This chapter is a little shorter because I've been dealing with some work stuff, but anyway I didn't want to leave so much without publishing. I'll get the next one soon enough.

Thanks for your coments Sammii16!

CHAPTER FOUR

MIDNIGHT SUN

Regina sat on the sofa, in the dim light, thinking, as so many times, in those moments in which the blonde had looked at her as if she was the most important thing that existed in her life; like in precisely Avalon, where Emma had risked losing herself in the very darkness, giving in to her plea to heal Robin.

She remembered the moment she knew the blonde had decided to stay in Storybrooke. 'All right, so you want to stay, I can play that game…' She had thought. 'And I'll get rid of you later…' She relished in the idea as a cat does while having fun with a prey. From that Evil Queen's mind, in which she still allowed herself so many dark thoughts, Regina had found Henry's mother quite desirable. Of course, she supposed all the excitement she felt when she was close to the blonde was due to the lack of practice of having someone new in town.

Then the curse broke, and Regina had been in fact confused when Emma's touch reactivated her magic, because she understood magic, and that was unusual, even under the premise that Emma also had powers. By the time they were all in Neverland, the former Queen had even found herself looking for some of the blonde's approval. This after she understood the blonde felt even more related to her than she did to her own mother, Snow White. 'Well isn't this an irony?' She had also realized that among all those people, Emma could actually understand her better than anyone else, because Emma herself had already gone through her own journey of redemption, abandonment and loneliness. Then again the situation was never easy. It was one thing after another.

When they came back from Neverland, Emma had left after the next curse was casted, and the chance to explore the meaning of that weird symbiosis between hers and the blonde's magic, had vanished just like her. She started a thing with Robin, and she had loved him. She loved Roland too, and loved the fact of not being alone anymore; the idea of having a happy ending. As for the fact of she believing Robin was her true love, she always doubted it. She knew what true love was, she had felt it with Daniel, and whatever she had with Robin, was far from true love. 'True love must be a once in a lifetime thing.' She was sure of it.

The fact that Emma had found her true love in Hook? She had seriously doubts too. No matter how pretty their vows sounded the day of their wedding, there was no way 'destiny' had that pirate written for her. 'Or is there? Does Emma really loves him that much?' She wondered. Among all these things that she sometimes found herself thinking about in the solitude of her mansion, the thought that terrified her the most, was knowing that from all the people around her, she could be happy as long as Emma and Henry stayed.

Ironically, that was the reason of why now she was thinking so constantly about leaving. When she had listened to Hook with the clear intentions of starting a new family with Emma, the first thought that had crossed her mind was 'Not if I finish with you, once and for all, you miserable pirate'.

And of course she wouldn't go back to the Evil Queen mode.

She took the little envelope that Violet gave her. She definitely needed a distraction.

The next day, Emma felt terribly guilty about her attitude at Regina's house. She didn't even say goodbye in the right way.

She was about to send her a message apologizing, but she thought that would only lead her to having to make up excuses. Emma spent some time in bed, while the morning sun slipped through the white curtains and caressed her body. Suddenly the idea of Regina and Maleficent together came to her mind. 'Geez, how could that have been... Other than dangerous, of course.' She thought as flashes of the two women kissing crossed quickly through her mind. For a while she remained there imagining who had been the one who started everything, what exactly had happened, and her body gradually filled with a subtle anxiety. Then, the thought quickly jumped to Regina kissing her, right there, in the same kitchen they had been last night. Emma closed her eyes and started caressing her own belly. "God, those lips…" She murmured. She was about to slip her hand under her panties when the radio on her nightstand issued a beep.

"Hook to swan… Hook to Swan."

Startled, she reached for it "Go ahead" Emma said after a sigh.

"I'm just reporting. How's everything? Can you believe I miss you already? Over." Hook's voice was calmed.

Emma smiled guilty. "I miss you too, what happened? How's everything going? Over."

"We haven't got to the neast. We're going slow we don't want to scare her, she's like a mermaid and can travel between realms. Over."

"Is it dangerous? Over." Emma said now actually interested in a beast she thought out of reach.

"No. It's not supposed to be dangerous. Don't worry, luv." Hook said "I'll keep you informed. Talk to you later, Swan. Clear."

Henry arrived at noon and they spent the afternoon playing video games. Emma was so reluctant to leave the house that she even called Granny's to order some food.

"How's your mom, kid?" Emma said casually while playing.

"Want to invite her over?" Henry said totally focused on the game. "No, no, no, damn!"

"No I was just wondering how is she today?"

"She's good. We actually started Operation Penguin today." Henry said. "Ma! Focus! We're gonna lose!"

"Sorry." Emma said paying attention to her controller. "So… What's that operation about?"

"Violet and I are gonna set her up with Sir Tristan. Probably a double date."

"And your mom knows about it?" Emma said with a smug, believing the Queen would be taken aback.

