A/N: Hello everyone! Welcome back! I'm sorry that the storyline has strayed a bit from the relationship between Regina and Danielle. But no fear! We'll be getting back on track in this chapter! Now, on with the chapter!

Chapter 9

The next morning at the Mills house was peaceful. Zelena was in her bedroom engaging in tummy time with Robin, who was learning to crawl. Henry was out of the house. He was treating Violet to a breakfast date at Granny's. As for Regina, she and Danielle were in the parlor downstairs. Regina was teaching Danielle how to play a game of checkers. Danielle was a fast learner and quickly learned to anticipate Regina's moves.

"King me!" Danielle said with accomplishment.

Regina smiled at the girl. "Well done, dear. You are an extremely fast learner."

"Yeah. I've always been like that. Does that make me weird."

"Not at all," Regina said genuinely. "You have many gifts Danielle and you should never be ashamed of them."

"By gifts," Danielle said. "Do you mean my magic?"

"Yes, among other gifts. But magic would be included."

"Will you show me how to control it better?"

"Is that what you would like dear?"

"Yes," said Danielle. "I don't want to hurt someone again."

"What happened was an accident, but I will teach you."

"Really!?"

Regina smiled at Danielle's enthusiasm. "Yes, really. So Danielle, do you remember the first time you used magic?"

Danielle chewed on her bottom lip. "I think it started with the dreams."

"Dreams?"

"Sometimes, I have these dreams and they show me things about other people."

"That sounds like prophetic dreams. That's a very rare form of magic."

"What are prophetic dreams?" Danielle asked Regina.

"Prophetic dreams," Regina explained. "Are dreams that for tell the future."

"I don't think that's what they were."

"What makes you say that, hun?"

"In my dreams..." Danielle started to say before she cut herself off.

Regina was patient and calmly asked. "What is it that happened in your dreams?"

Danielle started again. "In my dreams, I saw my birth mom give me up."

"How do you know that it was her?"

"She gave me to this man to take me away. I saw him leave me at the doorstep of an orphanage. I recognized it as the one I used to live in."

Regina thought about this new information that Danielle had provided her with. "Danielle, do you remember what the man looked like?"

"Um, I think so," Danielle said. "I remember that he was short and he wore leather. He had yellow eyes and his skin was strange. It looked like scales, I guess? And it was shiny."

Regina's eyes widened. She knew exactly who Danielle was describing. "Rumplestiltskin."

"Who?"

"He's a powerful wizard from the Enchanted Forest. In this world, he goes by the name Mr. Gold."

"I've heard of Mr. Gold. He owns that pawn shop, right? And he's married to that nice librarian lady?"

Regina nodded in agreement. "Yes that's the man. Danielle how would you like to pay Gold a visit today? Perhaps, he can give some insight as to who your mother is."

"Uh, sure. Yeah, okay."

Regina could sense the hesitancy in Danielle's voice. "Danielle? Are you alright dear? Do you not wish to find your mother?"

Danielle's answer came out in a soft whisper. "What if when she finds out about me, she doesn't want anything to do with me?"

A silent tear made a path down Danielle's cheek. Regina reached up to wipe the tear away.

"Oh, sweetheart," Regina spoke calmly. "You are an incredible girl and your mother, whoever she may be, would be lucky to be a part of your life."

"Do you really think so, Regina?"

"I know so." Regina gave Danielle a bright smile.

Danielle squared up her shoulders and said, "Okay, let's go see Mr. Gold."

"That's my brave girl."

The brunettes put away their game of checkers and slipped on coats before exiting the house. They decided to walk to Gold's shop so that they could enjoy the nice weather. Regina walked down Main Street on the outside of the curb so that Danielle was away from the street and moving cars. The blue eyed child reached her hand up to take hold of Regina's. The mayor's heart swelled. She was falling hard and fast for this child who had suddenly stumbled into her life. Regina thought about her suspicions; that Danielle was her daughter by Daniel. Daniel. She missed him every single day. Even after over three decades and soul mate later, Regina was still in love with her stable boy. Of course, she loved Robin Hood. With all of her heart and soul she had loved him. But, fate had had other plans for the thief. In the end, Robin Hood was the Evil Queen's happy ending. Regina could live with that. She was content that there was a realm where Robin Hood existed in some way and that he was happy. Regina was happy that the darkest part of herself, the Evil Queen, had finally found inner peace and a happy ending with Robin Hood.

