Chapter 12. Here it is.

I kind of meant to have this posted on Wednesday. Oops. The delay wasn't even because I got stuck this time. I had back to back to back softball games this week and no time to write. That might actually start happening more often, at least until the season is over. Just an FYI. (OMG I found out my softball coach watches Rizzoli and Isles. The people I ask never even know what that show is, so that was big for me.)

As always thanks to anyone who reviewed, followed or added this to their favorites. You guys are awesome :)

This is the longest chapter yet. Over six thousand words before my ridiculous author's notes.

As promised, this covers them actually skating. I freaking love this chapter so I hope you guys do too. (I even went skating myself before I wrote this)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

On with the show...

Chapter 12

It was nearly nine o'clock when Regina and Emma finished their meals. They'd kept the topics of conversation light while they ate. Mostly talking about classes, and their respective best friends. Emma talked about work and Regina mentioned some of the projects she was working on.

Nothing too heavy.

Emma took one last sip from her Coke and leaned into the back of the booth.

"I'm so full." She rubbed a hand over her stomach for emphasis.

Regina swirled the ice around in her glass and quirked an eyebrow at her companion.

"Too full for skating?" The brunette could feel her nerves building as the clock ticked closer to nine. She didn't want to make a fool of herself, but she didn't want to back out either.

The blonde shot straight up in her seat and shook her head vehemently. "Never. Are you ready?" She asked expectantly.

Regina took a deep breath to calm her nerves. After a moment she nodded slowly and Emma grinned at her.

"Come on."

The blonde was out of her seat before Regina could blink and had her pale hand wrapped around a tan one of her own. Emma tugged her out of her seat and eagerly pulled her toward the door with a goofy grin firmly in place.

As the made their way out of the restaurant Regina couldn't help but compare Emma's action to one Mel did all the time. The hand grasped around her own was gentle and loose, leaving room for Regina to pull away if she so pleased. Unlike the tight, clawed grip she found her wrist in, more often than not. Where a scowl would sit on the face of her girlfriend and her blue eyes would be cold and hard, Emma still sported that lopsided grin she had become used to seeing on her friend and green eyes were warm and filled with mirth.

This was how you were supposed treat someone you cared about.

The brunette pulled her hand away as they reached the Bug, fighting the fluttering in her stomach once again.

Friends. Emma was her friend. She repeated as she sat in the tanned leather seat and waited for Emma to join her in the vehicle.

Hanging out with Emma should be no different than if she were hanging out with Kathryn.

But it was different.

That was the problem.

Emma parked the bug in the half full parking lot of Storybrooke Roller Skating Rink. Regina looked around, somewhat relieved to see the parking lot wasn't full.

Good, she thought. Less people to see her fall on her ass.

The blonde reached into the back seat to retrieve her duffle bag before looking over to see her brunette companion eying the building. She almost laughed at the wide brown eyes and the way Regina was biting down on her lip nervously. But she held it in. Clearly, Regina was anxious about skating, and honestly the blonde was slightly nervous as well. This whole thing was about impressing Regina. She didn't want to mess that up by falling on her ass, something that was more likely to happen than not.

So she held it in and reached over to cover an olive hand with a pale one of her own.

Regina looked over to meet Emma's soothing emerald orbs.

"You okay?" she asked, keeping her hand where it was even after she had the brunette's attention.

Regina, unwilling to part with the comforting warmth of the hand on top of hers, nodded and fingerspelled her answer.

"I haven't been skating in almost thirteen years. I don't want to fall."

Emma gave the hand in hers a reassuring squeeze and grinned.

"It'll be fun. I promise." The brunette didn't look convinced. Emma thought for a second and smirked at the idea that struck her. "How about I make you a deal?"

Regina raised an eyebrow at the smirk on her friend's face but was curious.

"What kind of deal?"

"If you fall, I fall." Emma told her with a decisive nod.

"Like you jump, I jump?"

The blonde let out a laugh. "And you said I watch too much TV?"

"You do." The brunette joined in with a laugh of her own.

Once they settled back down, Emma pulled her hand away from Regina's, to her disappointment and held it out for the brunette to shake.

"Do we have a deal?" she asked raising her eyebrows.

Now with both hands free, though she was ignoring the sense of loss brought by the absence of the Emma's pale hand, responded in actual signs.

