April 23rd 2013
David groaned when he heard the vibrations against the coffee table. Everything ached from sleeping on the couch and the lack of sleep. He had tossed and turned on the couch for a while after his conversation with Snow. He had replayed all of it in his head multiple times: the hurt in her voice, his own anger rising at her admission of knowing that her father raped his young wife every night, and the resignation of losing him.
David opened his eyes slowly, taking a minute to get his bearing. His foggy mind eventually processed that the incessant vibrations were coming from his cell phone; last night's events finally at the forefront of his mind. Regina! He answered his phone without checking the caller ID. "Hello?"
"Hi… this...this is Sarah."
Her hesitant tone fully woke him up. "Is Regina ok?" His heart was beating wildly in his chest.
"She is fine. I'm sorry…. I didn't mean to scare you… I wasn't sure you would answer your phone." David frowned. Why wouldn't he answer his phone when he had told her to call him if anything changed. He must have stayed silent for a while as Sarah prompted him. "Are you still there?"
"Yes.. Yes I'm still here. How is Regina?" This was all he wanted to know. He didn't notice Snow stirring under the blankets, trying not to scream from the jealousy that his concern for Regina was spurring.
"She is fine. She woke up an hour ago and we moved her to a more private room… She is with Dr. Whale right now. But… I think… I think she could use some company."
David nodded, a gesture he had forgotten the nurse couldn't see. He glanced at his watch: 5:45am. "I'll be at the hospital in fifteen minutes."
"Thank you… thank you for being there for her."
David frowned. Since when did people care for the Evil Queen? He mentally noted to ask Regina herself. "Fifteen minutes."
He hung up and placed his face in his hands, rubbing away the sleep. He just needed a moment of peace before dealing with the headaches the day would surely bring. Regina would be fine and for now, this was all that mattered. Except it shouldn't be. He owed Snow a more truthful response than the one he had avoided last night. He couldn't deny that their relationship was not as it used to be. And he also couldn't deny that Regina was the cause of this change. He turned toward the bed and was relieved to see that his wife hadn't woken up from the phone call. He silently dressed into his usual jeans and flannel shirt.
As David looked for his wallet and keys, he felt a small hand on his side. He jumped slightly at the contact but relaxed immediately as he recognized Henry. "You should be in bed."
"Is Mom ok?"
David sat on the coffee table and put his hands on Henry's shoulders. "She is doing very good Henry. They moved her to a room and I want to make sure she has some company."
Henry nodded. "Can I come with you?"
Sarah hadn't said much on the phone, just hinting that Regina could use some support. David was sure she was scared and hurt from the loss of their child, the miscarriage itself, and the surgery last night. She probably needed some time to process everything that happened and he knew she wouldn't want Henry to see her until she felt a little bit better. "I need to talk to your mom…."
Henry interrupted. "Because you're the father?" David gasped. He had forgotten how insightful his grandson could be but he didn't have time to formulate an answer before Henry continued. "I've seen the way you look at each other. And she is happier with you…. like when I was a kid… before she told me I was adopted and I pushed her away…. when she loved me."
David wiped the tears from his grandson's face. "She loves you very much Henry. She'll never stop loving you. Just like you'll never stop loving her." Henry fidgeted but David continued. "I know you do." Henry nodded. David smiled softly. "You know what she'd like?" Henry looked up at his grandfather's expectantly. "Some of Granny's apple pancakes that she claims to hate so much."
Henry laughed softly. "Yeah… she really likes those."
"How about you and Emma get her some pancakes and meet me at the hospital?" He wasn't sure Regina would be able or even allowed to eat but it would give Henry something to look forward to.
Henry nodded as David motioned to leave. Henry ran toward him. "Wait!"
David put his index finger over his lips, pointing to his sleeping wife. He didn't want to talk to Snow this morning. All he wanted was to see Regina. Henry looked sheepishly in the direction of his grandmother and lowered his voice. "I have something to make her feel better." Without waiting for David's reply, he ran upstairs. David cringed at the noise. It was a miracle Henry hadn't woken up the entire household.
Henry ran back down carrying his teddy bear, which he handed to David. "His name is Socks. Mom made it for me when I was sick with chickenpox. She told me he would make me feel better."
