Hi, my beautiful readers. I need to apologize for being this late. My precious beta was really busy last week and I couldn't post it before she gets a look at it. So, I'm so so sorry and I hope you like this chapter. I loved this one.
To Metope; haha Thank YOU! You should really feel honored, your stories are really great, there is no other word to describe your stories. See ya ;) Thanks!
To opheliafrump; haha I feel like I disappointed you 'cause I took too long to update. I'm so sorry, but I hope you can have fun reading this chapter... see ya and let me know what you think. Don't forget me, please ;) haha
To emanu cristina; Poxa, que pena que você acha que a Cora é esse monstro todo. Eu acho que a Regina não deixou de acreditar no que Henry falou sobre os pesadelos, mas ela quer tanto dar uma chance pra mãe dela, uma chance que ela tentou muito ganhar de Henry e mudou quando a obteve. Eu acho que a Regina pensa do mesmo jeito em relação à Cora. E quanto à Claire, vamos lá, eu a amo! Já falei! Eu não acho que ela e a Regina se odeiem de verdade, sabe? É mais uma pirraça das duas... eu não sei como explicar. Quanto ao grupo, to sempre por lá. Adorei e to lendo um monte daquelas fanfictions, você me deu mais um vicio (não se sinta feliz por isso, eu tenho trabalho e faculdade! A culpa é toda sua!) Evil Kisses ;*
To AndromedaEBlack; Thanksss! I'm so glad you like my story! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you like this chapter ;) Kisses :*** Please, keep around!
To snoopydoodles17; Oh me tooooo! I love Cora and I don't know what to do. I love her so much, let's see what Cora reserves for us ;D About your question... YES! That means exactly what you got. Regina indeed will take Cora's place at being the most powerful witch. You can understand that better by reading chapter 18 ("The Prophecy"). Sorry if I wasn't clear enough. Archie is amazing, don't you think? Thanks for the amazing review! I love your interaction and I love answering your doubts! Thank you so much! :) Kisses ;**
To Anonymouse; Thank you so much. I know it is really slow, but I want so hard to build something beautiful and good. We all hope for that! ahah But the real question is: Does Regina really need to defeat Cora? haha ;***
To MeMirellaVieira; Muito muito obrigada, lindona! Eu sei que você acompanha mesmo desde o começo. Caramba, já faz tanto tempo, né? :O Obrigada por estar me acompanhando até agora e obrigada por estar tão entusiasmada. Eu amo esse entusiasmo de vocês, meninas :) Grande beeeijo ;* Curta esse capítulo! ;*
To md88; haha I am sorry but you will have to wait a little long to see if they will get a happy ending together (Regina, Cora and the babies;) See ya! Kisses. and I am so so sorry for the longest delay in updating!
To mihpuretachi; HAhaha Você acredita que passou batido a Snow com um segredo? kkkkk Nem tinha reparado até a hora que eu li sua review e então eu comecei a rir sozinha que nem uma lesa KKKKKKKKKKKK E suas dúvidas... serão todas respondidas! E Claire? Acho que você vai amar esse capítulo. Eu, pelo menos, adorei escrevê-lo. Me diverti bastante, JURO! Beeeijos ;***
To Gotapenname; Thank you! I'm not going to tell you who is Claire in this chapter, but if you read with attention you will see a hint quite obvious in the middle of this chapter. Stay alert! haha Kisses ;*
To anapcmesquita; Ok, Emma é a mãe dele mesmo, mas... afff, ele passou um bom tempo chamando a verdadeira mãe dele de Regina, pelo amor de Deus, né? haha Vou te dar esse gostinho... sua chata! E eu não quero msm q vc responda a pergunta, eu já sei a resposta. Velho, qual é o teu problema? Só quer romance, romance, romance. E a emoção? a aventura, o drama? kkkk Bjs ;***
To Kristy; Thank you so so so MUCH! Lov u! ;)
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 39 – FOOLISHNESS
Archie was strolling idly and Pongo was straight ahead, sniffing everything and everyone. Although Regina doesn't drive her car anymore, Archie loved walking and often he didn't change his walk by Regina's car.
