Stella was now picking apples off Regina's apple tree for the apple turnover that they were gonna make for dinner. Ruth had invited the trio to join them for dinner as a welcome party to Stella, and Regina said that desert is on her, and Stella offered to help. She was now standing on the ladder trying to reach one of the apples on a high branch.

"Don't break your neck, they don't have to be perfect." Regina's worried voice came, "actually I think we have enough" she added and Stella had to chuckle.

"Last one, it's just so red and beautiful; and yes they do have to be perfect" she remarked, "Ah-ha; I got it" she declared cheerfully, as she snatched it off the branch and smelled it.

"Not if you break your neck in the process they don't" Regina mumbled, but Stella caught it, and she smiled wistfully at the mother she missed more than anything; even though she did NOT know who she was, she was still protective of her.

'A mother always knows' she thought.

"Don't worry, I'm used to climbing trees, without the ladder sometimes even" Stella assured her, as she they both picked up their baskets and headed towards Ruth's house.

"So who taught you how to pick apples like that?" Regina wondered.

"I don't know" she replied.

"Excuse me?!"

"I don't remember much about my life before I was 8, and I already knew how to do it by then, so I'm guessing I learned it before"

"You don't remember?" Regina asked in shock.

"No, I was found on the side of the road, not far from here actually; and the psychiatrist said that it could be a defense mechanism. That I was probably abandoned by my parents on the side of the road, and I blocked it as a defense mechanism from the shock." She elaborated.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry"

"You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for, it's not like you were the one to do it" Stella soothed, she hated the fact that she was lying to her mother and more importantly making her sound so awful when it was the farthest thing from the truth. She knew that once Regina regained her memories there would be some explaining to do, but she wanted to stress the point that whatever happened to her in this world was not Regina's fault. It was what Regina had done for her before the curse hit that helped her pull through in this world and gave her the strength she needed to keep fighting.


FTL-23 Years Ago.

The ride back to the castle was long and exhausting, but Regina knew that she still had a long night ahead of her. Stella had fallen asleep in her arms a couple of hours ago, and no words could describe the joy, warmth and peace that filled her as her little girl slept soundly in her arms. The slow rise and fall of her chest with each deep breath seemed like it was synchronized with Regina's own breathing. Her hand hadn't stopped stroking her hair the entire time, with the occasional lingering kisses to the top of her head.

The carriage finally came to a stop and Jason opened the door for her, "Do you want me to take the princess your majesty?" he asked.

"No, I'm fine, thank you." She replied, and then took his offered hand so she can get out of the carriage with the added weight of her daughter.

The girl fussed a bit at the sudden movement, and tensed in Regina's arms, but relaxed immediately when Regina pressed her lips to the top of her head and murmured kisses and soft words into her hair, as she made her way towards the castle.

"Your majesty" Claude called her, as soon as she walked through the large wooden doors.

She turned around to face him, and whatever he was about to say evaporated into thin air as he stared at her wide eyed from the shock.

"Yes, Claude?"

"Who is this?" his voice was still a bit hoarse from the shock.

"My daughter, the missing princess" she whispered back, tears of joy and relief pooling into her eyes and causing her to choke on her words, "you can call off the search, she's home"

"Of course" he came closer to take a look at the sleeping child. He was still in shock and a bit in denial that she was back; he was expecting her to fade away from Regina's arms, just like her baby self did.

"I need you to find the King, Johanna and Snow and have them meet me in my chambers. Not a word of this leaves the castle until I say so" She kept her voice low to avoid waking her sleeping daughter, but also made sure it left no room for arguments. Claude only nodded his head in agreement before he left to find the King and Regina made her way to her chambers.


She was now sitting in a chair next to the bed, stroking Stella's hair as she slept soundly facing her, the other hand rubbing her back over the covers. The girl was small and the bed was grand, and only her head was visible from under the covers. It was a cold winter's night and Regina wanted to make sure that she was warm. She had no idea how long she was like this, just looking at her sleeping daughter, like she used to do when she was a baby, when the doors to the room opened and in walked her husband, step daughter and trusted maid. All of whom froze at the sight of the small sleeping frame of Stella.

Regina put her finger to her mouth in a sign to keep them all quiet, and motioned for them to stand a little bit further from the bed, so they can talk without disturbing Stella.

"Regina?" was all Leopold could get out. Claude had told him that the queen wanted to call off the search, and his heart sank as he immediately assumed that Regina was now convinced that her baby was gone. But now he found her sitting in a chair next to a sleeping child, who had an eerie resemblance to her. He knew that she understood the question in his words, or rather word and allowed hope to swell in his heart at her reassuring smile.

