A/N: Whaaaaaa?! I'm back and this story is almost finished! So sorry I've been away for so long but hey, we're in the home stretch! If you're still reading this, you're the real MVP!
I recently went through and edited this beast of a story and changed a few things but the core of this story remains.
I had quite a bit of free time on my hands to edit and finish this story since I had surgery 5 weeks ago and spent a lot of time laid up on the couch.
This beautiful story holds a special place in my heart and I can't wait to post the remaining chapters.
Enjoy! :)
Selcouth:
(adj.) unfamiliar, rare, strange, and yet marvelous
SQSQSQSQSQSQ
They plan for an attack; after they allow their magic to replenish. Together, they strategically place wards and set booby traps around entrances. Regina and Zelena moving about the castle, using Emma if they need a magical boost. The three of them set up wards they created while also taking down the ones Blue set up.
"Won't this tip her off?" Emma asks as they take down another ward.
"Of course," Zelena says, waving her hand, watching the magic melt away, down the wall and into the floor. "She'll be headed back here soon; once she realizes we took down her magic and she can't see in. She'll be back to see what's going on. That's why we're using your magic to mask our own. She should only check to see whose magic it is. When she sees it's yours, she will probably stop looking and just head back to celebrate her precious Savior's return."
Regina rolls her eyes, "Zelena," she warns.
Zelena simply shrugs and moves onto the next ward.
They've got a good system working. Zelena taking down Blue's wards, Regina setting up new wards (in different places from Blue's to waste some more time before she breaks into the castle), and Regina using Emma's magic to mask who truly set the wards.
Finally, they finish the protections around the castle and move back into the Great Room. The three are exhausted; using magic of any kind is troubling now, especially with Jafar running around. They need their magic replenished, and fast. They need to be able to protect their family...and everyone else in the castle.
Granny fixes them each a plate of food and gives them something to drink before moving back to her chair and knitting. It looks like she's almost finished the purple blanket she's working on and Regina can see more purple and pink yarn sticking out of her basket. The women offer their thanks and receive a grunt in response. Zelena and Emma turn away and Granny looks up to smile and wink at Regina before returning her focus to her knitting.
They move to a table and watch all the children playing a game. They laugh at Henry and Kathryn, who seem to be the referees of whatever game they're playing.
"Blind man's buff," Regina says with a smile when she realizes what they're playing.
"Blind man's buff?" Emma looks to her wife, "That's the one where there's a blindfold right?"
"Yes," Regina says with a smile.
"I don't see a blindfold," Emma observes.
"Of course not, this is the Enchanted Forest version. The blindfold is invisible. You can see their eyes, it looks like they can see you, but they can't see a thing. Makes it very hard to know who is "It"." Regina explains.
"And how do you know about that?" Zelena asks, "I don't remember that game from when we were here last time."
"I should know it, I invented it," Regina says matter-of-factly.
Emma and Zelena share a look of confusion before looking back to Regina. When she doesn't give anymore explanation Zelena sighs and says, "Care to elaborate?"
Regina smirks, "It was a game I started with Snow. She always wanted to play games, so I made this one up to keep her occupied for hours. The staff thought she was wandering around with her eyes open, clumsy as usual, but in reality she was blindfolded. No one knew. It gave me some peace while she started in one part of the castle and I disappeared to another." She pauses as she looks at the children running around each other, not sure who has the blindfold on. "Eventually, she became better at it, and the time between when we started and when she found me became shorter. I had to start hiding in obscure places she would never look. But she looked everywhere." She shrugs, "Unfortunately, we had to stop that game when she became better at finding me than I was at hiding."
A hand falls on her shoulder, "You're the reason I became such a good bandit. I was able to track someone without my eyesight."
Regina looks up to see Snow standing behind her smiling. She rolls her eyes, "Great, another thing that ruined my life because of you," she huffs.
"You don't believe that," Snow says. "You don't have regrets. If I hadn't been such a good bandit, I wouldn't have met Charming. Emma and Henry wouldn't exist. I think what you meant to say was 'thank you Snow'" she says with a smile.
"Don't hold your breath," Regina mumbles as she goes back to eating from her plate.
Snow wraps her arms around Regina's shoulder from behind, resting her head atop Regina's, "It's alright, we both know the truth." And with that, she's off to chat with others in the Great Room.
Zelena cackles at the look her sister has on her face. It's an attempt at anger but comes across as a pout, "Don't try to look so cross, it no longer fits your personality," she says with a smirk.
