Chapter Forty-Seven: Snow White

Zelena was walking impatiently back and forth in Emma's living room. She was positively sure she would make a hole on the floor any giving second now. After classes, that Monday morning, Emma did her usual routine of going to collect Henry from school and then bring the boy back to hers. The difference was that tonight, her brunette lover had shown up in the company of her red hair sister, who was annoyingly impatiently. She barely sat through dinner with them, and even Henry had commented on how stress out his aunt was. After dinner, the boy was properly sent to his room and now Emma was rooted to the couch waiting for Mary Margaret to arrive. Well, Emma and Regina were, Zelena was just being…Zelena!

- Where is she? – Zelena asked.

- She said she would be here at eight – Emma said for the millions of times.

- And what time is it? – Zelena asked.

- Since the last time you asked thirty seconds ago? – Emma said cheekily.

- You are not as funny as you think you are, Swan! – Zelena said.

- She'll be here Zelena! – Emma said.

- WHEN?

And at that exact moment, the three women had suddenly turned their heads to the door. The loud knock on the door echoed inside the house again, while they remain standstill just staring at it as if they had never seen a door before. Emma was the first one to react, rising from the sofa and walking towards the door. When she got to it, she looked back one last time to see Zelena and Regina, wide eyes fixed on the door. She opened and was immediately greeted by the soft big smile and big green eyes of her former friend.

- Emma! – Mary Margaret said – It's so good to see you again.

- It's good to see you too – Emma said smiling back at the woman – Come on in!

Emma stepped to the side, opening more of the door for the woman to enter. She did so and stoped by Emma's side to give her a hug. Emma hugged her back and then closed the door. When she turned around, both Zelena and Regina were up on their feet, staring at the younger woman in front of them.

- Mary Margaret, this is my girlfriend Regina. And her sister, Zelena – Emma introduced her.

- Hi – Mary Margaret said stretching her arm – It's lovely to meet you.

Regina was the first one to shake the woman's hand. Zelena followed her, wearing a big smile and such serene features that Emma had trouble believing she was the same woman from just a few minutes ago. Mary Margaret smiled brightly at them and sat down on the armchair. Emma asked if they wanted anything to drink, both Mary Margaret and Regina asked for water, but Zelena asked for a glass of wine. Emma smirked at the request while Regina rolled her eyes and asked Emma to bring water for everyone. Emma walked real quick to the kitchen and was surprised to see a tray with a jar of water and four glasses sat on a beautiful tray on top of the kitchen desk. Emma had no idea when the hell did Regina do all of that. She took the tray and walked back to the living room where the three women were properly sat just staring at each other. Maru Margaret was the first one to reach for a glass and took a sip of the water before saying:

- So, Emma says you wanted to talk to me about Sheppard Nolan?

- Yes! – Regina said – We were wondering if you could tell us more about him.

- Like what? – Mary Margaret asked.

- Like how many times has he paid you for sex? – Zelena asked.

- Oh! I couldn't tell you. It was so many times for the past two years.

- Two years? – Regna asked.

- Yes! He quite likes me! – Mary Margaret said with a proud smile.

- Do you have anything that proves the encounters? – Zelena asked.

- I have pictures! – Mary Margarete answered.

- What kind of pictures? – Regina asked.

- Oh, I'll show you!

Mary Margaret smiled brightly at them before taking her phone from inside her bag. She rose from the armchair and walked to the couch, squeezing herself between Zelena and Regina. She tapped her phone password and then clicked on the gallery app. She slid her finger on the screen until she found what she was looking for. She opened the photo and Emma watched carefully the sister's features changing from surprise to that wicked smile she saw the day she told them she knew who the man on the photo was. Mary Margaret kept on sliding her finger on the screen and more and more pictures of the man in compromised positions appeared.

- Oh, this one is my favorite – Mary Margaret said when she found a particular photo – He was dressed as Prince Charming.

- Oh my God, look at his thing – Zelena said pointing at the phone.

- Yeah! Not shabby – Mary Margaret said.

- Why is there a hole in the middle of his…pants? – Regina asked.

- It's where he keeps his sword – Mary Margaret smirked.

- Oh! – Regina exclaimed.

- So, is this enough? – Mary Margaret asked.

- Yes! – Regina said – Mary Margaret I can begin to explain how much these pictures could save our case.

- This is more than enough to make him drop the charges against the chain – Zelena said – Are you free tomorrow? We can set up a meeting at our office with you and him and we can end this case for good.

- I am not just going to give it to you – Mary Margaret said with a bright smile.

- Mary Margaret? – Emma said surprised.

- I've been putting this together for over a year now – Mary Margaret said standing up – I have every intention to blackmail him. But I can sell it to you if the money is good.

- How much? – Zelena asked.

- Let's say fifty thousand.

