A/N: Here is chapter 13. I am working on chapter 14 to be posted next. Weather became pretty bad, so I will try my best to post it up before thunder picks up again. Stay tuned and enjoy! :) Thanks for the love.
Chapter 13: Misunderstanding
"So, your dad really liked her, huh? Cheers to that." Graham clinked the end of his bottle with Emma's, taking a swig before standing and getting another one. "You want another?"
Emma shook her head, "One's enough for me, thank you."
Graham popped the cap off of another bottle, joining Emma along Mary Margaret's boat. Emma watched him in silence as he took an immediate swig. "You better slow down, Graham. It's a little early to be drinking like that, isn't it?" She asked.
"Yeah, well," Graham brought the bottle up to his lips, staring at the water before him. "Try running an entire establishment on your own while your father just up and decides to leave and your mother falls ill." He takes a drink. A bigger one this time, leaving half the bottle.
Emma's lips thin into a deep frown as she pats Graham's shoulder. "I'm sorry things are so bad. I wish there was something I could do to help."
Graham snorts, "You? You'll be gone soon, forget this place ever existed." He shook his head.
"Hey, that's not true. I could never forget you, Graham or Ruby," she continues even if Graham chuckles. "You two are like my family."
"Come on, Em," Graham takes another drink before his eyes look into Emma's. "Tell me something, when's the last time you stopped by to have a beer with me?" He holds up his bottle. "Hm?"
"What do you think I'm doing here, Graham?" Emma asks, setting aside her empty beer bottle.
"Oh, well, thank you very much." Graham mutters, taking the last drink of his beer before standing up to get another.
What the fuck? Emma immediately stood, following Graham over to the bar and snatching the newly opened beer bottle from his hand.
"Hey!"
"That's enough!" Said Emma. He was on his third beer, and Graham had always been a lightweight. He didn't need one more.
"Give that back, Emma."
"No. Not until you tell me what the hell is going on with you. Why are you attacking me today? What have I ever done to you?" Emma asks, setting down the beer bottle along the bar. She kept her hand wrapped around it, ready to snatch it back if Graham dared to reach for it.
"Come on, Em! It's not enough that you could never correspond to my feelings, now you have a girlfriend you are all of a sudden dead-serious about. You're getting a job interview today that will be your meal ticket out of here while the rest of us remain here and probably die here." Graham's shoulders sag as he leans against the bar.
Emma's green eyes remain on him. "That's what this is about. Regina. Isn't it?" She waits until Graham's eyes meet hers. "I thought you liked her, Graham, what-"
"I like her." Graham rolls his eyes, tossing away a rag he had picked up along the bar. "God damn it, I like her. And this has nothing to do with my feelings toward you-"
Emma snorts, "Yes, it does-"
"No, it doesn't." Graham glares. It did have to do with his feelings toward her, but right now while he was under the influence a little, they couldn't matter. "Look, Em, you're more than just the girl I like, okay? You don't feel the same-" he expands his hands. "Fine. I'm over it. But falling head first for a girl who doesn't even belong in your world is a very dangerous thing. You two are so different, Em and… I just don't want to see you get hurt on your way down from whatever cloud you are living in."
"Let me guess, Ruby feels the same way?" Emma asks, not looking away from Graham's eyes.
"No." Graham shakes his head. "She won't dare to say this to you, but… well someone has to say it. Regina, she's great, okay? Nothing against her."
"Oh, really?"
Graham scoffs. "Emma… look, I know true love and all that rubbish. But, you have never been in love before you even met this girl. And now all of a sudden, you are wanting to move so fast, it's making your own head spin."
"My head is fine, Graham." Said Emma.
"I'm not here to question your choices, alright? But as your friend, I feel someone should warn you about what could potentially happen here."
"And what could happen, according to you? Because a minute ago you were all supporting me and congratulating me on my job interview. Making me feel like I could do anything, just like a friend should. Not clipping my wings like you are now."
Graham sighs. "I'm sorry. I am but, Emma what if you leave and Regina isn't as serious about you as you think she is? I mean, you really think a girl like her is going to wait for you until you come back from going off to New York? Do you honestly think her family is ever going to accept the fact that their daughter is dating someone who will get her hands dirty for a living? Come on, Em. Not people like them. You will literally have to become one of them or worse if you want to swim in that sea."
