December, 2004

"This is complete bullshit, Regina. We've been together for over a year and I still haven't met your mother. But he gets invited to Christmas dinner?"

Regina raked a hand through her long dark hair in impatience as she tried to get her girlfriend to understand. "Please, Emma. Leo means nothing to me. I promise, you have nothing to worry about."

Emma snorted. "He may mean nothing to you, but he means something to your family," she said, to which Regina did not reply. "Can't you understand that even if I can't go to your family's place for Christmas, I still want to spend Christmas with you?"

"I know you do. We can spend Christmas Eve together, I promise.

At Emma's silence, Regina sighed. "Come on, Emma. What's really going on here?"

Emma turned away before Regina could see the frustrated tears in her eyes. She didn't want to answer, didn't know how to tell her how much it hurt that she was being passed over for another. When minutes passed without a word, Regina gave up.

"Look, I need to go. Leo got me a meeting with a Broadway talent agent, and I can't be late."

Emma still didn't look at her and Regina sat down on the bed next to her. "Please Emma, look at me."

Emma turned around and sighed. "Go to your meeting."

Regina tried to cup her face for a kiss. "I hate when you're mad," she said, and Emma nodded.

"I know. Go to your meeting, babe. I understand."

Relieved, Regina stood up. "I love you," she said. "You're the best girlfriend in the world."

"You bet I am." Emma tried to smile but, in her heart, she was remembering the first time Regina had told her she loved her, as they laid on a blanket under the stars. When Regina propped herself up on her elbows and reached over to kiss her gently, she said the words Emma had waited her whole life to hear. It was the first time she had ever heard the words spoken to her and in that moment, she was sure beyond doubt that Regina would always choose her. She would finally be important enough to be someone's first choice.

So much for that.

"Shit! What time is it?" Emma awoke with a start and in her haste to reach her cell phone to check the time, nearly shoved Regina out of the bed.

"Well, good morning to you too," said Regina dryly, looking on with some amusement at the blonde's panic.

Emma did not answer, just jumped out of the bed and started to throw her uniform on. She ran towards the bathroom, nearly tripping over the pants she was trying to put on as she moved.

"Emma, relax. It's only 4:30 in the morning." Regina's calm voice soothed her panic, allowing her to sit back down on the bed to finish dressing. Regina watched her silently for a couple of minutes before speaking.

"Who is Lucas?"

"What?"

"Lucas. You said his name in your sleep a few times."

Stunned, Emma tried to lighten the mood which had grown tense and dark in the room. "What, did you stay awake all night, watching me sleep?"

"I couldn't sleep. Emma, it's ok if you're seeing someone."

Emma's eyes flashed in fury and she shoved her feet into her boots. "I'm not seeing anyone, Regina. If I had, do you think I would have let you kiss me last night? Jeez, what the hell do you even think of me?"

Regina raised a placating hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

Emma stood, heading into the bathroom to wash her face and fix her hair. "Whatever, Regina. It doesn't matter."

"Of course, it matters." Emma jumped by how close the voice was to her and whirled around to look Regina in the eye.

"Why? What difference could it possibly make to you if I am seeing someone?"

Regina flinched at that, no answer came to her mind. Was she supposed to admit her jealousy for a potential boyfriend of a woman she hadn't seen in nearly two decades? Her sense of pride was significantly diminished when it came to what she was willing to do in order to be in her ex's presence, but that was not something could admit to.

"Just tell me who he is."

"You know what? He is none of your business."

The emphasis on the word was not lost. "So, not a 'he'. Wait, is it she? Do you have a girlfriend?" She ignored the growl of frustration coming from the blonde. "Answer me, damnit! You kissed me when you have a girlfriend?"

"No, you kissed me! I only let you." The pettiness of that statement sounded ridiculous, even to her own ears. "Look, I don't have a girlfriend. Now get the hell out of my way!"

She reached for the door, but Regina's hand on her wrist as she touched the doorknob infuriated her into spinning back, getting in the brunette's face again.

"Don't touch me," she spat out. "You lost the right to get a vote in what I do 17 years ago."

February, 2005

"Are you fucking serious? Regina, I can't keep having this same fight with you."

"Emma, please. It's only for a couple of months."

"You want me to let my girlfriend pretend to date a guy for a couple of months? Do you even hear yourself?" Emma raked her hand through her blonde hair and paced the room in frustration.

"This is it, Regina. Call this off or I'm gone."

"No, please. Don't go. I, I'll tell him no." Regina sighed and turned away from her girlfriend. Despite herself, tears came to her eyes as she went to leave the room."

"Regina, wait." She turned around, hope shining in her eyes.

"How would this even work?"

"Leo knows my mother is threatening to cut me off because she suspects I am with you. If she does, I can't keep working on my music and I would have to work full time just to pay rent."

"Can't we just move into a smaller place or something? Or I can get another job?"

"It wouldn't matter, Emma. My mother is really influential in the world I come from. Short of moving out of state and starting all over again, penniless, my career would be over."

Emma sighed. "What about your father?"

"What about him? He's a wonderful man with no spine or ability to stand up to her. He can't do anything."

Encouraged by Emma's silence, Regina pressed on. "Leo is really close to signing me to a record deal. Once he does that, I won't need my mother's support anymore and this would all be over."

"Can't Mal sign you?"

Snorting, Regina shook her head. "Mal is a great amateur manager," she said. "But there's no way she could pull this off in this short time. Leo has been doing this forever."

"Well, yeah, he's ancient."

Regina laughed, feeling the conversation shift as Emma considered it.

"I don't want to lose you, Regina."

"Emma, you won't! I promise. I would rather tell my mother to kick rocks and lose my career than lose you."

Emma shook her head vehemently. "No. Music is too important to you." The silence fell between them again as she considered the options. Finally, she sighed.

"Are you sure that he will agree to let you go once you are signed."

"I'm sure. I trust him."

"Why? What does he get out of it?"

Regina stopped, the first niggle of doubt entering her mind. She wasn't entirely sure what he got out of it, exactly, but she didn't want to question it. Not now, when she was so close to convincing Emma that they could have her career and keep their relationship.

"He gets to sign me."

Emma frowned. She didn't buy it, but she didn't see another option.

"Ok," she agreed. "He gets 3 months. He needs to be gone by Easter."

"Absolutely!" Regina said, pressing her lips to Emma's. "Thank you, babe. I love you so much."

"I love you too," Emma muttered, but she couldn't ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach telling her this was going to end badly.

Emma stood at the door shaking in rage. This time, when she reached for the knob, Regina didn't stop her.