The Other Swan Sister

Chapter 28

"Wine?" Regina smirks as she lifts her head from your chest.
"Oh, but of course, Madame Mayor." You smirk in return as you rise from the couch.
"I'll get you a robe."
"Thank you."

You throw it on and follow Regina to the kitchen.
"There." She softly announces as she passes you the full glass.
You sip the liquid and peer through the glass, never once taking your eyes off Regina.
She notices and flicks her eyes up to meet yours. You blush.
"What?" She teases with a warm smile.
"Oh-" you falter. "I was just wondering if you'd mind me spending the night? It's perfectly fine if not. You know, if Henry's coming home early and you don't wanna ex-"
Regina stops you mid-sentence by resting her hand on your arm.
She takes the wine glass from your hand and sets it down before placing a soft kiss to your forehead and cheek, before kissing your lips gently.
"Of course, dear. I would love nothing more." She practically grins back at you, provoking an equally happy smile from you.
"Good." You croak out through your blush, lamely.
Regina admires you for a moment, brushing her thumb across your cheek lovingly.
"Let's go to bed." She purrs.

You fall back into the comfort of the sheets after what feels like round 107. Each of your limbs tangled in a sweaty mess and both chest's gasping for air. You turn your head to the side table to check the time.
00:37.
Midnight.
Before turning over, you feel a warm body cozy into your side. You turn you head to see a rather tiny looking Regina curled into you. Without being able to stop your soppy smile, the brunette lifts her head, hair splayed across her now almost makeup free face.
Instead of words, each of you exchange a look of pure love, and you pull the fragile looking woman into your embrace. She nuzzles into your chest and gives it a small kiss before tracing her fingernails down your arm.
"Can I ask you something?" You whisper softly.
She pulls her head out and meets your eyes with a soft concern.
"Anything." She muses, as she tucks a piece of hair behind your ear.
"Why don't you think you can change?" You pull her closer to avoid her seizing up on you.
A slight look of panic crossing her features but you kiss her shoulder kindly to try to keep her calm.
"We shouldn't talk about this now." She batts it off but if you're not mistaken, you see tears begin to well in her eyes.
She cuddles back into your embrace.
"Okay. I just want you to know I see someone who is very capable of change. Someone whom I admire more than anyone who has ever existed. A very good person. More than enough." You rub her back lovingly and suddenly hear a sob wrack from close to your chest. "Regina." You whisper as you encourage her to meet your eyes. She shamefully raises her visage and you wipe away the remnants of tears before gently kissing each of her eyelids. "I'll be with you every step of the way."
"I love you." Is all the brunette can croak out. She cuddles into her safe space once again. "God, I love you." She sniffles.

"Feeling refreshed after your walk of shame?" Emma taunts from the doorway of your shared bathroom.
You put some oil through your wet hair before towel drying yourself.
"I drove home, actually. Smart ass." You quip.
"What's going on between you and Regina, anyways?"
Here comes Emma the cop.
"Do you have a survey I should fill out, Sheriff Swan... or?" You quip once more, rolling your eyes at your sister.
"No, it's just that-" she falters. "I don't mean to pry. It's just- I never saw her liking anyone. Let alone letting them stay the night."
"Yeah. Well, there's a lot to her that no one knows about, Em." You imply sympathetically.
"Go figure." Emma contemplates. "You know... Mom and dad were really wondering what was going on, too. They wouldn't stop asking me questions."
You bristle slightly.
"Why? Cause they're so set on hating Regina?" You snap slightly.
"It's more complicated than that, Ivy, and you know it."
"Okay, maybe it is. Does that mean anything? Does that mean people can't change? Does it mean they know more about her than I do? Because I can assure you, Emma, they don't."
"What has she told you?" Emma frowns, as if she's about to get defensive.
But your heart and your mind merely goes back to the image of a poor Regina cuddling into your warmth to slow her cries the night before.
"Nothing that is any of your god damn business!" You officially snap. "Why can't you guys just be happy for me? And happy for her? Aren't you all supposed to be the heroes? Aren't you supposed to want happiness for everybody?"
Emma immediately engulfs you into a hug, letting you relax into her embrace.
"I'm sorry." She rocks you back and forth slightly. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just harder for us to understand what Regina is doing. We don't want you hurt."
"Please, just be happy for me. If I get hurt that's on me. I've got to look out for myself. Please just be open to her and let her try."
"I will. I believe she can change." Emma rubs your back reassuringly. "I just never thought you'd be the one to crack her."
"Believe me, I don't think she did either." You murmur into your sisters stupid leather jacket.

"Hey, kid! What are you doing? Where's your mom?" You rush toward a rather rugged looking Henry, running toward you on the pavement.
"It's Mom." He breathlessly mutters. Your heart drops. "She got angry about something and she's gone."
"What do you mean, Henry? What happened?" You crouch down to his level and hold him so he can look right into your eyes.
"She had a phone call and left. She didn't know I was home." He looks almost embarrassed for a second and you suddenly remember it's a Tuesday.
"Henry! Why weren't you in school?" You scold.
"I'll explain everything later, just- please, help me find her. I know she'll listen to you." He rushes his words and you almost forget about his truanting when he utters those words.
He really thinks that Regina will listen to only you.
Thinking of Regina, your mind leaps back into action. Your brain leaps across the multiple ways in which you can approach this.
Take Henry to the station and risk Emma taking full control over this search?
No thanks.
Take Henry home and trust that he'll wait patiently for you to return?
That's not gonna happen.
"I'm taking you to school."
"What?!" He moans childishly.
"No excuses, Henry. I'm taking you to school so I know that you're safe. Then I promise you, I will find your mother." You reassure him and although he falters for a moment, he agrees.
"Come on, kid." You scruff his hair lovingly.

"If you have any problems, talk to my mom, okay?"
"She's my grandma, you know." Henry smugly points out.
"Oh, yeah. Still getting used to all this stuff." You roll your eyes with a smile. "Now go to class, Henry." You rub his shoulder gently before standing and encouraging him to wander into his class.
Before turning away, he abruptly throws himself forward and latches his arms around your lower waist, his height barely reaching your torso.
"I know you'll find her." He squeezes you before releasing and pulling away. "She'll talk to you."
You can't help the soppy smile that graces your lips before the kid turns to hop into his class as if nothing happen.
Shit. What now?
Okay. Regina could be anywhere.
Should I text her? Why not.

Hey, Henry's really worried about you. He's safe in school. It's a long story, but... are you alright?

Okay.... Long shot. But worth it.
You remember Emma telling you her famous tip for finding people. If they send you a simple text, you can track their location through a specific data wave. The technicalities of it never made sense to you, but, you knew it was your best chance of finding Regina so far.
Maybe she's at home? After leaving so dramatically, as Henry says, maybe she went for a walk and came home?
You begin walking to her house before you feel a buzz in your back pocket.

Henry is asking me about his mother? Is Regina ok? I've heard you're looking for her. Emma can help you if need be. Do you want me to call her?

Oh, great. Mom's heard the gossip already. Better get this sorted quickly before the whole town hears about the ordeal.

Everything's fine, Mom. Don't call Emma. And please don't go spreading any stories around with your colleagues. Honestly, everything is fine. Henry just likes to make an adventure out of everything.

Hopefully that suffices to subside your mother's anxious tendencies.
As you turn to place your phone away, another buzz vibrates through the device.