A/N – At this point, I have to say that I thank all of you who reached this far. This is it, guys. This is it, as Kevin Macallister said. Don't be scared now. You're brave. Angst is nothing compared to your belief in a happy ending for this story. Because there will be one. I never leave my stories without one. So happy reading. And remember, Swan Queen would NEVER be easy.
Chapter Twenty
'Fight Before The Fall'
xxx
Excerpt:
"Guards," she croaked, and failed terribly in summoning them because she couldn't breathe.
Stepping back as Emma advanced, the back of her legs met the bed and she tumbled upon it, taking a hold of the red satin sheets. Wasting no time, the blonde's eyes were filled with lust as she climbed on top of the older woman, and took a hold of hunched shoulders.
"What are you doing?" Regina asked.
"Taking what's mine."
xxx
They spent three weeks away from each other, the blonde refusing to enact any kind of communication. Regina on the other hand was trying desperately to find some way to change the fate of things. So was Emma, but all her parents could offer was the definite answer that nothing could be done that would alter the outcome of things.
In a manner of putting things quite simpler to begin with, the Queen had summoned the Dark One. He appeared in a haste and in glee, those devilish eyes glowing whilst the trees swayed behind him to create an even more eerie feel.
After Regina wasted no time in explaining exactly why he was sought out, Rumple informed her that nothing could be done to alter the deal.
"Nothing at all?" she stared back, fists clenched.
"Nothing...at...all," and he laughed, leaning upon the wall of the castle, studying sickly green nails.
"But I no longer remain a threat to the Charmings or their daughter."
"Hardly the matter," Rumple smiled impishly. "What was done in the past always alter the future. In every way, in a manner of speaking, you...damaged your destiny without realizing."
"But I'm not like that anymore," Regina stated, her chest heaving. "I'm not set on my evil ways to destroy and seek out revenge. I'm really inclined to spend the rest of my life with Emma."
"Not my problem." Rumple was too blunt.
"You twisted imp," Regina growled, her eyes flashing. "You'll do as I say. I want to make another deal."
"Oh look at you all flustered and in love," his fingers wiggled, "it doesn't suit you, your Majesty. What you like is the taste of the darkness and power. Not love. Love is for fools."
"You're just trying to make my life a living hell because your belief is that I took Belle away from you," Regina's throat ached. "When the truth is, she left on her own. I had no part in it. I was quite aware of your love for her and never encouraged the attachment because I never knew what love meant. And now I do and I realize that you were too set on being powerful just as I was, the possibility of giving up everything to be with someone was a threat."
"And now you'd give up everything for a little girl you once wanted to kill?"
"I'd do...anything for her," Regina croaked. "Anything."
"Anything?" his eyes gleamed. "I see..."
"What do you want? So that this deal involving your son can be broken?"
"Oh no, dearie!" Rumple lifted his hand and stared back. "That deal cannot be altered or broken at all. Nothing you do will change it. Swan will marry my son or the kingdom falls. Everything she's entitled to will either be shared with my son or it will be lost to me. Either way, I gain." He laughed. "Whilst you...you'll lose. I win," he pointed at her. "You lose."
"I don't understand," Regina said frowning. "Why aren't you threatening my kingdom in this? Why are you only trying to take Emma away from me?"
"Because she's your ultimate undoing, your Majesty," he said. "This here," his hands gestured at the castle and around it, "is nothing compared to the power your attachment to her brings. For me to take this away from you would mean nothing. No. I have to attack the source. I foresee the future and must take advantage of it. In life, we're all selfish players. Therefore I'm giving you a chance to keep what's yours, your wealth. And to let this little silly girl go. Find someone else to attach your affections to. It's quite easy, if you know where to look. Leave her separately as you've always done. Go your own way. And she'll go hers."
Stepping back, Regina had a strained look on her face. Fists clenched, shoulders hunched, she stood there and felt the hope within her gradually drain away.
"If you allow this nonsensical child to ruin her future happiness over you, then you're doing no one any favors. Tick, tock, dearie! We're long past the age to settle down and have a family." Rumple laughed. "After what we've done in our past, we can never escape the lonely future. You will lose her either way. So let the soppy mess go. Rise in power again. Rule with power. Love is weakness, Regina."
She couldn't breathe.
"If you wish to blame anyone, don't blame me, dearie. Blame yourself for being a threat and the Charmings for coming to me to protect their precious babe from you. I did what had to be done. There's a long drought coming for you. Why don't you start looking for another...suitable lover?" and laughing, he disappeared into black smoke.
She stared in his wake and still couldn't process his words properly. The Dark One was always strategizing things for his gain. Never caring about anyone else for that matter and failing to even have some remorse in his blackened heart for anyone else.
"Guards!" her hoarse voice rang out in the silence, and one of them scattered in her direction.
"Yes, your Majesty?" he bowed neatly.
Regina stared into her garden, her chest heaving uncontrollably. "Get me Prince Charming," she growled, brown eyes on fire. "Tell him the Queen requests his attention. Now. Since his wife remains ignorant then I wish not to see her."
"Very well, your Majesty," and bowing himself away, the guard hustled off immediately.
Xxx
"I dare say you are quite a cheater at cards." Neal placed his hand down and frowned. "I refuse to play with you."
