SQ date. May be rewritten.

Dirty Dancing, anyone?

Storybrooke- Two months ago

Sidney Glass made his reappearance on Storybrooke streets shortly after hearing local chatter about a new resident. The first place he found himself was the mansion of the hat maker, Jefferson. Cautiously, he walked up the walkway and stopped just shy of the door. He was having plenty of second thoughts about this but it seemed he was the only resident with a heavy enough vendetta against a particular person. Keeping that thought in the center of his mind, he knocked on the door anyway. It didn't take long for the giant door swing open. Jefferson was a bit like Sidney himself. Hadn't been seen in a while. Lingering in the shadows. "Who needs shaving" mentality. Other than the steadily growing beard and long, wavy hair the first thing that caught his eye was the obvious snarl on his face.

"What do you want?" Jefferson questioned with fair placed hostility.

"Nice to see you again, too," Sidney drawled, rolling his eyes.

"Can't say the same for you. Again I ask, what do you want mirror boy?"

"Well, hat boy...I have a proposition for you."

"I'm not even remotely interested in anything you and her majesty have to offer," he said dismissively as he began to close the door. Sidney stuck his foot in the way before it could connect with the frame. He received a murderous glare from Jefferson. Obviously the ill-will between he and Regina had not faded even a little and that's exactly what he needed. Being in alliance with her for so long was a setback but it was nothing a few choice words couldn't fix.

"Regina and I have had a falling out in recent months. It will never be rekindled I assure you. Although that's not what I'm here for."

"What are you here for? Have yet to hear anything that remotely sparks my curiosity."

"I hear you were...probationer, for the Mad Hatter."

"Yeah. So, what?" That was the exact cord he needed to strike. The pained expression beneath his terribly put together mask. Betrayal also seeped through. The queen and her old friend were both severely guilty of betraying allies and leaving promises unfulfilled. He looked Jefferson up and down. He was a mess. A drunk possibly after all this time. Moping around about the things he was promised that never came. He didn't get his daughter back and he didn't earn the title promised to him. Sidney used the familiar umbrella to push the door open and let himself in. Jefferson didn't object or resist. Like he expected, it smelled of cheap liquor and stale cigarette smoke.

"Classy living." Sidney commented with a distasteful look on his face. He constantly kept having to remind himself that he was here for business. They both walked deeper into the mansion and each took a seat in the living room. Surprisingly, the home was spotless despite the smell and the unkempt resident.

"Obviously, you're not here for a hat. What are you here for? Mind you, I've asked several times what your business here is and I've yet to receive an answer. Don't get upset when I kick you out of my home," Jefferson snapped.

"No need to make threats, son. Either way, I won't be leaving until I'm finished here." Sidney put severe emphasis on the last few word as he tossed the umbrella in the man's direction.

Knowingly, Jefferson grasped the handle and turned until it click. He glanced at Sidney with cold blue eyes under hooded lids before he gave the handle a tug revealing the rain guard of a sword. He immediately snapped it back into place and turning it until it clicked again. The eerie silence stretched out between the two men as Jefferson moved the umbrella to the spot next to himself with a deathly slowness. Sidney's smirk couldn't be hidden any longer as with a wave of his hand a cup of tea appeared on the side table next to him.

"Tea?" He asked as if he was innocently here visiting a friend. Jefferson's stoic expression faded away and was exchanged with a look of arrant stupefaction that the older man couldn't combat enjoying.

"You have magic. How?"

"Our little resident brought a lot more with her when she arrived than I imagine anyone thought possible. Especially, powerful magic."

"Where's your lamp then, genie? Here to grant my wish?" Jefferson snarled.

"I'm no longer bound by a lamp," he answered despising just the thought of the object. With another flick of his wrist his former lamp sat on the coffee table between them. "Powerful young thing she is and she may not even know it," he mumbled more to himself.

"What's your plan?" Jefferson asked darkly. He quickly corrected himself, "Scratch that. What part of this plan benefits me?"

"You've been here wallowing in self-pity because you were denied being successor of the infamous Mad Hatter. Rules were broken and the title wasn't passed on like it should have been." Sidney pointed to him enthusiastically, crossing one leg over the other, "I'm giving you a chance to help me achieve something big."

