QUICK A/N: Hi all, I know it has been a long time between posts. Apologies, life just gets in the way, as does a case of writer's block. But today I give an offering of not just one but two chapters. I hope you enjoy it dears. HRHEvilUK
Chapter. 15
Rose sat in a booth at Granny's diner reading through the menu and looking over the day's specials on the board.
"Can I get you anything your majesty?" Granny asked as she stood beside the table. Rose turned to the older woman smiling, she liked that she was still called by her title by someone. It felt alien to her to be called by her first name or by simply 'Ms. Red'.
"Thank you no, I'm still deciding and waiting for my dining partner." Rose explained. Granny nodded and left her alone just as the door opened and Regina entered into the establishment. Regina walked straight to Rose's table and slid in to sit opposite her. "I was starting to wonder if you were coming." Rose said as she looked at Regina over the top of the menu before lowering it.
"I had things to attend to." Regina explained as she took off her gloves and then unfastened her coat. "I'm barely five minutes late." Regina grumbled.
"Who has upset you today?" Rose asked, amused by Regina's scowling.
"Where would you like me to start dear?" Regina smirked wickedly.
"How about with the menu?" Rose chuckled lightly as she handed her friend the menu. Regina took the large card menu from her friend huffing as she did.
"Regina." Rose called to her friend who looked up to her from under her eyebrows. "Let it go, whatever it is just let it go." Rose suggested. Regina snorted slightly at the suggestion but couldn't stop the amused smirk that crossed her lips.
"Ladies, what can I get for you this evening?" Granny asked as she stood beside their table, Granny barely looked at Regina and put her full attention to Rose.
"I'll have the casserole please." Rose ordered.
"And you?" Granny asked turning slightly to watch Regina but not looking at her.
"The same please." Regina said looking to the old woman who scribbled the orders down.
"Hmm…" Granny mumbled.
"Is there a problem Granny?" Rose asked with a light tone to her voice. Regina looked to Rose surprised, it was normally herself who would react to the insolence of the way others treated her in town.
"I'm surprised at the company you keep, your majesty." Granny answered, she was never afraid to say what was on her mind and yet she disliked it when her granddaughter would act the same way.
Rose sat back slightly, sitting up straighter than she had already; Regina recognised the pose, regal, queen, and trouble.
"Is that so?" Rose questioned. "And what right do you have to comment on the company I keep?"
"This is my establishment; I may say what I please. You're not queen here in this world." Granny explained. Rose listened and nodded, her eyes narrowing as she gripped the edge of the table.
"Would you like us to leave Granny?" Rose asked.
"Have I denied you service?" Granny asked in response, by now the rest of the diners had turned to watch what was going on.
"You haven't no, do you wish to start?" Rose asked as she got up from the table and stood in front of the old woman towering over her.
"Rose, stop, it isn't worth it and I can put up with it. Sit down." Regina sternly said.
"You may put up with it Regina but I am tired of having people in this town murmur and whisper behind my back about my friendship with you. I don't have to put up with it." Rose explained.
"I mean you no disrespect your majesty. However the company you keep is not as well liked." Granny began explaining stepping back from Rose.
"You like her money though, and that of Mr Gold's, am I right? As long as they pay it's alright for you to treat them as you do?"
"Fear will do that to a person." Granny flatly said. Rose's eyes narrowed at this comment.
"Fear... Strange that you should speak of fear Granny, when you first met me here you said that I had once saved the life of someone very dear to you. It came to me eventually who you meant." Rose explained as she looked across to Ruby. "So I find it strange you should speak of fear as you should know better than anyone that fear of something or someone can be misleading and so damaging." Rose explained. Granny looked to the tall red headed queen; she knew what Rose was speaking of and stood down from her soapbox. "I don't care whether any of you like my friends, I really don't, but do not disrespect me. If you have a problem have the decency, no, just have the balls to come and say it to my face." Rose finished.
"You're not our queen." Leroy sneered as he spun round slowly on his bar seat.
"No, that would be my sister." Rose smirked. "Now, do you wish for us to leave?" Rose asked turning back to Granny.
"I'll have your food to you as soon as it's ready." Granny said moving away to back behind the counter, putting Rose and Regina's orders in. Rose looked across to Leroy and tilted her head slightly; he turned back round to his drink. Rose took her seat again.
"Was that all really necessary?" Regina asked as Rose settled down again.
"Yes." Rose answered. "I grow tired of their murmurs and looks Regina. It bothers and bores me, I'd rather they just said something rather than scurry around the way they do."
"You should just learn to ignore it dear." Regina said as Ruby served them glasses of water. Rose turned and nodded her thanks to her Ruby returned the gesture.
"Have you seen Henry lately?" Regina asked as she looked into her glass of water, twisting the glass round with her fingertips. Rose could see the sadness in Regina's face even if she didn't look at her.
"He came by the house yesterday with Emma to help me move things in. He seems to be doing well. He knows how hard you are working to not use your magic, he's proud of you." Rose explained. Regina looked up to her friend smiling.
"Really, he said that?" Regina asked her mood turning for the better.
"Not in so many words but you can tell, by the way he boasts to us that you are trying, that he is." Rose smiled as Ruby served the ladies their meal orders. "Thank you Ruby." Rose acknowledged. "You haven't spent that much time with him then?" Regina's mood shifted again as she pushed food around on her plate.
"No, not as much as I would like, Emma doesn't feel it would be a good idea for Henry to spend extended amounts of time with me." Regina explained her eyes darkening.
"Would you like me to speak with her?" Rose offered.
"Do you honestly think she would listen to you?" Regina asked.
"I don't know, but it's worth trying isn't it? Even if all I can get is a day out with the horses." Rose suggested as she ate. Regina began to smile liking the idea. Rose looked to her friend. "I'll ask and see what I can do, no promises, but I'll try."
"Thank you." Regina smiled.
"You're welcome. Now what should we have for dessert?" Rose asked as she pushed her dinner plate to one side. Regina began to laugh at the speed in which Rose could devour a plate of food.
"So how are you settling in to your new home?" Regina asked as the two began their walk home.
"I'm settling extremely well, thank you. It makes being stuck here a lot easier than it was." Rose explained as she breathed in the fresh autumn air.
"Storybrooke really isn't that bad Rose." Regina sighed.
"You would say that, you created it." Rose teased. "In all honesty it is fine here; the people are good as are the amenities. I wouldn't mind a power shower in the bathroom of my castle, that's for sure!" Rose laughed.
"Did you walk all the way here, from your house?" Regina asked as the pair stopped outside the front gate to Regina's home.
"I did, yes." Rose answered looking further down the road to the direction she would be walking. "I enjoy walking through the woods Regina, always have, and always will."
"I could just teleport you home." Regina offered. "Or drive you."
"You could but where would the fun be in that for me?" Rose asked smirking. "It's fine Regina, I enjoy the walk. I will see you tomorrow." Rose said as she turned and left Regina waving as she went. Regina smiled, amused by her friend as she watched her leave.
"A friend." Regina whispered to herself as she walked up the path to her home and entered in.
