Do You Believe in Magic?
Chapter Eleven
Early the next morning, Regina couldn't sleep. Instead of getting out of bed and possibly making noise, she laid there, on her side as she leaned on her bent arm, and just stared at Quinn.
You're so beautiful. I can't imagine my life without you. I'm gonna make sure that never happens. Regina thought to herself.
Is she ready to be a wife? My wife? Am I ready to be hers? I need to talk with her Mom, first, Then see about the ring. Regina happily thought.
"You think too loud," Quinn groggily said as she stared at Regina.
"I'm sorry, Baby, go back to sleep…"
"What cha thinking about?"
"Um, nothing," Regina fibbed.
"Yeah, okay, sure," Quinn said as she winked at her, 'Kiss me before I turn over."
Regina dipped her head down and captured Quinn's lips in a passionate kiss.
"If your Mother wasn't down the hall, I'd make you scream my name," Regina whispered against Quinn's lips, which turned into a pout.
Regina smiled as she brushed a strand of blonde hair out of Quinn's eyes.
"Will you hold me," Quinn said as she snuggled closer to Regina.
She wrapped both arms around Quinn and hugged her tightly. Quinn put her head of Regina's chest and heard the calming beats of Regina's heartbeat.
"You know that every time my heart beats it whispers, 'I love you!' right?"
"My heart too! Did you do something when you held it in your hands," Quinn asked jokingly.
"Actually I could have given it 'orders', but I didn't," Regina supplied.
"My love, I was kidding."
"I'm not," Regina said honestly.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?"
Regina giggled.
A few minutes later they both were sound asleep and stayed sleeping for another hour or so.
When Regina woke up, she untangled herself from Quinn to put on a robe.
She walked downstairs to the kitchen to put a pot of coffee on. It was times like these when she wished she had better culinary skills.
Quinn will fix it! Regina thought.
"Good morning,' Judy said.
Regina twirled around and happily said, "Good morning, Judy…did you sleep well?"
"Yes, one of the best nights' sleep in many years," Judy said and added, "Was that, uh, your doing?"
"No, ma'am…"
Judy chuckled. "Maybe it's the knowledge that my daughter has found happiness," Judy said with a wink.
Regina blushed, but asked, "Would you like to spend time with me? Just us? I want to talk to you."
"Splendid idea," Judy said. Regina had begun to pour Quinn a cup of coffee.
"What's a splendid idea," Quinn asked as she directly walked to Regina for her coffee cup. It was almost like how a baby takes their first steps.
"Here…Your Mom and I are going out. I want to talk to her about something," Regina said.
"I can't come?"
"Nope, it's a surprise!"
Quinn jumped up and down. "I'll spend some time with the kid," Quinn said. As if on cue, Henry walked into the kitchen.
"It's you and me, kid," Quinn said as she fist bumped him.
"Cool, I wanted to talk to you so this is great," Henry said.
'Eat and then get ready," Quinn said motherly.
"Um, you too, Judy," Regina said timidly.
"Yes, Mom," Judy joked and they all laughed.
A little while later they left the house and went in different directions.
"I know it's not noon yet, but do you want ice cream?"
"Cool," Henry answered.
"Let's go. What did you want to talk about?"
"When are you going to ask my Mom to marry you?"
Quinn stopped short. Henry stopped walking ahead and Quinn caught up to him quickly.
"I don't know. When do you think I should?"
"Do you love her," Henry asked sincerely.
"Absolutely, Henry. I love her for all that she is. I can't see my life without her in it," Quinn said and started to cry.
Henry put his hand on her shoulder and kept it there until she stopped crying.
"Quinn, I didn't…"
"No, I know…Your Mom says that I've changed her. Well she's changed me as well."
"So…" henry urged.
"Yep, I know…"
At the docks…
"Are you enjoying your time here," Regina asked nervously.
"Yes, I am. This is a wonderful town despite how it came to be…"
"About that, I hope you know that I am immensely sorry for my actions. It was during a tumultuous time in my life. I was lost, so very lost, but if anything can come from that wretched curse, is that it brought me to your daughter," Regina said.
