Turning Back Time
Summary
Cora has her heart and has revealed to Rumplestiltskin and Regina that he is her father. Regina has a hard time bonding with both her parents and they come up with an idea to help them all bond together...what if they turned Regina back into a toddler for a little while? Will this bring them together or make it all worse?
Authors Note: So this little idea has been buzzing around my head for a while and I just had to write it. From those of you who have read my other story Regina's Second Chance you will see that I love writing toddler Regina ( she can be so much fun to write ) so I thought I would give this story a go. it is just a bit of fun and I hope to have some funny moments of Cora and Rumple trying to get to grips on raising toddler Regina. Any ideas of things toddler Regina could get up to feel free to send me a prompt and I can try and fit it in :-)
Chapter 1
It has been two weeks since Cora got her heart back. Two weeks since Regina's world was turned upside down even more when she not only got a mother who now loved her and had no idea how to deal with that but she also found out that the man who turned her towards darkness was her father. Yes Rumplestiltskin was her real father.
She had lived a lie. Her mother had lied to her all these years. Leading herself and her husband to believe they were father and daughter when in actual fact they were not. This of course had sent Regina into a rage with her mother and she had not spoken to her much over the past two weeks, Cora or Rumple in fact.
Both Cora and Rumple had tried to talk to Regina. They had tried to start to form some parental bond with their daughter but both failed every time. They were both beginning to lose patience. They just wanted to have their daughter with them. To have the happy family that deep down they had both always wanted. So together they decided to try and win back the happy family they so desperately craved.
They had both come up with an idea and they were sure it would work. Well Cora was more sure than Rumple. "You want to turn Regina into a toddler?" Rumple asked in slight disbelief that Cora was suggesting this to him.
"Yes. I feel that if we could give Regina some happy childhood memories it may encourage her to start to bond with us. It also gives me a second chance to raise her like I should have and you a chance to raise her and spend time with her like I know you would have wanted if you had known about her." Cora said as she shuffled forward on the chair slightly.
"I'm not sure about this Cora. I understand everything you have said but do you not feel it is incredibly selfish of us to do something like that?" Rumple asked and now it was Cora's turn to look at him with shock and disbelief that he had said something like that.
"You are worried about doing something selfish? You? The dark one?" Cora asked raising an eyebrow.
Rumple rolled his eyes and continued to pace the room. "It is not just us we have to consider Cora. It is Regina and also the family and friends she has established. What about Henry? What do you think he would think about us turning his mother into a toddler?" Cora sighed. She hadn't thought about that. "And not to mention the fact Regina may not even want to consider the idea. She already doesn't want to talk to either of us." Another sigh from Cora as Rumple mentioned another thing she had not considered.
They sat in silence for a moment and Cora thought over everything she and Rumple had just said. Maybe they could make it work somehow? All she wanted was to give her daughter what she should have had. She then smiled a little as an idea came to her. "Okay well why don't we talk to everyone. Let them know what we are thinking and we don't do anything until we see how they all feel and perhaps it doesn't have to be a permanent thing…" Cora suggested.
"What do you mean?" Rumple asked.
"Well why don't we do it for a certain amount of time. A time we both wish to spend time with Regina while she was a toddler. For example, Christmas and her Birthday spring to my mind." Cora explained further.
Rumple nodded his head as he thought over Cora's idea. "Those come to my mind also. So that would mean…providing everyone and Regina are okay with the idea that we would have a toddler Regina for around six months?" Rumple said as he walked over to the sofa Cora was sat on and sat down beside her.
Cora nodded her head to confirm what Rumple had said. "Yes, providing everyone agrees with the idea."
Rumple thought it all over and the more he thought about it the more he liked the idea. He would be able to spend time with his daughter. He would be able to see her as a toddler and hopefully make up to her all the wrong he had caused her. Although he knew he would have to do a lot more than give her a few happy childhood memories to make up what he had done to her in the past but at least this could be a start.
"Okay."
"Okay?" Cora questioned with a frown.
"Okay, we will do it." Rumple said giving Cora a smile.
Rumple and Cora had gathered up the Charming's, Emma, Neal, Henry and Belle the next day in the Charming's apartment to speak to them about their idea. Rumple had stood back and let Cora go over the whole plan since it was her idea in the first place and she seemed to have it all sorted in her head, spell and all.
Cora finally finished explaining everything to everyone in the room and then took a deep breath and stood back beside Rumple waiting to see what their reactions would be. Everyone just stared at the two as they tried to take in everything Cora had said. Taking their time to process everything.
"So you want to turn Regina back into a toddler?" Emma asked with a raised eyebrow and Cora nodded her head.
"To give yourselves a second chance as well as herself?" Neal added on.
