AN: Happy Halloween! I'm sorry this chapter has taken so long to arrive. I hope i've made it up to you with it's extensive length... This is the last official chapter! If you want one, i'll write an epilogue. Thanks to everyone who has followed, favourited or reviewed. It meant the world to me to read your positive feedback and inspired me to write extremely fast!
"We're really going back today?" Henry asked a little worriedly. He was getting so used to this place. He'd been close to thinking they wouldn't ever go back.
To him, so much had happened here, good and bad. It felt like a whole year's worth of events had been compressed into six measly weeks. He'd nearly lost both of his parents at different times during their stay here. That was surreal enough. At least they were both okay now. Emma just had her bandages and her sling left and she seemed stronger every day.
Emma nodded in response to her son's question and ruffled his hair. They were sat at the dining table drinking coffee, juice or eating cereal and were all mostly just thinking. Everyone was so fatigued by their time here as a whole and all found they were being lost in their own thoughts.
"We will have one final lunch here today in our newly completed kitchen then we shall depart." Regina addressed him from across the table. They were all in the clothes they had arrived in. In a sense, it felt that the last six weeks had been nothing but a dream. The only things that grounded them were Emma's sling and Henry's growth spurt; he'd grown about an inch during their stay and everyone had noticed.
"I'm worried." Henry said simply. Everyone glanced up at him curiously.
Mary Margaret was the first to speak, "You have nothing to be worried about. You know everyone in Storybrooke and they adore you! We'll just pick up after where we left off. It should be just the same as it used to be, honey."
"That's what I'm worried about," he said with a furrowed brow that strongly resembled the saviour's. "What does that mean for my mom Regina? What does that mean for my mom's relationship? The people in Storybrooke can be so horrible. I don't like how everything's going to change. Things have been so great here."
Although she agreed, Regina tried to reassure him, "This was new and scary and look at what an experience it was. Change isn't always bad. As for the people of Storybrooke; have I ever cared what they thought of me?"
Henry shook his head.
"Exactly and you don't need to worry about Emma and I. We're adults and we can look after ourselves. Nothing is going to happen to us."
"Mom you've both been hurt so badly, I don't really trust that," he said softly. He had a point and they all knew it.
David looked at the pre-teen. "Henry I don't think either of your mom's are going to be hurt that badly again. As long as they behave themselves and don't get into any more trouble then they should be just fine."
"Have you not met my mom's?" Henry smiled. "If there's any trouble then Emma is the first one there and Regina is usually the one who has caused it. Any kind of danger and it's almost always related to them."
"It doesn't mean we'll get hurt though, kid." Emma reasoned with him.
"We're pretty tough," Regina smiled to him, "And we have each other now so if anything were to happen then I think we'd be pretty unstoppable," she said proudly. Mary Margaret didn't know whether to be impressed at this point or afraid. She chose impressed. She could probable take Regina on anyway. Especially now she'd gone all soft and lovey-dovey.
Now there was a thought. She wondered whether Regina would reassume her authoritative personality and her clothing or whether her wardrobe would blend into what she'd been wearing here. It could go either way. Also would she get mean again once she returned and put her guards up? Mary Margaret hoped that she'd mostly stay the way she had been here. Regina still had her boundaries when they were necessary but there was a high proportion of 'nice' in the mix too. It was refreshing. She wondered if anyone else was thinking about this. The troubled look on Regina's face implicated that she maybe was too.
Emma picked up on this expression also, "you okay?" She asked quietly from across the table. Regina broke out of her trance and nodded to her.
"Yes, just having a couple of doubts as well. Henry isn't alone there."
"You're worried about going back?" Mary Margaret asked curiously. She didn't think Regina was worried about anything. She certainly didn't show it much if she was.
"Regretfully so," she rested her cheek on her hand.
Emma got up and took the spare seat next to her. "You're having doubts about going back to Storybrooke?" Before Regina even had a chance to answer, her expression changed to worry, "You don't want to go back."
"Although it is not one of my strongest desires, I am capable of tolerating it. Therefore I shall."
"Why don't you stop deflecting and tell me why you're scared." Emma propositioned with a soft smile and a hand placed on her shoulder.
Regina looked around self-consciously. They were all people she knew and loved but she suddenly felt like she was on display to a room full of strangers. She felt herself wanting to be defensive and it felt so wrong to even think about voicing how she felt.
