28 years later...
Regina woke up in her bed room early in the morning like usual. She groaned slightly and ran a hand through her short hair as she sat up. She got out of bed and went to the bathroom to get ready for the day ahead.
She took a quick shower and got dressed before walking downstairs to the kitchen to make breakfast for herself and her mother. The 23 year old sighed as every day was the same for her in the small town of Storybrooke. She would wake up and make breakfast for her mother then she would clean the house until it was time for her to go to the hospital where she did some volunteer work at the oncology. Then she would go to the diner to get herself a coffee and get her mother's coffee to bring her to her office. Then there was the usual family dinner with her mother and sisters and her nephew Henry.
Nothing special ever happened in Storybrooke.
She placed the food on a plate for her mother and waited for her to get downstairs since it was time for breakfast.
Cora indeed came downstairs just moments later, glad in one of her black pantsuits and signature high heels with her auburn hair slightly curled. "Good morning, Regina " she said as she saw her daughter and gave her a fake smile. The older woman remembered everything and therefore had a strong dislike for Regina since she ran away to be with that thief. However here in Storybrooke she had Regina right where she wanted her to be.
"Good morning, Mother. I got your breakfast. " the young woman explained as she poured her mother a cup of coffee. She hated still living with her mother at her age but unfortunately her work at the hospital didn't earn her any money. She was totally dependant on her mother. Though she wanted to train to become a nurse as she loved working with the patients and helping other people.
"Alright, thank you " Cora answered dismissively and sat down to eat while Regina cleaned up the kitchen. She soon finished eating and grabbed her purse and jacket. "I'll be off to work now, Regina. Don't forget to pick Henry up later. Your sister is counting on it. " she reminded Regina before getting her car keys.
"I won't forget it, Mother. " the young woman answered and watched her mother leave. She sighed when Cora was gone and continued with her chores before it was time to go to the hospital. There she helped the nurses with bringing food to the patients and giving them their medication like usual and also talked with some of them.
She also helped with chemo treatments sometimes though it was usually work for the real nurses and not the volunteers.
"Regina, right?" One of the patients asked as she hooked his IV of chemo treatment. He was a handsome young man, a few years older than her but still in his 20s. He looked pale and a bit tired from treatment and didn't have any hair.
"Yes, that's right. And you are Rob. You work as a park ranger in the woods right?" She asked as she looked at him with a soft smile. She saw him very often when she volunteered at the hospital due to his regular chemo sessions.
He nodded and smiled at her as they chatted for a bit. He thought she was very beautiful but he didn't dare to ask her out. She was just way out of his league.
Regina talked with him for a while until her shift was over and she had to go to pick up Henry from school.
"Gina!" Henry shouted excitedly as he spotted his aunt outside the school building and ran over to her to hug her tightly. They were close and Henry often told her things he would never be able to tell his mom.
"You had a good day?" The brunette asked him as she embraced him happily. She really loved Henry so much. Ever since her sister adopted him she had always been there for her nephew and helped where she could.
"It was alright. I got a B on my Math test. " the young boy explained proudly and took her hand as they walked to Granny's to have some food before his session with Archie. They both had a cheeseburger and hot chocolate with cinnamon before Regina brought Henry to Dr. Hopper's office.
"You can go up on your own?" She asked and hugged him shortly and ruffled his hair.
Slowly, Henry nodded and watched his aunt go home before he snuck off. He had a plan to find his birth mother Emma, the Saviour and bring her to Storybrooke to break the curse.
Zelena was very confused when Dr. Hopper called her to tell her that Henry never showed up for his session that afternoon. This didn't make any sense since Regina was supposed to bring Henry to the session after school. Where was Henry? She was pacing in her mother's study at the mansion, waiting for her little sister to get home to explain where Henry was. She was worried but also furious with Regina. Her sister had one job which was to get Henry to his session and she messed that up.
Regina arrived home and kicked her shoes off in the foyer and sighed. She really wished she could have her own place and a job but for some reason her mother didn't allow it. She was 23 for god's sake. "Mother? I'm home!" She announced as she took off her jacket.
"We are in the study!" Cora called out and sighed. She looked at Zelena. "Stop pacing, dear. I'm sure Regina knows where Henry is. " she tried to calm her eldest daughter down though she wasn't so sure about that.
Regina walked into the study and was surprised to find her older sister there with their mother. "Oh, hi, Zelena." She said with a soft smile and then greeted her mother.
"Where is Henry?" Zelena asked right away and looked sternly at her little sister.
"Isn't he at his session? I brought him to Dr. Hopper's office. " the young brunette answered and ran a hand through her brunette hair which currently reached just above her shoulders.
"He never showed up at his office. " Cora explained to Regina and sighed. She couldn't believe the little boy ran off. Lately Henry was going through a hard time after finding out that Zelena wasn't his birth mother.
Regina got worried now too. It wasn't like Henry. Though the little boy had confided in her and told her about his plans to find his birth mother. Zelena would be crushed if she found out. So she chose not to tell her. Zelena would freak out if she knew that Regina knew.
"I need to call the sheriff " Zelena said frustrated and went to do just that. She couldn't believe Henry ran off. Sure, lately it hadn't been easy with her son but she deemed it just a phase.
Cora watched Zelena leave the room before turning her attention to Regina. She walked over to her youngest daughter and grabbed her chin. "Now where were you? You were supposed to come straight home after bringing Henry to his session. " she demanded and sternly at the petite woman standing in front of her.
Regina gulped when her mother grabbed her chin and braced herself for her mother's anger. At 23 years old she was still scared of her mother sometimes. "I was at the diner. I met Ruby there. " she explained and looked deep into her mother's cold brown eyes. Ruby was Regina's best and only friend here in Storybrooke and the only person she could confide in besides her sister Mary and Henry.
The mayor sighed and let go of Regina since she was telling the truth. "Alright. Go to your room now. " she dismissed the young woman and waited for her to leave the room.
Regina did as she was told though she really wanted to have her own place and a job but for some reason her mother didn't want her to be independent. The brunette never understood why. After all, Mary and Zelena also had their own lives. It wasn't fair. She was no longer a child.
Meanwhile, Henry arrived back in Storybrooke with his birth mother Emma. He really didn't want to go back home but Emma left him no choice. They soon arrived at his grandma's mansion and his mother came running out the door, engulfing him in a tight hug as soon as she saw them.
"Henry! I was worried sick about you. Where were you?" Zelena asked and looked at him.
"I found my real mom!" The little boy burst out and pushed her away before running inside. He had his own room at the mansion for when he stayed with his grandma sometimes. He ran upstairs to his room and slammed the door shut. He just wanted all of this to end. He needed Emma to believe so the curse could break and he could reunite his family.