A/N: This is a continuation from the last entry in the hotel verse.

HOTEL verse. The first time Regina tells him she loves him.

Bobby sat at his desk, head in his hands. He had locked the door though he didn't expect anyone in the hotel to come bother him. There was still only a skeleton crew and he was still technically also the handyman. It was a weekday in between Christmas and Valentine's Day so it was going to be slow. With school not letting out for a few more hours, he had plenty of time to brood.

How had it all gone so wrong? After almost a year together—first as friends, then as lovers—he knew how he felt about Regina. Bobby had also thought she had felt the same, had believed it in his gut. Had he misread the signs?

No, he was certain he hadn't misread the signs. He was certain that Regina loved him as much as he loved her. She had said as much. What he had misread were her walls, assuming they had lowered more than they really had. Bobby had moved in before she was ready to let him fully in and now was paying the price for his impatience. On top of that, he had told her not even twenty-four hours ago that she could take all the time she needed. Then he went blustering into her house and gave her an ultimatum. What kind of man did that to the woman he loved?

A shitty one, that's who.

Bobby groaned, laying his head on his desk. He deserved it if she left him. It would be his own damn fault. He would spend the rest of his life knowing she was the one who got away and he was the fool who shoved her out of his life.

Roland was going to hate him.

He started to compose the conversation he was going to have to have with son to explain why Papa was no longer dating Regina. All he could hope was that Regina still allowed Roland and Henry to stay friends. It would be awful for his son to also lose his best friend along with the woman who was the closest thing he had to a mother.

Someone knocked on the door and he nearly growled at it. "Go away, I'm busy."

It opened a crack and Regina's face appeared there, looking apprehensive. "Even for me?"

Bobby jumped up, his heart pounding in his chest. "No, not you. Never for you, Regina. Please, come in."

"Thank you." She opened the door wider, slipping inside before closing it again. He reached her at that point, standing only inches away from her but it felt like the entire Grand Canyon separated them as she leaned against the door. "Hi."

"Hello," he said, breathing heavily as he tried to find any hint of how she felt. Her eyes were usually so expressive, allowing him to see everything she felt. Now, they looked apprehensive and nervous with no hint of anger.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I am here," she said. Before he could respond, she continued: "I wanted to apologize to you."

He frowned, confused by what she was saying. "What are you talking about? This time I was awful to you. I gave you all the time you needed and then took it away not even twelve hours later. I should be groveling on my knees, Regina, because I am truly sorry for that."

Regina placed her hand on his cheek and he leaned into her touch, relishing it. He kept his eyes on her as she smiled at him. "I forgive you. I put you through a lot in the past twenty-four hours and I'm sorry for that."

"You don't have to apologize for your feelings," he insisted.

"You sound like Archie," she replied, taking off her coat. That had to be a good sign, Bobby thought as his heart sped up and hope bubbled up inside him.

He then processed her words and tilted his head. "You spoke with Archie?"

She nodded, sitting down. "He said a few things last night that struck a chord. After you left, I realized I needed to work through those things and he let me do so this morning."

"What did he say?" Bobby asked, taking out a bottle of water and holding it out to her.

"Well, I did most of the talking to be honest," she said, taking the water with a smile. "And it helped me realize a few things. Like the fact I have control issues."

Bobby bit back his retort about knowing that. Her control issues were something he never pressed on and was more than happy to accommodate because he sensed they came from something painful in her past. All he could do was wait for her to trust him with whatever that had been.

She took a sip of the water before growing solemn. "You know I don't talk much about my mother."

"I noticed," he replied, sitting down next to her. He hesitantly put his hand on her knee and squeezed when she didn't move away from him. "You don't have to tell me anything about her if you don't want to."

"Thank you for that, but I think you need to know a few things to understand my reaction last night," she replied.

Bobby frowned, leaning closer to her. "You don't have to..."

She nodded. "I know. I want to. So can you please listen to me?"

"Yes," he replied, leaning back. He was going to give her his full attention for as long as she needed it. It was the least he owed her.

Once she realized he was ready, she took a deep breath. "My mother was not a very loving woman. One could say that she was heartless. She was very ambitious and wanted great things for me-regardless of what I wanted. If I didn't adhere to her plan for my life, she punished me in cruel ways. So I learned early on that love was conditional."

"Regina..."

She held up her hand. "Please, I'm not done yet."

