A/N: Thank you all (as always) for being so patient with my updates. This chapter isn't as long as the previous ones, but I promise you another one is in the works right now and I will update it late tonight. I promise more Emma and Regina moments, too. ;) Stay tuned and happy reading!

Chapter 33: Sibling Rivalry

"I have to admit, Regina," Mary Margaret sat down the usual cups of tea along her kitchen table. They decided to drink them inside for the evening. "I was afraid that after what happened, I wouldn't see you around these parts for a while."

"Thank you." Regina returned the woman's smile. "I have nothing against you, Mary Margaret. Besides, who else can I talk to that will perfectly well understand my situation but you?"

"I appreciate that." Mary Margaret reaches for her jar of honey and a spoon. "I bet that in a million years, you never thought that you and I weren't so different."

Regina swallows down the hot liquid she had just sipped. "Everyone has their story to tell."

"Good answer," Mary Margaret smiles. Her eyes never lost that spark that they always carried in them.

"How do you do it?" Regina asked. Her head tilted quizzically. "How can you be around Emma and not want to throw caution to the wind, and just hug your daughter? Tell her everything. Have you ever thought about it?"

Despite Mary Margaret's eyes not losing their brightness, her smile fades. "I think about it every waking day," there's a hint of sadness in her voice. "Every time I see Emma, every time she smiles at me or hugs me and I can wrap my own arms around my daughter…" she reaches for her own biceps, hugging herself. "But I can't."

"Why not? Mary Margaret, you've waited eighteen years, posing as the friendly neighbor who never denies Emma or her father a cup of sugar when they need it or, Emma, a shoulder to cry on. Don't you think you've waited long enough?"

"What's enough? When David left his family, before he took Emma in as his own, I'll admit, I admired him for that. David was always so different from Samuel. And I fear… that if Emma knows that I'm her mother, and what he did to me, knowing Emma- she will confront him. And she will probably confront David for turning his back on me. And maybe… she'll hate me for never being there."

"Emma couldn't hate you, Mary Margaret," Regina reaches for the woman's hand across the table. "You have been there. Her whole life, you've been by her side, watching over her, loving her, protecting her. If anyone deserves a chance with her, it's you."

"I appreciate your heartfelt words, Regina," Mary Margaret gave a sad smile, her hand squeezing Regina's in return. "But not yet. The day I tell Emma…" she sighs and shakes her head. "Her whole life- her world- will come crashing down. I have to tread lightly."

Regina couldn't help but smile as her eyes observed the woman, finally, after all these years, seeing something of Emma in Mary Margaret. "You know, now that I know the truth. I can see it."

"See what?"

"The similarities between you and Emma. A few of your mannerisms. You two aren't far alike."

Mary Margaret chuckles, wiping away a single tear along her cheek. "Well, they say, bloodline and all. Blood is thicker than water."

Regina dipped her head to the sound of her phone. "Sorry," she let go of Mary Margaret's hand to dip it within her purse, in search of her phone until she withdrew it. Her brows furrowed as she viewed and read a text message from the last person she expected.

"Are you alright?" Mary Margaret asked, seeing the look of surprise on Regina's face.

"Yeah…" Regina shakes her head. Not really knowing what to make of this message.

"What's wrong?"

"It's… my sister. Zelena." Regina looks up into Mary Margaret's surprised eyes. They must mirror her own. "She asked to see me. She never asks to see me."

"That's a first. Do you think something may be wrong?"

"I'll meet her tonight and find out," said Regina while typing out a reply for her sister. "Right now, I have to head over to Locksley incorporated. I'm meeting my father for lunch."

"Of course, go. We'll continue our chat some other time." Mary Margaret stands and pulls Regina into a warm hug. "You be careful, Regina."

"I'll try," Regina breathed, placing a kiss along the woman's cheek before bidding her farewell.

"Look, you don't understand- I need to see Robin Locksley! Or his father. They are the ones in charge, right? Let me speak to either of them." A man pleaded at the front desk of the lobby just as Emma was coming into the grounds of Locksley Incorporated.

"Sir, I already told you they are both very busy. If you wish to see them, you'll have to schedule an appointment like everyone else." The receptionist, who was already looking as nervous as it was over this confrontation, said to him.

"No. This is ridiculous. Look, I work for one of their construction projects, alright? Tell them Jefferson Hadder is here."

Emma stood by, watching as the confrontation went down.

