It was a rare occurrence for Elsa to be cold, but she felt it during the change of seasons. So that was why she looked a bit like a burrito, wrapped in the comforter as she contemplated if it was honestly too early in the season to try out the heater. Despite the moderate temperatures from the day before, a cold front had pushed through and left a soggy mess of a day that begged for soup, warm socks, and a crackling fire. Rolling over in the giant bed she shared with Liam, she was only somewhat surprised to find him gone, a vague memory playing at the edges of her mind. There had been a phone call, a hushed conversation, and a quiet apology as he kissed her head.
Her own phone held the answer with a text message.
Liam: Good morning, darling. I wanted to let you sleep. The mess of the new ordering system wasn't addressed and my assistant not harangued enough yesterday. So I am doing a spot inventory before Zelena decides to take matters into her own hands. You looked so lovely in your cocoon of blankets that I surely hope to find you in a similar state upon my return. All my love to you.
She knew it was a bit silly to feel a bitterness rise in her at the sight of Zelena's name, but the bile still rose with the thought of the woman. Ruby had first pointed it out, noting that the ginger haired beauty often stood a little too close to Liam and her eyes lingered too long. She tended to trail a finger along Liam's forearm as she spoke, uplifted lips almost flirty and eyes dipping downward in a demure and yet open sort of way.
She didn't mention this feeling in her text back telling him that he couldn't truly expect her to stay in bed without breakfast. While she was completely sated from their night before, she was sure that food would become more of a necessity. She was mentally inventorying the contents of the cabinets and refrigerator when her phone buzzed again.
"Hi, Ruby," she said with certainty that the call from the kitchen at Granny's had to be her friend and not the elderly proprietress.
"I just saw Liam saunter in and get a to-go plate to take back to the bar. Don't tell me he left you alone today."
"He got called into work," Elsa said, struggling to untwist the blanket and comforter so that she could at least sit up. "I'm not co-dependent, you know. Anyway, I was still sleeping."
"I gathered," Ruby said, the sound of dishing clinking behind her and other audible evidence of a busy restaurant with sizzling, bubbling, and servers calling out orders to the cook. Even without being able to see her, Elsa knew that Ruby was probably seated on the prep counter that was only used for baking, legs crossed and her fingers combing through hair that was still damp from her shower. Ruby was forever sleeping until the last minute and finishing her makeup and hair on the go
"Wait, I thought you and Graham were staying overnight at the country club. You said you were excited about the hot tub. Don't tell me he got called back to work." Elsa managed to detangle herself from the bed linens and half stumbled out of her room to the kitchen, thanking Liam, God, and her lucky stars that the coffee was still hot in the machine.
"Granny was complaining about her arm. You know how she gets whenever a storm is rolling in. Anyway, I drove her home. She sort of half asked and half ordered me to take over this morning's rush and she would work tonight."
"Is she okay?" Elsa asked, stepping onto the balls of her feet and stretching for a mug. None of them liked to talk about it, but Granny was getting older. She was still energetic and cantankerous, but she had slowed a bit in her age and struggled sometimes to meet the daily demands. Ruby filled in where necessary, but everyone knew that Granny worried about the businesses' fates once her granddaughter was left to run them.
"Probably yelling at those Sunday morning shows on politics. She takes this whole idea of interactive mediums way too seriously." Ruby covered the mouthpiece and instructed someone to clear the tables more quickly. "Either that or the weather channel. She's convinced that she can predict storms better than the meteorologists with this trick arm of hers."
"Well, tell her I hope that she is feeling better soon. I was thinking to stop by later with Anna to go over those last minute details on Anna's dress with you, but if you're too busy…"
"No, that's what I called to tell you. It's supposed to storm horribly today. Let's put that off until the morning. I don't want Anna risking catching a cold or something right before the wedding. And Granny will be back on duty so I can concentrate on the alterations."
Elsa balanced the phone against her shoulder and ear and held her mug of warm dark liquid in her hands as she made her way to the plated windows overlooking the town. A thin misty fog hung low to the ground making her view mostly whitish gray and big drops of water were cumulating on the windows. That explained the chill in the air that normally didn't bother her, as the cold front was moving through. "Good idea."
