CHAPTER ONE
When time came to chose between going back to the enchanted forest or not, most of the people of storybrook stayed. Granny couldn't live without her home-spa, Red could live without music, electricity and really small shorts (who could possibly wear corsets nowadays?!), Mary Margaret & David wanted to stop fighting and start living a normal life. Emma & Henry had never known anything else than this world and they knew they were not made for the FTL, it wasn't where they belonged. Regina never thought about going back, there was nothing or no one waiting for her in the enchanted forest, she will go wherever Henry will be. Only the dwarves and few others left.
The life went back to normal in some way. It's been a year now since the curse was broken but many things have changed. Mary Margaret & David bought a bigger house where they live with Emma. Henry also lives there 4 days a week when he is not staying with R. MM is 3 month-pregnant.
When Cora and Hook came Regina eventually had to kill her own mother to save everyone. Everyone discovered that day what Regina had endured as a child and a young woman, more than one evil queen died that day, the Evil Queen died with Cora, only Regina remained.
Sure the beginning had been uneasy but it quickly changed and even the most suspicious (even Henry) now consider Regina as a good person who once made bad choices.
As Regina enters her office for the first time since she had won the elections, she is excited and most of all grateful, grateful for her new life, her fresh start. She wishes she had seen Henry this morning but he was staying at Emma's until tomorrow. Speaking of the devil:
"Congratulations Mom!" yells Henry before crashing in his mother's arms. Henry is not the only one celebrating Regina's first day. Many people came to surprise their new mayor. Actually almost everyone: Red, Granny, Belle, David and Snow, Blue, Archie… Regina looks at her son and the others feeling warmth spreads in her heart. She is also looking for someone else: Emma. Fortunately said sheriff is here. Emma is standing on a chair trying to set something up. She almost fell when she hears everyone greeting Regina. Regina laughs at Emma's clumsiness, she looks adorable. Emma quickly approaches Regina:
_"Hello Madam Mayor" Emma grins at her;
_"Hello sheriff Swan"
_"just between the two of us, I voted for you. I didn't like the former mayor; we used to call her the evil queen, she was a bitch if you want my opinion."
Emma teases the mayor but judging from Regina's expression Emma knows she just said something she shouldn't have.
_"What?" the mayor points to their son.
_"Shit I didn't mean to say something "bitch"…and I said shit…twice…I knew I was gonna fuck up everything…
_"Emma!" Regina can't but chuckle when says the Sheriff's name. Emma immediately stops.
_ "Sorry. I guess what I wanted to say was congratulations." Smooth Swan, obviously you know how to make a fool of yourself! But on the bright side she called you Emma
_"Thank you" Regina smiles at her, a warm smile. I love when she smiles at me like that…Emma stops staring! Say something QUICK! Fortunately for Emma Henry was the first one to say something
_ "we wanted to surprise you on your first day, right Emma?"
_"Hmmm? … yes we did kid! Henry had the idea actually. We even made these decorations ourselves." She points at her previous location near the chair she was standing on.
_"Do you like it? I did the first half and Emma the other one"
_"Yes honey it's beautiful I love it"
She then leans closer to the blond and says in a low voice so Emma is the only to hear "I now know why Henry has never been good at art class: judging from your masterpiece it's genetic!"
Emma mocks shock before punching lightly Regina's arm even if she agrees with the mayor. "Ouch!" Regina says Regina laughing.
"Hey Gina!" Kathryn greets Regina and pulls Regina away from Henry and Emma. Emma doesn't appreciate it. She actually hates that Kathryn and Regina give each other nicknames and seem so close to one another. Their friendship didn't end with the curse; on the contrary Kathryn was Regina's only friend for a long time after Emma broke the curse.
"Hello K."
"Stop calling me like that, you know I hate it
"That's exactly why I call K… K!
"Whatever…So ready for your big day?
"It seems like I am not going to work right away." she gives a look around the room
"Oh you know what politics is about : parties and leg-splits.
"Kathryn!"
"Speaking of leg-splits, I am sorry I had to disturb you and your white knight… however, the death glare she is giving me right now confirms that I have been right all along: that girl is head over heels in love! Stop doing this "shewillneverlovemethewayIlov eher" look.
"Sure Emma loves me and the pope resigned!"
"Regina when are you going to realize that I'm ALWAYS RIGHT. You deserve to be happy and although you don't think you're good enough for her, she definitely thinks you are and so do I."
Regina sighs before she saying "Kathryn you're my best friend and it's nice of you to say that, but I'm content with what I have right now."
"Okay, I get it, enough of your hot lesbian romance for today."
The mayor simply glares at Kathryn but she is laughing inside silently
"I guess you have a lot of work ahead of you with this new real-estate deal. Heard about millions dollars at stake?"
"over 20 millions." Regina corrects
"Seriously?!" Kathryn's eyes widened when she heard Regina
"Yes. This real estate company wants to build a vacation resort a couple of miles outside Storybrooke itself but the land belongs to Storybrooke nonetheless."
"Would be good for the finances I guess"
"Sure, since the curse is broken, our economy isn't as good as it used to. My curse was, I agree, a bit overreacting (Kathryn smiles at that) but it protected us from the economic turmoil. There will be a town meeting next week about it and I am supposed to meet with one of the company's agents soon. We'll see what happens then. "