"Emma this is hardly the place," Regina said with a hushed tone.
"This is exactly the place! Henry, me, my parents. We know you better than anyone. We've all been through a lot together recently and we're all going back together. Let's talk about this. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable about going back."
"Emma they hate me," Regina said after a long pause. "Everyone in Storybrooke hates me. They wish I was dead. They're always crossing their fingers when something happens to me. I get it; I know why they hate me. I just- It just doesn't feel so good." She felt pathetic saying it.
Mary Margaret looked at her with concern. "Regina we're going to look after you. We all love you and you are part of this family. We are not going to take anyone being rude to you and in good time I really do think people will start coming around. Once they see what a loving person you are and how much you care for Emma I think people will warm up to you Regina."
Regina shook her head. "They see me for what I am." She got up, put her empty mug of coffee on the counter and then went upstairs.
Henry looked at Emma sadly. "She seems really sad about this. I didn't know how upset about Storybrooke she was," he said downheartedly.
"She'll be okay." David tried to reassure him. "I agree with Mary Margaret. I think she needs our support and therefore that's what we're going to give her."
Emma raised her eyebrows and nodded. "I should go and check if she's okay. I think she needs some comfort, she's been having a tough time anyway this past couple of days." Emma said casually as she got up.
"What are you talking about?" Her mother asked with a look of concern.
"I don't know," Emma rubbed her head. "She's been quite down lately and I think she's still upset about my whole arm thing and then there's leaving Erin behind as well which she's obviously not okay with. I think there's something else too but I won't go into it right now." Emma briefly glanced at Henry. "I'm sorry this has upset you, kid. Please don't worry about her."
"How could I not be worried about her, she's my mom."
"I know kid." Emma said sympathetically. She leant down and kissed him on the head.
The former queen was a lump under the covers and judging by the foot hanging out of the bed, she had changed back into her pyjamas. Emma walked to the bed and perched down on the edge.
"Whatcha up to?" She said softy. Regina didn't move. She was facing away from her with the large duvet covering most of her body and face.
After a minute with no response Emma kicked off her shoes and got into the bed and under the covers. She shuffled over to the softly breathing figure and wrapped her arms around her waist the best she could with a sling on one arm and the minimal access to Regina's body with the other. The brunette's warm hands met hers and she leant her head back against her appreciatively. Emma kissed her cheek and frowned as it was wet. She twisted Regina's head softly so she could look at her more clearly.
"You've been crying," she acknowledged, looking at her elongated eyelashes. "Tell me why you're so upset." Emma pleaded and adjusted her to so they were face to face. She thought they would finally both be happy, that neither of them would ever have to shed a tear for any reason. That fantasy had lasted long.
"I just had a bad night and then coincidently a bad morning." She mumbled into duvet.
"Come here," Emma said and moved the duvet away from her with her good arm. Regina rubbed her eyes. She looked tired. The sheriff observed her features with concern. "Did you have another nightmare last night?"
Regina blinked slowly then nodded. "It wasn't too bad. Vivid dreams in general just seem to drain me. It seems my body uses up all of its vital energy just to mentally torture me in my sleep."
"What did you dream about?"
"It was just a petty night-terror. It really was nothing." She deflected. The natural light of the bedroom and the sunlight creeping through the curtains highlighted Regina's face, softening her sharp features.
"Please, for me?" Emma looked at her with the cutest face she could muster, a desperate final attempt to get her to open up to her.
"If you must know, it was about my time as the evil queen. It was a splendid composition of all my most haunting memories. Either hurting or being hurt. Then it merged into our upcoming return to Storybrooke and everyone remembered what I did to them. Those who had forgotten remembered and then they built a clan and all tried to kill me. I've had that kind of dream before, I used to get them a lot when you were after me."
"Me?"
"Yes. You used to always lead the little army. Rather amusing now when I come to think about it." Regina sat up and tucked her hair behind her ears.
"Well I'm sorry that I used to lead the army in your dreams. I wasn't exactly the nicest person back then. And your dream sounds awful. You should have told me you were so upset," Emma tucked a dark strand of hair behind her ear. The brunette's hair had grown quite a bit in their stay here. It looked cute in a pony-tail. We in Emma's eyes she looked cute no matter what. Regina shook her head softly.