He nodded, letting her continue. Though it pained her and all he wanted to do was make it go away, he realized she needed to say whatever it was she came here to say. And she needed him to listen to her.

"My mother killed my first love," Regina continued. "She killed him right in front of me."

Bobby grew sick and then angered at that. He clenched his fists. "Is that why she's not in your life? Because she was jailed for murder?"

She shook her head. "My mother was never punished for that. And the reason she's not around is...because she's dead too."

"Oh," he replied. Though he didn't feel much grief over the woman's passing, it was clear Regina still did. So he said: "I'm sorry."

"Thank you," she said, tears starting to spill down her cheeks. Bobby leaned forward, wiping a few away with his thumb before handing her a tissue from the box he kept on his desk.

Once she had dried her eyes, she took a deep breath. "After...After I lost Daniel, most of the men in my life only saw me as something to possess. I was nothing more than a doll to them. There really was no love in my life after Daddy died...until I got Henry. And then you and Roland came into it.

"I always worry that any minute, all this love and happiness will be taken from me. That I will do something to lose it, because that's what always happens. I can't control the future and that scares me. I'm scared my heart could get broken but Archie helped me realize that I trust you. And if I trust you, I think I can trust that your love won't disappear on me."

Bobby slid from his chair, kneeling before her. He took her free hand in both of his, holding it to his heart. "I promise you that I will always love you, Regina. No matter what."

She nodded, fresh tears falling. "I know. And I'm starting to trust that. I just ask that you be patient with me."

"I will," he vowed. "And I promise to be more patient than I was today. I am still so sorry about that, Regina. I shouldn't have done that..."

Regina pressed her finger to his lips. "Shh. Let's not worry about that now. There's something I want to say to you with no qualifiers, no qualms, just a plain truth.

"I love you, Bobby Locke."

Happiness filled him and he pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and he held her close, kissing the side of her head. "I never want to lose you again," he whispered.

"You didn't lose me," she replied, voice slightly muffled by his shoulder.

Bobby chuckled, rubbing her back. "Felt like it. And I felt like a right tosser for doing that to you."

She pulled back, cupping his chin with her hand. "You had the right to be frustrated. So why don't we move on?"

"Okay," he said, nodding as he bit his lip. "What do you want to do now?"

Regina glanced at the clock and smiled. "We have a few hours before the boys get out of school. Do you want to order lunch to your room? See what happens after?"

He smirked, nodding as he took her hand. "That sounds wonderful. Let's go."

Regina sat on Bobby's bed, watching as he ordered them lunch from the kitchens. He hung up the phone in his room before smiling at her. "Food will be up soon."

"Good," she said, motioning for him to join her. "How should we entertain ourselves until then?"

He leaned closer to her, smiling as his lips hovered over hers. "Oh, I think we can figure something out."

She smiled as well, standing up. "Then I think I should change into something more comfortable. Don't you?"

"A capital idea," he replied, standing as well. "I think I'll do the same."

Regina kissed his cheek, lingering a bit to let his stubble rub against her skin. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

She brushed past him and slipped into his bathroom, closing the door behind her. The white bathrobe he kept for her hung from the back of the door and she smiled at it as she unbuttoned her blouse, glad she made the stop to her house before coming to the hotel.

Her blouse fell to the tiled floor and she glanced down at the red lace corset she had put on underneath it. It matched the lacy panties she wore under her dark skirt, which she slid down her legs before kicking off. Regina checked her hair in the mirror before wrapping the white fluffy robe around her, smiling at how well this was going.

When she opened the door, she spotted Bobby laying out their meals on his table. He was wrapped in his green bathrobe and she could see his chest hair curling over it. It made her bite lip as she felt herself growing wetter between her legs. Making it through lunch without ravaging him was going to be difficult.

"Ahh, milady," he said, smiling when he saw her. "Your lunch is served."

He lifted the lid covering her plate, revealing a bright red lobster sitting there. She gasped, her eyes widening as she looked up at her boyfriend. "Bobby, no..."

"Bobby, yes," he teased, taking her hands. "It is your birthday, Regina."

"And if I recall, we celebrated last night," she reminded him, thinking of the elaborate dinner he had given to her. Had it only been less than twenty-four hours ago?

He nodded. "But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate now."

She bit her lip, knowing he had her and there was nothing else she could argue. After all, she wasn't going to demand he send it back for something less expensive. So Regina sighed and looked up at him. "Fine, you win."

