Author's note: This has been sitting on my desktop for almost a month, unfinished. Well, I went ahead and finished it today. Hope everyone enjoys my take on my favorite OUAT character and pairing.
Disclaimer: I do not own or have any rights to Once Upon A Time, or any of the places or characters. If I did, Regina and Emma would fall in love and all would be merry and sexy. The end.
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I have always strove to find and attain that ever elusive concept of love. Back in my younger days before heartbreak led to my loss of innocence, I believed I had found true love. Daniel was such a kind, handsome man. He made me feel things I had never before experienced. I lived for the days I would ride behind him on the back of a beautiful steed; wind whipping my hair, my face buried against his strong back. I would splay my fingers against the clothing of his back, feeling the muscles pulled taut and the warmth emanating from him and soaking into my heart. I needed him like I needed air to breath. He was my everything, my entire world. But my mother extinguished the flame before it could burn even brighter. I will never be able to erase the horrifying image of my mother yanking out my love's heart and squeezing it. That day, she did not just kill Daniel. She killed a part of me as well.
I ended up with King Leopold which absolutely devastated me. I did not want to marry such a man, or give him a part of myself that Daniel should have been given. But, life has a funny way of working. I went through the motions, my heart filled to the brim with an intense hatred. Hatred towards Leopold, Snow (who kickstarted the whole mess), my mother, and most importantly, myself. I had fallen for a man and ultimately ended in his life being cut short like an axe man felling a tree. The hate kept building and building, and eventually ended up in my own beloved father's death, my mother being flown into a mirror, and a curse being placed upon the Enchanted Forest.
For years nobody knew my secret, and I lived my life as happily as I could. I was the mayor of this new town, Storybrooke ironically being its name. I adopted a son, a sweet little baby boy that I named after the father I had slew by my own hand. Henry gave me a joy I had not experienced since Daniel so long ago. I raised him through the years, and watched him grow from a clumsy, diaper-toting boy into a gentle, intelligent child. He kept the steady ache in my heart away, and I dearly loved the boy. However, I was lonely. I did not want another relationship per se, as I could not fully commit to another when my wounds from Daniel's death were still very open and fresh. So I started nightly excursions with then Sheriff Graham.
He was a decent enough man. He was good-looking, had an attractive accent, and was good in bed. But that is all I felt for him. The formerly known Huntsmen was just an outlet, a way to let off some excessive frustration and energy, and a body to keep the bed from being cold. I knew he would never compare to Daniel though, and the nightly ritual did not expand to anything more. And then Emma Swan came along.
She came bearing a god awful red leather jacket (that I eventually grew to adore) and an old, beat up Volkswagen bug. I was grateful when she brought back Henry, but as soon as I heard that she was my little boy's actual birth mother, all my feelings turned to animosity and anger. I was afraid that this woman who had been absent for all of Henry's life would come waltzing in and take my precious treasure from me. Henry was all I had, my last inkling to a less heartbreaking life. So I started being nasty to Emma. I did everything in my power to humiliate and demean her in some way. I craved power and this woman threatened the very pedestal I stood upon. We fought over everything imaginable. Dislike and loathing burned in our eyes in every single bit of conversation we were forced to partake in. And yet, despite my feelings towards the woman, I was intrigued by her. Her good deeds knew no bounds. She was unfailingly good and everyone in Storybrooke was fond of her. Emma was also the only person who could actually put up with my verbal assaults and the only person unafraid. It irked and made me curious at the same time. She ended up saving my life on several different occasions. She protected me from an angry mob of newly remembered fairytale creatures, an explosive house fire when my ankle was in severe pain, Dr. Whale trying to kill me, and pushed me out of the way of an incoming wraith, transporting her and Snow to the Enchanted Forest. Eamma Swan made me feel many different emotions. My heart beat a frantic beat when she came around, and I felt an all-encompassing warmth light my entire body on fire. This feeling of love, a feeling I had thought would never pass by my heart again, absolutely terrified me. The last time I felt this, my significant other was killed in front of my eyes. No, I could not live through this again. I am not strong enough.