David smiled as he handled the bear with the utmost care. "I'm sure she'll love to have him."
As soon as she was sure David was gone and Henry had returned back to bed, Snow buried her face into her pillow and let out a muffled wail.
EC
Sarah was waiting for him in the reception area. She took in the disheveled appearance of the prince, holding a worn-out teddy bear. She couldn't suppress a small chuckle at the thought of Prince Charming bringing a teddy bear to the Evil Queen. She regained her composure before making eye contact with David. "She is upstairs still talking to Dr. Whale."
David grew concerned. "Is she ok?"
Sarah nodded. "As well as can be expected. The local anesthetic is starting to wear off so they are working on managing her pain. As much as she's letting them anyway." Sarah started walking toward Regina's room.
"She is very good at concealing her pain." David's heart sank. She must have been in a huge amount of pain yesterday to show it.
"Years of conditioning would do that."
David's head snapped toward Sarah. "You knew Regina? Back in the Enchanted Forest?"
Sarah nodded. "I was a maid in King Leopold's palace."
David gasped as he remembered Snow's story. "You were the one to help her after … after …."
"... her nightly visits with the King?" She didn't know how much Regina had told the man and she was surprised he even knew about how Leopold had treated his young wife. "Yes." She swallowed. "She … she told you?"
David shook his head. "Snow." Sarah just nodded. David frowned. "You don't seem surprised that she was aware of her father's… actions." He couldn't think of a better word.
"I think Snow White knew a lot more than she let on." Before David could ask her to clarify her statement, Sarah knocked on a door and showed him inside.
Regina was lying on her bed attached to various instruments and an IV drip. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she listened to Dr. Whale. The man smiled as he saw the Prince. Although Regina was recovering better than expected, she had lost her child and he had just told her it would be very difficult for her to conceive again. She needed someone with her but Whale hadn't expected it would be Snow's Prince. He rubbed the inside of Regina's forearm affectionately. "You have someone here to see you."
The look of surprise and confusion on her face hurt David. She still couldn't believe she wouldn't have to go through all of this alone. He approached the bed slowly and took Whale's place by her side. The doctor looked at his patient while addressing the Prince. "Make sure she gets some rest and that she uses the morphine pump."
David smiled at Regina as he took her hand. "I will."
The doctor and nurse left the couple alone. Regina squeezed David's hand back weakly. He leaned in, supporting his weight on each of the bed's railings, and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "How are you feeling?"
She nodded but turned her head away to avert his eyes. "Ok."
David caressed her cheek before showing her the bear. "I brought someone with me." Regina gave him a puzzled look at the sight of Socks. David chuckled. "Henry said he would make you feel better." Her face lit up at the mention of her son and his gift. He placed the bear by her side and she hugged it tight against her chest, nuzzling its head and breathing in the scent of her son.
David watched her carefully. Some colors had returned to her cheeks and lips but she was still very pale. He vaguely remembered Whale mentioning a blood transfusion last night. He looked toward the IV hooked up in her left hand and saw the clear and red liquids in the transparent tubes. Apparently, she needed more than originally thought. The remote for the morphine pump was within her reach should she need it. He knew he would have to force her to take the pain medication. Sarah's words echoed in his mind and he tried to keep the sorrow showing on his face. His gaze moved down toward her abdomen. She was covered in blankets but he could see tubes coming from under the covers. He jumped when Regina spoke to him softly. "I'm ok, David. Thanks to you … and Emma."
David couldn't help the tears springing in his eyes. "You almost died Regina. Why didn't you call me?"
"I didn't know whether you wanted to see me … after… after what I've done."
David furrowed his brows in confusion. "You brought them back! Why wouldn't I want to see you?"
"Because I helped Gold cast the curse in the first place."
David smiled. "And then you absorbed the curse to let Snow and Emma back. You did the right thing."
"If Henry hadn't been there,..."
He placed his index finger on her lips. "... you'd have done the same."
Regina wasn't as sure about this as he seemed to be but she decided to drop the subject. For now. She was too tired to argue. She tried to reposition herself on the bed but hissed as the movement sent waves of pain from her lower abdomen throughout her body.
David's hands were on her shoulders, trying to keep her from moving. "Take it easy. You should get some rest." He reached for the pump controller.
