Regina was ready to get her revenge, but she refused to sacrifice her father. Instead, she traded her youth to activate the curse. No one else would age but Regina would age two years every year. By Emma's 28th birthday, Regina would be 88. Regina was able to knock Snow and Charming out so she could take the baby. She knew one day the curse would be broken and she wanted her enemies to know that she was the one who raised their daughter.
Emma Mills was a happy child by all accounts. She believed Regina to be her grandmother and Henry Sr. her great-grandfather. Regina didn't feel right having Emma call her mom and she would technically be her step-grandmother anyway.
Five-year-old, Emma ran up to Regina one Saturday, "Gram, it snowed. Can we go play?" she asked excitedly.
"I have one more page of this to read and then we can go outside. Why don't you go get your winter clothes on?"
"Okay," Emma ran to her room and Regina smiled. When Regina was finished with her work, she took her granddaughter outside. "Can we build a snowman?"
Regina helped her granddaughter. Then the two had a snowball fight. There was nothing Regina loved more than hearing her granddaughter laugh. "How about we go in for some hot chocolate?"
"Yay!" Emma ran to the door and waited for Regina. The mayor helped her granddaughter take off her wet clothes and sent her to the living room to warm up. She brought the hot chocolate with cinnamon on top. Just the way Emma likes it.
Emma would sometimes really feel the void left by her parents. "Gram," the little girl walked into her grandmother's bedroom one night.
"What's the matter?"
"I miss my mommy and daddy."
"Come here," Regina lifted the little girl onto the bed. "Your mommy and daddy love you more than anything. They just can't be here right now, but one day they will be."
"Why can't I see them?"
"It's safer for you right now. Don't worry, one day you will all be together again."
"Can I sleep in here tonight?"
"Sure, sweetheart," Regina laid down and held Emma.
The little girl fell asleep, but two hours later woke up, "mommy!" she screamed.
Regina startled awake, "Emma, what's wrong?"
The little girl was crying, "I had a bad dream about mommy."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, you'll be mad."
"Why would I be mad?"
"In my dream, you killed her and took me away."
Regina was startled by the revelation. While she didn't kill Emma's mother, it was damn close. "It was just a bad dream. Try to go back to sleep."
Emma held onto Regina more tightly this time as she slept. Regina cried silently over her guilt and found herself regretting her actions.
When Emma became a teenager, she began to rebel. She loved her grandmother and great-grandfather, but she felt a hole in her life without her parents. At sixteen, Emma ran away from home. Regina was beside herself. "Daddy, I don't know what to do. I can't cross the town line."
"Maybe she's hiding somewhere in town?"
"No, I know she left town. I got a postcard that said she was okay."
"She'll come home."
"I wish I believed you."
It had been two years since Emma ran away and Regina was unable to locate her granddaughter. The mayor was now sixty-six. "I have to find her," Regina told her father.
"Sweetheart, I understand, but you're in no condition to go traveling around."
Regina had developed arthritis and wasn't able to walk on her own anymore. She needed a cane and sometimes a hand from her father. "What if something happened to her?"
"I have to get some groceries. Promise me that you won't do anything stupid before I get back."
"I promise," Regina said.
"Do you want me to help you with anything before I go?"
"No, thank you, daddy."
Henry left and Regina sat at the table thinking about Emma. Ten minutes later, the door opened, "daddy, did you forget something?" Regina yelled as she slowly stood and walked into the hallway. She gasped and nearly fell over, "Emma, is it really you?"
"Yeah," she said as tears fell down her face. Regina noticed the young woman holding an infant, "I hope you're okay with both of us living here."
"Of course I am," Regina limped over and gently hugged her granddaughter.
"This is your great-grandson, Henry Daniel Mills."
"He's beautiful," Regina said before closing her eyes and sighing.
"Whoa," Emma wrapped an arm around the woman's waist, "let's go sit." Regina leaned heavily on Emma as the young woman helped her to the couch.
"Do you want to tell me where you've been all this time?"
"Not really," she admitted, "but I will. I met a guy when I hot-wired his car," Emma said and winced.
"Emma," Regina sighed.
"Well, technically it wasn't even his car. Anyway, we began dating and were planning a life when I went to prison. He turned me in for a crime he committed. I found out there that I was pregnant and gave birth to Henry in prison. I was released early for good behavior and after a couple of weeks was free to leave with my son."
"Why didn't you call me?"
"I was ashamed and thought you'd be furious with me."
"Sweetheart, I love you more than anything. I would have done everything to help you. Now, will you tell me why you ran away?"
"I was a coward who couldn't face my fears. I have had so many questions for you, but I knew you were getting older and didn't want to upset you. Plus, I couldn't watch you deteriorate. I'm so sorry."
"You're forgiven."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."