Chapter 1

After spending the majority of the morning job hunting around Boston, Regina Mills makes her way into a small side street diner before sliding herself into a quiet booth near the back to avoid the impending lunch rush. Placing a paper she had purchased down onto the table, the brunette frowns as she begins to rub small circles around her temple with a deep sigh.

"Hey, what can I get you?"

Dropping her hand, Regina lifts her gaze to meet a young blonde's who was stood blocking her view from just about everything within the diner. Seeing a sudden wide eyed look and a small mutter of, 'I will come back in a minute for you to decide', the brunette holds her hand out to prevent the woman from stepping away. "Wait..I will take.." Making a quick scan of the board behind the blonde waitress, Regina continues. "A chicken sub and a coffee, black..please"

Biting her lip to prevent a smile at the woman's urgent tone over coffee, the blonde nods. "I will bring it right over.." Moving to leave, the woman pauses then looks over her shoulder. "Oh..and I'm sorry if I interrupted..your quiet moment.."

Watching the young woman leave, the brunette smiles slightly with a small chuckle at the nervous, apologetic display that the blonde had showed.

Bringing the order over within minutes, the curly haired waitress peers over a little at the paper that Regina moves to the side for her meal. "I certainly don't miss those days.." Seeing an raised eyebrow, the blonde's cheeks redden. "Sorry..I just meant.." Gesturing to the paper, she clarifies. "Finding a job.."

"Oh I see.."

"Yeah..I have two jobs so..no more for me"

Intrigued, Regina smirks. "Are you trying to offer me advice?"

Eyes widening, the blonde shakes her head without a word. Smiling at the young woman, the brunette lifts her coffee mug. "So do you have any ideas of where I could find a job?..I'm new to town..last minute plan.."

Biting her lip in thought, the young waitress purses them together. "Well..I could ask my boss..I mean I also work in the bar next door of an evening..maybe I could ask for you in the office?" Shrugging lightly, Emma smiles. "If you want.."

"Really? I mean right now I would take anything so long as the hours are flexible..."

"Are you busy tonight? If not why don't you pop in..it's literally next door to this diner..we could try and arrange something for you.." The blonde suggests.

Frowning for a moment, the brunette then nods. "I'm sure that would be fine..thank you...?"

"Emma.."

Holding her hand out towards the waitress, Regina smiles in awe. "Regina..and I mean it, thank you Emma"

Grinning while accepting and shaking the woman's hand, Emma nods towards the counter. "I better get back..I'll see you at 8?"

"See you at 8"

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"Are you sure? I know I promised a sister night in..I could cancel..but-"

"You need a job and an opportunity has come up. Go for it!" The redhead takes her sister by her shoulders and guides her towards the front door. "I know I told you when you moved here that you are more than welcome to stay as long as you wish..but I also know how independent you are despite everything that's happened..I'm just glad that I can be here and we have a chance to rebuild our relationship.."

"Zelena you make it sound like we were estranged..we never fell out we just..grew apart from the distance of living in separate towns plus..with..you know..it was difficult for me.." Regina explains while taking her sister by the hand. "I am so grateful that you are here and that I don't have to do this completely alone.."

"I always will be sis.."

Giving the woman a quick hug, the brunette steps out the door. "I have my phone so if any emergencies call me okay?"

"Yes I got it! Go!" Shoving the woman out of the way, Zelena smiles and closes the door behind her.

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Walking in through the entrance to the bar, Regina scans the many customers already there even though 8pm is still early for most people to come in for a drink. Clasping her hands together a little nervous at some of the attention she is receiving from a couple of guys in the corner, the brunette quickly steps up to the bar and waits for service. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Regina stiffens and closes her eyes briefly, hoping that it wasn't one of the guys who had stared her down from the moment she set foot on the premises. Taking a deep breath, the brunette turns and visibly relaxes on sight of the blonde.

Grinning, Emma shoved her hands into her jean pockets. "You came..I was just dropping off some empty glasses..I spoke to my boss already and he asked if you could just fill out some paperwork..but it sounds promising..if you know how to work a computer?"

Chuckling, Regina nods. "I know how to work a computer Emma.." Following the blonde who gestures for them to go to the far corner, the brunette sits upon a stool and rests her arms, folded against the table.

Passing some forms across, Emma questions. "Can I get you a drink? I'm on a break so I'm getting one.."

"Just a water thanks.." Glancing towards the paper, Regina begins reading the documents and fills out the sections needed by the time the blonde returns.

"Woah..okay I would say you're hired if you're that fast.." Placing the drinks down, Emma looks surprised to see the woman waiting.

"I don't like to mess about.." The brunette bites her lip in concern over whether it is a good thing or not.

"Oh..well erm-"

"Swan! I need you're help a moment! Sorry I know you're on your break!"

Cringing slightly, the blonde looks apologetic. "That would be the boss..why don't you come meet him?"

"Okay.." Sliding off the stool, Regina takes her drink and begins to follow the woman through the increasing crowds. "Oh and..Swan?"

Breaking out into an embarrassing smile, Emma looks over her shoulder at the brunette. "My last name..so everyone tends to just call me that.."

