Chapter 10

Emma sat at the diner and was just staring out the window. She didn't know how to process everything that she knew now. It had been a long two days. Sylvia had come back with them. Regina was surprised to the see other fairy, but she agree to allow her to design her wedding gown.

Sylvia had taken her measurements, Henry's, Will's, and Ruby's before she left. She mentioned that she would come back soon for Charming and Snow's, but she doubted that she would be able to get the "young queen to change her mind." Even Sylvia knew about Snow's penchant to wear something boisterous for "court appearances." Having seen pictures of her mother when she was on the run from Regina, she longed to know that woman. She actually liked the outfit minus the huge fur collar thing, but Snow wasn't on the run. And, she was the Queen.

Emma sighed. She was a simple girl. Maybe that was the problem. She grew up in the States as an orphan, not a Princess of the Enchanted Forest. She would never understand the lavishness that her mother preferred. But, she knew that her mother could see both sides. She understood where Snow was coming from, but wearing something like that just wasn't something that she was comfortable doing. She chuckled as she remembered Will offering to help. Will had saved the day again.

She picked up her cup of coffee and sipped it. She looked around the diner. She smiled as she actually looked at the town's people. They were her subjects. They were her people and it was her duty to protect them. She just went from being their princess and heir apparent to their sheriff. It was a title that she could handle. She was still in charge of their protection, but it a different manner. And, the fact that both Regina and Snow shared the mayor-ship helped as well. She knew that it wasn't an easy alliance, but Snow realized quickly that she really didn't know what she was doing. And, she wasn't afraid to ask.

"Can I sit down?" Snow asked as she rolled the stroller with Neal in it beside the table that Emma was sitting at, breaking Emma's thoughts.

"Sure," Emma replied as she reached out to take her mother's coffee cup.

"Sylvia told me that she has something appropriate for you to wear for the wedding," Snow started.

Emma smiled and chuckled. She should have known that her mother would want to talk about the wedding. It seemed to be the only thing on her mind these days. But, then again, she never thought that she'd see her daughter again. Helping with the wedding was something small that Emma could allow her, and as an added bonus they got closer still.

"She did."

"I'm surprised that she is here, but I am glad as well. She is a well known designer and seamstress from the Forest. Besides, you know, her being a fairy," Snow told her.

"I found that out."

"I trust her judgement," Snow added.

"So you don't trust mine?" Emma asked a little taken aback by her mother's statement.

"It isn't that," Snow started.

"Then what is it?" Emma questioned as she picked up her coffee cup for another sip.

To say that there wasn't tension between them was an understatement. Ruby must have sensed something because she came over to their little corner of the diner and refilled their cups with fresh coffee. She gave Emma a smile and then Snow a look. Snow did her best at looking a little contrite about her statements and she leaned back in the seat, almost in defeat, as Ruby left them alone again.

"I do trust you, Emma. I do. I always have...even before I knew that you were my daughter. I know that is hard for you to believe, but it is the truth. I love you. I love Regina, too. And, I'll admit that you two seem very good together. It has taken a long time for me to forgive Regina and I'm not sure if she's honestly, truly, and completely forgiven me. I took so much from her and she took so much from me," Snow said.

"But, she's given you so much as well," Emma added.

"She has... She really has."

"What's wrong?"

"I just never understood her. And, now on some level, I do. I am still upset that she orchestrated the death of my father, but at the same time, I can't fault her for it. If I had known then what I know now about my father...I can't say that things would be that different. I was a child and I only saw her as a monster. I didn't want to. I really didn't."

"Why not?" Emma asked her.

"Because she was the first one since mother's death that treated me like I was normal. She didn't put me up on a pedestal and treat me like this untouchable being. She knew that I was the princess and she really didn't care. She used to take me riding. She would get me out of the castle. She taught me different languages and history. She was more like an older sister and a friend than a mother. Even in her grief and even though she viewed her marriage to my father as a prison, she never raised a hand to me...until I went after her," Snow admitted.

Emma just sat there. She didn't know what to say. It wasn't like she didn't already know all this, but it was odd to hear her own mother admit it. Snow was admitting that she was fallible. And, that was something that half the town couldn't see or wouldn't see because she was Snow White, Princess and Queen. She was their savior from the Evil Queen.

