Work Text:
Captain! We're losing altitude. The engines in sector three have been compromised and all the fluid levels are rapidly decreasing. Should I engage backup protocols?
Emma Swan was thirteen years, two months and four days old when the words became fully visible across the right side of her chest. For about a year leading up to this point, the words had been faded and smudged. Individual letters would appear and it was particularly exciting when she first recognized the question mark. She could also tell after only two months that there would be A LOT of words. Which was unusual…but promising!
Emma had known about the words for as long as she could remember. Everyone had them. They were the first words you would hear your soulmate say and they became fully visible once puberty ended.
Emma longed for a soulmate when she was young. By the time Emma was eight she had been passed around to sixteen different foster homes. So she hoped for someone in her life that would love her and would stick around forever. She would spend hours imagining what the words would say and who would say them. But as she grew up, she began to see the reality of the words. Not everyone's soulmate was their perfect match. Most cultures now believed it was just someone important who would change your life in a significant way. The most current studies showed that only 70% of people ever actually find and end up in a relationship with their soulmate. With Emma’s luck, she would most certainly fall into that smaller percentage.
She also realized that most people had really dumb words. It was so hard for many to find their soulmate because most people’s first words to each other were “hello”, “sorry”, or “how can I help you?” These weren't exactly helpful in identifying your soulmate.
Emma hated to admit it, but when the words started to appear, she regained a little bit of hope. It couldn’t have been a standard greeting, considering it was so long. But finally seeing the words sank her stomach.
“What the hell does that mean?” She harshly whispered to herself upon viewing the magical identifier. Was she going to become a captain? Was she going to die in a plane crash? She couldn’t imagine it. She had never even been on a plane before! How typical that she would receive words predicting her demise. Well, she would just have to stay away from anything that flies. That actually shouldn’t be too difficult as she had no one to visit and no money to travel anyway.
Emma was twenty-one years, nine months and nine days old when she heard her words. By this time, she hardly thought about them. Well, as much as one could forget them considering they were branded on her chest and the whole world was obsessed with them. She could almost convince herself that she no longer had them memorized. That was, until one day a fellow waitress at her job invited her to go to the movies. Emma hadn't been to a lot of movies in her life. She had really only watched whatever VHS tapes her foster families owned, which usually meant a lot of Disney or Christian cartoons. However, she really liked her co-worker Ruby, and she had gotten tipped well that day and wanted to have some fun.
“It’s called Obsidian Dawn” Ruby told her as they enter the theater.
“Never heard of it.” Emma replied as she paid for the ticket.
“It’s a Sci-Fi movie. I’ve hardly seen any advertisements for it either but Graham Humbert is in it and he is so fine.” Ruby continued to gush.
Emma refrained from mentioning that she didn’t know who that actor was either. She was not exactly thrilled about seeing a Sci-Fi movie but it would be a laugh even if it were terrible.
They took their seats just as the movie is about to start. Emma actually started to get excited as the lights dim and the loud orchestral music began to play. Emma watched as several lasers attacked a futuristic spaceship. Everyone inside the ship was scrambling around for safety and yelling incoherently. The captain and his crew look concerned as they press buttons and plug numbers into computer screens. A striking brunette woman in a purple jumpsuit called out: “Captain! We're losing altitude. The engines in sector three have been compromised and all the fluid levels are rapidly decreasing. Should I engage backup protocols?”
And Emma’s heart dropped.
Her ears ring. She may have been shaking but she was unaware of her surroundings. She could not tell you what happened for the rest of the movie. Only that the beautiful brunette appeared in the background of many scenes and hardly had any other lines.
“You seemed to really like the movie!” Ruby joked as soon as the credits start to run. “You were so focused you barely blinked!” It was only then that Ruby looked at Emma’s face and noticed something off about her expression. “Are you okay?”
Emma opens her mouth to answer but nothing comes out.
“Alright, you’re freaking me out. What’s going on?” Ruby asks again.
“She said my words.” Emma admits.
