A/N: Again, there is a bit of drama involved in this chapter along with as much humor as I felt was appropriate for this stage of the story.

Thank you for your comments/replies. I'm glad that so many of you are enjoying the story and have followed it. This is by far the fastest I have ever written a story. 30,000+ words in 6 days. Thanks for taking this ride with me! :-D

Body Swap

Regina sighed as she made her way downstairs in her robe. It was nearly one am in the morning and she couldn't find the peace of mind often needed to fall to sleep. Exhaustion seemed like her only means of slumber and sadly for her such exhaustion would elude her for the foreseeable future. Her body was still twitching with magical energy.

There was always a down side to magically induced rage. The slow wear off of the energy itself usually was the worst of it for Regina. It could take days for her to see an hour of sleep or more, her body charged like that of the energizer bunny. It wasn't unlike magical intoxication in the respect that Regina would be excreting magic. She would just be capable of controlling her excretions.

"Can't sleep?"

Regina smiled, sadly. There was a time where she would have been thrilled to have Tink join her for a midnight snack. Tonight was not one of those times. She had hoped she would be able to skirt around her girlfriend for at least another few hours.

"A shared insomnia it seems." Regina walked around the counter, her hand unconsciously sliding across the back of Tinkerbell's shoulders as she went to the sink to get herself a glass of water. "Munching on anything interesting?"

"Finishing off the homemade banana bread pudding." Tinkerbell didn't even ask if Regina wanted to share with her. She watched through the top of her bangs as the former Queen took out a spoon and leaned across the counter to scoop some of the treat out of the container.

They didn't say much of anything as they finished the homemade dessert they'd made together a few days before. Tinkerbell sighed as the memory of them moving around the kitchen as a cohesive unit played before her minds eye. They had been happy. Bumping hips and sharing pecks on the cheek and lips every few minutes. Tinkerbell even whisked her lover into her arms to sway to and fro as a favorite song of hers played over the radio.

They fit so well together, physically and emotionally. They both had their own dark pasts that haunted them, but they both had the inherent desire to be good. Their friendship had helped convince Tinkerbell to follow them back to Storybrooke, to rejoin the rest of the fairies. She hadn't of course.

Blue Fairy had taken one look at her and the matron knew what Tinkerbell had to do to survive. What she had been willing to do, what parts of her soul she had sold to keep some of the Lost Boys safe. Blue had turned her away even after Tinkerbell had accepted Blue's consequences. Blue still turned her away instead of welcoming her back with open arms. Many of the other fairies spurned Tinkerbell on behalf of their matron but there was a larger majority that now distrusted their leader.

Tinkerbell had been young and foolish. Blue had fooled Tinkerbell into accepting Blue's consequence for sending the Dark One's son away for selfish reasons. When the Dark One came calling, Tinkerbell accepted the fate of the fairy she adored and to Neverland she had been sent. To a place where her soul was torn and scraped at from every which way; where she had to do things that now haunted her to save the many.

After Blue turned her away it was here, in this house and by the woman in front of her that Tink had been accepted, taken in. It hurt to think that she could lose this happiness she had finally found after being angry and alone for so long. But she didn't want to be second choice. She wanted Regina to want her first and foremost.

Regina didn't even need to speak her feelings aloud. Tinkerbell knew, she could feel them swirling around the witch. That and Tinkerbell read a person's aura, their fate, better than anyone could, even the Dark One. Where his visions were clouded Tinkerbell only needed to look into the soul of a person to know their path. It was an ability that had helped her pick and choose which children to save and had damned her all the same.

Regina was conflicted, torn between two loves. But it was obvious to the fairy which love was stronger, even if it was the one that scared Regina the most.

She had wished she could see what kept Regina from fully committing to their relationship. It was clear what, or who, kept Regina from committing her heart, fully, to her.

Tinkerbell knew Regina almost as well as she knew herself and she knew the love Regina had for her was real, but it wasn't enough. It wasn't strong enough, not when Regina's true love was wrapped so tightly around her heart and pulling her towards her destiny. Tinkerbell hadn't recognized it before. Regina was good at hiding it, but Tinkerbell could see it as plain as day now.

It hurt. It did. But she wouldn't keep Regina in a relationship that was destined to fail. Not even to keep herself happy. Because she was trying to be better, she was trying to be good again. And being selfish wasn't part of the road to redemption.

