Hello :)

Just to explain the background of this story, it takes place just after the 3B finale. There is quick mention of Zelena being dead. It's assuming they have no reason to suspect Rumple of foul play (at least for now). So the general assumption is that she is, in fact, dead.

This will be heavily focused on Swan Queen romance and their new relationship - so most likely not much going on in the way of plot twists and villains to defeat. Think peaceful Storybrooke lol

Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 1: Twenty-Four Hours

It had been a full twenty-four hours. Twenty fours hours ago, Regina had left yet another Granny's celebration dinner hurt and dismayed, and yet again, it had been Emma to come running after her. The others came out as well - David, Snow, Henry, Hook - but mainly they followed Emma to make sure she was alright. She'd yelled at them things like, "Not now!" and "I'll handle it." Finally after they retreated into the diner, Emma was able to catch up with Regina. Why the brunette didn't simply purple smoke herself back home to avoid Emma all together - well, she probably couldn't even tell you that. It certainly would have been easier, but something in her didn't want to avoid the obnoxiously infuriating savior. Maybe something in her wanted to be saved - wanted someone to hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay. Because right now, her sister was dead, her second chance had crashed and burned, and that filthy pirate's lips were all over Emma. Everyone was happy. But not her. Because evil queens don't deserve to be happy. But sometimes evil queens do need to be held.

So Emma caught up to her and despite her mind actively working to take control, her heart won out and it made the choice to purple smoke them both back to the mansion.

It was a grueling, emotionally charged night, followed by an eerily silent, heavy, gray day. They fought. Regina threw blows; Emma blocked. She tried pushing the blonde away (physically and emotionally). And ever the savior, she stayed. They said things like, "I hate you" and I'm sorry." Or "I'm falling apart" and "No, I won't let you." Emma cried; Regina wiped away tears. Sleep never came, but breakfast was made. Lunch was ordered in and dinner was half eaten. They stared, they reflected, shared revelations. Then they fought through tears to smile away the defeat.

Twenty four hours later, here they were.

Regina sits in bed against the headboard, knees to her chest. Emma kneels beside the bed and places a small glass of water and a bottle of pain killers on the nightstand.

"I'll be right back," she whispers. The brunette nods her weary head and watches as Emma leaves her.

In the kitchen, Emma's put a kettle of water on to boil. She searches the cabinets for a mug and tea. She finds them conveniently in the same cabinet, along with honey and sugar. Just as the kettle begins to screech, she hears the door bell. Turning off the flame, she heads to the front door. It's Robin.

"Look, Robin, I know you guys have a lot to discuss but she's really not in the mood right now. Just give her a little space."

"Suddenly you speak for her?"

Just as she's about to give the forest man a piece of her mind for his lack of understanding, she stops when she feels Regina's presence behind her.

In a weak voice, she offers, "He can come in."

Robin and Regina sit opposite each other in the study. Standing in the doorway, Emma checks with Regina before leaving them to discuss. "Are you okay?" When she receives a small confirming nod from the other woman, she takes her leave, closing the door behind her.

The blonde sits at the kitchen island sipping the tea she'd originally intended for Regina, but oh well. She tries to hear what's going on in the study but she's too far off and they're behind closed doors. She'd thought it would be too rude to stand outside the study waiting and opted to give them space. But now she hears the doors opening and Regina is showing Robin the exit. Emma takes a deep breath and tries to neutralize her face before the other woman walks in.

"Emma... I didn't think you were still here," she mutters quietly. She startled to find the younger woman, though she shouldn't be (they had been together the last twenty-four hours, after all). She still can't look Emma in the eyes. So she busies herself, rifling around the kitchen, looking for - well, nothing in particular.

"Can you please look at me?" she goes over to Regina, stepping right into her personal space. "Will you ever forgive me?"

The only response she gets is a teary-eyed pleading look.

"You will never understand how much I regret hurting you, but I need you. I realize that now - I need you more than I ever realized. You're my family. You're my home. I need you Regina, please don't cry."

Unable to control the tears, Regina buries her face in Emma's shoulder and finds comfort and warmth in her embrace. The paradoxical feeling surging through her veins right now make it harder to see clearly. This woman who she should hate, is the one person providing her with the embraces and the partnership she so needs right now - the one person telling her that it's going to be okay. As she feels the embrace become tighter and tighter, her heart swells in her chest and it feels like there is an explosion. The energy is so big and so electric, she looks up into Emma's eyes wondering if perhaps she felt it too.

She begins slowly, "I - I know you've probably never thought about this but Regina, if I'm being honest, the thought has crossed my mind more than just a few times. I was thinking - well more like wondering - if you ever thought about me? About us. Like maybe I could be your chance at happiness..."

Not knowing what to say or what to think, the brunette stands still searching her mind for some way to respond, but coming up short.

