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2022-07-16
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Happy Birthday Dear Regina, Happy Birthday to You!

Summary:

What do you do when someone hates celebrating their birthday and just wants to be left alone? You shower them with gifts and annoy them endlessly of course!

Notes:

Short story collaboration with Riellebratt in honor of Lana Parrilla's birthday!

Work Text:


Regina woke up early already dreading the day.  It’s her birthday, a day she never celebrated in the enchanted forest, nor in this world until Henry asked about her birthday on his 6th.

“When’s your party Momma?”

“OH, I don’t have parties for my birthday honey.”

“But why? You should have a party you’re the best momma ever. Can we have your party tomorrow?”

A small smile crosses her face at the memory of her little prince and how things have changed since then. Finding out he was adopted a few years later changed everything for them both.

With a long sigh she begrudgingly got out of bed to get ready for the day.  “I wonder what the idiots will come up with this year.” Regina muttered to herself as she walked to the bathroom.

~~~~~

Arriving at the office Regina was greeted by her secretary, Yvette with a bouquet of flowers in her hands.

“These are for you Madame Mayor, they arrived a few minutes ago but I’m not sure who they’re from.”

“Thank you, Yvette and how many times must I tell you to call me Regina?”

“A few more times Madame Mayor, and Happy Birthday.” Yvette replied with a smile. “I’ll try to keep the um villagers’ visits to a minimum today, but I can’t make any promises if this bouquet is telling of what’s to come.”

~~~~~

Regina worked peacefully for a couple hours before a knocked on her door interrupted her work and she sighed, "Yes?" 

Mary Margaret opened the door, a smile on her face and a covered plate in her hand, "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important." She said as she approached Regina's desk. 

"What can I do for you, Snow?" 

"I just wanted to drop this off for you." She said as she put the plate down on Regina's desk. She stood staring and waiting till Regina removed the foil that covered the plate. 

"Cookies?" Regina asked looking up at her. 

"Not just any cookies, they are in the shape of apples." She said so proudly.

Regina looked at the cookies, the bright red royal icing in them and the small little stems. It must have taken her a great deal of time to make and decorate these. 

"Thank you." Regina said. 

Mary Margaret smiled again, "Happy birthday, Regina.” She said before taking her leave. 

And that’s how Regina’s morning continued with townsfolk coming in with gifts and greetings. Leroy came with a bottle of his home-made mead which he plunked down on her desk with a grunt, gave a nod of his head and walked out.

Yvette did her best to keep them at bay, but Regina just waved her hand to let them in after her quiet moment with Bashful who wanted to give her a hug. How could she refuse him that? The two became close after a harrowing experience back in the enchanted forest in which she saved his life. He was certainly his namesake often giving her a shy smile and a wave in passing but the odd times they found themselves down by the docks where they would sit and chat about the old world and this new one. He was glad he was back in Storybrooke and thanked her for bringing him here.

It was just before noon when there was a knock on the door. Yvette had left for her lunch break so Regina got up and walked across her office and opened the door hoping to keep this brief so she could go back to work.

Ruby smiled holding out a brown paper bag towards Regina. “Happy Birthday Regina! I hope you’re having a great day so far. Yvette said you were staying in so Granny and I thought we would bring you a birthday lunch.”

“Thank you Red and please thank Eugenia for me as well you didn’t have to do this, but it’s appreciated.” Regina replied taking the bag and opening it up, the aroma made Regina grin like a schoolgirl. “Is this? Is this what I think it is?”

“Yup! Granny made it special for your birthday! Enjoy Regina and have a wonderful day.”

Regina sat at her desk and pulled out the mini steak pie and the small salad along with it was a note from Granny. ‘I would have made you swan pie, but I didn’t think Emma would like it. Enjoy your day – Eugenia.’

~~~~~

Regina was just about to take a bite of the pie when another knock at her door interrupted her. 

"Come in." She called out. 

Mulan walked in and stood in front of her. "I would like to offer a one-time gift of my services for your birthday." 

"Your services?" Regina asked with a raised eyebrow. 

"As you know I am a great warrior." Mulan said and Regina nodded, "And you have made many enemies in your reign as queen." 

"And what is the offer?" 

"I will take out anyone who may want to harm you." Mulan told her. 

"Take people out? As in...." Regina waved her off, "No, no, no, that won't be necessary." 

"The offer stands." Mulan told her then left without another word.

