A/N: This chapter is in Regina's POV. Originally I planned on saving Regina's POV to the sequel because I wanted the readers to be as in the dark about Regina's feelings and motivations as Emma was, but I needed Regina's POV to make this chapter work the way I wanted, so look at this as a sort of teaser for the sequel.

Regina was nervous, and that was a feeling that she wasn't used to. Regina had been in charge of planning dances since she first got elected to student council when she was a sophomore. She was known for being organized and smart. Yet this time it felt different, and Regina couldn't place her finger on what it was.

As Regina looked around the gym, she couldn't help but notice how amazing it looked. The fake snow, the paper snowflakes, the blue lights, it looked exactly how she imagined it would look. The Snow Ball was a big deal, and she knew it was a big deal. She knew people in this town talked about their Snow Balls as if it was prom. And she knew tonight be special. It just had to be.

People were starting to arrive, and from their reactions Regina could tell that she was right about the place. As the couples started walking in, Regina couldn't help that familiar sting in her heart that showed up whenever she saw couples. It had gotten worse in the last couple of months, and if she was honest she knew why. But she wasn't there yet.

"Regina, this place looks amazing." Regina heard behind her and turned around to see David and Katheryn. They both looked amazing. David was wearing a suit with a light blue tie that matched Katheryn's dress. They looked like they had stepped out of a movie.

"I could say the same about you two. You look amazing." Regina said.

"So, no Graham tonight?" David asked. It had become almost tradition that Graham and Regina would attend these things together, even after they broke up. Regina was aware that Graham still had feelings for her, though for the way he had been talking about Mary Margaret, Regina was certain he was falling for someone else. And she was happy for him. Graham deserved the best, and Regina knew she couldn't give him what he needed.

"No." Regina paused, "He's taking Emma."

"Emma?" Katheryn asked

"Swan-Blanchard. Mary Margaret's sister." Regina clarified, and watched as recognition crossed their faces.

"The gay one?" David asked.

"David!" Katheryn chided him.

"They are friends, and Emma had been working on the committee with us and when her date fell through…" Regina felt a little angry that Fiona had ditched Emma right before the dance, only to get back together with Katie. Especially after Fiona had promised her that she would take care of Emma. "So Graham asked her to go with him. He didn't want her to miss out on all of her hard work."

"I see." Katheryn said, but Regina could tell that there was something else she wanted to say. But they weren't that sort of friends. They were friends because Graham was friends with David, and David and Kathryn had been a package deal since kindergarten.

"Excuse me, but I have to make sure that the band has everything the need." Regina said, and walked away from the other couple. She had no problems with either Katheryn or David, but she wasn't in the mood to deal with whatever it was Katheryn had a problem with at the moment. And it wasn't a complete lie; she needed to make sure that the band was set. But she already had done it twice and they should have everything that is needed.

Broken Promises and Hard Hearts was an indie pop band that had won the Battle of Bands, and their set list was perfect for this dance. A mix of originals and covers that covered several tempos, not to romantic and sappy but still romantic enough for plenty of slow dances. Regina was surprised that she hadn't heard of them before the Battle of Bands. Killian did make it his own personal mission to make sure that Regina knew pretty much all of the local bands in Storybrooke. They may not be the kind of friends they used to be, but Regina had to admit that all of the Golden Five still had a connection, and that included Fiona, no matter how much she tried to deny it.

Regina was busy with the band when she heard Emma and Graham behind her. She turned around and faced Emma and Graham. "This place looks amazing, Regina." Emma said. And Regina was almost taken aback with the blonde. She was wearing a gorgeous halter neck dress that fit her just perfectly and Regina had to focus as to not say something she knew she would regret.

"Thanks, Emma." Regina smiled, "but I really couldn't have done it without you." She paused, "All of you. I mean..."

And it was the truth; she had never had as much fun planning a dance as she had planning this dance. Having Ruby and Emma there had somehow made it fun, and exciting. Emma was great, and Ruby was possibly one of the most hilarious people that Regina had ever had the fortune of meeting.

Regina couldn't help but reflect on how her life had changed in the last four months since that birthday party. She hadn't even really planned on going, but Graham had convinced her that it would be good for her to get out and she couldn't disagree with that. Regina's life pretty much consisted of school, Rocinante and Graham. So, she had agreed to go.

