A/N- Okay this one's along one. Again I'm sorry for the choppy split offs but I thought it would be better uploading multiple chapters instead of one 30 page chapter.
Disclaimer- I own nothing.
Regina stands in her room in her favorite Victoria Secret Fearless Crisscross-front Corset, its black with hints of red around her breast. She slips on black suspender over her boy shorts. A quick look in the mirror and she decides that this will be fine for now.
She stands in front of her closet contemplating what to wear.
After a couple of minutes she momentarily gives up and heads back into the bathroom to do her make-up.
She's suppressed when she looks into the mirror and sees bright purple marks on her neck.
"God damn it Robin. Really? Every time." With a quick sweep of her hand she magically makes the marks disappear. She's going to have another talk with Robin about marking her. Not that she minds it but the last thing she want is to have to explain to Roland what happened, and traumatize Henry because he would most likely already have guessed what had happened.
She shudders at the though. No that will not happen.
She's so wrapped up in thought that she doesn't hear her front door open. Nor does she hear the footsteps climb up the stairs. It isn't until she hears the ever chipper voice of a certain fairy.
"Yawza, Regina if you walk around like that all the time you might want to lock your doors."
Regina lets out a very un-Queen like yelp. She grabs the nearest thing to her, a towel and tries to cover herself.
"Tink? What the fuck are you doing in my house?" She yells at her friend. Not that she's not happy to see her but she wishes she would have called first.
"We knocked for like five minutes but you didn't answer." She hears someone yell from her room.
"Ruby? What are you doing her? Shouldn't you be helping Granny prep for tonight?" Ruby and Regina had become close friends in these last few months spent planning the auction. She is actually a lot of fun to be around. Especially because it makes Snow a little jealous. They may have buried the hatchet but it's still a little fun to ruffle her feathers. Once a week they all have a girl's night out at Snows which is a little crowded with five ladies but that's where it has to be because Snow is so clingy to baby Neal. Not that she blames her, after all she I the reason she didn't get to raise her first child. The men have a man's night at the White Rabbit. It works out nicely.
"She let me go so I could get ready for tonight, I ran into Tinkerbelle when I was just about to leave, so we decided to come get ready over here with you," Ruby says walking into the bathroom holding a curler in one hand and a rather big make-up bag in the other.
"Jesus fucking Christ Regina. You hot!" She exclaims giving Regina a once over. The woman was a Goddess.
"Um thanks I guess. Now will you two please get out of my room so I can finish getting ready?"
"Now come on Regina, we came here so we can have some girl time. I remember the outfits you used to wear in Fairy Tale Land. Don't tell me you've gone modest on me?" Ruby challenged.
Regina looks at them both with a raised brow. She lets out a defeated sigh before she drops the towel she was shielding her body with.
"Fine but Robin is bringing the boys here soon so stay in here. And close the door."
Tink claps her hands in joy while shaking her head in agreement.
"Yay, this I going to be so much fun. We can do each other's hair, and make-up, and talk about girl stuff."
"No offense Tink, but you are not going anywhere near my face or my hair." Regina says walking out of the bathroom. She grabs a silk robe out of her closet to wrap around her.
Tink's smile fades a bit. She looks at Regina as if she had just took away her new toy.
"Why not?"
"Tink you've spent what? 40 years on an island surrounded by lost boy. You are still new to Storybrook. I am not letting you take a hot iron, and put it near my face."
Tink looks confused and asks. "What's a hot iron? Anyway it doesn't matter anyway because I was going to use this." She pulls out her wand. Twirling it around a bit for show.
"Tink you got your wand back. I though Blue still had you on a probation period." Ruby asks excitedly. They both know how much it hurt her when Blue refused to give her it when she gave her back her wings. Hell both Regina and Ruby offered to break into the church to steal it back for her. As much as she appreciated the gesture, she wanted to earn it back herself.
"Well between helping capture Pan's shadow, and helping her when we were in the Enchanted Forest. And all the drama with Zelena, she finally said I was ready to have it. She even went so far as to say I might be ready for Fairy Godmother duty in the near future." She says with the proudest smile Regina has ever seen on her face.
