Wednesday 6th December 2017

Emma was in an excellent mood today. Even the handover with Killian went great. Her day seemed to heading off to a great start and she couldn't be more thrilled. Her thoughts kept coming back to the chocolate brown eyes and those luscious full lips that belonged to Regina Mills. That woman was all Emma could think of and that made her smile never leave her face.

Ruby was ever insistent in knowing the details and Emma was in that good of a mood that she decided to finally spill half way through the day.

"I kissed Regina" she said with the biggest grin on her face.

Ruby looked absolutely gob smacked, "no way!"

Emma just smirked at her, "yes way. And it was great"

"oh you so have to tell me more! Did you … you know … bang her?" Ruby said over eagerly as she quickly took the seat opposite Emma's desk.

Emma scoffed at her, "you're so vulgar Rubes"

"we know that already… but did you?"

Emma continued to type away at her computer, "no we didn't 'bang'"

"why not?"

Emma deadpanned at her "because I like to take things slow"

"pssht… we're all adults, this ain't high school. If you like the woman, just bang her. You'll both be happier for it"

Emma looked at Ruby in horror, "hey! Don't compare me to an adolescent! I have been raised to court a woman before we go to bed. I like to know someone before we sleep together"

"this is 2017 Em. No one 'courts' anyone these days"

"well I do!" Emma said offended, "so lay off… please"

"yeah, whatever. So are you taking her and her kid to the street party?" Ruby decided to ease up.

"I haven't thought that far ahead yet, I was only going to do the Sheriff thing and then bounce"

"you should totally ask her. I'm sure the kid would love it"

Emma smiled at the thought of showing Henry how to shoot down the ducks at the shooting booth, "yeah I just might"

The two women looked to the doorway as they heard a woman clear her throat as she knocked on the door. Ruby looked the new taller blonde up and down and smiled at her, completely oblivious to the shocked face that etched over the Sheriffs.

"howdy ma'am, how can we help you today?" Ruby said a little too flirtatiously.

The woman smiled at her sweetly before making eye contact with Emma, "I'm actually here to see the Sheriff"

Ruby finally looked over to Emma and saw the look she was giving the woman, she frowned at her in thought "you alright boss?"

Emma shook herself out of her stupor, "yeah, I'm good. Can you give us a moment?"

Ruby stood slowly as she watched the two women stare each other down, "yeah, no worries. You know where to find me if you need me".

"Thanks Rubes, close the door on the way out please" Emma watched Ruby watching them as she left. The door closing behind her firming as she departed. Emma waited until Ruby sat at her desk before she next spoke.

"what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see how you are." The woman said a little too sweetly.

"I'm fine. What are you really doing here?"

"Em. I know this time of year is hard for you. You're in a new town with new people around you that don't know what it's like for you. I wanted to see if you are okay" she took a seat on the edge of Emma's desk "and I missed you"

"you don't get to say that" Emma gruffed as she showed that she was starting to get annoyed.

"say what?"

"any of that!" she said louder than she intended.

"don't be like that please. I really do miss you Emma" she reached out and placed a hand on Emma's arm.

Emma instantly recoiled it and pushed herself away from the desk "don't. touch. Me"

"are we really going to go through all that again?" the woman said in a clipped tone

"yes Elsa! We are! I've told you so many times why I don't like it and yet you still do it!"

Elsa took a deep breath and faced herself more towards Emma "look, I'm sorry ok. I won't do that again. I really do miss you. We were always friends in the end. I just wanted to make sure you're alright"

Emma softened at the sincerity of her tone, "I'm fine, thank you. But why didn't you just call? You didn't have to drive all the way here."

"I wanted to see you. Like I said, I missed you"

Emma nodded her head and placed her feet up on the desk, crossing them at the ankles as she leant back in her chair. "right. You said that." It got awkward instantly and Emma wanted to fix it, "I'm due for my lunch break shortly, did you want to go grab something to eat? The local diner is a hit in this place and they make a mean grilled cheese. We can talk there"

Elsa smiled at Emma fondly, "that sounds great"

Emma smiled back, fuck this is so weird. She began to wriggle her foot, which grabbed the attention of the other blonde.

"I like your boots, where did you get them from?" Elsa said as she began to run her finger along the sole.

