The harsh light of morning woke Emma up—well, that and the throbbing headache. She looked around, blinking, and she realized that she had no idea where she was.

"What the hell happened last night?" She groaned to herself as she made sure that she was still dressed. She looked under the covers and realized much to her relief that she didn't just have her underwear on, but was also wearing flannel pajamas. Not her own, but still.

She rubbed her eyes and tried to remember how she'd ended up in a strange bed. But most of the night before was just a blur. She closed her eyes, but she could only come up with a faint memory of a kiss and of Regina.

Oh crap. Had she kissed Regina again?

No, that didn't seem right somehow. But something had happened in regards to Regina and a kiss. She was still trying to piece the night together when she heard the door open. She looked up and saw that Graham was entering with a plate of toast and coffee.

"I'm still here?" Emma asked, "Why?"

"Don't worry. Nothing bad happened," Graham assured her. "You kind of fell asleep on my lap. This was easier than taking you home. This," he gestured around him, "is my sister's old room."

"Are these her PJs too?" Emma asked, slightly embarrassed about passing out.

"Yeah." Graham sat down on the bed next to Emma with the food and the coffee. "You should probably eat something."

"Do I have to?" Emma asked. The smell alone made her want to throw up.

"Yes," Graham ordered. "It'll do you good. And I brought you coffee."

"You're an angel," Emma said, and grabbed the mug. The warmth of the coffee felt great, and she hoped it would help with her hangover.

"Oh, I also brought these," Graham said and handed her a couple of aspirins. "I figured you would need them."

"You really are sent from heaven, aren't you?"

"Probably," Graham agreed.

"So… what happened yesterday? Everything is kind of blurry," Emma admitted.

Graham smiled. "Let's start with what you remember."

"Um... I remember playing Never Have I Ever, and Ruby freaking out so I told her about the kiss…" Emma started when realization washed over her, "I made out with Fiona Moreno, didn't I?"

"You certainly did. And from what I could see, she was into it."

"Really?" Emma asked half embarrassed, half intrigued.

"Yes. And no, you didn't do anything else, or anything at all you should be embarrassed about. So you and Fiona had one hell of a make out party, but so what? You're both single. And trust me, there were definitely more embarrassing things going on."

"You sure? I mean, I'm beginning to think that maybe I'm not so good with parties. Last time I almost screwed up everything, and this time… Oh, god. Fiona must think I'm so easy."

"Hey," Graham said, and smiled before placing his hand on Emma's. "Last time you made a small mistake, but if you hadn't, we wouldn't be friends and you would never have gotten to know Regina. That kiss, however bad you felt about it, was a blessing in disguise. Who knows? Maybe this thing with Fiona could be something great too?"

"You think so?" Emma asked. "I mean, what about Katie?"

"You won't know until you try," Graham said. "And as far as Katie goes, she is seeing someone new. Maybe Fiona will always be in love with her, or maybe she won't. Only time will tell. Take a chance, Emma, and who knows?"

"Thank you." Emma leaned in and hugged Graham.

"For what?"

"This, and for taking care of me last night."

"Actually, it was Regina. It was her idea for you to stay here. She was the one who took care of you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. That girl really cares about you, Em. Maybe not the way you wanted, but she really cares for you."

Emma smiled at the thought. Yeah, maybe she wanted more from Regina, but she was more than happy with her friendship. The girl was fantastic, and fiercely loyal. Emma was lucky to have Regina on her side.

"Oh crap!" Emma then burst out. "Dad is going to kill me."

"No, he won't."

"How would you know? He is totally gonna kill me, then he's going to kill Mary Margaret, and then he's gonna kill me again."

"Do you really think Regina would make you stay here without having a plan? That woman was ready. When she drove your sister home last night she told your dad that you wanted to help me clean up and it would be easier if you just stayed here after helping me out."

"Is there anything that girl can't do?" Emma asked, astonished. Of course Regina had come up with a plan to keep her out of trouble.

"If there is, I haven't come across it yet."

It was Monday morning, and Emma was still a little hungover. Not like she had been on Saturday, but she still had a headache, and she'd been about as close to skipping as one person can be without actually deciding to skip. The only reason she was at school was so she could thank Regina for what she'd done for her.

So, she entered the school and headed for the media room where she knew she could find Regina. Somehow, it had become a little bit of a tradition for them to meet half an hour before school started on Monday so that Regina could look over Emma's algebra homework. And Emma treasured those moments, even if it meant she had to get up even earlier on Mondays, because it was her moment with Regina, their little thing.

