Once last night was amazing! Ah! I just can't get enough of this show. Seriously. Anywho, here's the next instalment of Katie ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT.

Katie

Chapter 9

One Week Later

Regina loved being a mother. Everyday her daughter did something new and Regina loved spending time with her. She would always consider Snow her daughter, but being able to raise her own child made her feel truly blessed. As much as the Kingdom might have prayed for a male heir, Princess Katie was definitely loved by her subjects.

Regina hadn't formally introduced her daughter to the Kingdom, but many of the people from closer villages travelled to the castle just to get a peak at the new addition. Often times, Regina would bring her daughter to meet them and listen to any concerns they might have. Unlike her mother, Regina took a strong interest in the welfare of the people. After all, Snow would one day rule them and she wanted to keep them happy.

Suddenly Regina was pulled from her thoughts by the sound of her daughter crying. She got up from her rocking chair and walked over to Katie's wooden crib. She peered over the side to look at her child. Her little baby was sobbing and attempting to get out of the blanket that she had been swaddled in. Regina smiled at her daughter's stubbornness. She had certainly inherited that from her father. Regina reached into the crib and pulled Katie out carefully. Making sure to provide support for her head, Regina sat back down in the chair and began to rock her child.

Katie stopped crying within moments. Regina could tell that her child was attempting to focus on her face, as her eyebrows were scrunched together. Doctor Greene had told her that Katie's eyesight wouldn't be completely developed for a little while, but Regina was sure that her daughter knew who she was. Regina pulled her daughter closer and ran a few fingers through her child's soft baby hair. At her mother's touch, Katie closed her eyes and let out a small yawn. Regina felt like her heart bursting with happiness.

"Good morning, stepmother!"

Regina looked up from her child's face to meet the eyes her stepdaughter.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Regina replied. "How did you sleep?"

Snow looked down at her feet with a frown on her face.

"I'm still having nightmares," The young girl admitted. "May I sleep with you tonight, please?"

Regina tilted her head, debating whether or not she should let the young girl sleep in her bed again. Snow was almost 11 years old. She was the heiress to a great Kingdom and would eventually rule as Queen. However, Regina realized that Snow was still just a little girl who had lost both of her parents and needed extra attention while she was getting used to having a new sibling.

"I suppose," Regina answered. "But we can't make a habit of this, sweetheart. Katie keeps me up some nights. I want to make sure that you are able to rest properly. A young girl still needs her beauty sleep!"

Snow giggled sweetly at her stepmother and then eyed her baby sister who was cuddled in her lap. "May I hold her? Please?"

Regina knew she couldn't say no to her pleading wide-eyed stepdaughter.

"All right, but be gentle."

Regina stood up and let Snow sit in the rocking chair. She instructed her to support Katie's head and then the rest of her body. Snow beamed at her little sister as soon as she was placed in her lap. Katie had opened her eyes and was staring up at her big sister. Snow reached for Katie's hand and looked up at Regina with a grin when Katie wrapped her small hand around her index finger.

"Look! Look! She's holding my hand!"

Regina smiled and then knelt down in front of her two children and placed a hand on both of their heads tenderly.

"You are a wonderful big sister, Snow," Regina commented. "Thank you so much for your help with Katie. I can tell that she loves you already."

Snow beamed at Regina's words. She smiled and leaned over, placing a kiss on Regina's cheek.

"I know you're not my real mother," Snow whispered, looking slightly sad. "But I feel like we can be a family. I want to be a good daughter to you and a good big sister to Katie."

Regina felt touched. She was so lucky to have not one, but two daughters who she could nurture and raise. Regina wrapped her arms around Snow and Katie, planting a kiss on the side of Snow's head.

"You are an amazing daughter," Regina replied. "I am so proud of you."

Snow's eyes started to well up with tears. Regina reached up and rubbed her stepdaughter's cheek gently.

"I have an idea. Why don't you help me plan your sister's first party? She will be presented to the Kingdom in a few weeks. Does that sound like fun?"

Before Snow could answer, their conversation was interrupted.

