Chapter One
This was the easy part, Regina realized looking over the wine list. The five-hundred-dollar meal, the chitchat, the pretend dating; it was all the easy part. The girl, she could barely be over twenty-one by Regina's estimation, was beautiful. Dark smooth caramel skin, dark brown hair nearly to her waist and dark brown eyes. Mal had been right; it was all easier when she was thinking about …
"The rack of lamb is to die for," Regina blurted out. She was fairly certain that she had spent less than one percent of her life actually nervous about anything, but this evening folded itself into that one percent.
"I'm actually a vegetarian," the girl offered a tiny smile.
Regina grasped at her water glass, took a tiny sip, and breathed out roughly.
"Listen, Ms. Mills…"
"Please, call me Regina," Regina corrected the girl.
"Regina," she smiled brightly. She was truly attractive in a way most people would have appreciated. There wasn't one man, or more than a few women, that hadn't given the girl the proper assessment as they entered the restaurant. Of course, she and Regina appeared to be on a casual business meeting instead of a real date. But that was fair; in a lot of ways, they were on a business arrangement.
"Regina," the girl began again. "We have six hours together," she said cautiously. "You and I have very few illusions about where this all ends. Mal has given me very strict instructions. Do exactly what you say, how you say it…You don't have to provide me with dinner. If it's easier, we can retire to your hotel room and begin."
Regina swallowed, never removing her eyes from the menu. "I believe we should have dinner first…" when the girl said nothing, Regina added, "And tell me about yourself." When she hesitated, Regina assured her. "Not to pry…"
"No," she shook her head. "It's perfectly okay," she assured Regina. "As you know; I'm Lucy and I'm twenty-three years old. I just finished my degree in philosophy from George Mason."
"Congratulations," Regina said automatically. Her thirty-six years suddenly felt strangling old. "May I ask you a question…it is somewhat personal…"
"You may ask anything you want," Lucy said openly.
"Mal…" Regina began, cocking a perfectly arched eyebrow.
"I don't seem like the high-end escort type?" Lucy smiled coyly.
Regina finally looked up. Lucy's smile created an unintended relaxation in Regina. "No, you don't."
"May I be blunt?" Lucy said watching a waiter fill her wine glass.
"I command it," Regina nodded slowly.
Lucy leaned across the small candlelit table to whisper. "The first time I made love to a woman; I was hooked. The way a woman feels, the way a woman smells, the way a woman reacts when I'm tonguing her clit…" she leaned back to her former position and grinned. "I was totally hooked…and then, when I realized I could be paid very well to do so…I really couldn't find a better career. Not to mention that Mal is a wonderful boss. There is something to be said about being exclusively for women," her eyes fluttered over Regina admiringly.
"So, I'm your prize?" Regina shifted her position. Lucy's lustful admiration had served its purpose.
"I'm here for you," Lucy said sipping her wine, then seductively licking the rim of the glass.
"I think we will be skipping dinner," Regina noted.
Two glasses of wine and thirty minutes later, Regina keyed the door of her hotel room, stepping aside to let Lucy enter first. It was a modest room, literally just enough for Regina to get through the night. She had flown in from Japan and although she was weary, horny was a better characterization of what she needed. Mal had never let her down, and delivering Lucy for the evening proved that her friend knew exactly what she had needed.
"Nice room," Lucy complimented, even though Regina knew she had seen better. The woman stopped in the middle of the floor and turned to look at her host.
"On the bed," Regina instructed softly. Lucy stepped out of her six-inch heels, making her and Regina's height more comparable. Then she turned and sat gracefully down on the king-sized bed in the center of the room. Regina smiled, approving of how obedient the woman was with her commands. "I have another question," Regina commented. She was now stripping away the expensive tennis bracelet that adorned her right wrist, and followed it by unlatching the Rolex that barely clung to her left wrist.
"Ask anything," Lucy suggested. She closed those long caramel legs easily and waited at attention for her question.
"How many woman have you been with since joining Mal's business?"
"There are not as many woman as there should be," Lucy admitted sadly. "But, three, including you. My other two are regulars…"
"And what do they like?" Regina questioned, stepping out of her pumps now, too.
Lucy's dark brown eyes glittered with humor and a slight tinge of lust. "It would be improper to discuss," she answered casually.
Regina regally took a seat in the large wing backed chair by the desk. "I don't know them," she coaxed easily.
Lucy thought about it for a moment. "That is true," she reasoned slowly. "But I know you expect the same discretion from me as they do…it would be impolite to share."
