This is a the first one of a series of Oneshots taking a look into the life of an established Swan Queen couple. It's a continuation from my 'Finding Emma' story, but it can be read on its on. It's about two years into the future.
Also, I've thrown in some Red Beauty.
Since this one ended up being extremely long, I've divided it into a "Two-shot", so to speak...
Thanks to everyone who reviewed Finding Emma and encouraged me to go on, you guys are amazing! And thank you to all the author's alerts - I see what you did there ;)
Thanks to my girlfriend who came up with the idea of continuing in that way and to my beta Allison for her always prompt help!
Disclaimer: I don't make any money of this, the characters aren't mine. This story however is.
Enjoy reading!
Prologue...
When Emma observed Henry stumbling, she knew that it was not going to end well. Teaching a bookwormy gangly 13-year old how to handle a skateboard had been a terrible idea.
So she did the only thing she could think of to prevent the worst. She threw herself between him and the sidewalk. She caught his smaller figure, but was surprised at how heavy he felt. Her head connected with the ground. Then she was out.
"Emma! Emma!"
Her son's anxious screaming brought her back to reality. He had cradled her head on his lap. Looking up from that strange angle she saw his panicked expression. It was what helped her to think through the pain. So she slowly sat up and looked at him.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. You caught me. What about you?"
Emma nodded and made an effort to kept her wince internally. He didn't need to worry about her.
"I think that skateboarding might have been a very bad idea."
He patted her shoulder after he retrieved the board.
"I'm sure, we'll find something else to do together."
"Yeah, for now we have to evade Regina's wrath."
Emma countered as she looked at Henry's torn clothing. He chuckled once before he grew quiet.
"She won't be too mad, will she?"
"Considering that she didn't want us to go out in the first place, I think you should run to your room the first chance you get, kid."
"Meaning you'll deal with her?"
"Meaning, it's my fault."
Henry shrugged happily.
"Well, last time I took the blame. I imagine she can't put you under house arrest, right?"
Emma returned his wide smile with one of her own. They were almost at the house as the doors burst open.
"Here it comes."
Henry mumbled and indeed Regina stood in the entryway, a force to be reckoned with.
"What the hell did you do?"
Regina was screeching, her voice reaching an octave Emma had never heard before, as she entered the large white house, dragging Henry with her by his shoulder. The left sleeve of his jacket was torn, his brand-new jeans were ripped at the knees and there was a large red stain on his white shirt just under his collarbone.
Within seconds Regina was standing in front of Henry, carefully tugging at his dirty jacket with one hand while pushing the messy hair out of his face with the other.
"Are you hurt, Henry?"
"No, I'm fine."
He shrugged her hands off, clearly annoyed by such a show of compassion, even though they were alone. Visibly hurt Regina shrunk back, her eyes glowing at Emma.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing", Emma protested weakly, trying herself at a shrug that her shoulders didn't want to deliver properly. Apparently her head wasn't the only thing hurting.
Without farther ado Regina took the skateboard out of Henry's hand to put it in the closet. Next she confidently strode to her son, forcing him to lose the jacket with a demanding hand in front of his face.
"Show me where you've hurt yourself."
Before Henry could find his words, the shock clearly written on his pale face, Emma shook her head.
"He's fine, Regina."
"How can you say that? I allow you once to go out with this death-device and look how you return!"
At Emma's words she threw the first glance to the person responsible of Henry's injuries.
"You! I should have never allowed you this!"
As Regina examined Emma her panicked eyes widened. Emma sighed, she didn't know how to deal with that now. She needed to lie down, tend to the painful throbbing over her shoulders that her head was.
Slowly Regina took a step to her, her unease growing when she fixed her gaze on the remnants of Emma's leather jacket hanging on her left side, the jeans almost ripped open on her hip. Thankfully she didn't find the origin of the blood.
"Okay, does anyone want to tell me what happened?"
Surprised at herself Emma managed to look annoyed at Regina's demanding voice. Henry just shrugged.
"Nothing."
He lifting his shirt under the red stain to prove his words. Sure enough there was no sign of injury on his chest.
