OQ One Shots (#OQPromptParty)

Day 7 - Canon Happy Ending

Regina

I retired to my master suite and pulled the heavy crystal tiara from my tightly twisted hairdo, sighing heavily as I sunk into the edge of my mattress. I reveled at the memories of lavish gowns and celebrations such as these, and wondered how I was ever able to wear these ghastly outfits for such long periods of time, or just waft from room to room of my castle in outfits such as these. My neck and lower back ached from the corset and laces, making me sigh and change with a flick of my wrist, settling for my usual silk nightie.

Thoughts of the day played over and over in my head as I mindlessly brushed my hair out of its stiff updo. My mind couldn't comprehend that the town had chosen me, that they trusted me with their well-being and lives. Everyone I could've imagined was there, even wish realm Henry had come to see me off in this ceremony before returning back to live his own life in his own time era.

Henry and Ella's revelation about their newest member of their growing family also had me beaming with excitement, even if it more permanently branded me with the label of grandma.

My joy was overwhelming, but I still felt the twinge of sadness that came with these joyous events, because it always lacked the one person who I always imagined would be at my side.

A soft knock at my door caused me to dry the singular tear that wet my cheek and flick the door open with my hand, my stepdaughter and her blonde daughter standing side by side with wide grins on their faces.

"Um, hi guys, I'm currently in my pajamas, so can you like wait a second!" I cried, racing into my closet to grab my silk navy robe, tying it firmly around my waist before returning to accompany the two smiling women in the other room.

"Now, I'd like to thank you both for my lovely ceremony, and I'm still reeling over it all, don't you want to spend the rest of you night with your families?" I asked tiredly, puffing my chest out to try and intimidate them out of the house, but they just smiled and lowered me down onto the bed, wrapping me up in a fleece throw blanket, their arms tangling around me.

I glared at both of them in confusion and tried to wiggle out of their grip, but they only hugged me tighter and giggled. "Okay- are you two drunk?! Emma- you're breastfeeding! You can't drink right now!" I groaned, but the blonde shook her head at me and exhaled lightly.

"I mean, she's drunk, I'm just taking a night away from Hope and I'm probably just sleep deprived." She smiled, letting go of me before smiling widely.

"I also just missed my friend, it's been too long since we last said goodbye." She admitted, looking down at her hands before scooting to the side, retrieving something from her back pocket, unfolding the taped page.

"Page 23...where'd you get that?" I muttered sadly, running my hand over the page that I had folded tightly in the back of my closet, proving to be too painful to have out in the open.

"You know where, and we promise that we didn't just get it to mess with you, because we know how much it means to you." She started, placing it in my hands before nudging her mother who blinked away her buzz and clutched my hand tightly.

"We know how much you have grown since Robin passed, but we also know how much you miss him. So ever since he passed, we have been working on a way, and we finally figured it out." Snow declared, making me look over at the both of them and gasp, tears filling my eyes as she smiled and waited a moment.

"Do you need magic to try it? But if it's a heart transfer I won't do it. That's what happened to Daniel, and it only caused him more pain." I recalled, choking up at the horrifically painful memory.

"No, we actually got your sister to use her magic." Snow revealed, a smirk appearing on her face as she waited for my reaction, but her words remained only on my lips.

"What are you saying?" I muttered, my heart nearly stopping in the inside of my chest as my stepdaughter's lips turned into a wide smile. "I'm saying that we found a way to bring your soulmate back." She grinned, the sound of windbreaker sleeves swishing making me look up at the face I never imagined I'd ever see again.

"Robin?" I gasped, sobs now choking their way out of my chest as I leapt out of the bed and into his wide arms. I felt his arms wrap around my waist as he lifted me off the carpet, the smell of pine filling my lungs, something I never thought I would breathe again, opening the crushed chamber of my healing heart.

"You're here." I sobbed, nuzzling my face into his neck, feeling him rub the back of my head softly to try and calm me down. "I've missed you so much." I cried, pulling away to kiss him fiercely, his fingers running through my short curls before gasping for air, tapping his forehead against mine, brushing our noses together.

"Marry me!" I cried with the ounce of breath that I had left from the kiss, making him chuckle and wipe the tears away from his eyes, pulling a ring out from his pocket. "I was already ahead of you." He smirked, slipping it onto my finger before turning me so I could look at Emma and Snow who were smiling excitedly, cheering loudly, making a wall of cheers erupt from my hallway, the rest of the family filtering with wide grins. My heart burst as I basked in the surprise and love, reaching out for the running little boy who raced in, making me gasp at how much he had grown.

"I love you, Regina." Robin whispered, the sound of his voice washing over my healing heart, kissing him softly before looking over at the group.

"I love you too, and I love you all, but I'm in my pajamas, so I'll see you tomorrow." I giggled, reaching over to squeeze Emma and Snow's hands, mouthing a grateful affirmation as the rushed out to give us some privacy.

"Now, we have a lot of catching up to do." Robin smirked, placing a kiss on my lips to assure me that he was truly here, that this house would no longer be filled with silence and loneliness.

"We do, and we can talk about it all tomorrow, but right now, I just want to lay here with you, and bask in your presence, because I love you so much." I smiled, both of us curling together before drifting into the best sleep I've ever had in a long time.