Do You Believe in Magic?
Chapter Ten
A month had passed since Mr. Gold's forced departure from Storybrooke and oddly enough no one questioned it. Belle was in charge of the store and still maintained the library with ease.
"Mr. Gold is away on business and he met someone there. I don't believe he'll be returning," Belle told anyone who asked.
Not only did people believe it, they actually seemed happy about it.
Regina and Quinn's relationship continued to flourish. They connected on every level possible. On the rare occasions they fought, they resolved the issue through communicating their points. They made it a top priority to never go to bed angry. They stayed up as late as necessary as they came to an agreeable compromise.
One morning, Regina woke up to an empty bed. She just assumed that Quinn ventured downstairs for coffee and breakfast, which Regina had started to eat with Quinn and Henry, as a family.
Regina's feet padded against the carpet as she walked into their en suite bathroom. She turned the handle and walked into a steam filled room. She didn't realized that Quinn was showering.
Just before she was about to say something a beautiful sound came from Quinn.
There were nights when the wind was so cold
That my body froze in bed
If I just listened to it
Right outside the window
Regina gently close the lid to the toilet bowl, sat down on it and crossed her legs. She fell in love with her singing voice immediately. Every note she sang was perfection to Regina.
There were days when the sun was so cruel
That all the tears turned to dust
And I just knew my eyes were
Drying up forever (forever)
She found herself tearing up so Regina turned backwards and grabbed a tissue.
I finished crying in the instant that you left
And I can't remember where or when or how
And I banished every memory you and I had ever made
But when you touch me like this
And when you hold me like that
I just have to admit
That it's all coming back to me
Quinn hit every high note that song had to offer. To Regina, Quinn sang it a million times better than Celine, herself.
"But it's all coming back to me now…And when you kiss me like this…(It's all coming back to me now)…And when I touch you like that…(It's all coming back to me now)…and If you do it like this…(It's all coming back to me now)…And if we...", Quinn sang this verse beautifully.
Regina had wiped all of the fallen tears from her cheeks.
She stood up just before Quinn dragged the shower curtain open. She was startled, but had a huge smile on her face. Regina applauded the song.
Quinn quickly said, "It's my go to karaoke song, I swear!" She held up her hand, palm facing out.
"It was magnificent," Regina said with a warm smile.
Quinn tried to take a step out of the shower, but Regina stopped her by getting in. She immediately grabbed Quinn's soaked waist. She pulled Quinn into her body. Once their lips were inches away, Regina reached forward and devoured Quinn's lips with her own. Their heads moved back and forth while their tongues massaged each other. Quinn's arms instinctively went to Regina's shoulders to wrap around her neck. She pushed up against Regina's body which made her topple back and hit the wall of the tub.
"Are you okay," Quinn muttered out between kisses from Regina.
"Yes," Regina mumbled into Quinn's mouth.
Both women were pushing themselves against each other. Loud moans were heard. Hands roamed over any piece of exposed skin and not so exposed skin.
"Quinn, I need to feel you…all of you…" Regina panted out of breath.
"Do you wanna get out of the shower? I'm kinda cold," Quinn suggested.
Regina looked up and into her eyes. "Baby, I'm so sorry."
"Regina, it's alright, trust me," Quinn said as she laughed. Regina stepped out of the tub first. Once she did, she assisted Quinn.
"Grab me towel," Quinn asked.
Surprisingly, Regina bent down, picked Quinn up and threw over her shoulder. She opened the bathroom door and ran to their bed.
"I'm gonna get the sheets wet," Quinn yelled in mock protest.
"You have no idea," Regina said as she patted Quinn's backside. Quinn chuckled.
Once Regina threw Quinn onto the bed and straddled her hips, they did things that made them both late for work. Do you think they cared? No, not at all.
XXX
The next month brought a lot of love and friendship between all of the people living in the Mills mansion.
'My Mom's coming today," Quinn yelled excited as she leaped into the air like a ballerina would.
Henry shook his head in amusement.
"What time does the car get here," he asked.
"Ten minutes, I think," she said.