"Benefits," he emphasized again.

"That girl is the key to all the untamed magic you could ever dream. You can have all the power you've ever envisaged in that head of yours."

"You can't be serious. Giving me all this power...what do you get out of bringing the queen down and I getting this magic; however you're getting it?"

"You get the girl to me. That's all I need."

"I'm not getting involved in any child slavery or whatever you got going on. Not happening."

"Weak minded men like yourself are the reason why there are such people out there. I need to have a genie to genie talk with her. What we talk about is my business until I say otherwise. And I won't say otherwise. Ever."

"What's the plan then?" Jefferson asked leaning back against the cushions. A devious glint was shining in his eyes now.

"First you're going to tell me everything you know about this Hatter you worked for."

"Don't you already know this stuff?"

"Let me repeat myself. Everything you know of this person. He? She? Description?"

"More of an 'it'."

"What?"

"I don't know any of that. I did its bidding. Never actually saw a person. Shadows sometimes, even a dark figure. Rare time I saw an actual person, it was wearing a mask. Not sure what I heard was the actual voice. Sounded disguised."

"How did this apprenticeship even work if that was the case?" Sidney asked skeptically.

"I was a thief. Not much instruction was needed for that. When someone wanted transportation or we traded I would do my part and when that was done I was teleported home and in exchange the Hatter took my place. You could imagine how pissed it might have been when the Evil Queen went to go save her father and left me behind." Jefferson chuckled. Sidney tilted his head in agreement as he eyed the lamp. It sounded as if the Mad Hatter was just a much lighter alternative to Rumpelstiltskin. Although, the horror stories that came from the Hatter didn't do much to confirm it. "You think this girl and the Mad Hatter are related somehow?"

"I should be asking you that question since you were the apprentice. You didn't ask enough questions," Sidney scoffed. "You seemed to have been very numb, sedated to your situation."

"It's not like it was just some shit job. If I slipped up once I was done and not just fired, dead. So, excuse me for not asking things of some powerful ominous figure. I was promised all that power I witnessed. It was a blessing to be chosen. I had a family to provide for, all the riches anyone could ask for." Jefferson shot back. "Of course, I didn't ask questions."

"No, need to get snippy. We're business partners, now. All we need to know will be revealed in due time."

"No one has seen or heard from the Mad Hatter in years. Last job I got was with Regina when she went to Wonderland for her father and left me there. After she left my job was done and the Hatter was trapped there then, not me. You could only assume it found its way out obviously. And then proceeded to disappear with my powers."

"Have you ever thought even for a moment that during that job you were given the actual hat?" Sidney questioned slowly. "Then there would be no way out even for the Hatter. Cora is a cruel woman, if she knew the Hatter to be in her kingdom there would have been a fruitless struggle to get out." The realization dawned of both of them.

"The Hatter never got out."

"Only time will give us our answers but that seems to be the likely answer as far as we know. Now, there are just a few things we need to retrieve from Regina's vault."

"How we gonna get them?"

"We're going to pay the Queen and her new little princess a visit. Not a pleasant one."

Present Day-Boston

Dawn was too caught up in her emotions to catch herself beforehand when her vision suddenly flashed excruciatingly white before she completely blacked out. No one had noticed anything wrong after a moment of silence until Maddy felt Dawn go limp in her arms. She immediately cradled the younger girl's head in her free hand as she pulled back to see that her friend's face was completely vacant and she was passed out.

"Hey, kid. Wha-" She looked up to the two women in the hotel suite with a freaked expression on her face. Regina was the first to react, rushing over to them. She was for a moment thinking about harshly blaming this on the girl's presence but the look on her face made the remarks die on the tip of her tongue. She supported Dawn's head in her hands, "What happened?"

"I don't know I just felt her go limp. Count on this one to cry herself into a deep sleep," she chuckled warily. Regina couldn't help her own small chuckle as she led them to the couch. Maddy deposited the young girl on it gently as Emma stood by waiting for instruction, knowing Regina all too well.

