A/N: Part one of... Oh, I'm not even going to bother guessing how my fingers will work with this. This is a bit of an odd one for me as I don't usually do pre-existing ship fics that aren't tag ons to my longer pieces, but I figured I'd attempt one as I may be running out of ways to write the whole 'oh, my, you're devilishly sexy', 'why thank you, as are you; off with your pants!' openings.

Enjoy, and please review!

"I still don't understand the point to all this..."

The brunette sniffs as she runs her finger over the irregular surface of the pumpkin grinning up at her on the Sheriff's desk with distaste.

"It's fun!"

Emma counteracts, not looking up from the scrawled report she strives to decipher. Smirking as she catches the arrogant sigh the Mayor proffers her explanation, she jots a few final notes at the bottom of the page before placing down her pen and tipping back in her chair to regard the darker woman properly.

"I fail to see how displaying a bunch of rotting vegetables and covering the front of the Station- which, may I add, is public property- with a poor representation of cobwebs is all that amusing... Oh, and thank you, by the way, for instilling the will to spend the evening knocking on people's doors and demanding a reward for such bothersome behaviour unto my son, Miss Swan, it's highly appreciated. I mean yo- Will you stop that?! You're going to fall!"

Rolling her eyes and bringing her chair back down onto all four legs with a purposeful crash, Emma grins maliciously.

"Hmm, you let people hear you say things like that and they might begin thinking you'd care..."

"No, dear, I just would rather not have to worry myself with having to find someone to cover for you should you end up in hospital, despite the fact that I'm sure even Dr Hopper's dog would do a better job than yourself."

She laments with a long-suffering sigh, but the blonde doesn't miss the knowing glint that dances in dark eyes, and her grin widens as she shakes her head and pushes back her long hair.

"I'm touched."

Rolling her eyes, Regina folds her arms across her chest; feigning irritability.

"I take it you're going to be accompanying Henry tonight then, Sheriff?"

She enquires silkily, and Emma's impish smirk twitches towards finding a kinder shape; not missing the underlying fact that at no point has she been actually told 'no' since mentioning the idea of trick or treating to the kid. She has seen the urge cross well defined features plenty, sure, but on this one Regina has let her have her way; something which is not the norm by any stretch of the imagination, but is occurring more and more often, much to her pleasured surprise.

"After work, yeah, and then Ruby's said he should come to the diner to help her and Granny with some spooky cupcakes or something."

"...Or 'something'?"

The brunette drawls- cruelly mimicking the younger woman's inflections- as she finds herself once again irked by Emma's very different approach to parenting. It has taken her a long time to be willing to admit that the blonde is a fit mother at all, but having worked so hard to protect Henry and keep him in her control so as not to lose him to the Sheriff, she still finds the younger woman's easy going attitude towards things irritating.

Mostly because, try as she might, she can't quite relax enough to behave in much the same manner.

Catching the frustrated note to the brunette's enquiry, Emma continues with practiced patience; usually enjoying their bickering in an odd sort of way, but having no wish to enter into an actual argument with the Mayor at present.

"I'll check when I see her, it was Hook that told me in the first place, so this is all third hand information. I'll report to you as soon as I get the proper intel, Madame Mayor."

She offers a small salute which receives a dramatic sigh and the thinning of deliciously full lips.

"What has Hook got to do with it?"

"Nothing much. I guess Ruby told him when he picked me up a coffee-"

"-I was unaware you were so busy you were unable to do your own coffee run, Sheriff."

"... He came and brought me coffee, Regina, not a bottle of tequila and edible underwear."

The blonde snipes back irritably; tired of that particular topic of conversation after several heated exchanges of opinion since the pirate had made the decision to stay in town.

"Now there's an idea."

"Maybe, but not in the work place, Your Majesty."

"That's probably what Hook figured too. I'll bet he has something a little stronger to offer you when you go to Granny's later and-"

"-Oh, shut up. Enough with that! He's a friend, okay?"

"Don't tell me to shut up! He's a pirate."

"And you're the Evil Queen. If you hadn't noticed; my social circle is a little freakish."

Emma grumbles, lowering her attention back down to the document on her desk despite having no amendments to make. She supposes some women might find such harmless jealousy flattering, but she isn't the sort. Mostly due to the fact she still can't quite get her head around the fact that Regina should feel such a thing about, well, her.

"That may be, but you can't deny that the man has taken a keen interest in you."

"Maybe he has, or maybe it's just Hook being Hook. Either way, it doesn't matter, because the feeling isn't mutual, which you know fully well. What matters is I have a well sugared mocha, and Henry has a sitter for later."

"Why, what's happening later? I'm home. You may enjoy stalking the streets dressed like a loon, Miss Swan, but I'm not planning to partake in such nonsense."

"I'm not going to Ruby's, and I know you'll be home; I was planning to pay you a visit."

"...Oh."

"And you know, it's not all nonsense, Madame Mayor..."

"You're not going to convert me to advocating sugar highs and cheap thrills, dear."

"No, but I might bring you round on the costume front. It's not all bedsheets and fake teeth, you know..."

"... Is that so?"

"I suppose you'll find out."

"I suppose so.'

Regina murmurs; dark eyes locked on the Sheriff as she continues to feign activity on the completed paper before her, and adopting a small smile. Shaking her head at the younger woman's continual ability to both frustrate and intrigue her, she reaches towards a small bowl of candy corn that rests garishly beside the blonde's vegetative art work.

"Nuh uh."

Emma chides as she swiftly scoops the bowl out of reach from slim, well-manicured fingers.

"Emma-"

"-No Halloween candy for non-believers."

"Honestly..."

"Yup; honestly. But don't worry, dear, I'm sure we'll make a believer out of you yet."