Thought I should bring back a friend! hope you enjoy the update :) there will be a nice big fight between Cora and Regina in the next chapter and I haven't yet decided if I should let magic come in to play. I value your guys' opinion more than you realize so PLEASE let me know what you think and what you want! :)
He walked aimlessly through what he assumed to be streets and yet again had to jump away from a noisy beast containing a person, it's bright shiny yellow eyes threatening to swallow him whole just as it had the other people inside. He didn't like this place wherever he was. It was loud, the people dressed weird, there were strange flashing lights everywhere that he didn't understand, odd signs, big buildings, and whatever forces in this world made him small. He did not enjoy being small in this place.
"Hey," she greeted with a cautious touch on his arm and he spun around and jumped away from her, "sorry I didn't mean to scare you. You look lost. Can I help you?"
"I don't know where I am and I don't know where-" his attention was caught by the little black rectangle in the woman's hand. At least he hoped it was a woman...her hair was deceivingly short, "that!" He pointed to the black box in her hand and she lifted it a little and looked at it herself, "does that take pictures and uh...and videos?"
"Yes of course," she laughed quietly and looked up at him but he stared intently on her phone, "why?"
The first flicker of hope he had felt all day burst throughout him and he looked away from the phone and frantically around him. Regina had told him that practically everyone in her world possessed a camera so perhaps she was from this world and had even made it back.
"Sorry I'm late," Emma panted as she jogged up to Snow's side, "who's this?"
"I have no idea I just found him. Excuse me," she reached forward and touched his arm only to have him jump away again, "sorry but do you need any help?"
"I want to talk to Regina," he stated and judging by the way both women stiffened slightly and the dark haired woman wore an awfully irritated expression he couldn't help but come to the conclusion that they recognized the name.
"Regina?" Emma asked and shifted her weight on to one foot as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Yes. She's got short brown hair, really sad dark brown eyes, a little scar on her lip, she's really beautiful and was with a man named David and-"
"We know who Regina is!" Snow snapped bitterly and then shook her head and took a deep breath, "how about we take you down to the station and we can get Regina to meet you there."
"No! No I don't want to go anywhere with you."
"Regina's not all that big on talking to people unless it suits her," Emma offered calmly and took a step forward but he took a step back.
"She will talk to me!"
"I can't guarantee that she-"
"No, she will! I know she will! She is my friend, she will help me!" She looked over the blonde's shoulder to the black haired woman when she laughed a single doubting laugh.
"Regina doesn't help anyone," Snow grumbled angrily and held her daughter's stare when she scolded her statement silently.
"She will! She has already helped me and she will help me again! She is a kind and understanding friend and I am not moving until you bring her to me!"
"Even with my own experience with her I am starting to doubt we are talking about the same person here," Emma cocked her head and put up her hands, a light laugh lacing her words.
"I want to see Regina!" He yelled in frustration and the blonde sighed while the black haired woman rolled her eyes and looked up at the sky.
"Call Regina please," Emma breathed out tiredly over her shoulder.
"You call her."
"And let you snap at the confused man? No you call her."
"I don't have her number."
"That's a lie," she raised her eyebrows and lifted her own phone from her pocket and handed it to her mother after dialling Regina's number.
Snow snatched the phone with a scowl and put it to her ear.
...
"Your phone is ringing."
"Who is it?" She called around the corner as she slipped on her second stiletto.
David looked at the phone as he pulled his navy blue t-shirt over his head, "Emma."
"Then you answer it."
He chuckled and picked up the phone to bring it to Regina, "if she wanted to talk to me she would have called my phone," he smiled and pushed his hand forward for her to take.
She took it with a long exhale and accepted the call before bringing it to her ear. It was probably best she answered it anyway in case the blonde had found herself panicking over magic again, "Miss Swan this had better be important."
"Oh really why? You don't lead a very busy life anymore."
Regina stiffened at the annoyed voice at the other end and after a moment's pause she continued the conversation, "hello Snow. As for my life it has been very busy today."
"Busy with what?"
Regina smirked at the hiss on the other end and opened her mouth to give a snarky reply only to have a hand clapped over her mouth and the phone tugged from her ear.
"If you say 'fucking your husband' there will be no sex for a week," he whispered against the shell of her ear from behind her and then released her wrist so she could bring the phone back to her ear and then removed his hand from her mouth with a soft kiss on her neck that had her purring her reply in to the phone.