"Can I go upstairs now?"
"Sure."
He turned around to thunder upstairs before she had even finished nodding.
Confused Regina turned around to Emma.
"Really, what did happen? Are you okay?
"Sure."
Emma nodded, subdued by the throbbing at her temples. She heard Regina sighing as she pulled Emma into the kitchen and forced her to take a seat. While she was retrieving the first aid kid, she tried again, her back to Emma.
"You evidently fell, but how did you manage that both of you look so ruined? You had one board and unless I'm misinformed, you shouldn't use it together."
"He fell."
Emma finally answered, grumbling. She carefully lifted one hand to her temple, trying to ascertain how much damage the pavement had done to her head.
"But you look worse."
Regina stated as she turned around quickly. Emma who was just examining the amount of blood that had come away on her fingertips didn't have any time to inconspicuously lower her hand.
"What is that?"
It was a superfluous question, so both of them didn't expect an answer as Regina leaned towards her to look at the gash. She harshly sucked in a breath of air.
"That bad, hm?"
Emma had really hoped it wouldn't be so deep.
"Yes, that bad. We should get you to a hospital."
"That would be stupid. Whale is on vacation in the woods and we both know that there's no other doctor there. Also he hates us."
As Regina leaned over her, a deep concern written on her face, Emma stopped feeling stupid. Suddenly she felt a warmth originating from her temple, spreading through her whole body, rejuvenating her.
She looked up to meet dark brown eyes probing at the now flawless skin on her forehead. With unbelievable tenderness Regina caressed her temple with her forefinger, making sure the wound was gone.
"How does that feel?"
"Amazing."
Emma breathed out before thinking. She felt more than she heard Regina chuckle next to her. Her eyes twinkled in mischief as she leaned down to set a protective kiss on her head.
"Be careful next time, okay? He's quite heavy, we can't always catch him."
Now she was sure that Regina was teasing her. And she wasn't sure whether she liked it, because she felt like Regina was pointing out her failure in being a mother.
When she looked up Regina met her inquisitive gaze with a indulgent half-smile, that Emma loved more than anything else and she knew Regina was just teasing her without insinuating anything else.
"Do you feel better?"
Slowly Emma nodded.
"I feel perfect."
And she did. Regina was taking care of her, although she had not only put Henry in danger of some scrapes and bruises nut managed to hurt herself in the process. She healed her with her magic that was so easily accepted by Emma's energy now that she didn't even have to think about letting her in anymore. She had accepted the healing warmth with a feeling of contentment, of coming home, of love.
"You know I love you, right?"
Surprised Regina turned back to her. She gave her a happy smile.
"I love you, too."
And just like that it hit Emma.
She did love Regina, more than anything in the world. She never wanted to be separated from her and although she had hated this sentiment all of her life, she did want to spent the rest of her life with her.
As Regina packed the first aid kit away and pushed an errant strand of hair out of her face, Emma fought the urge to blurt out the two words that were laying on top of her tongue, because she knew she wanted to deliver them properly.
Marry Me.
Present day...
"Wow, really?"
Emma shrunk under Ruby's widened eyes.
"You think, she'd say yes?"
"Certainly not."
Belle chimed in, looking up from the large book that was propped up on her knees.
With a deep sigh Emma rolled her eyes.
"So much about being able to talk to you without your girlfriend listening in!"
A deep blush overtook Belle's fragile features. She sank deeper into the cosy armchair.
"Do you want me to leave? I could spent another hour at the library..."
Ruby gave her an apologizing smile.
"Honey, it's 9 pm, the library is closed."
Then she turned to Emma with a reproachful look on her face
"And you just have to accept that I'm not living alone anymore. So when you come to seek shelter from the horrors that are the Mills-mansion you just have to expect, that Belle is going to be here, too."
During Ruby's determined speech Belle suddenly jumped up, clearly annoyed. She grabbed a smaller book and pointed behind her.
"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna go to the bathroom for a minute until you've figured this out."
Then she regarded Ruby with a nasty look.
"You do well to remember that I pay rent."
