Looking up from the order she scribbles down on her pad, Granny frowns as she watches Regina march towards the door to the Diner. Grabbing Ruby by the arm, she asks her bluntly
"What does the Mayor want, girl?"
Glancing over at the door, the waitress shakes her head with a shrug.
"I don't know, I'll go speak to her."
"You'll do no such thing. You're working. It isn't the Mayor's right to demand your attention."
"It's fine, Granny, she-... I think I know why she's here. I won't be long."
Ruby sighs, and the grey-haired woman opens her mouth to argue, but the waitress slips past her and hurries up to the brunette; her heels tapping a sharp rhythm on the linoleum floor.
"Regina. What-"
But, she trails off nervously as she takes in the pallor of the darker woman's complexion. Surprising herself, she swiftly takes charge, pulling the Mayor by the arm and guiding her through the door so that they stand outside. She catches several curious glances as she goes and hopes Regina hasn't clued in on the fact that she has just been publicly ordered about. Beckoning the brunette to follow her around to the side of the building where they can talk privately, she turns to face her anxiously.
"Did you speak to Gold?"
"Yes."
"And? Where's Emma?"
"Does it look like I know?!"
Regina snaps. Ruby takes a step back as the Mayor glares at her furiously, but she bears her little grievance for her reaction. Running a hand nervously through her hair she looks down at the cigarette-butt studded floor and sighs.
"Did he tell you anything?"
"He has her."
"What do you mean he has her?"
"I don't know..."
"Well, is she okay?"
"I don't know that either!"
Regina exclaims, before she gathers herself sternly and swallows; her face drawn, making her appear much older than her years.
"He told me I don't have anything he wants."
"That he wants?! What the hell would he want? Why the fuck is he doing this!?"
The waitress cries angrily; her words ghosting into misted breath as her eyes water fretfully. Shaking her head, the Mayor speaks in a low, unsettled tone
"Gold wants information I don't have. He says the Sheriff is safe, and I believe him. I have no choice. But Emma-... Whatever's happening, whatever he's hidden her away for, I know her... If Gold came between Miss Swan and Henry celebrating his birthday as planned, he would have had to do so by force... I don't want to think about what that entails."
"... Do you think he'd hurt her?"
The waitress's words are little more than a whisper, and when the Mayor looks up at her, Ruby's gaze is cast nervously to the floor. Sighing, Regina shakes her head.
"I don't know... I don't think so, but that's not good enough for me."
"What information did he want? Are you sure you can't help him? Are you sure you can't give him something?"
"Of course I'm sure."
Regina scowls down at her hands. She had been thrown by Gold's motives, and feels rattled and uncertain of her next move. As to what the little man wants - what would earn the blonde her freedom - she knows only one thing: she needs Emma on board. And, as much as it pains her, she just doesn't think the Sheriff has it in her to do what needs to be done; what she had once been so terrified she would do.
You don't know that!
True, she doesn't, but it's a risk she's not sure she's willing to take. She wishes inwardly that she had found some way to tell the younger woman about the apple. She knows such a thing would have been impossible to explain, but still... Of all the people she knows and is forced to deal with on a daily basis, it is Emma whom she now realises she would seek out - however surreptitiously! - for guidance. That she would trust to offer her advice. If she'd told the blonde about the apple - about the kiss she still doesn't quite understand - then perhaps she would know what to do now.
I think I do, though. And I think I do love her...
She baulks immediately at the absurdity of the idea, shaking her head in adamant disbelief. If she were to allow Gold's wish for the Curse to break, she is painstakingly aware of what it would take.
The Saviour loves or the Saviour dies.
She thinks she loves Emma, despite the idea taking her entirely by surprise not just in what it entails, but due to the strength of the emotion she feels.
I do. I must. I must love her. Nothing else would hurt this badly.
Hanging her head defeatedly, she knows that she can do all the soul-searching in the world, but it doesn't matter unless the Sheriff feels the same way about her.
And she doesn't think that's the case.
She doesn't think Emma is cold.
She just thinks she's broken.
She wishes she'd confided her fear about the apple. She wishes she'd asked the younger woman about the scar lining her stomach. She wishes the blonde would have asked her once more about the key gifted to her; unimportant now, but meaningful nonetheless. The skeleton key to the station's jail cells. A solid offering of a promise that she would never use the Sheriff in such a way as she had used her again. Never abuse her trust. Never degrade her as she had once so relished doing. Never hurt her if she were able to refrain from doing so.
