A/N: this episode gave me so many possibilities for added SwanQueen goodness. There were quite a few lines I could have used to lead to angry SQ sex but Snow and Charming were in most of the scenes and it didn't quite fit without a lengthy chapter which I didn't want to write. So I've gone for perhaps the simpler option, but I hope you guys like it. I prefer writing cute SQ sex anyway!

"Archie made a cake!"

What sort of line was that? Emma scolded herself as she came to a halt at the bottom of the steps outside Granny's. Well, she was going to have to go with it now.

"You don't want to stay for a piece?" she offered as Regina turned around to face her, hands in the pockets of her black coat.

"I don't really eat cake," Regina remarked.

"I guessed," Emma replied, glancing up and down the slender figure before her.

"Then why did you ask me to stay for a slice?" Regina asked, frowning. This woman was completely illogical.

"Because I didn't want you to leave," Emma admitted, wrapping her woollen cardigan around her to keep out the worst of the autumnal wind.

"I think you're the only one," Regina sighed. "That wasn't exactly the warmest reception," she said, nodding to the still packed diner filled with celebrating Storybrooke residents. Her lasagne may have been eaten but that didn't mean she felt welcome.

"They need time," Emma said. "They'll forgive you eventually too."

"You've forgiven me?" Regina asked, eyebrow raised.

"You saved my life yesterday. And Mary Margaret's. Whatever you've done in the past, you did the right thing at the well. I'd say that deserves a second chance."

"I'm trying," Regina said. "I want to be worthy of Henry, of his love. I want to be the mother he deserves."

"You will be," Emma assured. "Just don't expect anything to change overnight. It's going to take time."

"I've never been particularly patient," Regina admitted.

Emma laughed. "Me neither."

Both women fell silent, looking at each other but not sure what to say. The whole conversation had been unnaturally cordial, a pleasant but almost disconcerting change from the months of arguments and confrontation.

"Well, I guess I'll see you around then, Miss Swan," Regina said after a slight pause.

Emma watched the woman walk away from her, heels clipping the street as she stepped out of Granny's gate and turned towards her home. It was now or never.

"Want me to walk you back?" Emma called out.

Regina froze before turning slowly on the spot and looking at the blonde who had jogged out into the street and was now standing awkwardly by the blackboard promoting the welcome home party both women had just left.

"I'm capable of walking home by myself, Miss Swan, thank you," Regina said.

"I know you're capable," Emma said quickly, before Regina had the chance to turn away. "But I'm the Sheriff and it's my job to keep everyone in this town safe. Including you. I get the feeling you might be somewhat of a target now."

Regina hesitated before nodded her consent. Emma grinned and walked to catch up with the brunette before they fell into step, side by side.

The walk was quiet, neither woman particularly keen on small talk and neither able to think of a suitable subject to talk about that wouldn't result in an emotionally fraught conversation. Far too soon for Emma, the two women arrived at the black wrought iron gate at the end of Regina's path.

"Well, thank you, I guess," Regina said as she rested her hand on the latch.

"I'll walk you to your door," Emma insisted, placing her hand over Regina's and pushing the gate open.

Ignoring the strange sensation she had felt when Emma's skin had touched hers, Regina led the way up the path to the well lit porch. She didn't want to admit it to the blonde but Regina had made sure the house always had multiple lights on and was locked up tightly ever since the curse broke. She would have been foolish to think some townsfolk would not attempt revenge after what she had put them through.

Fishing in her small purse, Regina pulled out her key and slipped it into the lock. Turning to face the blonde, Regina noticed how awkward and nervous Emma seemed under the glare of the bright porch lights. Her face was pale and she looked a little thinner after her adventure in the Enchanted Forest. Clearly foraging didn't compare to the blonde's usual diet of bear claws and Granny's club sandwiches.

"Well, you've walked me to my door," Regina said unnecessarily. "I guess your Sheriff duty is done, unless it extends to tucking residents into bed," she added, lowering her voice slightly.

