Sorry for the wait! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, added this story to your favorites and alerts. They make my day! Happy Valentine's Day to anyone who celebrates it. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own them.
WARNING: Regina thinks about having sex with Leopold and how she doesn't want to, but it's not graphic at all. Better safe than sorry though.
David entered Granny's diner and instantly found the beautiful brunette he was looking for. Regina was at the counter with her back to him and he quickly moved to stand beside her. "Good morning, Regina."
"Good morning, David," Regina replied with a smile. "Did you find what you were looking for last night?"
"Not exactly," David admitted. It was disappointing, but he believed what he had found last night might even be better than what he had been originally looking for. "Do you think you might be free for lunch again? I'd like to show you what I did find," David asked nervously.
"Alright," Regina agreed with a wide smile. "Same time as yesterday?"
"Perfect. I'll see you later."
"So, where are we going?" Regina asked as they walked deeper and deeper into the forest. David smiled excitedly.
"It's a surprise," He replied causing Regina to raise an eye brow in amusement.
"A surprise?"
"I got a little lost trying to find my way back to town last night," David admitted sheepishly. "Don't worry, we're almost there." After another few minutes of walking they arrived in a clearing that took Regina's breath away. It was their clearing, with the same gorgeous waterfall. Her and James's favorite place to have picnics.
"Oh my God," Regina breathed tears filling her eyes. She remembered all the days they had spent here together blissfully happy and in love. This had been one of the places where they could forget about their lives as royals and just be James and Regina. It made Regina's heart ache for her James. She needed his arms wrapped around her more than anything right now.
"Isn't it beautiful?" David asked, turning to face her. He saw the tears slipping down her cheeks and his smile fell. "Hey, are you alright?" he asked placing a hand on her shoulder. Regina nodded and wiped at her eyes.
"Yes, I'm fine. This place just reminds me of someone from my past. Sometimes it feels like those days were from another life."
"We can leave if this is too hard," David offered feeling horrible. He had brought her here because he thought it would make her happy and all he had done was cause her pain. "I just thought of you when I saw this place," He admitted softly. Regina smiled and shook her head.
"No, I want to stay," She assured him as she headed towards the blanket and picnic basket spread out near the edge of the water. "You prepared a picnic and everything. Can't let that go to waste." David nodded still watching her carefully for any sign that she didn't really want to be here. She still looked sad and incredibly lost, but there was happiness in her eyes as well. So he sat down next to her and decided to make her smile as much as he could during lunch. Maybe even for longer if she'd let him.
"I had a great time today, David," Regina said as she walked into her office with David following behind her.
"So did I," David admitted with a wide smile. He was glancing around her office and stopped suddenly when he saw how close they were to one another. He gazed into her beautiful brown eyes and felt his body lean in slightly closer. Her's did the same and her eyes glanced at his lips. He thought for sure she was going to kiss him when suddenly she pulled away.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning at Granny's," Regina said walking around to stand behind her desk. David cleared his throat and stepped back.
"I'll be there," He promised.
Emma was bored. Very, very, bored. Sometimes being Sheriff in a town as small as Storybrooke made the blonde want to rip her hair out. Sighing, she caught sight of the book and decided to flip it open. It hadn't changed all day and it was driving her crazy. To her relief, when she turned to the last page there was new writing.
"Here we go again," Emma sighed...
Another week passed of James and Regina's almost daily visits and after nearly being caught together on the road they had begun to explore deeper into the forest. One day they were walking hand in hand laughing and talking when Regina noticed something mostly hidden in the trees. It looked to be some kind of brown building.
"Wait, James, do you see that?" She asked squinting to get a better look.
"It's a cabin," James said disinterestedly. A smile pulled at the corners of Regina's lips as she studied the building the best she could. Something stirred deep within her chest and she knew she needed a better look.
"It looks abandoned. Let's check it out," Regina said pulling James in the direction of the cabin.
"Regina, wait," James argued pulling her back. He wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her still and she placed her hands on his chest as she looked at him. "That could be someone's home. Someone who wouldn't appreciate two strangers trespassing."
"Why should I be afraid when I have a slayer of dragons to protect me?" She teased, pulling away from him and resuming her journey towards the small house. James smiled widely and shook his head as he followed her.
"You're trouble."
