Chapter 18
Sunday morning, Regina woke up alone. She started to get out of bed to see where Rory had gone off to. Before she made it to the closet, she heard the shower start up. She nodded to herself and got ready for a casual Sunday. Rory emerged from the shower, throwing her towel in the hamper as she brushed past Regina to get in the closet. Regina sat quickly at her vanity and began doing her makeup and hair. She noticed the vivid blush she wore and pointedly ignored the naked woman who had casually walked past her. Apparently, the dislike of clothing was something else Lorelei and Rory shared. Rory emerged clothed in the same jeans and t-shirt she had worn last Sunday.
"Don't you own enough clothing to not wear the same thing every week?" Regina asked as she finished up at the vanity.
"Considering I haven't worn this shirt in like months, yeah I think so." Rory laughed as Regina followed her out the bedroom door, headed for the garage.
Regina shrugged, if she wanted to wear the same thing repeatedly, more power to her. Regina was just happy she was dressed. Not that a naked siren affected her, it just wasn't proper. Obviously.
They got in the mercedes and drove to the diner. They sat in the back booth as everyone put their heads down and ignored them. Leroy seemed to be nursing a hangover. Ruby was at the table once they got settled and Regina bristled slightly, not knowing how the woman would act after the events of the night before.
"Good morning madam Mayor, Rory. You want the usual?" She asked without taking her eyes off her notepad.
Regina frowned at her, either she was very good with makeup, or Ruby didn't have a mark from the hit last night. Rory answered yes to Ruby and Ruby swore slightly, apologizing for forgetting the pot of coffee and raced off to get it. Regina frowned at the sense of déjà vu and then examined her right hand. She hadn't thought of it today. When she fell asleep, it had been throbbing incessantly. Now, it didn't hurt at all. She flexed her fingers as Ruby poured her coffee and rushed back to the kitchen.
Rory reached over and stole a sip of her coffee, watching her, "is something wrong with your hand?"
Regina looked up at her, "I had thought it would be sore today."
Frowning and setting Regina's coffee back down, Rory took her hand and looked at it, "why would it be sore? It seems fine. Did you do something to it yesterday?"
Regina shook her head, feeling out of sorts. "No, must have been a dream…"
They sat mostly quietly while waiting for their food. Finally it arrived at Rory started shoveling it in. Regina ate slower and by the time she finished hers, Rory was impatient at best. "You take forever to eat."
Regina arched a brow at her, "well, I like to taste my food, thank you."
Rory smiled at her and pushed her paper towards her, "okay. Well take that with you, I want to watch the ships in the harbor for a bit before I have to go order the liquor for the month."
Regina gathered her things and followed Rory out the diner. She glanced at Mary Margaret who had sat quickly at the first empty stool when she had entered the diner. Something was wrong here. Rory ordered the monthly liquor last Sunday.
They sat and watched the ships, just relaxing on the bench and chatting idly about nothing important. Finally, noon came and Rory gave her a quick kiss before heading for the bar. Regina drove herself to Mr. Gold's shop. If anyone knew what was happening here, he would. It was his curse after all.
The bells announced her entry and Mr. Gold smiled at her politely, "madam mayor, what a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the honor?"
Regina eyed him but couldn't quite tell if he was aware of his true identity or not. He shouldn't be, but this was the dark one after all. "I'm feeling oddly off balance today, Mr. Gold. It's almost as if the week is repeating itself."
Frowning in confusion he answered slowly, "I'm no doctor, perhaps you should talk to Dr. Whale? Or, maybe Archie?"
Regina rolled her eyes, "I'm not ill, thank you. I just thought perhaps you would have an idea of how to deal with déjà vu?"
Mr. Gold huffed a laugh and leaned heavily on his cane, "I'm sorry, but I can't help with that. I deal in property and trinkets, not superstition and imaginations."
Regina sighed and decided he had no idea what she was talking about and said her good byes before heading to her mansion. She watched the clock as she waited for Rory to come home. If it was the same as before, the woman would arrive at exactly the same time. Last week she had been panic stricken at her new found relationship and had stared at the clock nervously.
On the exact same stroke of the clock, Rory walked thru the door, smiling at her happily before kissing her quickly and heading in to prepare dinner. She made the same noodley nonsense as last week. They chatted until nearly ten before Rory cracked a yawn and suggested bed. This time, she didn't make excuses not to join her. She was aware of the relationship status now. They crawled in bed and Rory fell asleep quickly, curled up against her back.
