*** I do not own Once Upon A Time nor any of their characters.
***This has been beta'd by EvilRegalBonhamCarter
***This is my first Swan Queen fic. Enjoy.
CHAPTER 1
Regina hurried home through the darkened streets of town. She had her head down, shoulders hunched, arms wrapped tightly around herself. She had just left Cora's grave.
She stumbled slightly as she made her way because she was blinded by tears that she couldn't seem to stop. She wasn't worried about being seen. It was so late that even those who stayed for last call at the local watering holes were just getting to bed. She was as she had always been. Alone.
She couldn't get that image of her Mother's final moments out of her head. The one look Cora had given her right after Regina gave her heart back to her, right before Snow White's poison dripped itself through her system. Her mother had given her a look that Regina had waited her whole life for. That look was a mixture of joy, love, happiness, pride, guilt, and regret. In that moment, Regina had gotten all the confirmation she needed. Her mother did love her and she could change.
Then the cruelty of the woman who was upheld as the symbol of all goodness sank in as her mother collapsed into her arms. Her mother's heart had been poisoned. And Snow White was the guilty culprit. She had tricked Regina and taken away everything that Regina held dear to her with a look of pure innocence on her face. Again.
Once again, everyone rejoiced. Good had triumphed over evil. Everyone, that is, but her.
Regina seethed. That was until Snow White offered up her heart to her. She almost crushed it. Then she brought it in closer to her and looked at it. The vibrant red that marked a healthy heart had black swirling around inside of it. Regina laughed. Snow had done herself in. And knowing that she had to live with a blackened heart was enough retribution for Regina.
The only problem was, without vengeance fueling her, Regina had nothing else to cloak the loneliness or depression that threatened to overwhelm her. Henry refused to come back home. She rarely saw him. He was no longer her little boy. He had become so mean to the woman who had, and would, give her life for him.
She made it home and made her way upstairs. She ignored her room and instead went into Henry's. It was so lonely without him. She picked up a picture of him from the bedside table. He was 4 years old. He was laughing with his arms outstretched and his face upturned as the first snow of that year fell. He had his tongue hanging out as he tried to catch snowflakes on his tongue.
She clutched the picture to her and fell onto the bed crying. She didn't even notice when she fell asleep.
XOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Emma had followed Regina from a distance. She had been behind her the entire way from the cemetery. She could see her shoulders shaking and knew that Regina was crying. It ripped her to shreds inside. The way Cora had died was unbelievably cruel. She knew the brunette's mother had been an evil woman. But, the irony of her own mother killing Regina's wasn't lost on her. It was just the way things went in this family.
Eva treated Cora horribly. Cora killed Eva. Regina killed Leopold. And now Mary Margaret had killed Cora. And she, the savior had done nothing, nothing to stop it and nothing to help.
So, she told herself that it was concern that made her raise her hand to knock on the door. And concern that made her try to open the door, finding it unlocked, and to then enter without receiving any kind of answer to her calls. And it was concern that drove her upstairs where she found Regina asleep in Henry's bed.
Even in her sleep, Regina still had tears pouring down her face and every few minutes she'd let out a sob. And still she was the most beautiful person Emma had ever seen.
Emma watched for a few minutes, still convincing herself that it was concern that was making her stroke Regina's hair back from her face and to then lean over to wrap the bedspread around her shoulders.
She had no clue what it was that made her bend down and press her lips against Regina's. Shock made her pull away. Her face flushed with embarrassment. She went to turn away but her eye caught sight of what Regina was holding. She slipped it out of her hand.
It was a photo of Henry. He looked to be about 3 or 4. He was outside catching snowflakes with his tongue. His face was pure joy as only children could do.
She took the picture and went downstairs. She didn't mean to stay but she couldn't make herself leave either. She almost fell down onto the couch. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the photo. That would leave too much room to have to analyze that kiss.
She ran her hands over her still tingling lips. She had felt that kiss down into her toes. And there at the end, before she pulled her lips away, she felt the same surge of magic rushing through her that she had felt that day at the wishing well with Regina.
So, instead she stared at Henry at age 4 and wondered what he was like back then. She fell asleep without even noticing.
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The next thing Emma knew, she was in a brightly lit room. She had no idea what was going on but oddly didn't really care either.
Suddenly, she noticed a small girl near her. She was beautiful. She looked to be about 4. She had large brown eyes and blonde hair. She looked up at Emma with such a solemn expression that Emma was reminded of Regina.
The child came closer to her, "Can I keep you?"
"Sure kid. Uh, where are we?"
The girl jumped into her arms and gave her a kiss.
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A bright light caught Regina's eyes. But, it wasn't an overpowering light. It was more like a nova's glow. She had no idea where they were because it eclipsed everything else around her. She wasn't afraid, though. Instead she felt nothing but love.
