Chapter Four

Regina and I walked down the streets of this deserted town, hand in hand.

"It's quiet," she noticed aloud.

"Yeah, it is," I said, "Where are we going?"

"Well, when I was a child, my father used to take me to this place to escape from our life…"

"Why'd you need to escape," I asked.

"My mother wasn't really a nice person and sometimes it just got to be too much," Regina said and lowered her head.

I stopped immediately and turned to face her. "Listen, okay, if you're uncomfortable we don't have to do this. We can find something else to do, okay," I said affectionately. I kissed her cheek lightly.

Regina rubbed the spot where my lips were after I ended the quick little peck. "No, Emma, I want to tell you. I need to. It'll probably help a lot."

"Ok, take your time. We have all the time in the world."

She smiled at me and continued, "My father and I would come here almost every week and he'd tell me stories about a time when my parents were madly in love with each other. I always asked if I ruined it for them. And he'd always say that I was the best thing to happen to him. He was always making sure I was all right. He reminds me of you actually."

I felt happy to hear that coming from her. "That's good," I replied. Then I was silent so that she would continue.

I watched Regina as she took a deep breath. "One day, I came home from school, I was probably, like ten at the time, and I flung the door open. It was the only noise that I heard when I walked into the house that day. I walked all around the small house yelling for my parents. No one answered. I found out the reason why they didn't answer was because they had left me. When I say they left me, I mean just that. There was no note, no call a few hours later, nothing. It took me three days to realize that they weren't coming back."

"Regina, I'm so sorry."

By the time that she had finished the heartbreaking story we arrived at the highest part of a small bridge. The water below was not too deep, but deep enough for ducks to swim in.

"This place, right here, is where I would come to be with my father even though he'd left me. For many years after I was furious with him mostly. I knew my mother had it in her to do something like that, but not my father. Anger turned into depression. There were times when I'd come here and consider jumping over the railing, but I knew that it wasn't deep enough and I'd just be in the hospital for a while recovering from my injuries."

I pulled her into a hug after hearing her says that.

XXXX

Emma pulled me into a tight embrace and I lost it. I haven't cried that hard in some time. It wasn't a pretty cry. It was a butt ugly, snot running down my face kind of cry.

She didn't care. She just held me. Her arms were my comfort. I knew that they would be the only comfort I'd need.

"Shh," she cooed as rubbed my back with her hand. "It's okay. I'm here for you. It's all right!"

I cried harder after that.

"There's more," I dramatically said through my tears.

Emma kissed the top of my head. I felt her body turn in the hug.

"Come with me," she said as she pulled me off the bridge and to a park bench. Funny, I don't remember that bench being there, but there it was.

"Here, let's sit," she said as she guided me down onto the bench.

I sat and immediately wiped the tears away. She helped as her thumbs blotted my running makeup.

"I might look like a train wreck," I said and sniffled.

"You're beautiful all the time," she said honestly. I looked into her eyes and realized that she was for real.

"So, a few weeks later, I came home from school again. I'd been secretively living by myself in the house and no one was the wiser. It wasn't that hard. I survived. I think this was where I inherited that instinct, you know?"

Emma silently nodded her head.

"So I found a letter from my father. It was under the door. All that time they or he was still in the area. He didn't even try to contact me to make sure I was, at least, not dead. This irked me a lot. The letter basically said that my mother made him leave. He said he didn't want to, but I just don't believe him. I felt like a fool. I had believed for my entire life that he loved me and that pretty much was a lie," I said sadly.

"Where are they now," she asked meekly.

"I don't know. And I don't really care now. I've been taking care of myself for a long time and I've become accustomed to it," I said.

"Is me telling you everything that I've been telling you a good or bad thing?"

"Emma, it's neither good or bad. It's just…gonna take some time for me to really believe you. I know that sounds harsh, but it's just my life," I said sadly. "I hope this isn't a deal breaker for you." I looked down at my lap.

Not even a millisecond after, Emma raised my chin with her hand and we looked into each other's eyes. "Regina Mills, this is so not a deal breaker for me. You've been hurt by the two people who were supposed to protect from hurt. Not be the cause of it. You grew up way too fast, but you triumphed over it. I admire you for that." She cupped my cheek with her hand as her finger massaged my temple. I smiled and relaxed in her touch. She leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

"Thank you for being so understanding," I said.

