On this particular Saturday, on a cold day during the Maine winter, three very important and life changing events would happen across Storybrooke.
Townsfolk were bustling around buying Christmas presents and children were playing in the glistening snow, all oblivious to the events that would unfold one after another. Like a cascading line of dominos falling one after another, lives would change as decisions were made, hearts were captured, and precious moments were stolen away.
First, a connection would blossom in a crowded diner across town.
Second, betrayal would taint a lavish dinner party.
And third, a young life would change direction forever.
At lunchtime, while unbeknownst to her Regina drove their sons to meet the donor that fathered half of their children, Emma was drafting Christmas plans.
She was at her kitchen table, listening to old music and wrapping gifts. She'd finished her friends and colleagues gifts and was now facing more than one dilemma. In front of her she had three stockings, the ones her sons has used every Christmas of their lives. She hadn't intentionally taken them during the split of their belongings, but now she had them she felt like she had been presented with an opportunity.
She wanted to fill them up with things each of her sons would enjoy and be there on Christmas Day when they woke up to open 'Santa's' presents. She and Regina hadn't talked about it yet as the date was over a month away, and to be fair they probably weren't going to talk again soon after their conversation earlier that morning, but Emma was trying to plan things. She wasn't usually a planner. Regina was the prepared, planned and put together one. Emma was the wild, spontaneous, and erratic one who chased after adventure and excitement. But with an increasingly full calendar of social events and Christmas celebrations to attend with Belle this month, Emma was trying to get on top of things early.
She used to think marriage and family was going to be her ultimate adventure. Now she wasn't so sure. Had she lost her feminist, strong, self-empowerment? Had being part of a collective taken her identity? Or had she lost it on her own? She didn't know. But she knew she missed her children. She really did. And she knew she had fucked up last time she'd had them over. She needed to win them back and was unsure how to do so. She had a feeling Henry and Daniel didn't actually know why they had to leave her place last time, and the part of her that shied away from hard emotional journeys wanted to focus on winning them back. They were little and easier to handle. Damon on the other hand, she felt like she'd lost the surly teenager. Though she was angry that Regina had let him go out and get beaten up. Was she not even watching their kids?
On that subject, her other dilemma was Regina's Christmas present. During one of her guilt fuelled shopping trips this year, when she was still living her double life of infidelity, she had brought Regina a present. It was more to ease her own guilt, but she couldn't deny that when she saw the tear drop ruby necklace she could immediately imagine its delicate and intricate silver work encasing her wife's throat, and that giant ruby nestled perfectly in her ample cleavage. The necklace was an exquisite piece of art and even at that time, only a few months into her affair with Belle, she'd still had a very similar opinion of Regina.
These days her attraction was more geared toward the incredibly young, soft, gorgeous, albeit bossy woman who was currently upstairs washing her voluptuous curves in their en suite white marble shower.
Belle would look lovely in the necklace as well. That couldn't be denied. But Emma couldn't shake the knowledge that she had brought it for Regina.
God she was over little dilemmas like this. Emotions were tiresome and wore her out. Besides, she had to attend dinner with Belle and Regina's boss, Mr Gold, that evening. He was a cold man that made Emma's skin crawl, however she knew how important social standing in the business world was to Belle, so she had accepted his invitation, albeit grudgingly.
With a sigh Emma quickly closed the necklace into its ornate box and wrapped it with silver paper. She heard the shower turn off upstairs and hurried to tie on a bow and label the gift. She gathered everything up and put it all in the hall closet. She locked the door and slipped the key into her purse. She would deal with the Christmas presents dilemmas another day. Right now, she was going to go bask in the good parts of the life she had chosen.
When she re-entered the kitchen, Belle was standing by the sink, buck naked and damp from her shower. She was sipping a glass of water and some was trickling down her chin.
"Hey blondie." She said, her tone sweet like milk and honey.
"You're not mad at me anymore?" Emma asked hopefully, eyeing up her girlfriends perfect body hungrily.