Emma stared back "Oh come on! I'm not cheating! I'm that good! See?" pressing her cards down upon the table, she displayed an excellent hand to the man sitting directly across the wooden table. "Plus, we're just two tries into the game. So don't give up now. Coward."
Neal gasped, dramatically sinking into the chair. "Me? A coward? Oh no you did not."
"I should just go play with Paws," emerald eyes rested on the yellow cat curled up on the stone steps, chewing on his tail.
It was just in the afternoon on a cool, sunny day and the wind was rather chilly at such an early hour. The sky was clear and blue, quite a lovely one to behold. In fact, if one purposely gazed upon the horizon a little too long, a sense of calmness arose when the lush green grass was added to the picture. Flowers danced gaily and the occasional chirp of birds sent a very melodious tune to one's ear.
A neat pile of books were placed upon the table to her right. One from the pile she had been deeply engrossed in until a certain man had planted a pack of cards before her. But before his arrival, Emma had been focused in a novel that was particularly hurtful to read. A young man from a Spanish Queen's court had fallen in love with the woman of power. The Queen was single and her husband had died. She was known to take lovers but the poor young man wanted so much more. He desired her heart.
So far, the book was unfolding exactly opposite to her life story thus far. After realizing that the Queen was set upon her riches and power, the young man by the name of George Fidel set out to be rid his heart of any feelings and to rise in power. He was succeeding thus far and Emma had a feeling that his main aim was to show the Queen some day how anyone could change from nothing to something.
"Tell me about this ridiculous...deal again," Cassidy folded his arms upon the table, the sleeves of a green shirt rolled up. "The one where they want us to marry or something like that."
"It's stupid really," Emma sighed. She toed the ground with a brown leather boot. "Dad basically said that they had no choice because Re..." she stopped and inhaled deeply. "Because the Queen was going to try everything to kill me. So they went to the Dark One and as desperate as they were, they signed this deal. Dad claims that he had no idea I'd have to marry you to seal it. Apparently the details of the deal changed over the years to follow."
Neal sighed, "from my understanding, there were many phases to this...deal in question. Phase one, they sign a paper that claims your safety in return for the small price of gold. Phase two, the deal is altered to cater for your safety after she tried to poison you. Deal's end result is a greater sum of gold. Phase three, and this part I believe happened right when she came here and a sword was run through her. To protect you then and forever more with a larger price."
"For us to marry."
"Exactly." He offered her a sympathetic look and Emma sighed. "Look, if it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't be a bad husband. You know that."
"I know that," she said warily, studying the tips of her boots. "I don't doubt it. But I never wanted to marry because of convenience like most royalties do. Marrying to secure a patch of land or wealth. I always wanted to marry someone I absolutely love."
"But there's no one like that in your life," he pointed out, completely oblivious to the entire operation under his congested nose. "So maybe you should consider it. I mean, am I that bad looking?"
"You're not even...in love with me!" she returned, in shock.
Neal's eyes widened. "Coming from you, Swan, that's very hurtful."
Emma sighed. "Look" her eyes fluttered close, "all I'm saying is that I'd rather marry someone I'm in love with."
"So when we were together in a manner of speaking," his frustration was showing, "you're trying to tell me that I was...simply used."
"No, I'm -"
"As a mere experimentation or for the fun of it. To have someone beside you..."
"No, it's not like that -"
"There's someone else, isn't there?" He sat back and stared at her grimly, arms folded. "There's someone and you've been using me all the damn time as a form of rebound. To distract yourself from this person."
"Neal."
"Who is he?"
She couldn't breathe and her fingers curled up tightly, nails biting into sweaty palms. "It's not a he," Emma said softly, "it's a she."
"My competition is a she?" Neal stared back in disbelief. "All this time I've been competing for your affections with a...woman?"
Simply nodding, her fingers were studied. The wind lifted blonde hair so lightly, Cassidy believed that he was focused on an angel. Sitting there before him with eyes that were the prettiest pair he had ever seen. The softest heart and purest one. Yet the act of abusing his companionship like this was entirely hurtful.
"Just tell me who it is," he muttered, glancing away from her whilst she stared at him. "And let me know in advance before I waste my time and effort on this affair."
"Neal, it's not like that," the blonde croaked, "it's not. I've always seen you as the bestest guy friend I could ever want and I don't ever want that to be ruined because of this."
"First of all," he sat up, his face stiff, "Emma, you lied to me. We were together for a matter of months and then you ended things off with a simple excuse. That you weren't ready for an attachment. I understood that at the time. I accepted it and lingered near ever since. Then when you left to spend time with Ruby, your letters suggested that you missed me and wished to see me again. What was I to believe after reading those words? After knowing that you always seek out my company in every event? You're always saying that I'm the highlight of your day."
Slapping his hand upon the desk, he sat back and sighed, refusing to look at her because she had wounded his trust.
"Yeah you told me that you were slightly inclined to the same sex but there wasn't ever a definite mention of a someone. Now I'm being told that there is a someone. How long has this...someone been the apple of your eye?"
"Since we started to know each other," she confessed, her chest aching.
"Who is she?"
"I can't...tell you that." Emerald eyes were lowered.
