Chapter 1 - Forgotten
"He's your father."
She woke up sweating. It had been an intense dream. But the thing is, it didn't feel like a dream. It felt like a memory. And knowing her mother, it could be true. She had to find out.
_x_
Regina entered the shop eagerly. She was in a hurry.
"Regina. I didn't expect to see you here."
"I need a potion."
"Look, If you want to destroy Marian..."
She shivered at the mention of Robin's wife.
"That's not why I came, Rumple."
The former Evil Queen looked... Desperate. Now, that's a first.
"I need a memory spell."
He sighed.
"You really think forgetting is..."
"Stop guessing. I don't want to forget. There's something I need to remember."
"Oh. And what is that, if you don't mind me asking."
"Actually, I do. My life is my concern."
"Well, if you really want that potion, you'll have to tell me. That's the deal, dearie."
She closed her fists. That imp!
"Fair enough. I think that my mother told me something about Henry when she came to Storybrooke. I need to know what."
"The boy? What could your mother know that you don't?"
"Not my son. My father."
For the first time, Rumpelstiltskin was speechless. He had loved Cora at some point. And he lost her to the prince. The memory didn't exactly please him.
"Alright. I'll get it."
_x_
She stared at the small glass. The liquid inside it was black. The potion to remember was blue, but this one... She reminded a lesson with Rumple a few decades back. He had told her that forgetting was meant to help, but remembering... "A memory is usually painful" he said. "That's why the potion is dark. Just like it's purpose."
Regina didn't really want to know, but she needed to. She was done with illusions. She had had enough for a lifetime.
"Please, don't let it be true."
As she drank it, a memory popped up. A conversation with her mother.
"Regina, I really want us to be mother and daughter. Normal ones. So, I think we should be honest with each other."
"But I'm always honest with you, mother."
"I know. But I've been keeping something from you for way too long. I don't know how you'll react, but I trust that you're strong enough to handle this."
"Mother, you're scaring me. Just say it."
"Rumple's your father."