After the long night the new roommates all suffered from the previous evening, they slept in the next day. Roni recommended going out to eat at that cute little diner that her and Emma had visited a few times now.
Emma is pushing her food around her plate and for the first time in a long time she can't find the appetite she usually possesses. Her daughter is sitting right beside her in the booth, happily eating without a care in the world with her mother and Regina watching her carefully from across the table.
"I don't understand how your father thought it was okay for you to miss school," she finally snaps, angrily throwing a French fry down on her plate as fury festers for too long inside.
"I think, he thinks, we will be back tonight," her daughter answers with a mouth full of food.
Something deep inside of Emma waits on pins and needles for Regina to scold Ella for chewing with her mouth open, but it never comes and there's that searing hot pang of guilt again knowing the distinct difference between Roni and Regina.
"Well that's not going to happen," Emma mutters mostly to herself, shifting the fries around her plate for the umpteenth time. "Today I'm going to enroll you in school and you can stay here with me."
"Emma, do you really think..."
She cuts her mother off immediately, "are you going to take her back tonight? Or at least by the end of the week?" Those green eyes narrow and the roles between mother and daughter are quickly flipped.
"N-no. I told you, I'm staying here with you."
"Well then she needs to be in school. End of discussion," Emma demands, glancing back at her daughter, but she doesn't say much, she never really does.
Ella reminds Emma so much of herself when she was younger, just always going with the flow and trying not to make waves. She wants to know if her daughter is actually okay with any of this, but she knows the same old answer that will follow, 'I'm fine'.
The more Emma ponders this new situation, the more she is realizing that she already feels like her and Killian have split. They are already living in separate homes, barely speaking to one another. Now, their daughter has to decide who she wants to live with and she will be tossed from one house to the next.
"Ella, are you okay with all of this?" She gently asks, pushing a stray lock behind her daughter's ear. "Do you want to go home to dad?"
She's quiet for a few minutes as she chews her food and contemplates her choices. All three adults are watching the young girl intently, through bated breath. Each one seems to be too scared to move, like the small action might frighten her off.
"I stayed with dad for the past month. I want to stay here with you now," she offers a quick smile of reassurance and turns back to her food, abruptly ending the topic of conversation.
Emma glances up at Snow for guidance, but she simply shrugs her shoulders. Wonderful advice for her bewildered daughter.
"Well, I bet you're gonna just love the school here. There's a girl, Lucy, that always comes by to visit. She's a little younger than you, but I bet you two will get along great!" Roni expresses with excitement, trying her best to help smooth over this whole process.
"We will start looking for a place to stay," Emma confirms, making direct eye contact with Roni.
Her heart sinks just thinking about the prospect of moving out, but there's way too many people in that small apartment to live comfortably.
"Nah, you are all more than welcome to stay. The more the merrier!"
"No, Roni, we couldn't. There's just too many of us," she quickly argues, even if it's coming off halfhearted.
"Don't be ridiculous, we will make it work," Roni flashes her playful smile, the one that always melts Emma's insides like plastic to an open flame.
XXXXXXXXX
Without another thought, Emma instantly nods in response not really thinking of anything else, but Regina and how adorable she is.
After they all finished with lunch, Roni went back to her bar to work while Snow, Ella and Emma went to the school to enroll Ella. Emma also had an ulterior motive for showing up to the school at that time, she wanted to introduce Lucy and Ella to one another.
"Lucy!" Emma calls out once she locates the little girl exiting from the building. Lucy happily rushes over, but slows down her pace the minute she notices two other people lingering around. "Lucy, I would love for you to meet my daughter Ella, well your aunt..." Emma shrugs, still finding all of this so peculiar. "...and Snow White, your...great grandmother." Just the sound of that makes her cringe.
Ella waves shyly before she mumbles a small, "hi". Snow of course, wraps Lucy up in a tight hug like she's watched this little girl grow up before her very eyes and Lucy happily obliges, squeezing her back with equal excitement.
