EVERY. SINGLE. WEEKEND! I've been completely busy every single weekend-seriously. Thank you guys for holding on. Here's an extra extra long chap-despite what the word count says, it is 12+++ and I hope you feel just as emotionally drained as I did when I finished writing it :) Enjoy!
P.S. Forgive any mistakes-I'll try to go over it again tomorrow with a fine tooth comb to catch any errors that I didn't catch tonight.
-iiwasalwaysthequeen
Panic. It isn't just a feeling, it's a state of mind. It courses through your veins and infiltrates your thoughts. It paralyzes you, if only for a moment, making it all though all of your limbs are frozen and all actions futile. For seconds, a minute, maybe more, all hell breaks loose in your mind and the last thing, the last thing you ever wanted to happen becomes a possible scenario. Worst case situations play out in your thoughts and you're frozen. You can't move-You can't speak-
You panic.
Panic pulls him from the bed of his daughter, wishing to continue comforting her, yet knowing that panic had now set in. The doorbell had rung-not once, but twice. The first time, he told himself it was fluke and that he needn't worry. Though the last time someone came to his door it was an angry dwarf, the time before-a medieval doctor with anger issues. He wanted to get up, truly he did, but he couldn't-not with Charlotte's tears staining his shirt and strangling her voice. But she was calming, she was crying herself to sleep, as horrible as it was, and when he began to pull away, she wasn't fighting him.
So he was free to panic.
To run in Henry's room and find the closest thing he could find to a weapon: a flimsy toy sword. Perhaps it'd scare off anyone who didn't know any better, that feared the smallest of things, but charging down the stairs with a plastic sword only to find his wife, his best friend, and her grandmother, felt quite foolish.
She pulled away from the wolf's embrace and found herself staring at this man that she married, that she made vows to, holding onto a sword she had bought her son to entertain his royal fantasies. His eyes were wide, his shoulders were broad and his chest was puffed out-as if the plastic in his hands could materialize real metal at any moment.
Perhaps Henry's imagination rested in his belongings as well.
A short laugh left her-brief and barely noticeable, but enough to shed one tear that had been suppressed. A quick finger swept below her eye as though it never happened, a hand she recognized as Ruby's still on her back as a sense of comfort. To be honest, she didn't know how her and the wolf had gotten close-She didn't even know if they were close. If Ruby talked, Regina listened. If Regina talked, Ruby listened. And now, apparently, if Regina needed it, Ruby hugged her.
Was that...friendship?
"Is everything okay?" He questioned, looking around the foyer as if something would jump out at them at any moment, looking to torment or terrify.
"And if it wasn't-what were you gonna do about it, Lancelot?" Ruby teased, breaking the tension into bits and pieces as David's iron-tight grip on the play sword grew weak and he set it down against the stairwell-still feeling rather foolish.
"He was a good guy..." He mumbled, pulling at his shirt as his eyes met brown ones and he found himself surveying her emotions-though expressive, hard to read and decipher.
She wasn't going to tell him that she was at the edge of an abyss. She wasn't going to tell him that had Ruby not been there-had she not been stopped, the possibilities of her mind weren't pleasant. If she told him, he wouldn't know how to deal with it, how to deal with her. He would want to go back to their usual fail safe-he'd want to touch her and she didn't want to be touched, she didn't want to be comforted. Yes, Ruby's hand remained on her back but it felt-it still felt odd.
When she got like that, eyes dark and anger boiling, no one-no one touches her, no one used to touch her way back when, they feared her, they thought she'd kill them. And since the curse had broken, she hadn't been that person-the Queen with a penchant for murder, ruin and destruction. Even before that, she'd been behaving under the cursed life with exception of Graham-an anomaly as she'd call it. She hadn't had to reach that dark place, because she hasn't had a reason too.
But now, after that encounter with the Princess of hypocrisy and cardigans came to her door-it just..it just seemed to wash over her. It crept up on her, like a cold hand on her shoulder easing her towards an abyss with a whisper of, "The water's warm..." when she knows it's warm alright, it's boiling...and it's waiting for her. Because once the darkness had gotten a taste of her, it had no attention of stopping there.
And since there's no magic here, reaching such a plateau darkness is like trying to breathe at the top of a mountain with no aid. That type of darkness needs magic, it's brought about by magic-without it, the rage is just raw and the darkness can eat that which it resides in, alive, because there's no magic to curve it or soften it. The evil-the unprecedented malevolence is literally hot off the presses and it's air claws at your lungs rather than entering them.
It's like a state of panic.
"Regina-" Like pools of ink, her pupils swirled black before him. Gone were the expressive hazels that soften at his touch and raged at his idiocy. "Is there...is there magic here?"
She stepped back from him, eliminating the touch of her canine counterpart and facing the three pairs of eyes that looked at her own, "Why would you ask me that?"
He gestured towards her eyes and she turned to the circular mirror beside her, one she had broken time and time again only to have the glass replaced the next day.
Panic.
That's what set in, seeing her eyes-midnight black and stained red from suppressed tears-panic.
"Smooth," Ruby mumbled, rolling her eyes at David's blunt question, hoping that this wouldn't turn out to be bigger than it was, or really, than it should be.
"Regin-" Deaf ears-that's what she had, flinching at his touch as she turned her gaze to the floor rather than her, once omnipresent, reflection. She had nothing to say, just thoughts swirling her mind, encompassing her thoughts and sinking her deeper into herself. Was she really that bad? So bad that a land without magic could still be penetrated by the evil that once resided within her?
And now three pairs of eyes looked at her-Were they waiting for her to react, to lash out? Were they waiting for her to melt into a puddle of herself-What, what exactly did they expect to happen if all they did was stare at her, watch her every move even if it was non-existent, and just stare at her
While she panicked.
She was panicking because she had gone too far-because she had been pushed too far. Because a pixie haired princess showed up at her door and pushed her over the edge-the edge that she had been tipping with for days-weeks-months even. And now it was like a hollowed silence, you can't hear anything but you know that something is happening. She's falling-
She's panicking.
And there's just silence in the background, eyes watching and thoughts bungling around minds without a thought as to what should be done.
She can see that he's trying not to react, to remain neural during a time when neutrality was anything but primal. Shifting his stance and taking a daring step in her direction, she takes one back and turns her head from him, chest heaving in a futile attempt to remain calm. Her back turns to him and she leaves them standing in the foyer, wondering what had happened and why it had transpired.
He was confused-puzzled at best, and turned to them for answers with a curious glare, "What happened?" When the answer didn't seem to just trip off of their tongue, he was caught between being worried and getting frustrated.
His wife-yes, the times of him saying that she wasn't had long been reneged-his wife was definitely on the left side of okay and straying further and further with the passing seconds. The wolves were silent with their answer, exchanging glances but never verbalizing their words-perhaps they thought that it was better coming from the source herself.
