Pairings: Emma/August, Emma/Ruby, August/Archie, Ruby/Archie

Rating: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Once Upon a Time.

A/N: This came about after one of snarkysweetness and I's crazy prompting sessions. I have a short-term plan for it, although it could go longer depending on how it goes and how I feel. Anyhow, some good stuff will be coming around chapter 3, so make sure to keep an eye out for that. :D

Every small town had a place where the local drunks pissed away night after night and the young population came on weekends to feel alive. If any location acted as a social equalizer, it was a dive bar. And if any location in Storybrooke acted as a social equalizer, it was the Rabbit Hole. Although drinks were often shared over the counter at Granny's, if one truly wanted to get away, it was here.

August parked his bike, removed his helmet and dismounted. He recognized the bookish man fidgeting near the entrance, and frowned upon seeing he had taken absolutely none of his advice when it came to dressing appropriately for a night out. As frustrated as he was, August couldn't help but grin. Steadfast in his ways, Dr. Hopper might not know his true identity but to August, he was still the same old Jiminy.

"Hey!" Emma snapped her fingers at August from across the diner booth.

"Hm?" He tore his eyes away from the opposite end of the dining room and brought them slowly to her.

"You asked me to meet you for breakfast but you've haven't said two words to me in the past 10 minutes and you've barely touched your pancakes." She cocked her head to the side squinted her eyes. "What gives?"

Leaning forward on his elbows, he nodded toward Archie sitting alone at the counter. "What do think about that?"

Emma followed his gaze. "Dr. Hopper? He's a nice guy… seems a bit lonely, but then again, who in this town isn't?"

"No," he corrected, "what do you think about that?" He motioned subtly with his hand at Ruby as she approached Archie from the kitchen with a fresh carafe of coffee. They watched as the waitress smiled and chatted with him as she poured some of the steaming liquid into his cup. Emma noticed the way she leaned against the counter as she spoke; focusing all of her attention onto the painfully shy man before Granny yelled at her from the kitchen. She looked annoyed, but turned back to smile apologetically at Archie, then began to make her rounds.

August turned back to Emma expectantly.

"Really? Ruby and Archie?" Emma raised her eyebrows and took a long sip from her hot cocoa. "I guess stranger things have happened."

"What's so strange about it? Archie's a good guy. He'd be good for her." The rebuttal was met with a smirk, an indication he was about get Emma into something absurd.

Looking at him flatly, she placed her mug on the table. "And what exactly are you proposing?" She picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite. "That we set them up?"

"That is exactly what I'm proposing."

Ruby approached with the pot of coffee in-hand and August leaned back nonchalantly.

"Everything ok here?" She smiled as she filled his cup.

"Everything's great. Thanks, Ruby." Emma replied with a smile.

"Really?" She placed a hand on the table and leaned down, lowering her voice. "Because between you and me, the chef seems to be a bit off, lately." Her eyes darted toward the kitchen, then to August, and finally back to Emma to whom she gave a quick wink. "But what do I know? I'm just the waitress."

After shaking her heard slightly, Emma opened her mouth to speak but August silenced her with the palm of his hand. They watched as Ruby made the rest of her rounds and stopped back in front of Archie, glancing toward the kitchen before leaning toward him. They shared a laugh before the waitress was summoned back to the kitchen with a loud "Order up!"

Emma eyed August with a quirked brow and leaned forward on the table, speaking softly. "Alright, I'm intrigued. What's the plan, then?"

Mirroring her posture, August inclined his head toward her so only she could hear him. "Have Mary Margaret plan a girl's night out for Friday. I'll convince Archie to come out for drinks with me and teach him a thing or two about talking to ladies."

Emma wrinkled her nose at the thought of Archie in some dump of a bar trying to pick up chicks, but she also couldn't turn down the chance at proving August wrong. "Yeah, the thing is, Archie's not the kind of guy to hit on girls at a bar, let alone a girl like Ruby. I've been out with her, and let me tell you, Dr. Hopper won't stand a chance with all those other guys vying for her attention."

"Well, that's where I come in. I happen to be an excellent wing-man."

Emma rolled her eyes and sighed. "Why are you so interested in his love life anyway? I don't think I've ever seen you talk to the guy."

"You said it yourself, he seems lonely. Some people just need a little push."

The corners of her lips quirked upwards and she held up her mug. "Ok, fine. But only because I want to see you fail miserably."

Raising his mug to toast hers, August grinned smugly. "We'll see about that."

After a long drink, he set the coffee down with a loud clank and stood abruptly, leaving Emma with her mouth ajar as he weaved between tables toward the counter. As he closed in on the doctor, she was surprised to see him hesitate; clenching his hands into tight fists, taking a deep breath (as if he was working up the courage?), and then finally sat down on the stool next to Archie.

Emma was snapped swiftly out of her trance when she heard the sound of a throat clearing. Blinking her eyes, she looked up to find Ruby hovering over her with a wolfish grin on her face.

"So you and August, huh?"

"Excuse me?" Realizing how tightly she was gripping the mug, she set it down and then looked back up in confusion.

"How is he? I bet he's amazing. All that leather and those calloused hands?" She let out a growl. "Plus those tight pants he wears don't exactly leave a lot to the imagination…"

It dawned on Emma suddenly what Ruby was implying. "What? No, August and I are… we're not…" She glanced over at him sitting at the counter, secretly resenting him for leaving her alone.

"You don't need to pretend for me, Emma. I know what breakfast means."

"Nothing! It means nothing. August and I are friends. And we are definitely not sleeping together." Bringing the mug back to her lips, she took another long sip and avoided Ruby's scrutinizing gaze.

"Whatever you say, Sheriff."

Emma narrowed her eyes after Ruby gave her another wink and flitted away. She looked back over to where August sat and was amazed to see him shake hands with Archie and clap him on the back. He stood and strutted back to their table, looking utterly satisfied with himself.

"Archie's in," he boasted as he slid into the booth.

"And what exactly did you say to get him to agree?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. It would break doctor-teacher confidentiality."

"Ok, that's not a real thing."

"Sure it is." He brought his mug up to his lips and grinned at her over the rim.

Emma rolled her eyes again and went to take another drink from her cocoa but upon finding the cup empty, she frowned and glanced up at the clock above the counter. "Crap, I'd better get to the station." She stood and scrambled to gather her things. "We've got the monthly budget meeting today which never fails to put Regina in a sour mood."

"Is that woman ever in a mood other than sour?"

Emma grinned and took out her wallet, but August motioned for her to stop.

"I've got this. You can pay me back with a drink."

Shifting uncomfortably, Emma thanked him and headed toward the door.

"And don't conveniently forgot to make those plans," he called after her.

With a slight grimace, she spun on her heels and nodded uneasily, then pushed her way outside and hopped down the steps.