A/N: I bumped the rating for language, and nothing else. I apparently like swears, and I'm never really sure who cares about them, so better safe than sorry. Thank you as always to you wonderful readers!

Regina started to doubt herself as she headed through the town towards the beach. Storybrooke was just as quiet as it usually was on a spring evening, and perhaps it was a school-sponsored event, but Regina still expected it to be loud, particularly as she was aware of how sound could carry across the open space. Even knowing full well that this would be much too elaborate a con, she couldn't escape the niggling feeling that maybe there wasn't a bonfire, or at least maybe she had come at the wrong time? But then, as she rounded the last of the buildings, a stiff wind off the Atlantic calmed her.

The noise may not have given the gathering away, but the smells definitely did.

Smoke saturated the air, even on occasion overpowering the salt water mist from crashing waves. Regina soon spotted the sources: various meats cooking away on a set of grills and an unexpectedly large bonfire surrounded by her peers on various makeshift seats.

As Regina gathered herself and approached through the twilight, nerves tingling in anticipation, she was surprised to find that the group was significantly smaller than she had imagined. As faces faded out of the darkness, she saw that they belonged almost exclusively the school elites—with the exception of some Student Government workers manning the food. She was a good deal late, but still she knew the composition of the crowd wouldn't have been any different had she been there any earlier.

It was no wonder that she hadn't heard about it before Emma invited her. She hadn't been meant to.

She was desperately starting to regret the amount of effort she had put into convincing Cora. It would so not be worth it if her mother found out that it wasn't a spontaneous extracurricular gathering for orchestra that she was going to. She almost thought about turning around before anyone spotted her, before anyone could tell how out of place she was.

But it was too late for that.

"Regina!"

Emma hollered across the beach, spotting Regina approaching from afar and calling absolutely everyone's attention to her. She got up from where she was sitting to jog over to her new friend who now stood frozen on the edge of the group.

"I thought you we're going to bail!" Emma exclaimed as she reached Regina, just barely resisting grabbing her arm in emphasis. "I'm so glad you came. Come meet everybody?"

Regina could hardly refuse, considering she could hardly speak at all. She had never been made so consistently speechless, and she was starting to doubt her mental capacity. She followed after Emma, her old riding boots sinking in the sand as they approached the blazing fire.

Emma was just in her school clothes, changing back after practice and not feeling the need for anything special for a spring beach grill out in Maine, but looking at Regina, she wondered if she should've. Not that Regina was wearing anything special, but she looked like…like one of them for once—better than they looked like them. These jeans, unlike the ones from Saturday, were not trouser-cut—they were practically painted on, and tucked into her fitted boots, the muscles she had developed from years of riding were abundantly clear. But that wasn't the only change—she had replaced her sometimes overly mature tops with a fitted, royal purple sweater. Between that and her lustrous hair tumbling down over her shoulders in big curls, even in the dim light, she looked…well, beautiful.

Emma was not the only one who noticed, as the sets of eyes previously concentrated on the fire took the pair in. These people, who just hours earlier would ignore Regina under practically any circumstances, now focused with rapt attention.

Emma reached the circle once more and turned back to track Regina when she noticed how uncomfortable she looked, visibly tense. This time she didn't bother holding back her instinct to place a comforting hand on her arm as she leant in.

"Don't worry about them," Emma murmured into her ear. "I promise I'll tell you all sorts of their embarrassing stories."

Regina lightened under the assumed continuation of if anyone even looks at you funny. Emma was there, and Emma was looking out for her. Regina may have been out of her element, but Emma could be her guide.

She smiled in response, it only growing as the confident Emma suddenly turned somewhat bashful, dipping her head as she continued to whisper.

"You look really great, by the way."

Managing to look back up into Regina's eyes to make sure she really was okay, and bolstered by the warmth she saw there, Emma turned back to the group, now mostly the gathering of her friends paying attention, but left her hand where it was, leading Regina directly to the seat she had just been occupying.

"Everybody, meet Regina."

Regina scanned the faces in her immediate surroundings. Most she was pretty well acquainted with, but she supposed it was a new introduction. It wasn't like any of these people had had any sort of meaningful interaction with her over the past few years.

They waved and offered various murmured greetings, but Regina was struck most by the sense of awe that seemed to radiate subconsciously from a few of them. Why on earth would they be in awe of her being there? Before she could consider it further, Emma leaned down to speak to her.

"I've already ate, but would you be my excuse for seconds?"

Emma's smile was lined with mischievousness in a way that was starting to feel normal to them, recognizable, and Regina felt her playfulness rise with the sight of it.

"Like you ever need an excuse to eat."

Emma restrained a laugh, particularly once she noticed the looks of her friends. "Good point."

Emma stepped back a little to give Regina space to stand. With a smirk, Regina began to get up to go with Emma, but a voice stopped her.

"No, Ems!" Ruby interjected, moving closer to the pair. "Why don't you go get something for both of you—Regina just got here!"

Emma suspiciously observed Ruby's smile, knowing that leaving Regina alone in this new mix of people couldn't be a great idea.

"Ruby—"

"I just want to get to know your new friend!"

