Chapter 14

"Swan, over here," Belle called out from across the cafe as her friend glanced around, trying to spot her, "Hey," she hugged her friend as she arrived.

"Heya," Emma returned the hug, "You alright?"

Belle bobbed her head, smiling, "Sure. Are you? Did you talk to Miss Blanchard?"

Emma nodded, "Uh-huh, I've got a lot of work to do," she sighed as she sat down, "But hey, she gave me the extensive reading list, so at least I can choose better books."

"Ooh, can I see?" Belle leaned forward eagerly.

Emma laughed at her friends excitement, "You dork," she teased as she rifled through her books until she found the list and handed it over, "I haven't had a full look at it yet, but there were a few I'd read already, so I guess that helps."

"Yep, yep, yep, yep, twice, yep, yep, yep," Belle muttered as she ticked off the books she had read.

Emma giggled, "Such a bookworm," she teased, "At least you can help me, huh?" she nibbled her bottom lip nervously.

Belle looked up from the list, "Of course I can."

Emma smiled, "Thanks, Belle. How are you, anyway? I feel like I kind of stole the thunder... I mean, you just broke up with Ruby and - "

"Em, don't worry about it," Belle shrugged, "I mean...it was the right thing, with Ruby. I'm obviously not ready to be in a relationship. I guess what sucks more is losing her as a friend... She must hate me," she finished quietly.

Emma frowned, "I don't think she hates you. She's just hurting, but hey, maybe in time you guys can talk again. I miss her too."

The bell sounded and both girls sighed as they packed up their belongings and began walking through the halls.

"I've got study period, I better go to the library, try and get my head around all this work," Emma stated, "I'll see you later, Belle."

"Good luck. See you, Em," Belle smiled as she gave her a friend a wave before turning down a separate corridor.

Emma headed to the library, dragging her feet. She was tired, but she knew she needed to at least get a start on this heavy workload. She groaned internally, realising she wouldn't even get relief when the day was over as she would be studying at home too. At least that would be a little more bearable with Regina by her side, though also incredibly distracting, she thought with a small smile to herself. She could think of a way or two that Regina would be able to help...motivate her.

No, she told herself, don't think about that now or your mind will never get onto this assignment. She shook her head, trying to empty it of thoughts of Regina as she turned down the corridor leading to the library.

"Emma!" Quick footsteps accompanied the familiar voice.

The blonde turned around nervously as Ruby caught up to her, puffing slightly, "Hey," she tapped her fingers against her leg anxiously; she was not in the mood for another argument.

Ruby stared at her friend for a moment, "So... Dr Whale told Granny you were in hospital...that you'd tried to..." she stuttered, "I guess, he didn't know we weren't talking, I'm sure he shouldn't have told Granny but you know, we're...or we were like family," she realised she was rambling, "Are you okay?"

Emma blinked, "Um," she swallowed, noting the genuine concern in her friends eyes, "I'm okay," she said weakly.

Ruby licked her lips uncomfortably shifting from foot to foot, "Are you sure? I'm sorry I wasn't there for you."

"You are?" Emma said, dumbfounded.

Ruby's eyes widened, "Of course I am... Em, you're my friend. I mean, everything that happened...it sucked, and it still sucks, but it doesn't mean I don't care about you guys. It doesn't mean I want you to...to..."

Emma chewed her lip, "Thanks, Rubes," she said softly, "I've missed you."

Ruby smiled in relief, "I've missed you too," she admitted, "I mean, we were all so tight before... I know it's not your fault for what happened with Belle, it was stupid to blame you. I'm sorry."

Emma flinched, "Please, don't apologise. I mean, I really hurt you... But you're right, I've got to get my temper under control," she shrugged.

"You know... even if we're not talking or whatever, you can call me any time... if you need to. If you feel like...that," Ruby sighed, "I just want you to know I'd be there for you."

Emma nodded, "Thanks, Rubes," she smiled a little, "I guess we can't just go back to being friends like before, huh? Things are different now."

Ruby teased her hair with her fingers, shrugging, "Things are different," she agreed, "But, I mean... I miss you guys. I don't know if we can go back to how it was before... But, we could try, right?"

