TRIGGER WARNINGS: DEPRESSION, NOT EATING, PTSD)
A/N: This is a very late birthday present for my wifey! Sorry this took so long, Pookie, but I hope it was worth the wait ;P
I Love you!
I'd also like to say a big thank you to Vicky aka delicatepoem for helping me with editing and reading it!
(also in this universe the Rumple/EQ storyline never happened and they've only ever been friends)
Chapter 1
Regina never thought she'd see her again.
See this place again, that damn car, those sun-kissed princess curls. And yet, here she was, months after saying goodbye to her, months after forgiving her so she could move on and start a new life.
She was back, back in time, standing on a road unchanged, in a town of ghosts, her life changed and unchanged…These crossroads created in the flash of an idea, in months of preparation, of tweaking and reworking the curse until it was almost unrecognizable, each line of it laced with love, each letter a memory, an emotion, a story both told and untold, ravelling and unravelling the timeline, stitching together realms…and all with love…her love for her family, her son, granddaughter, sister, niece…and Emma…
Emma, who still after swearing to let her go, fills up so many of her thoughts, her emotions… And the voice in her head that used to belong to her mother is now Emma's telling her she believes in her, that she's good, that she deserves to be happy. Every second of self-doubt is met with a now blurry image of Emma Swan, with the whispered words of the woman.
Except now, now she's back in this place, on this road, staring at a place she never thought she'd see again…in a time where another her had just left to help her son…in a time where Emma was pregnant…where Emma had just left her with nothing but a nod…where Emma had torn her heart to shreds with a look, with the time that passed while she watched Emma love another… All of this fresh within her mind as she stared at the Granny's, squeezing her eyes shut to ward off the memories of Emma looming over her, of the cold brick against her back, of the taste of wine and whiskey on her tongue, on her breath.
Regina never thought she'd be back here, back to this time, in this place, with these feelings and hurts fresh in her mind once again, twisting, pulling, squeezing her fragile heart.
The words "This was a mistake," echoing in her mind, still able to hear her own broken voice as she called after Emma's fast retreating form. This was a mistake … those words soon echoed with the ones of encouragement, mix together with memories of rough hands and soft eyes, grips unyielding, words filled with hate, with love, twisting and swirling until she was sure she would crumble again, fall to the asphalt below her booted feet, broken and weak. Unsure of what to do, what to say, because she'd been sure she'd never see her again, but there Emma was, standing in Granny's, hair down in loose curls and a baby cradled protectively in her arms, confusion and fear evident in her body language as she and everyone else wondered what the cloud of smoke that brought Regina back and brought everyone else back really was.
"Mom?" A large hand landed on her shoulder, squeezing it, shaking her out of her thoughts, out of her memories…out of the looming depression. "Are you okay?"
"Yes…" she breathed out a gasp when Emma finally turned, their eyes locking, "No…" She said a second later, feeling everything twist around her again, feeling the crumbling in her bones, feeling that ache, that unsteadiness. She leaned back into Henry unconsciously, her full-grown son catching her, supporting her, comforting her. "She's…"
"Roni!" A voice yelled as they ran down the street toward them, Regina turning to focus on Rogers. "Alice!" He yelled next, and Regina turning to see Alice and Robin running from the other end of the road.
"Regina!" Her head snapped toward Granny's this time, hearing the happy reunion behind her in faint chattering as she stared at Emma running toward her, smile wide and confused… Emma was…she was…a tear rolled down Regina's cheek…because Emma was dancing at Granny's, she was insults, she was hands grazing, feather-light caresses, tears, heartbreak, yelling, blood, betrayal, happiness, her every weakness, the echoing sounds of laughter, the drunken singing of rock music, the sway of hips… She was everything all at once, she was there, she was Emma…she was real…she wasn't hers.
"Mom!" Henry yelled, Regina sure he was talking to Emma until she realized she was falling, until she realized she was wrapped in his arms again, strong and protective…a grown man…and she, she was falling like the branch of her apple tree after Emma brought that chainsaw to it, and then everything was nothing, just blissful darkness and the worried call of her name from a voice so familiar yet not really…
When she started coming to again she heard distant sounding voices, warped as they met her ears.
"It must have been the curse, she must've used too much magic," Henry's voice met her ears, deep, garbled, soothing…but not soothing her.
"We should take her to Whale!" Regina's face scrunched up at the mention of the man's name from a voice that sounded like Snow. Warmth, safety, love spread through her in hot tingles a second later, magic…but not anyone's magic, no, it was Emma's…Emma's oozing through her pores, rushing through her veins from nothing but a gentle hand on her cheek.
"Why does she always do these things to herself?! I never should have left her!"
"You didn't leave her, Swan, you came–"
"I left her! And my son. Because you wanted me to be someone I'm not!"
"Swan…"
"Why are you even here?!"
"Emma!" The Charming's voices echoed loudly through her, louder than the thudding of her own heart from the touch, from the magic, from the bickering…from Emma…Emma all around her…
"Emma?" She breathed, turning her head to try and see her as she slowly opened her eyes, Regina realizing a second later that her head was resting in Emma's lap, her eyes slowly rising until they met Emma's blue tinted and bloodshot as tears shimmered in them.
"Regina! Thank god! You scared the crap outta me!"
"Emma?" Regina frowned, looking around them, eyes landing on Henry…and then Henry…"Henry?"
"Mom."
"Regina," they said together. Younger, King Henry moved closer, posture regal and poised, while her Henry knelt next to her, his large hands cradling hers.
"Mama, are you okay?" He sounded so little.
She smiled weakly, squeezing her hand as she met his eyes, "I'm fine, I guess I just exuded more energy then I realized." Henry looked at her in understanding, squeezed her hand in comfort. "Can you take me home? I could use the rest." She said, reluctantly sitting up from her lap, feeling Emma's fingers fall from her hair as she pulled away, turning to look at her a second later, eyes locking instantly, saying so much…Regina finding it hard to breathe at just how close they were sitting.
"Of course, mom," Henry said, snapping her attention back to him, that hand in his being used a second later to help her up to her feet, and then his arm wrapped around her protectively, comfortingly, steadying…he's grown much too fast.
"Mom?" She heard young Henry say, turning to look at him only to see he was talking to Emma and not her…because Emma was this Henry's mom… "May I return with you to the palace?"
Emma smiled at him, wide and loving, but also with just the hint of uncertainty, "Of course, Henry, but you should know, I don't exactly live in a palace in this world."
"You can, Regina brought it."
Emma glanced at her, brows furrowed before she looked around, tall imposing buildings, mountains, trees all in the distance making her gasp. "What did you do?"
"She brought the realms together in unity," Snow announced proudly, smiling widely, and Regina just wanted to go home and cry.
"How?"
