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“I won't allow it.”
“Allow? Allow?!” Red scoffs. “I hate to break it to you, Regina, but you're not a queen anymore and I'm sure as hell not one of your subjects.”
Regina sighs, the sound dripping with condescension, and Red sees crimson. “Miss Lucas-”
“No! No, you don't get to talk to me like that. I love you and I value your opinion but that doesn't give you the right to dictate what I can and cannot do. That isn't how this works.”
“I'm sorry if that's how you interpreted-”
“Oh don't you dare put this on me,” she snaps, frustration coming off her in waves. “Just, gods , just tell me you understand.”
Regina looks at her for a long moment and Red can see the struggle in her eyes, the internal fight between her pride and compassion laid plain for someone who knows Regina as well as Red does. And when she sighs, when the tension in her shoulders eases, she knows she's made a decision. “I do understand,” she says softly. “And I'm…I'm sorry, Red. Truly.”
She smiles and reaches out, tugging Regina closer by her hips. “It's alright,” she says. “Just watch those royal tendencies, okay? This isn't the Enchanted Forest and, honestly, I don't like being mad at you.”
The corners of Regina's lips twitch, like she's fighting the urge to smile. “I don't like you being mad at me either,” she admits. “Though I must say, you were quite impressive. There aren’t many people who could talk to me like that without fear.”
Red shakes her head. “I've never been afraid of you, Regina; I'm not about to start now.” She presses a kiss to her forehead. “Now, how about we put this whole mess behind us, go back to the house, and watch a movie?”
“That sounds wonderful, dear.”
Red grins, snagging Regina's hand as she pulls away. “You know I'm picking the movie, right?”
“...I'll allow it.”
Red turns to look at her and she knows Regina's already starting to panic, can see it in the widening of her eyes, and she can't help it; she just starts laughing.
And her smile, the beauty and sheer relief in it, is more than worth having what seems like half of Storybrooke look at her while she's doubled over, laughing until she cries.
After all, Red understands more than most that magic, no matter how small, always comes with a price.