"Please, milady, have a seat." Bobby motioned to her chair. Regina gave him one last incredulous look before taking it, letting him push her in.

He took a seat across from her, removing the lid from his own plate of lobster. Bobby held out a little dish to her. "Butter?"

"Yes, please," she replied, taking it. She drizzled it on her lobster as she casually noted: "You know, I thought you would want to save room."

"For what?" he asked, taking a bite of his lobster.

She smirked as she responded: "Me."

He almost choked and she felt bad, thinking that she should've waited for him to at least swallow before she started to seduce him. She pushed a glass of water toward him as he continued to cough so hard, his face turned red. "Here. Drink this."

"Thank you," he gasped out, taking a few sips. His coughing started to abate and his face returned to a normal color. "Damn, Regina."

"Sorry," she apologized, cringing. "I'll wait to talk sexy."

Bobby shook his head. "No, don't do that. Just...let me swallow first? Please?"

"Of course," she said. She then smirked as she sipped her champagne. "I just ask that you let me do the same later."

His fork and knife clattered to his plate and she saw him swallow again. "If you keep that up, I may not finish my lunch."

"We can always heat it up," she suggested, running her foot up and down his leg.

Bobby pushed his plate away. "An excellent suggestion, lovely. To bed?"

"I thought you'd never ask." She stood, undoing her bathrobe. Regina let it drop to the floor and stood before Bobby. "Well?"

He smirked, eyes raking her. "Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful."

"And all yours," she replied, pressing herself against him as her fingers toyed with the tie around his bathrobe. She loosened the knot and let his robe fall open, revealing he was only wearing a pair of red boxers. The fact they matched sent a thrill coursing through her.

Bobby placed kisses up her neck. "This is all yours too."

"Good," she gasped before pushing him onto the bed. "Then I'm going to enjoy it."

She straddled him, pushing his bathrobe off his shoulders and down his arms. He pulled them out of the sleeves, placing his hands on her hips as she ran hers over his bared arms. "I love your arms," she said.

"You do?" he asked, surprised.

"Yes," she replied, nodding. "They're strong and I feel safe when they are around me."

Being so honest was still new to her but it gave her a rush she hadn't felt since she shot off her first fireball. Perhaps she could replace the anger and sadness that had fueled her magic with happiness and love and still get the same thrill. She was excited to find out.

"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked, brushing her hair from her face.

She leaned closer until their noses were almost touching. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said, kissing the end of her nose. "So very, very much."

Regina gave him a gentle push and he fell back onto the bed, arms stretched out on other side of him. She smiled. "And now we shall have a little fun."

"I'm at your mercy," he told her, sending another thrill through her. His absolute trust in her turned her on more and she smiled, knowing what she wanted to do with him.

She hooked her fingers around the band of his boxers, pulling them off slowly. His cock sprang free, already half-hard. It made her wetter but she told herself to wait. She wanted to tend to him first.

Regina leaned down and kissed the tip of his cock. She felt him sit up a bit. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Having fun," she said. "Lie back and enjoy."

"What about you?"

His consideration touched her and she softened her smile. "In good time. But not if you keep talking. So lie down."

"I love it when you're bossy." He did as she said and she felt his body relax.

Perfect.

Regina shimmied down his legs until she reached the end of the bed. She knelt next on the chest he kept there as she reached up to fondle his balls. His breathing grew shallower and she smirked, ready to have him undone.

She leaned over and teased the tip of his cock with her tongue, tasting his salty precum. He let out a soft moan, spurning her to take more of him into her mouth. She hollowed out her cheeks, feeling his balls tighten in her other hand, and pulled back. If she wasn't careful, he might come before she could really have fun with him.

"Gods, I love your mouth," he moaned. "What you can do with your tongue should be revered."

Regina gave a lick down his shaft before pulling back. "Tell me more, Bobby. Let me hear you."

"More...just give me more," he begged. "I need those lips around my cock."

Well, she wasn't going to deny him that. She took his cock back into her mouth, running up and down his shaft as he began to moan and writhe from her ministrations. Regina continued to massage his balls, feeling them tighten. He was close, she could tell.

"God, Regina, I don't...I can't...I'm gonna..."

She chuckled, a low rumble in the back of her throat she knew would send him over the edge. He arched his back as he came. She swallowed it all before pulling away with a satisfying pop.

Bobby laid flat on the bed, his eyes closed as he panted. She kissed up his chest before trailing kisses along his neck and jawline. "How was that?" she asked.

