Life, sadly and most unfortunately, grew rather slow and tedious upon returning home.
The damage Ruby had caused couldn't be reversed and yet it hadn't gone so far to be completely running either. It would be a small but ever present blot of shame on the Bennet family name, one they would just have to learn to live with. Of course, had Ruby actually married Neal the whole situation would be ten times worse and even more damning to their status but thank the heavens (and one Killian Darcy), that was not the case.
Of course Mrs. Bennet had both been equally furious and delighted to have her daughter back, switching so quickly between the two it was giving her family head spasms. Her sisters had been the same but more quickly to forgive and Mr. Bennet was even warming down his coldness to her. She was home and safe now, they kept telling themselves. It was the only thing that mattered.
But with that business out of the way there was really no other business to attend to.
And more often than not (perhaps every waking moment) Emma's thoughts drifted to Killian.
She tried to stop herself, really, but all she could see when she closed her eyes where blue ones looking back at her. When there was silence, his whispered words tickled her ears, promising he'd come back. And he had promised it, had he not? So where was he? What was he waiting for?
Had he lied?
Emma tried to trust him when her doubt grew so heavy but with each passing day it grew harder and harder to do so. And it wasn't like there was anything else going on to preoccupy her. Snow was Snow, perhaps more quiet than usual after the whole Bingly business. Ruby was kept in the house under lock and key for the foreseeable future and Abigail had taken it upon herself to learn a new language. Aurora, surprisingly, was the only one of the Bennet sisters to currently be participating in the world outside their home.
Philip had made good on his promise to come and ask Mr. Bennet's permission to court his daughter and (after much arguing due to the whole Ruby debacle and a newfound distrust of soldiers) he had relented after a tortuously long week. He called on her almost every day and Emma couldn't help but be both happy and jealous of Aurora's newfound happiness. Even Snow was going through the same conflict of feelings but, above all else, they were sisters, and they couldn't be more happy for her.
So far (and apparently serious) where they in their courting that Philip was coming to dinner tonight, the very first he would have with the family. No one was that worried, though, and there wasn't the tiniest bit of nerves on either side until an unexpected gust came along with him.
The doctor, Victor.
Both Emma and Snow had went wide eyed at his appearance but only they knew his connection to Ruby, no one else. And so no one else grew as tense as they did or even bat an eyelash to his appearance.
"I do apologize for bringing my friend," Philip said calm and charmingly. "But I very much wanted to introduce him to you all as he is more like a brother to me than anything or anyone else. With our acquaintance growing I so hope you will form one with him as well."
Mrs. Bennet had been delighted and Mr. Bennet accepting.
But, the most surprising response, was Ruby.
She grew quiet n his presence, not speaking at all and only stuttering out mumbled replies when she did. When his gaze drifted her way she blushed and ducked her head and whenever a situation arose to leave the room, if only for mere moments, she jumped to take it. Emma had never seen her sister so demure in her life.
They were all sitting in the drawing room now, their bellies full of dinner, and enjoying pleasant conversation when Ruby hastily offered to go help in the kitchen with tea. Emma, need to quell her curiosity, followed after, intent on getting an answer.
"What's wrong with you?" No point in beating around the bush.
Ruby twirled around and regarded her with surprise. "What on Earth are you talking about?"
"You're acting strange, don't deny it. And all because Victor is here. Did he do something to you in your acquaintance?" Emma had remembered Victor had said their friendship had been innocent, nothing compared to the one she had with Neal. Had he lied?
"No! No of course not!" Ruby immediately stated, her voice firm in its answer. "He was good to me….better than I deserved actually."
Emma regarded her sagged shoulders and mournful eyes. "Then what is it?"
Ruby's mouth opened once, twice, and three times before answering. "I…I'm embarrassed okay? Ashamed of what I did. I can't imagine what Victor must think of me…how he can even stand to be in the same room as me…."
Now it all made sense.
Emma smiled softly and placed her hand on her sister's shoulder. She had feelings for the medical doctor, the first genuine feelings she probably ever had for a man. "Ruby, if how he looks at you is any indication, I believe he'd rather be nowhere else but in a room with you."
"Really? But what I did-"
"A mistake," Emma interjected. "One we all stopped, you included, before it was too late. And I do believe Victor is a much better man than Neal Wickham."
"It doesn't matter. Father probably won't even let me speak to a man alone until I've become an old spinster."
