Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Once Upon a Time
Epilogue
The party was over, but festive feeling of warmth and weightless happiness remained. Emma and Regina had hosted nearly the whole town at the mansion that day for Henry's birthday. They'd been graced with a rare warm sunny day for spring in Maine, and so they'd spilled out into the backyard with tables laden with food and a steady vibrant hum of voices. Adults, from the Fairies to Dwarves, clustered together raving about the weather while the young Alexandra ran around them all on the muddy grass in her bare feet. The yard swelled with voices as they sang happy birthday and excitement rose as they dug into the masterpiece that was the cake Regina had prepared.
Their guests longs since gone and the mansion carefully tidied, Emma and Regina stood at the bedroom door watching their peacefully sleeping son.
Now, in the darkness, it was quiet.
It was family.
"However did he get to be thirteen," Regina murmured wistfully.
"Don't ask me," Emma chuckled.
The brunette sighed, her words tumbling over each other as they fell from her lips, "He'll be starting high school next year and he'll be going to dances and stepping out on dates and graduating and going to University outside of Storybrooke and getting married and having kids..."
Emma reached out to take her arm and lead her down the hall, "Woah woah woah, slow down mama tiger, let's make it to next week first, ok?"
"Yes of course," She fluttered, "It's only that it's all gone by so fast. I feel like just yesterday I was celebrating his first birthday."
Emma squeezed her arm with affectionate reassurance. She toed the carpeted floor with her boot and added softly, "I wish I'd been there for all the other years... but at the same time I'm also glad that I wasn't. He must have had great birthdays with you..."
"I tried my best," The brunette ducked her head shyly.
"I'm sure you did more than that, you're amazing Regina," Emma reached with a feather light touch, lifting her chin so that their eyes locked and soft smiles graced their features in recognition.
"Thank you," Regina whispered.
The blonde sighed with heartfelt yearning, glancing back down the hall to Henry's half open door.
"Emma, you're here now."
"Yeah." She nodded and her lips turned up in a wide smile, "I am. Thank you. "
Time was marked by much more than the passing of Henry's birthdays, their relationship had changed and grown so very much since the first moment in front of the mansion. When she smiled then, Regina was transported in time of the simple, shy first meeting.
Their eyes met with instantaneous connection and she felt a deep sense of longing for the attractive woman. So strong were her feelings for this stranger that she was immediately distrustful and set on edge. The off kilter feeling remained as Emma stayed in Storybrooke, making her feel increasingly angry with herself for entertaining such intimate thoughts. How could she imagine getting close to the woman who could so quickly destroy her son, her family, her town?
She took her anger out on the beautiful blond. It had been Emma's fault that her legs looked like that in her tight jeans, that her arms showed off prominent muscles , that her hair smelled so good, that her eyes looked so beautiful. She was thankful that Emma's personality left something to be desired and it was easy to lash out against her own small mindedness.
Her anger had melted away, and had been replaced with respect.
In recent months, their careful friendship had been teetering on the edge of something more, something that they had been bound to since the moment they'd first laid eyes on each other.
"Thank you," Regina emphasized. Then she took that last step over the edge, standing on her tip toes, she kissed her softly. "Thank you," She said again, her voice throbbing with emotion.
Then she stopped, her hands flying to her heart.
"You said that already..." Emma teased, her fingers pressing to her lips in awe as she trailed off.
"Emma," The older woman choked, "It's you."
"It's you," She returned. "How...What happened?"
"I don't know, the magic must have run out...That last time... I lost my memories as well," Regina gazed upon the other woman with equal shock and wonderment dancing in her eyes.
"What do you mean as well..." Confusion marked the careful words.
Regina began to shake with realization, she admitted sadly. "I erased your memories every time I visited. Near the end though the magic didn't last, our love was stronger," She continued, her voice raising with hope.
Anger clouded Emma's delicate features and she stiffened, shying away from the other woman. Her voice was low with pulsing anger, "I can't believe you did that to me... I can't believe you did that to us...to Henry..."
"I-I-I-" Regina struggled to find words.
"What the hell is wrong with you," She seethed, clenching her hands so that the knuckles turned white, "We were happy..."
"The curse-" Regina started.
"Don't blame it on the fucking curse, this was all you Regina," Emma spat.
