Regina was happy with Ruby. They'd been married for two years, and although they'd gotten into a routine, they still did all the things together that they did before they'd tied the knot. They went on dates. They had meals together. They talked about the future. And – just like everyone told them they wouldn't – they still had sex. It wasn't bad sex, either. It was just… a little… vanilla.

Regardless of that, they were happy. At least, that was what Regina thought. Then again, she'd never really known happiness before. Something had always been missing. Even with Ruby, something wasn't quite… there. But what does happiness even mean, anyway? Being content with what you have, right? And she was. She was content. After all, Ruby took care of her. They took care of each other. They listened to each other. They refused to become complacent in each other's lives.

"Morning, babe," Ruby muttered with a sleepy smile as the sun came up, sliding her hand under her lover's pajama shirt.

For some reason, even though Regina was usually a morning person (and Ruby was not), she was having a hard time opening her eyes.

"Unnng," she groaned, reaching for a spare pillow and using it to cover her face and block out the sunlight.

"What's the matter, honey? You okay?"

"I don't want to go to work," the woman whined.

Complaining was unlike her, so Ruby quickly removed her hand from her wife's toned abdomen and sat up in bed.

"What's going on, baby? You love your job."

"I'm so tired of the same shit, Ruby," the mayor sighed, removing the pillow and staring straight up at the ceiling. "I'm bored with my job."

What else is she bored with? Ruby wondered, her stomach dropping as she considered the possibility that she was one of the other things the woman was getting bored with. They were happy, right? They ate together, went on dates, had sex… Ruby's mind flashed back to the previous night and the image of the two of them making love. It was so… uneventful. Sure, they both came, but- Wait, the waitress was thinking. She wasn't faking, was she? Oh, God…

Instantly, the younger woman's mind went to the worst case scenario. She's bored with me. She faked it so it would end. She's just-

"Ruby?" the older brunette asked, snapping her wife from her trance. "What's wrong?"

"Huh? Nothing, I… I'm sorry. I was asking you that, and I just… I zoned out. That was super awful. I'm sorry. I guess I'm still-"

"I just said I was fine, but that I probably need a vacation or something."

"Yeah, you could definitely use one," Ruby chuckled. "You work too hard. You should go to the Bahamas and just lay on the beach for a week or so. You never take days off."

"Why are you saying it like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like I'd go alone."

"Oh… I don't know. I just meant… You don't have to do everything with me just because we're married, you know. You can still have your own life and do your own thing…"

"Ruby," Regina sighed, reaching out to touch the woman's cheek. "I'd never go to the Bahamas without you."

"Alright, then. Let's go," her lover joked with her signature playful grin.

Ruby had always been less uptight than Regina, and they both knew it. To be honest – and they were both always honest with each other – Regina was anal-retentive and needed absolutely everything to be perfect, including their home. If the couch had moved over once inch, it was to be fixed immediately. If there was a single spot on the rug, it was to be cleaned immediately. If dinner was finished, the dishes were to be done immediately. In the morning, the bed was to be made immediately. Everything was immediate, and everything was precisely the way that she wanted it. This had been the hardest adjustment for Ruby to handle. Her lifestyle was… different. But hey, she told herself. That's marriage.

In fact, Ruby had so gotten used to the idea that the cleaning and tidying was automatic. She no longer dropped her clothes on the floor at night after she'd removed them, like she had when they first started dating. They went straight into the dirty clothes hamper. She no longer left her coffee mug half-finished on the counter without rinsing it. She no longer left the cap off the toothpaste (except a few times when she forgot). And she no longer made jokes about just how much of a perfectionist her lover was. It was no longer funny. It was their reality.

But Ruby couldn't really complain. She had her own baggage, and Regina had put up with it for three years now. There was no way she was about to forget that. She wouldn't take it for granted. She remembered it every time she felt too lazy to do the laundry, or too unmotivated to mop the kitchen floor. She had a dark side that Regina had accepted and loved, and that was enough for Ruby to adjust and make compromises.

Their whole relationship was like that. It was give and take, even though anyone who looked at their relationship from the outside would have said that Regina was in complete control. Ruby knew better. She knew all the things that her wife had sacrificed to be with her. All the exceptions she had made. All the care she had put into their relationship. All the ways she had helped Ruby heal from the wounds of her past. But that was reciprocated, too. At least for the most part. A lot of Regina's past was stuck there, unshared and never discussed, but the pieces of her history that were brought to the table were accepted and loved in the same way that the woman accepted and loved her past and her flaws.

