Always and Forever

Yes? No? Maybe?

Regina's POV:

I turn to face her, still in shock. "You.. Want.. To marry me?"

"That's usually what a proposal of this kind insinuates Gina."

"Emma, are you sure?"

"Regina, I know you in and out. What's going on in that head of yours?"

"I'm afraid that one day you'll wake up and thinking of this as the biggest mistake you've ever made in your life."

"I can assure you, the biggest mistake I could ever make is if I don't fight for you and make you mine, forever."

"I want it, but I'm scared."

"What is that you want?"

"All the things you said, Emma. To be with you. To grow old. To raise children. To save our town together. Being able to have my happy ending just feels so unreal, like it is too good to be true. If we sit here and contemplate, why is it now and not all those years ago?"

"You mean all the years you were with Robin?" she retorts, and I can tell she's getting a little annoyed.

"You were with your Pirate. And, if I'm recalling correctly, before him was Neal and Graham. This isn't my fault that we weren't together" I say, raising my eyebrow.

"I wanted to be with you, Regina. Even before I got with, Killian and after Neal was gone."

"What are you talking about?"

"Do you really want to rehash the past?"

"Yes, I want to know why you've never said anything."

"Well, when it was Graham, you hated me. With Neal we were still treading carefully around each other. Neal and I were different. He was my first love, and I did love him even though he hurt me. And out of our relationship, came Henry. I didn't think you liked me, and I didn't want to push any boundaries. Then came Robin Hood and all this true love nonsense and you were happy. So I pushed my own feelings aside, Regina. Yes Killian was always chasing me around like a lost puppy, but he and I were never together. Then, I accidentally brought Marian, who was actually Zelena, back from the past and you couldn't even look at me. I tried to talk to you, to apologize to you. Instead, you kept taking shots at me every chance you could. I was off my game and couldn't do anything properly because I was distraught about what I did to you unknowingly. When we came back from the past and Marian found Robin, I was heartbroken for you, but I'd be lying if I didn't feel a little relieved thinking that I might be able to pursue you now. I had every intention to, until I realized how much you hated me. You couldn't look at me. I thought I was making some progress when we talked about being friends, but you were still caught up about Robin. You and Henry had your operation together to find your happiness, to which I gladly chose to help you. I helped you, because at that point I realized it was never me. I felt like you didn't ever think of me in the way that I did you. So, throughout all the motions I decided to date Killian, and help you rewrite your story to have your Happy Ever After."

"Emma"

"Stop, Regina. It's okay."

"Yes, Emma. I will marry you. I've never wanted anything more than I want this. This, with you."

She palms my cheeks and crashes her beautiful thin lips into mine with so much force, but also with the same amount of love to match. "I am so deeply in love with you" she says, and I can feel her emotions so strongly that I know it's true. "Let's tell the boys, they're waiting."

"They know?"

"Of course they do, who do you think helped me put all this together?" she says giggling. "But, before we go to them. May I please see your left hand?"