Still not sure if I'm entirely happy with this chapter, but I've had it sitting open on word for a few days and I just can't seem to come up with an alternative. Not the way I originally though this story was going to go, but who am I to argue with my muse. I've had a few ideas to maybe make this an even longer fic than was intended – so what do you guys think, would it be worth it?
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Regina hesitated outside the door to the diner, taking a deep breath, her halt in motion causing Emma to walk into the back of her, the blonde's arms instantly coming rest around her waist to keep them both steady. "Maybe you should go in first?"
Emma slipped her arms from around Regina's waist, coming to stand to her left, her fingers entwining with the caramel digit's of her love. "How about we go in together?"
"Moms, can we hurry up and go in?" came Henry's voice from behind them.
Emma raised an eyebrow at the brunette. "Well?"
"Best not keep our public waiting," she said, taking another deep breath. She pushed the door open, Emma by her side. She had expected silence, perhaps a few derisive glances, but certainly not the cheer that greeted her appearance. She found herself instinctively curling into Emma's side to hide the tears that sprang, unbidden, to her eyes.
Emma meanwhile, grinned at the members of the town that filled the room. She hadn't honestly been sure what to expect when they turned up, but it certainly wasn't the crowd that greeted them. She had a feeling that her parents were perhaps partly to thank for the turn out, but right then, she didn't mind. It showed they were at least willing to try and accept them. She mouthed a quick thank you to them, wrapping her arms around her girlfriend. "You okay?"
Regina nodded. "I just never expected this," she whispered, still holding Emma close.
"You're trying to change, to be the person you always wanted to be, and people can see that," smiled Emma. She gently wiped away the brunette's tears. "Now how about we get ourselves a drink, and let Henry loose on that cake in the corner he's been eyeing up since we walked in?"
"Emma?"
Regina felt the blonde tense next to her at the sound of her mother's voice.
"Anyone would think you were trying to hide from your father and I, the way you've kept half a room of people between us," said Snow, coming to stand in front of the couple, who had taken residence on adjacent bar stools, the alcohol and each other's presence doing enough to calm any nerves.
"Hiding?" laughed Emma, her voice rather odd and high pitched. "Why would I be hiding?"
Snow raised an eyebrow, while Charming gave her his best supportive smile. "Sweetheart, you know your father and I understand the concept of true love more than most."
Emma glanced to the side, catching the smile from Regina as a warm hand covered her own. "I know," she sighed. "And I know you know what happened this morning…" She dropped her gaze down to she and Regina's joined hands. "And you know I love her." She took a deep breath, finding the courage to meet her parents' gaze. "I don't know what else to say…"
Charming just smiled, moving to engulf the blonde in a tight hug. "You don't need to say any more. You're our daughter, and we love you no matter what."
Emma watched Regina's amused expression over her father's shoulder. Finally, he stepped back, leaving her under the gaze of her mother.
"You know it'll take time…to wrap our heads around," she began rather hesitantly. "But we understand true love, and how it can't be ignored, and truly, we are happy for you." She turned to Regina. "Both of you."
Regina's eyes widened in surprise, having expected to be merely tolerated.
"I know we both have…rather colourful pasts when it comes to each other, but maybe now we can try and put that behind us?" Snow suggested. She had seen how her daughter had cared for Regina when she was under the influence of the curse, and could see the way the way they were now. Looking at them, at how easy the casual intimacy came to them, you could never have guessed that they were the same two people who had argued and fought constantly for almost a year.
The older woman managed a small smile. "I'd like that." Honestly, the thought of spending more time than strictly necessary with the Charmings was a rather nauseating prospect, but it was for Emma, and so she would suffer it. With a smile, even.
"I'm glad we're trying to put this behind us," smiled Snow, seeing the Regina she hadn't seen in quite some years. The woman who believed in True Love.
"A drink to celebrate?" suggested Emma, keen to avoid one of her mother's crushing hugs and wanting to quit while the going was good between her mother and Regina.
"She looks amazing."
Emma frowned at the waitress now staring rather dreamily at her girlfriend, who was crouched down having a conversation with their son. "Yeah, I know, and I'd kinda prefer you didn't stare at my girlfriend."
"Ooh, look at you being all possessive," chuckled the she wolf. "Her fantastic assets aside though, I mean how happy she looks. Genuinely happy."
"I'd like to think she is," smiled Emma.
"She should be, she's got a piece of hot ass for a True Love," laughed Ruby. "Speaking of which, where did this dress come from and how come I've never seen it? Come to think of it, I've never seen you in a dress."
"I only wore it for Regina, so don't get used to it." said Emma. "You know, she even suggested at one point just me and Henry come tonight."
Ruby gave the blonde a sad smile. "It's been a long time since she had people that really care about her, Ems. It'll take time to get used to. She deserves it though."
The blonde heard the sadness in her friend's tone, turning to her with a concerned gaze.
"Let's just say I know how it feels to be branded a monster," sighed Ruby. "We all deserve a chance."
"I honestly don't think I've ever seen most of these people smile at me since the curse broke," said Regina as she looked around the room.
"Maybe they're smiling at me?" smirked Emma, her head resting on Regina's shoulder. She chuckled as the brunette made a playful swipe was made at her head. Sitting up a little straighter, she reached forward, loading her fork with more of the rich chocolate cake she had been slowly attempting to eat her own body weight in. Instead of shoveling the cake into her own mouth this time, however, she held it out to Regina, who after a small smirk, let her mouth close around the fork, somehow making the process of eating cake one of the most erotic acts Emma had ever witnessed. "Tease."
"All part of why you love me," smiled the brunette.
"Why Regina, I see you're feeling much better dearie."
Both women turned at the voice of the pawn shop owner.
"What are you doing here?" growled Emma.
