I finally wrote again! I was hanging out with my dear Tamsin today, when I was struck with the strong urge to crank out a chapter before Christmas. Once I started, I was bitten by the writing bug and flew away on a wonderous cloud of thought. Y'know, when I wasn't being interrupted by my nephew. No real complaints. I love that little bugger. ANYWHO! I really enjoyed writing this chapter, and I hope you all enjoy reading it just as much.
Honestly, if I didn't have to work at 7 in the morning, it probably would've been a good bit longer.
I've decided to make this into an actual story. KEEP IN MIND! With me that wouldn't be exceptionally long. If we're lucky, I'll crank out at least 10 chapters lol if I get truly passionate about it, maybe I'll get to 15 or - let's get crazy here - 20.
Disclaimer: I own nothing involving Once Upon a Time, besides a Swan Queen shirt that Tamsin got me for Christmas. (Have I tollllld you lately...that I love youuuuuu?) It's all Adam and Eddie and ABC and whatnot. If I had control, Elsa and Anna would be staying, Swan Queen would have been canon around Neverland, and RED WOULD BE IN THE GODDAMN SHOW AGAIN.
I'm a rambling motherfucker. How about we begin, shall we?
Emma and Ruby had decided to hang out the next morning. Since it was the blonde's day off, they decided to go to her room in the apartment.
"Oh god. Fuck. Oh yes, right there. God, yes!"
"Emma, you know how wrong that sounds."
"Yeah, but imagine my mother's face right now. You know she can hear me, and you know that she's about to come in here to make sure you're not doing anything to me. Again."
"You said you never told her!"
"I didn't! But, she's commented on being surprised that you haven't tried anything with me. She said you've checked me out a few times and that you probably haven't made a pass because I'm her daughter. You'd feel guilty."
"Well, it was during the curse, but she's right about the guilt. I mean, c'mon. You're one of my best friend's daughter and, technically, I'm good bit older than you. The only reason I haven't confessed is because I don't regret it."
The blonde smirks, "Oh? And why is that?"
"Oh, please" Ruby scoffs, "you own a mirror." Emma sends her a shit-eating grin, and the wolf's ears perk a bit as she hears light footsteps scurry into the room.
Snow enters the room, a look of poorly masked, slight discomfort on her face as she looks between her daughter and their friend. "Hey. What are you two up to in here?" The sheriff grins mischievously when her mother looks away from her. Her face changes to a mask of innocence as the woman looks back at her.
She shrugs, "Nothing too exciting. Just shooting the breeze."
"You were making a lot of….noise to be 'shooting the breeze'." Ruby covers up a small snort with a cough as Snow glances at her.
"Oh, that? Yeah, sorry. I had a bitch of an itch of my left ass cheek." Snow's mouth dropped open as the waitress covered her face with her hands, shaking with silent laughter. The raven-haired woman was a little appalled at her daughter's crass choice of words and blunt speech. She clears her throat, "Right. Well, we're late for lunch with your father." The tall brunette groans.
"Damn. Thanks for the reminder that I have to work, Snow. Actually, I really mean that. Granny wants me there a little early today. I was late getting back yesterday because of your daughter."
Confusion blossoms over Snow's face, not understanding how it could be Emma's fault. "Oh? What did she do that would make you late?"
An evil smirk takes over Ruby's face as she replies, "She fell asleep and stapled some of her hair to her paperwork, again." The blonde catches on quicker than expected and gasps, glaring at the brunette as she shouts "Traitor! You swore you wouldn't tell! You swore on the seesaw!" then stomps out of the room. Snow's eyes follow her movement as she becomes confused once again. Looking to Ruby for an answer, she receives a head shake and "She's your daughter" before the wolf departs to ready herself for the upcoming shift.
An exasperated sigh leaves the remaining woman, her natural curiosity raging and frustration at her lack of answers. Those two are so strange. She grabs her purse and goes to join her daughter and husband at the diner.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lunch goes nicely. The conversation is smooth among the three adults, and David loathes having to leave. Snow decides to walk him back to the station. The Charmings both hug their daughter goodbye before leaving the diner. The lunch rush had passed, so the blonde decided to stay and have some hot cocoa.
