Chapter 14:
Lillian threw herself into her studies again for the next several days after the ball. She was surprised and relieved that Glinda didn't bring up the events of that night, and went out of her way to give the blonde some space to ensure peace as they both focused on their mid-term exams. Fiyero was finally able to get a moment with her as she was crossing the courtyard after taking her last test.
"Hey Elphaba," he called out happily as he jogged to catch up with her. "I've been trying to meet up with you since the ball, but you're pretty hard to nail down."
Lillian smiled apologetically, "I know, I'm sorry. I sort of have tunnel vision when it comes to exams. How are you?"
"I'm doing great! Just took my last test. You?"
"I just finished too. It's such a relief."
"Totally. Hey a group of us are thinking of going to the Emerald City over the break, you know maybe see a show, relax and unwind a little after all that studying…you interested?"
"Oh, that sounds amazing, and I would love to see the city, but I'm actually headed home tonight."
"Oh, really? That's too bad." He really did look disappointed that she couldn't come along. "Couldn't you go home tomorrow and just come with us for one night?"
She could see how badly he wanted her to say yes, and it was very tempting…
"I wish I could, really I do, but my family is expecting me and I know my mother would be upset if I postponed, even one night."
Fiyero nodded reluctantly. "I understand. Well, maybe some other time then?"
"Yes, absolutely; I would love that." Lillian touched his arm to assure him that she meant it.
He smiled at her touch. "Alright, well, have a good visit with your family."
"Thanks, I will."
He reached down and took her by the hand. Her heart jumped so hard in her chest that she thought for sure he must have heard it. He leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek, and looked deeply into her eyes before saying goodbye. As he walked out of the courtyard Lillian could only stare after him; she was stunned in the best way and it took her a moment before she finally was able to continue on her way to her room.
She was still smiling as she hurried to the inn where Killian Jones was waiting impatiently for her to meet him. As soon as she came into view he picked up his rucksack and walked over to her.
"It's about time," he scolded her; "you're forty five minuets late!"
"I'm sorry Captain I got…distracted," she replied, still smiling.
He raised his eyebrows suspiciously as he noticed the goofy way she was acting.
"What the hell is wrong with you? Are you drunk?" He leaned in to smell her.
She pulled away from him sharply and scowled.
"No! I haven't been drinking! I'm just…happy that my exams are over, alright?"
He didn't believe her, but he didn't really care enough to press the matter any further.
"Fine, but your dawdling has made us late so come on let's get going."
He took her arm and started leading her through the village toward the gate. She almost had to jog to keep up with his brisk pace.
"What's your hurry? Geez," she complained, pulling her arm away from him.
Of course he couldn't tell her the truth: that he was anxious to return to the Enchanted Forest so that he could finally see Regina after almost three months apart.
"To a sailor being forty five minutes late could mean missing the tide, or getting caught in the storm."
"Time and tide wait for no man," she replied in a mockingly serious voice.
"Yes, precisely," he praised her, like a student who had understood her lesson. "And also your mother will be furious."
She rolled her eyes and continued following the pirate as he rushed through the crowded streets.
XxXxXxXxX
Regina paced back and forth, as she had been doing for nearly half an hour. They were late. She kept looking at her mirror, hoping that Lillian would contact her and let her know that everything was alright, but it never changed. And so she continued pacing. The others were all busying themselves with other things as they waited for Lillian and Captain Jones to arrive: Marie was knitting a scarf, David was sharpening his dagger, Henry and Emma were playing tic-tac-toe in the dirt with a stick and Snow was watching her step mother while absent mindedly stroking her slightly swollen belly.
"Regina, come sit dear," Marie offered kindly. "I'm sure they'll be here any minute. No sense wearing yourself out for nothing."
Regina shook her head stubbornly and glanced down at her watch.
"45 minutes late! Something has to be wrong…"
"If something had happened then Lillian would have contacted us," Snow tried to reason with her. "Her test just probably ran late."
Marie nodded in agreement with Snow's assessment but Regina just kept pacing. Suddenly they heard a loud pop and a swirling portal began to materialize at the edge of the clearing. Regina sighed in relief as Lillian and then Hook came through the green vortex.
The crunch of autumn leaves beneath her feet sounded like music to Lillian's ears. Home…She looked up and her eyes immediately found her mother's. Regina ran over to her, a relieved smile on her face. She put her hands on her daughter's shoulders.
"45 minutes…" she scolded gently with eyebrows raised.
"I tried to tell her," Killian added in a tone that said I told you so.
"You had me worried," the Queen continued, not crossly but wanting to make sure it didn't happen again.
Lillian made an apologetic face. "I know; I'm so sorry. It took me longer to get out the door than I thought it would. I should have let you know."
Regina nodded; satisfied that she had made her point.
Her smile returned in earnest as she pulled the girl into a hug.
"It's so good to have you home."
Lillian returned the hug happily. "It's so good to be home."
They pulled apart and Lillian was surrounded by the rest of her family; Marie was first, wrapping her arms around her tightly. David clapped Killian on the back and Snow greeted him warmly as they waited their turn to welcome the girl home. Regina stepped back; now that her daughter was home safely she could relax and focus on greeting the handsome pirate she had been missing as well.
Hook pulled back from the group as well and closed the gap between them. He exhaled deeply, as if he had been holding his breath waiting for this moment. His Queen gave him a look full of heat that he felt burn in his chest; he raised his brow in return.