"Snow wouldn't know the first thing about planning a party. She's just a child."

Regina turned her head and caught sight of her mother entering the nursery. She glanced at the newly added pink and purple colors in the room with a look of disgust. Regina knew that they reminded her that her grandchild was not the male heir she had been hoping for. At her mother's words, Regina stood and glared at her for ruining the moment with her oldest child.

"She can help me with the decorations and invitations, Mother," Regina replied. "I'm sure we could invite some of the courtiers' children as well."

"Most of the courtiers' children are older than I am," Snow said quietly. "A lot of them are already adults so they won't be interested in spending time with me."

Regina looked at Snow sadly. No wonder she didn't have many friends her own age. She had known that King Leopold and Queen Eva had tried for many years for a child and had conceived Snow miraculously later on, which explained why she didn't have any friends closer to her age that lived at court.

"Perhaps we can invite some of the villagers' children."

Snow's interest perked up at the suggestion, but Cora shot her down.

"You will not!" Cora snapped. "She will not be associated with those people. She is a princess, not a peasant!"

Regina glared at her mother.

"I will decide who she associates with. She is my daughter," Regina reminded her.

Cora raised her eyebrows, but waved her daughter off and looked to Snow.

"It's time for your morning lesson, sweetheart," Cora said, attempting to sound sweet. "Give Katherine back to your stepmother."

Snow reluctantly did as she was told and handed Katie over. Regina quickly put her sleeping baby back into her crib and wrapped her arms around Snow. Placing a kiss gently on her forehead, she hugged the little girl tight. Snow smiled slightly and took hold of Cora's hand, following her out of the room. Once she left, Regina felt upset. She loved spending time with Snow but felt that her mother was still the one in control. Sighing sadly, Regina sat back down in her rocking chair and closed her eyes. She felt tired from being up last night with Katie. Maybe a nap would do her some good.

Later on that day

Regina was so excited to bring Katie to finally meet Daniel. She hadn't been able to get away from her mother or Snow very easily, but she found some time after Katie's nap to bring her to see her father. She wrapped Katie in a light blanket and held her close.

As she approached the stables, Regina could see Daniel exercising Hero in one of the training rings. She yelled his name, attempting to grab his attention. He heard her call and immediately got off of Hero. After tying him to the fence, he jumped out of the ring and ran to her. Regina held her daughter tightly and quickened her pace.

"Hi," Regina whispered, her eyes shining with happiness. She hadn't seen Daniel since the day she'd delivered their daughter.

"Hi to you, too," he breathed. He was staring at the bundle in her arms. "Is that…?"

Regina was so caught up in staring at him that she had forgotten Katie who was beginning to stir. Regina smiled down at their child.

"Yes, this is Katie," Regina said, smiling at him. "Our daughter."

Regina carefully handed Katie over to Daniel to hold. He gently cuddled her against his chest.

"A daughter…" he muttered, running a finger down her cheek. "I have a daughter!"

Regina could see how proud Daniel really was. She couldn't believe how amazing this moment was. Suddenly Regina looked around. Although there was no one in sight, she thought it would be best if they went into the stables. She grabbed Daniel by the arm and pulled him along, as he was too fascinated by their daughter to pay attention. Once they were safe inside the barn, Regina breathed a sigh of relief as she turned back to her true love and child.

"She's so beautiful," Daniel whispered, while staring into their daughter's big brown eyes. He ran his hand through her soft hair before smiling at his love. "Thank you."

Regina raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"You have given me a child – a beautiful daughter. I love you so much, Regina. This is the happiest day of my life."

Regina grinned. She wrapped her arms around her lover and child. Daniel leaned down and kissed her hard on the mouth.

"Stepmother… what are you doing?"

At the sound of her stepdaughter's voice, Regina quickly detached herself from Daniel's arms. She looked towards the stable doors and saw Snow standing there with a shocked look on her face.

"I…uhm…wait, what are you doing here?" Regina quickly took Katie back from Daniel as she stepped towards her stepchild.

