A/N: Story was partially inspired by two songs, Photograph by Ed Sheeran and Never Alone By Shawn Mendes.
Memories are in Italic.
Bad decisions.
That should have been Emma's middle name because it seems that's the only kind she can make.
Her latest bad decision came in the form of Neal Cassidy. A two-bit low-life piece of shit that got her mixed up in his bullshit. So now here she was, driving as fast as she could east in her VW Bug.
One bad decision after another and this is where she ended up.
Emma told herself that it all started when she met Neal in a crowded bar in San Francisco but she knew she'd be lying to herself.
She knew exactly when it started and now she was hoping to fix all that.
Emma stopped at a gas station somewhere on Interstate 80 to fill up.
As she pumped gas she caught her reflection in the back window of the car. She looked like hell and rightly so. She barely slept and even when she did memories flooded back to her in the form of dreams.
She closed her tired eyes as she thought back on the last two days when she'd been in San Francisco with Neal.
"I swear to God Emma I didn't think he'd find out!" Neal said as he followed her around their small apartment while she packed.
"You're right you didn't think!" She yelled at him as she shoved some of her clothes in a duffle bag.
"You got involved with the wrong people, you stole from them and now they want their god damn money back." She yelled as she tore through the dresser in her room, "And of course you don't have it so now they are coming after you."
"Any fucking minute now those guys are gonna bust in here and I'm wasting my time trying to explain shit to you because you're a moron!"
She stopped and looked at him, "I don't want to be involved in your bullshit anymore."
"I should have left a long time ago." She said as she grabbed a few more things from her bedroom and shoved them into her bag, "Actually, I never should have come to San Francisco in the first place." She added as she pushing passed him.
"Emma, where are you going to go?" He asked as he followed her out of her bedroom.
"Don't worry about it. Just know I'm not sticking around here any longer." She told him.
"So you're just going to leave?" He asked her.
She turned and looked at him, a sad look on his face, "Yes."
She opened the door, the strap of her bag slung over her shoulder.
"Fine leave then!" He yelled at her as she slammed the door shut behind her.
The handle on the gas pump clicked and snapped her out of her thoughts.
Emma returned the nozzle to the pump, got in her car and continued down Interstate 80.
Emma pulled onto a side road and parked. She hunkered down in the front seat using an old sweatshirt as a pillow. She hoped to get a few hours of sleep before getting up and heading on her way.
A memory from her past filled her dreams.
She sat down by the docks and watched as a shipping boat left the harbor.
A dark haired woman sat down next to her, "What are you doing up so early?"
Emma looked at her, "I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to wake you."
"Something on your mind?"
Emma took the woman's hand in hers then stared out at the water, "No." She lied.
Emma was up before dawn and back on the road.
As the sun started to come up more memories swirled in Emma's mind as she drove.
Emma tore out of her car and slammed the door shut, "Are you fucking blind?!" She yelled to the driver of the vintage red convertible Mustang that just rear-ended her.
"The light was red!" She continued, "That means stop in case you weren't aware of it in this small little backwater town of yours!"
"I'm truly sorry." The woman said, "The sun was in my eyes."
Emma looked at the back of her little yellow Volkswagen beetle, "Aw god damn it, look what you did!"
"Please just calm down." The woman said, "I will pay for the damages."
"Damn right you will!"
"Let's just exchange information." The woman said as she handed Emma her insurance and license.
A police siren whooped and both women turned around to see a tall lanky man with short brown hair approach them.
"What happened here Regina?" He asked the woman.
"It was totally my fault, David." Regina said to him.
He looked over at the damage then to Emma, "Are you okay Miss? Do you need an EMT to look you over?"
"No I'm fine but look what she did to my car!" Emma said to David.
"Don't worry Miss, we'll get everything taken care of." He told her as he went back to his car and got on the radio to call a tow truck.
"I'm Regina by the way." She said holding out her hand.
Emma folded her arms across her chest, "Emma."
Not exactly the way it goes in the movies but it was the start of a love story nonetheless.
