A/N: Sorry about the slight delay! And for the slight filler nature of this chapter. I had meant for the party to be all together, but it got pretty long, and I thought you'd prefer a regular update instead.

The unspecified song is "Too Close" by Next. And the specified, well, I think it's pretty clear.

The party actually had been easier to explain to her mother than the bonfire.

The Whales were well respected in town, and once Victor had been highlighted receiving early admission to Johns Hopkins' accelerated pre-med program in the paper, Cora had added him permanently to her incredibly short list of acceptable peers for Regina. Unfortunately, Regina hated the smug bastard, but Cora didn't have to know that part. Once she had mentioned that she was invited to a get-together hosted at the Whales, Cora had just assumed that it would be a respectable gathering.

Apparently, Cora's seeming omniscience did not extend to the activities of well-off teenagers.

It was a fucking madhouse.

Regina had been able to hear the noise all the way at the end of the Whales' cul-de-sac, and it had taken all her curiosity to even want to keep going. By the time she was able to see the impressive house, set back in the woods, the only thing around with any sort of light, she could also see the crowds of kids through the open front door and hanging out of the windows, apparently overheated in the cool spring night. She kept walking, steeling herself for the inevitable disaster this would be. She had to do it. She had been invited, by someone other than Emma, but Emma would be there.

She would just have to find her.

She could find her and then maybe leave.

This might be too much.

Reaching the door, she kept her eyes open for a shock of bright blonde hair. It wouldn't be too much of an issue spotting her, unless she hadn't arrived yet, but Regina had already gone against all her sensibilities to make sure to arrive late.

Stepping through the threshold, weaving around a couple of bodies pressed up against the wall, she stood in the middle of the grand foyer, tracking movement in every room.

She didn't know where to start. She didn't know how she would stay. But she had to find Emma at least, and no one had even looked at her funny for being there—yet.

She could do this.

Emma was bored.

Normally she had a decent time at these things, dancing with her friends, maybe the occasional random make out, nothing serious. Even if she wasn't Whale's biggest fan, he had a nice house, and it was pretty much guaranteed that the party wouldn't get busted thanks to the Whales' contributions to the Sheriff's department, despite the noise levels and conspicuous underage drinking.

Emma did normally participate in it, no stranger to alcohol despite her age—but just enough to take the edge off, to forget that these kids had lived their whole privileged lives like this and that some cheap booze and PDA was their idea of what it meant to go a little crazy. Not enough to remove her self-control. She didn't like the feeling of being drunk, especially in a crowd of people she didn't really trust. But tonight, the red Solo cup in her hand was just for show. She had been dedicated to remaining entirely sober, for Regina. She had even arrived earlier than she ever would've considered, for Regina. Somehow, over the course of the rest of the week, they had forgotten to coordinate when to meet, particularly after Regina had expressed some hesitance Friday at lunch when they were once again squirrelled away in the practice room. Emma hadn't been able to get the whole story from her, but she figured Regina might have to sneak out to be able to come at all, if she even really wanted to.

The whole thing seemed contrary to her sheltered personality. Emma couldn't see how Regina would ever be comfortable in this kind of situation, but she supposed she could understand the appeal. Particularly for someone who had always been on the outside. But maybe Regina had reconsidered. Maybe she wouldn't show at all.

Emma found she really didn't want that. As nervous as she was for Regina in the lion's den, they hadn't made any other plans for the weekend, and Emma was frightened to realize she missed her new friend already. There was just something so much more about her, which was only highlighted as she stared across the room of writhing bodies and general teenaged debauchery.

At least no one had thrown up into a vase.

Yet.

Regina coming here was a terrible idea.

She was about to move from her perch observing Ruby out on the makeshift dance floor to the front door, hoping that if Regina hadn't arrived yet she could maybe catch her before she had to go through any of this on her own, but a somewhat unfamiliar voice had her turning to face a girl she had almost forgotten about entirely.

Kathryn Gordon had spotted her from the other side of the room and called out her name.

Emma didn't know why—she and Kathryn ran in some of the same social circles, but they had never been particularly close, particularly because of her relationship with MM and David. Other than to find out background on Regina, she couldn't think of a reason they would speak, and even that she had delegated to Tink. Not that Tink had followed through—or maybe she had later on and hadn't mentioned it? Maybe Kathryn wanted to talk about Regina? Emma tried her best to rein the nerves that grew from the thought. Regina was bound to walk in the moment they started discussing her. It was just how those things happened. But maybe it wasn't about Regina. It didn't have to be about Regina. Best just to be normal.

