hiiiii :) I didn't have time to proof read and it's been a minute since I've written, so I apologize if it's rough!
"You may wanna cut the staring out son before your girlfriend notices," Robert stepped up beside of David lingering in the foyer near the entrance of the kitchen. The house was full of guests, Mary Margaret included, eating the food Regina and his mother had prepared and conversating while the kids played. He got distracted watching his mother and Regina talking and laughing in the kitchen as they prepared Henry's cake. It was like no time had passed between them, like they were still mother and daughter-in-law.
"Mary-Margaret is my wife, Dad...not my girlfriend," David sighed, turning to the man. It's not that his parents didn't like Mary-Maragaret, it's just that they loved Regina. She was like the daughter they never had and they made it clear she'd never be replaced. He agreed with the sentiment, but it was a painful reminder that their marriage ending had broken the entire family.
"Right," Robert nodded quickly, leaning against the archway, "Well, either way, she won't be happy to see you watching your ex with googly eyes."
"Googly eyes, what are we? Twelve?" David chuckled and let out a sigh, "Have they been like that all day?"
"Yeah," Robert glanced in to Ruth and Regina preparing the candles on the cake, in their own little world, "They've missed each other. When your mom found out Henry had been staying with you and Regina had been alone this summer, she insisted we come help out."
"Henry's just at that age where he doesn't want to be a little kid anymore," He smiled weakly, "You know like me and James went through."
"Yeah and I used to box your ears for disrespecting your mother," Robert raised a brow, "I do hope you're correcting him. You should've made him stay here with her. It isn't right. A boy needs his mother."
"He needs me, too," David frowned and shook his head, "Look it's complicated. If I would've made him stay it would've been like I was rejecting him. I'm already in his life so little. Not coming home to him every night is one of the hardest parts of all of this."
"The other parts standing in the kitchen with icing on her face?" He nodded towards Regina giving Ruth a beaming smile, the blue icing from Henry's supehero cake smudged over her forehead in an adorable way. It had been so long since David had witnessed her acting so carefree and happy. He missed it.
"I've moved on, Dad..." He replied more quietly, glancing over to the living room where Killian and Emma entertained Mary-Margaret. Cora milled about somewhere with a drink in hand, effectively avoiding conversation with most of them. Henry and Charlie and a few of their classmates ran in and out of from the house to the backyard, having a grand time despite the awkward tension between the adults. "I married someone else."
"Because you were trying to move on," Robert frowned, looking at David knowingly, "Not because you were ready."
"That may be so but what can I do about it now?"
"You either leave Regina alone and let her move on while you make an honest run for it with Mary-Margaret or you leave your wife. You can't have them both," Robert's expressioned grew more serious and David knew his father must sense there was something still happening between he and Regina.
"Make a wish!" Regina smiled brightly at her son when everyone finished singing him happy birthday, running a hand over his hair as they gathered around him at the table. The party had gone rather smoothly so far, smoother than she had expected it to with all of the tension between the adult guests. However, all of the grown up had managed to put their differences aside long enough to celebrate the one little boy that still brought them all together, even if it was just for one day.
"Go on, buddy," David smiled and roughed up their son's hair, catching her eye when he glanced up. They stood on either side of him, as they had each year he blew out his candles and even before he was able to. A homesick feeling hit David in the gut at the memories of he and Regina holding a one year old Henry up over his cake, all of them wearing foolish birthday hats and beaming over the baby boy they'd wanted for so long. He got a little lost looking at his ex-wife who hadn't changed a bit since Henry's first birthday. Maybe a laugh line or two, but she was still as beautiful as ever and just as joyful over their son.
"Yay Henry!" Everyone cheered their son on when he took a dramatic, deep breath and blew out his candles in one swoop. Regina glanced back at David, seeing the look in his eyes that told her he was feeling just as sentimental as she was. It was always the love that they shared for their son that brought them back into the complicated cycle. They could fight about anything under the sun, but their mutual love for Henry was always something pure that would bring them together each time.
Her jaw clenched when it was made apparent that she and David weren't the only ones aware of the moment between them, hearing Mary-Margaret's annoyingly chipper voice pipe up from the other side of table. "Happy birthday from your father and I, Henry," The schoolteacher chirped as she wheeled a bicycle in from the archway.
"Awesome!" Henry shot up from his chair, pushing it back with is force as he circled the table through the chaos of his party guests to check out his new bike.
Regina's stomach sank and her mouth dropped, quickly looking at David, "I thought we agreed I was going to get the bike and you would get the game console-"
"We did," David replied quickly as he looked back at her in an apologetic manner, making it obvious to her that he wasn't aware Mary Margaret bought this. Irritation instantly shot through Regina, making her grit her teeth in an attempt to keep her temper under control. She turned to look back at her son who had thrown himself at his stepmom, wrapping his arms around her tightly in a hug full of gratitude.
