swanqueen fic recommendations!
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last update - april 6th 2025
little disclaimer: i haven't read all of these yet!!
1. Five Flames - mariacomet
In the past, Emma Nolan disconnected from her peers in high school, preferring to keep to herself. In her sophomore year of high school, she decided to try and join the boy’s wrestling team because she was bored. She didn’t expect herself to become the champion of the most bullied kid in school or the secret best friend of the school queen. She also didn’t expect to join a club that would change her life.
In the present, Emma is trying to cope with a humiliating loss in her martial arts career. She claims to be “training” but is stuck in limbo between wanting to retire and try again. She is isolated from her former best friend, Regina Mills, a local celebrity chef and the rest of her old friends. When one of them calls her with an idea to honor their deceased teacher, she is confronted with unresolved feelings and questions about how powerful love truly is.2. For Love or Money - starsthatburn
Emma Swan is deep in debt, working for a boss who hates her, and has just been dumped by a guy who didn't deserve her in the first place. When Regina Mills - millionaire, high-flying art dealer and the most beautiful woman Emma has ever seen - swoops into her life and offers her a world of luxury in exchange for pretending to be her girlfriend, Emma can't possibly say no.
Modern-day AU set in New York. Based on Sarra Manning's 'Unsticky'.3. I Love College Rooming Arrangements - TheRegalist
Emma Swan is an orphan who finally gets to rid herself of her past to chase her dream of going to college to become a cop. Upon her arrival to Storybrooke University, she finds herself rooming with none other than the Mayor's daughter, Regina Mills. A notoriously stunning snob who has Emma completely confused and captivated upon their first encounter. Their living together initiates an unusual friendship that sparks into something more.4. goodnight, dear void. - coalitiongirl
Regina texts the wrong number and winds up with an anonymous confidant. Emma goes on a terrible blind date and winds up in a relationship with the worst person ever.
The best love triangles are (not-so-)straight lines.5. Gallium & Yttrium - Stessa
When Emma Swan gets a job as a bouncer in a fancy night club in Boston, all she really wants is to make some extra cash so she can take her kid on a water park vacation, but already on her first night there, things aren’t going totally as according to plan.
In comes four women; all beautiful, upper-class and probably filthy rich, and Emma can’t seem to take her eyes off the brunette one in the pretty maroon dress. Tink says her name’s Regina Mills, as if Emma is supposed to be sure who that is. All she knows is that those are the prettiest lips she’s ever not-kissed, and that is saying something.6. Teaching Miss Mills - HelveticaBrown
Teacher AU: Emma is a gym teacher, who moves to Storybrooke Academy after becoming disenchanted with her job back in Boston. Regina Mills is the Head of English who Emma somehow seems to keep having run-ins with, despite the best of intentions. Along the way, Emma adjusts to life in a small town, gets her teaching mojo back, and gradually grows closer to Regina.
No curse, no magic. Just regular human relationshippy drama.7. Meet Me Halfway - hunnyfresh
Emma Swan works hard every night as a bartender, struggling to raise her son and save up enough to own her own bar. Regina Mills is an upper class New York photographer who wouldn't normally spare a second glance at people below her. When their paths cross, their lives adapt to each other, but how much are they willing to change?8. GuardianQueen - NikiFrost
Regina Mills is the lead actress of a new TV series. Emma Swan is the personal security... who somehow ends up in the pilot episode as a last minute replacement. Now the fans are demanding she be brought back as Regina's love interest, Twitter is exploding with their ship name #KavaReina, and Emma can't tell if Regina is hamming it up to tease the fans or if she's legit flirting with her (because there's no way... right?)9. When Swanprincess Met EvilQueen101 - amycarey
Emma Swan never expected her vlog to take off like it did, but she likes the community and occasionally getting drunk and ranting into a camera is a decent way to make a bit of cash. Regina Mills films a rather higher class of vlog, a chance to be creative after days working analysing bacteria samples in a lab and to discuss day-to-day life as a single mom. When Regina has a bad day and posts a video she immediately regrets, she doesn’t expect for it to become as notorious as it does, and she vows to destroy the person who popularised her deeply embarrassing rant, some idiot known as 'swanprincess'.