"It was her idea." Henry said and Emma felt a ping in the stomach. "But she doesn't want Violet to know it was her idea. So I told Violet the operation is between me and her."

"Okay. Well, that's great." Emma said trying to cool off.

Emma spent the next couple of days at the station. Pongo's training was going much better with the help of Ruby, and with Emma's new project of updating the database, she had achieved just what she expected. To distract herself enough from thinking about Regina.

Hook had told her, they had accomplished an approach with Mákara, and that he was thinking to actually reach the nest by Friday. 'I'm making friends with Mákara' he had proudly said. And Emma thought Hook was now like one of those zoologist she used to watch on tv documentaries when she was a little girl.

The next day Emma was doing night rounds with the police cruiser. She had been worried about the fact they actually needed a better car for those matters. She was passing by the park when the old vehicle decided to die exactly there.

"Shit!" She got down and quickly opened the hood. She took the lamp and pointed to the engines when she suddenly heard a known laugh coming from the other side of the bushes.

It was Regina, right there at the fountain in the square, talking with a tall, well looking man. That had to be Sir Tristan. Emma tried to peek and recognized the man. She had indeed seen him at some of the town meetings. Whatever kind of jealousy she got to feel with Robin, was nothing compared to what she was feeling right now. The man had a perfectly well trimmed black hair, and irradiated such an elegance in every move, Emma thought it was like a male version of her Queen. Regina laughed once again and Emma was sure that, if there had been more light there, she would have seen her blushing.

Sir Tristan offered his arm in an old mannered way and Regina placed her hand on it, delicately, as they walked to the street. Emma went back to checking the car, she stood there with a lost stare to the engine not really thinking about trying to fix anything.

"Emma?" And Regina stood right there next to Sir Tristan.

"Regina, what are you…" Emma said trying to sound surprised. "…doing. Hey, good evening." She said looking at the man.

"Emma, this is Sir Tristan of Leonis" Regina said a little bit stiff.

"Nice to meet you." Emma said nodding

"Princess Emma," Sir Tristan said with a small reverence. "It's a real honor…"

"Oh, no. Well, thanks." The blonde answered awkwardly "Same here."

"What happened, Emma?" Regina said looking at the broken vehicle.

"Well this damn thing. I've been telling you we need a new one. You really have to consider it in the budget, Madam Mayor." Emma showed the engine. "Shit. This is a mess." Said without being sure what mess she was referring to.

"We'll see what to do about it." Regina said with firm expression. "Come with me, I'll drive you home."

"Oh no, no way, I don't want to ruin your date or whatever this is…"

"We were already leaving, Princess Emma." Sir Tristan said polite. "And we actually came separately".

"Well. Okay then." Emma said closing the hood. Regina and Sir Tristan took some steps away, near to the mayor's car, while Emma went to get her things from the cruise. She saw sir Tristan kissing the Queen's hand saying some honorable stuff she didn't hear.

"Have a safe way home, Princess!" The man said smiling.

"Sure thing, thanks!" Emma said walking towards Regina's car. The moment she closed the door Emma murmured. "So… you guys are dating now?"

Regina snorted "Well, we've just properly met today."

"And? What now?"

"I don't know, he is indeed a fine man." Regina said calmly.

"For God's sake Regina, you're perfect for each other." Emma said coldly.

Regina threw her a death glare. "Is he now? How can you so quickly assume that?"

"Well, he is so perfect, isn't he? Well mannered, impeccable."

"Do you really think I'm so predictable?" Regina said shaking her head. "Believe me, Emma, I've never been a squared woman."

They remained silent for a while. Emma was going crazy, all over again feeling such intense emotions toward the woman. It had been like this for so long she was growing so tired of it. 'Indeed she was with Robin, and that guy was anything but classy,' the blonde thought. 'I guess the same goes for the stable boy... and Maleficent... Geez' She was sick of this contention and so she broke the silence "Would you have been with me?" Emma said before being able to take it back.

"What?" Regina said taken aback.

"Nothing. Forget it." Emma looked away.

They were right outside Emma's house and Regina turned off the car. Emma was about to open the door when Regina softly grabbed her arm. "Emma, wait." The blonde turned around and looked at the former Queen. "Don't just turn away on me like this."

"I just don't know why I said that…" Emma stuttered, excusing herself and Regina sighed. "I mean. It's fine if you want to start something with this guy! He seems fine. Just..." Emma stared at Regina. "…Just don't leave."

Regina and Emma stared at each other like if no one dared to look away.

"This is unsustainable." Regina said shaking her head so softly it was barely moving.

Was it? Was it really? Emma had spent the past years trying to save everyone's happy ending. Even Hook's. And Ruby's words came again to her head: 'Save yourself, Savior.'

"No. Is not" Emma said crashing her lips on Regina's.