74A million thoughts and feelings flew through Emma's head as she pulled her friend into her room. Most of them were shock and the need to kill Robin for doing this to Regina. She wanted to rant and rave and hold onto her friend forever. Instead she forced herself to stay calm and deal with this rationally, since Regina looked like a nervous wreck ready to collapse. "What, when did…how did this happen?"
"What do you mean how did this happen?" Regina yelled in a shrill voice. "I know you've never had sex with a man, but I'd assume you understand basic biology."
"That's not what I-!" Emma stopped and took a deep breath to calm herself. "I meant, are you sure you're pregnant?" She sighed as Regina tearfully nodded her head. "Were you two using anything for protection?"
"We used condoms. Most of the time," Regina said in a small voice.
"Regina…"
"Don't 'Regina' me," she angrily replied. "So there were a few times we didn't use anything. I'm not perfect. And what about you? How often have you used protection when you've have sex?"
"Okay, maybe you don't understand biology, but unless I'm giving birth to the Messiah I'm not getting pregnant," Emma stated.
"No, but you can still contract a disease. Just because you're a lesbian doesn't make you immune to STD's."
As soon as she heard that Emma knew Regina was 100% right. While she wasn't stupid when it came to STD's, somehow she'd always regarded protection in regards to controlling pregnancy. Now a chill went down her spine as she thought about how she never really considered that she could have picked up something when she down on someone.
She shook the thought out of her head, knowing it was more important to focus on Regina's needs at the moment. "Okay, let's think about this for a moment and work things out. Do you know how far along you are?" She prepared her next question after Regina shook her head. "Okay. How sure are you? It's unlikely, but maybe the pregnancy test you took was wrong."
"I haven't taken a pregnancy test yet," Regina confessed.
Emma looked at her friend, confused by what she just heard. "Wait, you haven't even taken a test yet. You just said, how do you know you're pregnant then?"
"Because I missed my period," Regina shakily stated.
"That's all you're going by? That doesn't definitely mean you're pregnant."
"You don't understand. I'm never late. Never. You can set your watch to my cycle. And now I've missed my period after having sex with my boyfriend. That's the only explanation!" she cried, close to hysterics.
Emma pulled her friend into a tight hug. "It's okay, we'll get through this," she said while rubbing her back. "Let's first get a pregnancy test and see what we're dealing with. And if you are pregnant we'll go through your options."
"I'm not getting an abortion," Regina strongly stated as she pulled back.
"I never said that's what you have to do," Emma insisted. "That's only one of your options. Let's first make you're actually pregnant. I'll go get a test and we'll go from there. Stay here, I'll be back soon." With that Emma threw on her sneakers and coat before going out to find a 24 hour pharmacy.
XXXXXXXXXXX
"How much longer?" Regina asked as they sat waiting for the pregnancy test to be complete.
"8 seconds since you last asked me," Emma replied.
Regina shook from fright as she paced the bathroom. "What am I going to do? I'm not ready to be a mom right now. And certainly not with Robin as the father."
Amen to that, Emma thought. "I know."
"I can't do this. My mom is going to be so upset. And I'll have to drop out of school. I can't do this. I'm all alone and I can't do this," Regina cried.
"You're not alone," Emma said as she took hold of Regina's hands. "Whatever happens, I'll be there with you for everything. I promise I will not leave you alone in this." She grabbed a tissue and gently wiped Regina's tears away.
Just then Regina's phone went off, signaling the test was complete. Regina took a step forward before backing away in fear. "I don't want to know. No, I do. No I can't look."
"Stay there," Emma said as she went over to the sink. She picked up the test and looked at the results, then picked up the box. Her eyes darted between the test box and the test to make sure she was reading it accurately. "I think you're good."
"Oh god," Regina moaned as she held onto the wall to keep from falling over.
"I mean you're not pregnant," Emma reiterated.
"What? Are you sure?" Regina questionably asked.
