Cora Is Still Company, Chapter One: You Are Enough

Author's Note: This story piggybacks off of my previous work, "Cora Is Company." I love writing about Cora and Regina so much that I couldn't bear to stop where Kitsis and Horowitz said to. After all, this is the wonderful world of fanfiction. Therefore, this canon assumes that Chapters One through Six of "Cora Is Company" occurred. Furthermore, it picks up during the last five minutes of "The Miller's Daughter." Please review, and, though it may sound vain, enjoy.

Characters:

Cora Mills

Regina Mills

Mr. Gold

Mary Margaret Blanchard

David Nolan

Regina entered Mr. Gold's Pawn Shop and ran to the back room. She saw her mother raising the Dark One's dagger over Mr. Gold, as though to stab him. With inhuman speed, she jumped across the room and pressed the steadily beating heart into Cora's body.

Cora dropped the dagger and reeled, Rumplestiltskin's name quickly reappearing on it. The Queen of Hearts reeled about for a moment, but then stood up straight and looked upon Regina with love in her eyes for the first time. She smiled and laughed, feeling true joy.

Regina returned her mother's affectionate smile, tears coming to her eyes.

Suddenly, Cora stumbled about, noticing blood running from her chest, just as Rumplestiltskin noticed that his wound had disappeared. She began to fall, but her daughter caught her.

Cora's eyes, newly opened, looked from Gold to Regina. "This would have been enough," she stated, to herself. And then, looking into Regina's eyes, "You would have been enough." Her eyes began to close.

Regina didn't know where the urge came from, but she leaned down and kissed her mother on the cheek.

A sudden gust of wind blew through the room, knocking over chairs and ruffling both Gold and Regina's hair. And Cora opened her eyes, and began to smile again.

Regina helped her mother to her feet and embraced her.

The sound of running feet pervaded the room as an all-too-familiar voice cried, "Regina!" Mary Margaret Blanchard and David Nolan entered hurriedly.

"You!" Regina snarled. "You tricked me! And you tried to kill my mother!"

David grabbed a nearby sword and pointed it at Cora. "How is she alive?"

"Ask yourself how your wife is alive, dearie," Gold chimed in. "Ask yourself how your grandson is alive."

The Prince pondered for a split second before it dawned on him: "True love's kiss?"

"If Regina's mother could feel love, the love they might have shared as mother and daughter would be true love. When she reinserted it, that love became valid."

Mary Margaret was a mess of emotions. She was filled with fear at the prospect of Cora and Gold both being fully revived, but relieved that she had not completely shattered Regina. "But if Cora is alive, how can you be alive."

Regina was busy supporting Cora, who, despite displaying obvious signs of living, seemed faint. Gold observed this.

"When Cora's heart reentered her body, enough of her life's essence was transferred to save me. She didn't lose it all because Regina's kiss negated the candle's curse."

"Cora is coming with us," Charming declared.

"What?! No!" Regina protested loudly. "You will not take my mother from me!"

"You think that just because she suddenly has a heart means she can't be held accountable for anything she's done? You think you two can walk away? I'm taking Cora downtown."

Mary Margaret turned on her husband. "She's not well, Charming! You can't put her in a cell yet. She needs to recover."

"What, so she can kill us all? She's not the Dark One, but she's still Cora. She can't be trusted."

Regina moved her hand and quickly generated a fireball to throw at Charming. He charged, knocking her on her back.

"Stop!"

Cora had chosen this moment to speak.

"Don't hurt my daughter! I'll come with you if you don't harm Regina."

"Do you swear it?" Charming asked urgently.

"I swear it," Cora swore.

"Mother, no!" Regina cried, a heart-wrenching sound to all who heard.

"Regina, let me do this," Cora pleaded. "I'm so sorry, my darling daughter. I've caused so much pain and hurt. I ruined your life." For the first time in her adult life, Cora began to cry. A single tear fell from her left eye, followed by one from the right, and then a river from both. Cora Mills wept. She fell to her knees and felt all the remorse she had kept out for so many years.

Gold turned his face from the pitiful sight. Mary Margaret felt tears on her own face. Regina began to weep along with her mother. David simply looked on the witch, his face a death mask. However, he did not attempt to approach Cora. He allowed her time to grieve for the life she might have had.

When Cora's sobbing seemed to slow, David stepped towards her, drawing a pair of handcuffs from his jacket. Cora, accepting her fate, stood, holding her hands out towards the younger man in resignation.

Regina sobbed uncontrollably. Gold, in an uncharacteristically kind moment, walked over to his pupil and placed a hand on her shoulder, a fatherly kind of comforting gesture.

Mary Margaret placed Cora's arm over her shoulder to support her. As she did this, she looked into Cora's eyes. The cold, calculating monster was gone, replaced by huge eyes full of pain and sorrow.

David and Mary Margaret led Cora from the store. They proceeded a few blocks to the police station, where David opened the door to the cell on the far left, where Regina, Gold, Emma, and Snow had all stayed. Cora laid down on the cot and went to sleep.

There are tears on my keyboard. Please review and make them go away. :)