"Nope, I'm not mad. I know you're going through a lot." Belle said with a smile. She held out her hand to her lover. "Come get ready for dinner with me, I miss you."
Emma took her hand with a laugh and pulled Belles wet body into her arms. She breathed in the scent of her shampoo with a sigh and her heart swelled with love for the younger woman pressed against her. She always smelt like roses. Belle loved them, unlike Regina who hated them. It was so romantic sending your lover roses instead of lilies or whatever flower it was her soon-to-be ex-wife favoured.
"Can you undress me before we get our gowns out?"
Belle giggled and nuzzled her head into Emma's shoulder. "That's the plan."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A few miles away at a busy diner called the Crystalpost, Regina pulled her sleek car into the lot and turned off the engine.
The kids piled out of the car after their mom, who was looking about at the other parked cars. It was a busy looking café and she couldn't pick Robins truck from the rest. She felt sure he would already be here though. She straightened herself up, one gloved hand against her back to support her growing stomach. Her frame was suffering the new weight, it had been seven years since she'd been pregnant before and she honestly might have forgotten how draining it was on her body. Plus how was she going to bring a new baby into the turmoil that was her and her family's lives?
Regina, hush. She commanded herself inwardly. This was not the time to be worrying about such things. She could worry about the unborn baby once she'd gotten the children she was currently raising through meeting Robin without scarring them for life.
"Alright boys, lets go meet Robin." She turned to face them all and offered the best smile she could muster. "And remember if any of you are uncomfortable or want to leave at any time, you can tell me. You three are the important ones okay?"
All the boys nodded, though Damon rolled his eyes when he thought his mother wasn't watching. She chose to ignore this and took Daniels hand in hers. His mittened hand was warm in hers and she took great comfort in it.
"You okay baby?"
"Yeah mom, I'm hungwry!"
"Me too."
They entered the unfamiliar diner and were immediately greeted with the delicious smell of coffee and hot food. The warm restaurant was a reprieve from the cold outside. Regina noticed a play area as she made her way through the crowded tables, Daniel in tow and Henry and Damon following closely behind. She swept her gaze around, looking for Robin, and was not disappointed.
He was sitting in an empty booth, wearing dark jeans and a brown leather jacket. His was tapping his foot on the ground nervously and had his hands folded together on the table. Regina felt her nerves settle as soon as she saw the apprehension and excitement in his expression. It was going to be okay. She could handle this, no matter how it went. She had the upper hand here. She was in control. And all of the sleuthing she'd done, plus the time she'd spent with the man, had led her to believe she really was dealing with a genuine kind of guy.
"Robin!" She called out lightly, capturing his attention as they made their over to the booth.
Robin immediately stood up; nervous excitement written all over his features. Unlike Regina he most definitely had no poker face.
"Regina, hello." He said a little formally, smiling at her but his eyes sweeping across the boys searchingly.
"Hello, boys this Robin." Regina turned to her sons, checking each of their faces to make sure they were still okay. "And Robin, this is Damon, Henry and Daniel." She gestured at each of her sons respectively, cringing as she looked over Damon's bruised face, before turning back to Robin and giving him a reassuring smile.
"Hey Damon, Henry and Daniel." Robin paused on the last name, seemingly drinking in the sound of his biological child's name and the sight of him there in front of him. "It's so nice to meet you all."
The boys murmured generic responses and the expected awkwardness fell across the group.
"Alright everyone get a menu and a seat, its time about time we ate something." Regina instructed her kids and slid into the booth with as much delicacy as a several months pregnant woman could. Henry and Daniel jumped in beside her, leaving Damon to settle in a little stiffly beside Robin. Regina shot him a look of gratitude before helping the boys choose their meals. A friendly waitress took their orders, hot cocoa's all around and something different for everyone to eat.
Regina engaged herself with her children's conversation as it slowly bubbled up and ebbed away. She tried not to think about the countless hot cocoa's she had shared with Emma over the years. She ordered hers with chocolate topping today, unable to have cinnamon anymore as that had always been her soon-to-be-ex-wife's favourite. Soon their drinks and food arrived, and the kids tucked in fairly happily. Luckily, the relative silence as their table was broken by the hubbub around them and the cherry tunes playing from a jukebox in the corner.