“What? Who?” Ruby questions, instantly on alert and looking around the now empty theater.
“The woman in the movie!” Emma responds, now in a slight panic.
“Okay, calm down. Let’s go get a drink and talk about this.” Ruby reasons and lead Emma to the bar across the street.
Emma had never told anyone her words before. She never really had anyone to tell, and to be honest her words freaked her out a bit. Fortunately, it is considered rude to ask someone what their words are, so she had gotten away with nobody knowing until now. However, that night she tells Ruby the whole story and it was…refreshing. She felt lighter having someone else to discuss it with. What was the likelihood that she would ever meet this actress? It seemed profoundly unfair but such was Emma’s life. Ruby did propose the idea that someone else may say those same words to Emma. That there was a remote possibility that someone else would quote the movie and Emma would overhear. Emma nodded along to Ruby’s suggestion, all the while knowing in her heart it wasn’t true. She looked up the actress’s name the next day.
Regina Mills.
Regina Mills was fourteen years, one month and twenty-two days old when her words became fully visible.
This fucking door!
A startled laugh escaped her upon first reading the words on her right hip. After only a moment she knew she was dead. Her mother was going to kill her. As if she had anything to do with what words would appear! Oh, she knew Cora Mills would find a way to make this her fault. That an inherent flaw in Regina’s personality would lead her to have a soulmate that would spew profanity upon first meeting.
And that’s exactly what happened. She could not hide this from her mother. Cora had a way of getting information out of Regina and her sister, Zelena.
Cora had always made it clear that she thought soulmates were ridiculous. That searching for a “magical” connection would only hold one back in life. Zelena seemed to internalize these lessons and Regina watched as her sister’s outer shell became more and more hardened. But Regina, to her mother’s constant disappointment, was a romantic at heart. Her and her father would sneakily watch movies about soulmates meeting and he would often talk of his own parent’s being soulmates and his hopes that she would find hers.
Regina was nineteen years, six months, and twelve days old when her father died of a heart attack and Regina’s entire life changed. She no longer had a confidant and began to give up the dream of meeting her soulmate. However, Regina had other dreams that she knew her father would want her to pursue. So much to her mother’s dismay, she left college and moved out to Los Angeles to become an actress.
The first two years in California were rough. She was made to feel like a constant disappointment by her only remaining family members. She had little support from them and she was very lonely. But she worked hard. She did everything she could to learn about her craft and network with other people in the business. She was lucky enough that the few commercials and background work that she received were enough to keep her motivated and housed.
In her third year living in California, she received her first feature film role. It was a small part in a small movie but Regina was excited beyond compare. She read those few lines so many times that she knew she would still be able to recite them sixty years later. She was so nervous to recite them when the time came that she feels like she hardly took a breath between sentences! Everyone on set was nice and although the star, Graham, was quiet, she respected his work ethic and ability to jump into character when the camera’s started rolling. She ended up striking an unlikely friendship with the director, Tiny. He was a giant man with a sweet personality and a love for all things fantasy and Sci-fi.
The movie itself didn’t do very well at the box office but it definitely assisted in launching Regina’s career into films. Her next major role was as a love interest that almost temps the main actor away from the woman he would realize is his soulmate. In this role she had to wear a bikini and it was the first time in her adult life that Regina panics over her words. Clothing or even a bandage could normally easily cover her words, but in the bikini they would be very visible. She had never shown anyone outside of her family her words before. It wasn’t uncommon for celebrities to keep them hidden until they have found their soulmate but Regina was reluctant for anyone, even the crew to see them. However, she knew she had to ask someone for help so before the bikini shoot, Regina pulled aside Tink, the make-up artist on set, and explained the situation.
“Your words are certainly some of the most interesting I’ve seen.” Tink joked as she applied the make-up to Regina’s hip.
“Your secret’s safe with me. Though I hope you introduce me when you meet him.” Regina blushed at the thought of meeting her soulmate…and at the assumption that they would be a him. She had only recently started to have flirtations with her older co-star Mal. It was the first time she ever consciously recognized her attraction to women. Could her soulmate be a woman? Would her words sound less aggressive coming from a woman?