"Oh you know, messy things," she shrugged and David gave a sharp bite to her neck that had her gasping and him chuckling against her. Leaving Snow to fester in silence for a little longer she smirked and turned her head to nip playfully at the corner of his jaw and then answered with her head turned and her forehead resting against his neck while she leaned back against him and his arms wound around her waist, "cleaning the house, tending to the yard, teaching mother dearest the rules of fashion in this world. That sort of thing."
"You're trouble," he whispered as he looked down, moving his head just enough for him to see her smile.
"Well I suppose I should feel relieved that you have been so busy. Perhaps you've even run out of time to screw my husband."
A wide grin akin to that of the Cheshire Cat spread across her mouth and she shook her head and spoke slowly with a light amused laugh, "oh no dear, there is always time for that particular activity. You really think I haven't been fucking him senseless?"
"What did I say?" He growled quietly and stepped away from her.
"She started it," she whispered back knowing he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her for a week. She would have to apologize to him though...she hated apologizing. She couldn't help but grin at the suppressed huff and growl of anger on the other end of the line.
"Why Regina?! Why?!"
"Oh I'm not so sure we should start up this conversation again, dear," she smiled in to the phone and then walked toward David with a gentle expression she saved only for him despite Snow raging in her ear.
"I want to know what exactly you did to him, Regina!"
"I did absolutely nothing, dear," she answered truthfully and left a soft kiss on his cheek as he buttoned his jeans and tightened his belt again, "I've told you that already."
"But you see I just don't believe you. There is absolutely no reason he would leave me for you! You! Of all people! You!"
If she were alone she would be skipping at the pure rage and loathing on the other end of the line, "oh there are plenty of reasons, dear Snow, but as for which one stole his heart and allowed for the others to be seen, you're going to have to ask him for I don't have the answer. I'm sure I could offer you some suggestions but David is threatening me with loss of sex if I don't play nice," she purred into the phone and David shot her a displeased stare.
"Well it's nice to hear he's got a leash on his bitch!"
"Oh ho ho!" She laughed with a mouth open in shock at the girl's vicious hiss and couldn't help but feel pleased that she was breaking loose from the white snowflake and proper school teacher persona, "the claws come out to play," she laughed and listened as a fight over the phone ensue on the other end.
"Give me the phone! Regina."
"Ah there you are Miss Swan. What can I do for you."
"You really had to push her didn't you. Your just couldn't resist."
"If I recall correctly she is the one that called me and she was the one demanding answers," she stated matter-of-factly and Emma huffed on the other end but David walked away and out of the living room with an unimpressed glance her way but she followed him anyway, the buttons of her red shirt still open.
"Be that as it may we actually have a problem down here and you need to come down and fix it."
"I don't remember causing any chaos that would lead back to me," she smirked and followed David back in to the kitchen.
"So funny."
"Glad you think so," she grinned and imagined the eye roll from the blonde, "what is that god awful yelling behind you?"
"It's the problem. There's a guy here demanding to talk to you and won't move until you get here. I think he's confused as to who you are."
"Oh?"
"Yup. He seems to think you're kind and understanding and his friend. A beautiful brunette with sad brown eyes is his description."
"How sweet," she smiled and wandered in to the kitchen after David, snatching an apple from the bowl on the counter before turning and resting her weight against the countertop, "however I do not have any friends here."
"I tried telling him that but he is rather convinced he is an exception. Just come down here and tell him off yourself."
"I do not care for public appearances as of late, Miss Swan."
"Yeah well get over it and do something good for a change."
"Careful Miss Swan. Asking me to do something nice may come back to bite you. Just ask your dear, dear mother."
"...just...get down here please before he gets hit by a car because he won't move. We are by the library."
"Miss Swan I am not-" she stopped at the sound of the line going dead and stared at the phone as she dropped it from her ear, "she hung up on me."
"You deserved it."
She looked up at him under dark lashes and he had his head in the fridge looking for something to eat, "you weren't serious about that one week without sex were you?" She questioned with a cock of her head and took a bite of her apple.
"Very."
"That's not fair!"
"I gave you fair warning," he reached in to the fridge and took out a container before looking her way with a serious expression.
"But she started it!"
"Doesn't matter," he shook his head and she frowned, "next time maybe think of the consequences of your actions," he walked up to her and lifted her chin with the side of his finger, dark eyes showing their displeasure, "you're better than that," he smiled and she glared. "You're adorable when you're angry," he whispered and kissed the corner of her mouth.
"You never used to think so," she smirked irritably and brought her apple between their faces so she could take another bite.
"Things have changed," he smiled and she swallowed as she shook her head a little.
"Not that much they haven't."
"They have changed enough," he whispered with a smile and trapped her between himself and the counter, leaning down in to her to taste the apple on her tongue.
