Let me just say, I know in ouat the curse took them somewhere in the 80's. I assure you, no one hates the 80's more than me. So, we are just gonna pretend there is no 80's music or clothes. Just let it happen… No 80's. It's magic, and that means the 80's didn't have to happen. Okay? Okay.

Chapter 16

Regina jumped awake with a gasp. She sat upright in her bed. Breathing heavily, she looked around at the strange room. As her eyes landed on different objects, memories and knowledge flooded into her. She looked at the vanity and the brush on top of it. She remembered brushing her hair yesterday in this very room. As her mind reeled, taking in all the new things, she reached up and felt her hair. It was short, how odd. But as she thought that it was odd she remembered having her hair cut down the street at the beauty shop not two weeks ago. She took a few deep steadying breaths, allowing the memories to settle in her mind.

She had just decided to get out of bed and dress herself in the nearby walk in closet when she heard the shower in her master bathroom start. She stared, wide eyed at the slightly open door. She could hear water running. Her mind filled with thoughts of the most absurd things like indoor plumbing and the makeup remover in the top drawer. What it did not supply however, was who exactly had just started that shower.

She recalled the peasant turned plumber now named Rick who had fixed a leaky pipe several years ago, but she couldn't piece together who was in the damn shower!

All at once, she didn't want to know. She bolted, quietly, for the closet after trying to dress with magic and failing. She took just a second to admire her collection of fine clothes before picking the perfect outfit for a Sunday morning stroll to the diner.

Just as she hastily finished her makeup and hair, the shower shut off. She heard the glass door open and her heart nearly jumped out of her throat. She ran as silently as possible out the bedroom door and managed to remember she had car keys and a coat in the closet by the door.

In the garage she panicked just a moment before her curse mind supplied her driving skills. She sighed in relief and hopped in her Mercedes. Quickly backing out of the now open garage door, she put it in drive and only swerved a little as she eased towards the diner.

Once parked in front of Grannys, she had to close her eyes and wait for all the thoughts to stop swirling in her mind. She remembered this place. It was owned and operated by Granny Lucas. She smiled slowly as she remembered that Granny allowed her grand daughter to waitress here. Ruby was her name now. She was lazy and disrespectful. She did her job, but was consistently late and always dressed in the most provocative clothing imaginable.

She frowned hard as she got out of her car. She could remember the teeny red shots Ruby wore, but not who was in her shower?! Shaking her head, she headed inside, the bells above the door announcing her arrival. She smirked at the looks of fear and trepidation that passed across the faces of the people she had cursed. Granny herself was doing some paperwork and ignored her entirely.

Ruby was staring at her from the other side of the counter. One of the little men Snow was so fond of sat at the counter looking like he had an amazing hang over. The other people she didn't recognize, more peasants probably. A few men had wide, strong shoulders though. Probably Snow's troops then.

She sat at the booth she remembered was always empty, just in case she stopped by. Ruby was at her table in seconds after she got comfortable. The waitress looked nervous as hell but smiled politely at her. "Good morning madam mayor. Would you like the usual?"

After a second for the memories to settle, Regina simply nodded, gesturing to her coffee cup. Ruby went a little pale, "oh, I forgot the pot, I am so sorry!" She raced off to get the pot and Regina just smiled brightly.

Once her coffee was full, Ruby dashed off to get her order in. Sipping her coffee, her mind tried to tell her the reason Ruby was so distraught around her, but it couldn't quite form. No matter, she deserved to scurry around. She was cursed to always be disappointing her Granny somehow. Never really accomplishing anything at all. Most of all, she was never going to be able to hurt Lorelei again…

Regina sat up then. When she thought of people, the memories of who they were now hit her. But she had thought of Lorelei, and nothing had come. She was thinking furiously, willing something to come to her, but it refused. Not even a twinkle of a thought. Ruby carefully sat her plate down and backed away, probably because of the scowl on Regina's face now. Regina had specifically at the last second demanded her curse to make sure the siren was always with her, but she wasn't here now.

She ate slowly, still trying to force her mind to tell her the answers. They wouldn't come though. She was struck with another thought though. What if the siren magic protected her from the curse? What if her curse couldn't bring her? She immediately thought of a few ways to put herself in mortal danger in an attempt to get her to appear, but then that would take magic. Magic she didn't have here. This was a land without magic.

The door bells chimed and Regina met the eyes of a mousy woman named Mary Margaret now. She stared at her until the now school teacher blushed and hurriedly sat on the first available stool at the bar. Ruby winced and bent low to talk to her, probably trying to comfort her nerves. Oh Regina loved this Snow White. She was terrified of the mayor. Regina's new memories told her that when Snow was young, she was the reason Daniel left town and never returned when she accused him of an attempted rape he didn't commit simply because she was jealous of how much time Regina spent with him instead of tutoring her.

