A/N – Here we are! Hope you enjoy! End notes include details of the last part to this story and when to expect posts to start on it. A sneak peek at the cover art for Different Loving is also on my Tumblr!
To the guest reader that asked if I would finish a story for the author Darnez – If you can convince that wonderful author to give me creative license and permission to do so, perhaps. I'll keep my eyes peeled for a PM from that author. Otherwise, it is not my story to tell and I greatly respect the author's work.
To the guest reader who caught (vial, not vile) Thank you! I made the change. I do not have a beta reader, so I appreciate your eye. You only see so many errors rereading your own work over and over again.
Okay, enough notes and now on to what you are waiting for…
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Epilogue - One week later…
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"Can't catch me!" Emma yelled over her shoulder as she cut through the foyer, dodging the mingling adults as her little brother chased her through the downstairs of the mansion. Delightful squeal filled the space. Granny smirked at her as did Ruby and Belle.
The thirteen year old nearly rammed into David carrying a platter of cheese, crackers, and meat from the kitchen, but ducked around him last minute as he spun to avoid dropping the tray. He balanced it only to barely catch it again as Neal did a baseball slide through his sprawled legs to catch up to Emma. "Whoa, speed twins slow down." Chuckling.
"Sorry!" Emma grinned back to him as Neal finally caught her about the waist, just as Regina called to her from kitchen. "Coming Mama!" Hugging her brother, she kissed his head, complete with a noogie. "Alright little dude. Rematch later?"
"You're on!" Neal rubbed where the kiss lingered with a wrinkled nose and scampered off to tackle Paige entering the house.
Henry followed his wife and rushed over to Emma, pink cheeked from the cold outside. Handing over the feta cheese he had gone to three different stores looking for, he sighed with relief. "Tell Mom this was all the store had and I am not going back again just because it's not the brand she wants."
Emma pushed it back at him. "Nu-huh, you tell her."
"No you." Forcing it into pale hands with a grin.
"Emma?" A royal summons again from the kitchen.
Smirking, Henry spun the teenager around toward the door. "See she wants you anyway."
Over a shoulder. "You owe me big time kid."
Making her way into the kitchen, Emma stole a tomato from the new platter David passed by with. Popping red in her mouth, she sided up to her Keeper at the counter. "What's up Mama?"
"Did I hear Henry?" Eyes falling from green to the cheese in hand. "Ah, that rascal made you his messenger scapegoat." Taking the container of feta and opening the top.
Unsure where the expected upset Henry hinted at was. "Yep… what's the big deal about the brand any way?"
"There isn't one, but don't tell him that." Grinning at the memory. "I sent him to the grocery store once when he was your age with a list of items I was missing from a recipe. Instead of buying heavy cream he bought whipped cream in a can. Instead of sweet potatoes he bought sweet potato pie and in place of the filet I asked for he got frozen fish sticks. Needless to say we had a long talk about specificity that apparently stuck."
Taking another tomato and nudging in jest. "Your talks are kinda epic like that."
Raising a brow. "Take these for me into the dining room sweet girl." Handing over a bundle of silverware and napkins, Regina relished at how much her girl was glowing.
Ever since Gold left town the weight of the world came off those little shoulders and Regina intended to keep it that way. The last week had been a full one. Many discussions and questions over what was next filled their evenings. Gold's Pawn Shop had been shut down, warded to protect the artifacts inside until Regina and Mal could inventory all of the items. Town returned to a normal rhythm, as only Storybrooke could have, as the news of his departure spread. A celebration was in order, Emma insisted, and a party was arranged.
Emma took her chore in hand and joined Snow and David in the dining room. Charming hands arranged plates and platters as teen ones set the table.
"Thanks Emma, I was just coming to get those." Snow complimented, laying the final plate at the head of the table.
"No probs." Flashing teeth as the Princess' hands went to a stomach. "Can I feel?"
Snow waved her over and placed Emma's hand under hers at navel. David came to stand behind her, wrapping his arms in a hug from behind, his chin on shoulder. Delighted when her daughter's eyes widened in wonder. "Do you feel her?"
"I do!" Nodding. "Barely, but she's there…. Wow." Pulling back. "That must feel so weird, kind of like that movie alien!"
Emma wrinkled her nose at the very idea, as her mouth caught up to her brain. A habit she was learning slowly to curb with support from Regina and a lot of patience. As she was now, she had no connection to her adult side's former experiences. Like her pint size, she had all her memories up until this point in her life. Each part of her mind had fully separated as she had originally in the alternate reality. They couldn't talk to each other in mind like before, but were aware of what each part's experiences now were. Like watching a movie from the inside, eyes TV screens to life playing outward. She was excited to meet her little sister in this life and wondered again at what the name would be and still of the recent news of sharing her new name with everyone.
Henry had beamed as she knew he would, others around town happy for her and David though surprised, accepting. Then there had been Snow. Slow to adjust, but willing to remain open in understanding. At this point that was all that mattered to Emma. They were on the right track for healing and there would be some rough patches ahead, but for today they were in a good place for celebration.
As past memories and the most recent since being home swirled in her mind's eye, green glassed. So much had changed since that late night in the last week of November when the do over spell had been cast, a journey to another world, and home again when broken. Many challenges crested, trials passed, boundaries pushed, and love carried her through all of it under her Keeper's guidance and protection. Needing a moment, she excused herself. Catching Mal's ever observant soft eyes as she left, she gave a small smile.
The Dragon watched the small blonde scurry upstairs and traveled into the kitchen; taking Queen about the waist from the back she rested hands on the curve of hips. "Smells divine." Catching more than a whiff of the simmering sauce on the stove as she rested a cheek near Regina's blushing one.
