The last thing that Emma had expected when she had gone on vacation with Regina had been to see him. The man who had seen a girl who was in need and taken full advantage of his opportunity. Not that she blamed him.

But, nonetheless, he wasn't someone that Regina knew about. And Emma saw the flash of recognition in his eyes from across the street and knew that if she didn't do something he would come up to her.

That couldn't happen.

"We should go in here," Emma said, tugging Regina into the nearest shop to them both. She didn't even look at what it was, and she honestly didn't care.

"Why?" Regina asked. "You don't take baths and hate the smell of anything that isn't vanilla."

"Just to look around," Emma said, trying to hide her desperation. She glanced behind her to see if he was still looking for her, and sure enough he was. The sign had just switched to being able to cross the street and boy was he booking it.

"Emma," Regina said. "Are you okay? You seem distracted by something."

"I'm fine," Emma said, turning back to Regina. She resisted the temptation to look behind her again and check on his progress. "Let's see what this store has to offer."

Regina looked at Emma skeptically before following her into the back part of the store. Not that she really had a choice. Emma had her hand in an iron-like grip.

As time went on, Regina started to grow even more suspicious. Emma was acting as she was scared that they were being followed everywhere that they went. Finally, Regina glanced behind them just as Emma did and noticed a man that she had seen all morning trailing behind them. They were being followed.

"Emma," Regina said. "Why is there a man following us?"

"There's not a man following us," Emma said. "Why would you think that?"

"Emma Swan you can lie to anyone in this world, but you can't to me," Regina said. "Now, why is there a man following us?"

"He knows me," Emma said. "From a long time ago, and I thought that he wouldn't remember me but clearly he does."

"And you owe him something?" Regina asked. That was the only reason that she could come up with for why someone would follow them.

"I don't owe him anything," Emma growled.

Regina jumped at Emma's tone. "So what does he want then?"

"Probably to say hello and see how things have been for me," Emma said, glancing over her shoulder. Still there. "I don't really want to do that."

"Why not?" Regina asked, speeding up her walking to match Emma's pace. "Did he do something to you?"

"Something like that," Emma said.

"Then shouldn't you face him?" Regina asked. "Maybe he wants to apologize."

"Doubt it," Emma said. "He isn't one to apologize. Besides, you know me. I run when things get uncomfortable. It's easier."

"Since when do you take the easy way out?" Regina asked, stopping suddenly. Emma yelped in surprise as she was pulled to a halt. "You're better than that."

"Regina this is not funny," Emma hissed, glancing behind them. He was getting closer. "Let's go."

Regina shook her head. "You have faced so many monsters. Maybe it's time you faced some from the past too."

Emma glared at Regina. "I will leave with or-"

"Emma!" the man called, catching up to them. "I've been trying to get your attention all morning. Guess that hasn't changed." He winked, causing Emma to wince.

"Hello Richard," Emma managed to force out with a smiled. "It's been ages since I saw you last."

"Yes, it's been far too long," Richard said with a smile. Regina instantly knew that smile. Men in the Enchanted Forest had used that smile on many women in the pubs. It was a smile of "I-know-I'm-hot-and-you'll-be-mine". Regina had an idea that she knew what had happened between him and Emma.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Richard asked, nodding towards Regina.

Emma cleared her throat awkwardly. "Richard, this is Regina Mills. My fiancé. Regina, this is Richard Fox. He's an old friend."

"Fiancé huh?" Richard asked, eyebrows raised in surprise. "Very nice to meet you." Regina just smiled and shook his hand. She wasn't going to say anything unless Emma looked like she needed her to.

"So," Richard said. "How long are you in New York? We could catch up over some dinner and drinks."

Emma tensed, squeezing Regina's hand harder than before. Regina stopped herself from wincing before speaking up. "We were actually on our way back today. We have a son back home and he would be angry if we stayed another night without him along."

"Ah," Richard said. "You have a son together."

"It's complicated," Regina said. "But yes. It was lovely meeting you, but we really must be going. Would hate to get back too late and he's already sleeping." Before Richard could say anything else, Regina pulled Emma away.

Emma didn't say anything as they walked down the street, past thousands of people in a matter of 5 minutes. Finally, they reached an alley that didn't look too sketchy and Regina pulled Emma into it.

Regina dropped Emma's hand, flexing her fingers. "Are you okay?"

Emma nodded, still not saying a word. Regina looked Emma up and down before reaching over and cupping Emma's face in her hands, forcing their eyes to meet. "No lying. Are you okay?"

Emma slowly shook her head and collapsed into Regina's arms. Regina hugged her tightly, running her hand up and down Emma's back. "What did he do to you?"

"Nothing I didn't agree to," Emma mumbled. "I needed the money and he was willing to pay. I was 18 and had just been released from the system. I had no money, no family, and was very desperate. He found me on the side of the road and took me in. He said he would pay me for as long as I stayed.

Regina shivered. "How long did this go on?"

Emma shrugged. "For as long as it took for me to get enough money from him to get out."

"Which was?" Regina prompted.

Emma sighed. "Only 2 years."

"2 years?" Regina asked, pulling away from Emma. "You did that for 2 years?"

"I had no other choice," Emma said bitterly. "I needed money and a place to go. He gave me both and I paid him back for it. I got out and moved on. No big deal."

"No big deal?" Regina asked. "You could barely talk in his presence."

"He caught me off guard," Emma said.

"He was following us for half of the day," Regina said. "To catch you off guard he would have had to of poofed in front of you."

Emma sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "He reminds me of the person that I wish I had never had been. I wish that I could have been stronger and gotten an actual job."

"You were young and alone," Regina said.

"I know," Emma said softly.

Regina grabbed Emma's hands, squeezing them gently. "If we went through life trying to forget who we used to be, we would never learn anything. Think of those memories as lessons, not times that you want to forget."

Emma smiled at Regina. "When did you get so wise?"

"I've always been this wise," Regina said. "This is just the first time that you've listened."