"You just want cheese?"
Regina lowered the red bordered menu she had been examining to look across the pizzeria table to look at two very disappointed faces looking back at her. She rolled her eyes and put the menu down with a sigh. The hangdog looks she saw gracing Emma's and Henry's features were ridiculously overwrought.
"Order whatever you want, just ask them to leave a slice free of all that…nonsense."
"Nonsense? Pepperoni is not nonsense, or sausage, or mushroom…"
"I like pizza that tastes like pizza."
Emma patted herself on the chest, "I qualify as a greater expert on pizza. You grew up where there was none."
"Me too," Henry piped up.
"I am clearly outnumbered…but this isn't over."
"What does that mean?" Henry asked.
Regina shook her head with a smile and took a drink of her water from what seemed like an unnecessarily large tumbler.
They sat in a booth in the small pizzeria that was close to the city hall. It was time to try something new and she knew they both liked pizza. She wanted to make sure Henry didn't begin to feel left out of things and she had noticed he had begun acting somewhat withdrawn since they came back from the baby moon. His mood had picked up a bit since they had arrived at the pizzeria and he and Emma were now looking at some game he was playing on his phone which he was explaining the intricacies of to her.
The waitress came and Emma enthusiastically ordered a pizza with everything and a small cheese pizza for Regina.
After the waitress left Emma gave the brunt a small smile. "Lookin' out for you, babe."
"I can't eat all of that."
"Oh, I'll help." Emma added. "Maybe Junior will share your opinion."
"The license came in today. What do you both think about Friday afternoon? My assistant suggested the rotunda."
"Friday? This Friday?"
"License for what?" Henry asked.
"Marriage license. Just paperwork. Henry, will you be our witness?"
"Can he? Don't you have to be eighteen?" Emma asked.
Regina shot her a quick look that said 'zip it', so she did. "Henry, is that ok?"
"Yea, although I thought I would be like…best man or something."
"You can be that too." She took a breath and continued. "How do you feel about all of this? I know its a lot, we would understand if you felt a little…uncertain about things. I'm sorry we haven't discussed things with you more, like we should have."
Henry heaved a sigh and leaned his elbows on the table, but said nothing.
"You okay kid?" Emma asked.
"Yea, I'm fine."
"You sure?" She put a hand on his shoulder and tossed a worried glance over at Regina, who mirrored it.
"Yea. I mean…yea."
She kissed his cheek. "We love you, you know."
"I know."
She patted his back and they both knew this was going to have to do for now. If he was having trouble he didn't seem willing or able to articulate it right now. So they would patch up what they could with pizza.
Later that evening after Henry had gone to bed Emma and Regina were sitting on the couch, some unwatched thing on the television. Emma's feet were beginning to swell and and Regina was helpfully giving her a foot massage. She held Emma's feet in her lap and the blonde lied back on the couch.
"You never answered…about Friday," she commented quietly.
"Hmmm?" Emma asked, rousing herself.
"If Friday was ok, you didn't answer."
"Friday is good. I'm sorry, I thought I did. I've been so tired lately, it's like being in a fog sometimes."
"Did you mention it to the doctor?" Regina asked, immediately growing concerned.
"No, I think its just normal pregnant tired. I'm fine," she said, waving her hand dismissively. She turned her head to look at the TV but it was more of a move to hide closing her eyes.
"Are you sleeping here tonight?" Regina asked. "You seem ready to pass out."
"I think so," Emma mumbled without opening her eyes.
Regina patted her legs and scooted them off her lap. "Then I have something for you." She got up from the couch and Emma cracked an eyelid to watch her walk quickly out of the room. She returned with a cylindrical object in her hand that that was gift wrapped.
"For me?"
"For you," she smiled, handing it to her.
Emma sat up and inspected the present. "Is it a vibrator?"
"No. Why did you….? No, it's a toothbrush. It's electric. Since you seem so reluctant to move your own toiletries over here, among other things…"
"Let's discuss that when I'm more awake."
Emma didn't unwrap the toothbrush until she was getting ready for bed. At the base of where the toothbrush part connected with the electric base she saw a gold ring. At first she was so tired all she could think was 'why is there a ring on my toothbrush?' She slipped it off over the bristles and held it between her thumb and forefinger. It was a gold band with elaborate carvings inside and out.
"Regina! You sneaky minx! Did you just give me the 'One Ring'?"
"The what?" came the muffled reply.
