-Wednesday July 15: Mistaken for a couple (Emma and Regina are mistaken for a couple)

Birthday

It's my birthday. And everyone forgot. Of course the only ones that know it is my birthday is Henry and maybe his idiot grandmother. So I grabbed The Snow Queen's scroll and headed out of the town. ALONE.

I came to Portland and walked the beach. I sighed and sat on the beach watching people. Now on the beach I saw two women walking together hand in hand with a little girl. They swung her around and the little girl giggled and I found myself laughing along with the child. "I imagine you and I look a little like that." I heard behind me. I turned to see Emma standing behind me."When we're out and about with Henry I mean."

"Hardly, he's almost as tall as both of us." I said turning back to the couple. "What are you doing here?"

"Henry Told me it was your birthday." She said and sat next to me on the sand. "I knew he had some things to do today and I didn't want you to be alone. But when I went to see you, you were already gone. I called..." She said and looked down to the pocket of my loose fitting Khaki pants. "I looked for the Snow Queen's scroll and saw it was missing. Then I remembered I have your phone tracking on mine, so…"

I pulled the offending object out of my pocket. "But it's off…"

Emma smiled bumping her shoulder with mine. "I will always find you."

I rolled my eyes. "I didn't think anyone would care."

"Well, I care." She said then stood and held her hand out for me. "Lets walk, we'll do something fun for your birthday."

She waited there, her hand stretched out to me. With all appearances of a lover pleading to her partner for forgiveness. "Whatever it is she did lady, forgive her, 'cause she's hot." I heard to the right. It was the pair of women with the little girl.

I blushed and looked back to Emma whose pale skin was a deeper shade of pink than normal. She looked as though the comment had shaken her confidence, and her hand dropped a little. I took her hand before she took it away completely. "That she is…" I responded, which Made Emma blush even more.

"Oh, Dee they're so cute." I heard one of them say.

I smiled at Emma sympathetically, and she looked at me, her furious blush fading. The light in her eyes flickering to something I had yet to recognize in her. She wrapped her arm around me.

"I think the brunette is hotter," Dee responded to her partner.

"Thank you Dee! I totally agree.." Emma murmured winking back at them and she led me away. I looked back as Dee, who had Violently Red hair for a black woman, smirked and kissed her very Hispanic partner on the nose. "Clearly Dee has a type."

I bit my lower lip trying to stifle a smile, and looked down at my feet as we walked silently down the beach. Her arm dropped from my shoulders after a while. If I said I was disappointed, it wouldn't accurately describe the feeling of loss I felt when the contact was gone. "Emma…" I started but didn't really know what to say. I didn't really know what I needed.

"What's up?" she asked.

I needed her to hold me, I needed her closeness. How do you go about asking that of your friend. Should you even have to ask this. Couldn't you just wrap yourself around your friends without need of excuse. Why couldn't I just...I looked around us and spotted an older woman look over at the two of us. Her brow furrowed in disgust. Was it obvious to her what I really wanted? Was I really that transparent to everyone, except evidently to Emma? I quirked a brow and reached for Emma's hand. "Why did you come today?" I asked her leaning in making it look a little more like we were together.

Emma looked surprised at my closeness. "I... Huh?" she asked.

I signaled at the old bat with my head. "We have an audience." I whispered.

Emma spotted the the woman and she let go of my hand. Then she wrapped her arm around me and pulled me close. "You are my best friend Regina. I couldn't let you spend your birthday alone."

"Disgusting." I heard the lady say as we passed close to her. I placed my head on Emma's shoulder and laughed.

"You love antagonizing people don't you?" Emma said turning to face me stopping not too far from the lady. She kissed my nose then my fore head and just held me."

"I would like for people to mind their own business." I answered and gave her a peck on the lips. Emma stiffened.

I pulled back a little and our eyes locked just before Emma stepped back from me and we let go of each other again and began talking in earnest. "You want a drink?"Emma asked suddenly as we passed by a lemonade beachfront store on the boardwalk.

"Yes please." I said and she headed in that direction. Then a man came up to me and just circled me as if he were a shark. "May I help you?" I asked folding my arms at my chest.

"You are one beautiful woman," He said letting his eyes roam over me appreciatively.

"That's not news to me." I answered.

"Oh, and confident… I like that. I'm Liam." He said putting his hand out.

"I'm Emma." Emma said from behind me. I looked to her. Her brow quirked, two cups of Lemonade in her hands.

"Oh… I see how it is… You dykes need to wear a uniform so I know who I can hit on." He said disgusted and walked away.

"Excuse me?" I said.

Emma handed me my drink, wrapped her free arm around me. "Let's get out of here." she said.

"But…"

"Do you have a problem with how the world sees us?" She spat out at me.

"Not really." I answered, then she stopped abruptly.

"Be my girlfriend Regina." Emma said abruptly facing me.

"I…" I was shocked, it wasn't that I hadn't thought about it before, it was just so blunted. But Emma was also incredibly blunt and tactless. But that is how I like her and why should she change. "So is this our first date?"

She smiled. "It could be."

"You must do better dear." I said with a smirk of my own.

"Oh it's on, Let's go." She said and leaned forward to kiss my cheek. "Happy birthday baby."

I scoffed. "Do NOT call me baby."