"Dammit!" Emma swore to herself as she tossed and turned for the hundredth time that night. After a long day of spelunking through the forest on their quest to find Tinkerbell, Emma Swan was the first to admit that she was dog-tired. Normally opting to take the first watch, she instead deferred her shift til third watch, so that she could fall into her blanket and drift off to sleep right away; except, she couldn't sleep. For the past two hours, she clamped her eyes shut while her bone-weary body tossed, seemingly of its own volition, under the covers, in a desperate attempt to slumber.

As the hours slowly trudged on, Emma's frustration grew. She had heard as Captain Hook roused Charming from his sleep so that he could take over the watch. That was almost an hour ago. Soon, it would be her turn to wake up to assume the post as the night watch, and Emma knew that once she was stirred from her blankets, she could kiss any hope of sleep goodbye for the rest of the night.

"Well done genius," she thought to herself "Why would you choose third watch? You know that you can't get back to sleep once you wake up. That's why you always go first" Emma ground her teeth in annoyance as she gave her body one more toss under the blanket.

Even more frustrating than the fact that she couldn't sleep, was the reason why she couldn't sleep. Insomnia wasn't to be unexpected. After all, her only son was kidnapped by a maniacal madman, who was possibly more powerful than even the Dark One, and maybe even more evil. Any mother would be so worried that she would be unable to sleep, right? Well, even with all of this, Emma had been able to fall asleep just fine for the past few days on the island. All she had to do was tell herself that it wouldn't do Henry any good for her to run herself ragged with worry; that if she intended to save him, she would need a full night's sleep; and, with that, she was able to drift off eventually. No, this insomnia wasn't brought on by her worry for Henry; it was brought on by something else – someone else.

Almost on cue, Emma heard a soft rustling in front of her, as Regina shifted in her blanket. Emma eyes clung hungrily to the brunette's figure. She had rolled onto her back, her motion causing the blanket to slide from her neck, down to her stomach. If Emma stared just closely enough, she could see the soft mounds of Regina's breasts rise and fall with each gentle breath; the same breasts that were tightly covered by that distracting silk shirt that the mayor wore; the same breasts that Emma would love to –

"That's enough of that!" she shouted to herself, as she tore her eyes from Regina's sleeping form and tried to settle them on the leaves of a nearby banana tree. She was Emma-fricking-Swan, the Saviour. She fought a dragon, for Pete's sake! She could easily ignore Regina's soft snores, almost as easily as she could chase away the urge to climb under those blankets with the mayor and really find out what was hidden under that silk shirt. But geez! How could anyone be so sexy when they were sleeping? It was ridiculous!

This…this is the problem that Emma was having. More specifically, Regina Mills was the problem that Emma was having. Emma had been trying her best to ignore these feelings for a while now. She had first noticed the butterflies in her stomach on the day that she returned to Storybrook through the portal with Mary Margret. Yes, she was overjoyed when saw Henry, but her heart came to a dead stop when she laid eyes on Regina. Even messy and dishevelled from the magic that had just ravaged her body, Regina Mills was breath-taking. How had she never noticed that scar on Regina's lip before? On anyone else it might have been ugly but on the mayor it was just….perfect. Matters were only made worse when Henry explained that Regina had just risked her own life to save Emma's. It was easier to keep her feelings in check when they played the roles that destiny forced them into – hero and villain, Saviour and Evil Queen. However, once she was forced to confront the fact that there was still some small part of the mayor that was human, that was good, Emma couldn't keep her feelings in check. That day, her lips worked awkwardly as she tried to find the words to express everything that she was feeling in that moment. Her heart panged as she heard nothing, save a clumsy "Thank you" fall from her lips. Embarrassed, and completely confused, all she could do was smile as she walked away with Henry, trying to wrestle with her growingly complex emotions.

In the weeks that followed, things in Storybrook became decidedly more complicated. With Cora's arrival, and Regina's seeming return to the dark side, Emma had little time to examine, or indulge, her feelings for the mayor. She was the Saviour, so she had to focus on what she did best – saving the town. Regina was the enemy again and the battle lines were clearly drawn. With all of this, it was all too easy for Emma to bury her feelings deep and go about the business of "Saviouring".

She was able to keep her feelings switched off up until that day in the mines. Right up until that moment when she locked eyes with Regina and saw, not the Evil Queen, but a woman who was scared, hurt and alone; a woman who was prepared to sacrifice herself to save everyone; a woman who Emma had fallen in love with.