This time, Archie chose to take Regina by car to City Hall and walk the rest of the way to his office. It was mid-morning and he thought about surprising Regina. When he was near the City Hall, his eyes met the eyes of the beautiful red-haired woman who was walking happily toward him. Claire.
When he looked at her, he remembered the words the woman had said to Regina and fought the sudden urge to yell at her. He breathed deeply a few times and let the calm take care of his being. Unfortunately, the same doesn't happen with Pongo, who started growling at her.
"Hush, Pongo. It's just Miss Bennet, you know her." Archie said trying to calm the dog.
"Hey, Archie." She smiled and hugged him, but he didn't return the embrace with the same excitement. "I called several times and you haven't answered me and neither appeared at our consultations. I was starting to get worried."
"I'm sorry, Miss Bennet, but there will be no more consultations." Archie said quietly, but the look of surprise on the woman's face made him get a little angry. Doesn't she realize that she put Regina's life in danger?
"What? No, Archie, you can't do that."
"I'm sorry, Miss Bennet."
"No! Don't call me Miss Bennet, I'm Claire to you, you know that." She spoke with a voice filled with sadness. "I don't understand. What happened? Why are you treating me like this?"
"I can't believe you're asking me that." His voice rose a tone, he was starting to get annoyed.
"What are you talking about, Archie? I swear I don't know what you're talking about. I did something that offended you? I'm sorry."
"You said horrible things to Regina. A lot of lies. You took her to Cora, knowing that she wasn't fine. She could have gotten hurt, my daughters could have been hurt, Claire."
"What?" Claire opened her mouth in astonishment. "I would never-"
"Will you deny?" Archie asked incredulously.
"She's lying, Archie. Please don't believe her." Claire started crying.
Archie hadn't called any time and knowing him how Regina does, she knew it wasn't normal. He would always call her at least three times to see how she was or if she had eaten something. She called his office and nobody answered. A huge smile appeared on her lips at the thought that he was probably coming to surprise her, as he has done so many times.
She packed her things, put Perdita's collar on and left, humming unconsciously.
"Madam Mayor, the meeting-" Kylie called out when she saw the woman getting out.
"I'll just eat something. If Archie appears, say I'm going to Granny's. I'll be back in one hour."
Thus she left happy, thinking that maybe she would surprise him along the way. She didn't have to walk far to find the man with red hair who had won her heart. He was talking to Claire.
It was automatic and immediate. She felt the anger running through her veins, a feeling as strong as the magic that one day she had. She closed her eyes and tightened her grip on Perdita's collar, trying to breathe quietly through the anger coursing through her body. When she opened them again, he was still talking to her and the only will that Regina had was to go there and yell at the woman and hit her or do anything, she just couldn't sit still.
She began to walk towards the two people talking. She still couldn't hear what they were talking about, but a smile appeared on her lips when she was close enough to notice the tear-stained face that Claire had.
"I swear I didn't do it, Archie. You will believe her? She is the Evil Queen." Claire shouted.
"She is not the Evil Queen!" Archie interrupted. Different from what he always was, at that time, he was getting really angry. "She is Regina, Madam Mayor to you. She is the woman I love and the woman who is pregnant with my daughters. You have no right to say those things about her."
"I'm sorry, Archie. I know I acted wrong, but you need to understand that-"
"There's nothing to understand. You're lucky she didn't get hurt that day."
"But she hurt me once or are you already so blind that you can't even remember it too?" Claire asked offended.
"Yes. I remember very well and also remember that you not only hurt her, but also nearly killed her."
The assertion left Claire speechless. He wasn't lying, but she couldn't lose his friendship, not because of Regina. That was so unfair.
"Archie... Please, you can't do that." Claire begged again and this time her face was stained with tears.
"Why not?"
Before Claire answered, she could see over Archie's shoulders that Regina was approaching and she looked furious. A huge smile graced her features when she decided to answer Archie.
"You want to know why?" Claire asked.
And even before Archie had time to answer, Claire invaded his personal space and wrapped in a kiss. She let herself get momentarily lost in his lips and Archie... oh, Archie was just so surprised that he couldn't show any reaction. He stood there with wide eyes and it was as if his body wasn't obeying his mind. His mind was screaming to push her away, but his body simply wouldn't obey.
