Regina forced the cloth into the wolf's mouth as she grabbed the only liquid around with an alcohol content. The younger woman panted erratically and looked at Regina with wide, pleading eyes. Regina looked away trying not to give in to her. Ruby didn't want it but it was probably the only thing keeping her from infection.

"I'm sorry, pup. I have to." The younger woman shook her head in response but by then Regina had already pulled the cork away and tilted the bottle towards the bleeding wound. There was already a puddle forming under her leg and her skin was turning a sickly pale color. Ruby squirmed under a strong hold Regina had on her arm, shaking her head frantically.

The fear in her eyes gave Regina pause and Ruby stopped moving for a moment to look at her hoping she wasn't going to continue. The older woman leaned forward and pressed a reassuring kiss to her sweating forehead before she tipped her hand more and the alcohol spilled onto her leg.

The wolf let out cry that ripped through the cloth and probably vibrated the trees for miles. Regina grimaced not wanting to inflict anymore pain than she was already enduring but she needed to clean it a bit more. Ruby cried out again as the liquid burned her flesh. Regina watched her tears trail down her cheeks and pool up at her hand that was over the younger woman's mouth. She pulled away and slid her hand behind Ruby's head and lifted her up, pressing the bottle to her lips.

"Regina…" Ruby rasped.

"Shh. It's fine," Regina soothed. "This is all we have."

"Take it out."

"I can't. It's too deep. It wouldn't be safe."

Ruby nodded weakly and parted her dry, quivering lips to drink the raw liquor. She gagged and coughed turning her head to the side. Regina laid her back down and went about tying up the wound to stop the bleeding. Ignoring the whimpers of pain, the older woman lifted her bare leg into her lap and began to wrap it in a thick bandage, applying a healing oil to the wound before and after every layer. After tying a tight knot, she glanced over to Ruby staring up at the ceiling.

"Am I done?"

"Done what?"

"Done fighting. Cripples can't be wolves…fighters. I can't be your partner with a piece of silver in my leg."

"You'll heal. You must be patient. It will take time but I forced you to adapt once, I can train you again, little one."

"Little one? I'm no pup despite what you think," Ruby chuckled pushing herself up into a sitting position and leaned back against the wall behind her. "It's been years since you called me that. 60 if I recall correctly?"

"80 years, wolf."

"You'd think after all this time we'd know how not to get ourselves maimed by now."

Regina hummed her agreement as she nodded lightly, "Are you hungry?"

"Aren't I always?"

"I'll get you food."

Days passed by in peace, though Ruby stayed wary. She was bed ridden, confined to the cot for most of her days with only opening a window being her only form of feeling the breeze of spring. Every time the door opened she firmly gripped the crossbow Regina agreed to let her keep close by. It was the older woman every single time but that didn't stop the wolf from almost putting an arrow between the woman's eyes.

Eventually the lack of excitement made her restless and after several days and nights Regina finally let her wolf free of her prison as she called it. Usually, opening the door would result in the younger woman changing form and running off into the woods, leaving Regina to occupy herself until she came back panting and happy to have a run. This time wasn't anything like that. Ruby transformed and left as usual but when Regina decided to settle down with a book for once after almost twenty years, she heard the distinct sound of Ruby's whimpering.

"I told you to take it slow," Regina scolded walking back with the younger woman. "You're lucky I could hear you all the way out here."

"Would you not have come for me?" Ruby questioned with a small smile as she focused hard on her footsteps. Every step was painful but she took pride in being able to walk herself even if she might wobble into a tree every now and again but it was certain better than the alternative. She didn't mind having someone to care for her but she drew a line between safe and at home and her dignity.

Regina elbowed her lightly, "Of course I would have but you're gone for hours at a time normally. You wouldn't like the state you'd be in if I had waited until I should've started to become concerned to come after you."

"I'll need a walking aid unfortunately."

"Says who?"

"I know I will. Unless you're volunteering yourself?"

"I'd rather not. We need to start training again. I'm sure this injury has messed up everything I've taught you."