Regina narrows her eyes at her sister before being distracted by a squeal on the other side of the room. She turns her eyes to see Tommy running from Henry's wiggling fingers. Suddenly, Tommy is running toward them and barrels into Regina's legs, quickly climbing up into her lap and away from Henry's tickling hands. "Mommy! Mommy! Hepp me! Hepp Hepp!" He says wobbling on Regina's lap.
"Alright, alright," Regina says with a smile, wrapping her arms around Tommy's middle, protecting him from tickles. She rests her chin over his shoulder and looks across the table at her sister and her wife, smiling.
"That's a much better look," Zelena says with a smile.
Regina rolls her eyes and sits up again, keeping her son on her lap as she glances through the crowd, looking for her daughters.
"Louisa and my mom have them," Emma says, never looking up from her plate of food.
"How did you..?" Regina tapers off, waiting for Emma to answer.
"Your sudden worry was palpable, babe. And you haven't looked up for them for a whole 3 minutes, it was an educated guess," Emma answers, shrugging.
"Momma siwwy," Tommy says from his spot on his mom's lap. He looks to see Henry still standing next to them and leans into his brunette mother a bit more, staying safe.
"Yes. She. Is." Regina says, smirking across the table to her wife.
It's Emma's turn to look unimpressed and roll her eyes. "How about we go back and play that game you were playing before," she asks, standing up and grabbing all three empty plates and taking them back to the kitchen.
"She'll never learn," Zelena mutters. "She's a princess, there are maids here to clean up after her and she still chooses to clean up herself."
Regina shrugs, "There are worse things in the world."
"Come on Tommy," Emma says, holding out her hands when she moves out of the kitchen and back into the Great Room.
Tommy hops off of Regina's lap and takes off toward his blonde mother. Henry rests his hand on their other mom's shoulder and smiles at her when she looks up at us. "Wanna join?" he asks with a smile. When it looks like Regina might say no he says, "Aunt Kat might need another referee." Regina's eyebrows draw together in confusion and he laughs, "Someone has to compete against Ma. We'll need reinforcements to make sure everyone is safe."
Regina takes his hand and stands up. She turns to see him walk around the table and offer the same had to his aunt. For a moment she's stunned, but quickly smiles and stands with her nephew. Together, the three of them walk across the Great Room to where all the children are playing. Kat is trying to corral them all so no one walks into anything and hurts themselves but it seems to be too difficult for one person to handle. Regina quickly reaches out and lifts little Eva out of the way as Leo and Daniel go running past, never slowing down.
"Careful boys," she says as they run by. She sets Eva back down on the floor, fixing her dress and hair. "There you go," she smiles at the toddler, "all better."
Eva looks at her and then toddles off. "Impressive," Kathryn says, "I think Eva gets knocked down at least once every time those two boys take off together. And I don't think I've seen her allow someone other than her parents pick her up without screaming. Sometimes she'll start crying even when Charming picks her up."
"I would too," Regina snarks.
Kathryn laughs, "Even when they're not here, you still snark."
"Well, obviously it's who she is as a person and not who she's talking about," Emma says, coming up to stand next to the two women.
Regina turns her glare at her wife and realizes she's not looking her in the eye. "Emma, did you already get tagged?" she asks with a smile.
Emma puts her hands on her hips, looking at the space to Regina's right, "I am appalled Regina. Why would you think something like that?"
"Because you usually prefer to stare at me, not next to me," Regina says with a shrug, moving around Emma to stand behind her, "And you're usually not so slow," she whispers into her ear. She smirks when she sees goosebumps spread over the back of her neck.
"Damn babe, we should try this some time. It's super kinky."
Regina rolls her eyes and moves away.
"Babe? Regina? Where did you go?" she turns in a complete circle before lifting her hands out to her sides to maintain her balance. Regina sighs. "I know that sigh," Emma claims as she tries to find out where her wife is. "Oh Giiiiiiina," she sings. She hears a bunch of giggles and assumes the kids are all watching her stumble around trying to find her wife. She moves toward who she thinks is her wife, only to have someone move behind her, into her personal space and stop her. She's turned 180 degrees. She puts her hands on their hips and she finds, "I know these curves."
Regina shakes her head and pulls off the invisible blindfold from around her wife's head, "Let's just stop this before you get yourself in trouble," she says with a smirk.
"What are you talking about babe? Are you embarrassed about something?" Emma teases, her hands still on Regina's hips.
She laughs and looks over Emma's shoulder, "You know it takes a lot to make me uncomfortable these days, Em-ma. Your parents on the other hand...I don't think they expected to hear their daughter use the word kinky." She smirks, "Or attempt to seduce them."
Emma's face turns red as she cautiously turn to see her parents staring at her in shock. She looks back at her wife, "You could've said something," she whispers, frown lines showing.