When he realized what was really happening and started to move or get away from her, it was too late. He didn't have to act because Regina already had done it for him.
It was all a matter of seconds. In an instant he had Claire's lips on his and the next Regina had already pulled the woman away from him by the hair.
Yes, the infamous Evil Queen, the Mayor of Storybrooke, the woman known for her extremely annoying control, the woman who didn't get into physical fights - but that didn't mean she wasn't a good enemy - had simply lost any sign of control. Regina was furious and there was no other word that could better explain what Regina was showing. Fury.
Claire had seen Regina - of course she had - and Regina knew that.
"How dare you, you bitch!" Regina was screaming with her fingers still tangled in the red hair.
"Let me go, Regina!" She screamed in anger.
And Regina did as requested. She let her hair go and the two women came face to face, both furious and about to fly into the neck of another. Regina was breathing heavily.
Pongo and Perdita had been forgotten, but now the two dogs were violently growling at Claire.
"He's my boyfriend, mine!" Regina shouted.
"But I kissed him and he didn't stop me, which means that he-"
She didn't need to finish the sentence for Regina to understand what she was trying to imply. She also didn't have time to finish because she was surprised by Regina who punched her in the face, causing her to fall to the floor.
"Regina!" Archie came out of his trance and rebuked the woman when he realized what she had just done. "What are you-"
Before Archie could finish his train of thought, he heard the woman who was on the floor behind him moan and huff, when he turned around she was already going in his direction and she was furious.
"Regina, you're out of your mind, you're crazy." She growled.
Archie didn't know what to do. He was among the women and they were not one bit close to budge. The two dogs were barking wildly and Archie knew they were starting to get the attention of passersby on the street.
"Don't call me crazy!" Regina growled and moved toward the other woman, but Archie's body prevented her from continuing.
"Crazy. Idiot. Stupid. Evil Queen!" Claire shouted. She also walked towards Regina, but Archie wouldn't let her hit her.
"Stop it, Claire." Archie asked.
"Yes, I'm the Evil Queen and I'll show you why they call me that."
"Regina, stop it right now." Archie cried, but the women didn't seem to hear what he was saying.
"Get out of my way, Archie." Regina ordered, but he didn't move.
"No."
"Enough!" Claire said irritably. "You can't hit me and get nothing in return." She said and walked towards them.
Poor Archie. He was between two angry women and none seemed to hear what he was saying. Now, the two were trying to hit each other and didn't care who or what was between them. The two of them seemed to have lost their mind. Regina seemed to have forgotten that she was pregnant and with a huge belly and Claire seemed to not mind hitting a pregnant woman.
"Stop it, stop!" Archie was screaming desperately, but they just weren't listening.
Claire managed to scratch Regina with her nails. Regina let out a cry of surprise and moved further toward Claire, not caring who was among them.
Because Claire had huge hair, it was much easier for Regina to grab her hair and she took advantage of that.
"Let me go!" Claire shouted with her hair stuck between Regina's fingers.
"No."
At the moment of irritation, Claire closed her fist to hit Regina and Archie tried to stop her, but was gifted by a punch straight into his face. He was shocked for a moment and almost lost his balance, but the clamor among women simply prevented him from losing his focus which was to stop this stupid fight.
"What the fuck is going on here?" Archie heard an angry voice, but he couldn't concentrate enough to identify who the voice was.
Only when he had no idea what to do, he felt Regina moving away from his back. He risked a quick glance to see what had happened and he saw Emma pulling Regina away. He then bothered to simply keep Claire away from Regina while Emma did the same with the other woman.
"Let me go, Emma!" Regina shouted.
"Are you crazy?! You're pregnant, Regina." Emma tried to put some sense in Regina, but it seemed that she didn't understand or she was simply ignoring what Emma was talking about. Regina continued fighting and trying to get rid of Emma.
"Let me go, I said to let me go." Regina tried again.
"Archie, let me go!" Claire growled.
"No. You need to stop this stupid fight." Archie yelled at her.
"No! I'll show her that-"
"Enough of this foolishness." Emma cried.
Emma saw that Archie was having a hard time trying to control Claire and Regina was not making it easier for Emma too. Emma ignored Regina's cries and began pulling her away from the scene.