She accepted his kiss with a sly grin and gladly allowed him to deepen the kiss and force her head back in to his hands. Her laughter was muffled by his mouth and as he pulled away she wrapped her arms lazily around his waist, "you're not going to last a week," she teased and leaned in a little closer so her nose brushed the side of his.
"You're not going to last the day," he countered with a wide grin and she shrugged and sighed happily against him.
"That's not exactly a bad thing," she breathed out and kissed his neck softly, "suppose I should go see what the fuss is about downtown," her voice quiet as she left another kiss a little lower on his neck.
"Play nice," he whispered and she pouted in response.
"Oh for god's sake!" Cora hissed as she walked in to the kitchen. David jumped a little at her sudden presence but Regina merely snarled to show her displeasure, "are you quite finished?!"
"This is my house and I can do whatever I please in it," she growled and David's hands remained on her waist beneath her red shirt that was simply hanging from her shoulders now so her flat stomach and narrow waist were exposed along with her breasts held by a black lace bra. "If you don't want a show then walk away," she hissed and Cora stood her ground with her arms folded and a harsh scowl on her face.
As a response she straightened her neck and pulled David's head down for a deliberately slow and deep kiss just to push her mother's buttons. It was hardly two seconds before Cora lost her temper.
"You insolent girl!"
Regina laughed against David as she bit down on his bottom lip, thrilled that she was finally able to get a rise out of her mother. She gasped at the sensation of magic that wasn't her own and when she looked down to see her shirt buttoned and tucked back in to her skirt she snarled at Cora and heard David sigh as he rubbed his hand over his face. "You did not," she shook her head and Cora stared her down.
"I will not stand for such behaviour, Regina!"
"You do not control me," she enunciated clearly as she stepped out from between David and the counter and toward Cora.
"It is not a matter of control, it is a matter of common courtesy! Your home or not you do not trollop around in the company of others!"
Feeling the thrill of the fight rise in her, Regina purred a low growl from deep in her throat and through her sneer as she stepped closer and looked her up and down. Then with a mere flex of the muscles in her fingers she sent Cora spinning through the air and for an added affect, she took advantage of her mother's counter spell. Cora attempted to it use to stop spinning and land on her feet but Regina exaggerated it and sent her spinning in the opposite direction before she landed on her side with a less than graceful roll.
"Regina-" he scolded but cut himself short when Cora disappeared from the floor and reappeared a moment later mere inches in front Regina.
"It seems you have forgotten."
"Forgotten?" She cocked her head in amusement and then lowered her voice to a near growl, "or challenging?" Her teeth were bared with a cruel smile and Cora's expression flickered dangerously as Regina felt her magic build up. Cora moved first but Regina easily deflected her spell with a laugh and egged her on with a sharp laugh, "come on you can do better than that!"
Furious, Cora shot at her again but once more her spell was countered and this time Regina retaliated with a spell of her own. Cora cried out it pain and stepped back from Regina to look at her arm to find it suddenly covered in blistered burns. Regina's spells were incredibly subtle, there was no way for Cora to determine which one she was going to use. Not that her own technique was too much different. Regina's reflexes were just simply faster than her own.
Before she could blink or relish in the success of burning her, Regina was suspended in mid air with her arms tied down to her sides and her feet together with her mother's magic. For a split second she felt panic rise inside her but she recovered with a low laugh and fought for breath through the constricting magic, "well you know what they say about old dogs and their tricks."
With that she sent fire through the spell she had grown to know so well. The burn of a raging fire shot through the path of Cora's spell and therefore in to the magic running through her mother's veins. Cora screamed in agony and as a result she dropped the spell around Regina and Regina dropped to the floor with a victorious grin.
"God damn it!" She yelled and then screamed in fury as her magic worked quickly to heal her. She didn't want to hurt Regina. But she was most certainly getting close to doing just that.
"You are out of practise, mother," Regina spoke with a smooth voice as she stepped forward and in to Cora's space, a delighted but vicious smile on her face, "I am no longer a little girl you can break with your magic. Remember your place in this house," she hissed and Cora snarled back at her.
Before things escalated out of control, David forced his way between the pair and physically shoved them apart. "Enough," he growled lowly, a hand on a shoulder of each woman as they glared at one another. "You," he nodded at Regina and gave her shoulder a small added push to grab her attention, "go see what Emma and Snow need from you."
He watched her contemplate an argument but she thought better of it and walked out with her head held high and her eyes locked on Cora's. When the front door opened and closed with her leave, David turned his attention to Cora and all but yelled at her, "what did I tell you?!"
...
"She's on her way-"
"Do you think I'm stupid?!"
