i haven't forgotten ;) let me know if you're still interested. i'm working my way up to another arc, and considering tying it into the new season's storyline in a way. i'm attached to this story and don't want it to end, but i want you all to tell me if it starts lacking. i'd rather wrap it up then have it become lackluster xoxo
The leaves were beginning to change colors and tumble to the ground with the oncoming fall season, giving Regina something to focus her gaze on as she stood in front of her kitchen window. Her hands wrapped around her mug for warmth as she sighed contentedly, reveling in the peaceful day as the coffee gave her a boost. Despite the roller-coaster of the past couple of years, her life had changed for the better since the last time she dwelled in this location, looking out on the town from her perch. A deep, peaceful feeling overcame her on afternoons like this when she had time to herself to reflect.
It wasn't often that she was able to have a solitary moment in this house, though. The realization brought a warm smile to her face, knowing she wouldn't change it for the world. Being surrounded by family was something she'd yearned for for years. She used to feel a deep and bitter jealousy when she saw a happy couple, and especially so if they had children. Hearing a baby cry or a child laugh used to break her heart, but now it warmed it.
Now that she had what she'd always coveted, she still had trouble processing the fact that it was real. She trusted David whole-heartedly, her once enemy who now loved and accepted every layer of her, from the good to the dark. In addition to having a partner, her home was now full of the energy and warmth of her three children. Well, Neal wasn't technically hers, but she loved him just the same. Not only did she have her own family, she had friends in Emma and Granny and others in town. Regina never thought that her future would be anything but an unhappy ending, so she took moments like this to reflect on just how blessed she'd been.
She'd experienced the joy of carrying her own child; had created a mini version of herself looks and temperament wise, but inheriting her father's eyes and sweet side. She shared this little life created in love with a patient and loving man. A smirk tugged at her lips at the fact that if David weren't already patient, raising a daughter of hers would soon teach him to be. Luckily, he'd proven to be able to handle Regina, so she had faith that he'd be the perfect, tolerant father for a headstrong little girl.
Henry was a full blown teenager now and had already surpassed her in height, but she still considered him her boy. He humored her pretty well, knowing that her tendency to be strict came from a place of protectiveness. He'd always be her first love; the red faced, crying baby that taught her how to be a mother. She heard him now in the den with David, cheering intensely at a football game on the television. Never did she imagine she'd allow such foolishness as American football in her household, which only went to show just how much things had changed.
Regina rolled her eyes and smiled to herself at their muffled yells, having no interest in sports herself. She found them boring and pointless, for the outcome was always the same in the end; one team won and one lost, and the strategies in between were always the same. Hell, hunting Snow White had been more of a sport than anything she'd seen in this world. Still, every Sunday David and Henry would raid the cabinets for snacks and beg her to make turnovers in preparation for the game. Usually she gave in, hence the kitchen now being full of a familiar apple spice aroma as she sipped her afternoon pick-me-up.
Neal spent Sundays with Snow, per David and Snow's arrangement of alternating days with him, so it was rather quiet around their home without a hyper toddler running around. Tiny hands smacking against the kitchen floor pulled her attention from the window, glancing over to see Violet grinning and crawling furiously towards her, reminding her of the first time Neal had been there. She missed him, but she understood that his real mother was back in his life and she had to respect that.
Violet squealed proudly when she reached her mother's legs, reaching up with outstretched hands for Regina to pick her up. Her heart melted at the sight of her daughter who was growing like a weed, looking up at her with wide blue eyes and messy black wisps of curls that were starting to form as her hair grew longer. She smiled widely, reaching down to scoop her up in her arms, the feeling making all of the pain and struggle of her past worth it because it had brought her to this point.
"Is Daddy ignoring you for that stupid game?" Regina mocked with a pouty expression that her baby picked up on and mimicked, causing her to chuckle and press her forehead against Violet's. The baby pressed her hands against her mother's cheeks, cooing and smiling at the magic Regina knew Violet felt radiating between them. It was a warm, euphoric feeling when their energy transferred from one to the other that made Regina proud and nervous of her daughter's capabilities at the same time.
