Regina turns up at the farm to tell Emma something important. Not everyone's happy about it.
The Nolan Farm
As David went to answer the door, Emma stayed in the living room, staring out of the bay window overlooking the farm. She couldn't hear her, but she already knew who'd come, having already sensed her familiar magic signature.
She was dreading this, knowing it'd not only be embarrassing, but very awkward. Coupled with the fact she'd only just told her father what'd happened. Or at least the gist of it.
"Emma, Regina's here. She'd like to have a word with you?"David led the former mayor into the room. Having just been told by his daughter of her hidden feelings for the other woman, he knew this was going to be difficult and he needed to get out of there, to leave them to it. Nonetheless she did look deathly pale."Regina, I've just made some coffee. Can I get you one, and maybe something to eat? Hope's helped me make a chocolate cake this morning. Can I cut you a slice?"
"Sorry?"But as Regina came in, her thoughts were only on facing the woman now standing with her back to her, looking out the window."Coffee. Yes please, thank you David."Anything to get rid of him for a minute so she could talk to her in private. "That's kind."
"I'll bring it in."He noticed Emma hadn't turned to face them."Emma? Cake?"
"Hmm? Yeah, thanks dad. Maybe give us a minute?"
Never mind cake, it felt he could almost slice the awkward atmosphere between them with a knife.
"I'll give you five. Looks like you'll need it." Neither turned or answered as he walked out, closing the door behind him.
"Emma?"
But she stayed looking out the window, at nothing in particular as Snow had taken Hope into one of the lambing sheds. Seeing she wasn't going to answer, or turn her head, Regina walked around the sofa to come alongside. And waited.
"Where is she?"
"Uh?"
"Hope? Is she down there?"
"Er, yeah. With the lambs in the right barn. They had six new-borns last weekend. She adores them. Can't seem to keep her away."
"I can imagine."She stared in the same direction, smiling as she remembered how much Hope loved bottle feeding the weaker lambs."Are we still having the birthday party at home on Tuesday?"
"Um, well, I hadn't really thought about it."She sounded reluctant. "I'm not sure. Maybe I might ask a few of her friends' mothers to bring them over here to play instead."
"If that's what you'd prefer?"She sounded more pissed off than disappointed. "Personally, I think she might like prefer being at home more, surrounded by her toys, the Wendy house and everything?"
"I'm not sure, I – we'll have to see."
"Emma," she rolled her eyes, turning to face her. "Can we at least have a proper conversation like adults; where we actually look at one another? I've come to apologise!"
"Eh?" Emma finally turned to face her, and noticed how deathly pale she looked. Like she hadn't slept in a week. "Hell, you look like you've seen a ghost!"
"How very apposite. You have no idea!"
"What happened?"
"If I told you, first you wouldn't believe me. Then you'd probably have me locked up."
"You'd be surprised what I've come to believe since I came to this place. So, why are you here?"
"To apologise for our little misunderstanding. After we kissed? And how I reacted after that. I'm sorry, Emma."
She knew she'd have to face this some time. It was the acute embarrassment that had made her run. "Don't be, it was my fault. I just laid my feelings out there for once. Not something I usually do, right? I guess I misread the signals."
"Emma, I just-"
"Plus, I'd had way too much to drink! I'm sorry I made you feel bad."
"Emma, I-"
"I get it! It's not the first time I've-"
"EMMA, WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN? PREFERABLY WITHOUT INTERRUPTING?"
"Sorry, I just-"But the glare stopped her."Sorry."
"Thank you! Emma, I'm trying to apologise, because you didn't make me feel bad! Not at all. You just Took me by surprise when we told me how you felt. I was the one who kissed you first, remember? Then you kissed me back and after that it all became a bit, well, overwhelming? I'm sorry if you think I spurned you. I never meant to; it's just, as you said, we'd both had a lot to drink."
"It's okay." She nodded, her old superpower for detecting lies told Emma she was serious. "It won't happen again. I got embarrassed after. It's one of the reasons I stayed here last night."