Emma leant closer and gave her a soft kiss. "I want you to be happy and I want you to be okay with us returning back to Storybrooke because we are not leaving if you're not."
"Emma it's not a big deal, seriously. I'll go. Of course I'll go. I'm not some petulant child and besides, I'll be wherever you and Henry are and if that's Storybrooke then so be it."
"But you're worried about going back."
"Emma I love you. I'll get over it and if they wouldn't dare cross me anyway. One glint of magic and they're running before I can whisper the word 'abracadabra'. I'll be fine."
"And Erin?" Emma asked as she picked up a strand of Regina's hair and started twiddling it between her fingers. She was aware of how much Erin meant to her and also knew how much it hurt Regina to let her go, if only temporarily.
With Erin's ever-growing presence Regina worried that she'd become reliant on Erin's support and wouldn't be able to cope without it. It didn't take her long to realise she had survived this long without a certified shrink so what was stopping her continuing it without one? But it wasn't the fact that she was a shrink –even though she switched on her shrink capabilities in almost every conversation- it was the familiar feel to her. The natural comfort that only came with someone you knew well or a family member you had that blood-sharing bond with.
"I feel like I'm losing a family member yet she isn't even deceased."
"You will see her regularly. You could her see her even weekly if that's what you wanted. If you can transport all five of us back I doubt you'd have trouble with just yourself," she pulled Regina close against her in the soft bed, "We could even allocate time for you to visit her and of course in holidays and stuff we'll all go see her as a family."
"As a family?"
"Yeah. Me, you, Henry, Mary Margaret and David. Or if you'd prefer it just me, you and Henry then that would be cool too. I don't think they'd mind too much."
"You're sweet, I appreciate your effort, Swan."
"Swan," Emma mocked, "Is that all I am to you- a surname?" She jokily teased. "I'll put Mills at the end of every sentence too. It doesn't get much more personal than that.
Regina smiled. "You know Swan is purely based on affection. It just means I have feelings for you.
"Right…" Emma smirked. She leant forward and placed a kiss on Regina's cheek. "I love you."
Regina returned a kiss to the lips and said, "I love you too," they lay down and Regina rested her head on her chest. "I'm so glad you're okay."
"You shouldn't worry so much," Emma said softly, stroking her cheek with the back of her thumb. Regina lay enjoying the content silence. It was calm and refreshing and it meant nothing was happening right now. They just had this moment to lie together and get lost in the silence. She stared at the ceiling she'd barely noticed before. The plaster had been swirled into circular patterns and then painted white. It looked rather artistic.
She could hear the soft breeze outside and smell the freshness of the grass and flowers. The empty space around the manor always brought natural air-freshener style smells into the house. They needn't buy the chemicals.
"What are you thinking about," Emma blinked as she watched her.
"Do you think Henry is going to settle back in once we return?" Regina queried. "He's missed so much school and I'm worried that he might have lost some of his friends upon his abrupt disappearance. He doesn't exactly have that many to start with."
Emma looked at her. "That's because he's so much smarter than them. He'll be fine. No one likes Strorybrooke as much as Henry Mills."
"Do you think he should be called Henry Swan?" Regina suddenly asked.
"What?" Emma pushed herself up and Regina sat up and slowly crossed her legs. Emma tucked her hair behind her ears and stared, waiting for an explanation.
"Well he's yours too so maybe it'd be more appropriate as Swan," she said simply.
"No, I'm perfectly fine with his surname as it is. That way he's both of ours."
"You by blood, me by name," Regina voiced.
Emma nodded, "Are you okay? You're acting weird."
"I'm perfectly fine, just a little nervous." She adjusted her red shirt. Her clothing brought rather chilling flashbacks to the day Greg had nearly electrocuted her to death. She often wondered if she'd still be breathing if David and Mary Margaret hadn't run in when they did; probably not.
"Or Swan-Mills?" Regina suddenly said. "But that would sound like we're married and we're not married. Do you think we should be married?" She spluttered.
"Regina breathe!" Emma grabbed her forearm and held it. "Just stop worrying, stop over-thinking. Are you serious about the married thing?"
Regina shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."
"I can see it one day, I can. Just not this minute, we'll talk about it when you're feeling a little bit better about things." Emma smiled to her.
