Note: I do not own OUAT or its characters

Emma was in need of blowing off some steam so when Ruby suggested that they go out, even if it was to the Rabbit Hole, she thought it sounded like a great idea. With the second casting of the curse, by her mother no less, the town had gotten an influx of new faces. They were people somewhat ill-prepared to live in this world. She had given out more traffic citations in a week than she had in all her previous time as sheriff. It seemed like a day hadn't gone by that she wasn't getting called by the dispatchers to respond to something early in the morning or the dead of night.

What she needed was more officers, a request that Regina said she would bring up at the next council meeting.

If she hadn't needed to unwind so badly she would be home in bed.

Ruby was having her normal fun being the center of attention. After the song she was dancing to ended she came back to the table she and Emma were sitting at. "You have to dance at least once tonight," Ruby said taking a drink of her beer.

"You know that isn't going to happen."

"But you are supposed to be having fun."

"I should be home getting some sleep."

"No, no, no. You said you would go out with me so I have you for the evening. Unless of course you get a better offer."

"Then it looks like I am yours for the evening."

"Then go get me another beer," Ruby said downing hers.

Emma just smiled at her friend and made her way to the bar; she ordered two tall drafts and waited. She was standing next to a guy, who looked like he belonged in dive bar full-time who was talking to a woman, although Emma hadn't gotten a good look at her because the man was rather tall and wide.

"I said I am not interested," the woman said.

"I think I can get you to change your mind."

"I highly doubt that."

"Why don't you come back to my table and give me a chance?"

"I would rather sit at a table with an ogre, although if you keep up whatever non-diet you are on, you will surely end up the size of an ogre. Still, I am not interested. Move on."

"Hey did you call me an ogre? I think you owe me drink for that."

Emma's drinks came and she handed over the money. She considered going back to the table – tonight was not a night to be sheriff, but she also couldn't let this continue.

"Hey," she said reaching to tap his shoulder. He turned to her. "The lady said move on, now move on."

"This ain't none of your business," he said.

"No, it's not, but if you keep harassing her I am going to make it my official business," she said pulling her badge out of her pocket just in case the idiot was unaware of who she was.

He grumbled something and walked off.

Emma could now see the woman – and she could see why the guy was hitting on her.

"Thank you sheriff," the woman said. She was almost Emma's height with shortly, cropped blonde hair. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt which showed off her figure very well. She had a tattoo on her forearm just over her wrist of an eagle. Her eyes were as close to grey as Emma had ever seen eyes be.

"You're um welcome," she said. "Although you probably didn't need my assistance."

"Probably not but it was welcome anyway," she smiled.

"You are supposed to come back with the beer," Ruby said approaching them. She grabbed her beer off the bar and then seemed to notice the woman Emma was talking to.

"Hi, I am Ruby," she nodded.

"Sara,"

"I take it you are new around here," Ruby asked.

"I am still trying to get my bearings," she replied.

"I am one of the main cheerleaders for being here – curse and all. Once you get used to things like cell phones and TV, you aren't going to be missing home that much," Ruby said. "This is Emma, although I guess you met."

"Sort of," Sara said. "She chased off a nuisance for me."

"Yeah, some of the guys in this town you have to be careful of," Ruby said. "Others will just steal your heart away."

Sara smiled, "the guys, they aren't really my type."

"Oh," Ruby said. "Well if that is the case, you should be careful of the women too. We can be real pains in the asses. For instance, I sent Emma here to get us beer and she couldn't even accomplish that."

"You two are together then?"

"No," Emma said a little more forcibly than she meant to. "I mean there would be nothing wrong with it; you know if you are into that, I mean she and I we aren't like dating or anything we …."

"What my non-better half means to say is Emma and I are friends," Ruby said putting her arm around Emma's shoulder.

"But not like friends with benefits," Emma said quickly.

"I got that," Sara said taking a sip of her drink.

The music changed and Ruby gave a primal yell before putting her beer down and heading to the dance floor.

"I didn't mean anything negative by any of that," Emma said feeling like an idiot.

"You didn't hurt my feelings," Sara said. "Why don't you sit? If nothing else it will keep me from being hit on."

They sat there talking and Emma told her more about Storybrooke, and some about her own life. She learned that Sara had grown up on a farm where her father bred horses back in Fairy Tale land until he passed away. She had gotten a job caring for horses at the stables here in Storybrooke.

Emma enjoyed talking to her that she lost track of time until a now drunk Ruby came up to her. "I should get her home," Emma said.

"It appears so."

"Well, it was really great to meet you Sara,"

"Likewise."

"Maybe we will um run into each other again."

"I hope so," Sara smiled and she leaned over and kissed Emma. The kiss caught her off guard and she barely got to kiss back before Sara was backing away. "Good night Emma."

Sara got up and headed toward the restroom while Emma sat there. "You have the stupidest grin on your face," Ruby said. "Stupid, but cute. Aren't you glad you came out tonight?"

"She's beautiful."

"Later. I need bed now."

…

Sara entered her home through the backdoor. She was careful to make sure no one saw her or followed there. She went up to her bedroom and into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw she was still smiling. Kissing Emma Swan was not on her to-do list for the evening, but it was the most satisfying part of her evening.
Her smile had everything to do with Emma.

Then she started to get sad, knowing she could never see her again – at least not like that.

She waved her hand and the faux persona disappeared.

Regina looked at herself in the mirror for only a moment more before returning to her bedroom.