- What? Are you fucking insane – Emma said angrily.

- That's one percent of what he is suing them for – Mary Margaret said.

- How do you know that? – Regina asked – The lawsuit is running on justice secret.

- I'm still meeting him – The woman said – He told me all about the sue and how rich he is going to be. He is sure you'll want to settle before it goes to court, just to keep the congregation quiet.

- He can't prove anything – Regina said – He will lose the case.

- Oh, he knows that – Mary Margaret said – But he has a friend at the police who told him that the investigation could take years before it finishes, and until then he has every intention to keep causing trouble for your hotels. According to him, your reservations have drop-down over sixty percent already since the protests have begun.

- How the hell does he know that? – Zelena asked.

- Wait, is that true? – Emma asked.

- Yes! – Regina said – We have less than ten percent reservations for the Hotel in New York now. At this time of the year, we should be full due to December events.

- It's worse with the one in Vegas – Zelena said – How does he know that?

- He has one of his devotes working at your accounting offices – Mary Margaret said – What was his name again? Arthur something.

- Arthur Camelot? – Regina asked.

- Yes! That's him. – Mary Margaret said.

- That fucking bastard! - Zelena said angrily – That's why he was so incompetent in giving us the reports on time.

- So, what about that money? – Mary Margaret asked.

- Why do you need so much? – Emma asked her.

- I need to get out of town – Mary Margaret said – As you know I'm only in this business due to my evil stepmother. That bitch! I have to go, and for me to do that, I need money. Lots of it.

- And who says after you run out of it you won't come back asking for more? – Zelena asked.

- I have nothing against you – Mary Margaret said – If anything, I would probably blackmail the pastor.

- You have a point there – Zelena said.

- So? Do we have a deal? – Mary Margarete asked.

- We do! – Zelena said – Stop by the office tomorrow and we'll arrange everything.

- Excellent!

Mary Margaret said and then shook hands with Zelena, wearing once again, that big sweet smile of hers that didn't look at all like the woman who had just gain fifty thousand dollars out of kinky pictures. After the hands were shaken, they were all about business. Zelena gave Mary Margaret her card and clear instructions on how everything was supposed to happen the following day. After that, she went to Emma's bedroom to make a phone call to Sheppard's lawyer, while Emma and Regina said goodbye to the woman. When Zelena came back, to let Regina know everything was set up for tomorrow, the three women sat down on the couch and discussed the pictures they had seen. The one with the "sword" was definitely the reason for a few good laughs. But Zelena didn't stay much longer at the apartment. Emma had half expected the woman to ask for them to crack open a bottle of wine, but she didn't. Instead, she drank the rest of the water on the jar and rose from the couch to wish them goodnight. When Emma looked at her all surprised, she said she was saving her body for the celebratory drinks. Emma smirked and walked her to the door.

They made their way to Henry's bedroom to make sure the boy was actually sleeping and not just pretending, as he often did. Once they were sure the boy was indeed dead to the world, they made their way to their bedroom to get ready for the night. Emma still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that her former friend had just asked them to pay her fifty thousand dollars for the pictures or the fact that they had just agreed on it.

- It's a lot of money – Emma said as she laid down in bed next to Regina – What she asked for!

- It is – Regina said – But considering the losses we are having plus the suit this is close to nothing.

- Really?

- Yes! – Regina said – But let's not talk about this anymore!

- Okay – Emma said – Why not?

- Because I need to ask you something else.

- What?

- How are your studies? You have finals in a few weeks, you should be sleeping on top of your books!

- Oh! Don't worry about it. I'm cool.

- Are you? – Regina asked seriously.

- Yeah!

- Starting next week, I'll go pick up Henry myself, okay?

- Why? He doesn't bother me!

- I know. But you need time to study!

- Regina, I'm fine – Emma said – Why are you so worry about that? My grades are good.

- I'm aware of it, but I also think you should be more focused on the University, not cases involving my family business.

- Is this because of your mom?

- This is because of you, Miss Swan! The only thing you should worry about right now is studying for your finals!

- Okay, okay – Emma said – Look, I'm good, okay? I promise.

- Good. We should get some sleep now – Regina said – We both have an early day tomorrow.

- Okay.

They both settle in bed, with Emma been the big spoon. She loved spooning Regina, she was so tiny, one could never tell just by looking at her. But that night, however, she had other things in her mind. Why was Regina asking her about her studies? Was she failing or something? Sure, her grades weren't all A+ but they were good. They were, right? Yes, Definitely! So why was Regina so worry about her grades and her finals? She still had two weeks before that happens, she had plenty of time to study for. Emma breathed in Regina's scent and was assaulted with that wonderful apple smell of Regina's hair. She closed her eyes and put her worries in the back of her mind because there was nothing to worry about. Right?