Regina nodded and looked at her appreciatively, "at least one of us is holding it together. I'm sorry I'm being so irrational today. Let's go downstairs, I want to spend some time with Henry today before we go back." She gave Emma a chaste kiss and got up. The sheriff followed her and they went down to the kitchen.
Mary Margaret presented a very large dish of lasagne with oversized oven gloves around her hands. Henry and Regina were preparing the salad and Emma and David were getting the drinks and setting the table, or countertop in this case.
David and Mary Margaret had made a serious effort fixing up the kitchen. It looked like one from a catalogue. There was a large island counter in which they'd chosen to have their last meal. The kitchen was the complete opposite to the other rooms of the house. They'd assumed Patrick, the real owner of the house, had began to renovate the house and started with the kitchen. That would explain the one hundred year time jump when you went from the dining room to the kitchen.
Erin Liberty would be arriving shortly. She only had one session that morning so she'd have lots of time to get ready and make something for dessert. Lunch was just being served when she got there. She had two bottles of wine under her arms and an apple pie in her hands. She came to a dilemma when she met the large front door. She looked down at her overly full arms. If she even moved them one of the wine bottles would probably slip out and smash. She bit her lip and looked around. The outstretch of land around the house was completely empty. She shrugged, satisfied and nodded her head towards the door. She concentrated as the latches opened themselves and the door flew open.
She smiled to herself and strode in. She looked a little sheepish as she came face to face with Emma.
"I see you made your way in." Emma smirked. "Ooh let me get some of that from you," she exclaimed as she saw the balancing act taking place in Lady Liberty's arms. She carefully took the bottles of wine from under her arms and led her towards the kitchen. She placed them down on the counter and Erin put the pie down too.
"I can actually greet you now." Erin smiled and pulled her into a friendly hug, "hi."
"Hi." Emma smiled. "Regina's in the dining room with Henry. It got a bit crowded in here so they relocated with their salad making."
"I see." Erin smiled. "How are you? How's your arm?"
"I'm good. My arm is just numbly sore. The pain meds are more than enough so I barely feel it anymore."
"That's very good to hear," Erin smiled pleasantly. "How are you feeling about your grand departure today?"
"Quite a mixture of feelings. Regina's not feeling the best about it so I'm worried for her but aside from that generally happy. It'll be nice to see the people there again. It's been quite a while…"
"Yes, we didn't exactly meet on the best of circumstances here."
"No," Emma smiled. "I'm glad we did meet though. You're a very nice person and a very good shrink." Emma nodded confidently.
"Why thank you," Erin chuckled.
Mary Margaret looked over and smiled, approaching. "Erin, hi!" She enveloped her in a hug in which Erin returned.
"Hello," Erin smiled. "I feel like it's my birthday or something."
"We're just all going to really miss you," Emma said. "We need to work out when we're going to see you. Actually I should call Patrick. He might be cool with letting us stay here. If he isn't then I'll just blackmail him." She said cheerily whilst picking up the communal phone from the side. It was primarily Mary Margaret's but no one else had a cell here so it was now anyone's.
"Blackmail?" Erin asked Mary Margaret as Emma walked away.
"Patrick, her brother when she was little, the one who shot her. She didn't do anything in terms of law enforcement even though she technically couldn't since we're trespassing but she doesn't know that and neither does he actually. I think he loves her from when they were kids anyway. He seems to do what she says."
"Oh I see. Is he still the most hated person of all?" Erin asked with amusement.
"Not as much as before but David, Regina and I aren't his biggest fans to say the least." Mary Margaret explained. She suddenly looked down at her own stomach with a puzzled look. "I'm sorry you'll have to excuse me for a minute." She walked with a quick pace out of the room and into the bathroom.
David had been watching with a confused expression. "What happened?" He asked Erin.
"I don't know. Something just came over her." Erin said with a furrowed brow.
"I should go and check if she's alright." He said. "Thanks."
"What made you sick?" David asked rubbing her back as his wife leant over the toilet sick. Mary Margaret was never sick, he was concerned.
"I remember this feeling," she said looking very pale.
"What is it?"
"David I think I could be pregnant."
