I seem to have caught the writing bug so I hope it continues. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
It was the next day and Regina felt as if she were floating on air. She had had the most wonderful night with Robin and their first kiss had been magical and had gone on for quite a while. As she thought about it she knew she was blushing but she just couldn't help herself, along with the huge grin that was planted firmly on her face.
She had not felt this happy in such a long time and she was determined to stay this way. Nothing was going to stop her. She merrily made her way down the street and towards Grannies diner kicking the autumn leaves as she went. She pulled the door open, the bell above the door signalling her entrance. She smiled at people and greeted them with a good morning and walked over to the counter.
"Good morning Granny." Regina said happily and she rested her arms on the counter.
"Good morning Regina. You look cheery today." Granny replied eying the young girl. "What's put that grin on your face? Or should I be asking who?"
Regina dipped her head shyly and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "I'm just happy Granny." Regina replied. "And I was wondering if I could ask you for a favour? A rather big favour actually."
"Oh really? And what favour would this be?" Granny asked.
"I really need a job…and well…I have seen that you are looking for someone to work here…so…" Regina said giving Granny her best wide eyed puppy dog look. "Please I could really do with a job. I need to start making some kind of money so I can properly stand on my own two feet and well with…" Regina said trailing off as a hand found its way to her stomach. "I really need to start building a life for myself and my baby. Please…"
Granny sighed and looked at Regina, with the desperate look in her eyes. She really wanted to help the young girl but she had a feeling her mother wouldn't be too happy. "And what if your mother appears in here?" Granny asked.
"I will deal with it but you and I both know my mother doesn't frequently visit your diner." Regina said. "Please Granny. I promise I will be the best employee you could have. I will work all the shifts other's don't want, I will work extra hard. Please just give me this chance."
Granny sighed. "Can you start tonight? I need someone to work the night shift. Ruby has decided she needs to go out."
Regina smiled and nodded her head. "I can indeed. What time do you need me to be here?"
"Be here for eight." Granny said.
"I will. Thank you so much Granny." Regina said. "Now may I get Zelena's usual order? Apparently she is over loaded with paperwork and in dire need of coffee and food."
"Coming right up." Granny said with a smile.
Regina rushed back to the station with Zelena's order and burst through the door. "I got a job!" Regina squealed dropping the takeaway bag of food onto Zelena's desk and placing the cup of coffee in front of her.
"Going out to get my food and coffee you managed to get yourself a job?" Zelena asked dropping her pen on the table and resting back in her seat. She grabbed the bag of food and opened it. "So where are you going to be working?"
"Grannies. I'm the new waitress. She wants' me to start tonight, I'm working the night shift because Ruby needs to go out. Isn't this great? I can finally start earning some money." Regina said happily pulling over a chair and sitting down in front of Zelena's desk.
"Well congratulations." Zelena said.
"What's the congratulations for?" Emma asked as she entered the station.
"Regina got herself a job at Grannies while getting our food." Zelena said holding up the take away bag.
"Aw nice one. Congrats Regina." Emma smiled taking the bag from Zelena. "So does this mean we get discount when we go there now?" Emma asked sat she sat on the edge of the desk.
Regina laughed a little. "Well at least let me settle in first before I start slipping you food at discounted rates."
"I suppose I can wait." Emma shrugged.
"So your working the night shift…" Zelena said and Regina nodded. "What if mom turns up?" Zelena asked.
"She's not going to turn up. You know what she is like. She never goes to Grannies unless she has to. It is probably the safest place for me to work." Regina replied.
"I don't know Regina. Maybe I should come with you tonight…just in case she turns up…I'm not sure you would be able to handle her on your own…" Zelena said.
"Zee I will be fine. I don't need you to come to the diner on my first shift and watch over me in case mother turns up. I am well aware that you and probably Mary and everyone else in this town don't think I can handle myself against mother…" Regina said standing up from the chair she had been sitting in. "But what you all forget is I was the one locked in a house with her for so long, think about how much strength that would have taken to get through everything she done to me." Regina said before turning on her heel and storming off.
