Ruby pours coffee into a small thermos while her ears tune into the conversation currently happening across the way. For a small part of the morning, the only people in the diner were Ruby, Emmerson, and Jax. Ruby smelled the Queen's magic on him when he walked in, but she'd never seen him around town. Now, Ruby has to wonder how many secrets her Majesty has hidden under those shoulder pads.
"Who is that?" Jax whispers.
Ruby places the pot back on the warmer and turns to the soldier. She figured out fairly quickly he was a former, or current, guard. She twists the top of the thermos in place and slides it to him. Leaning down on the counter, Ruby says, "Ex-boyfriend, ex-baby daddy, and son of Gold. He's a bastard in every sense of the word."
"Do I need to-
"No. Let Swan handle it. Though if the Queen asks, I'll vouch for you."
"Thanks," Jax mutters. "I came out here to check on the kid when I ran into Emmerson down the way. We decided to grab breakfast, you know? But now I'm starting to wonder if this whole fucking town is a shit show."
"Wouldn't you already know that if you were from here?" Ruby asks.
Jax winks and takes a sip of his coffee.
"Why won't you give me another chance?" Neal exclaims.
Ruby and Jax both tune back into the conversation. Based on the muscles jumping in Emmerson's jaw, Neal is digging a hole so deep Ruby wouldn't be surprised if his feet touch the fiery pits of Hell. Honestly, she'd forgotten Neal was still in town. He'd been quiet the last few days, though Ruby should've known he was biding his time.
"I've changed!"
"Obviously not," Emmerson deadpanned. "Because if you had, you would not still be here. You would not be interrupting my breakfast with the same crap. I told you I am not interested in you in any capacity, and that has not changed."
Ruby winces when Neal reaches for Emmerson's hand. Jax tenses and twists around in his seat. Ruby catches a glint of silver under his coat and subconsciously steps to the side. He smiles apologetically before turning his attention back to the duo.
"I know you're going through something, but I should be the one helping you through it. Not Regina."
"Excuse me?"
"Your Mom told me you were having some issues with adjusting to being a Princess and that you've been spending more time with Regina. We both agree that's a bad idea. Regina's evil, Em. She tried to kill your parents, and she's tried to kill you many times. Think about what she did to Henry! This is all a plot to get back at Snow. That's always what it's about. She doesn't have your best interest at heart, and Hook? Come on. He's a drunken fool who only wants you for one thing. I love you. I want you. We can be a real family with Henry and— ow! Fuck!"
Jax relaxes and continues to drink his coffee. Ruby cocks an eyebrow, impressed by Emmerson's show of strength, then she remembers who she's ogling and grimaces. Jax snorts under his breath, and Ruby flips him off. Emmerson drags Neal out of the booth and jerks his arm behind his back so far his fingers brush against his neck. Neal's cries go ignored as Emmerson brings Neal to his knees. Ruby subtly pulls out her phone. She's halfway through a text message when the door opens. A whiff of cotton candy and fresh blood makes her hold her breath. Ruby deletes the message and puts a hand on Jax's arm.
"Don't panic. This is another friend of the entire family," she whispers.
Alia glances at Ruby and the man briefly before she looks at Swan. "You alright?" she asks.
"I'm good."
"You sure?"
"I said, I'm good, Lee. Have you forgotten what the fuck I did for a living before here?" Emmerson snaps.
Alia holds up her hands and backs away. The vampire glances again at Ruby and asks softly, "Regina or Bella?"
"Bella," Ruby whispers back.
Alia nods and exits the diner at a normal speed.
"Who the hell was- shit!" Neal yelps as Emmerson jerks his arm back further.
Ruby can practically hear the muscles stretching to their limit. One more move, and Emmerson will more than likely rip Neal's shoulder out of its pocket.
"I need you to focus on me. You listening?" Emmerson asks.
"Em, please! Just let me-
"Are you listening!"
"Yes, yes, yes! I'm listening! I'm listening!"
Emmerson bends over until he and Neal are at eye level. The move is so fluid and so easy that Ruby feels a little envy for Regina. Emmerson's a bad ass, and Ruby barely breaks from her thoughts to hear Emmerson say, "I do not like you, Neal, and I do not love you. I do not want to be with you. I do not care about you. You could fall off a cliff, break your neck, and die for all I care. You are nothing but a pain in my ass, and you have been since the moment we met. See, the truth is I'm gay. Super gay. That means I will marry a woman, grow old with her, and maybe have a few pets or kids for the hell of it. Who knows? But I have been gay for a long, long time, and while it took me a minute to be okay with it, I'm now all in like my name's Doc Holliday. Are we clear?"
"G-gay?" Neal stammers. "You can't be gay! We had sex!"
Jax pinches the bridge of his nose. Ruby's eyes widen as lavender lightning sparks off Emmerson's skin. Before Emmerson can respond, Bella bursts into the diner and makes her way over to Emmerson. She grabs his wrist.
"Let go, Swan," she says softly.
"Why?"
"Because you will do more harm than good if you continue down this path."
"Who cares?"
"I do. And you know who does too. Please, let him go."
Ruby breathes a sigh of relief as Emmerson releases Neal. He stands up and massages his shoulder.