"I'm so happy for you T. You deserve it. I mean I've never met a fairy who is so willing to do whatever it takes to help those in need. You're even willing to befriend the woman who got your wings taken from you I the first place. You're going to make an amazing Fairy Godmother." Regina says taking Tink's hand in her own. She was so happy for her friend.
"Thank you Regina. And I've already told you. I hold no ill feelings toward you about that. It's all in the past. And it took some time, but eventually you did meet your soul mate. So everything has worked out the way it was supposed to." She gives Regina's hand a firm squeeze before she releases it. She makes her way over to Regina's closet. But not before she says.
"Any if everything goes well who knows. I just might be the Fairy Godmother to yours and Robins first born."
Regina chocks on her breath, she lets out a fit of coughs before she looks at the fairy.
"Tink!" Ruby in sitting at the foot of her bed laughing under her hands.
"What? I'm just saying it two maybe three years' time, you and Robin might have a child. And seeing as I am the reason you two know each other in the first place I think I'd be the perfect person to be her Godmother." She states.
"Daughter?" Regina says but it falls to deaf ears.
"Hey, I'd be an awesome Godmother." Ruby says.
"You're not a fairy. How could you be a fairy Godmother if you're not a fairy?" Tink folds her arms across her chest.
"In this land you don't need to be a fairy to be a Godmother. Here you chose a person who you would trust your child with should anything happen to you. I think I'd be a better option as the Outlaw Queen baby's Godmother than you."
"Outlaw Queen? What is that?" The Queen asks confused.
"It's yours and Robins couple name. You know like Zutara or Caskett." Rudy says as if it is the most obvious thing in the world.
"Why should you be her Godmother? After all I am Regina's best friend." Tink argues. Regina is surprised, after all she's never really had a friend. Let alone a best friend.
"No way I am defiantly her best friend." Ruby says getting up from her spot on the bed to stand in front of Tink. She removed her heels when she arrived, but she is still a good deal taller than Tinkerbelle.
"You're Snows best friend." The fairy refuses to back down. Regina just stands by and watches two women who in the past would gladly shoot an arrow in her heart, now they stand in her bedroom arguing about who her best friend is. She would be happy if she wasn't a bit scared after all on of them is a wolf and the other is a fairy who just got her magic back. This should be interesting.
"You can have more than one best friend. Regina tell her I should be your kids Godmother because I am your best friend." Both turn to look at a shocked Regina.
She looks from Ruby to Tinkerbelle, then back to Ruby. Seriously, they both just stunned her with their admissions to even being her friends and now they want to put her in the middle by making her choose one of them?
"Well uh." She stammers. Both are staring rather intently at her awaiting her answer. Quick how can she change the subject?
"Why are you both assuming Robin and I would even have a child? Or that it would be a girl? We've only been together a short time." She figures that should take their minds occupied for a moment.
"Come on Regina. Your soul mates. It doesn't matter if you've know each other for years, or only a few days. Your souls recognize each other. They already know that this is the person you are supposed to spend the rest of your days with. And as for the daughter part well, you two already have two princes. It's time Storybrook get a little princess." She says with a smile.
"I though Cinder, I mean Ashley had a daughter?" Regina asks her breath catches a bit at Tink's words.
"So did I but I guess we were wrong. Anyway what T said is true Gina. You and Robin a perfect for each other. Everyone can see it. Hell people have started making bets on when you two will get married and on if you'll have a boy or a girl. Right now I think the pot is up to 2,000 I think. It might be more.''
Regina's eyes widen at her statement.
"People are betting on if Robin and I will get married?"
"Not if, when. And yes. Hook started it on the night of the celebration for stopping Zelena. When you two walked in with Roland, you were in your own little world. Up until then we had only ever seen you that happy with Henry. After you four left he said "Ay mate, would bet my ship that those two are married with a little one on the way before the next villain makes its way to Storybrook."." Ruby say in a terrible accent.
"Everyone laughed until Granny grabbed money out of the register saying that she'll take that bet. Soon half the town was in on it. Even Grumpy made a bet."
