"Jesus, I can't believe you didn't get a picture!"

"I paid for a picture! I'll have one soon enough! Plus, I got one with Zelena."

"Oh my god, drrooool. Did you see Zelena's jacket? So gay. Oh my god."

Emma didn't regret that she had not taken a picture with Regina Mills. It was true, she had ordered a photo op and somehow that felt less exposing. She was probably just still smarting from the humiliation of the night before.

Because... what was she trying to keep from being exposed? She had no idea. Of course, she was attracted to the actor - weren't they all here because they were attracted to one or both of them?

So...

Maybe Tink was right and she was just a loser.

"Hurry up! I wanna get a seat at the bar." Red laced one arm through Emma's and the other through Mulan's to push them forward.

Once the actors had left, the party seemed to grow. People were beginning to drink heavier and in the center of the room, a small dance party had begun. It was all fun, but Emma and her friends had decided that it was time to move to the bar and get a good spot before everyone else got there.

"You really think they're going to come down?" Emma asked skeptically as they walked. Maybe she was crazy but she thought that the packed hotel bar would be the last place the actors would go to relax. Hell, even she wasn't completely sure about it at this point. She was tired and a quiet and relaxing drink sounded a lot better than a busy bar.

That feeling only intensified when they stepped through the bar's doors. The packed to the brim room went deathly quiet as every single head turned to see if the newcomers were who they all were waiting for. Then the bustle picked back up at full volume; people shouting, laughing, telling jokes and then retelling them when the cacophony was so loud that the punchlines couldn't be heard. The bartender was dancing, moving quickly from one end of the bar to the other and back, filling drinks as he went. In the corners, taking up small booths or cuddled together in scattered pairs; strangers hit on strangers hoping to get lucky.

"I NEED MORE GLASSES!" The bartender bellowed behind him and Emma's legs habitually twitched, ready to run at top speed and refill the glass rack behind the bar.

"Well, I don't think we're going to get a seat at the bar." Mulan chuckled. "I guess we aren't the only ones who remember that they came down every night during the last con."

There were no tables available so they ordered their drinks and then stood awkwardly in the middle of the floor as a group, squished between other random groupings.

Red grinned, noticing the woman she had been talking to during the cocktail hour, and disappeared.

"There she goes." Mulan laughed, happily. "I don't know how she does it."

No one else seemed bothered by the energy, as a matter of fact it seemed to feed them but it was giving Emma a headache. She felt like she was at work and that was making a knot form in her shoulders as she wondered if she had gotten away clean the night before or if Leroy was waiting for her return to take her head off. "Hey, what do you guys think of going somewhere else?" Emma tried with an overly convincing grin. They just laughed. "Alrighty then."

"Don't you want to see if Sam and Anna come down?" Ella asked, searching the crowd again.

Emma frowned, "Of course I do! And if Sam or Anna walked through that door then my panties would hit the floor faster than anyone else's here but that's not who we're waiting for, right?"

They stared at her like they had no idea what she was talking about.

"No, you're totally right," Mulan said with a thoughtful frown. "But Zelena and Regina are as close as we are going to get."

Emma tried to ignore her surroundings. She tried to enjoy her friends, but she was having a difficult time. Her drink was good and Mulan was on a steady roll, making everyone laugh but she just - wasn't feeling it. At all.

When a man beside them, wobbling ever so slightly, 'accidentally' steadied himself on her ass, Emma sighed. This really was like being at work. "You know what guys, I'm gonna get out of here."

"Are you sure?"

"Uh yeah. If they come down every day then I can do this tomorrow, right?"

They nodded and Emma slipped out of the bar door.

She rode the elevator with relief, ready to climb into some pajamas and face plant into the bed - and maybe read a chapter or two.

She had wanted a quiet drink but maybe there was a mini bar in the room, she hadn't looked.

She opened the door with the key, "Whoa!" Her hand slapped over her eyes as the women on the bed across from the door screamed in unison. "Dude! What the hell!"

Red began to laugh, "Hi!"