But when rumours spread about sexual harassment in the Boston YouTube community, the pair may be forced to put aside their differences and work together.10. Temporary Distractions - amycarey
“Oh, I don’t know,” Regina says. “It makes a certain amount of sense on paper. Henry’s two mothers, all that fighting, making magic together, tentative trust built. Destroyed of course, but Robin needn’t know that. Plus, I knew it would really irritate him.” Emma wants to ask why but also doesn’t want to push her luck. “And you expect me to go along with this?” “I don’t know how else to put this, Ms Swan,” Regina says, leaning forward. “You owe me and I’m calling to collect.”
It's been a month and Regina won't speak to her, until she does and Emma is left pretending to be in a relationship with her so that Regina can get through a dinner invitation with her pride intact.11. A Dark Ocean - chilly_flame
When Regina is injured in an accident, Emma steps in to assist.12. Truth or Dare - SpookshowBabyx
Visiting the Charming's apartment to find Emma alone, Regina begrudgingly accepts the offer of a drink and an invitation to play a game from the Sheriff's past. In each woman's bid to get one up on the other, things soon get dangerous, as several belated admissions are made and their resultant coy demands escalate. SQ smut storyline, set around season 5.13. SwanQueen - Clandestine - RegalLana
Regina has just moved in with Emma, Belle and Ruby. While Belle and Ruby are more than welcoming, Emma gives her the cold shoulder from the second she lays eyes on her. Emma acts cold, rude and completely uninterested in Regina. Emma only sparks interest in Regina when they are both away from prying eyes and behind closed doors. SwanQueen AU. Usual warnings apply, there will be swearing, mature scenes etc. Nothing too major. Read at your own risk.14. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) - writetherest
Emma Swan doesn't consider herself a star, but she finds herself thrust into the spotlight and competing as a celebrity dancer on Dancing with the Stars. Over the course of ten weeks, she'll struggle to learn to dance with her professional partner - Regina Mills - and may just end up dancing with somebody who loves her.15. Love Was Never My Profession - orphan_account :(
OR, the one where Emma meets a hot stranger in a bar, hot stranger turns her down, then coincidentally, they meet again where said hot stranger is Emma's five year old son's Kindergarten teacher. Buckle down friends, she's a thicc girl.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/18041336/chapters/4263374316. The Heart That Beats For Her - Danilynn87
After impatiently waiting nine months on the organ donor list, Emma Swan finally receives the phone call she's been waiting for, but maybe this organ comes with a lot more than she ever thought imaginable? *Swanqueen AU17. The Holiday Arrangement - courtneywoods
Every year, Emma and Regina dread the holidays for very different reasons. So when they come together in an empty NYC bar one Christmas Eve, they strike up a deal to spend their holidays together as a platonic plus-one. No strings attached. But feelings can only stay buried for so long before things get complicated and their holiday arrangement isn't so simple anymore.18. Take me to Wonderland - Mother of Heathens (chasingthewild_dream)
She's wealthy and successful. She loves to party and the easiest way to get rid of her is to mention the word "commitment." Emma is happy with her life that way. Until... Until she looks into the sad eyes of a mysterious woman at The Rabbit Hole during Mary Margaret's bachelorette party. It's at that moment that life takes them on a journey neither woman would have ever expected. AU.19. You again - FollowThatConvoy
Emma and Regina have known each other since they were kids, and it's amazing how they just can't stand each other. Rated E to be safe. Slow burn SQ. This will feature high school and adulthood. Also RedSwan and OutlawQueen for a while, just so you know. Thank you for reading!20. step into my office, baby - theoldfoxbones
This is what you get for doing the nice thing, Emma thinks. You do that whole Pay It Forward bullshit - you buy a lady some coffee and you pretend like it isn’t totally motivated by how she looks in a pencil skirt - and she goes and insults your business card and turns out to be your company’s new Executive Director. Real fucking cute. From now on, she is drinking tea. or, the one where they're in an office.21. everything looks better (in hindsight) -insanetwin
Emma almost has everything. She's got a wonderful son, a beautiful, tender friend and co-parent, and a family she can count on. It was all she ever dreamed of, once upon a time. At times, she thinks she finally understands what authors mean when they end their story with: they lived happily ever after.