Not long into lunch Damon, who'd been staring intently at his phone for the majority of the time, suddenly stood up. What could be seen of his facial expression between his injuries looked thunderous. "Gotta make a call." He muttered, and to his mothers surprise headed for the old-fashioned payphones at the back of the diner.
Regina didn't object to his going aloud, instead trying to focus on the man sitting across from her and the two sons still sitting beside her.
"How's your food darling?" Regina asked Daniel, who was eyeing up his chicken suspiciously, unlike his older brother who was devouring his with gusto.
"These nuggets aren't shaped like dinosaurs." Daniel said, not angry but confused.
Regina's heart leapt into her throat and she almost choked on her salmon salad.
Emma used to do the groceries and make dinner on nights when Regina had to work late. She always brought the same dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets for the boys. She'd been buying them since the first night she'd ever cooked for Damon when he was young. She and Regina had only been dating for a few months, Henry hadn't even been born yet. Hell dinosaur chicken nuggets had been Emma's go to easy dinner for over a decade.
"Um," Regina was frozen. Why was this throwing her so much? She just couldn't face telling her son that not all nuggets were shaped like dinosaurs. That was Emma's special thing. She couldn't ruin that with their youngest child, no matter how much the woman had hurt her. She didn't know what to say.
The tense silence was broken by Robin reaching across the table to gesture at Daniel's toy-filled handbag.
"Hey dinosaurs are pretty cool, but I like giraffes too." Robin said, smiling at Daniel but throwing a wink at Regina.
Daniel immediately brightened up; the excitement spread across his little face was palpable. He dug into his giant handbag and pulled out his favourite stuffed animal, his well loved giraffe named Jeffrey. He held the toy out to Robin proudly.
"This is Jeffrey, he's my favoritist."
"Well that is a very handsome giraffe Daniel." Robin responded with a smile. "Who else have you got in that lovely purse?"
Regina watched her son ramble on happily and found herself relaxing. He had clearly moved on from the chicken nugget dilemma. She sipped her cocoa and watched them together. Despite having her dark hair and olive complexion, just as Damon did, Regina could see the resemblance to Robin in Daniel. It was something around his eyes especially. She knew one day his kind eyes would have the little crinkles off to the side that Robins had, after a lifetime of joy and laughter.
She glanced over at Henry who was pretty happily devouring his lunch. Across the diner Damon was still on the payphone, she caught his eye and gestured for him to return to the table.
He held her gaze, his expression apologetic and mouthed 'five more minutes' at her. She nodded and turned her attention back to the table. She joined in the discussion for a while until eventually Henry asked if he could go play on the playground in the diner.
"Of course." Regina confirmed his request and stood up so he could slide out of the booth.
"I'm coming too!" Daniel hollered, leaping up and abandoning his giraffe on the seat beside Robin.
"Okay but stay close to Henry." Regina called after the boys. She sat down and offered Robin a reassuring smile.
"How are you doing with all this?" She asked tentatively, hoping her positivity over the meeting so far was shared.
"I'm so happy Regina." Robin said and leaned across the table to hold her hand. "I can't believe I'm meeting your boys."
Regina squeezed his hand and let her relief show across her glamorous features. "Believe it."
"Daniel, he's incredible. So well spoken. And he looks like you, thank god." Robin laughed and let go of Regina's soft hand to pick up his coffee. He took a sip and sighed. "He's got my fathers eyes. Its unreal looking at him."
"They're your eyes too." Regina told him gently. "And I think you already made an impression on him."
"A good one I hope."
"Absolutely."
Regina and Robin shared a quiet moment then, just watching the boys together, each occupied with their own thoughts about this crazy situation. They watched as Daniel raced back up to the table, clutching his dark curls dramatically.
"Did you know that my brother got in trouble for smoking marinara?" He announced loudly.
The seven year old widened his big brown eyes at Robin, grabbed a handful of fries from the table, then ran back to the playground as suddenly as he'd appeared. Regina froze, unable to look up for several seconds.
