ONCE One Shots

The Well Known Thirst for Vengeance

Rating- PG

Tease- Regina and Hook talk after he comes back from the dead. Takes place after Robin's funeral, at Granny's.  

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"Regina," Killian sighed empathetically, catching her attention outside of Granny's. This was the first time they had really talked since the Underworld, something neither of them he'd get out of. "I'm sorry to hear about Robin, he was a noble man."

"He was," she answered simply. Her pain clear in her voice, and in the defensive stance she had taken on.

"Emma and I really were going to talk to you first about this, about my being brought back here, our plan got hijacked by that earthquake," he continued explaining himself. He was scratching behind his ear, a nervous tick he's had forever. "Um," he mumbled, unsure how to continue the conversation. Emma had pushed him to do this, and he had now run out of material.

"Robin died. Leaving the Mary Men without a leader, a child without his father," she said, trying to keep her composure. Somehow she had been able to bottle her emotions this far, not even crying at the funeral.

"Leaving you without your soul mate," Killian added, knowing that Regina needed to hear that her emotions were more than justified.

"And what would you know about that?" she scoffed.

"About losing soul mates? I'm not sure, but I can't imagine it's any different than losing a true love, and that I too know well," he answered sincerely. Regina's eyes meet his for the first time.

"You two, are...?"

"Aye, we found out for sure in the Underworld. I can say that I can't imagine what you're going through, but it would be a lie. I've had to say goodbye to my true love too many times, and I hope to never say goodbye again."

"That's just it Hook, you're here now. Your happy ending reunited. Mine? Abolished into the oblivion. My true love, my soul mate will never be back. We'll never be able to say hello again," Regina said, finally letting herself tear a shed. Just one. The words hurt to say, but they were the truth. Robin was gone.

"That's a loss I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy," he said in return with complete sincerity. He didn't even wish that emotional pain on Rumple, not after knowing what it's like.

"That's just it. I did wish it on my worst enemy, when I was the Evil Queen that's all I wished for. Maybe that's why Robin died. It's just what was in the cards for me. The Evil Queen will forever haunt me."

"That's not true, no one in Storybrooke has an easy time Regina. Everyone wants you to find your happy ending, trust me, I hear enough about it from Emma," he said and rolled his eyes playfully. Regina couldn't help but smile a bit at that. Someone she had been at odds with for so long was on her side. Was she truly forgiven? "You didn't do this to Robin, Regina, Hades did, and he paid the ultimate price for that,"

"Why doesn't that feel like enough? I still want to rip his heart out," Regina said. Killian chuckled lightly. Oh the dark humor of it all.

"Ah an eye for an eye, a little mundane for you Regina,"

"Oh says the man who spent over 2 centuries trying to kill the man who took his hand," Regina countered.

"He also took my first love from me. I know this path of vengeance Regina, and so do you. It won't accomplish anything."

"I'm painfully aware, but it doesn't keep me from thinking it. It's the Evil Queen, she's always hovering over me, a dark shadow I can't get rid of. Do you still have that?" she asked curiously, from one former villain to another. He nodded.

"Aye of course, it's what let the darkness consume me the way it did. Don't let her win Regina,"

"She won't, I don't want her back ever. It's not who I am, not anymore," she answered with a deep breath. Emma carefully walked up to the two of them.

"Hi Swan," Killian smiled gently, not wanting to trigger Regina with his normal love.

"I should let you two have a moment before we have to go and confront Gold about that blast," Regina said, and walked away. Emma noticed that she didn't sulk as she walked. Her walk was nowhere near having a skip in her step, but it was an improvement.

"She seems... better," Emma said and turned back to Killian who was smirking at her. "What did you say to her?"

"Just gave her a little advice, former villain to former villain," he answered, and put his arm around Emma's shoulders. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he pulled her closer.

"Well whatever you said it seemed to work," Emma said, pointing out Regina, Snow, and Charming all talking together, figuring out a plan to confront Gold.

"I believe she'll be ok, in time. One thing I know for certain is that the Evil Queen is not someone she wants to be again. Now let's go join the huddle of hero's and deal with the crocodile," Killian says, and they walk hand in hand towards the others.