Lost in her thoughts, Emma didn't even notice that she had started to drift asleep. That was until she was jerked awake by a nudge from her father. Apparently time flew when you were thinking about your unrequited love, because it was now her turn to take up the watch.

"Just my luck"she grumbled to herself. She creaked her tired eyes open, and tried not to look as grumpy and exhausted as she felt when she pulled herself out of her blanket and into the chilly night air. That, however, didn't stop her from throwing at least one nasty glare in the general direction of Charming's back. He was her father, and she had grown to love him dearly, but….that man could be infuriatingly annoying sometimes. Anyway, best to stop griping and get on with the business of third watch.

Emma wrapped her blanket snuggly around herself and trudged her way over to a spot that gave her a clear view of the camp, while keeping her back protected. She settled onto her perch and turned her attention to the sights and sounds of the night. The leaves on the trees rustled as a gust of wind blew across the forest and right through the thin layer of protection that her blanket provided. She shivered and found herself wishing that she could light a fire to keep warm, even as she told herself that it would pose too great a risk of being seen.

"Well…" Emma's eyes trailed along the campsite until they subconsciously lingered in Regina's direction, "…there are other ways to keep warm"

Emma tensed when a loud crash in the brushes attracted her attention and forced her thoughts away from the dangerous path that they were headed down. She froze, her body coiled and ready to spring into action, when a rat burst from the line of vegetation and skittered into nearby hole.

"What a relief",Emma finally allowed her body to relax as she slid back into position, eyes subconsciously seeking out the spot they had lingered on before. She started when she saw two eyes staring right back at her. Apparently the noise had awakened Regina, who was now sitting upright…and had caught her staring. Thoroughly embarrassed, Emma muttered a curse under her breath. She slid her eyes off of Regina, deciding the focus on the bark of the tree that was right behind the mayor. She hoped desperately that Regina hadn't noticed anything; that she would like lie back and slip quietly back into her slumber.

"Idiot! Why does she have this effect on you? Get a grip!"

Emma felt her stomach sink as Regina threw her covers off, and started to make her way across the campsite – towards her. The rush of heat rising up her cheeks and ears let Emma know that she was blushing. As Regina inched ever closer, Emma had never been more thankful for the cover of darkness. She tore her eyes way from the languid movement of the brunette's hips and stared very intently at a most interesting pebble between her feet.

Emma's breaths grew short.

"Play it cool. Play it cool."

"Nothin' to worry about Regina, it was just a rat", Emma tried to keep her voice even.

"I know, Ms. Swan", scoffed the brunette "Given how utterly exhausted you look, I decided that it would be too great of a risk to place my life in your all too inadequate hands"

The thought of Regina placing her anything in Emma's hands was enough to send a ripple of goose-bumps all along the Saviour's skin. She didn't even feel the sting of the insult.

"May I join you?" Regina rasped

"Be my guest but you should probably get your blan-", Emma trailed off at the sight of Regina's taut ass, as she began to slide into a comfortable position without even waiting for Emma's permission.

Emma roughly cleared her throat and scratched the back of her neck, hoping that the brunette hadn't noticed her lecherous gaze.

Surprisingly, Regina had picked a spot that was close enough to Emma that their bodies touched, ever so slightly. Maybe it was just her imagination but Emma could have sworn that the Regina from two months ago wouldn't have even sat within ten feet of her, let alone a mere inch away. Maybe Regina didn't hate her as much as Emma thought.

"Yea right…and maybe wishes have wings, and pigs can fly"

As the seconds stretched into a long silence, Emma longed to find something witty, or funny to say to Regina. After all, she found their usual banter to be equal parts amusing and arousing. However, for some reason, her wits were failing her this night and her mouth felt as though it was stuffed with cotton. So, instead, she contented herself with enjoying the physical closeness of the other woman. Her scent of cinnamon and apples, how was she getting perfume on the island…it must be some sort of magic; the dark strands of hair that tickled Emma's cheek every time the wind stirred; the warmth of the arm that was barely touching her.

"U-Um…Ms. Swan", Regina whispered softly as she turned face Emma "there's something that I…that I need to say…a-and it doesn't make sense to beat around the bush so…I-I'll just come out and say it…"

Emma's breath caught in her throat. Regina was rambling. Regina was rambling because she was nervous about what she was going to say. Regina was rambling because she was nervous and her breast was touching Emma's arm.

