"What do I do Mary Margaret?" She asked with a frown.
"When there's someone you can't be with it's a terrible burden," Mary Margaret spoke softly, but her tone changed it became harsher as she finished her advice, "So you figure it out."
Three Months Ago
"Emma?!" August called from his office.
Emma Swan had just walked into the police department, coffee in one hand, bear claw in the other, she set them both down on her desk as her boss called her, "What?"
"Could you come in here," The man called to her again.
"Yes Captain?" She smiled slightly as she walked into his office, her blonde hair tied back in a ponytail.
"We're sending you to another police station, you'll be paid well and it's in a small quiet town," August began explaining to the blonde, "I know, recent events with Lily, you have no place to live and you asked me to move you someplace else and well this is the best I can do."
"Where is it?" Emma asked, she had just been dumped by her girlfriend of five years Lily, she wanted to get the hell out of New York City, and had enough of the big city so quiet sounded pleasant, she wanted to get the hell outta dodge before she fell back into her old slutty ways.
"Storybrooke, Maine, it's a seven hour drive from here, you can leave now or in the morning, whenever you see fit but you are to report there by tomorrow night before ten o'clock, the mayor Regina Mills has been notified, go to her office when you arrive and your job will be appointed once you get there."
"Well I'll pack my desk and leave now," Emma smiled sadly, "I've got nothing left here anyways, thank you August for doing this for me."
"We've worked together a long time, I'm glad I could make this easier for you, I hope you find everything you're looking for," he smiled at her, a sad smile but a smile knowing that she would be okay down there or so he hoped.
"Goodbye August," Emma smiled and hugged her former boss.
"Goodbye Emma," he smiled as he hugged her back, "and good luck."
Within an hour Emma had cleaned up her work desk and was on the way, she had already cleared the apartment of her things. She wanted nothing to do with this city and she couldn't help but practically race down the street. Lily got the place and Emma had gotten the dog, Lily hated him anyways, but Emma on the other hand loved the shit outta that dog, he was her best friend and he was still practically a baby.
Beau was her siberian husky, she had found him at a crime scene while she was at work, he was just a newborn. Emma had taken him home and nursed that boy back to life. She took to calling him Beau and when no one ever came to get him the blonde got papers and now he was her. He had just turned, he was just a bundle of energy.
"You excited boy?" Emma smiled as she rubbed his head, he sat in the front seat with her and they were on the way towards Storybrooke, Maine, "A new life."
Beau sat there wagging his tail panting happily, eventually he settled down and passed out in the front seat. Emma on the other hand, put the windows down and turned up the tunes. She was recently very into The Beatles so that is what she planned on listening to until she got to Storybrooke.
Regina Mills stood by the clock tower, it had been broken for almost a week now and had gotten some guys to put it up. It was almost eight now, the sun was just setting and it was still really nice out in late June. The brunette woman was wearing a tight black dress and a simple tan blazer, she stood by herself as she looked up at the installation of the clock tower, she looked to her left as she watched an unfamiliar yellow Volkswagen Beetle pull up. She wondered if that was the new woman who would be working for the sheriff's department.
A blonde woman stepped out wearing tight blue skinny jeans a grey t shirt, and a blue leather jacket, all of a sudden there was this giant husky running towards Regina. She couldn't take her eyes off the blonde woman, she'd never seen such a physically flawless woman but she had to tear her eyes off her as the husky got closer.
"Hello there," Regina smiled as she bent down to say hello to the excited husky wagging its tail at her.
"Beau!" The blonde woman spoke, the dog's ears perked up, he looked back and forth between the two woman but he chose to stay with his new friend, "I'm so sorry, he usually doesn't run off like that. Beau. Come now."
Beau stalked back over to the blonde, "I'm Emma. Emma Swan." Emma offered her hand to the stranger to shake.
"Yes! I'm Regina Mills, the Mayor," Regina gladly took Emma's hand in her own and shook it for a brief second, "I was wondering when you would be getting here, would you like me to show you around?"
"Yes, please, is there a hotel or somewhere I can stay?" Emma asked with a smile, Regina began walking away from the clock tower, the blonde followed.
"I would be glad to help you find somewhere to stay, actually one of my son's teacher has been looking for a roommate I can possibly make arrangements," Regina smiled, she didn't know why she was being so nice, but there was something kind of compelling about this woman.
"That would be really nice," Emma said, she looked behind her to make sure Beau was still following her, of course he was, he followed her everywhere and never needed a leash, "Thank you Mayor Mills."
"My pleasure, besides you'll be saving the town," Regina said, "let's go to my office to sign the paperwork."
"Lead the way," Emma smiled, she followed the brunette and only now really allowed herself to take in this woman that stood before her, all she could think was, Damn.
"Okay, you are officially part of Storybrooke Police Department, now the Sheriff David is your new boss and I will make sure to introduce you two tomorrow, I would suggest staying at Granny's for the night," Regina spoke softly, "I'll walk you to the diner and how about we meet tomorrow and I'll show you around town?"
"Sounds like a date," Emma smiled as she lead the way out of Regina's office.
The mayor led the way down the street to Granny's, they talked a bit. Regina would be lying if she said she didn't flirt with the woman a bit, Emma naturally flirted right back.
Regina laughed and couldn't help the blush creep up on her, "Have a good night Emma."
The brunette smiled as they stood at the door to Granny's bed and breakfast, with a small diner. It was a quaint little place, Emma hated quaint places, they reminded her too much of home.
"That would be perfect, Is it okay if my dog stays there?" Emma asked.
"Yes it shouldn't be a problem, see you tomorrow," Regina smiled.
"Wait can we exchange numbers so I can text you tomorrow?" Emma said before spinning around once more to face the brunette.
"Oh of course!" Regina said and pulled out her phone, "What's your number?"
Emma entered her number into the Mayor's cell phone, she then got Regina to enter her number into the blonde's phone, they parted ways and Emma made her way to Granny's bed and breakfast.
"I'm home!" Regina called as she stepped into her the large foyer of her mansion.
"In here!" Robin called, it was past ten now and Henry was asleep.
Regina kicked off her heels and walked over to her lover and kissed him on the lips, "Hey hon how was your day?"
"It was good, long day," Robin replied with a smile, he hugged his soon to be wife tightly and kissed her on the forehead, "If you're hungry there's food in the fridge."
"You cooked? Did you burn water again?" Regina teased.
"I made pasta," Robin laughed and walked away, "I'm going to bed."
"Goodnight," Regina smiled, she pulled the cold pasta out of the fridge, putting it into the microwave and turning it on for three minutes.
She pulled out her cell phone and scrolled through her emails, she read about the clock tower, they installed it successfully and it didn't make too bad a dent in the town's money. Setting her phone back down on the counter the brunette heard it buzz, it lit up with a new text message.
It was from Emma.
10:38 PM
Hey, it's me Emma, I just wanted to say thanks for showing me around town and I was also wondering if there was anywhere I could go for a coffee at this hour? I can't sleep.
10:39 PM
The Rabbit hole, it's a bar, not really a coffee place but in this town it's the only place open at this hour.
10:43 PM
Thank you Regina, I will do my best to find this bar, nothing like a nice night stroll.
10:47 PM
I can meet you, I could use a drink.
10:48 PM
Really? Ok, want me to pick you up?
10:49 PM
My address is 108 Mifflin street.
10:53 PM
I'm on my way
About a half hour later Regina's doorbell rang, she quickly grabbed her purse slipped her heels on and opened the front door, she smiled at the blonde woman.
"Hi," Emma said shyly.
"Hi," Regina smiled back at her.