But she had.
She had hurt her.
But she had also saved her.
And she does believe now that it was her kiss that was responsible.
And she does believe that she loves her.
Truly loves her.
Regarding Ruby solemnly, she explains what little she can about her predicament; feeling suddenly very painfully alone.
"I can't give Gold what he wants... There are-... There are certain things that I'm unable to do when in his presence... I know that must sound curious, just as I know you have no reason to trust me, but I need you to put that aside. If you care for Miss Swan, For Emma, I need you to trust that she was doing the right thing in believing in me."
"I-... What do you want me to do?"
"I need you to check Gold's shop... I know it sounds easy, and it probably doesn't make any sense that I didn't do so myself, but I need you to-... I n-need you to-"
"-Trust you."
Dark eyes find the waitress's bright gaze through the shadows, and Regina nods.
"...You really care for her, don't you? For Emma."
Ruby's words are quiet. Curious. Not at all like Gold's, which has seemed almost accusatory. Ever true to her nature, however, the Mayor sniffs arrogantly and tosses her hair.
"Do I care for the Sheriff? Yes. I told you as much."
"No, you didn't... You said you were worried. You said you were confused that she would bail on Henry. You never said you cared for her."
The waitress points out, and Regina glares at her irritably.
"My wording is unimportant. Why make it into something it's not? I care for Miss Swan, you said she told you as much!"
"She never said that."
"No?!"
"No. She told me that she cares for you."
"I-... She did?"
"You see? Words are important, Regina."
Ruby sighs, and the Mayor studies her in silent disbelief; her heart seemingly beating in her throat.
"She actually-... She said that?"
"She said she was happy. That you make her happy. You know Emma... That should be enough to tell you the things she can't say."
"I-..."
Regina frowns in confusion as her chest feels suddenly much too tight and her eyes prickle with salt. Regarding the waitress curiously, she finds herself as unsettled by Ruby's words as she is moved by them. She feels a small pang of guilt for the grief she's given the blonde over her friendship with the young woman, and the fact she is even able to comprehend such an emotion terrifies her as it lets the reality of her feelings sink in.
She loves the Sheriff. Loves her, and pities her for her lack of companionship in the past. Loves her to the point that she is willing - that she is able - to allow the duel relationship that exists with Ruby, with Mary Margaret, with Henry, because she just wants Emma to be happy.
For her to be happy is enough.
"I care for her."
She states quietly.
"Then tell me what you need me to do."
The waitress replies.
"Check Gold's shop. I'll give you a replica of the key. Break in, and look for anything suspicious; a crack in the wall, a seam in the floorboards... He has her, and we're going to find her... We will wait until nightfall, and then you'll go in. Are you up to it?"
"Why nightfall? Why not now?"
"Because. Gold is a dangerous man. If you go there now, he may catch you. I want Miss Swan safe, but not at your expense. She wouldn't send you in so carelessly, so neither will I. We wait until nightfall, and then you'll go in while I stand guard outside."
Regina insists firmly, meeting Ruby's uneasy gaze and hoping that the waitress's resolve isn't as uncertain as her expression.
"...This is really happening? We're really breaking into Gold's shop to find Emma?"
The younger woman asks finally.
"I'm afraid so."
The Mayor nods.
"Don't be."
"Excuse me?"
"Don't be. Afraid, I mean... We'll find her. I just needed to check I was still sane! We'll find her, I promise."
"You should never make promises you can't keep, Miss Lucas."
"I can keep this one. If you don't find her, Mary Margaret or I will. Emma might sometimes believe she has to do things alone, but Gold's picked the wrong girl to mess with."
"Touching."
"I'm serious!"
Ruby bristles, and Regina thins her lips and nods curtly.
I know that, now. And when we find her, I hope she realises that, too.
Keeping her thoughts to herself, the darker woman speaks up with a much more familiar tone of authority.
"Good. We'll meet outside Gold's shop tonight. Eleven. Don't be late."
"I won't... And, Regina?... It'll be alright. Emma's tough. She won't let him hurt her... We'll sort this out, you'll see."
The waitress promises. The Mayor's eyes shimmer in the orange glow of the setting sun, and she finds herself unable to respond and so she merely nods her head. Turning briskly for home, she throws the younger woman a parting shot; her expression grave but determined.
Ruby smiles at her thinly before slipping back into the warmth of the diner.