"Oh look who finally decided to put the books down and come have some fun." August teases Regina as she reaches the booth her group of friends are at.
"Oh please." Belle rolls her eyes. "She's only here because Emma's here."
Regina tries and failes not to blush. She doesn't even try to defend herself against Belle's words because she knows it true. Regina rarely goes out. Between Henry, school and work, Regina barely has any time to herself. Going out with friends is a rare treat. So yeah she made an extra effort to try to get out knowing that Emma was going out too. She only has two more weeks before Emma will be heading back off to school.
"Shut it, B." Ruby jumps to Regina's rescue. "What are you having Mills? First rounds on Killian."
"Wait. What?"
The table burst into cheers and laughter.
"That was fun!" Emma says as she follows her group of friends out into the parking lot.
Emma was able to round up her small group of friends for a day of fun. This is the first time she was able to get all of them in one room at the same time since being home. They met up and went to an early dinner before hitting the town fair.
"It was." Belle grins. "I can't remember the last time we all been to one together."
"Defiantly been awhile." August leans against the driver side of his car.
"Ooookay. Can we stop being lame for like two minutes." Ruby claps. "What are we doing next?"
"Going home." Everyone turns and looks at Regina. "Well...I know I am. It's late."
"Oh come on Regina, Henry's safe and asleep at the Charmings. You can stay out a little later."
"I have work in the morning." Regina reminds her friends.
"Well I guess we have to let you go then." August swoops in for a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Emma stands back as one by one everyone hug and wish Regina a good night.
"I'm going to walk Regina to her car." Emma tells the group as she follows Regina further into the parking lot.
"What do you guys think you are going to do?" Regina ask once they make it to her car.
Emma shrugs. "Not much else to do." Emma silently watches as Regina unlock her car doors and throw her purse onto the passenger seat. "Are you going to be okay? I can come with you."
Regina rolls her eyes and leans against the car door. "I'll be fine Emma. I'm just going to go shower and sleep."
Emma sighs. She hates that Regina works so much and doesn't really make anytime to be social. Yeah she knows that the brunette does things with Ruby every now and then. But not nearly enough for Emma to not worry about Regina isolating herself from society.
"Fine." They share a tight hug before Regina gets in the car and drive away.
"Couldn't talk the Queen into staying out later?"
Emma punches Killian in the arm. "Shut up."
"Yeah," Ruby punches him in his other arm. "She probably just wants a few hours to herself." Either way it's none of his business and the best friends are making sure he knows that.
The next ten minutes is spent discussing what they can get up to before they decided to just call it a night.
After saying goodnight to everyone Emma debates on rather she should go to Regina's or home. Thinking about Ruby's comment about Regina wanting some time alone, Emma decides to just head home.
-/-/-
Emma is sitting at the kitchen table when David, her father, steps into the kitchen.
"Good morning kid." He places a kiss on her forehead before moving to the coffee maker. "Thanks!" He grins when he sees she has a fresh pot waiting on him.
"Welcome." Emma just sits back and watch her dad go about fixing up the plate of breakfast Emma made this morning before her mother, Mary Margaret, left for an appointment this morning.
"So what do you have planned for today?" David says around a mouthful of eggs.
Emma just shrugs. "Was thinking that we can do something after mom gets home from her appointment."
Emma rolls her eyes when her dad spoon stops inches away from his mouth. David flops his mouth open and shut as if he is in complete shock. "Really dad?"
David lets out a few chuckles before shoving the spoon into his mouth.
"That sounds good to me. I'm sure your mother would like that." He takes a sip of his coffee while eyeing Emma. "Everything okay with the girls?"
"They're fine." Emma knows that when he says the girls, he is referring to Ruby and Regina.
Emma kind of feels bad that her dad is worried that the only reason she might be spending time with her parents is because her friends are unavailable. It actually makes her feel worse when she thinks about her conversation she had last night with Regina.
Flashback
"I was thinking I could take Henry to the park tomorrow."
"Henry will be over Ashley's tomorrow." Regina's says from the other end. "I picked up a shift at the diner."
