A/n: Hello lovelies, sorry this chapter took longer to get up. I was trying to find a beta. No luck, so please excuse any errors.
Are you ready for them to meet, well sort of? If you love Emma and Ruby's friendship, you will love this chapter.
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Emma and Ruby walked back to E.M. offices in companionable silence; she loved that Ruby didn't need to fill the space with mindless chatter. Besides, right now all Emma could think about was the bundle of nerves that sat in her stomach like a ball of lead.
She honestly needed to get a grip, what's the worst that could happen? She has put up with a lot of crap coming up in this business. "Come on Swan pull your shit together," she thought to herself. She steeled herself and decided to put her big girl panties on and handle it.
"Swan? Hellooo, Earth to Emma? EMMA!?" Ruby was waving her hands in front of Emma's face.
"Huh? What? Oh sorry, Rubes did you say something?"
"Yeah I asked if you wanted to get some drinks later tonight, before the big shoot tomorrow."
Emma and Ruby entered the Lobby and stopped in front of the elevator.
"Yeah actually that sounds great, I could use a stiff drink."
Ruby chuckled and then kissed Emma's cheek.
"See you later Hun, try to get your head out of your ass before tonight."
Emma stuck her tongue out at Ruby as the elevator doors closed between them. Seconds later her phone buzzed.
From: Rubes
Very mature Swan ;)
To: Rubes
Learned from the best….See you tonight ;)
From: Rubes
10 o'clock club Wonderland
To: Rubes
See you then
Emma smiled and placed her phone in her back pocket. Now what to do? She had a few hours to kill before she needed to get ready. There were some things she needed to get done at her studio before tomorrow. But first she needed to find a bathroom; her bladder was about to explode all over her nice slacks. She walked briskly past the front desk into a little hallway marked for restrooms. Once inside the safe confinement of a stall she was finally able to relieve herself.
Emma moaned aloud, the heavy pressure in her bladder from holding it for so long had caused a burning sensation.
"Oh God, that feels better."
There was a faint chuckle from a couple stalls down. Emma blanched; she was not the only one in here. Had she just moaned out loud? She heard a flush and then a click of a stall door opening. She thought about hiding until the stranger left but what would they think if she stayed in there that long. Emma swallowed hard and flushed the toilet, zipped up her slacks and opened the door.
Emma was not expecting the person who was washing their hands to be Regina Mills, the focal point of her stress right now. She quickly looked away and walked towards an empty sink to wash her hands as well.
Emma couldn't help herself, so she stole a glance at the brunette through her peripherals. The woman was fixing her already perfectly coiffed hair. Once she seemed satisfied with that, she reached into her small purse and pulled out a lipstick tube and began to apply a very red hue to her full lips.
At this point Emma was in a trance-like state, she couldn't look away. That was until the brunette caught her staring and winked. "SHIT," Emma thought and quickly averted her gaze; she instantly felt heat coloring her cheeks with embarrassment.
Happy with her appearance, Regina grabbed her purse and began to walk towards the door stopping just behind Emma.
"Take a picture, I'm told it lasts longer."
Emma jerked around to glare at the rude woman behind her, but she had already gone. She turned her head just in time to see the bathroom door swing shut.
Emma huffed and leaned back onto the sink; pulled out her phone and sent a quick text.
To: Rubes
Great now her Royal Bitchiness thinks I'm a perv (
From: Rubes
OMFG! WHAT DID YOU DO?!
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Emma was reeling by the time she reached the Mad Hatter; the bouncer recognized her instantly and lifted the velvet rope to let her pass. She squeezed his bicep affectionately and walked into the noisy club.
Emma was dressed to impress; a skintight pink dress was hugging her curves in all the right places. Her dress was paired with four-inch black pumps. Her golden hair fell in soft waves down her back. Her face was covered in minimal make-up, just enough to highlight her natural beauty. Despite her frazzled nerves on the inside, she looks great on the outside.
To: Rubes
I'm here
From: Rubes
At the bar
Emma placed her phone in her purse and shuffled through the small crowd to get to the bar. Ruby was slightly bent over the counter talking animatedly to the bartender they knew far too well.
'Hey Rubes, Hey Jefferson"
Ruby spun around and jumped from her bar stool.
"Swan, finally you're here!"
"Geez Ruby how much have you had to drink already?"
"Nothing"
Emma looked over at Jefferson, who held up two fingers.
"Oh shove it, Jefferson, you're the one trying to pawn your weird concoctions off on me."
"You're the only one brave enough or stupid enough to try them," Jefferson mocked.
Ruby sneered back and put her arm around Emma's shoulders.
"Come on Swan, let's leave the mad hatter alone."
Ruby had given Jefferson that nickname a couple years back when he started using her as the guinea pig for his experimental drinks. It was a fitting name for him; he was a bit nutty, colorful and eccentric. The Mad Hatter of club Wonderland.
Emma and Ruby pushed their way through the crowd to the VIP section. Jefferson's apparent connections at the club always hooked them up; private area, bottle service and, of course, free cover.
The girls sat down at a red velvet booth, with a tufted back, and began to chat about Ruby's day after Emma left.
"So, Swan, when are you going to tell me what happened between you and Queen Snooty puss?"
"Never."
"Oh come on, you can't leave me hanging the suspense is too much."
"You're too eager."
"Please tell me, I promise not to judge."
"Fine, but you gotta keep your mouth shut."
"Scout's honor,"
"I was caught staring at her in the bathroom."
"Oh my God! You peeped on her in the restroom, Emma that's terrible and kind of gross."
Emma smacked Ruby's arm with enough force that Ruby spilled some of her drink.
"Ow, sheesh what was that for Em?"
"I did not peep on her, I had just finished peeing and when I went to wash my hands she was there at the counter. I was shocked to see her, so I just kept staring."
There was no way Emma was going to tell Ruby that she had been caught ogling at Regina putting on lipstick, or how erotic it was. She also wasn't going to tell her that she felt a warm pull low in her belly just thinking about it.
"Eh, that not that bad Em she'll get over it. Besides, I've done way worse."
"Thanks, Rubes, let's just forget about her and have a good night."
"Sounds fab to m..., Holy Shit."
"What's wrong Rubes?"
Ruby was frozen looking forward with her mouth agape; that's when Emma turned to look in the same direction to see what the problem was.
"Oh my God, what is she doing here?"
Regina Mills was walking towards the VIP section with her posse of friends in tow.
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A/N: TBC… The next chapter is all Swan Queen fluff and a little angst. I hope you like it so far, feel free to review and come say hi on tumblr my username is love-chelc
Love,
Chelsea