Chapter 10

In the middle of the night

"Noooooo. Nooooo!"

Regina was woken from a dead sleep. 'What was that?'

"Please stop!"

In her state of drowsiness Regina had forgotten she wasn't alone, "Emma!" She shouted!

Without a second thought believing Emma was in trouble, she mustered up what was left of her strength; teleporting into Emma's room landing straight on the bed ready for a fight.

But nobody was there. Emma was having a violent nightmare. She was thrashing and screaming. Pleading for mercy.

Regina crawled over to her and grabbed her arms, "Emma! Emma wake up." Emma Swan was incredibly strong and she kept fighting.

"Emma wake up!" she yelled louder. With that Emma sat up straight in bed grabbing onto Regina and taking her with her.

"Regina?"

"Yes, yes I'm here. What..."

But Emma didn't give her chance to ask. Emma Swan began to wail burying her face into Regina's shoulder.

Regina was stunned. She never saw this coming. She wasn't sure what to do. She comforted Henry many a night from night terrors and she had comforted herself since she was a child but never another adult.

So she did what she would have wanted done for her. She wrapped her arms around Emma and soothingly whispered to her.

"You're ok. Everything is going to be ok. I'm here now." Regina was too tired to notice the white haze enveloping them as she held Emma.

Emma wouldn't stop crying. Regina was desperate. She couldn't stand to see her like this and she didn't know what to do so she just kept holding her. Instinctively rubbing her back and shoulders while shooshing her. In truth Regina wasn't sure how awake Emma was nor how much of this she would remember in the morning but she kept holding her and trying to comfort her.

"He wouldn't stop, he wouldn't go away."

"Who wouldn't stop?" As tired as she was she wondered who could cause such agony for the Savior? And how much she'd like to wrap her hands around that person's neck.

Regina pushed her anger aside and tried asking her again but it was no use; Emma kept balling. Finally when she started to calm down Regina helped her lay back down and she collapsed next to her on the bed; sleep quickly taking over Regina.

About an hour later Emma began to wake up. She felt hot and realized she was sweaty. She unbuttoned her top and started to wiggle her way out of it when she felt another presence in the room. She quickly jumped out of bed holding onto her shirt and hit the lights.

"What? Not again." Moaned Regina.

"Regina? What are you doing?

"Don't you remember?"

"Remember what?" 'Oh my God what did I do?'

"Your nightmare. Or shall I say night terror. You woke up screaming in the middle of the night. I "poofed" over here." Sigh. "I thought you were being attacked by something or someone."

"You cared?" Emma was deeply touched that Regina used what little magical reserves she had left to protect her.

"Of course I care! Don't you remember crying. And me holding you?" Regina looked hurt.

"No I'm sorry I don't remember..." Emma stops to think. Her memories in a haze. 'Regina was holding me?'

"Well someone was hurting you. In your dreams but there was someone there."

Emma could scarcely recall a man in her nightmare; forcing her to do some unspeakable thing. But she didn't know this man. Nor had Emma ever been abused which was a miracle based on the life she was given as a kid.

"I do remember something. It was horrible."

"I gathered that much. It's best not to think about it now or your nightmares may return. Come back to sleep. You can tell me all about it tomorrow on our way to the well."

"You're staying here?"

"If its all the same to you Ms. Swan I am exhausted with wounded feet. I just need some rest."

"Ok I'll go downstairs to the couch."

"Thats ridiculous, you must be exhausted too. What is wrong with you?"

"You may not want me laying next to you with...well..."

"I don't have all night spit it out!" Patience was so not Regina's virtue.

Emma decided that showing Regina would be better. 'Well..its now or never..' She takes off her shirt and turns around.

"What on earth has gotten into you?!"

And then Regina sees it. A strange tribal looking tattoo running down Emma's back. Emma now has her full attention and she sits up on the bed.

"So you have a tattoo. Congratulations. Goodnight Ms. Swan."

Emma puts her shirt back on and turns around, "It's Olgham. It means to be brave."

Regina looks at her dumbfounded and waiting for whatever the 'big deal is.'

"And?"

"The meaning of Brave in Olgham ...what my tattoo literally says is The Heart of a Lion."

Regina goes pale.

You could hear a pin drop from the silence in that room.

"I've heard enough." Regina gets up and starts limping out of the room.

"Wait."

"Emma, really. You are reading too much into this."

"Am I?"

"Yes of course! I mean do you realize what you are implying and how incredibly preposterous it is?"

They are now in the middle of the hallway when suddenly Emma blurts out without thinking,

"I'm attracted to you."

"Pardon me?"

"I'm..I've always been attracted to you. I mean I didn't think anything of it. You're a beautiful woman, and you're smart and I figured everyone must be attracted to you. I don't know...you're you."

"And why the hell haven't you said anything?"

"Oh jeez I wonder why? Because you're YOU. And I don't know. We're here in fairy-fucking Storybrooke with all these Disney characters..not exactly the normal world here Regina. But none of that matters right now. Tell me you haven't been attracted to me?"

"I most certainly have not!" She starts to limp away.

"You're lying! Emma grabs her arm and spins her around. They are now facing each other. "I may have lost my magic but not my superpower and you are lying."

"Unhand me at once." Emma lets go but she doesn't back off.

Regina thought to all the times she noticed Emma Swan. How her jeans hugged her just right. How her stupid beautiful blonde locks always looked immaculate. How her captivating blue eyes always bore into her soul. She always figured she reminded her of Henry. 'How could she not find her beautiful?'

"Ms. Swan."

"And we're back to that again." Emma spins around in frustration.

"Think about it Regina. I'm the Savior. You needed saving more than anyone in this town."

Regina has noticed how close Emma is standing now. Her breathing growing heavier by the minute.

"How our magic works? Your magic and my magic are fueled by each other."

"You are speaking nonsense! We are connected through Henry and only through Henry.

'Your true love's heart lies in wait, your soulmate bares your most valued treasure, a prince. Your love wear's a lion's tattoo as ferocious as their heart's passion will be for you.'

The phrase plays back in her mind. Regina's thoughts are racing now. 'My little prince. Prince Henry.'

"Oh my God!"

"I gathered you just put the Prince Henry piece together. That was my 'aha' moment as well"

"I have always called him 'my little prince.'

Regina suddenly sits herself down.

Emma moves down too; suddenly yearning to hold her, "Regina are you ok?"

"No don't." Regina sits petrified. More of herself than of anything else because she fears if Emma touches her she may cave in to the the physical comfort. She actually wants to feel and hold Emma again and she simply cannot allow this.

"Not now please. After what we just...We are going to find that well. We need to hear it for ourselves. Do you understand?"

"Yes."