Disclaimer: In chapter 1.

Author's Notes: I've been doing a bit of writing down by the lake, and have a pile of scenes to type up. Here's a small update for a friend's birthday. Thank you to everyone reading, reviewing, favouriting and following "Hero".

Also: If you want a Xena or a SwanQueen magnet go to Shipper Haven on Facebook and follow the link to their eBay page. Mine are on my fridge already. They have quite a good selection.

Emma knew that being in a fight always resulted in feeling it the next day, and today was no different. It wasn't pain as such, but a heaviness on one side of her body that she couldn't quite explain. Nor could she explain why she was so warm. She tried to stretch her legs straight but only her right leg obeyed. What the hell? Emma opened her eyes and a quick look down her body made her understand – Regina was draped across her.

Emma's awareness first noted the way Regina's leg was bent and half over hers, and then the way her arm reached across her torso and held her arm protectively, right above her wound, and finally the way Regina's head rose and fell with the speed of her breathing. Emma blinked in rapid succession, her brain short circuited from her body's reaction.

She made an effort to control her breathing. She didn't want to wake the older woman, she looked peaceful, and they weren't fighting, which was nearly always a plus in Emma's mind. She reached up with her right hand and placed it gently of Regina's arm. She smiled warmly. So this is what it feel likes to wake up with Regina… huh… Emma blushed and frowned at the thought that she wanted to do this more often. While the frown was in place she realised something else – her arm didn't hurt.

Emma cleared her throat loudly.

Regina yawned. When Emma cleared her throat again she finally opened her eyes and realised her position. She froze. If I moved away quickly she'll think I'm embarrassed, which I am, but she doesn't need to know that. But if I stay then she may believe that I enjoy being pressed against her, which I do, but she doesn't need to know that either. Regina took a steading breath. Crap. She lifted her head and forced her eyes to look into Emma's. She used to pride herself on reading people, but she had always struggled with the blonde. These past days, weeks, she'd lost track, in the Xenaverse had increased her knowledge of Emma, her moods and expressions. Which is how she saw the confliction; anger, worry, gratitude…

She stared for a moment, before she attempted her best deadpan tone. "You're interrupting my beauty sleep, again." It didn't sound the way she'd wanted it, it had come out deep and course from sleep.

Emma shuddered, and her eyes flicked to red lips on their own. She gulped down her libido and glared at Regina. She moved out from under the woman and got out of bed. "I thought we agreed on no magic?!" She ground through clenched teeth as she pulled her jeans up.

Regina's eyes widened slightly at the sight of Emma shimmying her hips to get the tight jeans all the way up. "No, you decided. I didn't agree to anything." Regina held the sheets against her front. She wasn't naked, but having it clenched in her hands was her way of bracing herself for this latest argument.

Emma pulled her shirt over her head. "You agreed to work together to get back to Henry – alive. And since using magic here hurts you that's pretty counterproductive." The last syllable was strained as she pulled on one boot, quickly followed by the other.

"Wow, that's a big word."

"Screw you Regina!"

"Couldn't do that with an injured arm. Good thing I healed it!" Regina's voiced raised to just below a yell.

"At what cost?" Emma spun around with fire in her eyes, already halfway to the door. "What if that 'one more time' kills you? What then?"

"Then you'll have Henry all to yourself." Regina turned her head and held back the tears.

Emma felt like her heart was being crushed, and it took all the dwindling strength she had left to mutter, "But I wouldn't have you…"

Emma was gone by the time Regina whipper her head around. She was only met with a slamming door.

Emma knocked loudly on the door and waited a whole 3 seconds before barging in. She was surprised the door was unlocked, but then that shock was replaced with new one, "What's he doing here?"

Gabrielle sat in a chair across from a stocky man also sat in a chair, the difference was the he was tied to it. "We found him," she stated.

"In his room," Xena gave him a predatory grin.

"Sleeping."

"It was easy," Xena paced behind the man. "Too easy," she purred into his ear.

Emma folded her arms and huffed, "I thought we were going to find him together?"

Xena shrugged, "You were injured."

"Not anymore," Emma grumbled. "Regina healed me."

Xena and Gabrielle spoke at the same time. Xena demanded, "She what?" And Gabrielle gasped, "Is she ok?"

"She won't be if she keeps using magic. It's dangerous."

"Magic is perfectly harmless if used in the right way." Regina stated as she walked through the open door.

Emma spun around. "It's different here. It hurts you."

Regina scoffed. "It works just fine. Ask Xena."

Everyone looked at Xena.

"Xena has magic." Regina said smugly.

"Don't be ridiculous." Emma said.

"How do you think her abilities are above human? Because she eats her wheatbix? She has magic," Regina insisted, "she just uses it differently."

"Is that true?" Gabrielle asked.

Xena shrugged, "Depends how you look at it."

The Deilian priest lifted himself and the chair and made an awkward run, if you could call it that, for the door. Xena's hand whipped out and grabbed him by the collar and hauled him back down onto the legs of the chair. He snarled at her, which only earned a whack on the back of the head.

"So," Emma drawled, taking the escape attempt as a cue to change the subject, "Who wants to play good cop/bad cop with me?"

"I'm surprised you're not asking Xena to do the pinch." Regina said.

"She only does that when they don't cooperate. She asks nicely first." Emma stated matter-of-factly.

"See?" Gabrielle smiled to Xena. "I'm not the only one that defends you."

Regina rolled her eyes.

"That's an idea," Emma grinned wickedly at the man. "Don't answer my questions. I wanna see the pinch."