With half a bottle of Roni's most requested Caribbean Rum now consumed, Boston's two best Private Investigators were feeling pretty good.
Being Emma's drink of choice, she had always loved the way the spicy rich flavor of the rum tickled the back of her throat whenever she drank it. "Going out for a drink was a great idea Killian!" Emma said as she poured herself another shot. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

"That said, I think I should maybe slow down on these shots," Emma explained, feeling her buzz finally kick in, "My eyesight is getting kind of blurry, haha."
"Oh really?" Killian asked, brow raised "Am I actually going to drink Emma Swan under the table then??"
The two of them laughed together at this. "Not a chance!" Emma countered, looking him in the eye, "If we're going shot-for-shot, you bet your ass I'm gonna win!"
"I'll drink to that!" Killian replied, holding up a shot glass full of the spicy sweet rum. Clinking his glass with Emma's, they both downed another 2 ounces.

That's when she saw her.

An eerie quietness crept over Emma, and she froze.

"Are you alright? Emma?" Killian snapped his fingers just inches from Emma's face trying to get her to focus, but it was no use.

Emma was transfixed. slowly, she  lowered the empty glass from her lips as she stared at the entrance of the pub.
"Oh god.. it's her! It has to be..."

"What??" Killian responded, "Who? Who is it??"
A few seconds passed, and Emma blinked hard. When she tried to focus her attention to the entrance again, the mysterious woman was gone.

"No. Never mind.. it can't be," Emma shook her head, now breaking her trance from the sight of the brunette, "I definitely think I need to take it easy with the rum... Anyway, it doesn't matter. Killian, what were you saying now?"
"Erm, I wasn't saying anything really," he replied, "but I think you were."
"...Yeah, maybe." Emma trailed off.
Killian followed Emma's gaze now, toward the far end of the bar.
"Should I be worried Swan?" He asked, "something seems a bit off, what's going on?"
Suddenly, Emma grabbed Killian's hand and gave it a tight squeeze, "I'll be right back." Killian tried to get up to follow her, but she was already several steps ahead of him. Looking back as she weaved between people, she mouthed the words, "It's ok! I'll be back!"
"Famous last words.." Killian said quietly to no one in particular, as he slowly lowered himself back down into his seat at the table.

"Damn, it's got to be her." Emma thought to herself as she slowly drew closer to the brunette sitting at the bar. The woman's back facing Emma.
With every step that brought her closer, Emma tried to come up with the right thing to say to the her, but what was that exactly?

Her heart racing, Emma approached the bar, standing next to the brunette who was trying, unsuccessfully, to wave down the bar tender.
Realizing her struggle, Emma put her thumb and pointer finger into her mouth, pushing out a loud whistle, grabbing the man behind the bar's attention "Jimminy!" She yelled, "Can we get some drinks over here?!"
As Jimminy approached them, the brunette smiled, gently touching Emma on the shoulder and said, "Thank you for that, I'd probably sit here all night trying to flag him down..."
Just as Emma turned to her to respond, their eyes met and they both froze there, staring at each other.

"Sorry about that Em!" Jimminy said as he walked up to them, "What will you have?"
Still staring at each other, Emma ordered, a slowness about her voice; "..two bourbons Jim."
"On the rocks. Please." Regina added, their gaze still locked.
Seemingly confused at the situation unfolding in front of him, Jimminy took their order and proceeded to make it.

"Emma.."

"Regina."

"I... I thought it was you when I saw you come in, but I wasn't sure.." Emma nervously explained.
"Here you go ladies!" Jimminy said as he placed the drinks between them, "Enjoy!"
Looking back from Jimminy to Emma,
Regina replied, "I see... is that good or bad?"
"Honestly..." Emma stammered, " I uh.. I don't know."
Regina grabbed her drink off the counter and stood up, "Ok then Emma, thanks for the drink."

She raised her glass to Emma's, in gratitude, sucked the golden liquid down and began to walk away, when suddenly, Emma grabbed her arm, "No, wait. Regina.. I didn't mean to come off so harsh."
Regina took a deep breath, smoother out her blouse and sat back down at the bar, signaling Jimminy for another drink.
An awkward moment of silence passed between the women, as Jimminy refilled her glass. Regina decided to speak first.

"So," Looking from her glass to Emma's face, she asked "I remember growing up, you always wanted to go to the academy and become a police officer. Did that ever work out for you after college?"
"It did." Emma started, "I was injured in the line of duty though, a few years ago."
"Oh God, Emma! What happened? Are you ok? Were you shot?"
"Stabbed actually. In the shoulder. I uh, I tackled down the assailant who was waving around a knife and, Unfortunately it was my dominate arm that was injured and after surgery and physical therapy the force decided that I was no longer suitable to safely carry a weapon. So I was assigned to desk work for the remainder of my career."
"I see." Regina said, "Not something you wanted, obviously."
"No." Emma agreed, "Not at all. So I left the force a couple years ago and started my own Detective Agency."

