The Only Exception (Swan Queen)

Chapter 16

I don't need magic, I need your arms around me at 3:29 a.m. when the dark is too much, I need you to be real when nothing else is. ~A.R. Asher.

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Regina lay in bed, unable to shake the images of the dream flashing violently through her head. The arrow leaving its bow, the small sliver of magic, the flashes of blonde hair mixed with the red color of blood.

In a moment of panic, she quickly grabbed her phone from the bedside table. It was 3am but in that moment, she didn't care – she had to make sure she was okay.

The phone rang for a moment. "Hello," her voice muffled through the phone.

Regina let out a sigh of relief as a tear ran down her cheek. She was okay. Of course. It was just a dream and she was reacting erratically.

There was shifting from the other end, the rustling sound of bedsheets filled her ears. "Gina, are you okay?"

Regina coughed as a soft sob escaped her lips. "I had to make sure – you were okay," she choked out.

"What happened, Gina?" she asked quickly, her voice full of worry and concern.

Tears ran freely down Regina's cheeks as she sobbed quietly. She couldn't find the words to respond.

"I'm on my way, baby. I'll be there in five minutes," she said before the line went dead.

Five minutes had never gone by so slow. She soon heard soft rattling from downstairs and hugged her legs close to her chest.

"Gina?" her voice called out softly. She watched as Emma hesitantly opened the door and peered into the room. She took one look at her and rushed to her side. Emma sat down next to Regina on the bed. "What happened, baby?" she asked, tucking a loose strand of the brunette's hair behind her ear.

Regina cuddled against her side in an instant, curling up on her lap and burying her face in the crook of the other woman's neck.

"Was it a nightmare?" she asked softly. 

"I guess you could call it that," Regina mumbled, her breathing evening out from the comforting embrace.

Emma wrapped her arms securely around her waist and hugged her close. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"I guess I'll have to tell you eventually," Regina whispered.

Emma shifted slightly, almost nervously. "Tell me what?"

She looked up and met her gaze. "A while after I married Leopold, I met Tinkerbell. In a moment of madness, I agreed to let her help me find love again," she started, searching Emma's eyes for any hint of hesitation but found none. She let out a soft sigh before continuing. "She led me to a cavern where I saw my soulmate, but I never saw his face. I only saw the tattoo he had on his wrist. It was a lion," she tried to explain. She bit her lower lip, fearing how the other woman would respond.

Emma's lips drooped slightly. "So, what happened in your dream?"

A tear fell down Regina's cheek. "He killed you, Emma. I panicked and I had to make sure you were okay," she whimpered, burying her face in the mess of blonde curls again.

Emma tightened her grip on her waist, holding her as tight as she could. "I'm not going anywhere," she reassured her. She chuckled. "Wait, he had a Lion tattoo?"

Regina looked at her in confusion but nodded.

She laughed. "It was on his wrist, right?" Emma carefully pulled up the sleeve of her grey hoodie and revealed a small flower tattoo on her wrist. "It's a Lyon flower," she whispered.

Regina stared into her sea-green eyes with a wide smile spread across her face. She gently pressed their lips together. This was right. With Emma back, all she needed was for Henry to get his memories back and everything would be perfect.

Emma laid down, dragging Regina with her. "Try to get some sleep, Gina," she ordered softly.

Regina sighed. "But what if-" she stopped.

Emma drew small shapes on her bare shoulder. "I'm right here, Gina. I'm not leaving you," she whispered.

Regina nodded and rested her head on the blonde's chest.

"Lay down your head

And I'll sing you a lullaby

Back to the years of loo-li-lai-lay

And I'll sing you to sleep

And I'll sing you tomorrow

Bless you, with love for the road that you go"

"Emma, what are you..." she started, confused by why the other woman was suddenly singing to her.

"Get some sleep, baby," Emma cut her off.

She continued to sing softly and Regina felt her eyelids begin to droop. Her voice was beautiful and calming.

"May you sail fair

To the far fields of fortune

With diamonds and pearls

At your head and your feet

And may you need never

To banish misfortune

May you find kindness

In all that you meet

May there always be Angels

To watch over you

To guide you each step of the way

To are you and keep you

Safe form all harm

loo-li-loo-li-lai-lay

May you bring love

And may you bring happiness

Beloved in return 'till the end of your days

Now fall off to sleep

I'm not meaning to keep you

I'll just sit for a while

And sing loo-li-lai-lay

May there always be Angels

To watch over you

Guide you each step of the way

To guard you and keep you

Safe from all harm

Loo-li-loo-li-lai-lay

Loo-li-loo-li-lai-lay"