"That is a story for tomorrow, dear, I really must be getting my rest…" She nodded toward the small bundle squirming unhappily in Hook's arms, "And you should be getting the baby to bed as well."
"Right…" Emma frowned, "But Reg–"
"I'm tired, Miss Swan, can't your questions wait?!" She snapped, Emma looking very much like a wounded puppy as Regina turned away again, walking away from Henry's hold, head held high, cementing her walls into place with each step…that is until a small voice called out to her, stopping her instantly.
"Grandma!" She turned, fake annoyance on her features as the small girl ran up to her, wrapping her arm around Regina's waist, Regina's arm draping over her shoulders as she started walking again, only faintly registering the small, broken gasp from Emma.
"What did I say about calling me Grandma?"
Lucy giggled, "Sorry Nana."
"No."
"Abuelita?"
Regina sighed, other hand reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose.
"Gigi?"
"Lucy…"
"Yes, Grams?"
"You are just like your father and Grandmother."
Lucy flashed her the brightest smile, "I am?"
"Sadly…I was hoping the smartassery would skip a generation…"
She heard a low chuckle, turning to see Henry fast approaching with Jacinda next to him, "You act as if I didn't get it from you…this is all your fault, Mom…accept it."
Regina sighed, "I've created a monster."
Henry's eyes sparkled with humour as she met the teasing smile of his moms, her nose scrunching up as he said, "I love you too."
"My little prince," she gushed, reaching out to pat his cheek as soon as he was in reach, draping his arm over her shoulders like she did with Lucy a second later, Regina's slipping behind his to affectionately rub his back before falling to his waist, sharing a smile with Jacinda as she slipped her hand from Henry's waist to tangle their fingers together.
Regina made her first mistake of the evening though, her gaze moving back, back to Emma, to lock instantly with sad, lost eyes…screaming at her, telling her to come back…Regina reminded of the time when Emma and Henry walked off just like this all those years ago, leaving her alone and hurting…except Emma wasn't alone now because she had a husband, a baby, parents, another Henry…except words flowed into her head a second later, echoing, familiar, words that she's played on repeat since the moment she heard them all those years ago, "Living in Storybrooke, I've got my son and my parents, and I love them, but they can't always understand me. They don't know what it feels like to be rejected and misunderstood—not the way I do, not the way you do—and somehow that makes us, I don't know, unique or maybe even special."
"Mom?" She forced her eyes away from Emma, meeting Henry's which were so similar to his other mothers, "Are you okay?"
"I will be, dear…"
He leaned over, kissing the side of her head as he led them to 108 Mifflin Street.
"Regina, get up." She blinked open her eyes just peeking out over the blankets wrapped around her, squinting in the dark room to try and make out the silhouette of her sister. "When did you become such a ruddy mess?"
"Fuck off," Regina grumbled, turning over to face away from her.
"Sorry, can't do that. We have places to be today."
"No we don't, it's Saturday. Saturday is sleep day."
Zelena's laugh meets her ears before the bed dips signalling to her that the other woman sat down, "When did you turn into Emma Swan?"
Regina flipped over onto her back to glare up at her, "Since I was cursed to be a bartender with a slight drinking problem."
"C'mon, up!" Zelena said pulling the blanket away from her and grabbing onto her hands when they shot down to grab the blanket, pulling her upright unexpectedly, a surprised gasp leaving her mouth. "If you're not ready to go in one hour I'll personally dress you!" she threatened before spinning on her heels and leaving the room, the door closing with a loud click behind her as Regina called out:
"Motherhood has made you no fun!"
She frowned, turning to look in the mirror on her vanity, a deep frown forming instantly, "I look like hell run over!"
"That's what you get for moping!" Zelena called through the door and Regina turned to glare at it.
"Fuck off!"
"Yell all you want! You're just preparing me for Robin's wild teen years!"
"Ugh!" Regina grumbled, stomping her foot before marching to her en-suite bathroom to take a quick shower.
"Where are we even going anyways?" Regina asked, looking into the backseat at toddler Robin playing with a toy car.
"It's family day! We're going to breakfast then the park!"
"You got me out of bed for food and to play in the park?"
"Yes."
"You know I'm not really Emma, right?"
Zelena rolled her eyes. "Just focus on the road!"
"I created this town, Zelena. I could quite literally walk through it with my eyes closed! I actually have!" Zelena looked at her funny. "What! There wasn't much to do during the curse! I had to make things eventful after 10 years of the same damn thing over and over and over again!"
Zelena laughed, "Fearsome evil queen my arse."
"If Robin wasn't in the car I'd be tempted to teleport out and see how you fair without me."
"Love you too, baby sis."
Regina rolled her eyes, turning onto Main Street and looking for parking outside of Granny's. "You know there are so many places to eat now why must we come here?"
"Henry wanted to," Zelena stated matter-of-factly and well, that was all Regina needed to know. "Go ahead, I gotta get Robin."
Regina frowned slightly but nodded, taking the keys out of the ignition and handing them over to Zelena, looking back at the toddler and flashing her a goofy face, "I'll see you inside, little one."
"Auntie Gina!" She whined as Regina ducked out of the car, stopping her in her tracks, "You take me!"
Regina chuckled, looking down the street before pulling out the driver's side door, "You know I can't say no to that pout…" She sighed as she bopped the toddler on the nose before reaching down to the buckles, Zelena's laughter reaching her from where she stood, smirking on the sidewalk outside of Granny's. "Okay, Monkey, let's go," she said with an exaggerated huff as she pulled the girl from the back seat, arms wrapped around her neck and legs around her waist as soon as she was standing up.
"And I thought I spoiled her."
Regina rolled her eyes, shutting the door with the flick of her fingers while Zelena pressed the lock button on the keys. "I've missed her," Regina admitted while kissing her chubby cheek.
"Oh I'm wounded Aunt Regina," Regina turned to look at the full-grown Robin, hand tangled with Alice's, wooden engagement band on her left hand.
"Robin!" Her smile could split her face as she looked at the girl, "I miss you too, it's hard having you live so far away."
"I just live in Hyperion Heights, you can poof over any time."
Regina shifted little Robin onto her hip, holding out her hand to Robin, "Come give me a hug, Monkey."
Robin sighs, her mom and Aunt just HAVE to keep calling her that don't they? "I thought mom was the monkey?" She asked while letting Regina pull her into a one arm hug, pulling back as Regina reached out, tucking her dirty blonde hair behind her ear before patting her cheek affectionately.
"You're both my Monkeys."
"I love you too." Robin smiled before locking eyes with her younger self, "Hello mini-me!"
"Hello, Robbie!"
Regina and Zelena both laughed at the long-ago memory, "Come on, let's go eat, I'm starved!"
Regina smiled at Zelena, suddenly happy that her sister dragged her out of bed as she watched the young couple rejoin hands and lead the way into the diner, Regina following behind them.