"Damn it, Red!" She lowered her hand and instead stuck it out so that it covered the naked asses….again.

"We'll be done soon."

"Fuck!" Emma turned away, "You could, at least, put a tie on the door or something! Jesus! Fucking nympho!"

She turned around and stomped back toward the elevator. Okay, since sleep wasn't an option…

She checked the bar, but it somehow had grown even fuller.

Goddamn it. Okay. Well.

She really did want to sit for a few minutes of quiet and enjoy a drink - maybe even keep going with her fic.

This was Anaheim, right? There had to be a Disneyland themed bar or restaurant near there that had calmed down for the night.

Without thinking about it twice, she started out of the automated doors and down the street.

She passed two bars within a block but they seemed to be just as busy as the hotel bar. She frowned at each one and continued on, especially when she heard a Colstead versus Carlie fight blaring from the second one.

Just when the streets were starting to grow a little too dark and silent, Emma noticed a small sign down the way. It was very subtle, a small plaque with flowery calligraphy and a wine glass. Emma couldn't hear anyone singing karaoke from inside and there was no music pounding so she went in.

This was exactly what she was looking for.

The bar was dark and still, a few tables and booths with people whispering with their heads together. The soft jazz track began melting the stir of tension in Emma's shoulders immediately. She took a seat at the bar inwardly shaking her head at herself. What was she doing here? She was acting like an old lady long before she was old. Plus, she had paid good money to go to this con! She should be partying her little ass off with her friends, not settling into this surprisingly comfortable barstool and pulling out her phone to continue reading her fic...which she could have done from home. Where was her cardigan and box of cats? Did they make Depends for those in their twenties?

"What can I get you, miss?" the bartender asked in a low voice.

"Um." She was embarrassed to admit, "I actually don't know much about wine. Is there something that you recommend for beginners? Or maybe a house red?"

He smiled kindly, "What type of liquor do you drink? Do you usually drink fruity sweet mixed drinks or are you an on-the-rocks kind of girl?"

"On the rocks, I guess."

He nodded and began fussing with a bottle for her. He poured a small amount into the bottom of a glass, about two mouthfuls worth and told her to try it.

At first, it was like taking a punch in the mouth and she had to work to keep her face neutral but then it mellowed and, hmm, it wasn't so bad.

He poured her a glass and she took another tentative sip.

No, this wasn't so bad at all.

She clicked open her phone and pulled up the story. She wanted to melt into it; only, she had left off at the beginning of a sex scene. She had forgotten about that! She started to read, her face flushing hot instantly.

Zelmantha and Reganna blurred.

Nope.

She put it back down.

Damn.

Maybe a week or so after the con, the way she saw them would go back to normal but right now, when 'Annabella Halstead' spoke of the soft sounds of pleasure that Anna was producing, Emma was picturing that woman from the night before - makeup-less and...

Besides. She had never been one to read smut in public. She couldn't! She sucked at it.

She pocketed her phone and sighed. How long would Red be with this random girl?

She let her cheek fall against her fist as she took another sip. She was tired.

Someone just to the right of her vision coughed and Emma reflexively glanced over.

Ugh, it was the douche from the night before. The big burly dude. He was now sitting with a little pixie of a woman, grinning and playing with her fingers. Was he on a date?

She rolled her eyes. Did that mean that Regina Mills was confined to her room? All of the people waiting in the bar wouldn't like that. Or did Regina have more than one rent-a-cop?

He was still wearing his uniform, she realized. And he was nursing a glass of water. This looked like an on duty rent-a-cop to her.

Her eyes scanned the area and hiccupped when, sure enough, to the left sat the woman who had been on her mind since the night before.

An excited blush crossed her cheeks and she instantly averted her eyes.

Then Emma went through the many stages of fangirling all within a few minutes. She panicked. She got excited and nearly rushed at her. She stopped breathing. She couldn't stop breathing. All before she mellowed back out and could think rationally again.

Regina was sitting by herself in the booth, clearly relaxed and reading a book with a gentle smile on her face. She looked so comfortable. She wanted to go over there and say something to her but - that would be a total shit thing to do, right? She's here relaxing.

