a little less seeing and a little more feeling

*disclaimer* I don't own once upon a time or the characters.

a story close to my own with a swan queen spin. I am not blind though one day will be I wanted to write something completely AU. If I write anything wrong or offensive I don't mean to. Sorry for the repetitive word use in the first paragraph.

I don't get how everyone can live so carelessly, so recklessly, and without knowing the things that mean the world to people like me. I might not able to see but I don't need to to know just what it is everyone is missing. They always move on without taking time to notice the miracles happening right in front of them as they are passing by to buy new things, waste used things, and keep rushing around for more. I never meet anyone that proved me wrong except the few I've allowed in my little circle of friends. By little I mean very little, as in the owner and employees of a small diner in Boston kind of little.

This morning I had already enough of grumpy rude people before I even made my way to my favorite place for breakfast. I had a routine, a certain number of paces to make it the the subway on time. If like today any number of People cut me off or cause my dog to make me wait I lose time and I am late to the subway. I end up walking and taking a bus instead causing me to arrive a half hour later. Eventually I end up telling my boss I'll be late just a few minutes. Thankfully the school where I teach is right down the road from this beautiful diner. Not that I've ever seen it, it just has a homey feeling.

so it was this morning that I was running late and now waited in line to be seated. This was why I left an hour a head than I needed just in case. I place my phone away and take the leash out of my pocket knowing that my seeing eye dog Rafik now knows that I am done and ready to take his guiding. It had been just a moment while I spoke a message out to the Dean of the school so I was surprised when Rafik guided me forward I ran right into another body. Rafik had been my dog for over five year's and never failed me that mean someone had just cut us of AGAIN. Rafik whimpered as I gasped in pain from biting my lip due to bump into her so fast. I knew I was a her because of the purfume I smelt. The second sign was obvious as she spoke.

"Oh now you move I mean you were standing there talking on your device like you can't see you're next. Like you're blind or something." She snapped Her voice was stern and so powerful almost political. I could tell she has turned around to face me now seeing just how right she was by the clicking of her heels with a scrapping on the floor.

"Yes, something like that." I stated waiting to hear the usual 'gasp', ' I'm sorry Miss I didn't know', or my favorite 'You're blind.' Stating the obvious never failing to remind me of my life long defect. Being born blind was never as easy as they teach you it is growing up. Than again I never had much help anyways. The foster system rarely had enough resources for the girls they had let alone a blind girl like me. Instead I hear that heavenly voice says something else entirely.

"Oh dear, what a thoughtless thing for me to say. Can I make it up to you by buying your breakfast?" there was sympathy in her tone which makes the numb lip worth it to meet someone who doesn't instantly pity me. I press my fingertip to my lip an lock the blood before responding.

"you may as long as you eat with me." I say and call out to waitress waiting. "Ruby can you make her a table for two? It is just you isn't it?" I ask the woman with my best brave face as I can.

"I guess it's lucky for you I am alone this morning." she says an I can hear the shyness about her. I wonder what color her checks blush. Ruby takes us back to a table we order after she leaves it gets quiet. Rafik sits under the table over my feet. He's comfortable, I'm comfortable, and all I have to do is make sure this woman is too.

"My name is Emma by the way and this guy is Rafik." I tap on the table top to point at him.

"Ah I was wondering if I'd get name eventually. He is quite handsome like his owner." I scrunched my nose at the word owner but she went on. "My name is Regina."

"Means queen I like it. I like to think of him as family or a friend not a pet." I clarify firmly Before adding. "I thought you would like to know a woman's name before you bought them a meal especially if they are as handsome as you is nice to meet you Regina." I offer my hand in hopes she takes it. When she does I note the softness of her hand As well as the warmth.

"You make it sound like it's a date Emma in which case I'd have to say I meant beautiful in hopes she'll stay to finish the meal." I can feel my body heat rising and make to take hand back before I'm given away. I hope I'm not blushing too much.

"I will stay but not because you think I'm beautiful." I state matter of factly only slightly embarrassed. "I'm just really hungry." She laughs and I feel like my skin vibrates with it its so rich. Just then Ruby comes back with our food. I didn't even know time had passed so soon. Generally my own silence was my company. I dug in and let Regina speak first this time.

"So tell me what do you do after this Emma. Work?" Her curiousity in the same direction mine was. Her fomal tone made me wonder if I was having lunch with the president.

"I teach. Actually I was telling my boss I would be late right before I ran into you." I said with a smile to show no ill feelings.

