Author's note: We're going to show you Regina's backstory. This will include Regina/Daniel and some het sex. We hope you enjoy the chapter, and we'll be back to Emma and our favorite couple next week!
A week or so later, Emma found herself waking once more to the sound of her own screams.
Again, Regina appeared in the doorway in only moments.
"Another nightmare?" Regina asked gently, standing beside the bed as she put her hand on Emma's shoulder in a gesture of comfort.
Emma nodded weakly and wiped the tears from her eyes, whimpering, "I wish they would stop."
"I know, sweetheart," the brunette sighed. "I know."
Wanting to check on Henry, Regina let her arm drop to her side and made her way over to the crib, where she reached in and stroked the little one's cheek until he settled and stopped crying.
While Emma stood up and came over to lift the boy into her arms, Regina offered a slight smile, causing Emma to feel a wave of affection flood her. As Emma looked on at Regina, she felt her heart begin to pick up pace at the sight of the woman's supple breasts easily filling her nightgown.
"Come on," Regina said, tearing Emma from her trance and making her blush. "My room."
Again, Emma nodded and followed Regina into the bedroom. Regina was close behind her, moving the crib into her room in preparation for putting Henry down to sleep. Once this was done and the two were lying in bed, Emma realized that her heart was still racing.
Seeing the look of anxiety on Emma's face, Regina rolled onto her side to face Emma and whispered, "Deep breaths, sweetheart. Deep breaths."
"I'm scared to go to sleep," Emma choked out, fighting back tears.
"I'll be right here. I promise."
Letting out a shaky breath, Emma tried to nod her head, but it felt too insincere. She found herself unable to trust Regina. Her parents were gone. Belle was gone. Ruby was gone. How could she allow herself to trust someone else now, after all this time. But with Regina… things felt different.
"Emma," Regina said, somewhat sternly, bringing Emma back from her self-defeating thoughts. "Deep breaths, please. I need you to breathe."
Then, the tears burst through.
"I can't," Emma sobbed, as quietly as possible. "I c-can't."
"Can I touch you?" Regina asked suddenly, looking Emma in her tear-filled eyes.
Giving Regina a look of slight confusion, Emma nodded.
"I need you to listen to me," Regina said softly, placing her hand very carefully on Emma's stomach. "Breathe in slowly."
"R-Regina…" Emma tried to protest, but Regina left her hand on the woman's stomach and continued to stare her in the eyes with seriousness.
"In, please."
Letting out one last shaking sob, Emma took in a unsteady breath.
It wasn't exactly slow, but she was doing better, so Regina whispered, "Good, honey. Good. Out slowly. Take your time."
Whimpering, Emma let out her breath, and although her body continued to vibrate with fear, she was able to exhale for longer than she had inhaled.
"That's perfect, sweetheart. Keep going. Feel my hand rise and fall?"
Emma nodded, feeling the slow, steady stream of oxygen gradually ease her racing heart.
"Just feel your stomach and chest expanding as they fill to capacity, okay? Focus on your breath."
"It's h-hard," Emma whined, breaths starting to become shaky again.
"Easy," Regina cooed. "Easy. I know it's hard. I'll breathe with you. Listen."
Regina then took in and let out several audible, carefully paced breaths. Emma slowly began to breathe with her, calmed by both the sound of Regina's breathing and the increasingly steady flow of air through her lungs. Her body was slowing down, and her muscles were staring to relax.
"That's it. Good," Regina urged her. "Now, shut your eyes and keep going. I'll be right here."
"But I don't want to have—"
"It's alright, Emma. I'm right here."
Without thinking, Regina began to rub her thumb over Emma's abdomen to comfort her, and it worked. Emma's eyes finally fell shut as she allowed the sensation of Regina's touch to soothe her. Soon, she fell into a peaceful sleep.
SEVERAL DAYS LATER
"And that's how I ended up marrying Neal. Ruby and Belle tried to warn me, but he was my worst addiction by far," Emma concluded as she finished telling her story to Regina.