…
The paperwork was the same paperwork she had already seen and processed. Rory brought the same food at the same time for lunch everyday. Friday came and her secretary told her Rory was too busy at the bar to come walk her over. She entered the bar to the same song playing. Rory tossed the same man off the same stool. She made her the same drink. She made the same remark about making the drink better after Regina gave her a distracted kiss.
She did not, however drink as much as last time. They closed up the bar and Regina climbed the stairs on her own. They laid down to sleep. They woke up earlier, but that just turned to watching t.v. longer. Karaoke night. Mary Margaret wasn't bad. Rory took to the stage and as the music started, Regina whipped her head around to stare and nearly dumped her drink too.
What's your plan for tomorrow
Are you a leader or will you follow
Are you a fighter or will you cower
It's our time to take back the power
Regina cheered with the crowd and downed her drink happily. Finally! Something was different! She was ecstatic. She listened enthusiastically to the song as she cheered her on with everyone else.
Whatcha gonna do
When they show up in black suits
On the street in army boots
And they're there to silence you
Whatcha gonna say
When they strip your rights away
And the taxman makes you pay
For every bead of sweat you bled today
When the song was done, Rory and Lacy quickly removed the equipment and stage just like before, but Regina was still beaming when Rory swaggered over to her and she kissed her much more thoroughly than last week.
Pulling back to grin at her, Rory winked down at her, "my goodness, I must have done a very good job that time! I know you haven't drank enough to kiss me like that for no reason."
She bounced over the bar and helped Lacy catch up on the drink orders. Regina was relieved and happy and relaxing thru another drink when she watched Ruby stumble to the seat next to her. The woman was drunk, just like last time. She eyed Regina who was glaring at her. "Chill out 'Gina. I don't bite." She giggled into her glass and started to say what was likely the same nonsense as last week, but Regina wasn't game for that repetition.
"Miss Lucas you are drunk and I very much suggest you shut your mouth before I shut it for you."
Ruby turned to face her and stared her right in the eye, "just because you're fucking the baddest bitch in town, doesn't make you a bad bitch. You're just a stuck up whore who stole my girlfriend…"
Again, Regina had no idea what came over her but she saw red and again, Ruby was on her back on the floor. She knew she was going to swing at her, and she hoped Rory would be there to stop it. As the fist came at her, Rory slammed into her side and wrestled her to the ground and then up and out the back door.
Regina was still furious. She marched out the back door after finished her drink and the same conversation was happening. This time though, when Ruby put her arms around Rory's neck, her jealousy anticipated the forced kiss and she managed to shove Ruby away before it connected.
Rory held her back as Ruby stumbled away and out of the alley, still laughing. "Hey, what has gotten into you tonight? Feeling a tad scrappy are we?" Rory smiled at her as she examined her right hand that was throbbing like hell… again.
"She deserved it." Regina mumbled as she winced thru the pain.
Rory kissed her knuckles and gently pulled her into a sweet embrace. "She told me what she said, I agree with you, Scrappy."
Regina chuckled and put a hand on the back of Rory's head, pulling her into a well deserved kiss. There was no resistance from the siren, only a low moan. Regina smiled against the other womans lips. "I'll always defend your honor."
Rory pulled Reginas hips tighter against her and put both hands flat on her lower back, holding her close. "Does fighting make you act like this? Because I can find a few other people for you to hit if that's the case." She grinned before kissing Regina deeply again.
The realization of what she was doing, and who with, made her pull back and clear her throat before gesturing to the door, "we should get back in there, you have a bar to run after all."
Rory made a noise that could only be called a whimper before finally shrugging and following Regina back inside. They spent the rest of the night sipping drinks and flirting at each other. Flirting was fine, Regina told herself. Kissing madly in the alleyway, probably not so much. But, so long as it didn't happen again, it was probably fine. She was just playing into what the curse had set up. Obviously.
…..
Week after week, the timeline replayed itself. Regina could change things, and people would change to her efforts. But no matter what, things still progressed in a very familiar way. The only thing that seemed to change on it's own was Rory. She would strike up new conversations, or sneak attack kisses and hugs at different times.
