Hi everyone, this idea came to me randomly, if it gets some interest I will post a new chapter tomorrow.

Since a young age, Emma Swan, always felt like no one understood her.

Her foster parents were overbearing, her best friend had betrayed her during high school, by lying and sleeping with her at the time boyfriend and she has never, let anyone get close to her since.

She became a loner and seen as an outsider, who was always listening to her iPod or reading something and now, at the age of 25 she was no longer at school and was working as a waitress, in a local diner in Boston. Whilst still trying to fit in and trust people.

"Hey Rubes" Emma said casually, as she tied her apron around waist.

Ruby was the granddaughter of Emma's boss and she ran the cafe, when her grandmother wasn't around. She was tall, slim, had long brown hair and was very flirty with the attractive customers, that came into the cafe.

"Hey. Your buddy came in earlier asking for you" she smirked.

"Oh no, not him" Emma rolled her eyes.

"He has it bad for you" Ruby replied, as she began to make a coffee.

"His not my type and anyway, I'm fine on my own its better this way"

Ruby shook her head "Take this to table 9" she asked handing the coffee to Emma.

"Okay" she smiled and headed off thinking, yes it is defiantly better this way.

However, things were about to change...

Emma was walking home after her five hour shift at the cafe, when suddenly her Ipod stopped playing her music. This made her stop in the middle of the pavement and she sighed, before glancing to her left. Where she saw her favorite childhood bookstore. She used to love this store as a child and in her early teen years.

There was story time and the smell of apples and cinnamon in the air and that scary lady, who was the owner.

She smiled at the memory and realized, she hadn't been in there for years.

She then unconsciously stepped towards the store, that had two large windows with books on display and the name of the store in brown and gold lettering above.

She went inside.

Whoa, she thought, upon entering the store. Noticing how the place had been modernized, it felt much much warmer and kid friendly.

There was cuddly toys for sale, a kids reading area with a little table and colored seats. Bookshelves with books and the smell of apples and Cinnamon, was still in the air.

Suddenly, Emma's memories came to the front of her mind. Memories of looking through animal books and an older gentlemen reading at story time.

She didn't notice a beautiful brunette woman, watching her curiously from across the room and she made her way over to Emma.

"Excuse me, are you okay?" the woman asked, whilst holding her hands together in front of her.

Emma broke out of her musings and pulled her earphones from her ears and said "Yes…just this store brings back some nice memories, that i rarely have had" she didn't know why she shared that with the woman, but the smile that broke out but the brunettes face, made her think it was the right thing to say.

"How long has it been since you last visited" the woman asked curiously.

"Years"

The brunette raised an eyebrow and clasped her hands together.

"May i ask, what has made you come in here today?"

"I don't know, i just stopped outside and then I came in" she tilted her head, finally taking her eyes off brown beautiful orbs that she hadn't stopped looking at since speaking and she now looked over the woman's attire.

She was wearing a silk blouse, with a black pencil shirt and heels and Emma unconsciously licked her lips.

"Okay, well feel free to look around. I will be at the counter if you need any assistance"

Emma nodded, she hadn't been able to stop looking at the woman, since she started speaking. There was something in her eyes, that Emma felt so drawn too and there was this unknown stirring within her, that she couldn't explain, it was confusing.

Emma then glanced at some of the books, walking along the shelves. Before stopping to pull one out and she shook her head in amusement, with a smile.

Meanwhile, Regina still watched Emma from the counter. She only had one other customer and she was busy looking through the novel section.

It then occurred to the brunette, that this blonde woman was different to many she had met. She couldn't look away from her, as if the blonde was a magnet and she needed to go back over.

She then realized, she didn't introduce herself and she cleared her throat and walked back over.

"Excuse me, I was just wandering what your name is?" she held her breath.

Emma looked surprised momentarily.

"Um, it's Emma, Have I done something wrong?"

The brunette chuckled.

"Of course not dear"

Emma tilted her head shyly and thought, she is really beautiful.

"My name is Regina Mills, i own this store. It is nice to met you" she held her hand out to shake Emma's hand, which Emma took.

Her hands are soft, Emma thought with a smile, before saying "And you Regina, um, What happened to the other lady?"

"Other lady?" Regina looked confused and released the blondes hand, hesitantly.

"She owned this store before. She had Long black hair, slim, wore a black suit and she was kind of scary"

Regina laughed and the blonde found it to be, the most beautiful laugh she had ever heard and she starred in awe at Regina.

"You must mean my mother" she replied, whilst trying to hold back the laugh.

"Your mother?" Emma gaped and thought shit!

"Yes, she has recently retired and handed the store over to me"

"Wow, I mean, that's nice" Emma said, while starring again into brown orbs.

Regina gave a small smile and broke the gaze, by looking to the book in Emma's hand and said "Aren't you a little old, for Jojo the melon donkey?" she smirked.

Emma slightly blushed.

"I remember the storyteller reading this to us with lots of enthusiasm, he was the owners husband if I remember rightly" she replied and Regina blinked a few times in realization, that this woman in front of her, had met both her parents.

"My father" she muttered.

"Really? How is he doing?" Emma smiled.

Regina frowned.

"He hasn't been well recently, but thank you for asking" They smiled at each other again, for a long moment.

"Excuse me" the other customer said, causing Regina to turn "I would like to buy this book" she held up the book. "Of course I apologize" Regina replied and walked over to the counter and served the woman.

Emma meanwhile, just smirked and wondered further along the store and a long moment later, Regina was back at Emma's side. She was certainly drawn to the captivating blonde, it confused her.

"May I ask how old you are?" Regina asked, whilst fiddling with her hands.

"Oh, that's fine. I'm 25..and you?" She once more stared into brown eyes.

"30"

Emma's eyebrows raised "You don't look it..I mean you look younger"

Regina ducked her head with a smile

"Thank you"

There was a slight pause, until Emma asked "Do you have a book called a good place to hide? I think it was by M. Williams. It was my favorite book and I lost it"

"I don't think I've heard of that book" Regina replied in thought.

"I looked on the internet for it and in the big book stores but there was nothing. It must be rare or something" she sighed.

"What was it about?" Regina asked.

"It was a kind of.a twisted fairy-tale really, with characters that had two persona's"...she went all dreamy... "I related to one of the characters really well when I was younger and was captivated with the villain, who turned out to be a hero in the end"

Regina meanwhile, gazed at her slightly entranced by the way Emma was speaking about the book.

"You must think I'm an idiot or something" Emma suddenly said and she glanced back to the shelf.

"No, of course not dear. Where did you get this book from?"

"Here"

"How long ago? because we have computer records" Regina said seriously, whilst watching Emma rub her hand over the shelf.

"A long time ago, must of been about 13/14"

"Oh" she sighed "Our records don't go back that far, I'm sorry"

"Don't worry about it...it was my own fault losing it in the first place"

Regina frowned, why was she so bothered anyway, she wandered.

"Anyway I should go home, your be closing soon" Emma then said and Regina then suddenly remembered, her dinner date.

"Yes. Of course" she replied.

Emma then slowly walked to the door "it was nice to met you Regina" she said honestly, as she opened the door and looked back to Regina. Who was now at her counter and looking at her, slightly dazed.

"And you Emma, feel free to visit again soon" she replied shakily and gave a small smile.

"I think I will, thanks" she then took one last look at the beautiful woman and left.

Thanks for reading.