A/N:Since its Regina's birthday today I had to write a little something. This story has everybody in it but its mostly RegalBeliever. Fluffy with some tears ;)
Regina doesn't celebrate her birthday hasn't at least in a very long time. Sure there had been birthday balls in her name when she was younger, events her mother organized. Events involving tight corsets and forced smiles head held up , the perfect posture of a young woman who would be Queen someday.
Regina hated those balls where she was dresses up like a doll would've preferred spending her day with Daniel and Rocinante riding as fast she could, feeling the wind blowing in her face free from all restraints. Stealing little kisses in between maybe making a picnic. Thinking about what present daddy might gotten for her.
But that wasn't how a Queen celebrates her birthday.
After her marriage with the King her birthday mostly got forgotten proofing once again that nobody besides maybe Snow gave a damn about her. The pain of being practically invisible in her own court had led to Regina never mentioning her birthday ever again.
Not even when Henry came into her life. She threw always a big party for her little prince made sure he had everything (maybe went overboard with his gifts from time to time) but for her? Her birthday only remembered her of the year that passed and the pain and loneliness they brought with them.
So nobody knows that today is her birthday, she hasn't told a soul. Not Robin, not Emma, not Henry or Snow and she is sure it will be a day like any other. And she is fine with that. Birthdays are hurtful and if there's one thing she doesn't need more in her life than it's the stabbing feeling in her heart.
But the thing is that there are things that come with having a family that Regina never experienced. One of them being that 13 year old boys, insufferable step-daughters+ their husbands, loving thieves and caring blonds won't let her forget that now she is loved.
It's Henry who finds out when his mum's birthday is and he is also the one who mobilizes the entire family plans every detail. From taking over Granny's till assigning a different task to everybody making this the best birthday party his dark haired mother have had.
And everything works out as planned. Regina has no idea what they are doing. Robin and Roland (they chose to take the newest addition to the family with them who had been the only one capable of making her mother smile today)took her out for a walk in the woods keeping her occupied while the rest of them work enthusiastically.
They are putting up a buffet , Snow's in charge of decorating the place (there are so many birds that Emma is sure that before the end of the day Regina might start a fire ball induced bird massacre) and Charming argues with Grumpy about what kind of music is fitting for a Queen. If they decided before Regina comes back it likely will be a miracle.
Emma on the other side is debating with Henry if an apple birthday cake might be a bit too much for now. Sure they had all come a long way but nobody wants to push it. Well nobody besides Snow who covered in birthday festoons insist that this isn't just the beginning of Regina's life but also one showing the beginning of a second chance for everybody in this room. So apple cake it is.
At six everything is ready and as soon Robin texts Henry that they on their way to Granny's all lights go dark and everybody waits for their special guest. Then the door opens and they shouts with a big smile on their face:" Happy Birthday Regina."
Regina only stares at the grinning faces in front of her and before one of them can do anything she turns around and runs. For a moment everybody is too surprised to say anything but then Robin and Emma move at the same time but it's Henry who holds up his hand and says:" I got her"
Henry finds his mother on the bench not far away from Granny's. Without a word he sits next to her trying to ignore the single tear that falls down her cheek and waits. Waits for her to start talking.
But after a few minutes of silence Henry speaks up: "I'm sorry mum I didn't mean to upset you. We just wanted to do something nice for you all of us."
Regina bits her lip and looks at her son trying to find a way to explain to him what she feels. How overwhelmed she is how happy but scared. But this is her son her little prince so she takes a deep breath tries:" You didn't upset me Henry. It's just…nobody ever put so much effort to make something like this party for me. At least not without gaining something out of it for themselves. I- I never had a birthday party with people who actually want to be there because of me because they…-" Regina's voice is too tight for a moment to speak but that doesn't matter. Henry knows what she means:" –love you? Well mum you have a quite a bunch of people in there who care about you so you better get used to it," Henry tells her squeezing her hand gently.
"Mum I know it's a bit much but it's just us. We are just gonna eat and drink something you gonna open a few presents, maybe not Emma's because she really sucks in buying presents and…," Regina interrupts her son with a soft:" Henry language."
"Sorry mum. But it's not a big deal I promise. Nothing is expected from you besides having a good time. I know that all new but you kicked a snow monster's as- I mean you fought him," Henry added quickly at his mother's glance. Words like suck or ass wasn't appropriate for the son of a Queen she likes to say.
"You can do this and I'll be here all the time. I promise, " with that Henry puts out a wrapped up package and gives it to her. Regina has still tears in her eyes (and feels slightly embarrassed it's just a birthday party for heaven's sake) and opens it. It is a book, a beautiful golden book with:
Stories: From apples, second chances and a charming family.
Regina carefully opens the book and what she sees make her heart almost burst from love. Every page is full of pictures of them, her family.
There is one with her and Henry on a horse, Regina and Snow doing paperwork together both in Madame Mayor modus, her and Robin arm in arm laughing, Roland holding his little sister, Charming trying to teach her how to dance, Regina in Emma's red lather jacket because she lost a bet and Emma next to her crying from laughing so much and many more
One picture after another all surrounded by quotes or anecdotes Henry wrote. Some were taken recently some years old and Regina smiles in every one of them. She smiles there and she smiles now. Because she did it. After all this pain and loneliness she finally got what she always wanted. To love and to be loved.
"Happy Birthday Mum," Henry says and pulls his mother in a tight embrace. They soon get up hand in hand and go back to her party. The party where everybody welcomes her with opens arms and soft and loving smiles.
And Regina smiles back because yes for the first time in forever it is a happy birthday.