Emma stomped into Granny's, fully intending to get a cup of coffee to go as she finished her rounds.
No. Screw that. She wasn't going to go back to the station now that she knew what Graham was really doing on his "night shift."
In a fury, she turned around to storm back out of the diner and ran smack into Archie.
"Emma!" he said in surprise.
"Sorry, Archie, didn't see you," she muttered as she sidestepped him, just trying to get past him and back into her bug and back to Mary Margaret's place so she could sleep and forget about what she knew.
"Wait, Emma…" Archie's voice seemed genuinely concerned; she sighed and turned back around.
"Yeah?"
"Are you OK?"
Emma raised an eyebrow.
"Do you…do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't need therapy, Archie," she sighed.
"No, not therapy. Just…as a friend." There's almost a pleading look in her eyes, and for a moment, Emma wondered if he was as desperate for company as she was sometimes.
"Not really. But I do want some cocoa."
They sat together at the bar, Emma with her cocoa, Archie with a glass of milk. They didn't say anything for a while, just enjoying their drinks when Archie broke the silence.
"You know, I've been meaning to thank you, Emma. You, um, really inspired me the other day."
"I did?"
"Yeah…I'm not going to let Regina intimidate me anymore," he continued as he put a trembling hand on hers. "You were right; I should've listened to my conscience."
For a moment, Emma sat there, confused, before she recognized the touch of his hand and the too-earnest look on his face. Realization struck her, and she winced, pulling her hand away.
"Oh, Archie…I've gotta go." She dug out her wallet and waved Ruby over.
"Emma, wait." Again, he touched her arm. "Let me. Just as a thank you."
Emma frowned; she hated doing this. "I'm sorry."
Archie forced himself to smile. "It's OK."
Once she left, he ordered another drink, this time brandy. He knew he wasn't going to get a chance to buy Emma a drink again.