A/N: All great stories need to come to an end, and this has reached it. It always makes a little sad once a story is finished, but it doesn't replace my joyfulness either. :) I hope you all love and highly enjoy the last chapter to this SQ adaptation. I shall continue to work on other of my stories until all of them are completely finished, and don't worry- I will continue to write new stories as well. I have plenty of other ideas in mind for the future of this fandom. Thank you all, as always, for your support and for loving every one of my stories.
Happy reading!
Killian followed behind an angry Regina, loosening the knot in his tie that had been suffocating him as they entered the Suite. Regina storms into the kitchen to reach for a bottle of water before plopping down along the couch, where Pongo quickly joins her, lying his head along her lap.
"Well, I can't say I expected this." Killian places a balled fist along his hip.
"Killian." Regina's eyes glare up at him. "I will do what you want. I will go wherever you want me to go, give press conferences and say whatever you want me to say, and I will win this election." She sees the corner of Killian's lip lift into a tiny smile. "I only ask one thing from you."
"Sure, Regina- name it." Killian nods his head.
Regina draws in a breath, "From this moment on, my personal life is my personal life. If I want to fall in love with a damn tree- that's to be my business." She points a single digit along her chest. "You are in no way or form are permitted to get involved in the women I date. You," she points to Killian. "Stick to what you do best, and leave my personal life choices to me. Understood?"
Killian holds his head up high as he nods. "Loud and clear."
Regina's nails scratch along Pongo's head. "I want to give the rest of the conference speeches I have left here in New York, and move onto where we need to go next, sooner than they were originally scheduled."
Killian blinks, "That could be arranged, sure. I'll get right on it and check you out by twelve." He marches toward the door.
"Killian." Regina calls out, not even turning to look at Killian as she can see him stop by the door out of the corner of her eye. Killian's never seen Regina's expression turned to stone before, and it was almost scary. "Keep in mind that if I don't fire you here and now, it's because my father believed that you knew how to do your job. And you do. So, I remind you again, stick to what you know."
Once Killian leaves the room, and Regina hears the door slam, she deflates. Her breath trembling on its way past her lips. "Pongo," she is quick to hold Pongo close to her once the canine sits up. "Don't you ever fall in love. You'll just get your heart handed right back to you, leaving nothing but a trail of blood by your feet. Or paws, in your case."
Pongo whines.
Emma took advantage of the subway ride back to her side of town to have a good cry. She needed to let everything out before she saw Henry today, or he was bound to ask thousands of questions. Especially as to why she wasn't going to work tomorrow morning. She didn't have it in her to break her son's heart and explain to him how she fucked everything up with Regina. Although, like Ruby always likes to remind her- the kid was smart beyond his years. And without fault, as if the universe was out to get Emma, Henry bombarded her with questions as soon as she arrived home with him.
"And you just let her go, just like that, mom?" Henry asks, removing his jacket and jumping to throw it onto the coat rack.
"What did you expect me to do, Henry? I have nothing to offer a woman like Regina, kid. Her world and mine simply don't mix. We're just too different, now, go wash up for dinner." Emma hangs her jacket. She couldn't believe she was having this discussion with her ten-year-old son.
"Regina doesn't think that, mom." Said Henry, standing his ground and in the middle of the room.
"That's enough, Henry, now go wash up for dinner." Emma sighs, reaching for a box of noodles, a jar of ragu from her pantry, and begins to fill a cooking pot with water before placing it on the stove.
"But, mom-"
"Henry, please," Emma practically begs, her eyes threatening to gloss over. "Please, just do what I say, okay?"
Henry's shoulders slump but he turns and walks into the direction of their only bathroom to do what he's told. Emma twists the cap off of the ragu jar, setting down along the counter once there's a knock at her door.
Her hand reaches the doorknob, and Emma's eyes grow wide at the sight of Ruby, Ivy & Rosie standing before her, dressed in their regular clothes.
"You didn't think we would continue working there without following you, now did you?" Asked Ruby.
"Are you all crazy?" Emma breathed. "You can't just leave your jobs for me."
"Honey, we can and we have." Said Rosie, hand on her hip.
