Hello SwanQueen readers ! (you're not SwanQueen ? What are you even doing here ?So that we're clear, I'm not asking you to run away no, but don't say I didn't warn you...).

This is my first attempt at writing a OUAT story, a SwanQueen story, I started it a few weeks ago when I read about that bench scene we're gonna have tonight. I really wanted to post this first chapter before the episode... CLOSE ENOUGH !

This is also the first time I post a story in English. I wanted to ask a beta-reader for help but as the episode is on tonight... Well, I simply couldn't wait to post the story. I'll probably get in touch with a Beta-reader before posting the second chapter (if you want a second one...). So, I hope I didn't leave any super big mistake, if I did I'm very sorry and I would love forever if you just let me know ;)

As I said, this story begins with the bench scene that you've all been looking forward to for very long weeks and that some of you have already seen in a Sneak Peek which I haven't watched because they are bad and dangerous.

Summary : What if a bench could help a family destroyed by successive heart breaking events reunite ? Bench scene as seen before watching the episode 2x19 and what it could lead to in a SwanQueen parallel world.

Rating : T for now.

Disclaimer : I don't own Once upon a time or any character of the show - otherwise, the SwanQueen shippers would praise me because their ship would be CANON !

Chapter 1 : Let's bench it out

"I believe you wanted to see me Ms Swan."

Regina's voice made Emma jump. She had been sitting on a bench gazing straight ahead and had gotten lost in her thoughts summing up everything that had happened in Storybrooke lately. It seemed all blur, confusing, dismentled like a puzzle and she needed a little bit of light to put the pieces together. That's why she had asked Regina to come join her, in a neutral place, just the two of them, to talk, figure things out - and maybe, finally, put an end to the constant fight - hoping she'd help lighting all that up.

"Regina ! I... uh... I'm glad you came. Please, sit." She said nodding to the empty part of the bench.

"Frist of all, I'm not sure I'm confortable being on a first name basis with you, second of all I'm the kind of woman who likes giving orders, not getting them. But you already know that, don't you ?"

"Indeed I do that's why I said please, Madame ex-Mayor."

Regina just ignored the last words and sat on another bench right by Emma's, making sure there were a safe distance between the other woman and her. None of the two spoke for a little while, letting both women analyse the situation and think it through. Eventually Regina turned to face the blonde and broke the pregnant silence that had settled and which was starting to torture their brains instead of easing them.

"So, now that I'm here, what is it you wanted to talk about ?"

"Everything."

"You'll need to be more precise because it already sounds like a waste of my time."

"Storybrooke, all the shit that's happened here... your mother..."

"Don't even go there." Her tone was threatening but Emma just ignored it and carried on, a hint of hesitation in her voice "Henry... you."

Regina started laughing at the emphasis on the "you", as if she were the center of all this, as if she had the answer to everything. Indeed as the Evil Queen, she was partly responsible for the mess in Storybrooke but as a matter of fact, she had lost control on the town and had had no control over everything that had happened there since the curse was broken.

"How – dare – you ?" Her voice had shifted from a rather high-pitched sarcastic laugh to a low pitched threat.

Emma flinched slightly, she certainly wasn't expecting that kind of reaction. "Excuse me ?" She articulated, now looking at Regina straight in the eyes, which seemed like they could set her in fire. Angst started groing in her stomach for she knew the brunette was unpredictable.

"Pretending to be concerned when you accused me of a murder I didn't commit because of a stupid dog and a bit of magic, not even taking into consideration that I really was trying hard to be better for Henry."

God I gotta ease the situation before this blows out of proportion. "About that, Regina I..."

"I am not finished !" She spoke dryly. Her voice sounded strong and low pitched, it wouldn't crack.

She didn't want apologies right now, she just wanted to scream, let it all out, everything she had kept for herself until now.

"You destroyed every steps I'd made towards him ! But you still dare showing concern now that you stand by your daddy and mommy who tricked me into killing my mother. You called me evil in front of Henry, I destroyed the Curse of the empty hearted and what did I get ? You getting him back again. Should I go on ? Because I have plenty of those facts about how the Charmings - with now the help of their little girl, whom I thought clever - keep on destroying everything I have."