But the feeling always leaves her by the morning. Sometimes she thinks her real happy ending has disappeared somewhere in the past, somewhere in between the curses and forgotten memories. And now it is only a possibility lost to her memories.22. Miss Swan Goes to Storybrooke - coalitiongirl
Regina Mills is running an underdog mayoral campaign when her hapless partner in crime, Neal Cassidy Gold, hires his new girlfriend to be a part of it. It's hate at first sight. Emma Swan is infuriatingly attractive, infuriatingly competent, and– most infuriatingly– will absolutely bring down their entire campaign if Regina doesn't get rid of her first.
Regina is more than up for that task.23. a dissertation on the merits of hating your hot roommate - goon
You’re a pain in my ass, Emma almost says, and thinks better of it. Of the two hundred or so days she’s to spend cooped up with Regina Mills, at least one or two might be spent civilly and conjointly ignoring each other.
(AU: Emma Swan goes to college and gets a roommate).24. (for a serene moment) all time stands still - Iammindwalking
“Tell me I’m not imagining this?” Ruby smacks Snow so hard on the arm she screeches and then follows Ruby’s line of sight.
“Oh, my god.” Snow all but grabs David's arm. “Is that… Are they…?”
David turns to look at what the two women are ecstatic about. And sure enough, there are Emma and Regina, being very cozy with each other.
Ruby points with her finger. “That. Explains. So. Much.”
Or: Emma moves to Storybrooke and meets her new neighbor.25. Double Trouble - PrincessCharming
Teenage versions of Emma and Regina appear in Storybrooke and to everyone’s surprise the girls hit it off immediately...
“We have to stop this, Emma,” warned Mary Margaret. “She can’t fall in love with the younger you. She has to meet Daniel and fall in love with him - his death starts it all. Or otherwise, Regina won’t grow up to cast the curse, Storybrooke won’t exist... and Henry will never be born!”
Swan Queen times two.26. If Wishes Came True (It Would've Been You) - Angeii_K
After Regina films a guest appearance on her friend Neal’s popular show, he invites her to spend the weekend with him and his girlfriend. What she never expected was to actually like the woman. Sparks fly between the two, which results in them questioning everything and making choices they will later regret.
4 years later, they meet again in the most unexpected of ways. Now co-stars on the same show, they are forced to work through the emotions from their last encounter. What will happen next? Only time will tell.27. The Price On a Heart (These Days) - intheinterim
There is no magic more powerful than that of a beating human heart. Bounty hunter Emma Swan reluctantly agrees to harvest them for a shady witch named Regina - but only if Regina will save Emma’s dying son, Henry, in return.
Written for Swanqueen Supernova ‘19!28. long story short - prettypony
“Regina, I don’t know jack shit about horses or any of this, but Henry seems to like it and, well, you used to be a horse girl or whatever, so…”
“Excuse me, I was not a horse girl,” Regina interrupts, annoyed. Emma looks pointedly at Regina’s dusty suit, covered in horse hair, and her borrowed boots and quirks an eyebrow.
“Equestrian. Whatever.” Emma shrugs. “Anyway, he seems happy. Maybe this is something you guys can bond over.”
Season 2 AU, diverging from canon when Emma and Mary Margaret return from the Enchanted Forest. It’s basically "The Cricket Game," but with less murder, more horses, and no Cora.29. Mirrored Souls - MultiFandomAnon
Centuries ago, a prophecy was told about the end of magic as we know it.
