"We did," the brunette agreed with a smile of her own.
They pulled into an old drive-in twenty minutes later just as the sun was finishing its descent below the horizon. Their fingers were still tangled around one another though they had moved their conversation to less serious topics. Neither made any motion to pull away even as Emma pulled into the large field. Truthfully, she had discovered the relatively nearby drive-in only that morning when she opted on staying in the mansion and used Regina's desktop for a little research. It was an old drive-in, one of the few still up and running in Maine, and they were playing Hitchcock's Vertigo. She had seen it before when she was eleven after she had snuck into an old revival theatre. She hadn't payed much attention to the movie then, instead using the time there to escape a foster father with a drinking problem and a foster mother with a nasty right hook.
"I've never been to one of these," Regina admitted as Emma pulled up to a vendor, finally weaving their fingers apart and paying for their entrance.
"Me neither," Emma said, driving slowly through the large field to pull up to a good spot halfway through the field and just to the right of center. "Though I'm sure those teens over there are using this place for a better use."
Regina looked to see the couple in the front seat, their silhouettes joined at the lips as their bodies meshed into one shadow. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks but scoffed at the display. "How typical."
"What?" Emma grinned, cutting off the engine and unbuckling her seat belt, turning fully to face the brunette. "Not the wild child in your teenage days?"
"I can assure you I didn't do that."
"Well it's never too late."
Regina raised an eyebrow and grinned as Emma looked flushed and floundered for a response.
"I mean, like, nevermind," Emma dismissed hastily. "Popcorn?"
Regina was surprised by the amount of variety the snack shop had. She never had much of a sweet tooth, a result of living with her mother who claimed her smile and beauty were her best features, but the different types of sweets and chocolates available had Regina slightly curious. She picked up a box of Junior Mints, a bag of sour skittles, and two bags of milk chocolate M&M's. A box of Milk Duds was the last thing that made it into her arms as she handed them over to the cashier. It was more sugar she had ever willingly bought, and there was a tiny part of her buried behind years of order and discipline that was excited to have a taste and indulge in the sweeter side of life. God, when did that happen? Regina wondered as she paid for her purchases and found Emma by the popcorn kiosk where she was sprinkling a healthy amount of white cheddar seasoning over the popcorn.
"Woah, should I call your dentist and book an appointment for tomorrow?" Emma teased when she saw the treats in Regina's hand.
"Should I call your commander and tell them you're spending your leave drowning yourself in butter and powdered cheese?" Regina retorted as Emma gave the bag a tap to even out the seasoning before placing the drinks she bought into her jacket pocket and the crook of her elbow.
"Now that's just mean." She popped a few kernels in her mouth before sidling beside Regina and making their way back to the bug.
Commercials played on the screen, promoting new releases and the candies at the concession. The field was beginning to crowd with people chatting with their friends, waiting in line for food, or sitting in or on their cars. All the cars parked had their radios tuned into the drive-in frequency, and from what Emma could tell, it was an unspoken agreement to blast the volume of their radios and roll down their windows. Emma had put their own volume to a reasonable level, loud enough to hear the movie but low enough to talk.
By the time they were settled back into the Volkswagen, their popcorn and candy littering the dashboard in front of them, the sun had gone down completely, and Emma was passing the popcorn to Regina.
"Indulge me?"
"You think I wouldn't after the purchase I made?" Regina took the bag haughtily and elegantly ate a popcorn, making the infamous movie-going snack seem like a five-star restaurant meal.
Emma smirked and held up the drinks, water, juice, and a bottle of pop, before leaning over to the dashboard and fluttered her fingers in contemplation of her selection. She finally settled on the Junior Mints, popping open the box and tearing into the bag. Tossing the chocolate covered mint ball in her mouth, Emma shut her eyes and moaned. "It's like those girl guide mints but even better."
"I bought those specifically for me," Regina said, stealing the box from Emma's grasp. She placed a chocolate delicately in her mouth and sighed, revelling at the melting chocolate and mint pooling in her mouth. A pair of eyes were steady on her, and it took her a moment to realize Emma had been watching her every move. Suddenly self-conscious, Regina cleared her throat and swallowed, handing the Junior Mints back to the blonde. "What?"
Emma shook her head suppressing a smile. "You just looked really nice just then."
"Eating chocolate?"
"Just being happy," Emma grinned. "It's a good look on you."
Regina rolled her eyes, but the blush appeared on her face nonetheless. "I'm finding more reasons to be so."
They sat in the bug, munching on popcorn, candy, and chocolate, much to Regina's surprise. She had never done this before, and without the prying eyes of the town or having to be the model mother for Henry, Regina felt as if she could relax and let her guard down. Her stomach may not thank her in the morning, but for now, she was content with watching Scottie trail Madeleine to the bouquet shop. She and Emma exchanged commentary every now and then, Emma scoffing at Scottie for stringing Midge along while Regina appreciated the cinematography of the piece. Despite the gear shift separating them, they leaned toward the middle, their shoulders pressed against one another as the popcorn bag was positioned precisely on top of the cup holder.
Rowdy laughter filtered in through Emma's half opened window, and they turned to see a group of teenagers sitting in the bed of their own pick up truck simply talking to one another. Loudly. They made no motion to watch the movie, and from their obnoxious behaviour it looked as if they didn't care.
Emma rolled her eyes and scoffed. "I really wish I wasn't like that when I was a kid."
Regina laughed lightly. "Emma," she said softly and nudged the blonde's shoulder. "You are so young."
"I'm not that young."
She laughed again. "You're probably only a few years older than those kids you so desperately loathe."
Emma scrunched up her face and glared at the teens again, realizing that she probably would have done the exact same thing at their age. Only five years ago. She shuddered at the thought.
"You don't feel that way." It was an observation rather than a question on Regina's part.
The blonde shook her head and let out a chuckle of her own. "Sometimes I forget until you withhold alcohol from me."
"I can't imagine going through the things that you've gone through already," Regina admitted before turning a shy eye to the blonde. "You're very strong."
Emma snorted. "It's not even really about strength. It's just me getting by."
"Surviving."
"Exactly."
Regina stared forward for a moment, watching the black and white film pass as Scottie saved Madeleine from drowning. She rolled a shoulder casually. "I used to do that. Living day after day in the same routine. But then I got Henry, and everything changed after him."
"What made you want to adopt?"
It took Regina a few moments to contemplate her answer. Her mind had been filled of memories of Henry since the first day she had travelled to Boston to pick him up, and her life had been better ever since. There were moments where she doubted her abilities at being a mother, but every time he looked at her, and every time he said "Mommy", her heart fluttered with absolute joy.