Regina Mills

"Neal left me."

Those were the only three words the blonde muttered into the phone. There was an eerie silence on the other end of the line. I was waiting for her to continue to explain what the hell happened since I left her house earlier this evening, but I was greeted with more silence.

"I'll be right over," I demanded before I hung up the phone.

I glanced back down at the bright screen to see it was three in the morning. I was still in my yoga pants and Emma's fleece from the night before. I must have fallen asleep on the couch when I came home after our fight last night.

All the unwanted memories from last night came flooding back. The first real fight Emma and I have had since our friendship has begun. I was completely thrown off by her childish tantrum because I was honestly trying to be a good friend. I could have said some terrible things about Neal but instead I kept my mouth shut for her sake. None of that matters right now though. The anger is slowly dissipating knowing that he left her.

I ran to the bathroom to relieve myself and splash some water on my face to wake up before I grabbed my keys and ran out the door without another thought.

On my drive to Emma's, I stopped at a twenty-four-hour convenient store. I remembered Emma explaining to always bring ice cream when a friend is dumped. So, I went inside and bought a pint of rocky road and a bottle of white wine, hoping the gesture might lighten up her mood.

After Emma buzzed me to come up to her apartment, my mind began to wander. What the hell did that idiot do? How could he leave her? I knew she was far too good for the dirty man. I wondered if Emma finally called him out on his illegal activities. I wondered if she's going to blame me for this fight that occurred between the two of them?

I didn't even have to knock, Emma left the door open for me to walk right in. I closed the door behind me and locked it before making my way to Emma's room.

The blonde wasn't in her bed or on the floor. I then proceeded to check her bathroom and that's when I found a ball of long limbs curled into the fetal position with unruly blonde locks all around. Bastard! My chest tightened at the sight before me and I swear I felt my heart breaking for her. I couldn't even imagine the pain she was in right now; five years is a long time to be devoted to someone.

I cautiously knelt down beside her and ran my fingers through her tangled curls.

"Emma?"

She slowly turned her face causing my stomach to drop out from under me. Her traditionally paled skin was now red and blotchy from crying. Her once sparkling green eyes were bloodshot and swollen. Her cheeks were stained with track marks from her tears. Tears that he caused.

My blood boiled, but I knew now was not the time to explode on some rant that would inevitably end up with me just bashing her loser ex-boyfriend. So, I did my best to mask my emotions and pulled the bottle of wine out from under my arm and held it up, along with the pint of her favorite ice cream. A shy smile was forming upon my lips while I shrugged timidly. She wiped her nose with the back of her sleeve while she scrambled to sit upright. Emma started to laugh, and I thought this was it, she had lost her mind, she was having a mental break down.

"You remembered?"

"Rocky road?"

"No, I meant you remembered how I told you ice cream is for breakups?"

"Oh," my cheeks flushed at the acknowledgment, "yes of course. Ice cream and bitch about the douchebag," I stated so matter of fact, Emma ended up laughing even harder.

My friend threw her long arms around my neck and squeezed tight, taking me by surprise. Warm vanilla and cinnamon wafted through the air around me. I sighed enjoying the content sensation of being in her arms. A rapid thumping was beating against my chest, but I couldn't tell if it was my heart or hers.

"You're the cutest!" I blushed again but thankfully she was tucked into my neck and couldn't see my embarrassing red cheeks.

"I thought wine would go well with this situation as well."

"Definitely!"

Emma stood from the ground and rushed out of the bathroom, so I waited in her room for her to return. She came back with a bottle opener and two spoons. She yanked the wine from my hand and walked back into the bathroom. I was a little confused why she was heading back to the bathroom, but I followed the blonde anyways. I watched as Emma stepped inside of her tub and sat down crossing her legs. She set the bottle of wine down in front of her and popped the cork with practiced ease.

"Take a seat Mills," she invited me before she took a big sip straight from the bottle.