Regina looked dumb founded. She couldn't believe that people she once saw as enemies, where placing bets for when she and her soul mate would get married. She didn't know if she should be great full or annoyed. She looks at both women and asks.
"Please tell me you guys aren't in on this to?"
"I am, Tink's not. Mother Superior's got her believing that it's morally wrong to gamble. She's such a tight ass."
Regina can't help but laugh at Tinkerbelle's face. It's like Ruby had just insulted her mother.
"She is not a tight ass, she simple wants me to act as I would were we still in the Enchanted Forest. And if we were I would not be gambling."
"I hardly doubt that betting on when our best friend gets married will damn you to fairy hell."
"Okay that's enough. We've spent enough time arguing it's time to get ready for tonight." Regina uses magic to poof her purse up from down stairs. She takes her phone out to see she has a missed text from Robin.
Well love I have our boys with me but it appears that Henry decided that we should get ready with David and Killian at David's. A male bonding thing I believe he called it. So it seems I won't be seeing your lovely face again till tonight. I love you and can't wait to have you in my arms again.
Also Snow and Emma will go to the house so you can all head to the town square together.
A smile creeps onto Regina's face as she finishes the text. It's taken awhile but he's finally getting ahold of a cell phone.
"Oh I know that look. That means you're talking to Robin what did her say?" Ruby asks. She lean over Regina's should to look at the screen. Regina tries to move it away but Ruby is faster. She snatches the phone from her hand and run away with it.
"Ruby, give me my phone back right this instant."
"Why, is there something on her you don't want me to see? Cheesy? You web history? Huh naughty photos?"
"No there is not, now give me it back." She tries to snatch it back but the young wolf avoids her easily. Thankfully Regina had locked it before she had grabbed it.
"Come on Gina tell me. If I open this phone am I going to find sexts to Robin?"
Regina wasn't going to lie. She had thought about sending Robin sexy photos quiet often. She imagine him out with David and his Merry Men, enjoying his time. Then check his phone to see a picture of her in a pair of her favorite lingerie. Or maybe with nothing but his shirt on. She's sure he would chock on his own tongue and quickly excuse himself to rush home as fast as he could.
Oh yes she had thought about it. But she never got up the nerve to actually do it. Yet.
"I am not having this conversation with you so if you would please." With a swipe of her hand, a mix of white and purple smoke engulf the phone. It reappears in Regina's hand.
"Oh you're such a spoil sport." Ruby pouts.
"Yes well get over it." She looks at her phone before she continues. "Now we have spent almost half an hour sitting around doing nothing. So unless you want me going to the auction in nothing but lingerie and heels I suggest you let me get ready."
"Oh I bet everyone would love that. Just think of how much the school would get if you did."
"Oh hush. Come on Regina. Please let me do this. Please."
"Tink you just got your wand back. I really don't think Blue would appreciate if you used magic just to get me dressed."
"Don't worry about her. I'll deal with her. Now are you going to voluntarily do this, or will I have to use force" Tink arches her brow. Daring Regina to argue further.
Defeated Regina agreed.
"Fine. You can do it but, I swear Tinkerbelle if you make me look like Lady Gaga I will lock you in the dungeon with Maleficent." She threatens.
Tink lets out a high pitched yell that has both Ruby and Regina wincing.
"Oh my gods Regina thank you. I promise you'll look amazing. Don't worry you will look gorgeous. Now let's get started. Ruby, go stand next to her." Tink points to Regina with her wand.
"Why?" She asks confused.
"Because I'm going to dress all of us. Now move your tail and stand next to Regina. Come on we haven't got much time. You two still need to get there early so you can practice for tonight."
"You not going to have us all in matching outfits or anything right?" Ruby says as she makes her was over to Regina. Even without her heels she stands a good three inches taller than the former Queen.
"Of course not. I was watching that moving picture box thing the other day and I saw the most perfect dresses that would look amazing on you two. No are you both ready?" The fairy excitedly asks the pair.
Regina and Ruby look first as Tinkerbelle, then at each other. They shrug their shoulders.
"What the hell. No harm in seeing what she's got in store for us, right G?"
"Yes this should be interesting. Alright Tink. Do you thing."
