Authors note: Trigger warning: talk about Regina's marriage to King Leopold!
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When she reached the ship, she was relieved when she saw her mother sitting on a bench on the docks, at least now she didn't have to climb into the ship, risking a fall.
The older woman turned her head when she heard the clicking of heels in the stone. Her brown eyes filled with hope and love when she saw her beautiful and very pregnant daughter approach.
Regina sat down carefully and felt the cold wood through her pants fabric.
"I think I'm ready to talk." Regina said in groggy voice full emotion.
Cora stared at her daughter face and gave her a watery smile.
"Good."
Regina let out a humorless chuckle. "You know, it's kind off ironic, really. All I ever wanted was your love and approval, yet you didn't have your heart. And now you do and you seek my forgiveness. The only problem is that you're a couple of decades late, mother." Her tanned fingers weaved together to keep them warm against the cold Maine air.
Cora stared at the younger brunette, wanting to get eyecontact. But Regina remained staring out into the seemingly unending ocean. Her lips opened and then closed again, she didn't know how to respond to that. She didn't even know if she was supposed to respond to that. "I know. You're right darling, I am late. Maybe too late."
Instead of looking straight forward, Regina now moved her gaze towards the ground in front of her. The pavement was scattered with flattened gum and black oil stains. The air smelled of salt sea water and fish.
"I just... I came here because I didn't want you to think for the rest of your live that I didn't love you. Because I did, even when I didn't have my heart. I love you, I've just shown it in all the wrong ways."
"I want to believe that, mother. I really, really do. But what you call 'wrong ways' I call destroying my life." Regina said softly and she finally turned to look in her mother's eyes. Eyes so similar to her own. "You killed Daniel, the only person that truly loved me. And yes, I know daddy loved me, but not enough to stop you. He never once stood up for me during one of your lessons."
Cora twisted the ring around her ring finger, bile rose in her throat when she thought back at the abuse she had put her daughter through. But she didn't want Regina to think bad about her father. "Henry tried, Regina. But I had magic. It wasn't his fault, darling. It was mine." A lonely tear cascaded down her cheek. "All the suffering you've been put through is my fault."
There was a long silence between the two women. "I actually can't argue with that, mother. But, becoming a mother myself, first Henry and now my daughter, has actually learned me something about forgiveness."
Cora gave her a soft smile as she fumbled with her fingers.
"But that doesn't mean that I can forget, mother." Regina said softly. "What you put me through by forcing me to marry Leo- the King. It was..." Regina swallowed the bile that rose at those horrible memories. "Hell."
"I'm so sorry my darling."
"How did any of that sound right in your head, even when you didn't have your heart?" Regina asked as thick droplets of salty tears made their way down her pale cheeks. "I just can't imagine that, mother. How can you sell your eighteen year old daughter to a King more than three times her age?!"
"I just thought about your future, sweetheart. I wanted what was best for you."
"What he did to me, what he took from me wasn't what was best for me. I lost myself more every day. I had to pretend to love the girl who had a hand in all of my pain, I had to please the digusting bastard I was forced to call husband." Regina let out a soft sob.
"And I realize that now. I know exactly what he did to you my darling and I'm so, so sorry."
Regina's eyes widend. "What of you mean, you know exactly what he did to me."
Cora closed her eyes for a second. She never wanted Regina to know this, but if she wanted to rebuild the relationship with her daughter, she needed to be honest with her. "You were not the only one who used magic mirrors."
Regina's face turned from shock to horror in a matter of seconds. "You... You saw?" She asked in a small voice, hoping the answer was no. Her brown eyes filled with shame and she stared down at her feet again.
Cora nodded painfully, her voice was groggy when she answered. "I did, darling." Pushed saw Regina's cheeks turn red from shame. "Look at me, honey." She put two fingers under the younger woman's chin and pushed her head up so she could meet her daughter's eyes. "You should not be ashamed. This was not your fault. Do you understand?" Cora asked softly.
Tears streamed down Regina's cheeks and Cora gently wiped them away. "I understand." Regina said with a sob.
"Shhh, darling." Cora said as she pulled her daughter into a hug. "I'm here for you. Regina." She rubbed comforting circles on the younger woman's back. "I love you, Regina."
Sobs filled the deserted harbor of Storybrooke as Regina cried in her mother's chest. "I love you too."
...
"Daniel?" Regina said as she entered her house, followed by her mother. She looked around the foyer, seeing no trace of her fiancé. "Daniel?" She tried again and then looked at the clock. It was 7 pm, Daniel should be home already.
Cora still followed as Regina stepped into the living room. She smiled when she noticed her daughter indeed had an impeccable taste. It was so different from the cold and black castle she had had in the Enchanted Forest. This house was homely and Cora could already imagine her daughter raising her child in here. Her eyes traced the several family photos that were hanging on the walls. The pictures were all beautiful but one in particular caught her attention.
Regina was sitting under her apple tree with Henry, who was about three years she'd say. Both mother and son were smiling while they ate an apple. The smile on her daughter's face was so happy that Cora couldn't stop staring.
"Regina?" Daniel asked as he stepped into the living room.
Regina turned around and was met with the sight of her fiancé, wearing only jeans. "Daniel!" Regina scolded as she pointed at the woman in the other corner of the room, who was staring with a mixture of shock and amusement. "Put on some clothes, my mother is here!"
"Alright, alright!" He said as he made his way to the bathroom again.
"Sorry about that." Regina said with a sigh as she sat down on the couch. The painful heels were quickly kicked off the moment Regina sat and she moaned softly as she rubbed her aching feet against the soft rug.
Cora watched with a grin as she sat down on the couch next to the younger brunette. "You shouldn't wear those shoes in this state of your pregnancy, Regina." She said lovingly.
"I know, but they're so nice!" Regina whined
"So, I see you two have talked." Daniel said as he walked into the living room again, this time fully dressed.
"Yes we have." Regina leaned in so he could give her a quick peck on the lips. "I've decided to give her another chance."
Cora was staring in awe at the couple. It all went so natural between them, the loving gestures, the smiles. It really was true love. She looked at her daughter's pregnant stomach and tears filled her eyes for the second time that day. Regina could've had all of this decades ago. If only I would've let her.
"Well, then." Daniel spoke up, snapping Cora from her haunting thoughts. "I guess I'll give you another chance too."
He really was a good man.
"When is Henry going to be back?" Regina asked as she got off the couch with a little help from Daniel.
"Emma promised to bring him back at eight."
"Then I better start on dinner." Regina said as she slowly made her way to the kitchen.
When Regina was gone, a tense silence filled the living room. Cora stared at her former stable boy as he shot her a soft smile.
"I'll better help her." He said as he turned around to walk towards the kitchen.
"Thank you Daniel." Cora said quickly, stopping the man in his tracks. "Thank you so much for loving Regina. You really saved her."
He just shrugged as his smile grew wider. "How can I not love her? She's perfect."
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