THE LION TATTOO
Nine
Last night was just fucking great. First Henry had decided to be late in his appointment with his mother, which should have been alright except that instead of me just getting him from the mansion, I had to wait for him while he dresses up Regina. But that's not really the problem, I know that last night was Regina's date with Elsa … er … Queen Elsa, if the woman is particular with titles. But I don't peg her to be a woman too engrossed with titles, as a matter of fact, Queen Elsa almost always flushed when the title 'queen' is connected to her name, she's just not vocal about it compared to her sister.
So what's the problem with me waiting? Nothing much. It's just that I have to witness Regina in that glorious outfit that left me with slacked jaw, and I think she may have seen me drool a little… okay, a lot! That's just embarrassing! How the hell am I going to explain to her my reaction?
"Miss Swan you are drooling, I didn't know I get to you that way," she'll say with that salacious smile on her face. And then what would I say? "Garble - garble -garble," which should translate to - you can't date her, I am the one! I melt your icy heart! - and then that big secret which I have no idea how she'd react to will just go 'BOOM'. Bye bye Regina, sorry Henry. I'm back to being Regina's public enemy number one. (Yes, it seems my mother have been demoted to public enemy number two.).
And it didn't just end there, Elsa came - with her sister as usual - and let's not talk about Elsa's reaction. She's as much a Queen as Regina. Her eyes says how appreciative she was with the mayor's perfection in that dress but that's it. It was Anna, the princess who actually grates on my nerve, she was squeaking… is that even a word? She just ramble on and on about how Regina was perfect and that she's just the perfect partner for her sister, and about how both of them were 'queens' without current romantic counterpart… and so on and so forth. Damn it! Can't she just stop? If I didn't knew that she was married to that incredible hulk like of a man, and that it was Elsa wooing Regina, I would have assume she was Regina's date!
Thank the good lord Elsa finally felt the need to stop her sister's word vomit or I may have ended up throttling her to the ground, and then use my fingers to pull her tongue out until she stops and never speak again! Oh yes, Regina's 'mean' streak rubbed off on me. Anyway, my boy gave me that smile that tells me we are in for a night of mischief, well, it wasn't really mischief, I mean if discreetly following Regina and Elsa to Granny's and watched the going ons of the date could be classified as mischievous adventure, then so be it.
It was a good thing that Henry and I were supposed to watch incognito, because I tell you, I had a hard time concealing the sound of my laughter when I saw Ruby's reaction to Regina's attire. I doubt her reaction was for Elsa since the ice queen was wearing her usual dress code. Ruby suddenly stopped at the middle of the diner, jaw slacked wider than mine, and I guess it was her being a wolf that made her drool more than me too. The tray containing whoever's order clattered loudly on the floor, most of the soup which I supposed was really hot sloshed on her dirty white apron, I thank thee oh most powerful for wolf strength and pain tolerance, because that soup that would have made a grown man howl in pain didn't fazed her.
As a matter of fact, I think I was more in pain keeping myself from laughing my ass out rolling on the floor. Henry was too, and that brought the two of us to abort our impromptu mission. I don't want to think about Tinkerbelle's reaction if she happens to come to the diner, the fairy is on duty and its not as if Elsa rented the whole place.
So it was that I found myself reminiscing last night and totally forgotten about my paper works. Actually, not much paper works comes my way now since Tink took care of them. Dad is out on patrol and I decided I needed to do something to stop myself from going back to thinking about Regina and that damn vivid dream. No, it was not a nightmare, but I tell you, I'll take on any nightmares than an erotic dream concerning the mayor, at least with nightmares, once it ended, it ends. As for the other… it keeps going on and on even in your waking hours.
And then tonight, I am going fishing with Henry and 'her'. I closed my eyes and cursed myself. How the hell did Henry get me to accept his idea?
-0-
Lunch hour rush was finally through at Granny's, my dad came back with a wolfish grin on his face and quite rounded belly (and that's something as I think I managed to inherit his six pack), I do not want to think of why he had that look on his face, I am so not interested, there is a reason why I moved out of their apartment! Anyway, since he said he is fine manning the station, I went to get lunch.
I sat at my side of the diner, took the menu and tried to decide what to order beside my usual when my attention was taken by Ruby. "What?" I asked when I finally looked at her grinning face.
"You're my friend right?" Uh... a happy grin plus starting a convo with that line, er... I'm afraid to nod my head, but I did. Ruby is my friend no matter what happens. "Oh god Ems, I'm in love!"
THAT'S WHAT I'M AFRAID OF!
