Chapter Forty-Two: The Welcome Back Party

It had been a month since her accident. A month of getting her body physically better. A month of getting her head out of the darkness that consumed her whole. A month of reconnecting with Regina. It was beautiful how they were reconnecting again, it felt like the way it did when they first met when Regina first moved to Storybrooke. The way Regina cared for Emma only made her fall in love a little bit more with Regina every day. She was the love of her life, Emma knew that now.

The weight of the secret faded away with time. Not that Emma had forgotten about it, but Regina simply didn't want to talk about the fight they had the day before the accident and Emma was more than willing to put it in the back of her head. She knew she had to change. She had to change her actions, she had to put her jealousy under control. She trusted Regina, she wasn't like her. She wasn't Lily. Regina would never wrong her, not the way Lily did. Not the way she did. Regina was different. She was special, unique. Emma would never forgive herself for what she did to Ruby and consequently, Regina.

Emma was sitting on the couch watching Regina walk back and forth while talking on the phone. It was from work and Emma felt slightly guilty about it. Regina stayed in the whole month taking care of Emma, even when she told her she was feeling much better and hardly felt any pain when walking. But Regina refused and Emma didn't have in her to fight against that. She liked staying indoors with Regina. It was warm and cozy and…safe.

"I have to go to the stables today," Regina said with a heavy sigh.

"Regina, it's okay," Emma said "I'm all healed now. I'm even going back to work after the weekend"

"I know," Regina said sitting by her side "It's going to be weird going back to our normal lives"

"Tell me about it," Emma smirked "I'm going to miss our movies session"

"Me too," Regina smiled "I want to take you out tonight"

"Oh?"

"To celebrate your recovery"

"Thanks, but…"

"I'll even let you have a burger" Regina laughed.

"I prefer a quiet night just you and me" Emma shrugged.

"Emma…"

Regina started to say but then her phone rang again. She answered and not long after that she kissed Emma goodbye and told her she loved her before leaving the mansion. That had become sort of a habit, during Emma's recovery. Regina was always telling her that she loved her, she wanted Emma to know that. And Emma always told her back on the spot. Because she did love her. She may have screwed up a lot and she regrated her actions deeply, but she did love Regina. She just didn't know how to love very well. She didn't know how to trust.

Or how to entertain herself without Regina. She always knew how to pick the best movies and read the best books. Emma, on the other hand, spent about an hour looking for a movie to watch, and after she did, she fell asleep at the very first beginning. Or halfway through it, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that it was already late when she woke up again. And considering she was all alone in the leaving room without a blanket protectively covering her body, Emma knew Regina wasn't home yet.

Emma walked upstairs and decided to take a nice relaxing shower. This was the first time in weeks that Emma felt relative human again. Her body wasn't aching everywhere and her face didn't look liked she aged ten years in ten minutes. She washed her hair and then conditioned, using the fancy stuff Regina was fond of. Emma had laughed when Regina told her how much they cost but now that her hair looked blonder and shiner, and so much softer she had to give it to Regina. This was just one more thing she was perfect at.

When Emma finished the shower and changed into a nice pair of black skinny jeans and a long sleep burgundy blouse, Emma went back to the bathroom to dry her hair. She wanted to look nice for Regina tonight. It had been a month of hoods and pajama pants. And she was going to cook diner for them tonight, there was no need for them to go outside.

Emma finished drying her hair and then put on a little makeup to give her face an extra life. It was good to feel good again. Healthy. Pretty. This is what Regina deserves, not that version she had become. Emma walked back inside the bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed to put on her boots. She had just finished zipping her right boot when she heard her phone beeping somewhere in the bedroom. Emma tapped the bed, trying to find the phone among the mess of sheets neither her nor Regina had made that morning. She made a mental note of doing that before going to the kitchen to start on dinner. She found her phone, under the pillow and looked at the screen. There was a text from Regina. Emma quickly tapped her password and click on the notification for it to open.

'Come outside'

'What, why?' Emma texted back.

'Just come outside, Miss Swan'

'Okay, bossy lady' Emma replied with a smile on her face.

Emma left the bedroom and walked downstairs as fast as she could. She opened the front door and walked the pathway out of the front yard to the street. She opened the little gate in front of the house and stayed root to the spot with the view in front of her. If there was anything sexier in this world than the sight of Regina in a red leather dress leaning against the hood of the car, Emma wasn't aware of. Emma looked at her, mouth slightly open and she couldn't decide what she loved the most. The smile or the dress.

