The bell chimes faintly as soon as the door is pushed open, announcing yet another entrance. It is about lunchtime and the small diner on Main Street is almost filled to the brim. The ambient noise and the scent of luscious dishes fill Emma's ears and nose as soon as she fully steps inside.
There is a grilled-cheese sandwich in this restaurant with her name on it.
"Hi Emma!" Ruby calls from behind the counter, waving at her. The waitress-wearing red shorts that just barely cover her privates-returns her attention back to a customer and the coffee she is pouring into a cup right in front of her. Emma waves back at her, a mirroring smile on her lips, before she makes her way to the last free booth, sinking into the comfortable cushions.
Only half of her shift is over and she already feels more exhausted, than chasing after delinquents as a bounty-hunter back in Boston.
The entirety of the morning she'd been in City Hall, spending most of the time with the mayor of Storybrooke. This day had definitely been one of those days.
As Regina called on her cell-phone around 07:30 am-demanding her immediate presence at City Hall-Emma had just been on her way to grab her first cup of coffee and a muffin for a quick breakfast Mary-Margarete would frown upon.
For a moment there, she'd considered ignoring Regina as soon as she had seen the caller's ID, but her recently discovered sense of responsibility had gotten the better out of her. She'd also worried something could have happened to Henry-even though Emma wasn't entirely sure, if Regina would call her in such a scenario-of all people.
As it turned out, it was her first grave mistake to mention that she'd been on her way to Granny's, but would meet up with the mayor right after. In that sickening sweet voice of hers Regina told her, that if she wouldn't be at City Hall in five, Emma may take all the time in the world for breakfast, because there wouldn't be a job for her to return to. The line went dead, even before Emma could offer any reply. Which was probably for the best, anyway.
Still cursing the mayor for being such a complicated woman sometimes-as well as herself for answering the phone in the first place—Emma had entered the building after 4.5 minutes, without a single drop of the scolding hot brew that raised her from the dead in the mornings. Nor a sugary, fluffy chocolate muffin. There had been that. Facing Regina very early in the day is bad enough, but without having coffee first, it's just fucking cruel. Emma's day couldn't have started worse.
In the end she had attributed it to Regina's evilness and her obvious, very strong desire to ruin the Sheriff's day. And as the mayor had been relatively successful with it, because no, Emma's mood hadn't exactly brightened in the twenty minutes she'd sat waiting outside the mayor's office, until Regina's assistant finally told her she would be ready to receive her now.
The most important matter, which could not wait another five minutes and Regina had so urgently needed to discuss-turned out to be criminal statistics the Sheriff's office had sent over almost a week ago. All this time the files lay neatly stacked on Regina's imposing mayoral desk and Emma had began to wonder how it was possible that it suddenly became so damn urgent. Emma couldn't tell, yawning, as she grudgingly listened to Regina's lecture about how to improve crime prevention and how to make sure things run more smoothly around town.
About eight o'clock Emma already felt like choking the woman. It certainly had been a new record time and worth a red mark in a calendar when she was back in the office at the station. It hang right next to the picture of the mayor, she used to play darts on.
Regina, on the other hand, was in such a cheerful mood Emma considered booking her on suspicion of drug abuse. In the end Emma had refrained - out of politeness (and Regina's wrath that would follow her to hell and back) - albeit reluctantly. The mental image of Regina's stunned expression however, if she had dragged her in handcuffs out of the building brought the first smile to her lips.
During the meeting Emma had been tormented by a small steaming cup of coffee, standing on the mayor's desk. The aroma, rich and strong, wafted through the room and Emma had been barely listening to Regina who hadn't had the decency to offer her a one.
At some point, the mayor's brows furrowed irritatedly together. "Miss Swan?!"
When she saw the look on Regina's features, Emma knew she had missed a well-timed nod at least at one occasion. "Yes?"
"Do you actually listen to me or does your attention-span not last more than a couple of seconds?"
"Why, of course, Madam Mayor!" Emma replied languidly, trying to infuse the statement with as much sincerity she could muster. In the past she'd learned to pick her battles, this was not one of them. She just wanted to get this done and over with as soon as possible. "But do you mind if I grab a cup of coffee?"
"You may," Regina surprisingly agreed, watching her as she strode over to the coffeepot, which was kept on a small side table.
"Well, now that I have your attent-"
"Wait!" Emma had held up a hand, forestalling any of the mayor's attempts to go on. "Coffee first."
In that moment Emma made a promise to herself, that she'd never—under no circumstances—face Regina again without having coffee first.
"What can I get you?" Ruby's voice penetrates her musings as she sets down a cup of steaming coffee in front of Emma.
