Back at it, peeps. Sorry about the wait! Happy reading!
3.
"You know what I really hate," Killian mumbled to no one in particular.
"Fleas?" Ruby smiled, pulling the man to her side as they walked down Main Street.
"Hey, that's not funny. I know you just called me a dog."
"A sea dog," she smiled.
"Aren't you just a clever lass," he chuckled sarcastically.
"What do you hate, Killi?'
After a slight pause, in front of Gold's Pawn Shop, he said, "I hate a lot of things," as he grasped the handle on the door.
"What were you going to say though?"
Smiling a cheesy grin he shook his head. "I don't remember," he said, pulling the door open with a light chime from the bell overhead. "Ladies first," he bowed waving his arm toward the door.
"Then why are you standing there for? Go on in, ladies first," she teased.
Rumple and Belle stood behind the glass display cases, at the back of the shop. They watched the flirty back and forth between the two who stood, neither coming in the door before the other. Belle shook her head, amused by the weird new dynamic between them now that Killian was feeling better. Gold on the other hand was rapidly becoming annoyed.
"Would you two stop grab-assing and come in," he growled in a thick Scottish tongue.
Gently jabbing an elbow in her husband's side, Belle watched as the duo practically fell through the door.
"Sorry mate," Killian smiled with hot cheeks.
"I am not your mate," Rumple hissed.
"Aye, well," Killian looked down at the display case pretending to be interested in the mixed jewelry laying in rows. "Belle said you wanted to see me?" he asked, not look up from the case but instead glanced from one piece of old jewelry to the next.
"I need a measurement for your hand," Rumple said, pulling a measuring string from next to the cash register. "Hold up your nub."
Killian looked up at Rumple. He rolled his eyes before sliding his handless arm up onto the counter. While the older man took measurements, the younger man preceded to look back down into the case. A silver ring on a chain caught his eye. It was paired with another silver pendant, one that had a swan carved in it.
"Ey," he said, slamming a finger down on the glass. "Isn't that Swan's swan?"
Ruby and Belle both looked over at the necklace.
"Oh yea, that's Emma's alright," Ruby said. "Wonder why she sold it."
"Did she say why she sold this, Gold?" Killian's eyes linked with cold yellow ones.
"I do not ask why one wants to sell their possessions and it is none of my business," he said, turning his back on them. He pointed to an opening where a different piece of jewelry had once been displayed. "She sold many things that day," he said over his shoulder. "Bought only one, though."
"What was it?" Ruby asked quickly.
"Now, now Dearie, I don't think that would be my place to tell you," he smiled, turning back to the front of his shop.
Killian turned to Belle, his brows arched in curiosity. "Will you tell us?"
Smiling softly, she shook her head, "I wasn't here when Emma came in, I'm sorry."
"Oh come on," he whined. "You must know what used to be on that display, you are in here just as much as Ole Scaly is."
Rumple scoffed at the offending man but said nothing. Instead, he picked up a cloth and began polishing the glass on top of the display cases while pretending to ignore the way too curious duo.
"I don't know what was in that display, Killian. We rearranged things last week. There used to be postcards there," Belle said, wholeheartedly.
Red splotches began creeping across the man's face. "She bloody well didn't sell all her belongings to buy postcards, now did she?"
Ruby grabbed the man by his good arm and squeezed it gently. When he looked over at her, she smiled. "How much are you asking for it?"
"35," Rumple blurted from across the room.
"35?" Killian whined yet again. "It's a bloody gas station key chain on a cheap silver chain."
"I bought it for 30," he said, flatly.
"You did what?" Ruby laughed, "Why in the world would you do that?"
"As I said before, Miss Lucas," Rumple started in a hiss, "She sold many things the day she sold this. She was 30 short of her goal so I bought it from her."
Ruby and Killian looked to each other. "I'll buy it," she said, without breaking eye contact.
#
A series of bell chimes echoed through the empty hallways of the local high school. Within seconds, mobs of loud and excited teenagers poured out into the halls. Grace and Oliver moseyed from their classroom to their lockers, in the middle of the action.
"I don't know why we have to get these papers signed," Grace mumbled as she pulled her locker door open. "I mean, the Toll Bridge is hardly a field trip."
"John just wants to make sure his bases are covered, you know that," the ginger boy said with a smile.