"If I'm reading this right the box says two lines mean pregnant. And there's only one line on the test. Which means you're not pregnant."
Regina came over and grabbed the test to read the results herself. Emma expected her friend to be jumping for joy over the news. Instead to her surprise Regina said, "We have to go see a doctor."
"What? Why?"
"Because for all I know the test is wrong. I need to be absolutely sure I'm not pregnant."
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Emma winced in embarrassment as her stomach growled. Though it was understandable that she was hungry. She and Regina had been at the clinic for hours while her friend had test after test performed. So far the urinalysis had stated she wasn't pregnant, and the physical exam came to the same conclusion. Now they were waiting on the results of the blood test and the ultrasound.
Emma looked at Regina, seeing she was still looking as tense as she had when they first arrived. "I would be shocked beyond belief if they find anything. You're in the clear."
"You don't know that," Regina replied.
"Regina, the pregnancy test was negative, and so was the urine test. I can say with 99.9% certainty the doctor will come in and saw everything else was negative. You're good."
"Then why did I miss my period?" Regina asked.
"I don't know. Maybe you missed it because you're stressed?" Emma suggested.
"I was stressed beyond belief when my father and Daniel died and I never missed it then. If that didn't do it then nothing I'm going through now would." Regina shook as her eyes teared up. "What if something is wrong with me and they'll say I can't have children."
"That's a huge assumption to reach just from being late once," Emma said.
"I want to have kids," Regina admitted. "Not today or right away, but at some point. And I'm worried that this is a sign that I won't." She sighed deeply before continuing. "My Aunt Eliza wasn't able to have kids. She had several miscarriages before she finally stopped trying. What if this means the same thing is going to happen to me?"
"Again, that's a huge leap to reach just from missing your period once," Emma stated. "I know this is easy for me to say, but you're going to have a nervous breakdown over all of this. Try to calm down."
"I just want to find out I'm definitely not pregnant, get my period, and know everything is fine," Regina stated.
Just then the door opened and the doctor walked in. "Hello again Regina. I have the results of your blood work and your ultrasound. The blood work was completely clear and your hCG levels were below pregnancy levels, and there was no sign of a feta pole on the ultrasound. At this point I can say with complete confidence that you are not pregnant."
Regina squeezed Emma's hand over that news before asking, "Then why haven't I had by period yet?"
"I can't give a definitive answer, but there are several reasons women are late or miss their periods. Stress, changes in exercise or diet, illness or a change in lifestyle. I wouldn't worry about it too much right now. You seem perfectly healthy from your exam. Most likely you'll get your period in a few days, or will have a normal cycle next month. I'd say just relax and not think about it too much, and if you go another month without it you can come back for a more thorough fertility exam. And also remember to continue practicing safe sex practices," the doctor stressed.
At hearing that Emma remembered Regina chastising her for not practicing safe sex herself, and decided to find out if she had paid for her irresponsibility. "Actually, I know I wasn't seen as a patient, but since I'm here can I have a STD test performed?"
XXXXXXXXXXXX
"So, do you want to find a party and have a celebratory 'I'm not pregnant' drink?" Emma asked as they pulled into campus.
"Maybe another time. Right now there's something I have to do," Regina said as she got out of Emma's car and set off on her way. She had done a lot of thinking today during this whole experience. And while there was a lot to consider, it did make her decide on something. And that was that she couldn't continue going out with Robin. When she thought she was pregnant she was terrified that he would be the father of her child, and that she would be essentially tied to him for the rest of her life. She had been relieved when she found that wouldn't be the case. And had realized that she just couldn't see having a real future with him. So it was for the best that she ended things between them. Even if she was not looking forward to doing it at all.
Before she knew it she had arrived at his townhouse and was knocking on the door. It opened a few moments later, revealing her boyfriend. "Hey."
"Hello Robin. Can we talk?"
