Long wait, I know, I just couldn't find any time to write! Anywho, it's up and this was supposed to be the final chapter but it's not. There will be one more! Surprise! lol I just couldn't fit everything in here that I wanted. So there will be one more chapter and then the epilogue. Aloneinthesky, I didn't forget about you and your beach request! It just took way longer than I had expected and hoped for to fit it in to the story. I know it's not exactly what you had in mind regarding placement but I did my best and I hope you enjoy it all the same :)
Happy reading! Please leave a review! I'm going to sleep now lol!
"I am taking you out again tonight," he told her and was delighted when she smiled with a hum of laughter as she leaned in to him.
"Is that so?" She grinned as she slid her hands in to his back pockets and tipped her head back further.
"It is so," he nodded and then dipped down and kissed her laughing mouth.
"And with this outing be as...charming as the last?" She grinned and he laughed softly was he tucked her hair behind her ear.
"I suppose you will be the judge of that, my darling," he smirked and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth as she grinned up at him and slipped her hands deeper in to his back pockets. Playful little minx. "You are running out of time to leave before me," he reminded and she cocked her head.
"Well I can always leave after you. We just can't leave together," she smirked and he nodded with a raise of his eyebrows.
"Well...we could," he smirked and she pursed her smiling lips.
"I will not have this relationship brought to the public's attention via a happenstance at the town's inn. It is too cliche and...trashy," she shrugged one shoulder with the word and he let out a rich laugh as he hugged his arms around her to pull her closer.
"I will save you from suffering such a fate then," he chuckled and her lips pulled in to a smirk, "but you are making me late for work, madam mayor."
"This town ran smoothly before you were working. I doubt it will be any different today," she smirked and he leaned in closer which had her grinning wider than she had in a long time.
"Well thank you for that truly delightful review of my attempts to change this town through its sheriff's office," he retorted playfully with a wide grin of his own and she laughed in utter amusement and delight through her teeth.
"You're welcome," she laughed and he scoffed a little which had her laughing harder before he kissed her. He kissed her slowly and deeply, toying with her and finding new ways to turn her knees to jelly. With a long hum of a sigh she pulled him closer to her, her hands still in his back pockets as he swivelled his head to kiss her again. She was a dizzy and foggy mess by the time he took his mouth away from hers.
David smirked just a little in pride when her eyes remained closed and she licked her bottom lip before rolling them both in to her mouth and released them with a slow hum. "I will see you tonight, my love," he told her softly and she nodded once as she blinked her eyes open. "But I have to go to work now," he told her quietly and she reluctantly conceded. Before he left he dipped his head down and left a kiss on that sweet spot of hers right where the corner of her jaw met her slender neck. He loved that spot. He loved the way her breath caught and quivered against his skin when his lips found it.
"Tonight," he whispered against her ear and then pulled back so he could see her nod and her dark eyes on his mouth.
"Tonight then," she agreed softly, her voice quiet because her mind was still focused on how his kisses made her feel. And then he was stepping away from her, his hand catching hers as it slipped from his pocket just so he could run his thumb over her fingers as he backed away. And then her darling sheriff disappeared behind the door and she was left alone in his room.
With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and sat down on the bed. She hadn't gone there with the intention of spending the night but she had no intention of leaving the comfort of his warm body once her mind had been cleared and the blankets had been drawn up. She had told herself she would deal with the consequences in the morning and now that it was the morning, she was kicking herself for convincing herself of such things. Her car had been parked outside Granny's all night. And by all night she meant a good ten or twelve hours at least. She had no idea what time it was. Her phone was dead and she had forgotten to ask David before he left.
But she had woken up happy and she never took that for granted. So with a smile and a silent little pep talk in her head that lasted a good several minutes, she made herself stand up tall and walk down the hall with strong and even strides. She was just grateful the hall was empty and hoped it was only Granny at the front desk this morning.
When she finally made it down there she was relieved to find it empty. She supposed there were times when her town's incompetency regarding efficiency were appreciated. Relaxed a little more now, she reached for the door handle to go outside but stopped and jumped at the sound of Red's voice beside her.
