AN: This is my first attempt at SwanQueen and my first story in years, please be kind. More to follow.

Emma Swan could think of a thousand reasons why she should hate Regina Mills. So why was her image burned into her mind, floating to the surface every time she closed her eyes? Was Regina Mills the reason that she couldn't sleep at night? She tried to clear her mind, urged herself to give in to the exhaustion that seeped through her bones, but she just couldn't. It was like Regina's face was tattooed to the insides of her eyelids and Emma couldn't escape even if she wanted to.

So, reluctantly, Emma gave in to the thoughts and tried to reason with her subconscious.

Regina was the Evil Queen. Was being the operative word. She was different now, she was so strong, confident and sexy. Emma tried to convince herself that she didn't see it, especially the last part.

Regina cursed her whole family, she ruined her childhood because of it.

Regina tried to kill Emma - but it was to protect everything that she loved. Wouldn't anyone behave the same way?

How badly had Regina been hurt to treat people that way?

Not even Evil Queens are born villains. Surely?

The Evil Queen was all an act, Emma was sure of it. Was it just a protective cloak that she had slowly wound around herself after years of heartbreak and unhappiness? Emma thought so - she had always had a knack for finding souls as lonely as her own. She could also tell that Regina loved their son fiercely; her superpower was never wrong.

Henry was their son, of course he was. Regina had just as much, maybe more, of a claim to Henry as she did. Emma could never have given him everything that Regina had.

Regina's bravado was a facade. A deep routed yearning to be loved; for all that she was and in spite of everything that she had done - Emma could see that. It was a feeling that Emma knew only too well for she too wore her loneliness like a shield.

And, she's smoking hot. There was that small voice again in the back of her mind, giving her ideas that she should definitely not have, torturing her with the image of Regina's apple-red lips. Those lips... Regina's smile could melt a person, but unfortunately for Emma, the Evil Queen often looked at her like she wasliterally trying to melt her with disdain. Even when she scowled she was sexy, Regina's stormy dark eyes were so intense that Emma could almost fool herself that she was looking at her with lust instead of hatred. There was no way that Emma couldn't return her hatred, not anymore.

She was just Regina now - not Mayor Mills, not the even Evil Queen. Stripped of her titles in a world (mostly) without magic, she was just a mother like herself. Just another lost, lonely person.

Emma couldn't resist her. There was definitely no use in trying to sleep, she was so worked up that she just had to see her, it couldn't even wait until morning. Emma always was one for rash, spur-of-the-moment action.

Now that she had worked it out, Emma just needed Regina to know - needed her to believe - that Emma saw the good in her. Emma wouldn't give up. Regina had to to see it for herself, isn't that what Saviours did for people?

And maybe, just maybe, the Evil Queen would have what it takes to save the Saviour along the way.

Regina could feel it. She could feel the magic that was building inside Emma, feel it bubbling and spitting - aching to be touched, aching to be used.

Oh, and how she would use it, given the chance!

The raw energy of her own magic fizzled under her skin. She closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like to be touched by Emma, imagined the sensation that two magic beings made when they connected, and she couldn't stifle her groan. It was a groan of anticipation and frustration.

It would never happen. Emma was the Saviour and Regina had made her bed as the Evil Queen a long time ago. Regina didn't deserve anyone. Villains didn't get happy endings.

There was a knock on the door. Who would have the audacity to call so late? Was it Henry? Was everything okay?

When she opened her door seconds later in her pyjamas, there stood Emma, and suddenly Regina felt completely naked. She felt so exposed when Emma looked at her like that.

"Miss Swan, what is it? I expect you have good reason to call on me in the middle of the night, without warning I might add?"

Emma gulped. Whatever she had been expecting, this for sure wasn't it. She could barely think with Regina dressed like that. The silk of her short pyjamas clung to her in all of the most flattering places and Emma couldn't resist.

She didn't say a word as she closed the gap between their bodies. She cupped Regina's face in her hands and let her own lips find the apple sweet ones she'd so often dreamt of. She couldn't describe how that kiss felt, it was like light was bursting from every pour of her being; from her fingers, toes and each strand of her hair. She felt alive.

Regina was rigid with shock at first, but when Emma's tongue gently parted her lips, probing and insistent - she brought with it that intoxicating taste of magic. Regina had longed for this, for a moment she lost herself in the sensation. Then she came to her senses.

What was happening?

Was this some sort of cruel trick?

It had to be.

"Miss Swan!" She snarled with as much indignation as she could muster, pushing the young woman away.

Emma looked hurt for a second, then she straightened.

"Regina... I..." Emma couldn't find the words, all she wanted was to go back to that moment, only moments ago when the light and the dark had matched each other, moulded together and the world had never been so beautiful. Regina must have felt it too, it was nothing if not magic.

"Save it!" Regina couldn't explain the way she was reacting. It was the opposite of what she wanted - but it was the only way she knew, hurt others and you won't get hurt yourself.

Wasn't that the mantra that she had lived by?