Disclaimer: I own nothing beside my crazy mind and my computer… and sometimes it's more them owning me…
Note: The original idea belongs to my friend Raee (sinful-obsessions). Julie (evilneverfeltsogood) and Bowie (obsessivelyaddictive) are my beta-readers and help me build the story. So a big thank you to all of you!
Today is your 28th birthday. 28 years of loneliness. Oh yes of course you have Henry and he is probably the best thing that has ever happened to you. He put you back on the right track when you were lost, 10 years ago. He was the reason you put order in your life; you have a job and a beautiful apartment now. But love for a child, as fulfilling as it is, can never replace the warm arms of a lover at night. The simple joy of having breakfast, reading the newspaper together or enjoying a movie. You are lonely. No one to warm your bed. Henry's father? There's one… He doesn't even know about him. He is a jerk and it's better that way.
So, as you blow the only candle on that cupcake your son bought for you, you actually make a wish.
I wish for love
That's all. Anything destiny would throw at you, you'll take. You desperately need love. The details are just that: details. Man, woman, you don't care. You just need someone to talk to about your days and to share your nights with.
At the precise moment you blow the candle out, there's a loud bang coming from the hallway and then an even louder one at your door. You can't help but being startled. This can't be…
You look down at Henry.
"I don't think we were expecting anyone… You haven't invited Mary and Ruby, have you? Henry! Tell me?!" your plan was to have a quiet evening with your son watching the latest superhero movie he loves very much… something about a group of muscled men fighting evil, and there's a woman in it too… he tried to explain it to you for a thousand times but superheroes are just not really your thing.
"I swear mom, I haven't! You promised to watch the Avengers! Why would I invite your friends over?!" ten-year-old and already a very clever boy… you mess up his hair a little, knowing how much he hates it and go for the door.
You take a quick look through the peephole and are surprised to see an eye looking back at you. There comes the banging again. And there's yelling this time!
"You there! I demand you to open that door and explain what I am doing here! NOW!"
What the hell?! You open the door, ready to fight that crazy woman.
"Listen, Lady, you are not in position to dem-" you are stuck by her beauty. Long dark hair, brown eyes, beautiful dress, a cleavage to die for…
"Not in position to what, dear?! I am the Queen, I do whatever I feel like doing! Get out of my way! This hallway is freezing! Not that you care, obviously… That is not the appropriate way to welcome guests! Let alone a royal one!" she pushes you aside and makes herself at home. You can't believe the nerves of that woman. Queen?! Queen of what?! Queen of the mental hospital she escaped from that's for sure! Oh my God, Henry, you think as you make a quick run to your living room. You stop dead in your tracks as you see her talking with Henry.
"So, young man, tell me, where is the fireplace? I'm freezing! And the blonde who opened the door was really rude. I hope you are more polite than her, aren't you, boy?" she is staring at him with a mix of disdain and playfulness.
"Boy?! I'm 10! And I am polite! And she is my mom! So you better watch your mouth, crazy lady!"
For a couple of minutes, there is a silence filling the room with tension: you are proud but at the same time afraid for your son, afraid she'll raise a hand on him; if she does, so help her God cause you'll destroy her, no matter how gorgeous and nuts she is.
But then you hear her laugh cracking the silence and you see Henry laughing with her. You can't help but joining them.
"You are brave, young man. No one in my kingdom dares to speak to me as you just did. But then, I am not in my kingdom anymore." she says as she puts her hand on your son's shoulder. Time for you to step in and figure out where she's from and how to get her back there.
"Look, Miss… You are at my place here. Boston, Massachussetts. East Boston, to be precise and this is the apartment 205 of this building you found God knows how. I guess you come from the McLean Hospital, even if I have no idea how and why you got here. So, what's your name?" you led her to the couch and have her sitting down as you were talking. But then she is barely sitting down that she is up on her feet again and she begins pacing.
"Boston?! I have never heard of it! Obviously it's not in my Enchanted Forest. How did I get here? Which spell did you use? Why have you captured me?! Who is behind this?!"
She is raging now.
"Wow! No one captured you! Calm down and have a seat! Please. Would you like something to drink?" you were trying to have Henry out of the room as fast as you could and as easily as possible without raising suspicion. You never know with crazy people. Everything could go boom in a fraction of second.