Measured steps took him to a tense kitchen with Regina at the counter, her head in her hands as her elbows leaned against the marble. His footsteps could be heard behind her and in response she had one request; "Don't...don't look at me..." He places a hesitant hand on her shoulder, the other remaining on her back in an attempt at a comfort that fails. "Regina-"
Unsteady eyes revealed themselves but shelled away from his gaze, turning her head as she placed an trembling hand on the island, for support, for a stronghold. She needed something that would be still despite all, even when she herself shook with a fervor she didn't recognize. When her fingers trembled on their own accord and all was hazy, all was wrong. This, this darkness- She had long since divorced this darkness-it was trespassing really, trespassing in her body, in her heart, it wanted to take over something that had long since vetoed it's power. She fought it, so she trembled. She was losing that fight, so she trembled.
She panicked.
"What happened?" Her response was an undecipherable shake of the head that gave him no explanation. It gave him nothing to go on, nothing to glean and nothing to gain-silence. Silence lingered, save for the clack of her wedding bands against the counter at her attempts to remove herself from where she sat. The mere roll of her ankle faltered her descent as she stepped down, catching herself from the island. "Regina..." He called but she was hearing nothing. Nothing but white noise. Deaf ears trailed in front of him as she soldiered from him and passed the lingering werewolves, nosily following the drama from foyer to kitchen and back.
-He could have stopped her, but thought it best to have any conversation without an audience and Ruby's eyes warning him not to do anything stupid. Once out of earshot and in front of the staircase, leaving Granny and Ruby back in the kitchen with a switch of positions, he tried to take hold of her arm and she tugged back with a turn, "I-I can't, David-" She thinks that he wants to fight, that he's upset-she didn't call him when the doorbell rang, she might have said something incriminating to Mary Margaret. But no, when he pulls her arms, he just wants to pull her to him. He wants to hold her-Let him take the worry. He's asking now..for a turn; just let him do it this once. Let him panic-let him worry. If only for a moment, so she won't have to.
X
Every ten minutes. She counts, well Ruby does. He disappears every ten minutes, making up some type of excuse even though he doesn't really have to. She knows where he's going-where the heavy footsteps that ascend the steps will carry him. Each time, he checks on Charlotte and closes the door in front of him. Then he goes to the master and closes the door behind himself, coming out five minutes later with a blank expression.
She knows he's trying to be a good host, even attempting to put the pre-made roast in the oven, but when he has to ask which knob did what job Granny took over. At this point, all he does is come back downstairs and stare ahead at the walls, looking more like his wife then himself. Meddling with his thoughts rather than meandering in the present.
However-this time, this time when the ten minute cycle comes about and he claims to be going to check on his 'pager' he's gone for more than five minutes.
Taking light steps with the caution that Charlotte might be asleep, he peeked his head in to see that she's merely cuddling Mr. Bear under her arm but eyes remain open and facing the door.
"Charlie..."
She turns her back around and curls into herself, away from the light of the door and the concern etched into his features. "Don't wanna talk, daddy..."
"Love you..." He whispered, though is still given the cold shoulder. Rather than dwell, he closed door slowly and took a breath to prepare him for his next stop.
His eyes had to adjust to the sudden darkness when entering their room; dimly lit by just the bedside lamp and the barely open curtains-translucent enough to give way to the waning sun. He hadn't any trouble maneuvering his way around, though, tipping towards her beside.
Her eyes were closed, an arm crossing her chest while the other lay rested on her stomach. "Hey..." He couldn't really say much else, obviously being able to tell that okay was not even a question of her state right now. Something was wrong, he knew it but he could only guess as to what and that alone scared him. Tripping over his feet, he realized that the blunt objects that were causing him trouble were her poorly discarded heels, given no care to how they were taken off.
"I'm gonna...I'm gonna send them home, tell 'em to come back tomorrow..." His voice was soft, sympathizing with whatever she might be feeling, whatever was eating away at her-she'd know that he was there to ease the burden. Even if he had no way of doing so. "And then I'm gonna start packing..."
She nodded silently, eyes never opening and body never moving from her position. She was ready to go. Not to leave Charlotte and certainly not to face what would come with leaving, but just to remove herself from this place-this, this hell. It sucked everything from her, energy, happiness-the will to open her eyes and welcome the day. Every day spent in this god-forsaken town of her own making was another day she considered life without it.
Panicking wasn't even the half of it.
He followed through with his promise-sending a begrudging Granny and curious Ruby on their way, Ruby having to accept the invitation back on behalf of both of them. Tucking in a toddler that didn't want to look at him and locking up the house was a task in itself but then the real fun began.
How many shirts?
Did she want slacks or leggings?
Both?
Dress Shirts? Cardigans? Cashmere Sweaters?
Tunics?
Which onesies-Wait, there aren't enough onesies?
Car seat? No car seat...
Grey robe or blue robe?
Did she want pajamas or a nightie?
Did she want her own hospital gown?
But of course, she's asleep and can't answer these questions, having taken a warm bath and changed, passing out shortly after he left her to let Granny and Ruby and out. He stays up for hours, nearly running holes in the floor as he traveled back and forth from closet to dresser and back. Even his head hurt, having to make decisions that seemed trivial but-he knew his wife. Let her get to Boston and look in her suitcase to find that he packed the wrong shirts or the wrong onesies or god-forbid the wrong robe and...Heads. Will. Roll.
So unbelievably tuckered out from the day's events, taking both a physical and mental toll on him; he doesn't even bother to change. He'd probably get a word or two from Regina but he was just so tired, too tired to take off his t-shirt. Just removing his trousers David lay splayed on his stomach in only his boxers and a t-shirt and as soon as his head met the pillow he was fast asleep.
In the middle of the night, awoken by a slight pinch in her back, Regina stirred awake and shifted her body to find some comfort. Upon doing so, she's met with the sleeping figure that is her knight in worn-out flannel. She reached out to touch his face, tracing the worry lines. It is when her fingers meet his chin does she realize something peeking out from under him. Nudging his shoulders gently, she pulled the cloth-like thing, soft against the pads of her fingers. In her hand was a footie. Tucked in the breast pocket of his t-shirt was one of a pair of blue footies.
She sets it aside on the end table next to her before moving gently towards the man she had grown proud to call her husband. It only took a slight touch to his forearm and, as if by reflex, his arm curled over her waist and cuddled closer to her. He didn't feel the touch of her lips on his forehead but he felt the warmth of it to the tips of his toes.
That morning they're sleeping.
