Chapter 10

The morning of the day Molly was meeting Regina for lunch, she wandered around her small apartment getting ready for work. As Molly thought about the lunch, she was finding that while she was still getting used to everything, she was feeling a little more comfortable with it all and didn't feel as nervous to see Regina as she did the first time. Snow's words of encouragement seemed to have helped considerably, mostly because it helped to know that Snow was going through a similar situation with Emma. It also helped that Snow was able to share things about her birthmother that Molly hadn't heard before. The story of how Regina saved Snow as a child gave her a completely different picture of Regina than what she heard of the Evil Queen. Molly knew that Regina wasn't that person anymore and believed Snow when she said she had changed, she saw that with Regina when they met. Now knowing a little more about Regina, Molly found herself wanting to ask Regina so many questions and hoped she could find the right time to ask them.

Molly paused at her easel in the kitchen/living room area and checked to see if her newest painting was dry. Seeing that it was, she put it on the table to be hung up later. Then Molly heard a knock on the door and went to open it knowing it would be Flynn, who was walking her work.

"Hey babe," Flynn greeted his girlfriend.

"Good morning," Molly said then gave Flynn kiss.

"Are you ready to go?" Flynn asked.

"Yeah, one minute," Molly said before walking into bathroom.

"Okay, don't be long though."

"Flynn, are you worried you'll be late for work?" Molly walked out of the bathroom with her hair now in a ponytail.

"Well, seeing as I have a paying job now, yeah." Molly chuckled while putting her coat on. Flynn then looked at the table and saw Molly's painting.

"Hey, you painted the toll bridge. I like it."

"Thanks." Molly and Flynn had gone there the day before during the course of their day together—which inspired Molly to paint it when she got home.

Then the two walked out of Molly's apartment and started walking the few blocks to the diner.

"So, your lunch with Regina…that's today, right?" Flynn asked.

"Yes."

"And?" Flynn began. "I know you're still getting used to everything, but, Molly, give me something to go on. You've been pretty quiet about meeting Regina besides that it went well."

"I know and I'm sorry about that, you've been really great about this," Molly said. "It was good meeting her, it was as a little tense and emotional at times, but Regina was nice and wished me happy birthday… It's just that meeting Regina made everything real and I guess I just needed time to think."

Flynn put his arm around Molly as they walked down the street.

"Must have helped talking to Mary Margaret yesterday, though, huh?"

"Yeah, it was nice to talk to someone who's been there, you know with Emma."

"I'm glad and I don't blame you for being a little quiet about it. You have had a lot thrown at you these last couple days," Flynn said. Molly nodded in agreement.

"I am looking forward to lunch though. It will be good to get to talk with her some more," Molly commented.

"That's good," Flynn nodded. "So when do I get to meet her?"

"You want to meet Regina?" Molly chuckled at this, remembering his initial freak out.

"Well, I probably should, right? We are dating, Molly."

"Yeah, I suppose so," Molly mused, thinking it over. "I'll ask her."

"Hey, we don't have to mention that I stole from her—if she doesn't recognize my name, that is." Molly chuckled again as they arrived at Granny's Diner.

"Okay. So I'll see you later," Molly said, and then gave him another kiss.

"Good luck, Molly. Enjoy lunch," Flynn said before continuing to walk down the street and gave her a smile as he left.

Molly then went into Granny's Diner where she was immediately hugged very tightly by Ruby.

"Ruby? What?" Molly gasped. "Ruby, I can't breathe."

"Sorry," Ruby said sheepishly as she let go of Molly. "Happy Birthday!"

"Thanks," Molly said and then could tell Ruby had more on her mind. "I'm guessing Granny told you?"

"She did. I couldn't believe it, Molly; I couldn't have imagined that Regina would turn out to be your mother. Just thinking about how long I've known Snow, it's wow…" Ruby trailed off. "Small world, I guess."

"Yeah. Small world," Molly agreed.

"Come on, we should get the place ready before Granny gets back." Ruby went back behind the counter and Molly followed to join her.

Meanwhile, Regina walked up the stairs to Mary Margaret's apartment and knocked on the door.

"Regina," Snow greeted after she opened the door.