~~~~~

Regina was able to finish her decadent lunch without being disturbed again. Her secretary was back fielding calls, so Regina packed up the second mini pie to save for later. Swan pie was Leopold’s favorite not hers and was very glad Eugenia didn’t make one. Smiling she thought what Emma would have to say about it had one been made.

‘A swan pie, are you kidding me??’

‘Well, it’s healthier than those bear claws you eat.’

‘Yeah, but those are not really claws of a bear!!’ and with a smirk Emma would continue, ‘Wait a minute, are you trying to tell me that you could…eat…swan?’

“Ahem, Madame Mayor are you alright?” Yvette asked looking at her boss with concern.  “You’re flushed, are you not feeling well?”

Shaking her head, she scoffed at the audacity thinking such a thing about Emma, “I’m fine really, was there something you needed?”

“No, I was just bringing you the bounty that was left for you out front by your constituents.”

Regina looked at her secretary with a smirk and then the basket full of apples of various kinds which she received every year. “I’ll assume these are from the royal fans?”

“I wouldn’t say fans and I wouldn’t eat these apples either.”

Regina smiled, “Thank you. If there’s nothing else, you can go home early.”

“Good night, Madam Mayor.” She said before leaving and shutting the door behind her.

~~~~~

Regina stayed for a little while longer and just as she was about ready to leave, her office door opened and in walked Gold. 

"My office is closed for the day, if you have any complaints, requests or demands leave them on Yvette’s desk." She said to him as she stood up. 

"I come bearing a gift." He told her. 

She looked at him suspiciously and saw the small, wrapped package he carried under his arm. 

"What is it?" 

"A small reminder of who you are and where you come from." He told her then put the package down on her desk then magic proofed his way out of her office. 

Regina sat back down and slowly tore the paper off away. Inside was a hand-carved wooden box with a lid. A small ruby shaped heart sat in the center of the lid. There was ornamental design all over it.  

A handwritten note from Gold read, “For the next heart you capture.”

Regina wasn’t quite sure how to take it. Did Gold think she was going to snatch someone’s heart out of their chest and use it against them? That wasn’t who she was anymore, and she’d thought that people knew that.

She got up from her desk and took the box over to the mantle above her fireplace and put it there next to a few of the other gifts she had received that day. She shut off the lights and left her office, happy to be on her way home.

~~~~~

Regina arrived home to an empty house, Henry being with his grandparents for the night. She put her purse and keys down on the table by the door before going into her living room and sitting down on her plush couch.

She let out a sigh then kicked off her heels, wiggling her toes. All she wanted to do now was to have a glass of wine and go to bed. She sat for a minute longer before forcing herself to get up. As she headed to the kitchen there was a knock at her front door.

“Whoever it is, please just leave whatever you have at the door and go home.” Regina called out. She really didn’t have the strength to deal with anymore town folk.

A more persistent knock followed.

Regina opened the door with an annoyed sigh, “What?”

“Well, hello to you too.” Emma said to her with a smile.

“I’m sorry.” Regina said as she let Emma in, “It’s been a long day.”

“I can imagine.” Emma said as she followed Regina into the living room.

Regina said down on the couch and Emma placed the bottle of wine and small box on the coffee table in front of her. She hadn’t even noticed that she was holding anything when she let her in.

Emma left the living room and came back with two wine glasses. She placed them down on the coffee table then opened the bottle of wine and poured them each a half a glass.

She handed one glass to Regina before taking hers and holding it up, “To you.” She said then clinked her glass against Regina’s before they each took a small sip.

She put her glass down and slid the little box closer to Regina who leaned forward and opened the top. Inside was a devils’ food cupcake with decadent chocolate frosting. Emma dug through the pockets of her leather jacket as Regina removed the cupcake from the box. Emma smiled at her for placing a candle in the center of the cupcake and lighting it with a lighter.

“Make a wish.” Emma whispered.

Regina smiled as she raised the cupcake, she stared into Emma’s eyes as she blew out the candle and made her wish.