Working in the cannery was becoming quite monotonous. Nonetheless Emma was willing to do whatever it took to earn up enough money to live comfortably. If she worked hard enough she could earn up to 18 dollars an hour, and that was nothing to scoff at. Still every night she would go home smelling of sardines, with pain on her wrist and a serious back strain after a few hours of work.
[Friday night! I just have to get through this and then I can go out on my date.] She thought smiling, she picked up her pace and began to can faster than anyone else on the line.
Finally the whistle blew. Emma got up threw down her gloves and stretched out. Her back cracked in five different places, but she felt ready to take on the world.
She practically ran to the Locker room. She threw her apron into the hamper, and obsessively washed her hands in the sink. The Co-ed Lockers had filled with people by the time she had finished religiously washing her hands.
It took her a long time to push through her smelly coworkers. Within a few feet from her locker, she could see Killian banging his head against it. With his face pressed against the metal he turned to look at her.
"Emma thank God! I forgot our combination."
"C'mon Hook! How can I be the only one who remembers the combo?"
"Beats me, I asked Regina but she couldn't remember it either."
Looking around for Regina and not seeing her anywhere among the multiple faces Emma inquired "So, where is Regina?"
"She is still on the floor doing her checks, then she will probably review the numbers and report back to ." Looking up at Emma's disappointment Killian smiled wide and began to tease her. "Why? Are you missing the queen?"
"No, so shut it. I was just curious how you talked to her if she isn't here."
"Yeah yeah, you expect me to believe that you don't fancy Regina. You forget we were in the same Math class, I remember seeing you sigh and swoon over the undisputed Homecoming Queen of Stony Brook High." .
"Do you want me to open it, or are you gonna stand in my way?" She then proceeded to enter the combination and open the Locker .
"Come now love," He wiggled his eyebrows trying to elicit a reaction from the girl. "I was just worried that if you still had a crush on Regina then I wouldn't have a chance." .
"You don't have a chance." Emma pulled out her jacket and a perfume bottle which was more than halfway gone. "Besides It's not like that. She acts more like a competitive sibling or something." .
"Uh huh. You see her like your sister?" he prompted quizzically. .
"What? Well no. Not really. It's just. [What is she?] Stop smirking. It's... It's like a symbiotic relationship. She helps me out sometimes and I... I pay rent, and I moderate her fights with Snow, and I can be good for when she needs some muscle around the house... It's like with animals and you know siblings and friends, 'You scratch my back I scratch yours' kinda deal." .
"Well if she needs some muscle , good thing you are there to provide it. But I still hope all you're scratching is backs and not other itches ." Killian punctuated the words trying to get a rise from the blond. She glared at him with murder in her eyes. Killian couldn't help but laugh, "Ok, Ok so you're not attracted to her, you probably find her repulsive" .
"That is Not what I said! Ok, she is an attractive woman but I know my place." .
Killian began to laugh hysterically, taunting the blond with kissy faces. .
Emma began to blush furiously. "Shut up, I'll have you know that I have a date tonight, and I am very much looking forward to seeing him. So get off my back" Still holding the perfume bottle she sprayed herself heavily. .
At this Killian stopped laughing and straightened his back, suddenly turning on the charm. "Well Emma you know your place, and I know mine. Mine is to woo you. I won't give up Swan. And soon you will be begging me to be on your back"
Emma rolled her eyes. [All these years as friends, all these years of trying, when will he let up?]She reached in grabbed her wallet and jammed it into her jacket. .
Regina's familiar sultry voice spoke from behind. "Oh Miss Swan you're leaving?" .
Both Killian and Emma turned to face her, fearful of what the other woman might have heard. .
Regina continued speaking as she made her way to the locker. Unaware of the others tight shoulders and scared features. "Well it's a good thing you got the locker open, Now I can get my stuff... Good luck with the date." Regina grabbed her own jacket, and put it on. .
Emma spoke up slightly dazed "How'd you know I had a..." .
"My sister, You know that Snow can't keep a secret." .
"Right, I'll talk to her about that later. So Regina what are your plans tonight?" .
"Ms. Mills while we are working. Remember? If It applies to Ms. White then it also applies to you" .
Killian chimed in with what he assumed was a comical retort, "But, you just called her your sister 'Snow', so it doesn't really apply does it?" .