"Okay, maybe that was a bad idea. I shouldn't have said anyth - "

"Emma, shh. Stop talking."

She reaches one hand up to cup Emma's cheek and the other hand behind her neck to pull her closer. Leaning in the close the gap between them, she stops just shy of waiting lips and waits for confirmation that this is okay.

Not wanting to allow the woman to think too much about the present moment, Emma moves in quickly to capture salty wet lips. She goes in slowly but forcefully, hoping to convey all of her emotion in that one kiss. And when she feels the brunette sink into her arms and start to kiss back, she breaks away only for a moment to reassure her. "It's going to be okay. I won't let you go."

She goes in for another kiss, only this time, it's Regina who breaks away.

"What about you boyfriend?" The words come out sharp-edged.

Suddenly the previous evenings events played back in her mind and she remembered Hook. She'd made out with him in front of everyone and basically accepted his "courtship" proposal. But if she was being honest with herself, whatever she feels for him is nothing compared to what she feels for Regina. They make beautiful magic together, for fuck's sake.

"Oh, shit I forgot about him."

A familiar tension hits her body and with it an onslaught of familiar thoughts.

'This can only mean more heartbreak for you, Regina. Get out now, while you still can.'

"I can't do this, Emma," she pushes the blonde away, feeling the need for air and space. That familiar need to run - it never fails her.

Emma runs after the woman, who's now halfway up the stairs.

"No. No, wait. Gina just talk to me, please?" she grabs an arm to keep Regina from ascending further up and into the safety of her bedroom.

"Don't!" she pulls out of Emma's grip but stops anyway. She wants to say something. Emma can tell by the way she starts to open her mouth then pauses. So she gives her a moment. "I thought that because I was a villain, I didn't deserve a happy ending. But then I look at all the other villains and they seem to be doing just fine. Gold has his true love and he's the Dark One! Hook is a liar. He neglected to tell you about Henry being in danger. He taught him how to cheat. He lied about helping Ariel and Prince Eric - I helped Ariel and fucking Eric. I did that shit in Neverland, but all you seem to notice is that he sold his ship for you?"

Feeling the sting of Regina's truthful venom, Emma starts to speak but is cut off.

"And you know, you've run around the past few days with this resentment - treating me like I was invisible and I understood. You were under a lot of pressure. You missed the comfort and safety of New York. You wanted to get back to normalcy and good memories. Sweetie, I gave you that. I gave you a home."

Now Emma's the one teary-eyed and she thinks to herself, 'How could I have been so blind?'

"I think it's not because I'm a villain. It's because I'm me. I don't deserve a happy ending."

She rushes to Regina's side to hold her and assure her.

"Gina, you do deserve all of that. Thank you. The home you gave Henry and me, it was the best home I've ever known. Even my wardrobe was better."

She tries to hide a smile; it vanishes quickly. "I trusted you to not let me down."

"I know I let you down with the whole Archie thing and I never wanted to do that again. Believe me, if I had known bringing her back would cause you this much - "

"Emma... I didn't love him."

"What?"

"I didn't love him. How is it that you really cannot see?"

Clearly confused, Emma searches her mind for an answer, but Regina provides one first.

"Emma I love you," she admits, "but you don't see me anymore."

'Whoa, this can't be happening. Is she serious?'

"Are you serious?"

Exposed and raw and hanging out on a lonely limb, the brunette goes to her trusty snark to cover up.

"Well don't you worry your pretty little head; we both know I'll never get what I want anyway."

"Cut the shit Regina," the other woman is taken aback. "I just needed a moment to process. How come you've never said anything?"

"When? While you were running around Neverland chasing after Neal? Or when you finally came back and were spending all of your free time with 'Captain Overcompensation?' Maybe if I were more aggressive like him you would have seen how I felt. But I thought I'd made it rather obvious."

"Well it wasn't," she corrects, "but I do see you, Regina. And despite what you think, you deserve to be made happy. We both do."

A sense of déjà vu washes over Regina, "What do you see in me?"

"Everything. You're home. You're my family. You gave our son his best chance when I couldn't do it. You're a hero for that reason alone. I mean, there are other reasons you've become a hero lately, but that's the one that really matters to me. You have so much love to give and I want it. I want all of it. Even your snarky-ass commentary on every idiotic thing I do. I want that. And dammit, you are so, so beautiful. I've been checking you out since the day I met you."

This evokes a genuine laugh from the former mayor. "God knows, you never understood the art of subtlety."

"Please give me a chance? I want to give you everything you've given me. I want to love you. I do love you." She pulls her in for another passionate kiss, this time full of love, honesty, and hope for a future of happiness together.

"Will you do something for me?" Regina whispers.

"You name it."

"Break it off with the pirate."