"Not everything," the younger brunette said. Regina stopped walking and turned to her. She pulled her bow from her shoulder and snatched an arrow from her quiver, handing it to Ruby. The playful expression fell from the wolf's face as she took the weapon from her hands. After a quick glance around Ruby turned to her picked target, at a drastically slower pace than she had before, limping as she did and lined up her shot.

"Posture," Regina directed.

Ruby straightened herself up and instantly winced at the pain shooting up her leg and through her back. She bit down on her lip and swallowed the agony she was experiencing and kept her back straight. She pulled the arrow back slowly, trying not to show that Regina was right. Brown eyes glanced over to her shaking hand and she took a steeling breath.

"Stance," Regina ordered firmly.

Ruby thought to adjust herself but found she was stiffly in place and her proper stance was unobtainable. She tried to move her leg but it wouldn't budge. Pain flashed across her face and Regina's stern, mentor expression softened and she repeated, "Stance, pup."

The younger woman looked over to her and then back to her target. She released the arrow, feeling the feather fletching brush against her fingers. They both watched the arrow fly far from Ruby's intended destination and continued on until it hit another tree nowhere near the tree she wanted.

Her shoulders slumped and she dejectedly handed the bow back to the older woman. Regina took it from her and put a hand to her shoulder, "It's alright. We'll work it out."

"Don't move," a voice commanded from behind them. "Hands."

Regina dropped the bow and raised her hands as did Ruby. They listened closely as boots crunched against the twigs on the ground. Soon they were met with a tall man with dark hair and cold blue eyes. Regina looked at him closely noticing the haunted look in them. Not just anyone would have that kind of look.

He didn't speak, leaning close to Ruby and patting her down to check for weapons, with the crossbow in his other hand pointed at the older brunette. His hand grazed Ruby's inner thigh and she growled at him, unfazed by the action. He moved over to Regina to the same but after touching her waist, the brunette retaliated, moving to twist his wrist behind his back as her speed normally caught most off guard. However, he was just as fast and countered her movement taking his elbow to her cheek causing her to fall backward onto her hands.

"What do you want?" Regina questioned hostilely, wiping the blood from her lip.

"My bounty."

"Bounty? What bounty?" Ruby asked when Regina fell silent.

"You."

"Me? What do you want with me?"

"You're a runaway slave. Your masters want you back."

Ruby froze her mind drifting back to the suffering she had endured from them. She wouldn't go back to that, not after the freedom Regina had given her. But her refusal didn't stop the thoughts of what they'd done to her from flooding back. Her breathing picked up, looking the man in the eyes a frown beginning to form, "My masters? They should be dead by now. That was decades ago."

"Yes but you did escape from an estate. The family is very adamant about having you returned as well as others."

"They shouldn't know about me. I'm dead as far as they should be concerned."

"They know you were turned into a wolf. Now I don't have time to explain anything to you. We should get going." He pushed her with the crossbow causing her to stumble forward.

"Wait," Regina called. The man stopped and turning back to her. "A bounty hunter can be bought. What's your price?"

"Why does it matter to you?"

"She's mine," the older woman growled. He raised an eyebrow at her. "She's my pup. She's family…I'll pay your price."

"They'll send more than just me."

"You think you're the first. You're just the only one to get this close."

"Regina what are you talking about?" Ruby stepped closer to the woman, trying to mask her limp. "Tell me."

"Bounty hunters have always been after you. After that first year when I found you, I started to notice. I paid them off so they wouldn't hurt you. That's why the jewels and gold we stole would be gone."

"You wasted all those treasures on me? How could you be so stupid Regina?!"

"It wasn't a waste," Regina sighed. She turned back to the hunter, "What's your price?"

"I don't bargain," he said lining up the crossbow with Regina's forehead. Ruby took a breath and threw herself at him and they both went tumbling down. He was the first one and took a dagger from his boot but stopped feeling the shadow over him. Regina was hovering over them with her bow and arrow ready.

"Name."

"Graham."

"I should just kill you," Regina said walking around him.

"But you what? Don't like to kill?"

"Exactly."

"Then let me kill him." Ruby limped up to her and put her hand out for the bow.

