Prompt: Taylor Swift's "I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream" + Romeo and Juliet.

As in Rome and Juliet, there are two families: the Swans and the Mills. They can be recognised basically by their hair colour, for example: Emma and David are Swans, Regina and Snow are Mills.

All the phrases belonging to the Blank Space song belong to the awesome Taylor Swift.

Thanks cyr1988 for being my beta!

Happy birthday, baby girl
(I know you're few months older than me, but whatevs)

There was only one thing that Emma Swan enjoyed more than laying with an experienced lover for one or two nights of passion: sword fighting.

The sound of two blades clashing was something she lived for. Each blow released an extra amount of adrenaline in her veins, making her heart pump harder and faster. Each collision made her see things in slow motion, making it almost possible to predict her opponent's moves.

She was, by far, the best fighter in her family, and there was no shame on denying it. Yet, she never let it go to her head. However, the number of pretty boys and girls she managed to charm into their beds stroked her inflated ego. She constantly gloated about that tidbit, especially to her cousin and best friend: David.

When she fought and when she made love, she felt like her body was in complete sync with everything around her. And, she loved that sensation. Foot, foot, touché. Touch, touch, orgasm.

Flirting and sex just came naturally to her- she was, after all, a hero that would rescue anyone who needs saving. While her sword fighting skills were deep-rooted, she kept on pushing her limits, thriving to keep her techniques flawless as much as possible. Emma practiced every day, as much as she could and more than anyone else. She practiced until her arms and back hurt, and then, she practiced a little bit more.

"It's enough for today, Emma," her cousin announced and he threw his sword to state that their match was, indeed, over. If it was up to Emma, they would practice the whole evening without stopping. But, they had already been practicing for over four hours now. They were both exhausted, even if Emma would never admit it.

"It is never enough, David," she replied while taking her helmet off.

"Why do you even put so much effort into this, Emma? The kingdoms haven't been in war for decades now!" David asked, sitting on the fountain's rim and washing his nape with the fresh water.

"Maybe I'll have to defend you in a duel when the Mills find out you've been flirting with one of their precious daughters," She teased her cousin and sat next to him.

Emma had discovered David making out with Snow White Mills during their last jousting tournament, when the lovebirds thought no one was watching. And while none of the families wanted to be the first to break the peace treaty, the Mills and the Swans didn't get along. At all. And a romance between two members from both families would be frowned upon, even forbidden.

The female Swan was a flirt and a tease, but even she drew a line when it came to the Mills.

The hate between the two families started over four centuries ago, when a King and his Queen had two twin daughters: Ophelia and Cordelia. As it was expected, when the princesses became of age, they were to be married to powerful men in the Court, Nicholas Swan and William Mills. The Swan and the Mills lived in harmony until the King died of old age and a heir was needed to be crowned as the successor. The Swans argued that Ophelia was the oldest twin and the Mills stated that Cordelia was smarter, and that their family was wealthier. Fueled by greed, the Swans and the Mills divided the Kingdom and started a war that would claim the lives of countless descendants from both families for decades to come.

The war between the two families didn't stop until they faced a bigger threat: The Dark One. On their own, neither family wouldn't survive, but together they had a fighting chance. So, a peace treaty was signed, and the soldiers that had been fighting against each other since they could remember started to fight side by side against their, now, common enemy.

After the war was won, the peace treaty was preserved to honor those who had lost their lives during the battle against the Dark One. Now, twenty years later, they maintained a civil distance from each other and no one, not even Emma Swan, was foolish enough step a foot into the other family's territory. No one, that is, except for David Swan.

"Speaking of the Mills," David laid his head on his elbows "They have a masked party tonight."

"To which you are not going to.,"

"No," he agreed, and then he smirked, "We are.,"

"David!" she gave him a warning look. "You know better than to step a foot on their territory," Emma argued, "If you want to meet with Snow, meet her on neutral territory, like the Rabbit Hole or something like that," she suggested.

The Rabbit Hole was a disreputable bar with cheap rooms where travelers stayed if they didn't have much money, or if they enjoyed unmoral company. It was in 'no-one's land,'' a piece of land that had gone unclaimed when the kingdoms were first divided and neither the Mills nor the Swans wanted to start a war over it.

"I'm not going to take Snow to that dive," David made a disgusted gesture.

"I'll have you know that the Rabbit Hole is a perfect place for a one night stand," she spoke with experience. The Rabbit Hole had been

witness to numerous nights of passion that Emma had shared with many partners.

David muttered a 'You would know,' before protesting, "Snow is not a one night stand."

Emma rolled her eyes. She didn't understand why her cousin was so fixated with the Mills girl. Sure, Snow was sweet and pretty, but she didn't see the appeal. "You just need to fuck her, get her out of your system, and move on."

"No, Emma," her cousin shook his head, "I'm telling you, she's the one."

"Just when I thought you couldn't get any more stupid, you go and fall in love with a Mills," she shook her head, "Of all the women in this kingdom, it had to be a Mills!"

"So, are you coming with me to the party?" David wiggled his eyebrows, "Say yes, say yes! You know you love a masquerade."

"Do you know what I also love?" Emma threw her hands up in the air, "My life. Do you know what might happened if you got caught?"

