WHO ARE WE FOOLING?

CHAPTER TWO

"Hey, Regina wait up!"

Regina walked a pace faster, determination in her step at the sound of the voice that called after her. She had no intention of stopping. Not for her anyway.

"Regina!" Emma called, jogging after her.

"What do you want, Miss Swan?" Regina spun abruptly on her heel to face the blonde, obvious frustration on her face.

Emma took an unsteady step backwards, shoving her hands into her pockets. Great. She was angry.

"I just um," Emma tried, smiling nervously as she pointed in the direction of Granny's. "thought maybe you'd like some company on the way to the meeting?"

"Actually, I'd prefer to walk alone. I don't plan on attending Snow's sunflowers and lollipops fire-side-chat."

"Oh, right, well..."

"I've got better things to do so if you don't mind I'll be on my way," Regina crossed her arms, sidestepping away from Emma.

"Listen, Regina," Emma tried, pausing for a moment to choose her words wisely. "I haven't...we haven't really gotten the chance to talk since Robin left town... and everything with...I just want you to know that you're not...alone."

Regina inhaled sharply, shaking her head at Emma's choice of words. Emma had talked to David. Or was it David that had talked to Emma? She didn't even want to think about it. It'd been less than 24 hours since that humiliating incident at Granny's. She could only imagine what David thought of her . Regina had made every effort to avoid David, and every other person in Storybrooke whilst walking Henry to school this morning. Mostly she'd succeeded, that was until now.

"Of course Prince-tastic couldn't keep his mouth shut!"

"Who? David?"

"Who else would I be talking about?"

"Well, Prince-tastic is new."

"I can think of a few less appropriate things to call him, if you'd rather?"

Emma smiled grimly, regretting her choice of words. All she had wanted to do was show support, but all she seemed to do was royally piss Regina off.

"Regina, please..." Emma pleaded.

"Emma, I have no interest in whatever it is you're trying to say, nor am I in any mood."

Emma threw her hands in the air, remorse heavy on her face. "I'm sorry, okay?!...Really sorry. But avoiding people, locking yourself away – it's not the answer. You've had my back so many times before and I just...whether you do or don't want me, or my parents, or anyone in this town to be on your side...I am, we are...So can you please just stop being so stubborn and come with me to Granny's? And before you try arguing with me I'm not taking no for an answer."

Taken aback by Emma's insistence, Regina frowned. Before she knew what she was doing, Regina agreed to go.

Emma smiled, pulling out her cell phone. "Great, I'll let them know we're on our way."

- OUAT -

"Welcome everyone! I want every citizen to feel welcome and included," Mary Margaret chirped, rocking baby Neal as she fussed with papers.

Regina rolled her eyes and bit back a sarcastic retort as they snuck into a back booth in the diner. Granny's was packed with many faces; some Regina recognised and some she didn't. The initial chatter before Snow's address had been enough to make Regina feel claustrophobic. Now, all she was trying to do was remember why she'd agreed to come to this stupid thing in the first place.