I am sorry that this chapter has taken so long to get to you. I have been ill and then hit a bit of writers block that was driving me crazy. I think I have passed it now so hopefully the next chapter won't take as long to get to you. Anyway I hope you enjoy!
It was the next day and Regina had once again been up bright and early, waking Cora up and asking for breakfast. Cora had tried to convince Regina to lie in her bed for a bit longer but Regina was having none of it so she eventually got out of bed and got Regina the breakfast she so desperately wanted. After breakfast she cleaned Regina up and got her ready for Rumple and Belle to pick her up. She dressed Regina in a pair of navy blue leggings and a white and yellow stripped top that had a blue crown on it and in pink letters said princess on it.
"What shoes will I wear mommy?" Regina asked as she ran back over to her walk in wardrobe.
Cora stood up and she looked out of the window to see the rain pouring down. "I think we will need to wear our wellies today Regina."
Regina nodded and she ran into the wardrobe and over to where her shoes were. Regina picked up her red wellies that had white spots on them and a picture of Minnie mouse at the front of them. "Pretty wellies." Regina said happily as she brought them out of the wardrobe.
Cora smiled at her daughter and then she sat down on the bed with Regina's hairbrush. "What do you want to do with your hair today Regina?" Cora asked as she held her arms open to Regina.
Regina ran over to Cora and Cora lifted her up and placed her on her lap. "Two braids please mommy."
Cora went about brushing Regina's hair and then braiding it. When she was finished she placed Regina back down on the floor and glanced down at her watch. They only had around half an hour until Rumple and Belle were going to turn up and Cora had a feeling that Rumple would be either early or right on time. "Shall we put your wellies on Regina?" Regina nodded her head and she sat down on the floor and held up her wellies to Cora. Cora helped Regina put on her wellies and then took Regina's hands in hers and gently pulled her up. "There we are princess. You are all ready for your daddy and Belle."
"What am I going to do with daddy and Belle today mommy?" Regina asked as she followed Cora out of her bedroom.
"I'm not sure sweetheart. You will just have to wait until your daddy and Belle get here to find out." Cora replied.
"What you going to do mommy?" Regina asked.
"Oh I won't be doing anything really sweetheart." Cora answered.
Regina frowned at that as she followed Cora down the stairs. "You won't be doing anything?"
Cora shook her head. "No. I will probably just stay in the house today. Relax maybe."
"You come with me and daddy mommy? Daddy and Belle won't mind." Regina said running forward and taking Cora's hand in her small hand.
"Oh sweetheart…"Cora sighed. She stopped and crouched down so that she was at Regina's level. "I will be okay here. You need to go and spend some time with daddy and Belle."
"Do you not want to come too?" Regina asked.
"I think that it would be nice for you to spend some time with daddy and Belle on your own. Don't you? I am sure daddy has a lot of special plans for you today." Cora said.
"You think so?" Regina asked her eyes widening at the idea of special plans.
Cora nodded her head. "I do." Cora smiled. She then leaned forward and kissed Regina on the top of her head. Just as she pulled away the door bell rang and Regina jumped up and down excitedly clapping her hands. Cora laughed a little and she stood up and walked over to the front door. She opened it and smiled at Rumple and Belle. She stepped to the side and let Rumple and Belle into the house.
"Wow it is miserable out there." Belle said as she stepped into the house and pulled the hood of her coat off.
"Yes it seems to be." Cora replied as she closed the door.
"Daddy!" Regina squealed and ran over to Rumple. She jumped into his awaiting arms and hugged him tightly. She pulled away and pointed to her wellies. "Look daddy..got my wellies on cause it's raining." Regina said happily.
"So I see princess. You will definitely need those wellies today." Rumple said.
"Hello Belle." Regina smiled happily and then looked back at Rumple. "Daddy what we gonna do?" Regina asked.
"Well…We were going to go to the park but I'm not sure that is such a good idea anymore…" Rumple started and Regina shook her head and sighed a little. "But I need to quickly go back to my shop to sort out a couple of things and I was thinking I might need some help with some things. Only help a big girl could give…"
"I could help daddy. I'm a big girl." Regina said quickly.
"You really think you could help me out?" Rumple asked playing along with Regina. Regina nodded her head and Rumple smiled. "Well that's great. And then maybe you and I and Belle could go and get some lunch at grannies. How does that sound?"
"Yea!" Regina said excitedly.
"I also might need your help this afternoon Regina. I need to bake some cupcakes and I'm not so sure if I will be able to do all that on my own." Belle added in.
