I have fixed the formatting problem, I have no idea what happened but thank you to all the people who let me know!
Here it is the last chapter, I hope it is up to scratch! An epilogue will follow this but the main body of the story is for now finished. I hope you all enjoyed it, I certainly have enjoyed writing it. As always thank you for all the support and let me know if you enjoyed it.
If Henry is surprised to see both of his mother's heading down the steps to greet him when he arrives the next morning he does not show it. Instead he laughs and runs up to them letting the two of them bundle him up in a hug. Regina pulls back and ruffles his hair, unable to stop herself from giving him a quick once over to check for any visible injury.
"You need a shower," Regina says a smile making her eyes crinkle.
"She's right Kid you stink." Emma grouses him, pushing him towards the open door of the manor. Once he is out of sight both women make their way towards David, who is pulling Henry's things out of his trunk.
"I trust that Henry behaved himself this weekend." Regina inquires, Emma cannot help but do a double take, Regina had been so relaxed over the last twelve hours that Emma had forgotten about the edge that crept into her voice when she was speaking to most people. Luckily for David he quickly assured her that Henry had been fine and that everybody had fun over the weekend causing Regina to visibly relax.
"Listen David," Emma gives Regina a meaningful look before turning her attention back to David, "Is there any chance I could borrow you truck today? We have something we want to do." Regina turns quickly, her hand finding Emma's forearm.
"Today?" She asks eyes boring into Emma's making her feel like she is being x-rayed, dropping her voice so that only Emma can hear. "I do not want to push you into it."
Emma nods placing her hand over the tops of Regina's, "I promise you that I want to be with you." She says echoing the words from the night before and seeing Regina smile. The smaller woman nods before grabbing Henry's bags with a surprising strength and carrying them into the house leaving Emma and David alone. He smiles knowingly at her but does not say anything. Despite the fact whole mess he made with Katherine and Mary Margaret Emma finds that she does actually enjoy spending time with this man, he is unassuming and kind.
"Thanks for the truck" Emma shoves her hands into her pockets still not used to relying on people, "I could have used the bug for the job but it will be easier this way."
"Don't worry about it, I'll have it to you as soon as I have dropped off my things. Am I to assume you might need help lifting boxes?" He speaks in a kind tone and his easy smile is what stops Emma from retreating as she normally does when people try to get familiar with her. Instead she returns his smile.
"Nah, you're probably going to be needed to soothe Mary Margaret and I want to minimise the number of people Regina will reduce to quivering wrecks under her organisational skill."
"I heard that." Emma flinches as a word comes drifting towards her, Regina has returned with a wry smile on her face. "She is right though." These words are directed at David who lets out a surprised laugh.
"Henry is almost finished his shower and we should talk to him before we go over to your apartment." Emma nods and after the pair of them bid David goodbye they head to face their son together.
Henry is rummaging around in the cupboards of the kitchen when they arrive back inside, his hair still wet and plastered to his head. He opens the cupboard full of dried fruit and other healthy items, shaking his head he pushes passed them and retrieves an open pack of cookies. Emma laughs as Regina huffs at Henry finding her secret stash. He just smiles cheekily and offers them both one.
"Henry we have to talk to you." Regina's voice is tense, Emma's hand quickly finds its way into hers and gives it a quick pulse. This visibly relaxes Regina who still struggles with the idea that Henry is no longer looking for a reason to reject her.
"Emma do you live here now?" He asks casually taking a seat in preparation for the talk they were about to have with him. Emma laughs a big barking laugh, as Regina sighs and leans her weary weight against Emma's causing the blonde to wrap her arms around her slight frame. Henry frowns at their reactions.
"I will once you help me haul my boxes Kid."
[xx]
"Emma!" Mary Margaret squeaks as Emma walks in, the blonde had been trying to come in as quietly as possible, she is absolutely dreading this part of the moving process. So much so that she had bullied Regina and Henry into waiting an extra hour before they came to help her so that she could talk to her roommate in peace. The elementary teacher flings her arms around Emma causing them both to stumble.
"Listen Mary Margaret," Emma begins detangling herself from the other women. There was no easy way to do this so she just took a deep breath. "I am moving out."
"Well of course you are, it seems obvious given the circumstances." Mary Margaret laughs putting a hand on Emma's arm, "It's lucky that you are moving in with someone else because you have no kitchen app-"
"Wait, what do you mean by given the circumstances?" Emma questions, and Mary Margaret suddenly tenses.
"Well with the development in yours and Regina's relationship…" Mary Margaret mumbles.