Regina shook her head. "I'm ok, David. I don't need it."
He watched as her face contorted in more pain. "Don't need it or afraid to take it?"
She looked into his deep blue eyes, the ones that could read her like an open book. "Afraid…" She admitted in a whisper.
David pressed on the button once and Regina's body relaxed on the bed after a few minutes. He kissed her forehead. "Get some sleep." The fear in her eyes sent shivers down his spine. She was fighting against sleep to spend just one more moment with him. He answered her unspoken request. "I'll be here when you wake up." Upon hearing the words, Regina let herself drift into a peaceful slumber.
EC
Snow had gotten up shortly after David had left for the hospital. She needed to occupy her mind so she decided to cook breakfast for her family. Emma and Henry came down a half hour later to the smell of bacon, eggs, toasts, pancakes, and waffles. Emma hurried down toward the counter and grabbed a cup of freshly-brewed coffee. She moaned as the liquid warmed her throat. "Oh! I have missed this."
Henry chuckled. "You're worst than mom!"
Both women looked at him in surprise, not used to him referring to Regina as mom anymore. Emma was the first to recover and smiled at her son. "I never crossed path with your mom before she had her coffee."
Henry bit his lip. "That's probably a good thing. She can be scary."
Emma kept the light banter. "Scarier than the Evil Queen?"
Henry smiled. "Worst."
Emma laughed until she noticed Snow cringed at the words. "You're ok?"
Snow nodded weakly. "Yeah. But I don't think you should joke about the Evil Queen. Regina inflicted …"
Emma raised her hand to stop her mother from uttering another word. Henry had been scared to lose his mother last night, he didn't need to be told about her past right now. "It smells wonderful."
Snow gave her daughter a soft smile, taking the hint to drop the subject of Regina. "I've missed breakfast in this world so I figured I could make all of the recipes I know."
Emma smiled and grabbed a serving of pancakes. "You won't hear any complaints from me."
Henry just looked between Snow, Emma, and the food. "Can we go see mom?"
Emma's smile faltered. She hugged her son tightly. "Of course we can. Don't you want to have breakfast first?"
Henry shook his head. "I'm not hungry and David said we should bring her apple pancakes. The ones that Granny makes."
Emma looked over her son's shoulder to Mary-Margaret, finally noticing her father's absence. She mouthed 'where is David?' before answering her son. "Of course, we can…" She broke from the embrace to look into Henry's eyes. "But Henry, she may not be very hungry."
"I know. But at least she'll know we're thinking about her."
Snow walked around the counter and rubbed Henry's back soothingly. "I think it's a great idea Henry. Why don't you two go ahead and I'll stop by Regina's to get her a few items."
Henry beamed at the idea of seeing his mother. He rushed through breakfast, urging the two adults along.
EC
Regina's eyes fluttered open. She whimpered and tried to move around. David was at her side in an instant. "What's wrong?" He moved toward the pump.
Regina shook her head. "No, I'm ok. I don't need it."
David sighed. "Regina.."
"David, I'm not in pain. Just… just a little bit uncomfortable. It happens when someone plays with your insides for a few hours. Can you help me move?"
David smiled, happy that she got some of her sass back. "Sure, tell me what you need."
"There is a pillow underneath my left side, can you remove it?" David nodded and moved to her side. He gently moved the blankets back and let his eyes settled on the bandages. She was hurt and it was his fault. Regina must have sensed his inner struggle since she placed her hand on his arm. "It's not your fault. I decided to stay in Storybrooke. I knew the risks."
"But you shouldn't have felt you couldn't tell me."
She ran her fingertips along his forearm. "I wanted to. But it was never a good time." He couldn't find the deception in her eyes. David gently removed the pillow from underneath her. She hissed when he moved her but soon relaxed as the change of the position helped ease some of her discomfort. She smiled at him. "Thank you."
He cupped her cheek and soothingly rubbed his thumb against her skin. "You're welcome." He tucked the covers back around her before resuming his previous position on her uninjured side. Her eyes never left him as he moved around the room. "Did you mean it?"
David took her hand as he sat on the chair next to her bed. He gently rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. "Yes. I would have loved to raise our child together." He lifted her hand to his lips and deposited a soft kiss there.
