When Emma's shift came to an end mid-afternoon, her back was aching and her feet hurt. She couldn't remember a time in her life when she had ever worked as hard. In a hurry to get back to Henry though, she had no time for a rest. Her apron was off in a flash and she grabbed her jacket from where she had dumped it upon the floor that morning.
"Bye Ruby!" she called as she left her station behind the counter and headed for the door.
"Hey! No you don't" Ruby called sternly, her brow knitted in a frown as she glared over at the blonde.
"But my shift is over" Emma pointed out, as she angled her index finger to the small clock on the wall above the coffee machine.
"Yeah, but we haven't had a proper talk! Park it!" Ruby declared as she pointed down at the bar stool in front of her.
The blonde let out a deep sigh. She just wanted to get back to Henry, not be on the end of and inquisition.
"Ruby" she whined as she trudged over and pulled herself up on the stool.
The waitress gave her a wicked grin as she placed a soda and grilled cheese in front of her. Emma tried to refuse, but the woman insisted. Why everyone in the little town was so insistent she would never know. Giving in, Emma took a bite of the sandwich and moaned appreciatively because it was just delicious. Ruby allowed her another few bites before placing her elbows upon the counter, leaning on them as she pressed her chin into the base of her palms and smiled.
"Sooooo?" she grinned.
"Madam Mayor makes you very flustered. How come?!"
Her question was blunt, almost causing Emma to choke as she swallowed her latest mouthful and gave her an exasperated look.
"Ruby come on it's nothing" she sighed.
"Don't give me that Em!" the waitress scolded as she gave her an unimpressed look.
"Em?" Emma quirked as she smiled at the waitress.
It had just slipped naturally out of Ruby's mouth, and it was certainly easy to say rather than the blonde's full name all the time. Ruby nodded and smiled. The blonde rose a brow at her new friend and then smiled also.
"So come on, will you speak up!" Ruby insisted once more.
It earned her a heavy sigh from the blonde and Emma gave in, knowing full well Ruby was never going to give up the fight until she got some gossip. Relaxing her tensed shoulders, Emma took a deep breath and kept her voice low, so that the few diners behind them couldn't hear.
"Ok so she kissed me" she quickly blurted.
"Then I kissed her!" she continued before Ruby could interject.
The waitress gasped and then continued questioning Emma.
"So...did ya...you know? Get lucky! Huh? Huh?" Ruby's eyes gleamed with excitement as she waited in anticipation for Emma's answer.
"NO!" Emma exclaimed, her eyes wide and almost filled with horror.
She just didn't want to tell Ruby that she had made a bad assumption about Regina's intentions and that the woman had then rejected her advances. It was just too embarrassing. Unfortunately for Emma, her emotions gave her away as her cheeks reddened from her thoughts about the night before.
"You're lying!" Ruby declared rather loudly, as she smirked.
"I knew it, come on tell me what happened?!"
Emma let out a huge exasperating sigh. She didn't want to talk about Regina!
"Ok, if I tell you then you have to let me leave ok?" Emma tried to bargain.
"Sure!" Ruby dismissed with a smile.
Emma was sceptical, but went on anyway and rushed to explain about the day shopping, dinner, the drink, the touch of her wrist, the kiss on her forehead and then finally the horrible experience in the bed, all while keeping her voice hushed. The waitress just gaped at her for a long moment after, and the she suddenly felt very awkward.
"What the hell Em, so she just...like..." Ruby stumbled on her words.
"Yep" Emma stated with a pop of her lips on the 'p'
"The bitch rejected you?!" Ruby questioned.
Emma hadn't really thought about it but now her friend had said it, she supposed that was entirely true. After all she had been rejected all her life, so she had learned to brush it off as if it was natural. Ruby was once again just gaping at her with a frown.
"Do you fancy her Em?" she then questioned out of the blue.
