Waiting for the Rain to Fall
Chapter 1 (rough draft)
Setting sunlight filtering in through the large front windows of Granny’s, glinted off polished tabletops and waxed floors as the clinking silverware and quiet chatter of dining patrons filled the cozy space. Regina Mills rested back against the red vinyl booth, an adoring smile planted firmly on her dark red lips, listening to the animated retelling of the day’s activities from her ten-year-old son while she waited for their check.
Morning had dawned bright and clear with a cooling breeze blowing in from the nearby Atlantic offsetting the late summer heat. Henry had burst into her room, as was his habit most weekends, with a shouted ‘Morning, Mom!’ as he flung himself onto the bed and into her waiting arms. Their usual cuddle time was cut short, however, as he wiggled from her grasp a few moments later and dashed back out of the room. Before she could question where he was going, thundering footsteps echoed once more in the hallway announcing his imminent return.
Sock-clad feet slid the final two inches, stumbling slightly when they met unyielding carpet. The intended reprimand poised on the tip of her tongue for his reckless behavior died a quick death when he unceremoniously thrust a large, bright pink piece of construction paper into her hands. His barely contained excitement shone through his sparklingly, green eyes and wide, gap-toothed smile as he bounced restlessly on the balls of his feet waiting for her to check out his latest creation.
Brown eyes misted over as she read the scrawled ‘Happy Birthday Mom’ across the top of the homemade card that depicted the two of them holding hands in the park, his favorite ‘castle’ situated on the right with trees and flowers sprouting up from the ground around them. Hastily wiping away the lone tear that had managed to escape, Regina pulled her son into a crushing hug with a whispered ‘I love you’ that he readily returned.
From there, the day had continued on with the same level of happiness. After breakfast they chose a picture of the two them to put in the small photo frame he’d made that would be proudly displayed on her desk when she returned to work Monday. They’d spent the rest of the morning lounging around in their pajamas watching movies and eating popcorn until lunchtime. Once thoroughly stuffed, they wandered aimlessly through the town for a while before heading over to the park to play.
When dinner rolled around, Henry was adamant that they go to Granny’s and, while it was technically her birthday, she in no way wanted to refuse his request after he’d put so much effort into making this such a special day for her.
Really, she couldn’t have asked for a better day with her son. She’d spent so many years in this world alone and when Henry entered her life, the dark loneliness that had filled her heart had all but disappeared under the joyous light he so effortlessly radiated.
A soft glow filled her vision, startling her from her reverie, as a sizeable slice of her favorite chocolate cake was set before her, a lone candle flickering on top.
“Happy Birthday, Madam Mayor,” Ruby grinned, shooting Henry a quick wink before moving off to help some of the other patrons.
“Don’t forget to make a wish,” Henry encouraged with a wide, pleased smile at his final surprise for her.
One last wish, she thought, before everything is set and there’s no going back.
When she’d first learned of this tradition, sometime after landing in Story Brooke, her fervent wish every year was to return home. Finally accepting that the lack of magic in this realm would never allow it to come true, she just wanted to be happy, or as happy as she could be banished to a world away from her friends, family, and the love of her life. It took a few more years, but Henry entering the picture had granted that one and so her wish changed to never turn out like her mother.
Staring through the flame at Henry’s grinning face eagerly waiting for her to blow out the candle, she realized that was something she never needed to worry about again. That just left one thing…
I just want to be free.
Her silent plea was carried out into the universe by the thin tendrils of grey smoke curling from the extinguished candle. A light applause broke out from the other customers, triggering a subtle blush to spread across her tan cheeks as she met their approving smiles with an embarrassed one of her own.
After she and Henry quickly devoured the large slice of cake, they made their way out into the warm evening air, the bill having been generously taken care of by more than one of the present townsfolk.
The jingling bell above the door covered up the staccato puttering of an older car approaching from the opposite direction. When the beat-up automobile eased to a stop in front of the diner less than a minute later, the mother/son duo had already rounded the corner.
Wide eyes, indistinguishable in the falling darkness, stared at the sign uncertainly as the mysterious figure double-checked the hastily scribbled directions on a rumpled piece of paper before heading inside what was to be her new home for the foreseeable future.
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A/N: This was originally the prologue, but then I had a better idea for that and made this chapter one. I say 'rough draft' cause when I finally do get around to writing this fic, I'll most definitely change stuff in it and repost. I get most of mine from the songs that inspire them, but this one didn't actually come from a song. Which is really surprising to me. This is the second 'bonus fic' I have for you guys. So I'll let you all choose between this and Lost Before the Dawn to see which one I write next. Let me just say a little about this one, since I don't think much is revealed in the prologue. It is highly AU. There is still a curse, but not the one we see on tv. I am leaving the Story Brooke characters the same, but they do NOT have Fairytale World counter parts. There is a reason for this. It's because I don't want to have to come up with original character. LOL. Mostly, but there is a little more to it than that too ;) Basically, it'll be a lot like my others; angst, drama, and a lot of SwanQueen lovin'. So let me know what you think and once I FINALLY finish Caught in the Grey I'll start on the next one. Whichever that may be. Don't forget to let me know which one you prefer!!