"I felt that I didn't have a choice," She intoned, her words small and hollow.
"There is always a choice and you chose wrong." The blonde shook with rage, "You were wrong Regina. You were wrong."
She bit her lip.
Hard.
A tiny drop of blood blossomed and shone like a wet ruby on her lip. She licked it away, and swiped with the back of her hand across her mouth.
Emma spoke again, more to herself than anything, "How could I have fallen in love with a selfish, cruel, evil queen." She threw up her hands in defeat, "Twice."
"Twice..." Regina stuttered.
"Well dear," Emma snarled, "It doesn't matter now does it."
"Emma..."
"No." She whirled, emerald eyes flashing as she thumped down the stairs and out the front door.
It slammed violently behind her, echoing in the foyer.
Regina stumbled after her, her heart clenching with fear.
She pounded on the closed door, the palms of her hands stinging with the force, feeling bruises blossom beneath her skin as her closed fists hit the hard surface.
Regina sank down on the floor, her hands tangling in her hair and she clawed at her head desperate to tear away the memories.
A silent shriek fell from her lips, tearing her throat raw.
Emma was running again
She was always running
Only now, she was running from Regina.
All those years ago she'd been searching for someone to share her son with and she'd found so much more than that.
They'd been friends.
Then lovers.
Then partners.
Emma had loved her and she'd loved Emma.
Then she'd found her again.
They'd learned to share their son.
And she'd fallen in love all over again.
It seemed the fates had their story written in stone.
But fate was a cruel mistress, for both Emmas were one and the same, they ran.
She wanted to forget again like she had the last time.
But she was unable to escape the harsh tidal wave of thoughts that tormented her.
The tears began slowly at first, then turned to great hiccupping sobs that tore through her body. Her shoulders shook as she cried herself to sleep on the cold ceramic of the front hall, her skin cooling to match the ice in her heart.
A numbness overtook her, starting with her legs and slowly creeping up her torso.
She was immobile.
Trapped.
Trapped by the pain.
Her lover found and ripped away from one breath to another.
Her jolted into consciousness by a frantic Henry shaking her shoulder, his voice tight with fear as he shook her shoulder.
"Mom. Mom!"
She opened her eyes to find his face, she woke to find his worried face inches away from her own, his eyes wide with alarm.
"Mom what happened?"
In the fresh morning light it all came flooding back, fresh waves of agony washing over her. She squeezed her eyes shut as the tears returned.
"Mom?" He patted her shoulder awkwardly, "Do you want to talk about it?"
She shook her head, her cheek bumping painfully against the marble floor.
"Do you want to stay here?"
She nodded, scrubbing a fist over her eyes. They felt like they were filled with coarse sand, scratching and blurring her vision.
There was some rustling and she felt him bump against her knee.
Regina peered out at him lying beside her and she breathed a sigh of relief.
He lay patiently for the most part, only fidgeting and tapping away at his phone when it vibrated in his pocket.
Regina began to shiver, her teeth chattering.
"You're freezing mom, c'mon upstairs," He tugged her up and supported her stiff limbs as she climbed the stairs. The wiry teenager helped her into bed and covered her with the thick feather duvet.
A glass of water appeared beside her bed, the clear liquid rippling and sparkling with a taunting exuberance.
"Can I get you anything else?"
"No thank you Henry."
Regina stared at the wall, watching as the slender shadow of a wavering branch moved higher and higher until it disappeared from sight.
Then there was nothing.
Nothing but a beige expanse, a blank canvas onto which she could project her roiling thoughts.
Henry popped in sometime later with peppermint tea, leaving it on her bedside table.
She watched as the steam rose from the surface of the pale amber liquid and cringed when she realized he hadn't used a coaster.
A single detail.
She latched onto it.
She followed the heat as it flowed through the mug and burned a perfect white circle into the darkly varnished wood.
The imperfection was a quiet sort of beauty, ugly and violent with perfect symmetry.
Henry shuffled his feet on the carpet and it rasped loudly in her ears, jolting her back to the present.
"I'm going out to hang with Hansel and Gretel for a few hours but I'll be back for dinner."
She nodded and reached out to move the mug.
A second circle marred the table.
Two women, perfect in their flaws.
That had destroyed the single most beautiful thing in their lives.