Emma was just putting her feet down as the door opened up fully. Her face was surprised as she saw who was entering.

"Regina" she stuttered out with a goofy grin

Regina frowned as she took in the scene in front of her, her eyes darting from one blonde to the other, "I can come back" she began to retreat and close the door again but was beat as Emma bolted up and grabbed her hand to stop her.

Emma stepped out the doorway and smiled at her as she ran her hand up and down Regina's arm "hi" she said breathlessly.

Regina scrunched her eyebrows at her, "who is that?" she asked suspiciously.

Emma took a step back as she scratched the back of her neck, "ummm… you wouldn't believe it. but that's Elsa."

Regina looked at Emma, her expressions unreadable "right. So what is she doing here?" her voice seemed a lot more sterner than it usually is.

Is that jealousy? Emma shrugged "she was just checking up on me. Wanted to see if I was ok, given the time of year and all. Wasn't sure if I would be handling myself in the new town"

Regina looked back into the room and saw that the woman now made herself more comfortable sitting on the desk. She shook her head and looked back at Emma, "I came to see if you wanted to come to lunch with me? i had some free time and thought to seize the opportunity."

Emma scratched at her neck again as she rocked herself on her heels, "I kinda already asked Elsa to join me for lunch. We can catch up this afternoon after I knock off, if you'd like? Elsa would have a fit if I changed plans. I'd rather not cause a scene."

"that's understandable. I must ask though, should I be worried?"

Emma scrunched her nose and gave her a cheeky grin "nah. You've got nothing to worry about."

Regina looked skeptical as she glanced at the other blonde.

Emma nudged her with her shoulder, "I only have eyes for you, don't stress it"

"ok" Regina said bashfully, she took a small step closer to Emma "can I kiss you?"

Emma blushed as she took a step back, "later?" she said with hopeful eyes and her cheeky smirk, finishing it with a lip bit as she looked at Regina's lips.

That caused a big smile to erupt onto Regina's face "I'll hold you to that"

"good! I'll see you this afternoon"

"so who was that woman that interrupted us at your office?"

Emma frowned at Elsa, maybe it wasn't such a good idea to bring her to lunch "that's Regina"

"is she your new girlfriend?"

"she could be. It's still quite new"

Elsa hummed as a reply, showing disinterested as she took a bite out of her burger.

Emma studied her for a moment, thinking of no easy approach, she asked her straight forward "how long are you here for?"

She smiled up at her, going to reach for Emma's hand but changed direction to her drink as Emma placed her hands under the table "for as long as you need me. I can stay until the new year if you like?"

Emma's eyes dilated in mortification, "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but I would rather you not. I love my life how it is now and I don't need you to throw a spanner into the works"

"what exactly is that supposed to mean Emma?" anger was easily approaching up on Elsa

Emma ignored her tone "it means that I am happy Elsa" she said with a smile

"right" she scoffed

"see. This is exactly what I don't want. You always thought you knew what was going on in my head but you don't. I'm not the same person you use to know, and I know you know that. You can't change me into a person I use to be and you can't be in my life anymore."

"why? I still want you in my life"

"I'm sorry, but I can't have you in mine. You hurt me too much for that to ever happen. Not even as friends."

"what did I do so terribly wrong that you want to push what we had away?"

"YOU pushed me away, YOU kicked me out, YOU gave me no choice"

"we both have done things we're not proud of. Don't act like you're not to blame with the break up as well"

Emma calmed herself, noticing that a few other patrons looking their way, "look, Elsa. I don't want to fight you on this. I am happy. I have gotten over you and I am genuinely doing great in my life. What we had, it used to be special. We had an amazing relationship and I did want to spend my life with you. But when everything happened and Mom got sick, I changed. We both know that. At that time in my life, I couldn't deal with everything so I shut it all out. But now I am healed and I am now moving on in my life. I have the job of my dreams, I live in a small town like I always dreamt of and I am so happy. My life in Boston was tying me down. I was in a constant reminder of what use to be. But when I moved here, that all lifted. I am making new friends, who know about Mom by the way, and they're helping me through it all. I don't need you coming in here and trying to claim me like you know who I am anyone, because I'm sorry but you don't"

Elsa stared at Emma and took in what she was saying. She hadn't expected that at all. "why can't we be friends?"

