"Regina!" Maleficent roared. She teleported closer and grabbed Regina by the shoulders, dragging her off of Emma. The former queen turned around and lashed out with a powerful blast of magic, knocking Maleficent back several feet. Lily and Max ran to help the dragon up and Xander and David tried to put themselves between Emma and Regina. The queen circled them like a lioness stalking her prey, searching for a weakness to exploit.
"Hey! Regina!" Dianah yelled, waving her hands in attempt to get her attention and hopefully away from her sister. "You want to fight somebody, fight me."
Regina scoffed and snapped her fingers. Her apple tree started to move, the branches bending and twisting backwards like a catapult being pulled back to fire. One of the branches did and an apple shot off and hit Dianah right in the forehead, almost knocking her out. Regina giggled. It was both adorable and terrifying. Emma sat up when she felt the ground shake, vines sprouting all around them. Two of them were quick to grab Snow and David, coiling around their necks and starting to squeeze. Regina burst out laughing when they started struggling. "Oh, how I have missed those looks of terror. Just glorious. Now," She turned to Emma. "Back to you." Jacob and Jackson tried to get in her way, to stop her any way they could but a simple wave of her hand sent them crashing into Xander and Grace. More vines rose out of the ground and wrapped themselves around Emma's wrists and ankles, restraining her before she could move. Zelena appeared in front of her sister. "Oh look, it's my wicked big sister. Don't tell me you're going to try and stop me. Shouldn't you be angry as well? After all, I was finally dead."
"You are not yourself." Zelena said slowly. "Just calm down and we can talk. Perhaps, come up with a plan. Destroy the heroes together, yes?"
Regina scratched her chin lazily. "I think, you're trying to distract me." She raised her hand a split second before the lightning could hit her. Giselle paused, seeing her magic having no effect.
"Oh shit." She braced as Regina fired the very same bolt right back at her, blasting her off her feet. Ivar quickly ran to check on her.
Regina laughed again. "Can all of you just stop? Because this is clearly not working. It's a little embarrassing." She giggled, turning back to Zelena. "Now, you, move."
"Listen to me, Regina. What do you remember last? Before today."
"That little blonde bitch coming into my town and taking my son." Regina answered, watching Emma struggle. She used magic to free her arms and sat up to rip the vines off her ankles.
"That little blonde bitch is your True Love." Mal said, coming to Zelena's side. "She gave you a piece of her heart. You were dead, gone, lost forever."
"And she brought me back. Here?! Am I supposed to be happy about that?! Am I supposed to grovel and bend my knee to another meddling hero who think they know best by bringing me back to this wretched world?!" Regina hissed. Emma looked up, hearing the pain in Regina's voice. "The very place that has denied me any form of happiness and peace? The very place that is nothing but a constant reminder of what I am. A villian. Villains don't get happy endings, my dear Maleficent. You know this. There is too much blood on my hands to ever wash off, too much darkness in her heart for it to ever beat without me feeling it. All I want is peace! And I can't even have that."
"Regina, listen to me." Maleficent commanded. "That was the old you. The you who had lost everything. Look around you. Look at all these people. They care about you. They came here to mourn you."
"They probably came to dance on my grave." Regina hissed.
"They came to celebrate your life and say goodbye to one of the most amazing people they have ever met. To the person who gave her life to save them. Damn it, look at me, Regina!" Maleficent roared. Regina took a step back, seemingly examining the dragon's tear stained cheeks. "Look at your casket." The former queen's eyes narrowed suspiciously as she looked back at her broken casket with its many mementos laying among the wreckage of the burial site.
"You…" Regina tilted her head, clearly conflicted. The vines started to recede into the ground. Snow and David took a deep, audible breath and Zelena sent a healing spell around them. "Why would you…" She turned back to Mal.
"That's not your heart in your chest." Mal said, slowly walking towards her. "I don't know why you can't seem to remember, but you do. This isn't you anymore." She pointed at Emma. "She is not your enemy. She is the woman you love."
"She is nothing to me." Regina didn't even bother to look at Emma. She held Mal's gaze defiantly.
"Then look at her. Look into her eyes instead of mine, and you will see the pain that she had to feel losing you. Now, stand down. Please."
"No." Regina hissed. She shook her head and suddenly lashed out, the burst of magic coming in the blink of an eye. Mal was sent flying through the air. She landed hard after an attempt to catch herself. It took her several long moments to stir.
"Get her out of here." Emma commanded, looking at Zelena. She nodded to Lily. "Go with her. Now."
"Mom." Henry said. Regina immediately whipped around, a bright smile lighting up her features.