Emma pulled herself from her thoughts and blinked a few times at the waitress as she processed the question. Did she like Regina? Yeah, of course the woman was nice. Fancy her? Ok she was hot, but Emma wasn't...she wasn't that way...was she? The blonde was questioning herself suddenly, even as she replied.
"No, no I don't!"
"Hmm" Ruby hummed as she narrowed her eyes at her.
"Ok so you got your gossip, can I go now?" Emma asked sliding off the stool eagerly.
"Uh uh uh...no way. We need to talk about you and your 'feelings' for Mayor fancy pants. Wait here!" Ruby stated as she dashed off to the kitchen.
Emma plonked herself back down and sighed.
Regina had been home with Henry now for a good couple of hours. She had tidied away all of her purchases from the day before and cleaned, and Henry had slept the whole time without a peep. Checking the time, Regina noticed that her blonde guest should be home any time, but there was still so much that she had left to do. Crossing to her study, she grabbed the telephone on the desk and made a call.
"Storybrooke Sheriff Station, Graham speaking. How may I assist?"
"Graham, its me. I need you" Regina stated clearly and in her demanding authoritative tone.
"Right away Madam Mayor" he confirmed before disconnecting the call.
Sheriff Graham didn't keep the Mayor waiting long. When she called requesting his presence, he made her his priority. Another who was compelled to do as she requested without hesitation and could never tell her 'no'. Graham jumped into the sheriff vehicle, started the sirens and tore across town as if he was a maniac driver. He was knocking upon her front door in less than ten minutes.
Regina smiled as she answered to him and stepped aside to let him in. He grabbed her straight away and kissed her hard as always. Every time he was summoned he knew why, and had assumed that today would be the same. All he had to do was satisfy her needs, and it was all he wanted to do. Regina kissed back for a moment, but was quick to press her hands firmly against his chest and push him back. With their faces still close, he gave her a confused look and awaited some sort of explanation. Regina, a little breathless from his advance, composed herself and then smiled almost mischievously.
"Graham, not now dear. I need your assistance with a few things" she explained.
"Oh I see" he stated, clearing his throat and releasing her from his grip.
"I need you to put these things upstairs for me in the spare room at the end of the hall..." Regina explained as she slipped passed him and into the living room.
"And then, I need you to put them together for me?" she stated as she turned to face him and gave him a bright smile.
Graham nodded and got to work right away, which of course pleased Regina. She wanted everything perfect, so that Henry would have his own little room. A nursery as it was. She returned to busying herself, sitting at the desk in her study and finishing a few important pieces of paperwork.
"Right! Come with me!" Ruby declared as she clapped her hand around Emma's skinny wrist and pulled her from her seat.
Emma's breath caught in the back of her throat at the surprise and she made a loud 'whoa' sound as she allowed Ruby to drag her along and upstairs. She had only ever seen the guest rooms, and was surprised when Ruby pulled her into a room with no number upon the door that was so clearly her own. It was typical of the decor that was throughout the inn, but it had a girly twist in terms of its contents. A hanging rail of outfits was surrounded by random items of clothing and shoes upon the floor. Whether they were clean or dirty Emma had no idea. She allowed Ruby to pull her through and then sit her down upon her bed. Emma watched the woman then as she went about collecting up a few things, and searching through a large chest at the end of her small double bed.
"So...what are we doing?" Emma asked innocently.
Ruby glanced up with a grin.
"Girls Night! Duh Em!"
"What...wait no, I can't...I have to get back for Henry" Emma rambled.
"You know Regina can cope with him right?" Ruby said raising an eyebrow at the blonde, as she threw an item of clothing at her.
Emma squealed and instinctively went to duck. The item however hit her in her chest and dropped into her lap. Grabbing it, Emma pulled at it, only for it to unravel itself as a dress. It was miniscule and Emma wondered what exactly it was going to cover on her body. She held it up against herself and glanced down. The emerald green of the material was stunning, and it would certainly suit her but Emma had never worn anything that was as fancy and glamorous in her whole life.
"Yeah but..." Emma started before Ruby rudely interjected.
