an long update since you waited extra long for it ;) xxx
"It's been three months since that Cora mess and you two are still at it like rabbits," Granny squawked with a good humored shake of her head as she came into the council meeting to see the King and Queen in a heated make-out session. The Queen was sitting on the edge of the round table in front of the King's chair, David standing in between her legs with hands under layers of dress, kissing her passionately. They jumped and let go of each other at the knowledge they were not alone, Regina's cheeks tingeing pink when David helped her off of the edge of the table.
Red came into the council room only a few minutes later, catching them untangling from one another and adjusting clothing, "Go David," She smirked as she came around to sit beside Granny, "I mean, 'ew'," She corrected herself at the older wolf's stern glance her way for talking so crudely about the Queen.
David chuckled, sitting down in his chair beside Regina's, leaning over to kiss her head at the way she tucked her head and blanched. It was Red's sense of humor and she meant no harm or disrespect by it, plus his wife was adorable when she was caught in the act like this. "Sorry, we lost track of time."
"I bet you did," Granny smirked over her glasses, "What's this meeting about, Your Majesty? Besides you two swapping spit."
"I couldn't tell you," He let out a breath, glancing at her from Regina as he reached out to hold her hand, "A couple of the leaders from the knight's watch said they have some urgent information for us."
"Why didn't anyone tell me there was a meeting?" Emma frowned as she came into the council room, meeting their surprised glances, "What? I'm training for the knighthood now and I'm the Princess. I have a say in these things, too."
"You're learning to fight, you won't be headed off to battle anytime soon," David raised an eyebrow firmly at his daughter and Regina squeezed his hand, giving him a look when he glanced her way. "What?" He whispered at her though everyone saw the exchange. Granny, Ruby and Emma all glanced at one another with a smirk at the way the Queen was able to curb David's strict nature.
David sighed and glanced at all of them, leaning back in his chair and threading his fingers through Regina as the room filled with council members and knights. He frowned at the nervous energy that took over the room and felt his wife was keenly aware of it as well, for her magic buzzed gently against his palm. He shared a glance at her, saw her brow furrow before squeezing her hand reassuringly.
"What's this meeting about?" He addressed the men before him that crowded around the round table. There were knights, dwarves and various others on his council that helped run the kingdom and keep order.
"Your Majesty, King George has sent men to attack two different knight posts already," The knight that had secretly admired the Queen spoke up with a worried expression, "We sent a couple of scouts to get information and it seems George is planning an attack on this kingdom to get revenge on you and take control of our resources."
"He and what army?" David frowned, feeling all eyes on him. King George had always wanted payback on him, but he was never a real threat considering he had no money left. And war took money.
"Apparently he has taken over Midas' kingdom, even Prince Thomas and Princess Ella have been evicted from their estate. We sent some guards to escort them to safety," The knight nodded with a frown, "King George has somehow managed to acquire an army and enough supplies to start making attacks on us. We anticipate them trying to invade within two days."
"Send extra men to our knights' posts and I want a guard at every hundred yards of the castle perimeter," David stood abruptly, concern catapulting him into action, "Edward, tell men to get their battle gear ready. I want a small organized army that will remain here, the rest of us will scout out George's men and meet them for battle before they even get close to our castle."
"David, you're not going," Regina frowned up at him quickly, speaking up then. She was usually quiet at these meetings but not when it came to her husband's life being on the line. They'd just almost lost each other three months ago, he wasn't going off to war.
"Regina," He glanced down at her, a hint of an apology in his eyes as she pressed his lips into a firm line before looking back to the men, "Go. Have the stable workers get the horses ready and get my armor. We'll leave in the morning and make camp halfway."
"You can't be serious," Regina stood then, grabbing his arm and turning him to her when everyone filed out of the room except Emma, Granny and Ruby who still sat in stunned silence, "Why would you put yourself on the front line?!"
"Because I'm the King," He shook his head frowning deeply, "I have to go, Regina. These are our people."
