A few weeks had gone by since Regina and Emma's engagement, and as much as they would be happy, the women were just as stressed. There was a lot going on in their world. Through the stress, Emma had finally moved all of her things into Regina's house. Regina had suggested they use a moving company to help, but Emma insisted on doing it herself with a few friends.

*****

"Em, you know money is no object. Spending a few bucks to get something done is really no trouble at all."
"Regina, we don't need to pay a few random people we don't even know to move my shit into your house." Emma explained, "We have friends that are willing to help us.. We'll just have a few beers and pizza afterward."
Regina bristled, a look of disgust spread across her face the moment Emma suggested beer and pizza. She never could understand how anyone could eat that stuff and find it to be good.
"What about your back Emma?" Regina asked, "We both know you shouldn't be lifting much weight."
"My back is fine." Emma replied, "Besides, if something is too heavy I'll have someone else lift it. I'm not stupid."
"..just reckless." Regina mumbled under her breath, taking a sip from her coffee.
"What was that??"
"Nothing," Regina quipped with a smile, "What do you want for dinner?"

*****

As Emma sat on their bed surrounded in half unpacked, Brown boxes she thought back at Regina's remark from the other day.

Did Regina take a jab at me?? Did she think I was that irresponsible??

Seconds later, Regina entered the room, her jacket slung over her shoulder.
"Hey babe," Regina said, "Unpacking?"
Emma looked up from the open box in front of her and replied, "Yea. Hopefully I'll finish this up today."
"That's great!" Regina replied warmly, laying a soft kiss on Emma's cheek.
"Are you going somewhere?" Emma asked her.
"Actually, yes." Regina answered. "I'm meeting up with someone who might have some information on the homicide case that I can actually use."
"Oh? Looking like that?" Emma questioned, gesturing to Regina's relaxed attire.
"What's wrong with this?" Regina asked, looking down at her clothes.
Emma's face blushed slightly, "Well, I mean.. usually you take a more professional look about you.. you look like you're going out to a bar or something."
"I see," Regina answered, "Well, That's because I am. I'm meeting this person at Roni's Bar. We're going to talk over a drink."

Taking a moment to think, Emma answered, "Ok. Have fun."
Raising her brow, Regina could sense the sarcasm in her voice.
"Em? What's the problem?"
"Oh, No problem here."
Regina gave her a look. She knew something was up. Emma was far from pleased.
"Emma.."
"It's fine. Just go. I know this is important."
"Ok, what is the problem Emma??! For Christ's sake, You've been at me all week!"
"What are you talking about? I said everything is fine. You're the one freaking out here!"
Regina tossed her jacket onto the bed, "You've been giving me this attitude for days! I don't know what I did wrong."

"Well, for starters," Emma began, "You could offer to stay here and help me unpack, instead of going out for a drink!"
"This is for work, Emma!" Regina replied sternly, "I'm not going out getting drunk with friends! There is a difference!"

"You know what?" Emma said, turning back to her pile of boxes, "Just forget it."
Regina sighed, blowing her breathe from her mouth. She knew Emma was upset about something. She also knew, if she continued to push her, it would be that much worse.
"Fine." Regina said.
"Yeah, fine." Emma replied, fiddling with a few trinkets in a nearby box.
"I'll be back in a few hours, we can discuss this further then. I love you Em."
"Love you." Emma replied under her breath, not taking her attention from the box before her.

A few moments after she heard the front door close downstairs, Emma let out a sigh.
I gotta get out of here for a bit...
Emma thought to herself, The stress starting to eat away at her.
Emma quickly reached for her cell. If Regina could go out drinking when there was still so much work to get done, then fuck it. So could she.

Hey, you home?

Emma typed to Beth Ann at the keyboard of her phone.

I'm coming over.

*****

Regina looked down, into the glass of her scotch in her hand. Swirling the remnants of the amber liquid around inside, she asked, "So, you're telling me this man held you down, and attempted to inject you with some type of serum?"
"Yes, that's right."

"Mmm hmm.. and, how were you able to get away?" Regina continued.
"You might say I had the luck of the draw.." The pale, thin man explained through his British accent, "There was some noise outside of my apartment door that seemed to have startled him. I suppose once he realized there was someone around that could potentially be a witness, he decided to take off."
Regina released a soft chuckle at his remarks, taking one last gulp from her glass, "I find it interesting that you expect me to believe the killer was afraid of a passerby being a witness, but didn't seem to care that you, a survivor, saw his face?"

