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Chapter 21: The Heart of the Wolf

As usual, he woke up from the recurring nightmare he'd been having for the past few nights. Where he saw red eyes. The eyes were trying to tell him something—

He was being ridiculous. That was what Graham Humbert told himself the morning he was preparing for his coffee date with…with. He kept forgetting her name.

But he couldn't forget her.

For some reason, her face seemed familiar when he first saw her and she seemed to indicate that there had been something between them.

"You told me you loved me."

Yet, Graham had no recollection of her and it frustrated him. It was a similar feeling he had a lot of the time concerning Storybrooke. Like, his whole relationship with Regina, he always tried to recall how they ended together and just couldn't. For as long as he could remember they had been sleeping together and he really hadn't been questioning it much, at least until recently.

You look fine, he told himself as he looked at his reflection. He was dressed in his usual getup of slightly worn jeans, a slightly worn t-shirt and his usual brown leather jacket. Not intimidating or special looking in the least, and he definitely wouldn't tip off Regina.

The woman had told him that much, not to tell Regina anything. And somehow he knew that advice was golden. For a weird reason lately, he had begun to fear Regina. Which was ridiculous, he knew Regina—well, at least physically. She had never really opened herself up to pillow talk, and for that Graham had been partially grateful but he didn't know why.

He shook his head as he left his apartment to head towards the hospital. He had to pick Regina up, and as far as he was concerned he needed to keep things as normal as possible.

But Graham wasn't exactly sure what normal was, especially when he almost ran into a wolf of all things that morning.

Ridiculous.

Regina, luckily, was too full of herself to notice that anything was off and seemed hurt when he didn't want to talk to her. But really, he was annoyed with the woman. She made his life difficult. He didn't want to arrest her; he really didn't want to tick her off. And besides, it was a little difficult not to laugh at her right now with that ridiculous bandage on her nose and fuzz that had been growing on her face.

Though, he kept his composure.

Enough.

"I don't get why you have to be so sulky." Regina said as he drove her towards the stationhouse.

He sighed heavily, "Because I didn't want to arrest you."

"Then don't," She said. "I won't let anything happen to you, Graham, you know that."

He shook his head, did she honestly believe that?

"They threatened to take away my badge, Regina. And sue the city. We'd go bankrupt. I know that you love Henry, but a court order is a court order."

"It was overturned."

"Illegally." He snapped and instantly regretted it as he saw the icy look his ex was throwing him.

He sighed heavily, "Look, it's been a rough couple of days. I understand what you did, but my job is to enforce the law."

She nodded though he could tell she wasn't that pleased as she asked him about the status of his relationship with Emma Swan.

"Her name's Emma Potter." He said, "I think that should tell you everything you need to know about that relationship."

"That marriage is a sham," Regina said. "I know it."

Graham doubted it. At least if the death glares that Harry Potter was shooting him whenever Graham shot a look towards his wife were any indication. Though, Emma didn't really seem to care that much about Harry, so he'd give Regina that.

"Marriages are complicated," He said. "Clearly they want to work things out, if anything for Henry. And they currently have a court order."

She shook his head as he lead her into the stationhouse saying that she didn't want to be in the same cell as the mouse who assaulted her.

If anything that woman—the duchess—was not a mouse. Graham wanted to tell Regina that, but thought better of it. The duchess had warned him enough yesterday, and something about the way that Regina was acting told him that he'd be better off keeping his trap shut than fighting back.

"Is something wrong, Graham?" Regina said sensing something was off.

"The mouse has already been released," He said.

"WHAT," Regina said.

He then mentioned that Rumford Gold had gotten the woman released and then she went on a tirade off of him AND then Gold of all people had to show up.

God, did Graham hate that guy. Something about him just screamed dangerous and slimy, but at the same time he was slightly relieved that Gold was there it would allow him to skip out and meet her for coffee.

