Emma scratches her temple with the back of her pen as she scans over the list of clues for the crossword puzzle that is sitting on the tray table in front of her. She actually does not care for word puzzles, but if there is anything she dislikes more, it most certainly is flying. Just the thought of the five-hour long flight has her stomach in knots, and right now, the only thing she has that can take her mind away from traveling is this magazine that the previous occupant of her seat has just happened to leave in the seat pocket in front of her.

Emma looks up for a moment to see that they are still boarding the plane and quickly glances over to the two seats beside her. Flying on Christmas Day does have its perks, as they are both still unoccupied. She turns her attention back down to the magazine hoping that by some miracle, she gets to have the whole row to herself.

No such luck however, because a few minutes later Emma watches from the corner of her eye as a woman reaches to put her luggage in the overhead compartment before taking the aisle seat in her row. From the little that Emma can see of the woman, she notices that she is in a very high pair of heels as well as a very form-fitting pencil skirt. It makes her a little self-conscious knowing that she herself is wearing a baggy sweatshirt and running pants, but she would never forfeit her comfortability, especially while on a plane. She does have a lot of respect for the folks who are dressed to the nines when they travel. It seems like a lot of work and even though she sees no point in it, just the amount of effort itself is very admirable.

Emma once again concentrates her attention to what she has already started filling in on the page in front of her. When she feels her phone vibrating, she pulls it out to check the message. It is an email from Julia telling her that she was very happy that they were able to spend the last couple of days together and she wanted to wish her a Merry Christmas again. Emma sighs. Her and Julia ended their relationship a few months ago, on good terms, with Julia realizing that she really wanted to spend her life with a man in the end. Emma decided that she wanted to preserve the years of friendship they had built so when Julia moved to New York, Emma offered to help her get settled in. That hardly means though, that Emma is not still bitter about the whole thing.

Emma thinks back to when she had first developed romantic feelings for Jules. They were good friends all through their time at university together and she learned quickly that it was more than friendship that she wanted from Julia. She remembers following the other woman around like a lost puppy and how devastating it was for her when they graduated and had to go their separate ways. They kept in touch regularly at first but as time went by and they both got busier with their own respective lives, they eventually lost track of each other altogether.

A few years ago, Emma was coincidentally in the same hotel that Julia was staying at for a business trip, so they had dinner to catch up and reminisce about their college days. With the help of several Manhattans and a couple shots of Tequila, Emma confessed to Julia that she had spent a very long time pining over her. One thing led to another and when Emma woke up the next morning with a very naked Julia in bed with her, she knew that she was in trouble.

Thinking back on that now, Emma smiles to herself. That was the beginning of an eight-month long, whirlwind romance and if you would ask her, the relationship lasted longer than she even believed that it would.

After the most civil breakup conversation she has ever had with anyone, Emma vowed not to ever get involved with another straight woman again.

Emma is brought out of her thoughts when she hears the flight attendant speaking to her.

"Miss, the cabin door is now closed and locked. We are going to begin our takeoff shortly. Could you please put your tray table up?" The woman asks.

"Oh, yes, of course." Emma says nervously, the word "takeoff" making her stomach do somersaults.

When Emma looks over, she sees the woman that is sitting next to her turn towards her as she takes a quick glance out the window. They catch each other's eyes for a quick moment and Emma sees her face for the first time. To say that she thinks the woman is breathtaking would be quite the understatement. She has short, dark hair framing her perfect face, very light makeup with exception to a dark red lipstick, and to top it all off, a pair of thick-rimmed glasses which is a definite weakness of hers. The woman smiles at Emma and she is suddenly very grateful she is already sitting down. Otherwise, she would probably feel her knees buckle. Emma returns the smile and turns her head away just in time to let out a nervous breath.


Regina is grateful that she will finally have several hours to herself. Once she is back in Seattle, she has to make her way straight from the airport into the office for an emergency shareholders meeting. Whatever the meeting is about, she is certain it must be very important, or else they would not have called everyone on Christmas Eve just to request their presence during the holiday. Normally, she would be cursing the fact that she must give up spending time with her family but the last few days at home has been incredibly trying.

