A/N: I'm still procrastinating on that thing I gotta do... which means: more time to write fanfic. Thank you all for your reviews and likes and stuffs. I really appreciate them and you reading my little story.
Thursday morning saw a tired-looking sheriff entering the diner just after Ruby had unlocked the door.
"You're early," the brunette greeted Emma who sat down at the counter, grumbling. "Coffee?"
"Please," Emma asked of Ruby who obliged with a slight smile.
"Long night?" she asked as she put the mug with the coffee in front of Emma.
"Yeah, kinda... I've been thinking about... stuff," the blonde said and took a first sip of the hot brew. She closed her eyes to fully enjoy its wakening effect and decided she needed another sip to help the first one along.
"Stuff? Does some of that stuff include a certain dark-haired politician?" Ruby asked while busying herself with refilling the salt and pepper shakers.
Emma looked at her but didn't answer. She thought that Ruby probably already knew too much about this whole thing with Regina.
"Some of it," Emma answered non-committally.
"It's okay if you don't wanna talk about it, Emma, but don't shut me out because you think I might tell your mom about it. Or that I might judge you. I'm good at keeping secrets and I... I've learned the hard way that you can't choose who you're attracted to," Ruby told her friend looking openly into her green eyes.
"The hard way? Who is it?" Emma asked curiously.
"Between the two of us...," Ruby turned her keen hearing toward the kitchen but she obviously couldn't hear her grandmother and continued. "... Belle."
Emma's eyes went round at this news, then she smiled. She reached over the counter and squeezed Ruby's hand in silent sympathy.
"How is she?" Emma asked after Ruby's friend.
"I don't know. Not really any better. She loved that... she loved Mr. Gold, he was her true love," the waitress related with sad eyes.
"I'm sorry... for her and you," the blonde said but Ruby shook her long mane.
"Don't be sorry for me. Belle is my friend and... that's more than some people have from the person they love. It's hard to see her in so much pain and not being able to help her."
"I'm sure you help her more than you're aware of. Everything else needs time," Emma mused.
"I hope so... that time will help... I'm not sure it will, though. She's... not doing much. I can barely get her to get up in the morning. She doesn't read, she doesn't do anything besides sitting on the sofa and staring into nothing. Archie tried talking to her but so far without success."
"I didn't know it was so bad, Rubes. I'm... Is there anything I can do?"
Ruby shook her head no.
"I don't think there is anything anyone can do. Bae... Neal comes over sometimes and sits with her. He tells her of Rumple... how he was before he became the Dark One. I'm not even sure she hears him but he hasn't tired of it yet," she told Emma.
"Neal is a good guy," Emma commented.
"He is," Ruby agreed and they looked at each other.
"And a much better choice for the savior?" Emma asked.
"I told you I don't judge. Neal is the guy your mother would like you to be with, though. But I think you know that already, don't you?"
Emma nodded.
"I know but it's not happening for me at the moment. He's an okay guy but... some things that he did, I just can't get over them."
"What about the things Regina did? Are you over them?"
Emma smiled.
"Regina doesn't want me to marry her. She... I don't know what she wants from me... probably only to be an amiable co-parent and otherwise leave her alone. I'm the one who insists on making this co-parenting-thing something more of a friendship... though there are moments... she flirts with me," Emma finally blurted out.
"Regina flirts with you?" Ruby asked grinning.
"Yeah, she kinda does. I'm sure she doesn't mean to but then... it just happens, on both sides. She has a wicked sense of humor and... the antagonism we always had between us kinda makes us tease each other now that we don't hate each other anymore. It's strange but it feels... good. It doesn't make any sense, really, but that's how it is," she finished her sort-of-explanation without understanding it any better herself.
"Where is this going?" Ruby asked and Emma shook her head.
"Nowhere. It's not gonna happen, and that's something we actually agree on."
"Because you don't want it to happen?" Ruby kept on and Emma sighed.
"Are you kidding me? If it was just about the two of us... I would totally go for it. I can't... I can't stop... oh, God, I can't stop thinking about that kiss. It kept me awake half the night and the prospect of it happening again... damn... but everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, in our lives would go haywire... it's not worth it, it would be insane. My parents would never forgive me..."
"Hey!" Ruby interrupted Emma's ramblings which bordered on panicky. She laid her hand on Emma's to calm her down. "You know, I've known your parents a little longer than you. They've always come through so far and... well, they had to deal with pretty weird stuff."
"Weird is one thing, Ruby, me hooking up with Regina... that's so far out there there's not even a word for it," Emma stated.
"There're plenty of words for it but I don't think you're ready to face them yet," Ruby argued.
"Don't even go there," Emma warned and Ruby shrugged.
"I won't but you shouldn't be too hard on yourself. Storybrooke has its own kind of magic and its pretty powerful stuff. Things that are supposed to happen, will happen. So maybe you'll even get another one of those fantastic kisses," Ruby said and smirked.
Emma whimpered, then she cleared her throat.
"If anyone besides you should ever find out about this... all hell will break lose," she said after a moment's thought.
