Ohana – Jack helps Regina reconnect with her mother.
0o0
It was early, but dark. It's expected for this time of year. She looked to the back seat and saw her little baby boy was exited to get out; but she wasn't.
"She's going to hate me," Regina said. She hadn't seen her mother in ten years; she hadn't seen anyone in this town for ten years, not after that thanksgiving (It was mostly just yelling and insults). She hadn't contacted anyone since.
Jack sighed, "she's not going to hate," his deep British accented voice was soothing and loving, "She's your mother, she will be happy to see you," he reached over and grabbed her hand bringing it up to his lips, "Just do what you've always wanted to do when you see her," he smiles encouragingly at her and told her he'll wait with their son until she comes and gets them.
She breathed in deep, then let it out and unbuckled her seatbelt before getting out the car, before the closed the door she turned to him, "I love you," she said, after he said it back she walked up the path to the front door.
Regina could hear voices inside; her mother always had a get together the day before Thanksgiving. She could recognise some of the voices, although ten years have passed they sound virtually the same. She could hear her mother taking to what sounded like her father and she could hear Robin and Mary Margaret talking to some woman and David, there were children there.
Gathering all the courage she could muster she knocked on the door before she could turn back to her husband and son. The sound of heels hitting the hardwood floor could be heard before the door swung open to reveal her mother, Cora. She looked like she was seeing a ghost (she pretty much was), Regina didn't know how to react so she took Jack's advice and hugged her mother as fiercely as she loved and missed her.
Cora took a few seconds to realise what was happening but when she did she was fast to react, pulling one arm around her daughter and the other to cradle her head. She let out a sob; the house went quiet. All that was herd was Regina's broken, "I'm sorry, please don't hate me!" over and over again.
The guests piled out of the living room to see the commotion, they didn't believe their eyes. They hadn't seen Regina in so long; they didn't know what to say so they just watched the reunion.
After a few minutes Regina pulled away, "Please don't hate me! Promise me you won't hate me!" she wept.
"I couldn't hate you, I'm sorry," Cora said cupping her face in her hands.
Regina shook her head desperately, "No, promise me, promise me you won't hate me!"
Cora looked like she was about to argue but one look into her baby girls eyes and she nodded her agreement. Regina pulled away and turned around, Cora was about to shout after her but didn't when she saw a silhouette come out the car; it was a male silhouette, with a muscular build, he wasn't small but he wasn't tall either.
Regina walked up to the car, opened the passenger door and knelt down, "Ready to meet Grandpa and Nana?" she asked.
Sebastian nodded his head, and she was sure it would fall off, he jumped into her arms. With practiced ease Regina stood putting her high heel back on the ground and turned around seeing her mother's shocked face she walked hesitantly and slowly towards her, when she felt Jacks hand on the small of her back giving her a small push she walked a little bit faster.
"Mother," she hesitated again, "This is Jack," she indicated the man standing behind her, "My husband," she swallowed thickly, "And Sebastian," she bounced the little boy on her hip a bit, "Our son!" She looked like she was about to turn and run but luckily Seba, always the ice breaker, leaned over to Cora and stuck his hands out wanting her to carry him. Cora took him with tears streaming down her face.
Sebastian leaned back and smiled at her, "You'w pwitty," he leaned in and lay his head on her shoulder, wrapping his tiny arms around her neck, "Jushch like mummy," he smiled brightly at the thought of his mother.
Regina let out a nervous laugh, "Can-" she swallowed thickly, "Can we come in, or do you want us to leave?" she asked looking anywhere but her mother's broken face.
Cora stepped aside, "You're always welcome here," she all but whispered.
Jack walked in behind her, "Don't stop the party on our account," he grinned.
Henry let out a little laugh as he walked over to Regina hugging his daughter as tight as he could, "He's right, I think everyone should catch up, we can talk tomorrow," he asked, hope shining in his eyes.
"If mother agrees then we would love to," she grinned at her mother who immediately agreed.
0o0
They just sat down on the couch, everyone else in their previous spaces, "So husband," Cora said.
Jack bit the inside of his cheek, "I prefer Jack," he said making Regina smile, she took his hand and leaned more comfortably against the back of the couch.
Cora smiled sadly, "Jack," she corrected he gave her a dashing smile, and in those couple of moments she's known him she knows why Regina married him; he was supporting her, and trying to make her smile, she could guess that he was polite and he was very handsome, his sharp jaw and long hair with beautiful bright green eyes that popped in the light, "Erm," Cora swallowed thinking of something to ask him, "How did you two meet?" She said.
Jack smiled, everyone leaned in, the children were sitting on their parents lap and the adults quiet ready to hear the tale, "Huh, we met at a bar, first year of collage about two days before we get back after Thanksgiving," he smiled lovingly, "I spilled my beer on her and then had a screaming match in the middle of the bar, we got kicked out," he nudged Regina who rolled her eyes.
"Was it love at first sight?" Mary Margaret asked; leave it for her to ask about the chemistry, Regina thought.
"Nope," Regina said, "More like hate at first sight."