Emma nodded, her smile growing, "Sure, I'd like that. I know Belle would too."

Ruby smiled slyly, "You must miss Granny's cooking, huh?"

Emma nodded sheepishly, "Yeah, I guess we've kinda boycotted Granny's lately...Other than breakfast sometimes..."

"Cause you know I'm not there," Ruby cut in.

The blonde shrugged, "Yeah. So, dinner tomorrow?"

Ruby hesitated before she grinned, "Yeah, sure. At 6? You really think Belle would wanna see me? I was kinda...mean to her."

Emma frowned, "I know she would, Rubes. I think we've all been kinda...mean to one another lately. Hey, I better head off, I've got a tonne of work to do, but I'll text you."

Ruby nodded, "Sweet," she moved closer to her friend and pulled a surprised Emma into her arms, "I do love you, Em," she whispered into her hair, "Please remember that."

"You're tired, dear, take a break," Regina said gently, placing a hand on blonde hair.

Emma looked up at her, "I've got so much to do," she mumbled, "I can't afford to take a break."

Regina pulled the corner of her lip into her mouth, "Honey, I know you have a lot to do, but I don't want you to push yourself too hard. You need to give your brain a rest every now and then, or you'll burn yourself out."

Emma rolled her eyes, "You're such a teacher."

Regina narrowed her eyes, "Is that meant to be an insult?"

The teenager grinned with a devious sparkle in her eye, "Nope," she shrugged, "You know I like teacher's."

This time Regina rolled her eyes, "Yes, dear, I know. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just filling in some kind of fantasy or fetish of yours."

Emma pouted, "No way," she placed a hand on the older woman's cheek, "It's just an added bonus that you're a sexy Spanish teacher."

Regina leaned into the warm hand on her face, "Mm, I'm glad," she murmured, "You're schoolgirl crushing is pretty adorable."

Emma blushed, "Your eyes are shining," she said quietly.

"That's because I'm looking at you," Regina whispered as a smile overtook her lips.

"Nice answer," Emma grinned before she felt the brunette's hand on her chin and the two moved forward simultaneously until their lips crashed together, moving in unison for minutes on end until, out of breath, both parties pulled away.

"You're very good at that," Regina murmured, pulling the teenager's chair closer to her.

"So…this is what you meant by taking a break, huh?" Emma teased gently.

Regina chortled, "Well, not exactly, but I'm certainly not complaining," she traced the dark circles under the blonde's eyes, "You do look tired, though, sweetheart."

Emma nodded, "I guess I am, but we still have to study for your Spanish test next week."

"We don't have to do everything tonight, Emma. We can study for that, tomorrow," Regina said, absent-mindedly running her hair through the teenagers hair.

Emma shrugged, "Well, yeah, but I wanted to study Spanish," she muttered.

Regina laughed, "Oh, you silly girl. You are obsessed, aren't you?" she teased.

Emma blushed, "But I had a fun studying game in mind," she admitted.

The older woman quirked an eyebrow, looking amused, "Oh, did you? A studying game, huh? Tell me about this invention, then."

Emma looked down, feeling shy all of a sudden, "Well, you know…like you could test me and when I got a question right, you could like…take off some clothing or something," she mumbled, "And then, when I did really good, we could like…well, you know, you could seduce me or something. In Spanish. Like whisper in my ear," she sighed, closing her eyes, "And kiss me, and hold me," she blushed, opening her eyes as she shrugged, "I don't know."

Regina chuckled but couldn't hide the fire in her eyes, "Well, that does sound like a rather enticing game, dear. But, wouldn't you rather do it when you're awake enough to enjoy it?"

Emma tilted her head, squinting her eyes in thoughtfulness, "Hmm, you do make a good point, I suppose. But I'm having dinner with Belle and Ruby tomorrow, remember?"

"Hmm, I remember," Regina nodded, "I'm sure we can find time."

Emma nodded, chewing her tongue gently before she opened her mouth, "May I ask you something, Regina?"

Regina's brow furrowed, "Of course."

