Chapter Text
A/N: Due to an error on my part, I chose to the last two chapters and reposted them as one. Please go back and read the beginning part, as it was left out and you may have missed a very important detail concerning the DNC.
This story is dedicated with love to the SQ shippers of the world. Also dedicated with my devotion to my new wife, who introduced me to the show from the beginning and insisted we watch it every week, even when I didn't want to anymore. I wrote this and only told her about it this week, I also told her she was not allowed to read it until I was actually done.
This is my gift to you, koukla.
Epilogue
November 2016- As Ohio Goes, So Goes the Nation
Regina stood in the ballroom of their hotel, glancing up at the stage erected on her behalf, campaign signs hanging all over, knowing that in a few hours she would be giving one of two speeches. Her brain told her that poll numbers often misled and that things could swing either way. She was cautiously optimistic, as had become her standard answer of the day. She broke away from her family for a short walk, hoping to have some alone time to get her thoughts in order. A year and a half of her life had been spent on this campaign, and months before that spent preparing to announce her candidacy and hire her staff. Regina, for all her confidence and bravado, never quite expected to make it this far. She had only admitted that once to Emma, and even then she claimed it was because she was exhausted and for Emma not to read too much into it. Emma had smiled, both charming and annoying at the same time Regina would later say, and squeezed Regina's hand before changing the subject.
Regina smiled thinking of Emma, and how different her life was from even just months ago. She wondered what Daniel would think of everything, and had to admit to herself that he would be happy she found love again. He loved seeing her happy, and this would be no exception. Regina imagined her life would have been very different had he lived. She would have been content to be a wife and mother, practicing law only if her family life was stable enough to do so. They both wanted a house full of children, and she had no doubt they would have achieved that together. His death had brought forth an ambition and desire in her she had not known existed, and poised on the brink of victory, or defeat, Regina had to admit she was frightened by both prospects.
A short while after Regina returned from her walk, Cora, Henry, Emma, and Regina were engaged in a spirited contest of gin rummy in their hotel suite in Cleveland. Cora had insisted they be in Ohio, "for luck," as she put it, and Regina was in no mood to argue with the woman. If Cora wanted to be in Ohio for the election results, Regina would make it happen. They had the television on low volume in the background, but no one was actively paying attention to it, save Emma who would occasionally glance in the direction of the screen and either smile or wince. Regina couldn't bring herself to ask questions, so she continued to play her hand, round after round.
They ate dinner in the middle of their card game, sandwiches made by Eugenia, who made the trip along with Ruby, August, and Mary Margaret. She was in her room with David, by now the two were openly involved and made googly eyes at one another in a way that made everyone slightly uncomfortable. Ruby and her grandmother watched the results in another room, occasionally exclaiming in expletive-ridden shouts that had Cora covering her grandson's ears. August was in his world at the hotel lobby bar, on his phone, making calls, nervously tallying numbers on a hotel napkin. Regina refused to look at numbers and hadn't bothered to turn her phone on. She knew it would only make her more nervous if she kept up with the results of the states as they came in, and considering it was only 9 p.m. she knew they were in for a long evening.
At close to 10, Cora helped get Henry ready for bed, much to his protests, with Regina promising to wake him as soon as they had official news. Cora lay down soon after her grandson, the emotions of the evening getting to be a bit much and resolving that she wanted to look her best whichever speech Regina would be giving in the hours to come.
Emma and Regina worked silently together to clean up the remnants of their evening, both nervous and trying to be strong for one another. Making small talk was nearly excruciating for both, but they did it and even continued the game of rummy with Eugenia and Ruby stepping into the two vacated seats. The game went on until it was evident Regina wasn't even trying to score and was completely preoccupied with her thoughts. Emma called the end to the match and took Regina by the hand to the bedroom, lying down on the bed she pulled Regina down to lie against her, wrapping her arms around her and kissing her on the forehead.
"I'm afraid, Emma," Regina admitted.
