Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT in any way, shape or form.

Regina jerked upright in bed, woken by she knew not what. A panic seized her, as ever when she was pulled unwillingly from slumber before dawn, forcing her to take deep breaths to calm the demons writhing inside.

A generally light sleeper, Regina was often woken by noises from outside her window, or footsteps that could only be Henry looking for a glass of water in the middle of the night. At this moment she could not identify which of these had dragged her into consciousness, but the feeling that someone was watching her was alive in her brain's panic centers.

"You're sexy when you sleep", said a voice in the darkness. Gasping in a short breath and tugging her blankets to her chest ,as if they might provide some sort of protection, Regina narrowed her eyes into the darkness. A sliver of moonlight peeked through the clouds and cut across her floor, highlighting only a slice of white blonde hair and black leather. Recognition dawned in her eyes.

"Emma?" Regina was incredulous. For weeks the new Dark One had not responded to the calls of anyone who held the dagger, and yet now she was here sitting casually. Watching the former Queen sleep. Flushing as she finally processed what the woman had said, Setting her features firmly and glaring into the shadows where the irreverent new Dark One had draped herself across an armchair, Regina asked, "Where have you been?"

Sliding from the chair in an easy motion, Emma's steps were languid as she approached the foot of the bed. "Around", she answered cryptically. "You toss and turn alot. Did you know that?" Gooseflesh raised on Regina's arms as the implications of Emma's words made themselves obvious. The blonde had been watching her sleep. Emma traced her fingers over the pattern of Regina's comforter with an idle finger, eyes flicking up to Regina's with a smile that left the former royal uneasy. "Did you miss me, Regina?"

As her name dripped from the other woman's tongue like honey, Regina felt the gooseflesh intensify, prompted by a need that burst deep in her belly. A foreign need, to be sure, one that she had not satisfied fully in far too long. Her breath caught for a second, a noise at which Emma lifted a sharp brow.

"No", lied the brunette smoothly. She left it at that, not trusting herself to say anything further. Emma tsked, shaking her head, before placing both palms flat on the bed and leaning forward. A knee raised to press onto the blankets, followed by the other, the blonde crawling up towards Regina like a predator.

"You're lying, Regina", said Emma with conviction and obvious delight. "I can see your heart beating faster. I can feel you getting warmer from here."

Regina was certainly warming, as her heart was beating as if she had just run a race. This Emma was unknown to her, this predatory being was pulling her in just as she had done to every other all those years ago. She felt like a puppet, her strings being pulled delicately in every direction by Emma's graceful fingers.

Then, just for the space of one of Regina's frantic heartbeats, there was a flicker of.. something in Emma's eyes. In the Dark One's eyes. There was uncertainty, fear, and then it was gone.

Surging forward, the Dark One straddled Regina's waist with ease, hovering over the woman's body. Gripping one of Regina's wrists in either hand, Emma subdued the struggling royal easily. As she leaned forward, mouth lingering beside Regina's ear, Emma whispered so faintly the other woman almost could not hear, "Help me."

Caught off guard, Regina was unprepared for the Dark One's low moan, the sound vibrating through her body pleasurably. "Regina.." the blonde murmured, "Haven't you ever thought of how powerful a child of the Saviour..the Dark One..and the Evil Queen herself could be?" Shock made the woman fall utterly still and silent, staring up at the blonde towards whom she was having increasingly conflicting feelings.

"What?"

"A child, Regina. Just imagine.. I knew I could never have had a child with you or the Saviour..before.." the Dark One's eyes clouded momentarily, trailing to the side as she muttered, "..that sniveling man.." Her attention jerked back to the woman beneath her, "But now! Can't you just.. taste the power coming off of this form?" The Dark One closed her eyes and released a low groan of pleasure, hips grinding downwards in a single stroke. Regina had to stifle a shout, or a moan, she wasn't sure with all of the input that was flooding her senses.

"What are you talking about, Emma?! This is madness! Get off of me!" Regina made an attempt to regain control of the situation, pulling against the Dark One's unmoving hands and demanding her release in a voice that came out a bit huskier than she'd have liked. Rolling her eyes dramatically, Emma sighed.

"You still haven't figured it out, have you?" The Dark One surveyed her as if with pity. "I'm not Emma." For Regina, this revelation was accompanied by the fact that this was very much more a dangerous situation. For the most part, she could depend on Emma, even a mad Emma, not to truly hurt her. However, under the power of something else, the Dark One?, there was a very real element of danger.

"Who are you?!" Regina demanded, both trying to escape and not press more of her sensitive body against the seductress above her. Laughing loudly, the Dark One sing songed, "I'm the monster in your head, I'm the demon in your bed!" Her face lowered to Regina's as she whispered, "This demon isn't going anywhere. I want what you can give me."

Chest heaving now with undisguised fear, Regina glowered. "Make me a deal!" The Dark One froze where she was perched, head tilting curiously as her eyes twitched back to Regina's face from where she had been enjoying the sight of her shaking body. "A deal?" inquired the blonde slowly, "What kind of deal?"

Relief released a flood of endorphins that energized Regina to no end. This Dark One was still interested in deals. This, at least, might prove to be some small advantage. Mind racing, reaching to every corner of her knowledge for something, the only thought she could entertain.. Save Emma.

"I'll give you what you want, if you give me Emma." The Dark One's face contorted in thought.

"Is she really so important that you'd give up your body just to save her?"

Regina could feel the heat raising in her body as she nodded in response, staring the Dark One directly in the eye.

"Tell me why", the Dark One commanded. Regina's mouth opened and closed silently, stuck for a moment. "If you lie to me", the blonde added, "you'll never see her again."

"I care for her", answered Regina shortly. There was no sound as the Dark One disappeared. She was just suddenly not-there. Sitting up swiftly, the brunette shouted into the darkness. "No! No, wait! I love her! I need her!"

"No need to scream, dear." Regina's panic subsided at the sight of the blonde in the armchair once again, pure triumph on her features.

"Wh..." Regina could not comprehend what had just happened as Emma stood again from the chair and strode towards the bed.

"Do you really think the Dark One could beat the Saviour?" Emma asked with a laugh. Regina's expression was one of surprise and caution and a medley of undefinable feelings that she was sure she would need to figure out later. "Sure, in the beginning I fought it. The Dark One is a thing all its own, did you know that?"" Emma shrugged. "Probably not. But it is. It's in my head, and it knows what I want. So we decided to work together." At this, the corners of her mouth twisted upwards. "We want the same things."

Regina found enough strength to ask, "What is that exactly?" Crawling up the bed, as she had before, though this time with significantly more Emma in her eyes, she answered with one word, "You."

"This is madness, Emma. Just.. just stop." Emma shook her head with a short laugh as she dragged herself up the other woman's body.

"I don't think so." Her eyes glinted like obsidian and sunlight. "We made a deal."

Don't forget to check out the gofundme campaign on my Tumblr!