The blonde tore off her black apron, glad that her waitressing shift was over, and took a seat at an empty booth of the bar. Crossing her arms on the table and hanging her head from exhaustion, the girl let out a huff of air.

'Finally,' she said to herself. "A moment alone to be off my feet." She had been working all night and, even though she made amazing money in tips, she was regretting taking the double shift during the after-dinner rush.

Unfortunately for her, her precious 'alone time' didn't last long, her best friend and coworker, Ruby, scooting into the booth across from her. "Stupid managers and their stupid gender wage policies," the girl grumbled, cracking peanut shells in her hands and popping her rewards in her mouth one by one. "I mean, have you..."

The tall brunette girl, who was also a waitress, continued to ramble on about this and that, pertaining to woman's rights in the workplace. As for Emma, her attention was caught by a beautiful brunette woman, who was seated alone, at the corner of the bar. The blonde couldn't help but stare at her petite form and flawless dark brown hair, which reached just above her shoulders.

"Are you even listening to me," questioned Ruby, eyeing the blonde skeptically. It took a few seconds for Emma to realize that the lanky girl had addressed her, then she diverted her gaze back to the brunette.

"Who me," Emma spoke with mock innocence. The brunette girl shook her head at the blonde's antics then turned around abruptly, searching for the real target of the blonde's focus. "What are you doing, Rubes?"

Leaning farther out of the booth, in order to obtain a better view of the bar, Ruby continued her task, only to be pulled back forward by Emma herself. "Who were you staring at, Em," the brunette probed, sporting a wolfish grin. Emma had to contain her eye roll as she debating whether or not to tell Ruby about the woman. She decided to tell her, the girl having always been supportive of her friend's sexuality. In fact, they had done some experimenting together in the past.

"See that brunette over there at the bar," Emma pointed out to the girl nervously. When the girl followed her friend's gaze to the woman, her eyes practically bugged out of her head…and that was just looking at the back of this beautiful creature.

"Oh. My. God. Emma, you have to go for it," she replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Emma nearly choked on her own spit at hearing such a blunt statement from her friend, though she should be used to them by now.

"I-I can't just talk to her," the blonde explained with confusion written all over her face. The other girl fixed her with a bewildered expression, then countered, "Yes, you can, actually." Emma saw nothing but sincerity in her friend's eyes and gathered up enough confidence to approach the woman at the bar.

As she approached the portion of the bar where the woman sat, Emma began to regret her decision to talk to her. She glanced back at Ruby, who gave her a thumbs up, then proceeded to take a seat beside the stunning brunette.

Once seated, Emma glanced over at the woman, who turned her head towards the blonde in response.

'It's now or never,' thought the blonde, focusing on not doing anything even slightly embarrassing in front of the goddess. Licking her dried lips, Emma spoke, "Hi." As soon as the word left her mouth, she internally face palmed. 'Really, Swan? That's the best you got?' The brunette smiled to her in response, which caused butterflies to flutter around inside the blonde's already uneasy stomach. 'Maybe that wasn't so bad.'

Emma glanced down at the drink the woman had been nursing, an apple martini. She chuckled at the sight. "Excuse me," the woman questioned her with an amused grin. Instantly, the blonde felt as a blush crept up her cheeks. 'Damn this woman and her sultry voice. I mean, her voice is practically dripping of sex.'

Emma offered the woman a bashful smile. "Sorry, It's just that…your drink of choice is just so…" Emma trailed off, deciding not to finish her statement in feat that the woman would take it the wrong way.

"Typical," finished the brunette questioningly. When the blonde gave no response, she pushed the drink away from her and got the bartender's attention. "Two tequila shots," she ordered, staring deeply into hazel orbs.

'Wait a minute,' thought the blonde briefly. 'I'm only 18. I'm not of age.' Glancing back into the woman's beautiful brown depths, she conceded and took the now poured shot in her hand. The brunette raised hers up to the blonde's and clinked their glasses together saying, "To second chances." Then she downed her shot.