Regina stared intently at the counter top, trying to find the right words to say. When she began she wasn't even given a chance to continue. "Tink I…"

"Shh…" Tinkerbell used her finger to raise Regina's chin so their eyes could meet. "I know, Regina. And it's okay. Really, it is." Tink's voice caught in her throat for a moment as tears formed in Regina's eyes.

Regina knew that this relationship was over. Even if Emma played her; even if Emma was never hers, Regina's heart would be Emma's.

Regina wouldn't make Tinkerbell stay in a relationship that came second because Regina knew herself well enough to know that she could break Tinkerbell's heart. And she never wanted that. She cared far too much about the blonde fairy to make her stay with her when her whole heart wasn't hers to give Tinkerbell.

"I never meant to hurt you." Regina didn't question what Tinkerbell knew. The fairy's ability to read people and their impending choices was beyond any prophetic power Regina had ever seen in someone else.

Tinkerbell smiled sadly, "I know…."

"I'm so sorry. I love you, I do. I can feel it." Regina cupped both of her hands over her heart where she did feel love for Tinkerbell. And for someone whose heart hadn't been able to love or feel anything but anger and sorrow for so long to feel any type of love, it meant something. Something real to her. It just wasn't enough. Her heart wasn't her own to give, and it had taken her far too long to realize that. Emma Swan had taken hold of her heart long before Regina ever credited the blonde for the theft.

Tinkerbell stood from her stool and wrapped Regina into her arms, relishing the feel of Regina's body pressed so intimately against her own.

"But for the first time you feel it for two people." The fairy's voice was soft, understanding. Because she knew how overwhelming this was for Regina and even though they were essentially breaking up, Regina was her friend. And Regina needed her; even if it wasn't in the way Tinkerbell wanted her to.

Regina chocked back a sob, "Yes…"

"It's okay." Tinkerbell fought back the burn at the back of her nose that promised the arrival of tears. "It hurts, I won't lie to you. It hurts a lot. But I care about you too much to make this difficult for you. For the both of you."

"I'm so sorry."

"I know you are. And that helps. Really it does." To know that Regina didn't do this on purpose really did help Tinkerbell with her own pain. It was there, and it hurt, but she wasn't angry anymore. She had thought about everything all day while Regina was gone and has resolved herself to feeling the pain of this break up without letting it affect their friendship.

Regina wrapped her arms tightly around Tinkerbell's waist as she hid her face against the taller woman's neck. "I don't want to lose you."

"You'll never lose me, Regina. I will always be a part of your life. You're my best friend." Tinkerbell cupped both of Regina's cheeks so Regina could look at her and see her sincerity. "And I love you. That will never change." Even though seeing Regina with Emma would hurt for a while she knew that a part of Regina's heart was always going to be hers. And she'd take what she could get because having a tiny piece of Regina's affection was better than having none of it at all.

"I don't know what to do. I'm so lost." Regina's chin trembled as she did her best to keep from crying.

Tink wiped away the damp trails on Regina's cheeks with her thumb, "Then we'll just have to find you. Together."

Regina shook her head from side to side sadly, wishing she could pretend that her love for Tinkerbell was stronger than her love for Emma. It would be so much easier to be in love with the caring fairy.

"Come on, let's get you to bed. Okay? We'll figure everything out in the morning." Tinkerbell led Regina up to the master bedroom.

Although Regina complained about being unable to find sleep, she did. Wrapped up tightly in Tink's comforting embrace she found sleep.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Emma watched from her perch on the hood of her Bug as Tinkerbell and Regina embraced in the kitchen.

Emma had been trying to work up the nerve to go into Regina's house and talk to the witch all night. She'd even enjoyed a few shots to try and loosen her up. It hadn't worked, but she hadn't left either. She had made it as far as Regina's gate before she'd turned back a few hours ago. Now it was well past midnight and she was still here. This time watching as Regina sucked face with her girlfriend from afar—thanks to Henry's binoculars.

It was stalking. She knew that. But who was going to call her on it? Who would turn her in? Besides, the object of her stalking was too busy making up with her girlfriend to realize she was outside watching her.

Damn that fairy, Emma thought to herself as she slid off the hood of her car.

Grumbling to herself she got back into her car and drove home.

She sat in her car and enjoyed the burn of Jack Daniel's sliding down her throat for several hours before she stumbled back into her apartment. David was sleeping on the couch. She had perfected sneaking in and out of places ages before she'd ever met her father. The man had no idea she snuck back in around four in the morning. He slept on, clueless.

