Regina came to my room that night and sat at the end of the bed with her back to me. I had no idea what I was supposed to do, if I was meant to say something or.. I don't know. Ever since I had revealed to her that I knew she had saved me the day that I arrived here, we had spent every night together - talking, getting to know each other. She seemed just as interested in the person I was, the person behind her Captain as I was in the one behind the Queen; but each of those nights had been spent in her garden.

The first few times had been difficult, uncomfortable more than anything else. Eventually my nervousness, her hesitance, the spurts of anger that overcame one of us when the other overstepped a boundary - they faded, slowly peeled away under our shared resolve to remain the stubborn people that we are. It never mattered how the night before ended because we knew that we would both return the next.

For some reason, tonight was different and I didn't know why. Once again I felt nervous, confused and a little bit suspicious. I trusted her of course, but this was a woman who despised sudden alterations in routine and- well, what the hell did she call this? But just as I was about to question her, she spoke. "I asked Graham if you were done with your training and he said you'd gone to bed."

Obviously she wouldn't have needed to come all this way to the opposite side of the castle to confirm Graham's claim, so there had to be more to it than that and I found myself feeling somewhat giddy at the prospect of her being incapable of merely waiting another hour. "If that were your only reason for being here, I imagine you could have used your mirror to see that wasn't true."

"Yes and I did."

There was humour in her voice, as if she already knew where my line of thought was headed which seemed reason enough to finish it. "Yet still, you are here. Either something bad has happened or -"

She stood from the bed and turned to stare down at me with a small smile playing across her lips. "Or.. I got impatient."

With an incline of my head, I returned her smile and patted the spot beside me. "At least that means we can avoid the trek to the garden."

My smile remained as she came around to the other side of the bed, her habit of always seeming regal continued to amuse me as I watched her mimic my position. It all looked so proper, the care she took with her dress as she sat down, the way her back rested perfectly against the headboard and the grace in which she crossed her legs at the ankles - It was unusual how she could look both comfortable and uncomfortable at the same time.

"So.." I began.

When I said nothing further and it was obvious I had nothing more to contribute, she chuckled. "Problem?"

My mouth opened and closed a few times as I considered a way to word my thoughts without sounding like a nervous teenager. When I came up with no alternative, I rolled my eyes and just said what I was thinking. "We're in my bedroom."

She hummed. "It's hardly the first time."

I nodded. "On my bed."

The humour in her tone returned, accompanied by the upturned quirk of her lips. "As I said, hardly the first time."

"But I'm not injured anymore." Obviously dumb observations were my forte for the night.

Her head lolled to the side as she faced me, her grin perfectly visible now as she raised her eyebrow. "I could be persuaded to alter that, if you're so inclined."

I laughed - because of course she could be considerate and threatening in the same sentence. "How thoughtfully sadistic of you."

Her grin widened as her eyes flashed with mischief. "Anything for your comfort, dear."

"Right, it has nothing to do with the fact you enjoy causing pain." I teased.

She waved her hand dismissively and the small, barely noticeable wrinkle of her nose had me melting - Gods she could be adorable. "I'm the Evil Queen, that goes without saying."

I frowned at that, it still annoyed me that people had the gall to label someone as evil. It belonged in story books where black and white were clear cut, not the real world where there existed an abundance of grey. "Seriously, what is up with that title?"

"Meaning?"

"I mean you're the only monarch with a nickname. Queen Snow, King James, King Midas. Why are you the Evil Queen and not simply Queen Regina? I get that you've killed people, but I doubt you're any worse than the rest."

She looked at me - I mean really looked at me then, a bemused expression on her face. I had the distinct feeling she sort of began to pity me the longer she stared. "That.." she paused and shook her head. ".. is debatable. However, it was Snow White that labelled me as such. You know the story, do you not?"

No, that definitely was not what she had wanted to say and it was clear to a degree that this was as close to a change of subject as one could get while still somehow managing to stay on topic. "I know a story, yes. Two of them, actually. I question the accuracy of the one from my world and I only have half of the other."

She blinked, then frowned and shifted until her entire body faced me. "Your world knows of this one?"

"Not exactly, you're kind of a uh.. fairy tale there. Characters from our imagination used to teach children lessons."

"Delightful." Having grimaced beforehand, it was somewhat of a giveaway as to how she truly felt about the information.

Instead of calling pointless attention to an insignificant lie, I decided to go a more educational route. "Not really. You're depicted as an old, evil crone with vanity issues."

Her eyes widened innocently as she placed a hand over her chest. "Me? Vain?"

I laughed and shook my head. "Yes. Because being the evil, old crone that you are- obviously your lack of vanity is where my disagreement comes from."

"And what is it you disagree with, hmm?"

I thought about it and then realised I really didn't even need to. The tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves seemed wrong about practically everything so far. I mean sure, I had heard that the poisoned apple thing had happened, but aside from that? "Well, the old crone part is extremely unbelievable considering I've seen you with my own eyes but.. I'm also beginning to question the evil as well."

"Are you disappointed? I could start pushing the elderly over in the street."

I kept my face perfectly straight as I offered my own suggestion. "I was thinking more along the lines of rounding up a group of children, planting a cauldron in the square and holding a cooking competition each night."