"I guessed. I was embarrassed too, but I wasn't offended! Honestly! In fact..." She kept her eyes down, missing the surprised look on Emma's face."I rather enjoyed it."
"You did?"
She nodded."I did. The truth is, over the last few years I've started developing feelings for you too, Emma. Feelings I've been very reluctant to admit, even to myself. And it took someone special to make me realize what they were, and finally face them."
Someone special? "You spoke to Henry?"Emma, though delighted, was alarmed.
"No, not Henry, but someone I'd always trust, who made me realise what I was feeling. He even told me to come talk to you."
"HE?" David was the only one who knew how she felt about her, and only because she'd told him a couple of minutes ago. Ruby had intimated there was something between them a couple of years back. And Killian said once or twice, because of the way they kept acting around each other, he suspected she had feelings for her. Which of course she'd denied! But that was five years ago! "Who?"
"As I said, you'd never believe me. You'd think me insane."
"Try me? You'd be surprised."
"Robin. As in, my Robin."
"Hood? But he's been gone years!"
"Six, almost to the day. I saw him in the cemetery this afternoon."She couldn't fail to notice the change in the blonde's face."See? I told you you'd think me mad!"
"Part of me might think that, but you know, you all gave me some pretty crazy looks when I first told you Neal appeared to me in a dream, when he told me not to go to the Underworld. You know, when we went across the Styx in that boat? Anyway, never mind all that, stick to the important bit! You're saying you've got feelings for me, too?"
"Yes, but let me ask you something first? Two nights ago you said you were in love with me. Were you serious, or was it just the drink talking?"
"I'd never have had the courage to say anything, without it! Yes, I was serious."
For Regina, that made what she'd come to say so much easier. "Then I can honestly admit I'm falling in love with you, too." She stepped closer, nervously taking her hand. "That's what I came to tell you. Emma, please don't move out? I don't think I could bear us being apart again. Not after everything we've been through these last few years."
After the admission and the rare look of vulnerability in the former queen's eyes few, apart from her, had ever seen, the change was instant. "I was thinking about it, after the other night, but I won't. Not now."
Emma could feel her own tears starting to well up as she released her hand,those delicious, now glistening, chocolate-brown eyes seeming to mirror her own feelings as Regina broke into an awkward smile. God she's beautiful!
Nervous smilesturned into matching grins as Regina came closer.
David busied himself in the kitchen, cutting slices off the cake he and his granddaughter had made together that morning, then poured out mugs of coffee. Looking up at the clock, he took his time putting everything out on the tray, knowing after what she'd told him, Emma probably needed it for what was bound to be an awkward conversation.
Looking out the side window, he smiled when he spotted Snow now walking back up the sloping field towards the house with Hope beside her, each carrying a small basket of fresh eggs they'd gone to collect after feeding the lambs. It was a lovely sight and they seemed to be chatting happily. Like him, Snow adored their only granddaughter, the nearly four-year-old who looked like a mini version of Emma, albeit with Killian's slightly darker colouring, eyes and up the full tray, he finally headed back to the living room, gently nudging the door open with his foot before walking in. All was quiet, and he couldn't hear any talking, or arguing. So that was a good thing, right?
But the sight that greeted him was unexpected. And they certainly weren't arguing!
For Emma was still standing by the bay window where he'd left her; but this time Regina was right in front of her. And they were kissing! His daughter now had her arms around the older woman's waist, holding them together, while Regina seemed to be cupping her cheek with one hand, and the other around the back of her head, virtually pulling their mouths together heatedly. Both were both moaning into the kiss, and it looked like it was getting more passionate by the second.
They were so engrossed in each other, they hadn't even noticed him. Awkward. Thinking it best to save their obvious embarrassment once they spotted him, he turned, intending to silently leave the room and call out from the other side of the door before coming back in again. But that's when he noticed the door had almost closed behind him. And he had his hands were full.
Shit!
