Maura listened to Jane's heart for a moment longer and then removed the stethoscope, leaning back so that her hazel eyes could connect with Jane's dark ones. "How long have you felt this chest tightening and what sort of activities are you engaging in when you feel it?"
"I've only felt this twice. First time I was hugging Regina and this time I was fighting a fire." She leaned back on her hands and looked at Maura. "It passes though. I coulda kept fighting."
Maura wrapped the stethoscope around her neck and flicked her hair out from under it. "That would've been a bad idea. Your heartbeat is still faster than I'd like and a bit erratic. I want to get an EKG, Jane, and see what's going on. It seems your heart is under a lot of stress, especially since the couple of times it's happened you've been doing something that typically gets you excited... fires and Mayor Mills." She smirked before standing. "Just wait here and I'll go get what I need."
Jane nodded. "So an EKG? Is that the one where I have to wear a heart monitor for twenty-four hours? I-I can't do that when my job, Maur."
"Oh but you will. Because your doctor says so. I have an obligation as a physician and best friend to ensure you keep kicking. Plus, Regina may have my head if anything happens to you. So, for the time being, you will wear these electrodes." The blonde said sternly.
"So, what, I have to press a button every time my heart feels funny?"
"Mmhm." Maura nodded as she sat back down in front of Jane with the electrodes. "If you could just remove your shirt please I'll get these on."
"Good thing I decided to wear a bra." She chuckled and pulled her white tee off and held it in her lap. Sitting there in her fire pants, boots and just her black bra, Jane watched her best friend stick the cold sticky pads on her skin.
"You don't have anything I haven't seen before, Jane." Maura smirked as she worked. Once she was finished, she sat back and gestured to Jane's shirt. "You can put your shirt back on. I want to see you again tomorrow to get that data."
"I have a date with Regina tonight... I can't be all wired up, Maur. And I really don't want her to think she's dating a defective firefighter." Jane whined.
"I thought badasses were supposed to be less whiny." Maura grinned. "I doubt Regina will see you as a 'defective firefighter' after you saved her son, but if you're so self conscious, I suggest an evening without sexual activities."
"You don't understand how hard it is to look at that woman and not want her." She smirked. "But I can try to contain myself." Hopping off the table she smiled. "Thanks sweetie and I'll call you if something goes wrong. If." She smirked and kissed her cheek.
Maura laughed and watched her friend walk off. "If your readings spike, I'll know exactly why, Jane Rizzoli!"
"It'll be worth it!"
xxx
"Now I'll ask you again nicely. What's your name?" Regina asked as she stared at Rumplestiltskin with chipped cup in hand. Emma had informed her of his reaction to Maurice and the former queen had known right then that her fears were realized. Gold remembered.
Mr. Gold stared at the cup and reached for it once more in the bars. "Regina, Give me that!" He shouted then finally gave up and sat on the cot. When the Mayor asked once more he sighed. "My name is Rumplestilskin."
"Was that really so hard?" She grinned and handed him the cup between the bars. "Such a silly thing to get so upset over. I thought she didn't mean anything to you?"
He simply stared at his prodigy for a while before speaking. "Seems that curse of yours is weakening deary. Could it be the woman from your past? The one that just kept getting in the way." He smirked. "What was her name again? Falcon? Talon?"
"Fallon." Regina sneered and leaned closer to the bars. "And no one got in my way. I enacted the curse, did I not? I'm happy while all the rest are miserable." She grinned maliciously, her voice going a little deeper. "I won. And this curse isn't breaking. So whatever you have to say about Jane, well, you can just keep to yourself."
"Oh now see here. The curse will break and not by whom we had thought originally. No, Emma was this towns savior but someone else has taken that roll. Your dear one legged knight." He grinned knowing full well that the leg was a sore subject. "One way or another, dearie, your curse will break. Will Fallon be strong enough to still protect you? And after finding out what you have become, will the blacksmith even care about you?" Rumpelstiltskin giggled. "Oh and while we're on the subject." He grinned. "You're loosing precious time with her."
"You're a bastard." Regina scowled. Rumplestiltskin had always known just where to attack her. Jane had been her one weakness for decades. "Fallon has always remained at my side. And she knew what I was before I enacted the curse." But Regina had Henry to worry about now, too, and the breaking of the curse could put him or their time together in jeopardy.