Shoulders deep in her mess of a locker, Grace tugged at a book that was buried at the bottom. "What bases? I don't know that I will even remember to bring it back on Monday." she huffed as her long light brown hair fell into her face.
"He doesn't want any trouble from parents or whatever," Oliver said, throwing his bag over his shoulder and slammed his locker shut.
"Or whatever," she mumbled. When she finally pulled it loose, she fell backwards, knocking into the boy that was walking behind her. When her back hit his chest, the annoyed blond boy shoved her forward, causing her to drop her book and hit her locker, face first.
At the unintentional grunt that came from his friend, Oliver spun around to see a trio of guys standing behind, both him and Grace. One of the boys, the one who had pushed her into her locker, was still hovering over Grace like a predator over its wounded prey.
"Leave her alone, Thomas," Oliver growled as he stepped in between the boy and Grace.
"Oh," the blond laughed. "What are you going to do about it?"
Oliver stood up straight, not backing down from the bully. "I said leave her alone."
Thomas was quite a bit bigger than Oliver was; the red head barely came to the other boy's chin. Where Oliver's frame was lean with wide shoulders, like a basketball players would be, Thomas' was thick and muscular.
"Ollie, I'm fine," Grace said calmly. She put her hand on his shoulder, urging him to step away.
"Yea Ollie," Thomas teased in his best mock-girl voice. "Your girlfriend is fine, but you won't be if you don't piss off and learn your place."
Oliver cocked a brow in true Mills fashion and crossed his arms over his chest. "And where, may I ask, do you think my place is exactly?"
"Under my boot, you fancy prick."
"Right," scoffed the ginger boy as he turned to walk away.
"Are you going to run away, Ollie?" Thomas called at Oliver's back. "Gonna run home and tell your fag parents that your girlfriend is being bullied?!"
At that, Oliver stopped in his tracks. He took a deep, chesty breath and closed his eyes. Even with a relaxed face, the vein in the front of his forehead and right between his brows was making itself quite prominent.
"Don't do this," Grace begged from in front of him. "Just walk away, Ollie."
"You don't have to be this person, Thomas," Oliver said as he slowly opened his eyes and turned to face the boy. "You don't have to do this."
"Listen to you," Thomas laughed. "You are a pansy, just like your dad."
Oliver made no advance. He stood no more than ten feet from the blond boy and his posse.
"Oh yea, hey, I heard your brother ran off and got some whore pregnant, is that true?"
"Seriously Thomas, are you really that jealous?" Grace called out as she stepped away from behind the protection of her wide shouldered friend.
Rage flashed in the blond boy's icy-blue eyes as he cleared the gap between himself and the girl. Grace didn't move. She stared up into the boy's eyes as he glared down on her, his chest heaving.
"We all know that Ella left you," Grace said firmly.
Thomas lowered his face, inches from hers. "She is a whore and so are you, you motherless cow," he growled before launching spit into the girl's eyes.
Oliver grabbed Grace by the back of her shirt and pulled her away from Thomas, forcing himself between them. Without realizing that he had done it, Oliver shoved the boy away, causing him to fall backwards. As Thomas regained his footing, he took off, darting at Oliver like a missile locked on its target.
"You have got to be joking," Oliver mumbled as he jumped out of Thomas's path, causing him to crash into the lockers behind him.
"Thomas," Oliver started before the boy spun around and took swing after swing at him. Every blow missed by inches as Oliver danced around the hallway, careful not to touch his attacker. "What. Is. Your. Problem?"
Too winded to reply, the blond continued to swing wildly. The ginger boy stopped running. As Thomas threw his punch, aimed at the other's face, Oliver threw his arm up, blocking the blow. In one swift movement, Oliver jabbed both of his palms into the boy's ribs, knocking the wind out of him before taking several steps backwards. The offender fell to the ground, gasping for air.
"I am going to suggest you stay down there, Thomas," Oliver warned quietly.
As the other boys in the hall ran to their friend's aid, Oliver and Grace hurried away without another word.
#
Emma stood at the bar at Granny's, impatiently bouncing on her toes. "What is going on back there?" she whined at Ruby.
The brunette threw the rag that was in her hand, down onto the counter. "New guy," she whispered, tossing a thumb toward the kitchen area.
"Naturally," she huffed. "On today of all days."
"What is today?"
"Nothing special."
