A/N: Thank you everyone for the responses so far! I seemed to have shocked a lot of people by making Ruby Killian's ex-girlfriend instead of Milah. You will see some of my reasons in this chapter and in later ones. You also may have some concerns after reading this chapter, so please bear with me, there is a method to my madness.
For those of you who have been patiently waiting for a Set My Soul on Fire update, I promise I'm working on that one next. Thanks for your patience!
Emma has a sinking feeling in her chest as she glances between the top of Ruby's head and Mary Margaret, narrowing her eyes at them. "Wait, you're not asking me to…" Her words trail off, face draining of color when the guilt-ridden look Mary Margaret gives her is all the confirmation she needs. It doesn't take a genius to figure out why they summoned her. Ruby doesn't need another shoulder to cry on, or another pair of ears to listen as she spouts off her tale of woe and blabbers on about how badly she screwed up and wants her boyfriend back. No, what she needs is a freaking miracle. She needs Miss Fix-It. But Emma refuses to help her. She's been on the other side, and she knows there's no coming back from this, especially if this guy, Killian, is as perfect as Ruby says he is. If that's the case, it won't take him long to find someone he's better suited for.
Ruby lifts her head, wiping her tears with the tissue. The hopeful glint in her eyes further confirms Emma's speculation. "MM here says you're good at getting couples back together, so I was wondering if you could help me get my Killy Bear back."
Killy Bear? Really? Emma refrains from rolling her eyes as she stands from the couch, shaking her head, and waving her hands in refusal. "Absolutely not."
Hope and optimism are immediately extinguished from Ruby's eyes. "But why not? This is what you do, isn't it? You save relationships."
"Yes, I save relationships… but only if they're worth saving." Emma immediately regrets her statement as soon as it leaves her lips. She hadn't meant to say it so harshly.
Anger replaces Ruby's sadness as she rises from the sofa, scowling at Emma. "Our relationship is worth saving."
Emma narrows her eyes in suspicion. "Let me ask you something… and please don't take this the wrong way; I'm just trying to figure how things went wrong, okay?"
Ruby nods and crosses her arms, her features softening as she waits for Emma to continue.
"If Killian is such a great guy, then why did you feel the need to…" she pauses, fumbling for the right words to avoid offending her.
"Why did I feel the need to cheat?"
Emma shrugs. "Well… yeah."
Ruby's shoulders slump and she turns around, pacing the length of the room as Mary Margaret eyes her in concern.
"I was drunk, okay? I wasn't thinking clearly. Killy was working, and I was hanging out at his place with his roommate, Victor. We ended up drinking a little too much and kissed. Pretty soon things got out of hand and we ended up in Vic's bed. I didn't mean for it to happen, it just did."
Emma's eyes widen, her mouth falling open. "Wait a minute, you cheated on him with his roommate?!" Oh no, this will be impossible to repair.
"Well, technically they're not roommates anymore. Killian kicked him out." Ruby's bottom lip quivers, and she cries again. "If I could take it back, I would."
She sighs deeply in her hands to avoid the stares Mary Margaret and Ruby are giving her. This woman is obviously trying to put her on a guilt trip, but Emma refuses to be pressured into this. She lowers her hands and joins them together as she steps closer to Ruby, looking her dead in the eye. "Look, even if I did this, even if I made Killian run back into your arms again, how do I know you won't make the same mistake?" If there's one thing Emma doesn't do, it's waste her time.
Ruby shakes her head furiously. "I promise, I won't. The truth is, I'm in love with Killian, and I was too afraid to tell him."
Emma arches a brow. She doesn't understand why Ruby thought sleeping with someone else would fix anything. "So, instead you slept with his roommate?"
Ruby looks like she's going to fall apart again. "I know it doesn't make sense, but I didn't realize what a huge mistake I made until I lost the best thing that ever happened to me." She lunges toward Emma and grabs her hands. "All I want is a second chance, Emma. Isn't that what Miss Fix-It is all about—giving couples second chances?"
"Well, yes, but I only help couples when the client possesses true love. If that's not the case, then the relationship isn't worth saving."
"But it is, Emma, I promise, it is. Just ask MM." She turns her head, seeking support from Mary Margaret, who rises from the couch and approaches them. "You saw how happy I was, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did, Ruby, but Emma's right. If Killian gives you a second chance, you can't squander it."
"I won't." Ruby reverts her eyes to Emma. "I'll even pay double your usual rate."
