Hello again! I am so sorry for the long wait. I have recently just moved into my own flat and with sorting everything out and the fact I have no internet in the house until Tuesday I have not been able to post anything. But I am nabbing onto my mum and dad's internet today so thought I would get a chapter up for you all. Hopefully it will not be as long a wait for the next one. I hope you enjoy this chapter! :-)
Cora made some toast for Regina, something quick and simple she thought was best. While Regina was sat at the table eating she decided to phone Rumple and tell him that the spell had in actual fact worked. Like I knew it would! She picked up the cell phone that Regina had got for her and found Rumple's number. Pressing call she waited until he answered.
"Hello dearie." He answered. "Why may I ask are you calling me so early?"
"Because I have some news on that spell from last night…" Cora started.
"Cora please don't fret about that spell not working. It happens to the best of us." Rumple replied making Cora roll her eyes. "I'm sure we will find whatever you missed and re-do the spell."
"Well you see that is why I am phoning." Cora said as she glanced over to little Regina happily eating her toast. "We don't need to re-do the spell because it worked last night."
"What are you talking about Cora? I was there when Regina drank that potion. It didn't work. She didn't change." Rumple sighed.
"No it did. It must have taken time to work because I had a wakeup call from a three year old Regina this morning." Cora said. "I can send you a picture if you don't believe me…"
"Are…Are you serious?" Rumple asked. "The spell worked? Regina is a toddler again?"
"Yes Rumple. It worked. Our daughter is now a three year old. I presume you will want to see her?" Cora said.
"Well…yes of course I want to see her. But I want you to send me a picture. Just to make sure this is no trick." Rumple said making Cora roll her eyes again. "We can organise me seeing her after that."
"Okay." Cora replied and then the conversation was cut off. Working with that man was going to be hard work. She sighed and walked over to Regina smiling down at her daughter who was covered in strawberry jam. "Regina I need you to give me a big smile so that I can get a picture for daddy." Cora said leaning down slightly.
Regina turned in her chair slightly revealing more of her jam covered face making Cora laugh a little. She considered wiping Regina's face before taking the picture but then she just looked so damn cute that she decided she looked perfect. So Regina gave her the cheesiest grin and Cora snapped the picture on her phone just like adult Regina had shown her too. She then sent it in a message to Rumple (once again using the instructions adult Regina had given to her) saying:
Our messy three year old. Believe it's no trick?
She smirked at her message and then placed her phone down on the table. "Are you finished with your toast Regina?"
"Yes mommy." Regina said jumping down from the chair.
Cora took the plate from the table and placed it in the sink. She grabbed a cloth and turned round. "Regina come here for a moment." Regina walked over to Cora and she knelt down. "We need to clean your face up your in an awful mess."
"No mommy. Not good." Regina said moving her face from side to side trying to make sure Cora couldn't get at her with the cloth.
"Regina come on sweetie. You can't walk around with jam all over your face." Cora tried to reason.
"No mommy." Regina said stubbornly, stamping her foot slightly.
"Come on, if you let me wash your face perhaps we could go and see the horses today." Cora said hoping that would convince her daughter to let her clean her face. She watched as Regina's eyes lit up at the idea. Her daughter thought about it for a moment and then nodded her head. She stood still and let Cora wipe up her face. Once she was finished Cora pressed a kiss to Regina's cheek. "Good girl."
Cora's phone then beeped and she stood up and walked over to it. Lifting it up she looked at her message from Rumple.
Yes I believe you. I want to see her this afternoon. Meet me at the park at half past two. Don't be late.
She rolled her eyes at the message and typed back an 'okay see you then.' She then put her phone back on the table and turned to Regina who was stood watching her. "Daddy wants to see you this afternoon sweetheart. We are going to meet him at the park."
"Okay mommy." Regina said with a big smile on her face. She had given Regina the memories of Rumple being her father in the potion but the bonding was all up to Rumple.
