Emma snuggled into her quilt, opting for an early night. Her head was pounding whilst swimming at the same time. 'God! What's wrong with me?' She thought as she pulled the quilt tight around herself and curled in the foetal position. The house was still very cold, having been vacant for so long. She cringed at the evening's events; the audacity of Killian and then, what the hell was that with Regina? What on Earth was going on with her? She wasn't this person, and she'd only known her one day. Still, when she thought about the elegant brunette she couldn't help the shock that ran through her body. Her soft hair, flawless skin, those lips; she didn't even dare venture to thinking about her eyes or her perfectly curvaceous figure. 'Too late, Dammit!' Emma cursed as her little hairs stood on end and oh Lord did she feel aroused. The worst thing was she now found herself lying there, desperately resisting the urge to rub herself. She sighed; at least this feeling was a good one, which was very juxtaposed to how she'd felt since they'd arrived in Storybrooke. It was as though only a part of her had moved, and Killian, what was up with that? The fire he had before they'd moved, the very thing that had drawn her to him had dulled. No wait, it had been quenched. Not only had it been quenched, it was so petrified it was now solid. She'd rarely glimpsed the man she'd married since moving. She really hoped this was some sort of adjustment period they'd both be able to work through.

Regina tried to settle back into her book. It was a fluffy romance novel, not normally her cup of tea, but for some reason it was in her house, and she hadn't read yet. Perhaps if it had been riveting, or she'd been so invested in the story, she would've be able to pull her mind from her new blonde neighbour. She'd gone as far as to plonk the book back on the table. She couldn't help the smile that graced her lips as her mind strayed to her floundering new friend. She seemed so sweet. There was a strange naivety lying on the surface of those glorious hazel orbs, but the underlying torment was clear to see when you were close enough. A shiver ran up her spine. She really wanted to keep talking to this woman, the urge to take out her phone was compelling, but surely that would be weird, she'd only known her a few hours, then she remembered, she had to swap her number.

Emma was finally beginning to warm up when her phone pinged, she was tempted to ignore it, but she wasn't so sleepy anymore, that horrible, catch twenty two of going to bed too early:

Unknown: Hi, it's just me, Regina from next door, texting to give you my number. I hope you are okay now? Leopold is still out, I hope he brings Killian back in a decent manner – R.

Yep, there were definitely and undeniably butterflies in Emma's stomach. 'Of course she doesn't use any text speak.' Emma cursed to herself. 'Ugh, okay, let's try not to come across as juvenile now… right, adult head on.'

Emma: Hi Regina, thanks for allowing me your number. No, not back yet, kind of hoping I manage to fall asleep before he arrives, though I'll probably lie awake all night after making the mistake of trying to get an early one.

Emma cringed when she sent it. 'God, what a boring message,' she thought.

…

'Well, she is replying, but the anticipation! She's either writing 'War and Peace', or is just painfully slow. Guess I'll find out in a minute, or at least I hope I will. What if she gives up and I spend the next twenty minutes waiting for a reply that will never arrive like some sort of love-struck teenager – wait, what?.' Emma could not understand why she was obsessing so much over this woman. Who honestly analyses sending text messages this much. She made the point of adding Regina's number while she waited.

Regina: Ha ha, never fall for that one. Mind you, I'm just sat here doing very little, unable to read. I may as well be lying in bed not being able to sleep as well - R

'Okay, so she's perhaps just a bit slow. Aww, she even sends 'ha ha's' rather than 'lols'. Oh Lord, I best never send that, I wouldn't put it past her to be one of those people who thinks it means lots of love or something... Oh Gooood! Now I'm imagining her lying in bed too. There's no way she goes to bed naked, but she's definitely not going to wear fluffy dog pyjama's either… Wow! She is a slow replier… Shit! It's my turn… Dammit Swan, text something back, anything!"

Emma: Is your husband usually home late from a night out?

'What the hell was that?' Emma smothered her face with her pillow and sighed.

…

Regina: Not usually, he's getting on a bit now; he's more a fall asleep with a book or in front of the telly type of person. I can't remember the last time he went out midweek. I think maybe he wants to learn more about your husband. He likes to ensure he gets to know those who have an official capacity within the town. If he's home late tonight, I think that would be more your husband's influence.– R

'Aww, I love the little R. I really want to put a little E, but that would just look weird now. Come on then, let's dig a bit further.'