0o0
Thanksgiving was awful she should not have gone home, she was such an idiot thinking her mother would be okay with her going to the school she chose instead of Harvard which, in her mother's opinion, was the best school in the world she disagreed, she would talk to her mother about it had she not just spent a week being yelled at for her terrible life choices.
She was sitting in a bar, drinking away her sorrow. When she finished she stood to leave and as she turned around she hit something that was hard and soft at the same time, then she felt the cold liquid running down her back and front and could smell beer.
"WHAT THE HELL!" A heavily accented deep voice bellowed, she could feel his exhale, "I'm sorry," she felt strong hands on her shoulders and was looking into the most beautiful pair of green eyes she's ever seen, "Are you okay, I didn't mean to walk into you, you just got in my way," he said.
She nearly missed his accusation, "I walked into you?! I don't think so, you were the one who spilled beer all over me!" she indicated to herself, she was soaked and smelled like beer.
He let out a deep and throaty chuckle, "Look, if you were paying any attention you would have noticed me and then wouldn't have walked right into me causing me to spill my beer all over you, but I'll forgive you… If you buy me a new beer!" he said cheekily.
It was her turn to chuckle, "I am not getting you a beer, this is your fault, so you go get one yourself," they were toe to toe now voices rising with each word.
"Oh God, look we'll have this all over with if you get me a new beer, or I lick it off you!" he raised his eyebrow.
She was about to retort when the bar man walked over to them, "Oy! If yous gonna be arguin', do it outside!" he said, glaring at them.
They went outside and she started walking off, "Hey," he caught up with her and stopped her from carrying on, before he continued he licked his lips, "How about this, you but me a new beer, and I take you out for dinner or something as a sorry for the small spillage problem," he grinned at her making her roll her eyes.
"I'll think about it!" she grumbled.
He started taking his jumper off and handed it to her, "C'mon it's cold, you could get a sick, put on the jumper, it'll warm you right up," he smiled an apologetic smile at her.
She let out a breath through her nose and took it muttering thanks and walking off again only this time grinning like an idiot.
0o0
"But you didn't go out together straight away?" Regina's father asked.
"No," Regina admitted, "That was when the summer holidays came around, the very first day, I went to bar and coincidentally met him again," she said.
"There was also that thing where I was in her History and Philosophy class," Jack added, "She always had an opinion," he said nodding his head as if he was in deep though.
Regina glared at him, "An opinion that you always shot down," she said.
He shrugged innocently, "I said you always had an opinion, I never said it was a good one," he smiled just as innocently. Regina rolled her eyes again.
0o0
It was the first day of summer vacation and there was no way in hell that Regina Mills was going to Storybrooke to see her mother, she's been avoiding her for months, she's not going home! So here she is in the bar where Jack spilled beer on her (she learned his name from the classes they go to together), she thought back to all those classes they had together, he was annoying, but funny and incredibly hot! She wonders if he would be here tonight, she doubted it, most students were packing, ready to go home for the holidays but she might just explore the city.
She was sitting in a booth when she saw a body sit opposite her, "Let's go!" it exclaimed.
She looked up to see that it was Jack, "What do you want?" she frowned, "Are you following me?"
"No this is my favourite bar. Anyway we're going on our date, remember, my beer your dinner," he stood and reached his hand out to her, "C'mon I have been saving money for ages, just for your perfect dinner," he grinned at her, wiggled his fingers in front of her hoping she would take them.
"This was never a date."
"Kay, are we going…?"
She licked her lips, "Fine," she downed the rest of her drink, grabbed her stuff then his hand, "But I pick where we're eating!" she said before dragging him out the bar.
Jack grinned
They were walking for a while before Regina stopped by a posh looking restaurant and looked at Jack with pleading eyes, he sighed and then nodded.
When they were seated and had ordered and he had his beer, they sat in a comfortable silence until Jack finished drinking everything, then he grinned.
"What?" she was confused.
His grin got bigger, "I'm sorry," he said, she just raised an eyebrow at him, "I've been trying to find the perfect excuse to get you to go out with me and when I saw you at that bar I couldn't resist an-" he didn't get to finish, she interrupted him.
"You spilled the beer on purpose!" she exclaimed. She was actually quite impressed.
"Yup, you were always opinionated in class and you're very clever and pretty, I've got a bit of a crush on you, I didn't really have the guts to ask you out so I made up a reason where you would have to go out with me!" he said sheepishly, biting his lip.
"You know, I'm impressed, kind of angry that I had to buy you a beer for no reason but still, impressed," he grinned.
"So Regina," she shivered at the sound of her name from his lips, "Wanna play twenty questions?"
She smirked, "Okay, I'm starting though," she quickly added. She took a deep breath to give her some time to think, "So, tell me, why are you here and not at home packing or already at home with your parents?" she asked.
He looked down, "My mum and I don't have enough money for me to go home and back, and my dad only has enough to send me here, they're divorced," he said sadly.
"I'm sorry," she said.
He shook it off, "Why aren't you packing or at home?" he asked.
"I-uh-I'm not on very good terms with my parents," she looked down, "We got in a fight when I went over for Thanksgiving," she continued.