"Henry." She replied in a breathless whisper. She opened her arms and Henry ran into them, almost taking her off her feet in his excitement. "Henry, what's the matter?" She asked when she realized that he was crying.
"I'm just happy you're home." He said. Regina smiled and kissed the top of his head. "I missed you so much." Regina arched an eyebrow, as though confused. "But you have to stop."
"You don't remember dying?" Rose asked.
"Dying?" Regina frowned, looking at Rose. Both of her eyebrows rose this time. "Hello." Regina smirked. "What is your name, Beautiful?" Rose frowned and punched her had in the jaw. Regina's head snapped to the side and she crumpled to the ground.
Rose shook her fist and glanced at Emma and Henry, who were staring at her. "What? It's what Mal did."
"Everyone get back!" Emma called.
Rose moved Henry back and stepped up to Regina. She pressed a pressure point on the side of her neck and the former queen sat up and grabbed the side of her face. "Ow, Rose, what was that for?" She whimpered.
"You know me? You remember?"
"Why wouldn't I know you?" Regina rubbed her face, whimpering softly. "Why are you and Mal always hitting me?" She frowned when she noticed the coffin. "Oh my gods, who died?"
"Who died- you did!" Dianah said. "And you hit me in the fucking face with an apple!"
"Me?" Regina quickly looked around, almost frantically. "Emma! EMMA!"
"Regina, I'm right here-" Emma stepped forward. Regina suddenly tackled her to the ground and looked at her. "What happened? Are you hurt? What did I do?"
"No, I've never been better." Emma laughed, smiling up at Regina's sparkling eyes. Those beautiful brown eyes. The brunette was still worried about what she had done and she was almost about to cry after seeing her casket. "Regina, look at me." Regina obeyed. "You're home." There wasn't even a word in the english language that could describe how happy Emma was as she held Regina in her arms and kissed her again and again, until her arms ached and she threatened to cut off Regina's air ways. She was crying, Regina was crying, everyone was crying, but this time, it was from tears of joy.
"What did I do, Emma?" Regina asked. "Did I hurt any of you?"
"Everything is gonna be fine." Emma assured her. Of course everything was going to be fine. Regina was back. There was literally nothing that tear her down now.
"Emma, we can't get married." Regina said after getting dog piled on by everyone else.
Emma immediately stopped. "What? Why?"
"My heart belongs to another."
Emma arched an eyebrow. "Is it Roland-"
"It's Roland." Regina grinned, picking him up and swinging him around. Elias and Henry were determined not to be forgotten as they jumped on her for another hug as well. Emma could tell she was a little overwhelmed by everyone's sudden affection, but they were overjoyed she was alive. She had more friends and more family than she realized.
"We'll give you guys some privacy." Rose said. "Come on guys, let's go eat all the food we had planned for the wake."
They left Regina and Emma beneath the tree and Regina turned to her former coffin. "I heard everything, you know. It just felt like a dream. I don't understand…"
"You held off Vortigern's bomb so we could get away. When I came back, you were dead. No heartbeat, no nothing."
Regina looked over her shoulder. "And you brought me back?" She put a hand over her new heart. "You gave me a piece of your heart…"
"Absolutely. You're my everything, Regina. I would do anything for you." Emma said. She took Regina's hands and kissed them. "Anything. You're my True Love, my Soulmate and the Love of my Life all rolled into one. You're the mother of my child, my best friend and my inspiration. The only thing missing is you becoming my wife. I couldn't let you go. I know that it was selfish and stupid-"
"Miss Swan," Regina raised her hand for silence. "Do not ever apologize for saving my life. Please."
Emma swallowed and nodded. "But...you said you were at peace. You were with your family, and Daniel and William. You said you were happy and I brought you back to this miserable place."
Regina shook her head. "I was there for a brief moment. I got to see my parents again, hug my father, see love in my mother's eyes again. I got to say goodbye to Daniel, finally, even see Rocinante. I met William, my son." She smiled softly at the memory and Emma's frown deepened. Regina shook her head again. "And as much as I loved it, I didn't want to be there, Emma. Not yet at least. I want to be here, with you and Henry. I want to be here, in this life." Regina looked down. "I'm sorry I put you through this. It was just a dream for me. I can't imagine-"
"Miss Mills," Emma said, tilting her head back up. "Do not ever apologize for saving my life. It's over. Let's just worry about us now. And try not to choke the hell out of me again or kick everyone's ass."
Regina smirked. "I had no control over that."
Emma smiled and pulled her into her arms again and held her there, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm never letting you go again, Regina. Just so you know." Regina giggled softly. After a few minutes she stepped back and held out her hand. Regina paused to change her clothes into a simple gray dress and took Emma's hand. "So…" Regina giggled again. "What's funny?" Emma asked as they walked back to the house.
