This is my first Once Upon a Time Fanfic, so please be kind when reading it. It takes place after season four, but basically ignores the whole 'Dark Swan' plot point. Reviews are of course welcome. And I have to thank RowArk for looking this story over for me

Regina stood in front of her bedroom mirror, frowning at her reflection. She was currently dressed in one of the oddest outfits she had ever worn (which was saying something considering what she used to wear when she was the Evil Queen). She was wearing black heels, black fishnet stockings, very short black short shorts, a corset like white dress shirt, a white bow tie, and a small women's style black blazer. Even for someone from the enchanted forest, this was an unusual outfit to wear.

It had been Henry's idea for her to dress up like this. After the town had voted to throw a costume party on Halloween he had suggested she dress up as the character Zatanna from his comic books. "She's perfect for you," he had told her. "She's a powerful sorcerous who fights for the side of good." At first she had liked the suggestion since it meant playing a character that used magic for good instead of evil. But that was before she actually saw what the character wore. And now that she was actually wearing a real life version of that skimpy outfit, she couldn't help feeling self-conscious.

As she looked at herself from different angles, Regina decided she could probably pull it off. True, it was racier than anything she'd normally wear, but one advantage to going to a costume party was you didn't have to be yourself for one night (at least that's what Emma told her when she confessed she had reservations on wearing that outfit). So for tonight, she wasn't Regina Mills. I'm Zatanna the sorcerous, she thought.

Though, while she might be a bit self-conscious, wearing something she would normally never wear might make it easier to accomplish what she had been working herself up to do for a while now. And that was telling a certain blond savior how she felt about her.

Try as she might, Regina could no longer deny that she had strong feelings for Emma, beyond any she had previously experienced for another person. She kept telling herself that Emma was the daughter of her former sworn enemy, that they were both involved with other people, that they could never be together. But her former excuses seemed flimsier the longer time passed. Especially now that she and Emma were both currently single.

It had started two months ago, when she and Robin decided to end things for good. They had tried, but things were too complicated considering everything that had happened between them. While she was sad over their relationship truly ending, she wasn't nearly as upset as she thought she'd be. Though she acted like she was more upset then she was for Zelena's sake, if only to keep her sister from looking for more ways to hurt her (even though she was severely tempted to rip her heart out when Zelena gloated that Robin had chosen her). In the end Robin ended up leaving StoryBrook with his family. Which suited Regina just fine, since she was now rid of both her ex and her nasty work of a sibling.

Then three weeks ago Emma unexpectedly broke up with Klllian. She remained tight lipped about the exact reason she had ended things with the pirate, although Regina held onto hope her theory on why the relationship had ended was true. Unlike Robin and herself ending things though, Emma's break up was less amicable, with Killian taking it very hard. Since then he'd been spending his time either drowning his sorrows at the Rabbit Hole or sequestered on the Jolly Roger.

But even Hook's sullenness wasn't going to stop Regina from telling Emma how she felt tonight. She had spent weeks working up the courage to tell her and tonight it was going to happen. And given how things usually went in Storybrooke, she knew the longer she waited the more likely something would happen to ruin her change.

"Mom!" she heard Henry call out. "Do we have any batteries? I think the ones in the TV remote are dead." He stopped in the doorway as he looked at his mother in surprise. "Wow. You look just like Zatanna."

"Thank you Henry," she said. "Though I'm not sure how I feel about you reading about characters dressed like this. It's almost as bad as that one about that ninja in the red outfit who kills people with Sais."

Luckily for Henry the doorbell rang at that exact moment, giving him an out from the conversation. "Gotta go, doorbell." Regina smirked at his abrupt exit as she put on white gloves and a top hat to complete the outfit before going downstairs.

"Hey kid," Regina heard Emma say as she came into the foyer. "Ready for a night of watching your uncle?"

"Yup, where are they?"

"Just getting his army of baby supplies out of the car." Emma looked over at Regina, taking in her outfit. "Regina. You look…really good."

"Thank you. Though I should say Henry and his love of comics are responsible for this odd ensemble." She looked at Emma, taking in her outfit; brown boots, tight brown pants, a white scarf, and a brown leather jacket with white fleece on the collar. "And you're supposed to be…?"

"Amelia Earhart. Though I couldn't find a leather cap and goggles to complete the outfit," Emma said. She kept looking at Regina, trying not to openly stare; though it was hard given how her legs looked in the fishnet stockings, or how much cleavage was revealed in that top.

Luckily Emma's parents offered her a distraction by coming into the mansion at that very moment. "Are you sure we shouldn't have bought that extra bag of dippers?" Mary Margaret asked her husband.

"We have two, that should be more than enough for one evening," David said as he put several bags loaded with baby supplies down.

"I just want Henry to be prepared."

"I thought you were going to be a gangster?" Henry asked as he took in David's white cowboy outfit.

"I was, but then I found this and I liked it better."

"He couldn't stop being a hero for one night," Regina said low enough so only Emma could hear, causing both women to giggle.

