A/N: Sorry guys, this chapter's a little shorter than usual, but I didn't want to just add pointless filler. Please read the second author's note at the end. I've got an important announcement. Enjoy.

Chapter 12

It took over a week for Regina to finalize the treaty. She spent long hours with her advisers to iron out all of the details and write it out with the appropriate legal language. Then the scribes had to create the official copies for each of the kingdoms. I was plagued with nausea in the mornings and as a result, I had to struggle to find the time to keep up with my training. I didn't technically need to as I had been knighted, but I didn't want my skills to grow rusty while I was still fit enough to practice. Regina didn't want to announce the pregnancy yet, so officially, I had been tasked with convincing Red to swear loyalty to the Queen. In actuality, Regina wanted her to take care of me when I was ill and she couldn't be with me. Since Red already knew about the pregnancy, she was the only once Regina could trust; a fact which Red had trouble believing. But between the morning sickness and the hours Regina was busy on the treaty, we didn't actually get to spend much time together and I was rather miserable. I just wanted this business to be finished.

Finally, everything was prepared and Regina was ready to inform Snow White. It was just after lunch almost three weeks after we had captured Charming. Just before we contacted her, I glanced down at my preferred tunic and leather pants and asked, "Regina, what do you want me to do during this conversation?"

She glanced over at me and smiled understandingly. "Just be yourself, my darling. The time for deceit has long since passed."

I smiled and crossed to her to place a loving kiss on her lips. "Are you ready to end this, my love?" I asked when she pulled back.

Regina flashed a wicked grin at me and said, "Yes, I have other things to concentrate on now."

I smiled and took her hand to place it over my belly. Softly, I said, "Yes, you do."

Pure tender affection crossed her features and she gently rubbed her thumb against my stomach. "I love you, Emma."

"I love you too, Regina."

We stayed in that perfect moment, staring into each other's eyes for another minute before Regina pulled away and turned to the mirror and said, "Mirror contact Snow White. Tell her I have a proposition for her if she is reluctant to speak with me."

The blue face of the mirror swirled into focus and replied, "As you wish, your majesty."

As we waited, I sat on the chaise lounge chair; I didn't expect to be very involved in this conversation, so I wanted to be comfortable. I didn't try to stop the smile that curved my lips when Regina sat with me, leaning back to rest against me. Just as I wrapped an arm around her waist, Snow appeared. She looked awful. Her hair hung limply down her back, her eyes were dull and had large purple crescents under them. However, as she took in our position, life seemed to return to her as her eyes flashed with anger and her lips thinned to a firm line.

"Hello, Regina. What do you want from me now? Or did you just want to gloat?" she said through clenched teeth.

Regina's melodic laugh rang out and she said, "While I do enjoy gloating over my victories, there is actually something I want more."

Snow scoffed, "What more could you possibly take from me?"

My Queen pursed her lips before slyly saying, "I don't actually intend to take anything this time, dear. I want to lay our feud to rest. It can only benefit both of our kingdoms."

"As you said, you've already won. So, what do you really want, Regina?" Snow asked warily.

"A treaty. Sign it and I will return your Charming husband to you," Regina replied.

Snow's eyes flashed with surprise for a second before she narrowed them again. "And what about my daughter?"

"That, my dear, is outlined in the treaty," Regina said coyly.

When Snow looked like she was going to argue further, I broke my silence and gently said, "Give this a chance, your majesty. It really is what is best for the kingdom."

Snow turned wide startled eyes to me, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. "Emma, how can you say that to me? I'm your mother," Snow asked in shocked disbelief.

It was a struggle to keep the amusement, frustration and annoyance that I felt out of my expression as I flatly answered, "You haven't heard the terms of the treaty, I have and I think it really is the best possible outcome for this feud. Please, give this a chance. If not for your kingdom, then do it for your daughter."

Snow's eyes immediately softened as she stared at me. After a long moment she nodded and turned back to Regina. Her gaze hardened and she said, "What are the terms of this treaty? I will consider it for my daughter, but I won't sign it if she is to remain in your clutches."

Regina smiled wickedly, "Meet me at Daniel's grave to discuss this. After all, it is only fitting to end this where it all began."

"Fine," Snow said with a curt nod.

