Emma woke up by the alarm on her phone. Not knowing right away where she was. She heard a disgruntled voice, "If you dare to hit snooze and I'll have to hear your alarm a second time, I'll kick you out of the bed!".

"You wouldn't dare!", Emma answered, barely awake and yawning. She sat up. It looked like Regina was getting out of bed also, so Emma quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her close for a kiss. "Good morning sweetie!", she mumbled between the kissing.
"We'll see how sweet I am if you come late on your first day! I'm your boss, remember!", the mayor muttered. "True, too bad my boss might be the reason why I'm late though…".
"Oh no, you're not putting this one on me!", Regina pulled away, leaving the blonde pouting. "Come on, Emma. Bathroom is there, freshen up, dress up and meanwhile I'll make you some coffee downstairs.".
Emma grinned, "See? You're a sweetie!" and quickly added, "If you want to, at least!". Regina turned her eyes while Emma got out of the bed. Not expecting the blonde jumping back in and pulling her in to attack her with kisses. Regina snickered and pushed the blonde away, "Bathroom, Swan!", she said imperatively while she pointed in the direction of the bathroom and quickly left the bed while she was out of Emma's reach to fulfill her promise and make coffee downstairs for the new deputy.

When Emma entered the kitchen, all dressed up, the coffee was the last thing on her mind. It was a priceless sight to see Regina that relaxed and pure in the morning, without make up, in her bathrobe, sipping coffee while leaning with her back against the counter. She would say it was cute, but after the "sweetie- debacle" earlier in the morning, she wisely kept her mouth shut and kept it for herself. But the shit- eating grin, that she could not hide. Regina poured her a cup of coffee when she noticed the blonde and pushed it into her hands, "Drink up, I don't want my deputy falling asleep on the first day!". Emma finished her coffee quite fast and kissed the mayor before she left. "See you later, sweetie!", she said and fled out of the kitchen, not seeing Regina turning her eyes because of the stupid nickname, but also smiling affectionately.

Graham was asleep after his desk when Emma entered the sheriff station. She felt the inner pull to pull a prank on him, but decided against it. However, she still was going to make her first day memorable, at least. She stood in the door opening, finding herself quite the genius, "Incomiiiiing!", she yelled. Which startled Graham, made him stumble of off his chair and duck underneath his desk. When realizing nothing had happened, he stuck out his head above his desk, to see his new deputy lean against the door frame, shaking with laughter and trying to keep it silent. "What the fuck, Swan!", Graham grumbled. Now Graham was aware he was being pranked on, Emma's laughter filled the room. "Not that I don't enjoy being the center point of a joke, but what the fuck!", Graham said trying to keep in his own laughter, since the laughing of the blonde seemed to be contagious. He stood up, "Payback is gonna be a bitch, you know!", he grinned. The deputy snorted, "I expect nothing less!", she said. Graham suggested she would just follow him through what he did during the day, since Emma hinted he certainly had his sleep that night. He just knew she would tease him relentlessly if he went home now, after spending the night sleeping on his desk. So Emma followed him around and got to learn on the spot what being a deputy was all about. She preferred to learn that way, putting theory into practice immediately just made more sense to her.

In the mansion, after Emma had left, Regina had also dressed up and after having breakfast with Henry and walking him to school, she entered the town hall. When she reached her office she noticed Sidney standing in front of her door, awaiting her. She stepped past him, so she could open the door to her office and he followed her in. "What do you want, Sidney?", she asked him exasperated. He pulled out an envelope from his coat, "Just wanted you to see this, your new deputy feels quite at home here already!". Regina frowned, wondering what kind of trick he would use now to smear the blondes reputation. She pulled the envelope out of his hands and opened it, to see the blonde and Graham sitting quite cosy in Granny's, realizing this must have been the moment when she agreed to be a deputy. She never expected them to get along that well, but she knew she didn't need wanted her nose to be rubbed in any companionship the blonde would have. She did not needed to be jealous, she repeatedly told herself. With a scowl, she turned towards the reporter and told him to get out of her office. When he didn't seem to be moving, she yelled, "Get out and only come back when you actually have something to show me!". The reporter gritted his teeth, "Very well, then!", he sneered. And turned to leave the mayor's office.