"What do you mean, imp?" She snarled.
He simply grinned. "Oh you'll see soon enough, Regina."
"Tell Margie I send my regards. Oh wait." Regina grinned spitefully. "She's dead, isn't she?" She tsked. "Such a shame. She was a pretty girl. Oh well." The mayor stood and began to head for the door.
"Her name was Belle, and don't worry you're going to loose your love just like I lost mine... Oh wait, I forgot. Daniel already had his heart ripped out. Hm...well I guess his sister will do."
Regina froze but didn't say a word. As good as she could dish it out, Rumple could give it back. She left the jail then and pulled her cell from her jacket pocket, dialing Jane as she walked down the street.
Laying down on her couch, Jane reached for her cell and smiled at Regina's picture that popped up. Answering, she was pretty happy. "Hey baby. I see you couldn't wait til our date to hear my voice." The chief chuckled.
Regina sighed with relief at hearing that raspy voice. Rumplestiltskin was unpredictable, and it was hard to tell what he meant by his cryptic messages. "I do love hearing it. Especially when it's right in my ear making me feel warm all over. Are you free right now?"
"Mm well babe, come over. I'm free and alone." Jane husked into the phone.
Regina grinned at the other end of the line. "Then I'll be over in just a few minutes."
And in less than 10, she was knocking at Jane's door.
Placing the monitor in her back jeans pocket, Jane stood and answered the door. A sultry grin crossing her lips. "Hi." Gripping the stomach of Regina's dress, she pulled the woman in and dipped down for a long, luring kiss.
Regina smirked against her lips afterwards, her hands resting on Jane's waist. "Miss me, did you? It hasn't been that long since we last saw each other."
"A second without you is too long." She grinned and lead Regina inside and sat down on the couch. Jane repositioned and took the uncomfortable monitor out of her pocket and placed it behind her. "What have you been up to?"
"Just mayoral duties." Regina forced a smile, trying to push back the unpleasant thought of Rumplestiltskin and his news of doom. She noticed Jane fidgeting as she got comfortable on the couch, bringing her legs up to rest alongside her. "So I heard the sirens today and Dirk informed me there was a large brush fire in the forest. Did everything go okay?"
"We dont have enough man power on our team so it was challenging." Jane looked away and sighed. "Then I was made to sit out... which didnt help but I think the boys finally got it under control."
"Why were you forced to sit out?" Regina asked with a furrowed brow, more concerned with that than the condition of Storybrooke's forest.
"My heart."
"Your heart?" Regina frowned. "Wh-what's wrong with it?"
"Its acting up. it freaked out on me today when we were fighting the fire." She held up the monitor. "Maur put this aggravating thing on me for 24 hours." She sighed.
Dammit, Rumplestiltskin. "How long has this been going on for? Does Maura have any idea yet what's causing it?" Regina scooted a little closer to Jane and took hold of the monitor to examine it.
"Its only happened twice. That time with you and this morning."Jane shrugged. "She's not sure yet but thats why she's doing an EKG. We'll figure it out."
Regina took a deep calming breath. Jane's sudden heart trouble and Rumplestiltskin's warning weren't likely just coincidences. He knew something, and damn it all to hell if the queen wasn't going to figure out what that was. "I'm sure the test will let Maura know what needs to be done. She seems to be a good doctor, afterall."
"She is but enough about my issue." Jane smiled. "I have you all to myself and I'm going to enjoy that." Leaning in the fire chief kissed those luscious lips of the mayor.
Regina gently pushed Jane back against the arm of the couch and moved to straddle her, deepening their kiss. The fire chief knew how to distract her well.
Jane moaned against Regina's lips and her hands traveled to the brunettes ass.
The mayor nipped at the firefighter's bottom lip before finally pulling back, resting her forehead against the other woman's. "Maybe I should take it easy on you today, so that your EKG isn't spiking like crazy." She grinned.
Chocolate eyes met brown with a smile. "Yeah, Maur wouldn't like that so much." She laughed and kissed her nose. "I'm still taking you out on that romantic date I had planned, though."
"Is this the date we would've gone on if you hadn't ravished me?" Regina chuckled, giving Jane another quick peck before slipping off her lap and taking a seat at the end of the couch again.