"Just sit."
Emma relented, pointing to the armchair.
"Why are you here, Ems, I mean really?"
Ruby pressed and Emma slowly let her head sink onto her hands on the counter they were sitting at.
"I need help."
She sighed. Before Ruby could say anything a snicker came out of the room's corner.
"No kidding..."
Belle snorted without even lifting her head.
"Weren't you supposed to be quietly reading? Ruby, wasn't she..."
"Stop it, Emma. Just tell me what you need!"
Emma shrugged, suddenly sheepish.
"A scintillating idea to propose? I was thinking about inviting her to dinner to that Italian place like on our anniversary, but I'm not sure she'll say yes..."
"Well you could ask her at Granny's. There's less pressure there."
This time Belle didn't even try to keep her snort subdued.
"Sure, everyone knows you, but there's no pressure..."
Annoyed Emma finally turned to their not-so-silent listener.
"Do you have a better idea?"
She practically sneered but Belle looked up completely unfazed.
"I would suggest a quiet place, somewhere you're alone and she can decline without making a scene, because let's face it Emma, she won't accept."
"What? Honey, you don't know that. She could agree."
Ruby protested but Belle simply threw her a look. And sadly even Ruby's protest seemed very feeble. Great, not even her friend believed in her.
"See, you could just make a nice dinner yourself. Buy some roast beef and make the rosemary potatoes Regina loves so much. Oh, and the zucchini with the lemon sauce!"
Surprised Emma turned toward Belle, ignoring that Ruby burst out in laughter at the mere thought of Emma attempting to cook.
"You know what kind of potatoes Regina likes?"
Belle just shrugged.
"I'm observant. We've been out to dinner you know?"
"Right."
That had been a double date she hadn't wanted to repeat, at all. Strangely it had been Belle who had suggested a second try at which Regina had actually behaved herself. The tentative friendship between the two of them had confirmed to Emma just how incredibly forgiving Belle was. Or screwed up. You clearly could see it both ways.
"Right. And how on earth should I even get the recipes?"
"I already have them. There are cook books in the library, you know. Which you'd know, if you read."
Strangely Belle also had never started to like her. She even got along better with Regina. Ruby had excused it with the fact that Belle distrusted anyone who didn't read.
"Still, darling, Emma doesn't know how to cook, even if you gave her detailed instructions."
Belle just shrugged, unfazed.
"Well you can cook. We could help her."
"Aww, that's so sweet. Even if you think it'll be for nothing?"
"At least they'll be having a nice evening, even if it ends in rejection."
"Thank you!"
Emma sneered sarcastically while doubt started to creep up on her. Regina wouldn't really decline. Would she? Sure, she'd put up a fight, but once she'd see how serious Emma was about this she wouldn't continue to change the subject whenever they talked about marriage and stuff. Right?
Desperate she looked up at Ruby, needing her friend's support.
"I just want to spend the rest of my life with her and I want her to know that. I want to show her without a doubt that I belong to her. That I won't run away, ever again. I don't want her to feel like she is being owned. I want her to know that she isn't alone and she'll never be alone again. I want to commit to her."
Feeling slightly embarrassed at her outburst Emma looked up to meet her friend's eyes again. Instead of judging her they were looking at her with big smiles.
"See, what I mean?"
Ruby prompted as she turned to her silenced girlfriend. Belle nodded solemnly.
"Okay, you're right. She might have a chance."
Belle grinned determined, a devious twinkle in her eyes.
"So, we should better make sure that she doesn't screw this up."
"But why?"
Henry was not only stubborn but clever, Emma had to give him that. Though he was thrilled to spent the night discussing books with Belle, he insisted that there had to be a reason Ruby and Belle were busy cooking in the kitchen while he had to help Emma cleaning up.
"Just because."
Turning away from him she picked up two of her jackets that were draped over a chair in the living room and rolled her eyes at her very eloquent answer. Briefly she wondered when Regina had started allowing her to disrupt the usual tidiness, but her girlfriend had somehow ceased to complain. If it didn't get out of hand that is.
"Emma!"
