"Well maybe we should respect Cora's last dying wish. She wanted her daughter to have the life she should have had. She wanted her to be shown the love she should have been shown. She wanted to give her a second chance…A second chance at life. To turn out the way she should have." Snow explained. "This is Regina's second chance."
Everyone just stared at Snow as they took in everything she had just said. Regina's second chance, how were they going to give it to her? Who was going to look after her? What would everyone in the town say? All questions that buzzed around their minds. It was going to be hard to explain to the rest of the town that Regina, the Evil Queen was now an innocent toddler.
"How?" Emma asked. She had no idea what else to say. What else could she say? She had no idea what they were going to do, how they were going to handle things.
"We will raise her. Teach her right from wrong, show her love, give her everything she never had as a child. Give her what she should have had." Snow explained.
"And who exactly is going to raise her dearie? I don't expect there is we a long line of people for the job." Gold replied sarcastically.
Snow rolled her eyes and sighed. She looked down at Regina and then over at David who was staring at her. She gave him a look as if to ask if he'd be willing to take on the job, she wanted to. She really wanted to. She wanted to give back something to Regina. She, after all was part of the reason that Regina became who she was before, she wanted to be the one to give Regina her second chance. She wanted to raise Regina the way she should have been raised, with love.
David watched Snow and then he stood up from leaning on the counter as he caught on to exactly what she was silently asking him. "Us? You want to raise her?" David asked making Emma, Bae and Gold step back and watch the couple.
Snow nodded her head. "I would be willing to. David she needs us. She needs a family who can show her love."
"But Snow…she's Regina…the woman who caused your life to be hell for years on end…" David said stumbling over his words slightly.
"David look at her. Look at this little girl, she is not that woman. This little girl here hasn't become that woman yet." Snow said. She leaned over and placed a hand on David's which was resting on the counter. "David she is an innocent child. She is not the Evil Queen."
"Me not evil." Regina butted in realising they were talking about her. She looked between Snow and David and she gave David a look that would melt anybodies heart.
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Looking between his wife and Regina he knew Snow wouldn't let the matter settle. She was dead set on holding onto Regina. He could see she wouldn't let go of the little girl easily. "Okay." He breathed out. "We'll do it."
Snow squealed slightly and squeezed his hand in hers. "Thank you David." She gave him a big smile.
"One thing though how do we explain to her…like what do we say?" David asked looking from Snow and now over to Gold. "I mean will she remember anything from before?"
"You mean Cora?" Gold asked and David nodded. "It's possible." Gold said looking over at the child. "I could perhaps put a spell on her. Try and bind those memories and give her other ones. I could try and make it so that her memories of you being her parents."
"You could do that?" Snow asked. "And she wouldn't remember Cora?"
Gold shook his head. "It is quite a simple spell." He limped over to a shelf with several books on it. He ran his finger across them and then stopped, pulling one from the shelf. He flipped through the book and finally stopped on a page.
"Will it hurt her?" Snow asked. She didn't want the little girl to be hurt for the sake of a few memories.
"No dearie. She will be perfectly fine." Gold said as he limped closer to them. Regina bit her lip and cuddled into Snow a little more. She wasn't sure about the man in front of her. "Bless this mind and Bless this heart. Let these memories depart. Bring these new memories to mind. For happiness to find." Gold chanted these words as he pressed a hand to Regina's head.
They all watched closely waiting for something to happen but nothing did. Snow pulled away slightly as Gold removed his hand and stepped back and she looked down at Regina. "Regina, are you alright?" Snow asked brushing some hair away from Regina's face. Regina nodded her head.
"Did it work?" Emma asked stepping forward slightly.
"Can't imagine why it wouldn't have." Gold shrugged.
Emma rolled her eyes at Gold and then stepped forward again over to snow and Regina. "Regina who am I?" Emma asked her.
"You Emma." Regina said in a what a stupid question tone. "My big sister."
