Will you still?

A/N: Sorry about the long wait, School and my other Fic: Till Kingdom Come took over my mind. But alas here we are. I hope you all enjoy.

Part XI

Sometimes things are too good to be true. Happiness is fleeting and in mere moments it disappears in a flash. Sometimes events are calculated and inescapable and other times it's just an accident.

Snow's body rolls on the hood of the car and slams into the windshield cracking the glass, the sudden screech of brakes stopping the car sends her body falling back forward towards the ground in a loud thud. The muffled screams inside the car fill the night sky as the doors fly open. "Princess!" Grumpy screams as he scrambles towards the brunette's body. Nova shouts frantically in the background "Is she ok?! Where did she come from!?" she looks at Snow with worried eyes.

Grumpy carefully turns Snow over to her back. His fingers touch her neck trying to search for a pulse. "Nova!" he screams to his wife who is pacing back and forth tears sliding down her face as she panics. "Call David!" she nods desperately as her trembling hands pull out her cell phone.

Grumpy's focus goes back to Snow. He thinks back on the First aid training Emma forced him to learn before he became deputy. He feels no pulse. His hands cradle Snow's head gently and tilts her jaw up. Opening her mouth he covers her lips with his. Taking a deep breath, he blows air in the broken Queen's lungs. He repeats the mantra two breaths thirty compressions. His fingers lock together and push down on Snow's chest. He counts in his head and repeats. All movement around him is lost to him and faded into background noise as he tries frantically to help his friend. His Queen.

27. 28. 29. 30. Blow…

Emma closes the door behind her and holds herself up against the door. Her knees tremble and her heart pounds wildly as she is overwhelmed with emotion. She went to the gathering thinking she wasn't ready to let her mother back in, she thought she was still angry but the moment she looked into Snow's eyes she saw love. Unconditional love. The same glow that Regina gives their children.

She knew that in that moment that they were family and family forgives… eventually.

Enough time has passed to start healing she thinks. Hearing her mother's voice soothed her, her laugh reminded her of the better days when they were roommates. She saw the happiness that radiated from her father's face. Having Snow back lifted that weight off his shoulders. Lifted his spirits in ways his grandchildren couldn't. He loves Snow unconditionally just like Emma loves Regina. He saw beyond her flaws and Emma understood completely. She pulls her phone out and types her mother a message.

I love you.

Because she does. She always did, even when she was younger and living in one of her many foster homes. She loved her parents underneath all the anger, resentment and heartache. She knew that they had to have a reason they couldn't care for her… well she hoped they did because when she found out she was pregnant in that prison infirmary she understood that sometimes tough decisions needed to be made; like her reasons when she gave Henry away because in spite of your feelings the moment you become a parent, the needs and chances for your child take precedence. She wanted to give her kid a better chance in life, with a family who would love him and care for him and that is exactly what happened.

Circumstances tore her parents and Emma apart like it tore Henry and her apart but the loneliness and abandonment was stripped away the moment she strode into Storybrooke. This was always where she was supposed to end up, where they all were supposed to end up. The cursed town created out of heartache and desperation by one, sacrificed by the blood and tears of many ultimately brought love and redemption back to a family.

The creak of the stairs brought Emma out of her thoughts. Green eyes meet with brown. Regina descended the stairs slowly when she heard the door close. "Darling are you alright?" she reached the bottom and walks towards the blonde. Emma pushes off the door and walks towards Regina. Olive arms pull Emma into a hug. The sheriff burrows her face into Regina's neck taking a breath in of the brunette's cinnamon apple scent. Lips kiss tan skin as fingers tangle in to blonde curls. They stay there for a moment feeling content being in each other's arms. Regina tugs on Emma's hair pulling her back to look into her eyes. She asks again "Are you ok?"

"Maybe?"

"Did something happen?" Regina asks searching the green eyes.

"I think we're ready to have her in our lives Regina." She says in a whisper

Regina's head moves back a little to look at Emma clearly. "If you are sure."

"I'm sure."

"Well tomorrow you can set up a time for Snow and David to come over." Emma smiles and pulls the brunette in to a kiss. She was so blessed to have this woman. It still baffles her how understanding Regina has become.

"Mommies! Story!" the toddler yells from his room.

Lips pull apart by laughter. Emma rolls her eyes and looks at Regina "Your son is so demanding."