Jack took a sip of her wine, "What about your friends? Couldn't you have gone to them?"
"Get your own wine!" she took it from him whilst he smirked, "And no, the town is small, and again, not on the best terms," she looked down again, "What are you majoring in?"
He smiled, "Art, I shall draw you someday, what happened to make you all be on 'bad terms'?" he made air quotations.
She sighed, "They didn't like my choice of school."
They questioning each other for a bit finding out little things like their favourite fruits and who their first kiss was and first time. During their dinner they talked about what they're going to do, they even started making plans together and soon became inseparable.
0o0
"That's cute," said a woman with chocolaty skin, dark hair and dark eyes.
Regina looked and her questioningly until Robin interrupted, "This is Marian, my wife," he smiled, yet his eyes held some longing in them.
"Hi," Regina said.
"Hello, it's nice to finally meet you, every time they talk about the past you're always mentioned," Marian smiled, she looked polite.
"Would you like some wine Regina?" David asked.
Regina smiled politely and shook her head, "No, thank you," she declined politely.
Her mother looked at her suspiciously, "So, Regina, what are you doing here?"
Regina bit her lip, "This may be my fault," Jack said sheepishly, "I kind of kidnapped her and forced her here," everyone looked at him as if he were crazy.
"You challenged Regina?" David asked with laughing eyes.
"Well, no, I just told her to get in the car, and that we were going on a road trip, I only told her where we were heading after a few hours of driving," Jack scratched the back of his neck, "Plus, from what I've heard over the years, you're all pretty much her family, you shouldn't be arguing," he finished then looked at Regina and she looked away from him, not ready for everyone to know just yet.
"Mummy," Sebastian whined, rubbing his eyes, "I wanna go beddy bye," he pouted.
Regina looked at her mother, "Come on we'll find you a room," Cora smiled down at her grandson, he was very adorable, he had Regina's eyes but looked mostly like Jack.
"Nichty nichte, daddy," Sebastian rubbed his eyes again.
"Night, midget," he gave Regina the key to the car to get his pyjamas.
When she got back she went upstairs to find her mother with her son in what used to be her room a decade ago, "Hello," she said, "Here are you pj's," she smiled at her son then walked into the room helping him get dressed her mother sitting on her old desk chair watching them interact.
"I'm sorry," Cora finally said.
Regina let out a breath, "Me too," she looked up at her mother, "there's a different reason for why we are here," her mother raised an eyebrow, the same way the she does and the same way that Sebastian does.
"Wanna tell me what it is? Or am I going to have to wait till tomorrow?" Cora asked.
Regina looked at Sebastian who was already asleep in the middle of the big bed; she swallowed thickly and licked her lips before saying, "I'm pregnant."
Cora gasped, "W-What," she said in awe.
Regina nodded, "I'm pregnant, three months," she looked at her mother who had tears in her eyes, "On the way here I really didn't want to go, but Jack convinced me otherwise," she looked at her mum walked up and hugged her, "I'm, so sorry mum, not that I didn't listen to you, because if I did I wouldn't have gotten Jack and Sebastian, I'm sorry that I pulled away and didn't contact you for ten years. I love you mum."
"I love you, too, Regina." Cora smiled with tears in her eyes, happy to have her little girl in her arms again.
0o0
In the morning Regina woke up to the smell of her mother's cooking, she got her robe and went downstairs, "Morning star shine, the earth say helooo," Jack sang grinning at Cora.
"I see you two have made friends," she raised an eyebrow at the two.
"Oh, you're mum is awesome," Jack said seriously.
"Is that just cause of her cooking," Regina teased.
"Err, I'm never leaving this house, especially with food that is out of this world, not to mention the company," he smiled at Cora, "Which is delightful," he grinned at Regina who rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah just give me some bacon," she grumbled. Jack passed her a place with bacon and pancakes then went to Sebastian who wanted more food and gave him a pancake from the stack, Cora walked up to Regina.
"He's really great Regina," she said so Jack won't hear (he was too busy with Sebastian to notice anyway).
"I know," Regina smiled at her boys whilst rubbing her stomach.
Cora grinned at the touch, "What are you hoping for, boy or girl?" she asked.
Regina smiled, "Girl," she answered, she already has a son and a husband, and it would be nice to havea little girl around.
"Any name ideas," Cora bit her lip.
"Majisti," Jack said, when mother and daughter both raised their eyebrows in the exact same way he elaborated, "Because everyone needs to know she's royalty, also when you do the eyebrow thing together at the same time it is really terrifying."
"Completely ignore him, her name won't be Majisti, it will be Hazel," Regina stated.
Cora smiled, "It's beautiful."
"What's beautiful?" Henry asked walking into the kitchen and kissing his wife on the cheek.
"Daddy," Regina smiled, "I'm pregnant, and I was just telling mum that I like the name Hazel."
Henry smiled like the cat that got the cream, hugging his daughter as hard as he could, "Congratulations, I'm so happy for you," he said.
"Thank you, daddy," Regina bit her lip. While her father shook Jacks hand. She finally got what she wanted, she made up with her mother, and she should have done it years ago.
Fin