Red mouth teased. "The sauce or me?"
"If I say both, do I get a taste?" Silk whispered in ear.
Scoffing in jest. "Only if you behave the rest of the party."
"Just the party or after?" Mal brushed lips to a cheek gently, grinning deliciously as the Queen shivered under her liquid touch.
Regina moved slowly away, pot in hand and began pouring the Alfredo sauce into a serving dish for the chicken. "You are distracting me, dear." Turning finally and holding up the stirring spoon with a cupped hand underneath up to an amused mouth, allowing Mal a taste of her creamy sauce.
They had decided rekindle their relationship again, without a timeline or expectations, save for one promise. Agreeing, after stretch of conversation the night Regina had regained her powers, for the past to stay at rest where it belonged. Remembering the foundation of what was already there between them brought the security they both needed to move forward. Starting again easy as falling into step alongside one another. Regina smiled fondly, recalling when she had told Emma the news a few days ago. The girl had been elated and full of questions she didn't have answers to yet, but looked forward to the vast possibilities of.
Blue eyes nearly rolled back in want of more. "The sauce is perfect, you've outdone yourself again." Moving to clear dishes to the sink as the Queen turned off the stove. "Your girl slipped upstairs by the way. She seemed not quite right, but nothing alarming. I'll finish bringing the dishes out and gathering everyone." Knowing Regina was already untying an apron to go check on Emma before she turned to confirm. "I will put a warming spell too on what's needed, so take your time."
Tossing the apron on the counter, Regina encircled the Dragon's neck, losing herself in open blue sky full of understanding comfort. Leaning in, red met burgundy, light and sweet. "Thank you. We'll be down in a little bit."
Heels passed through the archway, smiling at the Charming couple and Neal as she passed, bigger still as Belle and Ruby came around the corner. Two sweethearts reunited arm in arm laughing with Granny on their heels. Old wolf muttering with a grin on needing to start a new blanket for a grand wolf pup the way the lovebirds were carrying on. Softer eyes still for Henry and Paige who simply chatted and observed the room. Quick feet went upstairs and a knock said hello on an open white door. Green eyes turned from watching Jasper swim and beckoned her in with a wave.
"Are you alright, baby?" Regina closed the door behind her, moving to join Emma where the girl came to sit on the purple bench at the foot of the bed.
"Yeah, I am actually. I just needed a few minutes of quiet to think on my own." Resting a head on the brunette's shoulder as an arm pulled her close.
Kissing the top of a braid. "Careful, dear heart. You are turning into me."
"As if that's a bad thing Mama." Emma teased, dimples brief as she fingered the tiny vial clutched in her palm, having grabbed it from the drawer of her nightstand upon coming upstairs. She could feel the life changing liquid rolling in the glass, as a question would on a curious tongue.
"What is on your mind?"
"Remember when you asked my little half what family meant to her before the spell broke?"
Nodding, Regina brightened. "Like it was yesterday. She said it was all the good feelings." Heart stretching in smile around the memory. Lifting a chin and studying green. "And what does family mean to you my sweet girl?"
Open and clear. "I think it's more like all the feelings, even when they are hard, like with Snow before or even between us sometimes. And maybe our family is bigger than I thought..." Taking the Queen's hand, Emma folded fingers of a royal palm around the potion bottle. Freely given. "And I, all of me, wants to try this one out for a while Mama."
Quiet wonder over the bottle. "Emma… This potion is all you have wanted for months."
"But it's not what I need. I get that now." Holding both hands in hers. "I need you, how we are, and what our family is becoming."
Pulling Emma into her arms, Regina held tightly. She had spoken about the potion with each part of Emma over the course of the last week. Having given it to pale hands after the last talk had been completed with this part Thursday night. Each had reacted the same; pensive with few words over the want of a wish that had finally come true. It was Emma's choice to make, all parts of her, and Regina was firm in that. Gift in palm of more time as they were, acceptance and love of what they had become and could still be, had words disappear altogether. Queen, was full and bright eyed.
Emma nested into her Keeper, speaking into dark hair as words flowed easily. "Keep this safe for us. Maybe one day we'll be ready, but right now, we're not done yet Mama." Grateful the choice was finally hers. No magic, no Imp or breaking spell would decide fate for her.
Speaking easily for all parts of a shared heart. Emma almost heard the whispers of agreement from depths of her healing core, though, so clearly from the embrace of support she was wrapped in. Emma, truly and absolute, felt whole. She realized then enfolded in so many different hearts that home was not a place, but a shared journey traveled with those that walked the same path. Not always straight and easy or even curved with hardships, but for her there was always one consistent comfort. That of all the roles the hand she held possessed the most important and unconditional, Regina, would always be there when she went to sleep each night and when she woke to a new day.
Another adventure awaited them outside of the lavender room. In a house full of family, friends, and in a town of magic and possibility; there was a little girl, a teenager, and a swan.
But first, once upon a time, there was simply Emma.
And she was home.
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A/N – What a journey, huh? Thank you for joining me and them on this adventure. There will be a shorter spin off, the final piece of this journey coming next Saturday 9/15 called Different Loving.
In it, Emma and Regina welcome a new family member and learn how to navigate the triangle their shared relationship has now become. Focus is heavy on the little and teen versions adapting to the growing family unit. Fluff, some angst, but lots of love, humor, mischief and family feels. I hope to see you there! Yes, I am still taking ideas and requests. It is 50k strong and I am 2/3rds through. Updates will be on Tuesday's and Saturdays.
