Prompt: Red Swan - Ruby/Emma: First date

Obviously from the prompt, this is Red Swan and not Swan Queen. So skip if needed.


Emma absolutely 100% does not believe in the curse. No matter what she might tell Henry, she does not believe in the curse. At all. But today is a really important day and Emma's not willing to risk it on the insanely off chance that it actually does exist.

So she drives out to the border and climbs out of the cruiser. She feels ridiculous, standing there, staring at the 'Now Leaving Storybrooke' sign, but it's nothing compared to how ridiculous she feels when she starts talking aloud - to the sign or the border or the curse or whatever.

"I know that no one is allowed to leave Storybrooke without something bad happening. But you let Henry leave once and he says it's because he was planning on coming back. Well, I'm going to come back. And I'm going to bring her back with me. So I just really need you to let us go and not do anything crazy, okay?"

She waits for a few moments as though expecting for some kind of a sign or booming voice, but nothing happens. So she climbs back into the cruiser and shakes her head. The curse totally isn't real. But if it is, she hopes her appeal works.


"So where are we going?" Ruby asks with a grin as she climbs into Emma's Bug.

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" Emma smirks, putting the car into drive and heading for the main road.

"Oh come on, Emma, please." Ruby pouts and it's totally adorable.

"I want this to be special." Is all Emma will say, her eyes trained on the road in front of her. Her stomach flips just a bit when she sees the sign - but she does not believe in the curse, not even a little bit - and she repeats in her head over and over 'we'll be back, we'll be back, we'll be back'.

She exhales when they make it past the sign with no problems and Emma eases the car onto Highway 95. Her fingers fidget over her cell phone as she drives farther away from Storybrooke. Henry was on Granny duty with the promise to call if anything seemed at all off with the woman. But as the miles stretch on and so does the silence, Emma finally feels like she can breathe again.

"Emma, where are you taking me?" Ruby asks again, watching out the window as mile markers fly by.

"You'll see." She smirks, turning on the radio to a pop station that she knows Ruby will like. They sing along as they drive and when Ruby reaches over and takes Emma's hand, she knows that this was the right plan.

Finally, Emma pulls the car over. Ruby glances around and frowns. "You brought me to a rest stop for our first date?"

Emma chuckles. "Not exactly." She reaches into the backseat of the car and pulls out a blindfold. "I told you it was a surprise."

"Emma!" Ruby protests, but Emma's already got the blindfold over her eyes and is tying it.

"It's gonna be worth it, I promise." Emma assures, whispering quietly into her ear.

They drive for a little while longer and then Emma parks the car. She helps Ruby out of the car and guides her along, an arm securely around the waitress' waist. They make a brief stop before Emma continues on.

"Emma, seriously, where are we?" Ruby demands when they finally stop.

"We're here." Emma grins, reaching up and untying the blindfold.

Ruby blinks against the sunlight, her eyes adjusting. Even once they've adjusted it takes her a moment to comprehend what she's seeing and Emma has the sudden awful feeling that maybe Granny had been wrong. But then a huge smile breaks out on Ruby's face.

"Lemurs!" She exclaims, looking into the exhibit where four ring tailed lemurs play.

"I know it's not exactly the adventure you were looking for -"

Ruby cuts Emma off with a kiss - their first. When she pulls away, her eyes are sparkling. "It's perfect. It's just perfect."

She wraps her arm around Emma's waist and snuggles into her side, her head resting on Emma's shoulder. "I can't believe you brought me all this way, just so I could see lemurs."

Emma looks down at her and grins. "Well, I figured it needed to be a pretty great first date if I wanted a second one."

"Oh, this definitely earns a second date." Ruby laughs.

They watch the lemurs play for a while longer before they head off to explore the rest of The Franklin Park Zoo. They end up back at the lemurs on their way out, just to see them one more time. Emma takes pictures of Ruby with them on her phone and smiles when a woman offers to take a picture with both of them. It turns out great and Emma knows it's going to be her new phone wall paper.

As they head out of the zoo, Ruby demands they make a quick stop at the gift shop, but refuses to allow Emma in with her. She comes out a few minutes later carrying a bag.

"For you." She smiles as she hands the bag over.

Emma looks puzzled until she pulls out a small stuffed lemur. "I thought lemurs were your thing?" She asks with a grin.

"They are." Ruby beams. "But this is to remind you that you're my lemur."

And to Emma, that sounds like just about the best thing she could be.