A/N: Hey, sorry for the delay! A bit more Belle-centric but don't worry, more development for Regina/Emma next chapter! Enjoy! =] Thanks for reading

Chapter 19

Emma flicked the television channels in boredom. So many channels and nothing on, she thought, closing her eyes until there was a knock at the door. She rubbed her eyes; she hadn't been asleep, merely dozing but her eyes felt heavy as she trudged to the door.

"Hey," her enthusiasm lifted a bit upon seeing her best friend and let the brunette enter.

"Hey, Em, how's the suspension?" Belle asked, before giving her friend a quick hug.

Emma sighed, "It's fucking boring, I never thought I'd actually miss school. I mean, have you seen daytime television? It's like Regina had a hundred channels and there's nothing on."

Belle rolled her eyes, "I don't think you're meant to watch television on suspension."

Emma laughed quickly, "Yeah, yeah. I've been doing my homework too, mom," she teased.

The brunette smiled, "Good, you want me to look over anything?" she offered.

Emma thought for a moment, "Hm, maybe this essay I'm working on… but let me finish it first then I'll show you," she smiled, "Thanks, Belle."

Belle smiled, "It's cool, you know I enjoy it," she replied honestly.

Emma grinned, "Yeah, I know you do," she giggled, "Hey, how's Ruby?"

"She's good," Belle shrugged.

"And you two are alright? Like it's all good?" Emma questioned.

Belle frowned a moment but then smiled, "Yeah, it is. I mean, there was a little bit of awkwardness to begin with, but we're all good now."

Emma nodded, "I'm glad," she hesitated, "I'm sorry I'm not there to keep you company," she mumbled.

Belle looked at her friend quizzically, "Em, it's okay, I have Ruby," she reassured her, "It's not like it was when we were younger, you know that. Nobody gives me trouble anymore, I can do okay without you there," she convinced her friend, not realising she would be eating those very words soon.

Emma smiled, "So, it's alright for me to get suspended then?"

Belle didn't return the smile, "Don't push your luck, you," she nudged her friend playfully.

Emma grinned, "You wanna watch some crappy daytime tv with me?"

Belle smiled, "Thought you'd never ask," she took a seat next to her friend.

They chatted about everything and nothing. This was why their friendship was special; they could go from a deep and meaningful to giggling teenagers in the space of seconds. They could laugh about lame soapie's and talk about their favourite books. They could sit in silence and just enjoy one another's company. Belle smiled as Emma leant on her and closed her eyes, and let her own close too.

Regina clicked her car locked and headed up the steps, another load of marking tucked under her arm. She sighed as she fumbled for her keys and unlocked the front door, stepping into the apartment, her expression softening at the sight of the two teenagers asleep on the couch.

She set her things down gently and tried to be quiet as she made herself a cup of tea and sat down as she began her marking, until she heard some rustling on the couch. She glanced up and saw Belle sitting up, yawning and wiping her eyes. She stood up, and stretched, smiling over at Regina as she noticed her presence and making her way over to the dining table.

"Hey," she smiled, glancing back at Emma, checking she wasn't speaking too loudly.

"Hey, day time tv, huh?" Regina nodded at the television, "Put anyone to sleep, that crap."

Belle nodded, chuckling, "Yep, are you just here for your lunch hour?"

Regina nodded, "Yeah, I didn't realise you were coming over this morning."

"Class was cancelled," Belle shrugged, "So I thought I'd come visit. She must get bored without anyone around all day."

Regina sighed, "I know, that's why I came too," she smiled, "But it's only a couple more days."

Emma groaned as she woke up, "You guys are noisy," she mumbled.

Regina rolled her eyes, "Hello to you too, dear."

Emma smiled sheepishly as she rolled off the couch and headed to the table, wrapping her arms around the still-sitting Regina, "Hello," she whispered, before looking at the clock, "Oh man, half the lunch hour is gone already, you should have woken me," she pouted.

Regina bit her lip, "I'm sorry, dear, you two looked so adorable dozing on the couch, I couldn't bear to wake you."

Emma sighed, "Yeah, yeah."

"Hey, at least I get a head start on these," she gestured to her marking, "Means we'll have more time to ourselves tonight."

Emma smiled and nodded, "Yay. Will you come straight home then?"