She stopped at a gas station before Skull Valley and grabbed gas and a few snacks before getting back on the road.
A small part of her couldn't help but wonder what happened to Neal. She'd ditched her cellphone back in San Francisco and didn't want to risk calling and having him find out where she was going.
Neal hadn't always been a moron. He was a bartender and made good money and things had been good for him up until about 6 months ago then Neal started doing shady things. He'd come home late smelling of booze and cigarette smoke and Emma would ask him where he'd been and he'd tell her not to worry.
How stupid was she to have believed him?
She sighed. Served her right for this is what she got for wanting an exciting life outside of a small town.
Emma made a quick stop at a McDonald's to grab some food then parked her car in the parking lot of a 24 hour Walmart and tried to get some sleep.
"Shit, Regina what the hell did you do?"
"Seems I got into a little fender-bender Mulan." Regina said to the Asian woman who was wiping her hands on a rag.
"You're the mechanic?" Emma asked looking the woman up and down.
She was dressed in gray coveralls, a red bandanna covered most of her jet black hair and she had a smudge of grease on her left cheek.
"Name's Mulan." She said holding a hand out to Emma.
"Your name tag says Ed." Emma said shaking her hand.
"Yeah, well these aren't my coveralls." Mulan told her then walked over to the two cars that the tow truck just dropped off.
"Regina, it looks like you'll need a radiator and fan." She said, "But I'll have to get under the hood to be sure."
She then walked over to Emma's beat up Bug and sighed, "What'd they do to you, you poor thing?"
Emma leaned over to Regina and whispered, "Is she talking to the car?"
"Shh." Regina said quietly.
"More than likely I'll have to order the parts." Mulan said.
"Are you talking to me or the car this time?" Emma asked.
"To you." Mulan said smiling, "Follow me." And they followed her into her cramped office.
"I can wait on my car. Just make sure you get Emma's car fixed up." Regina told her.
"Always making sure the other person is taken care of first." Mulan said with a wink.
"Whatever the cost-."
"I'm sure you'll pay it." Mulan said with a smile.
Emma looked between the two women.
"Uh hi, can you two flirt on your own time?" Emma asked then looked at Mulan, "How long is this going to take?"
"No, need to get jealous honey." Mulan said to her and Emma sighed.
"About a week." Mulan told her, "I'll call you when the work is done."
Emma wrote her number down on a piece of paper and handed it to Mulan.
Mulan smiled and looked at Regina, "And that's how you get the digits."
Emma rolled her eyes.
"It seems you're going to be in town for a while till your car gets fixed." Regina said to Emma, "I know a place you can stay." Regina said to her.
"Where?" Emma asked.
"It's within walking distance from here." Regina told her.
"I bet everything in this town is." Emma said then looked at Mulan, "Can I get my things from my car?"
"Yeah sure." Mulan told her.
After Emma grabbed her bags she came back into the shop and she and Regina walked over to the inn that was across the street from a small diner. They went inside and a tall pale woman with black hair standing behind the counter smiled at them.
"Hi Ruby." Regina said to her.
"Hey Regina." She said then turned her attention to Emma and with a head nod asked, "Who's your friend?"
"I'm not her friend." Emma said, "I just need a place to stay while my car gets fixed."
Ruby looked at Regina.
"Just a small accident that was my fault so please send me the bill for her room." Regina told her.
"I can pay for my own room." Emma said to Regina as she pulled out her wallet and handed Ruby a credit card.
Regina turned to Emma, "If you'll excuse me, I have to go but I do hope we run into each other again soon."
"Run into each other?" Emma asked, "Is that some kind of post-accident joke?"
Regina smiled at her as she turned and headed out the door.
God damn if that woman didn't have the best smile in the world. There was just something about it, it was inviting but had a small hint of danger to it.
Emma got settled into her room upstairs then decided to explore some of the small town.
She found there wasn't really much to it. Just a few basic shops down the main street and the marina where all the boats were.
She wandered down the street when the whiff of something sweet caught her attention. She sniffed and followed the scent till she ended up standing in front of the only bakery in town.
