Cora
After I was done with nursing school I was exhausted. I thought I wanted to become a nurse but all the information and interning drained me. I soon realized this wasn't the career I wanted. I didn't want to be overwhelmed with the stress of being a nurse. I didn't want to be consumed in other people's problems. I wanted someone to be consumed with mine. I wanted to be the one being taken care of. After just being done with it all, I left and moved to Maine. I thought the quiet town of Storybrooke would be a perfect place to start my new life.
It was a breezy autumn morning when I went to the local diner for a cup of coffee and a bagel slathered in cream cheese. A man, not quite handsome but easy on the eyes walked in with his son and they sat at the bar. I noticed one of the waitress's scurrying to the back kitchen to retrieve the owner of the establishment, an older woman with graying hair, whom she called Granny.
"It's all there Mr. Gold." She said handing a large wad of cash to the gentleman.
"You wouldn't mind if I count it do you? Last time you were short by a few bills."
"N-no go right ahead."
"Everything looks in order." He said before stuffing the money into his jacket's inside pocket.
"Can I get Baelfire anything before you leave?"
His power was so strong I could feel it radiating off of him. I inquired about the man and found out that he was very unpopular with the townspeople. A few days later at the same diner I overheard him talking to someone and he mentioned he was taking his son to the local fair. I followed him and intentionally bumped into him making him spill his drink. He invited me to his home and we had a one night stand where I rode him forcibly to show him that I was the one in control. He seemed to like it, as he was lying down next to me with a look of appeasement on his face. I knew then that my life was ready to begin.
I became bored being at home alone when Baelfire was at school. I had no friends in the small town so I began working at the local hospital where I met a doctor named Jonathan Oz. Dr. Oz was very handsome, and too young to be a doctor. He should have been somewhere doing modeling but instead he was working at Storybrooke General, and flirting with me. We both were married and we tried not to get our feelings involved but my heart had another plan. I fell in love and became impregnated by him. When I told him, he packed up his life and left. He fled before even getting a chance to meet his child. My first born Zelena, my pride and joy.
Soon after he left I became depressed, I felt as though I would never truly find what I wanted in life. I was unhappy at home, and began taking prescription painkillers to numb myself so I could tolerate being around my husband. When that didn't work I switched to the night shift so I didn't have to be around him as much. It wasn't as if I didn't care for Rumple, I just didn't love him. My care for him only went to the extent of co-parenting. In fact I only married him because life wasn't fair and I wanted to even the playing field. In order to supply my addiction, I began to seek out an older gentleman, a doctor by the name of Henry. Henry was the hospital's director and a powerful, well respected doctor. He was also a sweet man, very timid and very easily controlled. Henry would write me prescriptions, and I would fulfill all his sexual needs and desires. I became pregnant again and had another child that also wasn't my husband's. I felt so guilty, and knew that I should have told Rumple. But he looked so happy with the baby in his arms and Regina did look a lot like Rumple, but a paternity test I secretly gave her showed me that she wasn't his, but was rather Henry's. I didn't tell Henry in fear he would leave just like Jonathan did, and I would lose my source of getting pills.
One evening, 6 years after Regina's birth, I was approached by a man who smelled like flowers. He was a tall man, with short curly hair, carrying a bouquet of lilies and looked quite lost. I couldn't seem to keep my eyes off of him. The man was basically everything my husband and Henry weren't. He was very handsome, young and from the way his shirt clung to his chest I could tell he was muscular. I averted my curious gaze from him and back to my computer when he caught me staring at him, but that didn't stop him from walking to where I sat at the nurses' station.
"Good evening." the man with blue eyes and a smile said. He made my stomach fill with butterflies. "I have a flower delivery for a patient on this floor."
"Do you know the patients name?" I inquired checking the hospital records on my computer, but my eyes kept finding their way back to his.
"I do, but I'd much rather know your name."
"My name?" I gave him a questionable look. "Colette."
"Colette, what a beautiful name. It's so very nice to meet you. My name's Maurice."
