A/N: This is me trying something new. I wanted to explore the conversations I think Emma and Regina need to have before they could ever be in a relationship together. I want to see what people think of the conversation style before I continue it in case you hate it and I'm wasting my time. Please let me know what you think!

A/N 2: This is set after the Queens of Darkness have been defeated but I'm not going into specifics about how.

A/N 3: Sorry I'll shut up soon. But trigger warning for a very brief, non-explicit reference to marital rape in Day 15.

DAY 1 POST-Queens of Darkness (phone)

Regina: Emma?

Emma: Hey!

R: Umm hey?

E: You sound weird, what's happened? Is everything okay?

R: It was until you woke me up, Miss Swan.

E: You were asleep? But you didn't call me.

R: I assumed I didn't need to any more. The evil trio have been vanquished and good has triumphed once again. You really still expected me to check-in with you every night?

E: Oh, I guess not. I'll let you go back to sleep then. I'm sorry I woke you up.

R: Emma, wait a moment.

E: Yeah?

R: Is Henry alright?

E: He's completely fine, I promise.

R: I'd like to see him tomorrow if that's okay? Maybe you could both come round for breakfast?

E: We'd love to. Is 8ish okay? I have to get to the station by 10.

R: That's perfect. I'll see you in the morning then.

E: Night, Regina. Sleep well.

R: Goodnight, Emma.

DAY 2 POST-QoD (email)

E: Breakfast was freaking amazing. How did you get the bacon so crispy? Seriously, when I try to cook it, it's either chewy or burnt or both.

R: I've had much more time to practice.

E: Well I bow down to your bacon crisping skills. Would you teach me? How about tonight? Please?

R: Could you be any more impatient? If you come to dinner tomorrow, I'll make something with bacon in it so you can watch.

E: First breakfast and now you're offering me a free dinner. Careful, I'm starting to think you like having me around.

R: I've learnt that you'll be around whether I want you here or not.

E: That's very true. You can't get rid of me that easily, Your Royal Sassiness.

R: So dinner?

E: Definitely. Do I need to bring anything?

R: No it's fine, dear. Could you pick Henry up from soccer practice if you're coming over anyway?

E: Sure. I've gotta go, duty calls.

R: Go keep our town safe, Sherriff Swan. I'll see you tomorrow.

E: Bye xxx

DAY 3 POST-QoD (conversation at Regina's after dinner)

R: You're spending the whole day with your parents tomorrow?

E: Yep.

R: Does that mean you've forgiven them?

E: Forgiven? Not really, but I think I've accepted it. Spending the rest of my life hating them isn't going to bring back what they took from Lily and Maleficent is it? It all worked out in the end I guess.

R: You've always been far too understanding for your own good.

E: Maybe. Although there is one thing I don't understand.

R: And what might that be?

E: Why you did it. Why risk everything to go undercover?

R: I hardly risked everything, I'm more than capable of looking after myself.

E: I know you are but I also know the way you looked at Henry every time you left to meet with them. You were scared you wouldn't see him again.

R: I… I knew there was always a chance things could end badly. Luckily we all made it out relatively unscathed.

E: That doesn't answer my question.

R: No, I suppose it doesn't.

E: So why did you do it, Regina?

R: Does it really matter now?

E: It matters to me.

R: Fine. Your mother asked me to.

E: I know you two are getting on better but that still doesn't explain why. More often than not you refuse to do what Snow tells you just to drive her crazy.

R: I do not!

E: You so do! Last week you cooked salmon for dinner after she'd told you that was the only thing she doesn't like!

R: I misheard her.

E: Bullshit.

R: Alright, I won't deny that I enjoy antagonising your mother about trivial matters but this was important.

E: But why was it so important? We've defeated psycho villains before without you pretending to be James Bond. What am I missing?

R: She shared her concerns regarding what could happen if they were victorious. I took the necessary steps to ensure that didn't happen.

E: Concerns? You mean about me?

R: Yes.

E: You nearly got yourself killed because there was a small chance I'd turn to the dark side?! What's wrong with you? Why the hell would you do that?!

R: I had to! I've been down that path and I can't let you walk down it too, not if there's something I can do to stop it! I won't stand by and let that happen!

E: Do you realise how crazy that sounds? It's like a recovering drug addict choosing to take all the drugs in the world just so no one else can get their hands on them and get addicted as well.

R: That's an abysmal comparison. A simple thank you would have sufficed.

E: Thank you. It's not that I don't appreciate it, I really, really do, so thank you. But I still don't get why you ever thought it was a good idea.

R: Luckily for us, you don't need to understand my motives.

E: Please don't do anything like that again.

R: Hopefully I'll never need to.

DAY 7 POST-QoD (phone)

E: Explain it to me again.

R: For goodness sake, Miss Swan, it's hardly rocket science.

E: One more time then I swear I'll get it.

R: We alternate weeks with Henry. But the other person gets Saturday of that week with him. So if it's my week, I have Monday to Friday and Sunday, plus he still sleeps here Saturday night, but you'd have him during the day on Saturday.

E: Why make it so complicated?

R: It was actually Henry's idea. He said this way he never goes an entire week without seeing one of us.

E: Well he wouldn't do that anyway. I'm not going to hide him from you during his week with me! You can obviously still see him.

R: I can?

E: Of course. Besides, I'm expecting more invites to dinner during my weeks with him, I still can't cook bacon.

R: You still want to come here even when Henry's already with you?

E: Duh! I'm not going an entire week without eating your food. Oh my God! I have an idea!

R: Should I be scared?

E: No, this is a great idea! Instead of the opposite person getting Henry for Saturday, why don't we arrange to do something with all three of us?