That night had changed so much, and most of it scared the hell out of her. But she was so happy that Graham had convinced her to go. For the first time since 'the incident' with Fiona, she had a group of friends that she enjoyed and trusted. It had just been Graham and her for so long she had forgotten how it was to be with other people. And Ruby and Emma was the perfect kind of people, their relationship was very familiar to her own with Graham. They mixed well into the group, and sometimes Regina had a problem remembering a time when they weren't a part of the group. Regina had also enjoyed getting to know Mary Margaret better. They had been school friends for a while, sharing most of their AP classes together, but she had enjoyed being friends outside of the classroom. And if things worked out for Graham, she could only hope that she would end up seeing a lot more of the brunette.

As the night progressed Regina was getting more and more pleased with how everything had turned out. People seemed to be having a great time; the band was better than she remembered, and maybe most importantly she was actually having a good time. It had been a long time since she could relax like this. She had danced a song with Graham, and for the first time since they had broken up it didn't feel awkward. They had finally reached a point where they were just friends, and Regina was happy about that. She loved Graham; she just hadn't been in love with him. She had wanted to, desperately. He was perfect in every single way; she just never managed to fall in love with him.

After a couple of group dances with Emma, Graham, Peter and Ruby, it was time to go count the votes for the royalty.

"Hey, you need any help with that?" Peter asked, "I know Graham is nominated, and therefore not allowed to help count the votes."

"As if I would ever cheat," Graham said, fake hurt, "I am hurt by the lack of trust this administration have in my leadership skills.

"You are such a drama queen." Emma interjected.

"Am not."

"Sorry, Graham, but Emma is right." Regina said, and almost laughed at the absolute look of shock on Graham's face when she took Emma's side.

"You are supposed to be my best friend, and then you hurt me in this way?"

"You just proved her point, buddy." Peter said, and grinned before high fiving Emma. "But seriously Regina, do you want some help? I've been on dance committees before."

"You're an angel, Peter. Thank you." Regina said.

Peter kissed Ruby gently, and then Regina and Peter went over and collected the ballot boxes. "We'll go into the girl's locker room to count it. The doors have been locked, so hopefully it's empty."

"Hopefully?" Peter asked

"Let's just say that at last year's Junior Prom, Graham and I got a surprise I wish we hadn't." Regina said remembering walking in two teachers who were supposed to be chaperoning doing a little bit more than talking.

"I have a feeling I don't want to know."

"Just know that I cannot look at Mr. Bergstein the same way ever again."

"Gross."

Peter and Regina walked to the girl's locker room, and thankfully found the room both locked and empty when they got there. It took them almost twenty minutes to count and double check all the votes.

"Damn. I really didn't want James to win." Peter said, "I mean the guy is an asshole. I really don't understand what Mary Margaret sees in him, or how he and David can be so different. I mean David has his faults, but compared to his brother the guy is a bloody saint."

"Well, at least Mary Margaret won." Regina said relieved.

Both Fiona and Katie had been nominated, which had surprised Regina. Fiona had pretty much been guaranteed a nomination but Katie had been a wildcard. She figured that the period in which the girls had been broken up had been beneficial for Katie and people had finally started seeing her as her own person, not just as Fiona Moreno's girlfriend. Regina was surprisingly fond of Katie. She liked her, and she thought that maybe she was good with Fiona. But then again, thinking about Katie and Fiona led to bad memories she would rather forget. There so much of her past she wishes she could forget, and do over.

"At least this school has taste in queens." Peter said jokingly, "Though I have to admit I was surprised you weren't nominated. You are certainly much more queen material than Cruella."

"Don't be mean to Ella, her parents named her Cruella. She has it bad enough." Regina said, before pausing, "And I was nominated. I took my name of the list."

"Really? Why?" Peter asked, "I thought every girl's dream was to be named Snow Queen."

"I don't like the spotlight," Regina said honestly, "I like this behind the scenes stuff. I like the paperwork and the feeling that I do something worthwhile. This whole thing about Queens and Kings are way too much trouble for me."

"You're a strange girl, Regina Mills."

