Title: Her Pride and Prejudice
Written by: Kay Angelina [Regina] and Chad Anderson [Emma]
Date began: 28th October, 2013
Summary: They first met on a windy night, as a 19 year old Emma ran away from home, fighting off bandits along the way. And then the Queen saved her. Yet after realizing who Emma was, Regina constantly tried to fight her developing feelings. Until one night when the blonde sneaks out of the palace to attend a Ball that Regina is holding at her palace. One dance leads to a shared forbidden night of passion that sends the two women falling over the cliff of desire. But will Regina ever put aside her Pride and Prejudice to accept her feelings for Emma? Even if they both share the same son and daughter?
xSwanQueenx
Prologue
[Ten years after the actual story unfolds]
xx
[November 24th, Regina's Kingdom]
There was something alluring about gazing into the night as Regina stood upon her balcony, the entire palace around her as quiet as a grave yard. And resting her hands upon the ledge before her, black painted fingernails tapping cold concrete, she suddenly began to envision Daniel once more. The way he'd gaze at her with deep eyes, loved her endlessly.
She just wanted…
And then the thudding of horse hooves could be heard approaching. Squinting her eyes, hands suddenly balling into fists as fingernails bit into skin, she peered through the dark night. A white horse could be seen now, the rider hunched low over, gripping the reins with a definite manliness that suddenly stirred up strange feelings within her.
Who dared to ride into her kingdom at this hour?
Stopping just a few yards beneath where she stood, the horse marked time in the grass as she gazed upon the rider's head covered in a brown leather protective cap. The man clearly must be out of his mind to so such a thing!
Such well shaped legs, toned upper arms and that manly air as he swung a leg over the horse, throwing his boots to the ground.
"Who dares to venture here at this time of the night?" she asked curtly.
There was no answer.
"Provide a name and realm before I summon my guards!"
Still no answer.
And then his head was lifted, emerald eyes locked with brown ones, following with such an intense gaze that the brunette simply could not hold up composure. Her knees grew considerably weak without effort as they captivated each other via eyes, a stirring within her chest.
"Your Majesty…I'm waiting", Mary said from behind her, the woman whom she would pay to devour her whenever she desired.
And then as she stepped forth, reaching up to slip her fingers within the brunette's corset, thumbs massaging her nipples, the rider reached up and snatched off his head gear.
But it wasn't a man.
Blonde hair was flung around her head as she shook it out, and looking up once more, the Queen gasped when familiarity passed between them. She had aged yet those many passionate nights they both shared many years ago still could be remembered. Naked bodies entwined, ripping off clothing, corsets and stockings, bodices, tying her up as they devoured each other.
"Your Majesty…"
"Emma…" the brunette whispered as hands lifted her dress further up, and she lashed out at them, her eyes watering from remembering when she had allowed her prejudice and pride to push the Princess away.
"Who is she?" Mary asked quietly, yet a flicker of distrust was mixed into her tone.
"Mary, your services are not wanted or needed currently", Regina suddenly declared, and she moved away from the red head's grasp, closer to the edge of the balcony. Her gaze was intense as her heart fluttered.
"Whatever", Mary mumbled, and she could be heard retreating back into the bedroom.
They both stared at each other for a good span of time.
"Can I come up? You have company or something?" Emma asked, never allowing a smile to cross her face.
"What are you doing here?" Regina asked in disbelief.
"We need to talk."
"About?"
"Look", and the blonde sighed, "for once in your life stop being such a questioning hard ass, because I know you'll want to hear what I have to say."
"I see ignorance has not evaded you", the brunette noted, smirking as well, "it's considerably late and I am in no need of company."
"Fine then, you want to talk here, we'll talk here."
"Say what you need to say then."
Glares were exchanged.
"First of all", and Emma's voice faltered, the hand clutching her head gear trembling a bit, "how are you? It's been…years."
"I'm…" Regina swallowed, trying as hard as she could to mask her insecurity, "quite in order, thank you for asking. I gather you are in good health as well?"
