Chapter Text
"Fucking hell, phoooone!"
Throwing her pillow at the offending device, Emma sat up, running her fingers through her messy blonde hair.
When the phone stopped ringing, she grabbed it, just to see that she had five missed calls.
"Of course, it is her…" Emma grumbled, sliding her finger across the screen, calling the brunette back.
"Good morning Emma."
"Good morning your highness, care to explain why you called me five times – in the middle of the night?"
"It is eight…"
Rolling her eyes, Emma got up, searching for some fresh clothes.
"Still, I had the late shift – so what is going on?"
"He is driving me crazy; I really thought this divorce would go smoothly." Regina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Emma snorted, as she walked through the hallway to the bathroom.
"Smoothly? With Robin? You should know better, woman - you broke his manly ego. What did he do this time?"
"As you know, he wants to buy himself out of our firm. My lawyer-"
"Kathryn," Emma interrupted cheekily; grinning at Regina's disapproving noise.
"Yes, Kathryn. She proposed 50% – at first he seemed to agree, but now he is backtracking – he wants 70%."
"Hold the fuck up," Emma growled, "Why the heck would he want 70%? It was originally your law firm – or well, your family's."
Regina sighed quietly, moving some papers around her desk.
"I'm heading to the shower now and then I want to grab breakfast at Granny's, how about we meet there and talk?" Emma proposed.
"Yes, excellent idea. I'll be there in fifteen." Regina agreed readily.
After ending the call, Emma started to brush her teeth – her mind wandering off.
She and Regina had been best friends since college. They went through a lot together.
Emma had a son, Henry, who was the best thing that has ever happened to her. Even though she didn't think like that at first.
Almost 14 years ago, she had dated Neal – at first she thought they were meant for each other, which changed quickly because Emma realized her feelings for the young man were not as deep as she thought.
After Neal left for the military, Emma learned that she was pregnant.
A world crashed down.
She didn't have a job, she had just started college...she simply wasn't prepared.
Then she met Regina and everything changed fast. The brunette woman helped her through thick and thin. She quickly became Henry's second Mother.
After finishing college, they both moved to Storybrooke – Regina's hometown.
Emma started working as a cop at the Storybrooke PD, while Regina took over her parent's law firm.
After a while, everything was perfect. They were like a little family – Emma, Henry and Regina.
Until Regina met Robin, some of it changed.
For one, Emma could not stand the man. He was slimy, 'perfect', and so bland.
He didn't understand Regina's commitment to Henry and Emma.
"He is not your son, why does he have to spend the weekend at our place?" – He would say or –
"Emma takes up a lot of your time, when was the last time we had a nice date or movie night? Just the two of us."
In order not to stress or pressure Regina too much, Emma brought some distance between herself and the brunette. However, she had missed her.
Then one night, Regina appeared at her front door – drenched and distraught.
Regina declared, that she wasn't in love with Robin and had married him to please her mother. Which Emma didn't understand; Cora was a lovely woman and couldn't be prouder of her daughter.
Emma entered the diner and spotted her friend at their booth. Nodding towards Ruby, the blonde made her way to Regina.
"Good morning my dear friend." Emma grinned, plopping down on the seat across from Regina.
"Miss Swan, finally…" The brunette flipped through the menu, pretending to read it.
Emma's eyebrows rose and she regarded her friend curiously.
"Aaaah my favorite ladies, what can I get ya?" Ruby grinned, leaning the side of her hip against the booth.
After ordering, Regina looked back at Emma, "Is Henry still at Neal's in New York?"
"Yes, until the weekend, I will meet them halfway and take Henry from there."
Regina tapped her finger against her chin, her eyes darkening, "I still don't understand why – "
"Listen, Neal is not a bad guy – we both know, he was unable to be there for me because of his commitments with the military. So, let's give them a chance, okay?"
Regina huffed, leaning back as her eyes wandered to the window.
Emma sighed quietly, adding in a lower voice, "Don't worry, yeah? He could never replace you."
Regina's posture was rigid and defensive, but her eyes gave her away. She loved Henry dearly.
"So, tell me – do I have to threaten Robin?" Emma winked, taking a sip of her cocoa.
A small smile spread across Regina's face, as she looked back at Emma.
"That will not be necessary, Kathryn got it covered. I am just so angry about him. He wants this big cut, because apparently he thinks he owns it."
Emma rolled her eyes, licking whipped cream from her finger.
"He's full of it, seriously. If you need me to intimidate him, let me know. I got this!"
Regina's brow furrowed, as she watched Emma struggle with the whipped cream, almost smearing it across her face.
"I'm sure…you got it."
"Uh there are Kathryn, Marian and Zelena." Emma said, waving at them.