"Thanks, Dad!" Henry said as he pulled away, running back over to give David a hug of the same fashion.
"You're welcome, Buddy," David forced a smile and embraced the boy, shooting a knowing glance at Mary Margaret. She merely smiled back at him with a look in her eyes that said she knew there would be a discussion later, though she seemed to think it was worth it to undermine Regina's gift.
"What did you get me, Mom?" Henry then smiled up from his father's embrace, pulling his mother from her furious thoughts. Regina's stomach sank, feeling the eyes of everyone on her expectantly. Dread filled her, knowing the moment that Henry found out her present was a bust that his unusually warm nature towards her today would fade. She would go back to being the drag of a mom that he didn't want to spend time with.
"Actually, you don't get your mom's gift until this weekend," David piped up, a mischievous smile appearing on his face as if they had a great surprise planned. Henry's eyes grew wider in curiosity, glancing back and forth between his parents.
"What is it?!"
"You'll find out Buddy, patience, patience," David teased before glancing at Regina, "Isn't that right, Mama?" He winked playfully, inviting her to join in.
Regina swallowed a little harder as her anger faded, grateful to David for thinking so quickly. She also didn't miss what he called her, not used to him referring to her as that since they were together and Henry was smaller. "That's right," She forced a grin down at her son, "You think you can manage that?"
"What the hell was that?" David frowned as he got into the driver's seat of his pickup, reaching for the seatbelt and jerking it down to fasten. He'd tried to remain pleasant for the remainder of the party for everyone's sake, but his frustration had only grown in regards to the stunt his new wife had pulled. His glance over at her in the passenger seat only further aggravated him, seeing her doe eyed expression of innocence.
"What was what?" Her mouth dropped in feigned confusion.
"I told you that Regina was getting Henry a bike and you and I would take him to the zoo near my parent's this weekend as our present," He shook his head quickly, turning the ignition as he stomped on the clutch and brake to start the truck, ""Why in the hell did you do that?"
"He kept mentioning that he wanted a new bike, that he had outgrown his last one," Her mouth dropped more and she shook her head, "Why are you defending Regina, anyways?"
"Because you clearly did that on purpose!" His voice was raised by the time he backed out of the drive and took off down the street.
"David, why would I do that?" She drew her brows down as if he were being petulant, but he saw right through it, "It was a simple miscommunication."
"I think you did it to try to make it Regina look bad so Henry would want to stay with us full time," David shook his head and gave her a glare, "Just like suggesting Henry stay with us this summer before speaking to me about it."
"Don't you want to see your son more?!" She became defensive, her own irritation showing.
"Of course I do but not at the expense of his relationship with his mother!" He snapped back.
"Well maybe if we had a baby of our own that we didn't have to share with your ex we wouldn't have this problem!"
"Oh for fucks sake is that what your angle is here?" His blood ran hot at the undercurrent of manipulation behind her actions.
"Why are you so against it?! Because it will hurt your ex-wife's feelings?" She was yelling now too, huffing and grabbing the door handle at David's rough driving, "If she could move on and have a family with someone else she wouldn't think twice, David!"
"We're not doing this," He replied firmly, "We're not projecting what you did onto Regina. If you have a problem with me or the way our life is you come to me!"
"Oh because that's worked so well for me in the past," She scoffed sarcastically, "Why are you even still hellbent on defending her? Oh wait does it have to do with the way you were watching her all night?!"
"I was not!" He shook his head, clenching his jaw as he pulled into the parking space beside the building of their loft apartment, "Look we aren't ready for kids. We don't even have room for Henry. And I defend her because SHE IS HIS MOTHER! Something you will never be, so I suggest that you find a way to deal with that, otherwise there will be problems."
"Fuck you!" Mary Margaret screamed wideyed at his abrasiveness before jumping out of the truck, slamming the door behind her. He remained in his seat, letting his head fall back on the headrest as he let out a deep breath. His father was right; he couldn't keep this up much longer.
"Ruth please don't clean up," Regina shook her head, rushing into the empty kitchen to take the dishes her former mother-in-law was gathering, "You've done too much already."
"Oh nonsense, that's what mothers are for! Besides Robert was pulled upstairs by Henry so it'll be a while before we can leave," Ruth smiled and held firm to the dishes, turning to the sink to continue her task. Regina sighed and grabbed the towel from the counter, beginning to wipe them down with a smile on her face at the stubborn older woman.
"Darling I must say your liquor selection has gotten rather common since your forest boyfriend started spending time here," Cora sighed As she came into the kitchen swirling a glass of whiskey with a frown, "No scotch? Not even a top shelf bourbon."