"You don't ever go out or anything, other than for work things… You never talk about your family. You lived by yourself before you took me in. I don't get it, you're so nice, why don't you… I mean…"

"Why don't I have any friends?" Regina finished quietly.

Emma nodded, a little awkwardly.

Regina sighed, "It's okay, dear. I suppose… most people, I find, well, simply annoying. I'm not one for these trivial conversations and surface relationships," she shrugged, "I've always enjoyed my own company, ever since I was a child. I mostly had imaginary friends," she smiled at the memories, before shaking her head, "It may seem silly, but nobody could ever really live up to those perfect images… " she sighed, "I suppose it's not normal, but I just felt safer in my own little bubble."

Emma frowned, "Didn't you get lonely, though? I mean, I like my own company too… but I'd get really lonely if I didn't have friends."

Regina looked thoughtful, "I suppose so. I think…after Bianca, I thought it would be easier not to be close to anyone…" she licked her lips, "And then, you came to me and I realised just how lonely I had been."

Emma felt her heart swell, "Really? I guess that makes sense… I had imaginary friends too. Actually, I had this whole imaginary world I used to hide in… I guess, I still do a little, but when I met you…it really slowed down. I guess it was my safe place, but that's you now, so…" she shrugged.

Regina smiled, "That's very sweet. You never miss that world?"

Emma shrugged, "Not much. Maybe if I'm really down or scared, I think it's like habit to retreat there… But um, the truth is, I had all these friends there who were just like made up people, and then all of a sudden, you were there too. Well, I mean a made up version I guess, but it was you. When we first started talking, I guess I knew you made me feel safe."

Regina's eyes widened in wonder, "Wow," she simply said, "You make me feel safe too," she smiled.

Emma blushed slightly, feeling the older woman's curious eyes boring into her, before she looked up, "But what about your family?" she asked, frowning.

Regina sighed, "My father passed away not long after Bianca did… My mother is, well, she's difficult."

Emma nodded, unsure whether to push, "Difficult," she repeated.

"Yes," Regina nodded, "She doesn't like anything I do. She thinks I'm…strange, and has ever since I was little. She was always telling me to be more like everyone else, to be more social, to wear dresses which I used to hate, and as I got older, told me that teaching was not a respectable job. My mother…was not a nice woman, she doesn't like that I like girls. In fact, she didn't even like Bianca, not that anything did happen between us, but we did spend all of our time together so there were rumours in the town… When Bianca died, my mother said…" Regina's breath left her body for a moment, until she felt a soft hand wrap around her own, "She said it was punishment for Bianca liking women and that if I wanted a better life, I should…try to be what she called normal."

"Wow," Emma breathed, squeezing the hand she held, "That's horrible. I can't imagine… I always thought a mom should support you and comfort you and love you unconditionally, but I guess even for those who get to stay with their parents, it's not always like that."

"No, I suppose it isn't. I have not spoken to my mother since then."

Emma's eyebrows shot up, "But that was so long ago… Doesn't she try to contact you?"

Regina shook her head, "No, she does not," she noted the horrified look on the teenagers face, "But it's okay – I don't think I would want to speak to her. Bianca was my best friend, and when she died, I needed someone to hold me, to comfort me, to tell me that good things happened to bad people… And my mother told me the exact opposite and left me crying in my room for weeks. She told me I was weak and to get over it, it was no loss for the world to get rid of another one of my kind," her nostrils flared in anger before she sighed, "That woman was poison to me, she only ever made me sad."

Emma nodded sadly, "I'm sorry she was like that… You deserved better."

Regina's eyes softened, "So did you, Emma," she said quietly, "But, at least now we have each other," she pulled the teenager into her chest, kissing her on the cheek, the jaw and then her ear, "Maybe we should get you to bed, though, hey?"

Emma blinked, "Maybe," she said reluctantly, "Do you still have much more marking to do?"

Regina shrugged, "A little, I'll bring it to bed," she smiled, knowing the teenager hated to sleep without her in the bed and her heart warmed at the relief in Emma's eyes before they trudged to the bedroom hand in hand.