"Come on," Regina chuckled. Once they reached the little cabin the shape it was in clearly told them no one had lived there for quite some time. There was no furniture to be seen through the dirty and broken windows and the roof was broken in some places. It needed a lot of work. "See I told you no one lives here," Regina remarked as she stepped onto the porch. It wrapped around the entire perimeter so Regina went to explore the back.
"It's a little run down," James commented as he followed her closely. He watched her carefully in case the floor caved in below her feet.
"I see potential," Regina replied her eyes scanning what she could see of the interior as she continued to walk towards the back yard.
"For firewood?"
"James!" She gasped a smile on her lips. "No, a safe place for us to meet. Wandering around the road is dangerous." Regina disappeared around the corner and she gasped in excitement. "Oh, James, there's a garden back here!" Her eyes and smile were so bright with happiness that James leaned carefully against the exterior of the house to watch her lovingly. She caught him staring and glanced at him questioningly. "What?"
"It just makes me happy to see you so excited," He replied. She smiled in response and she left the porch to inspect the garden.
"Have I ever told you about my apple tree?"
"No, I don't believe you have."
"I've been tending to it since I was a little girl. My mother magically transported it to the palace as a wedding present. It's one of the only places I can find any peace and comfort," Regina blushed slightly and ran her fingers over a patch of the overgrown garden.
"And where are the other places?" James asked coming to kneel beside her.
"On Rocinante's back...and whenever I'm with you." She avoided his gaze and he kissed the side of her head to put her at ease. She leaned into the contact and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. James looked around the dilapidated property and images of what their life could have been like together filled his mind. He imagined them as simple farmers, happy to spend their days together tending to their garden and having picnics by waterfalls. He imagined his mother living close by. He pictured a couple of children with dark curls and beautiful smiles like their mother and blue eyes like him. And suddenly he saw the potential she did in this place.
The potential for peace, safety, and happiness together. Their oasis in the darkness that was the other parts of their lives.
"On second thought, I don't think it would be too difficult to fix this place up. We might even be able to grow a few vegetables before the season is over," Her face lit up even brighter and she launched herself into his arms. He almost toppled over, but regained his footing and wrapped his arms around her.
"Thank you!" She kissed him and pulled back. "This place is going to be good to us, James, I can feel it. Can't you?"
He kissed her forehead and then her lips. "Yes, yes I can."
Emma closed the book slowly and as always she was left with more questions than answers.
After a couple of hours spent working at the shelter trying to distract himself, David decided to take a walk. His lunch with Regina had been amazing, but even when she smiled at him he could see a tinge of sadness in her deep brown eyes. He wanted nothing more than to take that pain away, but how could he if he didn't know what was causing it? She had mentioned being reminded of someone from her past and David felt an irrational jealousy swirl around in his gut. He and Regina were friends and that's probably all they could ever be. For all he knew, he had a wife out there somewhere. Sidney had graciously offered to print his story in the newspaper incase anyone might see it and recognize him, but David was hesitant to agree. He liked how his life was now. He didn't feel like he was leaving anyone behind, he didn't feel like he had that connection with anyone. Except for Regina.
"Hey, Mr. Nolan." David's head snapped up and he realized he had wound up in front of the school. Kids were pouring out of the building and the feel in the air was one of relief and excitement that everyone was one day closer to the weekend. David looked down and greeted Henry with a small smile.
"Hi, Henry. And you can call me David. How was school?"
"Good. What are you doing here?" The boy asked curiously.
"Just taking a walk," David replied. Henry obviously liked his answer as a flash of something that looked liked excitement crossed his face.
"Have you met my teacher?" Henry asked with a sly smile.
David shook his head with a small smile. "Probably not."
"Come on, I think you'll like her," Henry exclaimed, dragging David towards a petite brunette. "Ms. Blanchard, this is Mr. Nolan," Henry glanced between the two adults as if expecting something to happen. David couldn't figure out what this boy was up to.
"Please, call me David," he said shaking Mary Margaret's hand.
"Mary Margaret," The woman smiled. "You're the man that the mayor found."
"That's me," David replied with a tight smile. He might as well make that his nickname. It was all anyone could talk about when they met him. Except Regina. The only time she mentioned it was when she was expressing concern over how he was handling his memory loss. Funny that the only two people actually involved in that night were the two people in town that discussed it the least.
"Emma, the Sheriff, she's my roommate," Mary Margaret said as if it explained how she knew. Not that she needed to. Everyone in town knew.