Regina winks, "But what fun would that have been?" She moves over to Snow, who's holding Evy. She smiles at her daughter and turns to her eldest son, who is having a hard time controlling his laughter. She hands him the invisible blindfold and says, "let's maybe keep this with the kids and away from your mother so she doesn't cause any more trouble."
He gives a salute, unable to keep the smile from his face. He turns from his mom and looks to Kathryn, "Ready for another round?"
She laughs and nods, walking with him, corralling the children to start again. "Regina!" she calls, "I have a question!"
Regina rolls her eyes, "There's no need to shout Kathryn," she chides.
"But it worked," Kathryn says with a smirk as Regina comes to stand next to her.
Regina sighs and glances back at her wife, whose face is still red as she stares at her parents. She smiles and turns back to Kathryn. When she doesn't say anything, she raises her eyebrows. Still nothing. "Kathryn," she sighs again, "what did you have to ask me?"
"Oh right," Kathryn says with a grin, "Have you talked with Daniel yet?"
Regina's eyebrows draw together, "What do you mean? Does he need something?"
Kathryn's eyes roll to the back of her head as she sighs, "His Godmother."
Regina scoffs, "I doubt that. He's been busy with his friends."
It's Kathryn's turn to scoff, "Daniel darling," she calls sweetly, distracting her son from running around with Leo and Roland.
"Yes Momma?" he says as he comes to stand in front of his mom.
She turns him around to face Regina, resting her hands on his shoulders. She leans down and says, "This is Regina. Do you remember Regina?"
His eyes grow wide, oh no , Regina thinks, he isn't frightened of me, is he? I haven't seen him in nearly 4 years,
"You- You're Regina?" he asks, blinking his wide eyes.
Regina nods and gives a small smile, her hands held tightly together in front of her.
He takes a step forward, toward her. " My Regina?"
Regina's not sure, she looks up to her blonde friend but Kathryn merely winks. "Yes, I suppose so."
He runs the four steps between them to wrap his arms around her waist. She's shocked. She wraps her arms around his shoulders, one hand coming to rest on his blonde curls. "Hi," he says as he looks up at her.
She lets out a chuckle, "Hello,"
He lets go of her and looks up at her with wide, inquisitive eyes. "So...you're my Fairy Godmother?"
Regina sighs and restrains herself from rolling her eyes, "I'm going to kill her," she mutters as she looks over his head at Kathryn with narrowed eyes. Her eyes glow with mischief before she looks back to see Abigail running toward her older brother. Regina looks back down at Daniel, whose eyebrows are drawn together in confusion. She sighs, "Yes, I imagine that's me." She pauses and grits out, "Your Fairy Godmother."
"I want a Fairy Godmother!" Abigail says, stomping her foot as she stands next to her brother and looks from Regina to Kathryn.
Kathryn chuckles and shoos her daughter away from Daniel and Regina and back to the other children. Regina also laughs and watches the littlest blonde cross her arms in anger.
"Momma talks about you a lot," Daniel says, bringing Regina's attention back to him.
"She does?" Regina asks, surprised.
He nods, "And how you saved her and made her smart." Regina shakes her head, about to interrupt that Kathryn was always smart but Daniel steps close to her and motions with his hand to get her to move down to his level and whispers in her ear, "And she told me about how I got my name. About the other Daniel." He moves to look her in the eye and sees her smile with tears in her eyes. He tilts his head like a puppy and asks, "Was he a good man?"
More tears form in Regina's eyes and her smile grows tenfold, if that's even possible. "He was a great man," she says with a nod. "And he would be sooooo happy to know you share his name. He would be honored and proud of you, Daniel." She doesn't know how long she can keep talking about Daniel. Her Daniel. Even though she has Emma and their family, Daniel was her first love, he will always hold a special place in her heart. Having this darling boy share his name is wonderful and cathartic in ways she never imagined, but it's still a lot to deal with all at once. "And your mom told me that you love horses as much as he did," she says, eyes crinkling at that thought.
Daniel's whole face lights up, "I do! Momma says I'm as good as she is now!"
"Wow!" Regina says excitedly, "That's pretty good!"
Daniel nods vigorously. "Do you ride horses?"
Regina nods back, "I do."
Danie's eyes open wide, "Will you go riding with me?" He asks and then pauses, "When Momma says it's safe to go outside again?" There's another pause and he looks down at the floor, "Or are you leaving now."
Regina reaches out and gently touches his chin, lifting it until their eyes meet, "I would love to go riding with you, Daniel," she says with a smile.