Regina's family made the decision to have Christmas in New York this year, at her sister and brother-in-law's new home. Everything was going great until they all focused their meddling minds on Regina and her current relationship status. It is no surprise to anyone that knows her that she is single and generally uninterested in dating. Most of her colleagues will tell her she works too much, clocking close to twelve or thirteen hours a day, sometimes even longer than that. Her family have told her that she does not make enough of an effort to meet new people. But the truth is, she is just not really interested in sharing her time with anyone else. The older she gets the more comfortable she realizes she is with just being perpetually single, but her parents do not share that same sentiment.

Regina is brought out of her reverie when the flight attendant makes a stop at her row during the final flight check. Regina turns to look out the window for a second and catches the eyes of the woman sitting in the window seat in her row. She notes that the woman is absolutely gorgeous and before she can help herself, she smiles at her. The woman returns the smile before turning her face back towards the window.


When the plane is finally off the ground, Emma sits back with her head against the headrest and closes her eyes tightly. She grips the armrests and takes a few slow breaths in hopes that it will help her to relax. She suddenly feels eyes on her but does not open her own to confirm her intuition. She just sits as still as she can and continues to breathe slowly until she feels the plane start to level out. Moments later, the flight attendant's voice is on speaker again letting everyone know that they are now at the required altitude and that the beverage cart would soon be making its rounds.


Once the plane is off the ground, Regina looks over to see that the beautiful blonde woman seems to look slightly paler than she had before. Her body language is telling Regina that she must either really dislike flying or she actually may have a fear of it. She watches as the other woman takes slow breaths, her chest rising and falling with each one and recognizes that she herself uses that same technique when she needs to calm her nerves.

Regina finally looks away reluctantly when the flight attendant is telling everyone that they could now use their wireless devices. She pulls the computer out of her bag and turns it on. Within seconds of getting connected to the Wi-Fi, she receives multiple messages from her sister and her father, both apologizing for being overbearing and nettlesome. Regina smiles to herself and sighs. Then she responds as lovingly as she can and tells them that she loves them and will call them once she lands in Seattle.


"Miss, would you like something to drink?" The flight attendant asks Emma.

"Would I ever. I'll take two bourbons and a Sprite, please." Emma says anxiously.

"Certainly." Then she turns her attention to Regina. "And for you, Miss?" She asks.

"I'll have a red wine and a glass of water, please and thank you." Regina says. Then before she has too much time to talk herself out of it, she speaks up again. "And the two bourbons are on me as well." Regina turns back towards the blonde after she receives confirmation from the flight attendant and smiles.

Emma has a look of confusion on her face. "Uh... I-"

"I noticed that you seem to be having a less than stellar experience with the flight so far. I was going to ask if I could get you a glass of water earlier when we were taking off, but you seemed a little preoccupied with your own thoughts. I hope that this will help you to feel a bit more at ease." Regina says, still smiling.

"I... Well, thank you. You really didn't have to do that though. Now I feel like I should buy the next round." Emma says, smiling genuinely.

Regina laughs. "Normally, I would take you up on that offer, but I'm afraid that I have to go into a meeting once we land in Seattle. It will probably not be a very wise idea to have more than this one drink. But, I really appreciate the thought."

The sound of the woman's laugh makes Emma's heart start racing and she smiles easily at her. "I see. Well, if you decide that you want a snack or a tuna sandwich from the food cart, I've got you." Emma says with a wink. Then she extends her hand. "I'm Emma by the way. Emma Swan."

Regina takes her hand. "I'm Regina. It's very nice to meet you, Emma." She says.

Emma beams feeling much better about the flight all of a sudden. "Likewise. So... you said that you have a meeting today? But it's Christmas." She wonders if she is being too intrusive, but she does not want their conversation to end.

"Yes, it is. Whatever it is that my bosses and our shareholders want to talk about, it evidently couldn't wait." Regina says.

Emma is impressed and honestly a bit intimidated. "Wow. You must be pretty important then, if your presence is being requested by all of the big guys."

Regina laughs again. "I don't know about that, but I'd like to think that they like to hear my feedback every once in a while."

There's that laugh again. "Well, they are definitely lucky to have you if they can pull you away from your family and friends on Christmas Day." Emma says nodding.

Regina smiles. "To be honest, I was happy to get away."

Emma raises an eyebrow inquisitively.

Regina chuckles. "God, that must sound horrible." When the look of confusion does not leave Emma's face, she continues. "My sister and brother-in-law got married last year. They have a wonderful home in New York and she's pregnant with their first child. I, on the other hand, am single, living on my own, and do not really have plans to change that any time soon. Family time is not nearly as great as it used to be because naturally, my parents are now constantly worried that I will end up an old maid."