"It's so lovely to meet you Lucy," Snow practically squeals.
"I'm so excited to meet both of you!" Lucy expresses as her excitement bubbles up inside, prompting her to jump up and Emma indefinitely sees the distinct resemblance between Snow and Lucy's personalities.
"So, you know everything...about our family?" Ella skeptically inquires, because she has never met anyone outside of Storybrooke before and isn't sure how anyone from the outside world would accept this information.
"Of course. My dad taught me everything I need to know about the story book."
"Well, that's cool," Ella shrugs as she eyes her new niece with caution.
Emma's eyes are locked onto her daughter, because she has no clue what's going on in that head of hers. Ella has always been very hard to read, ever since she was little and usually Emma's pretty damn good at reading people.
"Come on kiddo, we will drive you home."
The reunited family all climb inside the bug to drive to Victoria's home together.
"Hey Lucy, did you find anything last night?" Emma asks over her shoulder, keeping her eyes on the road.
"No key card..." Lucy trails off, but then there's some rustling noises as she digs around for something in her backpack. "...but...I found...this!"
Emma catches a glimpse in the review mirror of Lucy smiling from ear to ear as she holds an old, crumpled up piece of paper high into the air like a victory trophy.
"What's that?" Ella asks, yanking the paper from her niece.
"What does it say?" Snow and Emma question in unison.
"It says,
My dearest,
I know why you have shut me out of your life. I understand the fear your mother instills within you. I wish riches and rank did not determine marriage. I still have hope that one day we can be together. Truly together, not just intimate glances when we believe no one else is watching or stealing kisses when your mother is away. I know I shall never be good enough for you or your family. This does not mean that I will ever stop loving you. You are my one and only and for that, I thank you. I thank you for teaching me how to love. I thank you for finding the woman inside of me and not just a poor maid. I thank you for filling my heart with joy and eternal love. I hope one day you will find a way for us to be together. Until then, know that I love you and wish nothing but the best for you.
Love,
Perla
"...who's Perla?" Ella immediately questions the moment she is finished reading the letter.
"Clearly Ivy's lover. I found her crying over a grave and the only thing written on that stone was the name Perla," Emma informs the group.
"I wonder what happened?" Snow gasps.
"My step grandmother, that's what!" Lucy scoffs, firmly crossing her arms over her chest. "She's always tearing loved ones apart! I bet she found this letter and killed Perla!"
"Here," Ella hands the letter back to Lucy, "you better put this back exactly where you found it before anyone finds out."
Lucy nods and places the letter back inside her backpack just as Emma pulls the bug up to the mansion. She watches as Lucy climbs out of her car with a heavy heart.
"We will talk to you soon okay, kiddo?" Emma yells through the car, persuading Lucy to stop in her tracks and turn around to face her family once more.
"Okay. It was nice meeting both of you. I'm so happy you are here. I can't wait to get my real family back," the little girl confesses with a deep frown present upon her face.
Emma's lips curl down into a matching frown as well, wishing she could just take her granddaughter home with them.
Everyone said their goodbyes and Emma drove off quickly, hoping she wasn't spotted by Victoria or Ivy for that matter. They drove back into town and headed straight for Roni's bar.
"I have to work tonight," Emma informs her mother and daughter, trying to get them accustomed to her new life in Hyperion Heights. "You two can take my car and explore the town or you can hang out in the apartment...maybe watch some movies?" She suggests, peering down upon her daughter in hopes that she can read her emotions.
"That would be fine. I'm kind of tired anyways," she admits as Emma tugs her into her side and kisses the top of her dark brown hair.
Emma waits patiently at the bottom of the staircase for her mother and daughter to disappear. Once she knows they are both upstairs, she takes off in search of Roni.
Emma finds Roni in the back of the bar, gathering some things that she needs up front for tonight. Green eyes take an extra minute to watch this beautiful woman in awe, even if she is just standing there, scanning the shelves for napkins.
Finally alone.
