Anonymous: Swan Queen; Emma finds the ring Daniel gave Regina and asks Regina about it. Regina tells her the truth and angst ensues.
AN: I guess I interpreted this a little differently than it was intended. And Emma comes across kinda stupid. Oh well =/
Fairytale land.
The ring was cool against her lips, but it sent warmth shooting down Regina's fingers. True love's magic always leaves traces, she mused darkly, and pressed it even closer. The memories were stronger today and hurt even more than usual, for it was the anniversary of the day that Regina broke; the day that her heart was ripped out and crushed along with her lover's. She drew in a deep, shaky breath as she recalled the night he gave her the ring in the stables. Being Queen means nothing, Daniel; all I care about is you!
Regina noticed a flash of blonde hair out of the corner of her eye, and looked up in shock to see Emma staring at her with an unreadable look on her face. She fumbled the ring back into its box and snapped it shut.
Emma stepped into the room. "Wh- what was that?"
"Nothing, Emma," she replied coolly, but her hands shook.
The blonde scoffed and moved closer to the bed. "No, it wasn't 'nothing'. It was a ring, Regina!"
The Queen sniffed and looked down at the black velvet box in her trembling hands. All she wanted for today was to be alone with her thoughts and memories. She did love Emma, truly - but nothing could ever erase this pain, not even the girl who saved her from the Dark Curse.
And Emma, as always, remained completely oblivious. "Regina, if you –" she swallowed and puffed out her chest in an attempt to exude some kind of confidence. "- if you were gonna propose or something... then just tell me!"
"Don't be ridiculous," Regina spat and glared incredulously at her now recoiling girlfriend. "Of course I wasn't going to propose."
Emma wrapped her arms around herself and exhaled. She bit her lip as if to hold back tears. At length, she gathered herself enough to speak, and did so bitterly. "Well, tell me why it's important," she retorted, "'cause people don't just hang on to rings for no reason."
Regina's eyes clouded over and her shoulders slumped. Somehow she couldn't maintain her biting tone when she spoke his name. "It was from Daniel," she murmured.
"Who?" Emma's blatant disregard for her feelings was beginning to grate.
"For gods' sake, Emma!" Regina's voice cracked. "I've told you about what happened with Snow; don't ask me to go through that again!"
Emma gulped. "Oh. You... you never said his name was Daniel."
"He's dead," she whispered, talking to herself more than anyone. The pain was written clearly across her face and a small sob escaped her. "He's dead, because of my love, because of me... it's all my fault."
"No, Regina, it's not." Emma rushed forwards to comfort her. "I'm sorry..."
Regina shrugged out of the embrace and pushed Emma away. "Yes, well maybe you need to be more considerate," she snapped, "instead of blundering your way through life as usual, hurting everyone around you with your selfish motives and – "
"Regina, I just wasn't thinking – "
"Don't interrupt me!" Regina glared at the distressed woman, seething. "Guards, please return Miss Swan to her chambers."
"Oh Regina, please don't take me away," Emma cried out desperately as two guards materialised, grabbed her by the arms and started to drag her out the door. "Shit, I always screw things up, every time..." Regina continued to ignore the now sobbing woman, and opened the box, taking the ring into her hands once more. "I'm so sorry, please let me talk to you, please..."
The doors slammed shut, leaving Regina alone. She sighed to herself and slipped the ring onto her finger, finally allowing the tears to fall.