Regina flitted with her clothes as she walked, wholly uncomfortable in the wrinkled articles. She almost considered driving home to change but then with a sudden thought, slipped out of sight. She closed her eyes and in a swirl of purple smoke, she was in a slimming black dress. The last time she had worn it, she had thrown a fire ball around town hall. Somehow, it made her feel more powerful.
She needed the extra confidence to counterbalance the nearly overwhelming nerves her mysterious condition garnered. The ring had such a weight to it that Regina suddenly understood the ball and chain references she had always heard. Day one, Regina hadn't even seen her…spouse, and she was already feeling the constriction of marriage. She shook herself again. She was the mayor, magical and a former queen. She could get out of this.
With her head held high, Regina stepped right up to the door of Granny's. She pushed it open and took in the room like she owned it. It didn't take long to spot a tuff of blonde hair above one of the booths, though the girl's head seemed to be resting on her arms on the table.
Moving slowly, Regina walked to her, stopping to take in the crumpled woman. It seemed Emma had probably woken in a similar state as herself and apparently was still trying to protect herself from the painful light of daytime. Regina cleared her throat to gain Emma's attention, startling her to an upright position.
"Hm?" Emma said in a mumble.
"Always so very eloquent." Regina rolled her eyes, begrudgingly taking a seat across the blinking sheriff. She placed her hands in her lap and eyed the woman.
Emma didn't even bother to react to the jibe, just doing her best to sit up without much pain. She pressed a hand to her face, shielding herself from the light. Regina watched her for a moment, noticing Emma's left hand stayed out of sight under the table.
"Why did you walk down here if you were just going to return to sleep on the table?" Regina finally broke the silence, growing more uncomfortable by the minute.
"Are you kidding? You're telling me if you woke up next to me, you wouldn't have flipped out?" She was right. Completely. In fact, Emma might not have lived through the experience. But then Regina wasn't admitting that.
"Where's Henry?"
"I texted Mary Margaret. She said she'd take him to school." She didn't mention her confusion that her mother didn't ask a single question about her whereabouts. Especially after all the lecturing lately.
"Well you told me to meet you here." Regina said abruptly, not wanting to be the one to address the elephant in the room.
"Yeah well…I think we should talk about this." She said, slowly lifting her left hand into view. The ring was different on her finger but it looked nice. "And more importantly, why it won't come off."
Regina slowly brought her hands onto the table, still clasped but in view. They both sat in silence and studied the other. Eyes flitting between rings to faces and back. They didn't notice anyone else in the diner, didn't hear any other sounds.
"…I don't…I don't remember." Regina finally said hesitantly, hating the admission. Emma met her gaze.
"Me either. I mean…I remember some things but not this." She said as she lifted her hand again.
Ruby, who was just walking in the door, paused abruptly upon seeing them, eyes landing on Emma's lifted hand. The other two women saw her eyes widen before she spun quickly on her heel and moved towards the opposite side. There was just a brief glance between Regina and Emma before the sheriff spoke up.
"Ruby, come here." The diner wasn't that big and Emma's voice was heard easily. The younger brunette glanced their way but still looked unsure.
"Miss Lucas, it has been a rather trying morning, I strongly suggest you come over here now." That got the girl moving, but it was definitely more due to fear than anything.
The Mayor and Sheriff both watched how hesitantly the young werewolf was as she moved to their table, taking a deep breath before actually taking the seat next to Emma. It didn't take any skills of deduction to understand the girl knew something.
"What do you know?" Emma asked immediately. Ruby looked scared and breathed deeply again before answering.
"Well…we all kinda had a wild night last night." She tried a smile, but dropped it quickly. "Right, I bet you knew that well… I'm sure you two have gathered that you're um…well…uh." She waved her hand in between them, finding herself unable to utter the actual words.
"We're what Miss Lucas?" Regina asked carefully. The women looked at her intently but really, both just wanted someone else to have to say the words.
"You…you're…married." She whispered like she was ready for them to pounce. Instead though, it was like something settled in the room, bringing them both down and completely still.
It wasn't as if they didn't know. They each woke up with diamonds on their ring fingers after spending a night together drinking and…some other, still foggy activities. It wasn't as if some huge mystery had just been solved. Yet it was then that everything truly sunk in for the women.
