The old woman looks up from the order she scribbles down with practiced finesse and frowns. She studies the dark brunette shrewdly as the arrogant young woman marches self-importantly towards the door to the Diner. Grabbing her granddaughter by the arm, she speaks to her bluntly.
"What does the Mayor want, girl?"
Bright eyes regard her curiously before Ruby glances over to the door and sighs.
"I don't know, I'll go speak to her."
"You'll do no such thing; you're working, it isn't her right to demand your attention."
"It's okay, Granny, she... I think I know why she's here. I won't be long."
The gray haired woman opens her mouth to argue, but the waitress slips deftly past her and hurries up to the brunette; her heels tapping out a sharp rhythm on the bright linoleum floor.
"Regina... What-"
She trails off nervously as she takes in the pallor to the older woman's complexion and the tremble of her hands. Surprising herself, she swiftly takes charge, pulling the Mayor authoritatively along by the arm and guiding her through the door so that they stand outside. She catches several curious glances as she goes, and hopes Regina hasn't clued on to the fact that she has just been publicly ordered about by a mere waitress. Beckoning the brunette to follow her around to the side of the building where they find themselves sheltered in privacy, she turns to the older woman anxiously.
"Did you speak to Gold?"
"...Yes."
"And? Where's Emma?"
"Does it look like I know?!"
Ruby takes a step back as bright white teeth snap at her angrily, but she bares the Mayor little grievance for her reaction. Running a hand nervously through her long hair she looks down at the cigarette-butt studded floor and sighs.
"Did he tell you anything?"
"He has her."
"What do you mean he 'has' her?"
"I... I don't know."
"Well, is she okay?"
Regina gathers herself sternly and sighs, her face drawn, making her appear much older than her years.
"He... He told me I don't have anything he wants..."
"That he wants?! What the hell would he want?! Why!? Why is he doing this to her?!"
The brunette closes her eyes wearily as the young waitress cries shrilly; Ruby's words ghosting into misted breath as her eyes water fretfully. Shaking her head, the Mayor speaks in a low tone, her expression cold and unsettled.
"Mr Gold wants information I don't have. He says the Sheriff is safe, and... Well, I believe him. I have no choice. But Emma... Whatever's happening, whatever he's hidden her away for... I know her... I know her... If Gold has stood between her and celebrating Henry's birthday, he has done so by force... I don't want to think about what that entails."
"Do you... Do you think he'd hurt her?"
The waitress's words are but a mere whisper, and when the Mayor looks up at her, Ruby's watering eyes are cast nervously to the floor. Realizing that she stands in the company of the woman who- along with the hateful schoolteacher- perhaps best understands her current predicament, however absurd the idea may be, Regina sighs, shaking her dark tresses fretfully.
"I don't know. I don't think so... But... That's not good enough for me..."
"What information did he want? Are you sure you don't know? Are you sure you can't give him something?!"
"...Yes."
Regina scowls down at her hands irritably. She had been thrown by the pawnbroker's motives, and feels rattled and unsure of herself. As to what he wishes- what will garner the blonde her freedom- she knows only one thing: she needs Emma on board, and, as much as it pains her, she just doesn't think the Sheriff has what it takes in her.
You don't know that!
True, she doesn't, but it's a risk she's not willing to take. She wishes inwardly that she had found some way to tell the younger woman about the apple. She knows such a thing would have been impossible to explain, but still... Of all the people she knows and is forced to deal with on a daily basis, it is Emma whom she now realises she would seek out- however surreptitiously- for guidance; that she would trust to offer some sort of solution. If she had told the blonde about the apple, about the kiss she still doesn't quite understand, then perhaps she would know right now what to do.
I think I do, though. And I think I do love her.
She immediately balks at the absurdity of the idea, shaking her head in adamant disbelief. If she were to allow Gold's wish for the curse to break... She is crucially aware of the consequences that would lead to such a conclusion.
The Saviour loves or the Saviour dies.
She thinks she loves Emma, despite the idea taking her entirely by surprise; not just in what it entails, but due to the strength of the emotion she feels for the younger woman.
I do. I must. I must love her. Nothing else would hurt this badly.
Hanging her head defeatedly, she knows that she can do all the soul searching in the world, but it doesn't matter unless the Sheriff feels the same way about her...