Had it been a couple of weeks ago, Emma would want Ruby as far away from him and any man of eternity as well. But she saw the toll Neal Wickham took on her sister and perhaps her own heart had softened due to Killian Darcy. Whatever the reason, Emma found all she wanted to do was help.
Emma grinned mischievously. "Let me take care of that."
As it turned out, distracting her parents was much easier then Emma excepted. Emma had almost wished they'd put up more of a fight, only to satisfy her own boredom. Helping Ruby was doing a good deed for her sister but it was also accomplishing in taking her mind off other certain things.
Besides, all it took was getting Snow to ask Abigail to perform on the piano, Aurora "wanting" some silence in the dining room, Philip following after her and their parents naturally following after him. Then Snow recanted her desire and led away a very confused Abigail, Emma following after them.
She sent her sister a reassuring wink before disappearing behind the door.
And it soon became another Bennet sister to find happiness in love.
Whenever Philip came calling now Victor was sure to be with him.
Mr. Bennet grew a high regard for Philip and so didn't question his friend, even learning to respect the medic as well. So, when Aurora asked if Ruby could accompany them on trips to town, he conceded with a smile (and stern warning).
Emma was happy for her, just like she was for Aurora, but couldn't help the tiniest nip of jealously.
Killian still hadn't returned.
She knew not where he was or what he was doing and even if she was on his mind as much as he was on hers.
With each passing day, she tried to grow colder and colder toward the relationship, so when the inevitable happened and he didn't return she would not be left heartbroken. But, it was proving rather difficult.
"Are you alright Emma?"
She had been supposed to be reading but she had been on the same page for the last ten minutes. Emma looked up from her book, and emerged from her deep musings, to see Snow looking at her with concern. "Fine, why wouldn't I be?"
Snow put down her knitting and shrugged. "You're just…quiet now a days. More subdued. And I can't put my finger on why that might have happened."
Emma chewed on her lip. She wanted to tell her sister everything, to pore her heart out till every last detail was squeezed from her body. But saying it all, aloud and in plain sight, gave her fear. Fear it was all too real, fear that Killian would not return, and fear of facing her own feelings of being abandoned.
Emma ducked her head down. "It's nothing Snow."
"Emma, please-" She stopped whatever she was about to say as something outside the window drew her attention. "Whoever could that be?"
Emma followed her gaze to see a wagon racing up their drive, six horses at its helm and a finely dressed ride on the bench. Whoever this was, it was someone of high importance.
"Mother and Father aren't even home," Snow worried as she stood up. Their parents had left some time ago to have some tea with friends. Aurora and Ruby were out as well, spending time with their suitors, and Abigale had retired to her bedroom to catch up on her studies.
Emma followed after Snow to the door in anticipation of greeting their guests, both of them patting down their dresses and checking their hair for any stray strands.
Who awaited on the other side, however, Emma wouldn't have guessed in a million years.
"Lady Cora," Emma exclaimed with surprise, nearly forgetting her cue and dipped into a hasty curtsey. "How can I help you?"
Snow followed suit, just as bewildered.
Lady Cora de Bourgh looked as regal as ever, donned in a blackish purple dress accented with equally dark gems decorated all over her person. Her painted eyes were narrowed right at Emma and she brushed past her and into the house without bothering to give a proper greeting in return.
Following right after her was Zelena de Bourgh, still looking as meek as ever but there was a certain defiance in her eyes Emma didn't recall seeing the last time they met. As usual, the large green broach clung at her neck but her the rest of her attire, even hair style, was modest in its appearance. Modest, however, couldn't be used to describe the final guest to strut into the house.
Regina.
"Regina!" Snow exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
Her blood red lips formed into a smirk, and she gave a casual shrug of the shoulders. "On business dear Snow. Nothing pertaining to you, though, so not to worry."
Surprise was still evident on her face but Snow allowed some suspicion to enter her features. "What business?"
"Miss Bennet," Cora's voice boomed from the drawing room, making everyone run hastily into it.
She stood poised in the middle of the room, apparently too good to sit down on the furniture. Zelena remained behind her, her head slightly bent but her eyes trained on Emma. Regina joined them, looking as smug as ever.
The hostility radiating off them was too much to ignore and effectively rid Emma of her shock. Whatever they wanted, it was not good. She crossed her arms over her chest and put on face of complete indifference. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"I am here on very grave business Miss Bennet," Cora began, her voice sharp enough to cut through ice. "It has reached my ears that you intend to marry my nephew, Mr. Darcy. And I have come here to put a halt to such nonsense immediately."
