Do You Believe in Magic?
Chapter Eight
At 6:59pm that evening, three people occupied the auditorium. They were Quinn, Regina, and Henry. Regina impatiently tapped her fingernails against the podium that was on the little stage.
"Where are they?"
'Patience," Quinn said, confidently.
A second later, the doors flew open and an enormous crowd entered the large room. They quickly took a seat and pretty soon it was standing room only.
After a few minutes, Regina walked up to the microphone and tapped on it.
"Hello."
The room went silent.
"Thank you for coming out to meet our newest citizen…Quinn Fabray. We'll be taking questions from the audience, so whatever you'd like to know, please raise your hand, and you can ask."
Quinn calmed herself by flattening out her pants.
"May I present Quinn Fabray!" Regina said excitedly. Quinn stood up from her chair and walked over to the podium.
"Hello…this is thing on…" Quinn tapped the microphone and piercing feedback was heard.
"I've always wanted to do that…Thank you, Regina. Hi everybody. Thanks for coming out to meet me. I'm eager to take your questions. No question is too far out there for me. When you ask, just tell me who you are, okay?"
A polite applause was heard throughout the room. Mostly from Henry, Emma, and some others.
After the applause died down, there was dead silence.
"Anyone," Quinn asked and looked around. She could see Regina begin to get upset so she gently placed a hand on hers.
Henry raised his hand. "I have one…"
"Yes, Henry, I know who you are…what's your question?" Quinn asked happily.
"Where are you from, Quinn?"
"Good question, I'm from Lima, Ohio. It's a small town…I think it might be smaller than Storybrooke if that's even possible," Quinn said and laughed nervously.
Emma raised her hand. "I got one!"
"Yes, Sherriff Swan…"
"How did you find Storybrooke?"
"Ah, excellent question. Actually I like to think that Storybrooke found me. I was just driving along and once I crossed the city line, I felt an electric bolt. So I knew this place would be 'interesting'. Then I started to meet some of you…Hi, Ruby!"
Ruby waved her hand.
"And I knew that this place would be a perfect place to stay and explore," Quinn finished.
Regina had gone back to her chair. She was proud of Quinn for what she was doing. She knew that if she needed help Quinn would let her know.
"Do you know about us?" Granny yelled out.
Regina began to get up slowly. She wanted to hear how Quinn would answer.
"Yes, Granny, I do. Regina filled me in on the curse she created. I can't say that what she did was right. I can't judge her, but I do know her motive behind it."
"How do you know?" someone else asked.
"Well, what's your name?"
"Happy…"
"Well, Happy, I know that not having love or having it and then losing it can be very painful to a person's emotional state. I've had personal experience which actually the reason why I stumbled across your town."
"Who was that awful woman," a woman asked, but ducked behind a taller man. Quinn saw her and said, "Excuse me, Miss, did you ask something?"
"Um, yes, I asked who that awful woman was that came to town."
"And what's your name?"
"Belle, I work in the library," she said more confidently.
"Well that makes sense…" Quinn whispered and Regina heard her. She chuckled behind her.
"Well, Belle, that woman was my 'ex' you could say. She never wanted us to be anything more than what we were. She got married the day before I came here. I missed her wedding, on purpose, and Santana was just…uh, extremely pissed off."
"Where is she now," Angry asked.
Regina got up from her chair and walked over to the podium. "Despite all the wild rumors going around the answer is that, yes, I used some magic, but, no, I didn't turn her into anything and I did not stomp on her…"
"I thought that was hilarious though," Quinn interjected and started to giggle.
"I used magic because I feared for Quinn. No other reason. Quinn's 'friend' is currently on her honeymoon," Regina stated, "Other questions?"
Regina noticed Ariel was standing up so she whispered her name into Quinn's ear.
"What's your relationship with the Mayor," Ariel said.
"Well, first, Ariel, I like your red hair. I've always wanted to dye my hair, but I was too afraid of it looking horrible. Um, to answer your question, and I can just speak for myself. I am in love with your mayor," Quinn said passionately.
