Merry Christmas, dear Swen! As my gift to you, I've just released new chapters for most of my fics in progress today. Please be sure to check them all out and, if you're feeling generous, leave me some comments with your thoughts. Happy Holidays and have an amazing New Year. ;)
"Hi, Dad."
Emma reaches out, settling her small hand over David's and giving his fingers a squeeze like she had done for the past few weeks. August smiles at her and slips outside, giving her a moment of privacy like usual. They've made it a habit of visiting the man in the hospital every so often, just to check in on his unchanging health. Emma had discovered that her mother volunteers there and leaves a little vase of flowers next to "John Doe's" bed once a week, so on rare occasions, she finds herself sitting in that little room with both her birth parents. Today, it's just her and David.
"Mom is doing good," she murmurs, remembering the smile on Mary Margaret's face when she had joined in her class's birdhouse project earlier that week after sneaking over to the fourth grade classroom out of boredom. Mrs. Potts had located her pretty quickly - the entire school seemed aware of the little blonde's affections for Miss Blanchard - and eventually allowed her to stay with Mary Margaret for the rest of the day.
"She doesn't know who either of us really are, but don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her while you're stuck here. I won't let anyone bother her."
Emma rests her upper body on the bed next to him, arms crossed and chin resting atop them. David is, as always, silent and unconscious.
"Three more months and I'll break the curse. I promise."
He breathes evenly through the tubes in his nose. Emma sighs, closing her eyes and just listening to the steady beep of the heart monitor, soaking in the comfort of his warm, steadying presence next to her.
Outside, August watches the going-ons of the quiet recovery wing of the hospital. Storybrooke is a small town so the hospital isn't very large or very busy either, nurses and a few doctors striding through the halls without much of a rush, either drinking coffee or leisurely reading from a clipboard about a patient with a minor ailment. It's rather peaceful, a stark contrast from the hospitals he's used to in the big city.
"Good morning, August," a soft, chipper voice greets. He turns and smiles sweetly as Mary Margaret approaches, pushing a small cart full of flowers in little vases. It's become a bit of a tradition of theirs, seeing each other at the hospital every other Sunday morning while Mary Margaret does her volunteer rounds. The mousy brunette had once inquired why Emma had such a fascination with the comatose John Doe and August had made up a story about how the man reminded Emma of one of her nicer foster parents in the past. Mary Margaret had smiled in sympathy and simply accepted it, and since Regina never brought up the subject to either of them, he assumed their visitations hadn't been reported to the Mayor.
"Morning, Mary Margaret. Emma's inside already."
The brunette nods happily and grabs one of the little vases, taking it into the room with quiet steps. Emma blinks open her eyes at the woman's entrance and gives a wry smile.
Hi, Mom, she thinks softly. "Hi, Miss Blanchard."
"Hello, Emma. How is our friend today?"
"The same." Emma shrugs, standing back up and giving David's hand a departing squeeze. "I should go soon. Gina's meeting me and August for brunch."
"Brunch," Mary Margaret repeats, laughing softly. She's never heard a five year old using that word before, but supposes she really shouldn't be surprised at the vocabulary of Regina's adopted child. "That sounds lovely. Have a great day then, Emma."
She moves to replace the flowers on the side table next to David's bed. Pausing at the doorway on her way out, Emma glances back at her mother and father, lips pursed.
"Someone should read to him," she says after a moment, green eyes brightening with an idea thanks to the reading sessions Mrs. Potts has started doing with her class. Mary Margaret hesitates, quirking a brow at her.
"Oh, Emma, I don't think he'd be able to hear us, sweetheart."
"I think he can. I called his name once and I think his fingers twitched."
"His name? How do you know his name?"
Emma just shrugs and gives the cutest grin she possibly can. "I dunno, he looked like a David to me. I like to call him David. Maybe you can read to him sometime?"
She doesn't wait for the woman's response, just gives a little departing wave and leaves the room. Bemused, Mary Margaret glances down at the patient's relaxed, sleeping face and tilts her head ever so slightly.
"David, huh?" she says softly. Maybe it's her imagination, but she thinks the corner of his lip twitches upwards ever so slightly. He gives no other indication of consciousness, so after a moment of admiring his handsome features, Mary Margaret shakes her head at herself and leaves the room with a chuckle.
