AN: I don't own Once Upon a Time or it's characters etc.
Two heads shared the pillow, one grey-haired and one black. They could have been grandmother and granddaughter, but they weren't. Regina and Emma Swan were fast asleep, arms crossed over each other for comfort while they slept.
The magical alarm woke Regina first. She had been forced to set it every night since they married and slipped carefully out of the bed so as not to wake her wife. Sitting down in front of the mirror on her dresser she gave a sad smile at her youthful appearance. She hadn't aged a day since they returned to the Enchanted Forest. It was her mother's final curse, to make her the eternal queen of Snow White's kingdom. Every day she re-applied the magic to herself, allowing her to take on a gradually aging look to match Emma's. No-one else knew. It was the only lie between her and Emma, but how do you tell someone you love that you know they are going to die while you may live forever? She couldn't do it. For years she had searched for an answer, a cure to her mother's final attempt to help her, but Rumplestiltskin was no longer the Dark One and there was no-one else she could trust.
The final layer of magic was in place before Emma woke. Her beautiful Queen, now that Snow White had gone and yes it had been a natural death. They had been married for over fifty years, Henry was happily married and a grandfather and their kingdom was at peace. The Blue Fairy and the new council were willing to admit that she had changed and have let her rule by Emma's side with minimal criticism for her suggestions. How quickly they forgot that she had spent all that time single-handedly ruling a small town.
"How is it that you always manage to wake before me?" The voice was still strong, though the words not as clear as they had once been.
"Because Darling, I didn't spend the evening trying to outdrink the dwarves."
"Was that last night?"
"And this morning. Don't worry, you almost one and they were very impressed. We will be getting the best of any jewels they mine this year."
Emma laughed. "Then come back to bed and help me get over this hangover."
Regina smiled at her. "As my Queen wishes."