Last day of the week! (Or not?) And the day of creativity, guys :D this one is for my favorite Queen of Rosé, little Stiene, and for that precious gem who is Allison!
And I may have gone a little angsty with this one - blame the Satan Squad :D

DAY 7 - FREE DAY

- And at last I see the light -

Every time he walked in the house, he did so with the sneaky moves of a thief. He just couldn't help it – and he thought that Regina's habit to clench her hand, when she was angry, was due to the same reason, a habit from the past – in her case, holding herself back from throwing a fireball.

So when he sneaked in that evening, no one noticed him. Familiar noises came from the Henry's room – at eighteen years old, he still liked to play videogames with Roland, but with a noticeably more adult content.

He approached the bedroom he shared with Regina, but she was not there – she was nowhere to be seen.

Then, he found her.

Hazel's door was open, and his daughter was currently watching an animated movie on her brother's laptop, totally engrossed in the action on screen.

And Regina was outside the room, standing on the doorframe – Hazel was oblivious of her presence, but still, she was silently watching the movie.

And she had a clear trace of tears on her cheek.

He approached slowly, careful not to startle her. "Regina," he whispered, and she jumped slightly, then glanced at him – Hazel was still watching, she hadn't noticed.

He moved closer to circle her waist, and she was keeping her eyes closed, a lonely tear rolling down and disappearing in her shirt.

"What's wrong?" he said, concerned, and she shook her head, opened her eyes, then turned towards Hazel.

"She's watching a new movie" she answered, and he had to resist from rolling his eyes.

"That's not an answer, love" he stated, and she took a breath, she grabbed his wrist and led him to their bedroom, closing the door.

"Okay, what's this movie?" he asked, and she sat on the bed, as if she wasn't able to stay on her feet anymore.

"It's called Tangled" she said, voice broken. "I passed by her room and she had just begun it so I stayed there and I just couldn't stop –" a new wave of tears, and she was suddenly sobbing, and he went to sit next to her, and she leaned her head on his shoulder, soaking his shirt, but he let her cry, her shoulders shaking.

"It's okay," he whispered, caressing her hair softly. After a few minutes, she was calmer, and she lifted her head, shining trails on her cheeks.

"I guess it brought back bad memories" she muttered, biting her lip.

"About who?"

"My mother" she said in a whisper, and he nodded.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to say that I haven't already told you" she stated, cupping his cheek. "But… thank you for asking"

"Are you kidding me? It's my duty to make sure that you're okay, Regina" he scolded.

"I'm a mess" she muttered, and he wiped away her tears.

"Nonsense, you're beautiful" he said, his hand still lingering in her hair. She smiled and placed a quick kiss on his lips.

"I want to go and watch that movie" she affirmed, and he watched her in disbelief.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm not letting my mother… take away... what could be precious time with my daughter"

"Okay" he said, after a brief hesitation. "Let's go then"

"Hazel?" she said hesitantly, and the girl paused the movie and turned to meet her eyes.

"Yes?" she answered with a smile.

"Do you mind if we watch with you?"

"No, it's okay!" beamed the girl, shifting on the bed. They laid down next to her, her mother in the middle, and she unfroze the image, letting the blonde girl speak to the woman with curly and dark hair.

Well mother, there's something I want to tell you.
Oh Rapunzel, you know I hate leaving you after a fight. Especially when I've done absolutely nothing wrong.

He felt Regina tense next to him and he shot a look at her face. He jaw was contracted and she glanced back, trying to tell him with her eyes that she was okay, but he knew better.

Okay, I've been thinking a lot about what you said, earlier.
I hope you're not still talking about the stars.
Before you answer, yes, I'm leading up to that.
Because I really thought we dropped the issue, sweetheart.
No Mother, I'm just saying, you think I'm not strong enough to handle myself out there.
Oh darling, I know you're not strong enough to handle yourself out there.

"Her mother is a really bad woman" said Hazel, but Regina didn't answer. He knew she was thinking about Cora, and the woman in the movie was indeed very similar. He hadn't forgotten their meeting in the Underworld – Regina had been happy to see her mother, but he had witnessed every single nightmare she had had after their return. He took her hand, and his grip seemed to shake her from her trance.

"Well, Hazel, I think her mother loves her, after all" she murmured, "but she's not capable to… love very well". It's not just Cora, he thought. This is about Henry too...

"I think she just loves her hair!"

"That is true," agreed her mother, "but I'm sure she cares for her, anyway"

"But she keeps her prisoner!"