"Pup-"

They erupted into an argument, their eyes leaving the man uncovered. He thought to get away and collect himself so he could go about setting up another plan but his eyes wandered over to Regina and the more she argued and her brow creased in frustration the more her face seemed so familiar. At the eye roll she gave realization hit him like a brick, a gasp escaped him unintentionally.

The pair looked down at him as he moved to kneel in front of Regina, "Princess."

Ruby frowned and looked to Regina and back down to him again, "Princess?"

"It's you, isn't it?" Graham asked standing up to them. Ruby eyed him suspiciously. "Regina."

She nodded silently and pulled up her sleeve, revealing the mark of her clan. He looked at it in awe and quickly moved to show his. Regina looked over it before accepting it for what it was and he bowed to her.

"Huntsman."

"My Queen."

"Queen?" Ruby questioned. "You're a queen? Regina why didn't you tell me this?"

"I'm not a queen."

"But you are. Your mother…she was killed." Ruby looked over to her companion expecting to see a flash of pain go through her but her face stayed stoic. She wanted to frown at that but Regina vaguely spoke of her mother and the few times she did were nothing great to hear. If anything the woman was terrible to her daughter in more ways than Ruby cared to think about. Graham, not caring for the brunette's lack of emotion, continued, "After your mother's passing, it had been too long to think you were still among the living. You'd been missing for over a century. No one was there to take the throne…no one wanted it."

"And what of the clan?"

"Scattered like strays. Why did you never return?"

"My mother wasn't a kind woman. I'm sure if you spent so much time with the clan you should have heard the rumors." Ruby stared at her friend intensely wanting to hear what had happened. "She murdered my lover…right in front of me...no remorse. All because she was a human. She was an innocence girl with no business chasing after me but I let her. She paid the price for my mistake."

"Of loving?"

"Of disobeying," Regina corrected with a rise in her voice.

"I'm sorry for your loss, my queen."

"Stop calling me that," Regina demanded in frustration.

"But-"

"I'm not going back."

"But you have to re-establish the clan."

"I don't have to do anything. I'm not going back."

"Well…" He started.

"Well?"

"Is this your clan now?" He said gesturing to Ruby. The younger woman glanced at Regina curiously. Regina looked at Ruby and gave her a small smile.

"Yes it is. So I won't return."

"So be it," Graham nodded, gathering his stuff. He looked at the women expectantly.

"What are you doing?" Ruby frowned.

"Obviously I'm coming with you. I'm a guardian. Forever bound to your clan and if this is your clan now, I shall serve and protect it with my life."

"Fine. You go first," Regina gesture in the direction of their cabin. He started walking without question causing Ruby's frown to deepen. Regina began to follow until Ruby grabbed her wrist.

"You're not serious are you? He could try to kill me or something…kill you."

"Pup, relax. As long as you are accepted as a part of my clan…my pack, he will only do what it takes to protect you and nothing else."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Elves. It was an ancient agreement. Elf tribes pledged their allegiance as guardians in exchange for refuge during the wars." Ruby looked at her in complete confusion. "It just stayed that way even when it was no longer necessary. Elves are very loyal beings almost more so than wolves. Since the agreement happened elven children have been bred to be hunters…protectors. As children they drink the blood of the clans they are meant to become a part of and are branded with the mark along with vampire children when they come of age."

"So…he's naturally going to protect anyone with your mark?"

"Yes," Regina confirmed gently grabbing Ruby's arm and pulling up her sleeve. She brushed her thumb over the black symbol inscribed on her forearm. "I promise you'll be safe."

"Okay, but only because I trust you." Regina touched her cheek and nodded. The wolf leaned into the warm touch just realizing how cold she'd been all this time.

"At least this way you have an immortal person to use for target practice," Regina chuckled pulling the wolf along to follow the huntsman. "He won't mind…"

"I guess I could learn to like him."

Ruby stood at the window of her bedroom, watching the sunrise. Graham had a smile on his face and he turned on his side, propping his head in his hand. She glance over her shoulder to him, rolling her eyes at his stare.

"It's hurting again isn't it?" He asked.

"A little. It's good thing I don't do a lot of ass kicking now, isn't it?" She laughed, moving back over to the bed, ignoring the throbbing in her leg.

