Those in italicsis about the past. Hope you enjoy :) Thanks for reviews!
Emma had to admit that Regina was a stunningly beautiful woman as Regina cautiously stepped closer to her. Regina stretched out her hand and Emma grabbed it and they gave each other a handshake. Regina fought hard to get her emotion under control but seeing her supposed girlfriend in front of her and she didn't remember her, hurt her like hell.
"It was nice of you to come here. Kathryn have told me everything" Regina said as she briefly looked away from Emma´s face. Emma nodded, and just looked at the woman in front of her.
"Why don't you take a seat, so Regina can tell what happened before the accident" Kathryn said. Emma nodded and turned around to sit in the armchair. Regina chuckled humourlessly.
"It´s weird sitting right in front of you and not knowing the expression in your eyes. I could always read your emotion, almost before you could feel it yourself" Regina was fiddling with a ring on her finger. "I got this ring from you" She took it off and gave it to Emma. "Your name is engraved into it" Emma looked at the ring and took it. She looked on the inside of it.
"Emma Swan. June 21?" She read out loud questionably. Regina looked down before taking a deep breath. Kathryn put a comforting hand on her back and she smiled briefly at her friend's support. Emma could feel the sadness seeping from the woman in front of her and this time she really wished that she could remember woman and make her smile.
"I will start by telling you about the first time we met each other" Regina started. "It was in Boston. My parents are dead, and I lived with my mother's sister. She had a big villa and she lived by renting out her rooms. I did all the work for them, housecleaning, laundry, everything" Regina smiled grimly. "If you´re into fairy tales, you say that I was somewhat Cinderella. I wasn't happy living there and had thoughts about moving away, but Mrs. Jules claimed that she had borrowed my mother a lot of money and I had to work to pay them off. She had a daughter, my cousin; Gillian and she was my age. If things weren't as they had been, we could have been friends, but she didn't acknowledge me. She was just as unfriendly and arrogant as her mother"
"Gillian! Gillian" Mrs. Jules yelled excited as she came through the front door. "Listen to me" She walked into the living room, where Gillian was sitting reading one of her magazines. "I´ve got great news! A Navy ship has arrived, down by the harbour and they have announced there is a Ball on board tonight!" She clapped her hands excited. "You have to find a dress to wear"
"Are we even invited?" Gillian said as she blew out some smoke from the cigarette, she had lid.
"Of course. I still got my connections" Mrs. Jules said and turned around to walk into the kitchen. She opened the door to find Regina doing the dishes. "Regina, find Gillian´s white dress and iron it. We´re going out tonight" Regina nodded.
"Can I finish here`"
"No! Do it now!" Mrs. Jules said and walked out of the kitchen again. Regina sighed and wiped her hands in a towel. She walked upstairs and found the dress. She sighed yet again and felt tears prickle on her eyes as she ironed the dress. It was her birthday and she had only herself to care. A tear slipped down her cheek and she quickly pulled out a napkin to wipe it off, only for more to fall. Mrs. Jules came marching inside the room. "Are you not finished yet?" She leaned around to look at Regina. "Are you crying?"
"She´s just jealous" Gillian said mockingly. Regina rolled her eyes as she sniffed.
"It´s my birthday"
"Oh, well… We couldn't know that" Mrs. Jules said arrogantly.
"Happy birthday then" Gillian said quickly as she inspected the dress. She walked away to find some matching earrings.
"Thank you" Regina muttered.
"You may understand that we can´t take you with us to the Ball. Firstly, you´re not invited; secondly, it´s a very exclusive Ball" Mrs. Jules said. Regina nodded.
"Here" Regina said and gave Gillian the dress. Regina used the napkin to wipe her tears as Mrs. Jules turned around towards her.
"You don´t have to sit at home tonight. Talk a walk or something" She said and closed the door after her. Regina put the iron away and followed her out.
"So, I went on a walk by myself" Regina smiled softly. "I felt so lonely and so sorry for myself. But the evening was so lovely and warm. It was impossible to keep being in a bad mood" She said and chuckled. "As I walked in that park, I suddenly heard someone play on the flute"
Regina was walking on a small path, smiling and enjoying the last of the warm sun when she heard the tunes of someone playing nearby. She stopped and looked down a small hill. She could only just see some blonde hair at the end of the small hill. Regina smiled as she carefully took a few steps down towards the lovely music. She stood by a small bush, when the melody stopped, and the blonde looked up at her.