"I know that it was my fault. I never asked her why. But, I think that even I knew that there was something behind her motivations. I didn't like them, but I could understand them as well. I think that is why I spared her life when I did. I could have executed her. David wanted me to, but I didn't. I spared her because I could see the pain in her eyes. She was grieving. I could feel it, but I didn't know why at the time," Snow explained.

"And, now?"

"She still grieving, but it isn't a gaping wound. Her soul has healed itself and she has you and Henry to thank for that. When I look at her now, I see the woman that I first met. She no longer hides her pain, though. She's more expressive. And, she doesn't sneer when she sees me."

"Well that's good, I suppose."

"Emma, I know you love her. I can see it. I can see that she loves you. I can see it in her eyes, in the way that she speaks with you, in the way that her whole body changes when you walk into a room with her. I was the same way with your father. I won't deny her her happiness. She deserves it and as much as I've tried to fight it, you are her happy ending."

"And, she is mine, Mom," Emma said.

"I know. I guess this is what you would call karma here. My mother wronged her. Her mother wronged me. I wronged her. She wronged me. I wronged her again. She cast a curse and I lost my child. That child had a child and somehow she ended up with my grandson. And, it is my child that came back to me and broke her curse. It is also my child that ended the feud between our families. It took four generations to stop the feud."

"Four?" Emma questioned.

"It started honestly between Rumple and Cora and spilled over into our family. And, as much as we don't want to admit it, Henry is Rumple's grandson. And, it is Henry that brought everything to a head and made us face what we found. He ended the cycle and brought us together through love. I don't know why I should be so surprised by that. He is a Charming after all," Snow explained with a happy smile on her face.

"Does it bother you still that I am marrying her?"

"No, it doesn't."

"Even though she is technically my step-grandmother," Emma added and waited to see Snow's response.

"I don't think that she was ever really that. As much as I wanted her to be my step-mother, she wasn't. She was just the Queen. And, I think that most of the people have forgotten that she was my step-mother. They just see her as the Evil Queen, and I'll admit that is my fault. After Daddy died, I couldn't see her as anything but. Your father and I fought her to regain the kingdom for my family. Regina didn't have an heir. The nobles would have come for me upon her death, but I was still so angry with her," Snow said.

"And now?"

"I am not angry. I still love her like I did when I was younger. I wanted someone to be there for me and she was. It wasn't ideal for both of us at the time, but we made it work. I desperately wanted her to be my mother, but she didn't want to be. She could have been cruel and mean to me, but she wasn't. She was kind and loving," Snow stated.

"Until?"

"I guess father broke her worse than I had by telling her mother about Daniel," Snow admitted.

Emma just watched her. She knew how much it took her mother to admit both of those things to anyone. She was proud of her. She really was. Snow and Regina had some a long way from being those two teenagers thrust together by Cora's manipulations.

"Do you know who I blame for all of this?" Emma asked her as she took another sip of coffee.

"Cora."

"I killed her."

"I know, but she killed your mother."

"That's doesn't excuse what I did," Snow replied.

"Do you want me to charge you with murder?" Emma asked her.

"No, I don't, because Regina was right," Snow told her.

"About?"

"It is a far worse punishment for me to know that I have darkness in my heart and I am capable of such things than to sit in a cell and rot. Being in a cell and forgotten would be easy. Being able to live and watch my family grow up and for them to know that I am not the innocent person that legends have made me. To have them know the truth and still love me is punishment enough. Regina took her pound of flesh from me. She made me keep my heart and the pain that comes from being a murderer. I can't escape it, nor would I want to," Snow answered.

"You knew that the town would find you innocent if it went to trial, didn't you?"

"I did. That is why I begged for Regina to take my heart, to take away my pain and emotions, but she didn't. She took my heart and made me look at it. She showed me the darkness that had formed and I realized that I wasn't innocent as I once was. I wasn't the good and just princess. I was deeply flawed and I realized how far I would go in order to save my family. I realized that darkness was sometimes necessary. It gave me a new view on things. As you would say, I no longer saw things as black and white. It was a very hard lesson to learn, but murder is a very good teacher," Snow replied and finished her coffee.

"Well, this wasn't the light conversation I expected to have with you this morning," Emma quipped.

"But, we needed to sit down and have it, didn't we?"

"I think we did. Thank you for being honest with me. And, I am glad that I have your blessing to marry her. It means a lot to me, Mom," Emma told her.

