This may or may not make this a little clearer.
More pieces to the puzzle to come.
"Emma" the woman whispered against the door.
She stood for a while, hoping praying that maybe Regina would come back. She didn't.
As the night grew colder, darker, Emma moved away from the door. She walked down the garden path and onto the street. She followed the street for a while, and made a few turns. She hadn't a clue where she was going but something was pulling her in that direction.
….
She'd been walking for hours; the sun was just starting to rise.
She found herself at a park or an area with a lot of grass at least. She slumped to the ground; her legs could no longer carry her.
Whether she fell asleep or past out, I'm unsure but she was peaceful, as was the area she had chosen as her resting ground.
….
It wasn't until the sound of sliding doors and kids screaming, that she woke. The sun now just slightly to the west of the centre of the sky.
She rose from the grass and looked over what turned out to be a field, a playing field. Children in uniforms, soccer uniforms, were at the other need of the field, parents standing on the side lines and what appeared to be a coach holding a ball; all there together, and there she was by herself at the dark shaded end of the field.
She turned and started walking again. She didn't have a destination in mind, just anywhere but there.
Hours were spent roaming the streets, cars past and dogs barked; it didn't faze her, she was too busy lost in thought. She had to figure out how to tell Regina, she has to figure out how to get Regina to believe her. Wondering seemed to help clear the mind.
As the day grew darker and the street lamps started to turn on once more she found herself on a street, a busy street; with people and stores with warm light and laughter. She walked and walked until she found herself under an inviting sign. 'Granny's' it read.
She walked to the door, and was met with a happy couple bursting out of the door. She quickly jumped back, getting out of their way; they merely smiled and went on their way.
She went within.
The place was warm and smelt of all sorts of delicious food. She sat, at the counter running along the right wall of the dinner. She was met with a smile, on a gorgeous face, one with long brown and red hair framing it.
"Hey stranger." The other woman smiled "What can I get you?"
She looked up from her almost blue hands. "Water."
A curious look, then a nod.
A moment past and the smiling woman returned with a glass of water.
"So…" The smiley woman said. "I haven't seen you here before."
"And?"
"You on holiday? Or lost" She laughed, truly laugh with a smile covering her whole face.
"What makes you think I'm not from around here?" She grunted.
"Small town. Everyone knows everyone… I know everyone and I don't know you."
"Right…" She wasn't interested in making friends.
"I'm Ruby." There was no reply. "And you are?"
"Emma… Emma Swan" she muttered from behind her glass.
"So where you from, Emma?"
She asked too many questions.
"Nowhere you'd know." And that was the truth.
The smiling woman's smile faded a little. Good.
She moved off to other customers. Every once in a while she would come back making sure Emma was okay. Every time she was met with the same answer "Yeah. Fine." Everyone else had felt that small dinner, most chairs were up on the tables and only one worker was left. The smiley one.
She finished her water; she knew the place was closing up… Or had already closed. Ruby was coming closer now. "So ahh, you okay?" She asked rubbing a circle on the counter with her rag.
"Yeah. I can leave." She said putting her cup down.
"No, it's okay, stay; you haven't eaten in hours. Let me fix you something up" Ruby said turning to the kitchen.
"No."
A concerned or maybe a curious look.
She continued, said in a whisper "I don't have any money."
"That's okay!" Ruby laughed "It's on me." She just smiled and watched Ruby bounce off to the kitchen. A few moments later the smiley girl was back with a plate in hand. She put it down in front of Emma with only a smile.
"Cheese toast, how'd you know?" She asked
"Did I mention I also know everything?" Emma actually laughed for the first time in, well a very long time.
"No, are you Einstein or something?"
"Yeah or something." Ruby smiled. "So can I ask, what's with the lack of money, places to be and enthusiasm towards the cute waitress?"
"Don't know, don't know and don't flatter yourself. What's with the 20 questions?" She mumble as she crewed her toasty.
"I dunno, you seem interesting. I want to know." Ruby said honestly leaning onto the counter.
"Well, I know two people… three now." She looked at Ruby with a soft smile. "I don't have a job, or house or anything really." Emma paused for a moment, it was almost like she only just realised how little she had. "And well, you're not that cute." She was lying through her teeth; she did find Ruby very cute… Just not her type.
"Three people huh? Did you escape from a metal asylum?" Ruby awkwardly laughed at her own joke.
"Yeah, clearly why I have no job, money, home or ID" Emma dead panned
"Should I be worried about you?" Ruby asked, all asylum jokes aside.
"No one will miss me if I'm gone, so no need to worry your pretty little brain about it."
Ruby perked up a little "HA you do think I'm pretty. I'll miss you and what about the two other people you know?"
"One thinks I'm a disgusting drunk and the other is influenced by the first."
"Are you a disgusting drunk? Would explain the lack of money, job and house…. And friends" The last part was almost an afterthought.
"No" Emma stated firmly. "I-" She better not say that. "I don't know, but I'm not a drunk."
A curious look. "This other person, the one that's influenced by the meanie… Talk to them, alone, see if they can, ahhhh, help?"
"Maybe." Emma dusted her fingers over her plate. "Maybe."
Silence.
Ruby took the silences as a cue "So, it's getting pretty late. Do you want to stay with me tonight, I have room."
"Why?"
"Because I live by myself" Ruby joked. "Because I like you and I want to help you out."
"Okay. Thanks."
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