When she got to lunch, she was still grinning like a maniac, and Kathryn noticed immediately.
"Woah, what's got you looking like you're gonna burst?"
"Emma," she admitted shamelessly.
"Ok, what about her?"
"Well, I texted her—"
"Oh my God! You texted her?!"
"If you don't hush I won't tell you."
"Right, silent," Kathryn said while leaning forward as if it would allow her to hear Regina better.
"As I was saying," Regina gave Kat the stink eye before continuing. "I texted her asking if everything was ok with her parents since I was worried. We texted a bit before she said I was beautiful—"
Kathryn squealed so loudly a few people looked at her as though she was crazy, and Regina didn't blame them.
"Midas, I'm serious. One more interruption and I'm not telling you anything."
"Ok, ok, my lips are sealed," she said while she pretended to zip her lips and throw away the key.
"After she said that, I told her I thought she was beautiful as well."
Kathryn was squirming in her seat and biting her lip with excitement for her friend, but she held her comments in so she could hear the rest.
"Then she asked if when she was ungrounded, I would like to hang out with her in a non-school setting, and I said yes."
Kat was blue in the face from holding her breath so she could keep herself from speaking.
Regina raised an eyebrow at her friend while saying, "You can speak now, Midas."
"Oh thank god!" rushed out of her mouth. "You know this is basically the same thing as a date, right?" Kat asked in a high-pitched voice, showing her enthusiasm for the idea.
"It is not a date."
"It totally is Gina!"
"No, it isn't Kathryn. And I suggest you keep such silly thoughts to yourself, otherwise I will kill you."
"That doesn't work on me, and yes it is." Regina opened her mouth to protest, but Kathryn spoke before she could. "You will be hanging out alone and you both are crazy attracted to each other. Therefore, it's a date."
On the outside, Regina looked about ready to murder the blonde on the spot, but on the inside, she was marveling at the logic of Kathryn's statement.
"Oh quit it with the death glare Gina, you know I'm right."
"I have no knowledge of such an astonishing feat," she said with mirth hidden in her eyes.
Kathryn glowered at her friend. "You know you really aren't as funny as you think you are."
"Compared to your jokes? I believe I'm quite hilarious. Now, that's enough about my dating life, how are things with you and Frederick?"
It was Kathryn's turn to blush and avoid Regina's gaze.
"Well?" she asked impatiently.
"Nothing," Kat groaned before dropping her head on her arms, which had been resting on the table.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing," she confirmed while lifting her head so she could meet Regina's curious stare. "Every time I try to go up to him and tell him, hell even just talk to him, I get so nervous that I physically can't get my mouth or body to move closer to him, and I somehow end up moving in the complete opposite direction!"
"That's a bit drastic, Kat."
"I know Gina," she whined. "You gotta help me!"
"How exactly am I supposed to help you?"
"Help me figure out a way to tell him!" she said in a "duh" tone.
"Why don't you write him a note and put it in his locker?" Regina suggested.
Kathryn's eyes lit up like fireworks against a dark sky. "That's brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?!"
"Because you're too head over heels for him to think clearly," she teased.
"Oh, like you're one to talk," Kat retorted.
Regina flushed at her response.
"Oh my god, you're so in love with her like I am with Frederick!" Kathryn exclaimed.
"Kat, I just met her, I'm not in love. And do you want help with this letter or not?"
"Ok, ok, sheesh."
They spent the rest of their lunch period working on the letter. When the bell rang, Kat had already thanked Regina for helping and she had dashed off to put the letter in his locker. Regina's head shook once more at her friend's antics, then her thoughts managed to drift off to the other blonde she knew. She sighed resignedly. It seemed no matter what, Emma Swan would not stop popping into her mind, and right at the forefront too. Regina tried to be angry about it, she really did, but she couldn't bring herself to feel that way. Emma didn't do anything to make her think about her 24/7. Other than being absolutely gorgeous, with her blonde tresses, her sparkling emerald eyes, her pretty, pink lips, her unbelievably toned body, her astonishing voice. No, Emma didn't do anything other than being the most perfect human being Regina has ever met in her life. She groaned out loud before scurrying to her next class with less than two minutes to do so.
Emma & The Adams-Fosters
I hadn't realized Lena had come out while I was having my impromptu happy dance.
"May I ask what happened to have you in such an amazing mood that you are dancing around the yard?" Lena asked while sitting where Stef had previously.
