A/N: I do not own any of the songs mentioned in this chapter. They belong to their respectful owners.
Memories are in Italics
There was something about fast food that Emma loved. She loved a greasy burger and salty fries. She loved an ice cold sweet tea that had so much sugar in it your teeth were vibrating after drinking it.
She sipped her tea as she sung loudly with the radio, "Love was out to get me, no that's the way it seems. Disappointment haunted all my dreams. Oh then I saw her face now I'm a believer. Not a trace of doubt in my mind. I'm in love ooooooooh I'm a believer. I couldn't leave her if I tried!"
Emma stopped her wailing long enough to shove some now cold fries into her mouth. Her greasy, salty fingers drummed on the steering wheel as she chewed and bobbed her head.
Somehow Emma found herself in Regina's apartment above the bakery. She was surprised by how spacious it was.
"You make it a habit of inviting strangers up to your apartment?" Emma asked as Regina ducked into her bedroom.
"You've been here almost 2 weeks." Regina said from her room, "I don't consider you a stranger anymore."
She came out of her room with a smile on her face, "Besides I wanted to give this to you." She said as she held out a small crystal swan figurine.
"What's this for?" Emma asked carefully taking the swan from her.
"I got it a while ago when I was in Paris studying." Regina told her, "I just thought it was so beautiful."
Emma held the swan out, "I can't take this."
"Yes you can. I want you to have it." Regina told her then brushed passed her as she went into the kitchen.
"You sure this isn't just some elaborate reason to bring me back to your place?" Emma asked with a smile.
"If you remember correctly all I had to do was ask you to come up here." Regina told her, "There was no mention of a gift."
Emma looked the swan over; it was small enough to fit in the palm of her hand and carved to perfection.
"Thank you." Emma said to her with a smile.
Regina smiled back at her then opened her fridge to grab two bottles of water.
"You have a piano." Emma said as she went over to it. She sat down on the bench lightly touched the keys.
"It's actually my dad's. He can't play anymore but I couldn't bear getting rid of it." Regina told her as came up alongside her and handed her one of the waters.
Emma took a sip of her water then handed it back to Regina, "Do you know how to play?" She asked her.
"No. My dad tried teaching me a few times but just lost patience with me." Regina told her.
Emma played a couple bars and Regina tilted her head, "I know that song."
"Come sit by me." Emma said and Regina set their waters down on the counter before sitting down next to her on the bench.
"Okay put your hands over mine." Emma said told her.
Regina did and a sour note played.
"Maybe not so heavy." Emma told her as she nudged her with her shoulder, "Lightly. There you go just put your fingers over mine."
Regina scooted closer to Emma and adjusted her fingers, "Now what?"
Emma started to play the same tune and Regina smiled as her fingers lightly went along with every key stroke.
Her smile widened on her face when she realized what the song was, "Is this 'When You Wish Upon a Star'?"
Emma smiled as she continued to play, "Yep."
Regina closed her eyes, enjoying the beautiful music and Emma's closeness.
Emma hit the final note and Regina opened her eyes.
"That was nice." She said to Emma.
Emma turned to look at Regina with a smile on her face. They were so close all one of them had to do was lean in just a little and….
A bell chimed.
"Ooh gotta go." Regina said as she slid away from Emma and stood up.
"You have a doorbell?" Emma asked.
"It's to let me know someone's come into the bakery."
'So damn close.' Emma thought to herself as she got up.
Emma followed Regina downstairs and into the bakery.
"You know you really shouldn't leave the place unlocked if you're going to be upstairs." A woman said to Regina as soon as she got behind the counter.
"Why?" Regina asked, "Because just anyone can walk right in?"
"Precisely!" The woman said. Obviously the joke went right over the woman's head.
She was dressed like an old Hollywood movie star trying to hide from the paparazzi. She wore a floral patterned head scarf that covered all of her hair but her bangs. She had on large dark sunglasses and wore a royal blue dress that suited her Hollywood style persona.