"Right shall we go and get you ready?" Cora said holding out her hand. Regina nodded and she took Cora's hand and they went up stairs. They walked into Regina's bedroom and as Cora looked around she realised it really wasn't a child's bedroom. So with a wave of her hand the bedroom began to change. If Regina was going to be a toddler for six months she needed a toddler bedroom. So the walls began to change colour to a lilac. Her curtains no longer the cream silk but a lovely dark purple colour. The grand bed morphed and changed into a small toddler bed with purple sheets and a white princess canopy at the top. Toys appeared all over the room, books and cuddly toys. Cora watched as Regina looked around the room in excitement not sure what to go to first. She then walked over towards the walk in wardrobe. She waved her hand sending all of adult Regina's clothes to the spare bedroom all boxed and packed away neatly and replacing them with a lot of toddler girls clothing and shoes. Cora looked around at her creation and nodded her head. She was very pleased with what she had created and it seemed Regina was too as she found a cuddly toy horse and was running around the room with it.
She turned and looked at all the clothes in the wardrobe. She pulled out a denim pinafore dress and a red top with red tights to match. She got some underwear and then walked out of the wardrobe. "Alright Regina come and get ready please." Cora said kneeling down on the floor. Regina ran over to Cora and they got her dressed. Cora then brushed Regina's hair and smiled. She really had wished she had done this sort of thing the first time round. It was so nice just spending this time with her daughter. She done Regina's hair in a French braid and then she stood Regina up. "Let's have a look at you princess…" Regina twirled round and Cora laughed a little. "Beautiful."
"Thank you mommy." Regina smiled.
Cora stood up. "You stay and play in here for a while sweetheart. I'm just going to get ready." Regina nodded her head and Cora walked out of the room and over to hers. She got herself ready and within half an hour she was walking back out of her room back towards Regina's. she stood at the door and watched as Regina sat on the floor surrounded by her teddies, her plastic tea cups and food on the floor beside them. It was nice seeing her daughter so carefree. No cares in the world for once.
The doorbell rang through the house and Cora jumped slightly. She pushed herself away from the doorframe and made her way down the stairs and over towards the front door. Opening it she was greeted by Emma, Mary-Margaret and Henry. "Oh hello…" Cora frowned slightly. She wasn't expecting any visitors.
"Hi…" Emma said awkwardly shoving her hands into her jean pockets. "Henry told us the spell never worked last night. We thought we would come over and see how everyone was doing and well…see if we could help I guess…" She shrugged.
"Yes. We want to help you all bond together. Be the family that you want to be." Mary-Margaret said and Cora has to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. She really did understand why her daughter had spent most of her life trying to kill this woman, sometimes she could be too much to take.
"Well…that's very nice of you…"Cora started as she stepped to the side slightly and they all walked into the house.
"Where is mom?" Henry asked and then turned round. "Mom?!" He shouted.
"Erm…She won't answer you Henry…" Cora said.
"What? Why? What's happened? Have you two had an argument? Have you hurt her?" Henry asked quickly.
"Whoa easy kid." Emma said placing her hand on Henry's shoulder. She then looked up at Cora and gave her a look as if to tell her to answer all of Henry's questions and quickly.
"We haven't had an argument and I have not hurt her. In fact we barely spoke last night after you have left." Cora answered.
"Then why will she not answer me?" Henry asked in confusion.
"She won't answer you because…" Cora started but she was interrupted by a young voice and small feet coming down the stairs.
"Mommy I'm bored." Regina said and jumped down the last two steps appearing in front of a shocked Emma, Mary-Margaret and Henry. The three just stared down at the little girl in front of them not knowing what to say. "Who are you?" Regina asked.
"Because your mother is no longer…your mother I guess…" Cora finished.
"Wha…The spell…It worked…" Henry stuttered as he just stood and stared at his now three year old mother.
Cora nodded her head. "I think it must have needed more time to work than we thought. I was woken up this morning by three year old Regina."
"That's Regina?" Emma asked looking up and Cora and then back down to Regina.
"Yes that's Regina." Cora replied.
"Oh she is adorable." Mary-Margaret gushed as she stepped forward slightly.