"Hey, be careful" She smiled. "It´s a bit slippery" Just at she had said those few words, Regina took a wrong stepped and lost her balance. She ungracefully tumbled down the hill and right into the blonde´s arms. Regina couldn't help herself as she laughed over her clumsiness. The blonde smiled at her and asked, "Are you alright, miss?".
"Yes, I´m so sorry" She smiled. The blonde chuckled.
"It´s alright, but I told you so" Regina nodded and blushed. "It´s nice to meet you" She said. Regina blushed again and suddenly noticed how close they were as the blonde still held her in her arms. She felt something poke her on her leg and sat up.
"Oh, I broke your flute. I´m sorry" She said sadly.
"Doesn't matter. I can make myself a new one" The blonde said and took the broken item. Their fingers touched briefly, and Regina blushed again.
"Well, I have to go"
"Are you in a hurry?" Regina shook her head. "Where are you going?"
"Nowhere" Regina said sadly.
"Nowhere?" The blonde said. "That´s funny. That´s where I´m going too. Perhaps we can go together?" She smiled charmingly and gently pushed away a stray hair from Regina´s face. Regina laughed softly.
"I would like that" The blonde smiled widely and stood up, taking Regina with her.
"My name is Emma Swan" Emma said still holding Regina´s hand.
"Regina Mills" Regina said and noticed how Emma was dressed in black pants, white shirt and a black tie. Her long blonde hair was hanging loosely on her shoulders. She looked really, yeah Regina was a bit stunned by the blonde. She was gorgeous. Emma bowed down to grab her hat and her jacket.
"Do you like to dance?" She asked Regina as she took on her hat.
"Yes, but it´s been a long time since the last time" Regina said and looked down as she blushed. She couldn't believe she was blushing as much as she did, just by meeting the blonde.
"Great! There´s a Ball on board on my ship and I don´t have in mind to dance with strangers, but now the case is different" Emma smiled as she closed her jacket.
"It´s very nice of you, Emma, but no thanks. I can´t- "Regina decided to tell her the truth. "I wouldn't dare to" Emma looked at her strangely as her smiled faltered a bit.
"What do you mean?" Regina turned as she looked away in shame.
"My aunt and cousin are there. They won´t like it" Regina said as she fiddled with her hands.
"Aunt?" Regina nodded. "You know what? We don't care" Emma grabbed Regina´s hand and they walked hand in hand back to the ship talking to each other.
As they were dancing together amongst the other couples, they didn't noticed Regina´s aunt and cousin arriving inside the room. They gasped as they saw Regina dancing with a blonde stranger. Emma held Regina close to her body, but with a soft touch. She hummed to the melody as they swayed together and held eye contact. Regina was mesmerized by Emma´s green eyes.
"Regina!" Mrs. Jules hissed when the song was over. Regina looked away from Emma´s eyes and her eyes widened as she saw them. She walked over to them. "How dare you come here, when you´re not invited?!" She said angrily.
"I am" Regina said. Both her aunt and cousin laughed mockingly.
"Yes, of course. Who would invite you?" Emma took this as a cue to present herself.
"I would" She smiled sweetly. Mrs. Jules and Gillian stared at the blonde.
"Let me introduce; Captain, Emma Swan. This is my aunt and my cousin"
"It´s a pleasure to meet you. Regina had told quite a lot about you" Mrs. Jules eyes widened momentarily before turning to her daughter. The daughter she knew was straight as a stick.
"Gillian! Meet the Captain" She smiled overly sweet to Emma.
"Hello" Gillian said as they shook hands. The music began again, and Emma turned to Regina, who´s head was bowed.
"I´m sorry to interrupt, but I think you promised me a dance?" She gently grabbed Regina´s hands and took her back out on the dancefloor again. Mrs. Jules and Gillian were staring at them, one of them with pure hatred in her eyes. Emma chuckled as they were swaying to the music. "Well, that went well" Regina giggled, and Emma smiled at the woman.
Regina smiled at the memory and looked up at Emma, who were listening intensely.
