A chapter for you all much quicker than I have been previously lol I have the writing bug at the minute and managed to fire through this so hopefully that continues providing i have the time to write more. Anyway here is a chapter for you, I hope you enjoy and let me know!
Rumple pulled up outside of the mansion and let out a sigh. He wished he didn't have to drop Regina off but he knew it wouldn't be fair to keep her with him all the time. He got out of the car and walked round opening the back door where Regina was sat in her car seat that Rumple had got earlier (using his magic.). "You ready to go see your mommy princess?" Rumple asked as he leaned in and unbuckled Regina.
"Yea. I missed mommy." Regina said giving him a big smile.
Rumple smiled back at her. He picked up her new Minnie Mouse toy and handed it to her. He then leaned into the car and picked up her back pack and the Tupperware container that had some cupcakes in it as Regina insisted that she needed to take some home for Cora to have. They then made their way up the pathway and knocked on the door of the mansion.
Cora opened the door in seconds and Regina jumped into her arms immediately. "Mommy!" Regina squealed happily as she wrapped her arms tightly around Cora.
"Hello my darling. Did you have fun with daddy and Belle?" Cora asked hugging Regina back just as tightly.
"Yes mommy. Look daddy got me Minnie Mouse." Regina said holding up her new toy.
"Oh wow! Aren't you a lucky girl." Cora smiled. She then placed Regina back down. "Dinner is nearly ready so why don't you go and wash your hands?"
"Okay mommy." Regina nodded she then quickly turned on her heel and ran back out to Rumple and wrapped her arms around his legs. "Bye daddy. Love you." Regina said before turning back on her heel and running into the house to go and wash her hands like Cora had told her too.
Cora smiled at him. "Did you have a good time?" Cora asked.
"Yes, today was wonderful. I really enjoyed spending the time with her." Rumple replied.
"Good I am glad. So your next day with her is Thursday?" Cora asked and Rumple nodded his head. "Same time?"
"If that's alright with you…" Rumple said.
"Yes that's fine." Cora smiled.
Rumple nodded his head. "Well here is her back pack. Everything should be in there. Belle double checked. And here is some cupcakes. Belle and Regina made some earlier and Regina insisted she bring some home for you as she didn't want you to miss out on them."
"Thank you." Cora said taking the back pack and container from Rumple.
"They are delicious cakes I had one earlier." Rumple said.
"Well I will look forward to having one after dinner." Cora replied with a smile.
Rumple nodded his head and the both stood in silence for a moment. "I wanted to thank you…" Rumple said breaking the silence and making Cora look up at him.
"What for?" Cora asked.
"For this…for the idea of turning Regina back into a toddler. For giving us this time with her. I am going to hold this time close to me." Rumple said, revealing himself in a new light to Cora.
"Well really I think it's Regina you should thank, when we turn her back I mean. I might have some up with the idea but it only happened because Regina was willing to give it a go." Cora replied. "If she hadn't been willing then we wouldn't have this precious time with her."
Rumple nodded his head. "That is true. I will thank her when we turn her back. But still I would like to thank you too."
"Well…your welcome…I suppose." Cora replied with a smile.
Regina came running back to the door, wiping her hands on her trousers and breaking the awkwardness that had developed between Cora and Rumple. "Look mommy wash my hands, now they all clean." Regina said holding her hands up to show Cora.
"Well done darling. Very good job." Cora praised.
Regina then looked over at Rumple. "Daddy you still here? You staying for dinner too?" Regina asked.
"No princess not tonight. I was just talking to your mommy." Rumple replied. "But I best be off now. I will see you on Thursday Regina. Be good for your mommy."
"I will daddy." Regina replied giving Rumple the sweetest smile he had ever seen. A smile that would melt anyone's heart. He turned on his heel and quickly walked back over to his car. Cora lifted Regina up and they waved to Rumple as he drove away and then they went into the house. Regina clinging onto Cora and playing with her hair. "Mommy I missed you lots and lots today." Regina said making Cora smile.
"I missed you lots and lots too Regina."
"I stay with you tomorrow?" Regina asked.
Cora nodded her head. "Yes you are staying with me tomorrow Regina."
"We can play lots of games." Regina said happily and Cora laughed a little.
"That sounds like a good plan little one. Now why don't you help me set the table huh? If I give you this cutlery do you think you could walk nicely to the table and set them out?" Cora asked as she placed Regina down and got the cutlery from the drawer.
"Yes mommy I could do that. I'm a big girl." Regina said proudly.
"That you are my darling." Cora replied as she handed the cutlery to Regina. "Now remember and use your walking feet. I don't want you to fall and hurt yourself."