"Your car isn't out there," Red stated plainly as she looked up from her phone and stayed seated in the chair across from the front desk Regina had glanced toward when she came down. She had neglected to look to her right though and Red couldn't help the small glow of satisfaction that bloomed inside her for being able to startle the mayor.
Regina frowned at her and looked back at the closed door in front of her before looking back at the distracted brunette and bit sharply, "and where is it then?"
"Easy there, killer," Red sighed as she put her phone down in her lap and looked up at the testy mayor, "I drove it to your house for you. It's parked safe and sound in your driveway. A less conspicuous place for it to spend the night in my opinion. I am sure you would agree. Unless you do want the whole town to know that you're banging Snow's beloved husband," she drawled out with a flick of her fingers and Regina's expression grew all the more agitated.
"I didn't come here to bang David," Regina snarled in distaste and Red rolled her eyes.
"Yeah no shit," Red grumbled with a raise of her eyebrows and a wave of her fingers by her ear in a gesture that she would have heard them if they had engaged in such an activity. Regina simply tilted her chin up in an accepting nod but her eyes were no less dangerous, "the rest of the town doesn't have such sensitive hearing. And their respect for a person's personal life is even less sensitive," she stated with a bitter grumble, "the news would spread like wildfire."
"...How did you get my keys?" Regina prodded with a voice that was low and dangerous.
"I called your house. And after some coaxing on the answering machine, the queen picked up the phone. When she found the spare key she poofed herself here and gave them to me before poofing herself back. So I didn't sneak in to David's room while you two were sleeping if that's what you're all pissed about," she told her plainly.
Looking her up and down with her brow furrowed and her chin still high, Regina spoke once more, "why did you do it? Surely you have better things to do than watch my back."
"I'm a decent human being."
"You are a wolf."
"All the more reason to be loyal to the pack leader, madam mayor."
"That is a laughable excuse."
"Well maybe I just like you, okay?" Red snapped and Regina laughed with a nod.
"Right. And I am a moose."
"Yeah, it's weird, okay? But when you're not being such a prickly bitch you are actually decent company. I could kill you over what you did to Snow but I moved your car instead. This thing with you and David isn't going away, so I figure we may as well just skip the pointless bitch fighting and plotting and move right on to the begrudging acceptance stage. Even though I am having a hard time staying seated in this chair right now rather than slapping you across the face."
Regina wasn't all that convinced but she was willing to try and accept what the werewolf was saying. So she nodded once and released the bitter expression from her face and Red nodded once in return. "Thank you," she told her and Red nodded some more, "I didn't expect such a gesture."
"Yeah well before you go get all mushy, I moved all your mirrors out of spite and fucked with your seat."
"...Twenty eight years! Nothing has been moved inside that car for twenty eight years for a god damn reason! And you decided it would be a great idea to-!"
"Jesus! Relax! I'm just kidding!" Red laughed and lifted her hands in surrender while Regina huffed, her anger still not reined in yet, "I didn't even touch the radio! I just wanted to see what you'd do! I'm not an idiot and I don't have a death wish thank you very much," she laughed and Regina crossed her jaw as she folded her arms and shifted her weight to one foot, "I left it exactly the way I found it. I accept recompense in the form of generous tips, forgiven parking tickets, small gifts, or even one of your lasagnas or a batch of freshly baked goods. Now screw off before the desire to tear you limb from limb overwhelms me."
...
"Ah there you are, dear," the queen greeted and the mayor gave her a curious look as she walked in.
"...What are you doing in my office?" Regina asked with a furrow of her brow as her steps slowed at the sight of the queen sitting in her chair with her feet up on her desk and her husband behind her, twisted from facing the window but looking at her. "And why are your feet on my desk?" She questioned with a raise of an eyebrow and the queen smirked and swung her feet back on to the floor.
"We have something to discuss with you," the queen started and the mayor nodded with a pleasant and open expression as she stopped across from her on the other side of the desk, "we were going to catch you last night but you never came home. Henry told us he got a call from you saying you were going to be late. Something about Snow. Then with Red and your car last night, we decided to find you in the morning after you had time to sleep off whatever Snow brought out in you."
