That Night...

Emma was up in her room getting dressed for the party tonight and surprisingly nobody had come in and talked to her about the kiss she shared with Richard that morning. She was not sorry that she kissed him because she had liked him for a while, and she couldn't resist any longer. As soon as she finished dressing she looked at herself in the mirror, she was wearing a black short skirt, and a red top tonight. It was not very often Emma wore a dress or a skirt but Ava and Leo insisted she wear one tonight. Just as she as about to finish her hair Mary came in with a concerned look on her face. Emma knew that it was coming but she was hoping nobody would make a big deal of it.

"I know what you're going to say Mare, and honestly I don't want to hear it." Emma said

"Emma you need to listen to me about this okay. I have lived in this town for a while and I know these people better than you do." Mary said

"No you don't know them, you know what you have heard. You don't know what Richard does everyday, or what he goes through everyday. He isn't his father Mare, and people seem to forget that." Emma said angrily

"Emma I know he may seem great because he's older, good-looking, and paying you attention but you need to open your eyes." Mary said

"Get out of my room. I don't want to hear the ' you just want to protect me' crap alright? I have taken care of myself for two years and Richard just gets me with out trying to get an explanation out of me. He knows that I will talk about it when I want to talk about it. I can't believe you of all people are going to sit here and tell me that I shouldn't get to know someone and just judge them instead." Emma spat out

"Emma I know you must have gone through hell but Richard Gold is not the guy who is going to save you." Mary said

"You don't know anything. Nobody in this town has given him a chance, because his father is that way his son is that way. He is a good guy, and an amazing father to Neal. I don't get why people can't see that." Emma said sadly

Mary didn't say anything more to that she just walked out of the room and left Emma to her thoughts.

During the party Emma was just there, and she didn't feel like celebrating because of all the looks she had got. Emma just put on a smile and kept going on with the party, she was talking with Mary and David when Leo and Ava came looking for her. Emma went into the kitchen with them so they could talk in private.

"Emma it seems there is one topic of discussion here tonight." Leo said

"I know and I'm sorry you have to hear it, but I am not going to change my mind about it. I don't regret what I did either." Emma said

"Emma be careful with who you spend your time with here." Leo said

"I don't mean any disrespect but I am going to say this just once. Nobody here really knows Richard for who he is, they just know him for what his father has done and that is not fair. You have no idea what his father has put him through, and what he has to do everyday of his life. Is he the easiest person in the world to talk to? No, but he not the monster everyone in this town makes him out . I see that he is more and if you don't like it I'm sorry, but I won't stop liking him because people think he's evil." Emma said bluntly

"Emma sweet heart you're right." Ava said

"What?" Leo and Emma both said

"Emma is right. Nobody talks to Richard because his father has made it quite clear that nobody was to interfere with him under any circumstances. Look what he did when Richards girlfriend was pregnant he made sure that she went away, and now Richard is raising his boy alone. Emma is the first one in this town brave enough to get to know him. On the other hand Emma people fear Richard because if they befriend him, his father will go after them. He wants his son isolated for whatever reason, and if someone is in the way of that then he will take action. That is why we're concerned." Ava explained

"I really like him. I can't help it, especially when I see him with Neal." Emma said

"You are the first person other than Richard to hold, and love that child. I bet you have flipped his world upside down, and just be careful. If you are anything like your sister then I know there is nothing we can do to keep you two apart. Just know that if Colin Gold does anything to come after you, then I want you to come straight to us." Ava said

"Yes, don't try to handle it yourself, or if he threatens Richard don't do anything yourself. You tell Richard about it, or you come and talk to us first do you understand?" Leo asked

"I understand. I thought you two would be really angry about it." Emma said honestly

"No, we're not mad about it Emma. We understand what you are feeling, and we don't get in the way of true love." Ava said

"I don't know about love yet, but I can see it going there." Emma said honestly

"Okay well how about we get back to the party, and try to divert the conversation." Leo said

They three of them went back to the guests and started talking about the food, the wine, and trying to talk about Emma but it was no use. Emma was with her friends for a while talking and laughing about everything they could think of, and she was actually having a great time.

THE NEXT DAY...

Emma sat in her room on a Sunday morning just watching the clouds in the sky. She was still in her pajamas which were a pair of sweats, a tank top, and a hoodie. She didn't feel like getting dressed or even leaving her room today, but she heard Ava calling her down for breakfast, reluctantly Emma pulled herself out of her spot and walked down stairs for breakfast. Emma didn't want them to know how much the things people were saying last night affected her, but it was sort of obvious. She sat down at the breakfast table and started to eat her food while the others started talking. Mary was telling them that David was taking her on a picnic today, and that it was their anniversary of the first day they met. Emma was glad to see that her sister was so happy in this life, and Emma was starting to feel happy as well.

"So Emma what do you have planned for today?" Leo asked

"Don't know, I thought I would just go running in the park today." Emma said

"You are just going to go running all day?" Ava asked

"Yeah, I thought it would give me some time away from the whispers of town." Emma said

"Right. I'm sorry." Leo said

"You're not to blame for all the close minded people." Emma said

They finished their breakfast after changing the subject, and Emma went to get changed for her run. She was getting to a good rhythm, lost in her own little world. It was a really nice day in Storybrooke, and she was taking that all in. She stopped to do some stretches and had her headphones on, so she didn't hear Richard calling to her. When he went and touched her shoulder she jumped and grabbed his arm tightly, but gasped when she saw who it was.

"Oh geez I am so sorry." Emma said shocked

"Don't worry about it, I guess you couldn't hear me." He smiled

"Yeah sorry about that, I was just thinking." Emma replied

"Do you want me to go?" He asked sweetly

"No. Actually I wanted to talk to you about the kiss." Emma said

"Emma you don't have to say anything about it alright, if you just want to forget that anything happened I will understand." Richard said

"I don't want to take anything back Ricky. I want to do more of that kissing with you actually, I enjoyed it." Emma said

"You...You did?" He asked

"Don't seem so shocked by it. Yes, I enjoyed it, and yes I would like for it to happen again. That is if you are okay with that." Emma said

"I'm more than okay with that." Gold said putting his arms around Emma.

Emma leaned up and bit and brought their lips together in a sweet kiss. She put her hands through his hair, and pulled him closer to her. It was the greatest feeling of happiness he had felt in a long time, and he was so glad that it was with Emma.

AN: Here is another chapter for all of you. Thank you for the reviews, and I hope you leave some more after this chapter.