"Should we go demand some attention?" She grinned at her daughter who returned the mischievous smile almost as if she understood what her mother had said, making Regina laugh again, "Come on," She cooed, moving Violet to her hip and scooping a few of the cooled apple turnovers onto a plate with her free hand, "I don't understand football either, I know you're bored. But Daddy and your brother Henry insist...When you're a little older we'll go to my vault and play with magic to escape this mortal nonsense."
Violet's brows furrowed together as she listened and watched her mother intently with big eyes under dark lashes. Regina smiled and shook her head, knowing that every mother found their baby beautiful, but feeling like she had the right to. Violet's personality had started to show more as she transitioned from infant to baby, which made Regina fall in love even more. Her daughter seemed to already have a sense of humor and a bit of mischief behind her cheeky grins and giggles.
"Let's go interrupt that silly game," Regina said to Violet as she picked up the plate of turnovers for an excuse to go into the den, making her way out of the kitchen and across the foyer. The back of Henry and David's heads came into view as Regina and Violet came into the den, both of them entirely engrossed in the spectacle on the screen.
"Is this thing not over yet?" She teased, rounding the couch and setting the plate of turnovers down on the coffee table that David and Henry both reached for instantly.
"Almost," David grinned up at her before pulling Regina down onto the couch, her bottom on the seat beside him as her legs draped over his lap, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "Don't you start either," He said playfully to Violet with a laugh, "Regina Junior."
"These turnovers are the bomb, thanks Mom," Henry grinned from his end of the couch with a certain childlike charm he knew always worked on her. The little con artist.
"Mhm, you're welcome," She laughed, reaching over Violet in her lap to rough up his hair playfully. Violet squealed and grinned to join in, causing all of them to laugh at her reaction, "Don't fill up on those, your mom and Hook are coming over later and we're having dinner."
"He's a teenage boy, he could eat all day," David joked, glancing up from playing with Violet's hands to smirk at Regina as she narrowed her eyes at him in return, "Your mom's right, don't ruin your appetite Henry," He added quickly, causing the teenager to roll his eyes with the knowledge that he only said it to make Regina happy.
"Why do they just tackle each other?" Regina sighed, leaning the side of her head against David's when he and Henry focused back on the game during a play. "Surely there are smarter ways to steal the opponents ball."
"Football isn't like one of your strategies for revenge, Your Majesty," David smirked without looking at her, eyes still on the television as they started to yell again when the game appeared to be coming to an end.
Regina and Violet watched them both with wide eyes, "That's for certain. I'm a queen and a bit more refined," She sighed, wrapping her arms around her daughter and leaning against David despite his rambling at the television. Violet laid her head against her mother in preparation for her afternoon nap, nuzzling into Regina's neck.
"Yes!" Henry raised a fist in the air to bump David's when the game ended. It appeared that whoever they were rooting for had won, so at least Regina wouldn't have to put up with them moping over dinner. They rambled about something called a "touchdown" for a few minutes as Regina glanced down to see her daughter had fallen asleep.
"I'm gonna go upstairs and do some homework that's due tomorrow, want me to put her in her crib?" Henry asks as he stood, tall and ganglier than ever as his body weight tried to keep up with his plummeting height.
"Sure, thanks Henry," Regina kissed Violet's head before lifting her up to her brother's capable arms. He was good with his little sister and Violet loved him already, her head resting against his chest in a deep sleep as he carried her for the stairs.
"Hmm alone at last," David grinned, leaning in to kiss Regina slowly but deeply until she hummed against his lips, "I've been thinking about you since we got interrupted this morning."
"Too bad your daughter and son in law will be here within the next hour," Regina replied while never breaking contact with his lips, smirking before kissing him slowly again, running a hand over his stumbled jaw.
David snuck a hand up her thigh, slipping it under her dress in a blunt attempt to convince her to give in, "We could sneak back to the laundry room and lock the door," He moved his lips to her neck, breaking out the big guns as he kissed and nipped where he knew she liked, "The washing machine muffled the noise and you especially liked the vibrations, if I remember correctly."