At least they're supposed to be sleeping-really, he's just exhausted and finding himself watch her sleep, grateful that she hasn't succumb to the same insomnia that seems to be keeping him up. He figures that it was the warm bath that did her in, eyeing the clip that held her hair, still clenched at the back of her head. Part of him thought to take it out but she looked so peaceful, and to be honest, so cute, that he couldn't bring himself to.
She was sound asleep, a hand under her cheek while her other arm wrapped around her middle, that hand being tucked under her side. Incidentally, her unusual position rode up her sleeping top so that the bottom of her stomach was left bare against the sheets and she was none the wiser; eyes closed fitfully as the blankets gathered at her waist. She'd rustle every now and then, pressing a hand to the spots that bothered her but never fully waking-thankfully.
It was about 8, he thought to himself. Nearing her with as much grace he could muster for a sheriff, he pressed a kiss to the bridge of her nose, narrowly missing her temple in a sleepy attempt at being romantic.
Figures.
Pushing his body from the bed with a much needed effort, he rubbed at his eyes, and dragged his feet against the floor, yawning quietly as he roamed in his t-shirt and boxers, stepping over his discarded clothes that he made a mental note to pick up. Stepping into the closet that was ninety nine percent hers and one percent his, he rubbed at his eyes once more before casting a fleeting glance at the suitcases behind the door. Everything was a bit barer now, clothes having been folded and packed but there were still some things hanging.
Ideally, he could only guess that she was going to wear boots, so he found himself bending down to pick up some black leather boots that fell right below the knee. Idly flipping through her tops to decide that she had too many cashmere sweaters, he found a long cable knit sweater, cream in color but soft and stretchable. It could pass for a tunic so he wouldn't be in trouble for that, taking the hanger and swinging it over his arm.
He snorted quietly. His wife hung up leggings-ironed them and hung them up like they were slacks or dress pants. Pulling them down, he swung those on top of her sweater and grabbed a butterfly cut cardigan that hung long and was thick enough to keep her warm. Oddly enough when he made it to his one percent of the room, he grabbed a pair of jeans and the only shirt that seemed to be on it's last leg when it came to hanging on the hanger. He could go in boxers-he didn't care about himself.
As long as she was okay.
Dragging his feet across the floor, he dropped his clothes on the chaise and laid hers across the bottom, making sure they didn't wrinkle before crawling back into bed, nestling against a soft pillow that still smelled of apples in the spring.
Before it started.
"Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.." His cursed whispers were barely heard above the blaring alarm clock as he fiddled with the snooze button to find the off switch.
Sending a glance to the other side of the bed, brown eyes that no longer pooled black were slowly opening with a scowl that was no doubt due to being awoken prematurely. Stretching gingerly, she recoiled at the feel of muscles near screaming in protest at the feel of work after hours of restless stagnation. With a grown, she pressed a palm to her stomach, feeling bare skin beneath her touch.
Sleepily, she pulled at the hem of her pajama top, eyes fluttering closed as she nestled back against their pillows. The blaring had stopped and he was trying to be as discreet as possible, hoping that she went back to sleep until he felt the cool metal of her rings against his cheek, lazily grazing his skin.
"Morning.."
"Morning.."
His eyes lazily trailed over hers, falling in and out of that hazy cloud of sleep with the feel of her rings on his skin. Silence passed and he didn't even realize he was staring until the sleep wore from her state and she covered her mouth from a yawn, stringing her brows together. "Is it my eyes..." Though still reeling from slumber, the hesitant fear was clear in her voice and he was quick to reassure her that a repeat of the night before was not occurring.
Brushing a short strand from her forehead, he took to thumbing her cheek with an adoring smile, toothy and sloppy from lack of sleep. But still sweet. "You're just adorable..."
She smirked, fiddling her toes beneath the covers as she reared her back against her pillow, "I'm not coherent enough to argue with that..." Minimizing her movement, she found herself not wanting to leave the bed or warmth for that matter, skimming a hand over her middle as her eyes fell closed once more.
Content that she was going back to sleep and they would have another hour, he smiled to himself and buried his face into his pillow, ready for slumber before having to get on the road. "David..."
"Hmmpmm." He groaned into the plush of his pillow.
"Did you call the hospital?"
"No..." He yawned once more, "Ruby said she'd do it and call me after..."
"Did Ruby call you..."
"No..."
"David..."
"I know..." He whined, passing the end table for his phone until it reached his fingers, pressing the phone to ear lazily, letting it hang for the occasional slip. "Ruby?"
"David," his wife whined in protest, as his voice crept into her space even though she was the one that requested he call in the first place.
"Ruby did you do it?...What kind of questions?...How am I supposed to find that out?"
"UGH..." Regina groaned dramatically, pushing the side of her face further into her pillow. "Davi-David, what are you-"" The whines and protests were paused when his cool hand met the skin that continued to bare itself beneath her pajama top. "Your hands are cold..." She mumbled, having no more to say or complain about with the feel of his hand on the bottom of her stomach.
"Yeah, she ummm..." he tried to find his words without getting lost in her stare, without getting lost in how cute she was or the beauty of her eyes in the wee hours of the morning. "She is...No...No...I just know-I don't have to ask her-Rub-Ruby-I don't have to-I don't-We'll be leaving around twel-" his brows rose is Regina shook her head so that he could alter his statement, "one...one-so we should be there by five, no later than six. Alright...thanks-I appr-really Ruby? Fine, fine-thank you..."
Closing his flip phone, his hand remained pressed against her skin, cold palms now warm with her touch. "Everything okay?"
"It's fine..." He shrugged, leaning closer to peck her lips before she reared back, centimeters from his lips. "What?" His eyes followed hers, brows stilling in concern.
She bit her bottom lip with a breath before returning his gesture and giving him the kiss he was silently asking for before pulling away. "Nothing.."
He gave her another peck on the lips before, thumbing at her cheeks once more,
"Everything's gonna be okay..." one more peck. "I promise..."
And she could do nothing but accept it-but trust him. "Okay.."
X
He was currently bustling around, trying to get everything together for their trip. Nothing imperative could be left behind, nothing that they would need.
That meant endless time of them packing-or really him packing and also packing vicariously for her. He was silently thanking the heavens for having done the majority of it the night before and actually listening and not tuning her out, so that he knew what to do-what clothes to pack. It meant unearthing Henry's baby clothes and sending Ruby out with a list for new onesies, burping cloths, pacifiers, everything they hadn't been done-which was everything. They had never went shopping, they were to busy fighting and healing-neither having given a thought to shopping for sorely needed items in preparation for baby x's arrival.
Well, after all-it was still early.
Nonetheless, he had just finished taking the last of their things downstairs and out to the car-of course there were still a couple hours left until they were scheduled to pull out but preparation was always necessary in case of a much needed escape. You can take fairytale characters out of the forest but ya can't take the forest out of the fairytale characters-
Ya never know when Storybrooke might go rogue.
