Chapter 1

Sat alone in an isolated booth, Emma rested her elbows either side of her coffee mug as she began to rub her temples from the impending headache that was about to take over.

She had another sleepless night.

The blonde sheriff didn't know how much more she could take, that her mind seemed constantly clouded by a million thoughts but truth be told only one of them was truly getting to her.

Regina Mills.

The brunette mayor according to Emma was an infuriating, demanding, impatient and stubborn woman who was also beautiful, smart and amazing. Yes, Emma Swan had very much fallen in love with the small town's ruler and had absolutely no guts to do anything about it, which is where the sleepless nights came in. As soon as the blonde would lay back on her pillow, she would play out different scenarios in her head on how she would, if ever, tell Regina how she felt.

Sighing, Emma drops her hands in defeat. Today was definitely not going to be her day nor the day.

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At the other end of the street from where the sheriff was sat in Granny's diner, Regina Mills found herself in the middle of an argument with Gold inside his shop.

Pacing up and down on her heels, hand on hip with an angry expression, the brunette glared at the former imp behind the counter. "You should be grateful that I enacted the damn thing at all!"

Resting his hands upon the glass, Gold leans forward sneering. "Now listen to me...dearie..you are going to pay for your little 'amendment' and I can tell you this now, what I say it's not a threat..oh no its a promise"

Regina pauses mid pace then turns around to face him and scoffs. "I wouldn't make promises you can't keep Rumple..you see from where I'm standing, there is nothing you can say or do to change what has been made, the curse is too powerful even for you to do anything about it now and well..look who has won?" Smirking, the brunette points to him. "A lonely pawnbroker? Or.." Raising an eyebrow, Regina points to herself. "The mayor of this town?" Giving him one last evil grin, the mayor strolls back to the door and walks out insuring that when she slams the door behind her the tiny bell inside drops to the floor.

Smiling to herself proudly, the brunette walks down main street in need of a lunchtime coffee after her small victory. Entering Granny's diner, she puts her order in at the counter then spies the local sheriff sitting by herself. Thinking for a moment, Regina purses her lips together wondering if she can make her day even better by teasing the oblivious woman. Making her way over to the booth, the mayor tilts her head down by the side of Emma's. "Sheriff what are you doing in here by yourself? Doesn't your irritating mother normally meet you?"

Jumping unaware of the brunette's presence as she was too lost in thought, the blonde knocks her coffee mug towards herself causing whatever contents is left to spill all over her with a gasp.

Regina furrows her brow having watched the scene play out. "Oh dear..next time Miss Swan be more alert..we don't need a clumsy sheriff now do we?" Playfully smiling, the mayor tosses a paper napkin in her direction before making her way back to the counter to collect her order.

That was it. She was officially screwed. Emma thought how she should be annoyed or angry at what Regina had just done. It was clear as soon as the brunette left her table that the woman had made her jump on purpose but no. All the blonde could think about was that playful smile the mayor had given her at the end. If it were a few months back, Regina would have simply snapped and carried on with her day but now the pair had recently started a teasing war against one another, something which was most certainly not helping Emma with her feelings.

Rising from her seat, the sheriff glanced down at her coffee soaked top and sighed. At least she had a spare back at the station, which is exactly where she then headed considering her lunchtime clearly, was over.

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Once Regina had left his shop, Gold had found himself even more determined to make her pay. What she had actually done was basically turn the tables on him last minute. Although needing an escape from her depressive life as Queen, Regina was fully aware that the imp was using her and her vulnerability to get what he wanted. The dark curse enacted. Blame free. Only the brunette had other ideas. Of course she was now powerful enough to follow through with it but instead, adapted it so when the residents of Storybrooke found out about the curse, they would all learn it was Gold's curse and he made the woman use it.

I mean all information was true but it was not how Gold wanted it and he hated that he was outwitted not just by an 'amateur' but also his former student. So the answers became clear.

What would hurt Regina the most?

Who was on her side at the moment?

Who in Storybrooke loved her?

With a devilish grin, the former imp turned to his potion bottles and grabbed the glass flute containing a certain ingredient.

He was going to create another curse.

A curse to shatter one person's happiness and the other person..well..

Dead.

A/N: short intro to start with :) yes it will be SwanQueen as they are true loves, they just don't know it yet!