"This is Walsh?" Regina jumped up. "The flying monkey you were fucking?"
"Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs from Omaha: at your service, ma'am" Walsh bowed.
"No, wait… what?" Emma was completely confused.
"My real name, Emma," he smiled.
"You cannot be serious," Regina rolled her eyes. "You're taste in men, Emma, really! And enough with the Midwest already! I'm about to wish some people into the cornfield!"
"Um, Regina," Emma looked at her skeptically, "you hardly have room to talk."
"Wow, Emma," Regina shook her head, "just wow."
"I'm so sorry I was a beast when last we met," Walsh offered.
"Yeah, literally," Emma eyed him. "What should I call you now?"
"Oz will do," he sat beside her. "I was hoping we could pick up where we left off? There was a proposal on the table."
Emma frowned as she shook her head.
"I think things might have changed a little. Regina?"
"Walsh!" Henry ran up unexpectedly. "What are you doing here?"
"I was in the neighborhood and thought I might drop in!" he replied cheerfully.
"I was worried about you," Henry continued. "I found out you were one of the Wicked Witch's flying monkeys and my Mom zapped a lot of them!"
"Unfortunate," Oz pondered. "Emma, you have come into your powers?"
"I do have powers," Emma confirmed. "But I wasn't the one who sparked the monkeys."
"No," Henry confirmed as he looked at Regina. "That was my other Mom."
Oz gazed at her.
"Yep. I'm his Mom, too."
He turned to Henry.
"So, you have two Mommies, then?"
"It's great, Walsh!" Henry replied enthusiastically.
"Who is this scofflaw?" Hook came upon the scene. "Is he bothering you ladies? Shall I keelhaul him?"
"He's harmless," Emma shook her head.
Regina was working her phone.
"Hey guys, what's going on over here?" Ariel queried.
"The witch's magic is wearing off. We could have monkeys falling all over town. I'm tweeting out a warning."
She snapped a photo of Oz.
"I've got to get this out on Instagram and Facebook, too."
"Really?" Emma questioned.
"I am the mayor. It's my civic duty!"
"Regina!" Emma demanded her attention.
"What?"
"We were having a conversation?" Emma lifted her brow.
"It was a private conversation," Regina nodded at the people suddenly gathered around them.
Emma got a text.
"Shit! It's Mary Margaret," she said, "I forgot. I told her I'd help her with some last minute baby-prep."
"You go," Regina said, "I've got Henry!"
"Thanks, Regina!" Emma replied as she gathered her things and rushed off.
Regina took Henry's hand.
"Let's go get some ice cream," she smiled.
As they walked away, she turned and shot a look at Killian.
"Hook!"
"Regina?"
"Keelhaul this guy!"
"With pleasure," Hook sneered as he lifted Oz by the collar.
"Mom!" Henry called out.
"What?" Regina shrugged.
/
Emma finished the last minute shopping with Mary Margaret. They sat down for a cup of tea in the loft.
"Last time we had a drink here, it was pretty weird," Mary Margaret noted.
"Speaking of weird," Emma said, "I was at the lake with Regina. She got down on one knee, Mom… I think she was going to propose to me!"
"Why is that weird, honey? She loves you."
"Because I've been so nasty to her since I found out about the…"
"Let's not revisit that unpleasantness," Mary Margaret took a sip of tea. "You have to let that go, Emma. It had nothing to do with you."
"I know. But just tell me one thing: Did Regina do it with Granny?"
Mary Margaret almost spit out her tea.
"Don't be ridiculous! Granny was in the palace nursery with the children as I recall. Tinkerbell just likes to yank Regina's chain."
"Tinkerbell," Emma said derisively.
"Sweetheart?" Mary Margaret questioned. "Are you jealous?"
"No!" Emma shot back. She sighed as she relented. "Well, maybe… a little."
"Regina doesn't love Tinkerbell. She loves you."
"She has a funny way of showing it."
"Emma Louise Swan, quit being so stubborn!"
"Um, wait a minute, my middle name is Louise?"
"You need to patch things up with Regina," Mary Margaret ignored her question. "Do you have any idea how hard it was for her to get down on one knee before you? She doesn't deal well with emotions."
"Really? 'Cause she's shown enough of them to me!" Emma smirked.
"I mean tender feelings, Emma. It's not easy for her to take a chance like that. What did you say?"
"I didn't get a chance to say anything! She never finished. Walsh dropped out of the sky into the lake and the whole thing went south from there."
"How unfortunate," Mary Margaret shook her head. "Walsh was your boyfriend in New York, right?"
"Right. But he wants to be called Oz now."
"How odd," Mary Margaret uttered.
"Tell me about it," Emma nodded.
"What would you have said if he hadn't shown up?" she continued.
"She was doing a really good job. She said I was her moon and stars; her rising sun."
"That's beautiful, Emma."