As Regina and Danielle got closer to the pawnshop, the older brunette grew more and more nervous. Truth be told, she had another reason for visiting Gold. If she was Danielle's mother and if what Danielle told her was true then the imp could put her suspicions to rest. Whether that was confirming that Danielle was her daughter, or not. It was long before Danielle and Regina were standing in front of Gold's shop. Regina held the door open for Danielle and heard the little belle above the door ring as the child walked through. Regina followed closely behind.

"Belle!" Danielle shouted with glee. The young girl obviously recognized the auburn haired wife of Rumplestiltskin. "Hi!"

Belle, who was behind the center glass counter, turned around when she heard her name. She smiled at the girl who had entered the shop. "Hello, Danielle. How are you?"

"I'm good."

Belle smiled once more before greeting the woman that had followed in behind Danielle. "Hello, Regina."

"Hello, Belle," Regina greeted with a polite smile. "How is that you know Danielle?"

"Miss Danielle here, is a frequent visitor of Storybrooke's library."

"Is that so?"

"Absolutely. I dare say that she loves books more than I do." Belle faced Danielle. "Have you gotten any new books lately?"

"I got a new book on horses!"

"That's wonderful. You'll have to come to the library soon and show it to me."

Belle addressed both of the brunette's. "What can I do for you ladies?"

It was Regina who answered on their behalf. "We were hoping to speak with your husband today, actually."

"He's not here," Belle said. "Rumple and Gideon are spending the day together. Perhaps there's something that I can help you with?"

"We're looking for my mom," Danielle said.

"Oh," Belle's eyes widened. "You are?"

"It would seem," said Regina. "That Danielle's long lost mother is here in town. We were hoping that Gold would be able to help us identify and locate her?"

"We could try a locator spell," Belle suggested. "Do you have anything of hers?"

"No," Danielle muttered sadly under her breath. Yet, the word was still heard by the women in the room.

"Belle," Regina said. "Could we speak in private for a minute?"

"Of course," Belle answered. "We can talk in the back." Belle turned around and went through the curtain that separated the back of the shop from the front.

Regina kneeled down beside Danielle. "Dear, I'm going to have a quick word with Belle. Wait here for me. okay? Perhaps take a look around the shop?"

"Okay," Danielle said quietly.

The older brunette gave Danielle a small smile before getting up and following Belle. When they were out of earshot, Regina spoke to the woman with auburn hair.

"I know who Danielle's mother is. Well, I'm pretty sure I know."

"Who?" Belle asked.

"Me."

Regina's one worded answer made Belle's eyes go wide. "You?" Belle was astonished. "Wait," she said. "How long were you and Robin together?"

The mayor could see the librarian calculating numbers in her head. "She isn't Robin Hood's. I think she's Daniel's."

"The stable boy you fell in love with?"

"Yes," said Regina. "The very same."

"Alright," Belle said. "I think you should start from the begging and explain."

So, that's what Regina did. She told Belle about the similarities shared between Daniel and Danielle. Their blue eyes and crooked smiles. Their infinite love of horses and their sense of adventure. Regina explained about how Danielle had magic and was extremely powerful. She told Belle that Zelena had brought up that the girl looked a lot like the mayor. Regina had to agree. They looked too much alike for it to just be a mere coincidence.

"How can I help?" Belle asked after Regina finished.

"I don't remember giving birth to her. I don't even remember being pregnant. Do you have anything here that could restore my memories?"

Belle thought for a moment. "I'm not sure," Belle said. "Memory spells can be dangerous. Rumple would know more than me."

Regina frowned. She should've known it wouldn't be that simple. Nothing for her ever was. Belle noticed the frown on Regina's face.

"I do think I can still help you."

"How?"

Belle held up one finger, signaling Regina to give her one moment. The brunette then started to look through a pile of worn out books. When she found the one that she was seeking, Belle quickly flipped to the page she wanted. She handed the book to Regina.

"It's a spell," Belle explained. "It's kind of like a magical blood test. You'll need a drop of your blood and Danielle's for it to work."

Regina quickly skimmed over the spell. Well, it was more of a potion and it was simple enough. "I have most of these ingredients in my vault. All I need is my blood and Danielle's."

"Luckily," Belle said. "You'll only need a drop from each of you. We can get them now if you'd like?"

"Alright," said Regina. Belle found to empty vials and handed them to Regina.

"Danielle's blood and yours will need to be separate vials until they are mixed with the rest of the ingredients."

Regina pulled the cork of one of the vials. "Do have a needle, Belle?"

"Yes," Belle said. "I'm pretty sure there's a threading needle around here somewhere...Oh! Here it is." Belle stood in front of Regina and held up the needle. She held out her hand. "May I?" Regina placed her hand, palm up, in Belle's hand. Belle took the threading needle and pricked Regina's finger with it. She then took the open vial from the mayor and squeezed a drop of blood into the vial. Regina put the cork back on and slipped the vial into her coat pocket.

