Disclaimer: I do not own anything in relation to Once Upon a Time or its characters. Everything belongs to ABC and I'm only writing this for my own amusement. If others find it amusing, it's an added bonus.
A/N: The idea for this collection of one-shots came to me while I was re-watching the episode The Miller's Daughter. I always noticed how there were so many important details the writers never bothered to explain in Once or things that happened off-screen, suddenly appearing in some future episode. (How did Mulan/Aurora save Philip? Where did Belle's blue dress come from in the Skin Deep plotline? When did Rumpel tell her about the dagger and request her to hide it before 2x14?) So, I wanted to try an experiment. I plan to explain the missing pieces in my own (possibly hilarious) perspective. Just a fun project and it also gives me an excuse to re-watch the past seasons of Once.
For instance:
What happened after everything faded to black after The Miller's Daughter? Well…
Regina held her mother's heart in her hands. Literally. She sucked a deep breath in, her own heart rampaging within the hollow of her throat, and slowly she released it through her nose. Her mother never noticed her reappear inside the imp's pawnshop, consumed as she was by the task she so desperately craved to complete. The cursed dagger rose in the air, determined to plunge down through Rumpelstiltskin's heart. Only the last n of his name was left now, his life seeping away like sand in an hourglass.
The heart sank between her mother's shoulder blades, returning to its original home inside her empty, cold chest. A moist sound split the air as Regina removed her hand. Cora gasped and the dagger tumbled from her fingers, clattering on the floor. Neither one bent to retrieve it—Cora because she was clutching her chest as her heart kicked back to life, and Regina because she was frozen in place, waiting breathlessly for the change to occur. If it ever would.
Would her mother truly love her now?
She does not love you, Regina. She has no heart, Snow's voice curled around her mind like poison. Well, Regina just changed that for the better.
Cora turned around to face her daughter. At first, she seemed shocked by what Regina had done, but her heart must have started working again. A smile gradually spread over her red lips. For once, she looked genuinely happy to see Regina standing there.
"Mother?" Regina hesitantly approached her mother, wanting so much to believe it had worked. There was love reflected in Cora's eyes as she beheld her daughter. Yes, it was working. Her mother had her heart back and everything would be alright. A hand stretched to stroke Regina's face…
….and that was when her mother collapsed.
"Mother!" Regina knelt and took her mother in her arms. Cora's head lolled, her caramel hair fanning out over the floor. No. No! This was not supposed to happen. This was supposed to make her mother love her, not…not…kill her, Regina realized with dread.
She didn't notice Rumpelstiltskin regain his strength, rising swiftly from the bed.
She didn't notice him bend to claim the dagger, his name restored.
She didn't notice anything…except the fact that her mother was dying in her arms. God, she was so pale. Her arms flailed, the muscles growing useless already.
"Your mother did you no favors," Rumpel muttered from behind.
"Shut up," she spat over her shoulder. Tears stung beneath her eyelids, threatening to overflow, hot and wet. That sick, self-preserving imp! "You stole her life! You cast some spell…or…" She shook her head listlessly and swept the hair off her mother's forehead.
The light was fading quickly in her mother's eyes. Her lips formed Regina's name, but no sound came out. Then her eyelids finally drifted closed and there was nothing left of her except the promise of what may have been. All for the sake of Rumpelstiltskin's life.
"I did nothing," he responded, evasive as ever before. Regina shook her head even more furiously. Nonsense. He was the one who was dying. Had been dying. Who else could have…?
"Regina, stop!" The curtain billowed and Snow White dashed into the back room. She halted in her tracks, her mouth falling open as she gazed in horror upon Regina cradling Cora's limp body. Charming rushed in after her and bumped into her shoulder. It was far too late. Cora was dead and Regina found herself face-to-face with the murderer.
Her.
Always her.
Regina glared spitefully at her archenemy, one thousand curses swirling through her head with the tips of her fingers itching to release them.
Snow gaped in open-mouthed horror.
No one dared to breathe as the time ticked away.
"Well, this is awkward," Charming sighed. He was exceptional at stating the obvious. Behind Regina, Rumpelstiltskin yawned, having grown bored already of the drama. If Snow didn't close her mouth soon, she'd certainly catch a fly or two.
"I believe Regina is waiting for the unlikely moment where her looks will kill," Rumpel remarked. Regina's lip curled, but all she did was glare. And glare some more. Oh, if looks could really kill, Snow White would be stained rose red and splattered over the entire room by now.
"You…" Regina hissed. Truthfully, her eyelids were aching from glaring so much and she was trying to find something clever to say. Every good villain had to have a good line. "Remember this: all magic comes with a price." She bared her teeth threateningly.
"That one is mine," Rumpel said defensively. Regina rolled her eyes.
"No matter where you go, Snow White, I will always find you."
"Mine," Charming stated. He placed his arms protectively around his beloved wife. Regina groaned to the high heavens. Was there any line in this town that wasn't already taken by someone else? She supposed she would just have to settle with…
"You will rue this day, Snow White." Rumpel dipped his head approvingly. Then Regina and her mother's body vanished in a thick cloud of purple fog. Charming coughed as it filled his lungs. He waved a hand to clear it away.
Snow finally closed her mouth.
"I feel sick," Snow mumbled, wrapping her arms around her belly. Rumpel tensed while re-buttoning his dress shirt. No tie, but it would have to do until he returned to his empty, pink house.
"Have I ever told you about my shop's latest policy? You ruin it, you buy it," he warned. Charming comforted Snow with a gentle pat on the shoulder. She looked like death warmed over, paler than Rumpel had been when knocking at death's door.
"Should we leave now?" Charming looked from his wife to Rumpelstiltskin. There was nothing more to do now that the dealmaker was alive and Cora was vanquished.
"I'd prefer it if you did," Rumpel said coolly. Charming ushered Snow toward the curtain. She was in shock, barely shuffling her feet. "Oh, and Snow? I knew you could do it."
It was his way of extending his gratitude, but clearly Snow did not appreciate it in that form. Breaking out of her stupor, she spun wildly on Rumpel and sent him a piercing look. It was nowhere near Regina's black glare, but it made Rumpel squirm uneasily nonetheless. He hadn't forgotten what Snow was like in the Enchanted Forest. There were enough Thumpers and Bambis in the big forest in the sky to prove that.
"I think I understand why Emma wants to punch you in the face," she retorted. Rumpel didn't take it to heart. It was probably that little black spot clouding her heart doing the talking. Even someone as pure as Snow White could not escape the repercussions of taking a life.
When they were gone, Rumpelstiltskin bobbed up and down on his heels. He felt so alive, so refreshed. His finger traced the letters of his name on the blade of the dagger. Never did he imagine he'd be happy to see his name engraved there. How should he celebrate? Should he call up Granny's Diner and order a bottle of wine? Should he head down to the hospital and inform Belle that he was alive, even if she did not remember who he was? Oh, he could kiss her again!
He rolled up the woolen blanket, only to notice the bloodstain from his now-healed wound.
"There'll be no washing that out."
…
Just the start of many to (hopefully) come. I hope everyone enjoyed it on some level and if you noticed any holes you want me to fill for Once, all you have to do is say so! At the very least, it might keep us all entertained until the show comes back. (One month!)