Judy had rested her arms on the railing that separated land from the large ocean that lay in front of them. She dropped one arm down to turn and look at Regina. "You truly love her?"
"Every time that I've told you that I love her, I truly mean it. I'm not trying to impress you when it comes to expressing my love for Quinn. I am, however, trying to impress you in other areas…"
Judy smiled, looked deeply into Regina's eyes, and calmly said, "You can stop because I am impressed. I am impressed with how you raise your son. I am impressed with how you treat my daughter. And I am impressed with how open you are with me."
Regina sighed happily.
"How old are you?"
"Well, here, in the 'real world', about 38…in the 'Enchanted Forest', older," Regina replied truthfully.
"Oh," Judy said a little shocked, "You don't look older than 30…"
"Age is just a number to me," she replied.
Judy returned to her resting position on the rail. She stared intensely at nothing and everything all at the same. Regina just watched her look at the water. The ocean calmed Regina. She didn't know what affect it had on Judy. Regina and Judy just stood there in silence. It was comfortable. Regina sighed happily and smiled.
"Are you thinking about her?"
Regina nodded her head, but didn't speak. There were no words necessary. Judy placed her hand on top of Regina's and squeezed it. They shared a smile.
They stayed like this for some time. The anticipation of what Regina wanted to talk to her about was mounting. She couldn't take it any more.
"I want to marry your daughter," Regina blurted out with a smile on her face.
Judy gave Regina her full attention after hearing what she said.
"I know," Judy replied easily, "When?"
"Um, um, um," Regina stuttered from the shock of the ease of the whole conversation.
Judy heard this and laughed out loud. "Regina, I'm not 'the evil stepmother'," Judy said with a warm smile.
"I didn't mean for you to think that you were," Regina quickly said.
Judy smiled.
"I wanted to marry her since I first met her at 'Granny's' restaurant. She captivated me from the very first second."
"She can do that. You have an engagement ring?" Judy asked with a smile.
I'm going for it! Regina thought to herself.
Judy watched as Regina placed her two hands, one on top of other. She started to move them in clockwise direction and quickly there was crystal smoke that emanated from her palms. Judy wasn't scared as she watched Regina create something out of nothing. It was oddly tranquil and peaceful. Regina's eyesight never left Judy's, just in case. Judy wore a smile so Regina wore one also. In a few minutes, Regina had brought her hands together. They held each other tightly. Regina shook them quickly and then opened them. In one of her hands, laid a beautiful, white diamond, encrusted engagement ring. It was adorned with ten diamonds that sat on the band of the ring. The diamond in the center of the ring was enormous.
"Does this work?" Regina picked it up and grabbed Judy's hands. She placed it in her hands and closed her hand around it.
Judy was rendered speechless. She opened her hand to gawk at it. She felt tears begin to fall down her cheeks.
"Aww, Judy, please don't cry. This is supposed to be a happy time," Regina pleaded as she put both of her hands on Judy's biceps. She sniffled and tried to control her emotions.
"I'm just…so happy for my daughter. She found what she has searched for. Love. Not just love, but also acceptance. Thank you, Regina," Judy said as she handed Regina the ring and then hugged her tightly.
Regina hugged back. "Mrs. Fabray, may I ask for your blessing to marry your wonderful daughter?"
"Yes, Regina, you may. On one condition…"
"What's that?"
"You make her happy," Judy said simply.
At Olaf's Ice Cream Parlor…
"I guess I have to ask you a 'very important question'…"
"What's that?"
"Henry, would you give me your blessing to marry your wonderful mother when we feel it's the right time," Quinn asked hopeful and nervously.
"Quinn, I'm honored that you asked me. I want my Mom to finally have her 'happy ending'. I truly believe that you are that for her," Henry said with a small smile.
"Is that a 'yes'?"
"A resounding yes," Henry said and high fived her.
"Come here, you," Quinn said as she jumped up and grabbed him. Quinn pulled Henry into a hug and kissed the top of his head. They finished their ice cream and then walked around the town. They magically drifted over to the jewelry store. They walked in not expecting to see anything that would grab their attention and Quinn's heart.
She walked over to the case and browsed through them. All of a sudden, she stopped in her tracks. She looked down into the case and saw it. It was a heart shaped, diamond encrusted ring with a silver band.
