It had been a few weeks and Regina hadn't spoken to Cora nor Snow. She still couldn't progress how they could just lie to her all her life.

It was February 1st, her 24th birthday and it certainly wasn't a happy one.

"I made you breakfast " Robin said to his wife and kissed her cheek gently.

Regina sighed as she sat down at the table and saw the birthday presents. There were some from Robin and the twins but also one from Cora and one from Snow. She wasn't sure she wanted to open them.

She reached for one of the other gifts and read the card. 'I'm thinking about you today. - Love Johanna' it said. Regina gasped. She hadn't heard from Johanna since the curse broke. She needed to talk to her. She opened the gift and got teary eyed as she picked up the small jewelry box. She knew exactly what it was. She thought it had gotten lost due to the curse.

"I can't eat. I will go for a walk." She said and got up and grabbed her jacket.

Robin sighed. He knew it was no use to stop her. He was worried about her though.

"Daddy? Where did Mama go? She hasn't opened her presents yet." Roland asked his father confused.

Robin bend to his level. "She just needed to get some fresh air, buddy. She will be back home really soon to open the presents." He reassured the little boy.

"Can we have cake?" Rae asked.

Robin chuckled. His daughter had a sweet tooth like him. "No, not now, princess. It's mama's cake. She gets to eat the first piece." He said and ruffled her hair.

Regina walked to Johanna's house which wasn't far from their home. She saw the older woman in the garden tending to her roses.

"Regina" she said happily as she looked up and saw the young woman.

"Thank you for the earrings. I thought they got lost. " she said and hugged Johanna.

"I found them in Gold's Shop and had to get them for you. They belonged to your mother. " she explained and smiled at her and hugged her tightly.

Regina frowned. "My mother? You knew too. " she said softly.

Johanna sighed and nodded. "I worked for your mother's family long before she met your father. She was beautiful and kind just like you. Your father loved her so much. But she got very sick when she was pregnant with you. She begged your father to find love again and to never tell you the truth. And your father begged Cora to do the same when he passed away. I couldn't tell you. I had to respect their wish to keep it a secret. But I wanted to tell you many times when I saw how badly she treated you. " she explained and sighed.

"My father wanted her to lie to me?" She asked confused. She couldn't understand why her father would want that.

"Cora wanted to tell you but he made her swear not to do it. Your father wanted you to have a happy and carefree life without mourning him or your mother. Regina, Cora did terrible things to you but she loves you. " she explained to her and looked at the roses. "White roses were your mother's favourite. " she said quietly.

Regina frowned even more. White roses were her favourite flowers as well. "I always thought I looked like Cora. " she said.

"You look just like your mother. But you have your father's eyes." Johanna answered and hugged her tightly. "They wouldn't have wanted you to be sad on your birthday. Go to your family. " she told her.

Regina nodded and sighed. "Thank you, Johanna." She said softly and went back home. She ate cake with Robin and the twins and then opened the presents though she left Snow's and Cora's gifts untouched. She wasn't ready to open them.

The next morning Regina went to the diner with the twins while Robin was with his Merry Men. She sighed when she entered the diner and saw Snow sitting in a booth by herself.

"Auntie Snow!" Raelyn called out and ran to her.

Snow smiled and pulled Rae into her lap and did the same with Roland. "Hey, I missed you two. " she said and then looked up at Regina and gave her a pitiful look.

Regina rolled her eyes. She didn't want her pity or her sympathy. She took a deep breath and walked over to her sister and sat down across from her. "Hi" she said softly.

"Hi. Happy belated birthday. " Snow said and smiled though she sensed Regina was still angry with her. It would take time for Regina to forgive her.

"Thanks. Rae, Rolo, go to Ruby for a moment please. Mama needs to talk to your auntie for a bit. " she told the twins.

Rae and Roland nodded and went to Ruby and did some colouring.

Regina turned to Snow when she was sure the twins were out of ear shot. "Why did you lie?" She asked.

"Regina, I was only a kid myself. I was two when Cora married Henry. I didn't know any better. " she reminded her and took her hand from across the table. "Please don't shut me out. I didn't do anything wrong. " she said.

Regina let out a laugh. "Right, you didn't do anything wrong but you also didn't do anything to stop Zelena and Cora when they treated me like a maid. You didn't do anything when she hit me. You may think you were doing something good but you weren't. You aren't better than them because you let it happen. You also made me a maid. " she pointed out in a bitter tone.

Snow frowned. She didn't recognise her sister. She sounded so bitter and cruel, like their mother when she didn't have her heart. "You knew I had no power to stop it. I was a child too. And mother was so angry and bitter. She was so determined to do this to you. I tried to stop her many times but I couldn't. And you weren't the only one suffering. She treated me like trash too when she found out I was in love with the stable boy. " she reminded her sister and sighed. "Please, Regina, it's not me you should be angry with. Zelena did all this to make you miserable. She wants to break our bond. " Snow added.

Regina sighed deeply. She knew Snow was right. "I'm sorry. Where is Zelena now?" She asked worried.

"I don't know. I haven't seen her since that day at the pawn shop. But Henry is seeing her. He said she promised him not to use magic again." She explained to her sister.

Regina frowned. This didn't sound like Zelena at all. What was her sister planning?