"I know, right? It made me feel so special, like I was the only one in the universe she could see."
"You two are so obviously meant for each other," Mary Margaret sighed. "True love will not be denied."
"I dunno'. We'll see."
"Don't wait, Emma. If you want her, go after her! You don't want to have any regrets."
"Yeah, but how? She can be such an asshole, you know?"
"You'll think of something," Mary Margaret smiled sweetly as she patted Emma's hand.
Suddenly, the look on her face changed as she put her hand to her belly.
"Emma! The baby's coming!"
/
Henry spent the night at Regina's house. It felt comforting to be back in his old room, surrounded by his things. He got up early and looked over his old possessions. There was a knock at the door.
"Henry?" Regina said softly as she poked her head in.
"It's okay, Mom. I'm up."
She sat down on the bed with him.
"How does it feel to be home?"
"It feels great. But, it's hard to believe that I've been gone for so long."
"Up until a couple days ago, I hadn't even realized a year had passed," Regina said.
"So, in that year Mom… nothing happened but that you burned down the Enchanted Forest?"
"Well, that was what mattered to most people," Regina sighed.
"I'm glad, Mom. Now people can stop worrying about going back there and just focus on their lives here."
"I'm happy you feel that way, Henry," Regina stated appreciatively. "My sentiments, exactly."
"I mean, I'm sorry that people lost their houses and everything," he continued. "But, you can give them a good life here, can't you Mom?"
"I can and I will!" she pronounced firmly.
"So, um, at the lake… you were on one knee kissing my Mom's hand. Did you ask her to marry you?"
"My, what big eyes we have!" Regina smiled at him.
"Did you? It's okay, you know. We're already a family, but that would just kinda' make it official, right?"
"I didn't actually get around to it. Her friend from New York dropped in on us."
"You mean Walsh?"
"He goes by Oz, now."
"Oh," Henry scratched his head. "That's weird."
Regina rolled her eyes.
"Tell me about it."
"I'm pretty sure my Mom would rather marry you than him."
"That's reassuring. Thank you honey," Regina replied.
"You know, there was something else of significance that happened in our lost year," she put her arm around him.
"Yeah?"
"Congratulations, Henry! You have an uncle!"
"Mary Margaret had the baby?!" he exclaimed.
"Last night."
"Can we go see them?"
"I think we should. David and Emma brought them home this morning. Go get dressed!" she ruffled his hair before exiting the room.
Henry found her outside a few minutes later picking apples from her tree and placing them in a basket.
"That's a good idea," he noted. "Bringing apples."
"Your mother specifically requested them," Regina shrugged.
/
When they arrived at Mary Margaret and David's loft, Henry ran in eagerly.
"Where's the baby?" he shouted as Regina laid the basket of apples on the counter.
"Shhh!" everyone turned to him.
"The baby's sleeping," Emma informed quietly.
"Glad you could make it," she nodded to Regina.
"Can we see him?" Regina whispered.
"C'mere, you two," Mary Margaret called out softly.
"Oh, he's amazing!" Regina cooed.
"He's so tiny," Henry's eyes were wide as he touched the baby's hand.
"But his fingernails are perfect!" he marveled as the child reflexively opened his hand and closed his tiny fingers around Henry's.
"Can I kiss him?" he asked.
"Gently," Mary Margaret smiled. "Be careful not to wake him."
"So what are you going to call him?" Regina asked as Henry laid the softest of kisses upon the baby's head.
"Still haven't decided, yet," Mary Margaret informed. "But, I'm leaning towards Leopold."
Regina raised her eyebrows.
"I will pay you cash money not to name him that," she deadpanned.
"Hey, buddy," David tugged at Henry's shirt. "Your Mom and I are still struggling to put his crib together. Wanna' help?"
"Congratulations, David," Regina stated earnestly. "He's beautiful."
"Thank you, Regina," David smiled proudly. "C'mon Henry!"
As David, Emma and Henry busied themselves with the crib, Mary Margaret turned to Regina.
"A word, Regina?"
Regina stared at her quizzically.
"What? Now?"
"Having this baby reminded me of all the time I missed with Emma."
"Shit," Regina sighed as she sat down gently on the bed opposite Mary Margaret. "I thought we were over this."
"I so desperately want to see her happy. I owe her that." She took Regina's hand in her own. "You make my daughter happy."
Regina actually blushed, as she was caught off guard.
"I didn't expect you to say that," she whispered.
"It's true. Emma told me she thought you were going to propose to her at the lake, before you were interrupted."
"Is nothing private in this town?" Regina complained.
"What are your intentions towards my daughter?"
Regina looked up to the ceiling fan, then out the window.
"Regina?"
"It's hard for me, Mary Margaret," she paused as her eyes filled with tears, "to admit my feelings, you know?"
"I know. That's why what you did at the lake was so amazing."
"Listen," Regina looked her in the eyes, "I love Emma. She's everything."