"You have certainly lived quite a bit, for one so young," Regina replied, as the two women sat around the pristine kitchen table, while Henry suckled on his bottle.
"One so young," Emma repeated. "Please. You're… what? Thirty-two, maybe thirty-three?"
Regina smiled from across the large dining room table and answered, "Well, a lady never tells, but let's just say I've been in my thirties for some time now. And would you look at that," Regain said in astonishment.
Following Regina's gaze to Henry, Emma's alarm grew, as she asked, "What?"
Suddenly taken aback, Regina replied "I… I wanted to confirm my suspicion."
"Regina."
"I didn't want to get your hopes up, but I filled his bottle with formula."
"What do you mean?"
Holding up her hands, Regina concluded, "I don't know what it means. I just… I just wanted to be able to give you some good news."
As Emma hugged a cooing Henry, she replied, "Regina, that's really sweet of you, but in the future, let's not turn Henry into a science experiment."
Smiling in relief, Regina said, "I promise."
As Henry began to fall asleep, Emma gently prodded, "So, who is Regina Mills, the woman that has been in her thirties for 'some time now?'"
"Emma, I haven't always been the woman that I am now. I've made a lot of selfish choices over the past seventy-five years," Regina confessed, dropping her gaze.
"So, what happened to you?" Emma asked carefully, with gentle curiosity.
Regina froze and lost herself in her past as she began to share her painful history with the woman that she had become so found of.
PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII - MAY, 1941
"Good Lordy. It is blistering hot out there. I'm fixin' t' take m' cap off," a nurse address Regina in a southern drawl, having entered the nurse's station on the air force base.
"How do you manage to complain about every change in temperature, hot or cold, Miss Le Bouff?" a young Regina shot back without looking, tucking her hair up into a bun and fixing her own nurse's cap on her head.
"Please, R'gina, call me Charlotte," the blonde giggled, sitting down on a bench beside the mirror in which Regina was examining her reflection. "You are awfully pretty, aren't you, dear?"
"Oh, please," Regina laughed, shaking her head. "Don't be daft, Miss Le Bouff."
Regina looked at herself in the mirror and stole a glance at Charlotte as she fussed with her nurse's cap. Charlotte's slender form was not lost on Regina, and she suddenly felt slightly self-conscious of her own body. While Regina was in shape, she was a fuller figured woman, especially next to the firm-bodied blonde next to her. Charlotte had a perky beauty about her with her bright blue eyes, pink lips, and rosy red cheeks that was brought together with the intense energy with which she carried herself, and it often left Regina feeling exhausted.
Offering a soft smile, but no argument, Charlotte sat and watched as Regina finished adorning her cap and pinning it into place.
"So what brought ya to Pearl Harbor, Miss R'gina?"
"You ask a lot of questions, Miss Le Bouff."
Regina was a modest woman, and private. At least, as private as was possible when living in close quarters on a base with other women who took pleasure in gossip. But there was something endearing about Charlotte. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on, or name. But she could sense it. Charlotte was… good.
"Are y' goin' out tonight with the girls?" Charlotte asked with a bright smile. "There's gon' be plenty o' fine young men there at the—"
"I don't feel the need to spend my time trouncing around with men like some cheap tramp," Regina interrupted, with more edge to her tone than she had intended.
The blonde's eyes went wide as she stared at the older woman.
"Well, shucks, R'gina. If I'd'a known ya felt that way, I wouldn't'a asked. I sure am sorry…"
Regina finally looked at Charlotte – really looked at her – and sighed, "You should get to work, Miss Le Bouff."
"I suppose you're right," the girl conceded with a shrug and another gentle smile. "See you around. Oh, and R'gina?"
"Yes, Miss Le Bouff?"
"Please. Call me Charlotte."
That afternoon, as Regina sat on alone on her cot in the barracks, she thought of her own words.
'I don't feel the need to spend my time trouncing around with men like some cheap tramp.'
