Sorry for the wait again, i lost my USB stick for a while, but i found it in my car. So here's the next chapter thanks for reading. Comments are appreciated.
As he sat watching her sleep on his chest, he wished he could've helped her. She missed Snow just as much as the rest of them. And yet, she appeared to be the only one who had not yet made peace with it, David knew it was because Regina blamed herself for Snow's death. Everyone knew better than to mourn Snow for too long. They knew damn well she'd lecture them all for being miserable. Even Emma, for whom Snow's death meant losing the mother she had only just found. Losing the boyfriend she thought would be her happy ending, only to be disappointed when he left with no word. Neal losing his mother, at such a young age he was unlikely to remember her at all. David who had lost his true love. But David feared most for Regina who had lost a friend, granted she had Emma still. But Snow made sure Regina was safe, fed and loved. David had no doubt Emma would try to take over bringing Regina lunch at the office, but Regina had begun working from home and meetings took place via email. The front door remained locked or closed to everyone but Henry. David moved his hand up and down her back, hoping to provide comfort even in sleep. From the looks of her this is first time she's slept in days. David leaned his head against hers, her hair tickling his cheek slightly, but his eyes flickered closed and within minutes they had both fallen asleep.
David awoke some hours later when the loft door was unlocked, he managed to wipe his eyes before a mass of blonde hair and red pleather walked in the door.
"Hey kiddo." He whispered, so as not to wake the woman now cuddled further into his body.
"Hey dad, have a nice nap?" she asked, a little too loudly for his liking.
"Shhh." He replied urgently as he pointed down. Emma smiled, assuming Neal had fallen asleep on his lap again, she rounded the couch and found a surprising view. Regina curled up like a kitten, burrowed into her father's side. Her head resting on his shoulder and dark curls spread across his chest.
"I thought she was meant to take care of you."
"I don't mind, I'm feeling better anyway. What are you doing home so early?" Emma blushed slightly,
"I thought I'd come home a little earlier to get ready for my date."
"Need any help?" David and Emma startled at the voice from between them, sleep still lingering at its edge. She lifted her head and blinked blearily. Emma smiled at the brunette still trying to wake up,
"Uh, yeah that would be great, you sure you don't mind?" Regina shook her head and struggled to get up from the confines of warmth that were David's arms. David chuckled, watching her practically roll off the couch. Emma reached a hand to help her up.
"Okay Swan let's get you looking gorgeous." Emma smiled, and her eyes began to get misty, "Stop it Swan, we'll get through this. You think your mother would let you stand here and sniffle?" Emma chuckled as a tear escaped and shook her head. "Good. Let's go." David watched the women climb the stairs, content and at peace. At last.
"Okay these are my two options. What do you think?" Regina inspected the two dresses on the bed in silence. "Well I guess you don't like them."
"I don't not like them, it's just…you're trying to impress him. This has to blow him away." Emma grinned,
"Okay, what do you suggest?"
Regina circled the blonde looking up and down the body before her, Emma felt concerned that she was in fact being circled by a vulture.
"Do you trust me?" The blonde's brows furrowed in concern,
"Yes?" Regina smirked,
"Good." Regina waved her hand down the length of the blonde's body stopping just above the knee. In the trail of magic, a dress appeared, long sleeves donned her arms and the material continued down to her waist and came out and down to her knee, in a skater dress fashion. The material was a deep forest green that complimented the blonde's eyes. A gold belt circled her waist emphasising her slim figure. Black pumps adorned Emma's feet showing off her calf muscles and the length of her legs.
"Wow Regina it's amazing!" she reached out to stroke the fabric, but her hand was slapped away,
"I'm not finished." Emma's eyes widened, wondering what Regina had up her sleeve. Regina twisted her wrists and a cloud of glitter appeared floating above her palm. She took a few steps back from the blonde. "Close your eyes." Emma obeyed. "And don't breathe in." Again, Emma's brows furrowed but she held her breath. Regina held out her hand blew the glitter in Emma's direction. The glitter flew across the room curling around the dress before laying on the dress in the shape of fern leaves. While Emma wasn't looking Regina waved her hand again, applying light make up and curling her hair styling it over one shoulder. Regina put her hand over her mouth, her eyes watering at the sight of the blonde. "Okay."