"Now," said Belle. "All you need is Danielle's blood."

"Right."

Belle sensed Regina's hesitancy. "Regina? Is everything alright?"

"Danielle doesn't know that I suspect I'm her mother." Regina told Belle in a whisper. "What if she doesn't want anything to do with me if those suspicions come to fruition?" Self-sabotage. That had always been Regina's fatal flaw. Already, she was imagining the worst. Belle placed her hands on the older woman's shoulders and gave a comforting squeeze. Sometimes it still surprised her that she and Regina were friends, but it was a pleasant surprise.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, but first, you have to find out for certain if you are her mother."

Regina gave the librarian a grateful smile and thanked Belle before she returned to the front of the shop. She found Danielle peering through one of the display cases.

"Danielle," said Regina. "Can you come here, please?"

Danielle walked forward to meet the older brunette. "Yes Regina?"

Regina showed the young girl the spell book. "This book," Regina explained. "Contains a spell that will be able to tell us who your mother is."

"It does?" Danielle looked skeptically at the book.

"Yes," Regina said. "But I need your help for the spell to work. I need a drop of your blood. Just a small drop dear."

"And then you'll be able to find out who my mom is?"

"If the spell works, then yes."

Danielle thought about it for a moment. She already knew who her mom was. Danielle knew that Regina was her mother. She wanted to tell her so badly, but she couldn't take the risk that Regina wouldn't believe her. Regina had to discover the truth on her own.

"Okay," Danielle said at last. "I'll help."

Regina gave Danielle an encouraging smile and held the girls hand in her own. She warned Danielle that it would hurt some when she pricked her finger, but Danielle was a trooper and put on a brave face. After the needle pricked Danielle's finger, Regina squeezed a drop of blood into the second vial. Regina put the cork on the vial and slipped it in her coat pocket. Right next to the other vial.

"Thank you, Danielle."

"You're welcome, Regina."

"In order for me to do this spell Danielle, I have to go to my vault. I have many magical items there that could be dangerous, so I need for you to stay here with Belle. Okay?"

Danielle agreed to stay with Belle. She like the librarian. Belle was really nice. Regina thanked Belle for her help before she left the shop. When Regina left, she did not head for the cemetery. There was somewhere else that Regina needed to go first.

Regina found herself on the door of the Nolan home. She was glad that Snow and David had finally moved out of that cramped loft. Their new house was charming; for lack of a better term. Regina rang the door bell and waited patiently for one of the Charmings to answer. It wasn't long before David answered the door.

"Regina? What are you doing here?"

"I need to speak to Snow," Regina explained. "Is she here?"

"Yes, but uh...," The prince turned his head away to look over his shoulder. Regina wondered what he was looking at. "Now, isn't really a good time."

"David? What's going on?"

David opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by the sound of Emma's voice. Emma? What was she doing here?

"It's okay, Dad. You can let Regina in?"

The blonde man waved Regina in. He stepped aside to let her through before closing the door behind her. When they were inside, Regina and David walked down the small entry hall and came into view of the living room. The mayor didn't take the time to observe the decor, because her eyed immediately focused on the teary eyed blonde. Snow was sitting on the couch and Emma was laid out with her head on her mother's lap. The blonde woman's face was tear stained and her eyes were red and puffy. When Emma saw Regina she lifted herself up into a sitting position.

"Hey, Regina."

"Emma? What's wrong?" Regina took in her friend's appearance. She looked utterly heartbroken.

"Don't worry about it," Emma said through her tears. "What's going on?"

Regina looked at Emma with concern, but she didn't push. She knew that when Emma was ready, she would share with her.

"I came to ask your mother for a favor, but if it's a bad time..."

"No, no it's fine," Emma said. Clearly trying to down play the situation."I'll just let the two of you talk."

"Are you sure?" Snow asked her daughter.

"Yeah," Emma softly said. "I'm just going to go upstairs with Neal."

She got up from the couch and walked up the stairs to where her baby brother's nursery was. Snow watched her ascend before she faced Regina.

"So, Regina," Snow said. "What can I do you for?"

"It's a long story. I'll explain on the way to my vault."

"Your vault?"

"Like I said it's a long story, but you'll just have to trust me."

"Okay," said Snow. "I'll help you."

"You will?"

"Of course I will. You're family."

Snow White got up from the couch and she and Regina walked out of the house. Snow suggest that they take her car to the cemetery. As they were leaving, Regina thought about something she had noticed when she was inside the Nolan home.

Emma wasn't wearing her engagement ring.