Their relationship may not have been exciting, but it was healthy, which was more than either could say about their past experiences.

After they'd both silently thought about these factors for a while, the mayor sighed, "I can't. I have responsibilities. The town needs me. I couldn't possibly-"

"Regina. You need a break."

"I know."

"Then take one."

"I've got to get to work," Regina gasped, looking over at the clock and seeing that she had less than twenty minutes to get ready. "We'll talk about this later, okay?"

Without waiting for a response, the woman stood and hurried into the bathroom, where she proceeded to follow her morning ritual to prepare herself for the day (except that she was in a rush). If there was anything the mayor hated, it was being late. Ruby stayed in bed, slightly in a daze, and began to fall back asleep to the sound of the running water from the shower. Eventually, she did begin to dream again, but this time, instead of normal, random dreams, they were nightmares about her wife. She was woken from them by a quick peck on the lips before her lover ran down the hallway, hurried down the steps, and bolted out the door.

For a while, the day went on as usual. Paperwork, meetings, paperwork, coffee, paperwork. Then, towards the end of the day, an unexpected knock on her door stirred her from her study of the town's financial records for the past month.

"Come in," she projected, sitting up straight and pushing her mug of coffee away as she set her pen down parallel to her folder of paperwork. When the gentleman opened the door – tall and handsome – he looked nervous, so she greeted him, "Hello, Sheriff Humbert."

"Please, Madam Mayor, call me Graham."

"Alright… Graham… Please, have a seat." When he did sit down in the chair across from her desk, she waited for him to speak, and when he said nothing, she encouraged him by saying, "What is it that brings you here unannounced, Sheriff?"

"Oh, I… I apologize, Madam Mayor. I, um… Well, as we discussed, we've been looking for a new sheriff, since I plan to leave at the end of the month, and…"

"Yes? Go on."

"I believe we've found person we'd like to hire, and I know it has to be approved by you before that officially happens, so I wanted to discuss her application with you."

"Oh. I see. It's a woman... That's interesting."

"Is that… not… preferable?"

"No, no. It's perfectly fine. I'm simply surprised that you would have chosen a female for the position. In any case, though it is customary practice for the mayor to approve the new sheriff, I trust your judgement and will sign the paperwork for you now, if you've brought it."

"Oh, I, um… I did, but I… I thought you might want to speak to her yourself before you-"

"Have you not spoken with her?"

"No, I have! I… We had a lengthy interview, during which she displayed numerous positive qualities that I believe are well suited for the job. I think she will make an even better replacement than I was."

"Hmm. Is that so? Well, in that case, give me the paperwork, and I will sign it. As I said previously, I trust your judgement. I also have no time for an unnecessary interview."

"Of course, Madam Mayor. I apologize."

With that, he handed over the woman's application. Regina took it without so much as glancing at the name at the top and signed the last page before handing it back to him.

"I would like a copy of that when you are finished with it, please."

"Of course, Madam Mayor. Thank you for your time."

He took the paperwork and left in silence.

Back at the house that night, Regina burst through the front door with a huff, dropping her briefcase down on the floor. The sound startled her wife, who was currently engrossed in a fitful sleep on the couch.

"Jesus, Regina!" Ruby called out. "You scared the shit out of me!"

"Sorry," the woman mumbled, leaning against the wall with a heavy sigh.

When her wife saw this, she quickly rose from her seat and walked over to her lover, asking, "What's the matter, babe? Did something happen?"

"No. Just a long day. They've all been long, lately. Anyway, how was your day, sweetheart?"

"My day was fine, but Regina… I'm worried about you. I've never seen you like this."

"I'm okay. Just tired."

"I… Are you hungry?"

"Not really, no. Are you?"

"Well, yes. I was wondering if you'd like me to cook tonight."

"But it's my turn."

"I know, babe, but you've had a long day, and I want you to relax."

Regina bit her lip and looked around. Not a single piece of clutter anywhere in view. This, at least, was somewhat calming. In her own home, she had some control.

Looking guilty, she finally replied, "Actually, that would be lovely."

"Great!" Ruby said with an enthusiastic smile. "Why don't you join me in the kitchen for a minute, babe?"

With a tilt of her head, the older brunette followed the woman into their kitchen. On the table was a large vase of two dozen white roses, all fully in bloom.

"Oh, Ruby," Regina sighed. "You shouldn't have."

"I love you, Mrs. Mills," her lover whispered back, walking around her and wrapping her arms around the woman from behind. "And I wanted to. You deserve flowers when you're feeling down."

