To simplify the past few weeks of Emma Swan's life in one sentence, things had been getting complicated. Sitting in the corner booth closest to the door, her lithe body was cradled by red vinyl. The slender blonde sipped her coffee, flecks of pastry at the corner of her mouth clinging on for life as she gazed down at the local news rag. The headline glared at her, MAYOR RE-ELECTED. At least Regina Mills had something in the future for herself, if only a job where there was always something to do.

Emma sighed to herself and put down the paper, staring at the somber face of the clock on the wall. 8:32. Plenty of time to get to the office and think of things to do between the monotony of desk work and e-mails. It felt as though no one wanted her to think much anymore. The idea of spending time with the man who professed to love her but refused to change his clothes was unappealing. His attraction to her was only encouraged by her time traveling fairy tale parents. Her parents were seemed so concerned with her happiness, finding her true love, but at the same time were blind to the most basic of questions.

"How are you feeling Emma?" Ruby questioned politely.

Emma, jolted out of her reverie gave a smile to the willowy girl.

"I'm good. Thanks for asking. Feels like no one cares how anyone actually feels anymore. And by anyone I mean me." Ruby chuffed at the comment and looked at the clock and commented,

"I hope you aren't going by that clock because it is an hour behind. I forgot to re-set it for daylight savings this past Sunday."

Emma's face fell. Shuffling frantically out of the booth, she dashed out the door red coat a flurry as she whipped it over her body. Launching herself into the yellow bug she cursed herself halfway there. Forgetting her coffee at Grannie's was a sin she would have to atone for later in the day when she became "quite cross" as Regina had put it.

More than once there had been a hot coffee waiting for her at the mayoral office during a mid-afternoon meeting. The hot stimulating beverage was an easy way to engage Regina in conversation for five minutes. Oh and how do you take your coffee? She would ask so politely every time. The cordial exchange was a game, one that they both knew well. Emma always returned the courtesies thinking,

"You know damn well how I like my coffee," Emma grumbled to herself as she pulled up to the station, already rubbing her temple in a effort to ease the impending lack-of-caffiene-headache that loomed imminently over her. Flopping down at her chaotic desk Swan opened her e-mail. Of the forty seven new e-mails, seventeen of them were for viagra. Not a sound investment for the town law enforcement to be sure. Thirty were from the mayoral office. Biting her lower lip and shaking her head Emma began going through her inbox and checking the department voicemail.

There was a only single voice mail from Regina's secretary to great her surprise.

"Sheriff Swan, please call us here at the mayoral office to schedule a meeting for today."

Emma groaned leaning back in her chair as six feet of calm and collected prince walked in. He smiled at her with a raised eyebrow.

"That kind of day already?" he asked. Emma sighed.

"Yep. Forgot my coffee at Grannie's, didn't even eat my entire breakfast because I was late. I walked in, haven't even checked my e-mails yet and I already need to run over to town hall to speak with Regina," David winced at the last part "or at least call her to make an appointment." he frowned thoughtfully.

"Rough deal kid. Maybe I can knock out some of the e-mails for you then work on 'the stack'?" Emma smiled at his reference to the mound of paperwork that never seemed end looming at the corner of her desk.

"That would be great." Picking up the phone she dialed the number for town hall. At least she could count on some clarification later this afternoon about how often her and Madam Mayor would have to meet.

They had been having weekly meetings for as long as Emma had been Sheriff, but lately it seemed sporadic. They would go weeks without meeting and then see each other frequently over the course of a few days. The conversations would be about the town and business. Regina always seemed to find an excuse as to why she needed to leave as soon as there was an opportunity to talk about anything else.

"Hello!? Sheriff Swan are you even on the phone?!" Emma snapped out of her reverie. Regina's assistant always sounded annoyed, but Emma was in fact this time, being rude.

"God I'm sorry! Yes, what time did the Mayor want to see me? I'm free all day, just catching up on some paperwork," Emma apologized sweetly. The assistant's voice was notably relaxed when she replied,

"We will see you at noon sharp."

Glancing at the clock she noted the time. 10:13AM. Better get cracking at 'the stack'.

As she worked on autopilot, her hands filled out forms and her mind wandered. Wracking her brain she began to search her memory for things that Regina would confront her about today. Paperwork? No. I've been doing that on time. The rise in delinquent behavior from the Never land boys? She cringed at that thought. They had set off fireworks the week before off of the clock tower, and broken into the library to do it. Also waiting outside the mayor's office with a garden hose. But she got five free workers out of that community service agreement! Emma huffed to herself, She can't hold me responsible every single time one of them decides he's going to be a teenage boy! Thinking about the mayor's drenched suit and infuriated expression caught Emma off guard. The way the wet silken fabric had clung to her body revealing every dip and curve in her lithe body. Her perky- Stop it. Regina Mills glowed in her anger, her face alight with fury, flushed and enraged. So fierce and beauti- Stop it right now brain. Work.

Ignoring the grumble of her stomach and the heat rising in her face Emma glanced over at her father, who was elbow deep in paperwork, a pair of reading glasses perched precariously on his nose. He took them off, rubbing his eyes. Looking over at the clock he asked,

"Em, what time was your appointment again? It's nearly noon."

Wide eyed Emma turned to the clock. 11:57PM.

"Oh no." The phone rang angrily. "Oh hell no." David picked up the receiver.

"Storybrooke Police Department," he paused, "Uh huh," grimaced, "Yep. Okay." Click.

"You better get going kid. Waiting here will only make it worse. The mayor is feeling some kind of way about you being late." David grinned at her "Good luck."

Emma's boots stomped against the tile floor with precipitance as she exited the station.

David picked up the station phone, and hit redial.

"Emma is on her way." He laughed after a pause, "Oh yeah, she thinks you are real mad. Have fun with that."