She was glad he was here though, that meant that Henry was sleeping in his own bed. She checked up on him. He had three night lights. He didn't like leaving the overhead light on because it was too bright, but one night light wasn't enough for him. It had to do with the shadows. He had three night lights to minimize the amounts of shadows in his room. Archie said it was going to take time for Henry to deal with what happened to him in Neverland. Emma could understand that. She was just happy her son hadn't changed for the worst. He had issues, even more issues now, but he was getting help for them.

There were times that Emma watched his eyes look off into space, his features darkening. It scared her the first few times. But now she knew just how to handle it—Regina had taught her. If they were alone she would move to she was sitting right beside him, wrap an arm around his shoulder and hold his head to her chest where he could hear her heartbeat. Just like Regina did when she saw him spacing, the sound of his mother's heart beats helped. When they were in public Emma would grab a hold of his hands and talk him through whatever it was he was seeing or remembering. It was all they could do.

For weeks after they returned Henry had night terrors. The first time Emma hadn't known what to do. She'd called Snow and David and when they couldn't help Emma had called Regina. It still bothered Emma that Regina just…knew…what to do. But Regina knew Henry, had been there for his entire life. She knew how to best comfort him, and she also knew how to handle night terrors since she had them herself.

Assured that Henry was fine Emma went up to her own bedroom and fell heavily onto her bed. As she stared up at the ceiling she thought about Henry. She thought about Regina. And she thought about herself.

As Emma fell asleep she wished, not for the first time that Regina could understand how she felt and know what she was thinking. Because if Regina could just feel how much Emma cared about her, how much she loved her and Henry, and their family, then they wouldn't have fights like they did today. Regina wouldn't think herself a fool for trusting her. Regina would know that Emma loved her and know how scared that made her, but also how strong. Regina would just know everything. And maybe then they could finally move forward.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Emma turned onto her right side in an effort to keep the last traces of sleep from slipping away. She was having a lovely dream. Regina was in it. And they were sharing some kind of dessert with whipped cream. There was a trace of whipped cream left at the corner of her mouth. Regina was leaning to lick the remnants of the confection when she started to hear something.

Someone was speaking to her. Telling her it was time to get up. That she had slept long enough.

"Leave me alone kid." Emma brushed off the kid and pulled the blankets tighter around her.

The bed dipped with weight to her left. A hand was brushing her hair behind her ear, the finger's long nail scratching just beneath her ear. The touch caused an unexpectedly pleasant sexual shiver to tingle its way all the way through her body. Her eyes shot open and she rolled away from the touch.

"The hell Henry!?" Emma demanded to know, her body still acutely aware of how that touch affected her. It made her shiver with disgust now. She clasped her hand over her neck as if by covering the area itself the feeling would go away.

Giggling. Distinctly female giggling reached her ears. Familiar female giggling that sounded like bells. Emma looked over her shoulder, her eyes wide and body tense at the sight of Tinkerbell sitting on the other end of her bed smiling and laughing at her.

"I'm not Henry." The fairy laughed finding this very amusing. Emma found it infuriating. Who the hell did this fairy think she was!?

"No shit Sherlock." Emma growled as she pulled her blanket up around her chest and moved as far to the opposite side of the bed as possible. "What the fuck are you doing in my room? Did David let you in? Henry?"

Tinkerbell tilted her head as she regarded Emma. Emma remained stock still, her muscles tense and eyes hard as she glared at the blonde fairy who had yet to answer her questions.

It was starting to get uncomfortable with the way Tinkerbell was staring at her and remaining silent. It had always creeped Emma out that the fairy could apparently see into a person's soul just by looking into their eyes. That ability was why Emma tried to never make eye contact with the woman, lest her hatred for her be recognized. That, and of course her jealousy.

"You going to answer me or sit there and stare at me all day?"

Tinkerbell's eyes widened and Emma couldn't help but lean away. Whatever the fairy saw wasn't good. Emma quickly dropped her eyes down to her blankets. It was as she was staring at her fingers that her eyes widened. Her fingers weren't this sleek or primped.

"Who are you?" Tinkerbell's voice was deep, heavy, dark. The hairs all over Emma's body stood erect at the sound and the sudden rush of magic flowing free from the angry fairy.