"Mom!" Henry exclaimed, Zelena scooping little Robin out of Regina's arms with a little spin as she headed to the table the rest of the family inhabited.
"Henry," she sighed as he wrapped her up in a tight hug, lifting her off the ground for a second.
"How are you doing?" He whispered in her ear and she relaxed in his hold.
"Alright…"
He pulled back, his gaze serious as he took her in, "Good, you didn't try to lie to me."
Regina smiled softly, reaching up to run her thumb over his cheek, "Never again."
He grinned, bending down to kiss her forehead like she used to do to him before he took her hand leading her to the table full of family, the ones she loves the most.
"Hi, erm, Mom?" Regina smiled at 'Ry' — which they'd started calling him since it was just easier — reaching down to brush his hair from his eyes.
"You don't have to call me that if you're not comfortable with it."
He flashed her a lopsided smile that was so much like Emma's she felt her heart crack a little bit., "No, I want to it's just…I wasn't sure you'd want me to," he said, his eyes dropping unsurely, and Regina offered him her trademark 'Henry smile' right down to the crinkling of her nose as she bent down slightly, curling her fingers under his chin to tip his head up to look her in the eyes.
"I want you to do whatever you feel comfortable with. I love you, Henry, that's not going to change whether you call me mom or not."
"Okay." He smiled shyly and added, "I saved you the seat by me," as he pointed to the empty chair, and she flashed him a wide smile.
"Thank you, dear," she sat down, looking around the table and waving at Lucy who grinned back at her from where she was colouring with little Robin, Henry's arm draped over Jacinda's shoulder as she talked with Alice, Robin and Zelena catching up on what's been happening in the city. "Rogers couldn't make it?"
Alice shook her head, "No, the sheriff has him hard at work."
Regina nodded, feeling that pang in her chest again, Henry offering an understanding smile when she met his gaze while Ry stared down at the menu, "Mom, what should I try this time?" His modern food lessons a common thing when they got together, Regina's smile wide as she bent her head to look at the menu she knew by heart to point out the best breakfast foods for him to try out.
Breakfast was going good, filled with easy laughter and conversation. Robin and Alice were filling them in on their wedding planning while Henry talked about the book he started outlining, and Lucy about school. It was just... peaceful, and Regina was feeling happy like maybe she could keep going on in this place filled with so many memories. She was also purposely not looking to the back of the diner where she and Emma danced together all those years ago…not to the bar where they shared drinks…her heart quivering every time she remembered that this was the table she had sat with Emma a few times for family dinners or strategy meetings with the pirate…and definitely not to her left where she threatened Emma when they first met…she wouldn't look or even think about it because every time she did it felt like someone was slowly squeezing her heart…a feeling she was very familiar with.
"Regina?" the sudden appearance of her voice broke through their happy chatter, everything freezing around Regina as she registered just who it was.
"Ma?" Henry's voice was panicked and Regina's heart skipped, clenched, dropped into the pit of her stomach, a lump forming in her throat as she turned her head, looking up at Emma Swan, perfect blonde princess curls, red leather jacket, and…she blinked at the stroller in Emma's grasp before looking around for the pirate then back to meet those sea-green eyes, those beautiful, painful eyes that made her heart skip with excitement but her whole being hurt, her jaw clenching as she felt the swirling of anger and pain fill her up once again, like it was that day after her memories returned all over again.
"Can we talk?" Regina blinked again, opening her mouth to tell her to leave her alone, to tell her she wanted nothing to do with her. But then Emma flashed those puppy dog eyes of hers and said, "Please?" and Regina had no choice but to relent… why must she be so weak? So she nodded, slowly standing from her chair on legs that didn't feel very stable but she was a queen and she never ever shows her weakness! "Henry, can you watch your sister?" Regina barely registering Emma's request as her mind screamed and hollered and fought against her choices, barely hearing anying over the thudding of her own pulse in her ears.
He nodded, pulling the stroller closer to him while looking worriedly at Regina, "Mom?" he asked when Emma walked out the front of the diner, waiting for Regina.
Regina focused back on him, flashing him a slightly pained smile, "It's fine, dear."
He frowned slightly at her but nodded before she walked out the door, Emma walking further away from the diner with her hands buried in the back pockets of her jeans, Regina following with her hands wrapped protectively around her middle.
Emma stopped when they were out of view of the diner, spinning around to look at Regina with shy eyes, bobbing on her feet awkwardly.
"What do you want, Miss Swan?" Emma's eyes lit up for a second at the old term while Regina's heart cracked some more at the reminder that she wasn't even that anymore…her brain vindictively reminding her that she was now Mrs. Swan.
"Look, Regina…I just…I want to say I'm so–"
"Save it, Swan…I'm not in the mood for your apologies, you did what you felt right and once again I paid the consequences…but the worst part about all of it, Emma… our son almost paid them too." Regina growled, hands slowly gripping into fists at her sides, nails digging into the palm of her hands but that hurt less than the pain she'd felt in the last few years because Emma left them.
"Regina…"
"NO!" Regina barked, pointing at Emma with a shaking finger as she continued, "You left us! Your family! Because, what? You had the pirate now? The baby on the way? Your pretty little perfect replacement family so why would you need us, right?!" Regina laughed twistedly, "You did to Henry just what your parents did to you except they didn't actually leave you behind! They were still always there for you but you just said, hasta la vista to our son, YOUR son and jumped through that portal with Captain Guyliner never to be seen again!" Angry tears burned in Regina's eyes. "I watched him almost die again, Swan, and you were decorating your nursery and giggling over onesies with Snow while I was fighting for his life, fighting for my granddaughter's life! Forced to cast another curse! Alone! And I did it! I fought tooth and nail, laid my life on the line for my son!" Tears finally escaped her eyes but her glare was hard, deadly as she stepped closer to Emma, teeth bared, "You don't get to waltz back into my life, our life with your half-assed apologies like you didn't hurt us…like you didn't break my son's heart! I picked up the pieces after you left him, I saved him, I helped him get ready for his wedding day, I calmed his worries about being a father, I helped his wife deliver, I helped them raise that sweet beautiful girl in there! I saved him like I vowed to do the moment I held him in my arms 32 years ago! Not you! You left him! You don't get to just…you have no right, Mrs. Swan!" She spat, spinning on her heels to storm away, anger twisting furiously around her soul, sadness making her feel like she could throw up.
"Regina!" Emma yelled after her, lunging forward and grabbing her arm to stop her, Regina stopping in her tracks to glare at Emma, yanking her arm out of her grasp as Emma begged with heavy tears running down her face, "Please! I'm so–" Emma stopped speaking when Regina's hand made contact with her cheek, her eyes wide in shock as she raised her hand to her cheek, lower lip wobbling.