"It can't be legal." Regina broke the silence again. They both saw Ruby bite her lip.
"What is it Rubes? You remember who married us? I mean I seriously doubt the minister or pastor in this town would have married us drunk." She said and Regina winced a bit. Still not quite able to believe herself in such a state.
"Um…well you see…we were all drunk last night and honestly, I don't remember a lot myself but…well…"
"Spit it out Ruby." Emma was getting quickly impatient.
"It was Charlie… He married you."
"Charlie? You boyfriend Charlie? So?" Emma looked back and forth and saw Regina look up slowly.
"Charlie the Knight?" Regina asked carefully, the name suddenly reminding her of Emma complaining about him last night.
"Yeah." Ruby ducked again.
"I don't understand." Emma was still looking between them, unable to decipher the expressions on their faces.
"Charlie, Miss Lucas's…boyfriend…" She said it like the word tasted bad. "…is a Knight. A Knight has the power to wed a couple."
"Wait so like…we are married? Like for real?!" Emma's eyes widened and Regina was gritting her teeth.
"Yes." She hissed and Ruby looked really guilty now.
"I'm sorry guys, but we were all drinking and having a lot of fun. You two insisted. You kept saying that you had to get married. That there was no one else. You said there was some…"process of elimination"…something like that, and you two had to get married because it led to you…"
"And you just let us?!" Emma squealed, making everyone flinch, all still hung over.
"Hey, I was drunk too, and you boththreatened me!" She said defensively. "Two women with magic I might add."
"Okay okay…I'm sorry." Emma said, rubbing a hand over her face.
"I find that extremely hard to believe. That I would be so insistent." Regina looked very uncomfortable with Ruby's recollection.
"You called me a spy of Snow White's here to stop your Happy Ending when I suggested you two skip the binding spell." Ruby pointed right at Regina who's cheeks reddened at the words. She wanted to deny it again but then hearing that did bring up some very hazy, but similar memories. Much to her embarrassment.
"Wow." Emma laughed but was silenced by a look from Regina. "Sorry…but why can't we take the rings off?" She asked Ruby but Regina stepped in again.
"We bound ourselves together…didn't we?" Regina asked quietly, looking hesitantly at Ruby. The waitress took a big breath before talking fast.
"Well if you mean, did you two get out some magical book and repeat a spell so Emma's parents couldn't ever take away your new happy ending…then…yeah." She bit her lip again and Regina put her head in her hands. Emma didn't think she had ever seen the woman look any less regal.
"I can't believe we could have pulled off this magic in our…state last night." Regina pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
"Someone want to explain this to me?" Emma asked, frowning.
"Our…marriage…is not only real, but it's bound by magic." Regina started, looking up again.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning…we cannot simply annul the union. Especially since it sounds like we combined both of our magic. We're...connected now." She looked up at Ruby for confirmation and the younger brunette nodded.
"So we're…we're staying married?" Emma's voice was closer to curious than angry now.
"Of course not." Regina said immediately. "I'm just not sure how to break it. I guess we're going to need more magic. Stronger than the two of us. We'll need another magical being."
"Right so like…the Blue Fairy?"
"No, not her." Regina insisted immediately.
"Well then another fairy?" Emma shrugged.
"No fairies."
"Um…okay then Gold?"
"We are not using Gold."
"Well damn Regina, then what the hell are we going to do?" Emma threw up her hands, exasperated.
"Do not use that tone with me." Regina glared.
"I am not using a tone. You're being impossible."
"I'm not being impossible. We don't know enough of about this. I'd rather not put my life in just anyone's hands."
"Well we have to pick someone, and we don't have any other options." They were both leaning over the table now, staring each other down. Regina was irritated she didn't have an easy answer now.
"Wow…you guys fell right into this didn't you?" Ruby mused, trying very hard to suppress a grin.
"What does that mean?" Emma turned to her.
"Nothing, you two just sound like…nothing." Ruby shook her head.
"Well is there anything else you can remember from last night? We didn't like…I don't know…do anything else insane right?" Emma asked hesitantly.
"Well after the…ceremony…you two ran off. I don't know where you went."
"What time was that?"
"Somewhere around two am. I went home after that and Granny said I got in just after two."
"Well then let's talk to Granny, see when we got in there." Emma said, turning in her seat.