She was waiting for him outside of Granny's with a cup of coffee in her hands. She was dressed casually in jogging clothes. Her curly brown hair was pulled up into a loose ponytail and you would've thought she was closer to twenty than thirty especially with that smile of hers.

"Graham!" She said, "There you are, I almost thought you were going to stand me up."

He smiled, "Sorry, duchess, just got a little held up at work."

"Regina?" Hermione asked as she handed him the coffee. It was just how he liked it—cream with two sugars.

"Yes," He said before adding, "The coffee's perfect."

"Good," She said. "I thought it might be nice to go somewhere a little quieter. There's a lot we have to talk about and—well—"

She didn't have to say anything, Graham worried about prying ears as well.

"I think I know the perfect place," He said. "It is a bit of a drive though, you mind?"

"Not if you give me a ride back to Gold's." She said, "I'm staying there for—well, the duration of my visit."

He nodded as he steadied her. It killed him not being able to place her.

"It's okay," She said as they got into his cruiser.

"What?" He said.

"You don't remember, obviously." She said, "You don't remember my name either, do you?"

He nodded. "I…it's weird."

"It's not," She said. "It really isn't. And you'll understand too, I'll explain."

She knew whatever was going on, and it scared him. "I don't think you can explain why I can't remember your name, err duchess."

"My name's Hermione." She said.

"It won't do you any good," Graham said the dull pain that was in his head sharpened.

"Graham?" She questioned.

He opened his eyes to see the wolf again and slammed on his breaks preparing for impact. What was with him?

"Graham," She panicked for a second as Graham swerved the car to avoid the wolf only to almost hit a tree. But rather than making impact, the car suddenly stopped with little to no whiplash.

"How?"

Hermione shook her head as she looked at him. "What is going on?"

"Didn't you see that wolf?" He said.

"Wolf?" She said. "There was no wolf, Graham."

"But," He said. "I saw it, twice today. It had red eyes and—"

He thought he saw something in the woods and started following it.

"Graham." The duchess called, but he was obviously not listening to her, though she continued to follow him until they reached Storybrooke's cemetery and particularly to a crypt.

Regina's family crypt.

The wolf sat at the entrance to the crypt, as if telling him he should go in there or something. He started to go towards the door but found he couldn't move. A second later he saw Hermione looking at him and shaking her head, "You can't go in there. She has wards around the place. She'll know in a second you were there."

He gave her a strange look, "Wards?"

"Something is telling you to go in there, isn't it?" She asked.

"A wolf," He said. "I've been seeing it all day. I've been seeing it for a while really, well, its eyes. This is the first time. It wants me to go in there, there's something there. Something that is mine."

"Oh, I imagine there is." She said biting her lip as if she knew just what was in that crypt.

"Duchess?" He asked.

"Don't go in there," She said. "It's not safe."

"Why?" He asked.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you the truth." She said, "You'd be safer if you continued to play her little game, until I can get you in there."

"What's in there?" He asked again as he looked at her. "I need to know, Hermione."

He didn't know how, but somehow he remembered her name if for a second. She was just as surprised as he was if the look in her eyes were any indication.

"You remembered my name?" She said a bit off guard. "You are fighting the curse, aren't you?"

"Curse?" He said, "I don't…I don't…know."

As he said this he had a flash of something that he could only describe as being bizarre. He was in a palace of some sort and there was Regina in a dark red dress. Red like blood encrusted with stones that matched an ornate looking tiara on the top of her head, trying to get him to kill someone and take their heart.

Take their heart. He then had another flashbacks of Regina pulling out something, his heart and he started gasping.

When he opened his eyes he saw Hermione looking at him. Something within him decided to kiss her at that moment, he wasn't sure why and as his lips touched hers he remembered.

. He remembered it all. He remembered his life before the curse, and being cursed and sent to investigate Henry Mills' origins only to find himself entangled with Hermione.

Hermione.

Hermione who he was forced to leave because of Regina.

He still remembered that night.

He was putting on his cufflinks when there was a knock on the door.