"Stay away from me, Neal. This is your last warning."
"Regina's changed you! You were never this-this-"
"Stop," Emmerson says flatly. "Because my behavior has nothing to do with Regina. It has everything to do with me being sick and tired of playing nice when no one else extends me the same fucking courtesy." Emmerson steps up to Neal and adds in a dangerous whisper, "If I see you again, I will rip your head from your shoulders and send it to your father as a birthday present. Am I clear?"
Neal pales and stumbles back. Emmerson pushes past Bella and heads outside. Bella jerks her head at Jax, and he rushes after him after throwing a few bills on the table. Ruby inwardly groans as she realizes she's now responsible for the Princess.
Bella scratches her jaw and puts her hands on her hips. She looks Neal up and down. Nothing to be impressed by, honestly.
"So. You're Neal," she says.
"Who the fuck are you?" he grunts.
"I'm Regina's daughter."
"What? No way. That bitch has no other kid," he scoffs.
Bella snaps out her hand and grabs Neal by the neck. She says, "We're going to go outside, and you're going to stay quiet. When I tell you," she grins cheekily, "you will scream."
"Uh, Bella?" Ruby calls out.
"I will be back, Miss Lucas."
Bella drags Neal out of the diner and outside. She hears Ruby behind her but doesn't react. Bella meets Neal's gaze and jumps into the air. She uses a bit of magic for height and distance. As they hover above the town, Bella brings Neal closer and whispers in his ear, "Now. Here's how this will work. You so much as look at my family again, and yes, that includes Swan, I will remove every inch of skin from your bones with my bare hands. I am the second to last person in this fucking town you want to piss off, but I am the one you should fear the most because I am the type to ask for forgiveness, not permission. With that said," Bella pauses and smiles coldly, "now, you can scream."
Ruby freezes as Neal crashes onto a car and slides off the hood. He groans in pain and promptly passes out. Isabella falls shortly later, landing without a sound, and shoves her hands into her pockets.
"Is this a bad time to ask for breakfast?"
Regina enters the hospital with no clue as to why she was summoned. Rosalie trails behind her, the same bored look on her face, and Regina turns the corner into the waiting room. She stops at the door. Rosalie excuses herself as she ducks around Regina. Emmerson subtly sticks out his tongue as Rosalie passes, and the vampire bares her teeth at him. Regina snickers when Emmerson flinches. Rosalie sits on the chair behind the group and picks up a magazine. The blonde was playing personal assistant today while Isabella worked on a secret project. So far, Regina can easily see how Isabella fell for Rosalie, and the two bonded over their desire to keep their Swans in line. Distracted by her thoughts, Regina's unprepared for the slap to her cheek. Regina blinks and puts a hand on her face. She glares down at Snow.
"Did-did you just slap me?" Regina asks, disbelieving.
"You almost killed Neal!"
"What?"
"Oh please, as if you don't already know," Snow scoffs.
Regina glances at Emmerson and says, "Explain before I send your mother back to the Stone Age."
"Neal was apparently dropped from the sky onto a vehicle in Granny's parking lot. Whale says it's a miracle he's alive, but he'll be in a coma until the swelling in his brain goes down. However, based on the injuries, Whale believes someone with magic-
"What's with all the questions?" Snow hisses. "We all know Gold would never do this to his own son, and Emma would never hurt him. You're the only one left!"
"Gold would sell his son for half a bus ticket and a piece of gum," Regina deadpans. "And I have no interest in hurting Mr. Cassidy. Plus, I have been in my office all morning."
"Can anyone vouch for you?" Snow asks.
"Yes. The entire office, and why are you not at work?" Regina huffs. "I swear, the children of this town deserve a teacher who doesn't run off at odd hours!"
"They're at recess!"
"Because that's a perfect time to leave children unsupervised," Regina snaps.
"Enough, Snow!" Emmerson interrupts. He adjusts his belt and adds, "If Regina was at work all morning, then she had nothing to do with what happened."
"Who else in this town has magic strong enough to do that!"
Regina inwardly winces and changes the subject. "Why are you reacting so strongly to Neal being injured?" she asks.
"He's Emma's boyfriend!"
"Since when?"
"Neal and I are not together!" Emmerson exasperates.
"Well, not yet, but if you gave him another chance-
"I'm gay," Emmerson says bluntly.
Regina's eyes widen at the sudden announcement. Even Rosalie's caught off guard.
"W-what?" Snow whispers, paler than normal.
"I said, I'm gay. Also, my name is Emmerson, not Emma. I'm not interested in Neal or Hook. In fact, my heart belongs to someone else entirely. Someone I plan on spending the rest of my life with."
"Who?" David asks, shocked.
"N-no!" Snow exclaims. "This isn't- this- I-
Regina sees it coming before anyone else and steps to the side as Snow collapses in a dead faint. David falls next to her and shakes her.
"Snow? Snow!" he calls out.
"Get a grip, Charming. She's fine. Give her ten minutes, and I promise she'll be the annoying woman you claim to love," Regina sighs. She looks at Emmerson and adds, "Sheriff Swan, a word?"
Emmerson nods his head and follows Regina to a back hallway. Regina waits for Emmerson to turn the corner before she pushes him against the wall and crashes their lips together.