"You have no idea what you're talking about, Graham," Emma shakes her head.
"I think I do, Em."
"No," Emma holds out a finger. "Regina is nothing like her family. They may be like that, they may never accept me but Regina wants to be with me. She knows I can do this, and one day, I will be able to give her everything and more than what she already has. Just watch me."
"That may be true," Graham said as he leaned into the bar. "But what will happen if you fail? What happens if you leave and Regina doesn't go with you? What then? Are you really going to have a long distance relationship? Fly from New York to Boston on weekends? What? What's your plan? What if Regina changes her mind about you and she was just playing with you this entire time?"
"You take that back!" Emma snapped, her eyes glaring. She thanked God this bar was in between them or she would reach over to strangle Graham right now.
"I'm sorry, Em! But you have to think of every scenario here!"
"I have thought about it, Graham!" Emma shouts. "I think about it every fucking day. You know, I had my life all mapped out and I knew which road I would take until the day I caught that bus and Regina came waltzing into my life. But she made me dream of a better future. Better possibilities that I know we will be able to accomplish with time as long as we're together. Regina doesn't want to hide me for long. She wants to introduce me to her father today after my interview is done. She's been nothing but supportive of what I want to do, and that is making me fall in love with her more and more each day and no one- not even you- are going to change that!"
Graham blinks, staring into Emma's eyes as his mouth falls open. Him and Emma remain silent for a bit, until realization hits Emma like a punch to the gut. She loved her. That was the first time Emma had ever given her feelings for Regina a name. The right name. She only hoped that Regina felt the same way and that Graham's own insecurities and jealousy were wrong.
"I have to go," Emma looks down at her watch before her eyes fall on Graham's irritated ones. "And Graham. As my friend… you may not approve of all my choices, but I do ask that you respect them. I know right now you're a little sour because of everything that's been going on with your parents, and you know better than anyone that I'm here if you ever need me. But if you want our friendship to continue beyond this point, I would try being just a little more supportive next time like I would be if you were in my shoes." She slides the beer bottle closer to him before turning around and walking away leaving Graham to sulk on his own.
Robin flicks his wrist, closing the folder in front of him. A satisfactory grin split his lips as he looked up at Killian. "So, Regina's family has its story after all." He chuckled, "How very interesting. And you're certain she has no idea?" His blue eyes look menacingly up at Killian.
"None that I'm aware of, sir." Killian shakes his head. "Henry Mills is in the dark about his wife's colorful past."
Robin's finger ran along his scruffy chin as he sat back in his leather chair. "I've most certainly been going about this the wrong way, Killian."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, that Zelena may be the key I need to win my next accomplishment." Robin's lip curls. The phone along his desk rings and he is quick to pick up. "What?"
"Sorry, sir, but there's a Zelena Mills here to see you."
Robin's face instantly relaxes. "Send her in. Hold any calls until she leaves."
"Yes, sir."
Robin hands up the phone and stands with a victorious smile. "You see, Killian… when a man is patient enough, everything just falls into place for him."
Killian's lip curls. His eyes move along the door as it opens and Zelena steps in.
"Ah, Zelena," Robin walks over to a grinning Zelena, reaching for her hand and pressing his lips right along the back of it. "Thank you for stopping by."
"It's a pleasure to see you, Robin, as always." Zelena's eyes sparkle as she grins at Robin.
"Leave us." Robin's eyes dart toward Killian, watching him leave. He waits until the door to his office shuts before he motions to one of the chairs before his desk. "Have yourself a seat." He makes his way around his desk, sitting in his leather chair. He watches Zelena as she quickly becomes too comfortable, crossing one leg over the other, enough that her dress rides up her thigh.
"Nice place you got here." Zelena's eyes look around the office. "That's a step up, Robin. One would assume that our relationship is brightly progressing." She smirks.
Robin's lip curls as he leans in. "So, what do you have for me?"
"Right to the point. As always." Zelena points a manicured nail in his direction. "I like that in a man." She inhales, her back straightening. "I've been following my dear sister, just as you asked."
"And?"
"And, you were right. There is someone in Regina's life."
Robin's jaw tightens in instant anger. "Who?"
Zelena grins, "You don't expect me to reveal that to you so easily, do you?" Not that she could, especially when she didn't even know about Emma's existence. Not thoroughly enough.
