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Ruby yawned. It was way too early for her linking but she had willingly accepted the early shift at the diner because it was her turn at caring for Regina in the afternoon. Although it was very early Ruby was in a good mood. Surprisingly Emma hadn't come to get her usual order today but she had called and she had told her about the conversation Regina and she had. Emma did even apologize for being –in her words- a dumbass. Ruby had wondered where Emma's change of mind came from but she didn't ask. If the blonde would have wanted to tell her she would have. At the beginning she had been angry because of Emma's zigzag course but after Emma promised Ruby that she truly meant it and proposed that at their next ladies' night Ruby's drinks would be on her as an apology Ruby had pulled herself together and accepted the offered hand.
The doorbell rang and when Ruby looked up she saw Neal entering the diner. He didn't look very happy, to be honest quite the contrary.
"Good morning, Neal. What can I get you?" Ruby said lacking the usual cheer in her voice.
"What did you tell Emma? Emma said it was you who put ideas into her head!"
"I don't know what you are talking about Neal."
"I'm talking about the whole moving in with Regina to care for her, blablabla!" Neal almost shouted and slammed down his fist onto the counter. Ruby tried not to show her surprise. Ruby hadn't said anything about moving in with the injured former Evil Queen.
'Strange' Ruby thought but decided to play along.
"Okay but why are you here? Isn't this something that you should talk about with your wife and not with me?" Ruby asked leaning heavily against the counter.
"Well, that's what I would like to do but can't because my wife refuses to talk with me!" If possible Neal's face became even redder and for a moment Ruby found herself worrying if his heart might explode.
"Aha and why is that so?"
"That's none of your business and it was nothing big." Neal huffed and gripped the counter so hard that his knuckles turned white.
"So my advice is let her be and if it's truly only peanuts that the two of you were fighting about she'll eventually come around" Ruby rolled her eyes and could hardly suppress a smirk. She didn't like Neal and hearing that Emma had moved out after only being married to him for a couple of hours amused her immensely.
"Try not to enjoy this too much, puppy." Neal hissed and stormed out of the diner. Ruby shook her head just as her grandmother entered the diner from the back room.
"Ruby, is everything alright?" She frowned. Ruby chuckled quietly and nodded. Granny could read her granddaughter like an open book so she knew that something happened but she trusted Ruby to come to her if she needed anything.
"I've made soup that you can take with you when you are going over to Regina's" Granny said and put a steaming pot on the counter.
"I will thank you."
At the mansion Emma, Regina and Henry were having breakfast. Normally Regina was strictly against eating in the living room but then living up to her own standards would mean to stand up from the cozy couch and move to the dining table so she could make an exception she supposed. That's why Emma and Henry were sitting on the floor their plates sitting on the coffee table while Regina was sitting on the couch her plate in her lap. Regina was quite tired due to the fact that she was hardly able to sleep because breathing still hurt and she wasn't able to turn around on her own. So she let her head rest against the couch and closed her eyes for a few moments.
"Regina if you are tired you should take a nap you know." Emma said and smiled at the brunette across from her. Regina nodded and smiled back.
"Yes, I think that's what I'm going to do. Could you help me to get upstairs?" Regina asked. Only a couple of month ago I'd have killed her to ask for help like that and make herself vulnerable.
"Sure thing" Emma stood up went over to Regina and helped her stand up. The brunette put an arm around Regina's neck and let herself be supported. It took them long to get Regina upstairs because they had to pause every five meters because Regina was out of breath. As soon as Regina was tucked in and Emma had placed a kiss on Regina's forehead again she made her way downstairs. The rest of the morning she spent tidying up the house and doing the laundry. It was in the early afternoon that Henry came out of the living room and approached her.
"Hey mom, I'm going over to Hensel's okay?"
"Sure, kid. But please be back on time." Henry nodded and hugged her as a good bye. Not even five minutes after Henry had closed the door behind himself someone rang. Emma flinched and ran to the door to prevent the visitor from further actions that could wake the former Evil Queen taking a nap upstairs. The first thing Emma noticed when she opened the door was the penetrating stench of alcohol. Lots of alcohol. The she saw the person it was radiating from. Neal. A very angry Neal.
"What are you doing here?" Emma hissed quietly.
"Emma, you can't just walk out on me like that. I'm your husband and I will make sure you remember that." Neal growled and slammed down his fist against the door.
"Neal, Regina is sleeping upstairs and I want you to go home now." Anger was boiling inside the blonde as well.
"No, I won't go home. I won't leave before I've taught you a lesson!" Then Neal pushed Emma back inside the house and entered as well.
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