Going up the stairs, he found that she was just coming out of their room-fresh and ready in clothes that he had picked out himself. With a silent pat on the back and a cheeky smile, he watched as she took a deep breath at her door before taking a couple paces towards Charlotte's. With a breath-and another breath-and another breath, her hand reached for the door knob but she pulled back, letting both of her hands hold to the cable knitted curve of her middle, another deep breath being taken before he stepped up.
"Everything okay?" She jumped turning with raised brows and wide
eyes. "Sorry..." He spoke up sheepishly, taking wide paces towards her with a small smile. "Sorry..." He repeated, holding to her bent elbows as he kissed her forehead. "But are you okay?"
Her finger flitted in the direction of Charlotte's door before it fell back in line with the rest of her fingers-holding to the sides of her middle.
When a nervous chuckle escaped her, he placed another chaste kiss to her
temple as she relished in the feel of his hands slowly covering hers.
His thumbs rubbed against the material of her sweater, brushing against the slender fingers beneath his. "You're not..." His features scrunched momentarily as he searched for his words.
"Big?" She filled in, slipping her hands from beneath his to tuck her hair behind her ears.
"Well you said it not me..." He teased before his hands moved to caress the curve he hadn't given much attention to-once again, there was a lot going on and rarely did he have the time or the chance. "Have you been having contractions?" Her brow rose as her hand moved to cover his that had stopped at her side, "The hospital wanted to know and I didn't know what to tell them because-well, you don't talk to me about it..."
Immediately, she shrunk into herself a bit at his words. He wasn't accusing her but it was true-She didn't like to talk about it, especially now. Perhaps she was more open with Charlotte, when there was no curse, no past, no history-it was easier.
That wasn't his intention though-he just wanted her to know the types of questions that they were asking. Softening whatever kind of blow it might have been, he reached for that pesky strand that would behave and tucked it behind her ear as she had, moments ago. "Yesterday, I had two..." She admitted slowly, adverting his eyes. "This morning, however, I've had two-three..."
He nodded silently, feeling the tightening of her abdomen against his hand.
"Does it hurt?" Was the only small question he could muster, noting that her hands instinctively held certain places.
"Don't worry about me..." She mumbled, refusing to meet his eyes.
"Don't tell me not to do my job..." His hand curled to wrap around the hand beneath his palm before taking a step forward. "C'mere...Turn around..." He positioned her in front of the door she hadn't been allowed to go in before turning her around so that her back was to it. His hand unlatched the lock and she pivoted her head back, "Stop it.." He scolded playfully before covering her eyes with both his hands, "Walk backwards..."
"David-"
"Don't worry, I'm right here..." She took measured steps in the opposite direction, hinting at a smile as his hands, callous but warm, covered her eyes. "Ready?"
"I was ready when you started locking this do-" Her words fell dead on his ears and on her tongue because he lifted his hands. He lifted his hands and for seconds she couldn't breathe.
Every tangible piece of him, every tangible piece of her-she was looking at it. From the blue pastel to the dark wood finishing. Henry's beat up rabbit he used to drag around as a child, cleaned and stitched sitting upright on the changing table. The dark rocking horse that looked oddly similar to the stallion on her mantel in the office. The carefully stenciled name beside his crib.
N
O
A
H
She felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind and his chin sit on her shoulder as he placed a tender kiss on her jaw, "I thought...that Noah Ryan was perfect..." His hands moved up and down her middle, "A little bit of me and a little bit of you..."
He expected a hug and a kiss but the sharp inhale on her part had him holding tighter to him as he lifted his head, "Regina..." He reared his head back a tad so that he could see her. Her hands covered his as they interlocked at her stomach but her red-rimmed eyes and the bite of her bottom lip had him worried.
"It's alright..." He soothed, pressing a kiss to her hair before nuzzling his face in the crook of her neck as he held her close.
It wasn't that he did this all by himself, which he did.
It wasn't that he took it upon himself to name their son, which he did.
It wasn't that he didn't consult her, which he did.
It wasn't that her heart was melting at the sight, which it was.
It was fear.
Fear that she would vocalize-Fear that all of this, all of this might be for nothing. Fear that she would come back empty handed and to a cruel reminder of what could have been, what should have been. No, she would never say that she was terrified-She would never admit that the thought ear paralyzed her with fear. She would never say it.
But with him she didn't have to.
He'd just rub the swell of her stomach until the tears that ran down her face stopped-till the fear subsided. He'd line her jaw with pecks from his lips until her breath resumed...He'd do it all.
With a jagged inhale, her hand left his and reached to cover the side of his face, keeping him close to her as he hugged her from behind, "I'm sorry.." she apologized, feeling like she might have ruined his surprised-it was perfect and she couldn't hold her tears in for thirty seconds.
"Shhhh..." He seemed to be soothing their son as much as he was soothing her, both of them quieting at his voice.
"I-" As the words fell on tongue, the sobs caught in her throat once more,
"I love you..."
He nodded, kissing her collarbone, "I will always love you..." He held her close-she wasn't getting away from him. "I mean that...I believe that everything will be fine-And if it's not..." This time, it was he that had the jagged breath, "I will be right here..." Pressed into her back, holding her close and never letting go.
Never.
X
Pacing was a habit he'd picked up from watching his wife deliberate something. She'd start at the top of the foyer and walk back, turn around and do it again. Then she'd go from her office to the door, turn around and go back. She'd walk around until the whole front way had a footstep that accounted for her presence and he was close to beating her record, having been wracked with thoughts of what to do and what needed to be done.
The clock was ticking and he had already made sure that both of his girls had eaten and one was lying down while the other kept to herself within the confines of her room. She obviously hadn't gotten over their talk from the night before but he didn't blame her. She was a child trying to make sense of her parents absence and the idea that it was in no way her fault.
And they'd be back. Soon? They didn't know-but they sure as hell would be back without question.
The lock on the front door began to turn and his ears pricked at the sound, knowing that he had given Ruby a key to avoid having her ring the doorbell on account of the recent visitors they'd had to ring their doorbell and the less than pleasant messages carried along with them. Once the door open, he stepped forward to release her of the muti-colored shopping bags in her hands as she grinned wildly.
"I never thought shopping for tiny people would be so much fun-and so much work, David, you still owe me diamonds..."
He mumbled, "..not on your life..." as Granny closed the door behind her granddaughter, taking a look around the house she had spent a small amount of time in, the night before. Now, in the day light, the place looked even bigger than it had before.
"C'mon..." His head tilted in the direction of the stairs as he held the bags tightly in his grip and advanced up them, seeing brunette and red hair follow behind him. Pausing, he turned to see that the older diner owner stood rooted in her spot, looking around the foyer. "Granny, y'coming?"