Emma gasped and then leaned on the counter looking at Regina closely. "And who is that?" Emma asked pointing to Snow.
"That mommy silly." Regina said with a little giggle thinking Emma was being very silly and funny. Emma then pointed over to David and Regina followed with her eyes. "You know Emma. That daddy."
Emma nodded and then stood up from the counter turning to look at David, Gold and Bae. "Yep the spell definitely worked."
"I can't believe you doubted it had." Gold snapped.
Emma rolled her eyes. "I just had to check." Emma sighed. "So how do we tell everyone else?"
"I will leave that one to you dearie." Gold smirked
David and Emma left Gold's shop (leaving him to deal with Cora) and called a meeting at the town hall informing everybody that they had to be there as there was important news. This meeting was to be happening in half an hour and Emma really felt she should tell Henry before he found out from somebody else in the town. That was no way for him to find out about his mother. So here she was sat on the sofa in Snow and David's loft with Henry trying to figure out how to tell him that his mother, the woman who had raised him for the last ten or so years was now a toddler.
She shuffled on the sofa, fidgeting while trying to go through things in her head. Henry had a worried look on his face and she bit her lip. The best thing to do is just say it. Just like ripping off a band aid. Quick. She took a deep breath and begun. "Henry there is something very important I need to tell you."
"Is it about you and dad? Are you together?" Henry asked hoping showing on his face.
Emma sighed. She had already been through that with him at least a couple of times already. That was definitely not happening again. "Henry we have been over this. Your dad and I…it's not gonna happen kid." Henry's face dropped. "But that's not what I want to talk to you about kid."
"What is it?" Henry asked.
"It's your mom Henry…" Emma started but was soon interrupted by Henry.
"What? What happened? Did you stop her and Cora? Is she hurt?"
"Whoa Henry one thing at a time eh?" Emma said holding up her hands. "We did stop Cora, she died." Emma said opting for the complete truth. He needed to know.
"She died? Is mom okay?" Henry asked the worry showing on his face. No matter what Regina done Henry always did worry about her. Even when he harped on about her being the Evil Queen he did care in his own way.
"Yea your moms okay kid…well kind of…"
"Kind of?" Henry frowned, a frown Emma had noticed was very much like Regina's when she was confused about something.
"Yes…she isn't hurt or anything Henry but you see…the thing is, your mom she's…"
Just as Emma was about to finally tell Henry what had happened to Regina the door was flung open and in ran a toddler Regina with Snow and David running after her. Emma and Henry looked over and Henry looked at the toddler open mouthed. He was sure he recognised the little child but he wasn't sure. "Hi Henry!" Regina squealed as she ran over to him.
"Hi…" Henry said hesitantly and then looked up at Emma. He then looked back at the little girl and then over to where Snow and David were.
"I told you guys to wait." Emma said.
"We tried but she is quite forceful Emma. She knows what she wants and she wanted to be in here." Snow replied giving Emma an I'm sorry look.
"What is going on?" Henry asked beginning to get frustrated. He had no idea what was going on.
"Henry what I was about to say before was…you see your mom she kind of got turned into a toddler." Emma said sighing as finally she said it. "And here she is." Emma pointed to Regina who was now skipping around the room singing to herself.
Henry's eyes widened at this news and he looked over to Regina. "Wha…She's…mom…" Henry stuttered. No words were really forming for him. He wasn't sure if he would be able to form a sentence.
"I know this is a lot to take in Henry…" Emma began to say.
"How? How did this happen?" He asked interrupting Emma.
"Cora." Snow said walking over to Henry and crouching down in front of him. "Cora made a wish before she died. She had her heart back and she wished for Regina to have the life she deserved to have. She wished for Regina to have a second chance Henry. A second chance at life." Snow explained holding onto Henry's hands.
"Can she be changed back?" He asked the question they had all dreaded him asking. Emma and snow looked back at David telling him he was to handle this question.
