Chapter Forty-Five: The Date

Emma stood in front of the big imposing white mansion at 108 Mifflin St. She took a deep breath before walking the long way to the door. She had put on her red leather jacket, her armor, the one piece of cloth she owns that brought her some sense of security. She needs it today. She needs all the help she could get tonight. How did we get here? Emma thought. Because behind that big white God damn imposing door stood the only person, she ever loved. The only woman she knew could break her. In the end, she was the one who broke her. Please forgive me. I love you. I will fix this. Walking the long pathway to the women's door Emma felt her chest getting tighter. She needed to fix this, she needed to get her back. She loved her too much to let her go without a fight.

It took every single bit of courage in her body to bring her to ring the doorbell. As crazy as it sounds, not knowing something has its advantages. You can always just wonder what it could be, make up your own happy ending.

"Emma!" Regina said.

"Hi," Emma said back.

"What do you want?" Regina asked harshly.

"Regina, please, just let me explain!" Emma begged.

"I can't do this right now Emma. I have a date! She will be here any minute, you have to leave."

"You have what? Tell her to back the hell off!"

"And why exactly should I do that Miss Swan"

"Regina…."

"Leave, NOW!"

Emma stood there looking at her. Really looking at her. My God the women truly were beautiful. And Emma felt angry at herself. How the hell could she be so fucking stupid? How could she possibly make her go through this hell? She looked into Regina's eyes and saw them watering. At that moment she knew Regina still had feelings for her. She still had a chance and she was going to take it.

"Do you love me?" Emma asked.

"What?" Regina asked back.

"Do you love me, Regina?" Emma asked again.

"Of course, I do. But that doesn't change anything. You and I… It's over Emma. I don't trust you anymore"

"Don't say that, Regina "

"Please, Emma, you have to go. She is going to be here any minute now. Please, just leave"

"I'm going to get you back, Regina"

Emma said and turn around to leave. She walked towards her bug thinking about what Regina said. She still loves her. And that is all that matters for now. She got inside her bug and drove away with a smile forming on her lips for the first time in months.

Emma entered the bug and as much as her conscience told her to go home, she simply couldn't. Not until she could see what she was up against. Not until she sees the woman! Emma didn't blame Regina, for wanting to move on. Not after what she has done. Regina deserved to move on. But before she decided anything, she needed to hear Emma's side of the story. Emma needed to tell her side of the story. Regina needed to have all the facts before deciding to dump her, for good.

It hurt her when Regina told her she was waiting for someone else. Not only because she was seeing someone else but because this dark twisted part of Emma thought that maybe, just maybe she could be right, that Regina would fall into Prince Robin's arms and raise a beautiful family with him and his son. But she wasn't! She was indeed going on a date with someone else but that someone else wasn't a man. She was going on a date with a woman. Regina really was gay, like she had told Emma thousands of times before and Emma has never felt so stupid. Well, apart from the day she first let Ruby into her bed and everything that happened because of that.

Emma knew her little bug wasn't exactly discreet for the task, but it would have to do. It was dark and Emma parked the car next to the big tree across Regina's mansion. Emma patiently waited for the woman to arrive. She looked at her watch, it marked seven-fifteen. The woman was late! Emma shook her head and smile. You have already started with the wrong foot, Emma thought. Five more minutes passed by when a black BMW parked in front of the mansion. Emma moved to the passenger seat to get a clear view of the woman. She was very tall, taller than her, and blond.

"It looks like you have a type, Regina," Emma said to herself.

Emma couldn't see what was happening in Regina's door, but that didn't matter much as they passed through the gate only moments later. The woman didn't even bother to open the door to Regina, she simply walked around the car and got in the driver's seat.

"Asshole" Emma said.

Emma turned the engine on when her phone rang in her pocket. She looked at the screen, David's name was flashing on it. She needed to follow Regina, but she didn't want to drive and talk on her cell at the same time, she was done being irresponsible after all.

"Damn it!" Emma said and slid her finger on the screen "David, I'm kinda busy here"

"Sorry to bother you, Emma but I need you"

"David, it's my day off," Emma sighed "I haven't had a day off in a month"

"I know, and I'm sorry, Emma," David said "But I need you to come down to the Rabbit Hole"

"Why? What happened?"

"You'll see when you get here"

"Okay," Emma said "I'll be right there"

Emma turned the engine on again and drove straight to the Rabbit Hole. As much as she wanted to spy on Regina and her new date, Emma knew that was beyond creepy and a little stalkerish. Also, she really wanted to make things right between her and Regina and spying on her probably would do more harm than good. Emma parked the car in front of The Rabbit Hole and rushed inside.

