This chapter will be the last instalment to this story, as I'm finding it harder to extend it and I think it's a good place to stop. Thank you all so much for reading and your reviews. Please send feedback or requests, and I hope you enjoy!
Snow didn't leave bed for a week. The maids let her grieve, but Regina knew better. She was done grieving her father, she needed to grieve the loss of her purity, her sanity, and the one thing she kept of her mother's; her kindness.
She was a killing machine. She was a monster, a murderer, a criminal deserving of a long and slow death. At least that's what she told herself.
"You aren't a monster," Regina coaxed while Snow stared down at the hands that killed the king out of cold blood,"monsters don't feel anything when they kill. You do. You need to believe in yourself again."
"I can't. I killed. The only reason my mother is dead because I didn't have the heart to kill someone else. Now I've killed my father, my own blood relative. I truly need help."
"Then let me help," Regina whispered. She held onto Snow's hands, stained with the imperfections she once blamed the girl to have.
Snow's tear stained face was pulled to face Regina's. In the other woman's eyes was a dedication and love she swore only existed in books.
"At least it wasn't for nothing," Snow whispered. Regina nodded.
"I will forever be indebted to you."
"How about you love me? That's all I need." Regina laughed and guided Snow's lips to hers. Like her eyes, Regina's lips brought a placid tenderness she could only imagine until she experienced the mind-numbing feeling of them on her own.
"If you don't mind my asking, How did you kill him," Regina wondered.
"I poisoned the tea in my teapot and invited him to a tea party. I baked cookies with the antidote, so I could drink the tea without him noticing anything, but I never offered the biscuits to him."
"I don't want to ruin the moment, but that is pretty genius."
"I read it in a book," she mumbled,"one my father told me to read for my lessons with Johanna, before you took over." Regina chuckled and brought the girl closer to her in her bed. The maids turned a blind eye to them, knowing full well of Snow's overwhelming grief, despite the rumours they spread being very much true, and let them sleep in the same chambers.
Some of the maids that usually tended to Snow stopped when the rumours started. Some still tend to her and voice their disgust, and some don't care enough to avoid her.
Johanna was there with her the entire time, though. She loved Snow like a daughter and wanted her to be happy, and if that was Regina, so be it. She knew how stubborn Snow White could be.
"What'll we do now," Snow said into her shoulder.
"Well, you're father wanted you to be queen, so when you are ready, we will crown you queen and I'll step down."
"What will you do after?"
"Retire to the forest, stay with you if you want."
"No. I want you to be queen with me."
"Snow, that's not how it works. There are rules."
"Then we'll change the rules, we declare a new law that two queens may be crowned, then I'll rule beside you."
"Snow, the citizens expect you to marry a prince, a ruler of some kind."
"Well then they'll have to get over it."
"Snow, it's your duty to marry, ally with kingdoms, marry a rich king for money or land."
"Well too bad. I'll make alliances some other way."
"Dammit child, why must you be so stubborn?"
"Because I won't rule without you," she insisted. Regina rolled her eyes.
"How about we cross that bridge when we get to it." Snow nodded submissively and tucked her head in the crook of her neck once more.
"Fine, but I don't want to marry a slimy, womanizing monarch." Snow felt Regina laugh and couldn't help but laugh along with her.
"I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy." Snow nodded.
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After Leopold's funeral, Regina and Snow gave Rumplestiltskin back his spell book. When asked why, she told him that she didn't need revenge anymore. She had Snow and in a weird way, it was all she could've ever asked for.
When Regina was a child, we was taught from the very start that love is a waste of time. She was never shown love the way Snow was, but even with her father showering her with gifts, he was never there. He never gave her the attention and love she truly desiderated.
Her own father loved her, but it wasn't enough. He could praise her with his words all he wanted but he couldn't defend her when Cora tormented her in the cruelest ways a mother could. In a way, both girls were left broken.
After the funeral and more tears were shed, Snow followed her everywhere, something she didn't mind anymore. Six months ago, she would've yelled at her to find something else to do, to burden someone else with her unruly presence.
Now, they walked side by side, hand in hand, through the gardens. They didn't mind the onlooking eyes, in fact, they began to go public throughout the castle, and at Regina's ball in honour of her 20th year.
The two were planning on announcing formally about their relationship that night, a task Snow was reluctant to do.
"Why do we have to do this at your birthday party, we could do it any other time."
"Because it is our responsibility to. If they see us being intimidate, that will surely turn heads in a bad way. We need to do it tonight. If you think about it, we'll be able to dance as close to each other as we want afterwards." Snow lit up. Regina was never one for public affection, but Snow couldn't wait to dance and soak up her attentions during balls like this.
Regina was being fitted into her dress, a tight shoulder-less red satin gown lined with gold trim. Snow's was a backless ivory dress lined with red trim and covered in jewels. After watching the maids adjust the dress, Regina stepped down from her pedestal to face Snow.