Silence fell, sharp as a butcher knife, heavy as the feeling of guilt that was crushing Emma's chest. Eyes wide open and jaw clenched, she was unable to speak, her body had frozen. Regina couldn't tell wether the blonde was staring at her or at a random point in the air. She looked away from the blonde's stare, almost fleeing it. Because of awkwardness, maybe... Or was it because she couldn't tell or refused to see what the big green eyes were filled with ? She leaned back on the bench, she let a heavy sigh out, looking straight ahead as far as the horizon allowed her to. Yet, she was able to see that pale skinned hand, leaving the opposite same one resting on Emma's thigh to hover hesitantly approach her own arm, going slightly back and forth to eventually surrender. The blonde woman wanted to say something but had trouble finding the right words. She could tell by the way she held her breath now and then to let it out in a sigh at last. It was somehow frustrating, but she wouldn't say a thing, it was only uncomfortable for Emma anyway.

"Saying that I'm sorry won't ever be enough for..." She tried to name it but realized that she would need more than a few words to do so. She took a deep breath at the thought of everything Regina had been through alone. "Everything you've just summed up."

"Glad you got that right."

"But I can try anyway."

"Feel free to waste your time."

"But you probably won't trust me ever again."

"If I ever did."

Yes she had. They both knew it but the brunette felt stupid about it. It had been her weakness. Trusting people only made everything worse. She had started trusting Emma after the curse broke when she protected her from the habitants of Storybrooke and it only grew bigger when she saved her from the wraith and bigger when she stood by her while her parents accused the former Evil Queen of murder... But it hadn't lasted long. She would not admit to the fact that she had trusted Emma Swan because she didn't want to rub it in and think about having lost that trust which had felt so good.

"You may not like it but you did once, and that's why you're so mad at me now."

"You think you're clever, don't you ? But you're no more of a shrink than the cricket !"

She had intended to stay calm, but as much as she had wanted to have a civilized conversion with Emma she just couldn't let her think she knew what she felt like. She couldn't let her win. Because it was all about winning, wasn't it ?

"You think I'm mad because you ended up being just like your parents ? Let me refresh your memory :You stole my son, took him away from me ! How the hell do you think that makes me feel ?"

There, her voice had cracked, finally. Emotion had taken over and she didn't even try to hide it.

"Can I please say something without you yelling right after ?"

"No, no ! You don't get to say anything to me. I don't want to hear any more of your bullshit" She answered, suddenly standing up and making Emma start slightly.

Shit. The woman was really mad. She shouldn't have pushed ; It was Regina in front of her, the freaking ex-Evil Queen, a control freak ! But she couldn't stop herself from pushing her buttons, she needed it. As crazy as it might sound and as tiring as it was, she needed that kind of relationship with her. She couldn't help. It drove her insane but it felt unhealthily good. Once again, however, they had failed in trying to communicate with each other.

"Okay Regina I'm sorry, I really am !" She answered in a hurry not bothering taking a breath before reaching to Regina's sleeve in order to prevent her from leaving "Stay, please." She was pleading now.

"Take. Your hand. Off. My coat !" She threatened yanking her arm off Emma's grasp.

"Look, you might want to avoid this conversation and I'll let you but we're not done here, Regina."

"Oh yes, we are dear !"

The brunette furiously left the place, her heels hitting the ground hard. She was mad for sure but Emma was stubborn and she didn't intend in giving up, not now that she - partly - understood Regina. So many questions were racing in her head. What if Cora hadn't showed up ? What if nothing had gone wrong ? What was it going to be like now ? How did she feel ? She could've facepalmed herself for that last question that had crossed her mind... What kind of question was that ? She was obviously not okay and Emma could only understand. Why hadn't she believed her ? Was that in any way how she thanked somebody who had saved her ? Yes... She had saved both her and Snow when they returned from the Enchanted Forest, when she could've let them die. How the hell hadn't she seen the whole Cora thingy coming ? So many questions that needed lighting. She was so not finished with this.

"Damn woman !" she mumbled to herself, frustrated with the infertile conversation that had completely got out of her control.

She didn't know why she did all that, what drove her - it was just Regina after all, she could just let her deal with her problems and live her own life - it was not pity for sure because it was not a feeling she was used to feel as a bounty hunter. She only knew one thing : she wouldn't let go.

Thoughts ? Really need them to know if I can carry on writing and posting or not ;)

Hope you liked it. =)