I do not own OUAT.
See y'all at the end. TGIF. Enjoy!
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Previously...
"Regina?" Emma whispered tiredly, the pain in her head becoming so overwhelming that all she wanted to do was to close her eyes.
"Yes?" Regina hummed in response, both hands caressing a slick, strong back—still dazed and in complete bliss.
"I like your short hair..."
Regina chuckled, eyes drifting closed. "Thank you, dear."
"But I love it long." Emma finished before she succumbed to the darkness—finally able to let go of that ring. Regina smiled in response, welcoming the weight of the sleeping woman above her. As her mind was drifting off to sleep, the last ten minutes came back to her...
The confusion...the momentary blackout...
"My Dark Queen..."
"I missed you..."
"Long hair..."
Obsidian eyes flew open!
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With as much strength as she could muster, Regina rolled Emma's lax body off of hers, wincing slightly when the blonde was completely off and out of her. "Emma? Emma baby can you wake up?" Regina hovered over her wife, gently smacking her cheek. "Emma? Please Emma, don't do this to me right now. I need you to wake up!"
Regina huffed in frustration and ran her hand through her disheveled hair. It seemed that whatever that was happening to Emma, it had knocked her out cold. Out of curiosity, she peeled back an eyelid and gasped. She should have believed her son, Max wasn't just seeing things...there was darkness lingering in the corner of Emma's eyes. Regina lay back on the pillows, staring up at the ceiling. Her hand automatically going to the ring resting comfortably between her breasts, slowing turning it between her fingers around the chain, thoughtfully—wondering why Emma's memories had come back so abruptly. It took her a moment to take notice, but Regina suddenly realized that the fingers that were toying with the ring were actually tingling, as if being stimulated by soft vibrations. She raised the ring so she could see what was happening, and her heart skipped a beat. The pomegranate gem was now humming softly, the small light inside of it fading in and out as the gem droned. She could feel the steady pulse as it vibrated gently in her hand.
"That...that's not—oh Emma." Without thinking, Regina scrambled out of bed, threw on the quickest thing she could find, which happened to be Emma's discarded clothing, and ran out of the bedroom, down the stairs, like some madwoman. She stopped in the kitchen, looking around frantically until she found was she was looking for. Then the poor woman practically broke her neck, not once, but twice, while running down the second set of steps that led to the front door.
Any other day, Regina wouldn't be caught dead going outside looking this...disorderly, or as she would have said in the Enchanted Forest, slovenly—but today, she would make an exception. Thankfully, there was nobody walking along the docks at this time and Emma had parked relatively close to her garage. Regina unlocked the powerful muscle car and slid into the driver's seat—taking a moment that take in the strong and natural smell that resided in the car—the faint scent of strong, yet sweet perfume...or cologne that Emma used.
Snapping herself from distraction, Regina carefully removed the purple bonding cord and ring from the rear-view mirror and sprinted back inside.
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Regina was straddling Emma's naked thighs, ready to restrain her if this…theory of hers, backfired. Her eyes took in the strong physique and noted the furrowed eyebrows...it was becoming increasingly obvious that Emma's slumber wasn't as peaceful as she originally had thought. With a shaking hand, the anxious woman placed her wedding band back in its rightful place on her left ring finger, but much to her chagrin, nothing happened.
She refused to let that discourage her, she reached for Emma's dominant hand and gently placed the ring on her finger...again, nothing happened, yet her gem was still humming, the light was fading in and out still but it was slower...almost as if it were going to stop at any moment. Regina didn't even know she was crying until she licked her lips and tasted the salty tears.
"Damn you Emma." she whispered, allowing the tears to continue to fall freely. "Why are you doing this to me? I just want my Dark Knight by my side...I've waited nine years for you to come home to me...don't make me wait any longer." She held on tightly to Emma's left hand with her own and laid them down on the blonde's barely moving stomach, just over the bonding cord. As soon as their joined hands touched the seemingly-harmless cord, it snapped to life and wrapped itself around their hands like a boa constrictor.
Regina tried to get it off, because it had literally wrapped itself around their hands and was entirely too tight to be remotely comfortable. She clawed at the damned thing, but she was only harming herself and Emma.
Suddenly, Emma sucked in a deep breath and she started choking. Regina was quick to get off of the blonde and roll her onto her side, horrified to see small, but alarming, amount of blood spilling from her mouth and nose...but it wasn't the blood that kept Regina frozen next to the bed...it was what the blood, oozing onto the soft sheets, was carrying.
"Oh. My. God."
Somehow, some way...the rings and the bonding cord were using the small amount of magic it had taken from them both back in the Enchanted Forest—and was expelling the fairy dust from Emma's body. Regina could see how excruciating the pain was as Emma's body was forcefully expelling the magic. They were stuck together until the process was completed, and all she could do to comfort her wife was to hold her close to her own body.
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Madeline sighed when Adam pulled out the fairytale book again after they were finished eating their lunch. They had some time to spare since they were let out of class early and they didn't have to stand in the long line that was now forming. Maddi quickly spotted Max and smiled at him, and he smiled back, adding a small wave before one his buddies pushed him from behind and mocked him for it.
Madeline rolled her eyes and looked at Adam, "Tell me something Adam. Who are you?"
"What do you mean?"
"In the book, who are you supposed to be?"
Adam ducked his head and shrugged cutely, "It doesn't matter. What is more interesting is that I think I'm close to cracking the Dark Knight mystery."
Maddi narrowed her eyes at him, "Look, if you're gonna go around accusing people's moms of being the Evil Queen and calling your adopted dad some crazy doctor, I think it's only fair if you revealed who you are too. So…who are you? Some poor peasant boy?" Maddi knew she was pushing him, but honestly she couldn't help it. She wanted to know, and patience wasn't something the girl had a lot of. Her mom reminded her of that little fact all the time.
"No!" Adam genuinely sounded offended and Madeline was now more interested than she was before.
"Oh come on...it can't be that bad, can it?"
Adam looked at her, and she returned his stare until he finally caved—like always. With a sigh, Adam flipped halfheartedly through the pages until he came across a commonly known story. Without a word, he slid the book over to Maddi.
