Chapter 10 - Pink Panther Tango

HELLO! MIRAN is BACK! I am so sorry about the delay, everyone, but the story is now fully written and will now be posted weekly till I run out. Please forgive me for the delay, and enjoy xx

The Thursday morning after the dance lesson found the three friends at work, all slightly sore from attempting to learn the foxtrot. Nothing would have been exceptional about the day, had Ruby not been fidgeting for almost an hour, occasionally sighing and turning to look at her friends, before turning back.

Finally, at precisely 10:43 she could hold it in no longer.

"Dr Hooper and I are going on a date on Saturday."

She waited for a surprised reaction from her friends, which involved them rushing over to hear, congratulating her, maybe asking for details and of where they were planning to go.

Instead, she was greeted with total silence.

"Erm, guys I have a date."

The Silence persisted.

"Mm?" Emma finally turned from her computer screen to acknowledge her, looking bored.

"Aren't you the least bit curious?"

The blonde turned at this and lo looked at her boss next to her. Belle looked back. They sighed, in perfect sync.

"Thing is, Ruby, we already know."

"HOW? I mean, I didn't know until last night."

They had the decency to look guilty and ignore Wend piping up over the divider that she too, apparently, knew.

Emma responded. "Well, there was Jones. And Mira. And Gold. And Granny this morning when we went to pick up coffee. And Dr Hopper actually hopping across the corridor, signing to himself last night after you left. And you leaving his office, happily humming to yourself and failing to notice us standing there with Henry, and humming the word 'date' on repeat. Belle, did I miss anyone?"

"Only Cam. I think you covered everyone that we actually all know."

"Some friends you are," grumbled Ruby, her good mood gone, and sulking down into her wrap. "Can't even support a friend."

"But we are, Rubs. Saturday, we will be there, helping you curl your hair and promising to stalk you on our date. And ambushing you afterwards.

Wendy and Rory joined in on the laughter, just as Ruby muttered something that sounded suspiciously like 'traitors'.

The week carried on as normal. That evening Belle had another lunch date with Mr Gold and came back positively glowing. Upon further interrogation, she told her friends that she was being taken to a village fair, out of town, that Sunday, and would be having lunch there.

That night also marked the time Emma had a first proper date with Jones. He took her and her son to a Persian restaurant and spent the majority of the evening regaling the two with the stories of his days in the Navy. Henry was particularly enthralled with the man, saying, though the whole evening. "More, Capt'n, more!", to which her date happily obliged.

The evening went well, the only hiccup being the son, in all his innocence asking Killian about his family. The man's face had become dark for a moment, and Emma was ready to change the topic, before he leaned forward, and with his face completely serious, 'pulled' a coin out of the boy's ear. The child had been so impressed, he forgot all about his previous question, and begged for more tricks. The only comment that was made was Killian telling the boy that he had been taught the trick by the man who raised him and Mira.

Emma smiled as she watched the two interact.

It was really a blessing that Jones seemed to genuinely like Henry and invested time into him. In the months since Neal's exposure and arrest, Ruby had repeatedly set her up on dates, who sadly, seemed more interested in getting into her pants than in a meaningful relationship or even some civilised dating. They tended to be of the variety that ran in sheer terror the moment they discovered that she had a kid. One particular idiot, who was obviously pretty desperate, suggested that she 'get rid' of her son to allow her to have more fun. It had taken all her strength and self control to not punch the guy into the next century, and instead only verbally threaten to end his existence of her ever suggested something that stupid or came near her again. She then proceeded to clock him from ever contacting her of Ruby in any way. Working in IT had its benefits sometimes.

"You ok, Swan?"

She came out of her reverie to discover that her date was looking at her, rather concerned, and smiled, nodding. Relatively comfortable and good with Henry, not pushy, concerned about her, genuinely wanting to get to know her better.

"Yeah, it's good seeing him happy."

Jones nodded, before taking a bite out of his food. He looked like he wanted to question her, but decided that she really was ok from her unconscious smile, and decided on something else instead. "You know, next week is the last lesson?"

Emma nodded.

"How do you feel about continuing private sessions?"

Emma was surprised, but recovered quickly. "Is Cam that desperate for my company?"

Jones gave her a mock glare and continued. "Nothing difficult, and it will be absolutely free. And Mira wanted to know if Henry would like to continue the gymnastic sessions with her. I think she really enjoys having him and Grace around. She can't dance too much at the moment, too many compound injuries over the years, but working with kids makes her happy."

Her paused, looking at the blonde expectantly, while Emma was at a bit of a loss. She knew that Ruby would probably drop out, having fulfilled her friendship duties, and would lose interest, not caring enough to continue. Belle would probably give up as well, the wedding over, unless of course Mr Gold's courtship went well and much, much further. And if it did, with his foot, they would probably stick to the much simpler dances and not bother with having regular classes at all. But Emma... well, to be honest, she enjoyed the dancing. There, she could be free, and she knew that in those hours henry and she were completely safe, not needing to think of their pasts or the court case or even work.

Her decision was made.

"One condition."

"Name it."