"Do you know Regina? Regina Mills?"
"Yes, she's Stef's lieutenant's daughter. His name is Henry, and her mother and his wife is Cora. Regina's very smart too. Always has excellent grades. She's also got a half-sister. Why are you asking about her?"
I sat down next to Lena before I started explaining what had happened in the music room, then I told her about our texts.
"And now I've got all these lyrics coming to mind, and I don't know where to start," I said before clapping my mouth shut. I couldn't believe I just told her about me writing songs.
"Lyrics?" she asked.
I bit my lip again while wishing I was anywhere else. Silence, awkward silence, hung heavily in the air. It's not that I didn't trust her, I just hadn't really talked to her one on one. I finally relented after I peeked into her eyes, seeing the defeat and her posture. She was getting ready to leave, and I realized I didn't want her to. She had put her hands on the cushion like she was preparing to push herself off so she could go, but I had blurted out an explanation before she could.
"Yeah, in my notebook. I write songs, and after I talked to Regina, I've had a bunch of ideas floating around, but I don't know where to start."
Lena looked surprised that I was actually opening up to her before she schooled her shock, and instead, happiness overcame her face. "It sounds to me like you have a crush."
I blushed before quietly muttering my agreement to that statement.
"Well, for the lyrics, I would just start writing. That's what works for me. When I start writing, everything else fades away and the words just fall into place."
I nodded my head in understanding, but I still had some questions. "I want to plan the perfect hangout session. I really want her to like me, Lena."
"Oh Emma, based on what you've told me, I think she already does."
"I doubt that."
"Why?"
"You don't want to know."
"Yes, I do Emma."
"Fine." I said curtly. "Because everything I've ever liked always ends up leaving or being left behind. I've never really had any friends, but every house that I liked or school I've liked, I always have to leave. It makes for a pretty sad and lonely childhood," I said bitterly.
"Emma," she started to say.
"I don't need your pity," I spat at her.
Lena visibly recoiled at my tone. I tried to apologize, but she held out her hand to stop my stuttering apologies, and I complied.
"I'm not pitying you sweetheart."
I gave her a look as if saying Yeah right, but she shot one right back as if saying Shut up and listen.
"Honestly, I'm not. I can't imagine having to feel alone all the time, and I certainly can't imagine what it feels like to have to close myself off from everyone in order to protect myself. But Emma, you don't have to do that here. We honestly care about you and Neal, and we want to hear you talk about things. Whether it's about your feelings, your childhood, it doesn't matter if it's good or bad, Emma. We want to hear it all."
She had taken hold of my hand and clasped it between both of hers. I surprisingly liked the warmth that radiated from her hands. It was different from Stef's grasp. It was still caring and it still made me feel safe, but it also made me feel warm and fuzzy. I always imagined that this, combined with Stef's, is what a mother's touch would be and feel like. I surprised Lena and myself by what I said next.
"Do you want to hear a song?"
"Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly.
"I mean, if you don't want to…"
"Oh sweetheart, I would love nothing more than to hear one, but not if it will make you uncomfortable," she said vehemently.
"I want you too."
"Then I'd be honored."
I blushed again before searching my mind for the perfect one to sing for Lena. When I had it, I started explaining. "I wrote this when I was twelve years old, and it's pretty depressing."
"I can handle it," Lena said confidently.
"Ok," I said, then I began singing.
I'm not a bad kid
I've done nothing wrong
But I'm a sad kid
No place to call home
I've been living in
This lonely room
And I've been praying
For someone to choose me
They all want a baby
Not a twelve year old girl
They think I'm too old
To fit into their worlds
I wish they'd take the time
Bet they'd change their minds
I'm nobody's child
All alone and thrown away
Just a file
In social worker's case
I'm not the only one there's so many like me
All we need's a place to grow
In a loving family
Til that day
I'm nobody's child
I'm a math whiz
I like to laugh and have fun
I love to play with friends
I just wish I had some
But it's hard when
You move around
From house to house
And town to town
Cause the last foster home
Only kept me three months
And now I'm stuck in this place
With so many of us
Forgotten ones
But I'm not giving up
I'm nobody's child
All alone and thrown away
Just a file
In a social worker's case
I'm not the only one
There's so many like me
All we need's a place to grow
In a loving family
Til that day
I'm nobody's child
All alone and thrown away
Just a file
In a social worker's case
I'm not the only one
There's so many like me
All we need's a place to grow
In a loving family
Til that day
I'm nobody's child
I'm nobody's child
Just like Stef, Lena was teary-eyed and she gave me a ginormous hug. I melted into it. A wave of relaxation and serenity came over me.