"Mm," Regina half smirked, half moaned at his lips and the memory of him bending her over the machine, "We have to start being more careful with the kids around," She pulled away, sitting up straight in his lap with a grin, "Besides, I need to start on dinner."
David pouted playfully, watching Regina's bottom as she stood from his lap before her willpower caved, "Can't I have dessert first?"
"Something smells good," Emma announced with wide eyes as she made her way into the kitchen later that evening, "You known it's a shame we're all about the same age, I wouldn't mind being your step kid with you cooking like this," She smirked, unceremoniously plopping down on one of the stools at the counter where Regina stood cooking.
"Must you really bring up our unconventional family dynamic?" Regina pursed her lips with a sigh, turning to prepare the lasagna, "Where's Guyliner?"
"With Dad. You know I don't think either one of them want to admit it, but they love each other," Emma laughed with a shake of her head, "How are things here? Where's Vi?"
"Still napping, she'll be up all night," Regina smiled with a roll of her eyes, "Here make yourself useful and slice the bread. You can do that much can't you?"
"You're trusting me with a knife? We have come a long way," Emma snarked, making them both laugh. Regina would never admit it, but she loved the banter between the two of them. It was nice to have someone she could throw barbs with and never worry about offending.
"Don't push your luck Swan," Regina grit out in playful amusement, "So how's married life? Is the honeymoon phase over yet?"
"Honeymoon phase? We didn't even have a chance for that with everything that's happened," Emma shook her head, taking a bite of the piece of bread she was cutting and earning a disapproving look from the brunette.
"I know what you mean...maybe now things will get back to normal. For all of us," She let out a breath, turning to take the casserole from the oven as Emma fumbled with the loaf of french bread.
Swan forced a smile at the former Queen, seeming to be able to see right through Regina and know the thoughts she repressed, "Has dad mentioned divorcing my mom so you two can marry like you planned?"
"He hasn't brought it up," Regina admitted, glancing up from the stove to meet eyes with the blonde, "I guess he'll do it when the time is right..." So she wasn't the only one who noticed David hadn't made the move yet.
"I guess. Don't worry about it, I know he will," Emma frowned once, standing up to grab the stack of plates and utensils with the knowledge that Regina would not want to dwell on the issue, "I'll set the places."
A short while later they were gathered around the table, talking over each other and serving up the dinner Regina had prepared for them. It was their usual Sunday routine, another new tradition she'd never pictured herself being a part of. Henry especially loved having both sides of his family together and getting along.
"You've outdone yerself today, Your Majesty," The pirate eyed up the food, stabbing a piece of bread with his hook.
"Thank you," Regina raised an eyebrow at his lack of table manners before turning to hand Violet her bottle as she waited patiently in her high chair.
"It looks good, I can't wait for dessert," David added casually, though Regina caught the hidden meaning as he ran a hand over her thigh under the table. She bit her lip, trying not to smile as she felt him glance her way and give her leg a squeeze.
"Hello?" A voice outside of the dining room drew their attention, unsettling Regina when she realized who it belonged to.
Snow appeared in the archway of the dining room with Neal on her hip and an uncertain smile on her face, "Sorry to interrupt...I was just bringing him back."
Regina watched Emma glance towards Snow with a guilty expression, obviously not having told her where she and Killian would be tonight. David looked towards Regina awkwardly, sensing how tense she was. A part of Regina felt sorry for Snow, having been on the outside for so many years herself, watching them.
"You're not interrupting," Regina forced a smile, "Why don't you join us for dinner? There's plenty..." Everyone here was just as much Snow's family as they were hers, after all.
"Oh no I couldn't intrude," Snow glanced towards David as she sat Neal down to stand on the floor.
Regina and David exchanged a look and she nodded, letting him know that she approved of including Snow. Snow and David shared two children, and it was no ones fault how their relationship ended. They all needed to get along and perhaps all it would take is a nudge from Regina, just to let them know she was okay with it. She had changed much and she never wanted to keep anyone from their family. She knew how that felt.
