chapter one
Regina hadn't thought about her in what felt like centuries. She'd locked those memories away, compartmentalized them, put them under lock and key. All they ever did was make her eyes water and her heart ache until she considered ripping it out and crushing it herself. When the curse took effect, she didn't expect to see her. Regina assumed she'd gone off somewhere far, far away, chasing another happy ending that involved princes and castles with queens who weren't Cora. It sounded just like something she would do, so seeing her ex at Granny's Diner was enough to ruin her entire day.
Hattie looked as happy as ever, sipping hot chocolate, spinning around on one of the bar stools, laughing with her sister by her side. Olive was someone Regina expected to see. She hadn't run from anything, and she didn't make Regina's stomach drop and her anxiety flare until she felt her breakfast and bile rise in her throat. She was tempted to leave, forget about her iced tea and kale salad, but she couldn't let the younger girl get the better of her again. She was a child, blonde and pretty, naive of how she was making the Mayor of Storybrooke suffer just by existing.
Regina took a deep breath, adjusting her blazer, taking her time fixing the buttons and smoothing out the wrinkles. She was hungry. She deserved to be here. This was her town, and Hattie wasn't going to chase her out of it. Regina walked up beside of her, trying to ignore how desperately she wanted to touch her, make sure she was real, run her fingers through blonde curls again and kiss pale pink lips until they were bruised and nearly bleeding. She tried not looking at her, but making eye-contact with Granny was impossible when she could hear the blonde's voice in her ear, telling Olive all about their plans for the weekend. It burned Regina to not be a part of those plans, to be so shut out from the social life of someone who swore they would love her until the end of time.
It made Regina want to snap.
She ordered her salad, and her tea, tapping her fingernails on the wooden countertop, impatient and in pain. She almost wished she could kick Hattie out of town, but that would look suspicious, and it would be dangerous. Regina had to suffer, had to stand beside her and listen to the voice that used to say I love you in between kisses and intimate touches beneath blankets and sheets.
The memories that Regina had kept locked away were begging to break free now, scratching the inside of her skull, tearing at her psyche until her eyes began to burn with tears. No, no no. She wasn't going to cry. She'd done enough of that, head resting in her mother's lap, repeating the words "she left you" over and over in her head just so she could sob harder and cleanse whatever love for the girl was left from her being.
"Mayor Mills?" The tap on her shoulder made Regina jump, jerking away from its source, crossing her arms over her chest defensively. Hattie had tapped her shoulder, Hattie had touched her, Hattie had violated a boundary that she wasn't even aware was there. Regina was seething, a vein in her neck pulsating with agitation.
"What?" Her tone dripped venom, and instead of recoiling in fear like Regina had hoped, Hattie raised an eyebrow pointing to Regina's food on the counter.
"Sorry, but your food's been ready for a few minutes. I didn't know if you'd noticed."
Her tone was so casual, so in-control. Regina had always loved that about her, but now she loathed it with every broken fiber of her being.
"I was aware," she replied, picking up her food hastily, desperate to leave and forget Hattie existed. After all, she'd had to do that for years to keep from going insane. She could do it again if she had to. Forgetting was the greatest medicine.
Hattie challenged her again, too bold and too sure of herself for Regina's liking, "really? It didn't look like it."
The entire interaction was pointless, and Regina was only making it worse by challenging her, but she couldn't help it. Hattie had maintained the upper hand ever since she disappeared, and Regina wasn't going to let her have it again.
"Excuse me," Regina began, tone calm, level, "do you know who you're talking to?"
Hattie's expression didn't falter, it didn't turn into a frown or a look of terror. "You're the mayor, I know. So?"
Regina felt fury ignite in her chest, and before she slapped Hattie across her smug little face, she stormed out the door, letting it slam loudly on her way out.
Regina's office was always a safe haven.
She slammed her food and briefcase down onto her desk, hard enough to pop the top off her cup of iced tea.
"Great. Just great…" she mumbled to herself, running her fingers through her hair. She felt ill, sweaty, her clothes felt too constricting and her breathing was labored.
"Ridiculous," talking to herself wasn't helping, and her food didn't feel as appetizing after Hattie had acknowledged it. The entire salad felt tainted. The tea felt poisoned. How had she missed Hattie in Storybrooke for so long? How had she existed in the same town as her, oblivious to the cause of all her heartbreak lurking god knows where. It made her feel sick. Did Hattie just choose now as the perfect time to appear? Did she still remember some of what happened before the curse? Was there some kind of sadistic enjoyment in Regina's sorrow?
That had to be it.
Regina sat down at her desk, stabbing pieces of kale with her fork instead of eating them. She'd call Graham. Graham would know how long the little shit had been in town. Regina tapped her food impatiently while she waited for him to pick up, almost hanging up in frustration after three rings went by. When she heard his voice in her ear, she sighed in relief,
"Yes, Madam Mayor?"
Regina took a breath before speaking, "Sheriff, I need you to do something for me."
He paused before answering, because the last time Regina had phrased a question like that, it had been sexual and ended in them fogging up in the windows in Graham's patrol car.
"Don't get excited. It's professional."