"Let me go." Regina shouted, but Emma in no time loosened her grip on Regina's arms and continued dragging her. "Miss Swan, I command you to release me."
"No!" Emma growled angrily. "Now get into the car."
"No." Regina refused.
"Regina, get into this car right now." Emma was starting to get annoyed with Regina's stubbornness.
"I said I will not go anywhere. You don't own me."
"Stop being a child, Regina. Don't make me force you to get into this car."
"You can't-" Regina was determined, but her words died in her mouth when she saw that Emma was more determined than her.
Regina huffed and struggled to get into the sheriff's car. When Regina sat, Emma slammed the door shut, slightly startling Regina.
"Put the seat belt on." Emma ordered as she sat in the driver's seat.
"Where are you taking me?"
"I should take you to a madhouse." Emma spoke irritatedly and Regina looked at her offended.
"Are you calling me crazy?" Regina almost cried.
"Well, you're pregnant and you were in the middle of a fight like a teenager. Did you ever stop to think that you could have hurt your daughters?"
"They're fine." Regina replied calmly. She was starting to get embarrassed when the reality of what had just happened hit her.
"That's what you say." Emma replied and started the car, turned to Regina again. "Put your seat belt on."
Not wanting to get into another fight, she did as Emma requested and swallowed the urge to ask again where Emma was taking her. Emma seems to have realized the doubt in Regina's face and started talking again.
"I'm taking you home." Emma said and watched as Regina visibly relaxed. "So, you gonna tell me what happened?"
The only answer that Emma received was an exasperated sigh from Regina when she crossed her arms and turned to face the car window.
"You won't talk, huh?"
Again, no answer came.
"Okay, then. I'll tell you what I think happened. I think you got mad at her because of what she told you and you were taking satisfactions."
"What?" Regina looked at her shocked. She wouldn't allow Emma to accuse her of having started this fight. "I wasn't taking any satisfactions."
"It's okay, Regina. You have every reason to be angry with her."
"I can't believe you're defending her."
"I'm not defending her. I just want to know what happened."
"Why are you getting into where you weren't called?"
"Regina," Emma sighed. "I just want to know what happened and if we have to worry about Claire."
"You don't need to worry about anything, I can handle it." Regina said defensively.
"I knew it. You started the fight, didn't you?"
"SHE KISSED ARCHIE, YOU IDIOT!" Regina shouted.
"She what?" Emma asked with wide eyes.
"She kissed him right in front of me, that bitch! And that idiot of Archie didn't stop her. Idiot."
"Regina-"
"I don't want to talk anymore. You wanted to know what happened and I told you. You asked if I started the fight and the answer is yes, I started the fight. I went there and plucked that sardine far from Archie."
"Ok, Regina. No need to get angry."
When Regina was already opening her mouth to answer, she was cut off by the sound of her phone. When Regina saw who was calling her, she huffed angrily.
"That bug." Regina whispered.
"Won't you answer him? He must be worried about you, Regina. We left without explanation."
"Maybe some kissing from Miss Bennet made all his concerns disappears?" She said with an ironic tone.
"Are you angry with him? You said it was Claire who kissed him."
At that moment, luckily for Regina, the two women arrived in front of the mansion.
"I won't discuss this with you. Thank you for bringing me." Regina said and opened the car door, but getting out on her own proved a bigger problem than her anger.
Emma let out a loud laugh, but stopped immediately when Regina looked at her with eyes already full of tears.
"Sorry. Let me help you." Emma said and left the car, putting herself in the passenger door to help Regina.
When Regina was out of the car, she thanked Emma and started walking towards the entrance of her house. Emma knew she was crying and she knew that Regina wasn't the kind of person who cried in front of others, so she decided to leave Regina to have this time alone. But, before Regina could reach the front door, she turned and Emma furrowed in confusion because Regina was really crying, but also because she let Emma see her that way. What if she wasn't feeling fine?
"Regina, what is it?" Emma asked serious and concerned.
"I... I forgot Perdita there." Regina said with eyes even more sad. "Can you get her for me?"
"Of course I can. I'll get her for you." And, with this, Emma turned and walked toward the car.