"Ma!" The blonde looks up to see her son rushing over to her booth. After a surprisingly tight hug, she looks up to see his other mother walking gracefully up to them. A small smile blooms on Emma's face. "Hey." The brunette nods, "Hello."
"Do you mind if we sit here?" He asks, looking between both of his mothers with a hopeful look on his face. Emma shrugs, deferring to Regina. The mayor smiles at his excitement and sits in the booth as an answer. Henry fist pumps and plops into the booth next to his brunette mother.
The teen turns his gaze toward the savior. "So, Ma" he begins, "how was the hang-out with Ruby this morning?" The innocent inquiry seems to capture Regina's attention. The woman keeps her face neutral, but there's a curious look in her eye. Henry internally smirks as he notices the shift, remembering the conversation that took place while he stayed at the apartment the previous night.
He sits on the couch playing games with Emma. Something is making her shifty, and it's driving him insane that she still hasn't just come out with it. But before his patience finally breaks, she finally speaks.
"Hey, kid?" The nervous tone surprises him a little. He'd figured he was in trouble for something and she was drawing out the suffering.
Henry glances over at the usually calm woman. "Yeah?"
Pausing the game, she sets the controller down and turns to her son. The blonde wipes her hands on her jeans as she waits for him to do the same. When he does, she clears her throat and starts, "Okay. So, um, Ruby came to the station during my lunch hour today and, uh, she came up with an idea that she wants me to run by you. She says you'll love it, but I'll understand if you get weirded out or aren't okay with it."
Henry's eyebrows furrow, not quite understanding what she's trying to tell him. But then a thought goes through his mind and his eyebrows go nearly into his hairline. "Wait, okay, wait a minute. Are you…are you trying to say you and Ruby want to be together or something?" His question makes the sheriff choke a little, but she's not sure if it's out of surprise or the urge to laugh.
"What? No, Henry. No. Don't get me wrong, Ruby's a great friend and very attractive, but I don't like her like that. She just came up with a plan – er, operation, actually. It's to get me with who I really want to be with."
A sigh leaves him as he looks away and Emma frowns. Did he want me to be with Ruby?
Henry looks back at her with a smile on his face. It doesn't help the blonde's confusion. The brunette boy says, "Okay, good. I mean, Ruby's great, really. It's just I thought you were too into to Mom to try it with anyone else. That's why you didn't give things with Hook a real try, isn't it?"
Emma was absolutely floored. He didn't assume like everyone else had. He knew.
Henry rolls his eyes. "Ma, seriously. You're not as subtle as you think you are, and I'm not willingly oblivious like some people are. Now, tell me about this operation. I'm assuming it's to get you with Mom. What did she name it? It better be something cool."
It was another minute before the savior could stammer out her response. "Uh, Swan Queen. Operation: Swan Queen."
The teen's eyes brighten with excitement. "It's perfect! How are we going to do this?" Emma smiles at his enthusiasm and begins telling him what Ruby said.
"She's coming over in the morning before her shift to hang out. Maybe talk a little more about what she's come up with."
He sits quietly for a moment, thinking of how he might help this along. He claps his hands once, excitedly saying "I have an idea! You're having lunch with Grandma and Grandpa tomorrow, right?" When she nods he continues, "I don't have school tomorrow, so I'll convince Mom to have lunch at the diner. Make sure you stay there! I'll work it so we get there after Grandma and Grandpa leave. She doesn't want to deal with Grandma's questions about Robin." She smiles and nods again. This worked out better than she'd feared.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"It was pretty great, actually. We messed with Snow a bit. Her reaction was predictable and hilarious."
Regina was too curious now, although she tried to play it smooth. "Oh? What did you do, dear? Hide that horrendous flowered hat she just bought?" The brunette shudders a little.