The man was kindhearted and something about him felt different from what I was normally used to. Everything happened so fast and Maurice and I became involved. He sort of changed me. I always thought power and influence meant that I would be happy in my life but Moe showed me that I was missing something else. The months continued to go by and Moe helped me with my addiction until I could finally cut off Doctor Henry completely. Which was okay with me because, I wanted all of my focus to be centered around the man I loved. I loved that Moe called me Colette instead of Cora, which wasn't even shorthand for Colette so I never understood why Rumple called me it. That was just one of the many things I loved about Maurice. He was the man I always wanted, but I wouldn't divorce my lawyer husband just for a flower shop owner.
My life actually was going perfectly. I had 2 amazing children, a powerful husband, and a lover who loved me all at the same time. That was until I became pregnant with my youngest, Belle.
"Moe we need to talk." I said cautiously worried about how he would react. "I'm pregnant."
"I'm going to be a father?" He said excitedly picking me up in his arms. "That's wonderful news baby. Oh God I love you so much Colette. I want to marry you and give you my last name. How would you like to be Colette French?
"Nothing would make me happier," I said place a comforting hand on his cheek. "but there's something I should have told you a long time ago." His excitement abruptly ended and he put me back down on my feet. "Moe I haven't been one hundred percent honest with you. I'm married."
"You're married?" He winced back in shock. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't know, I guess because I didn't want to lose you."
"Then let him be the one to lose you. Tell him the truth and we can leave Storybrooke. Hell Maine if you want. I have enough money saved up to move anywhere you want. We can start our family."
"Moe I can't do that. What about my other children? Regina, and Zelena, I couldn't leave them."
"Colette I'm giving you a way out, just take it. Come with me."
"I just can't, it's not that simple. My husband's a lawyer."
"Who is he?"
"Rumple Gold."
"Mr. Gold? My landlord? I'm sleeping with the wife of the most powerful man in town." He took a step away from me. "Collette there's no way I can continue this. Do you know what he could do to me?"
"I won't let him hurt you. Just please don't leave me. I'll find a way for us to be together. I promise."
I knew I was hurting Moe, especially after Belle was born. He barely knew her, but he loved her. He considered himself her father. I thought it was sweet, so I began giving Moe pictures of her as a baby, but I didn't realize I was just adding fuel to his fire.
"This is what she looks like?" He asked with light in his eyes. "This is my daughter?"
"Yes she has your eyes." I smiled while looking at the pictures of Belle with him.
"And her name's Belle?"
"I chose it myself. After your favorite flower."
"Canterbury Bells." He smiled while looking at the pictures of Belle. I then kissed him on the cheek. I was happy that he approved of the name, but his expression dropped and a look of sadness quickly replaced it. "I should have been the one at the hospital with you, not Gold. Why didn't you bring her? I wanna hold my daughter."
"Soon, I promise."
"You've promised me a lot, but they're never fulfilled. Like the promise of divorcing your husband, so we can leave this damn town." He sighed deeply. "I'm sorry Colette I know I said I wouldn't get mad about it anymore but it's too much. I have a daughter that I can't even hold in my arms because she's in the arms of another man."
"I know this upsets you, but it's just the way things are."
"They don't have to be. You only stay with him because you don't want to lose that influence he gives you by association. None of that power is actually yours."
Moe didn't realize it, but he hit the nail on the head. I didn't want to leave Storybrooke because anywhere else I was a nobody. Here in my small town I was a wealthy socialite who dined with the Mayors, councilmen, and doctors. If I were to leave with Moe, I'd just end up somewhere talking about different potting soils to little old ladies.
My visits to Moe's became less and less frequent. Every time I saw him we would just end up fighting about Belle. On her first day of high school he did something that I couldn't let stand.
"Why are you trying to make contact with Belle?" I demanded one evening in his shop. "She saw you at her school."
"So I'm not allowed to even see her?"
"I bring you pictures! Why isn't that enough?!"
