The Reason Why

Emma Swan never stopped wondering why she left without a word, not even a goodbye. She was used to being abandoned but when Miss Mills her favorite teacher/mentor of three years disappeared without explanation it still stung. Now over ten years later and a chance run in she might finally find out the reason why.

SwanQueen, Teacher/Student AU, Romance

Rated M for later chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon A Time or their characters. I am just borrowing them for a bit!

This is my very first fan fiction. I do not consider myself a writer so please bear with the run on sentences and other grammatical errors! All mistakes are mine and reviews are more than welcome! I hope you enjoy and if you like follow me on tumblr...dmbaye

Chapter 1

Walking through the white-painted hallways Emma couldn't help but to feel at peace even though she was surrounded by the colleagues she barely tolerated. Art always did have a calming effect on her. She loved the fact that a canvas-covered in mixtures of colors, textures and designs could cause her to experience such varying emotions. Emma didn't usually enjoy having to attend work functions or being forced to socialize with her co-workers but this particular function was being held at the newly opened gallery in New York City and she was in heaven. Art had been a major love in Emma's life since her very first day of art class her freshman year of high school. A smile starts to spread across her face when she recalls that day. That was when she met Miss Mills the woman who wasn't only her teacher but also someone who she looked up to and considered a friend and confidant for almost three years until the day Miss Mills just disappeared without explanation. It had been over ten years ago but Emma still felt the hurt just as much as she did when she was just sixteen years old. Taking a deep breath to suppress the old pain she decided to move on to the next piece, a stunning oil painting of a purple orchid. Well if she wanted to forget the past this was the wrong piece to stop at. All of a sudden Emma was flooded with the memories of that day, the day she met Regina Mills.

15 years ago…

It was Monday morning and Emma was preparing for her first day at yet another new school. At the age of thirteen Emma Swan was already on her seventh foster home. For being alive such a short time she has surely felt the blunt force of abandonment. First her biological parents left her on the side of a road wrapped in only a handmade blanket with her name stitched on the bottom. Emma's first foster family the Swans sent her back when she was three because they were going to have a baby of their own. After that it was just a litany of "you're not good enough" and "you're not what we want." It has been a couple months since she was sent to live with the Nolans in Storybrooke, MA in the beginning of summer. David Nolan was the town's sheriff and his wife Mary Margaret was a teacher at the local grade school. They were a young couple who really didn't know how to raise a teenage girl but they treated Emma with nothing but love and respect. Emma was happy for the first time in a long time, but she was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. She was preparing herself for the sweet couple to come to their senses and send her packing while still praying that day would never come. Emma had woken up early because MM promised her a back to school pancake breakfast. Dressed in her uniform with her backpack ready to go she made her way downstairs to the kitchen. Mary Margaret and David were already sitting at the table drinking their coffees while reading the morning paper. David handed Emma her usual steaming cup of hot chocolate with whip cream and cinnamon while MM got up to dish out three plates of pancakes.

"Ready for your first day at Cathedral High?" asked David.

They had enrolled Emma in the prestigious all girls Catholic High School since they were able to get a grant being a low-income family.

"I guess" was Emma's only reply before taking a huge gulp of her drink.

To be honest she was a bit worried to be going to her first private school, she wondered what it would be like to be surrounded by only girls and have nuns as teachers.

"It will be great!" MM chimed in with her ever-present perky disposition. "I loved the years I spent at Cathedral High. I'm still friends with all the girls I went with!"

Emma just grunted as she shoved a huge piece of pancake in her mouth. Once breakfast was over she hugged her foster parents goodbye and with a deep breath headed out the door for her first day of school.

After a 10 minute walk and shaking with nerves Emma took a hold of the crucifix shaped door handle and pulled. Walking through she took in the sterile atmosphere. The walls were white and the floors were grey. There were statues of saints and paintings of Jesus throughout the long hallway. Emma made her way towards her first class and smiled when she saw her best friend Ruby waiting right outside the door for her. She had met Ruby, the tall, beautiful fourteen year old brunette soon after she moved to Storybrooke. Ruby's grandmother owned the dinner Granny's that was located in the center of town. Ruby was so excited to have someone new in town her age she basically tackled and interrogated Emma one morning she came into Granny's for breakfast with David and MM. Emma thought that Ruby was crazy in the best of ways and was truly happy to finally have someone she could call a friend.

"Hey girl, ready for our first day of Holy Hell High?!" Ruby called out. Emma just shook her head and laughed.

They took their seats for the first class of the day, freshman English with Sister Nova. Sister Nova reminded Emma a lot of Mary Margaret with her sunny disposition and overly perky attitude. It helped dispel some of her fear over having nuns as teachers. The first half of the day flew by in a blur. After English she had Algebra 101 with Mr Gold and then PE with Mr Jones who the students lovingly referred to as Captain since he looked like a pirate straight out of Never Land.

After changing back into her plaid skirt and white button up from her gym shirt and shorts Emma headed to lunch. She grabbed her tray of food and strode towards the table where Ruby was sitting waving her arms back and forth trying to get her attention. Belle the tiny, wide-eyed brunette came to the table a few minutes later with her packed lunch. Belle and Ruby had been friends since they were toddlers. Belle's father owned the flower shop right across the street from Granny's dinner so they were always together while their parents operated their businesses. Belle and Emma naturally had become good friends as well since Ruby made sure to never exclude either one of them from her shenanigans since Emma came to town.

"Hey girls, how are your days going so far?" Belle asked as she took her seat.

"Ugh, Captain killed us on the track; he made us run 2 miles! I feel like a sweaty mess!" complained Emma.

