A/N Good afternoon sweet people. I figured since tonight SwanQueen is back, that it would be good to update. So here we go. Hope that you all enjoy. I feel that FanFic is about to become every SwanQueen fans best friend. Let the idiocy begin on OUAT. Also thank you so much for the review and alerts. It makes this much easier to know that people are enjoying it.
xxxxx
Regina softly knocked on Henry's bedroom door. When she entered the boy was in his pajamas and just about to crawl into bed. He did so as his mother walked over to the bed and sat on the opposite side. "So. Where would you like to begin?"
Henry smiled and took the book from his mother. He opened the page and then quickly handed it back to his mother with a 'here'. Regina looked at the book questionably. "Really?" Henry nodded. "This is the story that you want to start with?" The boy smiled and nodded again. "Alright then." Regina made herself more comfortable, then began to read.
"Once there was a miller who was poor, but who had a beautiful daughter. Now it happened that he had to go and speak to the king, and in order to make himself appear important he said to him, 'I have a daughter who can spin straw into gold'..." Henry snuggled in close to the woman and looked at the book as she read. It had taken thirty minutes for the young boy to drift off to sleep. Regina sat there with his head still on her shoulder and scanned through some of the other stories in that book. She finally was becoming tired herself and decided this was enough for tonight.
Emma was watching TV when Regina entered the living room. She looked over at Regina and couldn't seem to make out the expression that she wore. "Everything ok?"
Regina smiled. "It's fine."
"You get Henry squared away?"
"I did. He had a odd choice of nighttime stories that he wanted to read."
"Oh yeah?"
"Rumpelstiltskin."
"What?" Emma was genuinely shocked. Damn it, kid, I said start slow. "He started with Rumple?"
Now Regina looked shocked. "Rumple?" She almost smiled. "You're on a nickname level with Rumple?"
Emma didn't know where to start. "I- I have a hard time saying that name. It's just easier to say Rumple."
Regina smiled and excepted that answer. "Alright, then. I should be heading to bed myself." Regina stood. "I will see you in the morning."
"Yeah, ok. Goodnight."
"Good night, dear." Regina left the room, but that was actually the last thing that she wanted. She was afraid that if she stayed things would get confusing again. She had almost kissed Emma earlier and that was something that she didn't want to do. She was attracted to Emma, yes, but she knew that in reality, the women didn't get along. To start having feeling for Emma now would be a mistake. One that she planned to avoid.
Regina had been asleep for a short time when she heard a voice.
'Rumplest...Rumplestilkskin I summons thee.'
'That's not how you say it, Deary. But then you didn't have to say anything'.
'What are you?'
'What...what...what, my, my what a rude question. Annnd I'm not a what.'
'I'm sorry. I don't really know what I'm doing.'
'That much is clear. Allow me to introduce myself. Rrrrrrumpelstiltskin.'
'And I am -'
'Regina. I know'
'You do.'
'But of course'.
'Because of my mother, Cora. You taught her.'
'My legend proceeds me.'
'People say that I look like her when she was younger.'
'Really? I don't see it. No, that's not how I know you.'
'Oh? How then?'
'I knew you long ago, Deary. It's been some time though. But I knew this day would come. I've been waiting for it. And I am so happy that we are back where we belong.'
'But where's that?'
'Together.'
Regina sat straight up in the bed. The dreams never showed her faces, only voices. She taught that it had been due to reading Henry that damn story. Regina's head was busting once again. After a trip to the bathroom, that involving another round of vomiting, and she knew that only one thing had ever helped her before.
She walked quietly down the hall and passed Henry's room until she was standing in front of a closed door, then lightly knocked. She listened for any sound from inside the room and knocked again. Again, to her dismay, there was nothing. She softly, and quietly, turned the knob to the bedroom. "Emma?" she whispered. When there was no response, she walked a little closer to the bed. "Emma?" She whispered again without a response. She huffed. "EMMA!"
