Chapter 2
A / N: Back ! Sorry for the long delay. Please read and review! ;)
Emma was leaning on her yellow bug waiting for Henry. Her eyes glancing at some distance object, lost in her thoughts. The school door opened and she saw kids running out, and she straightened herself. Henry shyly walked out, his eyes searching for her. Once he spotted her, he came running towards her and hugged her tightly around her waist. She chuckled and returned the hug.
Ruffling his hair, she inquired "Hey kid.. missed me?"
Henry laughed, "naah.."
Emma gasped loudly at that response and narrowed her eyes at him. He laughed again getting out of the embrace and started pushing her towards the driving side of the car "Ohh come on Ma.. of course I missed you. But we have to go right now.. "
"Okay okay.. we are going. What's the hurry kid?"
"Remember what happened last week?" Henry sighed, putting on his seat belt and looked at Emma disapprovingly when he saw Emma hadn't buckled hers yet.
Emma rectified that quickly and answered, "Oh you mean the time when we couldn't decide on the flavor of ice cream and had all chocolate, vanilla and strawberry? "
Henry scrunched his nose at the mention of strawberry, "Yeah about that, can we not get the strawberry for like ever?"
Emma laughed with a twinkle in her eyes and nodded, "Sure..". There was a silence for a few moments. Seeing Henry having lost his train of thoughts; probably wondering about what flavor he liked the best, she motioned with her hands urging him to get to the point.
"Uh yeah.. Look we can't be late ever again. What if.. what if mom stops letting me see you?"
Emma nervously chuckled, started the car and looked at Henry with a bright smile, "Henry that's never going happen okay? I know me and Regina don't see eye to eye on many things, but one thing is for sure.. I am always gonna be here. Even if she forbids me to see you, I will find a way. You know how good I am at breaking rules right?" Emma said wiggling her brows. Henry smiled and glanced out of the window hoping things would get better with his mom and Emma someday.
Emma stopped her car in front of the diner and got out quickly. He reprimanded her with a look that reminded her so much of Regina. "It won't take long, I promise.. I will be right back in a sec.." She whispered and hurried into the diner. Only a minute or so passed as Henry watched Emma rushing out of the diner with two cups in her hand. She got inside the car, handed him his cocoa and started the car.
They reached Regina's mansion in 10 minutes. She got out of the car with Henry and walked him towards the door. Just as they reached the porch, the door opened and Regina stood there with a fiery look in her eyes and a hand on her hip. Emma smiled knowing it won't be returned. As she predicted, Regina fully ignored her and smiled at her son, letting him in. Once she knew he was upstairs in his room, she turned to Emma.
"What is today's reason Miss Swan? Are you not competent enough to even drop my son on time?
Emma interrupted, "It's Emma and we just stopped for a min to get something swe.." Emma stopped abruptly.
"If you say you stopped for ice cream again, I swear to god Em.. Miss Swan" Regina quickly corrected her slip.
"I will.."
"Relax Regina it was just cocoa for him. You know how much he loves Ruby's hot cocoa right? Emma rolled out Ruby's name a bit long and took a sip of her coffee.
"Wait.. you knew about the ice cream?" Emma said suddenly very nervous.
Regina narrowed her eyes looking at Emma, thinking of something to put Emma and her vile friend.. more than friend? Ruby.. in their places. and that's when she saw the bright red lipstick mark on Emma's coffee cup. Something burned deep inside Regina and she found her anger increase in tenfolds. Emma could practically feel Regina's gaze burning through the Styrofoam cup she was holding, directly on her beating heart. The corners of Emma's lips minutely turned upwards.
Regina took a deep breath to compose herself. She was confused why her body was reacting to just a mark that meant probably nothing.
"May I remind you Miss Swan that your job is just to get him home in time and not to spoil him with sweets that will cause nothing but cavities? and of course I know about the ice cream. I am his mother and you should just assume I know.. everything dear." Regina said the last words taking a quick glance at the lipstick mark again.
Emma chuckled to herself, changing topic, "So I will see Henry and you tomorrow?
Regina wanted to know more about Emma's visit to the diner, she also wanted to strangle her at the same time. This situation infuriated her for no apparent reason. She huffed and cleared her throat, "Goodbye Miss Swan !" and closed the door a bit harshly.
Emma stayed there just for a moment, a big grin appearing on her face. She turned around and mumbled to herself, "Oooh.. somebody is mad"
–-
Ruby was serving her last customer and was a few minutes away closing the diner. She waved at granny to indicate the same. Granny nodded and waited for her near the kitchen door. Ruby saw the last customer leave as she approached granny. "Umm granny why don't you go ahead and I will be back in a little while? I just have to run some errand.." Granny rolled her eyes, disbelief laden in her voice as she asked, "huh errand.. Do you think I was born yesterday Ruby? What are you up to now?"
she should have known granny would catch her lie easily.. "It's nothing.. I am just gonna visit Belle.. She hasn't been to the diner since yesterday morning."
granny shrugged, "Must have found a good book in that library of hers." She sighed as she looked at Ruby. "Okay.. go on.. and take her some coffee.. but if I find you wandering in streets doing god knows what you do and pretend that you were visiting a friend.. I will.."
Ruby raised both of hands in defeat. "Just visiting Belle..."
Granny nodded and left. Ruby quickly poured coffee in two cups and straightened her bright red skirt and white blouse. She was standing right outside Belle's apartment after few minutes. She knocked on Belle's door and waited. there was slight movement inside, a few shuffling noises and a moment later Belle opened the door. Ruby smiled brightly but as she took the appearance of Belle in, it faded slowly. Belle's hair and clothing appeared disheveled, her eyes were red and puffy. Ruby asked softly, concern in her voice clear "Hey.. are.. are you ok? I haven't seen you in a while"
Belle ran a hand through her hair, "yes.. just not feeling well. I appear to have caught a.. bug."
"ohh.. well I brought coffee, You will feel better instantly" Ruby chimed trying to hand over the cup to Belle.
"Your coffee is not a cure for everything Ruby" Belle replied. It came out a lot harsher than she intended.
"Hey.. okay calm down will you? I am just trying to help"
Belle sighed.. letting out a deep breath. Why I am over reacting? She is here to help. And why can't I stop looking at that red streak in her hair? and why the hell my skin feels like its burning?... Belle groaned internally.
Ruby was going on and on about some herb her granny used in something...
"... and hey last week Emma had fever for a day or two.. maybe I can ask her to.." Something inside Belle snapped hearing Emma's name.
"You know what Ruby, I just need a good nights sleep. See you later." and she closed the door in Ruby's face.
Ruby stopped talking abruptly wondering what the hell just happened. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, thinking about knocking again but she didn't. She thought Belle just needed to sleep it off.. She turned around and walked towards the diner.