"Well, it was nice meeting you," David said with a smile before turning around to leave.
"You too."
David stopped when he saw Regina standing behind them with a hurt expression on her face and anger in her eyes. Her mask slid back into place seconds after David turned around, but he had still caught it.
"Regina-"
"Henry, let's go," the mayor snapped before briskly walking back towards the car. Henry bounded down the steps with a small satisfied smile on his face. David watched them go, a feeling of guilt settling in his stomach.
Regina fought back tears as she unlocked the front door of her home. She refused to let them fall. She could cry when she was alone in her shower. Seeing Mary Margaret with David had been like seeing James with Snow. Even after 28 years the pain of James's betrayal was still strong. Before she had time to continue wallowing in the past Henry was in front of her with the look of accusation she was so accustomed to seeing when he looked at her.
"What are you doing to him?"
"What are you talking about, Henry?" Regina asked tiredly.
"David!" The young boy snapped. "He barely looked at Ms. Blanchard when they met this afternoon."
"This is about the curse? Do tell, who is David supposed to be?" Regina was actually curious to hear her son's answer. Regina knew who David was in the Enchanted Forest, but she had no idea who the book said he was. Although, based on Henry's anger she had a sinking feeling she knew what he was going to say. Further proof that book was full of lies.
"Prince Charming."
"Prince who?" Regina asked, genuinely confused.
"Don't pretend you don't know. Snow White's true love!" Henry shouted angrily.
"Is that what the book says?" Regina asked her heart thudding painfully in her chest. That was just the icing on the cake to this wonderful afternoon. "That Snow White and James are each other's true love?"
"I never said his name was James," Henry pointed out.
"I read the Grimm's version," Regina lied. Henry rolled his eyes and Regina felt her anger flare.
"Whatever."
"I am sick and tired of your attitude, Henry. I won't stand for it any longer."
"What are you gonna do?" Henry challenged. "Take my heart?"
Regina's mouth dropped open in shock and pain filled her eyes. "Go to your room! And you can forget about seeing Emma tomorrow!"
"That's not fair!" Henry whined as he stomped up the stairs.
"I don't think Evil Queen's have to be fair," Regina replied darkly.
"I hate you!" Henry's door slammed and Regina sunk to the floor.
"You've made that abundantly clear," she whispered to the empty room. Today had been one long emotional roller coaster. The picnic at the waterfall with David had been wonderful, but it had also made her long for the days when she and James would have lunch there and lay in each other's arms afterwards. Ever since she had found David and remembered James she sometimes found herself physically aching to be in her lover's arms. Then she had seen him with Mary Margaret and the pain and anger had come back, only to find out that her son thought Snow and James were each other's true loves. Perhaps, Gold was right. She couldn't afford to get attached to David to fill the void in her heart. He wasn't James and Regina was no longer the Regina that James had fallen in love with.
Regina stood up and glanced in the mirror that hung on the wall in her foyer. She sneered at her own reflection. She looked weak. A few tears had slid down her cheeks, her eyes were full of pain, and her shoulders were haunched in defeat. No one defeated the Evil Queen. Certainly not some ungrateful kid and the man that had left her to be...no, nothing good would come of allowing herself to remember that memory. Regina let her eyes grow cold, she straightened her posture, and wiped away her tears. She didn't need Henry's love and she didn't need David's. It was time to stop giving people the power to hurt her.
Regina didn't stop at Granny's the next morning. She dropped a sullen Henry off at school and then sent her secretary to Granny's for her morning coffee. Unfortunately, that didn't keep her from seeing David. As she was coming out of the grocery store before picking Henry up from school David happened to be going into it.
"Regina, hi. I didn't see you at Granny's this morning," David said clearly upset. Regina kept her face neutral as she glanced at him.
"We had a late start," She replied cooly. "Which seems to be the theme of the day, so if you'll excuse me," She felt a stab of guilt when a hurt look crossed David's face, but Regina continued towards her car.
"Alright. Have a good...day," David trailed off as Regina slammed her car door. His eye brows furrowed in confusion at Regina's sudden change. He knew the mayor had a reputation of being...well a bitch, but she had never been anything but warm and friendly towards him. So, why was she suddenly acting so cold? If he was being honest with himself it hurt. He really enjoyed being around Regina. He couldn't imagine not seeing her smile everyday. An uncomfortable weight settled into his chest and he decided he would find out what had happened. And he wouldn't give up until he did.