"Why can't you get to know her when we're both here?"

Emma did not appreciate the sight of Ruby sidling closer to Regina. Not that she entirely understood why. Ruby was basically her best friend and wouldn't hurt Regina arbitrarily. And she certainly wouldn't sabotage the bet. Ruby played (mostly) fair. Even Regina seemed to be holding her own, apparently unfazed by Ruby's interest except for the tiny markers that Emma had been getting increasingly good at picking up on—the set of her shoulders, arms folded across her stomach…

"Emma," Regina assured, cutting through Emma's hesitance. "It's fine."

Regina could read Emma precisely, her unwavering support voiced through a look alone. How she would forgo her food if Regina needed her to stay. A warmth Regina hadn't felt in a long time began winding its way through her chest.

"I'm worried at your lack of food intake. Go," she shooed Emma off. "Get me half of what you're having."

Emma managed a smile at Regina's teasing. Of course she could take care of herself. It would be fine. Just fine.

"Be right back?" She asked.

Regina nodded.

With her leave, Emma walked away towards the grill. She was still nervous about leaving Regina alone in that environment, especially when she had been the one to invite her, and she'd never spent time with her gang before, at least not that she knew of, so she made sure to keep her eyes on Regina all the way over to the food. She grabbed new plates and joined the short line waiting for burgers, all while focused on Regina beginning to converse with her friends when a flash of blonde in her peripherals distracted her.

"Shit, Regina's got a body underneath that old lady act. Think I should ask her out?"

Emma groaned audibly.

"Fuck off, Whale."

Vic had sidled up to her in line, apparently taking a break from his latest conquest to eat and scope out his next one. After Emma had rejected him harshly early on in her Storybrooke career, he had mostly taken to treating her like another bro. She supposed it could be worse.

"Why? Do you have designs on her, Swan? I'd be happy to accommodate the both of you."

Apparently it really could be.

"Wow," Emma drawled, willing the line to move more quickly. "Remind me never to talk to you again."

Whale appeared to be considering it for a moment before he replied, "We could always be doing more enjoyable things than talking."

Emma didn't know what it was with teenaged guys, but she was reminded every day how grateful she was that David was not a typical one.

"Honestly, how does anyone tolerate you?"

Whale was not at all insulted by her dismissals, perhaps immunized from having received so many.

"I'm smart, wealthy, good-looking, and I throw wicked parties," he declared, leaning against the table to better observe the crowd. "You're coming Saturday, right?"

She likely would be—she had already made plans with Ruby—but she didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

"I don't know."

Whale just grinned.

"Yes, you are. And bring Regina! I'd like the chance to know her better."

He had grabbed some food ahead of her and turned to walk back to his crowd, but his eyes remained on Regina, clearly checking her out. Emma watched him carefully until he passed her, failing to suppress a shiver. Sometimes he didn't seem so harmless.

She started to pile food on their plates, but not before checking in on Regina. Even from the distance, she looked a little tense to Emma, but she doubted the others would pick up on it, because otherwise, she looked entirely fine.

Emma hurried. She needed to get back to make sure it stayed that way.

"So, Regina!"

Regina had recognized Ruby on the prowl the second she had made herself known in the group, but with Emma not 30 feet away, it had reached a new level. She had been more nervous at Emma's departure than she had let on, but she knew better than to let these people get under her skin. She had had plenty of experience.

"I've got to know—how'd you and Emma start hanging out? I mean, not to sound rude or anything, but it was like kind of out of the blue."

At least Ruby was direct, even if something did seem to be lurking underneath her words. Besides, Regina had spotted her in the library a few times, and had gotten a sense of just how sweet the girl could be, when the right people were involved.

"Oh, I don't know about that," she hedged indifferently.

Ruby seemed genuinely surprised at her coyness, her curiosity becoming more sincere.

"Yeah?" She challenged. "Did you even know each other?"

"We've had classes together."

"See, Ruby," Tink cut in, insistent. "Emma was just waiting for the right time."

Tink shot Ruby some kind of look, trying to get her to stop pushing. She knew that Ruby would never blow it on purpose, but she did have a tendency to get too excited, and she could let something slip.

Regina observed, reflecting. Tina was looking out for her. She couldn't remember the last time that had happened—except for Emma's reluctance just moments earlier. What on earth was happening to the world she knew?

Ruby was properly swayed by Tink's caution, shifting direction to tease instead.

"She probably just was too focused on Neal to notice anyone else existed."

Regina perked up, Ruby's words catching her attention again. Emma had had some sort of connection to Neal? She hadn't expected that at all.

"Oh, Ruby," Tink scolded.

"What? It was a dark time for us all," Ruby intoned dramatically.

The trio's focus shifted to Emma, catching her looking over at them. The blonde smiled at being noticed but kept her gaze steady.

"Well," Tink teased softly, "She's clearly moved on."

Regina was confused and intrigued all at once. She had never thought to learn more about Emma other than what the girl provided—she had been so enraptured in someone wanting to know about her. But these tidbits of information, they were captivating. And Regina had never even sensed any kind of discord from her new friend, certainly not concerning Neal Gold, but the way Tina had said what she said…they couldn't have meant that she had anything to do with it, could they?

