per the typical intro to my chapters, i apologize for this taking forever. theres some smut in it though. i hope you can forgive me ;) xxx
"How could he do this to us?" Snow bit down on her lower lip to regain control of her emotions, pressing her forehead to Neal's as she held him at Emma's dining room table. Emma watched her mother and younger brother, trying to remain sympathetic to all parties involved. She was aware of how fragile Snow was and that she had good reason to be.
It had been almost a week since Snow's return, and her parents had yet to work out arrangement as to how they'd raise Neal. Her mother had refused to even face her father yet and Emma was the one who carted Neal back and forth between her parents to prevent them from having to face each other. She felt torn in between the two of them, understanding how both were feeling.
"Mom, it wasn't personal," Emma replied after a moment of hesitation, "Dad was devastated when you were taken to the Underworld…He thought you were gone."
"But with Regina?!" Snow shook her head, "It's not right," She swallowed hard, "I know she changed in recent years but she's still the woman who tried to rip our family apart…and now I have to share mine with her?"
"But I thought you considered us all family before?" Swan looked at her mother in confusion. She understood Snow was hurt, but she couldn't let her forget about the progress that they'd all made in getting along.
"Family, yes, we were family," Snow's brows furrowed as if she were irritated Emma didn't automatically take her side, "Sharing my husband with her is different!"
"Everything is different now," Emma tried to reason, watching the way Neal looked up at Snow like he didn't know who she was, "I know it's hard to accept…but you and dad at least need to work things out and be civil for Neal's sake."
"Why should I have to do anything?!" Snow snipped petulantly, "I'm gone for a year and he shacks up with our enemy, but I'm the one who has to work things out? No."
"Regina isn't the enemy anymore and we both know it," Emma raised an eyebrow. Regardless of the pain Snow was feeling, it didn't give her a right to discredit Regina's evolution.
"Isn't she? She's sleeping with my husband," Her mother grated with a bitter tone. A hint of jealousy and a darker side of Snow that Emma had never seen flashed across her features, making her hesitate on how to reply. Luckily she didn't have to as Snow stood with Neal, her expression becoming calmer again, "I'm going to put him down for a nap."
Emma knew her mother was still trying to swallow the fact that she and David were no longer soulmates and he had moved on. She understood the hurt that came along with that and the sense of betrayal she must be feeling. Still, Emma was also aware of the deep connection between her father and Regina. It was a complicated intertwining that was the product of both of their life's hardships and heartbreaks.
Her parent's relationship was born of the pure, first love that every fairytale revolves around. It was real and strong while it lasted, but even she could see that when comparing the two relationships, one was not as deep as the other. Snow and David had not been through enough of life to fully understand how rare it is to be able to open up and love deeply. It was easy for them because they'd never truly experienced loss.
Emma knew that things were different between Regina and David because they both had experienced losing someone they considered to be the love of their life. They were two broken people who had turned their back on the idea of love because of what they'd been through. Despite their baggage, anxieties and hesitation to open themselves up again, they did. Regardless of everything in their past telling them not to, David and Regina chose to be together.
She had been the same way with Killian. Scared and reluctant at first because of the loss she'd experienced in her life. Falling in love again was a heavy price to pay when everyone always left. But she could not deny her feelings for her husband once they began, much like David and Regina couldn't. Emma took another chance at happiness and the love she shared with Killian was more meaningful than any before because of everything that had happened to her.
So, she saw both sides of the situation with her parents. She wanted to console her mother, but she couldn't just tell her what she wanted to hear. She couldn't trash David and Regina to make Snow happy, but she didn't feel she could defend them just yet while her mother was in such a state. She remained stuck in the middle, bringing Neal back and forth between the two of them.
"David," Regina's voice shook as her head fell back in the pillows, lifting her hips up to him like an offering. She fisted the white sheets in her hands, spreading her legs wider for him as he buried his head between her thighs. The morning sunlight peaked through the slits of her bedroom window curtain, just bright enough that she could watch him devour her.
She massaged her left breast with one hand, teasing the nipple between her fingers as the other came down to thread through his hair, gripping it firmly and holding him in place. He was groaning against her swollen sex, causing delicious vibrations to her clit. Her hips rolled wantonly, curling up against his mouth, grinding herself against his tongue and lips. He'd been teasing her for so long her clit ached, her stomach muscles were taught and her nipples peaked. Her body was humming as her back arched off the bed slightly, letting out a whimpered cry.
"Right there…mmm, don't stop," She begged, despite how smug he got when she did. She couldn't help it. "More, baby, please," Regina whined, pulling at his hair moving her hips faster against his tongue.
