Chap 29
*Present*
"I was beginning to think that all these places I was being sent to were just filled with lots of gifts." Regina admitted. "But I was so relieved to find out that they weren't all presents." She smiled at Mal sitting on the sofa next to her and Maleficent sent her a loving grin in return. "I was hoping that she didn't think she had to buy my love. I was so glad when I got to the next place and I didn't find an expensive gift there, otherwise I was going to stop following the notes."
&%&%&%&%&%&%&
*Three Days Ago*
Regina reached the top floor penthouse once again and she took the note attached to the door. 'Go on in, there's a stopper in the door. When you go in, check all the places you remember. XOXO.' She lazily pushed the door open and looked down at what held the door open for her. She bent over to pick it up and she noticed the note on the bottom. 'This was one of the heels I threw at the door during our first fight. I'm glad you came back.'
Even though everything else she'd received during this little scavenger hunt had annoyed her a bit, this note made her smile the most and she giggled, putting the shoe down on the coffee table in the family room when she entered it. The second she set the shoe down she saw something on the glass table. She picked it up, seeing that it was the picture of Lily and Maleficent faced down. On the back the picture read, 'I love how great you already are with Lilith and you've only met twice.'
Finally, the notes were beginning to make her smile more and she moved into the dining room, picking up the note on the table. 'I still remember how I felt the first time we kissed. But I will never forget the first time we'
It stopped right there and the twenty year old flipped the note over, looking to see if Mal had finished what she was saying on the back, but it was blank, causing an embarrassed look on her face as she knew what the blonde meant by it anyway. She left the note on the table and walked over to the spot on the floor where they first made love. The tiny piece of paper on the floor said nothing, but there was a heart on it. She picked it up and held it to her own heart before curiously walking into the bedroom.
On the bed lay a bouquet of flowers and a small note on the ribbon that held them together. 'I heard you liked lilies. Ironic, huh? Please take these with you on the rest of your journey.'
"The rest of my journey?" She looked up seeing a second note on one of the pillows. She was starting to miss the sound of Mal's voice, but seeing her handwriting sort of made up for it. 'Just so you know...You're the best sex I've ever had.' She blushed but felt a bit of confidence. 'Even though I was a nervous wreck. I've never told you why. I didn't want to disappoint you somehow as well as you were the first woman I've ever touched. Also, you're so young and I was frightened to know how I'd feel about loving someone your age. But, there's something for you in the bathroom.' Regina walked into the bedroom bathroom and hanging on the shower was her nightie from last night...but it was dry and had a note attached to it. She took it off and read, 'This is for later.' Mal had also drawn a face with a wink at the end of the message.
She smirked and went out into the family room, walking over to the door to leave. On the inside of the door there was a sign that said to go downstairs. '...And don't forget your flowers.'
She smiled at the bouquet in hand and she headed for the lobby once again. As the elevator doors opened, she found Jefferson standing there, waiting for her. "Hello, Regina." He smiled at her.
"Jefferson, is it?" He offered his elbow out to her.
"May I escort you to your ride?"
"My ride?" She wondered. Upon seeing his nod, she took his arm gladly with her right hand, the bouquet of flowers in the other. "Where are we headed?" She asked as he held the limousine door open for her.
"I'm not allowed to tell you." She raised an eyebrow at him and he added, "But I am allowed to offer you some champagne." He closed the door and she was confused.
"Champagne? I'm not old enough to drink yet. Why would-" She opened the little cooler in the back of Gold's limo and she found yet another note in there. "Ah." Now it made sense to her.
The note, however, made her click her tongue as it stated, 'Don't even think about it, babe. I know you would've taken a sip (or a couple) during your rebellious days in college, but not now. Leave the alcohol in the fridge and leave the bouquet in the car when you arrive at your next stop. Meanwhile, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Love you.'
"Ha! 'Love you.'" Regina scoffed as she couldn't help but giggle a little bit. "Mal, when are you going to be at one of these stops so I can slap you?" She asked herself jokingly. She sighed, setting the note in her lap and taking her advice of just sitting back and enjoying the ride.
The next one? A familiar place, more to her than to Maleficent. Jefferson helped her out of the car and she was extremely curious as to see what could possibly be here. She walked in, delighted to see that the place was empty. Well, almost.
"Milady." Killian bowed to her as if she were a queen when she entered All Hands On Neck:Hair and Spa. She took his hand when he offered it to her and he kissed the back of hers as she looked around for a sign or a note. There was nothing. "If you will." The dark haired man led her to his chair and she sat down, expecting to catch a message on his mirror or on his counter, but nothing.
"What are you doing?" She asked when he began to take her ponytail out.