"You want to be a family with her and Henry?"
"More than anything."
Mary Margaret bobbed her head like Beyoncé as she placed one finger in the air.
"If you like it, then you betta' put a ring on it!" she smiled broadly.
Regina laughed out loud, before putting her hand to her mouth so as not to wake the baby. Emma, David and Henry looked up momentarily.
"Oh, I do like it," Regina whispered.
"T.M.I.," Mary Margaret shook her head.
"I think I get the point," Regina tilted her head slightly.
"Do you? So, when do you think you'll get around to it?"
"Jeez, pressure much? You just had a baby, relax! I'll get back around to it! It was hard enough the first time."
"Regina?" Mary Margaret drew out her name.
"What?" she protested. "You and Henry seem to be assured that she'll say yes, but I'm not convinced. She's been awfully pissed at me, lately. And you know how stubborn your daughter can be!"
"You are both too stubborn for your own good! I don't know how you'll ever get together if one of you doesn't budge!"
"I'm sorry, Snow," Regina looked at her affectionately. "I didn't mean to upset you on this happiest of days. I will do right by your first child, I promise."
"That's better," Mary Margaret yawned.
"Time for Mom to get some rest, I think," Regina brushed a strand of hair from Mary Margaret's face.
"Mm-hmm," her eyes drifted shut.
Regina walked over to the crib-building debacle.
"Henry can stay with me for awhile, while you guys get settled in," she offered.
"Whadda' you think, Kid?" Emma gave him a wink.
"I would like that," he smiled.
"Okay, then. It's settled!" Regina smiled back.
"We should be going. I have a lot of work to do for the barbeque the day after tomorrow," Regina stated. "David, you'll bring your wife and child on Saturday?"
"Of course," he nodded assent.
"Good!" Regina held out her hand to her son. "Henry?"
"Regina," Emma stood up. "Thanks for everything."
"No worries," Regina replied as she and Henry headed for the door.
"Regina," Emma called her name again.
"Yes?"
"Thanks for the apples."
/
Regina stood on a redwood deck with steps that led down to a sandy beach. She could hear waves crashing upon the shore and felt the cool of a sea breeze as she breathed in the ocean air. Palm trees swayed gently across a bay. A song played softly all around her. A woman's voice sang hauntingly: I think it's strange you never knew… The light was stunning! Clouds were illuminated by… what?
"You are my rising sun," Emma's voice came from behind her.
"Emma!" Regina was stunned. "You did this?"
"My version of a magic dream world," Emma shrugged. "What do you think?"
Regina slowly pirouetted to take in the view.
"Magnificent!" she paused.
"I wanted to impress you," Emma smiled shyly.
"You have! But how did you do this? A spell like this takes some expertise!"
"I may have had some help," she teased.
"Really? Who? I thought I was your teacher," Regina questioned.
"The Internet," Emma replied. "You can find anything online these days!"
"Apparently so," Regina wondered.
"You are my dream world," Emma took her into her arms and began to dance with her slowly.
"Oh God," Regina sighed as she laid her forehead against Emma's. She kissed her softly. "You are magic."
"My moon and stars," Emma whispered into her ear as two stars appeared in the sky.
"So, is it night, or day?" Regina asked.
"Are the stars out tonight?" Emma sang softly into her ear as a new song was wafted upon the breeze. "I don't know if it's cloudy or bright. I only have eyes for you, dear."
"You're singing to me?" Regina's voice was barely audible. "No one ever sings to me."
"Then I'm your first."
Emma twirled her around.
"So, do you like the outfit?"
Regina looked down and surveyed her attire: black leather jacket on top of a simple white dress. No shoes.
"It's perfect," she smiled. She gazed at Emma's outfit: a sleeveless white undershirt tucked into blue jeans. She was barefoot, as well.
"So, I'm still the girl, huh?"
"Maybe," Emma gave her a mysterious look.
"I can feel my hair's shorter," Regina said as they re-engaged in their slow dance.
"It's like when I first met you," Emma informed.
"Do you like it better this way?"
"I like your hair however you wear it," Emma kissed her. "I'm new at the dream world thing. I couldn't control hair. But, yeah, it's very attractive like this. Kinda' sporty and youthful."
"But, how did you get me here?" Regina asked. "There had to be a powerful familiar."
"Aah!" Emma disengaged and retreated into the open room adjoining the deck. She came out fondling an apple in each hand. "Your apples!"
Regina smiled broadly.
"That's why you wanted them!"
"I always want your apples, Babe," Emma gazed at her lovingly before taking her into her arms once again.
"The moon may be high. But I can't see a thing in the sky." She sang. "I only have eyes for you."
Emma kissed her lips, took both hands into her own and got down on one knee.
"Oh my God, Emma!" Regina gasped.
"Regina Mills, I don't care who you fucked or who Tinkerbell says your true love is."
