I uh-I forgot when I last updated...I'm sorry if you were waiting. I've noticed how bad I am at accidentally calling Roni 'Regina.' I promise I'll try and get better at catching that. Please send feedback, stay safe, and I hope you enjoy.
I could hear the shower running from the bed. I didn't know what time it was, but it was late enough for the entire room to be lit with the morning sun. I turned to the alarm clock on the other side of the bed. I saw nine-something. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and curled up further under the covers, hoping Melanie would be done in the bathroom so she can get back in bed with me.
An immeasurable amount of time passed before the door was opened and Melanie emerged, surrounded by flowing steam from her hot shower. She sauntered to the bed, with no towel covering her body. She grinned at me.
"Morning, sunshine. Enjoying the view?" I leaned my weight against my elbow and let the covers slip off my arms.
"You have to ask?" I growled, licking my dry lips as my gaze wandered over her damp body. Her grin formed into a smirk.
"Are just gonna sit there? Or are you going to do something about my exposure?"
"This isn't some cheesy-porno-dream?"
"I'm very real," she said. I grinned and sat up on my knees, urging her towards me.
"You're sure about this?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I wouldn't walk out of the bathroom without a towel, making sex-eyes at you if I didn't want anything to happen."
"And the baby?"
"Just fuck me, Roni."
"With pleasure." She laughed and gently tackled me to the bed.
The brightness in her eyes was unmistakeable. Her cheeks were no longer pale and hollow. I had my Melanie back.
I missed her fun spirit. The way she could drag me into something the Evil Queen would scoff and roll her eyes at. She used to talk about travelling the world someday, seeing something outside of Storybrooke and meet her 'other people.' I, according to her, was just one of many of 'her people.' I'm not sure what exactly she meant by that, but it must mean something good if she wants to travel to them. The way she talked about her future adventures with such vivid detail had visions of cerulean oceans dancing behind my eyelids. I wanted to join her. I would follow her to the ends of the earth. She was always beautiful to me, but the liveliness in her eyes made her a siren out for my blood. I was at the mercy of a goddess.
She untangled herself from my limbs and forewent a sheet to cover herself as she rose from the bed.
"Can you make me breakfast please? The baby's craving your bacon and eggs." I sighed and got up, smiling at her enthusiasm.
"Anything for you," I mock huffed. She giggled and dragged me impatiently to the kitchen, where my kitchen was messy and overflowing with dirty dishes.
"You cook and I clean," Melanie instructed.
"Yes, your Highness."
"Your Highness? Why not 'Your Majesty?"
"Because I'm the Queen."
"Doesn't that make me the King?"
"No, your definitely the princess." She rolled her eyes.
"Am not." I narrowed my eyes at her and she shrunk back.
"See? That's why I'm Queen."
"I'll fight you for it."
"I don't fight pregnant woman. I could kick your ass in any normal circumstance." She huffed and shook her head. I narrowed my eyes again and prowled towards her like a lioness. She backed away from me and ended up in the living room.
With a graceful swoop of my arms, I scooped her up and laid her on the couch, getting on top of her delicately and straddling my legs over her hips. Despite her nudity, I had the power.
I gave her my best 'sex' face and growled. She looked up at me with large eyes before I bent forward and nibbled lightly on her ear, while simultaneously cupping the apex of her thighs. She hissed.
She was breathing hard on my jaw and she was visibly flushed.
"You are mine, and I am your true Queen," I said into her ear. I climbed off of her and went back to the kitchen, while she was catching her breath and adjusting her cropped hair. When she finally left the couch, I smirked at her.
"You win," she muttered defeatedly.
"You should never have challenged me," I told her. Because I truly was a queen. I played my part well. I was my part.
I turned to the stove to prepare the eggs when I heard Melanie run off to the bathroom. Her morning sickness always started right around this time. I dug out another pan for the bacon and made breakfast while I waited for Melanie to come back to keep me company.
She came out just as I was putting the eggs on a plate. She was dressed now in a pair of red shorts that just barely covered her butt and a large white band t-shirt. She held a hand on her stomach and the other was limp.
"God, I'm ready for the morning sickness to be done," she murmured.
"Only one month left. Then you get acne, leg cramps, and a huge burst of energy."
"You did your research," she praised.
"Of course I did. There's also the extremely high sex drive." She side-eyes me while I grin.
"And the larger belly."
"You'll look sexy with the baby belly."
"No, I won't."
"You will always be sexy,"
"I have to disagree. I'll have an excuse to top you, though."
"Nice try, but even with the belly, you will never top me."
"Ever?" She sounded surprised. Like I'd give up being on top.
"Never ever ever, my love." I would never just sacrifice my power like that. Even when she gave me puppy-dog eyes that put babies and animals to shame.