Regina starred at her quietly before pulling her perfectly tinted red bottom lip into her mouth. It was the right answer and she knew as much, which only made her want Lucy that much more. "Stand up and unbutton your blouse," she commanded softly. Lucy did as she was told, revealing a soft coral bra under the peach blouse that she had discarded. Her stomach lacked complete flatness, which Regina liked. "Now the skirt…" Lucy's thighs were full and her ass round and tight. Her lacy panties matched her bra, which was effort well spent, in Regina's opinion. She pushed herself back to the middle of the bed and Regina watched in slow appreciation. "How does your pussy feel?" Regina questioned.
"Wet, ever since you sat down across from me at dinner."
Regina smiled. "Take your bra off…" she began, but was interrupted by the buzz of her cell phone in her bag by the door. Regina looked over her shoulder in frustration. She figured it would quit ringing eventually. "Touch your breasts," she whispered, barely loud enough for herself to hear. Lucy put her finger in her mouth, took it out slowly and fingered her right nipple until it stood at attention. "Perfect," Regina squirmed, as Lucy repeated the task with her second breast. Once both nipples stood erect, she placed her middle finger in her mouth and traced a wet line from her mouth, to along her stomach, past her bellybutton ring, stopping just short of her panty line.
"It's throbbing, Regina," she said meekly. She moved to the edge of the bed. "Can I touch myself?"
Regina could feel her own sex beginning to tightened. "You can do whatever you like to yourself," Regina gave her full permission.
Lucy grinned and her middle finger slipped into her pussy as if by accident. She shuddered slightly, her grin widening with pleasure. Her ring finger slipped inside next and Regina could physically see the tightening of her already tweaked nipples. "Dammit," the woman moaned, "I'm so wet for you," she murmured, closing her eyes as her fingers plunged in and out of her tender flesh. "I could come from just the thought of you, Regina," she shuddered again, the oncoming orgasm in view now.
Something about the way Lucy said her name, or perhaps it was her impending orgasm, stopped Regina in her tracks. Lucy obviously noticed, slowing the way she rubbed her clit, she made eye contact with Regina. "Is something wrong?" she purred. She knew when she had lost someone, and Regina had the look of being lost at this moment.
Regina shook her head lightly and tried to refocus. "I just thought about something I shouldn't have…" she admitted slowly. The mood had collapsed, especially within Regina, but she hated to admit it. She fumbled with her thoughts for a moment, but Lucy stopped her.
"Maybe we should try this another time," Lucy suggested cautiously. It was her job to be there, but Regina had completely zoned out and now she just looked uncomfortable.
Regina was happy for the out, "Maybe we should," she agreed, nodding.
Lucy smiled tenderly, but dressed quickly. She refused the extra tip Regina offered when she walked the woman to the door, but suggested that Regina book her again sometime if she was ever feeling up to it. Regina closed the door behind Lucy and leaned against it. "Dammit!" she swore to herself. She felt like a complete idiot, but somewhat relieved.
Regina made her way to the shower and tried to wash away her regrets about how the evening had turned out. She needed sex…it had been way too long since she was with someone else. Nearly eight months; and that had also been arranged by Mal. Her "matchmaking" abilities were legendary, especially in those circles where lust and secrecy met. For the right price, Mal could find the perfect male or female for anyone's tastes; but even she was pushed to the edge by Regina. However, after knowing Regina for nearly eighteen years, Mal knew what the problem was. She would never openly say so or bring it up without Regina doing so first, but Mal knew for a fact that Regina was still stuck on Emma Swan.
"Emma," Regina rubbed her temples as she now sat on the bed in the center of the hotel room. "Fucking Emma Swan," she cursed out loud. "Fucking Emma Swan!" It had been three years since she had seen the woman and her body still ached for Emma. Unfortunately, her heart still ached FROM Emma, and that was even more problematic. Three years, thirty-six months…she should have purged Emma from her system by now. But how could she purge Emma Swan…
Regina lay on the top of the covers and curled into a fetal position. She had better things to do than to worry about Emma…Emma obviously didn't give a damn about her! Or maybe she still did…How in the fuck could she know, since Emma had effectively disappeared from existence it seemed. Regina had searched; had paid other people to search for her, but Emma Swan was nowhere to be found and in all honesty, Regina was heartbroken. Three years later, and she was still heartbroken. And no amount of sex would cure that.
"Baby, right there..." Dorothy struggled to keep her composure. Her legs were shaking, straining to brace herself against the lovely assault of her girlfriend's tongue against her clit. "Oh god, I'm about to come…" she moaned deeply. "Don't stop baby…don't stop," she felt the warm electricity spread through her body as her legs began to buckle. She felt Ruby release her clit and back away, giving Dorothy the room to slide to the floor herself. Closing her mind for a minute, Dorothy struggled to regain her regular breathing pattern.