It would be many years before she would find out.
By the time Emma was turning twenty-eight she could finally say with certainty that she was content. She may not have met her soulmate but she found her people. Ruby turned out to become a great friend after sharing their words in the bar that day. With Ruby came her Grandmother, affectionately called “Granny” by everyone who knew her. And everyone seemed to know Granny…so now everyone seemed to know Emma.
Emma had continued working as a waitress, in addition to many other odd jobs, until she was eventually promoted to manager of one of the classiest restaurants in the city.
Emma had financial stability, friendship and…Regina. Sure, she had never met the actress in person, but that didn’t stop Emma from following her career. Ever since that first movie, Emma couldn’t help but seek out every film and television show that Regina appeared in. She refused to intentionally seek out interviews. She knew learning about Regina would just make it harder. If she learned too much she would want to then fabricate a way for them to meet and that would feel like stalking. Plus, what would happen if they met? Regina was beautiful, talented, and presumably wealthy. Emma was just an orphan girl who was finally not living paycheck to paycheck. Why would Regina want anything to do with her? Connecting with Regina through her movies was the safe option.
“I cannot wait to go home tonight.” Emma moaned to Ruby, who was currently bartending at the restaurant.
“You just want to go home so that you can watch your girlfriend in the season finale of Enchanted Forrest.” Ruby teases.
Emma almost blushes at the accuracy of this statement. Regina’s latest television series was airing their season four finale that night and Emma couldn’t wait to get off of work to watch the recording. She had been trying to get Ruby to watch the show with her for years. Regina played the Evil Queen and Emma was a little obsessed with the leather pants she often wore for the role.
“I’m tired Ruby.” She disagrees. “I’ve been working for ten days straight.”
“You’re the one who scheduled trainings for our closed day.”
“When else was I supposed to do them?” Ruby rolled her eyes. She was clearly still bitter about having to come in on her day off for training. Everyone knew the trainings were important to maintain the restaurant’s awarded status though.
“I wonder where her words are?” Ruby ponders when she comes back from serving a drink.
“Whose words?”
“Regina Mills.” Ruby continues as if it were obvious. “I looked it up and no one seems to know.”
“Is that uncommon for an actress?” Emma asks, still not up to date with celebrity culture despite having seen many more movies and TV shows in her adulthood.
“A little. Usually someone catches a blurry photo of it or they slip up and say where it is at least. They must be somewhere really well hidden, like her ass!”
“Ruby!” Emma scolds and looks around to make sure no customers were around to hear this conversation. Ruby simply laughs.
“I’m sure you’d like to see that!” As much as she tries, Emma can’t get the image out of her head as she goes about her duties.
Regina was twenty-nine years, eleven months and sixteen days old when she heard her words and honestly, she almost missed the moment completely.
When Tiny personally called Regina to offer her the role of the Evil Queen on his new television show, she was immensely flattered. While the two of them had stayed in touch, they weren’t exactly close, and the fact that he thought of her for the role was lovely. However, her agent, Mr. Gold, had encouraged her to turn it down. He thought doing television would limit future opportunities as a film actress. But Regina was determined to take the role. She liked the idea of the stability a television show would provide. She wanted to dive deep into a character in a way that only extended time would allow. And most of all, Regina was lonely and she longed for friendships that would last beyond the few weeks a film project would take.
And so she accepted the role with the stipulation that Tink be hired on as well. Both of these decisions turned out for the best. The show was a huge success and her character was a fan favorite. Four seasons in and the show was still going strong. The production sent her out to do press everywhere for the season four finale. She had three interviews just that morning and would be attending a convention panel for the show that weekend while in Boston. She had invited Tink along for the trip and they decided to go out to dinner that night with a few other co-stars that were in town for the panel.
“You actually made a reservation? I’m impressed.” Dorothy, the newest cast member drawls sarcastically.