Regina gawks "Why all of a sudden he is my son?"

"Because you are both so bossy." The blonde points with an accusing finger.

"Like when Henry is being a smartass?"

"Exactly."

"Please…just because you're push over Ms. Swan…" Regina's sass is cut short as Emma crashes their lips together. This kiss is filled with love and passion and full of gratitude and it makes the mayor's knees weak. Regina responds with equal passion and enthusiasm.

"Mommies!" Regina pulls back with a growl and turns sharply "Come along dear my son cannot be kept waiting."

Emma watches the brunette climb the stairs "and you say I'm whipped." the blonde mutters as she follows.

They reach the young boy's room. Lucas is sitting crossed leg in his dinosaur footie pajamas, his long hair wet from his bath. He holds the big book of fairytales in his lap. "Mommies!" he says happily as both women walk in to his room. "finallys!" He huffs

"Well excuse me little kid. Whatcha got there?" Emma says as she plops down next to her son. She kisses his head and takes the book from his lap. Once Upon a Time. This book that held stories of their history, they read it to their son but also explained the omitted pieces that the book missed. Lucas loved the stories of adventure and of his Poppa and Grandmother Snow.

Just because Emma was angry at her mother didn't mean that she hid her existence. She showed him pictures of her and told him of her and of Cora. They didn't want to lie or hide things to their son and this was the best way to honor them and for that every night before he would go to sleep he would say good night to them. "Goodnight poppa. Goodnight Granma Snow and Granma Cora. Goodnight Belle and grumpy rumble. Goodnight rarw rar Ruby. Goodnight Henwee. Goodnight Momma. Goodnight Mama. I loves you."

"Little one aren't you tired of this book?" Regina says on the other side of her son. The little blonde shakes his head. "I like them momma." He smiles at her.

"How about we read one of your other books, you wouldn't want them to feel left out?" Emma suggests

"Oh no mama, will dey cry like I do when Henwy no let me play with him?" his little chocolate eyes widen in horror.

"No sweetie but it will be nice."

"Okies." He says with a shrug.

In a mist of magic the big story book is placed back on the shelf and a small book is in Emma's hands. Regina looks over questionably at the blonde. "Leaves of grass?"

"What?" She shrugs as she opens the book "it's one of my favorites."

"Now are we going to expose our son to classic literature?"

"I don't know. Is that something you want to do?" she hesitantly asks

"I did read to Henry when he was younger. He really enjoyed Moby Dick before he discovered the wonderful world of Comics. Then I lost him, I tried to read him poetry but he never enjoyed it. I didn't even know that you liked it."

"Yeah in high school we did a section on poetry and I was hooked. I read anything and everything but my favorite was always Whitman."

"Mama can you read me one of your favorites?" he looks at her with hopeful eyes.

"Yeah buddy." They snuggle back into the tiny bed. Regina slides her fingers through Emma's hair as she leans back on the small headboard. "I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you…"

Henry and Michael were walking down the street from their date, their fingers slowly intertwine. "Is this ok?" Michael asks

Henry smiles and looks at their hands. "Yeah. I've wanted to do this for some time now but I didn't think you were going to be ok with it."

"I like you a lot Henry and right now… this is the most normal I've ever felt." The boy admits with a shy smile.

They continue to walk hand in hand till they notice the flashing lights near Mifflin Street the crowd of people surrounding the ambulance and police tape. When Henry looks to see what happen he gasps in horror.

Snow White. His grandmother was laying there unconscious as the paramedic inserts a tube down her throat. Her cheeks were pale with splotches of crimson as her skin is riddled with cuts. He stumbles backwards in to Michael's chest. "What's wrong Henry?"

"It's my grandma. I need to call my mom!"

"How much time do we have before Henry comes home?" Emma asks against Regina's bruised lips.

"What time is it?" Regina respond's panting as Emma presses her against the inside of their bedroom door roughly.

"Five after ten." Emma presses wet sloppy kisses down the olive skin neck.

"We have about 25 minutes." She hisses as Emma bites down on her pulse point.

"I can work with that." Emma lifts the brunette up and Regina wraps her legs around the blonde's waist.

"Mm Emma…" lips attach again in a hungry kiss. Emma moves them to the bed. When her knees hit the mattress, she unceremoniously drops the Mayor and climbs on top of her.

