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Chapter 12

The two women followed their last date with two more of the same nature, meeting at 6 o'clock at Tink's for coffee and the amount they text between each date was increasing the more they got to know each other.

It was their fourth date when Emma plucked up the courage to ask her on a proper date.

"So I was thinking that next week we could go for something to eat maybe?" Emma looked at Regina nervously. "that is I mean if you want to"

"I would love to"

"great, well we could go after the meeting if you want?"

"That sounds lovely" Regina was smiling at Emma in that way that made Emma's breath catch and her stomach flutter.

"I'll find us a nice restaurant this week then" Regina nodded at Emma and the two woman made their usual walk towards the meeting.

Emma did her usual trip to the bathroom before entering the room so they were not entering the meeting at the same time.

Emma was washing her hands when someone else walked out the stall

"Hey" it was Lacey

"Hi" Emma glanced at Lacey's reflection, she didn't look to good "are you ok?"

"yeah, I'm alright, just a rough night, one too many tequila shots"

Emma looked confused at her "but I thought-"

"That I had an alcohol problem? You're right, but like I said, rough night"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry" Emma dried her hand on the towel

"It's fine, don't worry about it"

"Well if you ever want to talk - I know you don't really talk here in the group, but outside of the group, I'm here"

"Thank you - how are you doing with it? I heard you had similar problems"

Emma sighed "yeah, you heard right I do, I'm ok, I used to go out and drink and then think it was a good idea to drive home"

"Ah, I can see the problem" Lacey smiled, washing her own hands "how often did you drink?"

"Most nights, now not as much, and I can generally walk past the bar and wait till I get home, go self control" Emma joked

Lacey laughed

"That's half the battle then" Lacey said, drying her own hands "and if you ever want to chat, then I'm all ears"

"Thanks"

At that moment the bathroom door opened.

"Are you two alright?"

/-/

Regina was getting concerned, Emma had been in the bathroom a lot longer than normal.

She looked at the clock, it was already gone seven

"So are we getting started then lass?" Killian asked

"Yes we will get started shortly, I'll just be a moment excuse me" Regina stood up, ignoring Maleficent's questioning glance and left the room walking towards the bathroom.

Regina pushed open the bathroom door and saw Emma stood with Lacey

"Are you two alright?" Regina asked, glancing at the two women.

"Yeah everything's fine" Emma replied with a reassuring smile

"Well we're about to get started"

"Right, lets go then" Lacey replied brightly, almost skipping out the bathroom

"You two seemed cosy" Regina commented "I didn't realise you and Lacey were friends"

"We're not really" Emma said looking at Regina confused "she just didn't seem right, so I asked her if she was alright"

"And is she?"

"I think she may have hit it a bit hard last night, I guess she didn't mind telling me because she knew I was in a similar boat of some sorts"

Regina nibbled her lip nervously, suddenly feeling guilty for her minor spat of jealousy.

"Shall we go? Don't you have a group to run?" Emma walked towards the door, squeezing Regina's upper arm as she walked past a kind smile on her face.

Regina quickly got the meeting under way, it didn't surprise Regina that Lacey didn't share with the group what she had said to Emma in the bathroom, but she had hoped that she would. Leroy had managed to keep his job at the hospital, which meant that he could afford to pay the rent which in turn meant that his friends were not on his case. Although Regina wasn't sure how seven men could live in one house and there not be a murder every week. A lot of people seemed to be doing a lot better, Walsh, Jefferson and Aurora had all made a lot of progress since they had last spoken at a meeting.

"Who would like to go next?" Regina asked and Robin raised his hand. Regina nodded at him in confirmation.

"Well Marian and I have talked a lot of these past few weeks and this week we have come to a decision that it may be best if we move on from one another"

"I'm sorry to hear that Robin" Regina replied

"Thanks Regina" he was looking down at the floor so Regina risked a glance at Emma and was shocked to see her glaring at Robin. She turned her attention back to Robin as he continued "I'm staying with some friends at the moment, but it's not a place where Roland can visit, so I need to find somewhere more permanent"

"I'm sure you'll find somewhere Robin, and Marian would never stop you from seeing him"

"I know"

"Well just keep that in mind and something will turn up"

"Thank you Regina, you know exactly what to say as usual"

Regina smiled shyly, suddenly feeling awkward

"Anybody else?" Thankfully Anna raised her hand, Anna didn't look good, she was bouncing her leg up and down and did not seem to be able to keep still.