"Excuse me, could I please see this one?"
The salesperson walked over and removed the ring from the case.
"Henry, what cha think?"
"She'll love it because it came from you," Henry said happily.
They purchased the ring and then went home. Once they were home, Quinn ran up to their room and tried to hide the ring. She placed it in her underwear drawer. She heard the door slam so she raced down the stairs and catapulted herself into Regina's arms.
"I missed you," Quinn said as she peppered Regina's cheeks with sloppy kisses.
"I missed you too, Baby!"
Later that evening, they all were sitting in the living room. They were truly becoming a family and it just felt…right.
Quinn said, "I'll be right back!" She bolted up the stairs to their room. She retrieved the ring and bolted back down the stairs. She tucked the ring in her pocket. Henry had moved closer to Judy. He sensed that there was something happening.
"Where'd you go?"
"Just upstairs…"
Regina thought that she'd sit back next to her on the couch. Instead Quinn surprised her and knelt down in front of her, on her bended knee.
"Oh my God, Quinn, really?"
Quinn went to grab Regina's hands, but before she could, Regina knelt on the floor in front of Quinn.
"My love?" Quinn asked flabbergasted.
"May I please go first," Regina begged. Quinn just nodded her head.
"Quinn Fabray, from the very first second we locked eyes I knew that you would be a person who could change my life and outlook on it. As we got to know each other you became that person for me. You're my moral compass. You keep me honest. I love you for all of that, but there's one more thing that I love you for. You are my happy ending. Ever since I lost Daniel, I always assumed that love, true love, would be just out of my grasps. Then you came along. You, Quinn Fabray, are my happy ending. Would you do me the extreme honor of becoming my wife? Quinn, just marry me!"
Quinn nodded her head. "Yes!"
Regina shakily showed her the ring as she slid it onto Quinn's trembling ring finger.
Then she stood up and connected their lips together. After a few seconds, Quinn stopped the kiss and knelt down on her bended knee for Regina.
"Regina, I want to be your knight in shining armor. I want to rescue you from all of the dangers of this or any other world and sometimes I even want to save you from yourself. Regina, I want desperately to be the one you've searched for in the 'Enchanted Forest' and in the 'real world': your happy ending. You're the one, you're the one I'm going to marry, you're the one I'm going to love for the rest of my life, and I will never love anyone else like I love you. Will you marry me?"
"Yes, Baby, I'll marry you a thousand times over…"
Quinn slipped the ring onto Regina's finger. Immediately after, she placed her hands on either side of Regina's face and kissed her sweetly. They hugged each other after the kiss ended.
"I love you," Regina said with tears in her eyes.
"I love you too," Quinn said happily. Once the hug ended they looked over at Quinn's Mom and Henry. They were both crying.
Judy ran over to throw her arms around her daughter. "I am so proud of you, Quinn!"
"Thanks, Mom," Quinn replied still shocked by the whole experience.
Judy turned to Regina and said, "Welcome to the family. Call me Mom, Regina." She pulled her into a tight hug.
"Thank you. I don't take that privilege lightly, I hope you know," Regina said and began to cry.
Judy stopped Regina's crying by rubbing her back. "Shh…It's okay."
Quinn watched the interaction with a huge smile on her face. Henry walked up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. As soon as she turned, he pulled her into a hug.
"Congratulations," he said.
"Thanks, Henry…Um, I guess I'm going to be your step-mother. Uh, I won't be wicked," Quinn said and smiled.
"No…"
"No what?"
"You're gonna be my Mom," he said and smiled. "Wow. I now have three Moms…so lucky!"
Quinn smiled as she watched Regina break the hug with her mother to run to the door. She flung it opened and yelled, "I'm getting married!"
She startled some of the people who were outside, but they applauded the news.
"Quinn," she yelled as Quinn ran over.
"Yes, my love?"
"Come on," Regina said as she grabbed her hand and yanked her out of the house. They quickly sprinted to Granny's. Henry and Judy were right behind them, surprisingly.
When they reached the door of the restaurant, Regina pulled it open and stepped in.
"May I please have your attention?"
