Emma anxiously awaited the woman's reply, but before she received it, her alarm for work went off, and she was forced to leave her apartment disappointed. Maybe her writing was horrible? Maybe all their conversations had been a dream?

This thought stuck in her mind throughout the day at work, until she got in her car to drive home. On the way, though, instead of finding relief, she found tragedy.

Still not having received a response, Emma sent the girl another message.


Regina,

It's okay if you can't or don't want to… but I at least have to ask you…

Please, call me as soon as you can? I need someone to talk to.

(978) 431-8655

Emma


The call came through moments later, but Emma's sobs drowned out the sound of the young woman's silk-smooth voice.

"Emma? Emma, are you okay?!"

"Gina," Emma sobbed. "My cat Pickles got hit by a fucking car. He didn't make it."

"Oh, my God. I'm so, so sorry, Emma. I wish… I wish I could-"

"I wish you were here."

"I do too, honey. I am so sorry."

For the next couple of minutes, Regina whispered, "It's okay," and "I'm right here," a few times, just letting the girl cry on the other end of the line. Eventually, though, Emma's tears slowed nearly to a stop.

"Thank you so much for calling me," Emma said slowly. "I didn't think you would."

"What? Why?"

"Well, you hadn't replied, so I thought maybe… maybe I creeped you out, or-"

"Not at all. I was at work, sweetie. I just walked in the door right before I called you. I'm just sorry I couldn't have gotten to you sooner."

"It's okay, love. I'm glad you called."

"So, um… I don't know if you noticed this when I called or not, but… My number is a 207 number."

"No, I… I just kind of answered it. Wait… You mean you live in Maine?!"

"Yeah. Storybrooke. Where are you in Massachusetts?"

"Boston! You're only a few hours from me!"

Hearing Emma's smile, Regina let out a relieved sigh.

"What?" the blonde asked.

"Nothing. It's just good to hear the smile in your voice. It's beautiful."

"Mine? Listen to yours. It's smoother than honey…"

"Oh yeah?" Regina asked slyly, smirking slightly.

"Yeah. I like it. It's sexy."

There was silence on the other end of the line as Emma tried to collect herself and take a few slow, steady breaths. Regina was doing the same.

Finally, she said, "You're sexy."

"Nah," Emma laughed. "I'm fuckin' ridiculous."

"Shut up. You're fuckin' gorgeous."

"Gina…"

"What?"

"Don't say that stuff."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not true, and it makes me feel… I don't know."

"No, what? Tell me."

"It makes my heart race, okay?"

"Have you considered that maybe that's what I want?" Emma's mouth hung open, but she was silent as Regina continued, "I want to make you feel good."

"Why?"

"I told you, Emma," the brunette sighed. "I'm drawn to you. Everything you say. Everything you write. The way you sound…"

"Shit," Emma said suddenly. "I gotta go. My mum's calling, and I've gotta tell her about Pickles."

"Call me back?"

"Of course. Give me five minutes."

"Emma?"

"Yes, love?"

"I'm really sorry about Pickles."

"Thanks."

"He's at peace now, though. Take comfort in the fact that he's not suffering, okay? And know that I'll be here whenever you need me."

Emma hesitated, then finally managed, "Thank you, Gina. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"

"Okay, babe."

Five minutes later, as promised, Emma dialed the woman's number and waited for her to pick up.

The first thing the brunette asked was, "You okay, Em?"

Emma's tears had returned, but she had mostly calmed down since her last phone call.

"I'm alright. Thank you, Regina."

"Of course. I'm just glad you asked for me."

"I was scared to," Emma confessed. "Like I said, I didn't think you'd call."

"How could I not? Honestly, I was dying to hear the sound of your voice. I have been since I first saw your face."

"But why?"

"Because I knew it was going to be perfect."

"You're ridiculous," Emma told her, laughing lightly and sniffling a little as she wiped her nose with a tissue.

"Ridiculously infatuated, I think."

"Sorry… What?"

"I think you heard me."