Regina didn't miss the look Ruth gave at Cora's sudden presence before turning back at her mother, "Yes well I don't really keep the liquor cabinet stocked. There's no need with a child in the house, I don't drink often," She shrugged and raised a pointed eyebrow at her mother knowingly.
"Oh was that another barb about your childhood?" Cora rolled her eyes and made her way over to the kitchen island as she took a sip of her liquor. "Whatever happened to what's his name? Why wasn't he here tonight?"
"We broke up," Regina diverted her gaze, turning to put the lid on the leftover cake.
"I'm sorry, honey," Ruth frowned and glanced up from the sink at her, concern furrowing her brow.
"Good riddance, I say," Cora smirked and sat down on one of the stools, "You can do better than the local pawn shop owner."
"Archery shop," Regina muttered her reply, closing her eyes for a moment to inhale and exhale, "Can we not do this tonight, mother? I'm exhausted."
"Well I had just hoped you'd consider the influences you brought around my grandson," Cora shrugged, "Especially after dragging him through your divorce. Then your first boyfriend is some drunk British archer with no means to speak of who most likely lives in the woods. I mean, what kind of influence is that for Henry? It's no wonder he wanted to live with his father. At least he has some stability there."
"Stability?" Ruth scoffed and turned around from the sink then, making Regina's eyes grow wide at the expression on the usually soft spoken woman's face, "You want to preach stability and motherhood to Regina? That's rich, Cora."
"Excuse me?" Cora's brows raised nearly to her hairline, not used to being challenged outright.
"After everything you put your daughter through, you want to tell her she isn't thinking of her son? Henry is that girls life, she puts him before everything and I guarantee she is a better mother than you ever thought about being," Ruth's blue eyes darkened protectively as she spoke about Regina. "So I suggest you remove yourself from your high horse before someone else does it for you."
"He's out like a light. Icing on his face and all," Robert laughed as he came down the stairs and rounded the corner into the kitchen, glancing around at the three women when he sensed the tension in the room.
"Good, we should be going honey," Ruth nodded at him and he responded with a knowing look, his expression sobering quickly.
"Let me walk you out," Regina piped up then, relieved to disperse of the tense situation as she walked with them into the foyer, "Here you go," She smiled sadly, reluctantly gathering their jackets for them.
"Thanks, Little One," Robert gave her a warm smile as he took his and draped it over one arm before hugging her with the other.
"No. Thank you, both, for all of your help," Regina glanced between the older couple she looked up to like parents after pulling back from his embrace. "I don't know what I would've done without your help."
"Don't mention it, sweetheart," Ruth smiled warmly, already back to her usual sweet and soft nature, "We've missed seeing you. Don't be a stranger, okay?"
"I won't, I'll bring Henry to see you sometime," She nodded with a weak smile, knowing the logistics of it would most likely not work out given the custody arrangement.
"And don't let her speak to you like that," Ruth murmured when she pulled Regina into a warm hug, "You hear me?"
"Thank you, Ruth," Regina nodded and hugged her back tightly before pulling away, reluctantly following them to the door. She forced a smile and a wave as they said their verbal goodbyes and she watched them walk down the sidewalk, feeling their loving energy leave with them.
She glanced into the kitchen to see Cora pouring herself another glass of liquor and decided to retreat to her own room instead of engaging with her. She was sure her mother was already a few drinks in and no good would come of being around her. Instead she decided to let her drain her liquor cabinet in peace as she climbed the stairs and made her way to her room.
Regina glanced in on Henry before slipping into her own room, happy that he seemed to enjoy himself to the point of exhaustion today. Despite the snare with his step-mother, she felt they'd pulled off a successful birthday. Of course, it wasn't as fun as when David was here with them, but considering the changes it was as good as could be expected.
Too tired to look for pajamas or prepare for bed, she stripped down to her underwear slowly and slipped under the covers. Typically at this point of Henry's birthday, she and David would've been passed out from exhaustion or wired from sheer happiness. Planning and executing their son's special days were one of their favorite things to do. She especially loved the way it brought out the inner child in David.
Being a father was one thing she couldn't fault him for. He had always been amazing with Henry, since the first day, even when she had been nervous and unsure. David had been a natural and bonded with their son before she did. He'd been there for his first steps, taught him to throw a baseball, helped him with his homework. And when it came to playtime, well her ex-husband has excelled at that...
"Hey, Prince Charming," Regina smirked to herself as she crawled into the makeshift fort of sheets and blankets her husband had created for their three year old. She found him passed out on a mountain of pillows and a blanket, costume crown still on his head and foam sword still in his hand, sleeping peacefully long after their toddler had abandoned him. "David, wake up."
"Hmm, What?" He stirred sleepily and opened his eyes, seemingly confused by his surroundings as he looked around the dimly lit enclosure in their living room.