At lunchtime, Emma rushed into Granny's to order food to pick up for Graham and herself, when she noticed the schoolteacher calmly eating her lunch. She walked towards her table and asked her if the offer for a roommate was still on the table, since she had decided on staying in the town. Mary Margareth smirked and nodded fervently, since she still had food in her mouth. "Oh, another thing! Henry asked me to ask you, but is there a possibility where you can read something to a guy in the hospital?" Mary Margareth frowned, swallowing the food that had been chewed on enough now, "Why?". Emma smiled apologetically, "You know Henry still believes in the curse, can you indulge me on this one?".
Mary Margareth seemed to be doubting, so Emma added, "Please?". It seemed to do the trick and Mary Margareth glared, "Alright, I'll read something to him. But another thing, when would you be moving in? There's a room upstairs that I don't use and it's possible to move in anytime. Even today, if you want!", she sniggered. The blonde decided that that was not a bad idea and they would meet after her shift. The same time Ruby waved, "Your order is ready! With extra fries for the both of you!". The deputy said her goodbye's and left with the food.

After her shift the blonde moved her stuff to Mary Margareth's loft and when all the unpacking was done and they had some food inside their bellies, they settled in the sofa, watching some movie and bonding. All of a sudden, Emma's phone ringed. She apologized and went upstairs to her room picked up the phone, it was Regina, asked how her first day went. "You're still alive and in one piece? If you're not, I swear, I'll kill Graham!", she muttered.

Emma grinned, "Such a sweetie…".

Regina sighed, "You could just answer the question, Swan!".

"Yeah, I could. Still alive and kicking, madam Mayor!"

Regina smirked, "So, tell me all about your first day!".

Emma started by talking about the first impression she had made on Graham, by pulling a stunt on him. Which made Regina laugh quite hard and Emma realized she just adored the sound of the mayor's genuine laugher. She also told her she expected some payback from him at a certain time. And that she lived with Mary Margareth now.

"You're living with her?", Regina uttered.

"Yeah, I seem to like her. She's quite friendly. But the bird- thing though, that's kinda disturbing."

"Why didn't you told me you were on the lookout for something?"

"I could've…". Emma said, "I know, I forgot… But it's not like we're ready to live together, right? I, I mean, we should talk first, see where we're going with this. Whatever this is, it needs to develop some more. Don't you think so?"

The mayor cleared her throat, realizing that Emma was right, but that didn't mean she took it that well, she didn't like the feeling to be shoved aside, even if it was unintentionally.

"We should talk indeed!", she grumbled.

"Hey, don't! I should've told you and I'm sorry! There's no excuse. Just know, I'm sorry. Can we talk tomorrow?"

"Yeah!", the mayor swallowed, "Come see me at town hall when your shift is over."

"I'll be there. I've missed you, you know?"

Regina softly smiled, "I sort off missed you too, deputy!"

"What the Hell? Call me Emma outside office hours, will you!", Emma snickered. That woman was impossible.

"Gotta go. I need put Henry into bed, Em Ma…"

"Kiss him goodnight for me too, will you?"

"I will, goodnight Emma."

"Goodnight Regina."

When the blonde returned downstairs, her eyes catches the sight of a note on the table. It was from Mary Margareth, to let her know that she was going to read to the John Doe in the hospital. Since she had the feeling that the call Emma had took would go on for quite a while. And that she would be back after an hour or so. Emma smiled, thanking her friend silently, at least Henry would be off her back about this now. Emma decided that she would go to sleep also, following Henry's example. Since she needed to be early in the sheriff station again.

In the hospital, as soon as Mary Margareth had left the building, after reading to the comatose guy for almost a full hour, machines started bleeping. Giving off signs that someone started to wake up…