I hesitantly placed one leg inside of the tub and then the other. I didn't understand why she would suggest we sit in a bathtub when there's a perfectly good bed or couch even, that would be far more comfortable. Reluctantly, I sat down across from the blonde. Emma ripped the pint of ice cream from my clutches, clearly not able to wait another second. Her spoon greedily attacked the frozen treat like it might sprout legs and run off.

"So," I began carefully not wanting to upset her anymore, but I knew we had to discuss the events leading up to this.

"So, douchebag," she confirmed as she shoved a spoonful of Rocky Road into her mouth. I laughed at her boldness and leaned forward to steal a small bite as well.

"Tell me what happened."

XXXXXXXXX

About an hour later, Emma had told her story of Neal's departure and stopped crying once again. Now I believe she is drunk and overly tired because that's what I am.

"Am I allowed to be frank now?" I questioned as I stole another bite of ice cream.

"Frank? Can't you just say honest? Say the word honest Regina," my friend deadpanned as she fought her spoon against the frozen treat.

"I'm sorry that's just the way my mother taught me how to speak. Vocabulary was the key to success in her mind. She would constantly correct me with a new word that would sound more appealing to her snobby friends." Emma nodded along as she continued some struggle that I didn't quite understand with her Rocky Road. "Anyways, if I'm being honest, I know you could do so much better than...him."

"I know you think that, you've said it since the first moment I met you. I don't think you understand though. I grew up in the foster system, I was rejected by so many countless families. I was never good enough for any of them. I was never loved. Then Neal came around. God, Regina he was the first person to show me what true love meant. He never once judged me or tossed me aside or traded me in for someone new. So, I get that you think I can do better but the truth is, I can't."

My heart plummeted just listening to her horrific past. How could nobody ever want this beautiful person. I can only imagine how adorable she was with long blonde hair tied into pigtails. I guarantee she was just as sweet and lovable as a child as she is now. She's the most amazing person I know.

"You can, I promise you Emma. I also vow that I will never leave your side. I am not sure if you are aware, but I am also a lone wolf and I am not that lovable either..."

A thick tension was slowly building around us as her green eyes bore into mine. I needed some sort of distraction from her intense gaze. Sometimes I wonder where my head is at with this woman. I know there's small moments when she looks at me and I feel the whole world stop around me. Everything seems to fade away and all that's left is her.

Nope...this is too much.

I yank the bottle of wine from her clutches and swallow a lot more than what would be seen as lady like, ultimately leaving me with huge chipmunk cheeks.

"Trust me Regina, you're lovable." Emma snatched the bottle right back. "Alright enough of this heavy talk. Tell me, what was the first thing that popped in that mind of yours when you first met me at The Pub. Oh and please be frank."

"Oh, shut up," I gently push her shoulder and shake my head. "First thing I thought? I don't really remember," I lied remembering I was a little thrown off guard in that moment when I turned around.

"Liar! Tell me!"

"I don't recall, maybe I was wondering if we knew each other and I couldn't place you."

"Another lie! Alright, I'll tell you what I thought when I saw you in class. I said, too bad Ruby isn't here to gawk over her." Emma giggled to herself as a small hiccup escaped her lips. "Okay, now tell me!" I bit my tongue and watched as the blonde leaned a little closer. "Come on, please." I held my ground as her bottom lip poked out for dramatic effect. "Regina Mills!" I bit down on both my lips to keep a smile from spreading across my face. "Why are you being so difficult? Just tell me," she pleaded as her nose drunkenly bumped into mine.

"You have gorgeous green eyes," I blurted out feeling all myself control slip away into oblivion.

A sloppy, crooked grin danced across her lips causing my heart to flutter.

"See, now was that so hard?" I rolled my eyes in response and shoved her away from my personal space. Her proximity and that longing look in her eye was far too much for my drunken state right now. "Regina?"

"Emma?" I retorted as I snatched the ice cream from her death grip.

"I'm really sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have taken my anger and frustrations out on you and that's exactly what I did."