"Did she, did she, did the Evil Queen live happily ever after?"

Regina glanced over the two young children's heads and across the room. "I don't know Emma. Did the Evil Queen live happily ever after?"

Emma smiled back and came over to join Regina and the girls in front of the fire, taking a hold of Regina's hand in her own. "Well, sometimes the Evil Queen lived happily ever after. When her wife wasn't pregnant for example, or when her son wasn't off in the fairy dust caves getting into mischief with the dwarves, or getting into life threatening trouble with his Aunt Aggie. Yes. She did."

The two girls looked from one of their mother's to the other. "Momma, are you the Evil Queen?"

Regina opened her mouth to answer, but it was Emma who answered first. "No. Of course not. Now, who's up for some hot porridge." Both girls made a face and Emma chuckled, "Yeah, what I wouldn't give for a microwave. That... that's magic."

Regina and Emma bent by the fire, watching the food cook and looked over as they heard the girls still talking. "Momma was the Queen, she was..."

"But that means she's bad."

"No, 'cause she's better and good and it all worked out in the end." She looked over at Emma, "Can you tell us that story Momma, Mommy? Please?"

Regina picked up the younger girl and swung her in a circle, "Not tonight, tonight you eat and sleep. But... maybe tomorrow after your schooling. How's that sound?"

They both frowned, but, did as they were told, ate their porridge, which Regina was pretty darn good at making Emma had to admit to herself, and went to bed.

Emma and Regina huddled in front of the fireplace in each others arms, "Are we really going to tell them... that story... tomorrow?"

"Hell no. But... maybe Aggie'll or Henry will come home with some trinket that will keep their attention and make them forget about it."

Emma kissed Regina and lay her head against the black haired woman's chest, "It is a good story though. Full of love and sword fights and a little bit of reincarnation."

Regina stared into the popping fire. "Maybe... maybe when their heart is broken for the first time. Then, that will be the time to tell our story." She paused, "I love you Queen Swan."

Emma kissed Regina again, and brushed a lock of hair from Regina's eyes, "And I love you Queen Regina."


Fin ~ January 11th, 2013