Star-Crossed Lovers

by emmasyellowbug

Summary:

A letter in an antique desk inspires a 21st century woman (Emma Swan) to correspond with its author, a woman (Regina Mills) from the 1800's.

Notes:

So I watched this film titled The Love Letter and it just inspired me to turn it into a SQ ff, with my own changes (of course). I will try to stay as close to the film as possible, but all it's dialogue will be my own and I will be writing from memory. I plan on doing A LOT of writing so I ask that you are patient. For now, I hope that all my lovely readers will give this story a try and will enjoy it just as much. Let's see how this journey goes! :)

Chapter 1: An Old Antique Shop

Notes:

*DO NOT* Ask to translate this story (or any of my stories) into different languages. Especially not to be used for other fandoms. I ask that you kindly respect my stories, and leave them within the SQ community. I write for SQ ONLY.

A blonde, now twenty-seven year old woman sipped on her steaming hot cup of coffee and held a bear claw in her other hand. No matter how much her mother told her she would someday die of a heart attack from eating that daily pastry. Today would not be that day! Not on her birthday. Not when her mother made her wake up early on a Saturday to go to this new antique pawn shop with her. Not that she minded, especially when she loved her share of antiques.

“Oh! We’re here!” The older woman beamed, rushing toward the old framed door of the shop.

The twenty-seven year old woman chewed down on her last piece of pastry, tossing away the remainder of her coffee near a garbage can before rushing to hold the door open for her mother.

“Welcome!” A man in a dark gray suit smiled their way once he heard the bell above his door jingle. Signs of a new customer.

The shop was as old as everything inside of it. It smelled old, which was a scent mother and daughter both favored. The wooden floors were clean yet they creaked, which went well with the place. The atmosphere wasn’t hot nor cold, but just right, which meant that the birthday girl didn’t have to remove her red leather jacket.

The man limped from behind the cash register, holding on strongly to his cane for support as he made his way toward both women. “I was wondering if anyone would ever stop by. I’m Robert Gold.” He stretched out his hand as a form of introduction.

“Mary Margaret.” The older, gray, pixie-haired woman shook the man’s hand first, a warm smile to her.

“Ah,” Gold’s eyes moved toward the young blonde standing beside her.

“Emma,” The blonde shook the man’s hand with a firm shake of her own and a matching smile like her mother’s. Although the woman would argue with her that it was more like her father’s.

“It’s a pleasure. Please, have a look around.” He motioned toward his shop proudly, keeping a close eye on them as they began to equally explore around the small place. He knew when to appreciate a good customer; and Emma and Mary Margaret were customers that surely appreciated valuable antiques.

“Emma, look,” the older woman beamed, her eyes and hands carefully exploring a beautiful white gown that hung right by the shop window.

“That’s beautiful.” Emma smiled, standing right behind her mother. “Why don’t you try it on? It looks to be about your size.”

“Oh, you can’t- I’m afraid,” Gold gave both women an apologetic look. “I’m afraid it’s very old. And it was my mother’s.”

“Oh! How nice,” Mary Margaret gave the man a smile that assured him she did not feel bad for not trying it on. “I’m sure your mother had great taste.”

“She did,” the man nodded, resting both hands at the top of his cane.

Emma moved along the shop, leaving her mother and the owner to have their conversation. Her green eyes explored a couple of wooden toys, and a tin toy fire truck that looked to be from the 1940’s era. She carefully reached for the toy truck, feeling it’s weight pressed against her hands.

“That took me quite a while to restore to its natural condition.” Gold smiled proudly, his eyes on the blonde.

Emma quickly sat the truck back to its place. “It’s beautiful.”

Gold hummed in agreement, “Are you a collector?” He asked.

“On the side,” Emma’s head tilted up, glancing at other antiques that were too high up to get a good look at before looking back at him. “Originally I’m an editor for a book company.”

“Ah!” The man’s eyebrows hit his hairline. “An editor, you say? Well, every editor- just like every writer needs a good desk.” He motioned toward an area to his left of the shop for her to see. “This is where I have most of my new items that have recently come in.”

Emma’s eyes, along with her mother’s, moved to an old spinet wooden desk that immediately piqued her interest. It was clearly used, but in terrific shape, the wood a light brown color that the blonde had to admit would look perfect sitting in her apartment. Every small drawer was in place, and amazingly, not a single scratch was on it. If anything, all it could use was a good polish and it would look brand new. Not at all an impossible task for Emma. This desk would beat the old folding table she had her desktop sitting on.

And judging from her mother’s surprised gasp. Emma would say that she too was impressed by it.

“What a beautiful desk!” Mary Margaret was drooling.

Gold smiled proudly, his hand grabbing onto the edge of it, “It’s very strong, no parts are broken.” He pulled on one of the small drawers. “As you can see.”

Emma crossed her arms over her chest, silently observing the desk. She wasn’t sure why. But something inside of her wanted it.

“How much?” She finally asked, her eyes never leaving the desk.

“Eight hundred.” The man was serious. So serious that both women’s mouths fell open.

“That’s a lot of money!” The older woman’s eyes were as wide as saucers.

“Well, it’s an old desk and in great condition. It’s from the civil war era, I believe. Or World War,” his brow knitted. “I forget which.”

“Really?” Emma’s eyes fell on Gold. “Could you do six hundred?”

“Emma!” Her mother gawked. She knew Emma loved this desk as much as she, but not even she would pay eight or six hundred for it.

Gold smirked, “It’s in great condition.”

“Yes, but it could use some polishing, which I can see you’ve neglected to do. And it’s not exactly complete, is it? Not without it’s chair.” The corner to the blonde’s lip tilted upward.

She could see it on the man’s face that he was impressed with her knowledge of antiques. “I see you are a girl who appreciates historicals.”

“I learned from the best,” her hands landed gently on her mother’s shoulders.

Gold’s eyes glanced down at the desk before looking back at Emma, shaking his head. “No. Sorry.”

“Last offer. Seven hundred.” Emma pressed on.

“Emma, I really don’t think you should be spending so much money-”

“It’s okay, mom,” she whispered, looking over at Gold. “So?” She walked closer to him, extending her hand.

The man’s eyes fell on the blonde’s pale hand, seeing her strength of not backing down from this offer. It was her final word, just as she said. His hand lifted, firmly wrapping around her own. “Sold.”

Emma grinned, fishing for her wallet which she carried in the back pocket of her jeans, counting seven hundred in front of Gold before handing him the bills.

“Bring your vehicle around the back and I shall help you carry it.” Gold nodded toward the back.

“Excellent. Thank you.” Emma grinned happily at her still shocked mother, placing her wallet back in her pocket. “What?” Her smile gone.

“Seven hundred, Emma?” She repeated the amount out loud, trying to cope with her daughter’s insane decision. “Whatever happened to saving money for-?”

“We have plenty of money. You don’t need to worry.” She leaned in, placing a kiss to her mother’s cheek. Her hand reaching out for the truck’s keys this time. “It’s a good thing we brought dad’s truck, huh?”

“Yeah. Good thing.” She followed her crazy daughter out of the shop.

Chapter 2: An Old Letter

Notes:

A quick thank you to all who moved onto the next chapter. More will be posted later on, but I gladly accept reviews as motivation. :)

Good thing indeed. Her father’s truck was well kept, and it was the only vehicle her mother would drive nowadays. Being the romantic she was; she said it would make her feel closer to her late husband. Emma believed that, because she could feel him with her too every time she drove it.

“And lift!” Emma pulled with all her might, carefully, so that Gold could just push the desk forward while she pulled on the sheet that they had placed it on. So that it would just slip on into the back of the truck. A handy trick she learned from her father.

“Oh, Emma! Sweetheart, be careful.” Mary Margaret, being the all worried mother that she was, stood aside and did just that.

Gold grunted with that last push he gave, smiling happily once the desk was up on the truck, leaving the rest to the blonde, who quickly began to strap it well in place.

“Enjoy your purchase.” He grinned, watching how easy the blonde jumped off the back of the truck. “If you ever wish to come back and make another purchase, feel free. My door is always open.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She reached out to shake the man’s hand once again. “Thank you.”

The man stood by, watching the blonde girl hold open the passenger door for her mother to hop in first before shutting it and rushing toward the driver’s side. He waved as the pale blue truck began to drive away, taking the antique desk to what would be its new and rightful home.
____________________

Emma’s apartment was quite spacious. It wasn’t luxurious, but she was never one to need luxury to live happy with herself. It was big with wooden floorboards on the downstairs living room that connected to her kitchen. Her leather couch sat right against a wall with her coffee table right in the center. Bookshelf after bookshelf took over the rest of the wall on the other side of the wall. And near the kitchen she had her breakfast table where she ate breakfast every morning. Near the entrance was the bathroom.

There were stairs that spiraled on their way up to the second floor where her bed was, followed by a single television set. A flat screen. That’s all she really needed.

“You bought a what?” A chuckle was heard over the blonde’s phone as she held it in between her shoulder and her ear. “Emma, what on earth would you want with an old desk?”

“What do you mean what do I want with it?” The blonde moved around her kitchen, pulling her fridge door open to reach for a bottle of water. “It’s a desk. What do you think a desk is used for?” She chuckled at her own question.

“Oh, well, if you don’t know, then you’re really in trouble.”

Emma smirked, ignoring the woman’s remark as she placed a frozen dinner tray inside her microwave, punching in the time by memory.

“Are you eating those frozen dinners again?”

“No, of course not.” She unscrewed the cap off of her water bottle, drinking a quick sip from it. “I had a nice birthday dinner with my mom. I’m heating up leftovers. It was a big meal.”

A birthday dinner had been discussed, only what Emma was telling this other person over the phone was that instead of dinner, it had been lunch. Besides, it wasn’t that she didn’t know how to cook- she did. She just happened to love her frozen dinners. Especially after a busy day like today.

“I’m so sorry I missed your birthday. I feel awful.”

“Come on, don’t feel awful,” she walked into her living room, her eyes falling on her newly purchased desk that was placed next to her working station, near her desktop. She had decided not to place anything on it after all. “You had to work. That’s not your fault.”

“Well, I still plan on making it up to you. I fly back tomorrow.”

Emma’s fingers gently caressed the letter M that was finely engraved in the middle drawer on the desk. She couldn’t help but wonder who this desk belonged to before it became hers. It was one of the many things that fascinated her about collecting antiques. She just never really knew who-

“Emma? Are you still there?”

“Yeah. Sorry.” The blonde blinked, quickly withdrawing her hand. “Uh, listen I gotta go, okay? I just received a new email notification from my boss. Probably has some late night work for me to do.”

“Okay. Don’t work too hard. See you tomorrow.”

“See ya.” She hung up the call, clutching her phone in her hand, her eyes looking back at the mysterious yet beautiful desk.

She couldn’t understand why it was calling out to her, making her feel this pull that she had never felt with any other object that hung around her apartment. That being said, she even rushed through her frozen dinner tray to begin polishing the new addition to her home. And what a treat it was.

Learning all she did from her father before he tragically passed, Emma rolled up her sleeves to her long sleeve shirt and polished every inch of that desk with a soft cloth and substance as gently as possible. It cost her seven hundred dollars to get it, but it was worth it. She was in love with this piece of antiquity and she wasn’t even sure why. All she knew was that to see the desk shine before her as she polished it was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.

One by one, she pulled out every small drawer that came with it, polishing them and placing them right back. She had even discovered the knob to one of them was loose, which she was more than happy to retrieve her tool box, reach for a star screwdriver and tighten it back in place. By the end of each polished drawer, Emma’s hair was already picked up in a messy ponytail with a few loose strands fallen to the sides of her face.

She reached over for the rag, deciding to polish the letter M that was engraved in the middle section of the desk, discovering it to be another drawer or rather, a door of some kind. Her brows knitted with curiosity as she pulled out the drawer. Her hand reached inside the rectangular shaped compartment, making sure she polished the inside of it as well.

Emma’s head tilted to the sound of a loud click, her fingers feeling a light pull from a secret hidden handle that was just above and way inside it, revealing another secret compartment that held a thick stack of papers along with envelopes.

The blonde pulled the stack out of the rectangular compartment, holding the door lifted up with her other hand. She quickly looked through the pages. They were slightly tan colored, old looking and blank…

It wasn’t until she flipped through a few more pages that she came across a few pages that held a fine cursive name written up top of each page. Regina Mills.

Placing the stack down on top of the desk, her hand decided to reach further inside the compartment, feeling two items had been tucked away inside. As she pulled them out, Emma came to discover that she was now holding a glass bottle with what looked to be like black ink and a fine pen that looked to be from the 1800’s.

She pulled on the lid of the glass bottle very carefully, holding it close to her nose to take a whiff. It was definitely ink. She knew the smell of it anywhere. And judging from it’s smell, it was well preserved after all these years. But how? Who did this desk belong to that these items were neglected in here for so long? How is it that no one else ever discovered this secret compartment?

Curiosity peaked.

After placing the lid back on the glass bottle, she placed the newly found items aside, reaching for the stack of papers again. Going through them again, she then discovered an envelope had been tucked away within the pages, it’s seal was closed.

A forgotten letter? Taking her finger and using it as a tool, she inserted it between the fold of the envelope and slid it across, tearing it open with ease. The envelope had no name written in the front, so maybe this letter would say who it was for.

Emma pulled out the folded letter, reading the familiar name: Regina Mills up top of the page. Only this time, at the bottom of such name it had a date: April 16th., 1863. Green eyes followed the same fine cursive writing followed throughout the rest of the page, reading it over in her head.

Dearest,

It is after midnight and I am at last free to speak to you. Mother, father and my dear sister have grown accustomed to my late-night scribbling, and have bid me goodnight. In my twenty-nine years, I have been called upon by several gentlemen- but you are the one who occupies my thoughts. Even though you are not real. You are just as real to me as the man who has, just this night, asked for my hand in marriage. I do not love him. To please mother and father, I have tried, and sadly I know I have a duty to obey and must soon accept. But I ache for a love that burns like fire and moonlight. I speak with you in my mind and heart. If you only existed outside of them. Goodnight, my darling. Dream of me.

The corner of Emma’s lip tilted into a tiny smirk that soon disappeared. She was no stranger to letters- or rather emails, but she had never read anything quite this heartfelt and touching at the same time. She wondered who this woman- this Regina Mills- could have been and after reading that heartbreaking letter of a woman in search for a love as true as her words on that page, she desperately hoped she wasn’t forced to marry someone she did not love.

Something else she picked up from her own dear mom and dad…

Emma was an incurable romantic. And as an incurable romantic- these words had touched her heart.

Chapter 3: Storybrooke

Notes:

You guys never fail to amaze me with your endless comments! :) It makes my writing soul so happy, that I poured it all out for you guys in this new chapter and the rest to come. Happy reading and as always, a million thanks!

Phones rang and keyboard keys clanked away in the blonde’s cubicle at work. Only work was the last thing on her mind. ‘I ache for a love that burns like fire and moonlight.’ The words occupied her mind- her heart. Whoever this woman was, she must have been lonely, aching for a love that Emma hoped had come to her. Her mouse clicked away, her eyes focused on a list of antique desks that were for sale. She was in search for the one she had bought, wanting to know more about it. Why? She wasn’t sure why this mattered, but it did. She wanted to know more about its previous owner and the story behind it.

She came across one that resembled it, but the letter M was missing-

“Those manuscripts aren’t going to edit themselves, Swan,” a man’s voice startled her, whispering so close to her ear she could feel the hot breath brush against her loose wavy hair.

Her reaction was unhelped, even her hand ripped her glasses off of her face as she turned to glance at a grinning, scruffy faced, blue-eyed man standing just over her shoulder. He stood there wearing an all black suit that went real well with his persona, hair well groomed.

“Hey, Killian,” she breathed, rotating her chair so that she was facing him. “Nice,” she motioned to his suit. “Is it new?”

“Yeah,” he smiled, running his free hand down his stomach, feeling the material of the suit. “How’d you guess?”

“Just a hunch,” Emma shrugged.

“Very observant, love,” his smirk as thick as his accent. “Did you hear about Hades coming into Boston?”

She nodded, “Yeah, actually I did. It’s big, huh?”

He chuckled, “Please. Victoria got lucky. Asshole has his head so far up his ass, I’m surprised he even crawled out of it to accept her invitation to this gala.”

Emma chuckled, enjoying roasting Hades for the day as the next person, but wishing Killian would just let her be. She had other important things to focus on, given that she had finished her manuscripts on time. Her head turned as she felt the man hover over her, looking over her shoulder onto her computer screen.

“Doing a little online shopping, are we?” He asked, leaning further in. “Antiques?” He chuckled, ready to say something else, but stepped back as the blonde rotated in her chair.

“Did you need something, Jones?” Emma asked rather annoyed at the man’s intrusion.

“Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, love?” Killian asked, noticing the woman’s irritated state.

Emma had woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Not even a cup of coffee- or two- could make her calm down this morning. She didn’t know why, but not being able to stop thinking about the woman’s long lost letter made her irritated. Not the letter itself, but the knowing that she was forced to marry someone she did not love. To be married without love was the worst thing that could happen to anyone. She didn’t wish it for her.

“Sorry, it’s just…” She motioned toward her desktop.

“It’s alright,” he smiled. “Hey, are we still racing this weekend? I bought a new bicycle.”

“Of course you did.” She chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll be there. Bring your money.”

“Always.”

Emma rotated in her chair, feeling the man hover over her once again, which this time made her glare at him over her shoulder. “Jones. You’re hovering. I can’t work with you hovering over me.”

“Sorry.” He slapped her on her back playfully. “See you this weekend.”

She shook her head, placing her black framed glasses over her eyes. Nothing. Her fingers typed away at the name of the antique shop resulting with its address (which she already knew) and phone number of the place. Emma fished her cell out of her jeans pocket and quickly dialed the number, which went answered on the second ring.

“Gold’s antique shop.” A man cheerfully answered on the other end of the line.

“Yes, may I speak to the owner, please?”

“May I ask who’s calling?”

“This is Emma Swan. He may not remember me, but-”

“Ms. Swan! This is Gold.” Emma could practically hear his smile through the phone. “Of course I remember you. How’s that desk working out for you?”

The man had a good memory. “Fine, thanks.” She opened her mouth to ask her question, but was interrupted by Gold.

“Excellent! Are you looking to buy something else? I also have a website available-”

“No, it’s not about that.” She jumped right in, adjusting herself in her seat.

“Oh?”

“I actually was wondering where you might have bought the desk from before selling it to me. Do you happen to know where it came from?”

“Hm. Nothing really comes to mind right now,” Emma’s shoulders slumped. “But, I do have the papers. If you could wait for just a second, I’ll happily look through them for you.”

There was hope. “Yes!” Emma wanted to jump out of her chair, but contained herself, looking around her cubicle and tilting her head outward to make sure no one had heard. “Please, yes. I’ll- I’ll wait.”

That second was the longest second Emma had to ever wait for in her life. While waiting, she gathered a sticky note and had a pen ready, eagerly clicking it. Her leg was shaking rapidly up and down the more she had to wait.

Why did she need to know this? She wasn’t sure. But she needed to. She wanted to know that the woman from that mysterious abandoned letter was happy, and she wasn’t forced to marry someone she did not want.

Her ears perked up, her body straightened in her chair at the sound of shuffling happening at the other end of the phone.

“Ms. Swan?”

“Still here.” Her reply tried to remain as calmly as possible.

“I have that information you seek right here.” She readied her pen. “I picked it up in Storybrooke.”

Storybrooke? She had never heard of such a place. “Storybrooke? Where’s that?”

“It’s a small town up North of here, about an hour or two away. Very small population of folk. A woman sold it to me, it belonged to the only mansion that town has.”

A woman? Could it be? “Do you happen to have an address?” Emma shifted in her seat, ready to write down the address.

“Yes, uh… I believe…” Another eternity. “108 Mifflin St. There’s a whole apple orchard behind it, tall green hedges with a black bared fence. You can’t miss it.”

“Thank you,” Emma’s hand had never scribbled down anything as fast as it was at the moment.

“Mills.”

Her ears perked up again, head tilted. “Excuse me?”

“The owners of the mansion are named Mills.”

“Thanks again.” She smiled, ending the call.

She got it. Her eyes studied the last name scribbled down on the piece of sticky paper, her pen engraving over the letter M one more time. Regina Mills. She wondered who of the Mills would be living in that house. She would soon find out.
____________________

What was left to the rest of her week felt just as eternal as being on the phone with the owner of the antique shop. But finally, it was the weekend. Of course she had to get through her bicycle race with Killian first, well between him and her they had a race thing going, but it was more of a marathon practice. And with plans changing on her suddenly, the rest of her weekend was pretty free. Why not make a small drive up to Storybrooke?

A man glanced down at his stopwatch, timing his three friends as they peddled faster than they ever had before. Thank God for this trail within the woods, otherwise this heat would be the death of him standing out here. Still, that didn’t keep his white polo shirt from drenching up just a bit. He kept promising himself that he would shave but after a good look in the mirror, he decided he quite liked his beard.

“On your left, Em!” Another man shouted at the blonde, speeding up toward her left side.

Emma pedaled faster than she ever had before, the rush of wind hitting against her face. She could feel beads of sweat building up across her forehead and on the inside of her helmet. Her legs burned straight through her shorts, but she didn’t care.

“Slow down, Swan! You can’t always beat us!” Killian shouted, listening to the leaves rustle beneath his speeding tires.

“Come on, Emma!” The man with the timer shouted, cheering her on. His thumb clicked on the timer. “Time! Whoo!” He wrote down the time on his clipboard with a smirk to him. “That’s faster than last time.” Each tire of each bicycle scraped to a stop against the leaves and dirt.

“How is it that you always bloody beat us?” Killian panted, running a hand through his sweaty hair after removing his helmet.

“Her last name is Swan.” The other man said, gaining a weird look from the blonde and Killian.

“So?” Killian prompted, squirting some of his water over his head in an attempt to cool off.

“So… aren’t swans supposed to be like… really fast? Hey!” He felt water being squirted directly to his face by Killian.

“Hand me my water, will you, Aug?” Emma panted, stretching out her hand for her bottled water and taking one long cool drink.

“Yeah, I believe the answer you seek, Graham, is that they swim.” August replied. “Very majestically.” His hand smoothly motioned across the air as if it swam across a lake of water.

“Yeah, they also fly.” Graham wiped his face with a towel, his eyes on Emma. “Hey, a little help here, Em?”

“I don’t really know much about swans.” She wiped away the sweat from her neck with her towel, leaving it hanging over her to shield her from the streaks of fallen sunlight. As hopeless as a romantic that she was, she did know all there was to know about swans. She knew that once the bird reached adulthood, they could mate for life. She knew that swans were known to change partners only if their mate died, but those that were lucky loved for all eternity. Although, it’s not something she was about to share with these guys, no matter how good of friends they were.

“So, you guys ready for another run?” August clapped his hands excitedly.

All three groaned in exhaustion.

“Another one? This is our third run. Why don’t we go get some drinks, eh?” Killian could always use a good drink.

“It’s two in the afternoon,” Graham tossed his sweaty towel at the man.

“Hey, it’s six o’clock somewhere, right?” He grinned. “Who’s with me?”

Emma shook her head, “I pass. I have somewhere I need to be.”

“What- where?” Graham and the rest of the gang perked up to this newly discovered information, because Emma would never miss a good lunch or drinks with them after a race.

“Let me guess.” Killian smirked, smacking her playfully on the arm. “You got a date, aye, love?”

The blonde chuckled, her body slumping over her bike for a minute before sitting up right.

“Well, make sure you shower before you go on your hot date, Em.” August playfully tapped her bike with his clipboard.

“I’ll see you guys later. Good race.” Emma waved them off, cycling through the forest she knew by memory until she reached her trusty yellow Volkswagen beetle. She did love antiques.
____________________

A shower had been a great idea. Even if this wasn’t a date, but just a simple visit out of curiosity. She wasn’t about to drive two hours into this unknown town smelling like forest. And she hated the idea of driving with her bicycle strapped to the back of her beetle.

After some careful consideration, Emma threw on a pair of black tight jeans, a pair of old converse, a black t-shirt and her red leather jacket to add to her finishing look. Her hair was loose and smelling like apples and cinnamon. Seemed right, now that she would be going to a house that had an apple orchard outback.

She reached for the letter, which rested on top of the antique desk along with the sticky note that held the address, tucked them inside her back pocket, reached for her keys which held place inside a glass candy dish that she used more for her keys and wallet, before heading out the door.

The drive wasn’t bad. It was a nice afternoon, fairly breezy, which she quite enjoyed. Her stomach was in knots, not knowing exactly why. Well, there was the letter. What would she say to whoever answered the door? What would they say to her once she presented them with the letter?

A laid out road map that belonged to her father rested against the passenger seat, keeping her company and guiding her through her unknown voyage. Sure there was GPS, but Emma didn’t always like relying on it. ‘Trust a map more than technology,’ her father would say to her, which would bring a smile to her face all the time. That, and a necklace that belonged to him, which now proudly hung over her rear view mirror’s neck, proudly holding a circular pendant with a swan right in the middle.

After driving for a few more minutes up the road that was surrounded by nothing but a line bed of green trees. Emma’s eyes finally fell on a road sign that read Welcome to Storybrooke. And as she crossed the town line, she was in awe at how peaceful and just how small the town of Storybrooke, Maine actually was. Heads turned her way, obviously noticing the newcomer and her bright yellow car.

Emma drove past a few houses before passing Granny’s diner, along with an auto shop and a bed and breakfast that were beside it. She pulled her car over to the side of the road, next to a man working on a street light, propped up on a tall ladder.

“Excuse me!” She didn’t shout, but was loud enough for the man to hear her. He was a short, scruffy bearded man, wearing blue coveralls. He seemed like the right person to ask for directions.

“Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could tell me where to find this address?” She handed him the sticky note.

The man looked back up at the blonde after scanning through the address, handing it back to the blonde stranger. “You’re new here, aren’t you?” He asked her, curious.

Emma smiled. “Yes.”

“What’s your business here, sister?” The man asked, a little suspicious.

“Uh…” Emma’s brows knitted. “Just visiting. I- I bought this old desk that belonged to the Mills estate, and I’m returning something that was left in there. That’s all.”

The man glanced at her suspiciously, climbing down the ladder next as he leaned against the edge of the window to her car. “You’re returning something?” He asked.

Emma nodded.

The man chuckled, “Good luck.” He pointed straight ahead. “Go straight down that road, make a right at the stop sign, keep straight. You can’t miss it.”

“Thank you.” Emma drove in the direction she was instructed, heading straight, taking a right at the stop sign and going further in. She passed a library and a town hall before she saw the biggest house at the end of the street. Tall green hedges, and a black barded fence just like Gold had said. The house was bright white with dark gray around the windows and front door. A single worn out mailbox held the name Mills on the side. This was it. She was here.

Chapter 4: All One Needs is a Little Push

Notes:

I can't begin to thank each and every one of you for the amazing support that you continue to provide for this new story. :) I am having a blast creating and re-writing it for you with my own made up scenes and dialogue. This is the first story I ever write that will include actual historical facts, so I am truly writing up a storm to create something magical. Happy reading all! Depending on the number of reviews you drop, I shall update another chapter today. ;)

The Volkswagen was parked on the side of the street, right in front of the mansion. Emma glanced down at the address she had written down on the sticky note, verifying she had the right address. She did. Her mouth felt dry, her stomach was in knots because it wasn’t like she had a speech prepared or anything. She should even be here, yet here she was, in front of the Mills estate where her antique desk once had a home.

Her door creaked as she slammed it shut. She made her way up to the pathway of the house, climbed the three steps and stopped right outside the porch. What am I doing? She inhaled a couple of calming breaths.

“Hi.” She shook her head, turning her back on the front door. “Hi. I’m Emma Swan.” She tried a more polite approach, still not happy with how it sounded rolling off of her tongue.

At the sound of a loud click, Emma turned around to face the door which was parted open. An elderly gray headed woman with glasses down to the tip of her nose stood her ground. Her blue eyes glaring right at the blonde stranger that clearly came to bother.