Emma sat up in the quickly with her hair down in front of her face. Regina almost laughed. "What?" Emma said panicked. "Are you ok? Is something wrong?"
"Yes, Emma, something is wrong. I don't know how safe I am with you here , since I assume, you have the ability to sleep through a tornado."
"What?" Emma brushed the hair out of her face. "You came in here at..." Emma looked at the clock. "At 2:30 in the morning to question my sleep habits?"
"Never mind." Regina said as she started to walk out of the room. "This was a mistake."
"Wait! I'm sorry. Don't leave. Is something wrong?"
Without turning around she spoke. "It's- I heard voices again and the headache started, and the vomiting and I was just wondering..." Regina stopped and turned toward the woman. She stood there looking at her as though she were afraid to ask.
"What do you need me to do, Regina? I'll do whatever it is."
"Would you mind rubbing my head again?"
Emma smiled. "I can do that, yeah." Emma started to get out of bed.
"We can just stay here."
Emma stopped. "Ok, but I hate to wake you if you fall asleep."
Regina seemed nervous. "Well, would you mind- I mean-" She stopped and took a deep breath. "Could I just stay here? With you?"
Suddenly Emma knew this woman was going to be the death of her. "Sure." She smiled and lift the covers for Regina to make her way into the bed.
Regina smiled and quickly climbed into bed. She was on her left side and Emma was propped on her right, as they looked at each other. "You wanna talk about the dream?" Regina only shock her head. "Ok, we don't have too."
Emma gently placed fingertips to Regina's temple again and applied just the right amount of pressure. "You are really good at that?" Regina closed her eyes.
"I've been told." Emma chuckled. "Fingers of magic."
Regina quickly opened her eyes and looked at Emma. "Is that right?"
Suddenly Emma couldn't seem to talk. "Um...yeah...I mean...you know...not like that."
"So you are saying, that as a lover, you're less than adequate?"
"No! I am adequate...I mean...I am..." Emma stopped talking when Regina began to laugh. "Ok enough talk about what my fingers are more than capable of doing."
"If you say so, Emma."
"Oh I do! I DO say so."
Regina chuckled. "I am sure that you are very good with your hands and I would be lucky I am sure to experience them first hand."
Emma's fingers stopped on the woman's temple. "You are evil!" Somehow a pain went through Regina. She couldn't explain it. She had known that Emma was playing, but still. Emma saw the confusion on Regina's face. "Close your eyes, Regina."
Emma's fingers started their action again. It wasn't long until Regina was sound asleep. Emma watched her for a while and just before falling asleep, Emma leaned over and kissed the side of Regina's head. It caused the woman to stir ever so gently and she moved closer to Emma. At this point Emma wondered what in the hell she was doing.
The next morning was the same routine. Regina woke first, but stayed in bed a lengthy amount of time and watched Emma sleep. She silently hoped the Emma would wake up, but she didn't. Regina had gently removed herself from the other woman's bed and made her way to her room. Once she was dressed for the day she made her way downstairs and started coffee. Shortly afterwards, Henry entered the kitchen and sat down with cereal, graced with bananas on top. He and Regina shared a 'good morning' and kiss then continued on with breakfast. Emma, as always, was the last in the kitchen. She ruffled Henry's hair as she walked by him and said 'good morning'. Her hand, ever so gently ran the length of Regina's shoulders as she passed by her. Regina prayed the woman didn't feel her tense, but she knew that she had. "Regina." Emma offered in place of a good morning.
"Emma. Hope you slept well."
Emma smiled at the woman as she poured the milk over her cereal. "Like a baby."
Regina couldn't help the school girl grin that came to her face. "Ok, I need to run upstairs and grab my purse. Henry, I need you to finish up. We don't want to be late for school."
"Ok, mom. I'll be ready when you come back down."
"Good boy." Regina smiled and left the room.
Emma made sure that Regina was gone and spoke. "Are you kidding me, Kid?"
"What?"
"You started with Rumpelstiltskin?"