Flashback:
"Will she have all of the memories she'll make here," Quinn asks.
"Yes, of course," regina said and smile.
"Will she be able to come back," Quinn asks another question.
"Baby, she's your mother. I'd never vanish her from this town!'
Quinn sighs and then she asks the most important question of all. "Regina, will she know who you were and who everyone was?'
Regina looks at Quinn. She caresses Quinn's cheek with her thumb and says, "I've been thinking about that a lot, actually…I've decided that I want to be as honest with your mother as I can…"
"What if," Quinn asks with the sound of anticipation in her voice.
"No, baby, I need her to know me just like you know me. Well not exactly, but I don't want to hide myself from her," Regina says, "Do you understand?"
"Yea, my love, I do and I love you for it," Quinn says and kisses Regina quickly.
Flashback ends.
It seemed like no sooner than Quinn answered Henry's question that they heard a car horn honk.
"Yay, my Mom's here," Quinn said as she raced to the door.
"Regina…Henry…" Quinn shouted excitedly.
"We hear ya. We're coming," Regina said as she and Henry walked behind her.
Quinn got to the door, but didn't open it immediately.
"Quinn, the door?" Henry stated the obvious.
"Before I open it, I just want to say thank you for letting her stay with us while she's here. Thank you for putting up with her too. I love you both," Quinn said.
"I love you too," Henry said happily.
"You know how I feel about you. Open the door already," Regina encouraged.
Quinn turned around, pressed her jeans with her hands and then opened the door.
"Quinn," Judy yelled out as Quinn raced to her.
"Hi, Mom," Quinn said as they hugged.
Regina and Henry had come outside then. Henry went directly to the trunk to unload the suitcase.
"How was the ride," Quinn asked.
"Peaceful," Judy answered.
Regina walked up to the two women and said, "Hi!"
"Oh I'm sorry, my love," Quinn said as she noticed Regina standing there. "Mom, this is the love of my life, Regina Mills…oh this young dude is Henry."
Regina blushed and beamed happily to hear Quinn's introduction of her.
Judy extended her hand and Regina shook it. "Madame Mayor…"
"Regina, please, Mrs. Fabray," Regina replied politely.
"No, no, it's Judy."
"And this is my son, Henry,"
"Hey, Henry," Judy said as she extended her hand again.
"Hello, Judy, is that alright…It's nice to meet you," Henry said as he shook her hand.
"Yes, that's fine. Thanks for carrying my suitcase," Judy said as she looked down at her luggage.
"Not a problem," Henry said with a smile.
"Thanks, guys," Quinn said to Regina's drivers.
"No worries! Quinn. Mrs. Fabray we're here for whenever you should need a ride," one of Regina's drivers said. They both went on the trip to divide the driving duties.
"Thanks, guys," Judy said.
"Let's go inside," Regina suggested. The four of them walked into the mansion.
"Regina, you have a beautiful home," Judy said as she admired the surroundings.
"Thank you. For most of us, home isn't a place. It's a person…and that person for me is your daughter," Regina said lovingly.
"I agree. Before Quinn came into our lives, it felt more hotel-ish. Quinn makes the home that it is," Henry said. "Was that okay to add?"
"Of course, Henry," Quinn said with a smile and Regina patted him on the back.
"Would you like to get settled in now," Regina asked politely.
"Sure," Judy said as they all climbed the staircase and entered the last room at the end of the hall.
"I hope this is okay," Regina said as she opened the door and flicked on the light.
Judy walked in and exclaimed, "This is beautiful. It's so spacious."
As Regina pointed she said, "Dresser…walk-in closet…private bathroom…fresh flowers…"
"Wonderful…"
Henry plopped the suitcase onto the bed.
"Thanks, Henry," Judy said.
Henry smiled.
"When you're ready come on downstairs and we have lunch," Quinn said with a smile.
"Hey, Quinn," Judy said right before they all left the room.
"Yeah, Mon," Quinn replied.
"I'm glad I'm here," judy said sincerely. Quinn walked up to her Mom and they hugged.
"So am I!"
Quinn closed the door behind them and they walked downstairs and into the kitchen.