"So anyway…when I finish up here, want to catch some movies or something? I'm bored and could use a good veg session. If Liam's still working, I could come over there." Ruby was clearly wanting to talk about something, some sort of confession or admittance. "I'm not that delicate that I can't manage a few raindrops."
"I don't know how long Zelena will keep him today, but come ahead if you want. We own more than one television. He understands the need for girl time."
"You do realize that you sound very…I don't know…tense when you say her name."
Elsa grimaced, the windows reflecting back her sour expression. "No, I don't realize. I'm not jealous. I don't have a jealous bone in my body."
"Right," Ruby drawled, the sound being cut off by the dropping of a pan or something in the background. "Got to go, but I'll see you later. We'll talk about this then. Girl talk is a great time to get these things out in the open."
***AAA***
Rain beat against the windows of the house with a steadily intensifying staccato, drowning out the sounds of music from Henry's room as he practiced the song that was giving him the most trouble. Emma wrapped her legs in the knitted blanket that Granny had given her not long after Henry turned five. While she was a bit disappointed that their boat trip down the coast before dry docking for the season was rained out, she had to admit that she enjoyed the warmth of the fire in the fireplace and scent of muffins cooling as she read from the novel that Mary Margaret had suggested a few weeks earlier.
Thankfully Mary Margaret and David had gotten off to their honeymoon location with no issues at all. And while they were all still recovering from a night of dancing and laughing with friends, she was in no mood or condition to do more than laze about that early afternoon. Having already popped a couple of aspirin for her headache – a dull pain that was more annoyance than symptom, she was content to let herself sink into the near fall like weather.
Their life included few quiet days like this, she realized as Killian joined her at the other end of the sofa and opened his own book with a lazy sigh. "Sounds like quite the gale out there," he said when he caught her looking at his profile. "Perfect day to stay in and curl up with a good book."
She lifted the thick novel as evidence that she was doing just that. "I thought you were going to suggest cooking some more. I don't think my stomach can take it though." Already they had baked muffins, a loaf of banana bread, cinnamon scones, and a pie that she couldn't quite identify. Killian had also been furtively chopping vegetables and adding herbs to his crock pot without explanation other than saying it was his mother's stew recipe. She wanted to ask more about it, but the sight of him in his anchor socks and stained but still serviceable apron had been so adorable that she snapped a photo with her phone. He had not seemed to mind, posing for the picture with a wooden spoon held up like a scepter.
"My original intent was to invite Liam and Elsa to enjoy the stew with us, but I am rethinking that. No need in getting them out on the road in this mess."
Her feet were sticking out from the blanket and a bit chilly despite her striped socks that he had smiled at when she put on that morning. Instead of readjusting the blanket, she wiggled her toes and wormed them under his thigh, giving him an innocent smile when he noted her movement. "I'm sure they will be busy with Anna's last minute plans." She yawned, stretching one arm over her head. "At least I'm just attending that wedding and not an actual bridesmaid or anything. Much easier work."
"It will be much better to sit with you through the exchanging of vows and rings, love. Though you were a vision yesterday. I have rarely seen you look more beautiful."
She slid down the pillow on the sofa, resting her book on her bent knees. "Flatterer," she accused with a wagging finger. "But I'll take it. Just don't get any ideas about me dressing up like that more often. Mary Margaret was clearly going for the princess theme."
"And you were the perfect royal."
A sudden gust of wind assaulted the house, howling and rattling with a wailing that sounded of ghosts and goblins. It was hard to believe that just the day before had been a warm and comfortable temperature that had not required even the lightest of jackets until nightfall. Emma couldn't help but smile at the two warm mugs of tea that Killian had set in front of them, the steam still rising and a gingery scent wafting upwards.
"You're trying to turn me British, aren't you?" she asked. "Tea and scones?"
"I simply have a fondness for them and thought you might appreciate them too. You have said you are a fan of my accent." She had on more than a few occasions told him that he could make even the most mundane of texts sound positively sinful when he dropped his voice and let his accent roll over the syllables with lilting and clipped tones. She wasn't sure if it was just his accent or the way he would speak right at her ear, breath warm and tickling her skin, but she appreciated it all the more.