"Sir, I already told you and I'll repeat. You have to make an appointment if you want to see either of the Locksley's. Now, please," the woman's eyes shifted from behind her desk, looking at all of the turning heads. "If you don't leave now, I am going to have to call security to escort you out."

"No. No, no, no!" As Jefferson's hands suddenly grasped the woman's behind the desk, she let out a surprising yelp. "All I'm asking is that you please- please- help me. Look, do you have a family? I have a daughter. She's six."

"Please, let me go, sir." The woman's voice croaked. But her pleading was no use. The more she attempted to take back her hands the more the man held on.

"I am begging you- you need to help me-!"

"Security!" She said in a firm, high octave voice.

"Darcy," Emma having enough, steps in, holding her arm out to prevent the two security guards from walking any further. "What's going on?" She asked, her green eyes locked on the man's bloodshot ones.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. But, this… gentleman…" Darcy shoots the man a look. "He insists on speaking to Mr. Locksley, or his father, but I've tried to explain to him multiple times that he has to make an appointment. However the gentleman refuses."

After taking a moment to observe him a little closer, Emma deciphered that the gentleman standing before her wasn't a threat. He was desperate- yes- but not on a threat level. He didn't seem like the type with a plan in motion to blow up the entire building. His clothes were very run down. His eyes were bloodshot with endless tears. The bags under his eyes suggested he was a hard worker that suffered from not only desperation but lack of sleep. He wasn't dangerous, and he certainly didn't deserve to be thrown out without a chance.

"Could you, please?" She nods toward the two guards.

"Please," Emma shook her head at the guards, using her arm as a barrier between them and the man. "That really won't be necessary, gentlemen, I can take it from here." She gave them a smile.

"But, Ms. Swan…" Darcy's eyes looked widely at Emma. "This isn't the first time this man's been here," she lowers her voice to a whisper, even if Jefferson was standing right there.

"Well, then, with more reason, I shall see to his needs." Said Emma.

"Who are you?" Jefferson asked, sizing Emma's five foot seven, fancy appearance from head to toe.

"Ms. Swan…" Darcy chose to ignore the man. "Mr. Locksley has prohibited this man from ever going up to the top floor."

"Has he?" Emma's brow lifts. "Well, then- Mr…?" Her eyes narrow at the man.

"J-Jefferson. Hadder." His eyes don't know where to look. To Darcy, to Emma, or to the two security guards that still stood by. One of them continuously cracked his knuckles as if he were aching for some action today on the job.

"Jefferson," Emma smiled. "Why don't we step into my office and we'll talk?" She motioned toward the elevators.

"Ms. Swan, you don't know what you're doing. If Mr. Locksley finds out that he was up there. I could get fired." Darcy pleaded.

"You work here?" Jefferson asked, affronted. Emma could see a wave of recognition playing in his eyes, but she had a little trouble placing him right now.

"Ms. Swan, please," Darcy continued to plead.

"Alright, Darcy, okay. But next time someone wishes to speak to Mr. Locksley, you put me through first." At Darcy's nod, Emma looks over to the two security guards. "Please, return to your duties, gentlemen. I'll see to Jefferson here."

Jefferson's eyes look to the two guards, who glared at him before heading back to their original place. Then back to Emma.

"Jefferson, why don't we talk over here?" Emma motioned to two leather chairs near a back wall with a water fountain built up within it. "Come on, it's okay. You can trust me." She said as the man didn't attempt to move a muscle in his body.

Jefferson's eyes narrowed as he hesitantly followed. "Trust you? Why should I do that?" He stands taller now, although his body was still clearly trembling from fear. "You're just another one of them." He nods toward the elevator doors.

"I think that if you sit down and give me a chance, you'll find that you shouldn't judge people by simply looking at their appearance." Emma smiled. "Now, Jeff, I want to help you. But I can't help you if you don't trust me and let me in on what the problem is."

His eyes narrowed once again as he observed Emma a little closer. "I know you…" he lifts a finger, pointing it loosely before her chest. "You were at one of their mines the other day… You were talking to a man." His eyes darken. "You're part of this shit company who just looks to ruin the lives of us, less fortunate. You get rich off of other's misery and hard labor."

"I don't know what you're insinuating, Jefferson, but I assure you that I am nothing like you described."

Jefferson scoffs a chuckle, "You are exactly like them…" his eyes size Emma up again, taking in her beautiful but elegant appearance of expensive black dress pants, white buttoned-up and white vest to go along with it. She decided on no jacket today. "Everyone in this company is nothing but a leech feeding off the poor."