A warm wave of affection washed over them both as Regina turned around in Ruby's arms and looked up into her eyes.

"I love you too, Ruby," she replied softly, then pressed their lips together.

The kiss was slow but chaste, lacking passion. Still, they both felt their hearts race. When they pulled away, though, something in Ruby's eyes betrayed her sadness and confusion. Before Regina could ask her what was the matter, she'd turned around and begun to prepare the food. With a sigh, Regina left the room and curled up on the couch, where she rested her head on a small pillow and began to fall asleep.

When dinner was ready and Regina joined her wife at the dining room table, they ate slowly and quietly, saying very little, until after a while, the mayor noticed the woman staring at her.

"What?" Regina asked cautiously.

"Nothing," Ruby mumbled back, taking a large gulp of her wine.

Feeling just as frustrated in her own way, Regina also took her share of the beverage. After a few more glasses than either of them had intended, they found themselves on the living room couch with their lips connected. Their dirty dishes were still in the sink, rinsed but unwashed. That could only mean one thing. Regina was too drunk to clean. (And that was saying something.)

Ruby was clearly drunk too as her hands fumbled over her lover's chest, searching desperately for contact and some kind of a reaction from the mayor. At first, they were both unsure of themselves, suddenly feeling awkward around each other after the new thoughts that had plagued their day. After another half a glass, though, heavy petting turned into something more as Ruby pinned the woman down on the couch and pushed herself between her legs. As she ground their hips together, the mayor moaned softly and lifted her own hips to increase the friction between them.

After a few more movements, Ruby drunkenly husked, "I want you to take me upstairs."

Regina said nothing. She just pushed the woman away, slid off the couch, grabbed her hand, and stumbled all the way to their bedroom.

After undressing themselves and tossing their dirty clothes to the floor, rather than the laundry hamper, they moved to the bed, where Ruby once against positioned herself between Regina's legs. This time, she did not grant the friction that Regina's core so desperately desired. Instead, she slid her hands over Regina's thighs and chest, pausing to twist the woman's nipples into firm peaks. Their mouths found each other and began a slow, tender kiss as Ruby's hands continued to wander. Usually, after a few minutes of this kind of foreplay, Regina was more than ready to go further. That night, though, to Ruby's dismay, her lover was far from wet.

"I'm… I'm s-sorry," Regina slurred, her head spinning as she felt the warmth of her lover's fingers at her entrance. "I… I'm not… I c-can't…"

Hearing this reluctance, Ruby quickly pulled away, her stomach sinking.

"It's fine," she said firmly, then rolled over and leaned back against the pillows as she stared blankly at the ceiling, her vision blurry.

Had she looked, she would have seen the tears slipping from her lover's eyes and onto her cheeks, but instead, her gaze remained in place, and Regina was left to cry herself silently to sleep.

In the morning, Ruby woke with a start, shooting up in bed with a gasp that woke her wife immediately.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Regina blurted, looking around the room for whatever horrible thing it was that had frightened her lover so much.

"I had… horrible dreams…" the green-eyed brunette replied, keeping her gaze firmly on the window and away from Regina.

"What happened?"

"You left me."

"Ruby…"

"Don't."

"Ruby, I'm not going to leave you..."

Suddenly, the woman blurted, "Do you even enjoy having sex with me anymore?"

"What the hell, Ruby! Why would you ask me that?"

"Because I want to know!"

"Ruby!"

"What?"

"I don't understand why you're-"

"Do you remember last night at all?"

"Um… No… Not really… I mean, I had way too much to drink, and I-"

"I tried to make love to you and couldn't even get you wet."

"I was drunk!"

"I don't think that has anything to do with it."

"Ruby, come on. I was-"

"I tried everything that usually works. I mean… Your thighs, your nipples, your lips…"

"Ruby, I was incredibly drunk. I never should have had all that wine. It was a stupid decision, and I regret it. I don't even remember last night. Of course I was too drunk to have sex."

"I think maybe you were just too drunk to fake it."

"I DON'T FAKE IT!" Regina screamed, tearing the covers off and jumping out of the bed. "Why the hell would you ever say that?"

"Because you're bored! You said so yourself!"

"I said I was bored with my job, Ruby! Not you!"

"Maybe we should-"

"No. Don't you dare say that. Don't you fucking dare. I'm your wife. You can't just-"

"I was going to say," Ruby snapped, "that maybe we should try it again now, then."

Regina stared in disbelief. How were they supposed to turn a spat like that into sex?

