Regina's Most Dreadful Nightmare

Chapter Two

Summary: (Prequel to A Promise Kept) Apparently the only nightmare worse than Emma Swan killing her was the horror of living with her. Swan Queen.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters contained here within. This is meant for entertainment purposes and is not used for profit. I also do not own Dragon Age II or the quotes used within.

Author's Note: This is the prequel to A Promise Kept, and will be written in conjunction with it. Names are used intentionally, like in APK. The tone of this story is lighter, to balance out APK, although there will be a fair deal of serious parts. Many things will eventually crop up in APK and the plot of this story will be integral to the relationships Regina develops in APK and its sequel, most notably hers with Emma. This story takes place during the events of 2.01 'Broken.'

Chapter Note: Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and alerts! They mean so much to me, as is your continued support! I love to read your thoughts. This was released at the same time as Chapter Two of A Promise Kept which officially started to include allusions to this story. This story will be moving at a faster pace than APK and will likely be finished before it. Please enjoy!


Oh, it was all just a dreadful nightmare, Regina thought to herself as she groggily came to.

"Hey, Regina, you alright? You scared me with another fit of passing out into my arms."

Regina grumbled stonily in Emma's general direction as she propped herself upright on the bed once more, shaking a fist at Emma in the universal gesture of 'back off.' "I can assure you I did no such thing on purpose," she replied scathingly. Swan merely made herself comfortable by leaning back against the bedpost.

Smirking that insufferable smirk.

Regina stood promptly, valiantly keeping her footing despite the massive amount of wobbling the action caused. She stalked over to her walk-in closet. She was damned if she was going to spend another minute in such common clothing.

"Whatcha doin'?" Swan's voice was only slightly muffled even though Regina was several feet deep in the closet.

"I am changing out of this thing," Regina politely balled up the jeans and tossed them haphazardly out of the closet. "I should take a long, cleansing shower, but it would appear Henry is expecting my presence soon. This was most embarrassing…"she shuddered. "I believe the shame will haunt me forever."

"Jeez, Regina, casual clothes aren't that bad." Regina could detect the eye roll present in Swan's voice despite not being able to see Swan herself. "This you wears jeans all the time."

Regina tromped over to the closet's opening after slipping into far more sensible ensemble. "Lies, Miss Swan."

At Swan's challenging look, Regina gestured to the closet behind her. "Upon minimal inspection I see no additional pairs of jeans." When Emma continued to stare at her, Regina amended, "at least not in my size."

Apparently that was enough to appease Swan for she burst into a triumphant grin and put her arms behind her head. "This is kinda fun."

Regina huffed. "I'm glad my anguish amuses you so."

Emma laughed. "Getting you to fall in love with me again."

"I beg your pardon," Regina gawped. "I refuse to believe that you got me to be so…besotted with you."

Rolling her eyes, Emma shook her head. "Yes. Obviously your cursed powers of effortless seduction wooed me into subservience, all for the purpose of furthering your giant ruse of getting Henry back."

That sounded like a brilliant plan, Regina admitted to herself.

"But untrue." Emma smirked like she was privy to Regina's thoughts. The mere idea of the level of intimacy needed for such a feat curled in Regina's belly, making it cramp painfully. "It was all of this," she continued and gestured to her body, like she was some sort of prize.

"Mmmhhhmm," Regina scoffed.

Emma grinned cheekily. "I'm pretty irresistible. People gaze upon me and then things happen." Regina let a loud guffaw at that whopper. "Hearts skip and everything. Beat harder than normal."

Regina stood impassively in the doorway, all haughty independence and steely glares. "Indeed, Miss Swan," she drawled. "My heart is beating. My basic survival is surely testament to your excellent, superior charm."

"And sterling moral fibre," Swan pointed out helpfully. "Since I keep saving you and all."

Shaking her head Regina strode forward in an effort to put an end to all of Swan's boasting. "Now let us go downstairs to Henry, for whatever reason he needs us to be down there for."

Sitting up, Swan grabbed her keys from the nightstand (Regina's nightstand.) "Yeah, everyone should be there by now."

Regina stilled. "Where?"

"Granny's."

