Chapter 6

"Just ask her out!"

"I have no idea who you're referring to Kathryn" Regina replied as she wiped down the kitchen worktop.

"Emma duh!" Maleficent commented from the other worktop she was sat on

"I have no interest in asking Miss Swan out"

"Oh please, there's been three meetings since the one that you made me talk at, still not let that go by the way, and both of you have spent the first five minutes at the end of it politely talking to other people before you naturally gravitate to each other where you spend the next fifteen minutes talking."

"So?"

"So ask her to go for a drink!"

"She's an alcoholic, that's not exactly tactful Maleficent"

"Then go for a coffee" Kathryn commented

"No. It's not appropriate it would be an abuse of power"

"You're not her teacher Regina!"

"Yeah, you're just someone who attends a support group that she just so happens to attend as well" Maleficent said as Regina started wiping the kitchen worktop around her

"It's so romantic!" Kathryn exclaimed as Regina rolled her eyes "two troubled souls that find each other somewhere where they are trying to fix themselves and get help and they end up mending each other"

"Well you've got a bit ahead of yourself haven't you" Maleficent added, as Regina ushered her off the worktop

"I think you're both getting ahead of yourselves actually" Regina lifted the fruit bowl to wipe under it "I've known her little over a month, I barely know her, she barely knows me"

"That's what dates are for, to get to know each other" Kathryn nodded along with Maleficent

"Even if I was interested in her, which I'm not saying I am! Who said she was interested in me?"

"Well there's only one way to find out" Kathryn replied smiling at her friend.

"But I don't even know what town she lives in"

"Even if she doesn't live in Rockport, she has to live local or she wouldn't have been recommended a support group in Rockland, even if she lives in St George it's only a twenty minute drive and if you're that concerned about her driving you travel to her" Kathryn grinning widely at Regina.

"We must have a point if the two of us are agreeing" Maleficent said placing a hand on Kathryn's shoulder.

Regina bit her lip thinking about what had been said thinking about Emma, she turned her attention back to the kitchen worktop. She could feel the other two smirking behind her

"Maleficent, remind me never to ask you to get the groceries again"

"Why?"

"Because you bought green apples instead of red"

/-/

"Well you seem a lot happier" Snow said to Emma as Ruby placed her usual cocoa with cinnamon in front of her.

Emma shrugged "Do I?"

"Yeah, you do. This group must be really helping"

"Nope, I don't think that's it" Ruby said as she slid in next to Emma "I think Emma's met someone" Emma glared at Ruby, wishing the floor to swallow her up

"What? Emma you never mentioned it!" Snow exclaimed "where did you meet them? Was it at this group?"

"Obviously, I mean broken people just find their way to each other, what a perfect place for it" Ruby laughed

"Why don't you bring them round for a meal? Meet the family?"

"Yeah!"

"Woah! I never even said that I've met somebody!" Emma protested running her fingers through her hair

"But you like someone though?" Ruby asked bumping Emma with her shoulder.

Although Snow was only a few years older than Emma she had always been very motherly towards her, and she wasn't about to discuss this with her.

"Look. I've met loads of people at this group, I haven't been on a date or anything else with any of them!"

"But you'd like to though?" Emma glared at Ruby again

"I like one of them a little bit yes"

"Oh Emma I'm so happy for you" Snow said placing her hand over Emma's

"But! I don't know if they like me and I don't know them that well either, it's probably not going to go anywhere" at that point Granny called Ruby back to work

"There's only one way to find out" Ruby said standing up winking at Emma as she walked back around the counter to serve waiting customers.

"Ruby's right Emma" Snow continued

"Can we just eat our breakfast?" Emma asked as Granny placed their breakfasts down

Snow nodded before adding "all I'm saying is any guy would be lucky to have you"

Smirking to herself slightly Emma looked down at her breakfast and tucked in.

Any guy.

/-/

It had reached the end of the meeting and Regina took out the list of things she had to tell the group.

She quickly whizzed through some of the minor more boring ones saving the best for last.