"Ruby, you're in lust, that doesn't mean you're in love." My eyes widened, oh-oh, tongue slipping is genetic! I am so done! My life is forfeit!
"What?" she asked, the grin disappearing replaced by a frown, and then she shrugged, "Okay, I know I must be lusty yes, it's been eons since I had sexual relationship Ems, but I haven't felt this way since Peter!"
OMFG, kill me now. There is no way I'm going to listen to Ruby regale me with how she had fallen hard for Regina. No way, that's like me actually stabbing myself with a huge knife over my chest! "Didn't you say the same thing about Billy?"
The high plummeted, "What?" I grinned, okay that's not true... but what the heck, she just can't be that head over heels with my mayor. "I've never - Billy? for real? The town almost lynched me for thinking I ate him! And no Ems, I don't remember saying anything like this about him." The frown deepened, "I can't be in love with him."
"Huh? Why not?"
One dark brow raised, "Can you see yourself falling in love with a cheeseburger and fries? Do you even think about making love with it?" Fuck, what the hell, that's different!
"That's different!"
"Of course not."
"Billy was human,"
Ruby grinned, "No, he was a rat, and rat like your cheeseburger is food, you don't fall in love with your food and think about hot, steaming sex with it."
"Whatever Ruby, but this is not Enchanted Forest anymore, so he was human." I shrugged, "Anyway, so how did you come up with the idea of being in love with Regina?" I think I might have said this a bit harshly, she frowned at me before it evolved into a full blown pout.
"Is something the matter Emma? Are you against me dating Regina?" Another oh-oh moment, damn me and my to be shattered dreams.
"What?"
"Well, I thought you're mad that I am dating Regina," she suddenly smiled, that wide, sweet, dangerous smile, "I'm glad Ashley called in last night saying Alex was sick and that she can't come. Have you seen Regina's dress last night?" Oh I did, but you don't have to know that. The other woman's face was bright, and there was this dream like expression plastered on it, "I think my heart fell along with the tray I was holding... she was a goddess!"
Good thing I haven't ordered yet, nor have a cocoa ready to sip or I would have 'accidentally' spit it out to her. What the hell had happened to this woman? I've never seen her like this... maybe there really was something in that tattoo? Who the hell would have thought that Ruby could be poetically and romantically inclined but the heck, still gut curling cheesy? I thought she only likes to run off the woods buck naked! "Please spare me," I said as that nervous feeling down my stomach showed itself.
"Oh come on, I'm sure you noticed how gorgeous she is, I mean, in just her everyday power ensemble, that's hard not to notice, and I use to hate her... damn that Elsa was one lucky girl!"
That's exactly my point! You used to hate her Ruby, you used to side with my mother and was one of the people who wants her dead! And now you are telling me you're in love with her?! Since when did you see her as other than the evil queen?!
"Emma, are you okay?" that pulled me out of my internal ranting.
"Urgh," I slumped my head on the table, "I had a bad night,"
"Well, want some coffee?" I shook my head, what I actually want is for you women to leave my Regina ALONE. "I need some fishing supplies," I said as I stood up to leave, I can't take this "in love" Ruby anymore.
"I thought you just bought some with Sebastian?" I raised my brows at her.
"I need another set?"
"Why?" she was frowning at me, what the heck, is she some kind of fishing police now too?
"What do you mean why? I'm going fishing later with Henry and Regina..."
"WHAT?"
My frown deepened, "What? Henry asked me and Regina to go fishing, it's not as if its your business,"
Ruby stood in front of me, "Tell me the truth Ems-"
"Well that's the truth, we are going fishing..."
"Are you wooing Regina too?"
My eyes widened, I wonder what's she gonna do if I tell her yes. But I'm not pressing my luck right now. I raised my right wrist at her eye level, "Do you see a lion tattoo?" I asked sarcastically, and she shook her head.
"But there is a tattoo..."
"I had this since I was a teen, and as you can see, this is a permanent mark and that of a flower," and so what if I decide not to tell her that this is a lyon flower? "... and Marco didn't made it for me, so that means I am not one of your groupies,"
"Alright," she relaxed her stance. What the hell?! "You just seemed off lately, I mean since I started seeing Regina-"
"Ah, you haven't seen her that long, you just started dating her last Monday." I should have just shut my mouth.
"That's another thing, you sound like you're mad about the arrangement. If I didn't know that you and the mayor was just trying to co exist for Henry, I would have thought you wanted to date her as well, and seeing as we are supposed to be on schedule and that we are allotted only one day a week, its quite unfair."