"You'll see." He grinned at her reflection and he continued to give her a new hairstyle, a nice small braid half up, half down and the rest loosely curled with a cute accessory added to the top of the braid accentuated with a white and blue flower and some rhinestones. After he finished her hair he turned her chair around and did a simple layer of makeup. A very light shade of blush on her cheeks and a skin colored gloss along with skin colored eye shadow made with sparkles to give her brown eyes a bit of a pop.
Killian let her see her hair and makeup before helping her up out of the chair. He stood behind her and again she asked, "What are you doing?"
"Last year, Lilith gave me this necklace and now you may borrow it." He put the necklace on her and she realized that HE was the note. After he put it on, she picked it up off her chest and looked down at it. It was a small heart shaped locket and she opened it, revealing the two photos inside. One of Maleficent and one of Lilith. She closed it, turning around and hugging Killian.
"I don't know what all of this is for...but thank you for participating in these shenanigans." She laughed and they stopped hugging. He nodded to her before bringing her to the door where Jefferson was waiting to help her back into the limousine to drive off once again.
"Where are we going this time?" She yelled to Jefferson in the driver's seat. She couldn't see his face, but she could tell by the way his cheek bone and ear perked up that he was smiling and refusing to tell her anything. She folded her arms across her chest and smiled, looking out the window.
It was now starting to get dark and she noticed the small amount of street lights that flickered on as they drove down many familiar roads. Once she saw the people standing on the streets outside, she realized where they were headed and she got chills for some unknown reason. She was hoping Maleficent would be here and this would be her last stop, but a part of her knew better when she walked up the stairs to Mal's apartment.
"Hello?" She knocked on the door. "Belle?" She called through and there was no answer. "Mal?" She shrugged her shoulders to herself and knocked again. "Am I just supposed to walk in? She asked, deciding to try and turn the doorknob. It opened and she half expected to see someone in there, at least Belle with Lily...but there was no one. She sighed and looked around. "This is getting ridiculous." She told herself, knowing that as much as she wanted to stop, she just wanted to see Mal, so she wouldn't.
After searching the whole of the apartment, she noticed that she hadn't checked the bathroom yet. She walked in and it was filled with steam as if someone had taken a shower. This made her realize that someone must've JUST been there if the steam was still engulfing the bathroom. This one was easy and she knew that there must be a note on the mirror written in the fog. She turned and saw the words, 'Your dress and shoes are new. You're getting closer and closer to the end...Only two.'
"Only two? Two more stops?" She wondered. "Finally!"
She went back down to the car and told Jefferson to drive as fast as possible. It was almost pitch black outside when she reached their next destination. He helped her out and when she walked around the car, she was so excited to see another person. "Zelena! Finally! Was this all your idea?"
The redhead smiled and said nothing as she took her little sister's hand and helped her through the grass in her heels. Regina looked around the field, wondering who else knew about all this and Zelena brought her to the back of the concession stand, reading a note in her hand. "'This was where I first met your sister and she first accepted us together. You should be grateful to her as I am,'" Zelena stopped as she got a bit choked up, "'...she's the reason tonight is possible.'" The older Mills daughter tried her best to stop any tears from falling before she handed Regina a small box.
"Not another present." Regina said as she took it and began to open it.
"This one's from me." Zelena said.
The younger of the two opened it and her eyes widened when she saw what was inside. "My charm bracelet! I thought I lost this."
"No. I did. Remember my sixth grade dinner dance? With Philip, when you were like 8 or 9?" Regina nodded. "I wore it to the dance and I took it off because it was bothering me. I couldn't find it after that and I felt so guilty that I never told you."
"Well, where did you find it?" Regina wondered as she put it on.
"I found it in my jacket pocket a couple weeks later, but it was too late to give it back to you because I didn't find it until I was in London."
"For boarding school." Regina finished and Zelena nodded.
"There, so now you have something old and maybe you'll forgive me?"
Regina sighed and hugged her sister. "Of course I can forgive you." When she pulled out of the hug she added, "I don't know if I'll be able to forgive you for tonight, but-"
"You will." Zelena giggled and she handed her the yellow manila envelope she had in hand.
On the front it read, 'Don't open until I say so. You're almost there.' Her big sister took her forearm and walked her back to the limo, getting in with her.
"Lena, when are you going to tell me what's going on here?" Regina was too anxious to wait til the next stop, but Zelena refused to tell her. "Where are we headed next? Back to the hotel? I can't think of anywhere else I've been with Mal."
"You've never been to this next stop." Zelena admitted.
"Oh." The brunette said with a questionable look on her face. "But is it really the last one?" She seemed desperate for the answer to be yes.
"That's for you and Maleficent to decide."
Regina looked at her sister suspiciously and the car came to a halt.