“Good evening, ma’am-” Emma began to introduce herself.

“No.” Was the answer she was given.

“Excuse me?” Her brows knitted.

“Go away.” The woman grumbled.

Thin lips parted, “Ma’am?”

“This is private property. Turn around and leave. Now.”

“I’m sorry,” Emma blinked, “you don’t understand, I didn’t come to- whoa!” Her hands raised up in the air, her eyes wide with fear as she was now staring at the end of a barrel belonging to a shotgun the woman had aimed before her.

“Are you deaf? Do you not understand English?” The weapon cocked and the woman was walking toward the frightened blonde in a way that made the poor girl trip down the stairs and land on the dirt ground. “Don’t you city folks ever get tired of showing up here, trying to buy this property off just to send a poor defenseless woman to a group home?”

“Ma’am, I really think you have the wrong idea- I just came to-”

“We aren’t interested!” The woman sat the shotgun aside, rushing back into the house, but not before throwing one last glare of warning to the fearful blonde. “Now, you go back there and you tell them that! And the next time I catch you roaming around this property, you are leaving here with a wooden leg!”

The last thing Emma saw was the door slam shut, lock clicking to never be opened again. What the fuck just happened? She blinked, her brain still trying to process the fact that she just had a shotgun aimed right to her face by this so-called poor defenseless woman.

Standing up, Emma dusted herself off, her black jeans stained with specks of dirt. She walked defeated and deflated back toward her car, listening to the door creak as she pulled it open.
____________________

“You never told me that you were getting mail from the 1800’s.”

“Hey,” Emma’s eyes were surprised, to say the least, to spot a brunette woman glancing at her antique desk, along with the pile of old yellowed papers that she had left on top. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s nice to see you, too,” The woman smiled, walking her way toward the blonde.

“I’m sorry, Lil. It’s nice to see you,” she smiled, responding to the quick kiss that the woman gave her on the lips. Her arms wrapped around her form, feeling Lily’s arms drape around her neck. “How was your flight?” She asked.

“Fine. But, there wasn’t a second where I didn’t miss you.” Lily smirked, placing another kiss against the blonde’s lips. “I’m sorry I had to miss your birthday, and that I couldn’t come see you as soon as I arrived back home.”

Emma shook her head, “Don’t even worry about it. You’re here now.” She smiled.

She watched as Lily moved over to her desk, her finger stretched out as she pointed to it. “Where on earth did you get this?”

“Isn’t it neat?” Emma walked up to it, staring down at it proudly. “I bought it on my birthday in this antique shop my mom and I went to.”

“Oh.” Lily glanced down at it. Antiques really not being her style.

“I paid seven-hundred for it.”

“Oh!” Her eyes grew wide.

“The guy wanted it for eight, but I talked him down.”

“Not by much,” the brunette muttered. Her hand reached out to pull out one of the drawers. “You and your antiques. It’s not enough you’re into this whole civil war stuff,” her eyes looked around the blonde’s apartment ending on her micro civil war set. A replica Emma was quite proud of the Battle of Gettysburg. “Now you have to get yourself a desk that apparently… belonged to…” She checked one of the blank pages again. “Regina Mills.”

Emma reached over for the pages, taking them from the woman’s hand and placing them back against the desk. “You don’t like it?”

“Of course, I like it.” She smiled, caressing the blonde’s cheek. “I love anything you love, you know that. But…”

“But what?”

“Well, Em, aren’t we supposed to be saving up for our wedding?” Lily shrugged.

Emma smiled, “Lil between your savings and mine, we have more than enough for the wedding of your dreams.”

“You mean our dreams.” She corrected her, her brow arched.

“Right,” nodded the blonde. “We have enough. Trust me.”

The one thing Lily loved the most was feeling Emma’s embrace. It always made her feel like she was home. Like she belonged. She couldn’t help herself and pressed her lips right on hers, feeling how she instantly responded to her kiss as it slowly became passionate. But the one thing that was always a let down to her? Was that just when things were heating up, Emma always pulled away.

“What are you doing?” She asked her, feeling the edge of the desk press against her thighs.

Lily chuckled, her lips at close proximity to the blonde’s. “What does it look like, Em?” She sighed as Emma did exactly what she knew she would. Pull away.

“I don’t think-”

“What?” Asked the brunette.

Emma sighed, “Not here,” she motioned toward the desk.

“Okay,” Lily shrugged, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she walked up to the blonde in the most seductive and slow way. “Let’s go upstairs, then.”

Emma chuckled, caressing the woman’s arms in a loving manner. “I can’t. Not now. I have to meet my mom for lunch. She’s making Italian and I promised her I would stop by. I just came to take a quick shower.”

It wasn’t that Emma didn’t want to be with Lily. She did. She just wanted it to be perfect. They were engaged to be married and she had a key to her apartment to stop by whenever she wanted. She wanted it to be as special as their feelings were for one another. Her and Lily started as friends. She was there when Emma’s father passed away and never left her side. And once they started dating and getting along all the more- a proposal just seemed like the next step.

“Alright,” Lily nodded, giving her fiancee a bit of space.

“You should come along.” Emma offered her, tucking her hands inside her pockets.

“Oh, no. I can’t, I promised my mother I would help her move some stuff around the house.” Her brow furrowed as she noticed a piece of paper peeking from the blonde’s breast pocket. “What’s this?” Her hand pulled out the famous forgotten letter.

“Oh,” Emma pointed toward the desk. “It’s a letter. It was hidden in a secret compartment inside this desk.”

“You’re kidding.” Lily felt free to open it up and read through it quickly.

“No, look, come here.” Emma happily pulled out one of the bottom drawers to the desk, her hand sliding inside of the rectangular space and pulling on the hidden lever.

Lily gasped, bending down to get a better look as Emma opened up the hidden compartment. “Oh, my God… That is very cool!”

Emma grinned, eyeing the brunette beside her.

“Whoever this Regina Mills was, she must have led one hell of a life.” Lily finished reading through the letter, shaking her head. “Poor girl. Suffering alone like that with a love that didn’t exist.”

“Yeah,” Emma muttered, feeling a wave of sadness come over her. “To long for a love she probably never even found.”

“I don’t know about that. Seems to me like she might’ve ended up marrying whatever suitor was picked out for her by her family.” Lily chuckled, reading through the letter again, surprised once she felt the blonde snatch it from her prying fingers.

“H-how do you know she married him?” Brow furrowed.

“We’re talking about the 1800’s, Emma. She married him.” Lily walked past the blonde, hearing her footsteps quicken behind her. “I’ll let you get to your mother/daughter lunch. I hate making your mom wait.” She turned to face the blonde while Emma held the front door open for her. “Give her my love.” She placed a quick kiss on Emma's lips.

“I will. Call me when you’re home.” Emma smiled.

Lily waved, heading over to her car and driving away.

Emma glanced down at the woman’s letter for the hundredth time, and wondered… Did she marry whom her family wanted her to marry?
_____________________

Mary Margaret had set both plates of food and a garden salad on her small breakfast table. It was just her now, so she didn’t think a big table would be necessary. And she was happy with the extra space. She even asked that Emma bring over some wine to fit her Italian themed lunch setting.

The woman sat on her couch, gawking at the television set, volume on high, just as Jane Seymour faced the audience sitting before her in the theater and delivered her most memorable line.

“The man of my dreams has almost faded now.”

“The one I have created in my mind. The sort of man each woman dreams of in the deepest and most secret reaches of her heart.” The older woman’s eyes teared up just as she quoted the rest of the line by heart. She could not help it. It was one of her favorite movies that she could watch over and over alongside her husband.

Emma entered from the back door, just as she was instructed by her mother, to the woman practically crying over the film, just as Christopher Reeve’s beautiful face gawked at the woman on the stage with the most purest of loves and he understood that the delivered line was meant for him and only him.

She knew this was her moment, so with a wine bottle in hand, she allowed it to play it out before her and watched in silence.

“I have never known this feeling. I have lived without it all my life. Is it any wonder then that I failed to recognize you? You… who brought it to me for the first time.”

Emma glanced at the television set, unable to help herself. She knew this film too and well. She shared her fair share of moments with her parents as a kid watching it over and over. And as she watched the woman deliver her line with the most heartfelt voice, she couldn’t help but to think of the woman behind the unanswered letter.

She placed the bottle down on the coffee table, kneeling carefully beside her mother to not startle her. Her arms wrapped around the older woman’s sobbing body, deciding to help her with the last bit of line that left everyone in awe. Including its handsome protagonist.

“There is so much to say… I cannot find the words. Except for these- I love you.” Emma quoted softly, her arms wrapping harder around her mother.

“Such would I say to him, if he were really here.” Both mother and daughter finished, hearing the applause echo out of the television set.

“Oh, Emma…” Mary Margaret wheeped, embracing her daughter in a hug that she really needed. “Oh, you brought the wine!” She said once parted from their hug, quickly wiping her tears.

“Yes,” the blonde chuckled, helping her mother stand to her feet. “Shall we eat?”

“Let’s! Everything’s ready.” Mary Margaret hurried toward the table, serving herself a plate of salad and then her daughter’s while Emma filled up their glasses with wine.

“Everything looks pretty fancy. You’re really going all Italian mode on me.” She joked, placing the bottle in the center of the table before taking a seat.

“I’ll be flying to Italy soon. What better time than to start practicing the lifestyle now?” She smiled, placing the bread basket before the blonde. “You know, I was thinking… with all the money you and Lily have saved up to use on the wedding, you two should consider traveling somewhere. See the world.”

Emma’s brows hit her hairline, stabbing at a piece of tomato with her fork. “I don’t want to see the world.”

The woman glared at her. “You see, that’s your problem. You are too wrapped up in your own little world that you aren’t adventurous enough. You don’t take risks.” She served the pasta next.

“Oh, really?” A single brow arched up, “I’ll have you know, that you are speaking to a woman who just came from taking a two hour road trip to a small town called Storybrooke.”

Mary Margaret’s eyes bulged out in surprise.

“Yeah,” Emma nodded, quite proud of herself for her little adventure. A small chuckle escaped her at the memory of the elderly woman with the shotgun. It was funny now that she wasn’t dead. “You would have gotten a heart attack. This woman came out of this beautiful house, aiming a shotgun at me. Threatening to shoot me if I didn’t get off her property.”

“Emma!” Her fork clanked against her plate. “What on earth are you doing around guns? What were you doing in that town?”

The blonde sighed. “Believe it or not, I, uh…” She smiled. “I went in search of the owner of the desk I bought at the antique shop.”

“Why?” Her mother had to ask. It was unlike Emma to do anything spontaneous.

“I found a hundred and fifty-seven year old letter inside it while I was polishing it. It was a… love letter.” She smiled, playing around with a slice of tomato, moving it around with her fork. ‘I dream of you. Speak only in my mind and heart. If only you existed.’ Her cheeks turned a shade of pink as she phrased parts of it by memory.

The older woman’s lips tilted into a smile. There was a certain sparkle in her daughter’s eye. “You memorized it.” She stated the obvious.

Emma took a small sip of her wine, really it was to hide another blush and another smile behind her glass. Because yes, she had memorized that letter. Yes, she spent every night in bed for hours on end reading it over and over.

“There was just something so… sad, but beautiful about it.” She could at least admit that.

“Sad but beautiful?” Mary Margaret held her glass close to her lips. “Did you answer it?”

Answer a hundred and fifty-seven year old letter? She shook her head, “No,” even though she wanted to. “Even if I did,” because she already had, in her head at least. “Where would I mail it? It would be crazy.”

Her mother shrugged one shoulder, taking a bite of her pasta. “I don’t know. You’re only as crazy as you feel. Besides, who’s to say you won’t get an answer?”

Emma held her fork of pasta near her mouth, her eyes looking up into her mother’s- which told her- she was serious.

“You know, HG Wells believed in time travel.” she held up an index finger. “And Einstein thought that time was just another dimension. Some people believe that souls can actually travel through time. Like reincarnation.”

“Okay,” Emma wiped away at her mouth with her napkin. “No time traveling. Okay? The only place you will be traveling to is Italy and I will drive you to the airport, but not in a DeLorean, I’m afraid Marty got to the Doc before I could.”

Mary Margaret laughed, reaching out for her daughter’s hand. And as Emma took another bite out of a bread stick, gulping it down with a sip of wine, she wondered: What if I did write back?

Chapter 5: A 21st. Century Correspondence

Notes:

You guys have been so fantastic with your reviews. Keep them coming! :) To seal off the weekend, I wanted to update one more chapter for your reading pleasure. Happy reading and Happy weekend! Mentions of another time traveling movie is in this chapter, which if you haven't yet- check it out under my written fanfics as well.

“Hello?” Emma held her phone with her free hand while the other casually rested against the steering wheel while she drove back home.

“Hi, baby.” Lily smiled through the phone. “I finished early with my mom. How about I come over and we can watch one of your time traveling movies that you like so much? Like that one about the guy who buys this lake house and he corresponds with the previous owner through a mailbox. What was it?”

The corner of Emma’s lip twitched up into a smirk. “The Lake House?”

“Yeah!”

She guessed the popular topic for today was Time Travel. She did owe Lily a night together after blowing her off earlier, and Lily did owe her for missing her birthday.

“So, what do you say? Emma?”

“Yeah, sorry.” The blonde rotated her wheel to the right using her free hand. “You know, I’d actually love that. I’ll see you in an hour?”

“An hour it is. See you then.”
____________________

Emma’s eyes remained focused on one of her favorite movies about time travel and a magical mailbox that helped Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock communicate through time. Lily was passed out beside her, her head resting against her shoulder and an arm draped over her figure.

“I wish we could have done this walk together.” Sandra’s character Kate said in her last letter, stopping in her tracks as she came across a message scribbled on a train station wall that she knew was meant for her. She smiled upon reading: Kate, I’m here with you. Thanks for the lovely Saturday together.

The screen did a close up on the word: Together.

Of course this was a movie. Movie being the key word here. There was no way something like that could ever exist. But as Emma sat watching the film unravel in a low volume before her, she couldn’t help but wonder about the 19th. Century love letter that remained hidden in its rightful secret compartment.

Slowly, she reached over for a pillow, slithering her body from out of a passed out Lily’s hold, replacing the pillow with her own. The brunette shifted a little but sank into the couch, laid out from head to toe, hugging the pillow that had replaced the blonde.

Step after step, she climbed down to the first floor, looking over her shoulder to make sure Lily wouldn’t wake up. Carefully, Emma pulled out the drawer, sliding her hand inside to pull on the lever that opened up the secret compartment, all too familiar with it already. Pulling out the letter, she sat down and read through it for the millionth time.

It didn’t matter how many times she would read it over. There was something about the letter that just touched her soul as well as her heart.

‘You’re only as crazy as you feel.’ Her mother’s words drummed inside of her head, her eyes moved to the glass bottle of ink, along with the fine ink pen. Would she get a response? She glanced over her shoulder one more time, listening to the movie play out. This wasn’t The Lake House. There was no magical mailbox that would cause your mail to time travel two years ahead. This was the 19th. Century, a hundred and fifty-seven years into the past.

But what was the harm in trying?

“Alright,” she murmured to herself, looking over her shoulder one last time before reaching for one of the sheets of paper that this mysterious woman would use, along with her pen and ink bottle. Pulling the cap off she dipped the tip of the pen. Her hand hovered over the page for a moment, thinking of how she would even begin…

Dear Lady,

I’ve just read the letter in the secret drawer of your desk and wish there was something I could do to help. I know you feel an obligation to your mother and father but, you have to obey your heart. It is a mistake to marry someone you don’t love. Don’t despair. The man of your dreams may be out there in the mist, right now. Who knows… Perhaps, closer than you think. I am certain that if I were not a woman myself, I would probably be the one you seek.

A friend.

Emma glanced down at her letter, a smile slowly tugging at the corners of her lips as she quickly read it over. Her cursive wasn’t as perfect as this woman’s handwriting, but it was a reply. At least now the letter didn’t go unknown and certainly not abandoned any longer.

She folded the letter up and tucked it into one of the envelopes, lastly writing down the name Regina Mills right up front before placing it back inside the compartment, turning off her night lamp and heading up for the night.
____________________

Emma’s eyes lazily parted open to the light of a brand new day. And the scent of freshly cooked bacon traveling all the way upstairs. She rose up from her bed, dressed in a pair of pajama bottoms and a white tank top. She quickly reached for a hairband, tying her hair up in a messy ponytail as it tended to be all over the place in the mornings.

“Hey! Good morning, sleeping beauty.” Lily beamed, leaning away from the stove for a minute, same time Emma leaned in to kiss her. “You slept like a log last night.”

Emma chuckled, “I think that was you. You didn’t even make it all through the movie.”

“I’m sorry. Ugh, I had a busier day than I wanted to admit to myself, I just… nodded off.” Lily served the scrambled eggs in front of Emma on a plate that had already been set right on the breakfast bar. “But, I made you breakfast.” She served the bacon next, then rushed to pour the coffee in her favorite yellow mug.

Emma watched her in amazement. “You know you don’t have to do this, right?”

“What’s wrong with wanting to do it?” Lily pulled out the stool next to her fiancee, taking a seat after serving herself a plate. “Besides, when we get married, that’s how it’ll always be. We’ll take care of each other.” She smiled, brushing away a strand of hair from Emma’s face.

Emma smiled, chewing on a slice of bacon. “Are you going into work late today?”

“Sort of, I enjoyed our time so much last night, I called in and said I would be a little late this morning.” Lily replied, stabbing a piece of egg with her fork and popping it into her mouth. “What time are you dropping off your mom at the airport?”

“Around eleven,” the blonde took a sip of her coffee. “I meant to ask,” she sat the cup down. “Is your dad still coming to the wedding?”

Lily sighed, “Well, he said he would, but… I don’t really know. He has this whole new family now, you know.”

Emma brushed back Lily’s hair, away from her face and pulled her in for a kiss. She knew the mention of her father made her sad, especially after he re-married. “You and I,” she held her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We will make our own family. Forever.”

Lily smiled, loving the sound of her words. “You promise?”

“I promise.” Green eyes locked into Lily’s and both women leaned in for a kiss.

“We are still going to pick out our choice of silver wear and food samples for the wedding, right?” Lily asked.

“Yeah. Just let me know when and I’ll be there.”

She smiled, checking the time and rushing up off her seat. “I have to jump in the shower quickly.”

Emma looked over her shoulder at the brunette, “Lily, come on. Finish your breakfast at least.”

Lily rushed over to the plate, taking in two, three more quick bites before pecking the blonde on the lips and rushing toward her bathroom, leaving Emma to chuckle to herself and shake her head. Always in a rush.

“Hey, babe, could you do me a favor and check my cell for any missed calls?” Emma heard the brunette shouting from inside of the bathroom, the door ajar.

The blonde took another quick sip of her coffee before standing up and heading toward the living room, eyes searching for the woman’s coat. Spotting it on the couch, she reached for it, searching her pockets until she found her phone. Zero calls. Placing the cell back inside the same pocket she threw the coat back on the couch.

Her head turned toward the desk, her brain suddenly remembering her late night written correspondence, safely tucked away inside the drawer. She quickly looked over her shoulder, hearing the water from the shower running before walking up to said drawer and pulling it out.

Could it be possible that if she opened up this secret compartment, her letter would no longer be there? It was a crazy thought.

Emma bent down to check, her shoulder slumped as a wave of disappointment came over her. The letter was there. It hadn’t magically disappeared and there certainly was no reply waiting for her.

Tucking everything back inside, she closed the compartment. Chuckling, “Right,” she mumbled to herself shaking her head and heading upstairs to change. Feeling utterly stupid for even believing that a simple desk would be the vessel to communicate with a woman that no longer existed on earth.

Life wasn’t a movie. She didn’t have a time machine like in her mother’s favorite movie, or a DeLorean that would take her into the 1800’s. And this desk certainly wasn’t magical like The Lake House.
____________________

Mary Margaret flipped through a set of old collector’s albums that once belonged to her husband, a smile tugging at her lips as she spotted it.

“Hey, mom,” Emma greeted her with a smile, entering from the back door as she was accustomed to.

“Oh, Emma! I’m so glad you’re here!” The woman beamed.

Emma’s lips parted, surprised at the mess around the house. There were boxes and boxes of endless antique items that she was sure belonged to her father. “Mom, what is all this? You were supposed to be packing.”

“I’m packed, believe me.” She smirked, holding the stamp collection album toward her daughter. “Look at this.”

Emma leaned in, glancing down at the album.

“Your father always loved collecting these, do you remember?”

She smiled and nodded. “Yeah.”

Mary Margaret placed the album down, her eyes falling on her daughter. “Emma… what’s wrong?” Her motherly instincts kicked in.

“Nothing.” The blonde’s brow furrowed, “Why?”

The older woman glared, her hands placed on her hips.

Emma rolled her eyes, “I may have… responded to the letter.”

“You wrote back?” The woman’s eyes bulged out of excitement.

“Yeah.”

“And? Did you mail it?”

Emma glared. “Sure, mom. But you know I don’t trust the post office, so I mailed it by pony express.”

Her mother laughed, loving her daughter’s sarcastic tone. “Don’t be silly, Emma! You have to mail the letter.”

“I placed it inside the desk. It was still there this morning.”

“Well, sweetheart, that desk wasn’t yours. It belonged to whoever this woman was. If you want to see what really happens with the letter, you have to mail it.”

The blonde’s brow knitted. “I have to mail it? Are you listening to yourself right now?” She followed her mother around the house.

“Well, we are talking about the 1800’s. Maybe she needs to get your letter before she can write another back to you, in which of course the desk will work for her.” She gasped, reaching for her husband’s stamp book and flipping through the pages. “There!” She tore the piece of the page out of the book.

Emma’s eyes grew wide at the sight. Her father loved that book and didn’t want anything happening to it. “What are you doing? That’s dad’s!”

Mary Margaret held the stamp before the blonde. “First class postage from Boston to Storybrooke in 1863. It was one cent.” She dropped it in the blonde’s hand. “Be careful with that.”

“Hold on a minute, mom-”

“You need a stamp- you have an address, you have the ink, it’s the last missing piece for a perfect letter-”

“Mom-”

“It will break the barrier of time!”

Emma shook her head, “Mom, just stop! Just for a second, okay?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She knew her mother was a lover of time travel and firmly believed in all that it represented, plus reincarnation. But for this to work? It was madness. “Hang on. Let’s just say I believe this whole… time traveling letter thing- in which, of course I don’t-”

“Then why place your letter inside the desk, hoping it would disappear like that movie you like?” She grinned.

Emma’s eyes closed as she sighed. “Alright. Let’s just say I believe it and I wanted to try this,” she chuckled. “Where would you even suggest that I mail this perfectly authentic letter?”

The older woman’s brow raised, a cocky smirk to her, “I knew you were curious enough to ask me that question! So… I did some digging…” She finished inside her purse, pulling out a pamphlet and handing it to her daughter. “And discovered that a man has a post office on the North side of the city.”

“Mom, come on,” Emma laughed, she couldn’t help it, which earned her a glare from her mother.

“You may laugh,” she held out an index finger, “but this post office was built in 1857. It’s the only pre-civil war post office in existence.” She pointed to the times. “It is open twenty-four hours for deposit.” She smirked, her eyes squirting with that of mystery. “Go at night. I don’t know why, but it sounds appropriate.”

Emma held up her palm, “Hold it, mom.” She chuckled, this being the most crazy thing she would ever do in her life. If she did do it. “I get that you’re into this whole… other dimensional universe thing, but… Are you even sure that this will work?”

Mary Margaret smiled. “Oh, Emma. It’s just for fun. I don’t really know if it will work. But, wouldn’t it be something truly amazing if it did?”

The blonde smiled, stretching out her arms to pull her mother into a hug.
____________________

After dropping her mother off at the airport, all Emma could seem to do was think about the crazy woman’s words. Deep down, even Emma would love to believe that time travel was actually quite possible. That maybe reincarnation was true and we were just all blocked from our past memories to save us any heartache that we might have lived. But it was crazy.

Wasn’t it?

Releasing a deep sigh while lying in bed, she turned to glance at her clock which was placed on her bedside table. 2:23am. That was the time. And she couldn’t sleep because deep down she was curious, too.

‘You’re only as crazy as you feel.’ And right now Emma was feeling pretty crazy. Crazy Curious. Not that she was expecting for anything to happen. But, a part of her- she wasn’t sure why or what part- was pushing her to drive up to that 19th. Century post office and mail her letter. Maybe it would bring whoever wrote this letter some sense of peace from beyond the grave.

Screw it. That being said in her head, Emma rushed out of the comfort of her bed, quickly dressing up in a pair of jeans, her shoes and just throwing her jacket on top of her tank top. Rushing down the steps, she reached for her wallet, and her keys, placing them on the desk while she reached out for her corresponding letter and wrote down the exact same address right at the bottom of the unknown woman’s name. Using the ink pen. ‘It has to be complete to break the barrier.’ Her mother’s words sounded in her head.

Tucking her letter inside of her jacket, she rushed out the door and mounted her car, speeding off into the night and toward her destination.

The drive was a good forty-five minutes, but the traffic around this time wasn’t too bad, so she was lucky to have made it with smooth sailing. Her door creaked, parting open for her to climb out of the vehicle. She looked up at a tall, three floor building. Quickly glancing down at the address that was written on the pamphlet. This was it.

It was a quiet night. There were no signs of anyone around the property. No one to greet her with a shotgun at least. That still brought a chuckle to her. She pulled on the glass door of the brick building that looked modern but still had a 19th. Century feel to it. It was dark inside as she stepped in, but not dark enough to where she couldn’t see anything.

“Hello?” She called out, her call going unanswered.

Her eyes looked around and noticed a sign stuck to the wall, right beside a pick-up desk. It had numbers one through three, and labels that indicated where on what floor things were. She calmly headed up the set of stairs to the second floor, looking around until she noticed a slot that read OUT OF TOWN right up top of the rectangular slot, and LOCAL DELIVERY right at the bottom of it.

The blonde stopped right in front of the slot, glancing down at the letter she now held in her hands one last time.

Regina Mills
Storybrooke, Maine

That’s all it read, because back then during the 19th. Century, there were no street names or numbers added to addresses, much less zip codes.

“Off we go,” Emma murmured, sliding the letter into the slot and feeling it slip from her fingers.

Notes:

Prepare to enter the 19th. Century with Regina in the next chapter... ;)

Chapter 6: 1863

Notes:

You guys are on fire with your daily reviews! :) Therefore, allow me to take you into the 19th. Century now to get a glimpse of Regina's life. I did a lot of research before writing this chapter, which I have to say is truly fascinating. If you want another update, be sure to spam me with your continuous likes, reviews, and follows.

A horse carriage rode along a dirt road, the horses feet trotting along smoothly guided by mail carrier, Mr. Hopper. He rode toward the Mills estate, the exact same home in the same small town of Storybrooke. It was brighter, the hedges were about the same size, and the gated bars were just the same. The driveway was missing but there was a dirt pathway that led to the house.

“Whoa,” Mr. Hopper pulled on the reins, bringing the two horses to a halt right in front of the home. “Good day to you, Kathryn!” He tipped his top hat and smiled at the young blonde woman waiting for him just outside the home.

Kathryn worked for the Mills as a servant, and was proud to work for such a well known family. Her mother, and her mother before hers served the Mills and were always treated fairly. Her attire was very Victorian style, a long black hem, long sleeved uniform with a long white apron placed right over it, and a hat that made you think of those that a nurse would wear. Her hair was always picked up in a tight bun that was covered by her hat.

“Good day to you, Mr. Hopper!” She waved, smiling. She neared the man as he dismounted his carriage, reaching for today’s correspondence.

“Take care, now,” the man tipped his hat for the last time before mounting his carriage again.

Kathryn smiled making her way inside the house, letters in hand. She turned to the man once again as she reached the door to wave and bid him farewell one last time.

Hopper clicked his tongue, gently whipping the reins against his horses to get them to move.

