Protected - Chapter Six

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David stirs awake slowly the next morning, as sunlight streams through the curtains of Regina's bedroom. The plush comforter and impossibly cushy mattress beneath him are not familiar, the warm body beside him not Snow's. He'd gone home last night, hadn't he? David opens his eyes to find himself still in Regina's house. No, apparently he hadn't. He remembers lying with Regina in the early hours of the morning, gently stroking her face as she drifted to sleep. He must have done something right, because Regina hadn't awoken once. Perhaps she had been too tired to even dream. He gazes down at the woman nestled into his side, her chest rising and falling steadily, hair tousled from sleep. Her face is peaceful, much like when she was under the sleeping curse, except for the light tint to her cheeks, making her look even more beautiful. David sighs contently. He could get used to waking beside her.

Just then his phone vibrates harshly in his pocket, startling David from his thoughts. He quickly slides off the bed, careful not to wake Regina, and fishes the phone from his jeans' pocket.

"Hello?" He answers once the bedroom door had closed behind him.

"Charming, where are you?" Snow's angry voice floats over the receiver. "I just woke up and you aren't here."

"I know, I'm sorry," he replies sheepishly. "I had to run out earlier this morning and didn't want to wake you." It technically isn't a lie but it eats at him nonetheless. "I'm on my way home."

"Okay. See you soon then."

David hangs up and cracks the bedroom door back open just enough for him to slip through. Regina is sitting up in bed, groggy, sleep-filled eyes staring at him with curiosity. She runs a hand through her tangled hair and smiles lazily.

"Who was that, dear?"

No sense in lying to her, David figures. "Snow. She was wondering where I was."

"Ah," Regina nods. "I'm surprised you stayed; I expected to wake up alone."

David smiles at her; she really is beautiful, and he can't believe it took him this long to notice. "To be honest, I wasn't planning on falling asleep, but I've found I love waking up next to you," he says, sitting at the foot of the bed. "Unfortunately, I have to go, but I'll be back as soon as I can."

Regina nods silently, a look of complete seriousness crossing her features that makes David's stomach flip. "You're going to have to make a choice, David. You know that, right?"

"I have made a choice," he replies, standing and leaning over Regina so that their faces are inches apart, and then lowers his voice to a whisper. "I choose you."

Regina's heart leaps at his words and a smile spreads across her face, leaving her eyes sparking with joy. She reaches up and places a hand on his stubbled cheek lovingly. David leans down and presses a gentle yet firm kiss to her soft lips and rubs his hand up and down the arm extended to him.

"I'll see you later," he says, placing a playful kiss to her nose.

Regina watches him leave, perfectly content and happy for the first time in what seems like forever. She finds that even after he's left, and she forces herself to begin her morning routine, the smile never fades.

~Protected~

"Where have you been?" Snow inquires the moment David walks through the door.

"I," he falters, taking a breath he knows he's going to need. "I was with Regina."

"David!" Snow exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air. "I know you want to find a way to wake her up, and honestly I can't understand why, but it isn't possible. You've been so distant and I miss you; I'm losing you to her!"

"Snow," David says softly, as if it's going to make what he has to say any less painful. "I broke the curse."

"What?" Snow shakes her head, her voice lowering to a whisper. "How? It isn't possible."

David's silence is enough of an answer. Snow's eyes fill with tears, her heart breaking. This couldn't be happening, it couldn't be true.

"I'm sorry," David says, his voice choking, but he knows the apology is worthless.

"How could you, David?" Snow cries. "After everything that we've been through together, you throw it all away because you've fallen in love with the woman who's tried to kill us both! Have you forgotten what she's done?"

"Of course I haven't!" David yells, louder than he means to, then lowers his voice again. "I haven't forgotten, but I am beginning to forgive her; she's changed."

"People like her don't change; they only fool others into believing they can. When she hurts you, you'll see, but do not come crying back to me!" She's seething now, angry tears rolling down her cheeks. "Goodbye, David," she sobs, turning her back to him.

"Snow please." He doesn't want their relationship to end this way; in anger.

She spins around, pointing at the door. "Get out!"

Sadly, David nods and turns to leave. Before he's out the door, he says softly, one more time, "Goodbye, Snow."

~Protected~

Regina hums to herself as she prepares dinner later that evening. She lays each layer of lasagna down with practiced care, even adding more sauce and cheese to the mix to make this batch special. She sprinkles red pepper flakes into the meat sauce and places the final row of pasta on top. Smiling in satisfaction, she admires her work and places it in the oven.