"You two have fun today. Try not to do anything to crazy." Ruby winked, bailing out of the booth before they could bring any wrath down onto her.
Just as she disappeared into the kitchen, Granny walked out. She moved right towards the counter and started working. Emma and Regina glanced at each other, before slowly getting up and making their way towards the counter. The grey haired woman looked over her glasses them as they sat on the stools, giving an expression that was not amused.
"I see the happy couple has finally emerged from their honeymoon suit." Her tone was agitated and clearly she had things she wished to say on the matter.
"Sorry it we were-" Emma tried.
"Demanding? Rowdy? Noisy?" Granny interrupted with raised eyebrows.
"Noisy? Wait did we-"
"Granny." Regina cut Emma off, afraid of the question she was about to ask. "I apologize for my behavior last night, I was…not my usual self." She said as politely as possible.
"I'll say." Granny grunted.
"Anyway, could you please tell me what time we got in?"
"I'd say somewhere between three-thirty and four." She shrugged before looking to some new customers, but then Emma followed.
"Wait are you sure? Not till after three-thirty?"
"Yes I am. Now I need to get back to work. Take your marital problems somewhere else." She waved them off, ignoring Regina's glare at her choice of words.
"Alright, come on. We have to figure this out." Emma turned to the Mayor.
"We don't need to do anything." Regina immediately replied as she faced her, crossing her arms. Emma sighed.
"Uh yeah. We need to figure out how to deal with this…and where in the hell we were for a two hours after we got married."
"We'll be better off if I do this alone dear. You don't know anything about magic, so you'll just slow things down with all your questions." She gave a very condescending smile that infuriated Emma.
"Regina we need to work together."
"No. We don't. But don't fret my dear. I will handle this mess."
"Regina-"
"Have a good day Miss Swan." Regina spun on her heel and made for the door. Emma was steaming but just as Regina reached the handle, the Sheriff lifted her chin and smiled.
"You too…Mrs. Swan."
The deafening silence that followed was well worth it to Emma. Regina froze completely, hand on the door knob. The few occupants of the diner were wide eyed, jaws hanging open. Emma was forcing herself to remain quiet after calling out to her, letting her words wash over her newlywed.
Very slowly, Regina started turning to face her. Her eyes were deadly, but Emma wasn't fazed. In fact, the Sheriff was sill smiling as the brunette finally met her gaze. Emma tilted her head as she awaited Regina's reply. The older woman seemed to shake herself, trying very hard to calm her anger, knowing everyone had eyes on her.
"Outside…now." She said tightly, turning again.
"Coming sweetheart." Emma grinned. She caught Granny's eye as she started approaching the door. "Sorry, she's a little moody in the morning." She shrugged.
Granny watched her walk out, a small grin pulling at her mouth. She watched everyone in town. Knew everyone. She had noticed everyone pairing up and found this union would surely be the most entertaining. Also the most perfect...though no one would see that.
Emma walked confidently out of the diner. She took the few steps down as she approached Regina but stopped abruptly as the older woman whirled on her.
"What the hell did you just call me?!" Her lip curled a bit but Emma still held her ground.
"Hit a nerve, did I? Don't worry, we can talk about it. I do like my name though…maybe we can try something hyphenated-"
"We are not sharing names!" She said angrily, stepping up to Emma, her irritation growing at the younger woman's calm demeanor.
"Relax. I'm just pointing out the fact that we are married Regina. Regardless of the length of time it may be, you can't just toss me to the side. I can help."
"No you can't. You caused this-"
"Me?!"
"Yes you. You are the one that went out drinking and kept challenging me to join you and…and then we ended up here." She stopped with a glare and Emma's eyebrows rose.
"Wow…really? So this is only my fault?"
"Precisely." There was that condescending smile again and Emma had it. She stepped up until her toes were nearly touching Regina's.
"You know what? You went out last night. You got drunk. And you married your son's birth mother. So get off your high horse!" Her own anger was pouring through and now Emma was the one to turn and walk away.
Regina went through a few emotions. First, of course starting at anger. Anger at Emma and also at herself. She was embarrassed. She couldn't believe her own behavior last night. She didn't know how to deal with it. Then she felt just the slightest amount of guilt. Emma had a point. She was partially to blame here.
She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair once. After centering herself, Regina started walking, catching up to Emma quickly.