"Mhm," Ruby hummed as she stepped out from behind the bar.
"I just want to take Regina some lunch, she has been really stressed out lately," Emma sighed, jumping up on a stool.
"I could imagine," Ruby responded, grabbing herself a stool. "Have you heard from him?"
"Him?" Emma looked over at her friend. "Roland?"
"Who else would I be talking about?"
"Well, I didn't know," she chuckled. "I talked to him yesterday. He has a place by the docks with Ella."
"Ella?" Ruby blinked. "Ella, as in, the girl who used to do housekeeping here?"
"Yup."
"That's strange," Ruby laughed.
"Not really," Emma mumbled before taking a sip of coffee.
"So, what's going on there, then? I thought she was pregnant with that Thomas boy's kid or something."
"Well, she is. But Mitchell, Thomas's dad, tried to get Ella to give the baby up for adoption."
"It isn't even born yet," Ruby mumbled.
"Yea, and when Ella told Thomas, he tried to tell her the same thing his dad did, so she broke up with him."
"Jeeze. So, why is she with Roland then? I mean do they even know each other?"
"I think they had classes together or something. I didn't really ask. But Roland is renting a loft from Eric down on the docks and Ella just needed somewhere to go. I don't really know all the details but they are splitting the cost."
"So, they aren't together then?"
"Um, no."
"Oooooh see, I thought they were."
"Nope," Emma smiled. "I don't really know what is happening there but the two of them seem quite happy."
A brown paper bag appeared in the window from the kitchen. Ruby spotted it and jumped up to retrieve it. "Here ya go, Sheriff," she said, dangling the bag in front of the blonde.
"Fiiiiiiinally," she laughed, snatching the bag from her friend. She rolled the top of the bag down, grasping the top in her fist. Looking down at the two to-go cups sitting on the counter, she sighed.
"Hey, before you go," Ruby started as she approached the blonde.
"Hmm?"
Running one finger from the bottom of the blonde's throat, to the top of her cleavage, Ruby smiled. "Where is your necklace?"
Emma stammered as she stepped back and looked around for any prying eyes, "W-what?"
"Where is it?" Ruby smiled.
"Gone," she said, turning back to the counter.
"Why did you sell all your shit?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I have been to Gold's shop."
"And?" Emma turned back to the brunette.
"And he said you sold all kinds of shit to buy something."
Despite the red splotched coming up on her cheeks, Emma's face remained stern. "It's a pawn shop, that's what it's for."
"But your necklace though?"
"I needed money," she mumbled.
"For what? Gold wouldn't say."
Relief rushed over the blonde's face. "It doesn't matter."
Knowing better than to actually press the matter, Ruby set her brows high as she dramatically rolled her eyes. "Right, well, maybe you'll trust me enough to tell me," she sighed.
"Not today, Rubes," Emma smiled.
The brunette pulled her arm back, as if to strike at her friend. Emma winced, closing her eyes. After a moment of uninterrupted silence, the blonde peeked through a cracked lid. In front of her face, a silver chain swung from Ruby's red painted fingers.
"Why do you have that?" She asked as she opened both of her eyes fully.
"Leverage," smiled the brunette, as she spun the chain around her fingers and shoved it into her pocket.
"Whatever you say," Emma laughed. "I have to go, I'll see you later."
Taking the brown bag in between her teeth, she grabbed both of the cups before heading out onto the street.
Ruby watched as her friend hurried down the sidewalk. Shaking her head, she grabbed back up the rag and began cleaning the counter once more.
#
Oliver and Grace walked in down the sidewalk in silence; both lost in thought. Out of nowhere, Grace stopped.
"What is it?" Oliver asked, turning around.
"You shouldn't have done that," she huffed, crossing her arms.
He looked around awkwardly. "Done what?"
Grace pulled back and socked Oliver in the face. Her little fist caught him on the corner on his eye.
"Holy shit Grace, what did I do?" He cried out in pain and surprise.
"I can take care of myself," she said confidently.
Hand over his eye, the boy began laughing. "And you couldn't just say that?"
"I figured you would remember better this way," she smiled.
"Is that something you learned from Ruby?"
In a playful, rapid fire kind of attack, Grace hammered the sides of her fists against Oliver's arm. "Don't you go talking about my mama, boy!"