"We have soldiers for this!" Her eyes widened and she threw here hands up in the air, surprising the women in the room with a glimpse of her boldness, "I forbid you to go to battle, David."
"You can't forbid me to do anything," His expression hardened at her lack of understanding. How could she expect him to sit at home and let his men go to battle for him? He was their leader. "If I don't face this, how can I expect them to risk their life for it?"
"Plenty of Kings do not fight in their own wars," Regina snapped back at him, emotion gathering in her chest and straining her voice. She knew it was a lot to ask him to give up his pride and sit this battle out, but she could not lose him. So she grasped at straws, demanding that he stay, "What if something happens to you? What will I do-"
"Nothing will happen to me," He pulled her to him, staring into her eyes seriously as he gripped her forearms, "I promise."
"You can't promise that," She frowned and bowed her head, jerking her arms from his grasp.
"I'll go with him, Regina," Emma stood, pushing back her chair, "I've been training for months. I'm ready."
"Absolutely not," David actually chuckled when he looked her way, "No way. Sit down, Princess."
"David," Regina reprimanded him, "Don't be condescending. She's only trying to help."
"I'm sorry? You think I should let her join me and my men in battle?" He glanced back at his wife incredulously, irritation rising by the minute. All of their lives were in danger and it rested on his shoulders to protect them, yet they seemed to only want to make it harder for him to do so.
"Of course not but-"
"Dad, I can do it. I even have the armor Regina got me on my birthday," Emma cut in, her statement causing David to raise an eyebrow at Regina.
"I told you we shouldn't have encouraged this," He let out a deep breath, watching Regina cross her arms and clench her jaw. "You're not going, Emma. End of story. You wouldn't last five minutes out there around trained soldiers and you'd get us both killed while I tried to protect you."
"What is the point in letting me learn to fight if you'll never let me use it?" She yelled at her father, "I'm not some dainty princess. I don't need saving. I can fight better than half the boys joining the knighthood this season and I've worked harder than any of them!"
"You're too young!" David turned to her, shouting back at her in frustration, "Now I don't want to hear another word on it!"
Emma's eyes steeled and she clenched her fists, turning to storm out of the council chambers, "Fine!"
"Thank god she's an only child," He muttered and shook his head, glancing over to Regina who was staring daggers at him. Her expression was hard, eyes glossy with unshed tears as they often got when she was angry. She was a little ball of emotion and he'd come to be able to easily read her, "What?" He snapped a little harsher than he should have, "I suppose you feel the need to critique my parenting again?"
Regina's throat worked but she only stared at him rather blankly, "No. What would I know about parenting, anyways?" She grit back at him, jaw clenched in an attempt to keep in control of her emotions. He stared at her for a moment almost apologetically before turning and stalking out of the council room. A heavy silence filled the air before the older lady spoke up from her seat.
"I suspect you'll know a lot more about it here in five or six months," Granny said softly and Regina merely closed her eyes, pressing a hand over her face as she sat down in her chair quickly and let out a sob.
Granny and Ruby exchanged a knowing glance, both of them being able to sense it due their primal instinct, "Here, now. He's just a hard headed thing," The older wolf stood and shuffled over to the Queen's chair, running a hand over her hair. Ruby followed, coming around to the other side and squatting as she put a hand on Regain's arm.
"He didn't mean what he said, he's going to be so happy about having another child, Regina. Trust me," Ruby said, causing Regina to lift her head quickly, staring up at them with surprised, tear-stained eyes.
"How did you know?"
"Animals can sense it," Ruby shrugged and gave a warm smile to the Queen with red rimmed eyes, running a hand over her arm in a soothing manner.
"That and I haven't had to replace your menstrual linens in your bed chamber for about three months," Granny raised an eyebrow, tucking Regina's hair behind her ear in a comforting manner, "How long have you known yourself?"
