AN: Thank you all for your reviews etc
I am loving writing this story at the moment and I have big plans for the next few chapters!

Chapter 17

Regina followed Emma nervously as Emma walked quickly down the road, she still seemed to have the cold attitude towards her that she had had the last time they saw each other.

They seemed to have reached the docks and Emma led them to a bench that faced the water

"So you wanted to talk, talk" Emma said turning to face Regina, Regina sat down facing Emma her nerves increasing again.

"Well when you didn't arrive at the meeting last week and I hadn't heard from you I wanted to make sure you were alright"

"I'm fine" Emma said coldly not really looking at Regina

"Right, well when I last saw you didn't seem it"

Emma didn't respond to that, she just continued to look out over the water

"and judging by that beer bottle you smuggled out of the apartment you aren't fine"

Emma turned to face Regina now, but the look on her face was not one Regina was used to seeing on her, she looked cold, distant, almost angry.

"So I had a couple of drinks the other night and last night, so what? That doesn't mean there's anything wrong" Regina smiled looking down, Emma seemed to have put up some form of a guard against her. "why are you really here Regina?"

Regina looked at Emma confused

"I told you, I came to check on you, when I didn't hear from you I was concerned"

"do you hear from everyone in between meetings?"

"Well no, but-"

"And do you go to their houses uninvited when they miss a meeting?"

"No, but-"

"Exactly, so why are you here?"

Sighing Regina answered "I came to check you were still coming to the ball next weekend"

"Why?"

"Well because you agreed that you would go, there has been a coach booked for everyone who said they were attending"

"That's the only reason?"

Regina could feel the insecurities coming off the other woman, but she wasn't about to ease them, not after how Emma had been with her this past week.

"Well I am a firm believer that if someone has committed to something then they should follow it through, or are you the kind of person who often fails to go through with plans?" Emma glanced at Regina and Regina knew that she was well aware that Regina was referring to their date that Emma had not shown up to.

"No, I'm not. Not for everything"

Emma's words stung Regina slightly, but instead she stood up and nodded at the blonde

"Well then Miss Swan I shall see you then, there is no meeting on Thursday"

"I'll see you Saturday"

"See you then, good day Miss Swan"

And with that Regina walked back towards her car, not looking back at Emma.

/-/

Emma watched Regina walk away, so she had expected her to turn up their date. Maybe she hadn't agreed to go out with Robin. Just then she heard someone approaching, she turned to see Ruby jogging up to her.

"Still doing your daily run then?" Emma smiled

"I'm trying to sweat out my hangover" Ruby said as she flopped on the bench next to Emma "who was that?" she gestured towards the distant figure of Regina.

Emma looked away from her and she felt her cheeks flush slightly

"Oh my gosh! That's the one you've been dating isn't it?! Now I'm glad I didn't interrupt"

"What? How long have you been there?"

"I saw the two of you sit down" Ruby shrugged "have to tell you Em, you sure know how to pick them, she's fine!"

"I told you Rubes, there's nothing going on anymore"

"What did she say?"

Emma told Ruby about everything that had happened since she had woken up. When Emma had finished Ruby was looking at her with a thoughtful expression.

"What?" Emma asked

"I think you've jumped to the wrong conclusion"

"What?"

"Well I think Miss fancy pants was just being nice to the tool you mentioned, from what you've said she's sickly sweet to everyone at the group"

"She was pretty mean to me that time I laughed at the group and she was pretty cold today"

"That just proves that you're different from everyone else"

"I dunno Rubes"

"Anyway, so she was being nice to the tool and he misinterpreted this and asks her out, you then doing the same thing - but with a different outcome, leave before she answers him. Then she says no and then a little bit later on finds you in a bar drunk"

"Did you have to add that last bit in?"

"Yes, because it's an important part of the story" when Emma raised her eyebrows questiongly at Ruby she carried on "that night she went to find you, then stayed with you whilst you were getting drunk, even when you were rude to her and although we don't know the bit in the middle because of how drunk you were we know that she looked after you that night to the point where she took you home, her home may I add, she wouldn't have done all that if she didn't like you. She'd have called you a cab"

"But then what was with her cold ass attitude to me today then?"

"You've ignored her this past week, how do you expect her to act?"

Guilt flooded Emma, what if Ruby was right? Emma groaned

"Ruby, I've well messed things up"

"No you haven't, she turned up here today to check up on you. Pretty much not taking no for an answer and in her own way she asked you to attend the ball. In my opinion you still have a fair chance with Fancy Pants"

"So I should go to this ball then?"

"Definitely"

"Alright, I will"

"Just no drinking" Emma smiled and nodded "you know what this means?"

"What?"

"We need to find you something to wear!"

With that Ruby pulled Emma up and dragged her towards town where Emma knew Ruby was not going to rest until she had found Emma the perfect outfit to wear.