The woman pulled her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose and looked at Emma before looking back at Regina, "Who's your friend?"
"This is Emma Swan." Regina said to the woman.
Emma gave the woman a little wave, "Hello."
The woman took her sunglasses off then looked Emma up and down.
"Hello Emma Swan." She said as she extended her hand, "I'm Cora Mills."
Emma shook the woman's hand, "You're Regina's mother."
"Among other things." Cora said to her.
"Mother, what can I do for you?" Regina asked as she put on her apron.
"Can't I just stop by to see how you're doing?" Cora asked with a smile.
"You can." Regina said, "But you normally don't."
"I've come to ask you to dinner." Cora said to her, "And your father requested something called Emma's Heavenly Delight?"
She looked at Emma, "I supposed that has something to do with you?"
Emma gave her a sheepish smile, "They're brownies."
"So will you be coming to dinner tonight?" Cora asked Regina as she boxed up some brownies for her dad.
"Yes Mother I will come to dinner." Regina said as she put the box on the counter.
Cora put her sunglasses back on, "Good. I will see you at 7."
She took the box from the counter and was almost out the door before she turned around and looked at Regina, "And bring your friend."
Yes, as much as Emma loved greasy food she hated it when it came back up. She didn't even make it to the next gas station. She pulled over and threw up on the side of a deserted road in the middle of the night.
She stood hunched over taking a deep breath in trying to settle her queasy stomach. With a grunt she stood up straight and walked slowly back to her car. She got in and sat behind the wheel for a good 10 minutes before she started the car and headed down the road.
Seeing a sign that told her the next gas station was only 5 miles was a relief to her and her upset stomach.
She pulled into the station and went inside the small convenient store. She grabbed herself a 7-UP and some saltines crackers before going to the register to pay.
"You need gas?" The clerk asked as he put her items in a black plastic bag.
"No." She told him before paying and grabbing her bag.
Emma drove into the night as she munched her crackers and sipped her soda. She knew she would have to pull over eventually and get some rest but for now she pressed on.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to." Regina said to Emma.
"Do you not want me to go?" Emma asked her.
"I love my mother but sometimes she's a bit much." Regina told her, "I just don't want her to scare you off."
Emma snorted, "I'm not that easily scared off."
"Okay." Regina said, "But don't say I didn't warn you."
Emma met Regina in front of her bakery as planned and they walked to her parents' house.
Emma couldn't keep the surprise off her face when she saw the size of the home. It was two stories, white with black trim and had a very large front yard filled with all sorts of trees.
Regina just smiled as she rang the doorbell and waited.
A woman wearing a maid's uniform opened the door and smiled at Regina, "Mrs. Mills is waiting for you in the living room."
"Thank you Cheryl." Regina said as stepped inside. Emma followed and Cheryl shut the door behind them before she left them in the foyer.
Regina took off her coat and hung it up then took Emma's and did the same then they went into the living room.
"Hello, Mother." Regina said then went to her father who was sitting in an arm chair and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
He chuckled a little then smiled when he saw Emma.
"Ah you brought your Emma." He said to Regina. He placed his drink down on the table at his side then got up and went over to Emma and hugged her.
Emma let out an uncomfortable chuckle as she hugged Mr. Mills.
"I thought we'd have a drink before dinner." Cora said as she went to the drink cart.
"What would you like Ms. Swan?" She asked.
"Um, a Scotch would be nice." Emma told her as she and Regina sat down on the couch together. "And please call me Emma."
Cora handed Regina a glass of white wine and Emma her Scotch before sitting down in an arm chair across from them.
"So how did the two of you meet?" Cora asked Regina.
"I rear-ended her."
Cora looked confused, "Is that some kind of lesbian thing?"
Emma choked on her Scotch and Regina let out a laugh.
"No, Mother." She finally said, "I rear-ended her with my car while she was driving. It was an accident."
"I see." Cora said then looked at Emma, "Will you be in town for long?"