There were murmurs throughout the room.
"Even after what you know." someone else said.
"Yes. Regina just wants her happy ending, love. That was motive behind the curse. She made a choice and she has to live with it. I don't think you should keep condemning her because of it though. What did Elsa sing, 'let it go…let it go!'?"
"Yes, I did," Elsa said proudly.
"This is awesome," Quinn said happily.
"What about you, Madame Mayor," Ariel addressed her question to Regina.
Regina grabbed Quinn's hand and squeezed it. "The things that I have done in my past I cannot redo or pretend that they never happened. I take full responsibility for them and you have deepest apologizes. I wanted a happy ending. I want what you all had in your lives. I wanted it so badly that I cursed you to the 'real world' without the memory of who you were. I am sorry," Regina said and made eye contact with a few people. "Right now, I am absolutely in love with this beautiful creature standing in front of you. Even though we've just met it feels like we've known each other for our entire lives. I come to her my flaws and she comes to me with hers. I think we balance each other out."
"If I may add one more thing," Quinn interjected, "I love this town and I've only been here a few days. I love this town because I love Regina. I love her with my whole heart. I love her like no one's business. I never knew this type of love existed, but it does, and I have it."
"How long are you planning to stay," Snow asked as she dapped a tissue against her cheek to stop the tears.
"I plan on staying as long as Regina will have me," Quinn said as she turned to look at Regina.
"Well, I guess she's staying indefinitely then," Regina said overjoyed.
The room applauded genuinely as the two women on stage hugged each other. "I love you," Quinn whispered in Regina's ear.
"I love you more," Regina whispered back.
All of a sudden the double doors flew open and a dark cloud of fog came rolling into the room. The citizens screamed and chaos was about to break loose.
"Regina, who is that?" Quinn asked frightened. She was still in Regina's arms so she shielded her face against Regina's shoulder.
"I suspect it's Rumplestiltskin…or Mr. Gold, in the real world."
"Oh, should I be afraid," Quinn asked.
"Nah, I'm here. And I told you that I'd protect you," Regina said as she brought Quinn's chin up with her fingers. Once they were staring at each other, Regina leaned forward and kissed Quinn's nose. Then she broke the embrace.
She looked for Emma and found her ready for action if it came to it. Emma saw Regina and nodded in her direction.
The fog faded slowly to reveal a man with a cane. He stood tall even though he wasn't.
"What do you want Rumplestiltskin?" Regina demanded. She immediately morphed into the Evil Queen persona.
"Me…I just wanted to meet our newest citizen," he said in Scottish brogue. He started to approach the stage when Belle begged, "Rumple!"
"Sit down, woman," he demanded and Belle dejectedly sat back in her chair.
Regina was about to say something when Quinn put her hand on her arm. "It's okay," Quinn whispered into Regina's ear.
"You sure?"
Quinn nodded her head and then turned to face the doubtful citizen. Regina returned to her seat, but sat on the edge of it. If she had to, she would spring into action.
Quinn confidently said, "Hello, Mr. Gold. Do you have a question for me?"
He walked up to the stage and they locked eyes for a split second before he turned around to address the audience.
"We've heard how you came to Storybrooke…we've heard some about the person you left behind…"
"She left me behind, Mr. Gold," Quinn interrupted. Gold shook his hand at her like it wasn't significant.
"Whatever. We've even heard about your attraction to her," Gold said distastefully.
"It's Mayor Mills, to you, Gold," Regina yelled as she stood up and walked up to Quinn's side.
"Is there a question in there somewhere," Quinn said impatiently.
"Is there a question? Is there a question?" Gold mocked and shook his head.
Both Regina and Quinn folded their arms at the same time.
"Well, if you don't answer Quinn's question I'll have you removed," Regina said and nodded at Emma to approach.
"By the time that she'd get to me, I'd be gone…"
"Try me," Emma said as she moved a little closer.
