Chapter 10: In My Daughter's Eyes
They had been sitting in the middle of the room for the past 30 minutes. Regina held her daughter close, hoping to calm her down, but how was she to do that maternal task when she had trouble calming herself? When she notices that her daughter has stopped shaking, Regina looks down at Lucia, who is deeply sleeping in her arms. The girl's head is resting on Regina's right shoulder; her right arm draped over her mother's other shoulder. Regina begins to gently rock her daughter, running her fingers through Lucia's hair as she admired her features. She has her hair, but her eyes were most definitely a gift from her father. Regina remembers their pale green color and the way they had glistened as they gazed at her earlier. A tear escapes from her eye as she recalls Daniela's features. They are identical to that of her twin's, except for the fact that her hair grew to about her shoulders, whereas Lucia's met the bottom of her shoulder blades. Daniela also has rich brown Mills eyes. Regina's tear slides down her face and lands in Lucia's cheek, gently waking the girl.
"Mama," she softly says, looking up at her mother.
"Yes, baby," Regina murmurs, pulling her daughter in for a comforting hug, cradling the back of her head with her hand.
"How long have we been here?" Lucia asks weakly as her eyes slowly wonder around the room; she is still half asleep.
"Long enough," Regina says, standing up, pulling her daughter up with her. Putting an arm around her for support, she says, "Let's go home."
000
In the Enchanted Forest, a place they thought was long gone, Emma and Mary Margaret come falling through the portal.
"Emma! Emma, are you okay?" Mary Margaret asks, checking her daughter for any visible injuries.
Before Emma could answer, Mulan, a resident of the forest, comes running up, shouting, "There! Those are the ones who brought the wraith here and killed Phillip!" She points at Emma and Mary Margaret.
"What should we do with them?" Aurora asks, coming up behind the warrior.
"Take them to the safe haven," Mulan decides.
As they pick them up and drag them away, Emma realizes someone is missing.
"Uh, Mary Margaret, where's Daniela?" Emma asks.
"Oh no!" Mary Margaret exclaims, frantically looking around, but Daniela is nowhere to be seen.
000
Meanwhile, the portal spits Daniela out outside of Regina's old home from before she married the king. Not knowing where she is, or even what realm currently occupies, Daniela walked around the remains of the damaged house. She walked through the remaining arch of a doorway into what appears to have been a living room. There is a torn up couch, a scratched coffee table, and a weathered fireplace. Throughout all the wear and tear this house has obviously been through, a painting had managed to remain hanging above the mantle. Noticing the artwork, Daniela goes over to it and wipes some of the dirt and dust off of it. In the small clearing she made through the filth, a young woman's face stared back at her. Daniela instantly recognized the young woman's features. It's her mother! She cleans off the remainder of the picture to discover that it is a family portrait of her mother when she was about her age, a man whom she recognizes from their encounter at the castle, and her grandmother. Wanting to know what her mother's home looked like when she was growing up, Daniela uses her healing powers to restore the entire house to what it once was.
000~
The next morning, Regina tries to open her eyes, but is blinded by Lucia's hair. Lucia had slept in her mother's bed with her. Regina had seen that she didn't want to be alone, especially after what had happened within the previous hour. She had brought her daughter to her room with her, where the girl happily crawled in bed after her mother and snuggled into her warmth, falling asleep shortly after.
After moving Lucia's hair from her face, Regina looks down to see that her daughter hasn't moved since she had fallen asleep, both of them laying on their side with Lucia's head snuggled against her mother's chest and Regina's arms around her. She lifts her head to look over her daughter to check the time. 10:35. It's Saturday, she could lay there with her daughter all day if she wants.
Noticing her mother's movement, Lucia stirred in her sleep. She let out a soft whimper.
"Shhh," Regina soothed as she stroked her daughter's face. A small smile spreads across her lips as she watches her daughter's eyelids flutter open.
"Good morning, Mama," Lucia softly says.
"Good morning, darling," Regina answers in a hushed voice. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mmhmm," her daughter responds, snuggling more into her mother's embrace.
"Mama?"
