Chapter 32

Cora was speechless, probably for the first time in years. She was used to people fearing her, or hating her, even despising her existence, but this young girl didn't seem to be the least bit afraid of her. Which left Cora confused.

She was already dumbfounded by how strong of a bond her daughter seemed to share with the blonde.

"I.. I" she stuttered and rubbed her chest as Emma shot her a tight scowl.

"I don't care what you think of me, Cora. Because I'm used to being treated like shit! So you can call me whatever the hell you want, but don't you dare belittle me in front off your daughter, who is my girlfriend, and the love of my life!" Emma growled through gritted teeth, eyes dark with anger.

"Aside from that, Regina already knows all of this, and she doesn't care, neither do Belle, Ruby or Granny.

My family, they see past that, and actually see me. Though I'm not surprised someone like you sees me as trash. So be it! If Regina wants to be with me, just suck it up and accept it! Or do you want your only daughter to be miserable because you are, you fucking royal bitch?! "

Regina watched her mother carefully, and wondered what she should think about her girlfriend's outburst. Not sure if she should laugh or cry, but one thing was for sure.

Cora was actually rendered speechless.

The only person Regina had known to take down her mother so spectacularly like this, and survive, had been Henry. Wow, you really are like, Daddy, Emma. He would have been so proud.

"That's my girl." Granny smirked as she spoke to herself.

"Yeah, and that's my sister." Ruby stated towards Granny with a proud grin, while Belle just looked as speechless and confused as Cora.

Belle didn't know much about Emma's life, but now that she knew these things, she was even more impressed by the person Emma had grown into. Plus, having the guts to take that tone with Cora! She really loves Regina.

"Mother?" Regina suddenly asked, suddenly concerned, as she took a step forward. Granny tried to stop her, but failed miserably.

Regina didn't get a reaction from Cora though, so she turned to her girlfriend instead. Emma didn't acknowledge her either

She probably had more to say to Cora as she was on a warpath.

Regina knew that she would have to let Emma say her peace though. So she remained impatient for a reaction from her mother.

"And besides that, Mrs. Mills, I'm gonna raise this baby with Regina, wether you like it or not! So give me your best shot!" Emma challenged but Cora didn't move. She just barely managed to blink.

"I think Emma has broken the infamous bitch" Ruby whispered to Belle, when she suddenly got a smack to the shoulder from Granny. "Ah! What the.."

"Shut up." Granny growled as she shot her a glare before she took a step forward.

The old woman walked up to her adoptive daughter and laid her hand on her shoulder, making the blonde snap out of her anger.

"Emma, let's go inside and leave them alone for a little while, okay?" Emma met Granny's eyes and frowned. I don't want to leave her.

As if reading her mind, Regina spoke.

"It's okay Emma. I'll be fine, I promise." Regina said, with a reassuring smile. "Just go calm down a little, ok? I don't want you getting too worked up and stressed right now"

Emma sighed, but didn't argue. Instead she accepted a tight hug then pecked Regina's lips before she walked away with Granny, Belle and Ruby.

When Regina was alone with her mother, she met Cora's eyes and noticed how pale she still was.

"So, do you have anything to say about all of this, Mother? Anything at all?" Cora suddenly looked gobsmacked. Regina was still confused by the woman's reaction, but at least it was a reaction of some kind. That settled Regina a little.

"I'm so sorry….. for all this, Regina, but it has been so hard for me to.." Cora shrugged as she trailed off in thought. Those words made Regina feel almost sick to her stomach.

What the hell has been so hard in your life? Regina thought to herself as she became thoroughly angry now.

"Hard on you?" Regina snapped. "Is this some kind of sick joke to you? Don't you remember what Daniel did to me? A man you wanted me to marry? No! Were forcing me to marry! Or have you forgotten that detail?"

Regina just waited for the bitchy mother she was used to, to reappear, but as the seconds went by, she didn't.

Instead Regina saw a side of her mother she hadn't seen for years. The caring side. The rational side. The almost human side..

"I'm so sorry Regina….bad choice of words.." Cora sighed as she sat down on the bench beside them.

Regina suddenly noticed that her mother was wearing her wedding ring, which made her frown, confused.

