A Year In Review
Swan Queen. Set after the diner scene in 2x10. No Hook/Cora.
Chapter 1:
Regina Mills briskly walked down the streets of Storybrooke towards her house. She ran her hands through her hair in frustration. "I cannot believe I apologized to Emma Swan", she thought. She arrived at her house and let herself in. She walked into the kitchen to make herself a cup of chamomile tea and went to her study to go sit down. "Why did I apologize to the very woman who tried to steal my son?" she asked herself. Then she remembered the look on Emma's face when she had harshly told the blonde she wasn't a mother. That's why she apologized. She would have had the same look on her face if someone had said that to her. She took a sip of her tea. Emma had invited her to celebrate with them at Granny's and she appreciated the invite. Mind you though, she still did not have her son, but she would figure that out tomorrow. She started to walk up the stairs to her bedroom when there was a knock on the door. She turned around to open the door and found the blonde and her son on the other side.
"Hey" said Emma.
"Miss Swan, to what do I owe the pleasure?" asked Regina.
"We just finished up at Granny's and I was about to take the kid to my place but he said he wanted to stay with you" explained Emma.
"Is…is that true?" Regina looked at Henry.
"Yeah Mom, I know you were trying to protect me but you also listened to me and had faith in me. When I said you changed I really meant it. I miss you," said Henry as he wrapped himself around Regina.
"I missed you too Henry" said Regina as she looked down at him with watery eyes.
"Well I guess I'll be going then," said Emma as she turned to leave.
"Thank you Emma" said Regina.
"No problem."
The two women looked at each other again before Emma spun around and walked down towards the street. Regina turned to her son as she ushered him in the house. "Now Henry, why don't you tell me all about Granny's, I'll make you some hot chocolate while you explain" said Regina with a smile.
"Really Mom?" asked the boy.
"Yes, and I might just have some whipped cream and cinnamon lying around.".
"You're the greatest!".
Regina laughed as she started gathering ingredients for the drink.
"Thank you Henry, so are you." said Regina as she grabbed a mug and started preparing the drink. When she was finished she handed to mug to Henry and the two of them went to go sit down in the living room.
Emma Swan was awakened the next morning by the shrill ringing of her phone.
"Hello?" she said groggily.
"Emma hi, its David, sorry to wake you but…"
"You don't need to finish that sentence, let me guess Pongo ran off again."
"Sadly yes, sorry I know it's early and you and Mary Margaret just got back but you have the knack of finding people. Or in this case dogs" said David.
"No problem, I can handle it."
"Are you sure?"
"In the last few days I've faced ogres, pirates, and Regina's pyscho mother," laughed Emma. "Finding a dog should be relatively easy and anyways I want to get back to how it was before I got sucked into a magical portal.
"Alright, bye Emma" said David.
"Bye David" replied Emma as she hung up and rolled out of bed. She was lacing up her boots a few minutes later when Mary Margaret walked into the kitchen.
'Emma, you're up early! Did Pongo get away again?" asked the brunette
"Yeah he did. Are you going to school today?"
"Yes, I figured the best way to calm people down is to settle back into a regular routine. And trust me I had a lot of experience calming people down in the Enchanted Forest" said Mary Margaret. An awkward silence followed as Emma realized what Mary Margaret meant.
"Calming people down after Regina's threats?" she asked.
"Emma, she didn't exactly make our lives a picnic, and when you first came here you didn't get along with her either," remarked Mary Margaret.
"You think we get along?"
"Well you're not threatening each other and you are acting civil. Anyways don't you have a dog to catch?"
"Oh crap, see you later" said Emma as she walked towards the door.
"Wait! Do you want a mug of coffee to go?"
"No thanks! I'll be good. Bye!" shouted Emma from the hallway.
Regina Mills was in her kitchen making herself a cup of coffee when her son bounded down the stairs.
"Hey mom!"
"Good morning Henry. Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah I did! I was wondering if I could go to school today."
"Are you sure you're up to going?" asked Regina.
"Yeah, Emma told me stories about ogres and pirates so I can't wait to tell the other kids"
"Alright well let me make you a lunch and then we can be on our way. There's toast for breakfast if you would like some" said Regina as she turned towards the fridge.
"Thanks Mom!" replied Henry as he went to go give his mom a hug.
Emma Swan most definitely had made a huge mistake when she had turned down Mary Margaret's coffee order. She had spent thirty minutes chasing dog through the forest and had gotten mud all over herself and numerous twigs in her hair. She had gone back to the apartment thinking she would have a relaxing shower but lost her key. She was walking to the Sheriff's station when a loud horn shook her out of her daze. She looked up to see a black Mercedes pull up beside her.