"Emma, I can't believe you wrote that when you were twelve."
"It wasn't that good," I mumbled into her shoulder. She had started rubbing my back, and it felt really nice. My eyes closed from how good I felt from the sensation.
"Are you kidding me?" She pulled me away and lifted my chin so I had no choice but to look straight into her eyes. "Em, that was amazing."
"You think so?" I asked doubtfully.
"I don't think so, I know so."
"Thanks."
"There's no need to thank me for something that is true."
I chuckled at that.
"What's so amusing?" she asked curiously.
"You just said almost the exact same thing Stef did." She raised an eyebrow, which I took as a signal saying Go on. "She said, and I quote, 'There's no need to thank me for something that's true and something that I believe with all my heart' unquote."
Lena laughed at that as well. "Great minds think alike then, huh?"
"More like married minds think alike."
"I couldn't agree more," she said with a dreamy sigh following.
"Ugh, so disgusting," I said with mock horror.
"Oh haha," she said. "Believe me, you'll be the same way when you meet the woman of your dreams."
"I think I already have," I whispered under my breath.
"What was that?"
"I said, I think I have a while." Lena gave me an I don't believe you look, so I elaborated. "I think I should get more settled in first, and besides, don't you think I'm a bit too young to have met the 'women of my dreams', as you put it?"
"Uh huh," she said, probably not buying a single word that just came out of my mouth. "You wanna know my guess?"
I shyly moved my head up and down.
"I think," she began, then waited for a bit until I was squirming uncomfortably. "I think that you've already met this girl, but you don't think you are good enough for her. In fact, you think that she shouldn't even bother getting to know you because you believe she's way out of your league. Am I right?"
I simply gaped at her, flabbergasted. "How—? Wha—?" I couldn't form a coherent sentence, and Lena seemed to understand.
"How did I know that?" I was still gaping at her, so she continued. "Because that's the exact same way Mariana felt when we fostered, then adopted her and Jesus. Same with Callie when we foster-adopted her and Jude. They felt that they weren't good enough to be a part of our family, so Callie would act out and defy us to see if we would send her back, and Mariana, she would refuse to ask us for anything. She thought she would get in trouble if she showed the slightest sign of wanting something. But, over time, they learned that no matter what they do, we will never stop loving them. Emma, I know you struggled in the system, but based on the girl that I've gotten to know over these past three days, Regina is going to be the luckiest girl on the planet if you decide to date her. You're kind, caring, smart, beautiful, lovable, and you have an absolutely amazing talent for singing and the piano. Regina would be the one asking herself how she got so lucky."
I didn't even notice she had said Regina until the words left my mouth. "I'm pretty sure I'd be the lucky one."
She was smirking at me, and then I realized she had gotten me to admit my crush. I forgot I had already told her I liked Regina, so I exclaimed. "Hey, that's not fair!"
"What's not fair?" she asked, not so innocently.
"You know what," I grumbled. "How did you do that?"
"Well, you weren't being very subtle when you asked about her. Also, you already said you had a crush on her, remember?"
"Oh yeah," I said, turning red from embarrassment.
"Em, it's ok, I won't tell anyone," she said, trying to reassure me.
"Promise?" I asked.
"I promise," Lena confirmed. "Do you want me to leave so you can work on your songs?"
"No, I'd like you to stay."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Ok."
I took hold of my notebook and pencil, and snuggled up to Lena like Neal did with me. "Is this ok?" I asked, looking at her and feeling insecure for wanting her near.
"This is perfect," she said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
I smiled before starting to write down the different ideas I had. Lena was right about it. Once I started writing, everything else faded away.
Inside the House
Stef smiled at the sight of Emma cuddling up to Lena. She knew her wife felt like Emma wasn't as open with her, so seeing them getting to bond warmed Stef's heart. Suddenly, yelling filled the otherwise quiet house. It looked as though Lena and Emma didn't hear, which was good. Stef wanted Lena to have some time with Emma, so she got up from the kitchen table and went upstairs. When she reached the top step, she heard Brandon and Jesus arguing in Jesus' room. She quickly went to it, and paused in the doorway.
"What happened?!" she asked, very pissed off, freezing both boys.
