So unless something happens that changes my mind, this is the last chapter for this story. I will post an epilogue though! And I am hoping to finish writing that by the weekend but I cannot promise anything as it's going to be a busy weekend for me :p I do have another story to replace this one though! But I believe I am going to work on Twisting The Tale for a little while on its own before I start the other one :) anyway, happy reading! The epilogue will jump a year or so ahead :) please leave a review!
Regina woke slowly with a stretch and placed a hand over her stomach when her muscles protested the movement. When her hand met a thin and flat stomach rather than the large round belly she had been used to her eyes snapped open and she inhaled sharply in a panic. But that panic was calmed when her gaze fell on Emma sitting in the chair next to her bed with Amelia in her care.
"You'll get used to that," Emma chuckled lightly and Regina closed her eyes with a soft breath of laughter.
Opening her eyes once more, Regina let herself relax and take a better look at what was going on. Emma sat with her chair slightly skewed away from the hospital bed so that she could comfortably rest her feet up on it next to Regina's legs but not too far skewed that Regina couldn't see Amelia's face. Her baby was wrapped in her blanket but her arms were free to move around as she laid back against Emma's raised thighs and looked around at the world given to her. It made Regina smile as she nestled the side of her head deeper in to her pillow. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"Don't even worry about it," Emma smiled as she pulled at the blanket around her tiny half sister.
"Where is everyone?"
"Well David and Cora are figuring out paperwork and Snow took Henry, Aurora, and Phillip back to your house to make sure everything is all set up for you there and I offered to stay in here so you didn't wake up alone," she smiled and Regina smiled back at her, "I hope you don't mind that I've-"
"No," Regina answered softly with a slow shake of her head and a smile that had Emma smiling a little wider. No she did not mind at all that Emma had taken it upon herself to hold Amelia without her permission. She didn't mind in the slightest.
"Good," she grinned and tried not to let it get too wide as she looked down at Amelia who was blinking at her with wide eyes, "you make damn cute kids," Emma laughed and earned herself a laugh from Regina beside her, "seriously she's going to be a looker when she grows up," Emma laughed and then heightened her tone of voice a fraction as she spoke to the baby, "you're gonna make all the boys and girls stare, aren't you? Just like your mom," she teased and Regina laughed again with a shake of her head, "David and I are going to have to get some really big shotguns."
"Because her mother's reputation won't strike enough fear in to their hearts?" Regina smirked and Emma shrugged with a lopsided smirk.
"The Evil Queen's gone soft. Everybody knows that," she teased and Regina scoffed and lightly smacked the side of her knee while Emma laughed and grinned.
"I have not," she argued with a smile pulling at her lips.
"Whatever you say," Emma shook her head with a wide grin and gently tapped the baby's nose.
Regina hummed a laugh with a gentle roll of her eyes and then studied her daughter's face and breathed quietly, "she is beautiful isn't she."
"She really is. And for the record I'd totally tell you if she was ugly," Emma smirked and Regina rolled her eyes again and shook her head as she rolled on to her back and pushed herself up in to a seat position.
"Thank you, Miss Swan," Regina laughed and Emma laughed quietly with her.
"You want to hold her again?" She offered but Regina never got the chance to answer before Cora swooped in.
"Me first," Cora grinned as she carefully scooped up her granddaughter from Emma's lap.
David breathed a laugh as he walked to the other side of the bed and Emma swung her legs back on to the floor while Regina smiled at Cora. "How are you, my love?" He asked as he leaned down and braced his weight on his hands at either side of her hips.
"Ecstatic," she smiled and he grinned as she gently pulled his head down to her so she could kiss him. "I love you," she smiled against his lips and he laughed softly.
"I am happy to hear that."
"Take me home," she requested as she moved her thumb over his cheek.
"Absolutely."
...
The house was loud and full of life. Aurora and Phillip telling stories while David and Emma made dinner and Cora, Henry, and Mulan spoke when they could and helped when they could. It was loud and happy and smelled delicious. But Regina was nowhere to be found. So Snow took it upon herself to do just that. To find her.
