A few days had passed and MM and David had left for their honeymoon. I'd mostly kept to myself, remaining between grannies and the station in order to avoid a certain brunette. My boyfriend however, wasn't around to avoid. There has been no sign of him since the wedding. I was not happy about that, not because I needed to talk to him but because as time had passed with no contact from him, I realised what a terrible boyfriend he was. I knew before, but this has been the tip of an ice burg big enough to sink the titanic. Killian was a complete jerk.

I was sat bored at the desk in the station, there's not much for a sheriff to do in a tiny town with a mayor everyone's too scared to cross. Now I know what the receptionist meant when calling her the evil queen. Witch or not she's most certainly the fairest of them all in this town.

The phone rang. Waking me up from my daydream. "Sheriff's office, how can I help?"

"Miss Swan."

"Madame Mayor, what can I do for You?" I spoke tersley into the phone.

"I need you to bring the weeks reports to my office by noon." She spoke shyly,completely out of character for her.

"Ok.. "

"Okay."

"Well...see you then, then?"

She ended the call and I let out the breath I'd been holding. She was weirdly quiet during that phone call, there was none of the bite that was there previously, I wondered why.

I looked at the clock, I had an hour. I might as well go get an early lunch. Grabbing my jacket and the badly completed reports- I didn't really have a clue how to do them- I left the station in the direction of granny's.

Ruby Lucas. I liked her. I entered the diner and she greeted me with a wide smile and an excited wave as I made my way to the counter where she was making coffee. As I sat she slid one across to me, ignoring the angry glare of the waiting customer. "Hey bitch, you're here early. What can I get you?" She winked at me and posed dramatically in front of the bear claws on display. I laughed and shook my head, "Nah, I'll have a burger thanks Rubes."

"Anything for you, babe."

"Such a charmer!" I faked a swoon and we both laughed. She then disappeared for a second to give my order and I sipped at my coffee happily. The one thing I knew I could take from staying in this town is my new friendship with this girl. She was unlike any other friend I've ever had and it was a really nice change. "Hey Rubes?" I called as she returned, an idea forming. She looked at me and I smiled, wiggling my eyebrows I asked, "Wanna go out tonight?"

"Um? Do you even need to ask? Of course! I can't wait to see you drunk!" She jumped with energy and I hushed her. "Oh god." I looked at her with my eyebrows raised, "I doubt I'll keep up with you if I'm honest."

"I second that honey, partying is my major. You seem like more of a sports kind'a girl."

Momentarily distracted by my food i remained silent. My eyes widened in excitement as my burger was placed in front of me. I tucked in greedily and took a massive bite, moaning ungracefully and swallowing whole before taking another smaller bite. Between mouthfuls I replied, "Well, they say drinking is a sport."

Ruby, who was wiping the counter. Had frozen in her spot and was staring at me speechless whilst I continued to eat.

"Mmwat?" I questioned with my mouth full.

"You, Emma Swan...ARE A BEAST! You've eaten that entire burger in under 2 minutes!"

I looked down at my now empty plate and realised what I'd done. My face coloured in embarrassment. I guess I was hungrier than I thought.

"If you drink like you eat girl I don't think you'll have a problem keeping up tonight." She continued working, still giving me the occaisional glance of shock, or was it admiration?

She was quite far away, too far, when she said her next sentence. "So, tell me Em. Do you swallow everything so greedily?" She asked me whilst stifling a chuckle.

"RUBY!" I yelled at her simultaneously with another angry voice from the kitchen. Granny's angry head popped into view and Ruby yelped an apology before continuing to work.

"Stop pretending to be doing something and come here, Ruby Lucas. Miss Mills' delivery is ready. I need you to take it." Ruby cautiously grabbed the bag from granny and turned to walk back to me, a cheeky grin on her face. A cheeky grin that was thwarted by a scalding slap across the back of the head from the angry old lady. Ruby yelped and ducked, running rhe rest of the distance towards me. I couldn't contain my giggle, she deserved that.

