so sorry for the delay in this chapter! i should clarify that this story is about the new life that killian and regina established for themselves. so no, it doesn't have an exact storyline, other than things that happen to them after they left storybrooke. or as in this chapter, when they return to storybrooke... :) i'm going on vacation next week, so i'm trying to update all my stories before i leave. reviews make me update faster...
Regina looked up at the clocktower before her. The sight was so familiar to her despite the fact she hadn't seen it in over a year. Lucas struggled to get out of her arms so he could crawl on the pavement, but she held on tightly. Killian came to stand next to her, placing his hand on her lower back. "Are you ready, love?"
She nodded slowly as he gave her a reassuring grin. He smoothed Lucas' hair back before grabbing Regina's hand and leading her down the street to the small diner. He opened the door for her and she smiled in thanks as she walked inside. The diner grew silent as the people inside saw the newcomers. Granny, however, easily greeted them.
"Regina, Killian, it's nice to see you two." She said as she walked around the counter and moved to join them by the door. Her gaze focused on the boy in Regina's arms. "And you must be Lucas!"
Killian grinned as his son reached for the older woman. She took him in her arms and smiled at him playfully. Lucas studied her face as he reached for her glasses. Ruby joined them from the back room and smiled down at the boy. The rest of the tables were watching them intently.
Granny looked up at Regina. "You know I was kidding when I told you to name your child after me."
Regina grinned. "We know. But you have been so kind to both of us."
"He's adorable." Ruby said.
"You might want to watch your hair." Killian suggested as he pointed out his wife's ponytail. She nodded in agreement.
"He loves to pull hair now." Regina said as she reached up to check on the elastic band that was holding her shoulder length hair back.
Ruby quickly pulled her hair into a high ponytail before reaching out to grab Lucas' hand. The boy laughed as she tickled his palm. Seeing both Ruby and Granny react positively to the presence of former mayor and pirate seemed to make the people around them relax. They returned to their conversations as Granny led them to sit at one of the tables.
"How are you doing?"
"Wonderful." Regina said as she shared a look with her husband. He reached for her hand.
"Good, good. How long are you in Storybrooke for?" Granny asked as she watched her granddaughter play with Lucas.
"Not very long. Just a few days. We don't want to risk staying any longer." Killian said as he gave them a small grin. "We wanted to see Henry and introduce you to Lucas."
Granny grinned. "Thank you. He is very beautiful. He looks just like both of you. The perfect mixture."
Regina and Killian shared a grin. "That he is."
The door opened as Snow and David walked through. They paused as they noticed Regina and Killian. Snow's eyes settled on Lucas and she moved towards them.
"Regina, Killian." She greeted politely. "Is this your son?"
Killian nodded. "Aye, that's our boy. Lucas."
"He is adorable." She looked at Regina. "He looks just like you."
"Told you, love." Killian said with a smile as he nudged her.
Regina rolled her eyes at him as Granny handed her son back to her. "Thank you, Snow." She paused for a moment as she looked down at her son and then back up at her former stepdaughter. "Would you like to hold him?"
Snow's eyes widened slightly in surprise and she nodded. She held her arms out as Regina handed Lucas to her. David leaned over to smile at the baby before looking at the other couple. "How are you?"
"We are doing just fine. How are you?" Killian answered.
"Good. We are good." David responded awkwardly.
Ruby shifted uncomfortably at the tension around the table. "I should get back to work. Congratulations."
Killian and his wife both smiled in thanks as she moved to check on other customers. Granny sighed. "I suppose I should as well. But I do expect you to visit again while you're here."
"Of course." Regina said warmly. Granny hugged both her and Killian before joining her granddaughter.
Regina broke the silence a few moments later. "How is everything around here?"
"Fine." Snow answered quickly. "Thankfully, it's been pretty quiet."
"Good."
"Yeah." Snow gave her an awkward smile as she handed Lucas back to her. "We should grab our lunch so we can go. I'm happy for you two. Lucas is very lucky to have you as parents."
A soft smile formed on Regina's face as she thought about her early years as Snow's stepmother. Her anger had yet to drive her to hate to the young girl at that point, so she often treated the princess as her own daughter. She knew Snow truly meant the words she said. As the woman and her husband turned to leave, Regina looked down at her son. "Snow?"
She turned around as Regina looked back up at her. "I'm sorry. For everything. Especially for causing you to miss out on raising your daughter. If I could take it back-"
"I know." Snow responded softly. "But maybe it had to be this way. Without everything that happened, we wouldn't have Henry. Or Lucas. Plus, we would have had to try to get Emma into a ball gown. I can't imagine that would have been a fun experience."