"Regina, wow," Emma said.

"Hello, dear,"

"You're stunning"

"Thank you," Regina said and walked closer to Emma "You changed out of the hood,"

"Yeah, I figure I'd give them a break," Emma joked.

"You look beautiful, honey," Regina said and kissed her lips.

"Thank you," Emma smiled "Why are you all dress up?"

"Get in the car," Regina whispered in her ear.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you out,"

Regina walked around the car and gallantly opened the door on the passage seat of her Mercedes for Emma. She smiled and walked to Regina, kissing her cheek before getting inside the car. Regina gently closed the door and walked around the car to take her place on the driver's seat. She turned the engine on and Emma felt her stomach twist. She had a bad feeling about this like their little bubble was about to burst.

The drive to where Regina was taking Emma was quick (just like everything else in Storybrooke). Emma felt her hands getting cold at the same time sweat formed in the back of her neck and temples when Regina parked the car. Granny's! No, Emma could not be there with Regina. Not after she did to Ruby. Not without telling her.

"I think we should go back home," Emma said nervously.

"Since when you pass out an opportunity to have a burger?" Regina joked.

"I think I prefer a quiet night at home with you," Emma said.

"Emma, you have nothing to be nervous about," Regina said and brought one of Emma's hands to her lips to kiss "I know it's scary after your accident, but it's good for you to go out again. For both of us"

"Then let's go elsewhere," Emma pleaded.

"You love Granny's" Regina laughed "She's the heart of Storybrooke"

"Regina…"

"Please, Emma," Regina said "For me"

Emma sighed and nodded because honestly, there was nothing else she could do about it. She couldn't explain to Regina why she couldn't go inside Granny's and the only thing Emma could hope for was for Ruby not to be working today and maybe convince Regina to just get their burgers to go. Yeah, Emma could do that. She could tell Regina she wasn't feeling well and ask her to go back home. It wouldn't even be a lie. Emma's stomach was twisting in all sorts of bad ways and the feeling wasn't comfortable at all.

Regina left the car first and Emma took a minute or two before doing the same herself. She moistened her lips and opened the Mercedes door. Regina held her hand and they walked the few steps to the diner entrance.

"Regina, wait," Emma said when Regina reached the doorknob.

"Come on," Regina smiled.

She pushed the door open, the familiar bell ringing above their heads. Emma pulled Regina's hand back but Regina squeezed hers and pulled Emma inside. She crossed the door with her heart speeding inside her chest, feeling like she couldn't breathe until her ears were assaulted with cheering greetings and happy smiles.

"SURPRISE"

Emma looked around the diner and saw her friends and colleagues from the Sheriff Station gathering all around the diner. It was nice and comforting seeing all of their faces even though Emma felt like she didn't deserve it.

"What is this?" Emma asked looking at Regina.

"It's your, 'I'm glad you are okay and going back to work on Monday' party," David said "We are all happy to give your shifts back"

"Yeah, I bet" Emma laughed and then looked at Regina "Did you do this?"

"David helped," Regina said and smiled at Emma "And you deserve it"

"You shouldn't have," Emma said tearing up.

"Of course I should," Regina said capturing a falling tear "You have no idea how happy I am that you are okay now. That you are recovered. This party is to celebrate you"

"I don't deserve this, Regina"

"Stop that," Regina said "Come on, let's get something to drink. No alcohol though. You are still taking your meds"

"Right," Emma let out a breath.

Emma was nervous, at first. Not only she felt like she didn't deserve that party, that celebration, she also felt like it shouldn't have happened there. Yes, Ruby forgave her. She said so herself. But Emma didn't forgive herself, her actions. That shouldn't have happened. Emma could never apologize enough for that.

But as the night went on, Emma started to relax. It was good to be out again, to socialize with her friends. Elsa and Regina were engaged in a conversation by the Jukebox while Emma was chatting with the new Deputy. Everything was going well and Emma actually started to have fun. To enjoy the night. To genuinely smile again.

"I see you didn't tell her," Ruby's voice said behind her.

"Ruby!" Emma turned around to face her.

