August 24th 2013
David and Emma smiled as they watched Henry and Regina build a sandcastle. For Henry's birthday, they had organized a family gathering at the beach, keeping with Regina and Henry's tradition. David and Emma were sitting some distance away from the mother and son, giving them some time alone together. Besides, he enjoyed spending time with Emma. With no further catastrophes looming or curses to be broken, they all had been able to piece their strange family together. David and Emma had made sure they spent as much time with each other as possible and they had started to settle into a daughter-father relationship, especially on the subject of Neal. David was being the overprotective father that she had only seen in movies. Strangely, Emma was not bothered by his behavior. She actually enjoyed the fact that her father cared enough about her to chase away potential suitors. The orphaned girl in her had craved for this kind of attention all her life.
Emma laughed as she watched Regina conjure another sand bucket. After Mother's Day, Emma had a long overdue conversation with her son. Although she understood Henry's resistance about Regina's use of magic, she and David had agreed Regina needed to practice her craft in Storybrooke so she could defend and heal herself. Emma had impressed upon her son that most of the events that had led to Cora's death could have been avoided if Regina had used magic. If Regina had been stronger and more used to the magic in Storybrooke she may have been able to defeat her mother without killing her. Perhaps she would have been able to get a second start here in Storybrooke. Emma seriously doubted it would have been the case considering everything Mary Margaret - Snow - had told her in the Enchanted Forest but Regina should have had the chance. Henry had reluctantly agreed until Regina had shown him all the innocent, fun things she could do with her magic. Henry had been fully persuaded when she had cleaned his room with literally a clasp of her fingers.
They both laughed as Regina kept conjuring bucket after bucket until Henry was satisfied with the mold for the towers. "She seems to be doing better." Emma was not only referring to Regina's use of magic. The Queen looked more rested and she had regained some weight. Regina was filling most of her red bikini.
"She is. Since Henry gave her the box, she's been more … calm." David smiled as he remembered the rested look on her face the morning after she had been able to sleep through the night for the first time. The nightmares had come back eventually but they were less intense and far-between. "Archie said they'd been able to make progress… whatever that means."
Emma laughed. She had never been one for psychology herself but she had to admit it was good to see Regina smile and laugh. "It will take time, David." Emma was only aware of a fraction of what Regina had told David and Archie about her past but it was enough for Emma to know it would take time for Regina to be able to accept what had happened to her. Regina also needed to come to terms with what she had done as the Evil Queen and considering the town's attitude toward her, it would not be easy.
"I know. I'm just happy she is finally getting some help." David shook his head. "I can't believe that she had to go through everything alone."
Emma placed a supporting hand on his shoulder. They seldomly addressed the subject of Mary Margaret. "Are you still mad at her? Mary Margaret?"
David turned his head to meet his daughter's eyes. He breathed out heavily before answering her. "I was never mad… not really. Disappointed, yes… mad, no. I couldn't. I loved Snow… with all my heart. I still do… in a sense. I still love the idea that Snow represents. When I met her, she had the most compassionate soul… she would have been ready to give her own life to save the one of a perfect stranger. At the same time, she was fierce and cunning… I loved that in her." David took a deep breath. "I never questioned Snow about Regina… I always thought that Regina was pure evil… vain to the point of persecuting an innocent woman. And Regina never gave me any reasons to think differently."
David took a deep breath before continuing with his story. "We captured her once… Stripped her of her powers and almost executed her. Snow stopped it. She wanted to give Regina another chance. But given a choice between freedom and the opportunity to kill Snow, Regina chose the latter. As soon as we let her out of her cage, she stabbed Snow. That's when we banished her." David shook his head. "I was so naive. I should have questioned Snow back then. But I could not see what was right in front of me. I thought Snow was being her generous self… that no matter what Regina would do to her, Snow would always forgive her because that's how Snow was…. I never stopped for a second and asked Regina about her past with Snow… I'm not sure she would have answered. But now… now I know that Snow acted out of guilt instead of compassion. She was responsible for Regina's descent into darkness… and Snow had hoped that if she could bring her back…. then she, herself, could be forgiven."
Emma listened attentively. She had never been so naive to think that Snow White had been the saint her father and everyone in town had described her to be. She had seen the harsher side of Snow in the Enchanted Forest. "What changed your mind?"
