Chapter 12
A/N: Enjoy the double post :)
"Hey, slowly, take it easy," David cautioned her, his hands already moving to hold her waist as she struggled to keep herself standing. Regina gave him a glare, which he ignored, tried to shift out of his grip, only to have him tighten his hold on her, and eventually huffed out an annoyed breath, dark eyes meeting blue as she waited for him.
Though her legs felt slightly unsteady beneath her, she was feeling infinitely better than she had before. Her breathing was no longer something she had to concentrate on to keep steady, her connection with her magic was sure and strong and unhindered by pain, and her mind would have been clear and sharp as ever if only it wasn't for a certain Prince Charming distracting her by the way his thumbs gently moved up and down against her side as he held her securely. His blue eyes were carefully scanning her features, filled with a quiet, gentle emotion she couldn't quite place. After a few moments, he hesitantly pulled his hands away, keeping them hovering in the air around her in case she would need the support. She stood still a moment longer, testing her balance as she shifted subtly from leg to leg, before turning around and walking out of the entrance to the small tree house.
"Regina!" David's voice was a growl of frustration as he followed her out into the dappled sunlight. Regina tilted her head up as she walked across the wooden bridge that connected one tree house to the next, breathing in deeply. The air inside Nakoma's hut had been clogged with the scent of dried herbs and fire smoke. She was desperate for the fresh air around her, for the sunlight that was playing over her skin, the whisper of the trees rustling over her head and the cracks of blue sky she could see through the branches. The wooden walkway beneath her feet swayed slightly, and she found herself stumbling. She caught the rope railing on the side and held on to it, laughing quietly even as David chastised her angrily for pushing herself too fast. She turned towards him, leaning back against the rough rope behind her and laughing again as he reached one hand out to her for support. Mischievously she stepped sideways, dodging his hand and walking backwards away from him across the bridge as he followed her closely.
"I think your damsel in distress setting is malfunctioning Charming," she teased him. "I'm fine."
"You're not fine," he shook his head, his expression still worried. "You're about as steady as a drunken kitten."
Her shoulders shook as she laughed helplessly, feeling lighter and happier than she could remember being in a very long time. "How would you know what a drunk kitten looks like?" she pointed out. "What on earth have you been feeding those animals at the shelter David?" she added, watching happily as the beginnings of a smile cracked the seriousness of his expression.
"God, I think you are drunk," he murmured, snaking his arm around her waist and catching her again. Still smiling, she relented by resting her hands against his chest, leaning into the support he was offering her.
She shook her head slightly, tilting her head up to stare up at him. She had left her shoes back in Nakoma's house and without the added height of her heels David seemed suddenly much taller.
"You saved me," she said softly. She still couldn't quite believe it. She was alive because of him, because he had refused to give up on her, because he had risked his life for her. She was alive and suddenly everything around her seemed brighter and more beautiful.
"I promised you I would," he replied, his voice equally quiet. His eyes were so gentle. She wished she could know what he was thinking.
She gave him a small smile, shrugging her shoulders slightly. "People don't generally keep their promises," she whispered.
He lifted his hand, gentle fingers tucking a wayward curl of dark hair behind her ear. His hand lingered slightly, his fingers moving to trace the curve of her jaw.
"You know you can trust me right?" he asked, blue eyes shifting between each of hers. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words were lost as his eyes dropped to her lips and lingered there. When had he gotten so close? His head had dipped towards her, close enough to feel his breath against her cheek as he exhaled.
"Awake at last!" a cheerful voice called out and Regina jerked in surprise, stepping back from David as she turned her head to watch the young man crossing the walkway towards them. She swallowed, trying to gather up her composure and ignore the way her heart was thudding against her ribcage. Nothing had been about to happen, she told herself, shaking her head slightly at the ridiculousness of the notion. There was no way he had been about to… no.
"Cheauku," David's greeting sounded less than enthusiastic.
"David must have told you all about me right?" the boy asked her, flashing white teeth as he grinned widely. Regina smiled back at him, nodding.
"You're the one who helped him fight the mermaid, right?"
"I practically killed it for him," Cheauku announced, earning him a derisive snort from David. Regina laughed softly, shaking her head slightly.
"The way David tells it, you were on a rock and he was in a tree..."
"Ah David!" Cheauku shook his head in frustration as he whined. David shrugged, a smile playing at his lips.
"I'm not allowed to lie to her," he said simply and Regina smiled at him brightly, touched by the realisation that he was keeping to every promise he had made her.
"All right," Cheauku gave her a serious look. "But you're not allowed to tell that story to anyone," he warned. "I've been telling the better version to everyone all morning."
"Your secret is safe with us," Regina assured him, reaching out to hold onto the rope railing again as a wave of dizziness hit her. David stepped forwards, his arm sliding around her waist. She leaned into his side, no longer bothering to fight him.