"You left us, Emma! Sorry isn't going to make it magically better!" and with that she vanished in a plume of dark purple smoke, collapsing to the floor of her bedroom as soon as she appeared, vicious painful sobs tearing through her, hand stinging from striking Emma, her stomach twisting and flipping, her mind battling with herself…
"I hit her…" Bile rose up her throat, her hand clasping over her mouth as she teleported herself to the bathroom without even thinking about it, sobbing as she threw up her breakfast, jolting a little while later when she felt a hand against her back, pulling back her hair into a short ponytail, "Henry…"
"Shhh, it's okay, mom, I got you."
She collapsed against his chest, body trembling with sobs as he held her close, rocking her slightly and rubbing her back like she used to do for him…kissing the top of her head. "How?" she gasped.
"When Emma came back to collect Hope with a bright red handprint on her face and even redder eyes I knew it didn't go well…I made her send me here."
"I-I'm so sorry, H-Henry, I d-don't know what c-came over me…" She hiccupped a sob, so small in his arms, "I was so angry…"
"I know, mom…it's okay…I know…"
"She left us…"
Henry sighed, kissing the top of her head again, hugging her closer, tighter as Regina's hands gripped into fists at the back of his shirt, feeling his tears as they fell on her head.
"I'm sorry, Henry…"
"It's okay, mama…I'm not mad…"
She sobbed again, the two of them on the floor of the bathroom for who knows how long, Regina's back killing her but she was just so weak…too weak to even think about picking herself up off this floor.
"I got her," a voice said, almost distorted as she listened to the steady beating of her son's heart…she almost lost him…
"No, Auntie Z, it's okay…" He exhaled heavily. "I can't leave her because if I do I'm gonna do something very stupid."
"At least let me help you get her to bed?"
"Fine…" He sighed. Regina whimpered as Henry pulled away, shifting her and then she was being lifted off the ground, held carefully in Henry's arms and she only cried harder because her son shouldn't have to do this…she's supposed to be strong for him…not so weak.
"I could kill that woman," Zelena spat, hand pushing a lock of hair that was too short to fit in the ponytail behind her ear.
"Yeah…" Henry sighed as he laid her down on the bed, Regina turning on her side in a small ball as soon as she was put down, magic surrounding her only to fade away a few seconds later, only thing seen now was her trembling form under the light grey duvet, her shoes sitting by the wall next to her closet, flash of purple from inside telling them she magically changed.
"Oh, Regina…" Zelena sighed, while Henry sat on the end of her bed, looking sadly down at her.
"I don't know what to do, Auntie Z…"
"Come with me, sweets."
Regina felt Henry stand from the mattress, the blanket pulled down slightly to kiss the side of her head as he whispered, "I'll be right back, mama."
Then she heard muffled footsteps until the door shut with a swift click. Sure she was alone again, she curled up tighter. Everything hurt.
She buried herself into her work of helping all the other realms get settled in this new way of living, working with Henry to get schedules for portals running in every adjoining realm. Hiding away from all Charming's like they were the plague; she could see the way her loved ones looked at her, constantly worried about her…Zelena and Henry the most.
"You need to eat something, Regina!" Zelena's voice boomed through the house, slamming the still full plate from lunch on the marble countertop.
"I'm not hungry," she replied, hands on her hips as Zelena glared at her.
"All you do is work and sleep these days, I'm worried about you, Regina!"
"Don't be, I'm fine!"
"You've barely eaten in weeks! Your clothes hang off you like rags!" Zelena's voice boomed again, Regina wrapping her arms around herself protectively.
"I'm fine, I just lost weight while away. This is all my old stuff."
Zelena laughed bitterly, "It fit you fine 3 weeks ago!" Regina looked away from her, jaw setting as she tried to stop herself from crying. "Please, Regina…you need to take care of yourself…"
Regina's eyes shot up to meet hers with a glare, "I am! I told you I'm fine! Just because you don't see me eating, doesn't mean I'm not!"
"For fucks sakes, Regina!" Zelena threw her hands in the air, storming towards her, hands gripping her shoulders while Regina stubbornly met her eyes, chin jutted out like the regular queen she is. "I refuse to sit by and watch you starve yourself to death!"
"Then leave! Everybody else does!" Regina shrugged out of her hold, storming out of the kitchen toward her room.
"Henry is worried about you! I'm worried about you!" Regina stopped midway up the stairs, posture drooping slightly. "Ry sees it too, and Lucy…Regina, we care about you…please just…get some help."
"I'm fine…"
"No, you fucking aren't!"
Her posture straightened up again, back ramrod straight, shoulders rolled back and head held high. "Just…leave me alone, Zelena."
"Regina…"
"Go! Get out of my house, Zelena!" She spun, voice booming, eyes dangerous, looking more like the Evil Queen then she has in years.
"No," Zelena stated, hands on her hips as she stared up at her little sister just as stubbornly. "I'm not leaving you."
"Whatever…" Regina growled, spinning around to stomp up the stairs once again, door slamming behind her before she slipped down it, pulling her legs to her chest as sobs wracked her body, not knowing that in the foyer Zelena looked much the same.
"Hello, Regina, what can I do for you?" Regina clenched her jaw at the painfully caring voice of the red-haired man sitting in a chair before her.
"Doctor Hopper…I…" She pursed her lips, looking down at Pongo sitting in front of her, tail slapping into the floor from the excitement of seeing her again. She sighed, bending down to pet the dog, Archie just sitting in his chair patiently waiting for her to continue, tears welling in her throat as the dog licked her face. She dropped her head to rest against Pongo's, tears falling from her eyes, and Pongo whimpered, licking the underside of her chin. "I need your help."
"Okay." Regina looked up at him, the shock was written on her face, it always surprised her how quickly the man agreed to help her. "Why don't you take a seat and you can tell me what's troubling you."
Regina nodded slowly, pulling herself to her full height, trying not to focus on how she must look, pants baggy on her legs and jacket looking like it was about 2 sizes too big. She wrapped her arms protectively around her middle as she walked the few steps to the couch, Pongo hopping on it next to her and dropping his head on her lap, subconsciously petting his head while she looked around the room. "I seem to have fallen into a bout of depression…"
"Oh?"
She looked down at the dog in her lap, watching as she ran her hand over his head, focused on the thump of his tail against the couch, tears welling in her eyes again… "I almost lost Henry, Lucy, Ella…my whole family…" She shook her head. "Rumple died right in front of me, my only friend…I know he hurt me a lot, my feelings for him have always been a little mixed up, hate because of how he manipulated me into…" She sighed and continued, "But over the years I did grow to consider him a part of my family…" Tears rolled down her cheeks, "It just feels like nothing is how it was…nothing is the same, and I feel like I don't belong in this life…"
Archie nodded, "I see…that must have been very hard."
"It was…it is…" She sighed, looking out the window, reaching up with her hand to wipe away her tears.