"Enchanted Delights huh?" She said to herself as she pushed the door open and went in. The heavenly smells overwhelmed her as she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.
"Be with you in a minute!" A woman called from the kitchen.
Emma looked at all the desserts and treats in the glass cases and her mouth started to water.
"So what can I get you?" The woman asked as she came through the double doors.
Emma looked up to see Regina wiping her hands on her apron.
"What are you doing here?" Emma asked surprised to see her.
"I like to come in and man-handle the dough before the baker gets here." Regina told her.
Emma gave her a strange look and Regina chuckled.
"This is my bakery." Regina told her.
Emma looked around the small shop, "It's a nice place."
"Thank you." Regina said as she took off her apron, "I also live upstairs so the commute is short."
"So, see anything you like?" She asked as she stepped up to the counter with a smile.
'Kind of a loaded question isn't it?' Emma thought to herself then pointed at one of the coconut cream pies.
"Would you like a slice or a whole pie?" Regina asked as she pulled the pie from the case.
"Just a slice please." Emma said to her.
Regina smiled and cut her a thick slice before placing it on a white porcelain plate. She held it out for Emma, "There you go."
"How much do I owe you?" Emma asked as she took the plate.
"On the house." Regina told her.
"Thanks." Emma said then sat down at one of the tables.
She hadn't realized that she'd been sitting for almost an hour after she'd finished her pie but she got lost in some kind of trance as she watched Regina serve customer after customer that came into her shop.
A loud clattering thumping noise came from the kitchen then someone yelled "Son of a bitch!"
Regina ran through the double doors.
Moments later she came out of the kitchen with a shorter blonde haired woman who was covered in a flour and egg mix.
"Just go home and get cleaned up Tina." Regina said as she ushered the woman to the front door, "I'll handle it from here."
"Who was that and what happened to her?" Emma asked Regina as she passed her.
"Well that's Tina my friend and sometimes helper." Regina told her, "But she also likes to tinker around with things. She did something to the mixer to make it more powerful and well, you saw the results." Regina told her, "God help her, she's not that good at the tinkering but she makes one hell of a maple glaze donut."
Regina went back into the kitchen to clean up the mess and Emma continued to sit at the small table watching the people of the Storybrooke as they walked by the big front windows.
Moments later an older gentleman with salt and pepper colored hair and a beard to match came into the shop.
Regina came out of the kitchen and went up to the counter.
"What can I get for you old man?" Regina asked him.
"Give me a minute will ya?" He grumbled as he looked at all the desserts.
"I could have baked two pies by now." Regina said with a tone.
"Well go do that then." The man said to her as he moved down to where the pies were.
"There." He said pointing, "Give me a slice of peach pie to go and don't be stingy with the whip topping."
Regina cut the man his slice, covered it in whipped topping and handed it to him with a plastic fork.
"Thank you." He said then turned and headed out the door.
Emma had been watching the whole exchange and now she was curious. She got up and headed to the counter.
"Another slice of pie?" Regina asked.
"No, thanks." Emma said, "But what's the deal with you and the old man?"
"Oh him?" Regina said, "He comes in here every day, gives me a hard time then orders the same thing before he leaves to eat on the bench out there by the fountain."
"You two don't seem to like each other very much." Emma said.
"Are you kidding me? I love that guy." Regina told her and Emma gave her a curious look.
Regina smiled, "He's my dad."
Emma was jolted awake by a hard rapping on her car window.
She looked up and the light from a flashlight blinded her. She shielded her eyes.
"You can't sleep here."
Emma saw that it was a security guard, "Okay, Okay." She said as she sat up in the driver's seat.
"Sorry about that." She said through the rolled up window as she started her car.
The security guard stepped away and Emma drove off.
She had only managed to get a few hours of sleep so at the next gas station she ran as quickly and as safely as she could through the rain and into the mini-mart. She got a large cup of coffee and a couple of energy bars. As she left the mini-mart, a payphone caught her eye. So standing in the pouring rain she made a call.
"Enchanted Delights, how may I help you?"