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So, I started actively avoiding Storybrooke's sheriff/Savior, thinking that if she and I had no contact these dangerous stirrings inside me would pass. Of course, it did not really work. My heart yearned for her, seeking her out whenever she was mentioned in a conversation, or if I got just a brief glimpse of golden blonde curls and a red leather jacket. A week had gone by, and my love for Emma had just grow stronger and more painful to bear. I cursed myself for this weakness, crying myself to sleep at night followed by an exhausted rest plagued by nightmares. I woke up after one such night, fixing myself into the Madame Mayor that everyone knew and loathed. I fit into my persona, fixing my mask into place. I left my mansion, stepping into my beloved Mercedes. I stopped at Granny's Diner, having decided upon getting a large coffee due to my recent restless sleep. The tiny golden bell rang, announcing my presence. I ignored all the stares (some not very pleasant) that were thrown my way. I sauntered up to Ruby, placing my order for a coffee as black and bitter as my supposed soul. I could tell Ruby had also come to that agreement. The waitress went to the back to make my drink.
I heard the bell again, signaling the arrival of yet another patron. I ignored it and focused on removing Emma from my mind in order to get through the day as mayor. That's when her scent hit me. She smelled of the leather and mint gum, freedom and independence. I let the calming wave wash over me, before tensing my body up. Her boots echoed on the floor, telling me that she was headed in my direction. I schooled my expression into something less nervous and lovesick and into something befitting an evil queen. I slowly turned around, meeting Emma's eyes. "Well if it isn't the saviour. What a surprise, seeing you in a diner. Come to get yet another one of those fattening pastries you seem to adore so much?" The sheriff's eyes narrowed slightly, and she tilted her head. "Good morning to you too, Madame Mayor. And are you getting yet another coffee that bears such an uncanny resemblance of your soul?" A twitch of my lips and a tightening of my eyes were the only indication that her words have affected me. And it was just my luck that Emma saw it. A triumphant smirk eased onto her face. I frowned. "Yes, Miss Swan. I see you are just full of jokes today. If only you could put half as much energy into your job as you do making my life difficult." "Nah that would not be nearly as much fun. Plus, you would miss me too much." I couldn't help but let out a snort. "I did not think that bump you had on your head had affected your mental capabilities, but it seems I was wrong. Or perhaps it is just your genes. Being the daughter of Snow White will do that to you." The smirk never left Emma's face. "Oh yeah? Then why have you been avoiding me then?" "Miss Swan, your delusional mind is playing tricks on you. I am certainly not avoiding you, nor do I have any feelings toward you besides dislike." "You forget, Miss Mills, that I can detect any lie. Well my lie-dar is beeping like crazy at your words. Something you wanna say to me, Regina?" That insufferable smirk paired with her knowing green eyes was my undoing. I snapped, "I don't have time for this! I have a job to do; running this town as you are aware. And you have yours as well, if you will actually do it for once." With that, I grabbed my coffee and paid for it, heading towards the door and my salvation. As I walked away, I heard Emma's voice call after me. "Whatever you say, Madame Mayor. Just know, I feel it too." My eyes widened as the words passed through my ears. I looked back at the woman who'd stolen what was left of my heart. The normally humorous glint in her eyes had turned softer, full of love. Our eyes connected, and I swear I could feel a spark. Her green eyes bore into my very soul, and they seemed to glow a blinding white.
We stood there for what seemed like hours just looking at each other. I finally broke the connection, noticing how many people were staring awestruck at the saviour and evil queen engrossed in such a stare down. Giving Emma one last meaningful look, I headed back out the door and drove away in my Mercedes. One last thought rolled through my mind as I drove to my office. Maybe my happy ending is not so elusive after all.
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