Perhaps, Regina thought, I was a bit harsh with her. She's just a young girl, after all. Of course she wants to go out and have fun. And why shouldn't she?
Then, Regina blinked away what was left of her confusion and asked herself, Why shouldn't I?
When she walked into the loud, overpopulated bar she felt extraordinarily out of place. Soldiers and nurses mingled and held each other close on the dance floor, making Regina feel even more lost than she already had simply walking in the door alone.
To Regina's horror – and perhaps her relief – Charlotte saw her out of the corner of her eye and waved her over.
"R'gina, honey, come over here!" the beautiful blonde shouted, over the booming, brassy sound of Glenn Miller.
Regina blushed instantly and managed to squeeze her way through the crowded room over to the younger nurse.
"Hi…um… Charlotte," Regina stammered, forcing herself to use the young woman's first name, although it felt strongly out of character for her.
"Hello, dear! This is Naveen," Charlotte announced, smiling brightly at the dark-haired young man closest to her. "And this handsome charmer here is Daniel," she added, voice pressured and enthusiastic as she nodded towards the other gentleman with her.
Both young, attractive soldiers, they stood tall and proud. Naveen, clearly surer of himself than his friend, smiled confidently and looked directly at Regina as he waved at her. But when Regina looked at Daniel, she could see humility and honor in his eyes, and it made her cheeks flush with heat when he finally lifted his gaze to meet hers.
Regina had to force herself to relax before she was able to introduce herself as simply, "Regina. Pleasure to meet you both."
She'd been raised to be polite and proper, so introducing herself only by her first name, as Charlotte had done, felt unnatural. Still, she knew she had to at least make an effort to fit in. In the ranks of nurses on the air force base, she was known as, 'the more refined type, which didn't usually bother her, but right now, it felt highly inconvenient. Daniel was gorgeous, as his toned body fit perfectly into his crisp Navy uniform. But what Regina found herself most drawn to was the shine of Daniel's inviting blue eyes that looked at her as if she was the only other woman in the bar.
As soon as the song changed, Daniel stepped forward, toward the brunette and asked, "Perhaps this is too forward, but would you dance with me, Regina?"
Regina blushed and hesitated, but when she noticed that Daniel suddenly looked panicked and embarrassed, she nodded her head.
The look of relief on his face was adorable. The combover of his short, perfectly cut hair didn't help the racing of Regina's heart as she noted just how beautiful he truly was. Not to mention, charming and polite.
At first, the slow song afforded them the opportunity to ease into the closeness of the activity, but Regina found herself longing to be closer to him as he gazed into her eyes with an unconfident smile.
"You're a bit shy, aren't you, dear?" Regina finally asked, feeling her own cheeks grow warm.
Daniel nodded and replied sheepishly, "Yes, ma'am. I'm afraid I am. And dancing with a woman as pretty as you is quite intimidating."
"Please, don't say that. I'm not—"
"But you are, Miss. You're stunning. And I'm feeling unworthy of your generosity."
"Generosity?" Regina questioned, looking puzzled.
"Your generosity to dance with me. I'm beyond lucky to have the grace of being able to touch you like this."
When he said 'like this,' Regina felt his hand press just slightly harder against the small of her back, and she felt herself shiver beneath his modest touch.
"Oh, Lord, no," Regina finally managed. "I'm just a nurse. You could have any woman in this place." Then, she noticed the badges on his dress uniform. "You're a First Lieutenant. I'm the lucky one."
"Because of my rank?" Daniel asked, brow furrowing slightly.
"Oh, gosh. No, Daniel. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant… I'm blessed to have you spend your valuable time with me."
"Regina," Daniel sighed, taking a small step forward. "I'm not going to argue with you about who is the lucky one here. Perhaps we can simply agree that we were lucky tonight to find each other?"
Oh, God, Regina was thinking, as she felt herself melt into her dance partner. Regina looked up to Daniel as she offered a weak nod of embarrassment. This man is going to break me.
PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII – AUGUST, 1941
Three months into their time together, they were inseparable. Whenever both were off duty, Daniel wanted to be near her, and he made it clear.
"Dinner after your shift?" he asked one morning. "I know you've gotta work this afternoon. But I'm clear for the day, and I'd love to see you."
Regina chuckled girlishly, blushing as she always did.
"Of course, darling," she whispered, leaning in close to him as he put his hands on her waist.
"Good Lord, you are beautiful," Daniel sighed with a shy smile, staring deeply into Regina's dark eyes.
"Stop it," Regina laughed, trying to push him away as she felt the stinging juxtaposition of his compliment against her history of belittling comments from her mother.
But this only resulted in Daniel stepping closer and walking her gently, very gently, backwards, until she was pressed lightly against the wall of his private quarters.
"Daniel—" she tried, but he was leaning in, and she knew what he wanted.
To that day, she was still surprised by the desires he so clearly demonstrated. How can he still want me? she wondered.
But Daniel was relentless, in a loving, consensual kind of way, and she was always receptive to his advances.
"Daniel," she repeated, when he pressed his forehead against hers.
Daniel moved slightly and whispered in her ear, "I love you, Regina Mills."
Regina's heart stopped. Just when she felt it would never beat again, it kicked into gear and slammed against her ribcage, physically causing her pain.
Shocked to find unceasing tears streaming from her cheeks, Regina replied, voice cracking, "And I love you, Daniel Colter."
His lips pressed against hers just as Regina finished speaking, and they moved together slowly, savoring the taste of one another, until Regina abruptly broke the embrace.
Breathlessly, she asked him, "Why?"
"Why what?" he questioned, looking confused.
"Why do you love me?"
Daniel shook his head and laughed lightly, then asked in turn ,"Why do you love me?"
Without pausing, Regina answered, "Because no one else could ever make my heart beat this way, Daniel. No one."
Before speaking, Daniel gently gripped Regina's shoulders, then said, "I feel the same, darling. I shut my eyes and see your smile, and I don't think I could ever see anything else ever again."
PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII - SEPTEMBER, 1941
"We've been going together for a while now," Daniel mused, as he sat with Regina on a stone wall by the beach.
As Regina stared out at the lapping deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, her thoughts begin to drift in and out with the waves. Despite his insistence on them both being lucky, Regina still felt like the one who was blessed, having continued to maintain his affections four months in. It was unbelievable to her that he was still interested. Surely, there was some other motive…
"Regina?" Daniel asked, finally looking over at her.
"Sorry! Yes," Regina blurted, snapping out of her thoughts and moving her gaze to Daniel. "We have been going together for a while."
"I, um… I know it's still soon, but I…"
Regina looked up to find him moving away before standing directly in front of her. She remained seated, looking on with a sudden wave of shock as he knelt down in the sand. The man was wearing his dress whites and sailor cap, looking as handsome as ever. Regina had wondered why he'd dressed up for a simple trip to the beach but hadn't questioned him. Now, she knew why.
"Regina Mills," Daniel started. The woman could see the sweat forming on his brow as he asked shyly, "Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Daniel had never moved so fast in his life as when he saw his dearest love begin to sway, then lean backwards. He was on his feet in an instant, holding her steady as she fainted in his arms.
Of course, when she came to a moment later, all she could manage to say was, "Yes."
At hearing Regina's acceptance, Daniel bent down and passionately kissed his fiancé as the sun began to set.
PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII – OCTOBER, 1941
"Come with me," Daniel told Regina, squeezing her hand and tugging her along the pristine beach with one hand and holding the strap of his knapsack with the other.
She was somewhat confused and didn't like the idea of not knowing where they were going, but she trusted her fiancé completely now. They walked for a long while along the dimly lit shore before they reached the naval hangar.
"Let's go," he whispered, pulling her inside.
Her eyes went wide as she whispered back. "Aren't we gonna get in trouble?"