Tinkerbelle bounces slightly grinning like a mad woman.
"Okay close your eyes you two. And no peeking until I saw. Ready?" She asks once more.
"Yes we are ready. Just do it already." Ruby complies and closes her eyes. She's more relaxed about this than Regina.
Regina hesitates but shuts her eyes as well. She knows Tinkerbelle means well, but they have a completely different taste in clothes. She just hopes she doesn't open her eyes to see she's been turned into a cupcake.
"Okay, one, two, three." With a wave of her hand, magic seeps out of her wand taking on a green fog like shape. It swirls around the three ladies. Tink concentrates on the images in her head hard. The magical fog engulf them all for a brief moment before it slowly fades away. Tink being the only one with her eyes still open takes in their appearances.
Being pleased with her handy work she gives the girls the okay to open there eyes.
Ruby is the first to see herself in the mirror.
"Oh. My. Gods."
Her hair is teases and slightly curled to fall around her shoulder. Her make-up is light, natural looking but still highlights her eyes. A light red lipstick is the bolded of it all. But it's the clothes that have put her at a loss of words.
Ruby's simple jeans and shirt have been transformed into a deep cherry red dress chiffon waistband and satin banded tulle skirt that cuts off just above her knees. Above the waste is a thick lace if not for the built in bodice it would be see through. She turns around to look at the back. It has an open back, the same thick lace in the front cover her shoulder blades. She's in aww of the dress. She can't place it but she's seen this dress before. It isn't until she sees the shoes that she remembers. The shoes have a thin simple floral lace and a patent trimmed silhouette. With a nude colored insole and shank. A sling back with short heels.
"Tink? When you saw this on T.V. what where you watching?" She asks slightly shaking
"The what?"
"The moving picture box thing. What where you watching?"
"Um I don't know/ I just saw a bunch of girls walking up and down a stage.
"Tink, do you know who designed these clothes?" Ruby asks with a huge smile on her face.
"No I just saw it and thought it would look good on you. Why?" She asks confused.
"This is a La Femme dress. And the shoes, my gods the shoes probably cost more than my car. They are Nova from Jimmy Choo."
"Jimmy who?"
"Choo, Jimmy Choo." Ruby says still looking at herself in the mirror.
"Oh well is that good?" Tink asks, worried that they would be unhappy with her choice of wardrobe.
"Are you crazy? It's amazing. The closest I've ever been to a pair of shoes like this is Regina's closet." Ruby abandons her spot at the mirror to hug her friend.
"Thank you Tinkerbelle. Thank you, thank you thank you."
Tink smiles as she hugs her back. She is glad she was able to make her happy. Ruby pulls away from the embrace to look at the fairies dress.
Because Tinkerbelle is working with the other fairies to serve and make sure things go smoothly she is dresses in a simple, yet beautiful dark green Ponte knit dress. With an A line skirt that reaches past her knees. A comfy pair of black flats seeing as she would most likely be on her feet a majority of the night.
Her hair and make-up are done in her usual style.
"Damn Tink, if I had known you were this good with your magic I would have let you do my wardrobe a long time ago." She laughs so glad that this turned out okay. Tink really did an amazing job, right down to the black bangle on her right write, and the black tear drop earrings hanging from her ears.
"Seriously though Tink. Thank you. I really appreciate it."
"My pleasure." Tink gives Ruby's hand one last squeeze before she turn to Regina who has yet to say anything.
Regina stands silently in front of the mirror. She stares at her reflection, mouth slightly open. But her expression is hard to read.
"So Regina, what do you think?" The fairy asks hesitantly, fearing that Regina will say she hates the dress.
Regina either doesn't hear her or chooses not to answer. Her eyes are fixated on the mirror.
Ruby can see how nervous Tink is and decides to risk snapping Regina out of her daze by giving her side a gently poke.
"Hey Earth to Regina, care to join us here?" She jokes, releases a small laugh when Regina jumps at the contact.
"Oh sorry. Did you say something?" She turns back to the mirror.
"Geez G, if you stare at yourself any harder you'll shatter the mirror. We want to know what you think of Tink's handy work."