"You said jar, so I jarred. "
"Yeah, right into a nightmare."
"What?" Henry was nervous. "I scared her?"
"I don't know. She said that she heard voices but wouldn't talk about it. She said she thought it was the story."
"You said to have her read."
"Yeah, kid, I meant Tinkerbelle or Bambi or something, not..."
Regina entered the room. "You ready, Henry?"
"Um, yeah. " The boy jumped up and put his bowl in the sink. "Ready."
Regina and Henry left Emma alone in the kitchen. In just a second, Emma heard footsteps coming back to the kitchen and turned to see Regina. "I just wanted to say, thank you. You know. For last night. I promise not to make it a habit."
"It was no problem, Regina. Anytime you need me, I will be there."
"Thank you." Regina smiled. "Have a good day."
"Yeah, you too." Emma watched the woman leave for the second time this morning. When she heard the door close she huffed. "I mean the absolute death of me."
It had been an insanely boring day. Everything in Storybrooke seemed to be running like clockwork. All this meant that Emma had plenty of time to play and replay what had happened last night in her mind. Twice she had actually daydreamed about the night over again, only there was a slight difference. When she leaned in to kiss Regina goodnight, the woman woke. This led to a heavy make out session in Emma's mind which led to a long walk down by the pier in Emma's reality. Emma couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Her and Regina? That was the craziest fairytale of all. Emma had walked most of the morning away thinking about what she should do. She had to figure out a way to tell Regina, but protect her at the same time.
The biggest question that played in Emma's mind was what would happen when Regina regained her memory. Would she remember the hate that she seemed to have for her or would she let what was happening between them continue to grow. They had come to terms with each other, sure, but neither were ready to develop feelings for the other.
Emma entered Granny's for lunch. "Hey, stranger." Ruby smiled.
"Hey, Ruby." Emma sat down in the booth and the other woman slid in the opposite side.
"So how are you?"
"Good." Emma smiled.
"How's married life?" Ruby chuckled.
"What the-. Ruby, I have been busy."
"I know. With married life."
"Just get me cheeseburger, fries and a strawberry milkshake. Please?"
Ruby chuckled and said "Sure thing, Mrs. Mills."
Emma huffed as she watched Ruby walk away. She was looking at the paper, and didn't hear anyone walk up. "Care for some company?"
Emma looked up and smiled. "I would love some, yes." She watched as Regina sat down in the booth where Ruby had just been. "I was just sitting here thinking 'wow I would love company over a beautiful woman'."
Regina chuckled at the over kill. "Well, I will see what I can do to find you one." They both smiled.
"So, how's your day?"
"Oh terribly exciting." Regina joked. "I am bored out of my mind to be honest."
"Yeah things are pretty quiet at the station too."
"I didn't know if your were having lunch with Ruby when I walked by."
"No. She was just taking my order and giving me a hard time."
"About what?"
Emma blushed. "About you."
"Me?"
"Yes. She seems to think that I am domesticated now."
Regina chuckled. "Tell her thanks for the compliment. I can't imagine anyone being able to domesticate you."
"Ouch. So I give you a compliment and you give me a jab?"
"Ms. Lucas gave me a compliment, not you, Dear."
"Well I told you, so I should get some kind of credit for that."
The women were laughing when Ruby walked back to the table. "Mayor." Regina smiled at the woman as she sat Emma's food down. "Is there something I can get for you?"
"Yes, a salad will be fine, thank you."
"Coming right up." Ruby walked off and turned to Emma mouthing 'Yes, Ms. Swan.' Emma made a face at Ruby that said to stop and Ruby laughed to herself. Regina seeing Emma look that way, turned to see Ruby laughing. As soon as she saw the mayors eyes on her she stopped immediately.
"Sorry." Ruby said before walking into the kitchen.
"Do you and Ruby need to talk? I can get my lunch to go." Regina joked.
"Don't you dare. Ruby is just being Ruby. You know the whole wolf thing."
