Okay, so this is the quickest update I've ever done. Don't get used to it lol I had the strongest urge to write the past few days. Due to Christmas, social interactions and work I just got the time. I really liked what I decided to do with this chapter, and I hope you all enjoy it very much.

I would like to say that I am shocked and awed by the response this story has received. Thank you all so much for reading, favoriting, following, and reviewing. You make this even more worth it than when it was mostly just for my friend's and my own personal entertainment. Which is saying a good deal, honestly lol considering I made this, to start, for that same friend. The first two chapters alone got about 3,000 views. I just can't even properly describe how it makes me feel. Just, please, know I am very thankful.

Oh, and shout out to SKRowling. Your reviews made me laugh :D you fuckin' go, Glen Coco.

Disclaimer: We've been through this. I own shit-all besides a Swan Queen shirt.


"Do you think she bought it?"

"Oh, I know she did."

"What if she's figured out what we're up to? I don't believe she would be okay with being deceived."

Henry rolls his eyes, "Come on, you know her. She won't figure it out until it's spelled out for her or smacks her in the face. Literally. Besides, she wouldn't just come out and say it, either. We had to come up with an operation to get her to do anything, and it's not much. She thinks she's doing the same thing."

A sigh, "I think my parental prowess are slipping. You're becoming more logical than I am."

"Comes with the territory." He gains a quizzical look, "Anyway! We've gotta get more aggressive, more obvious. That little bit in the diner got her believing, but she's too nervous. You have to take the reins on this."

"How?"

A slightly disturbed look appears on Henry's face, "Ask Ruby. I'm still your son. I don't want to know details. I just want you both happy. Hopefully, only a little mental scarring happens. Also, I'm already late to meet her at Granny's. She promised me a milkshake," the teen smiles. It increases in size when his mother laughs and shakes her head.

"All right. I'll see you in a few hours, then. I love you, Henry." She hugs him, briefly lamenting the fact that he's nearly as tall as her.

He hugs back, giving her a kiss on the cheek before letting go. "I love you, too. I'll try to give a few hints, okay? Like, insanely obvious 'hints'. Maybe she'll figure it out before I get into high school." This gains him another laugh and a forehead kiss.

He jokingly wipes it away, "Ugh, Mom! Gross!" Henry grabs his jacket and nearly runs out the door. A faint, "Bye, Mom!" and the slamming of her front door greet her as she finds herself alone.

With Henry's reassuring presence gone, she begins to panic again. Wondering if it was a smart plan, if they were going about it the right way, what her interest would think when she found out she'd been double crossed – so to speak.

After that thought, the woman shoots into her office, where she'd left her cell phone. Dialing a now surprisingly familiar number, she begins to bite her lip. The ring of the phone only serving to perpetuate her nerves. She breathes a sigh of relief when the call is answered.

"Regina?" Ruby's curious voice sounded in her ear.

The older brunette clears her throat before speaking, "Hello, Miss Lucas."

The wolf's eye roll was nearly audible, "After all this planning and whatnot, you'd think it wouldn't be a pain to call me by my name. This 'Miss Lucas' nonsense should be a thing of the past since we're friends now."

"Aren't you being a little presumptuous, dear? Who said I viewed the two of us as friends, let alone if I even desired to be?" Regina's natural snark could always be counted on.

"You did when you and Henry made this plan to get Emma to be your woman, and then again when you allowed him to get me to be part of aforementioned plan. Now, what did you call for?" Ruby's curiosity came back full-force.

"I…" Regina began, "I'm having some doubts that we're going about this the right way."

Ruffling fabric could be heard as Ruby shifted on her bed. It was her day off from the diner, and she'd been lazily lounging on her bed watching Netflix when the mayor had called. She gasped as she realized what Regina really called for. "Oh, my god! You're nervous!"

"Yes, Miss Lucas, I'm nervous!" The former queen snapped. "I don't do this – ever. I haven't exactly dealt with feelings like this in quite some time, and when I did it hardly had the time to go very far." The thought of Daniel made her heart thud a little harder in phantom pain, but it was much lighter than it used to be – hardly there at all, now. Thanks to a certain Swan.

Ruby rushes to apologize, "Okay, okay. I'm sorry. It's still weird to know you know how to be nervous. Seriously though, will you please call me by my name? I feel like Mother Superior is reprimanding me when you say 'Miss Lucas'."