"The quiet is nice. Just you and me. No hunters, no vampires."

"Graham!" She slapped him in the arm and he winced with a frown. "Regina is a vampire, you idiot."

"She's not the only vampire in the world. Probably not the only one in town."

"That doesn't help anything." Ruby sighed, throwing herself back into her pillows. "I feel bad."

"About?"

"Regina. We've been sleeping together for a long while and she hasn't been with anyone in like thirty years. We - you and me - we're happy together."

"What's your point?"

"Regina is alone. I can't really think about getting married with you while she's stuck in that big house with just herself." She tilted her head over to him with a serious expression. "You know how lonely she must be when we're not around..."

"Ruby." Graham sighed, scratching his head.

"I'm serious Graham. I know her. After all this time you haven't noticed the way she looks when we leave?"

"I…" He did notice. "I guess she…yeah, I do."

"I just feel terrible for hiding this from her and her not having anyone. Not trusting anyone enough to try and be with someone. I just know Emma is the one, I want her to see it."

"Ruby, you could tell her about us anytime you wanted."

"She'd never talk to me again. It's been fifteen years of hiding this from her."

"You're exaggerating." He breathed against her shoulder as he trailed his finger down her chest.

"But-" she started, but stopped as Graham moved and slipped his arm under her body and pulled her against him. Her hands pushed at his bare chest and allowed him the kiss he was seeking out.

"I will help you, if you really believe Emma is the woman who deserves Regina's heart."

"I do. I see it."

"Well I guess we'll just have to make her see it too…" The huntsman said softly before swiftly moving on top of her, settling his hips between her legs. He kissed her shoulder and then her temple before she shoved him for grazing his fingers against her sides. He leaned forward and captured her lips as she slipped her arms around his neck. "We'll do that after we actually make it out of bed."

"Of course you say that." She laughed.

"You love me."

"I've learned to like you."

"Whatever you say."

"Mom, what are you doing?" Henry scrunched up his nose as he pulled an arm into his shirt. Emma was pacing frantically across the room. "Mom?"

"What?"

"Why are you freaking out?" He questioned looking at her appearance. She always looked nice but today she looked like she was trying to impress. She was in a soft, off white silk shirt that he'd seen a grand total of two times, her best black skinny jeans, and heeled boots. She was definitely trying to impress someone. "I know what this is…"

Emma frowned at him and folded her arms across her chest. "What are you talking about?"

"This is about that lady, isn't it? The mayor?"

"What?! No!" He gave her a look and her shoulders deflated. "Is it that obvious?"

"So you are trying to impress her?"

"Well, yeah…" She watched a smirk grow on her son's face and she shook her head in rejection to whatever ideas were sprouting in his head. "Hey, it's not what you're thinking kid. I have a…job interview."

"She's going to be there and you want to look nice."

"Duh, she's gonna give me a job if I look nice and talk like a smart person. The least I can do is get one out of two things right."

"You are smart, Ma. You're just…awkward."

"Yeah, I got that part."

"It's okay to be nervous, you know." Henry tried his best to be encouraging as always though it never really worked. He pulled on his jacket and grabbed his bag. "You'll do fine."

She squinted at him and nodded. Suddenly she changed the topic. "Have you seen my contacts?"

"Uh oh…" The teen said.

"What? What 'uh oh'?"

"I may have left them on your dresser at home."

"What?! Henry!"

"You told me to make sure your retainer was in there and it was either that or the contacts and you have glasses. You're suitcase was really full."

"Henry, I need those."

"You have glasses. Once again I say, you'll be fine." He said leaving out of the room to continue his exploring of the town.

Emma dropped on her bed and glared at the pair of glasses on the dresser next to her duffle bag. She could barely see them but she knew they were there. Taunting her. Everything appearance wise was going fine until Henry dropped that bomb on her. Maybe she could get away without wearing them. She'd done fairly well getting ready without them so maybe she could get through the interview.

She sighed to herself and dropped her head in her hands. "I'm fucked…"

"Alright here's the plan…" Graham started. Regina shut him up with the raise of her hand.