'We're with you, Em." Ivy smiles.
Emma shakes her head, "You guys, I can't let you just quit your jobs like this-"
"It's done, Em." Ruby shrugs. "Besides, did you honestly think we would want to work under anyone else that wasn't you? No one else is going to give us big fat raises like you will when you become manager and you will."
Emma can't help but smile. Her smile widens once her friends gather around her in a group hug that she didn't realize she needed until it happened. "You all are the best family a girl could ever ask for." She said. "And you're right." She pulls back from the group's embrace. "I will find another job at another hotel. And when I do, I will apply for that management position and I will get it."
"Damn right, you will!" Ivy cheered, pumping her fist.
Emma's gaze moved to her son, who was standing by the entrance of the hallway, smiling at her. As soon as Emma holds out her arm, Henry wastes no time in running into his mother's embrace, his tiny arms wrapping along her neck. Emma dips down to place a kiss along the top of her son's head.
"Well," Emma keeps her arm hanging off of her son's shoulder, her eyes on everyone else. "As long as we are all currently without a job, what do you say to joining Henry and I for some spaghetti and meatballs?" She smiles.
"Are you kidding me? I live for spaghetti and meatballs." Ruby smirks, entering the apartment with Ivy and Rosie behind her. "I'll help you. Henry, you get the utensils." Henry runs to the drawer where the utensils are, while Ruby turns to Rosie. "Rosie, you fetch the glasses."
"On it." Rosie moves into the kitchen. She turns to Henry, "Henry, where are your glasses?"
Henry points to a cupboard. "In there."
Emma dumps the already cooked noodles into a colander, turning to Ruby, who's hip pumps into her own as she stands beside her.
"You're not alone, you know," says Ruby. "We're family, Em. We'll always be behind you. Regina or no Regina."
"Thanks, Ruby. It means the world to me that you're all here. It really does." Emma smiled a little. "But if you don't mind, I really rather not talk about Regina right now."
"You got it." Ruby smiles, opening a packet of ground beef. "Don't you worry about these meatballs, my grandmother gave me her secret recipe on making the perfect meatballs, it's to die for." She slaps a hand on Emma's shoulder. "Trust me. You just take care of the rest."
Emma grins, "On it."
As she drains the noodles and pours them back into the pot where she adds the tomato sauce and stirs, Henry looks over to his mother's smile that disappears and is replaced by a frown. Henry stands from his place on the table and walks over to his mother. His arms wrap so tightly around her waist from behind, that it warms Emma's heart until she smiles again. Her hand stops its stirring to cradle her son's tiny hand.
"I miss her, too, mom." Said Henry in a voice so tiny that Emma couldn't possibly resist dropping to her knees and pulling his tiny body into a hug.
"I'm so sorry, Henry." Emma breathes, her eyes closing for a long minute. "I messed up."
Henry parts from their hug, his eyes on Emma's. "Everyone makes mistakes, mom. Regina will see that."
Emma gives her son a sad smile before placing a wet kiss along his cheek that he quickly wipes away.
"Mom," Henry whines, his cheeks crimson over being kissed in front of everyone.
"Sorry." Emma whispers, grinning along with Henry.
"Ms. Swan! Ms. Swan! Is it true about you and Candidate Mills?"
"Are you in love with her?"
"Did you break up with her because she cheated on you?"
"Will you see her again?"
Emma hurried out of her apartment building the next day, finding herself being bombarded with question after question regarding her relationship with Regina. Although, being bombarded with reporters, wanting to know up to the last detail of Regina's life wasn't what had her worried right now. Not when the most important thing was to find a new job.
Meanwhile, Regina found herself glued to the television, watching a news coverage on the day her and Emma argued out in public. It was the last time she had ever seen Emma.
"We have access to a video today on Candidate Regina Mills, who was recorded out in public in a 'lover's spat' with an unknown woman who now has been identified as a hotel maid."
Regina watched the familiar scene, hearing the familiar words that Emma had said to her on that day playing in front of the television.
"Shit," Killian mutters, shaking his head.
Regina rubs away at her temples, "Will you shut that off, please?" She asks Killian.