"Bloody good. And you know it. I can hear it in your voice," he said between her kisses.

Regina smirked. "Oh really?"

"Mmm-hmm." Bobby opened his eyes, smirking. "And now it's your turn to feel as good and mine to be smug about it."

He flipped her with ease, gently landing her on her back. Regina hair fanned out around her as he placed her legs on his shoulders, running his strong hands down them. "Absolutely beautiful," he said.

She let out a soft gasp as he began to trail sucking kisses down one leg, heading lower to her sex. He gave her a wink before sucking at her clit, making her whine as she dug her fingers into his blankets. "You're enjoying this torture."

"Very much so," he said before giving her clit another lick. She closed her eyes, enjoying the jolts and heat pooling low inside her as Bobby continued to lavish attention on the nub of nerves.

Bobby's hands were firm on her hips but they didn't stop her from bucking in rhythm with his tongue, trying to get closer to him. She needed more, needed to feel more from him. "Fingers," she pleaded. "Please."

As always, she didn't really have to beg. Before she finished speaking, she felt one of his fingers teasing her entrance before sliding into her, adding to her pleasure. Regina moaned her thanks as he pumped the finger in and out of her, never letting up on her clit either.

Regina lifted a hand to her breast, toying with her own nipple. She rubbed and tweaked it until it was a pert pink bud, begging for Bobby's tongue. But it was still working on her clit, lapping up the wetness pouring out of Regina as he added a second finger. Sweat began to bead along her hairline and her breathing grew shallower as she grew closer to her peak.

"Bobby," she moaned, moving her attention to her other breast.

His only response was to add a third finger and start curling them, brushing against the perfect spot inside her. She cried out, her toes curling against the hot skin of his back, feeling his muscles move underneath them as he continued to suck and lap at her clit.

The coil of heat inside her released and she cried out in pleasure as her orgasm racked her body. Bobby kept pumping his fingers as she rode it out, lapping the juices pouring from her as she came down from her high.

"How was that?" he asked smugly, removing his fingers from inside her. All she could do was groan in response, making him chuckle as he laid down beside her. "Thought so."

She leaned up, kissing him. The taste of her was still on his tongue and she hoped he could still taste himself on hers as she pulled him down on top of her. His hands went to her breasts, massaging them. One of his thumbs teased her sensitive nipple and heat pooled low inside her again.

"You up for round two?" she asked, gasping as his lips found a pressure point where her neck met her shoulders.

He chuckled, releasing her to ask: "Did you just make a pun?"

"I didn't mean to," she said, reaching down to his already half-hard cock. She smirked as well. "But it looks like I'm getting my answer."

"Keep doing that and I'll definitely be ready for round two in no time," he moaned as she run her hand up and down his shaft.

She kissed under his jaw, letting the stubble there brush against her skin. "I'm sure. But I'm not sure about me. What are you going to do about that?"

"Oh, I think I have an idea." He nibbled on one of her ears as a hand slid down her sweat-slick body. One finger found her clit, already sensitive from earlier, and began rubbing gently. It still sent fresh jolts coursing through her and she moaned his name.

Bobby kissed her neck again. "I love that sound."

"Keep it up and you'll hear it again and...oh..." she sighed as applied more pressure on her clit.

"I think you're almost ready," he whispered. "What do you think about me?"

She grinned, feeling how hard he was in her hands. "I think you're ready too."

"Good," he replied, pulling his hands away. "Lift your knees for me, lovely."

Regina obeyed, raising her knees closer to her chest as Bobby positioned himself between her legs again. He gave her a cheeky smiled before pressing his tip to her entrance. "How do you want it?"

"Your call," she said, resisting the urge to push his cock further into her.

He shook his head, hands finding her breasts again. "It's your birthday. It's whatever you want."

"Oh." Regina bit her lip, trying to work through the haze in her mind. She raised her arm, catching sight of her watch and frowning. "Looks like time dictates hard and fast. Maybe we can do painfully but oh-so-tantalizing slow another day?"

"Since that promises a day...or rather night...of sex, yes," he said before pushing himself into her.

She gasped and he waited as she adjusted to having him inside her. Regina closed her eyes before nodding. "Move. Please."