Regina was struck silent.
"I could not love you more. You take my breath away. Will you…"
"Oh God yes!" Regina pulled Emma up and jumped into her arms so that she straddled her. She kissed her passionately until they both fell to the ground laughing.
"You were going to say marry me, right?" Regina flashed her a radiant smile.
"If you had let me finish, bee-atch!" Emma teased.
"What did you call me?" Regina pinned her to the deck.
"A bee-atch." Emma repeated.
"Well this bee-atch is fast! You want me? Try and catch me!"
Regina threw off her jacket and ran down the beach.
"You already said yes," Emma called after her.
"Can't catch me!" Regina mocked.
"She cannot be serious," Emma shook her head as she jumped up to chase her.
Regina stood still as a statue until Emma was mere feet from her. Suddenly, she turned and ran down the wet, sandy beach. Try as she might, Emma could not catch her.
Wow! She is fast!
Emma tried a new tactic. She disappeared and reappeared directly in Regina's path. She caught her with both arms.
"Gotcha!"
"That's cheating," Regina protested.
"There are no rules here," Emma held her tight as she squirmed to get free.
"Two can play at that game," Regina kissed her and promptly disappeared, leaving Emma holding air.
"I'm over here!" Regina called from down the beach as she splashed her feet in the surf. "Play fair this time!"
She began to run again. Emma appeared in her path. Just as she was about to grab her, Regina disappeared, causing Emma to lose her balance and fall into the waves.
Regina stood with both hands on her hips as she peered at Emma.
"I've got mad skills!" she smirked. "Payback for the water spout at the river!"
"You already got me for that one!" Emma walked up to her from the surf.
"But, this was more fun!" Regina was still smiling.
Emma lurched at her, but she disappeared again.
"Right behind you," Regina startled her as she placed both hands on her rear.
"Right behind you!" Emma grabbed her.
Before Regina had time to react, Emma flipped them both into the water. They rolled around momentarily as a wave crashed down upon them, before settling on the edge of the shore. As the surf lapped at their bodies, they embraced and kissed.
"This is fun," Emma smiled.
"So, is there a bed in that room off the deck?" Regina eyed her seductively.
"Why, whatever could you be thinking, Ms. Mills?" Emma feigned shock.
Regina's reply was a deep, passionate kiss.
"It's a futon, actually," Emma announced breathlessly.
"I don't care, so long as it's warm and you're in it," Regina stated, "naked."
"Okay, but no tricks!" Emma responded. "No more disappearing!"
"No. We'll walk back."
As they walked hand in hand into the small room, Emma cried out.
"Regina! I almost forgot!"
"Forgot what?" Regina was alarmed.
Emma put her hand in her back pocket and pulled out two engagement rings.
"Emma," Regina gasped. "They're beautiful! Wherever did you get them?"
"From Gold, actually."
"Gold?"
"He promised me they weren't cursed or enchanted or anything. Just two regular rings."
"They are anything but regular, Emma! Look at the diamonds. Exquisite! However did you afford them?"
"He gave them to me."
"Wait," Regina glanced at her quizzically. "He gave them to you? Are we talking about the same Mr. Gold?"
"He said he was in my debt and that he didn't like being indebted to others."
"Now that sounds like Gold." Regina nodded.
Emma held one ring up before Regina's eyes.
"Let me finish this time," she admonished before exhaling deeply. "Regina Mills, will you marry me?"
"Yes," Regina gazed at her lovingly.
Emma slipped the ring on Regina's finger. Regina took the other ring from Emma's hand.
"Emma Swan, will you marry me?"
"Yes," Emma watched in amazement as Regina slid the ring onto her finger.
"This is incredible. I didn't know I would feel this way," Emma stammered. "Seeing a ring on your finger and a ring on mine. It's beyond any words that I have."
"Then let's not speak," Regina took her into her arms and kissed her.
Emma unbuttoned Regina's dress. As it fell to the ground, Regina lifted Emma's shirt over her head. She unfastened her jeans and pulled down the zipper, but Emma struggled to get out of her pants.
"Damn," she complained. "They're a little tighter when they're wet."
Regina gave them a hard tug, pulling them off her hips. She eyed the golden place between her thighs hungrily. She yanked the jeans down to her ankles and pushed her onto the bed. As she did so, Emma's legs fell apart, revealing her full womanhood to Regina.
"Geezus, Emma," Regina breathed lustily as she slid her hand up and down Emma's slick folds.
"Regina, wait! I'm not out of my pants yet!"
"Too bad," Regina said as she ducked her head between her legs and began licking and probing with her tongue.
Emma's eyes fluttered shut. "Oh God."
As their bout of lovemaking subsided at long last, the two women gazed at their rings.
"You know who we have to thank for this?" Emma smiled.
"Your mother," Regina answered.
"Yeah," Emma gave her a quizzical look. "How'd you know?"
