A.N: thank you so much for all the follows, favourites and reviews. I really can't believe I have over 100 followers for this fic. I really did not expect it to be so popular. I hope you like this chapter, there's a lot of talking going on between characters but I hope you all enjoy it :)

She was surrounded by fire with no way out. She saw through the flames Cora stood in the middle of the corridor smiling at her. It wasn't the town hall though, it was the building she had been tortured in. She tried to move forward but found she was tied down. She tried to scream but had no voice. The smoke was getting to be too much, she looked up to see Cora now stood in front of her, "you won't win dear." Cora then thrust her arm into Emma's chest...

Emma awoke with a gasp, her arm throbbing. Her mind kept playing the previous few days over and over turning them into nightmares. She threw the covers off and stood on shaky legs. She caught a look at herself in the mirror and saw the angry blistering on her arm.

"Dammit."

It was only 6:30am so she decided to go for a run to clear her mind before popping to see Mr Clark to get some antiseptic and a bandage. There was no way she was going to the hospital after all the time she'd spent in one before she came to Storybrooke. She left the pharmacy and turned to head back to the apartment when she bumped into a friendly face wearing slim fitting tailored trousers, a crisp white shirt and long black coat.

"Good morning Sheriff. Just back from your morning run?"

"Morning Regina. I really needed a good run and I had to see Mr Clark." She motioned to her carrier bag.

"Everything alright?" Her brow furrowed in concern.

"Yeah yeah. I just need to sort my head and arm out. It's not healing as nicely as I'd hoped."

Regina reached out but then stopped herself remembering they were in public. "Can I help?"

"Shouldn't you be getting to work?" Emma smirked.

"I don't have a meeting till 10. I'm sure I can spare some time for the Sheriff."

They walked side by side up to the apartment and Emma let them in dropping the bag on the table.

"Do you want a drink or anything?"

"I'm fine."

"Okay, well...I'm just going to take a quick shower and then you can help me...with my arm. Just...take a seat and I'll be back in a few minutes."

Regina nodded, taking off her coat and putting it on the hook and dropping her bag by the door when Emma came back and lightly kissed her, "sorry I couldn't resist." Then she jogged up the stairs to take her shower. Regina tried to make herself comfortable but after a couple of minutes she felt nervous and started pacing. She took the antiseptic and bandage out of the bag and laid them out in preparation on the table. Just as she sat in one of the chairs Emma came back down in her dark blue jeans and white tank top, her hair damp and gentle curls were forming, Regina couldn't help but smile at her, earning her one in return.

"Okay then, let's get this over with."

"Wouldn't you rather go to the hospital and let them patch you up?"

Emma sat and handed her the cream which Regina slowly started to rub onto her arm.

Emma winced, "no, no more hospitals for me. I've spent far too much time in them for one lifetime. Besides, I like the idea of you playing nurse." She grinned and received a blush in return.

"Hmmm. I thought that only happened with imaginary ailments?" She got up and rinsed her hands before coming back to sit down.

"I'll take what I can get."

"What did you mean earlier? Your head as well as your arm? Are you still having flashbacks?"

Emma shrugged, "it's okay. Just the fire in your office, it triggered a few things. I'll be fine, it'll pass."

"You can talk to me Emma, whenever you need to."

"I know, but it's fine really."

Regina huffed but acquiesced "okay...I need to put the bandage on. Lift your arm for me."

Emma lifted her arm and placed her hand across Regina's body to rest it on her hip. Regina raised her eyebrow and removed Emma's hand, placing it on the table stretching her arm out.

"Spoilsport." Emma mumbled.

Regina huffed, "very well. If you don't want it doing properly." She gently pulled Emma's arm to her and settled the blondes hand on her shoulder. "Better?"

"Much."

She gently ran circles on Regina's neck with her index finger just below her jawline. Regina closed her eyes for a moment before taking a breath to try and focus on the task at hand. She gently wrapped the bandage round, "too tight?"

"No. Just right."

Emma started twirling some hair round her finger letting her other fingers ghost over Regina's skin. Regina finished wrapping her upper arm and taping down the end, "all done." She whispered getting lost in Emma's touch.

"Good." Emma leaned in and kissed her gently.

They slowly kissed, neither battling for dominance. Regina turned her body to face Emma fully, their knees colliding. She leant forward and ran her tongue across pale lips asking for entry which Emma gave as she ran both hands through glossy hair. They broke the kiss but stayed close as air became an issue.

"I could really get used to kissing you." Emma said.

"I'd like that."

They pulled away fully and Emma stood, "Can I walk you to work?"

"Shouldn't you be at the station?" Regina stood and collected her bag and coat.

"I need to do a patrol anyway, so it's fine. I'll be back in a sec."

Emma ran back upstairs to fix her hair in a ponytail, collect her brown uniform shirt, gun and badge. She hooked the badge onto her jeans, holstered her gun and slipped the shirt on. She was buttoning it up on her way down and felt brown eyes watching her every move.