"Not if we don't get caught," Daniel announced, wearing a surprisingly confident smile. "Now, come on. I brought sheets and champagne."
"You brought what?" Regina asked dumbly, giving him a blank stare.
"Just come here already!" he laughed, letting go of her hand as he set out the sheets.
Daniel held out his hand and invited Regina to sit with him beneath a massive B-17 bomber.
Reluctantly, Regina followed him, sitting beside him on the sheet he'd laid out for them as he pulled a bottle of champagne and two glasses from his knapsack.
"Cheers," he announced, after pouring both glasses. "To us."
Regina shook her head and looked at the bottle apprehensively, saying, "You're a goof, you know that?"
Daniel smiled, as he answered, "And yet you still love me."
"I do indeed." Regina replied with a warm smile as she took the offered glass of champagne.
"I've never had alcohol before," Regina confessed shyly.
Daniel just smiled and said, "Only once for me. On my 21st birthday. Gosh… That was four years ago!"
Regina sighed, giving him an I'm-trying-to-scold-you-but-I-can't smile, then finally said, "Cheers."
Two glasses later, Regina felt a slight buzz, but knew she wasn't drunk. Just emboldened. So when Daniel slowly leaned her back on the soft sheet and fervently kissed her, she felt more than just heat coiling in her belly.
"Wait," Daniel said breathlessly, as he felt her small hands fumbling with his belt. "I don't want to rush you, and—"
"Daniel. It's okay," Regina whispered back, reaching up to stroke his hair. "I want to."
"You're drunk."
"No, I'm not," she asserted firmly, looking up at him with fire in her eyes.
"You sure?" Daniel questioned, knowing full well that he refused to take advantage of her.
"Please, Daniel."
Breath hitching in his chest, Daniel fumbled ungracefully with his belt. When she realized that he was having significant trouble, Regina pushed him away gently and unclasped it for him with slightly trembling hands. Once it was open, she slid her palm ever so slightly over the growing bulge in his trousers and smiled up at him. She was nervous, yes, but nowhere near what she would have been without a drink. Thinking clearly but with confidence, she continued the gesture when she heard the heavy breath escape Daniel's lips.
"Does that feel good?" Regina asked him nervously. When he nodded, she smiled again and added, "I can make it feel better."
His eyes fell shut as soon as she unzipped him and reached her hand into his underwear, grasping his stiffened member.
"Ahh!" he cried out, feeling the soft skin of her warm palm wrap around his most sensitive organ.
Raising one eyebrow, Regina playfully asked, "More?" while holding still.
He nodded desperately, eager to feel her stroking him again.
"Take these off," Regina ordered, tugging at the waistband of his trousers.
He nodded again and wiggled clumsily out of his pants before slowly sliding his hands up Regina's dress. She shivered when she felt the warm heat of his hands on her thighs. The heat spread further through her body, and she felt the muscles in her abdomen tighten involuntarily as he rubbed his thumbs over her hips.
When they kissed, Regina quickly became breathless. Their tongues danced together, not battling for dominance but sharing equal passion, until Daniel lowered himself onto her and pressed his body into hers. She could tell he was nervous by the way his hands shook when he palmed her ample breasts, but her desire to reassure him with words of encouragement was extinguished by the whimper that escaped her lips when she felt his length pressing hard against the fabric of her panties.
"Daniel," she said breathlessly, lifting her hips purely by instinct.
"Is this your first time?" he asked, panting from the effort of stopping himself.
Regina hesitated, then nodded her head and bit her lip.
"You're so sexy like that," Daniel sighed happily. "Biting your lip."
She shook her head, but he held her chin still and kissed her firmly on the mouth, teasing her lower lip with his tongue. Again, Regina whimpered.
"I love you," he gasped, feeling the sudden pressure of her hand fully gripping him and giving his length one light, careful stroke. "It's okay. You're not gonna hurt me." When she looked confused, he explained, "You can do it harder."
She blushed an obeyed, stroking more firmly this time, making his hips buck forward as he groaned softly in pleasure.