"How do I look?"
"Gorgeous as always," Snow murmured. Regina blushed and shooed the maids off to prepare the ballroom. Snow was already fitted into her dress and was trying to practice walking in heels.
Regina backed away from Snow and she growled.
"Are you serious?"
"Come on, you need the practice. You'll be fine."
"I'm gonna fall," she insisted.
"Well it's a good thing I'm here to catch you." Snow grinned and made her way to Regina's open arms waiting across the room for her. She stumbled her way across the stone floors to fall into Regina.
"Better," she commented,"but you'll need to practice dancing in them."
"Can I just wear normal shoes?" Regina shook her head and took Snow's wobbly hand.
"You can do this, just like we practice," Regina coached, as they waltzed around the room. Snow began to stand straighter and wobble less as they circled the room many times over in their dance.
"I love you," Snow uttered.
"I love you too."
"Do you love me enough to let me cry on your shoulder? I really need it."
"Of course dear." Snow leaned against Regina and sobbed.
"This is the first ball without my father. I can't do this, I can't do any of this. I was never fit to be queen, I should just leave and let you do it. Your an amazing queen."
"Of course you can do this. You broke down my walls and built them back up; you defeated me in a way nobody could. You made me see the love in everything, the love that I could feel for others, for you. You are the most hopeful and optimistic person I could ever wish to meet, you can't give up now. You are going to be an amazing queen. You'll listen to them, you'll love every single one of them, and I know that you can make anyone love you. My dear, you will be a caring, beautiful, headstrong queen that will protect her subjects from anything. I can't wait to see you rule this kingdom." Snow cried even harder and lurched forward, knocking them both to the ground.
"Oh god, I'm sorry," she whispered, trying to stand up.
"That's okay. I think you deserve a rest." Snow grinned and pulled them both up to the armchair, hugging her arms around Regina's neck and sobbing.
"Thank you. I learned from the best." Regina laughed.
"Hell yeah, you did."
"I must say, that was a pretty amazing hope speech."
"I'm warning you though, I'm out of hope speeches now."
"I'm sure you'll find another one," Snow whispered. She shakily unraveled her arms from around Regina's neck and dusted off her dress.
"Thank god I don't have makeup on yet," Snow joked. Regina rolled her eyes and sat her down at the vanity.
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There must've been close to thousands of people at the castle to celebrate the queen's birthday. Peasants, lords, barons, princes and kings all dancing, drinking wine, and personally congratulating the queen.
Snow stood beside Regina the entire night, leaving her only to grab desserts or appetizers. They sat down on thrones watching the dance floor, Snow seated on her right.
"When shall we make the announcement," Snow wondered.
"I've asked the musicians to take a break after this song," Regina whispered. Snow nodded and felt her hands grow increasingly clammy, as the final notes were played and the musicians scattered throughout the ballroom.
"May I have your attention, please," Regina announced. Hundreds of heads turned towards them in curiosity.
"Princess Snow is to be crowned Queen, alongside me." Drunken faces twisted in confusion and lightly applauded the odd proposition.
"She will be crowned when she is ready to rule with me, and will be just as much a queen as I am." Regina turned to Snow and did the most daring thing she has done in her life. She grabbed both of Snow White's reddening cheeks and kissed her, in front of the entire kingdom as witness. Gasps sounded through the crowd, but nobody made any move to object.
"That is all," she muttered. Regina dragged Snow into the hall and nervously laughed.
"We did it," she muttered.
"You didit," Snow whispered. Regina couldn't stop grinning.
"Now let's just hope that people won't bother us about it."
"I have an idea. Care to dance?"
"Of course, dear." Snow lead her to the middle of the ballroom just as the musicians started playing.
"Just like we practiced," Regina instructed. Snow bit her lip in concentration and nodded. They sashayed around the room, avoiding every icy stare thrown at them.
"You look ravishing," Regina commented.
"So do you, my queen." Regina swept her up and kissed her once more, with more passion that she thought she could ever have for anyone.
Snow drew back and took in a shaky breath, exhaling over Regina's lips.
"Whatever happens now, know I will love you to the ends of the earth," Snow whispered.
"And I you." Regina pulled her back in once more.
She never thought she could love again. Love was never in the cards for her after Daniel, but both fate and luck loved testing her limits, as did Snow herself. She thought she could control her, manipulate her using the love that gripped Snow's heart to tear her to shreds, but the opposite happened. Her walls disappeared in a matter of seconds touching Snow's lips, her waist, her heart. All she had to do was push through the pain, and she had luck on her side.
Snow's hands were tangled in her hair, her mouth close to her ear, whispering something she couldn't comprehend, but knew they were promises of love being saved for after the ball. It was impossible to be as happy as she was right now. She was exactly where she wanted to be, where she belonged.