Killian hits the power button of the remote to the television, dropping the remote along a desk. He paces along the room, scratching at his eyebrow.
Regina's eyes remain on Killian. "So, what now?" She asks, waiting for an answer.
Killian sighs, his eyes landing on Regina's. "You have to come public with this." He says.
Regina scoffs, "It's already public enough, don't you think so, Killian?"
"You have to give a speech."
"I am not dragging Emma into this mess any further!" Regina stands her ground. "She's had enough!"
"Regina… Are you listening to yourself? Huh? That… Woman-"
"Emma." Regina is quick to correct him, her eyes glaring.
"Alright, whatever." Killian holds his hands in defense. "Emma. She's already dragged through the mud with this, along with you." He points to Regina. "And that kid- her son- Emma's son, he's in this, too. And the only way you are going to calm the press is by doing what you do best. After that you concentrate on winning this election and that's the end of it."
The crowd of reporters was wild. The constant, all together questions echoed around the wide open room. Killian had to step in to calm everyone, standing in front of the podium, lips close to the microphone. "Everyone. Everyone, please. Ms. Mills will not be answering questions at this time regarding this, uh… This incident." He looks over his shoulder to Regina before turning back to the crowd once it's quieted down. "Right now, Candidate Mills will make a statement." As he steps back, Regina steps forward.
Regina stands up straight, and instead of writing her speech down, she decides to speak from the heart. "Good morning," she leans into the microphone, her eyes remaining on the crowd and flashing lights of cameras. "I will be quick and I only have a few things to say about this… This invasion of my privacy. I happened to meet Ms. Swan and her son at a hotel while I was back in New York. And we became friends. There are people who have come through my life, very few of them who I count as friends. And my only regret in this instance is that one of them- Ms. Swan- was subjected to the scrutiny and innuendo of the media as a result of that friendship with me."
Regina gave her speech, and it was on point. Enough to have reporters leave her alone, and hopefully, leave Emma alone for a while. Of course, there was no way for her to know if Emma was at least being left alone because she hadn't seen her since their last unfortunate encounter.
Her votes went up over the weeks that passed, but the truth was, Regina wasn't happy. She was happy about the votes going up in her favor, but she missed Emma. She never stopped thinking about her throughout the weeks that passed and what upset her more was the fact that she would be back in New York to deliver her very last speech. And going on Killian's advice, she would stay in another hotel to avoid running into Emma.
Although Regina wouldn't be opposed to running into Emma. She missed her, and she wondered so many times if Emma possibly missed her, too.
Emma's truth was she did miss Regina. She wished so many times that things hadn't ended up the way they did. That it could have possibly worked out for them. But it would never work out. Eventually, in the span of weeks, Emma managed to land herself another job as a maid at another hotel. She was recognized, of course, by several others that constantly asked for her autograph. Luckily, Ruby, Ivy and Rosie were there to make sure she wasn't bothered. Thank God for them.
Emma would have to start from the ground up again, but she wasn't afraid of a little challenge. She could start all over and would never have to worry about falling for anyone else because, truth was, her heart belonged to Regina.
All Emma cared about now was providing for Henry as best as she could and continue to be the best mother she could be for him.
Emma stopped serving cereal into a bowl, her eyes falling on the morning paper, her heart constricting to the sight of Regina's picture. She blinks, "Henry, come on! School. Cereal is on the table, now let's go." She calls out, taking her seat at the table to sip on her coffee.
Henry comes into the kitchen, setting his backpack along another chair before sitting in his seat in front of his bowl of cereal. He takes a spoonful before reaching for the morning paper, opening it up to page three of the politics section. His eyes light up, body hunches. "Is today the nineteenth?" He asks, turning to his mother.
"Yep. Six more shopping days until Christmas." Emma takes her last sip of coffee before standing for more.
Henry grins at the paper, "She's here! She's back!" He exclaims.
"What are you talking about, kid?" Emma looks to her son, stirring her spoon in her coffee.
"This morning's paper. Regina's back. She's giving her final speech before the last votes start coming in, and guess where?" Henry grins up at his mother.