"There is no plan. We're interviewing Miss Swan for a job position and that is all." Regina said firmly.

"I was just going to say: I talk; you try not to scare her."

Regina rolled her eyes but eventually nodded. Graham adjusted his tie and straightened his vest. The older woman quirked an eyebrow at him, watching as he ran a hand through his short hair. Clearing her throat, she sat down on the edge of his desk and settled her hands in her lap.

"So are you my competition?"

"Huh?"

"Ruby is intent on trying to set me up with this woman and now you seem…interested," the brunette said trying not to seem overly invested in this situation. She'd agreed to Ruby's terms so long as Graham wasn't involved in her plotting but knowing him he probably was though.

"You'd be wrong there, Mills. She's a pretty lady but not my type."

"Not your type?" Regina asked with an amusing smile appearing on her face. "What exactly is your type?"

He looked at her and turned around to her, placing both his hand on either side of her on the desk. She raised an eyebrow at him as he got really close to her face, their noses just barely touching. Even with the lack of space between them and a thick layer of sexual tension suddenly spiking in the room, Regina kept her amused grin.

"Do you really want to know the answer to that question?"

"Why not, Graham? What's the worst thing you could tell me?" Regina rolled her eyes. "You're gay? More for me."

"You wish that was my answer…"

"What is it?"

"You."

"Me?" The older woman questioned with a frown. She was confused.

"Yes. Being stuck with you has taught me plenty of things and one of them has been the appreciation of bad girls with dark secrets. So far they have been the most beautiful women I've ever seen."

"It's not necessarily a good thing to be attracted to." Regina sighed.

"I have a feeling about it. Just waiting for the right one…and fortunately for you and Ruby, it's not Emma Swan."

"Fortunately for me?" She asked as if it was a surprise that everyone was pushing her in the blonde's direction.

"For Ruby then." He laughed.

A knock sounded behind them and Graham stood up straight as Regina looked around him to see said blonde standing just outside of the office with a folder in her hand. Her eyes were squinted slightly and Regina looked at her skeptically before her eyes dropped down to her outfit. She looked really nice and for once Regina decided not to deny the thought.

Graham turned around and walked up to Emma and she looked up to him, taking the hand he offered her, "So you're the big city cop I've been hearing so much about. Graham Humbert, Storybrooke Sheriff."

Emma shook his hand and nodded with her best smile. "Emma…Emma Swan."

"Nice to meet you – officially – Emma. So sorry about spilling that drink on you the other night."

"It's alright. No harm done."

"Great. Uh, I'm sure knowing Ruby you've met my boss." He said gesturing towards Regina who was still perched on the desk. Emma tried her best not to squint at the blurry figure but she couldn't make out anything very distinctive about them but she knew she might have interrupted something between them considering how close they were to each other.

"Nice to see you again, Miss Swan."

The blonde's face drained at the voice. Sure she would've been okay with Graham wondering why she was squinting the whole time but having Regina there made the revelation of her contacts, her saving grace, being all the way in New York ten times worse.

"Hi…" Emma stuttered, instantly turning red. She couldn't sit through the interview without her glasses. Even though it was habit that she avoided eye contact with the woman she wanted to still see her face as if stealing glances at the woman was not already strange. "Could I…use the restroom before we get started?"

"Of course." Graham nodded. "Second door on your left."

"Thank you."

Emma rushed out and felt her way around the hallway knowing it was empty until she reached the second door and pushed it open. It was completely silent and she didn't think anyone else was inside so she made her way up to the sinks and looked into the mirror. A blur looked back at her and she sat the folder down in the space between the sinks, sighing to herself.

Everything was going wrong and even though she wasn't here looking for a job it would be nice to at least not look like a complete and total idiot during the interview. The blonde reached into her back pocket and pulled out her glasses. Solemnly, she slipped them onto her face and hesitated to look up at herself.

She sighed at herself. "I don't look terrible, I guess." Biting her lip, she decided to suck it up and get it over with. She grabbed the folder and exited the restroom, walking back to towards the waiting interviewers.

