The Other Swan Sister

Chapter 35

You arrive back to mansion not long after and immediately Henry offloads his backpack and runs to the living room.
"Henry." Regina scolds as she takes off her coat and hangs it on the rack. "You know you're supposed to do your homework first." Regina gestures toward you to take your coat and you oblige, thanking her with a smile as she does so.
"Okay." He groans, dragging his backpack up the stairs.
"Shoes off first." You call out to him and he turns around with a pout.
"It's like having two Mom's!" He groans yet again but fails to notice the awkward shuffle and blush that it provokes onto yourself and Regina.
"I'm going to start dinner, would you mind helping me, Ivy?" Regina formally asks and you instantly nod.
"Yeah, whatever you need."
A small smirk tugs at her lip.
"What if I need help with my homework!" Henry moans from the stairs.
"Henry, you're perfectly capable of doing your own work." Regina cooly responds. "And besides, you're not going to have Ivy in the room with you to your work when you're in class now, are you?" She raises an infamous eyebrow at him and he immediately complies.
"Fine." He concedes and continues up the stairs.
It's almost as if Regina doesn't want anyone else to have your attention, no matter how small the task.
The very thought sends your body whirring as you follow her into the kitchen, her high heels clicking on the marble floor.
"So." She begins, reaching for two wine glasses from the cupboard. "How was your day?"
"It was okay, yours?" You ask curiously, watching her crack open a new bottle of fancy wine.
"Stressful." She rolls her eyes. "I assume you want wine?" She smiles, realising she never asked and just poured you a glass.
"Always." You laugh softly as you take the glass from her. "Cheers."
"To what?" The brunette teases, feigning ignorance.
You inhale deeply, thinking of something.
"To you." You conclude. "To being a great mother and a great... boss." You smirk and she raises her eyebrow in amusement.
"Cheers." She responds.

You begin cooking and Regina offers you a large spoon to stir the pasta whilst she prepares the sauce. The extractor fan and buzz from the kitchen is loud and the air between you feels more intimate than ever.
Domestic life. Together.
"Can I play some music?" You ask as Regina sips her wine, taking a break from chopping the many vegetables.
"Of course, dear." She shrugs and gestures for you to continue.
You connect your phone to her kitchen speaker and shuffle your playlist of Fleetwood Mac. The perfect atmosphere music.
"How's the pasta looking?" Regina peers over your shoulder, her body pressing into your back.
"Needs a couple more minutes, shall I turn it down?" You respond, turning your head and noticing her face inches from yours.
"Mhm." She pauses before she answers, clearly both of you are distracted by other things.
Before you can turn the dial, the sound of boiling water hitting the hot surface snaps you out of your trance and you leap into action.
"Shit." You turn for the dishcloth and notice Regina chuckling into her wine glass. "I don't know why you're laughing, this is your fault." You tease, feigning annoyance with a smile on your face.
"Is that so?" She smirks.
"Yep." You throw the cloth back at her and laugh as the wine she was sipping falls from the glass onto her face.
"You little-" she narrows her eyes and begins to lift to cloth to wipe her face but you stop her in her tracks.
"Wait." You hold her arm down. "Let me." You walk in close to her and notice her pupils dilate as your lips become inches apart. Her lips begin to pucker and you quickly duck your head down to lick the excess liquid from her chin, gliding your tongue up to her lips. You then drag your tongue across her bottom lip and taste the delicious wine mixed with her signature apple taste. "All done." You smile shortly before turning back to the boiling stove.
Regina edges forward, about to get her revenge when a little voice butts in from the door.
"I've done my homework!" He calls out proudly, running up to the breakfast bar. "Now can I play video games?"
"Of course, Henry." Regina looks almost stiff, clearly trying to conceal what she was feeling just a moment prior.
"Thanks, Mom!" He calls out, rushing away again to the living room.
You hide your snicker, not once turning to meet the brunette's challenge. As you stir the pot intensely, you feel her body press up against you once more, her lips inches from your ear.
"You're dead." She teases into your ear, allowing you to finally let out the laugh you'd been holding.

You finally plate up the meal after Henry sets up the table and sit down like a family. It feels more familiar than you think either of you would admit.
"So, what did you learn today, Henry?" Regina takes the first bite and you both follow her lead.
"Nothing." He shrugs.
"I doubt that's true." Regina quips.
"About space."
"What about space? What was the most interesting thing you heard today?" You add in, trying to provoke some interest from the kid.
"Uh..." he thinks for a moment, his concentrating face in full effect. "There are aliens!" His face lights up.
"I'm sure there are." You nod along with him, noticing Regina chuckle under her breath at the two of you. "What?" You chuckle along with her.
"Nothing. I'm sure the two of you are right." She nods at the both of you, continuing to eat.
"I think so too, don't you, Henry?"
"Yeah. I wanna meet them."
"Maybe you will." You smile at the young boy and see his face light up.
"You think so?"
"Of course! Anything is possible, kid." You encourage him.
"What did you do, Mom?" He asks politely.
"Oh-" Regina is caught off guard. "Well, I had a lot of meetings today and a few contracts to look through."
"Sounds boring." He quips.
You can't help but chuckle at him and Regina's look of offence. After a moment, her face softens.
"You're right, Henry. It is boring. I'm just happy to be home now." She smiles so lovingly at her son, oblivious and stuffing his face with as much pasta as he can get.
"What did you do today, Ivy?" Regina turns the question to you, although she's already asked you today, she wants to include you in the discussion.
"Not much." You shrug. "I went for a run-"
"Tell Mom about those people."
You stiffen and your face drops suddenly, it's too late to cover it up now.
"Oh, I'll tell her later it's okay-" you shake your head at Henry.
"Tell me now." Regina urges gently.
You shoot her a look as if to ask if she's sure and she nods softly.
"Mal and Cruella stopped us on our way to your office after school." You begin and see Regina's face instantly turn sour. "I told them to keep away from Henry and to do this another time."
"They were mean!" He butts in, rolling his eyes just like his mother.
"They were saying stuff about your past and wanting me to go to them for answers. I honestly couldn't care less but Mal gave me her card." You roll your eyes at the interaction, showing Regina it's not a big deal.
The brunette looks seething. This reminds you never to get on her bad side, as sexy as it might be.
"I'll take it up with them. I always keep my word." She grits her teeth and continues with her meal.

"Okay, Henry! It's time for bed now." You pull his controller away from him and turn off the TV.
"But!" He begins and you silence him with a finger.
"I gave you 5 more minutes and now it's time to go. Come on." You encourage him up. "Want a piggy back?"
His face lights up and he grins immediately.
"Yes!"
"Alright, hop on." You bend down to allow him to clamber on and take him to his mother in her study.
"Regina?" You call out, allowing Henry to reach out and knock on the door.
"Come in!" She calls happily, immediately grinning when she sees you waltz in with a happy Henry on your back.
"Goodnight, Mom!" He giggles as you lean forward to allow him to wrap his arms around his mother's neck, taking in a whiff of her sweet perfume as you do so.
"Goodnight, my boy." She kisses him on the forehead gently and allows you to carry him up the stairs.