Jane laughed and shook her head. "No. This date I think will be much better. I called in a favor for this one. Its a surprise."
"Called in a favor?" Regina's brows rose as she smiled slightly. "Wow I'm impressed. I'm not normally a huge fan of surprises but I'm looking forward to this one."
"You'll like it. I promise." Jane moved closer to Regina and moved her arm over the back of the couch, over her shoulders.
Regina leaned closer to her and ran her index finger over a scar along the side of Jane's neck, under her jaw. It was one of the first wounds she'd received as a soldier, the former queen remembering how she'd fretted over it only for Fallon to claim it was "just a scratch." "So when do I get this surprise?" She asked, her eyes meeting Jane's then.
"Tonight, when the sun goes down. It'll be more romantic at night." Taking Regina's finger in her hand, the chief kissed the pad. "It's just too bad you have to take it easy on me tonight. But... I don't have to take it easy on you." She grinned.
"Uh uh uh." Regina shook her head and tsked. "ANY activity of the such is off the table tonight. You, Jane Rizzoli, are very naughty." She smirked. "Which I do like but... I just want to make sure everything's alright with you." She said softly and moved her hand over Jane's heart, like that day by the apple tree when Fallon knew what lied in her own heart but nonetheless remained faithful. "I happen to value this very much." She said, looking into her lover's eyes.
"I don't know how I got this lucky." Placing her hand over Regina's she smiled. "I don't know what I would do if you ever wanted us to end. Now that I have you, I don't want to let you go."
"I could never let you go." Not completely, Regina thought. Fallon would forever be a part of her life. "And I'm the lucky one. To have someone so good in my life when I haven't always be a good person."
"Yeah well, I haven't been the greatest person either but I think we're good for each other." Jane ran her fingers through Regina's hair. "You're so beautiful, G. I can't get enough."
Regina smiled softly and leaned into Jane's touch. Sometimes, when it was just the two of them having a tender moment like this, she felt like a teenager again with her best friend. "I wish we'd gotten together sooner. Sometimes I feel like I wasted a lot of time."
"Things happen for a reason. No such thing as wasted time." Jane kissed Regina's forehead. "Maybe we met in another life and one of us fell for the other but was just too scared to speak up so we decided to take the risk in this life."
"Well if that's the case, maybe this world isn't so bad afterall." Regina smiled and slid her hands up to rest at the base of Jane's jaw, leaning in to kiss her softly.
Their day consisted of kissing, talking, and more kissing. When the sun began to set Jane went and put on some nicer clothes and took Regina to the bay. There awaited them a sailboat trimmed in white lights and a candle light dinner in the center of it.
Regina's jaw dropped for a moment before she squeezed Jane's hand and leaned into her as they stepped aboard. "Jane, this is..." She shook her head and smiled. "Really, really sweet of you. I imagine I'm one of the few who's seen your romantic side, correct?"
"You're the only one." Jane gave the mayor a sweet smile and helped her aboard the boat. "The things I'm doing for you are only for you. No one else has gotten this far with me."
"Well that certainly makes it even more special." Regina smiled and kissed Jane's cheek before taking a seat at the table. She noticed a bottle of champagne in a bucket and lifted it to take a look. "You have good tastes."
"Eh dont judge me on that just yet. I like the picture of the Pegasus on it." she laughed and poured their glasses. She then lifted the silver lids to show off a traditional spaghetti dinner.
Regina laughed and spread a clothe napkin over her lap. "It looks and smells delicious. And even with your champagne decision based purely on child-like favoritism of the Pegasus I'm still impressed." She smiled.
Jane chuckled and picked up her fork. "Only the best for my girl."
"Only the best for my queen."
Regina smiled as she examined the dress Fallon had bought her more closely. The cloth beneath her fingers was soft to the touch, the material a deep blue and gorgeous. "When Leopold knights you and throws a ball in celebration, I'll be in this. Just for you." Her honey eyes met Fallon's dark.
Fallon smiled and brushed the back of her fingers across Regina's cheek. "You'll be the most regal and beautiful woman there." She leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "And I would be honored if you and I had the first dance."
"It'll be your ball, Fallon, so you can have anything you want." Regina smiled and stepped in closer to her friend, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Thank you for the dress. I need to go meet with some of King Midas' ambassadors but we should have dinner afterwards. I'll come to your barracks once I've finished and changed."
