This was originally a one shot about Emma making Regina a grilled-cheese sandwich and it ended up morphing entirely into something else - then I realised this fitted nicely in the A Wicked Mysterious Thing universe as a continuation. A couple of songs get played in the story: Dancing In the Moonlight by King Harvest and First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack

- - Dancing in the Moonlight - -

Regina was about to reapply a coat of lipstick when she heard the song. It permeated the silent darkness of Granny's Diner. She heard the faint sound of an electric piano from where she stood in the Ladies Room. Having decided against a fresh coat of lip shade, she fished a tissue out of her handbag and wiped what remained from her lips. She took one last look in the mirror then followed the melody emanating from beyond the bathroom door.

She was surprised to hear anything at all - the jukebox was beyond repair. But that's what Emma Swan was there for, Regina remembered, less bitterly than she realised. The Saviour, come to fix clock towers, the love lives of lonely school teachers and now derelict jukeboxes. What was next? Of course, Regina smirked to herself - the curse. Save everyone from her. This was how Regina found Emma a half an hour ago - tinkering with the hunk of junk…

The Mayor was on her way home - having worked into the wee hours of the night, occupying herself with the bureaucracy of running a small town - what with Henry being away on a school trip. The past couple of days were a throwback to her mind-numbing, pre-parenting days. The street lights were turning off as they do come midnight including the freshly installed Christmas lights.

Regina had come to a stop at the traffic light. The streets were deserted. She could have driven on and no one would have noticed. The Sheriff was on her mind at that very moment when the urge to break the law tempted her. That sheriff who had given her so much trouble and was more often than not, more than the Mayor cared to admit to anyone especially herself, had become a recurring character in her thoughts.

Running a red traffic light, seemingly insignificant an act, was like throwing a middle finger to the daughter of the 'Charming Clan'. Small victories. It was all she had these days with Henry clinging to his fairytale theories and stubborn preoccupation with his biological mother. Even her toying with Mary-Margaret had lost its lustre. Katherine had looked the other way as the school teacher and the pet shop worker continued on with their not-so-secret trysts. Even Gold had softened somewhat. She had set Belle free. She stole glances at them - at the pawnshop, the diner and at the newly reopened library - she looked on at them with a knowing sadness. Their true love found a way to reunite them. Like for the Charmings, their true love was a fixer of things. That Emma Swan, it was all her fault.

Then Regina saw her. The woman in her thoughts. Emma was in the unlit diner, staring at her. This wasn't the first time Regina caught the woman doing this, but never in the middle of the night, alone in an empty diner like some Edward Hopper painting. The Granny's was closed so it puzzled Regina. A few times she had caught Emma staring during council meetings or across the room at some function or across the diner during normal business hours. Their recurrence had increased tenfold after a blissful evening in her study one summer night. And another night in her actual bed just as the autumn chill had begun to shoo away the summer heat. The next morning she set up the paperwork for Belle's release - triggered by a post-coital comment from Emma. Otherwise they had kept their distance — business as usual, though townsfolk remarked how more civil the Mayor and the Sheriff had become towards each other.

They stared at each other - in a way less like a standoff and closer to curious serendipity. The traffic light turned green and Emma waved. It was such an odd gesture considering the nature of their relationship - Emma herself wondered about the inexplicable gesture — staring at her hand like it had a life of its own.

Regina had taken her foot off the break — had a hand ready on the gear shift when her cell phone bleeped. A text message. Regina wondered momentarily who could be texting her at this time, then realised the obvious. She put her foot on the break and checked her phone.

It was a message from "Swan": Working late?

Regina tapped out a response: I just finished. I hope you're off duty. You're not being paid to hang out.

Emma messaged her back: If I was I would ticket you right now. Failure to follow traffic signals. Green means Go.

Emma watched as Regina's Mercedes drove forward and disappeared from her vantage point down the street.

"I guess that last part pissed her off," Emma thought.

She went back to what she was doing moments ago before a pair of headlights diverted her attention, which upon investigation, saw it was Regina in her car stopped at the traffic light. Late as it was, it was a curious sight. She had spent countless nights on patrol and off duty just wondering the darkened streets of Storybrooke and hardly ever encountered another sleepless soul. Small town is a small town.

Emma stared at the jukebox in front of her. It's guts hanging out. She sure cocked this one up and it took her less than an hour. She guessed that Mary Margaret never told Ruby about Emma's penchant for destroying appliances otherwise Ruby would have thought twice about asking Emma to fix the faulty music machine.

"Yeah, sure Ruby, I can fix that. I learned how to fix a radio in prison once." Emma muttered to herself.