"Then we'll both look like fools."

"That's the point. Mutual embarrassment is better than being embarrassed by yourself."

Regina's gaze shifted between the hand being offered to her and the green eyes silently coaxing her to shake. After another moment of thought she shook Emma's hand sealing the deal.

"Awesome." Emma went back to signing. "Fun awaits."

"I'm ready."

A goofy grin lit up the blonde's face as she threw her door open and bounced out of the car. Regina copied her movements, less enthusiastically, and met her at the yellow vehicle. The two walked side by side to the double doored entrance to the rink.

Here we go. They both thought simultaneously, stopping at the end of the short line at the door.

Regina rolled her eyes as Emma gave her a pointed look while paying the man behind the little Plexiglas window. She held out her hand for the man to stamp it and followed the blonde through the second set of double doors that lead into the actual rink.

Emma held the black metal door open for her and Regina nodded her thanks. She followed the blonde to the long counter to the right where skate rentals were picked up, taking everything in. She could feel the bass from the music under her feet with every step. The polished wooden oval shaped floor that made up the rink was straight ahead. Skaters zipped past, some going forward, some going backward, all at alarming speeds.

The brunette gulped, intimidated by the fast pace set by the skilled skaters. Noticing that she had fallen behind she hurried to catch up with Emma. The blonde was leaning on the counter, waiting for the employee taking shoe sizes to make her way to them. Regina stopped next to her friend and patiently waited as well.

"What size?" The woman asked, finally reaching them, looking between the two women, snapping her gum obnoxiously.

Regina held up eight fingers and the employee sighed and moved away to retrieve the right size. She slapped the tan booted, orange wheeled skates in front of the brunette. Regina, maintaining a polite attitude, grabbed the skates and gave a short nod and quick smile to the woman before she and Emma moved away from the counter.

They found an empty bench near the barrier that separated the skating floor from the rest of the place. and sat down. Regina watched Emma unzip her bag and pull out her own skates and a pair of socks. Brown eyes took in the blue wheels and flames on the blondes skates and shifted back to the plain pair sitting at her feet. She envied the cool design. If Emma fell she would fall in style.

Emma turned her head to see that Regina hadn't moved to put on her skate. Instead she found her eyeballing her skates. She smirked and nudged a jean clad knee with her elbow.

"Those aren't going to put themselves on." The blonde teased, tilting her head towards the skates still sitting at the brunettes feet.

Regina made a face and took off her black ballet flats and took her own pair of socks out of her satchel. She slid the blue striped socks on her feet and glanced over to see Emma doing the same, only her sock were mismatched. The brunette giggled at the neon green sock with hot pink stripes adorned one foot and with left printed over and over in vibrant colors adorned the other.

Of course Emma wore mismatched socks. The ironic thing was that the left sock was actually on her right foot.

Emma snapped her head in the direction of the giggle. Regina tried to school her features, but ended up letting out another giggle at the mock glare Emma was sending her.

"Are you laughing at my socks?"

"Yes." Regina admitted with a grin.

The blonde looked down at her own feet and wiggled her toes and shrugged, meet brown eyes again.

"Life's too short to wear matching socks." She signed with a serious look in her eyes. Regina suspected there was a deeper meaning behind Emma's words, but she decided to just let that be for now.

"I'll keep that in mind."

They shared another smile before leaning over to pull on their skates and lace them up. Emma finished first and stood up. She moved her feet back and forth a couple of times. It had been a while since she'd gone skating and wanted to get a feel for being on wheels again. She waited for Regina finish tying her skate. When brown eyes met her green ones she grinned and offered her hand to her sitting friend.

"Ready?"

Regina let out a determined breath and nodded, grabbing hold of Emma's hand and allowed the blonde to pull her to her feet. She wobbled a little bit, not used to the feeling of wheels under her feet. She squeezed the pale hand as Emma helped her find her balance.

"Good?" Emma questioned.

The olive toned woman nodded and looked down at her feet, daring the skates to throw her off balance again.

Emma couldn't help but chuckled at Regina's adorableness.

"Wait right here. I'll be right back."

Regina opened up her mouth to protest as the pale woman removed her hand from her vice like grip to gather up her duffle bag, her discarded satchel, and their shoes. Emma skated away with their belongings to the back wall that consisted mostly of lockers. Regina could feel herself start to lose her balance again. She quickly reached out to clutch the carpeted barrier.