"Hey, Kathryn," Emma greeted over the music as the blonde drew close enough to hear. "What's up?"

Kathryn was all business, intense and focused the way Emma remembered her from one of their shared English classes. Paired with her innocuous looks and general kindness, Emma thought she was bound to make a terrifyingly good lawyer some day.

"Emma, I know this is strange, but I have to ask: did you get Regina Mills to go to the bonfire on Wednesday?"

Interactions like these both had Emma wishing they could be closer and relieved that they weren't. Kathryn's blunt directness certainly served her well.

"I guess I did," she managed to respond.

Emma was glad to see the hint of relief in Kathryn's smile—that this possible rumor being true was most definitely a good thing. Apparently her and Regina's supposed friendship hadn't ended on as poor of terms as one would've guessed. And now that Emma had half of the source directly in front of her and already on the topic…she supposed it was best to capitalize on the opportunity.

"Since you got a strange question, can I have one?"

Kathryn chuckled a little. "I should've known better than to think I'd get away with that. Go right ahead."

"Why'd you take Regina to cheer tryouts freshman year?"

Emma had wanted to ask something that would give her as much information as possible, and it appeared she had succeeded when Kathryn's previous good mood faded enough that the shift was visible even in the low lighting. The song changed, and Kathryn used it to give herself a little respite. Glancing towards the door, she looked to Emma and walked out. With a glance at Ruby still dancing, Emma followed behind, implicitly understanding.

There wasn't much free space anywhere in the house at this point, but the upstairs hallways were relatively clear, and the girls positioned themselves in a corner near a closet that may or may not have had someone inside. The music was duller, but the lights were still low, and Emma had the distinct feeling that maybe this conversation was appropriately sneaky.

"So, spill." She nudged when they were somewhat alone. "Why the secrecy about being friends with Regina?"

Emma hadn't meant it to be accusatory, but it certainly came out that way. It was entirely hypocritical, but she couldn't help it. She needed to defend Regina. Even if she was way too late to the game.

Kathryn immediately was on the defensive, a combination of defiant and hurt.

"Don't think I haven't heard the rumors, Emma. So this is real for you now?"

Emma's expression fell instantly. This whole thing was a mess. It was real for her. It really was. But that didn't mean she wasn't on incredibly shaky ground. Kathryn saw her reaction though, and continued on, backing off from her attack.

"I'm sorry. I've got no right calling you out on that," Kathryn elaborated, seeming somewhat shamed herself. "Just—" She sighed, deciding how to frame her words "Regina has a lot more to offer than people give her credit for."

"Yeah, I know that. I really do."

Part of her wanted to convince Kathryn, since it did seem the girl was vaguely looking out for Regina, as if she had some sort of sway on their relationship. But mostly she needed to convince herself that despite the horrible reason she had gone about it, she still really was Regina's friend. But it was all a mess, and they were secreted away to discuss Kathryn's relationship with Regina, not her own, so she turned the conversation back.

"So are you going to tell me how you know that? Or why you even care?"

Kathryn took a deep breath. She could've easily blown the conversation off, but Emma had the sense that she wanted to tell someone.

"Look, Regina and I…we were friends all through middle school. Or at least as close as someone could be friends with Regina. Her mom is a crazy psycho bitch, but she liked me because of my dad, so every once in a while we were allowed to hang out. The cheering was because—I saw she was having a harder time than usual when we got to Storybrooke High—you know, like I was making friends with the right groups and she wasn't really connecting with anyone, but god, back then, I don't know how—she still managed to be happy most of the time. I thought it'd be a good idea, to get her involved, something happy…but it didn't really go well. And we sort of drifted apart and then, well…I ruined it."

Kathryn did look genuinely regretful with her words and it only stoked Emma's desire to ask how, but sensing someone was coming up the stairs, Kathryn stepped farther out into the open only to wrap things up with a warning.

"So whatever you're doing, Emma Swan, don't you dare ruin it."

Emma was too stupefied to notice that whoever it was that had come up the stairs had headed right towards them, so she was incredibly grateful she hadn't responded when she heard:

"Emma. I was worried I wouldn't find you."

Of course it was Regina who had joined them. Emma had predicted it would be after all, and she wondered if Regina knew what they had been talking about just seconds before, considering how uncomfortable she was looking around Kathryn.

