Chapter 11

Regina stared down at the vial in her hand. The vial which contained a clear liquid that just changed Regina's life. Regina had a daughter. A daughter she didn't even remember having. She had so many questions. Why didn't Regina have any memories of being pregnant? What happened to her memories? Why did she give up her baby? Surely Regina wouldn't have given up her only connection to Daniel. Unless, that was exactly why she gave up the child. Perhaps the baby had been too big of a reminder of the love she lost. Of course Regina wouldn't know that for sure until she got her memories back. The only person in town who could possibly restore her memories was Gold. Regina would have to pay him a visit.

Snow held her friend and let Regina work through her emotions. She knew that her former step-mother had a lot going through her mind. Snow knew from experience what it was like to be reunited with a long lost child. A child she didn't even remember having. Snow knew that Regina was resilient and she would make it through this. Regina would be a great mom to that little girl. She already was a great mom to Henry.

"Regina," Snow began to say. "Would you like to share what's on your mind?"

The older woman sighed. "I don't even know where to start," she said. "I've got so many questions."

Snow stayed silent and waited patiently for Regina to continue.

"I don't even remember being pregnant. Much less having a baby. Why would I give her up in the first place?"

"Regina," said Snow. "May I ask you a question?"

The mayor nodded her head yes.

"Is," Snow started to say, but then stopped. She took a breath and tried again. "Do you know if Daniel's the father?"

Regina stayed silent for a moment. "Yes," she answered Snow. "I believe so."

"But, how did this happen? I mean I know how this happened, but I mean..."

Regina chuckled lightly at the woman.

"Yes," she told Snow. "I know what you mean."

The mayor sat up and turned to face Snow White, so that she was facing the other woman.

"Snow," Regina said. "Before you and I met, Daniel and I had a... tryst."

Snow raised an eyebrow at Regina. The mayor rolled her eyes at the knowing look on Snow White's face.

"Whip that look off Snow."

The school teacher chuckled.

"Sorry Regina. Please, continue."

"Anyway, I'm certain that was the night that," Regina paused to take a deep and steadying breath. "That Danielle would have been conceived."

Snow listened intently to Regina.

"There is one thing I'm wondering Regina."

"What would that be?"

"If you were pregnant when you married my father," Snow explained. "Then why is it I have no memory of you having a baby?"

Regina shrugged her shoulder.

"It's possible that whatever happened to my memories happened to your memories, as well. Or..." Regina trailed off.

"Or what?"

"Or you never knew about the pregnancy in the first place."

"How could I have not known?"

"Perhaps I used magic to hide my pregnancy."

"But why would you..."

Regina cut Snow off by taking her hand.

"Snow. I know that you loved your father dearly, but my marriage was to Leopold was far from a happy one. And there are some things that I wish to protect you from. I don't want to tarnish your father's memory for you. And I wouldn't have wanted my child to be a prisoner with me."

Snow White gave a watery smile.

"For a long time I saw my father with rose colored eyes. I know now that you were unhappy and I'm sorry you were so miserable. And I'm so very sorry."

"You cannot be held responsible for the actions of your father, Snow. However, I appreciate and accept your apology."

Snow smiled once again and gave Regina's hand a light squeeze.

"Now, let's focus on your daughter," Snow's smile got wider. "Regina, you have a daughter!"

Regina gave a smile in return.

"Yeah, I know. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that. What am I going to do?"

"You need to talk to her. Get to know her. The two of you have a lot of catching up to do."

Regina agreed with Snow.

"Danielle is with Belle at the moment at Gold's shop. I suppose I should tell her the news. Will you come with me?"

"I would love to, but I really think that you and Danielle should spend some time figuring things out yourselves."

The women left the vault and Snow drove Regina to the pawnshop. After she was dropped off, Regina waved good-bye to Snow as she drove away. Regina entered the shop and saw Danielle and Belle looking at the pages of a book. The two giggled at the words on the page. The mayor smiled at the sweet scene before her.

"Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Danielle looked up from the book when she heard the sound of Regina's voice. The young girl smiled brightly when she saw the woman.

"Regina," Danielle ran towards the brunette woman. "You're back!"