"Tell me, Miss Swan, what other skills did you learn in juvie?" Regina asked out of nowhere, which made the blonde practically jump out of her boots. That voice.

"Damn, you scared the crap out of me. Did anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on people like that?"

"You would not be the first person." Regina replied.

"Yeah, I believe you."

After a moment, Regina's face turned serious as she looked away. Emma broke the silence. "I thought you went home."

"I have to admit, I was curious. I still have no idea exactly - why you've got your head inside a jukebox with the lights off, alone, in the middle of the night—" Instead of finishing the sentence, Regina thought the better of it and turned to go.

"Regina wait. Please." Emma said after her.

Regina stopped and turned slowly.

"Keep me company?" Emma asked.

"And why would I do that?"

"I'm afraid of the dark?" Emma answered lamely.

"Should I start looking for a new sheriff?"

"I'm bored as fuck. Please just stay. I'm almost done. And then- -"

"And then?" Regina interrupted.

"I- we could talk? Hang out?"

"Hang out?"

"I don't know, Regina, whatever you want to do."

"I don't want to do anything. With you. And you haven't explained to me why you're in here in the dark."

"Why do you want to know?"

"It's suspicious."

"I'm suspicious? I'm the sheriff."

"You're avoiding giving me an explanation."

"There was a power surge earlier. I was using the street lights so I could see what I was doing until they all turned off." Emma said as she rummaged through some drawers.

"Are you sure you didn't just trip the circuit breaker?"

"Madam Mayor, the electrician."

"I'm a single mother - I have to know these things. And you're avoiding the question."

"Aha!" Emma said, holding up a box of candles. Regina looked on at her, not to be detracted. "Okay, I tripped the circuit when I thought I'd fixed this thing but I guess not. Now that I've got these babies, I'm back in business."

"Resetting the circuit breaker would be a simpler task."

"You would think so." Emma said as she lit the candles - handing one to Regina. Their fingers brushed at the exchange and Emma couldn't help but stare into Regina's eyes, until Regina looked down. "But it's kind of..."

"Kind of?" Regina looked up at her again.

"Occupied."

"Occupied?"

"There is a giant raccoon trapped in the room housing the electrical panel. It's like the biggest raccoon I've ever laid eyes on."

"I'm sure. Please, do explain."

"Well, earlier today I got a call about a missing pug. Eventually I found him in the woods by the river and when I picked him up this giant, feral raccoon came at me out of nowhere. Eventually, I apprehended both animals. Unfortunately the cage I used to house the raccoon was erm, faulty. To make a long story short - it's in the supply closet. At least it's not the pantry."

"Oh, thank the heavens. And please explain what you were doing apprehending wildlife when we have set up Animal Control to deal with such matters?"

"Leroy is the one and only employee of Animal Control and he's currently passed out in the cell. I'm hoping he hasn't puked all over the floor."

"What a charming picture you paint."

"Right after I booked him, Ruby called to remind me that I promised to fix the jukebox in exchange for free meals. It completely slipped my mind."

"Perhaps you might be suffering from early onset dementia. Might want to get a doctor to examine your head."

Emma just shook her head, amused, genuinely - she smiled to herself and glanced up. Regina had watched this reaction unfold in front of her and she couldn't help but be, well, charmed. To say the least, she wanted to jump in a lake and wash away her sins for even thinking anything nice towards the woman in front of her - to be made to feel it. A hot shower and bleach scrub would do.

"Or maybe you just cursed me." Emma responded. Regina's face dropped, however minutely, still Emma caught it. "It was just a joke. Bad joke."

"We don't joke. Friends joke. We're not friends or - anything Miss Swan."

"How could I forget. You remind me with every sneer."

"Then why do you act the way you do?"

"How is that, Madame Mayor?"

"Don't deny the way you look at me. Even ten minutes ago, in my car. Minding my own business."

"What if I don't want to forget about those nights? You want to ask yourself why you even came back here? Do I have that much power over you? I've seen you when you don't know I'm there. You scan the room. Looking for me."

"I'm going home. Goodnight Miss Swan."

"Fine go."

Regina turned for the door but was halted by Emma's hand on her arm. Before she could protest, Emma's lips were on hers as Emma's hands cupped her face in place - prolonging the kiss as long as possible. The force of their bodies hitting the door made the bell hanging above them jingle.

Regina finally pushed Emma away. "Emma, what are you doing?"

"I was kissing you."

"I thought we agreed to put a stop to this. Once was an anomaly. We were both vulnerable and had a few drinks — we confused our feelings for-"

"So what would sleeping with each other twice make it?"

"The second time was a big mistake." Regina said, trying to convince herself.

"Both are true. I regret both times too. Except when I look at you sometimes, all I want to do is keep making the same mistake." Emma drew Regina closer.

