Title: 12 Days of Christmas - Day 11
Author: Shatterpath
Feedback address: shatterpath@shatterstorm.net
Date in Calendar: 16 December 2013
Fandom: Once Upon a Time
Pairing: Emma and Regina, eventually.
Rating: soft PG. Barely!
Date Written: December 2013
Word Count: still a work in progress!
Summary: (sing it with me now) For the Twelve Days of Christmas, my OUaT author gave to me...
Warnings: nope
Website: ShatterStorm Productions – Doggie Duo
Link to: http://bdkk.shatterstorm.net/
Archive: ShatterStorm Productions & AO3 only…all others ask for permission & we'll see…
Feedback: Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Advertisement: Part of the FSAC:DW13

Disclaimer: "Once Upon a Time," the characters, and situations depicted are the property of Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis, Kitsis/Horowitz, and ABC Studios. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. This site is in no way affiliated with "Once Upon a Time," ABC, or any representatives of the actors.

Author's Notes: I enjoyed the challenge of using the famous Christmas song for this! It took some finagling to get the verse titles right-- not to mention come up with an fic idea for a few of them-- but I enjoyed myself writing this. It was written just before the half-season finale, so keep that in mind. Much of my story will contradict the final ep.

Beta: ariestess

11 Spells a Casting

"What on earth are you doing?"

Smiling faintly, Emma remained as she was, slouched against the foot of the couch with her legs stretched out towards the dark fireplace. The room was chilly and nearly dark, pressing against her closed eyes and cooling her skin beneath her warm clothing. Suffused with hard-won patience, Emma remained motionless, sensing Regina's energies calm, her body moving almost silently to perch on the couch close by.

It was the first thing Emma had learned at Regina's hand; hot anger to actual flame. When learning new skills, she inevitably fell back to this one, refining it and putting her own stamp on it.

Regina gasped, the couch vibrating as she jumped in shock. The fireplace whooshed to life, dozens of candles flaring as reliably as electric bulbs. And Emma never so much as twitched a muscle to do it. Envious and intimidated by the younger woman-- familiar territory now-- Regina stared at her, watching pale lashes flutter slowly open. From there, movement rushed over the muscled, lanky frame; a smile, a stretch of arms and legs. Groaning softly, Emma bent her spine over her half-numb legs to knock out some of the stiffness of cold and inactivity, forehead nearly touching her knees.

Curling her legs under herself and turning to Regina, she smiled warmly. "I'm building on what you've taught me. Working on control and focus and all that zen crap. I've pulled that trick off five times this afternoon and never scorched a single object in your living room."

"You didn't move."

It was an inane thing to say, but the words were out there now, laced with disbelief and more than a little confusion. A gesture always accompanied magic, be it the swipe of fingers or some sort of physical token. That's just how it worked.

Well it did before Emma Swan anyway.

"How?"

The smile was a new one, warm and unguarded, and it shook something in Regina.

"You want to try? Excellent. But you gotta relax and clear your mind. It might be tougher because you have rules and expectations built in because you've worked with magic for so long. But it can't hurt to try."

No, Regina had learned that it indeed never hurt to try. Not with this ally on her side.