The sheriff growls when she hears the phone ringing. "Ignore that." the kiss becomes deeper as Emma grinds against her lover. Regina pulls the blonde's hair. "Answer that. It could be important."

"But then I have to get off…" the blonde pouts.

"I promise not to move. Just handle the call."

The blonde growls, "Fine." She rolls off of Regina and picks up her jacket. Pulling out her ringing phone she answers it. "Sheriff Swan."

Her green eyes widen as her mouth opens in disbelief. "Darling is everything ok?" Regina sits up on her elbows. She looks over to her phone when she notices Henry is calling.

The next few hours go by in a blur. After the phone call Emma transports herself to the hospital with Regina and Lucas moments after. Regina holding their child finds her lover holding David as he cries in anguish. Snow is his true love and if the connection is as intense as it is with her and Emma then right now she can only imagine the pain.

"Mom.." Henry walks away from Michael and towards her. She opens her free arm and hugs her son.

"What happen?"

"She walked into the street and Grumpy hit her."

"Heavens" she breathes as she presses her hand on her chest.

"Mom… is she going to die?" he looks at her with fearful eyes.

"I don't know dear."

Regina walks into the hospital room her heart aches as she sees Snow laying there unconscious. The tube inserted in her mouth that was helping her breathe, Snow looked so broken. She once again looks like the woman she poisoned all those years ago; the woman who she blamed for so long, the girl who betrayed her and fought against her but who is also the person that created her salvation. Without Snow, Emma would have never existed. Without Emma, Regina would never know of love and true happiness.

Emma was every part of Snow as Charming was and she could only thank them for their love and what they had created. Snow was the vessel that brought her happiness into the world. She really did wish she could have done things differently but fate had other plans.

She sits next to the unconscious brunette and watches as her chest rises and falls. All the scans and results concluded that there was no brain activity. Snow no longer existed and that reality was very hard for anyone to grasp. Snow was their Queen and champion, she was the symbol of good and pure, she was hope and now she lays defeated in a hospital bed.

Tan fingers hold Snow's hand, her thumb drawing small circles of comfort. The room was silent with the only sounds of the machines beeping. "You know I never got to thank you." Regina finally says after a long time. "We may have a horrible history but I wouldn't change it for the world. Your love to Charming created the best thing in my life. I will never be able to show you my gratitude." Regina sighs heavily as she rests back on the chair. "When Emma told me that she was ready for you to meet our children, I couldn't be any happier. Lucas is a wonderful boy and loves you already and Henry is growing up to be a good man. Before your accident when she said she was ready I knew that this was my moment to finally do this right. I love your daughter Snow. I love her more than anything I have ever loved. She was there to put back the pieces. She let me trust again, Love again, Live again. I wanted to ask for your blessing. I want to marry her Snow…" her voice falters as she sighs heavily "I wish you were here…"

Regina stops talking as the door to the room opens. David walks in with Lucas perched on his hip.

"Momma!" the small boy wiggles in his grandfather's arms as they get closer.

Regina's eyes brighten when she sees her son. His blonde hair was tied back; he was wearing a bright red sweater with dancing snowmen. Lucas' mouth breaks out in to a wide smile showing his teeth. "Hello little one" Regina settles her son on her lap. The boy turns to look at his Grandmother. His smile falls as he watches his grandpa wipe the tears in his eyes as he places a kiss on her forehead.

He couldn't understand why everyone was so sad when they came to visit. He loved to see his grandma but she was always sleeping. She just needed to be woken up like he and Henry does to their mothers on Saturday mornings.

"Regina can I speak to you for a moment?" David says in a small voice.

Regina nods and stands up, placing Lucas on the chair. "Momma has to talk to grandpa honey. Please don't touch anything. I'll be right there" she points to the corner of the room. The small boy nods and watches his mother walk over to David.

David stares at Snow for a moment before taking a deep breath "Whale said that he thinks it's time to think about discontinuing life support..."

Lucas watches his mother gasp and place a hand on David's shoulder. David's eyes water as he looks at Snow again. "I don't think I can let her go…" his voice breaks

Lucas stares for a moment longer then looks at his grandmother. Everyone was so sad because she was asleep like in the story. All she needed was a kiss to wake up. The small boy stands up on the chair and climbs over to the sleeping woman. "Time to wake up Grandma…" the small boy whispers as he leans down and places his lips on her cheek.