When she finished with her assault, they both exploded in a roaring laugher. Continuing their walk, they headed to Granny's diner for a snack. It took only a few short minutes for the duo to reach their destination.
"You know I didn't just stand up to Thomas for you right?" He asked, opening the door to the diner.
"Yea. Had he not said that about your parents, we would have just walked away."
"I don't know what his problem is, really."
They went in and took up their normal booth in the back corner of the room. Ruby bounced out from behind the bar and approached them.
"Hey kiddos, how was school?" she asked as she slid in next to Grace.
Neither of them answered her. Oliver even went so far as to avoid eye contact.
"That good huh? What happened?" The woman looked back and forth between the teenagers.
When she still got no answer, Ruby slid out of the booth and went back behind the bar. "Okay then," she sang. "I bet a couple of Milkshakes would make you two talk," she said as she pulled out two chilled glasses and began fixing their favorite treat.
The two sat completely silent in the booth. Looking out of the corner of her eye, Ruby could see that they were both acting weirder than normal. She finished up quickly. As she took the shakes back to them, she became almost panicked when neither reached for their drink right away.
"Okay seriously," she said firmly. "What the hell is going on?" She stared a hole through the girl. "Grace, what?"
Not a word.
Ruby looked back to Oliver. She studied his face, searching for a clue. Any clue at all. She spotted the reddish splotch that had begun to swell next to his eye. Instantly enraged, she grabbed the boy's chin and tilted his face towards her. Looking him dead in the eyes, she asked him, "Who hit you?"
Grace just about lost it. Panic washed over her face. She didn't mean to hit him that hard. She didn't know it would leave a mark. Before Oliver could say anything, Grace spoke up. "I did," she whispered.
Confused, Ruby looked at her daughter. "Excuse me?"
"I punched him," she said louder.
The woman put her hands on her hips and stood up straight, slightly relieved. "Now why would you do that?"
"Do you want the whole story?" Grace asked, her face looking slightly pained.
"Well yea, I want the whole story," Ruby said as she sat back down by the girl.
Grace and Oliver took turns telling her what had happened with Thomas and how Oliver had protected her and how she punched him to get her point across. By the end of the story, Ruby was angry at Thomas' actions but she smiled all the same.
"So you just punched him because he protected you from getting harassed?" She laughed. "Are you PMSing?"
"Eww, mom," Grace whined.
The others laughed at Grace's embarrassment. Finishing their milkshakes, they continued to sit and chat until another customer came in.
"Stay put," Ruby said. "I have to work."She slid from the booth and made her way over to greet the newcomers.
#
Emma strolled into the courthouse with the brown bag still between her teeth. She nodded at the new secretary seated at the desk before she headed toward Regina's office.
"Excuse me Miss," the red haired girl called out from behind the desk.
Emma turned around to look at the girl, again.
"Can I help you with something?"
Emma rolled her eyes before putting one cup between her arm and stomach. She dropped the bag out of her mouth and into her now free hand. "Um, I am going to see Regina."
"Do you have an appointment? Can I ask your name?" the girl was genuine in her lack of knowledge.
"Emma Swan, I'm the sheriff. I don't need an appointment," she mumbled in a polite voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry Sheriff," the girl looked down at a yellow post-it note on her desk. "Mayor Mills is out of the office right now, she should be back in a short time, if you would like to take a seat and wait, that would be fine." The girl looked back up into the obviously confused face of the blonde. "Or if you would like I could just take a-"
"No, no, I'll wait," Emma said before setting down her cargo and plopping heavily into an ugly light blue lounge chair across the room.
After ten or fifteen minutes of the careful examination of her fingernails, laughter in the hallway pried Emma's eyes upward. As her eyes lingered, her face became quite hot. She watched as a tall blonde woman with sharp features and a beautiful smile laughed at something Regina must have said. The brunette was also laughing, only her hand was on the small of the other woman's back, leading her into the lobby.
Emma felt like she was going to puke. She stared at Regina's face, mentally begging her to look over and not look guilty. As soon as Regina's dark amber eyes landed on Emma, her whole world lit up. Emma could see her say something to the blonde as she pointed in her direction and then two women walked over to where Emma was sitting.
Regina waved her arm from one blonde to the other. "Abigail," she smiled. "I would love to introduce you to the sheriff of Storybrooke and my lovely partner of ten, almost eleven years now, Emma Swan."