They hadn't even started skating for real yet and she couldn't even stand up by herself.

This was going to be a disaster. At least she had Emma there to help her laugh it off.

Emma skated back up to her, moving effortlessly on the wheeled shoes. She stopped a several feet short of the brunette and beckoned her forward.

Regina shook her head and placed her other hand on the barrier with the other. She wasn't going anywhere.

Placing her hands on her hips, Emma stared down the other woman. She crooked a finger at the brown eyed woman. Regina refused to move.

"Come on it's like three feet."

Another head shake.

"Are you just going to stand there all night?"

A shrug. "Maybe."

Emma crossed her arms across her chest and smirked.

"I didn't take you for a quitter." She gave a casual shrug. "Oh well."

She turned to head for the entrance of the hardwood floor, casting looks over her shoulder as she went.

The blonde didn't make it two feet before she saw Regina raise her hand, reaching in her direction. Emma smirked before giving her friend her full attention.

"I am no quitter." Regina told her with a look that said, she meant business.

"Prove it." the blonde challenged with a smirk.

Regina squared her shoulders and pulled her hands away from the barrier. She wobbled a little, but remained on her feet, her hands held away from her body to help keep her balance. Tentatively she moved one foot forward. When she remained steady on her feet and upright she rolled the other one forward.

The brunette continued her sluglike pace, scooting over to Emma, with her tongue between her teeth in complete concentration.

Emma watched with a half smile on her face. Regina was too cute.

Regina only looked up from her feet when she saw the blue wheels of Emma's skates enter her line of vision. The blonde took in the pride shining in the chocolaty eyes and beaming smile being sent her way and felt her heart skip a beat.

Emma clapped her hands together as the brunette stopped in front of her. Regina ducked her head shyly and blush raced across her tanned cheeks. She was proud she'd managed to stay on her feet while crossing the short distance to the other woman, but in the back of her head something was telling her the accomplishment was childish.

But those thoughts went out the door when Emma smiled at her.

"Good job." She praised. "Ready for the real thing?"

The brunette shot a nervous glance over to the rink and the skaters speeding around the rink. She didn't have time to consider chickening out, feeling a comforting hand on her arm. She met green eyes and a pale hand gave her arm a squeeze.

"I'm right here. I won't let you fall."

Regina relaxed and nodded her head. Emma pulled her hand away and moved toward the opening in the barrier and waited there for Regina to catch up. She watched the brunette slowly inch forward. The blonde was glad they wouldn't have deal with all the middle schoolers that liked to terrorize the place on the weekends. The brunette was already having trouble staying on her feet. She didn't to be worried about getting knocked over by the ankle biters that would speed by under your elbows.

When Regina was at her side, Emma glided easily onto the smooth hardwood and spinned so she was facing the brunette. Other skaters flew past, but Emma paid them no mind. Her attention was focused fully on Regina.

An olive toned hand grasped the barrier as she slowly slid a skate onto the slippery hardwood. She followed with the other and hurriedly clutched the barrier with her other hand. The difference between the carpet and smooth wood beneath her feet was almost enough to send her to the floor. She took a moment to adjust.

Once Regina was steady on her feet again, she slowly started moving backwards as the brunette copied her motions from before. They eased their way around the floor a couple times, Regina with a hand on the wall and the other out by her side for balance, Emma gliding backwards in front of her the whole time. There for her friend like she said she would.

Regina kept her head down, watching her feet in case they decided to betray her and start slipping around without her permission. She could feel eyes on her, and not just the green ones she'd become familiar with. But she ignored them, her attention preoccupied with making sure she stayed upright.

After a few more passes around, Emma noticed that Regina seemed more and more confident on her feet. So she decided her friend was ready for the next step in her skating lesson.

She waved a hand at the other woman to get her attention. Regina looked up at her with a questioning look.

"Are you ready to let go of the wall?" She asked indicating the hand Regina still had braced against the wall.

The brunette shook her head. Not willing to move her hands from where they were to respond.

"Come on you're doing great. Just let go of the wall."

They moved forward a few more feet before Regina gingerly removed her hand from the wall. She wobbled for a moment and started moving at an even slower pace than before. She found that without the aid of the wall she struggled to stay balanced, pitching forward or backward suddenly.

