Chapter 28: Someone From the Past
Ally rubbed the sleep from her eyes the next morning and noticed Regina wasn't lying beside her but she wasn't surprised the older woman let her sleep in. She wanted to spend the day with Regina but she also wanted find a way to Wonderland to rescue Regina's daughter. The smell of bacon caught her attention making her stomach rumble.
Regina didn't yell at her the night before which she was surprised at but she had a feeling she would today. She knew she had to face Regina some time and she was hungry so she made her way down to the kitchen. She saw Regina hovering over the stove with her back towards her humming a little song. "Can I have some?" Ally asked in a raspy voice as she took a seat at the counter.
Regina jumped slightly. "I didn't hear you come in, darling. Of course you can have some. I made pancakes too. Would you like a glass of milk with your breakfast?" Ally nodded.
Regina poured her a glass and handed it to her. "I believe we have a lot to talk about."
"Can I eat first?" Ally asked hopefully trying to avoid the unpleasant conversation she would have with the older woman. Regina chuckled. "Of course."
Once she was finished eating, she put her dishes in the sink before giving Regina a warm hug, something the older brunette was not expecting. "What was that for?" Regina asked after she placed her own dishes in the sink.
Ally looked up to her. "I realized you're all I have. You're the only one that's had the patience to put up with me. You actually wanted me."
Regina caressed her face. "I still want you, Allison. I'm not easy to love but you've accepted me for who I am and my past. We belong together, darling."
Ally smiled brightly. She was happy Regina still wanted her and didn't change her mind when she found out where her daughter ended up. "You were right about magic. I should really listen to you more often."
Regina's face turned serious but kept her voice soft. "Yes, you should."
Ally wrapped her arms around her once more. "I love you, Regina."
"I love you too, Allison." She said before she kissed the top of her head. "But we still need to talk about a few things." She pushed her lightly towards the living room.
"Worth a shot…" She mumbled as she shrugged her shoulders.
Ally turned to face Regina as she scrunched up on the couch. "This is kinda weird."
Regina laughed slightly at her word choice. "It's a little out of the ordinary but I wouldn't call it weird."
"But like…it's different now." She tried to explain what she was feeling but she was having a hard time.
"Different how?" Regina questioned. She wanted to know how Ally was feeling so she could try to make things better.
"I don't know." She sighed. "Things were so much simpler in the Enchanted Forest. It was just you, me and grandpa. I kinda liked it that way."
"You don't think we could become as close as we once were?" Regina asked sadly.
Ally shrugged her shoulders. "Not with everything going on…It doesn't matter anyway."
Regina leaned forward and rested her hand on Ally's knee. "Of course it matters. I'm going to fix this, Allison. I promise."
Ally looked down at her lap. "I've been alone my entire life and it wasn't until I found you that I felt otherwise. I just can't believe it took me falling through a portal to find you."
"So will you give me a chance to make things better between us?" Regina asked trying to follow her train of thought. Ally smiled and nodded.
Regina felt relieved that Ally was willing to try too. "Ya know, my father used to say you looked like me a bit."
"He did?" Ally asked shocked. Regina nodded her head in confirmation. "That's the best compliment I ever got. I'm nowhere near as pretty as you though." Ally said as she lowered her head to avoid Regina's gaze.
Regina lifted her chin to look into her eyes. "Allison, butterflies can't see their wings. They can't see how beautiful they are, but everyone else can." She kissed her forehead. "You will always be my beautiful little butterfly."
Ally slid closer to Regina and hugged her tight. "I missed you; I missed this, us being together."
Regina rubbed soothing circles on her back. "You don't know how many times I wanted to scoop you up into my arms and never let go."
"Now you don't have to." Ally whispered into her hair. Regina closed her eyes and let out a sigh of relief. She never thought in a million years she would love another little girl as much as she did her own but Ally proved her wrong. She was very thankful to have Ally in her arms once again.
She pulled back slightly as Ally readjusted herself to fit comfortably next to Regina. "Allison, could you tell me what you were like before I met you?" She wanted to know everything about her.
"You know I really don't like talking about my past." She mumbled as she bit her nail.
"It's no picnic for me either, dear but if we are going to build our relationship, I need to know about these things." Regina replied calmly as she lowered Ally's hand from her mouth to stop her from biting her nails.
Ally remained silent for a moment. It wasn't like it was the worst childhood ever it was just lonely and Ally didn't like thinking about the past but she knew Regina should know, she had a right to know after all the time she spent with her. "They thought I was going to get adopted no problem because everyone wants little babies."