"I know it does, Emma. And, in case I haven't told you enough, I am very proud of you. I'm proud of the woman that you are and the mother you are. I am also proud of the woman that you are going to be," Snow answered with a large smile. "I am also glad that I will be able to play with my grandchildren. That I won't be so old and feeble."

"Ah, Mom's got jokes now," Emma quipped with a laugh.

"At least we can find humor in our situation. I am not sure many would. But, then again, we aren't like most people, are we?"

"No, we aren't," Emma replied.

"I love you, Emma."

"I love you, too, Mom."

"Well, thank you for the chat. I have to go. David should be getting home soon and he wanted to take Neal to the park to swing. I believe that Henry is coming over later for sword practice. Don't be a stranger. And, Emma," Snow started.

"Yeah?"

"Don't let me be so overbearing that you don't get the wedding you want."

Emma just smiled at her mother. Snow got up and pulled the stroller from in between the tables. She gave Emma a big toothy grin and then made her way to the door. Emma sat there in peace for a minutes, just thinking about what her mother said. Snow had come a long way, just like Regina. It had been hard on them both, but it really was Henry that brought them all together. She smiled over her coffee cup as she took another drink, finishing the cup.

Emma had no sooner set the empty cup down when Ruby showed up with a carafe of coffee to refill it. She smiled at her friend and goddaughter. She noticed something in Emma's eyes and sat down to talk with her. Emma watched her with green hazel eyes. There was something different about Ruby, too.

"Rubes, you okay?"

"Perfect, you?" Ruby asked in response.

Emma cocked an eyebrow and smiled larger at her friend. She took another sip of coffee. She was trying to collect her thoughts. She knew what Ruby had gone through over the last few days, but she didn't know that Ruby was out of her apartment and actually being social.

"So how are things on the ... home front?" Emma questioned her with hesitation.

"Great."

"That's good. And, your little problem? Did you get it resolved?"

"Yeah," Ruby said with a laugh. "Regina didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?" Emma asked as she finished her cup of coffee again.

"Hold that thought. Let me go clock out and we'll talk. I'll bring you something to eat. On the house. And, some water. I think you've had enough coffee. Or, maybe some cocoa with cinnamon...yes, I still remember," Ruby said as she stood up and headed back for the counter.

Emma just smiled. Ruby did really know everyone better than they thought she did. She knew all their usual orders. She knew when something was wrong with them, and when they had been somewhere they shouldn't have been. It was her damn Wolf senses, but it was what made Ruby Ruby. The townspeople just learned to deal with it. She wondered if it was partially because of her mother's influence and the fact that she was Ruby's best friend.

When Ruby came back, she was still smiling. She had two plates of breakfast and two glasses of water. She set them down on the table and took the tray up to the counter. She dropped the tray off and then took off her apron, dropping it on the tray. She said something to the other waitress and then came back over to where Emma was sitting. She sat down with little fanfare and began to eat.

"So?" Emma said between bites of eggs.

"Belle and I took care of it."

"You did?" Emma asked with a huge grin.

"We did."

"Then, she's..."

"If the magic is to be believed, yes, she is."

"And, you're okay with that?" Emma inquired.

"We talked. We talked for a long time before we... But, yes, I am okay with it. The longer we talked and ... I decided that I wanted to marry her."

"That's great."

"It is," Ruby replied.

"Did you ask her?"

"I did."

"Did she say yes?" Emma questioned and then took a drink of water.

"Yes, many times," Ruby said with a wicked grin.

Emma spit her water out across the table. Ruby tried to look contrite but failed miserably. They both fell into a fit of giggles, receiving odd looks from the other patrons in the diner. Emma cleared her throat and took another drink of water. This time it went down.

"So, you're getting married, too?"

"We are."

"And, you're having a baby?" Emma asked.

"Possibly."

"When are you planning to get wed?"

"We want to as soon as possible, but we want to wait for you and Regina. I don't want to over shadow my sister's happiness. I know that she is pregnant with Remy, but we don't need a big wedding. And, to be honest, we haven't even really discussed it. She only just agreed to marry me. I don't want to push things, but we will need to see a doctor soon."

"Why?"

"To confirm the pregnancy," Ruby answered.

"You seemed worried about it, though. What's wrong? What aren't you telling me?"

