Happy new year guys. Second to last one...
"Wow there. Where are the girls?" Emma stepped back nearly getting run down by Regina storming through the door of Granny's.
Of course she knew she shouldn't have bolted but she couldn't deal with him when he got an idea in his head like that. Usually she could argue, she could compromise or yield or at least listen but this was a topic he should never go near. She'd told him that time after time and still he didn't get it. They're fine without a ring, they don't need marriage or a stupid promise ring. She was his, he knew that. She'd declared that again and again but it clearly wasn't enough.
"Regina? Are you okay?" Emma said again watching Regina's mind race. Something must have happened. Something with her dad?
Hearing her name seemed to snap her from her own thoughts for a second. "They're coming now. I said I'd come and do a last minute check before they came." She lied easily seeming to forget who she was attempting to lie to.
"Right." Emma saw Regina switch off again as she continued to walk to the bar. What on earth had happened?
Emma watched Regina shoot back a bourbon and frowned. "Looking worried, mother."
Turning she saw Liam next to her and smiled softly. "As soon as they get here ask the girls what's wrong with Regina. Report back."
"Sir, yes sir." Liam saluted without question. "I could speak to aunt Regina first."
"Would you?" Emma asked. "She'll find it harder to lie to you."
"No problem, Ma." Liam kissed her cheek and headed for his aunt. "Bourbon?" Was his greeting.
Initially looking annoyed anyone had approached her she turned with a scowl before realising it was Liam. "Um, yes." She replied weakly. "I can buy you one if you forget to tell your mother who bought it you."
"I'd prefer rum personally." Regina heard the smirk in his tone and left out a small laugh.
"Of course you would." She ordered the drink and slipped it to him. "Not a word to your mom."
"I'd never." He smiled at her and saw her smile fade a little. "What's up?"
"Nothing." Regina pepped herself a little.
"Did that line work on Ma?" Usually the use of Ma was subconscious. Henry had always called Emma that so it kind of stuck as he'd grown up but right now he knew the fact that Henry used it too might influence his aunt.
Regina looked almost weary as she turned to him. "I'm guessing not if she sent you over."
"I offered actually." Liam gave a small smile. "She's worried. You coming without grandpa and the twins has put her on edge. She might be a Charming but she still assumes the worst."
"Everything's fine." Regina sipped her drink and felt the eyes of the seventeen year old on her. "David and I had a little disagreement." That was putting it lightly. "Tell her not to worry."
Liam nodded and gave her a hug. "Love you."
"I love you too." Regina kissed his rather high cheek.
The conversation ended with David walking in with the girls, April and Will. The sight of him instantly soured her mood. The second they entered Liam went and greeted them.
Everyone flocked to Emilia and Meredith wishing them a happy birthday and throwing gifts at them but David rushed to Regina like his life depended on it. "Running away is not on, Regina." His heated whisper hit her and she sipped her drink before sneering at him.
"Your stupid proposal wasn't on either so I guess we're even." She shot back in a whisper just as heated. They were very close, to anyone else it might even look normal of the couple.
David almost growled. "I told you it wasn't a fucking proposal. Why are you being like this?"
"The fact you have to ask says too much about how little you listen to me." Her tone got a little more frantic and her voice a fraction louder.
"I do listen!" David raised his voice before doing a quick look around to make sure he hadn't drawn attention to them. It was a good job the music was loud enough. "I listen all the time but you don't return the courtesy. How many times have I said it's not an engagement ring?"
"And how many times have I said I don't want a fucking ring? I don't want one and I certainly don't need one. Why can't you just get that into your thick skull?"
"I'm not having this argument with you right now. Not when you're being like this." He drained her glass. "Find me when you've stopped being a spoiled little princess."
It was his turn to walk away leaving her seething at the bar. He'd chosen his last words carefully, that she could tell, and it only seemed to piss her off more. How dare he. She wouldn't be the one to go to him, of that she was certain. Quickly ordering another drink she mingled for a bit trying to keep up appearances but she was angry and sad and hurting. Emma tried again to get to the bottom of what was going on but she told her straight that she didn't want to speak about it. Henry had come over and sat with her for a bit, avoiding asking what was wrong for which she was grateful. She'd cuddled her grown up girls and avoided their questions by giving them compliments and embarrassing them in front of their friends.