"No buts Em. We are going out with my friends, and you are going to relax and let your hair down" she ordered.
Emma sighed feeling again like she had no choice.
"Em!" Ruby snapped at her from across the table of the Rabbit hole.
Emma just seemed on edge, glancing constantly around the crowded space, and along the line of men who were propping up the bar. She was dreading ending up in a similar situation to that she had last been in upon frequenting this particular establishment. Swallowing gently her head snapped round in Ruby's direction and she gave her a tight lipped smile.
"Yeah?" she questioned.
"You are supposed to be relaxing, and I asked you a question"
"Huh? You did" Emma asked.
Ruby shook her head and smiled as she rolled her blue eyes at her friend. Emma clearly needed a stiffer drink than the soda she had chosen. A few shots and cocktails would certainly do the trick Ruby thought as she slid out of her seat.
"What's your poison Em?!" Ruby asked, then realised she had to explain.
"Oh..." the blonde stated with realisation.
"I'll just have a beer Ruby"
Shaking her head again, Ruby went off to get the drinks from the barman, who she clearly fancied because she was flirting so hard with him.
"Hello again" came a sweet voice, as a hand lightly touched Emma's shoulder and made her flinch.
Turning suddenly and causing her neck to twinge in pain at the sudden movement, Emma found herself staring up at the pixie haired lady she had embarrassingly bumped into twice earlier. Offering her a smile, and meek 'hello', Emma invited her to take a seat and the lady obliged as she glanced quickly looking for Ruby.
"Oh she's flirting again!" the woman exclaimed with a bright smile as she turned her attention back to Emma and extended her hand across the table.
"Mary Margaret, nice to meet you...again"
"Emma, sorry again about..." Emma replied not finishing her sentence.
Mary Margaret assured her again not to worry. The woman just seemed so nice and kind, as if accidents just happened and meant nothing to her. She clearly was a free-spirited, happy-go-lucky type. Not like Emma, ever the pessimist with very little hope but that was just what her life had done to her. Emma just smiled gawkily at the woman as they then waited for Ruby to return to the table.
Regina had begun to start on dinner the second Sheriff Graham had left. She couldn't help but smile remembering his puppy dog eyes widening at her as she had shown him out without them having even done anything remotely intimate, and that had seemed to really disappoint him. Not that Regina cared, she wasn't about satisfying his needs and neither was their relationship. It was about her and her needs, and right now sex with him was neither a priority, nor on her agenda. All items had been replaced with only one thing. Getting to know Emma Swan.
Henry had been awake for a short while, and Regina had fetched him down, placing him in the highchair she had made up herself whilst Graham had been busy upstairs. She was proud of her achievement, and even prouder that Henry seemed settled in the item. Glancing over her shoulder at him and to check her was alright, Regina smiled brightly at him and asked.
"Where on earth is your mother I wonder?"
She mused the thought, of course there was every possibility that Ruby had offered her overtime and she had taken it, and then again there was more of a possibility the girl was out again getting herself into some sort of trouble. Returning her attention to the meal she was preparing, Regina decided to pause the process until she knew more about Emma's whereabouts. Taking her pots off of the boil and turning off the stove, she got Henry a bottle so that she could at least feed him. His cheeks were still very pink and puffy, and he seemed a little warm but he was content so Regina didn't think it was worth reading too much into.
The evening had begun to get later, and the girls all giggled as they talked at the table. Having plied both Mary Margaret and Emma with shots, Ruby had found she was very much enjoying their company now. With a mischievous look, she decided it was time to make things interesting, after all they were just three single gals looking to have a good time and a little fun.
"Sooooo truth or dare ok? Emma you're first!" she declared excitedly.
"Wait! What? No!" the blonde rushed to exclaim.
"Ok so, truth?" Ruby practically forced and left Emma no choice before she started asking the question.
"Do you...fancy Madam 'fancy pants'?"
Ruby's voice practically squealed with excitement as she offered her other friend a knowing look.
