Chapter XXXIV

The G Word

AN: Thank you to everyone who has left likes and reviews on this story. I am awful at replying to reviews, but I read every one of them several times and they are usually the highlight of my day. You guys are all fantastic and very very much appreciated! You can also check out my Tumblr, which is also under RebelByrdie if you want to see posts about my writing progress/frustrations/behind the scenes.

It was both new and familiar. She had spent countless hours with Mikel. He'd helped her create the dark image of the Evil Queen. He had elevated drab dresses to dark art. The man was a genius. He could make silk feel like plate armor and chainmail flow like a ball gown. He could take a feeling or a vague explanation and bring it to life. More than that, he and his husband had been a part of her inner circle.

She was well aware that people had thought the Evil Queen was a terrifying witch all alone in a castle. That was ridiculous. She'd had an army and loyal staff. Loyal or terrified, Regina didn't want to think about which for too long. Snow may have had fairies and werewolves, but Regina had not been without allies. Mikel and Bastian had been more than simple allies. Apart from Maleficent, they had been the closest thing she'd had to friends.

She didn't trust easily, she didn't love well. Queens don't have friends. Cora's voice echoed in her head. Queens have subjects. It is better to be feared than loved. She had been born and raised to be queen, destined to be the Evil Queen. It had been far easier to believe that love was weakness than to admit that she loathed herself.

Mikel, Bastian and her Father had done everything they could to help her. They kept her from spiraling into complete madness.

Mikel came back to the room with a bolt of gorgeous glowing gold silk, and she immediately knew it was perfect. She could already see it on Emma. Her hair, her skin, her attitude, it would all come together in an unforgettable statement. Regina lost track of the conversation that Emma and Bastian were having. The grim and poisonous memories of her past receded into the darker corners of her mind.

She and Mikel started to discuss the details of the dress and that blotted out everything else. He walked as he talked and she followed him into the other room. There were bolts of fabric and dummies of all shapes and sizes. A large work table dominated the room.

He laid his sketchbook on the table. Mikel had always been a talented artist. His fingers flew over the page.

"Next time I wish for something exciting to happen, I'll be more specific. I haven't been this busy since you crashed Midas's Winter Solstice Ball."

She smiled a little. Now that had been fun. He'd designed a gorgeous black and silver dress for her and she'd made a huge splash. Her presence had captured everyone's attention. It had also allowed princess Abigail to slip away and spend time with Frederick.

"That dress was amazing. One of your best."

Mikel smiled, "Tell me something I don't know." He spread out the cloth, unrolling it from the bolt with fast, practiced flicks of his wrists. "Like how Snow White's daughter became your girlfriend. Also, her measurements would be helpful." He smirked, "I assume you know those."

She would have executed anyone else for such impudence. She would have, at the very least, verbally eviscerated them. Mikel meant nothing by it, though.

"So definitely fitted and sleeveless. I'll do a slit up the side, in case the good sheriff needs to kick a little ass."

He had only started to sketch but Regina could already imagine Emma in the described dress. She was going to be gorgeous.

"She'll look great, but will your girlfriend be escorting you, My Queen?"

Regina looked away for a moment. "She's not my girlfriend." She could see it in her mind's eye. The three of them, herself, Emma and Henry, all going to the Family Dance together. In that perfect little world where she was just a mayor and Emma was just a sheriff, they would dance together. In that reality, she would be Emma's girlfriend. They would twirl Henry between them. It would be a perfect picture to sit on the mantle, the three of them together and happy.

That wasn't what was about to happen, though. Wishes and reality were two separate things. Besides, fairies didn't grant wishes for Evil Queens, or little girls destined to become them. She would know.

"She'll be escorting Henry."

Mikel scowled and looked like he wanted to say something.

"I need to make a different statement." She wasn't looking forward to it.

He nodded because Mikel remembered the politics of the old world as well as she did. He hadn't become one of her most valuable advisors because he had a fabulous fashion sense.

"Well, are we going classic Evil Queen, Madam Mayor or." He paused and tilted his head like he was pondering his next words. "Something else?"

Well that was the question, wasn't it? She was no more the Evil Queen than she was the Mayor. Who was she? Those monikers were a part of her, but she didn't want them to define her anymore. She wanted to be more. She wanted to be Henry's mother and Emma's girlfriend (girlfriend?). She wanted to be Regina again. Only she couldn't remember who Regina was. She hadn't been that girl in a long, long time.