"I got a letter from you almost every day. You told me about yourself, about your mother and your birth home, this farm in Storybrooke. You told me how, you weren't rich, but that you were working on an idea. It was about a torpedo switch or something to make it safer" Regina chuckled. "Unfortunately, I didn't understand a lot of it, but you were very passionate and enthusiastic about this project and you really hoped that it could give you some kind recognition in the U.S. Navy. One day, my aunt called on me"
Regina was cleaning the kitchen when her aunt called on her from the living room. Regina frowned, but put down the sponge and went to the room.
"Yes, aunt?" She asked as she wiped her hands in a towel. She smiled widely when she saw Emma standing in the room in full uniform. "Emma?"
"Yes. Captain Swan is here to get you. I must congratulate you, I didn't know you were engaged" Mrs. Jules said haughtily but tried to sweeten it as Emma stood next to her. Emma grinned as she walked closer to Regina and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips. Regina beamed and gave Emma a tight hug. She released the Captain and kissed her once more.
"Pack up your clothes and things you want to take with you" Emma said.
"Emma, what- but?" Regina asked confused and Emma shushed with another kiss.
"You´ve been here long enough. We´re leaving right away"
"But I can´t?"
"Yes, you can. Do as is say, sweetie" Emma lifted Regina´s hand and kissed it. "Now, go on" Regina smiled and immediately ran up the stairs to pack. Emma turned to Mrs. Jules. "Regina tells me that she is working here to pay a loan her mother had with you" She walked closer to the lady. "Do you have any papers to confirm it?" Mrs. Jules looked away nervously.
"No, no I don't" She swallowed and looked at Emma. "Let´s not talk about it. I´ll release her from that debt. I´ve been so happy to have Regina in our house" She said as a door opened. "Gillian!"
"Yes?" The girl said as she stepped into the living room.
"Come here and wish the Captain congratulations. She and Regina are engaged" Gillian looked surprised.
"Oh, congratulations" She muttered and reached out her hand for Emma to shake.
"Thank you" Emma smiled.
"I didn't think she would be engaged before you" Her mother mocked. Gillian looked up at her mother irritated and huffed. Shortly after, Regina came walking down the stairs with her suitcases and soon they were out of the door and on their way to Storybrooke. Regina loved the town instantly. It was a cosy little town and she could see everything Emma had described in her letters about it. They took a turn down a dusty old way and Regina smiled as she saw the big farm.
"Mom?" Emma as she put down Regina´s suitcases in the hall before walking into the living room. She reached out for Regina´s hand and held it as they walked together towards Mary Margarethe, who were beaming at them.
"Welcome home!" The pixie haired woman said and gave both a big hug. Regina couldn't help but smile at the friendliness and happiness that was apparent in this house. "Welcome, Regina. I´m so happy to finally meet you. This one kept talking about you" She said and pointed at Emma. Emma groaned as Regina just smiled and pecked the blonde´s cheek. Mary Margarethe smiled at them and suddenly she was in tears.
"Mom, why are you crying?" Emma asked worried. Mary Margarethe wiped her eyes.
"I´m just so happy! Don't worry about it, I´m a crazy old goose" All three of them laughed and Emma gave her mother another hug.
"Then followed a happy time. I stayed at the farm and did what I´ve always wanted to; training horses and I gave riding lesions to the town´s children. I met Kathryn and she helped me a lot with the horses. The time went, though I longed for you, but then one day the phone rang.
Regina stood up when she heard the phone ring.
"Hello, Regina Mills speaking" Regina listened as it was a phone call from a ship, but then a voice sounded from the other end "Emma, is that you? You? Now?" Regina laughed joyfully. "That´s great! Hurry up and come back soon. Yes, I see you in a bit!" Regina hang up the phone and ran out to find Mary Margarethe. "Mary!" She yelled, and a door flew up. "It was Emma! She´s coming home for three days and she has a friend with her" Mary Margarethe smiled.
"That´s probably Neal"
"Who is Neal?" Regina asked.
"He´s an engineer. He´s helping Emma with her on her project, now I´ll make dinner and you make yourself ready, okay?" She said, and Regina nodded and ran upstairs. Later, Regina came down the stairs and heard that Emma already were home. She didn't think she had taken so long about it, but she wanted to look perfect for her fiancé. She wore a tight black dress, with a tiny bit of cleavage, but not too much.