Emma mimicked her actions of tossing her head back while downing the liquid, and she had to will herself not to gag at the taste. The drink tasted like acid burning down the throat but something about it felt freeing to the blonde. Though the alcohol's effects haven't kicked in quite yet, Emma already began to feel more confident.

They each downed two more shots while occasionally asking questions about one another. The questions they asked were very basic: what's your favorite color, book, movie, television show, and season. The brunette had suggested to the blonde that they don't reveal their names to one another, leaving an air of mystery between them. Emma liked the idea and agreed enthusiastically to the woman's proposition.

After Emma asks the brunette a question about her family, the woman reveals something personal to the blonde. "Growing up, my mother was never really there for me. I don't know, I guess I just felt alone most of the time. We've never really had the best relationship," she finished, gazing down at her now empty martini glass. Feeling guilty for bring up a sad topic, Emma placed her hand on top of the other woman's and gazed into her eyes.

"Believe it or not, I understand the feeling of being alone." Taking a deep breath, the blonde prepared herself for what she was about to say, having never told anyone she knew so little about, about her past. "I grew up in the foster system, never knowing my real parents." Emma darted her eyes forward, avoiding the woman's likely sympathetic stare. Breathing in again, she continued, "It's been rough trying to teach myself that not everyone is evil and leaves their children on the side of a freeway." Not wanting to keep the conversation on this depressing note, she blurts out, "But really, who needs parents? Parents are dicks."

The brunette loudly snorted from laughter at the blonde's blunt comment, having not expected thatat all from the woman. Emma smiled in response, proud of herself for having turned the mood lighter, then watched as the woman continued laughing. The brunette couldn't remember the last time she had laughed, truly laughed this hard. It's been far too long.

Once she recovered from her laughter attack, she apologized to the blonde. "Sorry, sorry," she said, trying to regain her composure. Looking back up, she saw nothing but warmth projecting from the blonde's hazel eyes. The brunette furrowed her brows, feeling uncomfortable from the pounding sensation coming from inside her chest. "What?" Did she have something on her face? The blonde was staring at her like she was a crazy person, or so she thought.

"You're beautiful," confessed the blonde. The woman's heart swelled from joy from the admission as she turned her head away, blushing furiously. Emma reached her hand out towards the woman's face and guided it towards her, brushing her lips against the brunette's own full ones.

The kiss was soft and unrushed, both reveling in the taste of one another. Breaking apart from the contact, Emma stared into the brunette's chocolate orbs then leaned in and captured the woman's lips once again. The brunette melted into the kiss and rested her hand on the blonde's thigh, while deepening their contact.

This time, it was the brunette who pulled back first, only to bring her lips to the blonde's right ear husking, "I'm going to make my way to the ladies' room…fell free to join me." Standing from her previously seated position, the woman began to make her way towards the restrooms then pivoted towards the blonde. "You're welcome to join if you'd like," she invited, flashing the blonde a seductive smile.

Emma felt her mouth go dry as she stared at the brunette's retreating form. The sway of her hips, the flip of her hair, the way the light perfectly high lights her beauty. The blonde hadn't realized she'd been gawking at the woman until the bartender cleared his throat. Her head instantly snapped to the man.

"If I were you, miss," he began, leaning over the counter. "I wouldn't want to keep a lady like that waiting." He winked at Emma, then returned to his task of wiping down the bar, the blonde's attention returning to the bathroom door.

'This is it,' Emma muses to herself. 'You can do it, Swan. It's not like you haven't done things before.' It's true, she has been with girls before, only not girls that sexy and flawless. She mentally kicked herself in the head, remembering that while she's out there pondering her next move, the brunette's in the bathroom likely feeling rejected. 'No, we can't have that,' the blonde concludes, hopping off her own barstool.

Emma made her way to the ladies' bathroom door and came to a halt before opening it. 'She wants you,' the blonde reminded herself. Emma took in a deep breath then pushed the door open.

'Here goes nothing.'