It had been a long time since she had spoken more than a few forcibly polite words in passing to the woman. She had been avoiding her at all costs and it wasn't like Regina was seeking her out. But now she felt a burning desire to talk to her. To smooth things over and try. If Regina would accept such an olive branch, Snow didn't know. But it was worth an effort. Regina was always worth the effort.
She had wandered the main floor and took her time doing so. She had never been in to her house before. Aside from the kitchen, dining room, living room, and foyer anyway. It was beautiful and exquisite just as it's owner was. Regina's impeccable taste remained intact and warily Snow made her way upstairs in to completely uncharted territory. She felt like she was intruding. She felt like she was a bandit again sneaking through Regina's life. But she wasn't.
She found her in what looked to be another library. How many books did this woman own? Had she read them all? Snow walked silently and slowly as she watched an unaware queen turned mayor for as long as she could. She was next to a window leaning back in to chaise lounge with her knees up and her baby girl fast asleep upon her chest as the late sun warmed them both. Regina's head was turned toward the window and she looked perfectly content and comfortable as she soaked in the sun. She had never seen the woman so quiet. She had seen her silent and she had seen her calm and she had seen her happy but Snow had never seen her like this. So quiet and still. As though every storm brewing inside her had fallen still and her oceans may as well be looking glasses. It was strange but it was welcome and Snow relaxed against the doorframe a little as her eyes fell to Amelia.
She was a beautiful baby. Not that Regina could possibly produce anything substandard but it was to be noted all the same. She was going to have Regina's mouth, of that Snow was certain. She was sound asleep and sprawled on her tummy over her mother's torso. Her head was on Regina's chest and with her sleep her tiny hands had released their grip on Regina's shirt and now laid in limp half fists over Regina's breasts while her tiny feet hardly reached the middle of Regina's stomach. Her toes maybe an inch or two from Regina's navel as her fingers moved slowly and softly through her soft dark hair upon her little head. She was precious and tiny and Snow was so happy for Regina. She really and truly was.
Her presence was only brought to Regina's attention when the puppy sunbathing at her feet started wagging his tail. At the movement Regina's head straightened to look at him for a moment before she looked to the door and Snow met her dark stare. It was gentle and still so unfamiliarly quiet and Snow could only smile a little with a soft, "hi."
Regina looked her up and down as her thumb moved along her newborn's soft skin over her temple, "hello..."
"I didn't mean to disturb you I just...wanted to see if you were alright...everyone's downstairs..."
"Are they waiting on me?" Regina asked with simple curiosity. No bite, no bitter undertone. Just a question.
"No. But they may need help soon...I don't know if you've taught David anything but Emma is by no means even a remotely decent cook," she nodded a little with a raise of her brow and earned a gentle laugh from Regina that had Snow's heart skipping in delight. She couldn't even remember the last time Regina laughed like that because of her. Decades she was sure.
"I will be down in a few more minutes," Regina told her with a smile and a nod before she craned her neck down and to the side to look at Amelia's sleeping face as her fingertips continued to comb through her thick head of dark hair.
"She's beautiful," Snow commented and Regina hummed long and slow and warm. The envy she felt toward that baby hit her like a ton of bricks the moment Regina pressed the gentlest of kisses to her sleeping brow. The amount of time and work and effort she had put in as a child to get so much as an honest smile out of Regina was astounding and for this infant all she had to do was...be. There was nothing Snow could do about it and she knew that. But it didn't stop the sharp twist of envy and jealousy that came with the baby receiving Regina's full and unconditional love and attention. Their situations were entirely different. Neither Amelia or Henry had caused Regina the pain that she had inflicted. But it didn't mean a large part of her didn't still crave Regina's love.
"I'm sorry," she breathed and swallowed away the tightness in her throat and chest while Regina looked up at her curiously.
"...why?"
Snow laughed softly and humourlessly with a shake of her head and kept her voice quiet so as not to wake the baby, "what do you mean 'why'?"
"What are you apologizing for? Did you break something that I am unaware of?"
She was serious. It had Snow shaking her head in confusion as she tried to form the words she needed, "no I...I am sorry for our past. For every false hope I gave you, for every heartache I caused you, for every trick and lie and broken promise, for every fight, I am sorry. I should have tried harder, I should have listened to you, I should have loved you better. I could have prevented so much pain."
