Chapter 20
The next morning for Regina was horrible. Cora was again lecturing her about, how a baby would ruin her future for another marriage in a suitable family. She wanted Regina to get rid of the obstacle in their way. She didn't care about her feeling at all. Didn't even try to notice how her daughter looked so exhausted and worn out with everything that was happening. The family had gather around in the living room after breakfast.
"Regina?" Cora called out but received no response in return. She again called out her name with a sharper tone "Regina!"
"Yes mother" Regina spoke out of her stupor.
"Have you been considering about what I have said?" questioned Cora as she looked over to her daughter.
Regina just got up and decided to leave to be alone in her room. As she was about to step on the stairs. Her tried to stop her. "Don't you dare walk away from me young lady! You will do as a command of you!" Cora spoke with a remark in her voice.
At that Regina turned to look where her mother was sitting. No one else had the guts to say anything Regina noticed which was not unusual from her cowardly family. Her sister never dared to upset mother and her husband just watched around to enjoy the show. As for her father, he never even tried to stand up to her mother all their lives. She finally decided to make her mother understand how she wanted to deal with this; she had enough of her mother ordering her around like a slave. "No mother! Not anymore! I will not do as you say anymore" Regina spoke up as she looked straight into her mother's furious eyes. "I have had enough of you demanding me. I want to keep this baby. I will not let anyone, not even you mother, take away something so precious from me" before Cora could oppose her, Regina turned around continued her walk toward her room. Leaving everyone in the room with shock on their faces.
Cora couldn't figure out where this attitude of Regina was coming from. But she knew one thing for sure, she will not sit here and let her foolish daughter ruin everything she has built for herself and her family burn to ashes.
(Regina's room)
As soon as she reached her room, she locked the door so no one could come in and interrupt her like last time. She got a luggage and started packing her clothes and some of her belongings. As soon as she had everything important she needed. She decided to call Sheriff Graham.
"Hey, Graham. Um.. it's Regina. Listen I need your help"
"yeah.,, sure what's up?" asked Graham. "I hope its not about him again. Sigh…I think you should give up on him already" when he received no response he spoke again "…Regina?"
"uh… no graham its not about Robin. But its bigger than that. I want to trust you on this 100% ….and by that I mean my mother can not know about this at all" Graham was her last hope for now, she knew none of her family members would be willing to help but she hoped that she can count on her childhood friend.
"You are my last hope Graham, I wouldn't ask you of this if it wasn't serious so I'm hoping I can confide in you fully!" Regina tried to persuade.
"Regina….sigh….you know you can trust me. We have been friends since we were babies. I would never think of betraying you. You my have my full support and trust always" Graham spoke with a soft voice.
Regina couldn't help but smile at having someone on her side. She was lucky to have someone like Graham in her life. She decided to tell Graham of her plan.
"Are you crazy?! Regina…. Are you even using your brain at the moment? You want me to drop you off at the airport in the middle of the night….so you can move to New York….do you even know what you are saying?" she could hear the uncertainty in his voice, yes it seemed like a crazy idea but there was no other way then running away from her mother and this house.
"Graham…sigh…my mother doesn't want me to become a mother without a husband by my side. I won't let her kill my unborn child" Regina tried to explain.
Silence.."Graham? Please tell me you will do this for me?" requested Regina.
"If that's the case then why don't we get married? It will solve everything." Graham proposed.
"Wh-what?" Regina couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Look I know this is not the best situation for this but Regina, I know we don't share any romantic feelings towards each other but I do care about you. If I can I would like to help you with raising this child as your husband" this was not what Regina was expecting at all.
"No…no graham I can't do this to you. I won't let you be bound to me for something you had no part of. I have always seen you as a good friend. Besides this is my responsibility and I won't let you be burden by this. Please Graham try to understand me and help me escape from here that is all I ask of you" again Regina tried to get back to her main objective.
"ha-ha…alright Regina, I won't pressure you. I just wanted to help my childhood friend. But if all you want is get away from here than I have no choice but let you have your way with this" Regina could hear the hurt in his voice but she there was no other way for her. Her heart was still set on Robin, even after learning of his betrayal. She need time to get him out of her heart and mind; she couldn't burden her friend with a child and her feelings it would be asking too much.