“Ha. Ha.” Killian responds. “I’ll have you know that I have connections in every city to the best restaurants.”
“Well this looks like a lovely place.” Mary Margaret says agreeably.
Regina is loath to agree with M.M on anything but the restaurant is nice. It felt modern but without the harsh features and minimalistic style that many restaurants seem to favor these days.
The group of six included Mary Margaret, her (TV and real) husband David, Killian, Dorothy, Tink and Regina. Regina didn’t mind Dorothy, the newest cast member, but she would have much preferred other cast mates like Marian to be in the city with her. At least she had Tink to keep her company.
Regina only makes it so far as the drinks and appetizers before she needs a break from talking about work. She excuses herself to go to the ladies room and hopes the meal will be there by the time she gets back.
She admires more of the restaurant as she strides down a hallway to the restrooms. Everything is beautifully ornate, including the heavy door to the single occupancy room. It even smells nice in there! Regina has to say she has been very impressed with the restaurant so far and understands why they have such a good reputation.
But of course, just as she is thinking all these admiring thoughts, she finds that she can’t open the door to leave.
“You have got to be kidding me?” She groans as she attempts to push the door open with more force.
Panic shoots through her before she can stop it. Why didn’t she bring her purse and cell phone with her into the restroom? That’s the last time she’ll make that mistake!
She tells herself to take a deep breath and try the handle again. When she still can’t get it open after several minutes, she decides she’ll just have to knock and hope someone passing by will hear her.
God, how embarrassing! What are the chances this wouldn’t end up in the tabloids? “Hello!” She calls out as she knocks from the inside. On the third try she finally hears a response from the other side.
“Hello? Are you okay?” A cautious voice asks.
“Yes! But the door seems to be stuck.” She calls out with relief.
She thinks she hears a “Not again” muttered before “I’ll go get help just stay there.”
“Stay there?” She mutters to herself. Where could she possibly go? What an idiotic thing to say.
Meanwhile a young waiter rushes into the back office to find Emma at her desk.
“The door to one of the restrooms is stuck again.” He says without greeting. “Someone is locked inside.”
“You have got to be kidding me! Leroy assured me that the new handle would make the heavy door more accessible and easier to open.” She complains as she grabs a pocket-sized toolkit.
The young man just shrugs and follows her out of the office.
“It’s this one.” The waiter points out unnecessarily.
“We’re back. We should have it opened soon.” He calls out as he knocks on the door. “I have to get back to my tables.” He tells Emma. She just nods her head in response, already concentrated on unscrewing the lock mechanism.
Regina concentrates on breathing while she leans against the sink. Help is here and they would have her out soon. She hears rattling at the door and hopes that this process doesn’t take too long.
“This fucking door!” A voice calls out in frustration.
This fucking door indeed. Regina thinks before…wait.
Her breath catches and her head whips toward the voice. She unconsciously starts moving toward the door just as a body shoves it open with their hip. Regina nearly falls to the floor in her attempt to jump back. Only nearly because two hands managed to grab her before she completely lost her footing.
“Oh, I am so sorry.” The other woman starts to say. Regina looks up and their eyes meet.
The first thing Regina notices is how green the other woman’s eyes are. Then she watches as recognition fills those green eyes. The hands that are still clutching her upper arms grip tighter for just a moment before letting go completely.
“I should have warned you.” Emma continues to apologize. She’s surprised that she can even form a coherent sentence with the person she assumes is her soulmate standing in front of her. How did she not know Regina was at the restaurant? Normally whenever a celebrity comes in all the staff is gossiping about it! If Ruby had known she would have found Emma immediately.
“I shouldn’t have been standing right in front of the door.” Regina dismisses the apology. Wait, were those the first words I’ve said? Regina wonders. She looks to see if there is an additional look of recognition on the blonde woman’s face. But no, just the same slightly dazed but apologetic expression, which could easily have been from the fact that Regina is a minor celebrity.
