For the past two days, things have been bittersweet. I know I came here to get in touch with my roots and to bond with my Abuelita but, I couldn't help but yearn to spend all of my time with Emma. Although we live together, this feeling of us allowing to be who we are is absolutely magical.

Family members and friends of family have been coming and going constantly like I'm the main event of some huge festival or something. Some of them I was apparently close too when I was little and they just wanted to see me and get to know me in this new age. Others haven't seen me since I was baby and thought that this was their one and only chance to connect with my father again which I don't blame them for. It's why I'm here honestly.

While I spent the days at the mansion with my Abuelita, the girls went out all day every day. Julio took the liberty of being their tourist and seemed to enjoy it. The girls always came back with souvenirs and pictures to show me. It sometimes made me antsy to just go out with them but...I had to at least meet most of my huge family.

Now today I get to be free! It's a beach day. We did a little touring at first which was great. Emma clung to my side the entire time, never letting go of my arm despite the heat. I didn't mind it for a second. When we got to the beach, I immediately spread out a blanket for us. I put sunscreen all over the exposed parts of her body like our normal routine entails back at home. Now we're just laying on our sides, facing each other in our own little bubble.

"The water is so blue," Robin beams as her feet pushes our way back to us. Julio quickly stands to take a look at the shots she managed.

"These are amazing chica! Muy bien!"

"Gracias!" She blushes.

I mindless stare at Emma, soaking in the way her hair feels as I twirl it along her fingers. Her eyes are peacefully closed but she isn't sleeping. Her freckled face seems to shine more against the sun light. I can't help but smirk at her adorable relaxed state.

"You're so beautiful," I mutter. She peeks one eye open and blushes.

"Baaaabe,"

"I mean it," I roll my eyes against her whining. She expressed earlier that she feels a little bad. If we show too much pda she feels like we're neglecting Zee and Robin but they have Julio so it's fine.

"Are you feeling a little better...I mean about your father?" I nod firmly and release her curl from my fingers.

"Yes, everyone had something to tell me about him. Some stuff I knew already, some stuff I didn't. Other things I find hard to believe but, then again, I only knew him for nine years and people change all the time."

"Things like what?"

"Apparently he used to be in a biker gang." I grin. Emma chuckles, finding it hard to believe herself given by the pictures she's seen of my Papi.

"No way!"

"I know right. It's weird trying to picture it. Abuelita said she'll show me pictures of when he was younger later. And she has a whole bunch of tapes of me when I was little."

"Ooo! I want to see!"

"Uhhh hello?" Zelena coldly interrupts. I roll my eyes at her obnoxiousness but never pry my glued eyes away from Em.

"What's your problem now?"

"We exist too you know?"

"Yeah I do know. Why can't you just let me love my girlfriend?!" I growl at her. I can practically feel Zelena burning holes of jealousy in my back. I mean, why can't she call her boyfriend or something? Is it that hard?!

"I think they're really cute." Julio compliments.

"Yeah, you're fangirling now wait until it's annoying. I think I like them better when they were sneaking around." Zelena sasses, shooting her sarcasm harshly at me. Emma pouts her lip at her tone, forcing me to groan with annoyance.

"Well yeah Zelena that's the point. They're sick of sneaking around. Do you know how tiring that must be?" Thank you Robin! This is exactly why I've always liked her more than the rest of Emma's friends. She's so cool and open minded it's very reassuring.

"I'm sure it's as tiring as covering for them too."

"I can hear you!" I snap at Zelena to remind her we're right here even though she doesn't care.

"Yeah exactly! It doesn't feel good does it?"

"Fine!" I snap and turn around. The moment I do, Emma wraps her arm around me, pulling me close into her front as she spoons me. Our bodies mold perfectly together and the way she holds me close feels so good. "You have my undivided attention Zee."

"Thank you!" She quips with a stern glare.

"Jeez, what is your deal today?" Emma boldly asks to all of our surprises. It's mostly a surprise because she clearly has an attitude with Zelena now. She never speaks to anyone like that except our family at home. So if you pissed her off in public and you aren't her family, then you've fucked up and you're doing too much.

"You two do have friends. This is supposed to be a group trip remember?"

"Technically–" I'm interrupted by the loud buzzing of my ringtone. I thank the universe for my help and I definitely thank Mal in my heart when I answer.

"Hey!" She grins with a broad smirk. "Watcha doin?"

"I'm at the beach." I inform, trying desperately to ignore Emma and Zelena's back and forth. Mal can hear it and frowns.

"I'm still upset that you didn't invite me." She pouts.