"As it goes…" then Emma stepped forward a bit, hanging her head as she peered down at her boots, "Regina…you know why I'm here."
"Many things come to mind, but you must pinpoint your choice, dear."
The sass was irritating on Emma's part because it wasn't needed and they both knew it.
"It's been nine years since I last saw you", Emma reminded her, looking up now and searching the brunette's eyes. "Didn't you…miss me?"
"On the contrary", Regina began, gazing into the night before her, "on many nights I have allowed you to torment my dreams. But do I miss you? What you did to me…"
"I did nothing to you", Emma declared, her emerald eyes glinting with fury.
"You pushed your way in and then you left me without a care…"
"Oh don't stand there all in glory and expect me to believe that bullshit, that you weren't the one who gave up on us. "
"Tell me, how is Henry doing?" Regina asked, side stepping Emma's statement. "Is he in good health?"
Emma's eyes were wide.
"How did you…"
"Know his name? Perhaps you should know this now since you are so set on your own judgment", and Regina leaned over the banister a little, gripping the ledge, "As much as you tried to hide everything from me since we last saw each other, I have my way of seeking out information. And this son of yours, you chose to sleep with a bastard, the Dark One's son…"
"He's actually a nice guy. He loved me…" Emma stated, her eyes watering.
"So much that he provided you with a son and abandoned you."
"I named my son Henry because if there was one person who treated me with love, it was your father."
"My father could love anyone, even you."
"Henry's…" and Emma stopped, watching Regina with wet eyes, "that's why I'm here. I'm here because after all these years, nine years to be exact, I have finally gathered up the courage to come see you and to…" Emma breathed in, gathering composure, "I came to tell you the truth."
"And what is that?" Regina asked from above, considering Emma's tears with a frown, "you've come to remind me how much you love me?"
"This isn't about us alone", Emma stated, watching her. "It's about Henry too."
Regina was confused.
"And what is my connection to you and the bastard's son?" she asked now, her voice rising. "I was your rebound, is that it? Is that why you're here? To tell me that what you did to me, what you succeeded in doing, all of it was a farce?"
"Regina, I wanted to give up everything for you. I wanted to do it. To make us work and you were the one that shut us down."
"Well it didn't seem to affect you in any way. You are quite composed and well in being. Isn't it grand how when we push to forget, it is accomplished eventually? I did what was necessary. Whilst you proved to me what kind of a youthful heart you had."
"I had no choice. You gave me no choice."
"How could you sleep with him? After what we had. After you proved to me that I was...everything to you. You could have given it time but your pregnancy was timed and by my own understanding, you were intimate with Cassidy whilst we were committed to each other."
"No."
Emma was crying.
"No?" Regina frowned. "Then how was the child conceived?"
"Henry isn't Neal's son", she said hoarsely.
"Oh here we go…" Regina began, and she threw her hands up in frustration. "Whose son is he? Random guy number five?"
"No…" and Emma sniffed, then she lifted her head gear and fitted it upon her head once more, rolling up her hair under it as she did, "he's your son."
Gripping the reins and steadying the horse, the blonde hoisted herself up and swung a leg over, and after she had seated herself, it was then when she chose to gaze up at Regina once more. The brunette's eyes were wide with disbelief, and she was gripping the banister by force, nails digging into concrete.
"It's a lie", she chose to say, staring at Emma.
"Nine years ago", Emma began, "the night after we made love with passion and completeness, when we both accepted each other, and you gave in to loving me, and then when I asked you to marry me…you said no."
"But how could…"
"And then you chased me out and told me never to come back. I tried to hide it from everyone by saying that it was Neal's son. My parents don't even know about this because I managed to convince them enough."
"I don't understand..."
"I heard about your pregnancy too," Emma stared back and felt her throat close up. "So don't color me in a wrong light when you slept with Robin."
Refusing to encourage the idea, the Queen swallowed hard. She remained silent.
"True love, Regina…" and the blonde gathered up the reins, then the horse marked time once more, "if it wasn't true love between us, then Henry wouldn't have been here and he wouldn't…he wouldn't be your son too. Our son. I knew it for a long time, actually."