Abigail smiled a huge grin as she extended her hand to the still seated blonde. "Emma, it is so great to meet you! I have heard so much about you."
Emma got to her feet to shake the woman's hand. She felt like an idiot for being jealous over someone who is obviously no threat to her relationship. "Hi Abigail," she smiled before looking over to her partner.
Regina explained to Emma that Abigail was a new business owner in town and someone who she had met a long time ago. She had been showing her around town and catching up for the past few hours. The woman said her goodbyes and left them with the promise that she would come meet the rest of the family within the next few weeks.
After the woman left, the couple went to Regina's office. As soon as the door closed, the brunette turned on her lover. "What's that you have in that bag?" She asked, eyeballing the brown paper in Emma's fist.
"I was going to be a surprise lunch," Emma said before throwing the bag into the trashcan. "But, you already ate and it's cold."
Regina frowned. "I'm sorry honey, I didn't know."
The blonde chuckled at her partner's pouting lip as Regina wrapped her arms around the woman's stomach.
"Yea, I know that you didn't know," Emma continued to chuckle. "That's kinda the point of a surprise. Ya know, that whole surprise bit."
Regina pulled the blonde closer to her body. "It was very sweet of you."
"Yup, that's me," Emma teased. "The sweet one."
Red lips pushed themselves against the pale flesh that was Emma's neck.
"I'm serious."
"Right. Well, can I just say that I am deeply offended by your new desk girl?" Emma said, as she wrapped her arms around her lover.
"Who? Anna?"
"Is that her name?"
"Yes, she has been here for a week or so. She is the one I told you about who had that deer or whatever it is."
"Oh yea."
"Why are you offended by her?"
"She didn't even know who I was, I mean I am the sheriff and ya know, practically married to the Mayor and, and.." Emma huffed.
"Calm down, Dear, she is new to the town, you can't expect her to know everyone."
"Sh-er-iff."
"Oh stop, you should talk to her, she is actually quite lovely."
"Uh-huh."
After a short silence, Regina looked up, a bit surprised. "Did you just call us married?"
Quickly, Emma blurted "Practically, I said practically."
"Why have we not talked about marriage in almost nine years if that is how you feel?"
"I-I don't know, Regina. I was just saying that we were."
"I do not know if I believe what you are saying," Regina said with a smirk.
"Okay," Emma said pulling out of her lover's arms. "Well, now that that's done, I better get home and start dinner."
"But you only just got here," Regina pouted her lip.
"I have been here for like an hour."
"But I haven't."
"Regina," Emma raised a brow as the brunette approached her again. She quickly became tangled in a mess of kisses and strong tan arms.
She could feel her face getting hot. "What are you doing?"
Regina ran her arms over the sheriff's shoulders, stripping her jacket from her body and dropping it to the floor.
A laugh came from the blonde as she tried to back away from the sudden assault. She took several steps backwards, and Regina followed, almost pushing her backwards. Emma knocked her butt into the desk and stopped. She was pinned.
"Where do you think you're going, Miss Swan?" Regina asked in a raspy, sexy voice.
"I-I have to go cook for our s-son," she stammered, trying to ignore the hands that forced their way up into the underneath of her shirt.
"I think that can wait. I should give you your surprise," the brunette whispered as she pushed Emma further backwards, forcing her onto the cool, wooden desk top.
"What can wait?" the blonde asked, mentally willing herself to not get too excited.
Red stained lips trailed light kisses across exposed skin. Regina smiled as she continued to run her fingers over the blonde's bra-clad chest. "Dinner, dear," she mumbled between kisses.
Emma's brain felt as though it were composed of nothing more than jell-o as she took in the feeling of her lover's warm lips upon her flesh. "but-but," she tried to protest, failing, as her body slowly caved under pleasure.
While her hands traveled to the blonde's back, Regina situated herself between Emma's thighs. Like magic, the fabric that once covered pale, fleshy mounds, was now mid-flight. It fell to the ground with a dull click, before sliding to halt at the bottom of the office door.
As the cool air hit her chest, Emma took a deep breath. She could feel her nipples taking attention. Ripples and ridges formed around the small, hardening beads; sending tinges across her skin. A pale hand found its way to the front of Regina's blouse and gripped it, pulling her forward onto the blonde. Her mouth set on the woman's chest, Regina allowed her tongue to circle around one nipple before she pulled the skin there into her mouth.
