A/N: So, I went back and fixed the previous chapters with the help of queergirlwriting. (Though I probably still missed a lot of grammar errors she pointed out to me.)

Here's a mini chapter to not keep you waiting any longer.

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A slight chill running down her spine pulls Emma back to consciousness.

For a second she's confused, but the memories come floating back in pictures behind closed eyes, in touches and noises and smells, and in Oh God and Yes and Fuck and Right there.

The blonde grins to herself in post-orgasm bliss (and what orgasms they were), rolling over to the other side and pulls the blanket tighter around her.

Her eyes fly open and she sits up as she stares at the thin woolen blanket covering her naked body.

Scanning the living room, the feeling in Emma's gut tightens and she suddenly feels cold which had nothing to do with the actual room temperature.

Regina is nowhere in sight.

Even the trail of clothes they left is gone. Instead there's a stack of neatly folded clothes with a pair of boots next to the couch?.

Of course Regina ran.

Again.

The blonde rips the blanket of her body, nostrils flaring, and gets up to dress.

She's had it with this woman.

If Regina wants to play this manipulative game of hide and seek, she can play it on her own.

Emma won't let the mayor make her a dirty little secret to be ashamed of, a disgusting mistake you want to hide.

For a split second, Henry flickers through the deputy's mind but she shakes it off.

No, this was simple no strings attached sex, a stress relief. No one had to get hurt if they both could just behave like adults but obviously Regina couldn't.

And if she ever dares to say a word how the Deputy's a runner, Emma is going to fucking kill her.

With anger bubbling inside, the blonde stubbornly leaves the blanked messily flung over the couch and leaves the manor without looking back as soon as she's dressed.

At least her car is where she left it.

But before she even has the chance to unlock the door, her phone rings in the inside pocket of her jacked.

It's Graham.

But her relieved sigh turns into a guilty grimace when she notices the time.

"Hey Graham," the blonde answers the phone as she unlocks the Bug and climbs in. "I know I'm late, sorry."

"And this in your probation period," the sheriff chuckles.

"I know, I'm sorry. I'm on my way now."

God, Regina really had to ruin everything for her.

"It's okay," Graham responds indulgently. "I was just a bit worried 'cause Mary Margaret didn't know where you were either."

"You called Mary Margaret?!" Emma almost squeaks in panic.

She hadn't told her roommate anything and Mary Margaret was already in school when the blonde went to the manor but how the hell is she going to explain where's she's been – because if Graham's worried, Mary Margaret is probably close to filing a missing person report.

"Yeah, I thought maybe you overslept."

"No, I-I had a few errands to run but I'm on my way now," the deputy explains vaguely, turning on the engine for proof.

In her head she's already working on an acceptable reasons why she spent a good three hours at the manor. Knowing Storybrooke, someone will have seen her car parked in Mifflin Street.

"It's against the law to drive and be on the phone, Deputy," Graham jokes dryly.

"I'm not driving yet, Sheriff," Emma mocks him lightly.

"I had to make sure. The town can't afford to have any more broken signs."

"You're never going to let that go, are you?" the blonde sighs but smiles.

It's so easy to get along with her boss who is turning into a friend rather quickly.

"I don't think so."

"I'm hanging up now, unless you want to pull a double-shift."

"Sorry, got that council meeting in an hour that I can't miss. Regina has been extra... irritable lately. See you in a few." The sheriff hangs up with those words and leaves Emma alone again with the question of how she can fucking pretend she isn't late for work because she was too busy screwing the mayor.