The gesture sent shivers up and down her spine; but to her surprise, there was no fear, just a strong longing feeling. She gave him a soft smile before clarifying her previous statement. "Did you mean what you said to me in Gold's shop? Before I placed you under the curse."
David didn't need to think about his response but he wanted to make sure she believed him. He stood and leaned in to place his forehead on hers, his hand gently stroking the side of her face. "Yes. I meant it. I wasn't sure Snow would be able to wake me from the curse." His hot breath against her skin was comforting and she closed her eyes, revelling in his touch. David rubbed his forehead against hers. "What I didn't tell you is that I wished you would have woken me up. I wish it had been you." The change of tense wasn't lost on Regina but she didn't dare speak. She opened her eyes to stare into his deep blue ones. David continued. "I wasn't sure then. But… but if we had to do it again, Snow wouldn't be able to wake me." Tears escaped from her eyes and David gently wiped them away. "You would have to kiss me."
Regina still couldn't move or answer. Her heart was racing. She had hoped to hear those words. A long time ago, she had hoped they would have come from Daniel. She had dreamt of being in his arms, words of love softly spoken into her ears. After years as Leopold's wife, the dreams had faded. She hadn't been able to imagine the love or beauty of being with another soul after what he had done to her. But recently, the dreams had returned; except David had replaced Daniel.
David took her silence as a sign of approval. He gently placed his lips on hers, his tongue tracing over her lips, begging for entrance. Regina didn't respond immediately but didn't tense either. She could feel a strange longing in-between her thighs. She knew that nothing good could come out of this but her body responded to David's soft touches before her mind could stop her. She parted her lips. David thrusted his tongue into her mouth, caressing her tongue softly. Regina moaned in response. She had never been kissed so passionately before. David took his time, stroking her tongue with his own before settling again on her lips. Regina soon responded in kind, moving her hand to the nape of his neck, pulling him impossibly closer.
They broke the kiss for much needed air. David nuzzled against the side of her nose. They were both panting hard from the kiss but neither wanted to break the magic. After the initial taste, they both knew they needed more. Regina's mind sent alarm bells ringing in her head. She released David and spoke softly. "We can't."
"Do you want to?"
Regina let out a sharp breath. Was he really asking her? "It doesn't matter what I want. You're not available."
David kissed her cheek right below her eye in response. "Regardless of what happens between us, I'm leaving Snow... I want my family. More than anything. I want to be in Emma's life. And Henry's. But he… he made me see something that I couldn't before.. he made me understand that a family didn't mean a mother, a father, and a child… it's more than that. It's based on love. I loved Snow. But we grew apart after the wedding… and in the last three months, I realized that I didn't know her… I just wanted her back because it was expected of me...but if I were honest with myself… I didn't love her… not anymore." He felt Regina tense but continued nonetheless. "I had hoped we could work on our marriage…. that once she was back, we could go back to how it was...before… in the Enchanted Forest… But there is nothing to work with. The woman I married isn't who I thought she was." He swallowed and moved slightly to look directly in Regina's eyes. "Do you want to?"
Regina was terrified. Surely, she was dreaming and she would wake up to a world where Prince Charming was happily married to Snow White. But despite her fear, she nodded and gently took his lips into a deep kiss. Relief spread through her like wildfire when she felt him hungrily return the gesture.
ECECEC
April 3rd 2013
Regina was standing in her vast closet, looking for appropriate clothes. After Rumple had given the amulet to Henry, he had been able to control his dreams, finally getting some much needed rest. However, Henry had been thoroughly disappointed when both she and David had argued it was time for him to go back to school. After dropping him off in the morning, David had driven her home. She had sighed at the sight of the empty manor. She had nothing to look forward to: no job, no child to take care of on a regular basis, and frankly no hobby to speak of. David had sensed her uneasiness. This day would be particularly hard for her since Storybrooke would elect their new mayor. Unfortunately, the candidates were either not qualified for the job or too dangerous to have in a position of power. David had decided not to run early on since he couldn't handle the station and the mayor's office simultaneously. And truth be told, he had hoped that Snow would have been back before the need for an election had arisen. But as the weeks had stretched and the inhabitants had adapted to the customs of this world, they had decided to hold an election. And now, he regretted his decision.