Regina still couldn't talk. She couldn't seem to tear her eyes away from her reflection. The dress is nothing like she expected. She expected a simple black casual evening own because everyone knows that black s the Queens color.
But maybe not, because here she stands is a stunning short sleeve, eunry gown. A free flowing A-line skirt that flows down to the floor. The waist hugs her like a second skin, highlighting her curves. The sweetheart neckline revels just the smallest hints of cleavage. Lace embellishments wrap around her shoulders and back. A simple floral pattern covers the left side of her waist.
Regina was so fixated on the dress she hadn't even taken in her hair and make-up.
Her hair which has grown out quite a bit, falls loosely around her shoulders, slightly curled to frame her face.
Her eye make-up is settle, only enough to bring them out but not enough to make her look harsh or cold, the way she used to have it. But a bright red lip stick stands boldly out.
A heart shaped necklace rests just above the swell of her breasts. Half the heart is decorated with black diamonds, and the other in bright red rubies. Matching stud earrings sit firmly in place.
Tink's smile sinks deeper with each passing moment Regina remains silent. Unable to stand the silence anymore she speaks what she believes Regina is thinking.
"You hate it don't you." Her voice is shaky like a child who gives their parent a gift, only to be told that it's no good.
"What?" It's enough to get Regina's attention. She turns from the mirror and makes her way over to her friend. "Tink no, I don't hate it not at all."
"You don't." She says hopefully. "Then why haven't you said anything. You've been staring at yourself for like ten minutes in silence."
"I have not." Regina defends herself.
"Maybe not ten minutes, but pretty damn close. You're killing us with the suspense G. Now turn around and let us get a better look." Ruby moves her hand in a spinning motion.
Regina can't help rolling her eyes at the lycanthrope, but with a small smile tugging at the corners of her lip she complies. Spinning around a couple of times.
"Holy fuck G. You look fine."
"You think?" Regina asks as she turns her gaze back to the mirror.
"Hell yeah. But it doesn't matter what I think. What do you think?"
Regina takes one more look at herself before she turns to face the two anxious women.
"Honestly. I don't know what to say." Regina takes a deep breath before continuing "I can't form the right words to tell you how much I love it. This dress is just gorgeous, and not at all what I expected. My hair and make-up are flawless. I even love the half black and red heart jewelry." Regina laughs a little even with her eyes are misting over. She takes a few step towards the fairy and envelops her in a hug. "Thank you Tinkerbelle. You really are an amazing fairy and I'm so sorry for ever telling you otherwise."
Tink returns the hug just as strongly before she pulls away to look at her friend. Tears have started to pool in the corner of both women's eyes.
"I've already told you Regina, everything worked out the way it was supposed to. It may have token you longer than I thought but you did meet your soul mate. And you are happy aren't you." The brunette nods. "Then that's all that matters. And as for the heart. I have seen your heart, I held it in my hands. And yes I saw the darkness that swirls within it but, I also saw the goodness shinning though, goodness that I'm sure glows even brighter today." Tink wipes her own tears away before she finishes. Now I believe that is enough of that for today, this is supposed to be a fun day so no more crying. I didn't waterproof your make-up."
All three women laugh. Regina moves away to grab a tissue on the nightstand.
"God I think this whole auction this is wreaking havoc on my mind. I swear I have been near tears at the most random of things." With her back turned she doesn't see the big grins Ruby and Tinkerbelle give each other, but they choose to let the comment go.
"When did you see Regina's heart?" Ruby asks changing the subject.
"Back in Neverland when we were saving Henry. We went to find her so she could help us find and defeat Pan. I knew she wouldn't want to see me so I waited outside while the others went to talk to her. Little did I know she knew we were there already and followed us. Once she saw her chance she knocked me out with poppy seed and dragged me off."
Ruby's eyes widen as she turns towards Tink. But says nothing.
"Anyway long story short, she was going to kill me so I took my heart out of my chest and handed it to her."
"Wait, wait, wait. She straight up told you "I'm going to kill you." And you give her your heart? Why?"
"I knew she wouldn't do it. She's too good. But I needed to convince her to help me save Henry. That was the only way I could think of. It worked didn't it." Regina states.