Emma sighs at the offer. Now if she says no, she'll look like an ass. Because what decent human being would refuse to help someone save their relationship for money, especially if they're being paid double? "Mary Margaret, can I speak to you for a moment?" she asks her, pulling her hands from Ruby's grip.
"Yes, of course."
They step into her's and David's room with the door closed. "Why would you tell Ruby I could do this for her? Weren't you the one who said I should do something else? And besides, you know this particular case hits too close to home for me."
Mary Margaret's eyes pool with guilt. "I did tell you that, and I know this request may not be an easy one for you considering your history with Neal, so if you don't want to do it, I would understand."
Ah, yes, reverse psychology. So that's the card she wants to play? Emma narrows her eyes at Mary Margaret as she crosses her arms, giving her friend a telling look, letting her know she's onto her little strategy. "So, it's okay if I'm Miss Fix-It, as long as I'm helping your friend?"
Mary Margaret sighs and places her hands gently on Emma's upper arms. "Look, you don't know Ruby like I do. She's a good person, Emma. Just because she did a terrible thing, doesn't mean she's a terrible person. It doesn't mean she doesn't deserve a second chance."
"But how would you feel if David cheated on you? Would you want to give him a second chance?"
Mary Margaret doesn't even flinch. "David would never cheat on me."
"I know he wouldn't, but that's not the point." She sighs when Mary Margaret wrinkles her brows in confusion. "Okay, bad example. What if Neal wanted a second chance with me? Would you want me to take him back?"
Mary Margaret frowns. "Of course not, but that's different. Neal's an asshole. I was against your relationship with him from the beginning, in case you forgot."
"Yeah, I remember very clearly," Emma answers sullenly. Mary Margaret was so upset when she found out her best friend had not only gone to Las Vegas to get married without inviting her, but that she married the man she'd been warning Emma about since day one. Their friendship was almost destroyed because of it. Emma didn't want to hear about all the reasons Neal was wrong for her, so she stopped talking to her best friend. Then she found out Neal had cheated the night before their wedding day, and she came running to Mary Margaret on her knees, begging for forgiveness.
"Ruby's not like Neal. She's actually remorseful. She loves Killian, she just lost her way, Emma. There's a difference between Neal and other people who've messed up. They realized they messed up and try to be better, but Neal? He'll continue causing destruction in his path."
Mary Margaret's not wrong there.
"But it still doesn't make Ruby's actions okay. She should've known better."
"Look, Emma, if I didn't have faith in Ruby, I never would've recommended you to her. But I do have faith in her, and I know she can turn this around if Killian gives her another chance. But he won't even return her calls or texts, and he's never home when she goes to his place. So she needs your help. Please, Emma."
She takes a moment to mull it over. If Ruby were any other person, if Emma didn't trust Mary Margaret completely, then she would never consider doing this. And her friend is right. It will take a lot more than a phone call, or a visit, or an apology to win Killian back. It will take time and some intervention.
Emma gives a slight nod and a tight-lipped smile. "You're lucky I trust your judgment, or rather, Ruby's lucky I trust your judgment."
Mary Margaret's face lights up like a Christmas tree. "Does that mean you'll do it?"
Emma takes a deep, heavy breath in defeat. "Yes, I'll do it." She points a finger at her friend. "But I'm doing it for you."
Mary Margaret claps her hands and bounces up and down before pulling Emma into a hug. "Thank you, Emma, you're the best!"
Emma instantly regrets her decision; she doesn't have a good feeling about this whole situation. Normally, her clients are women with good, honest intentions who just need a little light to guide them, but a cheater? Ruby's gonna need a whole lot more than a flashlight. She's gonna need the freaking sun.
When she and Mary Margaret return to the living room, Ruby is sitting on the edge of her seat with her elbows resting on her knees and her hands folded together like she's praying. When she hears the two women enter the room, she springs up from her seat, her hands still linked together under her chin as she awaits the verdict.
Emma sucks in a deep breath. "I'll do it."
Ruby's eyes light up and she grins from ear to ear and throws her arms around Emma. "Thank, you, thank you, thank you!" she chants excitedly.
Emma breaks the hug and pulls away before the woman ends up kneeling before her and kissing her feet. "Before I do this, you need to know how this works." She strides over to the door and grabs her purse, looking back at Ruby. "Meet me at my office tomorrow afternoon with a list of things I should know about Killian, and we'll discuss the details." She glances at Mary Margaret and asks, "You'll give her the address?"
She nods. "Of course."
"What kind of things?" Ruby inquires before Emma gets a chance to head out the door.
