The fire roared as they lay there cuddling on Regina's sheepskin rug. Emma shifted her weight and sighed. "I think Ruby might be a problem."

Regina glared up at her. The flames danced in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"She was at my place when I left. Her and Mary M had been out drinking and they said some stuff. Nothing too bad, but well, Ruby said she could smell your sexual frustration and..."

"She what? Why on earth would she say something like that. Did you tell her what we are doing?"

Emma wished she hadn't said anything now. Way to ruin the mood. "No! I ran out of there as soon as I could. That's why I was early. It's stupid. I shouldn't have said anything."

"Na, ah. I want to know exactly what that wolf thinks of me!" Regina went in full force for a kiss and Emma tried to hide her thoughts.

'This is an invasion of privacy!'

'Says the woman who was sneaking around in my head for weeks uninvited!

Show me or I'll take your heart!'

'Way to make me feel secure!'

'Show me'

Emma groaned in defeat and remembered the conversation as it happened. Regina pulled away once she was satisfied she had her answers. "Oh, well, she never had a chance, if you must know. I don't do dogs."

Emma sucked in a sharp breath. "Ouch! That was harsh, Regina."

The brunette laughed. "Oh, please! That was me behaving and you know it!" She waved her hand and extinguished the fire before transporting them both to her bed and under the sheets. "I was uncomfortable lying on my hip." She explained, clearly blaming Emma for the damage. She sighed. "I see what you mean, though. As much as it would thrill me to lord this over your insipid mother, I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable deliberately."

"I wasn't uncomfortable about you. Just with them and everything else. They'll come around, but it's gonna take time. I think we should avoid Granny's for a while. Ruby is really the only one I'm worried about and I don't want people to find out like that. I want us to tell them. Together. Just, not yet." Emma kissed her and showed her the last thing she didn't want to say out loud. 'I want you to myself for a while. I only just got you.'Regina felt her heart cracking and another wave of magic sparked between them. 'That is a sentiment I share.' She pulled away before Emma saw anything else. "And, please Miss Swan. I cursed a whole village and took away all their memories. I think I can handle one little bitch sniffing around. Our secret is safe with me."

"Oh, I know. It's not you I'm worried about, Madam closet-case! It's me. I'm a terrible liar." Emma groaned and hid her eyes behind her hands.

Regina chuckled. "Yes, you are. I'll just have to up the incentive then. Or curse you. Your choice."

"Can you curse me not to talk about it? That might work." She was only half-serious but regretted it when she saw Regina doing a calculation in her head.

A sly grin curled her lips. "There is a spell I could use."

"I was kidding!"

Regina stared her down, looking through her. "I don't think you were. I think there's a teensy little part of you that would quite enjoy being under one of my spells."

Emma's cheeks reddened. She couldn't deny it. Regina was obviously referring to one of their darker fantasies. "That one wasn't something I'm sure about."

Regina pursed her lips and pulled Emma into a protective embrace. "That wasn't what I meant. I wouldn't, I promise. I'd never... Not without a serious conversation beforehand and only if we were both in that kind of mood." Wow, that got heavy quick. There were some things better left hidden in the darkest recesses of ones mind. She felt bad that both of them had to see those parts. If she could wish anything, she'd wish for them to forget certain things.

"It's weird. I know that we've technically only been dating two days, but I feel like I can trust you, Regina. With anything. Wherever this goes, even if you wanted to end it tomorrow, always know that."

Regina held her tighter still, afraid she might actually fall if she let go. Flashes of Daniel filled her memories and the sadness and gaping hole he left upon his death haunted her. Emma wasn't him and her mother was long dead. Forty-three years had passed. Perhaps hundreds in the enchanted forest. She'd promised herself she'd try to be better, to finally let go, but she hadn't imagined what that would mean or how scary it would be. "Get some sleep. We'll figure it out. We always do."

That night, Regina's nightmares returned with a vengeance. She tossed about and cried out in her sleep waking Emma from her fairly peaceful dreams. Emma tried to sooth her but Regina was oblivious to it. She tried waking her gently, concerned it was something that could harm her. Regina woke startled then realized Emma was there with her. She wiped her tears away and smiled. "I'm sorry you had to see that."

Emma frowned. "I'm not. Are you okay?"

Regina nodded and shook off the images. "I'm fine. Just a bad dream is all. One of the perks of having been cursed by a sleep spell." That was a lie she told so often it felt real.

"You know I have that super-power, right? Was it the King?"

Regina's eyes welled up again and her face contorted into a sob she couldn't hide. She shook her head. It was pointless lying to Emma and sje hated how weak she must seem crying over a bad dream. "It was my mother."