"Thank you Graham" Regina truly appreciated his help.
"Your welcome" she heard from the other side. "So since I am your driver, how are you handling the money part of this plan?"
"Oh well… about that..mother has always kept separate bank accounts for Zelena and me, I am just going to borrow some of that money from there" she chuckled at her disclosure.
"Oh..hahah…haha..haha wow Regina, you got some guts going behind your mother and stealing from her" she could hear him laughing.
"HEY! I am not stealing I am …just…spending what's already labeled mine" Regina spoke with a fixed tone.
"Alright.. alright. So I guess everything is set for you. Be careful Regina. This is a big step you are taking. I still think you should think about my proposal" Graham tried again.
"Hmm.., I know you are worried about me but I am sure about what I am about to do. Again thank you Graham. I'll see you soon bye!" with that she hang up the phone and laid downed on her bed.
The day dragged on which felt like forever for Regina. Cora came up to talk to her daughter but received the silent treatment from her. Regina even decided to skip lunch because she didn't feel like confronting her mother after what happened in the morning. Now it was nighttime finally and she was waiting for some one to come knock her door to call her downstairs for dinner but no one came. Which was unusual because her mother was always punctual about time and the events. So she got up and decided to go downstairs to see what was happening.
When she reached the dining room, she saw everyone was present at the table.
"Ah finally! Good for you to join us, dearie" of course gold was the first to notice her presence. Regina just ignored her and sat on her spot on the dining table that was next to
her father.
"I hope you are hungry now since you skipped lunch today" Henry asked with a worried expression on his face. She knew her father was concerned about her. She looked over to her mother and noticed how she hasn't made one comment and hasn't looked toward her at all.
"If everyone is ready lets start dinner already" Cora said acknowledging everyone but Regina.
No one said anything after that and they started their dinner without any further disruptions. After everyone was done, Cora asked everyone to gather around the living room for the second time.
"What is it this time? Mother!" Zelena decided to ask.
"Hush my child. Like we all know this is about Regina and her decision. And now would be a good time for me to know that she will make the right choice for her future" this time Cora looked at Regina.
"Mother….I have made my mind already and you know what I want so please stop hoping for anything else" Regina didn't know how to make her mother understand what she was thinking of doing was morally wrong and she will not go along with it.
"I see, I guess you leave no choice then" she looked at Henry then back at Regina.
"So here's what I will do, you will either to as I say or you will be disowned and kicked out of this house to never return again. I will seize all the money under your money and leave out there with not even in a penny in your hands" Cora finished. She noticed the shock and fear on Regina's face and hoped that this will do the trick. Henry tries to speak up to protest but she shuts him up by holding her hand up towards him before he could get even in a single word out. She didn't need her husband to ruin this for her.
"Mother, that is absolutely absurd, you can't do that to her. She's your blood" Zelena tried to intervene but Cora just ignored her.
"Regina, I don't have all night. You tell me right now and here what is your choice is now" as Cora said this she smiled, she knew her daughter will agree to her now for sure. Her silence was an indication that she was thinking about the odds here.
Regina finally found her voice and looked to her mother. "I-I-I need more time. Please mother let me think about this a little longer" Regina was hoping if she pleaded to her mother maybe she wouldn't have to give her answer right now and then.
"Darling you have had enough time to think this over and I am not about to wait any longer" Regina didn't know what to do now, she couldn't decide right now. It will ruin her plan.
"Mother, I just need at least one more day, please mother" Cora could hear the desperation in her voice. She thought maybe one more couldn't hurt.
"Sigh, alright after tomorrow you have to be ready and for whatever I demand from you. Understood?" Cora said with more authority in her voice.
"Yes mother, thank you" Regina said, feelings pleased with the outcomes. She was feeling glad she had convinced her mother for now. "I guess Ill go back to my room again, good night everyone" with that again she left to her room. 'You won't have to worry about me anymore mother, I will be out of your hair soon enough' Regina thought with a tiny smile on her lips, tonight she will able to sleep soundly.
Okay guys, there was one more thing I forgot to add to Emmett's intro so please forgive about that. Emmett was an orphan and that is reason for his middle name, Swan, and he was adopted into Nolan's in his teens. He will using that name as his last name more often than 'Nolan'. Thank you for reading :)