"She's sweating. Emma, can you get me a cold towel?" Regina asked as she sat on the edge of the coffee table. Emma nodded and ran off to the bathroom eyeing Maddy sympathetically as she picked up the fallen compass. The girl moved over to the back of the couch and examined it before talking to Regina.

"This hers?" Regina nodded still keeping her eyes stuck to Dawn's body. Maddy read the initials on the back and recited them to herself, "D.M."

"Yes, I had it engraved for her." Emma came out of the bathroom with the towel and her phone in hand. Regina quickly took it and placed it across Dawn's forehead. The blonde put her hand on the worried brunette's shoulder, "Hey, Henry's calling. You want to me to tell him what's going on if he asks?"

"No, he'll be worried to death."

"Okay," Emma said about to turn before she stopped and leaned down to Regina's ear, "Do you want to keep an eye on this kid?"

"She's no threat for now. Leave her be."

The silence made the guest in the room a bit uncomfortable and she went back to the compass again. It sparked a memory of her friend that she wouldn't ever forget. Maybe that would help ease the worry in the atmosphere and quell some of the older woman's concern, "You know, when I first met her she told me that she was certain Dawn wasn't her real name. Anybody else would've falsely agreed and brushed it off but the kid was so cute and so sure of herself, I believed her. Still do. That's why she has the nickname Munchkin."

"Yes, she mentioned it once," Regina replied amused and thankful for the light conversation to get her mind off the situation a little. Her attempt to ease her nerves was much appreciated.

"What's the last name?" She asked. Regina raised a brow in question and Maddy held up the compass, pointing to the M on the back.

"Mills."

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly. Regina was confused and didn't hide it. Maddy came around the couch and held out her free hand to the woman, "It was rude of me to invite myself in here without even introducing myself. Madison Zambrano."

Regina took the offered hand, "Regina Mills. You-"

"Yes, I taught her Spanish." She answered knowing the question beforehand.

"Well, I have to thank you for that. Sometimes it's nice to have conversation with someone else," Regina chuckled.

"Glad to be of service, ma'am," Madison said giving a short salute. So, maybe Regina can see Dawn's appeal to the girl. She was charming, if she dare used the term. Too much of a reminder of the blonde's parents.

"Call me Regina."

"Regina. So, you're her mother…I told myself that if I ever met you, I'd personally punch you in the throat for abandoning her but then again at the time I was twelve. I'm much smarter now so I wouldn't dare."

Regina would've laughed if it hadn't been for the fact that Madison thought her to be Dawn's actual mother for a moment. She looked at her puzzled by it, "My dear, I'm her adoptive mother…so to speak." She mumbled the last part.

"Oh, well. You could've fooled me. She kind of looks like you, you know. Sorry for the implication."

"No need to apologize. If anything that's a compliment. Dawn is a very beautiful…and stubborn girl."

"Yeah, don't I know it. Though, you're gorgeous. So, if she was your daughter I would definitely know where she gets her good looks from."

"Flattery gets you nowhere, dear."

"One can only dream that it gets them somewhere with a pretty lady," Madison said confidently despite the blushing occurring on her face. Regina grinned at her before becoming distracted by the slight movement of Dawn's hand tucked in her own. "If you weren't married, I'd have asked you out by now."

"Oh. You're interested?"

"Very much so but again you're married, unfortunately."

"Not married, actually."

"Well, I know the blonde girlfriend wouldn't dare let you slip away." Regina didn't correct it. She planned on having Emma as her girlfriend very soon. Until then…Madison was getting cheeky. And she was very entertaining. As much as Regina wanted to be mad at her for barging back into Dawn's life again, she was already growing on her. But only a little. They weren't friends so she would be receiving death glares whenever Regina damn well felt like giving them. Dawn and Madison: comedic package deal. Could tolerate...maybe.

"I'm much too old for you, Ms. Zambrano."

"Oh, I doubt that very much. I have a driver's license," Madison said fishing out her wallet and retrieving the card.

"So does Dawn. She's not even old enough to buy cigarettes."

"That never stopped her before. Does her license say age: 22?" Regina was a little surprised she really believed the girl to be no more than maybe two years older than Dawn.

