Walking along Main Street, Emma still pondered the question she asked herself a few days earlier, exactly what was Regina Mills hiding?

Sure between that time she had tried to question Gold, not only on the situation of why she was brought to town but also about Regina. Her answer however was somewhat of a dead end. It seemed Mr Gold not only liked to keep business personal but also everything else about his life, including a certain love/hate relationship with a certain mayor.

Emma walked up to Granny's as she had done since she had arrived as it was the only decent place to eat. Correction, the only place to eat. Entering the diner, she noticed straight away that Gold was sat in the same booth they had done before. Sighing, Emma heads over sitting herself down knowing full well Gold must be sitting there for a reason.

" ah good morning miss Swan"

Emma looks at him giving a half hearted smile. Gold returned the smile before producing a stack of documents causing Emma to frown.

"Wha-.."

"Hello Miss Swan...Gold"

looking over at the new form at the table, Emma seemed to this time give a genuine smile taking in the mayor's appearance.

"Madam mayor"

Emma nods in acknowledgment still smiling. Gold picking up on this looks up to the brunette.

"Can I...we...help you with anything Regina?"

Regina still looking in Emma's direction slowly looks at him.

"Erm no..just wanted to say good morning...that's not a crime as far as I'm aware..is it?"

"No of course not but you and good do not mix well"

Emma's eyes widen at the comment from Gold trying to take it too far

" I think..I need more coffee...excuse me"

Emma looks between the pair and slides out of the booth heading straight for the counter not wanting to be part of the confrontation. Regina raises an eyebrow looking at gold then smiles.

"I think I might actually need more coffee too...mines gone bitter"

Smirking, Regina heads over to join Emma leaving gold looking very displeased.

Picking up on her presence, Emma holds her hands up.

"Please leave me out of your arguments"

Regina nods taking a refill.

"Of course miss swan"

Regina looks over at the booth then back at Emma smiling.

"It's just so easy...clearly even the matter of us communicating is considered a problem for him"

"Il say"

Both Emma and Regina smile, looking at each other for a moment. Before it gets too awkward, Regina holds her coffee up and nods before heading towards the door. Watching her leave Emma sighs before retrieving her own drink and turning to the door.

"My names Emma by the way"

Regina stops and looks over her shoulder nodding again with a small smile.

"I know..miss swan"

Emma rolls her eyes smiling.

"Miss swan I don't have all day"

Emma looks over to gold and heads back picking up the documents.

"Your right I'm sorry ..what is in these files?"

"Information...on a certain someone I want you to help me find"

"And who is..this person?"

Raising an eyebrow looking at him hoping for a decent answer. Tapping the file, Gold moves close so no one else can hear.

"All you need to know dearie is in this file, no further questions needed just follow my instruction...you do know authority that can help you and that your pretty close to correct?"

Emma looks at him wide eyed wondering how he knows her past.

"Well...I.."

Sighing Emma stands taking the documents with her.

"Il...see what I can do"

Looking at him once more, she heads out the door leaving a very pleased looking Gold. Walking along Main Street, Emma gets her phone out to call.

" Hi...I've got something...yeah sure I'll see you there."

Hearing a knock at the front door, Regina removes herself from her desk in her study and straightens herself out before opening the door.

Stepping aside letting the other person in, Regina looks over.

"So what exactly did you get?"

Holding up the documents, Emma shuts the door.

"He wants me to find this person..looking at it I believe it could be his son"

Regina takes the file hiding her slightly panicked feeling and looks at it.

"Are you sure it's his son..I mean from what I know miss swan, Gold's son...left due to he's actions. There's no point in all this"

Shutting the file, Regina motions for Emma to follow her to the kitchen. Emma follows picking up that something's not right and watches Regina pour them a drink.

" Gold never said that he was the reason this person was gone"

Passing the drink to her, Regina chuckles.