"Yeah, but-"

"You're captivating, Emma. That's all I know. I'm enchanted by you."

"You're a real flirt, you know that?" Emma sighed, pushing a hand through her hair.

"Only with you, my dear."

The blonde laughed, "Oh, stop," and shook her head.

"I mean that. I'm not like this with anyone else. I just can't help myself around you. I want to call you dear… honey… darling…"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah…"

"Anything else?"

"I don't know… I mean…"

But Regina trailed off, so Emma said, "Alright. Listen, I should get some sleep. I've gotta work early tomorrow. But I'll text you when I wake up."

"Did I upset you?"

"No, hun. I just need to decompress and take some deep breaths, you know? Try to collect myself. Tonight was really shitty. Except hearing your voice. That was… That was perfect."

"What did you expect me to sound like?" Regina asked slowly.

"I'm not sure. I guess… sweeter. Not so… I don't know… fucking sexy."

"Oh, come on," the brunette laughed, taking her turn to be skeptical.

"I'm serious. It gives me butterflies."

"Oh, Emma…"

"I'll text you, okay?"

"Alright. Sleep well, Princess."

"Goodnight, my queen."

It didn't take long after hanging up the phone for Emma to realize she wasn't going to be able to sleep any time soon. All she could think about was the voice of the woman she was so intensely drawn to.

Finally, she rolled over, grabbed her phone, and sent Regina a text.

'Emma: Are you awake?'

Regina's reply was almost instant.

'Gina: Yeah, honey. You okay?'

'Emma: Can you call me back? I really want to hear your voice again. Just for a little bit longer.'

The phone rang almost as quickly as Emma had sent the text message, and she answered the call eagerly.

"Hey," Emma said into the receiver.

"Hey, beautiful. What's going on?"

"I can't sleep. I keep thinking about your voice."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah… I know this is really fucked up… but… will you talk to me until I fall asleep?"

"Of course, honey. That's not fucked up. What do you want me to talk about, though?"

"Anything. Everything. Just say whatever you're thinking…"

"I'm thinking about that picture you posted."

Emma laughed, asking, "Why?"

"Because you're beautiful, Emma. Your eyes. Your smile. Your lips…"

"My lips…?"

"Uh-huh…"

"What about them?"

"Emma, don't tease," Regina protested.

Emma couldn't see it, but the brunette was sticking out her lower lip.

"I hear you pouting," Emma laughed. "Knock it off."

"Hold on a sec."

A little confused, Emma went silent and sort of stared at the ceiling as she waited for the girl to say something else, until her phone buzzed. She pulled it away from her ear and looked down to find a picture of Regina with her lower lip stuck out, giving the best set of puppy eyes Emma had ever seen.

"Oh, my God," the blonde gasped. "You stop it right now."

"No way. Not until you stop teasing me."

"What if I like teasing you…?"

Regina paused, considering her response, then answered, "Then don't stop. You'll just have to suffer the consequences."

"Huh?"

"You torture me, I torture you. That's how it works."

"Tell me what you were thinking about my lips."

"No."

"Regina."

"Nope."

"Why won't you just tell me?" Emma finally asked in frustration.

"Because I'd rather show you."

The line went quiet again, until Emma's phone buzzed once more. When she looked down, she saw a picture of Regina licking her lips.

"You bitch," Emma breathed.

Regina just laughed.

"Two can play this game, Emma. But we should stop for tonight. It's late, and you need your rest."

"Wait!" Emma cried, a little louder than she'd intended to.

"Emma, you really should sleep."

"But you said you'd talk to me until I fell asleep…"

"I will, sweetie. I just think you should relax and try to rest. We'll finish our conversation tomorrow, okay? For now, I'll just babble on about Jaehwan, Taekwoon, and Wonshik. How's that sound?"

Unable to stop the smile that spread over her lips, Emma answered, "Alright," and listened to the girl speak until she couldn't stay awake any longer.

In the morning, Emma woke to a text from her crush.