Regina peered at Swan as if she were touched in the head. "I do not condone this. I could be hissed at and shunned for going to a public place. Why should I go through the public humiliation of subjecting myself to people I despise? Ah, yes, of course," she steamrolled over Emma's objections, "I forgot that your love for me makes me impervious to the inevitable pitchfork tussle and subsequent roasting."

Regina did not just admit to Emma Swan loving her. It wasn't like she loved her back; after all, it was just a plain, simple fact that meant absolutely nothing.

Emma gazed at Regina for a long moment before smiling beatifically and said "Yup."

Regina scowled as that smile unleashed a monster inside her chest. It crept up on her and clawed at her heart like it was some sort of a feeling. Feelings that were trying to make their way into a place where there was supposed to be a void, where things didn't happen because she knew better than to let them run rampant. A tiny spark of a flame, threatening to burst into wildfire, burning everything it touched.

It occurred to her that she used fire magic far too often and made a mental note to learn ice or thunder spells.

"An unexpected bounty, to be sure," Regina huffed and breezed past Swan to descend the stairs.

Henry was tapping his foot impatiently. "Really, Mom, don't dawdle," he scolded Swan and Regina in one fell swoop. Regina felt herself swell with pride at his condescending tone. Such a natural he was.

"Blame your mom, kid, she's the one that felt all frumpy or something," Swan drawled as they exited the mansion.

Regina spared her a disgusted glance.

"I told Gramps and Grandma to go on ahead and let everyone know what's happening," Henry said, falling into step between Regina and Swan, likely to circumvent an inevitable quarrel.

Grimacing, Regina resigned herself to yet another hardship of this dreadful nightmare. "And just where are we going and for what purpose?"

"Pushy," Swan replied, and, with a low undertone, "I like it."

"Swan," Regina intoned direly.

"Granny's for your birthday dinner," Henry piped up from between them.

Regina stopped. "My birthday?" She looked around and saw the weather was warm and cheerful, the sunset casting a lovely glow across the horizon. "How would you know when my birthday is? It would occur in February in this world."

Henry and Emma looked at each other in bewilderment. "But we've always celebrated your birthday at this time! Why haven't you told us when your real one was?" Swan demanded hotly.

Flipping her hair, Regina turned and presumed walking to Granny's. "Well, dear, I obviously lied."

"I cannot believe you'd lie to us for so long about something this important!" Swan flew to Regina's side and started flailing in agitation. Regina leveled her with a look.

"Nevermind," Swan muttered.

"I guess this means that the rescheduling worked out for the best," Henry valiantly attempted to smooth things over. My little politician, regina fondly thought. "But that doesn't mean that you get out of playing paintball tomorrow," he waggled a finger at Regina.

"What?" Regina exclaimed. "You want me to shoot paint like some sort of vagrant?" She sincerely hoped her disapproval was apparent.

"Hey, this you is good at it. I'm sure you'll remember how to do it, like riding a bike," Swan assuaged Regina's protests.

Shaking her head, Regina says "I am often flummoxed by you." Emma only takes this as some sort of compliment.

"Aw, c'mon Regina, it'll be fun!" Emma and Henry both wore matching pleading expressions.

"Let's see. How could I possibly find the idea of getting sweaty and pelted with globs of paint not fun? Perish the thought!" Regina proclaimed and placed a hand over her heart in mock indignation.

"Exactly!" That blasé attitude of Swan's was truly beginning to grate on Regina's nerves. The blasted woman had the sense to behave like that in front of Henry and then wait while Regina stewed into reluctant acceptance before being alone with her.

Whenever had Swan gotten such a surreptitious nature?

"No worries, you can take a few practice shots before we start," Swan wheedled as they finally approached the diner.

Regina sighed in defeat as Swan held open the door and Henry went in. Regina moved to go in before she felt Emma slide a hand to the small of her back. A strange jolt went through her, almost like a preclude to using magic. It felt eerily like the beast that had found purchase on her hand, trying to minimize its threat by taking the form of a ring.

Regina moved quickly in hopes of breaking free of Swan's hold but the woman merely gripped the fabric of Regina's blouse tightly like a rope.

This displeased Regina greatly.

"Do you intend on accompanying me to the bathroom?" Regina demanded as Swan tried to bring her closer, an exercise in unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. It resulted in them bouncing back and forth in an epic power struggle.

"Only if you ask nicely," Swan answered between gritted teeth.