"No, please have a seat," David nodded towards the empty chair on the other side of the table.
"Dinner does look good," Snow said with a sweet smile, making her way around the table holding Neal's hand as he toddled beside her.
"Here," Emma smiled, visibly relieved at everyone seeming to get along as she handed a plate to Hook for Snow when she pulled out the dining chair.
"Over here Neal," Henry piped up from where he sat beside Regina, pulling out the seat with his booster seat on it.
The toddler perked up at the sound of Henry's voice, coming around the table before catching sight of Regina, "Mama!" He chirped plainly, scrambling over to her as throwing himself in her lap. She instinctually picked him up, giving him a hug before looking up to realize the tension in the room at what Neal had just called her.
David bit at his lip, smiling weakly at Regina in understanding that it was just as hard for her. Emma and Killian's gazed shifted awkwardly, Henry looked down at his plate and Snow stared at her with a mixture of hurt and anger.
"Go get in your seat sweetie," Regina instructed Neal quietly, putting him back down as he listened and scampered back to his chair that Henry helped him into.
"So uh...Henry how's school going? Any big tests or anything exciting?" Emma asked in an attempt to deflect the tension in the room and reunite them all in conversation again.
"Uh yeah, I guess," Henry shrugged and Regina let out a breath as everyone seemed to move past the awkward moment, passing around the dishes and filling their plates. Snow sat silently, accepting a serving when one was passed to her and forcing an interested smile at the talk. "We're doing a project in history class about our family. We have to pick a grandparent and write a paper about their lives and anything interesting they've done."
"Who you gonna pick?" Killian raised an eyebrow playfully, "With all your options kid, it's safe to say you're gonna have one hell of a page turner," He smirked, causing them all to chuckle.
"Yeah who you gonna write about? I think it should be me, I'm a hero after all," David shrugged confidently with a smirk, "I could tell you some great stories."
"No offense Dad, but I'd say Gold's probably got some better ones," Emma laughed with a shake of her head.
"Don't forget my mother," Regina raised an eyebrow, playfully adding to the banter, "Of course, I doubt she's what your teacher meant when they said interesting."
They all laughed, though Regina noticed it was much to Snow's chagrin. She'd forced a chuckle from her end of the table, but she could practically feel Mary Margaret's bitterness bubbling inside of her.
"You know who would be perfect Henry? Your great Grandfather Leopold," Snow piped in with false wonderment and a fake smile to go along with it. She appeared genuine to everyone else, but Regina's stomach turned with the knowledge that this had nothing to do with anything but hurting her back.
"King Leopold? I guess I don't know much about him," Henry shrugged in between bites of his dinner. Regina felt like her body was sinking into her chair at the thought of her abuser's memory that she'd long suppressed. Her heartbeat began to thump a little faster, seeing Henry and Emma both look at Snow in interest of their grandfather.
"He was a generous and kind man," Snow began with a dreamy expression, "He loved my mother more than anything in the world. He was always laughing or smiling, he was rarely serious."
Regina bit her lip at the absurd picture Snow was painting, though she supposed she had only seen that side of her father. Her stomach started to coil as flashbacks of Leopold's coldness and cruelty flooded her mind. She swallowed hard, trying to control her breathing and keep a casual expression on her face.
"He threw the best royal balls and we'd dance all night," Snow said with a smile, "Well he and I danced all night. He always joked that Regina had two left feet," Snow chuckled as did Henry, Emma and Killian. To them it just sounded like a fun family story, for they were oblivious to the dark side of it or how badly it had rattled a young Regina's insecurities. No one understood that Snow was taking a jab at her beside Regina and David, since she had shared those dark times with him.
Regina felt everyone's eyes on her in expectation of a rebuttal, forcing her to respond to keep up appearances, "Not that he had any interest in dancing with me, he adored you," She forced a smile at Snow for the sake of Emma and Henry, regardless of feeling her face go pale. She didn't need them knowing the truth about Leopold, he was their grandfather and it was in the past.