"Hey, David" Emma said when she spied him on the bar "What's going on, why do you need me?"

"I thought it was best to call you," David said.

"Why?"

"There?"

David pointed to a spot on the back of the bar. At first, Emma didn't see anything but then one of her deputies moved and Emma saw her.

Ruby!

Her stomach twisted inside of her just by laying eyes on her. Emma had successfully avoided the woman for over a month now. She never stepped foot inside Granny's again. Didn't drove by if she didn't have to. Her hands turned into a fist as her breathing started to get faster. She knew she needed to control herself, but it was hard when your heart is not made of iron.

"What happened?" Emma asked seriously.

"She started a fight with one of the customers," David said "She assaulted the man, broke a glass of beer on his head, and then beat him up with the pool stick"

"She's fucking crazy," A man said behind Emma.

"What's your name, Sir?" Emma asked.

"Spencer"

"Sir, are you pressing charges against her?"

"Hell, yeah I am," Spencer said "She attacked me for no reason"

"David, cuff her," Emma said "She can still be dangerous. Take her to the station and lock her up"

"Emma, are you sure about that?" David asked "I mean, it is Ruby… That's kind of the reason why I call you"

"You heard the victim, he is pressing charges," Emma said "Did anyone took his testimony yet?"

"He is exaggerating," Ruby said behind her "Emma, will you be a dear and let me go home already? I have a headache"

"I don't give a fuck about your headache," Emma said "You are going to the station"

"Are you sure about that?" Ruby asked with half a smile.

"Yes"

"You know I can still press charges against you," Ruby said "From when you assaulted me"

"Yes, you can," Emma said "There is just one tiny problem with that"

"And what is that?"

"You told Regina you liked it," Emma said "You can't assault a person if you have her consent"

"What?"

"You confess to Regina remember?" Emma asked "She's a witness now"

"She hates you,"

"Yeah, she does," Emma smiled "But as much as she hates me, Ruby, I bet she hates you more"

"Emma…"

"So go ahead and press charges against me," Emma said.

"I fucking hate you"

"Right back at ya," Emma said with as much venom as she was feeling "David, take her to the station and lock her up"

David cuffed Ruby and took her to the Sheriff's cruiser. Emma walked to Spencer and personally took his testimony before instructing him on the next steps. She also spoke with the owner and instructed him on how to get civil reparation for all Ruby had broken plus moral damage. By the time Emma climbed back into her bug she had a smile on her face.

She drove back to the mansion, to see if Regina had arrived yet. She needed to talk to her. Regina needed to hear her, hear her version of things, hear her point of view. Emma parked the bug on the same spot she had been on before. The house was still dark and Emma figured they hadn't come back to their date yet and Emma wasn't sure if that was a good thing. She dropped her head against the window and patiently waited for them to come back.

One hour later, Emma saw the BMW park in front of Regina's house. Her heart raced inside her chest as Regina opened the door and step out of the car. The woman also left and stopped in front of Regina, whatever she said, it made her laugh. Emma's heart sank at the sight of that. Regina looked so beautiful in a black and red dress, and that smile was something Emma had missed dearly for the past month. She should be the one making Regina smile like that.

Regina looked down and the woman tucked a hair locked behind Regina's ear. She looked up again and smile as the woman came closer to her and kissed her on the lips. Emma couldn't hold the tears falling down her face like a waterfall. She thought there was nothing else left in her heart to be broken, but boy, how was she wrong.

Regina smiled at the woman and said goodnight before walking back to the mansion alone. The woman walked around the car and drove away and Emma let out a puff of air she didn't even know she was holding. She couldn't stand the thought of Regina and the woman going inside the mansion together. Emma cleared her face with the back of her hands and left the bug. She walked to Regina's door and rang the bell shifting from one foot to the other while she waited for the door to be open.

"Mal, I told you…" Regina said before realizing it wasn't her date "Emma! What the fuck are you doing here?"

"Can we talk?"

"No, we can't"

"Regina, please,"

"Look, Emma, I'm tired, okay?" Regina said "I had a really long day,"

"Did you read any of my messages?"

"I read all of them,"

"And?"

"It doesn't change anything, Emma"

"How can you say that?"

"I can't…I don't know if I can't get past what you did"

"This can't be it, Regina"

"I'm tired,"

"I love you,"

"So did I"

Regina closed the door as Emma felt the last piece of her heart break.