*All characters belong to once upon a time I do not own them*

(Based in late 1700's) the italics are the characters thoughts this is my first time writing so I hope you enjoy. Sorry for the grammatical mistakes.

*based in late 1700's in Williamsburg Virginia Emma is gap! If you don't like don't read. Both girls are orphans and the story shall develop from there*

REGINAAAA! The sound echoed through the hallways of the orphanage. It shocked Regina out of bed and as she glanced around to get her bearings, she hopped out of her cot and raced to put on her worn gown. For as an orphan you don't get much, but Regina never felt ungrateful for she had friends and usually had a positive outlook on life. The 15 year old soon the be 16 ran down the stairs causing some of the older girls to give her looks of disgust and mumble how she'd never attract a man with such ungrace. But Regina paid no mind for she had one thing in mind at that moment.

"You're late." she heard as she entered the kitchens. She looks towards Granny, the woman who was in charge, and said, "I'm sorry Granny but I had the most wonderful dream I went too far off lands saw the sea looked at the twinkling bright lights in the sky." She had such an innocent and pure smile on her it was hard for Granny to stay cross. "It is good for you to think of better things. I know this is not the ideal living situation, but young lady if you want to actually get out of a place like this you need to watch your time. Regina you are so beautiful and smart any man would be lucky to have you. Hopefully me lending you to Mrs. Glass will help someone catch eye of you. Now scoot, the boys need their food and Mrs. Cora is waiting." Regina blushed under the compliments grabbed the baskets and as was almost flying out the door when she heard "Don't forget your "birthday" dinner is tonight!" And as she was rushing away she shouted, "I won't Granny!"

While on the road Regina contemplated what granny said. Why do I need a man to be happy? I am smart, I know if I worked hard I could be self-sufficient, who am I kidding? In this day in age I'll be lucky to even get married. She felt a tiny bit discouraged, for yes Regina did know she was beautiful but never tried to put the spotlight on herself. She loved to read and learn about how the world worked and she especially loved to help out with the young kids at the orphanage for it gave her great joy seeing the little smiles on their faces or when they gave her flowers. She had been told she had cinnamon colored eyes that held the whole world in them with her long onyx hair, her tan complexion and of course her dimples. Looks were great but she wanted to be married for more than that. She loved that she learned to read and write for some of the kids in the orphanage couldn't. The only reason she learned is from watching granny take inventory and when she was young Granny would read stories to her and she wanted to make the words magical. So she worked hard and hoped to get out of this orphanage. To make money and be able to get the orphanage away from the claws of Mr. Gold, for that man was vile. Regina was so into her thoughts a cart full of hay from the fields almost ran her over. The man muttered wench under his breath. Though Regina heard, she smiled and wished him a good day and scurried off to the mill to deliver breakfast to the boys. For the older boys were tasked to help build another mill for Mr. Gold as one of the payments the orphanage was tasked to fulfill.

She got to the mill and saw a shock of blonde move fast around the lower scaffolding. "Excuse me but I have the meals granny sent," Regina said and all the suddenly the boy whirled around so fast he lost his footing and landed hard on the wood floor, just barely missing some nails sticking up. Regina rushed over "Are you alright I'm so sorry I didn't mean to startle you I've been told I'm quite clumsy and that rubs off on others" she rambled away, hand on the boys heart. While she spoke ocean green eyes stared are the beauty in front of her. Emma had only ever caught glimpses of Regina around the orphanage for Emma didn't spend much time with the girls. Her eyes, her lips that are so kissable, the tiny scar on her upper lip I wonder what caused it. I will get vengeance for my Regina. Who could've put harm on this angel? Emma realized she was staring she grabbed Regina's hand and squeezed it, the embarrassed rambling stopped making Emma miss the melodic voice already. "It's ok Miss Regina, I am a bit clumsy myself." she gave a small chuckle she pulled them both to their feet not realizing just how small Regina was. Emma was tall for a girl the last she got measured was on her 16th "birthday" and she was 5"8" at 18 years old she wasn't quite sure about her own height but Regina must have been a good 5"2 or 5"3. They stared at each other, Regina's hand still in Emma's until and whoopee of "our boy is finally going to get a kiss" they both jumped apart and Emma went to slap the other boy's shoulder "shop off" Neal just got a look in his eye "Happy birthday Regina I'll be sure to be there at your dinner tonight." "Thank you Neal just don't work to late," Regina replied. At this moment Emma had a feeling bubbling in her that she didn't like, jealousy how could it be for I don't even know her but before her thoughts could go too far she heard a "Why don't you try to come to….I'm sorry I don't even know your name even though I've seen you around the grounds," Emma loved the color rushing to Regina's cheeks "I'm Emmett" "Well nice to meet you Emmett I'll see you hopefully tonight." Emma croaked out a bye as Regina left the mill site. "Isn't she grand" Emma turned her head to Neal's declaration and could only keep watching Regina slowly disappear into the busy streets of Williamsburg.

While Emma ate the delicious meal Granny packed all her thoughts were trained on Regina. I don't know this feeling, I just feel I need to protect her, to care for her, and I feel that we're significant to each other somehow. I really want to get to know her she's perfect ahhhh love at first site, wait love no, I don't love her but I'd do so admire the girl. She is graceful, but I see a spark of fire in her eyes. She probably gets all the guys I mean look at me I'm not even a guy and if I was I'm not book smarts like her. If she knew the real me she would get scared off, but I must get to know her.

Emma was not like most girls, that is why she hung out with the guys. She didn't squeal over boys for she knew she liked the presence of a lady much better. She hated dresses and she was always covered from head to toe in dirt. Granny found Emma on the doorstep of the orphanage with just a blanket that said her name. Throughout Emma's childhood, Granny found this little girl quite extraordinary and clever. However, she was no ordinary girl. She wore breeches and work shirts and vests for that was what she realized she was comfortable in. Granny found a bright blue eyed baby girl on the steps of the orphanage and the only thing that made her different was the appendage between her legs. Granny wondered who could be so cruel as to give a child away because she was different, Granny was sure that was the reason little Emma was on the doorstep. Granny raised Emma with the girls until she reached 11 and that is when little girl's bodies changed. While the other little girls got budding breasts and experienced their periods, Emma's stayed basically the same. Marian, one of the mean girls who made fun of Emma's boyish frame, stole some of Emma's clothes from the bathhouse while Emma was bathing. Forcing Emma to run where the laundry was to at least find a sheet to cover in. But sadly Marian was waiting with her lanterns lit up. There was laughter everywhere as the girls pointed and jeered at Emma "You're not a girl, what is she? Do you see what's in between her legs, she is not a girl she will now be known as Emma the abomination. The memory still haunted Emma to this day and that is when Granny moved her in with the boys and she renamed herself Emmett. Emma sighed and looked at herself, adjusting her worn breeches "Why would a girl like that want me?" she said to herself.

Regina made it to Mrs. Glass house "Your uniform is upstairs" she states. Regina made it to the tiny servants quarters closed the door and slowly started unlacing her gown until she was only in her shift. She heard something that made her world come to a frozen halt and sent chills up her spine. "You know dearie, I could help you in your state of undress, for a body like that should not be put to waste," a voice so serpentine could only mean one thing. "Gold" it came out short and clipped, from the shadows there was a maniacal giggle as a cold hand trailed a path from Regina's neck downward to unwanted areas. A cold wind whipped by Regina's ears "At your service dearie"...