Regina nodded, "I will."

Belle giggled, "You guys are so cute, like an old married couple or something."

Emma blushed; sometimes when she looked at Regina, she forgot anybody else existed, even if they were in the same room.

Regina quirked an eyebrow, "Who are you calling old?" she laughed as Belle looked guilty, "Would you like a lift back to school, dear?"

Belle was reading her book at the back of the library, completely enthralled by the story in front of her. She should be doing her homework, but even she knew how to have fun from time to time. She could practically hear Emma giggling at her idea of fun in her head, but she didn't care; reading was fun.

She didn't even realise someone approach her table until they spoke.

"Notice your friends become absentee."

Belle raised her eyes from her book to see Brooke standing in front of her table.

She sighed, "What do you want, Brooke?"

Brooke put her hands and leant closer to the small brunette, invading her personal space, "You speak too quietly. No wonder you can't put her on the right track."

Belle leant back against her chair and put her book down, "I'm not biting, Brooke. Just leave me alone."

Brooke rolled her eyes at the weak demand, "I don't get it though, how someone who seems so…good can be friends with that."

"You don't know me or her," Belle replied a little louder.

Brooke shrugged, "You know she's bad."

"You're the one whose trying to rile people up for no reason."

The other student just smiled, "Sorry, Belle, you're just collateral damage."

Belle frowned, "Look, you don't agree with her way of life or whatever, fine, so just leave her alone. We have, what, two months left of senior year? Just ignore her."

Brooke shook her head, "You don't get anywhere in life by letting people get away with shit. Really, that's the message you want to send – "

"It's not like she's hurting anyone. It's just a difference of opinion," Belle felt her voice go higher in anger, "It's not worth all this."

That's when Ruby entered the library and made her way to her friend quickly upon seeing the heated interaction going on.

"Everything alright?" she asked sharply as she passed Brooke and stood beside her friend.

Brooke broke her harsh gaze from Belle to look at the newcomer, "Just peachy," she smiled insincerely.

Ruby fixed the other girl with a glare as she nodded, "Right, piss off then," she smiled back, bouncing her eyebrows.

Brooke thought about retaliating for a moment before rolling her eyes and walking away.

Ruby pulled out a chair and sat beside her friend, "You alright?"

Belle cheeks burned, "I'm fine, I had it handled. I didn't need you to come save me –"

"Whoa," Ruby put her hands up, "It looked like she was giving you a hard time, I'm your friend, what am I meant to do?"

Belle bit her lip, "I know," she sighed, "I'm sorry. She really pisses me off, Ruby, it's the last thing Em needs, some stupid, mindless bully."

Ruby nodded, "I know… I guess some people are just like that. I just don't want her to turn on you now that Em's not here."

Belle nodded, "She will though," she said quietly, "I'm an easy target."

Ruby frowned, "You don't have to be."

Belle snorted, looking at her friend incredulously, "I always have been, Ruby. I'm quiet and I don't like arguing with people, so they pick on me. It's what happened for years," she mumbled, "But, I always had Em around to protect me… and eventually, they learnt to leave me alone."

Ruby nudged her friend, "Well, hey, I can protect you."

Belle's cheeks burnt with heat again, "That's not the point. I don't want to need protecting, Ruby, I want to look after myself."

Ruby nodded, "Yeah, I know," she really did sympathise, "You just gotta try do something to empower yourself. I mean, you're one of the smartest, strongest chicks I know… you just doubt yourself and unfortunately people can see that," she said softly.

Belle looked thoughtful, "Empower myself," she wondered aloud.

Emma stretched standing up, "Anyway, I'm gonna go to the gym while I've got the time," she told Belle, somewhat reluctant to leave her friend in their only spare period together, but she was itching to get back to working out. She'd forgotten how good it used to make her feel.

"Aw, okay, dinner tonight, yeah?" Belle asked.

Emma nodded, "Yeah, course, Granny Tuesdays."

Belle hugged her and watched her walked away, before calling out and running after her.

Emma frowned, turning around, "What's up?" she asked, noting the nervousness in her friend's stature.

Belle bit her lip, "Um, do you think I could come?"

Emma's frown deepened, "To the gym?"

Belle shrugged, "Yeah."