Regina was speechless.
"He has your eyes", Emma said quietly, "and your hair color, and above all, he has your determination. Anyway, it was nice seeing you again. Hope you're getting on with your life. Somehow I still. I still love you. Such is life and we must move on. Putting that aside though, I'm getting married on the twenty fourth of December to Neal."
"What?" Regina said in disbelief, finding her voice now.
"You heard right, and you're not invited."
And with that, Emma kicked the side of the horse, forcing it into a gallop.
"Emma!" Regina called out after her, but she had already ridden a good way forward, and as the horse grew smaller on the horizon, a small hand touched her upper thigh through her dress and she peered down with wet eyes, her chest convulsing as she cried.
"Mommy, what's wrong?"
Such a small face, such beautiful blonde hair. Seven years ago she suffered enough alone…
"Carrie…"
Regina caressed the child's cheeks and sniffed.
"Mommy, that lady..." hanging unto the railing, her small face peered through. "She has my hair color..."
"Yes." The Queen blinked. Her chest heaved. "The exact shade of blonde..."
[December 24th, The Charming's Kingdom, The Wedding of Emma and Neal]
The palace was decorated with a gifted hand; one that had expertise in grand arrangements ranging from colorful flowers to majestic ice sculptures for it was December. And even though winter was rushing in by force, such arrangements weren't to be held off due to bad weather but the event proceeded with a passion. It was something desired and guiltily contracted.
Along the stone corridor lined with strings of colorful lights strode Regina in all her glory, her blood red gown sweeping the polished floor as she went. And if one was to peek out from a room or behind a stone pillar, eyes would register a woman who went by with purpose. Yet after careful scrutiny, one would realize that the Queen was clearly on the verge of tears.
Blood shot eyes, shaky hands, the inability to breathe without effort…
"Halt!" a guard ordered from beyond a room, flashing his sword as she strode by, "you have no right to be…" and with the gently flick of a shaky hand, he was sent flying backwards with force, hitting the wall and falling to the ground with a thud. Yet she did not smirk although it was expected of her.
"Stop her!" shouted another, pelting after her with two others in tow, brandishing their weapons before them bravely, "hey you! You imposter!"
"Imposter?" she asked suddenly, ceasing movement as she turned on her heels to face them, her eyes wet with tears, cheeks stained. And they halted by force, one bumping into the other as their eyes were now heavy with fear, their hands that gripped swords now faltering.
"You were banished from this kingdom many years ago", a scruffy red headed one declared boldly, holding his position at the front as his eyes flashed fury now, "we were given orders to kill if you trespassed on our land."
"And do you take orders from your Princess as well?" Regina asked in her throaty voice, reaching down to grip her gown, lifting it as she stepped tentatively towards them.
"We take orders from the entire family."
"Well then you should know that if that is so, my presence here is expected thus far because I…" and she could hear shouts from the side wall, below and yonder, yet her dark eyes merely flickered towards the stone windows, not a sense of fear consuming her, "I am family."
One of them actually laughed, another scoffed and within seconds three were pelted out side windows as another five were reduced to mere frogs that were left to hop around aimlessly without purpose.
"No one laughs at me", she muttered, gripping her gown once more as she began to strode forth, down the corridor and towards the source of the celebrations.
She had traversed this same path before, but before she had been brought here as a prisoner. The very same corridor, passing the exact doors with heavy latches and the flickering of lamps behind thick glass casings: nothing had changed. The Charmings could really invest in everything else beyond infrastructure, reveling in the expense of war that threatened to destroy her kingdom and efforts to increase protection when she merely wanted one thing as a peace offering. Perhaps it was the thudding of her heart that blurred her vision as she rounded a corner only to be met with another never ending corridor lined with lamps. Maybe it was an illusion.
"Fuck this", she said under her breath and within half a second she disappeared within purple smoke, her heavy perfume that demented a certain blonde now leaving a trail of scent where she had stood.
And what a wedding it was.