When true dark and true light come together, they break through the barriers of good and evil. The child born will bring together darkness and light and destroy them both—blurring the lines between good and evil and fusing them to be as one.
It never specified that it would be the iconic Savior and the former Evil Queen that would bring it about.30. Where The Numb Meets The Lonely - courtneywoods
AU: Emma is tired of her life in Boston. She's lonely and just has a series of unattached one night stands with men who mean nothing to her. Desperate for a vacation, Emma books a weekend trip to a small beach town where she is intrigued by an older woman at the bar. Emma thinks it's going to be a one-time fling, but quickly learns how wrong she is.31. The D(evil) Wears Prada - DelicatePoem
In the illustrious Runway Magazine set in New York, where the ruthless and powerful Regina Mills reigns as the editor-in-chief, Emma gets more than she bargained for when she lands the job as Regina’s second assistant. If she manages to last for a year working for her, it will set her up to work anywhere in the publishing world — she can finally become a journalist.
32. SnowArcher Camp - WannabeLovesPizza
When store manager turned reluctant YouTube host Emma Swan gets a big promotion at SnowArcher Sporting Goods HQ, long-time executive Regina Mills is not impressed by the goofy blonde until the two wind up as roommates at the first ever sponsored corporate summer camp for kids.33. Kissing Regina Mills - misscanteloupe
“The name is just for show. It’s supposed to bring out some of your deeper desires. Spurs you to act on them,” Regina explains, even though Emma stopped paying attention several words ago.
Their eyes lock, and Emma feels that same prickling sensation on the back of her neck.
“Is there… anything you want to do?” Regina asks finally.
It’s like a flick of a switch.
(It's a late night in the vault and Emma accidentally kisses Regina Mills)34. Emma Swan, Professional Cuddler - misscanteloupe
Come Wednesday night, Regina has something akin to a bucket list written out to get over her nerves. It looks something like this -
1. Get Henry through college
2. Date someone who isn’t a buffoon
3. Marry that person and hope they never turn into a buffoon
4. Destroy meninism
5. Cuddle a stranger
Or, in which Regina gives in to her lonely plight and hires a professional cuddler. AU Swan Queen.35. Through a Rose-Coloured Camera Lens - aurorstorm
Henry has to make a video presentation to his class about his family, which forces Regina and Emma to interact. Undoubtedly, cute bickering and fluffy moments make their way onto film. The resulting presentation might just cause Regina and Emma to finally realise their true feelings and begin to appreciate their quaint little family.36. Between Two Teachers - AOBZ
Emma has recently returned to Storybrooke for a teaching position at Storybrooke Primary School, trying to escape from the pain of her past. As she attempts to help a little boy with his own emotional problems, she finds she gets more than she bargained for in the form of an adorable 10 year old boy and his beautiful Latina mother.37. a million tiny little things - theoldfoxbones
emma swan doesn’t seem like the kind of person you’d leave in charge of your kids, but somehow she’s landed the job of nannying the mayor’s son. no matter her rebellious streak, she’s more than a little concerned that she’s breaking the cardinal rule of nannydom: do not, do not, start sleeping with your employer.38. Drinks With You - moonlightswen (moonlightmanic) (work in progress)
After finding out that Robin is not her true love and helping him pass over the town line, Regina sulks at Granny’s Diner. She’s at a new low with no one on her side, until an infuriating blonde plops down next to her and changes her life.
My take on Swanqueen becoming drinking buddies and Regina battling what love feels like.
Swanqueen Endgame. Friends with Benefits
1. all you never say - savingophelia (briennesbeauty)
The mark on Regina’s ribs has always been more trouble than it’s worth, but it’s taken her a long time to give up on it.
soulmate au where the most important thing your soulmate says to you is tattooed somewhere on your body.2. always known - deceptivelycomplex3925
"Tell me the truth."