"Happy Anniversary, Kansas," she could feel Ruby's mouth against hers and Dorothy couldn't resist her licking her own taste from her girlfriend's lips.
"Happy Anniversary," Dorothy smiled, finally opening her eyes. She and Ruby had been together for a year today, and it was going amazingly well. She couldn't have assumed that it would; since none of her previous relationships had gone so well, but something was different about Ruby. She was warm and kind and funny, and Dorothy actually truly appreciated her company. But more than anything; she felt safe with Ruby and after a life like Dorothy had lived, that meant everything. "I think you broke me," Dorothy teased.
Ruby pulled her robe closed and shook her head. "No…no…no…" Ruby shook her head. "You promised me breakfast."
"If you had really wanted breakfast, you wouldn't have distracted me so well…" Dorothy said standing up. She had planned to make Ruby breakfast in bed, but Ruby had thwarted that plan by attacking her in the kitchen.
"I'm not hungry for food anyways," Ruby said bouncing up beside Dorothy. "Come back to bed with me, Kansas…" she rested her chin on Dorothy's shoulder as she wrapped her arms around the slim waist.
"Fine," Dorothy folded, leading Ruby back into the tiny bedroom. Her apartment wasn't huge, just a one bedroom, one bath; but her bedroom overlooked the small pond in the back of the property and somehow, the stifling Florida heat felt bearable in her bedroom. Both women collapsed on the wrinkled bedding, just looking at the ceiling fan turning. Ruby's hand found her way inside of Dorothy's silk robe and moaned with delight.
"You have great tits, Kansas," she said kissing Dorothy's cheek. Her fingers tweaked the nipples quickly, but Ruby quickly lost interest in just Dorothy's breasts. She yawned sleepily and turned on her side. "Did you want a gift?" she asked, just thinking about the implications of an anniversary. This was her longest relationship, and sometimes she forgot the protocols that went with being in a relationship.
Dorothy kissed her forehead. "I just want to be with you," she said honestly. "Being able to both be here today," she turned to face Ruby. "It feels like you are always gone…"
"I know," Ruby kissed her nose quickly; something Dorothy usually hated. She wasn't into the cutesy things most girls liked. She had joined the Air Force when she was seventeen to escape Kansas and after two tours in Iraq, cutesy things had lost their appeal to her. "But you work a lot too," Ruby noted. She knew this was no excuse, since a lot of her Ruby's work involved late night tracking and surveillance.
"Being a bar manager is a lot harder than I thought it would be," Dorothy nodded. "But once I get it down, it'll be easier," she smiled brightly. She had been honorably discharged from the Air Force four months earlier and a friend of hers had convinced her to run his bar and grill at night, which was an adventure in itself.
"Let's just lay here," Ruby smiled too.
"Okay," Dorothy said kissing her gently. It was the last thing she remembered, until the unruly ringtone of Ruby's phone. Ruby seemed impervious to the annoying ringtone, but it woke Dorothy immediately. "Ruby," she groaned. Her girlfriend had turned on her other side and was gently snoring now. "Ruby," she shook the woman gently.
"Huh?" Ruby asked, turning onto her back. "What, Kansas?"
"Your phone, baby," Dorothy stated with some irritation.
"Dammit…" Ruby said, sitting upright and rubbing her eyes. She looked at the flashing phone and sighed. "Hey, Emma…" she glanced over at Dorothy, who rolled her eyes and rolled to the side of the bed. "It's really early, Em…" Ruby said trying to hurry the conversation along. It was just after eight, which wasn't surprising since Dorothy still woke every morning at five. Ruby watched as Dorothy tightened her robe, and headed across the bedroom and down the hallway to the bathroom. "Kansas…" she tried to whisper, covering the phone. Dorothy only looked back at her, momentarily rolling her eyes. "Em…can we talk tomorrow…" Ruby began, but was cut off by Emma's plea. "Okay…okay, Emma, calm down. Can it wait until around eleven; I'll meet you at Henry's favorite restaurant?" she listened to how relieved Emma sounded. "Okay, I'll see you then," Ruby said hanging up and placing her phone back on Dorothy's nightstand.
When Dorothy didn't return immediately, Ruby got up and made her way down the hallway also. "Dorothy," she said tapping on the bathroom door gently. She could hear the shower running, but she knew when her girlfriend was upset, she wanted her privacy. "Baby, come on…" she pleaded. It was nearly five more minutes before she heard the shower cut off. Still another three minutes before Dorothy opened the door.
