The Dark Princess {OUAT AU}

Chapter 30

Valerie holds a funeral for Killian, and is surprised when people show up for to say goodbye to her husband. They don't know he didn't actually die of natural causes but what they don't know helps her. It's a simple funeral, and she cries to appropriate amount and puts on a show for everyone. As they take away his body to put into the family mausoleum she feels a pang of sorrow resonate within her heart. It's for the better, she thinks.   

~~~

After Killian's funeral ends, everyone packs up and goes home. Not even Emma and Regina bother to stay and visit. But Valerie puts on a strong front, and pretends it doesn't matter. She has Mason anyways. He was the star of everyone's visit, and even as a baby he's a charmer. Time goes by, and then winter is upon them. Valerie finds it to be one of the coldest winters she's experienced in her twenty years and she uses magic to keep a fire burning in all the main rooms at all times. Mason's fireplace has a cage around it that's also been spelled so he doesn't burn himself. As he begins to learn to crawl Valerie takes more precautions with him. Without Killian she's able to parent Mason how she wants.  

Valerie stands at her window, staring out the glass pane as the snow comes down in a blizzard, covering everything in sight. A chill takes over her body even though there is a roaring fire behind her. Her large room feels empty right now, and so she leaves it and searches for her son. The maid in charge of him should be feeding him right now. When she enters the nursery and finds the maid setting up a table for his lunch, Valerie steps in.

"I can take over." She says, and the maid looks up in surprise but recovers quickly. 

"Oh yes of course, Your Majesty." She smiles, and then bows before leaving the room. Valerie walks over and sits down in the chair in front of Mason's crib. She summons a high-chair for him and then picks him up with a small groan.

"Well, well. You're getting so big my handsome prince." She coos at him, and he smiles at her. "Is that a tooth I see!?" He giggles again and Valerie gently pokes a finger into his mouth to see if she's correct.

"You have teeth." She smiles, pride and love radiating through her. Mason mumbles some gibberish and she just grins like a fool.

"And now I'm talking to my baby. And I'm proud of you for growing teeth. I think I'm going crazy." She begins to ramble, saying everything in a baby voice. After feeding Mason she puts him down for his nap and then leaves the room. 

~~~

Five years later

"No! Mason don't touch that!" Valerie shrieks as her young boy goes to grab the potion she was creating. He freezes where he is but pouts, sticking out his bottom lip at her. 

"Oh don't give me that look. You are not allowed to touch my magic and you know that." She scolds him and he shrugs, going over and sitting back down on his chair. He watches her practice magic with his large blue eyes. He looks fascinated and he tracks every move she makes. Some might say it's dangerous or inappropriate for her five year old son to be watching her practice magic but it's none of their concern. 

"Mom?" Mason chirps, making Valerie look up from her spell books and over in his direction. His dark mop of hair hangs down his forehead and in his eyes, making Valerie frown. He needs a haircut, she thinks, putting it on her to-do list.

"Yes sweetheart?" She asks, splitting her attention between her spells and her son like a true mother.

"Do you like magic?" He asks, and she looks up at him with a confused look on her face before peals of laughter bubble from her throat. 

"Yes I do, Mason. I love magic." 

"But not as much as you love me, right?" He genuinely looks nervous for her answer and she lets out a sad hum.