* I claim no rights over OUAT. Everything belongs to ABC. I have other works under /~swan3ills
* This gives a #SwanQueen twist to the story while still trying to keep close to the episodes as they air.

The Death Trap

"Then why did you?" Regina asked, both concerned and with a glimmer of hope in her dark brown eyes. Could she be part of the reason why Emma came back? She secretly hoped so, even if she couldn't understand why she wanted to hear that.

It was raining lightly and, while the yellow bug protected them from the water, it didn't really do much for the chilly sensation. Even if her coffee was still hot as she carefully sipped on it, the time it took Emma to answer made Regina feel helplessly much colder.

"Henry would have wanted me to. It is what a hero would do." Emma answered gently. She flashed a warm smile but shied away after their gazes met for a brief moment that made both of them blush instantly.

There was more to it than what her blonde companion wanted to admit. Regina could feel the tension growing between them in that cramped space that suddenly felt a thousand times larger. They were close, yet so far. These feelings while confusing were not completely unfamiliar. She had felt something similar toward the bail bond in the past whenever Emma showed her empathy and support.

Miss Swan had been the second person in her whole life to ever see her as Regina. A human being with a broken heart that genuinely sought redemption and to be given a second chance, so even the tiniest display of understanding and support coming from the Savior, meant the world for some one like the Evil Queen. Of all people for Emma to be the one she could rely on was ironic but romantic in a way.

"Ah!" Regina let out a groan when the scorching brew burned her mouth. She had taken a gulp from her coffee when she realized she was thinking about her relationship with Emma Swan as something platonic. Why would she be even thinking about romance in the middle of a new curse? This was so not her usual self.

"Are you OK? What happened?" Emma quickly turned to look at her after hearing her whimper. She had been looking outside the window to keep watch on Regina's office for movement, but also to avoid sharing any more lingering gazes that only made her feel uneasy and nervous for some unknown reason. It reminded her of her teen days when she would shy away from Neal's gaze. They looked so silly trying to evade each other's eyes before acknowledging they were in love. But she shook the memory away from her head because it was odd to be remembering this now.

"I'm fine. I just burned my mouth." Regina replied with some anger, feeling frustrated about the emotional wreck she was at the moment.

"Let me have a look." Emma offered and got closer to inspect before thinking twice or giving Regina a chance to refuse. Her hand gently turned Regina's chin to face her and her thumb caressed her bottom lip ever so lightly. Regina's eyes opened wide in bewilderment and her mouth gapped; she was frozen and at a loss of rude remarks she was sure she would have spit out at the blonde in the past for the inappropriate behavior coming from the former Sheriff.

It was then when Emma took notion of what her thumb was doing and her eyes had also been inspecting those lips for a little too long. She felt her heart racing and let go of Regina's chin. She cleared her throat and then finally said: "It wasn't that bad but you might get a blister." Turning quickly away to fix her eyes on Regina's office's window.

There was uncomfortable silence for ten minutes, which felt like a decade, until Emma saw movement inside Regina's workplace. "Look! There's someone inside. Time to go catch our intruder." She said and immediately burst out of the death trap she called a car, not ever looking behind to check if Regina was following after her.

When they got inside the mayoral office, they found a hooded silhouette that quickly vanished in a green smoke. Regina was astonished about the mysterious figure being able to break her blood-lock and disappear without giving them a chance to get a better look at him/her. No one is that powerful, Regina said and the Savior wondered about what kind of foe they were dealing with. This wouldn't be an easy task.

After failing to find any leads that could help them uncover the identity of this formidable enemy, they decided to go back home. It was already past eight in the evening and Henry would be waiting for his mother to pick him up from the library. He was used to his mother's late schedule as a bail bond, but this wasn't New York and he wasn't in his home, so it could be a little unsettling for the teenager and Emma didn't want him wandering around the streets of Storybrooke out of boredom or curiosity, because of the lurking dangers.

Emma opened the passenger door to let Regina inside and then went to her side, after having gently closed the door for the once again Mayor. A true gentleman, Regina thought while gazing into the dark street ahead. Again, she was having strange thoughts around her stake out partner. They just kept coming at what seemed like random moments, but were moments where if Emma had been a male, it would have seemed like flirting. And she would have succumbed into the almost kiss earlier, if Emma had approached her lips the last mere inches keeping them apart.