It was then Snow who asked her if everything was alright. She'd been good since she got out, Naveen had taken her back and Charlotte was glad to have her mom back. Snow was still cautious around Neal though because he was afraid. It was understandable, she'd electrocuted him to the brink of death and she wouldn't be surprised if she lost her son forever. She hoped she hadn't.
"What's he done?" Snow sat across from Regina in a booth.
Looking up Regina rolled her eyes. "Nothing."
"So you're both sulking for no reason?" Snow knew when David was in a mood, she was his wife for years and she also knew when Regina was in a mood, she'd lived with the woman long enough.
"Exactly." Regina couldn't be bothered explaining it, especially to Leopold's daughter.
Snow scoffed. "Come on, Regina. It's not like I'd tell anyone. I've learned from my mistakes."
"Funny you should joke about that." Regina clenched her jaw before taking a sip of her drink. She'd lost count of what she was on now, she imagined standing may be difficult if she carried on.
Frowning lightly Snow eyed her step mother. She wasn't just in a mood, she was hurt. "What's he done?" Snow repeated and saw Regina cross her jaw slightly before draining the rest of her drink.
"He tried to give me a fucking ring." Regina spat but Snow felt the emotion beneath.
"Engagement?" Snow frowned. "I did wonder why you weren't married."
"I can't do it. I can't get married or engaged or wear his stupid ring. He doesn't seem to get that."
Neither did Snow. "You need to speak to him."
"And give him what he wants? No." Regina let out a sadistic laugh.
"Regina." Snow let out a sigh.
"I'm not taking advice from his ex wife so as much as you might mean well here, leave it the hell alone." Regina left Snow where she was sat. God she was mad.
Looking around she knew she had to go to the girls before they started conspiring, they'd had enough time already to sit and plot. It was Emilia she found first with April, Will, Liam, Toby and Pep surrounding her. Regina guessed Meredith was right about Emilia being one of the boys. "Having a good time?" Regina circled Emilia's neck with her arms and kissed her cheek.
"I am actually." Emilia smiled up at her mom. "It's never as bad as you think, is it?"
"Not usually, no." Regina felt the most relaxed she had the entire night. "Now, I do have to ask, who picked your outfit?"
"Me!" Emilia said in mock hurt. "I did well didn't I?"
"Definitely. I thought Meredith might have forced you into one of the six hundred dresses she bought."
"Tried and failed." Emilia smiled brightly before seeing Meredith widen her eyes from the other side of the room as a signal to Emilia. "I wanted to speak to you, actually."
"I figured as much." Regina gave a small smile before stealing Emilia away from the others and stepping outside with her. No where near as many were outside.
Emilia tucked her hair behind her ear before starting. "You and dad?"
"A little disagreement, that's all." Regina played it down once again.
Shaking her head Emilia sighed. "No it wasn't. You guys don't argue-"
"Of course we do." Regina crossed her arms, partly in defiance and partly due to the cold.
"Not like that." Emilia said firmly. "Yes, you shout. You guys can kick off at times but that worried us. You need to sort things."
"There's nothing to sort, Emilia." Regina matched her harsh tone.
"You're not the one that can see the future." Emilia snapped slightly and saw her mom look like she'd just been winded.
Regina took a second to get over that statement. "You're saying something happens? Something with me and your dad?"
Emilia closed her eyes for a second. "I'm saying there are many roads in the future, many paths and if you don't sort this out you guys might end up on the wrong one." She hugged Regina and sighed on her shoulder. "Please. Just do it for us."
If anything, Emilia knew that last bit would get to her mother. Regina nodded into the hug before pulling back. "Enjoy the rest of your night my love." She kissed her forehead before leaving to go back inside.
The second her mom left Emilia's eyes went purple. 'I've done it.'
'Where are you?'
'Outside. Are you sure we've done the right thing?'
'Yeah, they're already speaking again. Not much but at least they're talking, right?'
'Right.' Emilia confirmed before they were back from each other's heads. Rubbing her arms gently she went back inside and headed for the boys.
*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•
The second Meredith saw her mom and Emilia step outside she slipped away from Lucy and Samantha to find her dad at the bar with her uncle Arthur. "Can I borrow you for a sec, dad?"
"Yeah, sure." David stepped away from Arthur and followed Meredith to the corner of the room. "What's up?"
"I could ask you the same question."
"Ah. This is about your mom." David should have guessed.
"You need to apologise for whatever you've done." Meredith crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows.
David clenched his teeth slightly. "I've told your mother if she wants to speak she can come and find me."
"And how's that working for you?" Meredith questioned cockily.
