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Being good is absolutely overrated.
Regina sighed and tried to concentrate harder. This was not how she was hoping to spend her evening. As a matter of fact, this was not how she was hoping to spend any of the last several weeks. Ever since the insipid savior returned from the past with one woman who could guarantee the end of Regina’s hard-won happiness, the only thing Regina wanted was to be as far away from everybody, especially Emma. However, the way things in Storybrooke usually go, that was not in her cards.
Elsa, a.k.a. The Ice Queen showed up, and after realizing she landed in the wrong realm instead of back home once again, she was none too happy about it. She wasn’t evil, but she couldn’t control her powers here, no matter how much love she tried to channel, and if they didn’t figure out a way to get her back home, well, winter was coming to stay. As in, freezing, you-can’t-live-there-anymore kind of winter.
After several failed attempts, they were left with one option. The option Gold kept for the worst-case scenario. They could open a portal, but it would take combining two of the strongest good magic sources in Storybrooke. To Regina’s great dismay, without fairy dust around, those were hers and Emma’s. She knew playing a hero would come back to bite her in the ass.
So here they were. Standing above that damned well, holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes, chanting what sounded like gibberish to her. Gibberish Gold swore was an incantation in an ancient language which was crucial to the success of this; proven by the fact that he made them both memorize it and repeat it to him several times before allowing for the spellcasting to start. The spellcasting witnessed by half of Storybrooke, as it seemed, including Robin. Another person she was trying really hard to avoid.
But she wasn’t really focusing on Robin this minute. They were nearing the end of the incantation, and the intensity of her and Emma’s gaze started to make Regina uncomfortable, so much so that she had to fight not to look away. Their joined hands were radiating heat; a heat that caused a stirring in her chest, making Regina feel things she really didn’t want to associate with Emma in any way. Judging by the slightly panicked look they shared, Emma was having similar thoughts.
The moment they finished reciting, a blinding burst of light exploded from both of them, combining above their heads and shining bright enough to turn night into day for a few moments before pooling slowly around Elsa, starting to pull her in. The Ice Queen mouthed a thank you as she disappeared and the portal immediately closed behind her. As the ice and snow began to subside, everybody watching burst out in cheers.
Regina and Emma were still holding hands, and as the crowd reacted, they both silently raced to see who would be the first to drop the other’s grip and act more nonchalant about it. Hook quickly closed the distance between them and moved to hug Emma, but the moment he touched her, a sharp electric shock sent him flying backward. He landed unceremoniously on his butt five feet away, the impact drawing stunned silence from the onlookers.
After a tense pause, Snow ran to Emma and touched her cautiously, visibly relaxing when there was no adverse reaction. Hook got up, dusted off his pants, and approached Emma slowly, extending only a finger toward her before quickly pulling it back as a surge of electricity shot through him upon contact.
Regina observed the scene with barely disguised amusement, until she noticed Robin walking towards her, his hand automatically reaching out to rest protectively on her forearm. Before she could move away or get a word out, a strange tingle shot up her arm, and Robin’s hand was flung back.
Emma was the first to break the silence, turning to Gold and demanding some answers. “What the hell is happening?”
“Well, there might be one tiny detail I forgot to mention before we started this little escapade.”
Regina scoffed. “You forgot to mention the fine print, Gold? I am positively shocked.”
“Well, to be completely honest, dearies, we all knew this was our only option. Had I mentioned this little detail earlier, I’m not sure the two of you would’ve gone through with it.”
Regina sighed, unimpressed by his theatrics. She was exhausted and just really, really wanted to go home and be done with the whole mess. “Can you just tell us what this is about so we can find a way out and move on?”
“Always so impatient,” Gold snickered. “To get enough power from the ceremony you just performed - and yes, before you interrupt, it was a ceremony - we had to do more than just combine your magic for a quick spell. We had to create a magic source strong enough to travel across several realms at once. And for that, my lovelies, we needed to make this merger a little bit more permanent.”
Regina took a step closer to Gold, feeling the blood drain from her face. “What do you mean, more permanent?”
Gold’s smile widened. “I mean, congratulations … you-are-now-married permanent.”
Regina and Emma gasped in unison “We are what?!”
“You were married by magic, my lovelies. It is an ancient ceremony, performed very few times, for the conditions needed for it are rather rare. Do you have any idea how often two sources of light magic as strong as yours have been in existence in the same place, at the same time?”
Regina tried to interrupt, but Gold spoke over her protests. “I know, I know, yours was dark magic, but not anymore. If that weren’t the case, the spell wouldn’t have worked.”
He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle before continuing. “Your magic and Emma’s were bound by the vows you recited, but so were the two of you. That’s why your beaus were thrown away from you. Any kind of romantic attention coming from anybody outside your little union is sensed and automatically blocked. What can I say, white magic doesn’t like to share.”
Two aghast faces were the only response he got.
“Oh, don’t seem so distraught, both of you could do a lot worse,” Gold snickered, looking pointedly at Hook and Robin.
“Gold, I am going to throttle you so hard…” Emma started, but Regina cut in, her voice shaky but determined. “How do we undo it? There’s got to be a way. There’s always a way.”
“If you’re hoping for a quick annulment, I’m afraid this isn’t how it works. The only way to dissolve a magic union like this is to show that there’s enough negative energy between the two of you to override the positive. Only that can prove that you two do not make the magic match we just made.”
Regina and Emma exchanged a look, then turned their attention back to Gold, both clearly unhappy with where this was heading.
“Oh come on, ladies, don’t look so sour. Knowing you two, it might take a mere couple of weeks of living together to dissolve even a bond this strong.”
“Couple of weeks?! No.” Regina fumed, not willing to be cornered into spending time with one person she didn’t want to see ever again. “What if we just stay away from each other? Shouldn’t that be enough of a sign?”
“Not really. Your magic will be highly unpredictable. No matter how much you want to stay apart, it will pull you together, especially at the start. Later on, you’ll be able to separate for work, and after that, for even longer periods. But for the first couple of days? I’m afraid you’re stuck together.”
No, no, no. Regina’s mind spiraled. This was not happening. She hated Emma. She never wanted to see her again, and she certainly never wanted to think about that strange pull she’d felt when they were opening the portal. Getting stuck with her was not an option.