"She gave me a talking to. Let me know I better do right by you."
"She did the same to me," Emma laughed.
"She pulled Beyoncé out on me."
"No way! Mary Margaret?"
"Our little matchmaker!" Regina sighed.
"So why did you run away after I proposed to you?" Emma asked. "Not the kind of reaction a girl hopes for!"
"I felt suddenly light; like a child."
"So you wanted to play tag?"
"I wanted to run and feel the wind in my hair, the sand between my toes. One of the things I love most about you is that you help me to experience my joy. No one knows that part of me. I've not allowed it in myself, let alone with anyone else. But with you… it just comes."
"Nice to know I can help you channel your inner child."
"I thought this would never happen to me again: that I would find love like this. That someone would actually love me enough to want to marry me. Sometimes, I still don't know what you see in me."
"You're intelligent, strong, powerful, magical and, yet, somehow vulnerable all at once. How could I not love you? Not to mention, you're gorgeous on top of it all. I'm the lucky one. I should be asking what you see in me."
"You make me happy."
They relaxed into each other's arms and lay silent for a long time. The only sound was that of the waves, with their melancholy roar, crashing lonely upon the shore.
"You make me feel happy, too… like I belong," Emma finally said. "I never belonged anywhere before."
"You're home now, Em."
They fell back into a silence only punctuated by the cadence of the waves.
"I have that feeling again, Regina."
"What feeling is that?"
"The magic all around us, tingling in the air. It's like I could reach out and touch it. Feeling like I want to stay here with you… forever."
"I know, I feel that, too," Regina drew her close and kissed her head. "When did you set the timer for?"
"The timer?"
"Yeah, when you enacted the spell that brought us here, you created a timer to bring us back."
"Um… no?"
"What?!" Regina was in a panic. "Emma, without a timer, everything's out of whack! We could've been here five minutes real time, or five years!"
"Oh," Emma pondered sheepishly. "I guess I better get us back then."
Suddenly, they were laying in Regina's bed in Storybrooke.
"How'd you do that?" Regina was amazed.
"I don't know," Emma shrugged. "I just thought us back, I guess."
"Your power can be dangerous, Emma. We need to harness it. Hone it. Please promise me you'll talk to me before you try anything like this again!"
"But that would've ruined the surprise."
"Emma?" Regina arched an eyebrow.
"Alright. I promise."
"Good." Regina jumped out of bed and grabbed a robe. She threw one to Emma.
"Let's check on Henry. I just hope he's not thirty and wondering where his Moms disappeared to all those years ago!"
"You're being a little dramatic, I think," Emma mumbled as she tied the robe around herself.
Just then, they heard a voice in the hallway outside the bedroom door.
"Mom?" Henry asked. "Is that you?"
"Yes, Henry," they both answered as Regina opened the door.
Regina sighed in relief as she noticed he appeared the same age. Emma rolled her eyes.
"I'm glad your back," Henry smiled.
"How long have we been gone?" Regina asked anxiously. "What day is it?"
"Um, Saturday?" Henry gave her an odd look. "What day did you think it was?"
"Emma," Regina turned to her, "you better call your parents. We've been gone a whole day. They'll be worried."
"Relax, Regina," Emma shook her head. "I left them a note telling them I was going to be with you for awhile trying to figure out how to un-curse the town. They probably think were at your vault, or something. Chill. We're back in reality for like two seconds and you're acting like a complete neurotic already."
"Yeah," Henry chimed in, "Mary Margaret asked if I wanted to come and stay with them. But I asked her if Ariel could watch me instead and she said it would be okay."
"Ariel?" Emma questioned. "Ariel's been here with you? I'm not sure I like that!"
"Now who's being neurotic?" Regina chided. "She may be a dimwit mermaid, but she's harmless."
"She's a mermaid?!" Henry looked amazed. "That explains so much."
Regina glanced at the clock.
"Shit! It's half past nine. I've got the whole town showing up here in a few hours. I've got to shower, dress, check the preparations… "
"Go do your thing," Emma waved her off.
/
Regina managed to get everything prepared for the town invasion. She had set up booths for games in her massive backyard earlier in the week and they were now decked out with balloons and streamers. The band had set up on a temporary stage before a makeshift dance floor at the back of the yard. They began to play cheerfully. The BBQ pit was smoking, surrounded by tables with an assortment of food, drink and flowers on them. The weather had cooperated, as it was an unusually pleasant day for New England in the spring. She mingled among the townsfolk as they began to arrive.
Mulan and Aurora showed up wearing matching jeans and sweatshirts pushing the baby in a stroller.
"Good to see you two," Regina greeted them as she glanced down at the child.
"Your daughter is beautiful," she smiled. "I like the casual clothes, too. It's a good look for both of you!"
"A gift from Tinkerbell!" Aurora informed.