"I was surprised you know," Ruby said tucked a lock of Emma's hair behind her ear "She called and asked if it was okay to have the party here"

"She called you?" Emma asked alarmed.

"Yes! At first, I thought she was calling to talk about what happened" Ruby gave a set closer to Emma "Imagine my surprise when I realized she had no idea of what you have done"

"Ruby…"

"You know I wonder" Ruby whispered seductively in her ear "What else are you lying about?"

"Stop!" Emma said.

"I'm going outside," Ruby said "You'll do well to follow me"

Ruby winked at her and walked out of the diner. Emma looked at Regina and saw her watching them with a puzzled expression on her face. She didn't blame her. Emma smiled at her, a smile that didn't quite reached her eyes, and step outside to go after Ruby. She found her on the back of the diner, smoking a cigarette.

"Ruby, what's going on?" Emma asked.

"What's going on?" Ruby said "You didn't tell her"

"There wasn't…" Emma said "Things happened"

"Yeah, I know," Ruby said "And I get it, you had your car accident, but it has been a month now"

"I couldn't" Emma cried "I can't"

"Why not?" Ruby asked getting closer to Emma.

"Because…."

"Step away from her" Regina's voice came behind her.

"Regina…" Emma said.

"I'm tired and I am done with this" Regina said looking at Ruby "You have to get over the fact Emma doesn't want you anymore. You have to move on, Ruby!"

"Excuse me?" Ruby said.

"It's pathetic watching you flirt with my girlfriend," Regina said "She doesn't want you"

"Really?" Ruby asked angrily.

"She chose me. She wants me" Regina said "You have got to move on"

"Regina, please, stop" Emma bagged.

"It's funny but that's not what she said, or did, the last time we saw each other" Ruby said.

"What are you talking about?" Regina asked.

"Ruby, stop" Emma cried.

"Emma, what is she talking about?" Regina asked her.

"Tell her, Emma," Ruby said with a venom Emma never heard before "Tell her what you did"

"Ruby please," Emma said.

"What is she talking about, Emma?" Regina screamed.

"Ruby, you promised," Emma said.

"She attacked me in the Sheriff Station," Ruby said "And you know what, Regina? I liked it"

"What?" Emma asked looking at Ruby "This was not how it happened"

"I enjoy it," Ruby said looking at Regina "I loved when she pressed me against the bars and buried her fingers deep inside me. I liked when she asked me if that was what I wanted because it was. I liked it when…"

Regina walked to Ruby and slapped her in the face. Emma stayed rooted to the spot, she couldn't move, she couldn't say anything and for a moment neither could Ruby. She looked at Regina with anger, one that could almost mimic the one on Regina's features. Ruby had her hand on the spot Regina had slapped her, breathing fast and Emma was scared Ruby would fight back but then Regina just turned to Emma.

"Is that true?" Regina asked.

"Yes," Emma whispered between sobs "But it didn't…"

"Don't bother going back home"

Regina walked away from them and everything fell silent the only sound in the dark night was the click of her heels against the pavement. Emma let the tears fall down her face freely. Out of the worse scenarios she had ever picture that could happen when she told Regina the truth this one never even crossed her worse nightmares.

"Why?" Emma asked Ruby.

"Because now you finally know what it feels like to lose the one you love"

"Did you plan this?" Emma asked.

"The moment Regina called me," Ruby said.

"And the Station?" Emma asked.

"I planned on getting you drunk," Ruby said "The way you attacked me was a surprise and I had to work fast"

"What does that mean?" Emma asked.

"I had to pretend I was scared of you," Ruby said "Trust me, I wanted to enjoy it, but I knew the guilty of assaulting me would be bigger than the guilty of just sleeping with me. But then you had to be the hero and you had to come to me and ask me to report you"

"You played me"

"Honestly, you played yourself. I didn't think you would be able to live this long with the guilty of what you did to me, but apparently, you did"

"That's why you threw this party," Emma said "To humiliate Regina"

"I was planning on have the fight inside, I didn't think she would follow you out," Ruby said "I guess this is just one more thing that bitch took away from me"

"I'm gonna tell you this Ruby, and I want you to listen very carefully," Emma said angrily "You and I, it's never going to happen"

"I know," Ruby smiled "But neither will you and Regina"

Ruby turned around and walked away from Emma. She supported her body against the diner wall and then let it fall onto the ground when Ruby's words finally sink in.