"See you soon, dear," Regina said and cleared the mirror with a lazy wave of her hand. She turned to me and placed a soft kiss on my lips. "You were brilliant, darling."

I smiled at her and gently stroked her cheek. "Thank you, but I have to admit I almost lost it. I really don't know how you've managed to put up with her for all these years."

Regina laughed, "It's easier when you don't have to be nice or diplomatic."

I smiled and said, "I imagine it is. Well, only a few more hours and I can finally say anything I want to that woman."

She smirked, "Yes, but try to remember, darling, we are trying to bring peace to the kingdom."

I smirked and said, "No promises, my Queen."

Several hours later, we appeared on a hilltop near a vast field in a cloud of purple smoke. Regina had bound and gagged Charming for the trip. She didn't want him to say anything to Snow about me before we revealed the terms of the treaty. While I was looking around, Regina stood completely rigid, gazing in the distance. When I felt the wave of sadness along our bond, I followed her eyes and saw the low gravestone a short distance away.

I reached out and placed a comforting hand on her arm. She glanced at me and gave a sad little smile. I could feel the king's eyes on us, but I ignored him and softly said, "When we're finished here, why don't you spend a little time with him before we leave?"

Tears glistened in her eyes and she nodded, "I'd like that."

Movement from the tree line behind her caught my eye and I glanced over to see Snow White step out of the trees. I have to admit that I was a little surprised that she came alone. I met Regina's eyes and said, "She's here."

Regina straightened her back and her court mask fell back into place. I gave her a subtle nod, and I let my hand fall to my side as we turned to watch Snow's wary approach. Her eyes raked over the three of us. If I had needed any more proof of her real feelings about me, I would have had it in the way her eyes had lingered on her husband, but barely took me in. I vowed to never let my child feel the way I did in that moment. When Regina cast a quick glance at me, I knew she'd felt my heartache, and I clenched my jaw reminding myself that I would be free of this woman's feigned love after today.

When Snow reached us, she stopped and said, "Hello, Regina."

Regina smiled maliciously and tipped her head in greeting as she said, "Snow."

"What are the terms of this treaty?" Snow asked, apparently determined to finish this as quickly as possible.

My Queen smirked and said, "The basics are simple: you and your husband agree to stop trying to kidnap my Consort and you have five years to repair your kingdom's economy. If you fail to do so, you abdicate your throne and name my heir your successor."

"Consort?" Snow gasped, turning horrified eyes on me.

I bit back the sigh that wanted to escape and said, "Yes, I have been named the Queen's Consort."

"No, Emma, you can't do this," she insisted.

"I'm an adult, Snow. I can make my own decisions. And I chose this, it's already done," I said flatly.

"After what she's done to you and our family, how can you choose this?" Snow asked, tears filling her eyes.

I didn't stop the sigh that escaped this time. "I chose this because I am happy with the life Regina has given me."

"But, Emma we've seen what she'd done to you. You don't have to live with that sort of abuse. We can protect you," Snow insisted.

"I don't need to be protected," I snapped. When she looked at me with condescending disbelief, I summoned my magic and a white cloud of smoke enveloped me, when it dispersed, I was wearing my white armor without the helmet. Snow's eyes were wide with shock and I patronizingly said, "I do not need to be protected, Snow. I protect others."

Snow continued to stare at me in shock for another moment before she shakily asked, "You have magic? How is that possible?"

Regina let out a soft chuckle and Snow's gaze swept to her. Regina smirked and said, "For someone who loves to spout the virtues of finding your True Love, you really don't know much about it, do you, my dear?"

"What do you mean?" Snow asked, confusion evident in every line of her body.

"There are perks to being a child conceived from True Love," I stated, not hiding my own amusement.

She jerked and turned back to me and asked, "If you know how wonderful True Love is, then how can you resign yourself to a life with the Evil Queen, knowing that you'll never find yours?"

I pursed my lips, carefully considering my words before I spoke. "I have my reasons, which quite frankly are none of your business. But I will tell you that in terms of the treaty, as Regina's Consort, I can save a lot of lives in both kingdoms. I can put an end to the wars between your kingdom and the Shadow Kingdom. If you sign the treaty, then the suffering and poverty in your kingdom can end. Is that not reason enough?"

