AUTHORS NOTE: I know some of you might have been confused by the choice I made to have Mary-Margaret Nolan and Miss Blanchard as two separate people. This chapter helps explain why.
Again, I apologise for any spelling or grammatical mistakes, English is not my first spoken language and it is currently almost 1AM.
Here is Chapter 4 of "Unreliable Truths"
Mary-Margret Nolan was found hours later by her husband David, the town sheriff. She was curled up into the foetal position on their bedroom floor, sobbing like her heart was broken. David knelt next to her and murmured soft words into her ears until she regained her composure and sat up into her husband's waiting arms.
"Snow? What happened?" he asked, his voice etched with worry and concern. He used the nickname that his mother had coined years before, "Snow" because of the woman's uncanny resemblance to Snow White from the Disney Cartoon. David had continued the use of it after his mother's death because when he asked Mary to marry him, snowflakes started to fall on them just as she agreed to marry him.
Back in the couples bedroom in Storybrooke, Mary gasped and wiped her now bloodshot eyes with her hand. She still clung to the comforting presence of her husband, with his tough leather jacket and holster around his shoulders, with the smell of his cologne and his comforting hugs and kisses to the top of her head.
"David, we have a child" she whispered, her soft voice barely audible.
"Sweetheart, you must've been dreaming or hallucinating. We don't have a child" he said, his voice becoming sad, as he was reminded of their marriage being tainted by the futile tries of conceiving a baby of their own.
"No David, we have a child here. Somewhere in this town" Mary insisted, her haunted expression told David that his wife was clearly telling the truth.
Meanwhile, Regina was tucking her two daughters into bed, stories and kisses and cuddles, and promises of a fun day the next morning. Regina descended the spiral staircase, poured a large glass of wine, and tried not to think of the state of her vast backyard and the time she would have to spend cleaning it. Marco, the town carpenter, had donated a children's treehouse for Aila and Emma to play with as his only son was now in college studying mechanical engineering and had long since outgrown it. It was a thoughtful gift from the old man, but Regina wasn't sure how safe it would be for her girls. However, she trusted Marco; the man had been doing his own hand-carved furniture and toys for decades and had never had a single complaint.
Nursing the glass of wine, Regina debated about calling her friend whom she affectionately called Tink whose real name was Harriet, to come over and 'scratch an itch' for her since Mal was gone but she decided against it. Mal had poisoned her sex life now, even the thought of it was enough to depress her. Mal had degraded her enough out of the bedroom, but always liked to feel in control of Regina, which was something that the Mayor was incredibly uncomfortable with.
Thoughts then drifted to her half-sister Zelena, she hadn't seen her since Aila was a toddler, maybe three or four at the most. Mal hadn't got along with Zelena and demanded that Regina keep her distance from her elder sister. Her mother was probably still worried about her. Cora had divorced her second husband after learning about his many affairs with young, vulnerable women in the town, including Miss Blanchard- a spinster who was about ten years older than Regina, making her twenty when Regina's father had left.
Cora hadn't originally liked Mal either, thinking that Mal was prone to fits of unexplainable rage and was inherently evil. When Mal had overheard Cora telling her daughter exactly what she thought of her then-partner, Mal had screamed down the telephone that it was none of her business what went on in their house and to keep her unfortunately hooked nose out of Regina's life.
Maybe she should reach out to her family again now that they had a new member.
Picking up her smartphone, Regina typed in a text, erasing, and restarting several times before settling and sending it:
"Dearest Mother and Sister.
I felt it was obligatory to reach out and tell you some of the recent developments that have taken place in our little family. Most importantly, Mal and I have separated and are getting divorced. I couldn't stand the fighting and arguing any more. Aila was too aware that we weren't happy and thus, that made her unhappy. I couldn't bear to see my little girl so scared and unhappy. The final straw came about four months ago. We had decided to foster a little girl called Emma. She was very timid when she first arrived and still is to some extent. Mal couldn't handle a little girl who needed some extra love and nurture and called both Emma and me some very nasty names. So I threw her out.
If you are free tomorrow, we are having a quiet day for Aila's eighth birthday and I would love you to come and meet your granddaughters and nieces.
Regards, Regina."
