Chapter One: After all this time

"After four-hundred years you would think that nothing would surprise me, but the day I met Emma could surpass any day before it. That day will forever be etched in my memory as a day for the history books."

That's what Regina has always said about Emma, it really is a great story though and it starts like any other story of it's kind. Regina was out at the local coffee shop reading her favorite book for literally the thousandth time. She had just finished her coffee and decided it was time she that she should go home. The espresso haired woman stood from her chair by the window and straightened her merlot blazer, Regina had always tried to blend into the regular public unlike most of her kind who only used the population as a feeding source. She considered herself a vegetarian of sorts only feeding on animals. Doing so turned her eyes a cognac color instead of the fiery red as most of her kind.

As she was walking down the street to her car she noticed a champagne haired woman sitting in ratty old sweats on the sidewalk, the woman had slender hands that were shaky visibly from the cold. Normally Regina would have tossed a couple coins into the can the woman was holding, but there was something about this emerald eyed lady that she couldn't help being drawn to. It was more than the blood that was pumping through her veins too, Regina had never found someone she was as drawn too. She walked over to the woman and kneeled down to talk to her.

"Hello there dear, my name is Regina. I couldn't help notice you sitting here, I know this may seem off to you but I'd like to have you come with me and have supper. I was headed home, however, if you'd like we can stay close and just go to a restaurant." The woman surveyed Regina unsure if she could be trusted, after all no-one in her life up until this point had any good motives. She however could not find any malice in the eyes of the kind stranger who had offered her food. The younger woman consented quietly to go to dinner, Regina could tell the woman was apprehensive about the ordeal so she knew she'd have to take it slow as not to completely terrify her. "Follow me then dear, I know a place close that has wonderful food, and it's quiet enough to chat if you'd like to." The woman stood, she placed her hand on what Regina could now tell was a baby bump, though it was small considering the woman's health state.

Regina walked into the diner where she would go to breakfast occasionally, the younger woman followed behind apprehensively. They walked to Regina's normal table and sat down, the waiter had hurried over to get their orders and then went back to taking care of his other tables. "Well dear, you know my name. What should I call you? I'd like to know with whom I'm speaking."

"My name is Emma," the woman responded. "Can I ask why you're doing this? People like you, don't care about people like me. You throw some change at us and call it a day. So tell me, what kind of game are you playing?"

Regina contemplated how to answer the question, to be honest she didn't fully understand it herself. She just knew she had to. "Honestly Emma, I don't know why. I saw you sitting there and I wanted to help you. I figured a hot meal would help, if there is anything else I can do I will. Clothes, help with the baby, anything to help. I can see something special in you, something that reminds me of someone special.