"Look, why don't you sit down and we'll start over?" Emma offered him a chair. When the man still hesitated, she adds, "You have a daughter, right? What's her name?"

"Gracie." Jefferson blinks.

"Gracie," Emma echoes. "Sit down, Jeff, please," she takes her chair to show him a sign of trust. "Tell me about Gracie." She says, once Jefferson finally takes a seat beside her.

"You want to know about my kid?" Jefferson asks, taken aback by this strange request.

Emma nods, "Humor me. Tell me about her, what does she like?"

It takes Jefferson a small moment, but finally, he cracks a little. "Well, she's six. Her favorite color is pink. Like most girls, I suppose, I don't know. You know kids, they like one color and then the next day as they grow older, pink is no longer their favorite color. She likes painting- art-" he shrugs, "but she doesn't have enough time to do it anymore."

"Why not?"

"Well, she's sick. Since last year." Jefferson frowns. His eyes instantly turn bloodshot again. "Cancer."

"I'm really sorry." Emma said, meaning every word. Her eyes locked on Jefferson's enough that he believed her.

"Thank you." Jefferson sniffs, fighting back tears and wiping at a single one that slipped past his cheek. "Her treatments are expensive enough as it is, you know… and now the doctors are talking about donors and fluid along her spine- I don't know what the hell doctors talk about, really, but it all sounds expensive. Point is, she's on a very long waiting list and even though I've taken two jobs, I can't pay for it all. It's becoming too much." His hands tremble as he ruffles his hair in frustration. "Unfortunately the liquid the doctors need for her spine isn't a match with mine. I don't see how because I'm her father," he jabs his chest with his own finger. "Her mother, she didn't even care to give up on her. She left us when Gracie was just a baby. I'm all she has, and…" his lip quivers. "I can't even get her a new fucking paint set." He croaks, his voice a whimper. "I'm sorry."

Emma shakes her head, "You're alright."

"No," Jefferson wipes the tears away with the back of his sleeve. "I really shouldn't dump this all on you. You're clearly not at fault here. Although, why would someone like you, who has taken her time to listen to my sob story work for a couple of vultures, I will never understand." He glares in no particular direction. "I've tried so many times to talk to Robin Locksley."

"Why? What's Robin Locksley have to do with your situation?" Emma's brow furrows.

Jefferson chuckles dryly now, "Robin Locksley is the fault in everything, Ms. Swan."

"Just call me Emma."

"It's not just me. A lot of the people I work with, good men, with families of their own, we work overtime over at the mines or sometimes in construction sites. He treats us like slaves, and doesn't give a shit about our lives or safety measures. He cut back on our life insurance just to keep more money in his pocket." Emma's jaw tightened as she continued to listen. "Owen, a good friend of mine who works with me, broke his leg in three parts a few months ago after he fell from one of the Locksley's new apartment buildings. He needed a surgery that he couldn't have until some time later due to the insurance not covering it. His wife came here, raised hell with these people, and Mr. Locksley just had her thrown out the door- kids and all." He took note of Emma's dark eyes. "Look, I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't be telling you any of this-"

"No," Emma shakes her head. She leans forward to reach for the man's arm. "You did good, Jeff. I need to know these things."

"I swear, I'm telling you the truth. I honestly don't know with what purpose I came down here," Jefferson shakes his head. "It's not like they will listen. They never do."

"I'm listening." Said Emma, "I can't promise you anything, but what I will promise you is that I will do everything in my power to help you."

"You?" Jefferson scoffs. "Why would you waste your time helping me?"

"Because I know what it's like to be you, Jeff. And this isn't right. You and Gracie deserve help. She deserves a second chance at life."

Jefferson couldn't help the sobs as they escaped him, his face buried in his hands. Just like Emma couldn't resist patting the man's trembling shoulder. "I'll tell you what," she continued. "I will personally see to it that the safety measures are met, and I will bring up the health insurance for you and every other person there, and if you have any more trouble, any concerns at all," she pulls out her phone. "Let me save your number in my contacts. You can call me anytime."

"Really?" Jefferson breathed.

"Day or night," Emma nods, her phone ready in her hand. After she saved the phone number that Jefferson dictated for her, she stood along with him. "You have my word that I'll be stopping by soon."

"Be sure that you do," Jefferson wiped at his eyes again. "I promise you, Emma, I'm not lying to you."