She took one glance at it and laughed—out loud. He blushed red and tried to take the book back, but she pushed his hands away. "No way! A werewolf? You are seriously off of your rocker. I thought you said the waitress at the diner was a werewolf?"
"She is! She's my cousin...I think."
"How do you know this?"
"Beauty and the Beast."
"What?"
"You know, from 'Beauty and the Beast.'" he explained, exasperated, and pulled his book closer. "The Beast's name was Adam...my name is Adam."
"Coincidence?"
"There are no coincidences in Storybrooke, Maddi." Both Adam and Maddi looked up to see Max sitting down across from them, "Um, can I sit here?"
Maddi shrugged, "I don't mind."
Adam narrowed his eyes at Max, but nodded anyway…moving to put away his book, but Max shook his head quickly. "What?"
"No, don't put it away...I wanna know too."
Adam's frown deepened, "No, you just wanna make fun of me like you always do. Why are you over here?"
"Cause I can...consider me your new friend, punk." Max unwrapped his turkey burger and bit into it.
Maddi rolled her eyes at Max, "Anyway...Adam this 'Dark Curse' why do you wanna break it so bad? Didn't you tell me that people back in 'La-La Land' hunted down beasts like werewolves?"
He nodded, "Yeah, but if the Savior breaks the curse she can save me from Dr. Frankenstein and she can teach me how to tame my wolf before it happens."
"That's stupid." Max scoffed and sadly, Madeline agreed, although the word floating in her mind was 'ridiculous'…
"What do you know?!" Adam all but yelled at him, the tips of his ears heating up.
Max shoved three fries into his mouth with a smug smile. "I know that only two people can help you with the wolf...the Dark Knight and Red Riding Hood. Having a beast inside of you means that you have darkness inside of you. You have to connect with it or something." He noticed the way Adam and Madeline were staring him, though one was very accusing. "Hey, just cause I don't believe in it doesn't mean I don't know the dumb stories."
"How do you know the stories? They aren't even on Google." Maddi asked curiously.
"I saw the book before he did." Max lied easily, and took another bite from his burger. "So...the Savior can't help you punk. What now?"
Adam slouched in his chair and thought about what Max had just told him, he didn't believe him for one minute that he didn't believe in any of this or that he saw the book first, but he didn't call him out on it, because what Max said...made sense. "Will it make me evil?"
Max and Maddi looked at him, "Will what make you evil, mop-head?"
"Connecting with the darkness?"
Max shrugged, not sure why he was even helping the annoying boy, but if his sister liked him...he could try and be nice—it would also be nice to have another wolf on their side. "I don't know...you'll have to ask the Dark Knight or Red Riding Hood."
"But I don't know who the Dark Knight is, and Ruby doesn't know who she is!" his eyes grew wider, and his voice got higher with each word he said. The kid looked like he was going to burst from the frustration.
"If you find the Savior and get her to break the curse, you'll be able to ask them both." Maddi said, polishing off her bottled water with a soft 'ah'.
Max shook his head, when he saw Adam's eyes light up like a Christmas tree. "That's not-"
Adam had already stuffed his book back in his bag and stood, "I'll let you guys know if I find something! Thanks Maddi...and um...you too Max. I guess."
"I..." Adam was already gone and Max sighed heavily. Oh no. "Great. What?" he asked when he noticed Madeline watching him closely. "What?"
"You know who the Dark Knight is, don't you?"
Max shook his head, and laughed nervously. "Nah, I just read the book before he did."
"Max...I wasn't born yesterday."
"Why would you care? You don't even believe in this stuff anyway." Max tried to turn it back on her so she would just drop it, but he really should have known better.
"I believe some of it, but not all of it. I do know that the Mayor looks like a lot like the Evil Queen, and that Miss Blanchard looks like Snow White…and that creepy pimp with the cane seriously looks like the dude with the wrinkly skin. This book is supposed to be super old, so why do people here look like people in there?"
"I...I, man...o-okay." Max stuttered, not wanting to lie to his sister but not wanting to drive her away either. He noticed that cafeteria's noise level was growing as more kids came in. "I'll tell you, but not here."
"So where?" Maddi asked, still looking at him suspiciously.
Max shrugged, stuffing more fries in his mouth—reminding Maddi of her mom. "The school's theatre office. Nobody really uses it, so no one will find us there."
Maddi took a deep breath, and looked at his tray. "Hurry up then."
Max threw some fries on top of his half-eaten burger, then re-wrapped it the best he could and stuffed it in his backpack, along with the bottle of apple juice. "Come on…before the teachers start coming."
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The theatre room was eerily quiet, and way bigger than Madeline had expected for a school of its size. Max smiled and opened the office door, "It's big because the high school down the street uses it too." he closed the door behind them and sat in one of the plush chairs pushed behind a desk, shivering when his body touched the cool leather, but Maddi found it comforting.
Max pulled out his food and began munching, while Maddi looked on with mild curiosity, "Lunch doesn't last all day Max."
He shrugged, "We're gonna be up here all day anyway, so...who cares. I'm a man, and I gotta eat."
Maddi laughed and pulled out her cell phone, "Whatever."
Max was instantly curious when she started smiling and getting more comfortable in her plush leather chair that was sitting against the wall, "Who are you always texting so much?"
"Not that it's any of your business..." Maddi scoffed, not taking her eyes from the bright Samsung screen, "But, my best friend that lives in Boston, Lily."
"Oh...cool."
"Whatever. Can you just tell me whatever it is that you know, this place is really creepy." Maddi asked as she put her phone down in her lap and stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets, eyes darting around warily.
Max tried not to smile, but he couldn't contain it. Impatience ran through the family big time. "I don't know where to start though."
"The truth?"
"It's all true."
Maddi looked then sneered at him, unladylike, "Seriously? Yet, you rag on Adam all the time for being weird?"
"I know who the Dark Knight is, but I don't wanna tell you 'cause you'll run. I think it's only fair that you know, so I'm gonna tell you the real story of the Dark Knight and the Evil Queen. Okay?"
Maddi let out another chuckle and sat Indian-style in the chair. "Fine then, make me believe this 'real' story."
Max nodded and drank down half of his apple juice, recalling a story his mom used to tell him when he was younger. "Okay, well. Once Upon A Time, back in the Enchanted Forest, Snow White had a little girl named..."
