OUaT FIC :: "Nocturns" 3/4 [Regina/Emma, PG13]
See Chapter 1 for author's notes.
Chapter 3
~three months later~
"Hey, Ems, how's it hangin'?"
Emma looks up at Ruby's greeting as she holds the door open for Regina. Both are wearing sunglasses against the unseasonably bright mid-winter sunlight, even though they've only just walked across the street from Archie's office. Emma takes Regina's coat and scarf, hanging them on the coat rack with her own, then follows her fiancée to their usual booth.
"About as low as it's gonna get, Rubes," she replies with a wry grin as she settles in the booth across from Regina.
The leggy waitress walks over with a grin and the coffee pot. Emma chuckles when she sees the red satin of Ruby's g-string arching up over the low waistband of her black skinny jeans. Once the coffee's poured, she leans against the back of the booth.
"You guys know what you want for lunch today or do you need a little time? Granny's got that salmon Caesar salad you like, Regina."
Removing her sunglasses, Regina smiles up at Ruby. "That actually sounds really good right now. Would you possibly have any of the chocolate silk pie today?"
Ruby purses her lips, eyes squinting as she glances back toward the kitchen. The slight puffiness to Regina's eyes tugs at her desire to protect her pack, but she'll wait until she's been given the go ahead to do anything like that. She's learned the hard way just how prickly Regina can still be when she's upset, redeemed or not.
"I can check with Granny. I think she was talking about making one this morning, but I was kind of hungover, so I really don't remember." She flashes them a sheepish grin. "How about I give you guys a few to decide, then I'll--" Her train of thought derails at the flash of brilliance on Regina's left hand as it combs her bangs back. "What the hell is that?"
Regina freezes for a handful of heartbeats at the question, then her cheeks flush a dusky rose as she settles her hand on the tabletop. It doesn't stay there long, as Ruby lifts it up to examine the ring in the light. She lets out a low whistle as she examines the silver and diamond ring closely. Ruby doesn't miss the double infinity symbols on either side of the heart-shaped center diamond.
"Damn, Ems, when you do something, you don't go halfway, do you?"
"Not when it's important, no," is the reply. "Just-- Just don't say anything yet, okay, Rubes?"
"My lips are sealed." Ruby releases Regina's hand, then engulfs her in a quick, tight hug. "Congratulations, you two," she says with a grin. "It's about time you figured out what the rest of us have known for a while now." She turns to hug Emma next, then pulls back to look at her left hand. "And where's yours?"
Emma's lips part to answer, but the words come from Regina. "It's being resized for her. She'll have it soon enough."
Ruby squints again, studying the two women, then her jaw drops as realization dawns on her. "You're missing a ring, big boss lady. I mean, I've stared at that thing for over thirty years now."
"It felt appropriate."
"Ruby!" Granny calls from the kitchen. "Are you gonna yammer at my best customers all day or are you gonna let them decide what they want to eat?"
"Yeah, yeah, Granny! I'm coming!"
She starts to leave, but stops when Regina squeezes her hand. "Please, Ruby, don't say anything. Let people learn on their own? This is still so new…"
Ruby mimes zipping her lips shut and throwing away the key. "Wait. Does Snow know yet?" When the couple shakes their heads, she lets out a mischievous cackle. "Oh my god, Ems, she's gonna kill me when she finds out I knew first. But I promise, I won't say anything."
When she walks away, Regina chews on her bottom lip before meeting Emma's gaze. She lets out a soft sigh and reaches across the table to squeeze Emma's hand to restore her equilibrium.
"Well, that went easier than I thought," Emma finally says. "Are you okay with this?"
Regina snorts softly. "It's not like we can take it back now, Emma. Ruby knows, just like Henry and Archie do. Gradually people will figure it out, your mother included."
"Yeah, but it's barely been like twelve hours, and I guess I thought we'd have a little more time before it became better known?"
"It's fine. We'll deal with each new revelation as they happen. And when they ask if we've set a date yet, we'll just say that it will happen when it's meant to."
Emma smiles and laces their fingers together. "We have a lot of big steps ahead of us yet, but this was a pretty big one." She pauses and studies the ring on Regina's finger. "Thank you for saying yes."
"Thank you for still feeling strongly enough to ask." Regina licks her lips as Emma presses her lips to her knuckles. "And thank you for being so understanding in our session today. That was both harder and easier than I expected it to be."
"Yeah, I guess I never fully acknowledged what a douchebag bastard my gr-- he was. You and Mom tell completely different stories about him."
Regina takes a sip of her coffee. "Your mother has very strong feelings about her father. I do understand that, of course. But I also know that there's still a long way to go for her to understand and accept that he wasn't quite the pillar of goodness that she remembers."
"We don't need her understanding or approval, Regina. I believe you and support you wholeheartedly. That's why I didn't want to give you Mom's ring from Dad. I wanted something that was us, something that wasn't steeped in so much history."
"And then I gave you the emerald…"
Regina sighs softly and tries to pull her hand away, but Emma tightens her grip on it.
"Hey, we talked about that. It's a symbol of how far you've come and what you actually need in your life. I am honored to wear it, Regina, because every time I look at it, I know that you chose your own happy ending instead of letting Fate decide for you."
|| Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 ||
Original post @ Dreamwidth with
comments. Commenting is welcome on either post.