"I'm sorry, honest. It wasn't my idea to bring friends but Emma insisted, she needs the moral support. She tends to feel lonely very easily but I needed her here so–"

"Girl, you don't have to explain yourself." She laughs. "My parents wouldn't let me down if I missed all our traditional winter break activities."

"Sounds so delightful," I fake. Mal rolls her eyes and sighs.

"I was just checking on you to see how you were doing. By the sound of things, I'm thinking it's not going well right now."

I sigh and pause for a moment to listen to the arguing that Robin is now contributing too. Zelena is very very annoyed while I can tell Emma is pissed off by the way she holds me tighter. I groan off the feeling and focus back on Mal once more.

"Thanks for checking up Mal, but I've gotta go. I'll call you later."

"Okay," she nods, giving me a worried look along the way. After I hang up, I sit up from Emma's embrace and stretch my limbs.

"Zee, let's take a walk."

"Seriously?"

"Yes seriously!" I urge, grabbing her wrist. She doesn't protest as I drag her back towards the pier. I think it's time my bestfriend and I have a heart to heart. Although, I don't think this trip will end well if she keeps up this childish as vendetta she has.

"I'm sensing some resentment towards me." She sucks her teeth at the accusation.

"What?"

"You heard me." I glance at her, she glances at me and folds her chest.

"I don't."

"So what is your deal?"

"I-I'm not sure," she shrugs innocently. I actually believe her. We're silent as we continue to walk and take in our surroundings. Finally, after a few dozen steps, maybe she will contribute to this.

"Zelena I'm trying. I don't want to make you feel the way you do or anybody. I haven't seen my family since I was 7 and I want to spend time with them and you and Emma–"

"You spend time with Emma though Regina. All the time, every night."

"Ever nig–that's not the same Zee! It's sex. Did you know that Emma and I have been together for 2 years now and I have not once ever heard her scream my name?"

"Really?" She frowns at the news. I give her a look because I'm sure it's obvious.

"What do you mean really? Do you not know what sneaking around means?"

"It's just..." Zelena pauses as the frustration consumes her or she's trying to figure out the right words for her feelings. She let's out an eased sigh then looks me right in the eye. "You live with Emma."

"I do," I shrug, lifting a brow as I asses where she's going with this.

"You see her everyday at home and at school."

"Yes..."

"During your spare time you use it for Emma or whatever–"

"Are you jealous of my sister? Really?"

"Now she's your sister?" She interrogates.

"No but if you want to talk about why I live with her it's because of the fact that she is my sister! I can't be her girlfriend at home Zelena!"

"But where does that leave me Regina?" She demands. "You're my best friend. I'd do anything for you and I have done alot for you, but sometimes it feels like we're not friends anymore and that really hurts."

"What?" I choke. My heart twists in my chest mainly because she's right and I'm guilty.

"We don't go to parties anymore. The only time I've hung out with you since school started was for the club showcase, that's it." Zelena reminds, listing out the past. "We haven't even talked on the phone in months. I just want to know if we're friends or not because if we aren't then–"

"We are!" I yell at her, quickly regretting it right after. "I'm...sorry."

"You aren't."

"Excuse me?"

"You're not sorry Regina. Everyone knows, whether they know your secret or not, that the only thing you have ever cared about is Emma. It's obvious, it's always been obvious even when we were little and she acted like a bitch towards you all the time. So...stop lying to me. You aren't sorry."

"Zee–"

"Just forget it. It doesn't really matter. Things can't change and if they do, the only reason why is because you feel guilty."

"How the hell am I supposed to feel then? At least I care."

"I dunno." She shrugs and turns around. "I'm going to grab a bite. You can go back to the others."

"We're in a foreign country, I'm not leaving you alone."

"Fine. Then we can walk back together and then Robin and Julio can join me so that you and Emma can have your alone time. No biggie. The things I do for my bestfriend right?" She states ever so dryly.

I feel like complete shit. It's even worse than possible since I don't know what to do or say. She has every right to feel the way she does but I can't help the way I feel about Emma either. I can't help it if I'm accidentally making the trip about her and carelessly forgetting about everyone else. It's so hard to resist her, that's how much I love her, but I love my friends too. With this conversation with Zee and the one I had with Mal earlier, the guilt I feel is literally twisting my gut and making me overly nauseous.

"What's wrong? Did you see a hermit crab?" Emma giggles as I plop back down beside her. Once she notices that I'm not in the mood and everyone else leaves us alone, she sits up as well.

"Oh babe," she whimpers sadly, cupping my cheek.

"Am I a bad friend?" I hiccup, desperately trying to force the tears to stay where they belong.

"Is that what she said to you?" She asks softly with worry as she wipes the tears from my cheeks. "You're not, you can't please everybody."