"Mom I'm not leaving until I know you're okay, can you like sit up or something." His voice cracked with concern.
She sat up slowly and held the tea in her hands, grimacing as the heat of the ceramic blistered her palms.
It was wonderful.
The pain coursed through her body, physical and sweet.
"Thanks Mom," He glanced nervously behind him, the conflict playing over his young face.
Regina forced her frozen muscles into what she hoped was a reassuring smile, "Go on Henry, I'll be alright."
He hesitated but then left, the door banging shut a few moments later
She took a scalding sip that burnt her tongue.
Regina bit down over the spot, enjoying the stinging reminder that she lived.
Slowly the warm liquid began to thaw her.
She sat holding the mug long after she finished the tea, long after the sun went down, long after she shivered once more.
A rapping at the door startled her and the mug dropped to the thick carpet, rolling beneath the bed.
She slowly pulled herself from bed and made her way down the stairs, realizing too late that she was still in her clothes from the day before and that they were wrinkled beyond repair.
The knocking grew more insistent as she paused in an attempt to pat her unruly hair into place
At last, she pulled open the door.
"You were protecting Henry."
"What? Emma?" The porch light fell on her blonde hair and illuminated her features. She looked like an angel, perhaps she was going crazy, perhaps she was dreaming.
"Oh god Regina," Emma blurted as she registered the brunette's appearance. "What happened?" She stepped forward, pulling into her arms, smoothing her hair and brushing a finger across her tear and mascara stained cheeks.
Regina stayed stiff in her arms, fearing a sudden movement would startle her vision away.
Emma stepped into the house, bringing the other woman along with her, closing the door behind them.
She cupped her face, looked deep into her eyes, "Regina listen to me. I get it, I understand why...why you did everything. I know that you were just protecting Henry that why you erased my memories."
"Yes." Regina nodded, reaching up to twirl a strand of blonde hair around her index finger. It felt real. But how could it possibly be Emma, how could she have returned, after what she'd done. "Emma?" She asked again, louder this time.
But the vision didn't waver.
"Regina you're scaring me."
Her shaking fingers played with the collar of her coat, "I thought you ran away."
"No, oh no Regina, no," Emma gulped, "I just needed some time to think."
"You always run."
The blonde shook her head, "Not anymore."
Her knees buckled and Emma caught her before she hit the floor. Her grip tightened on the jacket, hot tears slipping from the corners of her eye, "I was just so scared, I've loved you for 13 years and I thought you were leaving me. I don't know how to...exist without you."
"Never Regina, we can be together now, we just have a lot to figure out first." She pressed a kiss to her dry chapped lips.
"We can?" She whispered, light flaring in her brown eyes, bringing them back to life.
"Yes babe." She took a deep breath, "I'm sorry I left last night... I mean I just found out I knew you for ten years before we met that night three years ago. I mean I've been right here for three years. And you lied to me, it hurts."
"I was...I didn't remember..."
"I know why, I get it." Carefully she led them to the couch, tucking Regina into the curve of her body.
Regina shook her head, burring her nose in her chest, "I was also protecting Henry, at least that's what I told myself. But I was also protecting myself and that was selfish." She lifted her gaze, eyes brimming with silver tears, "I'm sorry too."
"It's ok... I mean it's not really ok...but it's ok because I know you Regina and because we because we can't change that past. We can only move forward and think about our future together... I mean if you want one."
"I...I do...More than anything."
"I love you Regina do you know that?"
"I love you too and..." Her lips cracked in the first real smile in many hours, "And I think I do.
"I'm so glad."
"I'm still scared sometimes..."
"Don't be scared babe, I'm the savior remember I'll keep you safe."
"Do you promise," She whispered.
"I promise."
With that promise, Emma nudged her up the stairs and pulled on the shower.
As steam filled the bathroom, she pressed a final quick kiss to her long lost lover's mouth. "Have a shower, you'll feel better."
She began to unbutton her blouse, and Emma slowly turned her back.
"It's nothing you haven't seen before," Regina purred with the hint of her old self.
Emma chuckled and shook her head, "That's the problem Regina, that's the problem." She pulled a fresh towel from the cupboard and set it on the toilet seat, "I'll just wait out there..."