"It… It might hurt a little," Daniel told the young woman, looking down into her eyes as he stroked her hair out of her face. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Regina nodded her head confidently and stroked him one last time, dissolving his last bit of resolve and restraint. Then, his careful hands slid her lace panties down past her ankles and tossed them to the side. Regina shivered from the touch of his hands sliding down the smooth skin of her legs.
"Ready?" the man asked her, offering her a warm, encouraging smile.
"Yes. Please, Daniel. Please."
Biting his lip, Daniel pushed her dress up a little further, so it was out of the way, and positioned himself at her entrance. He pushed in carefully, groaning as he felt her heat sheath him, making sure to hurt her as little as possible. At first, Regina winced and let out a soft yelp, causing him to freeze.
"You okay?" he asked breathlessly. "Should I stop?"
He wasn't sure if he could stop, but he knew that he would if he had to. He would have done anything for her.
Regina shook her head and lifted her hips, pushing him in the rest of the way. When he pulled back, it no longer hurt. Instead, it sent a rush throughout her body that made her head spin. She could no longer keep her eyes open as he began to work up a steady rhythm inside her, still gripping her hips to steady himself.
"Harder," she whispered, wrapping her legs around his waist. "Please."
Daniel groaned, brought closer to the edge by her pleas, as well as her soft coos and whimpers of pleasure.
"Love those sounds," he managed to tell her, continuing his movements. "Oh, fuck. Regina—"
"Oh, God. Fuck," Regina echoed him, the lifting of her hips growing more erratic.
The rhythm was broken, and it only served to bring Daniel closer to his peak.
"Please. Please," Regina begged, reaching behind him and digging her nails into his back.
He moaned when she dragged them down, leaving small red welts in her wake.
"'Gina, are you close?" he panted. "I'm…"
"Yes, baby. Please, don't stop."
Daniel's pace increased, until his frantic thrusts brought Regina to her climax.
"Daniel!" she cried out, walls clenching around him.
The rippling of her muscles around his length sent Daniel soaring next, and before he could pull out, he was spent, giving her every last drop of himself.
"Oh, shit," he cursed, gasping for air as he jerked himself out of her. "Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck."
Frantic, his heart began to slam harder in his ribcage, and he felt his chest tightening.
It took Regina a moment to shake herself from the fog of the intense orgasm he'd just given her, but once she realized why he was upset, she felt her stomach drop. Oh, my God. I could get pregnant.
"I meant to pull out," Daniel blurted, speech pressured and fast. "I'm so fucking sorry, Regina. Maybe—"
"No. Daniel, it's okay," Regina assured him, after taking one slow, deep breath. "It's okay."
Tears started to well in his eyes, but he didn't cry. She could tell he was about to, though, so she grabbed onto his dog tags and tugged him down into a slow-burning kiss.
"I love you," she whispered, upon breaking away. "Just breathe. It's okay."
Chest heaving, Daniel slowly started to calm down. All he wanted – all he needed – was Regina's hands on him, soothing him, comforting him, telling him everything would be okay. And anyway, what was the worst thing that could happen? She could get pregnant. What did it matter, anyway? They were to be married in January. And if Regina wasn't angry… well… he wasn't either. Besides, having a child? With Regina? What more could he ask for? She was perfect.
Once he'd reasoned away his fear, eased by the sensation of Regina's soft hands tracing random shapes on his back, his heart slowed and began to swell with love.
"Would you want a child with me?" he asked softly, nuzzling her neck.
"I want everything with you, Daniel. Everything."
PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII – DECEMBER 7, 1941
"Okay, just tell him, Regina," the brunette told herself, straightening her uniform and cap as she looked at herself in the mirror.
Distracted by the bright glare of the early morning sunlight reflecting off the mirror, Regina hardly heard the other woman come into the room.
"Miss R'gina?" the fellow nurse asked, upon entering.
"Oh. Hi, Charlotte," Regina greeted the girl, offering a half-hearted smile.