He came over and like Snow crouched down in front of Henry. "Henry there is no way to change Regina back. Cora had something called a wishing stone, some very ancient and powerful magic. The only way Regina could change back is if the person who cast the wish made it so but…"
"Cora's dead so she can't." Henry finished and all three adults nodded their heads.
"Mr Gold has altered her memories slightly. Regina thinks that David and I are her parents, Emma is her big sister and well you would be her nephew." Snow explained slowly.
"Her nephew who is older than her?" Henry said.
"It's not unheard of kid. Better than being her son who is older than her right?" Emma asked nudging Henry trying to lighten the mood a little. It worked. Henry laughed a little and he looked over at Regina who was still skipping around and singing to herself. Emma followed his gaze and smiled. "Cute isn't she?"
"I can't deny that she is." Henry sighed.
"Are you okay with this Henry? I know it's a lot of take in." Snow asked.
Henry stared over at Regina for a little bit longer. It was a weird situation. His mother now being a toddler and thinking he was her nephew but he couldn't deny she was incredibly cute and from what Emma and his grandparents had told him there was no way to change her back so he gathered he would just have to be okay with it. He figured he would get used to it at some point. He would have to. So he nodded his head and replied. "Yea, I'll get used to it I suppose. It might just take some time."
"I think all of us will need some time to get used to it kid."
The town meeting had been a hard one. Harder than telling Henry. Henry had stayed behind the scenes with Regina trying to keep her amused while Emma, David and Snow tried to explain to everyone what had happened with Cora and then what had happened to Regina. Many people couldn't believe it and it was then that Emma had decided maybe they should show them Regina.
Snow had been reluctant. She wasn't sure how people were going to react. She hoped that they would not see the Evil Queen but an innocent little girl. She collected her from Henry and carried her onto the stage and announced her to everyone emitting a gasp from everyone in the hall. Regina had become quite shy and cuddled into Snow not liking that everyone was staring at her with funny faces.
They had received all the questions that they thought they would; how did this happen? What shall become of her? Will she be turned back? Who will look after her? They explained everything to the towns people. From the wish Cora had made of Regina's second chance to her memories being altered to the fact that there was no way of changing Regina back. They explained that she was to be raised with Snow and David, to be brought up a different way from before. To be given her second chance at life.
Everyone seemed to be happy with the fact that the Evil Queen was gone, replaced by a toddler. No more worrying about the Evil Queen. No more living under her dark rule. However once it was revealed that Mr Gold was to become the new mayor uproar had begun. Many people claiming it to be a mistake to give him such power. But once Emma and David had made it perfectly clear that they would be working very closely with Gold in the running of the town people seemed to relax a little.
Finally the town meeting finished and everyone began to file out of the town hall and Emma sunk into a chair putting her head in her hands. "That has to be the hardest town meeting ever!" She groaned.
"At least it is over with now." David sighed.
Regina tugged on Snow's hand. "Mommy me hungry."
Snow knelt down so she was more to Regina's height and smiled at her. "You know what? so am I." Snow smiled tickling Regina slightly making her giggle. "Why don't we go to Grannies and get some lunch?" Snow announced looking up at David, Emma and Henry.
"Sounds good to me. I'm starving!" Henry exclaimed.
They all made their way out of the town hall and over to Grannies. Regina went running ahead and was just about to run over the road when Snow shouted and ran to grab her. "Regina! You do not go running across the road like that. Do you hear me? That's dangerous!" the worry in Snow's tone showed.
"Sorry mommy." Regina apologized quietly and looked down at her feet pouting slightly.
Snow found it weird telling Regina off like this. It was not long ago that she was arguing with Regina, shouting at each other and now she was being a mother to her and telling her off for nearly running across the road, it felt quite weird. "Hold my hand please." Snow said holding her hand out for Regina to take.
"Mommy me be good and walk on my own." Regina whined a little not liking the idea of being able to walk ahead and run if she wanted to.