The inside ball room was decorated with an assortment of flowers ranging from azaleas to lilies, roses to sunflowers that cast a colorful splendor on all festivities occurring within. Added to such an effect, the live band only provided an even more dramatic atmosphere with the melodious tunes of the harp intermingled with the banjo and violin. A large fountain could be seen to the far left of the room, the sprinkling of crystal clear water soothing the ears as one would gaze upon its setting. And all the way leading up to the gazebo where the couple stood, upon the floor was lined with a carpet that precisely matched color with Regina's gown.
This infuriated her even more, such mockery.
As the doors were flung open, gasps ensued from within, this time something was different. Regina was clearly consumed with a different sense of emotion, not rage but the feeling of desperation for as wide eyes were cast upon her, she had no consideration to harm any of them. Her only object of study was the one person who stood under the gazebo decorated with flowers, that one woman who had swept through her dreams and destroyed her self-composure.
"Emma, will you take Neal to be your lawfully wedded husband, through…"
"Sorry I'm late…" she said. And the priest ceased speaking, his mouth widening in shock as his eyes met her.
"Regina!" Snow exclaimed from somewhere in front of the crowd, then the pixie cut imbecile of a woman stepped forth, her dark eyes flashing fury.
"Hello dear." Looks were exchanged that contained fury and rage, recollections of wars fought and revengeful acts enacted whenever the chance was provided.
"You were not invited!"
Regina continued to step tentatively along the carpet as the crowd hastened back with fear.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Charming demanded as he stood near his wife now, pulling out his sword and brandishing it before him.
"I gather my invitation was somehow…" and Regina waved her hand dramatically in front of her, "lost in transit."
"You were banished from our kingdom", Snow reminded, her yellow frilly dress upsetting the Queen's taste of normalcy. "You're not welcomed here, you know this and yet you dare to come here today?"
"I came here to stop a wedding", Regina declared and her eyes now met Emma's fully, "I came here because I want something, and when I want something…" and she reached down to gather up her gown, red shoes peeking out from beneath lace, "I always find a way to get what I want."
"What are you talking about?" Charming asked foolishly forcing the Queen to smirk at him, and her eyes flickered to meet Emma as the blonde stood with her pink lips parted, considering Regina with a look of extreme shock. "There is nothing here that you want and even if there is, nothing here belongs to you."
"Your sudden dumb responses alarm me," Regina said in disbelief. "Behaving as if you have no recollection of what transpired. Nothing at all. All because there is an audience gathered here. But they know." She gestured around. "All of them are fully aware of what happened many years ago. When you tried to destroy what we had."
"Just get her out of here!" Snow ordered, suddenly appearing to have been fueled by rage.
"It sickens me", Regina began as she stepped forward boldly, her eyes on Emma, "that you would stoop so low to ridicule me in such a manner, Miss Swan."
"Ridicule you?" Emma asked in disbelief, a glint of fury flashing in her emerald eyes, "you clearly don't want to do this now."
"Oh I want to do this right now", and Regina smirked. "Let's talk. I didn't travel all the way here to keep my mouth zipped."
"Emma…" Snow began, and eyes were cast upon her as she searched her daughter's eyes for answers, "what is going on here? I thought this was over."
"It is," Emma said warily.
"So let's have the talk," Regina stared at her.
"I'm not doing this right now with you," the blonde glared back.
"Do what right now?" Neal asked as he turned to question Emma, "what's she talking about?"
"I…nothing." Emma chose to say, glaring at Regina. "She did nothing."
"Is that what you call it now?" Regina asked, her face displaying a flicker of mockery yet disbelief, "why don't you tell them all what you did to me, how you broke rules and defied all odds to fuck me up and yet now it has come to this."
"You were the one that ruined me, lady!" Emma flared, her eyes flashing, and as Neal attempted to comfort her by resting a hand on her shoulder, she flinched, her eyes never leaving the brunette's. "After what you did, you actually think you can come here now and stop me from doing something right?"
