Chapter 1

Hearing a jingle as she enters the small town diner, Regina Mills tilts her head up to the bell which had caused such a merry sound. Pursing her lips curiously, the brunette then scans the establishment, taking in its unique scenery of forest wallpaper and low lamp lighting. Making a move towards the counter, the young woman plasters on her famous fake smile which she has used for the past few months as an older woman appears, ready to take her order.

"Hello. Can I get two of your chicken soups to go please"

Nodding slowly at the sudden newcomer, Granny; the owner of the diner heads towards the kitchen while glancing at the brunette warily. Passing back through with the order, the older woman clears her throat towards two of her regular customers at the end of the counter before gesturing with her head for them to look over at the stranger. Placing the two pots onto the counter, Granny gives a quick smile then states. "That'll be 6.10" turning her gaze back to her regulars, the older woman takes a breath as one approaches Regina curiously.

"Hello?"

Looking across, Regina raises an eyebrow at the extremely cheery woman stood before her before speaking. "Hello..."

"Are you lost?" The woman asks while appearing concerned.

"I'm sorry?" Regina questions back, clearly confused while sporting a frown at what the other woman meant.

The short haired woman smiles, realising the confusion "I asked if you were lost..we don't usually get any new people in town and well I'm Mayor Blanchard, I know everyone in this town" pointing her finger towards Regina, the mayor chuckles. "You are not one of them"

Trying to hide her surprise at the announced title, Regina relaxes a little, having been on the defence at being given such targeted questions. "Oh..no. No I'm not..."

Clasping her hands together, the short haired woman tilts her head in thought before furthering her questioning. "Passing through?"

"Well I'm not entirely sure..I..." Gulping down a lump, feeling pressured, Regina takes hold of both soup pots. "If you would excuse me, I have someone waiting"

Noticing the order, the Mayor nods before replying. "Oh yes of course! It was nice meeting you...?"

Having turned to leave, the brunette pauses while trying to remain calm. "Regina. Good day"' hurrying out the door before any more words were spoken, Regina marches down the pathway.

Returning to her seat, the short haired woman glances towards her daughter. "Emma could you do me a favour and keep an eye out on our newcomer? Somethings not right"

"Sure mom" Emma responds with a smile. "What did she say her name was again?"

"Regina" frowning once more, the Mayor ponders over how familiar the name seems to be.

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Juggling the meal she purchased, Regina drops her keys onto the side bowl and kicks her heels off before walking through her new apartment, finding her friend sat upon her couch while flipping through a magazine. "Hey I'm back..thanks for your help with the move and everything.."

"Not a problem" rising from her seat and dropping the magazine on top of a box upon the coffee table, Kathryn walks up to Regina and gestures down the hall. "She's been an angel..see you tomorrow"

Smiling at the compliment, the brunette nods. "Will do. Thanks again" closing the door behind her blonde friend, Regina makes her way down the crammed hall, calling out as she goes. "Princess, where are you?!" Hearing a soft giggle coming from the room to the right, the brunette smiles to herself as she pokes her head around the door to find her daughter. "Hi kitten.."

Waving from her position on her bed while surrounded by cardboard boxes, the smaller brunette, also mommy's clone, replies. "Hello mommy! Kitkat gone?"

"Yes dear she's gone. Come and have your lunch before we have to unpack all these boxes!" Regina holds her hand out towards the small girl.

Shifting off of her bed, slipping to the floor, the mini brunette walks up to her mother and grabs her hand to be lead out. Reaching the kitchen, the girl tilts her head up curiously. "Can my room be yellow?"

Releasing her grip, the older brunette runs a hand through her daughter's locks. "Of course. It can be pink with big fluffy unicorns if that is what you wanted" shuffling through an opened box on the island, Regina reaches two bowls and spoons before pouring their soup into each.

Lifting herself up onto a stool, the small brunette bites her lip before staring across the counter top wide eyed. "Why do we live here mommy?"

Freezing in her movement, the young woman keeps her back to the girl as she gulps down a lump. "It..it was just something we needed to do Mia..besides we may have some family here.."

