So, this is my second story and this story was inspired by a gifset by reginamlls in Tumblr. I really hope you'll like it and that you will give it a chance, after all I promised reginamlls that I would show her this when I wrote it.

My first language isn't English so all mistakes are mine but please be gentle with them.

Disclaimer: I don't own any OUAT character, so don't sue me.

Emma Swan arrived at school early that morning. Not because she actually wanted to be there but because it was the birthday of her best friend and crush, or probably more than that, since 7th grade, Regina Mills. They were now in sophomore year but Emma hadn't told her anything for fear of losing the one true friendship she had ever had.

Emma had never understood how she and Regina could ever be friends; they were completely different from each other. Regina was what could be called the "perfect" students, always straight A's, the teachers liked her and even with this, she was still one of the popular girls at school. On the contrary, Emma got to Storybrooke High in 7th grade, after Mary Margaret and David Nolan fostered her, and she was known for causing trouble and well, not being the "perfect" student.

As a result of this, Emma had never been very fond of making friends, as she found it both difficult and awkward. She had been always a lonely kid, and when she saw Regina Mills in the corridor in her first day of school, she felt as if there was a magnet between her and Regina; of course, she didn't have high expectations that Regina would notice her, after all she belonged to the popular group and Emma was a complete outsider.

So, when one day Regina did approach her, she was completely shocked when the most beautiful girl she had ever seen wanted to talk to her. They talked about a lot of things, about the foster system, about Regina's sister and so on. Quickly, a true friendship began to develop, and both girls appreciated the fact that they had found someone they could trust, where judgment didn't exist and with the certainty that no matter what, they would not leave each other's side.

Emma had arranged everything to go perfect that day. She had made a card for Regina, a little present, which she hoped Regina would love and then, after school, they would go anywhere Regina wanted to. Unfortunately for Emma, she couldn't spend time with the brunette during lunchtime, since that time was reserved to Regina's circle of friends, or to be completely honest, the popular girls at school. After all, Regina had to maintain certain appearances during school, and though Emma completely understood that the second she became friends with Regina, she couldn't help the tiny bit of jealousy she felt.

She waited for ten more minutes until she saw the black Mercedes Benz that indicated Regina's arrival. She hold tightly the little bag that contained the two presents and waited for the brunette near the school entry.

Finally, when Regina stepped out and approached the blonde girl, Emma grinned at the sight of her best friend and she quickly went to give Regina a tight hug. "Happy birthday Regina" she said while still holding the embrace. They parted and Emma handed out the bag.

"What's this?" Regina said at the same she let out a little laugh.

"A present" Emma responded with a clear "duh" tone in her voice

Regina then proceeded to open the bag and she carefully took out both items that were inside them. First, she looked at the card and smiled upon seeing that the card had been handmade. Regina could see how much effort the blonde had put into that card, since all the drawings, the little birthday cake, the candle and just everything, were made by Emma. She could see that her name had been written in a beautiful cursive letter; then, she opened that card and couldn't helped a little gasp when she saw that the word inside were as well written with the cursive letter. Regina nearly went to give a closer inspection of the letter Emma had used because she could have sworn that it could have been printed out and just made it seemed that it was handwritten. Regina had always been aware of Emma's potential and talent for the arts, but she didn't know that she could make such beautiful things.

Dear Regina,

First of all, happy birthday! I really hope that you are having a really good time and that you like this little card I gave you.

I also wanted to thank you for being such an amazing friend and for always being there when I've needed you.

May all your wishes come true.

Thank you for being part of my life,

Emma

She then looked at the second gift; it was a small box, like one of those that have any type of jewelry inside. Regina let out a small gasp when she opened the box, when she saw a necklace with a crown. She pulled the necklace out to give it a closer look at was amazed by the fact that the little crown had incrusted three little diamonds in it.

"Emma, this is amazing" Regina finally said with a huge smile on her face.

"So, I take it that you liked it?"

"Of course, can you help me putting it on?"

Emma chuckled, and took the necklace. Regina turned around, holding her hair so it would be easier for Emma to put on the necklace.