"Emma has said that about me." Regina said, and smiled at the thought of the blonde. "But then again, I guess she would know."

"Your friendship is rather complicated isn't it?" Peter said, before pausing. "I'm sorry. It's really none of my business. It's just she is Ruby's best friend, and Ruby talks."

"She is different," Regina said, "It's refreshing in this town."

As the drama unfolded in front of her, Regina got a brilliant idea. She would make Graham king. James had beat Graham with a measly 10 votes, and Peter was the only who knew the real outcome and she was pretty sure that he wouldn't blab on her. To be honest, James didn't deserve that crown. It was supposed to a sign of respect to be Snow King, and James Spencer did not deserve that honor. And the truth is Regina Mills was not above a little bit of match making and manipulation. She knew this was Graham's chance of shine and he deserved that. Graham deserved everything, and she still felt guilty about not being able to give him that. So maybe this is it. Her chance to make some of it right, give him the moment to the knight in shining armor.

She looked over at Emma and was surprised on how calm the blonde was, she had expected her to run after James and give him a piece of her mind. But Ruby had calmed her down, and she had agreed to let Graham and Mary Margaret handle it. She had always been impressed by Ruby and Emma's friendship, how they fit. It had reminded her of how she and Fiona had been in the beginning before everything happened. Before she ruined everything, before Cora made her ruin everything.

Regina pushed that thought away. She didn't want to deal with it. She had been suppressing it for years, and then Emma Swan-Blanchard had come into her life and suddenly everything had started rising back. All those thoughts and ideas, and Regina had been more confused than she had for a very long time. Emma was different than all the other girls she knew, and it was refreshing and scary. Emma saw a part of her that she worked very hard to keep hidden. She had from the very beginning. Since that night in Emma's bedroom that had started all of this. Emma had looked at her, and Regina had felt safe for the first time in a very long time. And that is what confused her. Emma Swan-Blanchard confused her.

"So, are we ever going to find out who our King and Queen is?" Ruby asked and pulled Regina out of her thoughts.

"I guess it's about time." Regina said, gestured that Peter should join her, and walked up on stage. She took the microphone, and made a big deal about opening the envelopes she and Peter had prepared despite knowing that she had no intentions of declaring that James was voted Snow Queen. But there was nothing Regina knew better than how to fake it.

"Our Winter Queen is Mary Margaret Blanchard," Regina said with a smile. She was genuinely happy that Mary Margaret had won Snow Queen, especially after the night the girl was having. She deserved a good memory from tonight, and not just the memory of finding out that James had been cheated on her with Jack.

And as Peter put the tiara on Mary Margaret's head, Regina dramatically opened the other envelope. "And our winter king is Graham Humbert!" Regina announced and smiled when she saw the absolute shock on her best friend's face, and she knew that she had made the right choice. James was gone, it didn't matter that he was the one who got the most votes. This was Graham's moment and she couldn't be happier.

"So it's time for our royal couple to have their coronation dance. So if you would take the dance floor." Regina said, before putting the microphone back into the microphone stand. She took one final look at the dancing couple before walking back to the table where Peter, Ruby and Emma were still sitting. "They make quite the couple don't they?"

"This was your doing wasn't it?" Emma asked.

"Your sister was the winner by a long shot," Regina said, before adding, "But maybe someone else was supposed to be King. Someone who is thankfully no longer here, and therefore I figured why not give it to someone who really deserved it."

"You're such a romantic at heart, aren't you?" Emma said teasingly.

"Oh, Emma Swan-Blanchard, you have no idea." Regina said with a smirk. Regina couldn't help but notice that everyone's else's eyes were on Graham and Mary Margaret, Emma's eyes remained on Regina as the song came to an end. She was having all of these emotions. Peter and Ruby had left to dance, and the table was suddenly only the two of them left at the table. Emma was looking at her life she was the only thing in this world that mattered, and that scared the hell out of Regina. She had hoped that as Emma had gotten to know her, and see that she wasn't this perfect little thing that everyone expected her, Emma's crush on her would subside, and when she started dating Fiona she was sure that she had moved on from her. But now they were here, and Emma was looking at her like that, and she wasn't sure she could handle it.