It's a short ride from the hospital to the diner, August parking the yellow bug just by the sidewalk and then carrying a wriggling Emma inside. He's taken to carrying her around often, enjoying the rare chance he has to pick up his little sister with ease while he still can. Emma doesn't mind, though she still pretends to glare daggers at him whenever he laughs and calls her a 'monkey.'
"Gina!" Emma shouts happily, catching sight of the brunette sitting at their usual booth from where she's hanging like a sack of potatoes over August's shoulder. Regina smiles beautifully at them as they join her at the table, August gently depositing the blonde onto the bench next to Regina while minding her arm. She no longer has to wear a sling, but her arm is still encased in a cast for at least another week or two.
"Hello, darling," she says, smoothing down Emma's wild curls as the child adjusts her cast-laden arm in her lap and makes herself comfortable. "Did you and August have fun at the park?"
"Yeah," Emma replies cheerfully, leaning into Regina's side and swinging her legs energetically. Lying about their whereabouts has become second nature and she smoothly regales Regina with a story about how they played on the swingset and saw ducks at the pond. "Will you go with me next time, Gina? Can we feed the ducks?"
"Of course we can." She beams at the tiny blonde, then glances up at August, someone she's quickly growing to consider a friend. "I ordered your usual for you, I hope that's okay."
"That's perfect, thank you," he says, his smile as warm and charming as ever. Ruby arrives with their food a few minutes later, her smile flirty when she fills August's mug with fresh coffee before sauntering off. August's gaze follows her briefly before he cheerily digs into his food, stopping only when he feels Regina's calculating eyes on him. "What?"
"You should ask her out on a date," Regina notes, amused. Emma manages to keep her choking quiet, but August audibly coughs and thumps a fist against his chest when his food goes down the wrong pipe.
"What? Who, Ruby? I don't- uh, that's not…"
"Oh, don't deny it," she chuckles lowly. "The both of you aren't exactly subtle with your yearning looks and doe-y eyes."
"We don't make eyes at each other," August complains feebly. Regina just pops an eyebrow and gives him a look. "Regina…"
"Ask her out, August. I know you're sticking around for more than just mine and Emma's sake."
He blushes, rolling his eyes a little when Emma bursts out laughing, and just grumbles something about Regina being bossy. The Mayor smirks and accepts the grumbles like compliments but doesn't push him on the matter anymore, their conversation turning to other matters like summer break and the new little waterpark playground that Regina has been pushing during council meetings. There had been little opposition when she'd said she would put some of her own funds towards the construction costs, wanting to have someplace to take Emma for fun when the weather grows hotter. At this point, the work is well underway and Regina is utterly pleased by the progress.
They bid August goodbye after brunch, Emma hopping into the black Mercedes just down the street and strapping herself into her car seat while Regina watches from the driver's seat, pleased. As is part of their recent Sunday ritual, they drive over to Game of Thorns and park on the curb, Emma darting into the little shop as soon as Regina opens the door for her.
"Afternoon," the owner greets them gruffly, paying little mind as a blonde head disappears into the rows of flower displays. He remains at the till reading his newspaper while Regina wades further into the shop, knowing she would find Emma lingering by the lilies like always.
"What do you think?" Regina asks, smiling as the girl hums and haws over the selection, hands behind her back as she rolls on the balls of her feet.
"Lilies," Emma says decisively after a moment, nodding and pointing at a bundle of lilies that are a soft speckled pink on the inside, the petals fading out into shades of orange and yellow. "I think Grandpa would like those ones."
"Excellent choice, my little princess." She brings them up to the counter and pays the owner, and then they're back in the car and making the now-familiar drive over to the cemetery. Emma contentedly watches the scenery go by as they cruise along the road and find a spot to park, then it's a peaceful walk over to the Mills family mausoleum, Emma carrying the flowers in her arm and both remaining respectfully quiet.
Unlocking the door and pushing it open, Regina allows Emma to go in first, following her closely as the blonde patters over to the stone coffin. She waits for Regina to lift her, and once she's braced against the brunette's hip, she easily sets the flowers down on the lid next to the bouquet from last week. The old flowers are wilted from the stuffy heat within the mausoleum and Regina removes them to toss away later.
