Regina watched the clock, as if trying to convey that she was running late and for Graham to finish talking.

"I'm going to be late Sheriff." She reminded him for the third time.

"I only stopped by to make sure that you were feeling okay."

"Clearly I am, but it's been a long day catching up with everything I missed, so if you don't mind…"

"Not at all. It's just that in all the time I've known you, there's never been a day when you were ill."

"My luck had to run out sometime."

"I went past your house yesterday, to see if there was anything you needed…" He stubbornly remained in his seat, refusing to give up his questions.

"I have friends who can do that for me. In fact Emma offered to pick up medicine even though it was her day off."

Graham looked relieved.

"That would explain why I saw her leaving your house."

"You behaviour is dangerously close to becoming a problem, Sheriff. I already had to deal with Mr Glass this year regarding his stalking efforts, as you well remember. I would hate to put in a complaint about your conduct."

"Sydney still comes when you call him, and you need me as Sheriff because there is no-one else who would let you get away with deciding how to deal with those who cross you. Making me arrest Sydney and letting you have a private chat with him while he was in custody… most mayors don't have that power."

Regina picked up her handbag, dropped in her cell and closed it. She stood up, straightening her skirt and walked around the desk until she was standing in front of Graham.

"You're right of course." She told him, smiling as she gripped his chin, digging in her nails. "But this is my town and I do have that kind of power so you will do exactly what I say. It may have been amusing for a while, watching you and Sydney fight for my attention, but I have grown past that. For your own sake, I advise you to let it go."

Regina released him and walked to the door, pausing before she opened it. He turned around in his chair to watch her.

"You asked if we could be friends." She reminded him. "Be satisfied that I accepted and don't intrude on my privacy again."

Regina checked her watch as she hurried towards the diner. Would Emma have waited for her?

She smiled as she spotted the familiar blonde hair in one of the booths near the back. Ruby was standing by the table, notepad in hand, but too busy talking to be taking Emma's order. Regina pushed open the door and walked calmly towards the booth, smiling at Ruby before sitting down opposite Emma.

"Sorry I'm late."

"Not a problem." Emma reassured her. "Ruby's been keeping me company. How did your meeting with the Sheriff go?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"So what can I get you?" Ruby asked as other customers tried to get her attention.

"Coffee." Emma and Regina spoke together.

Ruby raised an eyebrow but concentrated on writing on the notepad. "Anything else?"

Emma picked up the menu, pretending to look it over. "Maybe later, thanks."

On her way to make the coffee, Ruby had to make several stops at other tables, handing out bills and assuring the other customers that she hadn't forgotten their orders. Emma and Regina didn't notice.

"So what should we talk about?" Regina asked her.

"I don't know. I don't want to talk about the past, or family or anything too personal. At least not yet."

"Agreed."

"That leaves finding common interests. That's what friends have isn't it?"

"What do you and Ruby have in common?"

Emma smiled and shrugged. "We both like having fun. I guess we just hit it off when we first met."

"Well what do you talk about?"

"Oh the town and people we know. She knows everyone here, all their stories and if they're nice people."

"I won't ask what she said about me then. So what books do you enjoy reading?"

"Anything exciting, there has to be lots of action. I never keep books or read them twice because once I know what is going to happen I find them boring. I'd rather get them from the library or a charity shop, and only pick them up when I want something to read. I'm guessing you read a lot?"

"It's the most exciting thing to do in this town." Regina acknowledged her question with a tilt of her head. "There's a room in my house with books I like and I do read them again because it can be comforting to know the characters and what the future holds for them. Mostly I stick to the same authors but I have a variety of fiction and non-fiction works."

Emma slipped off her left shoe. "Favourite films? TV shows? Hobbies?"

Regina jumped as she felt Emma's foot run up her leg, pause at her knee and move back down again. She wanted to turn around and see if anyone was watching them, but remembered that as she had walked towards the booth the area under the table was hidden from view.

"The news channels, cookery shows." Regina spoke as though reeling off from a list in her head, trying not to react to Emma's foot as it switched to her other leg. "I like older films, the kind with storylines and not the big-budget explosions meant to distract from lack of substance. You?"

"The news channel is important." Emma agreed. "But comedy shows help me relax after work. Re-runs are the best, back when the humour was fast-paced. I like most films, maybe you could suggest some of the older ones for me to watch?"

She should pull her legs away, Regina told herself, and tuck them under her seat where Emma couldn't reach them. Regina couldn't believe she was sitting here allowing Emma to touch her in public when anyone could walk over and see them. She opened her mouth to say something just as Emma finally pulled away. The sudden loss of contact had her disorientated as Ruby walked over and placed their coffees on the table. Regina watched her carefully as she asked Emma if there would be anything else, but Emma declined saying she didn't want to spoil her dinner. She was relieved when there were no sly remarks hinting that Ruby suspected they were anything more than friends having coffee together.