"Yes." Rumple answered.
"For how long again?" Mary-Margaret asked.
"I think we worked out it would be around six months, didn't we Rumple?" Cora said turning to Rumple who nodded his head.
Everyone just nodded for a moment thinking it all over once again. "Have you spoken to Regina about this?" Belle asked voicing a question everyone had on their minds.
"No not yet." Rumple said shaking his head.
"We wanted to speak to all of you first to see what you thought of the idea." Cora added in. "So what do you all think?"
"I think it's a great idea!" Henry said happily with a smile on his face.
"You do? Kid you do realise you won't have your mom around for six months?" Emma said turning slightly to Henry.
"Yes I will." Henry frowned.
"Not properly Henry. She will be a toddler. She won't be able to look after you like she does." Emma explained.
"I know that." Henry sighed. "But I still think it would be a great idea and it is only for six months, not forever. It would be great for her to experience some happy moments of her childhood as I am guessing she didn't really have any?" Henry said now looking over at Cora who sighed and shook her head. "See…this way Grandma and Grandpa get to have their second chance at spending time with mom as a toddler and mom gets some happy memories. Win win right?"
Everyone just stared at Henry wondering how he could make it all sound so simple. "I guess you right kid." Emma mused as she thought over what Henry had just said.
"Yea what he said does kind of make sense." David agreed.
"Yes it does." Mary-Margaret nodded.
"You think so?" Cora asked happily and the three adults nodded their heads. "Neal? Belle? What do you think?" Cora asked hoping they felt the same way.
"I'm with them. Henry has made it sound right. I think you guys should go for it if Regina is up for it. It Would be funny to see her as a toddler. Right Hen?" Neal said nudging Henry and winking at him making him laugh.
"Too right. I am so taking loads of pictures if mom agrees." Henry laughed.
"Belle?" Rumple asked turning to look at the love of his life. "What are your thoughts?"
"Well I think if it is what you want Rumple then I will stand by you. It sounds like a good experience for all of you and may help you all bond better. I think you should go for it." Belle said.
"Perfect!" Cora said happily clapping her hands together.
"Now all you need to do is ask mom." Henry added in with a smile.
"Yea that may be harder than this was." Rumple said turning back to Cora who nodded her head in agreement. "How are we going to ask her when she barely talks to either of us now?"
"What if I was there with you two when you ask her? I could maybe help convince her." Henry suggested as he stood up from the sofa and walked over to Cora and Rumple.
"You think you can help to convince her?" Cora asked.
"I once convinced her to give me four cookies before dinner I think I can try and help convince her that this is a good idea." Henry said proudly.
"You convinced Regina to give you four cookies before dinner once? How the hell did you do that?" Emma asked in disbelief.
"Must have been magic somehow. Never been able to do it again. Not for lack of trying though." Henry frowned and shrugged his shoulders which made Neal and David laugh a little, Mary-Margaret roll her eyes and laugh and Emma realise just how much like her Henry really was.
"Well it's worth a go Henry if you really don't mind coming along to help us." Rumple said placing a hand on Henry's shoulder.
"Course I don't Grandpa." Henry said giving Rumple and Cora a big smile.
Cora, Rumple and Henry all entered the mansion. Henry ran in, kicking off his shoes and dumping his bag and coat on the floor. He jumped up the couple of steps and slid across the floor towards the kitchen where he knew his mother would be. "Mom!" He called as he slid across the floor.
"Henry?" A confused tone came back. Henry entered the kitchen and Regina looked at him with a confused look. "I thought this was your weekend with Emma? Did I mix up the days?" Regina asked as she placed down the dishcloth and walked around the kitchen counter towards Henry.
"No you didn't mix up the days mom. I just needed to come back here for something." Henry said.
"Oh? What did you forget?" Regina asked.
"Nothing." Henry shrugged.
Regina frowned at this. "But you just said…" She started.
But Henry interrupted her. "Grandma and Grandpa need to talk to you and I said I would come along to." Henry said as he took her hand and gently pulled her out of the kitchen and into the hall way where Cora and Rumple were still stood. They both looked up as they heard Regina and Henry come out of the kitchen and they both gave a small smile.
"You need to talk to me? What have you done?" Regina asked jumping straight into bad conclusions.
"Why do you assume we have done something Regina?" Cora asked with a sigh.
Regina raised an eyebrow at her mother. It had been awkward enough having her mother back in Storybrooke without her heart, but now she had her heart was a completely different person in Regina's eyes and although she seems to be what Regina wished for in a mother it is very hard to believe and get used to her. Not to mention the bombshell of Rumplestiltskin being her father being dropped on her to add to that awkwardness. "You are seriously asking me that question? The dark one and the queen of hearts stood together in my hallway wanting to talk to me and you wonder why I presume something has happened?"