Regina walked up to the school to get Henry's attention and had to keep herself from turning around and leaving when she saw him with Mary Margaret. Sighing, she approached the duo.
"Good afternoon, Madame Mayor," Mary Margaret greeted with a polite smile. "I thought Emma was picking up Henry today."
"Change of plans," Regina snapped. "Henry get in the car." For once Henry didn't put up a fight and just walked past her silently to get into the mercedes.
"He was a little moody today," Mary Margaret commented before Regina could escape. "Is everything alright at home?" Regina wanted to slap the concerned look right off the school teacher's face.
"That's none of your business."
"I'm his teacher-"
"That doesn't give you unlimited access to our personal lives," Regina snapped, before turning to walk away. "Good day Ms. Blanchard," She tossed over her shoulder. Regina slid into the driver's seat of her Mercedes and didn't spare a glance at the pouting boy in her back seat. She could almost pretend the pain of his rejection was gone from her heart. Almost.
Emma sighed as she flipped through channels aimlessly. Usually, she would be spending the afternoon with Henry, but apparently Regina had finally hit her limit of fairytale talk and Henry had ended up grounded. Emma could almost see where she was coming from. Henry had treated Regina like dirt from the moment Emma rolled into town, probably before that even and he wasn't even right about the book. It was true that Regina had cursed them, but the book hadn't told Emma why yet. At least she hoped that was where this was going. Glancing over at it on the coffee table, she pulled it towards her and opened it. A new story covered the pages and Emma sighed in relief. Finally something to do. Besides, the closer she got to figuring out what this book was trying to tell her, the closer she got to figuring out what the hell she was supposed to be doing as the Savior...
Regina heard the large oak doors of her bedchambers creak open and her entire body tensed. That couldn't be the King. It was the anniversary of his first wife's death and he had already visited Regina to whisper his first wife's name in her ear while he used her body. Surely he wouldn't come twice in one night? She was already sore and she couldn't imagine the pain she would feel if he took her again so soon.
"Mother?" Snow White's small unsure voice put Regina somewhat at ease, but she remained slightly tense. Her days with James had healed Regina's heart enough that she no longer dreamt of ruining her step daughter's life in the way she had ruined her's, but she was still angry with the young princess. "Are you awake?"
"Yes, dear. Are you alright?"
"I had a nightmare of my first mother and the day she died. May I..." Snow trailed off obviously nervous.
"Snow, it's late. What is it that you needed?" Regina winced at the tone in her voice. She hadn't meant to sound so cruel. She heard Snow sniffle in the darkness and she was pleased to find she still cared enough about Snow to feel bad for hurting her feelings.
"Never mind-"
"No, darling, I'm sorry. Come here," Regina instructed as she lifted her bed covers. Snow slid in beside Regina and curled up leaving some space between them. Regina felt an unexpected stab of pain. Had she really been so horrible to this girl? Was she becoming her mother? That thought had her stomach twisting uncomfortably. She could see Snow's shoulders quivering with the effort of holding in sobs and Regina felt terrible. All Regina had wanted as a child was her mother's affections, but her mother always denied her. Was that what she was doing to Snow now? Making up her mind, she slid her arms around the teenager causing Snow to release her sobs. Snow turned and buried her face into Regina's neck. Regina hummed soothingly and rubbed Snow's back.
"Do you love me, mother?" Snow asked through her tears.
"Of course I do," Regina was surprised to find that wasn't a lie. Although she supposed Snow's betrayal wouldn't have hurt as much as it did if she didn't love the young girl. "I'm sorry if I've been cold with you, Snow. I'm upset at other things and I'm sorry for taking it out on you."
"I know you don't wish to be married to my father. I also know it's my fault that you are-"
"Sh, no Snow. Your father knew how I felt about the wedding when he married me. He could have stopped it at anytime."
After a few moments of silence, Snow spoke again. "Do you still believe in true love?"
"Yes, I do," Regina replied thinking of James.
"Will I be allowed to have that or will I be married to a King that I don't love?" Regina felt her heart break at the question and the small voice in which Snow asked it.
"Are you in love, Snow?"
"Yes."
"Then I will do whatever I can to make sure you get to be with this-"
"It's a woman," Snow said hesitantly.
"Is she good to you?"
"Very."