"Um, I don't know." Emma said as she cleared her throat, "Mulan is still working on my car and I really don't have any plans till it's finished."
"Well perhaps you should consider staying for a bit." Cora told her, "Storybrooke is a lovely town."
Emma couldn't help but glance at Regina, "It certainly is."
They sat at the dining room table as servers placed their meal in front of them.
Emma looked down at her plate. A small thick rounded piece of meat wrapped in bacon sat in the middle of it with red garlic potatoes and asparagus on either side of it.
"This looks delicious." Emma said as she picked up her knife and fork.
Small talk was made throughout dinner. Emma found herself doing most of the talking though and it made her a little uncomfortable talking about herself. But she did find out that Cora was mayor of Storybrooke and that before his retirement, Henry was on the city planning commission.
After dinner they sat in the living room to have dessert. Emma was doing her best to make sure she didn't get brownie crumbs on the carpet. Henry on the other hand was working through his second brownie despite Cora's disapproval.
"It was very nice having you over for dinner." Cora said to Emma as the group stood by the front door, "You must come over again some time."
"I'd like that." Emma said as she put on her coat and she meant it.
Regina kissed her father on the cheek again then kissed her mother as well before she opened the front door and let Emma go out first.
Henry put an arm around Cora as they stood in the doorway and watched the two women leave.
"I think my dad likes you." Regina said as they walked down the street.
"I like him too." Emma told her, "Your mother seems really nice."
"She is." Regina agreed, "Though she almost killed you with that lesbian comment."
Emma let out a small chuckle, "Yes, well I'll forgive her for it."
Regina walked Emma back to the Inn and they stood outside in the brisk air.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow." Emma said, not knowing what else to say.
"That you will." Regina said before she turned on her heels and walked away.
The blast of a train horn woke Emma from her sleep. She groaned as she sat up slowly in the backseat of her car. She smacked her lips as she looked around, though there wasn't much to see other than farm land. She opened the door and got out. She stretched and yawned loudly before taking in a deep breath of the fresh morning air.
She got into the driver's seat, started the car and got back on the road.
Emma was heading over to Enchanted Delights when her cellphone rang. She pulled it from her pocket, "Hello?"
"What are you wearing?"
"Excuse me?" Emma asked as she looked around.
There was laughter on the line and Emma was just about to hang up when the person said, "Sorry about that, It's Mulan. Your car will be fixed and ready to go by tomorrow morning." She told Emma.
"Oh." Emma said quietly.
"You don't sound too happy about it." Mulan told her.
"No, I am." Emma lied, "Thanks I'll be by in the morning."
Emma stood outside the bakery for a few minutes before Regina opened the door, "Everything okay? You look like someone just told you that your cat died."
Emma looked at her.
"Oh please tell me someone didn't just tell you your cat died?"
That got a small smile from Emma, "No, it's nothing that serious." She said then went into the bakery.
"You know a town like this could grow on you." Regina said after Emma told her that Mulan called.
"The people are a little nosey and well my mother thinks she's Queen but the rest of the people here are pretty decent and you could have fun here."
Emma smiled then scoffed, "A little town like this? Yeah right."
"Let me prove it to you." Regina told her.
"How?"
Regina smiled, "Come to the street fair with me tonight."
"Is that what all the commotion is going on down the main street?" Emma asked.
"I'll buy you kettle corn and a hot dog." Regina told her.
"Now how can I say no to such an enticing offer?" Emma said with a smile.
They agreed to meet later at Enchanted Delights and walk the main street together.
"What's all this for anyway?" Emma asked as Regina locked up her shop.
"The nuns put this fair together to raise money for foster children." Regina told her as she put her keys in her pocket.
"Huh, that's nice of them." Emma said as she started to follow Regina down the street.
Regina stopped at one of the many booths that were set up. This particular one required you throw a dart at inflated balloon that was pinned to a pegboard.
"You have to play a few games before you're rewarded with food." Regina told Emma as she handed the man running the booth some money in exchange for 6 darts.
