Third chance at love

Winds of Change

Rocking Melora softly in her arms Regina watched as her little one slowly drifted off to sleep. Humming a sweet lullaby as she rocked her in her arms Regina gently brushed her finger across her daughter's chubby cheek. It was slightly cold due to the snowstorm raging beyond the walls outside but Regina had finally managed to get both her little ones down for an early morning nap. 

"Are the girls okay?"

" They are finally asleep but the cold is starting to interfere with their rest," Regina said not taking her eyes off the twins. She had noticed Raphael enter the girls' room moments ago but didn't address his presence at first. 

"You are still upset with me," Raphael said as he removed a strain of hair from her face. Despite the irritable expression on his love's face, Raphael couldn't help but admire how beautiful she looked. No matter what time of day it was Regina always looked floorless. 

"You think?" Regina said sarcastically. Swiftly picking up a blanket nearby Regina left the girls' room only for Raphael to swiftly follow after her. Last night had been difficult for the both of them as they struggled to agree on the right next move. The argument didn't last long as the cold night had forced them to agree to disagree but now the morning was here and round two was just around the corner. 

"Regina, please. I have to settle this and the only way to do so is-

No, Raphael! Regina said as she swiftly turned to face him. Her anger was clear as she spoke. " I will not agree to your death wish to meet Sigrid just so you can save Tiana from her own mistakes. What about our family Raphael I will not raise our daughters on my own."

Pulling Regina closer to him, he took a deep breath before staring back into her deep brown eyes. Seeing the frustration but also the deep fear he understood her feelings. He didn't want to lose her either. " Regina, I am thinking about our family." He said calmly. " We discussed this Regina, I can't have you get hurt."

" I also told you I will not stand by and do nothing or watch you suffer. If you do this we will do it together," Regina said sternly. Raphael knew he couldn't change Regina's mind she was too stubborn for him. She was determined to fight together and to be honest, he loved that fighting spirit she had. Sighing Raphael excepted his love's wishes.

"Okay," Raphael said softly, pulling Regina into a soft kiss that washed away the tension between them. Caressing her cheek Regina leaned into his soft touch. " We will do this together...as a family." Looking at his love Raphael thought about what she said, together as a family. Pondering Raphael still wasn't sure when the perfect moment for a proposal. He wanted to plan it out and give Regina the most perfect night to pop the question but looking at her and hearing her words he knew he was wasting his time. He would never find the perfect day he just had to make it.

Regina playfully smirked as she place a hand on his chest where his heart rested. For a moment I thought I'd have to take another approach." 

"My heart already belongs to you," Raphael placed his hand over Regina's as he too smiled at his love's cheekiness. " Which is why after this mess is over I want us to finally make our love...our family official."

"Official?" Regina looked confused but Raphael continued and pulled a tiny box out of his pocket. 

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our daughters. To build a life that only is filled with love, joy, and any threats that come our way we will just as you said deal with it together." Opening the tiny box and getting down on one knee Raphael said the words he had thought about for 10 years, " Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Regina was gobsmacked at the gesture and touched by his words to the point tears threatened to fall. Only when she composed herself for a moment did she finally give him an answer. "YES!" Watching Raphael put the ring onto her finger she took a moment to look at the beautiful amethyst gem. " Raphael, it's beautiful." It didn't bother her that Raphael hadn't popped the question even after 10 years of being together but not now that he had she was completely overjoyed. She loved the man with all her heart and now to finally become his wife made her heart soar to the heavens and back. Her marriage to Raphael wouldn't be like her first marriage to the king in fact it would be a thousand times better. She chose him and he chose her out of love, not status or power.