"Alright," The brunette agreed, reaching a hand out to Emma's shoulder in a soft caress.
Emma shivered at the touch, at her warm scent, at the tickle of her breath over the back of her neck. She ducked her head and slipped out the door, catching only the briefest glance of pale creamy skin before it disappeared out of sight.
Regina's battered body barely registered the cascade of water, though her muscles rejoiced under the pounding of the shower.
She slipped into the silk pyjamas that had appeared on the counter and after a cursory swipe of the towel over her soaking hair she padded into her room.
"Emma, you're still here." But of course she was, she'd felt her energy through the door,
"Course I am, Let's get you into bed-"
Regina slipped beneath the covers, her cheek relaxing into the soft, cool pillow.
Between Emma's calming presence and the comfort of a shower, Regina was at last able to close her eyes.
When the bed shifted some time later, her eyes snapped open to look up in confusion, "Where are you going?"
"I need to get some sleep too and I do need time to think about it all." Emma tucked the sheets in around the older woman, and brushed a damp curl from her forehead.
"You're not running?"
"I'm not running, I'll see you soon ok?"
"Alright." She allowed the exhaustion of the past twenty four hours overcome her, soothed by a cool, calloused hand on her forehead.
She drifted off in minutes, a frown creasing her forehead when it found itself naked and alone.
On Monday she waited anxiously by the front door hoping Emma would arrive, breathless and slightly disheveled as she always was, ready to walk Henry to school and Regina to her office.
The blonde only ever made it on time on Monday's, only ever able to start the week off right, as sleep became ever more important as the week dragged on.
She never came.
It was twenty minutes past the time they usually left, when Henry nudged her out the door without a word and walked her to the door of her office.
On Tuesday, she cleared her desk and sat on alert, ready for Emma to walk in the door.
Every Tuesday Emma would bring her lunch before they council meeting, they'd bicker over how cluttered her desk was and Emma would say It's Storybrooke, I don't really think you have to work so hard. One week Emma had spread her coat on the floor and insisted they had a picnic since it was easier than trying to find the surface of her desk.
She never came.
The council meeting had already been brought to order without her when she slipped into her seat.
On Wednesday, they waited for Emma to come to dinner.
Every Wednesday she'd arrive with a story from her wild day as the Storybrooke Sherriff with something delicious and decadent from Granny's for dessert. They'd laugh themselves sick over their meal before settling in to make their way through the X-Files. Henry inevitably point out that they were like Mulder and Scully, they would protest and tease each other, while he watched knowingly.
She never came.
The meat was dry and hard, the rice congealed and crusted in the bottom of the pot and the broccoli had wilted into a vile green mush. She scraped it into the garbage and told Henry he could have cereal for dinner.
On Thursday she didn't show up to Henry's soccer practice.
On Friday they had movie night without her.
Saturday dragged on without Emma coming to disrupt their day to insist they go to the park, or a movie or make a snow fort.
Sunday arrived with a heavy sense of dread in the air. Regina cooked brunch, glancing over her shoulder in hopes of the blonde swaggering into the kitchen to steal a piece of bacon out of the pan, inevitably burning her fingers.
She never came.
They ate in silence. Regina left the dishes where they were and climbed back into bed.
Henry caught his blond mother at Granny's, hunched over a steaming cup of coffee, her curls dangling dangerously close to the puddle of syrup left behind on her plate.
He didn't waste any time and jumped up on the stool beside her, "Uh Emma, Mom wants to know if you're done thinking."
She jumped slightly, her coffee sloshing over the rip of her cup and freckling the counter. "Hey yourself, kid."
He arched his eyebrows pointedly.
Emma sighed, "Did she send you?" She answered her own question with a chuckle, "Of course not, she's too proud. She thinks she's strong, and she is...but she needs me...and I need her."
"Is that your answer then?"
His low voice jolted her from her reverie, and she turned slowly to meet his pale brown eyes. "I guess it is kid, I just don't know how to tell her...It's been too long, I've screwed up now."
"It's only been a week," He rolled his eyes.
"A week feels like a long time."
"I'll tell her ok," He squeezed her hand and shook his head, "God you guys are worse than Grace and Hansel."
"Wait, would you really?" Green eyes sparkled with promise.
"Yeah," He shrugged, "I want my family back."