"Oh my god, Regina doesn't know about any of this! Do you?" Ruby gasped.

"I can't say I do."

Ruby's face drew tight, into an odd sort of smile, on the edge of wanting to elaborate and knowing Emma would be none too pleased if she did.

"Let's just keep that one between us for now. What's a little secret between friends?" She leaned in conspiratorially.

"We're friends now?" Regina deadpanned.

Ruby just bumped her shoulder with her own. "Any friend of Emma's is one of mine!" She declared with ease.

Tink looked on amused, as Regina appeared to be halfway between a scowl and reluctant acceptance.

"Anyway, Regina! Um," Tink paused, debating how to continue. "What—"

"Hey, guys!" David's greeting as he jogged over to the group cut her attempt at conversation short. "Mary Margaret and I are gonna walk down to the rocks before it gets too dark. Want to join us?"

Ruby scoffed, eyes going wide at the prospect of heckling her friends.

"Yeah, and what are you going to once you're there?" She asked leadingly. "Should Tink and Hook go with? Regina," Ruby said, turning suddenly to face her, "Do you have someone to mack it with?"

Ruby wasn't referring to her past. She couldn't know. They couldn't know. It had been too long ago. Even the most vindictive bullies didn't have that kind of memory for her, especially not to play it this subtly, and Ruby was not vindictive. In fact, her eyes were glimmering with playfulness even in the dim light of the fire.

"Ruby, I'm flattered, but you're not my type."

A chorus of shocked and approving "oh"s rang out from the surrounding group, which now included Killian and Ashley and her boyfriend Sean. Regina was somewhat relieved to see that Mary Margaret seemed to be waiting for her boyfriend far away from the fire.

"Well, damn, Mills, what a shame!" Ruby proclaimed cheerfully.

"Perhaps, Regina," Hook crooned, "you would rather accompany me—"

"Hook, I'm pretty sure she already told you that she'd have to get inoculated first."

Emma had returned to the group, confidently inserting herself between Ruby and Regina and handing her a full plate.

"Fine, I know when I'm not wanted," Killian ceded, displeased with the enjoyment of his nickname but bowing out gracefully. "I will join you, David."

Instead of following David as he said his goodbyes and headed over to MM, Killian instead turned to Tink and offered her his arm.

"My lady?"

Tink took a moment to look to her friends. She spotted Ruby and Emma's identical looks of amused encouragement—they just solidified her resolve. She stood and took it, walking off with a smile goodbye to Regina and a stuck out tongue to her friends. With them gone, Ashley and Sean settled into the abandoned seats chuckling over where their friends were headed off to. Emma took the moment to check in with Regina.

"Sorry," she whispered, leaning in.

Regina felt confident in her response.

"Don't be."

She offered Emma a genuine smile and dug into her food.

They spent the rest of the event chatting around the fire. Ashley, Sean, Ruby, Emma, Regina, and a few others popping in and out as the night winded down.

David and MM did come back soon after dark, as promised, but Tink and Hook? Not so much. They were still MIA as the counsel members started to pack up things to leave, going around with trash bags.

Regina found she didn't want it to be over so soon. She had actually had a decent time of it. Ruby, despite her strong connection to Mary Margaret, was fun and forgiving and enjoyed bantering with Emma, which Regina was also starting to like. People just talked to her, and when they didn't, she was allowed to observe in peace. These kids…they weren't as bad as she thought, or even remembered, and they seemed to be thinking about her differently as well. Perhaps it was fake, perhaps Emma was covering for some of her social flaws, perhaps just being around the blonde made her untouchable, but Regina was enjoying herself, and Emma didn't once leave her side the rest of the evening.

She had faded out of conversation slightly as everyone started to move back towards the town and their cars, but she was snapped back in at the sound of her name.

"Regina," Sean exclaimed, apparently buoyed by the previous conversation, "You should totally come to the party Saturday night."

"The party?" Regina asked.

"Whale's having a house party," Ashley clarified. "His parents are out of town. Like everyone will be there."

Regina couldn't restrain her skepticism.

"Everyone."

"At least a ton of people," Sean edited. "It's gonna be like one of those parties in the movies where someone breaks a priceless vase."

"And someone else vomits into one."

Despite the minimal light, Regina could very clearly make out Emma's scrunched up face of disgust.

"Ruby, nasty."

"You know it's going to happen!" Ruby defended chirpily, bumping shoulders with her friend in shared knowledge of Whale's previous get-togethers. She turned towards Regina, making eye contact even across the distance.

"Want to come, Regina?"

Regina couldn't help it. Despite how unappealing it sounded at the surface, she had been invited to something. Genuinely invited to a cool kid's party, and she did want to go—just to see what it was like. But Emma would have to be there.

Regina turned to Emma with such hope that Emma, despite her reservations, could do nothing but nod in agreement. Regina should go. Emma would be there, right there, to help her through it.

As they parted ways, and all said their goodbyes, Emma could only think of Saturday night.

She was pretty sure that it would be Regina's first real high school party.

And Emma would damn well be making sure Regina had a good time.