Suddenly, I had an idea.

"Don't worry about that Rubes, I'll take the Mayors lunch. I've got to go there now anyway."

"Wow really? Thanks Em, I can take a break then. You're a babe."

I got up to leave with the takeout bag, I peered inside, salad, of course. Ruby handed me a coffee to go, "A parting Thank you gift, see you tonight."

I thanked her with a wink and left, not wanting to be late.

I strolled into the Mayor's Office with more confidence than I truly had. I had decided she was not going to get the better of me today. I gently closed the door behind me with a nudge of my boot whilst balancing the paperwork, food bags and my coffee. I turned and smiled at her; she observed me with a blank expression.

"This isn't a picnic Miss Swan."

I rolled my eyes and approached her, deciding to ignore her cold remarks in the favour of the day's good mood. Placing the things in front of her I watched her expectantly. She hesitated and I sighed.

"Go ahead Madam Mayor. I'm not trying to poison you."

She opened the bag tentatively; analysing the contents. She looked at me with curiosity as she realised it contained her favourite meal.

Paranoid, I quickly interrupted her thoughts. "I'm not stalking you either, I'm simply the delivery man."

I quickly realised she had gotten the better of me, with just only a few words and a questioning gaze. Anxiety enduced, I tossed the paperwork by the side of her and turned to leave, but a cough interrupted me.

I looked back to see her holding my coffee with her usual scowl back in place, that didn't take long.

I flushed in embarrassent when I realised why.

"Forgetting something?" She muttered dryly.

I read the inscription on the side of the cup. Written beneath a number was the message...

See you tonight babes ;).

I cringed as I imagined the thoughts running through her mind in that moment, they had ran through mine too before i had remembered the asshole that has gifted it to me.

I shrugged off my humility and thanked her whilst retrieving the cup. I sipped it awkwardly, hiding my face with the now disgustingly cold beverage. I examined her expression closely, it was dark and withdrawn but there were unmistakable feelings of hurt flashing behind ebony eyes.

Her makeup was toned down today, it was as relaxed as I've ever seen her. However her unmistakable beauty was marred by a downturned smile and a creased frown. I realised i had been staring at her whilst trying to find the bravery to explain myself. For some reason I felt like I needed to. She deserved that, why it mattered I did not know.

"Don't let me keep you from your next conquest Miss Swan, I'm sure you have a date to plan."

The part of me I'd been ignoring since the wedding was ecstatic at the blatant display of jealousy, however the rest of me was ashamed of the distorted image the Mayor had painted of my personality.

"Regina, no. That's Ruby, she's my only friend in this town. I'm not some Casanova." I responded sternly.

She looked down in embarrassment, I took my chance and began to ramble a long overdue explanation.

"We've gotten off on the wrong foot. What you believe to be true isn't the truth, and I want to tell you...the truth, that is. I'm going to be here for a while longer and you owe it to the town to learn about the woman you've employed to protect it. Hell you owe it to me after the evening we had."

Using her job was a low blow, I confess. She looked ready to pounce as my last words were spoken and I was ready to run for my life. She chewed the inside of her cheek. Whether in anger or in contemplation I still don't know. However, instead, she did what I least expected. Swiping up a peice of paper from beneath her on the desk she scribbled something down hurriedly.

She stood and approached me with a sway of hips contained within a dark grey pantsuit. "I concur, only if to get you off my back. Call me and we will arrange details."

She was still angry. I could tell; small miracles though.

I accepted the paper and we advanced toward the exit, as I passed through, I lost control of my sanity. I turned with a newfound confidence, grabbing her elbow before she could close the door behind me.

"For the record. You weren't... aren't, a conquest. Regina."

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise at my boldness and ability to read her emotions. Fear flickered across her expression until it was overthrown by an icy glare that had my stomach dropping to my feet.

"I'm well aware I'm not a peice of land to be conquered, Miss Swan."

She grinned murderously and made her next statement, before violently slamming the door in my face.

"I am a Queen."