Emma stuttered, her cheeks blushing profusely at Regina's words. What was the brunette suggesting? Did that mean Regina wanted Emma to come inside? Was Emma not alone in her feelings for the Mayor? Taking a deep breath, Emma decided she had nothing to lose. She had fought ogres and witches and pirates during the last week. How could this possibly be scarier?

"I've never come across that particular law," she said after a moment. "But I'd be happy to oblige," she added, her eyes darkening.

Regina's breath hitched at the sudden change in the blonde's demeanour. Emma was looking at her with a hunger she had never seen before. The green of her eyes were almost eclipsed with round, black pupils and as the brunette watched, the tip of her tongue slipped out to moisten her lower lip. Regina's heart quickened.

Without breaking eye contact with the blonde before her, Regina twisted the key, allowing the door to pop open. Stepping over the threshold, she looked intently at Emma, silently inviting her inside.

Emma understood perfectly.

The blonde stepped inside the house and moved aside so Regina could close the door. The second it snapped shut, Regina gasped as she found herself pressed up against it, Emma's insistent mouth pressed to hers. She brought her hands up, tangling her fingers in the loose blonde locks and angling the kiss so she could slide her tongue easily into Emma's mouth. After the events of the past few weeks, neither woman wanted to think about what they were doing. It felt right, it felt good. It felt real.

The blonde growled as she felt Regina's tongue part her lips and ground her hips hard against the brunette. Fumbling the buckle of Regina's coat undone, Emma forced the heavy fabric from the narrow shoulders and threw it to the floor. Regina herself pulled Emma's cardigan away, tossing it in the vague direction her coat had disappeared.

Pushing herself off the door, Regina wrapped her arms around Emma's back to catch the stumbling blonde and back the pair of them further into the house, towards the stairs and her bedroom. Emma however had other ideas and as soon as she had regained her balance, she spun Regina around and pinned her against a wall instead.

Regina's heart beat even faster at this new, exciting, dominant side of Emma and she relented, allowing the blonde to hold her wrists above her head with one hand as the other skated beneath her red silk blouse and reached up to palm her right breast. Groaning at the rough touch, Regina sagged against the wall, her wrists still firmly clasped in Emma's hand as the blonde began unbuttoning the blouse. When at last Emma released her wrists to allow her to remove her shirt, Regina took advantage of the freedom to pull the black jumper from Emma's own torso and quickly reached around to unclasp the simple black bra she found beneath.

Emma looked shocked but impressed as Regina leaned back against the wall, feasting her eyes on the small, pert breasts revealed to her.

"Continue," she smirked, dragging her own arms upwards until her wrists lay one over the other above her head.

Emma pressed her newly naked body against Regina's once more, her hand gripping both wrists, revelling in the fact that the brunette was willingly submitting to her. Their mouths melded seamlessly. Tongues exploring, teeth nipping, lips caressing. Emma's other hand was occupied undoing Regina's bra. Thanking whatever god was out there that it was a front clasp, the blonde pushed the cups aside and palmed an exposed breast. A hard nipple pressed against her hand before she took it between her fingers and pinched lightly.

Regina gasped and her head fell backwards, bumping against the wall as her body involuntarily arched into the aggressive touch. Emma pressed open mouthed kisses down the exposed neck, trailing them down Regina's prominent collarbone and then down her chest before she finally enveloped the neglected nipple. As her tongue ran over the tip, Regina's hands wriggled from Emma's grip and fisted once more in blonde hair, anchoring Emma's mouth more firmly against her chest.

Emma smirked into the soft breast but continued to lave the sensitive bud. Now with two hands free, Emma began to work on finding the zip in Regina's pencil skirt. Locating it on the right side, she tugged it down, still never breaking contact from the brunette's breast. The fabric pooled at Regina's feet and she stepped carefully out of it, kicking the skirt away. Emma's fingers then hooked into the top of Regina's pantyhose and she wrestled the material down slender legs. When she could no longer reach, Emma reluctantly broke away from the delectable flesh in front of her and knelt down to peel the pantyhose the rest of the way down.