"Oh nonsense, my father was infatuated with Regina," Snow smiled reminiscently, "He was always so protective of her, never let her go anywhere without an escort. When they'd have a little squabble, he'd surprise her with jewelry at breakfast. He was constantly trying to make her happy." Her former step-daughter looked at her with a pleasant smile on her lips but an almost evil glint to her eyes meant only for Regina to see. She knew in that moment that Snow was indeed aware of how her father treated her and she was using it to make Regina feel shame.
Regina felt David's hand capture hers under the table in support and she glanced at him in acknowledgement. He knew the truth and realized what Snow's angle was here, though he knew Regina would never want him to speak up and expose the truth to Henry or Emma. David knew that Leopold's "escorts" were guards making sure Regina didn't run away when he confined her to his castle. He knew that the jewelry the King gave Regina at breakfast was a vain cover up for the vile things he'd done to her the night before. He knew that Leopold's attempt to "make Regina happy" that Snow spoke of entailed the King treating Regina like an object and then buying her material things to keep her quiet.
"Like I said kid," David cut in to change the direction of the conversation, throwing a warning glance at Snow before forcing a chuckle, "I'll tell you some good stories about my glory days."
Regina squeezed David's hand in appreciation of his gesture, tuning out as the others seemed to chatter on. She'd felt guilty and included Snow before when she felt she was being genuine. Now that she had felt the harmful intent behind Snow's words tonight she was unnerved. It was clear her former stepdaughter was not at peace with the situation at hand. There was a darkness creeping up inside of Snow that Regina could sense, for she knew it better than anyone.
"I'm sorry about dinner," David wrapped a comforting arm around Regina later that night, pulling her closer to him in bed, "I know she brought up those memories of the King to hurt you," He kissed her head gently before burying his face in her hair as she curled up against him.
He felt an immense amount of guilt that he'd allowed his ex into their home and that she made Regina feel uncomfortable at her own dining room table. Regina deserved to be protected better than that. She wasn't as strong as she appeared on the outside and David knew that despite the way Regina seemed to let someone's words roll of her back, she harbored them.
"I was the one who invited her to join us," Regina murmured into his neck, locking her arms around his waist, "It's not your fault."
"Still, it's because of me you had to go through that," He held her tightly, wanting her to feel secure after knowing how much the evening had rattled her. She'd told him stories of her time under Leopold's thumb and the memories shook her every time. He'd witnessed the nightmares she had, some of which he had to wake her up from. He'd held her afterwards, reassuring her that he'd never let anyone hurt her in that way again. The abuse she'd experienced from the King was buried deeply inside of her and was not spoken of only but in the most intimate of moments between them when she felt safe enough to be vulnerable.
Regina had been so understanding since Snow came back, he constantly felt like he wasn't good enough for her during all of this. She never made the situation more difficult for him by demanding anything. He'd watched her painfully put distance between she and Neal as not to overstep her boundaries with his real mother. She even tried to help he and Snow get along for Neal's sake. Any other woman would have been eaten alive by insecurities, but Regina understood he needed support and she gave it to him.
"I love you," She whispered in a broken voice, lifting her head up to press her forehead against his own and close her eyes, "But I have a bad feeling about what Snow is trying to do here. I don't want to cause more problems between-"
"Regina," David cut in firmly, "You're not causing anything. I'm going to have a word with Snow to let her know that what she did was not okay. She's just jealous of what we have now, but you know deep down she's harmless." He knew his wife was angry and dealing with the betrayal, but Snow would never be able to do anything truly malicious. She didn't have it in her.
He saw Regina mull it over in her mind before giving him a slow nod, looking up at him with trusting eyes. He could tell she wasn't entirely sold on the solution, but that she didn't want to argue. He'd put the situation concerning Neal and Snow before Regina long enough. His son was oblivious to the tension between his parents and would be perfectly fine. Regina had been waiting patiently for him to sort out his mess of a life and now was his time to do it.
He glanced down between them, taking her left hand in his own and gently running his thumb over the engagement ring he had given her, "I'm going to make this right, Regina. I promise."