"I'm fine here, James..." She pushed forward the hands in her pocket and eyed him down, her glasses being nothing but an accessory as she looked over them and straight at the former Prince.
Pressing two fingers in his back, Ruby urged David onward despite the staring contest of confusion he seemed to be having with her grandmother. Begrudgingly, he continued on and up the stairs, only turning around when they met the upstairs hallway. "What was that about?" He questioned, dropping the bags in front of the door he'd been behind a couple hours before.
"Newsflash, David: She doesn't like you..." Ruby announced with a deadpan, stopping him in his tracks.
"What? That's crazy, she used-"
"You knowingly cheated on and left Snow for the woman that tried to kill us all and cursed us into another dimension-" She laid out his sins before him and shrugged with a knowing stare. "Granny's not gonna like you for a long time..."
The Sheriff shifted, rubbing at his neck as he met the eyes of his former best friend-hoping to be current, "And what about you?"
The werewolf's head lolled from side to side as she thought, arms crossing her chest before announcing that, "...you irk me..."
"Alright..." David spoke and crossed his own arms over his chest, "What about Regina?"
She shrugged, "Can't stay mad at a pregnant lady for very long..."
"Oh C'mon!" Not that he wanted them to be upset with his wife but their history-his and their history was much more twisted and intertwined and yet they let Regina slide without so much as a glare. Well maybe Granny did glare at her, but nonetheless, it did hurt his feelings. As his mind thought about it, he contemplated it's similarity to Regina and Henry-He was so easily taken to Emma and her mistakes and easily angered by Regina's, perhaps because Regina had raised him and he had placed more trust, more faith with in her.
For lack of a better euphemism, a larger investment was lost.
"And well...Regina and I..." The deputy in training kicked her foot at the carpet and found solace in looking everywhere but his eyes, "...we're friends, okay?"
David rolled his eyes only to earn a hit to the shoulder when he turned his back, "Son of a-How am I supposed to carry my wife around with a bum shoulder?"
"No one asked you to carry me around..." The pair turned at the voice, seeing brown eyes laced with confusion at their little banter, amusing yet with a line of truth in the words and actions exchanged between them.
"Yeah..." Ruby chimed, backing away from David and into the space of his better half, "No one asked ya!" She turned and wrapped two lanky arms around the Mayor or former Mayor-who knows?
Her response however was rigid at first, arms still up as she was caught in this unexpected embrace, but with time, seconds really, she hugged the younger girl back and whispered a soft "...thank you.." in her ear before letting go with hazy eyes that she attempted to blink clear.
The wolf knew what she was being thanked for and needed no further clarification, turning her head as David spoke up, "I was just about to show Ruby the nursery and go through the clothes she picked up for baby x-"
"Baby X?" Ruby's eyes darted between the pair before her hands flew up, "You two are crazy..."
"Actually, Ruby...I think we've decided on a name..." Her eyes traveled to meet her husband's, his own movements being paused at her words.
"R-Really? You're not upset that I didn't talk to you about it?"
"Well, if I were you I wouldn't do it again. Next time, I might be so inclined to kill you-but for now, no..." She shook her head with a small smile spreading across her features, "I'm not upset..."
"Next time?" Rub chimed in once more, "..how large is this litter gonna get?"
"I think you have your canines mixed up, Miss Lucas..." the older brunette quipped, much to the younger one's chagrin as the Sheriff chuckled and opened the door to the nursery, dragging the load of bags inside.
"Noah..." Ruby breathed in a hushed whisper, eyes drawn to the wooden letters that were accented against the wall. Within her thoughts, she wondered if Regina had cried upon seeing, what she guessed was, the surprise, because she was already feeling the sting behind her eyes.
Leaving the wolf to wander around the space, he abandoned the bags by the plush rocking chair in the corner, struck by the sight of Regina in the doorway with two hands where they'd been since she awoke that morning. "Hey..." Her eyes met his, her attention having been caught by his tone and words. "Did you get some sleep?"
With a sigh, she admitted "no," with a small voice that told him that she wished that she had. "I couldn't sleep..." her eyes fell to where her hands held close to her middle "...Noah and I have yet to sync our schedules..."
He hummed a kiss against her temple, hoping to keep her as calm as possible for as long as possible-at least until they were at their destination. "I like the way it sounds..." He mumbled, feeling her lean into him in response.
"As do I..."
"Can't you just say 'me too'" He teased, wrapping an arm around her back, as the other secured her middle. "Always the Queen, I see..." He mumbled once more.
"I was a queen, and you took away my crown; a wife...and you killed my husband; a mother, and you deprived me...of my children. My blood alone remains: take it," She paused, drumming a hand against his chest as she exhaled, "...but do not make me suffer long." He peered down at her curiously, and she merely shrugged when she looked back at him, "I read when my mind is restless..."
Pressing another kiss to her temple, he couldn't help but be struck. He knew that she was a thinker and prone to anxiety but what worried him was her worrying about the end in mind-about what was to come. She 'read' when she was restless, she 'thought' when she was restless-it was unnerving enough that she was restless at all.
"Good thing I got some awesome onesies to match his awesome room..." Ruby's voice broke their voiceless interaction, needless of verbal interaction. She began to rifle through the paper bags, lifting one onesie that read: WHO LET THE DOGS OUT in white letters against a red background.
David's chuckles were met with his wife's glare as she pulled away from him with the shake of her head, "I think I'll leave this to the two of you..."
"Oh c'mon, Regina-These onesies are awesome," She pleaded, holding another red onesie that read: CANINE'S BFFYL.
The former Mayor lifted a brow and Ruby whined, dropping the onesie back in the bag in defeat. Regina shook her head and hung a hand on the doorway, making her way to leave, "Your grandmother's here, yes?"
Ruby nodded, "Probably looking for your lasagna recipe..."
Her response was silent, a voiceless assurance that she would be fine when David's eyes met hers. He would go with her if she wished it-and she knew so, but assured him that she was fine with the briefest nod and slightest twinkle of her eyes. They always seemed to get along better when words were kept at a minimum, anyway.
On her short journey, she found herself pulled to the door of her daughter once more but, once again, found the courage to have abandoned her. It wasn't the right time-No, her little one always knew to find her when it was time and when she was ready. Yes, when the time came...when she was ready, she'd come.
"I've been meaning to thank you..." She had made her way down the stairs and found herself looking at the older woman observing the different mirrors that adorned the hallway from the foyer to the kitchen, practically sneaking up behind her.
"That'd been a bit more intimidating if you hadn't of been off balance and announced yourself like a bull in a china shop..." The grey haired matriarch didn't even bother to turn around, round eyes peering at the crystals that encased the circular glass, revealing her aging reflection.