"It's only been a week," She nudged him playfully.
The young brunette stood up and spoke solemnly, "A week feels like a long time."
"Oh Henry..."
He shrugged her off, "Whatever Emma, just hurry up and fix it because we're having spaghetti tonight and I want you to do the joke."
"Sure...Sure..." With a tentative smile, she pulled some money from her pocket and slid off the stool.
Before she could step away, Henry stepped up to her. He was tall enough now to meet her nose to nose and he glared as seriously as he could manage on a face that held spirit of child he still was, "If you ever hurt my mom like that again I'll never forgive you."
I'll never forgive myself... She whispered to his retreating back.
The doorbell rang at precisely five minutes before six o'clock.
Henry didn't even try to hide his grin and ran to set the table, leaving his mother to answer the door.
In her signature red leather jacket and tight jeans, Emma Swan smiled sheepishly at Regina. "I heard you were making spaghetti," She murmured shyly, toeing the marble entranceway.
The small smile that had formed on her lips at the sight of unruly blonde curls at the door, burst into a wide grin. "I have."
Emma's face crumpled, her eyes spilling over with hot tears, "Re..."
"Shhhhh," She tugged the other woman inside and pulled her into her arms.
Emma sniffled and snorted, "This is such a mess, I'm supposed to be mad at you for...for everything, and you're supposed to be mad at me for how I acted this week and, what are we doing?"
The brunette brushed away the tears with the gentleness of a mother and pressed hot open mouthed kisses to her cheeks. One. Two. And final one to the salty pink lips before her. "We can't keep pushing the blame around, or we'll be back to fighting over the original curse."
Emma sniffled, "Yeah, we probably would." She straightened and took Regina's hand, "I don't want to go back anymore."
"I don't relish the thought either." She nibbled at her lower lip, "Perhaps we can straighten a few things out after dinner because we have a hungry son waiting not-so-patiently in the next room."
"I'm hungry too," Emma grinned.
"However did you survive the week without me," Regina swatted at her jean clad ass.
"I don't know," The blonde clutched at her stomach dramatically, "I don't ever want to find out again."
In teasing and laughter thy entered the dining room, where Henry was seated at the head of the table.
"So did you guys make up." He demanded.
"We have a lot to work out kid-"
"But we will together from now on-"
"As a family." Emma added.
"Good," Their young prince nodded once. "Can we eat now?"
Spaghetti and salad and fresh bread were passed around, and the first bites were scarfed down before the young family could begin to catch up on lost time. Awkward silences were soon filled with easy laughter and their rhythm and dance began as if it had never ended.
In moments when Henry launched into story after story of his first week as a teenager, their eyes would meet in the flickering candlelight and slow soft smiles would melt any remaining hesitation from their features. In those moments they'd know in their heart that it would all be alright.
The evening was spent the three of them together on the couch, catching up on the X-Files, until Henry's new teenage bedtime at nine-thirty.
He still insisted that both mothers would tuck him in as there were some things time didn't change.
The two women found themselves sitting side by side on the couch in the study, a bottle of wine between them.
With graceful flicks of her wrist, Regina poured two sparkling glasses of the gemstone coloured liquid.
Hesitant sighs and awkward giggles.
"Where do we start?" Regina broke the silence, before bringing the glass to her lips
"I don't know..." Emma hummed, momentarily distracted by the way Regina's pink tongue darted out, catching a drop of wine on the rim of the glass. She sighed, "Maybe...Maybe you could start at the beginning."
"The beginning?"
"How did our fucked up story begin?" There was no malice in her words though, only bewilderment.
Dark eyes clouded with ghosts of the past, her breathe coming out in a shaky whoosh. "The year Henry came to me, was the best and the worst in my life. I thought, if only I could have a child, I could be happy. I had been unhappy for so long, I wasn't sure how much longer I could bear it. Then Henry came into my life, with his perfect tiny toes and the way his mouth would pucker when he slept...Much like yours does in fact, when you're dreaming really deeply."
The blonde reached and took the other woman's hand, tracing the lines in her palm and placing a kiss in the centre.
A thank you of endless proportions.
Regina continued, "But without friends or family, without anyone to share him with, I still felt every bit alone. I loved him so and I longed to share my love for him with someone. The people of Storybrooke...well you know I couldn't...I thought of you...well the birth mother and I thought you of all people would love to hear about him. So I found you, just after Henry's first birthday."