Just as Regina was silent during the ride, immersed in thought, Emma was trying to make something out of her current inner battle. The pain was still fresh from Walsh's false identity. He had felt real in her new life at New York and she believed they were in love, but it was all a lie and her heart once again was broken. But that wasn't everything, she knew she was trying to evade something she had felt before but could never find the proper words to describe it.

Regina Mills was the most upsetting, infuriating, woman she had ever met, but she was also the most intriguing. She had immediately felt drawn into her somber persona after their first meeting. There were times she was sure she hated her for ridiculing her at any given opportunity and for keeping her away from Henry, but there were also sporadic moments where Regina would let her wall break in front of Emma and no one else, and it was those brief moments where she felt connected to the real person behind the harsh Mayor façade and felt empathy for her, or perhaps a little more than just that.

Emma was driving toward the mayoral mansion to drop Regina off in her own place, as she had requested in their earlier meeting when Emma came out with her plan to let the word out about Regina working on the memory potion. She stopped in front of the big white house and turned off the noisy engine. She looked at Regina, who was unhooking her seatbelt, and decided to try again to change her mind.

- "Are you sure you don't wanna meet him?" Emma insisted before the brunette opened the door.
- "It would be too hard. I don't think I can..." Regina said with a broken voice; eyes clouded with tears.
- "Come on. You can do this." Swan insisted with her cute puppy eyes.
- "I will need some courage." Regina sighed as she stepped out.
- "Liquid courage? I could use some, too." Emma grinned playfully while getting out of the yellow bug as well.
- "Sure, if you don't fear getting cursed by the Evil Queen." Regina muttered and made her way to the porch.
- "Nope." Emma chuckled.

She turned the key and opened the door to enter her beautiful house. It was an immaculate mansion, exactly as Emma remembered visiting before, but with a not so friendly welcome back then. First when she brought Henry back from Boston and then when she was ready to leave Storybrooke.

- "Apple cider?" Regina asked politely before filling two glasses.
- "What, no turnovers?" Emma teased trying to ease the tension but Regina glared dangerously.
- "I'm afraid I ran out of cursed apples, Miss Swan." Regina answered sharply.
- "Woah! You are Miss Swaning me again. I thought we were through that, Madam Mayor." She teased again.
- "Sorry, Emma, I'm just nervous about meeting Henry." The brunette said with sadness.
- "I can't even imagine how much it must hurt." Emma looked to the floor feeling bad for her former enemy.
- "It's the worst curse imaginable… and I know about curses." Regina half-heartedly laughed to ease the pain.
- "I wish I could do more to help. It kills me to see you like this." Emma said honestly.

Regina looked at her with mixed pain, surprise and gratitude. This Emma was very different from the unruly blonde she had met a couple of years ago. She was friendlier to her, more than what she had been in Neverland; where a common goal forced them to be united, like they were now. But this time, somehow, Emma had become warmer than before Pan's curse separated them. She was also more mature, more responsible and caring.

Their relationship had changed so much from what it used to be. The constant bickering was no longer present. Instead, there was genuine understanding and trust. But how could Emma trust in her after everything she had done in the past? She couldn't make logic out of it but she was deeply grateful. She seemed to be forgetting the fact that for the last year, Emma had been living her happy ending thanks to her.

Emma noticed the battle happening inside Regina's head and put her glass over the center table. They were standing by the hearth in Regina's studio to warm up after having spent a couple of hours inside the cold yellow bug parked outside Regina's office. Emma slowly came closer to the Mayor and placed her right hand gently over Regina's shoulder to break her out of her reverie.

- "It's okay if you want to postpone the meeting." Emma said gently.
- "No. It's going happen sooner or later. Let's just get over with it." Regina said in a hurried voice.
She smoothed out the fabric of her dress and drank her cider with a big gulp, coughing a little.
- "Okay… Let's go then." The blonde said smiling at her resolve.
- "I will take my car, your death trap still haunts my dreams." Regina said seriously.
- "Please, you love how it roars." Emma teased.
- "Sounds more like an upset stomach." Regina looked from under her thick lashes.
- "Oh you didn't just insult my baby." Emma faked to feel offended by the comment.
- "Quit sulking and grow up at last." Regina scolded.
- "Three curses and you still don't have a sense of humor." Emma went over the line.
- "Maybe because it is never me the one getting a happy ending." Regina said with a loud coarse tone and started her way over to the door.