Much like Regina, he had needed a distraction and he had had the perfect idea in mind. He had told her he would be back in the afternoon and had instructed her to wear comfortable clothing that could get dirty. Regina looked around her closet and breathed heavily in frustration. As if she possessed such items. She frowned as she remembered a time where Henry was a toddler. She had bought some jeans and tank tops to stay around the house and chase after him. Although she had loathed the style, she had to admit it had its advantages when raising a child… or going on an afternoon excursion with a grown-up who behaved like a child most of the time. She found the items she was looking for in the back of her closet.
As she was applying the last touches to her makeup, the doorbell rang. She couldn't stop the smile spreading across her features and admonished herself for reacting like a love-stricken teenager. Nonetheless, her smile never faded when she opened the door to an equally beaming David. He smiled as he saw her outfit. "You look fabulous!"
Regina gave him a puzzled look. "You know my usual outfits cost a fortune!"
David grinned and gestured toward her. "But somehow this… this is more you."
Regina gave him a soft smile. Maybe it was but she would never allow anyone to see her this way. She had made sure of that when she was looking after Henry. But for some reason, she was happy that he could see her dressed more casual. And she was even happier that he liked the style. "Are you going to tell me where we are going?"
He bit his lower lip, pretending to consider an answer. With another grin, he shook his head. "No." He took a blindfold from his pocket. "And I don't want you to get any clues either from what's in the truck."
Regina didn't move. Her heart had started beating faster. She didn't want to be blindfolded. She didn't want to relinquish control. Bad things tended to happen to her when she did. But she also wanted to play along. And even though she would never admit to it aloud, she trusted David to some extent. At least enough to let him put a blindfold over her eyes… and maybe enough to tell him about their child. She nodded once and turned around to let him place the cloth on her face.
David did so carefully, making sure the knot wasn't too tight. He took her hand and led her to his truck, where riding boots were waiting for them. He helped her settle on the passenger side before driving toward the stables.
David watched Regina squirmed on the seat. He had predicted she would try to figure out where they were going based on the distance so he had taken a few detours along the way. He chuckled. "It won't work, Your Majesty. I decided to visit the town since we were at it."
Regina groaned but couldn't suppress the smile that graced her lips. She liked his teasing. Since there was nothing else for her to try, she relaxed and enjoyed the ride. Her heart skipped a beat when they came to a stop and David killed the engine. Her excitement was palpable; nobody had cared to surprise her in such a way since she was a child. The only two people who had ever tried were her father and Daniel. And she had killed both of them. She felt David's hands slipping in hers and she gave it a light squeeze. "Can I remove the blindfold now, shepherd?"
David laughed. Her tone definitely betrayed the intent of her words. "You may, Your Majesty."
Regina didn't wait a second longer and smiled when she saw two horses saddled and ready to go. They were tied to a fence away from the main barn. David had made sure she wouldn't have to go in the building. The genuine smile that spread across her face warmed his heart. Before he could say another word, Regina was out of the car and standing near the horses, running her hand over the white blaze of the brown horse. David grabbed the two pairs of boots and joined her. "I thought we could go for ride."
The smile on her face was priceless. He knew that the past two months had been absolutely horrible for her and a lot of it was his fault. But he had grown to know the Regina behind the Queen's mask and he couldn't help but enjoy the woman's company. She nodded excitedly. "I'd love to."
He handed her a pair of boots and she frowned in confusion. "Henry told me your shoe size."
She smiled and replaced the shoes she was wearing with the more appropriate footwear. Ever the charming prince, David helped her on the horse. He couldn't help but notice how light she was. She had lost some weight since the last time he had carried her. They rode toward the edge of town and stopped in a clearing overlooking Storybrooke and the ocean. They dismounted and let the horses graze freely while they sat on the edge of the cliff. Regina was the first to break the silence. "Thank you."
David knew she didn't say those words lightly. "You're welcome."
She took a deep breath before speaking again. "I haven't ridden for fun in a long time."
"And Henry never bugged you for horseback riding lessons?"
Regina snorted. "All the time… but I just couldn't bring myself to go to the stables." David stayed silent, remembering how she had to lose Daniel again not long ago. "How have his lessons been?"
David smiled. "Very good. He's a natural."
