April 30th 2013
Regina collapsed into David's arms as soon as she was sure Henry was out of earshot. She let out a series of wails before burying her face into David's neck and sobbed. David just held her. There was nothing he could say or do to reassure her. Regina was right. George wanted her dead and he would not be able to protect her. At least not alone against the entire town.
David rubbed her back soothingly and let Regina cry. She needed time to grieve and he would make sure she would be able to do so safely. She had just said goodbye to her little boy, the only person who had been capable of loving her in a very long time.
After a long moment, Regina settled in his arms. She was very quiet, having shed the last tears she was still capable of. David gently repositioned her so she was laying in his arms and he could see her face. She hissed at the movement. "Do you need your pain medication?"
Regina shook her head. "This… this is the last time we have… alone. I don't want to be asleep."
David managed to hold back his tears. He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Ok… but I'll need to clean your wound."
Regina placed two fingers on his lips. "It doesn't matter anymore… but this… us here together now… that's what matters."
David let out a choked sob. "I'm so sorry… I…."
Regina reached up and captured his lips to silence him. "It's not your fault. I should have died… long ago." She kissed him again. She reveled in the taste of him, in the way his tongue was caressing hers softly, and in the gentleness of his gestures. She had never been kissed with so much care and passion before, not even by Daniel. When they eventually parted for air, Regina spoke softly. "Would you do something for me?"
David stroke her forehead with his thumb. "Anything." He meant it. He just wanted to take her out of the station and hide. But there was not many places to hide in the confine of Storybrooke and she was in no shape to cross the townline by herself. Besides, she would never leave everyone she loved behind. She had said so herself. And that would be assuming he could make it past George's men surely standing outside the station, waiting for him to make the mistake. Nobody would blame them for killing a prisoner attempting to escape. Not that anybody would have blamed Joe if he had executed Regina in cold blood.
"I just want us…." David frowned but Regina continued. "I want to pretend that nothing happened, that… that I won't die in the morning." The tears started up again. "I want us to spend the evening together…. dreaming about our future."
The tears David had been holding finally fell. She cupped his cheek and wiped the few stray tears with her thumb. She wanted to drown herself into his deep blue eyes and forget the world. She wanted to forget about the miscarriage, Snow, and her execution. And David would give her that. "A bright and long future together."
She tried to smile. "Yes."
He nodded. "The way I see it we are already living together but I have a lot to learn about you."
Regina smiled. "Like what?" He already knew more than most people. She had never let anyone close, not after what happened to Daniel. But over the past few months, David had broken down some of her barriers. He was closer to her than she would care to admit to herself.
David bit his lower lip, pretending to think about his answer for just a minute. "What you like to eat for breakfast…. If I knew it might be easier than cooking everything I actually mastered in the past year."
Regina laughed softly. She remembered this morning's breakfast. "Apple pancakes. I love apple pancakes."
David nodded. "Apple pancakes it is then."
"What about you? What do you like for breakfast?"
"Bacon, scrambled eggs, and cheesy potato tots."
Regina smiled. "A heart attack waiting to happen!"
David cocked his head to the side. "Yeah… but it tastes so good."
"I make the best potato tots in town!"
David smiled. "I'm sure you do. You are the best cook in town. Your lasagna are fabulous." He had had the pleasure to sample the dish several times during their twice-a-week dinners with Henry. "Where did you learn how to cook?"
"It started on my father's estate actually." She smiled at the memory. "One of the cooks taught me the rudimentary skills when my mother wasn't looking. She didn't approve of me learning menial tasks. I also tried to sneak some time in the royal kitchen." Regina laughed. "Leopold didn't care much about my occupation but the servants weren't comfortable around me. But really, I learned to cook after I adopted Henry. I had to…. he was difficult."
David laughed. "Well, I'm glad you had to learn."
Regina feigned her indignation. "Oh! Is that why you're dating me, Charming? For my cooking skills?"
He rolled his eyes upward teasingly. "Mmmhhh… That and that huge mansion of yours." Regina slapped his upper arm. "Ouch… that hurt you know."