Danielle wrapped her arms around the woman. Regina kneeled down and returned the hug. She held the girl tightly. This was her daughter. She was Daniel's daughter. Their long lost little girl returned.

"Hello, Danielle. I missed you."

Danielle giggled.

"You were only gone for a couple of ours!"

Regina smiled widely at the child.

"Nonetheless, I still missed you."

Regina stood up and Belle walked over to the pair.

"So Regina," the librarian said. "Did it work?"

Belle didn't specify what she meant, but Regina understood anyway.

"Yes," Regina answered "It worked."

"Did what work?" Danielle asked

Regina faced the young child and gave a light smile. She kneeled in front of Danielle.

"Danielle," Regina started to explain. "I've found out you your mother is."

The brunette child's demeanor became nervous all of the sudden. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Her eyes widened in slight panic.

"You know who she is?"

Regina looked up at Belle.

"Belle," she said. "Would you mind giving us a minute?"

Belle nodded her head.

"Of course. I'll be in the back if you need me."

The librarian left the front room. Regina faced Danielle once more.

"Dear, are you alright?"

"I'm a little nervous," Danielle told her truthfully.

Regina was spoke honestly to Danielle.

"I'm nervous myself," Regina said. The brunette woman combed her fingers through the girl's curls. "I'm going to tell you who your mother is and it might seem hard to believe."

Danielle waited nervously for the next words that would come out of Regina's mouth.

"Danielle," Regina said softly. "I'm your mother."

The brunette child remained silent and stared at Regina. Now, it was Regina's turn to be nervous.

"Please say something Danielle."

What Danielle said next would stun Regina. Perhaps more than anything else.

"I know."

Regina's eyes went wide and her mouth fell open in shock.

"You... you," Regina stuttered over her words. "You know. B...B...But, I don't understand. Wh...What do you mean you know?"

Danielle stared down at the floor.

"I have dream visions," Danielle whispered so softly that Regina almost didn't hear her. "They show me the past."

The little girl looked back up at the older brunette.

"I saw you give me up when I was a baby. I saw your face."

Regina got a bit more nervous. What else did this child know?

"Danielle, what else did these dream visions show you?"

Danielle thought about her next words carefully.

"I saw what happened to my daddy. I know that he's gone

Regina swallowed thickly.

"I am so sorry you had to see that, sweetheart."

"That's how I got my name you know."

The mayor tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Danielle smiled sheepishly at her new found mother.

"In one of my dream visions," the girl explained. "I heard you call my daddy Daniel. When I learned his name, I decided to name myself Danielle. After Daddy."

Regina couldn't stop the watery smile that crossed her face. Daniel's heart would have swelled with happiness if he could hear their daughter call him "Daddy."

"I couldn't have come with a more perfect name."

Danielle smiled back. Regina was silent for a moment. She thought about what else Danielle may have saw in her dream visions. Was it possible that Danielle knew about her dark past?

"Sweetheart, is there anything else that you saw in your visions? Anything about me?"

The blue eyed child nodded her head.

"What else did you see, Danielle?"

"I saw you as the Evil Queen."

Tears spilled from Regina's eyes. Her greatest fear was being rejected by her child because of her dark and evil past.

"Danielle," Regina said with heavy emotion in her voice. "I am so, so sorry that you had to witness me such terrible things. And I'll understand it if you never want to see me again, but you should know that I am not that person anymore..."

What Danielle did next, shocked Regina. The girl lunged forward, wrapped her arms around Regina's neck and hugged the woman. Regina's arms stayed at her sides because she was too surprised to return the hug. Danielle buried her face in the crook of her long lost mother's neck.

"You're right. I did see you do terrible things, but I also saw terrible things be done to you. I saw you get your heartbroken, time and time again. I saw you work hard to redeem yourself and I know that you've changed. I know you've changed, Momma."

Danielle's words brought a fresh wave of tears to Regina's eyes. She wrapped her arms around her daughter and held her close. The reunited mother and daughter held each other tightly. Regina still had many questions, but for now she was going to cherish this moment. Holding the daughter of Daniel, she never thought she could have.

A/N: Regina knows Danielle is her daughter! I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. P.S. My birthday is on the 8th and reviews would be the best gift! ;)