The next few days were pained to say the least. Emma and Regina had not spoken to each other since she left the mansion that morning and Tink had pretty much disappeared. There were still last minute details to figure out for the upcoming wedding and Snow was panicking.
"I just think something is off, David. Emma seems so distant ever since the bachelorette party. Regina hasn't spoken to anyone and the caterers have been calling me because she won't pick up her phone."
"I'm sure it's just last minute jitters. You remember what you were like on our wedding day, don't you?" David tried to reassure his wife.
"That was different! Regina was hell bent on destroying us and there was the issue of King George. No. I think something happened at the party." Snow mused.
"Well have you talked to Ruby?"
"She's keeping something from me for sure. She's only said hi and bye the last couple of days. I wish I hadn't gotten so drunk and fallen asleep."
David laughed. "Well you know Ruby isn't the greatest at keeping secrets. You should go talk to her again if you think something is up."
Snow smiled. "I think I will do just that!"
###
Ruby listened as Snow filled her in on the events of the last few days. She hadn't realised that Tink was missing and she began putting two and two together to fill in the blanks. She had seen Hook down by the docks this morning and he looked far from happy. She could smell the rum on him from six feet away. She scowled as the pieces fit together in her mind.
"...so I know something happened and you are all keeping me out of this and I want to know what is going on Ruby. Ruby? Are you even listening to me?" Snow ranted.
"Nothing happened Snow. We all just got a little tipsy and then we took the limo and dropped everyone home." Ruby smiled hoping Snow would be satisfied with her answer.
"Well I know Emma and Tink weren't in the limo for a start. Granny told me they left before. Did they have an argument?" Snow pressed on in determination.
"No! Tink had already left before that." Ruby responded, thinking out loud.
"Before what? Just, tell me Ruby. She is my daughter and I want her to have the perfect day. If her and Regina are fighting then..."
Something clicked in Ruby and she bolted up straight. "They aren't fighting, Snow! I just remembered something. I have to go. Chill ok! Everything is going to be fine!"
Snow sat in the diner with her mouth open in shock as Ruby leapt from her seat and ran out. Nobody told her anything in this town.
###
"Ruby? To what do I owe the pleasure? Let me guess, you've come to drag me into the twenty-first century!" Regina snarked on the doorstep.
Ruby cocked her eyebrow. "I know about Tink and I just wanna say I think it's really, really shitty of her."
Regina considered the statement and backed up to let Ruby pass, which she did. The pair walked into the study and Regina sat poised ready for the inevitable.
"What is it you think you know?"
"Tink left early at the party and I didn't think about it before, which was pretty stupid, but obviously she went to Hook. Emma must have caught them and come over here and revenge fucked you and it sucks. I thought she was better than that."
Regina raised an eyebrow at both the choice of words and the accuracy of the accusations. "What exactly is your point, Ruby?"
"My point is that I'm sorry. Jees, you must be feeling like shit right now but don't. I know she wants to be with you Regina and Hook is just her little safety net. You know he's drunk off his face all the time and nobody has seen Emma or Tink for three days now? Snow knows there's something up and honestly, I'm really worried about the fact that you two are just pretending like you don't have a connection and hiding from each other and the rest of town."
Regina laughed. "I am not hiding! I've been very busy trying to come up with a way of destroying the Black Fairy and Gold's devil spawn! Did you ever think that Miss Swan may well just be doing the very same thing? So she can have a shot at her happy ever after?"
Ruby growled. "He is not her happy ever after and you know it! And what? We are all just supposed to show up to this ridiculous wedding with fake smiles and pretend like Tink isn't fucking Hook and you aren't fucking Emma?"
"I'm not fucking Emma!" Regina shouted, losing her patience and her composure. "Not anymore. And yes. That is exactly what we are going to do, Ruby! Because we are her friends and we support her decisions, no matter how foolish they may be. Because she deserves one God damned day in her life where everything is perfect."
###
Snow knocked on the door. Emma took forever to get from the couch to answer it. Her tremors had been getting progressively worse over the last few days.
"Emma? Oh honey, why didn't you call me?" Snow took one look at her daughter and her maternal instincts took over. She was clearly suffering tremendously. "Why didn't Killian call me? Where is he?"
"It's fine Mom. Hook is on the ship. They come and go. I'm dealing with it." Emma said shakily.
"No you aren't. You don't have to deal with this by yourself you know." She sat down with her daughter and took her hands in her own. "What's going on darling? Why are you and Regina not speaking? Did she say something to you about Killian?"
She had tried not to pry considering the poor blonde's current state but it was in her nature and she had the strongest feeling that Regina should be with her right now. Especially at such a critical time. They always seemed to find strength in each other's company.
"Regina and I are fine. Everything is fine. Just busy." Emma lied.
"Are you nervous about the wedding?"
The tremors got stronger. Emma grabbed her arm to try to stop it.
"Tell me what I can do, Emma. What will make this better?" Snow pleaded, desperate to help her.
Emma wasn't in control of her words or actions. She blanked out from the visions and lost consciousness.
Snow dialled the only number she could think of. "Regina. You need to get here now! Emma is in a really bad way."
Ruby saw the panic in the older brunette's eyes and prepared herself to leave as Regina said, "I'm on my way." She hung up and turned to Ruby. "It's Emma. She's having a fit. We need to go, now." She grabbed Ruby's arm and transported them both to Emma's living room.
Snow blinked and wondered why Ruby was there but was too concerned right now with her daughter.
Regina spoke as she kneeled on the floor in front of the trembling blonde. "How long had she been like this, Snow?" She placed a hand on her forehead and gently stroked her friend's brow with her thumb.
"She was shaking when I got here about ten minutes ago but she's been like this for about five minutes before you got here. What's wrong with her Regina? Should I call Whale?"
Regina wasn't paying any more attention to Snow. She jumped up on the couch and placed Emma's back against her chest and whispered in her ear, all the time stroking her forehead, "Emma, it's not real. Come back to me. You're safe. Wake up."
Ruby and Snow stood back watching as the older woman coaxed Emma back to reality. Emma began to come out of it in a panic. She turned into the brunette's embrace unaware of present company and tears stained her cheeks. "Regina, I'm not strong enough. Please, help me, please!"
Regina shushed her self consciously. She wished she could take this pain away but present company wouldn't allow for that. She held her and soothed her until the cries became less frequent and her breathing stabilized. "You don't have to be strong now. Just breathe. You're okay."