"Tell me about what happened to Henry."
Regina focused back on him, "What?"
"I know how much you love him, it must have been hard facing that all alone?"
"Yes…" Regina sighed, looking back out the window, "He was poisoned, on Lucy's birthday…magic couldn't heal him…I had to enact the curse to save his life…" Archie nodded. "Drizella made me remember not long into the curse…made me…I had to lie to him, keep him away from his wife and daughter…"
"And he didn't remember you?"
Her lower lip trembled and she wanted to beat herself up about it, "He didn't…he thought he was an orphan…"
"Like Emma?"
Regina nodded.
"So you had to fight for your son alone? Without Emma?" Regina locked eyes with him, wide with shock. "It must have been hard without your support system behind you."
"I had Zelena…"
"But she wasn't Emma?"
"No…she wasn't…isn't. "
"How do you feel about her not being there?"
"Angry, devastated…betrayed…like I could crush her heart into dust, choke the life out of her…like I could die…" Regina laughed bitterly, "I thought I got past this…"
"Seeing someone again after so long can bring up those feelings again."
Regina laughed again, just as broken and hollow as the last, "Yeah, feelings…"
"Ahh," Archie said, "You still love her…"
Regina's eyes were wide as she looked at him, forgetting about that session they had a few years after Henry left for just a moment until it came crashing back with a long defeated sigh, "Yes, I still love her…but I also hate her…anyways she's with the pirate, my feelings are as stupid and destructive as they've always been."
"Have you spoken with her about this?" Regina frowned at him, "About how you feel about her not being around, not about how you love her…although it might be good to t–"
"I can never tell her! It's a mistake…"
"Regina…"
"Anyways we talked about the other stuff…or well I yelled…" Regina looked down at Pongo in shame, "I struck her…I can't believe I…how can I even look at her again?"
"I'm sure she doesn't hold it against you, Regina. You two have done much worse to each other in anger."
"Not in decades…"
"Decades for you…not her," Regina looked up at him, "you two have only known each other for 13 years here…now…"
"That's still a long time."
"Yes, but we both know you and Miss Swan have never been very good at dealing with emotions…if you explain and apologize I'm sure she will forgive you."
Regina shook her head, looking back out the window, "No, I can't look at her without…" Her breath hitched, and it was difficult to keep going.., "I get so angry, and my heart feels like it's breaking…I see her with the pirate's spawn and I just want to throw up…She's not…" She shook her head. "This is stupid…"
"No, it's not, Regina…"
"I…I'm fine…really I'll get over it…I did before…" Regina slipped out from Pongo's head and stood, ignoring the way the dog whimpered at the loss of attention.
"Regina…"
"Thank you, Archie, but I won't be needing your services after all."
"Have you been eating?" He asked as her hand wrapped around the doorknob, her body deflating instantly. "You look like you haven't slept in months either…nightmares?" A sob forced its way up her throat, "It's okay to not be okay, Regina…you came here for my help, let me help you," he said, voice calm, sure, caring. When the sob finally escaped, his hand was pressed to her back in a soothing and steadying gesture, both of them just standing there as she cried, Archie not saying a word, smiling softly when she settled down.
He wrote a date for their next appointment in his planner. The last words he said to her before she vanished in a puff of purple smoke were, "Please try to eat something. Even if you're not hungry, eat something small."
She agreed. Going home, she didn't leave her bed for the rest of the day, but when Zelena dropped off a bowl of soup later that night she ate half of it.
"If I didn't know any better I'd think you were avoiding me."
Her head shot up at the voice, eyes wide as her heart beat erratically in her chest. "Snow…" She breathed, straightening up in her seat and flattening out her skirt, fingers fiddling in her lap where they couldn't be seen. "What are you doing here?"
"Can't I check in on my old friend?" Regina arched a brow and Snow shrugged, "Also a few citizens wanted me to ask you some things about the new portal system."
"All questions will be addressed at the next town meeting."
"Regina…" Snow sighed, walking toward her desk with worried brows, "I haven't seen you since you arrived…"
Regina sighed, reaching her hand up to raise her glasses to the top of her head and pinch the bridge of her nose, leaning back in her chair, "I've been busy."
Snow really looked at her, a deep frown etched on her face, "Are you okay, Regina? You don't look too well?"
"I'm fine," Regina stood, walking to her drink bar to pour herself some water.
"Emma told me," Regina spun to look at her, heart dropping into the pit of her stomach, sure she swayed on her feet for a moment, "About your fight…"
"It's nothing, Snow."
"I wouldn't exactly call it nothing, Regina…"
"I feel bad about hitting her but she didn't need to go running to her mommy about it." Regina rolled her eyes, looking up to meet Snow's when all she got was a small gasp. "What?" She bit, exhaustion written all over her face.
"You hit her?!"
Regina sighed, reaching up to pinch her nose again, "She didn't tell you…"
"She did not! Why would you–"
"Snow, please, I don't have the energy for your self-righteous goodness."
"Oh no, we're going to talk about this!"
"I said drop it, Snow!" She barked, Snow jumping in place making Regina curl in on herself a little, hand not holding her drink moving to lay on her stomach while the other one trembled, the ice clinking in the glass making her fear known. Quickly she put it back down before Snow realized, but alas it was too late because the woman was walking toward her with those damn sad eyes of hers, "Please…just…don't…"
"Oh, Regina…" Snow sighed, pulling her into a hug and Regina stood there stiffly, trying not to fall apart in front of another person but she knew if she didn't at least return the hug Snow would never let go, so she slowly wrapped her arms around the woman's back, still a little stiff in the way too tight hug. "Come, let me buy you lunch." She said after a few moments, smiling that hopeful smile at her, eyes shimmering looking too much like Emma's that she had to look away, and yet she had no choice but to agree with those damn hopeful eyes staring at her…which was how she ended up at Granny's with Snow as she told her about what had been happening in town since her departure (well, her other selves departure…but semantics) and being stared at until she finished a whole chicken sandwich, side salad, and piece of pie all washed down with some herbal tea, Snow muttering, "You're too skinny," as she ordered Regina the apple pie.
She knew this would eventually get back to Emma, however, she was not ready to have a worried saviour breathing down her neck; it was bad enough having her whole family, Archie, and now Snow White.
"You okay?"
She got the text 3 days after her lunch with Snow, finding herself looking back at it repeatedly over the next week, every time she looked down at those words it caused her heartbeat to quicken and her throat close up around the emotions that wanted to burst free making her have to put the phone away.
"I'm sorry for hurting you…for leaving you and Henry…"
She cried from that one, everything in her battling with each other, anger and sadness and love…a mess of swirling messy emotions.
"I forgive you…for slapping me…you were upset…I shouldn't have grabbed you…I known better."