The doorbell echoes through the halls, signaling the arrival of her guest. Regina removes her apron, fluffs her hair, and smoothes out the imaginary wrinkles in her dress before answering. She's not entirely surprised that David is being so cordial by ringing the doorbell, but the next several aggressive bangs on her front door are unexpected.

She swings the door open and immediately regrets the decision. Regina forces a smile, suppressing the urge to slam the door and continue with her peaceful evening. "Snow, to what do I owe the pleasure?" She takes care in making sure the girl knows it's no pleasure at all, not by any means. Still, Regina refuses to stray too far from the road to redemption.

"I don't know what you've done, or what you're planning, but it won't work," she says, her voice low and threatening, eyes narrowed and full of hate.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"David told me everything," Snow says, her eyes brimming with tears. "How could you do this? He actually thinks you've changed, but you and I both know that isn't true, that you'll never be anything more than a manipulative -"

"How dare you stand here and accuse me when I did nothing wrong! May I remind you, David woke me, he kissed me; I did nothing to persuade him, because, as you may remember, I was under a sleeping curse at the time," Regina sneers. Her hands are tingling with the sensation of magic waiting to be released.

"He may think he loves you, but once he sees the lies, when he sees who you truly are, he won't anymore."

Regina has to admit, at least to herself, that Snow's words sting. She lifts her chin high, just as mother taught her to do so many years ago. "You seem to be missing one very important fact," she says. "For true love's kiss to work the feeling must be mutual."

Snow hadn't even considered that. "Wait, you don't actually love him, do you?"

"That isn't really your concern, dear. David is no longer your concern; he's no longer your true love."

Regina expects Snow to be angry, upset - she expects the girl to dissolve into tears - but she is completely unprepared for the solid fist that slams into her jaw. Regina gasps, falling backward and landing on the wood floor of her entryway. Snow is equally shocked by her own actions, starting at Regina with a mix of horror and satisfaction that she managed to knock the queen off her throne - literally. As much as Snow believes Regina wholly deserved the blow, she feels ridden with guilt immediately - violence was never the answer.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I -"

"Get the hell off my property!" Regina growls, pulling herself up from the floor, a hand hovering over her injured cheek. "Right now, you're lucky I've changed, but next time, so help me Snow, I will not show mercy."

Regina slams the door forcefully, her hands visibly shaking with the urge to burn everything within reach to ashes. Just one flick of her wrist is all it would take... no one hit her and got away with it! Just in time, the oven timer snaps Regina out of her violent reverie. Saved by the bell, she thinks wryly.

~Protected~

David pulls up to the big, white mansion and parks along the curb, just in front of the iron-gated walkway leading to the front door. He turns the knob on the door only to find that the deadbolt has been locked. He isn't surprised that Regina would be trying to keep out any unwanted visitors, but she knew he was coming. He rings the doorbell and waits on the doorstep, listening for the familiar approach of Regina's heels on the hardwood floor. When she doesn't answer David begins to worry. He rings again and steps back a few feet, rocking back and forth on his heels. Finally, the door swings open partially and Regina - or half of Regina, he should say - appears at the door.

"David, I'm sorry, something's come up," she lies, keeping the large bruise on her jaw and spilt lip hidden behind the door. "Perhaps another night?"

"Everything alright?" David asks, voice laced with concern.

"Of course, dear, I've just been very busy, haven't had time to make dinner."

David knows she's lying instantly when he smells the unmistakable aroma of lasagna wafting from the kitchen. "Regina, if something's wrong-"

"Nothing is wrong, at least nothing for you to concern yourself with," she replies, closing the door, but not before David slides his foot in the way and blocks it.

"If it concerns you, it concerns me too," he insists, his blue eyes pleading with her to open the door. "That is what a relationship is about."

"Relationship?" Regina repeats, her eyes softening at the idea.

"If you want to that is," David adds, realizing she may not be ready yet.

Regina's gaze lowers to the floor as she slowly opens the door wider, revealing the ugly bruising beside the right side of her bottom lip.

"Regina..." David steps through the threshold. "What happened, who did this to you?" Now he understands why she was hiding, and he's ready to go after whoever hurt her.

"Your lovely wife paid me a visit today," Regina replies vaguely.

"Snow did this?"

"Yes, but she didn't mean to." Good lord, I've just defended Snow White; I'm going soft.

David tilts her chin up and inspects the damage. "Did you-?"

"Hurt her? No, she left unharmed," Regina assures, her voice slightly pained.

"Actually I was going to say put ice on it" David corrects softly, "it's a bit swollen, but I'm glad you stayed strong, I know it must have been hard not to hit back."