"Hello Killian," she spoke in her low, sultry voice.
"Hello Regina," he replied likewise. "You're looking well."
"As are you." He did look good, better than she remembered. "It looks like life in Oz agrees with you," she joked.
"Well, it has its boons," he replied casually, "but it lacks certain assets the Enchanted Forest has to offer."
She smiled at his compliment. "I hope that you'll be able to enjoy those assets a great deal during your stay."
"I intend to." He winked at her and smiled suggestively.
Snow stepped forward to give her little sister a hug and when she did Lillian gasped in surprise when she saw her little baby bump.
"What is this," she asked with a huge grin.
Snow's grin was just as big. "Surprise!" She had been dying to share the news with her in person.
"How far along?"
"About 4 months."
"Oh! I'm so happy!" Lillian pulled Snow and Charming into a hug. She put her hand gently on Snow's belly. "Amazing…Congratulations you guys!"
"Thank you," the proud parents beamed.
"How was Oz Lil?" Henry was bursting with questions about her adventure. She turned to look at him.
"Incredible! I have so much to tell you Henry." She put her arm around him and smiled down at him warmly; then she looked around the group at everyone, her family, and the people who meant the most to her in the entire world. She had missed them all so much.
"It's so good to see you all!"
XxXxXxXxX
Lillian followed Marie down the path that led to the little house she shared with her mothers. She stepped inside and breathed in deeply, the familiar and comforting scents of home filling her senses and warming her heart. She loved this place. It was quite small but they had worked together to brighten it up and make it warm and homey. As she looked around the room fondly Regina laid her bag on her bed and Marie picked up a plate full of goodies and brought it over to her. Lillian looked down at the plate and cried out excitedly.
"You didn't! Oh Marie, you are amazing!" She put her arm around the older woman's shoulder and gave her a squeeze before picking up one of the pastries hungrily.
Marie grinned. "You deserve a little spoiling after all your hard work." She put her hand to the girl's cheek. "I'm so proud of you."
Lillian smiled sweetly and leaned into her hand. Marie patted her cheek and then moved to the fire. Lillian took another bite and then placed the delicious morsel on the table before crossing to her bed where her mother stood unpacking her things. She watched for a moment, seeing on Regina's face how happy she was to have her home. Lillian knew she had made the right decision not to postpone coming home to go with Fiyero to the Emerald City; as fun as that would have been, with her family was where she truly wanted to be.
Regina looked up at met her daughter's eyes; in them she could see the emotions Lillian was feeling. She smiled warmly and stopped unpacking. The girl stepped forward and let her mother wrap her arms around her again.
"I've missed you so much," the Queen spoke gently. "It feels like it's been so much more than two months."
Lillian chuckled softly. "But mother, we talk every day."
"I know," Regina conceded, "but it's not the same."
"No, it's not," Lillian agreed.
They pulled apart and resumed unpacking together. Marie joined them and placed her hand lovingly on the girl's back.
"So, are you happy there dear," she asked warmly.
"Yes, I love it. It's so exciting and I love learning magic there. I feel like I've learned so much."
"Good," Marie declared. "We've sure missed you, but as long as you're happy then it's worth it."
Lillian smiled gratefully and returned to unpacking.
"What about you mother," she said to the Queen. "Have you been able to relax, or have you been worrying the whole time?"
Regina didn't want to admit that she had indeed spent most of the past two months worrying; she knew that that wasn't what her daughter wanted to hear.
"Of course I've been worried a little, but I've been relaxing…" her voice sounded strained and unconvincing.
Lillian turned to Marie for verification. "Marie, has she been worrying like crazy?"
Marie looked from Lillian to Regina, not wanting to betray either of them or get caught in the middle. "A mother always worries about her children, it's what we do," she answered diplomatically.
Lillian turned to her mother again and gave her a knowing look.
"I thought that having Hook go with me would help you relax a little. That's not what I wanted you to do."
"Well, then you shouldn't have gone to another realm," Regina teased.
Lillian didn't laugh; she was seriously concerned about her.
"I'm serious mother. You don't have to worry all the time. Everything is going great in Oz; I haven't had any trouble. I know that it's just because you love me, but you've basically given up the past 2 years worrying about Rumplestiltskin, protecting everyone, and taking care of Henry and me." She took Regina by the hand. "You've done everything to make sure we were free to live our lives and I just don't want you to forget about yourself; you need to live too. I want you to find you own happiness."
The Queen shook her head, "I am happy. You and your brother, you are my happiness."
The girl looked her in the eyes and asked sincerely, "But is that enough?"
Regina was listening, and Lillian was right. The whole time they had been in the Enchanted Forest she had been preoccupied with worry and had devoted herself completely to protecting her children; and until Hook arrived she hadn't taken any real time to think about herself. What a change from the self-absorbed Evil Queen she once was! But Killian had triggered a desire for romance and happiness in a way she hadn't felt for a very long time. Perhaps this was more than just a dalliance; this could be an opportunity for real and lasting happiness. And that was something that she realized just then that she truly wanted.
She smiled down at her daughter and held both of her hands in hers.
"You're right. I have been sort of stuck in survival mode; I haven't done much to make myself happy. But I am working on it, I promise."
Lillian was pleased that her mother agreed.
"Well, good; I'm glad to hear that…I just want you to be happy because you deserve it."
"Thank you sweetheart." The Queen pulled her daughter into a hug again; she was so grown up! She took her words to heart and continued to think about them for the rest of the afternoon.