AN: So I wasn't planning on writing any more to this story but this just came to me, so here you go, part two!
The walk from Emma's apartment building to the campus dining hall isn't very long but it helps Regina clear her head a bit. Some details from the previous night are starting to come back to her. She remembers fighting with Robin and him stranding her at the party he had driven them to by storming out and leaving her there. She remembers the keg guy. She remembers someone calling her Louise, though she knows from Emma's recount of what happened that that was the blonde herself apparently. She remembers being in Emma's shower later in the evening and throwing up in the plant. But most everything else is fuzzy.
She's walking side by side with Emma but neither of them is saying anything. Regina's actually grateful for this though, she needs some time to collect her thoughts and she appreciates that Emma seems to understand that. When they finally reach the dining hall Emma holds the door open with a small smile. They both head over to the line for pancakes, but it seems that multiple people had the same idea as them because they have to wait for their pancakes for ten minutes.
While she's standing in line next to the blonde, the quiet continues and Regina is beginning to feel awkward. Where the silence felt natural before, now Regina wonders if it's been too long since someone's said something. She fiddles with her things and waits soundlessly while the tension builds up.
When they finally get their food and make their way over to a table Regina has to say something to break the silence. "I just want to thank you again. For everything."
Emma picks up her fork and stuffs some pancake in her mouth before she responds artlessly, "Regina, you really don't need to keep thanking me. I was happy to help and I don't want you to feel like you're indebted to me now. You don't owe me anything."
At that Regina scoffs. "You saved me from being…" her voice trails off and she shivers at the thought of what could have happened, "well you know. And then you took me back to your home and took care of me all night long. How can you possibly think I owe you nothing?"
Emma puts her fork down and sighs. She runs her fingers through her hair. "Because I didn't help you so that I could get something out of it. I helped you because I've been in a lot of shitty situations before myself and no one was there to help me and it was horrible and scary and lonely and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. So I helped you because I wanted to. I didn't want to ignore someone who needed help and I did nothing last night that I wasn't happy to do. So I appreciate your thanks but really, you're welcome and you don't need to keep thanking me."
Regina says nothing for a moment. She's struggling with the concept of someone doing something for her and expecting nothing in return. She decides that she'll let it rest for now but she's not going to let it go. No one does anything for free. She smiles at Emma and finally digs into her pancakes. She takes several big bites before the silence starts to get at her again.
"So, um," she starts clumsily, "what year are you?" Regina internally kicks herself for the awkward question.
Emma smiles graciously, though, as if she could read the brunette's mind, before replying, "I'm a senior. What about you?"
"I'm a senior too." Regina quickly responds, then picks at her pancakes some more. Normally she's a much better conversationalist, but something about Emma Swan is throwing her off. She feels off balance and a little fuzzy headed. Although she's sure part of that is from the whopping hangover she's still fighting.
Fortunately Emma takes the reigns from Regina and starts making conversation as well. "So my buddy August, the one I told you about who I was hanging out with last night, he's the one who introduced me to pancakes as hangover food. Are they helping you at all?"
"My stomach does feel a little better, surprisingly. My head is still pounding though." Regina winces slightly at the sound of her own voice as if emphasizing her point.
"Ah well the key to that is hydration. You need water, water, and more water. And maybe some coffee. I'll be right back." With that Emma jumps up and races off towards the cafeteria lines again.
"Emma, wait! You don't have to-" Regina stands up and calls after the blonde but it falls on deaf ears as the other girl continues on her way.
Several minutes later Emma returns with two water bottles and a cup of coffee. After she sets the drinks on the table she reaches into her pockets and pulls out a handful of sugar packets and creamers and dumps them on the table.
"I wasn't sure how you take your coffee," Emma shrugs.
"Am I allowed to thank you for all this?" Regina inquires.
Emma smirks, "Just once and then we'll chalk it up with all the other stuff you don't owe me anything for."
Regina huffs and rolls her eyes but she thanks Emma her allotted one time before she reaches for one of the water bottles and takes a big sip. She hadn't realized until now just how thirsty she was. After she finishes about half the bottle she goes for the coffee. She ignores the sugar and creamer, preferring it black. She brings the hot liquid to her lips and relishes the taste for a moment. When she finally looks back in Emma's direction she's greeted by an amused smile painted on the blonde's face. Regina shifts uncomfortably in her chair and tries to divert the attention off of her.
"So how long have you known August?" It's a random question and Emma seems caught off guard for a moment but she rapidly regains her composure to answer.
"My freshman year here, that's when we met and he sort of took me under his wing. We had some wild times, or rather I had some wild times and August saved my butt more than once. He's sort of become like a big brother to me, even though I'm only a couple months younger than him. We look out for each other, you know?" Emma smiles as she talks and when she finishes she shovels another huge bite of pancake into her mouth with a contented sigh.
Regina chuckles at the blonde who's cheeks are bulging with food before she answers, "That's nice, to have that. To have someone you can count on."
Emma gives Regina a measuring look and there seems to be something on her mind, but whatever it is she lets it go and says instead, "It's everything. I never had that growing up, now that I do I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Regina nods along sagely but she swallows the small lump that has formed in her throat. She still doesn't know what it's like to have that, to have someone she trusts with everything. She had thought maybe she found that with Robin, but it's clear that he's not interested in being that person for her. She sighs, almost inaudibly, then takes another bite of pancake.
Pretty soon her stack of pancakes is gone and so is most of the water and all of the coffee. Of course now Regina has to pee like anything so she asks Emma to watch her stuff for a moment before she makes a bee line for the bathroom. When she emerges a few minutes later the blonde is waiting outside the door. She hands Regina her things back to her and smiles.
When they walk out of the dining hall Emma shoves her hands in her pockets and stares at her feet for a moment. "So you live on campus?"
Regina turns to face Emma and says "Yeah, in Bradley Hall."
"That's not too far from here, I'll walk with you." Emma shrugs.
"You don't have to, I'm okay now." Regina feels bad accepting anything else from the blonde.
"Maybe I just like your company. Besides, I could use the exercise." To this Regina says nothing but smiles, so they make their way in companionable silence back to Regina's dorm.