Emma realized how much damage she had done with her joke. That was true, even if the first curse had been cast by Regina to seek revenge over her enemies and getting her twisted happy ending, it had never really been a happy ending. She had gotten Henry, but he reminded her constantly she was the Evil Queen from his book and he wanted his real mom. And just when her son realized how much she loved him and he loved her back, she had to counteract Pan's curse to avoid spending an eternity inside a living hell and to save everyone else. So she had to undo her curse and give Emma a new beginning, one in which she made sure at least she could get a happy ending together with Henry; one she would have wanted for herself. And now this new curse, everyone was eager to blame her without even bothering to seek the truth. There is just so much one person can endure.

Regina had reached to the entrance with Emma running behind her when the blonde tugged on her arm and made her turn around to face her.

- "What now?" Regina asked harshly.
- "I'm sorry." Was all Emma could say.
- "Me too." Regina responded after taking a deep breath, still mad at the jackass.
- "The life you gave me with Henry… I will forever be in debt with you." Emma told her with watery eyes.

Regina wasn't really expecting that. She didn't need Emma to thank her for anything because she had done it for Henry, not for her, or so she kept telling herself. She couldn't care less about Emma's wellbeing, right? But, really, she didn't know now the difference between Henry's happiness and Emma's. It was a package deal and she embraced it. All she could do was sigh deeply, again.

- "I did it for Henry. So don't worry, you owe me nothing." The brunette had gained back her composure.
- "Lie." The wavy haired blonde raised an eyebrow.
- "Your superpower is not always reliable, Savior." Regina muttered.
- "With you, it is. Always." Emma slowly closed the gap between them, totally invading her personal space.

Regina stared at the blonde for a moment. She could feel her heartbeat speeding as Emma got closer and closer. This was all too confusing. She was still furious, hurt, but nervous? How? Her proximity to Henry's birthmother was unsettling in a queer way you only experience when you are close to that person you like more than just a friend. Wait, since when is Emma her friend to begin with? And more importantly, more than just a friend? Regina feels her head is going to explode any moment.

The shock! It makes her legs tremble when she feels a pair of arms surround her body. Emma noticed the struggle in Regina's demeanor and before giving the brunette any time to speak; she let her arms encircle the slender figure before her in a tight embrace. Her chin naturally nestled in that warm curve between Regina's shoulder and neck, allowing her to inhale that sweet and elegant perfume the sophisticated Mayor always wore. A scent that was well etched in Emma's brain. She remembered how whenever she walked nearby the Chanel boutique on Madison Avenue, she would always get a strange shiver in her stomach after her nostrils picked up on the alluring fragrance. It was an involuntary reaction from her body, tensing in expectation of the unknown.

"What are you doing?" Regina remains still, not knowing whether to return the hug or push her away, but Emma doesn't say anything. She's immersed in her own turmoil of feelings. She loves the way Regina smells and she likes how warm and soft her body feels inside her grip, but can't find the rationality behind it. Or rather, she doesn't want to accept it.

- "Ahem." Regina clears her throat to call Emma's attention. "I think your son is waiting for you." She says abruptly.
- "Our son." Emma says into her ear while slowly breaking the one-sided embrace.

Jade eyes meet chocolate and for a short moment Emma's head leans lightly forward, too dangerously close to Regina's, who feels she is going to lose it any moment. She doesn't understand Emma's new dynamic with her, but deep down she likes the attention she is receiving from the Savior. She doesn't have memories of the prior year she lived in the Enchanted Forest, before getting sent back to Storybrooke by the latent curse. So for her, this is the most intense display of affection she has been given in decades. And again, it comes from the same person who showed her sympathy before: Emma Swan.

- "We should get going." Emma said nervously, looking away from the brunette.
- "Of course." Regina replied quickly and moved to a side to let the blonde pass through the entrance.

Regina stepped outside after Emma and locked the door to her house with more than just a key. She cast a barrier spell on the building and made her way over to the black Mercedes.

- "You're not coming with me?" Emma asked with a childish voice, almost making Regina smile. She looked so much like Henry using a childish sad voice.
- "I told you I would rather go in my car, besides, I will need to come back home." Regina reminded her.
- "Oh, right." Emma mumbled and got inside the death trap to drive her way over to the library and then the Charmings' place.

It was hard for her but at least it was a start. Meeting Henry had given her hope. She could build new memories with him if Emma decided to stay after breaking the curse, in case they couldn't make him remember. Maybe she could even manage to follow them to New York, should Emma refuse to stay in Storybrooke or if breaking the curse meant they had to go back to the Enchanted Forest. But one thing was sure: there was no way she would say good-bye to her son again.