She remembered the mob that had formed itself to her at the cocktail hour. That had to be stressful. Then again - she hadn't looked miserable. Maybe she didn't mind. Everyone likes to be admired, right? Only - she remembered her face the night before when the group of people had clearly thought Emma was a crazy fangirl. Regina's face - something different; something unhappy had been there.

But this is why you're here, Em. You're literally never going to have this chance again. Plus, her glass is almost empty. You can get her another one.

She argued with herself for the rest of her own glass of wine before finally she slipped from the stool telling herself that she had to at least try, right?

She approached slowly, her heart hammering in her throat. Every now and then she sent an anxious glance at the burly man, really not wanting another confrontation with him. She was pretty sure he would pick her up by her underwear and throw her through the window like in old western movies.

At the table, her cheeks flushed, "Hi."

The book lowered and those soulful eyes came up to meet hers.

"I uh, I don't mean to bother you. I was just wondering if we could share a glass of wine." Her eyes flew wide, "I mean, not share. I was wondering if I could buy you a glass of wine. I mean - can I join you for a glass of wine."

Smooth. Idiot.

Emma hadn't realized that she had been optimistically hopeful until she saw something dark flick across Regina's face. The wariness from the night before had nothing on this sudden frustration.

Emma felt herself blanch; instantly feeling like the world's largest asshole. Her initial thoughts had been correct; the poor woman just wanted to be left alone. "Uuuuuh, I'm sorry," she straightened, trying not to show her mortification, "I think if I were you, I would just want to be left alone. I would probably want a break from my fans. I'm really sorry."

Okay, now turn away; pay the bartender for your glass - and maybe an apology one for Regina - and then fucking leave….maybe all the way back to L.A.

"No, wait." Regina's voice was strides warmer than her look had just been but still didn't quite meet friendly, "I apologize. That was rude of me. Please, sit down."

Emma hesitated.

"Really."

Emma took a seat, signaling the bartender. "What can I get you?" she asked the woman beside her with a nervous smile.

The woman studied her for a moment then recited the name of her wine to the bartender in a low voice.

"And for you, miss? Do you want the same one or do you want to try something else?"

Emma grinned, "I'll try what she's having." When she looked back Regina gave her a skeptical questioning look, "Oh, uh," she chuckled, "I don't know very much about wine so I was letting him decide what to give me."

"If you don't know what you like then what are you doing in a wine bar?"

Emma's nose scrunched.

"What?" She spoke with mild curiosity at best, but Emma answered anyway.

"I'm just debating making up something that makes me seem suave and cool or if I'm going tell you the truth." Emma gave an exaggerated sigh, "Alright. I might as well admit that I was just looking for some quiet. I enjoy wine, I think, but really I just wanted something that didn't feel like where I work."

"Why is that something you wouldn't want to admit? We all need some peace and quiet at times."

"I guess so. Anyway, I just kind of started walking and I found this place. I like it."

The bartender set two glasses on the table and then nodded.

Emma liked this wine better. It was just as strong as the last, but there was something fruity and fun about the last second that it was in her mouth.

"Do you like it?" Regina asked, her eyes curiously studying Emma's face.

It made Emma blush all over again. "Will I sound like a silly suck up if I say that I do?"

"Would it be true?"

"Yeah."

"Then no."

Regina was looking at her again and Emma didn't know what to do with that. When she looked up at her she felt things in the pit of her stomach, so she studied her wine glass and tried to gather some charm.

"You said that you wanted something that didn't feel like where you work; where do you work?" Regina finally spoke; diving into the usual small talk.

"Oh, nowhere special. I'm in school by day and I work in a kind of sleazy bar in Westwood by night."

"Westwood?"

"Neighborhood by UCLA."

"Is there where you go to school?"

"Mmm-hmm."

The hint of a smile touched Regina's lips, "What's your name?" Her voice was quiet, calm and oh so smooth.

"Emma Swan." She gave her a crooked smile and offered her hand, "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Mills."

"And you, Ms. Swan."