"No Regina I want you to hold my hand until we get to Grannies." Snow put on a firmer tone trying to get through to Regina that she meant what she said. She leaned down and tried to take Regina's hand but Regina snatched it back.
"I walk myself like big girl." Regina moaned.
"Regina take my hand now." Snow said beginning to let a frustrated tone show through. They were really going to need to work out how they were going to handle the toddler. They had never got this stage with Emma. They had never experienced it. She had heard of the mischievous behaviour and the tantrums and had a feeling Regina would be no exception to those. She tried to think through what was said to her as a child if she misbehaved and then it struck her. "I am going to count to three Regina and if you are not holding my hand then you will be in serious trouble and there will be no sweetie for you later. One…"
David, Emma and Henry watched the scene and waited to see what Regina would do. They tried to hold back the laughter as they watched Regina trying to work out what was the best thing to do. Walk with her mother and get a sweet or defy her mother and walk by herself, although they all knew if she defied her mother she would not be walking by herself in any way. Emma found it hilarious that Snow was having to tell Regina off and Henry thought it just plain weird. While David just watch wondering how they were going to handle this toddler Regina.
"Two…" Snow counted.
Regina wasn't sure but she had a feeling that her mother counting wasn't a good thing and the more she thought about it the more she wanted a sweetie later. So she sighed and made a decision. "Okay mommy. Walk with you." Regina said quickly slipping her small hand into Snow's before she got to three.
Snow smiled at the small triumph. She knew this would probably be the first of many times she would have this situation with Regina but she was happy with the outcome of the first time. "Good girl." Snow praised. "Now come on let's go get some lunch.
Regina happily skipped along the rest of the way to Grannies clutching to Snow's hand. They entered and all eyes were on them as they walked over to a small booth. Snow helped Regina up onto the chair and then sat down beside her. David slipped in beside Snow and Emma and Henry sat opposite them. "Mommy me sit there." Regina demanded pointing to in-between Snow and David. "Want to sit next to daddy to."
"What do you say Regina?" Snow asked.
"Please." Regina replied sweetly with fluttering eyelashes and a sweet smile.
"As if butter wouldn't melt." Emma muttered causing Henry to laugh.
"Good girl." Snow praised again and then she shuffled down a little lifting Regina up and plopping her in between herself and David. They all began to look at their menus, David telling Regina what their was for her and soon Ruby came over.
"Hey guys." She greeted and her eyes soon landed on Regina who gave her the sweetest smile she could. "Wow!"
"What?" Emma asked looking up from her menu.
"I saw Regina earlier at the meeting but I was at the back, didn't realize just how cute she actually is." Ruby gushed slightly. "She's adorable. Are you sure that is Regina?"
"Quite sure." David nodded. "Believe me it's Regina. She might only be a toddler but she is just as stubborn as the other Regina."
Emma, Snow and Ruby laughed and Regina looked on confused. Ruby then leaned down a little. "Hi Regina. I'm Ruby."
"Hi Ruby." Regina beamed and waved her hand.
"So what age are you then Regina?" Ruby asked.
"I three." Regina answered excitedly. "Me big girl."
"Three? You most certainly are a big girl." Ruby played along making Regina giggle and Regina had decided from then that she liked Ruby. "So what can I get you guys?"
"Choc 'late milk please!" Regina declared excitedly jumping up and down on the chair making everyone at the table laugh and everyone in the diner look on at them.
Hope you are enjoying this so far. Toddler Regina is based mainly on my two little cousins, her speech and some of the things she will do is from my experiences looking after them (they can be a handful but are the cutest so can get away with things ha!). But feel free if anyone has any ideas of what Regina could get up to and how Snow and David should handle things please feel free to let me know and leave a review. I would be more than happy to write any ideas/things you would like to see as well as my own. Any way, thank you for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy the story as it goes on :-)