"Let me guess…you are going somewhere to meet, Emma…the damsel in destress," Dorothy brushed past her girlfriend in all her naked glory. Ruby couldn't help but get mesmerized by the sway of Dorothy's perfectly almond shaped ass.
"Don't talk about her like that," Ruby said, still becoming defensive over Dorothy's comment about her best friend.
She spun and stopped just before she reached the bedroom door. "I'm sorry," she apologized sincerely. "It's just …one day, Ruby…I wanted you to myself for one day. No work…no Emma…"
"You know she's struggling right now…" Ruby began her parade of defenses.
"She need money again?" Dorothy narrowed her eyes and Ruby was forced to look away. "He took her money again…" she answered her own question. "If she doesn't leave him…"
"It's not my place to demand she do anything," Ruby said following Dorothy into the bedroom.
"So, every time he steals from her…you are going to make up the difference," Dorothy asked rifling through her drawers until she found a pair of shorts and a tight white tee shirt.
"She only needs enough to keep them in the motel for a couple more nights…." Ruby stammered. She didn't like being questioned when it came to Emma. There wasn't anything she wouldn't do for her friend and Dorothy would have to understand that.
Dorothy shrugged. "Whatever," she dismissed. "It's not my money…" she sat on the bed and ran her fingers through her long brown hair. Ruby plopped down beside her; feeling out of sorts now.
"It's just…" Ruby began again.
"You don't have to explain," Dorothy stopped her girlfriend.
"I don't want you to be angry," Ruby said plainly. "It's our anniversary."
"What does that even mean, really?" Dorothy asked defeatedly.
"Kansas," she said pulling her girlfriend closer. "Don't do this to me. I love you," she said tenderly. "But she is my best friend," she said taking Dorothy's hand. "We've been through everything together." She hadn't really told Dorothy of her complete history, but she had to know that Emma was a big part of her childhood through her adulthood. She couldn't untangle herself from Emma Swan.
"Okay…"
"I'll talk to her though…"
"No, Ruby don't worry about it. It's not my right to get upset about what you do with your money," she admitted sadly. "I was just …Ruby, what's in our future?" she asked bluntly.
Ruby's heart started racing fast. "What do you mean?" she asked shakily.
"Today…I was going to ask you to move in," Dorothy said looking around. "I mean, I know it's not much…and it's not perfect," she said looking around her somewhat small bedroom. It was cozy for one person, it may would be eventually cramped for two, but she wanted to share her space with Ruby. She had never wanted to share anything with anyone before.
"You want me to move in?" a slow smile crept across Ruby's gentle face.
"More than anything else in this world," she committed easily. "But it scares me…"
"Why are you scared?"
"You are my number one, Ruby. If there is anything you want or needed, I would do anything to get it for you. I love you…you are first in my life…I'm barely third in yours. It's not fair," Dorothy said pulling her hand back and standing up. "I love you; I want to be a priority. But that sounds selfish and bitchy and I can't be that to you either…"
Ruby took a deep breath. "I'm confused…"
"I don't want you to be," Dorothy said quickly. "I just want you to know that I'm serious about this, you and I being together is very important to me. More important than anything else has been…I just wish you felt the same."
Ruby popped up quickly. "I do feel the same," Ruby said placing both her hands to the sides of Dorothy's neck. She kissed her, slowly exploring her mouth. She felt Dorothy pull her closer and moan. "Nothing is more important than you, I promise," she said when she finally backed away. "And I want to be with you and live with you. You are my priority, baby. I swear." Dorothy did not seem convinced. "Kansas," Ruby shifted nervously. She couldn't lose Dorothy.
"I know…" Dorothy finally resigned.
Ruby kissed her quickly again. "Let me handle this today," she almost pleaded. "And then we'll talk about our future," she promised solemnly. She looked at her girlfriend in the eyes and settled a bit. She could tell Dorothy believed her and now she couldn't let her down.
"Mommy, I'm starving!" Henry had said that morning.
Emma had checked her special hiding spot for the tiny bit of cash she could stash away when Killian wasn't around. The few odd jobs she could pull together barely paid enough to keep them in the stay-by-week motels and the drinking tabs that Killian continuously ran up. Eating out was more expensive than it should have been and feeding her and Henry was becoming damn near impossible. Thankfully, Ruby was a good enough friend to loan her money every couple of weeks, even though it was an extreme burden. Life wasn't exactly easy for Ruby either, but she never complained when Emma had to borrow two or three hundred dollars; or when as soon as she paid Ruby back, it was time to borrow again. Which was the predicament she was in now; sitting at the Pirate's Diner in Pensacola, Florida, watching Henry bounce on the cheaply padded booth seat.