She was grinning from ear to ear. In this instant, the only thing that mattered was being with David. "So what else would Prince Charming want to know?"
David smiled. "I don't think I want to answer that question, Your Majesty. I want to discover everything about you. Without asking."
"Am I that much of an open book?" She raised one eyebrow.
"You can be if one knows where to look."
"Oh is that right?" She had forgotten all about her current predicament. The pain in her side had subsided into a dull ache and she felt warm and safe in his embrace.
"Yes." He leaned down and kissed her languidly. He loved the taste of her, the way she nipped at his bottom lip when she wanted him to sink his tongue deeper inside her mouth, and the way her body subtly arched into the kiss.
She was smiling when they finally broke the kiss. She could live in that moment forever, even if in her case forever would be short. "And then what?"
He caressed her cheek. "Then I would ask you to marry me."
Regina felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach. She had always dreamed of the perfect proposal with Daniel. "And as Charming as you are, you will drop on one knee with the perfect diamond ring?"
David shook his head. "Somehow I don't picture you wanting a fairy tale princess proposal."
He was right, of course, but she would not admit it. "And how long will we be engaged before our wedding?"
He thought about the answer for a few seconds. "Eight months."
Regina laughed softly. "Why eight months?"
David smiled. "Because I want to propose to you in the winter and marry you in August."
"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"
David nodded. "And what did you imagine your wedding would be like when you were a little girl?"
Her face fell at the thought. "I didn't… not really." David swallowed hard. He could not think of a little girl not dreaming of the perfect wedding. Although she had never really talked about her childhood, David knew it had not been happy. Regina saw the sadness in David's eyes and she quickly added. "But I did after I met Daniel…. I told him I wanted to arrive on a white horse." David smiled. He tried to imagine Regina riding a beautiful white horse in her wedding gown. She would look magnificent. He jumped slightly when she spoke again. "What about you? What's your dream wedding?"
David looked into her deep brown eyes. He had never told anyone about this, not even Snow. "My father would leave for weeks at a time. He said it was for work. And some of it probably was. But mostly he would get drunk on the road, have his money stolen not far from home, and sleep in a ditch somewhere." Regina palmed his cheek, rubbing his soft stubble with her thumb. David leaned into the gesture. "When I was younger, I believed his stories. And he used to talk to me about the ocean. I'd always wanted to see it."
Regina smiled. "You want to get married on the beach?"
David nodded. "I know it's cliche, but it means a lot to me."
Regina smiled. "I'd love to."
He gave her a soft smile. The memories of his father also brought back the reality of their current situation. There was no point in talking about marriage. She would be dead in the morning, burned alive to satisfy one man's thirst for vengeance. He let the tears fall.
Regina sensed his mood shift. He did not want to pretend any longer. "David…" She turned his head so he would look at her directly in the eyes. "David… it's ok. I'm ok."
He felt the anger rise from the bottom of his stomach. "How can you be ok with this, Regina? I just found you… and… and…."
"And you gave me everything I've ever hoped for. All I ever wanted was to be loved… to come first in someone's eyes. And you gave me that."
David placed his forehead on hers. "It's not fair…"
She kissed him softly. "I know… but life rarely is."
David took a shaky breath. "I love you."
Regina's tears finally fell when she heard the words. There was no deception in his voice. "I love you too."
ECECEC
April 2nd 2013
David was cursing loudly as he climbed the stairs leading to the loft. He was covered in mud from chasing that damned dog for the past two hours. Archie had left Pongo outside the convenient store for 'just a minute' and when he had come back, he had found the leash and collar but no dog in sight. David swore one more time. "He should have called that dog Houdini."
David was mad. He had planned to spend the evening with Regina, going over possible spells to open a portal to the Enchanted Forest. He groaned as he realized he was more upset about the missed time with Regina than the fact they had been going nowhere since they had started pouring over her spellbooks. He hoped that she was still awake. Maybe they could have a cup of tea before she had to leave.