"It's going well so far," Regina said.
"So far so good," Quinn said with a smile.
"Hey, Mom," Henry started to say apprehensively, "Was it okay for me to say that our house felt like a hotel before Quinn?"
Regina walked over to Henry and put her hands on his shoulders and said, "Henry, you can share your opinion any time you want. We really don't do that, but we're going to start now. I'm sorry that I haven't done more to make this place feel more like a home for you…"
"You had other responsibilities…"
"Henry, you're my son. You're my top priority. Okay. You and Quinn now are both my top priority from now on," Regina said and kissed the top of his head. Quinn walked over and threw her arms around them both for a group hug.
"Can I get in on that," a soft voice asked in the background.
"Come here, Mom," Quinn said and threw out her arm. Judy ran up to the group and hugged them all.
Afterwards, they all enjoyed their lunch with each other. There were many stories about Quinn's childhood that only her mother could justly tell. Regina sat on the edge of her seat as she listened to Judy speak so lovely about her daughter.
"Have you heard from Frannie? Dad?"
"No, not from either one of them," Judy said.
"I'm sorry," Quinn said as she rested her hand on top of her Mom's.
"Maybe they'll come around," Regina interjected.
Quinn smiled at her brightly. "I love her so much," Quinn said as she intensely looked at Regina.
Judy sat there and watched their interaction. Regina kissed Quinn's hand and then massaged it with her thumb.
"They're pretty much like this the whole time," Henry said as he leaned over to Judy.
"We can hear you," Quinn said, but never took her eyes off of Regina who smiled.
Judy smiled and Henry laughed heartily.
After lunch, Regina asked, "Wanna go for a tour?"
"After you, Madame Mayor," Judy said as she stood up.
They all left the house and began the walking tour. Regina stopped here and there to point out the landmarks and small businesses. As people passed them, Judy waved at them and most of them waved back.
"We are a small town and there's only one road in or out," Regina remarked.
"What's the population?"
"Around eighty-five and Quinn so eighty-six," Regina said as she pulled Quinn close to her. Quinn kissed her cheek sloppily.
They began to walk again. "You're very passionate about your town."
"Um, yeah, this place has become home to me," Regina said as she pointed to the library.
Judy nodded as if she understood.
"So, Mom, do you like it?" Quinn asked to avert the next question Quinn was sure she'd ask.
"Yes, it's lovely, quaint. Beautiful. But the better question is if you like it," Judy said.
"I do. Not just because Regina and Henry are here. Lima was getting to be…"
"Too much," Judy finished the statement.
Quinn nodded.
"Did she call you," her Mom asked.
"She showed up," Tegina said for Quinn.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry. Did she reek havoc?"
Quinn looked at her mother with an expectant look on her face. "Mom…"
"Oh, it's Santana, I should've known," Judy replied.
"Anyway, I can see myself living here, happily ever after," Quinn said and looked at Regina who smiled at the reference.
"I'm glad, honey. You must be special, Regina," Judy said as she looked at her.
"I, honestly, feel like the luckiest woman alive. I got my family, my health, and the love of an amazing woman who I hold dear to my heart every second of every day," Regina said as she got a little emotional. Quinn squeezed her hand tightly, which made Judy smile.
They continued their walk and soon they were back at the mansion.
Later that evening, once Henry went to his room, Quinn, Regina, and Judy sat in the living room in silence.
"So, Judy you must be curious about me. You can ask me anything," Regina offered politely.
Quinn gravitated to Regina's side as she snuggled against her.
Judy noticed this and had to ask, "What is it about my daughter that makes you feel the way you do?"
"Geez, so many things. First, she's changing me for the absolute best. Before I met her, I wasn't a nice person…not at all. I've done despicable things in my life. Your daughter shows me that I am worthy of the love she freely gives to me. I know I don't deserve her love or even her, but I'm not giving it back," Regina said and chuckled.
"What have you done," Judy asked genuinely.
"Mom," Quinn said.
"No, Quinn, I want to tell her. She's come all this way and is your mother. I told you that I want to do this," Regina said with a smile.