"I believe you. We'll be in touch." She shakes the man's hand before walking over to the elevators. After pressing the up button along the elevator pad, she waits until the doors slide open, enough for her to walk inside.

"Hold the doors! Please, hold the doors!" A voice boomed just as the doors were closing. Emma's eyes locked onto Regina's as she caught one of the elevator doors before they shut. "Thank you," Regina blinked, stepping inside once Emma stepped far away. Even when she knew Emma worked here, she wasn't counting on seeing her here today.

Emma placed her briefcase in front of her, holding it in place as she faced the doors. She wondered what Regina was doing here, but didn't dare ask. After all, it wasn't her business. Regina could do anything she wanted to do.

Regina's brown eyes would slightly shift, just enough to get a good look at Emma standing beside her. How did she always look so good in anything she wore? She wondered, feeling her breath catch in her throat. Should she say something? And if she did say something, would Emma still act cold toward her? Most likely, but anything was better than the awkward silence hanging in between them.

"I didn't expect to see you here today," said Regina.

"I work here." Emma replied dryly.

"Right," Regina murmured. "How's the house hunting going? Any luck?"

Emma's eyes turned to Regina this time. "We don't have to do this, Regina. We're expected to run into one another, whether we like it or not, but that doesn't mean we have to start up a conversation every single time we do."

"I could remember a time when talking to me was about as great as your favorite hobby." Regina faced forward, looking at the doors. She could feel Emma's eyes on her. "And you're right. We don't have to do this. But, you know… I figured, since we are going to be seeing more of one another, it would be good to polish up the rough edges of our… relationship. Excuse me for trying to build a professional environment with my boss."

Maybe this wasn't the best way to tell Emma that she had decided to accept the job that Lily had offered her. But she just couldn't help herself. At least she was happy that would be a good enough excuse to see Emma a little more, even if Emma didn't like it.

"What are you talking about?" Emma's head finally turned, her eyes focused on Regina's as they faced her.

"I'm going to be your new employee, starting tomorrow. Didn't Lily tell you? I figured she would tell you everything." Regina tilts her head. "She hired me to give your office building a little makeover of sorts."

Emma's jaw sets in motion. Now she remembered. Lily had mentioned to her that she thought the place needed a fresh coat of pain, but she never thought that she would go behind her back and hire the one person she would rather avoid. "There's professional painters for that type of work, you know. You don't have to be the one to do it." She finally said.

Regina chuckles, "Tell that to Lily. She seems to believe that you enjoy my work- those being her exact words- so she thought I would be right for the job." She shrugs one shoulder. "She said she would show me around the office tomorrow. You still like blue, don't you?"

Emma made a mental note to talk to Lily before the day ended. Thankfully, she didn't have to answer Regina anymore, because the doors parted open then. She made an attempt to exit but stopped short by a light brush of Regina's shoulder against her own as they both attempted to exit the elevator at the same time.

"Thank you," said Regina, crossing the doors first as Emma stepped aside.

"Regina," Emam called out, stopping their walk down the hallway as they faced each other once again. "What is this?"

"What?"

"What do you think you're doing?"

Regina looked along the hallway before turning back to Emma. "I'm here to have lunch with my father."

Emma's eyes slightly roll, "I meant accepting a job that isn't yours to take. We both know you don't need that job."

"You're right, I don't." Regina points her chin as she stares up at Emma. "But how else am I going to get to see you?"

"Stop making everything about us. This isn't about us, Regina." Said Emma.

"It's a job, Emma. That's all it is, a job. And the reason I'm taking it is to get out of my house. Have an escape. But if you have a problem with that, you talk to Lily."

"You can be sure that I will." Emma assured her.

"Good. Maybe she'll be so upset at you that she'll finally leave you alone and go back to New York." Regina could only hope. But somehow, she knew that wasn't going to happen. Lily was here to stay.

"Who's leaving back to New York?" Robin appeared out of nowhere, halting their conversation all together. "Don't tell me you are leaving us, Ms. Swan." His blue eyes, which shined with hope toward Emma's departure, looked at her.

"Unfortunately for you, no." Emma gave her most sarcastic smile. "I still have a lot of work to do here."

Robin's brow lifts, "Doesn't seem like you are doing much work, does it? When you're out in the hallway, wasting my wife's precious time."

"Robin," Regina seethed. "Ms. Swan, here, was just talking to me about my pay for the job she so kindly offered me." Her eyes turn to a surprised Emma. "Isn't that right, Ms. Swan?"