"Oh." Emma pauses. She had just assumed Regina would want them all to spend tomorrow together since it's close to her last day in town. They already didn't get to spend today together because of Regina's work obligations. "Um...well I guess I'll come over later then."
Emma frowns when she hears Regina sigh on the other end. "Maybe not tomorrow night. I'm going to be tired and I don't wanna get Henry railed up before bed." Regina's knows that if Emma comes over that Henry would want to play all night and be a nightmare to get to bed.
"That's fine. You can rest and I can put Henry to bed." Emma argues. This is the second day she feels like Regina has brushed her off. She's trying to figure out why. Except these last few days, the whole times she's been home they've been just fine.
"Emma." Another sigh. "You need to spend sometime with your parents. I love having you here but I'm sure Mary Margaret and David want to spend time with you too."
Emma stomach sinks. Not only has Regina pointed out the fact that Emma hasn't spent all that much time with her parents but the way Regina makes it seems like she's being smothering, really bothers her. Maybe she is.
"Yeah, I guess you are right."
End of flashback
"I'm sorry dad."
"For what?" David frowns.
"For not being around these last few months."
Emma jumps a little in shock when David just lets out a deep belly laugh.
"Kid, we know you missed your friends." David starts. "We got to see you for Christmas and they didn't. Plus it's not like you haven't spent anytime with your old folks. Don't worry kid. We don't feel neglected at all."
Emma takes in her dads words before getting up and moving around the table to hug him. "I'm going to rest a little before mom comes home. Come get me when you guys are ready?"
"Will do."
/-/
"What are you doing here?" Emma frowns and Regina tries to correct herself. "I meant I though you were spending the day with your parents."
"Oh please," Ruby comes up behind Emma. "The Charming's go to bed at like 6pm." She jokes as she pushes passed both girls. "Henry look what I have!"
Emma comes more into the apartment when Regina moves out of the way to threaten Ruby if she hypes Henry up.
"How was work?" Emma tries to break the tension between them.
It was Ruby's idea to come over to Regina's. After hangout with her parents, she called up Ruby when the Charming's decided to call it a night. They had hung out with Jasmine for a little before Ruby suggested going to spend the night at Regina's. Emma tried to explain how Regina didn't feel like having company but Ruby just rolled her eyes and drove over there anyway. Now Emma feels awkward sitting next to Regina knowing that the brunette really didn't want them there. Or at least not her.
"Fine." Regina says before glaring at Ruby. "No Ruby. He needs to be in bed in the next thirty minutes." She says when Ruby tries to sneak Henry some candy.
"Sorry buddy." Ruby pulls Henry into a tight hug. "You can have it tomorrow when Emma and I take you out to play."
Henry whoops happily and says something that they barely understand but nod anyway.
"Come here bud." Henry climbs off of Ruby's lap and runs over to his favorited blonde. "Is it okay if I put him to bed? Read to him a little?"
"Shut up, Swan." Regina rolls her eyes and gives Emma a sweet smile. No matter what's happening between her and Emma, she can't resist how much she loves Emma's relationship with her son. "Go."
Emma lets Regina hug and kiss the other girls goodnight before leading Henry out of the room.
After three stories Henry finally falls asleep. Emma almost screams when she turns from shutting the door and Regina is standing there.
Regina silently grabs the blondes hand and pulls her into her room.
"Do you want us to leave?" Emma asks once they've been standing in silence for a few minutes.
"Of course not." Regina breaks out of whatever daze she was in. "I'm sorry I've been a bitch to you. You don't deserve that."
Emma nods. She's not quite sure what to say. Regina's been so hot and cold with her lately. It's like they are back to the way things were before her visit.
"Can I ask why? Like what's up?" Emma starts. "Is it something I did?"
Regina shakes her head. "No." She moves into Emma's arms. Emma feels Regina's arms circle around her waist and head rest against her shoulder. "I'm just going to miss you."
Emma wraps Regina up and just hold her. "It's okay. Lets not worry about the right now, okay?"
Regina nods. "Come on." Emma's leans back and kisses Regina cheek before pulling the brunette back out into the living room where Ruby is spread out on the futon, channel surfing. "Lets just enjoy tonight."