The last time Emma had faced Tinkerbell while angry was before the woman had joined their side. It hadn't been a pretty fight. Emma had her ass handed to her. If it hadn't been for Regina she probably would have been killed. Thinking back to that terrifying memory, Emma realized she never thanked Regina. It had been early in their travels through Neverland when they came across Tinkerbell and her Lost Boys and Emma's heckles about Regina were still up.

The memory was quickly swiped away as Emma looked down at her hands again. They weren't hers. She looked around. This wasn't her room either.

There was a mirror on the vanity across from the bed. Emma threw the blankets off of herself and raced over to it. Tinkerbell jumped up from the bed and took up a defensive position as she circled the bed, watching Emma's back.

With her palms flat against the surface of the vanity Emma leaned over and stared at the image in the mirror with widening eyes. Brown eyes. Tan skin. Short brown hair. Lip scar.

"What the fuck!?"

Emma saw Tinkerbell, but by the time she did it was too late. The fairy's green and blue sparking fingers were already too close for her to pull away. They touched a nerve in her neck, causing her entire body to spasm and everything to black out.

"You're not Regina." Tinkerbell stated as she stood over the unconscious body of her best friend. "Better safe than sorry." Tinkerbell levitated the unknown entity off the floor and brought them back to the bed, resolved to wait for whomever it was inside Regina's body to wake up on their own again. But this time they'd be fully secured. Just in case.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Regina groaned as she woke up. The light shining into the room was bright. Too bright. She brought her hand up to her head and frowned. Waving her hands distractedly she magiced the curtains closed, bathing the room back in darkness. It helped, but only a little.

It was very rare that she would wake UP with a headache. Normally she had to be awake for several hours before the onset of a headache overtook her. Unless she was ill. She hadn't been sick since Henry came home with the flu when he was five. She'd spent days nursing him back to health only to contract the virus herself.

Regina groaned again as she found it almost impossible to sit up without the world tilting on its axis. She fell back to the bed with a thump as she covered her eyes with her hands. She massaged her temples to try and alleviate the pounding there. Her stomach was tied up in knots and was decidedly upset with her, for something. Maybe the pudding had gone bad. She hoped not. That would mean she and Tinkerbell would be sick.

"Tink?" Regina asked to the empty room, her hand dropping to left side of the bed where Tinkerbell slept. Her hand hit nothing but mattress, cold mattress.

Daring to peek one of her eyes open Regina looked to the other side of the bed to confirm that Tinkerbell wasn't present. As Regina stared at the left side of the bed, and essentially the room she noticed something—off.

Sitting up Regina looked down at the bed and noticed it wasn't hers. The comforter wasn't hers. The sheets certainly weren't' hers and as she looked down long lockes of hair fell over her shoulder and those certainly weren't hers either.

Don't panic, Regina told herself, she snapped her finger and the room was bathed in light. Too much light. The light bulb flashed dangerously bright before it exploded underneath the lamp shade. Regina cringed as she pulled up the blanket to try and protect herself from the light and the shattering glass.

Looking out from underneath the blanket Regina was just starting to piece together where she was when the door opened.

The last person Regina wanted to see walked right in as if he had been there hundreds of times before…and he probably had.

"Hey, Ems. The kid called. Said you had a rough day yesterday. Went out and came back pretty late. Figured you'd need some pick me ups." Neal left the bedroom door open as he took a seat on the edge of the bed. A box of doughnuts and a container of coffee in his hands. He leaned over the length of the bed, to where Regina had moved to get away from him, and kissed her cheek. "So, you want to talk about what happened?" He took one of the pastries from the box and bit into it, his mouth full as he spoke.

Regina cringed as she watched him speak with his mouth full. "Are you a cow, Mr. Cassady?"

Neal looked a little confused as he swallowed and laughed at Emma's use of his last name. "No…? What's with the Mr. Cassady crap? You finally spending the amount of time you want to with Regina or what?"

Regina tilted her head to the side, well aware of her current situation. What she was unaware of, was what Mr. Cassady was referring to. "Pardon me?"

"Wow, what'd she do? Brainwash you or something? Here. Eat this. Or better yet, go brush your teeth, your breath smells like Jack." Neal almost handed Regina one of the pastries he and Ms. Swan found so appealing before thinking better of it and eating it himself while instructing her brush her teeth.

"Jack?" Regina asked breathing into her own hand and wincing. Which she would not be doing. She would not use Ms. Swan's toothbrush that was unhygienic. Though…Regina realized it wouldn't be unhygienic as she was inside Ms. Swan's body with her germs and apparently with her migraines.

