"Is Granny's like the only decent place to get food here, because it's always so crowded in here," Lily said to Emma and Regina as they sat waiting for their food.

"Pretty sure granny's food is the best," Emma replies

"It isn't healthy though, she should add more vegetables and fruits to her menu," Regina said smartly as she leaned back in her seat, though her hand never moved from next to Emma's

Emma chuckles lightly at the comment Regina made, "I love her grilled cheese."

"Em, I feel like you could live off any grilled cheese. You still like that crap?" Lily teased with a laugh as she started rolling up the straw wrapper from her straw.

"Yeah," she said offended. "Why the hell wouldn't I still like grilled cheese?" She didn't understand the concept of someone not liking the cheesy goodness.

Regina raised her eyebrows in amusement at the friend's conversation, "you should really eat healthier dear."

"Grilled cheese is healthy."

Regina turned and gave the blonde a disbelieving look where she was greeted with a stupidly charming smile that looked as if she was expecting just that reaction. "Very cute," her voice gave a tone as if it was the complete opposite of what she said though.

"I know," Emma chuckles softly and looks over to where Lily is sitting across from them. Lily was just smirking causing the blonde to roll her eyes and maybe move her hand a little bit away from Regina's self-consciously.

When Regina noticed Emma's hand move, there was a small hint of disappointment that shadowed her face but she schooled it pretty well.

Ruby walked over with their food on a tray, the relationship between her and Emma has been a bit strained still since they haven't had a chance to talk in person. "I got a grilled cheese with onion rings, a burger with fries hold the onion and a chicken caesar salad with light dressing. do you guys need anything else?" As she set down each item she looked at the owner of the plates to see if they did actually need something but as her eyes scanned them they all shook their heads to the negative. "Just give a holler if you need anything I'll be behind the counter." She turns and walks away avoiding small talk which is very un-Rubylike.

Regina looked over at Emma to look for any reaction on her face, but just like she was assuming the blonde's face was like a mask of indifference.

They ate their meal in peace for the most part, when they did talk it was about the generic topics of work or Lily's travels. It seemed like there was an unspoken rule between the three of them not to bring up any tense topics just for this lunch.

"So I have to ask," Lily says once they all finish eating and are now just sitting and chatting at the table. Both Emma and Regina tense next to each other not really sure why but it probably had something to do with how both of them are very private people. Lily noticed and chuckled, "oh calm down you two, I'm not asking about you guys. I already know I walked in on something earlier, it's only a matter of time before Emma comes to talk to me about it." Emma opens her mouth to say something against it but Lily doesn't give her a chance, "what I was going to ask is when do I get to meet these amazing parents of yours. I have a few things I want to say to them."

"Lily."

Regina just smirks thinking of how fun that scene would be, "oh I'm sure I can arrange something for you."

"Regina." The blonde looked over at her with a clenched jaw and eyes that were squinting just enough to let the queen know she was being scolded right now.

"What? They deserve it, who forgets their own child's birthday?"

"That's what I'm saying! Thank you! Em, you have no reason to protect them, they deserve to know that they fucked up royally." Lily smirks at the last minute addition of 'royally' which caused Regina to laugh.

"How fitting," Regina's mind was swarming with different ideas of how they could get back at the charming couple.

"It's not that big of a deal that they didn't remember-"

"That's bullshit Emma and you know it!" Lily hated how the blonde just dismissed their mistakes, she hates how Emma is just trying to move past it all like it was nothing but a mere misunderstanding.

"I have to say I agree with your friend, Emma, how are your parents not remembering such a small thing to you?"

"They weren't the only ones who forgot," there goes the automatic snapping at Regina once again. Emma was looking between both of her friends until the moment she could no longer do it and was just staring down the brunette mayor.

Regina wasn't completely surprised by the behavior but it still didn't make her feel the greatest. "I'm well aware of my sins Miss Swan but I am paying for it greatly with how I don't get you anymore. How come they get a pass while I don't?"

Emma hated this, she hated being ganged up on and she hated the fact that she couldn't get up and storm out because Regina was in the way. What she hated the most was that Regina was mostly right, she wasn't just letting them by because she didn't want to deal with them. There were some real feelings down there which she wasn't too keen on sharing anytime soon. If they keep pushing she'll explode again, it'll be tempered but it will be huge all the same.

"It's kind of a double standard," Lily points out noticing that she was getting quiet and in her head. Emma never said Lily was a master at knowing when to give her a break, just that sometimes she knew more than others. "Tell me how that's fair-"

"It's fair because my parents haven't fucking been to any of my birthday's, they haven't been there at all so why should they have remembered?" She snaps and let out a breath through her nose as she sat there annoyed with both of the people at the table.

Regina and Lily look at each other with an empathetic look, sometimes they forget that Emma has reasons for everything she says and does. In her mind, they haven't been her parents her whole life so why do they need to start now? It's less of a blow to her that her parents forgot and more painful that her friends forget because it's simpler.

Regina opened her mouth to apologize once again for never knowing when to shut up when the door to the diner opened and closed signaling an entrance. What she wasn't expecting (but wasn't surprised to see since they have always had horrible timing) was to see Snow and Charming walking in with big smiles on their faces. They hadn't noticed Emma yet so that gives them a couple of minutes. "Speak of the devils."

