Chapter 7

Laying flat out on the couch in the backroom, Emma felt a soft object smack her on the face causing her to wake in a shock. Glancing up at the figure standing over her, she frowns confused. The man drops the cushion back down and heads to the door. " your shift started ten minutes ago! I want you out the front now!"

Emma sits up rubbing her head trying to figure out how she had ended up passed out on the couch, probably too busy cleaning the stink of a bar until the early hours even though her shift had ended well before then. Standing up, she grabs her bag off the floor and quick produces a new top which she luckily always carries in case of an unfortunate incident such as a customer walking straight into her with a fresh drink in their hand. Something which had happened the previous week. Walking to the door, Emma takes a breath to prepare herself for another long day. What made it worse was the bar wasn't even open yet but still there was work to do, bosses orders which she was sure he made up half to time to get her to start earlier or stay late. Basic slavery. Heading out to the front Emma looks around frowning. Something just didn't add up and this was all too familiar for her liking. Going behind the bar, she starts to check the stock still trying to piece together whatever the hell it was she was forgetting.

"hey Frank?"

Frank looks over from his paperwork at the blonde unimpressed that she is disrupting his work." what do you want?"

Emma notices the look but continues as if she hasn't. "how long have I worked here?"

Frank sighs putting his folder down glaring. "what kind of question is that? you've always worked here!"

Emma bites her lip curious." so I haven't worked anywhere else...before?"

Frank looks frustrated." no..you haven't you turned up here like some stray for work, god knows why I agreed you still don't do your job properly now get on with it I want to open on time you know how the mayor gets if things are not run on time!"

Emma looks at him a moment and just nods getting back to her work muttering to herself."..mayor.." frowning wondering if she knows who he is talking about." surely I've met them before.."

Frank glares again." Swan! stop talking to yourself and get on with it! do you want to be out on your ear?!"

Emma gulps and shakes her head finishing her job.

Once the bar opened, the place soon filled up with the usual crowd which also made it quite busy as it was the only bar in town. Emma heads over to the next customer and looks at him." what can I get you?"

The man smiles and orders his drink, frowning at her not moving he clears his throat. Emma snaps out of her daze. "sorry..do I know you?"

The man shakes his head. " no I don't think so I haven't come to this bar before as I live the other side of town and the mayor doesn't like it if her office staff drink..like ever"

Emma nods slowly raising an eyebrow. "her?..the mayors a she?"

"erm..yes always has been can I ..erm get that drink?"

"right sorry drink" grabbing a glass she looks at him apologetically forgetting his order.

"apple cider.."

Emma nods pouring it from the bottle." that's a..strange concoction.."

"don't know until you try..thank you" taking the drink the guy walks off.

Given the fact that she fell asleep at the bar last night and was in a constant muddle through the day, Frank decided to be nice for a change and let her finish earlier in the evening instead of the late night lock up. Heading to her usual spot she goes for dinner, Emma walks into Granny's and sits in a booth waiting to be served. Hearing people come and go, she rubs her head annoyed at this constant tug she felt and the nuisance of something she surely had forgotten.

Unbeknown to Emma, a certain mayor had entered the premises and was standing at the counter waiting for her service, a service which for the mayor was fast. Finishing her plate, Emma stands taking her glass to down the last of her drink.

"if you would box up some of the apple cake please for me to take away thank you"

Emma's ears go on full alert at this and her eyes widen dropping her glass onto the floor as if someone had just wacked her across the head and helped her remember. This action of course made everyone in the diner including the mayor look to the blonde who gulped and muttered incoherently to herself.

"..cake..apple..cake.." looking over straight at the mayor, Emma blinks a few times taking a few deep breaths.

A waitress approaches to clear the mess on the floor and looks at her slightly worried." are you okay miss? do you want to sit down"

Emma however could not hear a word the waitress spoke as she was too much in a daze staring at the mayor. The mayor raises an eyebrow clearly uncomfortable at the blonde staring at her. Taking her takeout box, she heads out the door leaving Emma to follow her out with her eyes.

Once out of sight, Emma shakes her head realizing everything that had happened and ran out after the brunette who was just heading towards her car on the other side of the street.

"Regina?!" Emma shouts out to grab her attention as she runs up to her.