"You know, like his interests, hobbies, his likes, his dislikes and pet peeves. What's his favorite place to eat, his favorite movies, things like that?"
"Okay, I'll be there at noon."
Emma leaves the apartment, shutting the door and leaning against it, expelling a heavy sigh. What the hell did she sign up for?
Later that night, as Emma brushes her teeth, clad in her pajamas, she's trying to come up with a plan. She needs something concrete, something that will top Ruby's betrayal. Her usual tactics involve doing the exact opposite of what her clients had done that presumably caused the breakup. And Emma always goes to extreme measures to make the men realize that what they had wasn't so bad after all. Her goal is to make them appreciate their girlfriend's qualities, and their flaws. But Emma has a feeling that showing Killian she's overly honest and monogamous will not do the trick. Monogamy is an appealing trait for someone who wants a monogamous relationship, and obviously Killian does. And she's not trying to make him fall in love with her, she's trying to make him realize that Ruby's admirable qualities supersede her flaws. There are worse things Ruby could've done, Emma supposes. So she focuses on those scenarios. Ruby could've had an ongoing affair behind Killian's back, or she could've been secretly married. Or she could've contracted some STI and gave it to Killian, like Neal did to Emma. The asshole.
Emma spits out the toothpaste and rinses her mouth, watching as the water and light blue foam swirl into the drain, anger seeping over her. Ha, maybe she could take a page from Neal's book to help her with this situation. She could get inside Neal's head, think how he does, or at least how he did when he decided to sleep with that hooker.
She sets down the toothbrush, heads to her bedroom and goes to her closet. Taking a deep breath, she slides open the bypass doors, trying not to let thoughts of Neal make her sad or miserable. It was ten years ago and shouldn't still affect her, but sometimes those feelings seem to creep up on her unexpectedly and rattle her soul.
Emma gets on her tiptoes and reaches for a shoebox on the shelf toward the back. She pulls it down and brings it to the bed, removing the lid. If she ever needs a reminder of what Neal did to her, a reminder to never trust anyone ever again, all she has to do is look in this box. She hasn't been able to open it in years though because it always makes her furious and start sobbing. She holds up the dreamcatcher they found in a motel room a family had left behind right before Neal proposed to her. She wishes the dreamcatcher actually could replace her nightmares with good dreams. She wishes she could forget everything bad that ever happened to her, every memory that still haunts her.
She tosses it on the bed and goes through some other items and picks them up, studying each item as they bring back bittersweet memories. There's the album, Up from Below by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, which included their song, Home, a song she and Neal had listened to on repeat and sang along to while driving to Las Vegas. And there's the magnet they got in Las Vegas that reads Home is Wherever I'm with You, and the dice Neal rolled at the casino the night before their wedding. He'd said she was his good luck charm, and they were planning on using the money he'd won to make a down payment on a house. Their house. Instead, he'd squandered some of the cash on a prostitute after Emma headed back to their hotel suite and went to bed with a headache. And yet, her wedding gift from Neal was a key chain he stole from a gas station. Tears prick her eyes as she lets the dice fall from her hands and picks up the keychain, fingering the swan pendant.
Reverting her eyes to the items in the shoebox, she spots the framed wedding picture and sets down the keychain to pick it up. She was wearing a simple white dress and a crown of yellow buttercup roses, and he was wearing a blue suit jacket with jeans. They were both smiling so big, they were showing teeth. She had been so sure he was the one when she married him. Little did she know how completely wrong and stupid she was. Little did she know of the betrayal and deceit hidden behind his smile. She didn't know until it was too late. Until her dreams were shattered, until her marriage had ended with an annulment and a case of the Clap.
Emma's blood boils under her skin as her fingers tighten around the frame, her body vibrating with anger. She doesn't even know why she still has this fucking photograph. Hot tears stream down her cheeks as all the rage and emotions she's buried for so long erupt to the surface. "Fucking asshole!" She lifts the frame and retracts her arm, flinging it across the room.
The frame hits the wall with a clatter and lands on the carpet. Emma walks over and picks it up, the pad of her finger tracing the crack in the glass as she studies it through bleary eyes. She tightens her jaw and breathes heavily through her nose, trying to stave off the urge to break down and cry on her bedroom floor. She often wonders how her life would've gone differently if Neal hadn't turned out to be a fucking scumbag, if he had actually been the man she thought he was. Maybe they'd be living in a big house with children running around the backyard like they had once talked about, and maybe they'd be happy. But instead, she's living alone with a hole in her heart, still mourning over the betrayal of a man she hates with every fiber of her being.
