A/N: I want to thank Kamehameha111, EvilRegalJordan, impureevilregal, jcat30 and ReginaMills47 for reviewing/following/favouriting the last chapter. It means so much that people like this story :)

When Cora re-entered her daughter's room that evening, Regina was all prepared. She knew that her mother's first question would be what she had asked earlier. Cora never forgot anything like that, especially when it involved disciplining her daughter.

"I have given you the time I said I would," the Queen of Hearts said as soon as she walked through the door. "Now, are you going to do as I say, or do I have to lock you up with your friend as a prisoner?"

Regina had to bite back the temptation to make a sarcastic comment about the fact she was pretty much already a prisoner and answer as she had told herself she would.

"I'll be good," she said, bowing her head slightly as if in defeat. She could sense her mother's triumph, but she wasn't finished yet. "However, only on one condition."

"And what would that be, my dear?"

"That if I wear my hair like you want me to, then I want you to grant my childhood wish."

"And which one might that be?"

"I want you to grow my hair as long as you can make it." Regina watched as the tension drained from Cora's face.

"And why would you want such long hair, surely it would be a nuisance?"

Regina sighed and looked down. "Oh Mama, I'm just tired of all this." She gestured to herself. "Tired of all the enemies, tired of all the fighting. I just want to be a little girl again." She let out a small sob and, forcing herself to bring up an image of Daniel in her mind, a single tear dipped down her cheek.

The Queen of Hearts went forward immediately and embraced her daughter. This was what she'd always wanted, and Regina knew that.

"Oh, my darling girl, I always loved you. Ever since you banished me from our land, I realised I missed you. Yes, you were a disobedient girl, but here we have the chance to start anew."

Regina smiled to herself. It seemed as though the Queen of Hearts had fallen for the very trap she had always warned everyone against. Love is weakness. Regina, or rather, Regina the perfect daughter, was Cora's weakness. The younger Queen bit her lip to hide her smirk. Everything was going to plan.

"Yes, yes we do, and I want to make the most of it."

"I knew you'd come round, see it my way. Mother's always know best." Cora's voice was soft, yet smug now that she knew she was in charge. "Now turn around."

Regina complied, turning away from her mother to face the window. After a moment, she felt the pins in her hair being removed all at one by magic until her locks fell loose down her back.

"I do so love your hair long, my dear," Cora stated suddenly. "You know, before you were born, you weren't originally going to be called Regina. I wanted to call you Rapunzel, but your father didn't like it, he said it was a ridiculous name and refused to let me call you such. Seeing as though he so rarely goes against me, I changed it. He did try to compromise by suggesting using Rapunzel as your middle name after all, but I never wished for you to have more than one name. Queen Regina Rapunzel doesn't sound quite right, does it?"

Startled by her mother's sudden outburst, Regina gave a quick shake of her head to show that she agreed with her mother. She was also very glad that her father had put his foot down. Rapunzel – what a name!

"Stay still, my dear, this will only take a minute."

Regina found that the feeling of her growing was a strange one, she could feel it getting heavier and heavier by the second, yet she stood stock still, continuing the perfect daughter façade. If everything went according to plan, then she would be out of the tower by the time darkness fell.

"There, all done, my darling," Cora told her, stroking her daughter's long hair.

"Thank you, mother," Regina replied, smiling as she was led over to the mirror. Looking at herself in the glass, Regina nearly did a double take. She looked so much like her younger self with her dark hair hanging to the floor, her mother standing proudly behind her.

"It's so nice to have my daughter back." Cora continued, running a finger softly down Regina's cheek. "Yet, you must be tired after all that has happened today. Tonight, I will allow you to rest, and your dinner will be brought up to you as it would do you no good to be tired when I introduce you to the rest of the court. Unfortunately, I have some business to attend to this evening and therefore, you will have to amuse yourself up here. I can't have you wandering the castle alone, surely you can understand that?"

"Of course I understand, mother."

"Good. There are guards at the door if you need anything." And with that said, the Queen of hearts turned and strode out, majestically opening the door with a flick of her wrist.

Regina waited for the tell-tale click of the lock before she turned back to thinking about her plan. For once, she was glad the door was locked. If she was caught escaping, then it would help to have those few precious seconds to help her escape. Those few precious seconds in which she could reach the ground and run out of sight. For she was going to get out of that window using the hair that her mother had just grown long for her.

Looking back in the mirror, the Queen started the long and strenuous task of plaiting her long hair, weaving the sections in and out of each other until she reached the tips of her hair. There, she tied a bow around it too keep it together and then went on the hunt for something to cut it all off with. To climb down the tower, she would have to use it as a rope, and she couldn't use it as a rope if it was still attached to her head.

Rummaging through the drawers in the dressing table, she found nothing of any use. There were books, spare sheets and blankets, but that was about it. However, Regina wasn't about to give up there. Instead, she walked over to the wardrobe, and after finding nothing in there, went over to the bedside table. She was that close to nearly giving up that she nearly missed the letter-opener in the top drawer. Taking it out, she ran a finger lightly over the blade, checking how sharp it was. She bit her lip. It was quite blunt, but it would have to do.

Sitting at the dressing table in front of the mirror, Regina tried turning her head to see where she was cutting before putting the letter opener to her hair and attempting to cut through, sawing through a few strands at a time. Her hand started to ache after a while, but once she'd finally managed it, she turned away from the mirror, not even daring to see what a state her hair was in and started tying the braid to the bottom of the bedpost, tugging it to make sure that it would not come loose. Then, taking a deep breath, she strode over to the window and looked out. There was no one around. Gathering the hair up into her arms, she quickly threw it out, praying that it would reach the ground. It annoyingly fell a couple of metres short. It seemed she would just have to risk jumping the last bit.

She took one last look around the room, telling herself she was doing the right thing, before she grabbed hold of the braid and climbed out of the window…