Storybrooke Cemetery - Mills Mausoleum

As a way to deal with the monotony of living in Storybrooke, Regina developed rituals to help her sane and to keep some idea of the time passing. One of her most cherished routines was visiting her father's final resting place every Wednesday evening to bring him fresh flowers.

"Thank you daddy."

Running her hands over a plaque displaying his name, she thought about some of her fondest memories with her father.

No matter what, he always stood by her side. She wiped her eyes, regretting the impossible choice she made - taking his life so she could have her happiness. She had her revenge on Snow White and she won.

Her victory was hollow, though. Everyone's happiness was taken away, but she didn't really gain hers.

She was alone.

Someone started yelling and Regina broke away from her previous reflections. Coming from outside, she decided to check out what the commotion was for.

Leaving the mausoleum, she noticed a woman screaming at the other end of the grounds, kicking at some headstones.

As Regina's eyes adjusted to the dim light she recognized the deputy by her well worn brown jacket. Even though she was certainly fascinated by the sight, she knew she had to give the girl some privacy.

When she stepped back, her foot stepped on a twig and gave away her presence.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you." As the deputy looked up in her direction and Regina saw that the woman had been crying for quite some time.

Catching her breath, Fiona stopped what she was doing. "What are you doing here?"

"I come on Wednesdays to bring my father flowers." She pointed to a mausoleum up on the top of the hill.

"Your father…is here?" Fiona had noticed it before, but hardly paid attention to it. Now, though, she was fascinated - her grandfather's final resting place was right in her sight.

Feeling uncomfortable that the young deputy was staring at her father's spot a little too intensely, Regina asked, "Who are you yelling at?"

Fiona merely nodded her head to what was in front of her.

Taking the hint, Regina walked over and read the inscriptions. The tombstones belonged to Colin and Helen Kyle. "Your parents?"

"Yeah, I'm having a bad day. I just…wanted to talk to them." Fiona knew that technically her parents weren't buried here, but this was as good as a place as any to get her frustration out.

"Has it helped?"

"No."

Looking again at the headstones in front of her, Regina noticed that besides where the deputy kicked, the stones were covered in moss. That took some time to build up. "It's been awhile since you've visited them."

Immediately Fiona put her guard up. Had Regina been spying on her? "What makes you say that?"

The Mayor went over and brushed some of the ivy that had also covered it. "The moss gave me a clue."

"You're right. I haven't been here in years." Fiona sighed, somewhat ashamed - not because she hadn't stopped by, but until this week, it had indeed been a long time since had thought of her parents.

"It's good that you stopped by then." The raven haired mayor placed her hand on the young woman's shoulder. "Family's important."

"Guess you're right. I don't really have much left."

"You have your cousins and your aunt."

"We're not exactly on speaking terms right now."

"You'll work it out eventually. Family always does."

The irony of her words caused Fiona to laugh mirthlessly. "Let's hope." She was quiet for a minute when a question came up in her mind. "How about you? Do you have any family left? You said your father was here, what about your mother?"

"My mother…..died a long ago."

"How did she-" The scowl on Regina's face told the deputy that she had crossed a line. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

Regina waved off the girl's comments. "It's fine."

Fiona studied the other woman as she was lost in some comflicted thought. Something was obviously disturbing Regina, but Fiona was afraid of going down that path. Still, she was anxious to get some kind of response from her mother about her earlier question. "Do you have any other family left?"

"No." The response is immediate and firm.

"No one?"

"What part of 'no' do you not understand deputy?" Regina growled at the invasive question. Somehow their conversation was hitting to close to home and the older brunette was ready to cut it off. "I'm the last member of my family."

Even though she was physical proof that wasn't the case, Fiona started doubting herself. Regina was absolutely convincing with her words. As ridiculous as it was, Fiona was upset over the denial. She tried to keep her expression neutral, but she knew she was failing. Unable to think of a proper response, she lamely replied, "I see."

Not one to let someone off the hook easily Regina asked, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you want to know if I have family around?"

"I was just curious."

Regina could tell Fiona was hiding something - she was biting her lower lip. "No, that's not it."

The young woman panicked. "I just thought it's a shame. You would make a good mother." She groaned at her own words, instantly regretting how insane it sounded.

"Excuse me?" Regina hadn't anticipated that remark. No one in the town had ever asked about her personal plans and goals, much less her feelings on motherhood. There too many reasons why she would be terrible, but it's the way Fiona blurted out her opinion that intrigued her. Regina was curious to know how someone could see her in such a light. "What makes you think I'd be a good mother?"

"You're really …" Finding a way to describe Regina in a maternal light was more difficult than she realized. "You're….. thoughtful."

That was certainly a word that Regina never heard used to describe her before. "I'm thoughtful?" She echoed, unable to actually believe what she heard.

"The cell phone you gave me yesterday, it was a very thoughtful gift."

"So because thoughtful gifts, I'm mother material?"

"No, it's the reason behind the gift. Do you see?" Thinking about their relationship, she continued. "Look, I know that we don't always have the best rapport, but we sort it out, right? You said it yourself, isn't that what family is about?"

Taking in what the deputy was saying, Regina had to agree with the sentiment. Over the years even she had to admit that she had changed since coming to this land.

Seeing Regina smile gave Fiona courage to go a bit further. "In a way we're family, right?" She was testing the waters to see if Mayor Mills was open to the idea of having a family again. Unfortunately for her, that's not how Regina took it. "I'm so glad you feel that way Fiona. I'd like to think we work things out in the end."

Feeling as the moment to confide to her mother passed, Fiona simply played along. "Yeah, me too."

The Mayor was in much better spirits and she could tell that the deputy had lost her anger. All in all, it was a good evening she thought. Patting her the back, Regina excused herself. "I don't want to intrude any longer."

With that she left so she could go home.