"Davy, come back here." Regina threatened.
The five-year-old glanced at her, but did not obey.
"David Henry Jones, come here right now." She tried again.
Her son knew he was in trouble when she said his full name, so this time he hurried to stand in front of her. She knelt down to be at his eye level. "Did you hit your little sister?"
The dark haired child shook his head slowly. His blue eyes, so much like his father's, held so much innocence. "No, mama."
"I think you did. I want you to go apologize to her."
"Okay." He said quietly before going back into the cottage.
Killian stood in the doorway and patted his son's head as he went inside. Regina stood up and moved towards him with a smile. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her forehead. "Anne is fine. Davy didn't hit her that hard. Is he going to apologize?"
"Yes. He tried to deny hitting her. He is headstrong and impetuous just like his father." She teased.
He gave her a look of mock hurt. "I don't think so my love. He is certainly headstrong like you."
She laughed.
Davy ran outside again and held his hands up for his father to hold him. When the pirate picked him up, he played with Killian's necklaces as he always did. "When are we gonna go sailing again, Da? I like it better on the seas."
"As a true pirate would." Killian winked at his wife as she rolled her eyes. "Perhaps we might take a small journey soon if your mother wants to."
"Pleaaaaase mommy?"
Regina thought about it. She knew her husband missed being on his ship and much to his delight, the kids had become quite fond of the sea. She had to admit that she also missed the freedom of sailing. "I suppose we could set off for a small trip soon."
Davy cheered happily and Killian grinned. Regina smiled at their matching smiles before heading inside the home to make sure her daughter wasn't getting into mischief.
The three-year-old held her dolls up as she played. She looked up as she heard Regina enter and ran into her arms. "Momma!"
Regina sat at the table with her daughter in her arms. "Are you alright, sweetie?"
Anne nodded seriously. "Yes, momma. Where is Dada?"
"He is outside with Davy."
Davy joined them inside then, followed closely by Killian. "Guess what, Anne! We are going to go on an adventure!" He turned to his father. "Can we search for buried treasure?"
"Why of course, lad. My kids must know how to find buried treasure so they can become famous pirates just like their Da! How does that sound, Anne?"
"Good!"
Killian met Regina's eye and winked. "I'll go locate the crew and have them prepare the ship."
He gave his wife a kiss before hugging and kissing his kids goodbye. David and Anne watched him leave from the doorway.
Regina started to prepare for the trip while they sat and played together. She was putting their clothes together when she heard the sound of a horse drawn carriage coming closer to the cottage. She paused as it stopped nearby.
"Momma! It's a royal carriage!" Davy shouted as he recognised the crown on the seal painted on the side.
She hurried to open the door as she told the kids to stay where they are. Regina opened the door cautiously as someone stepped out of the carriage. It was a young woman with dark hair that was obscuring her face. Regina stepped closer to see who she was and gasped when the girl lifted up her head. It was Snow White.
"Snow?"
"Regina. I'm glad I found you." She smiled warmly.
The older woman stared at her, surprised at how much she had aged in five years. She was no longer the young thirteen year old she had left, but a beautiful young lady of eighteen. Regina glanced behind her, but saw no one other than a few guards. "Is everything okay?"
Snow's face softened as she picked up the nervous edge to Regina's voice. "You aren't in any trouble, I assure you. May I come inside?"
"Of course, dear." Regina led her inside. Davey and Anne ran to her side. "These are my kids, David and Anne."
Snow knelt to say hi to them before looking up at Regina. "They look just like their mother."
Regina smiled proudly. She pointed for Snow to sit at the table before turning to the kids. "David, why don't you and Anne go play upstairs?"
He looked curiously at the visitor as he grabbed Anne's hand and pulled her upstairs.
"They're beautiful. I'm really happy for you, Regina." Snow said.
"Thank you." She responded happily. "What made you come find me? Did something happen?"
Snow looked down at her hands. "I'm afraid my father is dead."
"I'm so sorry, dear." Regina said honestly. Although she despised the man, she knew he played a big role in his daughter's life and she hated to see her hurt.
"Thank you. You know, I never truly forgave him for what he did to you. I was too young to understand why you weren't happy in the castle with us and then you left. I spent a lot of that year thinking that you had been kidnapped, but as soon as I saw you and the Captain, I knew that wasn't true. You escaped, but my question was from what? Obviously, my father answered that question pretty quickly. Did he do that a lot? Hurt you?"
Regina's expression turned from guilt over leaving her to compassion. "It doesn't matter, Snow. You just need to remember that he loved you more than anything."
"I know that. I've just been feeling guilty over pushing him away when I could have spent more time with him before he died."
Regina moved to sit closer to her. She rubbed her former stepdaughter's back and allowed her to cry on her shoulder. After a few minutes Snow sat back up and wiped her tears. "I'm sorry, I didn't come here to cry on you. I actually need a favor."
"A favor? What can I do for you?" Regina asked in surprise.
Snow looked down at her hands and started hesitantly. "My father's death was sudden. He didn't have time to train me for the throne. I know I've been practicing all my life, but I need someone close to me that will make sure I am being a good ruler. You are the only one I have left, Regina."
Seeing Regina's hesitation, she continued quickly. "Your family can come live in the castle, at least until I am sure I can do it on my own. Please, Regina. I need your help."
