A/N: Thank you for the reviews, they make me so very happy. Memories are in Italics.
Emma broke their kiss and let Regina go.
"See you tomorrow." She said nonchalantly then turned and walked away leaving Regina standing in the open door dazed and confused.
Emma's heart pounded in her chest with excitement as she continued down the street to the Inn.
She was thinking about the kiss when she went into the inn and shut front door behind her.
"Have a good time?"
Emma jumped, "Jesus!"
"Nope, just Ruby."
"You scared the living shit out of me." Emma said to her.
"Sorry." Ruby said, "I thought you saw me sitting here."
"I—No, I didn't see you." Emma stammered.
"So, did you have fun tonight at the street fair?" Ruby asked again.
The image of Regina flashed in her mind, "Yeah I did." Emma said then smiled at her.
"Glad to hear it." Ruby said smiling back at her, "Good night, Emma."
"Night Ruby." She said before headed upstairs to her room.
Emma woke before the sun was up. She tucked the pictures back into her pocket before getting out of the backseat and stretching.
When she was fully awake she got into the driver's seat and drove to the nearest super market and went inside.
She stocked up on a few items, water, ginger ale, crackers. She bought a jar of peanut butter, 2 bags of beef jerky, and huge bag of Lay's Potato chips.
Big rain drops started falling and lightening streaked across the sky as Emma got into her car and continued on her drive. She opened the car window just a crack to let in the smell of the rain. A smile appeared on her face as she thought of Regina.
The rain woke Emma in the morning. She wasn't sure what time she finally managed to fall asleep last night but she knew she hadn't gotten a lot rest. She sat up slowly and looked out the rain smeared window. Everything was grey. She looked at the clock on the table next to her bed, it was little passed seven in the morning.
"Ugh." She groaned and fell back against her pillows. She pulled the blanket up over her head and closed her eyes.
The image of Regina's beautiful but shocked face appeared in front of her. She was left speechless after Emma's spontaneous kiss.
The smile disappeared when she thought, 'Now what?'
She threw the covers off of her and got out of bed. 'No. You're not going to talk yourself out of this." She told herself, 'Whatever this is."
She showered and got dressed then went downstairs. Granny lent her an umbrella and she opened it out on the porch then walked over to Mulan's shop.
"Can't keep away can you?" Mulan said as Emma came into the shop and closed her umbrella.
"Oh yeah, I just longed to see you." Emma said sarcastically.
"You must be in a big hurry to come over so early." Mulan said, "Shop's not even open yet."
"The door was unlocked." Emma said turning to gesture to the door.
"The door is always unlocked."
Emma gave her a look.
"It's Storybrooke." Mulan told her with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Well I'm here now. Can I get my car?" Emma asked.
"No." Mulan told her, "I have a few more things to finish up with the body work."
"You said you'd have it finished in the morning." Emma practically whined.
"Yes, well the morning isn't over with yet now is it?" Mulan asked with a smile as she leaned against the counter, "Besides, this gives you more time to be with your smooching buddy."
"My smooching buddy and I are none of your concern." Emma told her and Mulan laughed.
"Relax, Emma geez." Mulan said, "All I'm trying to say is, just enjoy yourself while you're here."
Mulan told Emma the car should be ready in a few hours which gave Emma some time to do some soul searching as she walked in the rain.
The soul searching didn't last long as she absentmindedly ended up outside of Enchanted Delights.
She stood in front of the big window, umbrella protecting her from the rain as she stared inside.
"Emma?"
She turned to see the Sheriff and a woman with short black hair and a smile on her face standing there. He held a green umbrella over the both of them.
"Hmm?" Emma asked.
"Are you okay?"
"Um, yes, Sheriff I'm fine." Emma told him.
"David." He said to her as if he knew she didn't remember his name, "This is my wife Mary Margaret."
"Oh so you're the poor unfortunate soul whom Regina rear-ended." Mary Margaret said.
"Accidents happen." Emma told her with a smile.
"Were you going inside?" David asked her.
"Uh yes." Emma said, "I think I am."
"Okay Emma, you have a good day." He said to her as he took Mary Margaret's hand.
"Yeah you too." Emma said as she closed her umbrella and slipped inside.
"Strange girl." Mary Margaret said as they walked on down the sidewalk.
