A/N So a few people may have seen this story over on QueenApples profile and we made the decision that I would be writing the rest of it since she is super busy at university. The first seven chapters are co-authored with the lovely QueenApples and she will be the beta on every chapter afterwards XD there will also be updating this chapter at some point tomorrow since she edited some grammar mistakes on a different version of the chapter, I'm just curious how much interest this story will get since I loved it so much XD
Original author's note: Hey there, this was to be my first fic ever, so my now co-author, withgirl, took pity on me and was kind enough to agree to do it with me, so we are now collaborating to make this story all the better. So, if you guys like it, send her some cuddles as well! (Also, you should totally read her fanfics, she's awesome u-u)
We don't have a beta and all errors are ours.
Neither of us own Once Upon A Time. Aalam character's is an semi-OC and he's based at the character of the King Of The Ballroom from the story "The Cold Heart" by Wilhelm Hauff, but we don't own that story neither.
Now, some people probably skipped this part but for those who haven't, thank you, and i hope you enjoy the story, now without further delay...
Henry Sr. Sighed deeply in frustration.
He had given up his life for his daughter's happiness, and now as he watched her, it was painfully obvious that his sacrifice had been in vain.
"I hate you," his younger counterpart shouted, "you're not my real mom."
Henry Sr. Began to pace the nothingness that had been his home for the past twenty-eight years. He knew that Regina had hurt this boy deeply, but he had also witnessed the more tender moments. He had seen her take a ridiculous number of photographs each day, seen her buy him overpriced presents, just to see him smile. He had seen all of the hugs, kisses and 'I love yous' that Regina herself had never been afforded as a child. As he watched these moments, he had often wondered how she had possibly become such a great mother, after all, neither of her parents were great role models.
But then Henry found that book, and Regina began to slip down a dark path again.
He had physically wanted to grab her and tell her off for some of the things she tried to do to the savior. He couldn't help but see the resemblance to Cora, and that worried him more than he would ever be able to fathom.
There's just nothing I can do, he internally grumbled while watching his daughter baking an apple turnover, and continued the pace of his own personal purgatory.
-Two years later-
"Maybe this isn't a good idea," Regina frowned.
Emma offered a small smile as she turned away from the Charming's front door, "it's going to be fine, trust me."
Regina nodded instantly, she only wished that she knew why she trusted this woman so much, by all rights I should absolutely hate her.
"Hey, Henry," Emma called while crossing the threshold.
Henry looked up from the couch, "hey mom," he replied, before returning his attention to his game.
Emma turned to see a pained expression on Regina's face, shaking her head she said, "put the game down, kid, there's someone you need to meet."
Henry grumbled, he started puberty already, Regina internally sighed.
"Hey, you're the woman from the diner, right?" he asked, finally having removed himself to stand in front of the newcomer.
"Don't be rude, Henry," Emma said hastily.
Henry groaned again, "fine, I'm Henry Swan."
Regina made an inaudible gulp and nodded, "Regina Mills."
Henry nodded, and after a moment Emma interjected, "Regina is the mayor of Storybrooke."
"Cool," Henry smiled.
Charming and Snow stood side by side in the kitchen, each feeling deep sorrow for the former Evil Queen.
"Well I was thinking that she could give you a tour of town tomorrow, I have a lot of work to do for the case," Emma explained.
Regina shot her a disbelieving look, but Henry just shrugged, "a tour would be nice I guess."
Regina nodded, and Henry began to eye his game.
"Fine, go and play it," Emma sighed.
The boy smiled, and turned to Regina, "it was nice to meet you."
Regina mirrored his smile, and stepped forward for the hug she had wanted for a long time, only for his hand to extend. With another inaudible gulp, she extended her own hands. Shaking her son's hand was one of the most surreal moments of her life yet, and it was not something she wanted to remember.
Henry jumped over the back of the couch, to be met with a scolding look from his blonde mother.
"Sorry mom," he sighed.
She actually makes a decent mother, Regina realized, how is it possible that she can be even more perfect than before?
She was brought out of her mental ministrations by the sound of a ringing phone.
"Hello," she said roughly.
"Mayor Mills, we have an issue," Whale replied.
"What could it possibly be now?" she groaned.
"He just woke up," Whale said fearfully.
"Not possible," she breathed.
Emma gave her a curious look, 'what?' she mouthed.
"I'll be right there," Regina quickly replied before hanging up.
"I'm sorry to leave so abruptly, but I have an urgent town matter to attend to," she announced for Henry's benefit.
With that she quickly rushed out of the apartment, only for Emma to emerge a second later, just as the mayor knew she would.
"What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.
"It would appear that we have another villain to worry about," Regina explained.
"Who could it possibly be now?"
"It's not good," she said to herself.
"Regina, just tell me," Emma laughed.
"Do you know the story of The Cold Heart?" Regina sighed.
"Let me guess, it another person with no heart," Emma replied.