However, Robin managed to catch her eye and raised an eyebrow. "The older brothers not mine too is he?"
Regina couldn't help but crack a smile. "No, the felon isn't yours, just the snitch."
"Huh. Odd, co-operation with the rules doesn't exactly run in the Hood family." Robin offered a self-deprecating comment with a laugh.
He would have noticed that Regina stiffened a little in her seat across when Daniel had dropped his little information bomb about Damon's indiscretions. She wasn't sure if it was too early to be joking about the paternity of her non-donor children, she hadn't explained Henry or Damon's lineage to him, or if it was the separate memory of Damon's siring that had caught her off-guard.
She liked to imagine that the witty and happy woman Robin had just been getting to know wouldn't be judged too harshly for going suddenly quiet. The mood had undeniably changed from before Daniels revelation about Damon's "marinara" use, and Regina wasn't in the mood to feel judged in any way. Not that it really felt like Robin was judging. He was already back to eating lunch and smiling as he watched the boys play. If Regina knew that he himself enjoyed the occasional joint, she wouldn't have worried at all.
"Ah kids." She said quickly, determined to save the atmosphere. "They're all growing and becoming themselves. A tumultuous journey is ever there was one."
"Mm, agreed." Robin said through a mouthful of his BLT. "I was a terror in my neighbourhood growing up."
"Well I was perfect." Regina joked, purposefully avoiding the subject of their teen years. "And so is this bagel, my god its delicious." Regina flourished her statement by taking a bite of her food, which actually was excellent. Content they'd saved the moment Regina happily listened to Robin's description of the best bagel he'd ever eaten.
The awkward moment passed and the comfortable comradery that they had built quickly during their visits settled back into place. After a while Damon joined them, and he offered polite but insincere small talk to Robin as they ate.
The younger boys came back after they'd tired of playing and the group finished their food together.
There was more talking and bonding, especially between Robin and Daniel and soon it was late afternoon.
After listening with well-practiced patience and attentiveness to a very long story of Daniels about a bird he saw, Robin checked his watch and frowned.
"I don't want to cut this meeting short, but I do have a dinner with a new major contractor for my company tonight." Robin explained apologetically to Regina before he turned to the boys. "But it has been incredible meeting you all today. Thank you, all of you."
"That's totally fine, we've taken up enough of your day anyway." Regina said politely and started gathering her sons things.
"No, you have honoured my day." Robin corrected her jovially. "And lunch was on me, just a small way of saying thank you for taking a chance on me."
Before Regina could object he had hot footed it over to the register and was already paying for everything.
"You all need to say thank you for lunch." Regina told her sons once they were already to go and Robin was reapproaching. "And I am thankful to all of you for coming today."
Regina put her hands on her round belly, a little uncomfortable from sitting in a diner booth all day and watched her children thank Robin and file out of the restaurant.
Daniel was last, his handbag stuffed with toys in tow and a smear of ketchup on his cheek. "Thank you for helping mommy make me." He said solemnly to Robin. "Oh and thank you for the chicken nuggets!"
Her smallest son turned to leave but then whirled back around to Robin. "And thank you for the fries. And the juice!"
Regina watched him follow his brothers out the door, speechless. Her heart had flooded with a rare warmth that only her family ever provoked when her little seven year old had said that profound statement to his biological father.
She was pulled from her heartfelt moment by gentle arms wrapping around her. Startled at first Regina drew in a sharp breath. Robin went to let her go but Regina quickly returned the hug, placing her hands on his shoulder blades and allowing him to hold her. Robin held her tight, his musky scent filled her nostrils pleasantly, and she could feel his hands shaking a little against her back. After a moment they released one another, and Robin looked at her with unshed tears in his forest green eyes.
"Fuck, that's a good kid Regina."
"I want you to see us again." She responded suddenly, the words tumbling out before she has even thought about them.