"Emma, who is she?" his voice took on a much more serious note. "By all means, I must know. Is it Ruby?"
Her head was shaken, and the wind whispered through the trees around the castle. At some point, a lie needed to be told or to evade the truth completely. In this moment, perhaps twisting the plot would seem appropriate. But how to do so.
"Well it can't be Tinkerbell because she's busy swooning over Robin who recently dumped her," he declared.
"Robin dumped Tinkerbell?" this was news to the blonde and she stared back in disbelief.
"About a week ago. Well he didn't dump her per say," Neal shook the statement off. "They parted ways because of a slight hiccup. Who is she, Emma?"
"But they were so good together! I saw them a couple of times and thought that they'd never become separated. After all," the blonde was trying to avoid the question, "a love with convenience isn't easy to find."
"Is that what this is?" he leaned unto the table, studying her face. "You want to be with this person but you can't? Because of the fact that she's a she? Do your parents know?"
"My parents control my life, okay?" her throat ached and she stared at him, "you know that more than anyone. That I'm not allowed to do as I want and marry who I want when I want. For crying out loud, I'm still being monitored every single day and I'm twenty years old."
"If it isn't Ruby, then is it Belle?"
"Just give it a rest," arms folded, she buried her face in them. "What if it's Belle? No one cares about me. All they care about is a stupid kingdom."
"Emma, your parents spent years and years building up this place," Neal was trying to digest the fact that it could be Belle. "You can't just step over the shitload of work and hand it over like an old gown. This place is a kingdom. It's yours. You grew up here and these walls protected your life. My father is a deceitful man, I know that for a fact. And if you slip up, he's going to take all of this and leave you with nothing. Your parents will see everything they worked for be handed off to the Dark One whilst you run off with whoever she is. When you can marry...me, secure your post and keep all of this."
Tears dripped unto the table but he couldn't see them.
"We don't have to be in love or anything. I just want you to keep what's already yours. At least I love you enough to suggest that a loveless marriage would be okay by me. On my end, I'd do anything for you."
So that meant the one person she loved with all her heart and the bestest friend she ever had both wanted her to do the same thing. To do as the stupid deal required and claim what was hers no matter what. Because the deal couldn't be altered. She couldn't cheat it no matter how hard that was thought of. Marrying Neal was the only way to go if this kingdom was to be kept. He'd never wed her and allow infidelity; for another affair to bruise their marriage. No. Neal was too old fashioned in that respect.
Maybe she could cheat the paperwork and stuff. But magic would always be more powerful than anything else. So was love though. Love was the most powerful magic of all and if she loved Regina this much, then something was possible.
xxx
She should have seen it coming but never did because when a girl has a best friend in a guy, one would expect that nothing would cross the boundaries of simple affection.
That night when they were walking home from time spent with August and Belle at a bar, Neal stopped to admire the same scene that had been gazed upon in a previous moment. It was the same one when she had relived that dreadful moment that entailed her father running a sword through the Queen. Wrapping his arms around her, she didn't like it at first.
"Oh come on," he said, resting his chin upon her head, "I'm just being really comforting. After all, we might have to marry each other some day, right?"
Emma's head began to ache. "Neal, I don't know about that."
"Look, give me a hard time all you want. I can take it for as many years to come. But at least admit that you think I'm the most awesome guy in the world."
She couldn't deny it but refused to answer.
"And you know to yourself that if there's one guy you'd rather marry in this world world, it would be me. Even if it's an arranged marriage. I know that we'd grow to love each other. We'd totally have fun playing husband and wife, if it comes to that."
Untangling herself from him, Emma stepped away and gripped the cold wooden railing. Shoulders hunched, blonde hair from a high ponytail tickled her neck and she leaned forward. The drop down was a deadly one, into jagged rocks and a shallow river.
"Emma, come on."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Come on, it's just me having fun."
"Neal, I don't want to talk about it, okay?" she stared at him and her eyes clouded with tears. "I'm really uncomfortable talking about that right now. I'm really conflicted and I don't want to do this."
He bit his bottom lip and remained silent.
"It's not that I don't want to marry you, but there's someone else. And I really love this person beyond understanding."
"But you have to let her go," he said.
The wind howled around the bridge and she stared at him still, her chest growing cold.
"Emma, you're going to lose the kingdom, okay? And you can't lose it."
"You sound as if you're a mascot for your father," she said angrily. "Typical."
"Emma, I'm trying to help you here!" Neal stared back with wide eyes. "I wasn't anywhere around this when the deal was made. I had other plans too than to do this but it's my dad we're talking about. He's the Dark One and he's unpredictable, not to be trifled with. I don't want him to hurt you or to take anything away from you and the best way I can handle this is to put aside everything I had planned to help you. Because whether you choose to accept it or not, we make a damn good pair. Even if not as lovers but as friends, you and I mesh."
"What other plans?" she asked, gripping the railing.
"What?" He was so caught up in the moment, the thought had slipped him.
"What other plans you had to put aside?"
Neal's chest heaved and he shrugged. "You know, other stuff."
"Like what?"
"Look, it's not a big deal."
"Tell me."
"This girl, okay?" he confessed, and sighed. Neal reached up to wipe his face, then took a hold of the railings too. "There's this girl I met in a village whilst I was showing a house a couple months ago. And we really clicked. This was during the time you went off to have a vacation with Ruby in the woods."