One thing he loved about traveling all the way to the Mills estate? Was the beautiful sounds of music that was always heard coming from inside the house.

Kathryn glanced down at the correspondence in her hands, scanning the names quickly before closing the door behind her.

The inside of the home was all fine wood. There was a set of stairs that you could spot as soon as you entered through the front door that matched the color of walls and floor boards. There was a beautiful chandelier just above the stairs, placed right in the middle of the ceiling. Further in followed the family room where was a giant fireplace that was on top of it held a row of silver candle holders. Off to the corner was a rolled arm sofa, white cushioned and finely made, followed by two chairs that rested near one of the windows. Near them was a circular tea table, and to the right of it was a square grand, the instrument that is now known as a piano.

Very popular instrument given that it was invented around the 1700’s.

The home was well furnished, very high class for its time. It was a home that was built from the ground up by Henry Mills’ father and had been passed down to him. Which he now proudly shared with his wife Cora and two daughters Regina and Zelena.

He was a wealthy man who provided well for his family and he was proud of it. And his daughters made him proud.

Zelena was stunning, and very musically talented. Her hair was red and long, it stood out from everyone else’s in the family. Her eyes were as blue as the sea. Twenty-eight years old, and already being courted by a fine young man. While Regina, she was as natural and beautiful as they came. Her hair was as black as the night sky, brown, beautiful eyes that spoke a million words, and a smile so bright it could light up a room. Twenty-nine years old and still unmarried, which unfortunately troubled her parents.

Henry and Cora found themselves enjoying the classical piece that their daughter Zelena provided them with. And despite the piano being slightly out of tune, it was played beautifully. Her parents wore proud looks. Henry was sitting with a straight posture to him on the rolled arm sofa, his eyes glowing as he watched his daughter play. While Cora, joining them in the room, sat by the window, sipping on her morning tea. A delighted smile to her.

Fur Elise was Zelena’s most favorite piece to play for her parents. Written on April 27th, 1810 by Ludwig van Beethoven- everyone in the house loved the sound of it traveling through the house.

Kathryn entered the family room, placing today’s correspondence on a silver platter that was placed on a piece of furniture that rested behind the sofa. There were four letters today, one addressed to Regina remained right on top.

Cora’s eyes glanced out the window at a carriage that approached their home. “Kathryn, dear, Mr. White is approaching.”

Kathryn rushed toward the front door, while Henry rose to his feet. “Good day, Mr. White.”

“Good day to you,” Leopold White nodded, being greeted by Henry and his wife. The man quickly removed his top hat, respecting Cora’s presence. “Mrs. Mills,” he reached for the woman’s hand, “always lovely to see you.” Leaning down, he placed a kiss right at the back of it.

“So wonderful to see you, Mr. White.” She smiled. “Could we offer you some tea?”

“Oh, no, thank you.” He smiled, “I’m afraid, I came passing through.” The man turned to Henry, extending his hand. “Mr. Mills.”

“Good day to you, Mr. White,” Henry smiled, shaking the man’s hand.

He liked Leopold White. He was a well respectable man, recently widowed and without any children. He had met the Mills after doing business with Henry, and it wasn’t enough to say that the man was absolutely delighted with Regina. She was younger than him, but so was his first wife. And any chance he got, he would always favor to see the brunette, even if it was just for a minute.

“Off on business again?” Henry asked him.

“Fortunately, yes. However, I did not wish to part without bidding my farewell to your lovely daughter.” He smiled.

“Of course,” Henry looked toward the staircase, “Regina!” He called out, not so much in a yell but in a high enough tone of voice for his daughter to hear. “Regina?” He called out again, going unanswered.

“Zelena, dear, do you know where your sister is?” Cora turned to her daughter who immediately stopped playing.

“I believe she’s in the garden.”

“I’ll get her for you, Mr. White-” Cora smiled.

“Oh, no, that’s quite alright,” he held out his hands, “I know my way, if I may, I’d like to go myself.”

“Of course,” Cora motioned toward the way of the back door that would lead him into the garden.

Leopold smiled, walking his way through the house and out into the garden where his eyes landed on Regina as she was sitting on the field of green grass, looking over at her garden of red roses. Her journal, one of many resting on her lap while she scribbled away.

She loved the garden in her home. It gave her peace, and inspiration to work on her poetry. But her most favorite thing about it was the orchard her father kept. Even if her father was against it, she loved picking apples off the tree branches to gather for baking. He was against it, because that was no labor for a woman to do. Especially not one as fine as his daughter.

Leopold’s perfectly polished shoes stepped over the dirt and gravel trail, but even the crunching of it from underneath his shoes didn’t alert the brunette of his presence. Not when she was writing.

“Ms. Mills,” his smile widened as Regina’s beautiful features looked up at him.

“Mr. White,” Regina smiled out of politeness. She didn’t hate the man, but the thought of marriage didn’t appeal to her either. Not to him, anyway.

“I found myself in the vicinity, thought I’d take the liberty of stopping by.” The man’s heart was a mess every time he stood before her beauty.

Regina felt sick to her stomach, but forced a smile. “How nice.” Her smile always made Leopold weak at the knees. “Beautiful, aren’t they?” She decided to change the subject, as she tended to do with the man many times. “This one took a while to bloom,” her hand gently caressed a single rose, “but it came out absolutely beautiful.”

“It is very lovely,” he smiled, not exactly talking about the rose, which he could care less of. He never understood what was so special about them, but he would love anything Regina loved.

Regina’s eyes looked up at the man, judging from his smile that all he cared about was her. “It is my favorite.” She glanced back down at the pages of her journal. “I’m trying to write a poem about it.”

“I do hope you read it to me once it is completed.” The man’s eyes had the pleasure of meeting with Regina’s again. “I find your verses most…” he stared forward for a minute, his top hat resting against his forearm. “Charming.”

“Thank you.” Said the brunette, glancing back down at the words in her journal which held more meaning to her than the man’s own words.

“Please-” He held out his hand, seeing as the brunette was about to stand. “Allow me.”

Regina took the man’s hand, grateful for the help in standing, her long white gown falling, puffed out around her legs and feet. A lady revealed nothing. She held her journal in front of her with both hands, pressed against her body while walking her way around the house. Leopold right by her side.

“It looks like it’s going to be a lovely evening,” he beamed, looking up at the sky.

“Yes, I believe it is.” Regina looked down at the gravel before them for a minute. “Will you be traveling again?” She asked, not wanting to be rude to the man.

“Yes, but I shouldn’t be away for long this time. Business as usual.” He stopped right at the foot of the stairs that led into the front porch of the house, his eyes on the brunette. “I was wondering, Ms. Mills- Gina.”

Regina hated that he called her that, but as she stood up on the porch, she simply turned and smiled. “Yes, Mr. White?”

“I was wondering if you have taken time to consider the…” He drew in a sharp intake of breath to calm his nerves. “The suggestion I made to you during our previous visit.” His fingers fidgeted with his top hat as calmly as possible.

The suggestion. Regina hated that topic like she hated him calling her Gina. She was no stranger to men wanting to suit her, many had tried. But Leopold was the first one to ask for her hand in marriage. Her mother and father, of course, were delighted to the idea. And she knew she should say yes. She wanted to be a good daughter, to please her family. Her father. But deep down, very, very deep down… it wasn’t what she truly wanted.

She wanted more. She wanted love. True love. Only not with a man. That was her long kept secret. A secret so forbidden, it would be the end of the world as she knew it if her mother and father ever knew. Because the right idea was for a beautiful woman like herself to meet a man she could and would want to marry.

Regina didn’t understand these feelings or where they came from. But whenever she would look at a woman, finely dressed in a gown as beautiful as she, or some of the women that worked as letter carrier’s, wearing those uniforms that would make them stand out to the rest. She couldn’t help to allow her eyes wander beneath her long lashes to steal a quick glance.

She wished she could be as brave as those women, taking men’s jobs. Not that she wanted a man’s job. She could never see herself pretending to be one to join the military or deliver mail, but she admired those that did. Maybe it was because they did it in hiding, which made Regina feel like she wasn’t the only one hiding from what she truly wanted.

Of course, Regina had never met any other woman that felt the same way she did. It wasn’t exactly a day to day topic over a cup of tea, either. Many considered it a blasphemy to even talk about.

“Oh,” her fingers fidgeted and squeezed against her journal. “Yes, well…” She brushed her hand across the hardcover of her journal, dusting off imaginary dirt off of it. Anything to avoid as much eye contact with the man as possible. “Well, I’m still considering it.” Was her best answer.

Leopold’s face momentarily fell, but the fact that she was still considering it brought a smile back to his lips. “Glad to hear that.” He took a step forward, reaching for her hand and kissed it before walking his way back to his stagecoach, and mounting it quickly. He didn’t want to push the woman to make her decision, but he really wished she would say yes.

Looking over his shoulder quickly, he tipped his hat to her, smiling as Regina waved.

The brunette sighed once the man was a speck out of sight, her smile gone.

Everyone stood to attention, Zelena’s playing came to a halt as Regina entered the house and main room.

“I- I feel one of my headaches coming on, so I’m going to say goodnight.” She blinked, nodding to her parents. “Mother, father.” Her eyes fell on her sister. “Zelena.” Turning on the balls of her feet she began to make her way up the stairs.

Zelena knew her sister would get headaches after she was forced to deal with Leopold’s company, but she also knew this was made up just to lock herself in her room for the rest of the day, to not have to deal with her father’s persistence in marriage.

“Oh, Regina!” Her mother called out, reaching for the letter with her name on it and reaching the bottom of the stairs. “There’s a letter for you.”

Regina reached for the letter, her brow furrowed as she glanced down at it, wondering who on earth would be writing to her and why. She didn’t have many friends and those she did know would never write to her.

“Thank you, mother.” She murmured, heading back up the stairs, glancing down at the letter.

“Do feel better, dear.” Said Cora, standing her grown at the bottom of the stairs.

Regina was too focused looking at her letter to say anything else. Once she reached her bedroom, she shut the door and walked up to a circular tea table she had next to a chair, her eyes falling on her wick oil lamp that rested up top. Fish oil or other animal fat were popular to light up a flame in lamps.

She moved the wick, hovering over the flame which caused the lamp to turn brighter. Afterward, she moved over to the wall that was across from her bed, where the very same and all too familiar antique desk held its place in her bedroom.

The brunette pulled out the chair to take a seat, placing her journal on top of her desk, her hands holding out the letter that mysteriously was delivered to her. She flipped it over and tore it open, pulling out the folded paper with curiosity, when-

A knock outside her bedroom door, followed by her father’s voice calling out her name distracted her from reading it.

“Yes, father?” She called out, seeing her door open and her father entering soon after.

Henry stood before his daughter while she remained seated in front of her desk. “Your mother and I wondered if there was anything you wished to tell us.”

She shook her head, “No, father.”

The man sighed while helping himself to a seat in the chair that was beside her desk. His eyes focused on hers. “I have spoken to some length to Leopold White. And he has led me to believe that you two have come to some understanding.”

Regina glared, holding out a single digit, “I have only agreed to what you may call a prelude of an understanding.”

“I see.” Her father inhaled a slow breath, “And may this… prelude lead eventually to an actual understanding, and an engagement-” He noticed his daughter deflate before him. “And to a marriage?”

“Father,” Regina sighed, looking down at her hands, which fingers fidgeted with the material of her gown. “I don’t love him.” Her eyes looked back into his as she said this.

Of course Henry knew this. But what he couldn’t understand was how was it that his daughter not hold interest in any of the young men that were presented to her. It was unnatural for a woman her age to be without a suitor or a husband. Zelena was well on her way, and him and Cora had hoped that she could influence Regina into at least the idea of marriage. It feared him to the thought of her ending up alone with no one to provide for her.

“Regina,” he sighed, his hand reaching for hers as he spoke softly. “You are twenty-nine years old.”

“Father,” Regina placed two fingers against her temple, her eyes closing momentarily. “I know what you think is best for me. I know what’s expected of me-”

“It is not merely our expectations-” Henry shot up from the chair and paced across the room. His voice an octave higher, “It’s common sense. A woman of your years, however comfortable her situation may scarcely afford…”

Her father’s words trailed off, seeing as the brunette knew this speech by heart already. She was more interested in knowing the contents of this letter. To her surprise as she unfolded the page before her, after her eyes quickly read through the words, she knew exactly what it was. Her lips parted as a gasp escaped out of her lungs, loud enough that it caught her father’s attention.

“Regina?” He rushed toward her once he saw his daughter rest her head against her hand, her elbow propped up on the desk. “What is it? Is it another headache?”

She nodded, feeling all of her blood drain from her face to her feet. Her eyes couldn’t stop looking at the letter before her. At its words. Someone had replied to a letter that was meant to be a secret. But how? Who would find it? Who could have read it?

“What can I do?” The man asked her, concerned.

Regina’s hand reached to grip at her father’s coat, feeling his hand grab onto her own. “Nothing. I’m- I’ll be fine, father. I just…” Her eyes turned to him, her words forced out with each breath she took. “I just need to lie down for a moment.”

As much as Henry worried, he decided to leave her be; walking out of her room and shutting the door. And as soon as he did, Regina quickly pulled out the same drawer from the desk, inserted her hand inside the rectangular compartment to pull on the exact same lever that exposed the secret compartment. Her eyes grew wide as another gasp escaped her and all of the color drained from her face again. Her letter that she had written in secret, hidden away from anyone’s eyes- was gone. Vanished!

Her hand reached inside, feeling nothing but the hollow space inside the desk. She quickly reached for the letter, reading it over again and snatching up the envelope that only held her name, her city and state. Nothing else. She reached for the page again, reading over its words one more time. A friend. What friend? Who in God’s name would write to her replying to something that was dear and personal to her? Who?

“Who are you?” She murmured under her trembling breath, unable to take her eyes off of the mysterious letter. “Who are you?”

Chapter 7: A 19th. Century Correspondence

Notes:

You all keep spoiling me with constant reviews, wanting more updates, so... here it is! :) This will be the last update of the night, but come tomorrow, I give you my word there will be more. In the meantime, enjoy and keep those reviews coming. Thank you for making this story so magical for me.

The Boston Bruins were playing on the ice tonight, and Emma never missed a game. Usually she would have her father join her and they would watch it over a few beers. She missed those times, both of them shouting profanities at the TV whenever their team would badly lose. Or cheering them on every time Zdeno Chara took his hockey team to the win.

“Come on, come on, come on- yes!” She shouted with a smile spread across her lips, reaching for her cold glass of beer while taking a sip. Listening to the announcer of the game announce another scored goal.

“And that’s how it’s done.” She sat back against her leather chair, placing her glass down on the side table. Her father would be cheering down from heaven right now.

Clank! A sound coming from downstairs made Emma look over her shoulder in wonder, her eyes landing on the antique desk. What the hell? She stood from her chair, glancing quickly at the television to see the game had gone to a commercial. She clearly heard something drop inside the desk, but what? It couldn’t be a rat or another type of rodent, she would know.

And she wasn’t sure why at that moment, she felt the need to check the secret compartment of the desk. Emma pulled out the drawer, pulling on the lever to open up that compartment and leaned down to take a look.

Her eyes grew wide, her lips parted and she was sure all of the color from her face ran down to her feet after spotting a letter had been placed right inside. She might’ve even held her breath for that moment.

Where would a letter come from? Who would place in there when only she knew about this compartment. And there was Lily, but she was at home- nowhere near here. Emma was sure she was alone.

Emma reached inside, pulling out the blank envelope. It’s blank state confirming that this was in fact a new letter. A correspondence, maybe? Reaching for her letter opener, the blonde guided it through the flap very carefully, pulling out the piece of folded paper that had been stored inside. This can’t be. Her eyes remained wide as she slowly unfolded the page, seeing a very elegant cursive written in clear black ink. Old fashioned black ink like the one that she had found inside the desk. The name Regina Mills was written right at the top of the page.

Suddenly, the movie The Lake House came to mind. Magic? A magical, time traveling desk? She let out a huff of air, reading the following-

Miss,

I received your astonishing letter today and I’m amazed by your audacity. Who are you? And how could you know there was something in my secret place to be stolen? I wonder as I place this second letter in the same place as the first… Am I in the toils of some feverish dream? Or will you violate my privacy again?

In mystification,

Regina Mills

Emma’s chair scraped against her floor as her body just plopped down onto it, catching her fall. Her eyes unable to look away or stop themselves from re-reading the letter that magically appeared out of thin air. It certainly felt real, and she knew this because she was holding the actual evidence right in the grip of her fingers. Question was: How? She couldn’t be drunk, she shook her head at this thought as it crossed her mind. Not when she was barely into her first beer.

She looked up from the letter, glancing around her apartment, expecting what? She didn’t know, but if this was actually possible… If she was able to receive this woman’s correspondence through this desk that now became clear, it belonged to her, then what else was there? Magical flying carpets perhaps? A magic lamp where a genie slept for more than a hundred years? Talking mice? What else was there?

“No way… No.” She chuckled to herself at these crazy thoughts, “This isn’t happening.” She stood up from her chair, leaving the letter on top of the desk and rushed straight to the kitchen where she opened the faucet, placed her hands under the running cool water, splashing her face several times over.

After drying up, she took a few steady breaths, trying to think of a rational explanation that would make some sense. “This isn’t happening… Okay…” She drew in one more breath, mumbling to herself. “It’s a dream. Just a dream. I was watching the game and fell asleep on the couch.” That certainly made more sense.

Emma moved over into her living room, walking over to her desk expecting not to see the letter placed over the desk anymore. She was wrong. Her color ran again as the letter was in fact real.

“Okay…” She breathed, quickly sitting back down in front of the desk and reaching for the ink bottle and fine pen. “Okay.” She gathered another sheet of paper, and quickly began writing her response to the woman’s letter. Just to test the sense of time.

Dear Regina,

I’m sure you will find this as impossible to believe as I do. My name is Emma Swan. I live in Boston but not the Boston you know. The Boston I live in holds wonders you wouldn’t even believe, even if I began to tell you about them. It is truly something unimaginable. As I write this letter sitting at my desk- or rather- your desk, because I now own the desk that sits in your bedroom, I try to imagine how all of this could have happened. The only explanation I could come up with is, that for some reason the connection between us is so strong that we are able to talk to each other across the chasm of time. If I haven’t utterly terrified you. Please… Sit at our desk and write again soon.

Yours,

Emma Swan

Emma breathed out a chuckle as she folded the paper in half and placed it inside another envelope, lastly writing down Regina’s name followed by Storybrooke, Maine at the bottom of it right in front of the envelope. This was insane, wasn’t it? But it was real. Very real. It was happening and something in Emma wanted to know more. Something in her wondered if she would hear from the woman again- if she was just as curious as her- enough to write back again.

Quickly changing into a pair of jeans, and throwing on her jacket, she pocketed the letter, her wallet, and her keys and rushed out the door to the exact same post office forty-five minutes away.

During her ride there, Emma figured that maybe this worked with her heading to the post office and not leaving inside the desk, because the letter had to arrive to Regina the way mail arrived back in her time. It needed to be delivered to her personally. Whatever the case was, it was something truly out of this world.

Regina. She wasn’t sure why, but knowing the woman’s name as it was written down by her own writing made her smile.

Once the blonde arrived at the post office, she hurried up the stairs to the second floor and dropped off the letter into the same slot as before. She went to bed with a smile stretched out across her lips that night.
____________________

Regina read over the letter the next morning with fascination and a smile stretched out across her lips. Was this even real? How was it possible? What time did this Emma Swan come from that the things in her Boston would be hard for her to believe? She had heard people’s mentions of time travel before but it was preposterous. Time travel wasn’t real… This wasn’t real… Was it?

“Regina?” Zelena knocked, turning the knob and entering her sister’s bedroom.

“Zelena!” Regina gasped, quickly hiding the letter behind her back, tucking it inside a book that was just behind her, placed on her desk.

Her sister’s eyes grew wide, her body halting right at the opened door. “My God… Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” the brunette breathed out, a single hand resting against her chest. “You just startled me, that’s all.” She chuckled, trying so hard to compose herself.

“Because of the letter?” The woman’s brow lifted.

Regina’s eyes grew wide, her lips parted, her heart was a beating mess. “What letter?” She asked.

“The one you’re trying to hide from me behind your back.”

What in God’s name… “Oh!” She couldn’t think of anything to do but smile. “That letter.” She shook her head as Zelena’s smirk grew. “No. No, no, no- that…” She leaned against her desk, “That was… just another rejection from a publisher.”

She decided to keep quiet about receiving a letter from a woman she knew nothing about, but was curious to keep knowing more about. After all, how would or could she tell her sister about this? How could she tell anyone about this? It was hard enough for her to bring herself to believe such magic, she was certain everyone would think her crazy.

“Oh,” Zelena frowned, walking up to take her sister’s hand in hers. “Regina, I am so sorry. Your verses are… transcendental.”

Regina hummed, a grin spreading over her lips. She loved her sister, dearly. She was about the only one to believe in her poems. “If only Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a new literary journal, felt the same way.” She sat down in her chair.

“I still don’t understand why you don’t submit them to Mr. Glass of the magazine.” Zelena reminded her.

Regina glared up at her. “I have submitted them. I’m still awaiting a response.”

Zelena’s shoulders fell, giving her dear sister’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I am sure someone will print your verses.” She smiled warmly at her. “You just have to be patient.”

Regina smiled, nodding. She would love to believe that her poems were good enough for the world to read and fall in love with, but of that she wasn’t sure. Her eyes closed at the feel of her sister’s lips place a kiss right to her forehead before watching her walk out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

“Have your headaches gone?” The redhead asked.

Regina nodded once again. “Yes, I’m fine. I will venture into the garden later.”

“Well,” Zelena smiled. “Perhaps you can accompany mother, father and myself into town later? It’s simply not the same without you.”

“Of course.” Regina grinned. She loved venturing out into town. Her and Zelena loved their house dearly, but they always talked about someday finding a home of their own out in town.

Once she was alone, Regina quickly opened up her literature companion reaching for Emma’s letter. She placed it inside the safety of the envelope and moved toward a chest she kept at the foot of her bed. Parting the lid open, she reached for a wooden rectangular box where she kept some of her most secretive journals and poems, moved a pile of them and placed the blonde’s letter underneath.

She couldn’t fathom why, but she needed to hear back from this woman. If she was a kind enough stranger to correspond to her first letter, maybe she would be kind enough to keep corresponding.

Sitting back at her desk, or rather her’s and Emma’s now- she pulled out a blank sheet of paper, uncapped her ink bottle and with a smile to her, she freely began scratching away with her pen.

Dear Ms. Swan,

I have decided to accept that the laws of nature as they apply to you and me have been for whatever reason temporarily suspended. You have the advantage over me and that you know my deepest secrets, while I know none of yours. Tell me who you are, and how you live in your time so many years in the future. Most important of all- tell me whether this conjunction between us, which I confess, I feel as strongly as you, means that you too yearn for a deep and passionate love. Or is there already someone you love? Write soon before the laws of nature reassert themselves.

Yours,

Regina Mills

Regina couldn’t understand it, just like she couldn’t understand these feelings that bloomed inside of her. But as she placed the letter into an envelope and placed it inside of the desk’s secret compartment… She wished she didn’t feel this impatient to hear back from this kind stranger.

Chapter 8: A Friendship Blooms... And Something More

Notes:

As promised here is the next update to this story! :) I am super excited for all who have been enjoying this journey with me to read this chapter, so I shall leave you to it. Happy reading and remember to drop your reviews.

Lily and Emma spent the day looking over samples of food to serve at their wedding, and what type of plates they wanted, and all other preparations. And as much as Emma was excited about her wedding… Her mind couldn’t stop thinking about Regina. She wondered if the woman was as beautiful as the words she would write down on each letter she sent. Which she imagined she was.

“Fish or steak? What do you think?” Lily asked the blonde a question as they found themselves in a gourmet restaurant.

Instead of food, Emma remained focused on a single red rose. She didn’t know why, but it reminded her of Regina.

“Emma?” Lily called out to her, finally gaining her attention.

“Uh, why not both?” She suggested, looking back at the rose.

When they went to look at plates and silverware, Emma participated for a while, until she came across a magazine that caught her attention.

“You can have these silver ones,” a woman picked up a silver fork, showing it off to Lily. “And these napkins. They are very popular for weddings.”

“Emma?” Lily called out to the blonde, her shoulders slumping as she apparently was more interested in the magazine than actually planning for the most important day in their lives.

“I’ll… Let you two decide.” Said the woman, walking away to give the couple some privacy.

Lily walked up to the blonde, “Em?”

“Huh?” Emma looked up from the magazine, closing it as an instinct.

“Maybe we should do this another day.” Said Lily, her eyes glaring.

“No.” She shook her head.

“You don’t seem like you want to do this today. You have been distracted all day.”

“No, I’m here. I’m here.” Emma wrapped her arms around LIly and placed a kiss on her lips. “I’m sorry. Let’s go look at table cloths next, okay?” She gave the woman another kiss.

“Are you sure?” Lily glared.

“Yes. Go on ahead, I’ll meet you there. I’ll just put this back.” She waved the magazine.

“Okay. Hurry up.”

“Okay.” Once Emma saw that Lily was farther away, she flipped through the pages of the magazine, pulled out Regina’s letter that she had read for the tenth time today, folded it and placed it inside her pocket, tossing the magazine aside before catching up.

She would share the letters with Lily, but who would believe her that this was actually happening? That her and a woman who is living in the year 1863 are able to write to each other through time? Besides, she liked having a secret of her own. If only her mother was back.
____________________

Dear Gina,

You have asked some crucial questions. Do I yearn for love? Yes, of course. Am I in love?... I’m engaged to be married and… Yes, I believe I’m in love. A friend once said that when you’re in love, you light up like a Christmas tree when your lover enters the room. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way. At least… Not until last night when I found your second letter. I’m not even sure how us writing to each other is even possible- but I’m glad it is. And I’m glad it’s with you. I truly hope it never stops. As for my secrets… Well… It’s not much of a secret in my time, but I find myself attracted to women. I can imagine that for you, it would be a strange and new action.

Yours,

Emma Swan

Regina held the letter between the pages of one of her many books. She had agreed to help Zelena and Kathryn in the kitchen to bake a pound cake for dessert. She was stirring the batter but at a slow pace. Too slow for Zelena’s liking. And she wore a small smirk to her upon reading Emma’s letter. She couldn’t help but love the idea that she too felt the same as her regarding women, especially that in her time that thought or feeling was more freeing than in hers.

‘You have asked some crucial questions.’ “Have I?” Regina smirked, not realizing she spoke aloud, making Kathryn and Zelena turn in a gawk.

“Ma’am?” Kathryn asked, snapping the brunette out of her daze.

Regina blinked, staring away from the letter in her book for a moment. “Have I… added the nutmeg?” Was the best she could come up with.

“Nutmeg?” Zelena’s brow arched as she chuckled. “In the pound cake? What a peculiar recipe.”

“Cinnamon.” Regina shook her head, quickly taking a pinch of cinnamon with her fingers and dropping it inside the bowl. “I- I meant cinnamon.”

Zelena’s brow furrowed, her eyes moving to Kathryn who shrugged, clueless as to what was going on with the brunette lately. “Why don’t I stir, and you can help Kathryn?” She nodded, reaching for the wooden spoon, taking it from her sister’s hands.

“Yes,” the brunette mumbled under her breath, her eyes glued to the letter inside of her book. ‘Yes, I believe I’m in love.’ “Believe…” She murmured, walking her way toward a gawking Kathryn.

“What, ma’am?” Kathryn asked, causing Zelena to look at her distracted sister over her shoulder.

Regina pressed the book against her chest, startled to discover that she was speaking aloud once more. “I- I believe that this is going to be a delicious cake.” She smiled. “Don’t you, Kathryn?”

“If you’ll excuse me, ma’am, I’ll see to dusting now.” She simply walked out of the kitchen.