"Oh so now you're fishing for compliments too. I knew you were missing the water, but fishing?" Her grin was wide as he rose up and over her legs to kiss her, their laughter mingling just before their mouths touched. The book on her knees fell as she straightened to make room for him.
"You know I shouldn't have to knock to come out of my room," Henry complained, startling them both with his presence. The lack of his music might have been a clue if either had been paying attention. "I'm hungry."
"Big surprise," Emma said, pushing Killian back to his side of the couch with the palms of her hands. "Save room for dinner, but there are a few things in the kitchen." She named a few of them as he dug about, rejecting most of the ideas. Finally he settled on a bag of chips and a soda, lingering tentatively near the chair in the living room.
"Sounds like you're finally getting through that section pretty cleanly. I could tell the distinction in the notes." Killian gestured toward the chair in a way that said there was no reason to hide from them. "Perhaps with a bit more practice you'll pick up the tempo?"
Tugging sharply with the bag, Henry nodded. "Do you think maybe later you can test me on it? I want to get that part right before group practice."
"Aye, it'll be a pleasure," Killian said, turning his book back in his hand to the proper position. "Are you wanting a break or should we set to work now?"
"A break," Henry breathed out as though exhausted. His head fell back against the chair and the chip bag rattled in his lap. "Maybe we could watch a movie now? I'm bored."
"Why don't you watch something upstairs?" Emma asked, knowing well her son's penchant for loud movies and entertainment. "Killian and Liam hooked up that television and the cable guy was here the other day."
"This television's bigger."
Obviously willing to go along with the idea, Killian shoved aside his book and was leaning for the remote when Emma stopped him. "Hold it kid," she said, lifting her book again as evidence. "We're reading in here. Don't you have some reading to do? Are you done with all that summer reading you were assigned? What about…"
Head rolling back and forth on the cushion, her son groaned in an attempt at agony. "It sure didn't look like you were reading earlier."
"Yes, well, that was us taking a break." She pushed her feet back under Killian's thigh. "I just bought you two new comic books before the wedding. You can't tell me you're done with them already."
"Graphic novels," he said out of habit of correcting people who demeaned their existence. Groaning again, he rose and walked over to the table just inside the door. "You know that we pay a lot for cable right? We should use it. It's not like we pay less for using it less."
Killian lifted his hand to his mouth as if to cough, hiding the smile at Henry's blatant attempt to argue. He could feel even from the way that her muscles were tensing that Emma was not about to let that go without a comeback. He was not planning to get involved.
"We," she said, emphasizing the word and gesturing her thumb toward herself and Killian, "do pay for cable and Netflix, as well as all the utilities, the mortgage, and a great many things you don't have to think of because you're 12."
"I'll be 13 in less than a week," he said, not taking the hint of his mother's response.
"And that's still not an age where I'm going to argue with you about bills to be paid and if we are getting our money's worth. We are reading. You are welcome to join us or you can sulk in your room. You can practice some more. You can go and text Violet, Avery, or one of your other friends if you don't have anything else to do. Complain about how unfair this all is or something. Or you can review your summer reading before I get a call from your teacher the first week complaining that you remember nothing and failed your first test of the year. But we aren't watching a movie right now."
Henry sat back down, reaching into the bag of chips. "What if Killian wants to watch a movie?" he asked, the sarcasm evident. "You just don't want me to because we like different movies than you do."
"Henry," she said warningly. "If you're trying to test me, right now is not the time."
He didn't respond, flouncing back into his room and throwing himself on the bed. Emma waited for the inevitable slam of his door. "I think we just got a preview of the teen years. You sure you still want to marry me with the knowledge that you'll have to share your house with a teenager?"
"I'm in this for the long haul," Killian said, running his hand on the backside of her calf. "And I am a teacher, love. A bit of teenage angst doesn't scare me."
"It scares me," she admitted, wrinkling her nose. "I know it is only going to get worse. At his age I had already run away from a group home and been labeled as troubled. Neal wasn't much better at that age, what with his relationship with his father and wanting to run away."