The blonde tilted her head, "Well, yeah, of course you can, but like…why?"

The brunette blushed as she started walking, "What, you're the only one whose allowed to exercise?"

Emma put her hands up, "Alright, alright, let's go.

Belle had watched Emma punch that stupid bag a thousand times. Why wasn't it the same when she did it? She sighed in frustration.

"Belle, hey," Emma came over to her friend, "Don't fold your thumb in like that, okay? Here, like this," she clenched her fist, showing Belle how to hold her fists.

Belle nodded, "Okay, thanks," she said shortly.

Emma frowned and moved behind the bag, holding it for her friend, "Go on, hit."

Belle hit the bag a couple of times.

Emma could see her friend's frustration, "Belle, what's going on?"

"It moves so much when you hit it, my punches suck," Belle muttered.

Emma smiled, "It's all good, you're punching too high for one thing," she pointed lower on the bag, "It's softer down lower, so you should punch there and then it will move," she shrugged, "But hey, that doesn't really matter. It takes time to get stronger, you know I used to work out all the time."

Belle nodded, "Yeah, right, I know."

Emma was still confused, "Why the sudden interest in the gym anyway?"

Belle shrugged, "I'm sick of relying on everyone else to protect me," she muttered.

Emma let go of the bag, "Hey, did something happen when I was suspended? Did someone say something? Did someone hurt you?"

Belle stepped closer to her friend and put a calming hand on her arm, "No," she sighed, "I mean, Brooke said some stuff but it was nothing," she shrugged, "Ruby said I should find a way to like empower myself."

Emma took a deep breath, "What'd she say – "

"Em, seriously, don't worry about it. She's stupid," Belle waved a hand, "But you know, you've always stood up for me… and I love you for it, but I want to feel like I can defend myself. Stand up for myself. Sometimes I think I'm too quiet, too passive."

Emma sighed but nodded, "Okay, I get that. Let me help you, then."

Belle nodded, "Okay."

"One condition?" Emma smiled.

Belle looked apprehensive, "Hmm?"

"I don't want you getting into any fights, missy," Emma laughed.

Belle rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah, very funny. We all know whose Rocky here," she sighed, before joining her friend in laughing.

"Hm, really? I can't imagine Belle boxing," Regina mused as she pulled Emma into her lap, as they snuggled on the couch.

Emma shrugged, "She wants to feel empowered. I think it's good, she is quiet… she doesn't always stand up for herself when she should. When we were younger, and anyone said anything to her, or bullied her or whatever, I would step in and tell them to back off."

Regina smiled, "I can imagine that," she nodded, "But you can't protect her forever," she said quietly.

Emma bit her lip, "I know that," she nodded, "That's why she needs to learn stick up for herself, so if she thinks getting in shape will do that," she shrugged, "then of course, I'm going to help her."

Regina grinned, "Well, we all know how in shape you are," she flipped the blonde onto her back and towered over her and ran a hand over her arm.

Emma blushed, "Shut up, you," she mumbled.

Regina smiled, "But really, I'm proud of you. You're such a fantastic friend, dear, really, I admire your dedication and loyalty. It's rare. You're pretty amazing."

Emma chewed her lip, "Thanks," she mumbled; she still didn't know how to take compliments, "I love you."

Regina chuckled softly as she flipped their bodies again and held Emma on top of her, "I love you too," she whispered into her ear, "Mm, I want you here like this forever."

Emma nuzzled into her neck, closing her eyes, "Right back at you," she whispered, "Stupid school, stupid work," she mumbled.

Regina chuckled again placing a hand in blonde hair, "Yes, I know," she sighed, "Now, how are you going with all your work? You know exams start in a few weeks, are you going – "

Emma rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I know," she interrupted, "I'm nearly finished my last essay for Miss Blanchard, so then I just get to focus on my exam's, yay," she finished, sarcastically.

Regina smiled, "Well, how about I promise to make it worth your while?"

Emma pulled away and looked up at her girlfriend with shining eyes, "Oh, yeah?"

The brunette winked, "Of course, I'm a teacher, dear, you know how we like our reward systems."

Emma squirmed slightly as she lay her head back down, "You're such a tease, sometimes," she whined.

Regina's throat practically purred, "You love it."