The Queen's Knight In Shining Overalls

Chapter 17

Emma walks into Granny's and sits at the counter. Ruby comes walking out of the kitchen. "Hey Ems. What are you doing here?"  "Hi. Ruby. Can I have a beer and a shot please?"  "Oh the big stuff. You ok Em?"  "Just great". Ruby put the drinks in front of Emma. "So do you want to talk about it?"  "Nope". She stands up and does her shot. "I'm going to sit in a booth to watch the game, keep these coming ok?"   "Sure Emma". Ruby knows this is very unlike her friend. She's almost always out going. They always talk.  She watches as Emma slumps down in the booth and takes a long drink from her beer. Ruby goes in the kitchen. She's worried about her friend so she calls Regina. "Hey Ruby. Emma isn't home".  "Yes I know Regina she's here at Granny's. Is everything ok. She's kinda out of it?"   "Damn. No. I'm sure she isn't alright. We had a bad argument tonight and she walked out". Ruby could tell she was crying. "I'm sorry Regina. I'm sure once things settle down, you guys can talk it out and resolve what ever happened".  "Oh I hope so Ruby. I do love Emma so much. I think I really messed up though". Ruby hears the door bell in the background. "I'm sorry Ruby, my sister is here. I have to go. Will you please keep and eye on Emma?"   "Of course I will. Don't worry Regina".  "Thanks Ruby".  Ruby walks back into the dinning area. "Hey Rubes". Emma calls over and she lifts her beer. "Another beer and shot please". Ruby doesn't want to because she knows Emma is upset and just wants to get drunk, but it's only the 2nd round. She'll have to keep a close eye on her tonight. An hour later and 3 more rounds, Emma asked for another. Ruby knows he's a little more than buzzed so she says.  "How about a water instead?"   "Fuckin' serious Ruby you of all people are shutting me off. Fine give me my tab. I'll go to the Rabbit Hole. They don't care how drunk you get". Emma takes out her wallet. "No Emma. I'm not shutting you off. I'm just worried about you. I've never seen you like this before".  "Well. You don't have to worry. I'll be ok. My life is shit right now, but it's been shit since I was born. So whatever". Emma picks up her shot. "Cheers Rubes". She says and drinks it right down. "So Em. What's going on?"  Emma sits up and looks around. There is no one in Granny's. "It's ok Emma we're closed now".  Emma looks at her watch. "Shit Rubes. I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me. I would have left. You probably want to get the hell out of here. Let's go to the Rabbit Hole".  "No it's ok Emma. We can stay here".  "Are you sure?  I don't want Granny getting pissed".  "No it's fine. I know something is bothering my best friend and I know you want to talk about it".  "No. I really don't, but I know I should".  "Yes you should. Let me go make a drink and I'll be right back". Emma nods and Ruby walks off. She comes back a few minutes later with a new round for Emma, a drink and a shot for herself and a bowl of popcorn. Hopefully Emma will snack on it. "So, spill it Swan".  A single tear rolls down Emma's face. "I think it maybe over with me and Regina".  "What?  No way Emma. You two are crazy about each other. I've never seen two people more in love. It's almost annoying. Tell me what happened. Start at the beginning". Emma takes a drink of her beer and pulls a ring box out of her pocket. Ruby opens it. "Oh my god Emma. Your going to propose to Regina?"  "No. I did I few weeks ago, but I didn't have a ring. She said yes and everything was great. We decided we wanted to have a baby, so the other day we found out that Regina is pregnant".  "Oh my god Ems. That's awesome. Congratulations".  "Ya. Thanks". Emma says with no emotion in her voice. "When we found out, I asked if we could get married before the baby was born. She said yes again and we went ring shopping. We picked out these". Emma takes another box out of her pocket. Ruby opens it. "Emma they are perfect for you two".  "Ya. Thanks. To bad there isn't going to be a wedding".  "Em. What are you talking about? You already told me Regina said yes".  "We picked out the wedding bands together, but I got the engagement ring without her knowing. Tonight I got down on one knee and did it right. At first she loved the ring, then she said no, that she couldn't except it. Ya it hurt, but I was like whatever. Nothing really works out for me anyway. I went up and took a shower. I punched the wall". Emma looked at her hand and so did Ruby. "Oh my god Emma. Your all black and blue".  "Ya. Who cares?  Anyway. After dinner I wanted to watch the Sox game, she wanted a movie. I went to watch the game in the other room and that's when the fight started".  "What happened Emma?"  Emma starts to cry. "Emma please tell me you didn't hit her". Emma, who was taking a drink of her beer at the time. Slams the bottle down. "Are you serious?  Fuck you Ruby". Emma gets up and takes out her wallet and throws some money on the table. "If that's not enough for my tab send me a bill". Emma starts walk to the door. "Wait I'm sorry Emma". She turns around. "After everything that you know has happened to me, you really think I could hit the only woman I have ever loved?" Emma try's to open the door but it's locked. "Open the door Ruby".  "Emma please don't leave yet". Emma walks passed her back to the table. She finished her beer and picks up the ring boxes. She turns and Ruby is just looking at her. "Unlock the door Ruby or I'll fucking break it down. Don't test me right now, cause I don't fucking care right now".  "Ok Emma, but please don't do anything stupid when you leave". Emma starts laughing. "Ruby you've been my best friend for what, about 10-12 years. Thanks for all the good times Ruby, but like they said all good things must come to an end".  "Emma what are you talking about?"  "After all these years you don't know me at all, and who would want to? I thought Regina loved me too, but I'm not good enough for her. I never will be".  "Emma she loves you she told me tonight. She so worried about you".  "What? Did you tell her I was here?"   "I called her when you first got here. I was worried about you and so is she".  "Goodbye Ruby". Emma walks out the door. "Emma please don't go. Please don't drive". Ruby calls after her but Emma ignores her. She gets in her car and heads back to Regina's home. She doesn't feel like it's hers anymore. She parks on the street instead of the driveway. She walks to the door and rings the door bell. Regina opens the door and is so excited to see Emma she runs to her and wraps her arms around her. "Oh Emma thank god you came home my love I was so worried. Why did you ring the door bell?"  "May I please stay here tonight I don't have answer else to go?"  "Emma. Of course my love this is our home. Why would you ask if you could stay here?"  Emma tries so hard to fight the tears. Her face is like stone as she looks at Regina, but Regina can see the water in her eyes. "I won't be any trouble I promise. I'll just sleep here on the couch and in the morning I'll gather my things and I can go". A tear slips out. "Of course you can stay. You don't have to stay on the couch, sleep in one of the guest rooms. My sister is in the one at the end of the hall, but the other rooms are yours. Please come in".  "Thank you. Would you mind if I got something to drink?"  "Not at all please, help yourself". She says motioning to the kitchen, and Emma starts walking there. She opens the refrigerator and grabs a beer and downs most of it. "Did you have a nice time with Ruby?" Emma laughs a bit. "It started out fine until the end of the night. She saw my hand, and can you believe it  , she actually fucking asked me if I hit you". Emma takes another gulp of her beer. "I would never fucking hit you Regina ever. I don't care what you did. You could hit me with a frying pan, throw rocks or bricks at me. You could lock me in a fucking closet and I would never EVER hit you. All that shit happened to me, and I just couldn't fight back against the girls that did it". Regina starts crying. "Shit Regina I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you". She wanted to go and hold her but she stops herself. She doesn't know where their relationship is anymore. "It's been a long day, why don't you go to bed Regina?"  "I can't, knowing that you want to leave in the morning. Why are you leaving Emma?  Do you not love me anymore? Is there someone else? Do you not want a baby?  Please tell me why? Why did you leave me tonight?"  Emma can't hold back the tears anymore, so they just fell from her eyes. She goes down to her knees and just sobs. She tries to seek comfort by getting as close to the kitchen cabinets as possible. "I'm sorry you hated that ring Regina. I really did think you would like it. I wanted to buy it for you. So what if it drained most of my savings. I love you. If I have it, I want to give it to you, and I know you would do the same thing. We can move beyond this and I hope maybe be can be good co-parents to our baby". She takes the ring boxes out of her pocket and gives them to Regina, along with the receipts. "Here. Take these and get the money back. Save it for our baby". Emma says and she yawns and puts her head against a cabinet. "I understand if you don't want me to be apart of his life because of who I am, but could you at least send me some pictures every now and then?"  "Of course Emma. How about we go to bed my love. You are exhausted".   "Ok Gina. I'll be right there". Emma says as she's sitting in the fetal position with her head against the cabinet door. There is no way Regina is going to get her up now. She gets a thin blanket from the hall closet. She knows Emma doesn't like heavy blankets. She covered her body and gave her a kiss. "We can work through this my love I know we can. Good night sweetheart. I love you so much. Please don't give up on us". Regina walks into the living room and sits down on the couch and cries. She's afraid to go upstairs to bed, she doesn't want Emma to leave while she's sleeping. She says a little prayer. "God please let this work it's way out. I love her and I believe she loves me. Please let us work this out". Regina lays back on the couch in a similar position as Emma and eventually falls asleep.