Author's notes:
First, I'd like to address the concern about Regina fainting. It did not occur to me that some might interpret it as Regina dying. Regina is alive. Relax :)
Second, congratulations to charmiaj for guessing the correct movie. I borrowed Regina's savior act from the Matrix Reloaded.
Last but not the least, I would like to thank you all for reading and for the feedback. I'm so happy that you read my story until the end. I appreciate every comment/message and even the general notice for a new follow/favorite. THANK YOU. This will help me improve myself as a writer. You've all been very nice and I am still amazed with the attention this story has garnered. THANK YOU.
So there. I hope to "see" you all again soon and I hope you will have a day as lovely as you. :)
Chapter 21
Emma blew her girlfriend a kiss from the stage. Regina mimed catching it with a hand and then giving the closed fist a kiss before drawing it to her heart. With a grin, Emma went down the steps and was hugged by David. Momentarily withdrawing her attention from Regina, Emma hugged her father back. When David leaned away, Emma could see he was teary-eyed.
"I'm so proud of you, Emma," he whispered, trying to hold his emotions at bay but failing.
"Oh, dad. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"Well, that is true," David replied, letting Emma go and wiping off a traitorous tear.
Emma chuckled as she straightened her toga uniform. Hand in hand, they went back to their respective seats and watched as the rest of the graduating batch received their diplomas. After 30 minutes, the master of ceremony declared the end of the program. Caps were thrown high into the air and people clasped each other's hands or back in congratulations, in farewell, in gratitude, and to remind each other about the party tonight at Cella's. Ula's flyers promised it will be a magical night.
Regina grabbed Emma's hand and twirled her around straight into her arms. Then other girls joined in their celebratory hug, and they all cried and laughed until Emma gasped, "I can't breathe!"
Maleficent gave both Regina and Emma a peck on their cheeks before Cella grabbed them in front of a hired photographer for a group picture. After what seemed like a hundred photos of different pairings and groupings, Regina's friends—now also Emma's friends—bid them goodbye and made them promise to be at the party.
"I wouldn't miss it," Emma assured Cella.
Regina waved goodbye to their friends. Emma grabbed her hand and she followed as Emma walked towards David, who was talking with her mother. Then she walked a bit faster so that they were walking side by side. "We're done with high school."
Emma gave her hand a squeeze. "One thing off our bucket list."
"One step closer to our dreams," Regina replied.
Emma did not look at her but Regina can see the smile with her peripheral vision. Nothing else was said. When their parents walked up to meet them, Regina whispered, "I'll come by right after we eat."
"Okay," Emma whispered back.
"Congratulations, Emma," Mayor Mills said, extending a hand.
Emma shook the mayor's hand. "Thank you." She replied, smiling at the woman who, in just a short time, became endeared to her.
It felt like it was so long ago when Regina brought her back from the dead. When they stopped kissing, chaos ensued in her hospital room. David rushed towards her while the doctors and nurses began shouting in panic. Of course, if you saw someone plunging a hand into someone's chest and then bringing the dead back to life, wouldn't you panic too? The next thing Emma knew, she was back in her bedroom with David and Regina.
Later on, Regina explained that Cora transported them back to the Nolan's house so that she can erase everyone's memory in the hospital, including the ambulance medics who brought her. And when Emma's neighbors asked about her condition, Cora took care of it as well. Any record of Emma being in the hospital that day also disappeared. David's memory was spared because Cora, who appeared hours later, said that if Emma was to be a part of their family, then David can know about their secret too. Emma was not sure whose face was redder - hers or David's. (David later admitted that he would have freaked out too but he was just very thankful to have Emma back.)
Emma asked how Regina cured her. Cora was the one who answered, and she had this very proud smile on her face. She was very proud of her daughter. The mayor explained that when Regina held her heart and squeezed it, she had not only restarted it through the pumping motion but she also transferred magic to Emma's heart. For the commons like Emma's doctors, Emma's heart will look just like any regular healthy heart. For people like them, however, they will see magic surrounding Emma's heart and pumping it. Apparently, magic cannot heal her heart but it can help keep it alive.
When Emma asked how she would explain her sudden recovery, Cora Mills said to simply say that miracles do happen.
Then Cora turned to Regina and asked her to turn off the light with magic. Regina waved her hand but nothing happened. Regina turned to her mother, confused, and Cora smiled at her sadly. "Magic comes at a price and what you did, it required great magic. Your magic must have all transferred to Emma."
Emma looked at Regina and saw her looking at the floor. "I'm so sorry, Regina."
Regina looked up and though she had tears in her eyes, she was smiling. "I'd pay the same price if you get to live one more day, Emma."