Regina gave him a sharp look, but continued to talk to Emma "I'm sorry I won't keep you for such trivial matters, go on and enjoy your date." .
Emma put away her perfume and began to walk away [She never answered my questions about her plans did she?] Just before exiting the locker room she could hear Killian ask Regina a question. "So Regina would you ever date a beautiful woman who had a crush on you, or do you prefer handsome men?" .
Emma drove her beat up yellow bug down to the outskirts of town. .
It had taken her over two months to save up for the car, even in its old beat up condition, still the car was hers it was her freedom. .
She parked by the large boulder on the road dubbed "Turn Back" road. She stepped out of the vehicle and walked into the woods. .
"Gottcha!" a grey voice rang into her ears as her arms where pressed into her abdomen and two very large hands wrapped around her. .
"Fuck Neal! You scared me!" .
The man chuckled into her neck before turning her around and placing many small rushed kisses on her face, neck, then shoulders and collarbone. .
"Neal, I... ugh... Slow down bae, you're on fire...mmm" Emma tried to push him away but soon gave in to the passion between them. .
After a heavy make out session, Neal leaned against a tree and held her against his chest. .
"I tell you babe, one day I'm gonna steal everything Dad has in his safe and getting out of here. I can feel the Turn Back calling my name, pulling me closer." .
"We've talked about this bae, You're better off here with your dad than you would be out there alone with no skills, and no friends" .
"My mom left, She's out there somewhere, I could always just find her." .
"Yea but she won't take care of you the way your Daddy does." .
"Em, I love you, but shut up" He pushed her off and paced back and forth, running his hands up and down his head. "Babe! you've got skills, wanna come with me? See the world, Mexico, Canada, Arizona, Boston, New York, Tallahassee... anywhere you want." .
[Did he just describe the world as North America]"Very funny, you'd have me work while you do what?" .
"I could steal food and money to keep us afloat, or if you wanted I could stay home with the kids" .
"Kids, plural? you want us to live out in the 'world' provided only by what you can steal and still have kids. That's F**ked up." She let out a nervous chuckle .
"Don't you wanna have a kid?" He leaned in closer to her, sliding his hand down her back and onto her bottom. "You'd be a good mom Em, and we could start on a little guy right now. Y'know only If you wanted." .
Soon the couple was engulfed in ardent kisses and aggressive gropes. Emma and Neal became a tangled mess of limbs, grasping at one another, fervently trying to get closer to one another. Soon their garments where at their ankles and they were thrusting with passion finding immense pleasure in their motions. Panting into each other's breaths, uncontrollably kissing and grinding. Unstopped by anything. They continued without thinking of their surroundings, of the day after, or consequences. They lived in the moment, moaning and grunting loudly into the dark woods. .
When the deed was done, they dusted themselves off, and redressed. .
"Em, I'll call you tomorrow yea?" Neal kissed her again before leaving deeper into the woods. .
[yea, call me] .
Emma walked to her car, and sat in silence for what could have easily been an hour. .
Eventually she started the car, turned it around and headed home. .
Emma begged the lock as she turned the key [quietly please quietly don't snap] She unlocked and opened the door, all without a sound [Yes! thank you, thank you, thank yoo] .
She crept in, past the living room, past the kitchen, and nearly a yard or two away from her bedroom door. But then her roommate Snow swung her own bedroom door open, and peered from her side of the hall. Their rooms where across from each other's and Regina's was adjacent to Snows. .
"So Emma, how'd it go?" .
"Good Snow thanks... um gotta go to the bathroom, be right back" .
Snow followed her to the bathroom, and probably would have entered had it not been for Emma abruptly closing the door on her. Snow leaned in against the closed door and past the barrier started to grill Emma. .
"You came home awfully late. So I guess that means your date went well. Who did you go out with? Where did he take you? What did you guys do? Was he a gentleman?" .
From the other side of the door, leaning on the sink, Emma yelled back at Snow. "You're Not My Mom Snow! So Cut It Out!" .
Snow responded in a hurt voice "Rude! I'm just curious, I wanna know you're safe, and having a good time. And! I am your mom, I told you in High School that I adopted you and now your my baby Emma so talk to mommy." .
[Seriously Snow, you are so over the line sometimes] Opening the door just enough to squeeze her face through Emma snapped at Snow "That reminds me, did you tell your step sister that I was going out on a date?" .
