Chapter 10

Ruby groaned when her alarm went off. She didn't want to leave the warm arms surrounding her. She knew her girlfriend would probably feel the same. Ruby sighed and was about to untangle herself when she felt Belle's arms pull her in closer.

"Belle, you know I have to leave. I gotta work" Ruby said with a smile and felt Belle's grip around her only grow tighter.

"I know.." Belle said in a sleepy voice. "but this was supposed to be our sleeping in day. No work and no studying. Just the two of us cuddling the whole day." Belle complained petulantly. Ruby rolled her eyes and gave her a gentle kiss after she stood from the bed.

"I know baby, but you have the whole week off school, so we can surely find another day to just sleep in. Okay?" Ruby gathered her things as she readied to leave

"Mkay." Belle replied with a pout. Ruby just laughed and placed a kiss on her forehead, then headed for the door.

"Have a good day baby. Love you. I'll see you tonight!"

"Love you too." Belle shouted back. As soon as she heard the door close she closed her eyes again and fell right back to sleep.

Emma couldn't remember the last time she had slept so well. She had Regina's strong but delicate arms around her, and grinned when she felt Regina softly kiss neck. Emma turned around and pressed her lips gently against Regina's.

"Good morning dear." Regina said and kissed Emma once again. "This was quite a nice way to wake up, don't you think?"

"Yeah" Emma almost giggled. "I don't ever want to leave this bed!"

"I feel the same Emma, but it's Daniel's day off. So we have to get down to the stables soon and feed the horses. Also, I really need a shower" Emma pouted when she lost the warmth of Regina.

"I'll miss you" Emma whispered to herself when Regina left the room. God Emma, you're in love, aren't you? The blonde rolled her eyes at her own thoughts

After Regina had showered she and Emma headed for the stables. Emma was quite nervous, but when she felt Regina's hand take hers she felt a little more relaxed. The trail down to the horses was full of roses and wildflowers. Soon enough they reached the big grass fields where the horses were grazing.

Regina gave Emma a wink before she whistled and her horse Rocinante looked up. He neighed before he galloped toward the fence. Emma ducked and Regina laughed at her reaction. Rocinante stopped just before the pasture's fence would have stopped him. Emma was basically sitting on the grass with her hands covering her face now. Almost cowering in fear. The Horse neighed and Emma looked up to see the brown steed bowing at Regina before he received a red apple in reward.

"Emma, I promise he won't bite. Here, give him this." Regina smiled and helped Emma up. The Big horse looked at her and neighed when he saw the apple Emma was holding.

"I know I've done this before, but he's gonna eat me this time!" the blonde spoke as she got to her feet with her hand gripping the Apple firmly. "He's gonna.." Before she could finish the sentence the horse had licked her face. Regina burst out in laughter. Emma wasn't as pleased. "Take the stupid apple." Emma groaned and gave the horse it's treat. He thanked her with another neigh.

"Come on now dear, we have horses to feed." Regina chuckled and took Emma's hand.

"Yeah well, they all can like, lick my face or something." Emma shrugged but gave Regina a small smile and a nudge to her shoulder.

"He's just friendly dear."

"I'm glad you don't lick my face though." Emma admitted. Both could feel the nervous energy slowly leaving the blonde.

Ruby knew Emma was still at Regina's place and she was bursting with curiosity. Emma had not replied to any of her texts, so she decided to go on a little undercover spy operation after her work shift ended. Once she knew about the "operation" Belle joined as well, but mostly to make sure her girlfriend wouldn't make a fool of herself or Emma.

"Ok, they weren't at her house so I suppose the stables would be the obvious answer." Belle spoke annoyed as the two had already started walking down through the path to the fields. Ruby insisted that she knew where the pair would be. Of course she was right.

"Told ya so!" Ruby stated cockily as the two finally laid eyes on the pair they came to find. They began to crouch as they moved slowly

"So what's the plan?" Belle whispered as they advanced on the other two

"To just observe them and not make a fool of Emma" Ruby sighed obediently

"That's my girl!" Belle grinned and Ruby rolled her eyes.