“What if we get into a physical fight, right now, right here? If we start hitting each other, should that not be enough?”
Emma’s eyes widened in horror. “Regina!”
“Miss Swan, I will not be tethered to you for one minute, much less weeks, if I can help it.”
“I don’t care Regina, I’m not fighting you!”
“It would hardly be the first time. But don’t worry, I have no problem being the only one doing the fighting.” She was getting out of this, now. Even if Emma’s devastated stare was cracking her resolve more than she cared to admit.
“As titillating as that idea might be to some,” Gold smirked, “I’m sorry to inform you, Regina, that it won’t work. The same magic that prevents anyone else from touching you romantically also prevents the two of you from hurting each other. But feel free to try if you don’t believe me.”
Emma decided to stop this before Regina came up with a brilliant idea of having her killed off. She couldn’t understand why the older woman’s complete disgust at the idea of them working through this together hurt her as much as it did, considering she wasn’t exactly looking forward to it either, but she wasn’t going to focus on that right now.
“Look, Regina, I know how much you must hate me right now. I know how much you don’t want to do this. But we don’t have any choice, at least not a reasonable one. Please…”
Regina took a deep breath, willing her nerves to calm down. Yes, it seemed she was out of options, aside from the one she really didn’t want to consider. She had to though, and she knew that the sooner she accepted it, the sooner she could begin working toward ending this latest nightmare.
“What about Henry?” she asked, finally resigned to her fate. “I don’t plan to subject him to us being–”
Snow jumped in, more than happy to help alleviate the situation at least a little. “We’ll take Henry with us. We can bring him over every day for lunch or dinner with the two of you. I am sure you can be civil to each other for that long?”
Turning to her son, Regina asked, “Is that okay with you, Henry?”
“Sure, Mom, if that’ll help you. Just … just try not to hurt each other intentionally, okay?”
Emma and Regina exchanged a look, finally realizing that this whole scene took place in front of their son, who seemed really frightened at the idea of the two of them together in an enclosed space after what had just transpired.
Regina approached him and hugged him quickly. “Don’t worry sweetie, This was just … it’s a lot to take in, so I might have reacted a bit strongly. I promise we’ll be okay. And you heard what Gold said - even if I wanted to turn Emma into a frog when she inevitably does something to deserve it, the magic won’t let me,” she added with a little wink, hoping to break the tension.
It seemed to work. Henry visibly relaxed, and after hugging Emma, walked over to Snow and David.
Emma looked at Gold and Regina, unsure how to act. “Okay, so now what?”
“Now, Miss Swan, we go home. My home. I am not sleeping in a commune of Charmings, even if that was the only way to stop an apocalypse. Say goodbye to your boyfriend and meet me at my car. Snow and David can take your deathtrap back, and bring some of your stuff tomorrow. I have all the basics you’ll need tonight.” With that Regina turned around and started marching towards her car. “And hurry it up; I’d like to get some sleep sometime tonight.”
Regina noticed Robin walking towards her, obviously intent on discussing something, but she pointedly turned away from him and kept walking. This was going to be a long night, and if she managed to get through it without turning back into the Evil Queen, she’d know she was truly the hero her son thought her to be.
******
“Mr. Gold, wait, please.”
“Yes, Henry?”
“This magic, it can’t be tricked, can it? It can’t marry just anybody?”
Gold looked at his grandson, marveling again at how smart he was. Not one of the adults had noticed the most important detail. He shook his head, indicating that no, it couldn’t be tricked.
“How did you know it would work?”
“I didn’t, honestly. But it was our only chance. And there’s enough history between your mothers for there to have been a chance.”
Henry nodded thoughtfully. “Thanks, Mr. Gold.” With that, he turned to run back to Snow and David, a small smile gracing his lips. This could either be the best or the worst thing that ever happened to his mothers. And he was pretty sure they were owed a happy ending by now.
******
They drove in silence for what seemed like forever to Emma. This is going to be fun, she thought, stealing a sideway glance at the woman driving the car. Regina’s back was stiff, the stress lines clearly visible on her face, even though she tried to appear unaffected. This whole situation was one big mess, and she could only imagine how it affected the other woman after … well, after Emma had managed to take away her happiness from her, once again. She shook her head, as if trying to physically remove those thoughts from her head. I saved a woman’s life. I had no other choice… Still, that didn’t help ease the feeling of guilt that still plagued her every time she thought about the consequences, and about Regina paying for her decision.
Deciding to try and break the ice, Emma turned to the Mayor. “Regina…”
“Miss Swan, I have agreed to this, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to interact with you just yet. Actually, I don’t see why there has to be any talking. From the way I see it, if we don’t talk, we make it clear this was not meant to be.”
Well, I didn’t expect this to be easy, Emma thought, and continued, “I am not sure that’s how this will work.”
“Tonight, it will have to.”
There was no room for debate in Regina’s tone, and rather than antagonize the older woman more, Emma decided to leave it be for the evening. “Okay.”
They drove a few moments in silence before Regina’s angry voice pulled Emma out of her thoughts. “What exactly do you think you are doing?”
Confused, Emma looked over, unsure what the Mayor was referring to. “Hmm?”
“Why is your hand on my thigh?”
Emma looked down, mortified. She jerked her hand back as if scorched, quickly forcing it into her own lap. “I am sorry! Believe me, that was not my idea.”
“Mhmm.”
“Oh, for crying out loud, do you honestly think I would use this as an excuse to, what, cop a feel?”
Regina ignored her, deciding that not dignifying it with an answer was best.
After a few moments, it was Emma who broke the silence again. “Regina…”
With an exasperated sigh, Regina turned slightly to Emma, her face a picture of annoyance. “I thought we agreed not to talk.”
Emma’s face broke into a smug smile. “I thought we also agreed to no touching. So if you’d kindly let go of my hand…”
Regina swerved slightly, pulling her hand back, and then pulled over at the first opportunity.
“Sit in the back.”
“What?”
“Get out of the car and sit in back. Apparently, good old Rumple forgot to tell us about some additional side effects of this spell, or ceremony, or whatever it is. And I don’t plan to get accidentally groped if I can avoid it.”
“Hey, you were touching me this time!”
