Chapter 1: Just a Kiss Goodnight

Regina couldn't sleep. Despite having finally, after spending far too much time on that god-forsaken island, rescued Henry, Regina was tense and worried. She should have been relieved now that Henry was back into her life, safe and sound, but the only thing she could think of were the events that had transpired just hours earlier.

After having tucked Henry into bed, holding him close for some time before he finally shut his eyes in a peaceful slumber, Regina slipped quietly out of the Captain's quarters, slowly making her way to her own room. She had insisted on having her own sleeping quarters when first leaving for Neverland, but now with so many people traveling back to Storybrooke, she didn't have much choice about having a roommate. Fortunately, Tinkerbell had offered to take up that slot, deciding to give Regina another chance, despite their history. And even more fortunately, Tinkerbell seemed more concerned about catching up with Neal than taking to her bed chambers, leaving Regina alone - as she'd always been.

She hadn't even begun changing yet when there was a knock on her door. Regina immediately felt her heart race in panic, petrified that something was wrong with Henry. Leaping towards the door, she flung it open only to be stopped short by the shuffling sheriff, whom looked extremely uncomfortable, her hand clenching the back of her neck and her eyes downcast, blonde hair falling in front of her face. How Regina wanted to reach out and tuck it back, cradling her cheek…

Regina mentally cleared her throat at the thought, pushing such idiotic and unrealistic notions aside. Instead, she quirked an eyebrow, her lips curving slightly into an amused smirk.

"Miss Swan. How might I help you at this late hour. Shouldn't you be celebrating with your family and…suitors?"

Venom bit "suitors," and Regina smirked as Emma's eyes finally made contact with Regina's, flashing with anger for just a moment before settling on something Regina didn't quite recognize.

"Uh…look. I just wanted to say…thank you. If it weren't for you…we never would have been able to save Henry. So…yea, thanks."

Emma felt slightly uncomfortable in her apology, unsure of how to approach the mayor given the circumstances. Her mind wouldn't stop replaying the events at the tree, when Regina broke free, saving them all. The look of determination and resilience in the woman's eyes sending a shiver down Emma's spine. Emma felt guilty, her own regrets weighing her down after being brought back to the forefront of her mind.

"Yes, well, you're…quite right," Regina frowned, confused as to the woman's confession.

A tense moment settled around them, and Emma was about to excuse herself when Regina continued.

"Would you care to join me for a drink, Ms. Swan?"

The invitation surprised both women, especially Regina, who seemed taken aback by her own words.

"Sure."

With a shrug of her shoulders, Emma entered the room as Regina stepped back, opening the door wider. She didn't know why, but Emma half-expected the room to be more lavish, assuming the woman would have used magic to create something more to her standards, but the room remained untouched.

Emma stood awkwardly in the middle of the room as Regina pulled open a loose floor board to reveal a bottle of MacCutcheon Scotch Whisky and two glasses, causing Emma to smirk. It was her brand.

"I do hope you don't mind whiskey, Ms. Swan. Rum is much too vile," Regina sniffed.

"I prefer whiskey anyways."

Regina raised an eyebrow in conceited disbelief, pouring them both a hearty glass.

"Cheers," Emma began, Regina interjecting. "To saving Henry."

"And to you," Emma added, giving Regina a look of profound respect and admiration.

Both women took a healthy sip of their drinks, taking a moment to enjoy the warmth curl down their throats, each lost in their respective thoughts. Regina finished the rest of the liquid in her glass, Emma quickly following suit, thrusting the glass toward Regina who promptly turned on her heel to refill their glasses, not a word passing between the two.

Emma stole the opportunity to watch Regina from behind, her eyes wandering down the woman's curves until settling on her backside. For awhile now, Emma had realized her attraction to the other woman, but she adamantly insisted to herself that she liked men, not women, and that she only felt this way about Regina because of all the fighting they did. Still, a small voice in the back of her mind questioned the validity of her justification.