"Is Henry still here? I wanted to see if he'd like me to walk him to school."

"I'm sure he'd like that. Please come in." Snow opened the door further and went over to the stairs to the loft while Regina walked in the apartment.

"Henry, Regina's here. She wants to know if you'd like her to walk you to school."

"Yeah! I'll be down in a few minutes," Henry called from the loft. Then Snow walked into the kitchen to pour herself some coffee.

"Would you like some coffee, Regina?" Snow offered.

"I'm fine," Regina said with her hands in her coat pockets.

"Okay," Snow said, moving to sit down at the table near where Regina was standing. "I saw Molly yesterday."

"You did?" Regina questioned.

"Yeah, she told me she came to see you."

"Yes, she did," Regina answered, thinking about the reunion with her daughter.

"She told me it went well," Snow said.

"It did," Regina nodded. "Why did she come to see you?"

"She just wanted to let me know she had seen you," Snow said. "She told me you two are meeting up again today, right?"

"We are." Regina was glad to hear Molly felt the reunion went well. Then Regina moved to sit at the table across from Snow.

"I'm sure you both are glad to have the opportunity to get to know one another."

"How do I…?" Regina started then hesitated.

"How do you what?" Snow asked.

"Get to know her."

"Oh, well, just talk to her, Regina." Regina gave her a look that suggested she didn't find what she was saying entirely helpful. Then Snow continued speaking. "Spend time together and over time you'll get to know each other."

"It shouldn't have been like this. I missed so much already," Regina said.

"I know, but, Regina, but it's not too late. You both want to get to know each other and that's what matters. You and Molly will figure it out, I know that."

Then they turned to look when they heard Henry come down the stairs. Henry walked down with his backpack in hand to find his mother and grandmother talking. It was an interesting sight for him to walk in, seeing them talking and seemed to be getting along all right.

"Are you ready to go, Henry?" Regina asked.

"Yeah." Regina then stood up and walked to the door with Henry.

"Have a good day, Henry," Snow called. "And good luck with the lunch, Regina."

Regina nodded and then left the apartment with Henry.

Later that day around noon, Regina walked from her office to Granny's Diner. While walking, she thought about her reunion with her daughter and how when Molly, left she didn't want her to leave—not after just getting her back. It was an emotional moment for Regina to be sure, and she could sense it was the same for her daughter. She spent most of the day before thinking about it. Regina very much wanted to get to know her daughter; she just wished she didn't have to and as hard as it was to admit it to herself, she was nervous.

Regina walked into the diner and looked around for Molly; then she saw Ruby working behind the counter, who took notice of Regina as she came closer to the counter.

"Regina, are you looking for Molly?" Ruby asked and Regina nodded. Nodding herself, Ruby said, "I'll tell her you're here." And then disappeared to the backroom for a minute before returning. "She'll be right out."

Regina waited by the end of the counter for a minute then she saw Molly come out of the backroom. Molly made eye contact with Regina before making her way through the pretty busy diner.

"Hi Regina," Molly greeted and exchanged smiles with her.

"Hi Molly," Regina smiled, feeling a little less nervous upon seeing Molly. "Should we find a table?"

"Yeah," Molly said, and then looked around the restaurant for a free table. "Does a booth work for you?"

"Yes, that's fine." Molly led the way over to a free booth and sat down across from Regina. "So how have you been?"

"I've been good. How about you?" Molly asked.

"I've been good as well. Were you working today?" Regina asked, noticing Molly was in her uniform.

"Yes, I just finished my shift actually," Molly said. "I've been looking forward to this, having lunch."

"Me too." Regina gave a heartfelt smile. Then Ruby came over and took their lunch orders.

"Your food will be ready shortly," Ruby said.

"Great. Thanks Ruby," Molly said as she watched Ruby leave.

"So do you like working here?"

"I do, Granny and Ruby are really great and after—well, you know—I couldn't imagine doing anything else." Molly then realized she probably shouldn't have mentioned the curse. "I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have mentioned that."

"It's all right, I'm glad you like your job," Regina said reassuringly, still wishing that Molly didn't know she was the Evil Queen but she was grateful she seemed be to looking over that.

"Do you like being the mayor?"

"Yes," Regina chucked.