"Now, now, Miss Swan, is that really any way to thank the man who told you how to save our dear old Queen here."
Emma shook her head. "No, you didn't tell me how to save her. In fact, you practically told me it would never work."
The small man merely shrugged, as if it was of no consequence. "Clearly I was mistaken. Makes for an interesting turn of events though, don't you think?" These words, he directed at Regina alone. "Finding True Love, now, after all these years..."
Emma, watching the conflicting emotions flicker across her love's face had had enough of the little imp's intrusion on their time. She pushed herself to her feet, towering over the man in her heels. "I think it's time you left. What is between Regina and I is nothing to do with you, and never will be. So don't you go getting any ideas on how to use it to your own ends, because I swear, if I find you've hurt her, or try to manipulate her ever again, I will end you."
"Dark words from a woman created out of the purest magic there is," smirked Gold, schooling his features into a well practiced mask of indifference. He only stood for a moment though, before bowing out of their stand-off. And out and out confrontation wasn't his style, and he had always considered the blonde somewhat of a loose canon, especially now she had more than ever to lose.
Emma watched him go, waiting until he had left the building entirely before sinking back into her seat beside Regina. "Are you okay?" she asked, seeing tears in her eyes.
Regina nodded. "I've never had someone stand up like that for me before."
"Well you better get used to it, Mills. You're a taken woman now," grinned Emma. "I meant it though. Those weren't just empty words. I'll do everything I can to keep you safe."
"I know," nodded Regina, a watery smile on her face.
"Good," smiled Emma, gently cupping the brunette's face, and wiping away her tears with the pad of her thumb. "Now, no more tears. Tonight is meant to be a celebration. I dressed up and everything!"
The older woman chuckled. "I know, and you have no idea how much I appreciate it." She let her tone drop as her eyes flickered over the blonde's cleavage and down to smooth, toned legs. The distraction was most welcome after Gold's little interruption. "How much I appreciate everything you've done."
"Hey kid," called Emma, catching Henry's attention. "You want to go and save your mom from having to retell the story of how we don't hate each other any more?" Emma knew she had promised not to leave the brunette on her own, but a girl had to pee at some point! On returning from the bathroom, the blonde had found her love in the middle on an excited gaggle of townsfolk, demanding to know the story of her miraculous recovery at the hands of the Saviour, and what that meant. Ruby was apparently leading the inquisition, clearly having decided what few details she had gathered from Emma herself, her parents and Henry weren't quite enough.
"I don't know," he said, watching as for once, his mother was surrounded by people asking friendly questions, rather than shouting accusations. "She might be enjoying the change."
"Does she look like she's enjoying it?" asked Emma, eyebrow raised. The former Queen was smiling, but it was clear she was more tolerating the excited chatter of the people around her than getting any actual enjoyment of it. The blonde had a feeling that Regina being such a private person, was having real trouble with so many people being so interested in her personal life, especially when she was no doubt still trying to come to terms with her feelings herself.
"No…" sighed Henry. He knew he was enjoying seeing the towns people interact positively with his mother more than she was. "What do I say?"
Emma glanced around the room, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips as her eyes settled on a few couples swaying slightly on the 'dance floor' that had been created by the removal of a few tables. "Why don't you ask her to dance?" She chuckled as Henry screwed up his face at the idea.
"Can't you ask her?"
"Of course I could," smiled Emma, "But I think she'd prefer if you did."
He rolled his eyes and sighed, but finally, after another pleading look from Emma, straightened his shirt and headed off in his mother's direction. The blonde watched as he wriggled between the people surrounding his mother, smiling at the way Regina's total attention was on him the moment his small frame became visible between Ruby and Archie. She could tell the exact moment he asked her by the smile that lit up the brunette's entire face as she immediately took her son's offered hand.
"I think she'd have survived without being saved from that."
Emma turned to find her mother standing next to her. "What can I say, I'm the Saviour, I just can't seem to help myself."
"I'd glad you two found each other," said Snow, a small smile on her face. "Watching the two of you tonight…you're made for each other."
"How much have you had to drink?" asked Emma, chuckling in disbelief.
"A few," laughed the pixie haired woman. "But that has nothing to do with this. I know how true love feels, and I'd glad you and Regina get to experience that after everything you've both been through. Now what do you say you go and save your son? I think Regina is trying to embarrass him to death."
Emma turned to where Regina was now liberally peppering kisses over their son's face, his cheeks bright red with embarrassment. Smiling, she made her way towards the couple. "Mind if I cut in?" she asked, chuckling at the way Henry all but thrust his mother's hand into hers. She stepped in closer to Regina, pleased when the former Queen's arms naturally looped around her neck, as her own settled around the brunette's slim waist. "Enjoying yourself?"
"As nice as change as it was not to be surrounded by an angry mob, thank you for sending Henry over," Regina replied quietly.
The blonde smiled as she leant in to press a kiss to the older woman's cheek. "I figured you might appreciate his interruption more than mine."
"I did," smiled Regina softly. "Although he's a hopeless dancer. It appears the ability to control the coordination of his limbs was all inherited from his Charming heritage. I'm only glad he has small feet," she giggled.
Emma's breath caught at the sound, unexpected as it was. She looked up to meet chocolate orbs sparkling with mischief. "Are you trying to imply I'm clumsy, Miss Mills?"
"Well, I don't want to insult you, dear, but you've hardly come across as the most elegant." She giggled in surprise as the arms around her waist tightened and she was lifted off her feet and spun around. She grinned as Emma placed her gently back down after a few revolutions.
"Elegant enough for you?" chuckled the blonde, easily falling back into a gentle sway.
Regina raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "Miss Swan, I'm beginning to think it is I who has no idea what you may be capable of."