"She's back" was all she said. She was expecting the tears to fall again, but surprisingly none came. She was drained and her tear ducts were empty now.

"How?" a joyous Johanna asked, while a speechless Snow and Leopold kept looking at the sleeping girl in shock and relief.


"And you're sure it's her?" Leopold asked, once Regina was done with her story.

"Have I ever been wrong when it came to her?" she asked incredulously.

"Fair point"

"But why would your mother take her away?" Snow now asked, that question had been bugging her for years and she was never able to find an answer for it. Regina didn't like speaking about the subject, and her father had told her that Cora wanted Regina to focus on being queen.

"Snow, I already told you why" Leopold answered her.

"Yes, you said that she wanted to Regina to focus on being queen. But how would she focus when she doesn't even know where her child is? And wouldn't having your child secure her position as queen?" Snow retorted, "Father, I know that there is more to the story than that, the answer you gave me might have satisfied my 14 year old mind, but I am not 14 any more, and I know that there is more" she pressed, and then turned around to face Regina, "Please" she pleaded.

Leopold looked over at Regina, who only nodded in response. She took a few steps towards the bed, and kept her eyes focused on her little girl as Leopold guided Snow to the couch.

"Regina was in love with someone before she married me" Leopold started his tale, and furrowed his eyebrows at Snow's soft gasp.

"You know about Daniel?" she whispered and now it was his turn to be shocked.

"Yes, Regina told me about him before we got married, but how do you know?"

"I saw them in the stable kissing after you proposed to her and she said that they will run away together to escape Cora's wrath" she blabbered, "but then he…."she trailed off as the pieces of the puzzle fell neatly into their places.

"Stella is his?" her voice was barely above a whisper, and her father only nodded in response.

She then turned her head towards Regina, who had turned around and was now facing her. Regina knew what Snow's next question would be, and she also knew the shock it would give Leopold, and therefore she needed him to see the pain in her eyes so that he would know that she never lied to him, but rather lied to Snow.

"Is that why he ran away? Because you were pregnant?" Snow asked.

"Ran away?" Leopold repeated her words in shock.

"Yes, Regina told me before we came here for the wedding that he ran away and that she chose to marry you instead; that she was fooled when she thought she loved him" she ranted, and Leopold's heart sank at the dreadful realization that hit him like a train.

"Snow, did you tell Cora about Daniel and Regina?"

"Yes, she said she only wanted Regina's happiness; I thought she would help them. I never knew Regina was pregnant or that Daniel would run away" she replied, and Leopold's head snapped in Regina's direction. He was shocked, amazed and speechless at the meaning behind Snow's words. He was now seeing Regina in an entirely different light; no wonder she used to ask to go to her childhood home unaccompanied, she had to mother the child who got her love killed, which lead to Stella's disappearance later on. But even with all that, she lied to his daughter to spare her the pain and guilt that the knowledge of her actions would bring.

"Snow, Daniel didn't run away" Leopold kept his voice soft and gentle, not to mention low to make sure Stella doesn't wake up.

"He didn't?"

"No, Cora killed him" he decided that it is best said bluntly, since there really is no way to sugar coat it. His heart twisted in his chest when he saw the pain and guilt in his daughter's eyes, as the weight of what she had caused hit her like a bucket of cold water. Her chest started to heave, and she brought one hand to stifle her sobs as she turned around to look at Regina. The look on her face was proof enough that her father was telling the truth, and that what she had in mind was true; she got Daniel killed.

Her body started to shake with sobs, and she opened her mouth and closed it a few times in an effort to say something to Regina, only for her sobs to stop her every time. Johanna placed a hand on her shoulder and tried to calm her, and her father just took her into his arms.

Before any of the adults were able to say anything, the sounds of whimpering caught their attention. They all looked over to the bed, and found Stella shaking her head from one side to the other aggressively, tears coming out of her screwed-shut eyes and a thin layer of sweat covering her face and neck.

Regina immediately rushed over to the bed, and gently shook the girl till her eyes snapped open. They were wide with fear and panic, and only calmed down a bit when she saw Regina.

"It's okay, baby, it was just a dream" Regina soothed, and gladly welcomed the little girl into her arms when she snuggled into her.

She stroked her hair soothingly, murmured kisses into her hair and rubbed her back in an effort to calm her down. A few moments later her breathing slowed down again and she grabbed onto the neckline of her mother's dress, gently running her fingers over the beading.

"Mama, I don't want to go back to him" she mumbled against Regina's chest. Regina brought one hand to cradle her head against her chest, and turned her head so that now her cheek was resting on top of her head, "I won't let anyone take you anywhere, I promise" she soothed.

