Cora's Scrapbook, Chapter Seven: The Hearts of the People
The Mills and Charming families meet to discuss the transition of power between Mary Margaret and Regina. Cora struggles to relinquish control of the process to the wider population of Storybrooke.
Author's Note: Thank you to the kind folks who reviewed after I posted the most recent chapter. I know I am rarely consistent as to when I turn out new chapters, but I am always grateful for your encouraging remarks. I am also grateful for snow days allowing me more time to write. Without further ado, please enjoy the latest chapter of Cora's Scrapbook!
Characters:
Cora Mills
Regina Mills
Emma Swan
Henry Mills
Mary Margaret Blanchard
David Nolan
Killian Jones
Belle Gold
Marco
Archibald Hopper
The air in the Blanchard loft was filled with the warm, thick scents of lemon and garlic. Mary Margaret and David were putting the finishing touches on dinner. Mary Margaret hummed a tuneful melody to herself as she sliced strawberries for dessert. David dried his hands on a pink hand towel from washing the dishes. The merry sounds of conversation trickled over from the sitting area by the window.
"The chicken smells delicious," Mary Margaret said.
"Thank you, my love," David replied, leaning down to kiss his wife's forehead.
They looked over to see Emma and Hook smiling and laughing on the couch while Henry regaled them with a retelling of some of Emma's early adventures in Storybrooke. Regina and Cora sat in chairs on opposite sides of the living room, also smiling.
"I never thought something like this would be possible," Mary Margaret said quietly. "I was ready to kill Cora not that long ago, and now she's having a wonderful time in our living room."
"It is strange how many people in this room have tried to kill each other before," David said, "But that's family, after all."
Meanwhile, Emma and Regina were telling the story of the day that Emma broke the Dark Curse.
"So Gold had Regina tied up at the top of the elevator," Emma said. "And he tricked me into throwing the egg up to him before running off."
"Well, we've all been tricked by the crocodile before, one way or another," Hook reasoned.
Cora laughed. "I can't say that I have ever been outsmarted by Rumple."
"I think you're forgetting a certain looking glass, Grandma Cora," Henry chuckled.
Cora grimaced in mock annoyance. "Oh, please. He may have given it to Regina, but I was done in because I had no idea that Regina had magic."
"Neither did I," Regina said. "Not until you told me that I would be stuck with you forever."
"And yet, here you are," Hook said, "Despite the fact that you both had me try to help one of you kill the other at separate times. And let's not forget that you, dear Cora, have nearly killed me twice."
"And you, my captain, did take a swipe at me with your hook at the foot of the beanstalk."
"Aye, I did!" Hook grinned roughly.
"As much fun as it is to reminisce about the times we all tried to kill each other…" Emma said sarcastically. "I would rather hear about how research went today. Killian?"
Everyone turned their attention to the pirate.
"Belle has been in contact with a professor from a foreign land, a place called Oxford."
"Oxford? That's amazing!" Henry exclaimed. "It's one of the best schools in this world."
"Belle sent him some ancient texts for translation. Hopefully, we will understand the ritual needed to free Blue and the other fairies soon."
Cora smiled. "I know I speak for Regina, Emma, and myself when I say that we are happy to offer any magical assistance you need."
"Well," came David's voice from the kitchen area, "I may not be able to offer magical help, but dinner is ready. Shall we all have a seat around the table?"
Dinner proved to be delicious. David and Mary Margaret had prepared a lemon chicken with croutons, garlic mashed potatoes, and roasted broccoli. The extended family was finishing the strawberry shortcake that Mary Margaret had prepared for dessert. After Emma and Henry cleared the table, it was time for the real discussion.
"So, is Mom going to be the mayor again?" Henry asked.
Cora and Regina looked pointedly at Emma and Mary Margaret, who exchanged a brief glance.
"Emma and I have talked it over," Mary Margaret began, "And we agree that it would be the best thing for Regina and for Storybrooke for her to become the mayor again."
Cora smiled broadly. "It's settled then."
"I'm afraid that it isn't," Emma said.
Cora turned sharply to face her. "What is the issue?"
"Mayor of Storybrooke is an elected office," Emma explained. "It's against the laws of the town for Mary Margaret to simply hand the keys over to her."
Cora furrowed her brow. "That seems a bit ridiculous, as the town laws were created by a curse. Mary Margaret became mayor after her casting the curse so that Emma could defeat Zelena."
"Not instantly," Mary Margaret said. "Only when Regina stepped down. And the citizens chose me for the office."
Cora was not convinced. "When you all ran off to Neverland to save Henry, there was no problem with me becoming the mayor."
"And that's why there was no problem," David explained. "It was an emergency situation. With everything settling down around here, we need to do things properly."
