More than a roommate

Alex asked for a oneshot of Emma returning home from a day being sheriff battered and bruised forgetting that MM has a girls' night.

Emma wanted nothing more than to collapse on her comfortable bed. She loved being Storybrooke's sheriff…well, she loved that it provided a steady paycheque (and even more so that she got to rub Regina's nose in it). It had been a long day. It seemed like every day more and more low level thugs crawled out from the woodwork. Emma was highly suspicious that Regina had something to do with that, but she would never get any proof so there was no point on even thinking about it. She just had to deal with them and their disrespect towards authority figures.

As Emma turned her key in the door of Mary Margaret's apartment, she was so exhausted that she didn't hear the chatter coming from the other side until she had walked in. Emma had completely forgotten that her roommate had her friends around that evening.

"Hey Emma." Red greeted her. The waitress seemed to have a fondness for Emma. She grimaced at the dirt on Emma's face, the cuts on her hands and the tears in her clothes. "Rough day, huh?"

"You can say that again." Emma laughed awkwardly as she shrugged off her jacket. She winced as she did so. Her shoulders were so stiff. "Nothing I can't handle though. "I'll leave you girls to it. I'm going to hit the hay. Have a nice night." Emma said as she slowly headed up the stairs. Mary Margaret watched her roommate go, concerned. She didn't know what it was, but she felt oddly protective of Emma. She had done ever since she had first bailed her out of jail. Whatever it was, she didn't like that she was seeing Emma come home in states like this more and more.

"Excuse me for a moment, girls." Mary Margaret excused herself as she got up. "I'm just going to check she's alright." Mary Margaret then made her way up to Emma's bedroom.

"Sorry to interrupt your evening." Emma said as Mary Margaret popped her head around the door. "I won't disturb you again."

"Emma, this is your home too. You're free to come and go whenever you please." Mary Margaret assured her. "I'm not here to tell you off. Well, not for interrupting us. I'm here because I'm concerned. Emma, it's not right you having to take this. You haven't even got a depute right now to help! Maybe you should talk to Regina. I know she's not exactly trustworthy, but someone's better than no help at all…"

"Trust me, Mary Margaret, I've got this." Emma told her. "I've dealt with worse in Boston in my old job. This will all die down. They're just testing me because I'm new." Emma lied. She was still certain it was Regina behind this, but she couldn't worry Mary Margaret with that. Her roommate nodded uncertainly, knowing pushing Emma right now wasn't a good idea.

"Well…if you're sure Emma. Have a good night. I'll be downstairs if you need anything." Emma nodded with an amused smile. Mary Margaret could be so motherly at times. Emma guessed it was just the teacher coming out in her at home.