A/N: I took advantage of my musie being around, unfortunately she's being stubborn about completing my other stories. Not sure if this is gonna be a one shot or a few chaps yet. I'm hoping to finish the next chapter for Songs for the Savior by tomorrow, Wednesday at the latest. Then Choices we make. Then I'll think about whether or not I'm gonna extend this. Hope y'all enjoy it though. I have fun writing Ruby as a mischief maker and a Captain Swan shipper.
Disclaimer: no, I do not own Once Upon a Time, any of its characters or storylines. They belong to the luck pucks at ABC and Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz.
"Ruby, you're a life saver!" Emma greets her friend enthusiastically as she enters her office bearing Emma's lunch delivery. "Thanks!"
"I just brought you your usual burger, fries and ice tea," grinned Ruby as Emma practically grabbed the bag from her and almost ripped it open to get at her food. "Figured that would be okay since you didn't call in an order, or drop by the diner for lunch."
Emma mumbled something utterly incoherent as she stuffed her mouth full of burger.
"Good is it?" Ruby chuckled as her friend continued to 'wolf' down her food.
"Amazing as usual Ruby," Emma was finally able to speak, taking a deep pull of her ice tea to help her chew and swallow faster. "Sorry I didn't get to call, this morning has been nuts with Cora sightings, and magic lessons with Regina. I'm eating at my desk so I can get through as much of this damned paperwork as I can before I have to be at the cabin for sword fighting lessons with David. After that-"
"Whoa Emma, slow down girl," cautioned Ruby, watching as Emma continued to eat like she was trying to win a contest. "You're either gonna give yourself indigestion or choke. I don't see a timer around anywhere, why don't you take some time with your food. I mean, it isn't called lunch hour for nothing."
"Can't," she mumbled, squeezing the words around a mouth full of fries this time. "Don't have time. After sword fighting lessons, I gotta pick up Henry and take him to the stables to visit with his horse. I promised him. Then we go home and I do whatever paperwork that I don't get finished here-"
"Geez, what do you do for fun?" Asked Ruby, looking upon her friend in consternation. Ever since she has discovered that Hook and Cora had made their way back to Storybrooke, Emma had been going non stop. She had managed to win her second confrontation with Cora by once more accidentally invoking her magic. Cora managed to slink away again, and a few people who were helping Emma had been injured, including David and Hook, who decided to pledge his loyalty to Emma. The injuries were minor, but it spurred Emma into doing whatever was necessary to be prepared for her next battle with the witch, determined to end Cora once and for all. To almost everyone else in the town, Emma was finally coming into her own as the saviour, becoming the leader and protector that they believed she could be. Outwardly, she was confident, calm, commanding and clever, conferring with both Rumplestiltskin and Regina to create protocols for the next time that Cora decided to curse them with a visit, and she was taking lessons to make sure that she was able to fight both physically and with her magic. But to those closest to Emma, they could see the toll it was taking on her. With her duties as Sheriff and her preparations for Cora, she was running herself ragged.
Lost in thought and concern for her friend, Ruby suddenly looked to her and realized Emma had finished her lunch and was scrunching up all of the remnants and stuffing it into the paper bag Ruby brought it in.
"Thanks again Ruby, that's exactly what I needed." Emma gave her a quick smile before returning to her paperwork.
"You didn't answer my question." Ruby persisted.
"What question was that?" She muttered, not looking up from what she was scribbling.
"What do you do for fun?" Ruby repeated, emphasizing every word.
"I'll worry about that after Cora is gone for good," she sighed.
Ruby took another good look at Emma and wasn't pleased with what she saw. The way Emma kept cracking her neck from side to side told Ruby that she was so tense her muscles could snap in half. The dark circles under Emma's eyes spoke of long nights unable to sleep. She had lost weight, the angles of her jaw sharpened, her cheeks hollowed despite the eating frenzy that Ruby just witnessed. She knew that if she asked Emma the last time she ate before Ruby brought her lunch, she would be hard pressed to answer the question. The poor woman was carrying the weight of the world, or at least all of Storybrooke, and if she kept going at this pace, she would run herself into the ground. She may be the saviour, but someone needed to remind Emma that she was also very human.
"You need to get laid." Ruby announced, her hands on her hips, daring Emma to argue.
"What?" She sputtered in surprise, her head jerking up.
"You heard me," Ruby said haughtily, biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing. "Emma, while I appreciate everything you're doing to keep all of us safe and all of the prep work you're doing for your next battle royal with the wicked bitch of the west Cora, this can't be your entire life. You are inches away from burning out. You need some fun in your life, or at the least, some stress relief."
"Hook put you up to this?" Emma grunted, her attention returning to the file in front of her.
"Funny how I mention getting laid and the first guy you think of is Hook," This time Ruby couldn't help but laugh at the death glare her friend shot her. "Oh come on Em, even you have to admit the guy is panty dropping hot. Those mesmerizing blue eyes, the chiseled body underneath that flouncy shirt and those yummy leather pants of his that show off his...assets in the most delicious way, and his smile-god how do you manage to not rip off all his clothes and ride him like a roller coaster when he grins at you the way he does?"
"I have something called self restraint." Emma dead panned.
"You mean self denial," muttered Ruby. "Seriously Em, all of this prep work and heavy drama aren't good for you. When was the last time you went on a date or even did something that wasn't related to your sheriff duties or getting ready for Cora?"
"I have fun..." Emma mumbled, though Ruby was right. She hadn't done anything in recent memory closely resembling fun, or even for herself.
"I call bullshit!" Declared Ruby, knowing that she had Emma on the ropes. "Why won't you let Hook do with you what you've probably wanted to do from the day you two met? I mean, okay...he is Captain Hook and he has a reputation, but seriously, he seems to be behaving for the most part. And he took your side over Cora, even got himself injured. And from what I can tell, he's really into you. I mean if a guy looked at me the way Hook looks at you, at the very least I'd have jumped him if not marry him by now."