"I'm so sorry, Regina." Cora frowned "I understand if you will never forgive me for this, because no words I say can take away the hell I've put you through.." Cora began as she took a deep breathe, before she continued. Regina just looked at her patiently.

"I know you miss your father, Regina, and I miss Henry as well. Deeply. I've been such a terrible mother to you. I was never cut out to be a parent like Henry…"

The words almost made Regina gasp. Cora never admitted her faults. Aside from that though, she was actually talking about the girl's father.

Cora hadn't so much as mentioned Henry's name to her once since his passing. Regina didn't even know her mother had human feelings, other than anger, rage, and hatred.

Had Henry's death also affected her, in a different way than Regina had ever understood?

Of course it must have! Regina chastised herself, embarrassed. Was she really so unlike her mother in that regard?

"I'm sorry too, Mother. It wasn't my intent to go behind your back like this.. With Emma...and the baby." Regina stuttered as she suddenly felt bad about her own behavior. She almost flinched when she felt Cora's hand gently grip hers.

"You have nothing to feel sorry for, dear. I'm the monster. You're a sweet soul and a wonderful person, just like Henry was." Cora said as the tears finally started to roll down her cheeks. "I'm never going to forgive myself for putting you through everything Daniel did to you…"

Emma was still furious and refused to be still. She paced back and forth on the wooden floor as the other three sat at the table.

"Swan?" Ruby tried carefully and Emma turned around to met her eyes. Ruby had learned from the last time Emma had been this worked up, and nearly punched her, so she kept her distance.

"Argh! What?" Emma groaned as she crossed her arms.

"It took balls to say that." Ruby said with a proud grin. She noticed Emma relax a little at that

"Anyone else in town, in the world probably, would have run away before they said something like that to Cora freakin' Mills!"

"Yeah, Rubes is right. Nobody has ever spoken to Cora like that." Belle added "Not even Regina!"

Emma frowned and wondered if her outburst was too much. Regina could have handled this herself if Emma had just given her a chance to.

Regina isn't the delicate snowflake pushover that she used to be. Emma should have respected that. She suddenly felt terrible. Seeing the distraught look on the blonde's face, Granny spoke up.

"I'm proud of you, my dear daughter." Granny smiled fondly and Emma looked even more confused.

"Cora needed to hear that. She really did, so you did the right thing, Emma. You should know that." Emma took a deep breath and finally gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

Regina was tugging on her bottom lip while watching her mother. The usually secure and absolutely fearless person was shaking and crying. Regina was still holding her mother's hand, and touched Cora's wedding ring.

"I didn't know you still had this." Regina stated and Cora dried her tears a little.

"Oh, I would never get rid of this beautiful ring. I just don't wear it that often." she paused to admire the small article

"I'm sorry for not wanting to talk about him. I know how much you miss him. I guess that was just me being selfish." Cora said with a crocked smile as the sadness of happy memories was glowing in her eyes.

Regina still didn't know how to react. Who was this person in front of her, and what had she done with her real mother?

Regina took a deep breath, because she knew she had to embrace this moment and not let it slip through her fingers. Cora would probably never open up like this again.

"Mother, why haven't you wanted to talk about Daddy?" Regina asked anxiously as Cora looked up towards the house, then back to her daughter.

"Henry was my one true love, and his death devastated me… I've always tried not to let that show. I've actually never been good with any emotion at all. Not since I was very young." she started to explain as she looked away again.

Cora had just gotten the call from Henry about his doctor's appointment. She had been walking on eggshells all day, just waiting for it.

Even though she had a sinking feeling that her beloved husband was really sick, she had hoped beyond hope that she was wrong.

Unfortunately, as it turned out, she was not.

"Cora, are you still there?" Henry asked and his wife was just sitting with the phone in her hand, not wanting to believe what she had just been told.

"Yes, dear…"

Cora tried to breathe as she closed her eyes, trying to keep the tears from falling and maintain composure. She wished that this was all a nightmare that she would eventually wake up from.

She was in her office, and refused to break down while at work. "and what did the doctors say about treatment?"

"I'm sorry….but it's not treatable. It's aggressive, darling." Henry replied as his voice cracked.