Happily ever after, my ass.
Emma marches to her hallway closet, opens her toolbox and pulls out a hammer, gripping the handle firmly in her hand. She sets the photo on her dresser and wonders how good it would feel to smash the damn photo, how amazing it would feel to watch the glass shatter like her heart had shattered ten years ago. Judging by that photo alone, they look happy, with their sickly sweet smiles and googly eyes. They appear to be your typical newlyweds looking forward to the journey ahead. You wouldn't be able to tell that the groom was about to destroy the bride's life and rip her heart to pieces.
As Emma lifts the hammer above her head, prepared to obliterate the photo and all of her memories of Neal, a thought strikes her like a lightning bolt, and she lowers the hammer, staring at the photo with wide eyes. The photo of how happy they looked—how happy they could've been.
What if the answer she's been searching for is staring her in the face?
She wipes the tears from her cheeks and sets down the hammer to pick up the photograph. She's thought of something that will not only top Ruby's betrayal but make Killian hate Emma with every fiber of his being, like how she feels about Neal. And no, she's not thinking about giving him the Clap. No, what she's thinking is much worse. In fact, she should kick herself for even thinking about doing this. And not just because it's evil, but because she has to swallow her pride and do something she would never in a million years think she'd be doing ever again.
It takes some effort and time, but after some Facebook stalking and Instagram lurking and after private messaging some former friends, she's able to extract a phone number.
She changes her mind four times, she reconsiders her plan about nine times and almost chickens out about twelve times the next morning before Ruby is supposed to be here. She's doing this for Mary Margaret, though—her best friend in the entire world. So she finally finds the courage and presses the phone icon.
Emma sucks in a long, shaky breath, praying he doesn't answer. If he doesn't answer, then that would be that. She'll have no choice but to think of another plan.
"Hello?"
Fuck. He answered. Emma squeezes her eyes shut, immediately regretting this whole idea.
"Who is this?" he demands impatiently.
She opens her eyes and takes a soundless breath. "Um… hi," she says, her voice shaking.
There's silence... silence... silence…. and more silence before he finally responds.
"Ems?"
The nickname makes her stomach churn, and she cringes at the sound of his voice. "Listen, I'm just going to skip the fake pretenses and get right to the point." She takes another breath and pushes down the hatred she feels, she pushes down the anger and loathing and pure disgust, and everything else the thought of him conjures up, and she's able to say the one thing she never thought she'd ever say to him after what happened ten years ago. And she says it in a firm, rigid tone. "I need a favor. You owe me that at least."
Half an hour later, Ruby arrives promptly at Emma's house.
"Thank you for the list, it's very helpful," Emma remarks after skimming through it, her nose twisting as she recalls the unnecessary details, "although I didn't really need to know he's a God in bed or that he likes when you nibble his ear when he's fucking you, or when you massage his balls," Emma groans.
Ruby shrugs and smirks shamelessly. "Sorry, I got a little carried away talking about my Killy Bear. Besides, you said you needed to know everything."
"Yeah, everything that would help me gather information about him and the relationship," Emma clarifies, "not his penis size or sex fetishes." Seven and a half inches is a good size, though, she has to admit. But if he's as good in bed as Ruby says he is, then why would she need another dick? She wonders how big the hot British guy's dick is.
She clears her throat, shaking the thought from her mind and sets the list aside, joining her hands together on her desk. She really needs to get laid. "So, here's how it usually works—I go on a date with the ex-boyfriend and use what I know about him to act like the perfect woman for him, right before I make his night a living hell and make him so repelled by me, he runs screaming back to the ex-girlfriend."
Emma stands up and walks around the room, reciting the typical spiel. "Research shows that whatever reason a man has for dumping a woman begins with doubt. Whether they're doubting the relationship is as exciting as it was in the beginning, that it's better than being single, or that he can't do better. But whatever his reason, chances are he's already fantasizing about another woman who presents different possibilities, or he's already with her. Sure, he'll try to do the noble thing and blame himself, saying things like it's not a good time in his life or he's not ready for a relationship, but deep down they want the same thing—another woman—because he feels like something's missing in the relationship." She goes back to her chair and sits down, crossing her legs and joining her hands on the desk. "That's where I come in. I show the man exactly what he's missing."
Ruby nods, indicating she's following along so far, even though Emma's usual spiel may not be all that relevant to her.