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"Oh, my Dear Little Swan..." Regina whispered as she kissed Emma's moist forehead and continued to run her fingers through soaked, blonde hair. She crawled into bed, both their left hands resting on Emma's bare abdomen, beneath the dark blue sheets.
The blood had disappeared immediately when Emma had finally stopped coughing it up, the fairy dust expiring and cleaning up the mess it had caused. She had long ago taken the condom off of Emma and put it in the trash bin that was on the other side of the night stand and made sure Emma was comfortable.
Emma's breathing was deep and even, and she looked more peaceful than she did before. The bonding cord still held their hands together, but it had at least loosened its grip once Emma's body was cleansed of the fairy dust. They still had a few hours before the kids got out of school and Regina could only hope that Emma recovered before the clock ran out.
"Please wake up..." the brunette whispered, tightening her hold on Emma and burrowing her face further into the crook of the blonde's neck. She felt exhausted and closed her eyes, vowing to only rest them, but it only took seconds for her fall asleep...just as the bonding cord released them from its grasp and disappeared into thin air.
Emma's eyes opened and she sucked in a deep, quiet breath—eyes darting around wildly. She shifted slightly, and seemed to realize that there was another body in the bed with her. She looked down and smiled softly—she brought their hands up from beneath the sheets and kissed the pomegranate gem before gently extracting herself from Regina's embrace. As much as she wanted to kiss the brunette and pin her to bed until she was positively exhausted—the metallic taste in Emma's mouth was bothersome.
She went into her bathroom ensuite and used everything she had to wash out the disgusting taste, until her mouth was minty fresh and tingly from the mouth wash. When she was done, she closed the bathroom door and Emma stood in front of the full-length mirror, naked as the day she was born. Her eyes were taking in all of the old scars...the new scars, and how her body had changed over the years. The military lived and breathed physical prowess, which is why exercise was a big thing in the military—especially the Army and Marine Corps. Emma saw that her body was a bit heavier than she remembered, but she found that she liked it...a lot.
Oddly enough though, she felt a hell of a lot weaker since she didn't have access to any magic...just her bare hands and the cold steel strategically placed around her home. Suddenly, the bathroom door was pushed open and Emma took a step back to avoid being hit.
Regina, still wearing Emma's lounging clothes, stood in the doorway...face devoid of any mayoral mask, she was just... Regina. A woman who was desperately missing her wife and daughter for the past nine years...on the verge of breaking down with the suspense if the naked woman before her was her Dark Knight, Emma Mills...or Emma Swan. "Emma...Are you...okay?"
Emma didn't immediately answer. She took a moment to look at Regina, to really look at her. Through familiarity, and not just something nagging at the back of her mind screaming 'I know you from somewhere'. It was surreal, and Emma simply wanted to stand there and drink in this new Regina...the short hair, the fullness of her body, those expressive dark eyes... fuck. "Regina."
The Mayor swallowed, and forced back the tears. "Emma...Are you okay?" she repeated, she was going to slap Emma if she had to ask a third time.
"I'm here Regina."
"What do you mean 'you're here', Emma? I don't...I don't understand."
Emma frowned. This was not the woman who enjoyed choking her for her own entertainment. This was not the woman who lived to make everyone's life a living, miserable hell. This was not her Dark Queen. This was a woman by the name of Regina Mills, who had a broken heart and an incomplete soul. Emma realized what her actions had done to her wife. She felt...guilty, and she would make it up to her. She swore she would.
Emma took a small step forward and held up her right hand, palm out. "This scar...was my first scar of many. I had to prove my commitment to Dead Man's Land." she brought her hand back and smoothed out her left eyebrow with the scar and smiled fondly, "Lancelot did this during one of our sparring sessions, and you were upset that I did not want to heal my face."
"Emma..." Regina whispered, afraid if she spoke too loudly—she'd wake up and realize that this was all just a dream to torment her, to dangle in her face that she was never meant to love...or be loved. "Please tell me this isn't a dream. That you're real...That you've come home. To me."
Emma closed the space between them and tightly pulled her wife into her arms, and kissed the top of her head when she felt Regina wrap her arms around her bare waist and hug her back, just as tightly. "May you be forever as one in the passion and fire of you." Emma whispered their wedding vows and she felt Regina's body shaking slightly against hers, before she felt the tears on her flesh, and Emma smiled...she was still privileged to see the Evil Queen cry, and to hold her through it all—in spite of the fact that she was the cause of her pain for the past nine years. "I'm sorry Regina...I'll never leave you again."
"Promise me, Emma. Promise that you'll never leave me again."
Emma pursed her lips. That was an impossible promise that she couldn't make—her time spent in the military of this world had taught her that death can happen at any moment and there would be nothing that anyone could do about it. "I can't promise you that Regina. Not in this world...but you and our children are reason enough for me to try my damnedest to come back. Can you accept that?"
Regina nodded and pulled away from Emma, but still holding her wife's waist. Now she truly had her wife back…she was still in quite a state of shock. "That is acceptable..." Emma reached out and wiped away Regina's tears, the mascara she wore, now ruined and staining Emma's thumb. "I'm a mess aren't I?"
"Yeah, but you're a beautiful mess. I've missed you."
"I love you."
"I love you too..." Then Emma grinned, "…and I see that you've grown soft."
Regina ignored the comment and simply stared into Emma's lively green eyes, "I can't help but think that I'm still dreaming. If I blink, I'll find out that you're not real."
"I'm real." Emma dismissed her fears and pulled away from Regina completely, despite the brunette's attempt to hold her still. "But at least you weren't the one that's been having dreams and hallucinations for the past couple of weeks."
"How do you know this isn't a hallucination then, Emma?" She watched Emma turn open the shower door, and turn it on—jumping out before the cold water could hit her.
"Because, I know what's going on this time. The other times...I was just confused and lost. Now I'm not." she opened the shower door wider, "Care for a shower, Your Highness?"
Regina glanced down at Emma's steadily growing erection, "Emma, we need to talk."
"I know, and we will...but right now, I wanna have shower sex with you Mrs. Mills."