"Yes" sighed Regina, "that's the part where she doesn't know how to love"

"Hazel, who is that?" asked Robin, to put an end to the questioning, and he felt her hand tighten around his. Flynn Ryder was talking to Rapunzel, and she was threatening him with a pan.

Something brought you here, Flynn Ryder. Call it what you will, fate, destiny.
A horse.

"It's her thief!" said Hazel, happily. "She's a princess and he's a thief, they're so like you two!"

"Oh, are they?" smiled Regina, and he was happy to see her frown almost gone.

"I knew I could find the right movie for everyone in this town" stated Hazel, triumphantly.

Rapunzel and Flynn exited from the tower, and the blonde princess spent a few minutes debating with herself about whether going back to the tower or going ahead in the world. She went into the tavern and they sang, and sang, and they escaped, and he just held Regina's hand as the princess freed herself and fell in love, and Regina turned towards him with a smile, and he could almost hear her thinking…

I'm so sorry, Flynn.
Eugene.
What?
My real name is Eugene Fitzherbert.
So you might as well know… I have magic hair that glows when I sing.
What?

And then it was hell.

Literally.

It was like being in the Underworld again. When they had met Cora.

Mother?
Hello, dear.
But I...I..., was going to... How did you find me?
Oh, it was easy really. I just listened to the sound of complete and utter betrayal, and followed that.

And he was looking in the dreamcatcher again, when Hades had showed him Daniel's death to hurt Regina… again…

"You could've at least left a note. You sneak out of my house in the dead of night and think I won't notice? How dare you," had said Cora to an eighteen-year-old Regina.

Mother...
We're going home, Rapunzel. Now.
You...You don't understand. I've been on the most incredible journey. I've seen and learned so much. I even met someone.
Yes, the wanted thief. I'm so proud. Come on, Rapunzel.

And Cora had said, meeting him, "Oh, Regina, you've always had a thing for wild men, the stable boy, the hunter, oh, darling, and now a thief…"

Mother, wait. I think… I think he likes me.
Likes you? Please, Rapunzel, that's demented.
But mother, I...
This is why you never should have left. Dear this whole romance that you've invented, just proves you're too naive to be here. Why a kid like you? Come on now, really. Look at you, that face, that ancient dress. Do be a darling, come with mommy.
Mother... NO!

And Regina's face was soaked with tears again… he enveloped her in his arms, placing a kiss on her temple.

"Mommy, why are you crying?"

Regina turned to face Hazel, putting up a brave face, and smiled weakly. "Don't worry, sweetheart," she murmured, caressing the girl's red hair, "I'm fine"

"You're crying, you're not!" protested Hazel.

"You don't have to worry, baby," she said, decisive.

"Hazel, your mother is fine," said Robin. He adjusted Regina against his chest, and she continued to smooth Hazel's hair. "She is safe now, and at home" and Regina looked up at him, a teary smile on her lips, with that face she had when she couldn't believe him, that face she had made that night, when they had been drinking wine, on the floor, in her office...

Then she turned towards the girl, "I want you to remember one thing, Hazel," and she took her chin between her fingers, looking straight into her eyes. "I love you so much, just the way you are, okay? Don't ever forget that"

"I won't" said the girl solemnly, then she threw herself towards her mother, hugging her, and he stayed there, breathing in that mix of orange and raven hair.

Now I'm here
Blinking in the starlight
Now I'm here
Suddenly I see
Standing here
It's oh, so clear

I'm where I'm meant to be

And at last, I see the light
And it's like the fog has lifted
And at last, I see the light
And it's like the sky is new
And it's warm and real and bright
And the world has somehow shifted

All at once
Everything looks different
Now that I see you

"Daddy, will you tell me the story of page twenty-three again?" he heard her voice from beneath, and he chuckled.

The movie continued to play as he began, Regina smiling against his chest.

"Once upon a time, there was a beautiful queen…"

"… and the queen met the thief again in the forest, then again in the real world, then again in a book…"

"… and they had to help the savior to free herself from the darkness, so they went to Camelot and danced all night…"

"… and when she was finally ready, he asked her, and she said yes, and they lived…"

"Happily ever after?"

"I don't know… Regina, what do you say?"

"Shut up, Robin"

"I take that for a yes"

"Yes, happily ever after, Hazel" she sighed, and he kissed her head, and he held his daughter and his wife, his gift, his chance.

… now that I
see you.