Operation Red Fox

Chapter Four: The Prophesied Soulmate

A/N: This chapter mostly consists of the episode because I need to keep the subplot of Zelena moving forward, but as always, character conversations are adjusted for the story. Also, a reminder that Robin is in the story, but he plays a different role in Regina's life, and soon the soulmate prophecy will come to light. Enjoy the long weekend everyone.

Chapter Four: The Prophesied Soulmate

Emma knocked on the door to Granny's, Regina standing behind her. They left Henry back at the mansion, secure within the walls the protection spell covered and entertained by the vast amount of old video games and comic books his previous self indulged in. He had even told Regina he couldn't wait to meet her son because he knew they would be the best of friends. She merely nodded and smiled at his remark, though her chest twinged.

Granny came to the door, her sleeves rolled up and glasses on her head to keep the cooking grease from ruining them. "If you want privacy, talk fast. We open in twenty and no one gets between Leroy and his bacon," she said before returning behind the counter.

Emma's mouth watered at the smell, but she knew Regina would have taken offense if she ate a second breakfast. She would have thought hers wasn't good enough, even though Emma ate enough for a small army. Regina making anything with fruit was good. Blueberry pancakes were a new favorite.

"Is there any sign of our quarry?" Hook asked, sitting alone at a booth in the back.

Emma huffed and walked to the empty table dead center, pulling a chair out for Regina before sitting down herself. "I went all over that farmhouse and the land around it. Nothing. Whoever the witch is, she's good at covering her tracks. Definitely doesn't want to be found."

"Well," David started, hands around his mug to warm them up, "now that the sun's up, we should hit every place Gold might go. His house, shop, his cabin. Anywhere we can think of."

Regina watched Emma roll her eyes and slouch in her chair.

"Because dead men love vacation homes," the blond said. "Can someone explain to me how this is even possible? We all saw Gold, he-"

Snow gave a sad smile. "Disappeared into nothingness."

Their attention sailed to Hook as he stood up, boots scuffing on the floor with every step. "I might have an inkling."

Regina and Emma tilted their heads to the side, Regina out of annoyance, waiting for him to say something she already knew, but Emma out of curiosity.

"When we went back to the Enchanted Forest, Neal was talking about the possibility of getting his father back. He missed his family. He was desperate to find a way to return to this world. He believed that bringing his father back was the key."

Emma scrunched her nose. "Well, if that was his plan, then obviously something went wrong. Because, while Gold might be alive and kicking, Neal is... He is... We don't know what he is. We don't even know if he made it back to Storybrooke. No one's seen him since this new curse."

David gave a hopeful smile. "He's out there somewhere. There's a lot of Storybrooke to search. He might be with the witch for all we know."

Regina smacked her lips and flicked her hair out of her face. "With all due respect, we have bigger issues right now than who brought Gold back. The fact that he was in the Wicked Witch's basement for one. I wanna know what the hell she was cooking up with him."

Gold. He always was a manipulative bastard. She hoped after all these years and the love he found with Belle would change him, yet he was manipulative as ever. Possibly even more than Rumplestiltskin. Regina had to admit though, she couldn't completely fault him. The darkness was hard to run from. It was hard to escape. And even when it was possible, its voice still called out to those who got away. Temptations surrounded her. That's what made her afraid. Afraid of what she did in the past, including the year she could not remember, and for the future.