Regina looked down at the sight before her with lustful eyes. Sheriff Swan, topless, in tight, dark jeans, kneeling before her. Her throat tightened.

Emma, in turn, was looking up the woman stood above her. Black lace panties were all that adorned the olive toned beauty, her flat stomach leading up to generous breasts, now free from the bra Regina had shrugged off. Tousled brown locks framed the stunning face, eyes dark and lips swollen.

Emma slowly got to her feet and moved to place a more gentle kiss against Regina's lips.

"You're stunning," she murmured as they broke apart.

"Thank you," Regina said, a soft smile on her face as she reached down and laced her fingers through Emma's. "Upstairs?"

The blonde nodded and followed Regina up to the master suite.

Once the door was closed, Regina walked slowly over to her bed and laid down in the middle, knees bent, waiting.

Emma took a deep breath and began to undo her belt buckle. Seconds later, she was unzipping her boots and pulling her jeans and socks off. Once she too was only in her panties, she walked over to the bed.

Regina smiled as she approached and lowered her knees. Emma grinned back and crawled up the bed until she was straddling the brunette. Their mouths gravitated back together as Emma slowly lowered herself onto Regina's body. Both women groaned at the sensation of skin on skin, every fibre of their being alive with want.

Growing impatient, Regina rolled Emma over and moved to lie atop the blonde instead. Trailing kisses down to the small, pale breasts, Regina wrapped her lips around a taut nipple as her fingers teased the other areola. Emma groaned and wrapped her legs around Regina's waist, pressing her core closer to Regina's as she did so.

Ignoring Emma's unspoken request, Regina moved her mouth to the other breast, her fingers teasing the neglected wet nipple as her mouth went to work once more.

"Regina," Emma gritted out, unable to stand the coiling sensation in her belly any long.

Regina released the hard nipple with a slight pop and grinned up at the blonde before moving to remove Emma's panties and lying between Emma's parted thighs. The younger woman propped herself up on her elbows so she could better see Regina as she slowly lowered her mouth to her throbbing sex.

The first touch was gentle, tender, reserved. A light kiss placed to the hooded bundle of nerves. Emma bit her lip at the sight before her and seconds later a cry filled the room as Regina's mouth covered her clit. Her arms gave out and Emma fell back on the bed, widening her legs to allow Regina even more space to work her magic. The brunette smiled as she raked her fingernails up and down a sensitive inner thigh as her tongue began to swipe over Emma's clit.

Emma's brain stopped working as the tip of Regina's tongue hardened and moved southwards. Sliding between her soaked labia, the tongue traced through her sex down to her entrance which it circled a few times before returning to he clit. As a hot mouth enveloped the throbbing nerve bundle once more, the tip of a finger teased the dripping hole Regina's tongue had just left. Emma bucked her hips into the touch and Regina immediately slid her finger effortlessly inside. She groaned as she felt the blonde's hot channel clench around the welcome intrusion.

Moving her finger in and out steadily, Regina's mouth continued to tease Emma's clit. Her tongue swiped it, her lips nudged at it, her teeth nibbled lightly before her tongue returned to sooth the delicious pain. Emma's hands flew to Regina's hair, pulling the brunette even closer as her orgasm reached its peak. She ground her sex onto Regina's eager mouth, pushed herself further onto the finger still pounding her entrance. As she came, she bucked forward and gasped at the strength of the orgasm.

Her hands relaxed and Regina moved away, licking her lips before cleaning the finger she reluctantly slid from Emma's warm heat. Emma opened her eyes when she felt the brunette settle beside her.

"That was incredible," she panted.

Regina just smiled and dropped a soft kiss to Emma's shoulder.

"But I believe I was the one supposed to tuck you into bed," the blonde said, a twinkle in her eye and she reached for Regina's body and pulled the older woman towards her.

"I haven't changed into my pyjamas yet," Regina said coyly, gesturing to her one remaining item of clothing.

Emma looked at the black lace panties and then up at Regina's face.

"Don't worry," Emma smiled. "For what I have planned, you don't need pyjamas."

P.S. Reviews are love in letter form …