A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. My week got crazy!
"How'd it go?" MM asked as Emma walked back into their bunk.
The short-haired brunette received no answer however and the blonde walked past her with a dumbstruck look on her face, kicking her shoes carelessly under the bed before climbing up to the top bunk and lying down on her back. Curious, MM put down the magazine she had been thumbing through and stood up, leaning her arms on the rung of the bunk. Still, there was no reaction to her presence. After a few more seconds, she reached through and poked Emma's bicep.
"Oh, hi," the blonde said, jumping slightly when she realised her roommate was staring intently at her. "Sorry."
"What happened?" MM asked. "You're all … spacey."
"We kissed."
MM's jaw dropped open. "What?"
"What?" Emma repeated, eyes blown wide as she realised what she had said. "Um, no, I mean," she scrambled to sit up, tucking her hair behind her ears as she turned to her roommate, "no, I didn't mean that."
"You kissed someone in the Restorative Justice Program?"
"No, no," Emma said hastily. "I … missed. Yeah, I missed someone in the program. We missed the appointment. Well, she missed it. I was here, obviously."
Eyebrows knotted in confusion. "Why would you kiss someone who was in the bank that day?"
Emma sighed and flopped back down on her bed. Clearly her cell buddy wasn't buying her pitiful cover story. Emma didn't blame MM for that; it was a terrible excuse. "Fine, yeah, ok."
"Why?" MM asked again.
Rolling onto her side, Emma found herself alarmingly close to MM's face, her chin now resting on the top rung of the bunk. She shuffled backwards and cleared her throat. "I'm kinda dating one of the people who was there that day."
"You're dating a victim? How? I mean … yeah, I just mean how?"
Emma let out a low chuckle. "You got me there. I don't quite understand it either. Some days I can't even believe she's interested in me, but it seems like she is."
"And she can take part in the program? Does Ruby know?"
"Yeah, she was there when we kissed. Ruby and Archie know. But that's it. Well, I guess you know now but I don't want it getting out, ok? It's supposed to be a secret."
"Why?"
Emma shrugged. "I dunno, actually. I just feel a bit weird telling people. I mean, it's not like Regina and I have actually defined what we are to each other. I guess if I told people it would make it official and I still can't quite believe it's happening."
"Regina? As in Regina Mills? The daughter of that tech gazillionaire?"
"I don't know what her dad does but yeah, that's the one."
"Wow, caught yourself a big fish there. Nice one. If I were you, I'd be shouting it from the rooftops."
The blonde grinned. "I mean, I can't deny I want to, but I don't want to jinx it. It's all new and it's not like dating in here is easy. I guess I don't want to get my hopes up."
"What do you mean?"
Emma hesitated. Could she trust MM? This was the most they had talked for weeks and she had already shared deeply personal information with her. But at the same time, it was refreshing to speak with someone who wasn't a counsellor or a therapist about what had been on her mind ever since she had come to Storybrooke. Perhaps she and MM could be friends.
"What if she likes the idea of me? You know how rich girls like to date bad boys, right? What if I'm that rebellious streak for Regina? She likes to wind up her parents by getting involved, knowing that while I'm in here we'll never be together and then as soon as I'm free, she'll disappear off to the Upper East Side and I'll never see her again."
"Woah, has she said any of that?" MM asked.
"No," Emma admitted. "In fact, it's been her who's vocalised how she feels more than me."
Without being invited, MM climbed up Emma's ladder and plonked herself down at the end of the blonde's bed. Holding out a pack of candy she had grabbed on the way up, MM chewed on her own treat for a moment before answering.
"I mean, from what you've said, it sounds like she likes you. She wanted to get involved with this program, right?"
"Yeah, it was her idea actually. She said it was the only way we could see each other while I'm in here and she told me to ask Ruby about it."
"So she's making an effort. She's actively trying to see you, to spend time with you. Why do you think she's doing that if she's not interested?"
Emma shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe she's bored?"