"Wait," Emma says holding her hand up, "you knew that Regina was going to ask me to move in with her?" Mary Margaret promptly lowers her gaze to the ground, and shrugs.
"I just figured with the progress that you guys are making it was only a matter of time." She mumbles before running off to pull boxes out of the cupboard, and talking about how Emma could take the blanket that she used all the time with her since it was more Emma's than it was hers anyway. Emma senses a lie, and watches the brunette for several minutes. Mary Margaret is determinedly chattering about moving and obviously ignoring Emma. Eventually she shrugs, and moves to start packing her few meagre belongings whatever Mary Margaret was lying about just now could be dealt with later.
By time Regina pulls up Mary Margaret and Emma have already divided up all of their belongings and the majority of Emma's things are in already in boxes. The teacher is outside placing a box in the truck when they climb out of the car. Henry waves at his teacher and runs up the stair, Regina nods in the direction of the other woman and is surprised when she calls after her.
"Mayor Mills," She calls, Regina spins on her heel and regards the other woman. Of all the people in the town why was it that Emma had to become friends with this one? Mary Margaret sets the box down and takes a few steps towards the mayor. "You know I expected Emma to come today with slightly different news."
It is an innocent enough statement but it makes Regina's blood boil, she had also expected Emma to be bringing quite different news.
"Circumstances change." She grinds out and much to her chagrin Mary Margaret smirks slightly and says nothing but her expression tells a different story. Despite the fact that she did not having a ring she had in fact asked Emma to marry her but the blonde had been so distracted last night and frankly a little moody so when Regina had asked her she had missed it. When the time came for her to ask again all her courage had left her and she asked Emma to move in with her instead. Perhaps it was better they took small steps anyway.
"Either way I am happy for the both of you." It was spoken in such a genuine way but it unexpectedly made Regina's throat close up, but she manages a small nod anyway.
They make their way upstairs in the closest thing to a companionable silence that the pair of them can manage, and when they open the door they find Emma and Henry locked in an embrace. Hearing the door open they part but Regina instantly spots the tears in Henry's eyes and is by his side in his instant.
"Henry!" She kneels at his side and pushes the hair away from his face looking into his eyes, "what is wrong? Are you hurt?"
He shakes his head managing to give her a watery smile, "no I am just happy for you guys is all." He then engulfs her in a hug, over his shoulder Regina's catches Emma's eye who gives a small shrug. One that Regina does not buy for a single second. Something had definitely just happened, but now she had her family together she had all the time in the world to find out what it was.
[xx]
They really should have thought about it before Emma actually moved, but both women are known for being a little impetuous so it is no wonder they had not. Emma did not have much but Regina had carefully crafted order into every corner of her life. Making space for Emma in it was quite tricky.
"Jesus Regina" Emma throws her hands up in exasperation, "you have a closet big enough to home a family and you can't make space for my single suitcase of clothes!"
Regina clicks her tongue impatiently as if she is being forced to explain a problem to a child and the child was being particularly obtuse.
"You have to understand dear, that everything has its place and I am just trying to maintain order."
"So there is no place for me then?" Regina freezes her head whipping round to observe the other woman in the room. Up until this point their bickering had been playful, full of the excitement of the next chapter in their lives, but in a flash Emma's insecurities were right back to the forefront of both their minds.
Bridging the gap between them Regina stands mere inches from Emma forcing the blonde to meet her eyes, her hands on the slender waist.
"If it were necessary I would throw out each and every one of my dresses." Emma laughs imagining the anguish Regina would go through if actually faced with that ultimatum.
"How about your shoes?" She asks revelling in how quickly the other woman can make her feel at ease, Regina wrinkles her nose at the suggestion.
"Now you're pushing it dear, however," she pushes herself away from Emma and towards the pile of clothes lying, she picks up one of the few dresses lying there and holds it up. It is short and a shocking pink, it is actually the one she was wearing the first time she met Henry but she had changed out of it before driving him here. "Who do I have to seduce to get you to wear this?"
Emma winks saucily but is stopped from doing anything as the sound of Henry's feet clomping up the stairs warns them to keep a safe distance from one another.
"If you play your cards right, I'll wear it the next time I take you out."
"Oh you're taking me out are you? It is presumptuous of you to assume I will accept" Regina cannot really begin to hide how pleased she is with that development and before Emma can reply Henry comes charging into the room, chewing on an apple from Regina's tree and before Emma knew it the three of them were heading downstairs to forage for leftovers. Emma's could not help but hang back as Henry and Regina playfully bickered with one another over the virtues of salad. They were happy, her family was happy and Emma was getting all she had ever dreamed of.
