A/N: So I'm going to continue! Thank you all for your responses! Here comes some Swan Queen fluff and some smut later on (I don't want to rush the ladies) and a true love for Ruby.

So, I got a lot of positive feedback about using Hades so that's the route I'm going to take. She is an OC from another story of mine. Don't fret! I'm not sending you off to read it (because she will have the same attitude, backstory, and look), I'm just going to transplant her here. So, if you've read Hellfire Passion, forget the plot of it, just take the character. I will describe her again (not in tremendous detail) but if you do want detail, here is the link to the story she is in (it is Swan Queen/Jealous!Emma):

s/11207324/1/Hellfire-Passion

Sorry for the long author's note!

Chapter 9

Emma was nervously chewing at her cuticles, checking her watch to see 6:03 pm mocking her. She was pacing furiously on the mansion front porch, wondering if she should ring the bell or knock or do something. She was early, obnoxiously so. Their date was set to start at 7:00 pm but she had been so excited for this moment and yearned to see the brunette. Yes, she saw her six hours ago but… okay, they were becoming a sappy couple that people rolled their eyes at. They were becoming Snow and Charming. Emma shivered with a goofy smile adorning her face. That sounded odd but nice, really nice. Emma had never felt so light in her life. Regina brought out the sensitive, romantic, and hopelessly devoted Emma. And the blonde felt as if nothing else mattered. Nothing could bring them down.

Except homicide, which is certainly what Regina would do if the blonde knocked on her door an hour early, effectively ruining her routine.

This was their son's fault. Emma was used to relationships that didn't include dates, roses, romance, and goodnight kisses. So, she naturally fell into that pattern with Regina. After their kiss, Emma began to have dinner with Regina and Henry every night (except for the family dinner's on Sunday's that Snow hosted) and after Henry went to bed, they would stay up in the study and drink cider, tell stories, and make out. Everyday she would bring Regina lunch and sneak a single rose onto the mayor's desk before she got in. That was romantic, right? Not enough, according to Henry, who was apparently the authority on romance. He claimed to learn from the best: Papa Charming.

One fateful Thursday night, Regina stacked their empty plates onto her arm like a waitress, planting a quick kiss onto her son's temple and a loving one on her girlfriends lips, before shuffling into the kitchen to clean up. Emma watched her go because… well, what a view. But when she turned back to her son, she was practically smacked with scowl.

"Ma." Henry sighed, shaking his head in disapproval.

"What's the matter kid?" Emma questioned, almost laughing at the fact that, yes, Henry definitely had his mom's facial expressions down pat.

"Ma, have you taken mom out on a date?" Henry glared his Ma down, actually making the blonde feel like she was in the middle of an interrogation.

"Uh, n-no. Why? Should I?" Emma felt out of her element. The thought of a date never crossed her mind. She planned to do what all her boyfriends did to her: just jump in and hope you don't drown.

Henry whined disapprovingly, "Ma, you have to do things differently this time."

"Why?" Emma felt like a five year old. Are we there yet? Where do babies come from? Why? Why? Why?

"Emma, mom has never been romanced by anyone other than Ruby and they weren't together that long. Daniel was a secret. Leopold was forced onto her. Graham was… yeah. Robin was a desperate attempt to hide who she really all were. She's really insecure about herself. She doesn't think she deserves the romance, and the flowers, and the dates. Or you. She expects to have no say or to lose you. You're just trying to get past that stuff but you should do it. She wants it from you. I heard mom tell Ruby that she wants to be courted."

Emma smiled shyly, "She told me that too when she was talking to me about Ruby weeks ago."

"So do it. Grandpa told me that dating is a beautiful process when it's done with the right person. Maybe you'll like it!"

And that's how it happened. That's why Emma was standing on the porch in a black and white casual tux, checking her watch again. 6:34 pm. This date had to be perfect. For Regina. She wanted the brunette to enjoy this evening so damn much because Henry was right, Regina was treated badly by almost all of her lovers and she deserved better. Emma was pretty sure the pressure was giving her an ulcer.

"You know," Emma jumped before glaring at Ruby, who looked way to smug for her liking, "you could just come in and wait for her in the study."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Emma asked and, for the first time in a while, it lacked malice. Ruby chuckled.

"She was freaking out about everything. Still is. I came down to avoid pulling my hair out when I heard the soles of your shoes cry out for help. Although, I do hear that pacing is good exercise, especially the way you're doing it Speedy."

"I guess we're both having nervous breakdowns, huh?" Emma attempted a smile that ended up resembling a grimace.

"Yeah, it's cause you guys aren't really used to it." Ruby opened the door wider, allowing the blonde entry.

