Emma's head was pounding.. literally.. she could feel tiny minions hitting her head in bursts. She opened her eyes and tried to keep them open but her eyelids felt too heavy to stay that way.

Bang bang bang. Bang. Bang. Bang bang bang.

Her headache had a rhythm? Who knew I was so musically inclined? She brought her hands to her head but the thump seemed to be getting louder and louder.

As she shifted in her bed, slowly her body became more aware. Emma realised the sounds were coming from outside her head, outside her room actually. She groaned as she turned, eyes blinking rapidly. She looked sideways to see if she could get the time but her phone wasn't on the night stand. She kicked the covers out as she turned and sat upright. Rubbing her eyes she winced when she heard the knocking again.

"Coming", she cried out surprised by the hoarse voice that left her mouth. With some struggle, she got up, forgoing her shoes to quicken her steps in order to end the noise. She opened the door on the right side of the room and entered a hallway. Emma froze.

Wait. Where the hell am I?

It looked like a motel. Why was she in a motel? Slowly, she dragged her feet, rubbing her eye with her left hand as she used the right one to support herself. As her hand landed on the wall she noticed the wallpaper. Well it wasn't a cheap motel that's for sure. Blue wallpaper with silver engravings; her head turned to take in the surroundings: white furniture everywhere, extravagant vases. It definitely looked classy. She saw a brown door up front and there was that infernal knocking again. Since no one seemed to be around, she decided upon opening the door. Cautiously, she turned the handle.

"Finally", Regina said, her face unimpressed on having to wait, "Were you not planning on letting me in?"

"Uh", Emma dumbly shuffled back to give Regina room to come inside.

Regina walked in with a casserole in one hand. She walked towards the left side of the room; clearly she had an idea of their whereabouts so Emma quietly followed her.

"Regina, where am I?" Emma said before clearing her throat making Regina push a glass of water towards her.

Regina began setting the table in what was a modest kitchen, "Well, what is the last thing you remember?"

Emma took a seat at the chair at the end of a big white rectangular table and saw Regina conjuring plates from thin air. She opened the lid of the dish and the delightful smell of pancakes hit Emma, her eyes fluttered closed at the aroma.

"Focus, Miss Swan."

"Oh ya. Um, I remember…" Emma rubbed her forehead trying to remember the events of the last day. Slowly she slid down till she could rest her head in the crook of her elbow, "Wait, I was little. And we were in your study and -"

Emma's eyes widened as she turned to Regina, who stood staring at the plate below, all tell-tale signs of disapproval etched on her face.

"And?"

Emma turned back letting her forehead rest on the table to avoid the stare, "I climbed on a wine flask thing and sort offellintoit"

"Hmm", Regina slowly resumed what she was doing earlier, "Do I want to know what led on the incident?"

Emma's head turned again and her expression answered Regina's question.

The brunette shook her head, "Miss Swan that was dangerous and could have very well been fatal."

"I know Reg-"

"Do you though, that you could have broken your neck, split your head open, drowned for heaven's sake."

"Oh good, I was scared you would yell at me for ruining your wine."

"Do you think I care ab-" Regina stopped abruptly but continued to look daggers at the woman. 'No', she told herself strongly as she promptly swallowed the rest of her sentence.

"But at least you figured out how to change me back." Emma gave the brunette her best lopsided smile.

Regina huffed and sat down, "No, I'm afraid not. I read some books after you passed out but just like yesterday, my magic seems to be futile against you in this.. condition."

Emma outstretched her hand to reach out for the plate.

"What'd you mean didn't work? I mean... wait, where are we Regina?"

Regina merely pointed to the wall in front of her which had a window in the middle. Emma approached the said window, groaning internally at the movement. She pulled the curtains away and let out a loud curse.

"You shouldn't swear when you have company over Miss Swan."

Emma dragged herself back to the seat and returned to her previous position, this time slowly banging her forehead on the table, "Regina I don't think I can do this anymore, this magic and living in Storybrooke thing."

Regina already cutting her breakfast in bite size pieces just shrugged, "You'll get used to it. Now sit up."

Emma shook her head and decided to listen to Regina. After a few minutes of quiet eating, Emma decided to sate her curiosity.

"So this is a-"

"Dollhouse? Yes."

"And we are on your-"

"Dressing table, indeed."

"Hmm, so you play with-"

"Dolls? No. People collect dollhouses. A hobby of sorts."