[xx]
After three weeks of living together a sleepy Monday morning rolls round to Emma lightly prodding Regina's side in an effort to wake her, Regina opens a bleary eyes convinced that something must have happened. Emma was not the type to get up before her.
"Get up sleepy head," Emma murmurs "we have a lot to do today."
"I hope you did not wake me up early to remind me of all the work I have to do today." Regina grumbles turning over.
"No I woke you up early so get you to eat pancakes, we have a lot to do today." This finally catches Regina's attention and she reluctantly sits up spotting a tray of orange juice and apple pancakes waiting for her. "Don't worry I had Henry make them." Emma says with a smile plopping herself down next to her partner.
Regina is still suspicious as she begins to chew what she has to admit are delicious pancakes. "So am I to expect this every Monday from now on?"
"No!" Emma's laugh is light and unfettered but there is something making her tense Regina can tell. "Just on days when you have taken the day off from your official duties and drive to Portland with me."
"Why would I drive to Portland on a Monday?"
"Because I told you I would take you out and I promise to wear my dress." That has Regina's eyebrow's raising as she surveys the still-pyjama clad blonde.
"Henry?"
"He will be at school."
Regina finally and cautiously nods in assent.
"Very well, but I am driving."
"I wouldn't expect it any other way." With a quick peck Emma has disappeared again leaving Regina to her breakfast, she can hear Emma and Henry talking in the next room and tries to push down the knot of worry coiling in her stomach but to is hard to let go of a life time of being suspicious of other people's actions.
They leave almost as soon as Henry is on his way to school, he had definitely been acting odd all morning nudging Emma and winking at every available opportunity. Every time she had spoken to him he had given her an odd look before replying in an overly enthusiastic manner, when they first set off she had asked Emma about it but the blonde had dismissed her concerns pointing out that his moms had moved in together and it is finally setting in for him. He has a right to be excited, he has a right to act strangely.
Instead of this calming Regina done which was the obvious intention it had made her more panicked, what if they did not make it back from Portland before Henry got home from school? He would surely start to think that they were making a new life and leaving him behind. She would not do that to him, she was going to turn the car around.
"Regina, I got up earlier than you did this morning in order to get ready, if you turn us back I will throw a bitch fit." Regina takes her eyes off the road for a moment to look at the woman sat next to her and she had to admit that the blonde looks ravishing. Her hair is perfectly braided and placed on the top of her head with a few wisps hanging artistically loose. Regina, herself had gone for an outfit a little less eye-catching at least that's what she had thought until Emma had audibly gulped when she had exited their closet this morning. She wore a double-breasted black dress with brass buttons with just a hint of lace underneath with hid her cleavage from prying eyes, unusually for her the sleeves were capped leaving her tanned arms bare. She had paired this with a pair of black boots. Since modesty was not one of her strong points she could easily admit that they made one good looking couple.
Huffing Regina settles into the drive and insists on spending the rest of the journey trying to get Emma to spill on why they were taking this trip on such short notice. Honestly Regina was a little nervous having not been out of Storybrooke since she had adopted Henry and the thought of being out of her comfort zone made her feel like her skin was suffocating her.
When they arrive, however, Regina immediately sees why Emma brought her here. It was a beautiful place, under Emma's urgings they spend a little over an hour they wander around the cobbled streets and popping into shops. The weather was beautiful and both women were enjoying soaking up of the unexpected warmth. It was nice to get away from Storybrooke were everyone knew your name and everyone would be spending their evening in Granny's discussing how they saw the sheriff and the mayor laughing as they walked together. Apparently very much in love.
Emma had been to Portland before so she took the lead dragging Regina excitedly from one place to another. Eventually the younger woman's need for coffee won over everything else and she took them for brunch. They were in the arts district and Regina was already making a mental note to come back here with Henry one day, he would love the buzz. She loved it. The restaurant itself had a quaint and homely feel to it, with warm tones and friendly chatter it was the type of place that made Regina feel instantly at ease. As if trying to impress Regina, Emma also ordered a salad when the friendly waiter came round, this earned her some playful teasing from the brunette who was surprised when it was not returned.
Regina watched as Emma played absently with her food despite her earlier insistence that she would die on the spot if they did not go and get something to get. The knot of nervousness that she had pushed aside this morning was back in full force and it took all of Regina's strength to speak steadily.
"What is the matter?" She reaches over and places a reassuring hand on Emma's, and looks noticeably hurt when Emma pulls it away.
"You know there is a phoenix on the seal of this city?" Regina frowns unsure how that is relevant to anything that is going on between them, but she is stopped from saying anything as Emma continues to ramble. "I thought of us when I realised, because you know we rose again after we had destroyed our relationship. Of course it was not easy, it was pretty fucking hard actually."
