Hey there! Here's a new chapter. I hope you like it! Thanks to all who are R&R, you guys totally make my day. =D
Chapter 8
"Where the hell were you?" asked the angry boy.
"Language Henry! I might be really cool but I'm still your mother." She gave him. "Besides, why are you so angry, I didn't miss anything did I?" she stretched her neck to better see the incoming royalty. All the artists were already positioned for the show. Jugglers already had their balls, pins and knives flying; clowns and jesters had a few closer people laughing at them and magicians had all their paraphernalia gathered and ready.
"Sorry, I just thought you had run away from meeting your mom." he whispered the last part. "And I kinda wanted you to be with me when mom showed up. I feel I might want to run and hug her." He looked at his feet. "I won't do it, but I think it's good we have each other as support."
She hugged him with one arm. "I know how you feel kid." she wasn't sure if what she meant was about her mom or about Regina. I think I might be going crazy. "I'm here now." She tightened her half hug.
"What have I missed so far?" came the voice of an over excited Robin.
"Are you drunk?" the blonde inquired.
"Not yet." He replied with a grin.
Their small talk was interrupted by the trumpets announcing Princess Snow, her father and the Queen. Emma felt Henry grab her hand. The kid was so smart and mature that she sometimes forgot he was that, a kid. She gave then his hand a reassuring squeeze. Emma observed her mother with keen eyes, she looked so young. None of the sorrow she saw in Mary Margaret there yet, nothing that would imply what was to come. There she was, the fairest of them all, as they say.
Emma's eyes were, however, drawn to the princess' left side, to the young Regina, in the same attire she had just seen her moments ago, with one difference: a pink lily placed on her dress above where her heart was. Emma smiled. "The fairest of them all." Escaped her lips before her brain processed the information.
"Yes, that's what they call her here. But don't you think mom looks really pretty too?" the boy asked her.
"I do, I really do." She answered getting out of her stupor. Did I really say that out loud? "Where's Robin?"
"He didn't even wait for them to appear. He said this was too boring and that he'd stay with the loaders outside. Apparently they are also responsible for unloading the wine." Henry replied never taking his eyes away from his future family. "He doesn't look neither as bad as mom says nor as nice as grandma paints him to be. He just looks like a chubby normal guy."
"If there's something this whole Evil Queen, Savior, good and bad crap… sorry… thing thought me, is that we should always have perspective. He probably is a normal guy who has qualities and faults, like all of us kiddo." She reasoned. This whole parenting thing is getting to me. Now I talk morals like an ABC Family's mom. Good god…
The boy just hummed in response.
##
The show should last the whole day, but it didn't take Emma long to get bored. She never really liked the circus, the whole thing of moving from one place to another hit too close to home. Of course it wasn't the same thing as moving from one foster home to another, but for some reason it felt that way. She knew now that the artist had to keep traveling in order to get more money, but the feeling got stuck with her ever since she was a child and went with her school to see the circus in town for the first time. Besides, clowns still freaked her out a little bit, but nobody had to know that.
Most of the noble were still there, for Princess Snow couldn't get enough of the show. The Queen and the King, on the other hand, had gone to their quarters quite some time ago. Regina, Emma had noticed, had watched the acts with little to no interest. Her always so expressive features were completely stoical during the show.
"Henry, I'm going for a walk, do you want to go?" the blonde asked.
"No, I'm staying with Remo. He said I have talent for drawing and will teach me how to tattoo!" exclaimed the kid. "He even found a guy who will let me try it on his arm!"
"I don't think so. Not a good idea Henry. You know those are permanent right?"
"Yes ma, and so does he. He knows I've never done it before and is ok with it. Pleeeeeeease" he pleaded.
"Fine, it's his arm… But don't go anywhere without Remo, Esme and Rob… forget it, don't follow Robin anywhere today." She warned but smiled.
"Yes, ma'am!" he saluted.
##
"I'm pretty sure, boy or not, you're still not allowed here."
Emma didn't have to turn round to know to whom that voice belonged.
"I can't help it, it's nothing like anything I've ever seen. It feels like home but at the same time like a whole new place." She gave talking not only about the beautiful garden while looking straight into Regina's eyes. What's going on?
"Yes, I know how you feel. It's the only place I feel comfortable in this castle." She realized she was sharing something too personal with a complete stranger. "But as I said, you're off limits." She raised her head in regal way.
"I know." Emma whispered. "I just have been away from home for so long that… it feels nice to see a familiar face." Seeing the questioning look in the brunettes face she added "so to speak."
"I guess. Where is home to you? You don't sound like anyone from here, or from anywhere I have visited." She was really curious.
"I see you like my flower." Emma tried to change the subject. Despite her curiosity, Regina let it pass.
"It's pretty. We don't have those around here." She said raising one eyebrow indicating she knew what Emma did but let it go. "You are a very good illusionist, I didn't see when you took it from your sleeve. You should be doing a show for the princess like the rest of your troupe." She said with some venom in her voice.
"It's not something I often do. There's only few occasions and people who bring that in me" she blushed and so did Regina. "You know, we have a friend in common… Tikerbell."