He was only met with darkness when he opened the door. His heart beated faster. Surely, she would not leave Henry alone here? His nightmares had worsened over the past week. They were always the same: he was trapped in a fiery room with no visible escape.
As soon as his eyes accustomed themselves to the darkness, he let out a breath of relief at the sight of the two forms huddled together on the bed. He carefully made his way toward his sleeping family. Henry had wrapped both arms around his mother's waist, tightly holding onto her. He had buried his head in her chest but David could still see the traces left by his tears. Regina had one arm around his sleepy form while her other hand was craddling his head, holding him close. David smiled. Henry had called for Regina several times when waking up from his nightmares until he realized he was in the loft with his grandfather. David had offered to call Regina - he was sure she would come in record time - but Henry had either been too ashamed or too afraid to accept the offer. He readjusted the blanket around the both of them before making his way to the bathroom as silently as he could.
David cringed at any unnecessary noise he was making. He showered quickly, trying to get the mud off of him. When he deemed himself sufficiently cleaned, he stepped out of the shower, put on a clean pair of boxer, and walked to the couch. He settled himself as comfortably as he possibly could and closed his eyes. His last thoughts were directed toward the woman lying a few feet away from him before exhaustion finally won and sleep claimed him.
EC
David was sprawled out on his back, one leg dangling off the couch. He felt wetness on his bare chest and he opened his eyes abruptly. His gaze was met by two mischievous brown orbs. "Good morning, sleepyhead!"
His mind was still foggy. "Morning?"
Regina's fingernails were tracing up and down the sides of his body, sending shivers down his spine. He mumbled. "Where is Henry?"
She leaned down to kiss him. "He is at school… I thought you and I could spend some time together." She settled herself over his waist, her core pressing down on his flaccid member. She ran her hands over his chiseled stomach and chest, eliciting soft moans from her lover.
His mind was slowly clearing up. "Mmmhhh…. what are you doing?"
"But what you've been secretly desiring." He looked at her. How did she know? He thought he had been discreet. She placed her index finger on his lips before he could protest. "Shhh…. let's not ruin the moment with unnecessary talk."
She ran her hands over his torso as she slid down to sit in the cradle of his thighs. David moaned in anticipation. Regina smirked and ran the tip of her index finger over his shaft before taking him fully into her hand. David moaned as she started pumping his hardening member. She massaged his balls, taking great pleasure in watching her lover squirm at her touch.
Once he was fully erect, Regina licked the tip of his member, swiping away the drops of pre-cum. She swirled her tongue around his tip, gently nipping at the skin. David's hands flew to her head, holding her in place. "Mmmhhh" It would not take much for him to come.
Regina smiled and took him more fully in his mouth. She bobbed her head to about two third of his length, swirling her tongue around his throbbing member. She relaxed her throat to accommodate his gentle thrusting inside her mouth. David hands were fisting her hair and his thighs were trembling from pleasure.
Regina knew he was close. She reached for his balls and massaged them as his thrusts intensified. His release was sudden as he clenched his teeth to muffle his screams.
David awoke with a start. The blanket he had thrown over himself last night was wet from his release and he was panting hard. The loft was still plunged into darkness and David quickly turned around to check on the sleeping brunette and her son. Thankfully, he did not wake them up. He wondered if he had moaned and screamed loudly as well as come in his dreams. He blushed.
David stood up silently. He needed to clear his thoughts. Most importantly, he needed to sort out his conflicting feelings about Regina. After the curse broke, he had only been able to see the Evil Queen he had come to hate in the Enchanted Forest. She had caused so many deaths, had inflicted some much pain and misery, and had chased both him and Snow for revenge. He didn't know what had caused her so hate her stepdaughter so much then. Snow had admitted to ruining her life but he had never realized how much that statement had been true until the incident with Daniel. There was a lot more to Regina than met the eyes. He had been lucky enough to get a glimpse of the woman behind the mask and he liked her. He wanted her friendship. His gaze lingered on the wet spot. And maybe something more.