It had been a while since her daughter had taken off with some stable boy, never to be heard from or seen again. Disgracing her family by refusing to marry a king.
But it had been two days since Cora had seen Regina in a house in the woods a few kingdoms over. It had been two days since Cora had seen her grandchildren.
Cora had been wandering around the marketplace looking for some fine ingredients for one of her potions. Children giggling, Strangers cooing to newborn babies in their mother's arms, music playing in the square. It all made her sick. Children were horrid little creatures. They were like caterpillars in a way, useless while they were young, only to flourish later on.
That was what Regina was like anyway- Cora scolded herself, never would she ever let her mind go to that traitor again. She had given everything up for the girl, the number of deals she had to make to get them a good life, to get them money. But how does she repay her? She runs off with a stable boy without even leaving a letter. Cora had so many plans for Regina, she would have been Queen for the love of Merlin.
Cora hadn't been the only person to have been livid, however. Rumplestiltskin- The Dark One-Had showed up just two days after Regina's departure and threatened Cora to no end. Then another two days later he had shown up yet again and told Cora not to worry, he had found someone else that would be useful for him. Her first daughter- a bastard child- Zelena. Cora never heard from Rumplestiltskin again afterwards. Only a few months ago she had heard that Ozz had been engulfed in a curse and had taken them to another land. Cora knew that it was Zelena's doing. Cora also knew that Rumplstitskin had a part to play, also.
Now Cora found herself wandering through a wood, she didn't know where she just wanted to think. Where had she gone wrong with Regina? Yes, maybe she hadn't shown Regina love in a maternal way, but she had most certainly shown it. Why else would she have poisoned Queen Ava? Why else would she have sent Snow White's steed into a galloping panic? Mind you she could have done it for entertainment. But that wasn't the point. Plus, love is weakness, Regina knew that.
The nearing old woman then heard giggling and laughter in the distance.
Why did everyone always have to be happy wherever she went? Why couldn't she be left to think in peace? Why couldn't they take their laughter somewhere else?
As Cora turned the corner she saw a small house made of wood. A stable house. The house was surrounded by a small wooden fence. Chickens scattered in the front garden, goats and sheep in a pen, three horses stood grazing in a paddock, cows in another, geese and ducks swimming in a small pond out the side.
Cora scowled. This reminded her of the mill she had grown up in, where her father came home drunk almost every night. Such a miserable little place this looked to be.
Cora was pulled by her thoughts by another set of laughter.
Her eyes widened. It couldn't be. How Cora recognised that laugh she would never no, Regina never laughed. Not unless she was with him...
A woman with long, raven hair laid on the ground tickling two children, both looked around the age of five. Two children. Two children.
Cora watched, her eyes squinted. She was too far away to tell if it was Regina or not. There was a fair chance, this house just screamed stable boy.
Cora crept behind the trees towards the small house.
She almost gasped. It was indeed, her daughter, Regina.
The young woman who she now knew to be her daughter picked the girl of the two up of her lap and grabbed a basket. Once Cora caught sight of Regina's stomach she felt as though she would faint. Regina was with child, again, so it seemed.
Cora almost didn't recognise Regina for two reasons, the first and most obvious, She had grown, she was no longer the small caterpillar Cora once thought her to be. And the second, this girl- woman, seemed to have a permanent smile on her face.
"Thomas, Amare! Would you two like to help me get some eggs?" Regina called to the children who were now following behind her.
"Yes, mummy!" They both exclaimed. Cora then knew that she had been correct, they were her children.
Henry's going to be so happy. She thought bitterly.
Minutes went by, but Cora couldn't bring herself to look away. Her grandchildren were precious. The boy, who Cora now knew to be Thomas, had soft brown curls and a good, strong jaw. Just like the stable boy. The girl, Amare, looked just like Regina had at that age. Raven hair, and beautiful, sharp cheekbones. If only they hadn't been the children of Daniel Colter. Regina now looked more like Henry than Cora. Her stomach had become larger due to the babe she was now carrying in her womb. Regina now seemed to be what Cora never was. A good mother.
It wasn't until Regina's eyes found Cora's that Cora knew she had to leave. Regina had frozen, she grabbed Amare and Thomas' hands and pulled them behind her, fear evident in her still dark eyes. But she didn't move, and neither did Cora. The children's heads peeked from behind their mother's frame, looking to see what or whom could possibly be making their mother act this way.
Regina looked as though she were waiting for something to happen, she was silent. Cora was the same. Neither of them did or said anything. They both just waited.
Cora then did the last thing that Regina had expected her to do at that moment, she smiled, and genuinely, not a smirk, not a fake smile, but a genuine one. Regina frowned, and her eyes furrowed.
Cora turned on her heels and began to walk away. Regina was happy, she had happiness in her life now. Something that Cora would never be able to give her.
"Wait!" She heard someone shout behind her. Cora whipped around. It was Regina. "You're not going to kill me?" Cora smiled sadly and shook her head. Regina looked at her confused, the children looked at Regina confused. Cora's heart clenched at how naive her grandchildren seemed to be.
"I don't see the point of that,"
Regina then did something that even shocked herself. She began to walk towards her mother.
"It's good to see you again, Cora," Cora could have scoffed, Regina was as naive as she ever had been.
"Where's the stable boy?"
Regina frowned at the name Cora had always used while talking about Daniel.
"He's gone to sell a cow," She replied simply. Whenever Cora would think about what being reunited with Regina would be like, she never thought it to be like this.
Cora's eyes landed on Amare and Thomas again, both were still behind their mother. Regina noticed this.
"This is Amare Regina, and this is Thomas Daniel," She then grinned down at her stomach and put her hand to it. "And this is Filia Vita,"
Cora gave the children a rare smile. She looked up at Regina afterwards.
"You're happy here?" She asked her own daughter.
Regina furiously nodded. "Very," She then bit her lip.
"I'm glad to hear," Cora tried to smile, "I'll be off so, I might tell your father where you are some time, I'm sure he'll be over the moon to meet his grandchildren," Cora finished awkwardly.
Regina smiled. "I'd like that, mother,"
And with that Cora Mills was gone, only this time she was leaving Regina, not the other way around. It felt nice, to know that Regina was happy, even if it was with the stable boy
Regina Mills was no more, it was now Regina Colter.