"Sure." He chuckled as he let her in. "You sound like this is serious." The grin left his face as he picked up on her tense body language. "Is this serious?"
"Let's go to your room and talk."
"No. Let's talk about it right here," He replied.
"Okay, fine," Regina said as she readied herself. "I don't think we should see each other anymore."
"What?" Robin asked in disbelief. "Where is this coming from?"
"I've been doing a lot of thinking and I just don't see us having a future together," Regina continued, deciding not to bring the pregnancy scare into this. "I don't see us getting married or having kids."
"Getting married and having kids? We're in college. We're way too young to be thinking about that stuff," Robin reasoned.
"I'm not talking about now. But that is stuff I want someday. And if I can't envision having that type of future with a person then it's not fair for either of us to be together."
"So you don't want to marry me, fine. That doesn't mean we can't just have fun," Robin said, leaning in to kiss her.
"Not for me. I've done that before, and it wasn't fair for either of us," Regina said as she gently pushed him back, remembering when Graham had said something similar to her when their relationship ended. "I'm sorry if I've hurt you. But it's over."
Robin looked at her before his face contorted in anger. "This is because of Emma isn't it?"
"What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with her," Regina reiterated.
"Yes it is. She's hated me since we met and had been trying to manipulate you into not seeing me. She's the reason you're ending things. You know what, I've had it with her. Right now, pick one of us. Me or her."
Regina looked at him in disbelief before letting out a harsh laugh. "Thank you. You just made this so much easier for me."
With that she left his townhouse, ignoring Robin's yells for her to get back there so they could talk. As she walked back home she smiled, actually feeling lighter after making her decision. She might not be perfect, but she deserved someone who treated her far better than her now ex had.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Emma sat in front of her lap top, reading the first article that came up after googling 'Safe Sex for Lesbians'. She had gotten her test results back and was 100% clean. Now she felt it was a good idea to find ways to make sure things stayed that way.
"Dental damns are an effective method of protection to use when performing oral sex," Emma read out loud. "They can usually be found at your local pharmacy. If one isn't available you can make one yourself. Simply unroll a condom and cut the end off, then cut along the side to make a square. You can also cut the fingers off a latex glove and use the palm portion. Or a piece of Saran wrap can also be used to make a barrier."
Upon reading the last suggestion she suddenly had an image of wrapping Elsa's pelvis in Saran wrap and putting her in the refrigerator for safe keeping. She shook that bizarre image out of her head as she thought about her options. It would be easy enough to pick up some dental damns the next time for was out. Or she could pick up some free condoms at the campus health center and use those.
Suddenly she heard a loud happy yell from upstairs, followed a few minutes later by the sound of feet charging down the stairs and her door opening. "I just got my period," Regina announced.
"Good for you, I'll alert the media," Emma stated. "I think that's the happiest I've ever heard someone over getting their period."
"Don't ruin this for me. I'm taking this to mean everything's fine with me. I'm not pregnant and everything's fine. What?" Regina asked at the smirk on Emma's face.
"You know this has to do with Robin right?" Emma stated
"What?" Regina asked.
"Oh come on. You don't think it's a coincidence that two days after you dumbed his ass you get your period? You were stressed out from being with him and your body was reacting to that stress, and once he was gone you went back to normal."
"While I don't necessarily agree with you, I'm too relieved to argue," Regina exclaimed. "I'm not pregnant and fine, and that's all that matters.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Emma moaned into Elsa's mouth as the fellow blonde unbuttoned her shirt and ran her fingers over her bare skin. It was a few days after Valentine's Day weekend, and her girlfriend had come over to see her. At first Emma had hoped they could have a serious talk regarding their relationship. But before she could start Elsa kissed her, which moved to heavy making out, which was now morphing into far more adult territory.
