Disclaimer: In chapter 1.

Author's Notes: So, last week my body decided to get sick… I'm sorry it's taking me so long to post the next bit. It's hard to write when your head won't stop pounding. Thanks for the reviews, follows and favourites! You guys rock!

Things were awkward that night, to say the least. Regina was as cold and narky as usual but Emma was uncharacteristically self-conscious. She hadn't even complained about her rumbling stomach more than twice as Gabrielle cooked the stew over the fire. Instead, under furtive glares from Regina, Emma tried to keep her cool while conversing with her hero, and continued to do so during and after the meal. In reality, it was actually Gabrielle that did most of the talking, but Emma wasn't surprised.

After hearing the personal account of Gabrielle's Amazon initiation, which Emma was ecstatic about, she said, "Tell me about that Miss Known World thing that Salmonius did. What happened afterwards? Surely there was some fallout."

"How do you know about that?" Xena asked pointedly.

"Ah," Emma panicked. "The Xena Scrolls! Yeah…" She looked at Regina for help, but only got a malevolent smirk. "I guess somehow the scrolls came to our world, or time, or whatever, and they became public."

Xena raised an eyebrow. Gabrielle, however, beamed, "Really? People actually read them? Wow!"

Emma chuckled, "Yeah, they do. But they've been made into a TV show." At the blank looks she continued, "It's like a play, but in a box…. like magic… Never mind. Basically they took the scrolls and made them visual."

"I'm flattered." Gabrielle said excitedly. "I honestly didn't think anyone would actually read them."

"Why not?" Xena huffed.

"Well, I'm not exactly Socrates." Gabrielle patted Xena's leg and smiled affectionately. "Do they have all of them? The ones I haven't written yet?"

Emma's jaw dropped. How the hell do I answer that? "Um…"

"Yes, and you all die. No happy endings for you. Can we move on?" Regina snapped. She wasn't involved in the conversation but she didn't want to listen to Emma gushing over Xena. For heaven's sake, she grumbled to herself, you shouldn't even care.

Emma glared at Regina, "There are future ones, but you don't need to worry." She smiled reassuringly, "It's not all chocolate and roses, but things are fine. And before you ask," she looked at Gabrielle, "no, I can't tell you what happens."

Xena snickered when Gabrielle pulled an indignant face. "She obviously knows you Gabrielle."

"So, did any of the warlords cause trouble afterwards? You totally should have taught them S.I.N.G.!"

A dark look passed over Xena's features, "I only sing when I am moved."

"I, ah," Emma blushed, "I didn't mean sing, I meant S. I. N. G…. Solar plexis, instep, nose, groin."

Gabrielle and Xena shared an untranslatable look.

"It's a self-defence move."

"Can you show me?" Gabrielle asked with interest.

Xena rolled her eyes, "Really, Gabrielle?"

"Xena, you never know when I'll have the need to defend myself."

Xena grumbled under her breath, which caused Emma to gulp. She knew better than to get between those two.

She shyly said, "I guess you probably don't need it because you're with Xena. Only stupid people attack Xena."

Regina snorted. "Speak for yourself, Miss Swan."

Emma frowned at her, "What the happened between you two anyway?" She directed her question to Xena, knowing her chances of getting an answer were slightly better from the warrior.

Without giving Xena a chance to deny an answer, Regina cut in, "Perhaps it's best to leave the past behind. I'm sure you wouldn't want Xena prying into your past indiscretions, would you Sheriff?" She smirked triumphantly at Emma's anger, "I would suggest telling them about you inconvenient reunion with Henry."

Gabrielle took the hint, "Emma, I would love to hear about your son." She ignored the quick glare from Regina at referring to Henry as Emma's son, and hid her own smirk.

Emma started with the story of her 28th birthday, and her solitary cupcake that she made her wish over. As she spoke about Henry her mood improved, and become more animated in her hand gestures. She barely noticed Regina sulking off to bed as she told Xena and Gabrielle about her fight to stay Sheriff, and how she saved Regina from the fire.

"I'm surprised you saved her after what she did," Xena said with quiet surprise.

"Well, it was the right thing to do…" Emma shrugged. "You would have done the same."

Xena looked at Regina's form under the skins. She doubted that she would have. Gabrielle saved her from replying. The bard prompted, "Tell us what happened next? You became Sheriff?"

"Uhuh," Emma nodded, "but only because I stood up to Mr. Gold. Storybrooke are more afraid of him than Regina.

After Emma explained the end of the curse, and the events after that led them to the Xenaverse, she decided to call it a night. "See you in the morning."

Emma yawned as she took the few steps to Regina's bedroll. They were using Gabrielle's, and the others were sharing Xena's. Apart from last night, after Regina had collapsed when she used magic, they had been using half each while making sure to keep a solid distance between them. Emma noted that Regina had both halves again tonight.

"Regina," she said quietly. No response. "Regina," Emma tugged at the top skin, "wake up. I need one of the blankets."

"Miss Swan, be quiet. You'll wake the whole damn forest up. And I do wish you would stop disturbing my beauty sleep." Regina grumbled.

"You don't need it," Emma replied without thinking and didn't have time to question herself because Regina had let go of the skin at the same time as she tugged again. She stumbled back and landed on her arse. "Ow." She rubbed a sore spot as she stood, the skin clutched to her. "And you know what, Madame Mayor, I don't appreciate you using our son to change the topic. It's a new low, even for you. There are better ways to distract me." Emma stomped to the other side of the fire and laid the skin out to curl up on it.

Despite Emma's angry tone, Regina couldn't help but remember the flushed cheeks of Emma's face when their very naked bodies were pressed together in the stream earlier. Apparently so, she felt her own cheeks flush again and rolled onto her side to try and banish the thoughts.