"Yeah?" hanging her head, Emma's chest stung slightly when she realized that attaching herself to the thought of being his one and only had become a flimsy belief.
"Yeah, her name's Wendy. She was in a bit of a fix with a dude some years back and ended up hitching herself into Neverland. One thing led to another and she came here from this other world where your shiny iPod came from. So we met and we started talking and I really liked her."
"A lot?"
"Pretty much. Basic stuff. You know, the usual bonding. I've clicked with girls before but apart from you, she's the only other one who really made me feel special. Anyway, I was over there and then your letter came, making you sound as if you really missed me and I meant the world. So moving back here, I was all game to give us another try. Until...well," he shrugged, "you're telling me there's someone else too."
"So why are you holding back and pushing this with me then?"
"Because I..." fists clenched, Neal twirled on the spot, a strained expression on his face. He locked eyes with her. "Because I care for you, Emma. Like I said, we have this connection and you're special to me."
"Special enough to let Wendy go and actually marry me?"
"Special enough to help you keep what's yours. And that's...this," he gestured around them. "The entire kingdom you deserve. Because when Regina's dead some day, you'll be Queen."
Emma's eyes clouded with tears from two simple words used in the same sentence and she had to divert her eyes quickly.
"She has no heir. Therefore you'll own both kingdoms."
"And you'll be a King," she said finally, something that had been buried within her chest for a long time. "Is that why you want to marry me too?"
"What the hell?" Neal leaned over and tried to catch her eyes. "Emma, look at me. Look," when she didn't, he took her hands into his and drew them towards him so she had no choice. "Look at my face and use your superpower as you always do. That one that tells you if someone is lying. Emma," he breathed in, face serious, "I'm not interested in marrying you for riches or a title. I just genuinely care about you, more than you'll ever know. And I just want you have what's yours."
The entire truth was in his eyes and it stunned her. "Neal..."
"Even if we have to sleep on opposite sides of the castle," he pointed out, "but no lovers."
"And what kind of miserable marriage will that be?" she croaked. "How the hell will I survive years and years in a marriage as a Queen who needs someone to love when I can't have that?"
"You can...grow to love me...in time. We were once there before and I know that you felt something."
"Neal, you have no idea how hard this is for me," she said, and couldn't hold back the tears. "I am prepared to give up everything to be with this person. That's how much I love her."
"Emma, suppose you do that, and then you wake up a couple years after, and you suddenly regret it? You realize that you disappointed your parents and you let everything they owned go. And for what? For a person who will end up becoming bored with you, possibly if she's older than you, she'll find you annoying or too ambitious. She might cheat on you with some guy. And then what?"
Remaining silent, she bit her lips.
"Look at what happened to Tinkerbell and Robin," he pointed out. "They had the perfect lovey dovey relationship for a couple of months. Then suddenly, they're not together. Why? Because Tinkerbell wants different things. And now Robin's back in the picture, visiting the Queen like an old friend when everyone knows that she's probably sleeping with him again."
She stared back at him and felt her chest grow cold, so cold, even the harshness of the night wind couldn't compare.
"My point is," Neal obviously didn't notice the change in emerald eyes, "people claim they love and then they stray. Plus you're young. You'll grow to want so much more. You'll want your kingdom, independence."
He was visiting her again. That's all she could think of. Robin was back in the castle and visiting Regina again like an old friend when the Queen was fully aware of Emma's awkward feelings towards the outlaw. She never liked the thought of them being close. Never. Which is why Robin had been vacated from the castle, for the purpose of pleasing the blonde. It wasn't because she was selfish. But she was jealous at times. But she shouldn't speak of jealousy. After all, she was encouraging Neal's company.
Regina had every right to have anyone visit her. And maybe that's why she was doing it now.
"I should just go back to Wendy," Neal said, and he laughed, shaking his head and staring into the night. "I should really just leave you on your own and follow my heart as you want to follow yours. But I'm not that foolish. I've been through life and I know things."
"Do what you want," Emma said bitterly.
"Thanks for that though," Cassidy said, "me putting all my belief, hope and everything in you, and all you give me back is bitterness. Rejection."
"Just stop it," she said warily.
"What kind of Queen will you be if you allow love to cloud your judgment?"
"This conversation is over," she demanded, and with fists clenched, Emma strode away.
xxx
"Merge the kingdoms," Emma stated the next afternoon, striding into the Queen's bed chambers where the guard had led her. "That's the only thing I can come up with at this..."
But something was not right about the setting from her immediate inspection. When she believed that the older woman would be sitting at her desk, buried in paperwork, the scene depicted quite the opposite.
There the brunette was draped across the three cushioned red chair before the fire, a black kerchief resting over her face. With one hand hanging limp over the chair, the black leather pants and red corset signaled something that was very familiar. Especially when emerald eyes noted that the bottle of Bourbon was half empty, she stopped and stared in silence.
"Emma! Psst!" came a whisper from the entrance and turning around, she spied Tinkerbell hanging by the door. "Come here!" a hand was waved in her direction, green eyes wide.
"I don't want to go back," Regina muttered, twisting in the chair and deeply buried in sleep. "She's...pain."