"Does that mean an open election?" Regina asked.
Mary Margaret and David looked at each other quickly. "I don't know about an open election, but we do need to put it to the citizens. If you are agreeable, I suggest a town meeting where the citizens of Storybrooke can vote on the matter."
Cora exhaled sharply. "This is an insult to my daughter. She served in this role for many years, and to suggest that she isn't the best person for the job is foolish."
"No one is saying that she isn't, Cora," Emma said quickly. "We're only saying that we need to put it to the people."
"And what do the people know?" Cora snapped. "How many of the townsfolk really know what it means to lead? How can we trust them to make an informed decision?"
"This is why we never talked politics on the Jolly Roger," Hook muttered to Emma.
"Let's not forget where we came from, Cora," David said calmly. "I was born a shepherd. You were born a miller's daughter. Did we know what it meant to lead?"
Cora did not respond, but she glared venomously at the prince and drew herself up in a queenlier posture in her seat. David did not back down, raising his eyebrows in challenge.
"Stop!" Henry chimed in. "Before one of you says something you regret. We're all on the same side. My mom will still be the mayor. We just need to do it the right way. It's not the fastest or easiest way, but it is the right way, and heroes do things the right way."
Cora sighed, relaxing her shoulders. "Regina?"
Regina looked from Cora to Henry to Emma to the Charmings. "Henry is right. Let's hold a town meeting. I want to be mayor again, but I want to do it the right way."
Mary Margaret gave Regina a small, impressed smile. "It's decided, then. We'll do it this Thursday evening at seven o'clock."
Regina rose from her seat. "Agreed. I think this was a lovely meal, and I think it's time for Mother and I to get home."
"Goodnight, ladies," Hook said politely.
Regina inclined her head towards the table. "Come on, Mother."
Cora gave David one last annoyed glance and followed her from the apartment.
Notices went up throughout Storybrooke encouraging citizens to attend the town meeting and determine who would succeed Mary Margaret as mayor. It was generally assumed that Regina would be her most likely successor, though there were rumblings of change here and there.
As the town prepared on the day of the meeting, Mary Margaret and Regina sat on opposite couches in the mayoral office.
"I'm sorry about the other night," Regina said, sipping a cup of hot tea.
"What for?" Mary Margaret responded. "We had a family dinner and my husband and your mother had a political disagreement. That seems pretty normal to me. And for the record, David has been feeling bad about it. He's afraid that he upset Cora when he brought up her past."
"Mother is sensitive about that," Regina replied. "I wish I could say that she was as repentant as he is. We had a bit of an argument later that night. She's always been a monarchist. The idea of a democracy is somewhat foreign to her. She even suggested that you would try to pass the office on to your daughter."
Mary Margaret laughed. "I don't think Emma would ever want to be mayor. But anyway, I think you're overcomplicating your mother."
It was Regina's turn to laugh. "Her motivations are different now, yes, but Cora Mills will never be completely uncomplicated. Why do you think so?"
"Your whole life, Cora has always looked out for you and tried to make your life as successful as possible. I don't think that she was thinking about principles and types of government so much as she was being a protective mother."
"You may have a point," Regina said, "But like Henry said, putting it to the public will be best. Unless my mother continues being protective. I have a feeling that she's already working herself into a frenzy."
"You should have heard him, Belle!" Cora paced between the shelves of the library.
"Oh, yes?" Belle asked, focusing on the book she was reading. A stack of old tomes sat on the research table next to her.
"I mean, yes, I am a miller's daughter, but I spent my whole life training to be something better. Do you really think the vast majority have the single-minded determination that I had? And then, when it was clear that I would not be able to rule, I provided Regina with the skills and education necessary for her to be a great leader. Was it wrong of me to kill Eva so she could be queen? Almost certainly. Was Regina successful as queen? She would have been if it weren't for Rumplestiltskin setting her up to fail."
"Uh, huh," Belle nodded.
"Are you even listening?" Cora snapped.
Belle sighed and closed her book. "Cora, I know that you love Regina and want her to be successful, but I think you're looking at this the wrong way."
Cora stopped pacing and crossed her arms. "Regina deserves to be mayor. She needs to be mayor. It's the only way that she can move on from her heartbreak. What kind of mother would I be if I didn't fight for her rightful place?"
"Don't you believe that Regina can accomplish this on merit? Without you pulling strings for her? I really thought you had more confidence in her." Belle frowned and reopened her book.
"Well," Cora said softly. "If that's how you feel, I am sorry to have wasted your time."
"Of course, I understand," Marco said. "I would do anything for my boy."
"I know you would," Cora replied, leaning against the workbench. "But do the ends always justify the means?"