It wasn't too bad. The only real problem was Saturday night. Every Saturday night, Ruby said or did something that cause Regina to punch her right in the mouth. Every… single… time. She had tried avoiding it, but it never failed to occur. The worst was when she had decided to skip the bar entirely on Saturday night. She told Rory she had a head ache and was going home to bed instead. Rory had immediately decided to come home with her, but Regina couldn't let that happen.
"But I should stay with you, to make sure you're ok." Rory whined at her again.
Regina shook her head and sighed, "what if I go to your apartment? Then you could come check on me, very occasionally."
Rory finally conceded and Regina went to lay on the small bed upstairs. She had fallen asleep somewhere around ten. When the door was thrown open and Lacy shouted at her to come quick. Regina bolted down the stairs in time to watch the paramedics carting Rory out the door. Sheriff Graham was cuffing Ruby. She asked Lacy what had happened.
"Ruby was coming on really strong to Rory, probably since you weren't around, she was really drunk. Rory kept shutting her down and then finally decided to put her out of the bar. She got close and Ruby just went crazy when she realized Rory was kicking her out. She got her hand on a bottle and hit her in the back of the head. God, there's blood everywhere!"
Regina rushed to get out the door to get in the ambulance. She was waiting for them to load the woman in when Ruby got away from Graham and rushed at her, Regina didn't hesitate to punch her right in the mouth, sending her to the ground, still cuffed and now with a broken nose.
She sat at the hospital and waited for Dr. Whale to finish his stitches. Then she held Rory's hand until she fell asleep around 3 am, leaning on the hospital bed and swearing to never avoid it again.
….
She woke with a start the new Sunday. She waited, holding her breath, until she heard the shower start up. She sighed heavily and made her way to the bathroom door. She watched the blurry form of Rory washing in the shower. She was so relieved for the time loop. She would never miss a Saturday again though. She'd rather put herself thru the ringer then let Rory get hurt for a second. What if it had been worse? What if she had died? Would she be alive again Sunday? Regina wasn't taking that chance.
She stood and thought and spaced out so long, the shower shut off with her still standing there. Rory opened the door and looked entirely shocked at her presence in the bathroom. Regina smiled at her sweetly and looked her up and down once before speaking, "just enjoying the view on a Sunday."
Rory stood, stunned and blushing a little until she heard Regina open the closet door. Only then did she make her way to the closet also. She reached past Regina and grabbed her clothes, never breaking eye contact with her. "Pardon me…"
Regina just waited with a rapid heart until Rory took her clothes and left the closet. Her temperature was running as high as her heart rate and it took a moment of thought before she remembered to dress herself. She preferred to shower at night, but Rory showered every morning. It was becoming rather stressful seeing the woman naked every morning.
The rest of the morning, they chatted and Regina couldn't help but think of the morning incident. How brazen she had been. Staring at Rory and then making that comment. When Rory went to make the liquor order, Regina wandered home and just let herself think of her siren.
….
Six months. Six months of the same week repeating itself. It was driving her half mad. If Rory was as consistent as everyone else, Regina would have completely lost her mind already. It was also interesting to Regina how their relationship was shifting with time. When Sunday morning came, Regina sometimes waited in the bathroom until Rory came out, but the woman didn't looked shocked again. She seemed to anticipate it. She didn't seem to remember Regina doing this 'last' Sunday, but she seemed to know it happened sometimes. She couldn't remember the Ruby incident the night before, that never happened. Regina couldn't figure out the rhythm Rory was in. It wasn't like hers, she remembered everything. It wasn't like everyone else though either. It was, different.
Regina was also getting more amorous with the woman. The thought that Rory only wanted her because of the curse always stopped her just short of actually going all the way with it though. She was so worried that Lorelei wouldn't really want her like that, she refused to take advantage of Rory. She did, however, give in a bit to self indulgence. It would seem, when she was drunk enough, her inhibitions flew right out the damn window. So, she decided on Friday nights, she would happily have a few too many drinks.
Rory always took care of her and always respected her. Regina would throw herself at the woman as soon as they hit the apartment, but no matter what her liquefied brain did, Rory was simply put her to bed and hold her. Every Saturday morning she would awaken around 1 and have breakfast and a shower.
But, it seemed the bolder she got, the more she fell for Rory. They talked constantly about everything imaginable. Rarely a conversation between them was repeated. Regina learned everything about the woman. She learned their past thru bits and pieces too. They had grown together when Cora had found the baby Rory on her doorstep. She had decided to keep her because it would look fantastic to her peers. The sweet widowed woman who took in an abandoned child.
