Just three hours after she had slammed the front door in Emma's face there was another knock. With a long suffering sigh, Regina rose from the couch and stormed over to yank open the door.

"I swear no one in this town understands the concept of...Emma?" Unable to believe her eyes Regina just stared as Emma offered her a single rosy red apple.

"I did what you said."

Regina took the apple numbly, "What? And why the hell have you just handed me a piece of fruit?"

Emma grinned nervously and pushed her hair back of her face, "I was going to bring you flowers but I figured with apples being your thing that..." She trailed off, suddenly unable to understand why she thought bringing a fruit was a good substitute for flowers.

"Ok, Miss Swan I don't know what is going through your head right now but-"

"I told Hook I don't love him like that." Emma cut in quickly before Regina had the chance to tell her to leave.

"Oh."

Emma laughed quietly at the bewildered expression on the brunettes face, "Come on Regina it was like only three hours ago that you told me to end things with him."

Regina looked suddenly looked nervous herself and Emma was sure that she could see fear flickering in her normally unreadable dark eyes.

"I didn't think you'd actually, you know, end things with him. I thought you were just trying to goad me or whatever it is we usually do to one another."

Realization suddenly dawned on Emma, Regina had taken the confession of Emma's feelings as a joke between them. "Regina I meant what I said I swear, give me a chance and I'll prove it."

Regina laughed icily at that, "Really? A chance? To do what follow in your mothers footsteps and take your own shot at ruining my life?"

For the second time that day the door to the mansion was slammed in Emma's face, leaving her more bewildered than the first time.

Shortly after Emma found herself at Granny's on a Saturday lunchtime, drinking alone.

"What's up Em?"

Looking up she found herself looking into the curious eyes of one Ruby Lucas.

Sighing Emma decided to just confide in her friend, from her point of view it wasn't like she could screw things up more.

"During remember when I told you that my head was really screwed up because I didn't feel anywhere near as strongly for Hook as for someone else?"

"Yeah?" Ruby nodded, sympathetically pouring another shot for her.

"Well I went to see Regina this morning and-"

Ruby's hand suddenly slipped and the alcohol spilt over the counter, "Regina's the other person? Damn Em, for one thing I thought you were straight! You don't have a thing for me as well do you?"

Despite everything that caused Emma to crack a smile, "Are you going to let me finish?"

Intrigued, Ruby waved her hand for Emma to continue with the story she was telling.

"Well, she basically confirmed that Hook wasn't my True Love and then she told me to come back at a better time after I finished things between me and Hook."

Ruby looked at Emma confused, "That's good Em, why do you look so down about it?"

The Sheriff just sighed and took the bottle from Ruby's hands, pouring herself another shot. "The problem is I did what she said but when I went back she told me that she didn't mean it and then when I told her to give me a chance she went mental."

Ruby nodded thoughtfully as Emma downed her drink, "What exactly did she say?"

"She asked if I wanted a chance to ruin her life like Snow did and then she slammed the door in my face."

Emma looked at the empty shot mournfully and reached for the bottle but Ruby slapped her hands away, "Look, I know that Snow's probably gonna kill me for helping you with Regina, she might have changed but that doesn't mean that Snow would be ok with whatever's going on here. But, your my friend to and I can tell you genuinely mean this so I'm going to give you some advice."

Emma's head shot up and she watched Ruby eagerly for some way to break down the Queen's walls.

"So think of it this way, every time Regina has been hurt it is because her attempts at loving someone have either failed, backfired or ruined by someone else. She thought that you were just hot for her, and rightly so, but she completely missed the fact that for you a relationship would mean more than casual sex."

Emma tilted her head, puzzlement written across her features. "Ok, I understand that but I still don't understand what I should do to get her to let me in."

Sighing in exasperation Ruby just stared at Emma, "I love you Em but don't be dense, you have to prove to Regina that you don't just want to be with her for sex, you need to show her that you actually genuinely care. And it'll be tough cause she's going to do her best to keep you out."

Brightening as an actual plan began to form, Emma stood abruptly and threw down some bills to cover the cost of her drinks. "Thanks Ruby!"

Watching as her friend tore out the door, Ruby chuckled in amusement, "No problem."

Breaking the speed limit, after all she was the Sheriff who would arrest her, Emma arrived at Mifflin Street in record time. Knocking on the door for the third time that day, all Emma could do was cross her fingers.

As she was faced with an irritated Ex-Evil Queen she quickly pulled out a bouquet of roses she has bought on the way and blurted out, "How would you like to go on a date with me Friday night?"

And this time when the door went to slam she put her foot in the way.