"Stop flirting with her," Dawn grumbled as she came out of her sleep. She tossed lightly with a headache. Emma came back into the living space just in time. Regina gave Dawn's hand a comforting squeeze and the teen tightened her hold on her hand as she took a deep shaky breath. Madison leaned over the back of the couch, mistakenly getting too close to her friend.

"Hey, Munchkin. How you feel?"

"I…" Dawn tried to sit up and Regina only restrained her.

"Take it easy, kid," Emma warned. Dawn looked up to Madison, her expression unreadable. She reached up and caressed her cheek.

"You remember?"

"Everything." Her green eyes were filled with anger in an instant leaving no one able to react in time to Dawn taking her palm across Madison's face. Hard. The slap practically echoed there the entire hotel. The sheriff and the mayor were stunned.

"Shit, dude. You broke something," Madison groaned holding her nose. Then she turned to Regina, "Excuse my language Ms. Mills…wow."

"It's quite alright, dear. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Dawn looked her for a moment before turning back to her wounded friend, "You're such an idiot." Regina and Emma looked at each other knowing that line was the start of so many conversations between them over the years. Despite the situation they managed to smile at each other.

"Ohh, everything," Madison said understanding.

"Idiot."

"Fair enough. But I'm your idiot, though, because I love you."

"Don't ever do it again. I can take of myself."

"I can see that but any beating I take for you is worth all the pain." Dawn shook her head and laid back down letting Regina place the towel back on her forehead. She was worn out now for some reason.

"Idiot," she muttered to herself, "Gina…"

"I know, dear. Just rest." Regina then looked up to Madison, knowing it must have been something that happened in their time in foster care, something obviously not pleasant, and silently said, "Thank you."

That was the most emotional anything got that day, for the girls at least. The four of them spent what time they could together. Madison telling all the embarrassing stories she could about Dawn much to Emma's amusement more than Regina's. As funny as some things were she couldn't force herself to laugh at most of them. Seeing them together brought a fear. Every mention of what they should do together and Dawn agreeing made Regina internally cringe because it started to sound like Dawn was planning on leaving Storybrooke for Boston.

At one point the thoughts were strong enough that she had to excuse herself to the restroom to keep the stinging in her eyes at bay and stop that damn quivering lip. Emma noticed it and gave Dawn a few looks to see if she had detected the painful emotions this was causing to someone Emma knew Dawn thought of as the closest thing to a mother she had. But it had been five years and for Dawn she was going back home soon. She was spending ever moment she could with this amazing person that had saved her life more times than she felt she deserved. She had plenty of reasons to stay there in Boston but she had several more for why 108 Mifflin Street was her home. Dawn just forgot to tell Regina that to ease her heartache.

"Gina! Come on, you're going to be late," Dawn whined as she laid back on the king sized bed in the older brunette's room. It had been nearly thirty minutes since the woman disappeared in her walk in closet saying her outfit was wrong. There was nothing wrong with it in actuality. She was just nervous. Very nervous. She had changed sixteen times in the last two hours. Every outfit she put on looked fine to the tired teenager who told her with all honesty that she could muster, and because she wanted her to hurry the hell up, Dawn told Regina that she truthfully looked wonderful in everything. Although, saying that did nothing to hurry the anxious woman along. Dawn was close to going in there and dragging her out but her phone buzzed in her hand and she got preoccupied with texting her best friend back.

Meanwhile, Regina didn't heed Dawn's call for the third time now. At first she was too nervous but then she heard the teen's whining and she called her Gina. For some reason, one which she wasn't fighting against, hearing Dawn call her that melted her heart. It had only been recently that she had been granted the nickname but she loved hearing it every time even though a lot of times Dawn was whining when she said it. Much like now.

She finally decided to be brave and come out already, she had been trying on outfits for hours now and at first she had Henry to tell her she looked beautiful but then he snatched Dawn from her room so he could play video games. Even for a girl she was just as impatient about girl things as Emma. The similarities between them were scary sometimes. Okay so maybe they could manage co-parenting another kid. This one would be more of a handful though.