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT PICTURES I WANT TO SEE HER IN PERSON!" He shouted while hitting his store counter. "I WANT TO SEE IF HER EYES SPARKLE! IF HER SMILE IS WARM! IF HER VOICE IS SOFT! GODDAMN IT, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT SHE'S LIKE! AND I WON'T FUCKING FIND THAT OUT FROM SOME GODDAMN PICTURES!"
"How long have you been doing this?"I asked, but he didn't answer me. He only looked at the ground, but his face gave me all the answers I needed. "You're insane. I don't want you anywhere near her again."
"SHE'S MY DAUGHTER!"
"SHE'S NOT YOUR FUCKING DAUGHTER, SHE'S RUMPLE'S, WHY CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?!"
After that discussion the letters began to come. I hid them well and away from my husband's eyes. But I did the worst thing anyone could do in a situation like this. I began to ignore Moe, and shut him out completely. I was scared and I didn't have a choice. He was adamant in trying to talk to Belle. I would be on pins and needles when I was at work out of fear that he would just show up to my house to see his daughter. It was when Belle was 15, a year later, when Moe completely lost it.
One night my family and I were eating dinner before it was time for me to go to work. Rumple was making silly faces with Henry while Regina laughed and ate her dinner. Belle, fortunately, wasn't home. I was nervously looking at the clock waiting for 5 o'clock to come so I could go and talk Moe out of doing anything stupid. However, time was not on my side and it was too late. My phone vibrated to signal an incoming message. I checked the text secretly under the table and my heart almost leaped from my chest.
"Uh- could you guys excuse me, I-I need to check on something." I said trying to act as normal as possible.
I scooted away from the table and darted straight to the front door. My hands were trembling and I felt lightheaded, as if I were close to fainting. I couldn't believe Moe finally had enough nerves to come to my house while my husband was home. I opened the door and closed it behind me just as Moe was walking up my porch steps.
"Moe that's enough! My family is trying to eat dinner." I said with my hand on his chest to stop him from stepping any closer to my house.
"I COULDN'T CARE LESS COLETTE WHERE'S MY DAUGHTER? SO I CAN TELL HER WHO HER REAL FATHER IS." He shouted.
"BE QUIET BEFORE MY HUSBAND HEARS YOU! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU ASSHOLE? SHE'S NOT YOUR FUCKING DAUGHTER!" I exclaimed under a quiet breath.
"SHE IS! JUST BECAUSE YOU KEEP HER FROM ME DOESN'T CHANGE THAT!"
"SHE'S NOT! SHE'S RUMPLE'S. RUMPLE IS THE ONLY FATHER SHE'S EVER KNOWN AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE THE ONLY FATHER SHE'LL EVER KNOW BASTARD-" I screamed, sick of listening to him
"HEY!" The voice said from behind me. "What's going on out here?" Rumple asked from the open door with Regina standing beside him. "Cora why are you screaming at Mr. French?"
"Honey listen-"
"Mr. Gold we need to talk. Look I'm sorry, none of this is your fault but-"
"Rumple don't listen to him. This man is insane. He's lost it."
"I HAVEN'T!" Moe screams at me before turning back to my husband. "Okay here's the thing. I was in love with your wife.
The blow came hard to Moe's nose, to the point he was almost knocked off of his own feet. Rumple shook his hand and rubbed his knuckles to soothe them from breaking the bones in Moe's nose.
"What is he talking about Cora?" Rumple demanded.
"I don't know Rumple, he's obsessed with me." I lied trying to seem legitimately scared of Moe.
"You had to give him a good reason to be." Rumple said looking passed my acting.
"No, I never did. I wouldn't deceive you." I lied, but I could tell he wasn't buying it.
"No, you're lying to me. I can see it all over your face." He turns back to my ex lover. "Tell me the rest of the story Moe. If you're able to."
Moe wiped the blood from his nose before continuing. "16 years ago I met Colette at the hospital. I admit I was quite taken with her beauty and I fell in love with her. Had I known what kind of person she was I would have never trusted my heart with her."