Emma walked up to the counter and Regina smiled at her, "And what can I get for you?"
Emma didn't say anything as she walked around the counter and took Regina by the hand. She led her into the kitchen and pinned her against the fridge. She looked briefly into Regina's eyes before a small grin crept across her lips as she leaned in and kissed her.
Emma pulled back.
Regina's eyes were closed, "That wasn't on the menu."
Emma snorted, "No but it sure was tasty."
Regina opened her eyes, "That was horrible."
"My kissing?" Emma asked, "Because I've been told by many, many people that I'm a very good and conscientious kisser. Some said I was very generous, that I had the softest lips that ever graced theirs. I can provide you with n-."
She was cut off by Regina's lips on hers. A slight moan escaped as Regina slipped her tongue into her mouth.
A timer dinged in the kitchen and Regina broke their kiss, "My muffins are done."
"Yeah they are." Emma said and leaned in for another kiss but Regina stopped her and laughed, "No, my muffins." She said pointing to the oven, "They're done."
Emma snorted, "Oh." She stepped out of Regina's way and let her attend to her muffin situation.
Emma looked around, "Where's Tina?"
"Now you're concerned on where my friend is?" Regina asked with a chuckle.
"No I just…." Emma looked around, blushing slightly, "Does she know?"
"Know what? That I'm gay?" Regina asked.
"No, that I kissed you." Emma said, "Because people saw us last night, don't ask me how but they did."
Regina smiled as she went to the oven, "It's a small town people always know everything."
"And to answer your question, yes Tina knows." Regina told her.
"She's my best friend." She paused and looked at Emma, "Don't tell Mulan I said that. But I talk to Tina about everything."
"Oh." Emma said.
Regina smiled, "Don't look so worried. I gave you great reviews."
Emma laughed, "Thanks I think."
Regina grabbed two pot holders before reaching into the oven to pull out the muffin tins.
"I want to take you out tonight." Emma said to her.
Regina placed the muffin tins down on the counter to cool then she turned to Emma, "Like a date?"
"No, like I plan to make ya sleep with the fishes." Emma said in her best Italian mob boss accent. Regina laughed.
"Yes like a date." Emma told her, "I haven't decided where yet but I'll pick you up after you close up shop."
"You just assume I'm saying yes?" Regina asked her, "You didn't even ask me properly."
Emma went over to her, "Regina, will you please go out on a date with me tonight?"
Regina stood for a moment, silently thinking.
Emma cleared her throat.
"Eh, sure why not?" Regina said with a little shoulder shrug.
"Well thanks." Emma said then kissed Regina on the cheek, "See you tonight."
The storm got to be too much for Emma and she knew it wasn't safe to continue on the roads. She found a safe place to pull over before rolling up her window and climbing into the back seat. She grabbed a ginger ale and the bag of potato chips.
She took a big gulp of the ginger ale and popped open the bag of chips. She sat listening to the rain beating down on the car and watched as the lightening flashed across the sky. Thunder rumbled somewhere off in the distance.
When she was little she used to love storms like this. She always wanted to run outside but her mom always told her it wasn't safe. So instead she sat by the big bay window and watched as the storm raged on from the safety of her house.
"Fuck that." Emma said as she set aside her chips and drink. She opened the car door and stepped out into the pouring rain.
She tilted her head back, her arms stretched out to her sides. She closed her eyes and let the rain pelt her face. She felt the rumbling of the thunder deep in her chest. Emma opened her eyes just in time to see a streak of lightening light up the sky in front of her.
She was completely soaked when she climbed back into the car. She changed out of her wet clothes and got comfortable in the backseat before falling asleep to the sound of the storm.
It was still raining when Emma went to pick up her car at Mulan's garage.
"Thanks for all the work you put into it." Emma said to her as Mulan handed her the keys.
"It's what I do." Mulan told her, "But next time be a bit more careful who you stop in front of huh?"
Mulan winked and Emma gave her a grin before getting into her bug and starting it up.
"I missed you." She whispered quietly to her car before putting it in reverse and backing out of the garage.
Emma drove over to the bakery. She got out of her car and opened her umbrella when she saw Mr. Mills walking down the street holding a bright blue umbrella with small white polka dots on it.
She rushed to meet him half way. She closed her umbrella as she ducked under his, "Hi Mr. Mills." She said to him.