So he turned back, stepping over to the nearest side table and laying the tray down as quietly as he could. Fortunately, the kissing couple by the window appeared to still have their eyes shut. Taking the last remaining steps to the door and opening it wider, he was just about to leave successfully when Regina spoke.
"I said I'm falling in love with you Swan. But that's an understatement. I've fallen." She moved back in, sealing their lips together once more. And, at least for them, everything seemed heavenly, until:
"EMMA!"
The loud bellow could be heard from the other side of the glass, making them break apart instantly, both turning their heads to look out the window. Where they found an angry Snow White staring up at themTY.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?"
Mifflin Street.
They arrived back at the mansion just after eight that evening.
Earlier, after Snow had spotted them in front of the window, everything went downhill. She wasn't happy. The fact Emma had been openly kissing her own step-mother, the woman who'd spent her earlier years trying to kill her; the woman who'd not only murdered her father, the King, but gone on to kill her own, in turn. Then gone on to cause them to lose Emma for the first twenty-eight years of her life?She'd forgiven her, supposedly, knowing she'd tried to change.
But for Snow, Regina getting intimate with her own daughter was a step too far!
A ferocious row followed between mother and daughter, and Emma saw a side to her she'd never seen before, or ever wanted to see ever again. She was fuming, almost spitting blood, and it was as though the years since the first curse had been broken had never happened, as all the old injustices brought about by the Evil Queen, Regina's mother and sister, were all dredged up and thrown at her.
Surprisingly, Regina, though horrified, said nothing throughout . Because she knew nearly all of it was true. She'd been a monster.
Earlier, at the farm…
"What's your problem?" Emma paced the room angrily in front of her parents, both now seated. "It's because we're two women, is that it?"
"No Emma, it's not that, it's-"
"Look at Ruby?" She interrupted, too annoyed to listen. "You never had any problem with your best mate being gay, so why me?" She pointed to her father, David having just walked into the room. "He doesn't have a problem. In fact, he told me he was fine with Regina and me before she even got here! He thought there was always a fair chance we might get together anyway."
If that came as a surprise to Snow, it came as an even bigger one to Regina.
"It's not that." She looked to her husband, silently imploring him to jump in and say something. "I'm not in the least homophobic, and I have plenty of gay friends. It isn't that, it's-"
"Because it's Regina?"The way she avoided her angry glare only confirmed it."You told me you'd forgiven her for her past! Repeatedly! You said-"
That's when the row really got underway, Emma now just as heated as her mother. Snow brought up her father's murder, to which Emma flippantly remarked that he'd raped her when she was only a teenager, so he deserved it. That's what made Snow really blow her top, arguing it was a blatant lie Regina had used to get the besotted genie to kill on her behalf, so she could seize power. She was so angry at the accusation, which wasn't borne out in any of Henry's story books, that Emma felt intimidated by her sheer fury that Snow had clearly bottled up for decades. And throughout it all, Regina had remained silent, mortified by the blunt reminders of everything she'd done to the woman in front of them.
"David!" Snow had had enough. "For heaven's sake, say something to stop this nonsense? This is Regina, for Christ's sake!"
"Snow," he started, his voice calm, trying to find the words. "We've all tried to move on from the past. While what you said is true, we both know full well that Regina's now a very different woman from the Evil Queen. She's reformed! Henry helped her to change, Robin even more so. And we both know how much Emma's helped her over the years. She's become hero who's saved many of us, you and me included, with and without Emma's support. And we've always known just how well these two work together. They just seem to fit, somehow."
"You sound like youwantthem together!"She glared at him, as though he'd betrayed her.
"In a way, I think I do. As far as I'm concerned, they're good for one another. We both know just how much they've helped and supported each other after losing Killian and Robin. They've pulled each other out of serious depression (Regina attempting suicide was left unsaid) and Hope benefits too! Since Killian's death I'd barely seen Emma smile once until recently, and the same goes for her. Frankly, I trust their judgment, so if they really do have feelings for one another, who are we to get in the way of love? From wherever it comes?"