"Daniels?" Neal rolled his eyes, attributing Emma's odd behavior to her drinking the night before. "Never knew you to channel Ms. Milf. Usually you can hardly talk at all with a hangover."

Milf? Regina glared darkly at Mr. Cassady. He was speaking in riddles. Obviously this was some kind of code he shared with Ms. Swan and he lacked the ability and brain power to realize what was happening before them. Even with the supplied clues he hadn't realized that she was not in fact Ms. Swan. Though, his explanation for the headache and why her tongue felt like it was growing fur now made much more sense.

"So come on, spill what happened?" Neal swallowed his bite of the doughnut and handed Emma the coffee he'd brought for her. Her favorite.

Regina took the offered cup of coffee with a grateful smile. She breathed in the delightful scent and cupped the Styrofoam with both hands. She took her frist sip….and nearly spit it back out.

"What is this?!"

Neal watched curiously as Emma opened the top of the cup and frowned at it. "Your coffee…just how you like it." He was starting to worry about Emma. He reached over and touched Emma's forehead. She was a bit clamy but that was to be expected with a hangover.

"You feeling okay Ems?"

Regina ignored him, too disappointed at the cream color of her beverage. There had to be half a cup of milk and far too many sugars in this, this…swill. This was not coffee. This was an abomination and she would not drink it. No matter how much she now needed a cup of coffee.

Regina didn't ask. She took a hold of Neal's cup right out of his hand before he was going to drink it. Some of it splashed back at him and he was quick to jump off the bed. One point for her, as she wanted the man as far from her as possible. The second point was when she opened the top of his cup and saw he took his black. She just hoped he didn't drown his in sugar as well. She took a tentative sip and nodded, this would do just fine. She handed Neal back the imposter cup of coffee and kept his.

"Jeeze," He wiped at his pants to get the coffee off. "If you wanted to swap all you had to do was ask. Jesus, what's with you this morning?"

"Not feeling quite myself." Regina said around the rim of her coffee cup, smiling at the joke he would not understand.

"Yeah, I can see that. This have to do with the fight you had with Regina?" He asked around another bite of his second bear-claw.

Neal made himself comfortable on the bed again, and offered Regina the bear-claw like it was the most delicious thing she'd ever eat. And for some reason, Regina found she actually WANTED the pastry. So she took it and stared at it as if she'd never seen one, before taking a small bite. It wasn't her figure she'd be ruining by eating this, now would it? So why not indulge a little?

"Excuse me?" Regina's eyes narrowed, how did he know about the fight?

"Henry mentioned you fought with Regina over something and the two of you disappeared. He was worried. Why didn't you call me last night? I would have been your drinking buddy." He smirks in a completely boyish manner it makes him look much younger then he appears.

Regina remains silent as she studies Neal, trying to understand the appeal. He is a decent man. She learned that in their travels but he has a tendency to put his foot in his mouth. She's seen him and Emma get into just as many rows as Regina has with Neal, except their fights lack something pivotal. Regina always thought it was intelligence as watching Mr. Cassady and Ms. Swan argue was like watching a pair of bickering children, but now she wonders if it weren't passion.

There is very little passion between the two when they argue. So unlike when she fights with Emma. There is a charge there. One that pulls them closer, causing them to step into each other's personal space as it resonates around them like a magnifying field, a generator of sorts. Then again there has always been that form of connection between them, has been since Ms. Swan arrived in her front yard with Henry two years ago.

"I wished to be alone."

"Mhmm…so what happened?" Regina did her best not to flinch at the crumbs falling out of Neal's mouth. "She flaunt her girlfriend in front of you some more? Make your green eyed monster roar to the surface?" He grinned, as if she should understand why he was speaking like this.

"I do nah…" Regina dropped the bear claw to the bed, particles of half chewed dough flying towards Neal as she spoke around the food in a sudden spike of rage. How dare he, she did not flaunt Tinkerbell to anyone, especially Ms. Swan. If anyone flaunted their relationship it was Emma! She dangled Mr. Cassady in front of her face on a daily basis.

Then it hit her. Emma? Jealous? Of Tinkerbell?

Neal was too busy laughing as he looked up at the ceiling to notice Regina's contemplation. Regina almost hoped he choked as he continued to eat while lying down. Would serve him right.