"Look..Widow Lucas, I know that you don't like me or this situation..."
"And wrong you are-" Granny drawled, tracing a black horse figurine that mounted on the wall shelf. She threw a glare over her shoulder, "Always been a cocky one though, haven't you?" Regina was silent, standing behind her with unwavering stillness, hands pressed to her middles as she watched the woman traipse through her house. "Can I help you?" Granny asked, feeling the woman's eyes on the back of her head.
"I..." She swallowed, not knowing why her throat felt so dry or her heart thumped so furiously, "I wanted to talk to you.."
Granny turned around, sniffing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, "I don't want an apology if that's what you've come down here for-I'm not doing this for an apology-"
"Why exactly are you doing this?" She cleared her throat, her voice sounding much smaller than it should.
"Well, if I'm not mistaken, you asked Ruby to watch Charlotte-Or you had David do it for you..."
"Well, we both know Ruby and I know that you'd never deny your granddaughter help if she needed it, that's for certain..."
Granny shrugged, finally giving the woman her full attention, "Eh, you finally got one right." Regina's head titled a bit, still watching the woman's movements despite them being slowed considerably. She was watching her watching her and wondering if she knew that they both watched each other watch each other.
They probably did.
"I'd never put your daughter in harms way, if that's what you're wondering-I'd protect her like she was my own..." She wouldn't completely admit that a soft spot existed for the little girl or that she'd seen the softer side of the Mayor on more than one occasion and had come to grow fond of her. "It's not that I hate you, nah, that's not it...It's the deeds ya did that I hate-You were...well you lived up to your name." She surmised, "But I would never hold your babies to it...That wouldn't be right."
"That's good to know..." Regina admitted, stepping back when Granny turned to face her completely, still looking over round glasses to get a better look at her. "Thank you..."
"Don't thank me..Thank Ruby. Her heart's big enough for the both of us..." The brunette nodded and remained in her place, leading the older woman to do some contemplation, some thinking-which lead to her next question, "There something you want?"
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, holding closer to her middle as the woman looked her up and down, looking for an answer to her question. She felt-unguarded for some reason. Like any attempts to guard herself was futile and misguided anyway because the round eyes that face her would tear the walls down anyway.
"At the beginning of my reign, you retired from midwifery..."
Granny's eyes widened by a fraction before she snatched off her glasses, "I haven't delivered a baby in over-"
"No, no..." Regina stopped her, hands up and all, "I just..I remember-I heard of a tea, a concoction really that helped-it's supposed to stop-" Dammit, words seemed to be working against her. Here she was stumbling on her words like she'd never formed a coherent sentence in her life, abandoning the thought of being a previous politician. She didn't know why the request was so hard or why the admission was difficult but the round eyes-oh those round eyes were not making it any easier.
"Your kitchen?" Granny questioned and Regina flitted a finger in the right direction before the older woman turned on her heels and advanced with a quick pace, turning back to see the former monarch in the same place, "You're coming, aren't you-Try not to walk so hard, makes you sound like a-"
"..a bull in a china shop, I know, you've said it already.."
"I was gonna say a spooked horse-there you go being all cocky again..."
"Ruby, Regina's gonna kill you.." the pair sat on the floor of the nursery in front of a black duffle bag, sorting what to take with them and what to leave. Time and time again, the sheriff picked up a red onesie and placed it in the 'leave' pile while the former werewolf put one in the 'go' pile for every two he put in the 'leave' pile.
"Hey, all you said was get some preemie and newborn onesies-I did my job.."
"Ruby, it's a baby not a damn dog!" They chuckled at each other, "All these canine and dog puns-"
"I think the real question is 'Why does Storybrooke's department store carry these rather than why did I buy them-let's start at the root of the issue here..." She rationalized before catching his eye and busting into another fit of laughter.
"Hey..." He started, catching his breath as he reached for another onesie to fold, "You think they've killed each other yet?"
Ruby paused before shaking her head, "Nah...it's too quiet..."
"Yeah you're right..." David nodded, "Besides, Regina's a screamer..."
Ruby stopped her movements before letting out a hollow laugh, "What?!"
David scrunched his nose and shoved her shoulder, "That's not what I meant and you know it!"
"Whatever man..." Ruby side eyed him and cackled softly beneath her breath.
"Oh wait..." David wiped at the tear below one of his eyes as his laughter subsided, "You do know that you're living at the house, right?"
"What?" Ruby looked at him, a smirk on her face, "I thought Charlotte was gonna move in with us..."
"Do you really want to make her leave the house..." Considering the past few months of staying at Granny's and the idea of having to leave her home and her room didn't sit well with the fact that the toddler was already struggling with being essentially left behind.
"I guess not.." Ruby pondered, "That means I get the master?"
David shook his head, "Nice try-there's a guest room for Granny and your hideaway is still in tact in the basement..."
"Regina still makes you dust it?"
"Once a week-every week.."
The wolf smiled at the thought-She would hide out in their basement when living with granny became more than just a pain in the hind-parts. Eventually the Mayor started furnishing the large space, piece by piece until it was like an apartment without a kitchen, safe for the wolf to ride out her moods. Really, the more she thought about it, the more she realized that Regina and her had grown closer that she thought.
"I dunno if Granny'll be up to staying though...You know she likes to be in her own house..."
"Well whatever makes her comfortable-I just want Charlie-"
"I know..." Ruby smirked before nudging his arm, "Remember, I'm the third rail in this parenthood..."
"This..." David held up a red t-shirt with a German shepherd and the words I GET ALL THE B*TCHES, "..true parenting..."
Ruby snatched it from his grasps, "That's for me..."
"I'm guessing I paid for that as well..."
"Well It's not like you got me a birthday present..."
"Ruby we've been frozen in time for twenty eight years..."
"Well then you have a lot of making up to do!" She concurred, nudging him once more until he rubbed at his exposed forearm.
"Wolf..."
"Shepherd..."
"Canine..."
"Prince-"
"A handsome one at that..." He added, earning a glare from his helper. They looked down to find that the onesies were folded and sorted and their task was complete, leaving them sitting on a floor with laughter dancing in their eyes, a wanton friendship and two heads full of memories.
The Sheriff was the first to stand, extending a hand to the former waitress, "Let's go make sure there isn't a crime scene downstairs..."
David moved towards the door, lifting the red canine onesies that they were leaving behind, and placing them into the top dresser drawer, while shouldering the other duffel bag that he would take with them. "Hey..." She stopped him, placing a hand on his elbow to pull him back. He turned back and she twisted her mouth, kicking at the invisible dust on the floor before mustering up the courage to tell him, "I don't hate you...What you did was shitty as hell but...I don't hate you..."