“Just move back, please.”
The words were so heavy with defeat that Emma couldn’t bring herself to argue. She simply unbuckled her seatbelt and switched seats. As they continued the drive, she turned toward the window, watching the town blur past. She couldn’t help but wonder if this sudden need to comfort Regina, to ease the hurt in her eyes, was a direct result of the spell or something else, something far more unsettling to her at this moment. She wondered just how worried she should be about what the next few days would bring…
******
Settling in went easier than either woman expected, mostly because they made sure to stay as far apart as possible. Without any more incidents, Emma was determined to ignore the lingering touch when Regina handed her a toothbrush and sleepwear, or the warmth that gathered in the pit of her stomach when she saw Regina in her nightgown. She was relieved and thrilled to finally be in a bed, ready to leave the stress of the past few weeks behind her. She was certain that she was tired enough, physically and mentally, that she’d fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Unfortunately, sleep proved to be more elusive than expected.
After two hours of tossing and turning, and hearing Regina walk around to the kitchen and back twice, Emma started to figure out why. Perfect. Just perfect, she thought. She realized that if either of them were to get any sleep on their “magical wedding night”, they’d have to bite the bullet and sleep closer together. She wasn’t sure how much closer, but separate rooms were obviously not working. She got up and made her way to Regina’s door, taking a few moments to gather her courage before knocking.
“Yes?”
Emma sighed and, resigned to her fate, walked in. “Hey.”
Regina just kept staring at her, so she quickly continued before she found herself out on her ass. “I wouldn’t have knocked if I hadn’t heard you moving. I can’t fall asleep, and I am exhausted. I’m sure you are as well. And judging by everything that’s happened since we got mar– since the ceremony, it’s logical to conclude that our insomnia is more of the magical kind.”
“Meaning?”
She was certain Regina was being intentionally obtuse just to torture her, but she continued. “I think that we are too far apart for us to be able to sleep. And we are both so tired that–”
Regina cut her off, leaving no room for argument. “I don’t care how tired either of us is, Miss Swan. You are not sleeping in my bed!”
Torn between another fight and a sleepless night, Emma swallowed her retort and turned to leave. But Regina’s voice stopped her mid-step. “If you want to sleep here, you can either take the sofa or the floor, your choice”.
Emma sighed but nodded. She went back to the guest bedroom to grab a pillow and a couple of blankets, then returned. She placed one blanket on the floor, and set herself down on top of it, groaning as she made contact with the hard surface.
After a few minutes, Regina looked down at the famed Savior, obviously uncomfortable lying on the floor. Part of her wanted to leave her there, to let her feel every painful twist and turn. But another part of her, the part she hated herself for, didn’t want to see Emma in pain.
Before the Marian incident they were just starting to become … not exactly friends, but something more complicated. With their history and Henry in the mix, their relationship has evolved over the years into an unusual acceptance, the ability to understand each other better than anybody else could understand them. They trusted each other, finally.
And then Emma had to go and ruin it all by being heroic once again, consequences be damned. Just like her mother. Regina was pulled from her thoughts by another soft grunt as Emma shifted, trying to find a comfortable position on the unforgiving surface. Nowhere near sleep herself, Regina finally gave in.
“Oh, for crying … Just get in the bed. But make sure to stay on your side.”
******
Regina woke with blond hair obscuring her view and an unexpected weight pressing down on her. She tried to assess the situation and quickly realized Emma was lying on top of her, quite literally, one hand cupping Regina’s left breast with a rather possessive grip.
She was just about to yell at the woman for taking such liberties, but then she noticed her own right hand was tucked inside Emma’s pajama bottoms, gripping her backside like her life depended on it.
With a silent curse, she began trying to ease out of the precarious position. Unfortunately, Emma turned out to be a light sleeper. The moment Regina shifted, two green eyes blinked open and focused on hers.
It took only two seconds for Emma to register their situation before she bolted upright, panicked, and tumbled off the bed, hitting her head on the nightstand with a solid thud.
Regina looked at the clumsy mess trying to get up off her floor, shaking her head in disbelief. “How in the world did you ever manage to defeat me? I must have been losing my touch long before you showed up.”
Her head - and her pride - bruised, Emma snapped back. “Hey! It was your hand on my ass, lady!”
“Yes, and your hand was cupping my breast, and you didn’t see me attempt an acrobatic move obviously beyond my abilities to get away.”
“Yes, well … wait, why didn’t you?”
Emma could have sworn Regina blushed just a little before scoffing. “Because I am not a thirteen-year-old, dear, and I tend to assess my situation before reacting. It was obviously an unconscious reaction on both our parts, and I was about to transport mysel–”
She cut herself off mid-word, eyes narrowing as she spotted a thin trail of blood sliding down Emma’s forehead. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and gently brushed aside a strand of blonde hair, revealing a small cut.
Emma shifted uncomfortably, Regina’s proximity making her uneasy. “What? Is it bad?”
“No, Miss Swan, to my great sorrow, it is not life-threatening. But it will need cleaning and a band-aid. Sit on the bed and don’t move, I’ll be right back.” Her voice brooked no disagreement, and Emma did as she was told, trying to catch a glimpse of her reflection and assess the damage herself.
Regina returned with a first aid kit, and spreading the contents on the bed, she poured some alcohol on a cotton ball, which she then wiped over the cut several times. Emma flinched and instinctively pulled her head back.
“Don’t move.”
“It stings!”
Emma watched, simultaneously confused and fascinated, as Regina leaned over to gently blow air across the cut. She tried hard to suppress the shudder that ran up her spine. It’s just the magic, she thought. The magic is making me think about her lips, and how much I’d like to run my tongue over that little scar… She wasn’t as successful at hiding the shudder when those lips moved closer, and Regina asked, far too close for comfort considering her thoughts, “Better?”
“Yes, better,” Emma answered, cursing the traitor in her voice, which had a definite and, judging by Regina’s smirk, very audible squeak to it.
Regina took a small band-aid and gently pressed it on the wound, smoothing the corners for a moment longer before pulling back, admiring her handiwork. “There. You’ll be as good as new.”
Emma just nodded, offering a quick thanks before nearly running out of the room, leaving a somewhat confused Regina looking after her.