"Hmm," Regina responds, burying her face in her daughter's hair, loving every second of this moment. She kissed her head, taking in her daughter's scent.
"Can I ask you some questions?" Lucia gently asks. She doesn't know much about her mother, and that pains her. They had just really met; and with all that went on that night, they didn't exactly have time to get to know each other yet.
Regina looks down at her daughter, clarifying, "What, like twenty questions or something?"
Lucia looks up at her mother and nods, a smile growing on her eager, innocent face.
"Sure! Ask away," Regina says, pulling her daughter closer to her as she asks her first question.
"How old are you?" Feeling her mother's laughter vibrate against the side of her head, Lucia smiled, hugging her mother tightly.
"I'm going to pass" she responds.
"Alright," Lucia giggles back. "How about... What do you like to do in your free time?"
Regina has to think about this one. Lately, she had been sabotaging Emma and fighting for her son's love. What she did once enjoy was riding horses, but she couldn't tell her that, it would lead into another story that she wasn't ready to tell.
"Well, I like to read," Regina says.
"Cool!" Lucia chirps. "What's your favorite color?"
Regina pulls away from her daughter just enough to give her a questioning look. Lucia looks up at her mother's confused face and realizes how silly her question must've sounded.
"Red," Regina replies with a smile.
Lucia laughs as her mother places a sweet kiss on her forehead.
"One more question! Could you tell me the story about the day you had us?" Lucia carefully asks. She doesn't know if that was too sensitive of a question, considering all that has happened to her mother, but she really wants to know. Almost every child has been told their story.
Regina looks down at her daughter, "You want to know about the day you girls were born?"
Lucia smiled at her mother, confirming her question.
"Well, let's see," Regina says, pulling her daughter close to her again as she thinks of where to begin the story.
Regina is nine months pregnant and more than ready to have her baby. Little does she know there's another baby anxious to meet her mom. She had a craving for apples; she couldn't get enough of them! Going out to the apple tree in the yard, Regina scans through the branches on the trees in search of the perfect apple. She settles for a bright red one hanging off the branch swaying above her head. Lifting one arm up for the fruit, she rests the other on her bulging stomach. Daniel notices his fiancé struggling from the stables, and runs up behind her.
"Regina!" He exclaimed, placing his hands on her hips. "What are you doing?"
"Getting an apple," Regina replied, turning around and kissing him.
"If you want an apple, you tell me and I will get it for you," Daniel says, caressing her face with one hand and her belly with the other.
"You're being silly," Regina laughs.
"I just want to make sure your okay and that the baby is healthy," Daniel says. Regina's hand meets Daniel's on her stomach as they both smile down at her belly.
Daniel was constantly worried about Regina doing too much with her carrying twins. He knew she had to be extra careful, she just didn't know it.
"I can assure you, she's fine," Regina says. "Feel here," she smiles as she moves Daniel's hand to the upper right side of her belly.
"She's quite the kicker," Daniel chuckles.
"She's usually quiet, but lately she's been more active. She constantly kicks me wanting attention," Regina says massaging the spot where the baby kept kicking.
Daniel thinks this might be the second baby she's talking about.
"The baby wants attention?" says a humored Daniel.
"Oh, I'm sure of it! She starts to calm down when I touch my belly and start talking to her," Regina says, a loving smile graces her lips.
It breaks Daniel's heart to know that they will have to give a baby away. He is thankful that there is a second that will hopefully fill the void.
That night, there are huge claps of thunder and lightning decorating the sky. Snow is fast asleep in the guest bedroom, but Regina can't sleep. No one else was home. Every time a roll of thunder would sound throughout the sky, the baby would kick, each time getting harder.
"It's okay, little Lucia," Regina cooed, rubbing her large belly. "The angels are just having a party in the sky."
The baby kicked her mother hard in response.
Feeling uncomfortable by the fierceness of her daughter's kicking, Regina eases her way out of bed.
"Let's go see Daddy," Regina says, holding her stomach as she waddles outside to the stables.
