The Way We Were

Chapter 3

This chapter is going to be solely focused on Emma and Regina's past, so expect some fluff and sweet moments! I gotta mix it up somehow, I don't want this story to be too depressing.

"Emma, wait up!" Regina squealed as she ran after the blonde.

Emma simply laughed and kicked off her heels. Emma's parents had volunteered to watch baby Henry for the night so the young women could go have some fun. It had only been a month since Emma had arrived in their town, but Regina could already consider her a best friend.

The woman one year shy of her young age of 19 brought life to their little town. She was mischievous and fun and kind, and she understood Regina so well. It was almost like they were two odd pieces of a puzzle that somehow fit together.

"Catch me if you can!" Emma yelled over her shoulder and stripped off the expensive dress she was wearing before running to the dock ahead of them and jumping into the freezing cold water.

Regina laughed and shook her head at the young woman before following suit. If her mother knew about this she would kill her. Just imagine: the mayor's daughter gallivanting around town and skinny-dipping with the new arrival. That would make news headlines for sure.

The women swam for a little while before Emma spotted a small row boat that was loosely tied to the docks. "Wanna go for a little ride?" The blonde asked, wiggling her eyebrows up and down with a shit-eating grin plastered on her face.

"My mother would kill me if she found out! That's not our boat!" Regina whispered loudly, afraid of a late-night boater hearing them.

"Come on, 'Gina. Live a little! I just had a baby, I want to feel normal again!" Emma pleaded.

Regina had no choice but to give in. Who could say no to that adorable face?

They both put their clothes back on and climbed into the old boat. It rocked and nearly sent them both back into the water. But they soon steadied themselves and rowed to the middle of the lake.

"It's so beautiful out here," Regina commented as she stared up into the starry night sky. "See? Aren't you glad I brought you out here?" Emma asked, lightly nudging her.

Regina looked over at the blonde, admiring how her golden hair gleamed in the moonlight and her skin glowed. Even her eyes were sparkling. Quickly, she shoved the thoughts away. Regina Mills liking a girl? That would be the end of her she was sure if her mother were to find out.

Cora was very dead set on believing that men and women belonged together. She had assured Regina that she would love her no matter what and Regina believed that, but her mother also didn't believe in grey areas. Everything was strictly black and white, there was no in-between.

The thought of women with other women disgusted her, and Regina knew that. So, she had buried her feelings inside her where no one could find them. She wanted to please her mother. She couldn't bear the thought of her mother being repulsed by her, so she stuck with the straight and narrow.

But now it seemed those feelings she had been trying to fight were resurfacing.

"What is it? Do I have something on my face?" Emma asked with a smile.

Regina smiled and shook her head. Apparently, no one had ever looked at Emma that way before. "It's nothing. I was just- spacing off."

"I know a thing or two about that," Emma said, propping her feet up on the wooden bench next to Regina. "When I was in labor with Henry I had an epidural and they had to remind me to push. I was out of it," she chuckled.

"What was it like?" Regina asked curiously. She had never met a teen mother before as their little town didn't have a lot of children. Certainly not any like Emma.