"I don't think I can do this, kid," whispered Emma as Henry sat next to her on the couch of the small apartment she still shared with her parents. Henry was staying with them for the night while Emma carried out her plan. "What if she says no?"
"She won't," replied Henry, for what felt like the billionth time in only a few days.
"She might," countered Emma.
Henry sighed. Why was it so difficult understand? Emma was his mom's True Love, so of course she would say yes when she asked her to marry her. That was what people who loved each other did. "Do you have everything?" he asked, hoping that talking about Emma's plan for tonight would calm her down a little. "The spare blankets and your big coat in your car? Your little speech? The ring?"
Emma nodded. "I've checked and rechecked a million times."
"And you've practised your thing with the lights?"
In response, the blonde closed her eyes, before flicking out both hands, and splaying her fingers. Small balls of golden light erupted from her fingers, moving to hover in a small circle around them. She opened her eyes, letting out the breath she had been holding.
"You're totally going to nail this!"
Emma tried not to wince at his turn of phrase. She was rather hoping that if all went well, she'd be nailing Regina tonight. "You think?"
Henry nodded enthusiastically. "She's going to love it. What time are you meant to be picking her up?"
"Seven," replied Emma, glancing up at the clock. Just under two hours.
"Aren't you gonna go get ready?" asked Henry.
Emma frowned, looking down at her outfit. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"Nothing!" Henry was quick to reply. "It's fine…but it's what you always wear. Don't you want to wear something a bit nicer? I mean, it kind of a big night."
"Breathe Swan," commanded Emma as she pulled up outside the Mayoral Mansion. She took a few deep breaths, her hands still gripping the steering wheel tightly. "You can do this." She took a final deep breath before pushing herself out of the car. She reached back in to collect the flowers she had picked up on the way over; a huge arrangement of apple blossoms. She had ordered them specially from Belle at the start of the week, not wanting to go with something so clichéd as roses.
As she raised her hand to knock, she realised she was shaking. She was going to have to calm down or Regina was going to know instantly that something was up. Glancing down at the outfit Henry had helped her pick out, Emma finally managed a small smile. She did look good. Her black boots looked the better for having had a polish, with a set of dark jeans tucked into them. On top, she wore a soft, fitted black knit jumper with a low enough v at the neck to be slightly teasing. On top, she wore her customary red leather jacket. Henry had insisted on it. As aged and battered as the jacket was, it was her. And Regina loved her just as she was.
Looking up as the door was pulled open, Emma couldn't help but smile. She had told Regina to dress warm and practical for this date. Of course, warm and practical to Regina included low heeled boots and a royal blue sleeved dress, with black leggings beneath it. "Hey."
"Hey," replied Regina, with a small smile of her own. As close as they were, the idea of a formalized 'date' still had them rather nervous. Her smile widened a little as she glanced the blonde up and down, taking in the effort the woman must have gone to in getting ready. Her blonde hair, usually hanging in loose curls, had even been pulled back in a rather elaborate braid.
"These are for you," smiled Emma, stepping closer to hand over the flowers.
"Are these..?"
"Apple blossoms," replied Emma softly. "I thought you'd like them."
Regina nodded. "They're perfect." With the flowers in one hand, she reached her free hand out to Emma. "Would you like to come in? I just want to put these in some water and then I only have to put on my coat and I'll be ready to go."
Allowing herself to be led inside, Emma waited patiently in the hallway for Regina to put the flowers in water. She didn't stand idle, however. She picked up the coat laying over the foot of the banister, ready to help her love into it. Regina was a Queen, after all, she deserved to be treated like one.
Returning, Regina smile at Emma holding up her coat and helping her into it. "Pulling out all the stops tonight, Miss Swan?"
"Just treating my woman in the manner she should be," replied the blonde with a smirk. With Regina's coat on and buttoned, Emma reached for the thick knit scarf that also lay over the banister. She wrapped the thick red scarf around the older woman's neck, finding the end result impossibly adorable. Pulling her towards her by the ends of her scarf, Emma leant forward to press a playful kiss to the brunette's nose, causing her to giggle delightfully. "Ready?"
Regina nodded, smiling broadly. At one time, she would have stood firm and not moved until she knew exactly where the blonde intended to drag her and what they'd be doing. Now, she didn't care where they went, as long as it was together. It was rather disturbing to note how nauseatingly sweet she had become with the blonde, on some days rivaling the original True Love couple themselves. But somehow, wrapped up in Emma, she couldn't find it in her to care. This was her chance at a happy ending, and she wasn't letting anything get in the way of that.
Stepping out of the car, Emma quickly ran around to the other side, gallantly opening the passenger door for her love. Regina only rolled her eyes and smirked, nonetheless accepting the hand offered to her. With Regina safely out of her least favourite mode of transport, Emma reached back in, grabbing the rucksack she had packed with their small picnic and the blankets she had also brought. "Are you sure you're warm enough?"
"Perfectly fine," smiled Regina. "So you can leave that hideous monstrosity of a coat in the back seat."
Emma snorted. "Just don't complain to me when you're cold later."