When she didn't say anything, her wife said, "Come back to bed. Let me try again."

Reluctantly, the mayor did exactly that. When she was finally lying beside her lover, leaned back against the pillows, Ruby quickly made her move and positioned herself between the woman's legs.

"I just wanna make you come," the green-eyed beauty whispered in her lover's ear, then kissed her cheek.

Regina blushed at this and felt her muscles tense. Ruby felt it too, along with a heavy wave of relief. She rubbed her thumb over the woman's clit a few times, until she felt her folds become slick. As soon as the wetness coated the tips of her fingers, an involuntarily sigh escaped her lips.

"Oh, babe…" she whispered. "That's perfect."

"Don't stop," Regina breathed. "Make me come."

By the time they were both finished, Ruby was panting breathy 'I love you's into her spouse's ear.

"I know. I know," her wife said slowly as she stroked the woman's hair. "I love you too."

The next morning, Regina was no more excited to go to work than she was the day before. In fact, the feeling of dread had grown, to the point where she actually considered calling out sick and canceling her meetings. Of course, she didn't do that, but it certainly crossed her mind. Instead, she got dressed, like a responsible adult, and made her way to work, after kissing her wife goodbye.

On her lunch break, however, she burst through the front doors of Granny's Diner – her wife's current place of employment – and nearly ran to the counter. As soon as Ruby saw the sweat dripping from Regina's brow, her heart stopped.

"Babe, what's the matter?" she asked hurriedly.

"We need to talk. Right now."

"Honey, I can't, I-" but when the look of horror on her lover's face registered, she changed her mind. "Alright. I'll take my break. Meet me out back."

Behind the establishment, Regina waited anxiously for her wife to appear out of the back entrance.

When she finally did, a few minutes later, the waitress muttered, "Sorry. Granny made me take a few more orders. What's going on, baby?"

"There's a new sheriff."

"Um… Okay. Didn't we kind of know that was going to happen…?"

"She's my ex."

"She… What?"

"She's my ex."

"Oh, shit, babe," Ruby breathed. "That's… That's rough."

"Rough is right."

"What are you gonna do?"

"What the hell do you mean, 'What am I going to do?' I'm going to remain professional and uphold my propriety, of course!"

"Hun… You can always overrule Graham. Didn't you say you just signed the paperwork without even reviewing the application?"

"I did, and it's too late now."

"Okay… So, um… What's her name?"

"Why?"

"Because I'm sure I'll meet her eventually anyway. I might as well know her name, since you've never talked about an ex in your life, other than to say you've only had two, and that you've never slept with either of them."

"Ruby!"

"What? You share some of your past with me, but the rest of it…"

"I don't have time for this."

"Then why are you here? I mean, I know you're upset, and I'm sorry, but what can I do to help?"

"You know what, Ruby? Nothing. Just wish me luck. I have a meeting with her in an hour."

Before her wife could speak, she was gone.

Back at her office, Regina sat at her desk, palms sweating as she anxiously clicked her pen. By the time the expected knock at the door finally came, and she called out, "Come in," her hands were shaking.

"Welcome to Storybrooke, Miss Swan."

The blonde stared at her with dark green eyes, her gaze piercing the woman's entirely. Regina had always had a thing about green eyes. When the mayor's thoughts shot back to her wife, her stomach dropped. Ruby. Even before the woman could speak, Regina was blushing.

"Miss Swan, huh?" the blonde drawled. When Regina said nothing – her mouth was too dry to speak – the woman added, "Why do you look so surprised to see me? I mean, I knew it was a long shot, applying for the job, when I found out you were mayor here, but I thought you had to approve all appointments as sheriff."

"I do."

"Didn't you see my application, then?"

"No."

"You're telling me you signed your approval without even looking at the name?"

"I trust my current sheriff completely, and you made quite the impression on him."

"You wouldn't have hired me, then. If you'd seen my name, I mean."

"No… No I wouldn't have."

"And you regret signing your name?"

"I'm not here to play games with you, Miss Swan, or wallow in regrets. You're meant to be here on business. Why you chose to apply for a position in a town run by me is beyond my understanding, but I assure you, I will put my curiosity aside and get down to work. If you think you can distract me from-"

"Excuse me? Distract you?"

"You're bringing up frivolous things that have no implication on our business partnership, and I'll hear nothing else about it."

"Still completely emotionless, hmm?"

Though Regina should have been offended, that wasn't what she was feeling. It was something else. Something deeper.