"I just realized myself this week I...I've been feeling sick throughout the day," Regina nodded, pressing a hand to her abdomen, "I hadn't realized it had been three months, I was going to wait until this month had passed to tell him just to be sure...There's been so much going on I..." She shook her head, frowning at how foolish she seemed. How was she prepared to be a mother if she didn't even know she was pregnant until nearly four months along?
"It happens, child," Granny said in a motherly tone, reaching down to thumb away the tears from Regina's cheeks, "He'll be thrilled."
"I don't know," Regina gazed down at her lap, anxiety swirling in her stomach, combining with the morning sickness to make her feel weak and queasy. "We haven't talked about it in quite some time...The last time we did he said he wanted us to have time along first...and now..." She glanced up and gave a pained smile as she shrugged in reference to what the King just said.
"He's a hotheaded idiot," Ruby let out a breath, "Do you want me to talk to him?"
"No, please," She glanced at both of them pleadingly, "Promise me you won't say a word? He has so much on his shoulders right now, I can't spring this on him right before a potential war. The pair of werewolves exchanged a hesitant glance before nodding and murmuring their agreements. "Thank you," She sighed, standing from her chair, "I'm sorry to be such a blubbering mess."
"Nonsense, that babe in your belly is gonna have that effect on you," Granny ran a hand over the Queen's shoulder and gave it a squeeze, "You're allowed to cry."
"Just don't expect me to comfort you," Ruby grinned playfully, earning a weak smile from Regina as they walked on each side of her out of the room.
Regina sat perched in her bed chamber window seat, staring out into the darkness. She could see the glowing torch lights of the knight's in the courtyard, saddling horses and strapping themselves with weaponry and camp supplies. It was too dark to determine if her husband was down there or if her had already left the premises, so she wrapped her arms around her tucked legs and rested her chin on her knees, preparing for a sleepless night.
Emma had retired to her own bed chamber, undoubtedly brooding and pouting incessantly. She'd tried to knock on her door to speak with her, but the princess hadn't responded and Regina didn't have the strength to plead with her. The castle was in an uproar as everyone prepared for a possible attack and invasion. Extra food and supplies were being brought in just in case they would have to barricade the walls against George's men.
The commotion had barely given her a moment to process what was happening inside of her. A piece of she and David, growing safely in her womb and arriving in just five to six months. She shivered as anxiety ran through her at the thought. What would David say? Would he be happy? Disappointed that it happened sooner than expected? Would she be a good mother? What did she even know about being a mother? Would she be like Cora?
She'd never even held a baby before. Anxiety rose in her chest at the thought of facing all of it alone should something happen to her husband during this excursion. Her head fell gently against the window pane, mentally cursing herself for even considering something a possibility. David would come back to her. He'd fought many battles before and was a very skilled fighter.
Calling him out in front of his entire council had been immature of her, she knew that now, but at the time she had done it before she realized. She was so worried about losing another person she loved that she hadn't care who had been around. Trying to force him to swallow his pride and sit this battle out for her was not a fair thing to ask of him, especially in front of men he was in charge of leading.
The door to their bedchamber came open then and her heart got caught in her throat when she saw him step in, closing the door behind him. "You're still here?" She asked, surprised from her perch in the window.
"Of course I am, you didn't think I'd leave without apologizing to you and saying goodbye, did you?" He smiled weakly, closing the distance between them with long strides.
"For what?" She bit down on her bottom lip, giving a small shrug of her shoulders, "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I was an ass," He shook his head with a frown, "I'm hot headed and I took my anger out on you when Emma upset me. I just...I'm so worried about protecting the both of you and keep you from harm's way."
"I wasn't trying to go against you or critique your parenting of Emma," She frowned at him seriously, hurt lacing her expression and making him feel like a heel. He had worried about his sharp words towards her all afternoon while preparing his troops, leaving him distracted and short tempered with everyone.