Emma pushed Elsa down onto her bed as Elsa shimmied out of her skirt and removed her bra, leaving her clad in nothing but her panties. "You're so beautiful," Emma said, her voice filled with lust. Elsa groaned in content as Emma leaned over her and kissed her neck, sucking on her pulse point. Her moaning became more erratic as Emma moved downward, first giving her breasts much appreciated attention, before heading even further south. Emma gripped her girlfriend's panties and started removing them, before she suddenly stopped. "Hold on one second," she said as she opened her bedside dresser and rummaged through it.
"What are you doing?" Elsa asked as Emma pulled out a condom.
"Making a dental dam," Emma replied as she searched for a pair of scissors.
"Why?"
"Because we're about to have sex," Emma said matter of factly.
"So? We've never used one before," Elsa stated.
"I know. But I think it would be good if we got into the habit of practicing safe sex," Emma reasoned, expecting her girlfriend to agree with that logic.
To her surprise Elsa sat up in bed, frowning crossly at Emma. "Do you think I've been cheating on you?"
"What?" Emma asked in shock. "Why would you think that?"
"Why else would you suddenly insist we use protection now when we've never have before. Because you think I cheated on you and picked up a disease," Elsa angrily stated.
"That's not why I wanted to use one. I just think we should be practicing safe sex," Emma stated.
"Why? We can't get pregnant. We've been having sex for months without using anything and have been fine. So the only reason I can think of that you would suddenly insist on using protection is if you think I've been cheating on you and picked up something. Unless you're the one who cheated and picked up something."
"What?" Emma angrily asked as she got off the bed. "I have never cheated on anyone in my life. How could you even think that!"
"Why else would you suddenly insist we use a dental dam to have sex?"
"I'm just trying to be fucking responsible! You're honestly getting on my case because of that?" Emma asked in disbelief.
"We've never use one before!" Elsa yelled.
"We should have then! Or asked each other about our sexual history instead of just jumping into bed before we even knew anything about one another!" Emma yelled right back.
"We know each other now!" Elsa insisted.
"Do we? Because if you really knew me you'd know I would never cheat on someone I'm in a relationship with!"
"Then why in the hell did you want us to use-?"
"I JUST FUCKING TOLD YOU!" Emma screamed.
"DON'T YELL AT ME LIKE THAT!" Elsa yelled right back. "I don't need this. I have enough to deal with with my sister-"
"And there it is, playing the sick sister card. Your go to excuse every single time we have a fight. Stop using that as your get out of jail free card already," Emma snidely said.
"Don't you dare bring Anna into this!" Elsa yelled, her eyes blazing with rage. "You have no right to ever speak about her like that. How cruel do you have to be to talk about a leukemia patient like that!"
"I'm not making fun of your sister. I'm telling you that you can't use her as an excuse every single time we have a fight, as if that makes it alright to walk all over me. That'd be like me playing the orphan card every time I disagree with someone. I'm sick of it already."
"So what should I do? Never bring her up in front of you? Hide how I'm feeling because of how her illness is affecting me? Is that what you want?" Elsa sarcastically asked.
"That's not, stop putting words in my mouth!" Emma yelled.
"Stop telling me how I should feel about my sister!" Elsa yelled back.
"I can't do this. I can't do this anymore." Emma took several deep breaths while rubbing her temples, as she came to a realization regarding where things were heading between them. "This isn't working."
"No it isn't," Elsa shortly replied.
"All we do is fight and make up, then fight some more. I'm tired of it, and I think you are to."
"I am," Elsa answered, able to see what was about to happen.
"Elsa, it's over," Emma finally said to truly clarify it.
Elsa nodded her head in agreement. "Okay then." She gathered up her clothes and hastily got dressed while Emma did the same. "I guess I'll see you around then."
"Yeah, I'll see you," Emma said as Elsa left her room and made her way out of the house. Emma sat down on her bed, thinking over what had just happened. She felt sad and relieved at the same time. She knew this was for the best, but it didn't mean it still didn't suck.
She looked over as she heard a knock outside her door. "What?"