"Ack! God, no. Emma. If I still get carded when I walk into bars then I kinda think I'm too young to be a 'Ms'."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-two." Emma realized she had no idea how old Regina was. She knew that Zelena was twenty-five or six but - she had never looked Regina Mills up on IMDB. "And you? I can't help but to think that the same rule applies for you."

"Is that your way of saying that you would like to call me Regina?"

Emma's stomach swirled, feeling stupid, "No! Uh, n-no, I just meant - shit."

Regina's grin split, "It's alright, Emma. Regina, please. Well, it's common enough knowledge that I am twenty-four but I don't often get carded. I can see why you do, though. You have a very young face. Are you really twenty-two?"

Emma frowned, "I think there was a compliment in there somewhere."

Regina looked down and straightened the napkin in her lap.

Did she just see her blush? Emma grinned; she liked it and wanted to see it again.

Their conversation was easy. Regina was offish but kind enough and Emma found that she enjoyed her. Every now and then she would say something that seemed to startle Regina and someone new would show through Regina's face but it was always swallowed away again within seconds. It made Emma wonder who the woman was behind Miss Manners.

They ordered a second glass of wine with no hesitation. A soft and lovely rose began to develop in Regina's cheeks as they talked of the show and of L.A.

When the bartender returned and asked about another glass they exchanged a look. "It's up to you. I bet you have a busier day tomorrow than I do."

Regina grinned that distant yet inexplicable grin and gave her that analytical stare that she had been using all night; the one that made Emma feel like her soul were spread across the table for Regina to read. "I suppose I can have one more though this must be my last."

Emma nodded and smiled to herself. Pleased that, while she had interrupted Regina's night - and she couldn't really tell what was going through her head - she didn't seem all that anxious to get away.

The pleasure wasn't because she was sitting here with the woman who played Annabella Colt, either. I mean, that was great and everything, but she realized that she liked this quiet mystery of a woman. In a surface way, of course; they didn't know one another, but she seemed very pleasant. Still, out of respect Emma had kept her questions and comments very polite, sensing Regina's reservation, until this one: "Aren't you worried that your fans will find you here?" She hoped that Regina wouldn't be put off by the personal nature.

She could tell at once that she was but after a second the look faded and as Regina sipped her wine her look became mildly guilty. It was the first time that the somewhat detached air around Regina broke and she saw the young woman instead of the actress.

"What?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure if I should tell you." Regina's eyes twinkled as she bit her lip.

Emma's stomach flip flopped but this time, it was for a whole other reason than being star struck.

No homo, Emma. Don't scare her with the gay - even if that was fucking adorable. "Well, now you have to tell me! Oh come on, I told you about being an old lady who searches out quiet wine bars instead of parties like a normal person."

"You're still a fan." Regina's eyebrow slowly rose and Emma inhaled sharply.

"True." She spoke, pushing through it, "But I pinky swear to hold my tongue."

"Oh?"

"Oh." Emma held out her extended pinkie and Regina, only pausing for a second, linked it.

Wait. Had Regina held on a bit too long or had she? She rolled her eyes at herself, of course, it had been her. She needed to watch that.

"Well." Regina leaned back against the seat, not looking quite as comfortable as she had before she had been interrupted but close. Was she finally wearing down the professional distance or was the wine simply working on Regina now? "No, I don't worry about it."

"Why?"

"They all stay in the bar."

Emma didn't mean to laugh quite as loud as she did, "That's for fucking sure. It was slammed. Standing room only. Something about you and Zelena Malvagio spending every night down there last con? Everyone was very hopeful."

Regina nodded slowly, "It was a very small convention. I hadn't been on the show for more than a few months; we hadn't gained a very large following. So yes."

Emma eyed her, thinking she was beginning to understand, "But you didn't go every night, did you?"

Regina laughed quietly, "Very astute of you. We went just enough so they thought that we would return nightly. That left us free to go somewhere quiet nearby and relax."

Emma chuckled, "You're an evil genius."