"Emma." Regina called and Emma turned to her. "Thank you."
Emma smiled and nodded. "It was nothing, Regina."
"Sorry."
"It's alright."
The second that Emma got into the car, she realized her phone was ringing, as soon as she saw who was calling her, she answered.
"Archie."
"Yes, she's fine. She is at home."
"No, Archie. I think you need to come talk to her."
"Ok."
"You're welcome."
"Bye."
"Regina?" Archie called when he reached the couple's bedroom door. He had already searched through the downstairs and no sign of her. "Regina, it's me. I'm coming."
When he entered, the room was quiet and dark because of the curtains that were now closed. He could see her shape lying in bed and he wondered if she was sleeping. He could only see her back, but when he heard her sniffling, he knew she was awake.
"Regina, we need to talk."
"I don't want to talk." She said with a tearful voice and he still couldn't see her face.
"I know you don't want to, but what happened today was-"
"Will you blame me too?" She asked and just now turned to him.
"Of course not. But you're pregnant and it was you who started the fight, and-"
"She was kissing you!" Regina almost cried.
"I know, but that doesn't justify-"
"You didn't pull her away, Archie. You stood there and let her kiss you!" Regina accused.
Then he realized to where her mind had traveled. He knew she still found it difficult that she could be loved, even if she didn't want to admit it.
"I had no reaction, Regina. She took me by surprise."
He received no answer, she turned again and silence stood between them until she sniffed and resolved to speak.
"Did you like it?"
"What?" Archie asked confused.
"Did you like her kiss? I know she is very beautiful and I'm so fat-"
"Are you kidding?" He interrupted. "It was horrible. The worst kiss I've had throughout my life." He said and made a disgusted face.
"You're lying." She said.
"I'm not lying. I don't even remember how her kiss was, because it wasn't good." He made a disgusted face again. "And, besides, why would I trade the most beautiful woman of all for her?"
At this time, Regina turned to him again, seeking some sign of sarcasm or irony in his eyes, but she didn't find any.
"You really think I'm beautiful?" She whispered uncertainly.
He got out of his seat and lied down on the bed next to her and looked deep into her eyes. She wasn't testing him, she was really in doubt if he thought she was beautiful.
"No. Claire is beautiful, but you are the most beautiful of them all." He said as he turned to her and began to trace his fingertips across her face. "You are very, very, very beautiful. I don't know how you like a guy like me."
Her eyes were already filling with tears again and her breathing was shallow. She stared at him, wondering where he was going. In fact, in some ways, she already knew.
"I love the color of your eyes. I love the shape of your nose." While he spoke, he also traced the tip of his fingers on the places he was quoting. "And the lips... and your scar. Have I already told you I love your scar?"
She was so lost in his eyes and his lips that she just shook her head, unable to form a coherent sentence.
"Yeah, but I do. I think it makes you very, very sexy." He said with a huge smile on his face as she closed her eyes lost in his contact.
He took advantage that she had her eyes closed and got close enough to get to millimeters from her mouth.
"And your kisses..." He spoke and quickly kissed her lips. "They are the best..." Another kiss. "And the most delicious of all." He paused and reflected on what he had just said and corrected himself. "Not that I have kissed all the women of the world, but for me you are the best." And he ended with another kiss, this time more calm and slow.
When he finished, he looked at her and smiled because she still had her lips parted, eyes closed and shallow breathing.
"So, what do you think?" Archie said, looking deep into the beautiful pair of brown eyes that was looking at him now.
"I think you have to find a way to reward me for letting her kiss you." She said with a suggestive look and Archie smiled at that.
"Hm... And how can I reward you?" He asked pretending a false face of doubt, but the smile on his face gave him away.
She narrowed her eyes at him and smiled. "I can think of something." She said with a huge smile on her lips and then immediately she pulled Archie closer, sinking her lips to his.
So what you thought about this chapter? Did you like?
Next chapter the real story is going to start... so... wait! I'll try not to take too long to update!
Don't forget leaving reviews and following this story, and if you think it is worth of it, please favorite.
I would love to thanks the new followers and favorites, you make my day! Thank you so much!
See you!
Bárbara :D