Forever and Always

Chapter 10

After their eventful day of shopping and making final decisions on the decorations after the help of Rumple and Belle at the party store, Snow and Regina head out back to Regina's house to sort out their findings.

Walking up to the door Regina is carrying Riley while Snow has offered to help get everything down.

As they enter the living room and bring everything in, Regina places Riley in her playpen while Snow begins to go through all the things they had bought.

"Did you want me to help you go through everything for the party next week?" Snow asks as she sees Regina trying to put everything in one place.

"Sure. If you want to. I could use the company anyway!" Regina says with a smile and a wink.

As they rummage about their belongings the doorbell rings and Regina goes to answer it.

"Emma! Tinker Bell! Hi! Come in!" Regina says with a surprised look on her face as Emma carries in a special gift.

"Hi, Regina!" Emma says with a warm smile. "How was shopping?"

"It was fun! Your mother is quite the shopping buddy, Ms. Swan." Regina says sarcastically.

"So you've had the pleasure of experiencing it!" Emma says with a sarcastic smile.

Emma and Tinker Bell begin to glance around at the piles of shopping bags the center of the living room holds. Tinker Bell and Emma glance at a familiar and specific looking clothes bag. Emma leans into Tinker Bell and whispers to her, "Tink, is that what I think it is?" Emma says with a sound of no surprise.

"Don't tell me she didn't!" Tinker Bell whispered back.

Looking at each other with an unbelievable look on their faces Emma begins to say.

"Mom did you already give Regina the dress after me, Tink and Belle specifically told you to wait!" Emma says in a stern tone.

With a look of guilt on her face Snow replies, "I'm sorry Emma! I just couldn't wait! This was the perfect opportunity!" Snow says with a shrug and a smile.

"Seriously!" Emma says with a disappointed look to her while Tinker Bell stands next to Emma's arms folded and shaking her head.

"Now, Emma, Tink, don't be so hard on her, we all know Snow's history of secret-keeping," Regina said with a wink toward Snow. "Besides, I just wanted to say thank you. To both of you. It's one of the best gifts anyone has ever given me." Regina said as she gave both Emma and Tinker Bell a gentle loving hug.

"You're welcome Regina," Emma said genuinely.

"It was nothing, Regina," Tinker Bell includes.

Emma then says to Regina, "Well, I kind of hinted that my mother would do something like this which is why I came by. I brought you this." Emma hands over the nicely arranged gift bag to Regina. "It's a gift to Riley. For her first birthday and I want her to use it on her big day." Emma said. "Go ahead open it!" Emma said with excitement.

With a surprised look on her face, Regina accepts the bag and realizes it's a little heavy than she expected.

"Emma, what is it? It's unusually heavy for a gift this small in size." Regina said holding the bag with both hands.

"Just open it," Emma said with a smile.

Regina's face brightens when she began to open the gift and pulled out a diamond tiara that sparkled intensely as Regina pulled it out.

"Emma! What is this!?" Regina said surprised.

"Well, it's my tiara. Actually, it's Snow's tiara from when she was a princess back in the Enchanted Forest. She had passed it on to me after we received our memories back as a form of identity to remind me where I came from and who I was. I wanted to give it to Riley and pass it on to her. To remind her where she comes from and who she is." Emma said with a smile.