"Perhaps we should adjourn our meeting for today, since you seem to be unable to put the past behind you."

"Judging by the way you're looking at me, so are you."

"Excuse me?"

"Let's call it a day, alright? I'm going to go get acquainted with my office while you figure out how the fuck you're going to deal with this."

"I beg your pardon, but I-"

"See you tomorrow, Regina. Same time. Try to take a Xanax first, yeah?"

Regina's jaw dropped from disbelief as the new sheriff turned and left her office.

When she arrived home that night, Ruby was waiting for her. In fact, she was sitting stiffly in the middle of the couch when Regina opened the door.

"Hey," the dark-eyed brunette said slowly, her voice wavering.

"Babe, I'm really sorry about today. I didn't mean to be such a dick. I-"

"It's fine."

"How did the meeting go? Is she… Was she…"

"Her name is Emma. Emma Swan. And it was horrible."

As they got into bed after a meal that Regina hardly ate, Ruby curled up behind her wife and wrapped her arms around her.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked softly, stroking her lover's hair.

"No."

"Babe…"

"I said no."

When Ruby sighed heavily, though, Regina could tell what was about to come next, and it happened exactly as she'd expected it to.

"Regina," Ruby said sharply. "What did she do to you?"

"She left me for a guy, because I was too closed off and un-emotional. After Daniel died, I didn't know how to open up to anyone. I just couldn't. I… I did love her… but I couldn't tell her, and that's why she gave up on me. I wouldn't say it, even though it was true. I didn't want to."

"Do you… Do you regret it now?"

"Of course not!" Regina snapped. "I love you, and-"

"Say it again."

"Say what again?"

"Say you love me."

"I love you, Ruby. I was scared when I first said it. I'm sure you remember the terrified look on my face. But it's true, and it'll always be true."

"But you loved her too…"

"Ruby. That's over now."

"But she's back. What if-"

"Ruby. No."

"Regina, listen… Sometimes-"

"Can you just shut up and hold me?" the mayor sighed, causing her lover to blush with embarrassment.

Ruby knew she'd pushed too hard. That Regina was closing up. But at least she'd given her that much. It was a big step. It was something.

"I love you," she whispered in the woman's ear as she tightened her grip. "I'll always love you."

Again, Ruby couldn't see it, but her lover fell asleep crying silently.

The next day, Regina spent the entire morning in a panicked sweat as she waited for the attractive blonde to walk through the doors of her office. She ate nothing. She drank nothing. She got none of the day's paperwork done. She simply sat and worried herself nearly into a panic attack, until at last, the loud, confident knock on her door resounded through the room.

"Come in," Regina said, her voice shaking.

The woman's hips swayed slightly as she sauntered into the room, her boots making loud, echoing steps while she entered. Regina stared.

"We need to talk about the budget," the blonde said matter-of-factly, sitting down in the chair across from her former lover.

Surprised at the straightforwardness of this comment, the mayor answered, "I agree."

"We're spending too much on precinct repairs and not enough on actual patrolling. We need another deputy."

"I agree with that also."

"What?"

"I said, 'I agree with that also.'"

"I heard you, but-"

"Are you surprised to find me in agreement to this, Miss Swan?"

"Well, yeah, sort of. You're usually in opposition to anything I suggest."

"What your referring to is quite in the past, I can assure you, and my past is not something I allow to affect my future."

The new sheriff stared at her for several seconds before speaking again, her eyes raking over as much of Regina's body as she could see above the desk.

"So, what do we do, then?" she finally asked, setting a pile of paperwork in front of the mayor as she tore her gaze away from the mayor's toned figure.

"We cut spending on repairs and hire a deputy, of course."

"And how does hiring a deputy work?"

"Well, technically, that's your job."

"Oh… Is it?"

"Yes."

"Alright then. How should I… Should I just…"

"Not so confident about your abilities as sheriff, Miss Swan?"

"You really can be a bitch, Regina. Did you take that Xanax?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Yesterday. I told you to take a Xanax before our meeting. Did you?"

"Of course not!"

Suddenly, she wished she had.

"You probably should have. Anyway, I'll figure it out. Thanks for your help. Is that all you wanted?"

"I… Well…"

"Yeah?"

"Yes. That is all. Thank you for your time, Miss Swan. I trust that when you select your Deputy, you will inform me of your decision."

"Sure. Got it. I'll see you around," Emma replied, rising from her seat. "Try to pull that stick out of your ass just a little bit in the meantime, yeah?"

"You are unbelievably rude."

"And you are unbelievably anal-retentive. You should try to relax sometime."