Regina handed 3 of the darts to Emma and waited.
Emma tossed a dart.
It hit the backboard, completely missing any of the numerous balloons and fell to the floor with a clatter.
"Shit." She mumbled under her breath as she took aim with the second dart. She threw it a little harder and this time though it missed the balloons, it stuck into the board.
Feeling confident now, Emma threw her last dart. The dart hit a red balloon bursting it with a dull thud as the dart stuck into the board.
"YES!" Emma yelled.
She looked at the man running the booth, "What'd I win?"
"Here you go." He said and handed her a small rubber ducky.
Emma was a little disappointed in her prize but she took it and thanked him.
She turned to Regina, little ducky in her face, "Beat that!"
Each of Regina's darts found their target and she walked away victoriously with her prize.
"Are you going to wear that all night?" Emma asked as she looked at the small plastic tiara Regina wore in her dark hair.
"You bet your ass I am." Regina told her.
After spending a couple hours playing games Regina finally took Emma to get her hot dog and popcorn.
They sat down on one of the benches in the town square to eat.
"Your town doesn't seem too bad." Emma mumbled with her mouth full.
"Glad you're starting to come around." Regina said as she ate some of the kettle corn.
They finished eating and Regina stood up, "There's one more thing I want to do before we call it a night."
"Uh okay." Emma said then followed Regina till she stopped in front of a photo booth.
She looked at Regina, "What are we, 16?"
"Shut up and come on." Regina said as she grabbed Emma by the arm and dragged her inside the booth.
They sat on the small bench and Regina fed the machine money.
"Okay we only have a few seconds between pictures so let's make this good." Regina told her as she looked at Emma.
"Oh, you have mustard on your cheek." Regina said and without thinking used her thumb to wipe it off.
The moment was forever captured as the small flash went off.
"Smile for the camera Emma." Regina told her and then gave her best smile to the camera.
The second picture was Emma looking at Regina with a small smile on her face.
They posed and made goofy faces but on the last picture Regina did something that caught Emma completely off guard.
Without warning, Regina leaned over and kissed Emma's cheek.
Before Emma could say anything Regina hurried out of the booth and grabbed the small strip of black and white photos that printed out. She halved the pictures, the first three went to Emma and the last were for her.
"Here." Regina said handing her the pictures, "Something to remember me by."
She smiled, "Good night, Emma."
"Yeah, good night Regina." Emma said as she absentmindedly put the photos in the breast pocket of her leather jacket.
She watched Regina walk to her bakery, unlock the door and slip inside before she started to make her way back to the inn.
The two of them had spent a lot of time together these last two weeks. They'd flirted back and forth so the kiss wasn't totally unexpected in fact she'd been hoping for it but Emma wasn't sure what to do now.
No. Emma thought, No it was just a friendly kiss that's all, a nice kiss on the cheek between friends.
She tried to convince herself that it was nothing but as she walked back to the inn she knew, she knew there was something more going on.
She stopped in her tracks and turned around, staring back at the street fair that was slowly coming to an end.
She rushed back and knocked furiously on the bakery door hoping Regina would answer.
She wasn't sure what she was going to do when Regina came to the door but she didn't have much time to think as a light turned on in the bakery.
Regina unlocked the door and opened it, "Emma, what's-?"
Without any more thinking, Emma moved in cupped Regina's face and kissed her on the lips.
A car horn honked behind her and jarred Emma out of her thoughts. She let the driver pass her then blinked her tired eyes. She had been driving long passed when she should have. So she made a quick stop at a mini-mart then got back in her car to find a place to park for the night.
A song played on the radio and she hummed along.
So you can keep me
Inside the pocket
Of your ripped jeans
Holdin' me closer
'Til our eyes meet
You won't ever be alone
Wait for me to come home
She parked her car in a semi- secluded area off the side of the road before getting into the back seat and settling in. She pulled from the breast pocket of her jacket, the crinkled black and white photo strip of her and Regina. She stared at them until she fell asleep, a smile on her face.