The mayor stops and looks around slightly concerned for her own safety and appalled at the woman's manner of speaking." do you think that is an appropriate way to speak to your mayor? I do not allow anyone to call me by my first name that I know of, you I do not so please leave me be"

Emma backs up slightly realizing she has no clue on who she is." but..I...it's me..you know me!"

Regina gets in her car and looks out the window. " I assure you I do not know of you personally, what I do know is that you're the girl that works in the bar so I suggest you go back there and do your job before I fire you!"

Emma just looks at her helpless as she hears the car start." but..."

Regina just glares at the blonde before putting her foot down and driving off.

Emma sighs wondering how on earth is she going to put this one right. spending the entire night trying to figure out a plan, Emma heads straight out first thing on a mission to find out where the brunette mayor lived.

Standing in front of her house, Emma looks up frowning at how different it is to Regina's castle but then of course it would, Regina wasn't suppose to be happy in this world. No one should but why does she know this, how does she remember and no one else does. Biting her lip, Emma knocks on the front door.

Having left her morning coffee in the kitchen, Regina heads towards the front door and opens in shock seeing the blonde standing there with a daft sorry smile on her face. Resting a hand on her hip, Regina raises an eyebrow and waits for her to come up with her pathetic excuse as to why she was on her doorstep.

Emma rocks on her feet with her hands in her pockets. "hi..listen I just wanted to apologise for my behaviour last night. my intentions were not to scare you I just.."

"Regina dear who is it?"

Regina turns to the older woman who has come to view." no one important mother just a silly girl that I had an unfortunate run in with last night on my way home"

Despite the insulting comment Regina had just given her, Emma was fixed glaring at the woman who had come to the door. "Hello Cora, remember me?"

Regina frowns shaking her head and goes to close to door having enough of the blonde's reasoning. Cora however stops her grabbing her arm causing the brunette to look slightly shocked at her mother." Leave this to me dear, I'll get rid of her"

Regina sighs and walks back to the kitchen. Cora steps out the door onto the porch closing the door behind her coming face to face with the blonde. Pushing her to the side, Cora leans towards her in a hushed whisper. "how in god's world do you remember? I cursed the entire kingdom!"

Emma looks back at her still filled with anger."Take a guess, Regina"

Cora frowns for a brief moment then sighs." the protection spell"

Emma smiles almost evil." looks like you can't touch me I promise you Cora I will end this and Regina will remember!"

Cora clenches her fists as Emma walks away smiling to herself.

Sitting yet again in granny's, Emma waits in the booth for Ruby to come over. Still trying to figure out who the hell she is and is sure they have never met in the enchanted forest, Emma knew that the girl was one for gossip and listening in to people's conversations and the girl had a knack of knowing about everyone and everything in the small town.

"Why do you want to know about the mayor?"

Emma shrugs." I erm..I guess..I'm concerned I had a minor run in with her and I was wondering if I should be worried of what she could do or if you know of any way I could...do something to help her round so to speak"

Ruby's face lights up." she likes cake!..on the odd occasion"

Emma rolls her eyes." I think everyone knows that..I mean what are her..interests..what does she like..to do?"

Ruby thinks for a moment." oh I know! she's got horses..in a stable clearly.."

Emma smiles." that's great! where are they?"

"other side of town on the outskirts"

Emma stands quickly grinning." thanks Ruby I owe you one!"

Rushing outside, Emma sets off to the stables, although her conversation with Ruby may have lacked a lot of detail, Emma wondered if there was some way she could use this to her advantage. yes she knew Regina loves horses but she was unaware if they had come through with the curse.

Looking around the empty space that contained two small sheds, Emma walks up and into one checking for any people present. Seeing it clear, she walks up to the last stable in the hope of seeing Regina's own horse. There he was. Smiling, Emma approaches the horse patting his nose. "hey boy"

Opening the gate, Emma walks in to the horse and sets some reins up on him." let's go for a walk buddy" tugging at the rein, Emma guides the horse out into the shed.

"going somewhere with my horse?"

Emma looks over seeing Regina stand on the other side. Watching her, Emma thinks back to the last time they both stood in the shed together. Regina had just come back. She had just got her queen back then everything was gone again.

Regina watches the blonde also intrigued." I think you and I need a little talk"

Author's note: sorry guys Regina does not remember yet! and for those wondering yes Frank is the same boss as the tavern guy and the guy that ordered the apple cider is the kind guard. Cora's a menace! hope you liked the version I decided to write :)