"Harboring some bitterness, are we?"

"Excuse me. I have work to do."

A wave of relief crashed over the mayor as the woman left the room, and as soon as the blonde was gone, Regina dug through her desk drawers for the bottle of Xanax.

"How'd it go, babe?" her wife asked her later that night. "Did you meet with her?"

"Yes, I did."

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"I asked you how it went."

"How do you think it went? I was stuck in a room with my ex lover, who was as rude as ever and entirely overly confident."

"Hmm… That's interesting…"

Regina's eyes went wide as she asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Doesn't seem like your type."

"Well… When I met her, I didn't have a type. I was quite young."

"How young?"

"Well, Daniel died when I was sixteen. I met her the following year."

"Wow. Seventeen. How long were you together?"

"Too long," the mayor sighed, sitting down in the recliner and holding her face in her hands.

The memories that were being stirred from the dust of her mind were both painful and embarrassing, so her face immediately grew warm as the thoughts began to pour in.

"Regina…" Ruby said slowly as she stepped closer to her lover. After kneeling down in front of her and putting her hand on her knee, she added, "It's alright, babe. It's in the past. I know it hurts, but that's not your life anymore."

"She has a right to hate me."

"What are you talking about?"

"She tried to give me everything, and I gave her nothing in return."

"You were seventeen, and you were still hurting from a deep, painful loss. She can't seriously have expected you to-"

"She wanted to have sex with me. I said no."

"Babe, you were seventeen. That's probably for the best."

"Were you having sex at seventeen?"

"Well, yeah, but-"

"See?"

"No. What are you trying to say?"

"Sex is a normal part of a relationship where two people love each other."

"That's true, but-"

"She was committed to me, and I pushed her away."

"You're starting to sound like you do regret it…"

"No!" Regina cried quickly, standing up. "That's not what I meant! I feel like a terrible person for not giving her what she needed, and it makes me understand why she's acting the way that she is now."

"And how is she acting?"

"She called me anal-retentive, told me to take a Xanax, and advised me to pull the stick out of my ass."

"Holy shit," Ruby gasped. "She sounds like a firecracker."

"She really is," the dark-haired beauty chuckled. "She's always had a mouth on her, for sure. She just… never used it against me, until she broke up with me…"

"Listen, if she's rude to you…"

"Ruby, no. Like I said, she has a right to be angry. I'm sure she'll calm down once she gets used to being around me again. Besides, she had someone else lined up right after me. I don't think she was that torn up about the break up."

This left Ruby in a stunned sort of silence, unsure of what to say. Regina simply sat back down and stared at the floor.

Later that night, once the two slipped under the covers, Ruby rolled onto her side and slid her hand beneath Regina's pajama shirt. It was her signature 'Do you want to?' move, and Regina knew exactly what it meant. Usually, she'd concede, even if she wasn't really in the mood. It was part of a healthy relationship, right? She wanted to keep her lover happy. That night, though, she simply couldn't muster the strength.

"Babe, I…" she tried, but the rest of the words remained stuck inside.

"It's fine," Ruby sighed softly, kissing the woman's cheek before removing her hand from her abdomen.

Instead, she draped it over her stomach outside of her shirt and held her wife the rest of the night, without attempting to make another move towards intimacy.

The next morning, over breakfast, Regina seemed just as troubled as the night before. She didn't hide her emotions well, and it was easy for Ruby to pick up on.

"Honey… Are you alright?" she asked gently, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder.

"She's hiring a new deputy."

"Is that… Is that bad?"

"No. It's exactly what I wanted, actually. And she came up with the idea on her own after looking at the budget reports from last year."

"Oh. Okay…"

"I think you should apply for it."

"I'm sorry… What?" the waitress gasped, her green eyes wide with surprise.

"You always said you wanted to get out of the diner, but that you'd just never found anything you'd like better. Now's your chance to try something new."

"Are you kidding me? Do you know how much trouble I got into as a kid?"

"Ruby, you're over eighteen now. That's all off your record."

"Why are you suggesting this? I don't get it. Don't you-"

"I think you deserve a chance to really shine, Ruby. I think your talents would serve you well in that kind of a position, and I think they would serve Storybrooke well, too."

"Regina… I…"

"Think about it?"

"I'll think about it."

Three days later, after Regina had heard nothing else about the appointment of the new deputy, her wife greeted her at the door with a particularly nervous smile.

"Hey, babe…"

"What? What happened?" Regina asked cautiously, knowing that that particular smile, coming from her wife, meant something was up.

