Chapter 3
"So how was it then?" Snow asked as she sat opposite Emma in the booth of the diner.
Emma lay with her head on the table ignoring the other woman, her head was swarming and aching.
"Emma?" Snow gently poked the other woman's arm
"Yeah?"
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm alright" Emma lifted her head up as Ruby placed her coffee down in front of her
"I didn't hear you come in last night"
"No, I know, I got back late"
"How come?"
Emma looked up at the other woman, she knew that Snow knew exactly why she'd been home late
"I just went out after the meeting" Emma looked down at her coffee
"Where to?"
Emma kept her eyes on her coffee not wanting to look Snow in the eyes "The Rabbit Hole"
"Oh Emma!"
"I know, I know, please don't give me a lecture!"
"Did you drive?"
"No I walked home"
"Well at least that's something then" Snow reached out and took Emma's hand in hers "it's all right hunny, we'll get this all sorted"
Ruby came over sliding in the booth next to Emma
"So tell me, what was it like? Where there any good looking guys there? Or what about girls? Where there any weird people there?"
Emma rolled her eyes at Ruby
"Uh, crap, not really, and yes there were many weird people there"
"That's only three answers, I asked you four questions"
Emma just glared at Ruby as her mind drifted to Regina, as infuriating as the woman was she was certainly good looking
"Ok, ok, so tell me about the weird people"
"Ruby, it's probably private!"
"Well there was some guy who is addicted to internet porn"
Ruby burst out laughing as Snow's cheeks flushed pink
"Oh, oh my, well that's…" she spluttered
"Brilliant!" Ruby was still laughing
"It's not funny! I couldn't keep a straight face!"
"Tell me you didn't laugh at that poor man!" Snow pleaded
"Of course not! I didn't manage to suppress a small scoff though"
"Oh Emma!" Snow repeated causing Ruby to burst into laughter again.
"That's not funny either" Emma poked Ruby in the side "you should have seen the look the woman who runs it gave me!"
/-/
"Regina? Regina! Are you even listening?"
Regina shook her head and looked at the other woman
"Sorry Kathryn what were you saying?"
Kathryn rolled her eyes at her friend
"I don't know why you invited me round if you're just going to zone out when I try and talk to you"
"I invited you round because it's Sunday, it's a beautiful day and I had nothing better to do" Regina smiled at her friend as she stretched out on the sun lounger
"Busy week I take it?" Kathryn asked turning on her side
"What do you mean?"
"Well you just seem distracted"
"Oh" Regina placed her sun glasses on so to avoid Kathryn's gaze
"Oh it's nothing to do with it being busy dear" called a voice from behind them
"Oh Maleficent, I didn't know you were here" Kathryn replied the contempt showing in her voice
"Well I do live her dear"
Regina just rolled her eyes at her friends
"So if it's not work then what is it?"
"That blonde who showed up for group on Thursday"
Regina flushed as Kathryn gasped
"What?! Somebody has finally caught your eye! Oh this is so exciting!"
"Tell me Maleficent, how would you know who was there on Thursday? You were far too stoned"
"Not that stoned dear" Maleficent flopped onto the seat next to Regina taking a sip of Regina's drink "Urgh what is that?"
"It's called a Apple Martini"
"Right of course it is"
"Tell me about this new person!" Kathryn asked, now sitting up looking eagerly at Regina
"This new person" Regina began not even looking at Kathryn, "whom I had a 10 second conversation with and before she left half way through, so whatever you two are thinking think again"
"I'm thinking that I need another joint" Maleficent groaned, Regina pulled her glasses down and gave Maleficent a look "only to take the edge off of course"
Shaking her head Regina replaced her glasses as Maleficent walked away "just not in the house!" Regina called to her
"I know, I know"
"Why do you put up with her?" Kathryn asked
"Because she's my friend, just like you"
"Yeah, but she's not getting any better, I'm worried she's going to pull you down"
"I was her friend before this and I'll be her friend after this, and it will take more than Maleficent's dependency of weed to pull me down dear don't worry"
"I feel I should come to your next meeting"
"What for?" Regina asked taking off her sunglasses to look at the blonde
"To check out this new person"
"Oh no dear! No way! You've already tried several times to set me up with somebody I'm not letting you anywhere near the group again!"
"What was so bad about it last time?"
"Erm, maybe that you tried to set me up with four of the members"
"Well you're a very attractive lady Regina, you deserve some loving"
"And you think my support group is the place to get some loving?"
"Yes! The perfect place, two tortured souls! One broken soul that needs another broken soul to talk to"
"It's not happening" Regina said settling herself down on the sun lounger.
/-/
"So how did you find the support group?"
"It was a waste of time" Emma told Archie who just smiled at her kindly
"And why was that?"
"Because the people all had small problems, like porn addictions and stealing pears, how is that supposed to help me?"
"Well maybe it's not quite as it seems"
"Yeah well I don't think it's quite for me" Emma said leaning down further into the couch
"And how many days or nights have you had a drink this week?"
"A few"
"How many times have you drove after a drink?"
"None"
"Excellent Emma! That's excellent progress"
Emma couldn't help but smile as she thought back to Thursday night when Regina had given the same encouragement to the members.
"And how many hangovers?"
"Just the one"
"Well that is progress indeed"
"So does that mean you're not going to make me go back to this group thing again?"
"I can't make you do anything Emma, but I would like you to go again"
"And is it going to go in my notes if I say no?"
Archie nodded "I'm afraid it has to"
"Ok, fine, I'll go, but if I go again and hate it?"
"Then I can write that it wasn't for you"
"Ok fine then, I'll go again tomorrow."