"It seems we both made the same mistake. Continue."
"She didn't tell me she was married and she would lie to me saying she was trying to find a way out of her marriage with you. So we could leave Storybrooke and take our daughter with us."
"W-w-wait a minute. Did you say daughter? You got my wife pregnant?"
"Yes, I'm sorry Mr. Gold."
"16 years ago." Rumple looked up at me. "Belle?"
I nodded to confirm.
"Belle's not my daughter?" He looked as if the world was pulled from right under him. He put his face in his hands with disappointment. The look of shock on his face was too much for me and I could feel his pain. To know that over two decade of his life had been a lie. To find out that his three daughters aren't related to him. That type of news would crush any man, no matter how strong he was.
"Mom what the hell?" Regina screamed.
"Rumple, Regina I'm so sorry."
"No you don't get to be fucking sorry, look at what you've done. You've torn our family apart." Regina thought to herself a minute. "Oh god, please don't tell me. Dad's not my real father either is he?"
I sadly nodded my head again. Regina stepped outside the door and slapped me hard across the face. My left cheek redden with a stinging sensation. "Regina, what the fuck?!"
"Shut the hell up! I fucking hate you! I was always second best in your life compared to Zelena or Belle! I was never good enough for you. I was just your disappointment only because I was trying to raise my son and be a good mother. Something you'll never be. All the while you're out here being a slut. I don't ever want to see you again." She walked back into the house with tears running down her cheek.
"You won't have to Regina." Rumple turned back to address me. "Cora go in the house pack your things. It's over, and honestly I can't even be mad. I'm happy you're going to be gone, I promised someone that I would find a way to leave you and now the opportunity has presented itself."
"You want to know something, part of me is happy I'm leaving you too. I never loved you Rumple. I was only with you for stature."
"You always did enjoy carrying my last name around like it was your fucking trophy. Not anymore Cora. Now you can go back to being a nobody. It's what you've always been."
"You fucking bastard, how does it feel? How the fuck does it feel to know that none of your kids are even yours?" I asked with a spiteful smirk. "Especially that spoiled brat you love so much."
"Cora I've never struck a woman once in my life, but I'm very close to considering it." He said taking a step towards me.
"Hit me then Rumple, since you're so tough. But I'm not leaving until I talk to Belle. She's still my daughter."
"After I take you to court she won't want anything to do with you dearie. I'll have full custody of Belle. You lied to me for the entirety of our marriage."
"So you just want me to leave, without even saying goodbye to Belle."
"Dearie after what you've done, I doubt she'll want to see you again. You lied to her all her life." He gestured to Moe. "You've been keeping this poor man away from his daughter. You're a monster."
"You haven't even given me a chance to explain."
"I don't want to listen to any more of your lies, that's all you've done for the past 25 years we were married. All you've ever done is lie to me. Pack a bag and leave Cora."
When I walked inside to start packing, I overheard Moe and Rumple talking about Belle.
"Is Belle here? Can I speak to her?"
"She's out with friends. Let me talk to her first and then when she's ready, you can meet her."
"Thank you so much Mr. Gold. Look I'm sorry about your wife. I didn't know she was married before she became pregnant. She lied to me so many times."
"Mr. French you don't have to worry, you'll still keep you shop and I won't raise your rent."
"It's not that, I'm sorry for what she's done to you. Your whole marriage was a lie."
"Yes life isn't fair, but these things happen for a reason."
I packed a bag small enough for three days. Rumple said he would bring the rest of my things on a later date. After I got off work, I had nowhere else to go. I checked-into a hotel outside of town. After settling in, I tried calling Rumple, but I got a busy dial tone instead. Who was I kidding? I ruined my whole life. All my selfish ways caught up to me and karma was just returning the favor. The next morning I received a text from my husband requesting to meet him at his shop at noon.
So in order for this "happy ending" everyone's been wanting to occur. I had to turn Cora into a bad person. You'll find out why in the next chapter.*the kids will know the truth about their father and Belle.*
-RL