"That's not true." Regina interrupted.
"You got Henry when he was a baby." She replied proving her point. Regina sighed knowing she didn't have anything else to go on. "But I was born with a hole in my heart and had to have a bunch of surgeries. A baby on the operating table isn't exactly a selling point. By the time everything was over I was 3."
Regina looked horrified. "What? How?"
Ally shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know how it happened but I just went along with it. I had a somewhat normal life after that I suppose. Went to school, played sports, did homework…normal kid stuff." She saw the worry in Regina's eyes. "I'm okay now." She reassured her.
Regina still looked worried. "Are you sure?"
Ally quickly nodded. "Positive. You're the only one I trust, Regina. I'm a healthy 14 year old."
"Almost 15." Regina corrected. "But I'm happy you're still a little girl."
"You know when my birthday is?" Ally asked somewhat surprised.
"My father told me. He told me all sorts of interesting things about you." She gave her hand a squeeze. "You're an amazing little girl, Allison, and I'm so happy I found you."
Ally smiled. "You're an awesome mom." She then caught herself. "I mean…to like Henry. You're a good mom to Henry."
Regina placed her hand on her knee. "I know what you meant, dear." She said which made Ally relax but Regina knew exactly what just happened and she couldn't be happier. Ally considered her as a mother, well a mother figure at least. It was a good start so she'd take it.
"Is it alright if I go play with Henry today?" Ally asked her.
"Of course, dear but whatever happened to that kitchen boy." She put her finger to her lips. "Now what was his name?"
"Xander." Ally told her. "And we're still friends. We just don't hangout as often."
"Why is that?" Regina questioned.
Ally stood up suddenly uncomfortable with the conversation. "Just…reasons. I gotta go change and then meet Henry."
Regina shooed her away. "Run along, dear." Ally smiled at how easily she got out of it but what she didn't know was that Regina was going to bring it up later when she couldn't run away from the conversation.
Ally ran down the stairs after she was finished getting ready only to be scolded by Regina. "Allison, no running on the stairs!"
She slowed her pace and went to get her coat out of the closet when she noticed Regina was on the phone. "You'll have to speak a little louder, Ms. Swan. I am in no mood to decipher what you are trying to say." Regina snapped.
"I need you to come to the station right away. It has to do with Allison." Emma said a little louder than before but not by much.
Regina sighed. "I'll be there in 10." She hung up her phone and placed it back in the receiver.
"What did Emma want?" Ally asked only hearing one side of the conversation.
"It's about you." She said as she glared at the young girl from across the room before slowly walking towards her. "Have you been getting yourself into mischief, young lady?"
Ally thought about it for a moment because it was like her to get into trouble. "Not lately."
"Well it concerns you so you better fess up now or your punishment will be far worse. You know I don't like lying, Allison." Regina replied sternly.
"Honestly, I didn't do anything!" Ally insisted.
Regina took a firm hold of her chin to stare into her eyes. She knew she wasn't lying but was still angry she had to spend the rest of her afternoon at the station. "Well then, Allison it looks like Henry will have to wait. Get in the car, now."
Ally knew not to fight Regina on this just from the tone she used. She slipped her coat on and followed the older woman out the front door.
Emma was waiting anxiously by the door for Regina. She nearly pounced on her when she walked through the door. She noticed Ally walk in behind her and her face dropped. "Why did you bring her?!" Emma whisper-yelled.
"You said it concerned her." Regina replied aggravated with blonde.
"I told you not to bring her!"
"Well if you would learn to speak correctly and not mumble things into the phone then maybe people would understand you better." Regina said harshly.
"Regina, this is serious." She said placing her hands on her hips.
"Are you going to tell me or just keep saying how 'serious' it is?"
Emma glared at her. "There are people in there from New Jersey looking for Allison." This caught both Ally and Regina's attention. "Someone contacted them saying their missing child was here in Storybrooke."
"What?" Regina shook her head. "That doesn't make sense."
"When I fell through the portal they probably called the police thinking I was kidnapped or something." Ally spoke up.
Emma nodded. "Apparently you've been gone for over 2 months now."
"Holy shit! I time traveled! This is so cool." Ally said amazed.
"Language, Allison!" Regina snapped making Ally put her head down. Regina turned back to Emma, her voice becoming more frantic. "But who would call them? No one knows she was from New Jersey in the first place."
Emma thought for a moment as she crossed her arms. "Greg Mendell. He's from Pennsylvania. He probably saw her picture on the news. They want her back, Regina."
Regina looked fierce. "They can't have her. I'm her mother."