Fallon smiled and moved her hands down the Queen's sides and nodded. "I'll see you then, my lady." Watching Regina walk out of the room, the soldier sighed. "All I want is you." she whispered.
0
The soldiers staying in Fallon's barracks had become used to the sight of their queen waiting in riding pants for the one legged soldier. They tried to be respectable but often couldn't keep their eyes from wandering over the queen's form. Leopold had picked a beautiful wife indeed.
When she saw Fallon coming her way, Regina smiled brightly, some of the other soldiers jealous of the looks their comrade got. "I've packed us a basket of food. I thought we could go for a picnic."
Fallon grinned and hugged her friend tightly. "You are the most wonderful friend." She chuckled. "I'm famished, so lets mount and ride to our spot."
Once mounted, the pair trotted off toward the clearing in the middle of the forest.
Regina spread out the blanket near the cliff's edge so they'd have a good view and then took a seat, grabbing the basket and setting it in her lap so she could begin taking the food out. "How is your new leg holding up?" She asked softly, sneaking a peek at Fallon's wooden leg before looking up at her friend's face.
"Well, its still holding me up so it can't be too bad." Fallon chuckled as she sat down next to Regina. She wouldn't admit that it hurt her some times and it aggravated her not to be able to bend at the knee any longer. "I feel as if I need an eye patch."
Regina laughed and unwrapped a piece of chicken to hand to Fallon. "I imagine the life of a pirate would always be entertaining. You'd make a good looking one."
"Oh? You think so?" She grinned and bumped shoulders with her, playfully. "Hm the Queen and the Pirate." She smirked. "Doesn't sound as good as The Queen and her Knight."
"Aye, it doesn't have the same ring to it." Regina smirked and took a bite of her chicken. "But..." She started, covering her mouth to finish chewing. "You're not quite a knight yet. We have another evening of just the queen and her best friend. I think that's just a nice of title."
Fallon smiled sweetly. "And that is my most favorite title."
Regina smiled and set her chicken down in its wrapping to free up her hands so she could lean back and rest her weight on them. "So are you bringing a date to your ball?"
The soldier picked out her own chicken breast and took a bite of the white meat. Looking over to her friend, Fallon shook her head. "No, I'm not interested in any of the available men in the kingdom."
"None of them?" Regina asked with one slender brow arched. "There are some handsome soldiers you ride alongside with. None of them have caught your fancy?"
Fallon sighed. "Yes they are handsome but, my heart belongs to someone I can't give it to."
"And why can't you?" The queen asked, leaning closer to her friend.
Looking into Regina's eyes she spoke. "They belong to someone else. Their heart is with another. I have never measured up and I never will."
"I'm sorry, Fallon. Maybe it's time you try to move on, though. Find someone who will give you the love and attention you deserve."
The soldier looked away, silently for a moment. "I can't... this person has my heart and it wouldn't be fair to the one I move on with. I don't think I would be able to love anyone fully."
Regina nodded and sat back quietly. "I can understand that. I don't think I'll ever love anyone the way I loved your brother. My heart will always belong to Daniel."
"I-I know." Fallon's voice quivered a bit as she looked away and picked more at her chicken, taking small bites.
"I guess we're both doomed to a life without love. Well, that kind of love, anyway. I know I love you platonically." Regina smiled as she looked over at the soldier.
Fallon didn't look at her friend. She simply nodded. Regina would never know the love the soldier had for her. Tears came to her eyes.
Regina felt incredibly daft for not having recognized Fallon's affections sooner. Now, looking at the fire chief seated across from her, she realized she may have been wrong all those years ago. Maybe she could love someone the way she loved Daniel. "You are the best, Jane."
"Now that is the grandest thing that has ever come from those lips of yours." Jane laughed. "But I disagree. See... I think you're the best. You have made me want and become a better person. Less of a whore." The chief laughed softly.
Regina smiled and sat back in her chair, shaking her head. "Correction, you're no longer a whore at all because you belong to me. And I belong to you." She added softly, looking down at her plate.
