Title: The Beauty of the Beast
Pairing: Regina Mills/Emma Swan
Spoiler: Regina tries hard to make Emma see that she isn't all bad, but she doesn't really succeed. When a murder happens and people think Regina is guilty once again, she disappears from Storybrooke and Emma realizes how much she cares about the mayor and former evil queen.
What happens when the truth is revealed? Will Regina return?
Disclaimer: This is a fanfiction - I don't own "Once Upon A Time" or any of the characters.
"Once upon a time" and all its content belongs to Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and ABC.
A/N: First of all – my mother tongue is German, so there might be some mistakes in grammar etc. in this story.
I apologize for that, but I promise that I'll do my very best.
Second – I'm a newfound #evilregal.
Became addicted to the show the moment I started watching it though.
This story is kind of AU, so don't be mad if not everything goes exactly as it happened/happens on the show.
And last, but definitely not least: I want to dedicate this story to a longtime friend of mine, who celebrated her birthday on May 11.
She baked the most amazing "Once upon a time" cake you can imagine for her own birthday. Maybe you have seen it on twitter.
So, Agata…this is for you.
Because you are such a lovely person.
I hope you'll enjoy reading it. I'll try my best to keep you entertained.
Much love,
Raven
The Beauty of the Beast
By Raven
~You told I had the eyes of a wolf – search them and find the beauty of the beast…~
Chapter 1
"Regina, I'm sorry. I…it's just…I don't know if that would be a good idea", Emma looked at the mayor in surprise, trying to find the right words.
"Do not bother to keep on talking. I do not need any of your excuses, Miss Swan", Regina snapped and turned to leave.
"Regina…wait!"
When the brunette was about to close the door of the mansion, Emma knew she had to do something, "Please, wait…you have every right to celebrate Henry's birthday with him…it's just…"
"I get it, Miss Swan. Nobody wants to celebrate with me and my son. Not even you. In your eyes I am a monster, a bitch with no heart…the evil queen. And you will never change your mind about me. It's fine", the mayor's voice was cold, her face motionless.
"That's not what I said…" Emma wanted to slap herself. She hadn't meant to offend Regina by declining the dinner invitation. All she had wanted to do was to bring Henry back after their day together.
"There is no need for you to say it. I can see it in your eyes. Good night, Miss Swan."
That said Regina did close the door, sighing heavily.
What had she done wrong?
She had tried to be "nice" – for Henry's sake.
At least that was what Regina told herself.
It was all about her son. Their son.
Wasn't it?
She didn't understand why Emma couldn't at least give her some credit for trying to change.
Sure, she didn't always succeed, but at least she tried to be better person.
For Henry.
And spending Henry's birthday together had been a nice idea. That's what "normal" parents did for their children's birthday, or not?
Regina Mills was disappointed, frustrated even.
As hard as she tried to make Emma Swan see that she wasn't all bad, the blonde didn't seem to recognize at all.
But why was it so important to her that the sheriff liked her?
Because of Henry?
Yes, that had to be the reason.
Emma was sitting at Granny's , drinking a hot chocolate, lost in her own thoughts, when Ruby took seat right next to her.
"What's going on? Did you get into a fight with Regina again?"
The name Regina snapped her out of her thoughts immediately, "What? No!"
"Care to tell me what's bothering you?" Ruby asked with a worried expression on her face.
"It's just…I don't know. Regina asked me if I wanted to celebrate Henry's birthday with them…you know…spend the day together…like parents do. Do some fun stuff", Emma shrugged.
"Hold on! Let me get this straight…Mayor Mills…the evil queen…wants to celebrate her son's birthday…together with you?! What the hell is she up to?" Ruby seemed to be highly alerted.
"She isn't up to anything I guess. It sounded like she wanted to do something…well…nice…for Henry…" the blonde stated and took a sip of her hot chocolate.
"For real?" Ruby looked at her wide-eyed, "You know how weird it sounds to talk about Regina and use the word nice in the same sentence, right?"
"I know. Well, I screwed it up anyway", Emma replied, "Put it on my tab."
And then she left without another word.
Back at the station Emma checked some reports she would need for her meeting with the mayor the next morning.
She could not afford to be unprepared because then Regina clearly would rip her head off.
But the problem was that Emma Swan was not able to concentrate for more than a second a time.
She was too confused by the mayor's behavior plus she knew that she should have reacted differently.
This had nothing to do with Snow or Charming. It was not about her either. Not even about Regina.
It was all about Henry and she slowly started to wonder why the former evil queen had realized that and she had not.
It was Henry's birthday for Heaven's sake.
They should spend the day together, they should celebrate together.
As his parents.
As a family.
Why couldn't she let it be?
Why did she have to see something bad in everything Regina Mills did or suggested?
"Because she cannot be trusted", Emma said to herself, "Everyone knows what she has done and what she is capable of."
Emma was aware of the fact that what she had thought had been exactly wha her mother, Mary Margaret, would have said if she would have been there.
She would have said it because of her own, Snow White's, history with The Evil Queen.
But the truth was that Emma and Regina did not have much of a history yet.
And if Emma would keep acting like she did they would never have one.
A/N: Reviews will be very appreciated – especially since this is my first "Once upon a time" fanfic.
The lyrics I used as the headline is taken from the song "The beauty of the beast" by Nightwish.