As the warmth of her lover's mouth descended onto her breast, Emma sighed. She pushed her chest higher, craving more contact. Her hands woven in dark hair, the blonde lulled her head back. She could feel moisture gathering between her legs.
Breaking contact, Regina moved on to the now, very exposed throat of her lover. "Would you rather sit up or lay down? She asked the blonde.
"Hmm?"
"Sit or lay, dear?"
Emma blew air through her lips. "Why does it matter?"
Regina gripped the edge of the desk with one hand and brought the other down to cup the heat between the blonde's thighs. Emma jumped at the contact but pushed down against the woman's hand, challengingly.
"If you are going to lay down, I have to remove the things from my desk," Regina said coolly.
"No, I'll sit."
As if she had heard the code word, Regina quickly unbuttoned Emma's blue jeans and slid them down to her ankles.
The quick movements startled the blonde into a giggle. "Jesus, Regina, are you in a hurry?"
Dark eyes peaked up from the light skin of the blonde's stomach. "Well, I'm not going to say I am in a hurry," Regina said between warm kisses. "But I have a meeting in twenty minutes."
"Oh for fuck sake," Emma mumbled as she grabbed for her pants.
Taken aback, Regina frowned. "What?"
"We can finish this at home."
"But why would we do that, I have you right here."
"We are too old for quickies," the blonde sighed.
"You are never too old for a quickie, dear," Regina whispered as she slowly pushed the woman back down onto the desk.
"Oh stop," Emma laughed as she attempted to stand back up.
As the brunette tried to stall her lover's leave, a faint click sounded behind her. She stopped what she was doing and turned her head toward the door.
"Mayor Mills, your- oh god," the ginger girl cried at the sight of Emma's naked body perched on the Mayor's desk with the Mayor herself stooped over between her naked thighs. "I am so sorry," she squeaked as she stood in the doorway, staring.
Regina turned to face her secretary. "Anna, what do you need that is so important that you would bypass paging me or knocking on my door?" Her eyes were cold, her lips pushed together so tightly that they almost stuck out away from her face.
"I-I-I," the girl shook her head.
"Would you spit it out?!" Regina growled.
"There is a nun here to see you!" Anna yelled before cupping her hands to her mouth.
"Jesus," Emma sighed. "Yo new girl," she called over to the shell shocked teen.
"I'm sorry," Anna cried out at the blonde.
"Stop your blubbering and throw me my bra, would you?" Emma asked calmly as she got to her feel and pulled her jeans to her hips.
"I'm sorry?"
"Yea, I got it, your sorry. Bra. Next to your foot."
The girl threw the garment to Emma before running from the room, half in tears.
"Well, that was fun," Emma sighed.
"And to think, we used to do this kind of thing all the time and no one ever just walked in on us."
"Well, there was that time that Sydney almost did," Emma added as she slid her shirt back down to her stomach.
"You are quite right," Regina nodded with a smirk.
"Alright well, I will see you when you get home, have a great meeting with Blue. Maybe she wont pray for your immortal soul this time."
"Oh get out of here," Regina laughed as she swatted the blonde on the rump.
"I love you, Pookie," Emma teased before giving the woman a peak on the cheek.
"If you call me that again, I will murder you," Regina said flatly.
"Aww come on."
"No. I love you too. Go."
As Emma scampered from the room, she paused to pinch the Mayor's boob. Her aim caught the woman by the nipple.
"Ahh," Regina groaned. "Every time!"
"Right on the money, Baby," Emma laughed as she ran from the room.
On her way out of the office, she passed the poor secretary who was sitting at the front desk staring at her shaking hands. Ana looked up at the blonde before looking back down.
"Hi Anna, I am Emma," she said softly as she approached the desk. "I am sorry you had to see that."
"Well," the girl said as she made eye contact. "Now I know never to just open the door."
Emma chuckled. "Yup, you sure do."
"Have a great day, Emma," the girl said with a half hearted smile.
"You too!"
As Emma turned to leave, Blue shook her head, "Sheriff."
"Mother Superior," she nodded.
"You should keep a sign on that door you know," the woman said, half laughing.
"Tell me about it."
#
"You know," Robin started, looking up slightly at his youngest son. "Your mother is going to have a straight up shit fit when she sees that eye."
