A/N: Thank you for the reviews! Memories are in Italic
Emma forced herself to stay awake as she drove on. The faster she put distance between her, Neal and San Francisco the better.
A part of her felt bad for just leaving Neal to fend for himself but then again he's the one that got himself into the mess he was now in. She hoped he was smart enough to leave town like she did but she highly doubted it.
As she drove into the night she thought of their first meeting.
"Hey pretty thing, what can I get you?"
"Do lines like that really work?" Emma asked as she sat down on the only available stool at the bar.
"Calm your tits lady, I'm just trying to find out what kind of drink you want." The bartender asked.
"Bourbon." Emma told him and he pour her drink for her.
"So what's got your panties in a twist tonight?" He asked her.
Emma gave him a look, "You talk to everyone like that?"
"Nope." He said with a smile, "Just the pretty ones."
Emma rolled her eyes.
By the end of the night Emma was a little more than buzzed as she stood outside the bar trying to locate her car.
"It's probably a good thing you can't find your car."
She turned around and there stood the bartender.
"I thought I called a cab but I think I ordered a medium pepperoni pizza instead." Emma told him and he chuckled.
"I'd offer you a ride but you really shouldn't take rides from strangers." He said to her as he pulled out his cellphone and called her a cab.
"Cab should be here soon." He told her as he put his phone back in his pocket.
"Thanks." Emma said with a smile.
"My name's Neal by the way." He said.
"Emma." She said, "But to be honest, I probably won't remember your name tomorrow when I wake up with my hangover."
Emma had gone back to the bar the next night to get her car and to thank Neal for being a gentleman and the night led to them having a late dinner and talking.
They'd gone to dinner or drinks a few more times after that and Emma talked to him about why she was in San Francisco, how she would be teaching music and that she was looking for a place to live because her temporary housing provided by the school was coming to an end.
He told her that if she had the guts she could perform at the bar any time she wanted and he had a spare room in his apartment. Emma took him up on both offers.
After living together for a while she started to question some of his after work activities and he was always secretive about it.
Finally one night after he got extremely drunk he confessed to her that his boss used the bar as a front to launder money and that he was now skimming money of the dealings.
They'd only been living together for 6 months and Emma shook her head as she thought back on how quickly things changed for her.
She made a stop at a small diner to get something to eat. She sat at the counter and slowly ate her hamburger and fries, enjoying every bite.
After she finished her meal she went into the bathroom and tried to freshen up a little. She looked at herself in the mirror and shook her head. She had bags under her tired eyes and was a little more pale than usual.
She pulled her hair back, putting it into a low pony tail before washing her face. She dried her face and hands before returning to the counter and asking the waitress for a black cup of coffee to go. She paid her bill then headed back to her car.
She got back on the road and continued on her journey. As she sipped her coffee she thought of Regina.
"One thing I don't like about Storybrooke is the lack of a good steakhouse." Regina said to Emma as she drove in a car she borrowed from Mulan across the city line.
"You do eat meat right?" Regina asked, "Please tell me you do and you're not some veggie vegan mung bean eating person?"
Emma laughed, "Yes I eat meat."
"Oh thank God." Regina said smiling.
They parked and got out of the car.
By the Horns Steakhouse was packed so the hostess took them to the bar to wait for a table.
"It's normally not this busy." Regina said as she sipped her white wine.
"It's okay." Emma said as she casually sipped her beer and looked around.
After a half hour wait their hostess finally seated them, gave them menus then took their drink order before leaving their table.
"Holy shit, who the hell can eat a 40 ounce steak?!" Emma asked Regina after seeing the item on the menu.
Regina thumbed over her shoulder and Emma looked passed her to see a wall with 8 Polaroid pictures plastered to it. One picture featured a smiling Regina, steak sauce on her face as she held up a t-shirt that read, "I Ate The Bull, Horns and all."
Emma looked back at Regina, "You've got to be kidding me."
Regina smiled, "That was two years ago and I still have the shirt."
"So, tell me Emma Swan what's your story?" Regina asked after they ordered their meal.