"It's me," Regina answered as she came in. "Is everything okay? I heard you and Elsa fighting and then she ran out of here."
"We just broke up," Emma explained.
"Oh. I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it?" Regina asked.
"I'll talk about it tomorrow. Right not I just want to go to sleep."
"Sure. If you need anything don't hesitate to wake me," Regina stated.
"Thanks," Emma replied as Regina closed her door. She turned off the light and got under the covers, hugging a pillow as she contemplated the end of her relationship with Elsa. Even though she had been the one to end it, she still felt bad things had turned out this way. Sure things had been unhealthy between them, but there had also been good times too. And Emma had to admit it had been nice to have someone to be with. Ultimately she knew the breakup was for the best, but she was still sad over it happening.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
It was two weeks later when the girls received news that would affect them.
"I got in!" Belle yelled as she came into the house.
"What?" Regina asked as she and Ariel came out of their rooms, with Ruby and Emma coming upstairs to join the others. "What are you talking about?"
"The abroad program. I got it," Belle happily explained.
"Congratulations," Ruby told her friend. "I knew you'd get in.
"That's great, congratulations," Ariel said as Emma and Regina also congratulated Belle on her accomplishment.
"How'd you find out this early?" Regina asked. "I thought they weren't announcing who got picked until Friday?"
"My advisor is friends with Professor Estion, the head of the program, and he told her. Apparently he said with my GPA I was a shoe in the moment I applied."
"Did you get placed in your first pick?" Emma asked.
"Yes. I'll be studying in Paris," Belle dreamily replied.
"That's terrific," Ruby said. "I'm really happy for you. But I am going to miss you next year."
"I'm going to miss you too. I'm going to miss all of you." Belle smiled as she thought of something. "Oh, I hope Mary Margaret and David get picked for Paris also. It'll be nice to have friends there when I go."
"Are you kidding," Regina exclaimed. "Those two lovebirds in the most romantic city on earth? They'll be absolutely insufferable."
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Emma opened her eyes as she heard the door to her room open and someone walk in. For a moment she thought it might be Regina or one of the other housemates wanting something. But then the light turned on, revealing someone she was certainly not expecting to see in the middle of the night. "Mary Margaret?"
"Hi," she said, her voice high as if she had a cold.
"Are you alright?" Emma asked, since it was obvious the girl had been crying.
"David and I had a fight, so I'm sleeping here tonight."
"Oh. What happened?" Emma asked, figuring it had to be bad since this was the first time Mary Margaret would be sleeping in 'her room' all year.
"I don't want to talk about it now. We can talk tomorrow, but I just want to go to sleep."
"Sure, no problem," Emma replied as she got out of bed. The two girls separated the two beds so they each had a regular one to sleep in. Silently they settled in and went to bed, though Emma could hear Mary Margaret softly crying before she drifted back to sleep.
When she woke up she saw Mary Margaret sitting up in bed. "Morning."
"Hi," Mary Margaret dully replied.
"So what happened last night?" Emma asked, her curiosity very much peaked.
"The abroad program is what happened," Mary Margaret bitterly stated.
"Oh," Emma replied, remembering that the official list had been posted yesterday. "You didn't get in?"
"We got in. But we were assigned to different countries. David's going to Paris and I'm going to London."
"Oh," Emma repeated, the situation now becoming apparent.
"This is terrible," Mary Margaret cried. "We were supposed to go to the same city. We specifically stressed that when we applied. Now we're going to be separated for a whole year. How could they do this to us?"
"I'm sure it will be fine," Emma said.
"Fine? We're going to be living in two different countries for a year. This is the worst thing that could have happened. It's completely unfair."
"So what happened when you and David found out?" Emma asked.
"He was upset over what happened, but felt it didn't have to change things between us, even though I know it will. Then I suggested neither of us go away next year and we just do our junior year here. He got mad over that and we had a huge fight and I came over here," Mary Margaret explained.