"Hmm, so you collect-"

"Dollhouses? No. My grandmother used to. This belonged to her."

"Hmm. So she gave-"

"No, I wanted it. Very much. But mother didn't allow such frivolities."

"Good thing she isn't here then."

Regina's head snapped up, "Because a dollhouse is a fair trade for my mother? Yes, well said Miss Swan."

"Dammit, no, I - fuck it."

"No, say it."

"It's just I understand, losing a mother, but I think my hobby is putting my foot in my mouth."

"Because there was actually a chance you'd have said something different? I mean I still don't understand why you of all people had to show up on my doorstep?" Regina put down her silverware giving the blonde her entire attention.

"Wait, are we talking about things now?" Emma really didn't want to; they'd been happily ignoring everything since she got pint-sized. At Regina's impatient sigh she gave in.

"Ok fine, well if I am not really good.. with words.. but there were so many things stuck between the two of us. I mean I wanted to apologise for the whole Archie incident. I wanted to ask you why you would go with Cora instead of coming to us. I needed to tell you, explain how Henry has been worried sick this whole week over you. I think I wanted to be there after Cora died but I didn't think you'd want to see my face. Most importantly I want to know what'd you want from me."

"Hmm, good thing you're not good with voicing your thoughts."

"Regina, I mean it, is there a way we can get over this. Like if I wasn't Henry's birth mother or the saviour, would you still hate me?"

"You mean if you were just the incompetent, unpunctual, under-qualified sheriff I'd employed who was keen on submitting the wrong-"

"Ok, wrong question. Regina I can't change the past, neither can you. I can't forget that you cast the curse and you can't forget that I broke it. But we have to move on. I can't keep looking at Henry's sad face when he keeps asking about you. I can't keep thinking every night that I'm going to lose either you or Snow in some battle."

"I'm sorry if my presence is such an inconvenience in your life."

"How on earth did you take that from what I said?"

"Are you done with you plate?"

"Yes."

Regina stacked together their plates but her mind was clearly running elsewhere since she just kept adjusting and re-adjusting the china.

"I think you should consider the blue fairy. It's clear we're not working well together. I mean it's been hardly 24 hours and you've nearly killed yourself twice."

"But I- No."

"Why?"

"Can't we just sort this thing here... no one has to know this even happened." Emma had her reasons but she knew it'd be foolish to share them right now.

They both remained quiet before Regina spoke up again.

"Henry, he asks for me?"

"Well yeah, at first - nothing."

"Tell me." Regina insisted.

"Well, I didn't really understand... I mean he wanted to stay with me, why does he still keep asking for you?"

"Why indeed?" Why would anyone?

Emma cringed at Regina's cold tone and let out a nervous chuckle, "I don't know. It's probably because of the pancakes."

"Well you can always hire a full-time nanny; it'll be easier for him to forget me then." Regina moved away making Emma groan, "No fuck, god dammit, I think I shouldn't be allowed to talk."

"Not sober at least."

'What is that supposed to mean?"

Regina kept her face impassive but she was smiling inwardly as she relived yesterday, her bad mood dissipating slowly.

"It means", Regina tucked in her hair mulling over what she wanted to say, "that I find you less unbearable when you're inebriated."

Emma's eyes widened as she took in the tiniest upturn of the corner of Regina's lips, "Oh god, what did I do?"

"Nothing, you complimented my food and told me you had fun."

Emma smiled as she remembered a fragment of memory, she had asked Regina to make pancakes. Her smile soon turned into a grin when she realised that Regina had actually agreed to that drunken request, which was why she had shown up on the door today with breakfast.

Regina added after a moment of silence, "And you wanted to touch my face for some reason."

Emma panicked as her eyes darted from Regina's lip scar to her brown confused eyes before she hurriedly looked away from them, "Probably you had something on it." What the fuck is wrong with you Swan, you fucking weirdo.

"Maybe." Regina resisted the urge to see if there was something on her face right now judging by Emma's expression.

"So", desperate for a change of topic Emma said, "you got this after I passed out." She waved her hands around gesturing the grand house they were in.

Regina couldn't stop the smile this time as she thought about the few occasions she'd been allowed time with her grandmother. Emma smiled in return which went unseen by the brunette.

"I'd wanted this house for so many years as a child. And my grandmother-", Regina faltered, that was a personal memory, "First I thought I'd let you sleep in a drawer or something but then something brought back the memory."