"Do you think they'll be coming back?" Regina asked in an attempt to change the atmosphere.

"No." Emma gestured to Mary Margaret and Graham who had moved to the corner of the gym and was talking quietly. "In a few minutes, I am going to get a text that says something about Graham talking her home and we will talk when I get home."

"How are going to get home if your date runs off with your sister?" Regina asked, wondering if she should offer to drive her back, knowing it could lead to something dangerous with the mood she was in. If she was smart, she would walk away from the table right now and avoid Emma for the rest of the night. But there was something stopped her from doing that.

"I'll figure it out," Emma said, "I'll beg Ruby to drive me home. I am still annoyed that she has her license and I don't."

"Why don't you? You are sixteen, right?" Regina asked

"Yeah, I turned 16 in June." Emma said, "I just failed Driver's Ed, and Dad refuses to let me retake the test or help me until I'm seventeen. So until then I pretty much rely on MM and Ruby to drive me around. Not like you need a car in Storybrooke. You can pretty much walk everywhere as long as you have good shoes and some time."

"We didn't exactly live in a metropolis, that's for sure." Regina joked, "Though we do have two Starbucks and a Taco Bell."

"That we do." Emma said, before reaching for her phone. "Told you."

Emma showed her a text message from Mary Margaret that said Graham is taking me home. We'll talk at home. Sorry for stealing your date. Love you. "So I guess I got ditched."

"You okay?" Regina asked worriedly. She knew that Emma had taken the break up hard, and it was why she had given Emma slack the last few days in regards to the preparations. She had been so mad when she found out that Fiona had broken up with Emma, that she had almost driven to Fiona's house to give her a piece of her mind. The only reason she hadn't done so is because Emma Swan-Blanchard is not the kind of girl that appreciates someone else fighting her battles, and after all, despite all of her history with Fiona, it really was none of her business what was going on between Fiona and Emma.

"Actually yes. I thought it was going to hurt more, or at the very least longer. But the truth is, I am fine. I think I was more upset that she dumped me before this dance. I liked Fiona, I really did. She was fun, and she was a great kisser, but we didn't really have that much in common other than both being gay. Maybe I could have fallen in love with her had we had more time, but now I am fine."

Emma glanced over to where Fiona and Katie were dancing, "They should be together. They fight and they break up and then they get back together. They are like our very own Chuck and Blair, only with more lesbians and less parental issues."

"I have no idea what that even means." Regina had to admit.

"You're lucky." Emma said, "No but seriously. It's a TV show. It doesn't matter. The point it, it's inevitable. They will always find their way back to each other."

"Maybe so. It sucks that you got hurt in the process though."

"Fiona was a great first girlfriend though," Emma recalled, "She didn't push, she was nice. Most people don't have epic loves with their firsts. That only happens on TV. In real life, people spend most of their lives looking for the one."

"You're right." Regina said, "And some people never find them." She said as she thought about her parents. Her dad hadn't been home in nearly 9 months. Regina hadn't seen her dad since her birthday. She knew her parents weren't in love. She wasn't sure her parents had ever been in love. She couldn't remember seeing them be like other people parents were, and as she grew up it became clearer and clearer to Regina that her mother had chosen to marry her father for his fortune and his company.

"That's a depressing thought." Emma added, "I mean we're just kids. We have our whole lives ahead of us. You're a little young to give up, aren't you?"

Regina could tell that Emma meant that as a joke, but it hit her hard. She was eighteen years old and a part of her had already given up on the idea of falling in love, of giving herself fully to someone, and to be happy. Regina Mills knew she was destined for success, with Cora Mills as a mother there was little other choice than that, but when Regina looked into her future. She saw herself with a law degree, a faceless husband, and three kids. She never once pictured herself happy. When Regina pictured her future, the only thing she saw was what was expected of her. What she knew her mother needed her to be. Thankfully she was saved by Ruby before she had to voice any of this to Emma.

"Come on, Em. Let's dance. Tonight is almost over and you can't sit her all night just because your sister ran off with your date."

"You are going to tease me about that for years, aren't you?"

"Probably." Ruby said, and grinned. "You too, Regina."