Emma took that all in as she looked at her friend in disbelief. "That's an incredibly selfish thing to ask of him."
"Excuse me?"
"You're asking David to give up going to Paris because you're upset over how things worked out. That's a terrible thing to ask of him."
"We're going to be separated for a year if we do this," Mary Margaret pointed out. "Do you know what that's going to be like?"
"I'm sure it'll be rough, but you'll get through it. And it's his life. He should be able to do this even if you don't want to."
"I don't believe this. I thought you would be on my side on this," Mary Margaret said as she left the room. Emma followed her upstairs, where Ruby and Ariel were having breakfast.
"Hi. What are you doing here M M?" Ruby asked.
"Mary Margaret and David were picked for different cities for the abroad program and got into a fight when she suggested they both shouldn't go then," Emma announced.
"Mind your own business!" Mary Margaret snapped in rage. "I'm sorry I said anything to you."
"Wait, what's going on?" Ariel asked.
"David and I were placed in different cities for the abroad program. And we had a fight when I told him we just stay here next year," Mary Margaret explained.
"That's extremely selfish," Ruby stated. "Why would you want to do that?"
"We're going to be separated from each other for a year," Mary Margaret stated, as if that settled the matter.
"So what?" Ruby said. "You both have been given an amazing opportunity to travel and see the world and you want to just give that up? Think about what you're asking him to lose out on. No, think about what you're going to lose out on. "
"We were supposed to do this together," Mary Margaret reiterated.
"So things change. And yes, it's unfortunate that it didn't work out like you planned. But you've been giving the chance to live in a foreign country for a year. That's something most people our age would kill to do. I'm actually regretting the fact that I didn't look into doing this for myself. If you don't do this you're walking away from something amazing. And you have no right to try and guilt David into giving this up. If you two are in love with each other as you claim to be, you should be looking into figuring out how to make this work, instead of keeping him tied down here because you think it's 'too hard' to be apart."
Mary Margaret looked at Ruby, silenced by her friend's outburst. She opened her mouth to reply, and then shut it when she realized her friend made a very real point. "I have to go," she simply said before leaving the town house.
Mary Margaret walked around for hours, thinking over her situation. She still hated that she and David weren't put in the same country. But Ruby's speech made her realize what she would be giving up if she didn't do this. And just as important, it made her realize she was wrong to expect David would want to give up on doing this too.
When she finally made it back to David's place she found her boyfriend there. "Hi," she softly said.
"Hello," he replied. "I know you're upset. But I don't think-"
"You were right," she said.
"I'm sorry?" David asked, not expecting to hear that.
"You were right with what you said last night. It was wrong of me to ask you not to go to Europe. This is an incredible opportunity for both of us. And we should take it."
David went over and hugged his girlfriend, able to tell this wasn't an easy conclusion for her to come to. They ended up having a long discussion about the entire situation. And while it wouldn't be easy, they decided they would figure out how to make it work living in separate countries for a year.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
A few days after Mary Margaret and Belle had found out they'd been accepted into the abroad program Ruby gathered Emma, Regina and Ariel for a meeting. "So since we now know Belle and Mary Margaret won't be living with us next year we have to find two more people to live with us. Town house registration isn't due until April 1st, so we have a month to set up our house. But it would be better to start now rather than wait until the last minute. So, any suggestions?" Ruby asked.
"I could ask Tink if she'd like to live with us," Regina suggested. "And I'd be fine with sharing a room with her next year."
Wait, what, Emma found herself thinking. Why does Regina want to room with Tink? Shouldn't she want to share a room with me?
She was snapped out of her thoughts as she heard Ruby say, "Okay, that's one person. Anyone other suggestions?"
"Can't we just apply for a five person town house?" Ariel asked. "Then we would only need one extra person."
"We could, but those usually go faster than six person houses," Ruby reasoned. "We might be able to get a five person one for all of us, but we will defiantly be able to get a six person house. So we should plan for that if we can. So anyone else we can think of to live with us?"