"Look, I know you think that she's off limits because of the girlfriend. I get that, I do. But you two have something special. And before you bite my head off—again—for saying so. You're being a chicken shit. You don't see how she looks at you when she thinks no one can see her. That woman is in love with you. And I agreed to go along with this plan of yours to 'date'," He used air quotes, his eyes moving from Emma's face to the ceiling.

Regina stared at Neal, bear claw long forgotten on the $30 sheets. What he was saying was…unthinkable, unbelievable. It couldn't be. It was a trick. He must have figured out who she was and was playing with her…right? There was no way that Ms. Swan actually returned her feelings. Yes, Emma had kissed her. Yes, she had kissed her back. But then Emma had said she didn't want there to be any problems with her relationship with Tinerkbell (when Emma was the problem to begin with) and she said she didn't want to have kissed her. That she could forget they ever happened, even though Regina had relived all three of those moments over three dozen times in the last 12 hours.

Was Emma's relationship with Neal truly a hoax? God, a large part of Regina hoped so, even though that same part was silently fuming and planning the many ways she could and would torture Ms. Swan for lying to her.

In the meantime, Neal continued. "To give you a cover while you figured things out. But it's been months Emma. You need to face the facts and admit that you're in lah…"

"Regina!?"

Neal and Regina both looked to the door as the sound of someone bounding up the stairs proceeded by and the scream of Regina's name coming from her own voice.

Good lord, Ms. Swan was going to destroy her vocal cords. There was a reason she never raised her voice. It usually sounded like that, a shrill whistle that made people cringe at the sound. She much preferred the low tones of control over the high-pitch of panic.

Regina turned to the door just as Emma came barging in. Emma…who was in her body. Or she hoped it was Emma. It better fucking be Emma, Regina thought darkly. Emma was out of breath and wearing the pajama set that Henry picked out for Regina three years ago. She had gone to bed in it. And judging by the messy hair and lack of makeup Emma hadn't bothered to shower. Regina was torn on whether she appreciated this fact or despised it.

Regina's body—Emma—was panting, and it was surreal seeing her own eyes glaring at her dangerously, body taut and magic swirling around her like a dangerous halo.

"What did you do?!"

"Me? I can assure you, Ms. Swan, this is certainly not MY doing." Regina threw the blanket off herself and stood haughtily from the bed, hands crossed over Emma's chest. "May I remind you, that it was you who ingested magical synthonol just two days ago."

Neal slowly stood up from the bed, eyes wide and mouth open in disbelief as he stared between Emma—no that was Regina to Regina—who was Emma. His head was suddenly spinning, but there was no question Regina was inside Emma's body. Even if it did sound hot as fuck for Emma's voice to take on the tone Regina's usually did.

"Oh shit…" Neal gasped to himself, immediately trying to disappear into the wall when both irate eyes of the women in the room turned to him. He was a dead man. Emma was going to kill him. The real Emma.

"I'll deal with you in a minute!"

Neal gulped.

Emma held Neal's gaze until she was sure her silent threat was understood before she looked to Regina, inhabiting her body. Which, was kind of an odd sort of turn on. If she weren't so angry she might even relish the arousal the sight brought. But for now she was too mad to let herself enjoy knowing Regina was touching her body—even if she wasn't in it. "I don't care who did it. Just fix it!"

Regina cringed at the high pitch of her own voice, her head still throbbing. "Please, you are going to destroy my vocal cords if you continue to holler." She pressed a palm to her head; the pain was practically intolerable without Ms. Swan screaming at her.

"Don't…start…with me. I am not in the mood." Emma warned pointed a threatening finger in Regina's direction. There was a swirl of black and purple electrify swirling around the single digit.

Regina knew well what came next and dove to the ground just in time as Emma's finger—her finger—released a stream of dark magic that crackled against the wall denting it with the force of the strike.

Regina used her wrist to throw back the mountain of blonde hair the blocked her vision. How Ms. Swan kept her hair managed was beyond her. She much preferred shorter hair now that it was 'appropriate' to have in this world. Braiding her hair every morning and night had been a tedious tiresome affair while growing up in the Enchanted Forest.

"Do you mind?! Ms. Swan?" Regina groaned as she remained on the floor for a moment more, her head swimming with the sudden rush of blood.

Emma snarled, hardly fazed by her burst of magic. She was furious. The magic inside Regina's body reacted to that anger. The magic had been seeping out since Emma woke up in Regina's bed—a second time—with a wayward fairy interrogating her.