The blonde poked her side playfully, "I remember being freaked out and totally impressed at the same time. I'd never seen a grown up treat me so nicely in all my life, never mind the most beautiful and sensible woman I'd ever seen."
"And you intrigued me Emma Swan, with both your ferocious love for a child you'd given up and your sparkling personality."
"You're making that part up."
Regina chuckled, "No dear, I assure you I'm not. They may have been rather ferocious sparks, but sparkling none the less."
"Thanks I guess," Emma leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
Regina gasped.
"Shit sorry, I don't know if we're allowed to..."
"Of course we are, I suppose I'm not used to how...how wonderful it feels," She blushed.
"Regina Mills, Mayor of Storybrooke, named Evil Queen, is really such a softie."
"You know that, even in this time."
"I do and it's cute as hell, Madame Mayor."
She blushed again and tucked her hair behind her ear, "Shall I continue?" After a brief nod from the other woman she continued, "That first year, I barely knew you and I had no idea if we'd ever see each other again. I couldn't bear to lose Henry so yes, I erased your memories. As the years passed, we fell in love... I suppose that's when I grew selfish. I had trouble trusting you, trusting myself, trusting the outside world...so I continued. I worried that if I stopped you'd figure something wasn't right and you'd hate me, that you would come for Henry and I'd never see him again."
"I wasn't ready until that last year but then, you knew I was ready and still you erased my memories."
Regina hung her head, "I know... it's just that you didn't come with me, I couldn't be sure. I knew in my heart and yet... I was going talk to Henry and we were going to come get you, bring you home. I didn't see the harm in taking them if we would return soon and bring them back. But ...I forgot and he found you instead. I'm sorry Emma, I'm so sorry." She hung her head, hiding from the deepest truth, "I...I thought that perhaps you could have a normal life of your own. I loved you so much, I was so used to my pain, that to spend my eternity alone would be far easier than seeing you alone. I dreaded every year that you'd find someone but I hoped as well that you might, that you wouldn't be cursed in unhappiness as I had been."
Emma reached over lifting her chin, "I know you didn't force me to do anything, that you left me free to date if I wanted. I could have easily fallen in love with someone else. My mind could have but, I didn't want to because it wasn't something I needed in my life. My heart was yours. Always."
"Oh Emma, you can't know that."
"I do, the heart doesn't lie." She continued, "Tell me you didn't feel it too. While we were apart all those years ago. Tell me you didn't feel the connection we first laid eyes on each other in Storybrooke."
"I felt it." Regina whispered breathlessly.
Emma's breath caught in her throat, any possibility of doubt had been flung far and wide from the recesses of her mind.
"I was so scared," Regina admitted.
"I was too."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, it was good for me," Emma chuckled, "I was so full of myself."
"No, I mean, I'm sorry for everything. I was horrible..."
Emma nodded slowly, "When I realised last week, what were to each other, what you'd done to me... Regina, promised you'd always be there for me, and you betrayed that promise...I was furious, no I was more than furious, I was deeply hurt."
Tears spilled down her cheeks, marking the silk of her blouse, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"But I understand Regina, after everything we've been through, after everything we've learned about each other. I understand. I would have made the same decision in the end. I'm sorry too for running away, for running a second time this week, I'm sorry I was never ready, I'm sorry you could never trust me, I'm sorry I wasn't good enough..." Sobs tore through her chest.
"Hey. Hey, Emma, that's not true, I trust you with my life, with my sons life, you didn't run, you came back. And you are good enough, you're too good for me, I'm the evil queen and you've fallen in love with her."
"Twice," Emma sobbed, "And you're not evil."
Their cheeks pressed together, salty tears mixing in rivers down their crumpled faces.
"I'm not a good person, I've proved that time and again..."
"Hush now," Emma pressed a finger to her lips, "Our pasts on their own, they're complicated, our combined past is full of complicated twists and turns, recent adventures and old memories."
"It's a mess."
"A beautiful mess."
"We love each other, we have Henry, my family, the town... We have love all around now regardless of our messed up past. I just want more, I don't want it to end, not when I just found it." The younger woman closed her eyes and leaned back against the couch.