"Yield!" Regina attempted to stomp on Swan's foot but she anticipated the move and hooked her leg around Regina's. This caused Regina to lose her balance completely and fall entirely into Swan's arms, a pattern that seemed to happen far too often for Regina's liking.

"Get a room, you two," a chiding voice teased.

Regina looked to her left to see Henry sitting in a booth opposite Snow and Charming. She noticed in her sweep of the area that the diner was packed and there were shreds of paper hanging from the ceiling. A raucous clatter coming from the kitchen was followed with familiar curses uttered by Ruby.

"It's not my fault," Emma instantly tried to shift the blame from her but Regina would have none of that. She wriggled her body in Swan's arms to no avail.

"Don't you dare try to pin this on me, Swan!" Regina scowled.

Emma puffs as Regina lands an elbow to her stomach but doesn't relent her hold on Regina. "It's not my fault that you do your crazy time–jump thingy now when I'm all used to doing things with you."

"Miss Swan!" Regina gasps at the impropriety and finds purchase on Swan's body with her hands to shove her away, Swan's face going red. Regina refused to think about exactly where she shoved in order to garner such a reaction.

"There's no need to traumatize me further and think of Henry!" Hissing tightly, Regina waved at Henry and included Snow and Charming who were likely green in the face themselves.

"Regina, he's a teenager," Swan coughs.

Feeling woozy once more, Regina places a hand to the edge of the booth to steady herself. "I must use the washroom," she declared and tromped off towards the restroom and blatantly ignored Swan's mumbles.

It was probably for the best, she assured herself as she splashed water on her face. Looking up from the sink to the mirror, Regina squinted as she took a good look at herself. She did look slightly older, so perhaps this time–traveling theory Henry and Swan shared might deserve a little credence. The strange magic she could now feel coursing within her was another anomaly she couldn't quite place. Hopefully she would get a chance to have a word with Henry later, as he implied to have some sort of insider knowledge as to her current situation.

"Regina?"

Whirling around, Regina came face-to-face with a frighteningly pale Belle. "Are you alright dear?" Regina asked before she could stop herself.

Belle smiled before moving to wash her hands next to Regina. Regina quickly took in her figure, a pale yellow dress gently outlined her lithe frame, reddish-brown locks framing her shoulders. She looked healthy, perhaps she was suffering from a viral ailment, Regina mused before recollecting that Belle should have still been locked up in the hospital. An unexpected wave of guilt washed over her.

"Yes, thank you," Belle's reply brought Regina's thoughts to a halt. "Just a little under the weather," she assured and stared at Regina for a few moments. "Snow told us that today's the day." Regina rolled her eyes—apparently she was the only one left out of the loop. "I'll see you soon," Belle's tinkling laughter rang in Regina's ears as she placed a kiss to Regina's cheek and made her way out of the bathroom.

What.

The.

Hell.

Had happened.

Regina stormed out of the restroom and headed straight for the Charming booth. Even thinking that brought an unpleasant taste to Regina's mouth. She halted momentarily. Alas, Regina said to herself, looking upon the little group. A cornucopia of love.

"Regina!" Emma twisted around in her seat opposite Henry and waved exuberantly. As if Regina couldn't spot her a mile away.

Which she couldn't, despite the outlandish curls of Swan's hair sticking out like a sore thumb in the bleakness of the world.

Regina strode over to the booth and gingerly sat next to Henry who seemed content to have them be close enough to be physically touching. While Regina was invigorated by the affection, the fact that Swan planted herself opposite her filled her with a deep foreboding.

Smiling wanly at Henry, Regina felt it drop as she beheld Snow and David. They both had aged, with Snow's hair only slightly longer than she had it as Mary Margaret. David was already grinning broadly at her and when she turned, they reflected their happiness onto Regina.

Regina practically gagged on the cheerfulness.

"I was assaulted in the washroom," she declared without hesitation and was surprised to see her tablemates become agitated, Swan in particular grousing about her duty as a public servant as she made to get up.

"Sit down, Sheriff," Regina ordered and Emma instantly plopped back down. "Not in a violent way," she added and was pleased to see a jealous scowl take place on Emma's face. "What has happened so that people approach me and kiss me as if we're…old chums?" Regina asked amidst a few quiet chuckles.

"You are 'old chums' with some people here," Snow said.