Emma was quite amazed when she was watching Regina with the horses. She had total control of them all and they were so big! Regina was a natural!

"Hey Titan, that's not your food! Off! That's Cirku's food. You have already eaten yours! Shhooo!" Regina said and chased away the little black pony that seemed to have a stomach for all the other horses food. Regina met Emma's eyes and smiled. "Why don't you join me?" Regina said then walked over to Emma and held out her hand.

"No they're huge! What if.."

"Do you trust me?" Regina cut her off and the blonde groaned.

"Yes of course, but.."

"Then prove it!" Regina smirked mockingly and Emma rolled her eyes as she walked inside the pasture. Rocinante neighed and galloped toward them. Emma was about to run in the opposite direction, but Regina gave Emma's hand a gentle squeeze and held up to other hand. "Hey Rico, don't scare my girlfriend!" the horse almost did a slide stop as a western horse, and Emma couldn't help but to be impressed. Emma smirked toward the horse proudly. Wait...

"Girlfriend huh?" Emma asked curiously when Regina gave her a wink then licked her face.

"Hey!" Emma laughed as she wiped her wet cheek with her hand for the second time today. "What the hell Regina!"

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist" she shrugged with a smile as she pondered the situation. It has never been so easy to be with someone before.

"I guess Ruby's behavior has rubbed off on you huh?" Emma chuckled and got a glare from Regina.

"Maybe" Regina shrugged. "Miss Swan, what do you say about a date tonight? Just you and me?"

"Oh how sweet! The famous first date!" a voice behind them suddenly said and Emma frowned.

"Ruby for God's sake!" another voice shouted. They both soon saw Belle and Ruby.

"Rubes? Belle? What are you guys doing here?" Emma asked in astonishment, feeling a little bit confused. Are they spying on us?

"Sorry. I couldn't stay away, Swan." Ruby shrugged.

"I'm surprised you managed to stay away at all. You have always been rather nosey." Regina laughed sarcastically and stood up, receiving a glare from Ruby.

"That serves you right." Belle said. "Sorry Emma and Regina, we didn't mean to sneak up on you two.."

"I know dear." Regina said with a gentle smile."Don't worry, I know how Ruby works."

"What the hell! I'm not that curious!" Ruby huffed.

Regina shared a look with Belle before they both said "Yeah you are!"

After a while of staying in the pasture with the horses Emma had finally understood that they weren't as scary as she had originally thought. They sat under a big tree and all the horses were munching on grass around them, besides Rocinante, he was laying next to them like a big dog, head in Regina's lap. Emma had her head against her shoulder.

"See, they aren't so dangerous now are they?" Regina teased.

"No and your big stallion seems to be a big teddy bear." Emma laughed and scratched Rocinante behind his ear.

"Yeah he is. He's the last birthday present I got from daddy before he died."

"I wish I could have met your dad, I think I would have liked him." Emma said and gave Regina a quick kiss on her cheek.

"Oh I know you would have loved him. He would have absolutely adored you as well." Regina replied and bit her lip. She missed her father every day and it felt good to finally talk about him with someone. Cora refused to even mention his name. Emma picked up on the sad tone Regina had in her voice and grabbed her hand offering her a gentle smile.

"Are you alright?" the blonde asked carefully and met Regina's eyes.

"Yes I.. I'm just not used to talking about Daddy. It has been years since.." Regina shrugged and stood up. She brushed away a tear from her eye. She took a deep breath. Emma slung her arm around her and gave her cheek a quick kiss.

"I'm glad you already trust me enough to talk about him with me." Emma smiled as they walked back up to the house.

"Me too" Regina replied and met Emma's eyes. They were so sweet, so innocent yet so full of darkness. That scared Regina. Is she ever gonna let me in completely?

When the evening came Regina realised Emma still hadn't answered her question about a date. She frowned but told herself she had just forget to answer due to Ruby's and Belles sudden appearance.