She raised them together and it resembled the enchanted forest version of events nicely. Ruby had grown up next door and her granny would babysit often for Cora. The three of them grew together and until Ruby had decided to go see the world, they were inseparable. Of course, being cursed and all, Ruby came back shortly after leaving and failing in the outside world. She returned to waitressing and by then, Regina had Rory.
It was all very unusual, but the curse had cleaned it all up nicely. Except the more she learned, the more she felt for Rory. Once the past was intact, in combination with the enchanted forest past, Regina was positively in love with her. She also remembered she had never told Rory she loved her. The other woman said it daily, multiple times a day, but never seemed to expect it back from her.
It was Friday when Regina decided she couldn't hold back as much. She needed Rory to know she loved her. She left the office early, Rory hadn't sent her message yet. She made sure to tell her secretary she was expecting the message and to tell Rory she would be there at the expected time. The secretary looked puzzled, but she agreed to do so.
She made her way to the flower shop. She was hit with memories as she stepped inside for the first time that she knew of. She had been here many times before, apparently. She remembered buying long stem white roses. She smiled because she couldn't see who she gave them to, that meant she gave them to Rory. She was even more excited now, because when she gave them to her, she would fill in more gaps in their past. These ones would be of Regina giving her flowers.
She told the grouchy old man what she wanted and he went about gathering them for her. Once paid for, Regina proudly cradled the bouquet as she headed for the bar. She entered and a different song was playing than usual, she must be earlier than usual. She looked around, not as many patrons were around. Glancing at her watch, she was about an hour sooner than usual. Rory wasn't to be seen, probably in the back room then.
She sat at her preferred stool and Lacy spotted her, smiling genuinely. She had decided a while ago she liked this woman. She was flirty and a bit trashy, but well mannered and sincere. If she didn't like someone she told them so. She liked Regina and adored Rory.
"Well, good evening, madam Mayor. You're early tonight!". Lacy got a glass of ice water for her to drink. Lacy couldn't make the crazy mix Rory did for her, so she didn't bother trying.
Regina nodded and bit her lip, glancing at the back room, "is Rory busy?"
"She'll be out in a minute, it's nearly five and people start pouring in then. She's just checking the kegs." Lacy glanced at the flowers Regina had in her lap. "Those are her favorite, she is gonna love them! You two are so sweet together."
Regina smiled at her and waited for Rory. It was five when the woman finally appeared. She started when she saw Regina sitting there already, "well hello there! I just called to tell your secretary I couldn't come by. I see a mass headed this way and I shouldn't leave Lacy alone with it. She said you'd be here, I guess she was right." Rory laughed as the door opened and people poured inside.
Regina gestured for Rory to come around the counter and when she did she gave her the bouquet and as Rory gushed about how beautiful they were and how much she loved them, Regina waited. When the woman set them on the bar to put her arms around Regina, she pulled her close and whispered in her ear, "I love you, Rory."
The sirens eyes went wide and she smiled as tears came to her eyes, she quickly kissed Regina soundly and when she pulled back she whispered back to her, "I love you, Regina."
They stayed like that several minutes until Lacy cleared her throat loudly, "hey, ms. bar owner! Maybe quit making out with your woman and run this shit?"
Both women were laughing but with one final kiss, Rory bounced over the counter. She started Reginas drink and Regina shouted over the music, "I'll have that one, but just water after it."
Rory looked confused but shrugged anyway, "whatever you say lady."
Regina laughed and enjoyed her drink while watching Rory work. She was so good with people, everyone liked her. Regina admired the way she could make people laugh. The night went pretty smoothly, as usual. Rory didn't drink much that night either, she hated drinking more than Regina did. A few shots of bourbon and she switched to water too.
By closing time, they both were sober as they headed up to the apartment. It was just where they were on Friday night, sober or not. They decided to relax a bit since it was a beautiful night, not too chilly. They sat out on the tiny balcony that overlooked the harbor and sipped some hot tea Rory mysteriously had in the place. They didn't say much as they sat cuddled up together on the tiny pop up love seat there.
Finally, Regina made the decision for bed. They stood next to the bed and undressed to their underwear, crawling in next to each other. Regina laid her head on Rorys arm and whispered, "I love you, good night."
Rory smiled widely and whispered back to her, "I love you too, good night."
….