Regina inhales deeply, resisting the urge to throw another meaningless barb towards the younger woman out of habit. "Fine. Ruby, I'm freaking out a little bit, and I need you to reassure me that this plan will not have negative consequences on whatever relationship I am trying to build with Emma."

The wolfwoman softens when she hears just how nervous Regina has become. Hearing the usually confident woman admit to – and using the phrase – freaking out is nothing short of a wonder. She stays silent for another moment, deciding what exactly to say to the redeemed woman. "All right. Let me put it this way. She is doing the exact same thing you're doing, Regina. She's in on a plan to woo you. When you doubt it, remember that she agreed to Operation: Swan Queen, too. Emma's problem is she needs you to be insanely obvious for her to notice anything. She has a hard time believing you want her, too."

The mayor listened intently, going over what Ruby said in her mind a few times. Emma wanted her, maybe even loved her. The blonde agreed to Ruby's plan because she desires to be in a relationship with her. It was nearly overwhelming, in the best way Regina could possibly think of. As these thoughts go through head, she begins to calm down. The older brunette feels her panic and nerves gradually lessen. Unconsciously, a small smile makes its way onto her painted lips.

"You're right," she says softly. Regina takes a deep breath, running through the younger brunette's words again, and repeats with more confidence, "You're right." She remembers what Henry told her before he left the house. "Actually, Henry said the same to me before he left to meet Emma at Granny's not too long ago."

"Kid's almost too smart for his own good sometimes. Just like his aunt Rubes." Regina can't stop the laugh before it's left her lips. "There ya go! Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! Back the frack up! They're at Granny's right now?" Ruby's somewhat extreme reaction had the former queen rolling her eyes once again.

"Yes, dear. She wanted to treat him to a milkshake. I saw no problem with it, since dinner is far enough away that it should hardly effect his appetite. Am I missing some significance, here?" While the mayor had certainly warmed up to the waitress after everything, she did not understand the woman sometimes.

"Why the hell aren't you there right now?!"

"Because they need time together without me."

Ruby smiled at her new friend's response, "You really have come so far, Regina."

"Thank you," the shorter woman answered with a slight blush at the compliment.

"For real though, you need to find some excuse to go down there. You don't have to crash their bonding time, just – ooh! You were supposed to bring Granny some apples yesterday, but you had that meeting with Grumpy! Bring the apples to the diner, and we'll…uh…flirt! Or something."

"Two birds, one stone. Well done, Ruby. Now, who exactly is doing the flirting? As we know, it won't be hard for me to act either jealous or flirtatious. I'm rather skilled at both of them, when I so choose."

"Hmm. Okay, how 'bout this. I'll show up with the excuse of being bored, which is not a lie – honestly, thank you for calling – and go talk to them. One of us will text Henry and tell him what's going on, so he knows that I'm gonna try getting him away from Em. You bring in the apples and I can say Granny would like some help with peeling them for the pies. Get in the booth with Emma and start acting more on your feelings. Like, how you want to smile or laugh but don't want to get caught. Or, when you want to be genuinely nice but think someone will figure you out." Regina's jaw drops at how well Ruby's been able to read her. "We'll hide in the back until you find a good spot to leave on. Oh! And invite her to dinner, tonight! She'd never turn you or food down!"

The mayor ponders the younger woman's plan, before deciding it's as good as anything. "All right. Text Henry. I'll freshen up and make my way to the diner. Give me 15 minutes."

"Hell yes! See you there, Madame Mayor."

"Goodbye, Ruby." Regina hangs up the phone and walks over to her foyer's mirror, checking her appearance before going to her room to change and primp.

They did say I had to be obvious. She wants me. She might love me. It becomes her mantra, and she finds herself becoming more confident. Regina smiles. It's time to show the Savior the real Regina Mills.


Did anyone see that twist coming?! I sure as hell didn't.

Seriously, mid-writing of chapter 2, I had the idea of "what if Regina knows everything? WHAT IF REGINA'S INVOLVED IN THE REAL OPERATION: SWAN QUEEN?! IMMA MAKE REGINA THE CHASER!"

I feel like it's more often that Emma does the secret-chase or active-chase, so my brain decided to go all Inception with it. It's a plan within a plan and Emma has no idea what the fuck is going on.

I'll be starting chapter 4 pretty soon, I think. Maybe I can give you all a New Year present! We shall see.

Until next time, dears.

~Kathryn