******
Breakfast was a simple and mostly silent affair. There seemed to be an unspoken agreement between them to pretend nothing had happened that morning, which made for a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere. Actually, Emma thought, it was kind of nice. Breakfast had been hectic ever since Neal was born, and while she loved her family, sitting here with Regina felt comfortable and cozy. And she couldn’t bring herself to feel guilty for not missing the crowd and the racket.
Finishing her cereal, Emma was the first to speak. “I need to get to work for at least half an hour. I have a few things I have to finish up. That should be okay, I’d think.”
She looked at Regina for an answer, and she just nodded. Emma realized that if they were going to get through this, one thing needed to be addressed, sooner rather than later.
“Look, Regina, I wanted to say … About Marian–”
“Not now, Miss Swan.”
“But I really want to–“
“I don’t care what you do or don’t want!” Regina snapped. “I will not be bullied into listening to a weak, insincere apology just because I have no other choice.”
Emma sighed but acquiesced to Regina’s request. She had felt like they were making a step forward until this moment, and for the sake of peace in the house, and frankly, her own health - after all, they were sharing a bed - she decided to let it go for now.
“Okay, so I’m off to work, and I’ll see you back here after?” Emma was about to get up, before remembering how she got to Regina’s. “Oh, do you mind if I take your car? My folks have the Beetle, and I’m not sure Snow could manage to drive it here with Neal in tow.”
Regina looked at her for a long beat. Her instinctive answer was no, but then she thought about the time it would take to find an alternative, and how desperately she needed a bath to deal with the tension still radiating from her shoulders. If loaning her car got Emma out of her house faster, it was worth the sacrifice. She nodded.
“Maybe we can try and do some more research on this when I get back,” Emma added. “Beat some information out of Gold?”
At that, she was rewarded with the first genuine smile from Regina in a long time, and she didn’t question the warmth that bloomed in her chest at knowing she was the reason for it.
“That sounds fine.”
Emma grabbed her jacket, then leaned in without thinking and pressed a quick peck to Regina’s lips.
It took both women a few seconds to realize what had just happened.
******
Adjusting the seat a bit back, Emma took a deep breath and grabbed the wheel, taking a few moments to lean back and compose herself. It wasn’t the kiss, or a peck, to be more precise, that bothered her. That was the magic pulling them together, which was unavoidable. It was the familiarity, the easiness of it. She never felt like this around Hook.
This feeling that finally, finally she was where she could belong, was never there when she was around the pirate. She liked him, cared about him, but to her, it was always something fleeting, something existing in the moment, without any real thought about the future. And if she was being honest with herself, she wasn’t sure she could blame this on the spell.
This wasn’t exactly the first time she’d felt like this around Regina. She just kept ignoring it, or chalking it up to something Henry-related every time. It was unsettling, for more than one reason - Regina hating her sitting right at the top.
Starting the car, she took one last look toward the house and drove off.
Five minutes later, still lost in thought, Emma glanced to the side, realizing she was driving by 108 Mifflin Street. What the hell? She wasn’t sure how she managed to loop around without even noticing it. Determined not to repeat the same mistake, she focused fully on her driving and headed towards the sheriff’s office again. Five minutes later, she was once again in front of the Mayor’s house. Now thoroughly annoyed, she parked the car and slammed the door behind her, stomping her way back toward the house.
This is ridiculous.
She marched inside, irrationally blaming Regina for her inability to accomplish this one simple thing. Not finding her downstairs, and still determined to confront her - with what, she wasn’t even sure - Emma made her way upstairs and knocked sharply on Regina’s bedroom door.
“Regina, we need to talk!”
A few muffled sounds came from inside before she finally heard, “Enter.”
As she walked in, she was ready to unleash a full salvo of reasons why this was the worst nightmare they could’ve landed in and why it was all Regina’s fault and–
Every word died on her lips. Regina was standing in the doorway of her bathroom, completely naked. As in, not a stitch of clothing, no towel, no sign of modesty, nothing. Just a very naked Regina, dripping water on the carpet and looking at her as if waiting for something. And damn her, but Emma couldn’t look away. Not from the curves of her breasts, not from the smoothness of her stomach, and lower, from the juncture of her–
“Miss Swan, what is it?”
That got Emma’s attention, and she snapped her eyes back to Regina’s. “Ummm, Regina, are you aware that you are standing there in your birthday suit?”
Regina blinked a few times, trying to process her words. When comprehension finally dawned, she let out an undignified squeak and darted back into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
Emma just stood there, all anger drained from her, replaced by other, no less disturbing emotions. This was getting out of hand. Really, seriously out of hand.
******
Regina found Emma downstairs in the dining room, holding a cup of what looked like hot cocoa and staring out of the window. She wanted to yell at her for being here and not at work like she’s said, for disturbing her well-deserved rest, for making her accidentally expose herself, but she couldn’t. Deep down, she knew the reason Emma was back probably had everything to do with the same force that had made her get out of the tub and walk out to greet her without even reaching for a towel - something she would never, ever do, if only for the sake of her carpet. It was something out of both their control - their magic marriage. It would have been funny, if it weren’t so deeply disturbing.
“Should I ask why you are back here, or can I guess?”
Emma turned to her, looking very lost at the moment. “You can guess. I tried to drive to the office, but I kept coming back here.” She hesitated, then added. “I am sorry I interrupted you, I know you wanted some alone time. I was angry. I don’t do well with losing control, and I just needed to … I don’t know, yell at somebody?”
Regina nodded in understanding. “It’s okay. Trust me, it is. I was right there a few minutes ago. And while on the subject, I am sorry I flashed you.”
She noticed a small blush spreading on the Savior’s face as Emma waved it off with a hand. “No big deal, I am sure we’ll both know each other much better than we want to by the end of this thing.”
Emma put down her cup before continuing. “I tried calling Gold while you were dressing, but he is not answering his phone. We could go and try to locate him, or wait for him to listen to my voicemail and decide to find us himself. I might have threatened his limbs a little.”
That elicited a smile from Regina, who didn’t miss the way Emma perked up at her reaction before continuing. “I thought we could go to the library together, and see if we can find anything to shed some more light on what is going on?”
Regina nodded, glad to leave the house for a bit. “We are stuck together for the next few days at least. I guess we’d best use it productively.”