Regina sighed, it wasn't the best back story, but it seemed enough to make Mary Margaret terrified of her. She refocused on her breakfast and ways to summon her siren as the door bell rang a few more times, announcing patrons coming and going. She quit paying attention and focused on reading the paper Ruby had fetched for her. As she read, her mind was becoming whole again with this worlds thoughts nestled in with her real memories.

She was startled out of her train of thought abruptly when someone slapped their hands loudly against her table. She jumped and prepared a whole novel of insults and threats for whoever was dumb enough to do that, but the words died in her mouth. She stared at Lorelei across from her, looking very irritated.

"The shit Gina?" She said loudly.

Nothing. Not one memory. Nothing came to her at all. She just settled for shrugging. "Ah, good morning… Lorelei?"

With a look of being offended, the woman sat back heavily and sighed heavily, "so now we're using my full name? I don't know what I did, because really I was likely asleep at the time, but fuck it. I'm sorry?"

"Will you be swearing this much all day?" Regina asked with a frown.

Not able to hold a hurt look, the woman smiled a little, "sorry. Actually sorry. I'm trying to clean it up. I'm better than I was when we were teens though. Remember? Your mom was always like, 'Rory! You swear like a sailor! One day your tongue is going to rot out of your head'" She used her most uppity snarky mom voice and it worked, Regina smiled at her.

"Slip of the tongue. I, uh… I had a dream where you made me mad… somehow." Regina was fumbling, but Rory seemed to allow it.

Ruby creeped up to the booth, staring only at her little pad of paper. Never looking at Rory. "The usual?"

Rory just said, "yep."

Regina was lost on what was going on here. She chanced sounding like a lunatic and whispered quietly to Rory, "what's going on with you and her?" She gestured discreetly towards Ruby.

Rory did look mildly confused but answered quietly, "did you have that dream where I leave you for Ruby again?" Rory must have taken Reginas perplexed expression for a yes as she continued. "Regina, you know I love you. I might have thought I loved her once, long ago, but we all know that what she did was unforgivable." She reached across the table and squeezed Reginas hands firmly, "but, like I told you, I'm glad she left me. If she hadn't betrayed me like that, I might not have realized how much more I loved you and how much better for me you are. You were there for me when she ran off to see the world." Regina tried to speak, really to ask a million questions but Rory cut her short, "and no, before you ask again, I do not regret staying here to help you mourn your mother instead of going off with her. She left us alone, and I stayed and I realized how much in love with you I am. I couldn't leave you then, and I never will."

Regina was staring at her when she caught a scent of lavender. It caused memories of her shampoo, in her shower. The exact scent she had delivered from New York once a month. No one else had it. Not exactly like it. She knew who had used her shower that morning. She squeezed Rory's hands and sighed heavily. Why wouldn't the memories come for the siren? Maybe that was her magic. This was going to be awkward, she had a feeling.

…

Regina spent the morning trying to figure out the relationship her and Rory obviously had. Were they married? How long had they been sleeping together? Were they sleeping together? Of course they were, why else would the woman be in her shower before she even woke up? She battled a constant rush of emotion every time she let her mind wander toward her… no, their bedroom. Finally, around noon, Rory announced she had to tend to something at a bar.

"It shouldn't take long, I'll be home by dinner. Just need to order the liquor for the month." She kissed Regina quickly and turned and raced away.

Regina touched her finger tips to her lips. She had never kissed Lorelei on the mouth before. It tingled a little. It also caused a heat to rise within her. She shivered, not from the cold and headed to her car to go home again. They hadn't wandered too far, apparently Sundays were just for meaningless strolling.

She got home and familiarized herself with everything. It was still another hour or two til Rory would be home. So, she got back in the car and drove to the graveyard. Rory said they fell in love when her mother died, so she went to where she knew the mausoleum would be. Once there she realized the date was from six years ago. So, they had been together for at least six years?

Groaning in frustration she went home again, to await the next awkward encounter.

….

They made small talk and Regina kept her probing as discreet as possible. She did not want to look like a lunatic with memory issues. That could hurt Rory. Thinking Regina didn't remember them together. It didn't get her too far really, just subtle details.

Rory owned the Rabbit Hole. Regina frowned at that, she hadn't wanted a bar in her happy ever after. But as Rory talked about upcoming parties and events, Regina smiled about it. The siren was in love with her bar, apparently. She loved serving patrons liquor and drinking herself more than a few. She loved the loud music and smoky air. She would tend the bar herself with another person to assist if she drank enough to wander off. There would be loud music and dancing. Lorelei loved dancing, and apparently, so did Rory.

