Regina and Belle walked into La Pomme for their daily meeting and took their seats next to Robin. They all waited as Gold walked in his usual five minutes late.

"Alright then so I have an announcement to make. Some of you may like it some of you may not. Frankly, I couldn't really care either way. Starting today the restaurant is only going to be open Thursday thru Saturday. I will need both of my head chefs and Belle here all day Thursdays to order in the mornings and then work your normal shifts."

Everyone looked at each other not really knowing what to say or do. Regina was the first to speak up.

"Um, can I ask what brought about this change?"

"Well, you see I consulted with a few of my people and I found out that I wasn't making enough money as I could be. My busiest days are Thursday thru Saturday. I actually pay you lot more by being here on the other days. So, from now on you will only work those days. Just makes more sense."

"But, for those of us who are salaried…"

"Oh yeah…well see that is changing as well…" Gold said with a smirk.

"What? You have got to be kidding me!" Regina said as she stood up.

"I'm afraid not dear. You will be hourly now just as the rest of them."

Regina felt her head begin to spin. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. After everything she did for this man. All of the time and energy she has put into this place and this is what she is getting out of it.

"No, sorry, I'm done Gold."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I'm done. Good luck finding my replacement asshole." Regina walked passed him and made it to the middle of the parking lot before she realized that she didn't drive herself here. Shit. What am I going to do now? I can't walk back in there and ask Belle for a ride I would look like an idiot. Regina thought about calling a cab but it was a beautiful fall day and she had her tennis shoes on for work so she began walking because well why not?

….

"Hello there do you need a ride?"

Regina turned around to see Killian, Emma's friend that she met the other day, "Oh, hi Killian."

"Are you having car troubles?"

"Oh, um no, long story…"

"Okay…well would you like a ride?"

Regina thought for a minute. She knew she could trust him. He was Emma's best friend.

"Sure, that would be great thank you." Regina climbed up and in to Killian's truck.

"So, where are we headed?" he asked as he looked over at the woman who had obviously been upset.

"Um, I live at The Charlotte Towers. Are you familiar with those?"

"Why yes I am. Very nice place indeed," Killian smiled.

"Yeah well I won't be there for long."

"Oh really and why is that? If you don't mind me asking."

"Well, I sort of lost my job today."

"Oh damn. That sucks. Let me tell you though…if I had a penny for every place that has fired me…well hell I would be rich! Don't let it get you down something always comes up!" Killian smiled.

Regina couldn't help but laugh at his logic.

"Well they didn't exactly fire me. They just changed some things and it made me angry so I stormed out and quit."

"Well that is quite different now isn't it?"

"Yeah…now I am deeply regretting it…" Regina sighed and looked out of the window biting her lip and trying hard not to cry.

"Don't."

"Easy for you to say," Regina sighed and slumped further into the seat.

"Seriously though, don't. I don't believe that there should be regrets. There is always a reason that we do the things that we do. If you stormed out it was for a deeper purpose. Maybe in that moment the changes were the reason that made you angry but there are bound to be deeper reasons that fueled it."

Regina half smiled. She could see why Killian was Emma's best friend. "Thank you Killian."

"It is my pleasure."

"Hey, where is Skittles?" Regina asked remembering that he was on babysitter duty.

"Oh, she is happy at home with my pup Bruno. They get along famously and I had to make a run to the store."

"I see," Regina nodded.

"So, how was your evening with Emma?"

Regina blushed, "I beg your pardon?"

"Aw come on. If you don't tell me now she will just tell me later."

"Well you will just have to wait until later because I do not know you well enough yet to discuss such matters." Regina laughed.

"Damn. Okay. I will probably like her version better anyways." Killian laughed and winked at Regina.

Regina shook her head, "Yeah probably."

The rest of the ride was a comfortable silence and then Killian dropped Regina off at home telling her to take care of herself and keep her chin up. Regina was pleasantly surprised at how nice and easy it was to talk to him and was happy that Emma had such a great guy as a best friend.