"You don't have to thank me, Regina. It's who you are. And now I understand more and you know what."

"No what?"

"I like you even more if that's even possible," she said.

XXXX

"Really," she asked dumbfounded.

"Duh!"

She smirked and then kissed my cheek.

"I'm getting cold," I said as I shivered a little.

"Oh, ok," she said and jumped up from the bench, "Wanna do something else?"

"I, uh, I'm," I stuttered.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You must have class tomorrow. Do you want to call it a night?"

"Hey, Regina, calm down," I said and laughed.

She froze as she stared at me.

"I was going to say…"

"Wanna go back to my place," Regina blurted out.

"Only if you're comfortable with me there," I said genuinely.

"Yes!"

"Alrighty then!"

She dragged me off of the bench and to a cab that she hailed so quickly. Once inside the warm vehicle, I timidly said, "Regina, I don't want to have sex with you…right now."

She looked up at me and smiled. "I don't want to have sex with you right now either."

"We haven't kissed anyway," I noted.

I heard her sigh. She rested her head against my chest.

I wanted to make this bold statement so I took a deep breath and mustered the courage. "Would you mind if I held you tonight?"

Regina picked up her head and smiled brightly. "Of course! Hoping we'd be sharing my bed."

"Cool," I said and sighed relieved.

I remembered that I needed to text Ruby, so I pulled out my cell phone and texted Ruby.

Not coming home 2night.

I sent it and in a second's time, my phone buzzed.

"Where are you?" I read in a whisper.

"Who you texting?" she asked me.

"My room mate. Telling her I won't be home tonight. She asked me where I was…"

"Call her," she said as she pressed the call and speaker buttons for me.

"Hello, Swan…where the fuck are you?"

"In a cab," I replied honestly.

"Going where?"

"To Regina's," I said honestly again.

"Who the fuck is Regina?"

"You really don't remember anything when you're drunk, do you?"

There were moments of silence before she yelled, "FUCK! Pole girl?"

Regina mouthed, "Pole girl?"

I smiled and nodded. "We were there when you fell, remember?"

"Swan, who are you talking to…"

"Shit! That's right!" Regina whispered.

"Ruby, meet Regina, Regina meet Ruby!" I introduced.

"Hello, Ruby," Regina said kindly.

"Hey, pole girl, what's shaking…"

"Netting much. Same old, same old," Regina replied.

"So you won't be home tonight, huh?"

"Yes, Ruby, that's correct," I said.

"Is my friend finally gettin' lucky?"

"I've already gotten lucky…I did meet Regina…"

"Aww," Regina said with a smile.

"Not what I meant, but I'll let it slide. Good night you two. Come home before like summer!"

"Good night, Ruby," I said and then hung up.

"I guess that nickname is gonna stick?"

"Sorry. Afraid so."

She lightly chuckled.

We arrived at her apartment a few minutes later and we paid the cab driver. We exited the car on the same side and as soon as we were out and the door was shut we held hands. We walked into her building and to her apartment.

"What happened to your childhood home," I asked as I took off my coat and threw it on the couch.

"Well, apparently our neighbor knew I was home alone and she called Child Services. I was removed from the home and put into foster care. I aged out at eighteen, but by that time the house had been sold. I found this place and just wound up staying. I had enough to afford it, but eventually that money disappeared. I did odd jobs, but I knew I needed something more. I did questionable things to survive. More questionable than stripping. I don't want to talk about."

"So we won't," I said matter of fact.

XXXX

"So, can I get you anything?"

"Change of tee shirt," Emma asked.

"Of course," I said, "You want sweatpants? Or boxers?"

"Um, I usually sleep in boxer shorts, but I can sleep in sweats."

Wow. That's sexy. I'm all for that.

"Boxers," I blurted out and immediately was embarrassed.

Emma chuckled and smiled. "That was easy."

I looked in my dresser and pulled out an old Bon Jovi tee shirt and a pair of boxers.

"Vintage, I like it!"

I smiled.

As she was removing her tee shirt in favor of mine I watched intensely. She didn't seem phased by it at all.

"Dance for me," I blurted out.