Cora is here! *Dun-dun-dun* This chapter will be a bit of a backstory about how Cora ended up on Robin's doorstep. But first, let's get Regina's reaction to seeing her mother shall we?
She was nervous the entire drive over to Robin's house. Her stomach seemed to be in knots; either that or the baby was moving, it seemed to be doing that a lot lately. She was nearly five-and-a-half months pregnant; the baby should be kicking by now. Still, her doctors said it could take some time before that happened; it was nothing to be alarmed about just yet. Their last ultrasound showed that the baby's heart rate was good and it was gestationally on track. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, not necessarily with the baby, but that something was going to go wrong.
She tried to calm her nerves as she rounded the corner to Robin's Cal-de-Sac. She frowned when she saw another car parked in his yard. Hmm, that was odd; he didn't say he was expecting company. She shut off the engine and took a deep breath; it was silly, she was just meeting Roland.
That in itself was enough to make her stomach do somersaults.
"Calm down in there," she murmured, gently rubbing a hand across the top of her stomach.
Just as she went to open her door, Robin appeared, startling her.
"Jesus Christ Robin!" Regina placed a hand on her chest.
"I'm sorry but…we've a huge problem," Regina frowned.
"What kind of a problem?" Regina asked. Robin shifted his feet nervously and bit his lip.
"Well…"
"Robin, what's going on?" She could see it in his eyes, could feel his anxious energy.
"My parents are here," He sighed.
"What!? But, I thought-"
"That's not all….Regina; I just met your mother,"
The whole world seemed to stop.
Cora was here; but no, that couldn't be. Cora was on the other side of the country in Storybrooke. Regina shook her head; there was no way, there was just no way.
"Robin, you couldn't have met my mother because she-"
"Apparently, she and my mother met in the airport,"
All color seemed to drain from Regina's face.
"But, your mother lives in New York…how-"
I don't know; none of that matters right now, because our parents are sitting in my living room,"
This was not happening.
Boston, Seven Months Ago
Cora Mills was less than pleased to hear that her daughter Regina was moving, and to Las Vegas of all places.
She stood in the middle of her daughter's now empty apartment and sighed heavily.
"Honestly Regina, I can't believe you're moving back to that hellhole Las Vegas," Regina stood in her kitchen, pinching the bridge of her nose. It was taking everything inside of her not to scream.
"Mother, I already told you I needed change, Graham-"
"Asked you to marry him and you're running away like some scared little girl,"
"I don't love him, mother,"
"But you jumped into a relationship with him so quickly, one would think that Daniel-"
"Don't mother, don't you dare say that Daniel meant nothing to me. Besides, wasn't it you that insisted that I go on a date with Graham?" Cora rolled her eyes.
"You were acting like a petulant child,"
"The man I loved had just died!" Regina felt her anger rising; Daniel had always been a sore spot for she and mother.
"People die all of the time Regina,"
"You mean like daddy?" Cora grew silent; she never forgave her mother for how things went down after her father died.
"Not this again; you got his ashes, didn't you?"
"He didn't want to be cremated!"
"And your father never changed anything from when we were married so I did what I thought was best," Regina sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair. What she would never tell her mother was that she was the number one reason she was moving.
"Mother, I'm doing this, whether you like it or understand it. I'm moving to Las Vegas"
"Do what you will, Regina; you always have…but know this, you will regret this decision,"
Storybrooke Maine, One Month Ago
Cora Mills sat in her office looking over the photos she'd just been given by her private investigator.
"His name is Robin Locksley; he's the son of Judge Richard Locksley. He's an architect for Blanchard and Co. He was married to Marian Lozada, an up-and-coming fashion designer; they have a seven-year-old son, Roland," Sidney Glass informed her.
"He's…mediocre," Cora stared at the young man's picture and sighed.
"Oh Regina, he just simply won't do…what's his relationship with Regina?" Cora asked as Sidney's eyes widened with excitement.
"They've been meeting up on a regular basis at this Mexican restaurant, Viva Avalor and-" Cora held up a hand to silence Sidney. She was too busy staring at a picture of Regina. She knew her daughter, knew her body like the back of her hand, so when she was presented with photos of Regina looking slightly heavier than normal and wearing empire skirts and flowy blouses it could only mean one thing.
"No," Cora shook her head in disbelief.
It couldn't be; Regina wouldn't be so stupid as to throw her entire life away for some man she barely knew.