Emma gave a small shrug, "I don't really know."
"There's gotta be something behind that smile and sad eyes." Regina said to her then took a sip of her wine.
"I'll give you the short version." Emma told her, "I was born in Boston and I'm an only child. I had two loving parents."
She took a sip of her beer then continued, "After I finished high school I travelled through parts of Canada and the East Coast for about a year before going to college and getting a degree in something my mother didn't really approve of."
"After that I moved around a little taking a couple jobs here and there." Emma told her then smiled, "Like I said, not much to tell."
"What did you get a degree in?" Regina asked.
"Music." Emma told her, "Mostly the classical stuff."
"You study it?" Regina asked.
"Study it, play it, teach it." Emma told her, "You know a little bit of everything."
"Could you teach me?" Regina asked her.
"Depends on what you want to play." Emma told her, "Not too good with the brass instruments but my finger dexterity is pretty good for other things."
Regina grinned.
"That came out a little pervy didn't it?" Emma asked a slight blush on her cheeks.
"I'd love to see those fingers in action." Regina said with a wink.
After their dinner Regina suggested a walk to work off their heavy meal.
"You know I casually noticed you're not wearing a wedding ring." Regina said as they walked.
"Casually noticed huh?" Emma asked with a grin.
"What can I say?" Regina said, "I'm observant."
"And I'm not married." Emma told her.
"Boyfriend?" Regina asked then raised her eyebrows, "Girlfriend?"
Emma laughed, "Neither."
"Whew good thing." Regina said, "I would have felt a little bad flirting with someone else's girlfriend."
"No, you wouldn't have." Emma said.
Regina smiled, "No, I wouldn't have."
Emma stopped at a small fleabag of a motel, paid cash up front and got a room. It wasn't much but it offered her a place to shower and a bed to sleep in for more than a few hours.
She took a long hot shower before drying off and changing into some fresh clothes. She went to the vending machine, got her dinner then headed back to her room. She sat on the bed, ate then fell asleep with the TV on.
"You know you're in here just about as much as my father now." Regina said to Emma as she handed her a slice of coconut cream pie.
"Maybe I just really like …" Emma said smiling, "the pie."
Emma sat down at her usual table and slowly ate her pie as she watched Regina.
Tina came out of the kitchen and handed Regina two freshly baked pies without a word then went back into the kitchen.
The lunch crowd came and went and the place finally slowed down so Regina took a seat across from Emma at her table.
"Your helper doesn't really say much huh?" Emma asked her.
"Tina's quiet but if you piss her off you better watch out." Regina told her, "She's like dynamite in a small package."
She turned to watch as Tina brought out a tray of sugar cookies and slid it into the display case.
"She's a good and loyal friend too. She's one of my best." Regina said then turned her attention back to Emma.
"So, are there any other desserts you like besides coconut cream pie?" She asked.
Emma leaned back in her chair and gave it some thought, "Caramel peanut butter brownies. They are heaven. I swear to you they were the best god damn brownies in the world."
Regina smiled, "The best huh?"
"Like, the best." Emma said, "You'd sell your soul for them."
Regina laughed.
"And what was so special about these brownies?"
"My dad used to make them for me." Emma told her, a small sad smile on her face.
"Well I can't promise you'll want to sell your soul-." Regina said as she stood up and held out a hand to Emma, "But how about we make some brownies?"
Emma smiled and gladly took it.
Regina told Tina she could take the rest of the day off because she had plans to make a mess and she didn't want her to be a witness.
Tina chuckled, "Not a problem Regina." She said as she took off her apron.
Once Tina took off, Regina and Emma stood in the kitchen and Emma looked around, "Pretty nice place you got here."
"Thanks." Regina said then grabbed an apron off the hook it was hanging on.
"First things first." She said then went over to Emma and put the loop over her head. "Turn please." Regina said and Emma turned around so she could tie the apron strings.
"Not too tight?" Regina asked.
"Nope."
Regina put her own apron on then went to preheat the oven.
"What the hell is this thing?" Emma asked standing by a deep silver bowl with what looked like an oversized egg beater in it.