"You were a child, Snow."
"So were you," she commented softly and it hit a sore spot in Regina and her dark eyes fell away from hers as she crossed her jaw, "you were hurting. And I ignored it," she whispered with a slow shake of her head and then took a deep breath and exhaled with a quiet and teary laugh, "I can't even say I didn't see it because I did," she shook her head again and quickly wiped away a pair of fallen tears.
"Do not blame yourself."
"I do blame myself," she told her on a quiet and exhausted breath and Regina shook her head slowly and still couldn't bring herself to look her in the eye again.
"It is as much my fault as it is yours. And even we do not carry the sole blame between us."
"Do not make excuses for me, Regina."
"I am not," she told her quietly but firmly as she looked up and met Snow's teary gaze. Silence hung in the air around them and Snow's tears fell while Regina's heart ached. "I was ready to leave. I tried and I tried to run away but my mother's spells kept me captive. When I got rid of her and her spells dissipated I tried again but Rumple trapped me next. You are not the reason I stayed, you are not what ruined me. I would have healed and moved on had I gotten the opportunity. But Rumple and Blue made certain I was never given such a chance," she shrugged and then paused as she thought her words through carefully, "I could not get away. You were the only person I was allowed to blame. I was too young to know that revenge wouldn't make the pain go away. Then the years went on. And after Leopold you were the the only captor I was strong enough to kill," she explained softly and Snow had never looked so miserable, "so I fixated on you."
Now while she was curious as to what Snow had to say, Regina didn't let her speak just yet, "if anyone is to be sorry it will be me. I hurt you just as much as you hurt me, if not more. I hunted you, I killed your father, I took away your home, I took away your family, I took your daughter from your arms mere seconds after her birth, your prince now sleeps in my bed. Snow," Regina shook her head with a joyless smile, "I ruined your life. I gave you no option but to try and kill me and you are standing here before me asking for my forgiveness. My dear Snow White," she called her name fondly with a shake of her head and Snow focused all of her strength on not dissolving in to a mess of tears and sobs, "however will I earn yours?"
Snow didn't think she had ever heard a more sincere tone in that woman's voice. She didn't know what to say to her. She had honestly never thought once on so much as requesting an apology from Regina. To know that Regina carried the blame on her shoulders as well was a revelation to Snow and it broke her heart. And it crushed her heart to feel some of the weight of her guilt lift from her shoulders. She gave a shaky, "um," as she wiped away her tears and tried not to cry. It took her a few moments to find her voice and when she did shook regardless of her efforts to keep it steady.
"I just...I just want us to be happy again," she confessed with a vulnerable shrug and a turn of her head while her watery eyes remained on Regina. "I miss you," she whispered as her tears dampened her lips and she sucked in a shaky breath through her teeth. She hadn't realized how tight of a grip this woman had on her soul. Her entire life revolved around Regina. Ever since that day that bright young woman plucked her from her wild horse's back...she hadn't gone a single day without Regina swaying her thoughts in one direction or the other. Even cursed, Mary Margaret worried about the mayor. Their lives were intertwined and there was no escape. It had been so unhealthy and trying and full of pain. But did it have to be?
"I am tired. I love you, Regina, and I am tired of fighting," she breathed and stopped trying to hold in her tears. There was no point in trying to hide them. Regina saw her as an open book anyway. "I just want to stop," she whispered with a shake of her head and Regina have a solemn nod.
"What about David?" She questioned softly and Snow gave a weak and tired laugh through her tears.
"I will always love him," she answered quietly and Regina listened, "but I cannot ignore the way he looks at you," she whispered with a mournful smile and another shake of her head, "he never looked at me like that. He adores you. His heart is in your hands just as yours is in his and there is nothing I can do about that. Nothing I want to do either. We have been miserable for so long, Regina. Now one of us is happy. I will find my happiness just as you found yours. You love him and he loves you and that is all that truly matters in the end. I will not stand in your way."