" why would he dear...he drove he's own son away..among other people. I'm just saying if I were you I wouldn't get involved..you don't know what Gold is capable of or skeletons hiding in his closet"

Taking a sip, Emma looks at her.

" and I'm guessing you do?...why is everyone so cryptic in this town"

"We...have a not so friendly past yes."

" well I can handle myself...I'm sure it won't take me long then I'm gone and Gold won't need to hassle me"

Regina puts her glass down frowning.

"Hassle you?...miss swan what are you not telling me?"

"Nothing...I just mean he's adamant that I have to find this person.."

" and you can't say no because he has something on you"

Crossing her arms, Regina looks at her. Emma looks back kind of stuck knowing she will find out eventually.

" not..exactly just..he knows some of my past..and it's not very pretty"

"Not everyone's life are a bed of roses. What does he know?"

Emma shoves a hand in her pocket while holding her drink with the other hand and bites her lip. Regina watches then retrieves her drink.

"Come on.."

Heading out to the living room, Regina sits down on the couch looking concerned. Emma having followed takes a breath and sits next to her.

"I...I know some cops who have helped me with a difficult situation involving my father..so Gold clearly knows and what's me to ask their help again"

" and you don't want to?"

"It just means I will have to go back to where I came from and there are a lot of bad memories.."

Regina nods understanding.

"And your father?"

Emma looks at her.

" he's in jail...for things he done to..me and other people"

Placing a hand on her arm, Regina looks sad.

"..Emma.."

Looking back, Emma shrugs the situation off and attempts a smile changing the subject.

" since when did the mayor go all agony aunt?"

"What? Don't be absurd..clearly just clarifying information to help your case with Gold. I am not soft"

Emma laughs at Regina's sudden defence and nods.

"Of course not I mean you have a reputation to uphold"

" exactly"

Regina looks at Emma who is watching with a smile.

"What?"

"You called me Emma"

"So I did...don't get used to it"

Emma nods and downs the rest of her drink standing.

"I better head off..taken up to much of the precious mayors time, you got your info and we don't want people talking now do we?"

Regina clears her throat standing also.

"No we don't thanks for your concern"

Showing Emma to the door, Regina watches her leave down the path after a mini wave from the blonde.

"Don't forget call me if.."

"Yeah yeah I know ..if I get any info.."

"If you need to talk miss swan"

Emma looks back seeing Regina smile and walks off smiling to herself.

As soon as she closes the door, Regina paces up and down her hallway fiddling with her hands thinking. Grabbing her keys, Regina heads to Gold's shop and walks straight in nearly taking the door off.

Looking over from his accounts Gold watches her.

"Regina...you nearly broke the bell"

Heading over to the counter, Regina leans over to him.

"Oh..Il break a hell of a lot more if you're not careful imp!"

Chuckling, gold walks round the counter so he's face to face with her.

"And what exactly have I done to our dear queen to get her this angry?"

Regina glares trying to hold her anger. Gold smiles.

"Oh...I get it...it seems a certain young blonde has got to our town's mayor"

Regina blinks looking at him uneasy.

"Whatever you think you may know your wrong I'm just ensuring that there will be no bullying of any kind in this town unless made by myself got it?"

Gold smiles heading to the door and opening it for her.

"Denial doesn't look good on you Regina..it makes you weak"

Tilting his head toward the open door, Gold watches Regina walks over and past him giving him a look that could kill on the way out. Stopping just outside, Regina turns.

"Whatever your problem is or whatever you need to know, deal with it with me...not her"

Watching her walk away, Gold smiles to himself loving the fact that he gets to wind her up even more. staring off into the distance however Gold's smile starts to fade knowing that his plan may not work the way he wants it to if the two females continue to grow closer.

Walking off in the distance, Regina shoves her hands in her pockets shaking off the cold air and gradually smiling to herself realizing that no matter what happens from here on out, she has gained Emma's trust and she is going to win.

Author's note: hope you enjoyed i know it has been a while since i updated busy with work sorry!