Obvious Surprise: Chapter 2

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Jane heaved the stylish Louis Vuitton suitcase into the trunk of Maura's black BMW convertible and set her own tattered Boston Celtics duffle bag beside it. Just one more reminder of how Maura is waaay out of my league, Jane thought.

"Maura!" Jane impatiently called toward the large Victorian home. "Are you ready yet?"

Maura appeared on her doorstep wearing a stunning emerald green dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. "Of course I'm ready," she responded matter-of-factly.

Jane's jaw dropped as her eyes raked over the honey blonde's alabaster legs…they seemed to go on forever. Dammit…This is going to be a long trip if she keeps dressing like that.

Maura smiled and made her way over to Jane while holding out her car keys. "Care to drive, Detective?" Jane grinned from ear to ear and eagerly took the keys. Maura knew that Jane loved sports cars and didn't have an opportunity to drive them often.

Maura sat in the passenger seat and adjusted her designer sun glasses while smoothing out the fabric of her dress. Jane threw on her aviators and almost had an orgasm as the BMW's 500 horsepower engine roared to life beneath her. She expertly shifted the gears and popped in one of her favorite mix CD's. Joan Jett's "Bad Reputation" blasted from the high-end speakers and the duo officially embarked on their voyage to Maine.

Emma stepped out of the shower and towel dried her blonde locks while examining her face in the mirror. She still had a slight indentation where the Mayor had split her lip open during their altercation at the cemetery. She didn't feel good about hitting another woman, but she couldn't just let the bitch walk all over her in front of Graham. She was secretly happy that she didn't cause any permanent damage to Regina's beautiful face, but she'd be damned if she let anyone else know that.

Emma applied a small amount of eye make-up and grabbed her favorite leather jacket out of the closet. The red jacket contrasted nicely with her black tank top and tight jeans. All of that cross-country training is starting to pay off, Emma mused as she admired her ass in the mirror. She was confident that she would attract some attention at the lounge tonight, especially with eye-catching women like Jane and Maura in tow, but would the attention be from someone that she actually wanted to talk to? Nonsense, Emma thought. Regina would never go to a bar by herself on a Friday night. Wait… why the hell do I care what Regina is doing? That's fucked up… I need a drink.

Emma went into the cabinet and found the fifth of whiskey that she had hidden away from Mary Margaret. She poured herself a shot and threw it back, enjoying the burning sensation as it went down. For the first time this year, Emma felt like she needed a release. Jane and Maura can be the responsible adults tonight, Emma decided. She wanted to drink herself silly and forget that she was a single, thirty-year-old birth mother with a roommate that acted like her own mother.

Emma's thoughts of self-pity were interrupted by a loud knock at the door.

Regina ushered the unfortunate-looking babysitter into her luxurious manor and patted Henry on the head.

"I hope you don't mind spending this evening with Grendel, dear. I have an engagement with the Senator that cannot be rescheduled."

"It's ok," Henry replied. "I'm going to read my book anyway."

Regina sighed and gave Henry a stern look. Henry has been reading that dastardly book non-stop since he found it. She was glad he was reading books instead of playing video games or associating with heathens, but his fixation on fairytales was troubling. She knew that everyone was, in fact, a fairytale character, but no one was supposed to become privy to that information. Regina tried to chalk Henry's obsession with the book up to coincidence and genetic inclination, but deep down she worried that her carefully crafted world was beginning to unravel itself.

Regina shrugged off her insecurities and leaned in close to Henry. "Alright. But please do not put a frog in Grendel's hair this time. It's so hard to find qualified sitters in this town that are willing to put up with your mischief, young man."

Henry stifled a giggle and nodded half-heartedly. Regina gave him a kiss and rushed out the door to her polished Mercedes. Regina wasn't particularly fond of the Senator or his choice of venues, but she knew that one of her responsibilities as Madame Mayor was to fake a smile and rub elbows with wealthy regional bureaucrats. At least I don't have to spend another Friday night at home alone, Regina contemplated, because after all, not having someone is the worse curse imaginable.

"Jane!" squealed Emma as she wrapped the Detective up in a bear hug. "How was the drive? And Maura…oh my god…you look amazing! Doesn't she look amazing, Jane?" Emma winked and elbowed Jane in the ribs.

"Yes…she does." Jane smiled through gritted teeth and elbowed Emma back as her cheeks flushed.

Maura laughed and flashed them one of her megawatt smiles. "Thank you, Emma. I'm flattered. And look at you! That raised collar on your jacket makes your zygomatic processes appear to be quite exquisite!" Maura remarked enthusiastically.

"Thanks?" Emma replied, not quite sure which body part Maura was referring to, but knowing Maura well enough to understand that it was intended to be a compliment.

"We've missed you a lot, Em. The BPD just hasn't been the same without you. How has Storybrooke been treatin' ya?" Jane inquired with sincerity in her warm brown eyes. Jane heard part of Emma's story over the phone regarding the overbearing Mayor and her sociopathic tendencies, but Jane was eager to know how Emma was coping with her new stressors. Jane had always protected Emma from harm, and her gut was telling her that this Mayor was going to piss her off.

Emma sighed and ran her hand through her golden waves. "It's a long story. Let's go to the lounge, grab a few drinks, and I'll tell you all about it."

"Ok," replied both women.

The trio merrily hopped into Maura's convertible and sped off into Storybrooke's hazy night air. This evening would not soon be forgotten.