Chapter 3

Regina was the first to wake as being Mayor usually meant a lot of work with early morning meetings and office work, something Regina has got used too. She looks over to the time seeing that her first meeting would be within the next hour. Biting her lip she returns her look to the sleeping blonde next to her who still has a very firm grip on Regina's arm keeping her in place. Not wanting to scare her, Regina leans down close. "Emma..."

Waking up, Emma is too tired for words giving the brunette a sleepy smile clearly content with where she is. Regina sighs trying again. "Emma..it's time to get up"

Emma pulls a face letting go of Regina's arm and rolling over. Regina smiles to herself and stands up heading towards the door before feeling a slight breeze of a body run past her. Raising an eyebrow as Emma darts out the room managing to let out that she's needing the bathroom.

Regina curious follows walking to the closed door pulling a face herself hearing Emma retching on the other side. Trying the door knob finding it locked, she leans against the door. "Emma? Are you okay?"

Emma leans against the sink a moment washing her face. "Il be out in a sec"

Regina moves herself off the door and to her room sending a message to her assistant saying she won't be able to make it to the meeting or work, how could she leave Emma in this state? What was with the sudden care?" Shaking her head, Regina walks out to the corridor hearing the bolt unlock from the bathroom revealing a rather pale looking Emma. Regina gives her a sympathetic smile.

"Sorry..I..I think it's all just ..I've been stressed and the relief of yesterday..which I need to thank you for"

Emma looks uneasy causing Regina to reach out again placing both hands on Emma's upper arms rubbing them slightly. "No need it's my job"

Emma nods. "still...oh..I've made you late haven't I?"

Regina shakes her head. "No..took the day off..I mean you did hold up my bathroom for me to get ready" she smiles confused at herself for the joke attempt.

Emma looks away. "Sorry..see even more reason for me to make it up to you"

Regina watches as Emma looks back to her and frowns. "You...look different.."

Emma frowns also then realises eyes widening. "Oh..glasses..there in my room" biting her lip, Emma suddenly feels conscious without them.

Regina however looks mesmerised by her green eyes. "You suit both.."

Emma feels herself gain colour at the comment. "thanks ..I guess..anyway at least let me make you dinner tonight"

Regina thinks for a moment then nods. "How can I say no to a free meal?"

Emma grins then goes back to her room to get ready.

Sliding about the kitchen, Emma managed to find her way round and gather what she needed to make Regina dinner. Feeling pressure considering she was left to her own device in someone else's house, not to mention a mayor house, she realised she needed help. Thinking of the one person that could help she called for Ruby who showed up within ten minutes by the panic on the blondes voice. Emma looks to her in the kitchen doorway. "Hi...sorry I know we don't..know each other that well for favours but..well this town has kinda surprised me with their generosity so I thought I'd take a gamble"

Ruby walks in looking over at what Emma is doing and leans against the counter. " not a problem if it gets me away from Granny for half hour..I swear she does not realise I have a life too!"

Emma bites her lip at the brunettes sudden rant. "Okay..."

After 20 minutes they were both stuck in to the cooking which Emma was feeling quite proud of. Ruby looks over to see her smiling. "Don't you find this a little weird?"

Emma looks back dropping her smile. "What's weird?"

Ruby raises an eyebrow like 'seriously'. "This ..being friends with the mayor and cooking for her I just..never known anyone to take a risk like that or even try and hold a conversation with the lady"

Emma can see her point but smiles a bit."Guess I'm not just anyone and besides she's human too right? Doesn't she deserve to have friends? I know I've only been here two days but I don't know she's not as bad as everyone makes out..give her a chance..have you tried talking to her?"

Ruby shakes her head. "Not unless ' would you like milk with your coffee' counts? And even then I get the evil glare because she-"

"Has it black"

Ruby frowns looking at her placing a hand on her hip curious. "Really?"

Emma shrugs holding her hands up in defence. " I..I notice stuff"

Ruby laughs. "Right...well your pretty much set up so I'm going to leave you to it"

Emma watches Ruby exit out the kitchen. "Thank you, you're a life saver!"

"Yeah yeah bye!"

Looking around the kitchen, Emma checks one more time that everything is ready before collapsing on the couch in the living area waiting for Regina to come back. Despite her stubbornness, Emma had persuaded the brunette to at least check in on work seeing how unsettled she was at home. Snapping out of her thoughts, Emma could hear a pair on heels hitting the floor through the hallway.

"Emma?"

Emma smiles to herself and gets up heading out to her giving a wave. "hi..dinners ready, everything went okay at work?"

