I'm very sad to say this will be the last chapter. I have loved writing this and giving people entertainment and feelings and all the good stuff that comes with a great story, but all good things must come to an end. You guys have been amazing with your support and your comments and motivation. I only hope to write an original novel someday and have that type of support. You all make me a better writer. I know I put these cheesy messages into every fic I write, but it's so true. Hope to see most of you on my next writing adventure. Much love.

Regina's POV

"By the decree of Her Majesty, we announce the crowning of a new leader—our new queen, Snow White of the Enchanted Forest."

Trumpets sound all around us and the crowd cheers at the mention of their new queen. Snow's cheeks flush as I gently set the crown upon her head, tapping each shoulder with my staff. The young girl looks up at me, her soft eyes showing a flicker of apprehension. I smile at her before helping her stand, placing my hand on the small of her back to calm her.

"You will make a great ruler, Snow. This is what you always dreamed; this is what you were born to do," I reassure her.

I glance over to Emma beside us, dressed in a swan-white dress illuminated with thousands of crystals. The slight glow from our magic enhances the shine. She looks beautiful as always, though I much prefer her in pants and a leather vest, her hair in a ponytail or curled loosely down her back unlike the twisted braid she is donning now.

Snow steps up to the platform and I take a step back, sliding my hand into Emma's and giving it a soft squeeze. She gives me a quick smile then faces her eyes forward, ever the respectful princess. She seems rather pale today, and worry settles upon me at the realization. She has been a bit nauseous as well, perhaps anxiety from staying at the castle too long?

Alas, our one week we had planned turned into a month, then 6 more, then a full year. There was lots of preparation to be done to hand the crown off to Snow and Emma understood that. I even made sure to find time to spend in the forest right outside the castle walls to give her a sense of calm. It seemed to help, but now she has become less like her normal self and more of going through the motions. I make a mental note to talk with her tonight after the celebration before turning my attention onto the festivities once more.

"With Regina's guidance and your support, I hope and believe I can make a wonderful queen. Alongside Prince James, who I am set to marry, I will tend to every need and concern that arises with grace and acceptance." Snow curtsies, her soft white, feathered dress fluffing away from her body as she does so.

The crowd claps and then bows before the orchestra starts up again, enticing them out onto the dance floor. Snow turns to us, her eyes glowing with happiness and her cheeks as rosy as if she had been out in the cold. She hugs us both tightly, a small hiccup escaping her throat as she is overcome with emotion.

"You both have helped me so much, even after all I have done. I truly do not deserve the honor of ruling this kingdom…"

"Snow." I firmly grasp the girl's chin and tilt her head up. "I would not have left you with such a role if I believed you would neglect it. You must be confident in yourself in order to succeed in leading this kingdom. Emma and I love you very much—you will do well."

Snow nods, regaining her confidence with my speech. "I will rule in the way you would have, Moth—Regina."

I smile and squeeze her hands within mine. "Mother will do just fine, Snow. I am honored to have a daughter such as you." I motion to her newest beau standing by the food table, patiently waiting for a dance. "Now go enjoy the night with your prince. You can begin your duties tomorrow."

Snow scurries off, leaving us alone. I turn to Emma, easily hiding my underlying worry. "May I have this dance, Princess?"

Emma brightens at the name, but her smile quickly falters as she touches her stomach. "Perhaps a little later."

I touch her arm gently as she sways slightly. "Are you feeling alright, my love?" I know she isn't due to our connection, but I don't want to pry.

Emma promptly turns and bolts for the door. The two guards at the door barely have time to open them before she bursts through. In the crowd, Snow gives me a worried look. I wave at her to stay before following Emma.

As soon as I'm out the door I am greeted by Red and Belle, both dressed in their formal attire. The way they are holding hands as they run causes a fleeting smile to cross my face. When Emma and I returned from Sherwood Forest, the two were more in love than I thought possible in such a short amount of time. I find it rather adorable though they try to keep their obvious passion private.

"Will Emma be alright?" Red asks.

I swallow hard as we approach our bathing area. "I cannot say with complete confidence that she will, wolf." I move to go in alone but Red grabs the door before it can stop completely and pushes her way through.

"Emma is my human. I am going to see her." Red levels me with a stare that has me taken aback at the alpha-ness of it. "I will go with her to Sherwood Forest, I will guard her as she roams, I am her familiar."

I see the tips of her canines poking through to her bottom lip just slightly. Belle lays a hand on Red's arm and she instantly relaxes, though her stare is non-other than defiant. I nod and step back, though I am the first to enter the bathing area where Emma is.

Emma is hunched over the toilet, retching sounds coming from her along with pained whimpers. I rub soft circles on her back as Red pushes the stray hairs that have fallen into her face back. Belle hurries to grab fresh clothing and starts a bath.

After a few minutes, Emma's retching subsides, and she leans back in exhaustion. Belle looks to her, then me. "Shall I fetch the doctor?"