"Sounds dramatic but I doubt it. Most of the people here are used to change. You and Regina hooking up... would be a surprise, a big one, but the world won't stop spinning because of it. At least, that's what I think," Ruby told Emma. "Of course I could be wrong," she added smiling.
"Thanks, Rubes, that's not helpful at all," Emma answered with a self-deprecating smile. "Well, I have to get to work. Could you...," Emma started saying, then rolled her eyes at herself but she continued. "I think Regina's gonna come for lunch today. Could you serve her some of Granny's apple pie for dessert?"
"Apple pie? Regina doesn't eat Granny's apple pie, Emma. She only eats her own because she thinks it's better," Ruby said and tsked the idea.
"Just try it, okay?" Emma asked of her and slipped from her stool.
"All right, I'll try. But I can already tell you it's not gonna happen."
"We'll see," Emma gave back as she walked toward the door waving at her friend who merely shook her head at the blonde.
Emma sat on the garden wall of 127, Mifflin Street, watching Regina cross the street from the other side. She smiled lazily at the other woman.
"Sheriff Swan," Regina greeted her impassively.
"Good afternoon," Emma answered and hopped off her perch.
"I take it you have looked at the outside by now?" Regina asked all business and Emma nodded. "Good, let's go inside." Regina opened her purse and took a bundle of keys from it. She chose one seemingly at random as they all looked alike.
"How do you know which one it is?" Emma asked as they went up the walk.
"I'm a witch, Emma," Regina simply informed her and the blonde rolled her eyes behind her back.
They were back to exchanging basic need-to-know information, nothing personal, nothing... friendly. Regina had taken a step back again and Emma berated herself for being surprised and being disappointed.
Regina unlocked the door and they stepped into the house.
They found themselves in a vestibule from which stairs across the door ascended to the second story. There was a room to the left that might have been the living room, and a door to the right.
"That's the kitchen," Regina said and opened the door. She walked into the room and Emma followed her. The kitchen had all the usual appliances, a dishwasher, a stove, a microwave. They looked used but well cared-for. Doc kept a tidy house.
"Looks good," Emma commented.
"Well, there's plenty of room for cereals and microwave popcorn. I take it that's all you're able to cook?" Regina asked and showed a small smile.
"I can burn water if you challenge me," Emma gave back looking around. The drawers and cupboards were empty.
"Through that door is the laundry room, there's a back door leading into the garden from there," Regina continued the tour and opened the door she'd just been pointing at into a small room that held a washing machine and dryer.
Emma nodded.
"Do you want to see the garden?" Regina asked and was already pulling out her key chain from her coat pocket.
"That's okay. I take it it's well kept?"
"Of course. Doc has quite the green thumb, kept his lawn impeccable and the flower beds colorful," Regina said in a matter-of-fact voice that was starting to grate on Emma's sensibilities. She missed the woman who had flirted with her the other night over the phone.
"Don't tell me he's a better gardener than you are," she challenged.
"Don't be ridiculous, sheriff," Regina gave back and then turned toward the door that had led them into the kitchen. She didn't turn to see if Emma was following her, she simiply left the room and re-entered the vestibule.
Emma followed albeit reluctantly. She had already decided that she liked the house, it all looked friendly, there was air and light and it was tidy and not too big for her and Henry. It was perfect.
Regina, on the other hand, was giving her mixed signals. Or maybe she was giving her a very clear signal to keep it professional and Emma didn't like this one bit. She felt tossed around, pulled close, pushed away. And it made her impatient, angry even.
"That door to the left is the second bathroom," Regina pointed at a door further down the corridor before she entered the living room.
"Spacious," Emma noticed and Regina nodded.
"The living room. The fireplace is functional. I think there isa window that jams but I'm not sure which one it is," Regina told Emma. "You'd have to talk to Neal about that."
"How do you know so much about this place? I didn't think you and Doc would have socialized much?" Emma asked and the dark-haired woman turned to her. They looked at each other and Regina seemed to contemplate if she actually wanted to talk to Emma, instead of just talking at her.
"We didn't but... well, I am the mayor. In the past, I used to talk to people and what else would I be talking to Doc about? The weather, gardening, and the state of your house are always safe topics...," Regina explained.
"Did you never have a conversation with anyone that was actually meaningful?"
Regina turned toward the window, looking out but not really seeing anything.
"Sometimes," she answered in a low voice before she turned back to Emma. "But mostly it was small-talk."
"For 28 years? That sounds depressing, not to mention boring," the blonde said.
"It was... but I actually hoped that it wouldn't change."
"Why?"
"I don't wanna talk about it," Regina said and her eyes glazed over with an impenetrable forcefield that was supposed to keep Emma at bay. Regina walked by her but Emma had enough of this tug-of-war, she had enough of Regina playing the ice-queen. She grabbed Regina's arm, pulling her close.
"What...?" but that was all Regina was able to utter as Emma took a step toward her. Regina took a step back and felt herself backed against the wall, Emma so close she could feel her body heat. They looked at each other.
"Stop doing that," Emma growled at her.