"Regina…" Zelena called after her, standing up from her chair and about to go after Regina but Emma stopped her.
"Let her go. Let her cool off a bit." Emma said.
Zelena sighed and sat back on her chair. "I should have handled that better…I just…"
"You don't want her to get hurt I know but you have to let her stand on her own two feet as well. Now that she is away from your mother she maybe needs to just live the life she has always wanted to. She now has a chance to be happy." Emma said.
"I know and I want her to be…I really do but I'm just scared. Our mother has a way of working her way into peoples' lives…back into people's lives and I don't want Regina to end up back where she was. I'm scared that my mother will take her back there." Zelena said.
"I think your sister is stronger than you think. I mean she was right, she put up with a lot from your mother when she was in that house right?" Emma said and Zelena nodded her head. "Well then to put up with all that from your mother you have to be strong. She just needed that little push to get out of there and you gave her that. You can protect your sister but I do think you need to give her space as well."
"Your right." Zelena said. "Thanks…"
"What for?" Emma asked.
"Being a friend…Henry was right, you're a good person Emma. He was right to get in touch with you."
"Well I'm glad you think so." Emma smiled. "Now why don't you go find your sister. I'll handle things around here just now."
"Thanks." Zelena smiled standing up and making her way out of the station. Zelena walked down the street trying to figure out where Regina could have went. She turned a corner to see Regina stood outside Archie Hoppers office, leaning against the wall and crying. Zelena sighed and quickly made her way over to Regina. "Hey, come here." Zelena said opening her arms. Regina stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Zelena. "I'm sorry okay. I didn't mean to make you feel you aren't strong enough to handle everything okay? I'm just worried for you. I'm your big sister I'm meant to be."
"You are?" Regina asked pulling away and wiping her eyes a little.
"Of course I am. I'm suppose to help you and protect you but look at how many years I didn't do that for…I let mother treat you the way she did I should have stopped her way before I did and I guess now I'm…well I am trying to make up for that." Zelena said.
"You don't need to do that…" Regina said.
"Yes I do." Zelena replied. "Come on lets walk…" Zelena said holing out her arm. Regina smiled a little and linked her arm with Zelena's as they started to walk. "I might feel I need to protect you but I do also know that I need to let you stand on your own two feet and sort things out on your own and I promise you I will let you do that but I want you to promise me something."
"What?" Regina asked.
"I want you to promise me that if you need help you will ask for it…you won't just bottle things up and try to sort everything out on your own to prove some point. If you need help you ask for it. Please promise me." Zelena said stopping for a moment and placing her hands on Regina's arms.
"I promise you." Regina said.
"Good. I love you Regina." Zelena said moving her arms around Regina and hugging her little sister.
"I love you too Zelena." Regina replied hugging her sister back.
Regina had spent four and a half hours at the diner learning everything she needed to from one of the other waitresses, following what the young girl done and putting it into practice herself. She was now helping to clear up and close up the diner. She had actually enjoyed herself, talking to the customers, being able to work and feel like she was doing something for herself for a change. She finished wiping up the counter and walked over to the young waitress who had been training her.
"That's the counter all wiped up. Is there anything else needing done?" Regina asked.
"Nope that's all. Why don't you get yourself home. You're in for the morning shift tomorrow so you'll want to grab some sleep." Tiana said.
"Okay, thanks." Regina smiled taking off her apron and grabbing her coat and bag. "I'll see you later."
"See you later Regina."
Regina quickly left the diner, pulling her coat closer to her as the night air hit her. She walked down the street, looking over her shoulder every so often as she felt as if someone was watching her. She sighed, looking behind her once more before turning back around and bumping straight into someone she was hoping not to see.
"Hello Regina."
"Mother…" Regina gasped.