Graham hadn't thought anything of it. He had called the lobby a few minutes earlier to get extra towels, and thought it was the maid.

But it wasn't the maid. It was Regina.

Regina who he hadn't thought of once since leaving Storybrooke; Storybrooke a place he never wanted to go back too.

While he was still cursed then, he knew better than to be around Regina. Even then. Being free of being her toy for the past twenty or so years had been exhilarating, and then there was his correspondence with Hermione Granger.

It started out simple enough, he was supposed to find more about Henry's birth parents and he found out that there was someone snooping for information about Emma Swan just like him. Then he got in contact with Hermione, they started corresponding letters and then when they met.

There was a connection.

Odd it was.

He hadn't felt anything like this for anyone. Yes, he technically was in a relationship with Regina, but she didn't talk to him the same way Hermione did. He didn't have the same chemistry with her as he did with the sharp-witted girl. And somehow against all odds, he got her in his bed. He even told her he loved her, not thinking much of it at the time. But he had decided he was going to stay with her and had told Regina as much that she had nothing to worry about Emma Swan taking away Henry.

"Regina," He said. "This is a surprise."

"Is it?" She said looking at him, "I got your note. That is not something to put in a letter, Graham."

He sighed heavily. "It was a bit sudden, I'm sorry. But I got your results. You have nothing to worry about with Henry."

"I know that, but I can't have you taken away from me." Regina said, "We have something together."

He shook his head, "Something together. We just sleep together, Regina. That's all. That's it."

She glared at him as she began to unbutton her blouse. "Obviously, you need a refresher course."

She soon threw her shirt and bra on the floor. "Remember these, Graham?"

He frowned as he looked at her ample bosom. It was glorious, but the last thing he wanted to do was touch her. "Regina I—there's someone else."

"That mouse I saw in the library with you? Seriously, Graham? You are being ridiculous. Surely, she can not compare to me."

She then grabbed him and attempted to unbutton his shirt only he pushed her away. "No. We're not doing this again."

"Yes." She growled, "We are. You are coming back to Storybrooke. Neither you or I can do with a broken heart. That's an order by the way." She said as she twisted a ring on her finger, a ring he hadn't noticed until now as he felt a slight stab in her heart and gasped.

She smiled, "Perhaps, if you kiss me, it will go away."

Somehow he knew he had to kiss her and he did and the pain went away. And when he woke up—he was ready to go back to Storybrooke and be with Regina. The ring, he noticed disappeared after that.

He gasped at the recollection. "I remember," He said. "I remember. Hermione, she has my heart."

Hermione rather than looking at him like a crazy person nodded, "I know."

"It's in the crypt." Graham said. "I think that's what the wolf is telling me. I have to get it."

"You can't go in there," Hermione said. "There are wards. She'll know and she'll kill you. And I can't bear that. You're going to have to let me fix this, Graham."

He frowned, "But…you have magic don't you? How?"

"It's a long story, but there is magic in this world. How else do you think she's holding up the curse?"

"None of this makes sense," He said. "She made me forget you."

"I know," Hermione said.

"But you're here."

"Yes, I am."

"And you know the Dark One." He said referring to Gold's proper title. "You know the Dark One and the Savior."

"I do," She said.

"I need a drink," He said. "And God, I have to go back and check on her. On the Evil Queen. I can't do this."

"You can," Hermione said. "You can."

He shook his head and stared at the crypt. "How can I when my heart is there and she could kill me at any time, or get me to do anything for her? That's how—"

He trailed off as he thought about all the things he had to do. All the times he had to sleep with Regina and he couldn't help but start puking on sacred ground.

He felt Hermione's hand on his back gently rubbing circles. "It's okay."

"No, it's not." He said, "She can still and she will make me do her bidding and I don't know—I don't know if I can handle it."

Hermione frowned, "Trust me, I will get you free of her clutches. Look, you already have your memory. That's a step closer than you were yesterday."