And she doesn't think that's the case.
She doesn't think Emma is cold.
She just thinks she's broken.
She wishes she'd confided her fear about the apple. She wishes she'd asked the younger woman about the scar marring her stomach. She wishes the blonde would have asked her once more about the key gifted to her... Unimportant now, but meaningful nonetheless; the skeleton key to the Station's jail cells. A solid keepsake of a promise that she would never use the Sheriff in such a way as she had used her again. Never abuse her, never degrade her, never ever hurt her if she was able to refrain from doing so.
But she had.
She had hurt her.
But she had also saved her.
And she does believe now that it was her kiss that was responsible.
And she does believe that she loves her.
Truly loves her.
"I can't give him what he wants... There are... There are certain things I am unable to do when in Gold's presence... I know that sounds curious, just as I know you are in no position to trust me, but... I need you to put that aside. If you care for Miss Swan.. For Emma... I need you to believe she was doing the right thing in believing in me."
"...What do you want me to do?"
"I need you to check Gold's shop... I know it sounds easy, and it probably doesn't make any sense that I didn't do so myself, but I need you to... I need you to-"
"-To trust you..."
Dark eyes find the young waitress's gaze desperately and the brunette nods.
"... You really care for her don't you?... For Emma?"
Ruby's words are quiet, simple, not at all like the pawnbroker's which has seemed almost accusatory. Ever true to her nature however, the brunette merely sniffs irritably and tosses her hair.
"Do I care for the Sheriff? Yes. I told you as much."
"No, you didn't... You said you were worried about her. You were angry at her for bailing on Henry. You never said you cared for her."
"My wording is unimportant, why make it into something it's not? I care for Miss Swan and you said she told you as much!"
"No."
"No?!"
"No. She told me that she cared for you."
"I...She... She did?"
"You see...Words are important, Regina."
The Mayor regards the waitress in silent disbelief, her heart beating feverishly in her throat.
"She actually... She said that?"
"She said she was happy. That you made her happy. You know Emma... That should be enough to tell you the things she can't say..."
"I..."
The brunette frowns in confusion as her chest feels suddenly too tight and her eyes prickle with salt. Studying the dim young waitress curiously, she is as unsettled by Ruby's words as she is moved by them. She feels a sudden guilt for the grief she has given the blonde over her friendship with the young woman before her, and the fact she is even able to comprehend such an emotion terrifies her, as it lets the reality of her feelings sink in.
She loves the Sheriff; loves her and pities her for her lack of companionship in the past. Loves her to the point that she is willing- that she is able- to allow the duel relationship that exists with Ruby- with Mary Margaret- because she just wants Emma to be happy.
For her to be happy is enough.
"I... I care for her."
"Then tell me what you need me to do."
"Check Gold's shop. I will give you a replica to the key. Break in, look for anything suspicious; a crack in the wall, a seam to the floorboards... He has her, and we're going to find her... We wait until nightfall, and you go in... Are you up to it?"
"Why nightfall... Why not now?"
"Because, Gold is a dangerous man... You go now and he may catch you. I want Miss Swan safe, but... Not at your expense... She wouldn't send you out so carelessly, so neither will I... We wait until nightfall, and I shall stand guard outside."
"...This is really happening? We're really breaking into Gold's shop to find Emma?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Don't be."
"Sorry?"
"Don't be afraid... We'll find her, I just needed to check I was still sane! We'll... You'll find her... I promise."
"You should never make promises you can't keep, Miss Lucas."
"I can keep this one. If you don't find her, Mary Margaret or I will... Emma may believe she's alone, but Gold's picked the wrong girl to mess with."
"... Touching."
"I'm serious!"
I know that. I know. And when we find her... I hope she realises that, too...
"Good. We meet outside the shop tonight. Eleven. Don't be late."
"I won't... And, Regina... It'll be alright. Emma... She's a tough girl. She won't let him hurt her... We'll sort this out..."
The Mayor's eyes shimmer in the orange glow of the setting sun, and she finds herself unable to respond and so merely nods her head. Turning briskly for home, she throws the waitress a parting shot; her expression grave but determined.
Ruby smiles at her thinly before slipping back into the chaos of the Diner.