"Regina." David paused. "The way she was willing to change for Henry, how she's always placed him before anyone else." Including Daniel. Regina had killed the man she loved to save her son, to make sure he was safe. "Her strength." Despite everything that had happened to her, Regina was still fighting the darkness within her. Regina was ashamed of her heart but David loved every aspect of it. He had kissed every dark mark on her heart, watching as the light was always shining through the darkness on every beat. "Her vulnerability." David had seen her in her most vulnerable moments, and Regina trusted him not to use it against her as everyone else had done.
Emma was holding back her own tears. She had always hoped to find the same kind of love her father was giving Regina. And David gave her the hope that one day she would find someone who was willing to embrace everything about her, the good and the bad. She was about to speak when David pointed behind her. "Watch out!"
Emma turned around just in time to duck and avoid the bucket of cold water Henry was throwing in her direction. The water missed both of the adults and they laughed at the boy. "Better chance next time, kid."
Henry smirked. "Oh, yeah?"
David realized what was about to happen a millisecond before the cold water hit his bare back. He yelped at the sensation and turned toward the guilty woman laughing heartily at his expense. "Regina!" His tone was a mixture of shock and irritation that sent everyone into a fit of laughter. "You're going to pay for this!"
Regina kept laughing until David stood up from his wet towel. She gasped, realizing he was serious about paying her back in kind. She threw the bucket in the sand and started running with David hot on her heels.
Henry cheered her up. "Go, Mom! Run!"
Emma wrapped her arm around her son's shoulders, cheering for Regina as well. They both gasped when David finally caught her. They watched as David carried her over his shoulder toward the water. Regina was trying to squirm her way out of her situation, her legs kicking wildly in the air but David was holding on to her firmly.
Henry and Emma ran toward the couple as David entered the water. Regina screamed. "Please, let me down. Please… the water is cold."
David smirked. "I know… someone threw a bucket of it at me."
"I wonder who would do such a thing…" He tickled her and she laughed, squirming against him.
"I think I found the guilty party."
Regina bit her lower lip, causing both Emma and Henry to laugh. "I'm sorry?"
Her questioning tone sent another wave of chuckles all around. Emma pointed toward the ocean. "Regina, I don't think you're getting yourself out of that one."
Regina smirked before kissing David's back playfully. The man moaned while Emma and Henry laughed once more. Regina continued her work as best she could. "Please, let me down…"
"Of course, sweetheart." He released his embrace from around her.
Regina squealed when she realized she was about to fall in the water. She wrapped her legs around David's waist and held on to his neck tightly. David laughed as he walked further into the ocean. As soon the water hit her thighs, Regina screamed and tried to move up David's torso. "Please… please take me back to the beach… please…. I don't know how to swim."
The statement made David stop. He often forgot that Regina was royalty but unlike Snow, she had never spent time outside a castle. It was entirely possible that Regina did not know how to swim. He searched her eyes for the trace of a lie but her expression was unreadable.
Regina smiled and started to relax in David's arms when he turned around and started toward the beach. But the man wanted his revenge. Without so much of a warning, he threw himself backwards into the water, holding on to Regina tightly. Henry and Emma gasped; they had not expected David to follow suit with his threat.
Regina screamed as soon as she hit the water. She held on to David firmly since she had not lied to him. She had never learned how to swim, at least not properly. David laughed at her reaction. "Enjoying the water, Your Majesty?"
She laughed, trusting David not to let her drown. She could always poof herself to safety if she needed to but she enjoyed their game. She splashed around in the cold water trying to swim back toward the beach and a warm towel. "No! It's cold…. It's too cold."
David laughed with her. "And who started it, uh?"
Regina wrapped her legs around David's waist one more time, holding on to him. She bit her lower lip. "I don't remember."
David smirked and lowered himself underneath the water surface to the delight of Emma and Henry. The two couldn't stop laughing as Regina screamed before disappearing from their sight. As soon her head broke free of the water again, Regina gulped some air into her lungs. David laughed at her expression. "Do you remember now?"
Regina feigned to think for a minute but as David prepared to plunge into the cold water again, she squeezed his waist tighter and screamed her surrender. "Fine! I'm sorry…" Emma and Henry were bent over laughing so hard it was starting to hurt.
David smiled at the woman holding onto him. "And you won't do it again?"
Regina shook her head. "Can we go back to the beach now?" Not feeling her lover moved, Regina kissed up his jaw and nipped at his earlobe. She whispered in his ear. "Please?"
David chuckled. "You're irresistible, you know that?"