"Something else then. A little old, a little new, a true statement of who you are now." Of course, Mikel understood. "I have a few ideas." He walked over to the walls. There were several sketches pinned up. "Twenty-eight years of ideas."

She walked closer and stood beside him. There were so many beautiful pieces and when she cocked her head she could see the subtle changes in them, in her. She touched one, a sketch of her and Henry when he'd been a baby. She had brought him here for years. For everything from suit fittings to having his pants hemmed. Mikel and Bastian had even babysat from time to time.

The clothing designs changed when she became a mother. They were still beautiful and stylish, but somehow softer. So she had gone soft, and Mikel had known it even without his memories.

"So have you changed your mind? I could make a few calls and have a sizable escort ready for you." His tone was light, conversational even, but the question was serious.

"No. This is an event for children and families, I don't think The Evil Queen needs her army there."

He scowled, "Children, huh? You do realize that she's ruined the whole event for the kids. They wanted to have fun, not watch their parents dance and talk politics. Your Henry and the handful of other noble or royal kids will die of boredom. The common-born children are going to remember how unroyal their lives were. It's like Snow White wanted to goad everyone into a fight."

Regina sighed, "Who has taken over the job of the actual dance?" Mikel would have all the information, he always did. "Some of the other teachers and the High School students are pitching in to make a carnival in the cafeteria. Dopey was the original DJ for the dance and he is setting up too. Donny and Polly Nordmeyer are going to see if their bouncy castle will fit in there. They're going to have a Disney marathon." He grinned, "But they're skipping over the classics." She rolled her eyes at his corny joke. They were both Disney villains, but he seemed more amused by his animated version then she was.

"Anyway" Regina changed the subject, "I'll talk to Mandy and Zach, if I pay them enough, they'll provide a mountain of pizza for the kids."

"You know that Snowflake has Granny doing the food right?"

Regina turned on her heel, "What?"

It was like Snow White was doing her personal best to ruin the Ball that she had decided to throw.

"Spirits save us all."

Mikel smiled at her. "You sound like the Old Man." The not-so-honorific title he and Bastian had given to her father years and years before.

He tapped one of the many sketches. "This top." He moved to another sketch "With this bottom and some tweaking. Black with gold touches. Just in case your girlfriend does decide to share a dance with you."

She smiled. "It is going to be perfect, as always. I'll pay you a Queen's ransom for all this work, of course." Another old joke.

"Leave it to me, it will be a tight schedule, but I can have them ready for a final fitting and pick up about five the day of."

Tight? The Ball kicked off at six. Even if they were fashionably late, they would be at a dead run. Another annoyance to lay at Snow's feet.

"Thank you, Mikel, you are the absolute best. I-" She hesitated, "I'm sorry that I couldn't-that I didn't-the curse-"

Mikel held up a hand to stop her. "You didn't steal my Happy Ending, Majesty. You gave us twenty-eight years of happiness and peace." They headed back towards the main room. "And if you want my advice, I say send a fireball right at Snow's terrible haircut and-"

She slapped him on his bare arm. "Mikel!" He had always voiced the things she'd only thought. Though he was right about the hair.

He looped his arm through hers. "As a man of fashion, I think the hair and sweaters were your true revenge."

Mikel stopped them just shy of the open door to the main room. Regina heard voices. Mikel held her still, "Let them talk. Bastian is protective of you. It's his Islander blood. He thinks it is his duty as one of the few Southerners in Storybrooke. Besides, he thinks it's what The Old Man would want."

Regina rolled her eyes but smiled at the same time. She had missed Bastian and Mikel. The curse had been her victory, but she had suffered in small ways too. Ways she hadn't anticipated. Ways that she bitterly regretted.

"You should take a step outside of Granny's once in a while, Sheriff."

Bastian was a straightforward man, brash and blunt, and he never held back. "Storybrooke isn't as small or as lily white as Snow White's crowd likes to pretend it is. Everyone's lives don't revolve around her Happy Ending, you know."

He certainly had a way with words. It was one of the reasons she liked him. Well, that and his paella. His words were quick, quiet and beautifully accented. His hands moved even faster than his words, illustrating his point as he spoke.

"And trust me, you are not the only person in this town who is loyal to Her Majesty." He glared at her, his chin stubbornly set. "If you really are, Savior."