Emma opened her eyes slowly and turned to look in the mirror.
"Holy crap, Regina. I look amazing!"
"You look beautiful." Hearing the hoarse voice from behind her, Emma turned to find tears cascading down Regina's cheek.
"Regina? What is it?" Regina shook her head,
"Your mother should be here, she would be so proud of you." Her voice quivering at the end of her sentence. Her hands came up to cover her face. Emma rushed to embrace the woman who had fallen to pieces in a matter of moments. Regina shrugged the blonde off and moved quickly to the bathroom.
"Dad!" Emma heard a groan and footsteps up the stairs as her father appeared in the doorway,
"Emma, you look beautiful."
"Yeah that's great. I need you to talk to Regina. She's in the bathroom, go, go." David was pushed towards the bathroom door and turned to find the room empty and a trail of green fabric leave through the door. He turned back and knocked lightly on the door.
"Regina? Can I come in please?" There was a moment of silence before he heard the lock of the bathroom open. He turned the handle and opened the door slightly. What he found broke his heart. Regina sat with her back to the bath, tears still making their way down her cheeks.
"Oh Regina." He moved and sat next to the brunette, his arm circling around her shoulders. "Regina it's not your fault. This is the last time I'm going to tell you. You might think that everyone hates you. But we all knew Snow, she was willing to give her life to save all of us and you couldn't have stopped her. No one could have. No one blames you. In fact, I have people coming into the station asking if I've heard from you or if you're okay. Granny more than anyone." Regina looked up to the blue eyes before her,
"Really?" David smiled and nodded.
"We miss you Regina. Everyone does." Regina smiled and curled into the man further. "Come on, I have a two-year-old to feed and you have a lasagne to make. Regina scoffed and shook her head.
"Okay."
"Okay?" She knew his question went deeper than the movement downstairs. She nodded,
"Okay." David smiled and stood extending a hand to the brunette lifting her from the floor and embracing her for a few seconds. Emma came back into the bedroom at that moment.
"Dad, Neal is hungry."
"Yeah I figured." He turned and left to feed the toddler.
"Regina, you've done more for me than I can ever thank you for, but I'm going to try." Emma moved closer to the brunette. She hugged the older woman. "Thanks for looking after my dad today. I know he enjoyed your company, he always does. He's missed you over the past few months." Regina blushed slightly at this,
"I've missed him too, I mean all of you. I've missed all of you." Emma smiled knowingly,
"Yeah but mostly him, right?" Regina's blush trailed further up her neck and became brighter. "Regina, I want you to be happy and I want him to be happy." From upstairs they heard a knock on the door. Emma practically shoved Regina towards the stairs, "Go, I want to do the whole walking down the stairs slowly thing." Regina chuckled but did as she was told and moved down the stairs. David had opened the door with Neal on his hip.
"Hey Robin, come in. Emma will be down in a minute."
"Thanks David, and thanks for letting me court your daughter." David laughed,
"Yeah like she gave me the choice."
"Like she would even listen to you if she had." Both men startled at the voice behind them. David just smiled at seeing the brunette with a smile once more. She moved to hug Robin.
"Evening Regina, nice hair do." She slapped his arm lightly,
"Shut up you." A throat clearing interrupted the moment. Regina looked up smiling at the blonde who had appeared at the top of the stairs. Robin and David looked up and their jaws dropped. Well she wanted a movie moment and she got it. Regina felt nothing but pride, the envy she thought would feel was absent and she didn't mind one bit. Robin stepped forward, swallowing at the sight of the blonde. He lifted her hand to his lips,
"M'lady." Emma blushed, Regina had no doubt this was the best she'd been treated by a man on a date. With a shy smile and a wave, they were gone.