Regina's eyes lit up as soon as the word cupcake was said. "I can help you Belle."
"Thank you Regina." Belle said sweetly.
Cora smiled at the interactions but then felt a little sad as she wasn't going to be spending the day with Regina. Sure she would see her later on that night but still she felt sad that she would be alone for the day and had no idea what she was going to do with herself. She sighed and then coughed a little. "Well that sounds like you are going to have a fun day Regina. Now can I get a hug before you go and have fun?"
"Yes mommy." Regina said and she wriggled in Rumples arms. Rumple put her down and she ran over to Cora who was now crouched down and wrapped her arms tightly around Cora. "Love you to the moon mommy." Regina said making Cora smile.
"And I love you to the moon and back." Cora replied. She then pulled back and kissed the top of Regina's head. "Now you go and have fun and I will see you later."
"Okay mommy." Regina said and turned on her heel running back over to Rumple who now had Regina's jacket and was holding it out to her. He helped Regina put it on and put her back pack on her to and gently pushed her towards Belle who held her hand out to her.
"I'll be out in a moment." Rumple said and handed Belle the car keys. He watched Belle and Regina leave for a moment before turning back to Cora. "Thank you for letting me have her today."
"Well it is one of the days we agreed on." Cora said with a shrug.
"I know but thank you anyway. I will have her back for seven?" Rumple said.
"That's fine. I will see you then." Cora nodded and they both started to walk over towards the door.
"What are you going to do today?" Rumple asked making small talk.
"I'm not sure really…" Cora sighed. "I suppose just relax and enjoy the quiet for a little bit."
Rumple nodded. "Well enjoy that. I will see you later." He gave her a little smile before quickly running out to his car. Cora waved them off and then closed the door with a sigh wondering what she was going to do with her day.
Rumple opened the door to his shop and Regina shot in looking around her in wonderment. Her eyes soon landed on a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy and her eyes lit up and she rushed over to the glass cabinet her hands and face pressed to it.
"Daddy Mickey Mouse!" Regina said excitedly pointing at the stuffed toy.
"That's right princess." Rumple smiled. "Do you like Mickey Mouse?"
Regina nodded her head. "I really like Minnie Mouse but I like Mickey Mouse too."
"Well I might have something you would like…" Rumple said as he walked through to the back room. Regina pulled herself away from the glass cabinet and walked over towards where Rumple had gone. Rumple soon appeared with his hands behind his back. "Now I have a present for you Regina but I want you to close your eyes first okay?"
"Okay daddy." Regina said and she closed her eyes just like Rumple had asked her too. Rumple smiled and he brought his hands out from behind his back to reveal a big stuffed Minnie Mouse toy. He told Regina to open her eyes and when she did she gasped and jumped up and down happily. "Minnie Mouse! Minnie Mouse!"
Belle couldn't help but smile as she watched Rumple and Regina together. She could see that Rumple really was trying so hard to make everything up to Regina. Even if he was going to spoil her rotten in the process.
"That's right princess. Minnie Mouse just for you." Rumple said with a smile.
"For me?" Regina asked. Rumple nodded and Regina pulled the toy gently from Rumple's hands and hugged it tightly and kissed the top of the toys head. "Thank you daddy." Regina said sweetly and she jumped into Rumples arms nearly knocking him over in the process but he managed to catch himself on the counter just behind him.
"You're welcome dearie." Rumple said hugging Regina back just as tightly. "Why don't you go play with Minnie in the back room and I will call you when I need your help okay?"
Regina nodded her head and she happily skipped through to the back room with her new Minnie Mouse toy. Rumple stood up and watched her go with a smile on his face. Belle stepped forward a little and laughed shaking her head. Rumple frowned when he looked at her. "What?" He asked.
"You are going to spoil her rotten. You didn't have a Minnie Mouse stuffed toy in the shop. You used magic for it didn't you?" Belle said.
"I might have. I just…I want to give her everything Belle. Everything she deserves. She seems to love Minnie Mouse so…I found her a Minnie Mouse."
Belle smiled at him and she wrapped her arms around him and leaned up brushing her lips against his. "I think it's nice that you want to make it up to her. I think by the end of this you will have the best bond with your daughter."
"You think so?" Rumple asked.
"I really do." Belle smiled and kissed him again.
After a while of being in the shop and helping Rumple out Regina started to get a little bored and then she decided she was hungry. She ran into the front of the shop where Rumple, Belle and Neal were talking.
"Daddy I'm hungry." Regina whined dragging her Minnie Mouse along behind her.
"Okay princess we will go and get something to eat in a moment." Rumple replied.