"Rich people are never bored. They just spend their money on something new to entertain themselves. No, she likes you. If she's traipsing out to this shithole on a Friday to sit through some dumb rehabilitation program just so you two can see each other, she must like you a lot, actually."
"But … why?"
MM cocked her head. "This is a self-esteem thing, isn't it?"
Emma shrugged again and stuffed her hand into the bag of candy between them. "Maybe."
"Yeah, never had a problem with that myself," MM grinned. "I'm awesome, you see."
The blonde couldn't help but smile. "Oh you are, are you?"
"Pretty much," MM nodded. "And if I want to be with someone, I put in the effort. If they don't step up and do the same, then they're not worth it. Regina's putting the effort in to see you, Emma. That means she's interested, right? Only problem is, how can you show her you are?"
"What?" Emma asked, alarmed. "Of course I'm interested."
"Really? Did you tell her that?"
Emma paused. "I kissed her. And I took part in the program for her. I've got to meet with loads of people who were in the bank that day, not just her."
"Good start. Does Regina know that?"
"I didn't tell her."
"You should. Make sure she knows the shit you have to go through to get an hour with her."
"Well, I mean, it's shit I deserve, right? Everyone who was hurt by my actions deserves their chance to face me."
"Urgh, you're so … good! How the hell did you end up in here in the first place? No wonder the judge gave you a light sentence. You're clearly going to get out of here and become an upstanding citizen."
"Aren't you?"
MM scoffed. "Probably not. I'll go back to what I'm good at. I'm a bandit, remember? What good are school grades to me when I can't take an exam in pickpocketing or shoplifting? I'd ace those. Geography, however, not my strong suit."
"Right," Emma said slowly. "Well, no offence but I don't want a life of crime. I want a future where I can get a job and be normal with a house and a mortgage and all that boring shit which adults do. It seems … nice, I guess."
"Yeah, and there's that goodness which got you off a federal charge with barely a slap on the wrist."
"Regina helped with that too, to be fair."
"What?" MM asked.
"Regina spoke for me in court, like a character witness, I suppose. She told the judge I was a good person and that I kept her safe that day. She's the main reason the judge went easy on me."
"OMG this girl is so head over heels for you, Emma. You're not going to need to get that mortgage because you're going to marry into a fucking fortune. You walked into a bank hoping to rob a few thousand and ended up stealing the heart of the girl of your dreams. You're the luckiest person in the world."
Emma stared at the grinning woman for a moment before starting to laugh. MM joined in and soon the two of them were cackling like hyenas. Emma leaned back on her pillow and laughed until her stomach hurt and tears rolled down her cheeks. It felt good to laugh. Unfamiliar but good. As she wiped her eyes, she smiled over at MM who was regaining control of herself. It felt good to have a friend, too.
"How did it go?"
"Have you two been standing there the whole time waiting for me?" Regina asked as she closed the front door, shaking the raindrops from her coat onto the mat and shrugging it off.
"No," Cora defended. "How was it?"
"Fine," Regina replied. "Good, I guess."
"Helpful?" her mother pushed.
"To me or to Emma?"
"Both, I suppose," the older woman reasoned.
Regina hesitated, hanging up her coat while she formulated her answer. "Yes, it was helpful. Emma and I talked about some of the emotions which came up that day which will affect our relationship."
"Relationship?" Henry repeated.
"What emotions?" Cora asked at the same time.
"Yes, relationship, Daddy," Regina sighed. "I mean, it's not official but fundamentally we're together. I'm not interested in dating anyone else and I'm pretty sure she's not. And Mom, I'm sorry but I don't want to go into any details. They're private sessions and I'm an adult now. Is that ok?"
Cora looked like she wanted to pressure her daughter to give up more but seemed to think better of it. "Of course, dear. But if you do want to talk, your father and I are here to listen, aren't we Henry?"
"Of course, princess," Henry said. "Whatever you need, we're here."