Emma was there, ready to catch Regina any time she would jerk violently in any direction. She saw the problem when they entered the wooden floor. Without the wall to help keep her upright, her shuffle skating was bound to end in Regina and herself on the ground. Time for another lesson.

The blonde spun around so she was skating at Regina's side, causing the woman to look at her.

"Do as I do." She instructed. Slowly, the blonde glided forward, lengthening each stride and rolling forward for a moment until she lost momentum. She pushed off of the other foot and repeated the process.

Regina watched her movements closely and copied them. Her first few times were a little wobbly, but she eventually got the hang of it, gaining speed with each stride. She looked over to Emma with a wide grin that the blonde couldn't help but return.

"I'm doing it." The brunette said excitedly.

"You're doing an amazing job." Emma praised, moving back into her position of skating backwards in front of Regina.

Regina, much more confident on her feet and far more balanced, felt comfortable enough to start conversation instead of stare at her skates the entire time.

She smirked and addressed her blonde counterpart.

"I'm very impressed with your backwards skating by the way."

Emma blushed, but maintained a cocky grin.

"You ain't seen nothing yet." she told her friend with a wink.

"Then show me." Regina encouraged, motioning for the blonde to take off, but Emma merely shook her head and continued to grin.

"Patience my friend."

Emma would have usually, gladly taken advantage of the excuse to be a show off, but refrained from doing so this time. Even though the rink wasn't as full as it normally was, with only adult patrons, there were still a significant number of people skating around. She wasn't going to risk colliding with someone, and getting knocked over. Not with Regina watching. She'd get her chance to show off.

Regina accepted this with a nod, curious as to what the other woman had up her sleeve. Instead she moved on, gaining speed with each pass they made around the oval shaped rink.

"What song is playing?" she asked.

All her life Regina has loved music. Even though she couldn't hear the lyrics, she could feel the vibrations created by the bass and other instruments in songs. She could name different songs based on the vibration patterns. She and Kathryn made a game out of it whenever they made the half hour trip to her brother's house in Regina's car. She had a bass tube that rocked the whole vehicle.

She could feel the vibrations through her skates, though not as well as she'd been able to in her flats, but didn't recognize the song.

Emma took a moment to listen to the words, smirking when she picked up on the catchy tune she'd fallen in love with after hearing it just once. That was another reason she liked that this skating rink had a night for adults only. When the place was packed with kids, they tended to play chart toppers of the day and most one of them were crap. On the night for 18 and older they only played pop music with some merit mixed in with hits from the 70s to early 2000s. It was the perfect blend in Emma's opinion.

"Classic by MKTO." The blonde answered bobbing her head to the beat.

"I like it." Regina bobbed her head right along with Emma, unconsciously skating to the beat.

The blonde watched Regina move and smile at her.

"You were worried for nothing, you skate like a pro."

"I guess I was." The brunette hadn't realized how fast they were going or how she hadn't lost her balance yet. She decided to test her new found abilities.

She smirked at Emma with a mischievous glint in her brown eyes.

"Catch me if you can."

Green eyes watched, stunned, as the olive skinned woman darted around her and sped away as if she hadn't been scoot skating less than twenty minutes ago. A huge smile broke out across her face as she turned to skate forward and chase after her friend.

Emma caught up to the brunette easily in one lap around the floor, being the more experienced skater, and poked the other woman's sides as she slowed down behind her. The peel of laughter that came from Regina at the unexpected shock was by far the most beautiful sound Emma had heard. She left her hands where they were on Regina's sides, skating in tandem with the other woman.

Regina looked over her shoulder at the blonde, enjoying the pleasant pressure on her waist, but feeling guilty for it at the same time. Not ready to deal with the conflicting emotions running wildly through her head at Emma's touch, Regina took the pale hands in her own with a quick squeeze before shooting her a playful grin before speeding off again.

For her part, Emma had seen the brief flash of emotions in those brown eyes, but decided not to push Regina. Instead she shook her head with a smirk and skated after the retreating form that was Regina.

It took Emma much longer to catch up Regina this time. By the time they both slowed down they were panting and holding their sides. She hadn't touched the brunette this time though. She didn't want her to skate off again.