He took a small step as if he would hug her but he knew they had more than that to say to each other so he just smiled tightly. They'd get there eventually-The restoration of their friendship was...delayed at best.
But not denied.
X
"How does it taste?" Granny asked, wielding a silver matte spoon over the pot on the stove, gauging Regina's reaction as she brought the mug to her lips and swallowed thickly.
Regina peered over the rim, pulling it from her mouth with curled lips, "..bitter..."
Granny scoffed, "I didn't ask you to describe yourself..."
Regina guffawed at her bluntness and rolled her eyes, setting the mug down on the counter with a clack, "Widow Lucas, it honestly is bitter!
"Fine, fine..." Granny grumbled and begrudgingly added a teaspoon of honey to Regina's mug, "Your taste buds are shot..."
"Widow Lucas..."
"Eugenia...or Granny-Whichever one doesn't make me sound like I have one foot in the grave..." Her eyes met the ones that she searched for and Regina nodded, stirred the concoction slowly before mustering a small smile, "Very well...Eugenia-"
"Nope-NOPE!" Granny shook her head, "Not if you're gonna say it like that, get the royal off your tongue and just say my name..."
"Eugenia.."
"...you-gene-yah...not you-geneeyah..." Granny turned back to the pot and added a few teaspoons of honey, "Try it again.."
Regina swallowed, not used to obliging orders, "Eugenia..."
"Girl...better stop playing with me..."
Regina's mouth flapped open, her eyes wide as she looked around in disbelief, "I am not 'playing' with you-I am saying your name!"
"Say it right!"
"I am saying it right! And I don't usually take directions like some measly plebeian but I have to say that I'm doing a fine job-EUGENIA..."
Granny snorted and turned back to the pot, shaking her head as a small smirk spread across her features. "What?" Regina questioned, seeing the woman's shoulder's shake as her back was turned to her.
"You're a hot-headed one too..." Regina paused before settling her posture and calming the need to defend herself. This may be as civil as it would get with the older widow-And part of her needed to be okay with that. Even if it meant quelling her need to be in control.
"Everything okay in here?" Regina lifted the mug to her lips as she turned to see Ruby and David coming in the doorway, "We heard yelling.."
Ruby snorted before mumbling under her breath, "..more like screaming.." before earning a nudge to the ribs by David.
"What's brewing?" He asked, crossing the threshold to make his way over to Regina. She was still deep in her mug when he came over, placing both hands on her shoulder before kissing the side of her head and trying to peek into her mug.
"None of your business..." Granny answered.
David looked to Regina who just shrugged, "You heard her...Eugenia has spoken..."
"Girl..."
"What?! I said it right!" Regina defended, brows scrunched as her mug clacked once more against the counter.
Granny spun around and pointed the spoon in Regina's direction, swinging the metal weapon at the unfazed brunette."Look here-there's no genie in my name-It's EUGENIA, like a good ol' pair of blue jeans. EUGENIA- you-gene-yah.."
Regina grumbled as she picked back up her mug, "..it's what I said.."
David smirked at his wife, rubbing circles in her back, "Regina, it's really not..."
She turned her eyes up at him and took the mug from her mouth, "...shut up."
"Regina..."
She shot darts in his direction with a light scowl, "I can't hit her but I can hit you..." She whispered before he stepped back and leaned on the counter, letting her drink whatever it was in that brew.
"Mommy..." Muffled chuckles and grumbles were silence when a little voice infiltrated their space. Regina froze with her mug in hand as small feet shuffled across the floor until they stopped at the counter stool she sat at. With Mr. Bear pressed to her face, the toddler let her watery eyes do the expressing before she spoke once more to ask, "...time to leave?"
David peered at his watch and saw the time to be 12:45...
He didn't know how time got away from them or why Charlotte seemed to know the perfect time to come down but she did, and it was about that time. Anxious brown eyes turned to him and he nodded slowly, easing off of the counter.
"I'll go put the baby's stuff in the trunk with the carseat..." Ruby picked up the black duffle bag as Granny turned to her side to grab the thermos beside her, rinsing it out so that she could put it to use.
The atmosphere had changed and the Sheriff now found himself lifting their little girl onto the counter so that she sat between her two parents, neither with dry eyes or light hearts. He looked to his wife but found the reticence in her eyes to tell him a difference story. So he twisted Charlotte's socked foot and gave her a short smile to ease the fear that she had lingering in her mind. "You're gonna have...so much fun...with Granny and...Auntie Ruby...You can play dress up," the words were mingling with the tears that wanted to spill form his eyes, "You can have tea parties...You can...go to war with Mr Bear," a tearful laugh escaped him, "...and mommy and I will be back before you know it..." he tapped her nose, "You won't even notice that we're gone..."
Her brown eyes watered at the sentiment as she kicked the air lightly, looking at them both with the tiniest bit of hope, "...can I go?" She asked, her bottom lip trembling with the thought of rejection that she knew was near.
David shook his head and squeezed her little knee, "But you can call us...Just tell Auntie Ruby-early in the morning or way past your bedtime, anytime at all." Charlotte kept her teddy bear against her cheek, letting his fur soak the tears the fell down her cheeks as she pressed him closer to her.
"I love you-We both do..." Regina finally spoke, holding it together for the sake of her sanity. "We'll be back soon, sweetheart, I promise..." Charlotte shook her head and scooted up the counter and into her mother's arms. Usually David would have pulled the two apart to avoid the extra weight of one brunette on the other in her current condition but he just couldn't bring himself to. Not when she was clinging to her, burying her head in her mother's neck as the tears soaked her bear and her skin.
Regina breathed out evenly, holding tight to her little girl as her own tears fell and she fought to maintain control over her own emotions, feeling Charlotte's arms tighten around her neck-She didn't intend on letting go anytime soon.
When he had eventually gotten the brunettes unwound and Ruby had gotten the bags into the car, he did a quick sweep of the house to make sure he didn't leave anything behind. Stepping into the foyer, Granny and Ruby had already taken Charlotte to the car and were waiting for the pair in the foyer. He didn't want to rush her though, as she was already having a hard time dealing with leaving Charlotte behind.
Which made his request all the more awkward.
"Regina?" he called, seeing her standing by the door with her coat on, wiping at the residual tears beneath her eye. She turned to him but gave no verbal response, sniffling time and time again. "Gold said that I had to have a talisman...something I have to wear at all times-the thing I'd pour the vial on.."
"Oh God, David.." She grumbled, watching him evenly with red rimmed eyes, "..please don't tell me that you lost it..."
"No...no," he crossed the foyer to where she stood and kissed her cheek, rubbing her arms lovingly, "I have it-I just need the item..."
"Well what is it?"
