Chapter 2

"You are gonna get shot."

"What? No I'm not!"

"Ari you're an idiot. I don't even think she's 18 and you totally fucked her mom, who happens to be a police officer. Gun…Bam…Here Lies The Body Of Ariel Sears." Ruby deadpanned into the phone.

"If I can convince her to not tell her mom, I'm good on both ends. And she'll be 18 next month; chill. Oh yeah, I booked the studio for every 1st Thursday from now until August. We have from 6pm to 10pm; you and Robbie can thank my stipend for that. Son, I'm so glad we are taking this band shit seriously. Our fans are gonna freak at a regular web show. You think once a month is cool for a start?"

"Shit Granny's coming, she looks pissed. Call you after work?"

"You're in trouble; you're in trouble, Ruby's in trouble." Ariel sang irritatingly.

"Fuck you, bye." Ruby turned around and whispered just as her grandmother tapped on her shoulder.

"Tell Mary Margaret I said to 'please let you get back to work'," the elder said in a sickeningly light tone. She watched her granddaughter's posture straighten with apprehension as she realized she had finally been caught slacking on the job.

Ruby turned around and guided a fallen red streak of hair back to the bun atop her head. "That wasn't M&M Gran, it was Ari." She avoided eye contact because her grandmother loves to voice on how she doesn't approve of their friendship. Although she has a deep aversion to lying to the woman who saved her life, the last thing on her list of "wants" is a soapbox sermon from Granny Lucas.

"Well if that's the case you can tell her that if she's so busy keeping you away from doing your job you'll be free to chat whenever you like because you'll be unemployed." Eugenia placed a warm hand on her hip.

Ruby's eyebrows dropped to a defensive line, "Granny, it's not that serious." Her voice was at a dangerous decibel in the corner of the diner. As her fists nervously flexed at the sides of her apron she could feel the metal of the chairs sliding across the floor from people craning their necks in their direction. It has been a few years since the two have had a knock down drag out verbal altercation in front of people. With rapt attention she could practically feel the woman in front of her bristle. "I'm just gonna go. I'll be back, Tara is on her way." She stormed past her grandmother and pushed through the side door to the left of them.

The amount of time elapsed was a mystery, her brain only just acknowledged that she was still moving when the temperature dropped around her signaling the time difference from when she walked out of Granny's. Blinking, Ruby looked around and noticed she was at least two miles away from the home and business she shared with her grandmother. She noticed a familiar figure a few feet in front of her raising the hood of her car in distress. The slender legs that stemmed from the steadily rising black skirt were sparkling in the afternoon sun. Walking up to the figure, she could make out faint curses. "You look like you don't know what you're doing."

Regina Mills glared in the direction of the person with the audacity to insult her. "Excuse me, and you do?" Her body language began to read: ABRASIVE before she matched the voice to the individual.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to be rude. It's been a rough day. I don't seem to have a filter." A pesky red piece of hair was in her face again, giving up Ruby slid it behind her ear. "Is it okay if I take a look at her?" She pointed under the hood in surrender, smiling genuinely as a measure of good faith. The vixen ahead of her visibly softened. That's it, come to mama.

"Truce, it hasn't been a really stellar start to my week either." Regina let out a sigh, "and now my car won't start and I cannot figure out for the life of me why." She grunted internally and began to pace back and forth at the head of the black BMW.

"No worries; just let me check out the scene." The younger woman's face disappeared beneath the hood of the car as long legs poured out of a borderline obscenely short skirt. "Get in the car and try to start it."

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Regina asked, trying to dispel the theory that she's a damsel in distress. "I've already called Marco and told him to pick up my car." Her voice faded off with frustration as her mind flipped through all the things she was supposed to be doing at this time. None of them were standing in an empty parking lot on the far side of town with her car immobile.

"Shut up and start the car," was quickly followed with a flippant huff and point in the direction of the driver's side door. Ruby watched as the stubborn woman stomped a heel and stalked off to sit behind the steering wheel. Waiting for her to turn the key, she took note of the mechanics that was powering the classic BMW. Everything seemed to be in fantastic shape, intense warmth rolled over Ruby's skin at the realization that the mysterious woman appreciates cars more than the average woman. The engine made an attempt to roar to life but suddenly died. She stared off in thought at what could be eclipsing the start of the car. There was a shout at the formation of an idea, followed by sounds of Ruby banging on something. She appeared to be on the tips of her toes trying to make sure something was tightened and fastened down towards the back of the fuse box. Leaning up revealing arms covered in soot and engine grease, she stood there with a smile. Catching the older woman eyeing her hungrily at her exposed abs and lower rib, snagging her bottom lip between teeth she pulled her shirt down to its full length. She is so hot, Ruby don't you dare ruin this. "Try it now."