Robin reaches into his desk drawer and withdraws his checkbook, clicking his pen before signing his name at the bottom. Zelena watches him with interest as he rips the check out of the book and slides it across his desk. "Here's a blank check, ready for you to put any desired amount your little heart desires." He pulls the check back as Zelena reaches for it. "All you have to do is tell me who Regina has been seeing."
"As tempting as it is, Robin. I don't know who it is." Zelena sits back. "I just know that whoever it is they've won what you've most desired." Her brow lifts in a mock.
Robin's face turns to stone before Zelena. "The battle's not won yet. No one steals from me and gets away with it."
"If you are so eager to find out who this other person is that Regina has been having a relationship with, why not just send your henchman to do the work for you? Wouldn't that be easier?"
Robin's lip curls. "You're right. It would be easier." He nods. "But as fate would have it, I have my own plans for Killian. And for you," he points to Zelena with the tip of his pen.
"For me?" Zelena blinks, chuckling nervously. "Whatever do you mean?"
Inhaling sharply Robin stands from his desk. He drops his pen along the desk as he walks over to the door of his office, clicking the lock. Zelena watches him in silence as he walks over to the couch along his office wall and sits, resting his arms along its back. "I may have a new proposition for you. One that you simply won't be able to refuse."
"Oh?"
Robin patted his hand along the couch, watching as Zelena obediently if not eagerly is quick to join him. "I have to leave for London tonight on business. And while I'm gone, I want you," he points a finger inches away from Zelena's face. "To find out for me who Regina has been seeing. Find out everything you can about this other guy, and I wouldn't mind you trying to sweeten the deal for me by talking to your sister about me."
Zelena frowns. "That doesn't sound like something that would interest me. Why would I help Regina fall in love with you when it's obvious she will never love you?"
Robin's jaw tenses, "She'll love me."
Zelena chuckles, shaking her head, "Oh, Robin. You really have no idea what you're getting yourself into with Regina, do you? She will never love you. Not like I could." She brushes her palm along his scruffy cheek, feeling Robin's fingers tighten along her wrist.
"Get out." Robin tosses her hand away, standing abruptly from the couch and marching toward the door.
"The truth hurts, Robin. Why blind yourself to what will never be yours?" Zelena stands, walking toward the door. She stops mid-exit until her eyes look up into his. "Regina will never love you and when you're finally ready to see that, I'll be waiting." Her hand lands carefully along his arm. "I wouldn't shut me away just yet. Think about it. I'm the only one who can help you obtain what you truly want, even if it will never want you."
Robin slams the door to his office as soon as Zelena exits. He walks over to his desk, slamming his fist down along the top of the closed folder. "Oh, you're not the only one. Trust me on that." His eyes look down to the folder.
"No, it's okay. Thank you for your time. Right. Thank you." Emma hangs up the phone, turning to Mary Margaret who awaits the grand news anxiously behind her.
"So? Did you get it?" Mary Margaret asks, wringing her hands.
Emma's eyes drop to the floor before they look up at the older woman. A smile slowly manifesting, curving along her lips. "I got the job!"
"Emma, I'm so happy!" Mary Margaret embraces Emma in a tight hug, almost losing her balance. "I knew you could do it!" She cups the side of her face. "I knew they would give you the job. This calls for a celebration!"
"I can't right now. I have to meet Regina for lunch," Emma glances down at her watch, a smile beaming along her lips. "I was supposed to be there five minutes ago."
"Will you tell Regina the good news at least?"
"I will." Emma smiled. "But after. We'll celebrate tonight, okay? I'll bring her over."
"Okay, that's a deal. Say hi to her for me."
"I will." Emma happily strides toward the front door.
"Emma!" Mary Margaret reaches for her car keys and tosses them over to Emma. "I won't have you be even more late by taking a bus."
Emma rushes back to Mary Margaret, embracing her in another hug that almost knocks her to the ground. "Thank you. Thank you for this, for everything, for-"
"Anytime, anytime," Mary Margaret rushes her off, guiding her back toward the front door. "Now, go. You can't be more late than you already are! You can thank me all you want tonight." She sighs as soon as she shuts the door on Emma. A smile beaming across her lips with happiness, followed by a sadness in her eyes as soon as she realized that it meant Emma would be leaving soon.