They both looked up at her from where they were. This time Graham was pacing in front of the woman instead of leaning down into her personal space, which brought Emma back to what she was sure she had walked in on. She was almost positive they had been kissing or at least something she wasn't supposed to be seeing. For some reason she didn't care to acknowledge, she felt her heart sink. But then another thought struck her. Neither of them sounded like they'd just been caught doing anything so maybe she just saw it wrong…could've been anything.

"Now down to business." Graham said sitting behind his desk as Regina moved over to the seat on the other side of the desk. Emma eyed the chair before taking a seat. She kept her eyes on Graham, busying herself with handing him the folder, as looking over to Regina meant acknowledging that the woman's chair was turned slightly towards her. "Emma Swan."

"Yes?" the blonde said nervously.

"Even though Ruby goes on and on about you, I'd like to hear about you."

"Okay…well um…" Emma looked down into her lap and took a breath. "Where do you want to start?"

"Anywhere you like. Anything you want us to know about you."

"I…I'm from Chicago. I moved around Boston and New York growing up."

"Where in Chicago?"

"Washington Park." Emma admitted quietly. Regina raised a curious eyebrow.

"Wicker Park." Graham said and they shared a grin with each other before the man threw a glance at Regina who was quiet. She wanted to roll her eyes, remembering the time they spent there in Chicago. "Anything else interesting about you, Chicago?"

"Well…I'm sure you already know but I went to prison when I was eighteen. My ex left me to take the fall for thousands of dollars' worth of stolen watches. It made it a little difficult to get a job afterwards…no one wants a criminal." Emma laughed humorlessly.

Graham nodded silently, giving her an understanding smile. Emma berated herself for letting all that spill out. It never just slipped out of her so easily even when she was drunk but something about them, it was just hard for her to think they would use that against her. Still she regretted the confession.

"I see you've come a long way since, Emma. Top of your class. Was that your motivation?"

"No, actually…I…I did it for my son, Henry. I wanted him to be proud of me. Someone to look up to." Graham thought to speak but shot Regina a quick glare because of quietness that he was sure was making the blonde woman even more nervous.

Regina rolled her eyes at him and cleared her throat. "You've done a wonderful job. I'm sure he's very proud."

"Thanks." Emma flashed a shy smile in the older woman's direction.

"So I see here that you were a bail bondsperson for two years after six months at a tech company?" Emma nodded her confirmation. "And Park Ranger for three months. Very nice. Admittedly, yes you are more qualified than I am. Especially on paper. I think I'm sold but I guess we have to stick to policy and all that. Why do you want the job?"

"I'm all for new experiences…I guess. I mean, didn't really give the job much thought when I got here." Emma started but she quickly moved to correct herself. "I'd still love the opportunity to…it was just…unexpected."

"Why are you here?" Regina asked catching the other two in the room off guard. Emma shrunk down in her chair slightly and opened her mouth to speak.

"I…I don't-"

"What brought you to Storybrooke?"

"I needed a change of scenery I guess. I moved so much as a kid, it kind of became a habit for me. I wanted to take the summer and think things over. About moving. My boss, Robert Gold, he suggested this place to relax."

Graham and Regina exchanged a look before looking back to the nervous blonde. Regina adjusted herself in her chair and cross a leg over the other. Emma caught the movement and tried not to stare at the stocking clad leg as it moved but failed miserably as her eyes roamed over to the other leg and then down to the intimidating stilettos on her feet.

Graham noticed the brunette becoming uncomfortable under Emma's intrigued gaze and smirked at her. He tried not to enjoy it but it was actually satisfying that Ruby was right about most of this. He cleared his throat, breaking the women away from their thoughts. "Well, I believe we have all we need."

"Yes." Regina nodded catching Emma's eye as she looked up at her. The blonde blushed intensely before turning away. "You should receive a call with a final decision in the next few days."

"Okay." Emma nodded and pushed her glasses up her nose before getting out of her chair. "Thank you for seeing me."

"Of course." Graham got up and walked her out of the office. "Nice meeting you again, Emma."

Regina watched them go and shook her head. Ruby wouldn't be right about anything. She had no feelings for this woman at all and that would not change no matter how strange it felt to be in the same room with her. Feelings she no longer identified with herself started to sprout and Regina Mills absolutely did not do feelings of any form.