She sighed aggravated at his insistence. Unfortunately she knew exactly where he got it from.
"Henry!"
She imitated his complain perfectly, before she turned around to ruffle his hair.
"Really, kid? Can't I just do something nice for your mom?"
He frowned a second in deep concentration before he shook his head.
"You're never this nice."
He intoned.
"Gee, thank you, kid. I do nice things, all the time. For you and your mom."
"Yeah, sure. But then you bring home flowers or this 80 per cent dark chocolate or invite us to dinner. You tried baking once, but that was a disaster so you make reservations. On mom's birthday we went to that French place, remember? They had this really tiny portions."
When he looked up at her he made a face before he turned back to his frowning.
"And you've only told me once that I had to clean up."
Apparently in his world that was enough proof that she was acting out of the ordinary. He fixed her gaze, obviously satisfied with his line of argument.
"When do I not tell you to clean up? I tell you to tidy up your room all the time?"
"Yeah, but you never enforce it. The only time I really had to do it was when you accidentally nicked Mom's car with your bug."
Suddenly his eyes grew bigger.
"You haven't destroyed anything, have you?"
Exasperated Emma let out a deep sigh.
"No, Henry, I haven't destroyed anything. Yet. Maybe I'll start attacking an annoying boy next. Who knows?"
He gave her her own signature eyeroll before cocking his head in his mother's poised superiority which completely ruined her patience. Without planning to she tackled him, threw him on the ground and tickled every inch of skin that she could reach until he squealed like a little girl, flailing his hands.
"Okay, I give, I give."
He conceded breathlessly as he sat up and immediately tried to straighten his hair again.
"What's going on, here? Aren't you supposed to tidy?"
"Oh, Belle! You know I wanted to ask you whether we can go by the library on our way to your apartment? There are some books Grace recommended and I was wondering whether I could maybe check them out?"
"Of course! Do you remember the author and title?"
Shaking her head Emma left the two bookworms alone, sweeping the living room one last time for any misplaced things. Satisfied she controlled the already set table in the dining room on her way to the kitchen.
"Oh, good that you're here. I just wanted to show you, where I've put everything."
Fortunately Ruby had put everything in the oven to keep it warm. After the other woman explained everything to her, she removed her apron and fixed Emma with a stern gaze.
"Now, don't screw this up!"
Emma nodded wholehearted. She had better things to do than screwing up. For example controlling the nausea that had settled itself deep within her stomach and was threatening to overwhelm her.
"Wish me luck?"
She looked up at Ruby with a doubtful expression, but Ruby simply nodded. She embraced her, holding her tight before releasing her and placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Good luck!"
Unfortunately she made it sound like Emma really needed it. Within seconds Ruby had rounded up Belle and Henry, they had said their good-byes and were out.
Taking deep breaths Emma ran upstairs to change and check on her hair. She had already used a creamy make-up and colored her eyes with dark mascara. Considering that, she was very lucky that Henry was observant but not observant enough to notice how much extra care she had taken to look perfect. She knew Regina appreciated it.
Quickly she lost her clothes and pulled a new dark green dress that complimented her eyes over her head and freed her hair. She shook her head twice and kneaded her hair into the right waves, carefully closing the knot of the halter top.
Almost forgetting her new high heeled shoes she tumbled down the stairs after her watch told her that she only had five minutes left for the last perfect addition.
She halted in the middle of the foyer and closed her eyes in deep concentration, imagining dark and light red rose petals flying in the air. First she thought of warmth, originating from deep within her as she lighted the various candles that she had carefully placed around the house. Then she thought of her love to Regina and with a wide smile she opened her eyes just as various rose petals appeared seemingly out of nowhere and slowly drifted towards the ground. For a moment she felt her panic levels rising as she observed a hungry yellow flame reaching for red. She already envisioned the whole house bursting into flames before she remembered herself that she hadn't created real roses. Intrigued she watched the leaf vanish into a sparkling burst of energy.