Regina shifts in her seat anxiously, exchanging a nervous smile with her father who sat patiently across from her, sipping on his wine. "Are you sure she's going to be here, Regina?" He asked her, glancing down at his watch.
"She'll be here." Regina assured, giving a single nod. "She just had a job interview today, and I'm sure that's what's keeping her, but she'll be here." Please be here, Emma.
"What a surprise to find you two here again," Robin smiles, standing sharply by Regina's side.
Regina's stomach churned at the sight of Robin, her eyes quickly traveling to the door of the restaurant hoping Emma wouldn't show up just yet.
"Robin," Henry stood. "This is a surprise." He looked to Regina.
"Well, I wanted to have lunch somewhere different today and I thought: why not here?" Robin smiled. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"Yes," Regina quickly spoke up. "You are." Her eyes glared up. "But don't worry. You two enjoy your lunch, I'll just be heading home." She stands.
"Regina," Henry frowns.
"It's okay. Some other time." Regina assured him.
"Why can't you stay and enjoy lunch with us? By the looks of it fate wanted me to be here today," he glances down at the third empty seat. "Besides, we hardly get to spend any time together, Regina. I've missed you."
Regina glances at the door, relieved to not see any sign of Emma just yet. "Regina," she turns to her father's voice. "Why don't you go to the bathroom first to freshen up, hm?" He nods, but in the direction of the door. He could read his daughter's distress a mile away.
That was that. Regina had no way out of this lunch because Robin seemed determined to stick around this time. And there was no way she was going to expose Emma to him, allowing her to show up. She needed to stop this. She needed to warn her.
"Excuse me just a minute, Robin," Her eyes flicker to his hand which continues to be wrapped along her arm until it comes loose. That's when Regina quickly rushes off, pretending to enter the restroom. She waits until Henry engraves him in conversation to sneak past toward the front door. "Excuse me."
"May I help you, ma'am?" The usher smiled politely at her. His blonde hair slicked back.
"Yes. There's a woman that's showing up soon. I'm expecting her. Her name is Emma Swan. I need you to tell her for me to wait outside. Do not let her inside. Understood? By any means necessary."
"Of course, ma'am." He nods.
"Thank you." Regina peeks out the doors, seeing no sign of Emma before heading back to her father and Robin. She took the seat that Robin pulled out for her, quickly eyeing the door one last time.
"What's the matter?" Robin asks, picking up on her nervousness. He waits until Regina's eyes find his. "Are you expecting someone else?"
Regina shakes her head as she lies through her teeth. "No. Who would I be expecting?" The corner of Robin's lip slowly curls up. His eyes observing Regina silently as she takes a much needed sip of her wine.
"So, Robin, what will it be?" Henry asks, clearing his throat.
"Bourbon on the rocks, and add their meals to my credit card." Robin hands over the drink menu to the waitress that stood near him. His eyes find Regina again.
"You didn't have to do that," Regina murmured.
"It's a pleasure to do anything for you." Said Robin.
Emma parked the yellow bug just across the street, seeing as the place looked super fancy, she worried about Mary Margaret's car being turned away for valet parking. And she didn't have anything to give as a tip. The day, which had started out a beautiful and sunny summer's day, turned gray and a little gloomy. But that didn't matter. She was finally here and she wasn't about to let Regina down in meeting her father. She waited for a couple of cars to pass until she was able to rush across the street, up the steps to the restaurant where Regina had told her to meet her.
"Enjoy your meals." The same usher smiled at a couple that went in before his eyes fell on Emma, quickly taking in her appearance. "Can I help you, miss?"
"Yeah, uh, I'm here to see Regina Mills." Emma eyed the restaurant quickly.
"Name, please?"
"Emma Swan."
"Ah, Ms. Swan. Yes. Ms. Mills left me a message for you. I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding. Ms. Mills suddenly had to leave."
Emma's brows furrowed, "Leave? Where?"
"I have no idea of her whereabouts," the man shook his head.
"No. This- there's some kind of mistake. Regina told me to meet her and her father here," Emma motioned to the establishment. "She told me to come here. She wouldn't just leave."
"I'm sorry, miss, but as I said she had to leave. Therefore I can't let you in."
"Look," Emma eyed the list of names along a table by the entrance. "Can you check your book again, please? I'm sure there's some type of mistake."