Ally looked up to her, seeing just how much Regina cared for her. Regina said it with so much force and the look on her face told Ally that Regina believed she was indeed her mother. Ally couldn't help but smile at the fact that Regina thought of her as her own daughter and she knew, then and there, that she never wanted to leave Regina's side. She felt safe with her, she felt loved by her; both were things she had never felt before.
"What am I supposed to do Regina?" Emma asked looking like a deer caught in headlights. "They're waiting for her."
"Tell them she isn't here and that this person made a mistake." Regina shot back. "It's not that hard, Ms. Swan. Come on, Allison. Allison?" She looked to her left but she wasn't there anymore. She noticed her peeking into the doorway.
Emma quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back out. "If they see you, it's over."
"But it's Sister Rita and Sean, from the orphanage. I have to let them know I'm alright." She urged trying to pull away from Emma but she quickly pulled her closer to her.
"They also brought a detective with them. If they see you they're gonna to take you back." Emma told her. "You and Regina just reconnected. I'm not going to let you two be separated."
Regina looked over to Emma in surprise. "You would do that?"
"Of course. I know what it feels like to search for your parents for your entire life and what it feels like when you find them. I think Ally's found that in you." She replied truthfully before turning her attention back to Ally. "Regina might be your guardian here but they will want to do things legally. She doesn't legally own you, the state of New Jersey does. I won't be able to stop them from taking you so you can't be seen by them."
"She can't cross the town line either." Regina just remembered. "I have to get her out of here." She quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door.
Sister Rita came out into the hall, followed by Detective Barnes, just as Regina and Ally turned to leave. "Sherriff, how long do we have to wait before…Allison?" She only saw the back of her head but knew it just had to be her.
Emma lowered her head knowing things wouldn't end well. Ally looked up to Regina to see what to do next. She noticed the worry expression on her face and decided to go ahead with her own plan. She turned around to face her. "No, I'm sorry. My name is Rose Mills. I think you have the wrong person."
Sister Rita took a step closer to examine her face better. "You look so much like Allison."
The detective took out the picture of Ally in his pocket and looked from it to the girl standing in front of him. "Are you sure you're not Allison Decker? Her middle name was Rose, just like your first name."
Regina turned around and put a protective arm around Ally's shoulder. "This is my daughter." She said trying to sound sweet. "You must be mistaken." Ally knew she had to play along so she leaned into Regina's side as she played with Ally's long hair like any mother would.
Sister Rita and the detective looked from Regina to the young girl seeing the slight resemblance between them and thought that she was telling the truth. "My old age has gotten the best of me." Sister Rita chuckled. "I was just hoping we really found her this time."
Regina smiled weakly. "That's quite alright."
The detective didn't look like he totally believed them. He had a feeling the three of them were hiding something. Emma knew that it would be a piece of cake fooling the old woman but difficult to fool the detective.
Sean came running out into the hall. "Sister Rita, I'm hungry." He whined.
"We'll get you something to eat, Sean. Hold your horses, child."
Sean looked over to Ally who was smirking at him just like she used to do back in the orphanage. He was just as she remembered him. It took everything in her not to run over and give him a hug. "You found Ally!" He exclaimed.
Ally knew Sean could see right through their little façade. "No, Sean. This is Rose. She is this woman's daughter."
Sean looked at Regina skeptically then back to Ally. "No this is Ally." He insisted which made the detective wonder if it actually were Allison Decker.
Ally grabbed his hand. "Why don't I take you to Granny's to get something to eat and I can prove to you that I'm not this Allison you speak of."
"Fine." Sean nodded. "I'd like to see you prove me wrong. Is it okay, Sister Rita?"
Regina and Emma both looked unsure about her little plan but didn't have any other ideas.
"Just be back as soon as you're done. Here's some money." Sister Rita responded.
"Are you sure that's wise, Sister?" The detective asked her. "We don't know these people or this town. We don't want to lose another child."
"Nothing's gonna happen to him." Ally said angrily. Regina grabbed her arm and pulled her back to her side. "Watch your attitude, Allison." She whispered in her ear. Ally sighed as she looked up to Regina and just nodded. The detective watched the exchange between 'mother and daughter' very closely.
The kids left and Regina decided it would be a golden opportunity to find out more about Allison's past. "Sister Rita, why don't you tell us more about this Allison girl?" Regina suggested. The detective didn't seem to trust her.
"I'd love too." She replied happily as she went back into the main room of the station followed by the detective.
Emma grabbed Regina's arm and pulled her back before she could follow them back. "Regina, that detective doesn't believe us for one second. We shouldn't keep Ally around them for too long."