Everyone turned and saw it was their mayor. They immediately stopped talking. Regina took Quinn's hand and walked to the center of the restaurant. She raised Quinn's hand up in the air and exclaimed, "This astonishingly beautiful creature accepted my proposal…of marriage!"
The room exploded with applause.
Quinn then grabbed Regina's hand and held it up. "This exquisite and thoughtful woman, right here, also accepted my proposal!"
The applause was still heard for a few minutes. Then people walked up to them to congratulate them. Judy and Henry had entered the establishment, but stayed in the background. When the Snow White came up to offer her congratulations, Regina motioned for Judy to come meet them.
"Judy, this is Snow White. She is Emma's mother. Emma's Henry's biological mother," Regina introduced.
"Wow. What an honor…"
"Snow, this is Quinn's mother, Judy. She's a fan!"
"Well, thank you very much. Congratulations to you as well," Snow said to Judy, "Yeah, Quinn's great!"
"Thank you!" Judy said star struck.
"When's the wedding," Happy yelled out.
"We just got engaged, Happy," Quinn yelled back with a smile.
"Soon, I hope," Regina said.
XXX
The rest of Judy's stay was wonderful. Once she asked, "Regina, who's Daniel?"
Regina got quiet and Quinn held her hand. "Mom, Daniel was my first love, in the Enchanted Forest. My Mother killed him when she found out about our love. I was supposed to marry the King, but my heart belonged to Daniel," Regina said solemnly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. How'd she kill him," Judy asked.
"Hmm, Mom there's a maneuver that Regina can do," Quinn started to explain, "Um, it's shocking if you don't know it's going to happen."
"What is it?"
"I can remove people's hearts from their chests and either give them 'orders' or crush them into dust…"
"And your Mom had that 'talent'?"
"Yes, Mom. Again I'm not proud of this, but it is a skill, you could say," Regina said.
"Can you do it to me?"
"Excuse me," Regina asked shocked.
"Mom…" Quinn started to say.
"I want you to show me using my heart," Judy asked.
Regina looked at Quinn and vice versa. "I guess it couldn't hurt," Quinn said to her fiancée.
"Okay," Regina hesitated, "Mom, sit up straight."
No sooner than Judy sat up straight did Regina shoved her hand into Judy's chest and pulled out her heart.
Judy was stunned, but had a small smile on her face.
"I love your daughter so much. I want you to come back here whenever you want to. You're more than welcome," Regina talked into Judy's heart. Then she shoved Judy's heart and her hand back into Judy's chest and pulled her hand out. Regina smiled cautiously at her future mother-in-law.
"Wow," Judy said and took a few deep breaths.
"You okay, Mom," Quinn asked.
"Yes, I'm okay. That felt odd. Thank you for your words," Judy said as she looked at Regina.
"Sure. I told you I want to be honest with you so there was that," Regina said with a smile.
The next morning Judy left Storybrooke.
"I'll be back soon!" Judy promised as they walked with her to the car.
"Please, Mom, don't be a stranger," Regina said happily, "Thank you for talking with me."
"Regina, I can leave knowing that my daughter is not only cared for, but loved. I feel so safe knowing that she's with you," Judy said.
This brought a tear to Regina's eye. "I promise to protect her."
Judy nodded her head.
She looked at Quinn and said, "I love you, Sweetheart."
Quinn hugged her mother tightly and said, "I love you too. Thank you for everything you did for us. Text me when you get home?"
Judy nodded her head again. She then got into the car. She winked at Regina and Quinn as she closed the door.
The car started to pull away from the curb. Judy rolled down the window and said, "Love you, Quinn. Love you, Regina!"
"Love you too," they said in unison. They waved their hands until the car turned the corner. Once it did, Regina turned Quinn and picked her up from the ground.
"We're engaged," Regina said as they locked eyes.
"I still can't believe it," Quinn said happily.
"Henry's at Emma's and I have the day off," Regina said as she placed Quinn back onto the ground.
Quinn immediately grabbed Regina's hand and pulled her into the house, up the stairs, and straight to their room, where she slammed and locked the door.
~ "Olaf's Ice Cream Parlor" is a fictitious place, but it made sense with the character.