"You have no idea," she mutters.

"Come on," David says, grabbing Regina's hand and giving it a squeeze. "Let's get some ice on it."

Regina pulls a washcloth from a kitchen drawer and grabs ice out of the freezer. Cautiously, she places the ice on her cheek and winces. The numbing cold slowly eases the throbbing but it never quite ceases, remaining to remind her of the blow.

David watches Regina try and fail at masking the pain. "She must've hit you pretty hard."

"You think so?" Regina snarls with a glare, then visibly flinches at her own rising temper. "I'm sorry, old habits die hard I suppose. Would you care for a glass of wine? I think I'm going to need another."

David is relieved by the change in subject; his wife hitting his new found true love isn't exactly a comfortable topic. "That would be wonderful. Thank you."

Regina busies herself pouring David a glass of red wine and refilling hers, then pulls the lasagna out of the oven and mixes a salad. David, being mostly inadequate in the kitchen, stands and watches her move about flawlessly. "Can I help set the table or something?" he asks, scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably.

"Already done, dear, but thank you." Regina throws a backward glance at him and smiles. "Have a seat; I'll be there in a moment."

~Protected~

David sets the stack of dishes on the counter while Regina rinses each plate and utensil then places them in the dishwasher. A comfortable silence envelops the room as they clean the kitchen together. Once the last plate has been rinsed and the leftovers covered in plastic wrap and placed in the refrigerator, David snakes his arms around Regina's waist and kisses the back of her head.

"Have I ever told you you're the best cook I've ever met in my life?"

Regina smirks, turning around in his arms and winding hers around his neck. "You could stand to mention it more."

David rests is forehead against Regina's, inhaling her tantalizing scent. Her hands force his head towards hers on their own accord, bringing their lips crashing together. He returns the kiss hungrily, sucking her bottom lip and gliding his tongue along the entrance. She allows him inside and meets his tongue with her own, pulling fistfuls of flannel into her desperate fingers. He can taste the wine on her tongue as it dances with his own. Regina moans into his mouth as his hands roam down her stomach. David grabs onto her hips, backing her toward the living room until they nearly stumble. Regina groans in frustration, breaking the kiss when her heels catch on the carpet and cause her to topple backward. David catches her before she can hit the ground, wrapping his arms securely around her waist and pulling her close.

"Somehow, I think that's a sign," David chuckles breathlessly. "When we do this, we're going to do it right."

"What, you don't want to take me right here on my living room floor?" Regina teases, her voice low, breath ticking his ear lightly. "You seemed rather... eager to me."

"I'm going to prove to you that you're worth more, that I'm not going to leave you," David replies honestly.

"Hmmm," Regina hums, "can't say many people have successfully accomplished that. I guess I can give you the benefit of the doubt."

"Well I should hope so," David chuckles. "After all, I am your true love."

Regina cringes, not at all used to the idea of being do deeply and intimately connected to another soul, another heart so much more undamaged than her own. She knows he deserves someone who isn't so broken.

"I can't say I love you," she admits, "at least not yet. I want to, I really do, but I'm not ready. I'm not so sure I'll ever be ready."

"I'm willing to wait as long as it takes you."

~Protected~

"Am I correct in assuming you've been kicked out of the apartment and have nowhere to reside for the time being?" Regina asks, casually leaning against David, her head resting on his shoulder and hands folded over the arm around her waist. She sips at her wine –how many glasses has it been now, four, five? – and smiles languidly, her body completely lax.

"That sounds about right," David replies, running his hand along Regina's hip and over her stomach to lace his fingers with hers.

"Mmmm," Regina hums contentedly, her head falling back into the crook of his neck, eyes half closed. "I suppose you'll have to stay here."

"Well, if you insist." David says lowly, trailing slow, hungry kisses up her neck, pausing to suck tenderly at her pulse point.

"Oh God," Regina moans. "I most certainly insist so long as you never stop doing that." She shudders, goose bumps rising on her heated skin.

"I'd say that's a fair deal," he mummers, nipping behind her ear then resting his chin on her shoulder. Her smell is intoxicating, a delicious combination of apples and cinnamon.

Regina kicks off her heels and tucks her legs up on the couch, leaning further into David and closing her eyes. "I haven't felt this peaceful in a very long time."

David hums in agreement and pulls the blanket draped over the back of the couch down to tuck them into a warm cocoon. With a yawn, he wraps his arms tighter around Regina and drifts off, his head resting on hers.

Whoa, okay I'm sorry that one was so long! I'll try and shorten the chapters a bit. Thanks for sticking with me!