"Okay." Regina sighed and then turned slightly and smiled as she saw Neal. "Hi Neal." Regina said happily and ran over to him and jumped up into his unsuspecting arms. "Where's Emma and Henry?" Regina asked looking around as Neal balanced her on his hip.
"Emma is at work and Henry is at school just now." Neal replied.
"Ugh! Boring!" Regina sighed dramatically making the adults laugh.
"Yes it is boring." Neal said nodding his head. He leaned down and placed Regina on the floor who ran over to Rumple and held her arms up to him. Rumple immediately lifted Regina up and balanced her on his hip making Neal smirk. "God she has you wrapped around her little finger already doesn't she?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about." Rumple shrugged.
"She does." Belle smirked. "Very much so."
Neal laughed. "How did I know that would happen?"
Belle laughed too and Rumple just rolled his eyes. "Right princess shall we go and get some lunch?"
"Yes please daddy. I want a choc'late milkshake too." Regina said happily.
"Anything for the little princess." Rumple replied.
Belle grabbed her coat as well as Regina's coat and her back pack. Rumple placed Regina down and Belle helped her put her coat on and then her back pack and they all left the shop, Rumple quickly locking it behind them. "Would you like to join us?" Rumple asked as he turned to Neal.
"I would but I said I would meet Emma for lunch. You never know we might end up seeing you if you're going to Grannies. No doubt that's where we will be going." Neal said.
They said their goodbyes and walked towards Grannies, Regina in the middle of Rumple and Belle holding onto both of their hands. Rumple and Belle swung Regina every so often making her giggle. "Again! Again!" Regina cried happily and they swung her again. Once they got to Grannies Regina ran in and over to a booth and climbed up on the seat. Belle and Rumple sat beside her and it didn't take them long to decide what they wanted and order it.
"We gonna make cakes after lunch Belle?" Regina asked as she leaned on the table and bounced a little on the chair.
"Yes we can do that Regina." Belle replied.
"I wanna make lots and lots and lots of cakes. I need to make some for mommy for when I go home." Regina said. "Mommy needs some cakes."
"Why does mommy need some cakes Regina?" Rumple asked.
"Because she will have missed me lots and lots and cakes will make her feel better." Regina said.
Rumple smiled at his young daughter and leaned down kissing the top of Regina's head. "She will have missed you lots and lots your right about that Regina."
Regina smiled up at Rumple and then gasped as she saw the waitress bringing over her chocolate milkshake. She bounced on the chair and clapped her hands together in excitement. "Yey choc'late milkshake!" Belle and Rumple laughed as they saw the excitement in Regina's eyes as the chocolate milkshake was placed in front of her. Regina licked her lips. "Yummy!" She said before taking some through the straw she was given.
"You like chocolate then Regina?" Rumple asked. He couldn't help the small laugh as he pictured adult Regina in his mind drinking the chocolate milkshake. It was a funny picture that he could just not see ever happening when they returned Regina back to normal.
"Yes daddy. Chocolate the best." Regina replied.
After lunch Rumple, Belle and Regina had gone back to Rumples house. Rumple had gone into his study to try and get some work done while Belle kept Regina amused with doing some baking. Belle got all of the ingredients out and the bowls and utensils they would need. She put on her apron and put a little one on Regina that Rumple had got for her using his magic. She then pulled a chair over from the dining table and she lifted Regina up onto the chair so she could stand a little taller to see and help.
Belle looked at the recipe and Regina copied her but frowned as she had no idea what was wrote on the page. "Okay Regina we need to put the butter and sugar in the bowl and cream it together." Belle said as she reached for the butter and sugar.
"What cream it together mean?" Regina asked as she watched belle.
"It means mix it together. Watch and you will see." Belle said. "Would you like to help me measure out the sugar?"
"Yes please." Regina said nodding her head excitedly.
Belle passed the sugar over and the bowl and she told Regina how much they needed and pointed to where the needle on the scales needed to be. Regina used a cup and started to measure out the sugar while Belle measured out the butter. Belle kept glancing over to Regina making sure she was keeping on task and as soon as she saw Regina had enough sugar she stopped her. "That's perfect Regina. Well done." Belle said. She picked up the bowl from the scales and poured it into the bowl with the butter.
"Now we mix it?" Regina said standing on her tip toes to look into the bowl.
Belle nodded her head. "That's right Regina." Belle creamed the butter and the sugar and then she let Regina help her to measure out the rest of the ingredients. They added them in and Belle done the mixing while Regina watched in awe. Once it was all mixed together Belle reached over for the baking tray which had paper cake cases on it. "Right now we need to spoon the mixture into these cases Regina.
