As promised...the last chapter.

The diner had never been so silent. The only thing Emma could hear was the laboured breathing coming from her own mouth and the thump of her heartbeat.

Her mind scrambled for something to say – anything to say. It didn't have to be clever or profound. Hell, it didn't even have to make sense! She just wanted to break this awful, tense silence that had burst through the door with them.

Emma was on the verge of grabbing Regina's hand and bolting back out the diner door when, as if by providence, a dish in the kitchen fell and smashed on the floor. The noise seemed to jolt people to their senses and they quickly went back to what they'd been doing before Emma and Regina's rather sensational entrance. Some, amazingly, even appeared shamefaced at having stared for so long at the two women.

This wasn't right, thought Emma. Where was the anger, the accusations? Where was the mob mentality? Even Leroy, the most outspoken anti-Evil Queen activist had gone back to his drink as if nothing was wrong.

Was it possible that Snow and Charming hadn't run their mouth? Maybe people didn't know about them yet.

Emma didn't know whether to be comforted or disheartened at the thought. On the one hand it could mean that her parents were respecting her privacy. On the other it could signify the shame they felt over their daughter's relationship and the desperate desire they had to keep it from the rest of the town.

Either way it meant that now Emma would be responsible for outing the pair. Heaven help me, she thought. This was not something she'd prepared for.

To test the waters, Emma reached back and grabbed Regina's hand slowly. It could have been a gesture of friendship, a steadying hand after their little stumble. When no-one reacted Emma led Regina closer to her, keeping the brunette's hand grasped in her own.

Again no one said anything.

Emma scanned the room. Everywhere she looked heads were turned away from her and Regina. They had seen the hand holding, she could tell by the flush in their faces. But still they said nothing.

Something very strange was going on.

Emma looked over at Regina to see a look of surprise and shock she was sure mirrored her own. "Could this be true?" the look said. Did people really not care that they were together?

Before either of them could give voice to the questions buzzing around in their heads, Granny's voice came from the front counter, warm and gruff at the same time.

"I was wondering when you two would get here. Wait just a minute - I have your basket all ready to go out back."

Granny bustled quickly out of sight and returned moments later with a large, generously packed picnic basket. It had a wicker exterior and was lined with red and white checked gingham.

"Here you go. Everything you asked for, plus a little something extra from me."

Granny proffered the laden basket and Emma leant across the counter to grab it from her.

"Thanks Granny, I really appreciate this," said Emma sincerely.

"Yeah, yeah," Granny brushed her off. "Know what I appreciate?" She held out a wrinkled hand, palm upward and wiggled the fingers slightly.

With a grin and an amused chuckle, Emma deposited the money she owed Granny for the picnic basket in the old woman's hand, shaking her head in mock disbelief.

"You're all heart Granny, all heart."

"Heart doesn't pay my bills Sheriff!" Granny turned to head back to the kitchen, calling out over her shoulder as she went "You kids have fun."

Once she was out of sight, Emma turned back towards Regina – indicating with her head that they should leave now. Before this "too good to be true" situation turned out to be too good to be true.

They were out the door and half way down the street when a loud voice issued after them.

Here we go, thought Emma. Here it comes.

"Hey! Emma, Regina – wait up!"

Tensing herself for a fight and feeling Regina do the same next to her, Emma turned towards the voice in a defensive stance. Her legs bent slightly, ready to run and her eyes darted back and forth, trying to take in their potential attacker's form.

The long limbed gait of Ruby came striding towards them and Emma's heart sunk. While she'd known intellectually that no one in town was going to like her relationship with Regina, part of her had hoped that Ruby – the closest thing she had to a friend in this town these days – would at least support her decision. She crossed her internal fingers and hoped that this wouldn't turn ugly.

Ruby came to an abrupt halt in front of them, exhaling deeply. She put her hands on her waist and hunched a touch. "Jeez you guys walk fast! I tried to get your attention as you were leaving and the next thing I know you're almost out of sight. And I really am not wearing the right shoes for a jog."

Ruby indicated the stiletto heels strapped to her feet, shoes that were no doubt cutting in and giving the tall brunette blisters as she spoke.

"And you were pursuing us with such vigour because…?" drawled Regina.