Cora glanced down at Regina and saw her looking at the others with uncertainty. She crouched down and took Regina's hand in hers. "Don't worry Regina. These are our friends. This is Mary-Margaret…" Cora said pointing to Mary-Margaret. "And then we have Emma…And this is Henry."
"Hi Regina." Henry said waving his hand to the little girl.
"Hello…" Regina said waving back to him. She then pulled away from Cora and walked over to Henry. "Do you like playing games?" Regina asked.
Henry nodded his head. "Yes I like playing games."
"Would you play hide and seek with me please?" Regina asked politely.
"Sure." Henry shrugged and he took off his back pack and handed it to Emma. Regina then reached forward and took Henry's hand and gently pulled him towards the other room.
Emma laughed a little as she watched them. "It seems no matter what age Regina is she attaches herself to Henry." Emma mused. "How has your morning been with a toddler?" Emma asked turning to Cora.
"It's not been too bad. Things have been quite calm actually." Cora replied. "Would you like a drink?" She asked motioning for the two women to follow her to the kitchen.
"Just some water would be lovely." Mary-Margaret replied as she leaned on the kitchen counter.
"Same for me please." Emma said copying her mother's actions.
Cora nodded and she got the two women their glasses of water and placed them on the counter in front of them. "She is everything I remembered but better." Cora said breaking their silence. "I…obviously remembered what she looked like at that age but…I don't know…I guess I just never really took her in. I don't know if that makes sense."
"I guess it does." Emma shrugged. "You are saying because you never had your heart you didn't focus on her as much as you are now. You didn't take in every inch of her like you are this time."
Cora nodded her head. "Yes that's it exactly. It may sound weird but I didn't truly realise just how cute she was at this age. Even at this age I never allowed her to be a child. At this age I had her learning certain things to become a proper lady and princess. Preparing her for being a queen."
"What at three years old?" Emma asked a little in shock.
Cora nodded her head. "Yes."
"Emma that was how things were in the Enchanted Forest. Even I had certain lessons at a young age. I…I would presume had a little more time than Regina to be a child but I still had lessons on being a perfect princess and lady. It was just how things were." Mary-Margaret explained.
"But three years old seems a little young to be teaching such things…what could a three year old get from that?" Emma said.
"Quite a lot actually. Although Regina was young she picked things up quickly…well at least when she put her mind to it. I did find at this age Regina was always stuck in her imagination. Always away into her mind, to another world. Something I would get angry with her before but this time round it will be something I actively encourage. I want Regina to jump into her imagination and live like the child she should have been. She needs this." Cora said.
Emma smiled. "You know I really think she will appreciate this, you know when she goes back to being an adult."
"You really think so?" Cora asked.
Emma nodded her head. "Yea I do. I know after everything that has happened Regina hasn't exactly given you or Rumple a warm welcome…something I don't really blame her for…but you are both trying to fix it and if you want to do everything you have said you do then I think she really will appreciate. I know she really does want to bond with you and Rumple. She wants the loving parents she has always dreamed of…although I don't think she ever thought the dark one and the queen of hearts would be those parents…"
"Yea I don't think anyone would think that." Mary-Margaret added in making the three women laugh a little.
They were interrupted as Regina ran into the kitchen squealing a little as Henry ran in chasing after her. "I'm coming to get you!" He growled playfully and Regina squealed again and ran over towards Cora.
"Mommy help me! Monster coming to get me!" Regina squealed and giggled as she hid behind Cora's legs.
"Don't think your mommy can save you Regina." Henry said as he walked closer to Cora.
Regina giggled and then quickly moved in the opposite direction squealing again as Henry nearly caught her, the whole scenario making the three women laugh at them. Regina ran over to Emma and hid behind her legs. "Emma help!"
Emma laughed and she leaned down and picked up little Regina, marvelling at the fact Regina was as light as a feather and so small in her arms. She balanced her on her hip and Regina wrapped her arms around Emma's neck. "Is my monster son chasing you?" Emma asked making Regina giggle.
"Yes Emma. You need to help me." Regina said.
"Oh how can we stop the monster?" Emma said putting on a thinking face and scrunching her nose up a little. "How about you try and tickle the monster? He is tickly…" Emma started and then leaned in and whispered in Regina's hair so that only she could hear the last part.
