cont.
Berta growls to herself how to detach Regina is; which is the obvious reaction because this is the part when she's fighting to stay strong, but at the same time, she needs to fall apart. This is the part where she goes out to think on her own and probably cry or something privately. "Regina, wait."
Regina already left before Berta could stop her, so she let her go. Bert patiently waited for Regina to return, but she started to worry, so she slowly got up to look for her, "Your Majesty?"
Regina returns from the next room walking with Razi, "I'll let you both talk." Berta studied her face and you could tell she has been crying. Berta still looked at her for her to look into her eyes, but Regina still refused. Berta inhaled hard and then redirected to Razi asking trying to get herself fully alert, "What's going on, mama?"
Regina stayed outside of the room while Berta explains the truth of everything and the idea of magic to Razi. For hours that the sun is almost rising, Berta finally waved her in through the window, so Regina slowly walked inside while Razi who looked terrified of her looking up and down. Razi doesn't understand how someone looked so kind, but dark by the way Berta explained.
"You explain what is going to happen and everything?" Regina asked Berta pointing at Razi.
Berta nodded, and then Regina redirected to Razi to warn her, "I'm going to change my true appearance, so do not get scared, but don't look in my eye. I have to fully embrace my Dark One in order to do this. Berta will be in severe pain, but it only will last a few seconds because her nerves will be shot. She will be emotionally and mentally overwhelmed that her heart will give out, but she cannot be unconscious. That is your job, you have to hold her hand, keep shaking her and find ways to keep her awake. You have to force your mom to focus on you. Can you do that?"
Razi became confused, "Will it really that bad? Why can't I look in your eye?"
"You and your mom are not a magical being, but your sister has magic because my genetic materials," Regina explained.
Razi is even more disordered, "So the whole time you were, what putting your magic inside of her?"
"Well, my magic and essence is somewhat different. Look at this way," Regina conjured fireball, "this is magic, but my essence is in my genetic code. I was born magic, thus my magic is inside of me written in my blood. I didn't make Bertha magical because she already has magic the moment she became a fetus, but she needs my essence to grow properly. What I am doing right now to your mom and Bertha is magic."
"So even you don't have magic and you still can get it?" Razi curiously asked.
"Don't even think about it, Razi," Regina stood closer sneering at her.
"Regina!" Berta warned her to back off, and then she redirected to Razi, "Razi, don't do this, please."
"But I could learn magic and," Razi stopped speaking because she's too angry at Regina and wanted to save Berta's life.
Regina interrupted Berta threatening Razi, "Magic will not free you, Razi. I know you're angry at me, but even you learn magic, and believe me you'll turn to dust."
"Regina!" Berta angrily shouted at her, "I want to talk to Razi alone."
Regina stood with her arms crossed about to speak, but Berta glared at her, "Now!"
Regina threw the fireball almost directly to Razi walking out of the door, "Next time, I won't miss."
Berta ignored her as she rolled her eyes, "She is just trying to intimidate you, but she's harmless."
Berta doesn't want Razi to learn magic at all because it comes with a price, so she tried her best to explain hoping she won't learn any. Razi finally agreed but still holds grudge against Regina. Now she looked outside through the hallway and saw the sun is starting to rise, so it'll be a few hours until Emma and the girls wake up.
Regina transforms herself back fully Dark One in a black robe that she wore many times before with long boots and black dark eyes. She walked back inside with an evil smile, "Ready to get this party started?"
Razi doesn't like what she's seeing, but Berta rolled her eyes. Regina started to walk closely, "You sure you can handle this because if you can't then I'll have to find something."
"No, you won't, Regina!" Berta carefully warned her knowing what she is planning to do.
"I'm not scared of you," Razi stood tall, "I can do this."
Regina mischievously smiled enjoying seeing her a little scared, "Let's put that to test, shall we?"
"Your Majesty," Berta groaned, "You really have to do this?"
"Yes I do," Regina still locked on Razi as she waved behind her an illusion of her Latino husband from Remington Community who is high tempered and mean only in a private home.
Razi became terrified as she backed away, "Make him go away!"
Berta tilted to her daughter, "Razi! He's not real!" Berta redirected to Regina, "Stop testing my daughter!"
Regina ignored Berta, "You're a weak little girl who doesn't have any guts."
Razi refocused on Regina who seems to be enjoying this, "I … am … not weak!"
"Prove it," Regina smiles as she conjured her son on his arm and another holding his hands, "Shoot them. All of them."
Razi saw the gun in her hand baffled, "Why should I shoot them?"
Regina whispering closer, but Berta could still hear her, "It's all your fault. You let him take your sons away and now," Regina conjured the husband that seems to be hitting her older son, "You blame yourself every day since you left the community, and is that right Razi?"
