okay I know that I definitely should not start another multichapter because hell I'm so behind with constant reminders and Jane and Emma's big plan but man I just saw this movie and had to make a swan queen story out of it.

the movie's called Timer and I think this chapter will tell you most of what it's about. You can watch it of course and though I am doing some thing differently than the movie, it might spoil some elements of this story for you.

This is AU. There's no curse and no magic. there is Henry though, just not in this chapter yet. Emma and Regina are both doctors because yes I love that. However, I am not a doctor and all my knowlegde is coming from grey's anatomy. So... don't be disappointed if some shit is just really unreal. Trying to be as good as I can be.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: i don't own ouat or the characters.

p.s i know this chapter is really short, I just wanna know some first reactions to see if I should continue :) I promise it will get really awesome.


" if a clock would count down to the exact moment you meet your soul mate, would you want to know?"

- Timer, the movie


Regina Mills pushes herself upright into her bed. Her hand shoots up to her head, it's still throbbing. She wonders if she should stay in but then remembers that she has a busy schedule today. She can't stay in bed. She sighs deeply and automatically her eyes cast downward to her wrist. She pushed the silk of her pajama out of the way and her eyes fall on the timer that is imbedded in her flesh.

Days 0000 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds 00

She sighs. Still nothing. She throws the covers away and steps out of bed to open the curtains. It's still a bit dark outside. She loves winters but she hates that the dark mornings. When she walks in her kitchen the voice of the radio disturbs her quiet morning.

"Are you tired of sitting around waiting for love? Your days of watching and wondering are over. Say goodbye to heartache and disappointment. Now you can be on the clock – true love on a schedule. Introducing the TiMER, a revolutionary device that tells you not only who your soul mate is, but when you'll meet them."

She turns it off.

Half an hour later the doorbell rings. She rolls her eyes because yes, he's late once more.

"Hello."

"Hi. Am I late?" He asks with a look on his face as if he's expecting her to slap him.

She chuckles. "Yes, five minutes but who's counting."

He laughs then. "Well…we are, right?"

"Yes I guess you could say that."

He pushed forward then and kisses her hard, taking her by surprise. "Good morning to you too." She says, smiling lightly.

"Sorry. I guess I'm a little nervous."

"It's okay. Me too." She says. It's a lie because really she's done this so many times now, but Graham hasn't and she doesn't want to make him feel bad.

"So… should we go?" He asks carefully and she nods.

"Yes. Let's go."

"Regina! Welcome back! Another potential?"

" Yes, hello matchmaker Patty." Regina says with a short nod of her head. She never liked that woman, way too happy. She has to be a secret serial killer because Regina is sure that no one can be that happy all of the time.

"Let's go them! Are you ready sir?"

Regina elbows Graham and finally his attention snaps back to the conversation. "Yes sorry. I'm ready."

Patty looks at her as if she knows, but she's not going to tell Regina that this might be a waste because even she knows that you can't argue with the fierce woman.

Later, when Graham's lying on the hospital like bed and Regina's squeezing his hand she feels sort of sorry for the man. She may have exaggerated about her feelings for him. Sure, she felt something for the man but it was nothing close to the word love. But then she remembers her father saying that sometimes you don't love each other right away, it can come later.

"It will only hurt for a second. It's like getting your ears pierced."

Graham frowns. " I don't really know how that feels."

" Right." Patty says, a frown on her face.

" Let's just get this over with." Regina says and everybody agrees.

"Yeah, okay so you know how this works right? If you two are meant for each other they will both start beeping. If you're not then yours will show you how much time you have left or it will stay blank like Regina's if your soul mate doesn't have one."

Graham nods. A click and a hiss later, and the little machine is pierced in Graham's wrist. He hold up his hand and Regina and Patty are both leaning over, waiting for something to happen.

Then it bleeps, just once.

Days 0032 Hours 8 Minutes 59 Seconds 59

Regina lets go of his other hand that she had been holding.

"Maybe the next one?" Patty tries but Regina's already out of the door.

She's actually surprised that Graham has followed her, but then he's touching her shoulder and forcing her to face him.

"For what it's worth, I'm really sorry. I really did like you, Regina."

She smiles. "It's not your fault."

"So… do you still want to like hang out or something?"

She shakes her head then. " No. I think it's better if we part ways here."

" Because of the timer?"

She wants to say no, but he's right. She doesn't hang out with people who have a timer. It's a guarantee for heartache and she knows it. Eventually they will find their true love and she'll be left alone. After Daniel she promised herself that would never happen again. She now only focuses on man without timers.

" Yes."

She turns and walks away.


It's around twelve when she's on her way to work and calls one of her best friends.

" Kathryn." She woman whispers into the phone and Regina can't help but smile.

" Hello there dear. Why are you whispering?"

For a moment it stays silent except for the sound of sheets shifting. Regina knows her friend and she's damn well aware of where she is right now.

" Uh.. I'm in church."

She laughs out loud then.

" Right. Call me when you find your underwear, and remember you need to be in by three today. Try not the be too hung-over okay."

" Will do."