"My love, I know that," He stepped up to the window seat, sitting on the other side of it to look straight at her, "I'm sorry...I'll only be gone a week at most. We're hoping that if we meet George's men aggressively and don't let them get too close that we can thwart his mission before it even really starts."
"Promise me you'll be careful?" She swallowed hard and smiled weakly when he lifted her legs by cupping the back of her ankles, stretching them over his lap and beginning to massage her calves, "I don't know what I'd do..."
"You would be okay," He gazed back at her seriously, "If something like that ever should happen, you'd be ruler, Regina. You're strong and capable. Just have a little faith in yourself and your mind. I'll be back before you even have a chance to miss me, though, so you needn't worry."
"Hm," She nodded once, biting down on her bottom lip as she gazed out the window.
"Don't let anyone walk all over you while I'm gone, do you understand?" He massaged her legs, causing her to lean against the window sill in a more relaxed fashion as she actively avoided his gaze, "You're Queen. You're in charge here. Okay?"
"Mhm..."
"Regina," His tone was almost pleading then, causing her to look at him reluctantly. Her emotions bubbled in her chest, causing her to want to throw her arms around him and beg him not to leave. "I need to know you'll be okay while I'm gone."
"I will be," She replied, looking at him seriously, "Don't worry about me, just get back safe," She smiled weakly and gave a small shrug as she watched him stand. He reached down, scooping her up into his arms and she knew she could not tell him about the baby. He was already torn about leaving her. She had to prove to him and everyone here that she was the Queen and she was not as weak as she seemed. She needed to prove it to herself that she could be strong.
"We leave at sunrise," He whispered, laying her down on the bed in front of him as he stood, running hands down her torso and legs. He gazed down at her as if he were taking her in, imprinting her into memory. It made her nervous, for she realized he himself had some doubts about what battles lie ahead. She pushed it to the back of her mind, reaching up and grabbing him by the shirt to pull him down ontop of her.
He came willingly, crawling over her smaller frame as her thighs locked around his torso and her legs folded around his waist. She didn't want to think anymore, she just wanted to feel. To be with her husband in the time that they had and not worry about what was to come. He seemed to need the same, for their lips met in a hungry kiss and they quickly started to roam each other's bodies with anxious hands.
Regina nudged him with her knee to roll them over, coming ontop of him and looking down at him from her seat on his crotch, "You better come back to me in once piece," She warned before pulling her nightgown over her head, baring herself for him fully. He groaned as he looked at her and she felt empowered by it, "Do you understand, David?" She mocked his tone from earlier.
"I do," He whispered, running his hands up her thighs and over her hips, fingertips gripping the flesh of her ass, "I'll be counting down the hours until I'm back in this bed with you," He groaned, his tone gruffer as she started to grind on his crotch, pressing her hands into his chest after she'd pushed his linen undershirt up to expose the muscles.
She reached down between her legs and tugged the string of his breeches loose, quickly working them open and pushing them down enough to let him free. David hummed when she took him in her hand, pumping him a couple of times as he kneaded her ass, his hands spreading her apart and making her moan.
"Already?" He groaned at how slick she was when she started to rub his tip against her slit, impaling herself on him in one determined shift of her hips, "Fuck, Regina," His fingertips dug into the flesh of her bottom as she started to grind herself on him again, not lifting herself up his shaft, instead keeping him fully sheathed as she rocked.
She tilted her head to the side, allowing her loose hair to fall over one shoulder and brush over his chest, pressing her hands into the mattress beside his head. They locked gazes, so many unspoken words and promises communicated through their stare as she rolled her hips on him. Her lips parted as her breathing increased, letting out a soft moan at how aroused she was already. Her sexual appetite had increased lately due to the pregnancy, making her nipples harden and her clit start to throb before he was even inside of her.
"I love you," He groaned, rolling them onto their sides as he pulled the thigh that draped over his thigh higher, "You feel so good," He moved his lips to her neck, sucking down on the skin as he pulled her hips tightly to his, moving inside of her now.