And it was moments like these when Emma knew that what Graham had told her on Saturday morning was true, because now she couldn't imagine her life without Regina in it. For so long she had been crushing on her from afar. Lusting, you could even call it. Now she could call Regina one of her closest friends, just because she was stupid and kissed her.

Emma's life had been a series of bad luck until she had screwed up so badly that her file had ended up in Leo's pile of screwed up kids, and he had decided she was worth the risk and brought her home. Up until that moment Emma had never felt lucky, she had been dealt a terrible hand in life and then suddenly, almost out of nowhere, she had a family.

Suddenly, she'd had someone who believed in her and thought that for the first time everything would be okay. Her luck had changed; she'd gone from always screwing up to somehow always ending up where she needed to be. Maybe everything that had happened this year was just a part of a bigger plan. Maybe Regina was only meant to be her friend, and maybe Fiona was the one.

She reached the media room and opened the door to find Regina sitting on the couch writing something intently on her computer.

"Hi," Emma said, and joined Regina on the couch.

"Hi," Regina replied, and smiled at her. "I wasn't sure you were going to show up today."

"To be completely honest, I came this close to not coming in today," holding up two fingers almost pinched together. "But I really wanted to talk to you."

"You wanted to talk to me? Why?"

"I wanted to thank you for everything you did for me on Friday."

Regina blushed slightly and said, "I didn't do anything-"

"You looked out for me, Regina. You made sure I wouldn't get in trouble with Dad. You made sure I didn't do anything stupid, or that no one took advantage of me. You have no idea how grateful I am for that."

"Hey." Regina placed her hand on Emma's thigh. "That's what friends are for. I had your back. That's all."

"Friends, huh?" Emma said as a throwback to that first night in her bedroom.

"The best," Regina said, and smiled. And Emma's heart swelled a little, because she had never really had that many people she could count on. And then somehow Regina had fallen into her life, completely by accident and she couldn't help but be eternally grateful for that.

"So how are you feeling?" Regina asked.

"Like hell." Emma said and laughed.

"Well, I am pretty sure you drank a bottle of vodka all by yourself, so I can't say I am very surprised."

"I'm an idiot, which seems to be a pattern for me at parties."

"For what it's worth, I don't think you're an idiot. You act without thinking about all the possible outcomes. I actually envy that about you. I wish I could take more chances."

Regina smiled at her, and Emma got that feeling again. That feeling she had at Mary Margaret's party. That feeling that there is so much more to Regina Mills than what she lets people see. And Emma so desperately wanted to know that Regina she'd seen glimpses of, because as far as Emma was concerned, that Regina was the most beautiful girl in the world.

"Thank you. Again. For everything. I know you said that you were just being my friend, but still. I'm not quite used to people having my back." Emma leaned over and hugged Regina, something she rarely did because Regina wasn't a big fan of physical contact but Emma felt like the moment called for a hug.

There was a knock on the door, "Come in," Regina called as she broke from the hug, and Emma couldn't help but feel a little sad at the sudden lack of Regina's body against her.

"Fiona?" Regina asked, surprised, when she saw who had entered the room. "What are you doing here?"

"Actually, I was looking for Emma."

"For me? How did you know I was here?" Emma asked.

"I ran into your sister, and she told me you'd be here."

"I'm going to go to the student council room and pick up the announcements," Regina said quickly, and Emma knew she was lying because Regina always brought them with her on Mondays so she wouldn't have to rush back and forth.

"Moreno," Regina said as she passed Katie in the door.

"Mills," Fiona answered, but in a far nicer tone than the one Regina had used.

And just like that, Emma was alone with the girl she kissed at a party the weekend before on Monday morning. Again.

"So…" Emma started carefully. "Why did you want to see me?"

"I had a great time on Friday. Much better than I thought I would, to be honest. It was the first time in a while my mind hasn't been on Katie."

"I'm glad. It was fun," Emma said, a little more relaxed when she realized that she had not in fact made a fool out of herself after all.

"So, do you have a date to the Halloween party?" Fiona asked.

"Actually, no. My date cancelled on me." Emma was supposed to go with Ruby, but her best friend had called her on Saturday totally elated that Peter had asked her, and wondered if Emma would be devastated if she ditched her for a date.

"And she wouldn't be jealous if I were to ask you?" Fiona asked.

"Since it was Ruby, no, she definitely won't be," Emma said, and grinned. "Does that mean you're going to ask me?"

"Emma Blanchard, would you like to go the Halloween dance with me?"

"It's Swan-Blanchard," Emma corrected, "But yes. I would love to."