A blinding warm white light consumes them and pulsates outward knocking everyone off their feet. Regina and David eye's blink wildly as the room focuses back from the blinding light.

"What was that?" David says first as he stumbles to his feet.

"I don't know." Regina rasps as David extends his hand to help her up.

Their heads snaps towards the sound of a sharp intake of breath. The monitor goes off as the brunette's heart rate beats wildly. Her hands lift to the tube lodged in her throat, she tries to yank it out. Regina and David run towards Snow and stop as they watch the small boy place his small hand on the woman's forehead. "It's ok Grandma." He gives her a calming smile.

The brunette relaxes instantly and watches the toddler wave his hand. The tubes vanish and Snow takes a violent breath in. "Lucas…"

"Hi Grandma." Lucas smiles happily.

Snow laughs as she pulls the small boy in to her arms. Tears stream down her face. She looks over to the man calling her name "Charming..." she extends her hand beckoning him. David slowly walks towards his true love. "Snow… How? I thought I lost you?" he cries openly as he cups her face. They cry in each other's arms. Placing kisses on Lucas' head, Snow turns to the other brunette standing like a statue.

"Regina?" Snow whispers.

"Snow…How is this possible?" she stares at the woman in awe.

"Looks like the product of true love is even more powerful than we thought." She looks at her grandson and then back towards his mother. She smiles as she reaches out for Regina. The Mayor takes slow hesitant steps towards the resurrected woman.

Snow beams and stares at Regina. Her eyes shine with happiness and love and forgiveness. The feud that lasted decades no longer existed. She takes Regina's trembling hand "You have my blessing."

In a cloud of warm lavender they stand in the middle of the hidden room in the Mills mausoleum. The ceiling glowed with thousands of enchanted fireflies. The floor housed pillows and blankets rose petals sprinkled trailing a path to the fire place. It was simple and romantic and it made Emma's heart beat faster. "Regina what's all this?" golden eyes look around in awe.

Regina takes Emma's hand in hers "Emma… I love you. I love you for all the things you are and all the things you are not. At very first I loved you because of your simple complicated mind and your self-expression. I love how you expressed yourself both in kindness and strength, completely opposite of me in that respect. I loved you for reasons I will never understand. And now I love you for all those reasons and others that are simply there.

I cannot no matter how hard I've tried putting them into words that make any sense. My mind finds ways to explain everything or put something into some box and call it reasons but you are that one thing that's just there. I cannot explain you to my mind; it's simply the one thing I know I feel. Unexplained, unlabeled, uninhibited and it drives me crazy. I think that you're cute when you're angry. I think you're gorgeous at any time of day, yes even when you're sleeping when I leave in the morning. You will always remind me of the forest. You reminded me how to laugh again. You brought peace to my mind and rest to my soul. You took the darkness in my heart with a simple kiss.

You are beautiful and you know that. Your passion is visible and that is why you are irresistible. This is why every person you come into contact with wants to have you for themselves. This whole town adores you. You are amazing beyond belief. Doubting yourself and your beauty is truly suicide.

It's hard for me to answer the 'why do you love me?' question. It has been a standing question for years. It will forever be that way. I just do. Can you explain why you love me? I don't think the answer to that should be yes, with absolute assertion. I brought you here because underneath all the death and all the pain we came together. That night so long ago when we kept this love secret when I spent months without you was complete torture. That night we found each other again and we created Lucas. This place will always be a place of rebirth and love for me.

You are the mother to my children. The other half of my soul. I look at you and I just know the answer to it all. The solution to something I asked for in another world from my other life. You are the savior and it was destined for you to save the souls that I cursed but mostly mine. I thought it was over for me. That I lost Daniel and everything was lost. I took great lengths to get here but here we are. Here I am standing before you." She takes a shaky breath and gets on a knee and Emma gasps.

"I never thought I wanted this again. After my first marriage ended in murder but the difference this time is choice. I choose this. I choose you. You were Emma Swan, Henry's birth mother. You became my foe then friend. You eased in as my lover then girlfriend. Your lips brought me my salvation and we discovered you were my true love. You healed me and blessed me with another son. You are my partner, the mother to our children. Every part of them is a part of you. A part of us. You have all made my life so complete so… what more could you possibly be right? but here's the thing… We have something else. Something that's just ours." In a cloud of lavender haze a box appears in Regina's hand.