“I’m the manager, Emma Swan.” Emma introduces and reaches out to shake Regina’s hand. “I’m so sorry about the door. We’ve recently replaced all the handles and locks and I guess there are still issues. Your meal will of course be on the house because of the inconvenience.”
“Regina Mills.” She shakes the hand and lingers in the hold. “And it’s quite alright.” Regina dismisses as if she hadn’t almost had a panic attack two minutes earlier. She is so dazzled by this woman and the entire situation she can hardly think straight.
“Though I don’t think my dinner companions will quite believe that this is the reason I was away from the table so long.”
“You can just say you were delayed by a fan.” Emma suggests, confirming that she knows of Regina.
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“A fan?”
How to answer a question like that? A simple yes seems like the understatement of the century. “I’m recording your season finale as we speak.”
“I actually haven’t seen it yet. I hope it lives up to expectations.”
“You could never disappoint.” Emma assures. The response could have been light and flirty but instead it seeps slowly into Regina’s whole body. She feels the weight of the words resonate. Regina has felt like a constant disappointment to her family, friends and agent. And nobody has ever looked at her the way Emma is now, with complete acceptance and care. Emma was so beautiful and expressive. Regina is at a loss for how to continue the moment. The emotions are too much for her to process.
“I suppose I should get back to the table.” Regina finally breaks the tension and steps toward the open doorway. “Perhaps I’ll tell them I had a tryst with a beautiful staff member.” She winks before walking away, which is just as well because Emma would not have been able to form a response after that!
It turns out that no one asked what took her so long. Tink gave her a concerned look but perhaps etiquette stopped anyone else from questioning her, or perhaps they were all distracted by their food and didn’t notice her absence.
Regina doesn’t stop thinking about Emma Swan once throughout the dinner.
About halfway through eating the meal a leggy brunette in a too tight blouse saunters up holding two bottles.
“Good evening ladies and gentleman.” She greets. “Emma asked that I bring over a complimentary bottle of wine. However, I also wanted to bring something stronger in case that is more to your liking.” She directs this toward Regina and presents both a fine Cabernet and a bottle of scotch.
“A woman after my own heart.” Dorothy responds while not taking her eyes off of the waitress.
The brunette turns toward Dorothy and her smile widens. “Well it’d only be fair since I think you just stole mine.”
“Dorothy Gale.” The actress greets and offers her hand with the biggest grin that Regina has ever seen on her face.
“Ruby Hale.”
“We rhyme.”
“We rhyme.” Ruby repeats while trying to imitate Dorothy’s accent. “Where’s that cute accent from?”
“What’s happening?” David asks his wife, only for her to shush him.
“Kansas.” Dorothy offers proudly.
“Well Kansas, how about I leave both the bottles here and bring back some glasses for you.”
“Much appreciated.”
The whole table stares at Dorothy as she watches the bartender walk away.
When Dorothy notices her tablemates’ curiosity she simply shrugs, rolls up her sleeve, and presents her left forearm. The words read: Good evening, ladies and gentleman
“I know it could be a lot of people…but it has to be her.” She explains.
What are the odds? Regina wonders in amazement. Of course, she hadn’t confirmed yet that Emma was her own soulmate but then neither had Dorothy and she still seemed very sure.
“It doesn’t bother you that she’s a bartender?” M.M asks.
Regina thinks Mary Margaret is an elitist asshole who has never had to work a minimum wage job, but keeps the thought to herself.
“I was a bartender part-time until last year when I was finally cast on the show.” Dorothy counters. Of course, Tink was the only one paying attention to the fact that Ruby had initially been speaking to Regina.
“Who is Emma?” She asks quietly as the others discuss Dorothy’s predicament. Regina feels herself smile a bit at just hearing the blonde woman’s name.
“Someone who really hates doors.”
Tink expression quickly morphs from confusion to amazement.
“No!” She whispers excitedly.
“Maybe.” Regina whispers back.
Before she can ask more questions, Ruby is back and pouring everyone their preferred beverage. For the remainder of the meal both Emma and Regina are thinking about each other and ways to spend more time together. When Dorothy announces that she is going to sit at the bar for a while, Regina also says that she would make her own way back to the hotel. She receives a few curious looks but no one comments. Tink hugs her excitedly and heads out.