"What are you talking about? What is wrong with you?!" Regina gave back.
"Stop pushing me away, I'm trying to be your friend."
"Friends don't push each other against walls, Miss Swan," the dark-haired woman accused.
"Friends don't talk to each other like real estate agents, either," Emma said, her green eyes darkened by her anger but also by the close proximity to the mayor. She could smell her perfume, feel the heat that emanated from her body... feel parts of that body. And then there were those lips which she had spent too much time last night thinking about. They were moist and enticing and entirely too close for comfort. And Emma could think of nothing but to feel them against her own but before she could lean in to claim her prize, Regina's voice cut through the tension-filled silence.
"Emma," she said and her voice wasn't cold anymore. It was pleading. "We need to stop this... right now." Her hand pushed at Emma's flat stomach and the blonde took a step back.
"I'm sorry," she said, her voice raspy. She cleared her throat as she turned away, trying to gain some semblence of control over her body and thoughts.
"I thought we agreed that this wasn't going to happen again," Regina reminded the sheriff and her voice sounded breathless to Emma's ears.
"I know," Emma simply said pushing her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. She looked at the ceiling. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... man-handle you."
"You didn't. If I had seriously thought you were trying to hurt me I would have just thrown you against the opposing wall," Regina informed Emma and the blonde turned.
"You're doing it again. You're... closing down," she accused the dark-haired woman.
"I'm... maybe I am. I'm not used to... someone invading my personal space. And I mean that in a literal and metaphorical sense. I'm not good at... letting people in. But you knew that already. So why are you even trying?"
"Because I like you," Emma said and Regina looked at her as if confused.
"Why?"
"Because you're... a better person than you give yourself credit for, at least you can be. You're Henry's mom and you did a damn good job at raising him. He's amazing which makes me think that you're amazing, too. And I wanna be friends with a person like that," Emma told Regina.
The mayor turned away, her hands stemmed into her sides. She looked around the room as if seeing it for the first time or not seeing it at all.
"Fine," she finally said. "Let's try to be friends. But that's all. No more... kissing or any other funny business. If we're going to be friends that's all we're going to be."
"Okay," Emma agreed. "But you'll have to stop flirting with me."
A surprised laugh escaped Regina.
"I'm flirting with you?"
"You are," Emma declared.
"Well, if I was I wasn't the only one," Regina gave back. "Was I?"
"All right, I will try to... not flirt with you in the future. If you try the same."
"I think I can handle myself. You're not as irresistable as you think, you know?" Regina told Emma.
"Oh, really," Emma said and took the few steps toward Regina and pulling the other woman toward her. She was running against Regina's hand that once again pushed at her stomach.
"That wasn't meant as a challenge, Emma," Regina clarified and Emma took a step back.
"Damn, woman, just... why can't you...," the blonde growled in frustration.
"What?" and from the questioning tone of her voice Regina really didn't know what Emma wanted from her.
"Why can't you just... admit...," Emma started. She worked her jaw, her hands once again stuck in her back pockets.
Regina looked at her questioningly.
"Just admit that you're attracted to me. Is that seriously so hard?"
"What would that accomplish?" Regina asked.
"I wouldn't feel quite so idiotic...," Emma told the older woman.
"So you want us to both feel foolish, is that it?"
"I want you to say that you're attracted to me so I can stop wanting to prove it to you," Emma said.
Regina looked at Emma for a long moment then she took a step toward the blonde.
"If there wasn't anything there, between us, we would never have kissed. We wouldn't have this conversation, either. The thing is that it doesn't matter because it's never going to happen. We will never happen," Regina clarified.
"I'm with you there, Regina. I just... I needed to hear you say it."
"Do you think it'll be easier now to... move on?"
"No, not really. I mean... wow," Emma grinned sheepishly and Regina found herself rolling her eyes at the blonde but smiling at the same time. "But it feels good to know it."
"So it was just for your ego?"
Emma shrugged.
"Do you want to see the rest of the house?" Regina asked after a short while.
"Two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs?"
The mayor nodded.
"All tidy and nice and pretty much in the same condition as the downstairs?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll pass. Let's get out of here," Emma said and walked toward the front door.
"Emma?" Regina put a hand on Emma's arm and the blonde stopped, looking questioningly back at the mayor. "I didn't just suggest this house because of the close proximity to the mansion, you know? It's the best option for you. It's big enough but not too big, it's a really nice house and... I think Henry would like it here, too," Regina said earnestly.
"I know, that's why I want it," Emma told her.
"Oh, I thought... right." Regina smiled. "Great," she added, nodding at Emma encouragingly.
Emma smiled back at her friend because this was actually the first time she felt like they were getting there - to being friends.
"I forgot to ask, how was lunch today?" She found herself asking. She saw that the question threw Regina for a second but then a mischievous glint entered the mayor's eyes and Emma couldn't help but laugh.
"Dessert was a little dry," Regina complained.
"You should try it with whipped cream next time," Emma suggested as she hurried to exit the house.
"There's not going to be a next time, savior," Regina answered indignantly, closing the front door a little more forcefully than she had intended to.