"Uhm..." Her gaze falls quickly down onto the menu then back up, grinning sheepishly. "I think the usual would be great, Ruby, thanks." It's not like she can't probably recite the entirety of the menu by heart by now, but somehow she still ends up taking the same thing over and over again.
The waitress flashes her warm smile. "Coming right up!" She winks playfully at Emma, then heads back into the kitchen to get the order of fries and a grilled-cheese sandwich processed.
Emma is almost finished with her lunch when Henry rushes through the diner, looking crestfallen. He almost stumbles in the effort to get to her table, sliding noisily into the booth.
"Whoah! Easy there!" She admonishes in a wisp of parental concern she is not entirely comfortable with. "What's up, Henry? Shouldn't you be at home by now?" Emma's asks, glancing down at the clock display on her mobile.
"I needed to speak with you! It's very important!"
"Be that as it may, but your mom is not exactly fond of you sneaking away and will be piss-... upset." Emma says, waving a couple of fries at him she is about to stuff into her mouth. "And you know how she is, if she sees us, I am going to be the one in trouble and suffering a lot of extra paperwork. A LOT."
"Nooo." Henry sighs dramatically. He looks paler than usual. "She said I could meet you."
"Seriously?" Emma asks, disbelief resonating in her tone. Nope, she doesn't buy it. Emma knows Regina-and Henry oftentimes took liberties with the truth regarding his mother's consent in the past.
"It is true! I promise!" He raises his hands like swearing an oath at court. "Mom even said, I should spent some time with you, since it will be the last in the coming two weeks."
A frown settles on Emma's features for she has no clue to what he is referring. "And why would that be? What is she going to do? Lock you up?" She asks jokingly, her brows rising up in a comical gesture. But when Henry's expression stays forlorn and stoic, she asks, "She isn't, right?" Not actually believing Regina would go so far.
Henry meets her eyes, his serious expression graver than only a minute ago. A ten year old shouldn't be able to pull that off. "Even worse!" He whispers furiously, stealing a fry.
"Henry. Come on, just tell me already."
"We are going on vacation." He whines, proving his point by slapping a leaflet of a luxury spa resort onto the diner's table. His voice is grave now. "She told me before school, that we are flying in three days and that I need to pack my stuff." The young boy's head almost touches to the table's surface. Emma avidly skims through the flyer. Five star hotel, massages, tropical pool area in the size of six football fields... Nice. And oh, is this the actual beach there? Heavenly...
When she looks up eventually, Henry stares at her in annoyance for the flagrant lack of sympathy.
Emma is a little surprised, but at least she knows now why Regina had been in such a freakin' good mood this morning.
"Oh come on kid, vacation is fun!" She encourages. Sure, she is going to miss him, but remembering her own childhood, Emma is grateful Regina at least tries to offer him some amenities.
"But not with her!" Henry exclaims exasperated. His forehead meets the table with a dull thud.
Emma can see how devastated he is, but she doesn't have it in her to feel bad for him. The resort looks like fucking heaven. She herself would drop everything for such a vacation spot without thinking twice. Even with Regina bound on her back.
For the last remaining days Henry is practically glued to her side. Emma is fairly stupefied that Regina not even once tries to rip her head off.
Henry's mood reaches its low point on Saturday, as he climbs into the black Mercedes and waves her goodbye. Regina herself is all smiles and not even Emma showing up at the mansion-to wish them a marvelous trip-is able to spoil the brunette's mood. It is downright creepy.
"Good day, Miss Swan." Regina sojourns at the driver's door for a while longer, letting her gaze roam over Emma with unabashed disdain. "I really can't say I am going to miss you loitering around..."
Emma smiles brightly at that as if Regina gave her a compliment. And the irritation she sees in Regina's narrowing eyes just makes it that much sweeter. And you won't have to, now do you? Emma thinks, winking at Regina. "Have a magnificent vacation, Madame Mayor. You sure as hell need it."
Regina just huffs and gets into the car. The last thing Emma hears before the door closes, is Regina's disgruntled voice. "Try not to burn the town down while I am gone! Just this once, Miss Swan!"
The sleek car backs swiftly out of the driveway and Emma notices Henry staring out of the back window, looking at her with a gloomy expression-as if Regina is taking him to a psychiatric asylum - and not Logan International. As they drive off, Emma waves at him; even spotting tears on his cheeks before the Benz disappears fully from her sight.
There is no reason to be sad, Henry - Emma thinks. A smirk stretches her lips as she unconsciously brushes over the ticket to Regina's and Henry's vacation spot in her pocket. Only one more day and I will be right there with you.
Henry will be surprised and unquestionably trilled.
Regina on the other hand—most likely not so much—and Emma is going to have plenty of time to enjoy it.