Coras eyes snapped open and she almost forgot how to breathe. She suddenly couldn't care less if everyone and their neighbor could see her.

Her heart broke as she tried to speak through her own hyperventilating

"H...How.. How long did they give you?" she didn't want this to be real. She wondered why she herself couldn't trade places with him.

"Not more than a year…" the man answered sadly, and Cora finally began to choke on the large lump in her throat.

Right then, in that moment, Cora Mills wished she was dead. If this wonderful and loving man had to die, she didn't deserve to live.

After he died, Cora was rarely home. Any sleep she got was on the uncomfortable sofa in her office. She stayed out of town and away from memories of him as often as possible.

At one point she had even given up on trying to act normal. She had always had problems connecting to people, but it seemed like Regina only wanted to talk about the one thing Cora couldn't bare to even think about.

After a small argument that led to Cora actually hitting Regina, Cora disappeared.

She wasn't the person she wanted to be.

She wasn't the person she used to be.

She barely felt alive.

Cora started self medicating with alcohol and sleeping pills. She just wanted to stop feeling and one day she simply became… Numb.

She couldn't be a daughter. Couldn't be a wife. And because she was a danger to Regina, couldn't be a mother. She decided it was time to finally end her misery.

She already had the pills and access to plenty of alcohol. It seemed simple in her head.

So she made sure all of her affairs were in order, wrote a note, and tried to end it.

She may have been a shitty mother, but she would make sure her only child was comfortable for the rest of her life.

The problem was that by the time she finally tried, her drug tolerance was too high, and her body was too tired. She, quite literally, slept it off.

After the failed suicide attempt, she became angry at the world, and angry at herself for not being able to end her life. Most regrettably, angry at the reminder of her deceased husband.

Regina was sobbing with her mother's arms around her. They had never talked like this.

Regina felt like the world's biggest asshole. Of course, at the time, she wouldn't have understood. That really didn't help her though.

The two sat quietly as Regina digested everything she just learned. She reveled in the comfort she was receiving from Cora. From her mother.

She wondered how Henry would feel seeing this. Would he even be surprised? He was married to the woman for close to twenty years. Surely he saw something positive in her before his death.

Regina still remembered when he had collapsed in front of her. He had gotten better, and had been doing good for a little while. That is, until he had been rushed into hospital again, where he had gotten diagnosed with cancer.

"I miss him so much, mother…" Regina said between sobs and Cora cupped her head in her hands and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Me too Regina. Everyday. And I'm so sorry I've been so absent through your whole life.." Cora started to say when Regina pulled away from her touch and she stopped talking abruptly.

"Can you please explain why you reacted like you did to Belle and Ruby's relationship? They were my only friends, mother, and you shut them out of my life when I needed them the most... Why?"

Cora let out a big breath before she reached down in her blouse, then pulled out a necklace Regina had never seen before. Or maybe she just never noticed it. She's really starting to see how blind she had been to other people's pain.

"What's that?" Regina asked as her mother unhooked the necklace and placed in Regina's hand.

It was a beautiful necklace, but it was nothing like the other jewelry Cora had in her collection. It wasn't made in gold or silver. It was a much cheaper material. Regina frowned and opened the little heart and inside it stood "Always yours, Lilith"

"Mother?" Regina asked as she met her mother's eyes. "Who's Lilith?"

Emma was standing impatiently, and looking out of the window with her heart in her throat. She was watching Regina and Cora closely.

It was as if Emma was ready to run out immediately if Regina needed her.

The mother and daughter were sitting on a bench, talking, both clearly crying. What the hell? Is Cora even able to cry? Obviously.Emma thought to herself when she felt Ruby's arm on her shoulder.

"Wow, Cora is actually hugging Regina….and she's crying. How about that." Ruby stated perplexed while Emma just shrugged.

She just wanted to be by Regina's side, even though she knew she couldn't. Regina needed to be alone with her mother, but it was surprisingly hard for Emma to let her be.

"Come on, Swan, Granny's made some food and lit the fireplace. Let's distract ourselves, shall we?" Ruby urged and Emma rolled her eyes.

"Fine" Emma sighed and after a final glance out the window, reluctantly followed her sister into the living room.