First off, so we are just trying to co exist for Henry huh? Secondly, "Unfair?"
"Yes, I knew you had dinner the night before at the mansion, I saw you running your way from your apartment to Mifflin, and you were wearing a suit..."
"Well Henry said they always have formal dinner!" Okay so he didn't but I'm not giving Ruby reason to doubt and ask for more Regina time!
She held up a palm to my face, "And tonight, you are going fishing with her. So if you are 'in' the competition, then you are outdating any one of us 3:1." she smiled widely, "I was just saying, Sheriff."
Fuck, is this what it is for them? A competition and Regina the prize? where the hell is that "I'm in love" bullshit? "So what, Regina is nothing but the prize?" besides, there really isn't supposed to be a competition since none of you melted the ice in her heart. Nah... it would definitely be me, but then I am just a chicken shit that I can't just say it in her face and fuck the consequence.
Ruby's eyes widened, perhaps the meaning behind her declaration suddenly dawned on her as her face reddened, she made a coughing sound and waved a hand, "Whatever Ems..."
I frowned, no way! "Look Ruby, we are friends and I have screwed Regina's second chance of happy ending. My family had been screwing up her family's life and I wanted to give her a break. If all of you thinks that this is but a game, I'm begging you to stop this. She's more than just some prize."
Silence
"Are you in love with her Emma?" she asked, back on me.
My heart tells me to shout yes... "I just want her to have that happy ending, the one I promised her after taking hers." I watched her nod her head and then walked away from me silently.
Did I just mess up my friendship with Ruby?
-0-
"You look like someone who's dog just died." Snow was at the apartment counter preparing Neal's milk while the hellion was still sound asleep. Balancing co-mayoring, part time teaching and mothering a baby had been great for her, she's getting her old self back, and though it hurts for me to imagine it much more to verbalize it, it's why my father almost always come to work with a wide grin plastered on his face.
I sighed, "Sebastian's fishing store is close, I need an extra fishing rod for Regina." I watched her raise one brow.
"Regina going fishing with you and Henry? It's been a long time..." she frowned, "But your mood is not about the fishing rod isn't it?" she made a knowing smile,
"What do you mean?"
"So are you going to tell me what happened between you and Ruby?" she shrugged her shoulders, "Not that I'm thinking of Ruby getting feisty these days quite off, and I'm not even sure why she was being like that..."
I frowned, "So what makes you say something happened between me and Rubes? Has she told you something?" Hah! Squealer.
"No, not really" She faced me after putting the baby bottle down. "I went to the diner before you got in to get something from Granny, I saw her and we talked, she was fine, her usual self until I mentioned you. Didn't say a word, just clammed up and then excused herself. I'm Snow White Emma, not the town's idiot."
I doubt Regina would agree, don't misinterpret me though,I never thought of my parents as idiots because that would mean I'm agreeing to Regina's theory that by genetics, I am as well. Yes, yes, I am cruel but hey, I'm kidding. "I don't know what's wrong with her," actually I do, and if liars really go to hell, I might have gotten me a one way ticket.
"Huh," Snow frowned, "I swear last night, your father said something about him seeing Elsa and Regina together, and that Regina was in her seductive attire without being the evil queen."
"What?"
"Brawl. I really have no idea what's wrong with Tink and Ruby. I mean, I never really knew Ruby to hate someone that much and for such simple matter as coffee." Ahuh, so the town's sticking to that reason? She faced me again after that far away look, "You think I should intervene? I think their dispute goes under my part of the job,"
I smiled, "Come on mom, no blood no foul… there was no blood right?"
"Well I am glad there wasn't because there is no way I'm going to hear the end of it from Regina if there was and I didn't have them arrested." Snow sighed, "Sometimes I think that the reason they were fighting so much has something to do with me and Regina."
What the hell? "What?"
"Well," she raised one hand and tried to pass her fingers through her pixie cut hair, "Ruby is my best friend, and we all know that Tinker bell is Regina's, those two must have some extended feelings for us, and since we were working together now…"
"You think they are continuing your fight?" I asked wide eyed.
"Yes," she nodded. "If I get another news of them brawling in any public place, I'm going to put my feet on the ground and stop this nonsense." Actually mom, it isn't nonsense. Nothing about the mayor is 'nonsense'. I should know.
"So mom," I asked smiling, "You think I could borrow dad's fishing rod?"
"I don't know, he never let me hold it what more…"
"He doesn't have to know, he's on night duty."
"He will know,"
"Then I'll cross the bridge when I get there?"
