Finally! Many, many thanks to Addicted1 for the assist, and to all of you who continue to read, review, follow and fave! It keeps me going. :)

Holiday Spirit

Chapter 31

Granny's was just off the lunch rush – not too crowded, but still far too many people for Regina's liking. It was the first time they'd been out together in town since waking up from the spell, and Regina was digging her heels in.

"Why?" she asked again as they approached the front stairs. She could see what was left of the lunch crowd through the front windows, and she was none too thrilled about stepping inside.

"Because we agreed that we needed a distraction, and that having lunch at home wouldn't provide any. Besides, it's good for us to get out. We've been cooped up in the house for weeks now and I think it's about time we start getting out a little."

She swallowed. He was right – they had been stuck in the house since Christmas. Between spending time with each other and Henry, and with the blizzard level amount of snow, she could count on one hand the number of times they'd gone out. It was about time they left for a little while, but she didn't feel up to a public outing at the moment. She was jittery and anxious, practically vibrating from nerves, and on the edge of throwing up into the nearest bush because she felt like everything was hurtling out of control. Or because she was pregnant. Maybe both.

But he was right about the distraction. She was already going crazy having to wait, and with how she was feeling even with having to face going inside the diner, she knew she couldn't bear her thoughts in the quiet of her home.

"Fine," she practically growled. "Let's get this over with."

The chatter in Granny's died down for a moment when the couple entered the diner. Everyone turned to look at them, but then, miraculously, the conversations started back up and everyone returned to their meals.

"Not as bad as you thought?" David asked when he saw the baffled expression on Regina's face.

"I don't know...I suppose I thought there might be anger at seeing the two of us together. Throwing things? Possibly a beheading? Not this," she said, gesturing at the patrons who were now ignoring their presence entirely.

"They had a chance to get used to the two of us together. Quite a while, in fact. Why would that have changed?"

"Because this is real. We're back to how things were before."

"It was all real," David corrected, "and being back here wouldn't change the way we feel about each other. Besides, I don't think we were the only people in this town to be changed by what happened during that spell."

She looked around again at all the people talking, smiling and laughing. It was odd to be in their presence and not have anyone shooting glares in her direction or yelling hateful things. More had changed in those several weeks than just her relationship with David it seemed. "I guess you're right."

"Of course," he said, smiling at her. He squeezed her hand in his and led her up to the counter just as Granny appeared from the back.

"Hey there!" she called to the couple, smiling. "I was wondering when the two of you were finally going to pay me a visit."

"You were?" Regina asked in surprise.

"Of course! We've been back for over a month now and I haven't seen heads or tails of either of you since. I was about ready to come knock down your door and make sure you were still alive."

"We...I've been...busy," Regina stammered, still looking slightly surprised by Granny's sentiment.

David shook his head slightly, saddened that Regina was so unwilling to accept anyone's affection for her. He'd seen a lot of her scars in the last few weeks, and it had only strengthened his determination to help them heal. "We were hoping for a meal and some good company. Join us?" David asked.

"Well you came to the right place for the meal," Granny told him, "but I'm not sure I'll have time to sit down. We've been pretty busy."

"Lunch rush is over," David pushed.

"But we've still got the cleanup," she scoffed.

"Which you'll have plenty of time for in a half hour. You said yourself you've been wanting to see us. How can you resist an invitation to dine with us?"

"Because she knows what kind of food they serve here," Regina smirked. "It's probably a safe move avoiding it."

Granny frowned at her, even while letting out a bark of laughter. "Careful, girl. You might insult my cooking, and who knows what'd end up on your plate after such a dangerous move."

"She takes it back," David laughed. "She knows she loves your food."

"Don't speak for me," Regina scowled. It was nice to banter. He'd been right in bringing her here to help distract her. Of course the test results were an ever-present thought, but the company of more people helped to dull the noise so she wasn't as acutely aware of every second that ticked by on the clock.

"What should I whip up?" the older woman asked, looking between the two of them.

"I don't know that I could actually eat anything," Regina admitted. At the expression on Granny's face, she added, "Because of my appetite, not because of your cooking."

David shook his head. "Regina, you have to eat something."

"Do I?"

"Yes. And you'll feel better once you've eaten. Trust me. Food always cheers you up."