"I hope so." She nipped at David's jaw before taking his mouth into a kiss.
David carried her back toward the towels, followed by Henry and Emma still amused at the situation. Henry pointed at his mother as David was setting her down on a dry towel. "You should have seen the look on your face when Gramps jumped back."
Regina was shaking from the cold, her teeth chattering as she answered her son. "I didn't think Prince not-so-Charming would actually do it." She smirked at the man looking for another towel.
David cocked his head feigning his annoyance. "I didn't think my adult girlfriend would throw a bucket of cold water at me."
Regina groaned. "You deserved it."
David laughed. "Oh! And what did I do to deserve it?" He sat behind Regina and wrapped the only dry towel around both of them.
Regina immediately curled into his warmth. "You threw me into the ocean."
They all laughed. "AFTER you threw the water at me."
Emma tried to breathe evenly. Her stomach was hurting from all the laughter. "Give it up, Regina! I don't think you'll win that one."
Regina grumbled before settling her head on David's chest. He kissed her forehead and rubbed her back, trying to get her warmer. After a few minutes, the shaking stopped and she closed her eyes, tired from the day's activities. David kept rubbing her lower back soothingly. "We should get going."
Henry smiled. "To Granny's?"
David nodded and Henry jumped up and down in the air. Although they had tried to keep it from him, he already knew about the party waiting for him. Neal had left early to organize it, pretending to get Henry his presents from the truck. That had been three hours ago. As far as Henry was concerned, his family should have known better than to come up with such a poor lie.
EC
Regina was sitting in a booth away from the party. Granny was sitting across from her, pushing a mug of hot chocolate in her hands while David ran upstairs to get her a sweater. Once Regina had been able to sleep more peacefully she had expressed her desire to date David before they would officially move in together. She had never been courted before and the young girl in her, that she was slowly rediscovering, had wanted the experience. If David had been disappointed, he had never shown it. He had taken a larger room at Granny's so Emma could keep the loft for herself and Henry when he was with her. David had taken Regina on every date imaginable to her utmost delight. Despite what she had told him at the beach, David really earned the nickname of Charming. He had taken her on numerous picnics in the woods and at the beach, horseback riding, to the movies, and on dinner dates. Every time he would show up at her door with flowers and chocolate. And Regina loved the attention.
Regina sipped on the hot chocolate, wrapping her hands around the mug. "Thank you."
Granny laughed. "You looked like you needed it. What happened to you?"
"I was viciously attacked." Granny looked at her questioningly. "David threw me in the ocean."
The man in question laughed as he heard the last part of the conversation on his way back. "I remember you throwing a bucket of water at me first." Regina grumbled and they both laughed at the Queen. David sat near Regina and helped her with the sweater. "Here. Better?"
Regina snuggled into the oversized sweater, deeply inhaling David's scent. "Much, thank you." She then snuggled into David's side, tucking her legs underneath her, her hands still clutching the warm mug. Regina had been unusually cold in the past few months but Dr. Whale had been quick to reassure them both that it was probably due to the amount of weight Regina had lost. Once she would put some fat back on her bones, the chills would disappear.
David wrapped his arms around Regina and held her close. Her head was resting underneath his chin and he could smell the ocean mixed with her apple shampoo in her wet hair. "Want to join the party?"
Regina shook her head. Henry was having a good time and she did not want to ruin his birthday. Although the townspeople seemed to accept her presence in the room, she did not believe that they would be too fond of her socializing with them.
Granny and David exchanged a quick glance and the old lady excused herself so David had some privacy to talk some sense into Regina. David rubbed Regina's back soothingly. "What's bothering you?"
"I don't think they really want me here."
David kissed the crown of her head. "Look who is here, Regina."
For the first time since she had entered the diner, Regina took a good look around the familiar faces. Granny and Red were the only ones catering to the small party. Archie and Gepetto were absorbed in a conversation at the bar. Leroy and his six brothers were occupying the booth closest to the entrance. Jonas, Sarah, and Whale were standing near the bar, a glass of apple juice in their hands. Belle, Rumple, and Neal were showing Henry small magic tricks. Regina sighed, burying her face further into David's chest. "My son can't even have a normal birthday party because his mother is hated by everyone in town."
David tightened his embrace around her. "What are you talking about? We let Henry choose who he wanted to invite."
"There are only adults here, David. No kids of his age because none of his friends would come to a party with the Evil Queen in attendance."
