Chapter 4

Sat at the counter in granny's diner, Emma nurses a cup of coffee while in conversation with ruby who is trying to see if she would join in girls night with some of the others.

"It's totally low key trust me as much as I want a proper night out I'm on earlies here this week and I'm not getting hung-over with me drinking all the coffee instead of the customers granny would kill me"

Emma screws her face shaking her head." I...no..Henry's at a sleepover so I thought I would just stay at work catch up on papers and that"

Ruby sighs looking disappointed filling someone else's cup with coffee. " okay I know you have to set standards being a mom and all but live a little!"

Emma laughs and drinks her coffee." Still no"

Ruby walks to the end of the counter to fill another cup. "please don't turn into an uptight mom...bad enough snow has left the scene and seriously after everything when did you last.." Looking at the persons cup she is filling ruby looks stuck."..go...out"

"Please Miss Lucas don't stop on my account" Regina raises an eyebrow knowing full well what she is talking about.

Emma frowns and leans back on her stool to see and bites her lip realising the trouble ruby has just got herself in. "Regina...she didn't mean..."

Regina holds her hands up in surrender." It's quite alright Miss Swan..she is right about the statement she made and we all know that it was I who prevented that so if you do so try to stay in work past 5 I will personally come down there and chuck you out"

Emma's eyes widen as she gulps. "okay...fair game I will do as you say one last time on one condition"

Regina looks across the counter at the blonde curious." And that is?"

" you need to leave work too and join me for one drink?"

Regina lets out a little snigger. " because Henry will really be okay with that?"

Emma rolls her eyes then looks at her." Am I asking Henry out for a drink?..no...I told you he will get there..please?"

Regina thinks for a moment wondering why the hell would she want to do that." Fine...knowing you if I say no you will keep on until I do say yes so ill save us both some breath"

Emma smiles." Okay well meet there at 6?"

Ruby frowns. "but were meeting at...ow" looking over at Emma elbowing her across the counter, ruby mouths what.

Regina completely oblivious, nods." Okay see you then" taking her takeaway cup, Regina leaves the diner.

Ruby looks over at Emma hands on hips." What was that? Why did you say an hour earlier?"

"So that we can have a drink in peace without you guys butting in and it will be quiet so no...staring and talking behind our backs"

Ruby shakes her head. " I still don't understand how you can be civil with her I know you share Henry but.. I don't know I guess it's up to you but if she thinks about messing with you again let me know I can sort her out with my claws"

Emma stifles a laugh." Yeah sure ruby now that I would actually like to see the wolf and the queen.."

"I'd totally win"

Emma nods. "Yeah yeah I gotta go, criminals don't interrogate themselves" stepping off her stool, Emma takes the fresh coffee ruby hands over and walks out to the station.

Spending the majority of the day with boring paperwork, Emma gave a sigh of relief as the clock ticked up to 5. Not wanting to find out if Regina was serious on her early statement, Emma jumps up grabbing g her jacket and heads out to her bug.

Luckily when Emma got home, she knew Mary Margaret was staying at work late for some after school club project. This meant not interrogation on what she would be doing tonight. Leaving a note simply saying out with Ruby, Emma showers and changes before leaving for the rabbit hole. Getting to the bar's door, Emma stops stepping back realising what she is about to do and a sudden nervous feeling takes over. "Man up Swan..you're in control" taking a breath, she heads inside. Heading straight to the bar, Emma sees Regina already perched on a bar stool in the corner looking like a bag of nerves, definitely not her usual self.

Walking over, Emma gives a small smile tilting her head to gain her attention. Once Regina looked over, Emma sits herself on the stool next to her." Hi..are you okay? You looked a little not sure.."

Regina attempts a smile." I'm fine Miss Swan..I just..how can I put it..don't want to put my foot in it?"

Emma nods." Oh..well if you don't want to do that why don't you start with buying me a drink?" Grinning at the attempt of joke, Emma watches Regina's reaction of a proper smile and waving the bartender over.

Watching her for a moment, Emma frowns. " can I ask you summit?"

Regina looks back after giving a drink order. "Sure"

"Why are you calling me Miss Swan? I know that's my name but you also know I'm Emma"

Regina looks over at her drink cupping it with her hands." Well..I guess I thought given the circumstances that Miss Swan is more appropriate, more formal for two people starting over..I should earn the right to call you by your first name"

Emma mirrors Regina's actions listening and shifts herself round on her stool so her body is facing towards the brunette." I get that and I'm thankful you would do that but just call me Emma okay otherwise we are never gona be able to move forward if we play it safe so to speak"

Regina moves around also." Right..I can do that. How is Henry doing?"