She hummed. "I don't think that's true, but I'm willing to give it a shot. Ham sandwich maybe? On wheat?"

Granny narrowed her eyes. "What's going on that you need cheering up?"

"Nothing," Regina said quickly. "Maybe. I don't know. Did you want me to order something, or not?"

"Fine," Granny said. "One ham sandwich with fries. AH!" she said when Regina opened her mouth to protest. "If you need cheering up, you need fries. David?"

"I'll have the same, actually."

"Alright. I'll be back. And you'll tell me what's going on."

Regina shook her head in frustration as the woman disappeared before she could argue.

"Gossip," she muttered.

"You know she just wants to help."

"More like meddle."

"Fine, but she only meddles because she cares."

"Her knowing what's going on is not going to change anything."

"No, but she might be able to make you feel a little better about it. Besides, if you don't tell her, she'll only keep asking and drive you crazy with her questions." When she raised her eyebrow at him, he nodded. "Okay, so you wouldn't give her the chance. Granny's become a close friend, though, and I think having someone else knowing what's going on might make this all seem a little more manageable. It certainly won't hurt anything. Trust me. Please?"

She let out a heavy sigh. "Fine."

They slid into a booth toward the back of the diner and Regina set to tapping her fingers against the tabletop in distracted impatience.

"Hey," David said, placing a hand over hers to still it. "Talk to me. I understand you're anxious about finding out, but you know we can handle it no matter what the answer is. If you're pregnant, that's great!" he said on an exhale with a smile. "It means we're that much closer to getting our family back. And if you're not, it's not the end of the world. We weren't trying, but we can certainly start."

Regina looked around them quickly, making sure no one had overheard his words. Only once she was sure no one had did she turn back to him. "You don't understand," she said at a lower volume, shaking her head and pulling her hand from under his.

"So explain it to me – help me understand," he pleaded. "I want to. I can't help when I don't know what's going on in that gorgeous head of yours."

She looked up and smiled faintly at him. It faded quickly and she dropped her gaze back to the table while she gathered her thoughts.

"I'm not supposed to be able to have children," she told him, and looked quickly back up to meet his confused expression.

"What do you mean?"

"Years before I cast the curse, I…I took a potion. One that left me barren. Or…one that was supposed to."

He squinted his eyes, shook his head.

"It sounds horrible, but I didn't do it without reason," she clipped.

He gazed at her sadly, reaching across the table, and this time she put her hand in his, glad for the silent support as he squeezed her hand but remained quiet so she could continue.

"So when I woke up that morning, and we had all of these children, I thought it was too good to be true. And it was."

"Regina," he started quietly, but she shook her head.

"I took that first test on a ridiculous whim, because there had been small signs." She looked straight into his eyes and swallowed. "I don't know how any of this is happening. It shouldn't even be possible."

"Regina," he rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, "anything is possible."

"I wish I could believe that."

David sighed and kissed her temple. He knew such potions could be reversed – Emma was proof of that – but he also knew that Regina had little to no practice at believing in happy endings for herself. Until she could, he would hope enough for the both of them.

"If we could track down that stupid fairy, she might be able to tell us something, but there hasn't been a trace of her since we returned," Regina said with a scowl.

"You've been looking for her?" David asked in surprise.

"I've had – I guess the best way to describe them would be magical trip wires – set up around the town to alert me if she made an appearance anywhere."

David nodded. "Impressive."

Regina shrugged. "Not that impressive. She doesn't belong in this world, so it made tuning the triggers quite simple."

"I think I actually understand what that means," he told her with a smile. "Magic stuff has never been my forte."

"That's always been quite obvious, dear," she said, and chuckled when he gave her an offended look, grateful that he was allowing them to move on from their heavy conversation. "You should stick to the swords and guns and leave the magic to me."

"Happily."

Regina glanced over his shoulder and stiffened slightly. She was not in the mood for more talking. "Here she comes."

Charming chuckled at Regina's bristling. She was adorable. "I love you," he said, patting her hand. "Please don't bite our friend's head off."

She narrowed her eyes at him, "No promises," and straightened up again as Granny stepped up to their table and placed her plate in front of her. She just had to make it through this meal. And the rest of the day.

If only it weren't the longest day of her life.