Outnumbered and angry, as much with him as them, and knowing it was hopeless arguing, Snow rose and left the room, furiously slamming the door behind her.
Later that evening…
When they got back to the mansion, Emma bringing back the suitcase she'd taken only that morning, she headed straight for the rack in the kitchen.
"I need wine! Lot's of it!"She pulled out a bottle of Merlot as Regina stepped into the room behind her."She may be a good granny, but as a mother she's bloody intolerable! I mean, how can she still come out with all that shit about you, again, after all this time? And who I should choose to love? How dare she! I'm a grown woman, for fuck's sake!"She turned to look at her."And why didn't you say something? It's not like you to stay silent, especially after she came out with all that horrible stuff about you!"
Regina sighed."Because unfortunately, most of what she said about me was true. In my darkest days I behaved appallingly. Gold gave me the tools, and I used them. I did try to kill her on numerous occasions, so it's not an easy thing to forgive."
"But when she said you were never raped by her father? You were just a kid, for god's sake! How could-"
"I was eighteen, and married to him. And yes, I was forced to marry Leopold by my mother. He was a middle-aged man who never really had any interest in me, other than as a replacement mother for Snow. He never actually 'raped' me because I never gave him the chance. Yes, we had to become intimate on our wedding night to solemnise the marriage, but I regularly drugged him to fall asleep after that. I was terrified my mother would find out as she was desperate I produce an heir. I became deranged shortly after, and wanted revenge on Snow for Daniel's death. It served my purpose to let Sydney think the King had repeatedly abused me, and he offered to procure an Agrabah Viper to bite him in his sleep. Just another murder from my sordid past! I'm not proud of what I was, Emma, I'm deeply ashamed. And that's the reason I didn't challenge her."
"But that's not you any more! Heck, I can see it, so can Henry. And my dad, as I discovered."
"Yes, that surprised me! I thought he was astonishing. Did he really see a future for the two of us?"
"I told him I'd fallen for you just before you turned up. He said he could already see what was happening between us, and just wanted me to be happy, whoever I was with."
"He does seem surprisingly supportive."
"He meant it. And judging by the look on Snow's face, they probably had a blazing row after we left. Wine?"
"Please." She watched the blonde pull out two glasses and uncork the wine. Over the last year, Emma and Hope had grown to treat Mifflin Street like home, and she preferred it that way. The place felt like a morgue without them. "It was nice of him to suggest Hope stay over there one more night as she was asleep, to give us more time to talk."
"Yeah, but did you see the look Snow gave him when he said it?"
"Probably because she thinks I was going to take her daughter home and seduce her."
"Who says I need seducing?" She winked, passing her a full glass. "Seriously though, I'm happy to take things as slow as you like. Maybe we should go on a few dates?"
Regina sniggered. "We've already been living together for over a year; but yes, dating would be nice. Maybe out of town, though?"
"Definitely. We'll fix something up." She chinked their glasses. "Mind if I ask you something personal?"
"Well I may choose not to answer, but yes, of course."
"Have you ever dated another woman? Or been in a relationship with one?"
"No to both," she took a sip of wine, moving to one of the stools to sit down. "But I've shared the odd kiss or two." She saw the concerned look. "But nothing like the kisses you and I shared today. How about you?"
"Just a couple, like you. Nothing serious."
"Anyone in Storybrooke? Anyone I would know?"
"Lily. Maleficent's daughter? But that was long before I'd even heard of Storybrooke. We were kids on the run, hiding out in a place we'd broken in to in a place called Hopkins, in Minnesota. We kissed and cuddled, but nothing more. Not until I met Elsa."
"Queen Elsa?" She nodded. "She's into women?"
"Not sure, but probably. You remember that night I asked Gold to get rid of my magic when it was out of control? When Elsa came to the Sorcerer's mansion to stop me? We ended up kissing, but Killian burst in on us before it went any further. He ribbed me about it for years after."
"That might explain why she's still single. You were never tempted to take it further?"
"Not really, but then, I started falling for Killian pretty hard fairly soon after that. What about you? Anyone I'd know?"