- "So the wicked witch of the west is the enemy?" Emma said quietly.
- "Yes. Everything points in that direction." Regina answered her.
- "You seem to know her, this witch. How do we defeat her?" David asked the former Evil Queen.
- "I know of her, not know her personally, so I don't know yet how." Regina could feel her vein throbbing with anger.
- "And what do we do with the flying monkeys." Snow asked with concern.
- "For one, don't date them." Emma mumbled.
- "Why would anyone do that?" Her mother asked bewildered.
- "I was... joking. Forget I said that." Emma tried to evade it.
- "And I'm the one who lacks a sense of humor. Maybe someone needs to evaluate hers." Regina blurted.
- "Anyway, at least we have a piece of the puzzle now." Emma changed the topic before drawing more attention.

They had been talking in the hallway outside the apartment to avoid Henry from overhearing their crazy talk. After coming to conclusion who their enemy was, they finally had a lead to continue with their investigation the next day. It was midnight already and they were feeling the strain from the last two days of search without any clues and having had little to no sleep.

- "I will go back home, it is very late and you can all agree we need to get some rest." Regina said first.
- "Yes, specially Snow with her condition." David said gently, smiling at his yawning wife.
- "I'm pregnant, not dying." Snow whined but another yawn came.
- "Yes, well, the baby seems to be sleepy." Her husband chuckled, making his wife frown.
- "Mary, David… Could you please check on Henry? I will join you in a moment." Emma asked after Regina started walking down the stairs to leave the building.
- "Sure." They answered at the same time, taking notice of Emma's unusual demeanor but letting it slip.

Regina continued descending until she was out of the building and Emma appeared soon behind her.

- "Hey…" Emma called.
- "Hey." Regina turned around and mimicked.
- "You sure you're safe in that big house on your own?" Emma asked with worry.
- "Well, I have been up until now. And don't you think your parents' apartment is cramped already?" The brunette raised her eyebrow at Emma.
- "Yeah… Well, I was thinking, maybe, we could be together. I mean Henry and I, with you… You know, in your big mansion. For safety." Emma was such a nervous fool.
- "And how will you explain that to Henry? I'm just Madam Mayor in his eyes." The brunette was perplexed.
- "Do you even think before you speak?" Regina felt irritated. Right now she wouldn't be able to stand another second next to Henry without trying to make him remember her somehow.
- "Clearly not." Emma mumbled.
- "Just call me if you find anything important." Regina ordered before unlocking her Mercedes.
- "Will do." Emma replied, sticking her hands inside her coat's pockets and smiling sheepishly.

She turned around and almost screamed when she found Ruby just a step away from her.

- "God! Are you trying to kill me?" Emma complained to the red hooded girl.
- "Quite the contrary! I'm on my shift to guard your parents' house from any danger." She said innocently.
- "Shift? Guard?" Emma shook her head in confusion.
- "They are still our Majesties and some of us like to respect that and serve them, even when they won't order." The werewolf told her with pride.

She would always stay true to her vow of loyalty and more importantly, their friendship.

- "Oookay... Let me know if you see anything out of the ordinary." The blonde started to make her way back inside.
- "Like your dorky behavior toward the Mayor?" Ruby chuckled behind her.
- "What?" Emma turned around in shock.
- "Just sayin'..." The brunette looked up to the starry sky whistling playfully.
- "Not a word. That was just... I don't know what that was actually." The princess sighed deeply.
- "I would say you DO..." The shewolf pushed her buttons again.
- "Suck it, Ruby. I'm too tired to have this conversation." Emma grumbled and made her way back into the apartment.
- "Sleep tight, Princess! Sweet dreams with you know who." The brunette chuckled when Emma gave her the finger.

The moon was full and shinning brightly above Ruby's head. She could feel its light bathing her and she wouldn't miss this energizing shower, so she removed her enchanted cloak and hid it behind one of the trash cans where no one could see it. Not like it was vital, since she already had full control over her transformed body, but because it was still a magical riding hood that meant a lot to her. She then morphed into her wolf shape and went for a quick run around the block, feeling her body suck in every ray of moonlight, making her feel the adrenaline kick.

She was really tempted but she had been forbidden to go into the forest on her own. They didn't know what evil could be lurking in the pitch black of dusk and they couldn't afford to have her turned into a flying monkey. She was more useful a wolf and on their side, not the wicked witches.

A/N : Let me know your opinions! Reviews are very meaningful to all of us who write for a hobby. Thank you!