"Regina, Henry wanted to have a birthday only with the people he considered family. I'd say that's a pretty decent-size group to invite for each holidays."
Regina chuckled despite herself. She had thought that the curse would have brought her her happy ending. As it turned out, the curse breaking had given her everything she had always wanted: a loving, supporting group of people she could call family. "I want Henry to have a normal life. I've been selfish to bring him here in the first place. He was the only child aging. He couldn't keep friends for very long. But now… now things are different and I want him to have a normal childhood."
"Having a birthday party with your family is perfectly normal, Regina."
Red came by a few minutes later with two mugs of hot chocolate and a slice of warm apple pie. "Here you go, Regina. Granny said you were still cold."
Regina took the warm mug gratefully. "Thank you, Red."
The waitress smiled. "You're welcome. Once you feel better, you should come celebrate with us. I bet Henry can't wait to open those." Red pointed toward the mountain of presents occupying a nearby booth.
Regina smiled. "Give me a few more minutes." She was not cold anymore but she needed the extra time to gather her courage and leave the safety the booth was offering.
Red smiled in return. "Take your time, I'll tell Granny to start lighting the candles in a few minutes."
"Thanks, Red." The waitress smiled before leaving the couple alone. David rubbed her shoulder before grabbing his hot chocolate. David was slowly convincing her that no one here would judge her. Regina was starting to relax against David, trying her best to believe his words.
The Prince cut a piece of the warm pie and handed Regina the fork. She first grabbed it excitedly before releasing it. David repositioned them to make sure Regina was fine. "Are you ok?"
Regina blushed, ashamed of the incident. "Yeah, I'm fine…"
"What is it, sweetheart?" David placed his fingers under her chin, forcing her to look at him.
Regina's eyes were rapidly filling with tears. "It's a stupid habit." She paused but David encouraged her with his eyes. "Leopold wasn't fond of me eating sweets in public… actually just eating sweets. He wanted his Queen to keep her figure." She looked away from David, ashamed at her reaction. Old habits died hard and even after all these years she was still bearing the scars the years in Leopold's court had left.
David kissed her softly, before bringing the piece of apple pie to her lips. Regina took it, moaning as the swallowed the warm treat. David chuckled and kissed her one more time. "I want you to be happy. That's all that matters."
Regina smiled against David's lips. "Can I have a second piece? Served like the first?"
David kissed her once more before feeding Regina a second piece of the pie. They repeated the cycle under Sarah's watchful eyes. The nurse was happy for Regina; she finally had the love, care, and respect she deserved.
Jonas chuckled besides her. "I didn't know Regina had a sweet tooth." He did not know the Queen well at all since he had only spent time with Regina after some of the most grueling nights she had had to spend in her husband's bed or during her miscarriages.
Sarah tried to hide her pain at the memories Jonas' statement was bringing back. "The King didn't allow it. I used to sneak her some pastries but she rarely ate them. She just didn't feel like doing much back then."
A heavy silence settled between the three hospital employees. Whale finally cleared his throat, trying to bring the conversation back to more joyful matters. "She seems to like them just fine right now." They all laughed as they watched David popping the last piece of pie in her mouth before kissing her.
Granny walked out of the kitchen carrying the chocolate birthday cake, followed by Emma and Red. Leroy killed the lights as they all started to sing happy birthday. David grabbed the hand of a still reluctant Regina and walked with her toward her son. Henry smiled as he blew his candles, flanked by his mothers. The guests clasped as Henry managed to blow all of them in one breath. Emma and Regina both kissed Henry on his cheeks.
"Can I open my presents now?" The adults laughed at the over-excited kid.
Regina ran her fingers through his hair. "Of course, sweetheart."
By the time Henry had made it halfway through his gifts, they were all enjoying a piece of the chocolate cake. Everyone had been more than generous with Henry and the boy would have comics, DVDs, and games to keep him occupy for the next two months. Belle had gifted him a few books, including one about magic. Upon seeing the book, Regina searched the room and silently thanked her former mentor. It was a very rare introduction to magic and she had only seen one copy of it in her lifetime. The book contained information about all the questions that Henry had been asking her.
Henry's eyes widened when he laid eyes on David's gift. It was a beautiful sword, matching the one the Prince was carrying but smaller. David smiled at Henry's reaction. "I thought it was time to start your formal Prince training."
Henry swayed the sword in front of him. "Cool!"