"I guess I can see if Graham would want to life with us," Emma suggested before looking over at Regina. "Wait, sorry, I didn't think-"
"It's fine," Regina replied. "That's ancient history. I would have no problem with Graham living with us."
"That's two," Ruby announced. "I'll ask Mulan if she'd want to live with us too. Ariel, what about you?"
"I don't know anyone off the top of my head. I'll ask around and get back to you," she said.
"Okay. We also have to think about the actual living arrangements with whoever we choose. Remember that guys and girls can live in the same house as juniors, but they can't share rooms. So that's a factor if Graham or another guy ends up living with us."
Ariel nodded her head before saying to Ruby, "If Eric is picked to be a RA next year I'm fine with sharing a room with someone. He'll have his own room so I'll probably be staying at his place most nights."
"Okay, that's good to know. Let's first lock down two people and then we can come up with exact room arrangements. I'll check with Mulan, Regina will check with Tink, and Emma will check with Graham. Sounds good?" Ruby asked as the other girls nodded their heads in agreement.
Later that night Regina was reading in her room when she heard a knock at her door. "Come in," she said as Emma entered. "Hi."
"Hey," Emma said, closing the door before blurting out, "Why don't you want to share a room with me next year? I'm your best friend."
"Yes, you're my best friend. And that's why I think it's better if we don't share a room," Regina reasoned. "Remember how we were last year. We were at each other's throats."
"Yeah, but we hated each other then," Emma reminded Regina. "And you're in my room now all the time. You usually end up sleeping in my bed at least once a week."
"True. But I still think it's better if we have our own rooms and don't do anything to ruin what we have," Regina tried to explain. "Look, if I share a room with Tink and we drove each other nuts and it ruined our friendship, I could handle it. It would suck, but I'd get over it. But if we shared a room again and that happened to us, I would be devastated. I would hate it if we were no longer friends. So I don't want to do something that might cause that to happen."
Emma listened to what Regina said, realizing she had a point. "I didn't think of it that way."
"Besides, I'm pretty sure the only way Tink will live with us is if she either gets a single or shares a room with me. And if I room with Tink, and Ruby and Ariel room together, then that means you'd get one of the singles. It wouldn't be as big as your room now, but you'd still have your own space."
"That is true," Emma reasoned.
"And besides, if living with Tink is a nightmare and you have your own room, I can hide out there if I have to get away from her," Regina explained.
"Oh, so that's the main reason you don't want to room with me? So you can use me as a hide out if things go bad with Tink," Emma jokingly replied.
"Oh come on, you know I love you," Regina insisted.
"I love you too. Even when you drive me nuts," Emma told her friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
The next day Emma went over to Graham's town house once she was done with classes. "Hi," she said once he opened the door.
"Hello Emma. What's up?"
"Have you made plans yet for where you're going to live next year?" she asked as she went inside.
"I actually haven't-"
"Great. Cause we're forming a house for next year and we wanted to see if you'd like to live with us."
"Oh," he awkwardly said. "That's really nice of you. But that's not going to work."
"Why not?" Emma asked. "If it's about Regina she already said she's fine with living in the same house with you."
"It's not that. I haven't told people yet, but I'm not coming back to school next year. I've decided I want to be a veterinarian and there's a really good veterinary school in Colorado that I was just accepted to," Graham explained.
"Oh," Emma said in surprise. "Congratulations."
"Thank you. I'm really excited about it."
"I'm really happy for you. But I am going to miss you," Emma confessed. "You were one of the first friends I made here."
"Right. We met when you were hiding because of that article and we ended up playing darts."
"Yeah. That seems like a lifetime ago," Emma said, finding it hard to believe how much had changed from the beginning of her freshman year.
"Don't worry, I'm not leaving right away," Graham pointed out. "I'm still finishing up the semester.