Kathryn, while not looking entirely comfortable herself had softened immediately and greeted Regina with a small but warm smile.

"Hi, Regina. It's really good to see you."

"Hello, Kathryn."

Regina did not let that warmth affect her in the least. This was the most closed off Emma had seen Regina since that very first day in the library. And the ensuing silence was nothing short of incredibly awkward. Kathryn definitely took the hint.

"I better go find Fred before one of the boys talks him into something stupid," she excused herself. "See you two around."

Though Kathryn left swiftly, the tension remained behind her.

"Hey." Emma greeted.

"Hey."

"How long have you been here?"

"Not long. I found Ruby. She told me she thought you went up here."

"I'm surprised she even noticed," Emma admitted. "But I'm really glad. I didn't want to miss you once you got here."

It was true. Even if she would've preferred Regina not walking into a discussion of herself, she was very thankful she hadn't had to spend very much time alone in this insanity.

"This can be…a lot." She looked over the banister to see a group of guys starting kegstands and shook her head.

Regina didn't look, however, her focus remaining on Emma.

"I can take care of myself."

"Do I know that." Emma tried to smile.

She was desperately grasping at their fragile normality, and she didn't know if they'd be able to find it here at all.

"Want to head down into the action?" She suggested, hoping they could find something to start things fresh.

After a moment that seemed so much longer than it was, Regina nodded and let Emma take the lead down the stairs.

Emma was resolved to fix this. She walked with purpose, owning her space. She just needed to get them to a semi-secluded spot with some decent music and they could work it out. As long as there weren't any other pitfalls.

Moving around the few people perched on the edges of the steps, Emma was looking at her feet and didn't even notice Whale's approach until he was right in front of them on the landing.

"Swan!" He exclaimed. "I knew you'd show."

"Nice party, Whale." Emma allowed reluctantly as she groaned inwardly, already looking for ways out.

"And Regina!" He added as she stepped down to their level. "What a pleasure."

"Victor."

Regina's reaction to Kathryn had been bad but this was definitely worse. Emma was desperate to know what ran beneath it all, but Whale didn't even bat an eye as he was either ignorant of or just plain ignoring Regina's mood.

"I'm so glad you could make it. I really feel like we've never had the chance to get to know each other," he oozed, trying to sidle closer to her under the pretense of being heard over the music. "And I do want to say, I'm really sorry we called you Reg-i-na so often when we were kids."

Despite Regina remaining entirely unflustered, Emma couldn't help but wince at the rhyming. She hadn't even thought of that, but it must've been brutal for Regina during sex ed.

Whale just powered on.

"Would you like a tour of the house, Regina? I'd suggest Emma come along, but she's been here so many times already. Wouldn't want her to get bored."

Emma physically stepped in between them. That would not be happening.

"Not a chance, Whale."

He backed off a little, raising his hands in submission.

"All right, understood," he said, nodding. "Then how about I get you ladies something to drink?"

Emma knew there would be no graceful way out of this conversation. It just wasn't worth it.

"Nope. Thanks, bye."

She grabbed Regina's hand and dragged her into another room, moving away as quickly as possible.

When she was sure they had left Whale behind, she guided her towards an unoccupied corner and situated herself in between Regina and the rest of the room.

"And that," she exhaled, "Is why it is always better to do one of these things with a friend."

"I'm starting to understand that." Regina replied, trying to keep from shifting her gaze. She was really doubting why she had come in the first place. She hated Whale, she hated this people, Emma was…fine…but why stay? Why try to be a part of this thing that she clearly wasn't a part of?

"Hey, Regina," Emma offered, leaning in, "If you'd rather go hang out somewhere else, I'm totally up for it. I was not having a good time 'til you showed."

Regina scoffed. She wouldn't be coddled. "Please."

"Honestly!" Emma insisted.

"So far, we've had stilted conversation in a dark hallway and dodged precariously drunk idiots in trying to escape the smarmy host."

"See? Good times."

Emma's charming smirk could only make up for so much of that. Considering she had promised herself she'd make sure Regina had a good time at this party, she wasn't doing a particularly good job of it.

"I'm sorry about that hallway thing, by the way. It wasn't as weird as I'm sure it looked."

"What were you and Kathryn talking about?"

She hadn't expected such directness from Regina, but in a way she was thankful for it. Regina had been bothered by it, and now she had a chance to fix that.

