Regina sighed as she tossed and turned. She reached over to the pillow next to her and grabbed it, breathing in the scent that she associated with Emma.

Snow and David had finally managed to guilt-trip Emma into staying with them for a night. They claimed that they had already missed a good portion of Emma's life, and weren't about to lose more.

Emma had asked Regina at least 50 times (not that Regina had been counting) if it was fine that she spent the night with her parents. Regina, being the stubborn woman that she was, had told her every time that it was fine. Emma was only going to be gone one night. What could happen?

Turns out a lot could. The house seemed to lose its energy without Emma there. Henry was more sullen and quiet, and Regina didn't blame him. She felt the same way.

The only difference was that Henry could sleep without Emma there. Regina could not. She hated to admit it, but Emma had become her security blanket. She found herself not wanting to sleep unless Emma was there, simply because of the nightmares that haunted her without Emma by her side.

Regina sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. She had debated calling Emma, but knew that Snow and David would probably get upset that she had taken Emma away from them. Again.

Regina glanced over at the clock and groaned when she realized that it wasn't even midnight yet. How was she going to get through the whole night?

Sighing, Regina admitted defeat. There was no way that she was going to be able to sleep without nightmares. And a sleep with nightmares was pretty much no sleep at all.

Stretching, she quietly got out of bed and walked downstairs. At least now she could get some more work done. Not that she needed to.

Just as she went to walk past the front door, Regina heard a knock. She looked over in surprise at the clock by the door. It was 11:30. What was someone doing at her house this late? And how would they have known that she was awake?

The person knocked again, this time a little louder. Regina sighed before walking over and opening the door. "It's extremely late so I suggest you make this quick."

"Are you always this grouchy at 11:30?" Emma teased.

Regina looked at her in surprise. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be with your parents."

Emma shrugged. "I knew that you weren't going to be able to sleep. I left them a note."

"You should go back," Regina said. "As much as I want you here, you know that they'll give me a hard time that you left."

"They give you a hard time whenever I leave somewhere to be with you?" Emma asked.

Regina nodded. "Usually it's the classical 'because of you we never got to experience being parents' thing. I've started to get used to it."

"That's awful!" Emma said. "Why would they do that? And it wasn't your fault."

"I cast the curse that took you away from them," Regina said. "So yes, my fault. And I don't think they'll ever let me forget it."

Emma pursed her lips in anger. "Okay. Well, I'll be having a talk with them later. But for now, we should get some sleep."

Regina hesitated, still blocking Emma's path. "What's wrong?" Emma asked.

Regina just shook her head. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

"Well now I'm going to worry about it," Emma said. "What's going on? And why are you still blocking the door?"

"Sorry," Regina said, stepping aside. "I was just lost in my thoughts."

"Come on, spill the beans," Emma said. "What's going on that made you hesitate? You never hesitate to let me in."

Regina bit her lip. "You're my security blanket," she said. "I just thought that I should tell you. Not that you haven't figured it out already."

"I did," Emma admitted. "But it's nice to hear you say it."

"I'm sorry," Regina said. "I know that it's a lot of responsibility to always have to be there for someone."

Emma shrugged. "I like it. Any way that I can be there for you, I will. I wouldn't have made an effort to be here right now if I didn't want to help. Besides, you're mine too."

"I am?" Regina asked in surprise.

Emma nodded. "That's also partially why I'm here. I can't sleep without nightmares unless I'm with you."

Regina smiled. "Well now that we're together, getting some sleep shouldn't be a problem."

Emma smiled back before walking into the mansion. She and Regina walked upstairs together and got into bed. After several moments they both fell asleep; each in the arms of their security blanket.

Fun fact: I actually still sleep with a blanket. I literally can't go to sleep without him.