"Okay mommy." Regina said as she took the cutlery from Cora and walked out of the room. Cora then went about checking on the dinner. She then got the plates out and dished everything out. Picking up the plates she took them through to the dining room and smiled as she saw Regina putting the mats out and putting the cutlery down neatly. Regina looked up. "This right mommy?" Regina asked.
"That looks perfect darling." Cora replied as she placed the plates on the table. She helped Regina to sit down on the chair and then sat down beside her. "So you had fun with daddy and Belle then?"
"Yes mommy. Daddy took me to his shop and I got to be his special helper because I'm a big girl and daddy found me Minnie Mouse in his shop because I found Mickey Mouse but I like Minnie best." Regina explained.
"Really?" Cora said "And what did you have for lunch?"
"I had chocolate milkshake" Regina said happily.
"Chocolate milkshake? Wow." Cora said.
"It was yummy mommy. I ate it all up myself." Regina said.
Cora laughed. "I bet you did. So what did you do after lunch?"
"I went to daddy's house and me and Belle made some cakes. I was the tester. I had to make sure the cakes were okay to eat. I brought some for you mommy cause I didn't want you not to get a cake." Regina said.
"Thank you darling. That was very thoughtful of you." Cora smiled
"They are very yummy mommy." Regina smiled back.
"I'm sure they are." Cora replied.
"What did you do mommy?" Regina asked.
Cora thought about that for a moment. In actual fact she had done nothing that day. She had had no idea what to do without Regina. The day to Cora had been a long and boring day and she had been counting down the minutes until Regina would be home again. She knew it was only fair the Rumple spend time with Regina too but it didn't mean she had to like not having Regina around. She sighed and looked over at Regina who was gazing up at her. "I didn't really do much darling. Nothing as interesting as you."
Regina nodded her head and went back to eating her dinner. Cora watched her for a bit, taking bites of her dinner every so often. Regina had finished most things on her plate apart from her vegetables. Cora smirked a little as she watched Regina pushing the carrots around on her plate. "Eat your carrots up Regina." Cora said.
"But mommy I don't like carrots." Regina whined a little.
"I haven't even seen you try them Regina. Come on carrots are good for you." Cora said.
"They look yucky." Regina said sticking her tongue out a little and making a face of disgust.
Cora rolled her eyes a little and sighed. She had to think quick. Think of a way to make Regina eat her carrots. She then smirked as a thought hit her. "Aw well if you won't eat your carrots then you won't get the special power." Cora said shrugging her shoulders.
Regina looked up in interest as Cora saying that. "What special power mommy?" Regina asked.
"You don't know about the special power carrots give you?" Cora asked and Regina shook her head. "Well if you eat up all your carrots they make you able to see in the dark." Cora explained and Regina gasped at this new information.
"Make you see in the dark?" Regina repeated. "I want to be able to see in the dark mommy."
"Well you better eat up all those carrots then." Cora said.
Regina bit her lip and looked down at the carrots on her plate. On one hand didn't' want to eat the horrible looking orange things on her plate but on the other hand she really wanted to be able to see in the dark and her mommy told her carrots gave you that special power so that must make it true right? Mommy is always right. So Regina picked up her fork, stabbed it into one of the carrots and popped it into her mouth.
Cora smirked a little and watched as Regina ate the carrot. "So what do you think Regina?"
"They nice." Regina said getting another carrot on her fork and eating it quickly.
"See told you they weren't so bad." Cora smiled and she watched Regina clear her plate of carrots.
After dinner Cora had to have her cupcake. Regina had gone on and on at Cora while she cleared the dishes, cleaned the dishes and put them away that Cora had to taste the cupcakes she had made. So she got the Tupperware container and let Regina pick out the one she thought looked the best for her to try. Regina did so and also said she should try another cake just in case. Cora hadn't been so sure about that but Regina's puppy dog eyes soon won her over.
After the cupcakes which Cora did have to admit were very nice, they went upstairs for a bath. Regina insisted on their being lots of bubbles and also that some of her dolls join her in the bath. So while she ran off to gather some of her dolls Cora set about sorting out Regina's bath. She poured some of the bubble bath in and Regina ran back into the bathroom, her arms full of dolls.
"Regina do you really think you need all those dolls to join you in the bath?" Cora asked.
"Yes mommy. They all need a bath too." Regina said seriously. She then looked over at the bath that seemed to have a mountain of bubbles in it. She clapped her hands and giggled excitedly jumping up and down on the spot. "Bubble Bubble Bubble, Bubble Bubble Bubble, Bubble Bubble Bubble, Bubble Bubble POP!" Regina sang shouting the last part making Cora laugh a little.