Came a few days later, it gave her pause, staring at it all day and deep into the night, then staring at it again when she woke from another nightmare, typing out, "What do you mean, "should have known better"?" She sent it, her sleep-deprived brain unable to fully control her actions…the loneliness in her chest reaching out for someone…the image of Henry lying dead in the dirt too fresh in her mind to even think about closing her eyes for the rest of the night…to not want to try and seek comfort in Emma's words except the words didn't sit right this time. "I'm…I shouldn't have struck you, Emma…there's no way I can make up for hurting you…I know better than to let my anger take control of me like that…at least not anymore. I am sick to my stomach over what I did."
"No, it's okay…I never should have left you for him…"
Regina frowned, "Are you okay?"
"Yes."
Regina sighed, thinking about what she could possibly say in response.
"Why are you up so late?"
"Couldn't sleep."
"Why not?"
Regina frowned again, thinking about telling Emma about her nightmares, about what happened while she was away but instead she placed her phone back on her bedside table and padded across the hall into Henry's old room, curling up on his bed and reading one of the comic's he left behind.
"I miss you…"
She got that last one the next morning sobbing until little Robin came into her room, climbing into her lap and asking for breakfast, typing back "I missed you too." 4 days later before deciding she needed a break and she would go visit her friends in Hyperion Heights, check in on her bar…maybe just be Roni for a bit.
She was hiding out in Hyperion Heights for a little over two weeks now, her life was easier here, more relaxing. She read almost all the books she's been putting off reading since the original curse because she hadn't had time to sit down to read let alone have a cup of tea half the time.
She discussed Remy's new restaurant plans that he started with Tiana, helping them make sure everything was up to code and all paperwork was filed correctly with the Mayor's office back in Storybrooke.
She had coffee in the mornings with Margot and Alice to discuss their wedding plans, dinner every few days with Zelena, Lunch here and there with Rogers to just talk about old times, how they were coping…to laugh about Rumple when they both missed him, and of course, Henry, Jacinda, and Lucy stopped by for family dinner like they would when she was back in Storybrooke but now they could also get coffee if they felt like it…and Regina could just be…she had no obligations in Hyperion Heights, she was just Roni to these people…she could walk down the street and not be constantly bombarded with memories of a past she was trying so hard to bury…she understood why Zelena liked Seattle, liked being just Kelly, a fitness instructor and fiancée to a normal loving man…it held less baggage than their actual lives.
Roni had never woken up in cold sweats from nightmares, but every night Regina woke up at least twice with tears drying on her cheeks, heart hammering solidly against her ribcage and images that made her want to throw up…she sometimes wished she could just forget it all again…just be Roni forever. But Roni didn't have her sons, didn't have a family…Roni was alone. And although a life as easy as Roni's was tempting, she wouldn't give up her kids, her family, for anything.
But apparently, nearly a month of hiding away from everyone in Storybrooke was too long, because just as she was discussing with Tiana their plans on renovating the old warehouse on Cygnet Avenue into a youth center, Emma walked in, Regina sensing her as soon as she stepped in the door, like her heart sensed her near. When she looked up, she met those magnificent sea green eyes instantly.
"Hi," Emma smiled awkwardly, waving at the two women at the bar, not recognizing Regina for a millisecond with her curly hair and casual clothes…clothes that more resembled Emma's than anything she ever thought Regina would be caught dead in. "Can we talk?"
Tiana looked between them before she slid from the bar stool, grabbing her notebook and patting Regina's hand as she stepped away. "I'll come by tomorrow if that works for you still?"
"Yes, dear, that should be fine."
"Okay, have a great day, Roni, call if you need anything? Dinner, drink, someone to talk to…anything, okay?"
Regina flashed her a sincere smile, grabbing the dishcloth from the sink and wiping down the bar as she said, "Thank you, Sabine." And with that Tiana was turning and walking out of the bar, flashing Emma a slightly awkward smile with just the hint of a warning, of a threat that if she hurt Regina she'd have to deal with her. "What do you want, Emma?"
Emma sighed, moving further into the bar and lowering herself onto one of the stools, "We got a lot of shit to work through…I've given you space, but…Regina," Emma sighed, reaching out and stopping Regina's hands as they polished the already spotless bar top. "Regina…"
Regina's eyes shot up to lock with hers, staring into them, a quiet discussion going on for a second, Regina's eyes saying just how hurt she was and Emma's quietly telling her once again how sorry she was. Regina let out a pained sigh as she pulled her hands out from Emma's, stepping away to toss the rag on the counter behind her, facing the rows of booze as she ran her hand through her loose curls.
Emma took that time to fully take in this different look, starting at the cheetah print ankle boots, skin-tight dark wash jeans, a tight grey tank top tucked into her pants, cheetah print belt, and a silk scarf tied around her neck, with what appeared to be skulls on it.
"Regina?"
"It's hard, Emma!" Regina spun, flinging an arm out in frustration before resting her hand on her stomach like she always did when she was anxious or upset…comforting herself like nobody else ever had.
"What is?" Emma asked, looking at the necklace showing just below the scarf —a gold pendant with an R on it.
"Being back there…" Regina shook her head, hopping up onto the counter behind her, fiddling with her hands in her lap. "Being back in that place, in Storybrooke, everywhere I look it's a reminder of everything bad I ever did or went through…everyone I see I've either hurt or they have hurt me."
"Regina…" Emma leaned forward on the bar, Regina's tear-filled eyes meeting hers breaking Emma's heart more than she thought possible. "I'm so sorry…for the pain I caused you…"
Regina laughed bitterly, rolling her eyes at Emma, "Believe it or not, Swan, but not everything is always 'cause of you."
"Well, I'm still sorry for my part in it… All of it, from the moment we met. I'm sorry."
Regina shook her head at her, and answered, "I know you are…and for what it's worth, I'm sorry too, I know my curse hurt you the most."
Emma shrugged, "It is what it is…and without it we wouldn't have Henry."
Regina smiled softly at her, "Not according to the wish realm."
Emma smirked, "The Queen created it, we both know she could never make a world where our son didn't exist, even to torture me."
"Yes, she also managed to make a likeable version of your pirate."
Emma laughed, shaking her head slowly at Regina as she thought about everything, of the years that had come and had yet to…of the version of her that lived a life while Regina fought battles and curses and was cursed and then fought against all the odds to save their son… "I'm sorry, that I left you."
Regina nodded slowly, "I know…me too."
"Will you ever forgive me?"
Regina met her eyes, swallowing down a lump in her throat, searching those familiar and yet unfamiliar features. "I kind of already have…it's complicated, Emma."
"How so?"
Regina shook her head, pulling her booted foot up to hug it to herself, "Do you know how many years it's been since you left me at that portal?"
Emma shook her head, she's tried doing the math but it's all so complicated, it can be anywhere from 9 years to 20.
