Chapter 31 – Road Trip.
"You do know it's only two days, Rubes?" Emma rolled her eyes at the huge suitcase her friend was trying to lift into the trunk of Regina's car.
Ruby grinned, "Sure! But it's New York, you gotta look your best!" she winked as she continued struggling with her case.
Emma laughed and gave her a hand, "Oomph! This thing weighs a ton," she grunted as they managed to get it into the trunk.
Regina and Belle came out of the house with a few bags of snacks.
"All packed up?" Regina asked.
"Yep! You saw Ruby's suitcase, didn't you? That's why you were all 'oh I'll help Belle get some snacks', huh?" Emma accused teasingly.
Regina grinned slyly, "Perhaps, but I did get salt and vinegar, your favourite right, dear?" she quirked an eyebrow, a smile still playing on her lips.
Emma sighed before chuckling, "Yes, thank you," she took a plastic bag off Regina and gave her a quick kiss on the lips, "Now, let's go!"
She felt Belle's arms attack her waist and hugged her back.
"We're going to Columbia, Em, can you believe it?" Belle whispered.
"Not really," Emma mumbled, giving herself a moment to nestle into her friend's shoulder, "To be honest," she whispered, "I'm kinda scared."
Belle pulled back to look at her friend, "It's alright, Swan, we're in this together, remember?" she kissed Emma lightly on the cheek and pulled her towards the car.
"Are we there yet?" Emma yawned as she opened her eyes.
Regina smiled, "Nope, not yet. Go back to sleep if you wish, dear."
Emma rubbed her eyes, looking in the backseat; Belle had her head resting on Ruby's shoulder and Ruby tilted her head to rest on top of Belle's.
"Nah, it's cool, I'm awake!" she said, fighting another yawn.
Regina took a hand off the wheel to quickly squeeze the teenagers hand, "Thank you, sweetheart."
Emma nodded as she turned her gaze to the window outside; not that there was too much to see, it was just a highway after all, she couldn't see the city yet.
"How much further do you think?"
"Hmm, maybe another two hours or so," Regina said, glancing at the map on the gps, "Right in time for dinner, I think."
"Cool," Emma nodded, "You must be sleepy, driving for so long and all."
Regina shrugged, "I'm alright, dear. Though," she turned to the teenager, a wicked grin on her face, "Maybe you should have a go, before it gets dark," she raised her eyebrows.
"Me? I'm not such a good driver," Emma admitted.
Regina smiled, "You've driven before, right?"
Emma nibbled her lip, "Well, yeah, but not for a while and it was never very legal…"
The school teacher chuckled, "Well, it's legal now, do you have your permit on you?"
Emma nodded, "Yeah," she said nervously.
Regina put the indicator on and pulled over to the side of the highway, turning to the teenager.
"Come on, you can do it," she winked as she opened her own door and hopped out as they switched spots.
Emma glanced into the back; the happy couple still obliviously asleep.
She turned the key and pulled on to the highway, hitting the gas pedal gently.
"See? You're a natural," Regina complimented, "When did you last drive?"
Emma shrugged, "Um, maybe when I was like sixteen? One of the other foster kids and I took this car out for a joyride."
Regina nodded, "I see."
Emma looked away from the road for a moment, before quickly looking back, "You never like…lecture me on any of this stuff. Most people would. I mean, stealing a car is a pretty big deal, right?"
Regina frowned, "It's in the past though, sweetheart. You're a smart girl, you know right from wrong, you don't need me to tell you that. I mean, it would be a different matter if you were still doing things like that, but you've come so far."
Emma smiled, "Thanks to you," she said, giving a quick glance to her girlfriend.
Regina smiled, "Hmm," she mused, "Perhaps. I think perhaps your friends played a helping hand too," she quirked an eyebrow.
Emma nodded, flashing a smile to the still sleeping couple, "Yeah, I'm pretty lucky, really," she sighed.
"But mostly, dear, I think it was you," Regina said, "We just…support you, it's you that does all the hard work."
Emma shrugged modestly, "Still, I couldn't have – "
"Swan's driving!" Belle squealed from the back, pushing Ruby off her and shaking her awake.
"Fuck, that was not a nice way to wake up babe," Ruby said sleepily, "It's cool, look she drives fine, can I go back to sleep?"
Emma laughed, "You know I can drive fine, Belle. Don't freak out."
"Well, sorry, you haven't done the grand theft auto thing in a while, when was the last time you drove even?" Belle leant forward.
"A couple years ago," Emma said, shrugging, "But I look, I still got it!"
Belle rolled her eyes, "Yeah, you still got it Swan. First time you've ever driven a car with permission?"
Emma laughed, "Hey, I had a few legit lessons! Ruby drove for a bit, what's so different? You're just jealous cause you don't get to drive."
Belle pouted, "Not my fault my parents wouldn't let me get my permit," she sighed, "They tell me to take responsibility but then won't even teach me to drive."
Ruby yawned loudly, earning a glare for Belle, "I'll teach ya, babe. You're eighteen now, you don't need their permission to get your permit."
They spoke about anything and everything for the next couple of hours, before finally as all three teenagers (Regina had taken over driving again now) lent out their windows looking at the emerging city before them. Regina quickly found the hotel and had them all checked in and up to their rooms in reasonable time.
"Damn this heavy bitch of a suitcase," Emma grunted as she helped Ruby again with her suitcase, "You bring your whole fucking wardrobe, Rubes?"
Ruby merely stuck out her tongue, but thanked her as they got to her and Belle's room, situated next door to Regina and Emma's, "Alright, dinner soon, right? I'm starved."
Belle rolled her eyes, "Just for a change."
"Sure, how about we just get settled in and we'll meet in half an hour or so?" Regina asked.
"Sweet, sounds good. Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Ruby winked at Emma, who blushed but rolled her eyes.