"And finally what we've all been waiting for, the annual ball will be the last weekend of next month. There will be a coach taking us to Portland for the ball and then it will also bring us back at the end of the night. Those wishing to attend should let me know by the end of the month. For those of you who don't know the ball is a great way to meet people from the other support groups in Maine as well as a more relaxed environment for the people of our group to get to know each other, it has previously been a great night out and thoroughly enjoyed by all"

"You can count me in lass!" Killian exclaimed "look forward to it. Really enjoyed last years" A few people around the circle nodded in agreement

"That's great Killian, see if you can convince Will to come, I know he enjoyed it last year"

"Aye, I will" Killian nodded, Regina smiled brightly at him

"If anybody has any questions about the ball feel free to ask me and I'll do my best to answer" Regina looked around the group and when no one spoke "right then, thank you all for coming, and hope to see you all next week"

The usual scrapping of chairs sounded as Regina turned her attention to her bag

"Just go and ask her" Maleficent whispered

"Leave it" Regina warned

"You could always meet her for a coffee or a snack before next weeks meeting?"

"Oh yeah, and how are you going to get here? Do you expect me to believe that you'll actually come if I'm not there to drive you?"

"How about if I promise to make my own way, you go and ask her?" Maleficent gave her a challenging smile which Regina picked up on.

"Come on Regina, I can tell you like her, even if you've been avoiding looking at her all night, and if the way she looks at you is anything to go by then I'd say she's in the same boat" Maleficent walked away raising her eyebrows at Regina almost daring her.

Regina sighed picking up her bag and throwing the strap over her shoulder.

She looked over to Emma who was sat talking to Killian, just at the moment Emma looked up and caught her eye smiling brightly at her.

Killian must have said goodnight as he then walked out the door taking out his phone as he went.

Regina looked at the blonde who was standing awkwardly at the side of the room, she took a deep breath and walked over. She stopped suddenly as Whale had beat her to the blonde.

Acting as though she was putting the chairs away Regina slowly stacked the chairs listening into the conversation

"Ah Emma, I'm glad I caught you, I was just wondering if you'd like to go for a drink with me?" Regina stopped, listening in eagerly.

"Oh James, thanks but I'm going to have to decline I'm afraid"

"I don't mean tonight, I mean if you're driving we could always do it another night?"

"Er, I don't think so, maybe a group of us could go sometime? I'm sure Killian would be up for it"

"Oh, yeah. Maybe" Smiling to herself Regina looked up as Whale walked away.

Regina carried on stacking the chairs, not wanting it to look obvious that she had been waiting to speak to Emma. She was lost in thought and didn't hear someone approach her.

"Hey" Regina jumped slightly and turned around to see Emma standing there looking shy.

"Oh Miss Swan, sorry I didn't see you there"

"Want a hand with these?"

Regina nodded "sure thank you".

Neither of them spoke as they stacked the chairs against the wall. Once they finished Regina glanced around the room, the only people left in the room other than herself and Emma was Maleficent and Lacey, who seemed to be in deep conversation.

"So how are you?" Emma asked, looking down at the floor

"I'm quite well thank you and yourself?"

"Not too bad" Emma replied, then silence fell upon them before Regina couldn't take it anymore.

"Look, Emma, I don't know if I'm over stepping any boundaries here, or if you'd even be willing to, or even want to, I mean you may not even want to" Regina looked at Emma. "What are you smiling at?"

"You just called me Emma, you only ever call me 'Miss Swan'"

Regina let out a small laugh "yes, well Emma as I was saying, I don't know if you'd want to or anything but-"

"Would you like to go for a drink?" Regina looked shocked at Emma who looked shocked herself. "Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt"

"It's quite alright dear, I wasn't getting anywhere very fast. But yes, I'd love to go for a drink with you"

"Ok great, so er…"

"Would you like to go to that Café down the road Tink's? I could meet you there before the next meeting say six o'clock?"

"Sounds perfect" Emma smiled at the woman "I'll see you then" Emma walked towards the door as Maleficent walked over to Regina, Lacey had apparently left at some point during Regina's babble. Regina watched Emma till she'd left the room.

"Not. A. Word" Regina told Maleficent

"Wouldn't dream of it"