He obliged, thrusting into her hard and fast as she asked. She arched her back as her legs fell back toward the bed, keeping her knees bent as her toes curled against the blanket. One hand gripped the pillow behind her while the other tugged on Bobby's hair as he kissed her neck. Sweat coated their bodies and they felt hotter than if they were standing in front of a roaring fire.

"Faster," she panted as he sucked at her pressure point. Her stomach felt twisted around as heat surrounded it and her body began to tremble. She was so close and needed a second release.

"I don't think I can go any faster," he moaned, panting into her ear.

She groaned. "I need more of you."

"Okay, I have an idea," he said, shifting a bit inside her. It made her gasp and he smirked. "Does that work?"

"Yes," she moaned. "Don't stop."

He chuckled, resuming his hard and fast rhythm again. Regina moaned as he hit her spot again and again, making it feel like her limbs were slowly being replaced with jelly. She met his thrusts, eager to take him as deep as possible inside her as her head started to spin. "I'm close," she gasped.

She felt quiver and her walls tighten around his cock. With a few more thrusts, a bright light covered her vision as she shouted her release. Her orgasm crashed over her in waves and Bobby didn't stop his thrusts as she rode them out. With his own grunt, he then stilled after coming inside her.

Bobby collapsed next to her, panting as he laid flat on his back. "I love you, Regina," he gasped.

"I love you too," she replied, smiling at how easy those words were sliding from her lips now. She curled against his body, resting her head on his chest.

He ran his fingers up and down her spine, his touch soft like a feather. She felt her eyes growing heavy and she let out a content sigh. "I think I need a little nap."

"Okay," he told her. "I'll set an alarm so we have time to shower and eat before getting the boys."

She snuggled closer to him, amazed that she had someone in her life who wanted nothing more than to love and care for her. Regina pressed a kiss to his shoulder before drifting off in his arms, a smile on her face.

Bobby pulled into the school parking lot and put his truck into park. He unbuckled himself before turning to Regina. "I'll come around to help you down," he told her.

"I can get down on my own," she said, before glancing out the window. "I think."

He chuckled as he opened the door. "I'll help you. Besides, it gives me an excuse to touch you."

"You don't need an excuse to that!" she called out just as he hopped down, closing the door behind him. He grinned as he ran over to the other side, opening the door and holding out his hand to her.

They walked hand-in-hand to the school doors, joining the other parents waiting for their children. Regina moved closer to him and he wrapped his arm around her, letting their body warmth stave off the early February chill. Their breaths appeared as white smoke before them and he had already lost feeling in his nose, his toes about to go despite his woolen socks and heavy boots. Yet he didn't mind. Not when he was with Regina.

Regina glanced up at the sky, frowning. "I don't like those clouds. I think it's going to snow. I should probably call the office to make sure the plows and salters are ready to go."

"Can't you call your assistant? Let her handle it?" he asked, nuzzling her hair. "I know you're the mayor, but that seems pretty routine enough for her to do."

"I guess I could do that..." she mused, pulling out her phone. He watched as she typed a message to her assistant and kissed her hair, proud of her.

He would help her find a decent work-life balance yet.

The school bell rang and the doors opened, children overjoyed to see snow streaming from the building. Parents called out to their sons and daughters, wanting to hurry them into the warm cars. Bobby craned his neck, trying to spot Henry and Roland.

He ended up spotting his son's curls first as Roland was carrying his knit cap in his hands rather than on his head. Snow began to cling to the dark locks and he laughed as he tried to catch some of them. Beside him, Henry was all bundled up as if he hadn't undone everything his mother had done that morning and laughed at his friend's antics.

Roland spotted them first, his eyes lighting up as he waved at them. "Papa! Regina!"

Both boys took off running. Roland threw his arms around Regina, holding her tightly, as Henry barreled into Bobby. The older man caught him easily, picking him up for a proper bear hug. "Surprise!" he said.

"Are we going to Regina and Henry's house, Papa?" Roland asked, letting Regina put his knit cap on him.

Bobby chuckled as he nodded. "Yes, we are. And it we're going to stay the night."

The boys cheered and the adults guided them toward Bobby's truck. He helped each of them into the backseat, making sure they buckled up before closing the door. Once Regina was in the front passenger seat, he went around to the driver's seat and started up the car. "We ready to go home?" he asked.

"Yes!" they chorused, legs swinging happily in the back as they bounced in their seats.

He turned to Regina, giving her a soft smile. "You ready?"

She smiled, resting her hand on his. "Let's go home."