"Hi, Grandpa," Emma says softly, reaching down to press her little hand against the bronze plaque with Henry Mills' name on it. Regina does the same, her fingers caressing the other end of the plaque in a tender touch.
"Hi, Daddy." She breathes out slowly, feeling Emma's arms encircling her shoulders as she snuggles closer. Emma is heavier now, having put on healthy weight that her once malnourished little body was lacking, and though Regina's arms protest, she just readjusts her hold on her and hugs her close, rewarded by soft little kisses on her cheeks. Emma doesn't normally give kisses - generally reserved in her displays of affection, especially in public - but she gives them freely whenever they visit Regina's father, perhaps sensing that the brunette needs the comfort during those vulnerable moments.
"Emma," Regina begins after a few moments of quiet, feeling the blonde hum in acknowledgement against her shoulder. "How would you feel about visiting the stables today?"
It's a subject that Regina has broached multiples times now, one that Emma continues to wearily decline due to her fear of the massive animals, especially now that she's in the body of a five year old. Standing next to Henry Senior's resting place now with that hesitant, almost hopeful look on Regina's face, however, Emma finds it hard to say 'no' like usual.
"I guess we could…" Emma mumbles, brows crinkling together. She doesn't understand why Regina has started asking her about it in these recent weeks; the brunette had never shown interest in horses or riding before.
"It will be fun," Regina promises her, that heartfelt smile spreading across her lips and chasing away Emma's fears. "I'll be with you the entire time, Emma. I promise it's not scary."
"Okay," the blonde eventually relents, unable to dash the woman's hopes. She didn't think Regina meant immediately, but the next thing she knows, they're driving down a dirt road towards the outskirts of town and coming up on a large, fenced in paddock next to a quaint stable. Regina must have planned to ask her since that morning, which explained why the brunette was wearing comfortable slacks and a casual blouse today instead of her more common dress clothes or tapered skirts.
"Have you ever ridden a horse before?" Regina asks as they pull up in the gravel parking lot just outside the stables, holding open the back door for Emma as the blonde unstraps herself and climbs out.
"No." Emma's lower lip juts out just a little, unable to hide her dismay. She receives a reassuring touch to the hair before she's led inside by the hand, straight down the pathway between the stalls of horses. Where once she found their size unnerving, now she's absolutely terrified. They're a lot bigger in person, twice as much now that she's half her original height.
"Gina?" Emma murmurs after a moment, feeling Regina's fingers tensing slightly in hers as they pause in the middle of the walkway. There's an odd look on the brunette's face that she can't quite place, one that she's never seen before. "Something wrong?"
After a moment's hesitation, those dark brown eyes blink and she refocuses, smiling down absently at Emma. "Sorry, darling. What was that?"
"Where'd you go?"
Regina pauses, bemused, then shakes her head and continues down the walkway. "I'm right here, sweetheart."
There's more to the story, Emma knows it, but she doesn't press her for now, figuring there will be plenty of time to get tidbits of information out of the brunette later about her obsession with horses and her connection to the stables.
"Mayor Mills?" a man steps out from the little office by the entrance to halt their progress once more, confusion on his features as Regina turns to frown at him.
"What?"
"Oh, I just- uh, I didn't know you were coming in today?" He tilts his head, eyeing Emma curiously and figuring she must be the Mayor's newly adopted daughter, the one that has been the talk of the town since her arrival three months ago.
"I co-own the stables, I believe I can come in whenever I like," Regina says testily, a scowl marring her features at the strange look he gives Emma.
"O-of course, Ma'am. I was surprised is all. It's been…" His brows furrow, confusion flickering in his eyes before he blinks it away. "... a while."
Emma watches him, long used to those moments of fogginess that passes over most of the residents' faces whenever they stumble onto a thought that doesn't quite line up with the life they've lived on repeat for almost twenty eight years.
"Yes, well, I'm taking one of the horses out for a short ride today," Regina tells him curtly, giving him a look until he bobs his head in acknowledgement and disappears back into his office to leave them alone. Giving Emma's hand a little tug, she leads her again, surveying the available horses and considering which one they should take. When one younger stallion loops his head over the divider and whinnies excitedly at them, Emma actually shrieks and launches herself at Regina's leg, latching on with a death grip. The man running the stable peeks his head out from the office just enough to see the tiny blonde attached to the Mayor's leg like a baby koala.