Regina chuckled. "Be careful, sweetheart. I haven't had time to enchant it so you can't hurt yourself."
"Yeah, mom."
Emma handed Henry the last gift. "Your mom, Neal, David, and I have something for you."
Henry looked confusedly between the adults. Regina smiled. "Open it. I think you'll like it." Henry excitedly open the box and frowned when he found a smaller one inside the first. David used the distraction to get the actual present from upstairs.
When he came back, Henry had reached the last box. Everyone was laughing at Henry's mounting frustration. When he finally got it open, Henry gasped at the small collar and leash neatly placed at the bottom. Henry expectantly looked at the three adults who pointed in David's direction.
Henry jumped out of the booth when he saw the white, fluffy puppy in David's arms. The puppy was yapping excitedly, ready to be put down. David placed the small American Eskimo in Henry's arms. "Here you go, buddy."
Henry held his dog closely to his chest. The dog reached up and licked his new master's nose. Henry giggled at the sensation. "He is so pretty."
Regina wrapped her arm around her son's shoulder. "And a lot of responsibility. You're going to have to train him - especially potty-train him…." The crowd laughed but Regina ignored them. "Take him on walks, feed him, brush him, play with him..."
Henry nodded excitedly. "Can we teach him tricks?"
Emma laughed. "Sure, kid. But I think your mom would like to start with peeing and pooping outside."
Regina smirked. "Yes, she does."
Neal laughed. "We'll take you shopping tomorrow. You'll need a harness, bowls, food, toys, treats…"
"Poop bags." Regina finished as everyone laughed. She had forgotten all about her fears and just enjoyed the moment. As David wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in his embrace, she realized that for the first time since Cora had killed Daniel, she was truly, completely happy.
ECECEC
February 1st 2013
Regina looked at her watch one more time, resigning herself to the fact that her son would be missing her birthday dinner. She turn off the stove and oven, leaving the contents untouched. She would have time in the morning to throw the food away.
Regina slowly climbed the stairs leading to her bedroom. She shuddered as soon as she entered the room. Regina wrapped her arms around her middle and held herself tightly as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and took a steadying breath but the images of David moving above her kept replaying in her mind. She cried out when David's face was replaced by that of the King. She could feel the pain of his hard thrusting inside her. Regina re-opened her eyes and tried to breath evenly. She had won! She had killed Leopold and soon she would have her revenge against Snow White. She could already imagine the look on her stepdaughter's face when Regina would tell her she had slept with her Prince.
But these thoughts only brought Regina a small measure of comfort. She looked around the empty room and out toward the dark hallway. She was alone. Nobody to love her. Not even her son. He had chosen to spend time with Emma rather than celebrating her birthday. Regina fisted her hands and held back the tears. She would force Emma out of town by any means necessary and once the pesky blonde was out of her fairy tale town, she would be able to have her happy ending. Or so she tried to convince herself. But if Regina was honest, she would realize that her happy ending had been slipping away from her before Emma ever got to town. Ever since she had told Henry he had been adopted - because of Snow White's homework, her relationship with her son had been deteriorating. And the stupid princess had thought that the book would actually help Henry. Regina had not paid much attention to it at the time, but in retrospect she should have destroyed the book the day Henry brought it home with him.
Without realizing how she got there, Regina was standing in front of the box containing her last mother day's gift. It was the last "gift" she had ever received from her son. The students had been working on the project in school for a month before Snow asked them to fill out their family tree. After the difficult discussion that ensued, Henry had refused to complete the mother's day project. He had thrown it on the classroom floor and stormed out. Graham had found Henry at his playground and after much coercion on his part, the sheriff had managed to bring the kid back home. The following day Regina had imposed on Henry regular sessions with Archie.
Regina sighed as she looked at the broken plate at the bottom of the box. She took out the pieces carefully and headed back to the kitchen. She grabbed the crazy glue and some journal paper and set herself to work. She was gluing the last piece when she heard the front door open. "Henry?"
Henry groaned. "Yeah?"
Regina ran to the foyer, still hoping that her son would like to spend some time with her. Her hope deflated the minute she saw the look of contempt on her son's face. "I made a pie."
"I'm not hungry. I'm just gonna head to bed. Night." Henry ran upstairs and slammed the door to his room.
Alone once more, Regina collapsed to the floor and cried.
There is only the epilogue left for tomorrow. I already posted the OS for ECweek in the collection entitled "Once Upon a Time There was a Queen and her Shepherd"