Regina nodded her head with a big grin on her face and Emma placed her down on the floor. Regina held onto Emma's hand and pulled on it slightly. "You help." Emma nodded and they walked over to Henry and started tickling him, Regina giggling the whole time.
"Alright alright!" Henry said trying to breathe through laughing because he was being tickled. "Alright no more monster."
"Yey we won!" Regina said happily jumping up and down.
"Hi-five kid." Emma said holding out her hand and Regina gently hit it.
Cora smiled at her daughter and then she glanced up at the clock and gasped as she saw what time it was. It was quarter past two which meant she now had to hurry Regina along and get her to the park to meet Rumple. "Oh god I didn't realise the time. Regina go and find your shoes please." Cora said. "We don't want to be late for meeting daddy."
"Okay mommy." Regina said as she hurried out of the room.
"Where are you meeting Grandpa?" Henry asked.
"We are meeting him at the park in fifteen minutes." Cora said as she cleaned up the kitchen a little.
Regina came running back into the room with a pair of black patent shoes on and holding a jumper. "Mommy can I wear this?" Regina asked holding up the red jumper which had Minnie mouse on it. "It has a mouse on it." Regina said happily.
"Yes of course sweetheart." Cora said walking over to Regina. She took the jumper from Regina and held it out to her to help her put it on. They walked out of the kitchen and Cora grabbed her coat and bag and they all walked out of the house.
"Can we see you later?" Henry asked Cora. He wanted to spend as much time with little Regina as he could and he was desperate to get some pictures. "We could have dinner together?" He suggested.
"Well…I guess…If everyone is up for that?" Cora hesitated and looked at Emma and Mary-Margaret.
"Yea that would be great. We could go to grannies show this little one off." Emma said ruffling Regina's hair making her frown a little.
"Emma you messy my hair." Regina frowned and patted her head. Henry had to try and stifle his giggles at little Regina telling Emma off.
"Okay…well grannies it is. Say around seven maybe?" Cora said. "I could maybe ask Rumple and Belle as well. I think Rumple will probably want to spend as much time as possible with her."
"Great. We will let Neal and David know too." Mary-Margaret smiled.
"Okay we will see you then. Regina say goodbye." Cora said.
Regina said her goodbyes and hugged everyone, giving Emma and extra hi-five for helping her beat monster Henry and they were soon away, off to meet Rumple at the park. Regina skipped down the road as she held onto Cora's hand and within ten minutes they reached the park and saw Rumple sitting on one of the benches. They walked over to him.
"I thought I said don't be late." Rumple said quietly as he stood up from the bench and looked at his watch.
"Yes sorry but I had visitors." Cora replied.
Regina looked up at her parents and watched them talk together. Adult talk was boring. She sighed and pulled her hand away from her mothers and pulled on Rumples jacket making him look down at her. "Hello daddy." She said sweetly giving him her best smile.
Rumple could feel his resolve slipping as soon as he looked at the sweet little girl. He gave her a smile and he crouched down to her level. "Hello there princess." He said softly.
"I want to go play in the park." Regina said looking from Rumple and then up to Cora.
"You can go and play." Cora said with a nod.
Regina then looked back at Rumple. "You want to play too daddy? You can push me on the swing." Regina said and ended with big eyes and fluttering eyelashes that could melt the hardest of hearts…and seemed even the dark ones as Rumple replied with…
"Anything you want princess." He stood up from his crouched position and looked over at Cora who was smirking at him. "What?" He asked as Regina gently pulled him over to the swings, Cora following them.
"Oh nothing." She shrugged.
Rumple just narrowed his eyes and left it. He turned his attention back on his daughter who was now trying to climb up onto the swing but was finding it difficult due to her small size. "Do you need help Regina?" Rumple asked stepping forward to lift Regina up. He placed her on the swing and she grabbed onto the chains.
"Thank you daddy." Regina said giving him a smile.
"You're welcome sweetheart." he replied and then he went behind her and gently started to push all the while Regina giggled and shouted 'Higher daddy!'