In an attempt to look anywhere except for Regina's breasts, Emma locked eyes with the brunette. That's when things went from bad to worse because, as Emma's eyes met mayor's deep, amber irises, she felt herself begin to fall. In Regina's eyes was a vulnerability that Emma was rarely allowed to glimpse. It was there that day when she came back through the portal, and it was there on that day in the mines. It was in these fleeting moments that Emma could almost sense something. Like a thought that wasn't completely formed. She could feel Regina's gaze pulling her in, yearning to tell her something that neither of them could ever admit, that neither of them could ever fully know. It was in these fleeting moments, when Regina let down her guard and her walls, that her eyes beckoned Emma to….to what? To trust her? To forgive her? To want her…to need her…to…love her? Emma knew that Regina hated her guts, but it was moments like this, moments when Regina used the words "we" or "our magic", that confused Emma greatly.

The wind picked up with a violent gust, forcing Regina to wrap her arms around herself with a shiver. Before her mind could process her actions, Emma instinctively wrapped a blanket-covered arm around Regina's shoulder, enveloping the mayor in a warm, blanketed embrace. She thought she had heard Regina gasp, she didn't know if it was with surprise or disgust…or both. Had Emma given this any prior thought, she probably wouldn't have done it because, now, Emma could feel the outline of Regina's curves fitting snugly against her own like two puzzle pieces. She could feel heaving motion of Regina's shallow breaths, as her breasts rose and fell against Emma's chest. Emma tried to ignore the tightening of her nipples as they responded, almost instantly, to the intimate contact. Whispering a silent prayer, Emma gave thanks that she couldn't get an erection because, if the burgeoning moisture between her thighs was any indication, this situation would otherwise have been very embarrassing.

"Um…better keep warm before you die of hypothermia". Emma chuckled in an attempt to conceal her mounting anxiety. She dared not think about how obvious it was that Regina's blanket lay, unused, only a few feet away, meaning that there was no real reason for her and the queen to remain snuggled so closely under Emma's. Surprisingly, Regina didn't hurl a string of her usual insults at Emma. In fact, Emma could even have sworn that she felt Regina's body relaxing and leaning into to hers.

"Nah…wishful thinking"

Wishful thinking or not, Emma was still faced with the challenge of keeping her body under control. She and the queen were so close that Emma could taste Regina's breath. Even in the faint moonlight, she could make out the fine hairs on Regina's face, the pale scar that peaked from just above the major's lips…those soft, sensual lips that Emma longed to feel…to taste.

Regina's soft, raspy whisper lurched Emma back to reality.

"I know that we've had a….complicated past. I know that I have done things….terrible things. I know that I have given you no reason to believe in me. What I'm trying to say is….what I wanted to say was…" Regina's eyes darted about wildly, Emma could tell that the mayor was uncomfortable with this level of vulnerability. "All I wanted to say was….thank you. Thank you, Ms. Swan for giving me a second chance." Regina lowered her gaze and, had it been any other woman, Emma would have sworn that she could see the faintest hint of a blush on the mayor's cheeks.

"R-Regina….I…I-"

"You don't have to say anything Ms. Swan" cut Regina and she raised her eyes to meet Emma's gaze "…and if you tell anyone about this, I swear that I will make your nights very…unpleasant from now on." The hard edge had returned to Regina's voice but her eyes still held a soft glow.

Emma stared, silently, swelling with a sea of untold emotions. On another night she would work up the courage to possess those, now smirking, lips in passionate kiss. She would trace her tongue over that scar; she would tease moans of pleasure from the mayor. On some other night, she would finally be able to look Regina in the eye and say the words that were lumped at the bottom of her throat. On some other night she would feel Regina's body, glistening and toned, writhing her beneath own as she ripped screams of ecstasy from the brunette's lips. One some other night she would finally trail her tongue between those thighs and savour the taste of the queen's forbidden fruit. On another night…But tonight…tonight this was enough. Tonight, they were neither friends nor enemies. Tonight, they were simply two women, keeping each other warm while sitting on a rock.

"Ok" Emma sighed, as she released all of the tension from her body "whatever you say."

Emma managed to tear her gaze away from Regina's face, and directed their attention to the constellations above their heads. Almost imperceptibly, she tightened her embrace around Regina's shoulder. She felt her stomach give one last lurch when Regina nestled her head onto Emma's neck. Maybe losing a night of sleep wasn't going to be such a bad thing, after all.