"Ah, so you're a detective now then?"
"Yes, I am. It was a shaky start at first," Emma explained, "but things seem to be coming together now. So it's fine. My partner and I just solved a big missing persons case actually. We are celebrating tonight."
"Oh, congratulations then." Regina replied, raising her glass to Emma before taking the bourbon in.

"Thank you."

Regina stood again, offering a small, tight-lipped smile to Emma, "I really should be off. It's late, and I don't want to interrupt your celebration. Thank you again for the drink Emma."
"What? No!" Emma pinched her brows together, "Don't go."

"Emma, please.."

"You know what..?" Emma began, straightening her posture, "I'm not surprised Regina. You pushed me away before, why should this be any different? Am I right?"
Regina paused a moment and turned back to face Emma, "Alright then Ms. Swan, what do you want? To talk? Drink? What then?"
"Come on Regina," Emma pleaded, "You know that's not fair.."
"What's not fair, Emma? The fact that you told me years ago that you couldn't bare to be my friend? Or the fact that you are obviously still holding a grudge against me?"

"You broke my heart, Regina!"

"I had no choice. You know that."

"You could've stood up to her. But you refused."
"And then what??" Regina replied, "So what, I tell my mother I was 'in love' with my best friend, who happened to be a girl?? She would have never gone for it Emma." Regina countered, coming closer to Emma's face as she continued, "Don't. Play. Dumb."

Emma, looking Regina in her eyes, took  In every detail of her face. She could smell the sweet aroma of bourbon on her breath.
Lingering for a moment longer, Emma said quietly "You are still so beautiful.."

"I'm leaving." Regina replied flatly, turning away from Emma.

"Wait.." Emma exclaimed, trying to persuade Regina to stay as she started for the exit, "Please! I would love to talk!"
"What is there to say Em? I mean, honestly..."
The two women were outside the bar now, Emma still going after her.
Just before Regina left the bar terrace on her way to her car, Emma managed to grab hold of her hand, pulling Regina back quickly. So quickly, in fact, that Regina found herself in Emma's arms. The crashing of their bodies together surprised them both, Emma not expecting to pull her in quite so hard, and Regina surprised she'd allowed it!
Emma pulled her closer still, placing her hand at the small of Regina's back, pressing their bodies together.
Not wanting to miss an opportunity, and the effects of the rum really kicking in now, Emma pressed her lips against Regina's.

Regina tried pulling away at first, not wanting to give in. Seconds later, however, found herself slowly sink into the kiss. God, how much she missed Emma! Kissing her was nothing like kissing Robin... How strange, Regina thought as their tongues took turns exploring each other again.

Kissing Robin wasn't horrible, but it wasn't this. This.. well, this was something else entirely! It was like Christmas Day! That feeling you get when you finally open the gift you've been waiting your whole life for..
When their lips finally separated, Regina looked at Emma, and saw she was smiling.
"God, what am I doing.." Regina said to herself, "Emma, I have to go."
"Is everything all right?" Emma asked, her smile turning into a question of concern.
"Um, er.. yes. No. Yes? No, no it's not.."
Emma could see that Regina was thrown off, and very confused.
"Ok..." Emma replied.

"I never should have come here." Regina muttered to herself, "What was I thinking??"
"Wow, ok. Was it really that bad?" Emma asked, regarding the kiss.
Regina looked into Emma's eyes, "No. it wasn't. But that's the problem."

Finding her keys in her bag, Regina clicked the button on her keychain to sound the alarm to her Benz, unlocking it.
Closing the car door for Regina after she climbed into the driver's seat, Emma reached into the chest pocket of her red jacket and pulled out a card, handing it to Regina.
"What's this?" Regina asked, staring at it.
"It's my card."
Looking from the card back to Emma's face Regina replied, "Ok, but I don't need it."
"I know you don't Regina, but please take it. It has my number on it... in case you ever want to... continue our conversation from earlier."
Regina rolled her eyes and reluctantly took the card from Emma.
"Ok? Are you happy now?"
"Yes. Thank you."
"Goodnight Ms. Swan."
"Drive safely Regina." Emma replied, stepping back from the black car. As Regina backed out of her parking space, Emma stood and watched, returning to the crowded bar only after she could no longer see her red tail lights disappearing down the street.