Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a time or any of the characters.

Aaaaah I'm so bad at uploading new chapters! Sorry it took so long again ):

Thanks to my beta, Clare (its a story of love), for helping me out!

Junior Year, December 2015

Sometimes Emma gets so lost in the moment of being with Regina that she forgets. She forgets about her feelings for the brunette, even if it's only for a few seconds. Those moments, those few quiet moments when she and Regina are just friends, those are the best ones. They're rare, but she cherishes them.

While she doesn't regret falling for her friend, it's somehow always a little painful to be around her. To think about how her 'I love you' means so much more than Regina's. To have Regina close to her, to spend time with who she can't have in the way she wishes. With Regina those moments are rare, because frankly when she's with the brunette she only pays attention to her.

With Robin, it's just as hard, but the moments are less scare. Of course, it hurts, stings really, that he got Regina's positive attention at once, while it took her a while for her to be as close with Regina as he was immediately. After that one night, Regina had frozen up and it had taken her a few weeks to get more out of Regina than a few words.

But she's been friends with Robin for so long. He's her best friend, brother, her rock. Emma knows she won't be able to ever go on with her life if she loses him. It's why she never opened up to either half of the couple. She'd end up losing them both. She's used to people leaving her. She's good at pushing people away, it's how she's always survived. But these two have stuck by her side, no matter how much she resisted. It's still a mystery to her why Regina and Robin are still friends with her, but she has learned to accept it.

She loves forgetting for a while, but when both Regina and Robin are in the apartment, it gets hard. When it's just her and the brunette it's easy to pretend that her dreams have come true. That Regina is hers and that they decided to rent an apartment because they're dating and felt ready to take the next step. Not because they are good at living together and being roommates and best friends.

With Robin in the apartment, it feels like she's intruding. She doesn't like sitting at the kitchen table, drinking her coffee and have Regina walk in wearing Robin's shirt while holding his hand. It's what's happening right now and she feels the need to run immediately. Normally, she's able to control herself, to smile at them and to have a civil conversation.

But today, she feels tears sting in her eyes. She knows it's because she's been allowing herself more since that night at the bar. She's been allowing herself to touch more, to spend more time with Regina. They spend lunches and dinners together. Emma joins Regina when she's focused on school work. She's already heard Robin complaining about that one. When they have a stay-in night together and watch a movie, she allows herself to sit closer, to lay her head on Regina's shoulder.

If the brunette noticed, she hasn't said anything. Emma hopes that's the case, because then it would mean that Regina doesn't mind this new closeness either. Because that's what she's been allowing herself to do most. Hope.

Watching the couple move around in the kitchen, Emma decides to hide in her phone. She messages Ruby asking to meet up. Ruby texts back that she's welcome to come by at Granny's as soon as her shift is over. Emma looks at the clock and realizes she still has three hours to kill.

It's clear to her that she doesn't want to hang out with the couple any longer and so Emma grabs her books and heads to the university library. Regina and Robin don't even notice her leaving. It stings a little. But what stings more is the sudden realization that Robin has been spending less time with her lately and more with Regina. She shrugs it off and quietly closes the door behind her.

Two and a half hours go by as Emma works on her essay that's due next week. She dives into her school work in order to forget everything involving Robin or Regina. When she finally looks at the clock, she decides to pack up her stuff. She's been messaging Ruby a lot lately and Emma is surprised how much she's enjoying the company of the brunette. With Robin and Regina being the only people she talks to regularly, she quite welcomes the company of the skinny brunette.

Emma could've sworn she saw a jealous look on Regina's face once or twice, but she had shrugged it off. Regina has probably gotten used to all the time they had been spending together lately. Besides, Regina had Robin. And Emma knows Regina really did love him. Ruby recently mentioned one of the waitresses left and that there's a position open at the local diner.

Emma wants to spend time with Ruby and she knows she'll enjoy it, but this visit also has another purpose. It didn't take her long to come to the decision of wanting to apply. She has actually been thinking about it for a while and now that there is a chance of getting hired, she knows she has to take it. She's heard lots of positive things from Ruby and working with a friend seems like fun.

As soon as Emma sets foot into the diner, a pair of skinny arms embrace her and a body falls into her. 'Hey there stranger. You really need to come by more often! I missed you!'

Emma laughs. 'We talk on the phone all the time. But actually, I might be able to do just that.'

She takes out her application and waves it in front of Ruby's face. The brunette squeals and grabs it from her. 'No way! You're going to work here?'

Emma looks down and pushes some of her blonde locks behind her ear. 'That's the plan. If your gran hires me of course,' she smiles.

Ruby takes her hand. 'Honey, I'll take care of it, don't worry.'

After Ruby has made them both a hot cocoa, the two sit down. Emma slowly sips her hot cocoa. 'So', Ruby casually says. 'How are things with Regina? Any progress?'

Emma's eyes find Ruby's over her steaming mug. 'How are things with Belle?', she shoots back.

Ruby cracks a laugh. 'Fair point, fair point. But you know my opinion. I still think you should tell Regina how you feel.'

Their conversation of that afternoon keeps playing in Emma's mind as she walks home. She overanalyzes her behavior of the past few weeks and her eyes widen in shock as she comes to the realization. The things she has been allowing herself clearly point out that she does not longer want to keep her love for Regina a secret. She actually wants to tell the brunette. Making up her mind, she decides she's going tell Regina she's in love with her. And she's going to do it tonight.