Emma, of course, wasn't one to back down. "Listen here, you Gordon Ramsay-Wanna Be." She jabbed her finger at his chest. "I would and have risked life and limb for Regina and would again and again. I didn't see anyone else sticking up for her when that mob was screaming for her blood! I was the only one." She stepped closer, her hands balled into fists.

"Her Majesty." Bastian ground out between clenched teeth. "Ordered us to stay, to be quiet, to not let the upheaval of the curse breaking ruin our lives. She called us, her loyal citizens, to tell us to stay away, to let things play out. Don't doubt that we wouldn't have been there, Princess." He sneered the last word, with a dark scowl on his face.

He was right, they would have come and they would have fought. That was why she had called them. It had been during the first few chaotic minutes after the curse had broken. After the initial tears but before the rage had set in. She had called Mikel and a handful of others and had told them to stay away. Storybrooke did not need a Civil War, not then and not now.

"I-uh- "

Emma was uncomfortable. Regina wanted to go in there and soothe her. She didn't, and not because of Mikel. Emma had always fought her own battles wouldn't want someone to rush in to rescue her. Especially not for something so benign as a verbal spat.

"-didn't know that."

Bastian snorted, "Yeah well, there is a lot you don't know. You need to open your eyes and ears. You can't eat up the crap Snow and her cronies feed you like it is delicious. They act like the big bad curse destroyed everything. It is bullshit, and you know it. You took a trip to the Enchanted Forest. Do you think we lost anything by coming here?"

"Seriously?" Emma stared at him for a minute. "There were ogres there and no bathrooms. Anyone who wants to go time-tripping back there needs to get their head examined."

"Exactly. You've also been out in this world, Boston, right? What's Storybrooke like compared to there?"

"Listen, I'm not talking shit about Storybrooke or Regina. They're both great." Emma defended her.

Bastian wasn't done yet, "So you think she, magicked up the skills to be a good mayor? She was a magnificent queen too. They call her Evil" He spat out the word. "But Evil was helping peasants feed and educate their children. It was building up economies and setting up trade routes."

Bastian was laying it on a bit thick.

"Most people didn't care who sat on the throne as long as they were safe and fed. They learned to recognize colors and sigils, but names and faces? Rarely. Only zealots and fools put their lives on the line for royals. Your damn mother slaughtered hundreds during her holy crusade against Regina."

"Yeah." Emma interjected, "She's kind of an asshole sometimes, so I can see that."

That actually shut Bastian up for a moment.

"Oh."

Emma had knocked him off his game.

"Yeah. Also, you're right. I need to get out more. Your place, the one by the lighthouse, right? Do I need a reservation?"

He huffed, "Depends on the occasion."

Emma didn't miss a beat.

"A date? Granny's isn't going to cut it."

A date? Regina grinned, she couldn't help it. She'd never been on a real date.

Mikel smirked and leaned close, "Definitely not your girlfriend."

He started to walk into the room. "Better stop them before my husband starts putting ideas in her head."

Regina followed him, a smile on her face.

"Bastian, Dear, I needed to talk to you about something before I leave. Snow in her idiocy is ruining the entire event. She has Granny catering the ball."

She went to Emma's side and took her hand. Emma immediately curled their fingers together.

"And that won't do. The Royals will expect a more refined offering and the citizens will expect a lavish spread as well. Can you step in, at double-rate of course to assist? Food and formal servers. No alcohol because of the family angle, of course."

Bastian huffed, "The Royals are hanging Snowflake out to dry, aren't they?" He smirked at Emma. "Some offense intended."

Emma only shrugged and bumped her shoulder into Regina's. "You secretly taking over the Ball is going to piss her off. It is like you want Snow to go crazy." She grinned, "This is your real revenge, isn't it?"

Bastian lit up at that, "Well, in that case, count me in. Anything for you, My Queen." The mischievous glint in his eyes matched Emma's.

Regina met Mikel's eyes and he only winked at her.

She was getting in over her head fast, but it was the most fun she'd had in a while.

She and Emma left plans tentatively in place. Mikel would dress them. Bastian already had a plan for a lavish spread the likes of which Storybrooke had never seen.

They walked along the sidewalk together, in no hurry. She had nowhere to be and even though Emma did, she didn't seem to care. She looked lost in her thoughts, worried even.