"Oh I so could have crushed your heart I was so close to doing it too. But then you said you had a way to get off that god forsaken island. My hatred Pan and that island outweighed my want to kill you." Tink says giving Regina a slight push.
"Yeah keep telling yourself that." Pushing Tink right back. Regina is so glad that she has people in her life that she can joke around with. It's an odd filling going from never truly having friends, to having more than she could ever have imagined. An odd but completely welcoming feeling. "Now we have I'd say a little over two hours before the auction starts. Snow and Emma should be here any minute so we can go finish everything up. I'd say we should head down stairs."
"Hey Regina before we go, let me see your shoes." Ruby demands, while Tink simple grins
"Your bossy and you have a shoe addiction you know that. I haven't even looked at them yet. They're comfy I know that much." Regina lifts her dress enough to reveal the shoes.
Both brunettes gasp at the sight of a sexy pair of red and black 5 inch pumps. Regina has always loved the shoes of this land since the day they arrived. But these ones have her drooling. Black leather with red accents and shanks. A black buckle strap wraps around her ankle securing the shoe snuggly in place. Hanging from the buckle is a small gold charm. With a closer look Regina can make out an apple with an arrow shot through it. She can't help but laugh.
"Shit Regina. You could turn a girl with those shoes. Good thing your dress covers them or else Robin might have to fight off a lot of people tonight. They just scream "Fuck me"."
"They are a beautiful pair but I must say Tink I do love the little charm. Your idea I'm guessing."
Tinkerbelle shrugs her shoulders. "The original was a gold heart I figured you like my idea better. A little personal touch."
"You are right. I love it Tink, thank you." Regina says smiling at her friend.
"You're welcome. Now," Tink claps her hands together. "You both know the rules."
Ruby interrupts her.
"What rules? I wasn't told any rules."
"All magic comes with a price." Regina clarifies.
"Whoa wait. I love this outfit but I but not enough to give up my first born." Ruby looks down at her shoes again. Contemplating. "No still can't do it." Causing Tinkerbelle and Regina to laugh.
"No nothing like that. But Regina is right all magic come with a price. And so for us that mean you have until midnight before the magic wares off."
"What? I don't get to keep this?" Tink shakes her head at her. "Man that's fucked up. You're going full on Cinderella with us huh."
"Well at least this time, it's Tinkerbelle waving the wand and not Rumple. I still don't know what he wanted with Ashley's baby, but then again It's Rumple, who know why he does half the things he's done. I'm just glad his deal with my mother fell through." Regina says putting her phone in make-up bag in a clutch.
"What deal?" Ruby asked. She used to know everything about everyone, now it seems she's always out of the loop.
"After my mother abandon Zelena, she snuck into a royal ball held by my Grandfather to find a bride for my father. My grandfather caught her and sentenced her to be executed. So she lied and said she could spin straw into gold. So he locked her in a tower full of straw and gave her one night to turn it to gold. At the time she didn't know magic so poof comes Rumple. He teaches her how to spin gold with dark magic. As a prize she got to marry my father."
"So this world's version of Rumpelstiltskin is based on your mother?"
"Yep. Now originally Rumple's deal with my mother was her first born. Now somehow she managed to get him to change it to any child of his. I guess they were supposed to run off together. But instead my mother wanted power and money so the deal was void. Had my mother's thirst for higher statues not won out, Rumple very well might have been my father."
Regina can't help but smirk at her two friends shocked faces. Tink was the first to sap out of it.
"Wow you really would have been screw if you had to grow up with both of them as your parents."
"Trust me I know." Regina replies as the three ladies make their way down stairs.
"So I have a question. Did Rumple use you to cast the dark curse because he wanted to screw over your mother or was it his plan all along to use his own child?"
Regina hadn't thought about that before. Rumple had once told her that only Cora's daughter could cast the curse.
"I honestly don't know. I wouldn't put it past him."
"Man he' 12 kinds of fucked up."
Before anyone could reply, the doorbell rings.
"That's got to be Snow and Emma." Tink says making her way to the door to let them in.