He chuckled, "Hello dear."
"On your way to the bakery?" She asked him.
"Rain will not stop me from having my pie." He told her, "It will only stop me from eating it outside."
Emma opened the door to the bakery and he closed his umbrella and stepped inside.
"Look who I managed to run into." Henry said to Regina as he walked up to the counter.
"You walked here in the rain?" Regina asked him, concerned.
"Ah." He said waving her quiet, "You should see the little thing she drove up in. Trust me, I think I'm safer walking in the rain."
"You got your car back?" Regina asked Emma.
"Mulan finally finished the repairs." Emma told her, "Plus I mean I needed a ride for tonight."
"What's tonight?" Henry asked Emma.
"Uh I—Um…well." Emma panicked and looked from Henry to Regina.
"We're going on a date tonight." Regina told him.
He looked at Emma, "That's good. About time I say."
"What?" Emma said quietly to herself.
"Now, where's my pie young lady?" He asked Regina.
Emma sat in the bakery only for a little while before she said goodbye to Regina then headed out to make plans for their date. She was thankful that it had stopped raining.
After she got everything in order she went home showered and changed into a pair of dark blue jeans, black boots and a blood red t-shirt before slipping on her black leather jacket and heading out the door.
Emma had told Regina to dress comfortably and apparently she listened because when Emma went to pick her up she was wearing black jeans, high heel boots and a light purple sweater.
"You look amazing." Emma said to her.
"Thank you. So do you."
"So I was going to take you out of town, have dinner and all that but I found something a little more local." Emma said as they walked towards the docks.
"You were joking about the fishes right?" Regina asked her as they headed down the walk.
"I rented a boat from some …. um very interesting guy." Emma told her.
"Let me guess, likes to show off his chest hairs, has more eyeliner on than Tammy Faye Baker and really likes to talk with his hands?" Regina asked then gestured around with her hands.
"Yeah how'd you know?"
"That's Killian." Regina told her, "He's a booty pirate."
"Like, he goes out and finds treasure?" Emma asked confused.
Regina laughed, "No, honey like he likes the men."
"Ooooh." Emma said finally getting it.
She stopped walking and Regina turned to her, "Wait is everyone in this town gay?"
"No, not everyone." Regina told her.
"Couldn't convert them all huh?" Emma asked as they continued to walk.
"And I tried my hardest, damn it." Regina said as she linked her arm with Emma's and laughed.
They arrived at the boat and Emma finally noticed the name. The Jolly Roger.
"That's an interesting name." Emma said as she climbed onboard. She extended a hand out to Regina and helped her.
"I hear it was named after a boyfriend who then became an ex." Regina told her as she looked around.
"Ah well hello ladies."
They turned to see Killian standing by the helm.
They gave him a little wave and Emma led Regina to the bow of the boat where Emma had set up a very comfortable sitting area. There was wine chilling in a bucket. Cheese, crackers and red grapes were arranged on a silver platter.
"You did all this?" Regina asked her as she sat down in what seemed like a nest of pillows.
Emma smiled, "Wine?"
"Of course."
Emma poured each of them a glass of wine before putting the bottle back into the bucket and nestling in next to Regina.
"Okay Bootybabe, let's get this show on the road." Emma called out to Killian who started the motor and they slowly pulled out of the docks.
"Bootybabe?" Regina asked with a whisper.
"It worked didn't it?"
Killian called out a few points of interest as they sailed up the coast but the only thing Emma was interested in was Regina.
Regina snuggled closer as Emma put an arm around her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the closeness and warmth.
"Ah bloody fucking hell!"
Emma's eyes snapped open and both women turned and looked back at Killian who was wiping something off his very fancy very low cut shirt.
He looked up at them, "Do you know how hard it is to get seagull shit out of this kind of fabric?"
They turned back around, sunk down further into their nest and giggled.
Regina put her head on Emma's shoulder, "So tell me more about your life. About your parents, your dreams, what you aspire to be."
"Aspire to be?" Emma asked, "That seems a little heavy on a first date doesn't it?"
"Humor me."
"My mother is a banker and she loves money. She loves earning it, spending it and rubbing the fact that she makes a shit-ton of it in other people's faces." Emma told her, "Imagine her disappointment when I told her I was going to follow my heart and studied music instead of becoming a banker like her."