Had it all been too much for her?

"I know they can be a bit intense." Regina shook her head, "Tensions between my loyalists and Snow's were high and Mikel and Bastian-"

"It's fine." Emma shrugged it off. "It's good to know that you have a posse. It is nice to know that there is more to this town than meets the eye." She snorted a little at her own corny joke. "More than Granny's, Nuns, and Miner's Day. It isn't all perfect people with perfect houses, perfect lawns, and perfect lives." Emma grinned, "And cardigan collections that Mr. Rogers would envy. Those clothes were cruel and unusual punishment, Baby." Emma smiled, "Especially since you dress like you walked off of the cover of Runway magazine." She stopped walking and tugged Regina's hand so she turned to face her. "I can't believe that you know Cruella DeVille and never told me! Also, she's a dude! Also, he's married to Sebastian, is he like the crab from The Little Mermaid?"

Regina couldn't help it. Emma was so enthusiastic and excited. She was actually bouncing a little. Regina laughed. She laughed so hard that she bent over double for a moment. She hadn't laughed so hard in years.

"Oh, Darling, We'll have to keep you away from Bastian, he's a bad influence on you."

Emma turned around, and swung their still-joined hands, as she did. "So I'm starting to get a bigger picture of the Enchanted Forest. It was awful and we should build a statue in your honor for getting everyone the hell out of there. I mean the indoor plumbing alone deserves, like, a plaque or something."

Emma was kidding, but Regina was sure that she didn't quite understand. She thought for a moment, "Well yes and no, some kingdoms were better than others, but King Leopold-"

Even now, years later, his name alone made her anxiety level jump, "was very conservative." The word was the nicest way she could put it. The man was Emma's grandfather, after all. "The Republicans would hail him as a pillar of the party."

That was a weak comparison. He had not been a politician, he had been a king. Leopold had exercised absolute control over his kingdom, his castle, and his wife.

"Sounds like an asshole. My whole magical family tree is full of assholes." Emma rolled her eyes and smirked like she hadn't just cursed her ancestors. "Ugh! They were Republican Assholes, the worst kind. Politics are the worst. I kind of hoped that a small place like this would be, I dunno, exempt from that crap."

Crap like elections, campaigning, and debates. The exact things she had forced Emma into.

"But" Emma continued, "It isn't all bad, I guess. I'm going to look like some kind of model instead of a Disney reject. If Mary Margaret had her way, I would be her personal pretty princess."

No, she would not look like a princess, Emma would be a lioness, sleek, golden and powerful. Regina could not wait.

"So are you going to go Evil Queen for our all-important statements?" They were walking again. Emma smiled and waggled her eyebrows. "Because some of those dress ideas were ridiculously sexy."

They were close to the pier now, she could smell the water. Between the rhythm of the waves and the warmth of Emma's hand in her own, she felt relaxed, calm.

"Because if I see you in one of those dresses" Emma squeezed her hand, "we'll never make it to that dance."

Her eyes flashed and Regina felt a bolt of heat rush through her. Emma squeezed her hand again, She knew what she was saying was having an effect.

"Hell" Emma grinned. "We should go for the whole Prom experience, lie to our parents, get a hotel room and-" She cut herself off, red in the face. "I mean, uh"

Regina raised a brow," Go on, Miss Swan, see if you can fit your whole boot in your mouth."

The pier was empty, which wasn't surprising for an early weekday morning. The fishermen were already hard at work out on the water. The gulls were hard at work harassing the fishermen. The stores and shops were starting to open and the children were already safe and sound at school. It was another day in a small seaside town. Only today seemed brighter and warmer than usual, full of possibilities. The difference between today and any other typical day over the last two decades was that Emma was by her side. That, Regina knew, was a statement in and of itself.

"Would you- " She hesitated but pushed pat her jangling nerves. "-there's not a hotel outside of Granny's but...Henry could visit your parents." She could not believe that she, a queen, was making a sex date in the middle of the street. It was ridiculous, like a telenovela plot gone wild.

"Madame Mayor" Emma stopped, turned to face her and let go of her hand.

Regina immediately regretted speaking up. She had pushed too far too fast. She'd ruined everything.

Emma placed one hand over her own heart. "You knew that if I agree to this" Emma stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Regina's waist. It was a loose hold, close but not controlling or overwhelming. "Then we'll officially be going steady." She smiled. It was a roguish half-smile that looked exactly like Henry when he thought he was being clever. "Them's the rules."