"Very well, Mrs. Mills." Regina quipped back. Her heart had fluttered at Emma's words, she wasn't even aware when she started removing her—well Emma's—clothing. She stepped into the shower, and sighed softly when the warm water began washing over her, relaxing her...until a strong body pressed itself against her backside, lips kissing her bare shoulder and a hand snaking its way down between her legs. Before the blonde could reach her goal, Regina spun around in her arms and pulled Emma down for a kiss under the spray.
Regina grunted softly when her back hit the warm shower wall, and she was pleased that Emma was not in a teasing mood, either. She lifted a leg around Emma's waist, and was pleased when the taller woman hooked the back of her knee with the crook of her elbow. Regina gasped loudly and buried both hands into wet blonde hair when Emma's hips shot forward until their hips met, and Regina was coming all over Emma's cock that was buried so deliciously deep inside of her.
Emma adjusted her footing when she felt Regina was ready for more. She pulled out half way and slammed back into Regina. Emma kissed Regina hungrily as she set an exhausting pace, the head of her cock brushing against Regina's erogenous zone. Regina threw her head back and called out to the heavens when Emma began massaging her throbbing clit firmly with her thumb, not caring about the dull ache behind in the back of her head.
Emma felt Regina clamp down around her cock and she leaned forward, nipping at her exposed throat. The brunette's fingernails were digging painfully into her scalp, but Emma dare not say a word. Regina's body began shaking as her hips started grinding roughly into Emma's thrusts until she was spent. Emma gently lowered Regina's leg and moved away from the brunette, leaning back on the shower door, hand wrapped around her cock that was covered with Regina's creamy juices with water cascading down her face.
Regina was positively exhausted, but that didn't stop her from sinking down to her knees in front of her blonde wife anyway. She pushed Emma's hand away and kissed the head of Emma's dick then wrapped her hand around the base and lifted it. Regina leaned forward and took one of Emma's cojones in her mouth and sucked gently. Emma's eyes rolled to the back of her head and her knees buckled, she opened her mouth to say something but as soon as Regina's hand tightened around her member and moved up and down—whatever Emma had to say was lost. A few more tugs on her shaft with Regina's mouth attacking her sensitive stones, Emma gritted her teeth and came with a loud groan.
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Emma was now wearing a pair of running shorts and a t-shirt, while Regina donned her coat once more, her hair semi-dry and as neat as she could get it. Regina sat on a bar stool while Emma was perched on the counter next to the refrigerator with her food, and each woman had a cup of coffee. Neither woman wanted to break the silence—Not knowing what to say…both fatigued. There were so many questions, but their time was slowly running out for the day before their children were released from school, and Regina didn't want to be here when they got home wearing just a robe. She felt so out of character and yet...she didn't mind being 'Just Regina' with Emma.
"I feel strange." Emma finally broke the silence, staring into her coffee cup. "Like weak...this is truly a land without magic, isn't it?"
"You'll get used to it, dear." Regina smiled softly, remembering the first morning she woke up in Storybrooke and tried to use her magic to change her clothes—she had forgotten that this world didn't have magic and everything was done differently. That was a very stressful time.
"It's going to take me some time to get used to seeing our friends, and not being able to call them by their real names...isn't it?"
Regina sighed, and nodded. "Yes."
"Mr. Gold...er, Rumpelstiltskin—does he know who he is?"
"I don't know. Mother seems to think he does at times, but then he just...turns into a creep that can't seem to keep his eyes to himself."
"I see..." Emma sipped her coffee slowly, careful not to burn her tongue. "Um, Regina? You're not gonna choke me in my sleep are you? For...sleeping with other women?"
Regina raised a brow and smirked behind her coffee mug briefly, before schooling her features and setting the cup down. "I'm not pleased that you shared your bed with other women Emma. Yet, I can't truly be mad at you, that honestly wouldn't be fair."
Emma sat back a little; surprised. She was sure that Regina would start throwing knives. "Oh...well, okay then."
"If it happens again, I'll cut it off. Are we clear?"
"Crystal." Emma answered immediately—it didn't sound like an empty threat, though she'd never cheat on Regina—well, knowingly that is. "So...um, when is this headache going away?"
"Your head still hurts?" Regina frowned, immediately concerned. "For how long?"
Emma shrugged, "It's coming and going, but I still feel like a part of me is...missing. Like it's lagging behind, or something."
"I wish we had more time to talk."
"I wish you didn't have to leave so soon."
"We have many years to catch up on Emma..."
"I...I know, and I'm sorry for that. I understand why you yelled at me now." before Regina could reply, Emma continued on. "Have you ever been outside of Storybrooke?"
"No. Why do you ask, dear?"
"I wanna take you to Boston, soon...if you would be so kind as to accept my offer, Majesty?"
Regina drank the rest of her coffee and stood, "I do...but it is time I take my leave. I am the Mayor of this town, and I need to go home and prepare for tomorrow."
Emma slipped off the counter and took the Mayor's mug and set it in the sink. "I understand...lunch, tomorrow?"
"Granny's at 12. Do not be late Ms. Swan."
"No promises...I love you."
"I love you too, Emma." Regina smiled tightly, this was much harder than she had expected. Leaving Emma when she didn't remember was hard enough, but leaving her now that she had regained her memories—and with so much unsaid—was nearly impossible for her. Emma stood in her kitchen, watching the brunette disappear from her sight. She held onto the edge of the counter tightly, willing herself not to run after Regina and lock them away in her bedroom from the rest of the world.
As much as they both wanted it, they knew it was much more complicated than that now. When the front door clicked soundly behind the Mayor, Emma released a deep breath, and the counter. She looked around her house as though she was seeing it for the first time, it seemed...everything was familiar to her, but she didn't feel like she was at home anymore. Home was at 108 Mifflin Street.
"A world without magic? Hmm, must be Hell."
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"… The End."
Maddi stared at Max for what seemed like the longest 30 seconds of his life. He couldn't tell what she was thinking even though she was staring right at him. Suddenly, Maddi grabbed her phone and answered a message she had gotten not too long ago, before getting out of her chair and collecting her bags.
Max was utterly confused, "W-where are you going?"
"I'm going to class. I'm late...and so are you."