"Can I get a burger?" Henry asked, his big brown eyes looking up at Emma.
"Yep," Emma smiled, just relieved to be able to say yes for once.
"And fries?" Henry said cocking his head to the side.
"And fries and a milkshake," Emma said tickling him quickly. She saw Ruby burst through the diner doors, her presence automatically noted by most of the diners there. She made eye contact with Emma, grinned, and headed over to the table.
"Ruby!" Henry jumped from the booth to the woman's open arms.
"Henry! My man!" she said kissing his dark brown hair lovingly. "Did you miss me!"
"Yeah!" Henry laughed. "Mommy said I can get a milkshake today!"
"You can get whatever you want," Ruby said placing him down beside her as she sat down. "I'm starving," she said glancing over the menu, but she already knew what she was going to get. This place only made one truly edible thing and that was the cheeseburger.
"How's it going, Em?" she asked looking up from the menu. Her best friend looked exhausted and weary. She wasn't even thirty yet, but Emma Swan had been through more than anyone and Ruby knew she just needed a damn break.
Emma shrugged, stirring her iced tea with her straw. "I've had worse days. How are you?"
"It's my anniversary," Ruby winked. "So was properly in the middle of some…when you called."
"Sorry," Emma said genuinely.
"It's fine," Ruby said after ordering herself a cheeseburger. "I just can't stay too long."
"I understand," Emma yawned.
Ruby talked to Henry a few moments before asking Emma, "How is Hook?"
"Hook…Hook…Hook," Henry chanted gleefully standing up and bouncing. His tiny shirt rode up past his stomach, already two sizes too small for him.
"Henry, sit down," Emma scolded. She didn't need him talking that little moniker back to Killian. The man already hated Ruby and it was clear that the feeling was mutual. However, Emma had chosen to be with him and she didn't need that complicated any more by Ruby giving him harsh nicknames. "I told you not to call him that," Emma rolled her eyes. "How would you like it if you lost a hand and I let him make fun of you?"
"Calm down, I'm just playing," Ruby rolled her eyes. "How is Killian…still a nightmare?"
"What's a nightmare, Mommy?" Henry asked looking from Ruby to Emma.
Before Emma could answer, Ruby reached into her jean pocket and pulled out seven quarters, most of which had come from Dorothy's dresser. "Why don't you play the Pac-Man game, buddy?" she asked, placing the coins in the little boy's hand. "At least until lunch gets here." Without another word, Henry bounced over Ruby's lap and ran to the clear arcade game in the corner of the diner.
"Thanks," Emma finally sighed. "You can't say stuff like that in front of Henry. He's a human sponge…"
"Just like his mom," Ruby cocked a brow. It gave Emma the funny feeling that she wasn't talking about her. "Well, how is Killian…you know his name is a lot more ridiculous than what I call him…"
"He's …. he's Killian. Drinking up a storm, falling asleep outside the motel room door. The manager has given us a second warning about him starting shit down at the bar... we can't afford to get kicked out of there. It's literally the cheapest place I could find. If we get kicked out, we'll be living in the bug," Emma said referring to her nearly antique yellow car.
"Well this should help you out a bit," Emma said pushing the three hundred dollars Emma needed to borrow across the table. Emma quickly picked it up and stuffed it in her pocket.
"Thank you so much, Ruby," she said softly. She glanced over at her son, who was thoroughly enjoying playing the video game even though the game was playing itself now. "I miss not having to live like this," she muttered to herself more than to her friend. "He deserves better," she said looking towards her son.
"You're doing the best you can," Ruby shrugged, not knowing what else to say.
"I'm fucking it up," Emma said, wiping a runaway tear before it fully crested her eyelid. "It wasn't supposed to be like this, ya know…"
"Yeah, I know," Ruby agreed. She watched as the waitress delivered the food to the table. "Do you ever think about calling her…"
"And saying what, Ruby?" Emma asked angrily. She didn't want to bring up Regina Mills, but somehow most of she and Ruby's conversation eventually ended up at Regina Mills.
"The truth! Anything…" Ruby said sticking a fry in her mouth.
"Henry…come eat your lunch," Emma said ignoring her friend.
"One minute!" Henry yelled back.
"Now, Henry," Emma said firmly. The little boy dropped his head and made his way back to the table.
"You're avoiding," Ruby noted, taking a big bite from her burger. It wasn't great, but she was just hungry enough to eat the entire thing.