"Look who we have here, the secretive lesbians – pardon me, best friends slash Henry's mothers." Zelena said dryly, taking a seat at their booth.
"It's good to see you too, Zelena. Hey girls, what's up?" Emma smiled at them, wiping her face clean.
"Since our dear Regina here," Kathryn started, patting the brunette's shoulder affectionately, "Is so stressed out lately, we thought a night out would do you good? Meet some new people, maybe even flirt and hey who knows, maybe you end up having some fun – no strings attached fun."
Emma's mouth went dry, her eyes flickering to Regina in an instant.
"I hardly have time for such nonsense." The brunette said, rolling her eyes. "Plus, I don't have the desire to do that."
Breathing out in relief, Emma leaned back watching the women across her intently.
"Oh Regina, stop being such a nun. When was the last time you really enjoyed yourself?" Zelena asked sternly.
Regina's eyes flickered briefly to Emma, swallowing she looked back to her sister and friends.
"I have plenty of fun with Henry and Emma," –
"Regina; we talk about adult fun here. Drinking, dancing, fuc –"
"Hey, it is Regina's choice; let her decide what's fun for her." Emma interrupted, annoyed with Zelena.
Zelena's eyebrow rose as she regarded Emma, "We could all use a weekend out, don't we?"
"I agree." Kathryn nodded, smiling at Regina and Emma.
"Come on Regina, let's have some fun. A weekend out of town, blowing off steam." Marian smiled encouragingly at the older woman.
Regina sighed in defeat, as she looked one last time at Emma, "Fine, but no cheap tricks."
"Great," Zelena grinned, turning her head so she could see Ruby, "Rubes, she's in."
The slender waitress clapped her hands together, as she grinned at the group.
"Emma, are you in too?" Kathryn asked, curiously looking at the blonde.
"I don't know. Neal will drive Henry to Boston on Sunday, so…I am not sure yet." The blonde shrugged, suddenly dread coursing through her belly.
All of the sudden a foot kicked the blonde's shin. Her head shot up, looking in disbelief at Regina.
"I am sure we can arrange something." Regina drawled, her eyes not accepting a no.
"That is the spirit. Emma let me know tonight please, I have to make reservations and all." Zelena smiled sweetly at her.
"I hate you." Emma mumbled, clenching her hands into fists below the table.
Opening her second beer, Emma changed the music to Barry White. This was her broken heart playlist. Yes, she was pathetic.
A loud knock on the door interrupted her pity party. Inaudibly grumbling to herself, Emma opened the door.
"So, let's talk!"
Ruby and Mary Margaret brushed past her, both carrying some beers with them.
"Leave me alone!" Emma hissed, entering her living room.
"Barry White? Seriously?" Ruby rolled her eyes at this, changing the music.
"What do you want here, Ruby?" Emma asked in annoyance, plopping down on the couch.
"We need a plan for the weekend." Mary Margaret announced, while struggling with the bottle cap.
Ruby snatched the bottle from Mary, opening it for the petite brunette.
"A plan? Mary you are not even coming with us?" Emma asked in surprise, taking a big sip of her beer.
"Oh I'm going with you, Zelena just informed me about it. So, how are we going to set this up?"
"Setting what up?" Emma exclaimed, squirming uncomfortably on her couch.
"You and Regina of course, I can't watch this trainwreck any longer. I am going to mess with the room reservations, so you two have to share a bed." Ruby grinned mischievously.
Emma snorted, a humorless laugh escaping her throat.
"Regina and I have shared a bed many times before; during my pregnancy and even after. This won't change a thing, plus we are just friends."
"Uh, hate to break it to you – but you sort of confessed your feelings for her to us, two years ago." Ruby said tentatively.
Emma pinched the bridge of her nose, "I didn't think you'd remember."
Ruby sighed, looking at Mary who shrugged helplessly.
"We do and we also think it's time you make a move. I'm 100% sure she feels the same about you."
"She doesn't and that is okay." Emma said, her fingers toying with the beer bottle.
"Stop being such a coward, Emma." Mary suddenly said, realizing it, she looked apologetic at Emma.
"I can't risk our friendship, guys. This would also affect Henry and I cannot take this from him."
"I understand that, but imagine Regina meets a handsome guy this weekend. Disappearing with him in her room and you very well know that they won't be looking at her high heels collection."
Emma squeezed her eyes shut, breathing deeply in. "I survived her fucking wedding AND marriage."
"Stop torturing yourself so much." Mary intervened.
"You know what? Do whatever you want, but leave me out of this. I can't have you messing with my life." Emma exclaimed, jumping off the couch.
"Emma, calm down. We are not going to put your friendship in danger; it will all be very subtle." Ruby promised, smiling soothingly at her.