For someone who just learned to skate, Regina was quick and was way too good at weaving in and out of the other skaters.

"How do you do that? You literally learned to skate like an hour ago."

Regina simply shrugged with a smug on her face. "I'm a fast learner."

"I'll say."

The pair glided around at a leisurely pace in silence, enjoying Pink's Just Like a Pill. Emma sang the words with conviction and Regina tried to remember the cues for the lyrics in her head, having memorized the song years ago. They both remained in their own little worlds brought on by Pink's words and didn't notice when the lights dimmed over the rink.

Regina was the first to notice the change. People were pairing off and skating slowly, hand in hand. She tapped Emma's arm to point out the change to the blonde.

"What song is playing now?"

"Angel of Mine by Monica." Emma answered without missing a beat. They always played the R&B cover for the couple skate. That or Hero by Enrique Iglesias. Both songs brought out strong feelings in Emma, but she didn't want to make Regina feel uncomfortable by staying to skate to the romantic song.

They were friends.

And by the look on her face, Emma could see Regina growing more and more uncomfortable as pair after pair skated past them holding hands. One day she hoped she could skate a couple skate with the brunette.

But today wasn't that day.

"Do you want something to drink?"

The brunette eagerly nodded and exited the rink right behind Emma. There was an adjustment that had to be made going from hardwood back to the carpeted floor, but luckily neither one of them bit the dust.

Emma bought them each a bottle of water, arguing that they were still skating, when Regina offered to pay for her own. The blonde made a quick stop at the DJ booth before returning to Regina's side. At the brunette's questioning look she merely shrugged. They sat down on the same bench where they'd changed their shoes and sipped their drinks as they watched the couples skate past.

Regina watched the people on the rink smile at each other with affection, if not love, shining on their faces directed on the partner they were sharing the song with. The thought of her own girlfriend crossed her mind as she watched the happy couples.

Her relationship with Melanie had never been that easy. Never.

Their first date had been an awkward dinner followed by drinks with her mother. Not the ideal first date. They hadn't been on a date since. They were just together after that. Mel knew she didn't have to try hard to keep Regina and Regina knew it too. The approving smile on her mother's face when they'd left that first night had sealed the deal.

She wished she hadn't given into that set up so easily. Her father had told her it was her choice, but they both knew that wasn't true. When Cora wanted something, she got it. And she wanted the benefits that came with merging with Gold, even if it cost her own daughter's happiness.

The relationship she had with Mel wouldn't be half as bad if they did fun stuff like this every once in a while. But Mel would just look down her nose at doing something as juvenile as skating on a Saturday night. Her girlfriend had inherited that snotty trait that growing up with money often brought. Regina was glad she hadn't fallen victim to it. Mel's idea of a date was dinner at an expensive restaurant where she'd have to wear a dress to and a glass of wine before bed.

Regina was getting sick of that and things would have to change, she decided. Or else she didn't know how much longer she could stay with Mel. Her mother would not be pleased with that.

Conflicted, she focused back on skating couples, her heart clenching in both longing for what they had that she didn't and pain knowing she'd probably never have it.

Emma watched Regina watch the pairs moving around the rink with a sort of longing on her face. That made her wonder about the brunette's current girlfriend. How bad was it that made Regina watch other people's happiness with that much want in her eyes?

Anger flared up in Emma momentarily, but dissipated as quickly as it came. There was nothing she could do for Regina except show her that she deserved happiness and to be treated like an equal. And she planned to do just that by being the best friend to the brunette that she could.

The lights over the rink brightened up again and Emma placed a hand on the other woman's shoulder.

Regina looked over at her, brown eye glazed over for a moment before clearing.

"Ready to get back out there?"

"Yes."

The blonde stood and offered her hand to Regina who took it willingly, though quickly dropped it when she was back on her feet. They discarded their empty water bottles and skated back out onto the waxed skating floor.

They skated side by side, rocking out to Alone Together by Fall Out Boy, laughing at each other's silly dance moves. Emma decided to pay back Regina for the chase she'd been put through before the couple skate and sped around, teasing the brunette and daring her to catch her. Regina caught her every time with a huge smile and poke to the ribs. They played this game for a few songs, before the emcee's voice came over the loudspeaker.

"Alright skaters, this next song is for all the backwards skaters. If you can't hang, clear the floor."