"Your heart makes me feel giddy." Regina answered, putting a hand over her chest. "Is it you?"
"This is one of the most amazing days of my life." Emma replied. "So, it might be, but don't distract me. You have a crush on my grandma?" Regina immediately stopped. "Yeah, after you finished choking me, you had the nerve to flirt with her. Sound familiar?" Regina licked her lips and Emma crossed her arms.
"You were never supposed to know about that."
"So it's true? If you want to be with my grandma, Regina, go ahead. Just rip this family apart!" Emma turned around and started walking. Regina jumped on her back and she nearly dropped her.
"You are so dramatic. You and your entire family are like supermodels, okay? Besides, I'm yours, Emma."
"I don't know how I feel about your apparent thing for older blondes." Emma replied.
"You should feel special because no matter who I find attractive, you will always be a thousand times better. Feel better now?"
"Mhm, a little bit." Emma smiled. Regina nuzzled the back of her neck and hopped down.
"As wonderful as this little moment is, I want to see what I did." Emma stopped walking and turned towards her, watching as Regina drew out her memories and placed them in the palm of her hand in the form of a purple stone. Regina crushed it and the dust began to ascend, forming an almost mirror-like oval in the air, allowing them to watch Emma's memories almost like a movie. Except Regina took a little more than expected. She watched Emma drag her body out of the ruins of the castle, watched her doing everything to revive the woman she loved. Then on to the waiting, the hope that Regina would react to Emma's heart, and the despair that followed when they realized that she was gone. She watched herself be revived and laying waste to all those that attended her funeral and when it was over and the memories flew back into Emma's forehead, she started crying. "I didn't mean any of that, Emma. Everything I said, I-"
"You weren't yourself." Emma said, wiping away her tears. "Okay? Regina, I don't care that you almost choked me to death. You're here, and that's all I could ever ask for."
"But I hurt so many of you and-and Mal...Oh gods."
"Calm down, everything is okay now. Mal is going to forgive you. We both know that. She knows you didn't mean it. Come on." She took Regina's hand and kissed the back of it. "Better?" Regina slowly nodded. They walked back to the mansion, rather than teleport as Regina claimed she was sick of magic for a while and Emma didn't blame her. The rest of the family had changed out of their black clothes and into something more worthy of the new occasion. The dulcet sounds of Frank Sinatra blasting from Dianah's speakers and talking greeted them at the door.
"About damn time." Dianah said as they walked in. Her sister put her arm around Regina and lead her into the living room. "Thought she was going to hog you all day. Welcome back from the dead!" Regina smirked, almost tripping as Henry came to her for another hug. She kissed the top of his head and moved away to approach Mal, sitting next to the fire. The dragon rose to her feet as Regina walked into her arms, burying her face in her neck as the blonde spoke to her softly.
Emma tilted her head at the sight. "I don't think I will ever understand their relationship." She said to Evie. Her little sister shrugged.
"It's not for us to understand. But they're so cute."
Mal kissed Regina's forehead and said something else to her before Regina nodded and made her way back to Emma's side. The former queen waved her hand, giving back all of the gifts that had been placed on her coffin. She called for everyone's attention and surveyed the room before speaking.
"I'm so sorry everyone, for putting you through this. It was not my intention for anyone to get hurt. I mean, especially not me. The entire last week has been hectic and crazy and honestly, none of you should have had to deal with that. I'm just...sorry. I know some of you spent the last few days mourning and I'm sorry for that too. I'm also sorry for attacking you. I was not myself and I would never dream of hurting my family like that." She glanced at Emma apologetically. Emma could see the pain in her eyes as she spoke, the guilt of harming those she cared about. She had mourned too, had feared they would never be together again as well and she had felt the full force of Regina's attack when she was resurrected.
"Hush, dear." Grace stood up to give Regina a hug. "If I knew any ounce of magic, I can't say I wouldn't have done the same. All that matters is that you are alive, you're healthy and you're happy. You're home now, so there's no use fretting about what was."
Regina nodded quickly, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Grace. I'm just surprised that you're all so accepting of this."
Grace nodded to Maleficent. "That woman right there can turn into a dragon. You can light fireballs in your hand. Am I not supposed to believe that you can't come back from dead? Isn't this like every day for you?"
Regina smiled and shook her head. "No, our days are a bit different. Still...thank you again."
"No problem, Future Daughter."
"Speaking of future anything," Dianah cut in. "Don't you guys have a wedding in 3 days and you haven't done anything for it?"
"Emma did all the work." Regina answered, glancing over her fiance. "All we really need are the dresses."