The former queen merely smirked. "I'm sure you can warm me up somehow."
Reaching the well, miraculously with Regina not having complained about the walk through the woods to get there once, Emma handed the torch to Regina and then carefully laid down her blankets so that they could sit with their backs against the old stone. With Regina settled, the blonde began to lay out her picnic, noting Regina's small nod of approval as she opened each small tub. She had filled each with tiny delicacies that she hoped Regina would like, and had of course brought real cutlery and plates to serve it on. She got an eyebrow raise when out of her rucksack also came a bottle of champagne and two glasses, which were unrolled from a scarf and carefully laid down.
"I must say, I'm impressed," smirked Regina.
"I'm not finished yet," replied Emma, smiling. Taking the torch back from the brunette, she flipped it off, leaving them in almost total darkness. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath before doing exactly what she had in the apartment with Henry. To her immense relief small golden globes of lights flew from her hands to hover around them.
Regina watched the small lights with a smile of wonder on her face. She knew Emma had magic, but after a few lessons, trying to teach the blonde to control it, she also knew she was rather useless at using it.
"I've been practicing," added Emma softly, enjoying the way the golden light illuminated Regina's face. In that single, silent moment, she found her nerves fading away. There was nothing to be nervous about. This was the woman she loved with everything she was. The woman she wanted to be with for the rest of her life. And the woman, who in her heart, she knew loved her back.
"I can see that," smiled Regina, turning to face her. "I must say, I'm impressed."
"I told you you were going to love my date night!" grinned the blonde. "Champagne, m'lady?"
"Just one thing first," said the brunette, leaning over to press her lips against the blonde's. "Thank you for all of this. For making my try something different."
The blonde's smile softened. "I know you like all of your fancy restaurants and glamorous outfits, but you now that's not exactly me, and I figured, if it's me you want, you should know me for what I am."
Regina returned the smile, reaching across to take Emma's hand. "I know who you are. You're broken and bruised, but you're also perfect, even if only to me."
Clutching the hand in hers tightly, Emma reached into her pocket with her free hand, removing the ring within. Taking a deep breath, she held it up to Regina, watching her beautiful brown eyes widen and fill with tears. "I figured on the back of that, now wouldn't be worst time to ask you…" She moved until she was on one knee, Regina hand still clasped in her own. "It all started here, Regina, when I thought I'd lost you. I want it to be the start of something new." She paused, blinking away the tears in her own eyes. "Regina Mills, would you take this ring, and put up with me for the rest of our lives?"
Trembling, Regina nodded. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes!" She threw herself forward, wrapping her arms around Emma's neck.
When Emma was finally able to pull back enough to look into the brunette's eyes, she found only happiness there. Her face was alight with a warm smile, tears of joy streaming down her cheeks. Holding out the ring once more, she lifted Regina's left hand, the ring hovering a fraction away from the third finger that was to be its new home. "I'm asking you to marry me here, Regina, but I swear, this wont' be like your marriage before. This time, it's all up to you. Everything. I never want you to feel trapped with me."
"How could I ever feel trapped when you make me feel freer than I ever have before?" asked Regina. "You know every part of me, and love me all the same. That alone, is freedom to me. You don't look at me as I was, but see me as I am. You've freed me from my ties to the Evil Queen. Now I'm just Regina, and as such, am happy to chose a life at your side."
Emma couldn't help the delighted bubble of laughter that rose up in her throat. She slipped the ring on the brunette's finger, not missing the gasp that escaped Regina's lips as the brunette swiftly pulled her hand back to inspect the ring that had been placed on her finger.
Fresh tears bubbled up in the brunette's eyes. Right there, beneath the beautiful princess cut diamond, in the very heart of her ring, was a familiar brass band.
"Do you like it?"
"I…I…I don't even know what to say?" gasped Regina. "It's perfect. It's…beyond perfect. How..?"
Emma took trembling hands between her own. "You said it yourself. Daniel was your little bit of light in the darkness. The only bit of happiness you had back then. I never want you to forget that. It's part of what made you who you are. Part of what makes you the woman I love." She pulled Regina close until she was practically sitting in her lap, wrapping her arms tightly around her.
"At least I know one thing spending the rest of my life with you," said Regina softly, her mouth close to Emma ear. "I'll never cease to be surprised." She pulled back, reaching into her own coat pocket. "I'm afraid my own offering pales in comparison." She opened the small box, revealing the set of keys decorated with a single, elegant red apple keyring.
Emma shook her head. "No it doesn't. But it does compliment it rather well. We're going to need a place to stay together for the rest of our lives," she paused, pressing a sweet kiss to the tip of Regina's nose. "And I don't know about you, but I'd way prefer the mansion than cramming another sardine in the tin at my parents'."
**SQ** **SQ** **SQ** **SQ** **SQ** **SQ** **SQ** **SQ** **SQ** **SQ** **SQ** **SQ**
And then it was all over! I hope you guys have enjoyed reading as much as I've enjoyed writing! Thank you again for all the support and comments - you are all truly awesome! I have a few ideas to maybe continue this in a new story - should I?
As usual, read and review and I'll love you!