Max nearly tripped over his own two feet while trying to get out of his own chair and blocking her exit, "Wait...you—that's it? You're not gonna say anything?"
"Say what? You tell a good story."
"Did you believe anything I just said?"
Maddi shrugged, "Not really. I'm shocked that you and Adam aren't friends. You two have a lot in common."
"Like what?!" Max made a face as if Madeline said the most offensive thing in the world. "Me and that little dweeb are nothing alike!"
"Could have fooled me." Maddi flipped her hair and brushed past him, leaving him in the theatre office shocked and a bit ticked off. Grumbling… Max flopped back into his chair…wondering if he was still tutoring her after school.
Once out in the hallway, Madeline had taken her phone out again—intending to call her mom and beg her to come pick her up. Unfortunately, before she could even unlock her phone, Madeline ran into another body.
"Madeline Swan. I believe we've talked about cell phone use inside the school building."
"You talked." Madeline shot back, knowing her fate was sealed as soon as she opened her mouth. She and Principal Mayah Faye were not the best of friends when they first met. Mrs. Faye unwittingly admitted to being anti-military. That put a quick end to any future relationship with the Swan family—and add the fact that she and Miss Blanchard seemed to be the best of friends; Madeline made it her personal goal to give them grief whenever possible.
Mrs. Faye sighed in disappointment, "Young lady where are you coming from?"
"The rest room."
"I'll walk you to class, but first give me your cell phone."
"Huh?" Maddi's eyes widened dramatically, as if the woman had asked her for her soul and she quickly stuffed it back in her pocket. "No way, this is my phone."
Suddenly, the theatre doors burst open and Max came running out like there was a fire in the room behind him, Madeline's name rolling off his tongue, before he stopped and saw their Principal. "Uh...whoa. Hi, Principal Faye."
The Principal crossed her arms with narrowed eyes, and looked at Madeline, who sighed in defeat—knowing she was really in trouble now. "Bathroom, hmm? Both of you come with me."
Mrs. Faye turned around indignantly, and began walking back to her office, her heels tapping loudly on the school's tiled floor. Max shot Madeline questioning, wary glances, but she was giving him the cold shoulder and he was starting to feel guilty—all he wanted to do was catch up to her and apologize, not get them both in trouble.
"There you two are! I've been looking all over for you!" A short-haired brunette wearing an extremely unfashionable, oversized sweater nearly screeched.
"Oh my god..." Madeline groaned as Miss Blanchard stepped out of her classroom, closing the door behind her completely. Max sighed loudly and rolled his eyes, mumbling something about the 'nuthouse'.
"Where have you two been? Class started some time ago!"
"Yes, I found them coming out of the theatre. Now we will take their little impromptu 'field trip' just a bit further, straight to my office for a nice little chat, and we will call their respective mothers. I will also add truancy to the list of their transgressions against school rules. For such a new student, Miss Swan has racked up quite a few tally marks on her record, seeing as how she refuses to conform. It must be the lifestyle her mother has chosen." Maddi was seething and shooting daggers with her eyes at the strict authoritarian before her.
Miss Blanchard nodded, "Of course. Actually, if you wouldn't mind...I would also like to speak to Maddi's mother about her addiction to that cell phone."
Maddi rolled her eyes, "It's Madeline."
"Add to that, her attitude." the disgruntled teacher huffed indignantly, with a frown.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Emma and Regina were walking side by side down the quiet school hallway, Christian Louboutin high heels click-clacking with determination next to the soft footfalls of all black, ankle-high, steel toe Doc Marten boots that were used by Special Forces, made of genuine leather. Nothing was said between the two women as they made their way to the Principal's office.
If anyone were to come out and see the Mayor and the Mysterious Blonde, they would have thought this was the most odd, yet fitting, power couple they'd ever seen. While Emma was wearing all black, it complimented the Mayor's gray pencil dress. It was as if they belonged together.
Emma admitted that she felt at ease having Regina within arm's reach, and to see the woman so prim and proper with her own eyes, she was excited to play with fire now. She still had a headache but figured that it would just go away in due time. Emma was nervous though, and so was Regina, this would be the first time that Emma would get to really look at their children. It could be a disaster or it could be the most perfect, unrealistic family reunion.
Regina was honestly hoping for the latter.
Emma opened the door with a smile, "Madam Mayor."
Regina nodded politely, the corners of her lips twitching. "Why how kind of you, Ms. Swan."
Emma couldn't stop her eyes from dropping down to Regina's ass in that perfectly-fitted gray dress and she licked her lips, she was definitely getting that in this new land. When she looked up she saw the receptionist looking at her with a frown, Emma closed the door soundly—enjoying the old woman's startled response. Next time maybe she'd keep her opinion to herself.
Mrs. Faye stood when the Mayor of Storybrooke walked in with Emma Swan right behind her, and Miss Blanchard kept her back to the wall next to the bookshelf with her arms crossed, her confidence shattering when she saw the two women who could intimidate a rhino…with one look alone. "Madame Mayor, Miss Swan. Glad you could make it on such short notice, and I do apologize for calling you out of your busy schedule." the last statement was directed at Regina, who waved it off.
"Please Mrs. Faye, pray tell, why we are here so we can get on with our day. Some of us have a town to run."
The Principal acted as if the Mayor's extreme politeness wasn't eating her alive, but it was. "Of course. Please have a seat."
"I'll stand." Emma replied, tearing her eyes from the teacher leaning against the wall. Now that she knew who the woman was, Emma's hands were itching to wring the woman's unprotected neck until she turned blue. Over and over again, until her lungs collapsed.
Regina took the proffered seat next to Max who coward under her scolding eye, but Maddi met Regina's look head-on, before looking down at her lap, her arms folded haughtily across her chest. "Whenever you're ready." Regina prompted, almost impatiently.
"While making my rounds this afternoon, I found Madeline roaming the halls on her cell phone and when I asked where she was coming from, she told me the restroom. I would have believed her, had Maximilian not coming running out shouting her name...from the theatre room. I had also asked Madeline to hand over her cell phone and she refused."
"I ask on several occasions during the day for her to turn it off and she refuses, and they are both very disrespectful to me in the classroom." Mary Margaret had continued to talk, but Emma had long since tuned her out.