Emma laughs as she remembers exactly which hat it was. "I will at some point, but no. I loudly said some things that could be taken the wrong way, and when she decided to be nosey, I told her my butt was itching." She said this as seriously could, but couldn't contain the urge to laugh after Henry started cracking up.
"Wait, how did Ruby mess with her then?" He questioned, watching his brunette mother out of the corner of his eye.
The blonde snorted into her cup and set it back down before answering. "She told Snow that she had to be early for work today because of me. Claimed that I'd stapled my hair to some paperwork and needed help getting out. Again, she said."
Regina coughs a few times to cover a laugh at the image. Henry wasn't helping. He was practically in tears. Emma started laughing, "Okay, kid, calm down. It didn't actually happen. And before you say anything - Regina - that has never happened to me before. If it does, I'll send pictures first. That's just too hilarious."
The older woman puts a mask of innocence on her face, "Why, Emma, I'm shocked. I would never assume you'd done something so exceptionally clumsy that it's a wonder you can function at all."
Emma playfully glares at the woman and hums. Regina knows what she means. Sure you wouldn't.
Ruby takes advantage of how slow the diner has become and puts her plan into action. "Hey, Henry! Madame Mayor. Emma." She made sure to add a flirty tone to her voice when she addressed the blonde. Her sharp eyes notice the small twitch of Regina's mouth and the way her eyes narrow slightly when she says the sheriff's name. Gotcha.
The sheriff acts oblivious to the taller brunette's action and smiles good-naturedly. "Hey, Rubes."
"Is there anything else I can get you, Sheriff?" Ruby makes sure her eyes scan the blonde enough to make Regina's irritation more noticeable. Out of the corner of her eye, she notes the scowl on the former queen's face and subtly gestures towards the woman for Emma to look. Since the mayor's attention was solely on the young waitress, she didn't notice the savior's attention on her. Emma looked away before she noticed and shook her head at Ruby, giving an outwardly polite smile while beaming internally.
The wolfwoman shrugs and turns her gaze to Henry and his Mom. "What about you two? The usual?"
Regina cuts in before Henry can speak, "Yes. Thank you, Miss Lucas." she snaps. The younger brunette fights a smirk as she nods, nearly prancing away as she goes to take their orders to the kitchen.
Henry feigns concern as he turns to his Mom. "Are you okay, Mom? You seem a little stressed."
The mayor's attention quickly rests on her son. She sighs and puts a small smile on her face. "Yes, Henry. I'm fine. Just a bit of a headache. It should pass once I get a little food in me. Perhaps some caffeine, as well."
There is a bit of conversation among the three as Henry and Regina eat their lunch. Emma, Ruby and Henry pretend not to notice any changes in Regina's facial expressions or demeanor each time the waitress comes around. After a particularly playful look and light arm slap, the older brunette suddenly had the need for the bathroom.
"Henry, I need you to get out of the booth for a moment. I have to use the restroom." The teen scoots out of the booth. Both remaining occupants, and a certain waitress, watch the woman walk tensely to the bathroom. Once she enters, they all smile.
"Please, Ma, tell me you notice all of that. She is so jealous!" He rattles off.
The blonde's smile widens at the thought. "Oh, even I'm not that blind. This operation may just have potential yet."
Ruby scoffs as she puts the checks in front of the pair and shakes her head, "It's going to work! O' ye of little faith." she comments. Hearing the former queen coming back, she makes sure Regina can see her well as she winks at Emma. The taller woman decides to put extra swing in her hips.
Regina's irritation has clearly increased. The mayor simply plucks her purse out of the booth and throws some money on the table, nearly barking at Henry that she'll be outside waiting for him, before storming out of the diner.
Henry chuckles as he shifts back towards his blonde mother.
"Oh yeah. She's got it bad."
So, ladies and gents, abnormally smart animals and aliens, what did you think?
Did you like it? You love it? You want some more of it?
Review, reread, follow, favorite, share. Do whatever you'd like!
Seriously, WHERE THE FUCK IS MY RED?! I WANT MY WOLF BACK! :'(
TBC - Because this bitch has a vague plan now.
