GO Cougars

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. 1998.

It was a bright and sunny day in San Diego, and Regina had just finished another day at school. The atmosphere was light, and she was in a surprisingly good mood. Perhaps it was the anticipation of the weekend or the promise of fun times with friends. Little did she know that her world was about to be shaken.

As Regina drove home, the usual cheerful scenes of the neighborhood seemed to fade into the background. Her elation was abruptly replaced by confusion and concern as she witnessed an unexpected turn of events. A police car pulled up near her house, and her father was being escorted away.

Regina's heart sank, and panic set in. In the midst of this shocking moment, her father's teachings came rushing back to her – the emergency plan he had always emphasized. With a sense of urgency, she ran to the designated spot in the woods, where a carefully buried box awaited her.

Digging it up, Regina found more than just supplies; she discovered a note, a message from her father. In that desperate moment, surrounded by uncertainty, those words became a source of comfort: "Regina: IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, LOVE YOU, DADDY." The contents of the box were not just a practical provision; they were a testament to the love and care her father had for her, even in the face of unforeseen challenges.

BURBANK, CALIFORNIA. Present day

At the Apple Store, Regina stood next to Emma, looking at AirPods. "You know, you don't have to keep buying stuff for cover... just 'cause you're in here all the time."

"I actually needed new AirPods," Regina stated.

"I'm just saying it's perfectly plausible that you're in here to discuss dinner plans with me, your girlfriend," Emma said.

Regina smirked, "Okay, sweetie, what are you in the mood for, Thai or Chinese?"

Emma furrowed her brow, "Wait, really?" Emma said. "No, I'm still digesting my Honey Nut Cheerios. Okay, I'm a little unprepared to discuss dinner plans at this point."

Regina spotted someone staring at them from across the room and pulled Emma out of the store toward Mal, watching the person as she steered a babbling Emma through.

"Oh, unless we're... unless we're not going to be actually eating. Will we be eating food or are we just saying we'll be eating food? Not that it really matters, it just... it'll factor into lunch, you know? Can I get a straight answer from you, Regina? I mean, you don't have to be so secretive or dodgy about pad Thai noodles…"

Regina stopped next to Mal, and whispered. "Bogey at your six."

Mal nodded and turned. "Roger that- secure the asset immediately." Mal stated, and Emma finally figured out something else was going down. "Take her to the Orange Orange."

Regina took the blonde directly to the castle and pushed her into the door. "Hey, ow, ow, okay, okay, okay."

"You stay here," Regina stated.

"Why, what's going on?" Emma asked.

"I couldn't shake a suspicious tail," Regina finally explained. "So until we establish the depth of the threat, you're staying put- don't move. Touch nothing. Wait for me, got it?"

"Whatever," Emma said and watched Regina leave the castle. Finally, she looked around and saw the computer on her and gushed. "Oh, wow. I can't believe I'm this close to an actual DU97. Freon-cooled, reconfigurable 30-teraflop architecture with modules for cryptanalysis and video processing. She's so beautiful."

Emma couldn't help it. She had to touch it, so she logged into the computer. Or hacked. And found all of the surveillance stuff. She scrolled through them and found the feed from the Orange Orange. There was Regina and another woman. Regina was poised to take her knife and toss it. And she figured this could be her tail she couldn't shake.

Emma enhanced the volume. "I know you, and I never forget a face." The woman was saying.

"Akward," Emma mumbled and continued to listen.

"Guess I just have one of those familiar faces," Regina stated.

"That's not it- I know you." The other woman insisted.

Regina shrugged. "I tried my hand at acting a while back."

The woman narrowed her eyes. "It'll come to me."

"I was on a national television commercial," Regina insisted. "I ate a messy cheeseburger. Maybe that's it."

The woman shook her head and was quiet a moment. "I know exactly who you are." She said with a smile finally. "We went to high school together!"

"What?" Regina stated in shock.

"Wait, wait, wait," The woman paused. "Don't tell me your name. I'll get it. I never forget a face. You look so different now. Well, for the better, I mean."