She snorted. "The person who creates the most creative and tastiest dish of the children wins a week-long reprieve from the dungeons."

My stomach chose then to alert us both to the fact I hadn't yet had dinner and I glanced down at it, feigning horror as I mumbled. "I swear, I'm not a cannibal." Her responding laughter was infectious.

xxx

We made our way through the left-wing of the castle, down to the kitchens where Regina began pulling things from the stores. I half-expected a group of servants to appear and usher us out of the room while they prepared our meal, as though Regina would send for them and pull them from their beds. It wasn't much of a surprise that it didn't happen considering we had been together the entire time and unless she was telepathic - which I suppose is a possibility given who she is - she hadn't contacted anyone since coming to my room.

The more items she pulled out and placed on the counter, the harder my mind and stomach worked to convince me to risk my life and climb up there to stuff my face. Within seconds of the first cut of the knife through salted pork, I darted forward and snatched the slice, popping it into my mouth before she could stop me. "Making your own food? Shock and awe."

She rolled her eyes and swatted me belatedly. "I'm a Queen, not an invalid."

As I watched the knife glide smoothly through meats, cheeses and fruit, I ignored the sounds of my stomach as best I could and distracted myself with conversation. "I've been thinking.."

She interrupted me as she arranged the platters of food, feigning concern with a smirk. "Does your head hurt? Do you need me to soothe the pain?"

"You know, you're much nicer when you're being a flirtatious tease. Right now you're all sassy and mean."

Eyebrow raised, she handed me one of the platters before picking up her own and moving toward the dining hall, talking over her shoulder as she went. "I wouldn't want to bore you by becoming predictable."

I scoffed and picked at the food while I followed behind. "Bore me? Your outfits alone could keep me entertained for years."

"Why Captain, are you admitting your attraction to me?"

Trick question, I'd have to be brain-dead not to be attracted to this woman and she damn well knows it. "No, I'm saying I like to admire your cleavage, two totally different things."

She sighed as she placed her food down and pulled out her seat. "To think of all the effort I put into my appearance, it's always the breasts that get the attention."

I let my eyes roam purposely slow over each curve of her body, allowing her the time to catch me leering before I took a seat. "My Queen, every inch of you has my attention." I paused to wink at her before adding. "I just happen to worship the very best of you."

She chuckled as she flicked her wrist, conjuring the two, dangerously full goblets of wine that appeared beside our platters. "As much as I enjoy feeling like a piece of meat.. and I truly do. I can't help but wonder what it was you were thinking before this welcome appreciation of my assets."

"Oh right, that." Having enjoyed the distraction, I almost regretted bringing that up. Hesitating, I reached for the goblet and drained almost half of it before I admitted what had been on my mind then. "I was curious about the truce you mentioned, between yourself and Snow White."

I could plainly see the Queen returning, the masks and walls coming back in to place which caused me to now completely regret mentioning the truce at all. I tried to shrug off the feeling of dread, knowing it was too late to back out now. "I just.. wanted to know how it was possible for her to enter your Kingdom and take those kids without breaking the truce."

"Oh." I wasn't sure if the dread I felt was suppose to fade or intensify at the sound of relief, but I was certainly confused now. "It was to prevent acts of aggression, she brought physical harm to no one doing what she did."

That personal barrier where I breath and draw a line against the rest of the world – slowly building into a bubble of exasperation and annoyance. A truce against physical harm, I mean really has no one in this world heard of emotional or mental scarring. "Seriously? It protects you against war and assassinations, that's it?"

"She's Snow White, I didn't require protection from anything else." she shrugged.

"And what of your people?"

She studied me curiously, head tilted to the side, lips pursed. Minutes passed in what I can only assume was time she took to think, which just served to annoy me further and her words certainly didn't help. "What of them? She may consider me to be evil, but she would not hold the people I govern to blame, they're perfectly safe."

"She kidnapped their children!" I immediately blushed, embarrassed by the outburst and perhaps a little fearful of the repercussions.

I sighed my relief when all she did was shrug once more. "She was searching for her daughter and she knows me well enough to know I would not assist her, especially when I am the one she blames for having to send her away to begin with."

Recalling the brief conversation that day I had been found, I didn't need to ask. "Because you were going to curse them?"

My relief was short lived when she snapped. "How did you know about that?"

"I.. overheard Red mentioning it to you that day in the forest."

Whatever she was about to say was interrupted by the doors to the hall being thrown open, a member of her personal guard entering a moment later.

"What is it, Clive?" she growled.

"The Blue Fairy is here, your Majesty. She has requested your presence." I could pin-point the exact second the Queen returned in full force. Her expression now blank, posture rigid as she pushed back her chair to stand.

"Apologies, Captain- it seems I have a guest to greet." I moved to perform the courtesy farewell, only for her to halt the action by raising her hand, her gaze softening as she caught my eye. "Finish your meal, we can continue this tomorrow night."

I watched her leave with a frown and made note to find out more about that curse.

Author Note: Dun dun dun. No, but seriously - I wanted to ask if there would be any objections to a rating change in the somewhat near future? You all love FTB moments, right? You can be honest, I don't have to include smut in every story I write.. right? Come on, guys tell my muse we don't need that nonsense. She'll listen to you.