"Of what?"
"Losing. I hate losing."
"You haven't lost," Emma comforted.
"Not yet."
"You aren't going to, baby. People are smart enough to realize you're the best choice, Regina. I trust you to lead us to where we need to go. The rest of the country feels the same, I know it."
"Can we just stay like this, all night? I feel safe with you, Emma. I want to remember this always," Regina sighed. She wanted nothing more than to stay in Emma's arms and not have to deal with the outside world.
In the months following Emma's hospital stay and recovery, the women had allowed themselves to put past anger and hurt aside. It required constant communication, something Emma was slowly growing more comfortable with, and they were making an honest effort to work at building something healthy and lasting. Every day was a chance to get it right, Emma would say, and as a family they were spending time together, moving forward in the craziness that Regina's life entailed. Emma had also started seeing a therapist and had begun to work through her many feelings of hurt, anxiety and low self-esteem stemming from her years as a foster kid. Regina and Henry were both proud of the progress she was making.
Henry was their biggest champion, more than happy when his mother and Emma officially announced they were dating and in love. Henry's facial expression had been a mix of excitement and "duh," but there was no doubt in his mind that Emma and his mom were perfect for each other. As Henry and Emma's relationship flourished, he had taken to calling her, "Ma," which made both Emma and Regina happy.
Regina was more than a little surprised when her polling numbers took very little hit after pictures were shared of she and Emma holding hands during an evening walk while Emma recovered from the shooting. There had been no long-term damaging effects of their relationship regarding her campaign, and even though some bigots would occasionally protest at her appearances, Regina was pleased to find that perhaps the country was evolving positively. Cora was satisfied with the lack of negative attention, and low key tried to take credit for getting them together. Even though she was not an original member of Operation First Lady, Cora was later made an honorary member by her grandson.
Cora and Regina's relationship had evolved once again after Emma's shooting. Regina had a conversation with her mother which included ground rules for navigating their future. No more meddling, planning, or interfering from Cora, and in exchange, Regina agreed that her absence from her childhood home had gone on long enough. Frequent visits were the norm now, though Regina still had not gone out to the stables. Someday, Cora hoped. Cora had even apologized to Emma for the whole Robin fiasco and explained her reasoning, which had seemed pretty lame once she said it out loud. "These are modern times, Cora, let people surprise you," Emma responded. Cora had blushed a little when Emma's green eyes met hers, and while every part of her wanted to start planning and plotting a wedding, she knew damn well Regina would be pissed if she found out. She did get a subscription to Modern Bride, but to be safe, she put it in Sidney's name.
Only once did Regina ask her mother about the disappearance of the commercial Gold ran. Cora had smiled, in her secret way, and asked her daughter if she truly wanted to know. Regina swallowed hard and nodded. Cora responded, "I merely called him on a private line, and mentioned the name of his son and told him the removal of the spot was expected immediately. He apparently felt that was the best option, and we left it at that." Regina jokingly asked if her family was mob connected, and when Cora failed to answer, Regina almost choked on her drink.
Regina knew her mother did not like Senator Gold and had been less than impressed after meeting him once at a political fundraiser. Cora had heard that he had aspirations of running for president one day, and she wanted to meet the man and see for herself. As he shook her hand and gave her a less than discreet once over, commenting that he and his wife saw her Chanel suit on last season's runway, Cora had clutched at her pearls and walked away in disgust. Regina later responded to that story with a, "Oh no he didn't," and a snap of her fingers. Cora decided then and there, Regina would join the running, and pitched the idea to her daughter a few days later; halfway expecting to be laughed at; Regina surprised her mother by telling her mother she would think it over. Only Cora would think to get her revenge on a man for insulting her fashion choices by encouraging her daughter in a campaign for the presidency.
Back in the present, Emma comforted her nervous girlfriend, "We can stay here as long as you like; now close your eyes and rest. I told Mary Margaret to call me when she knows something."