"Oh my god," he said in shock. He couldn't help but beam. She smiled too and wrapped her arms around his neck. He hugged her tight and didn't stop smiling. When they pulled away she had tears in her eyes. "Are you okay?" He asked with sudden concern.
"Yes. These are happy tears, I promise." She smiled wide.
He frowned for a moment. "But when did we…?"
"When they were watching that film and Emma kept shouting at us." Mary Margaret smiled. "We forgot to…"
"Yeah." He laughed. "I'm so happy, Snow."
"You've not called me that in ages."
"You're my Snow White." He smiled and hugged her again.
"You're my prince Charming."
They were all sat at the counter in their places when Mary Margaret and David finally returned. They had gone upstairs so that Mary Margaret could brush her teeth and be a little more presentable before the meal.
"Where have you been?" Emma asked. She was hungry and tired and she wanted to tell them what she and Patrick had agreed on the phone.
Mary Margaret grinned and she sat down on one of the stools. David couldn't help but smile also.
Henry looked at them with a puzzled expression. "What is it?"
"Do you think we should?" Mary Margaret asked David quietly. "I mean you're not supposed to until like twelve weeks or someth-"
"Mary Margaret's pregnant!" He outburst.
"What?" Emma said elated shock. Regina's eyes widened and she smiled. Henry grinned and Erin smiled. Emma got up and went round to them. She gave her mom a close hug and even kissed her on the cheek.
"This is amazing." Emma smiled.
"I'm glad you think so." Mary Margaret laughed and hugged her again.
"Are you sure you're pregnant?"
"I was just sick and I got that strong weird feeling in my stomach I got when I was pregnant with you. It's an unmistakeable sensation Emma. I had it the full nine months with you and it gets stronger the further along I get."
"I know what you mean." Emma smiled. "I had the same feeling with Henry," She looked over to him who smiled to her.
She hugged David too. He was happy she was okay with this. It felt irrational now but they were both a bit unsure of how Emma would take this. This baby would actually get its parents. They worried she would be jealous in some way. Thankfully she was nothing but thrilled.
Regina got up and gave them both a hug also. "I'm happy for you." She smiled.
"Thank you," Mary Margaret said. "It's much appreciated." David nodded in agreement.
"Will that baby be related to me?" Henry asked as he approached them all. Erin got up with him.
"Of course," Emma smiled. "It'll be your auntie or uncle."
"You're going to get a brother or sister." Henry smiled, happy for her.
"I am." Emma nodded. She wrapped her arm around Regina's shoulders and held her close. Regina smiled appreciatively and wrapped her arm around Emma's back.
"This food is delicious." Erin exclaimed as they all ate their lunch. It was quite a dinner-like lunch but it was their last meal so it had to be special. Everyone was half way through their lasagne and was happily drinking wine or blackcurrant cordial in Henry and Mary Margaret's case.
"Thank you," Mary Margaret smiled. "I think it is rather nice also. I love the salad." She gave a nod to Regina and Henry. Regina smiled.
"I can't believe how amazing this kitchen looks," Emma's eyes darted around the shiny room, taking it all in. Regina was sat beside her and kept sneaking glances to her as she wasn't looking. She couldn't help but reminisce their time here.
"Do you remember on the very first day we got here and I had that nightmare and then threw you across the room when you woke me up?" Regina asked with an amused smile.
Emma looked at her and nodded. "It's hard to forget you nearly breaking my wrist." She smirked. "But do you remember you asked me to hold you and I did and it was really weird for both of us because we weren't close at all."
"I just really needed someone that day. Thanks for being there when you were," The former mayor said quietly. Most people eating at the countertop still heard.
"It's fine, honeybee." Emma said, proud at her newfound nickname.
"Good name," David said from across the counter.
"Yeah, it describes her personality perfectly, couldn't find a better name myself." Mary Margaret added sarcastically.
Regina smiled and shook her head in amusement. "You're lucky we're family, Snow. You're very lucky."
"I am." Mary Margaret said it seriously and the humour of the conversation vanished but it was a nice feeling at the same time. Regina gave her a soft nod. Despite wearing her old attire, Regina looked relatively friendly. She was wearing little to no make-up, only a weak lipstick she had managed to buy whilst in town, and she had her hair up in a ponytail: A look on her that was new to them all. As her hair had grown out a little it was now easier just to sweep it up into a pony. Emma really liked it anyway.