"No, I'm out. My feet are killing me." Regina lied, and pointed to her four inch heels. Truth be told, Regina could walk in six inch heels without issues for hours, but right now they gave her a plausible excuse. She just wanted to be alone with her thoughts for a moment, away from Emma. Emma had a tendency to cloud her judgement and her emotions and she couldn't afford that. She only had a couple of months left in this town, and she couldn't let anything sacrifice the future she was building. No matter how bleak that appeared to her at the moment.

"You sure?" Emma asked, and Regina could tell that Emma was worried about her. Emma always seemed to be worried about her, and if it had been anyone other than Emma, it would have bothered Regina, but Emma was different because Emma knew how it felt to have no one to care for you. Regina didn't know much about Emma's past, but she knew enough to realize that she and Emma had more in common than either of them would have assumed at first glance.

"Yes, I am sure. This is your first Snow Dance. You should enjoy it to the fullest; you deserve this night, Emma. You truly do."

"Thank you" Emma said in barely a whisper, before letting Ruby drag her out on the dance floor. Regina took her phone, and checked the band's set list and noted that they only had three more songs to play before the dance was over. She removed her heels and automatically opened her mail app to make sure she hadn't missed anything important. She was to busy scrolling to her phone to realize that Fiona had sneaked up on her.

"You should be out there with them, you know?"

"Moreno?" Regina said surprised, they hadn't said a single word to each other since the Halloween Dance when they almost came to blows over Emma. Fiona had a way with Regina that just pushed all of her buttons, and Fiona knew it. For most of her life Fiona Moreno was the person in Regina's life that knew her best, and that still scared her. The parts of her that Fiona saw, that Regina knew Fiona still saw, were the parts of her that Regina fought so hard to keep hidden from the word. The broken parts, the imperfect parts, the parts her mother detested.

"Can you just please call me Fiona again?" Fiona sounded almost defeated, "I mean come, Regina. It's been years. I've forgiven you. Can't you just forgive yourself, already?"

"What are you talking about?" Regina asked. She was pretty certain she knew what incident Fiona was talking about.

"Come on, Regina. You have hated yourself for it since it happened. I let it go, because I figured it was none of my business since you clearly weren't interested in my help or my friendship anymore. But you need to let it go. You deserve it."

"Deserve what?" Regina asked, she had been pretty sure what they had been talking about a second ago but now she was completely lost again.

"To be happy, Regina." Fiona said, and finally sat down next to Regina. "You look miserable Regina. You have ever since.."

"Don't say it." Regina interrupted, "I don't want to talk about it."

"I know. You never have. That's part of the problem. You need let go." Fiona said, and Regina felt that feeling coming up again. That old familiar feeling that told her that she could trust Fiona, that Fiona was her best friend. Fiona had seen her at her worst, and still cared. But it was different now, everything was different. And Regina knew they could never go back, she wasn't even sure she wanted to. She had changed that night, for better or for worse, but she knew she could never take back what she did or what she said.

"I'm not sure how to." Regina finally admitted. She was terrified of everything; she was terrified of where this conversation would lead. She was terrified about the emotions it was bring back, of the part of her that had threated to come back the last few months. She had fought so hard to keep that part of herself hidden from view, to the degree that she had almost forgotten that it was there. She could barely remember that bright eyed girl that believed that the world was wonderful. She was so different from herself, that Regina had started to think she hadn't ever been real.

"You start by asking her to dance." Fiona says, as it was the most obvious answer in the world. "The last song is coming up."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Emma." Fiona states, and Regina's heartbeat quickens. "We both know you wanted. You've wanted to for months."

"I can't." Regina said honestly. She couldn't.

"I know that you're scared, Regina. But if you don't ask her to dance now, you will regret it for the rest of your life because Emma Swan-Blanchard is an amazing girl and soon some other girl is going to realize it and she will sweep Emma off her feet and then you're window has closed."

"I'm not… I mean I can't..." Regina said, the words failing her. She knew that Fiona was right. She has known it all night. To be honest, she's known it for months. She knew it when she felt like someone ripped her heart out when she saw Fiona and Emma kissing at the party, she knew it when she saw Emma dressed as Buffy at the Halloween Party. She knew it when she had stayed up all night talking to Emma after Fiona broke up with her. But she had denied it with every single cell of her being because she could accept what it meant.

