A Twist Of Fate

Chapter 19

I started taking the pill that Archie wanted me on. He said it may take a few days before I could start to feel things a little differently. So far everything's the same as far as I can tell. Regina and I also followed Archie's suggestion, and after he left that afternoon, I asked Regina out on a real date. A few days later we asked my parents over for dinner. We decided we would tell my them about us. For the first time that I could remember my mother was actually speechless. "Emma don't you think this is still a little soon to start dating. I'm not saying Regina isn't a great choice but it hasn't even been a year yet".  "Mom are you serious right now?  You've been trying to get me to start living for months. I slowly try to do that and now your telling me it's too soon. What the hell mom?"  Regina puts her hand on mine. "Emma I'm sure you mother wasn't trying to say that". I laugh. "Oh Regina I doubt that. Why are you always so against my relationships mom?"  "Emma what do you mean? I've always wanted the best for you".  "That I don't doubt but you don't like that I look like a girl who likes other girls do you?"  "Emma that's ridiculous. I have never said anything like that".  "Not to my face. But I know you didn't want Zelena and I together. You never thought we would make it together".  "Emma I never said that".  I slam my hand down on the table and jump out of my dinning room chair. "I heard you that night that Zelena and I went to visit you. I was walking to the bathroom and you said that we wouldn't last. Why did you say that? I know I'm not your biological child but you adopted me. I never asked for anything. Ever. But one day you both took me home. Why because you didn't have one of you own, then you found out about me and it was to late to send me back. You could have,  it wouldn't have been the first time". Now it's time for my father to jump in. "Emma sweetheart. We love you and we want you to be happy. If that's with Regina then that's fine. I think what your mother is saying is that she wants you to think things through that's all".  "Dad you are the only one who's ever been open and honest with me. Not every parent agrees with their child's choices, so please be honest with me now and we can move on from this. Is this about it being to soon or really about me?"  He says nothing yet and looks to my mother. I laugh. "I fucking knew it. Why couldn't you just be honest with me years ago?"  I'm still standing and I look over at Regina. "I'm sorry I ruined your wonderful dinner Regina. If you all will excuse me I need some air".  "Emma wait". Everyone says at the same time but it was only Regina that came after me and caught me at the front door. "Emma my love please don't leave".  I kiss her and put my arms around her waist and hold her. "Gina baby. I love you. I'm not mad or even that upset. I just need some air. Don't clean up alone. I'll be back soon. Please do not ask them to watch Angie for our date we will find someone else". I kiss her and turn to leave. "Emma please be safe".  "I promise baby. Love you". After that I walk out the door. I head towards Main Street. Granny's is still open so I go in there. It's quite because it's a little after 8 at night. I sit at the counter and Ruby comes out from the kitchen. "Oh my goodness. Emma Swan. What are you doing here tonight?"   "Oh Ruby. Tonight just sucked. Regina and I invited my parents over for dinner. Words were said and I left".  "Ems. What the hell happened?"   "Me Ruby. I'm what happened. Can I have a beer and a shot please?"   "Em are you sure?"   "Yes. I'm not driving. I walked here. I needed to get out of the house". She nods. "Ok Emma spill it. I want details".  I tell her everything that went on during dinner. She seemed happy for Regina and I, and was very very surprised at the way my mother acted. "Emma I've been friends with Mary Margaret for a long time and she's never treated me differently because I like girls".  "Ya but she didn't adopt you hoping you would be the child she never had". I finish my beer and down the shot and ask for another round. I can see Ruby hesitate a bit but she gets it for me anyway. "The crazy thing Rubes is that she didn't deny it. You know, I honestly believe my dad loves me no matter what but my mom. No. It always seems like some strings are attached".   "Emma I'm so sorry about this. Truly. If it's any consolation I'm happy about you and Regina".  "Thank you. It does mean a lot. It's nice to know we have at least one person in our corner". I finish another beer and shot and ask for another round. "Emma are you sure?"   "I'm fine.  I just need to relax. Then I'm going home".   "Ok. I'll only give you this round if you let me give you a ride home. I don't want you walking".  "Ok Rubes. Whatever you want".  At 9:30 Ruby locked the doors and it was only her and I in the building. "Do you always close up alone Ruby? That's not very safe".   "Dorothy is usually here but she wasn't feeling well tonight. So I'm glad you are here to keep me company".  "Thanks Ruby. That's nice of you to say.  How about one more round before we leave?"   "Emma that's 4 beers and 4 shots in and hour. Regina will kill me".  "No she won't. She will just be happy I'm home safe. Come on let's you and I do a shot together".  "Oh Em. You are such a bad influence". She laughs. "Oh looks like someone's been talking to my mother".  I laugh. We do our shots and I chug my beer. I ask Ruby for my tab and she says I'm all set. So I take a 50 out of my wallet and try to hand it to her. "Thanks Ruby. Your the best".  "Emma no. It's ok".  "No it's not. Take some money Rubes. If I had gone anywhere else it probably would have been more. Please take it". She hesitates but eventually takes the money. "Ok Em. You ready to go?"  "Sure Rube. Lead the way".  I get into her car and I want one just like it. It's old but frigging awesome. She eventually pulls in my driveway and the lights in my house are still on. "Shit. I was hoping she'd be in bed by now".  "Emma it's only 10 o'clock".   "Yeah well I could only hope". I laugh. We get out of the car and I don't have my keys. Good thing Regina is awake. I knock on the door. "Emma not so loud. You don't want to wake the baby".  "Oh shit. Good point". I gently tap on the door and Regina opens it. "Hey babe. I'm home".  She doesn't have the happiest look on her face. I give her a hug and kiss her cheek. "Hey babe. Guess what? I told Ruby about us and she's actually happy for us and she's not even obligated to be. Wow. Who would have thought right?"   "That's wonderful Emma. I'm glad you are home. Thank you for giving her a ride Ruby. We'll talk soon". They nod at each other and Regina closes the door. "Oh baby. I'm so tired. I think I'm gonna go to bed now unless you need anything".  "No dear. I think I'm good". She helps me get upstairs and changed into some shorts and a t-shirt and I get in bed. She gives me a kiss. "I really do love you Gina".  "And I really love you Emma. Good night my love". She kisses me again and leaves the room. I instantly fall asleep. The next morning I woke up with a slight headache. I sit up in bed. I need to pee but my head hurts. "Ahh shit".  "Emma you ok?"  Regina asks from the other side of the bed. "Yeah. Just a bit of a headache. I'll be ok".  I get up to use the bathroom. When I'm done I wash my hands and then look in the medicine cabinet and I can't find any aspirin. "Fuckin' perfect".  I walk out of the bathroom and go back to bed. I lay there and Regina comes over to sit by my side. "Did you have a nice time at Granny's last night Emma?"   "It wasn't so bad I guess".  "That's nice. You said you were going out for some air and then you came home drunk and passed out. Is that the kind of "air" you were looking for?"   "No. I took a walk. Granny's was open so I went in. Ruby and I talked. I drank and she drove me home. The End". I sit up in bed. "Regina if you think something happened between me and Ruby, it didn't.  Never. Not last night or as long as her and I have known each other. I swear to god. I love you and only you. My head my be a little fucked up but I'm not a cheater. Not now, not ever. I can't imagine hurting the one I love like that with so such betrayal".  "Emma. I believe you my love. Please relax. I wasn't worried about that. I was just worried about you getting drunk that's all. Here take some aspirin and get some more sleep".  I do as she tells me and then I fall back to sleep. A few hours later when I woke up I was coming out of my bedroom and I saw Regina coming out of Angie's room. "She taking a nap?"  "Yes I just put her down".  She walks over to me and gives me a kiss. "I'm sorry I left you alone last night with my parents".  That word leaves a bad taste in my mouth now. I don't even want to call them that anymore. "It wasn't so bad. They left right after you did".  "Did they have anything to say?"  "They just apologized that's all. Oh and Mary Margaret said she would give you a call today". I laugh. "Ya. Like I'm gonna talk to her. Any way I'm hungry. I'm going to the kitchen".