"Emma…"

The first calling of my name pulls me from my unconscious depths, my body automatically curling towards her as if a reflexive action.

There are some moments that she will never know about.

Moments I will never speak of.

These are the truest moments she has ever given to me, and perhaps because it is so healing to both of us that I do not remind her of them in the morning.

It is a rare occasion that I am permitted to reside in her bed after our tumultuous love making, and I don't dare to wake her.

She never has the same issue.

Funny, that I never seem to mind.

Usually, I am wakened to thrashing dreams, veiled yells – fighting of an assailant that I can only guess whose place in her past still haunts her.

Tonight, and it is a rare thing, it is my name that comes from her lips.

"Emma…"

She turns angrily one again and I see with a clench in my heart, the tear that is forming at the corner of her eyes.

She is fighting again, and I, fully awake now, see the exertion marring her forehead.

Tentatively, I turn to my side, slowly draping my arm across her midsection.

It is me, surprisingly, that she is calling for.

Despite our tumultuous relationship, it is suddenly the most terrifying moment of my life.

I have been many things to her… but a protector in her nightmares?

Savior holds no weight against this monumental title.

"Regina?"

She huffs once, thrashing towards her right against me and I immediately back off.

"Hey. Shh…it's ok… I'm here..."

I don't know what makes me do it, but I am suddenly overcome with the need to encase this woman in my arms.

And so I do.

In one fluid motion, I wrap my arms around her and pull her close.

If Regina was awake, she would never permit me this intimacy. However, she makes no indication of that.

Instead, she thrashes against me once…

Twice…

And then falls limp.

The difference is night and day.

"Emma…"

This time, the whimpering of my name is accompanied by a smoothing of every line on her forehead.

She falls limp in my arms, snuggling closer into my chest.

For a brief moment, I panic, rigidly tensing as she relaxes against me.

The contrast means everything.

And then, just like that, I remember what this feeling is. What the nightmares feel like and how I would have given everything to have them merely go away, only to be awake for hours afterwards, bleary eyed in the morning.

And I find myself tightening my arms around her, pressing my head against her dark forehead, a haphazard kiss placed slowly before bringing her flush against me once again.

For her part, Regina merely sighs and sinks against my chest.

Fear runs rampant through me; the desire to pull away from this sleeping woman and run as fast as I can calls me to bolt…but I bite it down as I tighten my arms around her fragile frame.

Not anymore.

As I tighten my hold on her, I realize what is happening.

She needs me.

And I am suddenly confronted with the very real truth that I need her just as much.

So, I tighten my arms and close my eyes against her hair.

No matter how terrifying this is.

I don't wanna miss this.