Cora rolled her eyes in what Henry noticed was a fashion his mother would and he smiled. Rumple then spoke. "Perhaps you could see us as your mother and father for a couple of minutes and let us talk to you?"
Regina looked down at Henry giving him a questioning look and he just nodded and gently pulled on her hand urging her to move. She sighed and nodded her head. "Fine then." She said and then she made a move towards the living room with Henry, Cora and Rumple following her. Regina sat down on the sofa, Henry beside her. Cora sat in one of the arm chairs and Rumple decided to just stand by the chair Cora was sitting on. "So…what have you got to talk to me about?" Regina asked.
"First off it's nothing bad…"Cora started. "We just wanted to discuss with you a little idea we had…to perhaps help us all bond together as a family. We both know how hard you are finding this, with everything that has happened we want you to know we do not blame you that you find this hard Regina."
"Well I would find it hard to believe that you would blame me for finding it hard." Regina replied and Henry nudged her, giving her a look as if to say listen to them. So she sighed, rolled her eyes a little and then looked back at Cora and Rumple.
"We just want to try and make it a little easier for you and find a way that we can move on and be a family." Cora said.
"And how do you propose we do this?" Regina asked.
"By turning back time." Cora said simply.
"Turning back time? What do you mean?" Regina asked with a frown.
"Your mother and I realise that you did not have the best of childhoods. We both feel we missed out on important parts of your childhood also." Rumple explained. "So we came up with an idea where we could fix all that."
"And? What's your idea?" Regina asked.
"We want to turn you back into a toddler." Cora said as if it was an everyday thing to suggest to your daughter.
"You want to what? Turn me back into a toddler? Are you crazy?" Regina said her voice raising a little.
"It wouldn't be permanent." Cora said quickly.
"Yes it would only be for six months or so." Rumple shrugged.
"Six months? Why the hell would you want to turn me into a toddler for six months?"
"Through this six months we could raise you like you should have been raised. Hopefully give you some good childhood memories and also we get to experience some time with you, specifically over Christmas and your Birthday. Two times your mother and I wish to experience with you." Rumple explained.
"Well you could do that with me as I am now." Regina said.
"We could and we will but we also want to experience those moments at a time we both missed and would love to see." Cora added.
Regina sighed and she ran her fingers through her hair. She could not believe what they were suggesting. Turning her back into a toddler. How was that going to work? "And what about Henry? And the town? I am Mayor after all and I cannot run the town if I am a toddler."
"We have spoken to Mary-Margaret and David and they said they would be happy to try and fill in for you over the six months and Emma would be more than capable of having Henry full time over that time." Cora replied.
Regina tore her eyes away from Cora and Rumple and looked to Henry using her eyes to ask him what he thought about all this. Henry gave her a smile and placed his hand on hers. "I will be fine mom. It's not as if I wouldn't see you, I would just be hanging out with a little you for a while." He said with a big grin. "I think you should do it. It might be good for you."
"You really think so?" Regina asked not quite believing she was asking her son for reassurance and advice.
Henry nodded his head. "It would be good for all of you and it will be fun."
Regina laughed a little and then let out a sigh as she thought it over. Becoming a toddler for six months, seemed a little ridiculous to her but it appeared that everyone else seemed to think it was a good idea, Henry especially. She then looked over to Cora and Rumple. She supposed it might help their relationships. Gaining some good childhood memories and hopefully pushing out the bad ones. She bit her lip and wavered over her answer a couple more times before she sighed again and ran her fingers through her hair. "Alright." She said.
"Alright? You'll do it?" Cora asked her eyes lighting up.
Regina nodded her head. "Yes. But it is only for six months isn't it?" Regina asked.
"Yes, we thought the day after your birthday we would change you back." Cora replied.
Regina nodded her head again. "Okay. So what do we do then and when do we do it?"
"Well I have the potion already made up…" Cora said.
"I think you should do it now." Henry said excitedly bouncing on the sofa beside Regina a little.
Regina smiled at him and then looked back at Cora. "Alright then. Let's get this over and done with." Cora nodded and then looked up at Rumple and held out her hand. He pulled the small bottle out of his pocket and handed it to Cora who leaned forward and handed the small bottle over to Regina. Regina took it from Cora and held it up for her to look at. "And this is completely safe?"
"Yes completely safe." Cora reassured.
"And you can turn me back?" Regina asked just wanting to make double sure.
"Yes we can." Rumple answered.
"Okay." Regina said quietly. She then took the top off the bottle, glanced once more at Henry and then brought the bottle to her lip and downed the entire contents, screwing her face up a little at the taste of the purple liquid. They all waited with baited breaths watching Regina to see if anything happened. But as the minutes passed nothing happened and they all looked on confused. Regina looked down at herself and shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing has happened."