"What's with the brooding city girl?" Ruby questioned with a grin as she dropped down in the seat next to the blonde. Emma looked over to her with a slightly disappointed expression. Her eyebrows rose in surprise before she flashed a sympathetic smile to the younger woman in her glasses. "What's wrong, Em?"

"Nothing." Emma mumbled hunched over her glass pushing the black frames up her nose.

Ruby looked to the glass and inspected it. A tumbler filled to the brim with what distinctly smelt like Jack Daniel's on the rocks. She had no clue what had brought this on. She blew out a breath, whistling lightly as she gestured to Oliver for a beer. "That bad huh?"

"Hm?" the blonde knitted her brow in confusion as she looked up from her drink.

"Jack Daniel's on the rocks only means one thing to me: Fucked. So who screwed you over today?" Emma shook her head. Ruby elbowed her lightly. "Hey, come on. You can tell me. I'll rough them up and tell them to quit fucking with the new Sheriff."

Suddenly, Emma's expression turned into a grimace and the brunette looked at her in surprise as she shot her head back down to her drink. She deflated at the realization that it was about getting the job. She didn't want it in the beginning but something must have motivated her to really want to go for. She secretly hoped Emma's issues had something to do with Regina.

"This is about the job?" Ruby asked.

"Yeah." Emma muttered.

"What about it?" Oliver slipped over and pushed a drink in from of her before moving on to the next customer. "Something happen?"

"No…"

"I-"

"That's the problem." Emma said, finally giving the wolf more than a one word response. "Nothing's happened."

"What did you want to happen?"

"They said they'd call about the final decision…it's been three days. I thought you said I was the only one even qualified to do it."

"You are." Ruby assured putting a hand to her arm. "But just because you're the best out there, doesn't mean they shouldn't follow policy…think it over even though there's no reason to."

"But what if…what if I don't get it?"

"Why wouldn't you have gotten the job?"

Emma looked at the frown on her friend's face and then sighed. "Because…I kind of let everything spill out. Being an orphan and going to prison…"

"Emma-"

"They probably think I'm an emotionally unstable criminal."

"What did you go to prison for? You never told me that about you."

"My ex stole some thousand dollar watches and left me to take the fall for him. I found out I was pregnant there."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Em. That guy sounds like an asshole."

"It's fine…I don't regret having Henry." Emma said softly. Ruby moved her hand to the blonde's back in a comforting gesture and Emma didn't pull away from it. "I really messed up this interview…"

"It's okay to have a messed up past, Emma. I promise it is. Regina and Graham will understand that it doesn't affect how you do your job. It's obvious from all the kickass stuff you did back in New York, right?"

"I…I don't know. I've never blurted out that stuff before, especially not in front of someone who I was asking for a job."

"It'll be fine, babe."

"Just forget it…"

Before Ruby could overlook the dismissal of the subject like she always did, Emma moved away from her hand and reached into her pocket to grab her phone. Ruby eyed it curiously while the blonde just frowned at it, considering putting it back in her pocket and disregarding it. She moved to do so but Ruby reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Could be good news for all you know…"

"It's an unknown number."

"What's the worst that could happen if you answer it? You could always hang up if you don't like what you hear."

"Fine." Emma sighed. She pulled the phone up to her ear as she answered the call. "Emma Swan."

"Emma." Graham's voice called out through the speaker. "Good thing…I thought this might have been the wrong number for a second there."

"It's me." the blonde replied awkwardly. "How can I help you, Mr. Humbert?"

"Please, call me Graham. I just wanted to call and let you know that if you're still interested, we'd very much appreciate it if you would take the position as Sheriff."

"What…?" Emma questioned, slack jawed and completely caught off guard by his words.

"Obviously, you know, you're the best…and only candidate. You got the job, Chicago."

"I…I did?"

"Yes." Graham smirked as he sat back with his feet propped up on the coffee table in Regina's living room.

