Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT blah blah blah

A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who has read/followed/favorited and reviewed this story so far. I really appreciate all the love! On an unrelated note, I also take requests, so feel free to throw out any prompts that you'd like!

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"What do you know about riding?"

Regina nodded in excitement, since she'd never done what Emma was asking of her right now. She walked over to one of the tables where they'd cleaned the saddles yesterday, put both halters on it, and started rubbing them between her hands to warm them up. "Cold halters are not okay. Understood." The next question was not easy to answer, and Regina could feel her face warm up. "I.. I'm not completely clueless. I know how to control a horse. I use my legs.. and I talk to them." She was convinced her response had been a good one, and she smiled.

While she was preparing the halters, Regina turned around to look at Emma. She still didn't look happy, nor excited about the fact that she was going to teach Regina about riding. Had she done or said something wrong? The smile she'd received earlier had felt kind of weak, and Regina was really starting to worry. But how could she approach Emma? She'd never learned how to handle a situation like this.

"Hey Emma? You like me, right?"

She wasn't aware that she'd sounded a bit awkward, but she was only trying to be a good friend. It had only been a day, and she didn't want to lose Emma. She was going to try and do everything right.

Regina's gentle soul seemed to bring life to Emma's, the innocent way she conducted herself was a balm on a wound that Emma hadn't realized was there. It was beautiful and the blonde didn't feel she deserved it, though pushing Regina away was the farthest thing from her mind. She wasn't sure how she would survive something so lifegiving suddenly disappearing, even though it had only been two days.

"What?" It was a startling question, so blunt in its naivety and Emma knew she would have to get used to this quickly. As much as the answer was obvious to her, Emma didn't know how to approach it for several long seconds before deciding on giving Regina exactly what she seemed to give so easily, outright and pure truth.

"I had forgotten a long time ago what it was like to really like someone, and I like you even more than that." Emma couldn't be sure why she felt the heat creeping up into her face, it was the truth, but she pressed on in spite of it. "You make my life really nice and it's only been two days, I don't ever want you to go away."

She couldn't squeeze out any more words with how her throat was closing up, so Emma returned her eyes and full attention to rubbing the halter vigorously between her fingers, afraid that somehow she might have scared the little girl off.

Regina hadn't expected an answer like that. Emma's response felt heavier and more serious than she'd even meant the question. She had only wanted to know if something about herself had bothered Emma, and now.. she wasn't sure how to respond to something that had almost felt like a confession to her.

But with that, she also knew that it wasn't anything concerning herself. Something else was wrong. Something else was troubling Emma, and she just had to ask.

"I.. uh, thank you. I've never had a real friend before, and it feels so wonderful to talk and play with you. But tell me, is something bothering you? I was asking because.. you seem a little off today. Did something happen?"

They were friends. Friends should trust each other, and even though Regina didn't want to make Emma uncomfortable, or push her.. she had to know what was going on. She wanted to make Emma smile. And not only see the weak smile on her face that would fade immediately when Regina turned around. She wanted a genuine smile. She wanted her to be happy.

"Whatever it is, I promise, I'll try to help or make it better. I will help you with all the work! Next time let me muck out the stables! I want you to take a break. You know what? You sit down right now, and I'll do everything for you today."

She spoke so quickly because she was nervous, and not really sure what she was supposed to say. Then, with a determined look on her face, she nodded at Emma and held up the halter she had in hand.

It was such a rare experience, this care that was heaped upon Emma as if it were something so easy to give. No one had taken care of her since her mother died when she was small, not really. The blonde's throat ached with how she was trying to hold back the tears with each word that fell from Regina's lips.

Emma wasn't good enough for this type of purity, this sort of light. She didn't deserve anything from the little brunette and now she was even offering to do her work. Her sore body begged her to accept, her fragile soul threatening to break. She wanted more than anything to give in to Regina's care and attention and bask in the beauty that she was sure she would lose.

Nothing good ever lasted.

These thoughts had the tears slipping from Emma's eyes and dripping down her cheeks against her will. She still hadn't looked up at Regina and now she couldn't, speaking in a low voice that couldn't do much more than almost stay steady.

"I'm just tired. I'll be okay. Really. I..I can't let you do that work, you'll mess up your clothes and. and.. you're a lady."

Regina giggled at the response of her friend, and as she shook her head she began to respond, "It doesn't matter if I'm a lady, I can do.." but she stopped the moment she realized that Emma had started crying. Dropping the halter onto the table, Regina walked over to her friend and pulled her into a hug. Words weren't needed right now, Regina just wanted to show Emma that she would be there for her. All that mattered was the hug. She wanted to comfort her and make it okay. Forever.

As the minutes went by, Regina pulled Emma closer to her. She didn't want to let go. It was a new feeling, something completely strange and out of this world. Being close to Emma felt warm and safe, and like she could forget about anything else in the world.

"Emma, I'm here for you. Whatever it is you're sad about, I promise I will be here. I will always try and help you. You're my friend."

She wasn't sure if those were the right words, and if they would help make Emma less sad, but she had to say something after a while. Regina wasn't going to ask her yet though. If Emma wasn't comfortable with talking, she was going to accept it.

The important thing was that she could be there for her.

The minute amount of control that Emma had been maintaining crumbled the moment Regina pulled her close, opening the floodgates for her tears. She couldn't remember the last time she had cried like this and now she was even in front of somebody.

Emma felt weak and terrible and stupid, but more than any of that she felt safe. The brunette was a little shorter and yet somehow she managed to envelope Emma in her arms like magic, holding her in a way that she prayed would never end.

Tears of exhaustion turned sorrow flowed readily as Emma lifted her arms and squeezed Regina, pulling her as close as physically possible. Never had she had someone care enough without reservation that wasn't a parent and now she knew she couldn't let her go.

After all, it would probably be no more than a week before Emma would be alone in the world. She would need Regina more than ever.

"Regina.. my papa is going to be gone soon." The words were muffled where Emma nearly mouthed them into the smaller girl's neck, but they were clear. Her voice broke a little as she finally admitted this out loud.

Regina had listened to Emma crying for a while now, and she hoped that hugging her was helping at least a bit. But the other girl didn't let go, and that had to mean that she was doing at least something right.

When Emma whispered into her ear though, Regina didn't know what to do. How to respond. She didn't know what people said in moments like this. She had no clue how to comfort someone who would lose someone they loved to death. She doubted that any words could make Emma feel better.

Feeling sad as well as desperate for her friend, all Regina could do was pull her even closer. She wanted to be there for Emma, even if she didn't know how to. Biting her lip, Regina tried not to cry, but it was too late. The tears were there and they were rolling over her cheeks. As slowly as she could, she took a deep breath.

"Emma.. I.. I'm going to try and.. I love you."

She couldn't form a proper sentence, and she only hoped that Emma would understand. Regina was trying to express how important her friend was to her, and that she was going to be there for her no matter what.

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