He shrugged, tried to man up his courage to ask her, stuffing his pockets with a fist before pulling out the vial and using his other hand to lift hers, "Since I can't just pour it on you..." He teased and earned a weak smile from her, despite the heaviness of her heart, "I need this..." He gently held her hand up and discreetly pointed to the silver banded emerald ring on her ring finger, right above her wedding band.
"My engagement ring?" It reminded him so much of the ring his mother had given him to give to the woman he found to be his true love. The ring that helped him find his love at the time. And though he knew that Snow still had the original, he couldn't help but feel that the uncanny resemblance to the ring she bared, the ring he'd given her in his cursed state, was somewhat of a sign. Not only was his mother still with him.
But he'd made the right choice.
She sniffled without objection and slid the ring from her finger before holding out her other hand. Taking the cork from the vial, he gave it to her and watched as she slipped the ring in the solution, gem first, so that it didn't touch her fingers. The liquid seemed to be absorbed within the band and stone, having disappeared completely in a small puff of smoke. Pocketing the now useless vial, she sniffled once more and held out her hand for him to give her his. When he obliged her, she slipped it onto his pinkey finger with a quip, "...your other fingers are far too fat..."
She looked up and found his eyes to be equally as red and his heart to be equally as heavy, but he tilted up her chin and gave her one last kiss-lips to lips and soul tie to soul tie. It didn't last long because it didn't have to.
It was enough to give either the courage to do what they needed to do.
The courage to leave.
X
She didn't want to move but she had to.
There was that same panic-that same state of worry and fear challenging her heart's stamina to withstand all that it could bare. They were parked in front of the town line-sitting, just sitting and waiting because she didn't want to move. Because she was panicking-She didn't know how to quell it and she didn't know how to stop it-She was just frozen.
David got out of the car and closed the door gently but quickly as Ruby and Granny got Charlotte out and she ran to his open arms, wrapping her arms around his neck as he lifted her up in the air and kissed her cheek before holding her close, "I'm gonna miss you so much Charlie-horse..." He pulled her back so that he could get a good look at her and peck her nose, to which she did the same-rearing her head back and pecking his nose.
"I love you, daddy.." She spoke in a small voice, tears obviously welling in her throat once more.
"I love you too, Charlie..." He gave her a good squeeze, keeping his tears at bay as he held her to him for as long and as close as he could.
Granny walked around to Regina's side of the car, seeing the car door ajar but not fully open, "Whatcha waiting on?"
Regina turned to face those damned round eyes to reveal her own tears, saying nothing yet saying everything. Granny pushed her glasses up and handed her the black thermos, "Take a few good gulps every hour on the hour and you should be fine-I'll tell David not to drive too fast so your stomach won't get upset...Try to rest a little on the drive over."
Regina nodded slowly and gripped the thermos tightly before placing it in the cup holder. Granny opened the car door, regardless of if the woman was ready or not and held out her hand with lifted gray brows. "Call me Granny when you get around other folks...I don't want the others calling me by real name and messing it up like you do..." Regina took the hand the was extended to her and nodded quickly, taking the soft lashes that were being given to her. "Alright?"
Regina turned to look at David holding Charlotte in his arms with Ruby as an onlooker, the little girls face being barely visible with it tucked into her father's neck. The tears began to foment once more and the hand that helped her up gave hers a light squeeze-silent and reassuring.
Just what she needed.
Granny didn't have to tell her to come on-she knew. She knew that when the older woman pulled on her hand that she had to follow whether she liked it or not. She also knew that she had to kiss her little girl goodbye-she couldn't leave without doing that.
"Anything left for me?" Charlotte's eyes opened and David turned around with a weak smile before sitting Charlotte on the trunk of the car to avoid Regina having to bend over or pick her up. Charlotte rubbed absently at her wet eyes and looked up to find her mother hovering over her. Seeing the trail of tears that seemed identical to her own, a chubby finger lifted and traced the trail on Regina's cheeks, sniffling just as her mother had.
"Sad tears?" The toddler asked and was almost certain of the answer.
Regina nodded with a tearful chuckle, holding her sobs back so that all that showed were tears here and there-not her breaking heart. "Sad tears..." She affirmed, taking her thumb to Charlotte's cheeks to clear them of her own trails. "Mommy loves you...so much..." Charlotte nodded, feeling the pads of her mother's fingers caress her cheeks. "We're coming back..." She nodded as the toddler grabbed her neck for an embrace, "We're coming back.." She whispered, kissing the side of Charlotte's head before petting her hair down as she buried herself in her mother's embrace.
David turned his back to them as he wiped at his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. Ruby placed a comforting hand on his back, rubbing up and down in at attempt to keep him at bay-at an attempt of restoring that paused friendship. He turned back to her and engulfed her in a hug that she wasn't expecting, but accepted wholeheartedly.
Life was short and they didn't have forever. He wasn't going to leave town without mending their relationship-without getting his friend back. And when he pulled away to see the unshed tears in her eyes, he knew that he had.
"David..." He heard her call and turned around to see her running her hair down Charlotte's hair, sniffing and crying all at the same time. He knew that look and he knew that tone-it was time to go.
Granny pulled up Charlotte and calmed the toddler with smoothing circles as she whimpered at the thought of this being a true goodbye. Ruby shared a hug with her newly acquired friend and whispered, "When you meet Noah, tell him that he has some awesome onesies waiting for him back home..." The emotion was clear in her voice but she held it together and hugged her once more as the former Mayor nodded into her embrace. Stepping back she stood in line with Granny as the leaving pair made their way to one another.
They weren't leaving each other but they needed strength from each other-And an embrace was how they got that, each clinging to the other for hope, for faith, for strength-for love that traveled from heart to heart. They'd make it there.
And they'd make it back.
He kissed her temple once more and moved to hold the door open as he helped her into the passenger seat and closed her in. Going around back, he held his hand up to the trio in front of Ruby's Cadillac and they responded, Granny with a nod, Ruby with a smile and Charlotte with a tearful wave.
Closing his own door was hard enough-but now he had to drive away, stealing glances at his wife as she fought to keep it together. Starting up her black Mercedes, he looked back to see them and placed a hand on Regina's leg-they'd do it together, as hard as it was, they had do to it anyway so it might as well be a joint effort. The engine was started and the car was in gear-The tears had fallen and fences had been mended.
They just had to cross.
Easing the vehicle across the line, he lightly pressed the horn as the black bumper became like a figment of their imagination, disappearing passed the veil that was the real world. It was bittersweet, the tears in her eyes and the tears in his being tell-tale signs of that but they would be back-they had to. They just had to get to Boston first. So he mustered the courage and pushed past that faded orange line.
Her eyes darkened.
His ring glowed.
And they had crossed.
TBC