"Good evening" She said softly into the room and Emma turned around with a big smile. She instantly walked towards Regina and kissed her before giving her a hug. "I missed you, honey" Regina whispered into Emma´s ear.
"I missed you too, babe. A lot" She kissed Regina once more and wrapped an arm around her as she guided her towards her friend. "This is my friend, engineer Neal Cassidy and this is my fiancé, Regina Mills" Regina reached out a hand and Neal took shook it. Emma turned when she saw her mother coming into the room with a tray of drinks. "Mom let met help you" Neal hadn't let go of Regina´s hand and she looked at him strangely before she slid her hand out of his grasp. He looked her up and down and smiled leeringly. She smiled politely before turning to Emma who gave her a glass, not having seen anything. "Let´s raise our glass to ourselves and hope for a long and happy life" Regina smiled and caught Neal looking at her again before he raised his glass and drank it.
"Shortly afterwards, we got a message from the U.S. Navy, that you were killed in an accident in Mexico" Regina said, and Emma looked up at her. "The only one who didn't believe it was your mother" Regina stood up and walked behind Emma, who turned in her seat. "She asked me to stay at the farm and make sure it was taking care of. She was so sure that you´ll come home again" Regina spoke with tears in her eyes. Emma noticed.
"You keep saying ´was´" Regina swallowed hard and tried to speak but she couldn't.
"Yes. She died three weeks after the accident. Before we got to know why you were in Mexico" Kathryn said as she leaned forward. Emma was confused, extremely confused as she tried to understand everything she had been told.
"You make it sound like I´ve done something wrong? What would I or this Emma do in Mexico?" She looked up Regina.
"It was that project of yours. You wanted to sell it to the Mexicans"
"And that in spite of being a Captain in the American Navy" Kathryn added. Emma looked at them both, really trying to remember everything and being more confused than ever.
"That sounds really weird. Who told you this?" She asked. She looked briefly at Tink, who sat with widened eyes by the whole story. Heck, she was confused too.
"Neal did. He was very devasted by it. He told us, he had done everything to prevent you from doing it" Emma couldn't believe it. She would never do that. She looked up as a car honked from outside. "That's Neal" Kathryn looked up at Regina.
"That was weird?"
"No, I called him" Regina said.
"Does he know that Emma is here?"
"No" The door opened at Neal stepped into the hall with happy smiles. He knocked briefly on the door before stepping into the living room, where all four women was looking at him. His smile froze as he saw Emma.
"Emma? Emma, is that you? Are you back?" Emma stood up and swallowed.
"Yeah, it seems like it" She turned to Regina. "I´m sorry, but we have to leave" Tink flew up from her seat.
"Oh shit, yeah the show! I´ve almost forgotten!" Regina looked sad that they had to leave.
"I´ll drive you" Kathryn said and stood up.
"Good bye, Miss Mills. It was lovely to meet you" Tink said politely and shook hands with the woman. Emma passed her with a nod. She walked pass Neal and looked suspiciously at the man before walking out of the door. Neal followed her with his eyes.
"Neal, wait here" Regina said before following Emma out to the car. Emma stopped, and Regina almost walked into the. Emma reached out and steadied the woman.
"I appreciate everything you have told me today" Emma smiled softly to her. "I sincerely hope that I´ll get my memory back. Until then, take care" Regina looked after Emma as she stepped into the car, tears down her cheeks. She wiped furiously at her cheeks, but they kept coming. She closed the door and turned around just to face Neal.
"Regina, what is this? I must say it certainly is a surprise"
"It is for me too! She has lost her memory. She can't recognize me! I don't know what to do!" She shouted frustrated. Neal sighed as he ran a hand through his hair and stepped closer to Regina.
"Does it mean that much to you?" He asked as he lay his hand on her shoulders. "I thought a had a small chance" Regina frowned and ripped away from his grasp. She shook her head.
"What? No. Neal, you´re a great friend, but there will never be more between us and now, now everything has changed" Neal´s face hardened as he watched Regina walk away from him. In the car, Emma looked out at the buildings, now really hoping to get her memories back, because that past with Regina? That was everything, Emma wanted right now.