'Gina: Good morning, beautiful. I hope you slept alright.'

Emma sighed and smiled again, then tapped on the picture of the girl giving her best pouting face and set it as the lock screen of her phone before texting back.

'Emma: Good morning, sweetheart. Thank you for last night.'

'Gina: You are very welcome. How are you feeling?'

'Emma: I'm a little better now, but I still can't believe he's gone.'

'Gina: I know what it's like to lose someone close to you, and it sucks. I'm sure he was a wonderful cat. Do you want to tell me about him?'

'Emma: I don't think I'm ready to talk about it yet. I gotta get to work, but I'll call you after, if that's okay.'

'Gina: Sounds good, darlin'.'

So Emma went through the first half of her day feeling more anxious to get home than usual. On her break, she checked her phone and found another text message waiting for her.

'Gina: Hey. I know you're busy, but I just wanted to say that I hope you're having a good day, and I'm excited to hear your voice again later.'

This, of course, brought a smile to Emma's face that motivated her just enough to get her through the rest of her shift. As soon as it was over, she dialed the girl's number.

"Hey, babe," she said happily. "What's goin' on?"

"Not too much on my end," Regina told her. "Just reading."

"Oh yeah? Becoming someone else's biggest fan?"

Emma laughed, but part of her wondered if it was true.

"Of course not, silly. I'm not even reading fanfiction."

"What ya reading then?"

Emma climbed into the driver's seat of her yellow bug as she listened for the girl's reply.

"Jane Eyre. It's one of my favorites."

"I never would've pegged you for a Charlotte Brontë fan."

"Well, darling, she's got nothing on you, but she is rather talented. Still, I'm a bigger fan of her sister, Emily Brontë."

The blonde could hear the smirk in Regina's voice and enjoyed the way it changed the sound of her words. She longed to see that smile in person.

"So… can I ask you something?" Emma asked, suddenly serious.

"Anything, love."

"Why don't you write?"

"What?"

"Well, I know you read fanfiction, but why don't you write it?"

"I'm a terrible writer."

"I seriously doubt that."

'Well, it's true."

"I won't believe that until I see it."

This made Regina laugh, but she tried to stay serious, saying, "You never will."

"Alright. How about this? I don't write you anything else until you write me something."

"What?! That's bullshit!" Regina nearly screamed into the phone. "That's not fair! I can't live without your writing, Emma! You know that. Please don't fuck around like that."

"I am not 'fucking around,' Regina. I'm being serious. I want to read your writing, and I know this is the only way to make that happen. Besides, it only seems fair. You post for me, then I post for you."

There was a long pause before Regina replied.

"I'll send you my writing, but I won't post it publicly. Deal?"

"Deal."

"So what do you want me to write for you, anyway? What fandom? KPop?"

"No… Something girl-on-girl."

"Okay… Like what, though?"

"I dunno. What about Harry Potter?"

"What?!"

"What? I like Harry Potter, okay?"

"Okay, fine. What couple then?"

"I dunno. Surprise me."

"Okay. I'll write Hermione and McGonagall."

"Regina!" Emma laughed. "Come on."

"Okay, fine. Actually, when I was younger, I used to write a little bit of Hermione Granger and Fleur Delacour."

"I thought you said you didn't write?"

"I don't post what I write. I don't talk about my writing. I don't share my writing. It's mine, and it's private. So, you should be pleased with yourself. You're the first and last person who's ever going to read it. Also, you're a manipulative bitch."

"Actually, I've very pleased with the way this is turning out. I get to embarrass you for a change and not feel like such an idiot. It's kind of nice."

"Oh, shut up, Em," Regina giggled. "Anyway, what's your email? I'll send it tonight sometime after I eat. I just don't want to do it via fanfiction."

"It's just 'Emma Swan at Gmail.' Pretty easy to remember."

"Is… Is that your last name? Swan?" the brunette asked slowly.

Emma smiled and said, "Yeah. Pretty silly, huh? Emma Swan."