"I love...you," She moaned, wrapping an arm around his side to grasp at his back, pushing herself up against him to meet his thrusts, "I need..more..." She felt her stomach tightening but she wanted him deeper, wanted him as close to her as he could possibly be.
He groaned and with one movement had her pinned to the bed, buried deeply inside of her, "I don't want to leave you," He murmured as he pressed his forehead to hers, hiking her thighs up against his rib-cage, spreading her wider. "Ruby and Granny, they will look after you."
"I'm a big girl, David," She moaned and pressed her chest up against his, feeling her nipples graze his skin. It was a wonderful sensation with how sensitive they were and he seemed to appreciate the friction, too, "I can take care of myself, I promise."
She leaned up to bite down on his bottom lip and he rutted in her deeply, making her gasp and tug his lip to her. He groaned in response, gripping the headboard with one hand as the other pressed to the mattress to keep him hovering over her. He pulled out slowly and thrust back in to the hilt, repeating it again and again and again until she was whimpering and squirming underneath him.
Her head fell back flush with the bed as she started to tense around him, feeling the full benefits of him being so hard and thick inside of her as her walls clenched. He hummed into her neck when she cried out and clamped, orgasm flooding her with intensity, causing her to grasp at his hair and her hips to spasm underneath his.
"David!" She gasped before the pleasure stole her ability to make noise, body rolling underneath him and lips parting in a silent scream.
He groaned loudly at how hard she came, letting himself reach his own peak. He filled her with his hot seed without thinking before mumbling into her neck, "I'm sorry...I should be more careful."
"It's okay," She whispered, recalling what he'd said earlier about being thankful Emma was an only child. The humility echoed in her mind at the fact that Granny and Ruby had witnessed him say it while they knew she was with child, not to mention her breakdown once he left the room. It was a sting to her pride that would take a few days to recover from.
She felt her husband pull her body up against his when he rolled off of her and she took full advantage of having him there, cuddling into his side. He would only be gone for a few days, but she knew the worry gnawing away at her for him would make it feel like an eternity. It was part of their duties as King and Queen; he led the men in battle and she would protect the home-front. Consequently, she would support him in his endeavor and keep the blessing growing inside of her to herself to ensure it's father's return.
Two months later...
"Regina," A quiet voice whispered from her bedside, stirring her awake. She opened her eyes to find Emma hovering nearby, face lit up by the candle she carried.
"Em'mah, m-what is it?" She stretched a little, scrunching her eyes to get them into focus, "Are you okay?"
"I just...can't sleep...I'm worried about father," Her step daughter replied as she bit her lip and looked away from her.
"Come here," She whispered, pulling the blankets up for the blonde to get into the bed with her. The girl set the candle down on the nightstand before crawling into the warmth, laying her head on Regina's pillow since she'd taken to sleeping on David's side in his absence. "I got word from a messenger today. Your father sent him to let us know he's all right, they're camping in the Sherwood Forest and preparing for the next battle. He says they are doing well. King George has been planning this for a while and has quite an army, more than they anticipated. But your father feels good about the progress they've made so far."
"I miss him," She smiled weakly, "And I know it is hard on you running this place and dealing with the citizens of the kingdom who do not give you the respect you deserve."
"I miss him, too. It will all work out, though. Your father is much too stubborn to let somebody keep him from coming back to us," She smiled warmly at the teenager, reaching out between them, "Come here, cuddle with me. I'm cold," She said playfully without thinking, motioning for Emma to scoot over.
Emma laughed a little as she scooted across the bed, rolling with her back to her so Regina could spoon her, "I wish things were back to normal," She sighed as she cuddled her back against Regina's front.
"Me too, sweetheart," She let out a breath, wrapping an arm around Emma's waist in a comforting manner.
"Uh, Regina," Emma's eyes widened, rolling over under the covers and reaching out to place her hand on the bump she felt pressing against her back, "Oh my god...are you..."