"My my Miss Swan, you sure do look wonderful today. New conditioner?" said Regina with smirk as she stepped out of the car.
"Yes Madam Mayor, it's called the I Just Chased A Dog Through The Woods And I'm Exhausted Look. You should try it." said Emma.
"I prefer my own polished and refined look, but it certainly does suit you."
"How's Henry" asked Emma as she ignored the brunette's previous comment.
"He's fine, I just dropped him off at school. He's quite eager to tell his classmates about your stories" replied Regina.
"It wasn't that big of a deal," said Emma as she yawned.
"Miss Swan, you lived through an encounter with my mother, I would say that is a feat on its own"
"Yeah she's kinda scary."
"I'm quite aware of that fact" said Regina in a clipped tone.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."
"Its fine. Where are you headed to?" asked Regina.
" I was going to go home but I lost my key. So I was just heading to the sheriff's station so I could maybe clean myself up there. I need to stop by Granny's and get coffee too at some point or I'm going to fall over."
"Well Miss Swan we could not have Sheriffs falling over. I still have fresh coffee at my house, you may have a cup if you would like to, and you could get some of those branches out of your hair."
"You actually are inviting me into your house?" asked Emma.
"I certainly do not have to. I was only repaying the invite from last night when you Invited me to the diner."
"Yeah but last night I invited you to the diner not my place."
'Are you going to come or not Miss Swan?" said Regina with a slight raise of a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"Yeah, yeah I am" replied Emma.
The car pulled up to 108 Mifflin Street and the two women got out of the car. Regina unlocked her door and Emma followed her inside.
"Boots" said Regina.
'What?" asked Emma.
"Take off your boots, I don't need mud tracking in my house."
"Oh yeah sorry." said Emma as she removed her boots.
'You can use the bathroom down the hall on the left. I will go prepare the coffee." said Regina as she turned towards the kitchen.
"Wait Regina!"
"Yes, Miss Swan?"
"I, uh don't have clean clothes. Do you think I could borrow a pair of yours?"
'Absolutely not. I will not have you soiling my perfect clothing. Come here" said Regina. Emma walked towards her and Regina waved her hand around the blonde. A cloud of purple smoke disappeared and the blond found herself with clean clothes on and neatly brushed hair.
"Okay, you totally need to teach me that sometime."
"What do you mean?" asked the brunette.
"Oh yeah I forgot to tell you, I have magic. Your mom tried to rip my heart out but her hand got like stuck in my chest and then a blast of white magic light shot out and threw her away" said Emma.
"She tried to rip your heart out?" asked Regina with a sour look on her face.
'Yeah well actually she meant to rip Mary Margaret's but I saved her. Anyways yeah I guess I have magic" said the blonde with a shrug.
"The Savior, of course you do." Regina turned and went to go heat the coffee up and Emma followed.
'So do you think you could teach me" asked Emma when she was sitting at the table.
'Why on earth would you want me to teach you and why do you think I would want or have the time. I have a town to run and Henry to look after."
"I thought you could teach me because Henry said you are trying to change. If he trusts you, I also trust you. Plus I would rather you teach me instead of the Blue Fairy."
Regina stopped and stared at Emma. "You trust me?" she asked.
"Yeah, I do" replied Emma.
"Very well. I will not make this easy for you and it will be whenever I find the time." said Regina as she passed a mug of coffee over to the blonde.
"I also thought we should have a schedule for Henry."
"And why would we need a schedule for my son?"
"I honestly meant it before when I said I never wanted to take him away from you. I know he is your son, and you raised him, but I am a part of his life. I just figured maybe I could pick him up from school, hang out with him for a few hours, and also maybe spend Saturdays with him. Unlike most people in this town, I actually do respect you as a mother Regina. God knows I certainly am not one, but you did a great job, because Henry is a wonderful kid." said the blonde with a honest smile.
"I suppose that would work out fine. I appreciate what you said. Thank you Emma." said Regina.
"The coffee was great too by the way" said Emma.
"Everything I make is great." replied Regina with a smirk.
"I have to get back to work but call me whenever youre ready to have a lesson." said Emma as she turned to leave.
"Have a good day at work Miss Swan."
"You too Regina. Bye!" Emma smiled and turned to walk down the steps.
Regina closed the door to her house and pressed herself against the back of it. Did she really just agree to magic lessons with that infuriating blonde? And a schedule for Henry? Emma's words had certainly been heartfelt, and she felt a the ghost of a smile pull at her lips before she regained her neutral expression, smoothed down her hair, and walked into her study.
Reviews are always greatly appreciated. I'll hopefully have the next chapter up in a few days. Happy Reading!