A small child stood next to her. She had blonde hair with large brown eyes. She had her head tilted to the side as if she contemplating something of huge importance. She walked up to Regina and touched her leg.
Regina was a little taken back. She wasn't used to being touched in anyway. Let alone from someone who was looking at her with such love radiating from them.
"Can I keep you?" The small child asked.
"Yes," slipped out of Regina's mouth so fast it surprised even her. She looked at the child with fear in her eyes for a second.
The child just leaned over and kissed her.
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The sun streaming in the window awakened Regina. She laid there for a moment before she got herself oriented. She was in Henry's room. She didn't remember covering herself. But, she also didn't remember falling asleep so she just ignored it and made her way downstairs. She still had a town to run. And it looked like she was going to be late. She hated being late.
She got downstairs and was drawn to a noise emanating from the living room. On her sofa was none other than Emma Swan.
Regina put her hands on her hips. She glared down at the intruder. "Miss Swan? Can I help you? Even though I see you've already helped yourself to my home."
Emma sat up looking dazed for a second. "Oh. Regina." She had a confused look on her face as if she had no idea how or why she was there.
Regina was about to ask what the hell she was doing in her house when a loud noise crashing in the kitchen drew her attention. She threw Emma a glance marked with suspicion but Emma was still sitting there dazed. She went in the direction of the noise and ended up in her kitchen. The refrigerator door stood open. Milk was spilled on the floor. As she stood staring confusedly, Emma bumped into her from behind. She turned around to cut her with a scathing remark when the refrigerator door closed.
A small child, carrying a soggy napkin, stood. She had been hidden by the kitchen island while she was bending over. Now, they had a full view of her. She was the little girl from their dreams.
"Sorry Mommies. I was going to make you breakfast in bed but then I 'membered. I don't know how to make breakfast." The statement was so honest that it was comical. Or it would've been had Emma and Regina been able to process information in that moment.
Emma and Regina's mouths hung open in shock. They turned to one another then back to the little girl.
Finally, it was Regina who broke the silence, "Mommies?"
The little girl just stared at her in confusion as if she was the one that wasn't making sense in all of this.
"Who are you? Where are your parents? And how did you get into my home?" Regina shot out in practically one breath.
"You made me Mommy, 'member? I asked you if I could keep you and you said yes."
Regina looked over at Emma whose jaw was still hanging slack. She looked like she was going to pass out.
She shook her head hard as if it was going to erase what she knew, "No that was a dream. It wasn't real. I-"
"Wait!" Emma finally came to, "I had that dream. And she's the little girl who was in my dream. How did you have my dream?"
"I didn't have your dream," Regina rolled her eyes at the stupidity, "I had my own dream. And she was in it. And she asked – "
"If she could keep me," They said in unison. The twin looks of shock were mirrored on each of their faces.
"This isn't real…. This is -" she put her hands on her hips and rounded on Regina, "did you curse me or something?"
"I'm not a curse! I'm True Love! And I don't like you no more, Mommy." The tiny blond stood there with her hands on her hips and threw her one of Regina's trademark glares.
"Look kid -," Emma began then looked over at her arm she had just raised. It contained a bracelet. It had 3 infinity symbols intertwined and on each, was a birthstone. It glowed with a light source that Emma couldn't place.
Emma recognized her birthstone on the end. But, she was at a loss for the other two. There was also a golden tag hanging off like a charm. She looked at it and read True Love's Most Precious Keepsake. She looked over at Regina who seemed to be sporting a similar bracelet. She turned it over and kept reading.
I AM YOURS
AND YOU ARE MINE
ALWAYS AND FOREVER
INTERTWINED
Emma and Regina exchanged another look filled with shock. Emma turned back to face the pint sized blonde. She was also wearing the exact same bracelet.
Now, Emma was truly shaken. Here was the very real child that she had just dreamed about. She gave her a really thorough look. She was beautiful and she looked exactly like Regina. Emma thought this was what Regina would look like if she had blonde hair. And this is what our child would look like if we -. No. There was no way she could finish that thought. She turned to Regina who seemed to have collected herself.
"Mommy, I can't get this up."
Regina moved to help with the spill. She warned herself to stay calm. There had to be a logical reason for all of this. She was completely torn. On the one hand, she had no idea how this could be. But, on the other, here was a beautiful child with her face calling her Mommy. She knew it must be a mistake even as she prayed for it to be true.
"What's your name sweetie?" she asked after she had cleaned up the mess. She washed her hands and went to pick up the child, presumably to do the same but as she held her, she pulled her tight.
The little girl giggled and wrapped her arms tight around her neck. "You haven't given me one yet Mommy," she answered delightedly.
Emma watched dumbfounded, "Regina, you can't be buying this."
"Angelica," the name slipped out before Regina could stop herself. Regina smiled as she stroked the blonde child's hair, "Angel."