"Excuse me?" Regina said confused. "Wolf? There is a wolf in Storybrooke?"
"No, I just ...I meant to say...I can hear that. She has the crazy instincts. So I call her that. Sorry, forgot you don't remember."
Regina frowned at the not remembering. Now Emma felt even worse. "Yeah, the not remembering is quiet challenging on everyone I guess."
"Well, I don't know about that, really. You used to work all the time and people here didn't really know you. Now you are out going and smile a lot. People are actually starting to say hello to you on the street."
Regina finally smiled. "Why do you protect me so much, Emma?"
"Well someone told me that I had to stop using our sons as an excuse, so again I am stuck with just saying that I care about you."
"I'll take that."
Ruby returned with Regina's lunch and no matter time was spent on memories. I was spent on what a beautiful day it was and a funny story that Emma told about dog and a duck while she was on her walk. The women laughed and talked and smiled frequently at each other. The change in their relationship was obvious to anyone that was in the dinner. Especially Emma's mothers long time friend behind the counter.
Rumple entered the Sherriff's office. Emma looked over from her dart game. "Can I help you?"
"The question is Deary, can I help you?"
"What's up, Gold?" Emma said as she turned back to the board, throwing the dart.
"You see, I was just thinking over the unfortunate mental state of our dear Mayor."
He now had Emma's full attention. "Go on."
"I just happened to be going over mine and the Queen's agreement. You know, to see if this little mishap could benefit me in some way."
"And?"
"Well you will be glad to know that I didn't find anything in the deal that would turn her powers over to me, if that's what you mean."
"Ok."
"But I did find something, that is however, very interesting."
Emma huffed, tired of this game already. "And what would that be?"
"I care a great deal about Belle, Ms Swan."
"I know that you do. And she cares for you as much I am sure."
"Regina kept Belle knocked away in a dungeon for 28 years."
"That must have been horrible for you both."
"It was." He looked around the room in a move that Emma was convinced was to keep the tears from his eyes. "Here is the thing. Belle believes the good in people. She believes that Regina can change."
"Do you?"
"Do you?" Rumple retorted.
"You've known her longer than any of us have. You know her magic, her power. You would know better than any of us. Do you think she can change?"
"Love is a powerful thing, Ms. Swan. True love is even more so. I think that with love anything is possible, even in our world."
"So what did you find out?"
"There was a clause."
"A clause?"
"It must have been put in by Regina. The clause states clearly that if the Queen, the knowledge of our land, or the curse that was cast were to ever be threatened, this clause would be enacted."
"Wait! Are you suggesting that Regina's memory loss is due to the curse?" Rumple nodded. "So no matter what we do, Regina is never going to remember who she is?"
"I am afraid that's the way the curse was designed."
"So she lost her memory to protect her curse."
"What do we do? I can't tell Henry that Regina is never going to remember."
"I am sorry, Sherriff."
"Is there a way to break it?"
"A curse, Deary?" The man chuckled at Emma. "You better than anyone should know that there is only one way to break the Queen's curse."
"But Daniel is dead."
"Such a simple minded child you are, Ms. Swan. Some people fall in love when they are a child, this is true. But in any realm, Deary, true love happens were two people truly find their soul mate. Only when they have been in battle, have lived a life, do they know what the real definition of true love is."
"So you are saying that you don't believe Daniel wasn't Regina's true love?"
"What I am saying is that Regina was a young girl who found someone that cared about her. I mean truly cared. She had never had that. Was it love? That isn't for me to answer." He started to walk away and then stopped. "You know, Ms. Swan. When you grew up alone and you found my son, you found the first person that every cared about you." Emma looked at him blankly. "You thought you had found true love I am sure, because you didn't even know what real love looked like." Emma swallowed hard. "What I am saying, Deary, is that you thought it was love too. Now how do you feel about it? Seems like a means to an end, right?" He started walking out of the station and spoke never turning around. "Good Day, Ms. Swan."