"Tomorrow, we have to go dress shopping, ladies."
"Actually," Regina said. "Mal is going to make me one."
"Ooh!" Ruby leaped up. "Can I help design it? Please, Gina?"
"Yes, Miss Lucas-"
"YES! Okay, Mal, we need to talk. She needs awesomeness and Evil Queenness. Oh my gods, I'm so excited." The werewolf squealed, leaping up and down.
"Ruby, I don't want anything extravagant. That's why I just wanted a small ceremony." Regina reminded her.
Ruby gasped dramatically. "Have you seen your dresses in the Enchanted Forest? I don't think you know what the word extravagant means if that's not what you were going for. Besides, this is a big day-"
"One day, Miss Lucas."
Ruby sighed. "Fine. But I get to have free reign with your hair."
"Deal."
The werewolf jumped to her feet again and moved behind Regina, running her fingers through the queen's hair and flipping it all over the place. "You have no idea how much I've wanted to touch your hair. It's almost as long as it was when you were teenager, isn't it? I have the perfect style in mind. Might need to do some snipping though."
"Well, we really need to get started on you." Lily smirked at Emma, who glared at her. "Those eyebrows are in dire need of help. We need a mani pedi stat and a stylist." Emma flipped her off and started to make her way into the kitchen but she was stopped by her little sister.
"Emma, we need to get on this. We only have 3 days."
"Yeah, we're gonna need the whole 3 days for you." Dianah chimed in.
"How about all of you get out of my house." Emma retorted. She turned and nearly ran into Maleficent, who appeared in front of her.
"If I may, Miss Swan, I would like to craft you a wedding dress as well, if you would like." She offered.
"Really?"
The dragon nodded. "I would consider it an honor."
"Because of Regina?" Emma asked.
Mal nodded. "Because of what you mean to her. You have given her something that I could not, but I wished I could. Her happiness is all I desire and even though she tries to downplay this wedding thing, I know it means a lot more to her than she lets on. It would be the first time she's marrying someone for love, out of choice, and it is a day I will make sure she will not forget."
"The two of you are really close, aren't you?" Emma said softly.
Mal smiled and looked over at Regina, playing with the kids. "I want her to have a better life than I did. She deserves it. As do you."
"Oh." Emma looked around until the dragon turned her attention back to her. "But um, sure, a free dress is fine with me."
Maleficent beamed. "Excellent. We'll have your fitting tomorrow."
"Kay."
The dragon moved off to join Max in the kitchen and Emma looked back at Regina, who was explaining the 3 rules of magic to her brothers and her mother.
"Oh." Jacob said. "So this is like twice as good as I thought it was. It's an even better miracle!" He grinned, hugging her again. She smiled brightly at his silliness while Emma silently watched. By that night Regina could hardly be left alone. All of the kids wanted to stay over so Regina could tell them a bedtime story. Emma said goodnight to her family and went into the master bedroom to get ready for bed. About an hour passed before Regina walked in, dressed in her silk pajamas.
"They were exhausted." She commented.
"Didn't want you to leave their sights." Emma smirked, opening her arms. Regina crossed the room to climb into them but she knew Regina wouldn't go to sleep anytime soon. She had been dead for 2 days already. Regina was silent though as her heartbeat lulled Emma into sleep.
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Regina rubbed her arms against the chill of the night air as she stepped out into the backyard. Maleficent turned to face her, looking almost goddess-like beneath the moon's pale light. "Mal...I wanted to ask you something."
Mal tilted her head in an almost canine manner. "What is it?"
"My, um...my casket…" She said. "You…" She swallowed hard and Mal seemed to understand her discomfort.
"What about it?"
"I know Emma's parents are pretty much loaded but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have bought me a diamond casket."
"Your point?" The dragon inquired
"That was a right I'm not worthy of." Regina said. It was a great honor and a rare thing, usually reserved for dragons by dragons. Dragons lived their entire lives in luxury, sleeping on piles of gold, but when they died, on the rare occasions she knew of, they were usually placed in a coffin with their favorites from their hoard and another dragon would turn the wood into diamond. For dragons, death was not a sad occasion. The species was on the decline, at least it had been in the Enchanted Forest. Most of them spent their time in caves and locked away in castles. But when a dragon died, all of them gathered together, regardless of whether they knew the departed party or not, and they celebrated the life lost with wine and dancing, magic and fire. It was not something she deserved.
"Why do you think that?" Mal asked.
"Because...well, I'm human and-and dragons closely guard their rituals. And I'm not a hero or anything. You know I still struggle everyday with the darkness and trying to be better. I'm just…" Regina shook her head. "A dragon coffin is for dragons. A diamond casket is for the greatest of your kind."