"Emma…" Regina searched her eyes, pleadingly because she couldn't stop this if it were entirely up to her, "we need to stop, whatever this is."

Emma whispered on Regina's lips, "Let me kiss you and this will be the last."

Regina let her. If it was supposed to be just a kiss, their last, they made it count. Emma walked them towards the counter until Regina backed onto a stool which made her whimper. It was her favourite stool ironically. Emma lifted her onto it. Their lips still on each other's, she let Emma spread her legs apart so their bodies could be closer, practically one. Regina's legs wrapped themselves around Emma. They stayed that way, making-out passionately like a couple of teenagers under the bleachers, trying to believe it really was going to be their last mistake together.

Regina was determined that she wasn't going to indulge in her attraction to Emma like she had twice before - she wasn't going to sleep with her again. She was going to put a stop to it before they went too far, again.

Emma's hand began roaming, one on Regina's breast and the other sliding up her thigh, caressing her ass, making her skirt hike up. She found herself rubbing her center against Emma's waist. Just when the heat and ache in her core became just too much, she blurted out, "Emma stop. Stop."

Her back was already grinding against the edge of the counter, she didn't mind the pain it elicited but she did mind that she was losing control, again, so she had no choice but to push a breathless, wanton Emma back.

"Okay," Emma responded. Before standing back, she straightened Regina's skirt and looked down while Regina got off the stool.

"I'm just going to freshen up, before I go." Regina said, breathless herself. Emma nodded and watched Regina head for the Ladies Room.

Regina checked herself in the bathroom mirror. Surprisingly she didn't look as unkempt as she felt, with the exception of her lipstick. She wished she could change out of her underwear. She dabbed her face with a damp paper towel. Even in the dim light from the candle, she could see she was still so flushed. That Emma Swan was her curse, Regina thought, she had too much affect on her.

The moment she opened the door out of the restroom, the song she heard was unmistakable. Perhaps Emma had chosen it for the occasion. Regina found Emma dancing to the music — dancing like no one was watching. Regina indulged in a little eye-groping as she leaned against the wall, watching Emma shake her stuff. Emma turned, sensing Regina's eyes on her. Emma beamed such a childlike happy smile at her voyeur it took Regina by surprise.

"Didn't I tell you I'd fix it?" Emma said.

Regina nodded, she let Emma have this one, admittedly she was a little happy for the woman - it was infectious. Her head bobbed and right foot tapped to the beat (out of their own accord). A good song, a happy smile, and a small victory. She did enjoy Emma's dancing. In those tight jeans, she was easy on the eyes.

Lost in that thought, she didn't realise Emma had noticed. Emma held her hand out. When Regina saw the invitation, she immediately straightened up. "I'm not dancing."

"Oh, come on." Emma pouted.

"We're not dancing." Regina crossed her arms. "We don't dance."

"We don't kiss either. And we don't joke because we're not friends. Or anything."

Regina rolled her eyes. The song stopped abruptly then began to skip. "I guess you didn't fix it after all." Regina said, a little relieved.

Unfazed, Emma gave the jukebox her best Fonzi fix-it-all and nudged it with her hips. The song started up again. She leaned on the jukebox, eyes on Regina, triumphant as the electric piano intro began the song.

Regina just stared back. The blonde was going to spell her demise.

Emma sang along to the song. "We get it on almost every night…" She walked halfway towards Regina, a hand outstretched. "… When that moon is big and bright…" Emma wiggled her finger for Regina to come. "… it's a supernatural delight…"

She couldn't resist. Regina crossed the distance.

"… Everybody was dancing in the moonlight…" Emma took Regina's hand and twirled her, then brought Regina back into her arms. Regina pushed her back playfully as they danced. Emma continued to sing the lyrics she could remember. It was the most intimate thing they had ever done, with each other, and with anyone. Dancing like nothing else in the world, in their lives mattered— nothing but that very moment they were spending with each other in the darkened diner.

The song ended and they remained in each other's arms. Emma held on tightly. A smile still on their lips.

"I should go." Regina said.

"No. One more song?" Emma begged.

"You better pick a good song, Swan."

With that, Emma pressed a couple of buttons to make her selection then returned to Regina.

"You'll like this one." Emma said as the jukebox began to play First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.

"You're right. I have always liked this song."

"Next thing you know, you'll be eating my grilled-cheese sandwiches."

Regina gave her a pointed look. "Don't get ahead of yourself Emma Swan."

"It was a joke."

Regina gave her a look once again.

"Sorry. I forgot we don't joke because of the not being friends thing… but we do, do this." Emma said as she kissed her. Regina kissed her back.