She hangs up with a smile on her face. Kathryn truly is her best friend and she likes how crazy she can get. She knows, however, that the reason for Kathryn's behavior is far from funny. She doesn't know the exact numbers but she knows that her friend still has over 5000 days left on her timer. She'd be depressed too if she knew that.

She arrives at the hospital a little late and finds all her interns already waiting for her. She quickly changes into her scrubs and then walks towards the group young doctors.

" Hello everybody. I will be your attendance for today, I'm doctor Mills, head of cardio."

She smiles at the group standing before her. She hasn't seen this group before, mostly because she doesn't allow many interns around her because it annoys her but also because they're pretty new to the hospital.

"I cannot promise I'll remember your names but I'll try. Ruby Lucas."

A brunette with way too much make-up and blood red lips shot up her hand. " Me."

Regina saw her stomach when she held up her hand. "Miss Lucas I suggest you go downstairs and write down your actual clothing size we wouldn't want people walking around half naked."

She actually pouts at that and it almost makes her laugh. Almost. But then she remembers who these people are and she has a job to do.

"Okay… next one. Mary-Margaret Blanchard." A short brunette walks to the front of the group.

"That's me!" Her voice is so high that it could be heard by dogs and that smile on her face is just so annoying. Regina already can't stand her.

Without saying another word she calls out for the next person. " David… Nolan." A charming young men smiles broadly at her and she almost throws up. What is it with these people.

Luckily for her it's a small group and she's already looking at the last name. "Emma. Emma Swan?" she says but only then realizes there are only three people standing before her.

" Where is she?" she says, her voice disapproving.

Ruby shrugs. " She was just here."

Suddenly a running blonde storms towards the group and stops right in front of her, panting. She's seen this girl before she notices. She was the girl who kept staring at her. " Sorry. I'm sorry Regina."

" Doctor Mills."

" Yeah I know that, Doc. I had to pee really bad."

When Emma is standing in front of her, her eyes automatically shift downward to her wrist. Unfortunately, Emma's white coat is covering the area and she can't see it. When her eyes land on the blonde's face again, she's looking at her with an eyebrow raised in a seductive way. She rolls her eyes and shoots her a cold look.

" Okay, the time for fun is over. Today you'll be with me which means lots and lots of patients, long hours and maybe just maybe, a surgery that would actually teach you something instead of all the other activities you've been doing."

She hears the enthusiastic talking behind her but doesn't turn around.

"Stanley Lewis. Forty-six year old man here for a new heart. He's been on the list for quite some time and it seems like we've finally found a suitable donor. If all goes well he should have the surgery tonight. Doctor Swan."

The blonde looks surprised but when Regina widens her eyes she catches up. " BP is 120 over 80 and heart rate is 80 which is a bit low."

" Is he stable enough to go into surgery, Doctor Nolan?"

"Yes."

" Very well, you've heard it Stanley."

The man smiles broadly at all of them and when he reaches out his hand Regina quickly grabs it and squeezes. It's so easy to connect with her patients because she knows that they won't be in her life forever.

" Thank you so much."

Regina smiles. " Don't thank me yet. Do it tomorrow, when you have your new heart."


Regina gives her interns instructions for rounds when she sees Kathryn walking through the doors of the hospital. She quickly walks to her friend to help her.

" Are you okay?"

The woman closes her eyes when they meet the bright hospital light. " Peachy."

"Come on, let's get you sober enough to function. Lots of kids will need your attention today."

She knows that Kathryn shouldn't go out and drink as much as she does, but as long as it doesn't affect her work Regina is not going to say anything.

She forces one of Kathryn's arms around her and tries to get the other woman to lean on her. She's heavy though, and not really cooperating. Her body has trouble getting the younger woman moving.

"Doctor Midas?" A voice says and Regina immediately recognizes it.

"Emma!" Kathryn says as the blonde steps around to face the pair.

"You two know each other?" Regina asks, looking between the two of them.

"Yeah of course, Emma's my girl!" The older blonde says as she uses her free arm to pull Emma in. The young doctor, caught off guard, falls forward into the two and her hand reflexively tries to balance herself using Regina's body.

The brunette shivers at the touch and forces herself to stay still.

" Sorry." Emma says when she pulls away. " Let me take her." She points to Kathryn but Regina shakes her head.

" I'm fine, Miss Swan."

Emma pouts and it's almost adorable. " I thought it was doctor."

"I don't see you fixing any people."

" touché." Emma says but still gently pushes Regina away, taking Kathryn's body on her own. She immediately walks them towards one of the patient rooms.

Regina stands there, mouth wide open, wondering how Emma got that strong. Was it normal that she suddenly felt the urge to attack the young girl and search for a timer and to pray like hell that she didn't?

Probably not.


what do you think? should I continue?

EDIT: If you didn't understand. Regina's timer has zeroes because her 'one' doesn't have a timer yet. you both need timers in order for it to work. That's also why she and graham go get one, she wants to know if Graham is her true love. When his showed 32 days it was obvious he doesn't belong to her.

hope you understand! If there are more questions please ask :)