"What has happened? Tell me." Regina demanded of Snow who looked ready to reveal all before Emma threw a hand in front of her.

"No! Nobody can know too much about their future," Swan says vehemently, knocking over a bottle of ketchup in her haste. Snow picks the bottle up as David redirects Emma's arm away from other hazards. It was like some sort of Charming assembly line and Regina had to bite back a laugh.

"And why not," Regina asked.

Emma grinned foolishly. "It could rend apart the space time continuum!" Laughter sprang from her lips at her own cleverness.

"Heya!" Ruby appeared suddenly at Regina's side, startling her into Henry. "Didn't mean to scare you Regina, sorry," she apologized before setting beverages and plates in front of everyone.

Regina glanced warily at the milkshake and burger placed before her.

"You lost a bet," Henry murmured from her side. "It's why you were wearing jeans."

"I knew it," Regina seethed. It was likely Swan's fault. "Miss Swan, what else should I know about…" she was cut off by the gruesome sight of Swan ravaging her grilled cheese.

"'Nuff questions, Regina, let's eat."

Or at least that's what Regina gathered Swan said. She would have corrected Emma, but she decided that decorum was often wasted on the golden-haired ruffian. As Regina sat silently fuming, she observed the barely disguised murmurs around her. Instead of glaring back or passively looking away when Regina honed in on them, the occupants of the diner only waved back gaily or smiled into the heel of their hands. This pleased Regina little. There was far too much happiness for a world that was supposed to be without happy endings.

Seemed suspiciously like a happy ending to Regina.

Warily eying Swan who was intent on roping Regina into playing footsie, Regina reached for her milkshake.

"Would you cut that out!" Regina said around her straw, giving Swan a solid slam to the shin.

"Jeez, Regina, you don't have to be so rough!" For that Swan earned another kick. Regina hoped she fractured a bone.

"So, Regina, Henry told us that you remember up until the Wraith attack."

"Huh?" Regina blamed her lack of an intelligent response on Swan's miraculous recovery of her leg beatings by rubbing the limb up and down Regina's. It was most distracting.

"The jail cell," Snow immediately chipped in, after a look with David.

"Yes," Regina replied and found that it wasn't hard to converse with this Snow, who seemed to be frank and honest with Regina, almost as if she truly cared.

Nonsense, Regina told herself.

"At least she remembers me swooping in and saving her," Emma boasts through her mouthful of grilled cheese. Regina's disgusted look at the devastation spilling from outside the corners of Emma's mouth was unmatched.

"Hey, I was the one who pulled Whale off her," David leaned forward in an attempt to one-up Emma. Regina and Snow gave a synchronized eye roll. "Besides, Emma, swooping is bad, didn't you know that?"

Henry bit back a snort in order to preserve the gulp of milkshake he just consumed.

"Really," Swan drawled, an annoying string of cheese sticking to her chin. Regina's fingers twitched with an ache to wipe it.

"Always say 'heroic charging'. It's much more gallant."

"And what do you call beating people and looting their stuff?" Emma inquired.

"Adventuring!" Snow piped up, earning her a tableful of giggles which Regina certainly did not partake in. That smothered smile was merely a reaction to the degradation of Saintly Snow.

"Burglary and espionage are also your areas of expertise, dear," Regina added.

Emma leveled a look at Regina. "You seem especially broody, Regina."

Did she not just speak? "Does it bother you?" Regina asked instead, perplexed as to the reason behind the family's continued laughter.

"Nah," Emma drew out, resting her head in the palm of her right hand. How she didn't feel that magnificently grandiose piece of cheese plastered over her face was beyond Regina. "I kinda like it. But maybe you could add some cold insolence to it?"

Regina scooted back in her seat and scowled. "Really, Miss Swan?"

"Ooh! And smoldering too! Just for me!? Regina, you shouldn't have, even though I asked," Swan gushed.

"What?" Regina echoed incredulously. "How could I be smoldering and have cold insolence at the same time? They don't go together."

"Oh, shush," Swan dismissively waved a hand. "Don't distract me with your logic." And she continued to stare at Regina in a most inappropriate fashion, to the great amusement of the table.