Chapter 3
~three months later~
"Hey, Ems, how's it hangin'?"
Emma looks up at Ruby's greeting as she holds the door open for Regina. Both are wearing sunglasses against the unseasonably bright mid-winter sunlight, even though they've only just walked across the street from Archie's office. Emma takes Regina's coat and scarf, hanging them on the coat rack with her own, then follows her fiancée to their usual booth.
"About as low as it's gonna get, Rubes," she replies with a wry grin as she settles in the booth across from Regina.
The leggy waitress walks over with a grin and the coffee pot. Emma chuckles when she sees the red satin of Ruby's g-string arching up over the low waistband of her black skinny jeans. Once the coffee's poured, she leans against the back of the booth.
"You guys know what you want for lunch today or do you need a little time? Granny's got that salmon Caesar salad you like, Regina."
Removing her sunglasses, Regina smiles up at Ruby. "That actually sounds really good right now. Would you possibly have any of the chocolate silk pie today?"
Ruby purses her lips, eyes squinting as she glances back toward the kitchen. The slight puffiness to Regina's eyes tugs at her desire to protect her pack, but she'll wait until she's been given the go ahead to do anything like that. She's learned the hard way just how prickly Regina can still be when she's upset, redeemed or not.
"I can check with Granny. I think she was talking about making one this morning, but I was kind of hungover, so I really don't remember." She flashes them a sheepish grin. "How about I give you guys a few to decide, then I'll--" Her train of thought derails at the flash of brilliance on Regina's left hand as it combs her bangs back. "What the hell is that?"
Regina freezes for a handful of heartbeats at the question, then her cheeks flush a dusky rose as she settles her hand on the tabletop. It doesn't stay there long, as Ruby lifts it up to examine the ring in the light. She lets out a low whistle as she examines the silver and diamond ring closely. Ruby doesn't miss the double infinity symbols on either side of the heart-shaped center diamond.
"Damn, Ems, when you do something, you don't go halfway, do you?"
"Not when it's important, no," is the reply. "Just-- Just don't say anything yet, okay, Rubes?"
"My lips are sealed." Ruby releases Regina's hand, then engulfs her in a quick, tight hug. "Congratulations, you two," she says with a grin. "It's about time you figured out what the rest of us have known for a while now." She turns to hug Emma next, then pulls back to look at her left hand. "And where's yours?"
Emma's lips part to answer, but the words come from Regina. "It's being resized for her. She'll have it soon enough."
Ruby squints again, studying the two women, then her jaw drops as realization dawns on her. "You're missing a ring, big boss lady. I mean, I've stared at that thing for over thirty years now."
"It felt appropriate."
"Ruby!" Granny calls from the kitchen. "Are you gonna yammer at my best customers all day or are you gonna let them decide what they want to eat?"
"Yeah, yeah, Granny! I'm coming!"
She starts to leave, but stops when Regina squeezes her hand. "Please, Ruby, don't say anything. Let people learn on their own? This is still so new…"
Ruby mimes zipping her lips shut and throwing away the key. "Wait. Does Snow know yet?" When the couple shakes their heads, she lets out a mischievous cackle. "Oh my god, Ems, she's gonna kill me when she finds out I knew first. But I promise, I won't say anything."
When she walks away, Regina chews on her bottom lip before meeting Emma's gaze. She lets out a soft sigh and reaches across the table to squeeze Emma's hand to restore her equilibrium.
"Well, that went easier than I thought," Emma finally says. "Are you okay with this?"
Regina snorts softly. "It's not like we can take it back now, Emma. Ruby knows, just like Henry and Archie do. Gradually people will figure it out, your mother included."
"Yeah, but it's barely been like twelve hours, and I guess I thought we'd have a little more time before it became better known?"
"It's fine. We'll deal with each new revelation as they happen. And when they ask if we've set a date yet, we'll just say that it will happen when it's meant to."
Emma smiles and laces their fingers together. "We have a lot of big steps ahead of us yet, but this was a pretty big one." She pauses and studies the ring on Regina's finger. "Thank you for saying yes."
"Thank you for still feeling strongly enough to ask." Regina licks her lips as Emma presses her lips to her knuckles. "And thank you for being so understanding in our session today. That was both harder and easier than I expected it to be."
"Yeah, I guess I never fully acknowledged what a douchebag bastard my gr-- he was. You and Mom tell completely different stories about him."
Regina takes a sip of her coffee. "Your mother has very strong feelings about her father. I do understand that, of course. But I also know that there's still a long way to go for her to understand and accept that he wasn't quite the pillar of goodness that she remembers."
"We don't need her understanding or approval, Regina. I believe you and support you wholeheartedly. That's why I didn't want to give you Mom's ring from Dad. I wanted something that was us, something that wasn't steeped in so much history."
"And then I gave you the emerald…"
Regina sighs softly and tries to pull her hand away, but Emma tightens her grip on it.
"Hey, we talked about that. It's a symbol of how far you've come and what you actually need in your life. I am honored to wear it, Regina, because every time I look at it, I know that you chose your own happy ending instead of letting Fate decide for you."
|| Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 ||
Original post @ Dreamwidth with
comments. Commenting is welcome on either post.