There were some mornings where everything fell into place, but this wasn't one of those times. Emma had trouble falling asleep the previous night and slept in this morning, only to find no coffee left and no milk for cereal. She settled with some toast, but that started a small fire and reduced their toaster to a rusted pile of scrap. And when the sheriff got in her car, she noticed her fog lights failed to work. To top it all off, Emma noticed a present the mayor dropped off. Two neatly stacked piles of paperwork sat on her desk, with a post it that had "Please complete no later than Wednesday afternoon" written in perfect calligraphy. Emma knew today would be hell, even for a Monday.

She reached across the desk and grabbed a pen, only to find it wouldn't write. Emma shook the pen back and forth, determined to start her notes. But before she could retest the pen, the tip fell to her lap, along with a stream of deep blue ink. Emma gasped at the addition of color on her faded jeans and silk top that belonged to- Regina. "Fuck! She's going to kill me!" She pulled off the blouse and attempted to soak up the ink in the shirt with her jeans. They were one of her favorite pairs but she prioritized. Realizing all that did was spread the mess, Emma sank back into her chair, utterly frustrated and ready to start hitting something. And it was only 9 AM. She knew calling her roommate would only result in a voicemail, so she tried the next best person who would know how to get a stain out, other than the mayor of course.

"Hey Ruby, is your Grandma there?"

The waitress sighed theatrically and grumbled, "She always is. Why?"

Emma sighed, relieved. "Thank God. I'll be there in a few minutes I need her help with- well, let's just call it official sheriff business okay?"

Ruby simply laughed and told her she would see her troubled friend soon. Emma ran out the door and to her car so fast that she almost forgot to put on something to cover herself up. She sped to the diner, assuming the longer the stain had to set, the worse it would be. As Emma rushed into the diner she failed to notice the dark Mercedes parked outside or the owner making her way out. The two collided in the doorway and they tumbled to the ground, Regina landing inside the restaurant and Emma making impact with the gravel outside. To her dismay, the stained blouse landed next to her in a puddle of mud. Just as she thought her luck really couldn't get any worse, she noticed who she had bumped into.

"Miss Swan! How can I expect you to watch over this town if you can't watch where you're going?!"

Emma rose from the ground and realized she probably bruised her tailbone. She seriously needed to punch something.

"Hello? It's like I'm talking to a wall!"

Or someone. Emma thought at the sound of Regina's condescending and overbearing voice.

"You know you're supposed to be at work, correct? It's still morning, no time for a lunch break already. Although I'm proud of your ability to wake up before noon considering-"

The sopping shirt in Emma's grasp suddenly became heavy, and words left her lips that she knew she would regret, but hadn't the slightest worry over.

"Regina! Stop! I'm just here to return your shirt. And I did you a favor; I treated it just like you treat everyone else."

The mayor's jaw went slack as the cold, soggy material fell at her heeled feet. As she bent to retrieve it, she noticed the stain as well as a slight tear. She whispered to Emma's already turned back,

"You would ruin it. I told you this was all you were getting- and I should've known you would destroy it and leave. That's all you're good at isn't it?"

Emma froze- all forethought and rationality leaving her with one breath. She spun and in two strides she was nose to nose with Regina, unaware of their audience.

"You don't know anything about me! You can have your little puppets do all the research you want and you can stalk me and you can try to push Henry away from me and you can try to make me leave but you will never know me!"

Emma's hands pinned Regina's shoulders against the side of the diner as she seethed, glaring at eyes that seemed to dance with excitement. The pinned woman's lips curled upwards, and at that moment Emma realized just how much Regina enjoyed this. She could see the excitement all over the mayors face, the joy that came with the next words she spoke.

"Well, Miss Swan, I know almost everything there is to know about you. I know every job you've ever had, I know every foster home you've ever been in, every person you've ever met, every bed or alley way or, what you would call, vehicle you've ever slept in, I even know who you've slept with. I know you're a runner and that you will leave. I know it all, except for when you will run."

Emma was furious, blood rushed to her face as she blushed at the mention of her previous partners. She never liked it when people called her penniless, she hated when others claimed she was weak, but to say they understand her? She loathed it. But before she could construct words, she heard more that simply pushed her over the edge.

"You know I'm not very involved in the affairs of the townspeople, but we are all placing bets actually. Your little friend, Miss Blanchard, claims it'll never happen, Leroy is betting a month, but I put my money on a week."

That was the last thing Emma heard before she saw black.

The next thing she saw was Mayor Mills slumped on the ground with her back against the side of the diner and a hand pressed against her cheek. Emma heard the voices of others gathering, and just as she was about to ask what happened, she felt the pain in her right hand. She looked from her bruising knuckles to Regina, who wore a swelling cheek and harsh glare. Emma needed to punch something, so she did.