"I, uh… I sort of… met… the sheriff today…"

"You what?"

"I, uh… I heard Leroy was going to apply for the deputy position, but hat no one else had put in for it. I panicked at the thought of that ridiculous clown in a position of power and decided to go talk to Sheriff Swan…" When her lover said nothing in response to this but simply stood there in the doorway looking horrified, Ruby added – rather unwisely – "She's fucking hot, Regina."

"Jesus, Ruby!" Regina shouted. "Like that's what I needed to hear right now!"

"I'm just saying! I can see why you fell for her. She's a total babe."

"That is not why I 'fell' for her, if you insist on calling it that. She was polite, and kind, and intelligent. Her physical appearance was merely a trifle. Now that it seems those first two qualities have disappeared, her appearance is even less of a noticeable trait."

"I don't know how you could possibly not notice that."

"Ruby!"

"I'm just saying!"

"Stop saying that you're 'just saying!' Good Lord. You're going to drive me insane!"

"Anyway… I didn't tell her that I was your wife."

"WHAT?!"

"I mean, I didn't tell her I was your wife until she told me she would happily review my application and that I seemed like a strong candidate."

"Jesus Christ, Ruby! What did she say?"

"She laughed."

"What?"

"Regina, she laughed. She thought it was funny."

"That what was funny?" the mayor asked anxiously, dropping her keys on the table next to the entrance and finally stepping inside the house.

"That I had the balls to ask your ex for a job."

Regina stared in disbelief, attempting to soak up what her love was trying to tell her.

Finally, she asked, "So what happened?"

"She said, pending your approval, she would be willing to hire me."

"What? My approval? But she doesn't need-"

"Maybe she doesn't want to offend you."

"Oh, I don't think that's it. Emma Swan seems to have no problem offending me at this point."

But just then, the mayor's phone rang. She looked down quickly and saw "Stroybrooke PD" on the caller ID, which caused her to hesitate before answering the call.

"Mayor Mills speaking."

"Hey, Regina. I'm sure you already know, but I just wanted to inform you that I met your wife today, and that she told me she was interested in the position. She seems quite qualified, and she knows the people here very well, which I think would be a real asset to the department. I've had a few people apply for the position, but her application was by far the strongest. Would you feel comfortable with her being the new deputy?"

The mayor's mouth fell open as she stared at her lover, who was grinning from ear to ear.

"I… Um…"

"Regina? You okay?"

"Of course. I, uh… I simply…" Regina started, frantically trying to come up with a witty response. Finally, she settled on, "I simply can't figure out where in the world you suddenly acquired these manners from."

"As you'll recall, when you met me, I had plenty of manners and propriety."

"They certainly seemed to have disappeared when we spoke earlier."

"I apologize. You were standoffish, and I reacted badly. I allowed my feelings about the past to get in the way of my professionalism, and that was a horrible thing for me to do. I appreciate the opportunity you've given me as sheriff of this town, and I would really also appreciate your approval of the appointment of your wife as our new deputy."

Completely shocked by these statements, the mayor once again went silent.

"Uh… Regina?" Emma pressed.

"Yes, I apologize. I was… Certainly. Certainly, I approve it. Though you did not need to ask my permission. I entrusted you with this responsibility not only because it is your job, but because I knew that you would make a well-thought out, careful decision."

"Thanks, Regina. Can you let Ruby know I'll see her in two weeks when she starts?"

"Two weeks?"

"Well, yeah. I wanted her to be able to give Granny a fair warning before she left."

"Oh… Oh! Well, that's… That's quite considerate of you."

"In the meantime, I'll do some more work with the budget and try to finish up the repairs around the precinct. Actually, I think most of the things we've been paying carpenters for I can do myself."

"You've always been handy, Miss Swan."

"I am good with my hands, aren't I?" the sheriff boldly teased, leaving an awkward, heavy silence hanging between them.

"I, um… I must bid you goodnight, Miss Swan. I will see you on Monday to review your revised draft of the budget."

"Yeah… Okay. Goodnight, Regina."

As the brunette hung up the phone and looked up from the screen, her wife met her gaze.

"What did she say to you?"

"Pardon?"

"What did she say to you, at the end, to make you go silent like that? You're never speechless. You're acting weird."

"I… She made an inappropriate joke about her personal abilities."

"Oh. I see."

"Not exactly offensive, but certainly uncalled for. It just shows her immaturity, I suppose."

"You just said you trusted her."