"God, how much did you drink last night?" Regina asked with a whine as she grabbed a hold of Emma's bed and slowly made her way to her knees. Once there she needed to take a break, her vision practically swirling as her stomach flipped.

"Bit of a headache, hmm?" Emma asked her snarl transforming to a shit-eating-grin.

"How. Much?" Regina asked, resting her cheek on the mattress as she looked at Emma.

"Two thirds a bottle of Jack, give or take a few shots." One plus with this body swap was getting out of the hangover Regina was currently suffering from.

"Ugh…" Regina groaned, turning into the mattress so the bed could soak in her sound of despair and pain. No wonder why she felt like she was dying. When she had finished her momentary pity party she stood up—wobbling as she did—and prepared to address this new development. "We have to find the underlying cause for all of this."

"Which would be, what, exactly?" Emma was willing to refrain from snarking with Regina for the moment far more interested in getting back into her own body.

"The magic you ingested." Regina took in a deep breath, trying to massage away the splitting pain in her temple. Why was it she had to suffer the consequences of Emma's indulgence? She should have eaten every single one of those bear claws just to spite the blonde.

Emma threw her arms up in defeat, "You keep saying that. Have been since Friday, but I have no idea what you're talking about."

Regina blinked, shocked. But, "You were magically intoxicated…."

"Again, so you've said. But I didn't drink that night. Anything except water, from the faucet." Emma held up her hand, "Before you think the water's carrying magic in it, Henry drank it too and he's fine."

Regina needed a moment. If what Emma was saying was true then she had mistakenly diagnosed Emma on Friday. But if not symptoms of magical intoxication what was it? They fit, all the symptoms fit with her original diagnosis there were, however, a variety of types of magical intoxication. They had ruled out Eros tears and if Emma hadn't consumed any magically laced synthonol then that limited things significantly.

"I need to make a call." Regina was already scrambling towards Emma's cell phone. She knew Tink's number by heart; had been the one to buy the phone for her girlfriend and put it under her plan.

"She won't answer." Emma supplied, smirking. Her smirk was dark, impish, evil.

Regina put down the cellphone as it went straight to Tink's voicemail. Seeing Emma's smirk, so like her own when she was incredibly pleased with herself, her heart sank. "What did you do to her?"

"Nothing she didn't do to me first." Emma tried to brush it off. She hadn't expected Regina to charge her. Regina pushed her own body up against the wall with a loud THUD. She used Emma's forearm to keep Emma still, in a pose Regina had been on the receiving end of just last year after Henry ate the poisoned apple turnover. At least Emma's back wasn't against grated metal lockers but the smooth, hard surface of a wall.

"What. Did. You. Do?!" Regina growled her face mere centimeters from Emma's.

Emma tried to push Regina off, but in Regina's body she couldn't manage it. Regina's upper body strength was atrocious.

"Uh, Emmahhh-I mean Regina, maybe you should."

Regina spared Neal with a glance and in her eyes he must have read her deadly intent because his lips zipped closed incredibly fast.

"She's out cold. I knocked the bitch out."

Regina shoved against Emma harder, uncaring that her body was going to be bruised when she got it back. "Why?"

"The bi…" Emma decided against calling Tinkerbell a bitch again at the darkening of her own blue eyes, "She did it first okay? Used her magic on me, knocked me out cold. Tied me up to your bed and interrogated me like some common criminal or prostitute. I didn't appreciate it. I got free and returned the favor. You're fairy lover will wake up soon enough and be by your side with just a headache. Happy?"

"No." Not hardly. There were still holes in the story but she knew this was all she was going to get from Emma. She would have to wait until she talked to Tink about what happened.

"Gonna let me up now, madam Mayor?"

Regina eased her hold on Emma, stepping away as she did. Emma was quick to clutch at her neck and rub at Regina's collarbone; the area now sore. Emma hadn't forgotten how Regina bruised like a peach but the former Queen didn't seem to care. Not when it came to Tinkerbell. That care, devotion broke Emma's heart.

"She knew. Didn't she?" Regina asked a moment later.

"Yeah, she knew the moment she looked in my eyes that I wasn't you. That's some freaky shit your girlfriend has going on."

"Ex-girlfriend."

Emma and Neal's eyes widened. It was Emma that spoke though, "What?"

"We broke up."