"Come on," Cheauku motioned with his hand towards one of the tree houses. "My mother wants to meet you. She's made food," he added eagerly.
"You go on ahead," David said, nodding. "We'll catch up with you now."
Cheauku grinned again, then then turned and walked back across the walkway, through his grandmother's house and across the next walkway to his mother's. Regina smiled, closing her eyes as she tried to gather the strength she needed to walk the small distance.
"You ready to go kitten?" David murmured against her hair. She hummed in amusement, shaking her head slightly.
"In a minute," she replied, leaning a little heavier against him. The wind picked up again, rustling the leaves in the trees. Birds were flying to and fro in the branches overhead, tittering loudly amongst each other. The sun was warm, as was David, and she just wanted to stay there forever, listening to the world around her and feeling completely safe for the first time in forever. "Alright," she sighed, opening her eyes again and straightening. She shifted out of David's grasp, testing her balance as she began walking back across the wooden bridge.
"Stubborn," he said, shaking his head as she dodged away from the hand he offered for support. She shook her head slightly.
"If I let you have it your way, you'd probably be carrying me," she said.
"Now there's an idea," he teased.
Regina made an unimpressed sound, shaking her head slightly. Still, she couldn't quite stop the small smile that was tugging at her lips. She wasn't used to having someone worry about her, and she couldn't help the small part of her that loved the way that Charming was watching over her. Something had shifted while she had been unconscious, she could feel it between them. She had woken up to find he had become almost overprotective of her, something she found both annoying and endearing in equal measure.
"You know you're actually smaller than I thought you were," David announced suddenly, earning himself another glare from her.
"What?" she stopped, turning to face him. He looked her up and down, then nodded.
"I think you're shorter than Snow actually. Those heels were misleading."
"Short?" she echoed the word, her brows lifting in disbelief.
"It's a good thing," he said, nodding his head again.
"How, exactly?" she asked slowly, shaking her head slightly.
David suddenly grinned, his expression playful. In that brief moment, she couldn't help but note how gorgeous he looked, his blue eyes warm and mischievous, his blonde hair turned golden in the sunlight. The moment was abruptly broken as he reached forwards and grabbed her, lifting her up and over his shoulder, so that he was carrying her like a sack of potatoes.
"Charming!" she yelped, beating his back with her fist as he laughed loudly. "Let me down this instant! I swear if you don't put me down I will…"
"You won't hurt me," he said confidently, reminding her of their first promise.
She let out an angry growl as he carried her through Nakoma's hut and then they were out on the other side, back in the sunlight as they walked across another walkway.
"David…" she whined as they approached Cheauku's mother's house, desperate not to be carried inside in this manner. "Okay, I've learnt my lesson!" she said quickly. "I'll let you help me if I need it."
She sighed in relief as he stopped, gently lowering her back down to the ground. She glared up at him.
"You know, turning you into a frog, technically wouldn't be hurting you," she pointed out.
"Would you kiss me back into a prince?" he asked, still grinning widely. She sucked in a breath, her lips parting slightly in surprise.
"That would defeat the point of turning you in the first place," she murmured, now distracted by how close he was, by that naughty smile, by the way his eyes watched her so intensely. She took a deep breath, hoping the extra oxygen would help clear her tumbled thoughts and Charming's expression instantly changed, playfulness morphing into concern.
"Are you okay?" His hands were on her again, one steadying hand on her waist while the other slid to her jaw, his fingers finding her pulse. Regina shifted, uncomfortably aware of just how fast her heart was beating – and why.
"I'm fine," she said. "David," she reached her hand to his chest and his eyes met hers. "I'm fine," she repeated firmly.
"You shouldn't be out here," he fretted. "You should be resting."
"If I rested any longer dear, I'd likely die of boredom," Regina replied, shaking her head. His arms moved around her, pulling her against him, and before she knew what was happening he was holding her tightly, his head resting against hers.
"Just promise me you're going to be okay. I can't go through that again," he whispered into her hair.
"I promise," Regina murmured after a moment, giving in and resting her head against his chest. She closed her eyes, soaking in the feeling. She didn't want him to let go, she didn't want to lose the feeling of being safe and wanted and cared for. She didn't want to lose him, she realised suddenly. He felt like a life-line, the first one she had ever been thrown, someone to hold her up when she no longer had the strength to do so.
"What are you two doing?" Cheauku's voice called out in frustration. David made a sound akin to a growl as Regina pulled away from him reluctantly, smiling.
"Alright, we're coming," she said, turning her head back to address the impatient young man waiting for them at the entrance to his mother's house. Huffing in annoyance, Cheauku turned and disappeared once more. Regina turned back to David, tilting her head slightly as she stared up at him. "By the way, I never said thank you," she said quietly. "For saving my life."
He leaned forwards, surprising her as he kissed her forehead tenderly. "You never needed to."