"Not at all! I think it's perfect. Hence the FanFiction username, I suppose. It suits you. Anyway, I better get going. The faster I write this for you, the faster you have to write something else for me."

"I'll write while you do. What do you want to read about this time?"

"Oh, anything, really. Everything you write is always amazing."

"Don't be such a flirt, Regina," Emma teased. "Just tell me what you want me to write."

"Okay, fine. Write me some GOT7 smut. Jackson and Jaebum."

"What? Those two? Really? I would've thought you'd say Jaebum and Jinyoung."

"Too cliché."

This earned a laugh from Emma, who shook her head playfully as she pulled into her own driveway.

"Alright. JackBum for a pairing it is, then. You post tonight, and then I'll post mine and text you when it's up."

Regina's next question came slowly, after a long pause.

"Can I call you before bed?"

"Oh course you can, honey. You can call me whenever you want."

"Alright," the brunette said cheerfully, a smile tugging at her lips. "I'll talk to you later. Good luck!"

"You too, dear."

For the first time in a long time, Emma was stuck. Writer's block hit her like a train, and when she opened the blank document on her computer, nothing poured from her imagination to her fingertips.

"Shit," she hissed, slapping her hand against the keyboard. "Hey, there we go! That's a start!"

The page read, "aw;hioiejfiw;rg."

"Well…" she pondered, her lips forming a frown. "Maybe not."

A few hours later, around ten o'clock, the piece was finally done. Only about 2500 words, but it was done. Of course, just to torture her crush, it was dripping with smut, and ended with an explosive orgasm. She waited until Regina texted her that her own piece was up before posting hers. In fact, just to make sure she'd really done it, Emma read the whole thing first. Regina's was longer: 5016 words. Emma was jealous of the girl's ability to write so fast, but her elation stifled that emotion and allowed her to feel pure, unadulterated adoration for the girl who had written it.

Instead of posting her own piece and texting Regina that it was up, she called the girl as soon as she'd mentally processed the last word, about fifteen minutes after she'd finished reading.

"Gina, holy shit!" she shouted, as soon as she heard the click of the call being answered.

"What? What?! Was it that bad?!"

"NO! Babe, it was perfect!"

"Oh, shut up. You're a dirty fuckin' liar."

"YOU are RIDICULOUS, Regina-" she started, then was cut off by her lack of surname. "Wait… I don't even know your last name…"

"It's Mills," the girl answered slowly. "Regina Mills."

"Oh, God, hun… That's… That's perfect. It's like… like music."

"Jesus Christ! Stop it."

"Regina! I'm serious!"

"Emma Swan!"

The blonde groaned and flopped back on her bed in exasperation.

"Don't say my fucking name like that. I can't take it."

"What do you mean?"

"I just… I love the sound of you saying it, even when you're mad." Regina opened her mouth to speak, but when no sound came out, Emma added, "Especially when you're mad."

"What, you wanna be scolded by me?"

"No. But maybe I want to be punished by you."

"Emma, don't…"

"See?"

"No, asshole. I don't see. I'm 240 miles and 3 hours and 38 minutes away right now."

"You… You looked it up?"

"Of course I looked it up, dork. I wanted to know how long it would take you to get to me when I can't fucking take the phone calls anymore." Emma went silent, so Regina asked, "Em? You still there?"

"I, uh… Yeah. I'm… You want me to come see you?"

"You're being an idiot."

"What do you mean?"

"Of course I want you to come see me! Well… Actually, I'd rather come see you. I've never been to Boston, and I've always wanted to go to the aquarium and the museum of science… But I didn't… I didn't want to… You know… Invite myself…"

"You are so invited! Come see me! I'll take you anywhere. Anywhere you want to go."

"I… Really?"

"Yeah, babe. Of course. Anywhere."

"I heard the Holocaust memorial is really… difficult to see. But I'd like to…"

"It is hard, to read all the quotes on the towers, but it's beautiful, in a really sad way."