David shifted his eyes up, watching her writhing. She was completely lost in the pleasure, her free hand playing with her nipple desperately, her legs splayed to him as wide as they would go. Her sex was soaking wet, as was his face as he lapped her up. He cupped her ass with his hands, propping her hips up towards him more causing her thighs to part even wider and hearing her moan appreciatively in response.
"You taste so good, Regina," David groaned against her lips, tongue delving in between them to flick over the little bundle of nerves. He loved licking at her until he brought her to the brink, then easing off and teasing her some more. It always made her orgasms violently intense and he loved watching her build up to them.
"I said don't stop," She groaned, sounding frustrated which only made David's lips curl against her, "Charming I swear to god if you don't fin-" Her sentence was cut short by him sucking down on her clit fiercely, causing her hips to buck up, pressing herself firmly against his mouth as a whimper escaped her lips.
"Come for me, Regina," David murmured against her dripping lips before pushing his tongue inside of her as he brought his thumb up to stroke her throbbing clit in circles, instantly making her mewl. He felt her lower body tensing, as he shifted his eyes up to watch her unravel. Her mouth was slightly open, eyes closed, hand grasping at her breast as her back arched from the bed and she clenched around his tongue still inside of her. She turned her head quickly to press her face into the pillows as she cried out, a series of moans and whimpers leaving her body. David continued to alternate between kissing and flicking his tongue over her clit as she rode out the waves of her orgasm.
"I'm so happy to be home with you," David groaned, feeling himself rock hard and heavy as lead as he made his way up her body, kissing over the flushed skin as she panted underneath him.
"Me too," She gave him a lazy, sated smile from heavy lids, running her hands up his arms when he pressed them into the mattress on each side of her, "The kids will be up soon," She whispered, wrapping her legs around his waist feeling his hardness rub against her.
"Mmm, don't jinx us," David grinned against the skin of her neck, brushing his lips up over her ear sucking down on her earlobe as he pushed himself inside of her, "I wish we could stay in here all day," He groaned quietly, running his hands up her thighs and gripping her ass as he filled her completely.
"It is nice here in our little bubble," Regina moaned with a grin, leaning up to kiss him slowly as they began to move in a slow and steady rhythm. She hiked her legs higher against his sides, letting him push deeper as her hand ran up his back, "No kids needing anything, no angry wives, no town disasters."
David chuckled, biting down on her lower lip gently, "I know you're excited to get back to your mayoral duties. Life is dull for you when you don't have the dwarves to argue with," He smirked as her mouth dropped playfully and she pushed her hips up to meet his with more force, causing both of them to groan.
"I'm ready for things to get back to normal for us," Regina breathed heavier, nudging him onto his back and rolling on-top of him, pressing her hands into his chest, "Of course, what's normal?" She gave a grin as she started to ride him harder, breasts bouncing gently in time with their movements.
David half chuckled, half groaned as their words came few and far between, "Who knows, Madam Mayor? We aren't the fairytale, we're the alternate ending."
"She's a vision," Granny gushed, studying Violet over the rims of her glasses with a wide smile when Regina brought her daughter into the diner for a late breakfast, "Oh Regina, she's just beautiful."
"Thank you, Granny," Regina bit her lip to keep from beaming. She wasn't one to openly display how proud she was or how much she appreciated praise, but she couldn't help the smile that came to her face.
She'd been nervous about bringing Violet into town since they'd been back from the Enchanted Forest. No one here had ever seen the baby, though word traveled fast that she had been born and was safe upon their return. Regina had hesitated introducing her with everything going on with Snow White being back as well. She wasn't sure where the loyalties of the townspeople would lie.
"Look at that hair," Granny smiled, reaching out to run a hand over one of Violet's soft black curls, "She's you up and down, Regina. But look at those eyes! She has David's eyes."
"And his ability to fall asleep anywhere," Regina let out a laugh as her daughter's head nodded tiredly, eventually falling against her chest to doze off.
The old wolf gave an amused grin before pulling a pen from behind her ear, "What can I get you for breakfast, girl?"
"Just the usual," Regina nodded, shifting her daughter to put her in the car seat sitting in the booth beside her, "Granny..." She began when she looked up, seeing the wolf start to walk away, "I want to thank you for taking care of my boys while we were gone. I knew they were safe and cared for with you, and you don't know how much that means to me..."
"No need to thank me," The older woman gave Regina a motherly smile that seared her heart, "And anytime you and Charming need a babysitter, you just let me know. I can't wait to get my hands on that one," She chuckled, nodding towards Violet sleeping peacefully.
"I will Granny, thanks again," Regina smiled, pushing her spoon around her coffee mug to stir in the creamer. Granny sauntered back to the kitchen to put in her order, leaving Regina feeling peaceful in her window seat with her sleeping daughter. The diner was pretty slow this morning, aside from some of the dwarves in the corner scarfing down breakfast and oblivious to her presence. That was okay, she was entirely too content to be bothered.