The way she said "home" warmed Bobby faster than the heat he had turned on in the car. Giddy, he put the car in drive and started to head toward Regina's house.

Home.

Regina was banned from her own kitchen.

And that made her itch.

She tried to relax on the couch with the glass of wine Bobby had given her and actually read a book that didn't have illustrations and a rhyming scheme for the first time in a long time. But she heard clanking from her kitchen, her appliances turning on and off and the giggles of little boys. All she wanted to do was go in there and oversee everything, to make sure her kitchen didn't end up a complete mess.

Yet this was what she was trying to work on with Archie-learning to let go and trust Bobby, to not control everything. She considered this an exercise and leaned back, trying to concentrate on her book even as she heard the sound of silverware hitting the kitchen floor. Regina closed her eyes and took deep calming breaths.

It worked a little too well as the next thing Regina knew, Bobby was shaking her awake. Her book was tented on her chest and her cheek felt hot from being pressed against her pillow. She felt groggy as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Yes, you did," he said, smiling. "I guess you were still tired."

She frowned. "But we napped back at the hotel."

He nodded, running his fingers through her hair as he smiled softly at her. "You also got almost no sleep last night and we were exerting a lot of energy earlier. One nap wasn't going to do much to recharge you."

"I guess you have a point." She stretched before standing. "Is dinner ready?"

"It is. The boys and I have prepared a feast worthy of the birthday girl." He took her hand and they headed into her dining room.

The room was decorated with purple paper streamers and a giant "Happy Birthday" sign was taped to the back wall. A carved roast beef sat in the center of the table surrounded by various side dishes-carrots, potatoes, salad and rolls. Bobby had set up her best china and she noticed two bottles in ice-one was champagne, the other sparkling grape juice. A candle was light on the table, flickering in the dim lighting.

Roland and Henry greeted her, both grinning with smiles that were missing teeth. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

"Thank you," she said, pulling them both in for a big hug. Bobby rubbed her back as she squeezed them tightly. "I love it."

"Wait until you see what's for dessert," Bobby told her.

Henry tugged on her hand. "Come on, Mom! The sooner you eat, the sooner you can open your presents!"

"Presents?" Surprise filled her as she wasn't expecting that. Regina glanced over at Bobby, who only smiled and winked at her in return.

For the first time in a long time, Regina was really glad it was her birthday.

After dinner, Bobby carried out a red velvet cake covered in candles. Henry grinned at her through the orange flow of the flames. "I knew this is your favorite," he told her.

"It is," she confirmed, grinning at the cake. "Did you all make this yourself?"

Their smiles turned sheepish and Bobby rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, no. Granny dropped that off for me while you were napping."

"She makes the best cakes," Roland said.

"Yes, she does," Regina agreed with a chuckle.

Henry bounced in his seat. "Can we sing Happy Birthday now? Mom has to blow out her candles and make a wish."

"You don't have to do all of that," she protested.

Bobby shook his head. "You are getting the whole nine years. Okay, boys, on three. One...two...three!"

They sang the loudest rendition of the birthday song Regina had ever heard but she smiled through the whole thing, warmth radiating from her heart and through her chest at their serenade. Henry then once again insisted that she make a wish before blowing out the candles and Roland agreed. They watched her, eagerly awaiting the moment.

Regina stared at the candles flickering in the darkness. In years past, she had often wished for Snow's heart so that she could finally get her revenge. Sometimes, she even wished for Daniel to come back. And the only time she celebrated her birthday here in the Land Without Magic, she had wished she could have a family of her own at last. Glancing around the table, that wish had come true, though it had taken almost two decades. She smiled at her men, knowing then what her wish would be.

Leaning forward, she closed her eyes and then blew out the candles. Bobby, Henry and Roland cheered for her before Bobby jumped up to turn the lights on. He grabbed the cake and smiled, telling them he'd go slice it up for them.

As the boys crowded around her, hugging her, she let her wish echo throughout the universe in hopes fate would hear it and grant it.

Let me keep my family forever.

A/N: I thought this had been lost when Old Blue (my laptop) crashed but I discovered I had managed to save it to OneDrive, so I didn't have to start all over again! So, here we go—Regina finally lets herself believe Bobby loves her and is working on not worrying so much about what will happen when the curse breaks, learning to trust that maybe—just maybe—he'll still love her when it does.

(Of course, we know he will. We've seen it)

As always, if you have a prompt for this verse, send it my way!

-Mac