Whilst staring at the demented brunette, Emma's right hand was snatched and she was pulled out of the room. With her back pressed to the wall, Tinkerbell stared at the blonde, her chest heaving.
"What are you doing here?" the fairy asked, quite breathless from some emotion.
"I..." Emma shrugged, "...came to suggest something to her Majesty. Why?"
Guards passed them by in the hallway and gave the blonde quite an intense study before proceeding. Which made her feel somewhat uncomfortable because many of times before they would often acknowledge her with a nod. Now the scrutiny was unnerving.
"You can't be here," Tinkerbell hissed, balling her fists into Emma's red cotton shirt, "you have to go back home."
"Why?"
"Why? Because you've been an idiot and you've been staying away from her. And she's gone back to drinking. And every single day whilst she's trying to find some way to alter some deal you guys know about, you're off spending time with Cassidy."
"How do you..."
"She sees it in her mirror," Tinkerbell stated in a heavy whisper, "all of it. The two of you having lunch and reading. Talking together. Regina sees it all. And she's been crying a lot."
"Oh no," the blonde felt her chest ache terribly and she sank into the wall. "It's not what she thinks though. Neal's just a friend."
"Yeah with all of this talk about you having to marry him to claim your kingdom, and then you're hanging out together," Tinkerbell's green eyes were stormy, "it's going to be so easy proving to people that he's just a friend."
"I don't need to prove anything to anyone. She knows exactly how I feel about her."
"Does she?" The fairy squared her shoulders. "You're screwing this up and I thought you were better than this. From the beginning, I expected you to be the one who would be most suited for Regina. But you're worse than Robin. Even when he was prepared to give up everything for her, you're busy behaving like a stupid teenager and having hormonal bouts -"
"This is where you need to stop it," Emma warned, losing her temper. "You have no idea what you're talking about so back off."
"No, you back off," the older woman hissed, her fists clenched. "Grow up for once, Emma and realize that it's not a toy you're dealing with. It's a fully grown Queen who has real feelings and a real heart that's damaged. You can't just take time off from a freaking relationship to blow off steam, hang out with other options and then come storming in here with ideas. Over and over again I've seen you do it. You're destroying her."
"I've been trying to change everything too," the blonde's eyes stung. "I'm not screwing this up."
"And what did you arrive at?" the fairy folded her arms and stepped back. "What's the bottom line after you did your investigation?"
"That it's either I give up my title to the kingdom and be with her, or...I marry Neal and claim it still."
"Well congratulations for choosing the latter since you're obviously inclined that way these past three weeks."
"Wait a damn minute!" Emma was angered by that conclusion. "I never made any frigging decisions up to this day. I don't know what you heard but it's all wrong."
"I know what decision you'll make. The one that fully labels you as a Charming. Because your family comes from a long line of royalty and none of them every gave up what's rightfully theirs for love. Your parents fought their own family for that kingdom they have now. All in the name of power. And you're going to do the same. So why don't you just do everyone a favor in this castle and leave?"
"Screw you," Emma hissed, and with fists clenched, she made an attempt to head into the room again but was pulled back.
"If you go in there, you'll regret it."
"Watch me."
"She doesn't want to see you," Tinkerbell said, nipping at her heels whilst the door was pulled open. "So don't say I didn't warn you."
Emma hardly doubted that because they hadn't seen each other in weeks and even though correspondence had been a bitch, the brunette always wanted to see her. No matter what, the Queen never denied a visit because they had come so far. They had been through so much already. The blonde had been so conflicted and here she was at last with suggestions.
Upon stepping into the room, she noted that Regina was awake and drinking from the bottle heartily. Her black leather gloves weren't even fitted on properly and a good amount of cleavage was on display from where she stood. One leg dangling off the chair, the brunette clumsily rested the bottle down and it toppled over, spilling bourbon over the red carpet and rolling under the chair.
"Fuck," dark, choppy hair fell downwards as the Queen bent over and tried to retrieve her medicine. "Come here, my love. Come to your Queen." A growl filled the air. "Fucking menace."
"You're awake," the blonde hugged herself.
Immediately, the older woman lifted her head and stared towards the door. When their eyes met, Emma realized that the brunette's cheeks were wet and she felt like a really bad person. She felt horrible for doing what was done. For putting distance and time between them again.
"Well, well, well," Regina pushed herself up, hoarser than ever and severely unstable, "if it isn't the heart-breaker."
Inhaling deeply, Emma took a step forward and bit her lips. Her chest heaved. "I'm sorry but this only happened because I was trying to find ways to work around the deal and I really thought that you were pissed at me after that night. So I just stayed away, hoping that you'd tell me when you were ready to see me again. If you wanted to see me again."
With one flick of the hand, the door behind her slammed shut, the sound quite alarming. Emma stared at the brunette with wide eyes as the latter rose up and got to her feet, unfolding in all the glory a Queen in such a drunken state can offer.
"How's Neal?" brown eyes were deadly, on fire and something the blonde hadn't witnessed in such a long time. The smile was unnerving too, twisted and maddening. "Have you been enjoying his company?"
"Regina, I don't know what you heard or saw," Emma held up her hands, "but nothing happened between us. We were just talking."