"Nice to see you out of uniform again, Mulan," Regina winked.
Mulan blushed furiously and then stared at the ground as Regina walked away.
"What was that all about?" Aurora questioned.
"I will explain later," Mulan sighed.
Granny arrived with Ruby in tow. She had cooked side dishes.
"Regina, where do you want this stuff?" she called out.
"The serving table is over here," Regina helped them set the food out. "Everything looks wonderful, Granny."
"Of course it does! You think you're the only one who can cook in this town?"
"Knock it off, Granny," Ruby elbowed her. "The place looks great, Regina,"
Belle and Gold passed by walking arm in arm.
"Gold," Regina nodded.
"Your majesty," he bowed.
"I guess I need to thank you for the gift you gave Emma."
"The rings or the help with the spell?"
"So you helped Emma with the dream world spell?"
"She came to Belle in the library for help. I merely referred her to the proper website: one few people know of. The rest, she did herself."
"Rumplestiltskin, reference librarian… who knew?" Regina smirked.
"She saved my sanity. It was the least I could do."
He looked at Regina's left hand.
"I see she put it to good use," he nodded.
"The spell or the rings?"
"Both, from the looks of it," he smiled slightly.
"You don't seem surprised," Regina pointed out.
"I'm not," Gold affirmed. "Unlike others in this town, I have long known of your liaison with Ms. Swan."
"What? How?"
"Surely, you know better than to ask me that," he raised his eyebrows cryptically.
"Where is Zelena?" Belle looked around nervously. "You don't have her locked in your basement with a view screen, do you?"
"She goes by Almira Gulch now and, no, she is not in my basement. We locked her up in the jail for the day, until we can figure out what to do with her."
"Good!" Belle declared vehemently.
"But she does have a view screen," Regina added. "Turns out David records his soap operas at the station. He doesn't want Mary Margaret to know he watches them. She's catching up on Days of Our Lives as we speak."
"Interesting," Gold pondered as they walked away.
Robin arrived trailed by his Merry Men. Little John had rejoined them. Regina made a beeline to them.
"I distinctly remember crossing you off the guest list," she said angrily.
"Nice ring," he admired.
"Yeah," Emma came up beside Regina and took her hand. "I gave it to her. I'll be keeping her heart from now on!"
"Ladies, we merely came to socialize with the townsfolk and to have fun. Surely we can all coexist peacefully!"
"It's your idea of fun that worries me," Regina shot back.
"Little John has rejoined us only today. It is cause for celebration! How can you deny us on such a joyous occasion?"
Mulan and Aurora joined them.
"They have promised me they will behave themselves," Mulan assured. "I have Robin's word on it."
"And you'll be responsible for them?" Emma questioned.
"I will."
"Just stay away from the punch bowls," Regina warned. "I've got my eye on you!"
"Indeed!" Robin flashed his most debonair smile.
"Hey! Watch it!" Emma warned. "And I don't want to see any arrows flying at Regina today either!"
"As you can see, I'm quiverless," he bowed.
"I don't know why you hang out with this guy, Mulan," Emma shook her head.
"Digging the clothes, by the way," she called back over her shoulder to Mulan and Aurora as she and Regina strolled away hand in hand.
"A gift from Tinkerbell," Mulan smiled back.
"Shit," Emma grimaced. "Is she going to be here, too?"
"Well, she is a part of the town now," Regina looked at her softly. "I thought you were going to let this go?"
"Yeah," Emma couldn't resist Regina's tender gaze, "your right."
Just then, Henry ran up to them with Ariel in tow.
"Mom! The games are great!"
"I like the one with the apples in the water!" Ariel informed breathlessly.
"She bobbed for apples and got them all in like fifteen seconds!" Henry enthused.
"Where is Prince Eric?" Emma asked.
"We left him at the place where you throw the round object into the net with a hole in the bottom. I didn't like it there, Henry," Ariel shuddered. "Fishing nets scare me."
"Basketball? It's just a game, Ariel," Henry comforted. "There's a hole in the net. It's not for fishing. Besides, Eric is great at it!"
"Alright then," she brightened. "If you say so."
"Hey, wanna' do the water guns again?" he asked excitedly.
"Let's go!" she smiled as they ran off.
"You two kids have fun!" Regina called after them.
Dr. Whale strolled the grounds with a plate of food and a superior look upon his face. Regina and Emma nearly bumped into him.
"Really!" he huffed.
"It's a party Dr. Whale," Emma laughed, "take that stick out of your butt long enough to enjoy yourself."
"Speaking of butts," Regina didn't skip a beat, "there was a dead squirrel out here this morning. Maybe you'd like to shove a battery up its ass and see if you can reanimate it."
"Really!" Whale huffed again as he stuck a chicken wing in his mouth walked off.
"I don't even know why he came with an attitude like that," Emma complained.
"He's looking for that dead squirrel, I'm telling you," Regina shook her head.