Halfway to the stables, Regina has a sudden pain in her lower back. She pauses and slightly bends over, trying to relieve the pain. It soon goes away.
As she enters the stables, Daniel is putting things away while attempting to calm the horses from the storm.
"Regina! What are you doing down here?" Daniel asks, rushing to his love. "Is everything alright?" He nervously asks, putting a gentle hand on Regina's stomach.
"The storm kept me and Baby up; we needed you," Regina says, resting her hands on Daniel's chest. He notices something is off with Regina.
"Regina, are you all right?" Daniel asks, his voice filled with concern.
"I'm fine, my back just hurts," Regina admits.
"Here, sit," he says as he leads her to a stool. "Any better?"
"Yeah I-" She begins before she feels an excruciating pain in her lower abdomen. She clutches her belly as she leans over it, waiting for the pain to pass.
"Regina," Daniel rushes to her and kneels in front of the pained young woman.
"I'm fine, she's just kicking real hard," Regina says, afraid of what she thinks is really happening. Her fears are confirmed as she feels her dress become soaked with water that she can't seem to stop.
"Oh no no no no no!" Regina cries.
"What's wrong, Regina? What's going on?" says an anxious Daniel.
"I think my water just broke," Regina whimpers, looking at her fiancé with fear in her eyes.
After laying Regina down in an empty stable, Daniel begins gathering supplies he will need for the birth. He has helped horses have there fouls, but nothing could ever compare to the importance of bringing his own child into the world. He sees Regina struggling through a contraction.
"It's okay," he soothes. "I'm right here."
Regina tries to get up.
"Regina, what are you doing?" asked a confused Daniel
"I can't have this baby, Daniel. I can't!" cries Regina, tearing streaming down her face.
"Regina, honey, you have to lie down," Daniel says, helping her back down.
"Daniel, I'm so scared," Regina admits.
"There is nothing to be scared of," he says, grabbing her hand and massaging it. "I'm here for you. Everything is going to be okay."
"No, it isn't. As long as she is inside me, she's safe. The minute she leaves... Oh, Daniel, what if my mother does something to her... What if the king... Daniel, he doesn't... Daniel, Daniel," Regina says, panicking as the contraction worsens.
Daniel is worried about Regina, especially with how much she is struggling now. It will be even harder when she has to give one of the babies away.
"Regina, Regina, listen to me. You need to stay calm, okay?" He says, placing his hands on either side of her face.
Regina is having trouble with her breathing.
"Small deep breaths, honey. You're doing well. Listen to me you have to stay calm.
"Daniel, the baby," Regina begins.
"Is fine," he finishes.
"Take slow, deep breaths with me. Listen, Lucia needs you to stay calm, okay? Think of her. She is your number one priority right now, bringing her into the world, and you are not alone. I'm here with you," he says, sitting beside her, holding her hand while the other caresses the bottom of her belly. Regina starts to calm down.
"Think of holding her wrapped up in her soft pink blanket, nice and warm in your arms. Think of all the times you will rock her to sleep, seeing her first steps, hearing her call you 'Mama'," Daniel says.
That is all Regina needs to get her through the next few hours of labor.
After she finishes telling the story, Regina sits up. She notices a tear slip out of her daughter's eye. Lucia quickly wipes it away, hoping her mother didn't see it, but she did.
"Oh, baby," Regina says as she pulls her daughter into her warm embrace. She felt a few more tears seep through her silk pajama top before she pulls away, just enough to see her baby's face. She wipes away the remaining tears with her thumb.
Before either of them has the chance to say anything, Lucia's stomach lets out a deep grumble.
Chuckling at her daughter's sweet sheepish grin, Regina exclaims, "We better get some food in that belly!" She kisses her daughter's forehead and gets out of bed. Her daughter trails behind her as she leads them to kitchen.
000
"Be careful, be careful!" Emma says as the two princesses threw an unconscious Mary Margaret to the ground. All of the sudden anxiety had worn her out.
"Need some help?" a woman says.
"Who are you?" Emma asks, not able to see who is speaking to her.
"A friend," the woman said, stepping into view. "My name is Cora."