Razi pointing the gun towards her husband hesitated, clearing her throat watching him beating and then she shot him cold while the husband slowly disappeared into dust. Razi had no idea how good that feels and then pointed the gun towards the sons, but couldn't shoot, so Regina made everything dissolves. "There's one little problem, a little twist you should know."
"What?" Razi curiously asked but afraid to look at her.
"They were never your sons."
Razi eyes became wide unbelieving her words, "They were my sons! I remember being pregnant and everything."
Regina nodded, "Black Queen stole those two sons from someone else and gave you fake memories."
"But I had sex with him and I remember it was painful and waking up throwing up and everything. How is it fake?"
Regina thoroughly enjoying this laughing hard, "Do you want to find out?"
Razi asked, "How?"
"I know where they are right at this moment. I can show you for a price of course." Regina smiled.
"No!" Berta screamed at Regina, so Regina tilted while Razi thought on her own, and "Regina please stop testing her."
"Deal!" Razi yelled refocusing on Regina.
Berta warned Razi, "Please Razi don't. I know this is very tempting, but do not give in. None of her deals come out good, I know it firsthand. Regina twists the truth in order to break you, so you won't be scared anymore. She will destroy you, so please do not make deal with Dark One."
Regina crossed her arms waiting as Razi listened to turns to Berta, "You did!"
"I barely survived because she put a gun in my head literally forcing me to deal, but no one is forcing you," Berta explained.
Razi was surprised to hear that while asking Regina, "You forced mom, why?"
"I needed something from her that she can only provide, so I needed her consent to force it," Regina answered honestly.
Berta noticed that Razi is not looking good wanted to distract, "Razi, why don't you get a snack and drink before we all do this?"
Razi nodded as she walked out of the room quietly and then Berta continued, "I do not appreciate you playing mine games with my daughter!"
"She thinks I killed you and destroyed your life, but in reality, she's the one who started it all," Regina pointed at Razi who walked out of the room.
Berta with her eye's crossed, "Do you know something that I don't know?"
"She blames herself for what happened to you and her dad because of what she did," Regina pointed out.
Berta asked, "What is it that she blamed herself for?"
Regina sighed, "She made a mistake of telling one of her friends that you were real Queen of Hearts and then her friend told another until it reached Cora. She didn't want you to fight for her crown, so she was planning to kill you and Razi, but her dad got in the way and you escaped."
"Why didn't she tell me that?!" Berta was disappointed that Razi felt the need to hide the truth.
"She's guilty, so she is taking it out on me to make it easier to place the blame, so I was trying to twist her mind to turn the tables on herself to force her to hate herself until she breaks," Regina shrugged.
"She's my daughter, Regina! You cannot do that to her! I forbid it!" Berta was extremely upset with her.
"Only because you're the mother of my child, so I won't," Regina crossed her arms disappointed.
"Thank you. Anything else you want to add?" Berta double checking that is all the truth she should know.
Regina stood up smiling walking over to her bed whispering and purring to her ears, "You secretly enjoy it and miss it."
Berta cleared her throat as she felt the heat on her body, "No, I don't."
Regina kissed her cheek, "Deny all you want, and what a good girl you are."
Berta tiled staring deep in Regina's black coal eyes unafraid, "If I could take it all back."
Regina interrupted, "You'll do it all over again in a heartbeat."
Berta shook her head angrily, "No I won't, because I still wouldn't have you. I'll take it all back to find another way to have you in my life, Regina. You're not the Dark One and it will not work on me."
"I'm sorry, Berta. I didn't mean to do that," Regina felt bad for pushing too hard as her eyes turned to normal, "I'm sorry about Razi, she makes it so hard."
Berta smiled at her bright eyes again, "Razi will get over it soon, so don't worry."
Regina nodded still waiting for Razi to return, while Berta continued, "I do miss it, but I'll still take it all back."
Regina smirked as her black coal eyes back, "I know. You deserve more than I can give and I'm sorry I couldn't give you what you deserve."
Razi stood by the door puzzled, "What do you miss?"
Berta eyed Regina and then replied, "Nothing, but Razi, there's something I want to talk to you."
Razi and Berta discuss what happened in Wonderland while Razi felt mortified and ashamed that Berta knows the truth, but Berta reassured her that she doesn't blame her and Razi shouldn't blame herself for what happened. Berta wanted Razi to let go of the past and then realizes what Regina was really trying to do, is to help her to face the truth to move pass her awful past. Razi promises that she will try to work on it, so Berta was satisfied with her answer.