"Dates?" Emma smoothed out her wavy hair for the umpteenth time.

"Being so deeply in love. For people like us, the ones who have lost a lot, it scares us to love so much because we believe we'll lose it all eventually."

Emma gulped, "I can't… lose her now… or ever…"

Ruby smiled empathetically, "Yeah. That's why she's brushed her teeth nine times and her room looks like Hurricane Regina tore through it. She's scared. Remember, Em, Daniel died simply because he loved her. It's hard for her to open herself up like this, to show the public. Storybrooke and the mayor may be on better terms but she still fears retaliation."

"So what do I do?" Emma tensed, "I want her to feel safe."

"Let her know she's not alone here. Tell her you're shitting bricks too. Tell her you've loved and lost too. Tell her you understand. I've tried but I have a feeling that she'll only listen if it comes from you." Emma let out a breath.

"I can do that." The blonde was relieved. She could help. She wasn't useless. Ruby gestured to the stairs before grabbing her purse from Regina's foyer. Ruby told her where she could find the woman's she opened the front door, ready to give the lovers space.

"Go. She needs you." Emma climbed the stairs slowly, trying to formulate a speech or a comforting anecdote. That went out the window when she heard a small cry. Emma automatically ran to the master bedroom, pausing outside the door with a hand pressed against it. She grasped the knob tightly, hoping she heard wrong. Another whimper came from behind the door.

"Baby?" Emma called softly. The whimpers stopped abruptly.

"Emma?" She heard the husky voice of her love. Emma smiled sadly, upset that her counterpart was distressed.

"Yeah, sweetheart, it's me. Can I come in?" Emma heard some shuffling.

"But I'm not presentable yet." Emma smiled.

"My love, you always look perfect to me," Emma waited, "Can I come in?"

"Okay." She heard the former queen whisper hesitantly. She turned the gold knob slowly before pushing her way inside. Regina was sitting on the edge of her bed wearing only a towel. Her makeup was ruined, the tears falling from her glistening eyes causing the foundation and eyeliner to run. She never looked more beautiful. She trusted Emma to see her unprepared and the blonde couldn't look away.

"You look stunning," She heard Regina scoff nasally, "It's true. You're always so beautiful in my eyes, whether you're a mess in a towel or the flawless Madame Mayor."

Regina smiled shakily, her breathing slightly off kilter, "I'm scared."

"Me too," The brunette looked into Emma's eyes and saw sincerity. The savior dropped onto her knees in front of her and clasped their hands together, squeezing reassuringly, "It's okay to be scared."

"You don't think I'm being absolutely ridiculous?" Regina hiccupped. Emma chuckled softly, glancing around at the destruction left by Hurricane Regina.

"Never. If you feel it, it isn't ridiculous. We have those feelings for a reason," Regina sighed with relief at the blonde's words.

Regina smiled shyly, "Really?"

"Gina, my list of relationships is one fuck up after another. Neal let me go to jail. He left me. Walsh was a scheming, flying monkey that was gathering intel for Zelena. And Hook, well, you know him," The brunette laughed lightly, "I have a lot of baggage and I act strong all the time but I have so many issues. I'm afraid that one day you'll wake up and realized how much of a loser I am."

"Don't say that. You're not a loser." Regina sternly warned. Emma felt pride and love well up in her chest. No one had ever said that to her before, not as if it were a fact.

"But I think I am because that's what I've been told by former foster parents and boyfriends. But when I'm around you, I feel like the savior, the woman that can do anything and I'm scared that you'll leave or that something will happen to you and I'll be left here. And you know what I used to do when I was scared?"

"Run." Regina answered quietly.

"Yeah but I don't feel that with you. I'm scared but I want you so bad that my feet wouldn't move an inch. I'm scared but I love you so much that it would physically hurt to stop now. I've never felt this way about anyone, Regina, not ever and that terrifies me to the core. But my heart needs you and I think your heart needs me too. We were meant to meet. We were meant to be here. We can heal together. We can have an amazing life. We need this. We deserve it."

"I love you too." Emma smiled brightly before leaning in to kiss the woman tenderly.

"Come on, baby, get dressed. Honestly, you could wear a garbage bag and I'd swoon."

A/N 2: Next Chapter=Swan Queen Date and Intro to Ruby's new love.

I got suggestions for Ruby's love interest and I just want to take a moment to tell you why I didn't go those routes. Someone said Belle and, believe me, on the show they have chemistry (I've seen it) but for this story, I don't want to deal with Rumple as much so I'm not going to mess with it. And someone suggested Scarlett Witch but I don't know enough about her to do her justice.

Anyway, thank you for encouraging the continuation of this story. I'm having a blast and I'm glad you're enjoying it!