She took a moment to study her heirs. They were absolutely beautiful. So beautiful. And they were obviously rebellious. She could finally see where all of Madeline's traits had come from. That silky hair and those incredible eyes. Not only was she a spitting-image of Regina, she shared several facial similarities with Maximilian. Max seemed to favor Emma a bit more, not only in looks, but attitude. It suddenly hit her as to why she got along with Max so easily. Kids were not her forte, yet he was just like her, making it effortless to be around him. Both children got 100% of both hers and Regina's attitudes. Oh shit, watch out world! We have unleashed twin terrors! Emma smirked, amused. Those two separated was hard enough to handle, but put them together and there's no telling what trouble they could find. Hence their current situation. Their genetic makeup screamed insubordination. Good thing that she and Regina were very strong women. They would definitely have to figure out how to reign in their kids, as a team, without breaking their spirits…
Emma snapped out of her musings and cleared her throat, ignoring the strange stares she was getting from everyone in the room—particularly the hard one her daughter was giving her, as if she were trying to look through her.
Emma held out her hand with a loud sigh, "Right, right. Give me your phone Madeline." Without so much as a complaint, Madeline handed it over. "I've told you about texting in school haven't I?"
"Yeah, but-"
"And using Google, checking the time, email and twitter. Right?"
"Yes." Maddi grumbled with a frown.
"You'll get it back in a week. If I have to take it again, kid, you can forget about archery or chess...you pick."
"Seriously?!" Madeline cried, and from memory—Emma knew she was about to throw a temper tantrum. "I wouldn't even have to use Google if Miss Blanchard would stop talking about her stupid, ugly birds every five minutes! It's history class, Ma!"
"It's true" Max perked up, in full support of his sister—even if it meant Regina would talk his ears off even more at dinner, "Ms. Blanchard always leaves her windows open and lets the birds fly in. she brought the bird house in when it rained a couple of weeks ago, but never took it out."
Mrs. Faye pursed her lips and sighed deeply—looking questioningly at the sheepish teacher. "Ms. Blanchard is this true? Have you been letting birds into the school building again?"
"The students find them relaxing, especially during the tests."
"Yeah, until one decides to take a crap all over my test."
"Language, young lady." Regina chided gently, out of instinct—but the response was something that surprised everyone.
"You're not my mom, so don't tell me what to do!" Madeline's glare was so full of anger that no one moved to stop her when she jetted out of the office like a bat out of hell, for the second time that day. Emma cleared her throat, making brief eye contact with the Mayor before they both looked at Max who was looking down at the floor as if he were hoping it would swallow him whole.
"Was there anything else Principal Faye?" Regina asked, as she stood. Everything was falling apart and into place simultaneously, and Regina didn't know if she needed a shot of tequila or whiskey—because her apple cider couldn't get her through this mess quickly enough.
"Just that if we continue to have problems with either of these two, in-school suspension is an option...as well the standard three-day suspension. Miss Swan, we understand that you've probably had little opportunity to establish proper discipline techniques with your daughter while you went off to do a man's job. But it's not too late to connect, to ensure that her teen years aren't so...troublesome."
Emma rubbed her chin and with a humorless chortle, pushed off the wall. "Principal Faye. I'm only gonna warn you one time. Stay in your lane when it comes to my family. Are we clear?"
The light-skinned woman leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "Miss Swan, there is no need to talk to me like I'm one of your idiot soldier grunt. I'm simply concerned."
Emma took a small step forward and Regina tensed, and Max could feel the strain in the room and sank lower in his chair. "Principal Faye, don't flatter yourself. I only see you as an insurgent." Emma offered a cold half-smile and exited the office.
Oh it felt good to be back.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
"You wanna talk about it?"
"Nope."
"I do."
"Why?"
Emma sighed and leaned on the hood of her car, looking down at her daughter who was content with sitting on the ground in front of it. "You were kinda rude to the Mayor back there."
"I don't care."
"I thought you liked the Mayor?"
Maddi flicked a pebble, watching it skip a few times. "I don't wanna go to her house on Sunday...or any other Sunday. And I don't want Max to tutor me anymore, or to come over on Sunday's. I don't care about archery or chess anymore. I just wanna go to Disney World for Christmas."
"Why?" Emma folded her arms across her chest, lips pressed into a tight line. She understood her daughter was throwing a temper tantrum, but this was altogether new. Madeline never went back on a deal—especially one that Emma knew the girl desperately wanted to win.
"Everyone in this town is weird."
"Weird how?"
"Did you know the Principal Faye's name is Mayah Faye. That literally means Mother of all fairies. Don't you find that weird?"
Emma rolled her shoulders gently, almost made her wish the Blue Fairy was alive. Almost. "I find it...troublesome. How did you come about that information?"
"Google." Madeline shot her blonde mother a very annoyed look, but Emma tilted her head to the side and smiled softly, though her eyes were dancing with amusement. Madeline rolled her eyes and picked up another pebble. "Can we go to Boston this weekend? Just the two of us?"
"No. You're on restriction, we aren't doing anything remotely fun this weekend. No video games, TV, no phone, no iPod, laptop—"
"How am I supposed to talk to Lily then?! I told her that I would call her this weekend!"
"Good question." Emma spotted Regina and Max walking out of the building, Regina seemed to be talking a mile a minute in Maximilian's ear and he seemed to be taking it all in stride with his head down, and Emma fought back a smile of adoration.
"What is wrong with you?!" Maddi all but shouted in confusion as she got to her feet, with her hands on her hips. "You're not acting like you."
Emma looked down at the little brunette, eyebrow raised. "How do you mean? Of course I'm me. I'm fine. What's wrong with you?"
"You haven't called me 'Kid' for like, at least ten minutes now, and you're...off. It's just your headaches r-right? You're not...I'm not...this town is just weird right?"
Emma rubbed at her eyes and took a deep breath. To lie or not to lie. Hmm. Not to lie. "I don't know kid. Maybe there are a lot of things in this town that are weird. But it's normal. Not for this world, but normal."
"What?" Hazel eyes narrowed in exasperation, "What does that even mean, Ma?"