R: I'm sure Henry would like that.

E: But you wouldn't? We don't have to if you don't want to. I only thought it would be good because then Henry still gets to see both of us on…

R: I think it's a good idea too, Emma. Why don't we try a trial run this week?

DAY 15 POST-QoD (conversation at Granny's)

E: What a surprise to see you here, Madame Mayor.

R: It is lunch time, you can't really be that surprised.

E: Well I am surprised to see you eating something that isn't a salad! Is that a burger?!

R: A grilled chicken burger, yes.

E: That's the first step on a slippery slope. After a few Saturdays with me and Henry, you'll be eating greasy cheeseburgers with the best of them.

R: You still like the idea of spending Saturdays together?

E: I think I'm officially a genius. Joint Saturdays were my best idea ever.

R: It was a surprisingly good day.

E: Surprisingly? You thought it was going to be terrible didn't you?

R: I didn't mean it like that.

E: Of course you didn't!

R: I didn't! I just had more fun than I was expecting. It was meant to be a compliment.

E: You really suck at compliments, y'know.

R: I only give them out when they're deserved. It's not my fault if most people in this town are undeserving fools.

E: So I'm deserving now?

R: Oh do shut up, Miss Swan.

E: You soooo think I'm deserving!

R: Aren't you going to be late for your girls' night with Miss Lucas?

E: Yeah. I guess I should go. You can come with us if you want, Rubes won't mind.

R: I think I'll pass, as tempting as it sounds.

E: Your loss. Don't forget to think of ideas for next Saturday! It's your turn. Not that anything can beat Laser Tag!

R: Is that a challenge?

E: It sure is, Your Majesty. One that you're going to lose!

R: My dear, you have no idea what I'm capable of.

E: Bring it, Witchy!

DAY 16 POST-QoD (conversation in Regina's study after Henry has gone to bed)

R: Emma, what's wrong?

E: Nothing.

R: Nothing's wrong? Is that why you've barely said two words all through dinner? And why you didn't eat your ice cream? In all the years I've known you, I've never seen you turn down dessert.

E: I've been thinking about some stuff. It really doesn't matter.

R: A problem shared is a problem halved.

E: That was one of the most clichéd things you've ever said.

R: I know but that doesn't make it any less true.

E: It's honestly not important. I'm having some trouble with my mom again. It doesn't even matter.

R: What sort of trouble?

E: She isn't exactly talking to me at the moment. Can I sleep in the guest room here tonight?

R: Of course, as long as you tell me why she isn't speaking to you.

E: She's mad at me.

R: Well obviously. I need more details than that unless you want to be sleeping in your car tonight.

E: She made a dumb comment about how much I reminded her of her father. I may have told her that I was nothing like him and proud of it. Needless to say, that didn't go down too well.

R: You're right. You're nothing like him.

E: I know this sounds awful but I'm glad he isn't still alive. I wouldn't want him in Storybrooke.

R: But surely everyone has been telling you what an honest and fair King he was?

E: We both know that being an honest and fair King doesn't automatically make him a good man.

R: You don't think it does?

E: Of course not. I'm not stupid y'know, you guys were basically living in Medieval Times. I can figure out what that meant for the pretty new bride who really didn't want to be with a man three times her age.

R: We grew up in a very different world, Emma. You'll never be able to convince your mother that he wasn't a saint.

E: Even if it was acceptable back then, I'm not having someone like that anywhere near you or Henry. I won't let anyone touch either you.

R: Excuse me a moment, I need to prepare the spare room for you.

E: Okay. Regina?

R: Yes?

E: I know now isn't the time but if you ever want to talk about that sort of stuff… say the word and I'll be here.

R: Thank you, Emma.

DAY 20 POST-QoD (phone)

E: Hey, Regina.

R: You sound nervous. What's happened now?

E: You promise not to fireball anyone if I tell you?

R: No but tell me anyway.

E: Henry's not well, he got sent home from school.

R: Oh Gods! Is he alright? Where are you? Are you at your parents?

E: No, I brought him to your place. It's your week with him anyway and I figured he'd rather be with you while he's sick. I'm pretty sure it's just flu but maybe you should come home? I'm terrible at this sort of thing.

R: I'm leaving work now but I should probably head to the pharmacy first. I'll be home in 20 minutes

E: You're not mad?

R: Why on earth would I be mad at you? Unless you deliberately gave him the flu, this is hardly your fault.

E: I mean mad at the school. Apparently Henry asked them to call you but they refused and called me instead. I'm sorry, I swear we're both down as his emergency contacts.

R: I admit that once upon a time that would have driven me insane, but now? As long as they call one of us, I supposed it doesn't really matter.

E: So no fireballs?

R: No, no fireballs. Although the next time that damn nurse applies to the board for a pay rise, I shall find great pleasure in refusing her.

E: Henry wants to know if you're on your way yet.

R: I'm getting into my car now. I'll see you both soon.

DAY 21 POST-QoD (text)

E: Hey how's the Kid?

R: He still has a temperature. He's asleep at the moment.

E: Still? Does he need tgt the hospital?

R: It's just the flu, dear. He'll be fine in a few days.

E: Are u sure?

R: Absolutely. You can come to see him if it'll make you feel better?

E: I can't :( I'm at work till midnight

R: Have you eaten?

E: I had a bearclaw earlier

R: Miss Swan! You will come here after your shift and eat something.

E: I can eat something when I get home

R: Only if you promise me that 'something' doesn't mean cereal.

E: Ummm…

R: Exactly. I'll see you later.

E: Thank you.