"You." Emma had decided that straightforward honesty was typically (and ironically) the best bet with Regina. "She wanted to know if it was true that you came to the cook out. She seemed pretty glad you did."

"Oh." Regina seemed just as unprepared for Emma's frankness. By acknowledging it, it somehow made her suspicions diminish. If Emma wasn't ashamed about talking about her, why should she worry about it?

"Any chance you'll tell me what that's about?"

Regina considered the wide eyes and tilted head, the same look of concentration and interest from their lunches in the practice room. This was familiar. Comfortable.

"Maybe."

Emma took that maybe as progress. They were getting somewhere again—she would find out about it from Regina someday.

"Look," Emma explained, "I promised myself I'd make sure you had fun tonight, so whatever you want to do—stay here, go somewhere else—I'm in."

Regina looked around. She was still overwhelmed by it all. Plus, did she did not find most of it particularly appealing. But the source of the music was definitely in a nearby room, and spotting her peers moving along to the beat, she couldn't help but want to feel what it would be like just to dance like that. She was here, after all. Emma was here with her and apparently dedicated to her well-being, even if her hidden conversation with Kathryn was a little suspect. If she were ever going to have a good time at a party like this, it would be with Emma Swan.

She didn't need her. But she certainly helped.

"I suppose we could start with some dancing."

Emma beamed. "Excellent choice!"

She grabbed Regina's hand again, pulling her into the full room. No one was paying attention to them, in the dark, wrapped up in their own worlds. It was just Emma and her paused in a little space in the middle of the floor that Emma had found amongst the naturally drifting bodies. Emma let go of her hand to raise her own up, impressively fluid with the music for someone with such swagger.

Their physical contact had broken, but Emma's eyes were firmly on her, encouraging her.

"C'mon, Mills!" She urged with a swing of her hips. "Let's see what you've got!"

Regina listened more closely to what was playing over the insanely high quality speaker system, the bass rumbling the floorboards. She vaguely recognized it—it was new, she knew for sure. She often snuck her own music when she was supposed to be listening to practice tapes on her Walkman, but Top 40 wasn't her go to. She kind of liked this one though, and Emma clearly did too, already singing along with the almost funnily obvious lyrics.

It was just the two of them amidst their peers. No one was watching her but Emma.

In this safe little bubble, Regina finally felt the music move through her. Regina was by far the most respectable person in the room, but she felt positively illicit in the best way.

Forbidden music, forbidden dancing, forbidden friend.

Emma almost froze once Regina started moving.

This was no geek.

The girl was good.

It shouldn't have been surprising, considering the grace with which she carried herself and understanding of rhythm from years of music, but her rigidity had been transformed into almost sensuousness, though she clearly had no idea that that was what she was doing. She just looked like she was having a genuinely good time. And Emma began to be glad she had come to the party after all.

By the end of it, Regina had caught on to the words and they were both laughing as they sang along, bumping into each other playfully as Regina became more and more comfortable.

Emma was a little nervous as the song faded out. Whoever was DJ-ing had been all over the place all night, and it was clearly someone who wanted to be so much cooler than he actually was. If the song were bad, would Regina stay dancing? Would they wait it out? What would Regina even end up liking? But then the next song started, and Emma thought she heard a gasp.

Regina's face had lit up.

"I love this song," she admitted bashfully.

"You do?" Emma couldn't help it. She was amazed.

"What do you think?"

Regina turned around in demonstration and threw a mischievous smile over her shoulder at Emma, starting to shake her hips in time to the beat.

Emma thought her smile might fall off her face. Turned out Regina Mills was full of surprises.

Regina turned back around to face her more reserved, as if she realized she had gone too far. She shook her head as if to say, I know I shouldn't.

But Emma was having none of that. It just so happened she loved the song, too—even more now. They would damn well enjoy it.

She spun around, jiggling her legs back and forth to get her butt to move in time, leaning forward in an accentuated show that was starting to get the attention of the people around them, but she didn't care as long as Regina could see that it was a good thing to make a fool of yourself dancing every once in awhile. As soon as the lyrics hit, she spun back to Regina, dramatically chanting along while still shaking with everything she had.

"I like big butts and I cannot lie!"

Cheers from a few guys around them broke Regina from her frozen disbelief to laugh. And when Emma smiled in relief, happy that the spectators hadn't ruined her attempt, Regina made her decision, joining in at full energy. She would dance to the fullest, goddammit.

Because this baby got back.