"And what is it you needed to discuss?"
"Travel arrangements," the queen replied and watched the soft disappointment and dismay changed the mayor's calm and pleasant expression.
"You want to return home."
"We have already stayed weeks longer than we had expected to and we do have a kingdom to run. Snow and I left on cordial terms but I do not trust that girl to run things smoothly. Even with Maleficent shadowing her. As enthralled as we are with your world and its technology..."
"You're homesick," Regina supplied and the queen nodded a little as her king placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Our family is waiting for us," David added gently and the pretty mayor nodded and smiled but it was tainted with sorrow.
"There is no need to tell me your reasons, dear," Regina smiled with a shake of her head, "we all knew this was a honeymoon trip and the pair of you would go home at some point. I just hope you know that you are welcome here should you ever wish to return."
"You and the rest of this town have made that very clear," the king smiled and his queen hummed, "we found much more here than we were expecting and we need you to know that leaving isn't easy. But we need to go home."
"You will by no means be rid of us though," the queen smirked and the mayor gave a small laugh with a nod as her eyes fell to the desk's top.
"Good."
...
"Does mom know you're using her kitchen?" Henry questioned as he sat on the counter and pushed another grape in to his mouth.
"...No..."
Henry laughed and shook his head but didn't stop her from continuing, "what happens if you blow up her kitchen when I leave?"
"Magic is a very useful gift."
"Right. Well what are you making? And why?"
"I am holding up my end of a lost bet. I'm making pasta."
"Well you should be able to handle that."
"Thank you."
"Unless you set the noodles on fire again," Henry laughed and the queen sighed as she set the water to boil.
"She told you about that, did she."
"She did," he laughed and the queen shook her head, "I think it's hilarious."
"You and everyone else."
"Well you've been doing much better since then," Henry encouraged and popped another grape in his mouth, "you've had very few mishaps in here since mom started helping you more often."
"Yes I have," she smiled with a little pride as she passed Henry.
"So...are you really going back to the Enchanted Forest?"
"...Yes...we are..."
"But you'll come visit sometimes right?"
"Of course," she assured softly, drawing out the promise with a furrow of her brow as she looked him in the eye, "I won't be able to stay away," she smiled softly with a shake of her head and he smiled back, "I love you, Henry. I think of you as my son and it is going to be very difficult for me to leave without you."
"Well I can come visit too," Henry offered with a smile and the queen smiled and nodded.
"I would love that very much," she breathed and Henry's smile curled a little higher. Then he opened his arms and she didn't hesitate to fill them and hug him back. She squeezed him tight and buried her nose in to his neck with a deep breath and a slow exhale that carried, "I am going to miss you."
"I am going to miss you too."
...
The sky was on fire. Brilliant oranges and yellows and pinks filled it as the sun lowered to the horizon the sea offered. But the spectacle was only appreciated by the two who walked barefoot in the sand side by side. A mayor and her sheriff laughing as they spoke to one another and their fingers gently intertwined between them, swinging gently with every step they took.
"You spoil me with these outings," Regina sighed with a smile as she looked out at the setting sun and enjoyed the cool damp sand moving beneath her feet.
"You deserved to be spoiled."
"Hmmm," she hummed softly as she rested her head against his shoulder and lifted her free hand up and across her so she could hold it on his bicep as they continued walking. When the cold water lapped at her toes she gasped with a laugh and hopped away from it but David simply laughed at her. Then he twirled them around so they were suddenly both ankle deep in the cool salty water and he was holding her against his chest with bright blue eyes just grinning at her. "Very smooth, Charming," she scolded lightly with a be riding smirk but found she really didn't mind the fact her jeans were wet and her feet were cold when his hand slid to the small of her back and he lifted their entwined hands to rest on his chest.