A giddy smile lit up Emma's face Time to shine.

Regina looked at her confused, noticing that most of the other skater's had made their way off of the floor.

"What's going on?

"Backwards skating." Emma answered simply with that cocky smirk of hers.

Regina knew this was the moment the other woman had been waiting for.

"I'll be watching you."

"Good. That's why we're here." Emma joked. "Prepare to be amazed."

The brunette just giggled and followed the trail of people exiting the rink. She stood at the barrier in front of the bench she and Emma had vacated not twenty minutes earlier. Her eyes roamed over the floor, noticing that out of the fifty or so people currently in the establishment only fifteen were left on the skating floor. She caught sight of Emma skating leisurely with her hands behind her back, her smirk firmly in place.

Regina suspected her friend had something big planned and was intrigued and excited to see what she could do.

Emma kept up her leisurely pace until the opening notes of the song she'd requested when she and Regina had taken a water break started playing through the speakers. She locked eyes with the tanned woman before focusing on impressing her and not falling.

As the first "Go on." of Breathless by the Corrs sounded she sped up, gaining momentum until the first banging of the drums. As the beat started she spun around to face the opposite direction, but kept her forward momentum.

She couldn't stop the smile that spread over her face at the lyrics of the upbeat song filled her up. She let the beat guide her skates, being careful to avoid colliding with her fellow backwards skater. Emma didn't know where her dance moves came from, but she started moving her hips to the music and bobbing her head in time with the beat.

Emma saw Regina watching her with a look of as she moved around to the song from her spot at the barrier. Being the show off she was, the blonde made sure she had the other woman's attention before spinning to skate facing forward again. She sped up to an impossible speed before going to going from skating forward to backward to forward again three times in a row before she went back to going backwards into the turn. She saw Regina's jaw had dropped as she passed by again and the brunette was clapping excitedly for her.

The blonde heard more applause coming from the other spectators. But she ignored them.

She wasn't showing off for them.

Slowing down to a more controllable speed, Emma swerved to avoid another skater. The woman she'd just moved around called to her over the loud song.

"Which one are you trying to impress?"

Emma smirked and motioned her thumb over to Regina. "Her."

The woman looked over at Regina and saw the captivated brown eyes locked on her blonde friend, a smile gracing her beautiful features.

"I think it's working." The woman said with a wink and skated away.

The blonde glanced back over at Regina and smiled shyly to herself. She sped back up as the song reached the last chorus.

At the last "Go on." Emma spun back around and stopped in front of Regina on the other side of the barrier. She was panting, out of breath, and was sure her usually pale features were at least four shades of red by this point. Not caring, she had that big goofy grin back on her face.

Regina smiled at her and clapped her hands and Emma bowed dramatically, earning her a giggle from the brunette.

"That was amazing." Regina told her, her chocolate eyes still filled with awe. "I love that song too, by the way."

"Thank you." Emma bowed again, moving along the barrier to step onto the carpet. "I'll be right back."

She motioned her head toward the bathrooms and Regina nodded her understanding. Emma skated away and the brunette stayed where she was. It wouldn't be much fun out on the floor without Emma. So she would wait for her friend to return. She watched the other skaters, recognizing the pattern of vibrations for Luke Bryan's Drunk On You. She watched people either mouthing or our right singing the song. She giggled at the thought of not being the only one to enjoy the country song.

So caught up in the music and people watching, Regina didn't notice the other person making their way into her personal space, until he had his arm around her shoulders. She could feel his hot breath on the side of her face as he whispered in her ear. Too bad that wouldn't work with her. She jerked her head away in disgust and sidestepped out from under his arm. Regina wrinkled her nose at him. His body odor was overwhelming.

"Don't be like that sweetheart." Regina watched the man's lips as he advanced on her, taking her staring at his mouth the wrong way.

He tried to slip his arm back around her, but she ducked it and held her hands out in front of her head and shook her head. Hoping he'd get the message.

He didn't and tried moving toward her again.

Regina growled. She really hated dealing with assholes. Of the male and female variety.

"Leave me alone." she told him firmly.

The man just looked at her for a minute, a look of understanding crossing his features, or what he thought he understood.

"What are you retarded or something?"