"She hated that I was more like my father than her."
"Your father is a musician?" Regina asked.
"He was. One of the best I knew." Emma said, "His big dream was to one day become a conductor but he died a few years ago."
"Oh I'm sorry to hear that." Regina said to her.
She gave Regina a squeeze, "Thanks."
"Were your parents still together?" Regina asked.
"Yeah. I mean they loved each other despite my mother being what she calls, 'more ambitious' but she loved my dad and that never seemed to change." Emma told her.
"My dad and I used to have jam sessions that would drive my mom nuts." Emma told her with a chuckle.
"We'd grab whatever instrument was near us. Bongos, the banjo, a violin, tambourine, guitar, just whatever was close and we'd go crazy."
She sighed and Regina lifted her head up and looked at her, "You okay?"
"Oh yeah. I just need to get back to Boston soon for a visit I think." Emma told her.
Regina put her head back down on Emma's shoulder, "So what about young Emma? You know before the big bad world came knocking and made her an adult?"
Emma snickered, "I had a normal childhood. No complaints really."
"Are you saying you were a boring kid?" Regina asked, "Nose always in a book? Please tell me you weren't a nerdy kid."
"No, I wasn't a nerdy kid and I got into my fair share of trouble." Emma told her.
"Like what? Not reading all the books on your summer reading list?" Regina asked with a snort.
"Ha-ha." Emma said, "No Ms. Smartyass, I mean like the police-have-to-bring-you-home-after-a-night-of-partying-too-hard-and-putting-glue-in-the-locks-of-several-doors-at-school kind of shit."
"My best friend, Lily taught me how to pick a lock." Emma told her, "She also taught me how to hotwire a car."
"Why?" Regina asked.
"Because you never know when you might need a getaway car after you break into the local movie theater to watch old movies on the huge screen." Emma told her.
"Jesus, what have I gotten myself into?" Regina asked, "What kind of little hellion are you?"
Emma laughed and tightened her cuddle-hold on Regina, "I'm not such a hellion anymore."
"So what about young Regina? What was she like?" Emma asked her.
"Young Regina was a good girl and never did anything to disappoint her parents." Regina told her.
There was silence between them for a few seconds.
"I'm sorry I just find that really hard to believe." Emma said.
"You callin' me a liar?" Regina asked as she lifted her head and looked at Emma.
"Uh, … yes?" Emma said cautiously.
Regina smiled at her, "You're right."
She put her head back down, "I wasn't as rebellious as you seeing as there really wasn't much to do in Storybrooke that would get you into trouble but I did my fair share of cow-tipping and boat stealing."
"Cow-tipping and boat stealing?" Emma asked with a raised eyebrow.
"We got all the way down to Montgomery Point before we were caught." Regina told her.
"We?"
"I had a very influential girlfriend at the time." Regina told her, "Her name was Sadie and she was tall, blonde and had these brown eyes you could not resist even if you tried."
"And what happened to this very influential girlfriend of yours?" Emma asked.
"She moved away that summer we got caught and I haven't heard from her since." Regina told her, "And trust me it's all for the best, because I think if she would have stuck around we'd probably have ended up in jail at some point."
Emma laughed.
"You've met my parents so you know how they are." Regina said, "Mother always wanted to be in the spotlight, had dreams of making it big and becoming famous."
"What stopped her?" Emma asked.
"A wee but gorgeous baby by the name of Regina." She said smiling, "My parents met in college and got married after graduation. She got pregnant with me 6 months after that."
"She's not resentful either. She became a star in her own way by becoming Mayor." Regina told her.
"Why did your dad stop playing piano?" Emma asked remembering their conversation that day in Regina's apartment when she gave Emma the swan.
"He developed arthritis in his hands. It slowed his playing down at first but eventually he said it was too painful to play." Regina told her, "I think it was more painful for his heart than his hands that he couldn't play the same anymore."
Emma gave her a sympathetic smile and pulled her close and once again Regina rested her head on Emma's shoulder.
Killian stopped the boat then went down to the galley leaving Regina and Emma alone.
They got up from their cozy spot and Emma grabbed a handful of crackers to throw for some of the dedicated seagulls that seemed to have followed them from Storybrooke.
"So, now that you have your car, I imagine you'll be heading home soon." Regina said as she threw a cracker to a seagull who gracefully caught it in mid-air.