Looking surprised, Mia leans forward against the marble excitedly with a grin. "Really?!"

Chuckling lightly at her reaction, Regina regains her composure then turns, passing a bowl across to the girl before sitting opposite. "Oh I get it, I'm not enough for you anymore princess?" Pretending to be offended, the brunette raises an eyebrow.

Giggling at her mother's response, the small brunette replies. "No mommy, I want you with me forever!"

Attempting a smile, Regina nods slowly. "Me too..."

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Strolling down Main Street while checking her phone for directions to an address, Regina stumbles back at colliding with another being. Inhaling deeply, the brunette lowers her phone guiltily and looks up wide eyed at the stranger she clearly walked into.

"I am so sorry..I..should have been paying attention to where I was going.."

Rocking on her feet, the blonde stranger stares intrigued as she glances towards the newcomers phone. "Looks like you were...a little too much" gesturing towards the device, the woman smiles. "That house is on Mifflin..keep going to the end of Main Street and take a left..stick to the curve and it's on the corner"

"Oh.." Feeling herself growing embarrassed at the situation, Regina brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks..it may be a small town but I would end up in circles"

"You're welcome. Any time you need directions or anything, you know like a talk just call the sheriff"

Frowning at the statement, the young woman goes to question. Noticing her confused expression, the blonde chuckles and points to herself awkwardly. "Yeah..that's me..maybe I should have started with that.." Holding her hand out quickly, the Sheriff introduces herself properly. "Emma Swan..or Sheriff Swan..you know..depends on what you want to call me..most people here just call me Sheriff or Emma so..yeah..you must now think I'm insane and what the hell am I doing guarding this town.." Rubbing her spare hand across the back of her neck nervously, Emma scans the street to avoid Regina's gaze.

Holding back a laugh, the brunette accepts the hand shake and replies. "Regina Mills and if I get to have a say on the matter how about Swan? I bet no one calls you that"

Letting out a grin, the blonde meets the other woman's eyes. "Until now it would seem..and did you say Mills? Wow..I-"

Pulling her hand back sharply, Regina appears agitated. "I have to go. Thanks for the directions" circling the Sheriff in a hurry, the brunette rushes along the pavement.

Watching her leave, Emma frowns at the sudden departure before reaching to call her mother with an update.

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Taking a few deep breaths, Regina stands upon the porch which decorated the white mansion. Pacing up and down in small steps, the brunette internally argues with herself before coming to a halt with a quick nod and lifts her fisted hand to knock on the wooden door. Averting her eyes anywhere but the front, the young woman then swallows hard hearing the front door open and glances in the direction of the older woman who has answered.

"Oh..my...Regina?"

Opening her mouth to speak, Regina grows teary as she stares. "Are..are you..Cora Mills?" Seeing the woman simply nod, the brunette tries to think of what to say next while confused at how Cora guessed. "..how did you.."

Also growing teary, the older woman attempts a smile. "..you look like your father.."

Giving a small smile back, Regina then let's out a water laugh at what is said next.

"And his smile..."

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Entering the diner, Emma rushes over towards the counter and slides up onto a stool beside her mother who is currently in conversation with Ruby, the diners waitress and owners granddaughter. "Mom, she's a Mills"

Pausing the conversation, both women looks towards the blonde before the Mayor questions. "What do you mean?"

Rolling her eyes, the Sheriff gestures dramatically with her hand. "She's a Mills! The newcomer..she was looking for Mifflin, we got talking and she told me her name. Regina Mills!"

Confused, Ruby cuts in. "How? I thought there were only 3 Mills? Well..2 because Zelena is Cora's daughter and not Henry's, sometimes this town is hard to keep up!"

"Ruby's right, there hasn't been any other-" dropping her mouth open, Mary Margaret looks between the awaiting pair. "There was! A long while ago..Cora she had another child"

"Wow the plot thickens.."

Raising an eyebrow towards the tall brunette, Emma sniggers.

"What? Since when does this town get any action? It's like a scene from Desperate Housewives!" Ruby defends her comment with a slight sulk and crosses her arms.

