A/N: I figured why not two chapters...also the quotes are just quotes from my Pinterest board. I liked them and wanted them before each chapters so they will be there. Sorry about any grammar or spelling mistakes.
When you find someone who breaks you open and makes you feel things; you fight for them.
Emma put Henry down as they entered the restaurant and took a moment to wipe the freshly fallen snow off them before she continued walking knowing that Henry was following her and unzipping his coat. "Momma, Unca Hatty here?" Emma nodded as she held the swinging door open that lead to the kitchens.
"Grace too and she's excited to play with you." Henry stopped and looked around for her as if she was in the kitchens.
"Paige too?" Emma shook her head. "Wheres at Momma?"
"Uncle Hatty's office," Emma explained as Henry looked around before running off in the direction of Jefferson's office. "Watch out, toddler on a mission." Emma called out to the kitchen staff as they greeted the bubbly toddler as he ran by them.
Emma watched as Henry ran into the office and heard him greet Jefferson as she veered off into the employee locker room to drop off her things and change into her uniform. "I really appreciate this Emma, we are still interviewing people for wait staff." Jefferson spoke as Emma turned to look at him while tying her apron around her waist. She smiled to see that he had a child in each of his arms.
"Oh now that is precious!" Emma spoke as she picked up her phone and opened up her camera. "Say cheese!" The three of them smiled and said cheese as she snapped the photo. Putting her phone in one of the pockets that the apron held she walked forward and kissed Grace then her son. "I love you bug, be good for Uncle Hatty, Papa and Belle should be here soon." Emma spoke as Henry nodded.
"Where's my kiss?" Jefferson asked as Emma glared at him playfully.
"Yeah, why doesn't daddy get a kiss?" Grace asked as Emma smile at her.
"Because he made me come into work on my day off. He knows Wednesdays are my errand days, so daddy doesn't deserve kisses." Emma explained as Grace looked at her father.
"Daddy that's mean!" Emma laughed out walking past the trio and out into the dining room.
zZz
Kathryn looked at her closet friend since grade school and shook her head. The woman needed a stiff drink to loosen up, or maybe some wild hot sex. Yes the latter was definitely what the woman needed. "Regina the board members are going to vote in favor of the proposition, why are you so worried?" She asked as they sat at their usual table for lunch by the window.
"Oh, it's not that, my mother has just decided that this year Christmas will be held at my loft. A very short notice, Christmas is in three weeks. She'll be here in a week in a half. I'm just stressing out about that." Kathryn raised a brow at her friend before she realized the dilemma.
"You still haven't told the Mills' Matriarch that your fiancée doesn't exist have you?" Kathryn nearly laughed out as Regina glared at her blonde friend.
"Nope, I was going to make up some last minute excuse about the daycare and was going to simply not make it back up to Storybrooke this year." Regina shrugged as Kathryn shook her head.
"And now your parents are coming to the city? Oh, this is going to be a lot of fun."
"It's mainly for the Gold Gala that's being held. Mr. Gold and my mother are old friends and he invites my parents every year, but this is the year they've RSVP'd. Mother sees it as an opportunity to meet the person who has captured my heart." Regina rolled her eyes.
"How much have you told you're mom about your fake partner?" Regina shook her head.
"Nothing, just that I got engaged, I think she assumes it's a woman because of marriage equality here." Kathryn nodded knowing that her friend enjoyed the company of any gender.
"Well, you could just hire an escort?" Kathryn suggested as Regina's eyes nearly bugged out at her friend's outrageous suggestion. She was about to say something but stopped as their waitress approached them.
"Hello ladies, I'm Chicha and I'll be taking care of you today, may I start you off with something to drink?" Both Kathryn and Regina looked at the beautiful young woman who they'd seen working around the restaurant.
"Hello, I'll have water with lemon please. Also, if you don't mind me asking, how far along you are?" Kathryn smiled as their server smiled placing a hand over her baby bump.
"Oh, I don't mind at all, I'm due in three weeks." Kathryn and Regina's eyes widen at hearing that.
"Wow, so close to Christmas, that must be stressful, your first one?" Regina found herself asking as she shook her head.