"Okay, I've decided on this one," Regina announced stepping out of the closet shyly. Though she didn't get the response she was expecting but then again she kind of was expecting it. Dawn was paying no attention to her. She was too busy texting that girl Regina didn't even like mentioning by name sometimes. The girl was very sweet and very cocky but she was likable. It just that her presence in Dawn's life was a scare. She would only admit to herself how much she only didn't like Dawn's friend because she felt the girl was going to take her away. Dawn was wrapped around her finger and if she said right thing Dawn would be moving to Boston without another thought. Still when they got back to Storybrooke, she felt silly for the thoughts.

Dawn hadn't put down her phone ever since they pulled away from the hotel. Her eyes had been glued to the screen since and Emma and Regina had to alternate on the drive back because the teen was too into her phone to drive her own car. She was fully invested in her friend like she may have been before she lost her memory, though they did have five years of catching up to do. Thirty minutes outside of town and her phone went dead and she was eager to get back home. She barely even paid Emma any mind when they dropped her off, to which the blonde chuckled at, and then she completely tuned out the conversation Regina was attempting to have with her about her magic lessons. Then when they finally got home and through the front door, Henry bum rushed Dawn into a hug that she returned warmly before running off to the nearest charger in the kitchen to continue her texting. Regina was glad she gave Dawn a job now. That phone bill was going to be unspeakably painful to look at.

And seeing her now, laying on her bed staring up at her phone screen, brought her mind back to when she met Dawn's friend personally. It was an interesting turn of events that had her body swamped with emotions. Jealousy. Sadness. Fear. Anger. Surprise. Heartbreak. Maybe even Gratefulness.

But now all she had was impatience because she actually enjoyed Dawn's attention.

"Dawn…" Regina called. No reply. "Dawn."

The teen shot up from laying down at the harsh tone. Somehow she had gotten caught up in Madison's lesbian jokes. They were funny. Emma would laugh. Regina would scold the both of them in a phone conversation while Madison would surely make a joke about a threeway. Madame Mayor would not approve. She would delete those jokes later. Shaking out all other thoughts, knowing she had been depriving Regina of her attention for over 36 hours, she took in the sight of the woman standing nervously in front of her closet ready to dart back inside. Dawn dropped her phone on the bed and walked up to the woman. Before she could even comment Regina tried to disappear into the closet again but Dawn grabbed her before she could.

"No one has ever looked better than you do now," Dawn said softly catching Regina's averting eyes and chuckling at her blushing. "Although your date could be competition."

"Thank you, dear, but don't you think I'm under dressed?"

"Under dressed? If we were saying something's wrong with your outfit, though there's nothing, you would be overdressed."

"What?" Regina frowned.

"Where are you going?" Dawn questioned.

"Drive-in movie," Regina said looking a bit sheepish.

"And who are you going with?"

"Emma," she mumbled.

"Dawn, are you ready yet?" Henry called from down the hall. Regina frowned, "What is he talking about?"

"Oh, yeah. He texted me while we in Boston. Change of plans. Ruby has the flu and I don't want to catch it so I'm staying here to help Henry with his science project."

"Which is what?" Regina questioned doubtfully.

"A volcano…Do we have baking soda?" Dawn asked going back to her phone on the bed and sending out a crap ton of texts in record time. Regina rolled her eyes waiting for the moment Dawn's thumbs cramp up from all the texting.

"Indeed, we do."

"Okay, I need all of it. I'll go to the store tomorrow to get more."

"Alright…where exactly are you doing this project?"

"My side of the garage. If it explodes it won't go far enough to hit yours." Dawn tried to assure her before she started to panic and protest. Surprisingly, Regina just nodded, tentatively, before becoming nervous about her date again and locking her fingers together. Dawn turned to her and sighed. There was no way this woman of all people was this nervous. It was unimaginable. The teen walked over to the door and poked her head out, "Henry! Come in here!"

The boy appeared from his room dragging his feet as slowly as possible. Dawn frowned at him, silently pleading with him to hurry so she could get Regina out of the house finally. She was going to be late. When he got in range for her to reach she jerked him by the shirt into the room. All the while he grumbled, "Don't make me come in here I've had my share of outfit changing. It's still your turn."