Regina knew Ruby could see the blush trailing up from her collar bone so, taking matters into her own hands she jumped into the driver's seat, and slammed the door. After almost dropping her keys a second time, the awkwardness in the air was interrupted by the constant hum of Regina's vehicle. "How did you do that? What was wrong with it? What do I need to do if this happens again?" Regina shot out of the front seat and to her side prepared to bombard her with more questions.

"Luckily, it was easy. Your battery cable was loose; whoever replaced your battery didn't tighten the bolt enough. You just need to go back and have them fix that. You should take it over to Marco's on 4th and Elm, they're pretty solid." Placing grimy hands to her apron, she began to wipe crazily against the clean material.

"Actually, that's where I got the car worked on. Mickey performed the order; he always makes me feel like he's incompetent, obviously I was right," Regina said arrogantly. Her small stature was evident in the moments following as she reached up to pull the hood closed. Right arm stretched high and forearm muscles straining against the material of her red dress shirt. Leaving her left arm balancing against the car, because she has on heels and leaning dangerously on the tips of her toes; the last thing she would want to happen is her embarrassing herself and falling over into the street."

"Whoa really? He usually does a good job. I wonder what-," She snapped her fingers in revelation, clipping off her own thought. "Were you standing over him?" Ruby asked, giving off a disapproving look. "He's really nervous, but he knows what he's doing," she said, her tone taking a sympathetic turn; only to earn a scoff as a response. The woman in front of her let out a disinterested wave and walked back to her open door mumbling about how she has far more important things to do. The deep staccato of her gait made the young woman's heart vibrate on every click; begging and desperate to break free from the cage of ribs and muscle and trail under her arches like a puppy.

"Thank you, Miss Lucas." Regina stopped and smiled honestly before climbing into the black beauty. Pushing the coupe from its parked position, the car rolled forward in the direction of her savior who was saying something inaudible. The window rolled halfway down a few seconds too late, "I'm sorry dear; I didn't get any of that."

"OH!" she said with a chuckle. You're an idiot; her window was up, great job. "You're welcome, but you do know you are very welcome to call me Ruby," she leaned against the side of the car seductively.

"Hmm…Is that so?"

"Yeah," said Ruby with a grin as she turned around, "especially now, since you know I'm more than just a pretty face," she kissed her palm and walked back in the direction of the diner. She stopped short and smacked the lipstick stained palm to the taillight with a wink. Before her primal urges could get the best of her, she headed down the street in the opposite direction of the only individual that had the capacity to make an honest woman of her.

Regina watched the figure get smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror as the young beauty that was constantly surprising her, descended down the street. A shiver ran down her spine once she realized she was staring after her, hoping she could catch a glimpse of those honey brown eyes she surprisingly can't help but get caught in. She could feel the smile itching to cover her face, "that you are."

[x] [x] [x]

"Henry! I said be in the car in 5 minutes 10 minutes ago!" Regina called into the house from the garage door. The sounds of silverware dropping, the refrigerator door alarm, and sniffling sent her into a panic. "Henry what are you doing?" now in the kitchen doorframe with her arms folded over her chest. She leaned over and pushed her state of the art Subzero door closed to silence its screeching. Walking around the kitchen island, she followed the sounds of little hands scrubbing. Turning the last corner, she spotted the small teary-eyed boy scrubbing the front of his pants viciously with her dishcloth with one hand and discarding the water dripping from his eyes. The front of his khakis splattered with a white and oily spots, she looked around his feet and noticed an upside down sour cream container. "Oh Henry," she sighed and dropped her keys on the island.

"I was trying to be quick mom but the sour cream fell off the top shelf," he whimpered.

"Honey, why were you in the fridge? I left your lunch clipped to your bookbag, and we were going to Granny's for breakfast, remember?" She wiped his stained cheeks with her thumbs.

"Sarah Marshall's favorite food is pasta primavera. I was just going to bring extra so we could share at lunch." With a heavy sigh, the young man leaned into his adoptive mother's waist for comfort.

"Is that why you begged me to make it for dinner?" She ran a finger through his hair.