Emma looks over to what Regina was talking about and tenses so hard that she could be a statue. Lily looks over at Emma and then the door, she assumes that the couple they are looking at is Emma's parents. It's weird that they aren't older considering Emma's age but of course, that's explained with the curse they were stuck in for all that time. "Lily don't say anything to them please." The blonde said sternly as she maintained eye contact with her friend the whole time.

"Emma-"

"I said please," it came out in a rushed whisper since her parents had spotted her sitting there and were headed towards the table they sat at. Lily responded with a reluctant nod, but she wouldn't want to be on Emma's bad side right now. She has enough people there.

"Emma," Charming started with a nervous voice. He knew that he and Emma were at least okay but he also knew what Snow said to her.

"Hey David," Emma smiles tightly at her dad and adjusts herself in her seat. Regina looks at Emma to gauge her reaction and what was going to happen.

"Hi sweetheart, who's this?" Snow said while looking over at Lily completely looking past the uncomfortable tension they caused.

"I'm Lily," it was hard not to add more than that. She wanted to say that she was the family that Emma never had thanks to them, but since Emma asked her nicely not to she kept it to herself as much as she could.

"Hello, nice to meet you. We are Emma's parents," the way she spoke was beaming with pride. Lily couldn't keep the scoff from escaping her throat and Regina couldn't help but smirk at the reaction.

"Lily," Emma says under her breath as a warning and Lily puts her hands up in surrender.

"Sorry," she smiles up at the couple with a passive aggressive smile. "It's nice to meet you Emma's parents, do you happen to have names?"

Regina actually chuckled at that, her face was pure amusement. Each second she hung out with Lily was a point in her favor. She liked that the brunette doesn't take shit from anyone and that she protects the savior at all costs even if it means she'll be death glared by the blonde.

"I'm David," he smiles and puts out his hand to shake hers realizing she obviously doesn't think too highly of them. The man doesn't blame her. Lily takes his hand as a sign of courtesy to him only for Emma's sake, speaking of which, said blonde woman has been extremely quiet since they got to the table.

"Emma, you're being awfully quiet, why haven't you told us about Lily?" Her mother spoke in a condescending voice towards her daughter which made Lily's eyebrows sky-rocket to her hair-line and Regina's perk in annoyance.

"She has been rather busy saving everyone's lives and being sheriff, dear, maybe you should have tried to get to know your daughter better." Emma may have told Lily not so say anything but Regina sure as hell wasn't going to keep her mouth shut.

"It just hadn't come up in conversation," Emma shrugs and starts to come back to herself slightly. "I didn't purposefully leave her out, but I also didn't think you needed to know." Why did they have to know about Lily? What would they gain from knowing that Lily helped her survive through the system or that she would have been dead if it wasn't for the brunette sitting across from her?

"Of course we needed to know Emma," Snow spoke in an unbelieving voice. "We want to know everything about you."

A whisper escaped Lily's mouth in retaliation to what the pixie-cut woman was saying to Emma, "but you can't even remember her birthday..." Lily tried, she really did but she just couldn't stand this woman right now.

"Lily!"

"We're still on that? Really Emma?" Snow scoffs as she shakes her head with a laugh.

Lily was about to apologize to Emma but that disappeared the moment Snow spoke again, "Oh hell yeah she's still on that? Why wouldn't she be?" Her eyes bore into David and Snows, "Her parent's and everyone she got to know since she broke this stupid curse forgot her birthday. I'd think it's safe to say I wouldn't be over it either."

"Lily, it's okay just-"

"No Emma, she's right." Regina takes the blonde's hand and squeezes it, "I was apart of the people who forgot but I've made it clear that I will make it up to you. Your father has as well, but her? She keeps coming at you as if you are to blame for this."

"Regina this is a family matter," snow still didn't seem to get what everyone was trying to tell her or the fact that they are all pissed at her. "maybe we should talk about this later when it's just us." She looked at Emma and David sighs in annoyance, he looks extremely uncomfortable.

"No," Emma says simply. "Regina is the only one- besides David- who has even tried to apologize to me. She's allowed to be here if she wants to be."

"Emma-"

"No, I'm done talking about this. I was having a good meal until you came in here, what is with you and interrupting my meals?" Emma was hiding behind annoyance, "Can you just go get your food and leave me alone." It was a question but it was stated, she wasn't asking and it was obvious.

Lily smiles, this was the Emma she was used to. The one who didn't let anyone say shit she didn't agree with, of course, it took someone insulting Regina in a way for her to come out to play but at least it happened.

"Emma!" Snow sounded like she was about to scold her daughter but she never got the chance.

David took the princess's arm and shook his head, "snow would you just let it go. come on we need to get our food we didn't come here so you can fight with our daughter." He pushes his wife to head to the counter while turning back to the blonde, "I'm sorry Em."

She shook her head to him with a soft smile, a way of saying it wasn't his fault, as he turned to walk away to where his wife was. "Can we go?"

Lily and Regina both stood up quickly as an answer and the three of them left the diner.