When that familiar voice came on the line, Emma's heart skipped a beat. She closed her eyes and hung her head. She wanted so badly to say something but fear choked her and she slammed the receiver down.
Soaking wet she returned to her car and got back on the road.
"Thinking about stowing away and heading out to sea?"
Emma turned to see Regina standing there.
She smiled, "You caught me."
Regina sat on the bench next to her, "Is Storybrooke really that bad?"
Emma shrugged her shoulders, "Is there more to the town than what I've seen these last 4 days?"
"I'm afraid what you see is what you get." Regina told her, "But it's a good town and it does grow on you if you give it time."
Emma gave her an unsure look.
"Let me buy you an ice cream cone." Regina said as she stood up.
"Ice cream?" Emma asked, "This is how you're going to win me over?"
"It's a start." Regina said and Emma stood up.
They walked to the small ice cream shop and Emma looked up at the sign, "Your Sundae Best?"
"An ex-nun owns it." Regina told her.
"You're kidding me right?"
"Nope." Regina said as she opened the door for her.
They went inside and a woman in her 40s smiled at them. She had beady brown eyes and her long brown hair was pulled back and put in a low bun.
"Hello Regina." The woman said.
"Hi." Regina said then turned to Emma, "This is Lea Rubify, the wonderful owner of the best ice cream shop around."
"Oh stop." Lea said to Regina.
"And Lea, this is Emma." Regina said.
"Hi." Emma said with a head nod and Lea smiled.
"So ladies what can I get the two of you?" Lea asked them, metal ice cream scoop in hand.
Regina looked at Emma, "You trust me?"
"I don't even know you." Emma said with a chuckle.
"You have a point." Regina said, "But let me pick your ice cream."
"Uh and why would I do that?" Emma asked.
"Just consider it a trust building exercise." Regina told her then turned back to the counter.
"I'll take Maple Walnut in a waffle cone and for Emma—." Regina trailed off as she looked at all the different ice creams, "Hoof Prints in a waffle cone."
"Hoof Prints?" Emma asked with a strange look on her face.
"It's good. You'll like it." Regina told her as she watched Lea scoop their ice cream.
Lea handed them their cones and Regina paid before saying thank you and leaving the shop with Emma behind her.
Emma was about to take a lick when Regina stopped her.
"Wait." She said, "Let's go sit by the fountain first."
They sat down along the fountain, the coins in the water glinted from the afternoon sun.
"Can I have my ice cream now?" Emma asked cone inches from her lips.
Regina nodded and watched as Emma took a slow lick then closed her eyes.
She smacked her lips savoring the creamy taste.
"That's some really good ice cream." Emma said to Regina as she opened her eyes.
Regina smiled, "I know."
Emma knew she should probably stop daydreaming about the past and focus on the road but sometimes memories creep up on you when you least expect or want them to.
"I've got some good news and some bad news." Mulan told Emma as they stood in her shop.
"I thought when you called me and told me to come down here it was to tell me you had my car fixed." Emma said, "So if that's not it then what's the good news?"
"I found the part I needed." She told her.
"And the bad news?"
"It's in Seattle." Mulan told her, "It'll take at least another 5 days to get here."
"Damn it." Emma cursed quietly.
"I'm real sorry." She told her.
Emma shook her head, "It's not your fault. It's just what I get for driving a dinosaur of a car."
"What's with the grumpy face?"
Emma turned on her stool in the diner to see Regina standing next to her.
"Mulan said it's going to take a little longer to fix my car." Emma told her.
"Sounds like good news to me." Regina said as she sat down.
Emma gave her a look.
"It just gives us more time." Regina said.
"More time for what?" Emma asked.
"To get to know each other better." Regina said smiling.
"Planning to take me out for more ice cream?" Emma asked as Ruby poured Regina a cup of coffee.
"I was thinking more along the lines of dinner." Regina told her, "But we can get ice cream afterwards if you like."
"Are you asking me out on a date?" Emma asked her.
"I am." Regina told her.
Emma smiled as she stood up and put some money on the counter, "Pick me up at 7."