A/N So I had this idea in my head for my first OUAT fic. I have fallen in love with this show and I LOVE Regina. Let me know what ya think and sorry if the format is messed up! -Kaila
Regina, I hope you get this before it's too late. I regret what I did from the start but my need for power got the best of me, as it always does. You have a daughter, with your soulmate. Don't act so surprised that I knew about Robin Hood, I always have. The truth is, you met him.. It was during your curse, he too was sent to Storybrooke. You saw his tattoo and explained what that stupid fairy had told you. It was love at first sight and before I knew it, he was proposing. I had to do something. I know you thought it was impossible for me to get you, but I did. When you discovered you were carrying a child I knew I had to take action. When your daughter was born I wiped you and Robin's memories and sent him back to the enchanted forest. You're daughter's name is Claire and I hope you will be able to find her and I hope you will reunite with Robin. I just wanted to do what I thought was best for you. Claire was adopted by a single mother living in New York named Amelia Walsh. She was born a year before you got Henry, making her 16. Losing her made you want a baby, even if you didn't know. I hope you can find her. -Your mother
Regina doesn't know if she should cry or scream so she settles for both, Leave it to Cora to be dead and still sending her curveball after curveball. Robin comes running in after hearing his wife. "What is it?" He asks in desperation. Wordlessly she hands him the parchment. He silently reads it. Regina continues to cry and slowly sinks to the ground.
"We….we….." Robin can't find the words either. The door to their house opens. Henry, Emma, and Snow look at them in surprise and curiosity.
"Mom?" Henry questions breaking the silence. "What happened?"
"Cora." She manages to choke out. Snow walks to the pair and gently takes the parchment from Robin who has put his arms around the trembling brunette.
"Is this even possible?" Snow asks. Regina shrugs. Not even she knew exactly what her mother's magic was capable of. Emma and Henry look at them still completely confused.
"You have a daughter."
"What?!" Emma and Henry exclaim.
"Read this." Snow demands handing the letter to them. There was no way to explain it, reading Cora's message was the only way for them to understand. How could Cora take her own daughter's child away?
"We have to find her." Robin speaks up. Regina looks up in shock.
"And tell her what?" She asks hopelessly.
"We'll think of something." Emma says softly. Henry grins.
"Operation Claire."
Later once Henry and Roland are asleep in bed. Regina comes down the stairs and joins her husband on the sofa.
"How are you not angry with me?" She asks cuddling up to him. "Cora is my mother and she took our daughter from us. We could have had this whole other life together."
"What Cora did is not your fault." Robin says facing her and cupping her face in his hands. "Don't blame yourself. Regina, I love you and I know how hurt you are. But everything is going to be okay."
"We lost so much time." Regina replies sadly.
"It all happened for a reason. We found each other again. And just think, we probably wouldn't have our sons." Robin reminds her, leaning forward and kissing her forehead. "We'll get past this, we are GOING to find her and make things right," Regina nods, trying to convince herself that Robin was right. He always knew how to make her feel better. They just had to have hope. Damn it, now she owed Snow another quarter.
"Okay so there are four Claire Walsh in New York." Emma says to Robin and Regina. "I've eliminated two due to age."
"Alright." Regina replies anxiously. "So which one's our daughter."
Emma types something onto the computer and then turns the screen. Two images appear one of a blonde hair brown eyed girl and one of a raven haired girl with eyes that mirrored Regina's. There was clearly no question of it.
"That's her." Robin whispers. Emma nods, she'd thought so too.
"She lives in Manhattan, we could leave now." Emma tells the pair. Regina nods and reaches for her purse. Her and Robin had missed out on enough. Even if they had to lie about who they were for the time being they were going to see their daughter.
"Claire Adelaide Walsh." Regina smiles as she takes on last look at her daughter's photo.
The trip to New York seemed to take forever for the Robin and Regina. They'd decided it'd be best to leave Roland with Snow, Charming and Henry. The last thing they wanted was to overwhelm Claire. Emma had helped them come up with a story to tell her. Robin and Regina had been struggling with money and knew they couldn't give Claire the life she deserved. It was the hardest thing they'd ever done and they regretted doing it every single day. Hopefully Claire would have her father's understanding mind and not her mother's severe stubbornness.
"Her mother should be leaving." Emma says when the pull up to the house. "I checked her work schedule, she's a police officer and she's working nights right now." They watch as the door to the New York townhouse opens. A redhead in a cop uniform exits, searching for her keys. A dark haired girl comes up behind her smiling. Claire. She hands her the keys and says something Emma, Robin and Regina don't catch. The woman who had taken Regina's role as Claire's mother hugs the brunette goodbye. Jealousy erupts inside the former evil queen for a moment. She hadn't thought she'd feel this way but seeing Claire with a different mom was hard.
"Lock the door!" Mrs. Walsh calls. Claire rolls her eyes but in a joking manner. Robin smiles, she was like a mini Regina. He looks at his wife and sees her eyes growing wet. He takes her hand tightly. She was blaming herself still and he was determined to make this better.
"Hey, let's go meet our daughter."