"Marry Ruby, really?" Scoffed Emma, her eyebrow raised. Yet there was something in Emma's tone, and a flicker in her eyes that Ruby couldn't help but wonder about. "I can't even stand to be in the same room as the guy. He's arrogant, insufferable, cocky, thinks he's god's gift to women and that we should all worship at his feet and mud wrestle naked for his attention."
"Oh...I get it," Ruby smirked knowingly and sat on the arm of the chair in front of Emma.
"Get what?" Emma bristled.
"You're afraid of what you feel for him," Ruby answered with unwavering certainty. "I mean, all you have to do is read between the lines of your Hook rant. You like him, but you don't want to be another one of the notches on his belt. You think that if you finally give in to him, he won't be interested anymore. If it makes you feel better, I don't think that he'd treat you that way. He seems to genuinely like you."
"Ruby, where the hell do...how can you think that he and I...stop it." Emma growled, frustrated at being flustered at the idea that someone figured out the feelings that she had been trying to hide, apparently in vain.
"Hmmmm...you seem a bit touchy for someone who claims to be unaffected by our dear pirate," Ruby couldn't help but laugh at the subsequent glare aimed at her by the Sheriff. "Okay, so you don't want to address the physical chemistry between you and Hook yet. What about just going for drinks and letting loose?"
Emma sent her another look, another one that said volumes.
"Yeah, okay...no way that drinks with Hook wouldn't lead to bed," she concurred. "Remind me again, why is that a bad idea?"
"I thought that you were advising against more drama?" Emma reminded her. "Can you imagine David's reaction to your suggestion? Not to mention Mary Margaret. And don't forget his fan club of insipid women who do nothing but follow him around and fawn over him."
"Aw, you sound jealous," giggled Ruby. "Okay fine, no more talk of Hook. What about just going out on a date with someone? Giving yourself a bit of a break-slash-night off isn't going to kill you, matter of fact, I'll bet it'll do you a world of good. You do remember what a date is, right? Have a drink, have dinner and a chat, and a laugh at the very least. Although I still happen to be a proponent of the restorative powers of sex."
"If I go on a date with someone will you promise to drop the subject?" Sighed Emma.
The only answer Emma got from her was a high pitched squeal, which she took as yes.
"Okay, let's see, who would be good for you to go out with," mused Ruby, tapping her chin thoughtfully as she went through her mental roladex for eligible men. "Jefferson is single isn't he? And he is kinda cute."
"Yeah, he's not bad looking, if you overlook the bat shit crazy in him." She reminded Ruby. " The absolute last thing I need right now is batshit craziness."
Seeing the look of concentration on Ruby's face at the idea of finding someone for Emma, she couldn't help but have a little fun at her friend's expense.
"There Dr. Whale, I guess," Emma pretended to muse. "He's single and not bad looking."
"Oh...you're interested in him?" Ruby asked, trying to look non chalant. "I mean, yeah he is single I suppose, but then again he did have a one night stand with your mother. I honestly don't see how a date with him wouldn't be a hundred kinds of awkward and weird. Just sayin."
"Ruby, if you like Dr. Whale, just say so," grinned Emma. "I wouldn't go out with him if you want him."
"Ok, yeah I like him," Ruby admitted. "He just so funny, and so cute, and sweet, and he just gets me, you know? And the whole thing about me being a wolf doesn't faze him at all. He's been hinting about asking me out, and I was thinking about hinting to him that I'd say yes."
"You should," nodded Emma. "You two would be good together."
"Wait, what about you?" Ruby persisted. "We were talking about your non existent love life missy."
"We are talking about Storybrooke Ruby, not a lot of eligible bachelors," Emma reminded her. "Most of the people here are already with someone."
"Except you and Hook," Ruby couldn't help but add. At Emma's nonplussed look, Ruby dropped the subject of the princess and the pirate-for now.
"What about that guy who runs the tow service...what's his name, Michael?" Ruby suddenly remembered. "He's five kinds of cute, has his own business and his kids are friends with Henry. He could be fun."
"Someone mention me?" A familiar accented voice drifted towards her office. All too soon the previously mentioned pirate was making himself comfortable in the sheriffs office, planting himself against her desk.
"Nope, didn't mention a pain in the ass at all." Emma retorted, gathering up her files and glancing at her clock. She had to leave to meet David soon or risk throwing her whole schedule into chaos.
"Ah princess, I did hear the word fun," Killain beamed his smile at her. "And I am quite fun. I would gladly show you how much fun I can be."
"As fun as this conversation is, I have somewhere else to be." Huffed Emma, gathering her things, and throwing them into her messenger bag.
"We're not done with our conversation Emma." Ruby warned as Emma shuffled them out the door.
"Yeah, I figured," she sighed, locking the door behind her after making sure that Ruby and Hook were outside. "I'll call you tonight."
"If you don't, I'll call you." Ruby called after her, watching as Emma hurried to her car.
"Is everything alright with Emma?" Hook asked Ruby, and she was happily not surprised to find his concern genuine. "She seems...weary."
"Are you worried about her?" Ruby teased.
"Yes," he replied plainly, his sights still focused on the space that Emma's car had recently vacated. "I am very aware of what happens when you become single minded on a mission. When nothing else matters but achieving your objective. It consumes you, to the detriment of everything else. She does not deserve this. I know that she is the savior, that the safety of everyone in this town is her responsibility, but I can see her suffering for it, even if she denies this."
Ruby was actually surprised at the depth of feeling she heard in Hook's voice. She could see that there was something going on between them. Hell, you'd have to be...well...you'd have to be either Emma or Killian to miss it.