"That's enough, now go put on your turtleneck, it's cold out." Emma lands her elbow on the table, her fingers pressing down at her temple. She takes a sip of her coffee.
"Mom, guess where!" Henry jumps in his seat, eagerly.
"Henry, I don't care, now, please do as I say or you're going to be late for school and you're going to make me late for my new job." Emma stands, dumping her coffee along the sink, not being able to stomach it down. She begins washing her mug.
"At your hotel! Mom!" Henry stops along his bedroom, poking his head out through his open door.
"What?" Emma breathed out with a sigh, looking at her son over her shoulder.
"At your hotel!" Henry repeats eagerly.
"I heard you, kid." Emma replies, drying her hands off. She turns around to the sight of Henry entering the kitchen, lost inside his turtleneck sweater. Emma marches for him, yanking the sweater off of him. "You have it on backwards, hold on." She turns the sweater and helps Henry put it on.
"Don't you think it's weird, ma, that you'll be there and she'll be there?" Henry grunts as the neck of the sweater is yanked through his head.
Emma combs his hair over quickly with her fingers. "Yes, and so will thousands of people."
"I know, but what are the odds that you two will be in the same place, at the same time. It's like fate, mom." Henry grins.
"No, it's like New York City and an available conference room." Emma breathes. She turns her son's body around, giving it a light shove toward the table. "There, now go finish your cereal, hurry, please."
Henry whirls around on the balls of his feet, his eyes looking up at his mother. "You knew, didn't you? You knew Regina was coming and you weren't going to tell me." He frowns.
Emma did know. It was impossible not to know, just like it was impossible for Henry never to find out on his own. Especially when the news on her return after being away for two long weeks was all over the news, papers and radio stations.
"Remember what we talked about, Henry." Emma holds onto her son's shoulders, looking him dead in the eye. "Regina is not a part of our lives, but we wish her luck with hers. Right?"
"Do you think she misses us?" Henry's frown deepens.
Henry breathes. "She'd be crazy not to, kid." The corner of her lip tilts into a little smile. "Now, come on, that's enough. You have to get to school and I have to get to work."
Henry reaches for his backpack, eating another spoonful of cereal before dumping it out. He stops and looks over his shoulder at the newspaper. "Uh, mom…" He turns to his mother. "I forgot, today's the school field trip to the museum, so you don't have to walk me to school. I can take the bus." He grins, standing before Emma.
"What field trip?" Emma placed a hand along her hip. "I don't remember you talking about no field trip, Henry."
"Sure, I did! You even signed my permission form. You just forgot, mom." Henry swings his backpack over his shoulder. "Now, come on. I'm going to be late. It's an important field trip. Very educational." He marches out the door.
Emma quickly reaches for her keys and rushes out the door, shutting it in place, and keeping up with her son.
"See! Kids are already boarding." Henry points to a bus that coincidentally happens to be a few blocks away from their usual path.
Emma still couldn't recall Henry ever telling her about a field trip, but if a school bus was there, he must have told her. "Well, okay. Please, be careful," she places a kiss along his cheek, which Henry is quick to wipe away. "And don't get yourself into any trouble."
"Bye, mom!" Henry waves, taking off in a sprint toward the bus. He uses his small stature to hide between the group of kids. Once he looks over his shoulder and sees that Emma is walking in her own direction to take the subway to work, Henry smirks mischievously and runs in another direction.
The conference room at the Winston Hotel where Emma worked was so packed that not even a flea could fit in there. The crowd was routed up with questions directed at Regina.
"Everyone…" Killian stood before the microphone. "People! Please! Everyone will have a turn with their questions, let's not run her out of this room before she can answer any of them, alright?"
Everyone laughs. Regina smiles as she steps up to the podium again, dressed in an all black power suit with a white shirt underneath and heels to finish. "Yes?" She points to a raised hand.
"Ms. Mills, if elected, you'll be the third female Mayor to run New York City. How does that feel?" A female reporter asks.
"Well, if I get elected, I'll be sure to let you know the answer to that question." Said Regina, smiling while everyone around her laughed. "Yes?" She points to another raised hand.