"That's all that matters to me." It wasn't unheard of in this land, although it was more accepted the lower in status a person was. As an heir to the throne of a kingdom, Snow was facing an uphill battle.
"And to my father?" Snow asked fearfully.
"I don't know, Snow. I know he wants you to be happy, but I don't know if he'll stand against the pressures of his kingdom," Regina knew it wasn't the answer Snow had been hoping for and she wished she could reassure the girl, but she didn't want to lie to her either. One of the worst things you could do to a person was give them false hope. "I'd like to meet this girl someday," Regina said sincerely.
Snow giggled happily and snuggled deeper into her stepmother's embrace. "I'd like that very much. I love you, mother."
"I love you too. Now go to sleep, darling. I'll keep the nightmares away." Snow fell asleep minutes later and Regina continued to play with the girl's long curls as she thought about mothers and their children. She had never really felt like Snow's mother until tonight. She had felt like a nanny or a toy to keep the girl entertained. Finally stepping into that mother role with Snow had helped her to forgive her even more.
Regina's mother had been so terrible to her that she often forgot that some mothers treated their children with a kind and loving hand and not one crackling with dark punishing magic. She remembered the few times James had mentioned his mother. With what little he had told Regina about the woman it seemed like they had been very close. It made Regina wonder how long it had been since mother and son had seen each other. She knew George had forbidden James to see his mother, but the King had also forbidden James from ever seeing Regina again and they still managed to spend almost every day together. If they planned this correctly perhaps James could visit his mother with Regina's help. She would have to bring it up with James in the morning...
"Holy shit!" Emma swore, eyes wide in shock. "Snow White's true love was - is a woman? Who?" Emma sighed and rolled her eyes. "Stop talking to the book. So, Regina had forgiven Snow?" the blonde wondered aloud as she shut the book. "Then why cast the curse?" She fell back into the couch cushions with a dramatic sigh. "Ugh!"
Regina checked on Henry to make sure the boy was truly asleep and then grabbed her coat and left the house. She drove to the edge of the woods and walked the rest of the way to the waterfall. She closed her eyes and tried to picture an afternoon where her and James would have lunch here and then head back to their cabin. She tried to picture in what direction the cabin would be. Once she was confident she knew where she was going she started walking again. After walking for about 15 minutes she could just barely make out the outline of the brown house shrouded by darkness and trees.
Her breath caught in her throat and she could already feel the tears building in her eyes, but she walked the rest of the way towards the cabin. When she reached it she noticed the outside looked exactly like they had left it the last time they had been here. The last time they had been James and Regina. She remembered how safe she felt lying in James's arms all night and how heartbroken she was when she had had to watch him walk away from her for the last time. Regina pushed open the door and it creaked, just as it always had in the Enchanted Forest. She lit the candles that were spread about the room in the way they had always been and the single roomed cabin was bathed in a soft glow. Regina let her gaze fall on everything in the room. Her eyes fell on the bed last and she approached it hesitantly. She lowered herself onto it and grabbed James's pillow. She hugged it to her chest and let her sobs overcome her as she whispered her lover's name in heartbreak over and over and over.
"James."
Friday had arrived once again marking the one week anniversary since Regina had found David. The last time she had seen him had been when they had bumped into each other at the market. Since then Regina had been actively avoiding him. And he wasn't making that easy. He had been calling and texting her everyday. Regina felt slightly guilty about shutting him out when there was no way for him to understand her reasonings. David hadn't done anything to deserve the silent treatment, but Regina needed to distance herself from James and that meant distancing herself from David. Her night spent crying in their bed in the cabin had only strengthened her resolve that nothing good could come from letting David be such an important part of her life.
Regina sighed as she glanced at the clock. Emma was late, again and she was Regina's last appointment of the day. She just wanted to go home and take a long bath with a tall glass of cider. She also knew Emma was going to come in here with an attitude considering Henry's grounding still wasn't over. Regina planned on ending it on Monday. It hadn't really changed the boy's behavior. Now he just ignored her instead of accusing her of evil every 5 minutes. The door to her office opened causing Regina to start slightly and Emma walked up to the desk with her usual swagger.
"Good afternoon, Miss. Swan. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to make time for your budget meeting," Regina drawled condescendingly. Emma rolled her eyes and sat in the chair across from the desk.
"Cut the attitude, Madame Mayor. So, when am I allowed to see Henry again?"
Right to the chase as usual, Regina thought tiredly. "When he remembers how to behave."