Then Ruby brought over their drinks and Molly took a sip of her drink while Regina got the courage to ask something she really wanted to know about.

"Molly, I hope you don't mind me asking, but can you tell me a little about yourself?"

"Like what?"

"What was your life like?"

"Back home you mean?" Molly asked and Regina nodded.

Molly thought about what to tell Regina, she figured it was only natural for Regina to wonder what her life has been like.

"Oh, well, did Henry happen to tell you my name was Rapunzel?"

Regina nodded.

"Well, I was called Rapunzel and grew up in a tower in the forest with my mother. I don't really know how to describe it, but it was nice most of the time."

"What were you like as a child?"

"I liked to play games, I liked having make-believe adventures," Molly said while Regina hung on to very word trying to picture her daughter as a little girl. Regina was happy hearing about her life and tried to push the sadness back of not being there for that part of Molly's life.

"I liked to read and paint, too. I still do when I have the time. I could show you some paintings I've done here if you want?" Molly offered.

"I'd like that," Regina said.

"Then, as you know, when I was seventeen my mother died and I left the tower after that."

"Where did you go?" Regina asked, wishing she had been there for Molly during that time.

"I traveled the realm with my boyfriend until we came here," Molly said.

"You have a boyfriend?" Regina asked a little surprised because she hadn't considered the possibility that Molly would have one.

"Yes, his name's Flynn," Molly said. "Well, Zak here, but I still call him Flynn. He's a good guy. He said he'd like to meet you sometime, if that's okay?"

"Yes, that would be fine. How long have you and Flynn been together?"

"About two years now," Molly said after thinking about their time together in the Enchanted Forest and since the curse broke.

Ruby then came over with their food and set the plates down on the table and left them to eat.

"What's your life like here?"

"Well, I have a horse so I go see him a lot."

"You have a horse?"

"Yeah, he was brought over, his name's Maximus; I named him so he's become more mine than Flynn's. I go see him and take him for a ride every chance I get," Molly said.

While listening to this, Regina's mind went to Daniel, which brought up mixed feelings of joy and pain as well as memories of her riding lessons with him. Of course their daughter would horseback ride, she is the daughter of a stable boy after all. It was nice to know that not only did Molly have the connection of horseback riding with her father, but with her as well.

"I haven't in a longtime but I used to horseback, too," Regina shared.

"Really?" Molly asked, interested in learning that she had something in common with Regina.

"Yes, I had a horse named Rocinante. I really enjoyed taking him for rides."

"I enjoy it, too."

The two of them finished up their lunch, talking every so often and noticed that it was getting easier to talk to each other. Regina was enjoying getting to know her daughter better; it still bothered her that she missed a lot of Molly's life, but at least she was getting the chance to build a relationship with her—that's all that she could ask for. Molly was enjoying the time talking also and thought back to what Snow had said, that getting to know Regina would be worth it and felt she would be right.

Later that evening, Henry came down from the loft to find his grandmother making dinner. Snow turned around when she heard him coming down the stairs.

"Henry, did you finish your homework?"

"Yup, where are Mom and Grandpa?" Henry asked, sitting on the stool at the counter.

"They're still at the station but they'll be home soon."

"Grandma, do you think Regina's lunch with Molly went well?"

"I'll sure it did. I hope so, anyway."

"Me too. I'm glad they found each other."

"Me too, Henry," Snow said, giving her grandson a smile.

"Grandma?"

"Yes."

"Can I ask you something?" Henry asked.

"Of course, Henry."

"Are you and my mom getting along better now? You seemed to be this morning."

"Um, well, we have been trying to be more civil since saving the town and finding Molly. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering," Henry said. "Do you think you and her will ever get along better than you do now, I mean?"

"I don't know, Henry. As you know with my history with Regina that a lot has happened and it's complicated," Snow said.

Snow was glad that her and Regina were currently civil, and hoped it would last because it was a nice change. Beyond that, she didn't think with everything they had been through that they could improve their relationship more than it had at least not for a long time.

"I know," Henry said. "But maybe one day you could."

"Maybe Henry, one day."

Thank you for the follows, favorites and reviews. I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story so far and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks for reading.

Next chapter: Regina meets Flynn.