He eyes alight again and he shouts "Yay!" He punches his fist into the air in a way that only a 6-year-old can. But before he can say anything else there is a loud commotion outside the Great Hall.
She quickly stands tall and puts her hands on Daniel's shoulders, moving him to her side and toward her back. Then she's looking around for Emma and their children. She sees Louisa and Snow still holding her daughters and Emma standing next to Henry. She sees Tommy stop playing next to Kathryn and runs toward her, attaching himself to her knees. She makes eye contact with Zelena and they share a nod. Zelena has one hand on Kelly's back and one hand free, ready to throw fireballs. Regina has one hand wrapped around Daniel's shoulder and smiles reassuringly at Tommy, clinging tightly to her legs.
Seven of the royal guards come running into the room, swords drawn. They face the door they just walked through, flames roar to life in Regina's hand as she waits. Suddenly, more guards march into the room; and not just any guards, guards bearing her silver sash. They look fierce, as they always do when wearing their uniforms. They march as one, directly toward her. She feels Tommy move behind her, cowering, and Daniel wraps his arms around her waist. The flames remain in her hand; she's not really sure these people were actually a part of her guard since their faces are covered with their helmets. They stop in front of her, all lift their right fist and thump it over their heart twice before dropping onto their right knee, other knee bent up with their right fist resting on that knee, heads bowed.
"Mommy?" Tommy asks quietly when the men do not look up from the floor.
"Un momento, Querido," she says as she extinguishes the flames in her hand. "Up," she commands. The guard in the front, the leader, stands and goes to remove their helmet.
"Regina," Snow hisses from behind her, sounding much closer than she should be, "what's going on? We don't know who they are."
Regina rolls her eyes, even though Snow can't see it, "That's why they're going to take off their helmets, Snow."
"Of course, My Queen," a voice says, coming from the man at the front of the group.
Regina freezes, "Kam?" she asks quietly.
He removes his helmet and smiles, bowing once more. "Welcome back, Your Majesty."
She smiles, "Hello Kam, how goes the new job?"
Kam rolls his eyes, smiling growing, "It's wonderful ," he snarks.
"I see why you kept him," Snow says with an eye roll.
He gives a small nod to Snow, not saying anything.
Regina huffs, he's barely acting like a proper guard; giving the bare minimum respect for a queen.
He looks to the boys clinging to Regina, "Yours?" he asks.
Regina smiles, "This is my godson-"
"Oh yes! The prince of the Midas Kingdom," Kam makes the connection.
Regina nods, "This…" she pauses to look down at Tommy and smiles, "is my son Thomas."
"Hello, Young Princes," Kam says, bowing to the young boys, causing them to giggle. "Henry?"
"Over there," she points to wear Emma and Henry are standing, watching the spectacle.
"I see you kept the princess," Kam sasses.
Regina cannot control her eye roll, "Be nice" It's Kam's turn to huff. He doesn't get a chance to respond before Emma steps up, holding Evy in her arms. She must have taken her from Snow Regina thinks as Emma comes to stand next to her wife.
"What's this? Is my wife attempting a coup in my mother's house?" she asks with a smile.
"Hello Princess," Kam says, giving an even smaller bow that he gave Snow.
"Kam," Regina berates.
He merely smirks, knowing he's not really in any trouble, his boss has gone soft.
"Perhaps we could take this spectacle someplace a bit more...private?" Louisa says, coming to stand next to Regina.
Regina nods, "Of course." She turns to Daniel and smiles, "Would you like to go with your mother?" she asks. He looks unsure, "We'll be back for dinner," she adds.
He smiles, "Will you sit with me?"
"Absolutely," she smiles and watches him scamper off to stand next to his mom. She acknowledges Kathryn with a nod and bends down to lift Tommy into her arms. She places him on her hip and snaps her fingers, "Follow," she commands.
The other guards wearing her sash stand as one, clicking their heels together. Regina hears Emma chuckle, never used to the guards following her wife's every order. Her wife turns to look at her, "You look very intimidating, babe."
Regina looks at her, gauges her wife's reaction and smiles, showing all her teeth, "You'd do well to remember how dangerous I can be, Em-ma."
Emma's mouth puckers together, using all her power not to laugh outright. She sees her wife, wearing one of her tamest outfits from this realm. So tame in fact, Emma's sure she never wore it during her time as the Evil Queen. It laces in the front, for easier access when she needs to feed the twins. It fits her perfectly, of course it does , Emma thinks as she sees her wife look around, holding Tommy on her hip. "Definitely living up to your moniker right now, Gi, with a baby on your hip and your arch-enemy standing next to you."
"I no baby, Momma!" Tommy says with a pout.
