~Author's Note~

I'm going to the beach today for a few days so this will be my last post until I get back, but I'm planning on writing a bunch while I'm there! I don't own OUAT. ABC does.

I am also interested in writing more about Regina. I would love to receive some prompts from readers! I don't write smut and I'm not a huge SwanQueen romantic shipper but I do love their friendship. Shoot some my way if you have them and I would be more than willing to write them!

Warning: alcohol abuse, mentions of abuse

Chapter 7

Granny paced the study in Regina's house. Regina had been gone for hours and Granny worried that she might have done something drastic. Granny had moved Katelyn into a guest room and gotten her settled.

By midnight, Granny had called Regina multiple times. She was sitting in the living room watching tv when she heard a crash upstairs.

She rushed upstairs worried that Katelyn may have hurt herself further. But Katelyn was sleeping soundly. Granny continued to Regina's room and pushed the door open.

Regina sat on the floor of her room holding a bottle of vodka. Her make-up was smudged and it was obvious she had been crying.

Granny sighed and sat down next to her. She sat silently, waiting for Regina. Finally, Regina spoke.

"He hates me," Regina whispered.

"Henry." Regina nodded. Granny continued. "I'm sure he doesn't hate you. He's just confused."

A tear fell down Regina's cheek and she tried to take another drink from the bottle, but Granny took it from her.

"You've had enough," she said and lifted Regina from the floor. Regina stumbled so Granny basically dragged her into bed. Regina let the tears fall as Granny grabbed a glass of water and a trash can to put next to the bed.

She sat on the bed next to Regina and rubbed her back until she finally fell asleep. Then Granny wandered downstairs and settled herself in a chair. She figured she wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon.


Regina woke with a splitting headache. She groaned. Last night was rough. She staggered out of bed and into the bathroom. Her make-up was smudged, her hair was a mess, and she was still in her clothes from the day before. Regina rinsed off her face and changed her clothes.

As she left her room to go find some food for breakfast, she heard talking coming from one of her guestrooms. She peeked through the open door to see Granny comforting Katelyn, who was crying. Regina stood outside the door and listened.

"It hurts," Katelyn cried as she drew in short breaths. She was clutching her ribcage.

"Why won't you let me take you to the hospital?"

Katelyn coughed. "He works there."

"Who is he? The one who did this to you?"

Regina couldn't see Katelyn's response, but by Granny's reaction she assumed the answer was yes.

"We'll protect you," Granny said. "You must know that. Regina obviously would never let anything happen to you. Isn't that why you came here in the first place?"

"Back in the enchanted forest, Regina saved me," Katelyn said, pausing to take shallow breaths. "Something told me that she wasn't truly evil and she proved that to me. She took me back to her castle, healed me, and gave me a job there."

"Is that why you came here?" Granny asked. "Because you remembered that?"

"I'm not sure if I really knew what I was doing at the time. I was so out of it and I thought I was just running randomly but when I ended up here I knew I had come here on purpose. I know Regina thinks she is evil. I see her around town but I never thought she looked evil, even when we were under the curse. I just thought she looked sad."

Katelyn had another coughing fit and Regina heard Granny getting her a glass of water. Then Granny spoke up.

"Regina has been through a lot. I remember when she first became queen. She had a lot happen to her that led her to become who she is today. But I agree. She isn't evil. She just needs to recognize it."

Regina quickly ran back to her room and shut the door. She just stood there for a moment, the events of the day before and this morning running through her head.

After her encounter with Henry and the Charmings she had transported herself to her vault. Emma's words had swirled around in her head, repeating themselves over and over. Magic isn't the problem. It's her. Regina conjured up some alcohol and desperately tried to get the words to stop. But she would close still see Henry's disappointed face every time she closed her eyes.

But now she heard Katelyn and Granny saying that she wasn't really evil. How was it that they, of all people, practically strangers, could see that when her own son was so blinded?

Regina's thoughts and emotions finally became too overwhelming so she crawled back into bed. Soon she fell back asleep.