"Ms. Swan, may I have a private word with you?" Emma and Madeline watched Max stomp past them to the Mercedes parked behind them, his face red. He stole a glance at Madeline, mentally sending out an apology for getting her into trouble—but he wasn't sorry for telling her the truth. Whether she believed him or not...she needed to know. He tossed his backpack in the backseat and turned on the radio—of course being Storybrooke, the music sucked.
Emma nodded and stood straight, then handed her keys to Madeline. "Here, wait in the car."
Madeline looked between the two women before taking the keys from Emma, nearly snatching them. The nine-year-old girl slammed the door shut and when the engine roared to life, rumbling overshadowing the gentle purr of the Mercedes.
"You can't go around threatening people Emma. This is not the Enchanted Forest anymore. This world has a different set of rules."
"But that's not what you wanna talk about...is it?"
Regina granted Emma a small smile, she knows me so very well. "No it is not. I'm concerned for you Emma. How is your head?"
To lie or not to lie. Not to lie. Again. "It's a dull ache, but it still hurts. Do you think it's because of the stress my brain has been going through?"
Regina shook her head, "I want to take you the hospital for at CT scan. To make sure you don't have a concussion from roughhousing with Lucy."
"Nah." Emma waved off Regina's concern, she hated hospitals and if she could help it—she wouldn't step foot in one if she didn't necessarily have to. "I um...I do feel better when I'm closer to you though. Your presence calms me, and I've been thinking Regina."
"You? Thinking? I'd rather not think of the catastrophe that could cause." Regina laughed and it was music to Emma's ears, and she smiled. "And what was it, pray tell, that you were thinking dear?"
"That I...that I don't wanna go another night without holding my wife."
"Emma—" Regina swallowed thickly and took a small step forward, desperately wanting to reach out to touch Emma—anywhere...everywhere, but she was well aware of where they were and who was watching. "Emma, I feel the same way but Madeline won't understand, we-"
"I know...and it's frustrating, but Regina. I don't know if I can sleep without you...peacefully, now that I remember."
"I understand, Emma, I do. We also need to talk, as a family...and as a couple."
Emma sighed, shoulders slumping slightly. "I know...this might take a little time, can I...call you later tonight?"
Regina nodded, "Yes I would like that very much."
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
"Mom?" Max mustered up the courage to ask, watching as the orange Challenger turned off towards the docks with a frown.
"Yes Maximilian?"
The nine-year old-boy winced, yep she's not happy. "How much trouble am I in?"
"Heaps of trouble Maximilian. Skipping class? Talking back in class? Have I not taught you how to act like a young man?"
"Yeah, but...I mean mom! C'mon...it's killing me!"
Regina didn't have to ask what he was talking about—she already knew because it was frustrating to her as well. "Max honey. I know...and there is something you should know. Emma-"
"I told her!" Max blurted out, like word vomit, before he could stop it. Regina was quick to pull over to the side of the road, ignoring the blaring horn speeding past them.
"Excuse me?"
"I told her...I told her...I...and I'm not sorry." Max took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart, but he was starting to sweat bullets.
"Told...who, exactly? And what?"
"Maddi. I told her...everything."
"Oh Max..." Regina felt...angry…and even more frustrated than she did before, as she ran both hands through her short hair and rested her forehead against her steering wheel with her eyes closed. "What did she say?"
"Sh-she didn't believe me and she ran from me." Max brushed away the hot tears, voice trembling. "I'm sorry mom. I messed everything up this time, I'm sorry."
Regina reached over and ran her hand through her short and tidy hair, "Oh sweetheart...I don't think you did."
"Are you trying to make me feel better?"
"No, I'm being honest. Emma..." Regina trailed off, and sat back with a loud sigh—wondering if she should tell him. To lie or not to lie. Regina and Emma were so much alike that they even thought the same thoughts about lying…it wouldn't surprise either of them if they could finish each others' sentences. "Emma regained her memories today..." she held up a hand to stop his string of loaded questions that she was sure were waiting to come out—questions she wouldn't deem appropriate to answer. "It doesn't matter how, just know that she is...here to stay. We still have a lot to work through, but Max darling...we are one step closer to being a family again."
"We should go to Emma's!" he shouted excitedly, eyes shining with excitement, tears still leaking out. "Mom! We should go to Emma's and, and, and—I don't know, talk! Lock ourselves up and talk!"
"Max it's a school night."
"Who cares, Mom! This is like...Patriots vs. Seahawks! We are the Patriots and the Seahawks are the wall between us and being a family again."
"Who won that game again?" Regina asked with a proud smile, obsidian eyes holding the young hazel eyes of her son.
"Patriots, Mom." Duh. "Nothing can stop us."
"We can't go empty-handed. What do you think about stopping by your grandmother's and picking up some food?"
"I want something from Granny's though."
"Then we shall stop there as well, my little Prince." Regina put her Benz into gear and her mood felt ten times better than it did before...and Max was practically dancing in his seat.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
As soon as Emma got into the car, she shut off the radio. The drive was quiet and neither felt the need to break the silence. For the first time since moving to Storybrooke Emma parked in the garage. As quickly as she had the car in park—Madeline had grabbed her stuff and jumped out, not even bothering to wait for her mom to shut down the engine.
Emma stared at the steering wheel for a while, eventually going inside as well. The house was quiet, but she could hear the footsteps of the young girl with an attitude, every now and then. Emma fished out a Heineken and sat up on the counter, resuming her position from earlier that day. "Madeline!" she called, popping the cap. "You know the drill, anything that has a screen or removable power cord is off limits until the end of your grounding. Bring it all here, and don't try to keep the old iPods or anything that might hook up to internet or wi-fi."
Uggggh! She's getting way too good at this ,Maddi thought to herself. Any hopes of communicating with Lily were gone now. This was not cool, especially when she was freaking out…"Ugh! Coming..."
Emma nursed her beer, waiting patiently for the little brunette to come storming down—and she made a show of it. She all but slammed the travel backpack on the counter. "If anything is broken, I sure as he- heck, am not replacing it. I hope you know that."
"Whatever. I don't even care."
Emma raised an eyebrow at the girls tone, "Sit down. I wanna talk to you."