"Oh, I highly doubt that would ever happen." Emma blurts out without meaning to speak aloud and when she realizes that Regina is smirking at her comment her eyes widen in horror thinking that she has misspoken.

"Oh?" Regina says.

Emma continues talking nervously, unable to stop herself. "I just mean that you're obviously beautiful and awfully intelligent. There's no way that you will become an old maid."

Regina smiles devilishly. "Obviously beautiful, huh?"

Emma looks down at her glass as she feels her face get hot and she stammers helplessly. "I, uh... I mean…"

Regina frowns when she sees Emma's reaction and leans over closer, reaching out for her. She touches Emma's forearm lightly hoping to convey the sincerity in her words. "I'm sorry. I was only teasing. I really appreciate the compliment, I do. It is very sweet of you to say that."

Emma looks up again and smiles shyly still unable to find any words, this time due to their proximity to one another.

Regina pulls away when she realizes that she is in the other woman's space. "Anyway, it's really the fact that I am not actively looking for a relationship that makes my family nervous. They don't really understand how I could possibly enjoy being alone." Regina says as she takes a drink of her wine. "But, let's stop talking about me. Why are you traveling on the holiday?"

Emma frowns. "It's kind of a long story."

Regina looks down at her watch turning it towards Emma. "It looks like we still have a good four hours before we land in Seattle." She says with a cheeky smile.

Emma laughs. "I was helping a friend get settled into her new apartment. She moved away from Seattle last weekend and I flew up to help her with a few things."

Regina squints her eyes at Emma. "Why do I get the feeling that isn't the whole story."

Emma chuckles and finishes her bourbon and Sprite in one large gulp. "She's my ex-girlfriend. The friend that I helped. She moved from New York to Seattle a while ago when we started dating and she decided that she wanted to move back when we broke up."

Regina frowns. "Well, that was very kind of you. I can't imagine that was an easy task for you."

Emma shrugs. "It is what it is. I mean, I kinda knew that it wasn't going to work out. I am the first woman that she has ever even kissed so it wasn't exactly surprising to hear that she really wants to find a man to spend her life with."

"So, if you knew that it wasn't going to work out, why didn't you end it first?" Regina asks.

"That's easy. I was so in love with her." Emma says confidently.

Regina hums at Emma's response.

Emma smiles. "What? Was that not what you wanted to hear?"

Regina shakes her head. "No, no. I was just thinking about how that is exactly why I really enjoy being alone."

Emma chuckles. "I'd say 'cheers' to that but I'm out of bourbon. And I was never good at being alone, but before Julia, I was actually single for a long time. That's probably what made me think that there was hope for me whenever I ran into her again."

"So, you knew each other before?" Regina asks.

"We were college roommates and it probably took me a day and a half of being in the same room with her to fall for her. That sounds super cliché, I know." Emma says laughing. "But, it really was just that easy. After we graduated, she moved to New York and I stayed in Washington. We stayed close for about a year or so and then one day, we just didn't email each other anymore. By chance, she was in Seattle again for work and without really meaning to, we ended up in bed together. A week later, she was moving in with me."

"Wow." Regina says. "She seems like a very impulsive person."

"That's one way of putting it." Emma says smiling.

Regina notes that Emma has a very beautiful smile. "Do you miss her?"

"Well, I just saw her three hours ago." Emma says.

Regina rolls her eyes. "You know what I mean, Emma."

Emma laughs. "Sure, I do. But in a way, our actual relationship was much-needed closure for all those years I spent hoping that she'd be more than just my roommate. I think that I can just let the whole thing go now, ya know?

Regina nods.

"Anyway, it's my turn to ask questions. Do you really enjoy being alone? Don't you get lonely?" Emma asks.

Regina shrugs. "Yes. Of course, I get lonely. But, that never really lingers. I work a lot and don't have much free time."

Before Emma has a chance to say anything, the flight attendant is by them collecting their plastic cups and trash. Emma hands hers over and waits for Regina to do the same before she speaks up. "So, do you think that you don't have much time to date because you work a lot, or, do you work a lot so that you won't have much time for dating?"

Regina smirks. "This conversation is getting a bit psychological, don't you think?"

