A/N: So, I didn't get the job, but I did get a nice $40 parking ticket :/

And I can feel myself spiraling towards depression from the added stress of having no income and falling into debt. Which is probably why I'm writing, so I can take my mind off of it all for a while and just… I don't know, let it slowly process it so I don't get overwhelmed by the stress.

Drawn to You

She was lost.

Why did she let herself get so distracted that her group left without her even noticing? She wasn't surprised that her group left her, if anything, she should've expected it. Which was why she was reprimanding herself for not being more careful. She turned her head left and right hoping to catch a glimpse of her group but she knew it was useless. It was ridiculous how much this stuff still got to her, she should be used to the bullying by now. But for some reason, being stranded in the middle of nowhere with only strangers surrounding her was her breaking point.

Just before she felt like she was going to cry she felt a hand grab onto hers and it startled her but she hand felt familiar. She turned and saw sparkling blue eyes staring back at her.

She stared in disbelief, thinking the person in front of her was a mirage or even a figment of her imagination to comfort her since she felt so lost. But then the mirage spoke, "Are you okay, your majesty?" And it was her. It was really her. There was no one else that would call her that.

"Emma." Regina breathed out and before she knew it she threw herself into the arms of the blonde. "I missed you so much." She muttered into the girl's neck; Emma was a little taller than her now and she's lost a bit of her awkward lankiness. Regina couldn't control the "you're beautiful" that came out of her mouth when she stepped back a bit to fully look at the blonde.

Emma sheepishly rubbed the back of the neck and blushed prettily. "Thanks, but I can't even compare to how beautiful you look, Regina." And she had to focus on her breathing because for a moment, air refused to go into her lungs and just how do you breathe again? "Why are you here?" The blonde brought her back from her moment and she was reminded of her surroundings and remembered she was lost.

"Oh, I came here with my school as a high school graduation trip…"

She trailed off and the blonde narrowed her eyes and Regina knew there was no use hiding because she just knew that Emma could see what she wasn't saying.

"Don't these things usually have groups?" And she tried, she averted her eyes from the questioning stare hoping against hope that the blonde would drop it, "Regina…"

"Emma, don't, please don't cause any trouble." Regina never pleaded, but for Emma she would as long as it would keep the girl safe. "I never got the chance to thank you last time, but because of me you were sent away." She could feel the other girl moving to hug her but she gripped both her upper arms and held her at a distance. "I'm actually surprised you don't hate me right now. I'm the reason why you had to go to a different family."

And the smile she received was so heartbreaking Regina almost cried. It was like Emma expected herself to never find a family that wanted her, it was like she was so used to it, so desensitized, that she's given up her dream of Home. "If I was to be sent away, my Queen," the blonde said softly, "then I'm glad it was because I was protecting you." And Regina couldn't hold herself away any longer and she used the same hands holding Emma back to pull her in instead. She was once again wrapped in the arms of the blonde and for a moment she wondered if this was the home that Emma had talked about.

Apparently, Emma's school decided that a school trip to the museum would be fun as well; Emma's group had agreed that they would be free to wander then meet back in front of the souvenir shop in an hour. It was something Regina could only dream of, having a group and everyone – including her – making plans together; it made Regina realize that the blonde was good at speaking and probably made a ton of friends.

"Nah," Emma had waved the comment off, "they're all just acquaintances and as soon as I move they'll forget all about me."

"I won't forget you." Regina had said immediately after and the blonde looked away but not before she caught the smile that appeared on Emma's face.

They started to wander around together, half looking for Regina's group and half just enjoying the displays. They stood side by side the entire time, the back of their hands brushing up against each other but neither knowing when it was the appropriate time to grab it.

After they've gone through the entire museum, they stopped in front of the display she was initially distracted by and Emma let out the secret that, "to be honest, I don't like museums that much." Regina sensed a 'but' in there so she kept silent and waited for her to continue. "But then I remember that you like to read, and I remember we talked about us having an adventure and I would see some of these medieval displays and I think of you." Their hands gravitated toward each other in that moment and they both squeezed like they were reconfirming that the other was actually there.

Eventually, they do find Regina's group and she had to pull the blonde back from making a fuss because she could feel the anger radiating off of her friend – they were friends now right? Yes, Regina decided, they were friends now. And there was no way she was letting Emma get in trouble because of her again. Even if she did have to grin and bear the purposely done abandonment.

She squeezed Emma's hand again and whispered out a, "I don't want to let go." Because she promised herself that she would hold on to Emma longer. Spend as much as she could with her.

And Emma squeezed back and whispered a, "me neither." But Emma was the one that pulled away first and pushed her over to the group because the blonde didn't want them to leave her behind again. Emma flourished a bow before she left, "Until next time, my Queen." And then she was gone and Regina went back to her group in a daze, completely immune to the glares sent by her group members. And when she had to leave the museum, she felt like a part of her heart stayed with Emma when she left and there was now a piece of her missing without the blonde beside her.

End Note: I think this chapter is even shorter than the previous one haha I think I'll have maybe 2 more and then I'm done but really, me and planning? Psssh, good luck with that.

I also got my period right when I finished writing and was like really? Thanks for the unnecessary added stress, body. Now I'm gonna go drown myself in some mango ice cream because why the hell not?