Regina clutched at Emma's hand, "It's been decades since I've had true happiness, when we kissed last week before...well I knew that happiness would be here to stay. But it wasn't..."
"It is Regina, can we be happy, please?" She begged. "I need you."
"I need you too, and it's hard for me to even admit it." The brunette gasped. "Were better together, simple as that."
"Yeah, were pretty freaking awesome." Emma returned with a hopeful grin.
"How do we do it?"
"Beats me,ยจ She shrugged. "I guess we just dive in." Her emerald eyes flicked to plump lips, stained with the dark wine.
"Just like that?" Regina set her glass on the table.
Emma licked her lips, "Uhm...we won't dredge up the past with every argument ok?"
"Alright. Perhaps though, we could talk about our time together, they were happy times."
"I'd love that." She pulled Regina into her lap, cradling her in her arms, "You aren't allowed to call yourself the Evil Queen, and I'm not allowed to run away anymore."
With a hand over Emma's swiftly beating heart, she nodded, "I know you won't. I will never again use my magic against you without your permission, and I promise...I promise I'll love you, I'll be your family... I promise I won't leave you alone."
"I know, I trust you."
"I trust you," Regina whispered in return.
Slowly, gracefully, she straddled Emma's hips, sighing as they came together with delicious friction.
"God, it's been a long time," Emma moaned, dark lips sucking at her neck. "Three long years."
"Really now," Regina's eye already dazed with passion, seized a predatory energy.
Emma tangled her slender hands in her hair and slanted their mouths together in a heady kiss, their tongues probing and tasting, catching up for years gone by.
Her nimble fingers worked the buttons of her blouse and released the catch of her bra to quickly fill her hands with full breasts, her thumbs swooping over already erect nipples.
Regina arched her back, throwing her head back, grinding her hips against the rough denim of Emma's jeans.
She steadied herself on Emma's shoulders, focusing for a moment, steadying her voice to say with all seriousness, "Emma, it's been three long years so for god sakes don't you dare take your time."
"No ma'am." She snorted with laughter, giggling as she flipped them over to pull her own shirt over her head. Together they managed to wiggle out of their remaining clothes, and come together, flesh to flesh in seconds, seconds that felt like a crackling eternity.
"Oh fuck." Emma squeezed her eyes shut, giggling softly.
"Language," Regina returned, a soft laugh escaping her lips in the moments before their mouths came crashing together again.
Their breath was ragged, their hands frantic and ungraceful.
They took each other over the edge in minutes, clutching each other as they shook in the violent release of desire.
Before their skin had cooled, their eyes, locked on each other, their brought each other to the edge of passion again.
They teetered there, with deep kisses and teasing caresses.
One after the other, they came with wave after wave, rocking lightly against one another in the aftermath, enjoying the shivers of pleasure the movement brought.
Their breathing slowed and soft kisses returned.
"I always wanted to do you in this room, ever since that first night." Emma mumbled into Regina's damp hair.
"Emma!"
"Whaaaaat," She smirked devilishly, her dimples twinkling in such a way that never failed to bring forgiveness.
"We just shared a beautiful moment and that is what you have to say about it."
Emma rose on shaking arms, "Regina mills I love you with all my heart. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you, thank you for the beautiful moment we just shared, I've wanted to share such a beautiful moment with you, since I first saw your beautiful face, my love, my sweet, my honey bunches of oats." She kissed her nose with a smack and smirk, "Better?"
"Much." She agreed, pulling the blonde's warm body back down beside her. "I love you too," She whispered.
Slow silky hours passed in the study, until their shaky legs carried them to their bed.
Weeks and months passed in comfortable familiarity, until a bright spring day brought another chapter to their story.
The townspeople found themselves at the town line, now a symbol of unity at its purest. Long rows of chairs faced an arch of apple blossoms, sweet and fair.
Beneath it, the brides faced each other in dazzling white dresses, the groomsmen and bridesmaids dressed in their finest surrounding them with bright smiles.
Past and present came together in that moment of I Do, from one land to another, one world to the next, times remembered, times slowly forgotten, they came together for the future.
For another chapter to their story.
*~*fin*~*
A/N: Thanks everyone, this story has meant so very much to me! SWAN QUEEN FOREVER.