"Well I haven't had a great week, I mean it's not the worst week I've had, but it's certainly not a good week" she was very agitated "my sister Elsa, you all know Elsa, she's really stressed out with work, there's something big going on or something. Anyway she's really stressed out and frustrated and she's taking it out on me, and is that fair? Does that seem fair to you?" she turned to Ashley next to her, who looked slightly afraid, Ashley shook her head and shrugged "so anyway, she's taking it out on me and Hans isn't happy about that, but I mean you can't blame him really can you? He doesn't like seeing me upset, so because he's not happy about it and he's saying he's not happy about it it's creating tension with him and Elsa. But you can't blame him, would you blame him?" Ashley shook her head quickly this time and looked at Regina for help. "so he offered to help Elsa with the business, he helps his brothers from time to time with their business so he has a bit of experience, so he was nice and asked if he could help, but oh no that wasn't good enough for Elsa and it just made things worse. And she told him she didn't want him anywhere near the business. I mean come on, that's not nice is it?" Anna finished her ramble, cheeks now flushed and looked around the group expecting someone to say something, but everyone just looked at her.

"Anna, maybe your sister is just concerned about the speed that things have gone with you and Hans" Regina spoke calmly

"But it's true love!" Anna protested, thankfully at that moment Killian gave Anna a glass of water

"Here love, have some of this" Anna took the cup and slowly sipped the cold water, the redness of her cheeks slowly fading

"I think it's just a misunderstanding Anna, Elsa wont mean to be difficult, maybe try and talk to her one day. When it's just the two of you and try to keep Hans out of the conversation and do one issue at a time?" Regina looked at Anna hopefully. Slowly Anna nodded, she then fell quiet staring at the floor.

"Is there anything else anybody would like to contribute to tonight's meeting?" nobody spoke "right then, just a reminder that the ball is not this weekend but next weekend, the bus will pick us all up from here at 5:45 with the aim of being in Portland by half seven, that allows a small amount of time for later comers and traffic. I will remind you that there is no drinking on the bus" she looked at Killian

"Aye lass, I hear you"

"Right then, if I don't see you next week, I hope to see you all there, if not then soon"

Everyone busied themselves , collecting their things and a few people stayed around for their usual conversation. Regina started sorting out the refreshment table and glanced across the room to see that Emma was hanging around, hopefully waiting for her. She had just finished sorting the table out and went to collect her bag when Robin walked over

"Ah Regina, I just wanted to thank you yet again for what you said tonight, I don't know how you manage to always say the right things to me"

"Robin that's quite kind of you, I guess it's just experience maybe?" Regina smiled and then picked up her bag, hoping to end this conversation quickly and talk to Emma before she left. Regina looked at Robin, he looked conflicted, and as quick as she wanted to end the conversation she couldn't not try and help him.

"Are you alright?"

"I guess, I'm just worried about the effect that this is going to have on Roland"

"I'm sure he'll be alright, Robin, he knows that both yourself and Marian love him more than anything"

"I know, I just wish I could find somewhere suitable for him to visit"

"We'll get you sorted Robin" Regina placed a reassuring hand on his arm

"We?"

"Well, I may be able to make a few phone calls and see if we can locate you to something more suitable and close to your son"

"Thank you Regina, that is, that is brilliant thank you"

"You're welcome Robin" Regina staked her chairs up with the others - thankfully Maleficent had already stacked the rest, "well goodnight then Robin"

"Regina, I was wondering if you'd like to go for a drink with me?"

"Excuse me?" confused Robin now had Regina's full attention

"I was wondering if you and I could go for a drink?"

"Oh, Robin I'm flattered but I don't think that this is the right time, for either of us, you've only just got out of a marriage, you need to get yourself sorted and set up a new life for yourself before you even consider dating anyone let alone me"

Robin's face fell, his lips now a thin line

"I suppose you're right Regina, I'll see you next week. I hope you'll at least save a dance for me at the ball?"

"I suppose that can be arranged" Regina smiled, "goodnight Robin"

"Goodnight Regina" Robin walked out of the room and Regina let out a deep sigh.

She turned back looking for Emma, but she couldn't see her

"Where's Emma?" she asked Maleficent?

"Oh she left"

"When?"

"Just after Robin started talking to you"

Thinking back to the look on Emma's face when Robin was talking Regina was now worried about the blonde, she took out her phone, and called her.

"Are you ok?" Maleficent asked

"Yeah, Emma's phone just went to voicemail"

"Well I'm sure she'll call you back"

"Yeah" Regina said. Regina's stomach knotted, there was something not right.