"Okay. We'll have to a party for you or something before you leave," Emma decided.
"That sounds lovely," Graham said.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
"Okay," Ruby said that evening once she gathered Emma, Regina and Ariel together. "I talked to Mulan, and unfortunately she's going to live with the same girls she's with this year, so she's out. Please tell me there's some good news here."
"I talked to Tink, and she said she'll live with us next year," Regina told them.
"Great. What about you and Graham? Did you ask him yet?" Ruby asked Emma.
"I did, but he's not going to be able to live with us. He's transferring to another school next year," Emma explained.
"Oh, that's too bad," Ruby said as Ariel and Regina nodded in agreement. "So that means we still need to find one more person. Anyone have any other suggestions?
"I asked Tiana, but she said she's already been asked to live in a house," Ariel said.
"Great," Ruby unenthusiastically replied.
Emma sat there when an idea suddenly came to her. "What about Killian?"
"Killian?" the others asked in disbelief.
"Yeah, why not?" Emma asked. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind living with us.
"I don't know," Regina said uncertainly. "He's an okay guy, but do we really want to live with him?"
"What's wrong with him?" Emma asked defensively.
"Well for one, he sleeps with a different woman every week," Ariel said.
"I'm sure that's exaggerated," Emma said.
"He also hits on every woman he sees," Ariel pointed out. "That's not an exaggeration."
"You know he doesn't mean that," Emma said.
"That's easy for you to say. He's too afraid to hit on you after what happened at that party last year," Ruby pointed out. "Plus, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to live with someone I've dated."
"I thought you guys were over that?" Emma asked her friend.
"Well yeah…" Ruby said uncertainly.
"Look, I know he can be a bit much at times, but we need one more person if we want a six person house. And we all get along with him, right?" Emma asked as the others reluctantly nodded in agreement. "So let's just see if he's available. And he is and we can't find anyone else, he can live with us. Okay?" Emma asked as the others agreed to that plan.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
"Well this is interesting?" Killian said in amusement.
"Right, interesting," Emma said in exasperation. "So, will you live with us?"
"Live with You, Ruby, Regina, Ariel and Tink?" Killian stated as he thought about it for a moment. "That sounds good. I've always wanted my own Harem."
"Ugg," Emma groaned in disgust. "You know what, just forget it."
"Hey, I was joking," Killian insisted.
"I had to really vouch for you," Emma informed him. "The other girls didn't want to live with you because of how you act. But I managed to talk them into it. But if you're just going to be hitting on everyone and making us uncomfortable then-"
"Take it easy Swan," Killian said. "I was just joking before. You girls are my friends, and I don't hit on my friends. Okay, most of the time," he reiterated as she gave him a look. "The point is, if we live together you'll be my mates. And I don't hit on my mates."
"Even Ruby?" Emma asked.
"Alright, first off, she was the one who came on to me. But yes, I won't come onto her."
Emma looked at him, able to tell he wasn't lying. "Okay then. I'll tell the girls and we'll get our application in."
"There is one condition though. I still get to hold poker games if I'm living with you folks," Killian insisted.
"I'm sure that will be fine with the others," Emma told him.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
With Killian rounding out the house the girls went about submitting their townhouse application. Regina and Tink were put down for one of the double rooms, Ruby and Ariel for the other double, and Emma and Killian for each of the singles. They were apprehensive, but not as much as they were last year. Incoming juniors had a much better chance at getting a house then incoming sophomores. They continued to go about their lives as they waited for the beginning of April. It took a little while, but Emma managed to get over Elsa. It was very uncomfortable when they each had to visit the other to get their stuff back, but they managed to get through it.
Finally the beginning of April arrived, and with it the townhouse announcements. To their delight they learned they had gotten a townhouse for themselves. The girls (and Killian) celebrated with a party. Booze was drunk, karaoke was sang, and a good time was had by all.
Things were looking up for everybody.