She nods, still speaking to herself and finally sit down.
"Yes please dear. I'd like some tea if you have some." polite… well that's a first, you think, smiling at yourself.
"Henry, hon, please go to the kitchen and make some tea… you know how, you're a big boy now" he nods and off he goes. You have one of those electric kettles so it's perfectly safe for him. And as long as he'll be there searching for the teabags, he'll be safe from her.
You take a deep breath and study her. She is beautiful. Utterly beautiful. Really the fairest of them all, you don't know where that came from but you're thinking about Snow White right now. The Evil Queen, more precisely. Maybe in her mind, she is that Evil Queen… who knows?!
"So… what is your name?" you start softly.
"I am Regina, Queen of the Enchanted Forest. If this is some kind of ruse and I learn Snow is behind this, I will destroy you, if it is the last thing I do!" you can see fear in her eyes. She is afraid of something. Well of course. She is lost and confused. And yet, you can tell she is telling the truth. But that's impossible. Maybe it's because she believes in it so much that you can't tell it's a lie.
"Okay… So Regina, where-" she interrupts you.
"You may refer to me as your majesty or Queen Regina, but, my dear, I don't know you enough to let you call me by my given name alone!" She looks away with that superior look again.
"Fine… So, Queen Regina, where do you come from? Really! And how did you get here?" you try your best to sound soft and calm but she is getting on your nerves.
"Here's the tea, Miss" Henry is back already! That boy is really too good to be true. You raise him too well.
"Thank you, young man. What is your name?" she is so sweet all of a sudden. Like being around a child changes her completely.
"My name is Henry, miss. I'm-"
"Henry, dear, it's time for you to go do your homework" you want him out of the way.
"But mom! The Avengers?!"
"Henry! Room! Now!" you growl at him, so there is no door open for discussion.
"Fine… goodnight, miss"
"Regina, I am Regina" she says to him "Listen to your mother and do a good job with your chores!"
"HA… yeah sure… goodnight Regina" and off her goes. You can't help the relief sigh coming out of your mouth. She notices it.
"Did you think I would hurt your boy?! I'm not that cruel, no matter what Snow told you, I love children! Family is the most important thing in the world." her voice cracks a little and you can't explain why. And that mention of Snow again. It can't be real. It can't be theSnow White. But still there are no traces of lies in her eyes. Even if you believe something so hard, if it's not true, you will see it! What's happening to you?
"It's the second time you mention someone named Snow. And you haven't answered my questions yet. So again, where are you really from and how did you find this place? And more importantly, why this place? Why my place?" you don't bother to hide how upset you are.
"No need to get angry, dear. I have answered you. I am from the Enchanted Forest and I have no idea how I got here. I was travelling to King George's castle to retrieve a… prisoner… and all of a sudden I found myself in your cold hallway. I banged at the door in front of me, and there you were. All rude and everything. Thank the gods your boy's manner is some better than yours. Clearly, he got them from his father. Speaking of, where is your husband? Oh wait… maybe you don't have one… maybe he ran away from your rudeness! Good lad!" her voice is low and menacing. Made to cut, really. But she doesn't know you. She doesn't know that this is not how she could hurt you. So you wave off her comments and keep going.
"Listen very carefully. I want you to look me in the eyes and tell me again who you are and where you're from-"
"But I already-" you take hold of her chin, not bothered at all by the death glare she is giving you.
"Nuh-uh, I'm talking. So, your Majesty, who are you and where are you from?" you dive into her eyes and wait for the answer.
"I am Regina, daughter of Cora and Henry Mills, widow of King Leopold, step-mother to Snow White. I am the Queen of the Enchanted Forest, where I come from. And I order you to release me this instant, or so help me."
And at this second, you realize that it's all true. You have no idea how she got here, neither does she. But you have a royal fairytale character in your living room. A royal villain, no less. And the only thing you can think about, is how dark and beautiful her eyes are and how you could get lost in them. Why do you believe her story now? You can't really tell but she certainly is who she says she is. There is definitely something wrong with you. I wish for love. Oh God. No. No, it can't be. It's clear now. Oh what have I done…