******
The trip to the library proved fruitless, and without having heard from Gold, they decided to head back home and prepare for dinner with Henry. Regina wanted to make a better impression than she had at the well, and started on one of his favorite meals - lasagna. Emma offered to help, but after one raised eyebrow from Regina, she simply lifted her hands in surrender and retired to the living room for the time being.
The time passed in comfortable silence until Henry, followed by Snow, walked in.
“Mom, Mom, hey!”
He ran to hug first one, then the other of his mothers, clearly happy to see them both intact.
“So, how’s it going?”
“It’s going well, dear,” Regina responded, ruffling his hair. “Emma has been behaving for a change, so we got through the day without any hiccups.”
Emma rolled her eyes at the brunette and muttered, “Yeah, yeah, like he’d believe I’d be the problem.” The words were clearly said in jest, and instead of picking a fight, Regina just smiled and walked back toward the kitchen.
Henry observed the interaction with interest. He’d expected them to be at each other’s throats by now. It was the first day, after all, and even he wasn’t expecting miracles. But they actually seemed to be getting along. Suddenly, he realized this might be much easier than he’d thought.
Dinner passed mostly focused on Henry and Neal. Snow, who adored her baby boy, was nonetheless happy to leave David in charge of the baby for a few hours of reprieve. When they finished eating, Snow turned to Henry.
“Henry, do you mind finding those old toys of yours you wanted to give Neal?”
“Sure thing.”
As soon as he was out of earshot, Snow turned to the two women sitting next to each other. “I am not sure what’s going on with the two of you, or how the magic is affecting you, but I just wanted to let you know that if I noticed Regina’s hand on your knee and yours on Regina’s thigh, most likely so did Henry.”
Two faces flushed a twin deep read as both women quickly pulled their hands on the table and started explaining, in tandem.
“No, no,” Snow interrupted. “You don’t need to explain. I know this has something to do with magic and this whole marriage thing. But … look, Henry might be getting the wrong idea from all this, and I don’t think you’re helping.”
“Wrong idea?” Emma asked, confused.
“He seems to be under the impression that this might be exactly what you two needed to…” Snow paused, searching for the right words.
Emma glanced at Regina, then back to Snow. “Needed to what?”
Knowing their reaction to what she was about to say wouldn’t be pretty, Snow pressed on, determined to get this out before Henry returned. “For you two to realize you’re in love with each other.”
A few seconds passed in stunned silence before Regina reacted. “Don’t be ridiculous, Snow. Emma and I were tentative friends at best, before she decided to play hero at the cost of my happiness. Everybody knows that, especially Henry. He’s too smart to imagine some non-existent feelings between his mothers.”
Snow nodded in understanding, but still continued. “Well, he approached me this morning, asking if I ever thought that the two of you might care about each other more than you let on. At first I thought he was wondering if you’d be friends again, but no, he specifically corrected me. He asked if I thought you two would make a good couple. I told him that I didn’t think that was ever an option between you two, but he seemed convinced.”
Emma finally broke out of the stupor this information dropped her into. “I don’t even like women! I was never attracted to anybody but guys!” she blurted.
Emma decided to ignore the confused looks from Snow and Regina, as well as the little voice in her head that reminded her of more than one moment over the last 24 hours that begged to differ. That was magic. Nothing else.
In a more measured tone, she continued. “Plus, I am with Hook, and Henry knows it. And he likes the guy, a lot.”
Snow covered Emma’s hand with hers before continuing. “Yes, but you know your son. If there’s one thing he believes in above all else, it’s magic. And he told me that magic put you two together for a reason.”
Before either of them could offer more denials, they heard Henry’s footsteps coming down the stairs. Snow leaned in quickly and whispered, “I just wanted you to know, so you can be careful around him. Don’t get his hopes up. He’ll get over it after your marriage is dissolved. He’s always been a show-don’t-tell kind of kid.”
As Henry rejoined them, the conversation shifted to safer ground, leaving both women trying hard not to think about what had just been said, and what it might mean for either of them.
******
The next several days passed surprisingly well. They had settled into an unspoken truce, and aside from the occasional unconscious touch - especially during the night - and one incident involving feeding each other ice cream just to try the other’s flavor - an event both would adamantly deny ever happened - they were mostly cohabitating without much issue.
What they didn’t do was talk about what Snow had told them. The first time Emma tried to bring it up, right after Snow and Henry had left, Regina just dismissed it as a non-issue that would resolve itself, and Emma was happy to follow suit.
As they were getting ready to leave for their lunch date with Henry, Emma looked up at Regina as she descended the steps to the foyer. She realized that watching Regina has become her new favorite pastime, one she found herself enjoying more and more.
She’d started to notice things about the older woman: how she used her hands more when she was stressed, how her smile softened and lit up her entire face when she talked to Henry - and even, once or twice, when she looked at her. She recognized the black dress Regina was wearing and smiled. There was definitely a reason black was her color.
Regina returned her smile and passed by her to grab her coat, then paused, turning back. “If you want to see Hook, you can call him and tell him to join us at Granny’s. I’ll be close and that might mitigate the electrocuting effect a bit. Not that I don’t think he deserves a good whipping, but…”
Not expecting that, it took Emma a few moments to respond. “Thanks, but that’s okay.”
“Look, I really don’t mind. It’s been a week since we got stuck together, and truthfully, if I were in your shoes I wouldn’t have been as patient as you’ve been. “
“Okay, if you really don’t mind…” Emma grabbed her phone, feeling exceedingly guilty and confused. The truth was, she hadn’t even thought about the pirate all week. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She had thought about him, but only when she found herself comparing him to Regina … and it never ended well for him.
Hearing his voice didn’t help - it took effort to focus on him with Regina standing so close. And once the call ended, her guilt only deepened in the face of how eager and happy he was to see her. She wanted to be as excited as he was, she really did. She tried to will herself into it, but one look at Regina and she knew she was in trouble. Not really looking forward to their outing anymore, Emma sighed and followed Regina to the car.
******
Once at Granny’s, Regina’s arms were immediately filled with a thirteen-year-old obviously thrilled to see her. Her heart swelled, remembering how she craved his hugs in past years, and how she thought she’d never have them again. This is enough, she thought. If this was all the happiness she was allowed, it was enough. It was more than somebody with her past had any right to expect.