Emma roughly grips her elbow, provoking the brunette to spin around abruptly. She knows Regina is a little startled by the small sexy gasp that breaks through her plump lips and the way she stumbles back. The scare earns Emma a nice slap to her bicep, but she doesn't care.
Emma jerks Regina toward her by her elbow and slams her mouth against the one she's been dreaming about all damn day. Regina's hands slide down to her backside, her warm palms pressing firmly into Emma's ass before she squeezes and greedily pulls her in closer. Regina's white pearly white teeth nip at the soft pink flesh of Emma's bottom lip. An involuntary moan breaks free from the blonde and her whole body flushes with heat. She can even feel Regina's smug smile of triumph against her mouth.
Emma releases her elbow and runs both hands up Regina's flat stomach to her full breasts. As her palms graze each mound suggestively, her mind wonders which sexy little bra she has on today. Is it the extremely tight purple one, that's made up of lace? Is it the silky black one, that pushes them high up? Is it the simple blood red one, that makes her heart skip a beat?
Regina's warm velvety tongue sweeps across her lovers, the vibrations of her humming spilling over into Emma's mouth and making her crave so much more. Emma's center is already growing hot in her impossibly tight jeans, provoking her to squirm against Regina's inviting body.
Emma sneakily snakes one hand up to the back of Regina's neck and pulls her in even closer. Emma's absolutely frantic at this moment for her, needing to drink in everything that is her. She needs her smooth, naked, olive toned flesh against her pale skin right this second. There's nothing she loves more, than seeing their limbs entangled together with the beautiful contrast of their skin.
Her fingers slide a little further up into those thick raven curls before she closes her fist and yanks on her hair, causing her head to fall back. Emma breaks their hot kiss, smothering her exposed neck with warm kisses down, until she finds her weak spot and sinks her teeth right into that silky flesh.
"Oh god, Emma," she moans as her hips buck forward, pressing firmly into Emma.
Regina's signature, deep, husky voice sends cold shivers down Emma's spine generating goosebumps to break out all along her needy body.
"Roni?...Detective Weaver is here to see you..." the young bar back yells from the doorway, immobilizing both women instantly. Luckily, he can't see anything from where he's standing.
Emma rests her forehead against Regina's and they both sigh heavily as they try to catch their breaths.
"Later," Roni whispers and pecks Emma's kiss swollen lips once more before she leaves her alone.
XXXXXXXXX
As much as Roni dreads leaving Emma behind all and hot and bothered, she knows she has to. She can only imagine what ridiculous accuse Weaver has to annoy her with tonight.
She finds the detective sitting at her bar, drowning himself in a glass of scotch. He doesn't seem like his usual confident self and Roni already knows something has him nervous, she just has no idea what.
She places her hands down on the cold surface in front of the disgruntled man, glaring down upon him with fire burning in her eyes. She's so sick and tired of him coming in here to check up on her business and toss around empty threats.
"You better have a damn good excuse as to why you're drinking in my bar and asking to speak with me," she growls through gritted teeth.
Weaver barely lifts his head, but he catches a glimpse of her through his eyelashes. A small smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth as he lifts the glass up and right before his lip comes in contact, he breathes out a small chuckle. The detective then proceeds to slam back the rest of his scotch, never once wincing from the foul taste.
Weaver gently sets the glass down that has nothing more than a few ice cubes clinking around inside. He slides the glass in Roni's direction, her reflexes kick in immediately to catch the glass before it slides right off the counter.
Neither one of them say a word as they glare at one another in some redundant challenge, that Roni isn't even sure he knows why anymore. She wishes she knew what his motives are. She really wishes she could just read the damn man, but he's the most complex person she's ever come across. She never knows if she's coming or going when this man is around, which is more than just unnerving. She likes stability and the upper hand in all situations.
"Detective, so nice of you to join us," Emma mocks as she sneaks up from behind her boss.
"I could say the same thing, dearie. It took you long enough," the man accuses in a low growl while he continues staring Roni down.