At Regina's words Ruby looked almost bashful. If her skirt had of come down far enough, Emma had no doubt she'd be twirling its edges between her fingers like a shy schoolgirl. Not a description she'd ever have thought to apply to her wild friend.

"It's about the two of you… I just wanted to say..."

"Ruby…" Emma tried to cut her off but the lycanthrope wouldn't be interrupted.

"No Emma – look I know Snow and David said no one was supposed to talk to you guys about it but…"

"They said what?" Emma couldn't help blurting it out. She glanced over at Regina and saw that her girlfriend's mouth was hanging open in a very unladylike manner. This was a massive shock to the both of them.

"Yeah the other day," Ruby explained. "They called a town meeting and told everyone that you two were a couple now, that no one was allowed to give you crap about it and that we should all just let you be – you know, give you space.

And I swear, I'm going to do that but I just wanted to say... that I think it's great!"

"You do?" asked Emma, feeling slightly dazed from the overload of information she'd just received.

"Yeah!" said Ruby enthusiastically "I mean you guys are like the ultimate proof that we can actually be different people here, start over. As someone with a whole lot of past to get over its kind of inspiring actually."

Too stunned to speak, and too grateful to do anything else, Emma launched herself at Ruby - pulling the woman into a fierce hug.

"Whoa, calm down there girl," Ruby chuckled "We wouldn't want your little woman here getting jealous."

Regina found the gentle teasing encouragement enough to regain control of her senses. There was nothing like the need to scold when it came to finding your voice.

"Miss Lucas, while it is indeed true that Miss Swan and I are now in a romantic relationship – I am not now nor shall I ever be anyone's little woman."

Ruby laughed again, and as Emma pulled away from the hug she beamed at the both of them. "Adorable, just adorable" Ruby beamed. "Well, I better be getting back before Granny has a bitch fit at me for abandoning my post. Enjoy your night!"

And with that she strode back in the direction of the diner, sashaying as though she were on the catwalks of Milan.

Emma raised an eyebrow in Regina's direction. "We're adorable," she said matter of factually.

Regina raised her own perfect brow. "Apparently so."

Emma held both hands out and Regina slipped hers into them, allowing the blonde to massage her fingers gently. Looking at their intertwined digits, Emma spoke quietly.

"So, Snow and Charming huh..? What do we think that's about?"

Regina looked carefully into Emma's face, trying to read the woman's thoughts. "It would appear your parents have come to our defense. As…." here Regina paused, searching for the perfect word selection, "… unbelievable… as that seems."

"But why?" asked Emma exasperatedly. "I mean they completely freak out when we tell them, then stop talking to us completely…"

"You did indicate that you'd contact them once we'd all calmed down," Regina pointed out.

"…and then they do a total 180 and defend us to the entire town? What the hell are they doing?"

"Showing they love you?" suggested Regina. "In the best way they know how. It's rather sweet if you think about it."

"Seriously? Organising a town meeting behind our backs to threaten people into leaving us alone?" Emma asked incredulously.

"I said sweet, dear, not smart. Not particularly subtle either, but then subtlety never was your parents' strong suit."

"I guess…" Emma felt like her mind was running behind the rest of her, like a school kid chasing a bus. She'd wondered how long it would take her to catch up.

"You must have known they'd come around eventually. Nobility and valour and all that. A Charming would never abandon a family member."

"Wait…" Emma interjected. "Why are you being so nice about them? Your history aside they said some pretty terrible things to you when we first got together. Why are you sticking up for them now?"

Regina sighed and took a step towards Emma, leaning forward so their foreheads touched. "Because as absurd as it may be I'm in love with you, and would like to make a life with you. A life that's going to fulfil you. You'd never be truly happy being estranged from your parents, Emma." She pressed a gentle kiss to the blonde woman's lips. When it ended she pulled back half an inch and breathed her next words into Emma's mouth. "And I want you to be happy."

Emma closed the distance between them and kissed Regina back, more forcefully. As she ran her hands up into Regina's hair, Emma pushed her response into every movement and every touch. "I am," her fingertips whispered "I am, I am, I am."

Okay I lied, there's one more chapter to go. Every stage production must have its curtain call after all!