Jane smiled with a nod. "You're very right." Leaning over the table, the firefighter kissed the mayor lightly then sat back down to eat. They did so with light conversation. Once they finished eating Jane took the sailboat out of the harbor. Standing behind the wheel, Jane smiled brightly, feeling arms wrap around her from the side. "Hey beautiful."
"Hi." Regina said softly, resting her head on Jane's shoulder. She looked out over the dark waters as she held her lover. "It's so quiet and peaceful out here." She stepped back then to look at Jane. "So who'd you rent the boat from?"
"Leroy actually." She chuckled. "He said 'Anything for the one that made the Mayor less mean'."
"He said what? Hmph." Regina snorted. "I'll show that little man mean." She grumbled.
Jane walked up behind Regina and moved her hands around to the front of her thighs. "Baby, if not for him we wouldn't be on this amazing date right now. So don't hurt his pride too much." She kissed her neck lightly. "And if not for this date and this moment right now I wouldn't have the guts to tell you that I'm falling in love with you."
Regina had been running her fingertips along Jane's arms until the fire chief's confession, the mayor freezing. She knew Jane cared for her deeply, that Fallon had loved her, but it was still unnerving to hear so soon. Rumplestiltskin's words were at the forefront of her mind: Fallon was going to break the curse. And while Regina was beginning to feel split on the issue, the larger part of her didn't want it broken. "I-I care for you deeply, Jane." She turned in the firefighter's arms then to face her. "But I can't say the same right now."
That wasn't what Jane wanted to hear. "With guts comes a confession followed by extreme awkwardness." She looked away. "I'm sorry."
Jane's reaction, while not surprising, was still heart wrenching for Regina. She hated hurting her. "I'm sorry, Jane." She cupped the other woman's cheek and turned her head gently, so that she was looking at her. "I do value the courage that just took. Just give me some time. Please."
Jane nodded her head. "I will, I'm sorry. The one thing in my favor is that I'm not actually in love with you... just getting there. Still I shouldn't have said anything like that yet. I know it's too soon."
Regina took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, and swallowed hard. "I don't know how to love very well. Not in the way you want me to. I wasn't capable of it for a very long time." She stepped closer and rested her forehead against Jane's. "But I want to learn how to again. I'm just... afraid."
"You don't have to be afraid with me. I won't ever hurt you, Regina. You've changed me for the better. " She kissed her forehead the placed her back against it. Looking into her eyes. "We'll learn together. I want to be with you and if it takes you years to love me back, its okay. With you I'll be patient. For you I'll do anything."
"You've already been patient." And it's already taken years for me to start to allow myself to love you back, she thought. "And anything? What if I am the horrible person everyone thinks me to be? What if I do do evil things? Would you still do anything for me then?"
"You're not a horrible person but lets just say if I witness you doing anything that is way out of line I will get in the middle of it and I will stop it."
Regina nodded. That wasn't something Fallon would ever do, but it was something the mayor needed if she were ever going to be what Henry wanted: Regina and not the Evil Queen. "I'm glad you still see me in a good light."
"You haven't done anything to me to make me walk away from you." She smiled.
"I've done a lot, actually." You just don't remember, she said internally. "But I want to be a better person for you and Henry." Her son was a lot happier when she wasn't plotting against others.
"Well you are on the right path." she kissed Regina deeply and this time more memories came.
The villagers refused to answer her questions, remaining silent about Snow White's whereabouts. It was frustrating, enraging. Regina wanted the princess dead and the people remained loyal to her. Walking back to her men, Fallon leading them, she gave them an answer to their question of "What shall we do now, your majesty?" in a deep, dark tone; her teeth clenched tightly. "Kill them all. No mercy. Find me Snow White."
Fallon looked at her queen with eyes that pleaded 'No. Don't do this.' But her mouth never spoke the words. The knight nodded toward her men for the go ahead then turned her back. Following Regina.
"Of all of these men under your control, you'd think there'd be at least one competent soldier in the bunch." Regina stopped and spun to face Fallon. "Why haven't you found me Snow White yet? How is it that she manages to always be a step ahead of us?"
"Snow knows these woods better than we do. She has friends in high and low places. There isnt many people that would help us find and kill her, Regina.
"Then find me the few who would." Regina said cooly. "And not another huntsman. I've already had one go soft on me. I don't need another." She spun slowly, gesturing to the woods. "I want eyes and ears everywhere."