"Whilst you demanded that I chase Hood away," the Queen's head tilted, "and to set him loose, out of my castle. Far, far away, he went. You simply disregarded my feelings and decided to keep him near."
"I know that it was wrong of me to suggest that you and Robin -"
"All my life I've never been told what to do," the brunette continued without paying attention to the other speaker in the room, "I have been told what to do by my father, but I've never really listened to him. But I listened to you. I trusted you. I gave...you...everything -"
"It wasn't what you think!" Emma cried, her eyes clouding with tears. "Would you just listen to me for one damn minute? There's nothing going on between Neal and I! I trust you too! I trust you enough to know that you'd believe me. That you'd know that I wouldn't do something like that."
"Oh spare me the trashy talk on trust when you have displayed yourself everywhere in public with the bastard," her words never slurred and it was miraculous. That Regina could hold her liquor so well, her head was fully on. "People...have been talking about you. You've been getting cozy with Cassidy whilst I've been spending every single day trying to change the course of things. Every single day," there were tears in brown eyes. "I've been thinking about you. I've been thinking about us. I've been blaming myself for everything that has happened and I know that it's my fault that things have become this way -"
"Stop blaming yourself," the blonde said, blinking through tears.
"You had no right to damage me like this," Regina said hoarsely, her face strained, "I allowed this to progress too far. I don't blame you for seeking out the safety of your kingdom by courting this man. But I would like to be told of your decision instead of abruptly witnessing these displays of affections through my mirror."
"Regina, I made my decision already," Emma said, her chest heaving, "that's why I'm here."
"So you've chosen...your kingdom."
"No! I've chosen both. I want you and what's mine."
"Don't be ridiculous," the Queen said, shaking her head, "you cannot have both."
"Merge the two kingdoms," Emma stated, her fists clenched. "You're the Queen. Combine the two kingdoms in some way and you'll own both. Then when you do, I'll ask my dad to sign over the papers and both will be yours. So even if I don't marry Neal, everything will go to you and I wouldn't need to worry."
"Just stop it," Regina said warily, bending down to retrieve her handkerchief.
"We can be together!"
"It cannot happen."
"What? Why?" staring at the older woman in disbelief, Emma frowned. "Don't you want that?"
"Do you know how ridiculous you sound?" the brunette straightened up and glared at the blonde. "Are you aware of how childish your words are to me at this point?"
"I am not a child," Emma said angrily.
"Do this! Do that!" the Queen gestured with her hand and scoffed. "Unbelievable, you are. You're just like your mother. Naive and your head is filled with cotton candy, rainbows and high hopes. Dreams and unicorns. All the good things in life."
"What my mother believed in, she got. What she had hope in, she got it," Emma said defensively.
"Your mother is a hero. I'm a villain. She wins, I lose. No matter the situation. No matter the cost. I always lose. Don't come into my castle and fill my head with hope when nothing will come out of it."
"How will you know unless you try?"
"We're speaking about dark magic here!" the Queen cried hoarsely, glaring at the blonde, "we're not speaking about exchanging books and expecting someone to return them! You cannot trifle with dark magic! It is powerful and binding." Fists clenched, she stood there looking at them. "Whether you try all you want, nothing changes. I've tried to alter the deal. I have tried in vain. And nothing can be done because this isn't just an ordinary deal. Your parents gave up something in return for your protection. Something dear."
"Their kingdom, I know that."
"No, your mother gave up her chance to ever have another child as part of the deal. I was made aware of this after your father confessed it all."
Emma stared back and couldn't speak.
"I was finally made aware of why Snow hates me so much, why I will never be forgiven in this lifetime or another one. It is because of me and my threats upon you, that is why she gave up something so precious. I was not told of the other options available to choose from but that was the choice. You cannot have both your kingdom and me. Just as she made a choice, you have to make one." Regina moved to the window like a ghost, slowly.
Emma stood there and finally felt the entirety of making a decision as a future Queen. Never had she been in a situation like this, everything left up to her to make that one move which could change everything. No matter how hard her mind hammered away on the two options, a beating heart kept pulling her back to one choice. To choose the one woman she had loved so much, never could this be forgotten of.
If she asked her parents, they'd tell her to give this up and marry Neal. Her father, the man who had accepted her feelings for Regina would never welcome the thought of her giving up the kingdom. Because her mother had gone so far to ensure her daughter's protection. She had to think this through rationally and Emma realized that she really couldn't have both things.
"What happens if I give up my kingdom and choose you?" she asked.
"You have a matter of two months left to lose what's rightfully yours. As stipulated, on your twentieth birthday, it signals the age that you must marry or everything belongs to the Dark One."
"And what will happen when he takes everything?"
"You'll be removed from your castle," Regina said, her back turned to the room, "you'll be thrown out along with your parents. The castle will be liquidated and demolished. Or given to another party he owes a deal. I offered your parents the option of coming here to reside in my kingdom. But it was declined. Your mother's modesty and vengeance towards me is solid."
"So I don't have a choice then," Emma's eyes filled with tears. "That's what you're trying to tell me?"
"When you leave," the brunette croaked, her fingers curling upon the window sill, "please do not let me witness you walking away. I'd like to treasure the memory of you in the room forever."
"If I marry Neal, I'll never stop seeing you."