Emma heard Snow gasp softly the same time her body jolted at his name. She composed herself quickly enough, and halted any emotion from seeping into her face. "You have come all this way for only this purpose?"
Cora's eyes widened with rage. "You don't deny it then?"
"I deny nor confirm anything," Emma replied. "As such matters do not concern your Ladyship."
Zelena looked aghast at such a statement and Regina was downright gleeful, probably happy to see Emma' impending doom.
"You insolent girl!" Cora spat. "How dare you talk to me in such a way! You and your family are a disgrace, an embarrassment to have any connection-even the slightest acquaintance-to my nephew! Even without your sister causing you such shame of a scandalous marriage you are no one, you have no importance, money, or status. You are nothing compared to Killian!"
Every word was a dagger to Emma's heart but still she remained resolute.
After a quivering moment of silence, Emma said slowly but strongly, "If your Ladyship is quite done, you may go now."
"Excuse me?"
"You have come into my home without invitation and then proceeded to insult my family and I. Your presence is not desired any further so, if you will, see yourself out."
"I told you," Regina snarled. "I told you how ill-mannered she was. What she could have done to have twisted Killian so I'll never know."
Emma felt Snow stir beside her.
"Killian is engaged to my daughter!" Cora continued, completely ignoring Emma and Regina. "It was planned since their birth. Do you think you honestly can break up such a union? For what? For love? Do you know what love is girl? It's weakness. Fools marry for love and end up destitute, ruined. Now I ask you again, are you engaged to my nephew or not?"
Zelena, at least, didn't shy away at being mentioned.
"Your Ladyship obviously thinks so or you would not have come to begin with," Snow pronounced, shocking just about everyone in the room. Even Emma. She starred at her sister with awe, too proud yet too surprised to say another word.
"Who," Snow continued, "Mr. Darcy decides to marry is completely up to him and the woman whose hand he asks for. Your visit here accomplishes nothing. As my sister said, your Ladyship, I believe you have overstayed your welcome."
"Well I have never!" Cora all but screamed in the quiet house. Her usual pale face was painted in red and her usual calm demeanor was gone. She looked positively livid. With a huff, she grabbed her skirts and shuffled out of the room, her daughter scurrying after her.
"Do you know who you're speaking to?" Regina hissed, marching right up to Snow. "Who you dared to insult?"
"I don't care who she is," Snow replied coolly. "Absolutely no one speaks to my sister that way."
Regina's body trembled with anger. "Then you're a fool just like her. Didn't you learn from my brother that a Bennet girl is not the kind of girl a gentleman marries?"
No one saw it coming.
Emma heard the crack of skin on skin first, then registered the image of Snow's hand swiping hard against Regina's cheek. A red mark formed quicker then she would have expected.
"I…you…you just-" Regina looked like a gasping fish.
"Get out," Snow ordered.
Regina was outraged, perhaps just as much as Cora, but wasted no time leaving the house, strewing a slew of very in appropriate words as she did.
"Snow…." Emma whispered, still unsure if she saw what just happened correctly. "You just, oh my God, you just slapped Regina."
The brunette shrugged. "She deserved it. That was horrid what those three just did. They had no right to come here like that or speak to you in that manner. Emma-"
She was cut off as Emma launched herself at her sister, embracing her in a tight hug. "Thank you," She whispered into the crook her neck, smiling deeper when she felt Snow's arms tighten around her.
"Emma," Snow whispered. "If you don't want to talk about it that's fine but…what they said about Mr. Darcy…?"
It seemed that no matter what Emma was going to have to talk about it. She closed her eyes and sighed. "We're not engaged," She pulled back and looked sadly at her sister. "He asked but…but I said no. But Snow, that seems so long ago and so much has happened that I'm not sure anymore. I'm not sure about anything."
Snow tilted her to the side. "Emma, I didn't even know."
"How could you, I didn't tell you. I didn't tell anyone. And now…now I haven't even heard from him and I'm not sure what we are to each other. What we could be. I'm just…I'm so confused."
"Did he say he'd see you again?"
"Yes but-"
"Then you will Emma."
"Snow, you can't know that."
She smiled and palmed Emma's cheeks gently. "Have faith. I do and so should you. But, if you don't mind, I'd really like to hear what's been going on in your life. It seems I've missed a lot."
Well that was a understatement.
Authors Note: A little faster than my usual updates eh? :)