An entire year had passed. Regina had taken to learning new languages and studying things the curse didn't give her. She needed distractions from the mundane, repeating world around her. She also needed a distraction from Rory. From her laugh, her smile, her hands, her mouth. The woman was driving her crazy by just being supportive and flirty. She had nearly given in to her a few times lately. She couldn't do that to her, it wasn't right.
…
Two years had passed. Regina was barely aware of the days, it had all become so very redundant. She filed her paperwork without reading it, she knew the order and where to sign. She deftly avoided Mary Margaret in the street during weekdays as it was irritating to run into her perpetually. She had schemed how to get thru the fight on Saturday easily.
She simply stood by the door at seven minutes past five and waited for the door to swing open, then she blindly punched towards Ruby as she entered. The woman left with a bleeding nose and didn't return. After she hit her, Regina could enjoy her Saturday night with Rory, uninterrupted.
The siren still surprised her though. Always something different going on there. She sometimes showed up with flowers, or she would kiss Regina so very well that the woman was left breathless for hours after the fact. She sang a new song every Saturday night too. One Saturday morning, Regina woke up to the woman playing an old keyboard and promptly went and ordered a piano to be made for her.
The piano was now in the mansion and Rory played the most beautiful music Regina had ever heard. Regina's entire being wanted the damn woman. She couldn't think of anything but her. Which is how, on the two year mark, Regina finally lost her internal battle.
It was Sunday morning. Regina woke up and waited to hear the shower start. She then stripped off her pajamas and made her way into the bathroom. She waited until she could see Rory was ready to shut off the water before she opened the doors. Rory looked shocked, but her eyes immediately looked down to Regina's nude body and stared silently, mouth hanging open a bit.
Regina smirked and put a hand on the womans chest to gently move her back towards the wall of the spacious shower. Once Rory hit the cool tiles, her eyes snapped back up to meet Regina's. Her pupils were wide with a haze of lust. "Regina…?"
Licking her lips, Regina pressed their bodies together, the warm water hitting between them both, "I want you."
Rory did not need a second invitation. She grabbed her hips and pulled her impossibly closer, kissing her with years of pent up need. Regina was left dizzy with her own lust by the time Rory switched them around so her back was against the tiles. Somehow she remained standing, held up in part by Rorys hand that was causing no small amount of moans and swearing to spill from her mouth. She had a firm grip of Rorys hair in one hand and the other she used to feel the womans bicep flexing and straining to push Regina over the edge of sanity.
As soon as Regina came down from her high that Rory had pushed her to embarrassingly fast, the siren picked her up by wrapping her arms under her thighs and Regina wrapped her legs around her waist. She was set down gently on their bed, shower still running in the back ground but no one cared. They hadn't dried off, and the fine sheets were getting soaked, but neither cared about that either.
They explored each other to the fullest extent for hours until the clock in the hall announced it was noon. They were both breathing heavily as they were tangled up in each other and the damp sheets. Rory kissed her again as she caught her breath. She whispered, "I love you" and smiled her biggest smile when Regina responded with her own "I love you".
Regina smiled at her and blushed, burying her face in the woman's neck. She asked quietly, "when did you shut off the shower?"
Rory giggled and tickled her sides a little before answering, "the second time you needed a little rest."
Regina giggled again and held her closer. "Well, you're very exhausting."
In unison, their stomachs growled loudly. They both looked down and Rory said, "oh… we skipped breakfast."
Regina nodded and lightly slapped the other woman's bottom, "hop up, chef. I will fix this mess of a bedroom while you get us some food together."
Another kiss and they went their separate ways. Regina grimaced as she pulled the sheets and comforter off the bed. After slipping on a robe, she stopped in the bathroom to soak up the water on the floor from the open shower door and headed down to put it all in the washer. Rory was dancing in just an apron while she made pancakes. She had switched on the stereo and there was some instrumental song rolling thru the house.
When Regina finished starting the laundry, she went to sit and eat, but Rory grabbed her hand and pulled her in close to dance to the last minute of the song playing. Laughing and smiling, they kissed as it ended and proceeded to destroy every pancake that had been made.
Regina remembered the pattern of events and reminded Rory she needed to order the liquor for the month. The womans mouth fell open and she tore off the apron, racing up the stairs two at a time to get dressed in record time before kissing her very quickly once more and then dashing out the door.
Regina didn't stop smiling the entire week. Every day was full of love and peace and she was finally happy.
….