She held her breath but didn't regret uttering them aloud. It was the truth. The connection between Robin and Daniel rivalled Henry and Neal Cassidy. Meeting a donor was strange, it was undeniable. But this sort of thing was to be cherished. It was too soon, and all the practical parts of Regina were screaming at her internally, but she couldn't help it.
She wanted Robin's presence in Daniel's life.
Robin smiled at her, sniffed, and quickly rubbed his eyes.
"Just tell me when."
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Nervously Emma touched up her soft nude lipstick in the cars rear-view mirror. She popped her lips then tucked it back in her purse. Her brow was creased, showing her discontent.
"Hey, stop worrying." Belle said gently, reaching over to hold her girlfriends hand. Emma dropped her purse and took the young woman's soft hand with gratitude. "I know you don't like Gold, but this is good for us. If I get a promotion I won't have to work for Regina anymore." Both women shuddered a little when Belle uttered Emma's children's mothers name, but undeniably for different reasons. "We'll be one step closer to being free."
"You always know what to say to me." Emma smiled and leaned over to give her incredibly attractive girlfriend a kiss.
"That's because I know you, silly." Belle kissed her back then pushed her away playfully. "Now let's go inside."
A few hours later, inside Mr Gold's mansion, up his more than a mile long driveway and nestled deep in his expansive estate, Emma was seated across from their host and beside her wife.
"Ah, you need your wine topped up dearie." Mr Gold said for the fifth time that night. He motioned for the server to tend to Emma's glass.
"You're too kind." She replied with a tight smile.
The entire night had been endless wine, food and music, all of which was top quality. The company however was not. Gold seemed intent on getting them drunk and sharing weirdly dark and sinister stories, both boring and unsettling Emma. Belle was either completely enamoured with it or doing an exceptionally good job of pretending to be. And the sole other guest was a name Gold had introduced as Robin Hood (Emma still wasn't sure if she was supposed to take that name seriously) who was the newest contractor that owned the business that would be running the construction on Gold's office expansion in town. Emma hadn't interacted with him much. He'd been friendly enough, but he too was quiet and seemed uncomfortable to be at the dinner party. At least Emma could relate to that. After dinner was finally over, Gold ushered the group to a parlour and offered around desserts, brandy and cigars. Emma declined all but the brandy and attempted to pretend her beautifully styled hair and lavish, barely there, silver Givenchy gown weren't going to waste.
"Come dearies, you must view the new Renaissance piece I've acquired." He stood and clicked his fingers. Servants hurried to open the grand double doors leading back out to the hallway. "It's in the second parlour, this way dearies."
Belle stood, as did the contractor, and Emma took her girlfriends arm obligingly. They followed Gold to the next parlour and admired the painting dutifully. Admittedly it was a fantastic piece, but Emma found the experience of viewing ruined by Gold's low rambling about his art collection.
Instead she drank in the stunning figure that was Belle. Her girlfriend was wearing a skin tight, midnight blue gown that clung to her voluptuous curves perfectly. She looked like a million fucking dollars. Emma shrugged to herself and smiled her first genuine smile for the entire evening. Who cared if she had to suffer through some tiresome events? She got Belle. All to herself. That girl was worth it.
Her mood lightened; Emma excused herself for a moment. She gave Belle a kiss on the cheek then ducked out into the hall. She needed to quickly refresh herself in the bathroom, then she planned to come back to this party with the zest and interest Belle deserved.
In the nearest bathroom she could find she peed, god she'd had a lot of wine, washed her hands and freshened up her hair. She put on a smile, gathered her gown and went back into the hall. She passed the contractor heading back to the dining room, gave him a nod, and walked back into the second parlour with some real enthusiasm.
Until she halted in the doorway, completely stopped in her tracks. Her mouth dropped open, but no noise escaped. In front of that bloody painting, her girlfriend was standing pressed against Gold. Emma stared at his narrow body pressed firmly against Belle's voluminous curves, at his hands on her hips, Belle's own delicate hand resting on his shoulder.