‘You light up like a Christmas when your lover enters the room.’ “A Christmas tree,” Regina grinned so big it made her cheeks hurt. She never thought of comparing a person’s happiness to a Christmas tree, much less one that had lights around it. She couldn’t even picture what that would begin to look like, but she loved the way Emma said things. And she certainly did not mind her calling her Gina.

Of course she knew what a Christmas tree was. They had one. Only it didn’t have any lights wrapped around it, and it certainly wasn’t big enough to reach the ceiling.

Zelena rolled her eyes and stood before her sister. “What in God’s name is wrong with you?” She startled her, “You have been smiling at that book all day. It’s like you aren’t even here.”

Regina closed the book, holding it close to her chest. “She does make me feel like I’m… Somewhere else.” Her smile held a similar resemblance to the lost look in her eyes.

“She?” Her sister’s brow furrowed, with an almost shocked look to her.

“Uh- uh-” Regina blinked, quickly glancing down at the hardcover of the book. “The author.” She showed the book to her sister, which was written by Jane Austen.

Zelena blinked, “Well, I am certain that Jane Austen can wait for you to finish helping me make this pound cake?”

“Yes,” Regina blinked, nodding. “I’ll just… I’ll go put this back.” She gripped her book tightly against her chest and walked out of the kitchen without another word, leaving her sister staring at her in wonder. She had never seen Regina act this strangely before.
____________________

Lily handed Emma another envelope that held one of many wedding invitations to mail out. The blonde reached for it, licking the flap and sealing it while lastly placing the stamp on the corner of it.

“Okay, so you mail half and I mail half, deal?” Lily asked.

“Yeah, sounds good.” Emma smiled, reaching for another envelope that was handed to her and sealed it. “I’ll stop by the post office on my way to pick up my mom from the airport.”

“Good.” She smiled, standing up from her seat. “I’ll make us something to eat.” She gave Emma a peck on the lips before moving into the kitchen.

Emma set her pile of invitations aside, leaving them on her breakfast table as she moved over into the kitchen to join Lily.

“Are you inviting your friends from work?” Lily asked.

“Oh, I have to. They’ll kill me otherwise if I don’t.” She joked, which made Lily laugh while she moved around in the kitchen.

“You know, I’ve been noticing a change in you…” Lily pointed out, glaring her way.

Emma’s brow furrowed, her smile half gone. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.” Lily leaned back against the counter, her eyes remaining on green ones. “You’ve just been… Different. You always have this good humor about you.”

The blonde chuckled, “And that’s a bad thing?” She moved over to the brunette, wrapping her arms around her waist.

“Oh, not at all.” Lily wrapped her arms around Emma’s neck, smiling. “I like it. Other than being a little distracted, you are usually a little grumpy after a long day at work but lately you’ve been… not grumpy.” She chuckled.

She shrugged, her smile matching Lily’s, “I’ve just been taking some time to myself. Reading a lot.”

“Well, whatever you’re reading it’s helping.” The brunette pressed her lips onto Emma’s, their kiss deepening.
____________________

Emma did drop off the invitations, and she drove over to the airport to pick up her mom, surprising the woman a bouquet of red roses, which Emma found herself picking one and keeping it for herself because she simply couldn’t help to think of Regina while looking at it. It was a strange feeling, but what wasn’t strange anymore if they were communicating through time?

On their way to dropping her off, Emma confessed everything to her mother. About going to the post office and dropping off the letter, about Regina’s responses and how they would come through the desk’s secret compartment. And about writing back to her. It felt great to be able to tell someone and realize that she wasn’t in fact crazy. She even handed the letters Regina wrote to her for her mother to read, which she had to sit down to do so.

Mary Margaret’s heart jumped to her throat in shock at holding an authentic letter with an authentic reply from someone in the 19th. Century. How could this be possible?

“So, what do you think?” Emma pushed herself off the wall and sat across from her mother, her eyes not moving from her shocked features.

“What do I think?” Her head shook, her eyes not being able to stop staring at the letters. “She’s writing back to you!” Her eyes found Emma’s as well as her smile. “How many letters does this one make?”

“Three.”

Mary Margaret glanced down at the letter before looking back at her daughter. “And you’re sure no one is-”

“Playing some sort of sick joke?” Emma shook her head. “Impossible.”

“No, Emma- this is impossible!” She glanced down at the letter once again.

The blonde chuckled, “Mom, come on. I am showing you proof, it’s not impossible.” She motioned toward the letter the woman held in her hand. “Besides, how could you think it to be impossible? Especially when you were the one who talked me into trying this.”

The woman chuckled, “Well, sure, but I never believed…” She glanced back down at the letter, not knowing the correct way to describe this.

“I know, it’s truly something out of this world. Just like Regina herself. It's incredible.” Emma smiled.

Mary Margaret’s brow lifted, noticing her daughter’s smile. “And what does Lily think of all this?” She asked, noticing Emma’s smile disappear.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” She couldn’t believe that. “A 19th. Century woman makes you smile like that and you’re telling me that doesn’t affect your fiancee one bit?”

Emma stood from the couch, turning her back on her mother to hide the blush that crept up her cheeks. But the woman was no fool. She knew what this was turning into for Emma, and she knew that look in her eye. Her daughter was starting to become infatuated.

“No, I uh…” Emma turned back to face her mother, looking into her eyes. “I didn’t tell her.”

“You didn’t tell her?” Her brows shot up in surprise. “So, not only are you writing back but you are also keeping it a secret?”

“It’s no secret, mom- I told you, didn’t I?” She motioned to the letters.

She glared. “I’m not the one you need to come clean to, Emma.”

“Come clean?” Emma scoffed, her hands placed on her hips. “Mom, come on. There’s nothing to tell. Lily will probably think I’m crazy and want to lock me up in a loony bin.”

“No, something is happening here, now you can’t fool me, Emma Swan.” Mary Margaret flashed the letters before her daughter. “And I’ll tell you what’s crazy- is that my daughter who is engaged to be married is having an affair with a woman who has been dead for over a hundred years.”

Emma’s lips parted, “Mom- we write letters. That’s not an affair.”

Of course it wasn’t an affair. Was it?

“Love letters.” Mary Margaret stated, “That you are keeping a secret from your fiancee. And what about Regina Mills?”

“What about her?” Asked Emma, her brow knitted.

“Telling her not to marry? Emma, you have no right to get involved in a life that’s already been lived.”

“If she doesn’t love the guy, she shouldn’t marry him.” She glanced down at her watch, more for a change of subject. “I have to run, I have to get to work.”

Her mother chuckled, “Emma, are you listening to yourself?” She held the blonde by her shoulders to keep her in place. Their eyes locking. “You have to stop this. Regina Mills does not exist.”

She was wrong. Because Regina does exist, and Emma knew that, she felt it.

The blonde took the letters from her mother’s hands and held them up. “If she doesn’t exist then what are these, mom? Regina wrote these. It’s her handwriting.”

Now she’s seen it all. Her daughter was going crazy. This whole wedding situation was making her lose it.

“And how can you possibly be so sure of that, Emma?” She asked the blonde.

How indeed? Emma searched her heart. “Because I know. I don’t know how I know, but I do.”

“Emma, listen to me.” She took her daughter by the hands, her voice firm but soft at once. “In this world… In the world you and I live in now, Regina Mills does not exist.” She could see a sadness take over her daughter’s eyes as she said this. It broke her heart, but she needed to be snapped back into reality.

“Then why do I feel…” Emma paused, not wanting to name what she has been feeling lately. “The way I feel?”

“And what way is that?” Mary Margaret glared questioningly at the blonde.

Emma’s heart jumped at her throat at her mother’s question. “I gotta go.” She leaned in, placing a kiss to the woman’s cheek. “Bye, mom.” Her shoes echoed as she walked out of the house, shutting the door.

Chapter 9: Matters of the Heart

Notes:

Here is another update, which turned out to be a little longer than I expected, but I know you guys won't mind it's length. :) Please continue to enjoy, spamming me with faves, follows and reviews! As for my reviewer who worries about having their heart broken, I can't say it won't happen at some point, but I promise for a happy ending.

Emma laid in bed that night, wide awake and reading through Regina’s letters once more. The woman’s words touched her heart and her soul every single time she would read them off their pages. She wasn’t sure how someone could make her heart race even through her letters, or how anyone she hasn’t even met could make her smile so much that it hurt her cheeks.

The most strange thing here was that Emma couldn’t help to feel like she knew Regina. There was a pull that just drove her right to her, like a magnet.

She didn’t know how this was even happening, but it was. And she didn’t want it to stop.

She folded the letters up, and with a deep sigh rose up from her bed and headed downstairs to sit at her desk. Their desk. Opening the secret compartment, she pulled a sheet of paper, the ink and fine pen. Dipping the tip of the pen within the ink, her hand hovered over the blank page, a smile tugging at her lips…

My dear Gina,

I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful I feel as I read your letters. I only wish I could hold you in my arms and look into your beautiful eyes. The time we spend together in our letters is the most special time of all. I go through my day waiting for your next one to arrive. I can’t explain these feelings to anyone but you-

Her hand came to a halt as she read her last line. Her eyes looked over to a picture of her and Lily, looking incredibly happy after a shared picnic as they held each other and smiled at one another. What was she doing? She looked over her own written words that had been written down on the sheet of paper. Her mother was right. This was a love letter. She was writing a love letter to a woman that wasn’t Lily, whom she was engaged to, and lo- cared for.

This was wrong. So wrong. But she had never felt so right as she did while writing these words down.

But once again, her mother’s words had been right. Regina had lived her life. Married or not, but she lived it, and in this actual time… she wasn’t here. So why did she feel this way? Why did she feel real to her? Why did she feel like her heart was ready to combust every single time she read and received a new letter?

Her eyes began to water, stinging with unshed tears that made Emma pinch the bridge of her nose and shut her eyes, fighting them back. She released a sigh as she leaned back against her chair, her eyes falling to the written letter before her.

She couldn’t do this. Most importantly and no matter how much her heart was breaking right now- because it was, and she didn’t even know why- she couldn’t do this to Lily. It just wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair when Lily was the sweetest with her, and loved her, and she was actually here. Physically here. With her. While Regina… Was not.

Reaching for her letter, she folded it in half, pulled open one of the drawers and placed it inside. She didn’t have the heart to crumble it and throw it away.

Placing her elbow on her desk, Emma rested her forehead against her hand and she didn’t know why she began to cry, allowing her tears to escape and roll down her cheeks.
____________________

Emma sat at her desk unable to concentrate on her task at hand. She couldn’t concentrate on anything lately, not since a week had gone by without writing to Regina. Without mailing out that letter that she kept safe and away in her desk. Their desk.

She didn’t understand why she felt this empty. It was unknown to her how after exchanging three letters with the woman she felt this drawn to her.

It wasn’t enough to say that she was miserable after she hadn’t written to her for an entire week.

“Swan.” Killian’s sudden appearance startled the blonde. She didn’t even realize he had been calling her name for several minutes now without so much gaining an ounce of her attention. “You alright, love?”

“Hey, Killian,” Emma breathed, putting on her best smile. “What’s up?”

“Actually, I should ask you the same question.” Killian felt at liberty to take a seat before Emma, dragging a chair that found itself in the pathway into her cubicle. “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing, I’m fine.” Emma shook her head, brow furrowed. “Why?”

“Well, you look as if you’ve been dumped.” He chuckled. “Did something happen with Lily? Is the wedding off?”

“No.” Emma replied, shaking her head once more. “Lily and I are fine. The wedding is still a go.”

Killian unbuttoned his suit jacket, shifting in his seat. “Love, you know I like to rattle your chains just for kicks, but I can also be a true friend when need be.”

This made Emma smile. “You’re always a true friend, Jones. And I appreciate it.” She sighed, because this feeling was eating her up inside. She saw no other way around it but to share what she was feeling.

“Well, I’m here if you ever want to talk, Em.” He placed a hand on her shoulder and rose up from the chair, turning to exit her cubicle.

Em. He never calls her that. “Killian,” she called out to him, looking into his eyes as he turned. “Do you want to get a coffee?”

“Yeah.” He smiled and nodded, knowing well that Emma needed to talk about whatever it was that was going on with her.
____________________

In just a matter of minutes, Emma came clean with Killian about what was troubling her. She left out the whole exchanging letters and time traveling bit, because even he wouldn’t begin to understand that. But, in her own short version of things: she met a woman and befriended her, and now is avoiding all contact because it was the right thing to do- even if she didn’t feel it was.

“So, this woman…” His hands moved in thought. “Regina?” He continued at Emma’s single nod, “You say you feel this… connection to her, aye?” Another nod. “And you say she lives in…?” His eyes squinted, trying to remember the name of the town but obviously failing.

“Storybrooke.” Emma filled in the blank.

“Wow.” He exhaled sharply as he leaned back against his booth, his arm draped over the back of hte seat. “She sounds like something out of this world.”

“Or from a different time,” she murmured, chuckling to herself. She realised another sigh, shaking her head, “Am I crazy?”

“Oh, aye.” He grinned, leaning into the table again, reaching for his cup of coffee. “But, I’ve always known that about you, love. I mean, who isn’t a little crazy nowadays?” He took a sip.

Emma’s cup remained neglected, her fingers just gently rotating it.

“But, you know, it seems to me like this woman, she’s made quite an impact on you. You say you can’t ever be together?”

The thought of being with Regina did intrigue her. How would it work? What would they do? But even she knew it was impossible.

Her head shook. “No, we can’t.”

“You are certain of this?”

She nodded.

“And Lily has no idea?” He asked again.

Another shake of the head came from Emma.

“Bloody hell, lass…” He sighed, seeing the blonde’s face fall. “Well, I’d say you have two options.”

“Which are?” Asked Emma.

“Well, you know where she lives, so one,” he held out his thumb, “I say you go pay her a visit and find out exactly if she is getting married or not. If she isn’t, then maybe she feels strongly for you. Or two,” he held out his index finger, “you face her either way, and be honest with her as to why you haven’t seen her anymore. But if it does work out and she wants to keep getting to know you then, give it a chance. At least at a friendship.”

He had a point. Maybe Regina didn’t get married in the end. And if she didn’t, then what was wrong with exchanging a few more letters? Besides, it was clear they couldn’t be together, but at least the one thing Emma could do was explain her absence. Her heart wouldn’t leave her alone if she didn’t. It beat fast at the moment with the thought of her returning to Storybrooke to be able to get more information on what became of her. And right now, there was only one person who could provide her with that information back in the town.
____________________

Regina received strange looks from her mother and father and even her sister after going out herself to retrieve the daily’s correspondence for an entire week. Especially after she would come back in with a disappointed look to her features.

She couldn’t begin to understand why Emma decided to stop corresponding. What had she done wrong? What went wrong? Even if she had developed sudden feelings for the woman, she would never do any harm as to come in between her and the person she was marrying. She would rather be friends with Emma than nothing at all.

“Sorry, ma’am, no letter for you today.” Hopper frowned at the saddened look on the woman’s face. He tipped his hat to her as he turned to walk back to his carriage.

“Mr. Hopper!” Regina called out, quickly racing out onto the porch, “Would you mind checking again, please?”

Hopper looked through his bag which hung over his shoulder, searching carefully. “No. Sorry.” He frowned, mounting his carriage and going on his way.

Regina frowned, heading back into her house and up the stairs until she made it to her bedroom. Her eyes fell on her desk as she sat before it, and reaching for a sheet of paper, readying her fine pen after dipping it in ink, she decided on sending out a letter-

Dearest,

Another week has gone by and still no letter. Are you worried that since you told me of your engagement I will think you a scoundrel for perfecting tender feelings for me? I am not so innocent as you might think, Ms. Swan. I will confess, I have danced the waltz with a woman before, even when I am not as free to do so as you. And I am an avid reader of the modern novel and quite familiar with the subject on forbidden passion. The harsh truth is- we are doomed to never touch each other. Hear each other. See each other. So what harm could there be to write to each other? If you are still there… Write to me quickly and tell me what it means to light up like a Christmas tree.

Yours,

Regina Mills
____________________

Emma’s heart couldn’t help to beat so fast, she was sure it would burst as she read over Regina’s letter while sitting at their desk. ‘What harm could there be to write to each other?’ She was right about that. Besides, Killian was right. It wouldn’t hurt to find out a little more about Regina before deciding if she would write back or not. Because truthfully… Those tender feelings as Regina called them scared the living daylights out of her and what they were doing to her with each passing day.

Folding the letter and placing it inside a drawer, Emma quickly reached for her keys and wallet before heading out of the door and driving toward her destination. This might be crazy, and she may be risking getting shot. But this was for Regina. And for Regina… Even getting shot was worth the risk.

During her drive, she couldn’t help to feel that familiar pull toward Regina. She felt like she knew her, as if they had met before and were meant to meet each other, even if it was through writing. And after the woman’s last letter, it would be a mistake to not write back.

Driving up that familiar road and entering the familiar town of Storybrooke, Emma spotted the house. Her nerves set in as she parked her yellow bug and and knocked on the door.

“You again?” The same old woman who had run out of town with a shotgun opened the door, glaring from behind her glasses.

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” the blonde reached for a white cloth that she carried in her back pocket for such occasion, waving it around in surrender. “I come in peace. I promise.”

“What do you want?” The woman crossed her arms, sighing in defeat, knowing that the blonde wasn’t going anywhere this time.

“I’m very sorry to bother you,” Emma held out her hands. “I was just wondering if you could tell me about the family that used to own this house.”

“Why?” She glared.

“Well…” Emma breathed, too afraid to say the wrong thing. “You see, I bought a desk that used to belong to one of the Mills and I simply became interested in the family. I wanted to know more about them, you see, I’m looking to write a book.” Decently said enough.

“A book, huh?” The woman’s brow knitted as she chuckled, “That’s a new one.” She sighed, seeing no threat in the stranger before her. “There isn’t much to tell about the Mills family. They were all a pretty well standard family. Well brought up.”

“Could you possibly tell me more about them? Do you know who they were?” Emma asked.

“I knew about one of them, oddly enough.” The lady nodded, “Clarise’s grandmother was a Mills.”

“Clarise?” The blonde’s brow knitted.

“That’s right,” the woman nodded. “She’s the woman I take care of.”

Emma’s lips parted. “Do you mean that there is an actual Mills living in this house, right now?”

“I’ve been caring for her for fifty years, having to deal with her temper and believe you me, it isn’t a pretty sight.”

Emma let out a small laugh, not only because of the woman’s sense of humor, but because there was still a Mills inside the house. It wasn’t Regina, but maybe she married, had a son or a daughter and they had Clarise. It was possible that she could answer any questions she had on Regina if she could just talk to her.

“Do you think… Would there be any possible way that I could speak to Mrs. Clarise?” Emma asked.

She shook her head. “I’m afraid not. Not while she’s sleeping.”

Emma frowned, but there was still one more hopeful thing she could do. “Forgive my intrusion, ma’am, but, do you think it’s possible if I ask you, if I could just take a quick look inside the house? Just to look around.”

The older woman’s brow lifted, glaring at the blonde from underneath her glasses. “And why on earth would I allow you to do that?”

“I’ll paint the house,” Emma shrugged, smiling as she heard a chuckle escape the woman before her.

“Just to look?” She asked, wanting to make sure.

Emma nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

She lifted up a single digit in warning. “If you turn out to be a lawyer for one of those no good cousins of Mrs. Clarise, or if I so much as catch you stealing anything, I warn you…”

“I know, I will walk out of here with a wooden leg.”

The woman chuckled. She liked this girl. “Come on in, then, but be quick about it.” She beckoned her inside, allowing the blonde to step inside first before shutting the door.

“Thank you,” said Emma as she set foot inside the house. Regina’s house. “I’m Emma Swan.”

The woman’s eyes fell on the blonde’s extended hand before shaking it. “Eugenia Lucas.” She said, motioning the blonde further into the house. “Well, go ahead and have that look around.”

“Thank you,” Emma nodded, her eyes drinking in the home that in her letters belonged to Regina, but used to in her time.

Everything was pretty much the same, same design, some of the furniture was the same, the chandelier above the blonde’s head was exactly the same. The living room looked wider, considering the piano was long gone and some of the tea tables were missing. There were also a different set of chairs and couches, and not a whole lot of pictures to look at. Everything was quiet except for the creak underneath the floorboards as the blonde walked along to look around. There was a scent like something old and used was lurking around, but it didn’t bother her.

She was in Regina’s home! She couldn’t help but smile at this, and wondered where Regina would be at this moment if she was here. Would she be sitting by the tea table, sipping tea? Or would she be up in her bedroom? She ran a hand over one of the tea tables in silence, desperately wishing there was something of Regina’s she could touch.

Eugenia watched the girl with curiosity. “Alright, you’ve had your look. I’d say that’s as good as it’s going to get.” She said, startling her.

“Just a minute, please,” Emma begged, looking around the living room one last time before turning back to the older woman. “You wouldn’t happen to have anything that might’ve belonged to Regina Mills?”

“Afraid not,” she shook her head. “A lot of items were thrown out before selling some of the furniture around here.”

“Thrown out?” Emma frowned. “Why?”

“A lot of the stuff was no good. But everything you see here belongs to Mrs. Clarise.”

“Eugenia?” A tired, female voice was heard coming from the second floor, causing both women from downstairs to look up. “Who is that you are talking to down there?”

Eugenia sighed, glaring at Emma. “Well, come with me. You wanted to meet her, you might as well.”

Emma happily followed the woman up the stairs and into one of the bedrooms, allowing the woman to enter first. Her hair was somewhat curly and shoulder lengthened, her eyes slowly opening and falling on Emma.

“Clarise-” Eugenia motioned to the blonde standing beside her. “This young woman here is writing a book about your grandmother and her family. She wanted to meet you.”

Clarise’s head shook, already feeling exhausted and not up for any visitors. “You’re a fool, Eugenia. The girl’s a lawyer.”

“Uh, no, ma’am, I’m afraid you are mistaken, I just came to ask you about-” Emma tried to get a word in.

“I’ve done told all of you that I’m not selling this place!” The woman became agitated, her eyes glaring. “I’m not leaving it until God decides it’s my time to go.”

“Ma’am,” Emma tried again, her voice soft. “I am simply trying to find out some information about Regina Mills.”

“A bunch of liars- all of you!” The woman waved her hand in the air, “Get out. Please, get out. Just let me be.”

Emma’s shoulders fell but she didn’t want to bother the tired woman, much less irritate her any longer.

“I warned you,” Eugenia said, beckoning Emma to follow her out of the room as she headed for the door.

“It was nice meeting you, ma’am. I’m sorry for the trouble.” Emma began walking toward the door, when-

“How do you know… about Gina?” The woman asked quite weakly.

Emma looked over her shoulder, walking a little closer to the bed, her heart racing. “I found a letter in a desk that used to belong to her. In this house.” She spoke softly.

The woman slowly smiled, “My grandmother used to tell me stories about her.”

“Your grandmother?” Emma sat at the edge of the bed, “About Regina?”

She nodded quite slowly. “They were sisters. She would always tell me how beautiful she was and how she always smelled like apples and cinnamon. I never met her.” Her voice trembled as she said this.

Emma couldn’t help but smile, because she could only imagine just how beautiful Regina was. “May I ask… Did you happen to know if Regina… Did she ever marry?” Her heart raced once again.

Clarise’s eyes shut tight, her head shaking. “I need to sleep now.” Her body slowly rotated within her bed as she turned her back on Emma.

“I need to know if she was ever married,” Emma pressed on, wanting an answer. “Ma’am?” She looked over her shoulder at Eugenia who patted it softly, telling her it was time to leave.

The woman was further down the stairs than Emma, when the blonde suddenly stopped right at the middle of the stairs. She couldn’t understand what was happening or what this feeling was, but she could swear she felt Regina’s presence on those very steps, as if she was right before her in that moment. She could even swear to the scent of apple and cinnamon lingering in the air around her. And little did Emma know; that back in the 19th. Century Regina too made an abrupt halt as she was climbing up the exact same stairs in her time, feeling the exact same thing that Emma was.

“Regina…” Emma whispered, her eyes slowly closing on her.

“Emma…” Regina’s lips tugged into a tiny smile, her lashes blinking rapidly while she held out her hand toward the air, feeling as if Emma was standing right before her now and she could actually feel her heartbeat just beneath the palm of her hand.

Emma placed her own hand over her own heart, not at all knowing how, but feeling as if Regina had reached out to touch her. She could swear to feeling the woman’s hand right underneath hers as it laid against her chest.

Regina’s eyes closed, her head tilted as she leaned into the blonde’s gentle caress that she was now placing against her cheek. How could she feel this? She did not know, but she could. And it was the most gentle touch she had ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

Neither of the women understood how this was even possible. But it was. It was happening to them then and there.

Eugenia cleared her throat, gaining the blonde’s startling attention. “Are you coming?” She asked the strange woman.

Emma blinked, looking around as she had forgotten where she was for a minute. “Yes,” she nodded. “Sorry.” She said, climbing slowly down the stairs and heading out the same way she came in.

Chapter 10: A Love That Burns Through the Chasm of Time

Notes:

I still can't believe how much you guys continue to spam my phone asking for updates on this story. Thank you all so, so much. To bid my thanks, here are two new chapters for your reading pleasure. :) Happy reading! And to the reviewer who was kind and encouraging enough to suggest that I publish this story into a book- thank you so much! I can't begin to say how much that means to me.

Keys loudly clanked against the kitchen bar as they were thrown by a racing Emma that practically flew up the steps of her apartment. She would no longer seek for answers, she didn’t even want to know how she could have possibly felt Regina while being in her house just a few hours ago. It happened and she knew it did. Her only remaining wonder was… Did Regina feel it, too?

The blonde sat at their desk, eagerly withdrawing a new sheet of paper and deciding to start a fresh new letter as the ink was pressed onto the page.

Dear Gina,

Ben Franklin named it electricity and we now use it to power machines, light our homes, and our Christmas trees. To ‘light up like a Christmas tree’ means to glow with pleasure, and I am glowing, Regina- right now. I went to your house in Storybrooke. Yes, it’s still there. A very old woman- your sister’s Zelena’s granddaughter lives in it. And I actually stood inside the house. But what surprised me the most was how I was able to feel your presence as I stood on the stairs of your home. I even felt it as I reached out and touched your cheek, your hand! I can’t help but wonder if you felt it, too… Gina… To deny what’s happened would be to deny a miracle- to deny you. Forgive my silence, it won’t happen again. I promise.

All my love,

Emma
____________________

Regina rushed to her front door to retrieve the incoming letters of the day. Because she never stopped hoping to find one holding her name.

“Good morning, Ms. Regina-” Hopper frowned at the brunette’s quick action to practically rip the letters out of his hand.

The brunette shuffled through the letters one by one until she saw it. Emma had written back! And it made her the happiest she had ever felt to be holding it in her hands, that she simply dropped the remaining letters and decided to sit outside in her garden as she began to read.

It was truly fascinating to her how Emma described some of the things that existed in her time. Her hand was placed on her own cheek, where she remembered the feel of her caress, and her heart jumped with such joy in knowing that Emma had felt her, too. The brunette couldn’t help smiling as she read through the long awaited letter, just like she couldn’t help her tears as they streamed down her cheeks.

But, what made her smile all the more were the last lines Emma had written down above her beautiful name. ‘All my love.’ She only wished she could share this letter with her sister, tell her that she would marry and have a child of her own. Show her the wondrous miracle of a Christmas tree as it was lit up brighter than the night’s sky with this so-called ‘electricity.’

After reading the letter time and time again, Regina rushed up to her bedroom, sat at their desk and began to write a response of her own, happy to feel that her heart no longer ached.

Darling Emma,

I beg you, please keep your promise. Never stop writing again or I fear I shall stop breathing- as my breath stops now at the thought of you in my house. In this very room. Amazing as it seems, I felt it, too, in the very same place by the stairs. A touch like a sweet promise. I know that we are tempting fate, and in reality there is your time and my time… But we shall live and love across time. I must confess, you make me feel like no other and were dearly missed.