Emma laughed again.
Regina finally took a moment to sit down when Mary Margaret, David and the baby arrived. Mary Margaret sat with the baby in an oversized rocking chair on the back porch.
"Everything looks great, Regina," she smiled. "Tasteful and hospitable. And, so far, everyone seems to be having a good time."
"What do you mean by so far?" Regina questioned.
"You just never know in this town," Mary Margaret shook her head.
Emma came bounding up the steps.
"Hey Mom," she kissed Mary Margaret on the cheek.
"I'm so happy you're calling me that again, honey!" Mary Margaret grinned sweetly.
"Alright. Just don't make a big deal out of it, okay?" Emma looked embarrassed.
"Hey little bro!" she called out softly as she squatted and put her finger in the baby's hand.
It was then that Mary Margaret noticed the ring.
"Emma!" she called out excitedly. "Give me your hand!"
She fingered the ring as her mouth dropped open in joy.
"Yeah, I put a ring on it," Regina admitted.
Emma took Regina's hand and displayed it in front of Mary Margaret's face.
"So did I," she smiled up at Regina.
"I'm so excited for you two," Mary Margaret exclaimed. "Look David! Our daughter's engaged!"
"I can see that," he stated dryly.
"David?" Mary Margaret lifted an eyebrow.
"If my daughter's happy, I'm happy," he hugged Emma.
"I've never been happier," she informed.
"Congratulations, Sweetheart."
He shook Regina's hand as he gave her a manly slap on the back.
"Welcome to the family, Regina."
She gave him a questioning look.
"Thanks, Dad," she replied in her best manly voice.
"Regina," Mary Margaret said, "I want you to know that I'm happy for you, too. So many bad things have happened to you in your life. You deserve your happy ending."
"I'm happy you're happy," Regina couldn't believe she had just uttered that.
Great, then," Emma affirmed, "we're all happy!"
Everyone was silent for a moment pondering their state of happiness.
"So, have you made any headway on removing the enchantment from the town," Mary Margaret finally spoke up, "or were you otherwise occupied?"
"Emma took me to an enchanted dream world. It was really quite impressive!" Regina offered.
"We didn't get around to town business," Emma added as she shot a glance at Regina and blushed.
"I see," Mary Margaret nodded. "You know, something just occurred to me."
"What's that Mom?"
"True love's kiss," she intoned.
"I'm not following," Emma shook her head.
"Emma, you're the savior. Regina, you're the queen who needed to be saved. True love's kiss!"
"Um," Emma shook her head. "Still not following."
"You need to kiss her!" Mary Margaret explained exasperated.
"I kissed her about a thousand times in our magic world," Emma informed. "I mean, we did a lot more than just kiss. We… "
"Okay," Mary Margaret cut her off, "I don't need details!"
"I'm just pointing out that if lovemaking was all it took to break the spell here, it would have been shattered by now," Emma continued.
"Emma!" Regina glared at her in disbelief.
"But," she changed her tone as she turned to Mary Margaret, "she does have a valid point."
Mary Margaret let out a deep breath.
"Have you kissed her here, in this world? Let me be crystal clear: since you two have realized your feelings for each other and declared them to each other have you shared a kiss in Storybrooke, in this town, in this reality? The queen and her savior… in Storybrooke."
Emma and Regina thought for a moment.
"Well, no… I guess not," Emma finally replied.
"True love's kiss," Mary Margaret made a karate chop move with her hand. "That's all I'm saying."
She relaxed back into the rocking chair with the baby as she shook her head and rolled her eyes.
Emma and Regina shrugged at each other.
"Worth a try I guess," Emma moved towards Regina.
She put her arms around her and pulled her close.
"Are you sure about this Emma? Everyone will see us," Regina whispered.
"I'm sure," Emma declared.
Their lips gently touched. As the kiss deepened, a wave emanated from them and spread over the entire town like a shockwave. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at them. A sudden feeling of lightness filled their hearts. As Emma and Regina continued the kiss, the crowd began to clap and cheer.
"Is the curse is lifted?" Whale asked.
"It sure feels like it!" Archie grinned from ear to ear.
"How can we be sure?" Granny asked.
"Quick, someone go cross the town line and see if you turn into a flying monkey or lose your memory or something," Ruby called out.
"No need for that," Gold declared. "The curse is, indeed, lifted. True love's kiss has freed us all!"
"Works for me," Leroy grabbed another rib and downed a pint of beer as a loud cheer went up around him.
"Works for me, too," Belle said as she kissed Gold.
Aurora glanced at Mulan.
"That true love's kiss thing… you want to try it?"
Mulan closed her eyes as Aurora brushed her lips with the softest of kisses.
"That worked for me," Mulan could barely speak.
"For me, too," Aurora grabbed her and kissed her passionately. They pressed their foreheads together.