"Saturday, you walk us to The Bull on the canal and treat us to food."

The man knew her too well and immediately suspected something, but replied with a hesitant "Deal."

Emma grinned like a maniac and folded her napkin, turning to help Henry finish up while simultaneously signalling for the bill. "See you at 6 am."

The man didn't look as horrified as she expected, though she later realised that having been in the military, early mornings were probably not as much issue for the prima donna in front of her as for many others.

Standing up, she went towards the till, before someone ran straight into her and almost tipped her over another couple's table.

"Sorry, oh I m so sorry! Are you ok Miss Swan?"

Typical.

Rory, her wonderful but clumsy new recruit, was the perpetrator, and was now hovering over her colleague, though Emma was more winded and surpised than anything else. A young man stood behind the pale klutz, looking mildly worried and amused, probably wondering if he should step in and rescue his companion. Emma decided to rescue them instead. Ignoring the gushing girl, she reached out to the man, "Emma Swan. I work with Aurora."

"Phillip Castle, Rory's boyfriend. Please, ignore the gibbering, she's only doing it because she holds you in very high regard, Ma'am."

Seriously, who talked like that anymore? Though the twinkle in the eyes suggested that the man was doing his linguistics thing on purpose and the mild sarcasm pretty much confirmed that, he still would probably not look out of place in Her Majesty's palace or indeed at Arthur's round table.

After a few more pleasantries, a somewhat awkward silence descended on the group, until a waiter came and directed the other couple to the table. Emma shook her head – lovely girl, but she really needed to stop being flustered. Normally, Belle could help, but since they were now step sisters, it was probably best to approach Ruby first.

In the end, Emma, Henry and Jones walked home to her flat, after an excellent evening out. Emma was, however, disappointed, when, once again, he didn't properly kiss her good night.

On Friday morning, Ruby found her at work. Not that she was hiding. Really, one could not really hide under a hoodie.

The leggy brunette plopped into the chair beside her friend and sighed dramatically.

Emma, by now, knew better than to ask.

After a few minutes of her heart wrenching sighs ignored, Ruby changed tactic. "What are you lovely ladies doing today at lunch?"

Belle responded immediately. "Meetings all day. Catching a bite with the dragon before we are both going to go shout at sales, so what ever you have planned, I am not in."

Ruby pouted and then turned expectantly to Emma.

"Eating, Ruby. I have a meeting with Katherine immediately after about the case, in case i m called up to give evidence again. And I have reports to run, probably over a sandwich."

Ruby's eyes, however, lit up. "What if i told you that I would run all the reports for you. And got you lunch? Would you come shopping with me?"

Emma swiveled in her chair and fixed her longest friend with a stare. "Rubs, no offence, but I know that when you say shopping, you mean torture." She pressed on when the brunette looked ready to interrupt. "I need to be back by two, a lot of things, including Henry's wellbeing could depend on it, and I have never seen you shop in anything less than five hours.

For a moment she thought that she had won, as her friend looked crest fallen, but she recovered. "Turkey sandwich and frosted apple muffin. With coffee. And iv e narrowed the choice to three outfits and you just need to give your final opinion. I promise you, if we are not done in 30 minutes, you are free to abandon me to my loveless, lovely fate."

"Drama queen," came over the divider.

"Who said that?"

Wendy and Rory giggled and stayed down on the other side of the desks, while Ruby attempted to glare a hole though the wall between them. Eventually, she turned back. "Deal?"

Emma rolled her eyes and signed – the things she did for her friends. Resigned to her fate, she said, "Throw in the reports and you have a deal." And then tried to stay alive as her overenthusiastic friend almost hugged her to death.

Killian and Emma were just strolling back into town after a very lengthy walk, full of good breakfast food, a happily exhausted Henry napping in the stroller, when Emma spotted a bright red figure in the centre of a small park. She motioned Jones to silently follow her.

In the middle of a pretty park, perfectly visible from behind a hedge the couple had chosen to conceal them in, were Ruby and Dr Hooper. Ruby wore the perfectly professional and stylish red dress Emma had approved of on Friday, looking radiant, and Archie was looking more relaxed than she had ever seen him, in a jacket and jeans. He reached for his companion and grabbed her around the waist, spinning her before carefully depositing her on a low wall, treating her with care and looking up at her.

Even from a distance, Emma could see the genuine smile on her friend's face.

Jones tried to be responsible and lead her away, gently tugging on her sleeve. Emma, in a rare display of childishness, pouted, "But I want to get her back for all the times she embarrassed me. Belle would be mentally cheering me on!"

The dark man grinned and wordlessly pointed to another hedge on the other side of the park. There, Emma could just make out a silhouette with red hair.

Once they were safely out of the park, the blonde turned to Killian. "Tell your sister I love her." She paused, thoughtful for a moment. "And she better have pictures."

AN: As I said above, I am really sorry for how long this has taken. My health had taken a turn for the worst, I am still continuously ill, but I now have a job until the summer! So, back on track and I hope that all of you will truly enjoy it. I look forward to reading your reviews and your PMs.

Miran xx