"When!?" Emma didn't believe that crap for a minute. She was there last night; she saw the two love birds.

"Last night, or more appropriately this morning." Regina didn't meet Emma's eyes. She was still angry with the Sherriff for hurting Tinkerbell while in her body. Even if it wasn't Regina who did the act, Tinkerbell's memory would be of Regina's face and person hurting her. The thought of that made her feel queasy.

"Bullshit."

"Call it whatever you wish." Regina replied, tired and in pain. She took a seat on the edge of Emma's bed. "It doesn't change the facts of the matter."

Emma stared, disbelieving at Regina. They couldn't have broken up. They couldn't. If Regina had broken up with Tinkerbell then it had to be because of what happened yesterday. What happened between the two of them. Their kiss, both of their kisses. That meant…that meant Neal was right.

Emma suddenly felt light headed, her heart racing against her chest with hope.

"As great as it is that the two of you aren't trying to kill each other anymore. I think we should probably focus on figuring out how to switch you two back before anyone else sees the two of you like this."

Regina sighed, "I hate to agree with him, but Mr. Cassady has a point."

"Great. And how exactly do we do that? And don't even bother offering up your ex as a solution because if I see her while I'm still in your body I may kill her. And it might not be an accident." Emma warned seriously.

"I never did understand why you hated her so much. Until now."

Neal's ears twitched, he knew this, whatever this was about to become, didn't bode well for him.

Emma's eyes narrowed in on Regina, picking up on what the presently blonde woman was saying and what she wasn't. "Until now?"

"Yes," Internally Regina smiled as she stared over her shoulder at Neal. "Mr. Cassady and I had a very enlightening conversation before you arrived."

Emma's heart plummeted into her stomach. Her ear drums sounded with the noise of her racing blood. Her heart pounded somewhere near her belly button as she turned frantic eyes on Neal. "What did you say!?"

Neal cringed, his body tightening as his feet dragged across the floor while he was shoved backwards by Emma's uncontrollable magic. He didn't crash as hard as he thought he would into the wall. It was more about how he was now in the corner of the room while Emma stalked towards him that caused imaginary phantom pains to start. Phantom pains that would no doubt soon exist if the fury burning in mahogany eyes was a telltale sign.

"I'm sorry, Emma." Neal looked for a viable escape option. "Really I am. I didn't know." He couldn't find one. "I thought she was you. I'm sorry." Was all Neal could offer as an apology, it was the truth. He was terribly sorry. He never meant to break Emma's confidences, especially to the woman the secrets were about. If he had known he never would have said anything. Hopefully Emma would know that, understand that it wasn't his fault when she wasn't furious. Maybe then she'd grant him mercy and let him leave with his manhood intact. Which had been the deal: if he told another living soul Emma's secret she would be within her rights to take his dick.

As entertaining it was to watch Mr. Cassady bend awkwardly to shield himself from Emma's wrath, they had more important matters to take care of. Before Henry became aware of this particular mishap. Their son had already been traumatized enough in the last two days.

"Ms. Swan." Emma turned, her eyes only softening minimally. A blush forming on her cheeks the longer she stared at Regina. As if the current brunette finally realized what it was that Regina had become aware of. "We have bigger fish to fry."

"Maybe you do, but I'm about to cut up my own sushi." Neal whimpered his legs crossing and hands dropping to cover himself from Emma's spearing gaze.

"Honestly, Ms. Swan. Deal with Mr. Cassady after we have settled this matter. Preferably before Henry becomes aware of it."

The mention of Henry's name won this battle for Regina.

"Fine…" Emma growled.

Regina nodded, "Mr. Cassady, you will watch Henry while we attend to this."

"Sha…sure. No, no problem." Neal stuttered, sighing in relief as Emma moved away from him.

"Come along, Ms. Swan." Regina gestured with her fingers for Emma to follow her downstairs.

Emma spared Mr. Cassady with one final glare before she followed Regina out of the bedroom.

Regina grabbed the trench coat Emma had apparently used on her journey here while Ms. Swan grabbed her blue leather jacket. Regina tried not to think about how she looked reading that monstrosity that she secretly had an affinity for.

"Where are we going exactly?" Emma asked as they reached the apartment door.

"To see an imp."

The End

So, what did you think? ;-) That line above is a joke. There will be another chapter and hopefully THAT will be the final chapter. But please, don't be shy. Let me know what you liked or disliked about this chapter.