"So miss Swan, regarding my question before..?" Regina purred. "Do you want to go out on a date with me?" Emma bit her lip and shrugged. She didn't have any money left to spend on things like eating out and especially nothing in Regina's price class. Even though she knew she didn't have to flaunt money she obviously didn't have, she wanted to. Emma had dreamed about having a girlfriend and felt terrible that she couldn't spoil her like she wanted and really deserved.

"Oh I ehm, I'm kinda broke." Emma shrugged. "Sorry.."

"Emma, I was gonna pay for you, stupid girl." Regina smirked and the blonde didn't believe the words she just heard. She still wasn't used to people being this nice.

"Nah, that's too much." Emma said with a sad tone, even though she tried to both look and sound like she didn't care.

"Emma, please. I want to." Regina grinned and took a step forward and cupped Emma's face in her hands. "Let me spoil you, please?" Emma sighed but nodded. She wanted Regina happy. She just wasn't used to this.

Regina took them out to a restaurant just out of town. It was a little Italian place and Emma felt immediately that she didn't fit in there. Emma was wearing her usual black jeans, white tank top and red leather jacket. Regina on the other hand, was fitting in like a hand in a glove. She was wearing a beautiful green dress that showed off her curves perfectly. Oh god she's so fucking hot..

"Ah Miss Mills!" a waiter greeted as soon as they walked inside. "Your table is available. Follow me!"

Emma looked around. This place reminded her of a restaurant she once had stolen some bread from when she was just a kid, and had been denied food for days in her current foster home.

The blonde shook her head and tried to focus on what was going on now as they sat down and got a menu each.

"What's on your mind, dear?" Regina asked carefully and Emma met her eyes. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I just… I feel like I don't fit in here.." Emma shrugged. "Those people over there are probably eating food that would cost me a whole month's paycheck.."

"Emma, relax. I think you're the most beautiful person in this room. Those people over there? They're probably unhappy and alone with their stupid money as their only friend." Regina said and Emma didn't know that to say. She knew Regina was telling the truth when she said she didn't care that Emma was poor, but Emma had felt like she didn't fit in her whole life and she hated it. It was a feeling that haunted her and followed her everywhere she went.

After a few cokes, Emma had finally relaxed. She ordered a personal pizza and Regina ordered a salad. The blonde wasn't surprised her girlfriend was eating different food than her because hey, they were different. Regina was so many things (and had so many things) that Emma could only dream of, but in another way they were just the same. Since Regina's daddy had passed, Regina had been almost a orphan, just like Emma. The only difference was that Regina always had a roof over her head. A thing Emma never knew if she was gonna have.

It had been everything but a perfect first date. They had eaten pizza, in a little fancy restaurant and laughed. Emma had managed to drop half of her food on the floor, making the pizza toppings splash into a waiter's eyes. Regina had managed to break a glass because she had dropped it when she had burst out laughing at Emma. Even though the date had been nothing but just 'ordinary' and borderlining on 'disastrous' she was smiling. Emma was happy. Regina made her happy and the blonde knew that nobody made her feel like that, except Regina.

So when they came home Emma was standing on Regina's doorstep, smiling like an idiot. She scraped with her foot on the ground and was tugging her lower lip between her teeth.

"Ehm.. Thanks for tonight Regina. It was wonderful!" Emma said carefully and fidgeted with her hands. Regina on the other hand looked calm, just like always.

"And thank you Miss Swan, for being such a gentleman." Regina winked, and Emma blushed. She thought about that guy in the restaurant that had tried to make a move on Regina and how Emma had gotten really territorial, then scared him away like a little dog with its tail between its legs. Serves that creep right, Regina's mine Emma thought to herself.

"Can I kiss you goodnight?" Emma asked anxiously, knowing she still wasn't good with this whole thing with touching and being touched. This time she wanted to kick her demons in the crotch. She was not gonna end her first date in her whole life with not kissing her girlfriend goodnight.

"Of course Miss Swan, and like I said, such a gentleman!" Regina smiled as the blonde leaned in and sweetly pecked her lips.

"Good night." Emma said over her shoulder, trying to leave before Regina could see her beaming smile. Regina watched her disappear into the night. I'm so falling for her.. Ain't I?

