Inspired by giftofamber's headcanon on Tumblr : The reason Emma hasn't been wearing her red leather jacket is because Regina stole it and kept it hidden under her pillow to help her sleep at night.
Just a quick one, Enjoy!
"Em, where's your red leather jacket? I haven't seen it since you came back from fairy-tale land" Red questioned, leaning forward over the counter.
"It's…I actually don't know, I was gonna use your washing machines to clean it but I must've just left it there and it's got misplaced" The blonde shrugged, figuring it would turn up soon.
I hate this jacket, she thought to herself, gripping tightly at the offending garment. I hate Emma Swan even more, Regina looked up from the red jacket towards the now magic mirror in her secret hideout and waved her right hand across it, making the saviour herself appear, having her morning hot chocolate at the diner.
Regina reasons with herself that there is not much else to do when hiding but watch, and it means nothing that she finds herself watching Emma for most of the day, she's only doing it to see that her son is cared for properly. While that is partly true, the other half of the reason that she does this is because she misses the insufferable Sheriff, and maybe even possibly worries about her.
It means absolutely nothing that when she returned through the back door to the party later, hoping to see Henry again, Regina saw the signature leather jacket and on impulse grabbed it, and then hastily leaved the diner, heading back to the lonely mansion. Regina was left to her own thoughts last night, and without Emma to argue with, she settled with herself.
I just don't want her to wear it again. I'll burn it for fun.
Then why am I lifting it to my nose in hope that Emma's scent still lingers?
This is ridiculous, I hate this jacket and I hate Ms. Swan!
Why do I cherish something that I hate?
That's it; I'll throw it away and go to bed.
And do what? When is the last time I have slept?
Staring at the ceiling is better than looking at that terrible jacket.
I still have the jacket in my hands as I lay in bed, Emma's scent is surrounding me and it is the most safe I have felt for a long time.
I still hate…
And then Regina mills drifted off to sleep, the jacket firmly in her grip, half of it underneath her pillow. When she woke up, she left the jacket there, and told herself that she'll get rid of it later.
When Emma stopped believing and her son lost faith in her, she ran. Regina quickly grabbed essentials before magically transporting to inside her hideout. It occurred to her later that she had took the jacket with her, that in her grief stricken mind that is an essential.
She waved her hand over the mirror again, and it once more showed her reflection. Regina sighed, and lay on the bed in the far corner of the room. Fully dressed, and over the covers, she didn't expect to fall asleep so quickly. But with Emma's jacket draped over her, one of the arms bunched near her face, Regina had her second nightmare-less sleep in Storybrooke.