A/N: Hello fellow oncers! So this is my first SQ fic (but not my first fic). I've written a few other fics for CSI:NY and it's been a long time since I've written so please forgive me for my atrocious writing. I hope you enjoy this little one shot and please leave reviews so that I can improve! Thanks!

Literature of this world was absolutely dreadful. Regina had read everything Storybrooke's library had to offer; from Homer's The Odyssey to Dr. Seuss's Green Eggs and Ham. While a young Henry was quite enthused by the doctor, Regina was not impressed with his childish rhymes. She missed the books of her land, with wild adventures, daring and dashing heroes, malicious and clever villains, and heart wrenching love stories. Even children's spell books were more interesting than some of the drab she'd found in this world. Somehow, the queen got by with the so called "fantasy" novels this world offered; most were cliché and highly inaccurate when it came to the laws of magic, but they sufficed. Regina had even taken a liking to YA novels; though she would never admit it. She was simply "approving" them for Henry, she'd say. Truthfully, there was something about the repetitive but inspiring tales of people rebelling against authority, discovering their strengths, and finding true love that spoke to the Queen.

She was lost in another dystopian tale when she heard a loud pounding at her door.

"Swan…" She growled lowly. Who else would it be?

Regina slid off her bed and went to her window that overlooked the front porch. There in the driveway she saw that atrocious yellow bug and at her front step, a flash of red leather and brown boots.

"Miss Swan, it is almost midnight. The time for a booty call has long passed." Regina called down.

"That's not why I'm here, Gina. Come on, let me in. I want- I need to talk to you." Emma yelled back up.

It'd been a long day, a long evening in the rain, and now it was going to be an even longer night with her girlfriend. Of all the times for Emma to screw up, it had to be today. She knew the day was going to suck the moment she woke up.

First, she was late because she overslept her alarm. She got to the sheriff's station half-dressed and spilling her coffee all over the place. She'd barely sat down for ten seconds when she got a call about a drunken Leroy. Boy, had it been fun wrestling with that dwarf. Once he was nicely put away in a cell, she got a call about animals running lose in the street. Apparently, some kids thought it would be fun to release all the "poor animals" from the pet store. David and Snow were hardly any help and it was long past lunch when Emma finally caught them all.

Her stomach growling and her patience running thin, she headed to Granny's for a pick me up. Of course, Ruby had to accidentally start a (small) fire in the kitchen causing the fire department to shut them down for the rest of the day.

At least the day was almost over, Emma tried to comfort herself. She'd made it through a ten hour shift and she was happily headed home when a tire popped just two minutes down the road. Luckily she kept a spare in the trunk, but Murphy's Law dictated it begin pouring rain as soon as Emma got down to fix it. A sailor would be stunned by the string of swears that left Emma's mouth at that moment. The blonde had finally arrived at the apartment only to be an hour late for dinner and find no leftovers because Henry is "a starving boy that needs his protein and would wither away if he didn't eat all the spaghetti and garlic bread."

By the time it hit eleven, Emma was starving, wet, and ready to run her fist through a wall. Her head had just hit her pillow when her phone went off. She was so enraged she didn't notice the distinct ringtone and snatched up the cell, answering with a terrifying, "What the hell do you want?!"

There was a long silence on the other end before Regina answered. "Excuse me, but I am not the one who forgot our date…again."

Emma shot up. "Oh my god. Oh god. Gina. I am so sorry. I'm really, really sorry. It's just, work was crazy, and I got a flat, and-"

"It's quite fine, dear. I don't need an explanation."

Regina was far too calm and cool for it to be really fine; Emma wasn't a total idiot. The two may have only been dating for the last two months, but after five years of knowing this woman Emma knew never to take Regina's words at face value.

"Regina, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"You never really mean to do anything, do you?"

"Wait-"

"Goodbye, Miss Swan."

The phone clicked and Emma had to hold herself back from throwing it against the wall. She laid on her bed, mentally berating herself for forgetting this date for the third time. In her defense, she'd only forgotten twice. The other time was really Belle and Marian's fault for getting stuck in the library elevator. Still, Emma had to make this up.

And that was how she ended up at the Queen's mansion, a quarter to midnight, soaking wet and freezing her ass off. The things she did for this woman.

"It is late and I am tired, Miss Swan. Please, leave me alone." Regina turned, ready to slam the doors and shut out the world that night.

"Regina, please! I-" Emma paused. Jesus, she almost said it. She almost fucking said those words. She was two syllables away. Emma caught herself, biting her lip and fisting her hands at her sides. "Please, let me in. I'm drenched, I haven't eaten in like a whole day, Snow and David are driving me crazy and I…I need you."