Regina kept her chatting until it was nearing ten. Finally, Rory cracked a yawn and suggested they call it a night, after all, Regina was the mayor and was expected to be in her office very early. They started up and Regina had a moment of panic. She wasn't so sure she could just jump into bed with the woman. She wasn't sure if it was even expected. She stopped short of the stairs and decided to wing it, "oh, uh, I just remembered I need to file a few papers before the morning, I need them first thing. So, no time to do it tomorrow."

"Oh, ok. I'll wait for you then." She started to come back down.

Regina acted as casual as possible, "no, uh, I mean it'll just be a few minutes, 30, at most. Why don't you get in bed and I will be up shortly?"

Rory smiled at her and nodded before giving her a tender kiss, causing Regina's heart to beat erratically. Regina watched her go and bit her lip as she argued with herself. Half of her wanted to go up and help the woman into bed. The other half said no, that it was wrong and she only wanted her because of the curse. She finally sighed and headed to her study to file imaginary paperwork.

She waited 45 minutes before creeping up the stairs. She silently changed into her silk pajamas. They were very nice, but hopefully not sexy enough to suggest intent to the siren. She climbed into bed slowly, thinking Rory asleep already. Until she heard a giggle anyhow. She inhaled sharply, then sighed and got all the way in bed and covered up.

"Nice sneaking. You make more noise than a badger in a hen house." Rory mumbled as she wrapped her arms round Regina from behind her. She pressed them together tightly, Reginas back receiving a few quick kisses as she settled in to the big spoon.

Regina waited, but it seemed this was as intimate as it was going to get. She relaxed and then rolled her eyes at herself. She had bathed with this woman for the majority of her life and now she was nervous and blushing to lay with her.

She decided to just relax and focus on what she already knew had changed. It actually wasn't much. Rory had the same sense of humor and smile as Lorelei did. Of course, Rory smiled much more than the other woman had recently. In this world, silver tattoos would have been very odd, so the curse had turned them black. She still had them, from head to toe. So far, no one seemed to be bothered by it. She'd looked at her own tattoo, it was black also. The hair was still throwing her off though, black hair on the siren was unsettling. Her eyes looked better in silver as well, now they were a very light grey color.

When she thought of Lorelei's name on her chest she got the memory of sitting in a parlor as a woman tattooed her chest. She could remember getting it, and she could remember being very happy and emotional over it. She couldn't put Rory into the image though she felt the woman had been there according to curse memories.

She couldn't remember her until Rory told her of the past. When she had told of how her and Ruby had gone separate ways, she then could remember the hurt and betrayal and how Rory stayed with her during her mothers funeral. It was all very confusing. She finally gave up trying to piece it out and fell asleep, secure in Rory's arms.

….

The week passed in a sort of whirlwind, at least for Regina who was trying to wrap her mind around everything around her. She consistently ran into Mary Margaret who always trembled in fear and looked so very sorry all the time. It was delightful. She recalled how to be a mayor and was surprisingly enjoying it. Everyday, Rory brought her lunch, so that was good too.

The days went past, and by Friday evening, she was getting the hang of things here in her Storybrooke. She was leaving her office and her secretary stopped her just before she walked out to her car.

"Excuse me madam mayor, Rory asked me to deliver a message to you." The older woman was nice enough, but very professional, Regina liked her. She nodded her approval and the lady continued, "she said to tell you she was sorry for not coming to walk you over tonight, but everyone rushed in at five on the dot. She hopes you won't be mad and will still join her for at least a bit."

Regina searched her mind, but she had no idea where Rory wanted to meet her at, or why she would walk her there. Every other day of the week Regina drove home to find Rory waiting happily for her. She finally sighed and tried not to sound ridiculous. "I see. Well, would you like to walk with me then?"

The secretary actually huffed a laugh before composing herself again, "no, thank you madam mayor. I'm afraid I'm too old to be spending my Friday nights at the rabbit hole."

Regina smiled at her, she did like this one. She wondered who she had been before nodding and smiling in an amused manner and heading out to the bar. Apparently she was expected? She checked herself in the mirror, making a few touchups to her hair and makeup. She wasn't trying to look good for Rory, how ridiculous. When she felt pristine again, she considered going home to change, a pencil skirt blouse and blazer seemed too much for a smoky bar. In the end she decided to just go for a drink with Rory before she excused herself politely to go home.

She took a few deep breaths when she got to the door at the rabbit hole, readying herself for the stunned silence that would likely fall as she walked in. She finally opened the door and stepped into loud music, rolling smoke and the smell of beer and whiskey. She had to blink a minute to adjust to the dim lighting and atmosphere. There wasn't a silence. No one looked twice at her. Everyone continued laughing and talking loudly over the music pounding in the background. She looked around a moment, admiring the fearless dancers in the middle of the place, then she listened to what was playing.