Emma: I did notice he was quite a bit older than you, how did you meet? And yes, I'm afraid Killian may keep him our longer than usual.

…

…

'Oh God, the anticipation. Please, please don't be offended by that message.'

Regina: That would have been eighteen years ago at a function in the town hall. I can't remember what it was for, but Leo had been newly appointed as Mayor and mother used to drag me to these things in the hope I would meet someone she deemed worthy. Quite frankly, I wasn't interested in anyone. At the time the Mayor was a relatively attractive man who was in his early forties and, believe it or not, he could be quite charming. I wasn't interested, but my mother was fairly insistent that we court. He was by far the best of the bunch that she approved of. It pretty much boiled down to who I'd rather spend more of my time with, him or her. He won. What about you and Killian? – R

'Oh wow! I was not expecting that, then again, what was I expecting? Eww, I'm sure she said earlier today she was thirty-five, that would have meant she'd have been seventeen when they met, that's a bit… dodgy. What on Earth do I say to that..?'

Emma: That kind of makes me feel a bit sad. That you just settled for marrying him to get away from her. He really lucked out though! I only met Killian about eighteen months ago. He was very beguiling, very much a ladies man and overly chivalrous with it. I never really allowed myself to get close to anyone, not since Henry's father, (which was a disaster), but he was very persistent and charmed his way in, Henry really liked him too, which was of the utmost importance to me. Within a few months we were married and he'd moved in with us, here we are a year later. I have to say though; nothing's felt the same since we moved here.

'And here I am wittering on. How is it so much easier to talk over text than in person sometimes?'

…

…

'lol, here we go again. Wait, ha ha ha, here we go again.'

…

Regina: How do you mean? - R

'What? All that waiting for that? I wonder what she was doing?' Emma sighed, she didn't really know what she meant, perhaps trying to write down her feelings would help.

Emma: You are painfully slow at texting. :) I'm not sure, I guess I feel a bit trapped. We agreed to try and figure life out together, we even set a few parameters. He had this dream of providing for his family and I loved the way he instantly took to Henry. It wasn't long before they got along really well. He had this idea of moving somewhere quieter, I loved the idea too, but more for Henry's sake. I worked, but only in a bar and took waitressing jobs here and there, I never really had a proper career. I just had to make ends meet for Henry and I. Killian wanted so much more for us all. He had this idea of a house in a little town, where he'd provide and I'd look after house and home. I'm really up for trying that, I kind of like the idea too, but I guess he seems, very, very set on it. I think maybe his expectations are a lot higher than mine. I'm not sure I can live up to them. I'm not really sure what I'm feeling right now.

…

…

'Argh!'

Regina: You aren't exactly speedy either. (I can't put a smiling face in, but pretend there's one here. No wait, the one with its tongue sticking out, that's the one you need to put here.) I think it's admirable that you are giving it a go, maybe give it a while to see if you settle. It must be a massive change for all of you, there's bound to be some adjustment time needed, but you shouldn't feel so down for so long, promise you'll keep talking to me, or texting. If it doesn't work out, and you are really unhappy, do you think he would be okay letting you work or changing this up a bit somehow? - R

'Oh! That's interesting. Do I think he would be up to changing our expected roles?'

Emma: I love the way you put the little R at the end. It's very cute. I honestly don't know if he would be happy if I wanted to work or not stick to the specified 'roles'. He seems very snappy at the moment. He's never been like that before.

...

Emma merely chewed her nail whilst waiting.

…

Regina: Ha ha, you want to put a little E at the end don't you? If I'm honest Emma, this doesn't sound great at the moment. I've only met your husband twice and he's been rude on both occasions. Had you not told me what he was like I wouldn't have had a clue, of course you know him better than I do. Just keep talking to me okay. Maybe it will just settle down, but, maybe not. I'm sorry I have to go now, Leo has just entered. Take care Emma. – R

Emma: Yes, I absolutely do! :) :p. I'm so sorry he was rude to you, twice, you'll have to tell me about the other time, I had no idea?! I hope you sleep well. It was lovely to talk to you. Speak to you soon. – E :).

Okay, there were now two things that made this move more than worth it. The joy Henry seemed to be taking in everything, especially the fact he seemed more alive than ever, and two – Regina! One hundred per cent Regina.

Leopold walked over to the bed and looked at his wife curiously whilst he began to unbutton his shirt.

"Did you know the door wasn't securely locked?"