He nodded, but he didn't seem convinced. "There has to be something I can do."

"Let Regina think you're oblivious," She said. "Pretend to still do her bidding. I should be able to figure out the wards soon enough with the help of a friend."

"The Dark One." Graham said, "You know, he's dangerous?"

Hermione sighed, "He isn't all bad."

"He might be your boss and friend in this world, duchess, but trust me when I say that he was just as evil as Regina in the past life. He won't help if there's nothing in it for him."

"Oh, there's something in it for him." Hermione said, "But like I said, he's not all bad."

Graham shook his head. "I don't trust him."

"But you trust me," She said.

He sighed, "I do but—"

"Graham, Rumple might be the best shot you have to getting your heart back."

His next encounter with Regina was painful, she knew something was going on but he tired to play it off like he had a headache. And to be honest, he did. Remembering everything, seeing just how fucked up she made things with the curse could give anyone a migraine.

The fact that he also found out that she literally had her life in his hands, that made things more difficult.

He did try to see if she was wearing the same garnet looking ring she wore that day in the hotel. He told Hermione about it, and she agreed that she had probably transfigured his heart to carefully control him. Yet, she wore no such ring save for her conjured wedding ring which looked completely different. And there was no such garnet ring in her belongings. He couldn't exactly ask her about it either, not that it didn't matter his instincts were sure the heart was in that warded crypt.

He didn't even know how he could approach Regina without letting her know. He told her he had a headache, when she questioned his attitude and she bought it.

"Arresting me had to be difficult, darling."

Darling.

He was just her toy.

The fact that he had been forced into Regina's bed all these years, made him grimace. He wanted to destroy her, but yet the only thing he could do was order her an extra well done burger at Granny's that he was sure to give her indigestion and put Grumpy in the cell next to her where he was sure she'd be awoken by his illustrious drunken singing the entire night.

"Seriously, Graham. Can't you like put him in another cell?" The queen asked.

He shrugged. "Can't. Our stationhouse is too small. Sorry about it, Regina. I got you some food though."

"Yes, a burnt burger from Granny's. God."

"Well, I'm sorry about that. I can't control their cooking. You'll be okay, this evening?"

Playing the bumbling idiot sheriff was harder than it looked.

She frowned, "Does it look like I'm okay?"

"I'll get you some of that pain medication Whale prescribed." He said inwardly laughing at what his duchess had done to Regina. He couldn't be any prouder. He only hoped that Regina's once perfect little nose wasn't so perfect once the bandages were removed.

"I really can't believe you had to let that mouse go, Graham." Regina said as he went to get her medication.

He shrugged. "Rumford had the paperwork. I was just doing my job."

"God, I hate Rumford Gold. I want him out of this town."

"We all do," He said and that wasn't so much of a lie.

Although, Hermione told him to trust Rumpelstiltskin, he didn't trust the man at all. Which was why he had been reluctant about meeting him later that night by that same crypt.

Yet, there the Dark One was almost walking hand and hand with Hermione. It made him blanch.

"So, you know." The Dark One said eying him. "Yes, I can see. You don't look so much like a bumbling idiot now. Pity, I'm going to miss calling you Graham Cracker."

"Ford," Hermione warned.

He rolled his eyes, "Just stating facts, dearie."

"I want my heart back." Graham said.

"Of course you do," Gold said. "I imagine you're tired of being Regina's constant cabana boy. Though, I guess she dumped you for Charming."

Graham winced. "He'll kill her when he remembers. Well, if I don't kill her first."

"You mean, if I don't kill her first." Gold said.

"Ford," Hermione said.

"Well, surely you knew I'd have dibs on tormenting Regina, dearie." He said, "She is going to pay the ultimate price one of these days."

"I know, but—"

"Enough with chatter," He said. "I think it's time we broke these wards. Good thing Regina bleeds like a stuck pig, that should demolish these blood wards."