It was a good feeling to get back to her daily routine. Though it was nowhere near the same as it was a couple of years ago, there was some semblance of normalcy. She used to always stop into Granny's for a coffee, eggs and toast before heading to her mayoral office. She usually did so after she dropped Henry for school to enjoy some time to herself before dealing with people all day. Except now, Henry took himself to school and Regina had her little sidekick in tow. David had his concerns about Regina taking Violet to work with her, but she wanted her daughter close at all times. Having Violet at all had been a miracle and she refused to miss a minute of anything. Besides, it wasn't as if Storybrooke was a bustling metropolis. There wasn't an enormous amount of work for a mayor as long as there wasn't some type of crisis going on.
She took another sip of her coffee, feeling it slowly begin to work it's magic in waking her up. David had pleasantly woken her up earlier than usual, but she couldn't complain. Sex between them had been amazing since they'd gotten back home, half of it due to the added privacy of having a separate nursery for Violet and Neal. The other part she thought was probably due to the fact that they'd laid it all out on the table as far as their commitment to each other. If anything was going to throw a wrench into a relationship, it could be the resurrection of a dead wife. Instead it seemed to make their relationship stronger and David had continued to show his dedication to her. Regina raised an eyebrow at the irony before shaking her head at the thought of what lied ahead for them.
The situation was combustible at any moment, though Emma had luckily been the peace keeper between her parents so far. Regina knew that it unfortunately wouldn't last long. David and Snow would have to work something out as far as Neal was concerned. Hell, as far as their marriage was concerned. A little niggling feeling of doubt sprouted in Regina's stomach at the fact that he hadn't mentioned divorcing Snow yet. Then again, it was childish to wish David would already be legally splitting with his late-but-not-so-late wife after only a week of returning from another realm and all of the drama that entailed.
Regina glanced up as the jingling of the bell over Granny's brought her from her thoughts, her stomach coiling at the sight of Emma and Snow. She saw the look that flashed across Emma's features when their eyes met and they both braced themselves for an awkward situation. She hadn't really discussed it with Emma, but her friend had shown her sympathy in small ways when picking up or dropping off Neal at her home. She understood that Swan was stuck in the middle and didn't wish to make it any harder on her, so she didn't bring it up.
"Regina," Snow said first, surprising them both as she nodded cordially and smiled. It wasn't a forced smile or a bitter smile, but a genuine smile. Regina tried to smile back but the confusion struck her like a blow to the chest. She looked back at Emma, who mirrored her confusion.
"Uh, morning Regina," Emma nodded before looking to her mother, "Should we sit?" She asked unsurely, motioning towards a booth on the other side of the diner.
"Are you on your own Regina?" Snow asked with a certain cheer to her voice.
"Yes," Regina admitted warily, shifting her eyes back to Snow seeing her intent for them to join her, "Uh...please, feel free to have a seat," The mayor shifted uncomfortably in her booth, picking up the newspaper from the other side of the table to move it out of their way.
"Thanks, c'mon Emma," Snow waved her to sit down as she slid in the booth, followed by her shocked daughter, "Regina, she's beautiful," Her boyfriend's wife gave a wide smile after her eyes shifted to Violet, making Regina's stomach tense as a strange protective instinct ignited within her.
"Thank you," She managed to get out in a pleasant manner, though she wasn't sure of Snow's angle yet. Who would be that cheery to their ex-enemy who was now with their estranged husband? Something didn't feel right.
Snow glanced from Regina to Emma, obviously noticing their awkwardness, "Oh come on you two. If anyone should be acting the way you are it's me! But what's done is done now and we just have to make the best of it."
"Really?" Emma looked at Snow incredulously, giving Regina the impression that this was a sudden change of heart for Snow.
"Really," Snow nodded adamantly, a familiar optimism radiating from her features, "I understand everything changed when I...left. I just want us all to get along as a family. Regina, you have my blessing," She looked at Regina in earnest, causing her head to swirl with a thousand different emotions.
She'd selfishly dreaded Snow's return because of how it would affect her family. Neal would no longer call her 'mama', she and Emma probably wouldn't be as close, Henry loved his grandmother and then there was the fear of David leaving. But part of her had missed Snow as well, feeling as if she were family to her since they were both just girls. Could this really be the answer to everything? Was it that simple?
She stared back at Snow for a long moment, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, "Just like that?"
"Just like that," Snow repeated, reaching out to rest her hand over hers. Regina couldn't tell if it was Snow's cool hand or the emotions causing goosebumps to break out on her flesh, "If I can't find the heart to work this out then what is family for?"