After that, Regina turned to face Emma. "Thank you" and gave Emma a small kiss on the cheek. Emma couldn't help the blush in her cheeks after that sweet kiss.

"You're welcome, Regina"

The bell for the first period finally rang and both girls made their ways to their own classes. Regina had History while Emma headed down to the English classroom.

She was glad that when she arrived, there were already there the other two friends she had, certainly not as deep as with Regina, but friends nonetheless. She seated down in front of Ruby Lucas, who was talking with her girlfriend Belle French, none actually noticed the blonde until she had already seated down.

"So, how did it go? Did you finally tell her that you love her?" Ruby asked with a grin on her face. She knew that Emma had been head over heel for Regina Mills since the day they met. So, it was only fair for the brunette to help her friend get with Regina.

"No, because we are just friends" Emma said not hiding the disappointment at the mention of the word "friends".

"Emma, seriously, when are you going to tell her? And don't you dare tell me that you are fine with how you are right now because we both know that it is not true" Ruby asked, almost in a demanding tone.

"Probably never, unless I know that she has the same feelings for me and since I don't know that, I won't. Besides, Regina would never risk her reputation to be with me" Emma said as she turned around in her seat just at the same time that the teacher walked in.

Ruby sighed at this, because she knew that Regina did share the same feeling as Emma. She had heard it herself, but she knew that Emma would only believe that if those words were coming from the Regina.

"Don't worry about her, sooner or later both of them will realize that they love each other" Belle assured her girlfriend in a whisper so Emma couldn't hear.

"I know, but I just wish that it was sooner rather than later." Ruby whispered back. It had been almost four years and she knew that she would have to wait for them to actually be together. First, because Emma was being a coward for not telling Regina and Regina was being, honestly, an ass for not giving Emma a single clue that she loved Emma back.

Both girls had passed that line between liking a person very much and loving them long ago. Everyone with some eyes could see that, except apparently, the two persons involved.

In the History classroom, a conversation that resembled this one was as well taking place.

Regina was taking with Kathryn, they had been friend for as long as she can remember and was the one person she could trust besides of Emma.

"Who gave you that necklace? Because it is absolutely beautiful!" Kathryn said reaching out for the necklace that was hanging over Regina's collarbones.

Regina laughed at this. "Emma gave it to me"

"Did she say why?" Kathryn asked curiously, though she already knew the answer. Had she asked the blonde why she gave a crown to Regina the blonde with have answered without a second guess that it was because Regina was her Queen.

"Now that I think about it, no, she didn't. Though I didn't ask her either" Regina made a little frown. Had Emma truly meant something with the crown?

"So, I can assume that you also didn't her a clue that you are head over heels for her"

Regina blushed at this. Regina knew that she liked Emma and that she would like her to be something more mere weeks after the two girls met. And as unbelievable as it seems, Regina also didn't have any idea that Emma had also fallen in love with her.

"And why would I? It's not like I'm hoping that if Emma figured that out, she would ask me to be her girlfriend" Regina said, with a certain amount of sadness in her tone.

"Seriously Regina, we have been friends long enough that you can trust me when I say that Emma wants just that. How can you not see what is in front of you?" Kathryn said, exasperated since this conversation always took place when something happened between Emma and Regina.

"Because there is nothing to see" Regina could feel beginning to be angry, so she just decided that it would be best to ignore this topic with Kathryn, since it only led to both of them being exasperated with each other.

"Fine, whatever you say" Kathryn mumbled, raising her hands as a sign of retreating. She was already tired that neither of them could make a step forward.

Regina only scoffed and rolled her eyes and she turned around to face the teacher that she hadn't noticed was already there. It didn't matter how much effort she put in trying to put attentions at something that had to do with the Cold War, although Regina wasn't even sure today's topic had to do with that. The only thing in her mind was Emma and how she would love to tell her what she really felt.