"Why are you looking at me?" Regina asked, a little unsettled but smiling all the same.
"I was just thinking about how cute you look."
"I got nothing on you, honey." Regina smirked. She leaned forward and placed a kiss on Emma's lips.
Henry rolled his eyes, "get a room." He muttered quietly to himself. Erin, the only one closest enough to hear widened her eyes.
Regina looked over at her. "Oh god, what did he say."
"Nothing." She regained her polite smile. She looked at Henry who was looking sheepish and a little desperate and she made her decision. "He was just telling me a story about you being here. It was rather interesting and caught my attention." She fake-explained. Henry looked at her thankfully. He couldn't handle another appropriate-things-to-say speech from his mom's. He was growing tired of them and it was only going to get worse the older he got.
"Oh what was the story Henry?" Mary Margaret asked with interest.
He felt the pressure to think fast but soon composed himself. "I was just telling her about that day in the rain when we had that water fight and my mom's were making-out and they both got soaked and all shivery."
"Yes, that was an interesting day." Regina bit her lip a little guiltily. The shivering was definitely worth it.
Mary Margaret smiled as she remembered them coming in literally leaving puddles on the floor beneath them. She'd got them both towels and did her best to warm them up. She remembered Regina being surprised with her hospitality. It always amused her when she managed to surprise Regina.
"Who's ready for dessert?" Erin suddenly asked.
Emma looked around at everyone's empty plates, "I think we all are. What did you bring?" She asked with intrigue.
"Apple pie."
Everyone looked around one another and smirked.
"Oh the irony." Mary Margaret finally said.
"What is it?" Erin asked with a confused expression.
"Regina has a massive apple fetish." Emma smiled. "It's just funny because you two are so alike."
"That was amazing," David said, placing his spoon down.
"Yeah, way better than Regina's." Emma said playfully. Regina raised her eyebrows at her and gave her a jokey nudge. They hadn't meant to but the pair had shuffled closer together at some point. Mary Margaret had noticed this and it was sweet. She found them very sweet to watch in general.
"I think we should make a toast." The matriarch said. Everyone nodded and raised their glasses, waiting for her to say something. "Why don't we go around and each say something." She suggested. "Something we're all thankful for."
"This feels like thanksgiving." Emma said.
Mary Margaret nodded. "To Emma and Regina." She said as she held her glass up. Emma and Regina both raised their eyebrows and smiled. Next around the counter was David.
"To our new baby." He grinned. They all smiled. Next was Erin.
"To meeting you all." She said proudly.
"To my new auntie or uncle." Henry said excitedly.
Regina tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "To my new auntie," she smiled, lightly tipping her glass in the direction of Erin. Erin smiled with appreciation.
"To new relationships in general." Emma said looking at Regina. "And to this beautiful, beautiful house."
"To the manor house." Mary Margaret concluded as their glasses met in the middle.
"To the manor house." Everyone chorused cheerily. Once everyone had clinked glasses there was suddenly a strong sense that it was time to go.
Erin cleared the table, Mary Margaret and David cleared the dishes, Emma and Regina left hand in hand to make sure the house was tidy and in order and Henry just sat there at the counter watching everyone move around him. He felt like he was frozen in time watching the world pass by. It was a very freeing feeling.
"You look like you're thinking up a storm there, Henry." Erin sat down beside him. She was wearing a casual pair of dark jeans and a stylish purple blazer. Her hair was up with a few escapee strands of hair hanging around her face. She was a familiar face to them all now. They'd only just gotten to know her but she seemed to be already part of this big, long Mills-Swan-Nolan family. She was proud to be part of it.
"I was just thinking about my family and how I'm happy I did what I did."
"What did you do?" Erin asked rather worriedly.
Henry didn't notice as Emma and Regina re-entered the kitchen. "Neal fell down Tamara's portal but it shut and I threw down the magic bean that opened the portal to get us here. It's all my fault we've been trapped here." He admitted with a smile.
"Henry!" Both of his mothers screamed at once.
He smirked and shrugged. "It got you two together."
"Was this one of your operations?" Emma asked, stepping closer suspiciously.
"Operation SwanQueen. And it's complete."
I know some people wanted a chapter back in Storybrooke so that could be the epilogue if that's what you wish? Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this fic. :)