I've realised I've used wrongly a term, instead of summer semester, Ruby and Emma are taking a summer trimester. I don't know in your countries, but in my country of origin the year is roughly divided into 4 trimesters: fall (sept-nov), winter (dec-feb), spring (march-may) and summer (jun-aug). Summer trimester is usually holidays, except for those who are eager to finish their studies faster.

Other than that, thank you - as always - for reviews, following and favoriting.
Next chapter is the so-waited snowing chapter! :)

Hugs,

Mara

EMMA'S POV

It felt like both, years and few hours since the last time I had seen Mary Margaret but the advanced essays and unfinished projects didn't lie: we were almost entering the third and last month of our summer studies. I couldn't believe Ruby and I were so close of graduating, and this trimester our grades had been above everything we had ever expected; it seemed that the eagerness of forgetting a broken heart was the best motivation for us. I'd never admit it out-loud, but I was kind of proud to be graduating and getting a diploma, finally something I had done right with my life.

And this weekend would be epic with MM and David visiting, we would show them around the city, go clubbing, eat like there's no tomorrow and other awesome things that we haven't done since the trimester started. And then I'd ship them off to their so romantic getaway and go back to burying my head into the recommended literature.

"This place is a fucking mess, Ruby," I exclaimed, desperation tinting my voice.

"That's what happens when you don't clean a place for almost two months," Ruby replied storing the books in the bookshelf "I told you to clean this weeks ago!"

"You could have done it as well," I said as I finished mopping the floor, "We both know that if it wouldn't be for David and Mary Margaret visiting we wouldn't even clean it now," I rolled my eyes and smiled.

"True story, maybe we should make a Frozen cover of 'The dust never bother me anyway!'," we both laughed at her suggestion, because truth to be told: the dust never bothered us anyway. "Excited to see your brother and future sister?" I heard her ask as I put the mop in its place and poured the dirty water away.

"Please, MM is already my sister, she was long before she started dating David," I saw Ruby rolling her eyes as I washed my hands "Jealous?"

"Not a bit," Ruby smiled, "If she's your sister, I get to be your best friend," she explained and smiled proudly as if we would be five year-olds again.

"Oh, but you already were!" I commented and hit her the towel I had used to dry my hands. "Now, let's clean this shit-whole and get ready,"

"Yeah, we don't want mommy and daddy to see how disorganised their child is," my friend teased me and went to clean the bathroom.

Mary Margaret and David arrived shortly after noon, just has they had planned, and from the moment I saw the look on Mary Margaret's face I knew there was something she needed to tell me. Call it sixth sense, but with her, I alway knew when something was up. So, we decided to send David to the closest pizzeria and order food for us; the place had the best pizza I've ever tried and luckily for us - but not for David - they didn't have delivery service.

"Ok, so: ham for Mary Margaret, Hawaiian for Emma and meat for Ruby?" David said as he read the list we had made and walked towards the door. We yelled a 'Yes!' in unison and with that, he left our apartment.

The fact that David had accepted to go and get the pizzas without having a fight or asking for someone to go with him proved me I was right: Mary Margaret did have something to tell me. She had probably already spoken with him, maybe that was why he looked so empathetic with me ever since they got here. Which made me wonder, what was all this about? Engagement was obviously off the cards since Mary Margaret would have called right away (alright, maybe the next day) and she would have definitely been with David for that moment.

As soon as our apartment's door was closed, Mary Margaret told us to sit down and started from the beginning: that rainy afternoon when Regina paid her a visit. Ruby and I sat in front of her and heard the whole story in silence. How the expenses of my party had gone over the roof, how she couldn't tell me no because she wanted my party to a huge success, how she applied for a loan and even got the bank's acceptance just to pay everything I wanted, how my parents had decided to sponsor her at the last minute and how she didn't tell me because she was too overwhelmed by my proclamation of love.