"Infidelity is a guilty sin. One that I wish for you not to engage in. Have a happy life with your...husband. I can guarantee you that this castle will be yours this year. For with your rightful decision in claiming what's yours, and as you leave this room," Regina sobbed, "you'll also be leaving with my heart."
"I'm not going to give you up," Emma said through tears. "I'm not going to choose anything above you."
"Yes." The brunette couldn't breathe. "You must choose your parents over me. I am not worth it. I never was. Please leave now."
"No."
The Queen's chest heaved and she was consumed with frustration and anger. "I said leave."
"I'm not going to leave you," Emma folded her arms. "I'm staying right here because you're my future."
She had no choice. It had to be done. "I don't want to see you anymore, Swan. Whether you stay here or not, I will not encourage your affections. I am long past the age of marrying and continuing. This is my time to retire from life."
"Then I'll stay with you still."
"Farewell, my Queen," Regina's voice was so small and sounded so far away, Emma stared. "Our relationship has come to an end."
"You don't mean that."
"I mean it well," the brunette sank into the wooden chair next to her desk, never looking at the younger woman. "Why do you believe my guards gaze upon you with such intense eyes? I have ordered them to remove you from my castle in the event that you come seeking me out."
She was stunned, completely stunned and could only stare.
"Even if you did choose me, which would prove that you're a fool, I would not welcome it. As I've said before, I will not tolerate the fall of a woman I have grown to deeply admire and... I will not see the fall of a Queen because of me. Had I known of this deal a long time ago then I would never have allowed myself to fall in love with you. I believed that we could have a chance. You made me believe that I stood a chance as a...villain. That I could love and be given a chance. But I have come to accept that I must die alone. Without a child and without a...partner."
Emma stood there and felt tears leak down her cheeks.
"I don't want to see you ever again. Please remove yourself from my presence immediately. Your husband awaits you. The one you chose to be with in those conflicting few weeks instead of me. Obviously he was worth it. So goodbye."
She stood there for over two minutes and then spun around on the spot. Fists clenched, Emma strode to the door and felt her chest on fire as the corridor was entered.
Guards watched her as she passed by, everyone watched and observed carefully because they knew already. They were aware of the fact that she would do this. That she'd choose one over the other. And that's what the Queen wanted because like she proclaimed, they were...over. They were finished with and no matter what she did, even if this was chosen, she wouldn't be encouraged.
Pride.
Prejudice.
Betrayal.
Lies.
Emma ran to the head of the corridor and stopped. Chest heaving, she stood there and couldn't stomach the thought of leaving like that. Of walking away without ever seeing the other woman again. She couldn't do it. And so turning around immediately, the blonde ran back the way she had come and fast. Hair flying behind her, the guards watched and couldn't act fast enough. Some of them didn't wish to intervene because the story was heartbreaking already and whatever needed to be done would be done.
She sought out the door to the Queen's bed chambers and pushed it open. Striding in, there was Regina standing by her vanity covered in the finest perfumes and makeup any woman would ever want. Already in the moment of crying her heart out, she was caught and brown eyes flew open upon the intrusion into her personal space again.
"Go away," she croaked, turning her back to the younger woman.
But that could never stop Emma. No order like that could stop her. Closing the distance, she snatched the brunette by her shoulders and spun her around. Even before Regina could resist, Emma crushed their lips together and moved in nearer, her heart racing, mind spinning dangerously.
Moaning into the kiss, Regina swayed on the spot and passion licked inside of her dangerously. Eyes closed, she balled her fists and gathered composure immediately. Pushing the blonde away, the Queen stared back, lips parted, chest heaving.
"Guards," she croaked, and failed terribly in summoning them because she couldn't breathe.
Stepping back as Emma advanced, the back of her legs met the bed and she tumbled upon it, taking a hold of the red satin sheets. Wasting no time, the blonde's eyes were filled with lust as she climbed on top of the older woman, and took a hold of hunched shoulders.
"What are you doing?" Regina asked.
"Taking what's mine."
Bold hands began to undo the lacing of a red corset and the Queen snatched them. "I'm not yours." She tried to slip away but was taken a hold of and the fighting ensued.
It was one that built up a crescendo. The snatching of hands that were trying to roam. Moving in for a kiss, only to be roughly pushed away. All the time Emma kept going in for more, trying to break down the defenses and Regina shut her down. She was brokenhearted but in control and would always be. After all, she still remained the Queen. But it appeared as if the more the brunette blocked the younger woman's advances, she was attacked like a passionate kitten over and over again.
"Don't trifle with me," the Queen hissed, taking a hold of balled up fists and twisting the blonde to lie upon the bed. She threw a leg over the younger woman and remained above, glaring down. "I am not in the mood for your games."
"I want to make love to you," Emma said barefacedly, her chest heaving, "I want you to rip my clothes off and kiss me all over."
Brown eyes blinked, growing wide.
"I want you to kiss me all the way down there," she reached upwards and sought out between the brunette's legs, taking a firm hold that made the older woman gasp. "And when we're completely naked, I want you to use your mouth right there on me because I know that you want to. You're dying to taste me." Emerald eyes gleamed. "All of me."
Something changed in her eyes. Emma saw it. Something that resembled a light being lit in a dark night and then building up into a raging flame.