"No, I did not. I said that I entrusted her with the particular task of hiring a new deputy. I never said I trusted her. The only person I trust in this world is you."

"Babe," Ruby sighed, stepping forward and draping her arms around her lover's neck.

"What?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For what happened between you two. I can tell it still hurts, and I wish I could take that away."

"All you can do is be there for me, darling, and you're doing that perfectly."

This brought a gentle smile to Ruby's lips as she leaned in and placed a kiss on her wife's. Regina didn't pull away. Instead, she threaded her fingers through the woman's hair and tightened the embrace.

The following Monday, Regina was left to sit anxiously in her office, once again waiting for the knock of her former lover. When it came, she let out a sigh of relief. At least she could get it over with now, and there was no more waiting. Quick like pulling off a Band-Aid, she told herself. Just focus on the reports for a bit, and then she'll be gone.

"Hey," Emma greeted her, sauntering in with a wave of casual confidence and poise.

"Hello, Miss Swan."

"How are you?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I asked, 'How are you?' It's customary to occasionally ask the people around you how they're doing."

"Oh… I'm quite fine, thank you."

"Quite fine?"

"Quite well," the mayor corrected herself, her cheeks beginning to turn a light shade of pink. "And… And yourself?"

"I'm well. Enjoying the job, honestly. I've had a few distress calls that I've been able to successfully respond to."

"That's excellent, Miss Swan. I'm pleased to hear that the position is suiting you."

After a short pause, the sheriff said, "Your wife is stunning."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Your wife. She's quite stunning."

What the hell do I say to that? Regina was thinking, completely horrified by the comment. Well… She's right, but is she complimenting me or threatening me? Probably neither. She's just talking.

"Yes, she is."

"She'll make a fine deputy."

"Because she's stunning?"

"No! No, I didn't mean it like that. Because she's good with people, she's polite, and she's funny. She's also clearly a very hard worker."

"Those things are all quite true," the mayor conceded. "I'm in agreement."

"Anyway… Expense reports and budgeting. That's what I came here to discuss. My apologies. I got a bit side-tracked there."

"Yes. Expense reports."

The rest of their meeting was all business, until the very end of their conversation, when Emma collected her paperwork and stood up to leave.

"I hope you and your wife have a nice evening," she said slowly, but her eyes subconsciously moved up and down Regina's figure as she spoke.

Before Regina had time to react or respond, the blonde was gone, and the door was shut tightly behind her.

A week or so later, it was finally time for Ruby's first day on the job.

"Good morning, Sheriff," she said cheerfully as she stepped through the doors of the precinct.

"Well, don't you look lovely," Emma offered smoothly, flashing the woman a charming smile. "Can't wait to see what you look like in our oh-so-attractive uniform."

"Yeah, me either," Ruby chuckled in response. "I'm sure it'll be something to see."

"And does your wife enjoy women in uniform?"

The brunette blinked a few times before answering, "Actually, I don't know. I guess we'll find out tonight."

"Hmm. I suppose you will. In any case, I've got some paperwork for you to sign, and your uniform is over there on your desk."

Ruby looked over to her desk, which was completely empty, except for a pencil, a few pieces of paper, and her uniform, and smiled. It was certainly a step up from Granny's Diner. In all the years she'd worked there, she'd wondered about other occupations, but had never seriously considered pursuing them. Now that she was about to begin a whole new field of work, she felt her excitement bubbling over. After signing the paperwork, she went into the bathroom and changed into the uniform, then reappeared beside the sheriff's desk.

"What do you think?" the new deputy asked shyly.

"Looks good, Rookie. Real good."

Ruby blushed and turned away, not having expected the flirtatious tone in the woman's voice. No other flattering comments were made for the rest of her shift.

By the time she got home, she was more than tired of the paperwork, which was all she'd had the chance to do during her first day.

"How was it?" Regina asked anxiously, as soon as she opened the door.

"She's quite charming," Ruby said matter-of-factly as she stepped past her wife and into the foyer.

"I meant your first day at work, Ruby," the mayor shot back sternly, scowling in her direction.

"Do you like the uniform?"

"Ruby, I asked how your-"

"Do you like it?"

Regina paused and gave her wife the once-over, involuntarily licking her lips as her eyes followed the length of the black tie from her lover's neck all the way down past her breasts and to her belt.

"Very much."

"Good," the green-eyed deputy husked, stepping boldly closer as she slipped her arms around the mayor's neck. "Want to take it off of me?"

Their conversation, of course, ended in sex, rather than an actual discussion about Ruby's day.