"That's a nice song Regina." Cora praised.
"Neal taught me it. There is a bit before but I forgot it." Regina said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Mommy can we have a picnic?" Regina asked.
Cora motioned for Regina to come towards her and she crouched down. She started to get Regina undressed. "What now?" Cora asked. Regina nodded her head. "Well we have just had our dinner and cupcakes Regina. I don't think we can have a picnic now."
Regina huffed a little. "Awww." She whined.
"Well how about we have a picnic tomorrow? Either in the garden of at the park? We can take a blanket and the two cupcakes that are left and I will make us some good picnic food. What do you say to that?" Cora suggested.
Regina brightened up and nodded her head happily. "Yes mommy that's a good idea."
"I'm glad you think so sweetheart. Now come on into the bath you go." Cora said lifting Regina up an gently placing her into the bath.
Regina giggled a little as the bubbles seemed to surround her. She then moved to the edge of the bath and looked down to the floor where all her dolls still lay. "Mommy can you please put my dolls in the bath?" Regina asked giving Cora her best smile.
"Of course darling." Cora replied and she picked up all of Regina's dolls and placed them into the bath with her. "Now I will just be in my bedroom sorting a couple of things if you need me Regina you just need to shout for me, okay?"
"Okay mommy." Regina said and Cora left Regina in the bath and Regina spent her time making her dolls swim around in the bath watch and washing their hair. After a while she started to get bored and she lifted all over her dolls out of the bath and placed them on the side to dry. She looked around her trying to think what she could get up to next. Sitting down in the bath she started to move herself forwards and backwards and noticed the bath water moved with her. "Row row row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream." Regina sang to herself as she continued to rock herself back and forth in the bath. "Rock rock rock your boat faster down the stream. If you see a crocodile don't forget to scream. AHHHHHH!" Regina sang moving faster that time causing some of the bath water to pour out of the bath. "Oopsie!" Regina giggled.
"Regina are you okay in here?" Cora asked hurrying through to the bathroom once she had heard Regina scream.
"Yes mommy I'm singing about the boat and the crocodile. You have to scream if you see the crocodile." Regina explained.
Cora looked around the bathroom to see water and bubbles on the floor, dripping wet dolls on the side drying where they shouldn't be and a very wet towel that had obviously been caught out in the bath water pouring out the tub. "Regina what a mess you have made in here." Cora said firmly.
Regina bit her a lip a little not so sure if she was in trouble or not. She really didn't want to be. "I'm sorry mommy. It was accident. I was just singing the song and doing actions."
Cora sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. She knew Regina hadn't meant to cause all the mess and that she was probably telling the truth about the singing and the actions. "Okay well we are going to have to cut our story time short so that we can tidy the bathroom up."
"But I wanted a long book tonight." Regina frowned not liking the idea of story time being cut short.
"That may be the case Regina but we can't have a long story now. We need to clean the bathroom up and then we will see what time we have for story before bed." Cora said as she helped Regina out of the bath and wrapped a big white fluffy towel around her.
"But I don't wanna clean the bathroom. I want my long story." Regina whined as Cora got her dried off.
"Regina stop whining please. The bathroom needs cleaned whether you like it or not. You made the mess so you have to help mommy clean it." Cora said firmly. She was not going to back down from this. Although she didn't want to go down to hard on Regina she knew she needed to stay firm and make sure Regina knew who was in charge.
"I don't wanna!" Regina snapped back as Cora pulled her nightgown on over her head.
"Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to Regina. That is life." Cora responded.
"I'm not gonna clean the stupid bathroom! I want my story!" Regina said loudly.
Cora rolled her eyes. Regina really was just as stubborn as she was and she knew she was going to have a hard time getting Regina to agree to helping her clean the bathroom before her story time and bed. "Well Regina at this rate you will be going to bed without any story."
"No! I want my story!" Regina shouted.
"I want doesn't get Regina." Cora shot back. "Now come on. Help me clean this bathroom up." Cora said as she got another couple of towels out of the cupboard and started to mop up the water and bubbles on the floor.
"No. I don't want to!"
"Regina come and help me please."
"No!"
"Regina…"
"No!"
"Regina I am going to count to three and if you don't come over here and help me you will be going to bed right now without any story." Cora said beginning to get angrier as each second passed. She could not remember Regina doing anything like this before. "One…" Regina stood still with her little arms folded over her chest, a scowl one her face. "Two…" Regina still didn't move. "Three…right Regina that is it!"
"NO NO NO!" Regina shouted and stomped her little feet on the floor and into the water splashing Cora.