Snow's eyes filled with pride and I wanted to roll my eyes. "You'd really sacrifice your own happiness for a peace treaty?"

"Most of the Enchanted Forest sees you as the epitome of everything that is Good and Pure, Snow. Wouldn't you make the same choice?" I said forcing my voice to remain level and not show the sarcasm that I wanted to put into the words.

"Yes, of course," she said immediately, looking somewhat hurt.

Finally, I had gotten her where I wanted her. I gave her an encouraging smile and said, "Then sacrifice your claim on your daughter and sign the treaty. End this feud and save your people."

She studied me, searchingly and asked, "This is really what you want, Emma?"

"Yes," I said honestly.

She nodded and turned to Regina. "I will agree to stop trying to 'kidnap' Emma, as you put it. But I won't agree to the rest of the terms."

Regina's eyes sparkled with mischievous glee, but her voice was flat as she asked, "And why not, dear? I believe it's more than fair."

Snow scoffed, "Well for starters, you have no heir."

My Queen pursed her lips and said, "No, I don't, yet."

"My father told me you were barren, so I know you're not pregnant. So, which of your nobles' children have you named heir?" Snow asked coldly.

Rage flared in my Queen and she snarled, "I am barren because I refused to carry that bastard's child." Seeing the anger rising in Snow, I reached out a comforting hand to Regina. She glanced at me and visibly calmed. I could feel the other queen's curious eyes on me but I ignored it, keeping my focus on my love as she turned back to Snow and said, "I will name Emma's child my heir. So, when you sign the treaty you would be agreeing to abdicate the throne to your own descendant."

Anger flared in the other queen again and with horrified outrage, she asked, "If she is your Consort, what are you going to do? Loan her out like a broodmare to your nobles?"

Regina lifted an eyebrow in amusement. "Of course not, that's disgusting and something your family would do."

Snow narrowed her eyes, but her voice betrayed her obvious confusion as she asked, "Then how do you expect her to get pregnant? Are you going to marry her off?"

"You mean, will I do to her what your father did to me?" Regina asked maliciously. She didn't give the other woman a chance to reply before she scoffed and said, "Even I'm not that evil."

Snow's brow furrowed as she tried to figure out what Regina wasn't saying. Finally she admitted, "Then I have no idea what you're trying to say."

Regina's smiled triumphantly and said, "Your daughter is carrying my child."

The White Queen's face went blank for several long heartbeats before she blinked and her outrage came back. "That's impossible. You're both women, even magic can't change that," she insisted.

My Queen merely turned to me and lifted an eyebrow. I smiled and turned back to the woman who had given birth to me. In as gentle a voice as I had, I said, "There is one kind of magic that can. The most powerful magic."

Snow's eyes darted between Regina and I and she whispered with dawning horror, "But that would mean…"

I nodded, smiling brilliantly. "Regina is my True Love."

Snow's eyes rolled up in her head and she crumpled to the ground in a dead faint. A second later, a second dull thump could be heard from Regina's other side. I glanced over and started laughing. Regina's melodic, happy laughter followed a split-second later. Both Snow White and her Prince Charming had fainted at the idea that their daughter had found her True Love in the Evil Queen.

When our laughter died out, Regina turned to me and grinned, "And now, my love, my revenge is complete." I smiled and pulled her in for a kiss.

The End…for now.

A/N part 2: First off thank you all so much for the amazing feedback. It's helped me refine some of my ideas and your comments have inspired me.

Secondly, I do realize that this may seem like it ended abruptly leaving a lot of unanswered questions. But I felt that The Queen's Revenge needed to end when Regina had gotten her revenge on Snow.

I have decided to write a sequel called The Queen's Happiness. This will be told from Regina's POV and will pick up basically where this story left off. All the loose ends from this story will be tied up in the sequel.

I am going to immediately start on the Queen's Happiness and hope to have the first chapter posted by the end of the weekend. After that, updates may be slower than they were for this story as I am also working on another story at the same time. I'm not sure when I'll start posting that story because I want to get more written before I decide how I'm going to break down the chapters.

Thanks again for all your support, and I hope you keep an eye out for the sequel.