Putting down the phone, Regina sighed contentedly and picked up the remote to the smart television that was mounted to the wall of her private sitting room. Hearing some snuffling coming from her oldest daughter's bedroom, Regina decided to check on her. Realising that both her girls were still wide awake, Regina knew that there would be no reason to leave them alone to think about things that would upset them, so they all picked up their bedding and pillows and cuddled up on the massive sofa that was about the size of a Queen-sized bed and Regina pulled out all the stops with some microwave popcorn and some hot chocolate, Emma had hers with cinnamon but Regina and Aila had theirs with chocolate shavings. They then put on a marathon of kid movies beginning with "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" then "Matilda" and ending with "Little Women" which was Emma and Aila's favourite. Halfway through "Matilda", Regina heard her phone give a soft cha-ching, alerting her to a new text message. Her mother had now made a group with Regina, Zelena and herself in it so that they could communicate more effectively. Both said that they had no plans at all for the next day and would love to come and see the girls. Regina then paused the film- much to the chagrin of the children and said that they would be meeting their grandmother and aunt the next day.
"Mommy, why haven't I seen Nana Cora before?" Emma asked softly.
"I haven't seen Auntie Zel in years either" Aila pouted but smiled at Emma, to show that she was only joking
"Well, we sort of fell out of touch for a while, it happens sometimes. You'll both understand when you're a bit older" Regina explained vaguely and told the girls that these 'new' relatives were extremely excited to meet them the next day.
After the final film, Aila was fast asleep and Regina carried her upstairs and tucked her into her bed with her favourite teddy bear and a kiss on both cheeks and her forehead. Emma however, was still wide awake so Regina selected a few books that been her own favourites when she was Emma's age. Emma was a child who loved stories and being read to. Aila had enjoyed it but it wasn't her favourite activity, but it was something that Emma adored. She loved pointing at the pictures and talking about what she would change if she could rewrite the story. Regina also picked up a favourite of Aila's when she was younger and Emma had grown to love it too: "Where the wild things are" which they all knew so well that they could chant it backwards but Regina felt it was a classic.
After reading Emma a chapter of "A little Princess" Emma closed the book and turned to face Regina
"mommy? Can I ask you something?"
Regina smiled "You can ask me anything little Swan".
"When Nana Cora and Auntie Zel come tomorrow, will they like me?"
That took Regina completely by surprise, she had been expecting Emma to ask what they looked like or why their names were so unusual, or even if she would be wanted to be there, which of course she would be. But if they would like her?
"I'm sure they'll not just like you Little Swan, I'm sure they'll love you" Regina answered
"How can you be sure? Grandparents and aunties don't always like foster kids." Emma whispered, reminding Regina that Emma still felt a little like a passenger in their small but select household.
"sweetheart, you know you're not a foster kid here, you're a part of this family now. You'll always be my daughter- no matter what- and don't forget that. I love you more than life itself Emma, just the same as I love Aila more than life itself. You're my girls. My mother and my sister have always treated anyone that I love like family, so don't you worry" Regina assured the tiny blonde who then cuddled close and they continued to read for another twenty minutes until Emma finally gave in to sleep. Regina then carried the younger girl up, tucked her in, and kissed goodnight. Pausing outside the bedroom door, Regina allowed her finger to trace over the burnished wood that spelled out "Emma Swan" the same way that Aila's room door spelled out "Aila Grace Mills"
Regina woke early the next morning, not intentionally but she took advantage of the extra time by taking a long hot shower, massaging shampoo and conditioner through her thick, black hair. Mal had always liked her hair short, so now Regina was growing it longer and it now rested comfortably at her shoulders, shiny and soft as silk. She then rubbed shower gel over her body, making sure that she cleaned her feet and ankles from the day before after getting splattered with mud from Emma and Neal. Exiting the steamy shower, Regina grabbed her towelling robe and a large white towel that she wrapped her hair in and stood at her bathroom mirror.
Wiping the mirror free of condensation, Regina gasped. She looked… she looked different. She had put weight on since Mal had left and wasn't constantly remarking on her figure, her face and lips looked fuller and she looked healthier. her hair was obviously a little longer and her skin had that glow that came when someone was at their happiest and most nourished. She looked… like herself again. Like she used to look back when she was younger and wasn't a mother to her two girls. She felt as though her mother and sister would be happy with her appearance now, as they both told her years earlier that she was wasting away to nothing when Mal was there.
