No, my fellow Swen shippers, you are not over with the angst (please, please don't hate me!) but it will be over in two chapters, I promise! Which also reminds me, this fic is coming to an end... I'll try to stretch it to chapter 25, but I can't promise anything. I'll probably let you know in two chapters how much is felt.

Either way, thank you for following, commenting, favoriting, etc. I love you guys!

MARY MARGARET'S POV

I didn't hear when Emma entered into the apartment, I didn't even hear when she entered my room. But I did feel when she jumped onto my best, between David and me. I moaned in pain, she had landed on my arm.

"Emma!" I protested. I didn't even have to open my eyes to see my blonde best friend, I could hear her smile.

"Somethings never change," Emma said as she moves her body, pushing me and David, to get more space, "We are a happy family once again, just as we used to be as kids,"

"Emma," David muttered, "Stop moving,"

"I'm the one with hangover and you're the one being a bitch?" Emma asked and tickled her brother, "Wakey, wakey brother!"

"Why are you even here?" I asked confused. What I really wanted to ask was why was she so happy, she had been a mess last night, but I was afraid that the question would be a domino that would destroy Emma's façade.

"And awake," David added, he was probably having the same thoughts I had.

"Gee, thanks for the love," Emma pretended to be hurt; but we knew better, it was all an act. "I came home about two hours ago, and I had some... things to do," I could sense she was hiding something from us, but since yesterday had been a tough day for my friend, I decided not to push it, "When I was done, I took a shower and got ready to go to bed. And that was when our lovely mother called me, we are having guests for brunch today," Emma said, now only looking at her brother.

"Guests?" the confused man asked. Emma moved to sit on the edge of the bed with her legs crossed like a native american.

The blonde shrugged, "Don't ask me, I don't even live there anymore," then she stood up, "Get dressed already! I have news to share, but I'll do it when we're with mom and dad so I don't have to repeat," and with that, she left the room.

"Where does she get so much energy from?" David protested, "She's like a hurricane,"

I couldn't help but chuckle, and leaned in for a kiss, "We should probably change, we don't want your mother asking why we were late,"

"I'm pretty sure she'll know why," Emma commented from outside the room.

"Stop eavesdropping, Emma!"

"Thin walls, David, thin walls!" the blonde replied, "I'm sure I'd have heard all your action if I'd have slept here,"

I shook my head and remained quietly, leave it to Emma to make awkward remarks. Neither David nor I bothered in telling Emma that we hadn't have sex, just sleeping next to each other had been intimate enough for us. David was taking it slowly for me, and I appreciated that. Beside, it allowed us enjoy every step we took further into our relationship.

It was ten in the morning when the two Nolans and I were standing in front of the Nolan's house. David opened the door with her set of keys and he let us in. The house was completely in silence, which meant that the brunch was in the gardens. It was a lovely day outside, it would have been a waste if they would be eating in doors.

I excused myself from the small group and went to the bathroom. I knew that once I was outside, I'd be too lazy to enter again, so it would be better if I went to the garden with an empty bladder. When I finished drying my hands and I opened the door, I found a not-so-happy Emma waiting for me, she pushed me into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

"She invited her," Emma said, placing her hands on the sink and leaning a little bit, as if she would throw up.

"Who?" I asked confused, sometimes Emma was too cryptic, even for me.

"My mother,"

I rolled my eyes, "Of course your mother invited someone, I was asking who did she invite,"

"Regina,"

"Oh," I let out and I placed my hand over her shoulder, "Do you want me to tell them that you felt sick and that we're going home?" I offered, "I'm sure your mother would buy that,"

Emma shook her head, "No, there's something I need to tell her, and my father, and you and David," she breathed in and released the breath slowly, "I can do this, I'm strong,"

"Yes, you are," I said tapping her back, "And if you just need to leave, you know our save word, right?"

"Apples," Emma grinned. From how many awkward situations had that word saved us.

Emma linked her arm with mine as we walked towards the garden. I knew she did it because she felt safer with someone next to her, it made her feel like she was not alone. I made a joke as we walked out the door, to try to relax her, and it helped, because despite of the tense situation that was waiting for her, Emma burst out laughing as we approached the group. Her laugh made everyone turn their faces to see us. I only focused my sight in David, he seemed relieved to see that Emma was alright.

Emma sat, leaving an empty place between her and David for me, as I went to greet her mother and father with a kiss. Mr and Mrs Nolan commented on my dress for yesterday's party, and how they didn't see me leave. I excused myself saying that I had helped Ruby with the food, no one but the old married couple believed my excuse; after all, Regina, Emma and David knew exactly why I had left the party so abruptly.

"Before I forget, Emma," Mr. Nolan started speaking, "Were you the one that emailed me asking if you and a friend could go to the cottage house in La Provence over the summer, right? Or it was you, David?" David shook his head, he had to work this summer, he had only one week free and we decided to go to Napa Valley.