"Maleficent herself, oddly enough. Though like you, it was long before we came here. I once stole something from her to help create the base for the curse that made Storybrooke. She tried to seduce me the first time we met, and I'll admit I was tempted, but again they were just kisses, nothing serious. Ruby Lucas has come on to me several times when she was single, but knowing her close relationship with your mother, I wasn't inclined. And let's face it, Lucas used to come on to just about everyone, men and women." She grinned before taking another, larger sip of wine. "Maybe when it comes to women, I prefer blondes?"
"I'll drink to that!" Emma clinked her glass again. "Personally, I think I prefer a sexy brunette, any day! So I guess we're both novices in the lady-loving department?"
"So it would appear. And like you, I'm happy to take things as slow as you like in that 'department'. Neither of us know what we're doing, anyway."
"Should be fun learning, though?" Emma leant in, pecking her on the lips, grinning and pulling back. "Shouldn't be that hard, surely? After all we're pretty much built the same-" She stopped, staring at the odd items beside the flower vase. "What's that?"
Regina turned to see what she was looking at as she slid them towards her.
"They're what I found in my pocket this afternoon. They helped persuade me that Robin was real, and gave me the courage to tell you I'd fallen in love with you."
"What?"
"I went to his grave to replace the flowers, as I do every month. He appeared right in front of me, telling me not to grieve over him." Emma's eyes couldn't get any wider. "He told me he was in the better place. We talked, and he told me that, although I was dreaming, what he had to say was real. That I should move on, as he and I would be together one day regardless. He also asked me to rescue Roland from the Dark Realm. Which is something we need to talk about later. He said he could be in danger."
"If you really believe the dream was real, and decide to go, I'll definitely come with you. Anything else?"
"He said he's at peace, Marian's with him, and that we all wind up together one day so I'll also be united with him, Daniel and my father and anyone else I loved. Then he told me he knew about us, and our kiss the other day? He said I should be open and tell you my feelings. He was fairly sure you and I would be together one day, and that he supported it. He said we're good for each other."
"It's not every day your old boyfriend tells you the girl you should be with!"
"True. I woke up lying on my back next to his headstone, an hour and a half later, with Hopper and old Marco staring down at me. It seems I'd passed out."
"Regina!" She reached for her hand, worried. "You should've told me! I thought you looked really pale when you walked in earlier, and I still do! Have you been skipping meals again? Whale warned you about that! Maybe that had something to do with the vivid imagination and the dream?"
"I thought much the same thing. But then, I pulled those little stones and the feather out of my pocket. And you know I NEVER keep anything in my Chanels! It spoils the line."
"Now you've lost me."
"While I was still dreaming, Robin put those very stones, which I don't think are stones by the way, into the palm of my hand along with that feather, just before he left me. I remember it distinctly! I remember his exact words."
"Erm. Which were?"
"Take these. They'll help you with your melancholy and grieving and clear your thoughts. Give one to Emma, if you want." Emma stared at her in disbelief, then back at the stones. "Next thing I remember is waking up beside his grave. Hopper drove me home and I found those in my pocket after I got back here."
Emma lifted the feather to look closer. "Looks like any old standard, common-or-garden feather to me? It might've been lying on the ground for ages. I'll put it in the bin." She turned to climb off the stool before a hand gripped her wrist.
"NO! If you don't believe me, just put it down! I mean it, Emma."
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry." She put the feather down in front of her as asked, before picking up one of the stones again. "It looks like marble but feels like hard rubber. If what you say is true, and it isn't a stone, what is it? What are you supposed to do with them?"
"He said, "Take it". Which I think means swallow."
"Swallow? Are you kidding me? They're pretty big, like one of those old throat lozenges Henry used to buy. Rather you than me! You don't even know where they've been or how clean they are. Or if they even dissolve?"
"Emma, I'm not asking you to do anything, I'm just telling you what I was told. Yes, you may think me insane, but I believe Robin came to me. I don't think he'd ever do anything to harm me. Quite the opposite. If I was meant to do something else with it, I think he would've said."