Regina nodded, "it's more like a stone heart, though I don't know how that would manifest without magic. Anyway a few days ago, Aalam appeared along with everyone else. To make a long story short he was hit by a car."
Emma nodded slowly, "that's horrible."
"Trust me Miss Swan, he is not a person that you want to be awake, why do you think I didn't bring him in the first place," Regina sighed.
"So you two have history," Emma asked with a tilted head.
"That's an understatement," Regina replied, before making to walk away, "are you coming or not?"
Emma quickly nodded and followed the mayor to the hospital.
-At the hospital-
Slowly coming to his senses, the latin man tried opening his eyes only to have to close them again because of the now, unfamiliar, sight of the light.
Still somewhat disorientated, he remained still. When opening his eyes was not quite as painful anymore, he took in his surroundings. The white was in everything, the walls, the roof, even the sheets who covered him.
But there was no time to be lost, he couldn't quite remember what, but there was something important for him to do. Slowly, he raised his arm, forgetting for a second his haste with all the effort it took for him to make this single movement, but, suddenly, he was hit with a rush of memories.
"Regina" his voice echoed through the walls in the gravelly tone of it, both from lack of use and for his emotions regarding the person in question.
How could he have forgotten her? No matter, he wouldn't allow himself that luxury again, he needed to find her. Summoning strength from where there previously was none, he stood up without a problem and determinedly walked with a little smile adorning his face, if his plan went the way he wanted it to, Regina would finally get the ending she deserved.
-Some time later-
Whale didn't quite knew what to do, the infamous King of The Ballroom had awaken and the Evil Queen was coming to meet him, a encounter that, if rumors were right about the previous ones between these two, would only end in tragedy and possibly some deaths, but, right now, he was feeling more inclined to believe at the mayor's "quest of redemption" then that the man in front of him had no sinister plans.
"I'm sorry your majesty but we can't just release you without making the necessary checkups, magic or not you were in a coma!" Whale tried putting on his best commanding expression and voice to try and convince the man that he couldn't simply walk away from the hospital when he wanted.
"You just said it yourself, young boy, I am the King and I will do as I please" One harsh glare mastered in years of posture classes from the royal caused Whale's pose to vanish, but luckily for the doctor, he didn't need to come up with any other reply.
"You are no King in this world, Aalam." Replied the regal woman followed by the savior.
"Regina..." The man whispered with an unknown emotion adorning his voice. A reaction that made said woman narrow her eyes in apprehension, there was something different, maybe, less... rigid in the man's posture and his eyes also looked warmer than when she last met him, overall, there was something different about him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.
"I-" he took a step forward, only earning a glare from the brunette and a warning glance from the blonde. Different on not, Regina wasn't even near ready to start believing in him, she had been fooled by his acting skills once; she refused to do it twice.
"I'd like to apologize." Aalam said, fidgeting a little with his hands.
"Ha! After all you did. You really think I will fall for your lies again?" The venom in her voice made him flinch briefly, but just as fast as he arrival had diminished it, his confidence was back.
"No. I don't expect you to forgive me so easily, but I am ready to prove myself." With that he walked away in search of the doctor, who had long fled the scene, to undergo these said "check-ups"
-Outside the hospital-
Regina and Emma had been walking in silence for some time. Regina being plagued with memories, and angry at the audacity of that man to not only show himself to her, but to try and feed her ridiculous lies all over again. While Emma remained silent observing the signs of stress on the other woman's face and resisting the urge to sooth them, but overall she was also confused, that man hadn't seemed all that threatening and her super power told her he was being truthful, but again, Regina knew him better and her super power could always be wrong.
"What exactly did he do?" After some minutes the blonde couldn't quite contain her curiosity anymore and that silence had started to get annoying.
"Doesn't matter." The brunette replied defensively.
"Ok, ok, calm down" said the blonde while taking the other woman by the shoulders. "I'm not the enemy here, you don't have to tell if you don't want to, if you say we shouldn't believe him, I won't, but sulking around isn't going to help anyone."
Sighing, the brunette took her advice and tried to alleviate some of the pressure on her shoulders by rolling her neck and Emma couldn't quite help but admire how she was able to make the gesture look regal.
"Thank you" said the mayor at last, offering a little, but genuine smile to Emma, who grinned broadly back at her. "I'm too tired with all that is happening, first there's Henry then Aalam, not to mention a whole missing year."
"Then go and get some rest, madam mayor, I'm sure the town will hold itself up while you're away," offered the concerned sheriff with a little smile on her face.
After spending sometime lost in each other eyes they finally realized how close they were. Then Emma promptly released Regina's shoulders and stepped back, while nervously rubbing her neck and laughing a little, only getting a little smile in response from the fidgeting brunette.
After saying their goodbyes, each of them went their own way, both having forgotten their worries for a second and only wondering why being so close to each other had such a effect on them, and how much they just wanted that closeness back.
Original author's note:
Aaaand that's it u-u, please review o/
See you guys next chapter (hopefully)