Regina shook her head in denial. "Oh, I'm sure you have me confused with someone else…"

"Roni!" The woman finally stated. "That's it: Roni Castro!"

"Roni Castro?" Emma stated in shock.

"Heather Chandler." The woman identified herself. Regina let go of the knife behind her back and shook her head imperceptively at Mal, who was just outside the door. "Well, Heather Ratner now. I married Mark Ratner. James Buchanan High, class of '98. Go, Cougars!"

Regina laughed nervously, "Heather, of course." Regina finally acknowledged. "Um, how have you been?"

Just then a really nerdy-looking guy walked into the Orange Orange. Heather turned and said. "Oh, my God, Mark, look who it is. It's Roni Castro."

Emma noticed that Regina looked uncomfortable, but she knew this was a way to learn a few things about her that she wouldn't otherwise.

"Who?" The Nerd who was her husband asked.

"Roni Castro from high school." Heather said "You know, the one."

"Oh, yeah, hi, Roni" Mark was saying as Emma finally appeared from the back room. "Heading down for the reunion this weekend?" He asked.

"Oh, no, I'm not much of a reunion person." Regina stated.

"Hey." Emma said strolling up behind the girlfriend.

Regina turned to face her and whispered. "I told you to stay put."

"I know, I just, you know... the tummy is a-rumbling." Emma stated "Emma." Regina groaned. "Yes, honey?" Emma responded, "Honey?" Heather asked looking at the two women who actually seemed to complement each other. "Is this your girlfriend?"

"Wait, you know these people, sweetie?" Emma asked Regina. "NO," Regina stated silently "I'm Heather- we all went to high school together." The woman answered Emma's question. "Come on!" Emma said with a smirk. "Of all the semi-tart Asian-influenced frozen yogurt shops in all the towns in all the world, you walked into hers?"

"I know, it's crazy, right?" Heather said. "We live in Westlake now because it's closer to Mark's work, but we go down there all the time."

"Do you? You go... go down there, huh?" Emma said trying to figure out where Regina comes from. "Weather's real nice this time of year."

Regina wanted Emma to go now. "Do you need a to-go lid?"

"Well, come on now." Mark continued the conversation. "Weather's always great in San Diego."

San Diego! Emma was ecstatic. She knows that Regina is from San Diego. At least partially. "Yes, it is!" Emma stated elated. "That's what I always say, down there in San Diego where you're from."

Emma looked over at Regina, giving her a meaningful look. Regina looked like she wanted to be anywhere but there.

"I'm Emma, by the way, but around here, people just know me as... as Roni 's Emma." Emma looked at Regina. "Roni and Emma. Emma and Roni." Emma said trying out the words.

"Emma, I'm Mark Ratner." Mark stated. Voice Recognition: MATCH VINTHROP-KELLER AERONAUTICS

Emma froze as the match went through records on that flashed through her. Emma shook her head. "Brain freeze. I think I had a little too much yogurt. Hey. What are you guys doing for dinner tonight?" Emma stated trying to convey that she had flashes to Sarah without giving it away. "You got any plans? 'Cause maybe we could all get together and reminisce about old times." Emma said.

"Sounds great." Mark stated. "I mean, any friends of Roni are friends of mine." Emma said with a shrug.

"Oh, I don't know, Emma, it might be pretty boring for you to take a trip down memory lane with us." Regina said to the blonde pulling at a curl.

"Good God, no, not at all." Emma stated. "I can't think of anything that I'd rather do than spend an evening learning all about... my Roni." Emma stated.

If looks could kill, Emma would be skewered. Regina clearly did not want to be anywhere near her past. But once she knew what Emma had seen, she would have to relent. The tension in the air was palpable, and Regina's eyes spoke volumes about the discomfort she felt at the unexpected intersection of her past and present. Emma, however, was undeterred, determined to unravel the enigma that was Regina's history. The unspoken conflict simmered beneath the surface, waiting for the moment Regina would have to confront the secrets she had guarded so fiercely.