Emma bites her lip." He's okay but I think he's outburst wasn't just to do with you..grace said no to the dance"

"Oh..is it wrong of me to be partly glad of this? Means he's still our little boy"

Emma smiles noticing Regina say 'our little boy'. "Yes because I'm glad too..I didn't get to see a lot of his childhood so I wanna make the most of it"

"Due to no fault of your own..you fell in love and although you didn't get the ending you wanted..you have him now..just make sure he doesn't end up in jail at eighteen"

"No way besides you gave him a solid upbringing with manners and what not so I think we are safe"

Regina raises an eyebrow staring at Emma a moment, Emma orders them another drink and looks over warily."...what?"

"I was just trying to picture you at eighteen"

Emma shakes her head." Please don't I was just...a lanky kid with dorky glasses"

Regina rests her head on her hand leaning on the bar biting her lip."hmm..no I think glasses would suit you"

Emma laughs." Then thank god for no photos because your blind"

"No I think you could suit any look with them striking eyes of yours"

Emma looks at her, making Regina notice what she just said." Oh really?...are you hitting on me madam mayor?"

Regina turns her eyes to her drink embarrassed." No..I..erm..well.." looking down feeling another hand wrap around the one hugging her drink, she looks back at the blonde."..yes"

Emma grins squeezing her hand a second. "Nice to know I've still got it"

For the rest of the time both women talked about certain events in their lives that either one knew of while also throwing the odd bit of banter. Before they knew the hour was up as ruby and the others arrived only to stop themselves from walking over to the bar noticing that both women had shifted their stools considerable closer to one another so their knees were touching while in deep conversation, both with big smiles on their faces. Ruby raises an eyebrow and suggests going to the other end of the bar to allow them more time before interrupting.

"I still don't know how you can have him work for you"

Regina nods in agreement. " well yes but because of our past he is the only one willing to work for me"

"I don't understand the whole queen history part why on earth did you make him your mirror? Why would you want tp wake up to look at that face every morning?!"

Both of them laugh before looking over in the direction of ruby approaching having called the blondes name. Emma smiles at her.

"Hey were over the other side about to hit the dance floor so you have to come" looking at the bar noticing Emma's hand rested on Regina's arm, Emma looks oblivious and pulls a face.

" I don't dance ruby"

"But there is someone over there interested I'm sure Regina can hold your drink"

Regina moves her arm from under Emma's hand and the mention of someone being interested in Emma causing the blonde to look over at her. "actually I'm going to go home I haven't eaten yet as I came straight from the office so..have fun"

Emma goes to respond but is cut off by Regina's quick exit. Looking at ruby, Emma stands telling her she be over in a second and heads outside hoping to catch Regina. Seeing her half way down the street, Emma quickens her pace to overtake and block her path. Regina steps back jumping slightly at the sudden action of a person standing in her way. Emma reaches up touching her top arm concerned.

"Hey what was that? I thought we were having a good time and being normal"

Regina nods but doesn't smile." We were and now it's your time with your friends like I said I haven't eaten anyway and technically you said this morning that the agreement was one drink"

"But..I was enjoying your company you could still join us..go grab a bite and come back please.."

Regina sighs moving her arm away." I can't...you heard ruby I'm sorry I can't come back to watch someone else try and..I don't know be with you"

"Well I already told ruby I'm not interested..it's not what I want right now not when I still have you to think about"

"Don't stop because of me I want you to be happy I told you that you don't have to think about me it's all up to you"

"Well...I kinda can't stop thinking about you and actually that night when you seemed like you were you and not the person wanting to smother me to keep me safe and how close we.."

Regina looks at Emma looking down. "it's..kind of ironic..because it turns out that I was the one who broke my own spell your right I was more me that night and because I was letting you in completely the spell broke because it wasn't about control any more it was about something that I could never admit before which was that I loved you and was completely in love with you"

Emma looks at her taking in every word frowning at the past tense. "loved?"

Regina clenches her fists because of her nerves." I still do..and I know I shouldn't..but now you see why I can't be there when you meet someone new..I.."

Emma rolls her eyes at the brunette starting another ramble and moves forward planting a small kiss on her lips to shut her up. Regina looks at her in shock." Starting over remember and I'm not interested in anyone else at the moment I want to see where this goes..take our time"

Regina smiles a little causing Emma to do the same.

"Looks like those Archie sessions are really working now, you don't stop blurting everything out"

Regina shakes her head laughing a little embarrassed before seeing Emma grab her arm hugging it. "Come on madam mayor you need to go eat I'm walking you"

"What about the others?"

Emma shrugs starting to walk. "who cares? I'm starving!"

Regina smiles at Emma's invitation to herself to eat and hugs her arm back.

Author's note: friends again! :)