They snuggled together at the rail overlooking the sea. The breeze teased and tangled their hair. The waves crashed below them but Regina was sure that her heart was beating loud enough to drown out the water. At some point, she had lowered her face to stare at her shoes. She hadn't even realized she'd done so until Emma lifted her chin with a gentle finger. "Or to put it in a way you'll understand, this is known."

Maybe everything wasn't ruined after all.

Forget Telenovela, it was a silly teenager movie. Everything was light, fun and made it seem like a simple decision. It wasn't, and she knew that, but it felt like it was. She should say no. There were so many reasons to say no: Henry, Snow, Cora. Their lives were complicated, tied up in politics, feuds, and curses. Regina was the Evil Queen and Emma was the Savior. They were not a match made in Heaven. She should say no.

"If you're asking me to be your girlfriend-"

"Yes! I definitely am!" Emma interrupted her then closed her mouth again.

"Well, then I accept. I would love to be your official girlfriend."

It was a seemingly simple (and sort of silly) statement. A powerful statement. A wonderful statement that made her heart thud and her stomach flutter.

Emma didn't verbally answer, she leaned in and kissed her. What a kiss! It was a celebration and a claiming. Emma pulled her closer by sliding her fingers through her hair. Then she was off her feet. Emma lifted her and spun them around.

"Just you wait." Emma put her back on the ground. "You leave it to me, Regina Mills. I know this stupid ball is all business, making statements and all that. After that, though, we're going to have a date. A fantastic date. A date with my amazing and magical girlfriend." Emma smiled exactly like Henry did when he pounced on gifts under the Christmas Tree. It was sweet and innocent, a joyous expression.

They were out in public, where anyone could and would see. They should be aware, be wary. They should restrain themselves. Instead, Regina kissed Emma again. For the first time in her life, she didn't care who saw or what they thought. Not the townsfolk, not her mother. She and Emma were building something together. Something neither of them had ever had before. Something precious. Something that they had both stopped letting themselves dream of a long time ago. There would be plenty of people who tried to break them apart. Regina was not going to be one of those people. She was not going to sabotage their relationship before it began.

"I've never been on a date, you know." She and Daniel had snuck around and sneaked kisses. She'd been all but sold to Leopold. As the Evil Queen she'd never been courted, she'd taken what she wanted. There had never been dates or romance, she'd never had anything like this. She'd never been with anyone like Emma Swan.

Emma pressed their foreheads together. "Like I said, really fantastic. The best." Emma was smiling like an idiot. Regina knew, without a mirror, that her own smile was just as big and just as idiotic.

They lived above the dress shop. The upstairs apartment was big enough for them. It was close enough that he could walk to the restaurant in minutes. That was all secondary. What kept them there was the view. There was a large floor to ceiling window that had an amazing view of the entire street and beyond that, the ocean. They had a telescope for stargazing, but the best part of the window was the people watching. They could see the whole street. If you stood on the couch and tilted your head to an almost painful angle, you could also see the pier.

Mikel was standing on the couch, one leg on the back and the other buried in the cushions. He leaned over and stretched as far as he could. Though his long hair hid his face, Bastian knew what he was doing. He was trying to watch whatever was happening on the pier.

"Are you spying, DeVille?"

After so many years together, before and after the curse, it shouldn't surprise him. Bastian shook his head. Her Majesty and her blonde girl toy had only been gone a handful of minutes.

Mikel turned, "You don't have any room to talk. We heard you talking to Emma. Even the Old Man would wag his finger at you."

That was true. Henry had been very protective of his daughter, but also let her have as much independence as he could. It had been a precarious line, and he had kept it balanced until the very end.

"Well someone has" Mikel brought him back out of his thoughts, "to keep an eye on her. There are still people demanding her blood. Not to mention-" He shuddered. They had both met Cora and had no love for her. He wasn't sure how well a gun would do against Cora's magic, but they were considering getting one. Just in case.

"Daddy!"

Their daughter, three and a half years old and their own little princess, tilted her head. It was a perfect miniature version of the way Mik tilted his head when he was concentrating on a sketch or a stitch.

"We're not 'sposed to stand on the couch."

Bastian scooped her up and settled her on his hip. "That's right, Daddy."