"I don't understand. It should have worked." Cora said.
"Maybe you missed an ingredient." Rumple sighed.
"I am pretty sure I did not miss an ingredient. I know how to brew a simple potion Rumple." Cora snapped back.
"It's okay." Henry chipped in hoping to defuse any kind of arguments. "Maybe we could try again tomorrow? Right mom?" Henry said looking up at Regina.
"Yea sure Henry." Regina replied with a small smile.
After the disappointment of the potion not working Regina went back to making dinner, asking Henry if he wanted to stay for dinner and then Rumple out of politeness mostly. Rumple declined and Henry said he better get back to Emma and the Charming's leaving Cora and Regina lone in the big mansion. Regina busied herself making dinner and Cora tried to make small talk but was finding it hard with her daughter who had seemed to shut herself off completely.
After a quiet dinner and many awkward silences Regina excused herself and went up to bed, Cora not long after. As Regina lay sleeping in her big bed the magic from the potion pulsed through her veins working its way around her body.
Cora Mills had never really been much of a morning person. She cursed herself as she could feel the sun shining through the window and lighting up the room and she realised she forgot to close those damn curtains last night before she went to bed. However it was not that, that seemed to wake her up. No. It was the giggling of a little girl and the patting of a small hand on her head.
She groaned a little as she slowly started to open her eyes as she tried to let her eyes register to the brightness of the room and let herself wake up. As she opened her eyes she saw a small figure standing by her bed. A figure with a cute, round little face and soft brunette curls on top of her head. Big brown eyes stared up at her and Cora gasped and sat bolt upright, rubbing her eyes and then looking back to the side of her bed to see the little girl still stood there.
"You wake mommy?" The little girl said as she stared up at Cora.
"Regina?" Cora asked as she stared at the little girl.
"Hello mommy." Regina said happily waving her hand animatedly and Cora couldn't help but just stare as she took in the sight of Regina at three years old. The potion had worked. Cora sat up in her bed and she rubbed her eyes a couple of times and then looked back at Regina just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. But she wasn't seeing things. It really was Regina at three years old only she was drowning in one of adult Regina's night gowns.
Cora couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face as she took in Regina. This was what she had been thinking of ever since she had gotten her heart back. The moments she had really truly missed of Regina. The very cute adorable moments and the first age she had thought about was Regina at three. Her cute face, her small size and just all round cuteness.
"Mommy why you look at me silly?" Regina asked with a cute frown on her face.
Cora chuckled slightly and she then leaned down and pulled Regina up onto her bed beside her and held her close to her. This is what she should have done the first time round, she knew that. "No reason sweetheart." Cora said softly as she kissed the top of Regina's head.
"Mommy I'm hungry." Regina said pulling away from Cora and looking up at her, the little girls big brown eyes sparkling.
"Oh well we can't keep the little princess hungry now can we?" Cora said making Regina giggle a little.
Regina shook her head while giggling. "No we can't." She replied.
"Come on then let's go get something." Cora said shuffling over in the bed slightly. She placed Regina back down on the floor and then got out of the bed. She pulled on her dressing gown and then looked back down at Regina who was still wearing the over-sized night gown. I can't let her walk around in that. I will need to get her some clothes. Cora sighed and waved her hand over Regina, the over-sized night gown shrinking and changing into a child's night gown.
Regina gasped and looked down at herself. "Mommy you used magic." Regina said looking back up at Cora and Cora could see a frightened look now on Regina's face and it was then that she realised that of course this Regina would probably still be afraid if Cora used her magic. She had used her magic on Regina from a young age. Using it to punish her if she did something that did not suit her. This she had to change.
Cora knelt down in front of Regina and took her small hands in her own, looking into the now scared girls eyes. "It's alright Regina. I promise you I will not use my magic to hurt you." Cora said gently.
Regina looked at Cora for a moment not saying a word. It was as if the little girl in front of her was trying to figure out whether to trust her mother. "You really promise?" Regina asked and held out her pinkie to Cora.
Cora smiled. She remembered that. She had seen Regina and her father do that. She remembered Henry telling Regina that a pinkie promise meant there was no way it would be broken. So Cora linked her pinkie with Regina's and nodded her head. "I really promise." This made Regina smile at her again and in turn it made her smile. So she let go of Regina's pinkie and stood up. "Come on princess let's go get you some breakfast." She said as she went to walk out of the room.
Regina quickly stopped her mother and held her arms up indicating that she wanted her to carry her. "Up please mommy." She said and Cora just couldn't deny her. She wanted to give her little girl everything. She wanted to give her whatever she didn't the first time.