Always yours,

Regina
____________________

Emma smiled so much she couldn’t even feel her cheeks anymore. She found herself carrying every new letter she would receive from Regina even to work, reading every word, memorizing every loving verse the woman would share with her. ‘Live and love across time.’ That was her favorite.

“Swan,” Killian’s voice startled her, causing his brow to lift. “You alright?”

“I’m great.” She smiled, rotating in her seat to face the man, folding the letter back up.

His eyes fell on the sheet of paper Emma protectively held within her grasp. “What’s that?”

“Nothing,” she tucked the letter in the pocket of her jeans.

“Well, that nothing sure has you smiling like a fool,” he chuckled. “Whatever it is, it must be good.” He leaned in, whispering. “Is it Regina?”

Emma glanced down at her watch, standing from her chair and patting the man on the shoulder as she headed out of her cubicle. “Come on, let’s go see about those manuscripts.”

He smiled, following the blonde on her way, “Seems like you two came to an understanding, then?”

“We did,” she smiled.

“Big race is this weekend.” He reminded her. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”
____________________

Days came and went as both women continued to exchange letters, and that pull that Emma felt more and more for Regina became even stronger. She couldn’t stop writing, she didn’t want to stop writing. She sometimes wondered if this unexplained magical communication between them would last. Regina wondered the same, although she didn’t question it. With Emma’s fascinating tales on her time, Regina just wanted to know more and would smile as big as ever every time she would receive letters that never stopped coming.

She learned about Emma’s bright yellow car that ‘resembled the morning sun’ as Regina referred to it, after the blonde had sent her a picture. Needless to say the brunette was fascinated and curious to know more about these cars. And the more they talked, the more Emma dreamed of her. She dreamed of her so much that she finally dared to ask her for a picture.

‘I dreamed of you last night, but I can’t see your face. Please, send me a picture.’ Regina read these lines over and over, hiding the letter behind an opened book while sitting out in the garden.

“Jane Austen again?” Zelena called out, gathering her smiling sister’s attention.

“Yes,” Regina smiled, nodding, looking back down at the pages or rather Emma’s letter.

“Would you like to help me pick out apples?” Zelena asked her, a basket hanging casually from her forearm.

Regina closed her book, leaving it on the bench as she reached for the other basket on the ground and picked up any fallen apples that were on the ground.

“Remember father wishes for us to look our best today.” Zelena reminded her. “We are having a picture taken.”

“A picture,” Regina murmured, her hand holding onto an apple that she slowly placed inside her basket as a smile spread across her face.

Regina always hated having her portrait taken, but the first chance she was able to have, she placed on her best dress. A Victorian all white gown, her hair was just above her shoulders and straight, decorated with a few strands of white flowers that just made her look naturally beautiful. She wanted to look her absolute best that it even shocked her mother and father and sister alike to the fact that the brunette jumped at the opportunity to have her own one taken.

“Now, you must hold still,” Said the man, grasping at Regina’s chin as he tilted her head up a little more before moving back behind his camera. He motioned toward where she should look before snapping the picture.
____________________

Emma stood before their desk, smiling down at a vintage, black and white photograph of Regina. She had sent it. She had taken a picture for her even though she hated taking pictures. And the wait was well worth it… The way Regina looked into that photograph, into her own eyes, smiling at her with the warmest smile Emma thought couldn’t possibly exist. Clarise was right- Regina was beyond beautiful-

“Hey!” Lily beamed, heading up the stairs causing Emma to quickly turn, dropping the picture onto the desk.

“Hey!” Emma smiled, wrapping her arms around Lily’s form as the woman pulled her in and kissed her.

“What’s happened?” Lily asked, noticing a glow she had never seen on Emma before.

“What?” Emma’s brow knitted.

Lily chuckled, “You look so happy,” she noted. “You’re practically glowing.”

“Well- you’re here!” Emma smiled, pulling the woman into a much tighter hug that had Lily absolutely delighted. “You’re here and we’re having a great day, we'll have a great lunch, and everything will be great.”

Lily couldn’t understand what was going on with Emma lately, but whatever it was, it certainly had her in a more optimistic mood.

She chuckled once again, parting from their hug and taking a hold of her hand. “Well, that’s great.”

“I’ll just get my helmet and we’ll go.” Emma smiled, making her way toward her bed, where she had placed her helmet.

“Alright,” Lily looked over to the papers on the blonde’s desk, spotting the black and white picture of a woman. Her brows knitted just as her head tilted, holding up the picture to have a better look. “Em?”

“Yeah?” Emma came back, holding onto her helmet, her eyes falling on the picture of Regina that was held up before her.

“Who’s this?” Lily looked back down at the picture with curiosity.

“That… Is Regina Mills.” Emma smiled, taking back the picture from the woman’s hand.

“The owner of this desk?” She chuckled at Emma’s nod. “How did you get a picture of her?”

Emma shrugged, “I went to her actual house and a woman there gave it to me.” It wasn’t entirely a lie.

The brunette’s brows shot up in shock, “You went to her house?”

“Yeah.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know, just curious. You know I’m into all this historical 19th. Century stuff.”

That she did, but still, for Emma to go to this woman’s house just for a picture was a little strange. Especially when you could get everything more easily by simply looking it up on the internet. However, they had a day ahead of them, and she didn’t want to press matters.

“Well, she’s certainly…” Lily gleaned down at the picture once again. “Very beautiful.”

“She is,” Emma murmured, glancing back down at the picture. She could feel her heart accelerate inside her chest every time she looked down at it.

“Hm,” Lily hummed, smiling as she looked back up at Emma, reaching for her hand. “I guess I’m lucky that this is a picture of a dead woman. Otherwise, I’d be worried.”

Emma chuckled, “We should get going.” She said, leaving the apartment with Lily, but not before quickly glancing over her shoulder to get one last glance at the picture sitting right on top of the desk.
____________________

“Mr. White, always a pleasure to see you,” Cora smiled, feeling the man’s lips place a gentle kiss at the top of her hand.

“Zelena, dear, do see where your sister is, hm?” Henry urged the redhead.

“Yes, father.” She excused herself to Mr. White and headed upstairs to find her sister.

“What brings you here today, Mr. White?” Cora asked.

“I was on my way to look at a land and I wondered if Regina would love to accompany me,” He smiled.

“That sounds lovely,” The woman smiled. “Doesn’t it, dear?” Her eyes fell upon her smiling husband.

“I think that would be fine,” Henry said.

Heads turned as Regina followed by her sister entered the room. Leopold’s eyes sparkled with the utmost joy at her presence.

“Gina,” he reached for her hand, placing a kiss at the back of it. “You look more lovely each time.”

“Thank you, Mr. White,” Regina forced her best smile, feeling all of the eyes in the room focused on her.

“I was wondering…” The man fidgeted with his hat to calm his nerves. “If you would enjoy taking a ride with me in my carriage for the day. I surely would love the pleasure of your company.”

“I, um…” Regina looked over to her parents, to their hopeful smiles. How could she say no? She only wished in that moment that she could be in Emma’s time, free to make her own choice, possibly enjoying a stroll with her instead of a man with the equal age as her father. But it seemed that time had other ideas.

She forced another smile, “I would be delighted, Mr. White,” her heart ached at her acceptance.

The man’s smile grew, “Wonderful.” He motioned toward the door, “After you.”

Chapter 11: Actions That Speak Louder Than Words

Notes:

Here is the other chapter, which I had a lot of fun writing. I am beyond excited to get working on what's next, because it will be a shocker lol so keep that in mind. Happy reading, all! :)

Regina wore a light brown shawl over her shoulders that matched her hat. She kept her eyes on the scenery before hers and Loepold’s journey, because even though the company wasn’t to her liking, the scenery was absolutely stunning. She only wished she could show Emma. She held an umbrella over her left shoulder that was as white as her gown. The sun beaming down provided the tall stems of grass around them a natural color to them.

“This parcel of land is for sale,” Leopold smiled, delighted to share this new found information with the beautiful brunette while he held onto the reins that guided his carriage. “I know you love nature, Gina. That is uppermost in my mind as I survey the region for a possible future home… Together.”

Regina looked over to the man’s smiling face. “I appreciate that,” she forced a smile, although still had a displeased look to her.

Meanwhile Leopold’s heart remained hopeful to gain the woman’s acceptance.

“I was wondering, Mr. White,” she continued as the man hummed, giving her all of his attention. “If you have had a chance to peruse the verses I gave you a month ago?” She asked, having given a couple of her poems to the man to take on one of his trips so that he could read over. She knew Leopold knew important editors who could help her.

“Oh, yes, yes, of course.” The man lied through his teeth. He had begun to read them, but just like everyone else, who had read Regina’s poems, didn’t think much of them. The man wanted a wife, not a poet.

“And?” Regina shifted in the carriage seat.

“They’re very…” The man blinked, putting on his best smile. “They’re very interesting… Very passionate.” He grinned, facing forward. “Perhaps might not be quite as attentive as they might be to the mechanics of the odd.” He answered truthfully.

Regina frowned at this.

“The odd meters, broken rhymes. You have aptitude. You need guidance.” His hand gently rested against the brunette’s. “I hope in the future you will allow me to provide it in all things.”

Regina’s smile was that of displease as she decided to look over to the land. Why couldn’t anyone see her poems for what they truly were? What was missing?
____________________

Dearest Emma,

Much to my displeasure I found myself on Mr. White’s carriage, looking over a land that he could spend his wealth on. I have decided to cease writing poetry. I know his regal Highness is too conventional to take me seriously until my work has been validated by others. But the truth is, my darling… There are no others. I sing but nobody listens. Except you. So I offer you the last poem I shall ever write.

Yours,

Regina

As a fan of her poems, Emma sat at their desk, reading Regina’s next letter, unable to believe how anyone could not like the woman’s poetry, when they were actually good. Emma was the main one who encouraged Regina to keep trying and to keep sending her more of her poetry.

Emma smiled reading a poem about herself. Regina actually took the time to write a poem that talked about her. She brought her poem close to her lips and kissed it, and as her eyes closed on her, she could swear the scent of apples and cinnamon lingered in the air.

She had even forgotten about her sting of jealousy she felt over this regal Highness guy. Leopold. She even hated his name, she hated that he had the pleasure of enjoying the beautiful company of someone like Regina and would decide to act like a total prick toward her poetry.

“Hey, you ready?” Lily’s voice was heard from the first floor, startling Emma and making her fold the letter and poem, tucking it inside of her suit jacket pocket.

She hated the idea of having to go to this party tonight, especially since Hades, who always looked down on everyone, thinking he was this big hot-shot publisher, would be there. But so would everyone else from work, so that helped her displeasure a little bit of having to be there.

“Yeah,” Emma decided on wearing a pair of dress pants, a simple t-shirt and a suit jacket to complete her look. Her hair was falling down her back and wavy as she made her way downstairs and out the front door with Lily by her side.
____________________

The party was dull, as predicted. Emma was on her second glass of champagne, which Killian happily provided her with. It was the only way he was able to get through the night and having to stand Mr. Head’s-Stuck-Up-His-Ass’ presence all night.

Emma watched him as the man was deep in conversation with Lily, deciding to walk over to save the girl from having to stand his presence any longer.

“Oh, Emma,” Lily smiled, snaking her arm around the blonde’s waist, “There you are.”

“I was just congratulating Lily here on your engagement,” he raised his glass to them.

“Thank you,” Said Emma, forcing a smile toward him.

Lily glanced down at her drink, “If you’ll excuse me a moment, refill.” She smiled, going on her way.

The blonde’s eyes fell on the man before her. “Big night, huh?”

“Oh, yeah,” he smiled, eyeing a stack of his books that were placed on a table beside him. Quite proud of them. “Success all around.” He gloated.

She smiled, glancing down at the man’s book. “It’s a great book. Congratulations.” She lied through her teeth. She has read some of the stuff Hades has published in the past, and she honestly couldn’t understand how people even liked it.

“Things seem to be going well for you and the girlfriend, I see.” He smirked.

“Yeah,” Emma turned to glance at Lily before looking back at Hades. “They’re good.” She took a sip of her champagne before thinking of an idea. Might not be the best of ideas, considering the man was a total prick, but she hoped he would have at least some sense of kindness in him. “Listen, Hades, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking a look at a poem for me.”

He chuckled quite arrogantly at her. “You want me to evaluate your poem right here, right now?”

Emma glared, “It’s not mine- a dear friend of mine wrote it. I think she has something truly special, so would you mind?” She asked kindly.

The man sighed, already feeling like he was wasting his time but nodded, “Sure, what the hell.”

Emma reached inside of her jacket pocket, fishing out the poem and handing it over to him. She took a drink of her champagne to help calm her nerves.

Hades looked over the short poem and couldn’t help a light arrogant laugh from escaping him.

“May I ask what’s funny?” Emma’s face fell, suddenly growing increasingly upset at the man.

“I’m sorry, I just…” He shook his head, holding up his hand, deciding to read it out loud with a mocked tone to him. ‘Stranger, not on this earth shall we meet. Thou surely I have lived a life with you, I would wait eternit-’ He laughed once again, glancing at the letter before looking back at Emma. “Tell your dear friend not to give up her day job.”

Emma’s hand snatched back the paper from his hand. “What’s the matter with it?” She asked angrily.

“Besides being old fashioned, sentimental and derivative?”

The corner to the blonde’s lip twitched in anger as she reached for a copy of the man’s book. “You mean opposed to the pretentious drivel that gets published these days?” She tossed the book back against the table causing a loud thud.

Hades glanced down to his book being tossed, growing irritated with the blonde’s strange behavior. “Just what the hell is your problem?” He asked her, his jaw clenching.

“I didn’t have a problem until ten seconds ago, when you decided to act like a complete asshole.” Emma blinked, taking one step toward him.

“An asshole?”

“Yeah.”

Heads started turning toward the argument, at least of those that happened to be earshot from it. Within them was Lily and Killian, and unfortunately Victoria Belfrey. Their boss.

Hades chuckled, looking down at the blonde given that he was only slightly taller than her, “Listen, why don’t you sit down before you hurt yourself, okay, Swan?”

“I’ll have you know that this,” Emma held up the poem to the man’s face. “Has more potential and realness than all of your shitty ass books put together.”

“Oh, really?”

“What’s going on here?” Lily asked, finally stepping in to break up the tension that had suddenly built up. Her eyes moving from Hades to Emma in question.

“Apparently, I insulted her dear friend’s poetry.” Hades spat, his eyes locked on Emma’s green ones.

Lily turned to Emma, “What’s he talking about, Em? What friend, what poetry?”

Emma looked over to Lily.

Killian could see Emma’s eyes screamed murder from across the room, so he began to move in slowly, standing behind her in silence.

“Yes, what friend, Swan?” Hades mocked. “Why don’t you explain to your fiancee why this woman’s poetry is so important to you? Well,” he breathed out a laugh. “I suppose she’d have to be, hey- maybe if you introduce us sometime, she could convince me to… Give her a helping hand-”

Hades’ glass crashed onto the floor as the man’s body slammed and fell against the table which held all of his books. Everyone’s eyes popped out, mouths fell open upon witnessing how fast Emma’s fist meeting the man’s face with a hard right. Her punch was so forcefully given, he could feel his eyes tearing up and something warm drip from his nose.

“Emma, what the hell is the matter with you?” Lily shouted in utter shock, while Killian simply stepped in front of the angered blonde. As much as he enjoyed that well deserved punch the man received, he wasn’t about to allow his friend end up in jail over it.

Emma shook her hand, feeling a shot of pain radiate through it, throwing a deathly glare to the man who was being helped up by Lily.

“Alright! Let’s not get carried away here,” Victoria spoke, standing in between everyone. Her eyes falling on Emma, “Why don’t we all,” she turned to Hades, “take a walk,” then turned back to Emma. “Hm?”

“Come on, love,” Killian wrapped his arm around the blonde and guided her out of the room.

A few murmurs were heard while everyone else stood in awe, wondering what could have happened to set her off against Hades. An answer Lily herself would like to know.

“I’m so sorry, Hades,” Lily looked at the man apologetically while his fingers were coated in blood that still dripped from his evidently broken nose.

“Em!” Killian whispered in a hush tone once they were out of earshot from everyone else, a smirk to him. “That was bloody fantastic, love!” His hand rested against her shoulder as he ignored the woman’s shocked look. “Asshole was practically choking back tears.”

Emma shook her hand once again, holding it against her chest. “Knock it off, Jones,” she murmured. “Victoria will probably have my ass for this.”

“Have your ass for punching that prick? Are you kidding?” He smirked, “If anything the woman will give you a bloody raise! Do you know how many of us have always wanted to punch that asshole?”

The blonde chuckled, looking down at her pink knuckles. They weren’t broken, but she was going to need some ice.

“Is your hand alright?” He asked her, taking a look at it.

“Better than his nose.” She mumbled, hearing Killian release a chuckle of his own.

“Nice of you to encourage her,” Lily stood in between the archway, her eyes trained on Emma.

“Uh…” Killian turned to Emma, “I’ll go get you some ice.” As she nodded he walked out of the room, giving the couple of some privacy.

Lily’s heels clicked against the marbled floor as she made her way toward her crazy fiancee, her arms crossed over her chest. “Are you going to tell me what that was about back there?”

“I’m sorry, I know- I shouldn’t have lost it like that.” Emma gripped at her hand, gently massaging it. “Hades, he’s a dick and everyone knows it. The guy had it coming to him.” She scoffed, feeling her blood boil as she remembered the man’s disgusting words toward Regina.

“Yeah, about that… Even if he did deserve a punch to the face, are you going to tell me why you took it upon yourself to be the one to punch him?”

“Nothing,” Emma shook her head, “It- it doesn’t matter.”

“Oh, no?” Lily’s brow lifted, watching her fidget with her slightly pink colored hand. “It seems like it does matter, Emma. Who is this dear friend Hades was talking about?”

The blonde sighed, running her bruised hand through her hair as she paced around the room before turning back to Lily. “I showed him a poem,” she said, seeing as the brunette wasn’t about to back down. “I just asked him as a favor to read it over. It belonged to Regina Mills.”

Lily’s face fell in annoyance at the mention of that woman’s name.

“I found it in one of the drawers of the desk, I just thought it had historical significance.”

The brunette scoffed, “Oh, it has significance alright.” Her head shook, “I can’t do this, Emma,” she murmured as she turned and began to walk out of the room. She could be a lot of things, but stupid wasn’t one of them.

“Lily,” Emma called out, rushing toward her and reaching for her arm, “Wait, hold on. Hold on a minute.” She felt the woman yank her arm away from her grip.

“What is going on with you, Emma?” Asked Lily, her eyes glassy with pools of tears that coated over her eyes.

“Nothing,” she shook her head. “Nothing’s going on. What do you mean?”

Lily’s eyes rolled, “Emma…” She scoffed, “First, you don’t tell me about the letter in the desk, then you can’t even tell me about driving down to this town where this Regina was born- or about the picture- or the poem-”

Emma’s heart accelerated inside of her chest. “Lily-”

“No, you have been a different person ever since you bought that damn desk-”

“Lil-”

“Look, Emma, if you don’t want to get married, just tell me-”

“What? What are you talking about?” Emma’s brow furrowed. “Of course I-”

Lily yanked back as Emma wanted to reach out for her, seeing more tears stream down her eyes. “No! Your actions say otherwise, Emma. You have been putting in a lot more effort into Regina Mills than in our own wedding plans.”

“That’s not true!” Emma’s lips parted, she reached for Lily, keeping her in place no matter how much she struggled. “Lily, please, just listen to me. I’m sorry, alright?” Her thumb wiped away at the woman’s fallen tear, “I’m sorry.”

Lily could do nothing more but pull the blonde into the tightest hug imaginable. She couldn’t understand why the sudden infatuation with a dead woman, but she was grateful that at least it was with someone who was dead. Her eyes closed, which caused more tears to roll down her cheeks as she felt a kiss being given to her right on her forehead.

Of course she could see the love Emma had for her, but she could also see a love radiating off of her eyes when she caught her staring at that black and white picture.

Lily pinched the bridge of her nose, sniffling before looking up at the blonde before her. “I’m going home.”

“Lily-”

Lily held up a hand, stopping her from coming close any further, “I think… I think you just need some time to really think about what it is that you want, Emma.” She sniffed, “I love you,” she chuckled at the surprised look on the blonde’s face. “I know we don’t hardly say it to each other, but I do. And I want to marry you, I do, but I really need you to think about what the right thing is for you before we continue with any more preparations.”

Emma watched the woman walk out of the room without so much as looking back, a hand raked across her hair in frustration. She was frustrated because Lily was right. They had never once said that they loved each other, not really. So did that mean that it was best to call things off? It wasn’t like she could rush back into Regina’s time and be with her either- because she couldn’t. That was the harsh reality of things, and it killed every beating in her heart because she deeply felt like the one she was meant to be with was Regina.

She was in love. With Regina.

Chapter 12: A Familiar Connection

Notes:

Okay, so given that we may have some really bad weather over in my state, I wanted to stay up to write and post this next update, just in case I can't post an extra one later today. I really hope you all read my author's notes, because this chapter has so much happening, that I hope you all don't get confused. Happy reading! :)

Admitting to herself that she was in love with Regina, a woman she could never be with, was eye-opening for her. Because yes, she loved Lily, but now that everything had become clear regarding her feelings, she could never come to feel for her what she feels for Regina. The way her heart started beating every time they talked, even if it was through a letter, it was like nothing else. Of course, she wasn’t about to write it down in confession to the woman herself. Not yet. The last thing she didn’t want to do was scare her off.

Lily had given Emma her space, which she appreciated because she did need to think things over.

She hated herself for hurting her. Especially when she owed Lily a lot, but being with her didn’t feel so right anymore. The more she thought about it, she realized that maybe it never felt right. As to why- that was a mystery in it’s own enigma.

Emma placed her Polaroid camera on its tripod- a gift from her mother- she had promised to herself that she would send Regina a picture of herself. It was only fair. She set the timer on it, hearing it beep as the time went down while she hurried, sat gently against their desk, looked directly at the camera and smiled her best smile.

Emma decided on leaving her hair down for the photo, put on her best pair of jeans, and a light blue buttoned up shirt, tucked into them with only the last two buttons undone. She applied only a little bit of make-up and lip gloss.

After being satisfied with the picture result, Emma sat back in front of their desk, pulled out another sheet of paper and began to write back.

Dear Gina,

Please don’t stop writing your poetry. First of all, this regal guy sounds like he wouldn’t know a good poem if it smacked him in the face. You say you sing but nobody listens? Maybe that’s true for now. But what about in ten years? In a hundred years? You once said that we were doomed never to touch each other… But you did touch me. With your words. Keep singing, my love. I will always be here to listen.

Yours,

Emma

Emma reached the swan pendant necklace that once belonged to her father, holding it with her fingers, flipping it over to read what she had inscribed in the back of it for Regina to keep with her.

‘Remember Me.’

She wasn’t sure why she chose those exact words, but they felt just right. She knew Regina would love it and care for it as much as she had. But before enclosing everything inside the envelope, she decided to write down one last thing right at the bottom of her name…
____________________

Today’s correspondence was placed against the same silver platter in the family room as Kathryn dusted and straightened things up. She reached for one of the cushions of the sofa, fluffing it out with her hands and resting it against the platter and back of the couch while she did the exact same thing to the other, before placing them back in their rightful place.

If only she had noticed Emma’s letter fall from its place and land underneath the sofa.

Regina moved around her bedroom, packing for her trip, placing a number of necessary gowns into her steamer trunk that rested on her bed, otherwise known as a suitcase. They were fit for traveling for long hours.

“Regina, I still don’t understand why you feel like you must travel alone.” Said Zelena, not liking the idea of her sister to wander away far from home.

“Because I must,” Regina breathed out, placing another one of her gowns inside her trunk. “I promised mother and father I would see a doctor about my headaches.”

Zelena sighed, reaching for one of her sister’s dresses, “Well, then I’m coming with you. Aunt Mallorie has plenty of room.” She smiled.

“No, Zelena.” Regina stood in front of her sister, eyes locked onto hers. “I must go alone.”

It was true she was going to see a doctor about her headaches, which she stopped getting, ever since she began talking with Emma, but she promised to go, and she also felt a need to be there. Besides, the idea of being in the same city as Emma found herself in excited her- even if it was in a different time.

“But why?” Zelena asked, not understanding anything.

Regina reached for her sister’s hand, “I just must. Trust me. Now, I need to know I can trust you.”

“Of course you can.” The redhead nodded. “Always.”

The brunette quickly dug through her gowns, reaching for all of Emma’s letters and showing them to her sister, her heart racing. “I need you to listen to me. It may sound… absurd, but I promise you it’s not.”

“Who in God’s name-?” Zelena smirked, glancing down at the letters in her sister’s hands. “I was sure someone was writing to you, but I was not sure! Who is it? Do I know him?”

“Zelena- you must listen.” Regina breathed, glancing down at the letters for mere encouragement. “These letters…” She held them out before her. “They are love letters.”

“I knew it! That’s why you don’t provide Mr. White with an answer,” Zelena smirked, “It’s Daniel, isn’t it? He seemed-”

“Emma.” Regina blurted out the name, watching her sister’s brow furrow, a questioning look to her.

“What?” Zelena blinked.

“Zelena…” Regina’s eyes closed, feeling as if she wanted to be sick to her stomach. “I have been courted by someone. Someone… That is not a he.”

“Not a he?” She watched her sister shake her head. It took her a moment to fully understand her meaning, therefore Regina decided to take out one of Emma’s letters, allowing her to read it, which she did.

Regina waited.

“Gina!” Zelena’s blue eyes grew wide, her body rising quickly from her sister’s bed, her mouth dropping to the floor.

“Calm down,” Regina held out her hands.

“Calm down?” She scoffed, glancing down at the letter once more before looking into her sister’s pleading eyes. “Do you realize… This is a love letter- and with a woman!”

“I know,” Regina nodded, holding onto her sister’s shoulders.

“But… How?”

“I beg you to listen, because the rest is simply going to sound mad.” Regina pleaded, knowing that once Zelena plopped down on her bed again, it would be safe to tell her everything.
____________________

Emma adjusted the straps of her helmet, mounted on her bike while she was lined up with everyone else, ready to race.

“You nervous, Swan?” Killian asked her, stationed beside her.

“No way,” Emma playfully smacked his arm. “We got this.”

He smiled.

Emma’s eyes fell on her mom as she was surrounded by other people ready to enjoy the race, she waved and smiled at her, shocked to then see Lily arrive and stand beside the woman. “Hey, save my place,” she told Killian, moving along with her bike over to Lily.

“Hi,” Lily murmured, smiling awkwardly at the blonde.

“Hi,” Emma murmured.

“I hope you don’t mind that I came to see you?” She offered Emma an apologetic look just in case. She would never miss a race Emma was in, even if things were rocky between them after their fight.

“No, not at all.” Emma shook her head, “I’m glad you came.”

“Swan!” Killian shouted, beckoning her to get back in line as the race was about to start.

Lily smiled a little more this time, her hands tucked inside her coat pockets. “Good luck out there.” Was all she could think to say.

“Thanks.” Emma moved back to her place in line, listening to all the cheers go off around them.

Mary Margaret smiled sweetly at Lily as they linked arms. She knew what had happened between them, and she respected it. Even if she thought it was crazy that her daughter fell in love with a woman who was basically dead in their time period. Emma was quite stubborn when she wanted to be, which is why she decided to let it be and allow things to work out how they needed to. Whoever she was meant to be with.

“Ready?” August held up an air horn, standing off to the side. “Three!... Two!... One!... Go!” he blew the air horn, watching every cyclist speed off into the trail of the woods, while everyone cheered them on.
____________________

“So I take the letters that you sent to me from Ms. Swan,” her eyes moved to the desk as she pointed, “Put them in that compartment and they…?” She couldn’t even bring herself to say it. Zelena had heard some mad stories before, wild tales even, but never in all her years would she believe this magic was possible.

Regina stood from sitting at her desk, her eyes locking on her sister’s. “And you must promise to send her letters to me, care of aunt Mallorie in Boston.”