"Nothing, everything's fine Mom," Jesus said, Brandon agreeing with his brother.
"Don't give me that bullshit. What. On. Earth. Happened?" she growled, slowly pronouncing each word.
The boys looked at each other nervously, trying to figure out a way to explain the broken phone, shattered pieces of it scattered throughout the vicinity of the actual phone lying on the ground. As angry as they were at each other, they didn't want to get the other in trouble.
"First, is anybody hurt?"
Brandon and Jesus shook their heads in the negative simultaneously.
"Good," she said. "Now, I'm gonna ask one more time. What happened?"
Silence.
"Fine, nobody wants to answer? You're both grounded for two weeks, no wrestling for you, Jesus, no piano lessons for you, Brandon, and for both of you, no friends, and no girlfriends are allowed over, and no going over their houses, understood?" Stef asked, in full-mom's-not-kidding-around-mode.
They both gulped and nodded their heads.
It was that moment when Stef noticed Neal in the corner of the room against the wall, his hands over his ears, rocking back and forth, tears streaming like a waterfall down his face despite his eyes being shut tight. She went over to him as fast as she could, being mindful of the glass.
"Neal?" she asked.
He was muttering to himself, and Stef could barely make out the words, and she was kneeling near him.
"No, no, please, no. I'll be good, I promise. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! No, no, I'm a good boy, I can be better! Stop, please stop!" By the end, he was screaming.
Stef realized he was having a flashback. "Neal, can you hear me? It's Stef, you're safe now. Remember, Emma? Emma's here too, and she's safe. Neal, I need you to come back, come back to me. Neal, it's Stef. Come on, come back to me," she said as calmly and reassuringly as possible. On the inside, she was freaking out and her heart was breaking in half for this boy, who was only nine years old, and he was having a flashback of someone hurting him. She kept talking to him, hoping to bring him back. Stef felt her other two boys watching her, their worried gazes boring holes into her back. She ignored them. After a few tense seconds that felt like hours to her, Neal opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Stef?" he asked in a whisper, his baby blue eyes staring into her hazel ones.
"Yes, Neal, it's Stef."
He launched himself at her and started sobbing all over again.
"Oh my baby, I've got you. You're safe now, Neal, it's ok. I've got you, love, I've got you," she told him, one hand holding his head while the other was stroking soothing circles on his back. Her knees and back ached from the way she was positioned, but she didn't dare move, knowing that if she did, her baby wouldn't be getting the comfort he needed.
"Mom?" Brandon asked softly so as not to startle Neal.
"Yes B?"
"Is Neal ok? Should I get Emma?"
Neal had calmed down enough to cling tighter to Stef and shake his head no. He didn't want his sister to worry about him. She had just begun to trust them, and her seeing him like this? It would make all of that fall away, and her walls would shoot up higher than they've ever been.
"No B, we're ok."
"Are you sure?" Jesus asked.
"I promise, we're ok. But don't think this means I forgot about that broken phone. Later, you will tell me what happened, or I will extend your punishment to last a month."
Both Brandon and Jesus winced, knowing they would have no choice but to tell the truth.
"Mom? Is everything ok?" Stef heard Mariana ask from the doorway, Callie and Jude right behind her, though she couldn't see that.
"Your brothers startled Neal when Jesus' phone somehow dropped and shattered." She turned her attention back to Neal. "Hey baby, can I let you go now?"
He frantically shook his head no, and Stef responded by continuing her soothing motions. "Alright then, can I stand up and carry you?"
Neal whispered "ok" in her ear. She made sure his arms were secure around her neck before she stood up, stumbling a bit because of the added weight, but she managed to right herself. "Ok Neal, can we go to my room?"
She felt him relax slightly at the idea, and she figured he was uncomfortable because of everyone staring at them. She turned around, and sure enough, everyone was staring. It was then she noticed Callie and Jude had joined.
"Ok, if you guys want to help? Callie, Mariana, you two go unmake my bed. Brandon you can clean this glass up, there's a little dustpan under our sink, courtesy of Mama. Jude, you can go check on the laundry, and Jesus, you can go to Mari and Callie's room and see if there's anything Neal has that will comfort him in his bag, like Emma with her baby blanket."
When Stef finished talking, everyone rushed off to do what they were told. She felt a slight smirk form at how well they listened. Now that she was alone with Neal, she could feel even puffs of his breath on her neck, and she realized he had fallen asleep. Poor baby, she mused. He must be exhausted from all that crying. Her blood boiled at the thought of someone hurting the precious thing that was snoozing away in her arms. He then must've sensed her mood change, for he began whimpering in his sleep.
