I don't own Once Upon A Time or any of its characters.

AU from S02E09

It had been six weeks since Regina had absorbed the curse from the well.

Six weeks of house arrest.

Five weeks and four days since Emma Swan had moved in.

It had been Emma who once again had talked down the townspeople when that drunken dwarf had tried to get everyone whipped up into a 'let's kill Regina' frenzy. She told them how Regina had saved her life, how she'd saved Snow's life, and didn't that show them that she had changed? Regina had rolled her eyes as she'd heard Emma trying to talk them all down from their blood lust. She hadn't been trying to change; she had no interest in winning the hearts of these peasants. Regina had done it for Henry, as she did everything. Henry was Regina's happy ending. Unfortunately Emma Swan seemed to be the 'free gift with purchase' that came with him, albeit ten years late.

The annoying blonde had first destroyed her curse and now the annoying blonde was stomping around her mansion with her muddy boots proclaiming that she was keeping Regina safe. That was ridiculous of course, Regina had her powers back, she could vaporise the town if she wanted to. Still, it had been a long time since anyone had wanted to take care of Regina, and Emma did seem to want to. The barrage of death threats, graffiti and broken windows that had greeted Regina in the first three days of her house arrest had made Emma furious. Still, no one was more surprised than Regina when Emma moved herself in to be Regina's bodyguard. They had bickered endlessly for four days but when Emma allowed Henry to move back into the mansion Regina had softened. Piles of dirty laundry and dishes left in the bathroom (why was she eating in bathroom for God's sake!) were things Regina could tolerate if it meant seeing Henry every day.

The threat of Cora was the only other thing keeping Regina from a town lynching. Only she and Rumplestiltskin possessed the power to go up against Cora, and unfortunately for Team Idiot, Rumplestiltskin did not care. So for the last six weeks, as a condition of her house arrest, Regina had been their magical consultant. The whole situation was ridiculous, thought Regina as she rested her head on the pile of magical texts that she was going over again. It was exhausting waiting for her mother's arrival and Regina knew she would come. Regina was happy so Cora would come.

The thought brought Regina up short. Was she happy? Was she happy under house arrest, being protected by the person who was born to destroy her? Was she happy helping Snow White of all people? Was she? The idea horrified her.

'Regina?'

Emma's voice echoed through the corridor to Regina's study, disrupting her thoughts. Regina glanced at the clock, it was only 3pm, Emma was home early.

'Did you remember to get parsnip?' Regina called out tersely. She heard Emma's footsteps cease. 'The dish I'm making doesn't work without parsnip'.

Emma's footsteps started again and she popped her head inside the study with a sheepish look on her face. She was wearing that insufferable red jacket and a beanie. What adult wears a beanie?

'I forgot parsnip'.

'Well if I was allowed to go to the supermarket...' Regina began, irritated.

'I'll get it when I pick up Henry from school' Emma replied as she leaned into the door frame. 'How was your day?'

The relaxed gesture infuriated Regina, who was Emma to be asking about her day?

'Just how long do you intend to keep me locked up here as your pretend wife?' Regina snapped.

Emma's face flushed scarlet.

'My what?' she stuttered out as her mind raced.

Oh my God, she knows. Does she know? I've been so careful. She's angry. Of course she's angry, if she knows she must think that... what does she think? Well it can't be good, she's yelling. But she always yells, maybe it's just run of the mill yelling...But she said wife, why would she say wife if it's not about my feelings for her. Don't think about your feelings for her Emma! Not in front of her, you've never been sure that she can't read minds...

'Miss Swan!'

Regina's voice jolted Emma out of her reverie.

'Have you been listening to a word I've said?' Regina had stood up at some point and was pacing back and forth.

'Wife?' Emma choked out.

'What?'

'Wife...was a word you said.'

'I also said many others such as 'can't' and 'keep me locked up forever'.'

'Regina I'm not trying to keep you locked up.'

'That's exactly what you're doing!'

Shit Emma, that's exactly what you're supposed to be doing.

'Am I ever going to trial? Or is my punishment to be cooking and cleaning for you forever?'

'Oh, that's why you said 'wife'. Like the 50's, metaphor, right.'

'Miss Swan, did you hit your head very hard today?'

'Regina, catch me up. Why do you suddenly want to go to trial? What the hell kind of trial would that even be?'

'So you haven't thought about a trial. Your plan actually is to keep me here forever?'

'I just need them not to kill you Regina!' Emma yelled. 'That's the extent of my plan. Keep you safe, face Cora, I haven't got further than that.'

Regina sat down. She hadn't gotten any further than that either, why was she trying to bait Emma into setting up a trial that would likely see her executed?

'I apologise Miss Swan... I have had a taxing day.'

'What if you were my wife?' said Emma, mostly to herself.

'What?'

What?

'If I convinced Snow that you were my true love, I don't think she'd let anyone kill you.' Emma stammered out.

'She'd do it herself, for your own good.' Regina said dryly.

'She wouldn't, not if she thought it would destroy me and Henry'.

Regina laughed 'Miss Swan, are you asking me to marry you?'

'I think I might be.'