"That's right dear, you're a prince," Regina says, bopping him on the nose. "Come along," she calls as she turns and strides away, Kam and the other guards falling into step behind her.
Emma shares a look with Louisa and Henry who follow behind the guards. She looks to her mother and smiles, "Guess we've got to go catch up," she shrugs.
"Be careful," Snow warns.
"I'll be fine," Emma states, "Wasn't Kam a part of your guard while we were away?"
Snow nods, "He was."
"So, you trust him?"
Snow bites her lip, "I knew he wouldn't attempt a coup or start a revolution, but I trust him as far as I can throw him."
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do," Snow says, stepping forward to grip her daughter's hand. "Completely."
"Do you trust Regina?"
Snow rears back, "Absolutely," she says without pause, still gripping her daughter's hand.
"Then you have nothing to worry about," Emma says. She smiles at her mother before letting her hand go and turning to follow the way her family went. She lifts Evy up onto her shoulder and hurries to catch up with them.
She finds them in the new War Room, the one warded by Regina and Zelena themselves. There are 2 guards at the entrance. They give her slight bows as she enters the room and moves toward her wife. She notices the other guards strategically places around the room and sees Regina, Louisa, and Lottie - in Kam's arms, surprising. She doesn't usually go to strangers. I mean, she went to Louisa, but Louisa has the kindest soul. Anyone would go to Louisa, she screams safety , Emma ponders as her gaze continues on to her sons. Everyone is standing in the middle of the room conversing.
"Nice of you to join us," Kam snarks upon noticing Emma's arrival.
"You know me," Emma says with a shrug, "Always need to be fashionably late. It's who I am."
Kam scoffs, "If it was only fashionable and not a character flaw."
Emma gasps, drawing her free hand over her heart, "Hey! I married your queen. I birthed her babies. Show some respect, bro!"
Kam can't hide the smile from his face, "Always a consort, never a queen," he sighs with a smirk.
Regina sighs, "Kam," she reprimands.
Emma shifts Evy in her hold and grabs onto Regina's free arm in shock. "He...he...he jokes? I didn't know cyborgs could do that!" she exclaims.
"Yes, I joke," Kam says with a scoff. "Do you not remember me in Storybrooke?"
It's Emma's turn to scoff, "You were a different person in Storybrooke; a person who was a lot nicer," she jests.
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"Hey, Louisa," Emma greets as she walks down the hallway. She stands in front of Louisa's desk and smiles down at the secretary.
"Hello, Sheriff," Louisa exchanges greetings, "You can wait over there, the mayor will be with you in a moment." She goes back to typing on her computer.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Sheriff Swan," a voice calls from the doorway.
"Hey Kam," Emma says, greeting the man in front of her. "How are you?"
"Jolly as can be, Sheriff," Kam jokes, "I've got the most important job around. Gotta keep the Town Hall safe from riff raff like yourself."
"Good luck with that, Kam. I've been summoned by the queen bee herself." She shoves her hands in her back pockets, "Apparently the paperwork still isn't up to code."
"How could it be with that chicken scratch you call handwriting?" Kam says with a laugh.
"Har har," Emma says with a roll of her eyes.
Without time for a response, the door to the mayor's office opens and Regina steps out, long enough to see Emma, "Are you coming, Miss Swan?"
"No, but I'm breathing fast," Emma says with a smile.
Regina's face tenses and her eyes narrow. "Come along, Miss Swan, I don't have all day." She turns on her heel and walks back into her office, leaving the door open.
"Whelp, here goes nothing." She takes a deep breath and runs her hands through her hair. She looks to Louisa, "When's her next meeting?"
"Not until 2," Louisa says, not looking up from her computer screen.
"Ugh. Is she going to berate me for that entire time?" She looks to Kam, "If I don't make it out alive, I leave you in charge, Kam."
"Yeah right, Sheriff. Like the mayor would ever allow me to leave this job," he says with a roll of his eyes.
At 1:45 Emma stumbles out of the mayor's office, fixing her hair and straightening her jacket, "Whatever Regina," she says looking back at the poised mayor sitting behind her desk with a look that could frighten anyone. "I'm not redoing that paperwork for the umpteenth time. You obviously know what it means. Fix it yourself, Madame Mayor." She turns around and faces Louisa, "Nice to see you again, Louisa."
"Take care, Sheriff. I'm sure you'll be back here again soon," Louisa says with a smirk.
Emma huffs, "I'll bet." She turns to leave the hallway.
She makes it to the end of the hallway before Kam walks around the corner, "Sheriff Swan, you're still here? Must've been quite the meeting. Talk about a lot?" he says with a knowing smirk.