Zelena’s eyes grew wide once again. “Regina…” She shook her head, still unable to understand it all.

“Promise me, Zelena!” Regina pleaded. “Please.”

There was a knock at the door, which made both women’s heads turn to its direction, seeing Kathryn enter.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but the carriage is here.”

Regina nodded, “Thank you, Kathryn.” She moved over to her trunk, closing it and heading down the stairs. Her eyes moved over to the silver platter as she rushed over quickly in hopes that there would be a response from Emma, but saw nothing.

Zelena walked over to the brunette, her hand gently wrapped around her arm which caught the brunette’s attention. “I’m sure she will write,” she whispered over to her sister. Which told Regina that she would keep her long locked secret.

Regina headed for the door, handing over her suitcase to the man who tipped his hat to her. “Thank you,” She told him, turning back to hug her sister, “Remember, you promised,” she whispered, pulling away from their hug to see the redhead nod.

She had said goodbye to her mother and father before they also had to depart for the day. Zelena remained standing on the porch of the house, waving to her as the carriage began to drive away.
____________________

Emma raced along the familiar trail, her tires racing past the trees and scraping against the leaves along with everyone else’s. Graham was behind, while Killian was a few paces ahead of her, and out of the corner of her eye she could see one that was determined to beat her as he was approaching closer than she liked to her left side.

She raced along, constantly looking over her shoulder as the man beside her kept closing in, her legs peddled faster and faster, leaving the man behind again until it didn’t take him long to catch back up to her.

This time, Emma saw that out of the corner of her eye again, the man was approaching her even faster. And the heavier the line of trees became, the more careful they needed to be.

“Em, look out!” Graham shouted, seeing that she was about to run into a tree in an attempt to get the other man off of her.

Emma gasped, her eyes wide as she quickly squeezed the brake pedals, her back tire lifting up into the air while her front tire slammed right into a fallen tree trunk that she neglected to see in time. The last thing Emma knew was that the impact was so strong, it caused her body to fly out of her seat and felt as her head smacked against another tree.

And in that moment, as crazy as it may be, Regina was traveling along the same road, and strangely her carriage had run over something that wasn’t even there. Little did she know it had been Emma’s bike.

“Emma!” Graham squeezed his brake pedals, his tires screeching around the leaves as he quickly ran to the unconscious blonde.

“Swan!” Killian practically jumped off of his bike once he squeezed on his brakes. He kneeled in front of Emma, too afraid to even touch her in case she had suffered a concussion. “Nobody touch her!” He said, looking over his shoulder. “Someone call a bloody ambulance!”

“Em?” Graham called out, trying to wake her.

“Swan, can you hear us, love?” Killian whispered, his hand hovering protectively over her body.

“Help is coming, Emma. Just hang on.” Graham breathed.
____________________

The beeping of a monitor and the muffled breathing of Emma’s mask was a nightmare for everyone to be listening to right now. Lily was holding onto Mary Margaret who cried, unable to bear to see her daughter with a slight bruise next to her face and her head bandaged up, unconscious and without even knowing if she would wake up. August, Graham and Killian stood by the door with worried looks to their faces.

The verdict on Emma’s condition was that she was stable but did suffer from some brain swelling due to the impact her head had taken. She had slightly entered a temporary coma and it was unfortunately unknown as to when she would wake. As well as her face, she also had a bruised right arm.

Killian walked over to Mary Margaret, his hands caressing her arms in support. “Why don’t you come with us? We’ll get you something to eat.” He spoke softly.

“I can’t leave her. Emma needs me here as soon as she wakes up.” She shook her head, her eyes falling on her unconscious daughter, who appeared blurry due to her tears.

“I’m sure Emma will be just fine,” Killian whispered. “She’s a fighter, that one.”

“Killian’s right.” Lily whispered, her eyes turning from Emma to Mary Margaret. “I’ll stay with her. You have my word I won’t move from that chair.” She smiled to reassure her, giving her arm a gentle squeeze.

“No, I couldn’t possibly eat anything right now,” she sniffed, looking over at her daughter.

“Some coffee, then?” Killian insisted, nodding to her with a king smile. “Come, love- we’ll even get Swan here a bear claw, I guarantee that’ll wake her ass up.” He chuckled as everyone else did.

After wiping her tears, Mary Margaret nodded, walking over to Emma while she placed the most gentle kiss to her forehead before leaving the room with all three guys, leaving Lily alone with her, to which the brunette sat right on the chair that was placed beside her bed.

“So…” She spoke after remaining silent for a minute. “Hell of a day, huh, Em?” She chuckled. “Listen, jokes over, you got what you wanted, you have us all scared shitless here so you have to wake up now, okay?” Her smile faded, hating the state Emma currently found herself in. “Emma?” She called out softly, seeing no sudden movement from the blonde, her eyes focusing on the bruise that had formed on the side of her face.

The brunette reached over, carefully placing her hand on top of hers. “Okay,” she sniffed. “But I know you can hear me, so I want to tell you something, okay?” She sniffed again, leaning in a little closer. “I know I walked away, deciding to give you your space to figure things out. And it looks like you did. And I’m happy for you. I really am.” She wiped away a fallen tear, “But if I did, it was only because I knew… I knew that you had fallen in love with…” She chuckled, shaking her head. “I can’t imagine how, but I want to tell you that it’s okay. It’s okay because above all we are friends and I plan on never leaving your side until you get up from this bed.”

“I love you, Em, and if not for me… Wake up for her. For Regina.” Lily leaned in more, placing a gentle kiss to her temple as tears sprung from her eyes.
____________________

“Ma’am,” A man held out his hand for Regina to take as her carriage held to a stop just across the road from the doctor’s office. “Please, watch your step. It’s a bit slippery today.”

“Thank you,” Regina smiled, quickly opening up her red umbrella that matched well with her matching light brown gown and dark brown hat.

The weather wasn’t grand today, it had been raining and the floors were indeed slippery. Good thing she had decided to bring her umbrella after arriving at her Aunt Mallorie’s house to leave her things.

Regina waited for a carriage to cross the road before crossing herself. The city of Boston was busy today with a lot of carriages riding by and people crossing and walking all over the roads. A little peasant boy even walked past her as he held up his daily newspapers and shouted today’s biggest news. The horses' feet clanked their way across the stone road.

As she entered the doctor’s office, pushing her way past the door, she took in the sight of it. Not that she was a stranger to the bigger part of Boston, especially not when she had family here. The office was small, but cozy, walls were a mocha color that brought it out quite well. And lucky for her there was only one person ahead of her, who was too busy reading a newspaper.

“Regina Mills to see Dr. Whale, please.” She stood before the reception desk, where a woman smiled at her.

“Please have a seat, Ms. Mills, he will see you shortly.”

“Thank you,” Regina could hear the newspaper shuffling beside her as she sat three chairs down from the other awaiting patient. It wasn’t until the stranger leaned back a little in their seat that she was able to catch a glimpse of him. Or rather… of her.

A blonde woman sat patiently, reading the newspaper while her right arm found itself in a sling, but was still able to hold the page with the tip of her fingers. Her hair was pulled back, hidden underneath her soldier’s hat, no doubt, just like the rest of her underneath that military uniform. And Regina wasn’t sure, but she could sense something familiar about her, as if she knew her.

It wasn’t a peculiar sight- seeing a woman in a military uniform, pretending and taking on the role of a man just so they could earn a good living wage and fight for their own beliefs out on a battlefield. Many did it, even if a lot of people didn’t agree with such a silly decision. And this stranger was definitely a woman.

Regina wasn’t sure why, but she felt the same pull she felt with Emma when glancing at this stranger. She couldn’t help but wonder if maybe this is what Emma looked like. Was she this beautiful? She could only hope. Of course, little did the brunette realize that she was staring at an exact replica of Emma, except of course, it wasn’t the Emma she knew. This Emma was the one from her own time.

The stranger's eyes, which Regina noticed were green- after quickly looking away, spotted the stranger had been glancing at her, too from behind her newspaper.

“We will have an examination room for you shortly, Ms. Mills,” the doctor smiled over at the brunette, his eyes falling on who he thought was a male soldier, because that’s what this stranger needed everyone to believe. “Colonel Swanson, we are ready for you, sir.”

Regina couldn’t help but look up at the woman as she rose from her chair, setting the newspaper aside. Swanson? Colonel? She had never known of a woman to reach that rank before.

The Colonel’s green eyes fell on the brunette’s as her boots clicked loudly against the floor, making her way into the doctor’s examination room.

Regina waited patiently, deciding to read her book while it was her turn to be examined. Which of course, the time flew as the door swung open and her eyes fell upon the same blonde woman dressed in the soldier’s outfit.

“All is looking well, Colonel,” the doctor smiled.

“Thank you,” replied the soldier, her green eyes landing on Regina again.

“Ms. Mills,” the doctor nodded. “We are ready for you.”

Regina rose up from her seat, walking past the soldier and glancing to her feet as she felt her book slip out of her hand. There was something mesmerizing about the woman’s green eyes, something familiar. Even if she had not yet seen the picture of Emma being kept a secret inside of her lost letter, she knew there was something familiar about her.

“Please,” the blonde held out her hand, bending down carefully to reach for the brunette’s book as she handed it to her.

“Thank you.” Regina took back her book, unable to move her eyes from the woman before her. “Excuse me, please.”

The Colonel stepped aside, “Ma’am,” her eyes trained on the brunette, watching her as she tipped her hat to her.

Regina walked past the woman, feeling that pull again, glancing over her shoulder at her green eyes which never stopped looking her way before joining the doctor inside his examination room.

The blonde woman’s lips parted, feeling a strong pull to the woman that she could not explain to herself. She just knew… She had to know who she was.

Notes:

Just in case many of you are confused, this is Emma in her 'past life.' So, what do ya'll think that makes future Emma? ;) More will make sense further into the story. Please, keep reading! A big shout out goes to SheriffSwan28 for providing me with many interesting facts about women fighting in the Civil War.

Chapter 13: Emmeline

Notes:

As it was predicted, our power went out due to Hurricane Nicholas which meant I was unable to write or update at all. But, finally, I began to write out this chapter as soon as the power came back last night, and continued it this morning. :) I appreciate all of your lovely reviews on my last chapter that I kept receiving. And kudos to all of you who caught on that this new character is in fact Emma in her past life before reading my 2nd author's note.

Before we continue, a quick shout out to SheriffSwan28 for providing me with fascinating info on military women during the Civil War.

“Everything is just fine, Ms. Mills,” Dr. Whale smiled. “I appreciate you coming all this way. You have a good day, now.”

“Yes, thank you,” Regina smiled, turning to the woman sitting by the front desk and bidding her a farewell before walking out the door. She decided to walk around a couple of blocks until she spotted a carriage that would give her a ride back to her Aunt Mallorie’s.

Barking was heard coming from an all white fox terrier with a black spot on his back and an all brown coated face that raced along the crowd of people while a group of children chased it along, playing and laughing carelessly.

“Hey, watch out!” The man from the carriage shouted at the children, trying his best to grab onto Regina after the dog ran too close to her legs; it made her quickly move out of the way, her boot lost its footing upon landing.

“Oh!” Upon almost falling, Regina’s eyes met with a pair of green ones and a single arm that caught her fall due to the other being in a sling. “Pardon me,” she quickly backed away from the same blonde soldier she had a run in with in Dr. Whale’s office.

“Ms. Mills,” the blonde tipped her hat to her, “I’m sorry.” This soldier couldn’t understand why she felt this magnetic pull toward this woman, but it was strong.

“Colonel Swanson,” Regina smiled, and for the first time her smile was as genuine as it was whenever she would write to Emma or read her letters.

“I beg your forgiveness, Ms. Mills.” The woman said.

“Not at all. It appears it was fortunate you happened to catch me.” She smiled.

“Yes,” the blonde breathed out, unable to part her eyes from the brunette’s, feeling there was something so familiar about them.

Both women looked at each other another moment, unable to shake this feeling of familiarity, seeing as the two only frozen people in time but the world around them- which still moved.

“Well…” Regina finally said, holding onto her umbrella by her right shoulder. “Good day to you, sir.”

The blonde’s head turned to follow the woman as she walked on her way, tipping her hat once more, leaving the driver clueless as to why the woman left when she had stopped him in the first place. And to see her walk away made the soldier even more intrigued in wanting to know her.

Her military coat, which was worn on her left arm and hung loosely over her right shoulder, gently flapped with her rushed movements to catch up to the brunette.

“Might I accompany you, Ms. Mills?” The woman asked, leaning in to be able to look at the woman’s beautiful face through her umbrella.

Regina’s heart beat fast as she met with those green eyes again. “Oh,” she breathed out, “Well, I wouldn’t want to interfere with your plans.”

“No, you’re not.” She answered almost immediately, “I mean, uh- I have none.” The corner of her lip tilted into a tiny smirk at the sight of Regina’s smile. “Where is your destination?” She asked.

The Colonel couldn’t understand why she felt so drawn to that smile, just like Regina couldn’t begin to understand why she smiled so, but both knew. They didn’t want it to end.

“Actually, I’m…” Regina faced forward in an attempt to hide her smile, but once she faced the soldier walking beside her she couldn’t help but blush. “Not quite sure.” She chuckled, finding herself enjoying the Colonel’s company and not wanting to head back to her Aunt Mallorie’s home just yet.

“Perhaps you would allow me to buy you a cup of tea and we can decide where we’re going?” The blonde offered, their stroll coming to a halt as the brunette stopped walking.

For the first time in her twenty-nine years of life, a cup of tea in the company of the soldier didn’t seem like such a terrible idea to accept.

“Alright,” she nodded with a smile tugging at her lips.

The soldier held out her arm for the brunette to take, and was delighted when she did as they continued to stroll along until they found a quiet little place for tea.

The world continued to move around them at their quicken pace, but their stroll was one enjoyed by them both, smiling at each other and stealing quiet glances until Regina dared to speak. She couldn’t help to feel that this is exactly what being in Emma’s company would be like.

“Might I ask your name, sir?” She asked the soldier.

“Emmett.”

“Emmett?” Regina asked, coming to another halt.

“Yes,” The soldier nodded, her brow furrowed at the brunette’s sudden halt. “Your name?”

Regina chuckled, looking at the people around them before speaking in a hushed tone. “As lovely as that name is, ms,” she lifted a brow, taking notice in the soldier’s surprised expression. “I will need to know your name.”

The soldier paled before the brunette, her smile gone.

“Or am I not worthy of knowing?” Regina asked again, hoping for the woman’s name.

Her green eyes looked away, giving her attention to the people walking around them. And she swallowed down the lump in her throat, she answered truthfully with a hushed tone of her own. “Emmeline.”

Emmeline. Regina’s lips parted, that magnetic feeling only becoming stronger as her heart raced within her chest. “Emmeline?” She whispered in question.

The soldier nodded, fearing their stroll and cup of tea might now be ruined. But was surprised to hear-

“As lovely as that name is, , I find this other name better suited.” Regina’s eyes locked on surprised green ones before her, and a smile that slowly tugged at the corners of her thin lips.

The soldier had no idea why she was so utterly delighted, but she was. It was relieving not having to hide not only her name or what she was, but it was even more freeing to be able to court another woman. Even if it was in hiding from everyone else.

Regina’s smile matched the soldier’s as she reached to take her arm again, strolling along.
____________________

Both women found themselves enjoying each other’s company over a quiet cup of tea. Regina found herself conversing just as much as she would when she would write to Emma, unable to understand how she was so comfortable with this soldier. Not at all feeling that Emma would mind one bit if she did.

“Are you a patient of Doctor Whale’s?” Emmeline asked, her cup of tea resting before her.

The place they had found for tea had separate round tables, coated with finest cloths. It was all white with a few candles lit around in their holders. It was perfect for a quiet exchange of conversation between two women who now found themselves courting one another within their own unspoken secret, but known to them.

Regina smiled, setting down her cup of tea after a sip. “No. This is my first visit.”

“Are you at present, forgive me- feeling poorly?” The blonde asked, her good arm resting against the table, her posture straight.

Regina chuckled, “No, at present I feel quite well.”

Their eyes locked with one another, and just like Regina, a tiny smile tugged its way onto the soldier’s lips.

“Forgive my boldness,” said the blonde, her brow furrowed. “But may I ask you a strange question?”

“Yes,” Regina nodded.

“How is it that I have the total conviction I know you?”

How indeed? Thought Regina. “I don’t know. I feel the same.”

Both women smiled, sitting across from each other and found themselves enjoying more and more of each other’s company as the time passed them by. Eventually, Emmeline helped Regina reach a carriage.

“Thank you very much for the tea.” Regina faced the soldier. “Colonel,” she smiled, letting the woman know that her secret was kept safe.

The blonde smiled, reaching for the brunette’s hand, placing a delicate kiss right on her gloved knuckles. “Ms. Mills,” she tipped her hat to her.

“Regina.” Smiled the brunette.

“Regina,” the name itself made Emmeline’s heart beat fast as she repeated it. “I do hope we run into each other again, soon.” She held out her hand for Regina to take, helping her mount up on the carriage, tipping her hat once again to bid her farewell while the brunette waved back.
____________________

My dearest Emma,

This afternoon I met a woman named Emmeline Swanson. Presently a Colonel commanding the nineteenth Massachusetts- under the name Emmett Swanson. Emma… The moment I saw her I was powerfully drawn to her. And she- it appears, seems to feel an attraction as well. Please, do not fear, my darling, that I am in any way moving away from you. Or I feel, strange it may seem, that being with Emmeline brings me closer to you. I have the uncanny feeling that what is happening was meant to happen. Please write back soon. Remember your promise.

Yours,

Regina

Regina wrote her letter during her carriage ride to her Aunt Mallorie’s home, that she felt the need to have delivered to her sister so that she could place it inside the desk. She wondered a lot about what Emma was doing right now and why she hadn’t received a correspondence. But Emma had kept a promise and she knew she would write to her soon. She only feared how Emma would feel knowing about Emmeline in her letter. Even as part of her assured her that it would be alright.

As the days went by, Regina found herself accepting a few strolls and a picnic at the park with Emmeline. Which surprised her Aunt, given that she never wanted to be courted by anyone. Of course, like everyone else, she would think that this Colonel was a fine young man and well suited for her niece.

Emmeline loved that around Regina, she could be herself and didn’t have to pretend. She also loved that the brunette didn’t seem to mind her having to dress in a man’s uniform to keep up appearances. She was able to confine in the brunette and tell her the story of her life, how she used to work in a factory but didn’t earn enough for a decent living to help her ill mother, which led to her decision to join the military under false pretences.

Regina found herself having tea with her aunt in her family room, when a knock at the door alerted them to attention, followed by one of Mallorie’s servants that was being followed inside the house by Emmeline, dressed finely in her uniform. Her arm no longer in a sling.

“Excuse me, ma’am, but Colonel Swanson is here to see Ms. Mills.” The servant announced.

“Thank you,” Mallorie rose from her chair, a smile tugging on her lips as was Regina’s. “Colonel Swanson, how do you do?” The woman asked.

“Mrs. Mills,” the Colonel took the woman’s hand and bent to kiss it. She hated not being able to remove her hat out of respect, but it would expose her long hair. However the woman seemed delighted to have her in her home, that didn’t seem to matter. “Pleasure to see you. As always. I wondered if it would be too bold of me to ask Regina out for a stroll?”

“Why, not at all, Colonel,” Mallorie’s head turned toward Regina, who wore a smile of her own. “I am sure she would be delighted. Wouldn’t you, dear?”

For the first time. Yes. She would be.

“I would love to, Colonel,” she smiled so much her cheeks hurt.

“Please,” the soldier motioned toward the door. “After you.” Lastly, she tipped her hat to the brunette’s aunt before walking out the door. Regina by her arm.

This was one of their many strolls together and today was such a beautiful day, both decided on a canone fit for two. The sun beamed down on them, while laughter of children and their families were heard off in the distance of the park. Regina had decided on one of her many white gowns with a matching hat, she talked endlessly about her poems to Emmeline, which she listened delightedly about. Just like Emma.

A family of ducks swam by their canoe while Emmeline guided it along the clear, blue lake. Her eyes never abandoning Regina’s beautiful features. Or the way the sun hit her skin, giving it an absolute delicate glow.

“You promised you’d read to me.” Emmeline reminded her.

“Oh, no,” Regina grinned, trying her best to hide a blush coating her cheeks. “I couldn’t-”

“Please?” The blonde urged her encouragingly.

Regina bit her bottom lip as she flipped through the many written pages in her journal, “Alright…” She settled on one. Her favorite one. “No laughing,” she warned the fascinated woman before her, glancing up at her through her long lashes.

“I won’t,” Emmeline promised, shaking her head and ready to listen.

“Stranger, not on this earth shall we meet. Though I have surely lived with you, dreamed of you. I would wait eternity to touch you. Out of this world, falling forward through time.” Regina read the poem that she had written for Emma, her eyes meeting with green ones that sparkled at her beautiful spoken words.
____________________

Dearest Emma,

I despair of ever hearing from you again. Zelena assures me that my letters to you continue to miraculously vanish from the secret compartment, so I pray that you are still connected to me, reading this by one of your electrical lights and understanding. Please write back soon. You are dearly missed.

Yours,

Regina

Regina did fear that Emma might have been bothered by her last letters, confining in her all about her and Emmeline, their strolls, their conversations over a morning tea. She only hoped that she was still reading each and every one of her letters as she sent this one off before heading back to her Aunt Mallorie’s to prepare for this evening’s dance.

Notes:

Emma will return in the next chapter... If you want to know what happens, simply spam me with faves, follows and reviews.

Chapter 14: Dream or Memory?

Notes:

As always, in thanks for spamming my emails with so many reviews- here is the next update and I hope you are all sitting down for this chapter. I know ya'll are going to hate me for the cliffhanger lol happy reading! :)

Once again, a quick shout out goes to SheriffSwan28 for a most epic Civil War history lesson. You're awesome!

The festivity was a bore, as they tended it to be. A group of violinists played an up-beat tune while others danced and celebrated along with tonight’s event. Regina, along with her aunt Mallorie sat aside, both women holding onto their brise fans to keep them cool under the thousands of candle lighting.

“Could I have the pleasure of a dance?” A man offered his hand to a gawking Regina.

“Oh, no,” she smiled kindly to him. “It is kind of you to offer.”

“Regina,” Mallorie whispered over to her.

“Perhaps later.” She smiled.

The man bowed and went on his way.

Another tune played by the violinists alerted everyone that the host of tonight’s event would be giving one of his many speeches.

A man in a fine blue suit smiled at everyone with a tinkle in his eye as he spoke, “Gracious ladies and fine gentlemen. Thank you for coming. Allow me to introduce the guest speaker who will tell you what your attendance and your generous contribution mean to the wounded soldiers of our great state.”

People murmured in surprise, their eyes on their host.

“This brave officer was grievously injured at Chancellorsville but he is returning to his regiment this very week.” He smiled, “Let’s all give a warm welcome to Colonel Emmett Swanson of the nineteenth Massachusetts infantry.”

Applause was heard coming from the crowd, while Regina stood to her feet at the mention of the name, a smile spread across her lips at the sight of Emmeline stepping up on stage, a proud look to her features, given that a woman would never be caught up in her place.

Emmeline smiled at the crowd until spotting two familiar brown eyes that became her undoing. Her smile grew upon seeing Regina’s beautiful face.

The soldier’s speech was inspiring to all, which made Regina admire her all the more. It was kept short and to the point, for when Emmeline spotted Regina within the crowd, all she wanted to do was dance the night away. Once asked to dance, Regina didn’t hesitate in saying yes.

As they danced, both women felt as freeing as ever. Especially since they had only been this close to one another the day that Emmeline saved Regina from a fall, catching her. And, if the world knew who Emmeline truly was- a woman in love with another- they wouldn’t be able to dance this beautiful waltz together now. Even if in secret, both knew, they wanted this moment to last forever.

And Regina couldn’t help but feel while looking into this beautiful soldier’s emerald eyes, that she was dancing with Emma as well. She was having the pleasure of waltzing with her in front of the world. Holding her hand, feeling her own body so close that it made her stomach and heart want to combust.

“You didn’t tell me you were coming here tonight, Colonel,” Regina smirked, allowing Emmeline to lead their dance.

“I thought I’d surprise you,” said Emmeline.

“I’m surprised.” Regina smiled and soon frowned at the thought of the woman leaving. “You’re not really going back, are you?”

“I must.” The soldier frowned at the sight of Regina’s sadness.

Regina understood, but that didn’t mean her heart didn’t break at the thought of the dangers Emmeline would be facing. Even if the soldier was used to it. “How long do we have?” She asked her.

“I leave the day after tomorrow.” She noticed another frown, their dance coming to a halt. “Gina, I need to see you alone. Would you meet me later out in the common?” It was a bold request, and she could tell it shocked the brunette.

“We mustn’t. My aunt Mallorie.” Regina breathed out, the corners of her lips tilting into a shy smile. Her eyes moved over to her Aunt who was far too entertained by another gentleman.

Emmeline turned to look at the woman before turning back to Regina. “Is far too entertained. It would appear she too is being courted.”

Regina let out a small laugh, her eyes looking into emerald ones.

“Out in the common,” the soldier whispered. “Meet me.” She brought the brunette’s hand up to her lips and kissed it before departing from prying eyes.
____________________

The night was peaceful as Emmeline stood inside a gazebo, the lake water sparkled in sync with the light of the full moon. The only sounds you could hear near the pond that surrounded it were the frogs. She hoped with all her heart for the brunette to show. She knew her request was forward but if she was going to leave, leaving the woman she now loved behind- she wanted to do something more first.

She turned to the sound of quicken footsteps, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Regina rushing over to her, holding up her dress as she ran. Emmeline met the brunette halfway until both women stood right in the middle of a small bridge that crossed the pond to get to the gazebo.

Regina found herself a little breathless, but was surprised to see the soldier remove her hat, her eyes following the woman’s long blonde hair as it fell over her shoulders. In the time they’ve known one another, Emmeline never removed her hat for anyone, much less risk exposing herself this freely. But tonight was different. It was special.

Emmeline walked up to the brunette, her arm slowly finding its place around the woman’s waist, her heart racing inside her chest as she dipped her head toward Regina’s, daring to steal a kiss.

Regina’s eyes closed, her breathing calmed upon feeling the soldier’s thin lips melt against hers. No one had ever dared to steal a kiss from her, which was a brave move to make coming from the soldier, but even if she asked her for one, Regina knew she wouldn’t deny her of it. It was a kiss that both women desired since the day they met. And as they smiled equally at one another before daring to kiss again with all the passion in the world, even in secrecy, Regina knew she had found love, the same love that she had found with Emma, which made her wonder… If this is what it would be like to kiss her as well.

Their lips were soft to one another, their embrace warm as they shared their first kiss that both women could be certain, illuminated the stars in the sky.

That kiss, forbidden to all but magical to them illuminated it’s way through time and space…

Thin lips parted the same time a single digit twitched. “Regina…” A small gasp was released.

Lily’s head turned to the sound of the name that escaped Emma’s lips. “Emma?” She rushed to the blonde’s side, a smile stretched out across her lips.

Tired green eyes parted, looking over at Lily.

“You’re awake,” tears sprung from her eyes as she quickly rushed to the call button, pressing it various times.

Emma’s hand moved slowly upward, but was stopped by Lily, “No, no, don’t.”

“Lily?” Emma’s brow furrowed as she stared into the brunette’s glossy eyes.

“Yeah,” Lily smiled, sniffing and quickly wiping away a few tears. “Your mom is here, everyone is here. Try not to move so much, I’ll go get the doctor.” She rushed out of the door, not waiting for a nurse to come.

Emma’s head turned to the machines around her, her eyes looking up at the ceiling while her hand slowly came up once again, the tip of her fingers softly caressed her lips.
____________________

After some much needed time in the hospital, Emma was more than ready to go home. She couldn’t stop thinking about Regina and what she must be thinking because she hadn’t heard from her. She needed to write to her.