"You collected her blood?" Graham asked as Gold proceed to pour a vile of Regina's blood and did some weird gestures—magic—with his hand. "That's sort of creepy."

"As you can see," He said. "It serves a purposes, and it's not as creepy per say as collecting hearts in a crypt of all things. Is she drugged up?"

Graham nodded. "Yes, should be completely out tonight."

"That's good, I should've banished the wards but having her incapacitated will help matters."

"She's locked up I—"

"Her magic is what is holding the spells in place," Hermione explained. "It's true she's not here, but you never know with wards if she could be altered. Plus, with Regina unconscious the wards are going to be at their minimum level, since she is at her most vulnerable."'

There was a reason Graham never tried to learn about magic.

"Should be good to go," The Dark One said. "Who wants to go in first? Because it's not me."

"You're the one who is immortal." Hermione pointed out.

"Touché," He said as he waved his hand opening the door. "Yep, should be good to go."

The crypt looked empty save for two stone sarcophaguses in the middle of the room and several plaques listing faux members of the Mills family.

"Someone got obsessed with ." Gold said as he looked at the various dead Mills. "Don't worry, I doubt there are any actual dead bodies here save for maybe Regina's daddy and corpse of a boyfriend."

"That's comforting," An unconvinced Hermione said. "So, you think that the hearts are in here, Graham."

"They have to be," Graham said. "I just don't know where."

"I have a good idea where," Gold said as he walked up towards one particular memorial—Cora Alice Mills.

"Regina's mother," Hermione said. "You think?"

"It would make the most sense," He said with a smile. "Regina has never exactly been subtle and I doubt she'd have Cora's name in here without a purpose."

He grumbled as he waved his hand over the chest. "Oh, no she didn't."

"What?" Hermione said. "What did she do now?"

"She used another blood ward," He grumbled.

"You don't have anymore blood? I thought she bled like a 'stuck pig'."

"It's not that, she used my son's blood." He grumbled as he waved his hand having a needle appearing and proceeded to stab himself.

"You have a son?" Graham asked confused as he watched in amazement as the memorials began to shift and open up revealing rolls and rolls of hearts. In fact, all of the fake stones seemed to hold a heart except for two of them.

Graham was horrified and his thoughts about the fact that the Dark One reproduced quickly slipped from his mind.

"Yes, seems like she developed a hoarding addiction much like Cora." The dark wizard remarked.

"You're not even slightly horrified?" Graham asked as he stared at Hermione, who while quiet wasn't looking at Regina's stash aghast like Graham was.

"Rumple," Hermione asked. "How do we—"

"Know which one is Graham Cracker's?"

"Please, don't call him that." Hermione said.

Gold merely rolled his eyes. "We could squeeze them. Test a few. When he bends over in pain, we'll know we found the right one."

"Don't be ridiculous," Hermione said. "Surely, there has to be another way."

"There is," He said. "We'll do a modified summoning spell with his blood. It should tell us which one is his."

Hermione nodded as she waved a hand and another needle appeared. "I need some of your blood."

"What?" He said.

"I'm going to perform a spell," She explained. "We're going to figure out what heart is yours, but I need some of your blood."

He frowned, "I think I know which heart is mine. I think?"

He wasn't sure he sensed that one of them was his, but he wasn't sure.

She shook her head. "You don't want to get the wrong heart, trust me. Please."

He sighed and stuck the needle is thumb. He hated magic, but again it seemed in order to get his life back he needed it and it was easier seeing Hermione perform the charm than the Dark One.

Sure, enough the heart he had felt was his own came zooming into Hermione's hands.

"Rumple?" She said looking at Gold. "Can we put it back in him?"

"Let me check, it looks okay." He said after waving his hand and handing Hermione back the heart. "Nope, no extra spells. You must not be that valuable to her."

"Is that supposed to be an insult?" Graham said as he felt something being thrown into him.

His heart.

And for the first time since that time he had presented the Queen with the fake heart that cost him his own, he could finally truly breathe again.