Emma hugged Regina and began crying too and Cora left the room to allow them some privacy. When both girls calmed down, Emma wiped Regina's eyes. "Thank you."
Regina wiped Emma's tears as well. She was still too emotional and had not fully grasped the fact that Emma was healthy and breathing and here in her arms once again. "I told you I cannot let you go."
Emma kissed her girlfriend, unsure of what to say. Then she remembered something Cora said. "Regina, when your mom said that your magic is in me, does that mean I have magic now?"
Regina thought about what she had read and learned from other people. "I don't know if you are. At least I do not think so. Magic is a part of us; it resides in our whole being. It's like blood because it's everywhere. We don't need it to live but it's there. Mother said that it's wrapped around your heart so it might be that it's just there. But who knows, you might get to do magic someday. We can check if you want. But not now. Now, you need to rest."
Emma had another question though. "Do you feel like something is missing in you? Since you said that magic resides in your whole being?"
Regina held Emma's face with both hands and looked straight into green eyes. "I do feel like something is missing." Emma tried to look away but Regina stopped her. "Let me finish?" After a moment, Emma looked at her again and Regina continued. "I do feel like something is missing but when you were dying, I felt like I was dying too. I was being truthful when I said that I will pay the same price if you get to live one more day. So I might miss magic…but I need you more."
Emma gave Regina a lingering kiss, which made the latter hum. Regina can feel something different—good different—with Emma and she wondered if it was her magic reaching out to its previous owner. Regina whispered, "So this is what it feels like to have a magical girlfriend."
Emma laughed and Regina joined her. Needing more contact, she hugged Emma tightly, pressing the side of her head against Emma's heart to listen to its beat. Emma held Regina, one hand by the waist and one hand on her hair, idly brushing it with a thumb.
After listening to Emma's heart for about a minute, Regina whispered from her position, "It's beating so strongly, Emma."
Emma tilted Regina's head slightly so that they were looking at each other. "It's because of you, Regina. And only for you."
The next thing Emma knew, soft warm lips were pressing once again against hers and everything else faded away.
#
Five years later…
"We're getting married tomorrow," Emma whispered.
"Yes we are, deputy." Regina replied. She went on to unknot Emma's tie and unbutton her uniform until her fiancée was left in her tank top and trousers.
"Thanks," Emma murmured, then exchanged her trousers with cotton shorts and sat back on the couch, pulling Regina with her. "I cannot wait to start my life as your wife."
"I'm sure you can wait a few more hours," Regina joked. Emma replied with a grin and kissed her on her forehead.
Regina kissed her back on the forehead too and another on Emma's heart before placing her ear beside it to listen to its gentle beats. Sometimes, when they cuddle, Regina would find herself doing the same thing. Even when Emma was asleep, Regina would rest her head on top of Emma's chest just so she can hear her heart. One time, Emma realized what she was doing.
"Those heart beats are not going anywhere, you know," Emma had said. When Regina looked up, Emma continued, "just like I'm not going anywhere."
After five years, Emma's heart was still beating strong, and Cora Mills was right when the doctors declared her recovery a miracle. And to top that, Emma never got sick since that time, not even with sniffles.
"What are you thinking?" Emma finally broke the silence.
Regina sat up so that they were face to face. "I'm thinking that one good thing about losing my magic was that I get to spend my life with you. If I still had it, we would probably end up like my parents."
Emma was silent for a while. Regina waited for her to ask the question she was sure to be brewing on Emma's mind.
"You don't miss it anymore?" Emma had accidentally seen Regina once in their bedroom flicking her hand towards the lamp but she decided not to interfere. She knew her fiancée will talk to her if she wanted to. And maybe she felt guilty for taking it away from her.
Regina cupped Emma's chin to ensure that they were looking into each other's eyes. "My answer to that hasn't changed, Emma. I've told you before and I'm telling you again now, I'll miss you more. Understood?" There was a twinkle in Regina's eyes when she said that so Emma was sure that she was telling the truth. Emma nodded.
Regina continued. "Plus, I did not really lose my magic." Regina placed her ear again against Emma's chest. "It's serving its ultimate purpose."
"And that is?" Emma asked. She sounded breathless. She knew the answer but she still wanted to hear it.
"It's keeping you safe." Then Regina kissed her heart and when Emma felt it, she looked down. And both watched the twinkling purple sparks that rose from Emma's heart where Regina had kissed her and followed Regina's lips until they disappeared slowly.
Their eyes met.
"What was that?" Emma asked, wide-eyed.
"I'm not sure." Regina smiled. "But I think your heart was saying that it agrees with me."
Emma tightened their embrace. "I agree with it too."
And so it was that Emma and Regina continued with their lives, slowly but steadily checking off items in their dream list. Together.
The end.