"Hm...Emma Swan.." Raising an eyebrow, Regina nods. "It suits you"

Reaching the counter, Emma makes her way behind it leaving Regina on the opposite side then begins to serve a few people, nudging Killian on the way. Following her motion, the man looks towards Regina and smiles. "Ah you must be the woman Swan was telling me about, Mr Jones or Killian, you got your papers love?"

Handing the documents over, the brunette looks a little nervous at how the man is staring at her. Realising what he is doing, Killian leans against the bar. "Sorry love I'm just trying to get my head around a woman of your education wanting a job here?"

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to pursue a career at some point but right now I need stability which means a job so I can pay bills..I just moved here and it's been a struggle" Regina confesses while side glancing Emma who smiles reassuringly.

Looking back to the paper, Killian smiles with a nod. "Okay then Mills..you're hired. You can start next week"

Slightly shocked, the brunette smiles. "Thank you Mr Jones"

"Swan I'll take over the bar why don't you show Miss Mills here around the place?"

Pausing at the pump, Emma frowns as she's supposed to be serving but soon shrugs it off. "Okay. Follow me"

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"That's pretty much everything, although I will be here next week so anything you wanna ask just ask" the blonde informs. "Wow look at the time..that took longer than expected, I've nearly finished my shift"

Checking her watch, Regina nods. "Yes, I must be getting back myself..I still have unpacking to do, that's my weekend taken over with" smiling at the blonde, the brunette briefly places her hand on the young woman's arm. "Thank you Emma..for all your help, you have no idea how much it's helped"

Grinning, Emma then clears her throat awkwardly. "Do you live far? I mean give me 10 minutes and I can walk you?..with you?"

Going to answer, Regina glances around the slowly dispersing bar. "..yes..okay, I'm only a short walk away.."

"Not a problem.." Nervously tucking a strand of blonde behind her ear, the young woman goes back behind the bar. "I won't be long.."

Coming up to the front, Killian nudges Emma on the elbow after witnessing the brunette's unease at waiting. "Go now love..I'm locking up anyway"

Rubbing his shoulder in thanks, the blonde reaches for her jacket. "See you next week" stepping around the counter, Emma approaches Regina. "Let's go..bye Killian"

Looking across, the brunette gives a small wave to the guy. "Thank you and see you next week"

Watching the pair leave, Killian chuckles to himself with a head shake at how obliviously the pair seem.

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Strolling down the quiet, empty street, Emma shoves her hands in her jean pockets and kicks a nearby stone out of the way. "So..."

Keeping her hands clasped in front of her, Regina tilts her head curiously. "Have you lived here long?"

"A couple of years..I have moved a lot in the past but I quite like it here..the buzz but also the isolation..like when you're in bed trying to get to sleep and it's dead outside and all you can hear is distant cars and the occasion horn..it's like the city is lived in but it also needs a rest of a night..I know it sounds strange" biting her lip, the blonde follows where the brunette goes.

"It's not strange..I get it. You want your own paradise..but you also don't want to dwell, you want to live. I used to live in a small town in Maine and it was nice for a time but then everybody knew everybody, including their business and it got too much to handle..I want my privacy..to be able to let people in of my own choice"

Pursing her lips, Emma stops for a moment with a playful raised eyebrow. "Is that your fancy way of saying you're a runner?"

Also stopping, Regina crosses her arms against the cold. "If you want to call it that then so be it..but I ran for the right reasons" gesturing towards a building, the brunette begins to walk again. "I'm just here.."

Coming to a halt at the bottom step of a small flight of stairs, Emma watches as the brunette ascends to the top and goes to open the door, only to have it prised open by her sister inside.

"Regina, just in time..I have wine, snacks and you can tell me if this idiot of a guy, if he is one, gave you the job or not"

Dropping her mouth open, the brunette then gives her sister a mini glare and subtly gestures to the blonde stood on the step. Tilting her head to peak behind her sister, Zelena goes wide eyed momentarily. "Oh..sorry..hi, let me guess, the waitress who helped my little sis out?"

Waving slightly, Emma looks nervous. "Yes...hi.."

"Well why don't you come-"

"Mommy!.."

As all three adults look inside the house, a small brunette clutching her blanket under her arm comes into view before rubbing her eyes sleepily. "Mommy home?"

Ignoring all other parties, Regina steps forward, crouching to the girl's level and scoops her up into her arms. "Yes baby, mommy's home"

Letting out a yawn then smile, the girl wraps her arms tightly around the older brunette's neck and rests her head down against her mother's shoulder. "I miss you.."

Chuckling softly, Regina strokes her hair then presses a kiss to her small curls. "I was only gone a couple of hours and you my dear were asleep..but I'll let you in on a secret.." Leaning to the girls ear, the brunette whispers. "I missed you too.."

"Oh Mia, come on munchkin lets get you back to bed, mommy needs to say goodbye to her friend" the redhead approaches the pair and holds her arms out to the girl who immediately switches over to be carried off as she is too tired.

Glancing over to the door, Regina inhales sharply then steps up to the frame, looking down at a staring Emma. "What we just spoke up..she was the reason I did the right thing.."

Blinking as she was staring, the blonde smiles in amazement. "I understand. I will see you next week Regina.." Backing up, Emma turns down the last step then looks back over again. "She looks just like you by the way..she's very lucky to have you.."

Growing slightly teary, Regina nods in thanks then hugs her arms. "See you next week Emma"

A/N: cont? ;)