The brunette saw red. With hands clenched like claws, she was ready to tear into this big idiot. She hated people like him. She made a move to go for the jugulars, but as she stepped toward the man a hand wrapping around her upper arm stopped her.

Regina turned to see Emma standing at her side, her green eyes hard and cold and lips in a thin lined scowl. Her own features softened at in Emma's presence. She'd been on the verge of murder, now she was calm. Her eyes hardened as she faced the ignorant man before then.

"Back off." Emma snarled at him, causing the man to recoil in fear. She was not one to be messed with and in this moment she looked downright terrifying.

"Run along." Regina said, venom dripping from her words, motioning for him to do just that.

The man's scared blue eyes shifted between the two women and he looked ready to piss his pants. They looked mad, really mad. And scary. He turned and skated away, tripping over his own feet in his hurry to get away. They both laughed as he face planted into the carpet.

Emma let go of Regina's arm as the brunette crossed her arms over her chest and looked down at her skates. With her anger gone, she couldn't stop the hurt from seeping into her chest. The blonde leaned over to try and make eye contact.

When brown eyes met her own green ones she smiled.

"Forget him. He was an asshole."

"He's not the only one." Regina told her with a sigh.

"Then forget all of them. They don't matter."

Regina looked into emerald orbs and saw the conviction behind her words in the green pools. She let out a breath and nodded. Usually an encounter like that would have ruined her whole evening, but she liked Emma's approach. She would just let it roll off her back and move on. Why let someone else's ignorance ruin her time with her friend.

"Come on there's a few more songs."

Emma led the way back into the crowd of other skaters and Regina forgot all about the stupid guy the second the next song started. She grinned over to Emma, who grinned right back. Regina had memorized the cues in this song when she was a little kid and it had stuck with her all these years.

Emma and Regina skated side by side to the Macarena. Doing the dance as they went. No shame at all.

At first they were the only ones doing it but then a few more skaters joined in until everyone was doing the Macarena. The pair broke down in a fit of laughter when the song concluded and didn't stop until they were driving back to campus in Emma's Bug.

Emma had the hands in the front pockets of her Capri's as she and Regina slowly made their up the sidewalk that lead to Regina's dorm building. She knew was walking agonizingly slow. She didn't care. The blonde had had the most fun she'd had in forever. She wasn't ready for the night to end.

She could tell Regina wasn't either.

The brunette was dragging her feet. Her building was drawing closer with every step they took. Walking at a sluglike pace was only prolonging the inevitable and she knew it. That didn't mean she was any more willing to pick up the pace. Regina never got to have like she'd had with Emma that night and she didn't want to burst her happy little bubble with her harsh reality of a life just yet.

Far too soon for either of their liking, they stopped at the foot of the stairs leading into Regina's building. They stood facing each other, neither one saying anything. After few moments Regina was the one to break the silence.

"I had a lot of fun tonight." She told her with a wide grin. It was an understatement. She'd had the time of her life.

"I did too." Emma grinned back, her smile much more shy.

"We should do it again." Regina suggested.

"Definitely."

They stood in silence again, knowing there really was nothing else to say other than goodnight. But neither one wanted to start their goodbye. Emma finally said something, knowing they couldn't stand out here forever.

"I'll text you." She smiled. "Goodnight Regina."

"Goodnight Emma."

For a second the blonde thought Regina was going lean for a hug, but the brunette changed her mind and turned to hurry up the stairs to the doors. Emma watched her until she disappeared on the other side of the glass doors.

With a sigh, Emma turned and started toward her own dorm. She let her mind replay the events of the evening and couldn't help the smile that spread across her face.

They would have to that again.

Soon.

In the elevator of her dorm, Regina was thinking the exact same thing.

I said it before and I'll say it again, I love this chapter. Aren't you all glad I split it up? That would have been majorly cut down if I would have kept it together.

What do you guys think? I know everyone loves them together and I love writing them together :)

Did anyone pick up on the seeds that are slowly starting to be planted in Regina's mind? That is far from being resolved but at least she's starting to see things differently.

I honestly have no idea what I'm doing for the next chapter, we'll just have to see what happens.

Let me know what you think.

(P.S I finished and edited this at four in the morning. Seriously, it shouldn't even be counted as editing, I swear I dozed off about half way through. So if there are any big mistakes, let me know and they will be fixed promptly.)