Fallon nodded. "Yes Ma'am. I'll do what I can and I'm sorry we haven't found her yet." The knight took Regina's abuse.
"I don't want apologies, Fallon." Regina leaned close, a deep scowl in place. "I want results. Get me some." She turned and mounted her horse then, riding away with a couple of guardsmen who had stood nearby.
Fallon hid her anger well but when the queen started to ride off, the knight took off her helmet and threw it with a loud shout. "What happened to you!?"
Regina began to pull back from the kiss when Jane cupped her face and pulled her in for more, the mayor giving in.
The queen sat on her throne, watching as Fallon made her way forward and bowed her head in a show of respect. "Well? Did you find and kill Snow White?"
Fallon shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. No one will give into the bribes." she sighed and chanced it. "Regina... why don't you just let go. Daniel was my brother and yeah I hate that he's gone but I'm not trying to get revenge."
"Leave us." Regina hissed, her other soldiers leaving the throne room as she stood and made her way to Fallon. "You didn't watch the one you love have his heart ripped out right in front of you. You weren't forced to marry a pig of a man who couldn't keep his grubby hands off of you despite the fact he reminded you day after day how you didn't even come close to being the woman his first wife was. You didn't have to listen to Snow White go on and on about finding her true love and living happily ever after even despite her having stolen that ending for you." She sneered. "So don't you dare lecture me. Because with you or without you I will have my revenge."
"No I didn't go through that but none of it was Snow's fault. Your bitch of a mother would have find out one way or another. She would have noticed you were gone and wouldn't have stopped until she found us." Fallon shook her head. "I don't like what you've become. I want my Regina back. Not you."
Regina's palm made contact with Fallon's cheek then, a loud 'slap' reverberating through the empty chamber. "The Regina you were friends with years ago is gone. If you don't like what I've become, you can leave. There are men scrambling to get your job as my knight. I can replace you." She said coldly.
She was in shock from the hit. Recovering, Fallon slowly looked back at Regina , jaw set. She was holding back so much anger. "After everything I've done for you... this is how you treat me?" She was shaking. "I'm not going to step down from being your knight because i made you a promise a long time ago that no matter what I would always be here for you. And I meant it. " With a long look Fallon turned on her heel and started for the door.
"I don't need you! Don't let some promise you foolishly made years ago hold you back if you want to leave!" The queen called out to the retreating form of her friend, not meaning a damn word but unable to stop herself from spewing such hatefulness. Love was weakness.
"But I need you!" Fallon screamed as she turned around. "Dont you understand?!" Throwing up her hands she stormed out of the room and headed for her quarters.
It was a rare occurrence anymore, but an errant tear found its way down Regina's cheek as she was left standing alone with just her thoughts.
Hours later there was a knock on Fallon's door, the queen standing on the other side.
Seeing it was Regina, no words came out of her mouth. Fallon was still very angry with her. She turned and walked away from the queen, heading for the window to stare out of it.
Regina let herself in and shut the door behind her, making her way over to the knight and stopping just a couple of feet behind her. "I lied, Fallon. I do need you. I want you in my life. I'm so sorry for those things I said, for hurting you." She took a few steps forward and gently took hold of her friend's forearm to get her to face her. "You are the one thing I do care about."
"Then why, why treat me like a mutt? After all I do and have done for you... the way you thank me is a slap in the face." A few tears betrayed her and slid down her cheeks. "You're all I have left, Regina, and I miss you. I miss what we used to have. Hell, if I hadn't become your knight I'm sure you would have thrown me away many moons ago."
"That's not true. I know I haven't been pleasant to be around lately, but I do love you, Fallon. You're my best friend, my only true friend. I just need you to support me. I know you don't agree with me but this is something I have to do."
"I have always supported you. I dont agree with killing innocent people but I'm not turning my back on you ever. I love you more than you'll ever know and I am scared that you're gonna get yourself killed one day."
Regina was breathless when their kiss finally ended, quickly disappointed by the lack of physical contact when Jane turned away. She set her hands on the fire chief's forearm, much the same way she had that night in Fallon's room when she was apologizing, to try and get her to look at her. "Jane, are you all right?"
Jane whispered just loud enough for her lover to hear. "Henry's book is real."
BOOM! What do ya think?
