The town was just as she remembered it. Dull, colorless boring. It hadn't changed at all since she left. Her mansion was untouched. As it should be. It was the same. Big, empty and dark. A mere reflection of the status she once had.

Regina silently looked around the house. Angel put his arms around her from behind, pulling her close. "It used to feel like home."

"It was never your home." Angel said with assurance. "Your home is right here wrapped in these guns." He grinned, flexing his arms.

She smiled and kissed his cheek. "You're right. Let's get settled for the night and I'll give you guys a tour."

The walk through the streets was a lot different than it had been before. Before, people looked at her with fear. With terror. If it wasn't that, it was pity. The fallen queen. Hated by all and loved by none. Now, they seemed to be nervous as she walked down the street with her new family. They were still afraid to approach her. Regina was no longer the Evil Queen, but to the rest of the world she might as well have been royalty. That status made them nervous. That status produced a new kind of fear.

Pongo was the first to approach her, followed by Archie. "Regina. It's good to see you again."

"You too, cricket." She smiled. "Archie, this is Angel and my sons, Angelus, AJ, Taj and Jason. Boys, this is Archie. Also known as Jiminy Cricket."

Archie shook each of their hands before looking at Regina. "How long will you be back in town?"

"Not long. I only came back to...close this chapter in my story."

Archie smiled. "I'm glad you've found your happiness."

"Thank you, Archie. We have to go. We have to meet Ruby in a little bit."

"Um, Regina?" She arched an eyebrow at his timid question. "Could you maybe sign something for me?"

Regina smirked. "Of course, Archie." They went back to his office and all signed some stuff for him. Afterwards they made their way to Granny's.

"This doesn't seem like too bad a place." Angel commented.

"It's really not." She agreed. "Well, without the occasional monster showing up. It's pretty homey." She looked down at Angelus as he suddenly took off running. Ruby ran to meet him and tossed him into the air. Facetiming his favorite werewolf was one of his favorite activities.

"How are my favorite celebs?" Ruby greeted. She wrapped each of the boys in a bearhug and even lifted Angel off his feet. "Hey Gina."

"Hello Miss Lucas. Let us eat before we break our hands from signing all of your stuff."

"Wolf!" Angelus said, looking at Ruby expectantly. Ruby grinned as she stepped back and let her eyes glow. It took barely a second for her shift into the form of a massive chocolate brown wolf.

"Holy shit!" Angel exclaimed.

Regina smirked. He was so cute. She picked up Angelus and placed him on Ruby's back. Ruby carefully carried him into the diner. As soon as she stepped in, all talking and moving ceased. She surveyed the crowd in that way she always used to do. The Evil Queen always snatched the attention of everyone in attendance. She drew in admiration, respect and fear. Regina lifted her chin and continued to a table where Ruby was sitting with Angelus, wagging her tail.

Granny's cooking skills hadn't diminished in the least and Regina made sure to order a feast for her family. Their smiles made her so happy. That is, until word got out that they were back and fools who seemed to have forgotten the way they treated Regina were suddenly in her face asking for an autograph. Ruby snarled and pushed Angelus behind her, but they kept pushing and pushing until Regina stomped her foot, sending a shockwave through the earth. It shook the diner and made her "fans" back away. She nodded to the others and motioned to the door. Ruby followed with Angelus perched on her back and they left the diner again. It was because of this that she had no intention of staying long. She wordlessly lead her family to the family crypt. It had become overgrown with vegetation and the inside was filled with cobwebs and bugs. With a wave of her hand, she cleaned the place up and conjured two bouquets of roses and placed on the two stone coffins where her parents lay.

"Your mom was a psychopathic bitch but… I can't help but be happy things worked out this way at least." Angel said. "But I'm sure even she is proud of you. I know your dad is. What's not to be proud of?"

Regina smiled sadly and looked at her father's coffin. Jason took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Thank you."

"Anytime, Mom."

A few hours later saw her sitting on the paddock fence, watching the boys and Roland riding their horses around the meadow. Angel sat next to her, looking at her with concern. "What?"

"You've been a little...disconnected, since we got here. I was just worried."

"I'm fine." Regina assured him. "Just reliving a lot of dark memories. Doing a lot of thinking. You're handling all this a lot better than I expected."

"I'm used to it. Mostly anyway."

