Hi guys! OUAT season finale tonight, who else is nervous? Let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy! -hopelesslyhopeful7211

"Here's your apron," Granny tosses the apron nearly hitting Emma in the face, "How about we go back in the kitchen and start you out washing dishes? Maybe later we'll give you a table to wait on"

"Okay, thank you so much. I really appreciate this." Emma expresses her gratitude.

"It's no problem. Really good to see you again, kid. It's been a while" Granny rustles the blonde's hair.

"Oh, yeah. School keeps me pretty busy," they walk into the kitchen.

Granny nods, but a mischievous grin spreads across her face, "Ruby tells me a certain little lady is keeping you occupied recently," Granny gently nudges Emma, winking.

"What? Yeah, maybe" redness flushes her cheeks, "Ruby!"

Ruby pops her head out from around the corner in the kitchen with an innocent look on her face, "Come on, Em. It's not that big of a deal"

Granny laughs, "Okay ladies, let's get to work," she leads Emma over to the sink filled with dishes, "Here you are. Come get me when you're finished with these"

"Gotcha!" Emma begins to wash the dishes while lightly humming.


It's only been a couple hours and I'm already getting bored. Emma's thoughts run freely as she works. What the fuck is wrong with me? Granny is so nice to let me be here and I'm such an asshole. Come on, Swan, think of what you're working towards. I'm bettering myself and Regina is going to be proud of me for taking initiative to do this. She pep talks herself. Everything is great.

"Hey! Let's go on break!" Ruby jumps next to Emma out of nowhere as she sweeps the floor.

"Fuck, Rubes, you scared me" the blonde says startled.

"Hey! You can't say fuck in the dining area" the brunette scolds, smirking.

"You just said it too!" Emma's eyes narrow and a smile spreads across her face.

"You caught me!" she giggles.


Ruby leads Emma back into the kitchen to get dinner for their break. They take their plates to a table in the very back of the restaurant and begin to chat while eating. They do not notice the entrance of a familiar older woman with presumably other work colleagues

"So, what are you getting into tomorrow?" Ruby asks the blonde.

"Uh, I'm not sure. We have to turn in that assignment in class, but other than that I don't know" Emma answers with a mouth full of food.

"Well, you can always come back here to work. It's so much more fun with you around," Ruby vents, "Granny is always up my ass, but less than usual today"

Emma laughs until she feels a hand gripping her shoulder tightly. She looks up and her eyes almost bulge out of her head. She is in complete shock to see Regina's mother.

"Hello ladies," Cora greets and then looks intensely at the blonde, "May I speak to you in private?" She gestures to the rest rooms.

Oh my fucking god! Why is this happening? Emma's mind races as she stares at Regina's mother in shock. She seems to come out of fucking nowhere! The blonde quickly glances at Ruby who is tilting her head in confusion. She's going to kill me. Yeah, death is inevitable. She opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. The older woman's finger nails dig deeper into Emma's skin and she cringes. Oh my god, I look like an idiot. Emma stands up and nods. They step into the rest room.

"Are you already cheating on my daughter?" Cora starts out.

"What? No, of course not! Ruby is just my friend" Emma's expression turns to disgust at the thought of ever cheating on Regina. I would never fucking do that! Then she realizes something.

"Wait, you're recognizing mine and Regina's relationship?" the blonde asks in confusion.

"For now," Cora answers nonchalantly, "When I explain to her how this," she gestures to Emma, "will not end well she will be finished with you"

"What is your problem?" Emma asks frustrated.

"I want the best for my daughter and you are not it," Cora snarls, "You probably just want her money"

Emma frowns at the accusation, "Listen, I know that I'm not rich. I don't have nice things. But I would never, ever use Regina. I love her"

Cora scoffs at Emma's confession of love for her daughter. This girl claims she loves my daughter, but she doesn't even realize what is best for her.

"Girl, what is your name?"

"Uh, Emma. Emma Swan" the blonde stammers.

Cora invades Emma's personal space, grabbing her by the chin to force her to look into her cold eyes, "Emma, if you love my daughter then you need to leave because if she stays with you her life is going to get a whole lot worse". She lets go of Emma's face after the threat.

The blonde feels adrenaline rushing through her veins, "No, I think that if you love your daughter then you wouldn't try to ruin her happiness". Fuck it, she needs to hear it. I'm not going down without a fight.

Smack! Emma feels the immediate sting of pain on her left cheek. It reddens in the outline of an open palm. Her hand flies over her injury and tears rush to her eyes. What the fuck!

"Don't ever question a mother's love for her child," Cora's gaze somehow grows angrier, "Where is Regina?"

Emma sniffs as her nose becomes runny, "Ma'am, she's fine".

"Then take me to her," Cora demands.

"I can't just leave my shift and I don't have a car," Emma argues.

"Why am I not surprised?" she sneers, "Give me your phone"

"What? No! Why?" her bright green eyes widen.

"She won't answer a call if she knows it is me," a sinister grin appears, "Besides if you're so sure she'll stay with you then why are you worried?"

With their love challenged, Emma thrusts over her phone and Cora dials her daughter's number. Regina is not going to leave me. This is ridiculous! She rolls her eyes.

Regina looks down at her phone vibrating. Oh, it's Emma. That's weird. She said that she would just come back when she is finished working. I hope everything is okay. She answers the phone.

"Emma?"

"No, it's your mother," Cora puts on her best cheerful tone.

"What? Where is Emma? What did you do to her?" Regina blurts out the questions. This can't be happening. Oh my god, I hope Emma is okay!

"Darling, Emma is fine. She's right here. I just want to make sure you're okay. I haven't heard from you since the incident" she whispers the last word.

"Yes, mother, I'm fine. Are you sure Emma's okay?" Regina asks again not convinced.

Cora extends the phone to Emma, "She wants to make sure you're okay"

Emma quickly snags the phone and turns her back to Cora, "Regina?"

"Emma, are you okay? I'm so sorry. I don't understand why she keeps interfering," the brunette sighs loudly and rubs her forehead as a headache begins to develop.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Look, Regina, I just want you to be happy. I love you"

"I love yo…" Cora rips the phone away from Emma and the blonde gasps.

"Regina, I need for you to think very hard about your decision. If you choose this girl then there will be consequences"

"Mother!" Regina screams, "Please, Emma makes me happy. I'm begging you, please leave us alone" Tears of frustration begin to develop in her chocolate brown eyes.

Cora begins to shake with anger, "If that is what you decide then I will no longer be supporting you,"

"Mother, I love her," a loose tear falls down her cheek.

"I'm disappointed. I did not raise you to act this way," Cora hangs up and drops Emma's phone to the ground. She turns to face the blonde, a hint of tears are visible in Cora's eyes, "Take care of my foolish daughter". She exits the rest room leaving Emma behind.