Regina flicked her fingers to put silent spells while closing the binds and the door for privacy for as long as she could. She froze the heart rhythm not wanting to cause alarm. Regina wanted to apologize for hurting her, so she temporarily froze Razi as she walked over beside the bed, "I'm sorry for what is about to happen and I'm deeply sorry that I hurt you. I hate it that I have to hurt you again."
Berta put her hands-on side of her face, "Please remember that I have never hated you and I have always loved you through it all."
"All of it?" Regina tentatively asked.
"Every single one of them; such as the shower, the bed, your bed, and our bed and at the castle. I will never ask you to erase or replace it because I cherish all of the memories we both share no matter what it is." Berta smiled, "You need to forgive yourself, My Queen."
Regina heavily inhaled, "Thank you, Berta and you're a good woman that I do not deserve but you stick by me through it all. No one could have done that except my father."
"I know. I wanted to be with you. I am glad to know you personally that no one has seen through you. Thank you for letting me to see who you truly are because I know you would never let anyone in except for Emma." Berta's eyes soften as she spoke.
Regina nodded feeling better as she kissed her forehead, "Ok, princess. Let's do this," Regina mentally telling herself she can do this. She went back to her position as Berta's legs are wide open that she could see the whole thing and then she unfroze Razi, "Ok, stay close to Berta and make sure she stays awake."
Razi held Berta's hand and another hand on her shoulder leaning close to her. Regina rubs both of her hands as the black aura of magic spreading from her fingers and out of the blue she threw her magic inside as Berta screams. Berta's tears building up in her eyes while the lights are flickering and the ground started to shake. The screams only lasted a second that Berta felt her entire body is about to explode that she is about to faint, as bright light spreading from her belly. Razi kept screaming at Berta to keep her focus and awake while Razi kept shaking Berta and tapping her face. The dark clouds engulf the entire Storybrooke that no one could see for a few seconds except for that room. Berta's belly grew a few inches as Regina kept her focus as her magic surrounded Bertha to speed up the growth and heal her. When Berta's water broke, Regina stopped backing up, but the bright light from her belly slowly subdued. Berta fought hard to stay awake, as Regina ran to Berta undoing the silent spell and the heart rhythm, "Berta! You need to stay awake a little longer."
The doctors and nurses rush inside while Razi was pushed into the corner to give them space like deer in headlights, but no one refuses to ask The Good Queen to move her spot. They wheeled her into the surgical room and help Regina to put on a blue gown and cap to stay beside Berta who is crying hard, "I can't. I can't."
"Yes, you can. You can do this. The worse is over," Regina sat making Berta to look at her, "Tell me something I don't know."
Berta couldn't feel anything, but her body is still in severe pain that is much worse than beating someone. It is like her entire body was squeezed so tight that there is no way out, but with your eyes open that you could feel everything, but cannot feel anything.
Regina tapped her again, "Bertha is our blessing and no one can take her from you. You can do this."
Berta still felt faint as she turns facing Regina, but still couldn't see anything from neck and below, "You are my godsend and Bertha is our miracle. You promise you'll protect her?"
Regina smiles, "I'll protect her with my life, I promise, Berta."
Berta doesn't know if she's pushing or not because she couldn't feel the pressure because she feels all the magic that she couldn't feel anything else except everything. It is one of the worse feelings she ever felt, "I'm in love with you, Regina and I wish we are back in that Remington community where we are married. Those are the happiest I ever had in years of my life. I want those days back where I feel safe with you."
Regina finally let tears fall on her face as she watches Berta closes her eyes slowly, "Berta, don't … I love you and don't leave, please. Bertha needs you and I need you alive." Regina kept kissing her forehead and shaking her to make her wake up again, but she was lifeless when the doctor appeared behind her softly spoke, "I'm sorry, there was too much blood, I'm sorry, ma'am."
Regina kept her focus on Berta while listening to the doctor apologizing as she rolled her eyes, "Leave!"
The doctors and nurses weren't sure while handling the baby girl who is crying, but Regina couldn't think straight about the daughter except for Berta. Regina stood up with Evil Queen's look that no one has seen in a long time screaming at them, "I said leave! Now!"
The doctor grabbed the baby and the nurses ran out leaving Regina alone. Regina cleaned Berta's body while putting a dark red dress that she likes to see Berta wearing. Regina held still held Berta closely until Razi sneaked inside while Regina looked up that looks even angrier, "She's gone."
For the first time, she noticed the ring that was still on her left hand, a small diamond ring. She had no idea that Berta had it the whole time, and Regina thought how good Berta is at hiding that small thing that goes unnoticed. Regina laughs to herself whispering, "You never give up, don't you?"