"Your father ran for Mayor, and he was the finest in New York. Did he leave you with any advice?" Another reporter asks, his pen ready to scribble down Regina's answer.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, he did. I believe he said, 'Regina. Don't run.'" She grins, hearing the crowd's laughter vibrate throughout the room.
Killian smiles, stepping up to the microphone, "Alright, we have time for one more question, folks." He covers the microphone to whisper to Regina, "You have photoshoot at ten-thirty-"
"I have a question." A small voice echoed, quieting down the crowd.
Regina is called to attention, her eyes looking around the room. "Yes? Who said that?" She asks into the microphone.
"Ms. Mills, down here." A bald headed reporter with dark framed glasses points the tip of his pen down before him.
Everyone's eyes, including Regina's turn to Henry, who stood among the crowd with a nervous look on his face. A small smile lifted out of the corner of Regina's lip. "Yes? What's your question?"
"Don't do this, Regina," Killian whispers.
Regina stops Killian with a raised hand before turning back to Henry. "I'm listening." She speaks.
Killian gives up, standing behind Regina.
"Well…" Henry begins, his right hand shoved deep into his jacket pocket. "I know everyone makes mistakes. And it's a sign of character to give a person a second chance, right?"
Regina smiles a little, "Right. I'm with you."
"Even if someone lied, they should be forgiven. Otherwise, we'd never have any politicians." Said Henry, and the crowd rumbled with laughter around him.
Regina can't help but chuckle a little, bearing pearly white teeth.
Killian steps up again, "Alright, thanks a lot, kid. We're going to have to wrap this up, folks-"
Regina holds up her hand once more, her eyes glaring in Killian's direction. "Killian, he's not done." She turns back to Henry, "I'm sorry. Go on." She nods.
"Well…" Henry breathes through the knots in his stomach. "What if you weren't a politician trying to do good for everybody? What if you were a regular person like a- a maid or something? And she made a mistake." The crowd roars into agreement, and an exchange discussion among themselves. Henry's eyes remain on Regina the entire time. "Don't you think she should get a second chance? I mean, nobody's perfect, right?"
"No. Nobody's perfect." Regina speaks up, smiling a little as she motions to Henry. "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, take a look at our future Mayor of New York City."
Henry smiles while the crowd laughs. Cameras begin to click, snapping picture after picture as Regina begins to dismount the stage.
Killian steps before her, keeping his voice to a low volume. "Regina, don't do this. Don't throw it all away, we've worked too hard-"
"I'm following my heart, Killian. I promise you, I'm not throwing anything away. Not anymore." Regina smiles.
Killian rolls his eyes, "I really hate you sometimes, you know that."
Regina grins. "I know."
Killian nods his head toward Henry, "The hell with it. Go. Follow your freaking heart, I'll hold them back for as long as I can. And if I don't make it out alive, just promise me you'll win this election in my memory."
Regina marches for Henry, not needing to be told twice. She wastes no time in pulling him in for a hug, to which the cameras snap pictures like crazy.
Henry's arms wrap along Regina's neck tightly. He doesn't part from their hug until Regina does.
"Great speech." Said Regina, smiling from ear to ear.
"Really?" Henry's eyes light up.
Regina nods, "You had them eating out of your hands, Henry." She grins. She looks down once Henry holds out his fists, opening his hand to reveal a paperclip, scattered in different directions. Regina's grin grows as she exposes her own paperclip in the palm of her hand.
"The paperclip really works!" Henry grins happily.
Regina smiles. "Where is she, Henry?" She asks.
Henry wastes no time in taking Regina by the hand, running out through the crowded room, just like Regina doesn't waste any time in following her. The crowd of reporters seemed to grow as they all began to follow their trail throughout the hotel grounds. Even Killian was swimming along the crowd, trying to hold everyone back to the best of his abilities with absolutely no help.
"Have you seen Emma Swan?" Regina asks an employee of the hotel as they come across him.
"No, I haven't, ma'am." The man shakes his head, watching Regina curiously as she marches through the hotel kitchen along with Henry guidance.
Killian runs past the crowd of reporters, pulling back the door to the kitchen, determined to beat them at all cost.