His hand continued the soothing run down her jean clad leg. "You had a horrific childhood by any standards, love. And one that left you with a few wounds and scars that I'm sure will never fully heal. Henry is not subject to those same traumas so you can't really compare your childhood with his in that way. Yes, you are likely to see a bit of moodiness from him and more than a few outbursts. But you forget that you are a brilliant mother. He has a father who loves and supports him and is even more determined now to be a great father to the lad. I think that you will be able to steer him through any of the turbulent seas ahead."
"And he's going to have a pretty terrific stepfather," she said, her voice shaking on that name. She peeked over at him with a questioning concern. "You're okay with that, right? I don't know how else it would work with us if you…"
"My love, I have every intention of being whatever support that you and the lad need. If you want me on the periphery of the decisions you must make as a parent, then I will sideline myself. And if you wish me to be alongside you on those, then I will do that too. I think my role and Tamara's should be something that you, Neal, and Henry discuss with or without us involved. I can't speak for her, but I won't shy away from any involvement in the boy's life – even in the angst filled years to come. I may not have had the most involved of fathers, but I did have Liam who served that function and showed me how important it is to have those sorts in your life."
"You are lucky to have your brother," Emma agreed, smiling a bit lazily as he continued the soft massage of her leg. "I always wondered as a kid what it would be like to have a brother or a sister."
He could have told her stories of their fights as children or the way that Liam had forgone much of his own teen angst to be that surrogate father that Killian had needed. "And Henry? Do you think the lad might like a sibling of his own someday?"
She appreciated that he worded the question that way. No, she wasn't ready to even consider such a step and hoped to keep that at bay for at least a year or two until they had truly settled into their relationship. However, it was something that couples did discuss and needed to be considered as they moved forward. "Maybe someday," Emma agreed vaguely. "Who knows? Neal and Tamara might be on a faster track with that. What about you? Do you want children?"
His blue eyes had been so determined earlier, a steely gaze that had told her he truly wasn't scared of anything that the future might hold for them. It was a reassuring change from others in her life who had seemed to only seek excuses why things wouldn't work. She was just as guilty of that, but still she had come to realize that in her effort to predict someone's betrayal of abandonment of her, she had looked for signs that weren't there. Now those eyes looked almost hopeful and nostalgic.
"I can't deny that I would love to have a child or children with you, my love. But I would never presume to consider that without your wanting it too."
"In the meantime," she said, pulling herself up so that she could better access him, "we can always have fun practicing. Plus with Mary Margaret and Anna, I think we may have ample opportunity to babysit. See if this is something you really want to consider."
He told her that it sounded like a plan, pulling her closer to him before she stood to go check on Henry and see if they could settle the drama over watching a movie. She was already feeling a bit harsh, having snapped at him. The boy was experiencing a lot of change lately. Acting out was his way of gaining a bit of control, as Killian and Mary Margaret had both explained. She was part way to his door when her phone blared and vibrated from her pocket. She instinctively answered without even bothering with the caller id.
"Emma?" Ruby said, sounding breathless and frantic. "It's Granny. Something's wrong. We're at the hospital now."
***AAA***
Ruby paced the distance between the vending machines and the elevators in 14 long strides. Emma knew this, as her own head had started counting them as the woman took each step and nearly knocked into the other poor souls stuck in the purgatory of the waiting room. Her rain coat had done little to protect her against the storm that was still pounding the coastal town, her jeans damp and sticking to her and the weight of her shirt feeling heavy against her skin. Killian had taken particular notice of her chilled skin and begun to rub one hand and then the other as he tried to keep up a steady but light conversation.
So far he had commented on the weather six times, the selection in the vending machines four, and countless references to the video game that Henry was playing from his seat over by the window. It wasn't a disregard for the obvious concern over the woman behind the swinging doors, but more of an attempt to distract her and Ruby from completely losing their minds in worry.
"I didn't call Mary Margaret," Ruby said, pausing in her pacing long enough to stop in front of Emma to announce this. "I didn't think…"
"We won't disturb them unless we have to," Emma agreed. She wasn't saying the words, but she knew from Ruby's frantic call and Victor's hurried questions about Granny's wishes that the news could be worse than she wanted to face. "Is there anyone else we should call? I know the staff is trying to run things while you are both here, but any friends?"