"That's my mixer." Regina told her, "Tina fixed it but we won't be using it today."
Regina told Emma what ingredients she would need and Emma, like a chicken with its head cut off ran around the kitchen grabbing everything.
"Okay now let's measure out the dry ingredients first and put them in this bowl here." Regina told Emma as she handed her a glass measuring cup.
"You do know how to use one of those right?" Regina asked.
Emma looked at her, "Yes, I'm not a complete idiot."
With the dry ingredients measured and put in the bowl Emma turned to Regina, "Now what?"
"Crack those eggs into this bowl." Regina said sliding an empty bowl to her, "And then add this."
Emma took the small measuring cup from Regina and smelled the brown liquid, "Vanilla?"
"You got it." Regina told her.
She turned to go to the stove but stopped, "Oh and Emma, don't get shells in the mix."
"Bossy." Emma mumbled under her breath.
"What was that?" Regina asked as she put a pot on the stove to melt some butter.
"Oh nothing." Emma said as she started cracking eggs.
Emma added the beaten eggs to the dry ingredients and mixed it up. Regina added the butter while Emma continued to stir.
"Come on put some muscle into it." Regina told Emma when her stirring started to slow.
After the brownie mix was stirred up Regina grabbed two medium sized pans, greased them then had Emma pour out equal amounts of batter into both.
"Now what?" Emma asked looking at Regina.
"Now we drop some peanut butter in there and swirl it around till it's pretty." Regina told her.
They dropped small spoonfuls of peanut butter into the brownie batter then Regina took a knife and swirled the peanut butter around.
"Here you go." Regina said handing Emma a bottle.
"What's this?" Emma asked her.
"That's the caramel." Regina told her, "Now, I make that from scratch so you just go right ahead and put as much of it as you want."
Emma tipped the bottle and squeezed out a small amount onto her finger before putting it into her mouth. She closed her eyes and let out a small moan.
Regina smiled.
Once the caramel was drizzled over the batter they took the trays and put them in the oven. Regina set a timer then they took off their aprons and went back into the shop.
"So, what made you want to be a baker?" Emma asked as they sat down at one of the tables.
"My grandmother." Regina told her, "She died when I was 20 but before she died she taught me everything she knew."
"That moment you had in the kitchen with the caramel-." Regina said and Emma smiled a little, "That's why I love this. I love the happiness and pleasure it brings to people."
"I know a piece of pie or a cookie won't solve all the world problems but maybe for a moment it will make you forget for a bit."
Emma loved the look on Regina's face, the sparkle in her eye and the small smile she had on her lips as she talked.
A customer came in and Regina stood up, "Excuse me."
Regina served a few customers before the timer rang and she waved Emma back into the kitchen.
She handed her a set of oven mitts then opened the oven and Emma took out one of the pans as Regina took out the other.
"Oh my god these smell so damn good!" Emma said as she looked around for a knife.
Regina turned off the oven and shut the door.
"Where's a knife?!" Emma asked impatiently.
Regina laughed, "You have to let them cool a little, Emma."
"But I want one now." She whined and stomped her foot.
"They have to cool." Regina told her then took Emma by the hand and practically had to drag her out of the kitchen.
Regina watched as a pouting Emma sat back down at a table then she helped a couple of customers that had come in.
After the customers got their desserts Emma stood up and went to the counter, a huge smile on her face.
Regina rolled her eyes, "Come on then." And Emma followed her into the kitchen.
They stood in front of the pans and again Emma looked around for a knife.
"Where the hell are the damn knives in this place?" She asked, "Seriously, it's a kitchen shouldn't there be a bunch of knives in here?"
Regina laughed as she walked over and grabbed one of her big knives off the counter, "This will do just fine."
Before she cut into one of the pans she instructed Emma to go grab two plates and two glasses. She returned as quickly as she could with the items and stood right next to Regina.
Regina used a spatula to pry two thick brownie squares from the pan one at a time and then placed them carefully on the plates.
"AH!" Regina said smacking Emma's hand away from the brownie, "Go to that fridge and get some milk."