"Wolf's have pups quickly. And, if Belle is pregnant with a pup, I don't know how fast it will be before she has it. We need to see a doctor to see how far along she is. I know it might seem like nothing, but humans take nine months. Wolves only take two to three months."

"Wow, that's fast. So, yeah, a visit to the doctor would be in order. But, Regina and I are getting married in a few weeks. There isn't much left for us to do."

"I know."

"Why don't you talk with Regina about your ceremony? I am sure that she'll help you. Besides, you're family, Rubes. It doesn't have to be a big wedding like ours. Hell, even Regina could marry you in her office one afternoon. But, talk to Belle about it. See what she wants to do."

"I am going to," Ruby answered with a huge smile.

"What?"

"I am just so deliriously happy, right now."

"I know the feeling," Emma replied. "Enjoy it. Now, finish your breakfast and go see Belle. I've got to get the office and take some reports to Regina."

"I will."

"Hey, why don't you and Belle come over for dinner tonight? We can work on your wedding. It'll be fun," Emma suggested.

"And, Snow?"

"Only if you want," Emma added as she finished her breakfast.

"I'll let you know. Thanks, Emma. Now get to work before the people think you're slackin'."

"Thanks for breakfast. I'll see at lunch if not before. Talk to you later," Emma told her as she stood up from the table and left the diner.

Emma walked down the street to the Sheriff's Office. She went to her desk to get the weekly reports to give to Regina. She looked around the office. She didn't know what she was looking for, but something seemed off. Then she realized that there wasn't a used coffee mug on Will's desk. She looked around the office again. There was no sign of Will. She shrugged it off and made a mental note to call the other woman and deputy to see if she was on patrol. She was more worried about getting to Regina's office to see her and give her the reports than she was worried about Will. She knew that Will could take care of herself.

She gathered up the reports and grabbed a walkie before heading out. She clipped it to her pants pocket and left the office. She closed and locked the door since Will wasn't in there. She started her journey down the road towards City Hall and the Mayor's office. She noticed that there was an unusual spring her step. She chalked it up to Ruby's good news. She smiled the whole way to Regina's office. She entered the building with no fanfare and made her way up to the Mayoral Suite. She acknowledged the latest secretary that Regina had as she knocked quickly on the office door before entering.

She saw Regina sitting behind her desk, black rimmed glasses in one hand, as she nibbled on an ear piece. She was going over some paperwork. If she heard Emma, she didn't acknowledge her. Emma knew that it meant she was deep in thought. She didn't take it personally as she sat down in a chair in front of the desk and waited for Regina to say something to her. She didn't have to wait long.

"Good morning, Dear," Regina said as she looked up into her lover's eyes.

"Morning," Emma replied. "I brought those reports for you."

"Good. I need you to make sure that you are off for the next budget meeting. You need to be there. I want you to bring up getting another cruiser. I think that we can swing it and it will be good for the department to have two cars. At least that way, you have your own and you aren't having to share it with your father or Will."

"It would make patrolling easier when our shifts overlap. I start working up a proposal for your review before the meeting. I know that you'll find something to help me get it pushed through," Emma told her.

"I will. It makes more sense now for more of a police presence. I know that the town isn't that big, but we don't know about the line. I want people to feel safe."

"I haven't heard otherwise, Regina," Emma said.

"I know. I would rather be prepared. Things have a way of going...sideways, here, quickly."

"That they do," Emma stated with a laugh.

"Besides, with two vehicles, you can get more patrolling done. I know that you patrol the main areas of the town daily, but I want to include those that live further out. It isn't fair that they don't get the same presence. I am not talking about the wharf and such. I mean those that live out past Major Oaks and those is the forest. I know that they may not want to be so social, but I want them to know that we still take their safety into account," Regina told her.

"Running for office already? Regina, you don't have to worry about that for a few years. What's bothering you?"

"Rumple is dead."

"I know."

"There has to be a Dark One out there and we don't know who it is," Regina started.

"The dagger is blank. There's no name on it. Isn't it tethered to the Dark One?" Emma asked.

"It is, but that doesn't mean that someone didn't find a way to magically break the tether."

"Regina, he died outside of town. He's dead. There was nothing for the magic to do. There was no magical being or item for it to attach itself to so it just dissipated into nothingness. This is the world without magic. We're safe here because he died outside of town," Emma told her.

"Are we?" Regina countered.