Regina growled and lifted herself up, palms digging into the sheet, shoulders hunched. Reaching up to push dark hair out of the older woman's face, Emma locked eyes and held the dangerous gaze that was setting her on fire.
"You asked for it, Swan," the Queen said and in one swift move, gloved hands ripped a red cotton shirt open. "I'll teach you a lesson."
"Teach me," Emma said with tears in her eyes. "Remind yourself of what you want to let go of."
Lowering her mouth, the brunette's teeth closed around erect nipples and she sucked one after the other, fueling up with passion. Milk white breasts were devoured whilst the blonde squirmed beneath a woman who was about to take control like never before.
Grazing her teeth between breasts that were blushed from being attacked, a wet tongue slid downwards, flicking slowly in certain places. Gripping the sheets, the blonde threw her head back and moaned, lips bitten whilst her pants front was ripped open and pulled off. The garment was discarded of and the Queen lowered her face, parting soft thighs that were gloriously soft and fresh.
When her tongue licked the younger woman's wet sex, her back arched to move everything closer. Regina proceeded to taste exactly what was desired and she never stopped, even when Emma's hoarse cries filled the air from the biting and pulling that was offered in a tormented fashion. Nibbles that were unnerving and made the blonde lose herself within minutes, closing around a tongue that was buried deep inside of her.
Very soon, her corset was shrugged off by shaky hands and Emma took honey colored breasts between her fingers. Massaging roughly, she traced a finger along the line of familiar vines and the Queen crushed their lips together, moving on top of her whilst that sexy pair of leather pants was pulled off. Twisting in each other's arms, the two of them moved on the bed and Emma's bottom lip was taken and pulled. Even when she felt the slightness of pain, the blonde welcomed it, savoring the roughness all in one go and reaching down to feel between legs that were severely wet.
They pushed themselves to the limit, unlike any other intimate moment shared between them. Naked bodies moved together whilst fingers twisted inside each other, hips grinding together. Regina's hoarse cries filled the air first and she manned the top still, never giving up, even when her body shook from orgasms that were severely mind-blowing. Throwing her head back, she felt herself grow wetter and Emma's fingers dug into her back whilst they moved their hips sensually.
Lips parted, eyes squeezed shut, both of them rode each other and wished more than anything that it wouldn't be the last time. Emma raked her fingers through wet dark hair and wrapped her legs around the brunette whilst they bucked their hips. Coming harder than before, both of them cried out, chests heaving, faces buried into tangled hair and cheeks rubbing together.
"I love you," Emma choked, holding unto the Queen's sweat soaked body.
"Forever and...always," Regina said hoarsely, clawing at blonde hair and moving their bodies together.
"Marry...me," the blonde whispered.
Refusing to answer, the brunette held unto the younger woman and felt tears fill her eyes.
Yet none of them noted the wisps of magic that curled around the red sheets because they were too blinded by passion. They were too caught up in the moment to notice. The heat between them grew to a point where their climax weakened them both. And shaking in each other's arms, they both collapsed upon the bed.
Emma took a while to recover, and when she did, her eyes rested on Regina rising up to gather the corset and leather pants together. Watching her, it was felt. Everything had changed between them. When they used to lie together afterwards and talk for such a long time. Now the Queen was dressing herself and never making eye contact.
Getting up from the sweat soaked sheets, she retrieved her shirt and weakly tied the front into a style that looked ridiculous. With one flick of her hand, Regina mended the buttons and Emma stared at the brunette in silence. Tears filled her eyes when they looked at each other, to a point where the older woman bit her lips and turned away.
Chest heaving, Emma fixed her hair and remained where she was just like before.
"You never answered me," she croaked.
Regina remained with her back towards the blonde and reached up to rake shaky fingers through disheveled hair. "In relation to what?"
"Marry me and no matter what happens, at least we know that we belong to each other."
Passion. Pleasure. Pain. Prejudice.
All of it could never mix together in this decision.
Her chest heaved. "Guards," and this time her voice was unsteady but firm enough to be heard.
"I chose you," Emma said hoarsely, "I would give up everything for you. And you're letting me go still."
The door was pushed open and two men came in dressed in armor.
"You'll regret this for as long as you live," the blonde croaked, tears trailing down her cheeks. "When you wake up a month from now and realize that you've let your happy ending go, I want you to remember that I never gave up on us. It's you."
"Take Swan out of my kingdom," Regina said, her eyes filling with tears but none of them saw, "please do so now. And make sure that she never comes back."
The guards came forward and Emma struggled with them. "Regina, please."
Hugging herself, the Queen bit her lips and cried silently.
"You'll regret this!" Emma said, squirming in the guards' arms as she was dragged out.
"Don't come to my funeral," Regina said as the door was closed. "Don't..." she sobbed, and her hands flew up to a wet face. Chest heaving uncontrollably, she began to cry.
Falling unto her knees, the brunette, collapsed unto the carpet and shook, feeling herself become weaker and weaker.
Xxx
A/N – Okay, I can't...I need to go cry. I finally reached the part I had been dreading for a year and now I can't process anything else. Swan Queen will be the death of me. Send me burnt toast and shout obscenities in the review box. I deserve it. Keep your eyes on that happy ending. It's going to come.