"It's okay, Emma," Regina soothes, struggling to hold in her laughter as she stumbles a little and reaches down to set a hand against Emma's back. The child is literally off the ground, arms and legs wrapped around her. "He's just excited and wanted to say hello."
"I don't like that one," Emma warbles, immediately climbing up Regina like a monkey when the woman tries to detach her from her leg. Snugly held in her arms, she hides her face against Regina's shoulder, lifting her head just enough to shoot a dirty look at the horse. The animal wickers gleefully, lips pulling back to show off a huge mouthful of big teeth. Regina actually laughs out loud at that point, one hand rubbing up and down Emma's spine in a reassuring gesture.
"He is rather bratty, isn't he? We'll pick a different horse, alright, sweetheart?"
Nodding against the brunette's shoulder, Emma gives in to the childish urge and sticks her tongue out at the horse as they walk away from his stall. When Regina next stops, they're in front of a stall housing a dappled grey mare, the animal currently munching on a mouthful of grain and blinking slowly at them from underneath long lashes.
"Emma, this is Destiny," Regina says, coaxing the blonde into lifting her head. She shifts closer at the same time the mare shuffles towards them and gently swings her head over the gate, neck stretching in her attempt to sniff at them. Emma balls her fist into Regina's collar as the brunette reaches out with her free hand and allows the mare to press her velvety nose against her palm in greeting. "Put out your hand just like this, darling, and say hello, won't you?"
Weary, Emma unclenches her fist and holds out her open palm, wincing when the horse's head twitches in her direction. It takes them both a few moments of hesitation before Destiny finally pushes her nose against Emma's small hand, lipping gently at her as if sensing her fear and wishing to allay it.
"There, that's not so bad, is it?" Regina murmurs, adjusting her hold on Emma again and giving her a little hug as the girl giggles, tickled by the light fuzz of Destiny's muzzle against her wrist. "Let me saddle her up, and then we can go on a little ride, okay?"
"Kay." Placed back on the ground, Emma stands next to Destiny's stall as Regina jogs off to retrieve a suitable saddle from the tack room. The mare lowers her head to nudge playfully at Emma, sniffing loudly as if in hopes that the child has treats.
"Are you from the Enchanted Forest too?" Emma asks in a whisper, watching as the mare's ears flicker in her direction at the sound of her voice. Those big brown eyes just blink, lazy and content. "Guess not."
She rubs Destiny's cheeks, hesitantly scratching at the long bridge of her nose as the horse nibbles at the hem of her shirt. Regina returns a moment later and watches them fondly as she lets herself into the stall and saddles up the horse.
"Did you make a new friend?" she asks when she's done, red lips curved into a delighted smile when the mare has yet to leave Emma alone, happily lipping at her clothes and sniffing her blonde curls. Emma pats Destiny's nose once more, cheeks dimpling as she laughs.
"I think she likes me."
"I think so too."
Leading the horse out of the stall, Regina sets her hands on her hips and gives Emma a playful little grin. "It's time to get on the saddle. I'm going to lift you up first and then climb up behind you, okay?"
"Okay," Emma agrees, uncertainty in her big green eyes as she allows herself to be lifted up under the armpits and boosted onto the saddle. Regina's fingers hooking into her belt saves her from sliding right off the other side, and once the brunette is sure she's securely gripping onto the pommel, Regina sets her foot in the stirrup and easily climbs on behind Emma, as graceful and fluid as if she hadn't given up riding for decades.
"How's that? Is your arm alright?"
Emma readjusts her butt a little, settling in against Regina and holding onto the pommel with both hands. Part of her upper arm and forearm are still securely encased in the cast, but she's regained full strength and mobility in her hand and wrist and it hasn't bothered her in weeks. "I'm fine, Gina."
"If you feel any discomfort at any point, you let me know and we'll stop, alright?"
"Kay." Emma tilts her head back to beam at the brunette, receiving a little kiss atop her hair before they get going. Regina's arms loop loosely around her, holding the reins lightly yet with full control as she coaxes Destiny forward, stepping out into the sunshine and making their way to the trail entrance.
"How did you learn to ride?" Emma asks after a few minutes once she's gotten accustomed to the bumpiness of Destiny's slow, plodding steps on the trails through the woods.