Regina's body stiffened at the mention of her fairy godmother's name. "we're not friends."
"Oh, I thought… -don't say too much- I thought she was helping you find your second chance at true love." Idiot!
"How in the name of the spirits do you know about this" Regina was feeling threatened now. Her entire body was getting into fight mode. "and how dare you say something like this in this castle. I love my husband. He gives me everything a woman could ever want."
"Except love." Emma was not able to control herself near this woman. Truth be told, she has never been. Regina's eyes were filled with tears and Emma could not tell if they were tears of sadness of anger.
"I could hang you for this kind of insolence! In fact I just might. Where are those useless guards when we need them?" she questioned looking around for said guards.
"Why don't you just admit that I'm what you've been looking for in a long time, someone who doesn't care about what the king thinks, who would never tell him on you and won't put up with your royal crap?" she laughed. No matter what realm or time, their dynamic seems always to be the same.
"How dare you…" Regina could no longer contain herself, she grabbed Emma's arms with both her hands not sure what she'd do in that position. She had never lost her temper that way, but for some reason felt like strangling the blonde. Anger tears, now Emma was sure, covered the queen's eyes. Surprising both of them the older woman just put her arms around the brunette's waist and brought her closer in a tight embrace.
"You can trust me, I swear." Emma whispered in Regina's ear, she could feel the young woman sobbing against her body. She could not imagine how this utterly fragile and broken woman would become the so feared Evil Queen and do all the terrible things she's done. After a few minutes Emma felt the grasp on her body to ease and the warm body beginning to back away. She didn't let go of Regina and kept her hands on the younger woman's arms unable to completely lose physical contact with the brunette.
"Why do you care?" inquired timidly Regina with her red rimmed eyes looking straight at the blonde's. Though Emma was the one who had the lying detector superpower, she felt like those piercing brown eyes could see right through her, not only being able to see a lie, but more, prevent the woman from even telling one.
"Honestly, I'm not entirely sure." She felt Regina's fingers catch a tear she didn't know was falling and smiled. Emma felt her eyes unwittingly dart to the Queen's lips and only go back to the young woman's eyes after hearing her loudly gasp.
Regina's heart felt like jumping out of her chest. The look on Emma's eyes was something she had never seen before, a look that made her feel understood for the first time in her life. Getting bold, she grasped the material of the blonde's shirt by her waist and began pulling the woman towards her own body. What am I doing? I'm a married woman. And she is a woman for spirits sake!
Emma felt like her brain was short circuiting. Oh my god, what's going on? Stop this nonsense now Swan! You know her, she doesn't know you. She is in pain, don't take advantage on that! Don't fuck the time line! Who am I kidding; I've been waiting for this to happen for too long… The blonde began leaning in and saw Regina's eyes closing slowly.
"Mom, where are you?" they both jumped at the sound of Henry's voice. "There you are, what are you…" he stopped at the sight of his other mother. "Good day your majesty." The boy bowed in respect making Emma proud of his self-control and ability to stay cool. I've got plenty to learn from this kid.
"Good day, dear. Is this your son Miss Swan?" regally asked Regina.
"Ye..yes. This is Henry, my son." She stuttered. That's where he gets his cool from then… "He and I are traveling with the Romani people as I told you before." She looked at her son who could not take his eyes away from the queen. She probably didn't notice, being used to stares. Little did she know this was a completely different kind of curiosity.
"I see. You failed to mention, though, that you were married with children." Her cold tone noticed by the blonde. Is she jealous? She has a husband too! Wait, I don't have one. WAIT, we're not together!
"I'm not married, your majesty." She teased hoping Henry would not pick up on the banter.
"Oh…" she blushed. "I assumed… Henry, what a lovely name. It's my father's name as well." She changed the subject.
"I know." He smiled. "You have a beautiful garden here your majesty. I particularly like that apple tree." He smirked giving his blonde mother a knowing look. Emma rolled her eyes at the joke.
Regina's eyes glowed at the comment. "That is also my favorite!" she exclaimed making her young age show. "My father planted it on my birthday. The king was kind enough to bring it here when we wedded." Her eyes lost the shine on the last statement. Both Charmings noticed.
"It's lovely." Henry said holding Regina's hand making the queen smile. Charm is in their blood, I see. Emma just watched the interaction dumbfounded, still a bit paralyzed about almost being caught kissing Regina. She shook her head hoping the madness would somehow fall from it and went back to the talking duo.
"Kid, I think it's time to go." She told the boy.
"Is it really, ma?" he gave her his best puppy eyes.
"I'm afraid so, kiddo. The show is almost over and we need to help Esme and Remo."
"Okey. It was a real pleasure to meet you, your majesty. I hope we meet again in the future." He smiled knowingly.
"I hope so as well, you're a very charming young man." Both Emma and Henry could not control a jolt of laughter. "Did I say anything funny?" asked the confused woman.
"Not at all, your majesty. It was a pleasure indeed. I too hope we meet again." Emma said kissing the queen's hand. "Soon." She whispered.