"You mean when he starts acting like the perfect son you want him to be?" Emma argued.
"How dare you?" Regina replied angrily. "I am tired of being judged as a parent by someone who was one for about five minutes."
"Maybe I had Henry for a short time, but he still prefers me over you. What does that say?" Emma felt bad as soon as the words left her mouth, but she was so confused. She wasn't sure if Regina was the woman from the book protecting herself with the bitch exterior or if the Regina you saw was all there was. It made Emma's head hurt just thinking about it.
"Let's just get this meeting over with, shall we?" Regina replied. Emma's eyebrows rose in surprise. Regina was backing down from a fight? Hell just froze over, Emma thought but she nodded. Regina wasn't the only one who wanted this over as soon as possible.
Regina once again found herself out walking. Only, this time she was on Main street instead of the woods. When she saw a familiar figure heading towards her she realized her mistake.
"Evening, dearie," Gold greeted stepping into her personal space and grabbing her arm with the hand that wasn't clutching to his cane. He began steering her towards an alleyway and Regina let him, despite her annoyance.
"What do you want?" Regina snarled, pulling her arm away once they were out of view of the main road.
"Can't a master check on his pet from time to time?" Gold asked with a twisted smile. Regina glared at him and shoved him away from her.
"You're a bastard."
Gold chuckled. "And you're my monster so why don't you start acting like it? I knew the minute James was in town you would become weak."
"I've stopped seeing him-"
"Good," Gold replied stepping back into her personal space forcing her to place her back against the cold brick wall behind her. "Don't let him in, Regina. That man left you vulnerable to me and he-"
"You don't need to remind me what happened! I was there!"
"I certainly hope you continue to remember, Regina. If you don't I'll have to take matters into my own hands."
"Don't you dare go anywhere near him," Regina cried, tears gathering in her eyes. Gold grabbed her arms and roughly slammed her body into the wall behind her. Regina closed her eyes in pain, but didn't give him the satisfaction of crying out.
"I think you've forgotten who's in charge here-"
"Hey!" Gold and Regina both turned towards the newcomer and Regina's heart leapt into her throat when she saw it was David. "Get away from her," David warned. Surprisingly, Gold backed off.
"We were just having a little chat. Weren't we, Regina?" Regina nodded, not trusting herself to speak. "Enjoy the rest of your evening, dearies."
Once Gold was gone David turned to Regina. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" David gently pushed the hair from Regina's face as he glanced her over worriedly. Regina almost wanted to laugh at his questions. Rumplestiltskin had damaged her beyond repair, but David's concern was decades too late.
"I'm fine," Regina finally managed to say. "You shouldn't have done that. I can handle Gold."
"I'm wasn't just gonna walk away while he manhandled you in a dark alley, Regina," David argued. Regina once again found herself aching to be in James's arms. She wanted David to remember all that they had been through together and separately. Overwhelmed by emotions, Regina walked out of the ally.
"I have to get home to Henry."
"Regina, why have you been avoiding me?" David asked unable to keep all of the hurt from his voice. Regina hated that she had put that pain there, but she didn't see any other way. Gold would hurt David if he thought Regina wasn't staying away from him.
"I'm sorry, David, I really have to go."
David watched her walk away and he sighed heavily. He wasn't sure what he was thinking and feeling anymore. He walked around all day with all these confusing emotions and no memory of his past, but when he was with Regina everything became clear. It suddenly no longer mattered that he didn't have any memories and his emotions became clear and passionate. Like when he had seen Gold shove Regina into the wall David had felt a surge of anger, hate, and protectiveness flood through his body. He had approached Gold without thought of the consequences. When he had seen the pain on Regina's face he had just reacted. When he was around Regina, things made sense and he wasn't going to give her up without a fight. He wasn't sure how or why he felt so strongly for someone he barely knew, but in the depths of his heart and soul he knew that he was supposed to be in Regina's life. He knew he had to fight for her, no matter how hard it was or how long it took.
"Emma, I have to go. My mom's home." Emma heard a door slam through the speaker of the walkie talkie.
"Was that her?"
"Yea, I think she was crying too. I don't think I've ever heard her slam her door before," Henry replied. Emma winced knowing her comments about Henry was probably part of why Regina was so upset.
"Maybe you should go check on her."
"She's the Evil Queen. She's probably faking it."