"Look, no one is asking you to put on a label and walk in a parade, Regina. But you should stop denying yourself the happiness you deserve." Fiona said, and there was no anger or distain in her voice. Only concern.

"How did you know?" Regina asked, despite being pretty sure of the answer.

"I've always known, Gina." The nickname took Emma by surprise. When they were kids, Fiona's little brother couldn't say Regina's name and instead called her Gina. Fiona had taken to calling her Gina to annoy Regina. But Regina could tell that this time, the nickname was used as a reminder to Regina of the girl she used to be. The girl she could be again.

"I hate it when you call me that."

"I know." Fiona said, and stood up getting ready to walk away presumably to have one last dance with her girlfriend.

"Thank you." Regina said as Fiona walked away.

"Go get the girl, Mills." Fiona said, and winked. Regina was still scared, terrified even as she looked over at Ruby and Emma. She saw Emma smile, and her heart melted. She so desperately wanted to be able to make Emma happy. She wasn't sure if she could do it. She wasn't sure if she could do any of it. But she knew she had to try.

She put her heels back on and walked over to Emma has the band started to play the opening of the final song. She could see Peter pulling Ruby into his arms, and Emma standing there with a long look on her face.

"Dance with me?" Regina asked, the words coming out barely louder than a whisper. It took all the courage she had to do to this.

"What?"

"I said, dance with me." Regina repeated, a little louder this time.

"Are you sure?" Emma asked, and Regina could tell that Emma was skeptical.

"Please…" Regina said, and Emma took her hand as Regina led her out on the dance floor.

I finally asked you to dance

On the last slow song

Beneath that moon that was really a disco ball

I can still feel my head on your shoulder

And hoping that song would never be over

As Emma and Regina was swaying to the music, Emma looked her in the eyes. "What is going on, Regina? This feels like more than just a couple of friends dancing to a slow love song."

Regina braced herself; she needed to tell Emma this. She needed Emma to know. "Look, you remember that Monday after Graham's party and how I told you that I couldn't be what you wanted?"

"Like it was yesterday" Emma answered honestly, "What about it?"

"I think I might have been wrong." Regina admitted, "I never wanted this too, I mean I wasn't sure that I…"

"What are you talking about?" Emma asked confused, and Regina realized she wasn't making much sense. She wasn't sure how to convey what she was feeling to Emma. All of the emotions she had spent the last two years fighting were coming crashing down on her. The last couple of months the wall she had built up at started to crumble in Emma's presence and small pieces of light had started to invade the darkness, and now she dancing with Emma, and she just couldn't fight it anymore. She was so sick of pretending.

"I'm tired of fighting." Regina said, the words finding their way, "I can't pretend anymore."

"Pretend what?"

"That I don't feel like this." Regina said, and tried to force a smile. "That this isn't everything I want."

"Regina…" Emma looked into Regina's eyes as Regina closed the space between them and kissed her. Properly this time. She wasn't fighting it, she was embracing it. This was who she was, and she was sick of pretending otherwise.

"Please tell me you still want this." Regina said as soon as they broke apart, "I can't promise it will be easy. This is hard for me. But I want to try. I so desperately want to try."

"I've never wanted anything more." Emma said honestly, "And if you need to take it slow, we'll take it slow."

Regina felt a single tear fall down her cheek, and Emma wiped it away before kissing her again. Regina knew this was going to be a hard road. She still had so many things to deal with. But as the final chords of the song played, and Regina looked into Emma's eye, she could truly believe for the first time in a very long time, Regina Mills felt like she was finally where she belonged.

For me you'll always be eighteen

And beautiful

And dancin' away with my heart

END OF PART 1

A/N2: So this is the end of part 1. I always planned on ending this first part after their first proper kiss, so please don't be too mad at me. The sequel will be posted on SEPTEMBER 1th, and IT WILL BE UPDATED EVERY TWO WEEKS (AKA TWICE A MONTH), so no more three month waits between chapters. Part 2 will bring: our girls actually dating, emma&leo scenes, CORA, more regina backstory, college acceptances, prom, graduation and an eventual M rating.

Also the song used in this chapter was "Dancing Away with my Heart" by Lady Antebellum