"Thanks," Regina smiled. "I'm going to my room. Is that ok?"
With her parents' consent, Regina climbed the stairs. She was desperate to escape their questions and have some time alone to process what had happened. Entering her bedroom, she groaned at the state of the floor. She had forgotten about the fashion disaster she had experienced before leaving. Stepping over the clothes which lay strewn across the floor, she made her way to her bed and fell, face forwards, onto the crumpled duvet.
"Fuck," she mumbled into the soft fabric beneath her.
The day had been intense but not negative. On the contrary, the overall outcome was surely positive. But it was still a lot to take in. The memory of Emma's tears swam into her mind and she felt the stab of pain again, the ache of knowing she was responsible for causing that sadness. Emma needed to be aware of the way Regina felt, she knew. But it was still hard.
And then there was the kiss. Rolling onto her back, Regina reached up and touched her lips where Emma's mouth had pressed against her own. The scar from that day had long since healed but she could feel the slight dip in the marred flesh beneath her fingertips. She tried to avoid looking at the mark in the mirror when she did her makeup. Perhaps now she's be able to think of Emma, however, and how it felt for them to connect in such an intimate way.
Intimate. It was an unfamiliar word to Regina. While she had had boyfriends in the past, she wouldn't describe their relationships as intimate. The few kisses she had shared with Emma in the limited time they had spent together had been far more intimate and emotionally charged than anything she had experienced in the past. Why? Was it because Emma was a woman? Perhaps but Regina had never believed in labelling people's sexuality. It was about the person, not their genitals. Whatever they shared, it had nothing to do with gender. It was something more, something deeper than that.
And that was why when Emma started talking about sex, even in front of their audience, Regina felt herself tingle slightly, deep inside. She had never been interested in sex with her boyfriends. One or two of them had tried to push her in that direction but she had been resistant, the thought thoroughly unappealing. With Emma, however, the thought was quite the opposite of unappealing.
Reaching for her cell, she dialled her best friend. Zelena answered after a few rings.
"Hey, how'd it go?"
"We kissed." It was abrupt and to the point but it was also all she could think about so that was what she said.
"What? They left you alone?"
"No," Regina replied, blushing slightly as she remembered that Ruby and August had been there to witness them.
Zelena whistled down the phone. "Woo, getting freaky with an audience. I never took you as someone who was into voyeurism."
The brunette scoffed. "I'm not. It's just that we didn't exactly have the chance to be alone and when Emma kissed me, I kissed her back."
"Aw, you two are annoying cute despite the fact that she's a murderer, or whatever," Zelena chuckled.
"Emma didn't murder anyone," Regina defended. "But yes, we are cute. I … Zee, I've not felt like this about anyone before."
"Felt like what?"
"I don't know, I can't describe it. But whatever it is, it makes me feel really good."
"Better than Daniel made you feel?" Zelena couldn't deny that she was a little confused as to why Regina had dumped the boy who would inherit millions to be with a homeless girl who was in prison. While she trusted Regina's judgement, she still didn't understand the reasoning.
"Incomparably better," Regina said at once. "I liked Daniel but it's nothing in relation to what I feel for Emma."
"Do you love her?"
Regina balked at the blunt question. "What? No, I mean, no I couldn't love her. I barely know her."
"Dude, do you watch TV? Or read? Or listen to music? People can fall in love just by making eye contact. You and Emma have done a hell of a lot more than that, right?"
"I guess."
"Ok, answer me this. What do you think about when you first wake up in the morning?"
"How furry my teeth feel and how desperately I want to brsh them."
Zelena laughed. "Ok, and then after that?"
There was a pause and then; "Emma."
"And when something good happens, or bad, whatever. When something significant happens in your day, who do you want to tell?"
Another pause. "Emma."
"Now, while I'm trying not to be offended here in my position as official best friend, don't you think those answers tell you something?"
There was yet another pause, this one much longer than the others.
"I'm in love with Emma."
A/N: cos teenagers fall in love fast, right?