"She left…"
"For her company! And she was coming back…" Ruby countered. "You decided to disappear…"
"You helped me!"
Ruby looked down regretfully. "You left out some pretty important information," Ruby reminded her.
"It wouldn't have mattered…Regina Mills made her decision when she decided to leave for three months."
"I love you…you are my best friend, but you are wrong about that," Ruby contested. "If she would have known you were P-R-E-G-N-A-N-T with him…everything would be different," she said looking at Henry, who was polishing off his fries instead of paying attention to the conversation.
"Well it's too late to know now," Emma said pushing her plate away. She had lost her appetite talking about her past mistakes. "It's nothing I can do about it now."
They were both quiet for too long and Henry had to insert himself into the silence. After eating his lunch though, he headed back to the arcade game. Ruby shifted uncomfortably, afraid of what she was about to say. She pulled out a couple of twenties and placed them on the table. "Emma…I think I'm going to move in with Dorothy," she said, not making direct eye contact with her best friend.
"Congratulations," Emma said, actually happy for her friend. Hopefully, she would have a better time in her relationship than she was having.
"Emma, things have to change then," she explained. "I can't exactly keep floating you…it wouldn't be fair to Dorothy."
Emma looked stunned for a moment, her blue eyes sparkling with unshed tears. She didn't need her life to get any harder, and with her best friend essentially cutting her off, life just got harder. Still, she steeled herself to the feeling and sighed. "I get it," she said calmly. "Thanks for this time…I'll get your money back to you…"
"I mean, take your time," Ruby felt deeply terrible. "It's just…"
"I get it…she comes first, Ruby. She should…you've been waiting forever to be in love like you are with Dorothy. You deserve your happiness," she stood and kissed her best friend's cheek, then went over to get Henry. "Go over and said goodbye to Aunt Ruby," she instructed, trying to hold it together for a little while longer. Henry jumped into Ruby's arms and squeezed her tightly.
"I love you, little guy," Ruby said kissing him a few times.
"I'll call you later, Ruby," Emma tried to smile. "Congratulations with Dorothy."
Emma managed to get Henry strapped in and all the way back to the hotel parking lot before she completely fell apart. She felt sick and weak. She was losing her best friend; she knew what happened when someone settle down and Ruby was settling down. Besides Henry, Ruby was the only person in the world Emma had left. It only made her think about Regina more, and she couldn't afford to think of Regina Mills. They were apart for a reason; a reason that hadn't changed, even though three years and circumstances had definitely changed.
Emma buried her face in her hands and let the tears fall silently for a while. Henry had talked himself to sleep on the ride back to the motel and even though the Florida heat was stifling, she needed a moment to herself. She knew the second she entered that room, Killian would be there, still reeking of the rum or gin or vodka he had devoured the night before. She had loved him so much at first…or at least she thought it was love. He had been different…funny, laid-back and carefree when they first met and she had just wanted to be free of her thoughts about Regina. He had been so accepting of Henry, even though the little boy was only a baby and a cranky one at that. They had been perfect for one another, or at least Emma had thought so. It was why she had followed Killian to Florida. He was a ship builder and avid sailor, but when he lost his hand while being intoxicated on a worksite, everything had changed for the worse.
The company refused to pay workman's comp since he was drunk and Emma couldn't support the three of them on her own. It didn't help that Killian had a nasty taste for alcohol and painkillers now, or that his patience and temper were both on short fuses. The money had dried up and they were struggling and now she just wanted to get away. However, that was not a solution. It wasn't even a real thought, to be honest.
"Mommy," she could hear Henry's tiny voice. "What's wrong, Mommy," he rubbed his eyes. He didn't know why he was upset, but the fact that his mom was, he was quickly becoming fussy.
"Nothing, honey," the blond rubbed her blue eyes to stifled the tears. "You ready to go home?"
"No," Henry said honestly.
Emma looked at the hot parking lot and knew the feeling. She turned and smiled at her precious little boy. "You wanna go to the beach?" she questioned, trying to stir up some happiness.
"The beach!" Henry said kicking his little feet.
She started the car, after a few tries, and drove in the direction of the beach. Why not stave off reality for a little longer.
"You are making this difficult on purpose," Regina could hear Ursula say. Regina was heading down the long hallway that separated the foyer from the living room, dining room and kitchen, and she could hear that Ursula and Mal were already seated for lunch. It was customary that whenever she was in Washington DC for longer than a day, Regina was would stop in to see her old friends. They now lived in DC, much to Ursula's dismay since her career was better suited in New York, Miami or Atlanta, but it was one sacrifice for love she would gladly deal with.