Before she has even sat down properly on the bar stool, Ruby gives her a smile and let’s her know that Emma should be out in a minute. Did Emma say something to this bartender? How could she know Regina was waiting for Emma otherwise?
“Hi” The blonde shyly greets as she enters the bar circle. “I hope the rest of the meal went smoothly.”
“Yes, it was delicious.” Regina assures. “I just wanted to thank you for the drinks.”
“Of course! Could I get you anything right now? I haven’t tended the bar in a while but I’m sure I can still make a mean cocktail.”
“Are you trying to get me drunk?”
“Only if you want me to.”
Regina laughs. “Maybe another time. I actually wanted to ask you for advice. I have the day free tomorrow and I was wondering if you could recommend anything to do.”
Emma thinks for a moment before deciding to be bold. “Well I like to walk along the waterfront in the mornings if you’d like to join me.”
“How early are we talking?”
“Meet at 9 am?”
Regina would have really liked to sleep in for a change. However, she doubts she is going to sleep well anyway with all her questions about Emma floating through her mind.
“Sounds perfect.”
Regina wakes long before necessary to a cool, overcast morning. She wishes she had brought more clothing with her as she only brought jeans and a short-sleeved blouse for today.
Emma wore her normal running clothing and hoped that the fact that it showed off her toned muscles made up for the fact that they weren’t expensive, quality gear.
“Hi” Emma calls out shyly as she sees Regina at their designated meeting place.
“Hello Emma.” She greets while rubbing her hands up and down her arms.
“I should have warned you there could be a chill by the water.” Emma explains and then takes off her own light zip-up jacket. She hands it over to Regina. “Here you can take my sweater.”
“Oh, I can’t take your jacket.” Regina dismisses. “I’ll be fine.”
“I insist. I’m still warm from my jog anyway.”
Reluctantly, Regina put on the jacket. She can’t say she’s upset with seeing Emma’s bare arm muscles exposed anyway.
“I’m surprised you’re not wearing the classic celebrity incognito look.” Emma comments as they start to walk along the river.
“I left my baseball cap and sunglasses at home” she jokes “Besides, I’m not really that famous.”
“You’re a movie star!” Emma exclaims a little too loudly before looking around sheepishly to make sure she didn’t draw attention.
This makes Regina giggle. She doesn’t think she’s giggled since she hit double digits. “I’ve only been in a few movies and never as the star.”
“You were the lead in A Christmas for One.” Emma counters.
“The TV movie? You’ve seen that?” She asks in disbelief.
“I’ve seen everything you’ve been in.” Emma admits.
“There is no way that’s true.” Regina argues. She herself has barely seen some of the smaller projects she’s appeared in.
“What about Obsidian Dawn?” She asks with the assumption that Emma would not have even heard of the movie. Instead, a curious thing happens…Emma blushes.
“I own it.”
“You do not!”
“I do. It’s sitting on a shelf in my living room.”
“I didn’t even know they released that movie on video. Are you a stalker? Should I have been more cautious coming here with you?” Regina’s tone is joking but she actually would be worried right now if Emma’s presence didn’t put her at such ease.
“No, I just like your work.” Emma promises. “I really don’t know anything about you outside of the characters you’ve played.”
“What would you like to know?” The brunette questions cautiously.
“Do you have any siblings?”
“Oh wow” She laughs “so you really don’t know anything.”
And so the next forty minutes pass with the two women making their way around the riverfront and asking each other questions. Emma was so lost in all that was Regina that she didn’t notice at first the occasional drops of water falling onto her head and arms. Soon enough the pitter-patter was audible and the two are shocked out of their moment. The women rush to get under the cover of an awning to a shop.
“My place is only a few blocks away if you would like to come up and dry off.” Emma offers. Regina hesitates, knowing that Emma is technically still a stranger to her, but she also desperately wants more time with the other woman.