"My father used to own stables. He taught me to ride when I was young." Regina's voice softens with affection at the memory, a little smile gracing her lips as she tugs on the reins and gets Destiny to take them down along a peaceful little stream. Birds flutter through the trees and a few insects buzz their way across the stagnant stream of water, zipping past them and disappearing into the dry grass. "I've loved riding ever since. I thought perhaps you might like to learn as well. You could have your very own horse here, and we could come every weekend, if you'd like."
The look in Regina's eyes is absolutely hopeful, wishing to share her passion with someone important to her, and Emma can't stop the wry smile from splitting her lips. She isn't so afraid of the animals anymore, at least not the calm ones like Destiny, and supposes it wouldn't be so bad to go riding on the weekends.
"Okay."
Regina's eyes glitter with delight and she squeezes Emma to her, feeling the girl lean back against her and settle a small hand over Regina's on the reins.
They spend about an hour wandering the trails, enjoying the view and simply soaking in the sun and the good weather. They find a couple apple trees near a clearing by the stream and take a short break to allow Destiny a drink while Regina plucks two of the ripest apples from a tree, perching on an old fallen log with Emma.
"The apples from your tree are better," Emma say after a single bite from the red fruit, which earns her a warm chuckle from the brunette.
Another hour later finds them back at the stables, Destiny automatically heading back towards her stall so that Regina can unsaddle her and clean her up. Emma gets to help brush down the gentle mare, and when they're done, Regina teaches her how to properly feed a few treats to the animals, setting a few sugar cubes on the flat of her palm.
"You have to make sure to keep your fingers flat together so that she doesn't accidentally bite you," Regina says softly as Destiny snuffles Emma's hand, snatching up the sugar cubes and licking at her palm in search for more. The blonde giggles fiercely, wiping her hand clean on her jeans and sharing a grin with the brunette before they decide to go home shortly thereafter. It's in the car on the ride home that Emma finally voices a question that's been nagging at her since their arrival, not having forgotten the odd look on Regina's face when they'd first entered the stables.
"Gina?"
"Yes, darling?"
"How come the man said you haven't been to the stables in a long time?"
"Oh." Regina hums under her breath, eyes on the road as they finally get off the dirt path and back onto Main Street. "I haven't really had a reason to go there until recently."
"Why?"
"Well, I thought you might enjoy it."
Emma shakes her head 'no,' blonde curls bouncing as Regina glances at her in the rearview mirror. "Why didn't you go before?"
"Because… something sad happened to me at the stables a long time ago, so I never really wanted to go back."
"What happened?"
Be honest, August's voice echoes in her mind, something she's been repeating to herself often in these past weeks. There is so much she can't say, so much she can't tell the girl, but she's been doing her best to give watered-down versions of the truth in hopes that it would encourage Emma to open up just as much with her.
"Well," Regina murmurs, taking a steadying breath as she feels green eyes staring intently at her from the back seat. "Someone I loved very much passed away in the stables."
"They died?"
She glances in the rearview and sees wide eyes staring back.
"Yes, he did."
"Was it Grandpa?" Emma asks, never having been told how Regina's father had died. Regina's shoulders stiffen a little but she shakes her head.
"No, sweetheart. It was someone else." She knows the next question that Emma will ask is who, so she forges ahead and says, softly, "His name was Daniel."
"Daniel," Emma repeats, yet another thing to add to her list of questions, not answers. "You loved him?"
"Yes, I did. I still do." With suspiciously shiny eyes, Regina turns her head to smile briefly back at the blonde. "I think he would have loved you very much if he could be here today."
Emma goes quiet, mulling over all the new information as they finally arrive on Mifflin Street and pull up in their driveway. Hopping out once Regina opens the door for her, Emma plods around the side of the house for the path leading to the backyard. Baffled, Regina follows without question, watching as the little blonde heads straight for the apple tree in the yard. Wordlessly, Emma points up at a red fruit hanging from its branches. Regina pulls it down for her and hands it over, smiling a little as the child then scampers over to the back porch and settles down on the bench.
"Yours are better," Emma mumbles, taking a big bite out of the fruit. Regina chuckles and sits down next to her, heart warming when the child immediately snuggles up against her side.