"She's the prettiest girl in my class and she told me it was her favorite food." Henry buried his face into her jacket in defeat.

"It's ok honey," Regina said with a quick glance at her watch. Time was getting away from her insanely scheduled day. Everything that happens during the day has been planned down to the most particular times. After hitting rock bottom, scheduling her way back to a real life has been her only saving grace. Definitely a stickler for times and order, ultimate control. "Take these off and throw them in the wash, there is another pair of pants folded in the basket on the dryer." Henry ran off towards the stairwell..

"MOM! I DON'T SEE THEM!" Henry shouted from the bottom of the steps almost causing her to drop the heavy glass dish full of pasta.

"I said in the basket Henry!" Regina yelled as she shoveled extra pasta into her son's Iron Man lunch container. "Stop running!" the sound of quickly approaching feet halted. Zipping up the container, she caught a glimpse of her gold time piece again.

"I'm ready mom." His wry smile lifted up to the side of his face. He brushed the hair from his face before taking his lunch and bookbag from his mother's hands. "Let's go! We don't want to be late." Henry stated as he grabbed her keys and headed in the direction of the open garage door. "Yes Sir!" With a fake salute, she was right on his toes pushing him into the back seat of the car and zooming down their suburban street.

By the time the two walked into the diner, Henry had 25 minutes before he had to be inside his classroom. The youngster could feel his mother's discomfort at being behind schedule with every nervous tap of her fingernails as she ordered French Toast Sticks and orange juice for them. Even at this early age, he knew his mother was a bit obsessive. He was only privy to this information because he noticed that he was the only thing that grounded her. A year ago when he told her that he wanted to find his mother, she pretended to take it well; but as much as he tried to omit it he noticed a change. She became more affectionate than before, always pulling him into a hug when he entered a room or telling him how much she adored him. She began to buy gifts, elaborately decorated boxes would find themselves waiting on his bed when came home from school in an attempt to procure his love. After a month of Regina trying to erase the need for another parent, the quaint family unit received a visit from the lawyer in charge of locating his birth mother during dinner. Rushing to his side in the study, the inquisitive child bombarded the lawyer and his mother with countless inquiries. Dominating the conversation, Henry was so occupied with questions he failed to notice how long his guardian stopped speaking or looking in his direction. It wasn't until later that night when he was brushing his teeth that he heard her quiet sobs through the wall of their bathrooms.

"Mom?" Henry whispered, opening the bathroom door. Finding his mother sitting on the side of her claw-footed tub with her head buried between her hands.

Startled, Regina turned away and quickly wiped her eyes trying to calm herself. "Yes baby? What is it?" she questioned hesitantly, demurring her current breakdown. His tiny frame collided into hers as frail arms pulled her into a tight embrace. His love and warmth radiated around them as she begged her tears not to fall.

"Like you always tell me: don't worry, I'm right here, it's okay, I'm not going anywhere," he moved himself to stand between her legs.

She peered over his head and noticed the red tin box with her favorite straight razor inside sitting on the edge of the sink. It had been calling to her since he embarked on this expedition to find his birth mother. The loathsome habit warring with her sense of self since her teenage years always seemed to find a way to reveal itself in times of intense pain. It sits there, relentlessly taunting her with sweet promises of relief from the feelings that swim around her core threatening to seize the very breath from her lungs. The thoughts that exert her everyday regarding that she'll never be good enough and as soon as he finds his real mother he'll be forced to realize all her imperfections; soon after he would ultimately leave and there will be no one left to love her. The minty wet lips attached to her cheek pulled her from her morose thoughts. "You promise?" Regina asked solemnly as she pulled the boy into her lap and cradling like the baby he used to be.

Without hesitation he yawned and placed is arms around her neck and answered, "Always."

The aroma of cinnamon and powdered sugar made both booth occupants fidget with Glee. Henry excited for what was vastly approaching on a silver tray and Regina enamored with the smiling waitress serving them.

"Here you guys go." Ruby slid the identical plates into their respective spots on the table, "plus, hot syrup!"

"Thanks Ruby!" Henry said with a mouth already full of sugary goodness.

"Henry! Where are your manners?" Regina scolded at the figure in front of her cramming food into his mouth.

"Relax," Ruby said flashing a smile again. "He's a growing boy." She said ruffling his hair with a laugh. "Let him eat." She winked before stealing a stick of French toast off of her plate. Her hips swayed evenly, acknowledgment of the fact that if she turned around she knew the sophisticated woman would be watching.