A/N: Thank you for reading guys, totally overwhelmed by the response to this fic! :) And to my spanish fans, muchas gracias por el apoyo!
Chapter 26.
Ruby rolled her eyes when she realised Belle was asleep with her head in her lap and her body spread over the couch. She looked over to Regina on the other couch and couldn't help laughing as Emma was curled up in a similar position.
She shook her head, "They're the worst to watch movies with, always falling asleep before the best bit."
Regina smiled as she ran a hand through blonde hair, "Always," she agreed, "But then Emma never wants to go to bed. I don't understand it."
Ruby shrugged, "That's what you get for dating a teenager, I suppose."
Regina laughed, "This is true," she smiled.
Ruby nodded, "So you don't mind us taking over your house?"
"No, not at all. I feel honoured to be included in your little group, in fact. It's nice to spend time with Emma's friends. I mean, her friends are my friends," Regina shrugged, "Plus, I love what you've done with the place," she winked.
Ruby laughed, "You know, you are pretty cool for a teacher, Regina. I'm glad Emma found you."
Emma groaned and still with her eyes closed grumbled, "Don't hit on my girlfriend, Ruby. You have your own."
Regina laughed, "Oh shush you, sleepyhead."
"Am not sleepyhead," Emma yawned back as she turned on her back and rubbed her eyes, looking at her girlfriend above her, "Just resting my eyes."
Regina and Ruby exchanged a glance as both rolled their eyes, "Of course you are."
"I'm hungry! Any chips left?" Emma asked, slowly sitting up.
"You never eat in the morning when you wake up, but in the night, you're always after junk food!" Regina protested.
Emma snorted, "Well nobody eats salad or yoghurt at midnight, do they? It's just not a midnight snack kinda food."
"I eat salad at midnight," Regina mumbled causing Emma to laugh loudly.
"Sorry, babe, I know you do. But I don't know, maybe it's an age thing," she teased.
Ruby laughed and threw Emma a packet of chips, "Sorry, but I think she's right, it's totally an age thing," she licked her lips as she stuffed some chips in her own mouth, crunching on them loudly.
"Oh man, why do you crunch so loud?" Belle mumbled, putting her hands over her ears.
Ruby blushed, "They're chips, nobody eats them quietly."
"You eat like an animal, crunch crunch crunch," Belle said dopily, causing all three women to laugh.
"Mm, salt and vinegar," Ruby waved the packet in Belle's face.
Belle licked her lips and sat up, snatching the packet, "Well, if you can't beat them, join them," she shrugged, throwing a handful in her mouth, "Yum! You want some Miss…Regina?"
Emma rolled her eyes, "No, she probably wants a salad."
Regina pushed at Emma playfully, "I like chips," she claimed and took a handful, "But with salt and vinegar, you always need a drink! Would anyone else like one?"
"Aw, does that mean I have to move?" Emma whined as Regina moved her to stand up, heading to the fridge.
Emma pulled the letters out of the mail box, going through them quickly. She folded and stuffed one of the letters in her back pocket as she made her way into the house.
"Mail," she said as she threw the remaining letters on the kitchen bench.
"Mm? Bills, bills, bills," Regina sighed, "No news?" she looked up at her inquiringly.
Emma shook her head, "Nope," she said, making her way to their bedroom, leaving Regina engrossed in her book.
She sat down on the bed and took a deep breath, pulling the letter from her back pocket and simply staring at it for a while. She bit her lip and started tapping her foot anxiously. Slowly turning the envelope in her hands, she unconsciously held her breath as she tore it open and unfolded the letter inside.
"Oh my god," she whispered, re-reading the letter several times before she stood up and made her way back to the kitchen, watching Regina read her book obliviously for a few moments, "Hey," she said.
Regina looked at frowning at the awkward looking teenager, "Hey, yourself," she put her book down and took her glasses off, "Come here," she beckoned.
Emma walked towards her girlfriend and sat on her lap, wrapping her hands around her neck, "I have news," she said quietly.
"Oh?" Regina sat up a little straighter, her hands around Emma's waist, "Did you hear from Maine College?"
