Regina's standing by the dancefloor, watching her son take his new wife into his arms for their first dance as a married couple. Her mind fills with memories of her life with him, all the milestones they've gone through together. And now he ready to make his own family with Violet. Her chest aches of a loss that she knows is imagined. Henry's not going anywhere. He and Violet live in town and they visit all the time. But part of her still feels like she's grieving.
Strong arms encircle her waist from behind, a chin coming to rest on her shoulder. She sighs and leans back into the body she knows so well, her hands coming to cover Ruby's on her stomach.
"Remember when that was us?" Ruby mumbles against her ear, before kissing it.
"Of course I do." Regina slides her fingers through those on Ruby's left hand, their matching wedding bands shining in the gentle fairy lights strung around Town Hall. "It wasn't all that long ago."
"Almost ten years." Ruby starts to sway them to the music. "Can't believe you've put up with me that long."
"I know. I'm practically a saint." Regina turns her head to place a kiss on Ruby's cheek. "Best ten years of my life."
Ruby hums in contentment. "Ditto." They turn back to the scene in front of them. "So, how much cuddling is gonna be required to help you get through this evening?"
Laughing softly, Regina pulls Ruby's arms more tightly around her. "This is good for starters. Perhaps I'll need more at home later."
"You just let me know what you need, and I'll be happy to provide it." Ruby inhales and holds the breath, a sure sign that she has something to say she's not sure how to say. "I...might need some cuddles myself. I mean, I know he's not my son the way he is yours but-"
Regina doesn't allow her to finish, turning in her arms and pulling her into a tender kiss. "He is your son. You've been there for him since long before you and I got together. You are allowed to be feeling whatever you're feeling right now. Just as much as I am."
"Okay." Ruby nods, her lower lip trembling. "Because I can't believe the little punk went and grew up right under our noses!"
"Oh, darling." Regina laughs and pulls her wife in for another kiss before taking her by the hand. "C'mon, dance with me. We can cry together later, after they leave for the honeymoon."
Ruby sniffles a little, but accepts the invitation, moving out onto the floor to join Henry and Violet, and Emma and Killian, and Snow and David. They sway together, smiling at the other guests as they move around the floor. Regina laughs when she notices Lucy, their six year old daughter, trying to drag Neal up for a dance. The eight year old boy is clearly not in favour of the activity and is shaking his head. Luckily for him, they've made sure Lucy knows not to use her supernatural strength against anyone else, or he'd have no chance against her.
Regina lifts her head to look up at Ruby, finding her wife already looking at her. "Back when we got together...did you ever think we'd be here?" She tilts her head. "Old married couple, two kids, dancing at our son's wedding?"
Ruby contemplates the question for a moment before breaking into a smile. "You know what? I kinda did."
"Really?" Regina smiles. She had spent the first year or so of their relationship waiting for something to go wrong or for Ruby to come to her senses. Life had taught her to expect the worst and, more often than not, it delivered. But Ruby stayed, confounding all of her preconceived notions.
"Yeah." Ruby's nodding. "The first time we kissed, that was pretty much it for me. I knew I didn't want anyone but you...so, yeah, from then on, I guess I started picturing all this stuff."
"That's...somehow both the sweetest and most ridiculous thing you've ever said to me," Regina tells her, dropping a tiny kiss on her lips. Ruby's response, whatever it was to be, is cut off by a tug on Regina's dress. They look down to find Lucy pouting up at them.
"Neal won't dance with me. Can I dance with the two of you?"
"Of course you can, sweetheart." Regina steps back to allow Ruby to stoop and pick Lucy up, settling her on her hip. Regina moves back in to wrap her arms around her wife and her daughter, as they start to move again to the music. Over Ruby's shoulder, she catches Henry's eye and he smiles and winks at her. And in that moment, all of her melancholy thoughts fly away. She has somehow ended up with a loving wife, a doting son and an amazing daughter. And that is more than she could ever have hoped for in her darkest of days. The Evil Queen got her happy ending after all.