"Oh, shut up," Dawn sighed as she rolled her eyes and pulled him into the room. She moved him towards Regina with her hands on his shoulder. "Say something nice."

"Uh…I didn't know you owned pants, mom."

"You are so unhelpful," Dawn said shoving him out the room. Before he ran off to his room, "That was the point," he snickered as he left. Dawn pinched the bridge of her nose before checking the time on her watch. Yeah, if this didn't get this assuaged quickly she was going to be late. So, she got behind Regina and started to nudge her out of the door and down the stairs. The whole time Regina kept trying to find reasons to be fashionably late. That would slide, maybe, if it wasn't for the fact that she has to pick up her date who was probably at home panicking enough as is. By the time they got to the front door, Dawn was using her shoulder to push the woman but somehow the woman's feet were keeping her in place fairly well.

"Come on, Gina. Everything's fine. Stop being a baby."

"You don't know how nervous I am. I don't get nervous, Dawn."

"Why are you nervous?"

"It's my first date with a woman."

"Have you thought of the fact that this is Emma's first date period?" Regina hadn't thought of that but it didn't help any. She wrung her hands together. Dawn's annoyed expression softened as thought about how no one had seen this side of the mayor before. It was cute…and very tiring. Regina was a confident woman so what the hell? But they weren't discussing this any further. Mayor Mills was leaving. Now. Dawn waved her hand slightly and appeared in her hand was a black clutch that went along with the rest of her outfit. She handed it to the older brunette, astonished by her success.

"That's actually what I wanted to appear. I'm getting good at this," Dawn praised herself and then went back to Regina. Before she could say anything though Henry came down and stood next to her for the final send off. "Okay, you look great," Dawn started with Henry nodding in agreement, "You have a great date, a great movie, and overall everything is and will be great."

"Yeah, totally," Henry said lamely backing her up but honestly he wasn't into this girly stuff. And he did find all of this girly. Although he was happy for both his mothers but this wasn't up his alley at all. He watched with Dawn as his mother took a deep breath and nodded to the both of them and gave them a smile. She turned to the door but then swiftly turned back around to embrace them both in a tight hug.

"Uh, mom. You're going to be late," Henry said after looking over to Dawn who gestured to the clock on the wall in the foyer. The mayor finally let go and moved to go out the door but just as she opened the front door Dawn stopped her one last time, "Hey."

"Hm?" Regina turned and Dawn took her keys out her shirt pocket and tossed them to her. When they were secured in her fist she looked up to the teen in confusion. Dawn put up her hand in dismissal, "You need a convertible for a drive-in. Now go have fun but have my baby back in one piece, please."

"Thank you."

Ten minutes. Was that creepy? Regina thought as she stood at the door to the Charmings' apartment. She had gotten there ten minutes ago but she hadn't had enough courage to knock on the door. The ride here in Dawn's car had her confident and everything. Dawn had to have planned the car thing since it was spotless inside and out when she found it in the driveway. All that poise was completely gone now. She had raised her fist to knock a few times but never got it to connect. Then something going on in the apartment gave her second thoughts.

"Emma!" she heard Snow shout from inside. "Will you come down? I'm sure Regina is just as nervous as you are."

"Yeah, Em. Anxiety can make a person a little late," Charming's voice came. Regina wasn't one to eavesdrop but she now had her ear close to the door. Then there was Emma's voice and her very audible footstep, "No. Regina, just realized who she asked out. We all know Regina Mills doesn't like me. It's a joke."

"Emma, it's not a joke. She could be nervous or had to make sure the kids were okay at home. She has too teenagers on her hands most days. You're over reacting-" Snow stopped because, on its own accord, Regina's right fist was knocking on the door. After a moment Charming was opening the door with a smile on his face, "Hello, Regina."

"Good evening, David," Regina greeted trying to manage a smile. He stepped aside and let her in. Snow was staring at her from the kitchen facing Emma who was just about to grab for a beer. An uncomfortable silence fell over the apartment with the exception of baby Neal's gurgling as he played on the floor with some toys. Snow broke the palpable tension and nervousness while smacking away Emma's hand to get her away from the beer bottle, "Oh, my...Regina, you look lovely."