“Only if you show me your copy of Obsidian Dawn.” The two hurry back to the apartment as the rain starts to fall heavier from the clouds.
“You can borrow some clothes while yours dry.” She offers while making her way into her room and opening drawers. “Would you want shorts or sweatpants?”
The brunette is almost too distracted looking at all of Emma’s things to realize a question had been asked.
“Oh, uh, sweatpants.”
Emma hands over the clothes and shows her to the bathroom where she can change and freshen up. When Regina arrives back in the open living room/kitchen area, Emma’s bedroom door is shut. Regina takes the opportunity to do more snooping on her probable soulmate. The apartment is nice, sparsely decorated but still had flares of personality like the multiple dreamcatchers hanging in the bedroom or the large video collection under the television. She pulls out one video case to study.
“I told you I had it.” Emma says and startles Regina into an upright position.
“I don’t think I’ve seen this more than once when it first came out.” Regina admits as she holds up the unfamiliar cover of Obsidian Dawn.
“Really? It’s actually a fun movie.” Emma assures before pausing, thinking her next words may be a bad idea, but wanting to fulfill a fantasy she didn’t know she had anyway. “Would you want to watch it?"
“Would it be horribly egotistical if I said yes?” Regina is afraid she will be embarrassed by her young acting skills but she is also immensely curious, especially as she’s been working with Tiny again after all these years.
“Absolutely not!” The blonde assures her and begins to turn on the television. “Make yourself comfortable and I’ll grab us some snacks. You can’t have a movie without snacks.”
The grin she sports makes Regina’s heart skip a beat. Soon enough the two women are on the couch, food and drink laid out in front of them and the movie queued up and ready to play.
As the opening scenes begin Regina is instantly transported back to the set and how nervous she was for her first role. “I could probably still recite my lines.” She revels quietly. “I was so nervous I spent every free minute memorizing them.”
Just as she says that her character appears for the first time on screen.
Captain! We're losing altitude. Regina begins to recite along with the words. “The engines in sector three have been compromised and all the fluid levels are rapidly decreasing. Should I engage backup protocols?”
Emma cannot take her eyes off of Regina in this moment to look at the younger version on screen. A feeling is bubbling up inside of her and she’s not sure whether to cry or laugh.
Regina chuckles self-deprecatingly. “I don’t know if I took a breath that whole time! I was so anxious to get the words out.”
“Oh.”
“Oh?” She questions and finally looks at Emma again.
She can’t conceive why the other woman’s face is so full of wonder.
“I don’t think you did take a breath.”
The movie continues on in the background, already ignored, while the two women look at each other with curiosity and trepidation.
“I have to show you something.” Emma begins to take off her shirt to reveal just her sports bra underneath.
At first, Regina doesn’t understand what is going on. She isn’t upset that Emma is stripping for her but this would be an odd mood for a flirtation. Finally, she follows Emma’s eyes down to the blonde’s chest. Right above the bra line are her words.
Regina’s words.
The one’s she’s recited so many years ago.
And that means… Emma begins to ramble to fill the silence. “I always wondered why it was so long. Usually words are a sentence or less but if you said all the sentences in one breath than maybe it counted as all one phrase?”
Regina abruptly stands.
“I should have told you right away, I’m sorry.” Emma begins, believing that Regina is upset and about to leave. “You just didn’t say anything so I wasn’t sure-“ She cuts herself off as Regina begins pulling down her own sweatpants right there in front of the couch. She turns to the right and pulls up her thong strap to fully reveal her words.
Regina bites her lip in nerves and anticipation.
Emma’s mouth practically falls open before she practically covers her face in embarrassment. “I didn’t think you could hear me on the other side of the door!” She groans.
The laughter that follows coaxes her to look up at the beautiful actress. Fully dressed once more, and beaming at Emma with such love and light that Emma can’t help but reach out to her.
Emma was twenty-eight years, six months and two days old when she kisses her soulmate for the first time. And it’s more than she could have ever dreamed.