"Hey Tink, I didn't expect to see you here. Is Regina ready? I told Robin I'd come by to get her." Snow says entering the house without actually being invited in.
"Hello Snow, Emma. Yes Regina is ready, she and Ruby are waiting in the living room." She closes the door behind them before they all make their ways to where Regina is.
"Regina, wow. You look two amazing." Snow says as when she sees her former step-mother and best friend who are standing shoulder to shoulder with each other
"Damn, Ruby, who knew you cleaned up so good." Emma says jokingly.
"Why thank you Sheriff Swan. But I can't take the credit. This was all Tink."
"Yes our fairy friend here is responsible for our appearance tonight. And I guess the only way you'll dress up is if your pirate will take you out. Don't you ever get tired of wearing the same thing?" Regina says as she takes in their attire. Snow is dressed in simple baby blue dress with long black sleeves. While Emma is in her usual jeans, wife beater, and leather jacket.
"Well if I had known Tinkerbelle was doing make overs I would have come. But I figured if anyone was going to bid on me, they might as well know beforehand what to expect."
"So who else is being sold today Snow?" Ruby asks.
"No one is being sold. You're volunteering your time." Snow states. She has told them this several times over these past few weeks. But they keep referring to being "sold".
"Yeah, yeah, yeah whatever. Who else did you rope into "volunteering" their time?"
"Well, you, Regina, and Emma. Um Fawn and Rosetta. Drizzella and her sister Anastasia. Rapunzel and Mulan both told me they'd think about it but they never got back to me. Merida threatened to shoot me with an arrow if I even asked. Oh who else? Oh Charlotte La Bouff and Esmeralda told me last week they would do it. And I believe that's it for the ladies. For the men there is Robin, Tiny, Allan, a few Merry Men agreed but they were drunk when David asked so I don't actually expect them to show. Prince Edward, Victor offered but I lied and said we had all me needed already. Little John, Doc, Sleepy, oh and Grumpy." He finishes.
"Wait, you got Grumpy to agree? How the hell did you manage that?" Regina asked astonished that the mean old man agreed to do something for charity.
"Grump has a big heart. He knows it's for a good cause."
"In other words you made your puppy eyes, and pouted your lip and he could say no." Ruby teased.
"That's not true." Snow defends herself.
"Oh don't try it. Everyone knows he's got a hug soft spot for you Snow. The Dwarf just can't stand it if his little sis Snow is unhappy. You could ask him to cut of his own hand and he'd ask right or left."
"Shut up." Snow says after a while unable to come up with a good comeback.
"Okay that enough picking on Snow. For now anyway. We need to get going if we want to have enough time to plan the order of the auction."
"Well we came in my bug. We didn't know you two would be here so we will have to take two cars."
"Can't you just, I don't know poof us there?" Ruby asks looking at Regina.
"I could but," She looks towards Emma. "I think Emma should do it."
"Me? Why?"
"You have to learn some time. And the only way you will learn is to practice."
"I can try, but the only thing I've been able to move is a tea cup. And that was once."
"I'm not going to end up at the troll bridge am I?" Tinkerbelle asks hesitant. She knows magic is tricky and Emma's still learning.
"I can't promise that." Emma closes her eyes, focusing on her magic. She pictures the town square and them in it.
After a few moment of silence she asks.
"Did I do it?" Opening her eyes to see they are still in Regina's living room.
"Not even close." Tinkerbelle laughs. She felt the smallest amount of magic form before t just, disappeared.
"What was that?" Regina can't help but laugh along.
"What I did what you said. I pictured where I wanted to go, and I imagined us there. What else am I supposed to do?" She says upset. It's not like she's had decades to practice magic like they have.
"Emma this isn't like starting a fire. You need to have a gradual buildup of your magic. You need to feel it wrap around you and trust it to take you where you want it to take you. Did you read any of the notes I gave you?" Regina had spent hours translating her book for Emma to be able to practice. But from the looks of it she hasn't been practicing much.
"I, I skimmed them." She lies, she hasn't touched them since Regina gave them to her weeks ago.
Regina huffs before she flicks her write, white and purple smoke surround all five of them. When the smoke clears they all stand in the library that Bell kindly let them use for the auction. As long as they don't mess with her books.