"There's no mistake." He assured, glancing inside the restaurant, seeing the eyes of regulars eyeing the door at the commotion. "Now, if you please, keep your voice down."
"Just check the damn list, alright?" Emma snapped, her eyes glaring at him. "Please. Regina told me to meet her here. She wouldn't ask me to leave."
"What on earth is going on out there?" Henry muttered, squinting his eyes toward the front doors. Regina shifted in her seat uncomfortably, her heart breaking as she could pick up on Emma's voice, pleading to be let in.
Robin chuckled, "Some people just can't fathom the idea that they don't belong."
Regina glared in Robin's direction. She looked down at her phone, hearing it ring, seeing Emma's name flashing across the screen. Her finger quickly punched the power button, ignoring the call.
"Come on, Gina, pick up the phone." Emma muttered, tapping her thumb along Regina's name again, followed by the call button. "Please. Pick up. Come on, pick up."
The number you have reached is unavailable. Please try your call again later. An automated voice picks up after the second ring.
"Ugh!" Emma's eyes sting with tears as she looks toward the usher and two other guards that had been called to block her entrance. What the hell is going on here? Emma didn't understand a damn thing. Regina told her to meet her here, so why isn't she picking up the phone? She tries the call a third time, getting the same automated voice on the other end.
Regina looked down at her ringing phone, seeing Emma's name flashing before she quickly ignored the call.
"Is everything alright, Regina?" Robin asked, eyeing the brunette's phone. "Do you have to take that?"
Regina forcefully shook her head. "No."
"Miss, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave otherwise, you'll be forced off the property." Said the usher.
"Yeah, I got it. I'm going," Emma glared, her eyes looking over their shoulders one last time toward the entrance before walking back to the yellow bug parked across the street. She mounted the car, and decided to stay there. Something wasn't right. Regina would never ignore her call this way without reason. With that in mind, Emma sat inside the car, watching the front doors carefully.
"If you'll excuse me, but," Regina abruptly stands, eager to head outside to meet Emma. "I have to get going. I have a project due at four this evening, and if I don't turn it in I'll have a client who will be very upset." She smiles at her father.
"I'll drive you," Robin offers, standing next to Regina.
"No. Thank you, Robin, but I brought my own car." Regina nods in his direction. She leans into her father, placing a kiss along his cheek and saying her goodbye before exiting the building.
"Don't mind her," Henry said, seeing the sour look on Robin's face. "She's very dedicated to her work. There's no stopping her." He chuckled.
"Excuse me, Henry," Said Robin, dropping a tip along the table. "I'll see you back at the office." He marches out of the building, quickly catching up to Regina, ignoring the usher who bids him a farewell. "Regina." He quickened his pace, reaching for the woman's arm.
Regina rolls her eyes but turns to face Robin, but not before eyeing the outside quickly, in search of Emma.
"Please, I insist. Let me take you to wherever it is you need to go. I can send someone to pick up your car and take it to your home in perfect condition." Robin assured her.
Regina sighs, "No, thank you. I'll get there faster if I just drive myself."
Robin studies her, noticing her shit from foot to foot. "You seem nervous about something. Are you sure everything's alright?"
"Why are you here, Robin? Why did you come?"
"Regina." Robin takes a step forward. "I'm leaving for London this evening and I wanted to see you before I left. I wasn't joking when I said I would miss you. I do hope that you'll miss me just a little while I'm away."
Regina forces a smile. "Have a nice trip, Robin. And since you seem so eager to please me with all my wishes, do you think you can make one come true for me?"
"Ask and you shall receive." Robin grins.
Her forced smile grows. "Leave now and don't ever come back." She continues even as he frowns. "Because I can tell you that I will never miss you. I won't think of you. So please, by all means, start over in London. Move on, find a good woman, marry her. It's the best you can do."
Just as Regina turns to walk toward her car that is brought out for her, Robin pulls her back, forcing her close, his hand cups the back of her head and his lips waste no time in pressing along her mouth in a forceful kiss.
Emma's green eyes gloss over as she watches that kiss from across the street. He was right. Fucking Graham was right. Her hand reaches for the key that she inserts into the ignition. Her foot slams along the gas pedal as she backs out of the parking spot and drives off.
Finally, Regina is strong enough to push Robin away. Her palm striking his left cheek so hard it stung. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" She shouts, glaring menacingly into his eyes before mounting her car and driving off.