Regina applied some minimal makeup, just some powder foundation, eye liner and mascara, a little blusher, and her signature red lip stain. After blow-drying her hair and brushing it into her usual style with her fringe backcombed at the roots for extra pop and definition, she looked through her wardrobe. Deciding on something smart but comfortable, she picked out her favourite dark blue blouse and high waisted trousers that flared out at the bottom. Slipping on her most comfortable shoes that had semi-high heels, she peeked round both girls bedroom doors but they were both still asleep.
Her phone vibrated with a message into the group from Zelena:
"Hey Sis.
Mother and I will be at your house for around two this afternoon. What are the girls into at the moment, so we can give them a few surprises? Don't try to talk us out of it, Mother says she has missed enough milestones that she wants to create new ones. Glad to hear you finally kicked Mal to the curb, she was draining you Regina, and you deserve better than her. Here's to your new life as a single mother! When can I take you out for drinks? We have a lot to catch up on!
Love, Zel"
Regina smiled, plugging a response that the girls would love anything but Aila was into princesses and loved to play outdoors and Emma was more into books and dressing up. She also mentioned both girls favourite sweets and candies, knowing her mother would never resist in giving her children a sugar high.
noting the time as 9:30am, she decided to let her girls sleep while she cleaned up from the events of yesterday. Thankfully, it hadn't rained last night so it took her only a few minutes to put the garden to rights and to pour herself a rather large coffee with milk and a spoonful of honey. She then began making what would be that afternoons dinner: a large turkey pie with leeks, carrots, and other mixed veg. she would also make some mashed potatoes, gravy, and some other sides later on. Halfway through making the pie, Aila came downstairs. She was sporting a rather impressive bedhead that day and Regina cringed at the mere thought of trying to detangle it. Putting some oatmeal and fruit with some juice in front of Aila, Regina put on a load of laundry, put the pie into the oven to be baked later and brewed her second coffee of the morning. Emma came downstairs at about 10:15, yawning and chattering about a dream she had had. Regina then brushed both girls hair and tied it into neat braids. Sending the girls upstairs to get dressed and to play quietly while she cleaned the downstairs, Regina saw that the time was now 11:00.
By 1:45, all three ladies were sitting on the couch. Aila was wearing her favourite jersey dress in a dark shade of navy blue, bringing out the fairness of her beautiful skin and making her look older than her eight years. Emma was wearing a green dress that matched her green eyes perfectly, giving her the impression that she knew things far beyond her years- which she definitely did.
At the chime of 2, a sleek black car pulled into the driveway. Out stepped a tall redheaded woman and a woman who was much shorter and brunette, both were laden down with wrapped gifts.
"Hello? Where are my favourite nieces?" came a soft British accent and both children leapt up and ran to the front door. The redheaded woman kicked off her boots, dropped to her knees, and embraced Aila and Emma as though they were old friends. Cora meanwhile had neatly side-stepped them, placed the gifts on the table in the hallway and embraced her youngest daughter.
"Regina! I've missed you so much!" Cora whispered into Regina's ear.
"I've missed you too Mother. I'm so happy you're here" Regina whispered, trying to hide the lump in her throat.
Bringing her girls to face Cora, Regina smoothed down their dresses and attempted to tame their flyaway hairs.
"Mother, Zelena, I'm sure you remember Aila Grace" Regina said, as Aila smiled broadly at her aunt and grandmother who immediately began to comment on the child resemblance to her mother and how she also looked a lot like Cora with her thin but almost elfin beauty.
"And this is Emma Swan. I'm currently waiting to adopt her" said Regina as Emma smiled shyly, her heart thudding underneath the bodice of her green dress.
"Emma Swan. Isn't that a beautiful name? I've always thought that Swans are the most elegant of birds, so poised and graceful. You're even more beautiful than your namesake bird, Miss Emma" said Cora, gazing down at the blonde child with what could only be described as pure love in her eyes.