"Doc's back there supervising and Marco called to say that he would be here after he stops at the church to pray and light a candle for her. You do realize she would hate that, right? All this fuss?"
"Aye, she's not the most pretentious or self-serving, but it is a kind gesture," Killian offered. "And Graham? Is he coming to sit with you?" He and Emma both rattled off a list of names that Ruby either conceded to call or rejected flatly. Killian took on the task of his brother and Elsa, while Emma notified Ashley, Aurora, and a few others, including Neal of the situation. When she finished, Ruby was still talking to someone and Killian had found a three-year-old magazine that promised such things as softer skin and a sneak preview of a movie that had only stayed in theaters for a week or two.
"If all these people come, it's likely to fill this place up to the rafters," Emma remarked. The thought didn't really surprise her, as Granny was a popular person in the town of Storybrooke. While she was nosy, judgmental, and sometimes grouchy, she was a fixture in their lives. She couldn't even begin to count the number of times that she had found herself musing over the challenges of life with a milkshake and a plate of onion rings between them.
"Everyone loves her," Killian agreed, resuming his place holding her hand. "It's not likely there is one person in Storybrooke who she hasn't influenced in some way. For myself it was her push that had me apply for my teaching position in the first place. That and pushing me to you, my love."
She nuzzled her head against his shoulder and then pulled away just as abruptly. "We really have to work on this flattery thing. It's a bit thick." Giving his leg a squeeze as she stood, she made her way over to Henry and dropped beside him. "Your dad is on his way over to see about Granny. He said you can come home with him if you want. That way you get a good night's sleep before school in the morning."
Looking up from the small screen of his game, he looked a bit shocked to have her talking to him. "Is she going to be alright?"
"Dr. Whale is back there now," she reminded him. "And you know that Granny is tough. How many times have we seen her fight off Leroy for the last of the lasagna or a pork chop. She keeps Ruby in line every day. She's practically a gladiator."
The corners of Henry's mouth twitched at the comparison. "Yeah. She ran the block the other day when she was chasing Leroy with a broom. She wasn't even winded when she came back."
Emma's laugh was tight and forced, but she patted her son's arm consolingly. "That sounds like her. Hey, kid? About earlier. I'm sorry about saying you couldn't watch the movie. I had a headache and didn't think…"
"I should have been reading for school. You were right, mom."
"Can I record those words? I might like to replay them sometimes?" Both of them laughed, looking at his game screen. She pointed out a way that he was missing to make enough points to get past the next obstacle. "I know you're going through a lot right now. Your birthday, school starting, your dad getting married, me and Killian…"
"I'm happy for you," Henry said a bit robotically. "Really, I am. Killian is great and I like living there. And getting married is the next step."
"Why do I feel like there is a giant but coming up here?"
"It's nothing, mom," he said, lifting the game a bit closer to his face. "I'm fine."
"Clearly not," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and waiting for him to pause. He didn't. "You know that you can tell me anything."
Chewing and then releasing the fat part of his bottom lip, he shot her a quick look before returning to his screen. "Sometimes I feel like I'm in the way. You're always pawning me off on dad, or Granny, or Mary Margaret. I have spent the summer with Killian, which is cool. We used to do stuff just the two of us. Me and you. And I heard you before tell Ruby and Granny that you were busy because it was our time together. Every Thursday night we watched old sci fi movies. And we used to have those tournaments with video games during the summer and keep the scores on the wall. But now it's the three of us."
She checked to see where Ruby was, not wanting to miss an update. However, her friend was talking to Killian and one of Granny's friends about setting up the DVR with her phone so that none of Granny's shows would go unwatched. "You feel neglected."
"Not exactly."
"You feel like a third wheel on a bike?"
That made him smile a bit at the image in his head. "I know you want to be alone with him. And I feel like maybe you are just waiting for me to go to bed or leave. I mean Tamara wasn't really subtle about saying those things to dad, but you are Killian at least nicer about it."