With a light scoff of laughter and a roll of her eyes she let herself rest the side of her head against the front of his shoulder so she could watch the sun set as he began to sway her in a slow and simple dance. Her heart fluttered in her chest at his adoring hum and she let her eyes fall shut for a few moments and took a deep breath. The smell and sound of the sea filled her head and while the sand beneath her feet and the cold water flowing around her ankles was a soothing combination, it was the warmth and strength of his body that kept her focus. This was all so easy for him. She would love to do something like this for him but as she took a loose fistful of his shirt behind his back, she couldn't think of a single thing.
He made this whole relationship so easy. It was like he couldn't see all the faults and consequences in pursuing her and all he saw were moments like these when they were alone. But they were rarely ever alone. She couldn't seem to understand what had him so enthralled in this relationship when the world was about to come crashing down.
"How do you make this seem so easy?" She asked on her exhale as she blinked open her eyes to find the colours of the sky more vibrant than before.
"Why do you make it seem so hard?" He countered softly with a kiss to the top of her head.
"Because it is hard. And I am scared."
"Of what?"
"Of...this," she shook her head against his shoulder and continued quietly, "of you."
"Hmmm," he hummed softly and kissed the top of her head again as he let go of her hand only to place it on his chest and then cover it with his hand, "I am scared too."
"Of what?"
"Of losing you. Be it under my hand or that of the town's when they learn of us. So I am showing you how easy it is to stay with me in hopes that when things get rough, because they will, that you will find safety and solace in me instead of solidarity. I cannot change what I feel and I cannot ignore it. Nor do I want to ever do such a thing," he answered and she lifted and turned her head so she could look him in the eye and their gentle dance fell still. "I love you, Regina," he told her as he lifted his hand from the small of her back to slowly tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, "and that is never going to change," he shook his head and when she said nothing, he dipped his head down and kissed her.
It made her shiver. He kissed her with all of the tenderness and confidence in the world and it made her uneasy. Everything she had ever wanted was standing there before her in this man. But she couldn't bring herself to take him in his entirety and she hated that she didn't know why. It was she that stopped the kiss before he finished. But she didn't go anywhere. She merely tipped her head so her mouth was out of his reach and her forehead leaned against his as she whispered, "do not fall for this nonsense."
"What nonsense?" He asked softly, making a point to keep his voice steady and kind while his heart jolted in panic at the thought of her cutting him off. Surely she wouldn't.
"Loving me."
David simply smiled and shook his head as he slid his thumb along her jaw, "it is far too late for that, my darling," he promised and she nuzzled her head in to his a little further, her nose bumping in to his own and his cheek as she pressed herself a little tighter against him, "what is holding you back?"
"I am not all that sure myself," she admitted softly and he hummed a gentle and understanding laugh.
"Well I shall make it my mission to convince you by morning that this is as easy as I make it seem," he told her and she exhaled softly and slowly, her warm breath blowing across his neck and jaw.
"I would like that."
...
"What is this?" The king chuckled softly in surprise as he wandered in to the kitchen only to find his wife making dinner rather than Storybrooke's mayor.
"I'm concentrating."
"Sorry," he apologized quietly and shrugged his shoulders up as he silently walked closer. It smelled delicious and he couldn't stop smiling as he looked around the messy kitchen. Pots, pans, knives, bowls, spoons, cutting boards, spatulas, anything and everything in the mayor's kitchen seemed to be haphazardly occupying almost all of the counter space. It had laughter bubbling in his throat but he kept quiet as per her request and simply watched her instead as she carefully plated the pasta for the pair of them.
Only when he was sure she was finished did he speak. And that was only after he gave a delighted and humoured laugh as she stood proudly beside her pasta. "I am going to be completely honest; I did not think you were ever going to be able to pull this off," he laughed and she smirked with a rock of her head that just exuded pride.
"A deal is a deal. I do my best to hold up my end."
"It would seem so, yes," he laughed as he walked up to her and the pair of them shared grins that were simply beyond their control. When he was close enough he gently took her head in his hands and kissed her as they laughed and grinned. "I love you so much," he laughed and she leaned in to him as she continued with her quiet laughter, "now let's eat before it gets cold."