"I'm not being the one to go to her this time." David felt like a child arguing with his daughter, about her mother no less.
Meredith couldn't believe how stubborn the pair were. "Even if it means you don't stay together?"
"What?" That got his attention.
"I'm an oracle, dad. My purpose is literally to see the future."
"You're saying me and Regina don't stay together?" His breath caught. As much as he was annoyed at her right now he couldn't imagine a life without her now he had her. They wouldn't throw it all away.
Meredith shrugged. "The future is messy but if you don't sort this out you could end up without her, dad. I've seen it and I know it's not what you want. It's not what any of us want. Please fix it."
David nodded and hugged her. "Of course we'll fix it. Don't worry." He pulled back and kissed her forehead before taking off. He needed to find Regina. After a second of looking he saw her enter and went straight to her. "I've been looking for you."
"Yeah I was going to come and find you." Regina looked at him and David saw that vein in her head.
Without speaking they went into the back of Granny's and found a room. Upon entering Regina locked the door with a wave of her hand and sighed. "Snow tried to give me advice." It was her way of breaking the ice and David took it as a sign she was at least ready to speak to him.
"I imagine that went well." He'd wandered further in than Regina had. He was practically on the other side of the room.
"Well." Regina rolled her eyes. "You know me."
"I do." David said and it consumed both of them in silence. "Which is why I don't get it, Regina." He saw her nod slightly and took it as her saying he could go first. "You told me years ago that marriage was off the cards and yes, it hurt for a while but you explained it. I know what that man did to you, I know you could never marry again, no matter who asked. And I do understand that. He hurt you in a way no one should ever be hurt and that's with you now, I can ease it, well, I can try, but it'll never go away. What I don't get is why this ring is so completely off the cards. I'm not proposing, I'm not trying to guilt you into marrying me eventually. All I want is for you to have the token. You don't have to wear it on your finger, it could be a necklace. I just want you to see it and know that I'll always be here for you, no matter what happens, no matter, well, anything." He gave a little smile and saw her drop her eyes from his. "I-"
"No." Regina cut him off and he looked as if he were about to argue before she spoke again quickly. "Just let me explain, please. Just let me say what I have to say and then I'll let you say whatever else you want." David nodded seeing the sincerity in her face. It looked as if she was struggling for her words and it was the first time since they'd started the argument that he saw the pain in her face. "I get angry easily, you know that. I still have that darkness that comes out and tries to protect me when I feel cornered and I know it shouldn't still be like that, not with you. Because I do love you and I do trust you, with everything. I need you to know that this isn't about not trusting you enough or not loving you enough, this is about me." Regina took a breath.
"The last person to give me a ring of any kind trapped me. It was what made me his property, what turned me into an object he could do with as he pleased. The ring I'd been given before that lead to his heart being crushed. I know it's stupid of me to be afraid, I know I'm overreacting but the thought of... of having that ring on my finger." Regina clenched her jaw and closed her eyes. "It makes me feel physically sick." She opened her eyes again and found his. "It makes me want to claw at my insides just to stop it all. I know the ring didn't cause the shit that happened with Leopold but in a way, it did. You know I still go and see Archie, I've spoken about the whole ring and marriage thing a million times but it doesn't dim the pain I feel when I think about it, it just helps me think of it less. Having a ring, no matter it's meaning or purpose, it would take me right back there, make me think about it. It'd hurt me. It'd hurt." Regina finished with the echo and found herself in David's arms.
When he'd crossed the room she had no clue but she was glad he had. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she wouldn't break down, she was stronger than that now. "I'm sorry." David felt her release a weighted sigh.
"I'm sorry too." She pulled back and felt him wipe her tears. "I shouldn't block you out when I get like that. I know I should speak to you it's just, it's hard sometimes."
"I know." David tilted her head up with his finger and gave her a chaste kiss. "But for the record, I would never leave you, not in a million years."
It was Regina's turn to kiss him. "I'd never leave you either." She whispered with a hand on his face and a hand on his chest. "I love you."
"I love you too." David slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her again for a little longer before pulling back and seeing her smile lightly. "What?"
"Our seventeen year old girls are very clever."
"What?" David frowned a little before widening his eyes. "They planned this?"
"I'm sure your eldest had some input as well."
"Oh they're smart." David gave a disbelieving smile.
"And we fell straight into it." Regina shook her head with a broad smile.
"Good. I'm glad."
"Yeah. So am I."