She heard rustling on his end of the line, papers sliding across his desk, "What's up? I don't have much to do today, so this is a good time."
"It will always be a good time when I want it to be, Sheriff. I need you to look into one of our residents for me. Tell me where she's living, what she does, and report back to me by the end of the day."
There was silence, as if Graham was wondering why Regina wanted him to spy on a resident of Storybrooke. He supposed she had her reasons, but he never enjoyed being a part of them.
"I suppose I can do that. Who is it?"
Regina didn't know what Hattie's last name was in this world, and she supposed it didn't really matter. There couldn't have been too many of her in one town.
"I don't know her last name. Hattie, though. Give me all the info you can get."
There was the rustle again, and the scratch of pen on paper.
"Got it. I'll call you later. Bye, Regina."
The line went dead, and Regina leaned back in her chair, slowly sipping her iced tea. Graham would find out. He would deliver, and then Regina could plan her next move. She'd plan on avoiding the little bitch for as long as possible.
Hattie had been living on the opposite side of town where Regina didn't bother to go, sitting up in a cozy little house with her mother and sister. Graham made sure to let Regina know that they were happy; "in case you were worried," he'd said. Regina pretended to be grateful.
Hattie being happy without her hurt more than she'd ever thought it could. The pain weighed heavy on her shoulders, pushing her down with every reminder that Hattie was happy. Happy in a home that wasn't the one they'd planned on having together. The little cottage in the woods, away from their families who pressured them into being royalty, where all they would ever need was each other.
The promises turned to ash in the wake of Hattie's betrayal.
Graham watched Regina move about her office, the silence smothering. He cleared his throat, taking a chance by speaking, "is there...anything else, Regina?"
She looked over at him, took in his form, his usefulness as a walking sex toy. The night before Hattie's disappearance, they'd slept together in the barn attached to Regina's castle, rolling around in hay, messy kisses and tousled hair, lipstick smeared everywhere. It had been the happiest night of Regina's life, feeling loved and wanted in her girlfriend's arms.
Girlfriend.
The word made her heart skip a beat.
Perhaps Graham would ease the pain for a little while.
"Actually, dear. There is."
Graham's pants were down and off in a matter of seconds. Regina's dress was hiked up, and she sat on the edge of her desk, letting Graham take the lead, letting him slide himself inside of her without begging for permission this time. She didn't want the game this time. She just wanted the sensations, the mind-numbing sensations of his cock inside of her and his mouth on hers and her neck and anywhere else she'd allow. She needed to not think about Hattie, how she smelled, how she tasted, how she always bit Regina's lip when they kissed. She needed Graham to help her forget everything, even if it was only until she came and slumped against her desk and cried after he left.
Graham's mouth was at her ear, his breath hot and ragged, thrusts uneven and desperate. He was always like that. Animalistic and unbridled. Hattie had been the opposite-a bit fumbly, but passionate, taking the time to worship Regina's body like it was the last one she'd ever touch.
That had been the plan for so long.
Regina bit down on Graham's shoulder, muffling the little sob that threatened to spill out at the memories that refused to stay quiet. How could she gain control again? How could she manage to ruin the girl who nearly made her rot from the inside out?
Regina decided on a plan when Graham pulled out just long enough to thrust every inch of himself back inside of her again.
Hattie wasn't invincible. In this realm, she was fragile. She had no memory of who she used to be, of who Regina was, of what they had and what power she used to have over the Mayor of Storybrooke. She was vulnerable.
Regina could ruin her, too. Reel her in, hook, line and sinker. Make her fall to her knees, desperate and in love, before tossing her aside like fucking garbage.
"Yes," Regina moaned, arching her back, nails scratching Graham's back raw. She wanted him bleeding. She wanted him whining in pain in between the grunts and the groans. Hurting him was power.
Hurting Hattie would be power.
She's smack that smirk off the blonde's pretty face. She'd smother her with love until she was nothing but a desperate, needy shell of her old self. She'd use her until there was nothing left for anyone to take advantage of.
After all, it was only fair.
"Fuck, Regina," Graham gasped into her ear, his cock pulsating, and she knew he was close. Usually he begged, pulled out and jacked himself off until Regina said, yes, pet. You can cum. But today, he could do it whenever he wanted. Regina was in paradise now, a true nirvana of revenge now that she knew what to do about her little problem. Because that's all Hattie was to her now. A problem that needed, and would be, dealt with.
"Pull out," she said, "and cum on the desk. Then, you're going to lick it up."
Graham shuddered at the command, his entire muscled frame trembling at the order. The pure degradation of it. He was always a slut for humiliation. Regina let herself think about Hattie, on her knees and bleeding, a black eye and a split lip, and the image was enough to send her into a frenzy of pleasure. She tightened around his cock, clawing down his forearms, leaning back to watch him hurry to pull out so he could cum like she'd ordered him to.
He always looked so cute with his cum on his mouth.
Cock in hand, Graham exhaled slowly, looking up at her with dazed eyes.
"I-is that all?"
Regina smiled at him, warmth melting into wickedness when she reminded herself that yes, she would finally have her revenge.
"No, darling. That would be all."