"I guess…" She started, gaining Emma's attention. The sheriff turned slowly. "...I guess I didn't have to respond to your challenges." She avoided eye contact but Emma looked at her and relaxed visibly.
"What can we do here?" Emma asked more calmly now.
"I don't know…I was going to find the spell we used. See if it had one to break it."
"Okay. Let's do it." Emma turned and started walking. Regina blinked a few times at the sudden mood shift but followed.
"My car is just down the street, by the bar. We can take that." She suggested, feeling slightly uncomfortable but calming down now.
"Sounds like a plan."
They walked silently to the car, not sparring a single glance to the other. They did however, notice everything about their surroundings. It seemed everyone's eyes were on them. Every passerby saw the two of them and all but gawked at the women.
The problem with a small town was how astronomically fast news would spread. They both knew they had been witnessed at the bar but it looked like everyone had an idea of what had partaken after they had departed.
They made it to her car and a man passing by was anything but subtle as he stared openly at them. Emma opened her door and glanced at Regina, glaring back at the man until he looked away.
"Don't worry, they're all just jealous of you." Emma winked before sliding into the car. Regina opened and closed her mouth before sitting down into the drivers seat.
"I believe it's you that they are jealous of dear." She forced a smile and Emma rolled her eyes.
"Yeah yeah…whatever." The rest of the drive was in silence though the ride was short.
They walked inside, still without talking to each other and went straight to Regina's spell book. Regina took it back to the study and sat on the couch. Emma felt slightly awkward, but hesitantly took the seat next to her.
That awkward feeling didn't go away as Emma sat in silence next to Regina who was reading with the most concentrated look on her face. The brunette read and reread the texts, biting her lip absentmindedly. Emma found herself staring and almost didn't notice when she closed the book. Regina voice though, pulled her out.
"We need help." She started, dropping the book on the table. "It doesn't say anything about breaking the bond."
"Wait so what does this mean exactly? What kind of "bond" are we talking about? Because I don't see why we can't just…say we're not married." Emma shrugged and Regina pressed her eyes closed as she tried to think how to explain.
"Our land…it's not like here. Here it's about having a piece of paper to say we're married. There, it was just different. You had a ceremony and it was just as real, you still sighed a contract of marriage and you could just as easily end it."
"Like annulment? Or divorce?"
"Yes. But in the enchanted forest, as you know, your family had a lot of control over your life…you marriage." She said and Emma saw the darkness cloud her features.
"So my parents could end our marriage as easily as us?"
"Yes."
"So Ruby said we did this so they can't break us apart…"
"Right."
"But I still don't understand what the exactly it means that we are bonded in marriage…why can't we just say we're not married?"
"Because…" Regina started exasperated. "…we used magic so now our marriage is more than paper. Our souls are now intertwined. No matter what we say, we are together now. We are married. If one of us is hurt or in trouble, the other would feel it. Feel something, I don't know exactly what. Our lives are bound together. We're connected." She was leaning in now, trying to convey the meaning behind their union.
"So…we can't just…ignore it?" Emma tried but figured what the answer was.
"No. Not unless you want me popping into your head every time you're with someone else." She raised an eyebrow and Emma nodded.
"Right. Gotta break it." Before Emma could ask anything else, there was a knock at the door.
"I'll be back." Regina said before standing and moving out of the room. Emma had just leaned back in the couch when she heard her name called. Confused, Emma walked towards the door, eyes widening when she saw who was there. "Mary Margaret, David?"
She had wondered about her parents, but after receiving no calls or texts from them during the day, she guessed they either didn't know, or didn't know what to say. She really didn't expect them to show up here of all places.
"Emma. We thought since you didn't come home, we should come check on you." Mary Margaret's tone was clipped and confusing Emma. She didn't seem surprised in the least.
"Check on me? Why?" Emma asked hesitantly, trying to keep her hand out of sight.
"Why? Well after you two woke us up in the middle of the night to declare your unbreakable relationship, we had a few questions." Mary Margaret certainly looked every bit of the disappointed mother as she crossed her arms, looking hard a the two shocked women in front of her. David looked physically pained behind her.
"Well…I guess we know what happened between two and four this morning."
Sorry i don't think i got to answering reviews from the first chapter but i'm on vacation this week so i thought i'd try to at least post another ch today. hope you enjoyed and please review!