-0-
Instead of Sebastian's boat, we ended up using a yacht owned by Kathryn. She gladly lent it to Regina when she learned that the mayor is going fishing, something about how it has been decades since she saw the woman do it. As much as I want to pry more about this, (my mom did said something about the same thing in passing earlier) I decided to hold my tongue. There is always a right time for everything. I have a feeling the reason behind was too personal for someone trying to be just a friend - for now - to ask.
And then there was Henry's not so subtle manipulation. If I get it, I doubt Regina would be oblivious. We were just getting in the yacht when Nicolas, Ava, Grace, August and this one, curly, red headed woman came to the dock for him. He was grinning from ear to ear when he talked us both into permitting him to go with the group, something about night practice. I could see the mirth in Regina's dark colored eyes when she looked at me. She left the decision to me! Damn her.
I would have 'whooped' in joy, but I wasn't ready for this trip to be just us. Me, Regina and a yacht. Out in the sea, fish… It was planned to be a family trip! But how can I say no now? All his friends were looking at me, all hopeful, especially Ava and Grace. So I said yes and they all went in their merry way.
So here we are, sitting side by side, fishing rods in hand, silent, waiting for our bait to catch. It was like that one time, when we went and do that stake out to smoke out the wicked witch of the west. "So… are we just going to wait…" and her opening sounds so familiar too!
"We have no other recourse isn't it?" I said smiling, face flushed.
"Are we not allowed to talk while fishing?" She asked grinning, "Too loud? We'll scare the fishes?"
I laughed, "I thought you'd be quoting Gabrielle," she frowned, "Oh, come on, don't tell me you haven't seen…"
"No, I didn't. Maybe I can rectify that though. What show is that dear?" the way she enunciates the word dear melted my damn heart.
"Ah… Xena," What the hell, we could be talking about a lot of important things, why Xena?
"Dr. Xe?"
I looked at her, "Dr. Xe is Xena? Warrior Princess?" I asked incredulously, no wonder she looked familiar. At her smile I said, "She's real too?"
I saw her roll her eyes, "To quote your bumbling idiot of a boyfriend…"
"Excuse me, he is an EX- boyfriend." she looked at me with one raised brow, "What? He wears more mascara than me!" she raised one hand in a placating manner.
"I was supposed to say and I quote, says the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming," she said smiling. That bright smile she rarely show anyone, even me… and now there for the picking. Damn it, I'm beginning to sound poetic again.
There was another moment of comfortable silence between us, and I decide to break it this time, "So how was your date last night?" Argh, I hope I did not sound so intrusive.
She sighed, "I should talk to Elsa the next time we see each other. I doubt there's anything we can work out on." She smiled, "I mean, she is nice. I like her impeccable manner, but we are like two peas in the same pod. I do not doubt that continue seeing her would be waste of time. We are not clicking." Does that mean she and Ruby clicks?
"Oh," she looked at me.
"You probably heard…"
I grinned, "The brawl? Yes, Mom told me."
She shook her head, "Having Tink and Ruby in the same room no matter how big is a sure way to causing a commotion." then she refocus her attention on the sea that is now slowly being swallowed by the approaching darkness. "Your father made the arrest, he seemed like he had gone ten rounds with Manny."
I laughed, I didn't know she's aware of some sport icon. "Know what's funny?" I asked looking at her. She looked back.
"I got a feeling you'll tell me anyway,"
"Damn right," I said looking away, If I looked longer I may not stop myself from blurting out the truth, and I'm not yet ready to face her wrath. "Anyway, the town still think that their fights were about the coffee, but my mom made some deep observation,"
"Should I be scared of what it was she concocted in her head?"
I waved a hand in dismissal, "Nothing graphic or violent, she just assumed that Ruby and Tink were continuing your and her fight, them being your best friends and all..." It must take a lot of practice for her not to slack her jaw or show any sign of shock. Or maybe she just knows my mom too well.
"I wouldn't put it pass your mother to think that way. We may have bonded back in the Enchanted Forest when we returned, but that doesn't erased the fact that a lot of negative things happened already." She shrugged her shoulders.
"I wonder how she'd react if she knew that her best friend is fighting Tinker bell for your hand."
She looked at me with raised brow, "That sounded so wrong," I grinned and shrugged my shoulders.
"I wonder what Tink has in store for you tomorrow,"
"Let's not sully this evening with scary stories Sheriff," she said grinning and I smiled. That must mean something huh? Internally I sighed,
One down, three to go.
TBC
Manny = Manny Pacquiao