The tears sliding down Emma's face increase when the mayor opens the box. A platinum band with glowing rubies surround it shines. It was simple but a tasteful clash of both of them. "I'm asking you to be my wife. I want to tie myself to you in every way possible. I want the bounds of this world and every world to be with you. Please say yes? Emma Swan please say yes and I will take your name as you've taken my heart." She ends with a shaky breath. Her palms are sweaty and her heart is beating vividly. Warm brown eyes gaze at the woman who owns her world. Beautiful gold curls veil her face. A pale trembling hand pulls a strand behind her ear. She kneels down and pulls Regina in to a passionate kiss. Lips crash in desperation taking everything and anything given willingly. Regina pulls back laughing "Please say that's a yes."

Emma nods as tears stream her face. "Yes. God Yes Regina!" she pulls Regina back towards her lips. Then suddenly she yanks back and shoves Regina.

"Miss Swan!"

"Fuck Regina, you have to be first for everything don't you!" the blonde stands up and starts to pace. "I mean. Fuck. Just… I was waiting and you stole my thunder."

Regina's brow rises in surprised confusion. "I'm Sorry…?"

Green eyes snap towards her "Yeah you should be!" she stabs her finger in to the older woman's shoulder. "I love you. You know? And this…us… I never thought it would happen. Ever. Then the kid I gave away comes back for me and then you happen. With your attitude and sexy smirk and big words. I never thought that the Evil Queen from storybooks would be the most beautiful soul I have ever met. You brought purpose to my life. A reason to live again. It wasn't just Henry anymore it was more…bigger than me. We broke the curse. We did. Not my parents. Us. This is all the product of true love.

It was hard you know? To accept that you were the reason I was an orphan but everything I went through made me stronger. Prepared me for you. Cause Regina, you are complicated as hell and I needed all that strength to break your walls but the rewards to that struggle have been …I just. I didn't know if you wanted to do this again. Marriage. I know how hard it was and I just waited but I wanted you to be mine the moment we kissed." In a golden white mist a box appears in Emma's hand. Regina covers her surprised mouth as Emma kneels back down to be leveled with the chocolate orbs. A hand cups Regina's cheek. Searching into brown eyes that glow with devotion, Emma's breath hitches a bit as the love that resonates with in her bursts and she smiles excitedly.

"You infuriating. Impatient. Thunder stealing woman, who I love. You cared for Henry when I couldn't. You gave me Lucas and a home. You gave me a reason to stick around. You challenged me in every way possible and every day I wake I am blessed to be by your side. You are the missing puzzle piece and I am crazy to walk away from that. We are already a family Regina… This is the final step. The only step." She opens the box. Regina wanted to laugh the band was also platinum with diamonds encasing it. It was simple and beautiful. The brunette smiles as tears slide down her face. Leave it to them to both propose. Ever since they allowed love in their lives the things between them became equal. No one was better. No one was smarter. No one went through more pain or tragedy. They no longer battled for Henry's heart because they both found a permanent place there. They understood and with the things they couldn't grasp they talked. They learned to trust each other and the connection they had. This was the proposal of equals filled with equal love and esteem.

"So say yes as well. Say yes and you'll take my name as you've taken my heart." Emma pulls the ring out of the box and tilts it a little. Regina reads through her watery eyes the inscription that glows golden green like Emma's passionate eyes. 'We are infinite'

Regina's voice breaks as she surges forward to claim the blonde's lips. "Yes" she kisses her deeper "Yes" her tongue penetrates and fills the blonde's mouth. "Yes" Words are mumbled and whimpered between heated kisses. Skin is scratched and clothes are pulled as the need to be closer takes hold. Regina succumbs to the needs of her body to join with her lover.

That night underneath the glowing lights they come together repeatedly basking in the happiness of their love. A promise is made for forever. A hope is sparked for never-ending. Kisses seal the fate of their hearts. The fear of never having their happy ending demolishes between acceptance and understanding. Pounding hearts driven by carnal desire steadily slows to a single beat. A beat of unity; where two halves become one.

Fin.

Thank you all for making this story such a delight to write. I sincerely love you all. I would love to know what you all thought. Maybe after my finals I can push out the epilogue!