Regina closed her eyes, thinking it had only been a few minutes before Emma's phone began ringing when in reality it had been close to an hour.
"What time is it," she asked, her voice husky with sleep.
"1:15. Mary Margaret is going to meet us in a few minutes. August is on his way as well," Emma told her, already standing and turning on the lights in the room.
"I'm going to freshen up."
"I'll get Cora and Henry," Emma said.
When Regina joined them in the living room of the suite, the television was off, and she couldn't read anyone's expression. None of the people around her would meet her eyes, and she sighed and pursed her lips. It was okay; she would be fine, she thought. She still had a job to go to daily. She had tried, and she was glad she did. If she hadn't, she would have probably never met Emma, and that had made it all worth it. In the months since their separation and Emma's shooting, their relationship was flourishing, and Regina could indeed say she was content.
Mary Margaret asked Eugenia to please turn on the television and there on the screen was Regina's smiling picture with the words, "Regina Mills elected President, 2016."
She turned and looked at her mother, who was beaming with pride, tears in her eyes as she hugged her daughter close to her, Henry joined the hugging women, Regina placing kisses on her son's head. Eugenia and Ruby gathered around the family and offered Regina congratulatory hugs, the new President-elect still in shock and awe.
Mary Margaret was next to hug Regina, both sharing tears and laughs now that the news was official, both reflecting on the work done over the past year and a half together, and Regina saying again and again, "thank you."
August stepped in to hug Regina next, kissing her on the cheek he quietly said, "You did it," to which Regina replied, "No, we did it."
Mary Margaret's phone rang, and she held it up for Regina, announcing that it was Archie.
"Tell him to give me five minutes, I will call him right back," Regina said as she pulled Emma into the bedroom, her lips immediately searching out Emma's as the door closed behind them.
"Congrats, Madame President, "Emma said, nibbling on Regina's bottom lip.
"I like the way that sounds coming from you, Miss Swan."
"You're going to Washington," Emma stated as if the possibility had just occurred to her. How would they navigate this? Would their relationship be able to continue? They had never discussed the future much beyond winning the election, it had been Regina's primary focus for months, and now, it was their reality.
"I expect you to come with me," Regina husked in between kisses.
"I'll need to find a job; we can't have any rumors of us shacking up on the taxpayers' dollar," Emma teased.
"I think I have just the job for you."
Emma laughed, "Really, tell me all about it. The pay has to be great, and I need good benefits."
Regina swallowed hard and then reached shaking fingers into her blazer pocket, pulling out a three-stone square cut emerald ring set in gold. It was simple, yet elegant, nothing flashy, purely understated and classic. It reminded Regina of Emma the moment she first saw it at a shop in California, having been there some weeks before during one of her scheduled debates with Senator Gold. She bought it immediately, not knowing when she would propose to Emma, but carrying it with her always, believing she would feel in her heart when the time was perfect.
Regina held the ring out and nervously locked onto wide, tearful green eyes.
"Emma, even though it has only been six months that we have known one another, I can't help but believe and have faith we were destined to find each other. Thank you for helping me believe in love and second chances again. Thank you for not only changing my life, but saving it as well. And as for that job I was referring to…what would you say to First Lady?"
The yelp of joy heard from the room caused Ruby and Henry to look at one another and nod proudly. They shared a high five and a hug for an operation well done.
Fin.
Thank you to every person who read and commented on this story. So many of you took the time to leave a review that helped me steer this thing in the right direction. What began on a rainy day in February, listening to the new Lady Gaga album and wishing that the president of this country was someone different, morphed into my first foray into writing in many years. I appreciate all the love and support.
In parting, I wish to formally announce the unnamed sequel to The Candidate is outlined and officially in the works. I found that as this part of their story ended, the characters still wanted to talk to me. How could I ignore them? Follow or subscribe to this story to keep up with any news or follow me on my Tumblr at rgon1475.