"Oh, uh..." Regina's own eyes widened, feeling the baby move under Emma's prodding fingertips.
"Oh my god there's definitely something in there!" She squealed and jerked her hand back quickly, "You're with child?!"
"I..." Regina hesitated, searching Emma's expression for a glimpse of how she felt. She hadn't even considered telling her yet, still too concerned with how David would react. So far she'd been able to conceal it with dresses that flared over her torso, but in the thin nightgown she wore now there was no hiding her considerable five month bump. "...Yes..."
"Does father know?" Emma smiled inquisitively at her step-mother, reaching out to press her hand against Regina's stomach again.
"No I...only found out a day or so before he left and I didn't want to add anymore stress on him," She smiled weakly, reaching down to place her hand over Emma's. She was the first person she'd been able to share her baby with so intimately. Granny and Ruby knew, but they didn't dote on it like this, they weren't touchy people. But she considered Emma like her own daughter and it felt right to share this with her, "The baby is down here right now," She guided Emma's hand to the other side of her belly to feel the child pressing against her side.
"That's amazing," Her step-daughter's eyes lit up, "It must be an incredible feeling to have a life growing inside of you."
"It is. I haven't even met him or her but I love them so much already," She smiled warmly, relief blooming inside of her that at least Emma seemed to be accepting of it, "You're...okay with this?"
"Of course I am, I always wanted siblings," Emma nodded, removing her hand and tucking it under her head on the pillow, staying facing Regina, "I hope father is back soon, he'll be so happy."
"Me too, but he can't come home until King George is defeated," She let out a breath, "Until then it's just me and you," She smiled weakly.
"Don't forget Granny and Ruby," The blonde girl grinned, "We love you, Regina. We'll help you get through this."
"There you are, friend," Thomas came up, ale tingeing his cheeks as he approached David's tent, seeing him sitting outside of it on a tree stump by the small fire, "You coming to join the rest of us or you too busy missing that pretty Queen of yours?"
David chuckled, biting his lip, "You all have a good time, I think I'm going to call it an early night."
"You all right?" True to his nature, Tom did not relent and ended up sitting down near David, plopping his ale mug on the ground beside him, "We won the battle today. You should be celebrating. You'll get home to her soon enough."
"I know I just, can't help but wonder how she's doing. How my daughter is doing," He let out a breath worriedly, frowning as he dazed off into the fire, "The messenger brought me a letter back from her and it says they are all doing fine, but I also know she's not a complainer and she wouldn't want to worry me if anything were awry."
"I'm sure it's fine. Ella is there to keep her company, plus Ruby and Granny and Emma," Tom shrugged, "Anybody who would try to mess with the lot of them has to be out of their mind!"
He smiled briefly, "The castle is fully protected...Logically I know they'll be all right I just..something wasn't right with Regina when I left. I know she didn't want me to leave but I feel like there was something bothering her. And it's driving me crazy...the not knowing."
"Man, you really do love her," His friend murmured and he realized how he was rambling.
"I'm sorry, you don't need to hear this," David shook his head, leaning forward to slap Tom on the shoulder as he stood, "Go celebrate, I'm just being an old sap. I'll see you tomorrow."
"G'night, David."
He sighed as he stepped inside of his tent, sitting down on the edge of his cot to pull his boots off. The letter from his wife lay on the rickety table beside the cot, keeping it nearby his bed as a way to feel close to her. Although fading, the letter smelled like her when he first opened it and it made him heartsick to be near her again.
King George had surprised them all by having more forces at his disposal than what they initially considered, making this mission longer than they anticipated. David knew it was him that George wanted. It was a simple act of vengeance for refusing to play his son. He wouldn't stop until one of them was dead and David did not plan on being that one.