The older woman looked up in surprise as the door opened. Killian raced into the house and quickly looked around before his eyes settled on his wife. He took her in his arms and held her face before kissing her. "I was so worried when someone told me they saw a royal carriage from the White Kingdom heading here. I thought that maybe Leopold went back on his word. Are you alright?"
Regina smiled as she pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "I'm fine and so are the kids. Killian, I don't think you've ever been properly introduced to my... stepdaughter before." She turned to face her. "Snow, this is my husband, Killian. Sweetheart, this is Snow."
Killian nodded respectfully, as did Snow. He kept his arm around his wife. "What's going on?"
Snow answered for Regina. "My father is dead and I am expected to be Queen. However, I would like Regina to look out for me. You and your family are welcome to move into the castle until I am sure I can run my kingdom."
He looked stunned as he looked between the two women. "Move into the castle? But we were banned from ever being in the kingdom again."
"Yes, well that was my father's rule. I won't be holding it up. Please, Captain. Your wife is the only one that can help me." Snow begged.
Killian took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair before turning to Regina. "It is your decision, my love."
She gave him a grateful smile. "Snow, why don't we give you a tour of the town? I'd like some time to think if that's okay."
Snow nodded. "That sounds lovely. I believe this town is far enough away from my kingdom that I won't be recognized."
Regina gave her a small smile. "That was the reason we settled here, after all."
"Let me grab the neighbor to watch the kids." Killian let go of Regina to go to the closest cottage.
Regina called for the kids to come downstairs and waited for them to reach the bottom of the stairs. "Dad and I are going to show the Queen the town, alright? James is going to watch you for awhile."
"What about going sailing?" Davy asked with a pout. "You said we were going to take a trip!"
"We will sweetheart." Regina said soothingly. She was interrupted by Killian returning with their young neighbor. "James. How are you, dear?"
The blond shepherd smiled as David and Anne ran to him happily. "I'm quite well, Mrs. Jones. I hear you need me to watch these little-"
He stopped when he caught sight of Snow, who blushed furiously. Regina smiled and introduced them. "Snow, this is our neighbor James. He and his mother have been very good neighbors since we moved here. James, this is my... former stepdaughter Snow."
James smiled and took Snow's hand to kiss politely. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Snow smiled back. "It is my pleasure."
"We were just going to show her the town." Regina said, breaking the silence that fell over them.
James nodded quickly. "Right. I'll watch Davy and Anne. We will have lots of fun together, won't we?"
Anne nodded and reached for him to pick her up. "Momma said we are going to take a trip again! We get to be pirates like daddy."
"That's wonderful. How long will you be gone for this time?" James looked up at Regina.
She glanced at her husband. "We may have something to do before we set off."
James picked up on the tension and glanced at Snow before giving the kids a bright smile. "Alright, well how about we go see the sheep?"
The kids both cheered happily and James smiled as he led everyone outside. Regina and Killian said goodbye to their kids before James brought them to his home. Regina smiled at Snow and grabbed her arm. "Let's go to town, shall we?"
They spent a few hours in the small town showing Snow around. She seemed to relax more as they walked around and she was grateful from the distraction from her impending rule. She had always imagined her father being there for her as she took the throne and now that he wasn't, she was unsure if she was ready. Snow hoped that Regina would say yes; although she knew it was a lot to ask, she was the only one that could help. After she married Snow's father, she had been trained thoroughly on how to run the kingdom. She would be able to guide Snow.
Finally, they returned to the cottage. Snow sensed their need to talk together, so she excused herself and went to talk to her guard. Killian pulled Regina into the empty house and studied her.
"You want to help her." He said knowingly.
She smiled. He'd always been good at reading her. "I feel bad for the way I left her. I'd like to make it up to her. But this involves our family, so you have every right to say no."
Killian nodded. He knew that she had felt incredibly guilty for convincing her step daughter that she was kidnapped and then leaving her, so he understood her need to help her. He also knew that if they moved into the palace, the kids would be upset if they weren't allowed to go sailing. And he was worried about Regina getting pulled into Snow's royal court- something he knew she would not be happy doing. "We would have to take the kids sailing first. And you are just there to help Snow until she feels confident. No taking positions because you feel bad about saying no."
She grinned and kissed him. "Okay. I'll tell Snow. And you should grab the kids so we can tell them."
Regina watched him head towards James' cottage before joining Snow outside. The younger woman gave her a curious look.
"I'd like to help you." She answered Snow's unasked question.
Snow squealed in an unladylike manner before pulling her into a hug. "Thank you so much, Regina. I knew I could trust you to help me."
She allowed her to hug her for a moment before pulling away. "But I cannot help you straight away. We promised the kids we would go sailing."
Snow nodded. "I completely understand. How long will you be gone for?"
"Just a week."
"I can have people bring your things to the castle while you are gone. Then you can sail to our harbor and your chambers will be all set up."
"That sounds lovely."
"Thank you, Regina."
"Of course, dear. Who am I to refuse the Queen?"
Snow smiled at her teasing before giving her a hug goodbye and wishing her a safe trip. Regina watched her carriage depart as she waited for her family to return. Today, they would set off for a journey on the seas. In a weeks' time, she would return to the palace that had been both her home and prison.
so should i continue this or no? please let me know in the reviews!