"We were told a New Year's baby and no, I have a five year old girl and a four year old boy."
"Wow, more power to you Chicha." Kathryn said as they shared a laugh.
"He wasn't planned but we are happy for another addition."
"Hey Chicha, Jefferson needs to see you after you get their drink orders." Emma called out as Chicha turned her head momentarily at hearing her name.
"What does Hatter want this time?"
"I think it's about your maternity leave." Emma shrugged walking past balancing a tray of food with one hand and her shoulder.
"Oh, right, you mind covering my section then?"
"Planned on it, I'll get their food orders in a moment." Chicha nodded turning back to the two women who had watched the exchange with minor interest.
"Well looks like Emma will be taking your food orders as soon as you are ready." Kathryn couldn't help but smile at the woman's cheery disposition as Chicha turned to look at Regina.
"I'll have the same dear." Regina spoke looking up from her menu momentarily as Chicha nodded and left to get their drinks. Looking back down at the menu Regina exhaled loudly wondering what she was going to about her mother and the lie she'd told her.
"Hey your girlfriend's going to be our server now." Kathryn winked as Regina rolled her eyes. Emma was usually their server, only a few times had the blonde not taken care of them. Regina found her captivating and wished for the opportunity to get to know her better, but wasn't even sure if the young woman would be interested. Regina especially respected the way she'd been able to handle Kathryn's cousin with his touchy hands and sometimes slapdash comments during the company luncheons that were held here once a month.
"She's not my girlfriend Kathryn and I wish you would not say such things so loudly." Regina breathed as Kathryn smirked.
"You know you could always ask her, she seems unattached." Kathryn suggested as Regina shot her a glare that had her friend laughing. "It was just a suggestion hon."
"Yes an outlandish one dear." Regina spoke as she looked down at her menu as her friend continued to laugh. Chicha brought back their drinks before heading in the back to Jefferson's office. A few minutes later Emma walked over with a pitcher of water topping off their drinks.
"So ladies, are we going with your usual orders?" Emma asked with a smile as both women looked up at her. "I rarely forget an order." Emma winked as Kathryn smiled.
"How about names?" Kathryn asked as Emma looked at momentarily biting the side of her lip.
"I'm hurt Miss Midas, you think after all this time I wouldn't remember your name? Particularly since your cousin Victor Whale was the one who grabbed my ass at the last luncheon a few weeks ago." Kathryn threw her head back and laughed as Regina was mildly amused.
"Yes, Victor is quite the lecher." Emma smirked shrugging her shoulders. "I apologize for him, he is harmless I promise, but trust me, I do reprimand for his actions, they are uncalled for."
"I know he's harmless and he did apologize. But hey, he's handsome and he knows it," Kathryn nodded laughing out once more.
"Yes, he just needs a woman to put him in his place."
"Agreed, but I can assure you, it won't be me." Emma and Kathryn chuckled. "From what Ruby told me, Victor was the one who operated on Granny last week. He's very good at what he does and we are very thankful for his wandering hands."
"Yes, he actually has a date with Miss Lucas, I think she wants to thank him for taking care of Eugenia." Kathryn spoke as Emma nodded.
"Is that so? I'll have to hound Ruby for the details. Anyways, you ladies came here to eat, not for gossip, so the usual's for the two of you?" Kathryn nodded as Emma looked to Regina.
"I'm going to switch it up for today." Regina spoke as Emma nodded.
"Ah, full of surprises you are Miss Mills, what might you like to venture into today?" Emma flashed a charming smile as Regina shook her head with a smile.
"I'll have the house soup in a bread bowl."
"Excellent choice," Emma winked at Regina before looking between them. "I'll put these orders in and Chicha most likely will bring them out. If you need anything before then just ask. Enjoy." Emma smiled grabbing their menus before turning and walking toward the kitchen to place their orders.
"She's definitely into you." Kathryn commented as Regina rolled her eyes taking a long sip of her water.
"She's a server Kathryn, she's supposed to be charming and flirtatious. It helps her to get better tips." Regina waved off as Kathryn shrugged.
"Whatever you say Miss Mills, you're the one who's in a bind, not me."