"You know if you don't want to learn magic you could have told me sooner. Could have saved me a lot of time translating those notes for you."
"I want to learn. I just have never been a really good student. I hate studying."
"Well if you'd like we could always go back to the bridge. Maybe this time I'll burn the ropes instead of breaking them." Regina has a look on her face. Emma can't tell if she's joking or not.
"Have I ever told you how much I love studying?" She says quickly hoping to appease her teacher.
"That's what I thought."
"Okay not ladies that's enough. We need to get everything planned out for tonight. That includes the order you will go in, and figure out how much time each volunteer will get. I already have the questions I'm going to ask each of you and."
Snow didn't get to finish because Regina cuts in.
"Whoa what questions?"
Snow grimaces realizing she had just told Regina what she made everyone else promise not to. She doesn't answer her at first. She looks to the others hoping they'd tell Regina for her.
"Snow. What questions?" She demands.
"Well um. We thought it would be a good idea to ask each person individual questions. You know, to um to let everyone get to know them a little better." She trails off at the end a little scared to finish because Regina's face had gone from slightly pissed off, to a face Snow used to get quite often when Regina was Mayor during the Curse. Instead of replying to Snow, Regina turns to the others. Non off which will loo her in the eye.
"Did you know about this? Tink?"
Tink reluctantly answers.
"Yeah we knew. But we thought you would back out if you knew."
"Well you're right about that. Did Robin know?" Regina's pissed. But if Robin knew about this and kept it from her. There will be hell to pay.
"NO! No he didn't know I swear. We didn't think it would be right to ask him to keep a secret from you." Snow exclaims.
"So you thought it would be better to blind side we with this mere hours before?"
"Well I'd admit it wasn't our smartest plan." Emma explains.
"You think?" Regina's voice is getting louder by the moment.
Emma continues despite it.
"We knew you would back out. Come on Regina I think you can suffer through a few moments of embracement."
"That's not for you to decide Miss Swan."
"Oh no." They all thought together. Everybody knows that Regina I beyond pissed if she's reverted to calling Emma Miss Swan. Shit.
They are momentarily distracted by the lights in the library flickering. They aren't sure if it was a coincidence or if it was Regina. And frankly none of them are brave enough to ask.
"Regina." Tink says calmingly. "We know you don't like it when your life is open for all to see. I know that better than most. And I have already looked over the questions Snow intends to ask you. We would not knowingly make you uncomfortable. And I think you already know that." Tink takes Regina's hand that is clenched in a tight fist into her own. "We aren't going to make you do this. But we would really appreciate if you did"
Regina's hand tightens before it slowly relaxes in Tink's. The rational part of her mind is telling her that she has nothing to worry about. But that part of her that has her suspicions of everyone is telling her that they are trying to trick her. To humiliate her.
But after a few deep breaths, the rational part wins over.
"Fine I'll do it. But I swear to god Snow if you ask anything that."
"I won't I swear." Snow cuts her off. She's glad Regina is able to trust her, or trust Tinkerbelle, more now.
"Okay let's get this over with." Regina lets go of Tinkerbelle's hand, not before giving it a tight squeeze. Mouthing a silent thank you, that Tink smiles and nods her head at.
Snow claps her hands before she explains her ideas about the order. All the ladies gather around a table each voicing their own opinions. Soon the other volunteers come pilling into the library. It seems that Storybrookes first auction is just about ready to start.
"Hopefully everything goes well and I don't end up making a fool of myself." Regina thinks to herself when Granny comes in to inform them that people have begun to arrive.
So that's all I have for now. I'm not going to lie, I spent a great deal of time looking for outfits. It was hard to choose but I managed to pick ones I thoight would look great on the ladies. What do you think? Too much? I'm not going to lie I was a little bit out of it as I was writing it. Between school and the winter finale, my head and heart are shot. Anyway I original was planning to write a chapter, but before I know it I had reached almost 14000 words so I had to spit it up into multiple chapters. I hope it's not too choppy but if it is please forgive me. Please review and tell me what you think, I'd love your input.