“Can you get up?” Lily helped Emma up from her hospital bed after placing on her shoes for her.

“Thank you.” Emma smiled down at the brunette, who looked up at her.

“Swan!” Killian smiled, rushing into the room along with Graham and August and Mary Margaret. “Finally, eh? You’re getting out of this place!”

Emma groaned, feeling the man pull her roughly into a big bear hug, and while she released a chuckle, everyone got him for being so rough.

“Oh, Killian! Not so rough,” Said Lily.

“What the hell, Jones?” Graham pulled on the man’s jacket.

“I’m fine, guys,” Emma chuckled, finally being released from the hug. “I’m alright.”

“Are you sure?” Asked Mary Margaret, her hand caressing her daughter’s back.

“Yes, mom, I’m fine.” Emma smiled sweetly at her. Her arms wrapped around her mother in a hug that soon parted as soon as the doctor walked into the room.

“Are we all ready to go?” She smiled, walking in with her clipboard in hand, handing it to Emma. “These are your discharge papers.”

“Great.” Emma took them, gladly singing them and handing them back to the woman.

“Now, remember, you might feel dizzy from time to time, but that’s normal after the impact you suffered. But if you begin to experience any headaches, especially if they are consistent- be sure to call me.” She handed the blonde a business card.

“Thank you,” Emma tucked away the card inside her pocket.

“Thank you, Dr. Fisher.” Said Mary Margaret.

The doctor smiled, providing the blonde with a gentle squeeze on her arm. “You take care of yourself.”

“Thanks, doc,” August nodded the woman’s way.
____________________

Emma’s apartment smelled like her favorite food ever. Grilled cheese sandwiches. Which were being made by her mother, while Lily sat upstairs with Emma, helping her sort through her mail that she had missed.

“Your mother and I sorted these out for you,” she placed the letters on the coffee table.

“Thank you,” Emma smiled, looking at Lily. “My mom told me that you were always on top of things while I was at the hospital. That you never left my side.”

Lily smiled, “Well, it’s what I’m here, Em. I promised I wouldn’t leave your side until you woke up.”

“Well, I know I have thanked you enough already, but thank you.” Her voice soft.

“I’m just happy you’re home.” Lily smiled, her eyes blinking to fight back tears. “I can stay if you want me, you know, you don’t have to be alone.”

“I know, but really, you don’t have to. I appreciate it, but my mom is here. I won’t be alone.” She smiled.

“Well, if you do need me, I’ll gladly take a few days off work to come help you.” Lily leaned in, placing a gentle kiss to Emma’s cheek. “I’m gonna go.”

“Okay,” Emma watched Lily stand up and stop right near the stairs.

“You know, Em…” Lily turned to face the blonde. “When you were in the hospital, you…” She stopped herself from telling her that she had said Regina’s name. Not only that, but while she was still unconscious, she would speak as if she were in a different time.

“What? Did something happen?” Asked Emma.

Lily shook her head, smiling, “No. It was nothing, never mind. I’ll stop by tomorrow.”

“Okay, bye.” Once Lily was out of view, saying goodbye to Mary Margaret, Emma looked through her pile of letters, dropping them on the table and heading downstairs towards the desk, taking a seat.

“Dinner’s almost ready.” Mary Margaret announced from the kitchen.

“Okay,” Emma smiled, looking over her shoulder at the woman before turning her attention back to the desk. She pulled out the drawer, pulling on the lever that opened the secret compartment. She smiled seeing at least five letters were there waiting for her. Knowing Regina like she did, she must be worried.

One by one, she read every single letter she had missed, including the ones where Regina talked about meeting Emmeline. Strangest thing was, she couldn’t understand why but she did not feel one bit jealous about it. She was happy for Regina. Her brow furrowed at some given information about Emmeline’s destination, which Emma knew well about.

“Southern Pennsylvania 1863,” she murmured. “1863. Gettysburg.” Her eyes widened as she rushed to her computer. She searched for information on the Battle of Gettysburg, including the name of Emmett Swanson. She knew a lot of females in the 19th. Century formed part of the Battle of Gettysburg and many unfortunately died. She came across a website that had some information on the 19th. Mass and came up with a list of names. Scrolling down she clicked on the name Swanson. Her eyes wide as underneath the woman’s name she read: Killed in Action, July 3rd.

A gasp escaped her as she sat back in her chair. Shuffling through the letters the brunette mailed her, she looked for the date on the most recent letter sent by Regina. June 28th, 1863.

It was now July 2nd.

Emma quickly pulled out a sheet of paper, dipped her fine pen in the ink bottle and wrote her a quick letter, filled it out with the woman’s name and stamped it.

“Dinner’s ready-”

“Later, mom,” Emma rushed down the steps, reaching for her jacket.

“Emma, are you alright? Where on earth are you going?” Asked Mary Margaret, looking at her daughter with wide eyes.

“I have to get this letter to Regina!” She shuffled on her jacket while reaching for her keys and heading out the door.

“What? Now? Emma, wait!” The woman ran right behind her daughter, shutting the door behind her. “You can’t drive like this!”

“Yes, I can. Regina has to get this letter.”

“Alright, alright, give me the keys!” Her mother reached for her daughter’s keys. “Get in, I’ll drive you.”

While Mary Margaret mounted the driver’s seat, Emma mounted the passenger side, letter in hand.

Chapter 15: An Unexpected Tragedy

Notes:

I didn't want to go to bed until this next chapter was posted for you all to enjoy, because I know I will wake up with a spam of emails asking for more. This story will soon be reaching it's end, I'm afraid. But for now, I hope you are all sitting down as you read the following. Happy reading! :)

“So, you’re saying that if you don’t get this letter to Regina in time, this woman she loves is going to die?” Mary Margaret sped through the road, honking at whatever car dared to be driving slow.

“Yes. In her last letter, Regina told me Emmeline would be leaving. I researched her under the name she went into the military with and in this historical web page it said she died in combat on July 3rd, 1863.”

“Oh, dear,” Mary Margaret breathed.

“I just hope this letter reaches her in time,” Emma glanced down at the written letter she held in her hands. “Maybe Regina can convince her not to leave.”

“I don’t know about all this trouble you're going through for her, Emma,” Mary Margaret shook her head. “That’s like wanting to change something that’s already happened. If Back To The Future has taught us anything,” she held up a single digit. “It's that you never change history.”

Emma sighed, running a single hand through her fallen strands of hair, “If Emmeline dies, then Regina will end up marrying Leopold. I can’t allow that to happen for her. I just can’t.”

Mary Margaret looked over at her daughter, her brow raised, “Sweetheart, maybe that’s what’s meant to happen-”

“It can’t happen!” Emma snapped, startling her mother. “It just can’t.”

“Emma…” Her mother spoke softly, “I know you feel a connection to her, okay? I really do, but this is just insane.”

“I don’t really think anything is insane anymore, mom.” Emma glanced down at the letter once again. “And if it is… Well, then you can add me to the list of insanity, because I am madly in love with her.”

That was the first time she ever heard her daughter admit to her feelings for anyone, that it was surprising and unexpecting. And who was Mary Margaret if not another hopeless romantic like her daughter?

Without another word Mary Margaret stepped on the gas pedal, driving as fast as she could through the dark road.

“Turn here,” Emma instructed her, pointing to the left.

Mary Margaret’s eyes looked through the rear view mirror, while Emma’s head turned to glance at least four cop cruisers along with two fire trucks speeding up past them. Their sirens crying out and blurring lights of red and blue illuminating their way.

“My God, what’s happened?” The older woman asked, stepping on the gas as they continued straight ahead where they spotted a burning building. “What is that?” She asked.

“It’s the post office,” Emma breathed out, eyes wide.

All three floors of the post office were up in flames before their very eyes as they made their way out of the Volkswagen. How was it burning to the ground? And why now? The atmosphere was wrapped up in heat, while the dancing flames only proved to be more challenging to put out. There was a crowd of people just outside, watching the disaster take place. For Emma, it was the ruins of her only source of communication with Regina.

“No, no, no, no. Excuse me. Excuse me!” Emma rushed through a crowd of people, letter in hand.

“Emma, where on earth are you going?” Her mother shouted, feeling her stomach drop.

“Let’s get these people out of here!” An officer shouted, holding out his hand as it pressed against the blonde’s chest. “Whoa! You can’t go in there, ma’am, please step back.”

Emma’s eyes shifted toward the burning building and the officer, who’s hands were wrapped around her bicep. “I just need to get in there- just for a second!”

Mary Margaret pushed her way through the crowd, trying to reach her crazed daughter.

“Ma’am, please step back-”

“Sir, please- I just have to drop this in,” She begged, showing him the letter. “Please!”

“Ma’am!” He shouted, “Don’t you understand you can’t go in there? Now, step back! Please.”

“You don’t understand-!” Emma’s head turned to look at her pleading mother as she gripped onto her jacket.

“Come on, sweetheart,” Mary Margaret’s voice was soft, her hands yanking on her daughter’s jacket, making the blonde move away from the glaring officer. “Come on, Emma. Let’s just get back to the car.”

Emma’s eyes didn’t move away from the burning building as she was forced to move toward the car. This couldn’t be happening. Not now.

Mary Margaret’s eyes widened at the sight of her daughter’s body turning to face her, and as she looked her straight in the eye, she could see that Emma had made her decision.

“Stay here,” Emma murmured, holding onto her mother’s shoulders, pushing her back.

“Emma-”

“I have to get in there, mom. Just stay here.”

“No, Emma-”

“I have to, Regina has to get this letter.” Emma yanked her arm away as her mother attempted to reach for it.

“Emma, don’t go in there!” The woman shouted, her stomach in knots. “Emma!”

Emma ran to the side of the building, crouching down by a few cruisers to avoid being seen, praying that just for that minute she would become invisible to the eye. It was crazy to just fight her way into a burning building, but she had to try. For Regina. If she could never write to her again after this, if she could never know if Regina loved her, too, or hear from her ever again- she would make sure that this last letter reached her in hopes that the woman she loved now could be saved.

She rushed into a dark alley, seeing a door that led to the inside of the burning post office. Emma turned the knob, finding it locked. She tried ramming her shoulder a couple of times against the door but it wouldn’t budge, grunting with each slam her body gave.

Growing aggravated she stepped back, raising her foot upward and gave the door a good kick, followed by another, then another until finally it swung open.

Her lungs felt the brush of smoke that hit her face as she ran her way inside, causing her to cough several times while she tried her best to keep away from the dancing hot flames that now surrounded her. There wasn’t a place inside the building that wasn’t covered in flames or smoke by that point.

The blonde could feel the heat touch her shoes as she rushed up the stairs, coughing every now and again in the process. The heat that surrounded her made her hover her hand over her face a couple of times. And as she reached the second floor, Emma rushed toward the mailbox, which was also in flames from the outside.

“Ow!” She pulled her hand back, feeling her skin sting as it touched one of the flames while attempting to slip the letter inside the slot. She brushed her free hand against the corner of the letter as it turned black, almost catching fire itself.

Emma tried again, this time succeeding in seeing the letter slide into the slot without a problem. God, please let it get to her in time. She prayed to herself, listening to the crackling of the flames around her only grow louder and louder. That was her sign to flee the building as quickly and as fast as she could.

While reaching the stairs, the flames grew around her, causing Emma to cough, while she watched a couple of flames fall from the ceiling onto the floor just before her. Her hands came up to protect her from the heat they had created.

In that moment, while being surrounded by the dancing flames, all she could think about was Regina. She wasn’t dying today. Not like this.

Emma quickly removed her jacket, wearing it over her head and her back like a cape as she quickly rushed through the burning flames, jumping off mid step. Parts of her jacket were in small portions of flames, which caused Emma to quickly drop it to the floor once she was out of the burning building and out into the dark alley.

She placed a hand to her chest, while her body slammed against the brick wall, her lungs gasping for a breath. Her body slid down the brick wall until her butt hit the floor. Her breathing was heavy and beads of sweat coated her face, while it had ashy spots against her cheekbone, forehead and neck. Even some on her shirt. Her eyes stared at the flames before her as they not only would cease this place from existing but Regina as well.
____________________

Regina held onto Emmeline a little longer as they stood out in the train station. A single tear rolled down her cheek that was softly wiped away from the blonde soldier as their eyes met.

Emmeline’s eyes looked over every spouse and family member saying goodbye to their loved ones traveling on that train. And without a care in the whole world, she leaned into Regina’s lips, kissing them as if it were the last time.

Another tear rolled down the corner of Regina’s eye, her arms wrapping tightly around the woman’s neck.

“All aboard!” Both women parted at the alert.

“When I come back, will you marry me?” Emmeline asked her, her emerald eyes locked on her favorite pair of brown eyes.

Another bold question to be asked. She could tell from the brunette’s shocked expression.

Two women being together was absurd enough in their time, but marriage was something they would have to hide for the rest of their lives.

“Yes,” Regina smiled, knowing that however they would marry, they would make it work.

Their lips melted once again in a kiss so full of love, it took their very breath away. It shattered them to have to break up their kiss. Just like it tore Regina’s heart to watch the woman board that train and wave goodbye as they ventured into their destination.

A single tear made its way down Regina’s cheek as she waved goodbye, seeing the silhouette of the woman disappear farther and farther, just like the smoke blowing out of the train. She couldn’t understand why saying goodbye to her made her feel as if she were saying goodbye to Emma.
____________________

The journey back home to Storybrooke was a long one. Now, while Emmeline was gone, her only hope was that there would be a letter from Emma waiting for her. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. There was no letter. Just her family who welcomed her home with warm embraces and loving smiles. She didn’t rush in telling her mother and father about meeting someone, much less being in love. All Regina wanted was to remain in her bedroom and sleep, in hopes of a letter from Emma.

Zelena decided to help her sister unpack, noticing the sadness that surrounded her.

“Are you sure, Zelena?” Regina asked her for the tenth time.

The redhead gave her sister an apologetic look, one of her sister’s gowns resting against her lap as she sat on the edge of her bed. “I checked each day.”

“And my letters to her?” Asked the brunette.

“They vanished. Just as you said.”

Regina frowned, her body slumping onto her bed, her head on her pillow while her arms wrapped tightly around it. Why hadn’t Emma written? What was keeping her? She didn’t understand what could have gone so wrong.

“She promised,” the brunette murmured.

A knock at the door made both women turn to the door swinging open. Regina sat up, hoping that it would be Kathryn with a new letter in hand.

“Regina, dear,” Cora entered the room. “Mr. White is here for your arrival.”

Regina groaned, her eyes rolling to the back of her head, “Mother, I’m in no mood for guests.”

The woman frowned. “Oh, but dear, your father already said you would be right down. He’s very delighted with your arrival.”

Why must this happen? She had to say goodbye to Emmeline, and now she’s probably lost Emma as well. And she still had to tolerate Mr. White’s company?

Cora touched her daughter’s shoulder. “Do freshen up, dear. I’m sure seeing him will lift your spirits, hm?” She smiled before heading out the door.

Regina turned to glare at Zelena who simply rolled her eyes.

Henry and Leopold were engraved in conversation that came to an abrupt stop once Regina and Zelena made their way down the steps and into the family room.

“Wonderful to see you again, Ms. Mills,” Leopold smiled, reaching for the brunette’s hand, “You have been missed.” He kissed it.

“Thank you, Mr. White,” Regina forced a smile. “If you’ll excuse me, my journey was quite long and I find myself fatigued. I’d like to postpone this visit.” She watched the man before her frown as well as her father.

There was a knock at the door, which caught Regina’s attention, she watched Kathryn open it.

“Regina,” Henry stood before his daughter, disappointed with her behavior. “I told Mr. White he could join us for dinner.”

“Kathryn,” Regina rushed over to the blonde, her father’s words going ignored. “Is there something for me?” She asked, reaching for the letters she held in her hand.

“Yes, ma’am. Only this,” She motioned toward the roughed up letter, her brow furrowing at the sight of it.

Regina didn’t waste any time in opening it up, her heart beating faster as it knew it was from Emma.

“Regina, can’t you be more considerate of our guest?” Henry was becoming inpatient at his daughter’s inexcusable behavior.

“In a moment, father!” Regina snapped, glancing back down at the letter-

Dear Gina,

Do not let Emmeline return to her regiment. If she’s already left, get her back. She must not get anywhere near the village of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. You have until July 3rd to stop her. I will explain everything later. I pray that this letter reaches you in time.

I love you,

Emma

Regina’s lips parted, her eyes wide. Not only at the devastating news she feared the letter contained but at Emma’s confession that was in that same letter. She loved her.

“Regina, what is it?” Zelena’s eyes never moved from her sister, seeing the distraught look on her face.

“Zelena,” Regina looked up at her sister, who stood by the stairs. “Go get my trunk- quickly!” She rushed over to her father and mother, who gawked at her in wonder. “Father, mother, I’m sorry but I have to get to the train station.”

“But, you just about came from the station!” Henry’s brow furrowed, “What in the world is going on that you must return?”

Regina rushed over to Mr. White, “Mr. White, would you give me a ride in your carriage, please?”

“My dear, I would do anything to please you, but…” The man’s eyes moved over to an angered Henry. “I’m afraid that I cannot. Not when your father is against it.”

Regina’s jaw clenched. She was running out of time and she was not about to stand around and do nothing. “Then I shall walk,” she hissed, rushing over to Zelena who held out a coat for her to wear over her gown, who helped her place it on.

“Regina!” Henry shouted, holding onto his daughter’s arm. “You will not go to that station, I forbid it.”

The brunette looked into her father’s eyes, yanking her arm away from him. “I’m not a child, father! And I will not marry whom you want me to marry. Not when my heart belongs to another.” Reaching for her trunk, Regina raced out the door.

Henry scoffed, “You see,” his eyes on Cora. “This is what happens when you allow her to go Boston unattended.”

“Gina!” Zelena’s eyes grew wide as she raced out the front door, seeing her sister mount and quickly flee on Mr. White’s carriage.

“Regina!” Henry shouted, standing on the porch of the house in utter shock as Regina rode faster than she ever had before, racing against whatever little time she had left.

Chapter 16: Broken Hearts

Notes:

A warning before reading this next update. There is a character death and I advice you to get a box of tissues. Please don't hate me. I promise, everything will be okay. I am here for you guys to help you through this tough time.

Regina did not halt until she heard the loud whistle of the incoming train that was making a stop at the station. Her hooded trench coat flapped like a cape in the wind from how fast she was driving the carriage. As she pulled on the reins and managed to make the horses stop, she jumped off, reached for her bag and hurried over to the ticket booth, ignoring the man’s wide-eye gawk.

“Excuse me!” She huffed out, setting her bag down. “Does this train go anywhere near Gettysburg?”

“No,” the man shook his head, looking at the rushed brunette over his glasses which laid at the tip of his nose. “Closest you can get, ma’am is Harrisburg and that’s if the Rebs ain’t cut the line yet. You’ll have to take a carriage from there.” He glanced down at the money placed before him by the woman before handing her a ticket for the train.

“Thank you!” After taking her ticket, Regina rushed over to the train, her heart pounding.
____________________

Emma rushed into her apartment, tossing the keys aside, not caring at all where they landed as she rushed over to the desk. Pulling out the drawer and checking for the letter, she slammed her hands down against the top in frustration after seeing there was no letter from Regina.

“Hey.” Lily stared at the obviously frustrated blonde in surprise.

“Hey,” Emma breathed out, surprised to even see Lily in her apartment. “You’re here.”

“Of course I am.” She made her way down the steps, her eyes never leaving Emma. “I told you I would stop by later, remember?”

“Right.” She murmured, her eyes moving over to the desk again.

“Are you alright?” Lily asked her, brushing back a strand of blonde hair, noticing her sweaty, dirty state. “What on earth happened to you? Where did you go?”

“My mom and I needed to run an errand, that’s all.”

The brunette chuckled, glancing over at the clock before looking back at Emma. “At eleven o’clock at night?”

Emma nodded, her eyes looking down at the brownies inside a plastic container that the brunette held in her hand, deciding to use that as a source of different conversation.

“Hey, brownies!” She forced a smile.

“Yeah!” Lily smiled, noticing the blonde’s excitement. She always did appreciate her brownies. “I figured, you know, you would know how to appreciate a good brownie after being discharged from the hospital.” She handed them to Emma. “You did lose almost a month of time.”

Emma chuckled, running her hand through her stands of fallen hair.

“Emma!” Lily’s eyes went to the blonde’s hand, which was red due to irritation. “Did you burn yourself? What happened?”

She pulled her hand back. “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You don’t look fine-”

“Yes.” Emma held onto the brunette’s shoulders. “I’m fine. Honest. I saved a kitten from a burning building,” she chuckled, trying to lighten the mood and ease her nerves all at once.

“What?” Lily’s brow furrowed. “What were you doing in a burning building?!”

“Lily, Lily- I’m fine.” Emma smiled, “Honest to God, I’m fine.”

“Emma-”

“Why don’t you get us some glasses of milk so we can enjoy those brownies?”

“But your hand-”

“I’ll get the first aid kid.” Emma rushed her off into the kitchen, her eyes glancing over at the desk once again. “Come on, Gina, write back to me.” She murmured under her breath, praying that she would make it in time.
____________________

It was already nightfall once Regina reached Harrisburg, and rushed her way out of the train onto the first driver she spotted. “Driver!”

A man with a thick mustache and top hat turned to her, taking notice of her distraught look.

“Would you please take me to Gettysburg?” She breathlessly asked him, feeling her feet already ache.

“Gettysburg?” The man’s brow furrowed at her odd request. “God’s name, ma’am, ain’t you hear- there’s a war going on over there?”

“I know,” Regina nodded. “I have to get there. Will you take me? Please?”

The man’s heart fell. He wanted to, by God he wanted to, especially with how frightened the woman looked right now. But, one would have to be crazy to go into that village at the moment.

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I can’t.” He gave her an apologetic look.

“Please! I’ll pay you anything you want.” Regina fished out all the money she had on her.

“It ain’t the money, ma’am. I’m sorry.” He took notice of the woman’s glare.

“Fine, I’ll find someone else.” Regina hissed, rushing to the next driver she spotted. “Sir!” She stopped in front of a slender, tall man. “Would you take me to Gettysburg?”

The pudgy, mustached man took notice of the other man’s rejection toward the woman’s request, seeing her desperation hit her hard. “Ma’am,” he neared her, “I’ll take you to Gettysburg.” He reached for her bag, his heart aching at just how quickly Regina’s eyes filled with tears.

“Thank you!” She rushed over to the man’s coach, climbing aboard with his help. “Thank you so much.” She breathlessly said.

The man quickly climbed into his carriage, clicking his tongue to direct his horses toward Gettysburg. It would be a long ride, taking the rest of the night and until morning. But even if her feet bled, Regina had to try and reach Emmeline in time.
____________________

Emma woke up the next morning, leaning over the desk, having fallen asleep after pacing all night, waiting for a letter from Regina or a message that- anything that would let her know that she was able to reach the soldier in time. The first thing she did was check the secret compartment for any correspondence, deflating as she found nothing but emptiness.

“Come on, Gina, please,” she murmured, her stomach in knots.

Her cell rang.

“Hello?” She answered on the second ring. “No… No, mom- nothing yet.” She frowned, staring at the desk. “I promise to call… Yes… Yes, as soon as I have news.”

Emma sighed, dropping her phone onto the desk as soon as the call ended, her hands running through her hair in frustration and anguish.
____________________

Regina could hear cannons being blasted off in the distance, and with every blast she heard, she wished she could arrive there a lot faster.

“Driver! Can’t you go any faster?” She shouted through the stampeding sound of the horses and carriage.

During that same time, Emma found herself sitting in front of her computer. She knew who would lose that battle, of course, yet she was still torturing herself, trying to calm her nerves by reading all about it once again. Her eyes glossy with unshed tears.

Emmeline walked along the battlefield, her head turning towards a blast that happened near them, but not close enough to injure any of the ones fighting alongside her. A lot of other soldiers were already in position behind a ditch, creating it into a wall, their muskets ready and aimed.

The blonde withdrew her sword, holding it up and waiting for the enemy to come in plain sight.

“Let’s move!” She instructed, running along everyone else, holding her musket in her hands and taking aim.

Fires were exchanged, filling that field up with flying bullets and smoke from the cannons and weapons. Many men fighting alongside Emmeline had already gone down, but others continued to bravely fight. Many fired shots, while others fought with their swords.

One male soldier saved the blonde’s life by an inch by shooting an enemy in the face as he was just about to impact her with his sword.

Emmeline shot one enemy in the leg and stabbed her knife that was strapped to her musket right into the man’s heart. She could see his eyes widen before tumbling down to the grass. Quickly hanging her musket, strapped over her shoulder, she withdrew her Remington Army Revolver from her hip’s holster and shot another to the head.

An enemy came up running through fallen soldiers, determined to attack the blonde and bring her down, but Emmeline quickly ducked, bending over, feeling the man’s body crash with hers and rolling across her back and to the ground. Withdrawing her sword, she quickly pierced the blade through the man’s heart.

“Colonel!” A fellow soldier shouted, causing the blonde to turn.

Her eyes grew wide, spotting a musket aimed right at her, and the shot echoed throughout the battlefield.

Emma couldn’t explain why tears began to stream down her eyes as she broke out in a sob, her hands covering her face.

Emmeline dropped onto the field of grass with a groan, looking up at the smoke covered sky, a bullet wound to her heart. “Gina…” She mumbled with a shaky breath.
____________________

“Whoa!” The driver stopped as soon as they arrived into the village of Gettysburg. It was coated in a cloud of smoke, and many wounded soldiers, some walking, some not, along with women and children that searched for their loved ones in hopes that they were still drawing breath.

Regina quickly stepped off the carriage, turning to the driver, “Driver, will you wait for me, please?” She begged him.

“Yes, ma’am,” the man tipped his hat to her and waited.

The brunette struggled to see beyond the cloud of smoke. It was almost hard to breathe, but she needed to keep moving forward. “Soldier!” She noticed a man with a bloody bandage wrapped around his head, wearing the same uniform that Emmeline wore. It gave her hope to still see him alive. “Could you tell me where the nineteenth Massachusetts are?”

The man’s eyes squinted as the sunlight was directly obstructing his vision as he stared at a desperate Regina. “There are no more nineteenth Massachusetts, ma’am. The Rebs done ‘em. Got ‘em good. What’s left is over there,” he pointed toward the direction.

Regina frowned as she walked past the soldier. Her eyes fell on many wounded soldiers and women tending to their wounds. Many groaned in pain, missing an arm, or a leg.

“We know it hurts,” a woman caressed the side of a soldier’s face, comforting him.

“We need a stretcher over here!” Another female voice shouted in the distance.

“We need water!” A doctor shouted, trying his best to get through every soldier as fast as possible.

Regina gasped as her eyes landed on a row of dead soldiers laying on the dirt ground, her hand covering her mouth in shock.

“Hold on, just hold on. You’ll be home soon.” A woman sobbed alongside her fallen husband, holding onto his hand.

Regina pressed forward, her lips parting as she rushed toward Emmeline who laid on a stretcher that was placed inside a tented area. Tables with supplies were beside her as well as other fellow soldiers.

“Emmeline,” she whispered once she stood closer to her, her hand gently caressing the side of her face. “Emmeline? Darling?” Her hand remained even as the blonde flinched to her touch, her green eyes looking pale as they looked up at her.

“Gina?” She breathed, looking up at Regina’s sad smile.

Regina quickly noticed the gunshot wound to the woman’s heart, her uniform coated in red that led a trail of blood that ended against the blonde’s neck. A few buttons on her uniform had been opened, and her hat was gone, exposing her blonde hair.

“I promised to marry you…” The soldier murmured, attempting to sit up. “I promised to marry you.”

“It’s alright,” Regina halted the woman from moving, holding her close in a gentle hug before lying her back down. “It’s alright, darling. It’s alright.” She breathed, her voice breaking.

The woman grunted, staring up and blinking once as if fighting back the pain and death. She was beginning to feel cold.

“Gina…” She breathed out, her hand caressing Regina’s black hair, brushing it behind her ear in a very weak manner.