Regina sighed. "This town was meant to be my haven. My happy ending. There's here for me now."

"You're my happy ending." Angel said, making her smile.

"I know."

/

That evening, Regina and the boys went to Snow's for dinner. Emma was pleased to see them and Charming was ecstatic. She hadn't realized he was such a big fan of the show. Henry didn't even bother to come downstairs for dinner, but she didn't let it bother her. The next day they flew back out to the homestead in Brazil before making their way to California. Angel's parents lived in a large house on the beach, bought by Angel himself.

Regina was beyond nervous. She was wearing a simple blue summer dress and sandals. She had tried to make herself look presentable but disregarded a lot of makeup. She held Angel's hand tightly, following the boys who had raced ahead.

Angel's father was the first to exit the house. He was a rather tall man, sporting jet black hair, a thick black beard, neatly groomed, and skin darkened harshly by the sun. Although he had a bit of a large gut, he was very strong looking. It was clear that his son got a great deal of his looks from him. Angel went to embrace his father and introduced the boys before turning to Regina. "Dad, this is Regina. Regina, this is my father, Diego O'Connor."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." Regina said, extending her hand.

Diego shook it firmly with a wide grin. "Finally this boy brings you here to meet us." He clocked Angel on the back of the head and politely took her hand to lead her inside. "Welcome. We've heard so much about you. And you have more grandsons!" He said, ruffling Jason's hair.

"He wanted lots of grandchildren." Angel whispered to her.

Regina looked around the beautifully furnished home as she was lead through it to the kitchen where the most delicious and mouthwatering aromas permeated the air. Angel's mother was a beautiful voluptuous woman with gray streaked black hair that nearly reached her waist. She was wearing a long, floral dress that swished as she laid out the table. When she looked up and saw her son, she burst into smiles and Portuguese. Angel laughed as she hugged him. Regina nervously kept quiet. The father was one thing, but the mother was another story. She knew from experience how protective mothers were of their sons.

"Grandma Sophia." AJ took Regina's hand and pulled her forward. "Meet Regina. She's the greatest ever." He rattled off a list on why Regina was so great and she was sure her cheeks were bright red by the stop Angel managed to make him stop. Sophia was staring at him in shock.

"I've never heard you speak so many words at once!" She looked at Regina in awe. AJ had always been a reserved child, bordering on reclusive, but spending time with Regina and her sons had broken him out of his shell a little bit. He was a happier, healthier little boy who she had come to adore as if he were her own. Sophia came to wrap her arms around Regina. "Welcome, my dear, when is the wedding?"

"Mom!" Angel snapped.

"What? It has been 3 years and no ring?" Sophia continued, scolding her son in portuguese.

Regina smiled. It was proposed that the boys take the bags upstairs and get everything settled while Regina helped Sophia in the kitchen.

"I am glad my son found someone like you." Sophia said.

"Someone like me?" Regina asked, curious and slightly offended.

"Someone strong, who won't cringe. Not like Nikki." Sophia sighed. "She had a lot of problems that Angel couldn't help her fix. But you, you're good for him. I've seen you on the tv and he talks about you all the time."

"T-thank you." Regina said, silently cursing herself for stuttering. But she was relieved that Angel's parents approved of her.

"You were scared to come meet us." Sophia said, leaning against the stove. "Why?"

"I've never met the parents before." Regina admitted. "I haven't been in a relationship as serious as this."

Sophia chuckled. "Girl, we approved of you years ago. Disapproved of you waiting so long to come see us, but you gave us grandchildren so we forgive." Regina smiled. "Let's go tell the boys dinner is ready before Diego and Angel decide 'fix' something." She walked to the stairs and yelled up it in portuguese.

Regina laughed at the woman's antics and could really see herself being a part of the family. She took a seat and watched as the flood of testosterone came flying down the stairs at the call for dinner. They each took a seat and Sophia said the grace for them before they started passing around the massive amount of dishes. Regina moaned at her first bite. "Sophia, this is amazing."

"You should try her lasagna." Angel said.

"Mom makes the best lasagna." Taj countered.

"Tomorrow we should have a lasagna-off." Jason added with a grin.

"I agree." Diego said, feeding Angelus.

"She cooks?" Sophia looked at Angel in shock. "You are a keeper, aren't you?"

Regina blushed and smiled. Yes, this...felt like home.

Xxxxxxxxxx

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