Finally, the bell indicating the end of what felt for both girls the longest day in history rang. Emma practically run to the entrance where she had agreed with Regina to meet so they could go to wherever she wanted. Not five minutes had passed when Regina hurried to where Emma was and suddenly she didn't know what to do, if it was all right to give her a kiss on the check or just wave at her or what. She approached and the only thing that left her mouth was "Hi"

"Hey, so where do you wanna go?" Emma asked, as if she was sensing the battle Regina was experiencing inside her head.

"Can we go to the docks and just sit there, maybe buy something to eat and talk about life?" Regina asked, suddenly feeling very vulnerable for what Emma's response could be. Would she consider this as way too romantic?

"Yeah sure, whatever you want, it is your day after all" Emma said with a smile that to Regina meant the reassurance that everything was the same, at least for now.

"Excellent" Regina said in what was more a whisper, though Emma still caught it and she was not sure if Regina meant excellent because they were going or there something else inside the brunette's mind.

Both of them walked towards Regina's Mercedes and Emma felt a pinch of guilt for making Regina drive. It's not that Emma didn't know how to drive but the yellow bug she used as a means of transportation was getting repaired for something Emma didn't know what exactly that was.

However, that didn't stop Emma for being the Knight she and Regina joked about, and moved to open Regina's door; Regina mumbled a quick thank you and then she got into the car and Emma closed the door behind her. She walked towards her side of the car, finally got in and Regina started the engine so they could get to the docks as fast as they could. They didn't notice the car that was following them.

When they arrived at the docks, they quickly went to buy some fish sticks and went to the bench that had become their bench, since it had become tradition that whenever they went to the docks they would always sit in the same bench.

Regina was still thinking if there would be a day when she would tell Emma how she felt, and apparently these thoughts were loud enough for Emma to hear them.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Emma asked, but didn't turn to face Regina.

"I was just admiring the horizon" Regina lied, trying to make it sound as believable as possible.

Emma could catch easily the lie but decided not to push, since she knew that Regina would eventually tell her when she was ready.

Neither of the girls noticed that their hands were interlaced, and when they did they decided it was best to ignore, for they knew that if they did, it would lead to some awkward conversation none of them wanted to have. For Emma, it was because she was absolutely terrified of what would happen if she told Regina the truth about the gift and how she felt and for Regina, it was the fear of being rejected.

For persons like Ruby and Kathryn it was like living in hell, because thy both knew they couldn't do anything to help them, since both of the girls were blinded by their own insecurities.

"Where do you see yourself in five years?" Regina suddenly asked breaking the comfortable silence they were in.

"What? Is it like one of those interview questions were you have to say exactly what they want in order to get the job?" Emma chuckled.

"No, I was just being curious" Regina said still not looking at Emma

"Well, in five years I would like to be picked up by a hot girl in a hot car and driven off into the sunset"

"Really?" Regina asked and you could see that hopeful gleam in her eyes.

"Well, the part of the hot girl it is, but I really don't care if I get picked up in a Mercedes or in a bug or if the girl just knock on my door and we walked" Emma responded glancing back at Regina.

"Good to know" Regina whispered, letting her own insecurities resurge inside her. Her mother had always told her how she was never enough and as a consequence she thought that she didn't fit within the requisites of Emma's hot girls.

Emma didn't know what to say, and turned her face back to sea. She didn't know how much time it had passes and as she glanced at her watch in had been already three hours since they arrived. Being with Regina could make that time passes slower and that they had the whole time in the world.

"It's getting late, and I know that your mother doesn't like you to be late so we should head back." Emma said, getting up and letting go Regina's hand.

"Yeah, we should" Regina didn't say anything else for the rest of the way back.

When Regina pulled over in front of the Nolan's apartment she didn't step out of the car and simply said "Goodbye Emma, thank you"

"You're welcome, happy birthday Regina" She said as she got out of the car and turned towards the entrance. She didn't look back as she would have seen the little tears that had escaped from Regina's eyes and Regina for one part, was grateful that she didn't.

She quickly wiped away the tears and headed back home.

She would offer an explanation for her sudden mood change to Emma when she saw the blonde tomorrow at school. Little did she know that that would be the last time she saw Emma.