"She doesn't expect for things to be the way they were before," Mary Margaret said, "She just wants you not to hate her,"

I knew it would never be like it used to be, she was probably organising her wedding with Daniel by now. But the truth was, I didn't hate her because of that. And now that Mary Margaret had told me her side of the story, I didn't hate her at all. In fact, it made me love her even more.

"I fucked up," I said, resting my head on my flexed elbows, "I truly fucked up,"

Maybe Regina wouldn't have end up with me, but it was obvious she cared about me. And I had been so blind, and I had hurt her, to the point where she reached out for Mary Margaret to get some sense into my stubborn head.

"You should have talked to her," I heard Ruby say "You should have listened to MM,"

"And you should have told Belle about your feelings so shut the fuck up, Ruby!" I almost yelled, then I saw the pain on her face and regretted it. I knew Ruby felt horrible about how things ended up with Belle. Using it against her had been low, "I'm sorry - just..." I muttered, "Please, let me deal with my frustration without commenting on my mistakes,"

"You can always talk to her," Mary Margaret suggested, naïve as per usual.

"And tell her what exactly?" I snapped, "Hey! I've been an ass, I know you tried to talk to me but I was too distracted by the fucking noise made my hurt ego to even listen to you...?"

"Wow, you're quite poetic when you want to, Ems,"

"Ruby," I rolled my eyes.

"Look, just let things cool down in that head of yours," Mary Margaret said patting my hand, "Finish your studies, graduate and get your diploma. And then, just then, worry about all this, alright?"

I looked into her eyes, and felt how they wanted to mend all the broken pieces of my soul. "Fine, I'll deal with it once I get back to Storybrooke,"

"And you have to call Belle," she added, almost scolding Ruby.

"She hates me,"

"No, she doesn't," MM hissed, "Regina hurt Emma too, does Emma hate Regina?"

"It's not the same,"

"Yes, it is," Mary Margaret added, "Love is supposed to be messy, and sometimes hurt, and then cheer you up," I smiled. When did Mary Margaret get so good at pep-talk? Probably since always, we just decided to ignore her wisdom most of the time, "So, I'll tell you the same I told Emma, get your diploma and get your girl,"

A half-smile appeared on Ruby's face, but instead of talking to Mary Margaret, she turned to me, "I can see why you joke saying that Mary Margaret is your second mother,"

"She's the best," I nodded in approval. The bell broke the moment of Ruby and I smiling idiotically at Mary Margaret, who had started to look uncomfortable in her own skin.

"The pizza is here!" Ruby yelled as she run to propel her body and slide towards the door.

David came in with four boxes of awesome-smelling pizzas a few DVD boxes "I rented some movies!" he said raising them as if it was a big achievement.

Ruby and I both laughed, "You rented movies? What is this, the 90s?" I asked.

"You do know we can download that for free, right?" Ruby asked at the same time.

"It is no fun that way!" David protested, "Call me old fashion, but going to the video-rental shop and picking 10 movies and then choosing four from those. It's like an adventure," he explained, a little sparkle of excitement shining in his eyes and he told us his renting-movies process. David was such a geek - he was perfect for MM.

"Which you should enjoy while you can because most Blockbusters are closing," Ruby commented as she grabbed a slice of her pizza.

"Thanks to people like you who download movies illegally,"

"No, Davo, thanks to Netflix," Ruby patted his shoulder, "You can write them a complain letter if you feel like,"

And after that, there was silence, all of us were using our mouths to eat rather than to speak. We didn't comment on anything until it was time to choose the movie. At that time I was sure David regretted renting movies, because Mary Margaret and Ruby couldn't decide between the four of them. I smiled and looked at my brother, asking him telepathically 'What are you doing to do about it?' and as if he had heard me for real, he shrugged and smiled back at me.

"Here, I choose," I said and reached for one movie that Mary Margaret had on her hands, "This one," I commented without even watching what was about or even reading the title. They nodded and didn't question my decision - which was a first.

I just wished everything in my life would be a simple as picking a movie.