"So what - you're really going to swallow one?" She nodded. "Should I be putting the hospital on standby?"
"It's not that large! If it is just some sort of small stone, it'll probably pass straight through me and out in a day or two. Worst case scenario, it'll sit in my stomach a little longer."
"Or poison and kill you?" Regina glared at that. "Well, would you at least run it under a tap first, for me? Or take it to Whale to check it and see if it's even safe?"
Regina sighed, climbing down from the stool and taking one of the stones with her to the sink. As Emma watched, she turned on the cold tap and rolled it in her palm, rinsing it under the running water. Then she tried to scratch the surface with a small knife from the drawer to see if anything would come off. Smiling, she walked back to her, picking up her wine glass. "Bon appétite?"
"Regina, wait?"
But Emma was too late as the older woman popped the small stone, pebble or whatever the hell it was into her mouth, quickly swallowing it before putting the glass to her mouth to chase it down with the rest of the wine.
"Now I really do think you've gone mad!"
"I guess we'll see. All I know is that whatever it is has some sort of magic within, and I believe in my heart that Robin would never knowingly harm me. He always had my-"
She stopped speaking as she suddenly felt a warm wave, like a pulse of energy, from deep inside her chest, overwhelm her. It wasn't pain exactly, but it made her body shudder. And while she wondered whether she'd just done something extremely stupid, a deep warmth spread out to her sides, down to her stomach, abdomen and lower, then up into her neck and shoulders. It spread in a matter of seconds. Into her arms and legs. And, as it spread into her head, she felt momentarily dizzy, reaching for the worktop to steady herself.
"GINA?"Seeing her start to shake, Emma was already on her feet. And as she rested a hand on her arm, she felt the warm pulse for herself the moment their skin touched. Regina even seemed to inflate a fraction as a glow of light left her body, like someone had just shone a powerful torch from her insides. And her hair puffed up for just as second, before returning to normal.
"Jesus, what have you done?"
It was all over in under ten seconds. And as Emma rested her free hand on the other's waist, Regina looked up at her. She now looked...different. The deathly pallor from earlier had been replaced by her normal, healthy skin tone, a shade darker than Emma's. Her cheeks had more of a glow. Her eyes seemed brighter, and shinier than a few moments ago, and the little wrinkles and grey skin and bags under her eyes seemed to have vanished.
"Holy crap!"
"What is it? What's wrong?" Seeing Emma's surprised stare, she drew down her magic, a small compact mirror appearing in her hand.
"Nothing. Whatever the hell it was, it's taken ten years off you! You look great!"
She looked at her reflection. The tiredness in her eyes had gone. And her complexion looked like she'd just made herself up. Even her hair looked darker.
Emma picked up the second 'stone'. What the hell was it?
"Regina, tell me about this dream of yours again? Everything you remember Robin saying. And this time, go slower and try not to leave anything out?"
Back at the Farm…
"I'm having a hot chocolate and a whisky, before bed. You want anything?"
After David had read his granddaughter a bedtime story and she'd fallen asleep, he came down to find Snow sitting in the living room, but with the TV on. And still sulking! She didn't answer when he asked her a second time, either.
Since Emma and Regina had left an hour ago, she came down and hadn't said a word. After decades of marriage to the fiery former princess, knowing her as he did, he waited for her to finally blow, as he knew she would. It was only a matter of time. So he decided to ignore her. And sure enough, as he poured the hot drink into his favourite mug, she walked into the kitchen, glaring.
"Well you were a fat lot of help!" She said sarcastically, waiting for a response.
"Help?"
"With Emma! And…her."
"You mean Regina? I just gave my honest opinion when you asked." He turned, eyeing her calmly. He'd often given way to her when they disagreed, even when he felt he was in the right. Partly because he hated unnecessary conflict and wanted an easier life, when he could get it. But then he remembered one of the worst decisions he'd ever agreed to, when they asked the Sorcerer's Apprentice to put Emma's darkness into Maleficent's daughter when she was still in the egg. Poor Lily had a wretched life because of it. But he'd grown a backbone since, even if it meant hurting the woman he loved. "Can I help it if we disagree on some things?"