"Cora, I think you already know the answer to that question." Marco sat in a neatly carved chair in the center of the workshop. "You and I both regret things we did for our children. There comes a time when you have to let them fight their own battles."
Cora glared at Marco. "Easy for you to say, dear. Your son turned back into a boy. You haven't really had to deal with him as an adult."
"You know I'm always happy to see you," Marco said, "But I don't know why we are having this conversation. I think that you already know what it is that you need to do."
Cora huffed and stalked out of the workshop. She knew her resolve was weakening, but she wasn't giving up the fight just yet.
"I know what it is that I need to do," Cora said, staring at the office ceiling. "But I don't know if I can do it when it comes to it. Can you prescribe a sleep aid so I can sleep through it?"
Archie Hopper laughed. "You know that I can't. But I think you're on the right track."
"You think I should stay home," Cora said flatly.
"Do you think you should stay home?"
Cora did not answer right away. "I've always done my best to be there. To help her. I know that she has to do this alone. I don't know if I have the self-control not to interfere if I go to that meeting."
"I'm proud of how far you've progressed in terms of self-awareness," Archie said. "It's your choice in the end, but I think that in the end, both your daughter and you might benefit from you letting her fight this battle on her own. If you don't, it could compromise Regina's recovery and her legitimacy as mayor. You don't want people to accuse her of being a puppet for you to rule through."
Cora nodded slowly. "Answer me this: Do you think she should be mayor?"
"As a citizen of this town who has gotten to know Regina, yes, I do. I know that others feel the same way, but you have to accept that to some people, she will always be the Evil Queen who cast the Dark Curse. I know that's what you're afraid of, but we both know the truth: Regina is not that person anymore."
Cora stood from the couch. "Promise me that you'll speak on her behalf. When I was spared from death, you were the one who convinced Mary Margaret and Emma and David that I had changed. I know that the people of Storybrooke will listen to you when it comes to Regina."
"I'll do my best," Archie said.
"Thank you, my friend."
It was Thursday night. Just as the it struck 9:00 PM, there was a ring at the front door of 108 Mifflin Street. Cora walked from the living room to answer the door.
"May I come in?"
"Of course."
Cora gestured for her guest to proceed into the living room as she closed the door. She sat down on an armchair opposite David Nolan.
"First of all, I came here to apologize," David said. "I know that your beginnings are painful, and I am sorry that I brought them up."
"I appreciate it," Cora said, "But I do need to accept that the miller's daughter is a part of who I am. I owe you an apology as well. I've always done my best to look out for Regina, and I've made some questionable decisions along the way. You and Emma and Mary Margaret were looking out for her too. I didn't consider all of the implications of Mary Margaret simply handing the job off to her."
"You and I have both worn crowns on our heads," David said. "When you get used to that power, it can be hard to do things the slow way. Even for me."
Cora reached out her hand. "Friends again?"
David smiled and took her hand. "Friends again."
"Good," Cora said, straightening up. "Now that that's settled, did she win?"
"What do you think?" David smiled coyly.
Cora grinned. "Of course, she won! She's my daughter."
"Whale did put up a valiant effort to get himself elected at first, but everyone knows that his dominant head is not one that we necessarily need running the town. Really, it was Archie who sold everyone on Regina."
Cora gave a knowing smile. "Well, I suppose all is well that ends well."
A decently-sized group had gathered at Granny's to celebrate the return of Mayor Regina Mills. Regina was sitting in a booth with Archie, Marco, and Belle.
"I just can't believe that she wasn't there," Regina said. "Mother is not one to miss a ceremonial event."
"If there's one thing you can be sure of, it's that she loves you very much," Belle said.
"She would do anything for you," Marco added.
"She wanted this to be your victory," Archie explained. "She spoke to all three of us. It wasn't easy for her."
Regina looked around the diner. "I wish she was here to celebrate with us."
As she said it, the bells on the door rang, and David and Cora stepped into the diner.
"Madame Mayor," Cora said in a ringing tone, curtseying to her daughter.
"Mother!" Regina moved quickly towards Cora and wrapped her in an embrace.
"I am so proud of you, my sweet daughter." Then, separating herself from Regina and addressing the room. "And I am so grateful to live in this town with so many dear friends." She smiled at the three in the booth. "A toast! To my daughter, the Mayor of Storybrooke!"
"To the mayor!" Everyone raised their glasses.
Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Cora's Scrapbook. In the next update (whenever it occurs), we will move forward to Season 4B, during the events of "Darkness on the Edge of Town." For any of you who have read some of my other works, you know of my adoration of Cruella de Vil, and I am excited to finally bring her into this series. If you enjoyed this story, please follow, favorite, and subscribe!