They reached the Gala in a rented Limo and David was a perfect gentleman. Nobody besides Regina could see and feel that all this was fake. He only did it for the public eye and that was exactly what Regina signed up for. He took her hand and helped her out of the car. To Regina's surprise, they had a small red carpet and a lot of press for a small town event.

It was no wonder Regina was one of the most photographed persons that evening. When they reached the last photographer before the main entrance a woman with a microphone yelled at her "Ms. Mills, Ms. Mills you look stunning this evening, who are you wearing?" Not expecting that question at a charity gala, Regina blushed because she was not prepared. Usually, she knew exactly what she was wearing from head to toe. Since David found this dress in Emma's room and the girl doesn't look like a fashion hipster to her – she didn't care to look. She was sure it was no designer piece, so no need to look at the label. Regina looked questioningly at David who reached really quickly to the back of the dress, he searched for a tag. "The label says Swan Queen – never heard of it" he puts his arm charmingly around Regina and smiled at his beautiful "wife". The interviewer scribbled quickly on her notepad and asked a few more questions about Regina's upcoming projects, her future plans, and life here in Storybrooke. Of course, they already had some official things for the press planed out and she acted as the script told her to.

Regina made a mental note to look up the label the next day so she could maybe order something for herself. Maybe she could even ask Emma where she bought it. It would be a good start to go shopping with the daughter of her future husband.

They settled in the huge ballroom and David was more than happy that his friend made that contact, even if he was pissed at her needing so much time to get ready –it was worth it now. Their names will be all over media in a few hours and his points for the next elections will climb up the hill. He smiled as bright as he could and tried to look as much "in love" as possible. But instead of thinking about Regina he thought about August – his Boyfriend. He wished they could be together in public but he always remembered himself that he had an image to keep. David knew his own reasons for this arrangement but never asked what Regina's baggage was for agreeing to a fake relationship – from what he knew she was an attractive and charming young woman with a lot of talent and life spirit. But what does he care he needed a wife for media and she was there and did a brilliant job as well.

After the dinner, they greeted a lot of other politicians and posed for a few pictures and got caught up talking with some friends. Regina sat a little sad at their table. A few people looked suspicious at her probably realizing who she was but as usually too scared or shy – or both - to talk to her. This was her life now she thought. The perfect dress, at a nice event, but she was lonely. David was too busy. It was important for him that she looked nice and made a good impression in front of his friends and business partner. When the obligations are fulfilled she was just dead weight for him. She looked at all the other couples there and wished she was at least recognized a little more. But she knew it would be impossible to find a person who would really love and accept her for who she was. It was better that she looked lucky in love than to get questioned all the time why a pretty girl like her is still on her own. Regina always knew she could never have a real relationship. She is transsexual and since her own parents couldn't accept that fact – how could anybody else?

When she was only 4 years old she felt that she was different. Not only she preferred to wear dresses and yellow or red cloths but also her love for dolls and cute little cooking stations gave it away. But she had to grow up as Ronald Mills till her 16th birthday. Doctors always tried to convince her parents that Ronald is born in the wrong body. That he is a she. They told them every time they visited it's the wrong decision to press their daughter into the life of a boy. But they were her guardian and they couldn't do anything against it. Her father loved her the way she is – when her mother was gone he sneaked in some baby dolls and dresses for her. He always called her Regina because she loved that name. This was their little secret. When Regina was 12 she started acting. She looked way more feminine and girly than most boys. Often the stylists loved her because most boys hated to get ready for a shooting or filming but Regina loved the makeup, dresses and the haircuts. So they spend some extra time making her, even more girly just for fun. She was perfect for so many roles. With these roles she worked her ass off to make enough money to officially become a girl.
When she was 16 years old her parents divorced and Cora was gone with her new young and rich lover. She didn't care about her family any longer and Regina stayed with her dad who agreed to take the long way of transformation with her.
This was the saddest, but also the happiest day in Ronald aka Regina Mills life. She knew her mother never loved her and saw her as a weird child. It was no surprise that she left them the moment she had the opportunity. Her parents were never rich – much to Cora's regret. Henry always looked out for his daughter's money and hired a good agent to manage it in Regina's interest and keep it safe from Cora.

The fact that she started the treatment so late had his disadvantages. In the age of 16 her penis was already fully grown and functioning, her voice already deep and her Adams Apple visible. They started the treatment a few days after her 16th birthday. Immediately Regina noticed changes. Her breast started to grow, her figure became more feminine and her voice wasn't as deep as it used to be. In the age of 16 to 18, Regina stopped acting because nobody could know about her transformation. She was a child star, it wasn't unusual that she was gone and never heard of again.

When she was almost 19 her transformation was done –except one part. This was a huge step, she was not ready to take at that time – maybe she will never be ready to go all the way. It was not that she was scared of it, the operation itself would be only a few hours, but for everything else she was all on her own because her father died a year ago. He had a heart attack and she had nobody who knew about her biggest secret now. Last few years she read a lot about the operation. Twice she was nearly there, but she couldn't do it - what if she can't feel anything after? What if she never found someone that would want to sleep with a woman with a "created" vagina? If she was on her vacation trips it was easy to find a woman who she could get off with. Even if it was just about sex, at least she could satisfy her needs. It usually felt wrong to her; she couldn't look in the mirror for days afterward. It felt dirty to her to pay a woman for their service but she didn't know what else she could do. Her trust issues always backed her down.