"Regina… I should have told you about Lilith years ago, instead of shutting you out and leaving you to Rosita." Cora sighed.

"I suppose when Henry died, I simply lost my biggest safetynet in my life. Henry saved me when I was young and scared. My parents had just thrown me out on the streets, and your dear father was the one who found me… "

Cora Mills grew up in a poor family. It was an upbringing she had always tried to forget. Her parents were farmers and her father was an alcoholic.

He brutally beat Cora and her mother. Her mother ended up in the hospital more than once. He had no rhyme or reason. It could be for anything and everything he so wished.

Cora didn't have many friends, but Lilith was one of them. Her mother really adored her, while her father didn't. He didn't like the way she talked or dressed. But she made his daughter happy and kept her distracted, so he let them be.

Until that day he found them fooling around in the barn. He had snapped. Cora's parents were very conservative, and to them, homosexuality was a disease. The morning after the incident in the barn, Cora's entire miserable life shattered to pieces.

They had sent Cora to a priest to 'cure' her, and Cora was treated terribly for months. That until the day she was randomly deemed 'untreatable' and thrown out.

When that happened, her parents turned their backs on the young Cora. She was not more than 16 years old, and had always done what she could to make her parents proud, but it didn't seem to matter now.

In her father's eyes, he didn't have a daughter anymore, and Cora never saw or heard from her parents again.

The same night Cora had been thrown out of the 'program', she had walked to a Tavern, trying to trade some food for the few dollar she had in her pocket.

Unfortunately, she couldn't afford anything, and had just been laughed at, then, once again, thrown out. So she was sitting outside on the ground, crying and feeling sorry for herself.

"I'll be right there." she heard a manly voice say, but she was too upset to actually look up.

"My dear girl, what's the matter?" the voice asked closer to her, and Cora finally got the courage to look up.

Her gaze met the most kind eyes she had ever seen, and she felt butterflies. She knew that years from now, no matter who this beautiful eyed stranger was to her, she wouldn't forget how she couldn't help but smile.

"Not so good actually. I don't really have..." Cora shrugged and dried her tears as she glanced at her suitcase. "anything. I don't have anything. My friend's parents won't tell me where she is, and I have nowhere to go…."

A large crowd of loud men walked by and Cora finally pulled away from those beautiful eyes as she came to her senses.

"Sorry sir, I shouldn't burden you with my troubles. I guess I'll just leave." she sighed as she moved to stand.

"Oh, no let me help you!" the young man smiled as he offered his hand to help her up. "And don't call me Mr, my name is Henry."

His smile was positively infectious, and even through her sorrow and confusion, Cora beamed brightly. His smile was bright and it was like a north star to the young, lost girl.

"Nice to meet you, Henry. I'm Cora." she introduced herself as she straightened her clothes.

Henry left his friends at the Tavern and took Cora home with him. Cora was blown away by the house he lived in. This was like a place she had only seen on TV, or read about it a book.

It was a whole other experience to actually see it with her own eyes.

"Do you actually live here, Henry?" Cora asked as they parked the car in the driveway.

"Yes, Dear." Henry grinned and went around to her side, then opened her door. "Now come. You need some new clothes and a hot shower, or else you'll get sick!"

Cora followed the young man inside the house, and she couldn't help but gasp. Cora had never even been close to a house like this.

She was only a farmer's daughter, and felt almost ashamed walking on the floor of Henry's house.

"Sit down by the fire and get comfortable, Darling. I'll get our maid to fetch you a towel and some fresh clothes so you can take a shower. Does that sound good?" Henry asked kindly and Cora wasn't sure how to respond, so she froze.

Henry noticed the tension in her body language, so he took a careful step toward her and took her hand in his. Their eyes locked and Cora shrugged.

"I should go.. I shouldn't be here.." she stated rigidly

"Nonsense, my dear, Cora! You're my guest, and I will not let you leave in such a state. I'm sure you wouldn't mind a nice bath, and a fresh change of clothes." he urged with a smile

"I have it on good authority that you have nowhere else to be." his voice was so kind and warm. Almost playful.