"You know what? There's this phone call I've been meaning to make...Roni, you don't mind if I make this call, do you?" Emma asks in the most innocent tone Roni has ever heard come out of that pretty little mouth of hers.
The bar owner shakes her head, completely lost by the blonde's request. Her nose scrunches up as she turns her head to really gauge Emma's soft features, unsure where she's going with all of this.
"Why don't you go in the back?"
"Nah, I'm good. I want to make sure Weaver isn't giving you a hard time," she claims while casually pulling out her phone.
Emma scrolls through her contacts and finally settles on a name that Roni can't really see from her position. She brings the phone to her ear and smiles as she glares at Weaver with annoyance. Roni's completely confused now by what's going on, but she remains quiet, waiting for all of this to play out.
"Another drink, Roni," Weaver demands, inspiring the owner to pull his used glass off the counter and place it in the sink below.
Roni aggressively snatches a fresh glass, tosses some ice inside and pours the amber liquid with expertise. She slams the drink down in front of the man as her patience begins to crumble because she still doesn't know what the hell he wants.
"Belle!" Emma beams into her phone, grasping Roni's undivided attention.
What the hell kind of name is Belle? Roni glances over at Emma and watches a mischievous grin stretch across her face. She cocks her head to the side and raises one eyebrow at the woman, but Emma is suddenly enveloped in her phone call to notice.
Roni observes right away as the atmosphere around them quickly becomes thick with palpable tension. Out of the corner of her big brown eyes, she catches how Weaver clenches his fist tightly around his glass, his shoulders tense and his eyes growing colder.
"No, no I'm good. Thank you! There's something I need you to look into for me..." Emma trails off, so Roni suspects the other woman is speaking.
Her eyes dart back and forth between her lover and her enemy and god does she wish someone would just tell her what the hell is going on around here. There's something in her gut screaming that they share some kind of secret, but she thinks Emma would tell her. She doesn't believe she would keep her in the dark or ever lie to her.
Then again, they just met and she is having an affair with her. With that horrifying admission to herself, her heart sinks deep inside her chest and lands with a heavy thud in her gut.
Maybe I don't know Emma like I thought...like I hoped.
"I'm going to send over the information. Quick question, have you talked to your husband lately?" The blonde asks and it doesn't go unnoticed to Roni's ears how she emphasized the word husband.
Roni whips her head back toward the detective just as he's slamming back his drink.
"Hmm, yes...interesting. Well thank you! Take care Belle," Emma smiles and ends the call, but Weaver stands and tosses a twenty down on the bar, clearly done with this game.
"I thought you came here to chit chat?" The owner sarcastically quips before he has a chance to slither out the door.
"Another time," he mumbles, "please keep an eye out for Tilly," he sternly orders just as he turns to walk out the door.
"Who's Tilly?" Emma innocently inquires.
Roni quickly turns her attention to the blonde with frustration boiling in her blood. "What the hell was that?" She squawks, her voice coming out all squeaky and unsteady.
Emma's face falls, the anxiety building deep inside her while her green eyes drop to the floor and she shakes her head. "No-nothing, uh I just wanted to annoy Weaver, since he's always annoying you."
Roni rightfully so, doesn't believe a word she's saying right now, but they are at work and Roni refuses to cause a scene in her bar. So, she decides for the time being, she'll let it slide. "Mmkay," she mutters and finds a customer who needs her service.
Roni is not stupid, by any means, she knows something is going on, she just can't figure out what. It's like every time she tries to come up with a reasonable explanation, her brain shuts down and everything just sort of turns black.
Ever since Emma's mom showed up last night, her girlfriend seems more nervous and emotional. Roni is sure she just doesn't want her mom to find out about their affair, but still, it feels like so much more than that to her. She doesn't even want to start processing why Emma's mother's eyes are constantly lingering on her, like this woman is keeping a secret as well.
Now, with Weaver too, Roni just doesn't know what to believe anymore.