"Emma," Regina says quietly, cautiously. "I am beyond thankful that we repaired what we have but – "
She is cut of as Emma begin to speak again her eyes wide as if she is panicking "they have some pretty nice jewellers here too did you know that?"
"No." Visually they are the opposite of each other right now, light and dark. Emma fidgeting, eyes darting everywhere. Regina poised and barely moving, barely even breathing her eyes fixed on Emma.
"I was here a few years ago when I stumbled upon a jewellers just round the corner from here, and I could not help but stop to look you know?"
Regina does not reply she feels as if everything in her body has slowed down so much that she could not possibly be asked to form a reply.
"Anyway I had not been in a relationship since Henry's father but I could not help but think that maybe one day…" The blonde trails off her gaze falling to the table as she losing whatever courage she had been holding on to.
"Emma," Regina's voice is gentle but firm she needs to hear the words to know that they are actually happening. She had been worried about moving too fast but now she realises they were on the same page after all.
"Will you marry me Regina?" The words come out in a flurry and the world that was going so slowly for Regina a moment ago grinds to a halt. For a second Regina thinks she has imagined the words but when Emma finally looks up she knows that the words she heard where true.
The she does something that haunts her for years afterwards, all the tension and the anxiety that she had been holding onto al day combined with the surrealism of Emma popping the question first. She laughed. Actually laughed, the hysterical sound bubbling out of her throat before she has the good sense to stop it. Which for course was a terrible thing to do.
Emma goes slack jawed for a second, before scraping back her chair and storming out of the restaurant almost taking a contents of the table with her.
"Shit," Regina says not so quietly, several heads turn in her direction she goes to chase after Emma but stops to slap some notes on the table and grab Emma's jacket. By time she leaves, she just catches a flash of blonde hair fleeing round the corner. Taking off after her, Regina curses her insistence on wearing heeled boots which slow her progress, but by time she has also rounded the corner she realises Emma has stopped running.
She is sitting on the edge of a bench a devastated expression on her face, afraid of scaring her off Regina sits on the bench next to the blonde's, wordlessly handing her the discarded jacket. Emma takes it without looking at her and they sit in silence for several minutes. Regina wants to speak, is desperate to apologise but knows that excuses will only aggravate the excuses.
"I meant what I said when I said I was done running from this. We will get over this but damn Regina…" Emma shakes her head, her voice shaking with ill-concealed rage. Regina nods before she remember that Emma is not looking at her.
"I should not have done that but you misunderstand my reason for doing so." She waits but Emma does not give any indication to having heard her, "Emma Swan; you foolish woman – I will never understand why you have fallen in love with me but I am glad you have. I have been planning on asking you something and as always you beat me to the punch."
Regina figures that she might as well do it right, this is not the situation that she had imagined but she knew now that Emma needed to realise how serious she was. This was not out of remorse for her early actions. Sliding into the space between the two benches, Regina roots in her bag and finds the small box she has been carrying around with her for several days now. The ring had been given to her many moons ago by her father, and she had kept it hidden her whole life waiting for a reason to use it.
She is on one knee before Emma finally acknowledges her, green eyes widening in surprise when she sees the box. Looking Emma dead in the eye Regina speaks with clearly not letting her voice waver from the certainty that she feels.
"Emma Swan, will you marry me?"
"I haven't got you a ring," Emma replies stupidly, causing them both to laugh.
"We can deal with that once you allow me to get off the floor, this tradition is frankly unsanitary."
"Yes." With that word Regina rises to meet Emma with a searing kiss, before breaking away to place the ring on her finger. She had been worried that it would not fit the other woman but as usual her fear were unfounded.
A smatter of clapping breaks out around them, apparently it did not matter where they were, they could not do anything without first making a scene. They smile graciously, as Emma sling an arm around Regina's shoulders and pulls her close before steering her towards the jewellers she had spoken about early.
"Hang on a second?" Regina says playfully shoving Emma away so that she can gives her an incredulous glare. "Henry has been acting strangely for days now."
"Well, I did ask him for his permission, he loves you – he actually gave me a grilling over my intentions."
Regina laughs remembering the strange way he had been acting recently, and she felt contentment creeping into her stomach as she realised that Henry really did want this for her. For them.
"Emma?" She says as they stop outside the shop, she turns to face her fiancée a smile already spreading across her face. "Do you think we are going to be happy?"
Emma leans in to kiss her but stops millimetres before their lips meet, "I think we are going to give it our best shot."