Red leans over to whisper in her ear. Belle's eyes widen, and she blushes. "Oh! Well if I knew you were expecting I wouldn't have been so worried!"

"What?!" Both Emma and I say.

Red gives Belle a stern glare before looking to us. "Emma's not sick. She's pregnant."

Emma and I look at each other in shock. Then, Emma begins to laugh. She laughs until she has tears streaming from her eyes and her face is bright red. "If I had known sooner I wouldn't have thought I was dying," she giggles.

The realization slowly hits us. Emma is only 17—with her minimal sexual experiences before me and growing up with men, it makes sense that she wouldn't know what the symptoms of pregnancy are. The thought never crossed my mind because neither one of us have the asset required to instill pregnancy.

"The baby was created with magic," Red answers my question.

Emma rubs her flat belly, a smile crossing her face. "This is so amazing. Regina, we're going to have a baby!"

I smile and kiss her forehead. "Yes, dear. And I couldn't love you more."

A few months later, it happens. We are settled in the Sherwood Forest, resting peacefully with Red and Belle in their own tent nearby, when Emma sits up straight from sleep and gasps in surprise. I set the book I was reading by the glow of a candle down and touch her swollen belly, watching in concern as her face contorts in pain. The bed is soon covered in warm liquid as her water breaks and I move to wake everyone.

The men hurry into the forest to fetch water, Robin and Will grab clean cloths, and Red and Belle prepare to deliver the baby as they had been learning how from the midwives in the village. I put a few more pillows behind Emma's head and stroke the hair matted to her forehead in an act of comfort.

"Regina please don't leave me!" Emma cries out in pain and grasps my hand so tightly I am afraid she will break the bone.

I breathe through the pain, reminding myself this is nothing compared to what my poor Emma is feeling at the moment. "Breathe, my love. He's almost here."

Emma smiles, though it looks more like a grimace. "For months you've been insisting that it's a girl. Are you finally admitting I'm right?"

I kiss her nose, attempting to be comforting and playful to distract her from the pain. "I am always right, Swan."

"Well, if it is a girl, we are so not naming her Gwyneth—ahh!" Emma cries as another contraction hits her.

'Gwyneth is a respected name!" I say.

"It's an old queen's name!" Emma argues.

"What if it's a boy, then?" I prompt.

But before she can answer, Emma is bearing down and getting ready to push. Red and Belle brace her legs while Robin and Will look on with slightly horrified expressions. I resist the urge to smirk at their reactions, instead focusing on helping Emma through her pain.

Then, her cries die down. Her body relaxes, and a new cry fills the air. Red wipes the baby off with a towel while Belle cuts the cord. I stroke Emma's face, bringing her back from the semi-consciousness the pain of birth sent her into. She cranes her neck to see, eyes bleary from exhaustion. "Is she here?"

Red smiles and sets the baby in her arms. "He is perfect."

Emma smiles down at the little bundle in her arms. I stroke his little face, marveling in the dark locks he inherited from me and the dimple he inherited from Emma. Emma looks up at me with a smile. "What do you want to call him?"

"Henry," I answer, the name rolling perfectly off my tongue.

Blue interrupts us, entering the tent with two of her fairies flanking her. "I knew I was going to be pleased with the prophecy," she said, reaching out to hold our son.

Emma hands him off and the baby coos as Blue sprinkles him in fairy dust. "He's certainly a magical miracle." The fairy looks up at us, a twinkle in her eye. "He has a bright future ahead of him, being the child of true love."

Epilogue

"Moms, come on!" Little Henry tugs impatiently on our arms, following our men through the forest. "We have to give the poor their rations!"

"Come on ahead, lad!" Robin calls, beckoning Henry to run ahead and jump on his shoulders.

Emma and I both chuckle and fall behind, intertwining our hands and taking our time. It has been 5 years since the birth of our son, and a lot has changed. The merry men no longer steal from the rich and give to the poor. We make our own living trapping and dipping into the savings I have from being queen where we roam villages far and wide, saving all from poverty.

Red and Belle run ahead in their wolf forms, beckoning their wolf pups to do the same. The 3 little pups try to keep up, the rascal of a runt tripping over his too-large paws and doing a somersault in the dirt. Belle patiently comes back and picks him up by the scruff of his neck, nudging him along with her nose so he may catch up with his siblings. Recently, Belle and Red had added a litter of pups to our pack, giving the merry men avid hunters and trusted friends.

Henry is enamored with the pups and loves to pretend to be one of them, howling at the moon and wrestling with them, as the pups are nearly his size.

Snow is doing well ruling over the Enchanted Forest. She and Prince James married a few years back, and we all had the privilege of attending the royal celebration of their own little prince, whom they named Neal. They also made Emma and I the godparents, which of course we were honored to take the position.

I would be stuck in my darkened rut if it weren't for Emma. Though we came from very different worlds, we are very much alike. And I love her more every day as we journey together and watch our son grow, teaching him the ways of life and survival. We belong together, always and forever.