"But, this is a special case because, in order for you to get Killian back, he has to regain your trust. That may not happen in the month before he leaves for England. So, I'll be his distraction. For four weeks, I'll be the perfect girlfriend, and he'll want to stay here in Storybrooke. But his world will turn upside down when I tell him that everything he knows about me is a lie. I'm talking lies of epic proportions that will make your betrayal seem like child's play. He'll come running back to you so fast, it'll be like you never cheated."
Ruby grins like a Cheshire Cat; she appears to be super confident that Emma can pull this off. Emma, however, is not so confident, but she can't let her client know that.
"The terms and conditions are stated in this contract, and I'll go over them with you to make sure we're on the same page." Emma extends the papers over the desk and places them in front of Ruby.
"Okay," she nods, scanning the first page.
Emma points to the first rule with the end of her ballpoint pen. "Okay, rule number one—I'm doing this to help you, not for my own personal agenda or to gain any pleasure from this. This is only a job to me, and in order for me to do my job, you can't track us down or keep tabs on us. I don't want you showing up when I'm on a date with Killian and going all crazy ex-girlfriend on my ass, got it? You're paying me to date him, so you have to trust me." Emma lifts her eyes from the page and looks at her firmly. "If there's no trust, there's no deal."
Ruby shakes her head. "I promise that won't happen. I trust you."
"Rule number two—this job has to remain strictly confidential. The only time you can mention Miss Fix-It is if you're referring me to a potential client through word of mouth. I only get jobs through referrals. If my operation leaks to social media, then that could be the end of Miss Fix-It. If you break this rule, the fee is three times what you hired me to do, no exceptions. And the same goes for me; I never discuss a client's business with anyone, whether it be future clients, family or friends."
When Ruby nods in understanding, Emma continues.
"And rule number three—I don't have sex with the ex-boyfriend under any circumstance. That one's pretty self-explanatory, so I'll move on to rule number four—if my efforts don't result in you getting back together with Killian, or if I breach this contract in any way, I'll give you a full refund. But once you've reconciled with him, it's up to you to maintain the relationship. If he ends up breaking up with you after the reconciliation, there is no refund. Any questions so far?"
Ruby shakes her head and gives her an appreciative grin. "No, I'm just happy you're doing this, Emma."
Emma returns with a rueful smile and proceeds, going over more details and the matter of payment. Because this one will take more time than usual, she asks for half of the money upfront and the rest of it once Ruby and Killian have been reconciled. Ruby agrees with everything, no questions asked and pays her in cash. This woman really is desperate. Either that, or she's just naïve.
"Okay, I just need you to sign here, here and here," Emma says flipping through the pages and pointing to the x's with her pen.
As Ruby signs the documents, Emma goes through the plan in her head, trying to think of anything she may have missed before Ruby leaves. She's laid out everything in the contract, but she has an inkling she's forgetting something.
Ah yes, she has no clue what Killian looks like. And since he most likely won't agree to being set up on a date so soon after what Ruby did to him, Emma has to make it seem like their meeting is coincidental and not planned.
After Ruby thanks her once again, she rises from her seat and makes her way to the door, Emma following behind her.
"Oh, and one more thing?"
"Sure, what is it?" Ruby asks, spinning around to face her again.
"Do you have a picture of him? I need to be able to recognize him in a public setting."
"Sure." Ruby pulls out her phone and unlocks the screen before extending the device to her.
Emma takes the phone, her eyes scanning the wallpaper photo. Her face immediately pales and her throat goes completely dry when she sees those familiar blue eyes. That dark disheveled hair. That smile—the one that will forever haunt her dreams. It may have been two months since she ran into him, but she'll never forget those alluring eyes or that charming smile. She'd hoped she would see him again, she just hadn't expected to see him on Ruby's home screen with his arm wrapped around her shoulders. And they truly do look happy, like Mary Margaret had said.
"I know what you're thinking—how could anyone cheat on him, right?" Ruby mumbles glumly as she takes back the phone.
"Um, no, I wasn't thinking that at all," Emma claims, her voice cracked. Though one would certainly wonder how any woman in their right mind could cheat on this beautiful man, Emma's not thinking about that. She's thinking about how fucking devastating it is that Ruby's ex-boyfriend is the same guy she ran into on the elevator. The same guy who's been the star of her fantasies for two goddamn months. "I was just observing how happy you two look together."
"Uh-huh," Ruby says sarcastically; she obviously doesn't believe her.
After she leaves, Emma buries her face in her hands, fighting off the urge to bang her head against the door. To think, she'd even considered knocking on every door on the eleventh floor to find him, and assuming he was single when she found him, she was going to fuck his brains out.
So much for that idea.