"I saw you talking to Daniel in the field, so I thought I would come say hi…" Snow clearly wished that she hadn't now. "Why were you kissing? Are you…"

"Snow, listen…"

Tears welled up in Snow's eyes. Suddenly she glared angrily at Regina.

"My father has only been dead 3 months and you're moving on to another man? He loved you! How could you do that to him?"

Regina stared at the young girl in disbelief. She had never had an outburst like that before. Snow turned her back on Regina and stormed back to the castle. Regina could feel her face going white. What if she told Cora? Regina turned back to Daniel.

"I have to follow her," Regina said quickly. "She might tell my mother about us. My mother might find out about Katie."

Both Daniel and Regina looked down at their precious daughter, who was squirming in Regina's arms. Daniel placed a kiss upon his daughter's head and urged Regina to go after Snow.

Regina ran as quickly as she could, trying her best to catch up to Snow. She just about did as she approached the patio, but before she could call to her, Cora came into view.

"Regina!" Cora spat. "What are you doing running with the baby in your arms? Bring her to the nurse at once."

Regina watched as Snow walked up to Cora and grabbed her hand. What she said next made her shiver.

"Can we spend the day together, Grandmama?"

Cora eyed the young girl, almost surprised at her request. She had been thinking of getting rid of the child, in order to raise Katherine to become Queen, but now she had a different idea. She would influence Snow's mind and turn her into a puppet that she could control.

Cora nodded at the girl and turned away from Regina, pulling Snow along with her. Before they walked away, Regina saw the look of disapproval on her stepdaughter's face. She could feel herself beginning to panic. She feared that she would tell Cora what she had seen. Regina knew that she would have to get Snow alone to explain.

Suddenly Katie started crying. Regina attempted to rush her cries as she rushed up the patio stairs. As she entered the great room, she searched for her mother and Snow. They were nowhere in sight. She knew that Cora must have travelled with her magic. This was bad.

Regina took Katie back to her nursery and called for the nurse. Once Katie was looked after, she went in search of her mother and stepdaughter. The first place she checked was her mother's bedroom, followed by Snow's. Both were empty. Finally she searched the library where her mother sometimes spent her time. She peaked around the open door and saw them sitting together talking. Regina took a deep breath and entered the library.

"Snow? Can I talk to you, please?"

Snow and Cora both turned their heads towards Regina. Snow looked upset while Cora looked concerned. Regina was slightly confused. Shouldn't her mother be angry if Snow told her about Daniel?

"She doesn't want to be with you right now, sweetheart," Cora answered. Snow looked down at her hands that were folded in her lap. She clearly looked uncomfortable. "She's feeling upset and doesn't want to talk to you."

Regina was crushed by what her mother said.

"I…"

Cora's interest perked at the tense look on her daughter's face.

"What's going on, Regina? Is there something going on?"

Regina dropped her gaze on Snow to meet the eyes of her mother. Clearly Snow hadn't told her… yet. Regina shook her head and smiled as best she could.

"No… No, there's nothing going on, Mother," Regina answered. "I hope you're all right, Snow. I'd like to speak to you later, if that's okay."

Snow didn't look at Regina, but answered. "I'm not feeling well. I think I'm going to go to bed early tonight. I'll sleep in my own room."

Regina felt crushed and worried all at once. If she didn't speak to Snow soon, she would most likely tell Cora about what happened. Regina nodded and knew that there was nothing else to say. As she closed the library door behind her, she started to cry.

Inside the library, Snow was debating if she should tell her grandmama about what she had seen. Why was Regina kissing the stable boy Daniel? Why was he holding her sister? She felt so confused. Finally, Snow made up her mind. She needed to tell someone what she saw. She didn't understand what it meant.

"Grandmama, can I tell you something?"

Cora looked at Snow with interest.

"Yes, dear, what is it?"

Snow stared into Cora's dark eyes and said, "I saw Regina kissing the stable boy…"

I just had to add some more Regina/Snow feels at the beginning of this chapter. I wish they could get along in the show, but that's all looooong time coming.
Let me know what you think about the chapter, or the show if you want :)

- Jess xoxo