Emma drew her into a hug and jist held her. There were no words. She'd seen so many flashes of what Regina had suffered at the hands of others. Emma couldn't sympathize with the ones about her mother's cruelty having never had a mother herself, but she could relate to those supposed caregivers she'd had. It wasn't fair what either of them had been through. "She got what she deserved. She'll never hurt anyone again."

"Whenever I try to move forward, to have hope, she's there. Taunting me. I see how Henry looks at me sometimes. It's how I looked at her. I don't blame him. I'm no better. I am just like her."

Emma took her cheeks in her palms and wiped away the tears. "Hey, look at me. This is now, right now. What's happened is gone. Our kid is in the room across sleeping like a log and his biggest worry right now is having to witness his two mom's make out on the couch."

Regina spluttered out a laugh through the tears. Emma smiled with tenderness and continued. "You're so much better than her. You have a heart, Regina, and you are an amazing mom. Henry is remembering that. He loves you and nobody is ever taking him away from you. Me included."

Regina smiled and wiped her eyes. "Thank you, Emma. You really do bring light to those darkest places." She reached up to caress her cheek and that now familiar tingle of magic sparked between them once more. Emma leaned into the touch.

"Why does it do that?"

Regina shrugged. "I wish I knew."

Emma's eyes widened. "You just used the W word!"

"It doesn't work for me. I have wished for many things and not a single one ever came true."

"I'd still be careful though. Seriously, I don't trust any of those fairies."

"And that is why I like you."

"Nah! You like me because I have a great ass, apparently."

"That too."

They fell asleep again quickly wrapped in each others arms and Regina's nightmares didn't return, allowing her to get the well needed rest she deserved.

The following morning, a chirpy boy came in and jumped on Regina's bed stiring them both from their sleep. "Henry, I told you to knock before you come in." She sheepishly pulled the covers up further and performed her dressing spell on the both of them.

"Did you have a sleepover?"

"Kid, your mom had a bad dream. I came in earlier to make sure she was okay. I must have dozed off." Emma lied with ease. There were some things she could bend the truth around.

"Oh. Sorry, Mom. Are you okay?" He knew what the sleeping curse dreams were like first hand.

Regina offered a pained smile. "I'm fine, dear. What time is it?"

"Eleven. Gramps is gonna be here in a bit to take me fishing." He bounced on the bed again.

"When was that arranged? I don't remember David discussing that with me." She eyeballed Emma who looked just as confused.

"He called me. Told me to wake you both up and let you know."

The women looked at each other. Emma spoke. "What did you tell him?"

Henry squirmed. "Nothing! I swear! Well, just that you were still sleeping."

Emma's phone buzzed on the bedside table. She didn't remember bringing it up and Regina saw her confusion. "I thought you might want it close." She summoned a spark in her hand as if to remind Emma of her power. "Answer it."

"Hey Dad. Yeah... He's right here... mm hmmm... yup, I'll ask her now... Regina, is it okay if my Dad takes Henry fishing in half an hour?"

Regina drawled. "I don't see why that would be a problem as long as he's home before dinner."

Emma continued down the phone. "Yeah, she said it's fine. Home before dinner... Me? Uhm, yeah I'm not much of a fisher... no, no plans... fine, everything's fine... nope... no dragons... nothing, Dad... yeah I'd tell you if there was a crisis. Okay, bye." She hung up and sighed. "I've gotta take him."

Regina looked confused. "I thought David said he was picking Henry up?"

"He was, but he said beings as I'm already here, I may as well drive him back on my way home, where I live, with... my Dad."

The penny dropped and Regina laughed. "Of course." It wouldn't make any sense for Emma to stay here without Henry. At least, not to anyone outside of her bedroom. Henry bounced off down the hall to get dressed and Emma leaned in for a kiss.

'I'm sorry.''

Don't apologize. It's logical. If you get bored, you can always go out for jog. Maybe drop in for a cool glass of lemonade while the house is empty.'

Their lips parted and Emma laughed. "You know I might go for a run after lunch."

Regina grinned. "That sounds like a great idea." She curled her finger and pulled Emma in for another kiss.

'Or I can just poof. you back over once they've left.'

'Perfect. Give me twenty minutes and come straight to my room.'

Henry appeared fully dressed and equip with a fisherman's hat Regina knew for a fact she hadn't bought him. "I'm ready. See you later Mom."

Emma smirked. "I'll see you around, Regina. I'm ready, kid. Where the heck did you get that hat?"

The pair mumbled and stomped off down Regina's stairs and she lay there giggling to herself hearing the easy exchange between them. Once she heard the door close, she looked around her room in thought. Twenty minutes. What scenario could she conjure up in twenty minutes? Her eyes settled on the bookshelf and she laughed evily as a plan formulated. Oh, she would have her revenge for that today and Emma would not see it coming.