Emma pushed back on her seat. "Okay, here's the thing, Henry. If you ever feel like you're not wanted or loved, I want you to tell me. Because that means I'm doing a lousy job as your mom. I love you, Henry. I want you around. Do you want to know something? When Killian proposed? The first question I asked him after was if he thought we should go to your dad's place to tell you. I wanted to see you then. When you were taking piano lessons from Killian this summer? He used to shoot video of you and send it to me because I missed getting to be around you and was jealous of him getting to do that. When Killian shops for groceries? He calls or texts to ask if you might like a certain brand or item better. You're always in our thoughts and we do things for you, okay?"
Looking a bit contrite, Henry nodded that he understood. His dark eyes appeared to water slightly.
"And as for our time together, maybe I have gone a little overboard with including Killian. So let's change that. You and I can go back to dinner at Granny's just the two of us on Thursdays. And then we'll watch a movie or work on your homework together or whatever. Just the two of us. Killian can grade papers or whatever. But those nights are for us."
"He doesn't have to," Henry said, lowering the game back to his lap. "I mean he's kind of lacking on his movies. Did you know he didn't even know there was a second Back to the Future until I told him?"
"Seriously?" Emma feigned easily. "And you think you know a guy. That's it. The wedding's off. I can't marry a guy who can't list every single Michael J. Fox movie there is without having to use IMDB or Wikipedia." She twisted the ring on her hand like she might take it off. "I appreciate you telling me because I can't…"
"Mom!" Henry rolled his eyes elaborately. "I like Killian, okay."
"Second chance?"
"You got it."
***AAA***
Elsa arrived a bit later sans Liam, her blonde hair sticking to her black and royal blue shirt as she hugged Ruby first and then Emma. Like she always did, the blonde quickly asked after Granny and then pulled a few items like more up to date magazines out of her bag before taking a seat with the gang and waiting. However, her patient smile and her preparedness did not mask the tension in her eyes when Killian asked after his brother and said that he had received no text back from him.
Emma recognized it too and shooed Killian off in search of an orange drink that she knew was only available on the third floor. With Henry in tow, he disappeared into the maze of hallways as Ruby and Emma grilled Elsa on her demeanor.
"I think we have more important things to worry about right now," Elsa declared, primly picking a bit of lint off her pants. "How is Granny?"
"Probably driving half the staff crazy wanting to go home," Ruby said, brushing off the doubt in her own mind. "Is this about before? Your whole not being jealous thing?"
"What aren't you jealous about?" Emma asked, leaning forward over her knees. "You're not worried that Liam's doing something with someone else right? Because the guy is crazy about you?"
"No, I'm not jealous," Elsa responded with a pointed look at Ruby. "I just don't really care for Zelena."
"Oh," Emma said knowingly. "I kind of wondered about her. She's kind of touchy feely with guys and tends to be flirty with a lamp post even." Emma flung herself backwards as if shocked. "Oh God! She didn't do anything to Liam did she? I could just see her…"
"Whoa, she tried to seduce Liam?" Ruby asked, her hands clenching into balled fists. "I will take care of this. Where is she? She doesn't want to mess with me." Halfway out of her seat, Ruby was subdued by Elsa pulling her back down with a gentle tug.
"She hasn't done anything, exactly. She's just…she's just Zelena."
Ruby was still planning her attack as Emma gently prodded for more information. "I called Liam to tell him about Granny. I guess he was carrying something and she answered his phone."
Nodding knowingly, Ruby forgot her plans for a moment. "I hate that. You call a guy and some other woman answers. That's the worst feeling."
"She said she'd tell him and then kind of giggled and asked who this was. I heard her tell him that his girlfriend was on the phone. It wasn't that she said that. It was that little laugh of hers. Like she forgot I even existed."
"Did he talk to you? Did he call back?" Emma asked, peeking toward the door to see if Henry and Killian were back. She had worked with both Regina and Zelena for years. While she had never fell victim to them in that way, both women were not above using their sexuality and looks to get ahead. And Zelena tended to view men as conquests. The joke going around the office was that she had their heads and private parts mounted on a wall somewhere.
"No, I don't know. I turned off my phone." Elsa looked sheepish as she pushed her drying hair over her shoulder. "I don't want to be that woman, okay? I don't want to come off as needy and attention seeking."
