The Royal Gardens were flush with promise of spring, the bright flowers and budding fruit trees providing a decadent buffet of color for all that ventured into it.

Regina watched with a smile while Tamara polished Mallorie's horns, the dragon curled up comfortably on fresh springy grass just outside of the main gardens. Every now and then a yellow-gold eye would peek open to make sure the teenager was being safe, and the queen could see the contentment in her old friend each time.

"It's quite a story," Red murmured from behind her.

She turned to offer her lover a smile, extending her hand in invitation. It had taken her a while to become comfortable with the discolored and magically scarred left side of her body, but with Red's steady devotion she'd eventually come to terms with her new look.

These days she could even admit the lightly purpled flesh with the thin webwork of lines had an odd sort of visual appeal. It had certainly made her sister Zelena less self-conscious about the lingering patches of green on her own skin.

"It is," Regina finally agreed as they both turned to watch Mallorie and Tamara. "If I were her, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. She's a strong woman."

"I hope we can find more Changers like her some day. Maybe that would help," Red added softly.

Tamara laughed as she was prodded gently with a large scaled tail, and both watching women smiled.

Regina considered what she knew before speaking. "I think she's alright, actually. I think clinging to the family line of the woman she once loved more than anything has done much to comfort her during her long lifespan."

Red's hand tightened around hers. "Still; it must be horrible to watch your loved ones age and die around you again and again."

The queen had nothing to say to that. They both had lost loved ones over the years, and the sheer magnitude of what Mallorie must experience every century was beyond comprehension.

"If you're done spying on innocent folk trying to enjoy a nice day, I've got some fresh apple honey scones here fresh from the oven," Eugenia grunted from the stone walkway that led to the castle entrance.

The lanky woman bounced up from her seat exuberantly. "Those are my favorite!" She turned to her lover, excitement making her eyes seem to dance. "Come on Regina."

Regina didn't say anything as she stood, a complacent smile on her face. "Lead the way."

Eugenia rolled her eyes and grunted again, though her periwinkle eyes crinkled at the corners to hint at how pleased she was to see her granddaughter so happy.

Red's heart raced as she made her way to Regina's study the following day.

The guard ignored her as she pushed the door open without so much as a single knock. "Did you hear?"

She asked in a breathless tone. She'd run all the way from the kitchens when her Granny had relayed the gossip all the way from Arbrere.

Regina didn't move, her gaze focused on the unfurled parchment before her. Her quill scratched against the document as she made a few notes, and she looked up after she finished. "Hear what?"

"Rumple and Marie are betrothed!" Red exclaimed with a mix of concern and anger. She waited for any change in Regina's expression to indicate she understood the severity of the announcement, but as usual the queen remained implacable.

"I did hear something to that effect," Regina answered absently as she read another passage from the parchment and made another note.

Anger welled in Red the longer Regina focused on the parchment, her fists clenching. "That's it? He's old enough to be her grandfather! There's no way she wants that - she loves David!"

The monarch sighed loudly and replaced her quill to its appropriate place in its matching stand. She steepled her fingers and sent her lover a patient look. "You know love is often not a factor in political marriages. I'm afraid Marie backed herself into a corner by accepting Rumple's help. It's really none of my concern."

A strangled noise erupted from the Changer's throat. "Not your concern?" she asked in a raised voice, her fury causing it to seem strained. "He tried to kill you! This cements his position to the throne - what if he starts a war with us or any of the other kingdoms?"

"Don't be foolish," Regina's nostrils flared as she sent Red a warning look. "The other kingdoms know better than to attack Delsuel with its battle-tested Sorceress Queen; especially now that we've become an official haven for magical folk. Nova and Emerald will have the new School of Magick ready any day now, and Delsuel will become stronger than ever."

Red visibly deflated, sorrow stealing her anger away. "She was my best friend for years," she admitted softly. "I know she doesn't want this. I-I know she was stupid and foolish, but I can't help that a part of me still loves her and worries for her."

Regina softened, gentling her own voice. "You don't have to worry."

"I can't help it," Red uttered despondently and slumped into one of the chairs across from Regina's desk.

"No," Regina waited until the grey-green eyes met her own. "I mean you don't have to worry."

The Changer's heart sped up again, this time with hope. "What are you saying?"

"A mutual friend of ours also heard the news of Rumple's impending nuptials and how happy those nuptials stood to make that old crocodile," the queen responded with an impish smirk.

Red's lips parted in surprise, a slow smile creeping onto her face.

On the other side of the continent, a fully healed Killian happily waited for Rumple to go for his nightly walk about the castle. He'd been presented with a few special gifts courtesy of one very generous queen, and he was looking forward to sliding his favorite dagger between a certain crocodile's ribs and into his heart.

He had been waiting for years longer than he wished to share to enact his vengeance, and for once in his life he was well-equipped to take on the task that had driven him since the day he'd lost more than his hand.

"For Milah," he whispered as he stepped from the shadows and clamped his hand over Rumple's mouth.

He slipped from the castle grounds long before the body was discovered, his step lighter than it had been in years, though his heart remained heavy.

"Are you coming to bed?" Red asked from her position sprawled out on the aforementioned piece of furniture.

"In a few moments," Regina agreed as she slowly disrobed. She'd been using her magic more and more, and it had been incredibly freeing to not suppress such a huge part of herself. Each day she grew stronger, and she felt confident that she would be able to protect her people for a long time to come.

She smiled and considered how happy her own sister was to finally be able to control her own gifts.

It had been difficult for both of them to come to terms with the choices their mother had made, and in particular Regina recalled the haunted way her mother had told her that "A mother should never abandon her child" more than once throughout her childhood.

Her head shook after a moment. There was no use dwelling on the past, not when a comfortable bed and her warm lover were waiting.

The elaborate gown she'd worn that day slipped from her body easily, and she took her time easing out of her undergarments. She could feel the heat of Red's gaze follow each and every movement.

"Red," she called softly as she combed her hands through her now loose hair. Her back was still to her lover, but she knew she had her complete attention.

"Yeah?" Red asked, the low timbre of her voice giving away her need.

"Put your collar on."

Red shivered and got up to retrieve the supple leather from where it was stowed in the armoire. She'd been embarrassed the first time she'd admitted out loud how much she loved when Regina held onto it during intimate moments, particularly when the queen was astride her hips and thrusting down onto her hand.

The weight of the collar brought her comfort and arousal, and when she turned to find Regina patiently standing near the bed, she stepped forward to initiate a slow, loving kiss. She took her time, knowing that the thorough attention never failed to steal the very breath from Regina's lungs.

"I love you," she whispered as she pulled back to catch her breath.

Regina's smile made her forget everything but the feeling that stabbed through her system; it was the shock of intense pleasure of knowing she was the whole world for the woman her own revolved around. She could stare into the molten umber eyes for all eternity and never tire of that look.

"You make words seem so inadequate when you look at me like that," she confessed with a rueful smile.

"I only look at you like that because that's how your words make me feel," Regina admitted with an aching vulnerability that she only showed to one person.

There were no words spoken after they kissed again. Their lives weren't simple, but their nights were their own. Each served to bind them closer and closer together, and neither woman would ever regret that.

They'd chosen each other, even when the world around them had told them again and again that their choice was wrong. Every night they reaffirmed that what they'd chosen couldn't be anything but right.

Like every other night, they fell asleep wrapped around each other, the barest of smiles on their faces as they dreamt.