"I don't know." Emma said as she took a bite of one of the crackers, "I thought maybe I'd stick around for a bit. I have nowhere I really need to be."
Regina wanted to look at her but she didn't want Emma to see the hopefulness in her eyes.
Emma got closer and wrapped her arms around Regina's waist and nuzzled her neck, "I know all this seems a little nuts and if I'm moving too fast for you please let me know because the last thing I want to do is scare you away."
Regina slowly turned in Emma's arms and kissed her on the lips.
She pulled back and looked Emma in the eyes, "I'm not that easy to scare off."
When Emma woke up the rain had stopped and the skies were clear and blue. She got out of the car and stretched like she always did before getting into the driver's seat and heading down the road.
Two miles before the next town the Bug made a funny noise, steam rose from the engine.
"No, no no." Emma said, "Come on baby don't do this to me."
She started to pull the car to the side of the road as it chugged forward a few times then finally died.
Emma got out of the car cursing. She kicked the front tire and looked around before locking the doors and walked into town.
She found a local repair shop who towed her car back to the shop and the owner told her he'd store it for her till she could pay to get it fixed.
She thanked him then asked where the train station was and he pointed her in the right direction.
Emma grabbed her duffle bag filled with what little she had from the car and headed over to the train terminal. She paid cash for the ticket then waited for her departure time.
She sat down on one of the old wooden benches in the terminal and watched the clock. Her leg bounced nervously.
"You're less likely to die in a train wreck than you are flying."
Emma whipped her head to the left and there stood an older man with graying hair and a cane.
"What?" Emma asked.
Without waiting for an invitation the man sat down next to her, "There's nothing to be nervous about."
She gave him a small smile then went back to staring at the clock.
A moment passed and she looked at him, "Is that true? About the train and flying?"
The old man chuckled, "I have no clue. But it's what I tell myself every time I have to get on a train to visit my grandkids."
Emma gave him a polite smile and he smiled back at her.
"Ray Kenington." He said holding out his hand.
Emma shook it, "Emma."
"So Emma, where are you headed?" He asked her.
"Heading back East for a little vacation." Emma told him. It wasn't a complete lie. She was heading east but it wasn't for a vacation.
"Ah." He said, "I'm originally from New York but the Army took me everywhere."
"My granddaughter is home visiting from college. So I thought I would make the trip to visit her." He said, "Can you believe I have a granddaughter in college?"
"No, sir." Emma said to him.
"Neither can I." He said with a chuckle, "She spoils me though. Which should be the other way around I know but she does. And she makes the best damn, excuse my swearing, peach pie I've ever had, better than my wife's God rest her soul."
Emma's heart skipped a beat when he said that. She zoned at after that, a thought of Henry came to her mind.
"Nice day out isn't it?" Emma asked as she sat down next to Henry who was sitting on a bench by the town fountain.
He turned to her, "What are your intentions with my daughter?"
This caught Emma off guard.
"Intentions?" She asked him.
"Yes."
"Um, well Sir…. Uh Henry, we've only been dating for two weeks, I think it's a little soon to plan a wedding." Emma joked.
She looked at his face and he was serious.
"I like your daughter very much and I have absolutely no idea where this is going but I want you to know that all I want to do is make her laugh and smile. I want to make her happy and I want her to feel safe." Emma told him, "It's the best I can tell you and the best I can do."
Henry eyeballed her then said, "You might look at me and see an old man. Someone who's feeble and not quite up to snuff but let me tell you something girlie, you hurt my Regina and you will wish you'd never met this old man."
Emma had to admit she was a little intimidated.
"I can only promise that I will do my best to never hurt her." Emma told him.
He looked at her then a small smile appeared on his lips. He patted her on the thigh, "That's a good girl."
"The train is boarding."
Emma blinked a few times then looked over at Ray, "Hmm?"
"The train is boarding now."
"Oh." She said then stood up and grabbed her bag.
"I hope you have a good visit with your granddaughter." She said to him.
"Thank you." He said with a smile.
Before she could turn to leave he took her by the arm, "Whatever it is, just know it's all going to work out the way it should."
She smiled at him politely, "It's just a vacation."
"Yeah, and trains are safer than flying." He said then let go of her arm.
Emma gave him one last look before she turned and headed to her train.