Speechless, Emma backed out of the room. They hadn't seen her. Apparently oblivious to everything around them. Emma turned on her heel and hurried back down the hall. She could feel her face getting hot, her vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears and she searched for a means of exit. She had to get some fresh air. She kept going until she wandered into a ballroom that had giant floor-to-ceiling glass doors that led outside.
Emma pushed open the patio doors and broke out of the stuffy house into the fresh air. She breathed a sigh of relief and closed them behind her. The night was cold, snow was frozen on the ground and up above her the full moon struggled to shine down through the cloudy skies.
She held her hands to her mouth and breathed on them, already shivering. At some point during her exit she must have thrown her red leather jacket on over her slinky gown, she was glad of it, though it was doing little to protect her from the winter chill. Still upset, she trudged down the steps and onto the snow crusted grounds. She paced toward a nearby pavilion, the snow frozen so solid she barley left foot prints, and her breath escaped out in huge fog clouds.
The crunchy snow under her feet was loud and filled the still and silent night uncomfortably loudly. She reached the pavilion with relief and took her reprieve under its snow laden roof. She sat down on a cold, polished smooth stone bench and pulled her knees up to her chin. Her stilettos were poor protection against the cold and her tanned feet were looking a little blue. She rocked back and forth, swallowing hard to keep the tears threatening to spill over at bay.
Really, what had she seen? Belle pressed against her boss. Her hand on his arm? Emma's breath caught in her throat and she tried to sort her whirling thoughts. Belle was probably just schmoozing Mr Gold right? Who hadn't to get where they needed in life? On the other hand it was entirely likely she was owed some comeuppance for cheating on Regina, would her karma be Belle doing the same to her?
No. Belle wouldn't. Emma had devoted herself to her, that beautiful girl had taken over her whole life, she didn't want for a thing. She wouldn't.
But Emma had. And she'd had everything as well.
Emma drew in another breath of freezing air, shivering in earnest now.
She had to go back in. That poor contractor was probably alone at Gold's table. Because Belle was probably on her knees in the parlour by now. NO! Emma shook her head and tried to calm down. But she couldn't face it if something was going on between Belle and Mr Gold. She hadn't thrown her whole family away just to be discarded herself. She couldn't, she just couldn't. She couldn't face that.
Was she hyperventilating? Was she being paranoid? Isn't that what cheaters do? Accuse everyone else of being cheaters? She didn't know, maybe she was overreacting, maybe she was ju-
Emma's spiral was cut short by a blood curling scream breaking through the night.
Emma whirled around on the bench, the sound frightening her into focus. She peered into the thick trees lining the property, in the direction the scream had come from.
"Hello?" She called; her voice hoarse from the cold. "Does someone need help?"
A second scream split the night, spurring Emma into action. All thoughts of Belle and Gold disappeared from her mind as she jumped to her feet and started off in the direction the horrifying sounds had come from.
Emma closed in on the trees, their branches were laden with snow and it was hard to see into them. As she tried to see any sign of the person who needed help, a third scream rang out across the wood but was cut off mid pitch and following but muffled sounds of struggles. Emma had to be close.
The sounds of struggle increased in volume and soon Emma could make out a distinctively feminine voice, begging what must be the attacker.
"Stop, no, stop it, get off me." The voice was tinged with panic and anger. A hint of terror was traceable as well.
Emma balled her fists at her side, her heart steeling over with anger. A girl was being hurt. She stormed forward, barged through some heavy oak foliage, tripped on some loose bark and stumbled into a clearing. The clouds above parted, shining bright moonlight onto the white ground. Across the clearing two figures were on the ground. One was dark, shrouded in shadow and a heavy hoodie and had a girl pinned to the ground. Emma stood up, throwing off her heels, her ankle smarting painfully as she ran towards them. The girl was screaming, crying and begging her attacker to stop, the noise and the intensity with which he was holding her down and pushing himself inside her masking Emma's approach.
Emma felt sick as she got close enough to recognise the girl. It was one of Damon's friend from court. The tall one with red streaked hair that hardly wore any clothes. Blood was trickling out of her mouth from a blow to her jaw and she was pinned down with her legs forced apart, crying out in pain and terror as the man on top of her forced himself on her.