"I know, maybe I will just play sick for the next few days and avoid her," Oliver said.
Grace snorted a laugh as she opened the refrigerator door. "I don't think that would be such a good idea, Dude."
"She is right," Robin nodded.
"Oh come on," Oliver whined. "I mean, Mom hates germs so if she thought I was sick, she would stay away."
"Yea but Emma wouldn't and you know she would tell on you," Grace added from behind the refrigerator door.
"No way, Emma keeps all my secrets."
"Look man," Grace said as she popped the top on a can of pop. "if you play sick and Regina finds out, she will be pisses that you got in a fight and she will be hurt because you lied to her."
"mhm, she is right," Robin added as he sat down at the table.
Oliver rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the input, dad."
"I am just saying."
"Yes I know, but I didn't get it from the fight."
"I'm soooorry," Grace whined.
"No you aren't," Oliver said flatly.
Grace glared at the boy.
"Well, you aren't."
"You don't know what I'm thinking," she huffed.
"Oh but I do."
The teenagers stood in the kitchen staring at each other. Grace grinned teasingly before slowly taking a sip from her can. With their eyes locked, Oliver's ears burned hot.
Robin sat and watched as his son and his friend stared at each other awkwardly. He could see that there was something odd happening between the two. Before he could pinpoint what it was exactly, the front door creaked open.
Emma walked into the kitchen and witnessed the awkward staring situation that was happening in the middle of the kitchen. It was like they were lost in each other's eyes. She looked from them to Robin. He shook his head an shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, Who is winning?" Emma asked.
Instantly embarrassed, Oliver turned to the woman. "What?"
"That staring contest was pretty intense."
Grace laughed, "Yea and he just lost. Thank you Sheriff."
"Girl power," the blonde smiled.
Before anyone could say another word, Emma was glaring at the boy's face. "Nice eye."
Oliver jumped, turning his now slightly purple eye away from the woman. "Yea, I uh…"
"Yea, I heard that you got into a throw down with Mitchell's boy today. I heard that he couldn't even touch you though," Emma said, walking over to him.
"Who said that?" Oliver asked, wide eyed… ish.
"Mary Margret called me earlier," she said as she examined the spot.
"Oh."
"That is gonna be beautiful in the morning."
"Yea, I know. It doesn't really hurt though."
Robin sighed from the table, getting everyone's attention. "Tell her," he said, a grin on his face.
Emma looked back to the boy. "Tell me what?"
"Thomas didn't hit me," Oliver said quietly.
"Oh? What, did you fall down the stairs or hit your head on the door?"
"Neither."
"Okay…" Emma looked over to Grace who was being suspiciously quiet. "Well?"
"I punched him," Grace mumbled before taking another sip from her can.
Emma's brows shot to the top of her forehead. "You?"
"I didn't mean to actually hit him that hard…"
"You blacked his eye?" Emma chuckled. "What did you do?" She asked as she turned back to Oliver.
"Why did I have to do something?"
"I mean, a girl doesn't just punch you in the face for no reason," she said.
"I didn't do anything, really."
"Did he pinch your ass or what?" Emma asked the girl, teasingly.
"No."
"Just tell me what happened."
Grace and Oliver took turns telling an overly dramatic interpretation of how he got his shiner. When they were finished, Emma just stood there, shaking her head.
Grace stared at the woman. "What?"
"If you were anymore like Ruby, I would just die."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?!"
"Saying what?" Everyone was so excited with what was going on, they didn't hear Regina come in.
Emma smiled at Oliver as she turned to her partner. "Oh you know, how much like Ruby, Grace is."
"What did she do?" Regina asked, looking from Grace to Emma.
"Oh nothing, just gave our youngest a shiner for defending her honor," Emma chuckled.
Oliver and Grace both winced at the tactlessness the blonde used while breaking the news. Regina stared from one person to the next, the words sinking in slowly.
"She did what?" she asked, looking at Emma. She turned to Grace, "I'm sorry, you did what?"
"Mom, its fine, really," Oliver pleaded.
"Come here, let me see it," the brunette demanded.
As she examined the boy's eye, they were forced to retell the story of how Thomas tried to fight Oliver and how Oliver put him in his place. After they were done talking, Regina looked over to the young girl, her features flat and unamused.
"Well," she nodded, "nice shot."