"Though I don't think the old west had Flappers back then," Emma said, indicating Mary Margaret's 1920's style dress.

"Just because your father changed his mind at the last minute doesn't mean I was going to change my outfit," she explained, shifting Neal in her arms as she turned her attention to Henry. "So, you're ready to watch your uncle for the night?"

"Yup, it should be fun," Henry said.

"Great! He's already had his bottle, so he shouldn't need to be fed again, though I have another one in his bag if he gets hungry. There's diapers, toys, a few picture books-."

"I'm sure I'll be fine for a few hours," Henry said assumingly as he took Neal from Snow.

"I'm sure you will. But let me just put his teething ring in the freezer and quickly show you how to burp him if he needs it," she said as she grabbed a bag and followed Henry into the kitchen.

"And yet she was fine sending me to another realm by myself," Emma said to herself. The three of them stood in the foyer, David twirling one of his prop guns while Emma covertly sneaked glances at Regina from the corner of her eye.

"Okay, I think we're ready to go," Snow announced as she rejoined the three adults.

"Great. Your car is still being serviced, right Regina?" Emma asked as they all stepped outside.

"Yes."

"So how about you come with us and we can all carpool in one car. That way we only have to worry about finding one parking spot," Emma suggested.

Before Regina was able to point out that she could just poof herself to the party Snow suddenly said, "Actually, David and I have to make a quick stop before going to the party."

"We do?" he asked.

"Yes, we do," Mary Margaret pointedly responded. "So since it's a nice night why don't the two of you walk to the party since it's not that far. Then David and I can meet you there and we can all leave together at the end of the night."

"Um, sure that works," Emma said.

"I suppose that will suffice," Regina stated.

"Great. We'll see you there," Snow called out.

"Snow, what are you up to?" David asked his wife as they got in his car.

"I just think it'll be good if they spend some time together."

"If I didn't know any better I'd guess you were setting up…" He shook his head before starting the car and driving off.

"You okay to walk in those?" Emma gestured to Regina's stylish high heel shoes.

"This is hardly the first time I've had to walk in heels in this town." She then waved her hands and her heels were replaced with flats. "Although I wouldn't want to chance getting a blister before I even have a chance to dance."

"That should be fun, seeing you dance," Emma exclaimed.

"And why is that?"

"I don't know," Emma said with a shrug. "Just…I always think of dancing as being carefree and loose. And no offence, but those aren't the first adjectives I'd use to describe you."

"I'll have you know I attended many balls and dances growing up, I am quite skilled. And when I say dancing I mean proper dancing, not those wild mating rituals I see girls doing on those music videos Henry thinks I don't know he watches."

"You know, despite everything you're not actually that much older than me. You don't have to sound like you're a hundred," Emma stated.

Regina scoffed and rolled her eyes before pulling back as Emma suddenly reached over to touch her face. "What are you doing?"

"You have an eyelash on your cheek. I was trying to wipe it away," Emma said defensively.

"I'm perfectly capable of handling that myself," Regina stated as she brushed her cheek. "Unlike your former pirate lover I don't need someone else grooming me."

"Hook didn't groom me," Emma challenged

"Oh please. It was watching two primates paw one another."

"Look, if you're going to act like this maybe you should just poof yourself to the party and I'll walk by myself," Emma said in annoyance.

Regina almost did just that, since she wasn't one to be challenged. But instead she managed to calm herself since she didn't want to fight with Emma. Especially considering what she was working her way up to telling her. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought up Hook just after you both broke up."

Emma looked at her in surprise, since apologizing wasn't something that came easy for Regina. "Thanks. Let's just forget about Killian and go to the dance."

"Yes, let's do that."

"You do look amazing in that outfit," Emma blurted out.

"Thank you again," Regina said with a hint of a smile. "You look good in yours, too."

As the two ladies started walking, neither of them noticed a figure hidden in the shadows, who had been watching everything that had just transpired.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Killian gripped his rum bottle as he tilted in his seat. He wasn't sure if it was from the Jolly Roger swaying or from the several glasses of rum he'd already had. Either way, he pushed his glass over with his hook and poured himself another drink, hoping it would make him forget his feelings of despair.

While he had the reputation of a heartbreaker (and had bedded enough tavern wenches to almost live up to the legend), when it came to actual love he had only experienced it twice in his life. Losing it the first time had been hard, but at least then he could blame it on the Crocodile for that one. This time he had no idea why it hadn't worked out.

I should leave, he thought for probably the zillionth time over the past few weeks. It would be good to just take the Jolly Rodger and sail off for charts unknown. But thanks to the Snow Queen's curse, if he were to leave he would never be able to come back. And being permanently away from Emma wasn't something he was willing to do.

"Here's another toast to Emma Swan," he slightly slurred as he raised his glass. "May the next heart you break be someone who actually deserves it."

"Oh my, isn't this a sad sight."

He turned around, searching for the source of the mystery voice. "Who's there? This is my ship, and you're trespassing. Show yourself."

"Very well."