"You have no idea," she says with a shake of her head.
"Nor would I want to," Kam says, smirk growing. "Not like there would have been a lot of talking, I presume."
"Excuse me?" Emma asks, suddenly worried.
"Oh nothing," He shrugs off-handedly, "Just be glad you didn't get a concussion," there's a pause, "Or was that a differenttime you were 'discussing paperwork'?"
Emma's stunned, frozen in place, unable to respond. How did he know? They were so careful.
"Goodbye, Sheriff Swan," he says with a smile, enjoying how uncomfortable he is making her. He walks away with some pep in her step.
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"You were a lot nicer before the Enchanted Forest as well. Although you weren't under a curse, so what was your excuse?" Kam asks with raised eyebrows.
"Enough," Regina commands. Immediately, Kam stops talking and straightens his spine, still carefully holding Lottie in his arms.
Emma merely looks at her wife and raises an eyebrow. If she could slouch more, she would - just to irk her wife.
Regina sighs, "I already have four children, I don't need you two acting like children as well." She pinches the bridge of her nose.
"Mommy, mommy!" Tommy shouts and grabs onto her hand, pulling to get her attention.
"Yes, darling?" Regina says, a smile coming to her face as she looks down at her youngest son.
"Can we go back by Auntie Z? I wanta pway with Kewwy and Wowan."
"Yes, we can go back by your cousins, Querido. Do you remember the way?"
Tommy nods and then looks unsure, "I'll help you lead the way, Little T," Henry says, stepping forward and holding his hand out to his little brother.
He looks at his mother and then to Kam before looking back at his mother, "Do you think….um...do you think I could maybe start up sword lessons again? You know, just in case Jafar comes back?"
Kam and Henry both look to Regina who is having a mental battle with herself. Emma reaches out and touches her wife's elbow, smiling when Regina shakes herself from her thoughts. She turns back to Henry and her most trusted guard, "I think that would be wonderful."
Henry's smile could melt even the coldest of hearts. He rushes to Regina and wraps his arms around her middle, resting his head right under her chin. Even after all these years, it still surprises her when someone is so open with their affection. He gets this from his blonde mother she thinks with a smile as she wraps her arms around him, resting her cheek on the top of his head.
"Hey! Me too, me too!" Tommy says as he stands next to Regina and Henry.
"You want a hug too, Little T?" Henry says with a smile as he releases his mom and picks up his little brother and gives him a big bear hug and spins in a circle, making him release the cutest bout of giggles. He stops spinning and Regina tickles Tommy's neck, right under his chin, causing him to giggle and squirm in Henry's arms.
"I want wessons too Henny!"
"Lessons? Like sword lessons?" Henry asks, unsure.
"Yeah, wike you!" He exclaims as he bounces in Henry's arms.
"That's a Mommy question bud," Henry says, turning the choice back to Regina.
Regina looks unsure and looks to Emma who merely shrugs. Regina sighs, "I bet we could set something up," she says with a small smile.
"Yay!" Tommy says, bouncing so much that Henry has to set him down.
Henry chuckles and holds out his hand to his little brother, "Ready dude? Let's go back into the Great Room." Together, they are out the door and heading toward the rest of the family.
Before the adults in the room can move toward the door one of the guards posted outside of the door steps in and bows deeply, saying, "Your Majesty, there seems to be another commotion in the Great Room."
Regina sighs and looks to Kam, "are there more of you?"
Kam shakes his head, "We're done causing commotion for today, Your Majesty."
Regina rolls her eyes, "Don't make promises you can't keep."
Kam chuckles but doesn't say anything else. Instead he looks at the young girl cooing in his arms.
"You should know, she doesn't go to just anybody," Emma says with a smile. "That must mean you're special, Kam."
He snorts and rolls his eyes, "She just knows when she's going to be protected. That is my job, Princess."
Emma groans and turns to her wife, "Do I have to be a princess? Why can't I be a knight or something. I'm not cut out to be a princess, Gina."
Regina smiles and touches her wife's cheek, "You can be both dear, but you'll have to keep the Princess title. It's not my decision," she placates, "that's because your parents' are the royal family."
"I don't want to be a princess. Kam said I could be a consort, isn't that enough?" she whines.
"No," Regina answers simply. She turns back to Kam who can't hide the smile from his face.
He steps forward and hands Lottie back to Regina. She is disgruntled, but quickly resettles against her mother's chest, falling back asleep.
"That's my girl," Emma says with a grin.
Regina huffs and rolls her eyes, "Yes dear, she definitely gets her sleeping habits from you, let's just hope she doesn't get your other...admirable traits too."