The three of them had just settled into their booth when Regina noticed another family seated two tables away. Robin was gently wiping ketchup from Roland’s face while Marian watched them both with quiet affection. Regina braced herself for the usual pang of hurt, of loss, of disappointment … and was shocked to realize it never came.
Before she had time to process it, she felt Emma’s hand on hers as the blonde followed her gaze. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know they’d be here.”
Regina nodded, but for once didn’t pull her hand back. It felt good, and surprisingly right, the three of them sitting there like a family. She pretended not to see Henry’s smug little smirk when he noticed their subtle move. There’d be time for thinking later, she just wanted to enjoy the moment for now.
To her great annoyance, the moment was broken when Hook walked in and made a beeline for them. With an apologetic look, Emma got up to meet the pirate near the counter.
With Emma away, Regina focused on Henry, but couldn’t help stealing glances at the pair. It wasn’t easy to admit, but this wasn’t just her usual irritation at the sight of the pirate. No, this was something much deeper. She hated the way he hovered around Swan, like he was trying to mark his territory without actually touching her. And when Emma smiled at something he said, Regina felt a sharp tug in her chest and an overwhelming need to walk over there and pull her away.
Everything she had felt the moment Marian showed up that fateful day, everything she’d expected to feel when she saw Robin with his wife today, hit her all at once. But it wasn’t for the man. It was for Emma. The sudden wave of suffocation was too much to bear. Regina made a quick excuse to Henry, barely pausing before hastily making her way out of the diner.
Outside, leaning against the wall, she tried to calm down and make sense of her emotions, but before she could, Emma appeared, looking for her.
“Regina, are you okay? I saw you run out, and it seemed–“
“I’m fine, I just needed some air. I’ll be back in a minute. Go back to the pirate and keep Henry entertained while I’m gone, okay?” Emma’s closeness wasn’t helping her confusion, and Regina hoped, just this once, Emma would listen and give her the solitude she desperately needed.
But Emma wasn’t swayed, and Regina groaned inwardly at her inability to follow a simple request.
“Was it Robin? Why don’t you talk to him, maybe…”
Like a drowning woman, Regina latched onto the excuse Emma had just handed her. Yes, why not make it about Robin?
“Maybe what, Miss Swan? He’ll leave his wife for me? The wife you brought back?”
Emma recoiled as if slapped. “I’m sorry.”
Regina shook her head, but before she could say anything, Emma pressed on. “Please, please let me finish. I screwed up. I was thrust into this role, I was made a savior without ever asking for it. And a savior is supposed to save people, not think about the costs. Save, not think. That’s what my life has been for the last few years. But I should’ve stopped and at least considered the consequences. It was a decision I made too easily.”
Regina took a long breath, trying to calm her raging emotions. She hadn’t expected Emma to say that, to sound so honest. Seeing the pain in the younger woman’s eyes, she couldn’t help but respond. “Look, I know that you had no other choice.”
Emma looked up at her, hope flickering across her face, and Regina continued. “You couldn’t let a woman die. That’s who you are. And I wouldn’t have expected you to. The consequences … they’re nothing compared to Roland getting his mother back.”
“I just…” Emma’s voice cracked. “I really don’t want you to hate me, and I can’t blame you if you do.”
Short, resigned laughter escaped Regina. “I don’t hate you, Emma. Oh, I wanted to. I tried. But I don’t. I just wanted to win for once. To be happy. And it was so close. But the thing is, no matter what color my magic is now, I’m still the same villain who killed that woman, who killed all those people. I don’t deserve to be happy. And maybe it’s time I finally accepted that.”
Emma stepped forward, invading Regina’s personal space and not caring. “Don’t say that. You’ve changed, Regina. Nothing is black and white. Nothing ever is.”
She gently lifted Regina’s chin, meeting her eyes. “When I look at you, I see someone who has been through hell and is still standing. Yes, you did terrible things, but you rose above them. You’re atoning for them every single day.”
She took another step closer, until their faces were just inches apart. “I see a mother who loves her son unconditionally, who would give her life for him. I see a friend who’s endured more than most and still found the strength to forgive the person who caused so much of it. And I see an incredible woman who gave me the happiest year of my life just to be kind.”
Her words faded into a whisper, and then Emma slowly closed the remaining distance between them. She placed a feather-light kiss on Regina’s lips before parting them slightly and deepening the contact. Both women felt it in their souls, instinctively drawing closer to each other. When Emma teased her lips with her tongue, Regina, overwhelmed by emotion, suddenly pulled back.
“No, this … this isn’t real. It’s the magic, it’s making you … we can’t do this.”
“Regina, wait, ple–“
“I’ve got to go.” With that, she turned around and fled, desperate to get as far from Emma - and her own traitorous emotions - as she could.
******
Emma wanted to go after Regina, but she knew that if she didn’t want to ruin what they had, and what they could have, she’d have to let the older woman come to her. There was one thing she realized she needed to do right away, though. She went back inside and walked straight to Hook, asking him to come outside with her for a talk.
The expectant look on his face once they were alone hit her hard, but she didn’t let it shake her resolve. “Look, Killian, I … I am really sorry I have to do this, but we– us– this … it’s done.”
Her words clearly didn’t register, not with that same cocky smile still plastered on his face. “What do you mean, love?”
Cringing at the term of endearment, she strengthened her resolve and decided to be as clear as possible. “We are breaking up.”
That obviously got his attention. “Where is this coming from?” Hook asked, his smile gone, urgency suddenly coloring his voice.
“Look–“
“No, this is the magic talking. I don’t know what’s going on, but we were doing great before this happened. Either magic or Regina has done something to you.”
She placed a hand on his arm, surprised when it didn’t bounce off immediately. “This has nothing to do with magic or Regina. I had time to think while we were apart. We were good for that moment. We had fun, but … I’m really sorry, Killian. I never loved you the way you needed me to. And you deserve more. You deserve someone who’ll love you like that.”
He looked at her, really looked at her, for the first time since the conversation began. “The way you love her?”
She nodded slowly, trying hard not to avoid his eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him, but he needed to know the truth.