Mal smiled softly and placed both hands on Regina's cheeks, gently caressing them with her thumb. She looked directly into the watery brown eyes before her. "But you are the greatest queen I know." She said softly. "My greatest friend, who I thought was gone forever. Whose example I try to follow everyday. And I don't mind a little darkness. It's a part of who you are, and I would change nothing about you, Regina. Not a single thing. You are worthy, whether you believe it or not."
Regina smiled at her and buried her face in her neck as the dragon swept her into her arms and held her there. "Thank you for always being there, Mal. And I'm sorry again for today."
"I would allow no one else to take my place." The dragon replied. "And stop apologizing. Honestly, it was an impressive hit and I'm proud of you. Now," She kissed the top of her head and stepped back. "I must go prepare for tomorrow. You should get back to Emma before she wakes up and thinks yesterday was nothing but a wonderful dream."
Regina scoffed. "It would take an earthquake to wake her up. And there's someone else I should see before tonight is over with."
"One question: is Max acting strange to you?"
"Well, Mal, I haven't seen him these last few days-"
"I mean since he got to Storybrooke. It's weird. I could be imagining things." She shook her head. "But come to my vault tomorrow and I'll do your fitting. Then Ruby is going to take you to the spa."
"The spa? Is that really necessary?"
"Absolutely. Good night, Regina." The dragon disappeared in a cloud of black smoke and Regina rolled her eyes. She went to check on Emma before teleporting to the bed and breakfast. It was easy to find Giselle's room number. She knocked on the door and waited until she heard the lock click and Giselle peered out of the doorway. Dressed in a short, silk nightgown and her hair up a messy ponytail, she looked quite homey.
"Hi." Regina said.
"Hi. You are aware it is 2 in the morning."
"You weren't asleep." Regina answered.
Giselle narrowed her eyes before opening the door and allowing her to come in. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just wanted to come and talk to you if that's alright." Regina sat on the edge of the bed and Giselle sat next to her. "You know, there's a house just down the street that you can have. We can go shopping and get you some clothes, furniture, build you a vault." She suggested.
"I don't know if my presence is really welcome here, Regina." Giselle said, crossing her legs. "The people from Ivan's kingdom still despise me and I don't have anyone else besides Ivar, and he shouldn't spend his life trying to keep up with his mother."
"You have me." Regina reminded her.
"You will be getting getting married in a few days and then you'll be off on your honeymoon." Giselle replied.
"Hey, that doesn't mean that I'll forget you." She took Giselle's hands and kissed them. "I can't change what happened, I can't erase it, I can't do anything but make you a promise. A promise that I'm going to be there for you. You're my friend, and I wasn't the best one. I was a horrible one, but from now on, that's going to change. You and me, we've been through too much together. And I know I have yet to earn your forgiveness for all of this, but I will spend the rest of my life trying."
"Forgiveness for what?" Giselle frowned. "Forgiveness for knocking me up? Because of you, I was blessed with 2 sons. There is nothing to forgive."
Regina smiled. "I met William."
"What?"
"It was only for a moment, it felt like, but I did. He was everything you told me he would be. He told me to tell you not to blame anyone for this but Ivan. Ivan and Vortigern."
"Of course he did." She smiled. "He always hated fighting." She sighed and looked down. "Did you ever think about me?"
"Of course I did. But I couldn't go find you, I couldn't see you. You would've changed everything. I didn't contact you for the very same reason I betrayed Mal. Because you would've changed me. My vengeance, my anger, it was all I had. And if I ever started to feel love again, I would've dropped everything for it, for you. The darkness was too strong for me." Regina looked down as well. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's just…" Giselle sat up a little straighter and looked at Regina. "Can we just, I don't know, start over?"
Regina nodded. "Of course. I'd like that. Um...may I have a hug?"
Giselle smirked. "Absolutely." Regina smiled as she hugged her oldest friend. She was glad that Giselle didn't hate her and wasn't trying to push them being together. She hoped they could mend their broken relationship and have a good future together.
"I have to go, but I'll see you tomorrow? We can go shopping then." Giselle simply nodded and Regina teleported back to her house and made her way upstairs where Emma was having a small panic attack. "Emma? What the hell are you doing?"
The blonde quickly vaulted out of bed to hug her. "I woke up and you were gone. I thought...I thought all of it was just a dream."
"Nope, you're stuck with me." Regina walked them back to bed and laid down until Emma had drifted off again. She didn't want to sleep anytime soon but she ended up falling asleep anyway. She didn't mind, especially not with Emma's arms wrapped tightly around her.
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