AN: I had to delete and re-upload this a few times. Fanfiction ate the chapter. If you got lots of emails or something, sorry!

"Henry? What's up?" Emma picked up the remote and turned the TV off. She'd just been lounging around and channel flicking while Mary Margaret had been correcting homework. When her phone had buzzed with the Mayor's home number on the caller ID, she couldn't help the butterflies that erupted in her stomach. The sound of her son's voice had quickly quashed them and she listened with concern.

"I'm fine, Emma. But I don't think my mom is." She heard a scuffle as he moved back towards his window. "She's sitting outside alone by her apple tree. And it's pretty cold, too. She looks kinda sad."

Emma's throat went a little dry. "Okay, kid, but why are you calling me?"

"Remember when you said that maybe she needs saving instead of defeating? Well if that's our new plan, then I think right now she might need a little help, or someone to talk to. But it's not me. I think it should be you. After all, you're the hero."

"Oh, Henry, I wouldn't be so sure of that. What makes you think she'd talk to me anyway?"

"Because you're smart, and nice, and I think she kinda likes you now."

Emma scoffed. "That's going a bit far," she replied, but she couldn't help the strange tingling feeling that surged through her at Henry's words. "Look, it's sweet of you to be worried. If it makes you feel better, I'll drive around in a few minutes. Okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, Emma. And good luck."

"Night, kid."

Emma sighed and pulled herself up from the couch. She shrugged on her red jacket and called over to Mary Margaret, "I'm just heading out for a bit. If I'm not back, I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?"

"Sure. Whatever it is... good luck, Emma." Mary Margaret smiled at her and went back to her work.

Emma marched out of the apartment, grabbing her keys on the way out. She wasn't sure exactly what her plan was, but the thought of Regina upset and alone was tugging strangely at her heart. The woman had been constantly on her mind since their moment at Granny's a few nights before, and Emma was beginning to accept that her feelings towards Regina were complicated, overwhelming and probably unrequited.

She slowed her car to a halt outside the Mayor's stunning house. Stepping out of the car, she could just make out a face peeping out of Henry's window behind the curtain. She acknowledged him with a smile and then walked quietly over to the garden. The apple tree came into her view – not without a pang of guilt for the damage she had caused it - and so did Regina. The woman was sitting on the ground with her back leaning against the trunk, holding a shiny red apple in her hands that reflected the moonlight. She looked small and defenceless, and her shoulders were slumped over, but she wasn't crying. There was, however, a pained expression on her face as she stared at the blood red fruit in her hands. Emma took a deep breath and walked over.

The Mayor's head snapped up to face her. "Sheriff Swan." She blinked a few times and allowed a mask of typical Regina professionalism to fall over her features. "May I ask what you would be doing on my property at this hour?"

Emma mentally cursed herself. Why didn't she plan ahead for any of this? What was she meant to say? "Uh... I was just doing patrol, and I saw you sitting out here..." she floundered.

Regina raised an eyebrow. "You were doing patrol without your gun, badge or cruiser?"

Oh well. It was worth a shot. "You caught me," she replied, smiling and blushing slightly. "I guess I was just coming around to see you. Aren't you cold?" She knelt down by Regina's side and shrugged out of her jacket, offering it to the other woman. Regina glanced at it in disdain, so Emma leaned forward and wrapped it around her shoulders. "It's warm, Regina. Don't be ridiculous." Regina sniffed but snuggled into the jacket nonetheless.

Emma settled herself down right next to Regina on the perfectly manicured lawn. Personal space had never really been an issue between them, no matter what state their relationship was in at any time. If you could call their mess of emotions a relationship - platonic or romantic. She reached out and placed her hand gently on Regina's knee.

"Are you okay, Regina?"

The caring gesture took Regina by surprise, and she let her mask drop for a second as she let out a shaky breath. "I... don't know that it's any of your business, Miss Swan."

"Oh, this is getting ridiculous. Would you just call me Emma? Please?"

Regina stared at Emma sternly but relented at the imploring look on the blonde's face. "Alright then, Emma..." she retorted, emphasising the name. "And if it matters to you so much –"

"It does." Again, Regina was taken by surprise. It pleased Emma to notice that she could have the same flustering effect on the Mayor as the woman had on her. She stroked Regina's knee lightly and smiled at her. "You can talk to me, you know. If I didn't wanna listen I wouldn't be sitting here. We don't always have to keep up this whole fighting, competitive charade. I won't tell." She nudged Regina's shoulder. "It can be our little secret."

Regina chuckled softly. "You won't let me get out of this, will you?"

"If you know me at all, then you know the answer to that."

With a sigh, Regina looked away from Emma and gazed out into her garden. "No, Emma. Of course I'm not okay." Her voice broke slightly on the last word and she wiped daintily at her eyes, trying to hide her tears from Emma. Crying was weak, and Regina could not stand to appear weak.

"But you will be okay, Regina. Everything will work out." Emma wrapped her arm around Regina's shoulder and held her close. She could feel Regina stiffen at the sudden embrace, but she quickly relaxed and rested her head against Emma.

"You can't promise that," she murmured.

"I can promise to try."

It felt only right for Emma to lean in and press a kiss on Regina's forehead. She nuzzled gently into the woman's soft, dark hair and smiled. The giddy teenager in her was doing back flips, and her heart rate only increased further when Regina let the apple fall from her grasp and slipped an arm around Emma's waist, completing their embrace.

"Nobody's ever cared before," Regina whispered into Emma's neck. "Nobody's even asked."

It was so easy then, to place her finger under Regina's chin and tilt her head upwards. It was even easier to stroke her thumb against Regina's strong cheekbone and collect the stray tear that had escaped her dark eyes. And as Emma leaned in to meet Regina's lips in a gentle kiss, she realised it was the most natural thing in the world.

So, there was the big one. I'm nervous. I hope it lived up to what you were all waiting for, haha.

And, thank you for sticking around. The support I've received for this first foray into the world of Swan Queen fic has been exhilarating. Feel free to send me any ideas, feedback or even prompts in a review, PM or my tumblr (leaving-storybrooke). Much love x