With a roar of rage, one that nearly every woman had inside as few women hadn't fallen victim to the appalling behaviour of men, Emma leapt forward and barrelled into the girls attacker. With a growl almost feral, her cold feet and sore ankle entirely forgotten Emma threw the man off the girl and wrestled him to the ground. "Get off her, you disgusting animal." Emma shouted, kicking, and clawing at the man as they rolled around in the snow.
"Mrs Swan!" The girl screamed, pulling at her shredded clothes, and attempting to sit up.
The man seized Emma's momentary distraction and socked her hard in the stomach. Emma fell back in the snow, winded, shocked, and gasping for breath. The man shot to his feet and started running through the tree's. With a groan Emma rolled over, climbed to her knee's, and tried to go after him. She barely got to standing before she fell back down to her knee's.
"Mrs Swan." The girl pulled was on her feet and clambered over to Emma.
"Ruby." The girls name suddenly came to Emma as her mostly red outfit came into focus. The younger girl had been wearing red lipstick and it had smeared and mixed in with the blood dripping down her chin. "We have to get you to the sheriffs station." Emma gasped, clutching her chest with one hand, and reaching out to the girl with the other.
Ruby shook her head, and dodged her hand, her eyes still wild and alert. Both women had adrenaline pumping through their bodies as they took in the moment. "No, no I can't."
"He got away." Emma panted, clutching her chest. "We need samples to catch him."
Ruby was shivering so hard her jaw shook uncontrollably. "Okay."
Emma pulled off her jacket and put it around Ruby's shoulders. She herself felt like she was nearly frozen solid, breathless, in pain and wearing nothing but a now torn, backless silver dress.
"We have to go back to Gold's mansion and call for help." Emma told her, getting to her feet with considerable effort. Ruby looked even more scared and seemed to shrink in on herself. There was no trace of the confident, snarky, bold girl Emma had met in court. "Not Mr Gold."
"It's okay, sweetheart I'm sorry, let's just get to my car." Emma could have kicked herself. As if Ruby would want anyone else involved in her traumatic experience. She offered her hand again to the girl, aware that she likely didn't want to be touched but also fairly certain Ruby couldn't stand on those shaky legs alone.
After a moment Ruby took Emma's hand and the older woman hauled the girl to her feet. Once she was standing Emma could see how horrifically that scoundrel rapist had mauled her. Scratch marks and bruises were ravaged across her skin, her clothes were hanging off her. Her torso, throat and shoulders were red and raw. Ruby was shaking head to foot, and her usually sharp eyes were an ocean of misery.
"Come on Ruby, I'm going to get you out of here." Emma held her hand tight and started them across the clearing. Ruby followed her obediently. They made their way back to Emma's car, shivering and cold, trudging through the snow. The moon glared down at them as they struggled along until they reached the grand parking area outside Gold's mansion. The lights were still on inside and jazz music could be heard softly from outdoors.
Emma slammed her car door open and realised she'd been so distracted at the beginning of the night she'd apparently left her keys and purse in the car, a surprise blessing in this moment. She helped Ruby, who was limping by this point with blood trickling down her pale thighs at an alarming rate, into the yellow beetle and collapsed herself into the drivers seat.
Once behind the wheel Emma shoved the key into the ignition, turned on the heaters and used her frozen hands and feet to throw the car into reverse and push down on the gas pedal. She pulled out of the lot, ignored the mansion, Gold and her apparently oblivious wife inside and drove down the long driveway as fast as she dared given the icy weather.
Once they reached the road Emma glanced over at Ruby before turning her eyes back to navigate the way ahead. The tall girl was silent, staring out the window and had tears dripping down her cheeks to mingle with the blood and lipstick.
Inwardly shaken herself, Emma felt nothing but empathy for the girl. "I'm sorry this happened Ruby. Sheriff David will do everything he can. And we'll get you to the hospital right away."
Ruby looked up Emma, her mouth naught but a thin line, her dark eyes devoid of expression.
She looked dead inside.
"I just want to go home."