"I know but...Zee is different. She's my bestfriend. I dont think she wants to be my friend anymore."

"She's just hurting Gina," Emma reassures me. I let her hug me against the soft flesh to her chest and I hold her just as tight. "I'm sorry."

"For what? You didn't do anything." I mumble against her boob.

"For getting in between you and your friends. I never wanted that. I was always jealous of the bond you had with them when we were little but I was happy you had them too." She admits. "I mean, now this is making me question how my friends feel. I don't want to lose mine either."

"Robin seems to be fine with it." I point out. She hums in agreement but I sense she's more worried about Lily more than anyone else to be honest. Out of all her friends, Lily has kept her grounded for as long as I can remember.

"What are we supposed to do?"

"I have no idea, but we're not breaking up again that's for sure."

"I know." Emma grins. "How about you surprise Zelena; ask her to prom after spring break?"

"Wait," that's actually not a bad idea. "But what about us? We were supposed to–"

"There's always my prom. It's okay, I promise. Plus I'd be there since photography club is assigned to take pictures." Emma casually shrugs with a cheshire grin spreading from ear to ear.

"Do you think she would want to? She can say no and I don't think I can handle that embarrassment. And she has Robin..."

"Trust me. She won't say no."

I trust Emma, like, alot. Once she's sure about something she's usually never wrong so I will do it. I will make it up to Zelena by asking her to prom and hopefully making memories together that she will never forget. She's someone I do not want to lose in my life and I'll do anything I can to to avoid it.

"That's Emma Swan." Regina whispers to Zelena. She holds out the box of strawberry pocky sticks in which the red head happily helps herself.

"The one with curly yellow hair?"

"Uh huh," Regina nods firmly and kicks her feet on the swing. Together they watch Emma sit on the bench and read her book alone, adorably pushing her glasses up her face. A few kids try to play with her but she refuses and keeps her eyes glued to the pages in her story.

"Why are we watching Emma?" The nine year old whispers to her best friend. Regina tilts her head and pokes out her lip.

"Mother says that Emma is going to be my sister soon."

"Really?!" Zelena gasps.

"Yeah, she loves Emma's daddy." Regina confirms as she nibbles on another pocky.

"Do you like her dad too?"

"He's okay...I would rather my papi be here now."

"Yeah..."Zelena trails and grabs another pocky. She glances at the blonde on the other side of the playground one last time before she slips out of her swing.

"Where are you going?" Regina frowns. Zelena brushes off her shorts and holds out her hand.

"Let's go talk to her!"

"No!" Regina shrieks, completely deflating Zelena's excitement. The redhead rolls her eyes and looks back at Emma. "She looks mean!"

"She's reading! That doesn't make her mean. Come on!"

Regina couldn't protest anymore. She let's her bestfriend drag her over to where Emma is sitting. The blonde doesn't realize they're there until she notices shadows blocking the sun. She peeks up at them and stares curiously at Regina.

"Hi Emma!" Zelena waves sweetly. Emma is completely silent and completely clueless. She waves back though so she doesn't seem rude. Actually she's a bit nervous with the way Regina is staring at her. "How old are you?"

"7 I'll be 8 in December..." Emma trails awkwardly. She looks back down at the book deeming the conversation over but Zelena isn't done with her.

"Why are you in 2nd grade then?"

"My birthday is after September. Thats what my dad says," Emma shrugs. She hardly cares about the topic and neither does Regina. The brunette attempts to run away from this excruciating conversation but Zelena has a death grip on her wrist now.

"Did you know that Regina is your sister? Have you two met before?"

"No," Emma simply states. She looks up at Regina and blinks those precious green eye behind those thick glasses. Regina can't help but admire Emma Swan. "I dont have a sister."

"But you do! Your dad is in love with Regina's mom so that makes you sisters."

"I don't think that's really how it works." Regina mutters under her breath. Zelena glares at her and roles her eyes again.

"I don't want a sister," Emma declares. She glares at Regina, throwing the 9 year old completely by surprise. The blonde slams her book shut and finalizes, "You aren't my sister and my dad doesn't love your mom. He loves my mom!"

The two best friends watch with bewilderment as Emma Swan swarms away. She clearly wanted nothing to do with them before. She definitely doesn't want anything to do with Regina. Speaking of, the brunette turns to glare at her bestfriend.

"See, mean." She gestures. Zelena shakes her head and pats Regina's shoulder for comfort.

"Mommy says that sometimes when people are hurt or upset, they don't know how to say it and they seem mean. They just need a friend. Emma needs a friend."

And now, Zelena needs her friend too...