And when the girl looked up at her and offered her a small smile, Regina decided that she needs to join the other three adults in the room. So she picked up the child, and balanced her on her hip, as she made her way towards them. As soon as they came into sight, she felt how Stella's entire body went rigid in her arms, and she rubbed her back comfortingly in an effort to get her to relax, but it seemed to be getting worse the closer they got.

"Sweetheart, this is your father, Snow, your sister and Johanna. She helped deliver you and helped me take care of you when you were a baby" she spoke softly to the girl, who was looking at the three adults with slight fear from under her eyelashes.

The little girl's eyes traveled from one person to the next, and they rested a bit longer on Snow's tear stained face. She hadn't really had time to clean up after their talk.

"Why are you crying?" Stella asked her, and Snow released a tearful chuckle.

"These are happy tears, because I missed you terribly and I am very glad that you are back" Snow replied, as she gently caressed her cheek with the back of her hand.

The big brown eyes now settled on Leopold, they were looking warily at him, doubt and distrust filling them and it pained him, especially that he didn't understand why.

"You're the King?"

"Yes I am and your father"

"Where's your crown?"

The adults couldn't help but chuckle at her innocent question and Regina moved her a bit to find a more comfortable position on her hip, causing the gown –if you can call it that- to rise a bit up her legs and Leopold's eyes to nearly jump out of his skull at what it revealed.

He moved closer to them, ignoring how Stella nearly jumped out of her skin when he did, and Regina's questioning gaze. He took a hold of her leg, and didn't even register how stiff the girl was in his hand, and moved the gown up a little bit more.

"Mama" she whimpered in fear, as she clung more to her mother's neck.

"Shhhhh, it's alright baby" Regina soothed, and followed Leopold's line of sight, until her eyes landed on the source of Leopold's interest; her chest tightening at the sight.

About three blue bruises adorned the little girl's thigh, and judging by how Leopold's face paled when he checked the other leg, there was more there as well.

"Stella, how did you get these?" a stunned Regina asked.

"Daddy punished me because I wasn't being a good daughter" she answered in a small voice, and Regina's heart sank.

"Stella, did he hit you?" Leopold was now the one who asked.

"Only because I was ungrateful and not behaving" she tried to defend the only father she's ever known, but even she knew in her small mind that this wasn't right. After all; it is why she ran away.

"Is he the one you were running away from?" Regina wondered, and she could feel the little girl nod against her chest.

"He was really angry and hit me hard in my stomach, and then left. I thought that maybe if I left he wouldn't be so angry all the time, but then I knew that if he found me after I escaped, he would be even more angry and…." She was now sobbing in Regina's arms, and Regina's heart was shattering with every sob and shake. She clamped her arms around the small, shaking form and rocked them both from side to side as she tried to comfort her and calm her down.

"He won't hurt you again, baby I promise." Regina choked out into her hair.

"Stella, listen to me" Leopold's voice was soft, but firm at the same time; he wanted to make sure that the little girl believed every word he said. He waited till those big, sad and fearful brown eyes met his before he went on, "what he did to you was unacceptable; you are not ungrateful and you are most certainly not a bad daughter. Even when you make a mistake, he shouldn't punish you like that."

His heart broke at the conflict he saw in her eyes; the doubt, fear, pain, hope all swirled in her eyes as they searched his for any signs of deception.

"You really mean that?" she asked, and he smiled reassuringly at her.

"With all my heart" he answered softly, and smiled in joy when he saw some of the doubt and fear fade away from her eyes and hope replacing them.

"How about a warm bath?" Johanna now suggested, in an effort to change the subject.

Stella only lifted her head off Regina's chest and looked at her mother, "I'll be with you baby" Regina assured her, before she nodded at Johanna.


Storybrooke-Present.

Cora was going over some paperwork that had she couldn't finish the night before, thanks to the small dinner party Ruth Nolan had thrown in honor of Stella. Stella; the girl who was destroying everything she ever worked for, annoyed her to great lengths and had spent most of her time last night, getting on every last nerve Travis had. She couldn't understand what her problem with him was, and what irritated her more was the fact that the rest were very much enjoying it, including Regina.

She started rubbing her temples in an effort to rid herself of the headache, when the door to her office slammed open and said annoyance practically barreled through.

"You heartless bitch" she snarled, and Cora was almost surprised by the anger and hostility. Granted she doesn't like the girl much, but the girl has no idea who she is, does she?

"Can I help you Ms. Cassidy?" she asked calmly, and recoiled a bit at the fire in Stella's eyes.

"DON'T play games with me" she hissed, and Cora couldn't help but notice the irony; except this time she really was clueless.

"Out of everybody you could have had her marry, you chose him" she spoke through gritted teeth, and Cora was surprised at the amount of venom in her voice.