"You showed me the stables even though it makes you sad," Emma points out after a few minutes of peaceful silence, punctuated only by the soft crunch of her teeth in the apple. Regina nods slowly, one arm wrapped around Emma while the other hand plucks absently at the horse hairs on her slacks.
"I did."
"How come?"
"I thought you might enjoy it," Regina replies, furrowing a brow. "I wanted to make you happy."
"But I don't want you to be sad." Emma furrows her brow too, peering up at Regina with concern until the brunette smiles softly and rubs away the little indent between her eyebrows with a gentle finger.
"I could never be sad when I'm with you, Emma." Brown eyes glaze over with unshed tears again, longing for a life long lost, yet the hurt is only a fraction of what it used to be, soothed by the presence of a new love in her life. "You make me so happy that I forget about the sadness."
She hopes to coax a smile out of her, but Emma looks at her with so much empathy and sorrow that she's a little startled by the wisdom and understanding in those green eyes. Sometimes, she can't fathom how Emma can seem to understand her so deeply.
"I'm sorry Daniel died," she says in a tiny voice, her apple forgotten.
"Thank you, sweetheart."
Emma fiddles with the remainder of her apple, picking out a few seeds from the exposed core and flicking them out towards the yard, some bouncing off the wooden planks of the porch. Regina's eyes follow the little seeds, no doubt remembering their locations so that she can sweep them away later with a broom. The thought almost makes Emma laugh; how well she knows the brunette now, after three months of comfortable domesticity.
"Was Daniel good to you?"
The question doesn't surprise Regina anymore. Emma has asked the same of every person she's ever mentioned from her past, and has grown protective of her whenever anyone in town approaches them. Warmth envelopes her heart at the way the girl continues to care about her in ways that no one has in a very long time.
"Yes, he was. He was one of the only people who was good to me." A slow, shuddering breath escapes her chest as Daniel's loving smile appears in her mind's eye. How gentle he had been, his embrace warm and comforting. It's been so long since his death, so long since she's felt truly and selflessly loved. "He was the last person to… to love me and fight for me."
When she tilts her chin down, Emma is staring at her with an unreadable look on her face, brows pinched together, lips pursed, and eyes swimming with a million conflicting thoughts.
"Emma?"
"You're wrong."
Emma blinks fiercely, nostrils flared and cheeks flushed, angry for this woman who has been left devoid of love or support for so many decades. She's not stupid - she can put together the pieces, stories of a mother who abused her, stories of people who loved her and were taken away from her, dead in the Enchanted Forest, no one left to fight for her. She doesn't know the entire backstory, knows there's so much she doesn't know about why Regina would curse her parents and the entire kingdom, but she does know one thing: Evil Queens were the princesses who were never saved.
"Sweetheart-"
"I'd fight for you, Gina." Her voice cracks just a little, thick with the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her little body. She's a broken soul, just like her, desperate for love that she never got in life, yearning for something that was always just out of reach. "I love you."
"Oh, Emma…" Brown eyes blur with tears, red lips parted in disbelief because for all that they have taken to each other so affectionately these past couple months, that phrase has never been uttered before, not until now.
Emma drops the apple core and twists herself around to get her arms around Regina, hugging her as tightly as she can and ignoring the twinge of discomfort from her injury. Just as Regina is weak when it comes to her, she is equally as weak to the brunette's tears, wanting nothing more than to cheer her up and make her smile again. She feels herself lifted up a little as Regina hugs her back tightly, pulling her into her lap and pressing her face to the side of Emma's head to hide her tears, though her body trembles with a telltale sob nonetheless.
"Don't cry, Gina," Emma murmurs, wrapping her arms snugly around the woman's neck. August, her parents, the curse - none of it takes precedence in her mind right now, not when the woman who has cared for her and loved her with all her heart these past months is in tears. "I love you and I'll always fight for you, I promise."
"I love you too, baby," Regina whispers, eyes fluttering shut as she buries her face against blonde curls and feels the warmth and fierce protectiveness radiating from the child in her arms. Her chest aches with feelings long forgotten, unused to the sheer amount of emotions flowing through her at this very moment, surprise and vulnerability and devotion all mashed together with the disbelief of how this could possibly be happening to her, how she could have been given one more chance. It hurts in a way, overwhelming and so very unexpected, but for the first time in a long time... she feels at peace.