"I think it's time you moved in with me and the baby," Aurora whispered.
"It would be my greatest honor," Mulan smiled as she took her hand. "Maybe, we could even get a car!"
Hook appeared on the steps of the back porch.
"Glad you could make, Killian!" David walked down to shake his hand.
"I need to ask the ladies something," Hook gestured to Emma and Regina.
"Emma, Regina, come here!" David called out to them.
"What is it, Killian?" Emma queried.
"With all this talk of kisses, it reminded me. The witch put a spell on my lips, so that if I ever kissed you, you would lose all your magic."
"Don't be an idiot! There's no such spell," Regina scoffed dismissively.
"Yeah, and like you were ever going to get the chance of kissing me again," Emma chimed in as she held up her hand with the ring on her finger.
"But how can I be sure?" he asked.
Regina planted a kiss on him. She then waved her hand and produced a flower that she handed to him.
"See? Still got my magic!"
"No offense, Regina, and not that that wasn't pleasurable," he smiled at her lasciviously.
David smacked him on the arm.
"Hey! She's going to be my daughter-in-law!"
"The spell was meant for Emma," Hook continued as he rubbed his arm.
Regina shrugged.
"Kiss him, Emma."
Emma kissed Hook. She stepped back and produced a flower in the same manner as Regina.
"Nope. Still got my magic, too!" she said as she handed the flower to Hook.
"Let me try this," David said as he kissed Killian full on the lips. The caress lasted a little longer than David had intended.
"Um, Honey," Mary Margaret called to him. "You don't have any magic."
"Right," David snapped his fingers.
"I wouldn't go so far as to say that," Killian stammered still transfixed on David's lips.
He quickly pushed the flowers into David's hand and turned to walk away. He tripped down the steps and landed on all fours.
"I got him," Tinkerbell helped him up. "Too much to drink again as usual, eh Hook?"
Killian gazed back up at David standing straight and tall with his perfect hair, twinkling eyes and dazzling smile. A slight breeze lifted a lock of hair and then replaced it in the exact same position.
"Only the nectar of the Gods!" Hook stared at David in amazement.
"Hey," she said as she led him away, "I heard you keelhauled somebody the other day."
"A harmless bit of fun," he informed as he began to recover himself. "He's fine. Swabbing my decks as we speak! I'm thinking of making him my cabin boy."
The party lasted well into the night. As their guests began to leave, Regina and Emma swayed slowly on the dance floor. Ruby approached them.
"I'm really happy for you guys," she said. "I just wanted you to know."
"Thanks, Ruby."
They hugged her.
"So… threesome tonight?" Ruby batted her eyes.
"Um, maybe some other time, Ruby," Emma brushed Regina's cheek with her hand. "Tonight's a private affair."
"Can't blame a girl for trying," Ruby smiled. She surveyed the backyard. "This place is a mess."
"I know," Emma agreed. "We don't have to clean it up tonight, do we Regina?"
"Clean up? I was thinking we'd just burn it down," Regina answered.
"Worked last time," Ruby nodded as they all smiled. "I'll help you blow out the candles, all the same."
/
Emma and Regina finally made it upstairs to their bedroom.
"I'm so tired," Regina crashed onto the bed.
Emma eyed her and the bed with trepidation.
"What is it, Emma?"
"I feel nervous."
"About what?" Regina looked at her skeptically.
"About me and you making love in your bed here in Storybrooke."
"Why on earth would that make you nervous?" Regina was incredulous. "We've been here before, doing really nasty things in this bed. Oh, and by the way, it's our bed now. This is your house. Our son is asleep in his bedroom. We're getting married, remember?"
"That's why it makes me nervous," Emma replied. "It's like it's real now, you know? What if it's not as good as in our dream worlds?"
"Get over here," Regina smiled at her as she patted the bed. She wrapped her in an embrace and kissed her.
"Everything's going to be just fine," she reassured as she began massaging her shoulders and neck. "You are my everything."
They made love like it was the first time, slowly building to a crescendo. Regina rolled over onto her back.
"So? How was it for you, Em?"
"You know," Emma smiled, "in a way, it was better than the dream world."
"In a way?" Regina questioned, as her eyes grew wide. "I was expecting fucking brilliant! Especially considering how tired I am!"
Emma rolled over and held her.
"I meant to say that it was better because it was real," Emma explained. "We belong to each other now… in this world. That takes it to a depth, to a level, that's beyond magic."
"I feel that, too," Regina sighed. "The real world is not so bad… so long as you're in it."
"I love you, Regina."
"I love you, Emma."
And so they lived in a world of moral dilemmas, ethical compromises, the humdrum of the daily grind, monthly bill paying, credit card debt, topped off with the occasional existential crisis dotted with moments of pure contentment, searing joy and soaring ecstasy that we call reality… happily ever after!
Until a Hellmouth opened up one day beneath Storybrooke!
FINIS