"Yeah okay Rubes..anyway what the hell happened?" The sheriff questions, intrigued by the what her mother is saying.

Biting her lip in thought, the mayor rests her chin upon the palm of her hand as she leans against the counter top. "Honestly, I'm not sure however there were rumours that Cora had this breakdown and the child was given up. Some say she couldn't handle Zelena at the time as she constantly wanted all her attention"

Emma's curious expression falls at hearing the tale and appears sad for the woman she had just met. "So because of a spoiled brat of a sibling, Regina grew up elsewhere? That's..terrible"

"I know.." Thinking it over, Mary Margaret and Ruby share a pitied look before the trio grow silent.

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Following the older woman through the large house towards the kitchen, Regina glances around her surroundings with a hint of sadness at how different her life may have been if she were brought up here with her family.

"Would you care for a drink? Coffee? Tea?"

Turning her head to face Cora, the younger brunette bites her lip in thought, still trying to process what is happening.

Picking up on her new found daughters vibe, the woman offers a hint of a smile before reaching inside the cupboard to retrieve a brandy bottle. Watching, Regina makes her way up to the island and sits herself on a stool as her mother pours two glasses then passes one across. "Thanks.."

Also sitting down, Cora clasps her glass between her hands rather nervously. "I bet you have some questions for me..."

"Well...yes I guess I do"

Nodding, the older brunette signals for her to continue. "Ask away.."

Staring directly across at her mother, the brunette sighs. "Why?"

Looking down guiltily, Cora takes a minute to reply. "I couldn't cope..I know you probably blame me but the truth is I'm glad you do..I just don't want you to blame yourself because you never did nothing wrong and it was never about not wanting you because we did. You were loved Regina. Still are. I struggled for some time, you see, you have an older sister Zelena and..she was a handful in more ways than one. She was in complete denial at the thought of a sibling and was determined to be the only child. We did what we thought was best for you. I know it's no excuse but it's all I've got"

Having grown teary at the idea of being wanted and loved, Regina then scoffs in disbelief at the last part. "So basically, you're telling me that you gave in to a spoiled brats demand of being an only child by casting me aside?"

"No dear..it was also because I couldn't handle it..I had become ill and..there was a time where I wasn't myself and God help me for this but..I even forgot to feed you your bottle..that was the limit. I knew I had to do something"

"You could have gotten help! instead of- wait.." Gulping down a lump, the young woman lets a tear roll down her cheek. "You didn't just give me up straight away? How long until you-"

Cora clears her throat and fists her hands in an attempt to stop herself from reaching across and stroking the tear away. "3 months.."

"I don't know how you could have ever done that..I could never do that to Mia, that's..." Shaking her head, Regina stops.

Frowning, the older woman sips her drink. "Mia? Whose Mia?"

"My daughter. The reason as to why I'm here. Raising her had me question what had gone so wrong for my parents to do what they did and I needed.." Closing her eyes to prevent saying anymore than she needs to, the brunette downs her drink and rises from her stool, worrying her mother who also stands. "I need to get home"

"Regina..."

Holding her hand up to silence the woman, Regina moves towards the door. "I need time..you owe me that.." Turning on her heel, the brunette makes it to the front door which promptly swings open revealing a redheaded woman.

Taken back by the stranger, the woman frowns and steps to the side. "Mother? We're we expecting company?"

Eyes widening at the realisation, Regina bolts out the door and down the pathway.

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Walking fast down Main Street while trying to keep her feelings at bay, the brunette stops upon seeing the sheriff's car pull up outside the station across the street. Looking over, Regina watches as Emma appears from the driver's side and waves over at seeing her. Freezing, the brunette glances down the street awkwardly as she hears a few hurried footsteps.

"Hey.." The blonde smiles as she comes to a halt beside the woman.

"Hi.." Managing to look over, Regina gives a weak smile while hugging her arms.

Tilting her head concerned, Emma makes a suggestion. "You look like you could do with that talk.."

Chuckling at how obvious it may seem, the brunette replies with a sigh. "Like you wouldn't believe.."

A/N: let me know what you guys think!