"None of us do," Ruby agreed. "But come on. You versus Zelena. It's hardly a choice. Liam loves you. And he probably hasn't even noticed Zelena. Turn on your phone and check okay. We're here for you."
***AAA***
The nurses took pity on the women when Ruby explained that they were essentially the woman's grandchildren as well. So with linked arms, Ruby dragged Emma and Elsa (a bit reluctantly) into the curtained off quarters of the emergency room where Granny was supposed to be resting. The woman was giving hell to a technician administering and EKG and informing a medical assistant that quite enough blood had been drawn that day already.
"Who on earth is watching the diner if you're here?" Granny said, snapping her head to Ruby.
"And hello to you too," Ruby said with a measuredly exasperated sigh as she loosened her grip on the other two women and took the one and only chair. "I know it may be a surprise to you, but some of your staff is actually skilled and quite capable of running a restaurant without you breathing down their necks. How hard is it to heat frozen lasagna and fill a few soda orders?"
"You don't have to reveal all my diner's secrets," the woman scowled to the amused grin of the technician's hurried movements to get out of the way of this argument. "And these two. Please tell me that you didn't invite half the town here to see me being poked and prodded like a prized cow before auction."
"We're here because we care about you, Granny," Emma said, taking a small step forward and bracing her hands on the foot of the bed. "You're sick. We were worried."
"Do I look sick?" Granny muttered, trying to hide her pleased expression. "My granddaughter has no real understanding of money. This little check up is going to cost a fortune. Did you know you she wanted to call an ambulance?"
"You had fainted," Ruby protested, her arms over her chest as she sat in a plastic chair that was the same orange of what appeared to be a racing stripe that disappeared behind the greenish curtain. "I was worried about you. We're all worried about you."
"I tripped," the woman protested with an offended air. "I've been telling you that rug was a hazard. It curls up at the ends and I've almost bit it a dozen times. This time I did."
"You were on the floor, holding your arm, moaning, and had your eyes shut," Ruby listed in defense. "What was I supposed to think? Never mind. I'm sure you have an answer for that."
Elsa joined Emma at the foot of the bed, her own voice a bit softer and her eyes clouding with memories of losing her parents. Hospitals were not a welcoming place for her and the sight of the woman had done little to assuage those issues. "You look like you're doing well now, Mrs. Lucas. Any word from the doctor about what it is that is the trouble?"
"That doctor," Granny said, practically spitting as she mentioned his title. "He's nothing but a hack. He keeps checking my heart. I think it's just so he can feel around on my chest. Must think that my granddaughter and I were made of the same cloth." The woman shivered and crossed her own arms over her chest in a mock display of disgust and terror. "I don't know what Ruby does when she goes on a date with that leech, but I have a good idea. And I don't want him thinking he can do it with me."
Ruby rolled her eyes as the other two women laughed and the technician slipped away hurriedly. "Granny, I haven't been out with Victor in a while. And he's a good doctor. He's just doing his job."
The older woman huffed indignantly. Her usual sweater set and skirt were replaced by the standard issue hospital gown with the words property of the hospital placed in several locations. Why did they do that? Did people really want to keep those oddly sourced and uncomfortable garments that much? Granny's eyes shifted to the two blonde women. "Speaking of men? You two here alone? I didn't set you up with those two just to have you enabling my granddaughter to spend a fortune in unnecessary medical tests. Shouldn't you be off on dates or something?"
"It's a Sunday afternoon, Granny," Ruby said with a sigh after Emma and Elsa explained Killian was in the waiting area and Liam was at work. "You do realize that they aren't attached at the hip."
"Relationships are a lot of work," Granny said with her own matching sigh. "You can't just call it love and then go about life as usual. You must work for it. Love doesn't just fit into your life like a missing puzzle piece. We must make room for it."
"Granny," Ruby admonished. "Can we focus on you, please? You're sick. Let's get you better. Besides. Emma and Killian are getting married. You have to get better so you can drive Emma insane with requests for their wedding. I bet if you asked right now she'd tell you that she wants grilled cheese and onion rings for the reception. Surely you have better ideas to share."
Granny certainly did.