Places You'll Be and Haven't Been: First Memory
Fandom: OUAT
Pairing: Swan Queen
Rating: K+/PG
Disclaimer: Everything that should belong to the proper owners and creators belongs to them.
Note: needing to put this down somewhere
Gentle hands wipe away her tears that cascade down her cheeks and a soothing hum that fills the silence between her sobbing hiccups. This girl is a stranger in this place, she's knows it, because none of the big kids ever bother with the little ones.
But.
Unlike the big kids, she's here, humming a tune she's never heard before in her short life, offering comfort instead of indifference. She doesn't think too much as her small body collides with the older girl's, her small arms circling tightly around her neck, hoping that she won't be pushed away like other times. Hoping that this comfort can take away the pain of rejection, of not being wanted, of the lies and empty words that will be the first things she begins to understand in a world where she has no one.
"They didn't want me."
The words escape from her and she's afraid that the older girl is going to leave her. Just like the rest of the older ones, the ones that carry too much in their eyes, the ones who hold no hope, the ones that tell the truth with harsh words filled with anger and resentment.
"Then they don't know what they are losing, Emma."
She can feel a smile coming forth, she rarely hears her name being called out and yet here's someone who knows it. Who says her name with a familiarity that speaks of deep affection and love.
"How do you know my name?"
A chuckle and a twinkle in the older girl's eyes are the only warning she gets before she's tumbling to the soft grass as laughter chases away her tears as she's being tickled.
"I know many things about you, Miss Swan."
"No! Don't call me that! I'm only three!"
"Yes, you are only three."
The tickling stops and she feels herself being pulled into a warm embrace, there's warmth everywhere and she hopes the older girl will be with her forever.
"Emma, I need you to listen to me carefully. Ok?"
She nods against the older girl's chest.
"Ok."
"I can't stay."
She's about to protest, plead, beg, do anything that could get the older girl to stay with her.
"Shh. Listen. I'll be leaving soon, in just a few seconds but I need you to remember that even when I leave I will always be there when you need me the most. I'll find a way, somehow, to stay at your side forever. That when the world has abandoned you, I haven't."
She feels tears fall atop of her head as the older girl's arms tighten around her.
"Because, I love you very much, Emma."
Before she knows it, she's being surrounded by a dark, purple cloud of smoke that she notes smells like the older girl.
"I have to leave now, Emma. But, remember what I said."
Once the smoke clears, she realizes that the older girl is gone and she's alone again. She doesn't cry and lets the warmth and comfort left behind from the older sooth her and hopes that her scent won't fade away from her clothes.
That was the first time she met Regina Mills at age 3.