"I believe I have yet to apologize for cutting you off, I am sorry." I waved it off no big deal.

"It's really okay I just was running late today because of people cutting I front of me while walking. Rafik is an amazing dog but unfortunately for him people don't even think twice before cutting me off. No offense cuz I can tell you're not like most people already." There was a silence and I wondered if she knew what to say. Suddenly I felt I shouldn't have said anything at all.

"Why is that bad for him? You both seem at an equal effect when it happens and I certainly hope it's not every morning." Rafik lifts his head as if to hear what we are saying about him.

"You could say he takes his job personally. He can sense if I'm upset or hurt and if I am he feels it's his fault because he is my guide." I usually try repeating to him I'm okay but I can feel he's still sad until I successfully get where I need to go.

"He truly cares for you then. How long have you had him? I'm sure he feels a connection with you as you treat him like you would family you said." It was true I did treat him like family and that gained me his love. I learned a long time ago his sign of trust and love was laying on my feet and so in that moment when his head had laid back down but not on my feet I knew if I could see it his head it would be trustfully on Regina's heals. She had to be a keeper. If only I could find out if she was already taken.

"I had him close to six years. How about you though you've got family? Husband? Anything of the sort." She did say I was lucky she was alone this morning so who could be with her most days.

"I have a son I try to spend mornings with him. I just have him and I want him to know he comes before work. Which is why I'm glad I run my own business but no husband." The way that sounded was the way she meant it right?

"Got him so you adopted? Great, that's awesome I can tell you're better than most that adopt. I would know." My fingers tap on the table a little on edge by the topic but I prefer it to not talking. Rafik instantly feels my mood change and move his head back to my feet to comfort me. He nuzzles his nose into my leg.

"You're adopted what a coincidence. When did you find your permanent home?" It's like a trick question, an answer could mean pity and derailing this good thing, or she could seriously just want to know. I'm not ready to give up yet so I take a deep breath.

"Haven't yet Unless you count the people working and owning this diner. They're the closest I have to family I guess." She hummed, hummed her acknowledgement. Like I didn't just sound like a pity case.

"What happened?" She sounded so sad and like she was think about something else.

"Nothing I was born this way they said I was left on the side of the road. I got adopted once when I was 3 but the family couldn't keep me and I had been fostered or in shelters ever since. Can we not though... I'm sorry I just wanted to say I'm glad you adopted because you seem like a really good person." I had finished my food and now I wanted to get the ladies number and head to work without getting more personal just yet. I didn't know if she was done yet or not.

"of course, perhaps next time." she said giving me hope. I said yes happily and called Ruby over for the check completely having forgotten regina was the one that offered to pay. "I suppose you'll have to be quicker Emma it's already taken care of. How about I walk you to work. Let me clean up first I'll be right bsck." As soon as she left Ruby piped up.

"if you don't snag her I will." I scowled at her wolf like whistle absolutely not happy she can see how stunning this woman is.

"What does she look like Rubes?"

"Tall, skinny, and sexy." that doesn't help. I groan Internally but accept defeat as Regina comes back and offers me a hand to use as a guide. It very sweet the way she holds my elbow crease so lightly as though not to control me. I have no sense direction but I trust she taking me where I need to be. Rafik doesn't seem to be fighting it so I trust her. This stranger that I just met and feel so connected with already, I trust her when I can barely trust anyone I've ever met. That's not even the part that scares me, the part the does is that I've never felt like this before. Of course I had some relationships in my 25 years of living just none that made me feel this, whatever it was.

"how old is your son." Was the first thing I said since starting our walk. I was so csught up in thought and they way she felt I didn't know how far we had walked when I did say anything. it was far enough because we were here an I could tell she had to go.

"He is four I got him just before he turned three but I still feels like yesterday. And we are here Emma, but I'd like to take your number, maybe use it to take you on a date some time." My jaw drops an without even thinking to my number passes my lips. I could not stop smiling as I did. When she said she got it I wasn't expect a goodbye peck on the cheek. My hand touched it still feeling the shape of her lips burning on my skin. My finger tips traced it blushing madly until Rafik pulled me in the direction of the school entrance. I pulled out my phone as I sped up, hit a button to tell me the time, and found out I was running late... very late.

reviews please!

Im really happy to get this started. I have a few pieces I'm adding to already but this is fresh and new to my stories so I hope you all like it.

Should I continue?