"You and your little knight fell asleep in here when you were reading to him," She chuckled, pulling the crown off of his head and laying the sword to the side.
"Where'd he go?" David smiled tiredly turning his head to his side where Henry must've been curled up before.
"He crawled out looking for me. He woke up and wanted his blanket," She smiled, "He's all tucked in asleep in his crib now. Why don't you come back to your bed chamber, your majesty?" She mocked with a playful grin.
"Why would I do that when my Queen is right here?" He smirked up at her, reaching out to grip her hips and roll her on top of him.
"How improper," Her mouth dropped as she straddled his waist, sitting up on him halfway, her head nearly hitting the top of the blanket tent in their cramped quarters, "To suggest that your Queen be so wanton, here of all places."
"What can I do to persuade you, your majesty?" He grinned up at her, running his hands up Her thigh, fingertips pushing up her nightgown slowly.
"I cannot be bribed," Regina took a haughty, royal tone as she ran her hands up his muscled chest, beginning to grind herself on his groin slowly, hearing him grunt a little as the friction began.
"You sure about that?" David challenged as he ran one hand up, sliding it over her neck and into the back of her hair to pull her down for a deep kiss, "Mmm."
She pressed her chest against his, continuing to push her hips back in a rocking motion as her tongue dipped into his mouth. His hands traveled down her sides and over her bottom, pulling the nightslip up around her waist before gripping the flesh of her ass, digging his fingertips into the skin.
"For such a respectable Queen you sure are missing a few undergarments," He smirked playfully against her lips at the fact she hadn't worn underwear, "It would almost lead one to believe that this is what you had in mind all along."
"Shut up," She murmured against his stubble with a grin as she trailed kisses down his jaw line and to his neck, grinding her hips harder.
"Hmm," He chuckled and groaned before rolling them over quickly, reaching down between them to run his fingers over her, "Your body gives you away," He smirked pressing his forehead to hers as he slid his fingertips down her slit, watching her lips part quickly. She was wet already, as if the lack of underwear wasn't enough to blow her innocent cover.
"Don't tease," She growled playfully leaning up to bite down on his bottom lip, moaning when he slipped his fingertips inside of her slowly, "More."
"Yes, your majesty," David grinned, feeling himself growing painfully hard as her wet heat enveloped his fingers inch by inch. He watched her eyes flutter closed as her hands trailed up and down his arms, spreading her legs wide for him. He glanced down between them as he started to push his fingers in and out slowly, spreading her juices, nearly coming at just the sight of the act.
"Mmm," Her head fell back into the blanket and her eyes opened, mere slits parting for dark brown irises. She was watching him, lifting her hips up from the floor to meet the slow thrusts of his fingers, little puffs of breath escaping her mouth when he hit a particular spot, "You, I want you," She reached down to still his hand.
He obeyed instantly, done with the teasing and pillow talk as he removed his fingers and pushed down his pajama pants far enough to get himself out. They both groaned quietly when he rubbed his tip along her entrance before pushing inside of her fully, filling her to the hilt.
"That's more like it," She said breathlessly with a smirk as she hooked her legs around his sides, "Fuck, move."
"Such a foul mouth for a Queen," He grinned before starting to hit her with deep, firm strokes, face burying into her neck to tease and nip at the skin. She felt deliciously warm and tight as he gripped her thighs, angling their hips to thrust in a way he knew she liked.
"You'd he surprised what I can do with my mouth," She whispered before letting out a breathy moan when he thrusted harder in response, one of her hands coming to clutch the back of his hair as the other clutched at his back, "Mmm!"
"I aim to find out, your majesty," He replied huskily before sucking down on her earlobe, hearing her purr in response. Before he knew it she had rolled them over by pushing with her leg against the floor, moving on top of him with impressive agility.
"Maybe if you're lucky," She grinned down at him, both of them panting at this point. Her hands pressed into his chest as she started to rock on him in earnest, hair falling in her face, nightdress around her waist and not a stitch of makeup on.
Regina ground her hips on his sinfully, rocking back and forth, the sound of their wet sexes and panting filling their small makeshift tent. He grabbed her hips and groaned as his head fell back and he concentrated on lasting for her despite the way she was moving on him. Her nails dug into his chest and she began to whimper in the telltale way that she was close.
"David-I'm-oh," She mumbled under her breath as her head fell forward and her hips moved at a rapid pace before she cried out, body tensing and walls clenching around him. He groaned and instantly emptied himself in response to her clutching him tightly, feeling her shudder on him. She bucked on him in the throws of her orgasm, Her head and their moving limbs somehow tangling in the makeshift fort and causing the blankets and sheets to collapse entirely.
"You know," David whispered after a few breathless moments in between their laughter, "Maybe we should retire to my bed chamber after all."