"More hilarity at my expense?" Regina demanded before snapping completely. "Honestly, Miss Swan, do take care in your table manners!" With that she reached across the table and took Emma firmly by the jaw and wiped away the cheese from her chin. Swan chomped after Regina's hand, trying to reclaim her lost cheese, but Regina lightly backhanded her away.

"Mom, they were quotes from a game we play, Dragon Age 2," Henry explained, his face open and jovial.

"What, so I remembered some lines from a game?" Regina was so distracted by this information that she was forced to endure Emma snatching her hand and obtaining the lost cheese. Her victory lick against Regina's thumb when she reclaimed her prize was most unpleasant.

"What are you thinking about Regina?" Snow asked, apparently used to the spectacle her daughter tended to make of herself.

"I close my eyes and wonder what fresh hell awaits me." Regina declared.

Snow smiled, and a genuine answering one lifted Regina's lips.


Several hours later found Regina lounging on the end of her couch, Henry nestling into her side. Upon returning from the diner, he had insisted they watch a film together before bed. Naturally, Regina could deny him nothing and was subjected to the epic film The Avengers. It was filled to the brim with the super-heroes Henry had often lauded in his earlier youth and she was pleasantly surprised to find that she derived enjoyment from it as well.

Until the sound of Swan's laughter shattered her lovely illusion.

In an effort to distance herself from the strangely needy woman, Regina had thrown herself into the end of her couch and yanked Henry next to her before Swan could get the idea in her head that the spot was meant for her. It was no small miracle that Swan had produced popcorn without burning the house down and she kept throwing pieces at Regina intermittently, just to stake her claim or remind Regina to pay attention to her or some other crazy Swan logic she had floating in that empty head of hers.

Regina couldn't fathom why Swan couldn't understand that a film was for watching, not for indulging in pointless games.

Swan's chuckles had died down and Regina had hoped that would be the end of her ceaseless interruptions. Several peaceful minutes passed in relative silence and Regina felt herself relaxing. So subdued was she that she barely noticed a hesitant touch to the back of her neck. The touch traveled up to the nape of her neck and then interwove into her hair and began a soothing rhythm of scratching and reverent caresses.

Regina couldn't bring herself to care.


"Regina," a soft voice broke through Regina's head and she stirred slowly.

Emma's face was peering down at her. Regina shook her head to clear away the cobwebs and she noticed that Henry had also passed out during the film and had curled more fully into her side.

"We'd best bring him to bed," Regina whispered, her hand making its way to outline Henry's face.

When Emma didn't answer, Regina looked back at her and felt her heart make an uncomfortable leap. Blinking suddenly, Emma moved to gently cradle Henry in her arms and turned to make her way up the stairs, Regina following closely.

Leaning against the doorjamb, Regina felt…content. Swan delicately placed Henry upon his bed and wrapped a blanket around him before kissing his forehead. She smiled at Regina as she made her way outside of the room. Regina closed the door gently behind her.

"Man, I'm wiped!" Swan declared as she made her way to Regina's room.

Screwing up her face, Regina made her way into the bedroom. "And just what do you think you're doing?"

Emma poked her head out from the ensuite bathroom. "Getting ready for bed?" She asked curiously.

"Not with me," Regina solemnly said. Emma continued to stare at her. "What?" Regina relented.

"I can't sleep without you," Emma admitted.

Regina was taken aback. Her body erupted into goosebumps at every thought she refused to give credence to. "You've slept without me for years," she half-heartedly said.

Coming entirely out of the bathroom, Swan was dressed in a pair of red checkered flannel pants and a silken nightshirt that looked suspiciously like one of Regina's. "I just want to be near you," she said softly and went to the bed and grabbed a pillow and blanket.

"I will never leave you."

Regina grunted as Emma's voice echoed in her head, a bout of pain accompanying it. Emma looked at her searchingly, concern etched into her features.

"Memories?" Emma asked.

Regina shrugged. "It's passed," she said and hoped that Emma would understand.

A few moments passed and Emma nodded. It would seem that this Emma knew Regina quite well, and it scared her. Emma shuffled awkwardly before moving right up in Regina's face. Regina flinched and witnessed the hurt that flashed across Emma's face.

"Good night, Regina," Emma spoke and the whisper was a hot and gentle caress against her cheek. Emma kissed her cheek tenderly and lingered for several moments and exited the bedroom.

Regina stood still, hand ghosting her cheek for nearly hour after Emma had left.