"No but you-"
"You did not talk to her! You were talking to the camera like a fool!"
"Alright this is a phone," Emma waved it up in the air and tried to calm him down, "it has a camera in it yes but it's main purpose is to be used to talk to people quickly and efficiently-"
"Well then why isn't she here yet?!"
"Because she's Regina and she does whatever she wants and takes whatever she wants."
"You are not helping the situation!" She growled at Snow and the man went off again.
"Why do you speak of her like she is the worst person in the world?!"
Snow opened her mouth and took a breath but Emma pointed at her and was heard first, "don't you dare answer that!" When she was satisfied that she would remain silent she turned back to the man in far outdated clothing, "if we are talking about the same person then I'm sure you have probably just seen a part of her that we haven't really seen. Except for her," she pointed over her shoulder quickly, "she apparently saw it at some point and I've seen glimpses but that's all they've been."
"But now she's dead and gone and replaced with a-"
"Knock it off!"
"Where is Regina?!"
"What is going on over here?" She furrowed her brow as she walked toward the trio with her hands behind her back and her stilettos clicking on the pavement.
Anton spun around at the familiar voice and after barely a moment's pause he hurried toward her, relieved to see a familiar face.
Regina smiled and cocked her head as he ran clumsily to her and a joyous laugh escaped that smile when thick arms wrapped around her middle and lifted her off the ground as he held her close, "hey," she laughed quietly and he put her down but didn't let go of her and buried his face in to her neck, "you're alright."
"I don't know what's going on."
"That's alright," she smiled and then maneuvered them both so she lifted his head from her shoulder with a laugh, "look at you! You're so small!"
"You're still smaller," he smiled and she continued to laugh in his arms and at this size he could see her better and absorb every detail. His heart was warmed and he relaxed a little more when she rose on to her tip toes and kissed his cheek. He had a friend in this world now and he was going to be okay.
"What are you doing here? How did you get so small?"
"I don't know all I remember is a sorceress shrinking me and then I woke up on a ship and then I was wandering this strange place," he wasn't sure if he should be relieved or worried when she started to nod as though she knew exactly what happened.
"Well I will get that sorted out for you alright?" She raised her eyebrows in a question and then smiled when he nodded, "in the meantime how about we get you something to eat, a room to stay in, and I will show you around and teach you how to function in this world. Sound okay?"
"Sounds great," he breathed out the tension in a relieved sigh and she laughed and pulled him down in to another tight hug, "I'm so glad you're here."
Regina hummed happily in to him and smiled, "call me selfish but I'm glad you're here too," she laughed with him when he let out a hearty chuckle and hugged her tighter. "Are you hungry?" She questioned and pulled away from him only enough to look him in the eye while his hands remained on her waist so she wouldn't get too far.
"I suppose I could eat," he smiled and she laughed quietly and nodded with a couple friendly pats on his forearm.
"Well then let's get you fed," she smiled and stepped out of his hold and walked a little closer to Emma and Snow before stopping a few strides away. Emma was watching her with wide eyes and slightly gaping mouth at her different but honestly her true temperament while Snow watched with some surprise in her expression but was more so angry beyond all reason. Purposely she ignored Snow's presence completely and addressed solely Emma, "I will take it from here on out. Thank you for the call."
"Uh yeah...you're welcome," Emma nodded. It was going to take time to get used to this Regina. She was trying to get used to it though and she would come to terms with it sooner rather than later she supposed seeing as how Regina had already planned on teaching her to use magic.
With a polite nod to Emma she flicked her gaze to Snow who was glaring at her with a scowl. She truly could not help the smirk that curled her lips and she quickly looked her up and down and gave a quick and quiet, "hmm," before turning and walking back to Anton as she pulled her phone from her pocket and called David. As the phone rang in her ear she slipped her free arm around Anton's and began leading him toward the diner, "I'm just letting David know I'm not going to be back home as soon as I had thought," she smiled and he looked down at her with obvious curiosity.
"Hey, what's up?"
"The sky," she retorted with a quiet scoff added in her reply and he started to laugh on the other end.
"Hello, my love, what is it that has you calling me on such a wonderful afternoon? Have you killed my wife and daughter?"
She rolled her eyes at his overly sweet and smooth tone and he started laughing quietly on the other end once again, "smart ass. No I have not killed anyone. Although I am quite certain your wife was half a second away from trying to strangle me again," she smiled in to the phone and Anton looked down at her with more confusion than ever.
"Well I do appreciate your restraint."
Regina hummed amusedly in to the phone, "now, I'm not going to be home for a little while longer."
"Wreaking havoc and causing mass panic are we?"