"Sidney, get me Judge Locksley on the phone…now,"
"Right away Mayor Mills,"
oOoOo
Cora's phone conversation with Richard Locksley proved to be quite enlightening. They seemed to think along the same lines in terms of their children who had so much potential but insisted on wasting it. Richard had hoped to groom Robin into taking over his company while Cora had similar plans for Regina. Still, both of their children had managed to become a disappointment. Now, though, it seemed that fate had brought the two parents together in order for them to stop their children from making yet another foolish mistake. Richard wasn't unsurprised at hearing that his son had managed to get Regina pregnant. He'd just called his mother and informed her of the news the other day. Still, though, Cora waited for Regina to call her; she never did. Richard and Cora kept in touch over the next few weeks before agreeing that serious actions had to be taken.
Which was how they managed to meet in the middle of the airport.
It was Cora's idea to surprise them, though Richard suggested that they not tell his wife, lest she tell of Robin of their arrival, who in turn would tip of Regina.
Cora had allowed Regina to play this little charade long enough, but a child? A child was not part of the plan. Now it was Cora's job to step in and fix this mess before any serious damage could be done. She enlisted the help of her other daughter Zelena, as well as Graham, the nice young man Regina essentially jilted after he'd worked so hard to propose to her. She knew how close Regina and Zelena were; she brought Graham along because she felt sorry for the poor boy. Regina never gave him an answer to his marriage proposal.
The plan was that Cora was already headed to surprise Regina with a visit while Richard and Eleanor would coincidentally end up sitting next to her.
Eleanor was so caught up in her conversation with Richard that she was slightly startled by the hand that settled itself on her shoulder.
"Oh, I'm so sorry ma'am but, I couldn't help but overhear you say the name, Regina Mills," Eleanor stared back at the woman skeptically.
"I did…do you know her?" Cora put on her best 'mother' face and grinned.
"Know her? Why, she's my daughter; I'm waiting for my flight to board…might I ask how you know Regina?" Eleanor shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"Oh boy….I uh, don't know her per say but she's seeing my son," Cora pretended to be surprised.
"She, she is? Regina never mentioned seeing someone; tell, me, what's your son's name?"
"Robin, Robin Locksley; it's funny, we're on our way to visit him as well,"
"What a small world," Cora grinned as Eleanor smiled back at her.
"What a very small world,"
oOoOo
Regina felt the panic beginning to settle in her chest. Mother was here, mother was here in Las Vegas. Mother was here and she had no idea that Regina was pregnant. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Her stomach still seemed to be doing somersaults; she rubbed a hand across her stomach.
"Regina-"
"I haven't seen my mother in seven months, Robin,"
"I know but-"
"I can't do this," Regina turned on her ignition as Robin looked at her in surprise.
"Regina…"
"I'm sorry Robin but I can't face my mother…I just can't," Regina felt her chest getting tight as she tried to keep her breathing steady.
"Regina, you don't have to face her alone," Robin kept his hand firmly placed on the driver's side of the car.
"Robin, my mother was an ADA; the woman's trained to spot a lie and I have never been able to keep my cool in her presence,"
"That's because you've had to do it alone; I'm right here," Robin smiled reassuringly at her.
"You won't leave?" Robin chuckled.
"The only people who'll be leaving are our parents; in case you've forgotten, I happen to live here," Regina let out a weak laugh as Robin gently coaxed her to turn off the engine and come inside.
With shaky hands, Regina allowed Robin to lead her into what was sure to be the lion's den.
oOoOo
"Sorry about that but, look who I found parked outside," Robin's voice was surprisingly cheerful as he stepped back into his house.
All eyes were on he and Regina once the door was closed.
"Everyone, this is Regina Mills; Regina, these are my parents, Richard and Eleanor Locksley and my son, Roland," Regina took a deep breath and looked at everyone, though she avoided making eye contact with her mother.
"Well, this is…quite the surprise. I see you all have met my mother…and my sister and…Graham," Regina's heart seemed to leap out of its chest when she saw Graham sitting on the couch. She left Boston without saying a word to him; her mother had to be the one to break the news to him.
Much to her dismay, Graham is on his feet in seconds rushing towards her.
"Regina! I'm so happy to see you!" Graham attempted to kiss her but, she quickly stepped back. She doesn't miss the look of confusion on Robin's face.
"Graham, please don't; not here," Graham looked between Regina and Robin and nodded. She didn't miss the anger in his eyes.
"Right; so you blow off a marriage proposal to me but you can come here and be with this guy," Robin turned to face her, completely surprised.
"A marriage proposal?" Regina sighed heavily, hating the look of hurt and anger reflected in Robin's eyes.