"It'll be hard to stomach, I think, but… if you're with me…"

"I'll hold your hand all the way through, if you want. It's doesn't take very long to go through it. It's just six towers with quotes on each wall inside."

"I'm… Emma, is this really happening?"

"If you want it to. I need a little time in advance to plan, clean up the immense tornado of a mess in my room, and get time off from work, though. For now, phone calls are gonna have to get us through. Can you wait a few weeks?"

"I don't know… I look at your pictures all the time… It's not enough."

"Let's video chat, then."

"Really?"

"Well, yeah. It's the twenty-first century, isn't it? Everyone video chats."

"Uh… I haven't… Er… Um…"

"You've never video chatted before?"

"No… I've never really had a reason to. I don't usually leave reviews or go into chat rooms, so I've never really made a friend online before."

"So I'm your first online friend, huh?"

"Just because I met you online doesn't mean you're just an 'online friend.' Besides, I want to meet you in person. I don't want this to be just an online thing…"

"Well, once you meet me, I'll have no reason to write anymore."

"What?! What do you mean?!"

"Why would I keep trying to impress you if you're already here?"

"Well, maybe because you want a little more than a friendship… and you know I'm in love with your writing."

"You really mean that…?"

"Yes. It would break my heart if you stopped writing."

"It means that much to you?"

"It means the world to me."

"You…"

Emma trailed off.

"I'm what, Emma?"

"You… You're a really good writer."

"I… That's… That's what you were going to say?"

"Well, yeah…"

Luckily, Regina couldn't see the blush rising to Emma's cheeks. This is way too fast, she was thinking. What am I doing? I'm in such deep shit…

"Anyway, where the hell is your piece, missy? You promised!"

"I said you post tonight, and that I'd text you when it was up. I never said I'd post mine tonight."

"Emma Swan! Don't be a tease! I know you're done writing! Post the goddam piece right now before I implode!"

"Oooh, fierce. What are you gonna do if I don't?"

"I'm going to drive there right now and slap the shit out of you, you manipulative little punk!" Regina joked, trying hard to stifle the laugh threatening to escape.

"Oh yeah? You wanna slap me around? Do it," Emma countered. "Better yet, fucking write it, you pansy."

"You want me to write a fic about slapping the shit out of someone?"

"No. I want you to write a piece about you slapping me." It was Regina's turn to go quiet, and when she had been silent for a while, Emma added, "Was that… uh… weird? Yeah. That was weird. Too much. I'm sorry. I'm an idiot. I'm sorry. I-"

"Hush. It's… It's not… It's not… weird. It's just… I don't… I don't write about people I know."

"You also lied and said you didn't write."

"I'm serious. I don't write about people I know."

"Come on, Gina… If it's really not weird, write it."

"Why? So you can have a wank and then make fun of me for it?"

"Regina! No! So I can… you know… see how you imagine it."

"Imagine it yourself. I don't write about-"

"People you know. You said that. I got it. I just think it's silly."

"It's not silly! It's too personal."

"That's probably true. That I can understand. After all, that's like sharing your deepest, darkest desires with someone. And that would just be no fun…"

The brunette's face flooded with color as she lowered the phone and stared at the picture of Emma that displayed when she called the girl's number. The smile on Emma's face was intoxicating, and it distracted Regina from the conversation.

"Yo. Gina?" Emma asked loudly, realizing that Regina hadn't heard the last few words she'd said, since she hadn't gotten a response.

This being loud enough to snap her out of her trance, Regina put the phone back up to her ear and said, "Yeah. Sorry. I was… I got… uh…"

"Distracted?"

"Er… Yeah."

"Am I that boring?"

"What? No! I just… I was…"

"What distracted you, then?"

"I was… It… I'm sorry. I just…"

"Regina."

"Your picture, okay? I moved the phone away from my ear to look at your picture, just for a second… and then it turned into… more than a second…"

"Seriously?"

"You're beautiful, Em. Captivating. I told you that."

"I know you said it, but I still can't believe it."