"See something you like?" She stood directly in front of Regina who was leant against the door, watching brown eyes dart down and back up but never quite reaching her eyes.

"Something like that."

Emma groaned, "we should go before I do something I really want to but shouldn't."

"Who says you shouldn't?" Regina reached out and pulled Emma to her by her shirt. Emma didn't quite anticipate the forceful pull and they slammed back into the door. Emma had pushed her hands out either side of Regina's head as Regina's slipped round her waist holding her tight.

"You have a meeting in," Emma glanced back at the clock, "15 minutes."

"Now who's the spoilsport," Regina pouted.

Emma chuckled and crashed their lips together eliciting a moan from the brunette. She pushed her hips into her and felt a leg wrap round hers. She trailed a hand down Regina's side feeling her shudder then gripped the leg wrapped round her holding her in place. Regina ran her hands up Emma's front ghosting over her breasts to lock them on either side of Emma's head. Emma broke the kiss and kissed down her jaw to caress her neck till she got to her pulse point. Regina tiled her head to give Emma more room, her pulse quickening with each nip and suck. She felt Emma's free hand trail down her shoulder, push her coat open and cup her breast. She couldn't help but gasp calling Emma's name and tightening her leg rolling their hips together. Emma moved back up to claim plump lips when a ringtone sounded. It brought them both out of their haze.

"It's mine." Regina said as she unhooked her leg and stood up straight as she pulled her phone from her coat pocket. "It's my secretary, sorry."

Emma reluctantly moved back to allow Regina to answer it. Regina still leant against the door as she spoke to the person on the other end. Her hair was slightly ruffled, her lips bruised and her shirt had been pulled out of her tailored trousers. All Emma could think was how gorgeous she looked and she couldn't help herself, she moved forward and nipped at Regina's neck earning a slight gasp. Regina moved the phone to her other ear in an attempt to get Emma to stop but she just moved to the other side of her neck. The brunette used her free hand to stop Emma but she grabbed hold of it and held it against the door at head height. She then leant in and took her earlobe in her mouth and sucked it gently before moving back down to her neck and then her collarbone. She didn't really pay attention to the phone call but could hear Regina's voice wavering as she tried to sound authoritative and couldn't help but chuckle against her skin. She then stopped kissing her collarbone and pulled away knowing she couldn't take it too far but caught the confused look on Regina's face. She just smiled and shook her head as she stood up straight and adjusted her own clothing.

Regina eventually hung up the phone and straightened herself out, "you're evil."

"Meh," Emma shrugged, "you were too enticing."

"Why did you stop?"

"Because if I didn't, I'd have taken you right there and I don't want to do that." She put her jacket on, opened the door and led them out.

"What do you mean? Don't you want-" Regina deflated as she looked at Emma.

"No! I mean yes, I want." Emma gripped Regina's shoulders looking her directly in the eye, "I really really want, but I don't want to rush this." She pecked her lips, "I want to do this right."

She received a shy smile, "I want to take you out first, a date, somewhere nice, special."

"I'd like that."

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

"Okay then, excellent. We should probably get you to work, it's already after 10."

Regina looked down at her watch in shock, "oh my goodness, my meeting."

She practically ran down the stairs with Emma on her heels chuckling. They made it to her office at half past 10, "just tell whoever it was that your meeting with the Sheriff ran over. We had some paperwork to go over or something." Emma ran her hand down Regina's arm, "I'll speak to you later about our date."

"I look forward to it."

"So you should." Emma grinned and got a smirk in return.

"Getting a little cocky already Sheriff?"

"I fancy my chances." She shrugged.

Regina laughed and Emma realised she could never get tired of that sound, "I have to go, see you later Sheriff Swan."

Emma smiled and watched her walk into the building, she could have sworn Regina put a little more sway into her hips just for her. "Okay, focus, time to patrol." She murmured to herself.

She spent the next couple of hours wandering around the town and harbour but nothing untoward was happening. She was just heading back up Main Street when a woman with frizzy blonde hair called out to her from a shop across the road.

Emma entered the business called Blaze Conception, "hello?"

She saw several floor plans attached to the walls and a large table in the middle of the room with designs all over it.

The woman reappeared from the back room, "Sheriff Swan."

"Can I help you ma'am?"

"I just wanted to give you some friendly advice Sheriff." She stalked towards Emma.

"Oh?"

"But where are my manners, we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Mal Ragon and this is my design business." She held out her hand which Emma shook confusedly.

"Nice to meet you. I'm sorry, I've heard of you but I'm afraid I can't remember where from."

"I'm betting the Deputy Mayor mentioned me. If not, well, she should have."

"Ah right, that's it yes, you're her ex."

"Mmm yes. She wanted a kid and honestly I can't stand them so we parted ways."

"Parted ways? You cheated on her." Emma crossed her arms as Mal walked round the table running her fingers along its edge.

"Pot-ay-to, pot-ar-to."