Emma's eyes snapped up as Regina turned back around. Regina had felt the heavy glare of the woman upon her but did not think much of it. Passing Emma's full glass back to her, she nodded her head in acknowledgment of the other woman, a silent toast, before both of them took a sip. Emma could feel the liquor starting to take affect, spreading a warmth throughout her body. Tilting her head to the side, she eyed Regina closely, causing the other woman to quirk an eyebrow in question.

"You know…you don't only have Henry," Emma proclaimed, her fuzzy mind encouraging her to spill the truth from her lips.

Regina's eyebrows pinched together, confused at first as to what Emma was talking about, before remembering the heart-wrenching confession she had made to Emma when Pan had taken Henry's heart. Her mind reeled at what Emma actually meant by that, sure that she had a hidden agenda. But as Regina glared questioningly into those blue eyes, she could see nothing but honesty and…

"I mean, you know, you've got me. I mean, we're both Henry's moms, so I guess we're stuck with each other whether we like or not."

Emma shrugged her shoulders, clasping her drink tightly, smiling sheepishly at Regina through hooded eyelashes. For a moment, Regina stood still, surprised at the woman. What did she say to that? Her immediate reaction was to scoff and dismiss the notion, her lips immediately curving into a snarl, ready to attack. But Regina stopped herself as a thought shot through her mind.

'Maybe she means it.'

Emma grinned at Regina, shrugging her shoulders once more.

"Anyways, Regina, I should probably get going," she started, putting her glass down on the end table. "It's getting late, and we'll have to be up ear-"

Emma turned around, startled for Regina to be just inches from her face. Emma's breath hitched as the woman leaned forward to rest her own glass on the table. Regina's eyes tore into every sparkle behind Emma's, looking for a sign that she should move, that the invasion of personal space had finally crossed the line. Instead, she saw a hint of fear, anger and…lust.

Taking a step forward, Regina effectively trapped Emma between herself and the table. For what felt like forever but could have been no longer than 20 seconds, Regina merely stood there gazing into Emma's eyes, trying to read every secret she could find, and Emma complied, refusing to even blink, unsure why her feet refused to move.

All thoughts of moving were abruptly put to rest when Regina closed the last space between them, dipping her lips to hover just above Emma's before gently pressing their lips together, tentative but also with a sense of urgency.

At first Emma didn't react. 'Regina Mills is kissing me.' The thought swam throughout Emma's mind until her body caught up and she began moving her lips, her hands coming to rest on Regina's hips while Regina's hands moved to cup her face.

Regina pulled back, but kept their lips dangerously close as she nuzzled Emma with her lips and nose ever so slightly. Emma foolishly grinned and, without thinking, pulled Regina's lips back down to meet her own, this time deepening the kiss and pulling Regina's hips closer to hers. Regina quietly gasped, surprised at Emma's boldness, but taking it as a sign to continue. Regina snaked her tongue over Emma's bottom lip, and Emma gladly allowed her entrance, entangling her fingers in Regina's hair.

BANG!

Both women jumped apart, jolted by the sudden noise, causing a glass to spill onto the floor. A light giggle could be heard from the other side of the door as it swung open to reveal Tinkerbell, seeming slightly intoxicated by the way she supported herself with the door. Upon seeing the two flushed women standing awkwardly in the middle of the room, Tinkerbell grinned.

"'Gina! Emma! Now it's a party!"

Tinkerbell stumbled toward them, and Regina immediately rushed forward helping her to bed. Emma stood there helplessly, her heart pounding in her chest. 'What the hell just happened?'

Before Regina even had the chance to turn around, Emma had raced out of there, securing herself in her own quarters, leaving Regina with a passed out Tinkerbell as she stood in the middle of the room alone - just as she'd always been.

Regina sighed, resigned to not being able to sleep. Little did she know, Emma had conceded her night to the same fate.