Killian looked on as the speaker stepped forward. As soon as he saw the person he rubbed his eyes, sure he had had too much to drink. For the person on his ship was none other than Cora. "It can't be."

"I can assure you I'm here and real." To prove her point she stepped forward and stroked his face to show she was not an illusion.

"But you died."

"Yes, I was murdered by my daughter and her insufferable step-daughter. But that doesn't matter tonight, for tonight is a very special Halloween, where I can once again walk among the living."

"Then may I ask why are you here on my ship instead of wreaking havoc elsewhere?"

"I'm here because I need to get my daughter to kill Snow White before morning if I am to remain here," she explained. "And you're going to help me make that happen."

"And why would I do that? I know we've worked together before, but that didn't exactly work out for me the last time," he stated.

"You'll help me because if I can return here permanently, I'll have my daughter by my side again and you'll get Emma back."

Killian looked at Cora, paying closer attention to her after that. "What are you talking about?"

"I mean that you and Emma used to be together and now you aren't. I watched her and my daughter talk about it as they left for this party they're going to. I also noticed how they acted around each other. They have feelings for one another, even if they won't admit it to one another."

Killian chuckled darkly as he took another gulp of rum. "So she dumped me because she has a thing for the not quite Evil Queen. Terrific."

"Yes, it's very sad," Cora dryly responded. "But if I can get Regina to kill Snow tonight then Emma will despise her. She'll be heartbroken at her mother dying by Regina's hand and you can swoop in and comfort her. We both get what we desire. I remain in this world permanently and have my daughter by my side, and you get the woman you love back again."

Killian sat there thinking about her proposal. Not long ago, when he was trying to be a hero instead of a villain, he might have been appalled at this plan of action, and would take no part in it. But that was before Emma had broken his heart, and reminded him why sometimes it pays to take the less moral route in order to get what one desired. "What do you need me to do?" he asked.

"All you have to do is create a distraction at tonight's dance that will keep the two sheriffs busy. I'll take care of the rest."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"I wonder what people will be dressed up as," Emma wondered as she and Regina made their way to the dance. "I mean, what do people from the Enchanted Forrest consider costumes?"

"I'm not sure," Regina said as she tried not to stare at Emma's rear in those pants. Seriously, she thought, does she go out of her way to wear skin tight pant?

"It's a nice night," Emma said, to make conversation. "I'm glad there's a full moon. Makes it feel like it's a real Halloween night."

"Yes," Regina absentmindedly replied.

"Are you okay?" Emma asked. "You've been quiet ever since we left your house."

"Just thinking about some things."

"Yeah. I've been thinking about things too," Emma said, figuring she might as well reveal the real reason she ended things with Hook while they had some time to themselves. "And there's something I have to tell you. I'm not sure how to…"

She trailed off as she realized Regina wasn't walking beside her anymore. She looked behind her, seeing the mayor several feet back staring intently at the night sky. "Are you okay?"

"There's a full moon tonight."

"Yeah, I just told you that," Emma said questionably.

"But there was one earlier this month."

"Yeah, there are two full moons this month. Don't tell me you've never heard of a blue moon."

"I have to go," Regina quickly said. "I have to check something in my vault.

"Wait, what's going on," Emma asked.

"Go to the party, keep an eye on everyone there."

"What a second, Regina stop," Emma asked. But before she could say anything else Regina was gone in a puff of smoke.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"This is just like our wedding day," David said as he twirled Snow into his arms.

"Except this time you're not stepping on my toes," she replied with a smile.

"Hey, for a farm boy who was impersonating a prince, I think I did all right back then." He dipped her down and kissed her just as the song ended. "You want to take a break?"

"Nope. I hope the next song is a fast one," she said as she moved her arms and legs in a flapper dance.

"You guys!"

The two of them looked over as Emma came running to them. "Emma. Is everything okay?" Snow asked.

"I don't know. Regina freaked out as soon as she realized tonight was a blue moon. She told me to keep an eye on things before puffing to her vault. Do you know why she's so freaked out?"

"Blue moons are rare natural occurrences," David explained. "Traditionally they can be used to cast powerful spells."

"Wait, tonight's All Hallows Eve," Snow stated. "I remember once hearing blue moons occurring tonight are particularly powerful because they can connect the realm of the dead with that of the living."

"Connect the dead with the living?" Emma repeated. "It sounds like you're saying it can bring people back-."

"Fire!" Leroy yelled as he came charging into the dance hall. "The police cruisers' on fire!"

With that everyone ran outside to see the commotion. Snow followed David and Emma when she suddenly heard the sound of a baby crying. "Neal?" She back into the emptying hall, hearing the crying clear as day. "Has anyone seen my baby!" she called out, even though no one else seemed to be reacting to the sound of crying. She followed it into the coat closet, where it seemed to surround her as if it was part of the very air. Snow pushed the coats aside, but couldn't find anything. She pulled out her phone to call Henry when strong hands covered her mouth and throat from behind.

"Ssshh. It'll all be over soon."

Before Snow could react she and her capture were gone in a puff of smoke.