"Yea, you sure do smell like a sweaty mess!" joked Ruby while Emma rolled her eyes and Belle giggled.

As her giggles subsided Belle asked "So what's next on your schedule guys?"

"Art" said the other girls simultaneously. With a squeal of excitement Belle shouted "Me too!"

Once they all finished their lunches the three besties headed off to Art together. Entering the classroom they noticed the artwork hanging all around the room. Emma was enraptured by all the beautiful pictures. There were watercolors, pastels, charcoals and acrylic paintings that captured still life, portraits and landscapes. Emma couldn't wait to learn the techniques of working pencils and brushes so she could create her own masterpieces. Emma was so caught up in the beauty she didn't notice when the teacher came strolling in.

"Good morning class. If you could all take your seats it would be greatly appreciated." said the young woman.

Emma turned from the picture she was gazing at just to get lost in a trance again. She was staring at the most beautiful face she had ever seen. The woman was young-looking, maybe early twenties with long brown hair that hung down in soft waves past her shoulders. She had dark expressive brown eyes and full lips that were painted a deep shade of crimson. Emma thought that she must be looking at an angel. She was finally pulled from her stupor by the clearing of a throat and Belle pulling on her skirt to get her to sit. Emma quickly plopped down in her seat but not before she noticed the teacher's smirk and eyes lit up in amusement.

"Now that we are all settled let me introduce myself. My name is Miss Regina Mills and this is Art 101 Basics of Drawing and Painting."

Emma was barely containing her excitement. She was actually going to learn art from a real life masterpiece.

Regina continued "I just graduated from New York School of Art and this is my first year teaching so I am very excited to get started with you girls. If you take a look around at some of the drawings and paintings I have done these will be some of the techniques you'll be learning this year. I'm not expecting you all to be little Monets or van Goghs but I do expect you to use your creativity and work hard. Now let's get started."

Regina spent the first half of the class going over different mediums, complimentary colors, and methods they could use for their first assignment of a still life that was due next week.

"OK with the time left in class I want to get a sense for the artistic skills you already possess and the kind of art you would like to do. You may use any of the supplies on the back table to create whatever kind of picture you want."

Emma, Ruby, and Belle all headed to the supply table along with the rest of the class, grabbed what they wanted and went back to their seats. Regina started to take a turn of the room looking over all of the girls' work commenting on each one. She was very happy to see that a lot of the girls held promising talent. Her last stop of the room was the table with the adorable, spacey blonde girl and her two brunette friends.

"Hi girls, can you all tell me your names and a little bit about your pictures?" asked Regina.

Ruby being the loud mouth of the group jumped in first.

"My name is Ruby Lucas and I drew a wolf because wolves are my spirit animal!"

Regina tried to hide her smile but all the girls saw. "Very nice Ruby, you did a very good job with the texture of the fur."

Ruby beamed "Thank you Miss Mills!"

Regina looked to the tiny brunette for her to go.

"Well my name is Belle French and I painted my favorite tea cup. Tea time is my favorite part of the day!"

Regina's eyes traced over the intricate painting. "This is very nice Belle I'm very impressed with all of the detail you put into it especially the chip on the side."

After Belle thanked her she moved over to try and see what the blonde was furiously working on.

Emma had her head down with one arm around the paper blocking anyone from viewing what she was so frantically drawing. She finally looked up once she heard Ruby and Belle who were laughing their asses off at her cluelessness of having Miss Mills waiting patiently for her attention. With flushed cheeks she mumbled out an "Um hi?"

All Regina could do was smile brightly at the introverted girl and her endearing shyness.

"Hello, Miss….?"

"I-I'm sorry my name is Emma…..Emma Swan."

"Nice to meet you Miss Swan may I take a look at what you drew?"

"Oh sure, here you go."

Regina took the paper from her and gasped at the first glance she took. Emma had drawn an almost photo realistic version of a purple orchid using only color pencils.

"Emma this is absolutely beautiful! How many years have you taken art classes?"

"Um I've never taken an art class ma'am." Emma replied as she bit her lip nervously.

Eyes wide with shock Miss Mills asked "So you've never had any instruction in drawing or painting?"

"No Miss Mills I haven't."

"Well Emma you have an extremely impressive natural talent. I am very excited to work with you this year to improve your skills even more."

"Thank you Miss Mills. I'm excited as well." Emma replied with a beaming smile.

"Now Emma can you tell me why you chose to draw a purple orchid?"

Emma looked down and mumbled "I'd rather not."

Regina looked at her with a raised brow already scheming a way to get the reason out of the girl.

"Well maybe one day I'll get it out of you."

Emma just shook her head "Maybe, but if it would get me out of an explanation now you can keep my drawing."

Little did Miss Mills know Emma's plan was for her to have it all along.

"Thank you Emma I will treasure it always as my very first drawing from a student." said Regina with a look of awe and sincerity.

So far life was pretty great in Storybrooke for Emma and she had a feeling that somehow Miss Mills was going to make it even better!

Present

Emma was laughing to herself thinking of how Miss Mills never did get the reason out of her as to why she drew a purple orchid. It seems like she would be taking that little secret to the grave. With a long sigh Emma decided to leave the orchid and move on to the next painting. Just as she turned on her heel to go Emma managed to run right into someone. While sputtering out an apology Emma's eyes started to roam up the fleshy blockade she so gracefully ran into. First thing she saw were the overpriced heels that were connected to sexy, shapely stocking clad legs, then came the dark blue designer dress that hugged delicious looking curves that made her face flush with desire. Finally her eyes landed on a strikingly familiar face that held a red-painted smirk and deep brown expressive eyes that had one brow raised in amusement. All Emma could do was take a shallow breath and croak out…"Miss Mills?!"