Emma caught the way Robin's body stiffened at the revelation, and she couldn't deny enjoying his reaction to this job offer that she had no idea about. "A job?" He asked Emma directly.

"Yes, that's right." Emma looked back to Robin.

"I don't know if you realize this, Ms. Swan, but my wife, being the artist she is- is as busy as ever." Said Robin.

"Everyone is as busy as ever, Mr. Locksley. Besides, one could use some extra money in their pocket that is decently earned. Wouldn't you agree? I mean… not that you would know anything about the word decent." Robin's frown deepens just as Regina's body tenses as Emma continues. "You live off the suffering of others, and don't give a damn about the consequences of those actions."

"I don't know what you're insinuating, Ms. Swan-" Robin's jaw clenched in anger.

"Oh, I'm not insinuating anything. Believe it or not, if you would actually stop and listen for a while, you would hear that these walls talk, and they have a lot to say about the way you apparently treat your employers. And if there's anything I hate, Mr. Locksley, is an employer who doesn't value the hard work of others." Emma's frown deepens.

The corner of Regina's lips threatens to lift, but she hides it well. As much as she hated seeing how both Emma and Robin measured their egos, she found it strangely attractive the way Emma would always seem to put Robin in his place simply by using her words.

"Sweetheart," Robin's glaring eyes go from Emma to Regina. "Would you step into my office, please?"

"I'm here to have lunch with my father," Regina attempts to say.

"It'll just take a second. I have a surprise for you and now that you're here, I would love to show it to you." Robin placed his hand along Regina's back, giving her no choice but to walk toward his office.

Emma watched them carefully until they were out of her line of sight.

"You look lovely today," said Robin, shutting the door to his office. His eyes drinking in Regina's choice of long skirt, blouse and sweater today.

"What do you want to show me, Robin? My father expects me for lunch, and I don't want to be late."

"I was going to wait until tonight to show you," Robin moved along his desk, picking up a folder and handing it to Regina.

Regina's heart stopped at the sight of the folder in Robin's hand. Had the investigation on Emma come through already? It couldn't be. Robin wouldn't be this calm if it had. "What's that?" She asked still.

"Look for yourself," said Robin, a secretive little smile playing at the corner of his lip as he watched his wife open the folder and see the papers in front of her. "Well?" He said after a two minute silence.

"What is this, Robin?" Regina asked, looking down at the papers before her again.

"Your dream home, Regina." Robin smiled. "I noticed that day how happy it made you to be looking at it. The way you smiled at it. I want to see you smile like that more often."

Regina surely wasn't smiling now. "You bought it?" She asked, her voice catching in the back of her throat because this wasn't supposed to happen.

"Not yet," Robin shook his head. "But if you read on, I put in a very generous offer for the owner. An offer I am sure she won't be able to refuse. It's only a matter of time before you have your dream home." He smiled again as he took the folder from her hands and dropped it along his desk.

"Why?" Was all Regina could ask.

"Why not?" Robin shrugged. "I'll admit it's the house I would have chosen for you, especially after all the money it took to upgrade your parents home so that you could live there with them, but…" he neared her, his hand cupping the side of her cheek while his blue eyes pinned on hers. "I'm hoping that with this, I show you that I care, and that you are everything to me. That smile you had that day… It awoke something in me."

"Thank you, Robin, but you really didn't have to do that." Said Regina. "It's just a house."

"It's not just a house," Robin pulls away and Regina is grateful when he does. "It means something to you. And you mean the world to me, Regina. I simply want you to see that." He pauses to exhale a sharp breath. "I only ask one thing from you."

"Of course, you do," Regina scoffs.

"I don't want you working for Ms. Swan," his frown doesn't fail to deepen.

"Well, then you can retract your offer on the house, Robin. Because there is no way I am turning down a job offer. I never have and I'm not about to start now."

"You will turn down that job offer. I'm your husband, Regina."

"Exactly. You're my husband, Robin, but that doesn't give you the right to control everything in my life, and my job is something you will never take away from me."

Robin's face tensed, "Don't test me, Regina."

"Don't you test me, Robin." Regina held out her chin, looking up at him. "I am not giving up doing what I love just because you have a problem with Ms. Swan. And if you want to give up on the house because of that, go right ahead. I couldn't care less what you do. Now, if you'll excuse me, but I have to meet with my father or he'll worry."

His anger boiled inside of him as Robin watched Regina march out of his office. But there was nothing he could do about it. Yet.