A couple of days later Emma went over to Regina's after her work shift had ended. Ruby had just smiled at her and teased her about Regina, resulting in Ruby had getting a glass of water thrown in her face. Granny had laughed so much she had almost fallen off her chair. Ruby wasn't that pleased but Emma had just given her a smirk and said goodbye, then left the apartment. I'm really getting to live my life as a teenager, ain't I?

When Regina saw Emma come inside the door she smiled. Emma had been around almost every day since their date and even though they had not shared anymore then that awkward little kiss, they enjoyed each other's company. Regina didn't want to push Emma. She wanted the blonde to feel safe with her.

"Hi dear, you came just in time!" Regina smiled.

"In time for what?" Emma frowned confused as Regina grabbed her hand.

"For giving the horses a snack, come on!"

Emma watched Regina with the horses. She was such a natural. And she knew how much these animals meant to her, especially Rocinante. So the blonde took a deep breath and met Regina's eyes.

"Give me a riding lesson." Emma grinned and Regina raised an eyebrow. She couldn't believe what Emma had just said.

"Come again? I think I may be hallucinating."

"I want to show you that I trust you." the blonde replied after a chuckle. "So give me a riding lesson."

Emma helped Regina get Rocinante ready for a ride. She was nervous as hell but she had promised herself she would at least mount the horse. You been through hell Swan. You can handle a horse.

"Are you ready dear?" Regina asked carefully with the reins and lead rope in her hands.

"Yeah I guess." Emma shrugged sheepishly.

"It's gonna be fine Emma. Trust me" Regina smiled and gave Emma a kiss. "Now, shall we?"

"Yeah, lead the way" Emma finally got up on the horse, and Regina was walking next to her, leading the horse gently. Rocinante was as sweet as he had been when he had been snuggling with them in the pasture.

"Look at you, riding!" Regina smiled and patted her horse's neck.

"Yeah who would have thought?" Emma chuckled when Regina suddenly let go of the reins and took a step back.

"Hey hey! What are you doing!?"

"You're doing fine Emma! Just trust your gut!" Regina replied and Emma nodded then gripped the reins harder.

"You know I actually rode this one horse when I was younger.."

"What happened?" Regina asked carefully.

"It's a long story, but I'll give you the short version.."

Emma was 10 years old. She was living with the Swans. One of the few foster homes she had been happy in. The family had tried to get pregnant many times but it had never worked out. So they had decided to adopt instead, and had stumbled upon Emma. As it turned out they had to foster a child for a certain time before they could actually adopt.

They had fallen in love with Emma at once and took her home with them the next day! On the weekends they always took her out to their family place in the country, and Emma loved it.

"Please Greg, can I go down to the Stables, please?" Emma asked with a big smile and her foster dad finally nodded towards her. Emma ran down to the stable.

"Dinner is at five Emma!" her foster mother Diana shouted with a smile on her face.

When she came down to the stables she was met by Diana's father, Tim. "Well if it isn't my little stable girl huh!" the old man smiled and Emma ran into his arms then hugged him.

"Can I take the horse out of the paddock Mr Swan?" Emma asked, jumping on the spot.

"Of course dear. He's all yours!"

Emma stopped the story and jumped off the horse. Regina ran over to her and took Rocinante's reins in one hand. She grabbed Emma with her other.

"Emma talk to me, what's wrong?" Regina begged and the blonde buried her head in Regina's hair. Regina embraced her and as soon as she had done that the blonde broke down. Regina had gotten used to Emma's sudden shift in her moods, even though they had not spent that much time together. They just clicked.

"Emma please talk to me. The story you told was so sweet! Why are you sad?" Emma pushed Regina away with a growl.

"They were supposed to adopt me! I even got my name from them, but then Diana became pregnant. Her father was ill and they had to take care of him already... So they thought a 10 year old girl and a baby would be too much to handle. So they fucking sent me back Regina!" tears were freely streaming down the blonde's face now. Suddenly Regina understood why Emma had been terrified of the horses and had been refusing to ride. Because it made her remember the time she had been happy. And how it all had been ripped away.