"13 years, Miss Swan…Hope would be a teenager in that timeline."
"It doesn't feel that long for me…"
"Because it hasn't been that long for you! It's been maybe a year since you left us."
"And it's been 13 for you…"
"Yes."
Emma sat back on the stool rubbing her hands over her face, "Magic makes everything so fucking complicated…"
"You're telling me? All our lives would be completely different if it didn't exist…"
Emma looked up at her, eyes sad, "Without magic, none of us would exist…"
Regina let her leg fall down, her heel hitting the cupboard behind her once as her leg swayed. "Would definitely be easier."
"Regina…"
"It's a joke, Swan. Relax."
Emma sighed, getting up off the stool and moving around the counter to stand in front of Regina, their eyes locking for a moment, "Are we ever going to talk about that night?"
"You mean when you said I was a mistake? Or when you told me it hurt to look at me? That it'd be easier if I wasn't around? Or when you left your family with nothing but a nod to go play house with the pirate?"
"That last one was during the day."
"Dammit, Swan!"
Emma grinned at her, folding her arms protectively in front of her chest as she met Regina's murderous glare, "I left him," Regina's brows shot up and a frown curled on her lips, "Hook, we're separated, I filed for divorce a few months after I left you and Henry, I hated him for making me feel like I had to leave you guys."
"Emma…"
Emma shrugged, tears shimmering in her eyes, turning them from that magnificent shade of green to a light blue, "I regretted my decision hours after I walked through that portal and after a few weeks, I couldn't even recognize myself in the mirror…I mean the real, true me would never leave you and Henry behind…"
Regina leaned on her knees, reaching her hand out so her fingers brushed against the back of Emma's, "I'm sorry, Emma…"
Emma caught her hand as it was falling away, gripping onto her fingers as she replied, "Don't be, he was never a right fit…I married him because I thought it was what my parents wanted, I just wanted to make them proud. But the only times I ever felt truly like myself was when I was with you…" She slowly laced their fingers together. "And then Hope was born and I would look at her face and feel whole again…like a little piece of you was back with me."
"Emma…"
"I know we got a lot to work through until we're okay again, I know you're not doing very good right now…I kinda dragged it outta Henry," Emma looked sheepishly up at Regina when she let out a little annoyed sound, rolling her eyes, but even then she squeezed Emma's fingers tangled with her own.
Regina's heart was galloping in her chest at the feel of Emma's hand in hers, of feeling her skin and warmth against her own, she could smell her shampoo…everything was Emma and safety.
"I know I gotta work for your trust again, but I'm willing to do that, I…I miss having you around, talking to you…" Emma said. "I miss my best friend, I want to help you through this, all of this…"
Regina stared down at their hands, "I'm willing to try…it's not going to be easy, Emma, but..." She met her eyes, tears shimmering in them, "I miss my best friend as well."
Emma smiled widely at her, stepping close so Regina's knees were pressed against Emma's stomach, Regina's eyes searching her face, trying to understand why she was so close suddenly…they only ever got this close when they were fighting…or drunk…or when Regina hugged her to hide the tears that were welling in her eyes after Emma announced she was marrying the pirate.
Emma took in a deep shuddering breath, lips pressed together in that goofy smile of hers before she took a step back again, releasing Regina's hand, leaning back against the bar, "So, Roni?"
Regina laughed, shaking the wild curls out before she hopped down from the counter, walking out from behind it leaving Emma behind or…more likely, to follow. "She's fun, easy."
"Oh yeah? Wish I coulda met her."
Regina turned on her heels, glaring at Emma, trying hard not to smirk when Emma's eyes still hadn't reached her head when she spun, "She would have eaten you alive, dear."
"Damn, now I am really sad I never got to meet her!" Regina rolled her eyes, spinning around and heading to the spiral staircase, "Where are you going?"
"Home."
Emma blinked, staring at her as she ascended the stairs before looking toward the door, "Uh…"
"Lock up then meet me upstairs, dear."
"I'm allowed to stay?"
"For a drink. Maybe if you're lucky I'll tell you about our granddaughter."
Emma's smile was blinding in size, eyes filled with love as she stared at Regina standing before her, "I'd really love that."
Regina offered her a small smile before she spun back around, continuing up the stairs.
After that evening they started talking a little bit more here and there, but Regina found herself bombarded with things she needed to do, spread thin between Storybrooke, Hyperion Heights, and the old kingdom, working tirelessly with the Charming's and other Royals to figure out how this new joint kingdom would run.
She and Emma had talked, but the most progressive thing they'd managed was to agree on was Ry working part-time as a deputy while the rest of the time he took classes on how to exist in this world. And when Regina wasn't dealing with her official duties she was in therapy with Archie, going through all the things she'd buried over the years that got dragged to the surface when her memories returned.
She was getting better, put back on almost all the weight she had lost during her depressive episode. Mostly because no matter what she was doing, someone would always show up with food and then stare at her until she ate it, which was annoying as hell, but warmed her heart all the same.
So it wasn't unusual when Zelena whisked her away to a meeting with the Charming's at the palace to once again discuss public affairs, but when she arrived everything was different. The first sign being that Zelena made her change into a gown that one would only wear to a ball, the other sign was when she spotted Henry at the entrance of the main hall in his best suit, even nicer than the one he wore at his own wedding.
But what really did it was Ry standing at the doors to the ballroom dressed just as nicely as Henry, his badge glinting from where it was pinned to the lapel of his suit jacket.
Regina smiled affectionately at them, looking between her sons as she asked, "Alright everyone, what's going on?"
The three others shared a smirk with each other, Henry silently offering her his arm as Zelena, oh so dramatically poofed away, a slightly annoyed laugh leaving Regina even if the affection for her family was evident in her eyes as she took Ry's arm as well, the doors to the ballroom opening a moment later.
Her eyes locked with the Charming's standing in the middle of the dais, not unlike the day Regina crashed their wedding…or Ry's knighting ceremony. However, this time, instead of shrieks of fear, she was being met with applause, cheering even, her heart swelling as she looked between her sons, sure her brain tried to remind her of the day she stood in that very spot as she married the king, but where that was the end of her freedom, the slamming of doors on it, this, right here, felt like they were being blown away, forever open to her.
"What is this?" She asked when she got to the edge of the dais, Snow smiling at her in that way only Snow can, looking like she was so happy it hurt her.
"This is for you," Snow answered and Regina couldn't help the slight smirk that curled on her lips even as she looked up at them in confusion, her head tilting slightly to the side. "All the realms have been united, and now we need someone to lead us," Regina arched a disbelieving brow at that, they had to be kidding…
"And the people have decided, Your Majesty ," Charming finished, meeting her look of confusion with one of pride, sending little Neal down to stand with Henry, Regina glancing down at the small boy who looked identical to Snow before she looked back up at the Charming's, eyes wide in shock as she hesitantly stepped up, her heart was beating hard, brain racing as it tried to understand what was happening…I mean, they couldn't be serious…could they? And then David picked up a wooden box, opening it to reveal to her a beautiful diamond encrusted crown…they were indeed very serious.
