If Only They Knew

Chapter 4

The two of them settled into a routine, being more open with each other in public. The weekend after Ruby found out about their relationship, Emma finally agreed to telling Ruby everything. So here she sat in her living room, nursing the first of what she assumes will be many glasses of wine.

"I still can't believe it. I always knew you and Killian would be good together.. But I can't believe I didn't notice the changes in you. I know you, and I guess I just ignored the signs that you and he had developed into something more." Ruby said as she dropped herself on Emma's sofa.

"I know, Rubes.. It was all my idea, Killian just agreed to it." She sighed. "I didn't want to tell anyone at first because I was scared it wouldn't last and then you, and Mary Margaret, and David, and all of our mutual friends would have to pick a side.. And just. I wanted to be sure, and then he told me he loved me, and I freaked the fuck out."

Emma had been skittish since Neal left her in prison, and then with what happened with Walsh right before she met Killian. Ruby understood why Emma was so scared, but she thought Emma was kind of ridiculous regarding Killian.

"Ems, I'm your best friend. We work together, and I was with you when you met Killian. You haven't been the same since you met him." She shrugged.

Emma downed the rest of her glass of wine and poured another. "Ruby." She sighed. This was the part Emma was not looking forward to. "Can you just get the interrogation over with, so we can stop talking about me and Killian?"

Ruby nodded. "Alright. So how did this happen? I know that boy has been smitten with you for years, and you obviously loved him too. But you both never saw how the other felt."

Ruby's tongue was even looser than normal when she drank, and she was already on her third glass.

Emma shook her head. "There's no way he's loved me that long, Ruby. He was my best friend, nothing more." She sighed. "But one night, I got really drunk after a rough day at work. And I called him to pick me up from the bar.. He came over, and took care of me in my 'drunken stupor' as he likes to call it.." She sighed.

"And he stayed with me all night, watching me and making sure I was okay..  And didn't die or whatever.. When I was sober enough the next morning, I realized that there was a reason I called him. I liked him.. A lot.. And I kind of asked him out. I probably seemed ridiculous, but he just grinned and made me let him plan the date." She shrugged.

Ruby smiled. "I'm proud of you for being the one to do it. That boy never would have asked you out on his own. He didn't want to push you, and lose you." Ruby could usually tell when two people liked each other, which is why it was so surprising she did not realize they were together.

Emma nodded. "Yeah, well.. We went out, and he was a gentleman. He asked me out again, and then it was all so new. I didn't want to tell anyone too soon and ruin what we had going. And.. Yeah. I guess the secret kind of got out of hand."

Ruby sighed. "I get it. And you freaked out when he told you he loved you? That's not surprising. You've had some awful relationships. I'm glad you didn't give up on him. I think this is good for you."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Emma sighed. She knew she was not the best at relationships, and that she scared easily, but she did not appreciate Ruby pointing it out.

"You're prickly, Emma. Always have been. You've had a tough life, Emma. But since we became friends with Killian he made you less prickly, he got you to be open with him more than any of us ever could. I don't know, Emma. But you needed to be with a guy who treats you right, and isn't going to be trash like the others."

Emma nodded. "Killian isn't like Neal or Walsh.. He would never treat me the way they treated me. I'm happier with him than I ever was with either of them. Yeah, I freaked out when he said it, but he was patient with me. He gave me space, and got me to realize that it was okay to be happy.."