The brunette beside him was too caught up in the movie playing on the tv in front of them in shorts and a black wife beater that hung down to her knees. He was definitely tempted to give that bit of information to the blonde on the other end and give her a visual of the woman that wasn't as terrifying. He rolled his eyes to himself at the thought. Too much time with Ruby could do that to a person.

"But I – but…why?" Emma questioned with a frown.

"Well…" he glanced over to the older woman next to him still preoccupied with the popcorn in her lap to tune into the conversation. "The mayor liked you."

Emma's eyes widened at the statement and she felt her breath catch in her throat. The terrifying, beautiful woman actually like her? It was almost too good to be true. She shook out of her thoughts hearing the man on the other end hiss in pain and she was sure she heard the brunette's name escape him in a scolding manner.

"So anyway…congratulations, Miss Swan."

"Thank…thanks."

"If you'd like, we could go over your salary and all the other little details tomorrow morning. Maybe I could show you around town to get a feel for things and you can clock in a few hours tomorrow."

"That sounds great. Thank you."

"Alright, so bright and early at 7 then?"

"Perfect."

"See you then. Have a good night Emma."

"Thanks. You too." Emma ended the call and then turned to Ruby.

"So…?" the brunette asked with a smirk on her face.

"I got the job. I start in the morning."

"What did I tell you?"

"Yeah I know. You were right." Emma reached over and grabbed the woman's drink and switch it with hers. Ruby raised an eyebrow her and shoved her playfully. The blonde confidently pushed her glasses up her nose. "I'm feeling better now."

"Good to hear, blondie." Ruby chuckled. "So…shots?"

"Why not? I'm in a good mood. Shots on me." Emma nodded.

"Awesome…but not too many, Em. You start your first day tomorrow."

A knock sounded at the door and the two brunettes looked away from the tv. Graham quickly went back to shoveling popcorn in his mouth implying that he wasn't going to get it and Regina rolled her eyes and got up from the couch, pushing the bowl into his lap as she stood. She fought off a shiver at the cold that shot through her when her bare feet connected with the hardwood.

She pulled the door open and expected to hear an excuse on why Ruby didn't have the key she had reluctantly given her. Instead the first thing that happened when she opened the door was the wind being knocked out of her. In a blink she found herself stumbling, struggling to keep her balance as the younger woman she was expecting pounced on her.

"What the-" Regina started glaring intensely at the brunette now in her arms.

"You know I love you right?" Ruby said throwing her arms around the older woman and kissing her all over her face. Graham tore his eyes away from tv and looked over to the foyer, his face breaking out into an overly amused smile. Regina was frowning at Ruby who she was holding in her arms bridal style.

"What the hell are you doing?" The older brunette questioned.

"You made her so happy."

"Ruby-"

"Emma was so depressed until she got that call. She said that Graham said you liked her."

Graham cleared his throat to stop it from going any further. "Wolfie, I'm going to have to ask you to please remove yourself from Regina. If you break her, we're kind of screwed if something goes wrong."

"Right." Ruby nodded pulling away from the woman who willingly put her down. "You're great y'know…awesome."

Regina narrowed her eyes at her. "Don't do that again."

"Yeah, sorry. I just got a little excited. Thanks though. She was so happy. Glad to know you haven't completely lost your soul." The younger woman pinched her cheek only to have it swatted away. "Look at you. I can see the mischief brewing in your eyes again. There's my old Gina."

"Doubt it." Graham snorted. "Any mischief you see is probably from the movie."

Regina rolled her eyes and walked back into the living room to settle back down into her spot on the couch. Ruby kicked off her boots and tossed her jacket onto the coat rack. She followed behind the older woman and dropped down in the spot right next to her leaving Regina stuck between herself and Graham.

"So what are we watching?" Ruby put her legs up over Regina's lap and the brunette just lifted the popcorn out of the way before sitting it back down on top of her legs.

"Salt…again." Graham replied, faking a tired sigh.

"Shh." Regina hissed.

"She's cute when really into a movie." Ruby snickered over to him. Graham chuckled, grabbing a handful of popcorn.

"Shh." Regina threw a glare at both of them. "You two keep talking…"

"Sorry." Ruby muttered sheepishly but then smiled ready to start planning a way to get Regina to fall in love with the new sheriff.