"They want it to be you, Regina," Snow announced, making Regina's head snap up to meet her gaze. Regina's eyes were wide, questioning; it was all so much, meant so much…it didn't make sense, after everything she'd done… why would they choose me? She wondered as she looked around the room, her eyes welling with tears as she saw her whole family, everyone she loved and who loved her…except, no, wait, not everyone, her eyes searching desperately for that head of wild blonde hair but she knew she wasn't there because although her heart was beating nervously from all of this, full of love and elation, that piece was missing, that feeling she got in her soul whenever Emma was in the same room.
"Are you ready?" Charming asked, her head turning slightly toward him for a second as she took another look around, hoping she had just missed her, that she was wrong…she had to be…they'd been better lately…hadn't they?
"Uh," She didn't mean for the unsure sound to come out, but that dread was twisting around in her gut again. So taking in an unsteady breath she turned to face them, leaning in close as she asked quietly, hoping her voice wouldn't betray her heartache, "Is everyone here?" Regina registering the sound...it indeed revealed way too much for her liking.
Snow looked at her, understanding on her face as she whispered back, "I think the baby was fussy," she finished with a cringe. Regina looked between the two hopeful and understanding looks of the two people she never would think she'd consider her friends, let alone family.
"Oh. Okay." She nodded, looking around once more, hoping she was hiding her disappointment better than it felt like she was.
"Shall we begin?" Regina smiled tightly, nodding her head as Snow reached in the box for the crown. "Do you, Regina Mills, accept the role of the first elected ruler of the United Realms?"
Regina nodded, smile stretching on her face once more as she spoke, "I do." Those two words the easiest to speak for the first time since the last she stood in this very spot, expected to say them, to become queen, to sign her life, her freedom and her body over to a man twice her age, to a man she didn't love, but now, now she stood atop that dais, looking into the eyes of her once stepdaughter, the eyes that now reminded her of the people she loved most in all the realms, her sons and…
"Excellent," Charming whispered cutting off her train of thought, her eyes blinking as they focused on his, which were wrinkling around the edges with his smile, although it could not beat the one that was nearly splitting Snow's in two as he instructed her to bow, Regina moving into a curtsy after sending him a playful smirk.
Snow held the crown over her head, smile somehow getting bigger and sappier as she announced, "I now crown you–" but she was cut off as the doors flung open, Regina slowly turning to see who it was, her eyes landing on the out of breath sheriff.
"Sorry, I'm late," Emma panted.
Regina met those green eyes with her own, her heart instantly filling with love, she felt whole in that moment… "Em-ma…" she breathed.
Their eyes locked in silent communication before Emma smirked, walking toward her, the hand that wasn't holding little Hope moving out to her side as she stated, "You really didn't think I'd miss this, did you?"
Regina couldn't keep her eyes off her, couldn't keep the love out of them, or off her face as she watched her greet their son and the rest of their family, handing off Hope to Henry as she shucked her jacket. Regina felt everything in that moment, the first time she's really had the chance to see her in a few weeks from all the work — texting here and there, sure, but sometimes it was just too hard to see her. But today, it was hard not to see her amongst the many people in her life that she loves and that love her, so seeing her…oh, it was like seeing the sun peek out from behind the clouds after a rainy day…she was like a rainbow arching across the sky…filling her up with so much love.
"If we're all here can I please continue?" Snow stage whispered, eyes glinting knowingly.
Emma offered her a guilty expression, "Sorry, mom," she said as her eyes met Regina's, glinting playfully, and Regina rolled hers affectionately at her before she turned back to face Snow, bowing once more.
"Well then," Snow said just so they could hear before she straightened her shoulders, "Regina Mills," she announced, holding the crown above her head once again as she continued, "I now crown you," she slipped the crown on Regina's head, Regina slowly rising back to her full height as she met Snow's glistening eyes with her own, "The Good Queen!" her face once again scrunching up with that painful face-splitting smile, looking like she was seconds away from sobbing or she was fighting off the pain, as if Regina kicked her in the shin but within those tear-filled crinkled eyes there was pride, love… "Long may she reign!" Snow finished, looking at her like a proud mother on their kid's graduation day as all their…no, her, subjects applauded and cheered, Zelena louder and more obnoxious than the rest.
Regina moved in to hug the two Charming's but they stopped her, bowing instead as they looked at her with their expressions of pride and love. Charming led Regina down from the dais and right into the arms of Ry, where she pulled him into a tight hug as he whispered how proud he was of her in her ear, and she shared a loving smile with him as she moved to hug Lucy, Ella, and then stopped in front of Henry, Hope cradled in his arms. She leaned forward, kissing his cheek before she looked down at the baby for the first time.
"Hi," she cooed, running her thumb over her small hand…there was something about her…but well she supposes it was just the fact that she was Emma's. Emma, who took her attention next, their eyes sparkling as they locked, quiet conversation passing between them before Emma greeted her with a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Madam Mayor."
Regina smiled brightly, accepting the hug Emma offered…the second between them…although this time it felt more right, it felt safe, like coming home, her eyes drooping shut for a second as she took a deep breath, revelling in the moment before she pulled back to meet Emma's eyes once again.
"So this is it. Your happy ending, huh?"
Regina's eyes glinted happily at her. "Mm, no, Miss Swan, not even close… This isn't an ending; I hate endings, because your story's done. And everyone here..." Regina looked around the room, glancing at the many faces around them before she looked back at Emma as she continued. "Well, their stories are far from over."
"Well, a happy beginning then," Emma offered, head tilting in confusion when Regina shook her head again.
"I like to call it…" Regina pursed her lips thoughtfully, rocking on her feet slightly before she leaned in closer to Emma, eyes playful, that knowing smile of hers taking over the previously cheerful one. "A second chance…"
"Yeah?"
Regina's eyes dropped for a second then she looked around, gazing into Emma's eyes after a moment, communicating everything she could as she husked, "Yes."
She stepped away to return to the dais and make a speech, Emma's eyes were glistening with love and never leaving Regina the whole time, until she finished, with one statement that meant more than Regina even knew. "With Hope," she stated, nodding to the baby in Henry's arms, Emma looking down at her daughter with brown speckled eyes and tanned complexion, eyes filling with tears as she looked back up, meeting Regina's instantly, and she knew in that moment that they would get through this, they'd be okay, and maybe…just maybe they'd be a real family… together.
A/N: Okay this will but at least 4 chapters long and I will be updating every Wednesday if all goes to plan so I'll see you all next week for chapter 2!
Take Care,
Ang