"Is this what you call right in your books?" Regina asked of her, and eyes roamed a familiar figure that hands once touched bare, against trembling skin soaked with sweat as their bodies were entwined between the sheets. "As I can recall, the very first night we made love together, it appeared to have been the right thing you had done…" and gasps ensued all around.
And after sputtering, eyes darting about, Snow White collapsed onto the floor, Charming stooping quickly to offer her assistance.
"How dare you? This is what you wanted!" Emma declared angrily, her eyes flashing, and she moved on the spot then her eyes were traversing the crowd as everyone stared at her dumbfounded, questions in their eyes. "Get her out of here!" she ordered, her voice faltering.
Regina laughed hoarsely. "You really think I am that easy to get rid of?" and her eyes rested upon Neal. "I know for a fact that I have so much more to offer you than this imbecile of a man. Clearly you have no other options, or perhaps this is the result of an arrangement."
"So you want this out in the open then?" Emma asked of her, her fists clenched, "is this what you wanted? To make a fool of me in front of everyone?"
"I never ever wanted to do such a thing, Miss Swan."
"That's what you're doing!" Emma cried out angrily, "you're once again ruining my life up, Regina! This is supposed to be my wedding day and you're here to crash it, something I want, with someone who wants me. Not someone who used my feelings like trash and disregarded me like some toy."
"I…never…disregarded you", Regina said now, her voice trembling as she stepped tentatively forward, her eyes never leaving Emma's, "I rescued you and I let you in, and you were the one who kept coming back because…"
"I loved you!" Emma declared out loud, tears in her eyes, "I kept going back to you because I was foolish enough to love you, and you screwed me over with your cold heart, always pushing me away!"
"I pushed you away for a reason!"
"You chose…" and Emma began to shake with emotion, tears streaming down her face as she choked on sobs, and her eyes remained on the brunette's, filled with pain, "you chose him over me."
A few seconds elapsed in the room as silence ensued, with the meeting of eyes where answers were desperately searched out from within.
"What?" Regina asked in disbelief. "Who are you talking about?"
"You know who I'm talking about", Emma said hoarsely, and she reached up to wipe her eyes with balled fists, "suitor number three…"
Regina's eyes flew open as wide as saucers, stained lips parted as she considered Emma in disbelief.
"Nothing happened…"
"You promised…" and Emma suddenly threw her bouquet of red flowers across the room with force, flower petals scattering across polished floor as it landed with a soft thud.
"Emma…"
"Don't…" she warned the brunette, "just turn around and leave, because you and I both know you've caused enough damage in my life and now it's time to just move on."
"But…"
"Walk away, Regina", Emma urged, her eyes tearing up, "I'm going to marry Neal, just as you chose gender over me by marrying in right of your kingdom and not by the way of your heart."
"We fought wars," the Queen said hoarsely. "We fought wars and were distanced because your parents couldn't accept what we felt for each other. It wasn't my entire fault that I couldn't take you. I wanted you more than anything else but things were done to keep me away from you."
"Like what?" emerald eyes couldn't look away from brown ones.
"I was banished."
"Yet here you are without an invitation after so many years. When you could have come anyway and at least tell me how you really felt." Tears leaked down Emma's cheeks. "I was waiting on you. I waited and you never showed."
Regina was shaking from shock and sadness, tears of disbelief. And yet, Emma's mind was set on purpose, but how could she walk away from the one person she had fallen desperately in love with, the one woman who had fought for her, bewitched her body and soul?
"I never married him", she said hoarsely now, "because after all these years, even though I have allowed my pride and prejudice to muffle what my heart truly feels, I have come the realization that…if I can't spend the rest of my life with you, then I will know that I did wrong by choice and it was all my doing."
"Emma…" Neal began once more, his eyes darting from Regina to Emma in disbelief, "all of this, what she's…talking about…the two of you…"
"It's true", Emma admitted softly and the remaining guests that chose to savor the drama, the ones who hadn't flee from fear now gasped all around. "We had something…together."
"We have something…" Regina said in a strained voice.