It was due to Regina that she knew how to control her magic nowadays, so she sheepishly reminded herself that she couldn't create something from nothing. The petals were just an expression of her own magic. Somehow she had managed to recreate even their smell. So maybe she wasn't in perfect control, but at least she wanted to show Regina how far she had come.
Fixated on the little show in the foyer Emma watched another petal disappear in a tiny light show, so entranced that she didn't notice the opening door.
So when Regina halted on the threshold, completely taken aback, she found Emma displaying the perfect crooked smile that Regina simply adored.
With wonder she took in the candles and the rose petals, but most of all the gorgeous tight cut dress Emma was wearing. She looked incredible.
"Emma?"
Silently, so she wouldn't disrupt her concentration, she asked for Emma's attention, maybe even an explanation.
Only with a slight twitch Emma turned, changing her usual rash tumbling into a deliberate graceful motion.
"Hi."
She greeted Regina with a wide smile and waved her to come in.
Regina returned the smile shakily. Somehow her confidence was completely shattered. This was entirely new ground and she had no idea what Emma had planned.
Glad she could turn around to close the door she looked down on herself, suddenly very happy Ruby had come by to meet her for lunch. Though she hadn't been able to get Ruby to confess whatever it was about she was grateful to be wearing a dark knee-long dress instead of her usual slacks. With a sigh she put her purse down, shrugged out of her jacket and tried to brace herself for anything before she faced Emma again.
"Hi."
She returned her welcome as she approached Emma to greet her properly.
With an overwhelming tenderness Emma took her face into her hands as she sighed content into their kiss. Afterward she held out her hand in an invitation. Regina took it while she looked around again.
"How did you do that?"
Emma chuckled proudly.
"I simply exercise what you taught me, controlling my magic."
Nodding Regina followed Emma. There was no need to tell her now that they had to take up practicing a lot more if conjuring up that much energy came that naturally to her. She seemed so...happy, glowing.
God, Emma wasn't pregnant, was she?
Chuckling to herself at the impossibility of her random thoughts Regina suddenly noticed another smell than the roses as Emma lead her into the dining room.
"Is that dinner? Did you cook?"
Instead of answering Emma simply rolled her eyes and pulled out Regina's chair. Apparently Regina had only badly hidden her panic, remembering Emma's last try of baking all too well. If they didn't have magic, they would have needed to call the fire department.
"Don't worry, nothing's burned."
When Regina sat, Emma took a decanter and filled two glasses with rich smelling red wine.
"Dinner's ready, though. I'm gonna fetch it in a moment. Henry's with Ruby, so I thought we could have a nice evening to ourselves."
"A nice evening, hm?"
Regina assured herself smirking as she slowly found her confidence again.
"Yes, a nice evening."
Emma confirmed, but her unusual soft voice did nothing to ease Regina in the slightest. Every alarm bell was ringing. Still as Emma raised her glass she met hers with a clink.
"To us."
Meeting Emma's gaze Regina nodded and repeated the toast.
As she watched Emma leave the room to presumably serve the dinner she noticed the exquisite taste of the wine. It had several underlying flavors and certainly hadn't been cheap.
When Emma returned with indeed very delicious food, Regina found her heightened state of alert dissipating, although she was well aware that it was probably exactly what Emma had intended.
Over dinner they talked about anything and nothing in particular. Regina teased Emma until she revealed that her suspicion was right and Ruby did cook the dinner. The candles flickered only once when Emma freely handed over her last spoonful of tiramisu, insisting that she made that one on her own.
She cleared their plates away and returned with a new decanter of wine, almost spilling it. Only then Regina realized that she wasn't the only one nervous.
Before Emma could sit down again to resume fiddling with her necklace, Regina stood up and took Emma's hands in her own.
"Emma, just tell me. We're both nervous enough, don't you think? Did you destroy the bathroom mirror or something? You know I'm only kidding when I threaten to kill you every time you let something fall against it, right?"
"Why is everyone assuming I destroyed something? Can't we just have a nice evening together?"
Raising her eyebrows Regina cocked her head to one side, examining her girlfriend.
"While you think you are incredible difficult to read, I've noticed your nervousness. The only reason I came up with is that you destroyed something and since I've just arrived in my car..."
