Chapter 2

"There you are" Granny chuckled when Emma finally came to the diner.

"Sorry I'm late, I didn't mean to.." Emma apologized and even if she knew granny would never get angry with her because of it, she felt ashamed. She should know better.

"Don't worry Emma, but just out of curiosity, what kept you so long?" Granny teased and watched how Emma started to blush. She knew her daughter was hiding something and had done so for a while. Ruby and she had tried to figure it out but Emma refused to tell.

"Oh ehm, nothing." Emma shrugged and disappeared when a customer came in. Granny rolled her eyes and chuckled. Emma was really special and Granny didn't regret for a second that she took her in.

"Are you two for real?" Emma stuttered when Ruby and Eugenia invited her into their apartment. It wasn't so big but it felt like a real home. Not like the places she had lived in before. This felt cozy, warm and furniture was a mix of new and old.

"Relax Swan, we're not gonna bite." Ruby grinned and laid her arm around Emma, making the blonde flinch and pull away. Granny noticed the sudden move and tension in Emma's body language, and wondered what the poor girl had been through. She was barely 15 years old, the same age as her Ruby, but she looked so fragile and broken.

"Ruby, fetch Emma some clean clothes and then heat up some tea for us, hm?" Granny said and her granddaughter nodded then reached for a big t-shirt and some slacks before she disappeared into the kitchen.

Emma was standing in the room and not really knowing what to do or say. She looked almost frozen "Please Emma, have a seat"

"Ehm thank you" the young girl replied and took the clothes Ruby had put down for her. Granny sat down beside her and watched Emma in silence when she started to take of her old worn out shirt. Her whole left side just by her ribs were full of bruises and Ruby almost dropped the tray she was carrying out of shock when she saw it.

"Oh my dear girl, what have they done to you" Granny sad with a sad tone and Emma wrapped her arms around herself then pulled her legs in the sofa. It was almost like she tried to hide herself.

"I know. I'm disgusting" Emma said between sobs. "I'm sorry"

"Come here" Granny said and Emma looked up. The old woman had her arms out but Emma was unsure what to do. Why were they so nice to her? "I'm not gonna hurt you my dear girl, I promise you, just come here" finally Emma's need for warmth and love took over and she let granny wrap her arms around her. Emma didn't remember the last time she had actually been hugged or comforted like this.

"You're safe here Emma" granny said with a gentle tone and tightened the hug. "You're safe"

Emma sat in the old woman's arms for what could have been hours before she finally fell asleep out of exhaustion on the sofa. Ruby gave her grandmother a concerned look and bit her lip.

"She's covered in bruises Granny. What the hell has she been through?" Ruby whispered. She herself had been left by her mother when she had been born, but Granny had stepped up and adopted her. Emma on the other hand, had grown up in a terrible system that clearly didn't work.

"I don't know Ruby. But I'm sure as hell not gonna let her go back there. She's staying" Granny huffed.

"You really mean that?" Ruby asked with a big smile. She had always wanted a sister.

"I saved you my dear and we don't mind having one more in our little family now, do we?" Granny chuckled and was almost attacked by a hug from Ruby. This would work out. Somehow.

"That Ruby, must have been the best food you have ever made" Belle smiled when they had finished eating Ruby's homemade lasagna.

"Anything for my girl" Ruby grinned and gave Belle a gentle kiss on the cheek before she jumped up to her feet.

"What are you doing?" Belle asked curiously and watched as her girlfriend disappeared into the kitchen. "Ruby?"

"Don't be so damn curious Belle, and close those beautiful eyes of yours, okay?!" Ruby laughed from the kitchen.

"Well okay if you say so" Belle groaned.

"Are they closed?"

"Yes! Come on now Ruby! The suspense is killing me!" Belle laughed and Ruby looked down on the little black box she had in her hand. She opened it one last time again, looking at the diamond necklace she had bought, still wondering if Belle would like it. She hoped she would because it had cost Ruby almost a half year of tips. She had worked her ass but she knew it was worth it. Belle was Ruby's first girlfriend and she wanted their one year anniversary to be something special.

"Ruby!" Belle shouted from the living room, making the redhead snap back to reality. Let's get this show on the road!

Ruby finally sat down beside her girlfriend and grinned.

"Okay now you can look" Ruby said and Belle looked almost terrified when she saw the little black box she was holding. It took a few minutes before Ruby broke out in laughter when she understood what it must have looked like.

"Oh god no Belle, it's not an engagement ring. So you can relax. You know I love you to pieces but we're just 17,lll and granny would kill me"

"Ehm sorry. I just panicked I guess" Belle shrugged and opened the box, almost gasping when she saw the necklace. "Oh my god Ruby, it's beautiful!"

"Glad you like it" Ruby replied with a smug face. "Happy anniversary darling"

"Oh I almost forgot your present!" Belle said and reached for her purse when she felt Ruby grab her arm.

"Belle" she warned. "I said you didn't have to buy me a gift. I know you don't have extra money because you're a student living on your own and I have a job and.." Belle cut her off with a kiss and Ruby raised an eyebrow.

"I love how sweet you, are but I have gotten you something anyway because it our one year anniversary, and this did actually not cost a thing!" Belle grinned and turned around again and Ruby frowned when Belle put a key in her hands.

"Ehm baby? Whats this?"

"It's a key to my apartment but don't panic. I'm not asking you to move in with me right now, but I want you to consider it." Belle smiled. "This thing we have feels so good and I'm ready to take the next step but if you don't feel ready yet, that's okay. But now you have a key so you can come over whenever you feel like it, okay?"

"I like the sound of that" Ruby smiled. "I love you baby"

"I love you too, but now you gotta go home for movie night or else Granny will get angry and I have to study for my exam"

"Finally Rubes. The tacos was getting cold!" Emma teased when her sister finally joined them. "And I'm starving after working your shift today!"

"Sorry, I forgot the time" Ruby shrugged and sat down in the old worn out sofa. "God granny, when are we gonna buy a new couch?!"

"Hush you, there's nothing wrong with it!" Granny huffed. "I'll buy a new one when the two of you learn how the clock actually works!"

"Well then I guess this old one has to do" Ruby chuckled and started to dig into her meal.

After dinner Emma decided to go for a run. Granny had excused her from their movie night, because she noticed her adoptive daughter was anxious and knew a run always did her good. Emma felt her mind wander but suddenly she wondered what Regina was doing this evening and played with the thought of going over there and surprising her. But Emma was too afraid of rejection and she couldn't bare the thought of maybe messing up this small friendship she and Regina were beginning to have. She groaned. Dammit Swan, grow some fucking balls.

It was Friday night and Regina was sitting by the TV for herself, just like every Friday night. She was sipping on some wine when she heard a sudden knock on the door. Rosita had left for the weekend and Cora wasn't supposed to come home now either. And why would she knock on her own door anyway? Regina tried to ignore the sound but the knocking continued. It was probably Daniel, trying to ask her out again. She growled and opened the door, surprised to see a sweaty Emma Swan standing outside.

"Miss Swan?"

"Yeah Hi. I didn't mean to interrupt anything, you're probably busy, but I was out running and thought I would just pop in and say hi so ehm. Hi!" Emma smiled and bit her lip. Regina raised an eyebrow but gave Emma a small smile, making the blonde relax a little bit.

"Hi to you too, miss Swan. Why don't you come in? I think you need some water Hmm?" More like a cold shower Emma thought to herself.

"Yeah I always forget my damn water bottle" Emma shrugged and followed Regina inside. Well done Swan. Now what?