The queen didn't even need to look to know Emma was flashing that heartbreaking puppy dog face at her right now. She sighed, hating herself for being so in love and giving in so easily to this woman. "Love is weakness." Her mother's words floated around in her head as she waltzed down the stairs, clutching the silk of her robe over her chest.

As soon as Regina disappeared into her room, Emma ran back to the door, bouncing from side to side, partly because she was freezing but also because she had gotten the Queen to let her pathetic self in.

Regina swung the door open, standing to the side with eyes narrowed as she allowed Emma in. The blonde went to kiss her, but the brunette turned her cheek at the last second.

"Let's get you cleaned up and in some dry clothes." Regina said curtly as she led Emma upstairs.

After a long, hot shower, Emma wrapped herself in a giant fluffy towel. It was fresh out the dryer and Emma wanted to sleep right there on the bathroom floor. She managed to pull on some shorts and a tank top, thankful she kept spares at the mansion, and emerged from the bathroom.

The brunette was once again lost in her novel, completely unaware of her surroundings. That is until, Emma jumped on the bed, causing a couple throw pillows to fall on the floor.

"You are such a child." Regina snaps, though she never raises her voice. She climbs out of the bed and puts the pillows neatly back in their place, fluffing them as she does so. "The guest room is ready for you."

Emma sits up on her knees and pouts again. "I can't sleep with you?"

"That sort of intimacy is reserved for people that can show up on time to our dates."

"I'm sorry, Regina. It was an honest mistake." Emma can tell her words are getting nowhere. "We…we can have a date right now! I still haven't eaten. I'll cook us something-"

"And have you burn down my kitchen? I think not!" Regina huffs. She goes to her bedroom door, opening it. "You can go to the guest room. And in the morning you can leave and not come back."

"Wait…are you…are you saying you want to break up with me? Regina, it was just one date. You know-"

"It's not just one date, Emma!" Regina doesn't have time to catch herself. "How many times have we gone out? Twice? Maybe three times? Every time I try to plan something for us, you 'forget', or cancel. You never spend time with me anymore. There's always something else you have to do or someone you have to take care of."

Emma goes to open her mouth but knows it's pointless. Hot tears are pouring down Regina's cheeks and it's clear she's been holding this inside for a while.

Regina hates how she sounds right now. She sounds like a desperate woman; a woman weak for love, weak in love. The Queen had never been one to show fear, or be vulnerable. When she wanted something, she went for it. She always got what she wanted, be it riches, land, or people. Never had she had to think about another person's feelings or what they wanted. She took and she took until there was nothing left to take.

Then she met Emma. Emma Swan, the savior; the one who was supposed to bring back the happy endings. She thought she saw a future in this woman. This woman who turned her world upside down and drove her crazy and made her believe in love again. Dear God, she loved this woman so hard and changed herself so much to make her happy. And what did she get in return? A date here and there. Lonely nights in an empty bed and fantasy stories from children's books.

It seemed so clear. Emma Swan wasn't her savior. She was using her. She was only there for herself. Regina couldn't be upset. She was the same way. Emma took what she wanted and when she was done, she would go on her merry way.

"You only want to have sex with me. You have never even said you love me. Why are you here, Emma? To toy with me? To make me think you care? You've made it very obvious you do not. I will not be made some women's whore. I deserve more than that. Now get out of my bed. Get out of my house."

The brunette holds the door firmly, waiting for the blonde to step through it and confirm her assumptions.

Emma slowly steps off the bed and makes her way to Regina. The queen closes her eyes and prepares for the worst. Instead she is met with Emma's soft lips against hers; they are gentle and caressing. Emma's tongue politely asks for entrance into Regina's mouth. The brunette grants it reluctantly, but is not disappointed at how Emma slowly explores her mouth, tasting all of her.

Emma brings her hand up to Regina's cheek, holding it gently as her thumb wipes at stray tears. When they break apart, the brunette gasps for air.

The blond is quiet when she speaks. "I am so sorry."

"I don't want your apologies, Swan." Regina is ready to push her away again, but Emma grabs her arms and pulls her close.

"Just listen, okay? I've been a horrible girlfriend the last few weeks. I don't pay enough attention to you. I forget our dates and sometimes ignore you. I'm probably the least romantic person in this town and I let little things bother me way too much, but…I love you. I love you so much Regina Mills and I…I can't live without you." Emma kisses her again, quickly but still just as passionate. "Forgive me?"

"I…I love you too."

And that's all they needed to hear.