Nina was theirs, the curse had made her apart of their family. Regina's curse had given them something that they hadn't even realized they'd wanted until they had it. Nina had been a war orphan before and now she was theirs. She was the reason that they would always be loyal to their queen.

Mikel hopped down from the couch. "I need to make some calls."

Worry marred Mikel's handsome face. Whatever he had seen had the gears clicking in his head. Bastian was worried too, but he was not going to let it ruin their morning. Now that time was moving forward, their slow and happy mornings would eventually come to an end. Nina would be going to Pre-K soon, then before they knew it she'd be in high school. He intended to cherish every moment they had.

"I have to make some calls too, but not before breakfast, DeVille."

Nina tugged on her tightly coiled hair, "And you gotta do my hair, Daddy."

Mikel came to their sides, kissed their daughter's forehead and his cheek. "Of course La Princessa."

They transferred the girl between them with a smooth and easy move. They'd had twenty-eight years of a tyrannical three-going on sixteen-year-old girl. Their little princess whose tantrums rivaled The Evil Queen's. They wouldn't trade it for anything in any world.

"Go take care of her and I'll get breakfast ready."

Bastian watched them disappear into the bathroom and sighed. They had it all, everything they could have ever wished for and more. They lived in a safe and wonderful world.

There were medicines, pills, and shots, had eradicated diseases. Nina was vaccinated against everything, like every other child in town. No children died from things like the flu or Ogre fever here. In the old world, minor illnesses and injuries had been deadly. He'd lost a sister to the flu and a brother to an infection from a cut, an infection that he now knew was from tetanus. Nina would never have to worry about that.

Education was widespread here, required for all children and implanted into adults. He knew men who had never learned their letters who now read two-to-three books a week for fun. Nina already knew her alphabet, both English and Spanish, and could count to one hundred. She was a bright little girl and would go to school, and college. Her future was bright.

He and Mikel were legally married and had full rights and protection as citizens. Their races and sexuality were not treated as punishable offenses. People accepted them here. All this and more was thanks to Her Majesty's Curse.

Now their queen had fallen in love with the woman who had destroyed everything she'd built. How had she fallen in love with Emma Swan? He didn't see the appeal. He had also never seen His Queen smile at anyone like she'd smiled at the Sheriff today.

He went to his kitchen and started to prepare one of their usual meals. His mind wasn't on the food, though. It was too full of other thoughts, worries, and fears. He had a mild headache brewing in his temples and pounding behind his eyes. "I wish you were here, Old Man. You'd know what to do."

There were two papers on the kitchen table, both had Her Majesty's banner printed on them. Many of the towns business owners had started to display their loyalties. This wasn't Union pride or Chamber of Commerce membership either, this was gearing up for an all-new civil war.

He tapped his foot as he chopped peppers and grated cheese for two adult-sized omelets. He made a toddler sized portion too. There should have been plenty of time to make plans and decisions in the wake of the curse breaking. Snow White and all the other Royals were dragging into a conflict that nobody wanted or needed. Somethings existed in all worlds.

Now they were being pushed to show their loyalty, to make their statements. Regina would not begrudge them either way. She knew they were in her corner. It was everyone else they were worried about. Especially Snow White and her bunch. Once upon a time, they would have never thought twice about laying down their lives for Her Majesty. Now though? They had Nina to think about. They had employees, bank accounts and credit card payments. They had lives, real lives. Not just his family, everyone. The people of Storybrooke weren't dirt poor and illiterate peasants anymore. They had homes and lives and twenty-eight years of a new way of thinking under their belts. There was no way that they were the only people in town who were worried, who were conflicted. They all had too much to lose.

Damn Emma Swan. Everything had been fine until she'd barged into their town and lives. Leave it to Snow White's damn spawn to ruin everything.

He moved through his breakfast preparations with muscle memory and innate skill. He was too distracted, too aggravated to pay attention to what his hands were doing.

"Shit!" He jerked his hand back. He'd been so caught up in his head that he'd burnt his hand on a hot pan. He shoved it under the tap and turned on the cold water, but the damage was done.

"Papi said a bad word!" Nina announced her presence as only a three-year-old could or would.

"You okay, Love?"

Mikel hovered over him like he'd never cut or burnt himself before.

"I'm fine" He answered to make sure Mik understood. "I'm just worried."

Mikel brushed a soft kiss across his knuckles. "Me too."