"You're boring." I laughed while she forcefully speared a piece of egg.
"I'm far from boring. I think I proved that this morning, don't you think?" I added a wink for effect and Melanie looked like she was about to choke. "Are you alright?" She cleared her throat and nodded. I smiled at my plate and took a bite of my breakfast. Across the table, Melanie moaned loudly. I looked up and she was smiling.
"I love your cooking. Almost as much as the fetus." I laughed.
"Good. You're both all that matters." Suddenly, Melanie looked like she did yesterday, unsure and small.
"Really?"
"I would never lie to you." I chose to leave out the part that her and everyone else's entire life, job, family, and personality are a giant lie created by myself and Rumplestiltskin. But my love for her is not a lie. "You mean everything to me." She smiled and kissed me on the cheek.
'I'd kiss you on the mouth but I taste like eggs."
"I love the taste of eggs. And you." I raised an eyebrow suggestively and she smiled at her bacon. "So, any plans for today?"
"I have a small shift at the diner today, and I plan on telling Schaffer that I'm pregnant." I smiled.
"Good. I'm sure he'll be glad, as long as you're happy."
"I know he'll be happy. I'm just...not sure how he's going to handle it, knowing it was James. The only other person I've been with since...before and after James, was you."
"I'm sure he will offer to hunt down James with his crossbow, then tell you he's happy for you."
"Yeah." She smiled fondly. "But I'm still not sure what I want to do with it. Since the gun range, I've been thinking about this child more and more. The chances of me being able to support this child throughout it's life on a cheap waitressing job is impossible. I'll either find an adoption agency to talk to or find a better-paying job. Maybe put my degree in photography to good use."
"I told you, I can help you financially, if you need it."
"And I told you that I don't need your money. I'm not a charity case."
"And what if I were to...support this child with you? Then would you accept both my money and my presence?"
"By support this child with me, do you mean—"
"—raise it with you, yes."
"Roni, I can't ask you to do this for me."
"You didn't ask. I offered and I want to. Badly." She looked at me uncertainly.
"You're sure?"
"I've never been more sure."
"But what if...something happens with us? What would I do before the baby is born? And what if it's years before we split up and suddenly we'll have this child we have to send back and forth between us."
"You're fears are valid and I fear they will happen as well, but you and this baby are worth the risk. And I will try my best to love you and support you every day we are together. I cannot make any promises that we won't have our fights, but I will try my best to resolve it with you. I want you. Short-term and long-term."
"Y-you just made a lifetime commitment..." I looked into her sea green eyes and smiled lovingly.
"I'm aware, dear."
"But...you shouldn't make life commitments. Especially regarding me." She bit her lip worriedly and cradled her stomach with her arms. I stepped forward and smoothed out her lip. I kept my thumb on her lip and cupped the back of her neck with my other hand.
"The opposite can be true. You've single-handedly broken down my walls and made me want to commit a life to you. You deserve everything."
"That's not true..."
"It is, and I will spend every day telling it to you until you believe it."
"Stop making life commitments to me! I don't deserve this, or you."
"You have to stop invalidating yourself. I'm trying to say that I will be there for you! I will be there for this child if you'll have me. I will make as many commitments to you as I want, because I will never break them until you want me to."
"I can't...think. This is too much life-talk. I don't even know what we're having for dinner tonight and you're talking about our life with a child." She sounded too much like Snow for me to be comfortable. I shuffled and let her go.
"I understand," I said solemnly. "This is a lot to take in. Think about it. Determine whether you want me in your distant future. I need to get ready for work."
"Roni, wait. I didn't mean I don't want you, it's just too much future-talk for one morning."
"I understand, but I need to open in half an hour. I'll see you tonight." I kissed her cheek and left to get dressed.
I fully understood why Melanie needed a minute to step away from the conversation and think, but it no less irritated me. I offered my life on the table for her, an action I'm not familiar with in the years I've been living, and she still needs to think.Almost entirely because she doesn't think she deserves it.
I can barely have a conversation with her without her self-worth being mentioned. Again, I understood that better than anyone, but she needs to know her worth, because it seems like nearly everyone knows except her.
I took a deep breath and pulled out a pair of jeans and a striped shirt from my closet. I grabbed a bandana off my dresser to tie around my neck before leaving.
Melanie was still in the same spot I left her, muttering something to the baby.
"Goodbye. I'll see you tonight."
"Love you," she murmured.
"Love you too," I said distantly as the door swung shut behind me. I had my hand stuck to the knob as I wondered if I should go back to kiss her goodbye, but I let go of the handle and went down the hallinstead.
Stop! I have a question for you! I need your opinion! Should I write smut for this fanfic? Would anyone like it if I did? Please let me know, because I'm...not sure if anyone would like it if I did or not. Thank you!