"Whether you believe it or not is irrelevant to the truth of the statement."

"Well, well, well. That's some hoity toity language there."

Laughing, Regina replied, "Whatever."

"Anyway, I get why you don't want to write it now. Sorry I pushed. I should've thought of that. Really, I shouldn't have even suggested it. It was dumb."

"Wait… Emma…"

"What?"

"Why don't… Why don't you write it?"

"What? Me?"

"Yeah, you. You're the professional here."

"Oh, my God. Don't. That's ridic-"

"Shut up, punk. Don't make me punish you for talking back to me."

"Don't make me hang up to escape you torturing me!"

"I wasn't… Oh. Alright. I guess I kinda was."

"You're a goddam flirt. You know that?"

"Maybe…"

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

They both laughed at this, but when the sound finally stopped, Regina said quietly, "Please write it, Emma."

"Why? So you can have a wank and then make fun of me for it?" the blonde mocked, repeating the girl's words back to her. Made a little nervous by Regina's sudden silence, Emma added, "I really can't. I'm too embarrassed."

"See?! I told you."

"I know. I apologized!"

"Now you know how it feels to be asked to do something like that and to have to decline."

"I do. I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Regina sighed. "I'm sorry too."

"Anyway, in all seriousness, I'm gonna post the fic right now, okay?"

"Really?!"

"Really. Hold on a sec. I'll tell you when it's up."

"I follow and favorited you on Fanfiction. I'll get a notification in my email as soon as you do."

"Huh?"

"What? You're surprised?"

"I mean… Yeah. A little."

"You're my favorite author, FearlessSwan. You always will be."

"I… I'm flattered. Really, I am. But you're crazy, girl. Absolutely bonkers."

"Maybe so, but I'm also pretty crazy for you."

Emma's mouth dropped open, and she was thankful that they weren't in fact, video chatting so that the girl couldn't see the display of shock and surprise.

"Emma?" Regina asked, when there was silence on the other end of the line.

"Yeah… I, um…"

"I'm sorry. That was too forward. I shouldn't have said that."

"No, I… It's okay. I just-"

"I should go. I want to read your piece when you post it, and I don't want you to hear me squealing about it and fangirling over you."

"Over me, or my writing?"

Regina was also relieved by the fact that she wasn't on camera, since she was currently blushing even brighter than before. The blonde seemed to have that effect on her.

"Your… Um… Your writing," she finally answered, only telling half of the truth.

"Hmm… Okay. If you say so," Emma teased, hearing the lie in her voice but not wanting to push for the truth she already knew (and was still surprised by). "Anyway… I'd kind of like to hear you squealing." When there was another silence on the other end of the line, Emma gasped and blurted, "I mean, about my writing!"

"Oh, yeah? Not about… I don't know… you touching me?"

"Regina, stop! I just meant-"

"Mhmm. Okay."

"Don't tease me," Emma groaned, slamming her fist down on the bed in frustration.

"But I like it… I like making you squirm."

"I'm not squirming! You're just mean!"

"Uh-huh. Sure."

"You are!"

"Maybe I'm mean, but I know you're squirming. I can hear it in your voice."

"So what? What if I am?"

"Then I'm getting the results I want."

"You're good at that," the blonde grumbled, her brow furrowing.

"I'm not reading this on the phone with you."

"C'mon, Gina. Please? Just do this for me. If you won't write about us, just… read it with me on the phone. Please?"

"It's way too embarrassing. I can't…"

"Okay… Well… What if I do something hella embarrassing first?"

"Like what?"

"What if I… if I read it to you?"

"What? Seriously? You mean, right now? Like, over the phone?"

"Like over the phone. Right now."

"No, Emma… I can't… I couldn't take it…"

"What do you mean?"

"I can't fucking wank with you on the phone, alright?!" Regina snapped, wanting to throw the phone down and scream from the shame she was feeling.

Her crush's eyes went wide at this confession, and, not knowing what to say but knowing she should speak, she simply fumbled out the words, "But I want you to."