-Age 16-
It was raining, and Regina always found that calming. She sat on her window's ledge, as she watched the drops race down the window, betting on which drop would reach the bottom first.
Oh how she dreamed, to go out in the rain again.
She was trapped, never allowed out of the prison her mother called a home. Father had tried to reason with her, but with all that had happened, even father couldn't calm her rage.
Was what she felt her fault? Did the feelings that had stirred up in her long ago cause all of this pain, and regret? No, she had only meant not to hurt Emma.
-six years ago-
"I won't stray far mother, I'll stay on the street, you have my word, if only you would let me go outside!" Regina begged, tears streaming in her eyes. Oh how she wished she could go outside! Everyday, she watched the other boys and girls playing outside. Pretending they were pirates and miscreants, or playing soccer. Regina didn't care what she did, for as long as she was able to go outside, to feel the sunlight on her skin, and smell of fresh air, feel it trapped deep within her lungs, she would do anything.
"Absolutely not. All you're going to do is get hurt, scrap your knees, get dust in your eyes, break your bones! Why won't you see it is I that knows best." Her mother hadn't even looked her way, not a flicker in her gaze from her book towards Regina. Her father was sitting beside her mother, reading the newspaper, but obviously paying more attention to the conversation than her mother.
"That's okay! That's why you have magic, you can fix me you can-"
"Dearest, why not let her go outside? All she does is ask and ask, and you know it would just be easier. Just let her play in the backyard, have the servants watch over her so she doesn't get hurt. I assure you she shall be well tend-"
"That isn't the point!" Her mother sighed, finally closing the book, almost half of her attention finally made it to Regina's face. " Regina you have studies to do, there isn't time to play outside. Have you even finished those books I've given you?"
"Yes," Regina groaned ,"And I'm bored. Let me play outside until tomorrow, then I shall stay inside and continue my studies. Don't you have to see Rumple to get the new set of books anyways?"
"She has a point dear", her father added, his sight not once leaving the paper now.
Her mother sighed again, this time putting her palms to her face. She took a long moment before responding. Saying a sentence that Regina would not soon forget.
"Fine. For today only, until I retrieve your books. When I call you, you shall be inside, and you mustn't leave the backyard. these are my conditions. Do you understand?"
Regina ran to hug her mother's legs, squirming with excitement. "Yes mother! I understand! May I go now?"
With a lazy flick of her hand, she picked up her book, and waved Regina off.
She ran toward the back door, and flung the doors open so hard, she swore she felt the house shake. She grabbed her coat and scarf, nearly forgetting to grab her shoes, and closing the door slightly more gentle behind her, she ventured off into the wonders of her backyard.
Regina had never been farther than her backyard, and that was okay. Her world was so small and fragile, this was enough for her now. Tall oak trees decorated the enormous yard, autumn leaves decorated the ground in neat small piles. Regina raced through the leaves and giggled as they would flew up into the sky and float daintily back towards the ground. She found an old branch, and ran along side the tall brown fence, pressing the stick into the wood to make a satisfying clicking sound. This was her own, personal world, where anything she wanted to happen, would happen. She fell down on her back, her chest heaving with utter joy, she thought she may burst. Her blue coat and black scarf nestled into herself, feeling the effects of gravity. Nothing could possibly make this day better. What would she do with this new found freedom? Shall she summon one of the servants to fetch her some tea, and have a tea party in the leaves? or make a fort with the sticks laying around the ground near the shed?
"What are you doing?"
Regina froze. Did she hear something? No, it had to be her imagination.
The voice came again.
"Hey! Up here!"
Regina got up from the leaves and looked to the fence. A little blonde girl was looking over with piercing green eyes. A small smile was on her face along with, though half covered by the fence. Her skin was fair and cheeks rosy.
"Who are you?" Regina questioned in a strong yet firm voice. Her mother had taught her how to properly speak to people. Loud but clear, with a sort of command to her voice, so everyone would know what she wanted.
"I'm Emma. I haven't seen you outside a lot, did you just move here?" Emma laid her chin against the edge of the fence, her eyes not moving from Regina's.
"No. I've been here my whole life. Mother doesn't like me leaving the house much though."
"Why?"
"Because she wants me to study, and she doesn't want me to hurt myself."
"But you can hurt yourself on books!"
Regina made a sour face. "How can you hurt yourself on a book?"
"Well, you can get a paper cut. See! I got one!" Emma held up her bandaged pointer finger, " and sometimes, if you read too much, your head hurts a lot."
"Yeah, that's true. But being outside you can break your bones, and scrape your knees!"
"But if you're having fun, its okay. When you get hurt, you get better later, right?"
Regina had thought about that, but her mother had never agreed. There was a silence between the two, the leaves rolled by, and Emma's hair blew in her face. She swatted the long curls until they were no longer in her face, but tucked behind her ears.
"So um… do you wanna play?"
Regina was stunned. No one had ever asked her to play.
"I… I can't."
"Why not? I saw you playing in the leaves"
"Mother says I can't leave the yard."
"Can I come over to play than?"
A huge grin came over her face. "Sure! But how will you get back over the fence?"
"Don't worry! I can get over the fence just fine!"
Emma hopped over the fence, her green coat caught a plank of wood, and tore on the way down. He feet slammed to the ground, her eyes wide with terror.
"Oh no! My jacket! My jacket! Oh no!"
Emma took off her jacket and examined the rip.
"My mom is going to be mad."
Emma's eyes welled with tears, her bottom lip trembled.
Luckily, Regina was there to the rescue.
"Can I see your jacket?"
Emma nodded sadly, as Regina took the jacket. She placed the jacket on the ground, took a deep breath, and waved her hand over the jacket. A blue glow came over the rip, and the jacket began to repair itself. The cloth mended, and the stitches went back into their rightful place. Regina smiled at her work, and held up the jacket to Emma.
"I fixed it!"
Emma stared at Regina, her jaw dropped in disbelief.
"Wow! That's amazing! you can do magic?! Wow wow wow! Thank you so much Regina!"
Emma threw herself at Regina into a hug. Regina had never hugged anyone but her father before, and she didn't mind that Emma was hugging her at all. Emma drew back, a giant smile on her face as she put on the coat.
"It feels like it fits better than before! You're so cool Regina!"
"Thank you Emma! Do you wanna play now?"
"Yes! Do you wanna play tag?"
Regina stopped, the smile left her face." How do you play?"
Emma laughed, "Come on. I'll teach you. I'll be it. Since I'm it, you have to run away! If I touch you, you're it and you have to touch me! Get it?"
Regina nodded shyly, "Okay!" And started to run.
They must have played tag for hours, never knowing what the word tiered was. Soon Emma taught her how to play hide-and-go-seek, and it seemed for the longest time that the sun would never go down.
"EMMA! DINNER!"
Emma stopped in her tracks, and Regina ran straight into her, clunking heads.
"Ow ow ow ow!" Regina held her head, as did Emma. When Emma saw the small tears welling in Regina's eyes, she stopped immediately.
"I'm sorry Regina are you okay?! I hope I didn't make you cry! I'm so sorry!"
Then Emma did something that shocked them both.
Emma moved Regina's hands from her head, and gently kissed her forehead.
"My mom says kisses help heal boo boo's. Do you feel any better?"
Regina sat there, wide eyed.
"Yeah, that helped. Thank you!"
Emma smiled brightly. "Well, I got to go. Let's play again sometime okay?"
"Okay! Goodbye Emma!"
Emma gave her a quick hug, and made her way over the fence.
Regina wondered if she'd ever see her friend Emma again.