David laughed as he imagined that scenario.
Regina gave her a small grin. "But still, I apologize to both of you."
"It's about time." She answered lightly. "But I do accept your apology, Regina."
Her husband nodded in agreement. "As do I." He shared a silent conversation with Snow before looking at them again. "Would you like to join us for drinks tonight?"
Regina glanced at Killian. "Well we have Lucas..."
"I'd be happy to watch him!" Ruby joined the conversation from the other side of the room. She grinned as she moved around the bar and walked towards them. "Granny can stay with us if you'd feel more comfortable, but I'd love to watch him."
Killian gave her a warm smile. "We would really appreciate that, thank you."
Ruby nodded. "Anytime. Just let me know when."
Snow smiled happily. "Lovely. Why don't we meet at the Ugly Duckling bar at eight?"
"Sounds good. We will see you then." Killian responded.
David waved goodbye as they headed back to their apartment. Killian turned to look at his wife. "I'm sorry, love. Are you alright with that?"
She nodded. "I am. It's about time we moved past everything. I suppose getting a drink with them is a good way to start moving on."
He nodded. "Plus, I bet the bar will have rum."
Regina rolled her eyes as Lucas giggled.
"At least someone thinks I'm funny. I guess I can always count on my son to laugh.
Regina fixed her hair in the rearview mirror once more before stepping out of the car. She took her husband's outstretched arm and allowed him to lead her into the bar. Snow waved as she saw them, so they walked over to the table and greeted the other couple before sitting down. Killian ordered a rum for himself and an apple martini for Regina.
"I've never been in here before." Regina commented as she looked around.
Killian chuckled and shook his head as David gave her an incredulous look. "In 28 years, you never came here for a drink?"
She shook her head. "It wasn't really my type of place."
"It is kind of weird to see you in here." Snow said with a smile.
Regina laughed. "Yes, I suppose it is."
"It took me a few months to convince her to check out a bar near our apartment." Killian said as he rolled his eyes.
"I expected it to be a bit worse than it was." Regina shrugged.
"As did I. Bars are a bit different than in the Enchanted Forest. Which is good for Her Majesty here." Killian nudged her.
She pretended to be irritated, but the smile on her face gave her away. "Speaking of the Enchanted Forest, Emma said something about you growing more beans."
David nodded. "Anton and the dwarves are doing a good job. There should be a new crop in a few weeks."
"Are you going to return home, then?" Killian inquired.
Snow and David shared a look. David gave them a half-hearted shrug. "We aren't sure yet. Most of the town wants to return home..."
"But Emma doesn't?" Regina guessed.
He nodded. "She says that she belongs here, in this land. Despite the fact she was born in the Enchanted Forest, this is her home."
"It's out of her element. I can imagine she feels a bit uncomfortable. And if she doesn't want to go, you won't either?"
Snow shook her head. "We missed 28 years with her. Now that we have her back, I don't want to lose her."
"What about Henry?" Killian asked. "How does he feel about the possibility of moving to the Enchanted Forest?"
"He seems excited to go to the land he has read so much about, but I don't think he wants to leave you." David said. He studied Regina's face. "What about you?"
"What do you mean?"
"If we go back to the Enchanted Forest, would you come?"
Regina looked at her husband, as she was unsure of how to answer. He wrapped his arm around her as he thought about it. "It is unlikely. We are happy in Boston. But if Henry went, we might go as well. I suppose it's something we would have to discuss in advance. Especially now that we have Lucas. We have to make sure he will be safe and happy. Moving to a land filled with ogres might be a bad decision."
Snow nodded in understanding. "Of course. Perhaps we will be able to leave a bean behind for you so once Lucas is old enough, you can come over. Hopefully we will restore the kingdom by then."
Regina looked surprised at her concern as she nodded slowly. "Perhaps we could."
The two couples stayed at the bar for hours, talking and joking. It seemed that they were able to put their pasts behind them and move on. The conversation was easy and made light by the alcohol. Quarter past midnight saw them saying goodbye and heading back to their respective places. Regina and Killian picked up a sleeping Lucas and brought him to the former Mills Manor. As they got ready for bed, Killian pulled Regina into a sweet kiss.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?"
"I suppose not." She said reluctantly.
"Told you so, love."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, dear."
Killian grinned before pulling her into the bed. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder before allowing sleep to take him.