Placing the now empty glass on the table, Regina explained "Listen.. Mister...?"
"Gould. Remmy Gould. I own the small pawn shop close to town."
"Yes, I see..." Regina continued, "Mister Gould. Do you know just how many shmoes call me up, just to try to say that they were a 'survivor' of the so called 'Mercy Killer' Just to have a few minutes of fame?"
"No, I don't believe I do."
"Mmmnn.. and do you know exactly how many actual survivors of the Mercy Killer there have actually been??"
"Um, well ah, no I don't..."
"Right. That's because the answer is zero."
"Mmm, I understand." The man replied.
"Good."
"But you see, dearie, I never said I saw his face, now Did I?"
Regina sat back in her chair, "No, I suppose you didn't."
"Right." Gould replied, "So how about you stop accusing me of making this up, and give a good listen to what I am telling you."
Blowing her breath out hard, Regina replied "Alright then Gould. What other details can you provide that will be useful?"
"Well now," he added, "Now that's more like it."
The two of them stared at each other before Mister Gould spoke again, "Ms. Mills, it's true I did not catch a glimpse of his face. He attacked me from behind after he broke into my apartment and by the time I was able to gather my surroundings, he was headed for the door. What I can tell you is that he was a short, portly man. He wore a hat and coat, long. And he carried a small brown briefcase."
"Did he speak to you or anyone around you?"
"No. I was not able to make out his voice, if that's what you're asking."
Regina chewed at her thumb nail in thought.

So it's true then. There really is a second killer.

"That's all I have for you, Ms. Mills." Mister Gould concluded, "There were no signs of forced entry to my apartment as you may already know, and no clues left behind by this mad man."
"Thank you for your time, Mister Gould." Regina replied, "By the way, i saw as you walked in to the bar that you have a slight limp. if you don't mind me asking, what happened to your leg?"
With a raised brow he replied, "Ah, this ol thing?" Tapping his cane to his shin, "An old war injury. Prosthetic."
"I see," She replied with an understanding tone, "I know all about injury in the line of duty."
"Have you?" Gould asked, "When did you serve?"
"Oh, no. Not me.. I'm referring to my fiancée." Regina answered, "she was Shot in the line of duty when she served on the Boston police force. She was shot in her back while trying to administer CPR to a fellow officer. We didn't think she'd ever be able to walk again." Regina offered a slight smile, "But she's pretty damn resilient. She taught herself to walk, jog and run."
"Ah, well that's good." Mr Gould replied as he stood from his seat.
"Yeah," Regina said looking up at him smiling, "She really is amazing."

*****

Emma stood at Beth Ann's door step. It had been a few seconds since she sent that text, although she responded with a quick "I'll be here!"
Moments later, the door opened, and Emma was greeted with a warm, welcoming smile.

"Emma!" Beth Ann said softy, "Come in hun."
"Thanks Bee." Emma replied walking into her home.
Beth Ann was a few years older than Emma. Maybe even a year or two older than Regina, she could never really remember. Nevertheless, the two became fast friends several years ago when Beth Ann bumped into Regina at a bar one night. Regina had been quite aggravated that the scotch she was drinking was splattered all over her blouse, but Emma was able to find the peace between the two and calm the waters. Ever since then, Emma had found a new confident in Beth Ann, and a quick friendship had bloomed.

"I'll put the kettle on." Beth Ann spoke with a smile.
"Tea?" Emma asked, "I was hoping for something a little... harder."
Beth Ann laughed, "I'm sure you were, however, by the time if your last text, it seems as though you need a bit of a therapy session than a hard drink, and tea is the perfect remedy for that!"
Emma sat on the floor in front of the sofa, "You know Bee, you're a good friend. Honestly, you sometimes remind me of my mother. She always had a way of calming me down no matter the situation."
"Oh yeah?" Beth Ann replied.
Emma smiled, "Yea... I think the two of you would get along well, if she were here today."
Beth Ann entered the room through the kitchen balancing a silver tray between her hands containing two mugs, spoons, sugar and cream.
She smiled, "I'm glad you think so." Sitting down, she handed Emma a mug full of hot tea and continued, "You must really miss her, you speak of her often."

Emma took the mug, adding a splash of cream and several scoops of sugar. She stirred the contents quickly, the metal of the spoon clanking against the inside of the mug.
"I do. She was the best, she really was."
Emma started into her mug quietly as Beth Ann took a sip from hers, "So what's going on? Why the need to rush over here? I know you have unpacking to do and whatnot.."
Emma placed the mug down onto the nearby coffee table, "I needed a break."
"Oh?"
Emma sighed, "It's Regina... or, maybe it's me? I don't know.."
Beth Ann gently rubbed the back if Emma's shoulder, "It's alright, just start at the beginning, we have all the time in the world."