And Emma whirls around and Regina's standing in the doorway, eyes glittering with unshed tears, and she looks like she knows. Knows exactly why Emma got shit-faced last night. Knows exactly why she broke up with Hook. Knows exactly why she said those words a few moments ago.3. The Swan-Mills Family Conquer Disney World - happylikeafool
There is absolutely no way Emma is going to take the blame for this Disney Disaster - and that's disaster with a capital D.
Or the Swan-Mills family takes a vacation. It does not go exactly as planned.4. rise and fall - savingophelia (briennesbeauty)
she’s in a graveyard in the dark trading punches with the worst woman she’s ever met in her whole life and she doesn’t even notice the way her wrist burns, because her cheek stings just as bad, and her chest is tight with rage.
au where you can see a meter of how much danger your soulmate is in, for day 2 of sqw!5. The Long Con - lostlilsnail
Regina has a murderous mob bearing down on her and, rather than face her punishment, she opts for the easy way out. Naturally, things get out of hand and she quite suddenly finds herself in a long-term committed relationship. Whoops.
A lightly edited re-post of an old Fanfiction.net story.6. I Wanna Be Your Everything (and More) - Angeii_K
“Let me,” Regina said through a soft laugh as they placed the blanket down on the dew-covered grass.
Emma held her breath as she watched Regina walk toward her, she could barely process what was happening when Regina reached out, her fingers cool against her flushed cheeks that only seemed to get hotter at the feeling of Regina’s tender touch against her skin and the almost painfully caring expression on her face.
“There we go,” Regina’s voice was an affectionate whisper, the sound enough to make Emma long for something more than this little friendship they’d built these last few months.
or
5 times Emma was clueless vs 1 time she was but still got the girl7. The Lunch Thief - lostlilsnail
In a stunning rash of unprecedented crime, someone starts periodically stealing the Sheriff's lunch. Emma Swan is on the case, but when her lack of food leads to impromptu lunch dates with her favorite gal pal, she finds this might be a mystery she isn't all that eager to solve.8. before I knew which life was mine - sapphirmations
To escape an arranged marriage, young Regina of the House of Mills departs the only home she’s ever known under the dark cover of night on foot. Her survival depends on anonymity, and she makes it as far from home as she can without being recognized, until one morning when she accidentally stumbles upon the worst possible cohort: another princess on the run. And not just any princess, but perhaps the only one with the ability to cost her everything: Princess Emma, the daughter of the Swan King. Can she escape the unexpected encounter unscathed, or will Regina lose the only taste of freedom she’s ever known? Or — most disturbingly, she decides — is discovering Emma perhaps...worth the cost?9. in spite of ourselves - celaenos
In a blink, Emma is right behind her. “Down, girl,” she whispers. “You can’t lob a fireball at a guy making minimum wage.”
“I absolutely can,” she whispers back. “If he deserves it.”10. this town is fake but you’re the real thing (breath of fresh air through smoke rings) - denimangels
For the record, Emma was really just trying to be a good friend.
Leave it to their hyper-imaginative-overly-observant son to misinterpret.
or, in which henry thinks they’re dating, and it would be terribly cruel of them to take this away from him.11. Daylight - coalitiongirl
After 521. They won't even make eye contact in the daylight anymore; but under the cover of darkness, they whisper the truths they've never said.12. Chasing Paper Planes - misscanteloupe
AU Swan Queen. Regina Mills has been grasping for straws in her marriage for the better part of two years. Reluctantly she agrees to take on a different approach. The solution? Sex therapy13. The MILF Next Door - misscanteloupe
In the dead of night, Emma stumbles across a lonely boy and his mom. The neighbor AU.14. A Swan's Guide to Unrequited Love - misscanteloupe
Emma turns to keeping a video diary with her in order to assuage her feelings for Regina. Thing is, diaries aren't meant to be found. Post 4A. Swan Queen15. the gap in-between stars - insanetwin
On a family camping trip, Regina realizes that her relationship with Emma isn't on as stable of grounds as she previously believed it to be. Emma's known this for some time, and has had simply the worst time trying to tell her why.