Emma bit her lip, swinging her jaw from side to side nervously, "Well, no. Not yet."
"Mm, so what is this news then?" Regina asked in confusion.
"Columbia," she said quietly.
Regina's breath hitched in her throat, "Oh? What did they say then?"
"Well, they say with the special considerations…with everything I've been through this year, I can still do an in-take test to see if I can get in," Emma explained softly.
Regina's eyes lit up, "That's fantastic, dear! Better than we expected!"
Emma nodded wordlessly as Regina kissed on her cheek.
"Honey, aren't you happy?" Regina asked.
"I am… but I'm still not ready to leave this place. I mean, I'm finally starting to get along with my psych, Belle's already staying here. You have your job here… It's finally home. But…it's Columbia. I don't know, I'm not even in," she shrugged.
Regina nodded, "I understand… Well, why not do the same as Belle? Study online for a while? And darling, you know I will move up there any time you're ready. I'm sure I'll be able to find some work."
Emma sighed, "Perhaps. I should just do the test first, I guess, before we go too far with all this," she mumbled.
"Mm, either way, dear, I am proud of you," Regina murmured before pressing her lips quickly against Emma's before pulling away, "I told you, your marks are still well above even with the extra stress you have dealt with. Any school would be lucky to have you…as I am."
Emma smiled sheepishly as she lent into Regina's embrace, nuzzling her neck, "Thanks. I love you," she hummed as she let the contentedness wash over her.
"Yo, Em, what's up mystery girl?" Ruby asked as she approached the booth Emma was in.
Emma smiled, biting her lip, "Heya, we've gotta wait for Belle before I tell you. Where is she?"
"She was volunteering at the library, she'll be here soon. You're being super secretive, like, more than usual. Is everything alright?" Ruby frowned.
Emma nodded, "Yeah, it's good. Everything's…good."
Belle flew in through the door in a hurry, her hair windswept, "Emma Swan, you do not call me and leave such a secretive, non-detailed message. Like 'Emma here, (as if I'm not your best friend and don't know your voice) I have some exciting news to tell you, can you be at Granny's in an hour?' What news? How non-descript? If you – "
Emma laughed, "Whoa, whoa, Belle shut up a moment and I'll tell you? Or you can continue ranting at me if you want?"
Belle glared at her a moment before flopping down beside her girlfriend, "Tell me."
Emma nodded, "Well… I didn't tell you guys, but…with Columbia, they have this special consideration thing. Like if your marks aren't as good as they would have been… if you've had a relative die, or been through a hard time or something, sometimes, even with lower marks, you can still get in," she took a deep breath, "Anyway, I got a letter yesterday and they say I can sit this in-take test to see if they can give me a place."
Belle blinked quickly, "You…you could still get in?" she asked stunned.
Emma shrugged, "Maybe."
"Why the hell didn't you tell me about this special consideration thing!?" Belle asked as she jumped out of her seat and pulled Emma up, hugging her tightly.
"I didn't want to get your hopes up," Emma admitted quietly.
Belle rolled her eyes, "But this is great! You might still get in!"
"Really, that's great Em. Hey, when's the test?" Ruby asked.
Emma smiled sheepishly, "Next week," she said, "So, I guess we'll see," she noted the hidden flurry of stress in Ruby's eyes, "But I mean, even if I do… I'm just going to do it by correspondence for a while anyway. I mean, everything…everyone I love is here. I don't think it would be healthy for me to move. Not yet, anyway."
Ruby's face broke into a relieved grin; she couldn't help worrying that this would mean Emma would move…and Belle would too, "Do what's best for you, Em. That's really all we want," she said earnestly.
Emma grinned, "Thanks, Rubes. I… I really owe you guys a lot. I don't think I would have got through this year without you guys. I mean that…," she paused, "Thank you."
Belle threw her arms around her friends neck, "I love you so much, Swan. No matter what, never forget that. You have people who love you so much, care for you so deeply and mostly, that believe in you."
Emma couldn't help the tear that slid down her cheek, "Love you too," she choked out, sniffing.
"Another step forward, Em," Ruby squeezed her friends hand quickly, "You're gonna be just fine, I know it."