"Oh no, sorry, I didn't check. Emma let herself out and I forgot… sorry." She explained as she continued composing her final message to Emma.

"You need to be more careful you know."

"Okay! I said I was sorry, I mean, it's not that much of a big deal is it, Storybrooke has next to no crime?"

"That's not the point is it and next to nothing, is not nothing, I wasn't exactly quiet in my entry either. I managed to make it all the way up here without you realising, didn't I?" She shot him a look of irritation, but softened quickly and nodded.

"If your hearing is that bad now, maybe we should get one of those light security systems?"

"What! You'd actually want to get something like that... in our house… I didn't think you particularly wanted people knowing I couldn't hear very well."

"Well I think it would be safer, and your safety matters more…"

"Than keeping up appearances?" She added with spite before he could finish. He sighed, not bothering to answer, or contradict.

"Who were you talking too anyway?" He was clearly very tipsy. She'd stopped paying attention though. He clambered on the bed and grabbed a hold of her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Will you look at me when I'm talking to you; you know I hate repeating myself." She jerked her chin from his grip as he repeated himself, in a very condescending manner.

"Who… were… you… talking… too?"

"When?"

"Just then, on your phone?"

"Emma!"

"Emma?"

"Yes, Emma, you know, Killian's wife? The man you've just spent the evening with, the one you bumped into earlier." She couldn't hide the irritation in her voice.

"Oh yes, of course." Regina sighed, as if it was any of his business anyway.

"Anyway, who said I was talking to anyone, I could have been on the media thing." Leopold laughed condescendingly.

"Oh please, you don't have any social media accounts; you don't even know what they're called."

"Hmm, okay, fair enough." She reached over to plug in her phone and placed it on her bedside table, by the time she moved back she was greeted by her oaf of a husband trying to straddle her.

"Oh Dear Lord!" She exclaimed in slight shock.

"What! Can't a husband appreciate his wife?" Regina tried her best not to look too mortified, but here they were. He stank of cheap whisky and sweat. He was probably too tipsy to notice her dismay anyway as he began to fondle her breasts and suck at her neck.

"It's just… unexpected that's all, I thought you weren't particularly interested in this sort of thing anymore." Perhaps she could talk him out of the mood, it was worth a try.

"What are you saying?" He said angrily into her face, causing her jump as he pulled her arms over her head. He even looked angry, this was not like him at all, he wasn't always a pleasant man, but he wasn't overly aggressive either, certainly not violent.

"N..Nothing, I just…" He moved her arms down to her sides so he could support his weight.

"Oh I get, it! Think I'm too old, do you?" The venomous way he spoke was mirrored in his actions as began to take her roughly.

"Leo, please don't do this, this isn't you?" With that said, he placed one of his hands over her mouth so he could proceed in what he deemed peace as tears slid silently from her eyes.

After what seemed like a lifetime, though was probably little more than ten minutes, Regina pushed the rest of the sweaty monstrosity off her, snatched her phone and headed to the bathroom.

Regina: Are you still awake? – R

She didn't even bother waiting for a reply before throwing herself into the shower and scrubbing her skin as though her life depended on it. She had no idea where that had come from; she deduced it must have been fuelled by the alcohol somehow. Leopold never really drank and on the odd occasion he did, he never had more than one glass. It would normally be her that indulged a bit too much, but still, it would never cause her to behave in such a way. Did he really hate her this much? He'd not looked at her the same way since her hearing began to deteriorate. Ever since they found out, he'd convinced her she could manage and that they should try and keep it a secret. Image was all that had mattered to anyone with any influence in her life, first her mother and now her husband. Could it be that she just didn't meet his expectations anymore? She turned off the shower and wrapped herself in her bathrobe, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. There were hickeys trailing around and down her neck. He'd never done that before either, maybe he really did just think he had something to prove.

She picked up her phone to find an unopened message.

Emma: Yep, why? Are you okay? – E :)

…

Regina: Is Killian home? – R

'Well this is strange,' Emma thought.

Emma: He is, why? Is Leo Okay?"- E

…

Regina: What was he like when he came home? – R

'What?'

Emma : I don't know, he didn't make it upstairs, he fell asleep on the sofa. Guess they drank a fair bit. Why? – E

…

Regina: I guess they did. No reason, sorry to disturb you. I hope you can get some sleep soon. – R

'Well that was random.'

Emma: Not a problem, night Regina. – E