Regina chuckled through closed lips at his neutral tone while he flicked through some papers. Likely the mail. "No unfortunately that has to wait a little longer. As it turns out we have a friend here now and he is having a bit of a hard time adjusting."
"Oh? And who is this friend?"
"Well I will hand over the phone and you can hear for yourself," she smiled and then handed the phone to Anton who took it carefully in his hand, "put it against your ear and say hello," she instructed and doubtfully, he slowly raised it to his ear.
"...hello?"
"Hey I recognize that voice!"
Anton jumped at the voice coming from the camera and pulled it away from his ear to examine it. The name 'David' was on the front along with several other inscriptions he didn't know how to decipher as well as a counting system, "David? How did you get in to the camera?"
"Well I see Regina hasn't gotten a start yet on you! It's actually a cell phone. This is how we communicate in this land. We just get the perk of it containing a camera as well."
"Oh..." He furrowed his brow and both Regina and David laughed quietly, "that is very strange."
"Yes I suppose it is. How about I meet up with you two in a little while? Where are you going for lunch? Granny's?"
"Um let me check," he pulled the phone from his ear and offered it to Regina, "he wants to know where we are going so he can meet us."
Regina breathed out a laugh and put him on speaker phone, much to her amusement and Anton's fascination, "we are going to Granny's."
"Okay great, I'll leave in a few minutes once I chain up your oh so pleasant mother."
"I heard that and I do not care for your tone, Charming!"
The addition of Cora's voice in the distance had all three of them laughing, even Anton despite his minimal understanding of what was happening, "we'll see you soon then?"
"Yes of course."
"Perfect. Goodbye, dear."
"Goodbye. Looking forward to seeing you again, Anton!"
"Likewise!" He chuckled and then Regina touched the red rectangle with the word 'end' on it, "that's really strange."
"You'll get used to it," she laughed and took her phone from his hand and slid it back in her pocket before leaning in to him and hugging his arm as they walked.
...
"So...on the phone you said that David's wife was half a second from killing you?"
"Yes. The two of us have never really gotten along. We were friends for a short while when we were both much younger but it all went south from there."
"And the wife part?"
"What about it?" She asked simply and watched him as she took a sip of her water. When she put her glass down his underlying question came to her attention, "oh! Oh, no, dear, David and I are not and never have been married. No."
"But your story with the princess marrying the shepherd and the murder attempts and the life sparing and the king and the queen and the dethroning and-"
"It is all true," she soothed and reached forward across the table to touch his arm with a sad smile, "however I believe you may have been unintentionally mislead. Snow White..."
"Yes you and David said that you kept trying to kill her and...oh..."
With another sad smile and a cock of her head, Regina nodded and continued gently, "she is the woman that found you today and she and David's daughter Emma was the blonde. Snow was the princess that married the shepherd, the one that made him king. The pair of them dethroned me, the Evil Queen, and took the kingdom for themselves and not too long after that I cast a dark curse that ripped everyone from that world to this one."
"The Evil Queen?" He questioned quietly and she nodded a little and retracted her arms as she sat up tall in her seat with a regretful expression. He had heard stories about her, of course he had, there wasn't a soul in the entirety of that land that hadn't heard of the Evil Queen. In fact he wouldn't be surprised if she was as infamous in other lands as well. "But that doesn't make sense," he shook his head and she hummed a soft sad laugh, "you're not evil."
"No," she shook her head with a sad shaky laugh, "no I don't believe so either. Very sad and very angry, yes. But not evil. Not all the time anyway."
"Well then you and David? How did that happen if you two hated each other so much?"
"I don't know," she laughed quietly and shook her head, "he gave me one last chance to prove my worth and I took it."
Anton smiled at her answer and she smiled back, "well I'd say you did a mighty fine job at proving your worth," he nodded and lifted his glass to which she copied and lightly clinked them together before taking a drink with laughter coming from both of them as they did.
"Thank you."
"Hey, there's the big guy!" David laughed as he walked across the floor of the diner.
"David!" He grinned and got up from his seat, hearing Regina's soft laugh before he pulled David in to a hug.
David accepted his hug with a laugh and returned it in kind, "never thought I'd see you again!"
"Neither did I!"
"Well come, sit, and we'll catch up," he laughed and motioned to the table where he had come from. He followed Anton with a smile, a smile that brightened when he laid eyes on Regina, "hello darling," he greeted softly as he slid in to the booth next to her and left a soft kiss over her temple, ignoring the stares and scowls from the people around them. She hummed in reply through her smile and took his left hand between both of hers and held it in her lap as she intertwined her fingers with his.