Razi still stood in deer headlights couldn't believe that her mom is actually dead on the table. She couldn't face the truth. All of a sudden, she has forgotten Bertha, so she curses to herself. She wiped her tears and cleaned her face as she composed herself while helping Razi to leave the room, "Let's see your sister, Razi."
They both walked quietly couldn't speak a word until the maternity ward, behind the glass a woman appears holding a girl who looks so beautiful and stunning, "she's a strong and healthy baby girl. There is nothing wrong her. I don't know how that is possible, but it's a miracle."
Regina stared smiling couldn't believe her eyes and how small she is with tiny feet and toes, so she took the baby from her arms and forgotten how extremely light babies are, "Wow, I still cannot believe it."
Bertha has Berta's chin and nose that both of them noticed watching the baby opened her eyes while Razi spoke, "Look at her eyes and I have never seen one before."
Regina hasn't either, her eyes have bright grayish-white eyes mixed with blueish-white. You could see the clear layers of colors in her eyes. The eye color might deceive you to think they are not real. Her eye is like a mirror eye that you are likely to see the picture in her eyes that is so reflective. It is so real that will blow your mind. "She's beautiful," Razi speaks softly again wanting to hold her.
Regina didn't want to let her go as it is her maternal instinct, but she gave to Razi, "she's beautiful like your mom."
Her doctor appears walking, "I was just about to find you, Mrs. Swan-Mills. I don't know what happens and I am not going to ask, but this girl is one lucky baby."
"Thank you, Dr. Zinner, do you think it is ok I take my daughter home?" Regina asked desiring to leave the hospital.
Dr. Zinner looked through her files and the paperwork, "That is why I came, and I do not see why not, but I need to give her final check-up to make sure everything is ok. I also want to inform you your family is out in the waiting room. They have been here for hours before, but I wasn't sure you want them to come in."
"Thank you, Dr. Zinner," then redirected to Razi, "Can you go ahead and inform that I'll be out in few, so I can go to the doctor with Bertha."
Razi nodded while handling the baby girl back into Regina's arms and then Dr. Zinner pointed at the nurse nearby, "Please show Ms. Smith out to see Swan-Mills family."
Dr. Zinner followed by Regina with Bertha who is still awake holding with Regina's fingers into the small office for Dr. Zinner to check on Bertha's health and evaluate her mouth, ears, and everything.
"She passed her hearing test and then I checked on her lungs and she is breathing normally. She has very strong lungs. This is one healthiest baby girl," Dr. Zinner handed back the baby girl into Regina's arms.
Regina decided to ask about the color of her eye growing concern, "Do you know how she go the color of her eyes? Will it harm her because it doesn't seem to be normal?"
Dr. Zinner nodded in understanding of worried mother, "I have checked her eyes the moment she was taken, and it is perfectly healthy. The sun and the light will not harm her eyes, so as a doctor, I have to admit I'm stumped, but she can see normally like all of us."
Regina relieves as tears lightly on her face that she is perfectly healthy, "Do you think I can breastfeed her?"
"We have mothers here as a volunteer to breastfeed these babies, so yes you can, Mrs. Swan-Mills," she patted her shoulder, "it is normal to worry about her well-being, but I promise she's healthy. Although since she was born a month early, so just precautious I want you to bring her here in three weeks for re-checkup. Please call me if anything changes."
Regina nodded, "Can we go ahead and make an appointment?"
Dr. Zinner shakes her head smiling, "No appointment needed. When you come to the front desk, just say that Dr. Zinner will see me personally, and they will ring me. I'll take care of this baby girl right away."
"Thank you, Dr. Zinner," the doctor showed her out to the front in the waiting room. Regina inhaled and then heavily sighed facing all of the Swan-Mills and then looked back to happy girl who seems to be hungry.
Everyone quickly stood up when they saw Regina walked through the front door holding a baby girl wrapped completely in awe and then Regina smiled, "Everybody, please welcome our newest member of the family, Bertha Paladin Swan-Mills."
Everybody was happy and then Emma felt her white knight syndrome back on when she saw the baby girl to protect her at all costs, "She's beautiful."
"And the baby is hungry," Regina seeing the baby crying.
Regma and Nardia held up the diaper bag, "We went to the baby room and noticed there wasn't anything, so I hope you don't mind. We all decided to go shopping and we overspend after you left to go hospital."
Regina truly thought that was sweet and it does save some time, "You got everything?"
Emma nodded, "all the medicines, the milk, goat milk, wipes, and the whole nine yards."
Regina thanked all of them as Emma kissed her on side of her forehead while apologizing, "I'm sorry about Berta."
Regina's heart sunk, but she didn't want anyone to notice, "Let's go home and to feed this crying baby girl."