"Tell me what?"
"It's a long story," Quinn said and took a deep breath, "Want a cup of tea?"
Judy nodded her head in agreement.
"I'll be right back. Regina, don't start the conversation. In fact, come with me," Quinn said as she pulled Regina with her.
"Um, we'll be right back," Regina said as Quinn dragged with her.
In the kitchen, Quinn found the mug and put water in the kettle and turned up the stove.
"Regina, I'm having second thoughts about telling her," Quinn said anxiously.
"I'm not," Regina said calmly, "I'm taking responsibility for my actions. It feels pretty good actually. I know I did it before, but now it matters more."
The kettle sounded so Regina turned off the stove. Quinn grabbed the kettle and poured the hot water in and grabbed a tea bag. She dunk it into the cup of water.
"I love you," Quinn said and kissed her quickly.
"Let me do the talking," Regina said after the kiss broke.
They walked back into the living room. Regina sat down on the couch first and Quinn handed her Mom the mug and then sat beside Regina.
"So what do you want to tell me," Judy said after she took a sip.
"Um, okay, Mrs. Fabray…Judy, let me ask you a question."
Judy nodded her head.
"What's your favorite fairy tale story?"
"Of that's easy, 'Snow White'. I used to read it to Quinn when she was younger," Judy said with a smile.
Regina looked at Quinn who smiled bashfully. Regina returned her attention back to Judy. "What would you say if I told you that I know her…that Quinn knows her also?"
"I'd say that you're kind of cray cray…"
Quinn giggled and said, "I taught her that."
"Well, I do. She's not just a character in a story. She's real. And she lives here in Storybrooke. Oh, by the way, I'm the 'Evil Queen', or was." As Regina finished her statement she waved her hand at Judy.
"Quinn, honey, what's she talking about," Judy looked at Quinn in confusion.
Quinn grabbed her mother's hands and said, "I think that she means just what she's saying, Mom."
"Judy, I put a curse on the people who lived where I came from…the 'Enchanted Forest'. I damned them all to the 'real world' which is Storybrooke, Maine."
'Why?"
"Why, Quinn…" Regina said and looked at her love for assistance.
"Because back then Regina was confused and she made a huge mistake that changed her life forever. She did it because she wanted love. She wanted to have someone by her side like you had with Dad. Like what I thought I wanted with Santana."
"I was told that in order to make this curse work I had to do the unspeakable. I had to kill the thing I loved the most…"
"What was it?"
"My father…I recently learned that I didn't have to, but I know that doesn't bring him or the memories back. Nor is it an excuse. I have paid a heavy price for committing that sin and crime and I take full responsibility for all that I've done," Regina said.
"Quinn, you obviously know. How did you tell her?"
Regina and Quinn looked at each other. Quinn smiled, but then touched her heart and shook her head back and forth. Regina immediately knew what she meant. She nodded at Quinn.
"First, I did this," Regina said as she made the fireball happen. Judy backed up in her chair and yelled, "What's that?"
"A fireball," Quinn nonchalantly said.
"I'm not going to do the other thing because I know Quinn wouldn't appreciate it," Regina said as she threw the ball into the air and caught it with one hand.
"Mom, you okay? Do you get it or do you want Regina to do something else?""
"Y-yes, Quinn, I think I'm okay. Just really, um, shocked…it's a lot to take in. Regina, I have one more question."
"Yes, ma'am…"
"Would you ever hurt my daughter?"
"Judy, you have my promise that not only will I never hurt her I'll stand in the way of anyone who tries. I've kinda proven that already. I love her so much. I'm hers and she's mine for the rest of time."
"Well, Quinn, you've always been attracted to the 'bad boy' type…no difference," Judy said with a sly smile.
"Mom!" Quinn squealed, did a facepalm movement, and shook her head.
Regina laughed hysterically.
Quinn smirked at her but didn't say anything.
"Please know that you can ask me anything you want, anytime you want," Regina said sincerely.
~ The song that was used in this chapter was "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion.
~ "For most of us, home isn't a place. It's a person." – Stephanie Perkins