Title: Words

Fandom: Once Upon a Time

Pairings: Swan Queen

Author's Note: Sorry it's been so long. Life stuff. Also I've been working on making the chapters longer. Sorry people. Questions, comments, reviews?

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Emma braced herself for the conversation she was about to have. She walked into the station only to be greeted by a frantic Ruby. "Thank GOD you're here! Emma what the hell where you doing with Regina all night? I called everywhere for you!" The younger girl paced the floor like a caged tiger.

Emma ran a frustrated hand down her face, letting out an irritated sigh. "Ruby, listen. We talked about this. We said there wouldn't be any commitment. You can't call all over town looking for me just because I had other plans last night." The Deputy tried to interrupt, but Emma held up her hand and pressed on. "No, listen. I've given this a great deal of thought and it's a bad idea. We should never have started anything to begin with. I don't want to hurt you, and I think we should go back to being just friends. Okay? It doesn't mean I care about you any less."

Ruby suddenly stopped her pacing, looking stunned. "Emma, I didn't call you because of that. More vandalism calls came in last night. Three different houses, and City Hall. When dispatch couldn't contact you, they called me. I've been up all night taking reports from everyone. I didn't tell Regina because I decided to let you deal with that." She leaned on the edge of her desk, crossing her arms and looking at Emma with disappointment in her eyes. "You're right though, we should stick to just being friends. Especially if you think I'd cause so much trouble over one morning of fucking." The Deputy beamed mockingly at the blonde, standing up and grabbing her coat. "Time for me to get some sleep. Have fun with Regina."

Regina Mills had been scrubbing the window behind her desk for fifteen minutes. Her assistant, Peter, had called her in and told her about the damage done to her office. She had to cancel her plans to give Henry riding lessons. Again. Watching his face fall in disappointment, again, was torment. Her anger flared up again, and she found herself scrubbing the window in fury. In her rage, Regina failed to hear the door softly click open.

"I was hoping to beat you here." The Mayor slowly turned around to find her Sheriff holding a bucket of cleaning supplies, a broom and dustpan, and trash bags. "I came over as soon as Ruby explained what happened."

Regina dropped her scrub brush onto the window sill, walking around to stand imposingly in front of Emma. "Miss Swan, this should never have happened in the first place. If you had done your job these vandals would not still be a problem."

The brunette watched as Emma dropped her cleaning supplies, placing her hands firmly on her hips, taking a defensive stance. "I've been working on it, Madame Mayor. The vandals never hit the same location twice. They don't leave any evidence, there seems to be no pattern to the areas of the defacing. I'm doing everything that I can." Regina watched as Emma set her jaw, veins on her neck slowly becoming more prominent. The fierce look in her eyes only spurred the older woman on.

"We have a group of teenagers terrorizing my town, and the Sheriff can't catch them? Perhaps if you spent a little less time fucking your Deputy, and little more time patrolling and following up on leads, we wouldn't have this problem." The Mayor smirked as Emma's eyes began to narrow. "You've somehow allowed a group of hoodlums to gain such control over this town that they broke into City Hall. Into my office. This would never have taken place if you were capable of doing your job." Regina stalked forwards toward Emma, challenging her. She had missed this. The intensity between them during passionate moments like this kept her grounded. Without their constant bickering lately, she felt herself coming unglued. The Mayor constantly found herself railing against the emotions Emma brought out in her. Feelings she hadn't felt since Daniel. The constant squabbles she had with the blonde kept her focused. It brought relief to have such a passionate exchange with someone, and be matched every step of the way. Emma was the only person in town who could go toe to toe with her.

"I've allowed them to do this?" The Sheriff marched forward, meeting Regina in the middle of the room. "I am one person. I have been following every lead, talking to neighbors, looking for witnesses. I even went around town checking to see if anyone bought a suspiciously large quantity of eggs or spray paint. I'm working with very little evidence, and doing the best I can." At this point Emma was only a foot away from Regina's face, and the intensity on her face was exquisite. "I'm sorry if you have some kind of issue with the relationship I have with my Deputy, but it's not okay for you to use that to take shots at me. It was a private situation and it has been handled." Emma stepped a few more inches towards Regina, eyes on fire.

Suddenly the Mayor really was furious. She had assumed that whatever had happened between the waitress and Emma was a one time thing. Hearing the word relationship set her on edge. "Oh yes, I'm sure you handled her very well, Miss Swan." Regina turned on her heel, making her way back over to straighten her desk. Standing that close to Emma was dangerous when she was this angry. Resisting her was hard enough on a regular day. The jealousy made it almost impossible, and keeping her back to the blonde allowed her some relief. "I have things to take care of, you can show yourself out." Regina heard gentle foot steps, and waited for the sound of the door closing, She leaned over her, shuffling around the papers that were in disarray. Without warning she felt two firm hands, gripping her waist from behind. She was pulled back into the toned body behind her, and she felt deep heavy breaths at her ear, and the hands on her hips gave a steady squeeze.

"I told her that I couldn't see her anymore. It was one time, and it was a mistake." Emma abruptly pulled away, and as the door slammed close, Regina released a breath she wasn't aware she had been holding.

It had been three weeks since she saw Regina. Three incredibly long weeks. After another week, Emma had finally stopped the vandalism. The Carino boys had been turned in by their older sister, but only after hitting at least six more houses. Emma spent most of her time watching over their community service hours. The few free hours she did have, she spent with Henry. The Sheriff felt foolish after her last run in with the Mayor, and now the woman seemed to be avoiding her. If she were being honest with herself, Emma missed her. Regina brought out an electricity in her that she didn't find anywhere else.

Tonight, she was determined to see her. Instead of just dropping Henry off like she usually does, Emma decided to go inside and hang out with Henry until Regina got home. By nine thirty, she had given up. Her boots hadn't even touched the first step of the porch when she heard a raspy, tired voice calling out to her. "Miss Swan, please tell me you haven't been waiting on my porch all night." Regina made her way up the front walk, heels clicking. "I'm sure our son would have invited you inside."

"I've been inside already, I was just leaving. I wanted a chance to talk to you about some things." The Sheriff shoved her hands into her pockets, taking note of Regina's raised eyebrow. "I just wanted to apologize. I really crossed a line the last time we spoke, and I'm sorry. I don't know if you've been working extra to avoid me, but it was definitely effective." Emma pulled a rectangular box out of her coat pocket. She started to hand it to Regina, but pulled back. "Henry and I took a long time to figure out something we give you. Something that would say thank you. We really appreciate the time you've given us together." She held out the black velvet box, and gently placed it into the brunette's waiting hand.

Emma watched carefully as Regina opened the box. There was a slight hint of surprise as her eyes fell on the necklace. It was an apple pendant, on a very upscale silver chain. The apple was a deep red, but not too shiny. On the back, it was engraved.

For the most wonderful mom in the world.

Love, Henry and Emma.

As Regina gently turned the necklace around, her eyes froze. No surprise, no emotion. Her lips parted just enough for her to suck in a deep breath. "Emma..." She looked up, eyes shimmering slightly under the porch light. "Thank you. It's beautiful." She offered the blonde just the slightest of smiles. "You and Henry did a fine job."

Emma nodded, hands returning to her pockets. "Thanks, and sorry again." She gave a small smile, making her way down the walk. She stopped right before the mailbox, turning around to face Regina. "You should go show Henry. He'll be excited that you like it." Emma breathed in the cool night air, smiling to herself. She didn't hear the tell-tale click of heels on the ground, which meant the Mayor was still watching her walk away.