Pressed against her face

I could feel her insecurity

Her mother'd been a drunk

And her father was obscurity

But nothin ever came

From a life that was a simple one

So pull yourself together girl

And have a little fun

Her memory came of dancing wildly to this very song, her partner unseen, but she knew it was Rory. She smiled at the half memory and made her way to the bar. At first, no stools were open. But then she caught Rory's eye and then the woman jumped over the bar and physically removed the man sipping a beer at the very end. Once he was on his way, Rory waved her over with a mad grin.

Well she took me by the hand

I could see she was a fiery one

Her legs ran all the way

Up to heaven and past avalon

Tell me somethin girl, what it is you have in store

She said come with me now

On the devil's dance floor

So, Regina grinned back like a fool and sat. Rory bounced back over the bar and started mixing different liquors into a glass. Regina frowned and tried to stop her, "Rory, I hope that's not for me!"

Rory laughed loudly, "right. Because you're gonna sit here and sip tea!" She finished making the drink while laughing at Regina's apparent joke. When she was done and had poured it over crushed ice she gently sat it in front of Regina, "there you go. One majesty's mix."

Regina winced at the very potent drink but decided to try it. After one sip she smiled happily at Rory who looked so very pleased with herself. "It's perfect."

Rory grinned again and leaned over the counter looking to get a kiss for her efforts. Regina blushed furiously but leaned over and gave her a quick touch of the lips. Rory leaned back and started drying glasses while eyeing her suspiciously. "If I measure my drinks by your kisses, I need to make them far stronger from here out." She winked at her and started serving some other people.

Still blushing, Regina turned in her stool to survey the room. She saw Mary Margaret dancing carelessly with Dr. Whale. He seemed more interested in her than the music. It was when she spotted Ruby sipping a drink and talking and laughing with a man Regina didn't know that she got a new memory. This place was something special, she knew that. She knew no one here paid any attention to status or pay rate.

Rory leaned over and whispered in her ear, causing a new blush for Regina. "Isn't it great?"

Regina turned back towards her and did not look down the womans shirt. She hadn't even noticed the low cut tank top Rory was wearing. Not at all. "What's great?"

Rory smiled at her and winked again, "if you weren't looking down my shirt you could pay more attention…" Regina snapped her eyes up and sipped her drink to recover. Rory just grinned. "I meant, it's great everyone remembers the rule here. The one rule we set, that no one was anyone here. Everyone here is shit. Therefore, no one is any better or worse than any other. If anyone feels better than another, they're a wanker who won't be getting drunk tonight."

Regina started laughing and couldn't help but shake her head at the woman, "yes, it does seem everyone remembers." She let her eye get drawn to where Ruby was now openly flirting with the man she had been talking to. Regina frowned and accidentally said out loud, "doesn't it bother you…?"

Rory followed Regina's eyes and just smiled before physically turning her in her stool to look at her again, "no. It doesn't bother me. We may all be shit here, but you my dear, are the shiniest piece of shit in the place and you're my shit. Therefore, I am the luckiest shit."

Regina had finished her drink at some point and Rory made her another, when she leaned in for a kiss after her first sip, Regina gave her a real kiss. "You are the shit."

Rory laughed whole heartedly and they spent the rest of the night drinking, smoking and laughing. Regina kind of wanted to dance, but not with anyone but Rory, who was very busy helping the other barkeep. She saw Mr. Gold walk in at some point and set down at a booth with two other men. They were all fairly drunk already and he seemed to try catching up. He seemed to be always staring at the other bartender, Lacy.

Regina didn't know her from before the curse, but she seemed a bit too much to be a peasant. She vaguely recalled Rumplestiltskin having a serving girl in his castle, maybe she was her? He didn't know who he really was, but maybe subconsciously he remembered her?

Regina shrugged and let it all go. She wasn't here for curses or dark ones anymore. She was here to drink and laugh with Rory.

…

It had to be 2 am by the time Rory chased the last patrons out. Regina was quite intoxicated and Rory wasn't far behind. She wondered how the hell they would get home, but Rory suddenly had her by the hand, leading her up the stairs in the back. At the top, Rory fumbled with keys while Regina was trying to stay standing.

Eventually they fell thru a doorway and Regina vaguely recognized the place they were in. It was the apartment above the bar. It was sparsely furnished, but had a bed which looked fabulous to her. She groaned as she laid down heavily on it, eyes already shut.

Rory was giggling at her. She removed the drunk womans shoes and pantyhose along with her skirt blazer and blouse. Regina then took off her own bra, leaving Rory to stare at her with a tilted head and glazed eyes.

Regina pulled her down on top of her, drunk and needing the contact. She kissed her in a very unfriend like way. She vaguely heard Rory whisper "good night Regina" and then the world went black.

….

The song referenced is 'Devils's dance floor' by Flogging Molly. I don't own it.