He didn't say she has to place to go. Just that she had no place to be. Something about that seemed so whimsical to her. It made her smile, but also confused her more.

"That's right Henry, but I shouldn't be here. I'm intruding.."

"Intruding upon what exactly? Just stop with that nonsense, and accept my kindness, Okay?" Henry said with a gentle tone as he moved closer, then stroked Cora's cheek, making her blush.

When Cora ended the story about her and Henry's first encounter, the tears were rolling down her cheeks. Regina was crying as well.

She had never heard this story.

"After that day, Regina, Henry and I never spent a day without each other. I lived with him, but we didn't share a bed for months!

He treated me with so much kindness and respect. We married when I turned 18 and bought our current home.

I had a hard time adjusting to all the luxury, and sadly somewhere along the way the money went to my head….

Sometime after my twentieth birthday I fell pregnant, but lost the baby. Back then things were a little different.

They didn't have emergency pregnancy tests, so we commonly didn't find out until we were much farther along.

I was young and your father and I regularly attended parties and such.

We never got into the drug scene, but we both enjoyed a stiff drink."

Cora finally paused to wipe more years away. She wrapped her arms around herself then continued.

"I lost the baby at around 14 weeks." she sighed "For the longest time, I blamed myself for not realizing that I was pregnant. I don't know why. Your father didn't blame me. It was quite a while before I felt ready….

Honestly though, I never really did.

Henry and I would always joke about how we were getting too old for children, and would have to hire nannies to change our kids diapers and ours too." she chuckled deeply and Regina smiled a little as Cora smiled brightly at her.

"But I remember when I found out I was pregnant with you, Regina. Maybe you have always thought I never wanted a child, because that's what people have said about me, but I was so happy when I found that I was expecting you."

"Have you taken the test, Darling?" Henry asked anxiously as he gently knocked on the bathroom door. The woman rolled her eyes at her adult child and opened the door. She embraced her husband in a tight hug and pecked his lips.

"It's positive dear, we're going to have a baby" Cora smiled broadly and Henry looked so proud.

"I will call the doctor at once so you can have all the vitamins and minerals your body needs!" Henry stated as he started to ramble on about anything and everything concerning this baby.

Cora chuckled at her husband's behavior. He had always wanted children, and had been so devastated when they lost the first.

"I was supposed to have a sibling?" Regina asked out of pure shock. Her Daddy, who always shared stories with her, had never told her about this. Never.

"A sister, Regina. You were supposed to have a sister." Cora said with teary eyes, but a huge beaming smile. "Zelena. You're what, 17 now? You would have had a 25 year old sister named Zelena."

"Oh." was the only word that came out of Regina's mouth. Even though she wanted to say so, so much more, as her mind raced.

Why haven't I seen this side of my mother more? Why have I never tried to understand her behavior earlier? God, I really am an asshole.

"I hope you can give me a chance someday Regina, so I can be the mother you deserve" she added with a warm smile toward Regina.

Regina gave her a small smile, but it turned into a yawn quickly. Cora let out a small chuckle.

"You need some rest, and I think your girlfriend needs you as well, before she explodes with anxiety." Cora said gently as she offered her hand to help her daughter to stand up.

Regina was still unable to form words, but as she stood to her feet, she embraced her mother in a tight hug.

It felt like she hugged her Daddy in some way. Like his spirit was there. It was a feeling she refused to let go of.

Suddenly she realized her mother had referred to Emma's as 'her girlfriend' and as their eyes met again, she offered her another small smile.

"So, you approve of Miss Swan?"

"Not that you need it, but yes, dear. I think she and I have a long way to go before it's okay between us though. As well as you and i, but I promise you, from the bottom of my heart that I will try my best to show you I want to change."

The words were spoken with love, but Regina wasn't completely ready to forgive all her mother had said and done throughout the years.

It was too much to forget in an instant, but Regina was willing to give her mother a second chance. Because the brunette had wanted her mother's love and approval her whole life.

Regina just wasn't ready to trust her mother yet.

She was afraid all of this was an act in some way, and if she fell for it too easily, maybe Cora would get rid of Emma somehow.

I want to trust you, Mother, but I don't know if I ever can. Please don't make me regret this chance I'm giving you.