Cora watched with a smile on her face. This is what life should have been like. If she had just put everything behind her and kept her heart this could have been the life they had. They could have been a happy family. Spending their times bonding like this. She was brought out of her thoughts when Rumple said…
"You know I was thinking we will need to sort out some kind of routine for me spending time with Regina."
"Yes we will. Did you have anything in mind?" Cora asked.
"I was thinking every second weekend she could stay with Belle and I and then on the weeks she won't be staying with us I would like to have her for a couple of days, could be whenever…say a Tuesday and a Thursday… something like that." He said with a shrug.
"Sounds pretty good to me." Cora said giving him a small smile. She really did want them to work together on this. She wanted this time to be perfect for them. They only had six months with their daughter like this and they needed to make every moment count.
"Good. That was more easily sorted than I thought it was going to be." Rumple replied.
"Well I don't want to cause any arguments Rumple. This time is too be special and for Regina." Cora said.
Rumple nodded his agreement and then looked back at his daughter who had now climbed off the swing and was running over to the slide. "She really is beautiful Cora. I knew she would be because as an adult…well…but I just…she's everything I imagined and more."
Cora smiled. "She is. We just need to make every moment count."
"Yes I agree." Rumple replied.
"That is why I want to suggest you joining us for dinner tonight…well us and Emma, the Charming's, Henry and Neal. Henry wanted us to have dinner together and suggested Grannies. I said we would go and that I would ask if you and Belle wanted to join us." Cora said as they started to walk over to a nearby bench, somewhere that they could keep an eye on Regina but talk more privately. "I know you will want to spend as much time as you can with Regina so…"
Rumple nodded. "Yes, I will ask Belle but I am more than sure she will be fine with it."
"Good." Cora said. "I think we were heading to Grannies for Seven."
"I will be there." Rumple said with a smile as he watched Regina sliding down the slide and giggling.
After a fun filled afternoon at the park Cora, Rumple and Regina decided to head back to Rumple's house so that he could introduce little Regina to Belle. When they entered his mansion he called out to see if Belle was there. They soon heard footsteps from another room and Belle appeared in the hallway.
"Rumple your back. How was your afternoon?" Belle asked and then stopped as she saw Cora and then looked down to see little Regina. "Oh hello. I didn't know you were coming."
"Sorry I should have phoned ahead to tell you." Rumple said as he walked over to Belle and kissed her cheek. "I just wanted Regina to meet you. I know it sounds strange." he said whispering the last bit.
Belle chuckled a little."It does a bit."
"Regina…" Rumple said holding out his hand. Regina walked over to him and he crouched down, motioning for Belle to do the same. Which she did. "Regina I want you to meet Belle. She is daddy's…" he said trailing off as he had no idea how to introduce Belle to Regina.
"I am daddy's special friend." Belle answered for Rumple and Rumple gave her a grateful smile. "And you are Regina, Rumple's little princess, is that correct?" Belle asked.
Regina smiled at this and nodded her head proudly. "That me." She said pointing at herself. "Daddy call me princess. Don't you daddy?"
"I do." He said smiling.
"Well it is very nice to meet you princess Regina." Belle said.
Regina giggled. "Nice to meet you too." She said sweetly.
"Belle Cora was talking about having dinner with everyone at Grannies tonight. She invited us so that we could spend some more time with Regina." Rumple said.
Belle could hear in Rumple's voice that he really wanted to go and she knew it didn't matter what she said about it he would be going so that he could spend some more time with his daughter and she couldn't have it any other way. She was happy that Rumple and Cora seemed to be putting any differences they may have had aside to focus on their daughter, as hard as it may be for them. "I think that's a great idea Rumple." Belle answered and Rumple smiled at that.
They all left from Rumple's house to head down to Grannies. Regina had bonded with Belle right away which Cora couldn't help the slight jealousy that rose in her. She tried to shake the feeling away but she still couldn't help it. But of course she hid it as best she could. They reached Grannies and as soon as they walked in Regina ran over to Henry.
"Henry!" Regina squealed and jumped into Henry's unsuspecting arms making everyone laugh.