"I suppose tomorrow night will be my or Zelena's night. Belle was at the bar this evening, or is at the bar, I'm not sure. I'll go down and let them touch me, pull on me - hit on me. Then if I need another evening away I can have it." She spoke slowly, low and almost regretfully.

Emma studied her face and saw that the humor was gone, "You sound like you hate them." It wasn't an accusation and she was pleased to see that this stranger didn't take it that way.

"Do I? That's terrible because I don't, not at all. As a matter of fact, I love them. They gave me a career. Some of them are so kind, so complimentary. I suppose it's just a hard job; harder than most would think."

Emma wanted to ask for more information but thought that if Regina wanted to give that up then she would have already. "Actually, that makes perfect sense. I was watching you tonight at the cocktail hour. I don't know how you do what you do."

"Uh, is everything okay, Regina?"

Emma jumped. The huge man had appeared beside her, standing menacingly close.

Regina's face changed. She went from warmly distant to ice cold in a moment. Emma had heard of this - she had been told that Regina Mills could be - well, the word bitch was used, but thus far Emma wouldn't have believed it. "Now you ask, David? I must know, what is the use of you?"

Emma's jaw dropped.

"I uh - right." He glanced back at the woman from his table guiltily.

"David this is Emma, Emma this is David."

"Hey."

David just grunted and walked away, casting glances at her over his shoulder.

"I apologize, Emma. My head of security and I, well, we don't get along."

"I, uh, I get it. I mean, that dude is intense." She jumped again when she looked back at Regina. Her face had morphed into one of surprise, her lips slightly parted as she stared at Emma. "Oh." She had changed again, back to the kind, if not sad, woman she had been before David's interruption.

"What?"

"I remember you." She breathed making Emma's eyes widen and her heart beat fast.

Oh no, this was going to be when she realized that she was the one trying to attack her the night before. Shit. This had been going so well and now Regina was going to be freaked out.

"You're the one from last night."

"Okay, wait, let me explain."

Regina chuckled, "I should have known. I should have recognized those eyes."

That stopped Emma short, "Uh, what?"

Regina was still staring, "Well, you have to know you have stunning eyes. Has no one ever told you that before?"

Uh, yeah, she had heard it but never from someone with eyes like Regina's.

Another moment of recognition crossed Regina's face, "And you're the one I hugged."

"Oh god. Uh - yeah. Sorry about that. I uh - you're just - I wasn't prepared."

"Are you apologizing for calling me beautiful?" She asked, in a dry tone.

Emma grinned; there was something playful beginning to warm her eyes, "To be fair, what I said was gorgeous. Beautiful - doesn't cover it."

"I remember you." Regina grinned all the wider. "You smelled amazing."

This stopped Emma short again, "Uh - thank you?" Why was her stomach getting all butterfly-y? This was not...that...

"Well, you would be surprised about how often that is not true. The ones who smell nice tend to stick out above the rest; especially when you consider all of the people I hug in a day. I can come back to my room smelling rather...interesting."

Emma's mouth popped open and she hissed, "Ew. Really?"

Regina leaned across the table, conspiratorially, "Really." She sat back and studied her - again.

...what the hell did that look mean?

"Tell me, Emma. When we met in the lobby-"

Emma knew where this was going and simply let herself say the truth before embarrassment could shut her up, "Yeah, you were even more stunning then."

Emma didn't understand what the look on Regina's face changed into then.

"So." Regina said, briskly, "What were you doing in the lobby at four in the morning? That was supposed to be the crazies-free hour."

Was that a joke? Had Regina just made a joke? "Hey! It's not my fault that your security guard is a dick. I had no intention of saying anything to you. I just wanted my bag."

The atmosphere was different then. Regina became almost playful, dry and witty. The blush had faded from her cheeks, but the twinkle in her eye had grown. And the longer they talked the more Emma realized that this woman was absolutely nothing like her character. Colt was stiff, often abrasive. Regina - she was...fun. Okay, fun wasn't the right word - she was too stoic for fun but she had a feeling if she continued to pry away the layers then fun would be exactly what she was. She was interesting and there was something about her - Emma wanted to know more.