"Give me your phone," Fiona said and Emma handed her phone over so that Fiona could program her number in.

"There. Just send me a text so I get yours and I'll talk to you about Friday later." Fiona smiled. "I have to run. I have biology."

"Talk to you later," Emma said. Fiona kissed her and walked out the door, leaving Emma standing there with a big grin on her face. It took about five seconds before panic struck her. "Oh my god. I just agreed to a date with Fiona Moreno." It was one thing to make out with her at a party, but an actual date with Storybrooke High's most famous lesbian? That was something else entirely.

Thank god she'd had her costume planned for over a month, and she'd decided on a fairly attractive one. She wanted to impress Fiona. After all, she was gorgeous, and Katie was one of the prettiest girls Emma had ever seen. Oh god. What if Katie was there? Is that why Fiona asked her? So she could make Katie jealous? Because Katie had a new girlfriend?

"What did Moreno want?" Emma was startled by Regina's voice; she hadn't even noticed her coming back.

"Uh… She, uh... She asked me to be her date to the Halloween Dance," Emma eventually blurted out. She didn't even know why she was so nervous about it. It wasn't like she had any obligation to Regina, yet somehow in that moment she felt guilty for agreeing to go with Fiona. Which was ridiculous. She and Regina were friends, and Regina had made it very clear that that's all they will ever be.

"And I assume you said yes?" Regina asked in a formal, yet friendly tone which Emma had only ever heard her use at student council meetings.

"Yes. I was supposed to go with Ruby, but she bailed on me because Peter asked her. And Fiona is fun to be around."

"Just be careful, okay?" Regina said, in a much softer tone.

"What?" Emma asked.

"I said, be careful. I knew Fiona once, and I just don't want you to get hurt when she gets back together with Katie."

"You don't know that's going to happen..." Emma said defensively. "Maybe they are really over this time. Besides, it's only one date."

"You should go if you don't want to be late for class," Regina said just as Graham walked in.

"Sorry I'm late. I didn't interrupt anything, did I?" He looked between the two girls.

"No. Emma was just leaving," Regina said, and Emma felt a little hurt at the dismissal but put it aside. Regina was right; she would be late, and Regina and Graham needed to do the announcements.

"Yeah, I was. Talk you both later," She said to Graham and Regina, and exited the room.

"So what did Fiona Moreno want with you today?" Mary Margaret said, and sat down next to Emma at the kitchen table.

Emma closed her English book and looked at her sister. "She asked me to be her date to the Halloween Dance."

"Really?" Mary Margaret asked, surprised. "I mean, I saw that you got along well at Graham's party. Well, everyone saw that."

"Like you can talk," Emma teased back. "I didn't even see you after 'Never Have I Ever' because you and James disappeared somewhere I don't want to think about."

"Shush." Mary Margaret said, and playfully punched her sister's arm. "But Fiona?"

"Yeah, she said she had a good time at the party and wanted to see me again, I guess. I said yes, by the way."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Why shouldn't I?" Emma asked. "And if you're gonna say because of Katie, just don't. Regina already made it clear that she thinks they are destined to get back together, and Ruby bet $20 they'll be back together in three weeks. I don't need you to tell me as well."

"I'm just looking out for you. But, I was thinking more about Regina."

"Regina and I are just friends, MM. I can't spend the rest of my life waiting for something that'll never happen. She told me that much. She's straight, and yes, I am still slightly in love with her. But Fiona is gay. She is single, no matter what everyone else might say. And she is pretty. I see no problem with being her date."

"Did you know that Fiona and Regina used to be best friends?"

Emma looked at Mary Margaret, surprised. "What? No. From the little exchange I heard today, they seemed less than friendly towards each other."

"Nobody really knows what happened. They were inseparable for years, and then suddenly one day, nothing."

"It doesn't matter. Sometimes people just grow apart. I won't let it stop me, anyway."

"Fine. I just thought you should know. And I know that you can look out for yourself, but please be careful. There is a reason why everyone thinks Katie and Fiona will get back together. I just don't want you to get your hopes up."

"Let's say she is using me to get back at Katie, which I honestly don't think is true. It doesn't feel like she is. But if she is, I'll deal with it when it happens. Right now, I want to go on a date. I want to have fun. I want to have what you've had for years. A date with a person who I am actually attracted to. I want to be a 16 year old girl, okay?"

Mary Margaret squeezed her forearm and smiled. "Okay. I'll let you get back to your homework, Ems."

Emma groaned before opening up her English textbook again.