Emma opened the bathroom door and spied Regina changing into her silky blue pajama bottoms. She took a moment to appreciate Regina's shapely bottom in black underwear that showed a little cheek as she pulled the blue silk over it.
"That ass is amazing," she stated dreamily.
"Oh, well thank you." She turned and saw Emma holding the ring. "It does have magic, but just mine. It will uh…bond you to me. If you ever need me or my magic the ring can take care of it. Do you…do you like it? I didn't know if diamonds were a thing you…I had the thought and I…" She was stammering and stuttering all over the place.
Emma watched wide eyed as Regina's fumbled about with her words before finally falling silent. She had never seen the queen in such a state before. She looked back at the gold circle she held between her fingers.
"You're saying I can pull your magic to me?"
"Yes, if you need to. If anyone messes with you, they have to deal with both of us, even if I'm not there."
"You're thinking a certain anyone, aren't you?"
She held up her hand, forestalling her. "Please don't say her name."
Emma smirked and slipped the ring on. She wasn't surprised to see it fit as it should. Regina let out the breath she had been holding. Emma stepped closer to the brunette and cupped her face with her hands.
"Regina Mills, you've given me more than I could have imagined." She kissed her slowly, trying to communicate all of her love in one kiss.
"I shouldn't be seen talking to Regina, so I'm talking to you."
Mal nodded, not turning to look at the person sitting a foot away from her on the white wooden bench that looked out across the bay. The sun had just set and everything was appropriately cast in shadows, including the person next to her.
"Blue is putting together a force to her cause."
"Which is?" Mal asked, barely moving her lips.
"Killing Emma's child. She's not about to go up against Emma and Regina alone, so she's gathering allies. Some have joined, others have not. Obviously, I didn't."
"Change that. Tell her you're in."
"I—I'm not sure she trusts me anyway, I don't…"
"Do you want Regina to lose that baby? Do you know what that would do to her?"
"I know."
"Then go back, tell her you'll help. Get me all the information you can." She removed a pen from her purse and scribbled something on the newspaper in her lap. "You can reach me here, so we can avoid these cloak and dagger meetings." She set the rolled newspaper down between them and rose from her seat. Her companion slowly took the newspaper and they both walked their separate ways.
Friday afternoon the black robed figure of the justice of the peace stood in the center of the town seal that decorated the marble floor beneath the rotunda of Storybrook's city hall. If they thought they could keep it a small affair they were sadly mistaken. For the citizens of Storybrook this was the conclusion to a long conflict that had impacted their lives in one way or another. The official end to hostilities between the Queen and Snow White. Granted, the conflict had ended some time ago but this represented a moment everyone could point to and state that was when it was well and truly over. A new house would be formed today, although all of this was far from Regina's and Emma's thoughts as they looked around at the people gathered.
In an attempt to give them their space people were lined around the walls 3 to 4 deep, and lines extended out the door and down the hallway. Gathered at the front of the crowd to Emma's right were her mother and father with Henry standing between them, looking inordinately pleased with himself. He was probably the one that spread the word.
Regina was shocked to see Mal and Lily also standing at the front of the crowd favoring her with a smile. Granny stood next to them, as did Leroy and well…everyone.
Regina was wearing what Emma called her black Mayor power suit with white shirt. Emma had requested she wear it that day, and had said it reminded her of when they had first met. Regina had in turn requested something similar of Emma but since her red jacket no longer fit around her pregnant belly she wore a red button up shirt with black pants.
"Mayor, Sheriff…are you ready to begin?" the white haired judge asked.
They both gulped at the same time, and clasped hands.
"We're ready," Emma said.
It was obviously a short ceremony and they both managed to say 'I do' in the right places.
"By the power invested in me by the State of Maine I present Mrs. & Mrs. Swan-Mills. You may…"
Before he could finish Emma grabbed Regina by her lapels and kissed her hard.
Applause echoed in the rotunda and the newly married couple shared a smile.
Out of the corner of her eye Emma saw Henry pull something out he had behind him. It was a banner he was unfurling. A silver swan on a black background with rays radiating outwards from behind it, and perched jauntily on its head was a gold crown.
Emma laughed and motioned him over. He ducked his head and skipped over.
"Is that our new crest?" Regina asked.
"It is, Grandma helped me." He pointed to the rays behind the swan. "Those are the arms of a windmill, get it? Swan-Mills."
"It's great, I love it," Emma smiled. Henry hugged his moms and they stood together for the inevitable photos.