"What?"

"Well I had this beautiful doll, gorgeous little thing, it was the reason I'd wanted this house in the first place."

Before Emma could preen at the implication Regina added, "If you were better dressed and maybe washed your face often, you'd have resembled the doll... maybe. But oh well, you both do share the same hair colour."

"Oh ha ha", Emma glared before trying to tie her hair in a bun, "Uh speaking of hair, they're wet, care to explain?"

"You were reeking of wine, and were very..." Regina's nose crinkled, "sticky."

Emma covered her grin with her hand as Regina continued, "I wasn't comfortable you spoiling this lovely house so -"

"So you gave me a bath?"

"Put you under the tap and then blow-dried you." Regina deadpanned like this was a common occurrence in her life now, washing and dry-cleaning the saviour.

Emma looked below to double-check that she was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, "You made me take a shower in my clothes?"

"Yes, Miss Swan," Regina drawled, "I really had no incentive in stripping a passed out sheriff."

"Your loss", Emma coughed under her breath.

"Excuse me?"

"I said didn't I get up?" Emma replied looking earnestly at Regina.

Regina stared at her a moment before continuing, "No, not even when I accidentally dropped you on the floor instead of the bed."

"Wow, so no more diving in alcohol for a while." Emma finished her glass of water before turning sideways, "So what are we going to do today?"

"Aren't we supposed to be working on your... condition?"

"Yeah", Emma continued hesitantly, "that's what I meant."

Regina ignored the disappointment in the blonde's tone, "Let me just take care of the dishes."

Regina waved her hand over the table and the dishes disappeared one by one with a silent pop.

"Man I wish I could do that."

Regina's head snapped up in attention so fast that Emma thought she'd have suffered from whiplash.

"What?" Emma asked, scared she'd said something wrong... again.

"Magic, we need to talk about your magic."

"My magic?"

"Yes your magic, you need to keep up Miss Swan."

Emma followed Regina into the living room. She let out a low whistle, "Wow, it's like Barbie Dreamhouse - Downton Abbey special. Definitely cleaner."

Regina sat down at the sofa before gesturing her to take the chair in front, "What is that supposed to mean?"

Emma shook her head before plopping down next to Regina instead. Regina bristled at the distance but refrained from saying anything.

"Are you saying my house is unkempt?"

"Regina, your study is well on its way on becoming a run-down watering hole."

Regina rolled her eyes, "So your magic?"

"Yea that", Emma sighed before leaning her head on the back closing her eyes, "I've used it like twice and both times Gold helped me."

"Listening to that insufferable imp, you should know better."

"Sorry if I was busy trying to protect myself from the fiery Mills." Emma scowled.

"Just show me what you can do."

"Nothing really."

"I wasn't asking you."

Emma scratched her head lightly, "Ok, well Gold said-"

Regina's face darkened, "Forget what Gold said. Gods", she took a deep breath before continuing, "listen to me. I want you to close your eyes and follow my voice."

"But Gold said something about emot-" Emma clicked her mouth shut when she saw a hint of purple kicking in Regina's eyes. Note-to-self, don't mention Gold.

"Think of a candle. Visualise it."

"Why candle?"

"Focus."

"Ok. Accio C-"

"Miss Swan", Regina warned, "Focus on the image and the table ahead and try to think of them together."

"Ok, I'm concentrating. I'm concentrating... And nothing is happening."

"You need to give it time."

"No, you need to give me time. I can't do it with you breathing over me."

"You're an idiot."

"No, I have headache, my body hurts and I'm dying to get some shut-eye but I'm still sitting here making an effort. For you." Emma leaned back on the couch stretching her hands.

Regina shifted away, miffed, "Fine, we can try later when the princess is well rested."

"Hey- fine, whatever. Do you have meds?"

"They are on my table; I can get them for you and leave you to sleep."

"No-wait. I mean you can stay here if you want to. It's your house after all, well your house inside your house."

Regina looked downright annoyed now, "I thought you wanted to sleep."

Emma flinched slightly at the volume, "I just- it feels like it's been a while since I could look at someone without craning my head ya know."

Regina's eyes softened in understanding before she focussed on her nails, "You", she cleared her throat, "Do you perhaps want to see the house?"

"That sounds awesome." Emma grinned.

"And this is the tea room, but we're free to host other parties too. I would prefer anything over tea actually."