"Right come on that's enough. Straight to bed without any story." Cora shouted as she pushed herself up and roughly grabbed Regina's arm and pulled her out of the bathroom.
"NO MOMMMY!" Regina cried as she realised her mother wasn't just threatening her with bedtime with no story, she actually meant it. "I will help you mommy."
"No you are too late now Regina." Cora said as she opened Regina's bedroom door and pulled Regina into the room. She pulled back Regina's covers and lifted Regina up putting her down on the bed. "Into bed and go to sleep." Cora said before turning on her heel and stormed out of the room, shutting the door behind her. Cora rested against the bedroom door for a minute and closed her eyes. She could now hear Regina crying her heart out in her bedroom and it killed her to hear it. She had no idea how the whole thing had escalated like that so quickly. All she had wanted was for Regina to help her tidy up a little. She sighed as she thought over everything that had just happened and she realised just how much she was so close to losing her temper with Regina just like she had many years ago. She thought about how she had roughly grabbed Regina's arm and guilt washed over her as she wondered if she had hurt her little girl when she had pulled her out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. She shook her head and pushed herself off of the door and made her way back into the bathroom to tidy up and to give both herself and Regina some cooling off time.
Once she had mopped up the floor, put the towels in the laundry and put Regina's dolls somewhere more appropriate to dry off she quietly made her way back to Regina's room. She rested her ear against the door for a minute and could still hear that Regina was crying. Once again the guilt washed over her. She should have handle the situation better. She was the adult. She should have been better at controlling her temper instead of behaving just like her three year old daughter. She opened the bedroom door and stepped in to see Regina lying on her bed, the covers kicked off and cuddling her favourite cuddly toy horse. Cora cautiously walked over to Regina's bed and knelt down at the side. She ran her fingers through Regina's hair making her jump a little as she had not heard her mother enter her room. Regina peaked her eyes out to look at her mother and she sniffed a little and hiccupped due to all her crying.
"I'm sorry Regina, mommy didn't mean to get so angry with you." Cora said softly as she ran her fingers through Regina's soft brown locks. "Can I have a cuddle?" Cora asked as she held her arms open to Regina.
Regina nodded her head and she shuffled a little on the bed pushing herself up and flinging herself into her mother's arms and holding onto Cora tightly. Cora wrapped her arms around Regina immediately and closed her eyes and she rested her chin on top of Regina's head. "I sorry I shouted mommy." Regina muffled into Cora's chest.
"That's okay my darling I forgive you. Do you forgive me?" Cora replied. Regina nodded her head into Cora's chest. "Do you understand why mommy got angry Regina?" Cora asked as she pulled away from Regina slightly.
"Cause I not do what you say and I shouted and was silly." Regina replied.
"That's right and it makes mommy sad when you don't do what I say." Cora said.
"I sorry mommy. I won't do it again. I always do what you tell me." Regina responded quickly.
Cora smiled at Regina and tucked a bit of her hair behind her ear. "And I won't lose my temper like that again. Do we have a promise?" Cora said holding out her pinkie to Regina.
Regina smiled at Cora and wrapped her little pinkie around her one. "I promise."
"Good girl." Cora praised as she leaned forward and placed a kiss to Regina's forehead. "Right will we get you back into bed now Regina…"
"No story tonight…" Regina said as more of a statement than a question as she already knew the answer.
"Not tonight Regina. Maybe we can read a story in the morning." Cora said as she lifted Regina back onto her bed.
"Okay mommy." Regina replied with a yawn and she let Cora gently lie her down. Cora handed Regina her cuddly toy horse again and then pulled the covers over her, tucking her in and making sure she was nice and cosy. She then leaned down and placed a kiss to Regina's forehead again. "I love you mommy."
Cora smiled and replied "I love you too Regina. More than anything in the world. Goodnight my little darling." She then stood up and went to walk out of the room but Regina called after her…
"Mommy, night light."
Cora nodded her head and quickly walked back over to the night stand by Regina's bed and turned on Regina's night light that shone out a light purple glow around the room. The light spun round slowly and a lullaby sung out while shadows of stars and moons moved around the room. Cora realised that perhaps Regina hadn't just been crying about that tantrum and losing tempers but also maybe because Cora had walked out her bedroom the first time without turning on her night light and Regina was scared of the dark. Once again guilt washed over her but she swallowed it down. Tonight she had made her first mistake of the six months and she was determined not to make any more. This time was to give Regina some good memories of a childhood and she did not want to ruin it. So she gave Regina another quick kiss and walked out of her bedroom, closing the door over slightly but not fully. She then went back down stairs, got herself a notepad and pen and started to write up a plan of what she and Regina could do the next day to make up for the horrible ending to their night.