"Can I help with that?" Regina asked.
Belle nodded her head. "Let me do the first few and then you can do the last ones." Belle said.
"Okay." Regina said as she watched Belle pouring the mixture into the cases from the spoon. Once it got to the last two Belle handed the spoon to Regina. Regina scooped up a big dollop of the mixture and messily poured it into the case. "Like that?" Regina asked.
"That's very good Regina." Belle praised. She watched as Regina poured the mixture into the last case and then Belle picked up the tray and placed it into the oven. "Now just to wait until they are cooked." Belle said as she turned around and then gasped as she saw Regina licking the spoon that was covered in cake mixture. "Oh Regina you really shouldn't do that."
"Why?" Regina frowned as she licked the spoon again.
"Because there is raw egg in that mixture and that could upset your tummy." Belle tried to explain but Regina licked the spoon again.
"But its yummy." Regina said happily.
Belle smiled. "Yes I know it is yummy but still we shouldn't eat the cake mixture." Belle said taking the spoon and bowl from Regina and placing them into the sink making Regina pout a little. Belle turned round and sighed. "Now let's not pout. I need you to keep that tummy ready for testing our fairy cakes." Belle said.
"Testing them?" Regina asked her pout disappearing and her eyes lighting up.
Belle nodded her head. "Yes. I need someone to test the cakes to make sure they are really yummy."
"Oh I can do that Belle. My tummy is ready!" Regina said quickly.
"I bet it is." Belle giggled. "Now shall we get the ingredients for the icing?"
Regina nodded her head and she watched as Belle got out all the ingredients for icing. Once everything was sorted Belle went to check the cakes. She took them out the oven and tested them to see if they were ready. She then carried the tray over to the cooling rack and placed it down. Regina jumped on the chair and was just about to reach over when Belle quickly stopped her. "Oh careful Regina the cakes are very hot. We need to wait for the cakes to cool down first."
"Oh okay." Regina sighed.
Belle prepared the icing with a little help from Regina and as soon as that was done the cakes had cooled down. Belle reached over and picked up one of the cakes and placed it in front of Regina. "Here you are cake tester." Regina smiled at Belle and she quickly reached forward and picked it up. While Regina was testing the cake Belle went about icing the others. once she had finished she looked over to see Regina popping the last bit of fairy cake into her mouth. "So Regina are the cakes good enough to eat?" Belle asked.
"They are soooo yummy!" Regina said happily.
"We do good work then!" Belle said. "Hi five Regina." She said holding her hand up.
Regina giggled and hit Belle's hand lightly. "Can I take a cake to daddy?" Regina asked standing on her tip toes to look at the cakes.
"Yes of course you can. Which cake are you going to give him?" Belle asked.
Regina looked over the cakes and put on a small frown and bit her lip and she thought about which cake looked the best to give her daddy. She finally picked a big fairy cake with lots of icing on it an Belle quickly cleaned Regina up and took her little apron off and helped her off of the chair. She handed her the cake and Regina ran out of the kitchen and over towards where Rumple's study. The door was slightly open and Regina peeked in to see Rumple sat at his desk. "Daddy?" Regina said quietly making Rumple turn round in his chair to see Regina peeking round the door.
"Hello princess." Rumple smiled.
Regina smiled back at him and walked further into the room her hands behind her back. She wanted the cake to be a surprise. "I have something for you daddy." Regina said sweetly as she stood in front of him.
"Oh you do? What is it princess?" Rumple asked as he leaned down a little.
Regina brought her hands out from behind her back and held up the fairy cake covered in icing. "I helped Belle make fairy cakes. This one for you daddy." She said sweetly.
Rumple smiled at Regina and then looked at the cake. He didn't really have a sweet tooth but he could see that Regina really wanted him to have the cake so he guessed one cake wouldn't hurt. He took the cake from Regina. "Thank you princess. It looks very nice."
"They are yummy daddy. I tested them to make sure they were yummy." Regina said happily.
Rumple smiled and he placed the cake on the desk. He held his arms open and Regina quickly jumped into his arms and let Rumple pull her up onto his knee. He pulled her close to him. "Would you like to share the cake Regina?"
Regina's eyes lit up and she nodded her head. "Yes please daddy."
Rumple laughed a little and he picked the cake up and broke a bit off and handed it to Regina while he broke another piece off for himself and ate a bit too. He was loving every bit of time he was having with Regina and he really did hope that this would help her bond with him for when she returned to being an adult.