"It's not the car. I didn't..."
But Regina didn't let her interrupt, needing to eliminate every possible scenario, no matter how unlikely.
"And I'm assuming that Henry is safely with Ruby instead of in a hospital bed with a broken arm or something, because..."
She left the threat open, but Emma immediately shook her head.
"God, no. You know that I would have called you to get to the hospital immediately."
Regina shrugged, clueless.
"Then, presuming that you're not pregnant, I've come up empty."
Her joke worked. Emma gave her a crooked smile, shaking her head.
"No, honey. You're good, but not that good."
"Okay, then out with it."
She encouraged her against her own trepidations.
Emma took a deep breath before she dared to look up from their joined hands into Regina's dark eyes. There was worry in them, but also encouragement, acceptance. It showed her that she could do this. Chickening out wasn't an option now.
So she straightened her back and felt her determination return.
"You know, customary I would have to kneel in front of you now, in both of our lands."
She met Regina's confused frown with an encouraging smile.
"But although you tend to deny it from time to time you know that we're both on equal footing in this relationship. So I stand here tonight to tell you how much I love you. I am grateful to have you in my life beyond what words can express. I am not asking you to give me an answer. I'm just telling you how I feel and what I want to do for you."
"For me?"
Regina interrupted her, but Emma silenced her lying a finger on her mouth.
"Yes, for you. I want to promise you something and I want to do it in front of everyone."
"Emma..."
"I am asking you to allow me a commitment. For once in my life I am completely sure of something, of someone, of you. I want you to know that you can trust me to be there for you, now and forever."
She looked up into Regina's glassy eyes, surprised to see her slowly shaking her head, hoping it was because she didn't believe it was happening, hoping against reason she wasn't already giving an answer.
"Allow me to marry you, Regina Mills."
A deafening silence overtook the room.
Emma could swear that she could feel her heart physically stop.
"Emma, we have talked about this..."
"No, we haven't. Just give me a reason."
Regina sighed and avoided her gaze but she held on to her hands, squeezing them even tighter. Emma decided to take that as a good sign.
"I've told you that marriage isn't an option. I commit to you, I've told you that I commit to you. I don't need a ceremony for that. I've..."
Shaking her head Emma lifted a hand.
"And I've told you that if you really want to be with me, that there's a difference between openly committing and telling me these words in our own house. I want this utter safety for both of us."
"Even married people get separated, divorced. Marriage doesn't prevent that."
"No, marriage just makes an open statement that we belong together. It also helps when we might want to think about another child."
Emma reminded her. They had talked about it, often, but now she was delivering her arguments with a fervency that was unusual for her.
"Why is it so important to you?"
A deep disappointment overwhelmed Emma.
"Why isn't it to you?"
"I told you! I've been married! Emma, I've been called a wife and under that label my committed other did unspeakable things to me. That's all I connect with the word marriage. I'm sorry. I can't be a wife again!"
Her voice had gotten louder which immediately invited Emma to scream back at her.
"We would be partners. I would be your wife and you know that I'd never do anything you didn't want! You've overcome so much, why not this?"
Emma threw up her hands in exasperation.
"You know, it's always me. I accept your past, I accept that I can't blame you but when I ask that I can commit to you, you won't allow it. I don't get it! Why can't you give in, for once? Why can't you see that it would be a good thing, for both of us?"
When she noticed that her anger tinged on desperation, Emma turned away from Regina's searching eyes and marched into the kitchen. She had started to bang the pots and pans Ruby had used on the counter, put the dishes into the washer with a lot more force than necessary and started the warm water, forcefully scrubbing the first pan clean. She felt rather than heard Regina entering the room.
"Can't you just accept that I can't?"
Regina sounded tired, fragile. Without her own control Emma felt her shoulders slump.
"Can't you even consider my point?"
She sighed as she let the pan slip through her fingers, slowly sinking in the water.
Yes, I know...
But some of you might actually agree with me that this is the perfect point to stop, so...
Tell me what you think up until now *pretty please* and I'll try to update soon!