"That's the woman who killed my father!"She growled."And whose mother killed my mother! And who murdered our friends! How could you go against me, and undermine me like that?"
"I know all that. And I also know from Henry's books that Cora murdered her first love right in front of her, and forced her to marry your father. Do we really need to go through all this again, Snow? Yes, she did some terrible things, including to me, but she's reformed, just like poor Killian, god rest his soul. You said yourself that she's not the same woman."
"That's as maybe, but I still wouldn't trust her with Emma. She's making a terrible decision that could destroy her life!"
"And again, I disagree. As I said earlier, I think they're good for each other, and we both know she's had feelings towards Regina for quite some time."
"We know no such thing! Charming, you could've-"But when he just turned his back to her to take the hot pan from the hob and fill his mug, she realised she still wasn't going to get anywhere with him. Not tonight, anyway. And she was still angry. "What's the use? I'm going to bed…"she seethed, before adding. "But I'll be sleeping in the spare room tonight. Good night!"
"Snow, don't be so silly?" But she'd already left the room and wasn't listening. However, it was just then that the heavy knocker on the front door rapped.
Again. At nine thirty at night?
"I'll get it!" Snow yelled back from the foot of the stairs, turning back to go down and open it. And as she did, she was confronted by the figure of someone she hadn't expected at this hour.
"Ruby?"
"Hi." The café owner and lycanthrope stared down at her as she stood in the porch, her hair down and her familiar red cloak wet from the evening rain. And she looked as miserable as the weather. She'd clearly been crying. "Sorry, I kinda went for a run, and I guess I wound up here?"
"Come in, come in!" Snow quickly moved to pull her best friend inside, closing the door behind her. A year ago Ruby Lucas had lost two of the three closest people to her in the world to her. Her grandmother Eugenia, or Granny, the former owner of the diner that still bore her name over the door, had suffered a major stroke and heart attack, and never recovered. Then less than three months later, Dorothy, her true love and soulmate, the former hero of Oz, had died in a simple car accident, leaving her devastated and alone. And although she tried, as with Emma and Regina when they lost their loved ones, she went into a spiral. Snow, the best friend she'd known even longer than David, had been her biggest support and shoulder to cry on over the difficult year ahead. And Archie Hopper, of course. But at least the busy job of managing her grandmother's old business, which she'd inherited, helped occupy her. "It's pretty late, Rubes. You okay?"
"No, not really," when she saw Snow about to take her cloak off of her, she pulled back. "No don't! I kinda wolfed out for the run?"
"Oh. Of course. Sorry." Snow knew what she meant. If she'd just transformed back from her wolf outside, she'd probably have nothing else on under the enchanted cloak, and would need to change into normal clothes when she got home.
"No problem, just come into the warm? I've got some spare clothes upstairs you can use." She noticed how cold she was. And her long dark hair, usually so shiny, looked soaked. And boy did she look awful." I'll get you a couple of towels. Better still, how about you stay over the night, and head back tomorrow? I can run a bath or you could have a shower?"
"That's kind Snow, but I didn't mean to impose on-"
"Nonsense! You're doing nothing of the sort," She interrupted her. "Besides, what are best friends for?" She noticed just how dejected she looked. The former waitress now café proprietor was a naturally bubbly woman with a lively personality who would flirt with just about anyone. But now she just looked dejected and depressed. "Come on up and I'll get you a dressing gown and run a bath! Then after I get you a hot drink, I'll sit with you and you can tell me all about it?"
She pulled her hand, dragging her upstairs without even going back to tell David.
Mifflin Street
"Can't sleep?"
It was almost one in the morning. Unable to sleep herself, when she heard noises coming from downstairs, Regina had decided to head down, not that surprised to find Emma in the kitchen making herself a late night hot drink. Something Henry tended to do these days when he couldn't settle. She found the other woman standing near the stove, holding something in her hand and staring at it while a pan of milk heated.