“What, darling? What is it?” She whispered to her, her thumb caressing her cheekbone.

“Say- say something…” Emmeline whispered, struggling for a breath. “Like on the river- say something.”

Tears streamed down Regina’s cheeks as she held back a sob, her voice trembling, “Stranger… Not on this earth shall we meet…”

Emmeline’s grip tightened around the brunette’s hand, begging her to continue with a nod of her head, her eyes never leaving brown ones that were before her.

“Though I have surely lived with you, dreamed of you. I would wait eternity to touch you.” Regina’s hand caressed the woman’s cheek once again as more tears sprung out of her eyes. “Out of this world, falling forward… Through time.”

The last thing Regina heard was one last breath being taken by Emmeline, seeing that light in her eyes disappear soon after. The brunette hugged her, held her so close and began to softly sob.
____________________

Emma woke up from having passed out again due to crying, sitting up from the desk with a gasp. Her eyes rapidly blinked as she placed her hand over her heart, feeling a hot throbbing pain. Her breathing hitched and shaky.

Chapter 17: Mending a Broken Heart

Notes:

I know the last chapter was a tough one. But, I did promise things would fall into place- and they will. Here is the next chapter, and after this one will come the last chapter that will close this story. I hope you all enjoy it. Hang in there. I promise you a happy ending. :)

The three members of the Mills family stood out on their front porch, seeing a carriage approaching them. Their eyes wide as they fell upon a devastatingly heartbroken Regina, wearing an all black gown. Her face looked exhausted and pale as she made her way toward her house, past the porch and everyone else standing upon it.

“My God, Regina,” Cora gasped, her hand on her chest as she followed her daughter inside. “What happened?”

“Regina?” Henry held onto her daughter’s arm, stopping her at the very entrance.

“Not now, father.” Regina continued down the hallway entrance and up the stairs without so much as an explanation.

Both parents could do nothing but gawk, not understanding anything that was happening with their daughter, while Zelena simply rushed up the stairs.

Tears streamed down Regina’s cheeks as she took a seat in front of the desk, pulling out a sheet of paper to write to Emma, when her head turned to the sound of her door opening and the sight of her sister. Her heart dropped as all she could do was hug her and begin to sob.

Zelena’s own tears were no strangers to her sister’s pain. She didn’t understand all that was happening, but she wanted her to feel that she was here for her.
____________________

Dearest Emma,

I received your warning, but it was too late. Oh, my darling… My Emmeline is gone. And with her went that part of you I never thought to hold. So write to me. For you are all of her that remains.

I love you,

Regina

‘I love you,’ Emma’s tears fell onto the sheet of paper as she read over this letter for the hundredth time today. She loved her, too. And as happy as that made her to discover, it also pained her to know she could not be with her- especially in this very moment when she needed her the most. It killed her to know that because of the post office burning down, her communication with Regina could no longer be possible.

Standing up with an angered and frustrated force from her chair, Emma reached over for an old blue leather jacket that she kept as a spare, reached for her keys and wallet, slamming the door to her apartment shut. Her yellow bug drove with the same angered force out into her destination.

Before she knew it, Emma had driven forty-five minutes out, pulling over to the side of the burnt post office. There was still smoke coming out of the remains, some of it was turned to ash while other parts were just turned to charcoal. How would she write to Regina now?

The blonde made her way out of her car, staring at the remains of the post office. Her fists balled up so tightly it turned her knuckles white. Why did this have to happen now? Why when Regina loved her too? Why did she ever have to buy that desk? Why couldn’t it work for her just as it worked for Regina? Why did Emmeline have to die?

Emma reached down for an empty bottle that was near her feet, picked it up and glanced down at it for a minute before tossing it toward the remains of the post office, raging in anger and hurt. The bottle shattered into a million pieces.

She turned to her car, “No! No! No! No!” she shouted, repeatedly slamming her balled fists down against the roof of the bug, until her fingers gripped tightly against it. Her breathing quickened and trembling, tears rolled down her cheeks in frustration and anger.

Emma looked up, quickly wiping her tears upon seeing many strangers look at her with questioning looks.

“Ma’am?” A stranger’s voice startled her. “Are you alright?”

Emma blinked, wiping away more fallen tears upon seeing the man’s frightened look.

“Do you need help?” He asked her.

The blonde shook her head. “No one can help me.” She muttered.

“Well, whatever’s happened, I’m sure it will come back to you.”

“What?” Emma blinked.

“Whatever it is you lost, I mean…” The man’s gaze turned to the ashes of the post office. “I’m sure it will find its way back to you.” He looked back at Emma’s confused look. “Things always do.” He tipped his hat to her and went on his way.

Emma’s gaze followed the man, wondering what that was about. She mounted her car once again and drove back into Boston.
____________________

Mary Margaret’s own tears streamed down her cheeks as she read Regina’s letter. Her eyes landed on her own heartbroken daughter. “I’m so sorry, Emma.”

Emma reached for the letter, placing it inside the envelope and quickly wiping her tears. “Worst part is, I can’t even write back to her. I can’t hold her- I can’t do anything.”

“Emma…” Her mother sighed, reaching out to hold her daughter’s hand. “I know this is probably the last thing you want to hear from me, but maybe it was meant to happen this way. It’s for the best.”

Emma’s brow furrowed, “How could you say that? You of all people!” She stood, her hands on her hips. “Mother, Emmeline is gone. Regina is heartbroken- she needs me and I can’t even be there for her.”

Mary Margaret stood, her eyes focused on her angered and hurt daughter. “Emma…” She reached for the blonde, pulling her into her embrace, her hands caressing her golden hair as she whispered, “Something miraculous happened,” she pulled away, holding onto her daughter’s face, wiping away at her tears. “But you have to accept the fact that it’s over. I know it hurts you, but you have been living in the past ever since you and Regina have been writing to each other. It’s time for you to focus on the present, on the woman you are planning to marry.”

“And what if I can’t? What if I don’t want to?” She shook her head.

Mary Margaret’s eyes locked on her daughter’s green ones. “Are you saying you don’t want to marry Lily anymore?”

Emma remained quiet, not needing to give a verbal answer as her eyes spoke volumes of it.

“Sweetheart,” the woman’s voice was soft, just as her smile. “You are an amazing woman, just as your father always said you’d be. He always said you would have one true love and stick to it, even if you died a thousand deaths.” She chuckled. “I support you. No matter what you decide to do with Lily. But, if you don’t want to marry her, Emma the least you can do is be honest with her. She deserves that much.”

Emma nodded, wrapping her arms tightly around her mother in a hug and couldn’t help to sob.
____________________

Regina groaned in frustration and anger, ripping and crumpling a sheet of paper from one of her many journals. Emmeline was gone and now so it seemed that Emma was gone, too. She moved over to her chest that was at the foot of her bed, opened the lid and took out her wooden box that had the letter R engraved. Opening it, she pulled out another one of her journals that held her poetry, along with Emma’s letters.

“You promised…” Tears streamed down her cheeks as she moved over to her fireplace that crackled, being the only sound filling the silence in her room.

A knock at the door made the brunette’s hand withdraw back from the flames, “Ma’am?” She saw Kathryn with a smile to her and a letter in hand. “I found this after you left.”

And for the first time since Emmeline’s death, Regina smiled at the sight of Emma’s long lost letter. The same letter that had fallen off of the platter and under the family room sofa.

She rushed up to her feet, reaching for it. “Thank you, Kathryn.” Closing the door, she took a seat by the desk, tore open the letter and read every word, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Her brow furrowed as something heavy fell on the palm of her hand, after she had tilted the envelope. She held the circular pendant and ran her finger across the swan that it held, unable to help a chuckle from escaping her. And as Regina flipped the pendant, she read the words engraved on the back. ‘Remember Me.’

Looking to the floor she noticed something else had dropped. Bending over to pick it up, Regina flipped the wallet size paper and gasped, her eyes wide as was looking at a picture of Emma, startled to see that the one she was also seeing was Emmeline.

“Of course…” She mumbled, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

It all made sense to her now. How did Emmeline come to be in this future time? She could not answer that, but it was her. That’s why the sudden pull to Emma, that’s why her heart burst with love with each received letter. She never held an open mind toward something like this, but then again, she never believed in time travel either, and yet- here was proof, right in the palm of her hand.
____________________

Emma had called Lily on her drive back to her apartment. Her mother was right, she needed to call everything off permanently. She knew Lily would be hurt, even angry, but she couldn’t go on pretending anymore just to spare hurting her feelings. Problem was, how would she even begin to tell her about communicating with Regina through a time traveling desk? How could she even begin to tell her that she fell in love with a woman from the year 1863? It was a crazy tale for someone who didn’t personally live it.

“Hey,” Lily’s boots clicked against the hardwood floor as she entered the apartment. “What’s wrong, Em? You sounded so serious over the phone-” She came to an abrupt halt at the sight of the blonde sitting by the breakfast bar with a glass of bourbon in her hand. Emma never drank heavy liquor as long as Lily knew her. Only time she ever did was when she needed to discuss a serious matter.

Emma took a much needed sip feeling the amber colored liquor burn its way down her throat.

“What’s going on, Emma?” She asked the blonde, even if deep down she knew the answer to her own question.

“Lily…” Emma set down the glass, standing to her feet with a pile of letters in hand. “We have to talk.”

“Okay?” Lily’s eyes moved to the letters Emma held in her hand, she sat down her purse against one of the stools by the bar. “What is it?”

Emma held out the letters to her, “Read these.”

Lily’s brow furrowed as she reached for the stack of letters, she watched Emma reach for her glass of bourbon and sat before her.

She waited patiently for the brunette to read through each and every one of Regina’s letters to her. Every word of love that was spread across pages and pages of endless letters. She could see the shock in the brunette’s face, the pain of discovering that someone else had stolen Emma’s heart, when she had no idea. She suspected, but didn’t want to believe it. And now with the letters she held in her hand, it seemed insane. Especially since these letters came from a different time.

“What the hell are these, Emma?” She finally asked, looking up at the blonde who fidgeted with her empty glass.

“Those… Are letters that have been written to me.” She paused, her eyes never leaving Lily’s. “Regina Mills wrote them.”

She scoffed, unable to believe what she was hearing as she began to make her way out the door.

“Lily,” Emma rushed over to her, grabbing her by the arm, “Lily-”

“What the hell, Emma?” Lily’s eyes were glossy from tears that soon began to stream down her cheeks.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I swear-”

“Do you?” Lily breathed out, glancing down at the letters she still held in her hand. “I mean, I knew you were questioning this wedding, but now what you’re telling me is that you have been receiving love letters from-” She chuckled, shaking her head and wiping her tears.

“I swear it’s the truth.” Emma breathed, grabbing onto the woman’s shoulders. “I couldn’t believe it myself when it started happening, but it is.”

“No,” Lily shook her head, handing the letters back to Emma, pushing them against her chest. “No, this is insane. You’re- you’re insane. You have been acting even more strangely since you came out of that coma.” She moved further into the apartment before turning back to face the blonde. “You know, I knew you had become infatuated by the idea of this woman, Em, but I never… Once… Believed that you…” She chuckled, her lip trembling.

“I’m sorry,” Emma murmured, taking a few paces before Lily to wipe her tears. “Lily…” She whispered, her eyes locking on the brunette’s. “I can’t marry you. Not when I’m in love with her.”

Lily sobbed, her eyes red.

Emma’s head turned to the sound of something dropping within the desk, her lips parted.

“What is that?” Lily breathed out, her eyes following Emma as she silently walked over to the desk. “Emma?”

Emma quickly pulled out the drawer, pulled on the lever and raised the door to the secret compartment. She breathed out seeing a letter from Regina waiting for her.

Lily’s lips parted at the sight of the letter. How could this be? How was this even happening?

Emma reached for the letter, her eyes looking into Lily’s as she handed it over to her. “Open it.”

Chapter 18: To Live and Love Across Time

Notes:

Okay, last chapter of this story. I am so sad it has to come to an end, but I absolutely loved creating this journey for all of you. I really hope you like the outcome of it all up to the very ending. :) Happy reading! I can't thank you all enough for the support and love you have given this story.

Lily took the letter from Emma’s hands and tore the wax seal, pulling out the folded sheet of paper as she read it-

Dearest,

Emmeline is dead. And so my future love, are you. It must be so for you were one on the same, I know that now. But almost as if from the grave, you have returned to me something I thought I had lost… My voice. Although you may never hear it, I am enclosing this song for you.

I love you,

Regina

A single tear streamed down her cheek, she reached into the envelope and gasped in surprise at the sight of a vintage picture of Regina and Emeline together.

“This isn’t possible…” She murmured.

“What is it?” Emma asked, her brow furrowed.

Now it all made sense to Lily. Why while Emma was under her comma, she called out to this woman and spoke as if she were someone from a different time.

The brunette handed the photograph to Emma without speaking a word.

As she held the picture before her, Emma’s lips parted, her eyes wide. And like a tidal wave everything came rushing back to her. Her dreams of Regina and her seeing each other at a glance during their doctor visit in Dr. Whale’s office. Her catching Regina after almost losing her balance and holding her close. Her and Regina enjoying a picnic together under a warm field, having that exact same picture taken, enjoying a stroll or a morning cup of tea. ‘How is it I have the total conviction I know you?’ Her and Regina out by the lake, smiling at the woman’s beautiful poetry as she read aloud to her. ‘You promised you’d read to me.’ Dancing the night away, speaking in hushed voices. ‘Out in the common. Meet me.’ Their first kiss under the night’s sky and moonlight. That’s why she could feel as if Regina had kissed when she woke up from the hospital. It was all her. Memories from her past life lived with Regina.

Her eyes blinked rapidly, turning to Lily who gawked at her in shock.

“Tell me this isn’t real, Emma…” She whispered.

Emma shook her head, glancing back down at the picture. “I don’t know how, but it is.” She whispered, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Lily dropped the letter to the floor, breathing out a puff of air she had been holding. “Are you trying to tell me that… Now, you believe that you are this-?”

“Yes.” Emma nodded. “I don’t know how, but I lived it. It sounds crazy, but it’s true. I was with Regina the moment I died in the village of Gettysburg.” Her breath shook as tears streamed down her face. “That’s why, that’s why I had those dreams. They weren’t even dreams- they were memories of my past life with her.”

The look on Lily’s face wasn’t of shock anymore, but of fear. She shook her head, “This isn’t happening,” she breathed, rushing her way toward the door once again.

“Lily!” Emma rushed over to the brunette, stopping her from leaving.

“No,” she pushed her away, “This isn’t happening, Emma!”

“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s true-!”

“No, you can’t possibly believe that you and the woman in that photograph are the same person!” Lily shouted, “Do you understand how crazy that sounds? You are talking about reincarnation!”

“Lily- Lily, listen to me.” Emma held onto the brunette’s shoulders, her eyes locked. “It’s true. And I’m sorry. I am so sorry that I dragged you through this… But the love I felt then, and the love I feel now for Regina is real.”

Lily shook her head and let out a sob. “I’m not even going to try to understand what’s happening here, Emma…” She breathed out. “But I know this. Before you woke up from your coma, you said things, beautiful things that you had never said before.” She chuckled, “You said her name,” her voice broke as tears streamed down her face.

“Lil,” Emma breathed out, wiping away at the woman’s fallen tears. “You deserve to be loved completely.”

The brunette sniffed, fishing inside her coat pocket and handing Emma back the spare key of her apartment. “Goodbye, Emma.” She leaned in to place one last kiss to the blonde’s cheek and walked out.

Emma picked up the letter from the floor once she heard the door shut, she glanced down at the picture she held in her hand of her and Regina as tears streamed down her face. Reincarnation. She had heard of it, she always thought she would like to believe in it, but never thought it could be true, until now. As to why she had to suffer through this torment without being able to speak to Regina ever again… She wasn’t sure.
____________________

I will never forget how the winds of time blew back and forth for me.

I will never forget how my heart lit up like a glowing Christmas tree.

Though I wander in hell or heaven. My slate wiped clean by death.

You, my love… My dream, eternal love… I will never, ever forget.

Emma read through the poem at the bottom of Regina’s last letter with tears streaming down her face as she sat in her car. Loud taps of falling rain tapped against the windows and roof of the yellow Volkswagen. She held the poem up to her lips and placed a kiss against the written words. This was her life now, and she was going to live it to the fullest for herself and for Regina.

She quickly exited her car, running up the steps of the Mills estate porch to avoid getting soaked from the rain. Her blue jacket lightly glossed with wet beads of rainwater. She knocked gently on the familiar door, waiting for it to be answered. She wasn’t able to write to Regina anymore to tell her so many things. To tell her that she was here and that she always loved her, and that even as she died many moons ago out in that village of Gettysburg, her love remained intact. Maybe by coming to her home, she could at least still feel her somehow.

Eugenia opened the door, not at all surprised to see the blonde standing outside the porch. She had a sad look in her eyes that told Emma that Clarise had passed.

“When?” Emma asked.

“Tuesday.” Eugenia murmured.

“Would you mind if I came in and took one last look around?”

Eugenia nodded, stepping aside to grant the blonde entry into the home, shutting the door behind them. Somehow as Emma stood in the home that was once Regina’s, something felt quieter due to Clarie’s absence but alive at the same time.

“What will you do now?” Emma asked Eugenia.

“Well, she left me the house, so I guess I will live in it for a while, test the waters. At least until I can sell it.”

“Could I…?” Emma turned to the older woman. “Would you mind if I went upstairs into her bedroom?”

“Suit yourself.” The woman motioned toward the stairs.

“Thank you,” Emma smiled, heading up the stairs one step at a time. She stood right at the entry of what used to be Regina’s bedroom, her eyes exploring each corner. “Gina?” She spoke softly, taking in the silence. “Are you here?”

Emma’s eyes fell upon a flat desk that had been placed by the window. She moved along to stand behind the chair of the desk, holding out her hand as if Regina were sitting right there.

Regina was brushing her hair with her comb when she came to an abrupt halt, feeling as if someone stood right behind her, placing their hands against her shoulders. She could see no one through the glass of her mirror, but she knew Emma was there.

“Oh, Emma…” Her eyes closed as her head tilted to the side, feeling her cheek somehow rest against Emma’s hand. “I miss you so much.” Her voice soft.

“I miss you, too, my love.” The corners of Emma’s lips tilted into a tiny smile, a single tear rolling down her cheek at the feel of the brunette’s cheek upon her hand. She couldn’t hear her words, but in her heart- she knew she was dearly missed, just as much as she missed her.

Eugenia stepped just outside the bedroom, gawking at the strange blonde as her hands were held up in the air with a smile spread across her lips.

“Are you feeling alright, child?” She asked the blonde, startling her in the process.

“Yes,” Emma breathed out, noticing the box that the older woman held in her hands as she entered the room.

“Well…” Eugenia’s eyes fell upon the box she held, gifting it to Emma. “This is yours now.”

“Mine?” Emma’s brow furrowed, holding out her hands to retrieve the box, she took in the letter R engraved at the top of the lid.

The woman nodded, “It is now. Clarise wanted you to have it. It’s a bunch of letters, journals and poems, she said.”

Emma’s lips parted as she quickly sat at the edge of the bed and opened up the lid very carefully, almost too afraid to break anything it held inside. She knew this was Regina’s. It had to be. She pulled out one of the journals, reading Regina’s name scribbled on the first page, followed by the year 1863. The corners of her lips tilted into a smile.

“It’s funny,” Eugenia chuckled, eyeing all the letters. “When Clarise stumbled upon this in the attic, she was just a little girl but I always remember her assuring me that there were no letters inside this case when she looked inside it. Of course, she was becoming pretty forgetful there at the end.”

Emma smiled, reaching for a small stack of papers that were letters scribbled by young kids. ‘Dear Ms. Mills, you are my favorite teacher at the school of Willoughby for girls.’ “She became a teacher,” she chuckled, “That’s great.” Flipping through the letters of her students, she noticed they all began with ‘Miss.’ “I guess she didn’t marry his regal highness after all.”

“Who?” Eugenia’s brow furrowed.

“Nothing,” she shook her head, her eyes remaining on the letters. She reached for another stack of letters that she soon recognized were the ones she wrote to Regina. They were all kept tied together in a black silk ribbon.

Eugenia watched the blonde go through the letters with such familiarity. She smiled at an old picture of the brunette as Emma held it out. It wasn’t until she saw her pull out a wallet sized picture of herself, a bit old looking and crumpled up but it was her- that she looked over to the woman herself in shock.

“That’s you!” She exclaimed, adjusting her glasses and leaning in to get a closer look. “How in God’s name did you get in there, child?”

Emma’s smile grew a single tear rolling down her cheek. “I’ll try to explain it, but…” She turned to the woman who looked at her in shock. “You are never going to believe it.”
____________________

Regina’s box sat by Emma as she welcomed herself to the couch in the family room of Clarie’s home (now Eugenia’s home) after the woman welcomed her to a cup of coffee. She got through telling her all about buying the desk and finding Regina’s long lost letter and writing back to her, and how that was the beginning of their connection through a wondrous journey through time.

“It sounds like something out of this world, but I swear it’s the truth.” Emma reached for her cup of coffee that was offered to her by the older woman. “Thank you.” She took a sip.

Eugenia placed the platter down, reaching for her own cup of coffee and taking a much needed sip after such a wild tale.

“You don’t believe me, do you?” Emma asked her, watching her body language carefully.

Her cup clanked against her plate as she sat it down on one of the tea tables. She chuckled, “It’s not a matter of not believing you. As crazy as it is, I happen to know for a fact that Regina Mills did have the truest love of all. Clarise would tell me all about it, because her mother told her.”

Emma smiled.

“Yes, Regina loved someone so much with all her heart, that she could never marry anyone else.”

“Emmeline,” she nodded with a smile.

“Yes, only after a while she didn’t call her that.” The woman took another sip. “She called her Emma. Like you.”

Emma’s lips parted, “Then, you believe me?”

“Do I believe that we each have lived a thousand lives, some that we have no recollection at all about? Do I believe that you shared a love with this woman like no other? Do I believe that you were once Emmeline, a woman posing as a soldier for the Civil War?” She chuckled, shaking her head. “Yes. I believe. There sure are a lot of unexplainable things on this earth, they happen around us every day that sometimes in the blink of an eye, if you don’t closely enough- you could miss it.”

Emma nodded, “I have come to learn that myself.” She took her last sip of coffee before reaching for Regina’s box and standing to her feet. “Thank you for everything. And for listening, and not shooting me.” she chuckled.

Eugenia chuckled, “Well, it wouldn’t be fair that you died twice by a gunshot, now would it?”

The blonde smiled and headed for the front door that was pulled open by Eugenia. Once she reached the porch, she stopped and turned to face the woman once again. “I was wondering… What would your asking price be on this house?”

The woman’s brow lifted, “Are you looking to buy?”

Emma shrugged, “It would be a nice change of scenery.”

Eugenia eyed the girl before her, adjusting her glasses. “Well…” She breathed. “I’ll tell you what, you come back here once a week and tell me more of your wild tales from 1863 and you help me paint this place up, it’s as good as yours.”

“You got a deal.” The blonde smiled, shaking the woman’s hand that was extended to her.

“Oh, by the way-” Eugenia called out to the blonde. “There is a cemetery almost outside of town. Clarise did mention to me that every Mills member was buried there.”

“Thank you,” Emma breathed out, rushing back to her car and driving off.
____________________

The rain had picked up just a little as Emma made her way through the only cemetery in town, flowers in hand. She looked through all of the tombstones and reached her stop once she stood before one that held Regina’s name.

Regina Mills

Born: March 24th, 1844

Aged: 67

Died: March 3rd, 1901

Emma kneeled before the tombstone, placing the flowers against the bed of tall grass. She brushed the stems of tall grass away with her hand, noticing there was something engraved at the very bottom of the tombstone.

I NEVER FORGOT

“I never forgot,” Emma murmured, smiling at the message she knew was meant for her to find and understand. She couldn’t help a few tears that escaped her as she quickly wiped them away.

Barking was heard in the distance that interrupted Emma’s mournful moment as she turned and caught a dog- a Fox Terrier- that came running its way toward her.

“Whoa!” She chuckled, her palms and fingers petting the friendly and too excited dog’s fur, “Hey, buddy- where’d you come from?”

It was a cute dog. White with a black spot on his back and a brown face. He wore a blue collar with a dog tag with the name-

“Luke!” A female voice called out to the dog that still remained by Emma’s side. “Come on, Luke! Good boy!”

Emma rose to her feet, her eyes trained on the female that began to approach her with hurried steps.

“Come on, Luke!” The woman clapped her hands, whistling over to the dog, which then went running back to her, dragging his black leash along the way.

Emma approached the stranger as she was bent down petting her canine companion, her hair was black and short length to her shoulders, no longer straight but puffed out. She wore a pair of casual jeans with a long black trench coat and high heel boots.

“Is this your dog?” She asked the brunette woman.

“Afraid so,” the woman huffed out, standing to her feet after grabbing hold of the canine’s leash, “Forgive me- he’s never like this with anyone-” Her words came to a halt as she faced the blonde woman before her.

Emma’s lips parted, her eyes wide in surprise as she was staring at Regina herself. Her hair was different, and she wore clothes that fit with this time, but it was her. She was sure of it. And she knew from the surprised look to the brunette’s face- she felt it too.

“Are you alright?” The brunette asked.

“Yes,” Emma breathed out. “I, um…” She paused, unable to take her eyes off of the woman before her. “I’m sorry. Forgive my boldness, but, I have the strangest feeling I know you.”

The woman couldn’t help but lock her eyes into Emma’s beautiful emerald ones. “As strange as it sounds, I feel it too.”

Emma’s eyes fell upon the necklace that hung from the woman’s neck, her heart beating faster and faster. “May I… May I ask where you got that necklace?”

“This?” She held onto it, “Oh, it’s from a long, long time ago. It was a gift.”

A gift. Emma breathed, unable to say anything else because she wasn’t sure of what to say. How could she make her believe that it was her? Because that was her pendant! She knew it. It was unmistakable to her.

“Well, then…” The woman spoke, startling the blonde from her thoughts. “Thank you for catching Luke for me.” She waved and went on her way.

Emma watched her walk out of the cemetery and looked over at the grave, reading over the brunette’s message again at the very bottom.

“Excuse me,” she took off running, catching up to the brunette, startling her. “I’m sorry. You wouldn’t know where to get a cup of coffee around here, would you?”

“Actually I do,” the brunette chuckled, her eyes trained on Emma. “There’s a diner not far from here- oh- Luke! She heard her dark bark followed by him yanking on the leash as he had wrapped it around both of their legs trying to chase after a squirrel, causing both women to come together, their faces only an inch away.

The brunette gasped as her eyes connected with Emma’s, the scent of apples and cinnamon hitting her nostrils and that’s when Emma saw it. Every past memory of them came rushing back to the brunette as it did for Emma when she saw their picture.

“Emma?” She breathed out.

“Yeah,” Emma smiled, releasing a breath she had been holding, her arms wrapped around the brunette’s body.

Regina’s eyes took in every detail of the blonde’s beautiful features as she whispered, “How?”

“I don’t know,” Emma breathed out, her hand coming up to caress Regina’s cheek, wiping away a fallen tear just as she felt the brunette’s hand wipe away hers. “How am I here in this time and was able to write to you while you still found yourself in the year 1863?”

Regina chuckled, a single tear streaming down her cheek. “To live and love across time.” She murmured.

Emma’s smile grew, her head leaning into Regina’s while their lips pressed into one another in a kiss that illuminated their hearts.

After they entangled themselves from Luke’s leash around their legs, Emma held out her arm for the brunette to link her own arm to, walking along with Regina through the different but familiar town. Luke walked along before them as Emma held on to its leash.

“So, is your name still Regina?” She had to ask with a smile on her face.

Regina chuckled, “Actually, it’s Gina Miller.”
____________________

Sitting on top of Emma and Regina's antique desk was an edited copy of all of Regina's poems that she ever wrote, already turned into a book.