Watching Regina raise an eyebrow made Emma think of how inappropriate her sentence was feeling embarrassed.

Regina picks up on this giving a smile playing along. "Thank you dear and yes it was fine...the usual you know how it is"

Emma lets out a smile hearing the tone in Regina's voice. "Good"

For the rest of the evening they had shared stories on each other along with a couple of awkward silences mainly on Emma's behalf. The dinner and drinks were a success proven by Regina's ongoing compliments about how nice it was but what did not go unnoticed was Emma's refusal of a drink and sticking to water.

Emma had been staying at Regina's for a week although it had felt a lot longer given how close the pair had grown. Still she couldn't complain, this was the mayor after all, someone who wanted rid of her and wouldn't let her stay at Granny's least of all her own house. Ever since she had helped Emma there had been a sudden need to protect and look after the blonde and that first night, after it all happened Regina had even found herself disrupting Emma from a nightmare to comfort her by laying with her. An act so out of the ordinary for the brunette but an act of such kindness for the blonde. Something which she hardly ever encountered.

That was all about to end. Sitting on the bathroom floor, Emma just stared at it. At the little blue lines that had appeared. Shaking her head, she could feel her heart beating faster than would be deemed possible and what felt like a tennis ball shaped lump lodging in her throat. Pregnant in italic. How could two little lines mean that one word that can turn a life upside down. For most people, mainly couples they would be overjoyed but not Emma, she was alone. No family and to hell if the father thinks he is going to have anything to do with the kid. Gulping down on the lump Emma realized, there it was. A feeling she never knew existed until this moment. Love.

Standing up slowly, Emma leans against the wall. She knew that this was make or break. There was no way she was getting rid of her baby but also could not allow Regina to have the burden of a baby on top of helping her out. Having saved some money from Granny's a job she was determined to take when Granny herself offered. Emma thought about going back to her home town. After all Walsh was well and truly locked up and no longer a threat she could make it work.

Feeling guilty there was one problem, telling Regina. The brunette had been so welcoming and caring towards her that she felt awkward saying she is leaving. Emma had definitely noticed a change in the mayor, she was not as closed off as when they first met. Leaving the bathroom, Emma looked at the time. She had a couple of hours spare before Regina would finish work. Collecting what belongings she has, Emma leaves a note on the key bowl and heads to Granny's making sure to go round back just in case Regina had decided to go there. Knowing Emma's luck she would.

Emma once inside explains to Ruby of her situation. Both girls had also become good friends while she worked with her, just not as close as with Regina. Ruby although sad offers her, her car. Giving the taller girl a hug, Emma heads back out to the car park sitting in Ruby's car which she promised to return. Touching her belly, Emma sighs. "Just you and me now kid"

Starting the engine, Emma drives out to Main Street clocking Regina leave the town hall and heading to her own car unaware of what's in store. Watching her a moment, Emma for the first time felt sad for leaving a place. Normally she can't wait to get away quick enough but this little town started to become home. Taking a breath she looks ahead and drives on.

Walking up her porch, Regina finds herself smiling and eager to get inside to the current company she shares. She never would of thought she would connect so well with someone from the outside but she did and she were able to make a friend. Not being able to contain herself, a Regina had even called out to the blonde by her first name before even shutting the front door behind her. Frowning at no reply she goes to drop her keys in the bowl noticing a piece of paper folded with her name on it. Getting a sudden gut feeling, Regina holds the paper in her hand a moment composing herself for what's to come. Opening the paper out she reads.

I just wanted to say thank you. Something I could of said to you in person but I guess this is just easier for me given recent circumstances. I know it must of been difficult for you allowing someone new into town and believe me I did too. Everyone kept warning me about this 'mean' mayor but who they forgot to tell me about was Regina. Guess I was one of the lucky ones to find out. I hope you find your happiness someday and that you don't give up like I nearly did. That I know for certain will not be happening again because despite all the hurt, I know now that there will always be someone there. A safe pair of arms.

Eternally grateful,

Your friend,

Emma x

Regina blinks back a tear looking towards the empty house again holding the letter close to her. The amount of questions running through her head were unbelievable. Why now? Why did she have to go? Was it something she had said or done to make Emma feel like she had to go? Considering what was in the letter Regina decided not to let her judgement get the best of her. She just wish she could of said bye properly and wondered if she would see her again.

Author's note: see what I did there with the letter? Hehe. For those of you reading the next chapter I'm going to be doing a four year jump to make it interesting but will be writing in flashbacks of the week they spent together :)