"I love your pretty dress Emma. Is green your favourite colour? It's one of my favourites! I can tell you're definitely going to be a good friend of mine" Zelena remarked, her comment earning her a cheeky smile from Emma who hugged both women.
After the adults had all embraced and chatted for about ten minutes, Cora announced that they had brought presents for both girls. Regina steered them all towards the playroom where the adults sat on the sofa and the children sat on their bean bags on the floor. The girls unwrapped clothes (which somehow Cora and Zelena had got their sizes spot on), board games, books, soft plush toy animals, games for the garden, and plenty of chocolate and sweets. Regina allowed them to have a couple but warned against having too many as they would be having an early supper soon. The girls took their new presents upstairs which allowed the adults to get some drinks and nibbles. Zelena remarked on how much better that Regina was looking since her and Mal had separated and Cora wanted the full story of what had happened which Regina told her. She shed a few quick tears, but her mother and sister reassured her that she had finally done the right thing, both for herself and for the sake of her two gorgeous girls.
"Zel, I wish I had reached out to you sooner. You as well Mother, it would've made things a lot easier right after the separation when I was juggling everything and trying to pretend as though nothing was different for the children. I wish you'd been there" Regina sighed.
"We're here now, aren't we? Better late than never." Said Zelena who wrapped her little sister in a big hug.
Zelena thought about how close the two used to be, with them confiding all kinds of gossip and secrets with each other. Regina had actually come out as gay to her sister before she had come out to her parents. Zelena remembered Regina breaking down into floods of tears as she choked out the words that she was attracted to girls instead of boys, and how Zelena had soothed her and calmed her down enough to have a grown-up style chat over a cup of tea where Regina had admitted that she was now able to identify as a lesbian openly. Zelena had hugged her hard and promised that no matter what happened, she would always support her and love her regardless.
"What's five years when we will be here for a lifetime?" Cora interjected.
Cora then drifted into her own memories, of having Regina sit both her mother and father down at the age of fifteen and tell them that she had to tell them something. Cora's mind raced through all the possibilities, from her daughter being pregnant, to failing a class, or having a secret, older boyfriend. Instead, her daughter came out as gay. Cora simply embraced her now-crying daughter in a hug and told her that it didn't matter to her who her children chose to love as long as they were safe and responsible. Her father on the other hand, was not as open-minded. He hurled homophobic insults and slurs at his daughter, telling her that she was now no longer a child of his. He never wanted to see her ever again as long as she was 'choosing to be attracted to women'
Since then, neither Cora nor her daughters had seen Henry. He wasn't worth one more second of their time.
Regina apologised again for severing the contact between them but Zelena assured her that she didn't blame her sister. She pointed her finger squarely at her sisters ex-wife.
Once the girls came back downstairs, Regina left them alone to go and make dinner. She could hear the girls and her mother and sister laughing raucously from the playroom as they opened one of the new games, something called "Buckaroo"
After about an hour, the five of them sat down to their supper and it went down a treat. Emma and Aila cleared their plates, even the broccoli was gobbled down by both girls. The day had been a resounding success.
Cora and Zelena never even left that night, instead they stayed for an impromptu sleepover, both borrowing nightwear from Regina. Zelena offered to give both girls their nightly baths and Cora read them both some of her favourite stories as well as asking the girls some questions. Regina felt herself relax for the first time since Mal left. She felt as though life was finally getting a bit closer to how she had always wanted it to be. Her daughters were having their grandmother reading to them, their auntie had washed and styled their hair into what Emma coined "Princess Braids" and Regina and Zelena curled up on Regina's bed with glasses of wine and talked about their missing years. Zelena told her all about her latest boyfriend Dominic, who she felt could be "The One" and Regina told her all about the harsh realities of her toxic marriage. The sisters made a pact that night, that they would never again be separated, no matter the cost.
All the while this was happening inside the Mills Mansion, outside a car sputtered into life. The driver let out a deep sigh of relief. She had almost been caught when the Mayors mother and sister had unexpectedly shown up and almost gate-crashed her stakeout. Pulling down her dark hood, the pixie-haired woman gripped the steering wheel determinedly; She knew where her daughter was now.
Nothing could keep Mary Margret Nolan from her daughter. Not even Mayor Mills.