"Just tell Crimson to do it," Ursula said firmly. "You know she will listen to you, Mal."
Regina slowed to the entrance of the dining room, feeling as if she were intruding on something.
"No…I won't force our daughter to see her father. He had no interest in her when she was a child, now that she is practically an adult…"
"That's not fair," Ursula said shakily.
Regina turned the corner, entering the spacious room. "Afternoon, ladies."
A smile spread across Ursula's face when she saw her old friend. "Regina, you look amazing," she gushed, pulling the woman into a tight hug.
"That you do," Mal allowed her eyes to rack over Regina, even though she didn't stand. She was fuming, and she would like to hold onto as much for personal reasons. She and Ursula had three daughters between them. Lily, who was off in college, and Sierra and Crimson, who were teenagers. After nearly fourteen years of neglect, Sierra and Crimson's father wished to insert himself back into the girls' lives; and although Sierra was putting up no struggle, Crimson wasn't having it.
"Crimson should be joining us for lunch," Ursula informed Regina. "She always gets so excited when you come around. But Sierra is in New York, visiting Lily and touring colleges up there."
"She's only touring one," Mal corrected Ursula. "Cornell is the only option. I wouldn't dare see another daughter waste my tuition money on somewhere that wasn't Ivy League," she rolled her eyes.
"NYU is a wonderful university," Ursula interrupted. "And Lily is in law school…can't that be good enough?" she said sitting back down.
"Not if you are going to get a law degree from NYU," Crimson smiled brightly, coming into the room. Although she was only fourteen, Crimson had the air of someone much older. She looked too much like her mother for her own good, since Ursula was universally gorgeous, and thought way too much like Mal, who had earned her first million by age twenty-five. Crimson was a force already, and even she knew it.
"You've made our youngest a dirty elitist," Ursula commented.
"Aww, baby, I'm sorry," Mal teased. "Brown is already asking for Crimson," she winked at her daughter.
Crimson went over to hug Regina. "They only want me for the summer camp…but it seems promising."
"I thought you were working with me for the summer," Regina jabbed.
"Could I really work with you this summer?" Crimson asked in awe. "I'll intern…get coffee… Staple documents…whatever you need!" she said, sitting beside the woman.
"You are going to spend the summer with your father," Ursula broke in.
"I don't have a father," Crimson said pulling her left foot into the chair and her knee to her chest. "I have two mothers; that's how lesbianism works, mom," Crimson said cockily.
Mal took a sip from the martini in front of her to hide her smile. Ursula shot her a foul look, and took a deep breath.
"Can I work with you this summer, Aunt Regina, please!"
Regina wasn't crazy enough to answer that question. "What's for lunch?" she threw off on the question.
Mal looked up at the skylight in the ceiling over the dining room table. It was beginning to rain steady now, which had killed her plan to have her chef grill outside. "Chef Caspian is making prime rib since we are getting those April showers a month earlier," Mal answered.
"I'm not going," Crimson broke in. "I'm not spending my summer with that bastard." The girl said it so firmly that everyone's attention settled onto her.
"Talk some sense into your daughter," Ursula urged Mal.
Mal took a deep breath. She knew she was the final authority on this matter. Ursula and Crimson would take her word as final law. Still, she finished her martini and ignored the problem at hand. "Crimson, go check on lunch and ask Caspian to make Regina a dirty martini."
"You too?" Crimson asked standing at attention for her mother. Mal nodded, needing an immediate refill.
It was later, after lunch when Mal and Regina had retired to Mal's office that Regina received the full scoop of the tension in the family.
"So, Sierra wants to see her father before she leaves for school and Crimson …"
"Refuses," Mal said with a guilty smile. "They are very different girls," Mal added.
"She can intern with me if she likes…all summer…"
"She'll end up at Brown's summer camp," Mal said knowingly. "I've already paid for it…"
"Without telling Ursula," Regina crossed her legs and sipped on the Scotch that Mal had poured for her. "What's going on with you two? It's not like you not to be on the same page…"
Mal finished her drink tightly. "How was Lucy last night?"
It wiped the smile off of Regina's face. "Did she call you?"
"Only to say she didn't need payment. She's very discreet," Mal said placing a cigarette in her mouth. "You know…it's not my place…"
"Then don't," Regina stopped her friend. "Let's talk about anything else…investments, stock options…your business…my business…anything else."
"How is the company?"
"Fucking booming. We're ending this quarter with fifteen percent growth, just in the networking sector. I'm outpacing sales by twelve percent. I'm gonna have to hire more contractors because I'm sending a team to Belgium this week to do their parliament's security."
