkie talkie on her waist came to life. "I lost her."

She made up her mind at that. She grabbed the device and pressed the button. "I'm still on his trail. He went into Granny's. I'm going after him."

"Swan, wait for me." Killian's voice was different now, more alarmed, and she wished she could listen to him.

"There's no time. We can't lose him." She returned the walkie talkie on her waist and drew out her gun.

The path to the diner was muddy and slippery. She held her gun low when she entered the diner in case there was someone there. She didn't want to scare the living hell out of Granny. Luckily for her, the reception was empty but there were muddy footsteps on the floor. She smiled. He wouldn't get away now.

She followed the steps to one of the rooms. The door was open and the footsteps disappeared at the threshold which set off the alarm in Emma's head. She slowly walked into the room, listening carefully and keeping her eyes peeled. It was clear save for the figure that was facing the window. She recognized him nonetheless.

"Gold?" she asked, lowering her gun slightly in shock. It couldn't be. That hadn't been his voice they'd heard mere minutes ago. But when he turned around, she saw the familiar face.

"Miss Swan." He took a step towards her, his cane nowhere to be seen. He'd been playing them all that time.

She cocked her gun, holding him at gunpoint. "Don't move."

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere." He smirked at her, making her want to walk over to him and hit him on the head with her gun.

"Swan," she heard Killian's voice behind her back. "What's going on?" he asked between heavy breaths. He'd came running.

She glanced at him and saw him standing behind her, gun in his hand. She relaxed a little, knowing that he had her back. "It was him all along," she said, her eyes set firmly on Gold and her finger on the trigger, ready to shoot him if he dared breathe the wrong way. "But we got him now." She allowed for some smugness to seep into her voice.

"We still have to find his accomplice, love," Killian didn't sound quite as confident as her.

"I'm right here."

The door slammed shut behind them, the key turning in the lock.

Emma turned around, wondering how she'd missed the presence of another person, wondering how she'd missed that it was her. "Regina." But she couldn't have known of course. The voices they'd heard thanks to the bug had not belonged to the people they were now facing. They'd known about it and had managed to fool them. "Don't move," she said through gritted teeth when Regina pocketed the skeleton key she'd used to lock the door. She sounded more betrayed than she would've liked. She'd always been at odds with Regina but she'd thought they were trying to get along for Henry's sake. She didn't even want to think of how she'd explain the situation to him. She could imagine his eyes filling with tears and his lip trembling when she told him that the woman who'd raised him was going to jail. She had to shoot Regina just for that.

"You're not gonna shoot me," Regina said haughtily and calmly circled her, ignoring the gun that stayed aimed at her, until she came to stand next to Gold.

"Oh yeah?" Emma challenged, her finger tightening on the trigger.

"Henry would never forgive you if you shot me no matter what you'd tell him." She leaned on Gold's shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Maybe. But he'll never forgive you when he learns what you two are doing." Emma had to admit that she was a bit shocked herself. The two of them had always hated each other but now they were working together. Of course it could've been pretense like everything else. It didn't matter because they had them cornered. "You're under arrest." She reached for the handcuffs she was carrying.

"On what charges?" Gold asked.

On what charges? She had an entire list of crimes that were committed by... the Gold-weaver. And they still couldn't link Gold to him. "Trespassing," she fired out. She wouldn't let him find a loophole out of this.

"What proof do you have?" Regina joined her boyfriend. Or whatever the hell he was.

"That nice creepy skeleton key in your pocket," the fake sweetness of her voice matching the one of the female voice they'd heard earlier. "Step away from him." She ordered, motioning with her head.

"Your Majesty, if you will," Gold said, sounding irritated.

"With pleasure," Regina lazily raised her hand. With a flick of her wrist Emma's gun was forced out of her hand.

"Swan." Killian's hand wrapped around her bicep now that he'd lost his gun too.

Emma's jaw dropped. "How'd you do that?"

"Oh, that? That's a little something I specialize in." Regina held out her palm and little flames started dancing in it.

"Magic," Emma whispered as she remembered what Henry had told her about Regina, the air getting knocked out of her lungs.

"I told you you have no idea what I'm capable of, Emma," the sound of her own name was mocking her as it left Regina's mouth. The fire died down in her hand, a vicious grin appearing on her face. "Welcome to reality."

A/N: There will be another chapter. I just don't know when I'll post it but I hope it won't take long. Reviews are greatly appreciated.