"What do you want Ms. Ragon?"

She stopped walking and looked her dead in the eye, "Stay away from Regina."

"How about no."

Mal laughed, "Cora did say you've got some nerve. Get out of town while you still can Emma. She isn't one to be messed with, I know that from experience."

"What did she do to you?"

Mal smiled, "oh not me dear. We got on like a house on fire."

"I'm not leaving and the sooner Cora gets it through her thick skull the better. Tell her to come to me direct if she wants to say anything else. I'm the Sheriff of this town now, I'm here to stay." With that Emma turned on her heel and left the building leaving a smirking blonde in her wake.

She walked briskly back to the sheriff station and logged on to check her emails and whatnot but there was nothing of interest. After spinning round on her chair a couple of times she got up to play darts.

"Time well spent I see." She turned to see her pixie haired roommate leaning against the wall.

"Hey Mary Margaret, how's it going?" She stabbed the darts into the board and went back into the office with Mary Margaret following.

"It's okay." She sat down as Emma did the same.

"But?"

"Henry talked to me after class. More about his fairy tale theory."

"Ah, what was it this time? Sleeping beauty works at the mall? Tinkerbelle was walking down Main Street?" She smirked.

Mary Margaret scrunched her face up, "He was at the hospital with Regina visiting Cora after the fire and saw a coma patient there. He's got it into his head that because I volunteer at the hospital, I need to read to this guy and then he'll wake up and remember who he is."

"Oh..." She leant back in her chair, "well what if you did?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if you read to this guy like Henry wants and then when nothing happens, it'll show Henry that-"

"-That it's all just a bunch of fairy tales."

"Exactly. It may seem harsh but maybe it's what the kid needs."

"Emma you're a genius."

"Well I wouldn't go that far." They grinned at each other. "So now that that's sorted, can I ask a question?"

"Sure. What's on your mind?"

"Where's a good place to eat in town and I don't mean Granny's? I want somewhere not too fancy but really nice."

Mary Margaret leant forward and squealed a little, "have you got a date? Who is it? Do I know him?"

"Her actually. It's Regina. I know it might seem a little weird, the biological mother going out with the adoptive mother of their son but there's something between us. We want to see where it goes."

"Oh Emma, I'm happy for you. I've never really gotten to know Regina but I do know she's nothing like her mother. She always seems to be on our side, sticking up for us when Cora just wants to ignore us. So anyway yes I know a place, it's called Lumiere's. It's a lovely little French place. I went there on that date with Dr Whale, the company was awful but the food was delicious."

"Excellent, thank you. I'll give them a call and book something."

They both stood and Mary Margaret hugged her tight, "are you in tonight?"

"I'll probably be late, lot of paperwork to catch up on now I'm Sheriff. Turns out Graham was quite slack at getting it all done."

"Okay well, I'll leave you some food in the fridge to heat up, I was going to make a casserole."

"Mmm, thank you. You are a lifesaver."

Mary Margaret smiled and waved back as she left the station. Emma smiled to herself as she set about making a reservation then rang Regina who picked up on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey Regina. You okay? You sound a bit flustered."

"I'm fine thank you Sheriff."

"Is this a bad time?" She heard some shuffling and mumbling in the background then a door shutting. "Regina?"

Regina replied quietly, "I'm sorry, my mothers here for dinner, winding me up."

"Oh, I can call back later."

"No! No, I mean I'm glad you called. It's nice to hear a friendly voice."

"What is she saying to you? I can come round, give her a piece of my mind."

Regina chuckled, "as delightful as that sounds, I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I can handle it don't worry. So what were you ringing for?"

"I can't just ring to hear your voice?"

"Sweet talker."

"You like it. So, I called because I wanted to know if you are free on Saturday evening?"

"Why?"

"Because I want to take you out on that date we discussed."

Regina smiled to herself, "of course, yes I'm free. I'll ask Katherine if she's free to babysit."

"Great. Well let me know if she can't and we'll go out another night instead."

"So where are we going?"

"Not telling but I will pick you up at 7 and we'll take it from there."

"I look forward to it. But right now I better get back, don't want to leave Henry and my mother alone for too long."

Emma sighed, "okay. Regina?"

"Yes?"

"Can I see you tomorrow?"

"Please do. I have a meetings all day so I could do with someone to break it up."

"Just someone?" Emma asked teasingly.

"You know what I mean. Pop in at 12:30, I'm free then for lunch...I have to go, my mothers calling me, it's like I'm a teenager again."

Emma chuckled in response, "well I did nearly give you a hickey this morning. I'll see you tomorrow for lunch then."

"Goodnight Emma."

"Night Regina."

They both hung up smiling and then it dawned on Emma that she had an actual date with the gorgeous brunette on Saturday and it was only 2 days away...

A.N: hope this chapter is alright and you don't mind Malificent rearing her head. I quite liked the idea of Blaze Conception as a nod to her fire breathing days and had no idea what surname to give her so dragon without the D works for me :)