He fell back on his cot after removing his boots, body tired and sore in places that had not been worked out so vigorously in months. Suddenly he felt too old to be fighting in wars and living like a solider again, despite the experience he had at it. It wasn't really the physicality though, he was in pretty good shape. His heart was what was hurting him the most, feeling hopeless being apart from his wife with something like this happening.
She had to be furious with him after he had promised he would only be gone a few days. A few days had turned into a few months and they'd only communicated through brief letters. Even in the letters they could not be detailed in whereabouts or their daily life, for chance of the messenger being caught by the enemy.
He reached for the letter on the nightstand, bringing it up to his face and inhaling the scent of her perfume on it. It was pathetic, but it made him feel like she was near and that he hadn't been away from her for so long. Images of her sprawled out in the bed underneath him as he pumped into her came to mind, causing him to stir in his briefs. A lot of the men cured the loneliness with the gypsy women that passed through the trail near their camp, but he had no desire. All he wanted was Regina. To hold her. To kiss her. To undress her. To hear her moan when he licked her. To feel her come around him while she cried out sweetly.
Letting out a groan of frustration, he set the letter back on the nightstand and rolled onto his side, forcing his eyes closed. He needed to get to sleep before he got entirely too worked up. Thinking of Regina was a physically and mentally dangerous topic for him right now. He had to stay focused on ending this war and getting home to her as fast as he could.
"Your Majesty, we can't let you do that!" Grumpy squawked from his chair at the round table, "Not that we dwarves care or nothin', but the King would have our heads if we let you go to the village and get ripped apart by angry citizens."
Regina rolled her eyes, sitting in David's chair and addressing them. It had felt odd at first, being in charge, but Granny and Ruby always gave her looks of encouragement whenever her confidence would falter. She pressed on, imagining what David would do if he were here. She'd learned a lot from observing him on how to run a kingdom, even had ideas on how to improve some things, but she'd get to that another time. When there wasn't a war happening.
"That's the problem, Grumpy," Regina grit out at the ungrateful dwarf. He was the leader of the pack, the voice of them, and someone who did not accept her replacing Snow White as Queen. They were fiercely loyal to the departed woman, even all of these years later, "The people are angry because they haven't heard from their leaders. David cannot address them, therefore it is my job."
"Regina, I don't know if David would-" Ruby began with a reluctant expression.
She mustered all of the bravado she could manage, trying to remember everything her mother had told her about demanding respect and holding power. For years Regina had scoffed at any advice Cora had ever given her, but now was the time she had to lead. She had to be in power. She could no longer be the meek Queen who lived comfortably in her King's shadow. This was her kingdom, too.
"Have you all forgotten who you're speaking to?" Regina frowned, squaring her shoulders, "I am the Queen. No one will not allow me to do anything. As for the King, he is not here right now, so I make these decisions without consult from him. Is that understood?" She scanned the room for agreement, seeing the shocked looks on everyone's face at her actually finding her backbone.
"Well I'll be damned," Granny smirked, "It's about time, Your Majesty."
"Grumpy, you and the dwarves get my carriage ready. We'll go down to the village and address the concerns of the people. I'm not daft, so I will need to take a small group of knights with me for protection, should anything happen," Regina huffed. She would swallow her pride for her child's sake and admit that she would at least take security.
"I'm coming with you," Ruby said instantly and Granny nodded in agreement.
"You should, you could protect her better than anyone," The older wolf looked at the Queen over her glasses, "Don't worry, I'll look after Emma and keep this place going. You all be careful out there. You hear me?"
Regina nodded, suppressing a smile at how they all seemed to jump to action and actually take instruction from her. She'd never felt adept at taking charge, had never considered herself a leader or someone to be taken seriously. But these people respected her and her authority. Some of them may not like her, but they saw her as their Queen, nonetheless.
Proving to herself that she could do this was keeping her occupied and took the sting of missing David away during the day. She'd still miss him at night; still wish he was there to feel their child kick and talk through the night and do things to her body that she sorely missed. But during the days, she would run a kingdom.