"This is the biggest story. We haven't had something like this in a while." One reporter says to another.
"Ms. Mills! Do you think this will help you get the last votes you need?"
"Are you still seeing Ms. Swan?"
"Was it love at first sight, Ms. Mills?"
Reporters began bombarding with question after question, being held back by a door with a small circular window. While Killian slammed his back against the closed door, holding his arms out to block everyone from entering, Henry made sure to lock it from the inside.
Emma was on her lunch break, her back turned while she left her container of untouched food sitting before her.
Regina stops at the unmistakable sight of her. She looks down at Henry, who nods in approval at her. "Mom?" Henry calls out for her.
Emma whirls around, her eyes wide as she stands from her chair. "Henry?" She looks to Regina who wastes no time in marching over to her. "What are you both doing here, what-?" She's muted by Regina's lips pressing along hers, by the feel of the brunette's hand resting along her hip, holding her and herself steady from tumbling over due to how lightheaded their kiss made them.
Once Regina pulls back, parting from their kiss as slow as possible, she is happy to still find Emma's beautiful eyes staring right back into hers. "Hello." She whispers.
"Hi." Emma breathes, her eyes blinking.
Regina smiles a little. "Emma. I'm very sorry. May we… May we start over? Second chance, second date. You as you, me as me. No more secrets. What do you think?" Her heart accelerates at the wait.
"Ms. Mills, we know you're in there!" A reporter pounded along the door.
Emma turns to Ruby, Ivy, and Rosie who Regina just realized also happened to be in the room with them. All three of them huddled together with tears of happiness running down their faces. Emma looks to Henry, who smiles at her. "Thanks, kid. You are one in a million, you know that?" She tells him, bending over to him.
"I wouldn't have done it for anyone else, mom." Henry grins, sharing a hug with his mother.
Ruby clears her throat, "Em," she whispers, pointing to Regina, who is patiently waiting for an answer.
Emma stands before Regina, her eyes locking into brown beautiful orbs. "Emma Swan," she holds a hand before Regina. "Housekeeping."
Regina shakes Emma's hand, firmly wrapping hers around it. "Regina Mills, candidate for Mayor. I'd appreciate your vote."
The corner of Emma's lip tilts into a tiny smile, "We'll see."
Regina's smile grows as does Emma's once Regina's arms are wrapped tighter around her and their lips meet in a passionate kiss that has everyone in the room with them cheering. Henry jumped up and down with glee as he scooped up by Ruby. Soon the door is busted open, and a wave of reporters along with Killian, front and center and very much still breathing, march right into the room. Emma and Regina don't even part from their kiss yet, which makes the flashing lights of the cameras go crazy.
"Ms. Mills! Any future wedding plans?"
"Ms. Swan, do you think you can make an honest woman out of the candidate?"
Emma's arms wrap along Regina's waist as Regina holds her tighter, embracing her into a hug that neither of them want it to end. Their smiles match one another as they look onto the roaring crowd of photographers and reporters.
"Ms. Swan, gives us a statement. Do you think you two will make it?" A reporter places his recorder before Emma.
Emma looks to Regina, who shrugs with a grin of her own. "We'll see." Says Emma, grinning at Regina and wasting no time in kissing her again. They part once Henry joins them, being scooped up by Emma.
"Ms. Mills, are you prepared to take on the responsibility of a child?"
Votes went up for Regina after that. She was soon elected as new Mayor of New York City, while Emma continued working for the Winston hotel for an entire year, where she re-applied for the manager's program and passed her test with flying colors. Henry and Pongo became best friends, and even posed for a magazine together. Killian included. It took Emma a little time to get used to being hounded by paparazzi wherever she went, but despite there being a flashing camera around every corner, a year later Regina and her were still going on strong. They even appeared in the front page of the newspaper, and latest magazine, agreeing to give an exclusive interview about how to maintain such a solid relationship while they were both juggling such demanding careers.
They were the couple of the year. Everyone recognized them and everyone wanted to know about them.
One thing Emma didn't know, though… Was that Regina planned on proposing…
Tonight.