"It was me, dad," Emma replied, suddenly finding terrible interesting the dish in front of her. I pursed my lips into a thin line, I knew about her plans to go to France, Emma wanted to take Regina over the summer. I wished Mr. Nolan would just shut up.

"Well, I called the yeoman yesterday morning, they are waiting for you both,"

"About that..." the blonde raised her head to meet with her father's gaze, "There has been some change of plans. My - uh - friend... she... she's not with us anymore,"

"That's terrible!" Mrs. Nolan took one of her hands to her chest, showing her over-exaggerated shock. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Emma,"

"No, I mean... She didn't die," Emma corrected her mother. Even though, I could understand why Mrs. Nolan had suspected the death of Emma's friend, "She doesn't hang out with us anymore, that's what I meant." the blonde explained, shooting a glare at Regina. The brunette didn't move her eyes away from Emma, regardless of how much it seemed to hurt them both.

"Oh," her mother sounded relieved, as if Emma had just scared her about the death of someone close to them.

"But, I have some good news," Emma said in a fake cheerful tone that only Regina and I seemed to noticed. So here it was, the news that Emma had waited to tell us ever since she woke us up. "Ruby and I are taking the summer semester!"

"But you hate college," I pointed out. During our normal semesters, Emma was eager to have free time. Her hate towards college had actually cost her a semester. I didn't understand where did all enthusiasm for studying came out of the sudden.

"I do," my best friend admitted, "But, Ruby and I only need one semester to graduate, and we can take all the classes we need now - I already called and enrolled us," the blonde started explaining.

I heard Emma's father commenting proudly, "Would you look at that? My pumpkin is finally being responsible," he continued talking about Emma and family honor and duty, but my thoughts were somewhere else: Ruby was also leaving. I wondered if it had to do with Belle, I hadn't seen her at Regina's party yesterday. Had that been the reason why Ruby looked so sad? What was going on? And why did everyone seem to know expect me?

"Then I can graduate before fall, and come to open my company," Emma's voice brought me back to the conversation. At least this time her enthusiasm sounded real. On the corner of my eye I saw Regina smiling proudly at the blonde for few seconds, then her smiled disappeared as fast as it had appeared and her face became blank again. It kind of broke my heart.

"Your company?"

"Yes, father, we talked about that," Emma rolled her eyes, she was used to her parents not really paying attention to what she said. "Last week over the phone,"

"Oh! The event planning company!" his daughter nodded, "Yes, dear. And after yesterday's party, I'm sure you'll be a huge success. You mother and I shall be more than happy to provide you financial aid,"

Emma nodded happily at her father, then her smile faded away when she heard Regina speaking to her, "I would also like to help, in anyway I can,"

"I don't need your help," the blonde snapped. I couldn't be able to point which woman had suffered the most with those words, but for the first time in my life, I saw pain in Regina's eyes. "May I be excused?" Emma asked her mother,

"But you just arrived!" her mother protested.

"I have to pack,"

I raised an eyebrow. Pack? Already? "When are you leaving?" I asked.

"Tomorrow," she replied giving me a sad look.

An almost inaudible "So soon?" came out of Regina's voice, it hadn't reached Emma's ear, but it had reached mine and it was loaded with the pain from Regina's soul.

Emma, unaware of Regina's unanswered question, stood up and took her plate towards the kitchen - a habit she had learnt at the loft. It made me quite proud, to be honest. My gaze trailed from a worried David to a wrecked Regina, and in that moment I swear I saw her silently begging me to make Emma stay. I pursed my lips into a line, I'd talk to Emma, but we both knew that the blonde wouldn't change her plans. When Emma had her mind set on something, there was no one that could tell her otherwise.

But I would try, maybe put some sense into Emma's rushed behaviour. Either way, I knew there would be a conversation when I returned to our loft. Our loft. Emma was moving out, at least for the summer. And I'd be left alone - it felt weird, I know that I used to live like that until few months ago, but I had gotten used to have the blonde hurricane barking into all the aspects of my life. My heart sunk on my chest, I would miss her terribly.

When I got to the apartment, it was more quiet than usual. It was spooky, and the thought that it would be like this for the whole summer just made it worse. Emma hadn't left and I already missed her. It would be actually the first time in my life I wouldn't be with her, when we were at college, we took some courses together, even if our majors were different. And even if I finished college one semester before Emma, thank to her poor studying habits, she still came home and I still helped her with her homework from time to time. But summer semesters were always more demanding that regular ones, I had the feeling Emma wouldn't be coming home until she graduated.

"Emma?" I called her out.

"In my room,"

I walked towards Emma's room. She had already taken down all the things she had hung on the walls over the months she had lived here. The room was just as it used to be before Emma moved in, I never realised how empty it was.

"I'm sorry about the mess," the blonde apologised, "It's just - I have so many things here,"

"You know you can leave your stuff here, right?" I asked, arching an eyebrow, "You will live here once you come back, right?" I made a second question, this one with a more insecure voice tone.