"Oh Neal, it's ok my love, I'm still here," she said, seeming to be mouthing the words with how quiet they were.
As she was soothing him, Brandon was watching from the floor while he was cleaning up the glass. He felt horrible for causing Neal to have a flashback. It was stupid for him to be arguing with his brother, especially over something as silly as Jesus leaving his clothes on the floor from where he was moving his stuff in. He knew his brother was hanging out in his soon-to-be-old room with Neal, and he went in there to confront him. It had escalated far quicker than Brandon had thought it would. He snatched Jesus' phone for leverage to get him to pick the clothes up, but Jesus had tried to get the phone back, which resulted in Brandon losing his grip on it. They had to watch as it fell to the floor, and before they could blink, it had reached the floor with the screen smashing into a million different pieces. Jesus started yelling at Brandon, saying he was a horrible brother, and Brandon had yelled right back, and that's when their mom intervened. Now, Brandon felt nothing but guilt for causing his new brother to hurt over his past all over again, and he felt bad for breaking his Jesus' phone. He told himself he would buy him a new phone with his money, and that he would find a way to make it up to Neal.
Meanwhile, in Mariana and Callie's room, Jesus felt just as bad as his brother about Neal. But, Jesus also felt nothing but anger at Brandon for being such an asshole. He was gonna move the clothes eventually, but he was waiting to move the rest of them into Brandon's room so he could sort them easier. He honestly wasn't sure how it was going to work, them sharing a room. He wondered if he could convince his moms to let him move into the garage. Since he and Gabe redid it, it's been empty other than Brandon sometimes practicing in there. That way, he and Brandon wouldn't argue all the time. He decided it was worth a shot, but first, he would find something to comfort Neal, since he and B caused him to have a flashback. Jesus had to maneuver through the blankets and pillows before he found Neal's bag. It contained his old clothes, a toy car, and a blanket that looked exactly like Emma's, except the name Neal was stitched in a navy blue. He wondered if Emma had seen it and thought that maybe, they were actual siblings, but he cancelled out that thought. Surely, if they were biologically siblings, they would know by now, right? Jesus then realized he should probably get the blanket to Neal. He rushed out of there and went to his room, only to see the glass gone as well as his mom and Neal. He made his way to his mom's room, and there she was, laying on the bed with Neal sprawled on top of her. She looked up and saw him, and carefully lifted her hand from where it was resting on his back and put her finger to her lips. She was telling him Neal was asleep, so he crept into the room, avoiding the creaky floorboards.
"I found this," he whispered. "It looks exactly like Emma's, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does," Stef whispered back, a thoughtful look on her face.
"What's wrong?"
"Jesus, do you realize how significant this is? It could mean they are actual siblings, as in biologically related."
"If they were, wouldn't someone have told them?"
"With this system, I wouldn't be surprised if nobody did," she explained honestly.
"That sucks. I can't imagine not knowing Mari was my twin."
"I'll see what I can find out tomorrow, and don't forget we're talking later," she said, giving him a pointed look.
"I haven't, and neither has Brandon."
"Good, now, you can go."
"Mom?"
"Yes Jesus?"
"What do you want me to tell Emma and Mama, if they ask."
"I'll explain later if Neal wants me to. Right now, just tell them we were talking and he fell asleep."
"Ok," he whispered before exiting the room, leaving Stef with the thoughts of Emma and Neal being related running through her mind. She was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, but right now, she wanted to sleep like Neal was. She let out a yawn before wrapping her arms around him again, and she succumbed to the darkness that was beckoning her.
A/N- The song Emma sings to Lena is Nobody's Child. It's a video on Youtube by Amanda Colleen Williams. I don't own OUAT or the Fosters. For those who want to know, this is somewhere in season 4 of the Fosters. Brandon hasn't auditioned for Juilliard yet, and I'm ignoring the plot of Jesus and the nail gun, and probably AJ. I haven't decided on that yet. So after episode 7 of season 4 but before episode 9. Also, I've never shipped Brallie and never will ship it, and this fic is in no way, shape, or form a Brallie fic. I haven't gotten anything asking me that, but I just decided to say it in case. Also, this is my first fanfic, so pls R&R to let me know how I'm doing.