"Eh?" Emma, brought out of her thoughts, turned to find Regina walking in. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
"No, I couldn't sleep either. Too many things on my mind." She noticed she was holding onto the little white stone she'd looked at earlier, it's twin having already been swallowed by Regina.
"How do you feel now?" She lifted it between her fingers to show her. "After swallowing it?"
"Surprisingly good. Why, did you expect me to become sick all of a sudden?"
"No, but well, I wasn't sure?" She looked the other woman over. Though only wrapped in a dressing gown, Regina still looked great since she'd swallowed it. Her eyes were bright, her hair had a new richness to it, and her skin positively glowed. "You still look amazing. To be honest, just because of that I was sorely tempted to swallow this one? But then I thought I should probably wait and see what happens to you first. Sorry, does that sound selfish? I only meant-"
"I understand, and no, I think you're probably right. Maybe I was a little impetuous. So that's why you couldn't sleep? Or were you thinking about your mother?"
"Not exactly, it's just, I kept thinking about all those things you said about Robin? And Killian? Then about them all being in the afterlife, or wherever, waiting for us? It got me thinking about Neal too, and the fact they're all watching over us. Kinda freaks me out."
"That's partly what kept me awake, thinking about my parents. My father suffered so much because of my mother, and me, over the years. I only recently found out that although she once swore to me she hadn't taken his heart out, she did have a controlling spell over it so he couldn't refuse her, despite him wanting to protect me. And there was me thinking he was weak? He'd been controlled most of his adult life. According to Robin, he's now at peace and happy with someone he loves and was prevented from marrying. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more. Same goes for Robin, with Marian."
Emma put the stone down as the milk came to the boil, pouring it into a large mug with the chocolate and stirred. "You want me to make you one?"
"If I have anything to drink I'll probably need the loo after, so no thanks." She smiled. "Though I must admit, I wouldn't mind a hug?"
"I can do that." Emma broke into a matching grin, ignoring the mug and turning to meet her in the middle of the room, opening her arms to her. Regina sank into them as her own arms came around her waist. And as she savoured her warmth, both women seemed to instinctively tilt their heads for lips to meet, the first proper kiss since Snow caught them at the farm. It was slow, and a lot more tender than earlier. "Mmm, nice."
"Better than nice. Would you like to join me? In my room?"
Green and Brown eyes stared at one another, knowing it would take their burgeoning relationship to another level. "I don't want to push you any further than you're comfortable with, Gina."
Gina. That's what Robin used to call her. "It's okay, you're not. And frankly, I'd rather not be alone tonight."
Emma answered with her lips once more, this time the kiss becoming more heated. Yes, it was time.
Meanwhile, back at the farm…
It was just after one when David woke up, needing to pee and cursing himself for having that late night drink.
Finding the other side of the bed still cold and empty, he groaned. It was rare for him and Snow to fall out, but they did on occasion. Usually she came back to bed, though it wasn't the first time she'd stayed in a spare bedroom until she cooled down. And in the past he'd usually been the one to apologise in the morning, even when he knew it wasn't his fault. Anything for an easy life.
But last night was about Emma, and he felt he shouldn't apologise this time, on principle.
Nonetheless, after using the bathroom and washing his hands, he stepped out to go down the corridor, towards the second largest bedroom, the one Emma usually used when she stayed over. Trying not to wake her, he quietly turned the handle and went inside.
That's when he discovered Snow wasn't alone!
In the moonlight from the clear sky, he could easily recognise the outline of Snow's cropped hair on the pillow and above the quilt. But there was someone else in bed with her! Someone taller, with much longer hair, lying right behind her, close, with an arm draped over her. Whoever it was appeared to be spooning her from behind?
He reached for the light switch.
"SNOW?"
The effect was instant. The moment the light came on, two pairs of sleepy eyes opened as the figure behind her pulled back.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON?"