"Champagne problems," Mal grinned. "You still determined not to go public?"
"Absolutely. I like organic growth…"
"You'll eventually outpace it," Mal said standing and heading back to the small bar at the corner of the room.
"Are you telling me you won't flush another five million into the company?"
"The way you have your foot on the pedal, I won't need to."
"Shit…I have to keep my mind occupied, you know." Regina ran her fingertips over the rim of the crystal glass.
"That's what Lucy was for…I've yet to have a complaint about her yet."
"I'm not complaining about her. It just felt …I don't know…" she didn't have time to sort out her thoughts. Her cell phone whined in her purse. She reached down and pulled out her phone. "Mills speaking," she answered in her most business-like way.
"Regina, are you sitting down?" the voice on the other end of the line questioned. It was Kathryn Nolan, her friend and personal lawyer.
"I am," Regina answered. "What's going on…"
"I think I know where Emma Swan is…" she announced triumphally. Regina was glad she was sitting down. She felt her stomach drop and she could barely hold onto the phone. "Regina…Regina…"
"Where?" Regina's voice trembled.
"Florida…Pensacola at the moment. I got a call from a Miss Lucas on my private cell phone about an hour ago…I figured it was legitimate, seeing how complicated our private lines are to access. She revealed that Emma Swan has been living as Myrtle Hampton the past three years."
"Ruby Lucas…" Regina did momentarily drop the phone this time.
"She didn't want to be found, Regina," Kathryn revealed cautiously. What she said next was bound to make Regina's heart completely stop. "Regina…Emma Swan has a son…Ruby says it's your…"
Florida weather is fickle, which was why the downpour of rain that they were experiencing right now wasn't exactly a surprise. However, Ruby's silence was a surprise. Dorothy had been getting some much-needed sleep when she had gotten back to the apartment and in an effort not to disturb her, Ruby had settled onto the cramp couch in the living room. The rain had really come out of nowhere, but Ruby appreciated the distraction right now. The sound of the rain cleared her thoughts of what she had done.
"When'd you get back?" a voice questioned from across the room.
Ruby's green eyes scanned the room. "About an hour ago," she beckoned her girlfriend over and waited until Dorothy lay across her chest. "You were sleeping so soundly," she said placing a kiss into the woman's hair. "I didn't want to wake you."
"You can always wake me," Dorothy said looking up into Ruby's eyes. "How is Emma and Henry?"
"Henry is happy…growing like a weed. Emma is … I think did something bad…impulsive," Ruby pulled her upper lip into her mouth and gnawed.
"What do you mean?" some confusion plastered itself onto Dorothy's features.
"We are going to be together, right?" Ruby questioned sounding more like an eleven-year-old child than the confident twenty-six-year-old that Dorothy was accustomed to.
"Yeah," Dorothy assured her, rubbing her tight abdomen tenderly. And that was when she learned the entire story of Emma Swan. From the time Ruby, had met Emma when she was twelve and Emma was fourteen; to them skipping out on their group home, to them making their way through getting GEDs and eventually Associates degrees, right up until the time Emma met and fell in love with Regina Mills.
That's what had brought Emma and Ruby to Florida…Emma fleeing from her love of Regina Mills and following Killian. None of it surprised Dorothy, saddened her a bit, but not really surprised her. What did surprise Dorothy was the fact that Henry wasn't Killian's; but that he was conceived from Regina's egg and carried by Emma. However, Regina had no idea of the boy's existence. She had gotten her first big contract to set up a government's cyber-security and had shipped out for three months before Emma even knew that she was pregnant.
"So, she never told Regina?" Dorothy questioned, trying to digest the story.
"They were pretty sure that the IVF hadn't taken," Ruby stated sadly. "It rarely takes the first time and Emma's cycle had returned; so, when Regina moved she had no idea. Emma was three months in before she realized she was pregnant. We thought it was the flu…she panicked, figured Regina would come back and take the baby. She had broken up with Regina and wasn't answering her calls…she felt hurt and abandoned…we made hasty decisions…probably bad decisions, but…" Ruby was talking too fast to even keep up herself. "She met Killian…and I think she thought he would make everything alright. Shit, nothing is alright though…and I may have made it worse."
"How …how so?"
"Kathryn Nolan is Regina's personal bulldog lawyer…and I just called and told her everything…" Ruby said closing her eyes and burying her head against Dorothy's chest.
"It'll be okay, baby. You did what you thought was right," Dorothy cooed. Unfortunately, she was naïve to the situation enough to believe that everything could be alright.