Regina mirrored his smile. "I'll like to go with him sometimes."
David grabbed her hand. "You don't have to ask permission to see your son. Besides, now you're fully equipped to go riding." He pointed at the boots.
Regina laughed. "Hmmm…. it's a start. I may need some riding gear."
"I think the jeans and tank tops suit you well."
She smirked. "So you've said. But excuse me if I don't take lessons for a man whose idea of fashion is jeans and flannel. I'm a Queen, I'm a little bit more refined."
David clasped his hands over his heart, simulating an arrow going through his vital organ. "Words hurt you know."
Regina laughed and slapped his arm playfully. "I'm fairly aware of that fact."
David watched her laugh. In the rare instances she allowed herself to be carefree, Regina was truly beautiful. As the Queen or the mayor, she was a stunning woman, one that hadn't left any man indifferent including himself. But the way her skin glowed from happiness and the gleam in her eyes made her truly beautiful. David couldn't shake the feeling that he was probably one of the few who had ever seen this side of Regina. Henry, and perhaps Snow when she was a little girl. It was a privilege, one he would treasure.
His chest constricted and he felt a stirring in his loins at the thoughts. David shook his head, trying to focus on the reality of their situation. She was helping him getting his wife and daughter back. Nothing else could happen between them. Nothing besides friendship. He had finally earned her trust and he didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize their friendship. Her voice brought him back to reality. "Cat got your tongue?"
"No. I was just wondering how you came to own jeans and tank tops in the first place."
Regina chuckled. "Shortly before Henry's second birthday when I gave up chasing after a two-year old with heels and a pencil skirt."
David laughed at the image Regina had conjured up in his brain. "You? A soccer mom?" His voice was laced with sarcasm.
"Don't look so surprised! Henry was a handful when he was young. He couldn't stay in one place longer than two minutes." She smirked. "I should have known he was your grandson then."
David laughed. "So you know, I was actually a very quiet baby. My mother had always bragged about how well behaved I was when she took me to the market."
Regina laughed with him. "I'm trying to imagine you staying in one place." She looked up, faking an inquisitive pose. "Mmmhh.. no. That's impossible."
"Regina… come on! I'm not that bad."
"True… you can be quite charming when you want to." David chuckled. "I guess Henry gets that from you too." She blushed slightly at the admission.
David redirected their conversation before the silence between them became too uncomfortable. "So was it easier?" Regina looked at him questioningly before he clarified. "To wear jeans and tank tops. Did it make it easier to run after Henry?"
She laughed softly. "You have no idea… And I put the clothes to good use on his third birthday." She smiled at the memory. "I took him to the beach to make sand castles. And we would play for hours with his toys… making stories of princes and princesses." Regina paused. David wondered how many of these stories about princes and princesses had actually happened in their land. "But making a sand castle with a three-year old means getting more sand on you than on the castle." She laughed again. "And when it was time to go, he made me chase him around. When we finally got home, I got him to dust a lot of the sand in the backyard before getting inside. But I swear he had brought the beach home with him that day! So I had to run after him to try to get him clean while he was putting more and more sand around the house." David looked at her relaxed features. She didn't notice him staring at her. She was lost in her own memories. "When I finally got him to settle for five minutes. I started making him a chocolate cake for his birthday. Have you ever tried to mix the batter while running after a three-year old?" David smiled, shaking his head. "Well, there was more flour on the floor than in the bowl. After I settled him for a nap, I spent a few hours cleaning the house."
David laughed. "Sounds like a lot of fun."
Regina's expression grew more serious. "It was. We made it a tradition after that. Until …. until last year. He refused to celebrate his birthday with me."
David pulled Regina into a hug. "I'm sure he'll want it back this year." David remembered the way Henry had looked at the picture of the two of them the day he had given him the jar. He had failed to mention it was on his birthday but David had seen the longing in his grandson's eyes. He knew he would want this back. Before Regina could protest, his cell phone rang. He freed him from his pocket and answered it quickly. "Hello."
His features grew more concerned as he listened. Her expression matched his own when he finally hung up. "It was Ruby. George's just been elected mayor." Regina trembled at the thought.
Don't forget to leave a review here or on Twitter Evilcharmingfic. Going to work on some prompts for ECWeek2!