"I don't know - do you want me here?" Emma replied with a question and sat on her bed, "I mean, you slept with David, and I know you'd sleep with the one, so... I understand if you don't want me here,"

I sat next to her, "Emma, I love David and I'm almost 100% sure that's he's the one," I started, "But we are not moving together, at least not soon. And even if we were, this would always be your room," she smiled at me, "We're a happy family, remember?"

Emma laughed, "God, you are a better mother than my own mother," then her gaze trailed to her unfinished suitcase, "I should finish packing, though,"

"Are you going to tell me the real reason you and Ruby are leaving?" I asked as I folded some of her clothes and handled them to Emma, "Because Ruby couldn't wait to have a good reason to get the hell away from College, and neither could you,"

It was true, Emma was still in college because her parents had made her study something and she had no choice. Ruby, however, had been forced to go to college by her grandmother, until Granny had a hip fracture and Ruby had to take almost a year off.

"I told you, Ruby and I found out that we can achieve enough credits during the summer and graduate on september," Emma explained "Which is great, because then we can both work without worrying about school anymore,"

"Mhm," I reasoned "So this nothing to do with the fact that Regina's face is plastered everywhere?" Her face went dull at the mention of her ex-lover's name. I knew it. "Emma..."

"Stop." Emma said sharply. "I'm not running away. I'll just get my degree and come back, I'll even be back in time to vote for her," Emma sighed, "I just don't want to be near Regina, or any place that reminds me of her, which is pretty much the whole damn town," I nodded, "She's engaged, you know?"

"Engaged? To whom?" I regretted asking that question after the words had left my mouth.

"Daniel," Emma replied, as if it wouldn't be obvious, "Ruby and I went yesterday to the stables and we saw her with Daniel,"

"And she told you they were engaged?" I asked confused. Regina had not commented the engagement during the brunch, and an life changing event like that wouldn't go uncommented.

"No," she confessed, I knew it hurt her to speak about this, but she it seemed like wanted to, "But I know he asked, and it is obvious that she said yes,"

"Is that so?"

"Yes," Emma's eyes met mine, "You heard David, she was with Graham and left him in a heartbeat because of Daniel, why would this be different?"

"Because we are all grown ups and people change?" I replied with a question, Emma and her brother were too similar "Look, I am not going to convince you on staying, but why don't you talk to her before you leave?"

"Because I don't want to," Emma replied, "Right now, I feel like anything I say or hear will only hurt me more," I pursed my lips into a thin line, she was so wrecked, it was not even fair. The blonde changed topics "And Ruby... I guess she wants to leave because it's the same with her and Belle,"

"Wait, what?" so, there was something going on with Belle, "Ruby finally admitted she likes Belle?"

"Kind of,"

"That's great!" I said an a huge wave of happiness washed my body

"Not really,"

"Why?"

"Ruby admitted her feelings to me, Belle doesn't know," Emma said bitting her lip, "And she left town..."

"Belle left town?" I felt the happiness that had just filled ever cell of my body disappear.

"With a guy," Emma added.

"Without saying good-bye?"

"She went to say good-bye to Ruby, and things got heated," Emma explained, "So, I guess Belle decided to leave without talking to us,"

"I can't believe it," I was in shock. Belle had been one of our groups, the four of us had been best friends since high school, why would she go without saying bye? And now Ruby and Emma were leaving as well, which lead me to an awful realisation "So, I'll be alone the whole summer,"

Emma smirked, "Look at the bright side, M. You and David, alone, in our loft or his house," the blonde winked, insinuating what we would do during our alone time.

"Will you ever stop teasing me?"

"Never," she replied with a big, honest smile.

"I'll miss you," I admitted.

"Common, woman!" Emma giggled, "I'm leaving for a semester, not a one-year trip to the moon," I smiled at her, "Now, help me packing and stop being so depressing,"

"Alright, alright," I said, "But the posters stay on the walls,"

Emma grinned and handled me the posters that she had just taken down. I re-pinned them to the wall, each on the place were they used to be. "I'm taking this picture, though," she commented grabbing one of the picture frames from her bedside table, it had a picture of both of us and David. I noticed she looked to the other two pictures that were on the little table, no was of her and Regina, and the other one of Ruby, Belle, her and I. "I'll put those in my memory box," she said as she took the pictures out of their frames, "Because that's what they are now, bittersweet memories,"

"Emma, you don't know that,"

"But I do," Emma said, "By the time I come back, Regina's engagement will be already public, and Belle is probably not coming back," she shrugged, "It's alright, though, we'll be fine," she smiled at me. "Let's drink to new beginnings?"

I pursed my lips into a smile, admiring how brave she was, "I'll call Ruby, you finish with your clothes,"

"Great!" Emma said more excited, leave it to alcohol to cheer her up.

Maybe Emma was right, she would be fine, we would all be.