"So how are my 2 favorite lovebirds doing?"
Ruby put down a cup of hot cocoa in front of her friend.
Emma gave her one of her best grins in reply.
"That good eh?"
"Kind off. Well I mean at least it's not bad or anything. So I guess that makes it good. Right?"
Without waiting for an answer, she rambled on. "And…I've told Snow. Well told, she guessed actually."
"I know." The red-loving beauty admitted.
"She came to me for advice the other day."
"She did what? When?!" The shock of that information made Emma burn her lips on the still too hot cocoa.
"What did you tell her?"
"Don't worry Emm! I told her she should talk to you about it. But when she asked me if I knew anything, I just couldn't lie to her."
Emma let out a frustrated moan while dropping her head on the table in front of her.
"I am still your mothers friend remember? I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here."
"I know I know. And you're right. There wasn't much else you could have done." She mumbled against the table.
Ruby took a seat at the booth, putting an arm around her friend.
"So how did she take it?"
Emma sat back up, suddenly remembering she was the sheriff of this town, not some 8 year old that didn't get the ice-cream she wanted.
"Well, I think she's ok with it. I mean, she doesn't love the idea. But she's not angry or anything. Then again, it's not like Regina and I are actually dating. I just like her...a lot. We might have dinner dates, and the other day we slept together, but..."
"Excuse me? Rewind... You did what?!"
Ruby sat closer to her. "Gimme all the dirty details, and you better have a damn good reason for not telling me sooner!"
Emma jumped at the sudden gossip attack. "Relax Rubes! When I said sleep I actually meant SLEEP"
The dark haired woman backed down in disappointment.
"She wasn't feeling well, slept on the couch, had a sore back, and I gave her a massage. She then fell asleep in my arms...sort of..."
"Oh...my...god! THAT'S GREAT NEWS!"
"And why exactly is this great news?"
Emma tried the cocoa again, feeling the sweet sensation entering her mouth. For a brief moment everything seemed flawless.
"Don't you get it? She obviously doesn't mind being close to you. How else could she fall asleep? She trusts you, feels comfortable enough to sleep in your arms. For her, that is a big deal Emma.
Suddenly it hit her. Ruby is right, this was a big deal. Not just for her, but it must be for Regina as well.
She jumped up from the booth and thanked her friend.
"I need to learn how to cook!" And just like that she stormed out of the diner.
"What was that all about?" Granny appeared out of nowhere next to her waitress, watching the sheriff's dramatic exit.
"I honestly have no idea anymore." The perplexed girl answered.
Emma started freaking out on her way home. I have to learn how to cook, I need to feed her. I have never cooked a proper meal in my life! What should I make? What does she like? Oh my god...what DOES she like?
She reached into her pocket for her phone, and decided to do the unthinkable: Just ask.
Do you have any allergies, or dislikes? Emma
- I am not so good with cats. And I dislike snow (the weather that is). R
I was talking about food!
Regina had to laugh; she couldn't believe Emma fell for that.
- You should have been more specific dear.
Emma felt a rush running through her veins. She had been called 'dear' often by the woman. But somehow, it felt completely different now.
Before she could ask her about the food again, the next message came in.
I'm fine with anything. Surprise me.
During the next few days Emma prepared herself for their dinner date. She kept a pile of cooking books in her room, with dozen of post-it's in-between the pages with potential recipes.
Her goal was to make something easy, yet impressive looking. So far, she had no success in finding something.
"Sn..mom!" Emma called after her mother who just walked past her room.
"Is it really difficult to make a stew?"
Her mother came in and sat down beside her, reading the recipe her daughter held in her lap.
"Don't try that honey. You need to have some experience for that."
Emma let out a frustrated moan.
"I'm never going to be able to find something I can actually cook."
"Why don't you just make a fondue? Everybody loves cheese fondue."
"Really? A fondue? I told her I can 'cook'."
She started going through another book, in the hopes of having missed something awesome earlier.
Snow put her hand on the flipping pages to stop her daughter from going insane.
"If she likes you, she won't mind. Your dad is a terrible cook, yet I love him."
Emma knew she should just give up. It was better to accept your defeat, then to kill the woman you love with your cooking skills.
"Fondue. Ok, I suppose that might work."
Snow got up from the bed, feeling proud for saving her daughter from a stressful cooking experience.
"I will get you a recipe for fondue."
"There are recipes for fondue?" Emma immediately felt the stress return.
"Emma Emma Emma!" Henry ran towards his mother as soon as she came home from work.
"Where's the fire?" She looked around to make sure there wasn't one. You can never be too careful with a 10 year old around.
"Grandma and granddad are taking me camping tomorrow! How cool is that? We're going fishing, and we're gonna roast marshmallows and..."
Emma recounted the days in her head, yep it was definitely Thursday today.
"I was going to cook for you and your mom tomorrow."
At that moment Snow appeared from around the corner.
"Regina probably wouldn't mind right? You can have the fondue together?" She gave her daughter a wink.
Emma smiled the biggest smile possible.
"I think that might be ok."
Henry ran back to James to get some more camping-planning done.
"Thank you." Emma told her mom.
"You really didn't have to do this, I know how difficult this is for you."
"It is, but it would be even more difficult not to be involved at all." She gave her daughter a hug.
"I hope you'll have a nice time tomorrow."
"Yeah, me too." She started to get worried now. Just the two of them at one table? Making conversation?
"I should let her know about the change of plans."
The queen got interrupted by the sound of her phone, while reading one of the many books that kept her busy during the day.
She put it aside and read Emma's name on the display.
Is it ok if Henry goes camping with my parents tomorrow? We can still have dinner together. Emma
At first she felt extremely irritated, but that was soon forgotten when she realized Emma didn't want to cancel their plans.
- Does that mean we can actually have dinner at your place? Regina
Emma hadn't even thought of that yet. She invited Regina for dinner while she lived with her parents! Smart thinking.
I guess so. If you're ok with that?
- I could really use a change of scenery, so yes.