Mary Margaret awakens, shocked, and slightly scared, to find Cora here.
"No, Emma, stay away from her!" she exclaims.
"Mary Margaret, what's your problem? She's just an older lady," Emma says.
"If you think Regina is bad, her mother is even more evil than she ever was!" Mary Margaret warns in a confident voice.
"Oh, Snow! It's so good to see you," Cora says, keeping her composure, standing up straight, hands casually linked together in front of her, head held high.
"Maybe she knows how to get out of here so we can find Daniela," Emma suggests, trying to calm her mother down.
Mary Margaret looks at Emma, her eyes wide and full of terror. Still not understanding who this woman is, she gives Mary Margaret a confused shrug.
"Daniela... Daniela is here?" says a shocked Cora. She clutches her chest as a vaguely familiar sensation throbs through her, making her very uncomfortable.
"I should have known," Cora says as she disappears in a cloud of purple smoke.
"Emma! Do you have any idea what you just did?!" Mary Margaret scolds.
000
At Regina's old homestead, Daniela finds herself wandering into the stables. Right as she enters, her locket glows, not white, but a very dark red.
"I wondered when I would see you again," Cora says.
"Hello, Nana," Daniela says.
"Why can't you be an obedient girl and stay away when you know you're not wanted?" Cora tosses out the hurtful rhetorical question that she always used on her daughter. She tries to use magic to throw the girl to the other end of the stables, but Daniela is quicker and has Cora in the air before the woman can twitch her hand, much like Cora used to do to Regina. Cora just floats in the air, shocked at the turn in events; this has never happened to her before.
"Why can't you do as you're told?" Cora scolds, glaring down on her granddaughter from the air.
"I'll start being an obedient granddaughter when you start being a loving mother and grandmother," Daniela gently puts her down and approaches the woman saying, "And like it or not, you need me."
"Care to elaborate," Cora retorts, thinking that maybe this girl is a Mills girl at heart.
"We both have one thing in common; we both want to get back to Mama, well in your case, your daughter. I can make a portal through Lake Nostos," Daniela says.
"Those waters have been dried up for the past 28 years," Cora refutes, rolling her eyes at her granddaughter's innocence. As if she hasn't tried that already!
"Don't be silly, Nana! You know what I'm capable of," Daniela says.
Cora looks at her knowingly.
"And why should I trust you?" Cora asks.
"Because I'm offering this as collateral," Daniela says as she reaches into her chest and rips out her own heart, screaming at the sudden unexpected pain she had put herself through.
"Here," she says, holding her live beating heart out to Cora. "Take it."
Amazed at her granddaughter's trust in her, Cora looks at her heart and feels this different kind of power consume her. Much to her dismay, and denial, Cora is feeling love, love for her granddaughter. Cora then reaches toward Daniela and puts her heart back inside her. Daniela whimpers at the pain, shocked her nana didn't crush it.
"Why didn't you crush it?" Daniela asks. She knew Cora wouldn't crush it; she just wanted to hear her say it.
"I didn't feel that it was necessary," Cora says, looking her up and down. "Oh, you remind me so much of your mother."
There goes that feeling again! Where was all of this coming from? Cora doesn't want to give into love, for she strongly believes that it is such a weakness to one's power, but with this girl, her granddaughter, love seemed to slowly overcome every once of power and resistance in her body.
"I don't understand," Daniela says, noticing her grandmother's internal battle. It makes her wonder why one would ever try to push away love.
"You will, sweetheart, but for now, let me help you get your happy ending. If you take me to Lake Nostos, I will make sure you get back to Storybrooke, safe with your mother."
"What do you want in return," Daniela asks, knowing that there has to be some sort of a catch.
"My daughter back," Cora says.
"You ruined her life, my life, and Lucia's life as well. Why now? Why do you want her back now?" Daniela asks.
"I want to start over. I want to start a new life with your mother and you girls," Cora says.
Daniela desperately wants to trust her grandmother.
"Okay," she gives in. "We will both go to Storybrooke."
"And with me there to guide you, there's nothing we won't be able to do," Cora says with a smile.