Emma looked at her, "You hit me."
"I did." Regina said then pointed to the fridge, "Milk. Now."
Emma went to the fridge, got the milk and poured each of them a glass before putting the milk back.
Regina grabbed the two plates with the brownies and headed out of the kitchen. Emma took the glasses and hurried behind her.
The customers had left and Regina and Emma sat down at one of the tables.
She placed one of the brownies in front of Emma and smiled.
Emma didn't even bother waiting for Regina. She picked up the brownie and took a huge bite of it.
Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she closed them. She moaned as she savored the delightful mix of chocolate, caramel and peanut butter.
Regina watched in amusement as Emma enjoyed herself.
Emma finally opened her eyes, a little embarrassed by her display she smiled and then took a sip of her milk.
"Well?" Regina asked in anticipation.
"They were okay." Emma said and Regina glared at her.
She let out a small laugh, "I'm kidding. They're amazing, Regina. Really."
The next afternoon Emma strolled into the bakery and sat down at one of the tables. Regina brought her a piece of pie and smiled at her before returning back behind the counter.
Emma was happily enjoying her last bite when in walked Regina's father. He stood at the counter and he and Regina did their usual banter before he stopped as if something caught his eye.
She heard Regina asked, "Are you sure?" and saw the man nod his head.
Regina handed him his dessert and he headed out of the bakery.
Emma got up and went to the counter, "Everything okay?"
"In the 8 years I've had this place, every day my father has come in ordered the same thing. No matter what other suggestions I made, it's always been the same thing. Peach Pie, heavy on the whip topping." Regina told her.
"And?" Emma asked, "What happened today?"
"Today he ordered this." Regina said and pointed into the display case and Emma looked down.
There in the case were the brownies they'd made yesterday. A small hand written sign stuck in one of the brownies read, "Emma's Heavenly Brownies."
Emma looked back up at her, a small smile on her face, "Really?"
Regina smiled back at her.
A hard knock on the motel door jarred Emma awake. She sat up and looked around, "Huh?"
"Housekeeping."
"Uh yeah no, I don't need housekeeping thank you." Emma called out towards the door.
She heard the squeaky wheel of the housekeeping cart move away from her room.
Emma rubbed her eyes then looked at the clock. She had an hour before check out so she got up, took a shower and changed before grabbing her things and going to the office.
She turned in her key then went to her car. She threw her bag in the backseat then got into the driver's seat and took off.
She was at a gas station pumping gas when the sudden urge to vomit crept up in her throat and she threw up between the pumps.
"Oh are you okay sweetie?"
Emma turned to see an older woman standing by the pumps, a paper towel held out to her.
"I think so." Emma said taking the paper towel from her and wiping her mouth, "I think the smell of the gas just overwhelmed me a little."
"Get yourself some ginger ale. That will settle your stomach in no time." The woman suggested with a smile.
"Thanks I think I will." Emma told her then watched as the woman got into her car and drove away.
Emma went into the market and got herself a ginger ale and a couple bags of potato chips before she got back into her car and continued on her way.
It was a beautiful day in Storybrooke as Emma made her way from the Inn to Regina's bakery. She stopped when she spotted Regina and her father sitting on a bench by the water fountain in the town square.
She headed over and stood by the bench, "Hi."
"Hi." Regina said with a smile.
"Dad, this is Emma." Regina said to him with a hand on his shoulder, "And Emma this is my dad, Henry."
"Nice to officially meet you, sir." Emma said to him.
"How do you know that?" He asked her, squinting up at her as the afternoon sun beat down on him.
"Um, excuse me?" Emma asked.
"Dad…." Regina warned.
"What?" He asked Regina, "She doesn't know if it's nice to meet me or not."
"You're right. I guess I shouldn't just assume that." Emma said and he looked at her, "But I know you're Regina's dad and I've seen you come into her shop so I thought, 'How bad of a guy could he be when he has such a lovely daughter and he likes peach pie?' So you'll excuse my assumption."
Henry smiled at her then looked at Regina, "I like her."
Regina smiled at her dad then looked at Emma, "Yeah me too."