"Oh. My. God."
Emma Swan moaned.
"Everything ok there Em?" Ruby came over to bus the booth the sheriff was occupying.
"Rubes please, you gotta tell me how you get your pancakes so freakin' delicious. They're like eating tasty little clouds." The sheriff washed down her breakfast with a deep swig of coffee as her friend removed the two empty plates from the table.
Ruby looked at the crockery in her hands.
"Emma, did you order two plates for yourself?" the tall brunette laughed with disbelief.
"Hey, it's been a long few days and this is the only time I get to fuel myself up." Emma finished her coffee and slid out of the booth and followed the waitress across to the counter. She placed the drained mug on her empty plates and reached in her pocket for some cash. "Thank you so much for breakfast, please pass my compliments through to Granny. I'm sure she'll be proud to know she's the reason Storybrooke's finest are firing on all cylinders." She placed enough to cover breakfast and a generous tip next to the dishes.
"Emma" Ruby said the blonde's name sounding disappointed. "You know you don't have to pay us you're the saviour and the sheriff, the least we can do is give you breakfast once in a while." Ruby picked up the money and thrust it back at Emma who held up her hands to avoid the money being returned.
"No way, you touched it last. No take backs." The sheriff kept her hands raised and backed towards the exit. She smiled a sympathetic smile at Ruby who was stood in the middle of the empty diner holding the notes at arm's length. The sheriff turned and walked out of the door with a final wave and a call of 'see you shortly'.
Ruby chuckled and shook her head, smiling to herself as she tucked the money in the pocket of her waitressing pinafore. Emma had blossomed into a wonderful character and real asset to the town. When Ruby compared it to how she was when she first arrived she was thankful the saviour was able to step up to the plate. Since magic had first returned to the sleepy little town they'd bounced from one dangerous situation to the next and Emma's strength and new found power had been integral to them reaching the point where they were now.