Regina sighed knowing the blonde was right. "I'm more afraid of Allison slipping up." She whispered.
"What do you think we should do?" Emma asked her with her arms crossed.
Regina shook her head. "I don't know." She then composed herself and walked into the room followed Emma who knew Regina wasn't too happy about the current situation, neither was she. Emma grew fond of the girl and didn't want her to be taken away from Regina. She also knew that Regina would throw a fit and probably cast another curse so she had to keep Ally from being taken away at all costs.
They took a seat across from her and the detective and waited for Sister Rita to begin. "She was an energetic and adorable little girl with her dark curls bouncing around all the time. Hated school, always did."
Still does. Regina thought. That girl found more ways to get out of lessons…
Sister Rita continued. "She was a happy child. That is, until all her friends became adopted, leaving her alone. Every time a prospective couple wanted to adopt her something went wrong. She hated being rejected."
Emma sighed and crossed her arms. "I know how that feels." She mumbled to which only Regina heard. Regina looked over at the blonde sitting next to her and almost felt sorry for her.
"That was when her behavior changed from the sweet loving girl to one full of hate and trust issues." Regina did not look happy to hear this. "But I don't blame her. She's had it rough; she really is a sweet girl deep down. It just takes some time to find her." Regina had learned more about her Allison in 5 minutes than she had in the few months she spent with her.
"But all that is going to change now." Sister Rita said with a huge smile on her face. "Allison's birth mother wants her back. Isn't that wonderful news?!"
Regina stared intently at the nun sitting across from her, her face not revealing any emotion. Emma instantly looked over to Regina and knew that look all too well. She was clearly pissed and hurt.
The detective watched Regina's face and noticed the blonde's sudden glance to the brunette. He was curious to say the least.
Emma could see the wheels turning in Regina's head as she fumed. She noticed Regina clench her fists and knew she better get this nun out of here if she wanted to keep Regina from harming her. This detective also had to go; he was catching on to too many details.
Emma jumped up. "I think we should go join the kids at Granny's." She helped the Sister up and began walking towards the door.
The detective remained sitting across from Regina. "You have a beautiful little girl there, Miss Mills."
"Mayor Mills." She corrected. "And I know how beautiful she is. I'm a very lucky woman to have her for a daughter."
"That you are, Mayor Mills." He stood and gave her a slightly nod and smile before walking out to join Emma and Sister Rita.
"So where is her mother now?" Emma asked once they were out of the office.
"On her way here. We told her to come and surprise Allison." Sister Rita said happily.
Emma closed her eyes. "Shit!" She mumbled.
"What was that?" Sister Rita snapped. "I may be old, dear but I haven't lost my hearing just yet."
"Right, sorry. Words just come out sometimes." Emma replied sheepishly. "Why don't you go get in the car? I have something to take care of real quick."
Once Sister Rita was out the door, she hurried back into the office, when she passed the detective on the way as he gave her a sly look. Emma shook her head knowing she had to get rid of this guy. She found Regina pacing the floor when she reentered the room. "Why does this always have to happen?" She heard the brunette mumble to herself.
"Regina, we'll fix this." Emma said walking a little closer to her to try to calm her down.
"How?!" Regina snapped. "Another mother is out to take my child away from me. I can't go through this again." She yelled at Emma who stood wide-eyed knowing she was the other mother she was talking about. "I'm sorry, Regina." She said sincerely.
Regina placed her hands on her hips, desperately wanting to believe Emma. "She needs to stay here Emma, with me." She said trying to keep her voice from trembling.
Emma took two steps closer to her. "Regina, there are legal obligations we have to follow."
"Oh because you followed them so well yourself." Regina snapped. "You came in here and took Henry from me when he is legally mine."
Emma knew she had a point and sighed. "Look Regina, this time it's different. I belong in this town but these people from New Jersey certainly do not. If we want to keep this town a secret then we have to do things legally like any other normal town would do."
"Then I'll adopt her." Regina said firmly. She was not going to lose Ally no matter what she had to do to keep her in Storybrooke with her.
"It's not that simple, Regina." Emma replied looking tired of trying to explain this to the older woman.
"She'll lose her memories if she crosses the town line. She won't remember she's Allison and she will freak out when she realizes she's with people she doesn't know. How are you going to explain that one to them, Emma?" Regina shot back.
Emma ran her fingers through her hair knowing Regina was right. She had to stop them from taking Ally no matter what. "Well we need to think quickly, Regina, because her birth mother is on her way here-to Storybrooke."