"Tell who what, honey?"
Regina blinked several times and stared at the woman who had slowly become her friend.
"Um… Charlotte…"
"Yes, dear?"
"I'm pregnant."
"Oh, my!" the blonde cried, eagerly clapping her hands with apparent joy. "That's just wonderful!"
"I… I suppose it is, isn't it?" Regina replied, a small, shy smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Anyway, I know I need to tell Daniel, but… I'm scared."
"Oh, honey, he'll be thrilled!" Charlotte giggled. "He's been gunnin' for your babies for ages!"
"How do you know that?"
"Oh, it's obvious, honey. That boy is head over heels for you," Charlotte replied.
Regina's smile brightened as she replied, "Yeah?"
"Absolutely!"
"Oh, Charlotte," Regina sighed, looking back to the mirror as she placed her hands over her stomach. "I never thought I could be so happy."
"Well, sugar, you sure have a reason to be happy now! You've got a handsome, strapping young man, who's gonna be a wonderful daddy to that baby of yours."
"He will, won't he?" the brunette mused, her lips curling back into a smile.
"Yes ma'am," Charlotte confirmed. "So, you shouldn't be afraid to tell him, honey."
"Alright. I guess I better go find him. He's supposed to meet me on the beach at eight, after his night shift ends.
"Well, go on then, sweetie. He's gonna be waitin' for you!"
Regina nodded, gave her friend a quick hug, and left the nurse's station.
The walk to the beach felt longer than usual, and she cursed the heels that she'd chosen to walk in. As Regina turned onto the beach, she heard a low rumble steadily grow. Not knowing where the sound was coming from, she looked around and saw a plane flying low in the distant horizon.
That's odd, she thought, as she cupped her hand over her eyes to block out the early morning sun. They don't usually run drills this early.
As Regina widened her gaze, she discovered that what she thought was a lone plane was in fact an entire fleet of planes soaring towards the harbor. As the planes flew over her head, she looked up to see the Japanese emblem of the rising sun under their wings. At first confused by the nationality of the planes and their low and aggressive flight patterns, Regina's confusion morphed into intense panic as the first deafening bombs dropped. As the sand on the beach flew high in the air from the nearby explosion, Regina's first thought was Daniel.
Forgetting her fear and her sensibility, she ran as fast as she could towards the opposite end of the beach where she was to meet Daniel, past the landing spot of the first bomb. Before she could reach the impact crater, she heard the sound of her name being screamed from behind her.
"R'gina!"
Turning reflexively, Regina looked in time to see the young blonde tossed by the second explosion what must have been fifty yards away. Regina cried out as she tore her heels from her feet and ran as fast as possible back towards her friend until her legs ached. As Regina approached Charlotte, she saw the mangled remains of her only friend. Covering her mouth in horror as tears and sweat mixed on her cheeks, she crumbled to the ground. It felt like ages before she could muster the strength to lift her gaze and look around, but the sound of a nearby bomb shocked her back into her brutal reality. Around her, Regina saw the carnage of the black smoke billowing from the broken ships in the harbor and the wreckage of the beach. The smell of black smoke permeated her senses and overwhelmed her.
"Regina!" a distressed male's voice called out, over the continuous sound of bombs crashing.
Hearing her name again, Regina's attention focused in the direction of the sound, where she saw her fiancé sprinting towards her.
The sound of the propeller of the last low swoop of a turning plane was the last sound Regina heard before screaming his name.
"DANIEL!"
Regina ignored the raging bullets soaring past as they landed in the sand on either side of her, sending rocks and debris flying. Just as the two lovers were mere feet from one another, the bullets found their mark in Daniel's chest. Blood spilled out, reddening his pristine white uniform as he fell to his knees, then onto his back over the scorched sand. As Regina's eyes went wide at the nightmare before her, she raised out a hand to Daniel, was suddenly hit in the back by the raining bullets above, and she collapsed just inches from him, arm stretched out in agony.