"Stand down," Mr. Gold ordered.
"That's my call," Regina snarled, "Really Gold…What's your question?"
"Well, it's rather simple," he said.
"Okay," Quinn drawled out.
"Ms. Fabray…Quinn…Do you believe in magic? Do you believe in fairy tales?"
Regina laughed and said, "Is that your question?"
"No, Regina, I think it's a fair one," Quinn said as she looked at her girlfriend.
"Well," Gold said in anticipation.
"Prior to coming here, no, sir, I didn't…"
The audience was shocked. "What?!"
"Yes, it's true. The whole 'I'm going to pull a rabbit from somewhere it's not supposed to be' idea isn't real to me. I don't believe, and correct me if I'm wrong Mr. Gold, that's not what you're referring to, is it?"
Gold merely shook his head in confirmation.
"Mr. Gold is referring to real, authentic magic. Magic that defies everything you know or think you know. Magic like curses and Enchanted Forests, and portals, if you have them. I you're talking about these things, Mr. Gold, I believe. I believe more strongly with every day that I'm in this town. But there is one magic that Gold has forgotten…"
"Oh, and what is that?" Gold turned to face the stage.
"Simple…it's the Magic of Love! This magic is the best kind. It radiates off of this marvelous creature!" Quinn said with love in her voice as she reached for Regina. The audience erupted in applause. Regina immediately put her hand on Quinn's back. They faced the audience with two of the largest grins on their face.
"I love you," Regina whispered through her smile.
"I love you too, my love!"
While the applause was still going on, Gold created another whirlwind of fog around himself. This time it was larger than the first one. He vanished in a few seconds, but the fog stayed a few extra seconds until it evaporated.
"Did I win?" Quinn asked in bewilderment.
"It looks like it, my dear," Regina said through her large smile.
Quinn turned Regina so they were face to face. She then placed her hands on both sides of Regina's face and pulled her in for a sweet, passionate and much needed kiss. This made the dying applause begin again.
There was flash of lightening. "Shit, who's that?" Quinn asked as their lips parted.
"Just a camera, Baby!"
"Oh, good," Quinn said and dove back into the kiss.
Later that evening, once Henry was asleep, Regina and Quinn went to their bedroom to change their clothes, Quinn asked, "Do you think it went well?"
"I believe it did. You were a rock star. It didn't seem like you were nervous at all," Regina said proudly as she wiped at what little make up she had on.
"After the initial question from Henry, it felt like I was having a conversation with them…not at them…"
"Oh, by the way, you turned me on when you stood up to Gold," Regina said seductively.
"Really?" Quinn said she pulled Regina into her body and wrapped her arms tightly around Regina's tiny waist.
"Absolutely," Regina whispered as she connected her lips onto Quinn's.
They kissed for a long while with their tongues gently massaging each other. They pulled each other as close together as possible.
Quinn pushed them back against the bed. When she knew they were close enough she disengaged her lips from Regina's and gently but firmly pushed her backwards. Regina fell backward onto the mattress, but she pulled Quinn with her. They landed roughly on the bed. Quinn put all of her weight onto Regina. When she knew she had Regina's attention she looked deeply into her sparkling eyes.
"I want you to know, Regina, that I am so in love with you. You have my heart, metaphorically, mind you, so please don't break it," Quinn said and kissed her nose.
Regina looked deeply into hazel eyes and lovingly said, "I love you so much too. I am beyond the moon for you, my dear. I could never and will never hurt you. I love you too much to do that. I'm yours and you're are mine, remember that, please?"
"Till the day I die," Quinn said and hugged Regina so tightly.
"Can you do me one favor?"
"What's that," Quinn whispered as she yawned. Her head was placed on Regina's chest and she heard her heartbeat.
"Don't go to Gold's store without me. I don't want him doing anything crazy," Regina said motherly.
"Hmm," Quinn agreed and then she kissed her passionately.