"because you hurt me more than anyone ever has. You took away the last resemblance of my life. It was like my life hit reset but I still kept all the emotional damage. You didn't even give me a choice. You made the decision for the both of us." Emma took a deep breath and looked into Elsa's eyes, "but I do want to say thank you. We were miserable. The life we had, we were barely living. I was in such a rut and I didn't even know it. I know I'm a creature of habit, and that'll never change but what we had was just sad. Now... Now I am happy. I can't say it enough because it still shocks me when I acknowledge it"

"its good to know that you were so miserable with me" Elsa said as she frowned at her empty plate.

Emma kept her tone small "you were just as miserable and you know it. I'm not trying to blame it all on you, because we both fucked up. I know that, and I own that. But like I said, I have a new life now -"

"and you're happy. Yeah I get it" Elsa was clearly getting agitated again

"you can be too. I thought you'd found someone new? Your sister mentioned some red head Scottish chick, what happened there?"

"Merida? That was ages ago" she laughed and it isn't lifted her mood "that was pure disaster. It was like fire and ice, not in the apparent good way. Either her fire drowned me out or I extinguished her flame. We were so not compatible."

They both laughed at that.

"so what about work? How's that all going?"

They settled into an easy conversation for the rest of Emma's break. The subject of their past finally had the book closed on. They spoke about their new jobs and how they were excited for the new year to come. It eased Emma to know that Elsa was doing ok and was hoping this was their final goodbye. They'd done their parts in each other's lives and now it was a time to finally close that book too. It pained her to watch Elsa drive off back to Boston, back to a life that Emma only knows as a distance long forgotten story now. But she smiled. Her life now, she was happy to be living.

Emma made it back in time to the office for Ruby to take her break. It only took a glace for her to know that Ruby was going to question her when she'd gotten back from her lunch. Emma caught up in her paperwork within the first 15 minutes alone in the office and decided to text Regina while she waited for Ruby's return.

Emma – Hey Beautiful x

Regina – Hey yourself :-)

Emma – Sorry about earlier. I would of much preferred to have lunch with you.

Regina – how'd it go? She beg you to take her back?

Emma – hahaha! No, but she did ask if we could be friends.

Regina – she's really pretty

Regina – I wasn't meant to send that. Stupid phone sent, instead of delete. :-Z

Emma – she is. But you're prettier

Regina – articulate as always

Emma – you like me for it ;-P

Regina – yes I do. So we're meeting at the park after 4?

Emma's head shot up from her phone when she heard the front door crash open. Ruby came running back into the station in a mad rush, panic stricken all over her face. "a kid has fallen down an old mine shaft. Grab Bonnie and we've got to go!"

Emma had no time to think. She grabbed her phone, badge, gun & keys from her top drawer and took off with speed to the cruiser.

8 Hours had passed when she finally is able to finish her duty. Herself and Bonnie had entered the mine and found the 10 year old boy down there. It had taken them 4 hours to be able to find him, remove the ruble and then lift him out. It was another 2 up at the hospital, filling the paper work out and taking the statements and then another 2 hours to process it all into the system.

The young sheriff was exhausted by the time she'd gotten home. She didn't even think to check her phone until she pulled up in her drive way. She was in complete shock by what she'd read.

03:18 - Henry would like to say 'hey Sherf, can't wait to see you and your doggie'. He is VERY excited to see you both.

03:42 – we are here already. I got us a table near the playground. Looking forward to seeing you darling. x

04:22 - Are you still meeting us at the park?

05:30 - It's getting late. Henry and I are heading home.

06:45 - Is everything okay?

08:38 - I can't do this Emma. Any of this.

Emma looks at the time. 09:02pm. Its not too late, she decides to ring Regina. She can ring the woman and explain the afternoon to her and she'd understand. She rings. It rings twice and then she receives a dial tone. She tries again and its straight to message bank, she's turned her phone off.

In that instant, Emma makes her decision. She opens her door to let the dog out, she turns her car back on and shifts it in to reverse. No way is she going to let Regina think that she's rejected her. No way is she going to let this woman think, even for a night, that she isn't wanted.