"Thank you," she answered quietly but her eyes were stuck on Emma as the blonde coyly walked around the counter. She started stalling having to directly talk with the blonde, "Sorry, I'm late. Wardrobe dilemma…didn't know what to wear."

"You look amazing," Emma said quietly but loud enough for Regina to here. She was wearing black jeans, boots, and a crisp white V-neck shirt that was hugging her figure wonderfully with a black leather jacket that stopped just short of her waist. Overall she looked even more beautiful than she usually did. It made her feel under dressed more than anything but Regina told her as casual as possible but public appropriate.

Snow and David noticed the staring and near drooling and scooped up Neal to leave them to whatever it was they were doing. Once they were out of earshot Regina finally spoke, "You look beautiful, Emma." The response she got was unexpected even for Emma herself. She was blushing more than before when she notice the darkening of Regina's eyes as they raked over her body. Regina certainly enjoyed the view, especially with the blonde wearing white Converse, which the brunette didn't really care for, dark wash high rise shorts, and a white cropped muscle tee that Regina wanted peel off of her. Though this was no time to be a horny teenager. All in good time.

"Thanks," Emma replied shyly tucking the hair hanging in her face. "Sorry, if I under dressed."

"Nonsense. That's exactly what I asked of you. So, shall we go?" Regina asked, not letting the silence settle between them again. She knew as soon as she left this apartment she would feel much better. Much more confident. She and Emma walked to the door, Regina opening it for her, as Emma called out to her parents that she was leaving, giving them no time to make it anymore awkward. She pulled Regina away from the door and closed it behind them, giving the brunette a tense smile before locking her arm around Regina's elbow again.

"I'm sorry we had to do that," Emma confessed as that walked towards the car. "I shouldn't be living with my parents."

"Better than living alone," Regina pointed out. "I wouldn't want that for you, dear."

"Henry's is there some days at least. I could have quiet, alone time. Can't have that with my parents and my baby brother around all the time." Emma was already caught up in the conversation she didn't even notice Regina opening the passenger side door for her, of Dawn's car. Emma got in and took a moment before realizing it. She stared at Regina as she got in and started the car.

"Well it seems like you've-"

"Wait. Wait."

"What is it?" Regina asked dropping her hands from the steering wheel.

"This isn't the Benz."

"Compelling observation, sheriff." Regina chuckled moving to drive again. Emma rolled her eyes. "Let's just say my Mercedes won't be helpful on this date. Unless we used the hood of the car, which I do not prefer." Emma raised her brow, she had only been informed to wear something causal. Nothing on where they were going.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see. I hope you like dancing though. Anyway back to before. It sounds like you've given moving some thought."

"Well, yeah. For as long as I'm staying in Storybrooke, and that's a long time I hope, I don't want to be living with my parents. It's crowded. They could use the space. I could use the space."

"They haven't asked you to leave right?" Regina questioned suspiciously.

"Oh, no! No. It's 210% my choice. I hope you don't mind that."

"Of course not. I'd like it if you had your own place. Beneficial for Henry as well as yourself."

"Good. Well, I'm moving out. Found an apartment."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, it's in a good place. Short distance from Mifflin and my parents' place. Henry could ride his bike to your house if he wanted."

"Someone's eager to leave. Does Henry know?"

"Yeah, I just told him not say anything until I got around to telling my parents. He's excited but he's not thrilled about packing and unpacking."

"I could provide assistance, if you like. Dawn, too. She won't have much to do until renovations get done at the shelter."

"That'd be great actually. I don't have a shit ton of crap though. You guys won't have to do much of anything really."

"Then it's settled. Text me the date," Regina said with a genuine smile on her face. Emma gave the same until she caught sight of the path they were taking. There weren't many buildings around and they were pulling to a gravel road. It was a little unnerving and not because it was Regina taking her here. She'd be on edge if anyone had been driving her down a dark gravel road at 8pm. Emma couldn't get her question out before she saw the sign. A big retro looking sign with neon red lights. 'Storybrooke Drive-In Theater'. They didn't get too far past it before she read, 'Grand Opening'. She turned to the mayor who was no longer hiding her smile as they drove up to the striking drive through ticket booth. Emma was utterly thunderstruck. Regina smirked at her, "Close your mouth, you'll catch flies, dear."