"yea, why does it matter?" .
"Because I told you in confidence and I didn't want the whole world to know." .
"Why not? It's not like your still dating that dead beat Neal, hah 'cus then you would have a reason to be ashamed." .
Emma narrowed her eyes and slammed the door again. .
"Aww, come on Emma don't be grumpy. Mommy promises never to tell Regina or anyone anything you tell me in confidence. Please don't be mad, Em, Emma, Eeeemmmm..." .
"Shut up Snow you're not my mommy" .
"Oh yea but it was cute before" .
"Snow. I love you, but you're driving me up a wall. I'm gonna take a shower now, go away." .
"I love you too Emma, I'll be waiting in your bed and you can tell me all the juicy details" .
Emma let out a large deep sigh and walked over to the shower, she turned the nozzles and waited for the water to level into the perfect temperature. She undressed and stepped in. .
[Ew, I am all gross. Note to self, Sex in the woods without a blanket is NOT a good idea.] .
She scrubbed herself clean. And then for good measure gave herself another scrubbing and shampooing. Intimacy in the woods meant a lot of leaves and debris in her hair too. .
[what am I gonna tell Snow? I could always lie to her.] .
Emma stepped out of the shower, dried herself off, and reached into the shelf that held her Pajamas and Robe. .
Because Reginas name was on the lease, she was head of the household, thus she set out rules and hygiene requirements. One of which was that each girl would have a cubby in the bathroom that would contain each individuals toothbrushes, deodorants, hair brushes, grooming kits, and an extra pair of undergarment, and pajamas, as well as one robe which hung on a hook in front of the cubby opening. .
[sometimes Reginas anal rules are a really good thing] .
She proceeded to dress herself. Then she whipped down the bathroom from any moisture. She threw her clothes and wet towel in the hamper. When everything looked tip top, she washed and dried her hands then stepped out. .
She slowly walked towards her room dreading the girl talk she would have with Snow. .
She opened her bedroom door only to find that Snow was sprawled out on her bed fast asleep. .
"Snow? Snow are you sleeping? It's ok if I take your bed right? Okay good talk, see you in the morning" .
Emma tiptoed across the hall and quietly shut Snow's door behind her. She plopped down on Snows bed, and nestled under the covers. [How funny, my bed is too hard, and Snows bed is too soft.] .
Soon Emma was fast asleep. That is, until the bed dipped and a hand draped around her covered figure. Her eyes shot open and she was slightly too stunned to speak or move. .
"Snow? It's me" [Well at least it's not David sneaking in for a quickie.] Then her face fell at the grim realization and she slightly shifted. [It's Regina! Don't move, don't breathe, don't make a sound.] .
Regina spoke again softly "Ok Snow, I'll tell you how my night went, but I swear I will destroy you if this ever comes out..." .
Emma was still trying very hard to remain hidden in the covers and not move. [should I reply?] Feigning her voice to sound as much like Snow as she possibly could, she let out a little "Mmhmm" .
"So, you know I went out with Henry again. Do not start yapping about how much older he is, because I swear Snow I am not in the mood..." Regina waited for a reply from Snow, but the silence made her think she could just continue her tale. "Right so we had dinner again, and again he started asking me all the personal questions about how my life was going. Everything was going fine, we went to the movies and watched that one movie about the guy and his son... anyway when he drove me here I, well I... I tried to make a move. Shut up Snow, don't even start, because he shut me down." .
Emmas eyes could possibly pop out of their sockets they were so big and wide. [Oh My God! Too personal I can't hear this] .
Regina held her closer and continued in a soft voice "I haven't been rejected like that before, Not by a man. Yeah my mom puts me down and rejects me all the time, and your dad he hardly notices I'm alive but... Henry he actually grabbed me by the arms, sat me down and told me it was wrong. Why would he do that? He's the one who keeps asking me out." .
Emma wanted to turn over and comfort Regina. She wanted to do it so desperately that she almost forgot her position and reached over to do so, that is until Regina spoke up again. .
"Ok Snow, remember not a word to anyone. I'm going to bed. Don't forget we are having a run with Ruby tomorrow so bright and early." .
[All this information loaded onto me AND I have to wake up early in the morning to get Snow out of my bed and ready for a morning run! FML] .
After that, a light sleep is all Emma could conjure up.