"Which is precisely why I need you with me," her cousin replied. "If I get caught, you'll have to fight some of those bad, bad Mills and rescue me," David added, knowing that Emma would never let him face a possible life threatening situation alone.

"We don't have costumes."

"I already dusted off our fathers' armors."

"We don't have masks."

"Duh - the helmets?" David rolled his eyes "C'mon! You're always saying about how much you want to wear that armor!"

"Yes! To war!" Emma replied, emphasizing the word "Fine." She agreed after David pulled his secret weapon, the pout. "But, we have to come back here before midnight!" He nodded. "And tomorrow, we have double practice."

"Whatever you want, cousin!" he jumped up from his resting position and slid one arm around her shoulders, "You won't regret this."

"I already do," she muttered, making him chuckle.

Regina Mills looked at her reflection in the mirror and drank a sip of wine while she pretended to listen to her cousin's chatter.

There was nothing she hated more than to spend time with her cousin, Snow White, who was younger by two years. Why their grandfather had thought that it was a good idea to make them bond over moronic activities was beyond her understanding. She did not want to braid Snow's hair and she definitely didn't want her cousin around her dresses and jewels. It was already enough that they lived in the same castle.

The older woman honestly wished she could make time go faster until the party started. Waiting with Snow for one hour felt like it would kill her - not that she was very excited about the masquerade either. Everyone invited was either family or other people who thought she was crazy due to her reputation. So. a possible love interest was not in Regina's cards for the night.

"Oh, Regina!" the mention of her name caught her attention, "You have no idea how wonderful it is to be in love," Regina noticed with sorrow that her cup of wine was empty. She needed more wine if she wanted to survive this pre-party with her idiotic cousin.

"And, pray tell, what do you know about love, Snow?" she turned her chair around to face her cousin, "You've barely been outside of the castle."

'We've barely been outside the mansion,' she had meant to say. It was a family tradition- Mills women were not allowed to go out of the Mills' Castle and gardens until after their weddings. It used to bother Regina. But, when suitors came to her, things got rather interesting. She could say proudly she had a long list of ex-lovers -both women and men, whom she had lured into her bedchamber, pretending to be a damsel in distress.

It was a game for Regina. She would play her cards, enjoy a month and two of flirting and then leave her partners in heartbreak. But, it was never love. She didn't even know what love felt like.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Snow's voice brought her back to reality once again. And before Regina could answer, her cousin started talking once again, "I snuck out a few days ago," she said excitedly, "And I went to the jousting tournament,"

My, my. This was a side of the perfect Snow White that Regina was shocked to see. What would grandpapa dearest say about that?

"And I met someone."

Regina waited for more details about Snow's mysterious lover, but the other woman stopped talking, which was completely atypical for her.

"Do tell me the story now!" she demanded. "What's his name?"

"David," Snow said, almost in a murmur.

"I'm guessing that name comes with a last name," Regina pressed further, she hated being kept in the dark.

"Swan," Snow locked eyes with Regina, "His last name is Swan."

"I must be going deaf," Regina commented, internally thanking all the gods that she had ran out of wine. Otherwise, she would have choked on it after that confession, "I heard you say that his last name is Swan."

Snow shrugged and gave Regina her trademarked, innocent smile. "The heart wants what the heart wants."

"You are going to get yourself killed," she pointed out. Although that wouldn't be a negative outcome., maybe she should encourage it. It was the best way to get rid of Snow White, "I'll admit, it is kind of poetic, très Roméo et Juliette," Regina swirled her hand to give an extra touch of sophistication to her French speaking skills, "When are you going to see him again, dear?"

"Tonight," said the younger woman as she returned to her usual chatty self when she noticed Regina was being supportive, "I've invited him, and he'll come with his cousin."

"How foolish of them," Regina thought out loud, "I mean, this is an exquisite, yet dangerous, love story after all," she hurried to correct herself.

"Well, if there's something I know about David and Emma, is that they love doing foolish and dangerous things,"

Emma. That name rang a bell. She turned her back towards Snow and faced her mirror again. Once more, Regina found herself ignoring Snow White's words and deep into her thoughts. Why did that name sound so familiar?

Of course! Emma Swan: the white knight and favorite hero of the Swan Kingdom. Also, she was quite popular with the men and women, too. She was definitely right down Regina's alley.

Well, this was an interesting plot twist in what Regina had considered an uneventful night.

The older Mills put on some cherry-colored lipstick on and stood up to check herself one last time at the mirror. She looked impeccable, ready to portray her part of being the perfect and lovable girl. She smirked at her reflection in the mirror, definitely not regretting her wardrobe choice. The dress hugged her hips, showing all her perfect curves, and the low cut in the back showed enough skin to leave anyone wanting for more. Regina chuckled. Emma Swan didn't know what she was up against: a nightmare dressed like a daydream.

"Shall we, dear?" Regina asked her cousin as she walked towards the door. Snow nodded eagerly and jumped excitedly to where her cousin was waiting for her.

"I'm so nervous to see him, Regina," Snow confessed to her cousin, as if she would care, "I'm dying."

"Me too," Regina admitted. She was dying to see how this one would play out.