"Hey Regina. You miss me?" Henry laughed as he hugged her back.
"Yea I miss you monster boy." Regina replied making Cora, Emma and Mary-Margaret laugh and everyone look on confused at the nickname Regina had given him.
"Henry was pretending to be a monster earlier and was chasing Regina around the house." Emma quickly explained as she saw everyone's confused faces.
Henry placed Regina down and Rumple took Regina's hand and gently guided her over to where Neal was sat. "Regina you remember I told you about Neal…" Rumple started.
Regina nodded her head. "Yes daddy." She said and then turned to Neal. "You my big brother." Regina said.
"That I am kiddo." Neal replied.
"Daddy says you lots of fun." Regina said happily.
"Oh did he now?" Neal asked raising an eyebrow at his father.
"She has lots of energy. Your young you will be able to keep up with her better than I can." Rumple said holding his hands up.
"You wanted a toddler, now you got one Papa." Neal laughed. "They are bundles of energy. Get used to it for the next six months."
Regina looked around and spotted her mommy sat at the top of the table all on her own. She frowned a little so she weaved herself through everyone and popped up beside Cora. "Boo mommy!" Regina squealed jumping up.
Cora jumped a little and placed her hand on her chest. When she looked down at Regina's sweet smiling face she couldn't help smiling back at her. "Oh you little monster you gave me a fright." Cora said tickling Regina a little and making her giggle. She then pulled Regina up onto her lap. "You okay princess?" Cora asked brushing some of Regina's wild hair that had fallen from her braid away from her face.
"Yes mommy. There are lots of people here." Regina said resting her head on Cora's shoulder.
"Yes there are sweetheart.." Cora replied rubbing her hand up and down Regina's back. "But you know all these people here at the table are your family and they all love you very much."
"Really?" Regina asked as she lifted her head up to look at her mother.
"Yes." Cora nodded. "You have your daddy and Belle. Then your big brother Neal, who is special friends with Emma and they have their son Henry. And then you have Emma's mommy and daddy Mary-Margaret and David there."
"They all my family?" Regina asked and Cora nodded to confirm it to her.
"And they all love you so much." Cora said and placed a kiss on the top of Regina's head.
After a busy dinner at Grannies, with lots of talking and much food later Cora and Regina returned home with the promise that Rumple would see Regina again tomorrow. Cora had gotten Regina quickly into the bath giving her a quick wash and then got her into some pyjamas chosen by Regina. The pyjamas were red and had Minnie mouse all over the bottoms and a big Minnie Mouse on the top. It seemed Regina had developed a love for the mouse.
Cora then ushered Regina through to bed and told her she could pick a story to have read to her before she goes to sleep. Regina ran over to the shelf that her books were sat on and looked through them all carefully. She finally chose one and ran back over to where Cora was stood beside her bed and handed it to her. Cora held the book up to see what Regina had picked out. "Guess how much I love you." Cora read out loud.
"Yes mommy it looks good." Regina said as she climbed into her little bed and pulled her cuddly horse up.
Cora knelt down beside the bed and tucked Regina in a little. "It does look good sweetheart. Now are you comfy?" Regina nodded her head. "Okay let's start then." Cora said and she opened the book. "Little nut brown hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to big nut brown hares very long ears…" Cora started to read.
She read on and on and Regina lay in her bed cuddling her toy horse listening intently to the story her mother read to her. As Cora read she wondered if any of Regina's nannies read to her the first time round. She wondered, even though she had been strict and told them she was not to be coddled in any way, whether they had coddled her and done things like this like she should have. "Big nut brown hare settled little nut brown hare into his bed of leaves, leaned over and kissed him good night. Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile I love you right up to the moon and back." Cora closed the book and looked at Regina who was rubbing her eyes fighting sleep to the very end. Cora placed the book on the little table at the end of Regina's bed and then leaned over tucking her in a bit more and then placed a kiss to the top of Regina's head.
"Mommy…I love you right up to the moon." Regina said mid yawn.
Cora smiled and she whispered back as Regina drifted off to sleep "And I love you right up to the moon and back again."