"Wow," Emma finally got out. "Regina, I…"

"It's alright to be speechless." Emma just nodded taking in the sight of the giant screen and the dozens of cars already settling in their spots.

"Madame Mayor," Leroy's voice greeted actually sounding friendly towards the woman as they pulled up to the ticket booth.

"Leroy. How much do I owe you tonight?"

"Grand Opening special, 'on the house for the mayor.'"

"That won't be necessary. Tonight I'm Regina Mills on a date."

"If you insist, Mills. $13," he said politely. Something was definitely wrong with him Emma thought. She was sure of it. He and Regina were never civil. Never. Emma stared at him as Regina handed him a twenty and waited for her change. Something was going on with the both of them. Emma knew it. She didn't think it had anything to do with the fact that Leroy didn't want to ruin the blonde's date and Regina was being civil to not ruin the date herself. Regina noticed her thinking and chuckled bringing Emma out of thought as they drove forward and then turned right, passing the big screen, "What? Wait where are we going? The screen's right there."

"We're not here to see that." Emma squinted in confusion. Her answer came as they continued up to another screen playing previews. The brunette parked them in a spot right in the middle with the best view and then turned on the radio so that the sound of the previews filled the car and Regina pushed the small button near the steering wheel causing the roof of the car fold back, revealing the night sky and the late spring breeze blew through their hair lightly. Emma looked up and around in amazement and turned to the look at the mayor, "What is this?"

"Our first date."

"This is…"

"Surprising?"

"Juvenile," Emma corrected. Regina was taken aback by the word. She opened her mouth to say something but Emma stopped her, "At least that's what I thought you would think of a date like this. But I love it."

"I said I wasn't living a reserved life anymore. I don't care for others opinion on my endeavors, only my own…with suggestion from my close circle, of course."

"So, you're just up for anything and everything? Seriously? Like for real?" Emma asked in disbelief.

"Up for anything and everything, cautiously, yes."

"This is already the best date ever, just so you know." Emma smiled. "But you said dancing before, didn't you?"

"I did, yes." Regina paused, "Dirty Dancing."

"Wow. You got me. I…this is great," Emma said grabbing Regina's hand. Regina squeezed back before saying, "That's not all." She twisted her body to reach in the back while Emma listened to the preview. She'd have to come back to see some of this stuff. But that wasn't on her mind, it was more of how she was going to top this date. It hadn't even really started yet and it was perfect. Even then that could've just been because she was on a date with Regina Mills of all people. That would make any date ten times better.

"Here you are," Regina said sitting back right in her seat holding out a bucket of popcorn to her. Emma took it and glanced back to where Regina's hand been rifling through something. She considered questioning it but instead just grabbed a handful of popcorn as the brunette reached back again. This time when she reemerged she held two cokes in between her fingers. Emma hastily grabbed one and hugged it to her chest and exhaled in a pleasured sigh. Regina giggled at her display as the opening music started playing.

"Oh my god, you got the bottled coke, too." Emma stopped and looked down at the bottle in her hands. "You're making feel like a teenager again…not that I did any of this before. But, you know, watching it on those movies…it always looked cool. I wanted a greaser boyfriend and everything…I really wanted that. It was a dream, really."

"Well, I'm not in my greaser attire but I'll remember that for next time. For now you have most of it. I just hope I'm not too late to give it to you," Regina said opening both bottles of coke for them both. She looked up to see Emma smirking at her and Regina whispered, "I'm still very much refined dear."

Emma laughed stating her defense, "I honestly thought they were twist offs…but, no. Never. You were right on time, Regina."

"Good because you make feel like a teenager again, too. And I love that feeling," Regina admitted wholeheartedly as she passed Emma a bottle. They clinked their bottles together before they each tool a sip as the first line called out from the radio.

"Hi, everybody. This is your cousin Brucie. Whoa! Our summer romance are in full bloom, and everybody's in love!..."