Madeline sat down at the stool that Regina had occupied earlier, twiddling her thumbs on the counter nervously. It was obvious that she wasn't gonna talk first. Emma smoothed out her eyebrow with her left pinky without really thinking about the action. "Something else happened at school didn't it?"
"Ma?" Maddi eye's were now honed in on her left hand, and Emma cursed her observation skills. "When did you start wearing that ring?"
"You first." It was childish, but Emma needed to buy time—she didn't know how to answer that question just yet.
Maddi rolled her eyes, "Nothing happened. I told you, everyone is just weird. Your turn."
"Nope. Try again kiddo." Emma sipped her Heineken, ignoring the dull ache behind her head that seemed to spread down the back of her neck like a slow-moving virus.
"Okay fine, if you really wanna know so bad!" Madeline popped her knuckles, something she did when she was nervous—Emma wasn't sure where she got it from, because neither she nor Regina did that. "Max, the little weirdo, thinks that we're some kind of a family."
"Wh—"Emma almost slipped off the counter tragically, and set her bottle down but it fell over in her clumsiness, but it went ignored. "What?!"
Maddi nodded, eyes wide, as if to say 'okay!' "Exactly! He told me this whole crazy fairytale story about Snow White going to war with the Evil Queen and the Dark Knight! He thinks that you're the Dark Knight and his mom is the Evil Queen and that we are their kids, but that all of us got separated when the Evil Queen cast her Dark Curse. He has an imagination like Adam, but they don't even like each other, go figure."
Emma frowned at the mention of Adam Whale's name, but she had much more pressing matters to deal with. "Did you believe him? Max, I mean..." she questioned further, "Did you believe the story he told you?"
Madeline scoffed, "No way. He couldn't even prove it! Besides, I'm a realist. So yeah…it's your turn now."
"If there was proof...would you believe it then?" Emma slid off the counter carefully and leaned on the kitchen island, hands entertained in front of her.
Madeline shrugged uncertainly. "I don't know. Maybe. Like what kind of proof, Ma?" she didn't want to admit to anyone especially herself but she believed most of the things that came out of Adam's mouth...but today with Max, she couldn't...she wouldn't believe him. He had to be lying...he just had to be.
"If I were to say that...it was all true. Everything that Adam has ever told you. Everything that Max...has ever told you. Would you believe me?"
Madeline swallowed thickly, unable to meet her mother's gaze so she focused on the ring sitting on her finger. "I...I don't know. Maybe."
"You know...I've never lied to you, but I've kept secrets from you for your own good. But I've never...lied to you. So ask me Princess."
Princess? Evil Queen? Other parent… Ask? Her mind was going a million miles an hour now. Oh man, her mom had pulled out the big guns now…Madeline tried her hardest not to, but she sniffled anyway—Emma was right, she had never lied to her daughter—stretched the truth to a fine line, but she'd never intentionally lied. The young Swan forced herself to look into Emma's unguarded verdurous eyes, and saw nothing but honesty. "Is this for real? Is everything that Adam and Max talked about real?"
"Yep."
"The Curse? The Evil Queen, Snow White...the D-Dark Knight?"
"Yep."
"And...that the Dark Knight and the Evil Queen were married and had twins?"
"You and Max, yeah...and we were separated, yeah that's true too."
"And Snow White is...Miss Blanchard who is-"
"No." Emma cut her off vehemently, and startling her. "That woman tried to kill us...she is not worthy to be called your grandmother."
"Oh..." Madeline answered quietly and Emma bit her bottom lip apologetically—for startling her. "Is Cora my grandmother?"
"Yes. Honey...this town is filled with both good and bad fairytale characters...some who favor us and some who don't. We cursed them to get out of a war that we refused to put you and Max through. Don't overwhelm yourself right now. Just know that you aren't crazy...it's all real."
"Oh...um...I just…Oh my god."
Emma got a bottled of water from the fridge and handed it to her Madeline who drained half of the contents in one breath. "Breathe, you're gonna—"
"Can I have my phone back...or use your office computer? Please Mom, please?" Tears were welling in the young girl's eyes.
"Why?"
"I just...I need Google. I can't...deal with this on my own. I know I can talk to you...but I need Google's advice. Please?"
Emma contemplated her answer, weighing the pros and cons of letting Madeline out of her sight, but when the door bell rang, she made her decision—hoping she wouldn't regret it. She fished the Samsung from her back pocket and slid it across the island top to her daughter. "You have until dinner time with it. We still need to talk Madeline."
The little brunette collected her phone and water and nodded; quietly going to the staircase that led to her own room, but she stopped half way up and turned around. "Mom?"
Emma stopped at the top of the stairs going to the front door, ignoring the second doorbell chime. "Yeah, Princess?"
"No matter what...I still love you." Madeline jetted up the stairs and into her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Emma smiled and went to answer the door, when the bell chimed for the third and fourth time. She had a slight inkling as to who it was. "Alright, alright dammit!" she swung the door open, ready to tear into little Adam Whale, but it wasn't Adam at all. As soon as the door was open, Max flew forward and hugged Emma around the waist, and Regina didn't bother to stop him. Emma knew that he knew...she wasn't sure how but she just did. She knelt down and gave her son a proper hug that was nine years overdue. She rubbed his back soothingly as he cried in her arms, the back of her shirt balled into his fists, and the emotionally-drained blonde couldn't stop her own tears—and neither could Regina.
"Emma. We need to have that talk. Now…"
Emma nodded into Max's shoulder before standing, with him still clinging to her like a koala. Emma turned and quietly went back up the stairs, while Regina locked the door and quickly followed them up with the food.
It had been a long ass day, but they both knew...that the hardest part was over, but they still had a long weekend of talking ahead of them...and a bumpy road that led into the future. Their future…
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
This chapter was really long and a lot happened, but I don't think you guys mind it all do you...? No. Excellent! hopfully this chapter answered some of those questions you've all been asking, particularly about Adam...but here is another question, Is he right or is he wrong? Stay tuned. Ha! The weekly soaps.
The Dark Knight will have a few more parts but not all back to back, but I am thinking of giving other characters a few parts as well...anyway, thanks for reading and all the love! Makes our day honestly.
Have a great weekend!
Monster Galore.