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about, dear" she replied, her voice neutral and showing absolutely no emotions.

"Don't play dumb with me, grandma" she spat the last title at her, and Cora's blood went cold.

Before she could get out a single word, Stella leaned over the desk and got into her face, "he had no problem beating around a 2 year old; he made my life a living hell until I ran away when I was five, FIVE" she screamed, "so I will leave it up to your imagination what he is doing to my mother; your daughter"

"Regina is the mayor, he can't hurt her" Cora argued, "That's the whole point of the curse, that she would be powerful"

"Yes, and that's why she's the mayor; and trust me no one wishes that I am wrong about this more than me; but I know him too well and I know her. And more importantly; I know the signs and I saw them in her eyes clear as day yesterday" she shot back.

"You're lying, you just don't like the fact that your mother has no idea who you are and has found happiness away from you" Cora spat.

"She may not remember me, but her heart does; and trust I am praying to God that she is happy, but I know she's not" she retorted, "This isn't over Cora; I will get her away from him if it is the last thing I do" she hissed, before she turned around and walked away.


FTL-23 Years Ago

Regina was sitting on the couch, with Stella sitting next to her as she dried her hair. She had found more bruises than she cared to count on the girl's body during the bath, and had sent Johanna to get the royal physician; she wanted to make sure that the injuries weren't more serious than they appear.

She had asked Leopold to leave the room, because judging by how Stella flinched every time he came near her, she was wary around men. Stella was playing with the hem of the white night gown she had put her in, when the door to the room opened, causing her to jolt slightly in her place.

"It's just me, your highness, sorry if I startled you" Johanna apologized, as she walked further into the room.

Stella's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree when they landed on the plate of food in Johanna's hand, "I brought you some food, sweetheart, figured you must be starving" she remarked softly, as she handed the plate to Stella.

Regina smiled at Johanna's thoughtfulness and kindness, especially when she caught site of how the food was cut into bite size pieces.

"Thank you Johanna" she thanked her and looked down at her daughter, only instead of finding a five year old inhaling the food, she found a pair of broken eyes looking up at her in silent request for permission.

Regina's heart sank at the meaning of the look, she was asking for permission to eat? Her face was a mess of emotions, shock, horror and raw pain clouded her features as she looked at her little girl. She tried to open her mouth to talk but she choked on her own words, and found that she can't seem to locate her voice.

The little girl apparently took the horrified look on Regina's face and her silence as a no, and therefore turned around to face Johanna, "Thank you, but I am not hungry" her voice, was small, broken and betrayed.

"Stella, were you asking for my permission to eat?" Regina forced the words out past the ever growing lump in her throat, and at the look she gave her, she knew the answer.

She pulled the little girl into her lap, and turned her around to face her, "you don't need to ask for permission to eat, you can eat whenever you're hungry, and you can eat until you no longer are" she tried to keep her voice firm, yet gentle; offering the girl a small, reassuring, loving smile when she nodded her head slowly. She pressed a kiss to her forehead, before she took the plate out of Johanna's hand and proceeded to feed the little girl.


Later that night, a very exhausted looking Leopold walked into the chambers, and his heart melted at the sight. Regina was propped up on one elbow, with her head resting on her hand; the other one softly running through Stella's hair, which was the only thing visible of the little girl, aside from her small fist that was clutching onto her mother's gown. He slowly and softly made his way over to the bed, and sat facing Regina, careful not to wake the sleeping child up.

"What did the physician say?" Regina asked. Stella had been so upset after he left, that she told him to speak to the King and she stayed behind to try and sooth her.

"Thankfully, the injuries aren't life threatening, a few bruises that will heal with time; that she was malnourished and underweight; and that she has remarkable fear of men" he recounted.

"Yes, I know that last one. She was crying the whole time he was examining her; expecting him to hurt her at any time. Her face would pale every time he touched a sore spot and she hissed in pain, immediately taking it back and saying that it doesn't hurt"

"He had agreed to write about his findings so we can bring this man to justice"

"I want him hanged" she hissed, without even stopping her movements through Stella's hair.

Leopold opened his mouth to say something, when the whimpering sentence that came from the child stopped him, and froze the blood in his veins.

"Mommy please come get me, I'll be a good girl"

He looked back up at Regina, who slid under the covers, slid her arm under the girl and pulled further into her, "I'm right here baby, I promise I won't leave you again" she sobbed into her hair, and the girl only rubbed her face in her mother's chest, and snuggled more into her.

"I will speak to my advisors tomorrow and see what can be done about this; he will be punished for this" he promised her and she only nodded in response.


Alright, two long chapters in two days. Let me know what you guys think, and I'll try to update as fast I can.