Emma shrugs. "You don't have to answer me. I just wanted to put that out there. I used to spend a lot of time keeping myself busy. Now, I kinda understand the psychology behind why I did it, so, I just thought that I'd ask."

"No, you're right. I like to be busy so that I don't really have to think about a lot of things. Not just romantic relationships but relationships in general. I suppose that I'm just not very good at caring for other people." Regina says.

"Well, I doubt that's true." Emma states.

"How can you say that when you barely know me?" Regina asks, genuinely curious.

"You bought me a drink earlier because you noticed that I was uncomfortable with flying. That's hardly a trait of someone who is not very good at caring for anyone but herself." Emma answers.

Regina smiles. "Touché."

"Anyway, that's probably just something you tell yourself to justify the fact that you don't like to go on dates." Emma adds.

Regina smiles. "Did my parents pay you to take this flight and sit in the same row, just so you could have this conversation with me? Because I feel as though this is starting to sound all too familiar."

Emma frowns. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overstep…"

"It's fine." Regina says sweetly. "I'm only kidding. And I don't know why but it sounds a whole lot nicer coming from you than it does from my family."

"Well, I just think that you're probably selling yourself short, that's all." Emma says with a smile.

Regina smiles gratefully. "I think that your friend Julia is going to have a very difficult time finding someone that is more of a flatterer than you are."

"Oh, for sure." Emma says with a wink and a nod.

They spend the rest of the flight chatting a little here and there, but Regina eventually has to turn her concentration back towards her computer and her work emails while Emma goes back to her magazine.

Emma has almost completely forgotten about how much she hates flying when the captain announces that they are going to start their descent into the Seattle area. Emma immediately tenses and slowly puts her magazine back into the seat pocket in front of her. She checks her seat belt and once she finds that it is secure, she wraps her hands onto the armrests, gripping them tightly. She closes her eyes and starts to count her breaths however, before she gets to her third deep breath, she feels a hand on top of hers.

Regina smiles when Emma turns towards her and opens her eyes. She is not sure if what she sees is doubt or gratitude, but she pulls Emma's hand slowly off of the armrest and intertwines their fingers giving it a squeeze. Emma finally relaxes and lays her head back on the headrest.

Once the plane lands, Emma lets out a sigh of relief and looks over at Regina who is already looking at her. She smiles. "Thank you." She says gratefully.

Regina returns her smile. "You're welcome."

They sit in silence as the plane taxis up to the gate. Neither of them even realizes that they are still holding hands until the plane comes to a full stop and the seatbelt light is turned off.

Regina is first to recognize it and slowly releases Emma's hand. She clears her throat awkwardly. "I should get my carry on." She stands up and pulls open the overhead compartment pulling her luggage out. "Do you have anything up here?" She asks Emma.

Emma just nods because she cannot seem to find her voice. When she is able to speak again, her voice is hoarse and quiet. "It's the gray duffel." She says.

Regina reaches for the only gray duffel in the compartment and hands it over to Emma.

Emma smiles in acknowledgement. She opens her mouth to speak again but before she can, it is their turn to exit and when Regina turns to walk towards the front of the plane, she follows her.

Once they are finally off of the plane and in the terminal, Emma feels much better. She blinks a few times to clear her head and when she looks up, she sees that Regina is standing a few feet away staring back at her. She smiles and walks over to the other woman. "Hey, thanks again. I'm sort of really glad that I won't be flying back to New York anytime soon. That was really rough."

Regina bites the inside of her cheek hesitantly. She realizes that she would really like to see Emma again and considers asking her if that would be a possibility. But ultimately, she decides against it. "Well… I-"

"Can I see you again?" Emma blurts out suddenly.

Regina beams suddenly very glad that Emma is more courageous than she is. She reaches into the inside of her purse and pulls out a business card holder. She takes one of the cards out and hands it to Emma. "I would like that a lot. Both my email and my cell phone number are on there."

Emma smiles widely. "Thanks. Merry Christmas, Regina."

"Merry Christmas, Emma." Regina smiles again and before Emma has a chance to respond, she turns and walks into the crowd of people.

When Regina is no longer in sight, Emma looks down at the business card. Regina Mills, Chief Executive Officer. Her eyes widen in surprise. "Damn…" She says to herself as she chuckles. Then she tucks the card into a pocket on the side of her bag, careful not to lose it, and pulls out her phone so that she can call for a ride home.