"Just tell me!" They had risen from the booth together, gathering their belongings. Emma's sides were aching from how much she had laughed and her heart was beginning to grow sore as she realized their night was almost done. "Oh come on, we're literally never going to see one another again after this weekend!"

"Tell me why you want to know. You're not a reporter, are you?" Regina's eyes narrowed in such a way that Emma knew she didn't really think that was a possibility...she thought.

"Because why not? Plus, if I were a reporter, is that really something that I would ask you?"

Regina scoffed, "Actually if you were a reporter that is exactly what you would ask me."

"Oh." Emma frowned making Regina laugh harder. "Well, you were the one who brought it up! Kinda."

"Alright. Okay." They had wandered out of the bar and now they stood in front of it while Regina confessed, "I hate the ship wars."

"Oh yeah?"

"I do, I hate it. It seems like such an insignificant thing, yet it is the only thing that people seem to care about."

"Does it bother you that one of the ships they always ask you about is Sam and Anna?"

"No. Though sometimes it's unsettling to see photos of her face kissing mine. I know her boyfriend. She's my colleague and friend. It can be strange."

"So if you don't like the shipping questions then what would you like people to be interested in?"

Regina stood and thought for a few moments, her laughter dying. "Have you heard of Intertwined Hearts?"

"Hmmm," Emma frowned, "the name sounds familiar but -"

"It's my charity."

"Oh!" Emma smacked herself in the forehead, "Duh, of course."

"Well, that project is quite close to my heart."

"Oh?"

"It took me years to get it off the ground and it does wonderful work. I think -" Regina worried the bottom of her lip for a moment, "I had hoped that I could use the show to support the charity, but it hasn't quite worked that way. Nobody has ever even asked me about it. They only want to know about Anna's relationship with Samantha or her relationship with Charlie - or who is funniest on set?"

Emma grinned and teased, "Oh yeah, who's funniest?"

"Actually, I have been told I am." Regina sniffed with a regal air.

Emma grinned, "I can believe it."

The burly man - David apparently – coughed; a clear sign to get moving.

Regina's shoulders stiffened and she gave a curt nod in his general direction, "I suppose my clock has struck midnight and I have to go."

Emma scoffed, "Does that mean if we wait long enough he will turn back into a mouse?"

Regina just smiled, but the smile did not touch her eyes.

"Thank you for the evening, Regina. Really. It was really nice to spend some time getting to know you."

The barest moments of sadness flashed across Regina's eyes before she smiled and nodded, "Honestly, Emma, I enjoyed it. Thank you. I thought I wanted to be alone tonight, but instead, you gave me something better. Enjoyable company."

Emma scuffed the ground with her shoe, wondering why this felt like the awkward walk to the door part of the evening. "Anyway. You better go before he has a hernia."

"Yes, I suppose I should. Alright. Goodnight, Emma. Thank you."

She watched Regina climb into the car and then watched the car disappear.

She walked back to the hotel on cloud nine. That had been so much fun.

She floated into the lobby, not noticing the crowds around her and stopped just inside the door. There was a small table littered with information about the con. She leafed through until she found what she was looking for, a small green and yellow pamphlet at the bottom of the stack. She looked through it quickly with her eyes growing wide.

"Here at Intertwined Hearts, we hope and help children ages thirteen to seventeen find their forever families."

"Everyone deserves a family, no matter their age and this is a huge hole in our adoption and foster system. Most youth when they reach an age where they are considered 'no longer adoptable' are dumped into group homes and forgotten about. Here at Intertwined Hearts, we hope to one day to change that and instead help bring families together. These children need to know that they deserve to be loved and that there are still those out there who are willing to do it. - Regina Mills."

Fuck. So not only was the woman beautiful, funny, smart and perhaps just a little bit silly - she was also absolutely fucking amazing too?

Of course, Regina couldn't know … about Emma. There was no way but shit, where had that program been when she was young?

She was right about the age and the group home. It had happened to her.

How did she know?

A curious hunger was beginning to build in Emma's gut. How did that amazing woman know such a sad, dark, truth?