Hook sighed heavily. “She will only bring you pain, Emma.” She was surprised by the defeat in his voice. Usually he was much more determined in his pursuit of her, but now … now it seemed like he’d just heard a confirmation of what he had been expecting all along, and was ready to accept it. “I’d like to say I wish you two all the happiness, but I’d be lying. Look me up when it’s all over.”
With that parting shot, he turned on his heel and walked off, leaving Emma sad, but relieved to be out of a relationship she’d never truly felt a part of.
******
She gave Henry a half-assed explanation about how Regina wasn’t feeling well, and after quickly finishing their meal, she took him back home. He promptly ran to his room, and Emma slumped down onto the sofa, her head dropping into her hands, a pose in which Snow found her a few moments later.
“Emma, are you okay?”
Debating with herself for a few seconds whether Snow was really the best person to talk to about this, Emma finally sighed and decided there was no point in hiding anything. “Snow … Mom, I … Do you think magic can make you fall in love with somebody?”
Confusion crossed Snow’s features, but then understanding dawned on her. She placed a hand on Emma’s knee as she knelt next to her, trying to convey support. “No, honey. Magic can do a lot of things, but that isn’t one of them. Oh, there are seduction spells that might make it seem like you're in love, but those are pretty obvious to anyone outside of the pair.”
Slowly nodding at that, Emma slumped back into the chair. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking.”
“Regina?”
At Emma’s small nod, Snow let out a long breath.
Emma looked at Snow, afraid of her reaction, and tried to explain herself in one breath. “I don’t know how this happened. I didn’t look for it, I didn’t expect it…”
“That’s usually how love happens, sweetie.”
Letting out a pained laugh, Emma shrugged Snow’s hand off and got up to start pacing the room. “Yeah, I guess it is. But how about for once - once in my life - love happens to me with somebody who actually loves me back and is there for me? Why can’t I love Hook? Things would be so much easier…”
“Nobody ever said love was easy, trust me. Why are you so sure she doesn’t love you back? Did she say something?”
“Yes. No. Kind of. I kissed her and she ran away.”
Shaking off the mental image of her daughter kissing the Evil Queen - because while she would always support Emma, there were just some visuals she didn’t need in her head - Snow smiled gently.
“That’s it? There could be a million reasons for that, and most of them have to do with running away from emotions she doesn’t understand. She doesn’t have too many people she can talk to about this, you know.”
“But she can’t love me. I ruined her happiness.”
“You saved her. You and Henry. She was broken, and you two helped put her back together. It kind of all makes sense, when you think about it.”
An incredulous look passed over Emma’s features. “Are you seriously encouraging this?”
“What? You know my position on true love.”
Emma’s eyes grew comically wide. “True love?! Who said anything about true love?”
“Honey, you two created an eclipse together. In hindsight, that’s pretty telling.”
Panic slowly seeped out of Emma’s eyes, replaced by acceptance and understanding. A small, almost shy smile graced her lips. “It is, isn’t it?”
Neal chose that moment to announce his presence, held firmly by an apologetic-looking David. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, truly. He was getting fussy, and we were walking, and…”
Emma looked at him fearfully. “How much did you hear?”
“Enough. And I wanted to say, if you’ll let me … I know you don’t need my approval, but I wanted you to know you have it, however this plays out. Regina is far from my favorite person, but if she is the one you choose, I’ll respect that, and be happy for you. There’s nothing I want more for you than to see you truly happy.”
He used his free hand to wipe a small tear trailing down Emma’s face before continuing. “And if she loves you, well, then I can be sure you’ll be safe. If one thing can be said about Regina, it’s that she will turn several realms upside down to protect the people she loves.”
Amazed at the acceptance, Emma pulled both her parents into a hug, Neal gurgling his disapproval at suddenly being squished between three people. She kissed his nose before pulling back, ready to face the biggest hurdle. Regina might love her back, but whether she’d be willing to admit that was the main question. With nothing to do but wait, Emma drove to the Mayor’s house and did just that.
******
Regina took a steadying breath and opened the door to Gold’s store. She was half surprised to find it open, considering the lengths he’d gone to in order to avoid Emma and her for the past week. At the sound of the bell, she saw him lift his head from the trinket he was examining, an always predatory-looking smile gracing his features immediately.
“Regina, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
“What do you think, Gold? You’ve been a hard man to track down for the past week.”
“Well, that wife of yours was so intent on rearranging my bone structure, I had to let her cool down.”
She cringed at the moniker for Emma, pushing down the matching feelings of dread and affection that washed over her. “Yes, I’m sure that’s the reason.”
“Now that you’re here, what can I do for you, my dear?”
Knowing that there was no way to find out what she needed without being completely open, Regina decided to lay all her cards on the table. “The ceremony we did the other day, could it have … manufactured some unwanted feelings in us? Could it have made us fall in love?”
Gold raised an eyebrow. “I taught you better than that.”
“Yes, you did,” Regina replied, her voice tinged with frustration. “But then you were chasing after my sister like a lovesick puppy not so long ago.”
Gold’s face froze. “That was not love, and we both know it.”
Regina hesitated, torn between a desire to torment him and a strange sympathy for what her sister had put him through. She studied his angry face for a moment before nodding reluctantly. “Yes, I know that. But there has to be an explanation...”
Gold looked at her with something between curiosity and challenge. “Why are you so afraid of the possibility that what the two of you have is real? It would make you both, and Henry, happy. Henry figured it out almost immediately, you know?”
“What do you mean?” Regina asked, narrowing her eyes.
Gold’s voice softened, uncharacteristically gentle. “He realized that the ceremony wouldn’t have worked if there weren’t real feelings between the two of you. Smart kid you’ve got there.”
Regina smiled faintly at the compliment, but shook her head slightly, still not ready to accept what he was suggesting. “But this can't be. I’ve had my true love ... and I had pixie dust show me my soulmate.”
Gold’s expression softened, genuine affection coloring his voice. “My dear, for all the things we’ve done, all the things we’ve created, used … we’ve only scratched the surface. The fairies love their pixie dust, and with good reason. But it’s far from the be-all, end-all. There are forces older and more powerful than anything we’ve ever known. They put you and Emma together. What you’ve known so far pales in comparison to the raw power that brought you two together. The difference is it doesn’t determine your destiny. It only recognizes it. Whether you choose to follow it, that’s on you.”