One by one Regina kept showing Emma the different rooms, explaining their significance. Emma's eyes were transfixed on the brunette though; the controlled happiness in those brown eyes captivated her. If she could just let herself go, let her hair down, that'd be a sight.

They were now moving to the first floor. Emma had seen a few doll houses earlier, mostly on television, but this one definitely took the giant blue ribbon. It felt more real that most apartments Emma had lived in. Regina had told her how the house opened three ways due to the hallway but it was hard for Emma to picture it since there were no indications inside that could hint to the fact that this was, after all, a play thing. She thought it'd make more sense once she sees it from the outside. But right now she wanted to revel in the joy radiating off of Regina that came with exploring a cherished toy from her childhood.

"And this", Regina opened a floral door before looking back; catching Emma smiling at her made her promptly shut the door, "Well there's the end of that."

"What, no! Tell me what that room is... please."

"Do you find this.. me amusing?" Regina backtracked, hands on her hips.

Emma blew out air exasperatedly, "Regina, there is a difference when people laugh with you and when people laugh at you, God!"

Regina looked at her through the corner of her eye and continued, in a careful voice, "This room is for the dolls."

"Unlike other rooms?"

"No, it's for the dolls that.. our.. dolls might have. It certainly made more sense when I was young."

"No I get it, since I live here now, it's for my dolls, if I ever decide to invest in muppets."

"You most certainly don't live here", Regina said pointedly, "you're just a guest."

"Like in a hotel?"

Regina scoffed, "Like you could afford this."

"Oh, you think I won't be able to afford living in a plastic house, whose whole front side can probably be opened using a knob. Talk about privacy jeez."

"First of all it's all real, not plastic", Regina crossed her arms and was about to continue when she heard the small snicker.

When she glared the blonde put her hands up, "Ok ok, this time I was laughing at you."

Regina rolled her eyes, "Forgive me for not joining in. Like I pointed out yesterday, my sense of humour can't quite catch up to yours."

The self-jab caused Emma to let out a surprised laugh, a bigger one when she saw Regina smiling back. After calming down Emma jumped up to sit on the side table in the hallway, "Isn't this better?"

"What?"

"Us laughing, without trying to hurt each other."

"Are you trying to say-"

"No, I am not trying to say anything but how nice this is. I think we should make a pact."

Regina sighed, "Go on."

"The both of us, we don't bring up each other's past, clean slate till we get this problem sorted out."

"And if it doesn't get sorted out?"

Emma looked confused at the prospect, "Well it has to. You can do it right?"

"It's already been a day, and you've already told your parents that you'll be back soon. You have to return to Henry."

"Yes, so, we can figure something out till then."

Regina could sense the added pressure that came with Emma's firm belief that they'd be able to solve this. She was to salvage her own life before she could take on another survivor, because if she failed with this, with Emma, what would happen to Henry?

"You should re-think going to blue fairy if we aren't able to get you normal."

"You want me to leave?" Emma asked looking at the mirror on the opposite wall.

"Well we've already established you can't pay rent." Regina said tracing her hands on the door in front of her.

"Yea sure, whatever, so the sooner we do this the sooner I get to leave right?"

"Well that's convenient seeing I wouldn't want you staying here a day longer otherwise."

Both of them thought the other a liar as Emma used her lie detector on Regina who on the other hand remembered what Emma had said in her drunken stupor.

"So, I should go and read up, you can rest and we can try gauging your magical abilities later on."

Emma hummed as she got down from the table, "Listen, does this thing have, like indoor plumbing?"

Regina paused as she waved her hand, "Now it does."

"Oh thank god. I have... business to take care of. Plus I'm still feeling sleepy so call me for lunch okay?"

"Fine, enjoy your rent-free vacation."

Emma rolled her eyes and opened the door when she heard a small shout from the hallway, "Don't break anything, or you will be charged."

The blonde laughed as she went inside her room, wishing she was into journalling. Dear Diary, Regina made a joke today. And I laughed. And I wasn't high. What the fuck right?

TBC

Next time: A cauldron and a witch!

...

A/N:

If you thought of Monica while reading about the doll-house, you weren't the only one.

Oh oh oh, I was thinking tiny!Em should have a little tete-a-tete with food again.. but you wouldn't want to read that, would you? Hope you enjoyed Emma & Regina literally playing house :P

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