"Robin, I can explain-"
"Please do, because the last time I checked, we were in a relationship until you packed your things without a word. I had to find out from your mother that you left town," Graham was angry and rightfully so. From the corner of her eye, Regina could see that her mother was having a field day with how things were transpiring.
"Graham, I had no right to just…leave like that; I'm sorry," Graham nodded.
"And this guy?" Graham gestured toward Robin.
"Robin and I, we…"
"We're having a baby," Robin blurted out as the room went deadly silent, all eyes falling on Regina.
"Robin, what are you doing?" She whispered.
"It's no fun to be left in the dark, is it?" He muttered.
"Robin, I had no idea they were-"
"Were you or were you not in a relationship with this man before moving here?" Regina closed her eyes and sighed.
"I was but-"
"And were you or were you not almost about to be engaged to this man?" Tears filled her eyes as she tried to explain.
"Robin, it wasn't like that, I swear!" Regina tried to reach out to him but he pulled away.
"How long had you two been seeing each other?" Robin asked.
"Robin, please-"
"I said, how long had you two been together?" His eyes were hard as he stared at her.
"For over a year," Regina whispered as Robin shook his head.
"I need you to leave Regina, now,"
"Robin, what about-"
"I said please leave," Robin shook his head sadly, unable to look at her.
"Robin, you said-"
"I know what I said but, this is different...you were engaged to someone else Regina!"
"No, I wasn't; I never gave him an answer!"
"That doesn't make it any better!" Robin shouted; he paused at the look on his son's face.
"I need everyone to leave; Roland and I have something very important to discuss," Robin said.
"Robbie-" His mother stood.
"No mum; I just need to be alone right now," Robin said as he carefully made his way towards his son.
"Papa…" Roland's eyes carried hurt and confusion as his father picked him up.
"Let's head out into the backyard, hmm? We'll talk about it then…I assume you all can show yourselves out," Robin said nothing more as he led his son out into the backyard.
Regina was stunned as she stood in the middle of Robin's living room. His parents quietly moved past her, sending her looks of disproval.
"Well sis, you managed to screw this up," Zelena wore a bit of a satisfied smile as she filed past her sister. Graham stood in front of her, a mixture of hurt and disgust in his eyes.
"I asked you if you wanted children, you said no…yet it was so easy for you to-"
"Graham I never expected this to happen!"
"Did you love me?" Graham asked; his voice was hard.
"Graham, I-"
"I said, did you love me?" Regina sighed heavily as more tears fell down her cheeks. She needed to be truthful with him.
"No," She whispered.
"So then why-"
"I do care about you but-"
"Bullshit; if you cared about me you would've had the guts enough to tell me you didn't wanna marry me instead of running away," Regina hung her head in shame as Graham pushed past her, leaving her in the room with only her mother, who seemed to be wearing a satisfied smile.
"I tried to warn you dear; I told you that you would regret this decision. Turns out I was right," Cora said nothing more before sauntering out of the house, slamming the door behind her.
oOoOo
Once she was sure everyone was gone, she fell to her knees and sobbed.
She knew something would go wrong today, she'd felt it in her bones when she woke up that morning.
She stopped crying when she felt a stabbing pain in her stomach. She immediately cradled her stomach, rubbing circles where the source of the pain seemed to be. Her heart was racing in her chest as she did her best to calm her breathing. This was a panic attack; it had to be she told herself.
"It's okay; we're okay," Regina whispered to her bump, though the pain only seemed to get worse. She closed her eyes, praying to whatever being was out there that she and her baby were okay. She kept her eyes closed and focused all of her energy on trying to stay calm; this would pass, it had to pass, right?
Still, something didn't feel right; especially when Regina felt something warm starting to run down her leg.
"We're gonna be okay baby, I promise," Regina tried carefully to stand, but ended up doubled over in pain. The pain, it was so intense, so blinding that she barely registered the hands holding her steady or the voice calling her name.
"Regina! Regina, what's wrong?" She tried to speak but was only able to let out a moan of pain.
"Stay calm Regina, I'm calling an ambulance…just stay with me, okay?" She could feel Robin's hands holding her close as he pressed a kiss into her hair. She tried to keep her breathing steady but her heart, it felt like it was going to burst inside her chest.
The last thing she remembered was mumbling out is a weak 'I'm sorry' before the world went dark.
Chapter 10 to follow…
Don't worry; Regina and the baby are fine.
Since I'm ending the chapter like this, I promise to do my very, very, very best to give you all another update soon.
Xx