Emma gasps, "You wound me, Gi."
Regina just sighs but changes the subject, "Come along dear, we better get back to our sons." She reaches out a hand and waits until Emma takes it, then they're out of the room, followed by Louisa and her guards.
They make it back to the Great Room to see the children running around and the adults gathered in a group near the tables. Kathryn notices them walk back in and quickly excuses herself to talk with her friends.
"Quite the posse you have now, Regina," she says with a smirk.
Regina shakes her head, but snarks, "You know how I like to make an entrance, Kathryn."
Kathryn laughs, "Very true. Now come this way, there's someone I'd like you to meet." They walk over to the group of adults. "Jas, Al, this is Regina and Emma."
Regina and Emma smile as two people turn around to greet them.
"Princess Jasmine?" Emma asks, jaw dropping to see another Disney princess, a very pregnant Disney princess..
"Sultana," Regina greets with a slight head bow, squeezing Emma's hand until she also gives a bow.
"Hello Regina, nice to see you again," Jasmine says with a smile, "We would have seen you earlier but," she rests a hand on her bulging stomach, "the baby was not happy this morning."
"No way," Emma says in shock, "You were my favorite Disney movie growing up!"
Jasmine and Aladdin give odd looks, "Movie?" "Disney?" coming out of their mouths simultaneously.
Regina chuckles, "Excuse my wife," she says with a smile.
Zelena quickly steps up and holds her hands out in front of Emma, "Give me my darling niece before she catches some of your crazy." Emma huffs but hands her sister-in-law Evy.
"And my sister," Regina adds with a raised eyebrow.
Jasmine smiles and turns her attention to the man at her side and says, "This is my husband, Aladdin."
Emma looks to Jasmine's husband, "You!" she exclaims, pointing her finger at Aladdin, "Dream dude!" Everyone gives her an odd look but she looks to her wife and says, "This is the guy that was in my dream. The one I had about the Gateway!" Regina makes the connection but still looks lost.
Emma doesn't get the chance to elaborate because Aladdin chimes in, drawing everyone's attention. He slyly rings his hands together. "Yeah, Sorry about that. I had to make sure you didn't take a wrong turn in the Gateway." He looks down at the ground, "Sorry I couldn't make it a happier dream. I stole some dream dust from Jafar. He created it for turning dreams into nightmares, that part couldn't be changed." He looks up at Emma apologetically, "You probably woke up in fear even though the dream itself wasn't scary. I'm sorry about that but I had to make sure Jafar didn't confuse you and send you the wrong way. It would have been horrible if you went to the wrong realm or worse, to his castle. You would've walked into an ambush."
"No worries. We got here safe and sound," Emma says with a smile. She wants to pull him aside and ask why Daniel was in this dream and why it brought up so many old fears when the dream wasn't about them at all. Instead she looks to her brother-in-law and smirks, thinking about his direction skills while they were in the Gateway.
SQSQSQSQSQSQ
"We've been walking for hours," Kelly whines as she resituates her backpack for the 13th time in the last 10 minutes. And yes, Emma's counted.
Regina comes to walk up next to her, "The twins are starting to get antsy in this wrap; I should feed them soon."
Emma sighs and says, "Well, this is as good a place as any to stop for lunch. We all need a break and I need to figure out where we're going from here."
Everyone stops walking and takes off their packs. They all sit on the ground in a circle and pull out the food Regina had packed, passing it around. Emma helps Regina unwrap the twins from her chest and lays them on the blanket in front of them. Regina leans against the wall, resting her back for a moment. Emma leans back next to her, smiling as they watch their family pass around food and laugh as they rest their feet.
Zelena and Robin lean against the wall opposite Regina and Emma, helping the kids get their food. Regina lays her head on Emma's shoulder, "I have a feeling this day is going to be longer than I anticipated," she whispers, content to watch the kids interact with each other as they tell stories about food characters they create with their imaginations.
"I agree, why didn't we plan on a break for nap time?" Emma asks.
Regina chuckles, "Plan? You? Emma? Really?"
Emma scoffs and jabs a finger at her wife's side, causing her to giggle and squirm away. "I can make a plan, Gina."
Regina captures the poking hand and holds it between her own hands. "Sure, darling."
Emma huffs and then rests her cheek against the top of Regina's head, asking, "What are we going to do?"
Regina sighs, "I don't know, dear. I don't think we can stop for them to nap for a few hours. Kelly could probably go without. Zelena told me she hasn't been napping every day, but it's been a long day with lots of walking, if she doesn't nap she'll be a real bear later tonight. And Thomas cannot go without a nap, that will be ugly for everyone."