Regina stood still, her expression unreadable. “So I have a choice?”
“Yes, dear, you do,” Gold confirmed. “That’s why there was an out built in from the beginning. Only … judging by your questions, I don’t think you want that out anymore, do you?”
Regina stood in silence, thinking it over. Yes, magic had put her and Emma together. But this magic didn’t come with an ultimatum of it’s him or nothing. It was on her to decide what her destiny would be. And now, she finally realized that this was it. She had always made her own destiny, and now she had a chance to decide whether she would accept her happy ending with the one person she chose. Is it really this simple? she wondered, and judging by what her heart was telling her - yes, it was. Forgetting about Gold, Regina turned on her heel and hurried home, eager to talk to Emma. It wasn’t what she expected, and it was more than she thought she deserved, but she was going to grab onto her happiness with both hands, for once.
******
Regina’s heart pounded at the sight of the yellow beetle parked in front of her house. She had never been more relieved to see that blasted deathtrap in her life. She reached for the door, but then froze, her hand hovering above the handle. What if Emma didn’t feel the same? What if it was just a fleeting moment, something that would vanish the instant she saw her? What if– No. Regina stopped the spiral of doubt, taking a steadying breath. She had to try. Whatever the outcome, she was going to face it.
Inside, she found Emma pacing the foyer, her face a mixture of anticipation and fear.
“Regina, you’re here.”
Regina smiled nervously, slipping back into old habits. “Yes, Miss Swan, thank you for pointing out the obvious.” She winced at herself, immediately feeling a twinge of guilt.
They stood there for a long, tense moment, neither of them saying a word, before Regina finally broke the silence, her voice quieter than usual. “I’ve talked to Gold.”
Emma’s face fell a little. “Oh.”
“Yes, he said–“
But Emma couldn’t wait another moment, the words spilling out before she lost her nerve. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for kissing you, I’m sorry for making this all harder and messier. But I love you. I don’t care what Gold said. Nothing will change the way I feel. And as much as I wish I could say it’s a sudden revelation … it’s not. It’s been there for years. I’ve tried to ignore it, tried to push it away, but I can’t do that anymore. I’m done running. And if you don’t feel the same way, I’ll still be here, as your friend, or whatever you need me to be, but I had to say it. I had to let you know."
Warmth filled Regina’s chest as she took a step forward, reaching out to gently take Emma’s hand, her voice soft but steady. “Are you quite finished?”
Emma, unable to trust her voice, simply nodded, giving Regina the space she needed to speak.
Regina exhaled slowly, her eyes locking with Emma’s, betraying a mixture of vulnerability and resolve. “Then I can inform you that Gold confirmed what I already suspected but didn’t want to admit. It wasn’t the ceremony. It wasn’t magic. It was us. All along, it was us.”
She paused, her thumb gently tracing small circles on the back of Emma’s hand, as if savoring the moment before speaking. “I wanted to hate you, not because you brought Marian back, but because you hurt me. You ... after I trusted you, after I let you in…” Her voice caught for a moment before she continued, her tone steadying. “It took me a while to realize it, but now I know.”
Regina’s brown eyes softened, filled with intensity. She took a breath before speaking, her voice steady but full of emotion. “I love you too, Emma.”
With that, Regina closed the distance between them, capturing Emma’s lips in a kiss that began softly, with just a graze, before growing deeper, more urgent. Regina’s heart raced in time with Emma’s as their lips melded together. A soft moan escaped Emma, a sound that went straight to Regina’s core. She gently pressed the tip of her tongue to Emma’s lips, and they parted eagerly, a quiet invitation that Regina couldn’t resist. The taste was intoxicating, a mix of sweetness and desire, and it sent a shiver through her.
Both women were lost in the moment, wanting nothing more than to feel each other completely, their bodies fitting perfectly against one another. Neither wanted the kiss to end.
Eventually, they pulled back, their foreheads resting against one another, both of them breathing heavily, smiling breathlessly.
Emma realized her heart was racing faster than when she was facing down a dragon. Never had she felt this way after a kiss, this powerful, this alive. If there had been any doubts before, they evaporated in that instant. This was real. This was her happily ever after.
Giddy with excitement, she pressed a quick, playful kiss to Regina’s lips before pulling back, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “So, let’s recap. We got married, then we slept together, then I saw you naked, and now we’ve kissed. How about you let me take you out on a real date and completely turn this whole marriage thing on its head?”
Regina smiled, but then her face got serious again. “We have to tell Henry.”
Emma nodded, unable to wipe the grin off her face - one she was sure looked completely ridiculous. “Yeah, he won’t be too surprised, I recon.”
“What about Snow and David? I am sure the Uncharmings will have–“
“Actually, they already know. And they’re happy for me.”
Regina blinked, clearly thrown off. “They do?”
Emma grinned wider. “Yup. So you might want to ease up on the Uncharming stuff…” She leaned in, voice low and teasing. “Considering you’ve officially joined the clan.”
The scandalized look Regina shot her was worth its weight in gold. “I did no such thing!”
“Uh-huh. You keep telling yourself that.”
The smugness radiating from the blonde was unbearable. Never one to relinquish the upper hand for long, Regina began placing soft kisses across Emma’s face, her hands sliding down her back to rest confidently on her firm ass. Pleased by the quiet gasp it drew, she nuzzled into the blonde’s neck and murmured, “About that date?”
“Yesss?”
“It’s not really fair for us to go after you’ve already seen me naked ... and I haven’t seen you.” Her voice dipped into a sultry purr, sending a delicious shiver down Emma’s spine. “What do you say we even the score?”
All Emma could manage was a breathless nod. “Bedroom?”
“Bedroom,” Regina echoed, her smile wicked and full of promise. Taking the sheriff’s hand, she led her up the stairs.
******
Hours later, as they lay tangled together with their bare bodies warm and intertwined and Emma gently running her fingers through Regina’s hair, Regina felt truly complete for the first time in her life. She nestled closer into Emma’s embrace, her body finally at peace. And as sleep began to pull her under, one thought drifted through her mind.
Being good is not so overrated after all.