"No", Emma declared in denial, "I was a teenager back then, in love and quick to trust, to believe that someone could love me. And it's been ten years and in that time, I've changed. I've tried hard to move on and this is where I am now. And I want to be here because we were here before and you didn't choose me."
"I didn't…choose you because I was afraid", Regina admitted, her eyes filled with tears. "You changed me, Emma. You were the only one who succeeded in pulling me out of the darkness and awakening good in me, love in me once more."
"You had your chance", Emma said.
"Emma…please…"
"Yes", she said, ignoring Regina and turning to face the Priest once more, reaching up to wipe her eyes.
"Uh…" the Priest appeared lost as he stared at her, then he blinked his eyes several times too many, "I beg your pardon?"
"If I accept Neal to be my husband…" she reminded him, yet her senses could not quite register the approaching footsteps behind her, stepping up to the gazebo with purpose. "I…" And before she could complete her vows, Emma's shoulder was reached out for and she was spun around to face a brunette who's dark eyes were filled with tears, cheeks stained, and chest heaving from emotion.
And within seconds Emma felt fingers whisper against her own, then their hands were entwined as Regina pulled her close, the familiar nearness only sparking a sense of awakening within her, stirring up memories of the very first time they danced.
Yet Neal, as shocked as he was never stepped between them, but he backed away slowly, because his mind was set elsewhere. This wasn't what he had wanted in the first place.
"Regina…" the blonde woman whispered, her chest fluttering, a familiar feeling almost the same to when she had first set eyes on the brunette many years ago.
"Emma…where is my son?" the brunette asked in her throaty voice, that familiar tone that used to unhinge Emma, driving from within her on many occasions before, passion after one glance and the desperation to escape to cross kingdoms.
"He's…and Emma's eyes moved to seek out Henry standing in the front row, dressed in a tuxedo as his eyes scrutinized Regina.
And from the moment Regina saw Henry, she instantly detected such familiarity between the two of them that she gasped.
"It's true…"
"Yeah, it is…"
"Emma…I'm here", Regina said quietly, moving in closer to the blonde as they rested their foreheads together, gazing.
"But…"
"I promise", Regina began softly, as her fingertips brushed against Emma's right cheek, wiping away tears, "that I will never ever let you go again for I have been foolish to believe that anyone else could fill that void in my heart but you."
"All these years", Emma said quietly, as her hands nervously wrapped around the Queen's waist, feeling the warmth and comfort, "I was waiting for you to just come for me."
"Marry me, Emma", Regina said breathless all in a rush for she was consumed by such passion that clearly a public display of such would be embarrassing.
"I..."
"You asked me before, and now I am doing the same."
"But you never answered me before", Emma said in disbelief. "You…"
"The answer has always been yes", Regina admitted quietly, "and since we would hate to waste such a beautiful wedding gala, I say we should make the most of it after all."
"You are such a whimsical woman!" and the blonde woman's eyes flickered to meet the Priest's. "Let's do it."
"I'm sorry, what?" he asked in disbelief.
"Oh are you impaired or something?" Regina sassed, "you heard the Princess, she wants to marry her Queen. Get on with it."
And after vows were exchanged in a haste, and Charming as well as Snow had regained composure yet they just stood gazing upon the developing events with wide eyes, the wedding was initiated.
And the kiss was asked for, then enacted with such a passion that it was clearly obvious how deeply in love the two were. So why the hesitations and denials to begin with? Perhaps we should now delve into the occurrences of ten years ago when fate made them meet, and from then, the drama that followed only drove both of them into a love affair that was so wild, it became an addiction and before they both realized it, one of them ended it all because she allowed her Pride and Prejudice to affect her judgment of the affairs of her heart.
But then there was Carrie as well…
A/N – Kay here, and well, it's been long overdue right? This story… I was working on it for some time, trying to sort out dates and such, and well, it would seem right now. This is the ending to the actual story though. The chapter after this will be the beginning! Did you enjoy it? I tried not to reveal much but just the important parts!
REVIEW ME IF YOU WANT MORE!