"Wait a minute, who is Madam 'fancy pants'?" Mary Margaret asked, unsure who they were talking about. Of course she knew Emma was staying with the Mayor but surely that wasn't to whom her friend was referring.
The waitress winked at her, and nodded with a confirmation and nobody had even said a word. The pixie haired woman gasped, then quickly covered her mouth with her hand as her eyes fell upon the blonde opposite her, as her and Ruby both waited in anticipation for an answer. Emma protested, insisting to Ruby as she had earlier that it was an unfair question and of course no, but it left neither of the woman convinced.
"See Mary Margaret, she is blushing and she's lying. I know there is something going on there and she won't tell me...did you know they kissed, more than once?!" Ruby rushed to tell her friend, who just gaped at the poor, embarrassed blonde.
"And then, do you know what she did?" she continued.
"Who? Regina?" Mary Margaret questioned, her own excitement beginning to show.
The waitress confirmed in a nod, then told her how Regina had just rejected Emma when they had gotten a little more intimate. As the blonde watched the two of them comically interact over the gossip of her private life she swallowed hard, and had straightened up. Her head was pounding from the mix of loud music and intoxication she was experiencing. Feeling woozy and vulnerable suddenly, she slipped off of her seat and wrapped a hand around forehead, clenching it tightly. The other two were so consumed by their exciting and intense conversation about Emma's antics with Regina, that neither of them noticed when the blonde suddenly stumbled away from them.
"See Em, even Mary Marg-" Ruby started as she turned to face Emma with a smug grin, only to find she was gone.
Glancing around desperately, Ruby searched the groups of people and scanned for Emma, but she was not there. Worried she grabbed her friends hand and pulled her along with her as they both frantically searched. Ruby had only been trying to have a laugh, and she hoped Emma was ok. They looked everywhere, toilets, the yard area and at each table in the bar with no luck.
"What are we going to do? We can't just leave her Ruby!" Mary Margaret exclaimed as they stepped out into the night air.
"Yeah I know, but we can't wander around town aimlessly looking for her either! She could be anywhere" Ruby stated as wrapped her arms around herself feeling a chill.
Admitting defeat, they settled to walk each other back to main street, and for good measure they called out the blonde's name repeatedly as they went.
Emma had been lucky this time. She had stumbled out of the bar, and into the arms of a slightly intoxicated Graham, who having since left Regina's, had been in the diner tanking himself up on whiskey shots and playing darts. Of course he hadn't been drinking to numb his own feelings as a result of rejection from 'that' incredibly sexy town Mayor, and pretending the dart board was her beautiful face. Holding Emma up, he had just about managed to help her over to the sheriff's car, and not that he should have, but he slid himself into the drivers seat. Putting the sirens on, he had sped off into the night with her before her friends had even realised she was gone.
Regina, who had gotten fed up waiting for the blonde after many hours, had fed herself and gotten Henry ready for bed before settling down with a nice glass of red and a book. When the clock had struck ten in her hall, she had decided that it was too late and had retreated to bed. She had been asleep for about an hour when Graham had arrived again, hitting the curb outside the mansion on Mifflin Street as he applied heavy pressure to the brake pad and came to an abrupt halt. The sirens sent red and blue flashes pulsing through Regina's lower floor windows as Graham let out a huge sigh and rested his head against the steering wheel knowing they had been lucky to make it back in one piece. After a moment he glanced up, and used the rear view mirror to check on Emma who had slumped in the back seat awkwardly and appeared to be dozing.
"Come on" he grunted as he opened up the back door and lifted Emma out.
He wobbled, and then she wobbled as the two of them tried to find their balance. He suspected Emma didn't have a key either, so was glad he had his lock picking gear with him so that he could get her inside without having to disturb Regina. She of course was someone he didn't want to see. Struggling up the path together, they bumped shoulders and Graham had to use the door to support Emma whilst he worked on getting them inside. Seconds later he heard a small click, and his body flooded with relief as Emma managed to drag herself inside without his assistance.