"Henry, you need to stop. I've been reading the book and your mom wasn't always the Evil Queen. She's a person, Henry."
"She's changing the book."
"How could she do that when I have it?"
"I don't know," The little boy grumbled.
"Get some rest, kid," Emma told him with a sigh. They said their goodnights and then Emma grabbed the book and opened it. Another story had been written and Emma let herself entertain the idea that maybe Regina was changing the book. But to what end? Running a frustrated hand through her hair Emma began to read...
The next morning, after breakfast with Snow, Regina met James on the road and they headed towards their cabin. James had managed to borrow a box of tools from the palace and Regina was excited to get started on fixing up their safe haven. When they arrived James decided to start on the porch. As he worked, Regina remembered her conversation with Snow last night. She was running over scenarios that might be possible to get James to his mother's when James called her name.
"Regina. Regina. Regina!"
"Sorry, what?"
"I've called your name three time. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
"Ok, could you hand me that hammer, please?" James asked giving her a concerned look. She grabbed the hammer from the tool box and handed it to him.
"James, have you been able to see your mother since you moved to King George's palace?"
"No."
"You said she lives on the outskirts of his kingdom?" Regina asked curiously.
"Yes, why?" James stopped what he was doing and gave her his full attention. His eyebrows were furrowed in confusion.
"I was thinking, if we leave at dawn I think we can make it by lunch. That would give you a couple of hours and we'd still have time to get back before dinner."
"King George won't let me have a horse," James replied shaking his head and returning to his work. "And King Leopold would never let you leave so early in the morning." James felt the familiar anger and jealousy ignite his veins when he thought of the King. James would give anything to be married to Regina, to have her be the last thing he saw at night and the first in the morning. Leopold didn't deserve her.
"At the end of the week King Leopold is traveling to another kingdom for the day and will have to leave before the sun is even up. Snow is going to spend the next few days with her friend, Red." Regina shook her head thinking of another conversation she had had with her stepdaughter that morning that still confused her. "Something about the full moon. We could take Rocinante," Regina suggested.
"Something could go wrong. We might not get back in time, Leopold could come back early. It's too dangerous."
"James, we'll be careful."
"No, Regina," James dropped the hammer and shook his head. His eyes were so full of pain it made Regina's heart ache. "Thank you, but no," He stood up and disappeared into the woods.
Regina gave him an hour to cool down and then went looking for him. She knew he wouldn't go far. He would never stray too far from her and leave her unprotected. She found him sitting on the forest floor with his back against a tree not far from the edge of the woods. She settled between his legs, leaning her back into his front. He wrapped his arms around her middle and buried his face into her long raven locks.
"James, please talk to me."
James sighed and his grip on her tightened. "I'm afraid of what I might find if I return home. She's a formidable woman, but to take care of the garden and the flock all on her own?" His voice was thick with pain and unshed tears and Regina turned in his embrace to stare into his eyes. Her hands came up to cup his face lovingly. She felt his hands dip to her lower back to keep her pressed into him. She always felt so safe in his arms. James wouldn't meet her eyes and she waited patiently for his next fear. "If something has happened to her, it would be my fault," he finally admitted.
"No, it wouldn't," Regina insisted. "King George gave you no choice. James, look at me," She gently forced him to look at her and she tried to convey how much she cared for him, how much she loved him and depended on him in her words and eyes without actually saying those three words to him. She wished she had the strength to say them out loud, but after Daniel she just couldn't. "You are a kind and honorable man. And you're braver than any knight or King I have ever met."
"I'm not. I'm terrified of what I would find if I returned home," James replied shaking his head.
"Fearlessness does not make someone brave, doing what is right despite your fear is what makes someone brave. Besides, the only way to get over your fear is to face it."
"You really do have a way with words," James chuckled bringing a bright smile to Regina's lips. Their foreheads dipped so they were touching and Regina wiped away the few tears that had slipped from James's eyes.
"That's because I believe in what I say and I believe in you, James."
"What did I ever do to deserve you?"
"You knocked me off my horse," Regina teased causing them both to laugh. James's hands slid up to grip her upper arms gently.
"Promise me there is no way you could get into trouble for doing this," He insisted, his voice firm and worried.
"I promise you."
Not the words she so desperately wanted to say to him, but they would do until she found the courage to tell him how she truly felt.
I know I usually end with Emma's thoughts on what she's read, but I kinda liked it here. Anyway, please review!