Regina nodded only twice as she mulled over Snow's words. She would be lying if she said she wasn't just as exhausted as Snow sounded and looked. She didn't show it but she felt it and it was heavy. It was a white flag. An olive branch. A truce. And this time Regina was more than ready to relent. She sat up slowly and held her baby to her as she smoothly and carefully swung her legs around and stood without waking her daughter. She walked the few steps to Snow and her bare feet padded silently upon the rug as the puppy jumped off the chaise with a gentle and clumsy thump.
Snow watched warily out of habit but the desperate plea in her miserable and hopeful expression was like a knife twisting in Regina's tired heart and she stopped less than a stride away from her and asked softly, "would you like to hold her?"
Snow's shoulders dropped with her small and relieved laughter before she nodded and breathed, "I would love that."
...
"I missed this," she whispered slowly and pressed a soft kiss to his chest.
"What do you mean?" He chuckled lightly as his thumb moved soothingly back and forth across her shoulder blade. There was nothing new about him holding her like this. In their bed on their sides with her face nestled in to the crook of his neck and their legs tangled together.
"Being right up close," she hummed and nuzzled her nose in a little further, "with no belly in the way," she told him softly and he hummed happily in return.
"I love you," he whispered against her hairline before he kissed her there.
"I love you," she parroted softly and kissed him again right above his strong collar bone. And then again a little lower.
David smiled at the soft kisses her tender self continued to place over his skin. She continued softly and slowly until he gently rolled them over so she was on her back and he was above her. He wore no shirt upon her request and it was a request that he heard more often than not. She was in simple silk pyjamas. Short shorts and a loose silk tank top with buttons keeping it closed over her figure. The silk was a pale lavender and it played a wonderful contrast to her soft skin and seemingly ebony hair and eyes in the dim light of their room.
She looked up at him with all the love in the world and there was only the smallest of smiles pulling at her lips as her head sunk in to her pillow. It was strong and unwavering and made his chest tighten an ache with the inability to show her just how much he loved her and how much she meant to him. His fingers combed through her hair above her ear and he lowered his head to kiss her. Slowly. Firmly. Desperately. He loved her so much it hurt and her soft hands now cradling his face nearly brought him to tears.
After everything they had put one another through, after how much he had hated her, here he was trying to figure out how he had felt such a thing toward her in the first place. She hadn't necessarily changed. She had opened up and settled and healed but she hadn't changed. She sighed softly as his fingers slowly started unbuttoning her top and his lips pressed to her neck. Her fingertips slowly and gently roamed his back as though she had never felt him beneath her touch before and he loved it. He wanted nothing from her. He simply wanted to make her feel treasured and loved. He wanted it to go to her head. He wanted her to be over confident in the love he had for her. He never wanted her to doubt it.
With the buttons open he slowly pushed the silk to either side of her so he could look at her. His lips left her clavicle and his nose skimmed her jaw and cheek before he kissed her mouth, pausing for hardly a moment to revel in the way her breath hitched before his lips pressed to hers. Then he softly broke the kiss and dipped his head so he could look down her body as his hand spread over her stomach and softly slid up over her front.
Her body was different now. Not by much, probably not anything anyone but him would notice, but it was different all the same. Her skin was not quite as taut over her abdominal muscles as they once were but she was a vain little thing and he knew no matter what he told her, she would let her magic return her body to its previous state. Her breasts were swollen, her face was still softer, and she still glowed. She was different and she was his and he loved her no matter what, "you are beautiful."
His words were gentle and honest and full of a dedication to her that always caused her throat to tighten. He told her he loved her everyday, multiple times a day, but these moments were the ones she treasured the most. They were strong and they hit her square in the chest. Even after all of this time with him and his potent love she still couldn't quite believe it was all for her. It was raw and it got to her every single time. She couldn't believe she had finally achieved what she had craved the most. A partner. A man who loved her for who she was and nothing else. A man she loved with her entire heart and soul.
Her eyes fell shut but she was too late to stop the tear that fell out of the corner of her eye an in to her hair when David pressed a soft and lingering kiss over her heart. She didn't think there would ever be a time in their lives that this man would lose the ability to make her cry.