A/N: Hi everyone! This is a co-authored fic by myself (Kelsey) and my best friend Kaitlin, who I finally corrupted and got her hooked on ONCE! We're gonna be alternating chapters and (hopefully) updates will be pretty frequent this way! Fairytale Land flashbacks included are in Bold Italics and are separated so hopefully it won't be as confusing! This is an eventual SwanQueen fic, sooo don't like it? Don't read it. We LOVE LOVE LOVE Reviews and are super excited for this fic and we hope you all enjoy it as well!
Well in this life you must find something to live for
Cause when the darkness comes a callin'
You'll go back to where you were before...
Regina fixed her navy blue dress as she walked down the curved staircase. She really didn't know what to do with herself anymore. She'd stepped down as mayor, but 28 years of routine dies hard, and she found herself awake and in the shower by six a.m.
She looked around the empty house in despair because in her efforts to win Henry back she'd allowed him to choose when he wanted to stay with her and now... she hadn't seen him in a week. She made herself a meager breakfast of a single English muffin and orange juice and sat in the dining room lonely and to put it bluntly, bored.
She chewed on the bland muffin absentmindedly, thinking of how it felt to be alone… again. She'd been in a similar situation almost eleven years ago before she'd had Henry. But… even then she'd had Graham for some company. Now she had no one.
She sighed, dropping the muffin down onto the plate in aggravation. I did the right thing. I saved them! She thought bitterly as tears began to form in the inner corners of her eyes. And I have nothing, NOTHING to show for it! She failed to see the appeal of being the "good guy" anymore. She'd thought maybe, just maybe this would be a turning point for her, something that would make her life better, that this would be the way to have her happy ending.
As she rinsed her dishes in the sink, preparing to put them in the dishwasher she heard the doorbell ring. Confused, she walked to the door. After opening it, she really wished she hadn't.
"Can I help you Miss Swan?" She asked coolly. While she'd been genuinely glad she'd been able to save Emma and Mary Margaret for Henry's sake, it was just that. For Henry's sake… it didn't mean they were friends.
"Uh, yeah. I'm here to deliver these to you." Emma said uncomfortably handing her an envelope.
"What's this?" Regina asked, not taking the envelope she offered, crossing her arms defiantly.
"It's court papers Regina." Emma said, taking a deep breath, as if preparing herself for a battle.
"Why on Earth are you bringing me court documents?" Regina asked stiffly, placing one hand on the door frame. She felt the hairs on her neck stand on end, and could practically feel her eyes glaze over with ice.
"Because I'm the Sheriff… And you've been served." Emma said boldly, thrusting the envelope into Regina's empty hand, before turning on her heels and quickly heading for the gate.
Regina's jaw dropped in rage and shock. Who the hell did that Bitch think she was? She felt the passionate urge of magic course through her and bit her tongue until she tasted blood to not use it. She fisted the envelope angrily, slamming the door behind her. She stomped up the stairs to her bedroom where she promptly ripped open the envelope and felt her heart crumble into a thousand pieces...
"I'm sorry your majesty but I don't think—" the healer began.
"JUST. Tell. Me." Regina spat. This was the fifth time the King had arranged this appointment. She was feeling the crushing pressure to give him a male heir and it was wearing on her nerves.
"Regina, my dear. Let the kind lady speak." King Leopold said, placing a calming hand on her shoulder as she laid on the table, her feet in the leather stirrups.
Regina sighed, "I'm sorry, please excuse my rudeness."
The lady faltered a little bit, before removing the magic wand from her aching uterus. She'd been here for hours, letting this woman poke around inside her to determine whether or not she was indeed pregnant.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you are still not with child, Your Majesty… I'm sorry. It—You might be…" the lady stopped, darting her eyes to her feet.
"Might be what?!" Regina cried, unable to take the woman's incessant need to beat around the bush.
"Regina…" The King warned, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"Well, it doesn't do anyone any good to prolong this! She should come right out with it!" Regina protested, angry tears burning her eyes. "I just want to be done with this! It hurts!" She cried, it hurt in more than just physical pain. It hurt to constantly be under the pressure of producing an heir to an entire kingdom. It hurt to be constantly made to give herself to the king to consummate such an heir. IT hurt to see the disappointment on his face after every one of these visits. It hurt to be subjected to hours of a magical wand sensing around inside her to determine if she was finally with child. She'd just had enough.
"I'm afraid her majesty might be… barren." The woman all but whispered. Regina let her head fall back onto the table in dismay. She felt the king's hand slide from her shoulder as he thanked the woman for her time and sent her away.
Regina squeezed her eyes shut and felt the hot tear slide down her face. It wasn't like she'd wanted his child, but she thought maybe… a child would give him what he wanted. That maybe he would grow to love her like he'd loved his last wife. And now she knew, that was a pipe dream, hollow and empty, much like her.
She would never have a child…
Regina read the papers in her hands again. She must've read them wrong. Her eyes were so blurry with angry tears she couldn't be sure.
Custody papers. Emma Swan had filed for custody of her son. HER ONLY CHILD. She let out a scream and ripped the papers throwing them across the room in utter rage. She reached for the nearest breakable object, a small mirror on her nightstand, and threw it against the wall. She reveled in the sound of the shattering glass.
Her son, the only thing she loved in this world was going to be ripped from her.
She took a deep breath and looked into the full length closet mirror, composing her face into a steely glare.
Over my dead body, she thought coldly, picking up a shard of broken mirror and gripping it tightly.