Emma nods, Regina feels it against the top of her head and smiles as her wife thinks aloud, "Well, I could carry him, but then I don't have my hands free if we come across something...or someone."
"He could ride on my back for a while," Regina says. She holds up a hand when Emma inhales to interject. "Carrying the twins makes me walk different, putting Thomas on my back could help even things out for a little bit. And I know we brought an extra wrap in case we wanted to carry the twins separately, so we have the capability."
"He'll sleep better wrapped than being carried," Emma muses aloud. "What if I wear him and you wear the backpacks?"
Regina laughs softly, "What would that change? We'd both be carrying something extra either way."
Emma huffs, "Yes, I suppose so. But-"
"Emma," Regina interrupts.
"Yeah, I know," she sighs. Regina lifts her head to kiss her wife's cheek. She smiles and lays her head back on Emma's shoulder. "Let's eat before the twins get hungry and you get distracted. Don't think I won't notice you not eating, Mills," Emma says with a smirk as she moves away from Regina to grab them both some food before resituating next to her wife again. She hands her a sandwich and waits until she opens it and starts eating before she eats her own sandwich.
Everyone eats and Henry starts again with Roland, Kelly, and Tommy to keep them occupied but not wear them out with running. "I guess eye spy was out of the question?" Emma asks, laughing at her own joke.
Regina scoffs, "Only you, Emma," she says with an eye roll.
Emma kisses her cheek and reaches forward to grab a fussing Charlotte. "Now this child is absolutely mine. She needs her sleep like me AND she loses her mind the minute she's hungry." She looks down at Charlotte in her arms, "Yes, Baby Girl, you are absolutely my child." She leans close and whispers, "I'm not so sure about the other ones, they take after your Mommy too much. But don't worry, we'll still be the favorites, it's kind of our thing."
"Emma," Regina chides.
Henry moves over to grab the nursing pillow packed in one of their bags, "Here Mom," he says, handing Regina the pillow.
"Thank you dear," she says with a smile as she starts to situate herself to nurse.
Henry looks at Emma and narrows his eyes, "It's because I'm so much like Mom that I'm the favorite."
Emma gasps and Regina can't help but laugh. "Children," she admonishes.
"Whatevs, Kid," Emma says as she hands Charlotte to Regina and reaches forward to grab Evelyn and hand her over to Regina as well.
Henry smirks and goes back to keep the kids occupied while Regina feeds the twins. Emma, Robin, and Zelena rest before the next leg of their journey.
Finally, everyone is ready to go, the twins are safely secured in their wrap, fed and ready to sleep. Tommy and Kelly are both ready for naps and Henry and Roland are ready to continue walking. Emma helps secure Tommy onto Regina's back and as soon as they begin walking, he falls asleep. Regina can feel his breathing slow and smiles as she continues walking next to her sister.
They've been walking for a while again, Roland's sighs are happening more frequently, and Emma and Robin are trying to decide where they go from here.
"I think we need to go this way," Robin says, pointing down one hallway.
"No, we definitely have to go this way," Emma says, pointing down a different hallway.
"Trust the tracker, Em," Robin says, starting to go down the hallway.
"Rob," Emma calls, "I know this is the right way."
"How would you know?" Rob says, challenging Emma.
"Because I feel it. I don't know how...or why but I've seen this before, and I know this is the right way."
"What are you, Lassie?" Rob asks with a laugh.
"Are you calling me a bitch, Forest Boy?"
"EMMA!" Regina rebukes.
Emma and Robin share a look and cannot contain their laughter. Their laughs fill the hallways of the Gateway, loud enough to startle Tommy in his sleep.
"If you wake these sleeping kids," Regina threatens. There's no need to finish that sentence; Robin and Emma both heard the tone loud and clear, the Evil Queen turning into Mama Bear would be pleasant for no one.
"Sorry Gi," Robin says, trying not to smirk. Good thing Regina was behind him.
"Yeah, sorry babe," Emma says, smiling back at her wife. Regina rolls her eyes but says nothing else.
SQSQSQSQSQSQ
"Aha!" Robin says from his spot next to Zelena. Everyone's attention turns toward him but his focus is on Emma. "I knew you weren't Lassie!"
Zelena and Emma start laughing, Regina rolls her eyes, and everyone else stares in confusion. "Whatever you say, Forest Boy," Emma says through her laughter.
There's not a chance for anyone to ask what the hell is going on, the doors to the Great Room fly open and Blue walks in. Zelena mumbles, "And I thought Regina was the one that did the big entrances."
Regina narrows her eyes at her sister before turning back to face Blue. The children froze from their playing when the doors opened and make a beeline for their parents.